Find the right employee for your company

Universally, job seekers seem to all agree on one point: finding a job is tough. While that's certainly true, those doing the hiring don't exactly have an easy go of it, either. Thanks to the variety of opportunities for advertising a job opening, narrowing down the potential candidates is now more difficult than ever for recruiters. Once upon a time a job posting might have yielded 15 to 20 viable applicants. Now that community newspapers post job listings both in print and on their Web site, job openings have the ability to attract more resumes than ever before.

In addition, an abundance of resumes may translate to more worthy candidates, making the job of a recruiter even more difficult. In the past, standard interview questions often were enough to get a feel for an applicant. Now, with so many qualified applicants, recruiters must think outside the box in respect to clever interview questions and other manners to narrow down the list.
For recruiters hoping to choose from the small handful of diamonds in the sea of roughs, the following tips should help you do just that.
Ask a candidate to solve a problem. With the in-crease in resources offering interview tips and job advice, standard questions are likely to yield standard responses. That can make it hard to distinguish between one candidate or another. Throw a curveball at your applicants by asking them to solve a problem during the interview. The problem can be similar to a simple word problem one might find on an aptitude test. How each candidate responds will give you a better idea of how they will perform under pressure.
Ask about prior work experience. This can be especially useful when asking an applicant about a problem he might have faced at a previous job, and how he handled it. Have him explain the problem and walk you through how he went about solving it. This will give strong insight into his analytical abilities and how quickly he can turn a problem into a solution. Since every job requires problem solving to some degree, candidates who claim no past problems are likely not worth your time. Candidates whose response includes involving others to solve problems indicates a strong candidate, as such actions show they work well with others and aren't afraid of asking for help.
Ask how a candidate prepared for the interview. Arguably the biggest problem facing recruiters is an abundance of applicants, many of whom would be willing to take any job. By asking how each candidate prepared for the interview, you'll get a better under-standing of who wants to work for your company and who just wants a job. Those applicants who have researched the company, what it does and what their job would entail are likely looking for more than just a paycheck.
Inquire about a past conflict with a coworker. Much like every job requires a certain degree of problem solving, nearly everyone who works regularly with co-workers has had a conflict with one of those co-workers at some point in time. Many times, projects will require different departments to work together. How an applicant has handled working with others in the past and how well he's resolved past conflicts will provide solid insight into how well he's likely to mesh with others down the road.

Discover that dream job

Whether you're unemployed or working but entertaining thoughts of moving on, finding a new job is an involved process that takes lots of commitment and hard work. Sifting through job openings can be akin to finding a needle in a haystack.

Searching through that proverbial haystack, however, is even more difficult when you're forced to compete against hundreds of others doing exactly the same. But finding a job, and doing so quickly, doesn't need to be so difficult. The following tips should help cut down on the trials and tribulations of looking for work.
·Network. Recognizing you're not the only one looking for a job is essential to finding one you really want. Recruiters' inboxes are overflowing with the resumes of potential applicants, so you need an edge. Where most job seekers find the most success is through word-of-mouth. Family, friends, former co-workers or anyone else you have regular contact with outside of your current office can all be great sources of information when looking for a job.
·Get organized. Keep track of your job-searching efforts. Finding a job can be a drawn out process, as recruiters typically must sift through large applicant pools before setting up any interviews. Keep a separate file on all jobs you've applied to, complete with a job description and copy of the cover letter and resume you sent to that particular job. Keep these files easily accessible and organized, as you never know when you might be contacted by a prospective employer.
·Know what you have to offer. Examine your strengths and work on communicating those strengths. Effectively explaining what you do best is your best chance of landing that dream job, so practice illustrating how your skills apply to each position you're seeking and how those skills can benefit the company.
·Customize your letters and resumes. No two jobs are the same, so no two sets of cover letters and resumes should be the same, either. Tailor each letter and resume to the specific job you're applying to. In particular, cover letters should emphasize specific skills that might apply to each job. Save all cover letters and resumes under different filenames as well, as you'll want extra copies of each should you be granted an interview.
·Stay motivated. Particularly if you're unemployed or working part-time until you can get back into your field, the process of looking for a job can be defeating. Tales of finding a job early on in the process do exist, but more often than not the process requires sending out plenty of resumes and dealing with lots of rejection. It's a process that everyone goes through, not just you. Keep working hard and you'll find that, in due time, opportunity will come knocking. Following all of these tips will make sure that once that knock does come, you'll be prepared to answer the call.

A lesson in thank-you letters

After a job interview, what is the first thing you should do? Write a thank-you note. It's a common courtesy and shows your interest in the position. You should send a thank-you letter as soon as possible (preferably within 24 hours, but no later than a week) after your interview.

The jury is out on e-mail versus handwritten thank-you notes, so use your discretion when deciding what to do. More formal organizations or people might prefer a handwritten thank-you note. But if you know a hiring decision is imminent, or the company communicates solely through e-mail, an e-mail thank you could be the way to go. You can always follow up an e-mail thank you with a handwritten note.

When writing your letter, thank the person with whom you met, and reinforce the fact that you want the job. You can also restate why you want the job or highlight a few of your qualifications once more. Feel free to address anything that wasn't discussed at the interview or something you want to answer more thoroughly than you did during the interview.

You may have been interviewed by a panel of people, or spent a few hours hopping from interviewer to interviewer. Should you send a letter addressed to the group, or individual ones to all parties? Make your decision based on the formality of the interviews and the company. When in doubt, it's best to send individual notes to everyone who interviewed you. You can write similar letters, but slightly vary a sentence or two to give personalization to the note.

Before you lick the envelope or hit send on your computer, double check for spelling and grammar errors as well as review the names and titles of your interviewers. It's worth putting in this extra effort to make sure you come across competent and polished.

CAPTION: Thank-you notes can help you land that dream job.