For the first ten minutes, everything is proceeding as planned, there have been smiles and nods, there has been common ground established and your employee staffing research has paid off.

Then you are asked whether you believe in ghosts or do you think that there is life on Mars. Unsurprisingly, this is a question that you haven’t prepared for. Throwing the interviewee a curve ball is becoming part and parcel of the employment recruiting process. According to the Huffington Post, there is every chance that the interview may take a turn for the strange as companies look to bring in people who can deal with the unexpected.

A recent survey of 2,000 recent job seekers by a nationwide talent management firm found that the majority of them had been asked a question that had nothing to do with their skills or bore any relation to the position in question. While there are a number of areas that are taboo, there is every chance that you will be faced with something out of left field.

Some of the responses to the survey revealed that interviewers are not above making sexist or racist comments under the guise of a question, all of which can make the applicant feel uncomfortable or even think twice about the job on offer. Asking about a person’s sexual history, their relationship situation or views on ethnicity are all illegal, but it is the strange questions that leave interviewees baffled.

One applicant responded that she had been asked whether sewage freaked her out, while another was told to entertain the interviewer for five minutes as they were not going to talk. Time management in relation to the cooling off of a cup of coffee, reaction to being punched in the face by a coworker or even the possibility of the afterlife have all formed part of a formal interview and there is very little that you can do to prepare for these questions.

However, you do have options. If you know there is a chance of a Twilight Zone moment, then you will go into the interview with a strategy and three options; answer it, sidestep it or just refuse to commit. After all, not even NASA knows if there is life on Mars, so how can you?

So if the employers are using the web during their search for the perfect candidate, so too should you as you look for the ideal job, Business2Community reports.

According to the news source, the first thing you’ll need to do when looking for a job online is to research the ins and outs of your desired field. If you plan to stay in the same industry you’re currently in or were last working in, this will be easier. But if you’re ready to make a career change, you make want to go online and take any of the several aptitude tests that are available.

Remember, though, that no one test can tell you exactly what job or industry you should be in. Rather, try taking a multitude of these tests, and cross reference their findings to determine if there is any particular field you’re more inclined to thrive in.

It’s also important to seek out the best job sites and use these to your advantage, the news source stated. Several online job boards have been created that can help you narrow down exactly what kind of job you’re looking for, and also give you the opportunity to post your resume online, potentially getting it under the nose of thousands of recruiters eager to hire.

When looking through job boars, however, you may want to keep it local. By posting your resume on local online job boards, you won’t be fighting the thousands of candidates from all over the country that are going after the same position. Even employers have stated they would rather hire from a local job board, considering the high costs of relocating new employees.

According to Digital Trends, the top national job search website is currently Indeed, which hosts more than 1 billion job searches every month, and announces hundreds of thousands of new job postings every week.

Other highly acclaimed online job posting sites include SimplyHired, LinkedIn and Craigslist.

True, there are several methods of going about your job search, but looking online has proven to be one of the most successful and convenient ways.

If they get the job, everything is good, but if they don’t pass the test then a period of introspective reflection is likely to take place. The good news is that it might not be their fault that they weren’t hired.

According to The Wall Street Journal, getting to the employee staffing stage is only the first step. Turning up and being interrogated by a complete stranger is stressful, but being hired is a two-way process and one that an untrained hiring manager is likely to fail.

Human resource studies have shown that these individuals can commit a number of basic errors during the interview such as answering phone calls, not taking notes, acting bored by the process or even asking questions that could be deemed to have no relevance. There have even been cases where the interviewer has been guilty of breaching federal non-discrimination standards, all situations that can be avoided through correct training.

Making sure that hiring managers are able to conduct a candidate assessment accurately means that some companies are now looking to be coached in interview technique. An investment of $3,500 to $30,000 can see an independent third party brought in to sharpen the skills of staff who are responsible for bringing new blood into the firm.

Research conducted by the Harvard Business School found that interviewers who let their own personal insecurities dictate the interview were more likely to have an adverse effect on hiring decisions than if a candidate was just plucked randomly from stack of resumes. The research also revealed that 80 percent of the interview should be about listening to the responses of the candidates and that being an impartial judge of character is essential.

“Companies tend to assume that practically anyone can conduct a good interview,” comments Pamela Skillings, founder of New York-based career consulting firm Skillful Communications. “Interviewing is a job skill in its own right. Most managers “wing it,” and incorrectly assume they can simply follow their instincts to the right hire. That can mean that one candidate gets a thorough interview, while another gets a shorter sit-down if the boss is in a bad mood or busy.”

In a recent Business Insider column, career reporter Vivian Giang explains that the benefits of higher employee morale are multi-fold. Giang cites Morgan Norman, the founder and CEO of social performance management company WorkSimple, who believes that the upside of high worker morale is as critical as the downside to low morale.

“When employee morale is high, productivity rises. When employee morale is low, it’s hard to retain the best and brightest workers,” Norman told Giang. “The foundation of strong employee morale is communication – that means collaboration, feedback and recognition.”

Each worker is different

When it comes to managing your employees, the first thing you probably realize is that each worker is different. Some work quickly and efficiently, some take more time but still do a great job and some are extremely unpredictable even week to week, meaning you never know what you’re going to get.

The key, then, according to Norman, is to figure out what makes each employee tick. How can you get through to each one? Rather than simply saying “it’s my way or the highway,” it can be more effective to use slightly different approaches for each individual employee.

“If an employee works better in groups or with flexible work schedules, encourage this behavior. If they are the loner type, that’s okay, too,” Norman explains. “Don’t force them to change how they perform; it’s essentially ingrained in them and will likely backfire and decrease their morale. Adjust to them.”

Making these adjustments can be critical to retaining employees, which is becoming increasingly important for businesses. According to more than 30 recent case studies recently examined by the Center for American Progress, for instance, it costs approximately 20 percent of an employee’s wages to replace him or her. This indicates that employee morale is not only important for the employees themselves, but also helps the company save money in the long run.

Some of the changes may have little to no effect on the way you search for a job. If you’ve only been employed for a year or two, you’re probably well aware of the fact that the internet, and more recently social media, have completely changed the way you can find a job. Others, however, could be the difference between landing a job and being passed over by the employer, particularly if it’s been a while since you looked for a job.

Alison Green, a career blogger, wrote in a recent article for U.S. News & World Report that one of the first things you may notice when returning to job seeker mode is the fact that you are now required to give more information on your online application. Such information now likely includes a salary history, contact information from references and even your social security number in some cases. For those who may not have applied for many jobs online recently, this can undoubtedly be unnerving, but it’s ultimately necessary to overcome this feeling if you want to apply for the position.

The recession and its trickle-down effects

Anyone can tell you that the job market has changed over the past few years, and that it’s tougher than ever to find a position. This, however, is an extremely vague way to characterize the intricacies of today’s labor market.

Is it more difficult to find a high-paying, permanent position in a given field these days? Certainly. But that doesn’t mean there are no possible alternatives. Internships, freelancing and temporary work are quickly becoming more normal for today’s workforce. Companies want to see what they have in potential employees before bringing them on permanently, and many workers don’t mind juggling multiple jobs if it means their schedule will be more flexible and the monotony of their days will be broken up.

The bottom line is that while a number of things have changed over the past few years when it comes to finding a job, it’s actually a good thing, as there are more avenues to explore when you’re hunting for that new position.

With consumer sentiment seemingly changing by the week, employers are forced to quickly adapt their workforces, whether this means adding more staff or searching for potential candidates with different skill sets.
Just as this flexibility benefits the companies themselves, however, contract work can also prove to be advantageous for the job seeker, according to a recent U.S. News & World Report article. Contract or temporary positions can be a great way to break back into the workforce, particularly if you are considering changing careers.

One of the major benefits contract workers will immediately see is the ability to prove their value to the company on a temporary basis. This, the publication notes, can lead to future opportunities with that company, especially if you network with the right people and show that you fit well into the corporate culture.

Plus, while companies are leaning towards contingent labor to promote workforce flexibility, many are also using this specifically to evaluate prospective employees during a trial period. For professionals who are unemployed and those looking at changing jobs and cracking into a new industry, such a tryout is exactly the opportunity they are seeking.
With this in mind, it is essential for temporary workers to take the appropriate steps to effectively demonstrate their long-term worth to the company, according to U.S. News. The best way to do this can be to constantly beat deadlines and exceed expectations, telling the employer that you will gladly accept more work.

While this tactic may be second nature for many employees, one aspect of the temporary job that can often be overlooked is networking. The Chicago Tribune notes that leaving a strong impression with your co-workers and managers while working as a contractor can significantly boost your chances of being offered a full-time position. At the very least, networking on the job can build potentially critical relationships for future opportunities with other companies.

To network as effectively as possible, the Tribune suggests temp workers “join the party,” and attend office get-togethers whenever they can. This can help separate yourself from other contractors, who may feel too shy to engage in these activities.

While it’s certainly true that successfully changing jobs in today’s economic climate is an accomplishment in and of itself, the fact remains that your first few days are likely to be just as stressful as the job seeking process.

In a recent U.S. News & World Report blog post, career expert and author Hannah Morgan explains that there are a number of things to keep in mind when starting a new job, particularly during the first few days.

Observe your surroundings and make mental notes

Odds are, your first day will involve meeting an entire new group of co-workers and adjusting to a totally new office environment than you’re used to, even if your position is in a similar field. Because of this, be sure to listen to your new co-workers, figure out how they behave in the office setting and consider who might become your closest associates in the office, Morgan advises.

At the same time, you need to be open to trying new things and potentially working on projects that you have little experience with. Building foundational relationships with the people you’ll be working with can make this process much easier.

Keep up with networking

In the first week at your new job, it can be tempting to relax when it comes to networking, as you’ve likely spent a significant amount of time doing this in the past few months. However, it’s extremely important to thank those in your network who may have helped you and to update your status, Morgan notes. Also be sure to demonstrate that you care about the relationships you’ve built by continuing to hold conversations with your contacts.

While it’s critical to remember who helped you land your position, Forbes reports that you need to focus heavily on creating a strong first impression. This means arriving early, being personal with your co-workers and willingly accepting any responsibilities you are handed. Doing this shows the company that it made the right decision to hire you, and will put to rest any uneasy feelings your manager might have from the get-go.

In a recent U.S. News & World Report column, Luke Roney, a content manager for online career community CareerBliss, writes that whether you are changing careers or simply looking to advance within your current company, body language and nonverbal signals can play a critical role in the interview.

Roney cites jury consultant Susan Constantine, a body language expert, who says a positive mindset can go a long way in making a strong impression on a prospective manager.

“Feel joy to meet [the interviewer],” Constantine explains, “put yourself in a place of fun, saying, ‘I’m having fun and my body language will follow. I’m going to nail this job.’ Don’t roll your eyes around the room, be very present with [the interviewer]—the ‘be there now’ rule.”

Utilizing what Constantine refers to as the “professional gaze” during the interview is also key, meaning you should make eye contact with the hiring manager 80 percent of the time, spending the other 20 percent looking off to the side.

Crossing your arms can be viewed as a sign of weakness, and you should also avoid holding onto a suitcase or other items during the interview, as Constantine equates this to the nonverbal communication form of speaking with your mouth full.

Fidgeting should also be avoided at all costs, while adjusting your tie or keeping your hands near your face can also convey a sense of nervousness that the employer could frown upon. Though it is natural for you to feel nervous, you should work to control how overtly this feeling is displayed.

Interviewees should also enter the meeting with an awareness of potential questions that will be asked, as hiring managers often practice many of the same employment recruiting strategies, according to Forbes.

One major question to prepare for if you are considering changing jobs is how you are able to manage time for interviews while still remaining committed to your current position, the publication notes.

The objective of this inquiry is to determine whether you may be short-changing your current employer. Thus, one effective way to answer this question is to say you take personal time in order to interview for only the best possible opportunities, Forbes explains.

The latest report, released February 3, showed that while 19.3 percent of job seekers found work in less than five weeks, a staggering 42.9 percent saw the process extend beyond 27 weeks. With this in mind, there are a number of steps individuals can take in order to shorten the quest for employment, according to the International Business Times.

First, candidates should be sure to complete a goals assessment, which can help you identify precisely which type of position you are looking for, including the industry, experience level and region of the country. Completing this assessment can allow you to match up your skills and personality with available opportunities, particularly if you are considering changing careers.

After a clear set of goals are established, you should move on to the development stage for your cover letter and resume, according to the publication. An effective resume is tailored to the position for which you are applying, contains information found in the job description, highlights your relevant skill set for the position and demonstrates why you are a good fit with the company.

The cover letter, on the other hand, offers an outlet to expand upon your prior experience, pointing out which skills can transfer to the new position and emphasizing your interest in the position.

Once these preliminary steps are accomplished, you are in good position to attend networking events, take full advantage of social media sites such as LinkedIn and send out inquiries to companies that are hiring. Networking can often be the key, and job seekers should be sure to engage in this activity on a regular basis, whether this means participating in discussion threads online or attending meetings with professionals in your industry.

Many individuals seeking employment opportunities have taken to social media and mobile applications to further their networking reach, and it appears as though these new strategies are working. According to a recent poll conducted by LiveCareer, 68 percent of job seekers around the country are optimistic about their prospects of landing a job, regardless of the outcome of the presidential election later this year.

While you may be aware that the landscape of the labor market is becoming more contract-focused, you should also understand that the method for securing new opportunities does not follow the same old model anymore.

In a recent column for U.S. News & World Report, career expert and author Alison Green highlights some of the many job search “rules” that may no longer be relevant to professionals today.

Green specifically points to the resume as one area where rigid guidelines have been followed for years. For instance, most employment seekers may believe that this document should only be one page. However, Green notes that it is becoming more commonplace for candidates with extensive experience to submit two-page resumes.

The inclusion of an “objective” and a line specifying that “references are available upon request” are also becoming less relevant. Green points out that hiring managers likely do not care as much about your objective as they do about how you can help the company, while most managers assume references will be provided if they ask for them.

The interview is the other critical step where the game has changed, according to Green. For instance, she says candidates should avoid walking into the reception area too early, as this can annoy the hiring manager and pressure them to rush whatever tasks they are working on. Be sure to arrive plenty early, just don’t walk in the door until a few minutes before you need to, she explains.

The days when interviewees were taught to frame their weaknesses as strengths during the interview are also seemingly gone, and you should be sure to avoid these cliches. Rather than doing this, you should give a legitimate aspect of the job where you have previously struggled, and provide evidence as to how you overcame this challenge.

It should hardly come as a surprise to job seekers that the process is changing, particularly given the shifting employment recruiting practices. Even outlets that seem to be designed solely for entertainment purposes are being utilized by employers to find new workers.

A recent Mashable column asserts that Pinterest, a social networking site where people can create and share their content visually via pinboards, is now becoming a popular place for employment seekers. Many use this as a means to showcase their resume and career paths in a creative manner.