Job Seeker Resources | Top Wood Jobs

The following is job seeker resources to help employees with a new job working for the forest products industry. Here are some recommendations when working with Top Wood Jobs to find you an awesome job:

*These are only recommendations and will not guarantee you an interview or a job through Top Wood Jobs. There are many online articles about this along with books that can further your understanding of job hunting. One of my favorite books is "What Color Is Your Parachute" by Dick Bolles.

Resume:

A typical resume should not be more than three pages and should have:

MS Word format, not a PDF. Make sure to do spell check.
Your name and contact information. Include your LinkedIn profile link if you have one.
Cover letter as part of the resume (not a separate document) and this should address the job you are applying for. What are the top 6 things this employer would like to know about you such as process experience (plywood, lumber, etc.)? Are they looking for someone that has listed years of experience, specific technical skills such as Lean Manufacturing? What do they want in a candidate?
Most Recent Employer first:
- Name of Company – City, State – Starting Date to Ending Date (MM/YY)
- It is helpful to list the products manufactured/supplied by the company you worked for
- Your title and, if more than one, the dates for each title
- Paragraph with about three sentences to describe your work and duties for each title.
- 3 to 8 bullet points of specific duties and achievements for each title
- Previous employers, same information and same format as above

Education/Training
Specific skills related to the job you are applying for
Three references with their names, companies, titles and phone numbers from your most recent supervisors/managers or at least from others you have worked for. If you use LinkedIn, using three of the recommendations managers have given you is very valuable.

Social Media:

Employers and I will review your LinkedIn and Facebook profiles along with other sites such as Twitter.
Make sure to keep your LinkedIn profile professional and be careful what you put on your Facebook page.
Just because I am not a Friend on Facebook or a Connection in LinkedIn does not stop me from finding your profiles in Google. In fact, Google yourself to see if there are things posted you don’t want others to see.

LinkedIn Profile:

Make sure you have a LinkedIn account and connect with Top Wood Jobs to see what a profile should include.
At the top include the title you have or desire, such as “Plant Manager”. If you are unemployed add – “Looking for Next Career Change”.
Include each company you worked for and title you had along with dates and a three sentence introduction to what was produced at the company and what you did.
Gain at least three Recommendations from other contacts in LinkedIn that you reported to or were peers and supply them a LinkedIn recommendation and ask them to give you one too. If they are not sure how to do that, you should Google “How do I get LinkedIn Recommendations” and send them an email or LinkedIn message. Make sure you review what they give you for typos and what you would like them to say about yourself.
Having a LinkedIn recommendation from someone working for a company you want to work for in LinkedIn and on your resume will help you land a job there.
- Here is what Google says: Recommend someone from their profile:
  - Go to the profile of the 1st-degree connection you'd like to recommend.
  - Move your cursor over the Down arrow next to the button in the top section of the profile. The button name may vary.
  - Select 'Recommend.'
  - Follow the steps to write the recommendation.
  - Click Send.
Gain as many connections as you can from people you respect that respect you. Consider not connecting with people that you do not respect. You can choose to let others see all your contacts or not, but just because you close off others viewing your contacts, those that you connect with can see connections you both have. Check for people you know by searching for them in LinkedIn, go to Company pages looking for people and get signed up to Groups you should join looking for others.
Join Groups associated with the industry you work in and follow companies you are interested in.
Get Skills listed based on what jobs you like to do and include any skills you may have such as 6 Sigma, Continuous Process Improvement, Microsoft Office, etc. Do this for others and request they do the same for you. You want your skills to be well balanced. If you have too many in one area, that will be what employers will think you have the most skills in.
Include hobbies etc., but be careful what you put here. What do you want employers to think you do in your spare time?

Facebook Profile:

Be very careful what you put on Facebook. Employers can find your profile even if you do not have them as a friend or block them.
Keep a flattering Profile Picture. It is best to not include others in your profile picture.
Be careful of links, favorites, groups, pictures and comments to others.
Your Facebook profile gives employers insight into your private lives.
Include your resume as you have in LinkedIn.
Do not post anything that you would not want either your current or prospective employer to see.

Interview Preparation:

Research the company and industry you have applied to. What can you find on their website or LinkedIn about the company?
Research the area. If you have children research the schools and be prepared and spend the time to meet with the schools if there is to be a site interview. Check out housing cost and any other item that might deter you from moving there. Do not move forward with a face to face interview if you decide you do not want to live there.
Read the job description. Do you have all that is required and preferred?
Be prepared to discuss each item in the Job Description.
If you don’t, what might you have for experience or education that is relevant?
If you do not know about something in the job description Google it to find out so you can talk about it at least.
Contact others that might know about the company, but be careful as you don’t want to give the job away.
See if you can find out who is the hiring manager for the job you are applying for. Use LinkedIn or ask us for the information.
Review the interview links on my site for interview tips right before your interview, especially generic questions and why they are asked. How would you reply?
Do you have Skype on your computer? If not, you should install it, as often employers like to use Skype to do the "Phone interview". Make sure you practice using it with someone else before your interview.
Prepare a short list of questions for the end of the phone and the personal face to face interviews.
Be prepared to provide at least three references including current contact information and best from people you reported to. You may need to provide these prior a face to face interview.

Phone or Video Interview:

Make sure your phone on your resume or phones have voice mail and they work and are not full. Too many people fail to set up their voicemail and lose opportunities!
Always cc Top Wood Jobs on all communications you have with our clients. Email us any time you get a call or text from our clients too. This includes any email, text or phone call conversations prior interviews and for 2 months past getting hired.
Do all the research we discussed earlier: location, job requirements, training, etc.
Have your resume and the job description with you so you can refer to it
Schedule a time that you will not be interrupted for the phone interview, preferably on a land line phone not a cell phone that can cut out, and away from other noise and interruptions.
Have a list of questions for the phone interview including when they will get back to you, the wages and basic benefits.
Be on time for your phone interview. Miss it and you could miss the job opportunity. You should consider getting there early the afternoon before a early morning interview. What if your plane is late? You need to be well rested before an interview.
Make sure you write down the person’s name and ask them to spell it if you need to.
Have a note pad and pen and take notes.
Note the phone number they called from.
Always make sure you have tested your microphone and video prior a video interview.
Think about each question and answer it first as briefly as possible and only expand on it if they need more details. Ask them if you are not sure, “Did I answer your question?”
Employers do not always give us reasons why candidates have not been accepted and can take a couple weeks or more to get back to us.

Face to Face Interview:

For upper level positions you may be required to interview as many as 3 times.
Get plenty of sleep before an interview.
Don't travel without two credit cards. Not Debit cards, as many motels and car rental agencies will not accept Debit cards. You will need one for a rental car or motel. One card could fail to work. You should be reimbursed for all travel by the employer and not by Top Wood Jobs and do not expect all travel expenses will be paid for up front.
Be reasonable about your expenses. If you do fly, no first class, no $300 motel rooms per night and rent reasonable cars. Same with your meals, no prime rib every night and $100 alcohol bills.....Fill your own rental car before returning to the airport. Keep in mind, what you send in could decide whether you get an offer or not. Do not show up in an expensive car rental unless there is no other choice. Always cc Top Wood Jobs when you send your expenses to the employer. But again, it is up to you to get reimbursed and Top Wood Jobs will not pay you a dime.
Dress appropriately for the job. Look neat and tidy. If this is a plant job, wear appropriate clothes (work boots) and bring your own safety gear if you have it.
Bring 6 resumes to hand out if needed.
Bring a portfolio of related work in case you need to show them what you have accomplished. Keep this simple and visual.
Be prompt. Plan ahead so you can get there 5 to 10 minutes early.
Remain calm and confident.
Ask for business cards or at least names that you can write down. Some managers may not feel comfortable with giving you their business card but is fair to know who you are talking to.
Relax and maintain eye contact with the interviewer(s).
Shut off your cell phone before the interview.
Show your interest, listen to questions and answer appropriately in a way that shows your skills and what you can contribute to the job without building them a watch.
At the end ask appropriate questions about the job and the company. This shows your interest.
If you were not able to answer a question, ask if you could get back to them on that which opens the avenue to email them later. Do NOT abuse emailing or texting them.
If the face to face interview has gone well, make sure with the list of questions you have that you ask what the job would pay and about the benefits. If they are interested in you, they should be willing to discuss this at the end of the interview. We would like you to walk away from the interview with everything you need to know to make a decision about an offer.
Some employers require employment application forms be filled out either prior any phone or face to face interview. Be prepared to have what you need to complete these forms. Sometimes they may require past wages and dates. Some states will not allow wage information to be asked. If you do not want to disclose that information or any other information you tell Top Wood Jobs, let your recruiter know.
Follow up with a short thank-you note and a brief statement that you are interested in the job and that you can contribute positively to the organization. Mailed cards are best, rather than email.
My clients are required to pay for your interview costs per our contract with them. Make sure you get from them what you need to do to submit your cost before you leave the interview. It is your responsibility to get reimbursed, Top Wood Jobs will not make those requests for you.
Make sure the employer pays for flights up front for interviews, and confirm they will reimburse you for additional traveling costs. You will need to supply them your Social Security number, birthdate and full name so they can purchase the ticket(s). For your spouse too if they will go with you.
Travel reimbursement at the US Federal Government rate if you drive your own car. All your interview travel expenses will be reimbursed. YOu are required to ask the employer at the end of your face to face interview how to submit your expenses to them and obtain their mailing address.
They will not pay you for loss of wages for the interview.
You must have a valid driver's license.
Last but not least, thank the interviewer(s) for taking time from their work schedule to meet with you.

Offer:

If you are told you will get an offer, do not give notice to your current employer until you pass the new employer’s background checks and drug testing. You do not want to give notice until it is sure you can start work for the new employer.
Employers can rescind offers after they have been submitted if there is good reason. This is rarely done but until the background checks, drug testing and offer negotiation are completed the offer can be rescinded.
Upon receiving an offer, we should talk on the phone about it before you make a final decision. Top Wood Jobs can help negotiate the offer. Always get us a copy of the offer before signing (name and date) and the signed offer as soon as you send it to the client. CC us..
Make sure to review the offer. Sometimes offer details can be missing. You can request that those details be spelled out before accepting the offer. Such details as how the relocation will be paid and by whom and when, or if there is some maximum amount that will be paid. You can respond to the offer with details you expect to be included. Other details as far as when you will receive your first paycheck, start medical insurance, who is covered by medical insurance and how much it will cost you, full details about the medical coverage, bonus program details are all good questions to ask before accepting the offer. An offer can be rescinded by an employer for any reason.
You should be ready to accept an offer within two to three days. If you take much longer than that you may be passed on. You must accept by the what the offer explains or it could be rescinded.
The employer is supposed to call you to confirm on the phone if the offer is acceptable. By now you should have discussed this in the phone interview and at least the end of the face to face interview.
After an offer acceptance you should be prepared to start work within 2- 3 weeks. The sooner the better.
Your current employer is not being contacted without your and Top Wood Jobs approval. This should not happen until you have given notice to them.
Keep Top Wood Jobs abreast of any other current job interviews or offers you may receive.
We recommend you get legal advice on any non-disclosures or non-competes if they are issued you.
Employers could check for verification of education, previous employment, criminal background, felonies, DUIs, motor vehicle record and credit checks.
If you have had a DUI in the past 10 years you may not be able to work in Canada. Check with your lawyer.
Be prepared to have your current employer counter the offer if they want to keep you employed with them when you give notice. Keep in mind why you were leaving for the new opportunity. Has anything changed? If all that has changed is more money or a promotion, was money or promotion why you were looking? Employers often use this avenue to keep the candidate employed long enough to call a recruiter like us to replace the candidate on their own terms. So be ready to lose your job later when you might not have an opportunity.

Working with Top Wood Jobs:

Keep us informed of all conversations you have with the employer prior to employment. Copy me on emails and let me know how your phone calls go with them.
Top Wood Jobs has all authority to divulge what the candidate tells us to the employer.
Your recruiter will check back in with you for up to three months after a start date. We expect you to reply!
Once Top Wood Jobs has submitted your resume to the employer, wait to hear back from them. Do not contact them.
If anything changes in your location or employment status once your resume has been submitted, let us know. We will inform the employer your current job status and location.
Keep the jobs we discussed confidential. Many employers request confidential job searches and will not take kindly if they figure out someone has broke that trust. We realize you need to discuss with family and others about the company Top Wood Jobs has applied you to for your due diligence. Just be careful so we don’t both lose the job opportunity.
Often employers will not tell us or candidates why they were not considered. Do not expect that you will get this feedback.
At any time, if you want to back out on a job Top Wood Jobs has submitted you to, please let us know as soon as possible.
If Top Wood Jobs places you at one of their jobs they submitted you to, Top Wood Jobs can not recruit away from that company later. That does not prevent us from talking to you after you have been placed.
The job description Top Wood Jobs post is from Top Wood Jobs. You should always ask for the employer's job description and do not rely on the one from Top Jobs and ask the employer for any details you need in the interviews.

Benefits and Wages

Interviews

Relocating

Resumes

Test - Pre-employment and Personality

Travel

Industries Include:

All Wood Products and Forest Industry
Biomass Energy
Flooring
Hardboard
I-Joist
Laminating
LVL
Pulp & Paper
OSB
OSL
MDF
Particleboard
Plywood
Sawmills and Lumber
Wood Pellets
WPC - Wood Plastic Composites

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