Internships With the Library of Congress

Originally posted on February 19, 2009

I love books. I love them so much that I won second place in my college’s book collecting contest. If you feel the same way, then an internship with the Library of Congress might be an awesome way to spend the summer. In case you aren’t aware, the Library of Congress “is the nation’s oldest federal cultural institution and serves as the research arm of Congress. It is also the largest library in the world, with millions of books, recordings, photographs, maps and manuscripts in its collections.” Now that we have the Internet that may not impress all of you, but I think it’s pretty cool that they’ve compiled so much information under one roof. Continue reading about Library of Congress…
Article by Willy Franzen of One Day, One Internship and One Day, One Job

Apple iNternships Never Go Out of Style

I love Apple products, and I have for almost 20 years. My first computer was an Apple IIe, and now One Day, One Internship, One Day, One Job, and Found Your Career are all run from a MacBook Pro and an iPhone (ok, we have a server that is not a Mac). I’m constantly amazed by the innovation that comes out of Apple, and I’m probably unreasonable about how much I prefer Apple products. I mean, I sit in front of my computer and watch live blog updates whenever they’re making product announcements. In my mind there’s no cooler company than Apple, so it’s surprising that it took me this long to feature their internships. Continue reading about Apple…
Article by Willy Franzen of One Day, One Internship and One Day, One Job

Expatriate for hire: How to find a job in your new country

Originally posted on Confessions of an Executive Restaurant Recruiter
Whether you are a trailing spouse, have moved abroad to study or are just the adventurous type, finding a job in a foreign country is a special challenge. A challenge, yes! But not impossible.
Talk to strangers
Throw yourself into your local market by joining social groups that match your interests. Not only will you meet likeminded people but you will also start forming your local personal network. Don’t be afraid to let everyone in your network know that you are looking for a job. Be sure to find out how you can help others as well. Pretty soon you will have a support group of contacts to help you with your job search. A good place to find social groups is Meet Up: http://www.meetup.com .
When in Rome
Imitate the locals. How do they format their CV’s (resumes)? What information do they include in their cover letters and CV’s? What salutations doe they use? Some countries require personal information including birth date and marital status. Others require including a photo and personal hobbies. Use the search function on the JobsinStockholm.com blog to find CV and cover letter tips for Sweden.
Check your ego at the door
You were a high flyer at your last company poised for a huge promotion. Or perhaps you just got a graduate degree and want a position you feel you deserve. Check your ego at the door. It is possible that you will be offered a position junior to your previous one. And it is equally likely that you may have to accept lower pay. Remember your goal is to get a job in your new country. You should also be prepared to change careers.
Become an entrepreneur
Flex your expertise or follow your passion and start your own business. You can become a consultant or start your own business. The Internet is an open door. Find a niche audience and fulfill a need. JobsinStockholm.com was born out of necessity.
Don’t be a know it all
Take classes to sharpen your skill set. Make sure you are up to date with the skills that are sought after where you live. Make yourself marketable. And by all means learn the local language. While you may be able to find a job in English you will be seen as a better colleague if you can speak the local language around the water cooler.
Finding a job in a foreign country is difficult but not impossible. Develop and use your personal network. Adapt your CV and cover letter to the local market. Don’t be tempted to turn down a job offer with a lesser title or pay. Consider starting your own business and take classes to hone your skills and learn the local language. In time you will be happily employed.
Adrianne George is an American expat living in Stockholm. She is the founder of the JobsinStockholm.com job board and authors the JobsinStockholm.com blog: http://jobsinstockholm.blogspot.com .
Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates seeking entry-level jobs and other career opportunities.

Five Ways To Prevent Emailed Resumes From Getting Blocked as Spam

If you’re looking for work and creating a resume, you should not only carefully review it, but also consider some tactics to make sure your emailed resume isn’t getting lost in employers’ spam email filters.
If you’re on the hiring side of the desk, check for the same problem, which may be be preventing you from seeing the resumes of highly qualified candidates.
When this post was originally written in October 2004, the Wall Street Journal had just reported on this problem of the growing use of spam filtering technology and its potential interference with emailed resumes (excerpted here).
Spam-filtering technology has improved since then, while spammers have changed methods, so we’ve expanded, updated, and republished this post to help today’s jobseekers with the following resume tips. Continue reading …
Article by George Lenard, the originator of George’s Employment Blawg, has over twenty years of experience in all aspects of labor and employment law, including preventive law as well as litigation. His special interests include employment discrimination, sexual harassment, and noncompetition agreements. He is currently a managing partner with Harris, Dowell, Fisher & Harris, L.C., in St. Louis, Missouri, and lives in the suburb of University City with his wife and family.

Will Your Resume Get You the Job You Want?

So you’ve been laid off, or are afraid you will be, or maybe you’re just keeping your options open. You’re scouring the job boards and know you’ve got to get moving on finding another job.
Regardless of the amount of education, experience or creative vision you think you can bring to that new job, none of it will get you in the door if your resume is never seen. You can do everything right in terms of resume writing – great objective, short, neat, filled with action words, blah blah blah. But if no one sees your resume, it’s not going to matter.
You’ve got two things going against you. One is the danger of screen-bot limbo – the automated search and screening methods that strive to be perfect in lining up candidates and hiring managers. The second is your “perfect” resume isn’t perfect in today’s personal branding world. Either way, you’re stuck.

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Acing the Job Interview, Coaching Tips

For most people, especially those job seekers with very little interviewing success, there is nothing more nerve-racking than preparing for a job interview. That unexpected call from a potential employer sends many job seekers into anxiety and increases their stress levels.
As the lead Certified Employment Interview Coach with, I always advise my clients to take an interview invitation as a compliment, as it shows that the employer considers them qualified for the job opening. An interview provides you with the chance to “close the deal” with an employer and to show that you are the right candidate for the job. There are common mistakes that job seekers make during and prior to an interview, however the following are things you can do to ensure that you align your key interview messages with the requirements of the role you are targeting.

1. Research the industry and organization you are targeting.
2. Evaluate the skills and experience that you bring to this role – focus on selling or aligning those skills to the needs of the employer and be ready to support them with examples.
3. Dress professionally to impress the employer – it is always best to be on the side of caution and give up the trendy clothing for conservative business wear.
4. Be on time – better yet, try to arrive early.
5. Make eye contact – this is paramount, think about all the negative feedback Senator John McCain received from the public for his inability to make eye contact with Senator Barack Obama during the recent US Presidential debate. Eye contact is critical.
6. Demonstrate enthusiasm for the job and the company – this shows your self-motivation and fit for the role.
7. Always ask questions – most job seekers treat the interview as an opportunity for the employer to learn about them, however it is also an opportunity for job seekers to learn about a potential employer. So engage the interviewer, and get as much facts as you can about the company and the role so you can make an informed decision if presented with a job offer.
8. Demonstrate courtesy by saying “thank you” – remember to send a thank you note following an interview.

Finally, if you have difficulty conveying your strengths in an interview, I suggest working with a Certified Interview Coach. As the Head of Interviewing Coaching at Resume Solutions, I work with job seekers at all levels from students to CEOs, helping them identify their strengths and weakness. In addition, if you need help, do not hesitate to call on a professional interview coach at Resume Solutions . Your career may depend on it!
Surranna Sandy, a Certified Professional Résumé Writer and Certified Employment Interview Coach and former Human Resources Management Professional, is the Founder and President of Résumé Solutions . The company offers advanced résumé writing, career and interview coaching services for entry level, mid-career through to executive clientele in the global marketplace, and her team of client focused résumé writers and career coaches have helped thousands of job seekers meet their career goals.

How Social Networking Sites Can Derail Your Job Search

For many, the start of a new year means the start of a new job search using the internet to research employers. For up coming college graduates in particular, it is opportunity to get a head start in getting their careers off the ground using online resources. At the same time, many employers are also researching potential job candidates through Google, Myspace.com and Facebook.com and what they are finding could be used as reasons not to hire you.
A recent poll conducted for Careerbuilder.com showed that 26 percent of hiring managers admitted to using the Internet to perform background checks on job candidates. A further 12 percent admitted to using social networking sites such as MySpace.com and Facebook.com as a screening tool.
For many college students, social networking sites such as Facebook.com and Myspace.com are a core part of their cyber profile used for networking. However, many students are surprised to learn that their candid and sometimes sexually explicit photos and the details of their drinking and dating lives in their profiles can negatively affect their job search. Those disparaging comments, risqué photos, inappropriate language and lewd jokes posted on their profiles could be viewed as a reflection of their character by a potential employer.
According to an HR director, people should carefully consider their potential audience and the impression they may have based on your pictures, personal opinions, and ideas posted online. “We were in the process of extending an offer to a great candidate, until his myspace.com page was brought to our attention. He had a great resume, went to an elite school and had impeccable references. However, our review of his myspace profile highlighted his recreational drug use. This made us immediately reconsider hiring him,” says an HR Director for a financial services company in Toronto, Ontario. “Our company is very conscious of client relations and our public image and we could not risks this candidate’s background being taken as a reflection of organization. ”
A recent poll of Resume Solutions student clients showed that over 60% of the respondents were unaware that their profiles on social networking websites could be viewed by potential employers. This is surprising, despite the increased media attention focused on employers reviewing Myspace and Facebook prior to making hiring decisions.
Prior to starting a new job search, it is recommended that job seekers perform a Google search on their names to find out what a potential employer may read or see about them online. If any questionable content is discovered, content you would not feel comfortable if an employer or your parents view, then request that the site’s webmaster remove it immediately.
Questionable content may include nude photos, slanderous comments or photographs that show you in inappropriate situations. Keep in mind you may encounter resistance in getting the content removed, however, you can let them know that they may be affecting your future job prospects and you may have no choice but to seek legal recourse. For that information, absolutely you cannot have removed due to lack of control, construct a plausible answer to counter or explain away to a hiring manager.
We are not advocating that social networking sites are to be used solely for job searching or building a web portfolio of your resume and job skills, but it makes sense to remove as much of the negative content about yourself as is possible. You should be smart and discreet in your online communications and consider creating private profiles for just your family members and friends.
There are many ways to create a “positive cyber profile” that does not affect your career prospects. College students can create personal web pages and profiles at social networking sites that include their resumes, hobbies and interests, details on leadership activities or academic successes. You can also include photos of yourself but ensure they do not include explicit materials. Job seekers can use their online profiles to demonstrate their excellent communication skills, establish a professional image of themselves prior to an in-person meeting, demonstrate their creativity and diverse interest – things that can set them apart from other job seekers.
As more and more users flock to social networking sites, the affect these sites have on the job search and candidate screening may include employers going even deeper into candidate’s personal and professional lives. It is therefore advisable to put nothing online that have the potential to hurt your future job prospects and include anything that would help you in landing a new job. Use common sense when creating an online profile.
Remember that employers who do online searches are looking for reasons not to hire you.
Surranna Sandy, a Certified Professional Résumé Writer and Certified Employment Interview Coach and former Human Resources Management Professional, is the Founder and President of Résumé Solutions The company offers advanced résumé writing, career and interview coaching services for entry level, mid-career through to executive clientele in the global marketplace. Her team of client focused résumé writers and career coaches have helped thousands of job seekers meet their career goals.

Five Friends Who Will Help You Lead Well

On numerous occasions I’ve been asked, “Who can I read to become an effective leader at work?” If I have some sense that the inquirer understands what leadership is, what are its parts (i.e., a leader, the followers, the messages, the context, and the goal), and how those parts fit together, I offer these authors without reservation: Rokeach, Glasser, Golemen, Weaver, and Greenleaf. For anyone unfamiliar with these names, here is a brief explanation of why each one’s work is important to leading others. These are five good friends who will help you lead well.
1. Effective leaders understand the individual and collective uniqueness of their followers. To do this, effective leaders act based on awareness of the followers’ value system. Milton Rokeach’s work is indispensable in that he explains what values are, he catalogues them, and he clarifies how they impact human behavior.

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Choosing a Career in the Humanities

If you’re considering a career as a college professor, choosing a college major in the humanities, or going to graduate school in the humanities, you need to read Patricia Cohen’s article in yesterday’s New York Times: “In Tough Times, The Humanities Must Justify Their Worth.” By humanities, Ms. Cohen includes “languages, literature, the arts, history, cultural studies, philosophy and religion.”
Some of the 300+ comments are worth reading too – readers talking about their own career choices in the humanities.
It’s true that career paths go through ups and downs in popularity and outlook. But the question of whether a humanities degree, undergraduate or graduate, is worth the investment (monetary and time) has been around for awhile.
My take is that if you have a clearly defined career goal in mind, you will be more likely to achieve it – whether you want to teach philosophy at an elite college or write critically acclaimed novels.
The problem with getting a humanities degree is that if you just choose one because you have no career goals, you’re more likely to suffer in finding a job later – rendering your investment less useful. At least if you “fall into” most science or technology degrees (nuclear physics maybe not so much), you have more career options to fall back on. Science and math skills are the foundation for many jobs.
Bottom line: choose your career path before choosing a training program, college major or graduate school. Do your research and investigation early – don’t wait until after you’ve taken out all the loans, gotten the diploma, and are sitting in Career Services wondering what job to apply for. Get started with the 3 steps at our website:

1. Know yourself,
2. Know your options, and
3. Make a good decision.

Article by, Juliet Wehr Jones, J.D. and courtesy of Career Key, striving to help all people make the best career choices, worldwide.

The Career Network Safety Net: 3 Tips for Keeping It Strong

By choosing a career you enjoy, you’re more likely to pay attention to it. You’ll give your career path the care and upkeep it needs. Part of keeping your skills current and in demand is knowing your industry and having a strong personal network – people who serve as a sounding board, give you information what’s going on with other employers, teach you new skills, and set an example you want to follow.
A career network safety net includes people who support and strengthen you in your career, with whom you stay in touch and connect.

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