How to spot a job that is not right for you

Felix Tarcomnicu, CEO and Founder of ResumeOK.com

We work approximately a quarter of our lives.  So isn’t it important that we at least like our jobs?  It makes sense that we should.  However, many people go through their careers hating their jobs, and just going through the motions everyday just to earn that paycheck every two weeks.  Don’t be one of those people.  Instead, find a career that you enjoy and find a job that is a good fit for you.  But identifying a job or career you love takes time.  But in the meantime, you should do as much as possible to avoid jobs that you know are not for you.  How do you do that?  Here are five ways to go about identifying a job that might not be for you.  Use this list to check if it aligns with your values and cross-reference it with any jobs you might want to apply for, or currently have. Continue Reading

How to Tell if You Enjoy Your Job or if It’s Just a Paycheck

Do you love your job? Or has that honeymoon phase of your first job out of college transitioned instead to a dull and monotonous everyday chore? When asked what you do, do your eyes glaze over momentarily before you desperately try to change the subject? Are you going places in your career? Or just cashing it in?

If doubts—whether small or substantial—about your job are becoming a more frequent part of your daily life, perhaps it’s time to really reflect on your situation. Continue Reading

Volunteering Your Way to Steady Employment: How to Gain Experience Without Having a Job

Young man carrying a box with food donations. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

One of the main attributes employers look for when reviewing potential candidates for a job is experience in the field. Unfortunately, there’s a catch-22 with this because job-seekers can’t exactly gain experience for the job when employers only hire those with experience. Although this fact might make the situation seem hopeless, one viable solution for gaining experience is by taking advantage of volunteering opportunities relevant to your industry. If you’ve been struggling to gain experience and/or find a job in your field, consider the following advice for finding the right volunteer work for you. Continue Reading

Are You Shooting “PAR” on the Resume Course?

Written By Jimmy Sweeney
Author of the brand new, Amazing Resume Creator
Shooting PAR on a golf course is tough! Shooting “PAR” with your resume is easy if you know the P-A-R formula. Here’s a specific strategy that will impress any hiring manager and benefit you in a BIG way.
P = PROBLEM
A = ACTION
R = RESULT
When writing about your experience at your previous place of employment, state the PROBLEM you encountered, the ACTION you took to resolve the conflict, and the RESULT that occurred because of what you did. Use clear, focused wording and be brief so the hiring manager can take it in with a sweep of the eye.

Continue Reading

Facebook is a Networking Tool All Candidates Should Take Advantage Of

A lot of recent college graduates are on the lookout for internships or entry level jobs in their chosen career fields. Some graduates prefer to hold on until they complete their highest level of education while others begin their careers right away and continue higher studies at the same time. One of the best ways to land an internship or entry level job is to look through some of the best job boards on the Internet.
Most recruiters these days advertise on the Internet for a wider reach in order to pick and choose the right person for a particular job. Job boards maintain databases of all jobs available and the qualifications needed. All people have to do is to go to these sites, search for the jobs that suit them, click on the links provided and submit their data online. No standing in queues for application forms, no sending forms by “snail mail” or courier. Everything is done online.
Things have become really simple these days. If you have joined a social networking site likeFacebook and have developed a large circle of friends there, it can be an excellent place to look for a job. Most jobs these days are found through networking. Recruiters are looking for credentials that can be verified and networking on Facebook can make it easier to verify candidates’ credentials through their profiles and friends, who may also be references. While credentials are important, a person who has a good disposition, is known to be sincere, hard working and easy going, would certainly be preferred by recruiters. Cultural fit is often considered more important than qualifications.
Networking through Facebook is an excellent way for candidates to find the best jobs. With the ongoing recession, a lot of people have been laid off as many companies have been downsizing. More stable companies are taking advantage of this situation and adding to their workforces. The number of jobs is not dwindling, but the number of job seekers has risen tremendously. It has always been survival of the fittest and those with the maximum exposure, through networking, are faring better than those without it. If you are seeking an internship or entry level job, it would certainly make sense to explore all options, and Facebook is one option that offers an excellent opportunity for networking that all candidates should take advantage of.
Article written by a freelance writer

Are There Entry Level Jobs in YOUR Career Field?

It seems as if everyone is asking the same question these days: Where are all the jobs?! It’s true that jobs are out there, but it’s also true that the majority of available jobs are obtained through networking. That doesn’t mean that visiting job boards and company Web sites should be abandoned in favor of networking only. It just means that entry level job candidates have to explore every option to find the jobs they desire.
Some industries, like information technology (IT) and healthcare seem to thrive no matter what the economy is doing, of course, because computers are a permanent fixture in our lives and we need people who can fix them; and we will always need healthcare professionals to help us either get well or stay well. But not everyone is cut out for those career fields, even in a support capacity like medical secretary or billing. So, the question is: What other career fields are doing well?
“Anything online or with the social media is huge right now,” said Kassi Belz, director of client services for Mass Media Corporate Communications. “Learning new technology is really important for new professionals.”
Although I can’t say that public relations is thriving in general, Steven Himmelrich, founder of Himmelrich PR, has continued to prosper. “Knock on wood!!! We have been fortunate to work with clients who understand the value of public relations, especially now,” said Himmelrich. “We are spending more time helping clients understand and implement social media opportunities and interacting directly with their audiences, rather than relying on traditional media for promotion.”
The federal government, including the military, always seem to be hiring, so there are options. There are many posts on this site featuring the names of companies that are hiring. Because the competition is so much more fierce than it was this time last year, it’s going to take a lot more work to find just the right job with just the right employer; but take heart because it can be done.

Earn Money and Learn Valuable Skills From the Comfort of Your Own Home (Dorm)

Because of the tight economy, some employers are putting their internship programs on hold. Of those who aren’t, they are a lot pickier than they were before things got bad. So how does a busy college student get valuable work experience? One way is by applying for a work from home job. ProfitonInternet.com is just one of many sites that allows anyone interested in working from home to select from thousands of job listings.
College students often have busy class schedules and active social lives, so many wait until the summer to do their internships. But for those who like doing internships during the fall and spring semesters, working online might be just the ticket. There always seems to be a demand for data entry clerks and typists, so that’s one way to earn money while getting practical work experience like meeting deadlines and working with others to complete a project. For writing majors who are struggling to find writing internships, ProfitonInternet.com has plenty of writing jobs posted, too. There’s even a section on the site for people interested in earning money on ebay. Imagine that!
Earning money online is especially great for students who have unpaid internships because it allows them to set work around their class and work schedules. And they will get additional work experience to add to their resumes. There’s really no downside.

3 Habits of Highly Ineffective Job Seekers

After speaking to and counseling nearly 10,000 job seekers since 1996, I’ve witnessed many successes. I’ve seen people sail smoothly from one position to the next, in good times and in bad.Unfortunately, I’ve seen many failures, too. Some folks spin their wheels and struggle for months to land a job, no matter what the economy is doing.
That’s just life — failure is more common than success. But it need not be common for you, if you’re willing to learn from failure.
With that in mind, I’ve done some thinking and found that unsuccessful job seekers have three habits in common.
Avoid them if you want to find work fast …
Ineffective Habit 1) Begin with no specific job in mind. Many people, thrust into the labor market, immediately turn to the job listings (online or in the newspaper) and start looking for jobs.

Continue Reading

Learn Proper Interview Techniques and Get the Job of Your Dreams

A lot of people were recently forced back into the job market, placing career veterans in direct competition with recent college graduates for entry level jobs. Despite the recession, a lot of companies are still hiring, but employers are more selective because mistakes in the current economy are twice as costly as they were before the recession hit. That means a lot of great people are going to have to work really hard to get themselves noticed.
If you already know your resume is impressive and up-to-date, then it’s time to start honing your interviewing skills.
Carole Martin, “The Interview Coach,” is hosting a “ Live Speed Interview Event” on January 14 and 15 at 8:00 p.m. EST, via teleconference, to help people learn how to shine once they land an interview with an employer. Martin’s live teleconferences are actually two 60-minute “tele-classes” that can be attended by anyone interested in acing an interview and getting a “dream job.”
Four brave candidates will be interviewed during each session and receive immediate feedback. I say brave because the other candidates will be listening and – I hope – taking notes and learning from Martin’s expert advice.
Candidates who register for Martin’s Live Speed Interview Event will receive all the relevant details by email.

Is Temp to Perm Still a Good Strategy?

The following guest post by Susan Kenndy will help keep job seekers up-to-date with what’s going on in temp agencies
You hear it everywhere… get a temp job and it may turn into a permanent position. Good idea, right?? After all, it gives you the opportunity to really see what the company is like and how the employees are treated. And, it lets the company see you in action. So why isn’t everyone doing it?
Well, almost everyone is, or trying to. A local temp agency told me the other day that they were “saturated” with candidates who are all trying to do the same thing. It’s a tough market out there and there is a lot of available and experienced talent trying to do the same thing. And although about half of their college grad candidates are able to go from “temp to perm”, this agency offered up some specific ideas to help.

• First, do whatever the agency asks of you, no matter how short term or menial it may be, to the best of your ability. Once you get positive feedback from the company, the recruiter, who only has about 10 minutes to fell a slot, is more likely to call you back for better assignments.
• You need to have a top notch resume and make a positive impression on everyone you meet and work with. Employers want to see some part time work experience and a strong work ethic. They want to know you are competent and willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done.
• Finally, be patient. If there is an opportunity to become a permanent employee, it will most likely not happen right away. Most employers have to pay a finder’s fee to the temp agency if they hire you within a specific time frame so that will have an impact on any decisions they make.

Going from temp to perm is still a good strategy but it now takes more effort and patience.
Article by, Susan Kennedy, career counselor for college graduates and young professionals