Most people would prefer not to think about insurance. But in the event of an injury or an accident we are thankful that insurance will cover the loss.
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Auto Damage Appraisers spend much of their time in driveways, garages, repair shops. The Appraiser estimates the final cost of the repairs; parts plus labor; to settle an insurance claim.
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When insured property is damaged or stolen, it is necessary to file a claim, notifying the insurance company and seeking payment for the loss.
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Does your house stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter? If so thank the workers that installed the insulation. They did their job properly.
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If you have the mental agility and flexibility to move with a fast changing industry the future is bright in Information Technology Services.
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Industrial Truck Operators sometimes called Forklift Operators are responsible for the movement of manufactured goods, grain, coal, construction materials, or other heavy items around a factory or on and off ships.
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Many jobs carry an element of risk. Through the years however, the United States has tried to make even the most dangerous places to work as safe as possible.
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Every factory depends on production managers for smooth operations. In a small plant, this is the plant manager; in larger facilities, a number of production managers may cover many different operations and report to an overall plant manager.
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Industrial Machinery is production machinery. This means at least two things. First the machine is located in a plant of some sort, and second when it breaks down, getting it running again is essential.
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Finding the most effective way to produce a product or a service is the job of industrial engineers. They are the bridge between management goals and the work that must be done to achieve those goals.
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Caring for a small child or helping a grieving family face the death of a loved one. It takes a special person to work in Human Services.
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Human Resource Managers are in the business of making positive connections. They're employed by companies and government agencies to match people to jobs.
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America is a country on the move, so the outlook for employment in the hotel and motel business is good. Making sure rooms, meeting and banquet rooms, are clean and equipped is the job of the housekeeping supervisor.
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The desk clerk is usually the first person a guest encounters when checking into a hotel or motel. So in addition to perform specific duties, it is important to make a good first impression.
If you enjoy interacting with people, like to dress well, and need a job that doesn't require a lot of training, you might consider finding work as a host or hostess in a restaurant, lounge, or coffee shop.
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Recreation and celebration in America is big business. Just about everyone likes to play and party and for every form of fun there is work to be done.
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As both hospital costs, and the number of elderly citizens grow, home health aides are playing an increasingly important role in nations healthcare system.
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Highways are an essential part of America. All across the country people use highways to travel to work, for vacations, to visit family, and even just to go shopping.
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If you're ready to get out into the working world, and you've decided college is not for you ... there are plenty of occupations that offer good livings for those that work hard.
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In many companies one job title represents a job title that is almost always welcome with a sigh of relief or an urgent question, the Help Desk Technician.
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HVAC Technicians are specialists in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment. But a more accurate title may be Human Comfort Specialist.
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Health Science Workers have a direct impact on people's lives every minute of every day. They save lives and improve the quality of life for others on a daily basis.
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The first century of the Industrial Revolution, left a legacy of waste that government and environmental experts are trying to clean up.
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People have always wanted to look their best, and hairdressers or Cosmetologists as they may be called, have helped them acheive that goal.
Assembly lines can take a manufactured item almost all the way to completion. In fact some kinds of manufactured goods make it all the way to packaging without every being touched by human hands. Many products require the finishing touches...
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Jobs in the construction industry are as exciting as the Heavy Equipment Operator's job can be. Grader, bulldozer and scraper operators maneuver bulldozers, front-end loaders and other vehicles that have shovels and large plows and scrapers attached to them.
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One employer that will continue to be in business no matter what happens to the economy is the government. Whether it be at the federal state or town level
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Glass making is an art a science, and an industry. Glass Blowers are skilled in a craft that takes strength, steady hands and care. A glass tube is heating to a melting point then breath or compressed air.
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Chief Executives and General Managers are at or near the top of the chain of command, and while they may ultimately report to a board of directors or the stock holders they have a great deal of power within their organizations.
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When you walk onto a casino floor, it might look like chaos, but it's actually a very carefully controlled, very carefully watched operation.
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People who come to work usually start as gaming change persons, and booth cashiers as these positions may be learned on the job. To hold one of these positions you have to be good with numbers, because the entire day is spent exchanging coins for cash.
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A Casino Dealer is anyone who works at a table. Be it poker, blackjack, craps, baccarat, or roulette. Conducting these games can be both exiting and challenging.
There are many kinds of games at a casino, but they all have one bottom line: money. Exchanging cash for the chips used to play and back again from chips to cash is the job of the Casino Cage Cashier.
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In addition to the common games of chance like slot machines and roulette, casinos offer legal bets on the outcomes of horse races. In Nevada casinos are allowed to offer bets on sporting events as well.
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Most of us take the safety of the food we eat and its availabilty for granted. Yet many visitors to America marvel at the variety and abundance on display in our grocery stores.
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Although there are few formal requirements for food preparation workers not everyone has what it takes to keep a busy kitchen running smoothly at dinner time rush hours.
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Flowers add a special touch to any occasion. But they would be considerably less special were it not for the Floral Designers who work at most retail florist shops.
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It's a job that looks glamorous on the outside, but on the inside there's lots of hard work. Flight Attendants are important people. They are responsible for making sure safety regulations are observed on their aircraft.
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Guess WHO is Hiring 10,000 new employees a month?
Did you say the US government? That is correct.
Kate, one of my career counseling clients, is a 50-year old Marketing Communications professional. I told her the federal government was a good job prospect for her. She had not even considered the feds as an employer since she assumed for her the salary would be too low. She was wrong. Right now our federal government is adding more jobs than any organization out there. They are hiring adding nearly 10,000 workers a month! The government has not hired this many people this fast during the last 50 years. So that is great news if you land one of these jobs that are offering excellent salaries and numerous benefits.
Want more good news? This may shock you - it surprised me. The number of federal workers earning six-figure salaries, according to a USA TODAY, is 19 % of all federal employees. That's correct 19% of federal employees are making salaries of $100,000 or more - and that's without overtime pay and bonuses are added in. The newspaper noted that the total number of federal workers earning $100,000 or more is 382,758 employees - and growing! In fact, the government has had a 46% increase in the number of workers hired since the recession started were added to the payroll earning over six figures.
A persuasive sales letter will separate your job application from the avalanche of resumes that land on the desk of employers.
In most instances, your cover letter will be your first and only opportunity to make a good first impression on the potential employer.
It's purpose is simple: capture the potential employer's attention and cause him to go on to read your resume which you hope will lead to an interview and an offer for a job. It is meant to open the door so you can make the case that your training and experience qualify you as the best answer for the needs of the employer.
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With more leisure time than ever the fitness craze has created better opportunities for sports instructors and coaches.
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Competition at retail stores has never been fiercer. There are more stores than ever selling identical products, at identical prices often within a few yards of each other.
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There was a time that people actually believed that computers would lead to the paperless office. It never happened. Instead computers have ended up generating more paper printouts than ever before.
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Fire Inspectors fight fires by trying to keep them from starting. As part of the departments Fire Prevention Division inspectors examine commercial buildings looking for conditions that might cause a fire.
Fire Fighter have one of the most hazardous of all occupations. It is almost one of the most essential. For nothing is more damaging or deadly than fire.
Financial Managers follow the money. Their titles and responsibilities vary but almost every business relies on them working alone or part of team to protect the company's bottom line.
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Financial Services Professionals are people who do for business what most of us have to do for ourselves; keep track of money.
Do you love looking at clothes and imagining outfits that you put together yourself. If you're passionate and persistent you might have what it takes to be a professional.
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Farmers and Ranchers live in a close connection with the cycle of seasons, the earth and it's creatures. Growing crops and raising livestock is a profession as old as civilization itself.
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Agriculture today is big business. That means large farms that require large specialized machinery. Tractors with 400 horse power, hay bailers, planters, and augers, milking machines, and spraying and irrigation equipment. Name a machine and odds are it gets heavy use.
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There are two types of physicians, the MD or Medical Doctor and DO or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. They diagnose illnesses, and prescribe and administer treatment for people suffering from injury or disease.
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Etchers and Engravers perform a centuries old craft using high tech tools for speed and precision. They use specialized tools and machinery to create decorative engravings.
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Epidemiologists are like medical detectives. They work to determine who gets diseases and why. They train through four years of college and an additional two to four years of masters degrees or doctoral study.
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Just about everything we do has an impact on the environment. Measuring that impact is the job of Environmental Engineers. They apply their engineering skills to assess the effect of projected or actual human activity.
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Most employement interviewers work for either for personnel staffing firms and employment agencies or for state job service centers. They may also be called Personnel Consultants of Human Resource coordinators.
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Emergency Medical Technicians or EMTs are the men and women who are usually first on the scene when there is a heart attack victim, a near drowning, automobile injuries, gunshot wounds, or anything else requiring immediate medical attention.
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When a crisis occurs, whether an act of war or terrorism, a technological emergency, such as a nuclear power plant accident, or hazardous spill, or a natural disaster, someone has to coordinate the response.
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Elementary School Teachers play an indispensable role in the education or our school children. Because they work with children who are very young Elementary Teachers have a golden opportunity to help shape the educational, social and moral development of children in many positive ways.
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Robots are no longer found only in science fiction. Today robotics is used in most industries to perform precise repetitive tasks, handle materials, offer simply services, and even theme park entertainment.
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For years after Edison invented a light bulb, people wouldn't buy a lamp unless it could use both electricity and gas. Most assumed electricity in the home was just a fad, and they wanted to be prepared for a return to gas.
Imagine arranging wires pulsing with lethal voltages of electrical current. Now imagine doing that at the top of a utility pole, in gusting winds, or during a snow storm.
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Today's complex and increasingly smaller electronic products, are put together by Electrical and Electronic Assemblers.
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The world is powered by electricity and electrical and electronic engineers or EE's are in the thick of it.
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As production processes become more sophisticated, employers continue to look for technicians who are skilled in new technology. That is especially true for Electrical and Electronics Technicians.
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Counselors use their training experience and common sense to help people cope with family and helth problems.
The next generation of Americans is always on the horizon. People in education and training services guide young people forward.
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A qualtiy education can make a real difference in people's lives. An educational administrator plays a critical role in setting educational goals and standards in the education system.
Nowadays the construction of walls and finishing materials is usually accomplished not with the laborious application of wet plaster, but with a quick installation of drywall.
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From bread to soft drinks to tuna, the products you find on store shelves have been placed there by one of the legions of Driver Sales Workers, employed by every company with a product to sell in a retail store.
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Dispatchers are often at the hub of communication. At a taxi cab or bus company, as tow truck dispatcher, or even at a gas or water service company.
The positive health and lifestyle effects of a healthy diet are very much in the news. The people behind the headlines are Dieticians and Nutritionists.
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Whether investigating a murder or burglary, giving first aid, stopping a fight, or simply patrolling an area to prevent crime; few people are more vital to everyones safety and well being than Police Officers and Detectives.
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Electronic pagination system operators are crucial to the production of printed paper and ink materials. In fact while many traditional pre-press printing jobs are disappering, this job is among the top ten fastest growing educations not requiring a college degree.
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Dentists diagnose and treat problems that occur in teeth and the tissues of the mouth. They fill cavities, fill broken teeth, perform extractions and clean teeth. They make molds for dentures to replace missing teeth and advise patients regarding good dental hygiene.
Dental Laboratory Technicians design and create crowns, bridges, dentures, and other prosthetics from impressions taken of a patients mouth. Using molds supplied by dentists these technicians shape wax teeth that will be used as a model to cast a metal framework for the prosthetic device.
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Dental Hygienist provide preventive and corrective dental care and promote good oral hygiene and health. A typical day involves examining patients teeth and gums for disease and cavities, cleaning and polishing teeth and helping patients understand brushing and flossing techniques.
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To help keep a dental practice running efficiently Dental Assistants perform a variety of patient care, office, and laboratory duties.
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In the beginning there was the big watercooled mainframe computer housed behind glass walls, and only accessible by a select few. Today computing power is widely distributed throughout companies, thanks to local area networks or LANS.
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If it works for the fist 90 days, it will work forever. That's largely true for monitors and circuit boards, but it ignores the weak link in all data processing equipment; the electro mechanical devices.
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At the nations borders and within Customs Inspectors enforce laws about who and what can come into and leave the United States. Customs ... all » Inspectors work for the federal government.
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Customer Service Represenatives are considered a vital part of any organization that deals with consumers. Research has shown that people still prefer to talk to a live person than a machine when conducting business.
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If you or someone in your family uses a credit card, a decision had to be made whether you could be trusted to pay back the money you charge. That decision depends on the work of a credit analysts.
Because of its size, it seems amazing that any one person can handle the crane towering over the construction site.
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When it is essential to have an exact legal record of what people say, the services of court reporters are needed. They are trained to quickly create a record of testimony, speeches, conversations, and legal precedings and other events.
Some call them Messengers some call them Couriers what they do is pick up and deliver letters, important business documents, or packages.
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Counter and Rental Clerks facilitate transactions. Whether that transaction is a car rental, a video tape rental or accepting shoes to be repaired or clothes to be dry cleaned.
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Accurately predicting the costs of future projects is vital to the survival of any business. And that is why a good Cost Estimator is a valuable employee.
In the United States when a person is convicted of a crime and sentenced to serve time behind doors the system doesn't close the door to inmates future.
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Correctional Officers insure the security and safety of our nations correctional facilities at the local, state, and federal levels.
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Across the nation over seven hundred thousand restaurant cooks, prepare literally millions of meals each day, most of them cooked to order. Since different foods require different preparation techniques and cooking times, filling the dinner or for just a party of four can be a major challenge.
Fast Food Cooks work in local diners, bars, and restaurants, and in locations operated by national fast food chains. They prepare hamburgers, hotdogs, pizza, french fries, fried chicken, deli sandwiches, and other basic menu items.
Building a new high rise, shopping mall, or factory is a complicated effort. Construction Managers supervise these projects, make decisions about daily operations, and keep costs within budgets.
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Construction Laborers are skilled workers who provide much of the physically demanding labor at all kinds of construction projects. From excavation, to building, to demolition.
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When buildings, roads, bridges or utility systems are built or repaired the work must comply with various building and safety codes. Construction and Building Inspectors make sure that these codes are followed.
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Just as city police officers protect people, Fish and Game Wardens protect wildlife. In some states they're called Conservation Officers.
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In a hotel, apartment or office building a person with the title Concierge helps ease the way for visitors and residents in many ways.
Systems Analysts show companies and other organizations how to take full advantage of the billions of dollars they have invested in computer hardware and software.
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Computer skills are an asset for almost any career. That fact fills the seats of computer science classes every semester at vocational and technical schools, colleges and universities. People on the leading edge of computer technology are as prized on campus as they are in the corporate world.
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Computers are everywhere, they're in your car, in your VCR, and in your microwave oven and of course they're on your desktop at home school and work. But no computer can do anything without precise detailed instructions. Those instructions are called programs.
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Nowadays most of think of computers as the small machines that sit on the desk. But long before personal computers become popular, Computer Operators were needed to handle the huge computers that help run big business.
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Years ago the keyword for college graduates was steel, years later the hot industry was plastics, today it's computers. Computer engineers design new computers and computer related devices. They have detailed understanding of microprocessors, computer chips, and other components.
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Communication Equipment Mechanics install and maintain the switches that connect someone with someone else whenever they dial the phone. Many work in central offices, those windowless phone company buildings seen in many towns.
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Commercial Artists or graphic designers create everything from brochures to company logos to cereal boxes. They use typefaces, photographs, their own drawings, and even computer art to communicate information, convey a feeling or sell a product.
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Pleasant surroundings, beautiful clothes and floral arrangements can boost our spirits. Products and packaging that are eye catching or more likely to attract buyers than those that are not. For those reasons designers have influenced almost all products we use in our lives.
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There are few careers more challenging and more rewarding than being a member of a college faculty. Teaching at a college or university means dedicating yourself not only to the pursuit of knowledge but to passing on that knowledge.
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Psychologist study the human mind and human behavior and help people with mental and emotional problems.
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Clergy are the spiritual and religious leaders of their faith. They lead their congregations in prayer and teach and interpret religious traditions.
A job as vehicle washer is not hard to get, as long as you meet some physical requirements. You have to be strong, you have to willing to work hard for long hours, and low pay. You have to be able to lift and carry heavy objects.
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Insurance Companies Claims Examiners usually supervise claims adjustors. They make sure payments and settlements have been made in accordance with company practices and procedures, and that the adjustors repair estimates are accurate.
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Civil Engineers design roads, bridges, tunnels, dams and airports. They combine the knowledge of material science, engineering, economics, physics, geology, and hydraulics to create the physical infrastructure essential to modern life.
Many people with aches pains and other health complaints depend on Chiropractors to help them cope. Also called Doctors of Chiropractic and Chiropractice Phsycians, they treat and diagnose patients whose health problems are associated with the bodies muscular, nervous, and skeletal systems.
Social workers belong to an important profession that involves helping people solve their own problems.
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Nothing is more important than the proper nurturing of a child. Whether serving as a day care center employee, camp counselor or teach aide, nurturing is exactly what a child care worker does.
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Chemicals make up our world. Some are natural, some are made by humans (synthetic), but each chemical has it's own particular way of behaving under particular conditions. Chemists study how chemicals react with each other.
Whether the product is photographic film, pesticides, prescription drugs or food, the chances are that it uses one of the 50,000 different chemical substances manufactured by workers in the chemical industry.
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Ever wonder how lipstick is made? How 'bout housepaint, detergent, gasoline or plastic? Chemicals are key ingredients in most industrial and consumer goods, and Chemical Equipment Controllers and Operators play an important role in their production.
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From the foods we eat to our clothes furniture and automobiles, chemicals play a large role in our lives. Chemical Egnineers convert scientific discoveries into marketable products.
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Concrete and Terrazzo Finishers work with cement masons to lay durable, lasting, and often decorative concrete surfaces.
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Ceiling Tile Installers place acoustic tiles in suspended ceiling grids. To reach their workspace they often use rolling platforms called Bakers.
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Cashiers play an important role in helping businesses run smoothly and efficiently by being responsible for the sale of store merchandise.
Carpet Installing takes precision and a good deal of physical strength and agility. Installers need to be able to handle large heavy rolls of carpet and padding.
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Anyone who enjoys working with wood or making things should consider a career in carpentry. Most people know the roles carpenters play in building houses. Cutting, shaping and fastening wood, and other construction materials.
To accomplish the everyday miracles of modern care for heart patients it takes a team of professionals. Cardiovascualr Technologists and Technicians are essential members of that team.
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There are many kinds of camera work. Camera operators capture the excitement of breaking news and sports, work in studios on television broadcasts, and create exciting visual images for motion pictures and commercials.
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When buying cabinets and other furnishings for your home or offices customers often select fine wood furniture that is made by cabinet makers and bench carpenters.
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Butchers and Meat Cutters work in supermarkets and small retail shops. They cut large animal carcasses into serving sized cuts, like roasts, chops, and steaks which are sold to customers.
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Behind every successful transaction there is a team. Each individual involved in business and aadminstration performs an important piece of a big job.
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Whether across town or across country, bus drivers are people movers.
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A friendly person in many young persons lives is the School Bus Driver. These individuals are responsible for safely transporting children to and from school everyday.
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The diesel engine is the work horse powering most heavy vehicles and equipment today, because it is more durable and delivers more power than it's gasoline counterpart.
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For the frenzy of the trading floor, or surrounded by computers humming miles away from Wall Street, brokerage clerks track the progress of every player in the game of finance.
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A key player on any radio or TV show is the one you can't see or hear, the broadcast technician who keeps the show on the air. Also called operators or engineers, they're the workers who install, operate, and maintain the electronic equipment used in broadcasting.
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Masons or Stone Masons, as they are sometimes called, work with marble, granite, limestone, and other materials to build walls, walkways, and arches, and to build stone floors.
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Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks have different assignments, but they all have the same job; to help keep track of the money a business makes and spends.
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A craft as old as civilization itself now uses methods both ancient and modern. Boat Builders and Shipwrights construct and repair ships and boats of all kinds.
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If you enjoy developing scientific theories and devising tests to prove them, a career as a biological scientist could prove challenging and rewarding.
Bill and Account Collectors contact customers with overdue bills. Collectors call customers inform them of the amount due, and ask for payment.
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Bicycle's have always been reassuringly simple machines. Because their operations are visible to the human eye, it is easy to see how they work. What it does require is the ability to use hand tools to repair, adjust, and lubricate bicycles of many kinds.
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Bartenders fill the beer, wine, and mixed drink orders that waiters take from patrons seated in a restaurant or lounge. Most do the same for customers seated at the bar.
The smell of just baked, bread, rolls and muffins or the taste of a fresh pastry is hard to resist. Bakers measure and mix ingredients according to recipes, bake the dough in ovens, and decorate and finish the final products.
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The main difference between the baker at your local pastry shop and the baker at a large manufacturing firm is the environment in which they work.
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Avionics Technicians keep airplanes in the sky. They repair and maintain components used for aircraft navigation, radio communications, flight control, weather radar systems, and engine operation.
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Like nearly every other professional today Automotive Technicians need to be comfortable with computer based equipment. Todays cars are more computerized than ever.
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When you need the services of automotive glass installers and repairers, the need is usually urgent.
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Automotive Body Repairers are modern day magicians. They have the power to restore a wrecked car so completely that it looks and operates like new.
Continue reading "What's it Like to Be an Automotive Body and Related Repairer?" »
Its amazing for some of us to remember that we didn't always have automated teller machines as a read source of cash. But just as we now take ATM's for granted we also take for granted that they work, 24 hours a day. To help keep them in action we depend on the unseen work of Automated Teller Machine Servicers.
Continue reading "What's it Like to Be an Automatic Teller Machine Servicer?" »
Organized athletic events provide excitement and enjoyment for fans of many sports. Professional athletes train or practice under the direction of an athletic trainer or coach.
Continue reading "What's it Like to Be an Athlete or Sports Competitor?" »
While many manufacturing functions have been automated there still many process that may require manual assembly. And that's the job of Precision Assemblers.
Continue reading "What's it Like to Be a Precision Assembler?" »
People who like to work with things, instead of words, paper, and ideas are often more comfortable doing production work. An entry level job is on a manufacturing assembly line.
Continue reading "What's it Like to Be an Assembler or Fabricator?" »
For people who like to be active all day, who like to take their skills to new challenges and constantly changing locations the construction industry has an array of attractive jobs.
Continue reading "What's it Like to Have an Architecture or Construction Career?" »
Every doorway, wall, and window in every building is where it is because someone decided to put it there. Someone also decided what building materials would be used, what traffic patterns people would follow, and even how they would feel when entering or leaving the building.
Long before someone thought of technical schools or career colleges, becoming an apprentice in order to gain career knowledge was an established practice. In fact the value of learning by doing was esteemed so highly in the past that apprentices were expected to pay skilled craftsman for the privilege of the teaching.
When property is being sold, bought, or evaluated for a loan or estate, someone who does not have an interest in the transaction must consider its value. A Real Estate Appraiser provides that objective analysis.
Continue reading "What's it Like to Be a Real Estate Appraiser?" »
It takes a lot more than love for animals to be an Animal Control Worker, but that's a good place to start. Animal Control Workers take care of animals who are abandoned, unattended, unlicensed, mistreated or who pose a danger to the community.
Continue reading "What's it Like to Be an Animal Control Worker?" »
When people are looking for amusement or recreation they can go to places like Disney World, Six Flags, Sesame Place, Bush Gardens, and other theme parks.
Continue reading "What's it Like to Be an Amusement and Recreation Attendant?" »
Ambulette Drivers and Attendants drive vehicles and assist in transporting sick or injured people. Many of these jobs do not come with flashing lights and sirens however.
Continue reading "What's it Like to Be an Ambulette Driver and Attendant?" »
Aircraft pilots fly airplanes and helicopters to do everything from crop dusting to intercontinental travel to traffic reports for radio stations.
Continue reading "What's it Like to Be an Airline Pilot, Co-Pilot or Flight Engineer?" »
The lives and safety of everyone who flies are in the hands of Aircraft Mechanics. That's because it is the Aircraft Mechanic's job to keep every airplane and helicopter in peak operating condition.
Continue reading "What's it Like to Be an Airframe-and-Power-Plant Mechanic?" »
At first it looks like a video game, but this is very much for real. Each number on the screen represents an aircraft and the passengers lives depend on your careful swift, decisive and constant instruction.
Continue reading "What's it Like to Be an Air Traffic Controller?" »
People who work in agriculture and natural resources are carrying on a tradition as old as civilization itself.
Continue reading "What's it Like to Be an Agriculture and Natural Resources Worker?" »
Some farms grow wheat, corn or cotton. Others grow fruit or vegetables. All farms need special machines and farm equipment operators to control them.
Continue reading "What's it Like to Be an Agricultural Equipment Operator?" »
Designing a flood control system for a community threatened by a river, designing a farm of the future for a major corporation, supervising production of new strains of plants; these are just some of the varied jobs an Agricultural Egnineer might do.
Continue reading "What's it Like to Be an Agricultural Engineer?" »
Applied Science in the Biological and Agricultural Industries has enabled our country to become one of the largest food and medicine producers in the world.
Continue reading "What's it Like to Be an Agricultural and Food Science Technician?" »
As skilled labor increases Adult and Vocational Education Teachers are needed to train entry-level job seekers and update the skills of experienced workers.
Continue reading "What's it Like to Be an Adult and Vocational Education Teacher?" »
Everyone in marketing, advertising or public relations is involved in communicating with the public, and helping to shape it's opinions and perceptions.
Continue reading "What's it Like to Be an Advertising and Promotions Manager?" »
Since the Wright Brothers inaugural flight at Kitty Hawke in 1903 aircraft have come a long way. Aeronautical Engineers work on aircraft which operate within the Earth's atmosphere, while Astronautical Engineers deal with spacecraft which operate outside the Earth's atmosphere.
Continue reading "What's it Like to Be an Aerospace Engineer" »
Administrative Services Managers work in all areas of the economy. Their areas of resonsibility are quite varied, but whether they work for a large university, a government agency or for a small company their role is always the same.
Continue reading "What's it Like to Be an Administrative Services Manager?" »
Patience compassion and common sense, these are the most important characteristics of adjustment clerks. These professionals investigate,and resolve customer complaints about merchandise, service, billing, and personal credit ratings.
Continue reading "What's it Like to Be an Adjustment Clerk?" »
If you work and pay taxes, carry insurance on your home or car, belong to an HMO or are putting money away for retirment, you depend on the work of Actuaries.
What's the difference between an accountant and an auditor? Basically accountants keep track of the money, and auditors check their work. But there's much more to the work that simply balancing the books.
Continue reading "What's it Like to Be an Accountant or Auditor?" »
Does it hook up with socks missing from the dryer?
An article on CNNMoney.com, "Job Application Black Hole," by Jessica Dickler started me thinking about the resume "black hole." Where do they go? Dickler talks about frustrated job seekers not getting any feedback from prospective employers after submitting an application or resume for an opening. Back in the day, you would send your resume and cover letter via snail mail and hope that it at least landed on the desk of someone at the company. Now we just launch them into cyberspace.
I've mentioned before that I'm finding the overall experience of job hunting online to be very exasperating. And If I respond to an ad I'm incredibly leery of sending my personal information to just anyone. Last week, when applying for a writing job, I messed up the attaching-the-resume part. It wasn't until after the fact that I realized I didn't want to send my Word doc version that includes address and phone, etc. As an afterthought, I also sent a cut-and-paste version with only an email address. Then I contacted the company's site admin. and asked to delete my first resume. Well, by this time, the potential employer thinks I'm an idiot and I'm worried about being stalked on the 'Net and in real life. (Not really, but you get the idea.) Continue reading ...
This is a post by Nancy LaFever. You can read more from her at the Centre for Emotional Wellbeing blog.
Article courtesy of Andrew G.R. and jobacle.com - your cure for carbon copy career advice!
Whether on inland waterways or on the high seas, Able Seamen play an important role in the commercial shipping industry or merchant marines. When in port they read cargo holds, and tend other machines to load or unload the ship.
It's the ultimate premium channel. The one that separates the haves from the have nots--at least when it comes to cable packages. HBO or Home Box Office is the pinnacle of cable television. Ok, maybe I'm going a bit far, but I remember how excited I was when one day HBO was suddenly part of my family's cable package. The cable company made a mistake, and I was now able to watch all kinds of great movies in the comfort of my own home (and without having my mom take me to Blockbuster). Of course, HBO, which is based in New York City, isn't just about movies. Their original programming is one of the key reasons that they have more than 40 million subscribers in the US. HBO's series past and present include Arliss, Sex and the City, Entourage, The Sopranos, Fraggle Rock, and plenty of others. Then there are their documentaries and sports coverage. It's why people pay extra for HBO (and Cinemax, its sister station): high quality programming without commercials.
Article by Willy Franzen of One Day, One Internship and One Day, One Job
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You've probably heard of the World Bank, but do you know what it is? Now's a good time to head over to Wikipedia to find out. The short version is that they're "an international financial institution that provides leveraged loans to developing countries for capital programs" with the goal of reducing poverty. Bank Information Center is a Washington, DC based non-profit that helps "developing and transitioning countries to influence the World Bank and other international financial institutions to promote social and economic justice and ecological sustainability." Basically that means that they work at the local level in countries across the world to make sure that the interests of the people are represented in the decisions of international financial institutions. Their aim is to democratize development.
Article by Willy Franzen of One Day, One Internship and One Day, One Job
Today's post came from a reader recommendation (thanks Derek!), which is awesome because I was on the company's site a few days ago and never would have imagined that they offer jobs (or even considered them a company as opposed to a website). The reason that I was on the site was that I was reading the story of Epic Beard Man (it is tagged NSFW), which is another one of those ridiculous things that has become popular on the Internet. The term that many use to describe these phenomena is meme. Know Your Meme is a website that organizes all of the world's memes. Let's say that you're looking for the story behind Rickroll because you have no idea why people think it's so funny. Know Your Meme, which is based in New York City, will not only explain the meme to you, but it will also detail the history of how the meme became popular and how it evolved. To some Know Your Meme may seem frivolous, but in many ways it's the Historical Society of the Interwebs.
Article by Willy Franzen of One Day, One Internship and One Day, One Job
When I worked in office buildings as a temp, I usually came to work and sat down to clean desks on vacuumed carpets. I took my breaks in clean kitchens and washed my hands in clean ladies' rooms. Most people take it for granted that they will have the same when they go to work every day, too ... and they shouldn't because some people don't. I once worked in a place where it was my responsibility to clean my own office space, and that included vacuuming the floor and cleaning the office windows once a month. When I temped in the call center of a property management company, I fielded many calls from people whose custodians weren't cleaning the offices or restrooms and someone had to be sent in just to take care of the things that others have the luxury to take for granted.
For the most part, it doesn't take a bachelor's degree or years of specialized training for someone to be a custodian (more commonly called a janitor) but that doesn't make his job any less important than someone in HR, Accounts Payable or IT. It's the custodian who generally replaces light fixtures or gets desk drawers unstuck or fixes faulty coffee makers.
A custodian , must accomplish a wide variety of other tasks that are often overlooked and are presumed to be easy, such as carpet installation and plumbing repairs. Sometimes there is a mess to clean up, which would be unpleasant for anyone. But there are benefits to being a custodian, and some find the overall experience soothing. Imagine being able to work, while listening to music? This is one of the few career fields where it's permitted. Custodians can spend much of their time working alone, away from the more hectic offices and common areas. It's one of the few jobs that allows a person to clear his thoughts and work out personal problems while doing his job.
Custodians learn on-the-job, though some knowledge of basic math and repairing are helpful. New hires begin training with a more experienced co-worker or supervisor, then move on to work by themselves. There is enough of a variety of work to give a custodian unique experiences every day. Equipment is constantly changing. One day a person may work with a simple broom or mop, the next it may be a buffer or wet-dry vacuum. Hours may consist of day, evening, or night schedules.
The pay is humble, but competitive. Someone who earns a reputation as a skilled and reliable custodian, is often given pay raises and sometimes bonuses, too. According to PayScale.com, a custodian with 20 years of experience or more, could earn up to approximately $43,000 a year. Someone with an entry level job as a custodian could earn anywhere from, roughly, $15,000 to $28,000 per year.
Environment also plays a role. Some may find themselves lucky enough to work in luscious environments, such as you might find in executive offices or law firms. Others may clean for smaller businesses like bank branches or churches. Both are acceptable, it just depends on your own preference.
A custodian in all honesty, works hard, doing the things that most of us would hate having to do every day. So the next time you walk into a clean sparkling kitchen or ladies room or sit down at a desk that shows obvious signs of having been dusted, with a trash can that's been emptied and lined with a fresh plastic trash bag, think about the "office fairy" who comes in every evening or early each morning to make it so.
Article co-written by a freelance writer
Mystery shopping or secret shopping is a great way to secure outside income and enhance your resume. A mystery shopper is someone who provides normally a retail, restaurant, grocery store, or convenience store establishment an impartial evaluation on their location's performance regarding customer service, in-stock product, cleanliness, and the customer experience. Sometimes shoppers are asked to visit a location to take pictures of a display or a new grocery freezer for the competition.
Companies who recruit and provide mystery shop services to these retail companies have come under fire because of work at home and get rich quick scams that prey on people who are looking for a quick way to make a buck or are lured into signing up for a program by paying a fee. Reputable mystery shop companies never require a fee. They pay you after you complete a shop. There are a number of resources on the internet that provide how to's and guidelines for shoppers that are interested in getting paid to shop. The Mystery Shoppers Manual is one such resource. Cathy Stucker's website provides an online directory of legitimate mystery shopping companies as well as tips and guidelines on how to write shopper reviews and how to actually apply to companies online.
Ed Hamilton came up with one of the most creative resumes I've seen. This one even beats the resume I wrote about 2 years ago, delivered on a sheet cake.
It's not for everyone, but it's eye catching. So what did Ed do?
He created his resume on Google Maps.
Especially if your background is international, Google Maps can create a wonderful visual resume effect for your global experience. In addition, since Ed's background is in digital advertising and he's a writer, this works well in catching a reader's attention.
Continue reading "And The Award Goes To ... Ed Hamilton for Most Creative Resume " »
Do you want to be perceived as the perfect candidate for the job? Who wouldn't, right?
When I talk to hiring managers, I often ask if they have ever seen the resume of a perfect candidate - one who was born to do the job.
The typical answer is not often ... but yes. The interesting thing, is how hiring managers typically answer this question - they usually go into a story about the candidate and usually raise the pitch of their voice, giving a very emotional response. The typical reaction signals that the hiring manager still remembers that perfect candidate and is still excited about them after all these years.
Continue reading "Employer Value Statements Make Your Resume Sizzle " »
I got a tip on this one from a fellow Cornellian (which is cool because a few of my friends from Cornell work at Rosetta). If you ever find a company that you think that we should feature, e-mail me at willy@onedayonejob.com. We feature a lot of interactive marketing agencies because they're usually pretty big on hiring young talent whether it be at the intern or entry level. Rosetta stands out because of their size and sophistication--they almost seem more like a consulting firm than a marketing agency, at least in the way that they present themselves. For instance, they recently become a "top ten interactive agency" by means of an acquisition. That seems so different from the image that most agencies try to portray, but it's working. Through "dedication to client work within Consumer Products & Retail, Healthcare, Financial Services, Consumer Technology & Media, B2B, and Travel & Hospitality industries" Rosetta "has created enduring partnerships with [their] clients including Scholastic, Coach, Borders, Johnson & Johnson, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Nationwide, Marriott and Microsoft." Those are huge names, so you know Rosetta, which is headquartered in Princeton with offices in New York, Cleveland, Boston, Chicago, and Denver, is capable of delivering results.
Article by Willy Franzen of One Day, One Internship and One Day, One Job
After a week of cold weather in Florida at the end of February, I headed back to Chicago. Since I wanted to enjoy the last night of my vacation, I decided that I'd try to get this post to you from 31,000 feet. I flew on AirTran (maybe we'll look at their jobs another time), and all of their flights offer Gogo Inflight Wi-Fi, which is a service provided by Itasca, IL based AirCell (I used this promotion to get a free access coupon code). The business of Internet Service Providers was a big one in the 90s, but as we've become more accustomed to broadband, we've mostly started using major telecom companies to feed our Internet addictions. Now, the business opportunities are all about providing Internet access in locations with captive audiences--hotels, convention centers, airports, and now airplanes, although 3G card providers are offering some fierce competition. Luckily for Aircell, that's not an option in the air, which means that, for now, Gogo has a dominant market position with their because of their FCC sanctioned rights to be the "exclusive provider of Wi-Fi communications to airlines, business aviation, military, government, and specialty aircraft across North America."
Article by Willy Franzen of One Day, One Internship and One Day, One Job
Sometimes it IS Who you Know
I stopped in a local art gallery (Hayley Gallery) yesterday to see the owner. I interviewed her for a magazine article last year and we hit it off. I hadn't seen her or been in the gallery for quite awhile, but I had an ulterior motive - I wanted to tell her I was looking for a job. Prior to opening her gallery, Hayley worked in marketing and advertising and she knows people. And it's not just because she is so personable, she's amazing at networking.
You always hear the majority of people get their jobs through a network of who they know. A recent article in the Wall Street Journal, "Internal Hires, Referrals Were Most Hired in 2009," by Sara Needleman cites some stats to back that up. She reports that, "Internal transfers and promotions accounted for an average of 51% of all full-time positions filled in 2009, up from 39% in 2008 and 34% in 2007, reports CareerXroads, a staffing-strategy consulting firm in Kendall Park, N.J.
For the 49% of jobs that were filled with external recruits, referrals accounted for the most hires -- 27% -- and about the same number as in 2008. On average, these yielded one hire for every 15 referrals received. Meanwhile, company Web sites and job boards accounted for 22% and 13% of external hires, respectively." Continue reading ...
This is a post by Nancy LaFever. You can read more from her at the Centre for Emotional Wellbeing blog
Article courtesy of Andrew G.R. and jobacle.com - your cure for carbon copy career advice!
I hope the title of today's post didn't make you hungry, because we're not talking about jobs in organic food. Organic is a San Francisco based interactive marketing agency with a brand that has gained a lot of keyword competition over the past 16 years. Yes, people were eating organic back in 1994, but the word wasn't nearly as common as it is today. Doing research on Organic is tough because the organic search results (excuse my SEO pun) have all kinds of other stuff in them (at least they own Organic.com). Either Google needs to get inside my head to discern my intent, or Organic is going to have to hope that artificial packaged, processed foods go back in vogue. Ok, enough of my ripping on their name--Organic was ranked by AdWeek as the #1 interactive agency in 2007. That fits in perfectly with my impression of Organic from browsing their website and looking at their work. In fact, I'm blown away by how good Organic's website is. It's easy to use, it's full of information, and it's gorgeously designed. Their corporate mantra is "Exceptional Experience," and they certainly live up to it.
Article by Willy Franzen of One Day, One Internship and One Day, One Job
If I ever make a ridiculous amount of money, the first thing that I'm going to do is buy a private jet--or at least a share in one. It seems like the ultimate way to travel. I've been on private planes before, but they had propellers and I was sitting next to or right behind the pilot (not nearly as classy). NetJets is a company that allows wealthy individuals and businesses to buy shares in private jets (since who really needs an entire jet to himself or herself?). They also have a subscription service called MarquisJet that lets you get a guaranteed number of hours of private jet use. It may not make private air travel affordable or cost effective, but it certainly puts it within reach for a lot more people. NetJets is by far the market leader, and they're also a Berkshire Hathaway company. You know if Warren Buffett is investing in it, it has to be pretty good. NetJets is based in Columbus, OH, but quite obviously they operate all over the world.
Article by Willy Franzen of One Day, One Internship and One Day, One Job
"If we do what is necessary, all the odds are in our favor." - Henry Kissinger
If you find you're sending out resume after resume and your phone still isn't ringing it's missing a competitive advantage. What your resume needs is to clearly show the hiring manager who you are, why you're the best at what you do and how you're going to meet their needs. You have to peak the hiring manager's interest enough to get the call and below are a few reasons why your resume isn't quite making the cut.
NO FOCUS, CLEAR DIRECTION, OR JOB TARGET
When a hiring manager views the first third of your resume they have no idea what you do. If they have to read down to the end of the first page to figure out what you do or where to put you they won't invest the time. Spell it out up front through a personal branding statement and powerful career summary.
Continue reading "3 Reasons Why Your Resume Is Missing A Competitive Advantage " »
The Winter Olympics are more than a week over, but you can be sure that the people in Sochi, Russia are already getting prepared for 2014. Inspired by an article I read over at CollegeSurfing Insider during the games, I started thinking about all the equipment that the athletes use. Who makes the ice skates, skis, snow boards, bob sleds, etc. that help the Olympians win gold? Since the figure skating, speed skating and skiing events are my favorites, I decided to focus on those. The entry level job opportunities are in relationship to the Olympics are almost endless.
There are several different ice skate manufacturers but Riedell is said to be the most popular among Olympic athletes. What's interesting is that Riedell only makes the boot, which is also worn by roller skaters. Two British companies, John Wilson Skates and MK Blades make the blades. Wilson and MK blades boast that skaters using their blades have "won more medals at international skating events than all other blades combined."
Continue reading "Olympic-Related Jobs You Might Not Have Considered" »
Two days ago, I posted an article suggesting that job seekers take responsibility for their own search, rather than blame others, blame the economy, blame anyone but themselves (see: http://recareered.blogspot.com/2010/03/job-seekers-its-not-just-economy-its.html).
Sadly, I got many responses that just contained more whining, more blaming others, with not very many taking responsibility for their own job search.
I'm not alone in this observation. Seth Godin, one of the great marketing minds of our time, and author of 13 marketing books, has some interesting thoughts on taking the safe path.
Seth writes in his blog, discussing a recent trip to a college campus:
"It reminded me of my days as an undergrad (at a lesser school, natch), browsing through the catalog, realizing I could learn whatever I wanted. That not only could I take classes but I could start a business, organize a protest movement, live in a garret off campus, whatever. It was a tremendous gift, this ability to choose.
When the economy is in bad shape, the job market is usually worse. Those with jobs are trying to stay employed and people without jobs are desperately trying to find a new job, both can be extremely stressful.
If you put in the time and effort into finding a new job you will be rewarded no matter how fierce the competition is. Stay motivated and persistent - finding a new job is your new job right now.
These are the top ten ways to find a new job:
1. Use the Internet Daily - It is so easy to get lost on the Internet wasting time on websites, job boards and social media sites with no real benefits. Make sure you are actively spending your time on the Internet looking for and applying to jobs and networking with those who may be able to help. There are a ton of useful job boards and career sites to help you focus your search. Do your best to stay focused on your job search for a few hours a day. Be sure to actively apply to jobs, don't just upload your resume and wait for phone calls.
2. Perfect your resume - Your resume is often the first glimpse a potential employer gets of you and your skills, make sure it accurately details your skills and work history and how they can benefit your future employer. Make sure you have someone proof read it before sending it out and try to customize it for each job you are applying for.
3. Network - Let everyone you know that you are looking for a job. The more people you have out there on your team, with eyes open the more opportunities you will have. Tell everyone in your network what kind of a job you are looking for or any special skills you may have. You can forward your resume to people in your network and ask them if they know of anyone hiring or if they can check within their company for any open positions. Most people actually find and are hired through referrals from a friend or family member than any other source.
4. Go back to school - Now is the time to get the competitive edge over other job candidates. Many people are finding it hard to get to a traditional college or university and are opting for online schools and programs. Look into enrolling in an accredited online college for some online courses and upgrading your training. Increasing your education will improve your resume and get you one step closer to landing a job.
5. Target Local Companies - Get out and start knocking on some doors. If you are not having any luck online submitting your resume online, it's time to get out and start meeting people face to face. Make a list of companies in your area that you would like to work for, call them directly to see if they have any openings that interest you. If that doesn't work, put on some professional attire and stop by with your resume in hand.
6. Industry Mags and Social Niches - Sometimes the best positions that are the perfect fit are only being advertised in industry specific magazines and publications. Sign up for some Industry trade magazines, online groups, forums, and social networks. Reading up on the latest industry news is a great way to stay on top and find new open positions. It also will help with your industry specific networking.
7. Job Fairs - Can it get better than this. Job fairs are a giant room or convention center filled with companies who are looking to hire. Dress to impress, print out a bunch of copies on your resume and start talking to companies who are looking to hire. It's such an easy way to meet people and get some help with your search
8. Get some Professional Help - Recruiters, headhunters, and temp agencies are always looking for qualified candidates. Find some recruiters that specialize in your industry or position and get them your resume.
9. State and public resources - There are so many free resources offered by your state to help job seekers find a new job. Most states and counties offer everything from resume writing services, career counseling, and lots of sessions on all the skills you will need to find you new job. State and local resources are also often given lists of openings that aren't posted or found in other locations. Pop on over and see what they can offer.
10. Consider Freelancing - If you are not finding the right full time position, consider taking a contract position or freelancing your services out. Many companies are not able to hire for full time positions but would be willing to give you a try on an as need basis.
Get on out there! Remember to Network, keep your head up and Don't give up! There is someone out there waiting to hire you.
Article by Jill Czeczuga
Aside from the basic rules of engagement LinkedIn has established, here are a few other courtesies to remember while making the most of your LinkedIn experience. Follow these points and you'll be sure to get the most out of LinkedIn--and you'll avoid aggravating other users in the process. Here are four mistakes to avoid while using LinkedIn:
BLINDLY REQUESTING CONNECTIONS WITH NO MUTUAL BENEFIT
On Facebook you can request new friendships with anybody at all. It's a social network of friends, and if you want to be friends you simply make a request. With LinkedIn you're making a 'connection' that will hopefully create a mutually beneficial networking opportunity later on down the line. Be strategic when deciding with whom you will connect, and explain to the person why you want to connect; what's in it for them--and what's it in for you? Don't request to connect with just anyone at all; understandably, people will want to know why you are requesting the opportunity to connect. So provide a brief sentence or two explaining what you think a mutual connection can bring to both parties.
Continue reading "4 LinkedIn Mistakes - Have You Made One? " »
The Job Awful Truth's: 5 Interview Tips to Keep Your Phone Ringing (Volume 1)
When you are actively pursuing new opportunities, the process will most likely start with some type of phone interview. Sometimes this will be a simple phone screen with a Human Resources representative, but sometimes it will be with the actual hiring manager. Regardless of who you speak with, the five tips in this series will give you best chance of reaching your next goal in the process, getting to the face-to-face interview.
1. BE PREPARED...
THE AWFUL TRUTH is, this will be the only time for you to make the first impression and you are at a disadvantage already. Over 50% of human communication is done through body language and with that piece missing in a phone interview, it is imperative that you be well prepared. Start with a printed copy of your resume so that you and the person you are talking with are looking at the same document. Have a list of your top accomplishments written out and placed in front of you. Remember to focus these accomplishments around ways that you have either saved a company money, made a company money or improved a process or procedure. In addition, you will want to have the research you have conducted on this company for reference. As you share your accomplishments, you can relate the information you have gathered to the company and the position you seek. Have a pen and paper for taking thorough notes. Lastly, you will want to have your calendar readily available should the opportunity arise to schedule the face-to-face interview. THE AWFUL TRUTH is, winners don't wing it, they come prepared, do these things and you should move right on to the next step in the hiring process.
Copyright 2009, Nicole Dukehart and Jennifer Bruton. All rights reserved. Used with Permission
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, and posted on Career Alley.
What happens when the going gets tough?
In sports, when a team is about to face a tougher opponent, when they are expected to lose, do their coaches have them prepare in the same way? When you're up against a tough business problem, up against a difficult challenge, do you go prepare the same way as for something easy?
Successful teams, competitors, and business people attack difficult challenges differently than the easy stuff. They prepare differently, they train harder, they push themselves, and they try new tactics to put prepare their competition. Better preparation is why underdogs have a fighting chance to win.
Continue reading "Job Seekers - It's Not Just The Economy, It's You " »
When looking for a career transition, consider the warning signs.
Last time, we considered where job seekers or those looking to make a career transition might look for an industry with huge upside. But there are plenty of industries staring at a steep downside right now, as well, and it can be just as important to know where not to look for a job right now. It's also worth considering if your own field is topping the not-hot job lists right now.
The Department of Labor has targeted 10 careers it expects to have the largest wage and employment declines through 2018. According to the government, department stores, topping the list, are likely to have lost 159,000 jobs between 2008 and 2018. That's 10 percent of the industry! Right behind them are semiconductor and other electronic component manufacturers, with a staggering one-third of jobs projected to be lost in that same time period. Auto parts manufacturers, postal workers, printers, sewing-apparel providers, newspaper employees, miners, gas attendants and wired-telecom workers are all expected to take a huge hit.
Could one of these growing industries be the road to a new career?
Job seekers often hear that despite the continuing rise in unemployment, the bleak hiring outlook, and the uncertainty of a drawn-out economic recovery, they shouldn't worry because "there are still jobs out there!"
They're meant as words of encouragement, of course, but at a certain point, an exasperated job hunter can't be blamed for wanting to yell "Oh yeah? Where?"
Where, indeed. Since the mid-90s, there has been plenty of research to go around about the best careers for each new year, and the rise of the Internet has only increased the number of outlets putting the job market under a microscope. At a certain point, in fact, the problem becomes too much information. It can be difficult to get any practical job-search wisdom without looking at a cross-section of the most reliable sources and looking for trends.
I would like to begin by thanking my lucky stars that, in this economy, I have had the good fortune of being gainfully employed for the past two years since graduating college. But, as I start a new chapter in my life, one that I hope turns out to be about a fabulous new career in a wonderful new city, I can't help but compare my job search today with that of two years ago. So much has changed in so little time, so I want to pass along the little bit of knowledge I've gained over the past few months of job searching. I hope this advice resonates with those of you who are looking for employment for the first time in years and may be feeling a little lost.
1. Social Media Isn't Just For College Kids Anymore
If you hadn't heard, social media is all the rage now. (By the way, if you really hadn't heard, you may want to climb out from under that rock and join us all in 2010.) There are so many choices for social media, but the three most common sites for those looking to network during a job search are Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.
If you don't have a profile/account on these sites, I really recommend you check them out. Click on the respective logos below for some great tips from some folks with much more expertise (Mashable, Forbes, and ICT-Guru) on how to use these sites effectively to make professional contacts.
Find Ways to Bolster That Self-Esteem
I can think of very few situations that can be as confidence-deflating as trying to find a job. It is particularly difficult to maintain a positive attitude in today's especially tough, bleak employment market. Multiply by the number of months you've been looking for work or trying to move out of a bad job and your ego is taking a huge hit.
Sales jobs aren't my thing, but I have worked in that area and it is challenging work. You are selling a product - YOU, when applying and interviewing. And like a shark smelling blood, a skilled HR person can spot a candidate's low self-confidence in the first few minutes of an interview. It's almost impossible to stand out as a top contender when you obviously aren't able to sell yourself.
So how do you combat this eroding self-esteem and confidence? Here are a few things to try...
* Too often we define ourselves only by what we do for a living. But you have many personas. Maybe you are a terrific mother, trustworthy friend or the "dependable one" in your family. Spend time with people who reinforce those roles. Their positive feedback will remind you of your value. Continue reading ...
This is a post by Nancy LaFever. You can read more from her at the Centre for Emotional Wellbeing blog.
Article courtesy of Andrew G.R. and jobacle.com - your cure for carbon copy career advice!
It's widely known that employers are consistently conducting background checks on most job applicants, but did you know they also have the right to check various specialty consumer reports about you?
These reports are increasingly becoming a part of employee background checks. Just as with most aspects of background checks, the Fair Credit Reporting Act dictates what consumer reports an employer can access.
By now you're probably wondering, "What can an employer find out about me in my background check?" Aside from the information included in regular background checks, consumer reports can include those about you made to employers, insurance companies, banks and landlords.
The companies that compile such reports have been dubbed as "nationwide specialty consumer reporting agencies." Aside from credit history, these agencies can compile reports on your medical conditions, residential or tenant history and evictions, check writing history, employment background checks, and homeowner and auto insurance claims.
According to an article by the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, these agencies operate much like credit bureaus, and can collect information regarding: public records of criminal or civil cases, your credit history, bankruptcy filings, companies with which you have an existing or prior business relationship, medical information, and driving records.
The agencies then use this information to compile reports based on the requirements of targeted uses, such as insurance companies, employers and landlords. While most people don't know if specialty consumer reports exist about them or not, you do have the right to request one report about yourself each year.
Luckily, the FCRA imposes certain obligations on specialty reporting agencies, those who use the reports, and those who furnish the information that goes into compiling the reports.
Article provided by JIST Publishing
Gaining a great deal of support from career industry professionals, recruiters and human resource specialists worldwide, Twitter is revolutionizing how people hunt for jobs in today's economy.
How? Susan Britton Whitcomb, co-author of The Twitter Job Search Guide, explains: "In the past, you had to go through a maze of gatekeepers to get to the cloistered person in charge of hiring decisions. Now you can have access to them with the click of a Follow button. The ability to level the playing field--placing you nearly peer-to-peer with influencers, leaders and hiring authorities--is extremely powerful." Continue reading ...
Article by Selena Dehne and courtesy of JIST Publishing
Hiring managers, recruiters and HR departments use more than just your resume to find and learn about candidates. That's good news for candidates who have additional ways to market themselves, and ways to differentiate from their competition.
Companies often look first to Linkedin when going beyond a candidate's resume, and often search Linkedin for candidates.
Facebook may be much larger in size, but Linkedin is a business focused social network, plus it doesn't have all the games and valentines day cards on a personal Facebook profile. If you're a candidate, you want to be searched for and want to be found - Google indexes Linkedin profiles.
If an employer, HR staff, or recruiter Googles a job seeker by name, your Linkedin profile will turn up in the results. Job seekers should assume that they will be searched online by recruiters, before an interview is scheduled, when making short list decisions, and before a final offer is extended. In addition, recruiters and HR departments are not just searching to find dirt, but are using Linkedin and Google more frequently to find new candidates.
Continue reading "Job Seekers - 20 Ways To Brand Yourself On Linkedin" »
One of my favorite things about the Internet is how it allows shoppers to comparison shop before pulling the trigger on a purchase.
For example, it worked like a charm when searching for New York movers. I came across Citymove, a free service that has moving companies compete for your business based on pre-selected criteria.
As a consumer, I like choices. And that's why I dig the reverse-auction business model. So now foolishly, as I've done many times in the past, I'm going to share an idea. (If it already exists, let me know! And if it doesn't, don't steal it!) How about a Website where you can post your crappy old resume and have resume writers bid for the job. They can try to win you over with action verbs and templates before you hire them. You also can negotiate price and deadline. Continue reading ...
Article by Andrew G.R. and courtesy of jobacle.com - your cure for carbon copy career advice!
What you need is a competitive advantage, something that gets the hiring manager's attention, causes him or her to keep reading your resume, and ultimately, pick up the phone and call for the interview. How do you differentiate yourself from all the other people seeking the same opportunity?
Simply put, value.
WHAT VALUE DO YOU OFFER?
If you were going to purchase a new laptop computer or a new car, chances are you would do your research. If you weren't sure which make and model you wanted, you would test drive the car. Or you would go to Best Buy and play with the display laptops to decide which one was best for you. What you're really looking for is the one car or computer with VALUE. The one that meets your needs and wants.
Continue reading "A Key Strategy to Standing Out In A Sea of Other Job Seekers " »
There is one definitive answer for this question - Longer than you think.
It's interesting that when I talk to candidates, most have such an unrealistic view of how long their job search will take.
I think this reaction is driven by:
Past Experience - Chances are, your past experience in looking for a job was in a better job market than today, unless it was in the 1930's
Need - If a candidate is driven by the need to save their home and put food on the table, they are more likely to figure something out - even if it means working at a lower level position, even if it means working for much less pay
Hope - It's great to be hopeful, not so great to be unrealistic
I'm all for the power of positive thinking. However, unless you are independently wealthy, it pays to look at how long your job search will take realistically.
When you look at the "How Long" question realistically, you can plan ahead, and you are much less likely to be caught in a dire financial situation (see: http://recareered.blogspot.com/2010/02/are-you-planning-to-fail-in-your-job.html).
I'll admit it, I don't read The Economist regularly, but plenty of my friends do--mostly the smart ones. It's a magazine (they call themselves a newspaper, but you'd likely identify it as a magazine) that stands apart from other periodicals in a variety of ways. It's not the topics that they cover--they offer both news coverage and analysis and opinion on business and politics--it's more the way that they cover those topics. The most interesting thing about The Economist is the fact that all of their articles are written anonymously. It's about "a belief that what is written is more important than who writes it," but you have to like the fact that anonymity allows the writers the freedom that they need to address topics in the ways that they should be addressed. The Economist is all about free trade and free markets, yet it "considers itself the enemy of privilege, pomposity and predictability." The Economist is based in London, but they are very much an international business and magazine.
Article by Willy Franzen of One Day, One Internship and One Day, One Job
I don't know if you've ever spent anytime on the Appalachian Trail, but if you haven't, you should. The trail stretches from Georgia to Maine, while the range of mountains touches as far south as Alabama and as far north as Newfoundland. It's 1,500 miles of natural beauty that is prime territory for naturalists and adventurers. Back in 1876 there was a club called the Appalachian Mountain Club started in Boston for people who enjoyed the range. Now the club consists of more than 12 chapters and 100,000 members--it's the "nation's oldest outdoor recreation and conservation organization." They're still based in Boston, and they've developed into a non-profit that promotes "the protection, enjoyment, and understanding of the mountains, forests, waters, and trails of the Appalachian region."
Article by Willy Franzen of One Day, One Internship and One Day, One Job
You've been applying for various positions in your field for a number of months, and finally have received the call to schedule an interview. Are you ready for an Academy Award winning performance?
Top candidates understand the importance of preparation. They realize it can take hours of practice to answer an interview question with the level of confidence and professionalism an employer expects of their next hire. Keep in mind, your interviewer is not looking for "canned" responses, but they do want answers that illustrate your value as a potential
employee.
Continue reading "Lights, Camera.....Interview: Tips for an Award Winning Performance" »
For most of us museums are just places to go to visit for a day and to learn something new. We rarely think about what is going on behind the scenes, but we should. At many major museums there is also a significant research function. A perfect examples is the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia, PA, which sounds like a research institution, but it also runs a museum. In fact, The Academy is the "oldest natural science research institution and museum in the New World" according to Wikipedia. The Academy has been at the forefront of biological and earth sciences since its inception, and it continues to promote public education in those areas. Just to give you an idea of the scale on which they operate, their collections include more than 17 million specimens. That's crazy!
Article by Willy Franzen of One Day, One Internship and One Day, One Job
I'm sure that you've heard a lot in the news about how traditional media companies are having trouble taking their business models online. You may be under the impression that making money from web content is near impossible, but there's a dirty little secret: it's not. While companies like the New York Times stick to editorial integrity and chasing Pulitzers, there are companies out there that craft their content with the sole purpose of making money. A perfect example is Santa Monica, CA based Demand Media. They've secured more than $355 million in venture capital funding, grown annual revenue to more than $200 million annually, and reached a valuation north of $1 billion all by taking an ROI based approach to content development. How does that work? Demand Media has developed an algorithm that helps them find profitable topics. By using data from Google AdWords, they're able to estimate the demand for a given piece of content (example: an article and video on how to tie your shoes) along with the revenue that the yet to be developed piece of content could be expected to make given a certain number of pageviews.
Article by Willy Franzen of One Day, One Internship and One Day, One Job
How many of you have a project plan for your job search?
I'm not talking about a marketing plan, or a list of target companies, or an opportunity pipeline tracking spreadsheet. I'm not talking about a to-do list, or a plan somewhere in your head.
I'm asking about a real, honest-to-goodness job search project plan.
A real job search project plan is written, complete with a timeline, metrics, daily activities, includes a marketing plan, list of target companies, pipeline tracking, and to-do lists. A job search project plan is written out on a spreadsheet or specific planning software, allowing you to plan activities to get a job within a designated period of time.
Continue reading "Are You Planning To Fail In Your Job Search, Or Failing To Plan? " »
Posted on February 14, 2010
In past years we've featured the American Heart Association and eHarmony, both of which have clear connections to Valentine's Day. Today's organization is more of a stretch, but if you're looking for the perfect match, they can help you out. No, they won't identify your soul mate for you, but they will help you find an organization whose mission and values align with your personal beliefs. And if that's not enough, they might even put you in a situation where you'll meet that special someone. I'm talking about San Francisco, CA based VolunteerMatch, an organization that "strengthens communities by making it easier for good people and good causes to connect."
Article by Willy Franzen of One Day, One Internship and One Day, One Job
As a member on the Board of Advisors for a startup non-profit, I know how hard it is to get things going. Building a website, raising the first $1,000, and writing a "business plan" are all huge challenges that separate ideas from real non-profits. And that doesn't even include getting started on the good work that is the organization's mission. The first few years are filled with ups and downs, and leaders of non-profit startups can use every little bit of extra help that they can get. One way that they can get that help is to work with Sparkseed, a San Ramon, CA based non-profit organization "that exists to develop the next generation of social entrepreneurs and increase their impact on society." It's an incubator/angel fund for early stage, student-led social ventures (both for-profit and non-profit).
Article by Willy Franzen of One Day, One Internship and One Day, One Job
Let's be honest, no matter how much watching the Olympics makes us think we can become a famous snowboarder, skier or figure skater, only a few of us are destined to become Olympic athletes.
But as you watch the Winter Olympics in Vancouver and cheer for those who are at the top of their sport (like how Lindsey Vonn wowed me with her gold medal in skiing), you may notice that it takes so much more than athletes to pull an Olympics off.
In honor of the 2010 Olympics, here are behind-the-scenes careers that can be essential in big international events like the Games.
The longer a job search drags on, the more desperate a person can become. This desperation can manifest itself in the form of job seekers kow towing (figuratively speaking) to prospective employers and going out of their way to ingratiate themselves to interviewers. According to an article on Ask a Manager, Combating Unhealthy Power Dynamics During a Job Search - the Ones in Your Head, this desire to please could actually cause more harm than good.
It's too easy to take a job out of desperation - been there, done that - only to turn around six months to a year later and return to the job market because the job wasn't, for one reason or another, a good fit. It's also easy for one to sabotage a job search by allowing desperation to lead to destructive behaviors like overreacting when an interviewer is late for a scheduled phone interview. Chances are, it's not personal. The best thing to do is to call the interviewer and remind him of the appointment. If he simply forgot, he'll probably offer to do the interview right then. But if something came up, he may have to reschedule.
Continue reading "Don't Let Desperation Damage Your Job Search" »
If you're in the process of choosing a career and looking at career options, you're surrounded by enough bad news to make you a "paralytic decision-maker." Like discouraging findings from the new report, "The Labor Market, Then and Now" from the John J. Heldrich Center on Workforce Development:
In the last decade, the time it takes to find a job has gone from 3 to 6 months (there go your savings!) and the list goes on....
Not to mention all the doom and gloom predictions about the U.S. "empire" going down the tubes due to "do-nothing" politics and overwhelming deficits. It's been so bad I substituted watching Stephen Colbert's Winter Olympics for online news this week.
So instead of putting on Leonard Cohen CDs and opening a bottle of strong medicine, what's the forward-looking, hard-working career decision-maker to do with all this gloomy outlook? I call it channeling your inner optimist - being realistic but optimistic. Here are 5 ways to do that:
Article by, Juliet Wehr Jones, J.D. and courtesy of Career Key, striving to help all people make the best career choices, worldwide.
How's your job search going? You've networked. You've updated your LinkedIn profile and used social networks to learn about leads. You've revamped your resume to tailor your background and experiences to each job posting. And then finally, an opportunity presents itself. You've got an interview lined up for next Friday at 1:00pm. Have you thought about what you're going to wear? Fashion isn't frivolous. Thinking about image and wardrobe are more important than ever. The Department of Labor reported that in January 2010 there were 14.8 million unemployed Americans. Hiring managers are inundated with applications. How are you differentiating yourself from the pack?
Personal image, according to Robin Fisher, President of Polished, a full-service personal styling and image- consulting agency, is "what you visually and non-verbally communicate to the public through personal appearance and social etiquette. 55-70% of your first impression is determined by your clothes, grooming and posture." If you are exclusively invested in your content and you ignore the power of your image, you are missing a critical element of your overall effectiveness. Are you allowing a professional image to support you?
Continue reading " Fashion Forward Interview Tips for YOU, The Brand" »
Not long ago, I wrote an article about one of quite a few sites where students can buy and sell their textbooks. Then, while researching an article about job searching, I discovered Chegg, a Santa Clara, Calif. based company that not only allows students to buy and sell their textbooks, but it also allows them to rent textbooks for a quarter, a semester or 60 days. Chegg takes their environmental consciousness an extra step by planting a tree for "every book on order - rentals, sales or purchases," through their partnership with American Forests.
The Internet has a lot junk to distract people from their entry level job or internship searches, but it has a lot that's useful, too. An article on Accredited Online Colleges.org, 100 Web Tools Business Students Need Now, lists sites specifically for business students, but many of them, like Google Reader, Doodle, Elance, WordPress, and BizShark, could be helpful for anyone. Sites like U.S. Business Reporter, which allows people to research businesses, would be a good addition to any job seeker's favorites list.
To read the full list, click here.
Everyone (myself included) is telling you to go out there and network. But, what do you plan to say to people while you're networking? (For the uninitiated, networking is not merely retaining as many business cards as possible from other people in the span of an hour.)
Who are you?
This is the first question you should ask yourself when constructing your elevator pitch. My answer might look a bit like the bio at the end of this piece.
What are you seeking?
Is your end goal to land a job or a client? After you've explained to your new networking contact who you are, it's important to communicate what you're seeking.
What can you offer?
It's not enough to be looking for a job, client, etc. You have to offer something of value in return. This is often called your unique selling proposition (USP).
Request action
Sure, you said what you're seeking, but you should be explicit with your networking contact about the next step in this new relationship.
Putting it together
To borrow from a great book you should pick up and read immediately, Tell Me About Yourself: Storytelling to Get Jobs and Propel Your Career by Katharine Hansen, a college student or recent graduate might follow this basic structure:
Hi, my name is ______________. I will be graduating/I just graduated from ______________ with a degree in ______________. I'm looking to ______________. I recently ______________. Can I take you out for coffee sometime to elicit your advice?
K.I.S.S.
Keep it simple and short. Your elevator pitch should be no longer than 60 seconds. After all, (1) you don't want to bore the other individual and (2) you want to hear his/her story, too! Networking is a two-way, mutually beneficial relationship.
What is your example of a successful elevator pitch?
Heather R. Huhman is a career expert and founder & president of Come Recommended, an exclusive online community connecting the best internship and entry-level job candidates with the best employers. She is also the author of #ENTRYLEVELtweet: Taking Your Career from Classroom to Cubicle (2010), national entry-level careers columnist for Examiner.com and blogs about career advice at HeatherHuhman.com.
Article courtesy of Dan Schawbel, the leading personal branding expert for Gen-Y. He authors the Personal Branding Blog and publishes Personal Branding Magazine and authored the upcoming book, Me 2.0: Build a Powerful Brand to Achieve Career Success (Kaplan, Spring 2009). Dan has been called a "personal branding force of nature" by Fast Company and his work has been published in BrandWeek Magazine, Advertising Age and countless other publications.
My friends and I acted like unofficial advertising experts on [Super Bowl Sunday], immediately commenting in between bites of chips and salsa about which Super Bowl ads were funny (Betty White in the Snickers ad), poignant (Google's Parisian romance ad) or a waste of time (the ad that seemed to be for the U.S. Census Bureau).
Did you do that, too?
And we shared our immediate like or dislike for the ads by those and other companies like Coca-Cola, Denny's, Intel, Anheuser-Busch, Dodge, Doritos, Dr. Pepper, CareerBuilder.com and others, I realized that I was happily judging the work of professionals in the advertising industry. It probably took months to brainstorm and create the ad, and maybe even some sleepless nights. Even one ad, for Doritos, wasn't done by a professional, but two unemployed and wishful filmmakers who won a $1 million prize for creating the ad for less than $2,000.
Continue reading "Super Bowl Ads Put the Spotlight on Careers" »
If you've been struggling to find work this year, you've got company.
While the pace of job losses slowed last month, with payrolls declining by 11,000 positions in November 2009, the length of the average job search actually surged, to 28.5 weeks of average unemployment -- the worst in more than 10 years.
So, times continue to be tough.
And times may stay tough, if you're laboring under two of the most common and costly misconceptions that plague most job seekers.
What are they?
Misconception #1: "Sure, that person got hired, but I'm different. What about an idea I can use in my job search?"
Solution: I can't tell you how often I hear variations on the "I'm different" question, and how wrong-headed the thinking behind it is.
Continue reading "Two Costly Job-Search Misconceptions and How to Avoid Them " »
I'm a sentimental sop packrat: I've kept one copy of every business card that I've ever had...When I changed jobs earlier in my career, I always experienced pangs of guilt in throwing away unused cards. These feelings may also be inherited from my mother, who has discovered more uses for old envelopes than anyone I have ever met. But I think it's more than that: In throwing away my card stack, I've also always felt a sense of loss and identity--even as I moved onto new challenges and opportunities.
Is my twinge of regret unique? I'm not asking a rhetorical question, I'd like to hear if you've had the same experience...but beyond that, I'm writing to share an exciting new use for old business cards.
At nearly every speaking engagement I do, someone asks a question about declining job sectors. Margaret Steen wrote this excellent article on the topic for Yahoo! Hot Jobs in which I contributed my thoughts:
Is your industry on the decline? The federal government projects that a number of industries will lose jobs from 2008 to 2018. "You can't sit around and wait for news to come out about what's going to happen to your industry," said Alexandra Levit, author of "New Job, New You." "You have to be proactive about this."
In job search, it's better to be lucky than to be smart.
Unfortunately, most candidates play by an outdated set of rules that makes them unlucky. Employers today use very similar procedures to pick which employees to interview and hire. These procedures are vastly different than the tactics that most candidates use (see: http://recareered.blogspot.com/2009/10/are-you-buying-mac-cheese-of-job-search.html).
I suggest to candidates that they will need 3 times the number of opportunities in their pipeline than their last job search. Candidates should plan on a pipeline that can deliver 3 times the number of interviews ... in order to get lucky. It's THAT competitive out there, when CareerBuilder reports that the average job seeker is taking 6 months to find a new position (see: http://recareered.blogspot.com/2010/02/some-good-news-for-job-seekers.html), CNN reports a national average over 30 weeks, and ExecuNet reports that it's taking managers & executives 9-12 months on average.
Continue reading "5 Ways To Get Lucky In Your Job Search " »
Starting over in a new career field isn't easy. Finding a job is tougher because you no longer have years of industry experience to back you up. So, essentially, you're competing on a level playing field with people who are ten years or more your junior. It could be discouraging, but it doesn't have to be.
The following tips from Randstad Staffing could help you position yourself to find a great job and make 2010 a stellar year:
Changing careers can be as exciting as it is frightening, but finding an entry level job in a new career field could take from several months to a year. Following the tips above might make the search a lot shorter and a lot less painful.
Are you telling employers simply what you've done, or are you selling yourself to them by showing what you've accomplished? Telling the hiring manager what you've done sounds just like everyone else that ever held the same job. Selling them the idea of hiring you because of what you can accomplish is a more effective strategy. When writing your own resume, answer this one simple question and you can't go wrong:
"What makes me different from everyone else around me?"
Let me use myself as an example, if I may: When I was a human resources manager, I was able to reduce turnover rates by 50% and reduce fill time by more than 90%. This made me an extremely effective hiring manager. I implemented processes and procedures to hire, train, and retain staff. Turnover costs an organization money, and so does onboarding. By reducing the time spent, I was saving the company money and, later on down the line, making myself a very tempting hire. Some time later I applied and interviewed for a high position with a larger organization that subsequently told me they had specifically interviewed and hired me as a direct result of the accomplishments I had included on my resume.
Continue reading "Give Your Resume A Competitive Edge TODAY With This Key Strategy " »
These tips are good habits to get into to manage your career even in boom times. So even if you're one of the lucky ones who aren't concerned about being laid off, put the economy to work for you. Let it motivate you to get ready for an emergency job search.
Network everywhere you go, all the time.
Attend networking events and meetings of professional associations. Keep up with your former coworkers, friends, and acquaintances. That way, if you need to ask for a referral, it won't be the first thing they hear from you after a long silence.
Check in with your "affinity groups."
Colleges and universities have done a great job in building and enhancing their alumni databases. These are great resources for informational interviews, job openings, and potential business partners. Some companies have "alumni" groups as well. Continue reading ...
Article courtesy of Salary.com®
If you're looking for a stable, growing career path that is challenging and rewarding, you should consider Seattle medical jobs.
The Seattle-Bellevue-Everett area's education and health services industry employed 162,300 workers during December 2009, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is up from 162,200 workers during November and a 1.8 percent increase from December 2008.
The majority of healthcare jobs in the Seattle area pay workers relatively well. According to Salary.com, the average salary for a staff registered nurse in the city is between $66,481 per year and $80,372 per year, while the average salary for a family practice physician is between $166,479 per year and $216,863 per year.
During 1970, Seattle developed a modern paramedic service called Medic One Foundation. A story on 60 Minutes during 1974 heralded the success of the program and called Seattle "the best place in the world to have a heart attack."
Three of the city's largest medical centers are located on First Hill, which has been nicknamed "Pill Hill" because of the large concentration of hospitals in the area, according to Wikipedia.
Harborview Medical Center, the public county hospital and the only Level I trauma hospital serving Washington, Alaska, Montana and Idaho, is located in the area, as well as the two largest campuses of Virginia Mason Medical Center and Swedish Medical Center.
The Laurelhurst neighborhood is home to Seattle Children's Hospital, which is the pediatric referral center for Washington, Alaska, Montana and Idaho. The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center has a campus in the Eastlake neighborhood and shares facilities with the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance and the University of Washington Medical Center.
Seattle's University District is home to the University of Washington Medical Center, which is operated by the University of Washington. When it comes to research, the University of Washington is consistently ranked among the top leading medical research institutions in the country.
The city also is served by a Veterans Affairs hospital and Northwest Hospital & Medical Center.
Maybe there was a time when you could post your resume on Monster.com and sit back and wait for the offers to come flooding in, but that time is long gone. In today's economic climate, that's like waiting for the job fairy to come and tap you on the head with a magic wand. Well, guess what? There is no job fairy. That's what I call a reality-based wake up call, and one I've repeated time and time again to the thousands of people I've spoken to as a career coach and strategic advisor. What it means is, you can't afford to be passive and wait around for the jobs to come back, because a lot of them won't. It's time to take control of your career again.
The way to take control is to go where the growth is. It's not hopeless out there, even though it feels like it sometimes. There are choices you can make that will improve your situation. They may be tough choices, but who ever said the important things in life are easy?
Continue reading "Stop Waiting for the "Job Fairy" and Get Proactive About Your Job Search" »
The real estate of your resume is one of the most important, and most over looked concepts of effective resume presentation. Most resumes I review have an antiquated notion, if any notion at all, about how use of real estate affects your reader's impression of your qualifications.
First, what is resume real estate?
Resume real estate describes the use of space and placement on your resume. Not all spaces are created equal.
Most candidates I advise use a resume that's planned around being printed on paper. However, most interview decisions are made on a screen. This is a huge difference, because the human eye focuses on different information in the space of a screen, versus on paper.
Continue reading "10 Ways To Manage Your Resume Real Estate " »
Watching the news this morning, an adjective used to describe one of the Olympic competitors caught my attention. The word: impervious. Checking its definition in Webster's New Dictionary, I found:
impervious: incapable of being affected or disturbed...not capable of being damaged or harmed.
As a job seeker...
Do you let little things get to you?
Do you let the slightest criticism bug you and ruin your day?
Do you let the silly remark slide, or do you want to hire an attorney and sue the one that said it?
Do you filter conversation, lifting up the good stuff and letting the rest go?
Do you smile and thank the person who offers you a job lead, only to later ridicule them wondering why they would think of you for such a 'lowly' job?
Do you take with a grain of salt the person who asks you for the umpteenth time, "haven't you found a job yet?"
Are you an impervious job seeker? I hope so...I hope that you are a job seeker who doesn't quit, who doesn't give up, who stays positive, focused, inspired, motivated, and grateful, no matter what, until you figure it out and find (or create) a new place for yourself. Impervious.
Article by, Billie Sucher and courtesy of CareerHub.com. The Career Hub blog connects job seekers with experts in career counseling, resume writing, personal branding and recruiting.
One of the most common job seeker dilemmas I hear about these days is how to position a layoff with prospective employers.
My advice - pure and simple - is to mention it directly. Since the subject of how you left your last job will inevitably come up in the context of discussing your recent work experience, I don't think you can really hide the true story without coming across as insincere or even dishonest.
Nor should you. Consider how many people have been laid off nationwide in the last eighteen months. It's a lot - and there could be any number of reasons for your termination, including a company bankruptcy or merger or a widespread plan to cut expenditures. Many of these situations have little or nothing to do with job performance, and there's nothing you could have done to prevent or circumvent the outcome. There's not an employer out there that hasn't been negatively impacted by the poor economy, so it's unlikely that your interviewer will hold a layoff against you.
Here's the key, though. When discussing your layoff in the interview, you must be careful of your tone. Communicating that you feel sorry for yourself or that you're experiencing a crisis of confidence will portray you in a bad light even if the layoff itself doesn't. If you sound certain that it worked out for the best and that you'll land on your feet, prospective employers will be certain too.
Article by Alexandra Levit and courtesy of Water Cooler Wisdom blog.
When dispensing interview advice, I forgot to mention the important step that comes before that, the job search. While RBA is a great tool to help you in the job market, it is unable to keep you safe from the sharks in the water. Fortunately, it comes complete with this wonderful, complementary blog to help you along the way.
I've been running into a ridiculous amount of fishy jobs on the internet, and according to the San Francisco Chronicle, I'm not alone. The article claims that online job scams are increasing in conjunction with the desperation of the job-seeking masses. Here are three things I recommend to reduce your risk of being scammed:
Continue reading "Shark Infested Waters: Apply at Your Own Risk" »
"'Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?' 'That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,' said the Cat." - Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
I've never really been a big believer of networking as the main job search strategy. In fact, for whatever reason, I've always felt that "who you know" plays a very small part in landing a job (despite the statistics). But just last week I helped someone I know get a job by referring them. I actually referred three people over the last few weeks (only one got the job so far), so it got me to thinking. Maybe there is something to this "it's who you know". For me, out of the way too many jobs I've had over the way too many years I've worked, only two jobs were as a result of someone I knew. But in my current job, of the six people I've hired over the last 10 months, three have been referred in one form or other. 50%! Lower than the statistics would lead you to believe, but still an impressive number. So you know what? I've changed my mind. There is something to this "it's who you know". So, what better place to start than my Job Search Marketing Toolkit and the Networking post?
Ever worked in more than one industry or more than one position on your way to career super stardom? I thought so. Many of us get trapped by this feeling that our resume has to be a complete historical rundown of everything we have ever done and everywhere we have ever done it. Not true. Don't misunderstand what I'm saying; I'm not advising you to lie, be untruthful, or withhold information. What I am going to share with you are three ways to focus your resume so that you can optimize your opportunities for interview call backs.
DO NOT SEND A GENERIC RESUME.
Sending a generic, unfocused resume is a waste of your time and the hiring manager's time. Instead, spend a few extra moments tailoring your resume to fit the needs of the organization to which you are applying. Review the job description and ensure that you offer what they need. Then make sure you show them that.
Continue reading "3 Ways to Position Your Professional Resume to Land the Interview " »
The way that large corporations operate often boggles my mind. Take for example my friend who worked in the internal consulting division of a massive, well-known company. Despite being owned and operated by the company, his division had to bid against outside consulting firms for projects. There was a good reason for this (it forced the internal consulting division to watch its back), but it still seems a bit ridiculous. Another example of this kind of thinking is transfer pricing (don't worry, I had to look it up too). It's the "pricing of contributions (assets, tangible and intangible, services, and funds) transferred within an organization." At first it may seem that since all of the money is going to the same place pricing things that are transferred within an organization doesn't really matter. Unfortunately, that would cause all of the accountants in an organization (and the IRS too) to have a fit. So how do companies price these transfers? There's no external market to set the price, and trying to do it internally can get really messy. That's when companies bring in Ceteris a "global independent consulting firm specializing in transfer pricing, intellectual property and valuation services" that is headquartered in Chicago.
Article by Willy Franzen of One Day, One Internship and One Day, One Job
