My CollegeRecruiter.com | Employers & Advertisers
My CollegeRecruiter.com | Employers & Advertisers
There is nothing worse than feeling like you're left out of the loop - especially when it comes to your career. But because there can be so many changes taking place in your field, you can look up one day and realize your entire industry has left you behind.
With the economy changing as quickly as it is, you can't afford to not know what the latest trends are. Including whether companies are laying off or hiring, as well as what fields are requiring that you learn new technologies. So how can you stay abreast of what's happening in your field? Let's look at some sure-fire ways to get this done ...
Read Industry Reports and Trade Publications
One way that you can make sure you always know what's going on in your industry is to read industry reports. You can read reports about what's going on specifically in your field, as well as reports about what's going on in the entire workforce. By doing this, you can know if your industry is dwindling, or check on industries paralleling yours that you may be able to move into.
There are a variety of industry reports you can look at to find out what's going on. For example, Execunet.com offers studies on hiring trends, information on what fields are best to enter, and much more related to top-level executive employment. Another industry reporting example is the Food Marketing Institute, which functions on and offline and offers a variety of surveys, facts and figures, and more through their website and quarterly reports regarding profitability, inventory productivity, and labor costs in the grocery and supermarket industry. Also, you can visit websites like ValuationResources.com that offer dozens of reports related to specific industries. There are many more resources available to keep you informed. You just have to make strides to find out what they are.
Read the Newspaper
Reading the newspaper may sound old fashioned, but believe it or not, it is still a great resource for discovering and staying abreast of industry information. Reading the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and the main and business sections of your local major newspaper can give you great insight into the trends of certain industries, as well as specific companies.
If you don't want to spend the money to subscribe to a newspaper, you can probably visit your local newspaper's website for information. However, to get in-depth access with the Wall Street Journal and The New York Times websites, you must subscribe online.
Join Professional Associations
Whether you're joining a local professional association, the Chamber of Commerce, or an online message board, you can find great in-depth information about your field and the workforce as a whole by joining other professionals in your field. It is through these affiliations that you can make necessary professional connections, link up with recruiters in your field, and simply keep your hand on the pulse of what's going on in your industry.
Staying informed in your industry is beneficial whether you're looking for a new job or not. By always knowing what's going on, you can become a major player in your industry, making a difference in your life and others.
Heather Eagar is a former professional resume writer and is passionate about providing working professionals with current, reliable and effective job search tools and information. Need a resume writer? Check out reviews of the top resume services in the industry at http://www.resumelines.com.
Posted by Heather Eagar on December 4, 2008 at 6:44 PM | Leave a Comment (0)
More lessons from the Jobacle Resume Writing Challenge. Here are some essential questions to ask prospective writers - and yourself - before you hire someone to conduct a re-write.
WHAT IS YOUR PROCESS?
Understanding how the resume writer works will increase the odds that you will be satisfied with the final product. Aside from asking is you are entitled to re-writes and edits, it's important to know...
HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU HAVE TO COMMIT?
When I say 'YOU' I mean you the resume owner. Depending on the writer, I spent anywhere from four hours to two minutes involved in the process. Whether it was fielding questions, completing questionnaires, or exchanging e-mails, I strongly advise that you be honest with yourself on how much time you are willing - and able - to commit.
I personally felt that the writers who spent more time with me did a better job, but the panel of Jobacle judges didn't necessarily see it that way.
Ask what the writer's process is and how much involvement you will have. Know your own time constraints and the writer for an estimate before you hire someone.
Continue reading about hiring a resume writer ...
Article by Andrew G.R. and courtesy of jobacle.com - your cure for carbon copy career advice!
Posted by Candice Arnold on December 1, 2008 at 8:26 AM | Leave a Comment (0)
All of the entries for the inaugural Jobacle Resume Challenge have been unveiled. I want to thank the participants, our judges, and most of all YOU, the reader.
As with most experiments, we learned a lot about how we can improve the exercise for next time: and there will be a next time. In fact, the next go around will feature a lucky reader's resume getting the royal treatment.
Subscribe now so you don't miss out.
Many job seekers have e-mailed me asking what my verdict is; is hiring a professional resume writer worth the money? While I'm hesitant to give a simple 'yes' or 'no' answer, I can say that the challenge has given me new appreciation for what resume writers do and the process involved.
The decision to hire the help really comes down to what your goals are, where you are in your career, and most importantly - who the resume writer is.
Continue reading about the Jobacle Resume Challenge ...
Article by Andrew G.R. and courtesy of jobacle.com - your cure for carbon copy career advice!
Posted by Candice Arnold on November 26, 2008 at 10:25 AM | Leave a Comment (0)
Are you someone who includes subjective descriptions of your skills, personal attributes or competencies on your resume? If so this post is for you.
How many people do you think would describe themselves as any one of the following?
The answer is pretty much everyone. The funny thing is that I have met very few actual team players in my professional life so when someone lists "great team player" on a resume I automatically skip over that statement and look for something that is backed up by verifiable metrics.
When you look at as many resumes as recruiters (both in-house and headhunters) do every day you tend to discount the subjective statements that you see on most resumes. So, even though you may have high integrity and you might be a strong team player there is just no point in listing that information on your resume unless you can back it up with some kind of meaningful description or, better yet, metrics.
Continue reading "Leave Subjective Statements Off Your Resume"
Posted by Candice Arnold on November 25, 2008 at 6:32 AM | Leave a Comment (0)
There are a number of ways that you can acquire the job you want. You can go the traditional route of finding an ad and applying for the job, or going through the temp agency where you can get your feet wet in certain fields.
But another great way to get a job is through networking. Whether you have a family member who can make recommendations for you, or you join an organization where you get inside tips on companies, meeting the right people help you get you the job you want. Let's look at some ways you can make networking work for you.
Talk to Your Friends and Family
If you're really looking to find work and the want ads haven't been very good to you then you may want to start networking with people that you trust the most: your friends and family. Not only can they surprise you with the information they know, they have your best interest at heart, which is always a plus.
Since your relationship with them is more likely to be casual, you can simply ask if they know of any job leads or people that you can link with for opportunities, without having to worry about being professional. You may just find that by networking close to home, you can find your next job lead in no time.
Join Clubs, Organizations or Advisory Boards
Making strides in a local or national club is another route that you can take to network your way to a great job. For instance, if you're in the IT field, you might want to join The Association of Information Technology Professionals (AITP) to make connections and learn the ins and outs of your field. And if you career choice is accounting, you might want to join the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).
If you're already a professional in your field and are looking for new opportunities, you can always join the advisory board of one of your local organizations. For instance, if you're working in the field of communication and want to raise your stakes as a professional, you can vie for a spot on the advisory board of Girl Scouts of America where you will be able to show your community service efforts and meet important people at the same time.
Try Online Networking
A newer form of networking that has proven to be successful in acquiring employment is online social networking. Whether you're participating in fun sites like Myspace and Facebook, or professional sites like LinkedIn, you will find that many recruiters are locating candidates through this online vehicle. It's good to research sites that recruiters visit most, check out blogs, and learn the culture before diving in. That way, if you set up a website profile or participate on message boards, you will be able to make the best first impression possible every time.
Networking is a great way to create new opportunities in your field. So conduct your research, make your connections, and get those opportunities started. In no time at all, you'll see that your efforts will begin to pay off.
About the Author:
Heather Eagar is a former professional resume writer and is passionate about providing working professionals with current, reliable and effective job search tools and information. Looking for resume writers? Check out reviews of the top resume services in the industry at http://www.resumelines.com.
Posted by Heather Eagar on November 20, 2008 at 7:09 PM | Leave a Comment (0)
It's not news that many people around the U.S. have been laid off and many more are concerned about job security. I was talking to my friend Scott Ingram about this situation the other day and Scott mentioned a great piece of advice that he gives to folks who have lost jobs: when you aren't actively job searching use the time you used to spend working to volunteer for a cause that is meaningful to you. Keeping busy while meeting new people is a great way to keep your spirits up while also networking and showcasing some of your skills in a non-aggressive way.
I know someone who was fired from a job about 6 or 7 years ago. I don't really know the circumstances of the job loss but I know it was emotional for this person whom I will refer to as "Z". Z was/is single and had saved a lot of money so he was able to live for about 2 years off savings and by selling stock. He said he was looking for a job and I even redid his resume in such a way that it wasn't obvious that he was unemployed. For some reason he was never able to find a job; I don't know if he was even searching for a job but he says he was. He claimed to have even submitted applications at places like Loews and Home Depot but he still had no luck finding a job.
Over the past few years Z has become increasingly isolated, has given up things he used to enjoy (like going to movies), has gained a lot of weight, is probably an alcoholic, and has become bitter, angry, and is, frankly, no fun to be around. As far as I can tell he is no longer looking for a job and is just living off his father; of course he has no money of his own after being unemployed for so long. Z spends all his time alone with his dog. At age 36 it seems like a ridiculous (and preventable) situation for Z to find himself in.
Continue reading "Stay Engaged, Maintain Your Sanity, and Ensure Employability"
Posted by Candice Arnold on November 18, 2008 at 9:16 AM | Leave a Comment (0)
Earlier today, I received a phone message from a caller who offered this:
A recruiter just said these words to me: If you're so good, how come your resume is so bad? Apparently, the recruiter had gone on to say to the caller that he was having a hard time figuring out the candidate's resume story.
Is your resume working for you, or against you? Is your resume helping you generate interviews or is it hurting your chances of getting hooked up with a potential employer? Are you making it easy for someone to get you and your story, or are you making it hard for yourself to get noticed in a sea of talent?
Continue reading "If You're SO Good, How Come Your Resume's SO Bad?"
Posted by Candice Arnold on November 17, 2008 at 2:17 PM | Leave a Comment (0)
Get the best new job by completing your education at an on-line or a traditional, campus school.
