Job Qualifications – Their Effect on Your Job Search

Posted by:  Darlene Duncan CWDP, JSS, CCC, JCTC, JCDC
                  Training Coordinator

According to an article in the New York Times both sides of the workforce are broken. The job seeker is applying for any job that’s available and employers have unrealistic expectations.

There are those working to repair the problems and that too is addressed in this article.

Many people have varying ideas about education and how it relates to getting a job. This article is one opinion.

It’s definitely worth the time to read it.

Click here for the article.

 

 

 

Is The Force With You?

Posted by:  Darlene Duncan CWDP, JSS, CCC, JCTC, JCDC
                  Training Coordinator

I just read an awesome article about ‘job searching’ for the over 40 and unemployed group. The truth is that regardless of your age, it’s still a great article.

Click here to read words of wisdom from Yoda.

 

 

Are You Getting Interviews But Not the Job?

Posted by:  Darlene Duncan CWDP, JSS, CCC, JCTC, JCDC

                  Training Coordinator

If you answered yes, to the title question you should read this article about the 3 qualities employers want to see exhibited when they interview.

 

Click here to read the article.

Best Questions to End a Job Interview

Posted by:  Darlene Duncan CWDP, JSS, CCC, JCTC, JCDC
                  Training Coordinator

Answering questions during an interview is hard enough and then they expect you to ask them questions. Personally, I always found trying to figure out what to ask them to be the hardest part of the interview. Well, not any more. Click here and read a wonderful article with four great end of interview questions.

Optimism for the Over 50 Job Seeker

Posted by:  Darlene Duncan CWDP, JSS, CCC, JCTC, JCDC

                Training Coordinator

If you’re looking for some positive ideas on how to have a successful job search after 50, then you should read this article. It’s not pie in the sky, Pollyanna stuff. It’s realistic and offers links to some resources, as well as offering helpful suggestions.

Click here to read the article.

 

 

Do You Know What Your Worth to Employers?

Posted by: Darlene Duncan CWDP, JSS, CCC, JCTC, JCDC
Training Coordinator

Personally, I know I’m priceless; however, an employer will undoubtedly have a different opinion. When you’re a job seeker sooner or later a potential employer is going to ask you that dreaded question. What salary are you expecting?

If you’ve done your research there’s no need to panic. Long before you reached the interview you should have checked out the company’s web site, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn presence. Sometimes you can find out what a company pays by researching their internet presence.

There are a great many sites you can use to do more Labor Market Information research so that you know what kind of wages are currently being paid for your skills, experience and abilities in your geographic area.

When you log into Employ Florida Marketplace you can access FRIEDA Florida from the navigation bar on the left. You can also access FRIEDA right here by clicking on this $ dollar sign.

In addition to that, you can click here for an article with some other sites that can help you with your Labor Market Information research.

Tweet Yourself a Job Interview

Posted by: Darlene Duncan CWDP, JSS, CCC, JCTC, JCDC
Training Coordinator

Do you tweet on Twitter? If not, maybe you should. If you’re already tweeting are you using the full potential of Twitter in your hunt for that next job?

I recently read an article with some great information about using Twitter for your job search. To read that same article click here.

Add This Secret Weapon to Your Résumé

Posted by: Darlene Duncan CWDP, JSS, CCC, JCTC, JCDC
Training Coordinator

I always love it when I’m talking to a customer and I learn that some information or advice we gave them in a workshop has proved beneficial to them in their job search.

In conversation with a customer at the end of a workshop today a woman told me she did something to her résumé that we told her to do. Afterward her résumé got her interviews and from those interviews she got three job offers. She told me that during her interviews with each of the three employers who offered her a position, they asked her about this information on her résumé.

So what was the secret weapon that got her three job offers?

She listed her volunteer work on her résumé. I know some of you are out there groaning and saying, “But I don’t have any volunteer work to add to my résumé.”

There is a way to fix that problem. Volunteer. There have been previous posts on this blog in reference to volunteering; however, I’m going to briefly list the benefits to you the job seeker.

One, it gets you out of the house where you can meet people. You never know who you’ll meet in a volunteer situation. Approximately 80% of the available jobs are found by word of mouth (otherwise known as networking).

Two, it helps you get practical experience and / or keep your skills sharp. Maybe you just recently got your degree in your field but you don’t have any work experience to go with it. Volunteering could help you get that real world experience.

Three, it shows potential employers that you’re not just sitting home watching television. You’re out trying to make something happen.

Four, if that organization you’re volunteering for has an opening for a paid position, you’ll be one of the first to know about it.

So yes, volunteer as part of your job search and when you do list it as experience on your résumé.

Insanity!

Posted by: Darlene Duncan CWDP, JSS, CCC, JCTC, JCDC
Training Coordinator

A definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.

Now apply that definition to your job search. Have you been using standard job seeker methods and having no success? If so, maybe it’s time to try something different.

I recently read an article on guerilla job hunting tactics. Not all of the ideas presented will work with every employer. Do your research on the company to which you’re going to apply. Determine if they’re the type of organization that will appreciate a less than traditional approach.

To read the article click here.

YIPPEEEE!!!! NO MORE RÉSUMÉS

Posted by: Darlene Duncan CWDP, JSS, CCC, JCTC, JCDC
Training Coordinator

As we move deeper and deeper into the age of the Internet many of the companies whose business is closely tied to the Internet, technology, and social media are no longer accepting résumés.

I can just imagine the smiles on your faces now at the thought of not having to create a résumé. However, depending on how tech savvy you are, that smile may disappear. You have to know that they’re going to use something to replace résumés.

So what could they want in place of a résumé? They want applicants to show them a ‘web presence’ to apply for positions. That web presence could include a profile including things like a personal blog, LinkedIn profile, Twitter feed, and links to other various social media sites.

For more details on this topic, click here to read the Wall Street Journal article.

Your Email Address Does Matter

Posted by: Darlene Duncan CWDP, JSS, CCC, JCTC, JCDC
Training Coordinator

If you’re a job seeker it’s important to have a short, easy to write, and remember email address. A recent article that was sent to me by a friend provides more detail on this topic.

Click here to read the article.

Coming next week Your Email Provider May Be Costing You Job Opportunities

How to Land a New Job

Posted by: Darlene Duncan CWDP, JSS, CCC, JCTC, JCDC
Training Coordinator

Recently I read an article from U.S. News & World Report. It reiterated so many of the things that we tell clients in our One-Stop workshops that I felt compelled to post a link to it here.

Click here to read the article.

It Shouldn’t Matter, But It Does

Posted by: Darlene Duncan CWDP, JSS, CCC, JCTC, JCDC
Training Coordinator

Perception of you based on your physical appearance can be keeping you from getting hired.

For women, this includes haircut and color, the outfit you wear and the purse you carry. If you’re female, over 40 and job searching you need to read this article.

Click here to read the article.

Get A Job Using The Hidden Job Market

Posted by: Darlene Duncan CWDP, JSS, CCC, JCTC, JCDC
Training Coordinator

Quite often people tell me there just aren’t any jobs out there. The reality is that there are jobs out there, just not as many as there used to be.

In addition to fewer jobs, the old way of looking for jobs doesn’t work real well in today’s world. To be successful in today’s job market you must tap into the hidden job market. The hidden job market has always been there, it just didn’t used to be as important as it is today.

I recently read an article that gives a simple explanation of how to access this hidden job market. Regardless of the type of work you’re seeking I believe the information in this article can help you with your job search.

Click here to read the article.

Increase Your Productivity

Posted by: Darlene Duncan CWDP, JSS, CCC, JCTC, JCDC
Training Coordinator

Feel like you’re spinning your wheels and getting nowhere fast?

Every once in a while I need to step back and reevaluate my time management methods to see if there’s something I can do to be more effective with how I use my time. Recently a friend of mine pointed out an article to me that has eight great tips in it for being more productive.

The article is written with a slant toward someone who has a job however, it wouldn’t take much adaptation to make the ideas work for a job seeker.

I think number five is particularly helpful if your job searching. It’s so easy to get on the internet and fall victim to ‘shiny ball syndrome’. Some article catches your eye and instead of moving on to your job search you stop to read it. The next thing you know you’ve read a bunch of articles that may or may not have anything to do with job searching and you’ve lost an hour or more of time that was supposed to be used for job searching.

Click here to read all 8 great tips for being more productive.

Detective Work

Posted by: Darlene Duncan, CWDP, JSS, CCC, JCTC, JCDC
Training Coordinator

In the workshops at the One-Stop where I work, we often tell job seekers that they need to research the company for which they want to work. Some people look at us as if we have suddenly grown a second head. Sometimes I feel like I should find a mirror to see if maybe I’ve sprouted another noggin.

Perhaps the word ‘research’ is the problem, or at least part of it. Don’t let the word put you off. All it means is to gather information. In this case, gather information about a company or organization. Make it into a game, where you’re a detective and you need to know as much about this company as you can discover.

In regards to your résumé, the information you collect about the company helps you aim your résumé at the company’s interests and needs. The same applies to the interview. The greater your knowledge of the organization the better your answers will be to interview questions.

Collecting information (aka research) is a skill that everyone should learn. It’s a great tool for job hunting and you never know when it might just be a skill you need on the job. To help you get started I’ve provided a link to an article about researching for job seekers. In the article are many links to different sites to assist with your information gathering.

Research Companies

Information Sharing

Approximately 80% of job openings never get advertised. They aren’t in your local paper. They’re not going to be on a computer job board. They’re not going to be in a trade journal. So how do you find out about these jobs?

Talk to people. Talk to people? What are you, crazy?

No, I’m not crazy. I’m very serious. You find out about these jobs by talking to people, because that’s how the jobs are promoted.

If you go fishing, you don’t just sit in the boat and wait for the fish to jump in. You bait a hook and drop it in the water. If you’re looking for a new doctor, dentist, mechanic, or hairdresser what do you do? If you’re like most folks, you ask people you know who they use and how they like them. Finding a job that is only advertised by talking to people is done the same way. You talk to people you know, let them know what you are looking for and at the same time you listen to them. Learn what they need and if you can help them, great.

You may ask, why do I want help them? I’m the one looking for help. Yes, you are. Think about it for a moment. Aren’t you more interested in helping someone who has helped you?

Coming next week Can You Hear Me Now?