The Importance of a Web Presence

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

                  Training Coordinator

It wasn’t too long ago I attended a workshop on résumé writing and the presenter made it abundantly clear that in the near future having a web presence will be more and more important for job seekers.

 

For more information on this issue click here.

Buried Treasure

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

In today’s job market finding a job is like searching for buried treasure. Here are some non-traditional ideas you can use for your search:

  1.    If you’re interested in a specific employer; Friend them on   Facebook, seek them out on LinkedIn and Twitter.

2.    Be more than a voyeur on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. Get involved in discussions, especially if the discussions are relevant to the type of work for which you are looking.

3.    Connect with people on LinkedIn that work for the company for which you would like to work. Get to know them.

4.    Visit the websites of companies for which you would like to work. This will help keep you abreast of what’s going on in those organizations.

5.    Set up Google Alerts on companies for which you would like to work. This way whenever they’re mentioned in the news, you’ll be notified of the issue.

6.    Volunteer somewhere doing the kind of work for which you’re trying to get hired. There are multiple benefits to this. One, you’re keeping your skills sharp. Two, you might pick up some new skills. Three, you’re out there in the world meeting people, people who might have job leads for you. Four, the place you’re volunteering for may decide to hire you. Five, you can put your volunteer work on your résumé. This lets employers see that you’re not sitting at home waiting for something to happen. You’re out there trying to make something positive happen for yourself.

7.    If you belong to a specific profession, find associations and other websites related to that profession.

Remember, people like to help people who have helped them. When you go to these social media sites, don’t just be there as a taker. You need to give of yourself. Offer helpful suggestions. This applies to face-to-face situations as well as social media sites.

Maybe you’ve connected with a person who works at the company you really want to hire you. They have posted a request for help with a work related problem. If you know of a solution or have an idea to offer them, do so.

 

One final note today, don’t whine. Be positive. Negativity is a huge turn off.

 
This is a repost from January 2012.

Email Etiquette for Everyone

We all rely on email. Who doesn't?
But email etiquette needs to be observed just like other forms of etiquette.

But as with anything, the more e-mails we send, the more likely we are to screw one up, according to Andrew G. Rosen, in his blog, "18 Common Work E-mail Mistakes."

And simple e-mail mistakes can be disastrous. They can cost us a raise, promotion — even a job, Rosen says.

These tips apply to employees but also to jobseekers, who need to be extra careful about the emails they send.

Here are some good email tips for jobseekers and employees.

HOW DO YOU PROVE YOUR AGE IS AN ASSET?

Posted by: Darlene Duncan CWDP, JSS, CCC Training Coordinator When clients tell me that they’re having a hard time finding a job because of their age, I tell them this. If you believe your age is a barrier to you getting a job, it will be a barrier to you getting a job. It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Stop thinking it. Stop saying it. Stop believing it. Click here to read an article on proving that age can be an asset.

HOW IMPORTANT IS NETWORKING?

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


Many people will tell you that without it, your job search is dead. The reality is, yes, it's a vital part of any job search.


Don’t just take my word for it, read this article with interviews from a variety of job seekers and employers.
Click here.

You May Want to Ignore Hot Job Lists

By Suzy Kridner
CBE Administrative Assistant
Is the job you've been searching for on the Hot Job List or the Current Job List -- or the Obsolete Job List?

There are very few positions advertised these days for newspaper reporter/editor, a job I loved for years, the last 28 in Daytona Beach. It's bad enough getting laid off, but even worse when all newspapers in the country have cut back on employees, pages, news and benefits. Some say newspapers are a dying breed. But I still enjoy lying back in my recliner reading my local paper.

If your profession is on the way out, that's when you have to reinvent yourself, write multiple resumes for multiple jobs, practice for interviews with diverse companies. And you may be as lucky as I was to get a job in a completely different field.

At the Center for Business Excellence/One-Stop Career Centers, where I am currently employed, we say, "It's a full time job looking for a job." We are fortunate to have three One-Stop Centers in Volusia and Flagler Counties that provide a myriad of services for the unemployed. For more information, go to http://www.onestops.com/ But I digress. How do you determine what's the newest hot job or hot career and are you qualified? Most of these lists are worthless. Instead, it's time to look for a realistic job.

Here are seven reasons to ignore these lists of hot jobs.

The Art of Listening

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

Whether it’s your boss, your child, a co-worker or your significant other listening is important and most of us do a lousy job of it. I can hear you already. You’re thinking, “What’s she talking about I’m a good listener?” We all want to think we’re good listeners however, the reality is that most of the time, we (and yes I include myself in that ‘we’) are thinking of our response before the person talking is even half way finished. This is not good listening. What does it take to be a good listener? 1. First, pay attention to not only the words being spoken but the body language of the speaker. 2. When the speaker finishes, take a few moments to process what you think you heard. 3. Next, in your own words, tell the speaker what you think they said. 4. Once you and the speaker agree on what the speaker said, you can formulate a response. Listening is a valuable skill on the job and in life in general. Communication, or rather miscommunication is the source of most relationship problems from parent to child, subordinate to boss. Friendships have been destroyed and jobs lost over miscommunication. Practicing good listening habits will help you in all aspects of your life. Think about it before you go on that next interview.

Awesome Reading Recommendation

60 Seconds & You're Hired!!! Author Robin Ryan

Whether you're just starting out, moving onward and upward, or reentering the job market, 6o Seconds & You're Hired! explains the most effective strategies for getting the job you want at the salary you deserve. By following these tips from one of America's top career coaches, Robin Ryan, you can land the perfect job by excelling at the crucial job interview. Brief, compact and packed with userful tips, 60 Seconds & You're Hired! provides the essential inside information job-seekers must have.

This book is a must read for the professional job-seeker. You can purchase this book through most bookstores or it can be loaned to you by our Professional Services Coordinator, Donna Runge. Donna is available to assist professionals in Volusia and Flagler counties with their job search. To contact Donna please e-mail her at donnarunge@cbe-fvc.org.