All about work, jobs and careers

Your workplace image inside and out

2009-08-21T08:11:00.000-07:00

When you are job searching you need to pay attention to your workplace image inside and out.

What do I mean by that?

Well, you are probably aware that how you dress for an interview has a massive effect on how employable the interviewer considers you.

So dress as someone who is successful in the job for which you are applying. Don't dress too young, even if you are very young, and don't dress like an "old" person even if you are just a few years from retirement.

Dress professionally, job appropriate, smartly and showing some connection to current fashions.

Inside is a more difficult problem.

You may have heard the saying "Your belief is your reality." Henry Ford of Ford Motors is famous as saying "If you believe you can or you can not, you are right"

These are two ways of saying the same thing.

If you believe the interviewer will consider you too young, you will probably show that very quickly in your behavior. Instead have the mind set that you are mature and responsible enough to handle this job, and you will project that at an interview.

At the other end of the scale, if you apply for jobs with the mindset of "no-one will hire me because I'm old" then, once again, you are probably right.

Instead form the belief that you have experience, stability, proven work ethic and your maturity will be benefit to any workplace, whether populated by young or old.

Your actual age is chronological and out of your control.

Your mind set, including how old you see yourself as, is up to you.

See yourself as appropriate for the job you are seeking, and you are.

See yourself as too young, or too old (or too anything else!) and you are.

So get with the program. Inside and out.

And remember, your belief is your reality.

Sharing your other interests can find you a job

2009-07-11T09:17:00.000-07:00

So you like jazz music, but the job you are seeking is that of a bookkeeper. How can you make jazz help you find your bookkeeping job?

Easy.

Find out where there is jazz in your community. Is there a festival, a group, and location where jazz is frequently played? Perhaps you're involved in those already. But are you using them to help you find a job?

With your 30 second commercial at the ready, you can talk to anyone at any of the jazz related events/ places you go to, and get help from them.

Once people relate to you, in this case through a mutual interest like jazz, they are more open and more likely to help you.

"I love this music and could spend my life just listening to it, but unfortunately I need to work! I wonder if you know anyone I can talk to - whether or not they are jazz enthusiasts like us - who might know of any possibilities for work in bookkeeping. I've been bookkeeping for 10 years, and have great skills and a terrific reputation for accuracy. Can you suggest anyone I could talk to, who might know of what's out there?"

Hand them your business card, then, if appropriate, continue to build rapport and share your mutual interest in jazz. Or move around, if appropriate to the venue, and chat to as many others, repeating the same process.

Go to any such event or occasion with a plan of action in mind. Make up your mind to talk to a specific number of people, and don't allow yourself to stand and chat to long time friends (who already know you are looking and have given you what help they can) until you have successfully completed your agenda.

So network with a goal in mind - but don't forget to enjoy yourself at the same time.

Here are some great resources to help with your job search:

WOW...Youre Hired! This Breakthrough Product Reveals The Secret For Getting Hired. Job Seekers Love It

Youre Hired! - The Complete Guide To Landing Your Dream Job! This Really Is The Complete Guide To Landing Your Dream Job Which Every Jobseeker Needs. 143 Pages Of Job Advice From A Recruitment Professional, Plus Some Stunning Free Bonuses.

Job Seach help in person...

Networking can get you a job

2009-06-20T08:07:00.000-07:00

Networking can get you a job!

In fact it’s the No. 1 way to do so.

Take a look at the questions below and check out your networking quota.
0= I do not do up to 5 = I consistently do

Meeting People:
Who do you know?
• It’s important not just to meet people, but to let them feel they know me: I know it's not who I know, but who knows me that counts
• I "connect" effectively daily with people I meet either formally or informally
• I smile when I answer the phone because I know the person on the other end can hear it
• I don’t wait for others to introduce themselves to me: I go ahead and introduce myself
• I’ll be one of the first to arrive at any meeting or group to give me more chance to meet more people
• I make connections for others, by introducing them to each other
• People usually seem relaxed and comfortable in my company: I am approachable, friendly, kind and polite
• My handshake is always firm, but not strong enough to cause pain, and I look the other person in the eye as we shake hands.
• I frequently enlist others help by asking “Do you know anyone who….?”

Communicating with others:
Effective communication
• I use active listening skills, so others know I am interested and listening
• I always read a business card when I receive it, and comment if appropriate
• When I receive a business card, I write on the back of it any information about that person I wish to remember
• When someone is telling me something, I ask questions to show interest and to get more information
• I work at remembering names, jobs and businesses of people I meet
• I have a effective 30-second introduction that tells who I am, what I do and what I am looking for
• I understand that every time I meet another person it can be considered a “networking event”
• I believe in “give to get” and I offer any help or assistance I can to those I meet

Connecting is of premium importance
Make an impact. What do you want to be remembered for?
• My business/ networking cards are up to date and in good condition, and I always have plenty with me
• I know the ideal time to give out my business/networking card is at the end of a conversation, not at the beginning
• I keep the business cards I receive, and check regularly to see remind myself of all the connections I have made
• I go to meetings and am involved with networking and professional organizations appropriate to my field
• When I go to networking events I have an agenda to meet a specific number of new people and do not just chat to people I know until I have achieved this goal.
Follow up
Keeping in touch
• I take the time to think of ways to continue connecting with others I have met
• I return e-mails and phone calls within 24 hours or less whenever possible
• When making a business or job related phone call, I am prepared for either a live person or voice mail, and come across sounding professional and organized.
• I keep my promises and follow up on commitments so others come to think of someone who can be trusted

Not many people can score 5 for every question, but obviously the higher your score the better you are doing at networking. So take a look at your lower scores and consider ways you can improve in these areas.

Finding work is all about people, who you know and who knows you.

Find a Job: The Best Ways and the Worst Ways

2009-05-22T10:29:00.000-07:00

As with every thing else in life, there are best and worst ways to find a job.
There are effective and ineffective methods of job search.

In general terms, when you do something that does not actively involve interacting with another human being, you will be less successful. When you contact individuals, you will be more successful.

Least Successful Ways of finding work:

1. Answering newspaper, magazine or online job advertisements.
This method averages around 7% success rate, and yet it is the only form of job search that many people engage in. Think about it, when you apply for an advertised job, you are in competition with everyone else who is doing the same. In a tight job market, this can mean hundreds of other job seekers.
It’s by no means impossible to land a good job through the classifieds, or the employment pages on websites, but it is not one of the more successful methods.

2. Mailing resumes to employers, unasked.
If the employer is not actively looking for an new employee with your skills, and your resume arrives uninvited in his/her inbox, (paper or electronic) s/he is unlikely to bother much about it. Of course, if you are lucky, you’re resume will arrive just as someone has handed in their notice … but what are the chances of that!
If you do send out resumes to employers unasked, to make this method at all productive, you must follow up promptly with a phone call (tell the employer in your cover letter that you will do so – the do it!)

3. Listing your name with Employment Agencies
Again, you may get lucky. In the more general jobs, like office administration, you may well get several short term postings, and may even eventually find a company who wants to “buy” you from the agency and give you a permanent job. The lower paying the job you are seeking, the more chance you have for success with this method.
According to Richard Bolles of “What Color is your Parachute”, these methods outlined above all have a below 10% success rate.

However, that does not mean there is no work out there. There is. You just have to know how to find it. Read on:

Most Successful Ways of finding work:

1. Talk to people, everyone and anyone. Ask them not only if they know of any jobs in your field, but also if they know anyone who works in your field that you could talk to – not to ask for a job, just to find out where they think there might be possibilities for you. Usually people have a pretty good idea what is out there in their own field of employment.

2. Cold call on employers even if they don’t appear to be hiring. Phone and ask if you can come in to see them, on in smaller companies, just show up and ask to see the manager or human resource person. If they are busy, ask to make an appointment. Dress professionally, and have your resume with you.

3. Use the Yellow Pages. Look up the index in the Yellow Pages for every heading that might apply to you, the read the entries under each heading. Write down the names of any company you think might employ people with your skills. Either online, or by phone, find out the name of the hiring manager, then proceed as above with a cold call.

The most successful method of all:

Combine all of the above.

Here a great resource to help you find a job.

Job Hunting: let your fingers do the walking

2009-04-30T12:05:00.000-07:00

Less and less of us let our fingers do the walking through paper pages any more. It's all online. But ye olde yellow pages still have their uses in job search.

Here is one.

At the front of your yellow pages is an index. It lists all the categories that appear later on in the book.

By scanning down the index you may come up with some category names that are a fit for your job search, that you hadn't previous considered. The reason is that there are so many ways to word various types of businesses, that you may not think of them all.

Reading the index in the yellow pages can show you the ones you've missed.

Of course, what you then do is go to these sections and go down through all the listings and contact each and every company that seems at all likely to hire people with your skills.

This way of job searching has a very high success rate.

Working from home can be a full time, or a part time alternative to a "job."

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Phone Empoyers: Just do it!

2009-04-24T12:46:00.000-07:00

No-one likes making cold calls.

However the question is: what is more important to you - avoiding making cold calls or getting a job?

If getting a job is more important, make the cold calls!

Yes, of course, you are going to experience some rejection. But it's not personal. It's just that they don't have any jobs, or time to talk to you.

Just take it at face value and move on to the next call.

Cold calls work.

Prepare a script, with how you want to introduce yourself, and then get on the phone to any employer who might hire someone with your skills.

If they say no, ask if they know who is hiring.

Don't ask if you can call back again ... they might say no!

Instead, just mark down on your list when you phoned, and follow up again in a few weeks, if you are still job hunting.

Try this Simple Job Search System.

Contact Employers Directly

2009-04-09T09:30:00.000-07:00

When you are job seeking, especially in tough times, contacting employers directly reaps more benefit than looking in the job ads.

Here's why.

When an employer realizes they need another worker, they go through the following process:
- Do I know anyone who could do this job?
- Does anyone else in the company know anyone who could do this job?
- Do I know anyone in another company who could do this job?
- Have I heard of anyone, even if I don't know them personally, who could do this job?
- Do the employment agencies I have used before have anyone who could do this job?
- Is there any other avenue I can go down to find someone to do this job? Chamber of Commerce, Professional Associations I'm connected with, Business Networking Groups I attend?
- There seems to absolutely no-one that I know, or any one I know, knows, who can do this job, so I will have to advertise!

So when you just look in the job ads, you are getting the jobs that are left over after every other avenue of finding that new employee have been exhausted.

You are better than that. You deserve more than the left overs. Go to employers directly. Offer your services. Ask if they know of anywhere that might be looking for someone with your skills. Keep knocking on doors, phoning, making connections and meeting people. That's the best way to find work in any job market, but especially in tough times.

How To Get The Job You Want. Uncovers The 'Hidden' Job Market Without Working Through Job Boards Or Recruiters- Cuts The Job Search Time In 1/2

Let your fingers do the walking ... but you do the talking

2009-03-23T09:59:00.000-07:00

The Yellow Pages, although used less now that we can just "Google" whatever we want, still have their undisputed uses.

One of them is to help you find companies that can hire you.

So let your fingers do the walking ... but be well prepared to do the talking!

First look in the index of the Yellow Pages. Mark or write down every index heading that suggests companies of the type that would use people with your skills and experience.

Then go to the pages for each of these headings and go down through all the individual listings for each heading and phone every one of them, unless something in their Yellow Pages entry suggests they are not likely to hire people like you.

Yes, I said, every single entry.

But before you do ... take the time to write down a script of what you will say when you phone.

For this you need your 30 second commercial.

If the employer doesn't ask for your resume or invite you in to see him/ her, always ask if they know of anyone else who might be hiring in this area.

Do not ask if you can call in a few weeks to check if anything has come up. The employer might say "no"!

Instead, just write down the phone number, name and anything useful you found out and phone again in a few weeks anyway (assuming you are still looking!)

It may seem tedious. And it is. But it's also one of the most successful ways of finding work. So if you want a job, it's worth it.

Also read...
Finding work in the Hidden Job Market

Jobs can be found in News Stories

What is the Hidden Job Market

How many jobs are you missing if you only check the Job Ads

Create your Job Search "Business" Card

2009-03-14T09:24:00.000-07:00

The best way to find a job in a tough job market is to get out there and speak to people.

Yes, speak to the obvious people, like employers, people who are already employed in the industry or by the companies where you want to work.

But don't stop there.

It is estimated that everyone knows between 200 - 300 people.

So, that goes for your hairdresser, plumber, pharmacist, cashier at the supermarket, doctor and his nurse, dentist and dental hygienist, anyone you meet socially. It means anyone you meet anytime, any place, any how.

They all know 200 - 300 people. So what are the chances they know someone who works in your field, and may even know someone who is hiring in your field?

But they can't help you if they don't know you need their help.

And they don't want your resume.

Instead, make Business Cards. They are really Networking Cards. T

hey will have your name and contact information on them.

Under your name will be the title of the job for which you are looking - the same way it would be written if you actually had the job. After all, you are still an engineer, salesperson, veterinary technician or whatever, even though you do not currently have a job.

Then they will have 3 bulleted items giving your greatest skills or experience. This can be taken from the highlights section or your resume.

If you want you can put more details on the back of the card, but most people never look at the back, so don't rely on it being read very often.

Give there cards out to everyone you can. Give more than one to anyone who is likely to have more than one person to whom to pass it on.

If you want to really go for it, leave them on tables in libraries, coffee shops etc, and especially if you go any places you know people connected with your type of work go.

Just make sure it's only your phone number, or perhaps phone number and email address that is on the card. No address.

You can make your own business cards by buying sheets of pre-perforated cards at your local office supply store. MS Word and WordPerfect both have "labels" templates which include business card ones that match your purchased sheets exactly.

Or you can order 250 free business cards, online, paying only postage, from Vistaprint. I have used this service several times and it is fast, efficient - and you really do only pay the postage!

Consider less obvious employers

2009-03-04T09:11:00.000-08:00

When you're looking for a job, the natural thing is to think of the employers who are most likely to use your services. A Plumber works for a plumbing company, and computer programmer workd for an IT services company, a trainer works for a training company.

These are the obvious.

But when you can't find work with the obvious, or even before trying the obvious, take a look at the less obvious.

An IT guy can work for just about any company. If the company is small, he may work for 2 or more companies.

Any large institution needs all types of maintenance, including a plumber. Industrial plants need plumbers. Hospitals need plumbers. So do hotels.

And training ... government have trainer positions, many organizations use facilitators on a regular basis, that that is just another form of training. With people requiring retraining to find work these days, trainers/ facilitators are in high demand.

These are just a few suggestions. I'm sure you could come up with many more for these 3 jobs.

The point is that whatever your job, you can find work in the unlikeliest places.

So try this exercise.

Look in the yellow pages. I know - no-one reads the yellow pages any more, we all "Google" the company we want on the computer. But for this exercise, use the yellow pages.

Look at the index, and as you read down the list of the various types of companies consider how this industry might use your skills. If you think it's possible, go to the section listed in the index, and read the actual companies. Look at the ads. Consider, again, how could I fit with this company.

When you find something that might work, go to webpages as well as reading the yellow pages ads, and find out more about the companies, what they do, what they want, how they operate.

Work out for yourself how you fit, because when you contact the employer (which is the next step) YOU will have to be able to show him how you fit into this company and industry. He will probably not "do the math" and work it out himself.

Example: I am a Career Counsellor. Once, looking for a fill-in job for a while, I applied for a job as a weight loss consultant. How is this a fit (especially since I had never been on a diet)?

As I told the manager when she interviewed me, in career counselling people come to me with a problem (in this case, they need a job), I have the knowledge to help them, I am willing to listen and encourage. I support them in their transition.

As a weight loss consultant people come to you with a problem (in this case they want to lose weight), I (the job ad said they would train me) have the knowledge to help them, I am willing to listen and encourage. I support them in their transition.

The only difference is the type of knowledge I need. It's the same job. The manager nodded at my explanation and hired me.

So take time to think out where your skills, experience and training fit that is not the obvious. Then take the time to think it through so you have a viable, convincing argument for why you'd be good in this job. Your cover letter is a good place to write that, or face to face on "cold call".

In tougher times, creativity is the name of the game.

Looking for more job search help?
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Go where the employers go

2009-02-26T13:39:00.000-08:00

Where do employers go when they're out of the office?

One of the places they go is the local Chamber of Commerce, or Business Centre for the city or town. These organizations usually host monthly "mixers", often for free and open to non-members at least for one visit.

Here employers mix and hope to find more business or business connections.

Here is also where they pass on names of possible employees to each other.

Here is where you should be as part of your job search, ready with your business card and 30 second info-mercial.
(read down for more on these)

Go around, meet as many people as you can. Tell them what you are looking for in the way of work and give them your card. Ask them to pass it on to anyone they know who may be looking for someone with your skills.

Your business card will have your name, contact information and either a job title (if the title makes it clear what you do) or 3 bulleted skills that you think will hook an employer the most.

Your Informercial takes about 30 seconds to deliver, and tells the listener exactly what it is you are seeking by way of employment.

Read other blog entries here on these two topics.

So get out and meet employers where they go, and find jobs before your competition.

Need more help with your job search?

Be Creatrive: consider how your skills can fit into the most unlikely places

2009-02-16T14:47:00.000-08:00

We all tend to allow ourselves to get stuck in "boxes". We get ideas about where our skills fit and don't realize that there are a great many other places and businesses out there where these same skills might be useful.

A client who had been working in manufacturing for years, moved to the island here where I live to be with his new fiancee, where basically there is no manufacturing. He couldn't think what on earth he could do here. However, this is a retirement location, so health care is huge. He eventually found work cleaning and sterilizing surgical instruments, working for the local Health Authority. Wasn't an obvious move from manufacturing, but it turned out to use the same mechanical skills and attention to detail he has used before.

That is just one example of a creative job search.

Don't allow yourself to be boxed in by where you expect to find work. Instead, look to see what is out there. What companies, what types of work are hiring, then think out which of your skills fit in, and how.

Don't expect the employer to do this when you send in your resume. S/he won't.

Instead, make sure you point out clearly that you have these specific skills that are relevant to the job for which you are applying, even if it's a totally different job than you've had before. It's the skills that matter, not the job title.

But you have to sell the skills Your resume has to be targetted to the job you are applying for, and the relevant skills you have to offer. And when you go to the interview, make sure you are ready to back that up with strong examples of when you used these skills in ways that make sense to this employer and this job.

The limit of this is your creativity. Notice I say creativity ... I am not suggesting any deception. I am however suggesting looking at your skills from a different angle and finding out where else they could fit.
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If you can't get one job, have you considered two or more?

2009-02-11T10:40:00.000-08:00

Although less than 50% of workers in North America have full time (37+ hours a week) jobs, that is what most people still think of when they think about "getting a job."
But it's not the only option.

2 or more part time jobs can be a solution. And I know, many people don't want to have several part time jobs, and often the benefits that come with a full time job are not there.

But if you can't get that full time job at the moment, it can be a very viable option.

The benefits of more than one part time job are that you gain a wider variety of skills. Perhaps your 2 jobs are quite different, or perhaps they are doing the same type of work for more than one employer. Either way, you will learn more skills and, if you do a good job, gain more great references.

If boredom has ever been an issue in your work, 2 different part time jobs can ease that considerably.

You will meet more coworkers, and have the opportunity through that not just to make more friends, but also, to hear what else is going on the outside world of work from more people ... giving you a greater chance to hear of full time work when it reappears.

Try looking on the positive.

When you look on the negative all you see are the negative points. But everything has a positive side. Actively look for the positives in the concept of more than one part time job, and you will be surprised how many you will find.

As a confirmed part-time-in-more-than-one-job worker myself, I can tell you quite honestly that I love it, and would never want to have one full time job ever again.

Think about it ... what part time work could you do?
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Network you way to a job

2009-01-30T09:34:00.000-08:00

Just because you are looking for a job in accounting doesn't mean it's not worth while to tell your plumber, your hairdresser, your friend's friend who's a salesman.

Most people have heard of the 6 degrees of separation, which stated that you are never more than 6 contacts away from the person you want to find.

Have you also heard that most people have a network of around 200-300 people. That is, most people know 200 - 300 people.

So just because the person you are speaking to can't hire you, doesn't mean s/he doesn't know someone who can, or at least know someone, who knows someone who can.

It doesn't make sense to ask your mailman if he can hire you as an office manager, but it does make sense to tell your mailman you are seeking a position as an office manager and can s/he think of anyone you could talk to, who may know of any position of this type.

You have to explain in easy to understand language what your job is - and this is easier for some than for others (specifically those in the computer world), but you have to if you want to get the names of people to talk to.

So get out there and network. Ask everyone you know if they know of anyone you can talk to. Make it clear that you do not necessarily expect that person to be able to hire you. You just want to talk to them and find out if they know of any companies that are hiring etc.

Job search is hard work if done right, but the rewards are worth it.

Your uniqueness can help you find work

2009-01-24T09:02:00.000-08:00

What can you do for the employer that no-one else can? What is the uniqueness you bring to this job? Knowing that can make all the difference to your job search.

There will be a great many things that anyone looking for the same job as you will, presumably, be able to do.

For an receptionist job, for example, it is to be hoped that all applicants will be able answer phones, speak politely to clients in person or on the phone, relay messages, and many other typical reception duties.

But what is your uniqueness?

For example, if you have a second language or have lived for any length of time in another country, then when you apply for a job, mention your language and cultural experience, even if it's not requested.

If you have past experience working as a "techie" in IT, and are now looking for an office job, again especially if it is a small company you are applying with, mentioning your ability to keep computers running might make all the difference to your chances of landing an interview.

I am not suggesting it will get you into a job for which you are not well qualified, but if you have the qualifications, it might just be the thing that swings it for you if you also do a good job of the interview.

Employers, especially smaller companies, are very interested in the "freebies" employees might bring with them. So each time you see a job advertisement that interests you, think what else you have to offer that might make all the difference to this employer.

More help with job search.

Need to find a job fast?
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Work and LIfestyle

2009-01-19T15:41:00.000-08:00

When you are choosing what job you will do, consider the lifestyle that will go along with it. I don't mean just money, although obviously that is part of it.

Consider whether it involves shifts, overtime, travel etc. Then consider where you are in your life. Travelling a great deal may not be a problem right now, but if in the near future you intend to settle down and have a family, it may present problems in the not too far distant future.

Alternatively, if you are getting older, perhaps too much travel will soon seem too tiring, or take you away from homw more than you want.

Yes, of course, you can always look for another job when these things happen, but it's always worth looking ahead and considering if the job you are thinking of going after today will still be a job you want, not tomorrow, but a few months or so down the road.

Studies have shown that people who try to maintain a job that is contradictory to the lifestyle they crave, are unhappy, do not do as well in the job, and ultimately move over to something more compatible.

So when choosing what type of work to pursue, don't forget the lifestyle element.
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What Questions do you have about Finding Work?

2009-01-18T11:08:00.000-08:00

I will be answering readers questions about finding work regularly on this blog.

Send me your questions to:
jobquestions1@gmail.com

Finding your strongest skills

2009-01-17T10:17:00.000-08:00

Finding your strongest skills, especially your strongest "soft" skills, can sometimes require a little help from your friends!

Soft skills, to recap, are skills such as communication or attitude, which are invisible, and sometimes difficult to measure or assess.

Here are 2 ways to come up with your strongest soft skills.

The first way you can do by yourself.

Think carefully about things you do that you consider so simple that "anybody can do that." Be open minded, because you really do believe that anybody can do these things, so you probably don't hold them in very high esteem.

For example, are you always so busy, and always doing so many things at once that you assume anyone can cope with that? If so, you have the still of multi-tasking - and everybody does NOT have that skill, which is very much in demand in todays multi-tasking workplace.

Can you take a chaotic mess and make order and neatness from it? If so you have organizational skill. And, no, not every has that either. It's another very marketable skill.

These are just two examples, but there are many, many more possiblities. Take some time to go over what you do, almost unconscious of the fact you are really "doing" anything, and write down what it is you do.

There is nothing on this planet that "everybody can do." By identifying what is really easy and natural for you, you are zeroing in on strong soft skills that could help you get hired.

The other way is where you family and friends come in.

Ask as many family members and close friends as possible to tell you what they think you are best at doing and what they value you for. The rule here is they are not allowed to tell you you are good at whatever you are trained for in the workplace. For example, if you are a bookkeeper, they are not allowed to tell you you are good at bookkeeping. Bookkeeping is not a skill, it is a grouping of many skills. We are looking for individual skills.

However if you cannot get them to focus on the individual skills, take what you can get then sit down yourself and work out what skills that must involve. If you feel self conscious going through all this for yourself, think of it as being someone else and write down all the skills this imaginary person must have to be able to do whatever your friends and family said.

Keep you list of skills, and keep with it a list of what you were thinking of when you came up with each skill, so when you are looking for a job, you not only know you have these skills, but can back them up with stories both in your resume and at an interview.

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Finding a job in tough times

2009-01-16T10:50:00.000-08:00

With the downturn in the global economy, more and more people have lost their jobs and are out there looking for work.

This also means that when you find a job advertised, there are even more people in competition with you than might have been the case in more prosperous times.

So it is time to consider other methods of finding work.

The number one way to find work is through networking, which just means talking to people.

In smaller towns this is the normal way for many people to find work. They just go and talk to everyone they know around town, and find out who is hiring.

In larger centres this is done less. But there is no reason you can't do it, no matter where you live.

Start with people you know. Ask if they know of anyone you can talk to who might know of the type of job you are seeking. Get names and phone numbers.

Call up and tell this person who gave your their number, and ask if you can come talk to them briefly about any possiblities they may know of. If absolutely necessary, do it all by phone.

If they know of some work, great. If not, ask if they know of anyone else you can talk to about this. Get names and numbers, and continue in this way until you have created a wide circle of contacts and ulitmately find work.

Obviously, hard times mean that there are less available jobs, so even this means of job search will not necessarily turn up anything instantly, but keep going. If there is work out there at all, you will eventually find it through your network of contacts.

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Find work in the hidden job market creatively

2009-01-12T11:44:00.000-08:00

Here are three ways to find work that is part of the "Hidden Job Market" (i.e. not advertised)

1. Go in person to any place you think might hire people with your skills and experience. If it's a small company, you may be lucky and see the owner or the manager. In a larger company this is more difficult.

Take along your resume and cover letter, and ask for the manager/ owner. If you have to, leave your resume with reception and ask that it be passed along to the hiring manager.

While you are there, if you don't see the manager, ask the name of the person who will ultimately receive your resume. A few days later, phone and ask for that person and ask if they have had a chance to read your resume.

Be prepared. If they say that they have not read it yet, be ready to tell them, briefly of your skills and experience and how you can help their business succeed.

This is the most effective way.

2. Another way is to telephone. Ask for the hiring manager and be prepared with your 30 second introduction, and ask if you can come in for a brief meeting or if all else fails, ask if you can send in your resume.

3. The third way is to send in your resume to the Hiring Manager of a company. If you do not know the person's name, phone up and ask. You do not want to speak to him/ her, you just want the name, and correct spelling for your cover letter.

Then mail your cover letter and resume and follow up a week later with a phone call to ask if you can arrange a meeting. Again, be prepared for the hiring manager to not have read your resume and be prepared with your 30 second introduction.

Don't just look for the advertised jobs. You have a much better chance of finding the job you want if you employ the above methods.

For more help in finding work check out Wow-You're Hired!

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Facebook and the job seeker

2009-01-09T11:55:00.000-08:00

Facebook and the job seeker. If you are on Facebook or any of the social networking sites, and also engaged in a job search, be careful.

More and more employers are checking out these sites when they receive resumes, so make sure your social networking pages are appropriate to the employer to see.

They don't of course have to be selling you for a job - although it's a prefectly good place to mention you are job seeking. But they also must not have information and photos on them that you don't want an employer to see.

So when you are applying for work, bear that in mind, and if necessary, change your social networking pages until you are happily employed again.

More help in finding a great job.

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New Year: New Job

2009-01-01T12:00:00.000-08:00

It's tough looking for a new job over the festive season.

Employers are not looking to hire, unless it's absolutely necessary, until the new year rolls in.

So now the new year has arrived, it's time to kick your job search into high gear.

Don't wait for the job ads to appear. Get out there and introduce yourself to as many employers as you can.

Temporary employment, especially retail, falls off after the Christmas sales are over, but that doesn't mean there are no jobs.

Consider who might hire you. Consider why they might be looking early in the year.

Write up your resume and cover letter and go around dropping them off at every place you think might be interested in hiring someone with your skills.

If you find an employer who was thinking of placing an ad early in the new year, you have a chance of getting in ahead of the competition, and getting a new job, with the ad never having to run.

Any time is the right time to go cold calling to employers. And if you ask each one who doesn't have a job for you, if they know of any other business that might be looking to hire, your cold calls become "warm" calls.

It's a warm call because now you can say "Mr. X of ABC company mentioned you might be hiring soon...." and the door opens a little wider because you are mentioning a name they know.

So, yes, any time is the right time to drop off resumes, but if you get going first thing in the new year, you have a chance at beating every one else to the new job.

Good Luck and Happy New Year.

Want more help in finding that perfect job?

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A Positive Attitude is crucial to your job search

2008-12-28T10:37:00.001-08:00

Do you know the number one thing that employers hire for?

Attitude.

You can teach someone skills such as how to use a computer, welding or landscaping, but how can you teach someone to have a great attitude?

Obviously attitude is not all there is. If you go in for brain surgery you hope the surgeon has something other than just a great atttitude ... but would you want one with a bad attitude?

So do an attitude check and if you think you have anything other than a positively terrific attitude, work at changing it.

A great attitude will take you farther than you can possibly imagine.

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New Career: Choosing what you want to do

2008-12-27T11:13:00.000-08:00

So you need, or want, a new career. How are you going to choose what to do?

There are several obvious criteria.

If you are not in a position to take training, you need something for which you already have the skills
Something that will pay you enough for your needs
Something for which there is enough demand that you can find a job
Something you will enjoy

Yes, enjoy. That is just as important as the rest.

Work you don't enjoy is draining and tiring and you will never do as well in it as in work you do enjoy.

So here is an exercise to help you find what type of work to go after for your new career.

Write down all the things, paid and unpaid, you have done that you enjoy. But be reasonable.

I have a skills quiz that includes "sleeping" as a skill. And perhaps it is, but unless you want a job as a mattress tester, it's probably not going to be useful to earn your living.

Think of all the things you have done in your life that you have really enjoyed.

The next part is trickier. I want you to take generalize it.

For example: Enjoy partying with friends.

Not likely to earn too much money.

But if you enjoy partying with friends, you presumably quite a social person who enjoys others, and probably has good communication skills.

So career skills would include: social, ability to communicate easily and effectively.

These two could well be part of your ultimate new career.

Keep going like that until you have a good list of things you enjoy doing. Then, either alone, or with friends, look at your list and try to come up with jobs that would include as many as possible of your choices.

Not sure what type of job something will fit into?

Go to one of the online job boards, such as Monster, and under keywords type in the thing you like to do. You're not looking for a job to actually apply for here, so location doesn't matter. Just see what jobs come up using that activity. You may get some good ideas.

Once you have a good list of choices, it's time to find out more about pay, and availability of work. More on that in another post. For now, just keep coming up with things you can do that will be appropriate to include in your new career.

Don't settle for just what you've done in past careers. There is so much you can do that was never included in paid work before.

Be creative and find work you love.

"If you find work you love, you will never have to work a day in your life" Anon

More help to find work you love.

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How to look for a Job: a strong introduction can get you in the door

2008-12-23T14:18:00.000-08:00

Put your Job Search into high gear with a creative 30 second commercial, Infomercial or Elevator Speech.

- have a job title that explains what you do
– it is no use giving someone a job title that is correct, but does not tell the average person what exactly your job is.
– make up a title, if necessary, from which most people will immediately get some idea of the work you do.
- know what skills have that you most want to use in this job
- know the answer to “why should I hire you?” – which is the benefit you will bring an employer.

A 30 second commercial MUST be practiced and memorized.

Even the most accomplished job seeker will not do a good job of creating one on the spot.

You have to carefully think out what skills and benefits you want to mention, and make sure you present them clearly and concisely.

However, it should not sound practiced and memorized, so put feeling into it when you say it. Don’t just reel it off like a poem.

If the person you are speaking with already knows your name, don’t start off with “My name is…” (This may sound obvious, but believe me, in many years of teaching this format, it doesn’t appear to be obvious at all.)

My name is ________________________ and I am a _____(easily understood job title)_____.

I ___(tell one of your top skills that you want to use)____ and ___(another of top best skills)____

(Tell them what benefit you bring the employer)____. I am looking for opportunities to

offer these skills to a new employer.

I would really appreciate hearing any suggestions you might have about possible

openings, or any people you would suggest I speak with.

Then offer your business card – NOT your résumé.

Example:

My name is Robert Jackson and I am a web designer. I create original and very unique websites that project the company image. I am especially good at doing all the things that make sure the website then comes up on the first page of Google.

In the past I have always increased business for my employers through heightened online visibility. I am looking for opportunities to offer these skills to a new employer.

I’d really appreciate hearing any suggestions you might have about possible openings, or any people you would suggest I speak with.

OR

My name is Penelope Angelo and I am a Personal Assistant. I offer my employer all the usual office administration skills plus bookkeeping, tax preparation and creating of customized business forms.

In the past I have allowed my small business employers to have more time to work on sales and marketing, as they can trust me to look after all the administration details effectively.

I’d really appreciate hearing any suggestions you might have about possible openings, or any people you would suggest I speak with.

Want more help with your creative job search?

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Jobs can be found in News Stories

2008-12-19T10:03:00.000-08:00

Jobs can be found in News Stories. Yes, they can.

When you read the newspaper, or listen to the news on the radio or TV, do so with your job search in mind.

Knowing when a new business is coming to town, a new project happening or an event taking place can show you where your skills and experience can be put to use.

A new hotel coming? Not only is there construction, but there will be all the products and services needed related to decorating, supplies of all kinds, and eventually staff.

They may need a connection to a charter bus service, or taxi service for their guests, and various other contract guest services, including hairdressing, facials and massage.

They may want tour guides, or shopping assistants and a galaxy of other products and services.

And that is only a few of the things that will be connected with this new hotel.

By identifying how this opportunity could be of benefit to you, you can get in on the ground floor - you can contact the hotel before they start looking for someone with your skills, offer your services and avoid the competition from others who can offer the same.

Be creative. No, a new hotel will not have a human resources office on the main floor - because the main floor isn't built yet!

If it's a chain, you can contact another hotel of the same chain and find out the information, or visit their website. What ever information you do have about this happening, do not be afraid to follow up on it, ask questions, and eventually you will find the person you need.

Whatever the news story you hear, consider what it could mean in terms of work for you, and follow up. Don't give up because the person to contact is not obvious. Dig deep and gain your reward.

Have a great resume ready, and you will probably be rewarded for your persistence and determination.

Need more job search help?

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Find a job you'd love: Play the "sun" game

2008-12-14T09:28:00.000-08:00

Here is a fun way to find what a job your'd enjoy.

I call it the "sun" game, because it looks like the rays of the sun.

Draw a circle, and inside the circle write a area that you would like to work in. Let's say you love golf, then write the word "golf" inside the circle.

Then draw rays of the sun, lines going out from that circle.

On each line write the name of something you could do that would be connected with golf.

caddy
instructor
office admin
sales of memberships
sales in pro shop
golf clothing designer
golf tour operator

..... that is just a very few, and very random examples, but you get the idea.

Everything you can possibly think of that is connected to your base topic, in this case golf.

Keep going. Get your friends involved. Silly ideas are welcome, just keep on brainstorming till everyone totally runs out of ideas.

"Google" your topic on the internet, and see what comes up. Maybe some new ideas for your sun diagram.

Look in the yellowpages under golf. Any new ideas there?

If this results in no obvious "yes I can do that" moments, start to analyze each one, thinking of exactly what variations on each idea might work for you.

This is a great way to flesh out how to find a job, often in a line of work, or related to a hobby, where you really never thought you could make a living.

Yes, you can make a living doing what you love - sometimes it just takes more time than others to work out how to do it.

More help in planning your next career.

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Informational Interviews: What not to ask.

2008-12-13T08:55:00.001-08:00

Informational Interviews: What not to ask.

Do not ask for a job. Do not produce your resume (which is just another way of asking for a job)

Your goal is to find out where the jobs are so you can then apply in the usual, recognized manner, probably through a human resources department.

If you are doing the information interview with the person you should be doing it with, namely someone in the job you want, or their immediate supervisor, they will not be in a position to hire you anyway, unless you are applying to work in human resources.

The informational interview is to uncover unadvertised jobs, or jobs which are coming up soon but as yet are not advertised.

So do not in any way shape or form ask for a job. Just ask if they person knows of any possibilities either in this company or any other company where someone with your skills & experience might find work.

That's it. That's the information you are seeking.

When you hear of a job, phone up human resources and ask how to apply - this is not an information interview. It is you actively following up on a job lead.

More help in finding that great job.

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Informational interviews: who should the job seeker contact?

2008-12-13T08:51:00.000-08:00

Informational interviews: who should the job seeker contact?

Answer: someone who is in the job you want, or their immediate supervisor.

Informational interviews do not include asking for a job, so you don't need someone who has the power to hire you.

People in the job you want, will know if their company is hiring, and they may well know if any other companies are hiring. There's a good chance some of them will know people who do similar work in other companies.

The goal of your interview is to find that out.

More help to find that great job.

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Informational Interviews: question for the job seeker to ask.

2008-12-13T08:36:00.000-08:00

Informational Interviews: questions for the job seeker to ask.

So you're looking for a job, and you've bought into the idea (the GOOD idea) to do informational interviews. You've phoned the appropriate person and arranged a 10 - 15 minute meeting.

What are you going to ask when you get there?

Before you go, write down everything you really want to know from this person.

How did you get your job?
What are ways, other than the formal way, to get into this job?
Have you any tips that might help me get into this type of work?
What do you like most?
What is most challenging?
What do you like least?
What advice would you give someone getting into this work?
Any job specific questions, such as what accounting software do you use/ is most widely used in this work?
What is the salary range? Or, what is a good starting salary?
Are there any short courses I could take that would make me more employable?
Is there anything else you think it would be helpful for me to know?
Do you know of anyone who is hiring at the moment for this work?

And the last questions, never to be missed:

Can you tell me two other people I can talk to about this type of work? and
Can I mention your name?

Leave when you're time is up, even though you haven't finished your questions ... just jump to the last two ask them, thank the person for their time and their help and leave.

Send a thank you letter within 24 hours, and if you end up through one of the people they recommended, send them another note then to let them know you appreciated the referral.

Remember that you are talking to someone in the same position as you want, or their immediate supervisor. Unless the work you want is in Human Resources, so the people you are interviewing are also in human resources, the person to whom you are talking cannot hire you.

If they say their company is hiring, ask if you may mention you spoke to them when you apply officially to HR for a job.

Keep going. Ask everyone you speak to for 2 other names, and then ask these 2 for 2 other names, etc. This not only has the best chance of landing you a job, it also builds you a network, that properly nurtured can last you a lifetime.

Informational interviews work. Yes, you may get a few rejections, but so what. Keep on going till you find the job you want.

More help finding work.

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What is an Informational Interview?

2008-12-12T11:12:00.000-08:00

What is an Informational Interview?

Well, yes, obviously it's an interview where you get information.

But how, where, when and why do you do informational interviews?

You can do them for any of three reasons.

If you want to decide what training or education to get.
If you want to know if a particular job is for you.
If you want to find a job.

An informational interview involves talking to the person who already knows what you want to know and asking them the questions to which you want answers.

How do you set up an informational interview?
You just phone, or e-mail and ask if the person could spare 10 -15 minutes to speak to you, and tell them what you want to speak about.

More detail in exactly how to go about this on other upcoming posts, but for now, just be working out who knows the information you want. Make a list and you're ready for the next step.

Need more help to find that ideal job?

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Soft Skills most in demand by Employers

2008-12-06T12:46:00.000-08:00

In a regular government publication the following soft skills show up regularly.

Effective Communication Skills
Excellent Interpersonal Skills
Leadership Potential
Team Player
Organized
Problem Solving/ Analytical
Customer Service Oriented
Self Motivated
Willingness to make decisions
Accept Responsibility
Learn new tasks willingly
Show flexibility/ ability to handle change
Committed to the job
Willing to grow in the job
Ability to handle personal problems

Decide which of these are your strengths, and make sure they are on your resume, and that you mention them in an interview... whether or not the employer is asking for them!

Hard Skills and Soft Skills, and how to show them on your resume

2008-12-06T12:36:00.001-08:00

Have you heard the terms hard skills and soft skills?

A hard skill is on you can see, feel, touch and measure.

Keyboarding speed, abiity to us a specific software program, ability to use any specific machinery or tool. These are all hard skills.

Soft skills are more part of your personality, and so are harder to measure, and more difficult to teach. After all, how do you teach someone to have a good attitude, and how do you measure how good (or bad) it is?

Attitude is only one of the soft skills that employers are actively seeking.

When you apply for a job, both your cover letter and resume should highlight soft skills as well as hard skills.

And because soft skills are difficult to measure, your resume should also make a statement of how you have used that specific skill successfully.

"Hard worker" appears on so many resumes. Anyone can write that down on the resume, and because so many people do, it means almost nothing.

However, add a statement showing when you used this soft skill and it become more believable.

How about this on your resume:

- Referred to as "go to guy" by employer, due to consistency of hard work and problem solving ability

Doesn't that give it more credibility?

So include your soft skills in your resume and add a statement that proves it's true.

Help to find the job that fits your skills.

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What is the Hidden Job Market?

2008-12-05T10:08:00.000-08:00

What is the Hidden Job Market?

It is every job that is not advertised. Between 85% and 93% of all jobs are considered to be in this Hidden Job Market.

How do you find these jobs?

Basically by talking to people. Networking.

That doesn't just mean talking to people you think might be able to hire you. It means talking to everyone you know or meet.

We all know approximately 300 people. So your hairdresser, for example, probably can't hire you, but s/he may know someone who can.

Your aunt's coworker's brother may be looking for someone with just your skills, but if you don't tell your aunt exactly what is it you are looking for, in words that she can then pass on intelligently, then her coworker's brother is never going to hear about you.

You can tell employers directly by calling them on the phone and introducing yourself and your skills.

However, it's best to sidetrack the "We're not hiring" speech, by not actually asking for a job.

Instead ask if they know of any where that is hiring. That way you are asking them if they can pass you on to any other business that is hiring and not putting them on the spot.

If they are hiring and like the sound of you, presumably they'll tell you. But if they're not hiring, they might tell you of another company who is.

If they do this, you can then phone the other company and tell them that xxxx from xxxx company told you about this position.

You are not using the first employer's name as a reference, just as a source of information, but it still has the power to make this second door open more easily for you.

So get out there and network. Speak to everyone you know. Ask them to tell others. Contact every employer you think might have work for you, or know of anyone else who has.

It's all about your network. Online and offline, your network in your main support in job seeking.

Want more help to find that ideal job?

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How many jobs are you missing by only looking at the job ads?

2008-12-05T10:04:00.000-08:00

How many jobs are you missing by only looking at the jobs ads?

Estimates vary, but advertised jobs only comprise somewhere between 7% and 15% of jobs that available.

So if all you do is look at the job postings you are missing between 85% and 93% of all jobs.

Hmmmm.

If that's what you are doing, perhaps it's time to access the Hidden Job Market, which is where you'll find the rest of the jobs.

More help is available to get you to that great job.

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The difference between job duties and transferrable skills

2008-11-21T09:29:00.001-08:00

What is the difference between job duties and transferrable skills?

Transferrable skills are the abilities you use to perform your job duties. And no, that does not mean they are the same thing.

Let's look at a customer service representative in a retail setting.

This person's job is to sell you the goods in the store. It may also include stocking shelves etc, but let's just look at their job duty of selling.

What skills are involved?

Assuming this person is good at their job, there will be a multitude of skills involved.

communication skills (able to get along well with people from all walks of life)
friendly (approachable)
helpful (genuinely trying to assist the customer)
patient (some customers can take a very long time to decide)
able to explain things clearly and concisely
knowledge of the products on sale
problems solving (customers often shop to for solutions to problems, and need help deciding)
good listening skills (you need to know what the customer wants before you can sell then what is best suited to them)
ability to multi-task (customers want to pay, others want to ask questions, the phone is ringing .....)
team player also able to work independently (working with others on the floor, or on your own)
...

There are a great many more we could include, but that is enough to get the picture.

The job duty of selling shoes, for example, is only transferrable to selling shoes somewhere else, but all these transferrable skills that are part of selling shoes can be used in a multitude of other jobs, not necessarily involved with selling.

So think about your job experiences, and write a list, not of your job duties, but of all the skills that were involved in performing them. You'll be amazed at how many you can find.

Write a resume that will get results.

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Decide what you want to do and are qualified to do right now.

2008-11-13T11:18:00.000-08:00

Yes, you want a job you like. I am 100% behind that choice. However, you also need to choose a job you CAN do!

Why should an employer hire you to do something he has to train you for when he could hire someone else who can already do it?

Some jobs, of course, need in house training or orientation. Some jobs will be advertised with the offer of "Will train." That's fine.

However, if you see a job that requires a specific skill, there is not much point in applying with the promise that you are a quick learner or will later take a course.

For now, go for the jobs you can do right now.

If you have aspirations for something else you can find a job that allows you to train on the job and eventually move up. Or you can take courses in the evening or online, and ultimately find the job you like.

Be patient. You can get there is that's what you want to do. But you are just asking for rejection by constantly applying for jobs for which you are not qualified.

Find out how to enjoy your job and find what you would love to do as a career.

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