Staffing personnel are looking for new talent on various social media.
Recruiters Can Be Found At...
Staffing personnel use social media to find candidates.
Bridge the Unemployment Gap
As they say, stuff happens. Life happens. So do layoffs, new babies, sick relatives and a host of other occurrences that can result in a gap in your employment.
Optimize Your Resume With Keywords
Imagine if there was a way to encode your resume with magical words.
Will Your Credit Score Harm Your Job Search
Do you wonder if your credit history will effect your chances of landing a job? It could.
Showing posts with label local job search. Show all posts
Showing posts with label local job search. Show all posts
Posted by Ask The Recruiter on Sunday, March 08, 2009
Hong Kong job seekers and recruiters are set to benefit from the launch of a host of industry-specific websites serving the region.
The sites, led by Jobs-In-Hong-Kong.com, are being launched by The Omni Job Board Network, Inc. in response to changing needs in the internet recruitment market. The Omni network was created by a team of former recruiters, web developers, human resources (HR) and marketing professionals, "who had become disillusioned by the high cost and inconsistent results they experienced with traditional job boards." Their research reveals that the vast majority of internet job seekers have little loyalty to major job board brands, instead relying primarily on search engines to deliver relevant and up-to-date job listings in their area, according to the website. Despite being newly launched to the industry, the sites feature highly in internet search engines, including Google, Yahoo! and MSN Live, giving employers and recruiters a high level of exposure to high quality candidates from around the world.
Posted by Ask The Recruiter on Friday, February 06, 2009
The expected clean-up of the U.S. financial sector and an anticipated economic stimulus package has staffing firms preparing to find jobs for everyone from blue-collar workers to highly trained compliance officers.
While most headlines in the past few months have been about companies and industries eliminating jobs and closing factories, once these federal government programs roll out, demand within some sectors is expected to spike!
"Cleaning up the bad loans and reregulating the financial sector is going to be huge," said Brendan Courtney, Vice President of Mergis Group, a unit of staffing company Spherion Corp, which has set up a special group to handle hiring related to the U.S. financial sector bailout. "None of this is going to get done without armies of people."
The U.S. Congress is debating a nearly $900 billion economic stimulus package, including tens of billions of dollars for infrastructure projects to create jobs.
President Barack Obama has also vowed to overhaul the nation's financial regulatory system, which may include stricter rules for hedge funds, credit rating agencies and mortgage brokers, to prevent a repeat of the credit crisis that has plunged the world's largest economy into deep recession.
And U.S. policymakers are considering whether to place toxic or virtually worthless assets left in the wake of the financial crisis into a bank cleanup program that some analysts estimate could cost as much as $4 trillion.
Although the exact form of these programs has yet to be decided, staffing companies say they are preparing to fill a raft of different jobs with accountants, engineers, lawyers, bankers, mortgage specialists and compliance officers.
Posted by Ask The Recruiter on Monday, January 26, 2009
Heavy equipment operators will have plenty of career opportunities in 2009.
Job opportunities for construction equipment operators are expected to be in abundance through 2012, due to the shortage of adequate training programs, according to the National Heavy Equipment Operators School. The National Heavy Equipment Training program is offered in two phases: distance learning and resident training. Resident Training requires a month of hands-on heavy equipment training, of which students are required to complete 201 hours of hands-on heavy equipment operator training in order to graduate. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, construction equipment operators held about 416,000 jobs in 2002. Jobs were found in every section of the country and were distributed among various types of operators. About three-out-of-five construction equipment operators worked in the construction industry. Many heavy equipment operators worked in heavy construction, building highways, bridges, or railroads. About one-out-of-five of all heavy equipment operators worked in state and local government. Others, mostly grader, bulldozer, and scraper operators, worked in mining, manufacturing, and utility companies.
Check out one of my online discussion groups. You may be able to connect and network with a current employee or former employee from one of this companies.
Posted by Ask The Recruiter on Saturday, December 27, 2008
At the end of each year we reflect on events that shaped our lives and how we improved our lives. We look forward to the New Year with new commitments to reform a habit or a lifestyle change. If your goal in 2009 is to secure a job or transition into another career add “create and execute an assertive job search strategy” to your New Year resolution list. Read what my colleagues say are the “must do” activities to jump start your career search in 2009.
Get on Twitter. “Use Twitter to demonstrate your professional expertise and draw the attention of people in your industry who will want to hire you. At the same time, actively reach out to those kinds of people by following and networking with industry recruiters and other insiders.” Jacob Share, Job Search Expert and creator of JobMob
Help Others with Their Job Search. “You don’t have to give someone else your hottest lead, unless you decide that it's really not right for you. But, you can help them connect with someone you know who works (or worked) at their target employer, give them help with their resume, a ride to the next job search support group meeting, etc. Particularly when you are unemployed, helping others can help you feel more useful personally. And, it often, but not always, comes back to you. That person you helped with their resume has a neighbor who might be able to help you, and so on. As "they" say, “what goes around, comes around,” and paying forward to help others really does seem to payoff. Do it for that reason, if for no other.”
Build or Enhance Your Personal Brand . “My recommendation to all job seekers would be to focus on building, or enhancing, their personal brand. Attract potential employers to you rather than reaching out to them. That puts job seekers in a much better negotiating position that the reverse, even in a tough economy.” Susan Joyce, President and Editor/Publisher of Job-Hunt.org
[Read my post "How to Make Your Resume Discoverable on the Web]
Google Yourself. “Put positive and branded professional content under your name and Google yourself everyday.” Maor Kaplanski, Personal eBrand & ORM expert, Israel
Think Outside and Inside the Box. “Think outside and inside the Box (that computer screen in front of you, that is). In other words, you need to diversify the way you market yourself, whether it's online at job boards, or at social network sites like Twitter or LinkedIn; or offline at campus recruitment opportunities, job fairs, networking events in your field, or spreading the word to friends. The more ways in which you get the word out that you're looking, the more potential jobs you'll hear about.” Dawn Papandrea, managing editor of The CollegeBound Network, and blogger at CollegeSurfing.com/blog
Rely on Your Professional Network “to try and get inside information for future openings or current openings. Of course if you have a LinkedIn profile you will want to ensure your profile is up-to-date and is robust, fully completed, and full of industry keywords that draw attention to your skills and accomplishments. Highlight areas where you can provide added value if you were to be hired.” Linda, Reeder, Training Specialist,LinkedIn
[Read my post "The Secrets of Successful Networking, Part 1
Use Keywords. “Analyze job postings for keywords and incorporate them in your resume. I also recommend that job seekers review at least 6 to 8 job postings in their field to find keywords that appear consistently in these postings. This gives job seekers a good idea of what skills hiring managers are looking for. These are also likely to be the keywords that hiring managers search for when going through their database of resumes. Incorporating these keywords into your resume increases the chances of your resume being seen by a hiring manager.” Cheryl Palmer, Certified Executive Career Coach,Call to Career
[Read my post "Optimize Your Resume with Keywords
Know Thyself. “What do you want to do (goals)? What do you bring to the table (talents & skills)? What differentiates you from your competition (accomplishments and capabilities)? What is your passion and calling?” Give to Get. “The karma of the job search says ‘What goes around, comes around.’ If you want to receive something, first you must give something. Freely give your time and talent to others. Give without expectation of getting anything back.” Terrence Seamon, Learning and Organization Development Consultant
Expand your Job Search Resources. “Job boards and networks are fantastic - also contact your alumni office, placement office at your college/university, industry associations, professional organizations, read trade journals - all can be great resources for your job search.” Elaine Basham, Partner,The Resume Group
Stay Positive. “While there may be times when the job search will leave you feeling frustrated, don't ever give in to negative feelings or let them derail you from your professional goals! When you're feeling down spend time with a friend or family member who has a positive outlook. The key is to be with someone who is going to reinforce your efforts and give you encouragement and suggestions. This is not the time to be around people who complain or who have a negative outlook.” Laura Zurowski, Director of Outreach, Marist College
[Join a discussion group]
Step outside your comfort zone. “Avoid limiting your search to your current industry or field. Identify your transferable skills and experiences, and communicate them to prospective employers.”
Minimize work history gaps. “If you are unable to find a position right away, consider temporary assignments, internships and part-time opportunities, all of which can potentially lead to a full-time role.” Chris Russell, Webmaster, Blogger and Podcaster for the online job search industry
Posted by Ask The Recruiter on Tuesday, December 23, 2008
High Paying Careers / Occupations
Management Occupations$96,150 Legal Occupations$88,450 Computer and Mathematical Occupations$72,190 Architecture and Engineering Occupations $68,880 Healthcare Practitioner and Technical Occupations $65,020 Business and Financial Operations Occupations $62,410 Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations $62,020 Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations $48,410 Education, Training, and Library Occupations $46,610 Construction and Extraction Occupations $40,620 Community and Social Services Occupations $40,540 Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations $39,930 Protective Service Occupations $38,750 Sales and Related Occupations $35,240 Production Occupations $31,310 Office and Administrative Support Occupations $31,200 Transportation and Material Moving Occupations $30,680 Healthcare Support Occupations $25,600 Personal Care and Service Occupations $23,980 Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations $23,560 Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations $22,640 Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations $19,440
Top 10 Highest Paying Careers
Anesthesiologists$192,780 = 4.6% (% Change) Surgeons $191,410 = 3.9% (% Change) Orthodontists$185,340 = 4.8% (% Change) Obstetricians and Gynecologists$183,600 = 3.1% (% Change) Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons$178,440 = 8.3% (% Change) Prosthodontists$169,360 = 6.6% (% Change) Internists, General$167,270 = 4.0% (% Change) Physicians and Surgeons, All Other$155,150 = 9.1% (% Change) Family and General Practitioners$153,640 = 2.5% (% Change) Chief Executives$151,370 = 4.7% (% Change)
Posted by Ask The Recruiter on Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Despite the recessionary views of economists, workforce employment will grow in 2009. Job seekers in 2009 will continue to hear a lot of conflicting and sometimes confusing information about the state of the job market and the state of the economy overall.
If you are in the market for a job you need to understand the changes surging through the economy in order to determine which companies to pursue and which to avoid. The U.S. employment market is evolving quickly, and you must be both knowledgeable and nimble in order to position yourself to find promising careers
Schonfield and Associates, an analysis firm, predicts 2009 employment will continue to grow modestly in many industries with productivity, as measured in sales per employee, also continuing to grow.
Many foreign companies will also show employment growth.
Among the twenty largest public corporations, ten of the largest employers will be non-U.S. headquartered firms.
According to Schonfeld & Associates, the largest U.S. based employer will be Wal-Mart Stores with over 2.4 million employees in 2009, up 5.8 percent.
The largest non-U.S. based employer will be Gazprom, Russia’s largest company, with 611,000 employees, an increase of over 10 percent.
The Commercial Banking industry will be the largest employer with 4.4 million employees in over 500 banks, reflecting a 8.8 percent increase.
Variety Stores will be second with 3.7 million employees, up 6.1 percent.
The medical services sector will be a continuing source of employment growth. Home Health Care Services, Skilled Nursing Care Facilities, as well as Offices of Medical Doctors are all growing at over 11 percent.
As in the past, areas of computer software development continue to show workforce growth.
The Prepackaged Software industry, growing at 9 percent, includes over 280 companies employing 674,000 workers.
The future is not as bright, however, for all sectors of the economy.
Employment by Motor Vehicle Manufacturers, Air Courier Services, as well as the large diversified food manufacturers, will experience negative growth.
The study contains historical employment for 2007, an estimate for 2008, and a forecast of 2009 for over 7,200 individual companies and summaries for over 400 industries.
In an era of downsizing, right-sizing, mergers and acquisitions, the numbers are encouraging for job seekers.
Posted by Ask The Recruiter on Tuesday, December 09, 2008
Job fairs are a great place to network. It's an opportunity for you to showcase your skills and make an impression on an employer. But do not set your expectations high. You may receive an on-the-spot interview but typically, recruiters and managers do not make job offers at these events.
To get the most out of a job fair, you should be prepared to talk confidently about your skills and how they could meet the needs of each employer you talk to. You want to stand out to employers based on the value your skills could offer their company. Here are a few tips.
1. "Plan Your Attack" - What to do the day before. Make a list. Get a list of companies attending and choose 10-15 that are offering positions that you are interested in. Research each company of interest. Many job-seekers go to fairs to "see the sights" and are not prepared to interview. You can get a huge jump on the competition by doing some research on each of the companies you want to interview with. Hoovers.com offers alot of information -- very little for free and more for a fee. Web100 tracks the largest American and international companies on the Web. Vault.com is well know for it's insider reports on thousands of companies. Talk to current employees to get an idea of the work environment. Ask them what they like and dislike about the company and why they chose to work for the company. Go to your favorite search engine and find the company's websites. Inspect your resume to ensure that it is updated and has accurate information. Make sure you have different versions of your resume (example: admin/clerical, management, payroll, etc.). Prepare a "Wow" statement. This is a 60-second introduction, which should include your name, your skills and why you are interested in this company. Be sure to include some interesting fact that you learned about the company during your research. Practice your approach. Work on your handshake as you hand over your resume, your eye to eye contact, and your introduction. It's part of the impression you will leave with the employer. Put together your "Job fair kit". A bonded portfolio presents a more professional appearance and can neatly store your resumes, notebook and pen. If you have business cards leave them at home. Your resume is your business card. Pack plenty of copies of your resume(s).
2. "Execute, Execute, Execute" - The Day of the Job Fair. Arrive early and revisit each booth before leaving. Turn your cell/pager off before entering the event. Don't forget the eye-to-eye contact and firm handshake. Have your resume out and ready to hand over. Remember to smile. Helps to relax you and shows enthusiasm. Try to eavesdrop when employer speaks with other candidates so you do not ask the same questions. Use follow up questions. Ask intelligent questions - 1) "What are your fields of greatest need and do you anticipate these needs changing over the next few years?"; 2) "What kind of career opportunities are available for people with my degree and skills?”; 3) "What qualities are you looking for in new hires?"; 4) “What are your future hiring plans?”; 5) “Describe the work environment at your organization?”; 6)“What characteristics do you see in successful people at your organization? “Get a business card from each company you are interested in. Jot down notes about company you visited and conversations you had with the recruiter. You will need the information for your follow up. Do some networking with your fellow job seekers in terms of sharing information about job leads and companies. After you leave the job fair reflect on what you did well and what you can improve on. Write those thoughts down so you can work on them before attending your next job fair.
3. "Life after the Job Fair". As a recruiter I am amazed at how few job seekers actually take the time to follow-up after a job fair, thus when you do it, you will get an edge over the many others who do not.
Send "Thank you" notes or letters as soon as possible. In the letter or note, thank the recruiter for his/her time, restate your interest and qualifications for the position, reiterate your interest in a second interview, and make a promise to follow-up the letter with a phone call. Mention something you learned about the company while you were at the job fair. Refer to those notes you took at the event. Another method is to call the recruiter the evening of the fair and leave a voicemail message thanking the recruiter again for his/her time that day. A more concrete and traditional method is to write a thank you note and mail it the next day to the address on the recruiter's business card. I would recommend including another copy of your resume.
Posted by Ask The Recruiter on Saturday, December 06, 2008
Sometimes I'm asked, "How did I do?" or "What can I do better?" These are good and legitimate questions to ask of your interviewer. But you should brace yourself for a candor response. If you are not open minded and willing to change you will sabotage future interviews and job search activities.
Here are some of the most common interviewing and job hunting mistakes that can prevent you from landing your next job and progressing up the career ladder.
1. Treating the receptionist rudely. Since the first person you meet on an interview is usually a receptionist, this encounter represents the first impression you'll make. Don't mistake low rank for low input. Often that receptionist's job is to usher you into your interview. The receptionist has the power to pave your way positively or negatively before you even set eyes on the interviewer. The interviewer may also solicit the receptionist's opinion of you after you leave.
2. Poor handshake. The three-second handshake that starts the interview is your first opportunity to create a great impression. But all too often an interview is blown right from the start by an ineffective handshake. Once you've delivered a poor handshake, it's nearly impossible to recover your efforts to build rapport. Here are some examples:
The Limp Hand (or "dead fish"): Gives the impression of disinterest or weakness
The Tips of the Fingers: Shows lack of ability to engage.
The Arm Pump: Sincerity is questionable, much like an overly aggressive salesman.
Even if you're a seasoned professional, don't assume you have avoided these pitfalls. Your handshake may be telling more about you than you know. Ask for honest critiques from several friends who aren't afraid to tell you the truth.
3. Having a bad attitude. Interviewing while still angry at a former employer. Being, acting, or thinking negative. The problem with negative people is that they seldom realize how terribly negative they really are. They may have good business skills, but they stay unemployed a long time and can't figure out why.
4. Can't articulate your own strengths and weaknesses. Only you can recognize your most valuable strengths and most hurtful weaknesses. Be able to specify your major strengths. Your weaknesses, if such must come up, should only be turned around to positives.
5. Talk, Talk, Talk. Rambling, interrupting the interviewer and answering to a simple question with a fifteen-minute reply - all of these can be avoided if you've thought through and practiced what you want to communicate. Good answers are to the point and usually shorter.
6. Cut the puffy stuff. I know that you want to promote yourself. But too much puff is a huge turnoff to employers. The key to presenting yourself as accomplished yet modest is to introduce all self-promoting topics with an air of humble gratitude, even mild bewilderment.
7. Failure to match communication styles. It's almost impossible to make a good first impression if you can't communicate effectively with an interviewer. But you can easily change that situation by mirroring the way the interviewer treats you. For instance:
If the interviewer seems all business, don't attempt to loosen him/her up with a joke or story. Be succinct and businesslike.
If the interviewer is personable, try discussing his/her interests. Often the items on display in the office can offer a clue.
If asked a direct question, answer directly. Then follow up by asking if more information is needed.
8. Not asking questions - and asking too many. Use your research to develop a set of questions that will tell you whether this is the job and the company for you. This will help you limit and focus your questions. But don't overpower the interviewer with questions about details that really won't count in the long run.
9. Thinking "something will come along." Waiting for something to happen. As a rule, good things don't "just happen." Successful people make them happen. Effort usually equals results. As a rule, the harder you work at a job search, the sooner it ends.
10. Thinking someone else will find me a job: a recruiter, a counselor, my neighbor, my employer, my spouse, my pastor--anyone. Even with counseling and support, this is really a "do-it-yourself" project.
11. Thinking they're more marketable than they are. Declining job offers that pay less than the last job or are somehow inferior. It's often best to accept a weaker offer and leverage up from there.
12. Taking rejection personally. The best way to cope with rejection is to have so many balls in the air that one loss doesn't matter much. Having your entire future riding on one potential offer is clearly a red flag.
13. Acting desperate. You may feel desperate. Just don't let them see you sweat.
14. Shooting too high (or too low). It's essential to know where you're marketable. You learn that through networking, and by asking others where they think you're competitive. Ask college professors, experts in the field, and especially those in jobs similar to the ones you want.
15. Looking for "a job" rather than for a good fit where you'll be happy. Sometimes it's necessary to take the first job that comes along. Most of the time, it's not. Whenever possible, hold out for the right fit.
16. Launching a job campaign before you know who you are and what you want to do. (The cart before the horse.) This is like building a custom home without a blueprint. Usually, the result is a short-term fix. Then you're back in the job market.
17. Asking for "a job" instead of asking for advice, ideas, and referrals. Business contacts-especially strangers--are generally willing to point you in the right direction, but they dislike being asked directly for a job, because they're uncomfortable turning you down.
18. Not preparing for interviews. Your competitors will be prepared. They will have rehearsed the answers to difficult interview questions--sometimes even on videotape. Why shouldn't you? Also, don't interview half-heartedly. Go for the job offer. You can always turn it down later.
19. Hard-selling. Coming on too strong. Pushing people to give you names. Sometimes called NFL networking. Hard selling creates bad feelings about you and is actually counter-productive.
Final Thoughts. Just as a strong resume wins you an opportunity to interview, strong interview skills will win you consideration for the job. You already know that you won't earn an interview unless your resume sets you apart as a candidate of choice. Similarly, you should know that polishing your interview skills can mean the difference between getting the job offer -- and being a runner-up.
Start your job search with a resume that creates a stellar first impression, then back those facts up with your extraordinary interview skills. You will have made yourself a better candidate by avoiding these pitfalls. And no one will have to talk about you as the candidate who "almost" got the job.
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Posted by Ask The Recruiter on Saturday, December 06, 2008
In times when the economy falters, when financial markets fall, and when companies of all sizes in many industries announce plans to reduce their workforce, job seekers tend to get a bit concerned about the length and success of the job search they may face. It almost goes without saying that job-hunting in a boom economy is quite different (and much easier) than job hunting in a slumping economy.
Different, yes. Harder and often more time consuming, yes. Impossible, no. Job hunting is an art that simply takes more time and work to perfect in uncertain times than in good times. You will have to work harder and smarter at finding new opportunities, but they are out there, and if you take advantage of these five strategies you will be much better positioned to land a new job.
Utilizing the Power of Networking. What's the most important tool of job-hunting, especially in times of uncertainty? Not a resume nor interviewing skills…but networking. Why networking? Networking is the most effective tool of job-hunting because if you use your network properly, you will hear of multiple job opportunities, often before they are even listed (if they are ever listed).
Some job seekers shy away from networking because they equate networking with taking advantage of people, but if done correctly, networking can be a rewarding experience for all parties involved. Networking is not asking everyone you know for a job. Networking means developing a broad list of contacts -- family, friends, and people you've met through various social and business functions -- and using them to your advantage when you look for a job. People in your network may be able to give you job leads, offer you advice and information about a particular company or industry, and introduce you to others so that you can expand your network.
Now is the time to broaden your network -- even if you are not currently looking for a new job. You never know when you'll need your network, so make every effort to grow it.
Finding Hidden Job Opportunities. In good times job openings are plentiful, but in uncertain times the job openings disappear. Job-seekers are left scrambling for the few “open” jobs. But there are always other job possibilities lurking in the background, and it is up to the persistent job-seeker to find those hidden job opportunities and/or to create new opportunities.
Finding hidden opportunities. Job seekers must take full advantage of their network to uncover as many potential job openings as possible. Hunt down every lead. Consider using cold calling techniques to find other opportunities. Focus more of your time and energy here than trying to respond to every job posting at Monster.com or the other job boards.
Creating new opportunities. As companies downsize and consolidate job functions, many opportunities may arise for a job seeker with the right skills. Determine your most marketable skills, examine the ongoing needs of the employers where you want to work (including your current employer), and develop a proposal showcasing how the employer would benefit from hiring you.
Sharpening the Focus of Your Resume. Decide whether a traditional chronological resume format is better for you or whether you need a functional resume format, or some type of hybrid format.
Consider developing a "qualifications summary" or "key accomplishments" section for your resume. Think of this section as the executive summary of your resume. If the employer reads only this one part of your resume, will it be enough to entice the employer to read the rest of your resume?
Develop multiple resumes, perhaps even customizing each resume you send to the specific job and employer. Also consider multiple resume formats, from the standard formatted paper resume to a scannable text resume and Web-based resume.
Finally, remember that a resume is a living document. You are never "done" with your resume. You should update and edit your resume(s) regularly, adding new accomplishments and skills, sharpening the focus, removing outdated material.
Developing a Dynamic Cover Letter. A cover letter is an integral tool of your job search. Perhaps in the past you have been able to get good jobs with a mediocre cover letter, but in uncertain times, your cover letter becomes the main tool that can determine whether your resume is read and whether you are even considered as a candidate for a position.
How can you improve your cover letter? Let's review the two most important parts of the cover letter: the introductory paragraph and the ending paragraph.
The first paragraph of your cover letter must sell the employer on the benefits/skills/talent you will bring to the job - a mix that no other job seeker has and one that has a clear benefit to the employer. Do not waste this critical opening paragraph.
Weak opening paragraph: I am writing today to apply for the account manager opening you have posted on your company Website.
Better opening paragraph: I have increased the size and sales levels of my client base in every position I have held, which in turn has increased the revenues and profits of my employers. I want to bring this same success to the account position you have posted on your Website.
The final paragraph of your cover letter must be proactive. You must ask for the job interview (or a meeting) in this paragraph. You must express your confidence that you are a perfect fit for the job. You must also put the employer on notice that you plan to follow-up within a specified time.
Weak closing paragraph: I hope you will review my resume, and if you agree with what I have stated here, consider me for the position. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Better closing paragraph: I am eager to help advance the success of your company, and I am convinced that we should arrange a time to meet. I will call your office in the next week to schedule an appointment.
Mastering the Art of Follow-Up. In good times, some job seekers may be able to get away with being impolite in not sending thank you letters and being lazy by not following up all leads, but in a tight or uncertain job market, job-seekers must follow-up every job lead, every job application, and every job interview.
Some job seekers may see follow-up as too aggressive, but the cliché about the squeaky wheel getting the grease applies to job seeking. As long as you don't contact the employer too often or act abusive, following up with emails or phone calls is a way to stay at the forefront of the minds of the employers, as well as a way for you to stay on top of the status of the search. Each time you follow-up, your strategy should be to reinforce the perception that you are the ideal candidate for the job; the job seeker with the unique set of skills and experiences required for the job.
Follow-up each cover letter and resume you send with a phone call or email requesting an interview. Follow-up each interview you have with a thank you note or letter to each person who interviewed you. And follow-up your thank you note with a phone call or email to again express your interest and fit with the job and check on the status of the search.
Posted by Ask The Recruiter on Saturday, December 06, 2008
Once you have built a solid résumé, you need to get it out there where people can see it. Post it to all the major job sites and to the niche sites you have identified for your industry or profession.
Q:Why should you bother with all the work it takes to find and post on niche job sites? A: The big job boards important, but they aren’t enough. Niche job sites offer many advantages, both for employers and for job seekers. Employers receive far fewer resumes for each job listing than they would on Monster.com or Yahoo! HotJobs, yet the resumes they do receive are often more qualified and more targeted simply because they are focused in their job search. Job seekers deal with fewer competing applicants and therefore have a better chance at making the short list of candidates to be contacted for the next step in the hiring process. The big job boards should, of course, be a part of your overall job search strategy, as many employers only post on one job board or only a few - by having your resume on as many relevant job boards as possible you maximize your chances of being found by your ideal employer.
How do you find the niche job sites specific to your industry or area of expertise? Just go to your search engine of choice and search for (your niche) + “job sites”. For example, a search for accounting job sites will yield a number of sites specific to accounting jobs. You may even try localizing your search, such as searching for “Accounting job sites New York” (with or without quotes).
Try a few different variations when searching so you’ll find more good sites to use. You can even try your target title such as “fixed assets manager job sites Los Angeles”.
Posted by Ask The Recruiter on Saturday, December 06, 2008
This is a follow up to my previous post, "How to Survive a Layoff". In that post I discussed how to approach your job search after being laid off. Feel free to engage any of those techniques as you explore "Where the Jobs Are".
Here are some questions and answers about who is hiring.
Q:What fields are hiring? A:Even Friday's (Dec 7th) dismal November jobs report had tiny positive glimmers in the form of fields that are doing a little bit of hiring — mostly in the low thousands, and nowhere near enough to offset the hundreds of thousands of job losses elsewhere. Look to your "Monopoly" board for a couple of the industries that are hiring: railroads and utilities. Others are just as old school, like the logging and mining sector, and food, drink and tobacco manufacturing. The oil business is still adding a few jobs, as is pipeline transportation. General merchandise stores also did some pre-holiday hiring.
Q:Which jobs are considered "recession proof"...jobs that are still expanding in a volatile economy? A: Accounting. The more companies reorganize, the more accountants they need.
Nursing: One field where there is still a shortage, and openings at most hospitals.
Computer I-T: With companies keeping computers longer, they need people to fix them and update software.
Commission Sales Reps: In a recession, companies are desperate for good salespeople.
Security: You can't have enough security guards these days.
Building maintenance, as companies hold off on new offices.
The US Census Bureau...which is now hiring thousands of workers to prepare for Census 2010.
Q:What industries generally don't shrink when times are bad? A:Health care and education tend to stay flat during bad times. That's it. This recession has sparked a surge in federal spending — so much so that the government hopes to add about 100,000 jobs this year.
Q: Are there specific jobs, even at companies laying people off, that will continue to be filled? A: Yes. In the financial services sector, some hiring continues as companies lay off workers who make $350,000 and replace them with workers who make $75,000. Goldman Sachs Group Inc., which cut 10 percent of its staff in the last few months, has been running select help wanted ads for junior positions.
Q:Are some states better off than others? A: Yes. Even in industries that are shrinking nationally, the reality is rosier in some places than in others. Connecticut, for instance, has seen its financial services workforce shrink only slightly, despite widespread layoffs in New York, thanks to its more stable insurance base. The state's construction industry is also holding up better than construction is nationally. Similarly, Wyoming's energy industry continues to hire.
Job placement firms may be the number one place to turn to right now. Many companies are holding off hiring full-time employees until they see a bottoming of the economic crisis. Accepting a "temp to hire" positon could lead to a full-time position. If companies keep telling you they are under a hiring freeze right now, ask about a "temp to hire" position, where they take you on as a temp with no commitments. Then if the economy starts to look better in 2009, you'll have an edge over outside applicants.
