Experienced Worker Employment: Recent Comments

Comment on Effective Networking Can Get You a Job!

Josh Thiery — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 18:50:21 GMT

The latest headlines chronicling the worst round of layoffs in recent memory are enough to make even the most secure professionals contemplate their future. In the current economic climate, can you really rely on skills and expertise alone to secure your next career move? The answer is no.

One of the best steps you can take right now to ensure your career stays on track — whether you are currently working or not - is to network. Your network of contacts, and the people they know, could be your direct link to the next career move that might materialize.

Comment on How To Develop and Use Resumes

Resume Questions — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 21:44:52 GMT

How many pages in the resume?

One page? Two pages? Ten Pages? In every instance, content is what counts. Tailor the resume to the job and present your experience in readable form. Use bullet points. Quantify, numbers are important. The quality of experience should influence the length of the resume.

Can I stretch the truth, no one will know?

Never lie about anything on the resume!!!

What about Objective statements?

Generally, no objective is needed. Quantified bulleted statements that demonstrate your qualification, through experience, to do the job is what counts. Don't waste space on generic statements that can be read on many resumes.

Do I list references on the resume?

Do not provide references unless a job offer is being prepared. An exception may be when you are working with a recruiter who is acting as an intermediary. In those cases, talk to the recruiter about how references are to be used and how close you are to receiving a job offer.

Do I really have to rewrite the resume for every job?

The resume is to be tailored to each job even to the extent of using words from the job description in the body of your resume. On the other hand, resumes do not get jobs, people do. Consider working with a professional friend to use the Targeted Referral Process to introduce you to the hiring manager.

Comment on Procedures and Techniques for the Job Referral 411 Blog

Tom Garcia — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:06:43 GMT

Getting fired can happen to the best of us. It can happen even when it's not your fault. It happens. You're not alone. Here are some tips to help you move forward after being fired from your job.

Personally: Recognize that you'll likely experience the five steps of dealing with loss: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and finally, acceptance. Realize a termination is not the worst thing that could happen. Sometimes terminations are for not being the right fit. While unemployed, start each day with a plan of something to accomplish. Keep a forward focus. With the changing job market, getting fired is more common than you may think. Make it an opportunity, not a catastrophe. Realize you've gone through other life changes and made it through. You will this time, too.

Professionally: Find out when you get your last paycheck and if you get pay for vacation or benefits. File for unemployment. Join a Job Club and Success Team. Decide whether you want to stay in the same field, make a career change or start your own business. Once you know where you want to take your career, take steps to make it happen. Commit. No job search is easy. Network. This is hard to do but you must let people know you are looking for another job.

Comment on It's Not Just About Salary

George Marshall — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 18:48:42 GMT

I found this on Monster and thought it would be helpful.

The following are various scenarios when your salary history may be requested and possible ways you can respond:

Salary Information Requested on the Application

The issue of what you are earning is likely to arise before you even start the interview process, when you are asked to fill out an application. Most applications have a section that asks for salary history. Many online job postings and ads in newspapers also ask for this information. Some even warn that you won't be considered if you don't provide salary information. Sometimes you can get away by simply ignoring the request. Another way to deal with this question is to state that you "will discuss it in person." Occasionally, you will not be considered for a job if you do not provide this information; more often than not, though, if you have marketed yourself well, you will be able to get an interview without disclosing your current salary.

Questions About Salary from the Interviewer

When the interviewer asks you about your salary, your goal remains the same -- delay talking about it or keep the discussions vague. You might try saying something like, "It is not about the salary; it is about the job. If it's the right job for me and I am the right person for it, salary won't be an issue." Then you can turn it around and ask what the employer has budgeted for the position. If you have to talk about compensation, be general and talk about your total compensation. For example, if your salary, potential bonus and stock options are worth $46,000, maximize it by saying something like, "My total annual compensation is in the mid-five figures."

When the Recruiter Asks

Recruiters generally seek salary information for a different purpose. Since they usually are paid based on a percentage of your first year's compensation, it is in their interest for the offer to be higher. They want to know your salary to avoid recommending a candidate, only to find out later that the company and the candidate cannot agree on salary. Therefore, the tactics that work with companies to avoid discussing salary will not work with most recruiters. They will insist on having salary information. Providing the information to the recruiter, though, will hurt your ability to negotiate. Remember the recruiter works for the company and whatever you tell the recruiter will usually be passed on to the company.

Even though a company generally has a salary range for a position, it is never set in stone. Once a hiring manager has decided you are the best candidate, he will find ways to pay more, if necessary. The goal is to get all the key players to really want to hire you before talking about salary.

Comment on How Do You Get in the Door?

Pam Wilks — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 16:23:27 GMT

Always carry a completed generic application with you to interviews. This will help you when it comes to filling out job applications. Do you remember the name, address, or phone number of an employer 3 years ago? What was your salary? Duties?

Use the tools. It works.

Think of how together you will look when your application is complete.

Comment on Learn How To Use and Navigate Job Boards: Do's and Don'ts

Pam Wilks — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 15:54:24 GMT

Online Websites for Job Hunting

Keep in mind that the “just right or perfect” job could be in any one of these sites.

Check them all out, just because it says “legal or tech” doesn’t mean that they don’t need your skills. Lawyers need assistants, all companies need tech help. Are you limiting yourself to only sites that are in your field or are you looking at everything??? Never Assume

One persons idea of a “Job Title/Name” may not be what you think it is, check it out. Read the description

•JobsintheMoney.com - Professionals in finance, accounting, banking, insurance, and economics

•Indeed.com - General job search

•Dice.com - Online job searches for high tech careers, including programmers, software engineers, and IT.

•Careerbuilder.com - General job search

•Snagajob.com - General job search

•Monster.com - General job search

•BAjobs.com - General job search

•Lawjobs.com - Legal job listings

•Allretailjobs.com - General job search retail jobs

•Salestrax.com - Features sales and marketing jobs

•DegreedJobs.com - General job search

•WorkMinistry.com - General job search

•Hotjobs.com - General job search

•CaliforniaJobNetwork.com - General job search

•Usajobs.com - Government Jobs (note not all agencies go thru this site but many do. Search the individual branch you are interested in also)

•Wineandhospitalityjobs.com - Best Wine & Hospitality Job Site

•Beyond.com - General job search

•AllHealthCareJobs.com - The healthcare job bank encompassing medical careers in nursing, allied health, pharmacy, physician, executive, rehab and laboratory

•AcademicKeys.com - Higher education jobs and university jobs at universities

•hirelifescience.com - Life Science industry

•JobClub.com - General job search

•ScienceCareers.org - Employment in biological, physical, and biomedical sciences

•idealist.org - Directory of thousands of nonprofit web sites

•www.telecomcareers.net - telecom & wireless job site

•sustainablebusiness.com - green jobs

•itheadhunter.net - general job search

•SanFranRecruiter.com - general job search

•JobGuru.com - general job search

•greenjobs.com - green jobs, general

•titleboard.com - title and escrow type jobs

•craigslist.com - general job search

•pr.com - general job search

•thingamajob.com - general job search

Comment on Procedures and Techniques for the Job Referral 411 Blog

Jerry — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 01:27:03 GMT

Technorati Profile

Comment on How to market, brand, and promote yourself.

Jerry — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 00:25:56 GMT

John Todor of The Whetstone Edge encourages job seekers to promote themselves by a variety of electronic and Internet processes. He provided the following links as places to find information and to post/blog information that will help in promotion.

www.google.com/alerts
www.del.icio.us
www.allbusiness.com
www.linkedin.com
www.wikipedia.com
www.ezinearticles.com
www.thewisemarketer.com
www.OnCustomers.com
www.perfectem.com
www.customerthink.com/all_blogs
www.prweb.com
www.meetup.com

The Whetstone Edge creates win-win business relationships for employers, employees, and customers. For more information about upcoming workshops and seminars, go to www.thewhetstoneedge.com

Comment on Procedures and Techniques for the Job Referral 411 Blog

Jerry — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 02:37:35 GMT

Job Referral 411 BLOG is designed to be a place where experienced workers, in all fields, at all levels, can exchange information on subjects of importance for finding a new job. Tell others practical information: what works and what doesn't work. If pasting material from Word, please translate to RTF before pasting.

No personal information will be displayed unless you include it in your blog text. Feel free to insert links to other sources of information, including your own. Other employment professionals are encouraged to contribute.

If you have a suggestion for a new Category, please comment on this entry or email info@jobref411.com.

Comment on Starting Your Job Search

Jerry — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 02:33:33 GMT

The starting point of your job search is to know what you want to do. This can take the form of a single job title, a sentence or two describing your desired work, or a dissertation that gives you a chance to think through your opportunities. When you have decided, WRITE the job title and a two- sentence description to use as a focla point for your search.

If uncertain as to the work you want to do, spend time talking to people about the type of work you like and would consider undertaking. Coaches are helpful. Books on finding your hidden talents and job related interests are at the library. Don’t hesitate to talk to many people. You’ll be amazed to hear the insights provided by people who are interested in helping. Listen to other people’s stories and experiences. Many have traveled this same road.

Testing is available to help. Some tests provide general personality characteristic evaluation information. Others provide specific comparison of your skills, work orientation, and personality characteristics to a set of characteristics determined to be those of successful people in a specific field of endeavor. Most testing activities provide feedback in both written form and by a counselor. Some testing services are free. You may be asked to take such a test as a condition of employment or during the interview process.

Informational interviews are easy to get and can provide additional important information about work activities with which you are not familiar. A request for an informational interview of thirty minutes is not unreasonable and frequently extends longer, particularly, if you suggest ending the interview at the thirty-minute mark.

As you develop more insight, try writing a few sentences about what you have learned. Write job titles or short job descriptions. Let the writing sit for a while so that your subconscious mind can go to work for you. Watch your dreams; amazing developments have come from the dream state.

Don’t rush this part of your job search: if you don’t know where you’re going, you’re certain to not get there. When you have decided, write it down in the form of a job title or a very brief description of the job.