Your Job Search

Does it feel like you've been looking for a job forever? The problem might not be with you or your credentials it could be how they are presented on your resume. Resume advice from ten years ago is outdated and, especially if you are new to the job-seeking market, your resume might not be as effective as it once was. Fortunately, by making some quick tweaks, you can make your resume start working for you again, leading to a better chance of being noticed by a hiring manager. 1. Change Your Method of Delivery If you are just firing off a resume in an email to every job ad you see, chances are your resume is winding up in the trashcan. You have to make your resume stand out. That might mean faxing, mailing or even hand delivering your resume. 2. Change the Recipient of Your Resume Networking is the name of the game today. Looking to be hired at a company where a friend or an acquaintance is working? Instead of emailing your resume to the HR department, ask your friend who is involved … [Read more...] about 6 Resume Tweaks to Get Hired Faster

In the current economic climate, public sector jobs are being cut at an alarming rate. For many employees who have worked in this sector all their lives, the idea of moving over to the for profit- private sector, is quite a daunting prospect. But don’t worry there is a third way out there which is often overlooked and that is the aptly named the ‘Third Sector’. So what makes the third sector worth strong consideration? Firstly, the third sector is made up of nonprofit organizations.  Like in the public sector, these organizations are there to offer a public service for its own sake, not to make money.  This sometimes fits better with what people moving from the public sector are familiar with. In addition many people from both the private and public sectors find the idea that by going to work they will not just be able to pay their mortgage but potentially can make a positive difference to someone else, a powerful ethos.   It is a great contributor to job satisfaction. Secondly, … [Read more...] about Need a New Job? Consider the Third Sector

Most people who are job-hunting use career sites, other online resources, head-hunters, networking and send out zillions of résumés. With so many out of work it seems like those who find a job have hit on some magic formula. If you aren’t one of the lucky few, maybe it’s time to shake it up a bit. Why not try the old-school 1:1, in-person approach? Personal Touch A recent WSJ article described how 97-year-old Lillian Brownstein landed a job in 1938 by knocking on doors in an office building in New Jersey. One company she spoke to had just fired their secretary and hired Brownstein after a typing test. Now I’m not suggesting you just drop by companies and ask to speak to someone about a job. These days, the receptionist would probably call security. But try to make the job-search more personal. According to the article above, only 9% of people looking for job opportunities think to contact relatives and friends. Instead 51% are opting for looking at ads and sending in applications. … [Read more...] about Personalize Your Job Hunt

There have been several financial recessions in the last century or so. Some of these were localized to specific countries or areas of the world. Or others, like the current one, were far more global in nature. The one difference between this global recession and the last one is that anyone who has been downsized now has the Internet to use as a tool for finding a new job. And one of the most job-hunting specific Internet tools is the social network for business people - LinkedIn.LinkedIn is a wonderful way of connecting with potential employers and also for highlighting your skills in a way that any employer can easily digest. But your LinkedIn profile needs to be optimized to make that happen so we're giving you a set of 10 tips to help you make the most of your LinkedIn presence. 1. Completeness Simply make sure that every section of your profile has been completed and that there are no blank spaces or obvious gaps. Your LinkedIn profile is your online résumé so treat it with the … [Read more...] about 10 Tips to Optimize Your LinkedIn Profile for Business

Whether you have recently been laid off or are looking to take your career to the next level, beginning the search for a new job can be an intimidating task. Most companies no longer accept phone calls, unsolicited emails, or office visits for job applicants. In order to find a new position that suits your strengths, you must turn to Internet search engines and company websites. Using a specialized job search dedicated to your industry will make the process more effective and less painful than using a generic job search website. The Importance of a Specific Search Most large companies have an impersonal application process that can take up to an hour to complete. After you finish the somewhat unnecessary personality quiz and submit all of your personal information through the online form, the last contact you will ever have with the company is through the automated confirmation email that sits in your inbox. By sitting in front of your computer all day and filling these out, your … [Read more...] about Using an Industry Specific Approach to Improve Your Career Search

Temporary work is a popular work choice in today’s economic climate. It can be a good way to get your foot in the door to a permanent job or it might tide you over and pay your bills whilst you work out exactly what you want to do next. Temp work can be rewarding but it can also be a tricky beast! You’re expected to hit the ground running, impress your new boss with your hard work ethic, whilst being friendly, confident and fitting in to a new team. Phew!  So how do you do it? 1. Make a Good First Impression For starters, make a good first impression. Turn up on time, look and behave professionally and impress your new boss. Remember, your new boss is likely to be nervous too, though for different reasons! Even if your assignment is only for a couple of weeks, they will want reassurance that they have not made a mistake in hiring you and and that you will add value to their business. Be professional and friendly. First impressions make a big difference! 2. Work Hard It might seem … [Read more...] about Top Tips for Temping!

Social media is one of the top pastimes in the world; everyone has at least one social profile. There’s no surprise that college students make up a huge percentage of social networks, especially Facebook. With that being said, it only makes sense for business to recruit Interns using this powerful tool. Social media is not just about meeting new people and connecting with friends, it’s also a great tool for networking, finding jobs and finding new employees. If you’re not sure where to start when it comes to recruiting via social media, these tips will get you going in the right direction. Be Creative Of course you always want to be professional, but that doesn’t mean that your company should be lacking in the creativity area. College students are drawn to creativity, so you should find a unique way to make your brand stand out from the rest. Spruce up your logo with something professional, yet fun. You should then come up with creative ideas to show students just how cool your … [Read more...] about How To Recruit Interns With the Help of Social Media

What were you doing last Tuesday night?  Taking a nap?  Working out?  Munching on a burrito?  Well if you’re a job seeker you should have been watching The Voice.  Do you find yourself wondering what you are going to do with your brand new online bachelor degree?  Well worry no more because by simply watching The Voice you can learn some quality tips that can help you in your job search. If you’re not familiar with how the show works, here is a quick rundown of the first two rounds. - four celebrity singer judges - they sit with their back to the stage - a singer comes out and sings a little ditty - if a judge is impressed they can hit a button and turn around - if only one judge turns around the singer is on their team by default - if more than one turns then the singer must choose who they would like to join The rest of the show will operate more like a typical singing competition show, but that hasn’t happened yet, so guess what...it doesn’t matter. Surprisingly, the show is … [Read more...] about What Can "The Voice" Teach You In Finding A Job?

Graduating from college is a great accomplishment, but what is the next step? How do you find that dream job? Unfortunately, unless you attend a career school you won’t have much help finding a job. You’ll have the knowledge and degree needed, but where do you start looking?  Luckily, we have the Internet and advanced technology to help us accomplish the most important step of finding a job. Here are 4 sites that recent graduates can use to connect with companies and find a job in their field of expertise. Ecademy Ecademy is a social network for business professionals, entrepreneurs and business owners. It’s very similar to the business network LinkedIn and has a lot of the same features. Ecademy gives you a place to connect and network with people in your field of expertise. You can find jobs by connecting with top executives and managers from companies that you’d like to work for. Companies can also find you by searching through profiles; so it’s very important to add your CV to … [Read more...] about 4 Sites Recent Graduates Can Use To Find A Job