Imagine you are a recruiter or hiring manager at a job fair. An attendee (that is, a job seeker) walks up to you and says:

“So, what have you got for me?”

Yikes!

Remember our posts on developing and practicing your elevator pitch? Well, if the reason you’re at the job fair is to be considered for a job (which is a reasonable assumption), then you need to get to work on a concise, 30-second summary of who you are and what you can do for a company!

What’s so wrong about the ‘What have you got for me’ approach–on so many levels–is that it only says you are looking for work and will take any job at any company. While that may be the case, you can’t let that be known, and it certainly doesn’t give a potential employer any reason to give you a second look. Ever.

In fact, the ONLY thing the recruiter may remember about you was your question, not your skills, knowledge, or passion for a particular line of work. They will remember you as the Desperate-Job-Seeker-Who-Will-Take-Anything — not a highly-skilled candidate who will quickly contribute to a company’s bottom line.

When you attend job fairs (or any event where decision makers are in attendance), keep in mind that you literally have only a few of seconds to make a good FIRST impression with your introduction. Once you begin to speak, you will instantly be judged by how well you communicate. Are you well-spoken, verbally nimble, and confident with a firm handshake, or the opposite: unsure, stuttering, ill-prepared?

So your assignment for today is to practice how to introduce yourself. Think about what you want to tell an employer about what you can do for them and how you will add value to the organization.

If you’re thinking ‘What organization? What are you talking about?”, this means you missed Step 1:

Find out what companies will be at the job fair, target the ones you would like to work for, and develop an understanding of what that company is all about. What does the company do? What are the divisions in the company? What products or services do they offer? Once you know this, THEN you can develop an effective 30-second introduction that relates to each company you will visit at the job fair. You’ll then be able to discuss a certain opening on their website in direct relation to your skills and ability to contribute.

Example:

“Good morning, Mary! [note: check the name tag — don’t call everyone Mary )

I’ve been a sales and marketing writer for 10 years with a strong emphasis on widget technology. I noticed on your website that you have an opening for a sales and marketing writer in your Widget Business Unit. I’ve been developing B2B materials for widgets for the past three years with XYZ Company and would love to explore your opportunity. Do you have a few minutes to discuss it?”

See how that works? In those few seconds, you can give a recruiter or hiring manager just about all the information needed to strongly consider you for an opening!

Consider what you can do for a company that would bring value. Write it down, recite it aloud, and get it down to 30-seconds or less. Then, practice while looking in the mirror. What are your facial expressions? Are you looking into your eyes (think: eye contact) and speaking with a smile?

Preparing an effective elevator pitch BEFORE you go to a job fair will help you create an excellent first impression, one that tells a potential employer that you have done your research about a company, what your qualifications are, and what you can do for them.

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

Article courtesy of  Carl Chapman - Founder CEC Search, LLC
    © Copyright 2009 CEC Search, LLC | All rights reserved

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Recruiters again, haven’t we run out yet? Not by a long shot. By my count, I’ve identified over 300 recruiters and I’m sure there are more that I’ve not yet found. Not that I’m suggesting you should contact 300 recruiters, just the ones that will help you find your job. As with most things in life, timing is everything, and it sometimes comes down to being with the right recruiter at the right time. Not an easy task, but you can narrow the odds by focusing on those recruiters who specialize in the jobs you want (and can do).

• The Maxwell Group – This search firm specializes in finance, accounting, banking and capital markets (with the exception of Accounting, tough industries these days). Their site is fairly simple, with company overview and links on the left hand side of the page for Candidate Information, Current Positions and “Contacting Us”. The Candidate Information link provides an overview of the process and a link to register. From the Current Positions Page, you can select from three categories (Finance/Accounting, Operations and Capital Markets). Clicking on any of these lists the current positions, along with salary and location. Click on Detail to see more about the position(s). The Contact Us link provides information (name, address, telephone and email) for contacting this search firm.
• Nosal Partners – Nosal is an executive search firm that specializes in a number of positions. Their main site has tabs at the top for a number of topics regarding the firm. The Resource Center (left center) has links for Current Assignments, Register your credentials and a link to a number of resources. The About Us tab lists the recruiters, click on any one for a full bio along with contact information.
• Trandon Associates Inc. – Trandon specializes in Accounting/Finance, Banking/Brokerage, Healthcare and Support Services. Additionally, the have a consulting division that does both temporary placement as well as temp-to-perm. Their main page has three links – About Us, Career Opportunities and Contact Us. The Career Opportunities link leads to a page with links to their open and advertised positions. Click on Contact Us for their address, telephone number and email address.
• Slayton Search Partners – Slayton is an executive search firm with four locations in the US. Their site has a number of tabs at the top for Candidates, Contact, About and more. The Candidates link leads to a page where you can email your resume or login/register for their resume upload process.
• Egon Zehnder International – Egon Zehnder is an international firm that specializes in a number of fields and provides a few services in addition to recruiting (consulting and advising). From their main page, click the link for Executive Search. This page provides an overview, as well as a number of resources. Click on Your Career, followed by your country to link to a page where you can enter your information. You can also click on the map, select your region/office and get direct contact information.

Good luck in your search.

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

Article courtesy of  Carl Chapman - Founder CEC Search, LLC
    © Copyright 2009 CEC Search, LLC | All rights reserved

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As with most things in life, job search is a “two way street”. The concept of networking lives by this and Executive Recruiters and Headhunters do as well. This works in different ways. In some cases, the recruiter may be looking for a candidate with credentials that are different than yours (and you may know someone) or you know the recruiter because you used them to hire people in your last role. Whatever the case, leverage recruiters the same way you would leverage your friends and business acquaintances to enhance your job search.

• A Team Recruiting – This firm specializes in recruiting for Accounting and Finance professionals in the New York Metro area and other major US Metro markets. They do the full range from Temporary, Temp to Hire, Part Time, Full Time, etc. They list 4 job categories from which you can click (CFO, Controller, Bookkeeper and Accounting Clerk). Clicking on these brings up a forms page where you can fill in your personal details, register and upload a resume.
• A-List Associates – Their tag line is “Your #1 Source for Top Executive Assistants and Administrative Support”. There are tabs at the top for “About Us”, “Services”, “Positions” and more. Click on Positions to link to the Open Positions page. You can see the job description, salary, location and can apply directly for the job. You can also click on “Contact Us” where you can submit your resume through their web form, call them, fax your resume or send via Snail Mail.
• Anson McCade – Anson McCade is an IT and Finance recruitment firm, based in London, UK. Their main site has information on the firm, Interviews tips, Resources and Contacts (all on the left hand side of the screen). Candidate information is on the right hand side and includes All vacancies, vacancies by functiona and a search all function. There were 269 job opportunities when I checked the site. You can register your resume or contact them directly via email or telephone.
• Horton International – This firm is a global executive search firm with several offices in the North East US as well as offices in Asia Pacific and Europe. Their main page has tabs at the top for their international non-US offices, Submit your resume, FAQs and Contact information. You can contact them via email or phone and also have the ability to submit your resume using their online web form. I did not see a link for current job opportunities.
• Jay Gaines & Company – This firm has a broad range of functional areas it covers: General management, Information technology, Finance Capital markets, Risk, Investment management, Operations and more. Click on select past engagements to see the types of positions covered by this firm. Click Contact Us to forward your resume via email or call.

Good luck in your search.

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

Article courtesy of  Carl Chapman - Founder CEC Search, LLC
    © Copyright 2009 CEC Search, LLC | All rights reserved

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Good question. Not as many jobs as there used to be (and seems like less each week), but there are jobs. This blog and today’s theme is about how to find a job. Coincidentally, Fortune Magazine’s cover story this issue is “How to get a job”. So let’s get started.

• How to get a job – The theme of this story is very similar to what I’ve been saying for months (8 months to be exact). Yes, the current unemployment rate is 8.6% and yes, last week another 600,000+ people joined the unemployed, but there are tens of thousands of jobs out there. The second half of the tag line of the article is “Millions of people were hired last month!”. The article is worth a read for several reasons, not the least of which there are plenty of good tips (and they use a headline that is very similar to one I used in an earlier blog “Hey Brother, Can Your Spare a Job?“.
• Successful Job Searching – This article, by About.com, provides a step-by-step guide to finding a job. Categories include Write a Resume, Complete a Job Application, Find Job Listings plus a long list of other resources. The right side of this article has a link to several videos – “10 thinks to do after a layoff” and “How to prepare for a job interview”.
• How to find a job during a recession – CNN weighs in with an article on how to find a job. Another step-by-step article with topics such as trying freelance work, freshen your skills, networking, polish your brand (like my “market yourself”). The middle of the article has additional links to job related articles.
• HOW TO FIND A JOB? – Not sure why there is a question mark at the end of this page’s name, but don’t be fooled by the first page. There are a number of links on this site to resources such as job search, job applications, resumes, cover letters and more. Each link leads to a robust page with information on the topic. At the bottom of the page are several other links to Work Menu (several resources here), Training, Where (like, where to find a job) and Who can help (many more resources).
• Liven Up Your Job Hunt – Tips for When Things Look Bleak – This article, from Keppie Careers, provides a number of great tips for your job search. The site is dedicated to careers and job search and is jam packed with links. Click on any of the categories (right side of page) to find context related articles. Popular posts are on the right as well, with a number of excellent links to other websites in the blogroll.
• How to Get Into Medical Sales – This dynamic resource from Peggy McKee, the Medical Sales Recruiter, provides templates for the critical documents needed in your pursuit of a job in the medical sales arena. Peggy also provides more than one hour of audio coaching that guides you through every step of document preparation and presentation. It has tons of insider tips that can help you transition into the recession-proof niche of medical sales, even if you have no experience in the medical arena. There are a couple of other great products that she provides, check them out at the 30/60/90 day sales plan website.

Good luck in your search.

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

Article courtesy of  Carl Chapman - Founder CEC Search, LLC
    © Copyright 2009 CEC Search, LLC | All rights reserved

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So exactly how does Fortune determine the Best Companies list? They conducted a survey with over 81,000 employees from 353 companies. To learn more, click “How we pick the 100 Best”. What is even more interesting about the list is the highest pay. Bingham McCutchen takes the prize with an average annual pay of $256,000 (yes, this is an average!).

• Ernst & Young – The accounting, audit and advisory services Firm is ranked 51 this year (up from 57). E&Y has over 130,000 employees globally with 24,000 in the US. They hired 119 people last year. Their main career page gives an overview of the company followed by a drop-down box so that you can select you location. Clicking on the US, the domestic link lists all of the awards they’ve received as an employer very impressive) and then has a section for students or experience hires. To the right of the page there is a link for job search. Using their experienced hire generic search returned 411 job opportunities in the US.
• Stew Leonard’s – Ranked 53 (we skipped 52 as the company was previously covered), this company owns supermarkets. 2,200 employees and 24 hires last year, their main career page is very interesting. It almost looks like a family web page with pictures of employees across different events. Listed on the left-hand side of the page is information on the company (with various categories), a Current Openings link as well as a Apply Now link. Current Openings (well you can figure this out) is of course current openings. The Apply Now page allows you to register so that they have your information should a job opening that matches your experience become available.
• Erickson Retirement Communities – Ranked 54 this year (way up from 93), Erickson has over 10,000 employees and hired 971 people last year. Their main careers page has tabs to the left for Search Jobs, Benefits, Events and more. In the center of the page they have six categories to select from for a targeted search. You can also click on “See Our Full List of Positions Available” to cut to the chase. Clicking on this (without criteria) returned the maximum which is 100 jobs. Not sure how many more exist beyond that, but you can find out by conducting a more targeted search.
• Salesforce.com – Ranked 55, this company is the 2nd fastest growing tech company. With almost 3,000 employees, they hired 381 people last year. The main careers page has a lot of good information on the company. They have a dedicated link for University recruiting and they show some of the open positions on this page as well as links to specific functional areas. Click on “Careers current openings” on the right hand side of the page to see job opportunities. There is not an actual count of open positions on their site, but a quick guess (looking at the open positions) there must be close to 100 opportunities.
• Big pay: Annual pay – So which of these companies (on the Best Companies list) are the highest paying? Check out the link. Fortune has sorted the list from highest paying to lowest in this group along with the position that demands (or gets for the lowest) that salary. The lowest paid job on the list is Service Manager at $44k per year to the highest (Associate) at $256k.

Good luck in your search.

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

Article courtesy of  Carl Chapman - Founder CEC Search, LLC
    © Copyright 2009 CEC Search, LLC | All rights reserved

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We’ve received many emails from readers asking for advice on their resumes. While we are always happy to offer an objective view of a resume (e.g., wording, formatting, etc.), it is not enough if you are scratching your head trying to figure out why your job search isn’t working.

This article is one of five that will outline for you the steps to take to re-charge your job search and identify what has been holding you back from getting the job you want.

Step 1 – Self-Assessment (Know Thyself!)

By now, everyone has heard or received advice on how to conduct the perfect job search. Our readers here know that the jobs they’re looking for are not on CareerBuilder, Monster, or other job boards. Rather, the jobs they seek are hidden from public view and require a well-planned strategy to ferret them out. The strategy comprises five critical elements:

SELF-ASSESSMENT: Identify who you are—know and understand the unique strengths and knowledge you will bring to an employer.

RESUME ASSESSMENT: What does your resume say about YOU? Your skills, knowledge, and competencies? Is a chronological resume that simply lists the positions you’ve held? If your resume only cites what you’ve done, versus what you know and love, it’s time for a re-write!

JOB SEARCH ASSESSMENT: If you’ve been relying solely on job boards for your search, an overhaul of your search strategy is definitely in order.

RESEARCH: Identify the employers that need your expertise. Learn how to discover employers that look for the attributes you will uncover about yourself.

NETWORKING: Identify the people that might help you explore employment opportunities in your target companies. Using the many social networking outlets, such as LinkedIn or Facebook, as well as harnessing the power of a good Google search string, will help you find the people behind the opportunities.

Essentially, your action plan will follow this path: ASSESSMENT >> RESEARCH >> CONTACTS

1. SELF-ASSESSMENT

This is a crucial step that will help you determine the type of job or career you should be seeking. Most job seekers start out by assuming they will look for jobs in the same field or industry in which they’ve been working. While this assumption may have worked in the past, today’s job market requires out-of-the-box thinking and a process by which you can expand your job search outside of your typical comfort zone.

The Self-Assessment is a process by which you create an inventory of your personal and professional characteristics that can be transferred to multiple job types and industries. A prospective employer will expect you to apply what you know to help them solve a problem, which is why they’re looking to hire someone! In order for an interviewer to understand what you bring to the table, you need to be able to convey WHAT you know and HOW you will apply it on the job.

The items below came from The National School Boards Association website. While geared to educators, this list is an excellent compilation of self-assessment question that anyone can use.

Copy the following questions into a spreadsheet or other document. Title the first column ‘Questions.’ Add a second column called ‘Examples.’

Attributes

Do I view problems as opportunities?
Am I a priority setter?
Am I customer-focused?
Am I courageous?
Am I a critical and creative thinker?
What is my tolerance for ambiguity?
Am I positive attitude towards change?

If you answer ‘yes’ to any of these, provide an example of how you display these attributes.

Skills

Do I debate, clarify, and enunciate my values and beliefs?
Can I fuel, inspire, and guard the shared vision?
Can I communicate the strategic plan at all levels?
Do I ask the big picture questions and “what if”?
Can I support the staff through a change process?
Do I encourage dreaming and thinking the unthinkable?
Can I align the budget, planning, and policies with the company’s goals and vision?
Do I engage in goal setting?
Can I develop and implement action plans?
Do I transfer the strategic planning process to planning?

Not all of these may apply to you, but for the ones that do: How will you convey these skills on your resume–and to an interviewer?

Jobhunt.org also has some questions for you to think about:

In your past roles, what have you enjoyed the most?
Which skills gave you the most satisfaction?
Which skills did you like the least?
Which activities, when you do them, stress you out or depress you?
Do you prefer to use a few skill areas and be a specialist in one career option?
Do you like to use a broad variety of skills and be more of a generalist?

Once you’ve answered these questions (by providing examples), the next step will be to assess your resume in relation to what you’ve learned about yourself. Does your resume convey the attributes, skills, and knowledge that you’ve identified through the Self-Assessment process?

We would love to hear from you about how you may have changed your resume after completing this process!

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

Article courtesy of  Carl Chapman - Founder CEC Search, LLC
    © Copyright 2009 CEC Search, LLC | All rights reserved

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No matter where you are in your career, from entry-level to the top rung of the ladder, one skill that is absolutely necessary to catapult you from one level to the next throughout your professional life is the ability to interview well. What exactly is the purpose of an interview? What are the goals of both parties involved in the interview, and how does this tie in to receiving a job offer? What is the best way to prepare for an interview, to avoid being nervous, anxious, and blowing the entire appointment?

According to a general dictionary, an interview is defined as a formal meeting, especially one arranged for the assessment of the qualifications of an applicant. Seems simple enough, right? As a job seeker, it’s necessary to change the way that you view an interview. Let’s take our thinking from a passive appointment in which an employer gets to know a prospective employee, to a dynamic process in which a prospective employee has the opportunity to sell his or her skills. You see, many applicants have the misunderstanding that they will participate in an interview, for the purpose of determining whether or not they want to work for an employer, at the wages and salary the said employer is willing to pay. Think about this for just a second. Many applicants walk in to an interview with limited information about the company they have applied to, and believe the answer as to whether or not they work for this company comes down to the money.

In today’s competitive job market, it’s necessary that every applicant realize there are plenty of applicants for most jobs. Unemployment is at an all time high. When you get that call to interview with a company, it’s not time to asses and be assessed – it’s time for you to audition for the role of your life!

The goals for the hiring manager during your interview is to get to know you, uncover any hidden information not provided on your resume or application, and determine whether or not this person is a good fit for the position. As the applicant for the job, your goals should always be as follows:

* to display a professional and personable attitude
* to openly discuss and show the hiring manager how your past experience can connect to their current needs
* to ask thoughtful questions of the interviewer that provide additional information about the position, and the type of individual that will best perform the position

Obviously, the hiring manager performing the interview hopes to fill this job with the “right candidate.” Conversely, the applicant’s goal should be provide such a stellar performance, the employer will have no doubt their company cannot continue to operate without you as a part of their team.

The best way to prepare for an interview is with the help of your career agent or the recruiter who is representing you. In the event you pursuing your search alone, here are some helpful tips to ensure you are ready for the big interview:

1. Do a thorough research of the company’s website.
2. View all news articles and press releases for the company for the last year.
3. Find out the name of the person you will be interviewing with, and search for information about them on LinkedIn, Google, MySpace, Facebook, or any other social networking websites.
4. Contact the company’s human resources department, and request a detailed job description be emailed or faxed to you.
5. Go through the job description, line to line, and write down all of the skills and experience you have that relate directly the position. Be prepared to discuss each of these with the interviewer.
6. Write down a minimum of five good questions you wish to ask the interviewer during the appointment. Make sure your questions are not answered by the company website, and further show your interest in the position on a long-term basis.
7. Make sure you have directions to your interview, and allow yourself plenty of time to arrive early.
8. Dress for success – it’s always better to be ultra-professional than to be under-dressed for the meeting.
9. Bring three clean copies of your resume to the interview, with cover letter and references.
10. Write a thoughtful thank you letter to each person you spoke with during the interview, and email them as soon as you return to your home or office.

When you attempt to handle a job search on your own, it can be a cumbersome and time consuming process, that results in fewer interviews and employment offers than expected. Oftentimes, the decision to work through a career agent or professional recruiter can be the difference between obtaining your target position and remaining in your current situation. Changing your perspective on how to interview, and the goals of each party involved in the activity can ultimately provide you with the success in obtaining your next career move, with proven results.

Christina Archer is the Director of Recruiting with AgentHR, in the Columbus, Ohio office. Christina specializes in the contract, temp to hire, and direct hire of healthcare professionals at hospitals and healthcare facilities across the United States. Christina is the group manager of “The R.N. Network” on LinkedIn, and offers job seekers unique tools, articles, and resources on her blog. (I-Careersearch.com) Whether you are a hiring manager looking for a long-term recruiting strategy that will save you time and money, or a job candidate who is looking for the professional representation necessary to remain competitive in today’s employment market, visit Christina’s website for more information, at http://www.agenthr.com/carcher

AgentHR is the nation’s premiere Recruiting Agency, and the leader in Human Capital solutions. Regardless of your hiring needs, our team will tackle your most challenging requirements head on. We have specialists in almost every field, and are interested in creating a long-term successful partnership that includes competitive fees, strong guarantees, and an unparallelled commitment to quality customer service.

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

Article courtesy of  Carl Chapman - Founder CEC Search, LLC
    © Copyright 2009 CEC Search, LLC | All rights reserved

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Another Fortune list, which means more resources for your job search, this list “The World’s Most Admired Companies” is a global list, some of which are also included on the other Fortune lists. I’ll review 5 per post until we run out. The full list can be found here =====>> Most Admired.

• Apple – Apple seems to be showing up everywhere lately, and for good reason. Ranked number 1 (up from 2 last year), Apple rated 1 in 3 of the nine key attributes. Their career page has two paths, Apple Pro and Apple Store. A fairly simple page, which has How to Apply and Search Jobs at the top right hand side. You can select your country on the right hand side of the page. Clicking Search Jobs links to a job search engine. You can register for the site or just search. A generic search returned 651 job opportunities in the US when I checked.
• Toyota – Skipping # 2 ranked Berkshire Hathaway (they are a conglomerate and you would need to check each company that is part of it), Toyota is ranked # 3. Their career site is fairly simple with a search engine filling the bulk of the page, you can click on search jobs or search jobs complex (more advanced search engine). Clicking on search jobs for the US yielded 12 jobs when I checked.
• Google – Number 4 on the list is another company that everyone has heard of. Their career site is, of course, very Google like. The left hand side of the page lists life at Google, student jobs and Joining Google. The center of the page lists locations, US first followed by International. At the far right are jobs listed by function. You can either click your location or job function to see available jobs.
• Johnson & Johnson – J&J is number 5 on the list this year. Their main career site has a number of links, including a quickconnect option (top right hand side of the page) where you can look for jobs with specific qualifications. Of course there is plenty of information on the company all through the career page. Under Career Opportunities there are two choices, Professionals or Students. Click on Professionals where you will see a drop down box, click on Search all Opportunities where you will find a job search menu. You can register at the site and post your resume. There were 361 jobs when I checked the site.
• Procter & Gamble – Another home products company, P&G was ranked 6 this year.Their career site leads with a job search engine. You can login or register on the site. There are career resources as well which are worth looking at. A generic search yielded 863 job opportunities.

Good luck in your search.

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

Article courtesy of  Carl Chapman - Founder CEC Search, LLC
    © Copyright 2009 CEC Search, LLC | All rights reserved

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An article in The New York Times this week notes that this Great Recession is spawning its share of throwback coping behavior. As it did during the Great Depression, today’s downturn is forcing some people who have lost their jobs and then their homes to seek shelter in the local jail. They commit a minor offense (but one worthy of incarceration) in front of the police with the intent of landing themselves “three hots and a cot” in the calaboose.

What’s that got to do with looking for a job?

There’s a growing chorus of career experts advising those in transition to take “stopgap jobs” or “survival jobs”—jobs that put food on the table and a roof over your head until the crisis passes. While well-meaning, however, this advice will derail your career as surely as if you had locked it up in the local jail.

It’s not the strategy that’s bad so much as its implementation. Work of any kind is noble, so taking a job that’s beneath your capabilities or previous workplace stature in order to survive may well be an appropriate course, especially for those in career fields or locations that are being particularly hard hit by the economy. The problem occurs when people focus so intently on their stop gap solution that they forget to prepare for the rest of their career. In effect, they fill the gap and then lock themselves into it.

What should they do?

Treat their employment not as an interlude in the lockup, but as a defibrillator for their career. In other words, they should employ the opportunity a standby job provides to shock their career back into a success sustaining momentum. Most standby jobs do not draw on the full range of our talent or time so we should put those two assets to work increasing the strength, reach and endurance of our career.

As I describe in my new book, Work Strong: Your Personal Career Fitness System, there are seven different activities that will rekindle your career. The more of them you undertake and the sooner you get started, the better prepared you will be to move beyond survival to success, whether today’s economic green shoots begin to flower this year or next or even the year after that.

These career fitness-inducing activities include:
• Taking the education or training programs required to move your occupational skill set beyond knowing the ropes to the leading edge of the state-of-the-art in your field;
• Extending the range of situations in which you can contribute those skills by adding ancillary capabilities such as competency in a second language or the knowledge of specialized software; and
• Reinvigorating your professional network of contacts beyond the casual encounters on Facebook or the impersonal linkages on LinkedIn to genuine relationships that can open doors and give your career a competitive advantage.

A jailhouse job will get you by; a defibrillator job will get your career going again. The choice is yours and only you can make it.

Thanks for reading,
Peter

Visit me on CareerFitness.com

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

Article courtesy of  Carl Chapman - Founder CEC Search, LLC
    © Copyright 2009 CEC Search, LLC | All rights reserved

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Job boards, recruiters, company websites, friends, family . . . who’s hiring? Well, if you do your homework and are persistent, there are plenty of companies hiring. You should be using all of your resources (basically, everything listed in my first sentence) and balancing your search every day. Today’s post is about leveraging your resources across as many types of resources as possible.

• Tinytechjobs.com – This job search board is focused on jobs in technology, not just any technology, tiny technology. So what is tiny technology? “Jobs using tiny technology, including careers in MEMS, nanotechnology, microtechnology, biotechnology, and information technology”. The top center of the main page lists current job openings. The left hand side of the page allows registration, search jobs, view all jobs plus more. There are tabs at the top of the page which provide additional links (like internships, blogs and resources). Clicking on “View all jobs” returned 63 job opportunities.
• Recruitingintelligence.com – The beginning sentence for this job search board is “Our mission is to provide our corporate clients with access to alumni of the most prestigious colleges and universities”. So that would leave me out, but maybe not you. In any event, it won’t stop you from searching their jobs. The main page is very simple, your only choice is to click on “current job listings”. This link takes you their “real” main page where it lists some of their job openings and has traditional tabs at the top (Browse jobs, post resume, etc.).
• DHR International - DHR is global executive recruiter. Top of the page has links to practices, consultants, solutions and more. This firm covers a broad range of job functions and industries, from technology to venture capital. Clicking on any of the job functions takes you to a page which summarizes that practice and a list of consultants whom you can contact. You can also click on the “Contact us” and select “Prospective Candidates”. You then have several choices/options for submitting your resume.
• Barnes & Noble – The bookseller’s career site gives a little background on the company. You can look for jobs in their stores or in their corporate offices. Towards the bottom of the page you can click on one of these two. Clicking on Stores returned 165 job opportunities.
• WSJ – Who’s Hiring – Let’s not forget the Wall Street Journal’s Who’s Hiring site. There are 12 companies highlighted who are currently hiring (not sure how often they update their site). Clicking on any company logo will return a brief summary of the company. Clicking on “search for jobs with this employer” takes you to the WSJ’s career search site and returns jobs for the company selected.

Good luck in your search.

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.

Article courtesy of  Carl Chapman - Founder CEC Search, LLC
    © Copyright 2009 CEC Search, LLC | All rights reserved

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