Posts Tagged job
Job Descriptions For Human Resources Job Positions
Posted by Loren Yadeski in Career on 05/17/2010
Knowing the job descriptions of positions is important in job applications. It is through job descriptions that you, as an applicant, know the things that are expected from you by the employers. It is also through the job description that the employers are able to relay the qualifications that they are looking for in a particular job position.
Job descriptions are typically included in job postings in the internet or in the newspaper or job posters looking for people to fill a vacant position. If the job position is not included in the job postings, calling the company to inquire would be the best thing to do. Searching online for job descriptions of a position similar to the position you are looking for can also be done although calling in should still be preferred.
One of the most sought after jobs today are job positions in the human resource department. There are three possible job positions available in companies today when it comes to the HR department. These three include the HR person, HR manager or simply a position looking for a career in the human resources.
A HR person is someone who is responsible in coordinating the activities of the various departments in the company and also coordinating people when it comes to special projects or events. Coordination also includes making sure that the events or activities are done with the best quality possible and that they stay strict on following a schedule set by the company as well. He, along with his officemates, is also responsible in supervising the other employees from the other departments if they are following the policies or procedures of the company. They are also responsible in evaluating each department and recommending changes about making the employees follow the company policies among other things.
On one hand, a HR manager’s primary responsibilities include interviewing and hiring employees in a company. He has one of the most important jobs since the people that he would hire will determine the productivity and performance of the company. Thus, he must be able to immediately assess the efficiency of an individual through interviews or a series of tests that he should administer. To be able to fulfill his duty well, he must learn how to strategize and analyze the kinds of people that the company needs.
Lastly, any career in the human resources department is all about being in between the company and the other employees and ensuring a harmonious relationship between the two to also achieve a working environment which is successful in all aspects. The primary responsibility of someone in HR includes recruitment and training of the employees for them to suit the company’s goals and objectives. As someone with a career in HR, he should have skills on relating with different types of people and also skills in resolving conflict since they should also ensure a harmonious working relationship among the employees. He should also be computer literate and must know a lot about informational systems.
Loren Yadeski, author of this article is also interested in job descriptions and recommends you to please check out best job descriptions if you liked reading this information.
Ways to Make Your Online Executive Brand Come Alive
Posted by Heather Eagar in Career on 05/13/2010
As you probably already know, creating an executive brand that flourishes online is just as important as developing your brand in the offline world. More and more recruiters are making their way to the Internet to find their next great talent – and of course, being that talent, you want to make sure that they find you in the easiest way possible. Here are some ways to get this done…
Get LinkedIn ASAP
Signing up for a LinkedIn account is a fantastic way to ensure that professionals you do and don’t know find you online. Creating a profile allows you to list your resume and other branding information, which then allows you to expand your networking horizon in a very short period of time.
What’s also great is that you can connect with old and new acquaintances, some of which may be able to give you a great lead on a new position. When employers are conducting their online checks on potential candidates, your LinkedIn page – which also incorporates the ability to allow your professional acquaintances to recommend you for future work – can give them immediate insight into who you are and why they should hire you.
Make a Twitter Resume
Since everyone who’s anyone is on Twitter, it’s a great idea to set up your own professional page on the site. But you may be wondering how you could accomplish anything on a site that only allows you to post 140 characters at a time.
Well, the answer is actually quite simple. Many professionals have found that even with the small amount of space to post, they can post a link to their LinkedIn page, Facebook profile or other professional site by creating a tiny url and the correct hashtags (ex. #executives) that link people to their profiles.
Start a Blog
Creating your own professional blog is taking a huge – and very beneficial – step toward nurturing your executive brand. A blog allows you to not only draw attention to yourself as an executive, but also share your expertise with the world. Most executives start a blog to share their personal and insights as a high-level professional in their industry. You could do the same to build your online executive brand.
Don’t Forget Your Google Profile
It’s also important at the executive level to create and develop a Google profile. The profile is similar to a Facebook profile in that it is not necessarily designated for a professional person. However, it’s a great resource for those who want to direct Google traffic to specific professional information.
The Google profile allows you to list your resume, links to your blogs and any other sites you want post. But even more important is that when someone searches your name in Google, the profile should be the first search item that the search engine pulls up. This helps to direct traffic to you in a professional manner rather than allowing recruiters or prospective employers to dig and run into the wrong information.
There’s no doubt that an online executive profile is very important in this day and age. So if you want to get noticed by companies, it’s a good idea to make your online executive brand come to life.
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Job Tips: Finding a Job When You’re Over 50 – Melding the Old With the New
Posted by Brenda Ballentine in Career on 05/12/2010
If you’re over 50 and currently looking for a job in this time of economic downturn, then you’ve probably already either experienced, or heard about, how difficult it is to even get an employer to look at your resume due to your age. It’s almost becoming a cliche – employers don’t seem to want to hire older workers.
This is unfortunate, because older workers have years of on-the-job experience and can really contribute a lot to a company that needs to improve a certain area of their operation. The fact is, there’s now a glut of people looking for a job over 50 years of age. So, if you’re in that category, you’re competing with thousands of others for slim pickings.
In the future, more jobs will be created as the U.S. slowly moves its way out of the current age of confusion and job cutting. It may not seem like it now, but there will come a day when all ages of workers will be welcomed back into the workforce. However, right now, the country is still reeling from the shock of economic meltdown and the immense shedding of jobs that will never return.
But, of course, you already know this. You’re sitting there wondering how are you going to pay your bills and feed yourself and your family in the here and now. Let me just say, that the last thing you should do is become despondent and give up. Instead, accept the fact that your job search is going to be a challenging one, and you’ll need to be aggressive in finding opportunities to earn a living.
What Can You Do for the Employer Now?
At this stage in life, you’ve maybe gone through multiple jobs and done a multitude of different job tasks. That’s to be expected, but that’s all water under the bridge. When you are working on your resume, don’t give employers a litany of things you’ve done over the past 20 years. Instead, keep things current by telling them actions you took in your last position that helped your previous employer increase efficiency, get more customers or make money.
Employers want to hire employees that can be effective for their bottom line. So, you need to know what your more recent experience can do for a future employer. If you’ve had some recent career training classes, this will also help in making you look like you’re someone who is employable in this day and age, as well as, bring real value to the table.
Are You on the Social Networking Bandwagon?
These days, you not only want to use traditional means to conduct a job search, but you should also be plugged into the current online networking community. There are several popular networking sites where 50 something folks are welcome to join. In fact, being included in an online social network means you’re more likely to find those hidden job openings that are just right for your particular skills.
You can also start your own social network group or create your own blog around a certain topic. This activity keeps you current and shows employers that you’re on the ball with the whole web 2.0 trend.
Get in Shape and Spruce Up Your Look
While there’s no way you’ll be able to hide your age, you can do things that will make you appear younger than you are. Start paying attention to your personal health and do things to get your energy level up. If you’re feeling slouchy and slumpy, this will come across to potential employers, and they won’t even be interested in talking to you.
To quickly get your energy going, start exercising regularly and improve your eating habits. Also, be sure to get plenty of rest. You want to still feel youthful and invigorated so that you can show employers that you may have more years, but you’re just as ready to get the job done as any 20-something.
Update your wardrobe so that you look fresh and current. Also, if you’ve been wearing the same hairstyle for ten or more years, it’s time to get something new. If you’re a guy who has a comb over, or is significantly balding, consider shaving your head clean for a more modern look.
Adjust Your Attitude
This isn’t the time to be a wallflower or bitter about your circumstances. Remember, you’re constantly putting out energy to the universe. If your energy is negative, you’ll get back negative things. If it’s positive, then the sky’s the limit. Yes, getting a job over 50 years of age isn’t easy, but if you stay positive and visualize yourself working at your new job, then one day very soon, you may be enjoying a new work experience, and a new chapter in your professional life.
Get a college degree from home and boost your chances of landing a great job! Earn an AA, BA, BS or Masters degree at your own pace. More information here: http://www.degrees-at-home.com
Job Tips: Finding the Right Job After 40 – How to Stay Current
Posted by Brenda Ballentine in Career on 05/12/2010
In today’s economic environment, it seems like every unemployed age group is struggling for a job. While younger people certainly have their legitimate gripes with their lack of experience, older workers over 40 are finding that their years of job experience can be a yellow flag to some employers.
All official job forecasts for the immediate future indicate that a 10% unemployment rate will be with us for quite a while. There are simply not as many jobs in the U.S. as there used to be. While we can argue about why that is, it doesn’t help the over 40 person who’s looking for employment right now.
The fact is, the country is in a time of great transition from the traditional manufacturing society, to one that is increasingly automated and “do-it-yourself” oriented. This means that there’s less jobs which require human minds and bodies to manually do things.
Many service jobs have been shipped overseas and will never return. If you’re over 40, you may have started your work career in either a service or manufacturing job which no longer exists, or is really hard to find these days.
In this current economic environment, large employers are shedding workers and small employers are struggling to find money to expand and hire more workers. This all makes finding a job for people over 40 even harder.
Yet, giving up should never be an option. If you’re savvy and persistent, you can greatly increase your odds of landing a good position. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
What Are You Really Interested In Doing?
This is a really good question to ask yourself at this stage in your working life. By this time, you’ve spent many years doing specific job tasks. Now’s the time to figure out if you want to do the same type of work, or, is there something else you’d really like to do, but just never went for it?
If you’re interested in going in a new direction, find out what kind of skills and training you’ll need to have for that type of job. Because you’re unemployed, you have an opportunity to do some job training. There are websites that offer free and paid training. Or, visit your local job training center.
Your willingness to learn new things and to get training shows that you can easily adopt to a new type of position.
Get into Networking 2.0
If you’re not already on a social networking site, go ahead and open up an account and create your own space. Many positions these days aren’t found by traditional means, but by meeting people through social networking. If you’re clueless about how to sign up with one, there are several good books and websites that can walk you through the process.
This is no longer optional. Having a social networking page or a blog of your own, shows a potential employer that you’re keeping up to date with the latest technological trends. Plus, it’s a great way to meet people like yourself who are going through this tough unemployment phase.
Revitalize Your Look
Put on your interview clothes and take a look in the mirror and really scrutinize yourself. This is what a potential employer will see when you walk in the door looking to be hired.
You’re already at a disadvantage because you’re not an eager 20-something. So, what can you do to instantly convey that you’re just as eager to get to work as your younger counterpart?
A quick way is to overhaul your professional look. And, let me just say right now that people DO judge a book by it’s cover – even if we learn we’re not supposed to do that. An employer may take one look at you and see an “older” person, therefore triggering an instant bias.
Giving yourself a mini makeover will make you feel good, while appearing more youthful at the same time. So, if you’ve been wearing the same old, style of haircut forever, go to the salon and get something that looks fabulous on you. If you’ve got a little gray, consider getting your hair color treated. Remember, in this tough environment you need every little advantage you can get.
Buy a new interview outfit and make sure it’s tailored to fit properly. Get your teeth whitened and learn to walk with your shoulders up straight. Practice smiling in the mirror and greeting your interviewer. First impressions are everything.
These are small changes that can make a big difference in how you’re perceived before you even say one word.
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Sample Interview Questions and Answers: How to Prepare For These Tough Questions
Posted by Brenda Ballentine in Career on 05/12/2010
It’s no secret that it’s a buyer’s market out there right now for employers. They’ve got more applications than they know what to do with. You may be competing with dozens of applicants for every job opening. If you are lucky enough to be granted an interview, you better be prepared to answer some tough questions.
The more responsibility a specific job has, the more difficult the questions will be. Any job that involves supervising or managing people, or parts of an organization, will be highly competitive. You’ll need to be able to think on your feet at the interview. This may be your only shot at impressing the employer.
One of the big fears of going into a job interview is being asked a tough question and having no response except a blank look on your face. This would be the worst case scenario, of course, but it plays out in many people’s heads. Unfortunately, this scenario could become a reality unless you prepare ahead of time for a challenging interview.
Here’s an example of some tough sample job interview questions:
Tell me what you enjoyed about your last job? What you didn’t like?
The first part of this question is easy. Most people can find one or more things they liked about a job, even if they thought the job sucked. The second part is tricky. You know you shouldn’t bad mouth your former employer, but you still need to think of something to say.
Pick one thing that you didn’t like about your last job and explain that it bothered you because you felt the company could do better in this area. Give a suggestion of what you would improve. Stay away from negative comments about former coworkers or the company.
Why did you leave your last job?
Stay away from money reasons or negative issues with former coworkers. Instead, explain that you left to find opportunities to grow, explore new interests, etc.
Give an example of how you made an impact at your last job?
If you’ve never thought much about this, then now’s the time. Every person’s job at a company has a direct or indirect impact on the people around them, the organization and those that come into contact with the company. Find an example of something you did at your job that had a positive impact on either your coworkers, the company or the company’s customers.
Describe your biggest challenge and how you handled it?
You must take time to think about this one. There’s no way you will come up with a good answer on the fly. Think of a person, place or thing that made it difficult for you to do your job. How did you work around this obstacle and come out a winner?
Describe your decision making process.
You want to appear strong on this one. So, you need to figure out if you make decisions quick and confidently, or like to weigh the pros and cons of an idea first before coming to the best solution for the situation.
There’s no right or wrong to this question, the employer is trying to find out if you are capable of taking decisive action when needed. Some people have difficulty making up their minds. These are not the people they’re looking to hire.
How would you describe your management style?
Here’s where you tell them what type of manager you think you are. Are you very hands on or do you like to give people more independence and act in a supporting role?
Are you a people person?
Are you strict, but fair?
Know what your style is and be very honest with the employer about this.
What is your greatest weakness?
Warning: this is a question that can stop you cold in an interview. We’re so used to talking about our strengths in an interview situation that often we don’t have a clue what to say to someone asking us to describe a weakness.
However, you cannot stay silent. If you do, you may lose your chance at the position. The employer isn’t that interested in hearing about your weakness as they are in seeing how you handle the question. The ironic thing is that if you stare at them blankly on this one, you’ll end up looking weak – even if you were great a moment before.
Say something like you’re too chatty or overconfident or maybe a tad bit too focused on little details, etc. Pick a lightweight weakness and turn it into a positive. You talk a lot because you’re a people person. You’re overconfident at times, but careful not to step on anyone’s toes. You’re picky about details because you care about the quality of your work. Keep a smile on your face while answering.
What assets and talents do you feel you can contribute to our company?
Here is where you should shine. Give them action steps you will take to be a top performer in their organization. Don’t say that you “feel” you would do this or that. Tell them exactly what you WILL do. Act like you’re already one of the team and all they need to do let you loose and you will help their company soar to new heights.
It will help if you’ve already done some research on their company and have an idea of what would benefit them.
Get a college degree from home and boost your chances of landing a great job! Earn an AA, BA, BS or Masters degree at your own pace. More information here:
http://www.degrees-at-home.com
What to Look For in a Job Description
Posted by Loren Yadeski in Career on 05/09/2010
When you apply for a job, one of the first things you would want to know about is the job description. This is a document that explains what the job is all about. Through it, you should be able to form a picture in your mind what you have to do, what the limits are, what the bosses expect from you, what your output will be, or how you will have to spend your working hours within the company. You would not want to work in a company which doesn’t provide you with tools to work with, or information on how to accomplish your tasks.
On your end, you would have already prepared your resume even before you applied for a job to a particular company. You know you would have to stand out among other applicants for the same job. You consider yourself worthy and qualified for the work you seek. But is the organization or company worth getting into? You would need to do some research too, in order to become familiar with the company’s operations and products or services. But the bottom line is that you will have to depend on your position’s job description to see whether you will fit within the organization or not. Your decision to go ahead with your application will have to depend in part on the functions you will assume as delineated in the job description. Your career path within that company will be guided and influenced by the terms stated in the job description so you should be careful with your first step.
The job description for your particular position should include under what department you will be assigned and to whom you would be reporting to, what your overall responsibilities will be and in what key areas of the operations you will be particularly responsible for. You should pay special attention to the term of employment since this will play an important part in the future whether you would want to continue or not with the company.
In order for you to perform as expected, you have to make sure that the job description they provide you states the specific tasks you need to do. If they are simply looking for computer literate staff, be sure to ask if they are really looking for someone who is proficient in working with specific software programs. If the job description says “good communication skills”, ask if they want somebody who is actually able to communicate technical information to somebody how has no technical knowledge. Knowing what the particular demands and requirements are will ensure that you do the tasks as the bosses expected and you can contribute more to the overall productivity of the organization.
Most companies know that a well-written job description will help them get the best people for their job opening so they will put their best efforts in providing one that will convey to the job applicant a good “snapshot” of what the job requires through a good job description. It is up to you to see through embellishments, exaggerations and half-truths that some organizations may include in their job description just to lure qualified applicants.
Loren Yadeski, author of this article is also interested in job descriptions and recommends you to please check out best job descriptions if you liked reading this information.
Developing Effective Job Description
Posted by Loren Yadeski in Jobs on 05/08/2010
Hiring the best people for a particular job starts with a well-written job description. It is a crucial component in the hiring process. You wouldn’t want your employees to believe that the job you are offering is worth applying for and then when they are hired, they will find out that the job they have is totally different from what you led them to believe. A job description should be able to present to the prospective employees a clear picture of the work they will be doing. It should contain information about what skills and knowledge are required, and the working conditions, equipment and tools they will be handling. If they don’t get this picture, they will become disappointed and dissatisfied. Such employees can be difficult to motivate and keep in the long run, even if they turn out to be the best people for the job. For this reason, it is important that you are able to develop a particular job description so that it clearly reflects the dynamic nature of the job. It is very common for managers to fail in understanding that the roles of their employees have a tendency to change and evolve in accordance with their talents and skills they posses.
One weakness of traditional job descriptions is that they become static documents as soon as they are put into writing. In contrast, today’s working environment is quite dynamic, fast-paced and usually driven by what the customers are demanding, which means a constantly changing job. With this in mind, it is important to complement your job description with opportunities for development and dynamic goal-setting, preferable on a regular monthly basis. This requires that you meet with your employees so you can establish the next objectives with specific and measurable results.
An effective job description allows for flexibility. This means employees, in spite of what is written as limits and boundaries of their duties as stated in the job description are still able to “work and think outside of the box.” Employees should be made to feel comfortable about helping others accomplish their tasks and make decisions on their own in order to help their clients. Your employees must not fall into thinking that because a particular task is not within the scope of work stated in their job description, they can evade responsibility by saying “That’s not my job.” You don’t want employees who shrink from expanding their work responsibilities. You want employees who are open to cross-training so they can widen their knowledge and capabilities. The most effective job descriptions are not simply written to please readers but are documents that evolve with time and necessities, as the job itself also evolves and develops demands for new skill sets from employees.
A job description should be able to help employees determine how they are to spend their time at work. It is an actual tool that can help you the business owner to objectively measure and evaluate the productivity of your employees, especially if you want to use it as a determining factor in giving bonus and salary increases.
Loren Yadeski, author of this article is also interested in job descriptions and recommends you to please check out best job descriptions if you liked reading this information.
Job Description For a Financial Manager Position
Posted by Loren Yadeski in Career on 05/07/2010
Knowing the job description for any job position that you are applying for is essential in any job hunting venture. Job descriptions are typically posted in the job posting that you saw or received. Typically, these job descriptions should include the responsibilities that the position have and the qualifications that it entails. For this article, the responsibilities and the qualifications for a position as a financial manager is briefly discussed.
Financial managers, as the name suggests are primarily responsible in coordinating and directing the financial activities of the workers in a company department, branch or office. Financial managers are usually needed in branches of banks, insurance or credit department and brokerage firms. There are three primary objectives that a financial manager should always have in mind and these are: (1) to be able to direct the financial transactions of employees and make sure that they are well coordinated; (2) to reject or approve credit lines with regards to various transactions such as real estate or commercial and (3) credit lines with regards to loans for personal use.
Apart from the mentioned primary responsibilities, having an up-to-date record of the financial transactions of the company is also a part of his responsibilities. He must analyze this information to be able to assess the current state of the company and make projections of where the company will and should stand in the future. Through these projections, he should be able to decide on who among the clients should be approved or declined of a loan. He must also ensure that the records and financial documents that he possesses are carefully kept and that a proper procedure should always be followed in obtaining such documents. Apart from analyzing the said information, he must be able to relate all these information to the company, and give advice with regards to company decisions to ensure a raise of profit. Evaluating the results based on the investments or risks that the company undertakes is also a part of a financial manager’s job. There are several duties that a financial manager must be able to do depending on the type of office or department where he is needed. Generally however, his job has to do with loans, insurance, banks and managing people.
Thus, some of the essential qualifications that he must possess include expertise in accounting and economics, experience in banking and making financial reports and analysis of data. He should also have knowledge on management and business since his job entails planning for the future and coordinating people. Leadership and techniques on decision making are also very essential qualities that he must possess. Apart from those mentioned, having mathematics skill such as arithmetic and accounting would definitely make the task at hand easier. Good writing skills should also be evident and lastly, he should be able to know and fully understand the laws regarding business, loans and legal codes or ethics. Primary technicalities for the qualification should include being an accounting or business administration graduate with years of experience preferred.
Loren Yadeski, author of this article is also interested in job descriptions and recommends you to please check out best job descriptions if you liked reading this information.
How to Create Your Own Job Position Without Being an Entrepreneur
Posted by Heather Eagar in Career on 05/04/2010
Are you looking for the next great position, but can’t seem to find a job that matches your qualifications – or what you’re looking for in a position? This can feel like a tough spot. However, it’s not the end of the world. In fact, it could be a great way to reinvent your career.
How can exactly can you play your cards right, and what cards do you have to play? Well, your cards are your skills, accomplishments and inherent talents and playing them right would be creating your own position with them. Believe it or not, there are ways to create a position without having to become an entrepreneur. Let’s take a look at what it takes to create the position of your dreams.
Locate Some Companies You’d Like to Help
If you know that you bring certain skills to the table then you need to find some companies that you think you can help. This may take a bit of searching on your part because you not only want to find a company that is lacking the experience in the industry you’re talented in, but also one that could somewhat offers the organizational environment that you feel you mesh with and can grow in.
You can find out whether a company’s work environment is right for you by looking online at company documents like bios, mission statements, press releases, and more. More importantly, you’ll be able to find out how you can help them.
Make Your Pitch
Once you’ve narrowed down a few companies that you’d like to work with, it’s good to create a pitch letter – but not a blanket pitch – an individual letter that will be sent to each company explain exactly what you can do for them. So if you notice that the company seems to be missing a strong PR presence, you may want to offer to do a specific campaign for them.
Or if you’re a better marketer, you may suggest ways that you could get the company into trade shows and other events to spread the name in a positive way. You want the company to see how much they could benefit from added assistance, but not just anyone’s assistance, your assistance.
Set Meetings to Push Your Agenda Further
When you’re offering your time and services, you want to also let it be known that you’re available for an in-person meeting and then list the days and times that you’re available – as well as give your contact information. When meeting in-person with prospective hiring managers, be prepared to prove your worth–bring visual aids that can show how valuable you’d be to their company.
Depending on the company (and its budget, needs, etc) you might be offered a new or a contracted position. At that point, it is up to you to decide whether you accept.
When contacting companies, it’s important to remember that persistence is the key. Some companies will not be interested in your services, but don’t let this deter you. In time, you will be able to secure the position of your dreams.
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