Posts Tagged job
Conducting a Job Search in Secret
At some point in your professional life you may find that you are not quite where you want to be and you may therefore decide that you need to conduct a job search in order to find a better opportunity for yourself. The problem is that you don’t want anyone to find out about your job search for fear that you may lose the position that you currently hold. Really then you find yourself in the position of finding a new job but doing so in secret.
This may sound like it is impossible to accomplish, but if you go about just the right way it can be done. No you can’t go about looking for a new job in the traditional sense such as posting your resume online for fear that your employer might see it o look through the classifieds on your lunch break, but there a number of strategies that you can implement that should keep your name out of the boss’ office such as:
-Use Personal Contacts: Many professional jobs are found through personal contacts lending credit to the term, ‘It’s all about who you know.’ If you are seeking a new job and want to keep it on the down low then dig deep into your network. You will of course need to be sure that who you are contacting is not going to let your current employer know that you are seeking employment elsewhere and if you aren’t sure if they will or not, then use someone else.
-Work with Recruiters: Working with job recruiters can take a lot of hassle and worry out of your secret job search. Because a recruiter represents certain companies they will have insights on positions that may fit your skills perfectly. Additionally you can supply the recruiter with all of your information instead of posting it online for the world, and perhaps your boss, to see. Recruiters can also do much of the leg work for you as far as finding positions and setting up interviews goes, which is good because if you are seeking a job in secret you can’t be doing this yourself while you are at work. Just be sure that the recruiter you are working with doesn’t represent the company you are trying to leave.
-Post an Ad: Instead of posting your resume with your name smattered all over it, try posting an ad instead. This may not garish as many interviews as some processes, but it does help to get the word out covertly that you are looking for a job and it lets any potential employers know exactly what you are looking for. To start you can place a ‘position wanted’ ad in your local newspaper but you shouldn’t stop there. Find a trade magazine or two within your industry and post the same ad there for increased exposure. Again, be sure that any publications that you post ads in are not in your current place of business.
While finding a job without it being a secret is hard enough, doing it stealth like is even harder. However, with a little finesses and some determination you can conduct a job search in secret and still be successful doing so.
Jason Kay is a professional resume writer and regular contributor to JobGoRound.com, which provides job search tips, interview advice, and resume service reviews.
Improving a Job Search by Customizing a Resume to a Profession
Posted by Heather Eagar in Career on 03/04/2010
You may think of a resume as a minor introductory document that shows an employer who you are and why you’re the right applicant for a certain job. However, you’ll want to put considerable time and energy into that document, because a resume can make or break your chances of getting a certain job.
Job seekers in various professions have found this out when using standard resume templates and basic information. Whether you’re trying to prepare yourself for a job in the health or IT industry, an executive job, or a goverment position, here’s a few tips that can help to improve your resume and your chances of getting hired.
Health Care
Anyone working in the health industry knows just how rewarding it is. Whether you’re a medical assistant, registered nurse, nurse practitioner, clinic manager, technologist, physical therapist or physician, you do plenty on your job every day. This should definitely not be taken for granted when writing your resume.
Your job is to show the scope of experience you’ve gained by not selling yourself short when describing previous positions. If you’ve been a charge nurse in various units, it’s important to list those units and showcase the different duties you held. Also, don’t be afraid to use terminology that showcases your expertise, as long as it’s not too abstract for the hiring manager who doesn’t speak “health-ese.”
IT
One standout quality of the information technology industry is the depth of which employees know the latest technology. This is why it’s always important to showcase what you know when writing an IT resume. In addition to proclaiming your levels of proficiency in various programming languages, applications, software and hardware, it’s important to list any certifications you’ve received – these are almost as good as degrees.
Federal / Military
If you’re writing a federal or military resume, details are the most important features to take into consideration. This means, you are supposed to read the job posting thoroughly and list what experience and qualifications you have that exactly match what the position is looking for. Anything that shows that you’re not exactly qualified for the position you’re applying for could result in your resume being discarded.
Another tip to remember with the federal or military resume is that you’ll want to include a KSA (Knowledge, Skills and Abilities), which is a series of statements written in a narrative format. This is an essential part of a federal resume. On some part of the resume or application, be sure to include your title, grade, and announcement number.
Executive
When applying for an executive-level position, you want to keep in mind that the expectations for candidates are extremely high. Executives should be able to effectively show their ability to lead. Having a strong professional brand both on the Internet and non-virtual world are also important. Overall, you want the company to know that you will be a great ROI (return on investment), which can be communicated through a results-driven, accomplishment-heavy resume with tons of numbers (money made, employees managed, etc.).
Regardless of the industry that you’re trying to enter, there’s certainly a way to make your resume stand out and seem well-suited for a given position. So before getting started on yours, see if any of the above tips apply to you then use them to create a resume employers can’t resist.
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Karren Brady Brings a New Style to the Apprentice
Times are changing on the hit BBC show The Apprentice. Not only has Lord Alan Sugar taken on a government role as the new Enterprise Tsar to the Prime Minister, but Margaret Mountford has resigned. She will be replaced by the “First Lady of Football” and former Birmingham City managing director, Karren Brady.
Who is Karren Brady and what makes her such a corporate success? Chantel du Plooy takes a look at Karren’s career and the role she is expected to play on The Apprentice Series 6.
The new Margaret
With Lord Sugar appointed as a Labour peer, the BBC Trust has called for a rescheduling of the programme. It wouldn’t be appropriate for The Apprentice to give additional media coverage to the Labour party when a general election is due. As a result, viewers will have to wait until July or August for the show to air.
Sadly the audience will also need to make peace with the absence of Margaret Mountford, who alongside Nick Hewer advised Lord Sugar since the show started five years ago.
The 56-year-old corporate lawyer was a natural. She played her role as Lord Sugar’s “eyes and ears” flawlessly, knowing just when to lift a brow, roll her eyes or speak.
In the Guardian, Kira Cochrane wrote that Margaret “combines a steely core with acute moral and business judgment.”
Before and during her time on The Apprentice, Margaret didn’t care for fame and that is what made her such a keeper. She left the show after finishing the fifth series to focus on her PhD studies in papyrology, leaving an extremely important role vacant.
Before news broke that Karren Brady would be her successor, many experts set their own characteristics for the “new Margaret”.
Tim Teeman, arts and entertainment editor of the Times, said that The Apprentice could risk losing its mystique if they opted to appoint someone glamorous to replace Margaret.
Daily Telegraph television critic Mary Evans added: “It’s quintessentially British to have the slightly older woman. We don’t do glamour in Britain; we do sensible, regal and sound. We have the candidates for eye-candy and it’s important that they are looking across the boardroom at the craggiest faces.”
Ironically enough, apart from the very attractive 40-year-old Karren Brady, the other candidates vying for the position were equally enchanting. These included 39-year-old the Ultimo Gel bra founder, Michelle Mone and 37-year-old entrepreneur, Martha Lane Fox.
“As tough as they come”
Karren Brady, the current vice-chairman of West Ham United, might already be familiar to The Apprentice fans after she featured in a series of one-off appearances. She also led a team on Comic Relief does The Apprentice and rose over £750,000.
However, Karren’s media career began at the age of 18 when she started working at advertising company Saatchi & Saatchi. She moved on to become an Account Executive at London Broadcasting Company (LBC) where her paths crossed with publisher David Sullivan.
Sullivan made her a director at his company when she was only 20-years-old. Three years later, she took over the management of Birmingham City Football Club. Although Karren didn’t know much about the sport, she directed the company back into profit. She became the youngest Managing Director of a PLC in the UK and improved the average gate of the Club from 6,000 to 30,000.
When she left Birmingham City after sixteen years, many were disappointed. Dough Ellis, former chairman of rivals Aston Villa told the Birmingham Post: “I’ve a great deal of respect for her business acumen and what she has done for the football club. I used to sit next to her in FA meetings and got to know her well.
“She’s as tough as they come and it’s a huge loss for Birmingham City Football Club. She’ll be missed enormously.”
Unlike Margaret, Karren enjoyed a lot of media attention during her career. She hosted her own TV show, Brady Bunch, presented Central Weekend Live and wrote a string of columns for UK newspapers.
She was also awarded Cosmopolitan magazine’s Woman of the Year in 2006, named Business Woman of the Year in 2007 and won the NatWest Every Woman Award in 2008. In between all her professional duties, she is also a wife and mother of two.
While Karren Brady doesn’t have Margaret’s mystique or matriarchal image, she does bring a wealth of experience and business smarts to the table, along with lashings of energy, wit and style.
Chantel is a regular contributor of career advice and jobs news for leading UK Job Board http://www.careersandjobsuk.com Link text
Things to Think About When Filling Out a Job Application
Posted by Nick Woods in Career on 02/26/2010
Applying for a brand new job has never seemed to be a very relaxed process. Perhaps it is just the continuous turning down of job applications that makes it seem so challenging, I truly do not know. One point I know I’m absolutely convinced on is that a job application should be filled in carefully in order for ones probability of getting a interview and job to strengthen.
Anyway, so many individuals seem to find this very complicated, so I what I’ve done is outlined a number of beneficial tips on how to fill out a job application offline. Before we move any further with any job application you need to make certain you dig up all the information considered necessary to fill it out appropriately. Such as old resumes and earnings slip data from your prior employers is crucial for this stage of a job application. Without this information you will really struggle to fill it out the instant you get to a work place that asks you to conclude the form on the spot.
Write this valuable information and data down on a piece of paper or add it to note pad on your computer and print it off. Other vital documentation and information are obtainable from the social security department. You should as well continually make certain you take your social security Card wherever you go as well as a valid driver’s license. Both of these are mandatory for you to complete an application form for any listed jobs.
The next part of the application process is to truly fill in your application. Since these forms can be filled in on location it is crucial to mention that whatever is going to land you that job interview is all dependent on that piece of paper. Therefore when filling out the application it is foremost that you be as smart and clean as possible. Cancelling out unnecessarily will outcome in you being turned down on behalf of an interview since that communicates to the employer that you are careless and dirty.
Legibility is crucial as well. Carefully write everything in the spaces on the application in such a way that anyone who lays their hands on it will be able to read whatever is written there. Correctness and preciseness are again things you have got to use since any mistakes might merely lead to you not getting a response for your job application.
After you have finished the application you must double check to make certain that all entered information is correct to the last letter and number. Go through it more than merely once to make certain you do not over look specific errors that are not easily detectable at first read. The last part of the process includes you actually being smart while collecting and submitting the application. You ought to also make certain that you are polite and presentable in your conduct of speech. Such things stand out and a company will not hesitate to jot down that on the application as soon as you leave.
There are many options out there when you start looking for a job everything from Fast Food Jobs to Customer Service Jobs but you must learn how to fill out a job application to help increase your odds of getting the job.
Writing A Problem-Solving Resume That Can Get You A Job
Posted by Heather Eagar in Career on 02/25/2010
Sometimes it feels that your resume is supposed to introduce you to a company that will solve all of your problems. When you’re hired, you will be able to pay your bills, work in an environment you enjoy and take another step in the right direction toward creating the career of your dreams.
Yes, it’s true that if you’re hired with a company, it could very well solve your problems. However, before all of that happens, you need to prove that you can solve the company’s problems. It’s your job to convince the employer that when you’re hired, you can fill any void that needs filling. How can you do that? By writing a real problem-solving resume.
Conduct Your Research
Creating a problem-solving resume requires conducting a good amount of research on the company you’re applying with. Think about it; in order to prove that you’re the person who can come in and solve the company’s problems, you need to find out what the problems are.
There are a few ways to figure out this key bit of information. First, you can look at the job posting that the company creating to determine exactly what is needed for the position. Obviously one problem is that the company is missing a worker and needs to fill this spot with someone who can accomplish XYZ goals, so you want make sure you can fulfill those goals.
It can also be helpful to read the company’s website and look for a mission statement. This gives you an idea of the organizational atmosphere so that you can determine how you fit into it. Also, look at press releases that the company has issued; they’re often on the same website, and can give a lot of insight into company goals and past history.
Add Skills-Specific Summary
After you’ve determined just what the company needs, it’s time to show that you can be a problem-solving employee. One good way to accomplish this goal is by creating a skills-specific summary and placing it at the top of your resume, usually underneath your objective.
This type of summary allows you to show off your best skills. However, it’s important to not just throw anything in this section. Instead, you want to use the information that you’ve researched to show that your skills and accomplishments are already so closely matched to what the company needs that they truly would be foolish to hire someone else.
The summary that you write could conceivably be as effective as a short three sentence or less paragraph, or several bullet points. However you feel you can best get the point across that you can come in and solve problems for the company is the best way.
It’s always important to remember that applying a new position is all about letting the company know what you can do for it. You’ll get something out of it, too, of course, but the best strategy for getting hired is a problem-solving resume that shortens your job hunt and gets you into a great new position as fast as possible.
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Procrastination: A “sure Ticket For Failure”
During the recession, employers had to cut costs in any way, shape or form to keep afloat. As a result many employees were made redundant and their tasks were added to other workers’ trays. Those of us lucky enough to have a job in 2010 will therefore need to work much harder to manage our workloads and meet deadlines. It is not the time to procrastinate or postpone any project, but what if you can’t help it?
Chantel du Plooy takes a look at what procrastination is, how it affects your success and what you can do to put a stop to it.
Procrastination and the reasons behind it
Procrastination is more than just postponing a task until tomorrow. It is delaying tasks regularly.
It could be a new project or even an old one, but somehow you just can’t seem to sit down and finish it. Why is that?
In Procrastination: Why You Do It, What To Do about It Now, Jane B. Burka and Lenora M. Yuen writes that the psychological causes of postponing tasks generally include anxiety, low self-esteem and a self-defeating mentality.
People sometimes put off starting a new project because it seems too daunting and they are insecure about where to begin. Others avoid the task because they fear they might fail and would therefore rather not try at all. Some even thrive on the last-minute rush, which they believe motivates and inspires them.
Most people prioritise their workload first and then start working. Procrastinators are also busy. They are chatting to colleagues, nipping out for a quick smoke or running an errand. However, the most common vacuum of a procrastinator’s time is the internet.
According to BBC News, British workers spend an estimated 233 million work hours a month surfing social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace. Wasting time on the internet is also the easiest to get away with because it appears as if a person is working. Ironically enough, procrastinators might even consider what they are doing to be work. Checking emails, sorting files and research are all part of a to-do list but they also keep you from starting or finishing more important tasks.
In the world of a procrastinator, there is no time for double-checking or putting in extra effort on projects. It is all about last-minute running around and delivering rushed results. Regrettably, most procrastinators actually believe that this slap-dash approach works for them.
How it affects success
Procrastination is often confused with laziness, a loss of ambition or a lack of willpower, but it is actually more severe than that. Chronic procrastination could even be a sign of an underlying psychological disorder.
A lifestyle based on constant rescheduling isn’t pleasant either. According to the University of Cambridge Counselling Service, procrastinators are frequently overwhelmed by feelings of guilt, inadequacy, self-disgust, stress and depression.
Sarah (45) a sales manager from London can immediately spot procrastinators in her team.
“In sales, putting off tasks could lead to a lost deal and that is why I struggle to rely on someone who delays following-up on clients,” she says. “To me, procrastination is damaging to a person’s career and a sure ticket for failure.”
How to overcome procrastination
Nick (28) a marketing consultant from Manchester, believes it is possible to kick your postponing habits.
“I use to be the king of delaying stuff,” he admits. “I always felt the urge to push back certain tasks I don’t like or projects that seemed too large.”
Now, Nick forces himself to complete the jobs he doesn’t enjoy first and breaks it up in manageable sections.
If you struggle with procrastination like Nick, here are five tips to helping you overcome it:
1. Break it up: Instead of seeing the project as one big task, break it up into manageable portions.
2. Identify your time vacuum: Find out what you tend to do instead of working. If it is checking emails or surfing the internet, log-off during the period you spend on a project and set time aside to respond to all your emails at once.
3. Invest in the right equipment: Make sure you have enough user-friendly stationery like a proper diary, pens, pencils and note pads etc.
4. Prioritise your time and tasks: Although prioritising is a procrastinator’s nightmare it is a lack of structure that is allowing you to think you have all the time in the world.
5. Reward yourself: Competing with your first nature is hard work, treat yourself to something enjoyable to help motivate you to complete a task at hand.
In a year where employers will expect more from you, rise to the occasion. If you are able to impress your bosses at a time when they need you most, you can be sure to benefit from it later.
Chantel is a regular contributor of career advice and jobs news for leading UK Job Board http://www.careersandjobsuk.com Link text
Where Are the Jobs?
Posted by Tony Phillips in Jobs on 02/24/2010
I recently listened to a CNN program called “Your Money” hosted by Ali Velshi. Discussions in the first part of the program dealt with the US debt, the banks bail-out when the economy was “teetering on the brink of disaster” – to use an oft-repeated phrase – and how much of a role the government can play in the creation of jobs that will get the economy back to performing at an acceptable level. As my attention drifted from the program a thought occurred to me that there are some job types are lost forever and people who did those jobs must look elsewhere (maybe in a totally different area) for employment.
As we become more technology-driven and automated as a society more “manned” jobs will be lost to automation and therefore affect the available “jobs”, which obviously has a direct effect on the unemployment rate and ultimately, the economy. Jobs such as “Telephone Operators”, “Pay Phone Meter Attendants”, “Newspaper Delivery Route men/women”, “Newspaper Print Press Operators”, among several other well-paying jobs (let’s not forget postal workers who are squeezed by online and offline competition) become less available as automation and technology become more sophisticated. It seems a natural gain/loss ratio, as unfortunate for some as it may be.
In my article ‘Retraining’ I suggest that “Some among those unemployed must retrain for a new career”, and that has certainly become a reality for many among the 9.7 percent of the US work force, but what I could not point out at the writing of that article is the specific areas in possible emerging “jobs” market a person should look for employment, simply because that is not an easy thing to do under present conditions, and I was not prepared then to make any attempt at directing individuals to where they might find well-paying jobs. Today is a little different because when I said earlier that it occurred to me that some job types are lost forever, that thought was followed by a question.
If certain job types are lost forever to more sophisticated technology and automation, where are jobs being created? One possible answer might be that jobs are being created in technology and to a lesser extent, in automation (someone to safeguard and maintain the machines), but that would be a small percentage of the jobs that were lost. Another place to look would be online opportunities; but for those job types the use of a computer is almost certainly required, however it seem to make sense that if technology took your job, find a way to get one back from technology although it may be a different kind, so if you don’t own a computer you may want to go shopping for one. A third place to look is the government.
There are those who assert that the government cannot create jobs, but if this debate is kept in proper perspective by eliminating the politics that is so often attached to a “jobs” discussion, it becomes clear that the government can create jobs and has done so repeatedly throughout the history of our nation; but that’s a conversation for another time. What is important right now is finding a job suitable enough to provide for your family’s needs, and there is one area in the government that will soon be actively hiring people to fill various positions. Although these jobs may be temporary, being hired for one could create the potential for a permanent position elsewhere; and it certainly fills the income void that presently exist in many households.
Anyone seeking an opportunity in the technology field or for an online marketing opportunity will find that as long as the proper training is obtained these jobs will provide a suitable income; so those who are not successful in getting hired by the government must therefore focus on obtaining the training and education necessary to secure meaningful employment that provides income sufficient enough to support their families and/or lifestyles. Let’s face it! Even if you were to secure employment by paying a fee to an employment agency, chances are that some training will be required, so get rehired or get retrained! There aren’t many choices. Good luck!
Hi, Tony Javeton Phillips here with my most recent article pertaining to the unemployment situation and possible options available to job seekers. This article suggests temporary positions that may be available with a governmental organization, online opportunities and the technology field. More available at Web Connections or my MINt website Take a look!
Some Considerations About Temporary Agencies in Canada
Posted by Adriana Noton in Jobs on 02/23/2010
With our recent economic problems, people are finding themselves out of work. Jobs which many thought would be secure for life are vanishing, and families are facing financial hardship. In these difficult times, temporary agencies can offer at least some short-term income.
Job recruitment is such a difficult thing because no one knows exactly what the correct number of employees to be hired should be. Business is very volatile. A company may be very busy in a given month, only to suffer a slowdown the next month. So it follows that if profits do not keep pace, then eventually some workers will have to be let go.
It could also be that a company will suddenly experience an increased demand where their customers want more of their product or service. In this situation, the employer will want to hire some more employees to meet this demand. But they will not want to do so permanently, because this might be a temporary situation. The demand might just as suddenly taper off, so that the company cannot afford to pay so many employees. In this case, it is preferable to hire the workers on the understanding that it is for a fixed time only. That way, these people will not get their hopes up thinking that they will be working for a long time, and they can make arrangements to find another job once their contracts expire.
In Canada, many of the new jobs that are being added to the economy are short-term ones and not permanent. Many are critical of this, saying that permanent jobs are better than temp jobs. This might be true to some extent, but at least there are jobs for people to work, even if it is for a limited time. In the U. S., even temporary jobs are hard to come by, causing the economy to shrink. So it can be seen that a temporary agency places an important role in alleviating economic hardship.
The way that an agency works is that it is given a contract by an employer to hire temporary workers for them. They will screen a number of applicants, and match their skills and qualifications with what companies are looking for. The agency might be responsible for making the hiring decision, or they might only vet the applicants and let the employer make the decision themselves. The agency charges a commission which is paid from the employee’s salary.
With the recent troubles in the economy, there have been many layoffs. The manufacturing sector in particular has been hit hard. Consequently, people who worked a job for decades were suddenly without a job. Without any other skills, these people would have had difficulty finding some other kind of work. Agencies were there to give them something at least temporarily. For many, these temporary jobs even became permanent.
There are various sizes of temporary agencies. Smaller agencies might charge less commissions, however they might also have less employers to choose from, and the salaries they offer might be less. But they also might have some good jobs to offer, so it does not hurt to try them. It is important, however, to make sure that the agency is reputable. If they have a good reputation and don’t have complaints against them, they should be worth checking out.
Temporary agencies may only offer short term jobs, but these jobs can be a great boon for many who would have no other jobs without them.
A temp agency is useful for employing varied and experienced workers in different fields. Some of the best HR consulting services can be found by searching in these efficient and qualified temporary agencies.
Travel Nursing Jobs Can Change the Direction of Your Life
Posted by Adriana Noton in Jobs on 02/23/2010
At times, we are all faced with a career change. In some cases the change comes when we realize we are at a dead end in our career. Other times we feel like we just need a change. Sometimes change comes when we are laid off from a job. When the time comes to make a change, you have the opportunity to go in a new and exciting direction. Travel nursing jobs could lead you in the direction you are looking for.
When other careers are suffering in a bad economy, or in times of high unemployment, nursing jobs are almost always still easy to find. For many years nurses have been in short supply, as the need for qualified health care professional rises. Nursing jobs offer a chance of a great career, with a lot of job security.
Nursing jobs come in many forms. Nurses sometimes work assisting a doctor in an office. Other nurses work in hospitals, in a number of various positions and departments. Some nurses work with newborn children. Others work with cancer patients. Nurses are always in demand, so you can choose the direction that is right for you.
Traveling nursing jobs are designed to fill the ever growing need for professional nurses. Hospitals use travel nurses when qualified health care professionals cannot be found in the local area. By choosing to work with travel nurses, the hospital is able to broaden the search for the professionals it needs.
Travel nurses can decide where they want to work, and are not tied down to one city. They can search through available assignments, and choose the city they want to work in. This opens the door for the travel nurse to look for exactly the type of position she wants, and in a location that is most desirable.
The length of time a travel nurse stays in one location and position can vary. All positions are on a contract basis, and will specify the length of time for the contract. Some contracts could be for just a few months, while others can offer the opportunity to work in a position for a year or more.
Travel nursing companies pay almost all of the living expense while a nurse is on assignment. Once the nurse gets to his work location, his apartment and utilities will be paid by the travel nursing company. This allows the nurse to keep all the money he makes, something not many careers offer.
Travel nursing allows the nurse to continue to grow in a specific field of practice. If a nurse wants to specialize in caring for elderly patients, she will not be limited to jobs in just one city. Through travel nursing, she can continue to work and grow in the specialty she has chosen.
Travel nursing jobs open a world of possibilities that few careers offers. Traveling gives the health care professional a chance to live in a number of places and experience a number of different cultures. If it is times for a change of career, travel nursing could offer a whole new direction for you.
Looking at a career in the health care industry? There are many travel nurse positions available in the job market. This staffing agency cares about the traveling nursing jobs that it represents and is one of the most trusted in healthcare staffing.