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Do Job Seekers Need Multiple Skills?

July 6, 2012 by

I was always told that being a Jack, (or Jill) of all trades was a bad thing. You should just focus on one thing and do it well. Seems like times have changed. Some employers are saying they are having a hard time finding people with the right skills because they’re looking for people with multiple skills. And that isn’t always easy to find.

There’s a new trend in hiring. Companies want workers who can handle several different jobs for a number of reasons. For one thing, it cuts down on hiring. Employers say they would rather wait until the right person comes along who has all of the skills they need. Sometimes this means speaking several languages and being proficient at several different jobs. They would rather hire one person to do all of the jobs than hire multiple employees to do each individual job. And they’re willing to wait for that perfect person to come along.

This puts a huge burden on those job seekers sending out resumes. Call center workers no longer just answer the phones. Now they also need to be able to sell when customers call in. For example, if customers are calling in to buy a kitchen appliance, the call center operators must be able to convince them to buy a warranty or utensils too. [Read more...]

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An Inside Look at a Job Interview

June 11, 2012 by

I guess you learn something new every day. I didn’t know about the site GlassDoor.com, which is a free jobs and career site that gives job seekers an inside peek into the jobs and companies that they will be applying for. Content is posted by job seekers, employees, and sometimes the companies themselves.

The site has about 3 million reviews on how the companies conduct their interviews, how they treat employees, and about the salaries for a particular job. This is a good way to save you time and energy as a job seeker by avoiding the places you really don’t want to work at. Or if you do want to work there, at least you have a good idea of what to expect.

Job seekers spend enough time searching for work. Glass Door takes some of the guesswork out of trying to figure out just what the company is looking for. This way you can know in advance what kind of questions they are likely to ask you in the interview and what the salary will likely be before wasting time with jobs you’re not really interested in. Sounds good to me!

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Are You Overqualified For Jobs?

June 10, 2012 by

You’re well educated and have many years of job experience. On the surface, it seems like good qualities to have. But if you’re applying for an entry level position that could be a negative. When an employer looks at your resume they will look at the education and past job experience and compare it to the job that they’re hiring for. If your qualifications are higher than the job requires they may just pass you over for the next applicant and you might never even know why.

One big reason they will do this is because in the back of their mind they know that you really do want a job with a higher salary and a better job title, and will bolt as soon as you find it. Filling a job position takes time, money and energy to get you up to speed and they don’t want to have to do that just to have you turn around and leave. They want to make sure that the employee is going to stick around for the long haul.

There are many reasons why someone would want to take a lower paying job. If your unemployment has run out and you’re running out of options, you might not have any choice but to take any kind of job rather than starve.

In the new recession job market employers are better able to understand your reasons for wanting to take a job that’s below your normal pay scale. The best thing is to just be honest with the recruiter or employer and let them know the real reasons. Let them know that you’re flexible. Maybe this is a job where you could possibly rise to a better position. In that case, they might want someone that’s willing to start at the bottom again, but has the potential to grow in the position.

The best thing to do is to customize your resume so that it highlights the skills and talents you will need in this position. Downplay what you don’t want to emphasize. You may not want to put your resume in chronological order or highlight the big gaps in your work life. It’s not a lie, it just doesn’t play up your past job titles and salary.
What they care about is what you can bring to the current position. If you know that you can do a great job, let them know that. being excited and confident about the position carries much more weight.



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Fun Job – Fashion Designer

June 1, 2012 by

If you’re creative and like the idea of sketching designs, putting together fabrics, and instructing others on how to put your ideas into action, then a career as a fashion designer may be for you. If you TIVO every episode of Project Runway, can’t wait to see the latest styles before anyone else, and have a subscription to Vogue magazine then a career as a fashion designer might be for you.

80% of all fashion designers are women and 75% of all salaried fashion designers work in New York or California.

The good news is that the median annual average wage is around $65,000. The bad news is that competition for jobs is fierce because there are too many people trying to get in to too few jobs. You also don’t have to have any formal education. On the job training and experience is considered more important than a college degree. And associate’s or a bachelor’s degree in fashion design may give you an advantage though. Experience in sewing, textiles, tailoring, and CAD are also helpful.

Fashion designers often work in teams throughout the process, so being able to get along well with others is a plus. They also need to have a good idea about what consumers are going to want in advance. Of course, that’s not always possible, but a good fashion designer will follow trends and listen to what consumers are saying and what they will be likely to buy, especially since fashion changes constantly.

Clothing manufacturers fall into 3 main categories:

Haute Couture – These are clothes that are made to order for a specific client. The clothes in this category are made from expensive fabrics and accessories and usually take a long time to complete. They are also usually sewn by hand. Fit and quality are more important than cost. For haute couture customers cost is no object.

Ready to wear – Ready to wear is kind of a cross between haute couture and mass market clothing. They aren’t as expensive as haute couture and not specifically made for a single customer, but they are still made from quality fabrics and are also quite expensive.

Mass Market – The mass market is by far the largest market. These clothes are made of cheaper fabric and are introduced to the market after ready to wear. Designers tend to wait a season before coming out with the mass market versions of a brand.

If a career as a fashion designer sounds exciting to you there are plenty of fashion schools around or you could get a degree in fashion design. Your best bet is to get a job as an intern and start learning the ropes hands-on and get a head start in experience.



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The Job Search Buyers and Sellers Market

March 23, 2012 by

You’ve probably heard the term “buyer’s market” as it relates to the housing market. But it also applies to the job search market. This is simply basic economics of supply and demand. It describes how prices are determined by the number of things available to the number of people that want that particular thing.

In the case of jobs, right now there are more people looking for jobs and fewer jobs to be found. This makes it an employer’s market. They can afford to be picky and choose the best of the best. Very few companies are increasing pay and benefits. Some are lowering pay and benefits, while most are keeping them the same, but not hiring new employees.

But it’s not all doom and gloom. As an entrepreneur I have to hustle every day for work and new customers. So I’m quite used to it. But even business owners tend to get a little complacent about the hustle when economic times are good. What goes up always comes down and vice versa. The good news is that it won’t last forever. And when things return to a job seeker’s market you, my friend, will be more polished, with more skills, and more ambition and drive. Just keep in mind that it’s a temporary thing. Use this time to sharpen your skills, resume, and networking ability.



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Youth Unemployment

March 1, 2012 by

The latest statistics reveal that youth unemployment is the worst it’s been since World War 2.45% of people 16-29 are unemployed.

According to New York Magazine “one in five young adults now lives below the poverty line”. And it’s not just in the U.S. Young people in Europe have been going through similar situations. Their numbers are just as bad, if not worse. 51% in Spain and almost the same in Greece.

As I read through their stories, and hear similar stories from the college students in my neighborhood it’s pretty sad. Most are stuck with mountains of student loan debt that just keeps piling up. Many have finally come to the realization that they will have to wait tables or take jobs at Starbucks if they want any spending money at all.

Since I didn’t go to college, but instead went straight into the job market, I did all of those jobs anyway. But without the student loan debt. Living in NYC and working as a waiter/bartender wasn’t easy, but it was a job. And I was headed in a different direction, being an entrepreneur, so college wouldn’t really prepare me for that anyway.

In a recession it’s just going to be understood that you have to do whatever you have to do. Getting a job is easier if you already have a job, even if it’s not in your field and is way beneath what you expected. Start somewhere. It’s better than nothing. When you’re young no one expects you to have the experience yet. It’s a time you can experiment.

But it could always be worse. Youth unemployment in Somalia is 75%



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How Far Would You Go For a Job?

February 18, 2012 by

Last week I talked about moving to North Dakota for a job, where the unemployment rate is 1.5% in some places. But it does get a bit cold for many people and can also be rather remote.

Turns out there’s a place that has an even lower unemployment rate… the South Pole. The temperature can dip down to 40% F and it’s dark 24 hours a day in the winter, but hey, there’s probably not much competition for jobs, right? Wrong.

There are only 36 job openings and the British Antarctic Survey expects over 3,000 applications. Some of the job openings are for chefs, carpenters, and plumbers. The jobs are spread across the five bases.

I actually know someone that worked at the pole. He said workers are given a mental evaluation beforehand and it’s recommended that you apply after working a summer there. Winters, and the constant darkness can affect even the most sane people.

As the ad says, “must have a sense of adventure and get along well with others”. Sense of adventure, indeed. And, since the living conditions are close, you do need to be able to get along well with others. Meals are served cafeteria style and mail service is limited, with none in the winter.

 



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Need a Job? Move to North Dakota!

February 11, 2012 by

My memories of driving through the Dakotas as a child were of driving on the moon. I remember miles and miles of empty open space. The temperature in the winter can dip below negative 60 degrees. And summers can be hot and humid. But if you’re looking for a job you are sure to find one in North Dakota, where the unemployment rate is as low as 1.5% in some towns. In fact, it hasn’t gone below 5% since 1987.

Many of the jobs are in the booming oil industry, but with the influx of people moving there, jobs like teaching, retail, and food service. In fact, local fast food restaurants are now paying workers $15-17 an hour and giving bonuses to anyone that can help them fill their jobs. Servers in restaurants make around $25 an hour and truck drivers make between $70-80,000 a year.

Most of the state is rural, and the agricultural industry is productive and profitable. It’s the only state that has added manufacturing jobs over the last decade.

This oil boom is expected to continue for years to come, and the national unemployment rate is too. So, if you can handle long, hard hours and brutal winters, and you want to double your income or find a good, high paying job, go north young man! To North Dakota.



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Six Flags Job Fairs

February 5, 2012 by

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to work at an amusement park, now’s your chance. Talk about a fun job! Six Flags is now hiring for their upcoming season and they have 19 amusement parks across North America. Six Flags St. Louis is looking to fill 3,000 positions. The number of people applying this year over last year has doubled.

Six Flags is offering competitive wages, flexible hours, and other benefits like free passes for family and friends and a 401K plan.

The jobs vary from costume characters and ride and game operators to security, lifeguards, and marketing. Check out all positions at:

http://sixflagsjobs.com/index.html



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Fun Jobs – Chocolatier

February 1, 2012 by

I really believe that you should work a job that you love. Now, I’m not a big chocolate fan, but a lot of people are. And just the thought of being able to eat chocolate for a living would be a dream come true. A chocolatier is someone that makes or sales chocolate.

Like most jobs, you will probably have to start out at the bottom. A starting salary for a chocolatier isn’t great, but someone at the top of their career could make $90-100,000. You will need to be able to work well under pressure since you’ll tend to be incredibly busy during the holiday rush.

You don’t necessarily need to go to a culinary school, but you will have to apprentice under an established chocolatier. This will be your best training anyway. You’ll quickly figure out if this is the right “fun job” for you.



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