Networking Archives - Fun Job Fairs

Practical Strategies For Getting Results With a Job Board

December 30, 2010 by Julie Austin

Since I’ve never used a job board before to get a job, I don’t know that much about how it works. But here is a short article outlining how to use one to your advantage. It’s from a military job site, but applies to other jobs:

1. Think of ways to reduce your competition. This is the primary challenge of today’s job seeker. The way you reduce your competition is by targeting and mirroring how employers search for candidates and how they deal with getting too many applicants.

2. Build your resume for a database. If you want your resume to be found in a resume database, build it around the following keyword formula: Industry Sector + Job Title + Special Skill + Location. Write an employer-focused resume. Make your resume deep in detail. Make your resume prove not only what you can do but what bottom-line results you can produce.

You can also follow the guidelines of resume development cited by DJZ bloggers Bruce Diggs and Bill McNeely. I’d also check out the Army Times article called “Résumé revolution: High-performance résumés raise your competitive edge.

3. Name Your Resume with Keywords. Many job boards give the job seeker the ability to name his resume. Don’t use your actual name. Rather use a descriptive keyword phrase that has the likelihood of mirroring how a recruiter is using the job board to find candidates.

4. Avoid the Big Job Boards. Focus on Market Niche Sites. Use the Internet to research all the job boards in your industry. Post your resume to the market niche boards, which always have higher success rates than the big boards. For example, two sites with above average hiring rates are ClearanceJobs and RecruitMilitary. (I never have nor presently do have any business relationships with these sites.) I’ve seen recruiters post their information to the DJZ forum so I’d recommend you post your resume here.

5. Use a multi-venue and comprehensive strategy. Find out what works for YOU. Include the job boards, social media sites, direct employer contact, networking, etc. Test each of these approaches. Find out what works and what doesn’t. If something does not work for you discard it and move onto what does. Be experimental.

6. Successful job hunting is a relationship building task. People get interviewed because of their credentials. But people only get hired because they have built a relationship above and beyond a resume or a job interview. Focus your efforts on relationship building. Get “face-time.” Get out of the house and away from your computer. Go to industry-specific job fairs that are run by an industry’s recruiters. It is with the relationships you build in your real life that your next job will come from.

Contact the Author

http://blog.dangerzonejobs.com/guest-blogger-randall-scasny/how-to-get-results-from-a-job-board/

Filed Under: Job Search Tagged With: applicants, employer, job, job board, Job Fairs, job seeker, jobs, military job, Networking, resume

6 Quick Tips for a Successful Holiday Job Search

December 26, 2010 by Julie Austin

Most of the advice you get for job hunting during the holidays applies year-round. You will separate yourself from other job seekers if you continue your job search while others take time off, as this article explains:

If you have ever conducted a job search during the holidays-if you are conducting one right now-it is important to understand that the holidays offer valuable opportunities not seen at other times of the year. Whatever you do, don’t believe the misconception that looking for work during the holidays is a waste of time. Nothing could be further from the truth.

If anything, the holidays are a time to step up your job search. You should continue to set regular goals and take positive action steps on a daily basis toward achieving those goals.

Not only will you have less competition in the job market during the holidays, you may have increased employment opportunities as many employers are still interviewing and hiring. Some are seeking new staff to fulfill certain business goals before the end of the year and others seek to put new employees in place, to have them all ready to go at the start of the New Year.

Here are some quick but essential tips to help you maximize the success of your job seeking efforts during the holidays.

1. Take advantage of holiday parties and events – Job leads and referrals can come from the most unexpected of sources. Family parties, get-togethers with friends, children’s events, church events, and holiday parties held by associations and civic groups should all be viewed and treated as networking opportunities. You should go to as many as you can fit in your schedule. Definitely keep it casual (now is not the time to hand out your resume), but when the topic of work naturally comes up, talk about your career goals and let people know you are open to advice and will be deeply appreciative of referrals. Collect names, email addresses, and phone numbers and follow up with your contacts a few days after the party.

2. Polish your presentation – Beat the rush! Professional resume writers are often swamped with work during the first few months of the year from job seekers and would-be job seekers who are just waiting for the New Year to conduct their search. If you need some professional assistance strengthening your resume, there is no better time than the present regardless of the season. Besides your comprehensive, traditional resume, you might also consider a shorter one-page version to use with networking contacts. These documents are concise summaries that will help your network contacts understand your job search goals, your qualifications, and your value proposition. If unemployed, you should also consider having some business cards made up with your name, a brief branding statement, and your contact information. You can hand these out at all the networking parties and events you attend during the holidays.

3. Re-establish old contacts – Truly effective networking is a continual effort that involves cultivating and nurturing relationships. If you’ve lost touch with old co-workers, supervisors, and college friends, now is a great time to reach out to them. Send a holiday card and include a note letting them know you’ve been thinking of them. Now isn’t the time to mention your job search, but a week or two later you could follow up with a phone call and a suggestion that you meet for coffee. The topic of work will inevitably come up and that is the time to discuss your search and to ask if they have any suggestions for people that it might be helpful for you to talk with.

4. Nurture new contacts – Put the names of recruiters you’ve been in touch with, employers who have recently interviewed you, and all your new networking contacts on your holiday card list. Send a “Season’s Greetings” or “Happy Holidays” card. You would be surprised at how few job seekers use this technique, and so it is a great way to keep your name in front of hiring decision-makers and help you to stand out from your competition. You might consider sending your card at a slightly offbeat time, so it arrives alone rather than with a dozen other cards. For example, on December 26 you could send a “Happy New Year” card.

5. Stay positive – Many people struggle through the “holiday blues” and the tendency for this can be even greater when you are frustrated by a challenging job search. Keep your ultimate goal in sight by setting weekly job search goals and daily milestones. Schedule and calendar these milestones to make sure you allocate the time you need for your search. But, don’t forget yourself! Make sure you also schedule time for you to just relax and enjoy the holidays.

6. Get out and volunteer – There are lots of opportunities to volunteer your time over the holidays. Particularly if you are unemployed and have some extra time on your hands, volunteering is a great way to build new networking contacts, to enhance your qualifications and experience, and to help out your community at the same time. If you are struggling with feeling a bit “blue” about looking for work during the holidays, this is also a great way to get out of the house and just forget your troubles for a brief time. Helping others feels good!

The bottom-line: Don’t take the holidays off. Continue with your job search and maintain your momentum by setting goals and following through with daily action steps. Whether you land your next job now or whether you land it in the New Year, when the celebrations are over you’ll be far ahead of all your job search competition-many of whom chose to forget all about job searching during the holidays.

http://www.holidaysinthehills.com/2010/12/6-quick-tips-for-a-successful-holiday-job-search/

Filed Under: Job Search Tagged With: employers, hiring, job hunting, job leads, job market, job search, job seekers, looking for work, Networking, referrals, resume, unemployed

Keep Your Job Search Going During the Holidays

December 21, 2010 by Julie Austin

While other job seekers have stopped looking, you should continue your job search through the holidays. You might have a better chance:

Article by Nancy Mann Jackson

So it’s the last two weeks of December, and the decision makers may be out of the office. But that doesn’t mean your job search should come to a halt.

“It is worth continuing your job search during the holiday season,” says Joey Price, a human resources specialist and founder of Push Consultant Group, LLC, a career search services firm. “Companies never stop hiring so job seekers should never stop applying. While business may slow down during the holiday season, resumes are still screened for open positions and future positions that may develop in the upcoming year once fiscal year budgets are determined. Give yourself the advantage by searching when others may not be.”

To make the most of your job search during the holiday season, keep these tips in mind:

Brush up on your networking. “Holiday parties, volunteer activities, and time spent with family and friends are all examples of opportunities to let individuals know you are looking for a position,” Price says. “Develop your 30-second elevator pitch, create business cards highlighting your best assets and updated contact information, and take time to revamp your resume.” And don’t neglect networking with former employers and managers. “If you left on good terms, I would consider reaching out to former employers to see if positions are available,” Price adds. “If a former manager has moved on to another company, then he or she can be your connection to a potential opportunity.”
Use down time for research. While you’re not buried in work at your current job, spend time researching opportunities—beyond the jobs posted online. “Start building a spreadsheet of all the companies you admire in the market, then visit LinkedIn to explore possible connections you may have within these organizations,” says Camille Fetter, managing partner of TalentFoot. “If you have not taken the time to connect with your contacts on LinkedIn, this is the perfect time to take on such a project. Finding connections will allow you to ask for some personal introductions and this all takes time. So, instead of sitting back and putting your job search on pause over the holidays, put down that eggnog and start your research. This will give you a strong jumpstart to sending your resume to the appropriate contacts in the New Year.”
Adjust your expectations. Since it is the holiday season, don’t be surprised if there are fewer opportunities listed on job search sites and if it takes longer for potential employers to respond to your inquiries, Price says.

“Understand that a lot of decision making gets put on hold from December 20 through January 1,” Fetter adds. “[This is] because a majority of decision makers tend to take time off during the last two weeks of December. Ideally, if a job seeker can secure an interview to occur after the first of the year, they’ll be in a good position to be at the top of the employer’s consideration.” If you do happen to have a final round of interviews during the final weeks of December, Fetter recommends following up with a voice mail and email wishing the prospective employer happy holidays. In addition, “be sure to let the hiring manager know your availability during the holidays in case any additional questions need to be addressed,” Fetter says. “Remember, the most important message to deliver during this down time, is your continued level of interest in the opportunity.”

http://www.glassdoor.com/blog/job-search-holidays/

Filed Under: Job Search Tagged With: employer, human resources, interviews, job search, job seekers, jobs, Networking, resumes

Four Methods of Job Search

December 21, 2010 by Julie Austin

Here is the stuff I’m always preaching. When it comes to job hunting, try everything possible. Focus on what is working:

There are four core methods of job search and I encourage job seekers to use all of them. When you are in search, looking for a job is your full-time job and you should plan to dedicate 35-40 hours per week to your search or a percentage of that it you are searching while employed. Here’s a quick rundown of the four methods of search.

Job Boards – When using the boards, you need to be as strategic as possible in your approach, because there is an enormous amount of information posted on the boards and employers receive multiple responses for each position they post. One of the best strategies for managing your presence on the job boards is to stick with niche boards that best match your professional level, industry, or job function rather than spending time on a board that claims to be all things to all people. This allows you to be a big fish in a smaller pond and potentially garner more immediate recognition from a hiring authority. For example, a senior-level executive is generally better-off creating a presence on a six-figure job site than on a general jobboard that posts jobs at all professional levels. Another way to optimize your time spent on the boards is to set up job alerts based on keywords and geographical preferences to streamline the amount of time spent on the boards and optimize the amount of relevant leads.

Recruiters – A Recruiters can be a great ally during a search, but keep in mind that advertisers are generally only interested in your candidacy would be, if your skills equivalent to a position in their work portfolio of kidnapping in progress. In addition, advertisers can only put on the positions of the companies, the procedures are paid a recruiter willing to look to the administration. Partnering with a recruiter, you will receive only a small percentage of jobs available in the s.market.

Cold Calling – People in search often find their jobs by cold calling on potential decision makers in companies. By creating a marketing letter that communicates your skills, accomplishments, and value-add, you can attempt to forge relationships with key people in the companies you would like to work for. The goal of the letter is to build a relationship with people in companies where no relationship existed before. If you can create and nurture a relationship before there is a need to fill a position, you are much more likely to be considered as a candidate when there is an opportunity because you are now part of the inner circle of contacts within the company. This method takes work and may not yield immediate results, but if these new relationships are nurtured over time, they can grow into opportunity with the company down the line.

Networking – Networking is the art of exchanging information continuously and graciously with members of your professional and social communities. People are more likely to share information with people they know and trust. Sharing information about job leads comes naturally in networking circles. Attempt to give more than you get and don’t keep tabs on your goodwill versus someone else’s and eventually you will find that you can almost always find a connection for whatever you need…whether it’s a recommendation for a great restaurant, advice on a project, or a tip on a job lead.

Yes, it’s a lot of work, but it is quite rewarding to help others and receive their help in return. Now it’s time to put these strategies to work. Best of luck in your search and beyond!

Filed Under: Job Search Tagged With: employed, job, job boards, job hunting, job lead, job search, Networking, recruiters

A New Year and Chance to Refocus

December 19, 2010 by Julie Austin

As a new year approaches, there may be an increase in unemployment after layoffs from the Christmas season. So, it’s especially important to keep a positive outlook when it comes to your job search.

by Randy Wooden

With 2011 fast approaching, job seekers are more than willing to put the past few years behind them and look to a better market for the coming year.

While I don’t have a crystal ball, I can offer some tips for a more productive search.

The first tip is to consider your mental outlook. Beware — unemployment figures will likely rise in January asseasonal retail employees rejoin the unemployed. Try your best to ignore national news about the gloom and doom. Some companies are hiring, though they may take longer to make decisions. So be aware of the need to conduct an effective search vs. scattering your résumé across the Internet.

Secondly, I encourage my clients to view the job hunt as a journey. Small successes, or victories, can serve to keep you motivated. So attending a networking meeting or event, applying for a posted position or participating in an interview can all provide a small degree of success and help keep you motivated toward your end goal.

Here’s a checklist to help you put your best foot forward.

The physical: Be sure your résumé contains key words that match the job description, quantifiable achievements, and is easy to follow.

Create a LinkedIn profile and become active in its group discussions. See my LinkedIn profile for an idea of what a robust profile should look like: www.linkedin.com/in/randywooden.

The intangibles: Develop your networking list. Consider people you’ve worked with, know through your activities, or even former classmates. Seek them out and ask them whom they would talk to if they were considering a job change. Check back in with the people you spoke to in 2010. Find an article that would be of interest to those past contacts and lead with that as you approach them to stay on their radar.

In future columns I’ll answer questions from you, the reader. Send your questions to me atrandy@woodengroup.com.

Filed Under: Job Search, Job Seekers Tagged With: interview, job, job hunt, job search, job seekers, Networking, resume, unemployed, unemployment

Recession Gives N.J. Libraries New Mission

December 9, 2010 by Julie Austin

Here is an article in the Star-Ledger that confirms what I have always thought about the local library. It’s a gold mine for job seekers and a great resource for free learning:

Residents used to walk into the Piscataway Public Library and ask Kate Baker where they could find a particular book.

Now, they’re more likely to ask the 49-year-old librarian how to format a résumé and fill out a job application.

“Almost half my day is devoted to job seekers,” said Baker, who has worked at the library for eight years. “We keep getting more and more computers, and they’re always filled.”

As the jobless rate has climbed since the onset of the financial crisis three years ago, the role of the public library has changed dramatically. In New Jersey, where nearly one in every 10 people is unemployed, officials say the local library has become Job Search Central for many residents. The upshot for librarians like Baker: Instead of spending her workdays organizing and purchasing books, she has watched her job morph into one that is equal parts job counselor, computer trainer and life coach.

“I could talk about books 24 hours a day,” Baker said, “but we have so many other things we need to do now.”

Just last week, the New Jersey State Library launched a free job search program on computers at 450 public libraries across the state. Librarians will undergo training on how to use the program, which is part of a larger $7.5 million initiative to help job seekers, said Nancy Dowd, marketing director for the state library.

The program, which the state purchased from LearningExpress, helps guide users in building résumés and cover letters around internet-searchable keywords. Library card holders also can access the internet-based program from home by going to jerseyclicks.org and by clicking on the “Jobs and Career Accelerator” link.

Over the next three years, public libraries also will partner with community colleges to offer 800 free classes on job search-related topics like how to use Microsoft Word, the internet and e-mail, Dowd said.

“All of our libraries across the state have seen a tremendous increase in job seekers,” she said. “The library is really one of those places they can come to instill hope and confidence — and sometimes that makes all the difference.”

For Baker, change has come quickly. Just a few years ago, she spent most of her day ordering books on art, history and sports. Once a month, she also led public discussions on popular fiction, from modern hits to classics by Jane Austen and William Faulkner.

With the onset of the recession, however, books about computers and job searching have jumped to the top of the most-read list. The collection has grown so large the library carved out an entire section for it, she said.

Much of her time now also is spent counseling individuals. The job seekers who come in are often middle-age or older, and many of them don’t know how to use a computer mouse, much less Microsoft Word or Google, she said. A few months ago, one man told her he wanted to apply for a job at Home Depot, but didn’t know how to find the company website, she recalls. Another woman came in clutching a hand-written résumé.

“Sometimes, people have been in the same jobs for so long, and they find themselves having to start over,” Baker said.

To help meet the growing demand, the library recently launched free monthly computer workshops, professional networking groups and one-on-one appointments for job seekers.

At the Plainfield Public Library, director Joe DaRold said he has started restructuring his workforce to meet the public’s demand for a “full-service” library. He recently hired two computer assistants to help library users, and he downgraded reference librarian positions to part-time jobs.

The next step is to create a devoted job search center where instructors can teach basic computer skills, he said.

“More and more people are coming in,” said, DaRold, who has worked there for 18 years. “It’s a very different world than when I started.”

Leslie Kwoh: (973) 392-4147 or lkwoh@starledger.com

Filed Under: Job Search, Job Seekers Tagged With: job counselor, job search, job searching, job seekers, jobless rate, Networking, resume, unemployed, workforce

Job Fairs for the Jobless

November 1, 2010 by Julie Austin

Los Angeles Job Fairs For months, all we’ve heard from endless political ads and sound bites is how “we need to put the American people back to work.” But in this 24-hour-news world, that’s become a song with no end. The jobless have become a political football.

On top of that, the organization that goes into these job fairs, the press releases, the photo-ops that they seemingly provide for camera-ready politicians – all the businesses that tout how many jobs they have to offer … and all the disappointed folks who walk away not getting them. It’s enough to make you wonder if these job fairs even serve a purpose.

Is it about all the companies that are there? The TV cameras?

Heading out to a job fair these days, it is obvious, they are about: Desperation. Regret. Hope. Failure. Effort. Loss. Grief. All of it reinforced by massive job losses, from financial services to construction.

There, in the long line of hundreds, thousands of people waiting to get in are the faces of unemployed.

Many – often in the thousands – would not get a job that day.

Sometimes the job fairs are so packed that employers have to leave – with no materials left to hand out, overwhelmed by so many inquiries.

Fun Job Fairs is a different approach – an opportunity for you to meet prospective employers in a more relaxed environment.

Filed Under: Job Fairs Tagged With: job fair, Job Fairs, Los Angeles, Networking, Southern California, unemployment