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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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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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Summer Job Search

May 27, 2012 by

The Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial end of spring and the beginning of summer. Many job seekers think the summer is a bad time to look for work, but it’s actually a perfect time to network, which is probably how you’re more likely to get a job anyway.

Though hiring may slow down in the summer, the amount of social activities goes up. This is a great opportunity for you to get out and start networking now. Of course, there is a right and wrong way to do that. People attend social functions to get away from work. They want to relax and spend time with family and friends. And that’s how you should approach it too. Use this time to get to know people without constantly bringing up the fact that you need a job. I know it’s hard to do, especially if you’ve been unemployed for a long time. But don’t seem desperate. Instead, think about ways you could help that person. How can you bring value to their life?

Another good way to network at social events is to put on on yourself. Or find a way to work a job where you will be in contact with a lot of people. One of the best ways I used to meet important people was by working as a bartender at events. Everyone comes up to the bar. And I was in a different position than just someone walking around the party. Suddenly I was at the center of the party and everyone came over and talked to me. I made a lot of new contacts AND I got paid to do it. You can just as easily volunteer your time to help out the host of the party. In fact, you should do that anyway.

Another way to insure you will meet everyone at an event is to be the person checking people in at the door. It’s much easier to be in a fixed position where others come to you than it is to have to walk around and introduce yourself. If you’re shy to being with, this is a great way to get over it and meet a lot of important contacts.

Summer is also a great time to brush up on your skills, spruce up your resume, and do some research on the companies you want to target.

Since your job search right now should be your full time job, don’t even think about taking time off until you get your first vacation under your new job. Just remember, your competition may not be taking time off and neither should you. You can always rest later.



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Personality Job Tests

May 23, 2012 by

You’ve got a great resume, which includes the right education from a good school, and you have the experience for the job you’re applying for. But do you have the right personality for the job? Do you have the right personality for the company? You may think you do, but the person hiring you has a huge pool of talent to choose from these days and a wrong hiring decision can be very costly. So they really want to make sure.

And one of the ways companies are testing job seekers is with a personality test. Certain jobs, like customer service require a certain type of personality. Even if you think you can handle it, you might not be the best applicant for the position. It’s a better use of a company’s time and money to find out before they actually start working.

Jobs that require complex problem solving and decision making may also be subject to a personality test. They help to uncover your attitude and temperament. The first part of the tests often just weed out the extremes and the people that are clearly not suited for the job. I frankly think this is a good idea, whether I’m on the job seeker side or the employer side. It’s hard to know for sure exactly what a company is looking for. What you think it is might be something very different. And they might expect certain things out of you as an employee that you wouldn’t like down the road.

The first things employers want to weed out are dishonesty and a tendency towards violence. Then they want to make sure you can work in a team and will be persistent on the job. For some jobs being an extrovert is more desirable than being an introvert. Jobs like sales and customer service rely on having employees that are more extroverted.

As a business owner, I have never hired anyone solely based on their resume. I hire people I know very well, so I can tell if they are the right ones for the job and if we would get along in a small office space. I tend to hire people who are more entrepreneurial and don’t need to have a lot of hand holding. I can give them the work to do and I can trust them to do much of the problem solving on their own. I can trust that they will make the best decisions.



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Getting a Job with a Criminal Record

May 2, 2012 by

It’s hard enough these days to find a job, but for those with a criminal record it can be even worse. An estimated 65 million Americans face that problem when they are looking for a job. New laws prevent blanket discrimination against this, but if you’re dealing with that problem there are some things you can do to help prepare yourself as much as possible.

While serving your time you will have nothing but time on your hands. This is a perfect opportunity to further your education any way you can. If you didn’t get your high school degree, now is the time to start working to get your GED.

It is also possible to get a college degree while in prison. There are also plenty of opportunities provided by non-profits for training while serving time. Read everything you can get your hands on that will help you in the real job world. Learn new skills that will help you in a trade. These days a plumber may be just as employable as a marketing executive in the current job market.

There are also programs to help you once you get out as far as training and job skills. Take advantage of these. Get help in putting your resume together and practicing for a job interview. If you have a parole officer that will help you, reach out and get that help. In fact, seek out help from anyone you can. Find a non-profit that fits your needs and get in touch with them. Let them know you are willing to work hard and do whatever it takes to become employed.

You will more than likely have to start at the bottom and work your way back into the system, especially if you are looking for a job that has a lot of responsibility. But these days even people that don’t have a criminal record are having to do that. Just concentrate on getting your foot in the door and proving to your employer and yourself that you can, not only do the job required, but you can go above and beyond what’s needed to get ahead.

If you find that you are going nowhere in a job search, you might want to consider creating your own job. It worked for Alfred Lomas. He was a member of one of the largest and most notorious gangs in L.A. He decided to radically change his life and became a Christian.

He started as a director of a food program that delivers food to warring gang neighborhoods. He now risks his life to bring peace to the same neighborhood by negotiating with rival gangs to stop the violence. He also started L.A. Gang Tours, which is a successful tour through those same neighborhoods and brings jobs to the area.

The main thing is to stay focused on keeping your attitude positive and keeping your skills sharp. It’s hard enough for those that have a college degree and no record right now, so you will have to be patient and just keep looking ahead.

 

 

 

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Fun Job – Camp Counselor

May 1, 2012 by

Remember kayaking on the lake, hiking through mountain trails, or telling stories by a campfire as you roast marshmallows? If you like working in the great outdoors and you like being around kids, maybe a fun job as a camp counselor would be perfect for you.

Besides the fact that you will be making a positive difference in kid’s lives, you get to relive the fun of the camp experience yourself. You’ll get to work outside in a beautiful, peaceful setting, away from the stress of the city. You can also meet new friends, create lasting memories, and build relationships.

On top of building relationships, you will be building your resume and learning new skills. If you’re a college student with an eye on a career in child development, athletics, sports management, theater or dance then being a camp counselor is a good way to get a head start on your resume in those departments and more training and skills that you can learn on the job.

Part of what camp counselors do is to lead kids in recreational activities like hiking, swimming, arts and crafts, tennis, boating, music and games. Camp counselors are responsible for supervising the daily life of the campers and being responsible for them at all times. They are also responsible for enforcing the rules.

Camp counselors should be mature and responsible and capable of handling a group of kids or teenagers. This is a good chance for them to learn new leadership skills.

The job is seasonal and the hours can include nights and weekends, so some flexibility is required. Counselors will often have some time off to enjoy their surroundings. They can go hiking or play tennis with the other counselors or just enjoy the relaxation.

There is usually a fair amount of turnover as former camp counselors move on to other jobs. They are more likely to sign on again for the following summer season if they are thought of more as educators than camp counselors, and if they are more involved in learning the kinds of skills they will need for future employment.

The pay may be slightly lower than normal, but many people like the chance to work a fun job in the great outdoors where they get to learn new skills, meet new people, and build up a resume after college.

So, if you’re looking for a fun, seasonal job where you can stay active, get your resume in early.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



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Half of Recent College Graduates Un or Underemployed

April 24, 2012 by

You’ve paid your dues in college for the past four years. Maybe you have been working a part-time job to pay off student loans, while you pull all-nighters studying for finals. You expect all of the hard work to pay off with a good job in your chosen field.

But reality these days is much harsher. New data shows that half of all recent college graduates are either unemployed or underemployed, working as waiters, cashiers, retail clerks and bartenders, most barely making over minimum wage and many still living at home with their parents. This is the highest unemployment rate for college graduates in over 40 years.

College graduates are now just as vulnerable to unemployment as a high school dropout. 35% of those with advanced degrees have been unemployed for over a year.

Many of the future job prospects tend to be in industries like the home healthcare market which relies on an actual human instead of automation. The jobs that can’t be outsourced like dentist or doctor will be more in demand in the future.

Job prospects for college graduates with a bachelors degree fell to their lowest levels in more than a decade. Over 53% of those college graduates under the age of 25 were either unemployed or underemployed. And that number doesn’t seem to be changing. The higher end and lower end jobs are doing better than the ones in the middle, which have been hurt the worst.

The college students with degrees in teaching, accounting, and nursing were more likely to find jobs than their counterparts who graduated with philosophy or art history degrees.

The Helrich Center at Rutgers University did a study recently. They asked college graduates if their first job was a career. If they graduated before 2008 30% of them said yes. If they graduated after 2008, the number dropped to 22%.

So, what is the solution? As someone that didn’t go to college at all and has never gotten a job with a resume, my solution has always been that you have to create your own opportunities. I’ve always started at the bottom and looked at every job as a learning experience. Even the worst jobs will teach you something. And believe me, I’ve done some pretty horrible jobs, like picking out burnt potato chips on an assembly line or working in the field picking tobacco.

Life will always throw you curveballs no matter what kind of degree you have, no matter what your circumstances are at the moment. The average person changes jobs and even careers many times throughout their lives and with the new job market, changing jobs and careers will become the new normal.

 

 

 



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Should You Try Temp Work?

April 23, 2012 by

I remember temp work being office busy work, like answering phones and filing. But today temp work has evolved into much more. Today the temp work field is a multi-billion dollar market with jobs as diverse as security guard and even paralegal.

If you’re unemployed, any job can be better than no job. But doing temp work can be more than just a stop gap on the way to something better. These days plenty of people are hired for full-time work by starting as a temp. It’s a good way for you to test drive a company and a good way for them to test drive you as an employee. You’ll find out if you really want to work for the company or not.

Sign up with several different agencies as long as they don’t have any kind of exclusive policy. Make yourself available for work if it does come up. Call in on a regular basis and let it be known that you want to work. One thing many temp workers forget to do is supply their current contact information. Make sure you can be reached.

Keep an open mind about the kind of jobs out there. There is almost always something about any job that you learn from. Also keep an open mind about pay and hours. Remember, it’s just temporary unless it turns into something more.

If you like the idea of flexible hours and a variety of different jobs, temp work may be perfect for you. It allows you the chance to learn new job skills and meet new people. The down side is that you don’t have the security of a regular job. But these days, not many people do anyway. And you may not get the same benefits as a full-time employee.

Temp agencies do more than just help you get work. They can also help you with your resume and career guidance.

If you’re unemployed you should constantly be updating your skills and training. The more skills you have, the easier it is for the temp agency to sell you.

Sometimes the only way to get into a company might be through a temp agency that has a good relationship with them. They know what the company is looking for and can provide them with a perfect match. Always remember that you are representing the temp agency, so be on your best behavior and show up with a good attitude. You never know what kind of job it could turn into. You might be very surprised and end up with a dream job.

 

 



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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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How to Succeed at a Job Fair-Secrets From an Insider

January 29, 2012 by

How to Succeed at a Job Fair-Secrets From an Insider

FREE Weekly Event – Every Saturday: 1:00 PM to 1:30 PM (PT)

Hosted By:

Fun Job Fairs

Fun Job Fairs is committed to putting on the most unique job fairs around. We believe in making the process of finding a job FUN!

Event Details:

You have a great resume, a new suit, and you’re willing to stand in line for hours at a job fair. But you come home empty-handed time and time again wondering if they really work at all. The truth is that job fairs DO work. You just have to know what to expect and how to work them. How do I know? Because I’ve hired people from job fairs and have helped others get jobs from them. Having a great resume and a nice suit is only a small part of what you need to succeed.
The best way to get a job is by meeting someone face to face. And job fairs are a perfect way to show your true personality. But they are time consuming, so you need to know how to make the most of them.
After organizing job fairs for the past few years, I’ve noticed people who might otherwise be great employees making the same mistakes over and over again. I’ve listened to the HR people on one side and the job seekers on the other and put together a 30 minute webinar with the insider secrets I’ve learned. I’ve watched firsthand as some job seekers easily got jobs and others struggled. I wanted to put together this FREE webinar to help those people that deserve a chance, but might be making mistakes they don’t even know they’re making.
Before you give up on job fairs or before you go to your next job fair, you owe it to yourself to take this FREE webinar. Don’t waste anymore valuable time at job fairs until you get this insider information. I promise you’ll look at job fairs in a very different way.



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