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Are You a Job Hopper?

October 22, 2012 by

If you’ve sent out tons of resumes and haven’t heard back from any of them, maybe it’s because they consider you a job hopper. When you have hundreds or thousands of resumes to sort through, one thing that stands out is the fact that you’ve had way too many jobs in too short of a period of time. Employers call these people “job hoppers”, and it doesn’t look good in their eyes.

As someone who has been on the hiring end of things in start-up companies, I can tell you that it’s even more important to make sure you get the right employees from the start. Hiring and training employees is one of the biggest expenses we have. Hiring the wrong person can be a costly mistake.

Job hoppers come in all ages, but is even more common in those under 30. When you just get out of college and still don’t really know what direction you want to go in, that’s one thing. But too much beyond that and it doesn’t look good to the person hiring you that you’ve had 7 jobs in the past few years. I personally wouldn’t be willing to take a chance on that employee. As a business owner I’ve put too much time, sweat, blood, and money into the business to hire people who are just going to be fly by nights. I would prefer to hire someone who has shown more loyalty and stability.

Of course, there are all kinds of reasons why someone would have a series of jobs before the age of 30. The problem is that you probably won’t get the opportunity to tell me about them because your resume wouldn’t get that far. This is why I like the idea of the job fair, where you can tell the person face to face what happened. Be honest. But if you really want to settle down with a job and believe this company is going to be right for you, let the hiring person know that. And explain your swiss cheese resume before it gets tossed in the trash.

 


Filed Under: Job Search, Networking Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Job Search Mission Statement

March 19, 2012 by

A mission statement for an organization or company is a statement that states what your purpose is. It’s a roadmap to guide you in the right direction. It spells out what your goals are and the actions you need to take to achieve them.

So why can’t you, as a job seeker, have a mission statement too? Even though you have the information in your head, it always helps to write down on paper what needs to be done. It will help you see exactly what your strengths and weaknesses are and where you need to improve.

Writing a job search mission statement also helps you figure out what you want in a job. Instead of randomly sending out resumes to as many companies as you can, why not write down a mission statement to help you narrow your focus.

Once you figure out what your strengths are you can begin to target a job that will suit you that you will be happy at.



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Create Your Own Job

February 4, 2012 by

Unemployed? Underemployed?

Hate Your Job? Sending out resumes with no luck? Unemployment checks running out?

“Stop waiting for someone to GIVE you a job and… CREATE your OWN job!”

There are hidden opportunities all around you, BUT…
I’ll tell you how to find them!

Whether you’re looking for a new job or you already have one and you’re looking for something better, you have to face the harsh reality of just how bad the job market is these days. The bad news is that the job market probably isn’t going to change anytime soon.

More than 45% of all unemployed workers have been unemployed for more than 6 months. This is the highest since the Great Depression. And it may take years to get those numbers down. In this unstable economy, job security is a thing of the past. What this means to you is…

… you need to start thinking like an entrepreneur.
The good news is that there are opportunities all around you! There were opportunities even during the Great Depression. You just need to know how to look for them. They’re not going to come looking for you.

And — you’re not going to find them on a job board. But, this is going to require a new way of thinking. You’re going to have to wipe the slate clean of the typical way of becoming employed. “Go to college…draft a resume…submit it online…cross your fingers and hope it works”. If that actually works for you, then you don’t need this webinar. But if you want to try a new way of thinking, a new way of working, a new way to make sure you are never, ever unemployed again, then read on.

HIRE YOURSELF
Creating your own job means no more resumes, no interviews, and no rejection.
After getting fired from my last job, I started creating my own. Here are some of the jobs I’ve created or had created for me:

  • $500 a night working the coat check in a fancy restaurant
  • $2500 a month as a corporate publicist working 4 days a month
  • $2500 a month just to be on call as a spokeperson
  • Hanging out with celebrities at Cannes, making over 6 figures a year
  • $200 a day reading scripts
  • $40 an hour transcribing

What do all of those jobs have in common? I got all of them without a resume, interview, agent, recruiter or HR. None ofthem were on a job board, classified ad or online. And I didn’t have any experience or training for any of them.

I got them all by using the techniques
I’ll teach you in my seminar.
I want to help as many people as I can … so this webinar is priced so that anyone can afford it.  At $59, you can’t afford NOT to do it.  Just compare:

  • It’s about the price of a dinner and movie date, but it will help you create a source of money to pay for your NEXT date.

 

  • It’s a little more than the cost of a tank of gas, but with no source of income, gas won’t take you as far as creating a future for yourself.

 

  • It’s less than the cost of a resume consulting service.  Only you won’t need a resume to hire yourself.

Here’s what you’ll learn in the “Create Your Own Job” webinar:

 

  • The 3 ways to guarantee you will never be unemployed again … with more work than you can handle, even in the worst economy

 

  • How to create a job or jobs specifically designed just for you

 

  • The 2 jobs everyone should always have, even if you work for someone else

 

  • How to get other people to create jobs for you

 

  • How to market your skills for little or no money



Filed Under: Create A Job, Events, Webinars & Classes Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Job Seeker Tax Deductions

May 15, 2011 by

These days a job search can end up costing you a lot of money. To get an edge job seekers need to have the best advice possible and that can mean expensive coaching, resume writing, classes, and even the cost of gas to get to interviews.

But the good news is that these things are tax deductible if you itemize them on your tax return. Make sure you keep good records and a daily log of expenses and time you spend.

If you have to travel to another state to seek work, that can be deducted. So can the mailing of resumes, printing costs, transportation to and entry fees of job fairs, and other costs involved in your job search.

Make sure you keep all receipts and seek the advice of a qualified tax professional. They will know what you can and can’t deduct.

Filed Under: Job Search, Job Seekers Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Old & New Job Search

May 10, 2011 by

Remember the days when you just picked up a newspaper and turned to the job listings if you wanted to find a job? Okay, well, trust me, that’s the way it used to be. Or you could just walk in and fill out an application for a company you wanted to work for.

These days all of the old rules are out the window. With far more job seekers than jobs to be had, you have to be smarter than the average bear and learn to think like an entrepreneur in order to get the attention of a hiring rep.

Resumes used to mean something, but not so much anymore. Now they are more of an afterthought or a minor tool in the hiring process. It’s even more important to be able to write a resume that works online than off.

Years ago an employee would be hired and then would have to prove themselves on the job. Now employers want proof before you get hired. This is why having great referrals is important.

Because the cost of making a hiring mistake is so high, the vetting process is much more important. This is why relationships matter. Make them and keep them.



Filed Under: Job Search, Job Seekers Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Keep Your Job Search Going During the Holidays

December 21, 2010 by

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: , , , , , , ,

5 Key Steps Job Seekers Take During Holidays

December 16, 2010 by

Job seekers shouldn’t take a holiday:

With the holidays fast approaching, job seekers may be tempted to take a ‘holiday’ from job search efforts, a mistake that could leave them a step behind when January – which ranks annually as the strongest month for hiring – rolls around.

While job seekers should never stop applying for desired jobs, December should not exclusively be dedicated to submitting applications. Recruiting for many employers ends at Thanksgiving and resumes on January 3rd, so with the exception of last minute hiring by firms with budget to spare, the supply of new openings eases. In addition, human resources departments are tasked with year-end responsibilities that may detract from attention that can be paid to new resumes landing on their desk.

For this reason, the December holidays offer an ideal time for the nearly 15 million unemployed Americans to focus on other aspects of the job search. Rob McGovern, CEO of Jobfox, the nation’s fastest growing online job site, recommends that holiday job seekers consider the following 5 New Year’s resolutions so that they can hit the ground running when the calendar turns to 2011.

1.    Focus on employers, not vacancies – Many new job openings will not be posted until after the New Year, so spending hours and hours during the holidays staring at the same stale vacancies is hardly a good use of a job seeker’s time. Instead, the job seekers should make a list of target employers they want to work for in 2011 (as well as their website career pages), so they are ready to pounce once jobs are posted.

2.    Stop first at employer websites – With a list of target employers in hand, a job seeker’s first stop should be the company website. New job postings will typically appear on an employer’s website hours or even days ahead of showing up on the major online job sites. Job seekers should also sign up for an employer’s career page RSS feed (if they have one) and Twitter profile, which some employers use to alert followers to new job postings.

3.    Develop social network job search strategy – Many job seekers use social networks such as LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter, but this does not mean they have a social network strategy for their job search. December represents the ideal time to identify valuable social network connections, whether it is a former colleague on LinkedIn connected to a desired employer or a Facebook friend in the know on every new opportunity. Identify these contacts during the holidays, and then extend social network invites in early January when you can include a less formal greeting wishing them a happy new year as the impetus for reaching out.

4.    Work the party circuit – Yes, most job seekers cannot secure invites to company holiday parties. But there are always industry, association and trade group holiday events that offer a more relaxed opportunity for networking. To be mindful of party attendance costs, identify the two or three parties that will be attended by the right contacts at the right companies.

5.    Rethink your resume – Most job seekers organize their resume around tasks performed for employers. To succeed in the 2011 job market, resume writing should be done in a way that focuses on accomplishments rather than tasks in order to convey the job seeker is not simply a “doer” but an “achiever.”

About Jobfox
Jobfox is the largest online network of matchable professionals, connecting thousands of employers with the most qualified individuals among millions throughout the Jobfox Network. Through Jobfox’s comprehensive skills-based matching system, Jobfox is able to pinpoint the most qualified candidates to employers, and in turn, the most relevant job opportunities to professionals throughout the Jobfox Network who are open to learning about new career opportunities. Visit www.jobfox.com today.

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For the original version on PRWeb visit: www.prweb.com/releases/prweb2010/12/prweb4902034.htm

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2010/12/16/prweb4902034.DTL#ixzz18If7gaiH



Filed Under: Job Seekers Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Job Competition Grows as Hiring Events & Employment Opportunities Dwindle

December 8, 2010 by

Fewer companies are participating in job fairs, which means fewer opportunities for job seekers. The competition is steep, so you have to be more proactive in your search to get ahead of the crowd:

SACRAMENTO, CA – With almost 1 in 10 Americans unemployed, the competition is steep at job fairs.

Competition aside, there are jobs available. A sales, retail and management job fair is being held at Sacramento’s Embassy Suites on Tues., Dec. 7 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Major companies including Orkin Pest Control, Carmax, Frito Lay, AFLAC, Aramark and State Farms will be interviewing applicants.

Mark McConnell, who hires in Central and Northern California for Orkin Pest Control, will be looking to hire up to 10 people at Tuesday’s event. But McConnell says he’s not in a rush to make all 10 hires. “If I can find one candidate today that would be perfect. I don’t need to find all 10 positions today at this job fair,” he said.

While job fairs are still popular, there may be fewer now than in previous years. John Stokes hires for Carmax in Roseville and says about 10 percent of his employees are hired via job fairs.

“There used to be many more job fair companies in the Sacramento area. I think as employers lowered their hiring over the last couple years, some of those companies also went out of business,” Stokes said.

Job applicants interested in sales, retail and management positions should come to the hiring event prepared with resumes, ready to interview and dressed professionally.

Tuesday’s event takes place at the Embassy Suites, 100 Capitol Mall in Sacramento.

By Kate Larsen, klarsen@news10.net

News10/KXTV



Filed Under: Job Fairs Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Libraries Launch Job Search Tool

December 2, 2010 by

Just one more reason your local library is a gold mine:

POINT PLEASANT — Times are tough for job seekers, but there is now a free tool as close as the local library.

All state libraries, including the four in Mason County, now offer a free, comprehensive online job-search tool with easy-to-use, self-paced assistance for finding jobs openings, assessing interests, preparing resumes and cover letters and preparing for interviews.

The innovative online Job & Career Accelerator is available with password protection round the clock at no charge from any internet-enabled computer by going to www.wvinfodepot.org.

Provided through the West Virginia Library Commission, the LearningExpress Job & Career Accelerator™ offers people everything they need to seek a job or career change. The personalized assistance is available for job seekers at all experience and education levels.

It offers easy exploration and matching of suitable occupations from over 1,000 detailed occupation profiles. More than five million up-to-date job postings are available from across the country, including the local area.

The Job & Career Accelerator offers step-by-step assistance to help job seekers plan, tailor, and track multiple job searches. It provides easy-to-follow tips for creating professional resumes and cover letters as well as interviewing and networking techniques, improving work-related skills, and preparing for occupational exams.

Users can establish, maintain and update a personalized job-search portfolio that offers privacy protection and 24-hour availability.

To use the accelerator, visit www.wvinfodepot.org and click on the Job & Career Accelerator button. First-time users must click “New User” and set up a personal account for LearningExpressLibrary and the Job & Career Accelerator by registering as a new user and using a user name and password of their own choice.

To find out more about how you can access Job & Career Accelerator, stop or call any county library.

Funding for the project is provided by the Library Services and Technology Act administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the West Virginia Library Commission.

Read more: Point Pleasant (WV) Register – Libraries launch job search tool



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