Employment Digest

Keep up to date on articles and news and subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

Career moves call for research, preparation

Statistics reveal that a person will change careers three to seven times in a lifetime. The last thing anyone wants is for the job-changing process to be an emotional roller coaster ride, full of worry and fear, particularly if the candidate is holding down a current job that must be performed in an acceptable manner during the search.

There are several steps that can lead to job-changing success, as well as decrease stress, expand opportunities and ensure a complete understanding of available options.

Anyone considering a vocational change should complete four steps.

1. Evaluate options and determine the career you want. It is not uncommon for a person to select the wrong college degree, waste thousands of dollars, and then end up in a position that isn’t enjoyable. An individual who did not go to college might spend years in a career that is not fulfilling, watching time slip by and knowing there has to be more to life.

The solution is a career test, such as The Strong Interest Inventory.

Most professional positions, as well as similar positions in multiple job categories, are covered in the Strong test. After the test is completed, all jobs will be statistically ranked, with the jobs the candidate should seek listed first, and those that should be steered clear of ranked last. Results also will reflect leadership skills, vocational personality traits, the candidate’s ability to be a team player, and whether the candidate could handle pursuing further education. By utilizing other resources, information can be obtained for each identified position, such as salary, job descriptions, training or education required, as well as predictions for job or industry security.

2. Prepare a résumé. A résumé will make or break a candidate’s chances of getting an interview for a new position. This step can cause a lot of stress when it comes to deciding what to include and what to leave out of a résumé. The candidate doesn’t want to seem like a braggart, but it’s also important that the candidate not undersell his experience and abilities. Avoid “cookie-cutter” résumé packages. A successful résumé should be different, and not use the same, common phrases as other applicants’ résumés. To stand apart from the crowd, the candidate might want to consider hiring a professional to complete this step, particularly if the candidate lacks excellent writing skills. Otherwise, countless frustrating hours will be wasted as the candidate struggles to accurately reflect skill sets and professional experience. Even worse, after experiencing all that stress, the candidate may not be selected for interviews, having failed to convince résumé screeners that he or she is the right professional fit.

3. Perform a salary survey. This step will enable the applicant to successfully negotiate and maximize salary potential. Salary Web sites and the Missouri Career Center are excellent sources. Candidates also can contact area companies and ask what their pay ranges are for the position being considered.

4. Give a successful face-to-face interview. This step is extremely important, and there are good, better and best ways to verbalize the truth during an interview. For example, if a candidate dislikes someone’s suit, he can tell the person that they look horrible and should never wear it again, or the candidate can find a better way to convey his thoughts. The same can be said for answering questions during an interview, and that’s why winging an interview – going into it unprepared – is a significant mistake. A job interview is a critical meeting, and candidates should practice answering potential questions in advance. Make sure answers don’t sound canned or memorized. If confidence is low, candidates should obtain professional help to hone their interview skills.

Career transitions can be exciting and radically improve candidates’ lifestyles and quality of life. The four keys outlined here will unlock the door to a brighter future.

Path to finding a new job goes online

Jeanni Dennis quickly learned that the job-search process is a lot different now than when she applied for an administrative assistant position four years ago.

Dennis, 52, was laid off in March from an educational services company in Wilmington, Del. Since then, she has been visiting the Delaware Department of Labor’s employment and training center regularly to use its computer, fax and other job-search tools.

“It used to be you could look in the newspaper and find jobs, but now almost all the jobs are online,” said Dennis, of New Castle, Del. “Now you have to have a computer, access to a computer and an e-mail address.”

Today, many companies post job openings online, either on their own Web sites or on job-clearinghouse sites like Monster.com and CareerBuilder.com. (CareerBuilder.com is partly owned by Gannett Co. Inc., which also owns The Courier-Journal and The News-Journal in Wilmington.)

Many employers don’t accept paper applications. They want you to create a profile and apply online. Other, more tech-savvy companies even conduct interviews online in a virtual space like Second Life, set up by Linden Lab of San Francisco.

“Not using a computer, not being tech-savvy is not an option,” said Kate Wendleton, president of The Five O’Clock Club, a national career-counseling organization based in New York.

But experienced career coaches and recruiters continue to emphasize the fundamentals to job seekers:

• Network in smart ways.

• Market yourself.

• Prepare a well-edited, focused resume and cover letter that will catch the attention of a hiring manager or recruiter.

• Some recruiters suggest spending an hour or two on your resume and cover letter.

“They want a cover letter that is specific to the job, a resume somewhat tweaked for the job,” said project leader Garrick Weaver of CBI Group, a human-resource recruiting and consulting firm based in Newark, Del.

For example, if a job requires “project management experience,” make sure you state that you have such experience in the letter and resume, Weaver said.

Another way to make yourself marketable is to create a brand identity online. Instead of posting your resume on a static Web site, design a multimedia portfolio online. Part of that portfolio can be a blog, examples of your accomplishments, your goals and vision.

First, Google yourself and check out what is written about you online. Is it accurate? What would you prefer to see?

Kirsten Dixson, co-author of “Career Distinction: Stand Out by Building Your Brand,” said a blog is the best way to build your brand online.

“It’s easy and fast to set up, and people can maintain it themselves,” Dixson said.

This blog is not meant to tell the world about your personal life and your thoughts on Paris Hilton. You want to keep it professional — perhaps write about an interesting new study or an idea you have about a particular subject in your area of expertise. It should be interesting, give you an opportunity to take a stand and reveal your personality.

Job seekers also should consider building social networks online. Employers scout prospective workers from popular sites like LinkedIn.com, an online network of more than 11 million experienced professionals from around the world, representing 150 industries. Instead of old-fashioned networking by collecting business cards from strangers, LinkedIn allows you to network with people you know and the people they know, and so forth.

As always, be aware that every time you sign up for online social networking sites, you are in a public domain.

Unless you are able to put a filter on some of your information, nothing is private, and it is really difficult to erase once it is posted.

If and when you finally land an interview with a prospective employer, you should know that they might have scanned the Internet to find out about you

Salary Negotiation Mistakes To Avoid by C. Vaughan

You’ve done it! You have gotten your first interview out of the way, and they want to hire you. Now you have to work out the fine details of employment. When it comes to salary negotiation, beginning the process by saying as little as possible is very important. The biggest mistake can be simply calling out a number; if you speak first you might be cheating yourself out of a lot of money. Let the employer speak first. And keep in mind that salary can encompass more than a paycheck.

First, check out the other details of your employment contract very carefully and ask about anything unclear. The amount of money you could be making comes at the very end of the negotiation process. It is more important to know what you are agreeing to concerning job duties, reasons for dismissal, and so on. But when it does get to the part about money, consider paid vacations, sick pay, and other perks as part of the salary negotiation process. Salary can include paid vacation days and include reimbursement for travel, clothing allowances, and more. Things that the employer will be providing you that you would otherwise be paying for yourself should be counted towards your total pay, at least in your mind. It will be difficult to predict the exact dollar value of any extra perks, but they should still be considered. If the salary being offered to you seems low, take the perks into consideration. You might be getting a good deal after all.

As for the actual negotiation process, keep quiet and let the employer do the talking. They know what they are willing to pay but will typically start at a lower level and plan on negotiating up. They just tend to hope that they “buy you out” at a good price. To keep from getting undercompensated, check out the statistical average for a job of your type on a national average, and maybe data from other competing companies. This will give you an idea of when to accept. Just like the employer, start out high and negotiate towards them. In the bartering process, actual pay could be sacrificed for the addition of perks and reimbursements. Finally, when the agreement is reached, read the offer letter carefully before signing it and ask any questions. Ideally, the negotiation process should be smooth and quick. But if you are having difficulty difficulty during the negotiation process, keep this in mind. It could be an insight into the job you are about to begin.

5 Tips for Customizing your Resume

Gone are the days of the bland, generic one-page resume. Employers these days are more impressed by a resume that is customized and they tend to give jobs to interviewees that have a bit of knowledge about the company.

By doing your research, you’re showing initiative, which impresses potential employers. It will also help you decide whether or not you would feel comfortable working for the company, and would fit in with others at the office and the overall atmosphere.

Researching the company can also help you ace the dreaded job interview, since it will give you an idea of what you want to communicate, and how you can incorporate that sentiment into the company philosophy.

Overall, it will decrease stress levels because you’re already just a bit more prepared than the average applicant. So relax… and start your research!

Here are five tips to customizing your resume:

1- Visit the company’s website: read past the obvious introductory pieces. Pay special attention to the layout and design- they should give clues as to the type of company it is. If possible, familiarize yourself with the key players in the company.

2- Go beyond the company site: Google the company name, and read some of the recent news articles, annual reports or any other relevant information you can find.

3- Seek out the competitors: talk to anyone you know who works for one of the competitors to find out how your potential employer is viewed in their industry.

4- Inquire around the water cooler: ask your friends and co-workers what they know about the company.

5- Pick up the phone: call the company, and ask the receptionist their views on the company, including dress code, organization, leadership style, and overall office atmosphere.

Keeping the Momentum at the Interview

With a must-have job on the line, you have done all of the pre-interview preparation: printed copies of your résumé, practiced your responses to popular questions and dressed to impress.

But so has the competition. Can you give yourself an advantage over other qualified candidates?

You can, experts say, in part by being on point from the beginning to the very end of your interview. While you may approach the end of a long interview feeling as if there’s nothing left to say, by keeping a few smart questions in your back pocket, you can regain momentum and impress hiring managers one last time. That way, you’ll never stammer when an interviewer asks, “So, any last questions for me?”

Some smart background research on the organization you are applying to will likely supply you with a few good questions, suggested Dorothy Stubblebine, president of DJS Associates, a human resources consulting firm in New Jersey.

If possible, obtain a copy of the annual report and read it thoroughly, she recommended. Then use your familiarity with the organization to ask an incisive question directly related to recent news. It might be about projects the organization has taken on, contracts it has won or high-profile moves at the top.

“I understand the company has a new agreement with another firm,” you might ask. “How’s that going?” Doing this shows interest in the company, the job and the industry, she said, and can help end the interview on a positive note.

Your skills and background are key, but do not forget that hiring managers are looking at how you would fit in with an existing team. While your achievements are important, showing that you are approachable and a team player can be just as crucial.

There is a simple way to help demonstrate this, Stubblebine said: Whether in a group or individual setting, a smart response to “any questions before we wrap up?” is to ask something that lets the interviewer provide insight into daily work life. Ask a question like, “What is a typical workday like for you?”

If in a group situation, ask each interviewer about his or her role and how it helps the company achieve its goals. This gives you the chance to ask follow-up questions directed at a specific individual, which can help you establish a connection and demonstrate your interest in the team’s effort.

The last few minutes of a job interview give the candidate the opportunity to reverse roles, said Tom Darrow, co-founder of Talent Connections in Atlanta.

Ask the recruiter, “Is there anything that concerns you about my background?” If there are concerns, the applicant can try to ease them, Darrow said. The question can also help reverse any objection a recruiter might have.

While some applicants may be hesitant to ask such a question, Darrow added, it can be the deciding factor in whether an applicant is called back for a second interview.

One topic you should lay off, however, is money. While it’s natural for a job seeker to think about salary, it’s probably best to avoid the topic unless prompted, especially at the end of the interview.

Instead of showing interest in the company and the job, asking about pay shows an interest in yourself, and you don’t want to end the interview having set that tone, said Leonard Pfeiffer, managing director of Leonard Pfeiffer & Co., an executive recruitment consulting company in the District.

Instead, Darrow recommended, do something unexpected: Ask for the job. Job seekers will subject themselves to all manner of experiences and stresses for a job they really want, but most never think to clearly and plainly state their interest while in the interview room.

You don’t have to be literal, Darrow said. Try something like, “After what I’ve learned, I’m confident that I’d be good fit for the position and the company. I hope to hear from you soon.”

This could go a long way toward ensuring that a hiring manager won’t forget your name when you walk out the door.

Are You Dressing Right for Your Job Interview?

When going for a job interview, it is important to keep in mind that your first impression could turn into your ONLY impression all too easily. For this reason, what you choose to wear is of the utmost importance. The impression that the interviewer has of your appearance may well determine if your interview is successful.

If possible, try to get a feel for what employees wear to work on a daily basis. If necessary, call the Human Resources department, explain that you have an interview, and inquire about the company dress code. What you choose to wear to the interview should make you look as if you fit in to the organization. When in doubt, however, it is always better to over dress than to under dress. If you dress too casually, the interviewer may feel as if you don’t care about the job.

Be sure you have covered these essentials :

* professional dress - Be sure to find out if you need formal business wear, or if business casual is appropriate
* clean, well-polished shoes - Shoe are often used as a barometer for personality. Scuffed, dirty shoes can indicate carelessness in other areas, as well
* neatly groomed hair and fingernails - Cleanliness is always in style!
* well-brushed teeth and fresh breath - Make sure your first impression is a sweet smelling one.
* no gum or candy - These can be distracting when speaking to an interviewer
* avoid heavy perfume - Many people have aversions or allergies to heavy scents

With these tips, you’re sure to make a great first impression. Happy Interviewing!

How to Be a Great Salesperson - By agentsully

This article is for everyone, even for people who are not technically in sales. Why? Because we are all in sales. Anytime you are trying to influence someone’s actions or thoughts, then you are selling. The best selling happens when you are trying to meet someone’s needs. This is when you will be most successful. This guide will outline the top ways to become a superstar sales person.

I’ve condensed my greatest sales learnings from 17 years of sales experience and combined it with the very best tips from the best sales books all into this one article. I’m a big fan of reading books and I reference several of them at the end of this article. At the same time I’m a bigger fan of absorbing some quick basic information and then immediately applying it in real life.
Sales Concepts for Success

1. Be Organized. This is very important. Planning is absolutely crucial to success:

* Establish your Yearly Goals and break them down into quarterly, monthly, weekly and daily goals so that you know what you need to be working on. Post your Goals in plain view so you see them all the time, especially your daily goals.
* Be sure to do a Weekly Review of your Sales Funnel. Check to see that your results are matching up with your goals. If they’re not, then it’s time to recalibrate your strategy.
* Plan your day everyday for maximum productivity and success.
* Very Smart Practice: On a yearly basis (and quarterly basis too if you can), analyze what activities or clients brought you the most business? What activities were the least effective? Adjust your plan to do more of the high revenue producing activities and spend more time with clients and prospects who bring you the most business. Eliminate the less effective practices. Work smarter, not harder. Reviewing your results and adapting your strategy over time brings the sales process full circle.

2. Planning is Good, But Remember to Be Action Oriented. Makes your calls. Set appointments. Meet with clients. Have lunch with power networkers with whom you can learn and work for mutual success. Inspire prospects to take the next action. Be bold. There is no failure, just learning experiences. Balance your planning time with action time. Your plan doesn’t have to be A+ perfect. You can hone it over time. Plan and then get moving!

3. Uncover Needs. This is your most important task. If you don’t understand your prospect’s needs, you’ll never sell anything except by accident. So much could be written on this one point alone. But here is what you need to know in a nutshell:

* Start with more open-ended questions where the prospect can talk a lot.
* Make sure you keep quiet while the prospect is talking!
* As your meeting is closing down ask more closed-ended questions which will be answered with one word such as yes or no questions. Be creative with uncovering needs.
* Be direct when you can and be indirect when you sense resistance.
* Don’t hold back because you think you’re prying. Remember you’re here to help. You can only do this if you understand your prospect’s needs.

4. You’re Here to Help: Meeting Your Clients’ Needs. The reason sales people get a bad rap is because of the ones who try to force feed their clients. That is not selling. That is bullying. Your true role as a sales professional is “Needs Consultant,” helping your clients meet their needs, solve their problems, ease their pain, and bring them joy. Sometimes you need to help clients become aware of what their true needs are. Many people go through life thinking they want X. Sometimes you need to help them turn on the light to illuminate their real needs which may be better served by product/service X. Always confirm that you understand a need. Then match it with a benefit from your product or service that solves your client’s need.
Read the rest of this entry »

More working adults using networking Web sites to find jobs, trade money tips

Take a spin on MySpace and Friendster and most adults find amusement in the concept and technology, but relatively few practical reasons to keep coming back for more. They’ve been a boon to a mostly younger set of users looking to meet new friends, find a date, or just generally kill some time online.

An increasing number of professionals are tapping into a new breed of networking Web sites to do more than just boast about how many “friends” they have. Millions of users each day are using the Internet to compare investment techniques, correspond with job recruiters and find help in launching a business.

The same technology that lets members of social networking Web sites share blogs, photos, music and video has gained popularity among businesses. Not only have big technology companies such as Cisco Systems Inc. bought firms that design social networking software, but some professionals have begun to use sites like Facebook as a way to link with co-workers.

Now, sites are also being designed specifically with professionals in mind. LinkedIn, a business-contact networking site, has seen its ranks swell to 12 million in just four years. And online brokers, including TradeKing and Zecco, are using social networking to let investors swap stock tips.

“The whole MySpace culture just passed me by, and there’s a whole generation of people that feel the same,” said Matana LePlae, 36, an advertising executive and mother of two daughters.

Then the New York City resident was invited by a colleague to join LinkedIn.

“For my kids, these networking Web sites will be part of their lives,” she said. “I didn’t think it would be part of mine.”

In the past, Web sites like Monster.com and message boards were simply a space where members could post a resume or a stock tip and hope someone stumbled upon it. LinkedIn, and other business networking Web sites, allow for more relevant contacts and more private communications. They allow business people to share their network of contacts with others and share their contacts in return.

And that’s exactly what Reid Hoffman envisioned when he and four others launched LinkedIn in 2003. The ad-driven Web site is now growing by about 700,000 new users each month, and is considered to be the model for a growing trend of business-oriented networking sites. Management said the privately-owned company is profitable, and revenue has doubled year-to-date.

The 1,294 contacts on Hoffman’s LinkedIn profile read like a who’s who of Silicon Valley elite — everyone from Internet executives to venture capitalists. Users on the site who know Hoffman, or become one of his contacts, would have access to those names — and vice versa. On LinkedIn, members have to accept contacts — and unlock their lists to others they have approved.

“At this point, if you come in and upload your address book and connect with people that are here, it doesn’t take much experimenting,” he said. “You can be off to the races immediately, and that’s one of the benefits of being at a scale of 12 million people.”

Trade associations have long used the Internet to connect members within a particular industry. However, sites using social networking software allow them to post details on a profile, and use it to directly communicate and access information.

“For many people, these sites will mirror the way we behave off-line,” said Steven Jones, a professor at the University of Illinois, Chicago who specializes in new media.

One popular niche is linking investors, allowing online traders to boast about a shrewd trade or a hot stock tip, like the traders do on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.

TradeKing, a discount brokerage based in Boca Raton, Fla., last year began allowing its customers to set up profiles and blogs. This allows investors to search out users with similar investment strategies, and dig up more information about them and their stocks before a trade.

Those discussions had taken place before in message boards where investors were vulnerable to so-called pump-and-dump schemes, where fraudsters posted messages anonymously touting stocks and then cashed in when shares moved higher.

TradeKing gives its members a “Certified Trades” designation that indicates the brokerage vouches for what was bought or sold. Rival brokerage Zecco, which offers free trades, has also introduced a way for investors to share information in forums and blogs.

About 2,200 investors are active users of TradeKing’s online community, which was first offered to the brokerage’s customers last year. The company’s founders hoped adding a personal aspect to trading would make investing more interactive and accessible to investors, boosting business and fostering an environment that might increase trade activity.

“This is the crest of a wave that’s happening, and we’re among the first movers in the space,” said Donato Montanaro, TradeKing’s co-founder and chief executive. “There will always be sites that exist like Facebook and other advertising supported models, but the real question is can you employ them in a proven business model. And we’re seeing that.”

Social Networks And Job Seekers

Job seekers are using social networking sites such as MySpace, Facebook and LinkedIn to attract attention of employers. Adecco, a workforce solutions firm, says job seekers can use the Web for a successful job hunt, while preventing social networks from hindering their search.

“Because social media and online job searching components are now part of the norm, candidates need to know how to benefit from the use of these tools in order to be successful in their search,” says Bernadette Kenny, Chief Career Officer at Adecco.

“A job seeker’s personal posts on social media outlets, as well as their overall ‘persona’ on the Internet can harm their hunt for the perfect job - or they can turn it around and use these same tools to help them land a great position.”

Some employers are searching the Web and performing background checks by using Google to search an individual’s name. An Adecco Workplace survey found that 66 percent of Generation Y respondents were not aware that private photos, comments and statements were examined by potential employers. More than half of the respondents do not feel that it is fair for the information they have online to be a factor in the hiring process.

Jumpstart your career in five hard lessons by Steve Tobak

Think you’ve got what it takes to become a hot-shot executive but your boss is holding you back. Or maybe you’re just sick and tired of working your butt off while everyone else gets ahead. Well, quit your whining and do something about it.

No, don’t get a self-help book; they’re mostly a waste of time. I’ve got a better idea. But, before we go any further, I need to say this: I’m no career guidance expert, I don’t have volumes of data, and I’m not here to sell you anything. On the other hand, I do have five hard-learned, real-life lessons from the trenches.

Learning these lessons enabled my success. Yeah, I know, I hate people who say that too, “I was a big success in [fill in the blank] and, if you buy my book, you can be a success too.” The only difference between them and me is that I’m not trying to sell you anything.

Will my lessons work for you or anyone else? Fair question. I have no idea. But I do think they’re fundamental and not the kind of stuff you’re likely to find hanging around a bookstore. These are not obvious “falling-off-a-log” lessons. I learned them through painful trial and error. Speaking of which, if you’d like to know whose advice you’re taking, just check out my bio.

If there’s an overriding message, it’s this: success isn’t easy and there are no formulas. Anyone who says otherwise just wants to sell you something. Everything you’re about to read is hard, but I don’t know of any workarounds. If there was an easier way, trust me, I’d have tried it. And, like anything significant in life, just reading it isn’t likely to help you much. But if it resonates with you, perhaps it will affect your behavior and then, the sky’s the limit.

Lesson 1: Get in the line of fire. Find a way to put yourself in a critical position on a program that can make or break the company. Take big risks, especially early in your career when it doesn’t matter so much. Stick your neck out and test your reach. Management will respect your willingness to put your butt on the line for the company. Don’t get hung up on winning. Whether the project succeeds or fails is secondary. Same goes for titles and compensation. Show your capability first. Then see Lesson 2.
Read the rest of this entry »