Employment Digest

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For many, the begin of a new year means the start of a new job search using the world wide web to research employers. For up coming college graduates in particular, it is opportunity to get a head begin in getting their careers of the ground using on the world wide web resources. At the same time, many employers are also researching potential job candidates through Google, Myspace.com and Facebook.com and what they are finding could be used as reasons not to hire you.

A current poll conducted for Careerbuilder.com showed that 26 percent of hiring managers admitted to using the Internet to perform background checks on job candidates. A further 12 percent admitted to using social networking sites such as MySpace.com and Facebook.com as a screening tool.

For many college students, social networking sites such as Facebook.com and Myspace.com are a core part of their cyber profile used for networking. However, many students are surprised to learn that their candid and sometimes sexually explicit photos and the details of their drinking and dating lives in their profiles can negatively affect their job search. Those disparaging comments, risqué photos, inappropriate language and lewd jokes posted on their profiles could be viewed as a reflection of their character by a potential employer.

According to an HR director, people should carefully think about their potential audience and the impression they may have based on your photos, personal thoughts, and ideas posted on the world wide web. “We were in the process of extending an offer to a great candidate, until his myspace.com page was brought to our attention. He had a great resume, went to an elite school and had impeccable references. However, our review of his myspace profile highlighted his recreational drug use. This made us immediately reconsider hiring him,” states an HR Director for a financial services company in Toronto, Ontario. “Our company is very conscious of client relations and our public image and we could not risks this candidate’s background being taken as a reflection of organization."

A current poll of Resume Solutions student clients showed that over 60% of the respondents were unaware that their profiles on social networking websites could be viewed by potential employers. This is surprising, despite the increased media attention focused on employers reviewing Myspace and Facebook prior to making hiring decisions.
Prior to staring a new job search, it is suggested that job seekers perform a Google search on their names to find out what a potential employer might read or see about them on the web. If any questionable content is discovered, that is content you would not feel comfortable if an employer or your parents view, then request that the site’s webmaster remove it immediately. Questionable content might include nude photos, slanderous comments or those drunken photos from your Cancun vacation. Keep in mind you might encounter resistance in getting the content removed, however, you can let them know that they might be affecting your future job prospects and you might have no choice but to seek legal recourse. For that information, totally you can't have removed due to lack of control, construct a plausible answer to counter or explain away to a hiring manager.
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While an executive resume will always serve as the primary tool in your job search, increasing competition for top, high-paying jobs requires that you engage in new strategies for job search success.

Developing a portfolio that includes innovative, cutting-edge career marketing documents can really power up your job search and give you the boost that you need. The best approach is to create a series of one or two-page documents that provide the reader with an in-depth look at various aspects of your career progression. Like the executive resume, ROI career marketing documents must be targeted, contain relevant keywords and highlight critical career achievements that position you as the right candidate for the job.

Here are four ROI Career Documents to consider:

Career Biography: This is a synopsis of your entire career and education written in a narrative format and works well for networking contacts, speaking engagements, board positions and company websites. With a career biography, you only need to focus on top career accomplishments and milestones for each company; job responsibilities are generally summarized. When written in strong, active language, the career biography can be just as powerful and informative as the executive resume.

Here are the first two paragraphs from a career biography written for a Senior Consultant. Notice how the first paragraph ends with a summary statement that encapsulates a portion of his career and the consistent value he brings to various companies:

Daniel Allen brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the field of global outsourcing services. For the past six years, he has worked with Fortune 500 companies like Nike and ABN AMRO, where he efficiently met very special organizational and technological constraints to produce significant accomplishments in cost reduction, service delivery and internal process improvement.

Currently, as one of the Senior Consultants for the Global Advisory Services, Daniel is responsible for leading program management and project planning initiatives for growing companies seeking to secure outsourcing contracts in the global marketplace. He interfaces directly with senior management and C-level executives to strategize and devise effective measures including contract negotiation, agreement structuring, and operational level agreements for long-term ROI maximization.

Critical Leadership Initiatives: This one to two-page document is very popular with C-level executives as it allows them to showcase their top leadership and business strengths at work. When writing this ROI career document, make sure that you selected achievements from your entire career that demonstrate strategy planning, organizational leadership, staff development and business acumen - just to name a few. Use this document to show potential employers that you have broad-based expertise. Present each achievement in the Challenge-Action-Results (CAR) format as ideal as possible.

Here is a sample achievement from a critical leadership initiatives document written for a marketing executive:

Leadership Challenge: Revitalize a poor performing marketing department challenged with lackluster results, service underutilization and declining employee morale - VP of Corporate Marketing, ABC Business Corporation

Introduced company to new “market-driven” philosophy; revised existing marketing, branding and communication strategies; and instituted comprehensive public and community relations programs.

Bottom-line impact: Annual revenues surpassed $200 million goal in just two years and internal utilization of marketing department increased 200%.

Industry / Functional Profile: This ROI career document demonstrates and verifies your expertise and strengths in a particular industry or functional area. For example, this document can be focused on technology, marketing, M&A or business development. It is generally one page and gives evidence of specific qualifications and expertise; it’s also highly effective as a leave-behind document after an interview.

Again, using the Challenge-Action-Results format helps to “sell” your story. Here is an accomplishment used in a technology profile:

Technology Challenge: As VP, Information & Technology Services for ABC Enterprises, revitalize business operations constrained by spiraling technology costs, missed project deadlines and inconsistent team performance.

Actions: Conducted in-depth analysis to identify business “pain” points, assembled top performing individuals to serve on planning team, identified highest revenue-generating products and services and prioritized key business objectives.

Solution & Results: Secured management approval and $50 million to implement the company’s first IT strategy and technology roadmap over a three-year period. Subsequently introduced new processes that propelled double-digit cost reduction throughout the company.

Networking Resume: As the holidays approach and business activities slow down, your job search does not need to take a break. Armed with an effective, one-page networking resume, you can still catch the attention of recruiters and key decision makers. The networking resume is essentially a slimmed down version of your executive resume and it gives readers your top career achievements from each position/company. Below is the top portion of a networking resume:

SALES MANAGEMENT & MARKETING EXECUTIVE

Self-directed, motivated sales executive with distinctive track record of success in taking startup, turnaround and high growth companies to new levels. Astute business acumen coupled with solid customer relations and operations expertise ideal for securing new business opportunities, expanding customer base and achieving corporate goals.

Strategic Planning / P&L Management / New Product Launch & Positioning
Sales Initiatives / New Business Development / National & Regional Sales
Business Partners & Alliances / Customer Service & Retention / Marketing Plans

JOB TARGETS
Position Level: Executive Vice President / Senior Vice President / Director
Focus Areas: Sales, Marketing and New Business Development
Industries: Financial Services • High Technology • Manufacturing
Overall, you want to remember that the same amount of detail and effort should go into creating your ROI career documents as you would put into creating an executive resume. If your job search is starting to go in circles and/or you’re competing against the best of the best, try adding one of these ROI career documents to get you ahead of the competition.

Abby M. Locke, president of Premier Writing Solutions, is a Certified Executive Resume-Writer and Personal Brand Strategist who helps senior-level professionals and C-level executives achieve personal success with customized, branded executive resumes and career marketing documents. Her resume samples have been published in Nail the Resume! Great Tips for Creating Dynamic Resumes and Same-Day Resumes.

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Increasingly employers admit to using social networking sites and search engines as tools in conducting reference checks in the employment process. Social networking sites like Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn and search engines like Yahoo and Google have become very popular for employers to search and screen applicants.

Business Justification.

Why would employers bother using Google and Facebook to research potential applicants? Is it simply curiosity or is there real business justification? Many studies confirm the costs associated with the bad hiring decision. The cost of a turnover is estimated at twice the annual salary for particular position. The cost of a bad hire that stays with a company is even greater.

Companies also have an interest to limit "potential liability" associated with a poor hire. For example, hiring someone who runs a website espousing racist views or illegal activities can represent a big potential liability to any company. So there are many reasons why a company might select these avenues to research a potential candidate or conduct a reference check.

Applicants

With the ever increasing popularity of social networking sites and the omnipotent search engines like Google, personal information has never been easier to obtain. Recently, Facebook has opened up it's site to search engines like Yahoo and Google. Despite the legal or moral concerns job seekers might have with employers using Google or Facebook to view their personal information and conduct employment reference checks, it would probably be wise for job seekers to be careful of what they post on the web.

Employers

Regardless of technology, established employment law still applies. In many countries, there is specific legislation against discriminatory hiring practices. In Canada, the Human Rights Act protects individuals from discriminatory hiring practices on the basis of religion, race, gender, marital status, disability, and the so on. It is advisable for employers to be familiar with legislation and concepts like BFOR's etc. For example, a company should not bypass an applicant, because the search engine results reveal that this applicant has a religious website. If employers are considering incorporating the use of search engines and social network sites in their screening and selection process, then be consistent in application while abiding by all established employment law. Consistency means that all applicants go through the same hiring process, that your policies should be applied consistently. For example if your company conducts criminal background checks as a condition of employment, then it should complete this step for all applicants not select ones because they look like a criminal. If employers have any concerns regarding their hiring policy it would be prudent to contact their Human Resources professional or labour lawyer.

Lastly, as mentioned above, the business decision to employ search engines and networking sites to research potential employees is driven primarily by cost avoidance. That is employers are motivated to avoid the potential cost and liabilities of a poor hire. In this same logic, it would then also be important for employers to consider the impact on public perception and employee engagement in employing such policies. Since if employees and job seekers view using search engines and networking sites to research applicants as distasteful, then by doing so the employer would have defeated the purpose of the exercise.

Information provided by, HRinmotion.com, your complete employment center.

Do you have problem with the job you have now? Feel exhausted of changing career all the time and you're getting older but your jobs searches still lead no where. Each day you think of changing your job - feeling bored, under pressure, fatigued, hate your boss and much more unreasonable reason in your mind. You can't even find any satisfactions, passion or even desires inside you to stay on job you have. It not just what you feel about the job, people around you or working environment but it's already set inside you, "What I get from this job?", "Is this what I really want in my life?" You keep questioning yourself the same thing over and over - and every time you think about it, you start to hate your job and feel it imprecise your dream and your ambition.

When the new opportunities come, you radically grab it without think twice and very, very sure that's what you really want for the ideal of your career - new colleague, new boss and of course new environment, which you think can gives brand new life into your dream career. But with all the changes will make you happier than before or you just start looking for another excellent reason to quick your job or what worse? Maybe the question is not "How can I get the job I'll love?", but "How can I love the job I have?" Here are easy tips to help you love the job you have more while enjoying a great life.

Career Tip #1 Realize that your job does not define you, but how you do it does.

This is about attitude, the way you handle your life and how you create yourself to be what you want to be. There's a lot to be stated for attitude - whether it bring good or bad to your life, it's all up to you. Any job can be done well, done with compassion, done with care. Sometimes, we have no choice to select our dream career and lead to non energetic performances if there's no passion and interest on it. But it's not all about the job - your attitude at work and the way you treat people, even your moods do not go unnoticed. They have a profound influence on the people you work with and feedback you get from them gives effect to you and what you do. I didn't say that you have to be perfect and monitoring the whole things and people surrounding you: There are times when you can't control your situation, but you can always choose how you respond to it. You only need to put a little effort to be happy and feel excited to continue what ever you're work with. Remember, it's only you can make things more interesting and to love your job, you have to deal with your attitude first.

Career Tip #2 Find significant in what you do

Some people don't ever know why they select to do the job. Is it because they're desperately needs some income to support their lives or because they don't even have other choices? How about you? Does your job really important to you or do you see any future in your career? This might require you to think huge, but it can be done if you let yourself accept the fact that you're doing the job you've been select before. Without regret or even feel hesitate. You can take some time to really think about the task you perform since you've been working. Do you provide an essential service? Do you get to see the finished product? Do you give direction that gets things done? Then ask yourself, "How does this job done differently because I am doing it?" Perfectively plays a huge role in personal satisfaction and sense of well being. Try to remember why you took the position in the first place. If it was only going to be "for now", are you actively looking for other work? Give yourself a chance to improve your performance - even it's about your work or even your feedback to people around you and whatever mistakes you've been done before, take it as a challenge to start a new era of your career.

Career Tip #3 Stop focusing on the money

No one states you have to forget about how important to have a lot of money in our life - and one of the reasons we find a good career is to support our needs and get lots of money. However, money will never be enough, even the richest man in the world still work hard to get more and more money; so stop using it as an excuse! Whatever you are bringing home at month end, there are always going to be things that you could do, or would do, if you had more cash. Try keeping track of each dollar you spend in a week, a month or a year. Seeing where your money goes can help you to redirect your spending towards things you really want, hence lessening the discomforting feeling that you're woefully underpaid! Getting pad is only one small part of what you do; your work has to be more than just getting a pay check to be fulfilling. It also has to about passion and desires. If you do your job just because you want more money for each work you've been done, it will ruin your life forever. You're not going to find satisfaction in whatever you do and what make it worst is changing your job frequently won't bring any benefit to your career life. How far you can go and how much you can demand to get more paid each time you get new opportunities? Experience without passion - what do they thing? And you will never ever go anyway if money is always top of your priorities.

Career Tip #4 Dare to re-evaluate

Not all of us can accept our own weaknesses especially when it involves things we do and how we response to the other people. It needs courage and strength to begin the whole things once again. But sometimes, we have too. And that exactly what we need to improve ourselves to get a better life. If you can't figure out what it is about your job that you like, or if you see yourself turning into the type of person you said you would never be, think about the reasons. It might not be a new job that you need, just a new direction. Do you like the person you become while on the job? If not, are there changes you can effect to improve things or is the job itself the problem? Do you need to be in a new position within the organization? Are additional responsibilities taking you away from the work you were hired to do? Maybe all that is needed is some re-focusing and learning to state "no" at times. If you want to stay longer in what you do; ready to take any challenge, dare to make changes and always be positive.

Career Tip #5 Take control

Taking steps 1 to 4 is positive - it means you're self-aware. This awareness can lead to greater job satisfaction and more control over your life. Granted, not everything might be within your control, but many things are, such as choosing to limit your hours at the office, not prejudice, pay more attention to your surrounding or opting for items that offer versatility and boost your confidence. Being comfortable with your job, your colleague and the working environment will give you more excitement and satisfaction. As I said before, what you choose to do and what are you going to be, is in your own hand: you can't take everything for allowed, as life is never fair. You need to learn how to appreciate things you own or you'll lose everything you've been work for all this while. So be it your job or your personal comfort, figure out what is needed and make the change. Don't be afraid taking any risk because that's the way life going to be.

Lily Weston is currently an author/infopreneur in her blog http://www.luckylily.com sharing thoughts and insight on relationship, romance and love with hope to help men and women getting over their daily relationship difficulties.

Market positioning key for job seekers ages 50 and up

While employability is often more of a challenge for professionals over 50, there are still opportunities for older job seekers willing to position themselves creatively and aggressively.

Out-of-work professionals 50 or older may have to work harder and smarter, but they can find comparable or even more senior-level new employment.

Regardless of age, there’s an undeniable need for job seekers to seem vital. While you can’t change your age, you can portray yourself as current, both in how you think and what you say. For instance, read and reference the latest business thinking, be conversant in new technologies, speak about pastimes and outside interests.

Develop a lifetime learning mind-set. People who show passion about business and life project a vibrant image.

Additional suggestions for over-50 job seekers:

# Older professionals need to “unbundle” their skills to emphasize those that are of use to potential employers.

Somebody who has worked in a single function or industry for a long time might have a narrow idea of what he or she’s capable of. If you look at all the skills and experiences accumulated throughout your career, however, you might find that they’re applicable to many different situations. And in fact you might find you have an advantage over others with less experience.

Job seekers should broaden their vision about what the workplace needs and what they can offer.

# People over 50 are sometimes held back in their job searches because they reach for titles. Recognize that titles this day aren’t as important as possessing the capability to influence people in your work environment … and to be able to do it up, down and across functional levels within an organization.

# Frequently workers over 50 are perceived as inflexible and less able to bounce back from adversity, so those job seekers have to work against the stereotype. Project energy, agility and a sense of urgency.

# Older professionals must pursue the “hidden” job market aggressively, even as they compete for announced positions. Job hunting nowadays is all about need creation. Things are always changing in companies, even after the budget is done.

Don’t ask whether a company needs someone or something. Instead, portray your own uniqueness … the value-added piece. Companies will deviate from a budget when the opportunity arises to hire the right talent. And it’s an opportunity for you to demonstrate your flexibility and open-mindedness.

# Job seekers over 50 should avoid discussing their last job, assignment or work history unless asked in detail. Rather than looking back, demonstrate that you know the market, challenges and competitors of the company you are interviewing with. Instead of saying, “while at company X, I did …” reframe it as, “have you considered this possible solution?”

Even those whose 50th birthday is years away should begin thinking about how to position themselves in the job market when they’re older. Rather than having to play catch-up later, workers should stay active and engaged in the changing world of work.

Tom Sather is the owner of Career Works Fox Valley. If you have a question that you would like answered you can send it to Toms@cwfv.com or visit Career Works on the Web at www.cwfv.com.

No One Cares What You Want! by Louise Fletcher

That may sound harsh, but during a job search it's true.

The hiring manager has many concerns, issues, worries and problems - too much work, not enough staff, looming business issues or missed opportunities, a headache, a fight with her teenage daughter … but whatever is swirling round her mind when she looks at your resume, the very last thing she's thinking is "I wonder what all these candidates want in their next job? I wonder what's important to them?"

(She might care about that later, if she interviews you and likes you and is thinking about an offer, but right now she doesn't give two hoots.)

This is why I hate resumes that begin with an objective statement. Even the most well-written objective statement is a waste of space because the employer just doesn't care. But most are not actually counter-productive. This week I came across a resume that had one of the LEAST effective objective statements I've ever seen. One that would surely dissuade employers from ever even picking up the phone.

It started with a short description of the type of job being sought, but then it went on: "I do NOT want to work at a company that doesn't value it's employees. I do NOT want to have to ask permission when I have an idea. I do NOT want …"

It went on a little longer but you get the idea. Not only is this candidate focused only on his own concerns - he's also making himself look like a troublemaker, even though there is nothing inherently wrong with the things he is seeking in his next position - they just don't belong on a resume!

Your resume and cover letters must never focus on your needs and concerns. Every word must focus on showing why you can add value to potential employers. Your introduction should focus on this entirely with no mention of your own desires.

That's not to say your desires are not important - of course they are. You will asses opportunities based on your needs and concerns. You will choose a job that meets those needs. But by focusing your resume on what the employer needs, you will ensure that you have the broadest array of options from which to select.

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Nothing is more important to making a good first branding impression than your business card. In addition to the information included, a card's look and feel also sends a strong message about your business. That's why I'm perplexed by the many poorly designed business cards I see these days. Just because you can log on to various websites, "design" and print cards for free, doesn't mean you should.

The cardinal rule to creating a good business card is to ensure that it reflects your company's image. From a branding perspective, this means it should match the look and feel of your logo. Yes, you want your card to be one-of-a-kind. Yes, you want people to remember you by it. But if you break the cardinal rule in pursuit of uniqueness, all people will remember seeing is an unusual business card. They won't remember your brand or its attributes.

So in the interest of sparing you a potential branding misstep, here are the top five blunders I've seen new companies make when creating their business cards:

    * Choosing low-quality paper stock. Affordable paper stock might save you money, but it often leaves you with a card that feels cheap. Touch is an important sense and plays a role in memory recall. How you appeal to this sense depends on your company's image. For example, B2B companies wanting to convey reliability should use a substantial, mid-weight stock.
    * Using a design template that does not match the logo. Assuming you want a business card to be taken seriously and help brand your company, you need a design that works with your logo. In other words, be extremely careful with template-based designs. If the templates weren't developed specifically to match your logo–and most aren't–they probably won't. Many entrepreneurs fall in love with an over-designed template that distracts from their logo, or one that features an unrelated photograph. Photographs work well in marketing brochures, but if they appear on a business card, they will distract from your logo.
    * Adding too much color to the card. When you want to get someone's attention, do you scream? Probably not, if you want to avoid scaring them. So why scare potential customers with a super-bright, rainbow-colored card? Color is your biggest asset in branding your company. Research indicates that color is the most important factor in memory recall. Tie your business to one or two specific colors; this color should also appear in your logo.
    * Making the card too very special. You want your card to stand out, certainly, but not so much that its difference makes people uncomfortable. Complex dye-cuts, extremely oversized cards, and odd card stocks (like metal) should be used only by companies engaged in highly customized or creative endeavors. Custom embossing, rounded corners, or varnishes are superior touches for most companies. While it's tempting to create an oversized card, keep in mind that many people still use Rolodexes or tuck cards into their wallets–both difficult to do with unusually sized cards. Function overrides form.
    * Making the logo gigantic. In general, the more massive the company, the smaller its logo appears on business cards. If you want to look like a Fortune 500, size your logo appropriately. Instead of enlarging your logo for emphasis, employ white space to bring attention to it.

If you're looking to make a lasting impression, don't cheapen your first impression. Build a better business card and you'll build a superior business.

John Williams is president and founder of LogoYes.com, the world's first and largest DIY logo website. In his 25 years in advertising, he has created brand standards for Fortune 100 companies like Mitsubishi and won numerous international awards for his design work.