Job Search Strategy - online posting
December 1st, 2008Be sure to re-post your resume on job boards and company Web sites every two weeks.
Indeed.com - one search, all jobs
October 21st, 2008Indeed.com is an excellent tool for your job search. It is an aggregate Web site, which means it brings together listings from all the other job boards (except Craig’s list) and will make your job search a lot more time effective.
Scottsdale Job Network 9/22
September 12th, 2008Here’s a great opportunity to hnetwork with other job seekers in an informal setting.
SOCIAL NETWORKING: Mon, September 22, 2008 – 7 PM – 9 PM
SJN will be practicing social networking in two forms: first online and then as a mixer.
Bill Austin, SJN Vice President and social networking expert, will spend the first hour demonstrating the LinkedIn platform focusing on the how-to’s. It should be noted that Bill Austin is not a certified or accredited trainer, not associated with LinkedIn, and LinkedIn is a trademark. After Bill’s presentation, we’ll have open networking, socializing and light refreshments. Should be a fun time! We’ll expect many of our working members to join us for this evening event.
More on Digital Dirt
July 22nd, 2008I read this morning of an online application human resources recruiters are using www.spokeo.com/hr . It seems a recruiter can enter the e-mail listed on an applicant’s resume and it will show results linked to social networking sites. Be careful if you have any digital dirt out there.
I would suggest:
- Create a new e-mail address dedicated to the job search.
- Google yourself often to see what might be out there.
- Make pictures and information on social networking sites private.
Volunteerism
July 5th, 2008Volunteering during your job search can bring value in many ways. For one, it will make you feel good about yourself during this often frustrating and sometimes depressing period. Secondly, volunteering for a high-profile charitable organization can pump up your network of contacts. We all now that great jobs more often than not come from who you know. And volunteerism can then be added to your resume. Many companies today look for this active involvement in the community.
Donna Tucker, CPRW
CareerPRO Resume Center, Phoenix
jobsaz@att.net
Contact information on your resume
June 16th, 2008Many people are leaving off their addresses on the resume — too much identity theft and other nasties happening these days. H.R. managers are understanding of this.
However, be careful of your e-mail address. It should be professional; use your name, not some cutsey nickname: ilovecats@abcd.com or raucusricky @dcba.net
I know many people only have a cell phone these days, but if you have a land line at home, use that first. You’d hate to lose a job because your cell phone dropped a call or the reception was bad.
Worse yet, if you’re one who answers the phone anywhere, you may well get caught off guard with a telephone interview. Be sure to screen your cell phone calls. Call the company back when you’re in a quiet place with all the company research in front of you.
Oh, here’s another thing to think about. What kind of message do you have on your voice mail? Get rid of the music and the smart aleck remarks. Make the message as professional as you want to be perceived.
Donna Tucker
CareerPRO Resume Center
Phoenix, Arizona
Global Resumes
June 13th, 2008Are you thinking about exploring an international career? Before you send off your “American” résumé to a foreign company, do your homework. Résumé guidelines in other countries are often much different from ours, although there are no hard-and-fast-rules. Target the company, investigate the corporate culture and the country culture; find out what you can about the person making the hiring decision.Here’s some general advise:
The term CV (curriculum vitae) and résumé generally mean the same thing, although is typically longer than the résumé. No matter what country across the globe, two pages is average length.
Be award of the differences in format for some countries. Whereas Americans always write in a reverse chronological format, you will find countries that prefer chronological formats. FIND OUT which is preferable.
If you are submitting your résumé in English, check on whether the recipient uses American English or British English. If you don’t make the proper adjustments to your résumé, the reader may think the résumé contains errors.
Do you speak the language of the country to which you are applying? This will be expected, so be sure to highlight that ability.
The size of business stationery is different in different countries. Use page set up to format your document to the appropriate standard for the recipient’s country. This is viable for both faxing and e-mailing a résumé.
Whenever possible, find someone native to the country to which you are applying to review your résumé to be sure that the terminology and language can be easily translated and understood.
Donna Tucker, CareerPRO Resume Center
Phoenix, Arizona
Are You Applying for Jobs Online?
June 12th, 2008
Everywhere you look you will find job postings that instruct you to post your resume on the employer’s job site.
If it is not properly formatted for this purpose, it may not make it past the initial screen. At best, the employer will pass this off as a lack of awareness on your part and may still go ahead and review your credentials. At worst, the computer will not be able to scan and store your resume and/or you will be rejected as a candidate who lacks the technical skills to compete in a highly computerized work environment.
Got digital dirt? Oh my!
June 8th, 2008Last week you had a very productive conversation with a potential employer. You felt you established a good rapport; you explained how your background will meet his needs; and you asked relevant and intelligent questions that demonstrated your knowledge of the company. The job was all but closed. Today you called him and he was cold and aloof; he indicated that he might not need your services after all.What went wrong?
It could have been your digital dirt. Huh? Yes, digital dirt, the information about you that lurks on the Internet through personal sites, profiles on networking sites or comments on blogs.
Have you Googled yourself lately? Perhaps, you lost this lucrative job because he found a picture of you on My Space in an obviously tipsy state with a lampshade on your head. Maybe he saw your post on a blog where you criticized his favorite political candidate.
This situation is not unusual today. Employers are checking on your Internet presence. If you have negative information out there, clean it up. Now! How crushing it could be to have your career derailed because of damaging personal information on the Internet.
But in the opposite respect the Internet can boost your image as well. Demonstrate your business or industry savvy by posting well-thought-out blog contributions (don’t forget grammar and punctuation!). Highlight personal and professional accomplishments on your Web site or on networking sites; showcase your creativity and resourcefulness to differentiate yourself from your competitors.
And the more positive items you submit, the deeper you can bury any negative information you are not able to purge. The Internet is a wonderful tool. Make sure you leverage it to your advantage.
Donna Tucker
CareerPRO Resume Center
Phoenix, Arizona
