Archive for November 2009
By Larry Goldsmith, CWDP, P.E.T.
Employment Opportunities Do Exist.
Keep in mind that Jobs are created by a number of factors. In one circumstance, a job is created when an employee retires and an opening is created. Other conditions that can lead to the development of a new job can include:
- a newly-acquired project
- maternity leave
- company gaining a new contract
- spouse of a current employee being relocated by their employer
- new technologies being developed
Job creations are caused by many conditions. Populations change as a community becomes older, or when new ethnic groups migrate into a community causing changes in everything from types of restaurants to clothing and grocery stores. Other examples may be an increase or decrease in the level of education, changes in consumer tastes, or new business practices. All of these changes have a cause and effect on an area. A wise job seeker takes advantage of these changes.
Begin your job search with a positive view of the job market—don’t be shortsighted. Most job seekers focus only on job openings. Of course you might ask, “What else would you focus on?” Successful job seekers take another approach. They direct their focus on companies and organizations that employ people with their skill sets. Improve your odds by doing the same thing. There are many more jobs out there than advertised job openings. While many position openings are posted and advertised; many more are not.
The most effective job search demands that you focus on finding employers and industries that use your particular skills, and not focus just on finding posted job openings. Seek out companies and organizations in industries that employ people with skills similar to yours, or that hire people with similar job titles to yours. A job search focused in this manner will generate more opportunities, and quite often better quality jobs.
By Larry Goldsmith, CWDP, P.E.T.
Do I Need More than One Résumé?
Because no two jobs are really the same, you need more than one résumé. You may “get by” with one résumé if you are applying for the same occupational title each time. But even in this example, you should tweak your résumé to match your skills to the specific criteria listed in the position announcement. However, if you are applying for a variety of different occupational positions, you will need a number of résumés. This also holds true if you are applying for positions in a different industry. You must always tailor your résumé specifically to each position for which you apply.
When is the Best Time to Prepare a Résumé?
The best time to write your résumé is when you don’t need it. Don’t wait until your find yourself out of work or the day you read an ad and it is shouting out that it is the perfect job for you. The ad will most likely say “Submit résumé” and you won’t have a résumé ready to go. It’s like living in a flood zone and not beginning your safety preparation until the river rises. The stress will be too great and you will be more likely to overlook a critical item. The best time to write your résumé is when you can step back and consider what will make you shine as the stronger candidate. However, even then, this is your master résumé, and it should not be the résumé you distribute to gain entry through an interview.
What is the most difficult interview question?
Do you know the most difficult interview question? The most difficult interview question is the one that you did not practice until you sat down in the interview chair. Ask your colleagues and friends what is their most difficult question. Is it:”Tell me about yourself?” ”What your biggest weakness?” How much do you want to earn?” It matters not. These questions are only hard if you wait to figure out the correct answer when you are posed with the question. Bottom-line is know what you are going to say before you go to the interview. Identify your most challenging questions. Write your responses down. Practice them. Bounce your answers off a friend.
You have opportunities at the interview to demonstrate your value but only if you identify the issues before you sit down in the interview chair. Oftentimes the most qualified candidate does not receive the job offer. The offer goes to the person that communicates their skills the best. You can practice your way to interview success.
{Thanks for your questions.}
Have Effective is Your Résumé?
Does it drive responses to you? Do you get invites to interviews? A “NO” response to these two questions might mean your résumé is working against you. Assess your résumé against our questions below to determine what kind of first impression it projects. Here is one hundred points to begin. See how much of the 100 points you can retain.
Get Ready. BEGIN:
Take away FIVE points for each question if…
2. You use a résumé template in which one quarter of the page is taken up with section titles?
3. You use a Reverse Chronological résumé to transition to a new industry where you have no work history?
4. You use a Reverse Chronological résumé to transition to an occupation where you have no work history?
8. You résumé is more than two pages?
9. Your résumé flows over to a second page by just a few sentences?
10. Your margins are so narrow that your text is almost running off the page?
11. Your critical contact information of an e-mail address and telephone are the tiniest font on the paper and hardest to read?
12. You use an overabundance of font sizes to create a funky, artistic résumé and you are not even applying for a creative position?
13. Not one of your bulleted task statements begin with an action verb?
14. You completed your résumé before you read the job announcement?
15. You use the same identical résumé to apply for every position regardless of occupational title?
16. Your résumé is presented on blue paper with pictures of teddy bears creating a less than professional image?
17. Your references are stated in the body of your résumé, or the last statement on your résumé is References on Request?
18. Great skills stated on your résumé are not your best skills that match the job announcement?
19. You asked for résumé advice from a friend or family member instead of seeking professional guidance?
20. You think a completed résumé makes you prepared to begin your job search?
How did you score?
