Beware of Employment Scams!

Internet scams are everywhere. A while ago, I received a classic e-mail scam ... it was an e-mail purporting to be from an esteemed colleague of mine. It said he was stuck in London and needed me to wire him some money. Fortunately, I'd heard of this scam before and didn't fall for it.

But how many jobseekers are being targeted by employment scams or work-at-home schemes? The answer is: Too many.

With the e-mail I received, it's a good time to remind you of these.

• "Pay to Play" work-at-home schemes. The premise sounds great: Work from home and earn hundreds or thousands of dollars per week. The scam might be sending off for a special "kit" that outlines how to make money (but is often a "system" where the buyer recruits other unsuspecting buyers to purchase the "system). Or you might pay for supplies for a product that is assembled at home and sold back to the company, but only if it meets "specifications" -- which the assembled products rarely do. Other "pay to play" schemes require you to pay a subscription fee to access a website where work-at-home job opportunities may be posted. While some of these sites are legitimate, many are not.

• The Mystery Shopper. An investigative news program recently spotlighted job postings on Craiglist for mystery shopping positions. The "company" sends the job seekers a check to cover "expenses" and asks him or her to "mystery shop" -- sending money via wire transfer. The individual deposits the supposedly legitimate check into his or her bank account and wires a portion of the amount back to the company, "keeping" the balance as their "salary." A few days later, the "mystery shopper" is notified by their bank that the check they deposited was fraudulent or has bounced. They are then liable for covering the full amount they wired (that money is long gone), plus bank fees.

New twist on the Mystery Shopper is the "Reshipper." These job seekers respond to ads for "quality control" positions. You receive merchandise, inspect it, and mail it on to the final recipient. Only many of the goods are stolen (or purchased using stolen credit cards) and you're helping facilitate the crime.

• Help Accessing the "Hidden Job Market." While there are legitimate job agents (and recruiters and resume writers) that can help job seekers find unadvertised positions, there is also an entire class of scam artists that prey on the insecurities of the unemployed, especially managers and executives. Some firms represent themselves as employment agencies or recruiters but require job seekers to pay $5,000 to $12,000 (on average) for assistance in accessing the "hidden job market." These firms give legitimate career services professionals a bad name. The big giveaway is that they make candidates "qualify" to become a client, require them to provide detailed financial information as part of the applications process, and the spouse is often "invited" to become part of the process. These companies often attract candidates by placing ads disguised as job postings. See the "Ask the Headhunter" article for more details on this.

• Commission-Only Jobs. I often advise clients to set up a separate e-mail account for job searching, particularly if they have sales-related keywords in their resumes. These folks are likely to be targeted for fake "job openings" for commission-only sales positions. Remind your clients to research companies before going on interviews -- a simple Google search can sometimes alert them to these kinds of "jobs."

Do you know of any other employment scams? Comment on my blog below.

Are You Getting Interviews, But Not Job Offers?

If you're getting job interviews, but not offers, watch this video:

Have your references checked.


Disclaimer: I am an affiliate of Allison & Taylor and I may be compensated if you decide to have your references checked. However, I never recommend a product or service that I don't personally believe in.

Accessing the Power of Gratitude

When you're in the midst of a stressful job search or career change, it can be difficult to be grateful for the experience -- or to recognize the good things in your life.

The practice of gratitude as a tool for happiness has been in the mainstream for years. Long-term studies support gratitude’s effectiveness, suggesting that a positive, appreciative attitude contributes to greater success in work, greater health, peak performance in sports and business, a higher sense of well-being, and a faster rate of recovery from surgery.

But while we may acknowledge gratitude’s many benefits, it still can be difficult to sustain. So many of us are trained to notice what is broken, undone or lacking in our lives. And for gratitude to meet its full healing potential in our lives, it needs to become more than just a Thanksgiving word. We have to learn a new way of looking at things, a new habit. And that can take some time.

That’s why practicing gratitude makes so much sense. When we practice giving thanks for all we have, instead of complaining about what we lack, we give ourselves the chance to see all of life as an opportunity and a blessing.

Remember that gratitude isn’t a blindly optimistic approach in which the bad things in life are whitewashed or ignored. It’s more a matter of where we put our focus and attention. Pain and injustice exist in this world, but when we focus on the gifts of life, we gain a feeling of well-being. Gratitude balances us and gives us hope.

There are many things to be grateful for: colorful autumn leaves, legs that work, friends who listen and really hear, chocolate, fresh eggs, warm jackets, tomatoes, the ability to read, roses, our health, butterflies. What’s on your list?

Some Ways to Practice Gratitude 
• Keep a gratitude journal in which you list things for which you are thankful. You can make daily, weekly or monthly lists. Greater frequency may be better for creating a new habit, but just keeping that journal where you can see it will remind you to think in a grateful way.

• Make a gratitude collage by drawing or pasting pictures.

• Practice gratitude around the dinner table or make it part of your nighttime routine.

• Make a game of finding the hidden blessing in a challenging situation.

• When you feel like complaining, make a gratitude list instead. You may be amazed by how much better you feel.

• Notice how gratitude is impacting your life. Write about it, sing about it, express thanks for gratitude.

As you practice, an inner shift begins to occur, and you may be delighted to discover how content and hopeful you are feeling. That sense of fulfillment is gratitude at work.





Author’s content used under license, © 2011 Claire Communications

Top 10 Ways to Lead By Example

Good leaders must lead by example. Through their actions, which are aligned with what they say, they become a person others want to follow. When leaders say one thing but do another, they erode trust, a critical element of productive leadership. Here are 10 of the dozens of ways to lead by example.

1. Take responsibility. Blame costs you your credibility, keeps team members on the defensive and ultimately sabotages real growth.

2. Be truthful. Inaccurate representation affects everyone. Show that honesty really IS the best policy.

3. Be courageous. Walk through fire (a crisis) first. Take calculated risks that demonstrate commitment to a larger purpose.

4. Acknowledge failure. It makes it OK for your team to do the same and defines failure as part of the process of becoming extraordinary.

5. Be persistent. Try, try again. Go over, under or around any hurdles to show that obstacles don’t define your company or team.

6. Create solutions. Don’t dwell on problems; instead be the first to offer solutions and then ask your team for more.

7. Listen. Ask questions. Seek to understand. You’ll receive valuable insights and set a tone that encourages healthy dialogue.

8. Delegate liberally. Encourage an atmosphere in which people can focus on their core strengths.

9. Take care of yourself. Exercise, don’t overwork, take a break. A balanced team, mentally and physically, is a successful team. Model it, encourage it, support it!

10. Roll up your sleeves. Like Alexander the Great leading his men into battle, you’ll inspire greatness in your company.




Author’s content used under license, © 2011 Claire Communications 

Top 10 Ways to Cope With Job Transition

Job transitions can be stressful—whether they’re due to layoff, a new job or working extra hours because others workers were laid off. If you’re facing one, consider the following.

1. Take an honest look at yourself. What are your strengths, weaknesses, skills? How did those influence—positively or negatively—your transition?

2. Step up your self-care. Major changes are physically and emotionally taxing. You need self-care now more than ever.

3. Engage your curiosity. What went wrong, or right? What could you have done better? What worked really well?

4. Focus on what you want, and less on what you don’t want. Keep your eye on the prize.

5. Find support. Since your transition affects your family as well, it may be better to seek the outside support of friends or professionals.

6. Work on your thoughts. Calm your fears and reinforce your sense of hope and happiness.

7. Reassure (or avoid) those who are threatened by, or jealous of, the change.

8. Create your own rite of passage. Ceremony and ritual help with all transitions.

9. Let go of how things were “supposed to be” and accept “how things are.” Find appreciation for what is.

10. Keep things in perspective. Or try on a new perspective. Don’t get stuck. Remember, the only constant is change. 

Author’s content used under license, © 2011 Claire Communications 

Self-Expression vs. Your Hireability

I often caution my job-seeking clients to be hyper-aware of how they present themselves to prospective employers. This includes online identity management (be careful what and where you post), making a good first impression (dress appropriately for the interview), and having a great resume.

Unfortunately, as this food stylist found out, you can express yourself with tattoos... but it may cause you problems.

This tattoo, "Mofo" -- is short for Motherf---er ...

I was talking to a hiring manager a few weeks ago, and it reminded me of the delicate balance between self-expression and a job seeker's hireability. Particularly among Generation Y, self-expression is often done through tattoos and piercings (including tongues, noses, and lips). And while job seekers have the "right" to have tattoos and piercings, employers may not hire them.

This article explains some of the issues related to tattoos, in particular, but more from an employer's point of view. What job-seekers need to know, though, is that even if an employer can't overtly object to tattoos and piercings, the first impression made can be enough to keep you from getting the job.

So when you're interviewing for a job, consider covering up those tattoos and removing the piercings. Your hireability may depend on it. Once you get past the first impression -- and have the chance to win the prospective employer over with your skills, abilities, attitude, and personality, then you can show off your expression.

UNO Job Fair Set for Oct. 12

UNO will host a job fair on Oct. 12. More details here.

Fall 2010 Job Fair 
Tuesday, October 12, 2010 
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. 
Milo Bail Student Center Ballroom

The Fall 2010 Job Fair will take place on October 12. Students and alumni who are genuinely interested in pursuing employment opportunities in the immediate future are encouraged to attend. Professional attire is expected, and students and alumni should bring copies of their current resume.

Another Internship Leads to a Full-Time Job

My husband likes to watch Flipping Out on Bravo TV and I was reminded when watching this week's episode of the value of internships in the job search.

Trace Lehnhoff interned at Jeff Lewis Designs (JLD) and, upon graduation from interior design school, joined the firm full-time.

Internships can be a great way to get a foot in the door at an employer where you want to work ... and a great way to get experience for the resume as well!

OmahaJobs.com Job Fair - Oct. 19

Omahajobs.com is sponsoring a job fair on Tuesday, Oct. 19 from 1-5 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Central, 72nd and Grover. The event is open to the public, and free parking is available.

Also, I notice a ton of pharmaceutical jobs advertised on their website:
http://www.jobtarget.com/c/search_results.cfm?vnet=0&site%5Fid=102&str=26

Networking and "The Power of Who"

In his book, "The Power of Who: You Already Know Everyone You Need to Know," author and headhunter Bob Beaudine writes, "Most people never get what they want for three simple reasons."

He goes on to explain the three:

1. They don't ask. No one can help if they don't know what you want. 
2. When they do ask, they ask the wrong people. For some reason, people are uncomfortable asking their "Who" for help. As a result, they'll ask most anyone except their friends, who are the only ones with a motive to help. 
3. When they do ask for help, they ask you vaguely. Even if I'm motivated to help a friend, I can't do it when I don't know what he or she wants.

I find this to be the case for many job seekers. For example, when my clients are networking, they often don't talk to the people who are best suited to help them succeed.

I had a client who worked in the transportation industry and was laid off. After weeks of telling him to make sure that he was talking to his network about his career goal and asking for specific help, he was getting stuck. So I reached out to my network. Within a day, I had an opening at a local company for him to follow up on. When I gave him the information, he said, "Oh. A guy I used to work with works there now." Well then, dude, why didn't you already know about this opening?

Because he didn't ask.

How NOT to Look for a Job

I posted the following status on my Facebook page today:


Yet another story about a job seeker who is going about their job search all wrong. "Werth said he spends several hours a day looking for jobs online and submitting résumés. He’s looking in Nebraska, in Kansas City, Denver, even Dallas. He applied for one job taking orders at a window company in South Dakota but never heard back. He said he puts out 10 to 15 résumés a week. Except for a couple of phone interviews, he rarely gets a response." 


I ended it with, "If you keep on doing what you've always done, you're going to keep on getting what you've always got."


The promise of online career boards like Monster.com and Careerbuilder and even local site Careerlink is that you can sit in front of your computer at home and get your dream job.


Well, if you're the kind of person who plays the lottery every week and thinks that's the way to fund your retirement, then you probably believe that you can find your next job online. 


The reality is, however, that finding a job -- and especially finding your dream job -- requires you to talk to actual human beings, not sit at home and simply apply for advertised openings.


The reason is because humans do the hiring for jobs, not computers. And when you're submitting your resume in competition with dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of other people, it's hard to stand out. (A professional resume can help, but even then, you need to get it to the right person -- and that means getting it to the hiring manager, not the HR person -- or worse, sending it to an anonymous e-mail address, like careers@whatevercompany.com).


In 2000, a study by Forrester Research reported that only 4% of job hunters polled found jobs through the Internet. Similar research since then has confirmed those numbers -- only 5-10% of jobs are found online.


So why do job seekers continue to spend so much time online searching for and applying to online job postings, especially if it's not working?


A reply to my Facebook posting suggests that's the strategy being taught in high school and colleges ... which makes sense for Gen X and Gen Y jobseekers, but that doesn't explain the 50-year-olds who think that's the best way to search for a job. But enough about what's not working. What does?


So how SHOULD you look for a job?


The strategy is fairly straightforward:


1. Identify the type of job you want. (This is harder than it sounds -- I talk to dozens of job seekers each week who say they want, "Any job." It's actually harder to find "any job" than it is to find the "right" job. Use my Ideal Job worksheet to narrow it down. You must be clear about what job you want if you hope to find it.)


2. Figure out what kind of companies hire for the kind of job you want. Research them -- see if they are hiring for the kind of job you want. Look at their website. Google them. Remember the #1 rule of the job search: Companies hire people who can solve problems for them (make them money, save them money, save time, be more competitive, make work easier, attract new customers, etc.). Research the company to find out what kind of problems they have (because you might be the right person to solve them!).


3. Identify your strengths and skills and how you can help the company. It's not enough to do the job -- you have to show how you can do it exceptionally well. That means identifying key skills needed in the job and coming up with CAR (Challenge-Action-Result) or CCAR (Context-Challenge-Action-Result) examples. (My Canadian colleague Sharon Graham explains how to come up with CAR statements in this article.) Be sure to quantify the outcomes (in terms of %, $, and #). Talk about key projects -- especially your role. 


3. Once you know how you can be an asset to a particular employer, talk to people who might know about job opportunities at the company -- or, who might be in a position to help you get a job with the company, even if there isn't an advertised opening.
Talk to people who work at the company. You may know someone who works there, or you can find them through your personal network, or connect with them through online sites like Facebook or LinkedIn (the Internet does play a part in the job search, just not through giant career boards!). You don't have to know someone directly -- many job leads are found through weak ties, as this article points out. 


Another article cites Ormain Gathers, a senior recruiter, who cited the statistic of "35-40 percent of all new hires come from employee referrals."

Even if the company isn't actively advertising openings, there may still be an opportunity. Again, it's about identifying a need and filling it. Talk to people who can lead you to the people who make the hiring decisions.

Getting a job is about talking to people. People who can provide you with leads, contacts, and referrals. It's not about sitting in front of your computer and sending out dozens, hundreds, or thousands of resumes. Remember, you only need ONE job. It's better to spend a lot of time identifying the RIGHT job at the right company (and finding the RIGHT person to talk to about the job) than using the "Spray and Pray" method of job search.


I can't emphasize this enough. If you want to get a job, you've got to get out from behind your computer and talk to people. Here's some ideas on who you should talk to. Make sure everyone you know knows exactly what kind of job you want. But you also need to ask them for specific help -- for example, "I'm looking for a computer programming job with a bank. Do you know anyone who works at any bank in Lincoln? It doesn't have to be someone who works in the IT department -- just someone who works at the bank."


Talk to people. That's the key to getting your next job. But "if you keep on doing what you've always done, you're going to keep on getting what you've always got."


------------------------
If you found this article interesting, read this one about the Get Hired Now! system.

Why Network?

The reality is that most job seekers find their next job through networking. In fact, according to surveys by such groups as the Association of Outplacement Consulting Firms and the American Management Association, up to 60 percent of all jobs are filled as a result of an informal, interpersonal contact.

"When carried out in a structured, systematic way, networking is a supereffective method of getting job market exposure and gathering useful information," writes Douglas B. Richardson in his book, "National Business Employment Weekly: Networking."

The U.S. Department of Labor agrees, reporting that about two-thirds of all "conventional" jobs are filled through informal methods -- through gossip, word-of-mouth, relatives, friends, and acquaintances. But to be truly effective, there must be a "method" to the "madness" of networking -- you can't just call all of your friends once and expect your next job to magically appear. The key element of Richardson's definition is a "structured and systematic" approach to building and leveraging your network.

There are four categories of networking:
1. Personal relationships (your family, relatives, friends, neighbors, service providers, social club members, etc.)
2. Professional relationships (current and former co-workers, vendors, contractors, competitors)
3. Organizational and community affiliations (members of community groups or professional organizations you below to, chambers of commerce, licensing bodies)
4. "Opportunistic" contacts -- the person you happen to meet while standing in line at the grocery store, the guy who runs your favorite hot dog stand.

Your network is "any group of people you know or can get to know for the purposes of sharing information."

Tomorrow's Careers

Want to know what jobs might be most in demand in the future? Yahoo's HotJobs website targets some jobs that might be major options for future job seekers:

• Data Miner. Collectors of data from the Internet for marketing purposes. (Mean annual salary: $70,000; top 10% make over $100k).
• Environmental Engineer. People who can create clean, low-impact vehicles, buildings, and products. Salary: approximately $74,000.
• Accent Reduction Specialists. Being able to communicate clearly with people from other cultures is critical. Trainers work with executives, customer-relations specialists, and others to eliminate accents to improve communication capabilities. Salary: about $64,000.
• Auto Mechanic. Drivers are keeping their current vehicles longer, instead of buying new cars. And a whole generation of mechanics is reaching retirement age. Average salary: A little over $36,0000.

-- Source: MySurvey, published by TNS

How to Find a Job in 28 Days or Less

Most of the job seekers I work with want to get their next job FAST. But the average length of a job search in today's economy is 13 weeks. How you spend your time searching for a job has a significant impact on your success.

On my OmahaJobHelp website, I note this statistic:

If you're unemployed, every day you are out of work means lost income ... lost retirement benefits ... lost vacation time. If you make $45,000 a year, you're losing $180 a day in salary alone.

Most job seekers don't have a specific plan for how they're going to find their next job. Instead, they sit down in front of their computer and start searching the job openings they find advertised online. Monster. Careerlink. Careerbuilder.

They apply for the jobs they see. Sometimes even dozens of them at a time. They may look in the Omaha World-Herald's classified section for jobs.

Then they wait. And wait. And wait. Waiting for the employers to call them and offer them the job. Or they worry -- because they don't see any "good" jobs out there ... at least not as good as the job they used to have. They begin to wonder if they'll ever find another job. And the more discouraged they get, the harder it is to want to look for a new job. They wonder why companies won't even send them a letter or an e-mail that they weren't selected for the position. (It's because companies are inundated with applications, since it's so easy to apply for a job online.) They think that "no one is hiring" because they can't find a job like the one they used to have. Or they mistakenly believe they are "overqualified."

What they don't know is that they will be more successful in finding their next job if they treat their job search as a project with defined objectives, an action plan, and a timeline. It's also critical that they get out from behind their computer and reconnect with PEOPLE ... people who can give them a job, people who can introduce them to the people who are hiring, and people who know where the jobs are!

Succeeding in your job search is based on three simple factors:

• Identifying and articulating a clear idea of what you want;
• Cultivating and nurturing a strong, active network; and
• Developing an action plan -- and then executing it!

The Get Hired Now! program, based on the book by C.J. Hayden and Frank Traditi, guides job seekers through all three steps of this process, giving you a roadmap to finding your next job fast!

Here's a free report: How to Find a Job in 28 Days or Less.

It will tell you more about how the Get Hired Now! program can help you find your next job faster!

I'm going to be offering the next session of my five-week Get Hired Now! program, beginning Aug. 19. We'll meet for five Wednesdays (3 hours the first night for the program introduction and development of your customized Job Search Action Plan, and then the following four weeks for one hour each night for follow-up coaching and accountability sessions).

The cost is just $199, and it includes a copy of the Get Hired Now! book. (Click on the link to read a sample chapter). The program will be held at The Center for Counseling and Psychotherapy, 8021 Chicago Street (just off of 84th and Dodge Street in Omaha).

Wednesday, Aug. 19 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 26 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 2 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 9 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 16 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

The workshop fee is due with pre-registration or on the first night (advance registration is required, since the program is limited to 8 participants per session). Payment can be made by check, cash, Mastercard, or Visa, and the program cost may be tax deductible as a job search expense if you itemize on your taxes.

I'm just finishing up a program session, and am thrilled with the results the participants have achieved so far! Two of the participants are currently unemployed and are getting interviews, and another is looking for a job for the first time in 20 years after being self-employed and has arranged a series of informational interviews to find out more about her desired career change. They've identified their strengths and targeted their "ideal jobs," they've expanded their personal networks, and they're well on their way to getting hired.

* Get Hired Now! is a trademark of Wings for Business LLC and is used under license.

"I'm Not Getting Job Interviews Because I'm Overqualified"

A recent article on WorkBuzz (the CareerBuilder) blog, caught my attention ... as did the comments of dozens of job searchers on the Facebook status referring to the article.

My comments for these job seekers:

The first thing to remember is that you are probably not OVERQUALIFIED for a position ... you're just not a good "FIT." Employers know the level of the position that they've got available, and from experience, they know that someone who was making $50,000 before is not going to be happy making $8/hour (equivalent of $16,000/year). So even if you would TAKE that job (just to have one), you're not overqualified ... they just know that they're going to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars to train you ... only for you to find out that you're bored -- or, worse, you'll leave when a better job opens up.

If you TRULY want to make a career change, or "step down," then you have to demonstrate your commitment to that new level of work. The idea to volunteer for an organization is a great one. Ask if you can "job shadow" someone doing the work you want to do, to make sure it's a good fit, before you apply for the job.

The other big mistake I see job seekers making is that they apply for hundreds of jobs ... don't follow up on any of them ... and wonder why they don't get interviews. If you are one of even a dozen people applying for a job, stand out from the crowd by trying to make a PERSONAL connection with the organization -- and, in particular, someone at the company. If you want to work in retail, shop the store. Get to know the manager. Identify ways you could help make the store make more money, keep their customers, get new customers ... and then share those ideas with the manager. If you want to work at a place that isn't "retail," then "shop" the company by researching them thoroughly -- read their website, Google them, talk to their customers, talk to their competitors.

Networking is important. If you're new to an area, it's actually easier, in my opinion. Say, "Hi, I'm new to the area, and I was wondering who to talk to about a job in (x)." Go to neighborhood association meetings and introduce yourself to everyone there. Call the local chapter of your professional association and introduce yourself to the Membership Chair. Ask for his or her help making contacts in the area (NOT for help in GETTING A JOB ... just MEETING NEW PEOPLE).

Employment agencies are struggling. Their clients -- employers -- don't have as *many* jobs to fill, so they are filling square holes with square pegs. There are simply too many good people out of work nowaways (like a lot of you guys on here), so you need to set yourself apart. > SMALL companies are the ones doing the hiring nowadays, and they're not advertising in the Classifieds or posting the jobs on CareerBuilder (most likely). Instead, look on CareerBuilder -- or USE YOUR NETWORK to find these companies.

You need to be absolutely clear about the value you offer to companies. What makes YOU unique? The answer MIGHT absolutely be your depth of experience. You need to identify what sets you apart from other job seekers.

Do something different. If you've been out of work for a while, you're probably in a rut ... and depressed/demoralized. Now is the time to take a fresh approach. Have a professional resume writer take a look at your resume and cover letter to identify possible pitfalls that might be keeping you from getting interviews. Start -- or join -- a job search group or club. Take a class in job search techniques.

"Ask the Experts" -- One (WO)Man's Opinion!

I sat in on a couple of sessions today on EmploymentChatLive, sponsored by WOWT.

What I soon realized is that -- although there are a lot of people out there who profess to be "experts" when it comes to finding jobs, some of the advice out there isn't just unhelpful ... some of it is just plain wrong -- and can cost you hundreds or thousands of dollars while you try these "methods" that just don't work.

One "expert" advised posting your resume online everywhere and "refreshing" it daily. That was his main point of emphasis for the job search. If you spend the majority of your job search doing this, you'll be out of work for a long time. 

I was getting discouraged, but the "experts" in the 3 o'clock hour chats were much better. (Although the Workforce Development folks seemed to be pretty consistently on target with their advice -- and their specialists were participating in multiple chats.) I also found Jeri Schaben, the career specialist who participated in the "Resumes That Work" chat, to be very knowledgeable -- and I'm not just saying that because she complimented my ideas. *smile*

I compiled a list of the questions asked and will be answering them on this blog over the next few weeks, so check back often!

You Only Need One Job

Applying online for dozens of jobs is easy. It's also not very effective. You only need one company to hire you. The more targeted you can be in identifying what kind of job you want and what kind of company you want to work for, the faster you will find a new job and the greater the likelihood you will get the job you want.

It may only take 1 application and 1 interview to get the job -- but most job seekers find it takes 20-30 applications to yield 3-4 interviews. That may generate 1 or 2 job offers.

To maximize your efforts:

• Decide what kind of job you want. That may be easy if you've got 15 years of experience as a Plastics Engineer; harder if you just graduated with a liberal arts degree.
• Identify what kind of company you'd like to work for. Big or small? Public, private, or family-owned? Located where? What do they do/buy/sell? 
• Think about your personal preferences. Do you like working alone or with a team? Few meetings or lots of meetings? Travel? Short-term projects or long-term?
• Research the companies. Look at their website. Google them. Read their news releases. Research their competitors and the industry. What are their key issues? How can you help them solve those problems?
• Don't worry if you don't see a job advertised that fits your specifications/interests. While it's true that only 2% of jobs are filled from "unadvertised resumes," the majority of these are "bulk-mailed" resumes either without cover letters, or with "generic" cover letters. Highly targeted cover letters, sent to likely employers (even with no advertised openings) DO yield results.
• Draft a cover letter that "speaks" to the prospective employer. Demonstrate an understanding of their needs, your skills/qualifications, and -- most importantly -- how the two can be combined.

If you are interested in medical product sales, but are a nurse, talk about how your medical knowledge and ability to build rapport with physicians will enable you to quickly grasp complex product and disease information, leading to more effective sales presentations, and increased product sampling/adoption.

If you are seeking a new teaching position, don't just talk about lesson plans and class sizes -- talk about your teaching methodology and how it relates to the student population you'd be working with.

Remember: You don't have to be all things to all people; if you know what you have to offer, and target the employers who need what you deliver, it may only take applying to one company before you have the job you want!

What To Do If You Think You're Going To Be Laid Off

Layoffs just keep coming. Sprint announced plans to let 8,000 workers go. Home Depot is firing 7,000 employees. Caterpillar announced they will lay off 20,000 people this year. Here in Omaha, First National Bank announced they are furloughing 350 employees.

In December 2008, the national unemployment rate rose from 6.8 to 7.2 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. Unemployment hit 4 percent in Nebraska, with more than 39,000 Nebraskans estimated to be out of work in December.

If your job is next on the chopping block — or if you’re afraid it is — there are some steps you can take now that will help you find your next job faster.

• First, update your résumé. Do it now, while you still have access to internal data to quantify your accomplishments. Make sure you have hard copies of your performance reports and letters (or e-mails!) of appreciation from customers and colleagues.

You will want to start circulating your résumé right away as soon as you learn of layoffs (or even rumors of a downsizing). Have your résumé ready to go when that happens.

• Alert your network. Start assembling your network of contacts now so that when the ax falls, you can get the word out quickly. The first 30 days of unemployment are the most critical.

Don’t have a contact database yet? Start with your Christmas card list. Collect snail mail addresses, home/work/cell numbers, and e-mail addresses. Now is also the time to establish your social network online — sites like Facebook and LinkedIn will let you keep connected with personal and professional contacts.

While you’re at it, join a professional association or two — and get involved. You’ll learn about changes in your industry that may impact your company … and your job. You’ll also make valuable contacts in your field that may lead you to your next position.

• Improve your skills. You’ll be more valuable to your current employer — and more marketable to your future boss —if you update your skills. Enroll in a class; learn a new language; pursue a certification. Continuing education in your field can also expand your network.

• Start researching your next job. Prepare a plan of action that you can implement immediately. Identify companies you’d like to work for — even if they’re not actively advertising openings. Read trade publications, local business journals, and follow the Business section of the newspaper to identify companies that are growing and may need someone with your skills and experience.

“Don’t wait to see what will happen with your job — take action,” says Bridget Brooks, a Certified Professional Résumé Writer with Image Building Communications. “If you are laid off, you’ll be better prepared to start your job search immediately.”

— Bridget Brooks is a Certified Professional Résumé Writer and “Get Hired Now!™” Facilitator. In February, she will co-lead a four-week Employment Transitions group for unemployed professionals along with therapist Marla Cohen, MS, PLMHP. Bridget can be reached at (402) 393-4600 or via e-mail at OmahaJobHelp@yahoo.com.

Stand Out From the Crowd!

As reported in the January/February 2009 issue of Inc. magazine, at the end of October 2008, there were 33 people looking for work for every 10 openings in the U.S.

That's THREE people competing for EVERY job you're interested in! How can you stand out from the pack?

1. You must have a great resume. Most initial contacts with a prospective employer come via the resume. If your resume doesn't catch the hiring authority's attention immediately, you won't get a second look.

• Make sure you have targeted your resume towards the type of position you're seeking. In this competitive hiring environment, employers aren't going to try to figure out how you "fit" their needs ... they want to see it spelled out for them. At a minimum, this is a customized cover letter.
• Quantify your value to the company. If you're not including lots of $$, ##, and %% figures on your resume, you're missing out on a prime opportunity to show how you can make the company money, save them money, save them time, solve a specific problem -- or any one of the Employer Buying Motivators that are the REASON why companies hire employees.
  

2. Don't just apply for the position online. Persistence is the key when you're competing for a job. If the job is posted online, follow up with a copy of the resume by mail or fax. Or drop one off in person and see if the hiring manager is available to talk. Take the time to track down contact information for the job posting, and always address your cover letter to an individual, if possible.

3. Research the company. Find out more about what they do and what their specific needs are before you apply. Then you can include some of your observations in the cover letter -- and DEFINITELY do in-depth research before going on any interviews!

4. Follow-up, follow-up, follow-up! Call to follow up on any resumes you send (unless it says "no phone calls"). Don't just say, "Did you receive my resume?" Ask if there was any information that they were needing in order to consider you as a candidate. Give your 15-second "commercial" when you call.

"Hi, this is Amanda Lewis. I'm the nurse with more than 10 years of experience in hemodialysis and renal care that sent in my resume for the Staff Nurse-Dialysis position. I wanted to make sure you received my resume, but also see if there was any additional information I could provide to you to outline my qualifications for this position."

If you get a chance to talk to a real life human being, send a thank-you note (either via snail mail or e-mail; it's perfectly appropriate to send the thank you via e-mail and attach another copy of your resume/cover letter with it).

Here's the rest of the information from the Inc. article:
The number of job seekers relative to open positions in the U.S. surged in 2008. At the beginning of 2008, there were only 19 job seekers for every 10 open positions, according to an analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data by Heidi Shierholz, an economist at the Economic Policy Institute in Washington, D.C.

Following Up To Resume Sent

You're busy. I'm busy. The individual managing hiring for the job you want is busy.

That's why it's vital to follow up on positions you've applied for. Send an e-mail:

Hello, Ms./Mr. ____:

I wanted to follow up to make sure you received my resume, which I sent on (date). As I indicated in my cover letter, I think I can be an asset to (your company) as a (job title) because I [x, y, z].

I'm interested in knowing when you expect to begin interviewing for this position and would welcome the opportunity to answer any questions you may have or provide any additional information you need. You can reach me at (phone number).

(Be sure to attach a copy of your resume and cover letter to the e-mail).