Enlightenme! asked:


I have just got out of the worst job of my life! (contract ended).
I am so relieved.

Now I have to face the dreaded job search. Since we are in a recession, I would like to know some tips so I can find a job quicker.

I have a mix of teaching experience, customer support, and IT experience.

I greatly appreciate all your suggestions in advance!

Gail Kenny asked:


Whether you are looking for a job in travel or teaching, PR or publishing, hunting for a new job can be a daunting experience. There is no flawless formula for finding the perfect job, but by taking some basic steps and remembering a few important principles, you can greatly enhance your chances of success…

Know thyself

If you are about to start searching online for a job, ask yourself a few simple questions first. What skills and experience do you have? What kind of work do you want to do? What parts of your previous jobs have you enjoyed and been good at, and where have you struggled? When you are hunting for jobs online, life will be a lot easier if you have a better understanding of what you like and what you are good at.

Do your research

Once you’ve built an accurate picture of your skills and experience, it’s time to do some online job research. Take a look in the print and online job listings of major newspapers and relevant trade publications to get an idea of what kind of jobs are out there, and find out how much experience or what specific qualifications you’ll need for the ones that interest you.

If you are lucky enough to have any contacts in an industry that interests you, talk to them about the details of their job. Online forums, blogs and message boards are also good places to learn more about an industry, potential employer or a specific kind of work.

Get some help!

There’s nothing like the advice of a professional to help you on your way, especially if you are heading into an industry about which you know very little. If you’ve recently graduated from university, you can still contact their careers service for advice. You should also consider contacting a recruitment consultancy. Recruitment consultancies are usually knowledgeable and specialised in specific areas, from travel jobs to publishing and PR, and they will have the experience and contacts to help you find employment. They may also be able to advise you on writing your CV and preparing for an interview.

Get some experience

Many companies like to see relevant experience before they will consider hiring you. Work experience and internships look good on your CV and can be a shortcut to employment - if you are impressive enough in an unpaid position, many companies will hire you full time.

Craft your CV

Don’t send out the same CV for different jobs - it’s easy to spot when a CV is generic and when it has been given a little thought. Focus on the skills on those that are relevant for the position you are applying to, and when writing about your previous jobs, emphasise the experiences they gave you that have prepared you for the job you are applying for.

That personal touch…

Try and find a way to stand out from the crowd with your application. Call the company to enquire about the position and/or follow up your application with a phone call (but don’t be pushy!) Try to speak to the same person each time you call the company so that you can develop a contact there. Consider submitting a paper CV and covering letter rather than applying for the job online. But don’t try anything to quirky when trying to add that personal touch - fancy fonts and a list of strange interests on your CV can make you seem unprofessional.

Be prepared!

If you make it through to an interview, preparation is the key to success. Read up on the details of the job and travel to the interview early - being late always makes a bad impression! Dress smart and simple, prepare a list of relevant questions, learn more about the company and the industry it is in, and so on. The more you prepare, the calmer you’ll be, the more you’ll know and the better you’ll do. Good luck!

eHow asked:

Employers look at a resume and they want to know what you’ve done, when you’ve done it and where. Write a great work resume by including the right information in a concise and easy to read way by using tips from a career adviser in this free video on resume writing.

michellelangston2001 asked:


Summary Of Experience

Professional with history of longevity and consistent attendance displays strong communication and problem solving skills. Experienced in high volume, fast paced restaurant industry with loyal customer base. Also experience in diverse career fields in several industries may lend to various hiring possibilities.

Experience

Server/Crew Chief April 2001 to April 2006
International House of Pancakes (IHOP), Baltimore, MD - Fast paced, high-volume Received food and beverage orders, advised on daily specials, and delivered food and drinks. Maintained and encouraged customer loyalty through the courteous and efficient resolution of disputes, complaints, and discrepancies and special requests. Verified the accuracy of charges, delivered customer checks, and ensured prompt processing of transactions.

Federal Work Study/General Office Pool January 2000 to June 2004
The Community College of Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD - Maintained updated computerized database for students in the Office of Records and Registration. Motivated, efficient, accurate and detail-oriented. Performed various clerical and administrative duties, including scheduling appointments and counseling, providing information on student programs, financial aid, and class schedules. Typing, filing, faxing, and answering phones.

Research Assistant May 1994 to June 1998
The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD - Provided wide range of technical and clerical duties to the Department of Anesthesia. Assisted medical personnel in the planning and execution of FDA approved and hospital research studies. Obtained informed consent. Maintained research databases and scanned Holter monitors. Alerted physicians to life-threatening arrhythmias.

EKG/Holter Technician April 1987 to May 1994
The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD - Applied 24-hour Holter monitors to inpatient and outpatients. Scanned Holter for arrhythmias and rhythm disturbances. Alerted physicians to life-threatening arrhythmias.

Education History

A.A., General Studies April 2006
The Community College of Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD

Medical Assisting January 1983
The Medix School, Towson, MD

Volunteer Work

Junior Vice Commander, , Towson, Md, January 1999 - Junior Vice Commander, Disabled American’s Veteran’s Auxiliary, Chapter 18.

Heather Eagar asked:


It can be a nerve-wrecking prospect to think about your impending job interview. What will you say? How will you dress? What if the interviewer asks questions for which you don’t know the answers? These are all questions you may run through your mind before ever meeting the prospective employer.

But while interviews can be intimidating, they don’t have to be feared - especially if you come equipped with the right knowledge. So let’s look at three tips that can help you place the job you want in the palm of your hands.

Tip #1: Conduct Practice Q&A Sessions

Before you ever set foot on the property of your prospective employer, it is important that you mentally prepare for the challenge you’re up against. Being that you’ve never interviewed before, it may seem impossible to prepare for the unknown. But luckily for you, there are bound to be some individuals in your life who have been on job interviews. So give them a job of helping you prepare.

A good way to start your preparation is by first conducting some research on the company you are interested in working for. After you’ve learned the company’s overall mission, what they look for in employees, and most importantly, what they want in the hiring position, you can give this information to your helper. Then he or she can compose interview questions, have you show up for the mock interview in full attire, and ask the questions so that you can begin to feel comfortable with the process.

Tip #2: Dress for Success

This is probably one of the more important aspects of interviewing for any position, no matter how casual you think it might be. The prospective employer wants to confirm how serious you are about the job, something that is partially accomplished by dressing up in business attire for the interview.

While this may seem to be common sense to some, there are many newcomers to the world of interviewing who show up wearing khaki pants or low-cut tops. So if you already knew that wearing a business suit (clean with no wrinkles) is the way to go, good job. But if you were just about to walk out of the door in your T-shirt and khakis, you may want to go change your clothes.

Tip #3: Speak from the Heart

Starting off in your practice Q&A session, and eventually transitioning into your actual interview, it is important that you place personal value on your decision to apply for the job. If you go into the interview thinking that you won’t like the job, the interviewer might sense the apprehension and pass you up for the position. However, if you come in genuinely enthusiastic about the position, it will be much easier for you to find the right words to express that enthusiasm.

If you follow these three tips, you’ll be that much closer to securing the job of your dreams. So practice, practice, practice with your Q&A session, go buy a suit that makes you feel comfortable, and go to the interview with great passion. You’ll see that your budding confidence in your interviewing skills will skyrocket in time for your very first interview.

PAUL BOWLEY asked:


Get ready for an amazing alternative job hunting secret! If you’ve been in the job market recently, you already know it’s tough. Not because there aren’t excellent job opportunities out there. But because employers’ expectations are so much more demanding.

Employers want you to come in prepared to demonstrate that you’ve done your homework. They expect you’ve taken the time to learn about their organization and its goals. They also require that you show very specifically how you can make a contribution to the company’s bottom line.

The purpose of an alternative job hunting secret is to come at the job market from a totally different perspective. For example, you learn to see job search from and the employer’s point of view. When you do, then you’ll also appreciate discovering the huge advantage you have when you do your homework and you come to a face-to-face meeting or interview armed with critical insider information.

You are ready to implement one of the most powerful and exciting alternative job hunting secrets around. It’s called “job creation!”

That’s right! You can actually create a job for yourself on the spot. Here’s what to do (after you’ve done your homework):

1. List in writing the specific areas within the company where you bring something unique to the table. This is not a review of your work history. Indicate the specific department, products, services, etc. within the organization where your proposal would apply.

2. Send an email or letter to the decision-maker who would have an active interest in the kind of proposal you wish to present. Do NOT ask for a job. Rather, briefly outline the specifics you bring to the table for solving a certain problem, or contributing to growth, or opening up new doors for the company, etc. Then ask to meet for a discussion of your ideas or proposal. Indicate you’d like to call shortly to set up such a meeting.

3. Prepare a “Bio-Action” resume specifically designed to back up your alternative job hunting proposal.

4. Do NOT go in for an interview, but rather to discuss your proposal to see if there’s any interest. What’s exciting about this alternative job hunting secret approach is that neither you nor the employer is under any pressure to make a job decision. An opportunity can emerge if you are good at showing the value you bring to the table. Once again this takes preparation–doing your homework.

When you approach a carefully targeted organization and the specific decision-maker who could have a genuine interest in you, you’ve dramatically moved the odds in favor of a discovering a hidden opportunity for yourself. And you’ve eliminated all the competition!

Toby Marshall asked:


The recruitment industry may be inefficient and charge huge fees, but it’s only a small industry - surely it can’t cause billions of damage to our society?

It does.

The damage is caused by market ‘inefficiencies’ or friction. How?

1. It adds huge costs to organisations looking to hire people

2. It means that many people are working in jobs they are not happy with because it takes too much time and effort in this flawed market for them to hunt out something better

Before we look at why this is so, it helps to look at some theory - economic theory, and in particular the theory of markets. Apologies, but economics does have some uses, and occasionally I’m glad I studied something so turgid.

With markets, two things are always required for them to work well:

1. All the buyers are readily accessible in one place, with all the information about the seller’s products also available - creating what economists call liquidity. This ‘place’ can be physical (such as a local market), or in newspapers ads, or increasingly on the internet

2. People can quickly find and use the information they need to decide whether to buy or sell

With these two conditions filled, markets are efficient and will work well. Efficient means the cost of buying and selling is low: there are low transaction costs, and the prices are competitive. In an efficient market, if a seller is charging more, he had better have a pretty special ‘widget’. Or be pretty persuasive.

An example of markets that work well are the old market towns that existed for thousands, of years, where the distance between markets was based on travel times. All the buyers went to the market town, as did all the sellers, and you could look at the produce and goods to assess their quality (and sellers could check the colour of their money).

Modern markets include the Stock Exchanges and Commodity Exchanges. To buy shares you go online to the Exchanges as that is where all the buyers and sellers are.

Good markets are efficient, with only a small gap between the ‘buy and sell prices’.

So why does the recruitment market ****? Because it doesn’t meet the two conditions for a healthy market:

* Buyers and sellers are not in the same place, there are many separate markets

* Important information relevant to the decision to buy or sell is not readily available and in many cases each side is unaware of the needs (and thus opportunities) of the other side

What are these separate places or separate markets for labour?

The employers are the buyers of labour, and they put their ‘offer to buy’, their advertisements, in many different places. This creates a variety of ‘markets’ including:

* National newspapers (AFR; The Australian)

* State/City newspapers (e.g. SMH), in the front of the paper or in the classifieds; the papers further break up the market with ads on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and (mainly) Saturday

* Regional papers (Newcastle Herald; Central Coast Express; etc) - which have recruitment ads. And often employers or recruiters put them into these papers and the SMH

* Industry journals and magazines

* Free give-away papers

* Job Boards on the internet - heaps of alternatives here; there is incredible overlap, with jobs placed on different Boards. Also the newspapers that own the classifieds give you online ads virtually for free. Incredible amounts of duplication

* And lastly, the recruitment agencies. Employers put their jobs in what are effectively hundreds of other markets, the agencies. Many jobs go to multiple agencies, each of whom will then advertise in multiple places. So the same job often appears in 5 or 10 or even 20 different places. What an inefficient market!!!

So all of these are separate and overlapping market places - the overall result is chaos.

The second requirement for good markets is that buyers and sellers quickly find the information they need. With jobs advertised in so many different places it is hard for sellers (of their labour) to find the buyers (the employers), particularly when recruitment agencies are getting in the way. This is particularly the case when so many jobs are ‘hidden jobs’ and are not advertised anywhere – often because the costs of doing so are high and only sometimes because of confidentiality issues.

Like all agents or brokers, information is a large part of what recruitment agencies sell. So naturally they will block the free flow of information. The obvious example is they don’t put the employers name on their ads, so we don’t know who their client is until we apply.

When speaking at conferences I often ask employers about their recruitment advertising: what works and what doesn’t. Many think that online Job Boards don’t work so feel they need to stick with the newspapers for the moment which is understandable.

The main reason Job Boards don’t work is because of the confusion in the market. In fact, online Job Boards have (temporarily) added to the confusion as there are now even more places to hunt for jobs, an even greater spread of localities to search within, adding to the time and costs of buyers and sellers.

One fact is unarguable: The internet is the perfect market place for jobs to be advertised. Online Job Boards are faster, cheaper, your ad lasts for a month, they minimise transaction times, and they maximise information flow. Utilised and developed properly, Job Boards are a thousand times better than the tree destroying alternative.

Recruitment practices need to change drastically for us to have an efficient, productive industry. And part of this critical change will be how jobs are advertised. Internet advertising is clearly the future, and will result in a fairer, more equitable industry with better outcomes for all.

The sooner this change occurs, the better.

Internet Job Ads will work well when 4 things happen:

1. The HR managers realise they have the capacity and the skills to decide to stop newspaper advertising. The exception is for some important and hard to fill job where they need to cast their nets widely: perfect for the newspaper when it is not crowded with other recruitment ads.

2. Employers place online ads directly, not through recruitment agencies, so that applicants can find the information they need. Applicants can then be certain that there are real jobs there, and will be able to make better decisions about the jobs they choose

3. When the Job Boards like Seek and Monster invest in better ‘matching technology’ to make their searches more effective. They’ll invest when the the first two conditions are in place - then Job Boards will be even better at matching and back end processing (however, their current systems still work a thousand times better than the ad in your paper recycling bin!)

4. The recruitment agencies lose their privileged ‘gatekeeper’ status. So the blockages and inefficiencies they cause disappear - minimising the damage of their huge fees, appalling treatment of candidates and highly questionable ethics

So, the recruitment market is absurdly inefficient - how does this really affect you? What are the consequences?

Perhaps half the Australian population is working in the wrong job: either working for the wrong company, or just doing something they don’t want to do. What research backs this up?

This estimate comes from talking to hundreds of people in the recruitment industry and thousands of job applicants over many years. And, if anything, the figure is likely to be very much higher than 50%. It doesn’t mean they can find something hugely better, just better. People often know what better means, but just can’t find it. They also might know what they would like to do but are insecure about moving when the market is so ‘opaque’ in case they make a mistake.

The negative impact on our economy of this collective misery caused by so many being in the wrong job is huge. We have discussed the impact of doing what you love – it gives you energy and enthusiasm and your contribution to the company is much higher. Your productivity - that magic thing that makes economies grow - grows.

Imagine if most Australians were in jobs they were even slightly happier with.

The impact on our economy would be extraordinary if people could more easily find a job that matches their skills and passion: there would be a huge and permanent lift in productivity. Permanent, because people won’t chop and change jobs so much if they can easily find out just how green (or brown) the grass is out there.

And companies will pay people wages closer to their true value. In this new world, employees can more readily explore the market if they are not getting their value from their current employer

Economists do get a lot of things right (just don’t believe them when they claim wisdom on such matters as the timing of interest rate changes!). They know that an informed market is an efficient one.

The recruitment market is very ill-informed and therefore very inefficient.

Paul Megan asked:


Why not try the non-traditional job hunting strategies? Why do I say this? Well, you’ve probably tried all the traditional job search methods. And if you’re like most job seekers, you’re disappointed.

You see, the old-fashioned traditional methods don’t live up to most people’s expectations of what a successful job search should look like.

Most of us would like to be entertaining job offers in a matter of days, not months. And we’d like to have a say in what the job looks like. And, maybe we’d like to have two or three job offers on our plate so we could select the one that’s just right for us rather than picking through the leftovers . . . and then having to take whatever comes along.

You know what I mean if you’ve spent a lot of time tweaking your resume, and then mass distributing it to job sites like Monster and HotJobs. And to dozens of advertised job listings. Or shot-gunning it to a bunch of companies you’d love to work for. And maybe some agencies and recruiters.

If this is how you approach the job market, then you’re probably sitting around right now waiting for the phone to ring. Or hoping today’s mail brings an invitation to interview. And you’ve probably been waiting for something to happen for a long time . . . maybe weeks or months!

Just add up the number of hours you’ve spent doing all these traditional job search tasks. Now, what if I told you that for spending considerably less time you could be entertaining multiple job offers!

You need to redirect your energies to non-traditional job hunting strategies . . . they’re the ones that can get the job done. Now, I admit, these non-traditional job hunting techniques are not as easy as mass distribution of your resume . . . but, boy, do they work!

The reason is simple. Today’s sophisticated employers want more than your work history. Frankly, they could care less about what you used to do for someone else. You need to have a way to get yourself in front of a hiring decision-maker and show him/her how you can make a difference.

That means you have to do your homework. You see, the best job opportunities are not the ones that are advertised. They’re the ones that are created for you because you’ve been smart enough to find out what an employer’s needs are. And then come forward with a proposal (not a resume) that spells out how you can answer those needs.

These non-traditional job hunting strategies don’t come easy. But for the same (or less) amount of time as an old-fashioned traditional approach, you can be guaranteed results. Alternative job search strategies rule!

tara lynn g asked:


No time to attend college weekly, I have a 9 month old and bills to pay. I make good money, but would like something more steady then waitressing. I was thinking about real estate school, or going to get my insurance license (these are things I THINK would be good in the money area, and also not take long to get, and reasonable with my situation). I just want some advice on what to do, maybe where to go, etc. I need good health insurance in my job also, that’s always a plus. Thanks!

Nicholas Tan asked:


Hunting for jobs nowadays is a very competitive and sometimes cut-throat affair. Here are a few tips to help you get the edge in searching out and landing the job of your dreams.

The Curriculum Vitae

The CV is the first, and at most times the most important part of applying for a job. Since potential employers have to whittle down practically hundreds of applications to a few valid ones, they will have to base their narrowing down efforts using the CVs they have collected.

Studies have shown that about half of the employers decide to accept or reject job applications based on the related work experience listed in the CV. A third of the employers decide to reject or accept these job applications based on the layout design of these applications.

1. Make Your CV Stand Out

When preparing your CV, make sure your CV stands out among the rest. It should be the type that is appealing to the eyes, making the evaluating personnel want to read the CV. Step two is for you to make sure your CV lists the related work experience you have had in relation to the job you are applying for.

1. Make Your CV Concise and Relevant

Avoid making your CVs too long. It may make it irrelevant to the evaluator. Remember that the employer is a person to whom time is important. If your CV shows that you value his/her time while showing the most relevant information in the least amount of time, you will have won one important battle.

2. Always tailor your CV to the job.

You may have had previous experience that may not be related to the job you are applying for. Some people keep many different versions of their CV for different job opening purposes. Make sure your CV is appropriate for the job. A one-size-fits-all CV may not be the best way to go since the employer will have the impression that your previous efforts have not been focused enough to produce any specialization on your part.

3. Write about your achievements

You may add your achievements, but make your statements factual and relevant. It does not do harm to advertise yourself, but make your advertisement matter-of-fact and not just hot air. You may want to skip on listing your weak points as the CV is not the avenue for such discussions.

4. Polish Your CV

Your employer will know if you have put enough time producing your CV. If he/she sees that you have put sufficient and thorough effort into your CV, he/she will assume that you will do the same in your work. This is a big plus for you. It is not uncommon for some people to spend days or even weeks polishing and buffing their CVs.