New Strategy for a New Year

If looking for work was a challenge for you in 2010, why not try a fresh strategy for 2011? If previous method of job search did not work for you, it’s definitely time to change things up! Try one (or more) of the following in January.

• Get business cards (you can order a basic business card free at www.vistaprint.com) and pass them out to all your networking contacts.
• Target five desirable companies. Identify five companies that you would like to work for and haunt their website. Find out everything you can about the company. Need some ideas? Crain’s Chicago Business just listed its 2011 Book of Lists. Find the top local employers in a number of categories!
• Volunteer for a new site or join a group related to your field of employment. Can’t find one? Create your own!
• Research a new field. Have you always worked in a corporate field? Research jobs in government or education! Is all your experience in retail positions? Why not look into positions in healthcare? It can’t hurt to expand your horizons!
• Sign up for career assessment. Get a fresh perspective on your strengths by taking a personality/ ability test. The College of Lake County/ Career & Placement Service offers this to any Lake County resident. Call 847-543-2059 for an appointment.

2011 will be your year if you persist!

Employment Scams: Knowing when something is too good to be true!

Posted by Employment Specialist, Kay Dewane

 

During the upcoming holiday months, you may worry about the depleting money in your pockets. Do not let anxiety cause you to lose your wits when it comes to employment scams! An offer of a “glamorous job earning big bucks while working part-time at home” might tempt you, but learn the facts before leaping at an offer that is too good to be true. Protect yourself by exercising the following tips:

•  Do not ever pay any fees upfront!
• NEVER give out your credit card information.
• Beware of providing your social security number until you are actually hired by a real company.
• Watch out for ads that are listed with 900 phone numbers.
• Go the extra mile and check out the company website before you get involved.
• Do not cash checks made payable to you, even though they look tempting! You will be held accountable for this money!
• Contact your local Better Business Bureau to learn about the reputation of the company in question.

 

Following the above advice can save you a lot of pain and frustration down the line, so know it is worth the efforts you set forth!

 

Looking for Work During the Holidays

Some people think that looking for work during the holiday season is a waste of time. Not me! After all, I interviewed for my current job only a few days before Thanksgiving. I think most jobseekers would acknowledge that the holiday season offers some unique challenges—and opportunities.

CHALLENGE: It’s hard to reach human resource professionals.
OPPORTUNITY: “Show off” your patience and persistence with great follow-up at a time when the employer might be distracted by holiday festivities.

CHALLENGE: Some businesses freeze hiring until after the new year.
OPPORTUNITY: Don’t assume that businesses won’t be hiring in November and December. However, realize that these months are a critical time to “prime the pump” so that you will be in serious contention when new job opportunities flow in January.

CHALLENGE: I’m busy with holiday festivities myself.
OPPORTUNITY: Turn your holiday activities into a networking opportunity. Include your resume or Linked-in account information on holiday cards. Bring business cards to parties.

For more ideas about how to maximize the holiday season, visit Job-hunt.org.

New website for those in career transition

I just spent some time on the website http://www.myskillsmyfuture.org/.  If you know anyone who is thinking about changing careers or jobs, tell them to take the look at the site!  It's very easy to navigate.  The site asks you to type in a former job title, and then it lists other jobs you might be able to transition into.  It includes training information, requirements, and salary information in a readable format.   It can even show you examples of jobs in your area!

Out of Work and Stress is Beginning to Lurk? How to Handle Job Loss and Unemployment Stress

Posted by guest blogger Kay Dewane who was recently hired full-time after looking for work for six months

When I was looking for work, I overheard a man say he didn’t like his job. It felt like he was rubbing salt in the wound. There I was dreaming of the day when I could get back into a daily life routine and plug in my skill set in a new setting. Instead, I spent my time preparing for the next interview, updating a resume, or worrying that I didn’t have the latest skills that employers wanted.

Losing a job exposes a myriad of feelings: anger, frustration, vulnerability, insecurity. Here are a few tools that helped me handle the emotional roller coaster.

• Do not beat yourself up
• Turn to people you trust for support
• Join/start a job club
• Stay connected through networking/always network
• Remain positive during a long search, do not give up
• Most of all, be sure to focus on things in your life you can control

One of my favorite authors Marabel Morgan said, “Persistence is the twin sister of excellence. One is a matter of quality; the other, a matter of time”. With persistence your dreams will bloom into a reality far more vivid than you can even imagine.

Magic Words When Applying for Work

Marketers know that English speakers react positively to specific words.  You can find lists of "power words" in a variety of books available in the marketing section of any bookstore.  (Take a look at Words That Sell by Richard Bayan)  It makes sense to apply the same words to your job search--both on your resume and when speaking with employers.  Dawn Josephson listed 21 words that sell in a recent e-article. 
My personal favorites? 
enjoy:    I truly enjoy working with teens.
resolve:  I resolved an ongoing inventory problem by reconfiguring the warehouse.
save:  Recommended a process that saved nt organization more than 200 man-hours per week.
numbers:  Drop numbers into your conversation.  Trained 10 new staff members.  Balanced a cash drawer totalling as much as $10,000 daily. 
And don't forget Josephson's #1 word--say the name of the individual who is interviewing you and the organization where you are interviewing.  We all pay more attention when we hear or read our name!

$2500 tax credit for small businesses

A recent press release announced the availability of a $2500 tax credit for small businesses (less than 50 employees) that create and fill an eligible full-time position by June 30, 2011. The intent is to encourage businesses to hire. Great news if you own a small business! If you're a jobseeker, consider sharing this tidbit with potential employers.

For more information and an application visit http://jobstaxcredit.illinois.gov/

research careers and win $1000

The Department of Labor just released an interesting video contest. You are invited to research a given career on the website http://online.onetcenter.org/ and produce a video about your discoveries. If you submit a video by the August 20 deadline, you could be eligible to win $1000. Perhaps more importantly, you'll discover some very helpful descriptions about the KSAs (knowledge, skills and abilities) needed for your occupation of choice at Onet. This is one of my favorite websites!
For more contest details, visit the Department of Labor website at http://dolvideochallenge.ideascale.com/?s=2

Volunteering is about you

I recently met a woman who was looking for work who had a great strategy; she asked what she could do for my organization! The question took me aback because I work at a social service agency; typically customers come in to discuss their needs.

We didn't have a need for her skills at the moment but the literacy program did. And let me tell you, she's at the top of my call list if I have run across a job opening in her field. She just had a very refreshing attitude about her.

Are you tired of asking for a job? Why not try volunteering? It gives you a great opportunity to network with community members. And the next time you're at a group event, you can introduce yourself as "a literacy volunteer" or a "member of the library support program"--instead of as a laid-off worker.

Did you know that United Way of Lake County maintains a list of volunteer opportunities in the community? You can find them all on the Find Help Lake County website!

Running monkeys and other thoughts

I read an email yesterday that I have to describe as provocative. Since the author described resume writers as “running monkeys”, I wasn’t initially impressed. Let me explain.
I receive a monthly e-article from Nick Corcodilos or “The Headhunter”. To give Nick credit, the main point of his article Canned resume: just $495! Delivered by running monkeys! is that generic resumes filled with predictable phrases don’t get results. Good news, though. If you’re willing to work with staff at the Job Center, you can produce a customized resume yourself (with our assistance) that is NOT canned and has nothing to do with a monkey. It also won’t cost you $495. In fact, our services will cost you nothing. You just have to review our schedule to find resume workshops that will help you refine your own resume.

Sorry, the flying monkey article hasn't been posted on the Headhunter website yet--but you can read about how to commit resume blasphemy. So why do I remain registered on Nick’s e-list after he called me a monkey? The Headhunter has some innovative ideas about how to look for work—ways to go beyond traditional job search. I especially like the strategy he lays out in the article Pursue Companies, Not Jobs. Instead of applying to one job listing after another, why not identify companies that fit your primary goals and strategically network with staff at those companies? This is a strategy that gets results. And you can’t argue with results.

Can you really find a job at a job fair?

We're gearing up for the JobMarketPlace job fair in Grayslake next week. Are any of you wondering--is it worthwhile to attend?
My answer is "yes" but I have to qualify that statement. Attending any job fair will not be effective if you aren't prepared. Visit quintcareers for 10 steps you can take to set yourself apart at the job fair.
Understand also that a "job fair" is rarely a place to get a job--it's a place to establish contacts or network. Networking leads to a job. So when you walk into the job fair, I hope you plan to talk to every employer. Gather business cards from each individual who speaks to you and plan to follow up with a letter or email. While you're there, stop by the Job Center booth and ask us how we can help you polish your job search strategy!
See you at the fair.

Double the Work

I just interviewed a woman who has been working two part-time jobs (without benefits) for the past year while she looked for her “dream job”. She just got it! She begins a full-time job (with benefits) as a Medical Assistant this week. The effort it took for her to search for a job while working was extreme though. She’s not done yet. She plans to enroll in school to work toward a degree as a Registered Nurse.
If you’re looking for work while employed, you deserve applause. That’s a long, hard road. My medical friend shared several important tips for making your dreams happen.
1) Fight discouragement. It’s your enemy!
2) Mentally picture a career ladder for yourself. Where do you want to be in five years and what steps do you need to take to get there?
3) Celebrate success when it does come.

Changing My Career

Posted by guest blogger, Raymond Rowe—SIU intern and soon-to-be graduate

For about twenty years I have worked in the construction industry as a Construction Manager, building homes and condominiums. Since 2008 the economy went into a deep recession, the bottom fell out of the housing market and like many of my colleagues I became unemployed. I realized that because millions of Americans are still losing their homes to foreclosures that it will take years for housing construction to make a comeback, even if the economy were to miraculously rebound tomorrow. I had to make a decision, should I try and wait for the economy to get better, or, should I change careers and move on with my life?
In 2008 I attended an information session at the Job Center of Lake County where I was informed that the Job Center would pay for me to return to school and receive training through the Workforce Investment Act (WIA). I was informed that the Job Center was out of funds, but I could schedule a follow up interview and I would be placed on a waiting list, which I promptly agreed to.
Later I did the follow up interview, and, started the qualification process. In the spring of 2009 I started classes at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale majoring in Workforce Education and Development. Since then I have been busy attending classes, working on my internship at the job Center, while making the honor roll. I am scheduled to graduate with honors in May 2010. My goal is to get a job in career development and training as soon as I graduate.

Unusual Interview: Be Ready for Anything

Posted by guest blogger Raymond Rowe who recently convinced an employer to hire him in an unusual interview

Be at Your Best for an Interview
Always take your “A-game” to a job interview. You can never be “over prepared” going in. When you walk into the room, you never know what the interviewer might ask of you or where the dialog might end up, so be prepared. Recently I went into an interview expecting to be quizzed about constructing buildings, but instead I got thrown into a “Land Development” debacle. I had an interview scheduled for a Construction Manager position, with the Director of Construction, for a Chicago Development Company. We started promptly at 9: 00 AM, and at 9:15 AM, I walked out of his office as the company’s newest hire.

I met the Director for the very first time at the start of the interview. We introduced ourselves, shook hands and got down to business. I told him what my qualifications and experiences in construction management were, and I showed him items from my portfolio.
He then asked me two questions.
1. The first question was: “What is the first thing you usually do when you start a new project?”
i) I answered, by stating that I always request two sets of plans and specifications-one for the office and the other for my car/home.
ii) I walk the job site to study the terrain, look for obstacles, check access, and plan the job.
iii) I study every detail of the plans and specifications.
iv) I grade the site, and make sure that there is “positive drainage” at all times to avert flooding the area.

2. The second question was: “When can you start working?”
Later on I left the company’s downtown office with two sets of plans, specs and keys to the job site in my hands. I drove directly to the site, and discovered why I had been hired. A previous developer had botched the job, transforming the site into a frozen lake.
Others interviewed ahead of me, but I got hired on the spot, because I was the only guy who demonstrated a plan to prevent the Developer from sinking cold cash into an ice skating rink.

Indeed #1 job-search website

www.indeed.com is my favorite job-search website. Indeed is a compiler; it pulls job listings from hundreds of other sources including company websites and job boards-large and small. I just did an "advanced search" using Indeed. I specified that I wanted to see all full-time jobs that had been posted in the last 15 days within a 15 mile radius of Grayslake. 4813 jobs appeared!!! Whenever I talk to someone who believes that "there are no jobs" available right now--I point them to Indeed. There is something on there for you!

Ways to get to work

It does seem as if people are finding some creative ways to stretch their dollars these days. Sometimes an agency can help you do that. I just saw a notice from Pace about its "Northeastern Illinois' carpool and vanpool" service. Visit www.pacerideshare.com to register to share a ride with other commuters.

Thanks Robert Half

Well, I was going to write a blog about how to conduct a job search online, but Robert Half International already did all the work for me. They put together an interactive online document called “Search Smarts: Best Practices for Conducting an Online Job Search”. If you’re looking for work now, you need to read this, preferably several times. They touch on everything from social networking sites to Second Life (an internet-based virtual world). Open the “fast facts” section available on each page. Some of the statistics are startling. Here’s one. 24% of executives surveyed said that their companies accepted video resumes. Did you hear me? VIDEO RESUMES. It’s clear that the way we look for work is changing as rapidly as the types of careers that are available to us. By the way, while you’re at the Robert Half International website request a free copy of their annual salary guide. Then you can end your visit with a smile. Read the company’s collection of resume bloopers.

Volunteering and Taxes

We were in a workshop reading an article from the Wall Street Journal about networking . One of the top tips for successful job search was to volunteer. Ann (name changed) spoke up. She said she had a background in finance and spent the past three years volunteering as a tax preparer. Although Ann had recently been laid off from a corporate position, she didn’t sound discouraged. The volunteer work gave her confidence during a difficult time and opportunities to talk to professionals in her field. It gave her something fresh to put on her resume. She’s not a one-trick pony; she has experience in other sectors beside large business. She’s now looking at transferring her financial skills to the government, education or non-for-profit sectors. I don’t think she’ll be looking for long. Where could you volunteer in 2010?

Need help preparing your taxes? If you earned less than $25,000 individually or $50,000 as a family, take advantage of free tax preparation offered by the Center for Economic Progress. Individuals age 60 or older also qualify for tax-aide through AARP.