Is The Job Market Starting To Pick Up?

Every day I read more and more articles that indicate the job market is starting to turn around and that the average U.S. employee is more comfortable leaving their job, as prospects of new ones will pop up.  These articles can be found almost daily on websites such as Yahoo, CNN and MSN.  Yes, there are some industries where jobs are increasing, but not many for white collar workers.  Fortune 1000 companies continue to layoff workers on a weekly basis, and there doesn't appear to be an end in sight.  DO NOT be fooled in thinking that you can slack off on your search because there are more jobs out there for you. This is very unlikely to be true.  Below is a few things you want to keep in mind when reading articles about job growth.

1)  Unemployment is running out for 220,000 people per week.  These individuals will no longer be counted in the unemployment rate numbers.

2)  If you are unemployed, companies that ARE looking to hire will be going after individuals that already have jobs.  The individual that is working is much more value to any company than someone who isn't.  Trust me, it is easier to get a job when you have one than when you don't.

3)  The longer you are unemployed, the more difficult it is to find a job.  If you have not been employed in the last two years, you will have to work twice as hard to find secure employment.

The good news is that there are some industries that are adding employees.  If you work in Green Technology, Healthcare or Infrastructure, you have opportunities many people will not have, so take advantage of them.

My point of this article is not to discourage you, my point is to make sure you stay the course.  Do not slack off now!  Keep working hard toward your goal.  Jobs are out there, you just have to work even harder now to find them and get an offer.  I wish you continued luck in your job search!

Is Facebook Preventing You From Getting A Job?

Over 400 million people from over 180 countries currently use Facebook on a monthly basis.  The power of this social media, along with others such as MySpace, LinkedIn and even YouTube is growing more and more powerful everyday.  The influence of Facebook has not escaped the workplace, in fact, more and more hiring managers are using it as a way to "check-up" on their employees.  Employers are also using it as tool to determine if you are the kind of employee they want to hire.  I have spoken with 10 hiring managers in the last few weeks and 7 of them check Facebook before they extend an offer to a new employee.  Moreover, 5 of them check Facebook to "check-up" on their current employees.  In a perfect world all of our "personal" information would remain out of view of individuals whom we wish not see it, but unfortunately that is not the case.  Facebook privacy settings are changing all the time and if you do not stay abreast of them you could be missing out on potential jobs or even risk losing your job.  Below are few things you can do to make sure your personal life does not interfere with your work life.

1)  Do not post anything on the internet that you do feel comfortable with your employer or potential employer seeing.

2)   Go to the following websites.  They will give you the knowledge you need to make sure your private information is protected.

http://www.reclaimprivacy.org/

http://lifehacker.com/5538697/how-to-quit-facebook-without-actually-quitting-facebook

http://www.readwriteweb.com/archives/5_easy_steps_to_stay_safe_and_private_on_facebook.php
 
Finally, and mostly importantly, the information that non-employers can find out about you can be very dangerous.  Many individuals use the information you post on these social media sites as a way to steal your identity and in some cases use this to break in to your home.  Be smart, be well informed and you can avoid all the potential dangers that you face by posting personal information on Facebook.

Staying Positive When The Job Search Is Going Poorly

The economy may be getting better for some, but the unemployment rate is still at 9.9% nationwide.  A few industries may be adding jobs, but many others are still shredding them.  The process of finding a new position can be extremely frustrating and depressing.  Spending countless hours applying for jobs on-line only to receive no response can be downright demoralizing.  This is not an uncommon occurrence, many job-seekers are in the exact same boat you are in.  Below is a list of a few things that may give you a fresh perspective on your job search.

1)  Take some time off - Yes, I know you are unemployed, but if you have been working hard on your job search you know it can serve as your full-time job.  Take 2-3 days and spend some time doing activities that relax you.  Life can be very tough during this time, so it is important to do things that make us happy.

2)  Join a job-seeker group - These groups are popping up everyday in cities across the U.S.  Speaking with individuals that are going through the same thing you are can be very comforting at times.  In addition, You can also learn some valuable new approaches to your job search by speaking with a number of job-seekers who are employing different tactics in their search.

3)  Join professional social media groups - Social media outlets such as LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook can provide you a place to get many of the benefits from #2.  However, you are able to network at a much faster pace and have the ability to search for companies and professionals that can be beneficial to you and your job search.

4)  Spend some time out of the house each day - You really want to try to avoid sitting in your house day after day.  You need human interaction!  Even if you just ride down the street to the grocery store or to gas station, YOU WILL FEEL BETTER!

Following these suggestions on a regular basis will make you a much happier job seeker and most likely will improve the quality of your search.

Kenny Hanson is the owner of Hanson Consulting. He specializes in working with individuals who are looking for new employment opportunities. His main focus is writing cover letters, professional resumes and working with individuals on interview techniques. Kenny has worked in Recruiting and Human Resources for over a decade. He has worked with hundreds of different companies and has helped thousands of individuals locate employment. In addition, Kenny has been designated a Certified Staffing Professional by the American Staffing Association. He was recently dubbed "The Resume Writer" by Philadelphia Magazine. He can be reached via email at hansonresumes@gmail.com

Social Media...How It Could Land You A Job

I have spoken of the importance of social media in past and recently came across an article I felt could be beneficial to many of my readers.  Social media is becoming an essential tool for anyone looking for a new job.  Below is an article that gives some strong insight on how to market yourself.

Find a job in 140 characters or less

By anthony balderrama on Apr 19, 2010 in Employment Trends, Featured, Job Search

New technological tools are often hailed as breakthroughs that will revolutionize our daily lives. Think of the iPhone’s arrival a few years ago. Many of these much-heralded items fizzle away with little notice. And then others sneak up on us. Facebook went from a niche college site in 2004 to a somewhat essential part of online life for people all over the world today. Twitter showed up on the scene with more noise than Facebook did, but no one knew if it would take off.

For those of you unaware, Twitter is a microblogging sign that lets you post 140-character messages at a time. You can follow people’s updates and they can follow yours. That’s basically it. Sounds simple.

Yet, Twitter has played important roles in major events recently. The plane landing in the Hudson River was first documented via Twitter. The 2008 presidential candidates communicated with voters through the site. Last year’s Iranian protests gained publicity through worldwide Twitter updates. Who would’ve thought something so small would be so important?

Now, people are beginning to use Twitter for more commonplace tasks — namely, job hunts. Hopefully you’re already following us on Twitter at CBforJobSeekers. There we give you tips on job hunting, workplace issues and other topics that come up. But now three authors have written a book all about finding a job through the microblogging site. Susan Britton Whitcomb, Chandlee Bryan and Deb Dib have come together to write “The Twitter Job Search Guide.”

“Twitter can give job seekers a much-needed edge in today’s job market,” Whitcomb says. “It helps them uncover little-known opportunities, research employers, enhance their visibility, expand their network and much more.”

As Bryan explains, “We like the concept of spending 15 well-planned, solidly productive minutes a day on Twitter, at least initially, because it imposes a strategy and discipline that keeps you focused on the big picture — your job search — rather than getting lost online. While Twitter is great way to expand your network and reach, transitioning those relationships to off-line connections is an essential element of a successful search.”

According to the authors, here are five guidelines to follow in your Twitter job search:

1. Know what you want to accomplish and track your progress.
Take advantage of Twitter’s real-time user interaction by monitoring your @replies, direct messages (DMs) and Retweets.

2. Understand your limits.
Don’t just post – seek out information that is valuable to you. Use the favorites option to keep track of posts you want to revisit or think about.

3. Find and follow people.
Twitter can overwhelm you if you follow too many people. Information will fall off of the newsfeed quickly. Instead, be selective about who you follow and make sure they offer information that’s relevant to your goals.

4. Don’t retweet too much!
If all you can offer is a retweet of other people’s messages, then you probably don’t need to be on Twitter. Offer your own input on topics. Plus, the authors point out, if your feed is entirely made of @replies, people will feel as if they’re not welcome to your conversation.

5. Give of yourself.
“Join @jobangels and other philanthropic groups and give back when you can. Watch for opportunities to offer a tip, insight, job lead or helping hand,” the authors suggest.

So log on to Twitter, set up an account, follow us and get going!

I Had A Great Interview, But Have Not Heard Anything. What Should I Do?

A large majority of individuals that interview for a new position feel like the interview went GREAT!  Unfortunately, most hiring managers don't view the interview the same way.  It is very rare that a hiring manager walks out of an interview and  says "Wow, that person would be perfect for this position."  The truth is that most interviewers are looking for ANY red flags they can find - and there almost always is something that raises one in an interview.  So, what happens if you go to an interview and you don't hear back from them?  

I recently received an email from a former client of mine  who has one of the best backgrounds in his field I have ever seen.  He informed me that he had great interview, in fact, they told him he was one of the top 5 candidates.  They informed him that they would be in touch by a certain date, yet he never heard from them.  He followed up after that time, and they again told him that they would be in touch with him within a week.  Surprise, Surprise, they didn't contact him by that set date either.  So, what should he do? Is "no news, good news?" 

My suggestion:  Follow-up again.  Either call the individual you interviewed with or send them another email.  Following up shows initiative and a desire to secure the open position.  In fact, if you don't follow-up the organization may feel you are not really interested in the role.  The worst thing they can tell you is that the job is no longer available or that you are not the right candidate.  Most candidates will not follow-up in this situation because they do not want to be a "pain."  DO NOT WORRY ABOUT THIS!  As long as you are not calling them several times a week or calling them before the deadline THEY gave you, the hiring manager will not view your desire to come and work for their company a "pain."  If anything, this gives you an advantage over the other candidates that think "no news is good news."   

Get The Job You Want By Following These Interview Guidelines!

In today's economy it is hard enough to get an interview, so when you have that opportunity you want to cash in on it.  Just like everything in life, in order to excel at something, you practice and study it - Interviewing is no different.  Unfortunately, there are too many people who feel that they can just walk in and impress everyone they encounter.  I have trained hundreds of clients on how to interview and only 2 of them thought that was their weak point.  Often times I hear the phrase, "Every job I have ever interviewed for, I have gotten".    This may be true, but times are much different now.  For those of you that have had only 3 or 4 jobs in your life, it may be likely you have gotten every job you have interviewed for.  However, times have changed and you are competing against hundreds of other qualified candidates.

Hiring managers and companies now have the ability to be more selective than ever.  The interview is a place where you can make the impression that will give you a clear advantage over your competition.  Below is a list of DO's and DON'TS.  Some of these may seem like common sense, but most candidates do not even follow the most basic rules.

DO research, study and learn everything you can about the individuals and company you are interviewing with.

DO review potential interview questions (there is a section of my blog that lists different interview questions) and practice answering them.

DO dress conservatively

DO bring a few extra copies of your resume with you

DO send a thank you note after the interview is over

DO try to find a commonality between yourself and the interviewer and discuss that

DO let your personality come out

DO take a notepad and pen with you to take notes

DO take a list of references and phone numbers with you

DO ask a few business related questions at the end of the interview

DO follow-up with the interviewer if you do not hear back from them within a week of the interview

DON'T be late, or too early

DON'T ask questions that revolve around money or benefits

DON'T wear perfume, cologne or any flashy jewelry

DON'T talk negatively about your former employer

DON'T smoke before the interview or chew gum during the interview

DON'T get too comfortable during the interview and tell the person your life story (This happens in 1 of every 3 interviews)

DON'T answer cell phone calls during the interview

DON'T EVER LIE


DON'T send a thank-you note full of typos.  Have someone review it before it before you send it.

Following these simple guidelines is going to make you interview more effectively than over 90% of the U.S. population.  They may seem like common sense, but unless you practice and prepare for your interview you might be guilty of one of these mistakes.

How Important Is Your Resume?

Resumes - Many job seekers view them as the primary tool to seek new employment.  The average job seeker emails their resume to three companies per day, with the average response being 1 for every 45 resumes sent.  The perception becomes that the resume isn't getting the job done and that the job seeker needs to revamp their resume and start over again.  In some cases this is true, but in most, their resume is not the reason they are not getting any response.  The method they attack their job search is the problem.  Even if you have the best written resume in the world, if you continue to send it blindly through Monster, Careerbuilder, TheLadders or Craigslist you will not see an drastic increase in the amount of responses you get.  

That  is not to say your resume isn't an important tool in your job search, it is VERY important, but a resume alone will not get you a job.  Below are a few things you need to have or do to go along with a well written resume: 

1)  Cover letter - A cover letter shows professionalism.  Many hiring managers read cover letters to determine if looking at your resume is worth their time.  I often meet with clients who are under the impression that hiring managers do not read cover letters, this is not true.  Yes, there are some cases where your cover letters are not being read, but this is very rare.  If you are not sending a specialized cover letter to every job you apply for, then you are just like hundreds of thousands of other unemployed individuals who are not getting responses  to their resumes.

2)  Network -   If you are exclusively using job websites for your job search, it greatly narrows your chance of being noticed by hiring managers.  Get out and meet people.  There are hundreds of networking events that happen in most cities on a weekly basis.   86% of individuals being hired are through friends of friends.  The more people you know, the more likely you are to be one of those 86%.  Networking, just like everything else takes  time, but this is the single most effective tool in finding employment.  If you continue to do nothing but send your resume to different job boards...you have a .6% of finding a job. 

3)  Be Different - In a time where there are very limited opportunities, you need to make sure you do something to separate yourself from everyone else.  Do not feel like you are bound by rules!  Anything you can think of to get noticed is acceptable (As long it is within the scope of the law).  Being unique is what will make the difference between you and everyone else who just sends their resume in and waits for a response.  Get off the couch, get out and meet people AND BE DIFFERENT!  Today could be a great day for you...tomorrow could be the day that you get a job offer.  

Your resume can and should be an integral part of your job search, but it can't be the only thing.  Just by writing a cover letter and networking, you increase the chance of getting a job by almost 80%.  Don't wait for something good to happen to you...MAKE IT HAPPEN FOR YOURSELF.