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May 17, 2010

Making the Most of a Career/Job Fair

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Career fairs are a great way to find a job; however, it takes knowledge, preparation and saavy to navigate one successfully. How do you stand out in a crowd of 2,000 or more and get the attention of a handful of employers?

Here are some tips to help you from preparation through the job fair and after:

Preparing for the Career/Job Fair:

1. Make sure you have an updated resume that highlights your skills and experience and that quantifies your benefits

2. Research companies attending the fair to see which ones you want to target and then learn more about those companies

3. Pull together a professional outfit; also, make sure your hair and nails are clean and styled

4. Get a babysitter for your children – do NOT bring them

5. Prepare a short, 30- or 60-second commercial of how you will introduce yourself and what benefits you offer. Tie this in with your brand – what are you known for?

Things to Bring to the Career/Job Fair:

Copies of your resume (25-50), depending on the size of the even and number of employers you want to see
A briefcase or professional-looking notepad or binder
A networking card that lists your contact info and your 60-second commercial
Your 60-second commercial
Information about the companies you are interested in speaking with
A list of questions you may want to ask employers
Energy – show your excitement

At the Fair:

Have a plan or strategy on how you get in front of employers
Arrive early to secure a good spot and ensure you will get representatives while they are fresh
Once inside, locate where your targeted companies are
Make sure you extend you hand for a professional handshake – firm but not too strong or too wimpy
Ask your questions and how they relate to your career goal
Ask what are the next steps for after

After the Fair:

Be sure to send a handwritten note or card to each employer you spoke with to thank them for their time, to reiterate your tag line or benefit to them
Express your interest in a meeting or to have further discussion
Follow-up on others you may have networked with – you never know who they know!

These are some tips to help you make the most out of a career/job fair and to be effective as a job search strategy. What other tips have you found that have led you to be successful at a job/career fair you’ve attended?

May 16, 2010

How do You Find a Job with Limited Skills?

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Most career-related articles are directed towards higher level, or white-collar workers. These are displaced workers who held professional-level jobs and who have the education, skills and experience that will take them forward to employment; it is easier for them to find a job. But what about those individuals who may have limited skills or lack the education or experience. What can they do to find a job?

Some of these individuals may only have a high school diploma, or may not have finished high school. Others may have a language barrier or have never worked. For these individuals, it will be more difficult to find employment but it is not impossible.

1. Just as those with more education and experience, it starts with knowing exactly what skills and experience you possess. A job search plan is necessary to focus your efforts so you are not expending time and energy on wasted effort.

2. Getting job-search help is a necessity, such as through the One Stop Workforce or similar programs. Look where you might be able to get some training or schooling – there are opportunities through the stimulus program.

3. Attend job fairs or networking events – these are great opportunities to find numerous employers in one location

4. Have a resume that highlights your skills and talents. Show any volunteering or classes taken. Highlight outcomes or benefits you possess.

5. Look the part – make sure you dress appropriatly at all times. If you are going to an interview, are out networking or applying for jobs, make sure you wear dress pants and shirt. Look like you are at work; it will help set you apart from the competition and show a potential employer that you are serious about working.

There’s no doubt about it, it’s tough out there. There are jobs available but with a flooded market of job seekers, it is more difficult to find the ways to stand out. It’s not impossible but it does take persistance and dilligence. Find ways for relaxation to relieve stress and seek out supports to help you through. Above all, never quit.

May 12, 2010

Political Skills as a Deterrent for Stress

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Do you ever wonder why there are some employees or managers who deal with a high level of daily stress do not burn out? Some researchers have shown that one’s political skills help them deal with stressful situations. Here are some skills that are most useful:

1. Using practical intelligence as opposed to analytical or creative intelligence

2. Being calculated and shrewd about social connections

3. Inspiring trust and confidence

4. Ability to deal with individuals who have a wide variety of backgrounds, styles, and personalities

To summarize, these skills can be learned but need focus and attention in order to adopt these behaviors. When you understand that these skills help you not to react to adverse situations in the workplace, you will be less frustrated or stressed and will feel more positive. This can equate to increased job satisfaction and involvement in your work. Do you possess these skills? Which do you use?

May 6, 2010

Fired Over Facebook Picture

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I read with interest a recent article from Dear Abby (May 4, 2010). A man writes that on the first day of his wife’s work, she was called into the human resources director’s office and told she was being “let go” because of her Web site. The site had photos of her when she worked as a model at a department store. He stated that the pictures were not provacative and that photos of their children were also on the site. The HR director told the wife that one of the (internal) applicants had seen the site and made a complaint over one image, which led to the wife’s termination. They consulted an attorney, as well as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and were told that they lived in an “at will” state, which entitled the employer to fire the employee without fault.

The response was that if you live in at “at will” state, employers can fire you for any reason, unless there is a written contract, or for illegal reasons, such as age, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. The employer was found not at fault in this situation. I hope this is a “wake-up call” for all of you who post pictures of yourself drinking or in other compromising situations, as well as the words you post. Employers are looking at these social networking sites to see the quality of employee; this is their way to ‘weed out’ the numerous applicants they have. This kind of tactic stinks, frankly, but that is the current state in the world of work.

May 5, 2010

Is Networking a Part of Your Job Search Strategy?

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Are you aware that 80% of available jobs are not posted on any job boards? It is a fact that businesses are not posting over half of their jobs due to the amount of interest they receive on a daily basis. They are already overwhelmed so they keep the majority of their positions covert. These are the jobs that they want great candidates for. They are banking on hearing about these candidates through people they know and trust, such as family or friends. That is why the best way to find a job is through networking – talking to the people you know, who know people, who know people, and so on. It is about gettin yourself out there and networking your personal brand – you – to get that next position. It is about using the social networking sites, such as LinkedIn and Facebook, or others, to let people know who you are, what you are looking for, and then to ask if they know anyone hiring for your services or field.

I will tell you a quick story about how this can work. I attended a career meeting and met someone who was looking for a job. I sent him some links but never heard from him after. Recently, he contacted me to inquire about a networking group that I had mentioned to him several months ago. He came to the meeting and told the group what he was looking for. He had at least five people who said they would refer him to people they know in his field. If he had followed up several months ago, he could be working right now! The moral of the story is how the networking process works in a job search and how powerful if can be. So, is networking a part of your job search strategy?