Job seekers: Find out who you are
Di Wright, Career Coach and Communications Instructor ONTARIO, CANADA -- Finding who you are is the key to attaining a successful and fulfilling career. It is only when you peel away, as you would an onion, the layers of yourself that you find out who you really are - and the true talents buried within. This process requires much hard work - physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Part of this hard work can be speaking with others. Speak and network with as many people as you can in the field you have targeted. This will help give you a realistic view of the statistics, such as vital labor market information, current and future trends, and key competencies required. Much reading on your part is needed as you research various industry magazines and journals, websites, and books in your chosen area.
Making a collage of how you see your future life can also illuminate the pathway to who you are becoming. Journal writing about your daily experiences and readings in relation to your future goals also builds a firm foundation for imprinting key attributes and attitudes for this developing new and wonderful persona. All these actions work together to shape our individual dreams and activate the dreams innately belonging to our authentic self. Learn about yourself by taking a personality test
Staff Writer, The Career Digest NEW YORK, NY -- Considering a career change? If so, you might want to take a test or two to determine what career is the best fit for your type of personality. The top-rated career tests, like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, the Keirsey Temperament Sorter and the Strong Interest Inventory are available online. There are fees for some of these tests, but, there are also a variety of quick, simple tests like Color Quiz from http://www.colorquiz.com that offer instant results and doesn't cost you a penny.
MAPP, from http://www.assessment.com, is also a good one and is easy to use. There are a series of questions that asks you to select what you like the most and least amongst 3 things. When you're done you'll instantly be provided with some insight on yourself and the environments you thrive in, as well as the kind of jobs, careers and activities you're suited for. You might be surprised. It's fun, incredibly accurate and no-cost to you. Give MAPP a try today. Don't overlook motivation in job interview
Abridged: Associated Press HOUSTON, TX -- Most job interviews are heavy on the preparation: What are your skills, training, educational background, learning abilities? Given this weighting, a candidate's motivation is often an overlooked - but crucial - element in determining how well the person will excel in an organization, according to a study by Development Dimensions International, a human resources consulting firm.
To reduce the frequency of an unpleasant hiring surprise, the company recommends that employers pay more attention to a candidate's potential for engagement as a way to predict performance. The firm developed a list of six personal characteristics to help screen for likely engagement: Adaptability, achievement orientation, attraction for the work, emotional maturity, positive disposition and deep confidence in the ability to succeed.
"Measuring and selecting an engaged candidate is like hiring the caterpillar who turns into a butterfly - not the moth who eats away the fabric of your organization," said Doug Reynolds, a vice president at Pittsburgh-based DDI. Labor market bounces back from hurricanes
Abridged: Washingtonpost.com WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The nation's businesses cranked up hiring in November, a sign the labor market is back in the groove as the ill effects of the Gulf Coast hurricanes fade. Employers expanded payrolls by 215,000 jobs last month. The unemployment rate held steady at 5 percent. The Labor Department's fresh snapshot of the jobs situation suggested employers are in a better hiring mood.
The hiring pickup came after two grim months for jobseekers. "There's no question that business confidence was paralyzed right after the hurricanes," said Brian Bethune, economist at Global Insight. "Business leaders were looking at the situation and were a little bit uncertain how it was going to be resolved. So they put hiring plans on hold. Now that the proverbial smoke has cleared, they are saying: 'Let's hire.'"
November's employment gains were pretty broad based. Construction jobs went up, partly reflecting hurricane rebuilding and cleanup. Retail, leisure and hospitality, education and health services, financial activities and even manufacturing were among those boosting jobs. In an encouraging sign for job seekers overall, the average time that the unemployed spent searching for work in November was 17.7 weeks. That was down from an average 18.1 weeks in October. Find the right recruiters to land your next job
Staff Writer, The Career Digest NEW YORK, NY -- When looking for a job, you may want to consider working with a recruiter. Recruiters, otherwise known as head hunters or search consultants, are hired by companies to find candidates for them, and often know about unadvertised jobs.
It's important to note, that recruiters do not charge the job seeker. The company pays a fee, typically when a candidate is hired. When contacting a recruiter send a resume and cover letter just as though you were applying for a job. If a recruiter calls you, always call back - even if you are not currently job hunting. You never know when circumstances might change and you might need job search assistance.
If you don't know of any good recruiters, consider using a service that will email your resume to 100's of pre-screened recruiters, who are currently requesting resumes of people with your skills, in your geographic location. Part I: Interview skills that set you apart
Linda Trignano, Business & Career Coach POMPTON LAKES, NJ -- Some of the basics in any job search plan include 1) A focused, clear resume 2) Demonstrated examples of the skills and experience needed to do the job 3) Finding and applying for open jobs 4) Networking skills 5) Interviewing skills 6) Negotiating skills.
In addition, I find that most job seekers fall short in two very critical areas during their job search: Failing to preparing fully for the interview and not ensuring that their 'soft' skills (which include communication, good listening skills, team work, etc.) are polished and then failing to highlight them during the interview
Going into the interview prepared, as well as being ready to provide examples of past performance around these desired soft skills often is enough to move you up on the 'short list' of desirable candidates. Many interviewers don't ask questions directly regarding these softer skills and all too often, candidates simply do not highlight this area during their interview. Quality responses that lead to interviews and job offers
Staff Writer, The Career Digest VIRGINIA BEACH, VA -- There's nothing easy about job searching. What's especially frustrating for many job seekers is a disappointing response rate. However, it's important to note that a job search is based on a numbers game. For example: If you get your resume in front of 1000 hiring managers, you should get 10-50 quality responses leading up to 5 interviews. If you don't pay attention to 'how' you are sending your resumes, your actions might only serve to put your resume in a pile with hundreds of others.
Consider a more focused approach to your job search. A search that increases the number and quality of responses by using a targeted list of industries and decision makers who are looking for people with your skills. This new type of search also employs an affordable delivery system that ensures your resume will be seen by the right person. Start faxing and e-mailing those resumes.
Career websites your resume be should on
Staff Writer, The Career Digest LOS ANGELES, CA -- Recruiters are reporting a higher number of positions to fill than in months past. And most are turning to career websites to instantly find qualified candidates currently on the market. However, with so many available candidates, and the large fees charged them by the biggest job boards, many hiring managers have turned to a variety of the smaller job boards to look for new employees.
So while it may take some time, posting your resume on ALL the best websites, large and small, is the best way to maximize your job opportunities. If you want the exposure but also want to avoid spending 60 hours filling out a lot of web forms, consider letting a service like Resume Rabbit do the work for you. Fill out just one easy form and in about 15 minutes you'll be posted on up to 75 top career websites like Monster, Job.com, CareerBuilder, Net-Temps, Dice and more. A comprehensive list of all the websites they post to is on their home page.
Whether you do it by hand or use a service like Resume Rabbit, creating accounts on all the best career websites will give you access to 1000s of jobs and exposure to 1.5 million employers and recruiters daily. Try Resume Rabbit today click the banner below ! 
Inner cities' jobs slip despite programs
Abridged: TimesLeader.com WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Many of America's inner cities continue to hemorrhage jobs despite years of federal programs designed to improve their economies. Nearly half of the country's 82 largest municipalities lost jobs according to a new Harvard University study. "It's sobering," said Michael Porter, a Harvard business professor who did the study for the university. "It suggests that there are relatively few inner cities that are thriving in the sense of job growth."
Among the best performing: Jersey City; Long Beach; Tulsa; and Anaheim. Among the worst: Detroit; Grand Rapids; Rochester, N.Y.; and Miami. Thirty-two of the inner cities studied also had neighborhoods that were designated federal urban empowerment zones or urban renewal communities. Of those, 12 showed an increase in jobs. Only one, Mobile, Ala., added jobs at a higher rate than the surrounding metropolitan area.
Brian Sullivan, a spokesman for the Department of Housing and Urban Development, said HUD is trying to better promote the tax incentives, especially among small-business owners. Economic development experts agree that tax incentives alone will not revive urban areas with chronically depressed economies. Harvard's Porter said. "There's no silver bullet," he said. "To get it right you've got to work on the fundamentals." This career tip is brought to you by: www.bigtimebiz.biz Read this resume, then fill in the blanks, e-mail job recruiter "GOOD LUCK" ! |
