Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Get a Course, and then Stay the Course!
March.11.08 / Volume 08, Number 10
In This n0t3:
• J0hnG’s e-N0T3
• Starting Your Online Job Search
• Job Hunting in an Unsteady Economy
• Interview Skills That Attract Offers
• How to Network Like a Pro
• 5 Ways Your Cover Letter Says, I don’t want this job”
• The Power of Positive Thinking
J0hnG’s e-N0T3
I’m certain you have seen the headline by now, so I am not telling you anything new: Recession fears rise on more job cuts / Employers slash jobs by most in 5 year / February jobs data seen making recession more likely.
Online and in print, there is concern. But remember, the shrinkage in the mortgage and construction industry has not affected all fields
As noted below, “experts say job seekers should pay attention to current economic conditions and expect that the job-search process may take longer.”
The articles in this NOT3 deal with “Getting a Course, and then Staying the Course!”
The article titles link you to the full article. The links in the column to the left connect you to additional sources of insight and, hopefully, motivation.
The first article is from the Job-Hunt.org site (link in the column to the left. Apart from the DBM job search process and resources as laid out in your DBM Roadmap and Webinars, this article (collection of suggestions and resources) is an excellent guide for beginning a Job Search period! (Not just an online search.)
The second article is from Yahoo Hotjobs.
The “how-to” articles that follow are from NetTemps Career CrossRoads newsletter.
Starting Your Online Job Search
“The good news is that there is plenty of very good (free!) information and assistance available to help you find your next job. The bad news is that it will take time to sift through all of it to find what works for you. But, you can, and you will!” [That is one of the benefits of your DBM program and resources—it saves you sifting time!]
“Three Stages of a Job Search” [DBM uses Focus, Prepare, Achieve]:
1. Preparation - lay the foundation for an efficient and effective job search.
2. Implementation - do the actual job search
3. Suspension/Maintenance - put your search efforts into suspension, but don’t shut down completely. It will be easier to re-start the next time if it’s still “warm.”
Job Hunting in an Unsteady Economy
by Tom Musbach
“Whether or not the U.S. economy has hit a recession, one thing is clear these days: Uncertainty is in the air, and it affects nearly every economic sector, including the job market.
The recent rise in the U.S. unemployment rate—4.9% in January—indicates that fewer jobs are being created, but the shrinkage may not affect job-seekers in some fields, such as technology or health care. Nonetheless, experts say job seekers should pay attention to current economic conditions and expect that the job-search process may take longer.
Adjust Your Approach?
Tips for Reaching Your Goal
Experts recommend the following actions to increase your job-search success in an uncertain economic climate.
1. Tailor your presentations; don’t be generic. “In developing a resume and other promotions materials, think about how your current skills and talents apply directly to the responsibilities you’ll hold in the new job,” says Levit.
2. “Create a target list of companies,” says career coach Julie Jansen, author of “You Want Me to Work with Who?” She suggests sending the list to 25 people, asking them if they can put you in touch with an employee at one of the listed companies.
3. “Make yourself and your skills more visible,” says Bach. He suggests posting and refreshing your resume in more places, such as online job boards, and going to job fairs.
4. “Create an advisory board of smart and empathetic people and confer with them regularly about your job search,” says Jansen.
5. “Hone and utilize your ‘elevator pitch’ as often as possible,” says Bach, referring to a 30-second summary of your professional assets.
6. Keep your spirits high. Don’t let the process overwhelm you or weigh you down. Jansen advises, “Make a list of your five favorite things to do, and do them!”
7. Make an effort daily. “Do one thing each day—like emailing a new contact or attending a networking event—that moves your job search forward,” says Levit. “Your worst enemy is inertia.”
Interview Skills That Attract Offers By David Richter
”An interviewer’s mission is to assess your qualifications compared to the other candidates interviewed. Asking you questions is their way of accomplishing that mission. Preparing meaningful responses in advance is your way of impressing the interviewer.
How to Network Like a Pro By Kevin Donlin
“You can learn a lot about networking to find jobs by asking recruiters how they do it to fill jobs.That’s because recruiters, also known as headhunters, have to network every day to locate and place candidates in positions they’re hired by employers to fill. And recruiters don’t get paid until they succeed.
So you’d better believe that successful headhunters know a thing or two about networking. Here are two things, to be exact, you can do to network like a pro and get hired faster.
5 Ways Your Cover Letter Says, “I Don’t Want This Job”
Cover letters can be a great way to get employers to notice you. Of course you always want to send one but what are some ways that your cover letter can actually hurt your chances of getting interviews? Learn what these mistakes are so you can avoid them in your own cover letters.
more - http://www.net-temps.com/adcgi/banner.cgi?ref=crnews&ch=2782&id=crs_2782
The Power of Positive Thinking
Are you finding it hard to generate meaningful interviews? When you get an interview does it seem as if the other candidate is always getting the offer? Has your job search gone on for months with no results, and are you finding it difficult to stay motivated? Finding a job is hard and demanding work. This is what you can do to maintain a positive mental attitude.
more - http://www.net-temps.com/adcgi/banner.cgi?ref=crnews&ch=2783&id=crs_2783