What can you do about first impression interviewer bias?
Studies have shown a majority of interviewers do NOT have a scientific way of determining who would do best on a job. Instead, most simply use their own biases to determine whether they think the person is smart and would "fit in" with the rest of the people at the company.
Deciding on this basis is really no better than flipping a coin, and it tends to favor people who are good interviewers rather than good employees.
Nevertheless, this is the reality of most interviewing situations you'll run into. As a job seeker, a good way of dealing with this is twofold: presenting yourself well so you can do as well as possible with the interviewer's superficial biases, and at the same time presenting the interviewer with facts and substance that would back up the idea that you could be a good fit for the job.
The second point does not mean you should be disrespectful with the interviewer. Rather, you will often need to take some initiative to steer the conversation in a direction that would give you an opportunity to share facts that would bolster the case to hire you.
CREATING A GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION
There are several things you can do to create a good first impression:
1. Have a good looking, error-free resume. Even before the interviewer meets you in person, they're starting to form a judgement of you based on your resume: its content, writing style, whether there are any spelling or grammar errors, etc.
2. Look nice - wear a neatly-pressed business suit and a classy tie. Make sure your suit and shirt fit properly. The biggest giveaway that you're wearing a cheap suit is if it doesn't fit well. If you can afford it, accessorise your outfit with a nice tie if you're a man, or if you're a woman, a scarf or comparable accessory. You want to give the impression that you're doing well.
3. Control nervousness - it's natural to be nervous on an interview - just about everyone is. But you should take steps so the nervousness isn't apparent. Doing mock interviews with friends or family members is a good way to increase your confidence. The more you're exposed to interviewing, the less nervous you'll be about it.
4. Sharpen your wit - Interviewers often decide how smart someone is based on how witty they are. There is probably no real scientific formula for becoming more witty. However, people who are well-read tend to have quicker wits than those who aren't.
5. Be prepared - if you have researched the company and the industry ahead of time, and you have a good idea of how you can answer most of the standard job interview questions they might ask (such as "Where do you see yourself in 2 years?), you'll be much more confident and your preparedness will show.
HELPING THE INTERVIEWER GET TO KNOW YOUR ABILITIES
Many interviewers will try to classify you based on broad information such as the number of years of experience you have, where you went to college, which industries you worked in, etc.
The reality is this information may or may not be a good predictor of whether you can solve their business problems, which is the real reason why they are looking for a new employee.
As a job candidate, it is reasonable for you to want to know why the company is looking to hire someone and what business problems they hope to solve with the hire. The answer to those questions should help you relate to your own work experiences and hopefully give you an opportunity to talk about specific things you have done in the past that have given you expertise in the areas necessary to solve the company's problems.
If you offer the interviewer your perspective as someone who has expertise with the specific problems they want to resolve, and strive to provide them with helpful insights that they may not have considered before, you will stand out as a candidate.
About the Author:
Scott Brown is the author of the Job Search Handbook (http://www.JobSearchHandbook.com).
Above Job Search Information was published by:
JobSearchInfo.com.
JobSearchInfo
PO Box 4668 #73650,
New York, NY 10163-4668
3/11/2010
IN 2011, A WINNING RESUME WILL NOT BE SCREENED OUT IN ROUND 1
In 2011, a winning resume will survive Round 1 when job resumes are screened out in only 15 seconds. It will help you to compete strongly against the fierce competition for fewer jobs. And it will also help to get you hired. Hiring NEVER stops -- not even in this Recession.
At least one winning resume will be required and it will make a BIG difference to your chances because it is your best job search tool in this Recession. And two winning resumes will be even better to get you hired.
Is your resume smart enough to avoid being screened out in seconds and fight for you in 2011? How effective is your job search "equipment"? Nowadays, many "old" resumes have suddenly stopped getting interviews. Why?
Don't rush to blame the economy and this Recession if you're not getting any interviews. You may be using a very "basic" resume or it contains possible "red flag" items (turnoffs) that you're not aware of. Perhaps your resume is being screened out in Round 1. So, please don't give up on yourself. Be smart! You can make a big difference to your chances by revamping your resume and "fixing" or removing those negatives! Better still, get professional help to create a winning resume for you. It is crucial for a successful job search and will make a big difference. You CAN'T compete successfully in this Recession without one. Your resume may be screened out in only 15 seconds!
"The ultimate tragedy is giving up." (Patrick Donovan, Forbes Magazine)
Many job seekers complain about this Recession but the truth is that their own resumes are too weak or unfocused to make a difference. They can't compete successfully for jobs even in good times. Although you can't change today's economy, you can do a lot to improve your resume and make a difference to your chances in this job market. I have already helped many clients to make their resumes more effective. It truly made a big difference. Many were hired.
When the job market is tough, all resumes need to be smarter. In a Recession they have to compete for attention as never before. Is your resume still "basic" or plain or self-written? With such a resume you can't compete successfully for jobs. Please wake up, smell the coffee and learn how to compete and win with a winning resume -- even in this scary Recession! You can make a difference to your chances of being hired but nothing is more crucial than a winning resume. How can you interview for a job if your resume is being sceened out?
HIRING NEVER STOPS. Hiring has continued during every economic slowdown, downturn, recession and depression. New vacancies always arise because new businesses start up, new jobs are created, older departments expand or employees get promoted or transferred or retire or even die.
In the recent dot.com bust, I.T. professionals with winning resumes were still being interviewed and hired. The improved resumes did make a difference. But it took longer. I saw that hundreds of times.
In 2011, more and more job seekers are applying for fewer jobs. Will YOU be among those who will be hired?
To any recruiter, you are only as good as your resume makes you. So, how well are you selling yourself on paper – in your resume and cover letter? Do you have a winning resume? Two winning resumes are even better! They will make a difference to your chances.
Are you presenting your VALUE or BRAND as well as you should? Do you come across as someone who should be interviewed and hired? Can you compete effectively in today's job market? In this awful recession?
"If you're SO good,
How come your resume is SO bad?"
This is what a recruiter recently said to a job seeker. (Reported by Billie Sucher in Career Hub.)
In any pile of 50-100 applications, a "basic" or traditional or home-made resume WON'T impress because recruiters expect you to address their specific needs or requirements -- especially in this Recession when they are very "picky". Can you do this? Only a very skilled writer knows how to develop a winning resume for you -- one that will make a difference. Resume professionals have taken years to fine-tune their craft.
DOES IT COST MUCH TO HAVE A RESUME REVAMP OR MAKEOVER? No it doesn't!
The cost of having your resume revamped, improved, redesigned, or rewritten by a top resume writer like Matthew Greene is highly affordable! It really pays to have a much stronger resume that will help you to get interviews and be hired -- even in this Recession. An improved resume will make a BIG difference. Just email me your resume TODAY for a FREE evaluation and quote. I do realize that I must quote you an affordable fee in this Recession so let's discuss it.
In the Great Recession, professionally-written resumes are becoming a "must have".
Let Matthew Greene assist you as he has been doing since 1984. Greene delivers superior quality resumes and cover letters for a very reasonable fee. He understands your situation and will help you succeed in these very uncertain and worrying times. He will make a difference.
Don't wait. Act NOW! See my Resume Testimonials .[ http://www.winning-resumes.com/testimonials.htm ]
E-mail or call me for a FREE consultation or price quote. I promise to be reasonable.
mattgreene@aol.com
Tel.: 1-718 436-3504
Copyright, 2006-2011 by Matthew Greene. All rights reserved
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11/30/2009
IN 2011, LONGER RESUMES ARE MORE ACCEPTABLE FOR EXECUTIVES AND MANAGERS -- AND MORE EFFECTIVE
In 2011, a longer resume will work better for executives and managers with 10 to 25 years' experience. In fact, longer resumes are acceptable to most recruiters today. Why? Because a longer executive or management resume tells them all that they need to know. Times and ideas about the ideal length of a resume have truly changed. Longer resumes for executives and senior managers have become the norm. They are more acceptable than ever -- and more effective. How long should an executive resume be? In his "Rites of Passage at $100,000+" (Viceroy), John Lucht feels that executive resumes are like Direct Mail. Long copy sells! Two to 6-page resumes are okay! I agree. Executives need a longer resume to do justice to their professional experience and accomplishments. Unless you are Warren Buffet or Bill Gates, a one page resume may be too brief. It won't "sell" you. [Please do not save up all of your "sell" only for a separate Cover Letter. That is an outdated strategy. When a selection committee meets to discuss the short-listed candidates, everyone will ask to see each applicant's resume but may or may not be too interested in his or her cover letter.] As a professional resume writer, I often use material from client cover letters to construct the client's Value Statement or Value Proposition in the resume which appears in the top half of Page 1. (Cover letters are valuable because I know that clients try to sell themselves and their value in such letters.) In all resumes, the first 10-15 lines must address the employer's needs or requirements (as stated in job ads). In this section, some executives also write a personal Branding Statement to highlight what distinguishes them from others. In a one-page resume, that will leave you with only 20 lines for your work experience, education and training. For more experienced job seekers, longer resumes are therefor necessary in order to be more effective and they are acceptable to most recruiters. A one-page resume may be far too crowded and "light". In my 24 years as a resume writer, I have often converted a hopelessly crowded one or two page resume into a longer two or three page resume that is easy-to-read and also does justice to the client. In most cases, the results were truly amazing! Your resume needs to be the best MARKETING tool it can be. How many pages will you need to show what you're able to do, what you have done and your achievements -- how well you have performed? Can you sell yourself on only one page or will you need a longer one of two or three or more pages? [http://winning-resumes.com/length.htm ] A longer but well designed and scannable two or three or four-page resume that "sells" you up front will often be more effective than a single crowded page without that "sell"! And longer executive resumes are acceptable today. Many one-pagers are so boring! That's why the majority of recruiters nowadays will actually prefer a beautiful two or three-page presentation because it tells them all that they need to know! That's why they are so acceptable today. [See article "Longer resumes now more acceptable" at:http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1272/is_/ai_n24254506] [WARNING: Very weak resumes are often produced by people who have worked for many years but now try to get it all down on one page (or two) – to "please" the reader. To save lines, they leave out the most important sections of a resume – the "sell". But an employer might feel that if you've managed to squeeze 10-20 years' work experience on only one page, then what you're offering can hardly be valuable! In a recession or Depression, that would be fatal. For practical purposes, the old One-Page Resume Theory is all but dead. "Once and for all, let's put this overaged turkey of a theory to rest", pleads William E. Montag in his book for executives.] Whether one page or two or three, your resume needs to be the best MARKETING tool it can be. That is what really matters. Never shorten or otherwise truncate your resume merely for the reason that you believe it should be one or two pages long. It all depends. A longer resume may be less crowded and more suitable for presenting your material in a recession or Depression. Creating a resume of the most suitable length will involve an array of skills that most people don't have. This is why consulting a skilled resume writing professional may be your easiest and best answer. Feel Free to Call or eMail me at: mattgreene@aol.com Tel.: 1-718-436-3504 Copyright, 2006-2011 by Matthew Greene. All rights reserved 
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10/12/2009
WHERE ARE THE LOWEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATES? IN SMALL TOWNS AND RURAL AREAS
Have you heard about all of the hiring taking place in Pineland, Wyoming? They apparently discovered and are developing vast deposits of natural gas. This town is actually BOOMING! (It was discussed by Charles Gibson of ABC News on Wednesday 29th April.)
If you're considering moving to a small town, think about its prospects for future employment growth as well as its quality of life.
With that in mind, the following Aol Career News list ranks some of the best small town and rural places to live, based on prospects for future job growth and quality life issues, including education, crime rate, recreation and other factors.
Louisville, Colorado - The town of 18,800 at the Rocky Mountain foothills impresses visitors with its historic downtown, summer street fairs and proximity to ski resorts and mountain trails. High tech, energy and health care industries keep unemployment down.
Benton City, Washington - The area in Eastern Washington (pop 2,800) has some of the highest projected job growth in the country, and is one of the most educated rural areas in the nation.
Chanhassen, Minnesota - An abundance of lakes and parks, a large arboretum and winter sports offer plenty to do, and unemployment is well under the national average.
Papillion, Nebraska - Unemployment is just 4.5%, and crime is also low. The town is in the middle of a downtown revitalization, which includes building a performance arts center and AAA baseball stadium.
Middleton, Wisconsin - This city boasts a stable economy, excellent schools and a large network of parks, bike paths and trails. A mixed use community inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright and development for upscale stores and restaurants are underway.
Greenacres, Washington - With a population of 7,112, it's a great place for families with children, has good public schools, large population of college-educated adults, and a high homeownership rate.
Horse Creek, Wyoming - The unincorporated area in South Eastern Wyoming has a very low crime rate and is an easy drive to Cheyenne and Laramie, home of the University of Wyoming.
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho (Mica and Rockford Bay) - The rural area around Coeur d'Alene boasts great fishing, wonderful scenery and a job market with strong potential.
Please E-mail or call me for a FREE consultation.
If you're considering moving to a small town, think about its prospects for future employment growth as well as its quality of life.
With that in mind, the following Aol Career News list ranks some of the best small town and rural places to live, based on prospects for future job growth and quality life issues, including education, crime rate, recreation and other factors.
Louisville, Colorado - The town of 18,800 at the Rocky Mountain foothills impresses visitors with its historic downtown, summer street fairs and proximity to ski resorts and mountain trails. High tech, energy and health care industries keep unemployment down.
Benton City, Washington - The area in Eastern Washington (pop 2,800) has some of the highest projected job growth in the country, and is one of the most educated rural areas in the nation.
Chanhassen, Minnesota - An abundance of lakes and parks, a large arboretum and winter sports offer plenty to do, and unemployment is well under the national average.
Papillion, Nebraska - Unemployment is just 4.5%, and crime is also low. The town is in the middle of a downtown revitalization, which includes building a performance arts center and AAA baseball stadium.
Middleton, Wisconsin - This city boasts a stable economy, excellent schools and a large network of parks, bike paths and trails. A mixed use community inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright and development for upscale stores and restaurants are underway.
Greenacres, Washington - With a population of 7,112, it's a great place for families with children, has good public schools, large population of college-educated adults, and a high homeownership rate.
Horse Creek, Wyoming - The unincorporated area in South Eastern Wyoming has a very low crime rate and is an easy drive to Cheyenne and Laramie, home of the University of Wyoming.
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho (Mica and Rockford Bay) - The rural area around Coeur d'Alene boasts great fishing, wonderful scenery and a job market with strong potential.
Please E-mail or call me for a FREE consultation.
mattgreene@aol.com
Tel: 1-718-436-3504
Copyright, 2006-2011 by Matthew Greene. All rights reserved.
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WHERE ARE THE LOWEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATES?
WRITE A RESUME IN 2010, WRITING RESUMES IN 2010,
9/17/2009
THE REAL COST OF WRITING YOUR OWN RESUME IS HIGH. IT IS NOT SMART in 2011.
Are you still writing your own resume in 2011? Sorry, but that is NOT smart. IT WILL COST YOU A TON IN MISSED JOB OPPORTUNITIES! It is a well-known fact that most job seekers will sell themselves short. That's why 90 percent (or more) of those self-written resumes need to be improved, revamped or rewritten.
Did you know that a resume that is "basic" -- it gives the facts but lacks "sell" --is actually NEGATIVE? Why? Because a reader will feel that if you really had something of value to offer or "sell", you would have presented it in your resume! (Robert Half in "Practical Accounting")
Let's face it. A resume that doesn't "sell" you, is a waste of everyone's time. It can only result in very few or no job interviews. Even worse is that home-made efforts are often SUICIDAL! I see this daily. So why take a chance with yours? Missed career and growth opportunities or lower salaries are a very high price to pay for writing your own resume. You would be well advised to seek professional help. It will cost money but it really does pay -- provided that you choose a skilled resume writer!
In my view, the only professional to consult is an experienced and skilled resume writer who does it full-time. Such a person can be more OBJECTIVE about your credentials than you can. He or she can see how you will come across to an employer.
Professional resume writers deal with resume-writing problems on a daily basis and find solutions that work for their clients. He or she will help you decide on the best format or layout, the most suitable length and, above all, what to emphasize and what to omit.
"Cleaning up" your resume is an important aspect of preparing it. Throughout the process, your own input and collaboration is essential.
Unfortunately, this is not how many resume services operate. I refer to those who ask you to complete a form and send your money. These are resume factories or paper mills. Avoid them (and their "guarantees") like the plague.
But people you know will also offer to help you with your resume. Be polite but ignore them as well because they won't be qualified to assist you -- even if they happen to be writers, teachers, business executives, personnel officers, secretaries, or typists.
Human Resources folks who read and screen out resumes, are seldom able to write them as well. (Similiarly, theater critics can't create new works, football receivers can't play quarterback and baseball catchers can't pitch!) None of your friends or relatives has the expertise required to prepare a winning resume for you. (Recently, the H.R. Director of a firm in Pennsylvania offered to assist a job seeker to prepare a complicated change-of-career resume even though he had no specialist knowledge of the subject.)
Worst of all, every low cost resume writer promises you a quick turnaround.
The awful truth is that most of these amateurs can prepare a nice-looking resume for you but it will be very "basic" and bland. It won't be the marketing tool that you need to succeed. Why? Because it will fail to present your best selling points in the most effective way.
And as for potential negatives, "red flags" or turnoffs, they won't bother to clean up your resume in order to minimize or eliminate all of your resume blemishes. You'll be screened out in Round 1.
Be warned. Resume writing is a minefield of hacks and quacks. Some writers might be sincere in trying to help you but could harm your career because they lack resume-writing skill and experience. At best, they'll give you an attractive-looking resume that won't sell you to any employer.
Good resume paper and sharp laser printing will not create the marketing tool you need to beat the competition. Always remember, a printer is a printer. He or she is not a marketing expert!
What is a "Skilled" Resume Writer? What qualifies a professional writer to assist you?
First and foremost, very strong analytical skills. He or she will need to analyze and discover many additional facts about you, your skills, strengths, and achievements -- in order to determine your potential worth to an employer. This, in turn, has to be translated into skills that are transferable and marketable.
A background that includes both career counseling and working experience in a variety of jobs will therefor be useful. To know what skills are required of various jobs and at different levels, he or she needs to study job ads more than you do!
In particular, he or she could help you target specific positions by carefully matching up an employer's stated needs with what you are able to offer. If you lack one or more of those requirements, what could be equivalent to it?
Second, a good resume writer knows a lot about the art of presentation. It is the skilled way in which your information is selected, organized, and presented that will enhance your perceived value and impress the reader. This requires a knowledge of resume "cosmetics" and "surgery"---but not anything unethical.
Third, he or she must know how the buyer thinks -- those who screen as well as those who do the actual hiring. A knowledge of which items might be "red flags" is essential along with an ability to draft your best selling points.
Fourth, a professional writer must understand how an effective sales device or marketing tool should be constructed in your particular case. There are no standard resumes. People are not clones. Yours has to be custom-made using your own, unique "ingredients."
And last, but not least, the writer should write good English using the language of the employer. A good job resume should not include flowery, fancy or exaggerated language. It is a job search tool, not a literary masterpiece.
Why do I mention English last and not first? Because hundreds of English majors consult with resume-writing professionals -- even graduates with a GPA of 3.9. The help they need isn't for better English but the specific language of resume writing. And how to organize and present their data in the most effective way.
But a resume writer's best qualification or credential is his or her proven ability to develop resumes that have helped many, many clients. You see, some of our most skilled and successful writers haven't bothered to become "certified" as professional resume writers. They don't need to be. Their results speak louder than any certificate!
Finally, isn't word-of-mouth still the only safe way to select any professional? After all, how did a particular doctor, lawyer or resume writer acquire his or her reputation for excellence?
Please E-mail or call me for a FREE consultation or chat.
Did you know that a resume that is "basic" -- it gives the facts but lacks "sell" --is actually NEGATIVE? Why? Because a reader will feel that if you really had something of value to offer or "sell", you would have presented it in your resume! (Robert Half in "Practical Accounting")
Let's face it. A resume that doesn't "sell" you, is a waste of everyone's time. It can only result in very few or no job interviews. Even worse is that home-made efforts are often SUICIDAL! I see this daily. So why take a chance with yours? Missed career and growth opportunities or lower salaries are a very high price to pay for writing your own resume. You would be well advised to seek professional help. It will cost money but it really does pay -- provided that you choose a skilled resume writer!
In my view, the only professional to consult is an experienced and skilled resume writer who does it full-time. Such a person can be more OBJECTIVE about your credentials than you can. He or she can see how you will come across to an employer.
Professional resume writers deal with resume-writing problems on a daily basis and find solutions that work for their clients. He or she will help you decide on the best format or layout, the most suitable length and, above all, what to emphasize and what to omit.
"Cleaning up" your resume is an important aspect of preparing it. Throughout the process, your own input and collaboration is essential.
Unfortunately, this is not how many resume services operate. I refer to those who ask you to complete a form and send your money. These are resume factories or paper mills. Avoid them (and their "guarantees") like the plague.
But people you know will also offer to help you with your resume. Be polite but ignore them as well because they won't be qualified to assist you -- even if they happen to be writers, teachers, business executives, personnel officers, secretaries, or typists.
Human Resources folks who read and screen out resumes, are seldom able to write them as well. (Similiarly, theater critics can't create new works, football receivers can't play quarterback and baseball catchers can't pitch!) None of your friends or relatives has the expertise required to prepare a winning resume for you. (Recently, the H.R. Director of a firm in Pennsylvania offered to assist a job seeker to prepare a complicated change-of-career resume even though he had no specialist knowledge of the subject.)
Worst of all, every low cost resume writer promises you a quick turnaround.
The awful truth is that most of these amateurs can prepare a nice-looking resume for you but it will be very "basic" and bland. It won't be the marketing tool that you need to succeed. Why? Because it will fail to present your best selling points in the most effective way.
And as for potential negatives, "red flags" or turnoffs, they won't bother to clean up your resume in order to minimize or eliminate all of your resume blemishes. You'll be screened out in Round 1.
Be warned. Resume writing is a minefield of hacks and quacks. Some writers might be sincere in trying to help you but could harm your career because they lack resume-writing skill and experience. At best, they'll give you an attractive-looking resume that won't sell you to any employer.
Good resume paper and sharp laser printing will not create the marketing tool you need to beat the competition. Always remember, a printer is a printer. He or she is not a marketing expert!
What is a "Skilled" Resume Writer? What qualifies a professional writer to assist you?
First and foremost, very strong analytical skills. He or she will need to analyze and discover many additional facts about you, your skills, strengths, and achievements -- in order to determine your potential worth to an employer. This, in turn, has to be translated into skills that are transferable and marketable.
A background that includes both career counseling and working experience in a variety of jobs will therefor be useful. To know what skills are required of various jobs and at different levels, he or she needs to study job ads more than you do!
In particular, he or she could help you target specific positions by carefully matching up an employer's stated needs with what you are able to offer. If you lack one or more of those requirements, what could be equivalent to it?
Second, a good resume writer knows a lot about the art of presentation. It is the skilled way in which your information is selected, organized, and presented that will enhance your perceived value and impress the reader. This requires a knowledge of resume "cosmetics" and "surgery"---but not anything unethical.
Third, he or she must know how the buyer thinks -- those who screen as well as those who do the actual hiring. A knowledge of which items might be "red flags" is essential along with an ability to draft your best selling points.
Fourth, a professional writer must understand how an effective sales device or marketing tool should be constructed in your particular case. There are no standard resumes. People are not clones. Yours has to be custom-made using your own, unique "ingredients."
And last, but not least, the writer should write good English using the language of the employer. A good job resume should not include flowery, fancy or exaggerated language. It is a job search tool, not a literary masterpiece.
Why do I mention English last and not first? Because hundreds of English majors consult with resume-writing professionals -- even graduates with a GPA of 3.9. The help they need isn't for better English but the specific language of resume writing. And how to organize and present their data in the most effective way.
But a resume writer's best qualification or credential is his or her proven ability to develop resumes that have helped many, many clients. You see, some of our most skilled and successful writers haven't bothered to become "certified" as professional resume writers. They don't need to be. Their results speak louder than any certificate!
Finally, isn't word-of-mouth still the only safe way to select any professional? After all, how did a particular doctor, lawyer or resume writer acquire his or her reputation for excellence?
Please E-mail or call me for a FREE consultation or chat.
mattgreene@aol.com
Tel.: 1-718-436-3504
Copyright, 2006-2011 by Matthew Greene. All rights reserved.
8/04/2009
JOB SEEKERS NEED TO WORK SMARTER TO GET HIRED IN 2011
All job seekers need to work smarter to get hired in 2011! Smarter and harder.That is the new reality in today's job market. Weak job resumes won't help you at all.
First, you need to discover job openings (by networking and talking to people) and also by uncovering them in a public library.
Second, you'll need to land interviews. (Most self-written resumes are too "basic" and unfocused to sell you. They are simply too weak to compete. One job seeker mailed out 600 basic resumes, got 4 interviews and only one job offer. His resume looked like hundreds of others who also used the same resume template or software.)
Third, you'll have to impress and persuade employers how valuable you can be. (Can you sell yourself in person?)
Although it is a picky buyer's job market, hiring has NOT come to a standstill. Companies are still hiring but job seekers need to work smarter to find job openings and also to get interviews.
The competition for a job is stiff. About 6,000,000 jobs have disappeared and most of the jobs that do come open are quickly filled.
The official U.S. unemployment rate is 9.7 percent. But don’t underestimate the scope of this crisis: the unemployment rate is at its worst level in 26 years!
Millions of hidden casualties of the Great Recession are NOT counted in the unemployment rate because they have stopped looking for work.
I don’t think businesses will hire back anytime soon,” says Allen Sinai, chief global economist at Decision Economics. “Companies are rewarded by the stock markets for not hiring and keeping their costs down. We may see another jobless recovery.” Martin Weiss feels that the employment situation is dire and a double-dip recession is a real possibility.
WHERE AND HOW TO FIND JOBS?
Research both old and new classified job ads in any major public library. That will tell you who was and may still be hiring in your field of competency. Some of those positions might be vacant again. (Please scroll down to my blog post dated 3/1/09.)
Networking at events, parties, functions, and in churches or temples or synagogues or mosques is essential. And don't leave out cabs and elevators! (One of my M.B.A. clients decided to take his resume to a housewarming party. Crazy? No! There he bumped into an old buddy, a fellow officer from his days in the U.S. Merchant Marine. This soon led to a senior Banking position in Credit Suisse.)
The choices of jobs may not be as numerous, but they are still out there -- from smaller mom-and-pops to larger government organizations like the U.S. Census Bureau.
Private companies in health care, smaller or boutique financial firms like Broadpoint, Pinetum Capital and BTIG, human resources, startup technology companies and biotech companies like FluGen, animal companion nutrition & drug companies, public relations firms, time-shares, security firms, and supermarkets are still looking for people to hire, as others scale back and trim down their staff.
GREEN JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR MBA's
And what about jobs in all of those "green" alternative energy industries that President Obama has been stimulating?
Shannon Small, an MBA coach and senior consultant with nextsteppartners.com, says: "In this economy, one of the greatest benefits of an MBA is the broad exposure. Companies that are trying to do more with less are more willing to put them to work knowing they have capabilities in business fields. With an expansive network they can tap into the greater reach of the alumni networks."
Small says that many of her students have gone onto jobs in "green tech and clean tech," two popular fields in the environmentally conscious Bay Area, alongside financial services firms and computer and internet startups.
Some students are taking an MBA as a "hedging strategy" against unemployment.
High Demand for Skilled Labor
Employers are begging for qualified applicants for certain occupations, even in hard times.
Most of the jobs involve skills that take years to attain. Welder is one, employers report. Critical care nurse is another. Electrical lineman is yet another, particularly those skilled in stringing high-voltage wires across the landscape. Special education teachers are in demand. So are geotechnical engineers, trained in geology as well as engineering, a combination sought for oil field work. Respiratory therapists, who help the ill breathe. And with infrastructure spending now on the rise, civil engineers are in demand to supervise the work.
The hospitality sector has been hardest hit, with retail not far behind, as national chains announce closures and cutbacks.
But Wal-Mart is hiring! While almost every other large retailer is cutting jobs, Wal-Mart says it will add 22,000 new workers this year. (Reported on June 4th)
It says a great deal about the world's largest retailer's strength and success during the recession. Wal-Mart has been adroit at keeping its prices low during the downturn. While the chain has often done well bringing in low-income shoppers, the middle classes now shop at the stores as their credit has been pinched and their salaries frozen.
With today's high unemployment rates you've got to work SMARTER to find a job. Job listings are not coming in as rapidly as before but you can still find them out there if you look hard enough. DON'T STOP LOOKING. You just have to use ALL of the resources available to you -- from traditional classifieds to online job boards and continue to build your network.
AMERICA IS GOING GREEN
It's no secret that America is going green. Green jobs are popping up everywhere, whether it's the technician installing solar panels on a home, the scientist researching ways to build better batteries for electric cars, or the executive looking for ways to reduce waste, eliminate unnecessary packaging and cut costs.
Job growth in this area is expected to top 50% by 2016, nearly four times the job growth for all other occupations combined.
A few business schools offer specialized programs, but a better bet might be enrolling in a few courses in the engineering or earth sciences school. Perhaps you could even find an industry-specific internship. (Reported in Career News, 8/4/2009)
FINDING A JOB IS THE HARDEST JOB OF ALL. YOU HAVE TO WORK AT IT FROM 9 TO 5 -- OR LATER.
Employers are still seeking to hire top-quality job candidates. While many employers throughout the United States may be cutting back on overall staffing levels, companies also recognize this period of time as an opportunity to hire top-quality job candidates.
Many corporate recruiters say the recession offers an opportunity to bring in top talent to their organizations, according to a JobFox poll of 200 recruiters. But 53 percent expect their companies to hire fewer new employees during the first six months of 2009.
Despite the growing list of corporate layoffs, employers continue to post millions of new jobs each month.
Are you logging onto an online job board or looking in the paper for your next job opportunity? These days job seekers should spend 60 to 70 percent of their efforts on NETWORKING. Let everyone know you're out of a job and available for work. People like to help, but they can't help if they don't know you're looking. On the average, 80 percent of job openings are NOT advertised at all. Networking may be the only way to hear about them.
Networking includes constantly using tools such as LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter, as well as in person.
The best way to find a job remains through word of mouth. And, in the recession, a lead or referral from a contact can give you the edge you need to land a new position. Online networking websites make it easy for you to keep in touch with members of your network, but keep in mind that face-to-face interaction is still important. Offer to treat people to coffee on occasion to catch up and talk about your search.
RECRUITERS: Otherwise known as headhunters or search consultants, recruiters are hired by companies to find candidates for them, and often know about unadvertised jobs. It's important to note, that recruiters do not work for or charge you, the job seeker. The company pays a fee, typically when a candidate is hired.
So, please stop to think if any company will be willing to pay $20-70,000 for the privilege of hiring you when so many other candidates are available without a pricetag. That is the downside of working with a recruiter. (Please read the first three chapters of John Lucht's classic for executive job searchers, Rites of Passage at $100,000+. Lucht explains WHEN to use a headhunter and when and why to AVOID them. This book is a "must have" for the job search.)
Recruiters must be able to identify easily how a candidate's past positions will help that person be successful in the role applied for. The language used to express past accomplishments takes the guesswork out of whether a candidate is qualified.
A cover letter should introduce the candidate and explain the reasons for applying for that position. The cover letter also should discuss why the candidate would be a great fit for the organization.
How can you beat the competition for jobs? First, by focusing and tailoring your job resume. You also have to work smarter searching all top career sites and niche job boards.
WHAT TO DO AT JOB FAIRS:
Paul Anderson, a former hiring manager for Microsoft and Expedia, offers a few ways to tackle a job search in the new world. First, scrap the elevator pitch. "Why the elevator pitch doesn't work," Anderson said, "is that nobody cares about you. They care about themselves. You have to change your mindset from self-serving to serving others. That means finding out what need you can fill for the recruiters.
Second, at job fairs, don't bring a sheaf of resumes and hand them out to recruiters like Halloween candy. Instead, get business cards from the recruiters. Ask them what kinds of jobs they need to fill and what kind of candidates they like." (Reported in Career News, 6/17/2009)
JOB INTERVIEWS: Did you know that when the job market was booming it took an average of 3 interviews to get 1 job offer? Now it can take as many as 17!
Be prepared to discuss your strengths and weaknesses. Be ready to explain why and how you would add more VALUE in the new role.
Try ending the interview by ASKING for the job on a trial basis. It never hurts to be proactive. If you feel the employment interview has gone well, don't be afraid to ask if you can prove yourself on a temporary basis. You'll demonstrate your enthusiasm for the job and desire to hit the ground running. At the very least, ask to schedule a second interview by saying: "I feel this interview has been so good, I'm sure you'ld like to see and talk with me again."
TRICK QUESTIONS: When you finally do land the job interview of your dreams, will you have what it takes to land the job offer? You must stand out during the job interview or you might as well be playing the lottery.
Most job seekers spend hours creating their resumes and cover letters, searching through job postings, reviewing classified ads and networking--all in order to land the job interview. Yet 90% of them don't know what to do when they get one. For example, one interview question still floors many candidates. It is the seemingly friendly but very dangerous: "Tell me about yourself." A weak or boring answer may cost you the entire interview! Another killer question is: "What is your biggest weakness?" SO, BE PREPARED FOR TOUGH INTERVIEW QUESTIONS. (Please buy Martin Yates' book on answering 200 interview questions and also consult Kenneth Iverson's book about how to apply for and obtain a Medical Residency.)
KEYWORDS: Many companies are subscribing to websites containing resume databases or using internal software to sort through resumes. Job seekers must use the correct language to make sure their resumes appear in these searches. Read through job postings and company websites to find recurring verbiage, and use that language where appropriate in your resume. Every part of a resume should speak directly to the open position and company. IT MUST BE FOCUSED.
DON'T GIVE UP. EVERY "NO" BRINGS YOU CLOSER TO THE FINAL "YES"
Job search guru, Tom Jackson in his "Guerilla Tactics in the Job Market", gives the following paradigm of the typical job search -- whether you are entry-level or a senior executive:
NETWORK! NETWORK! NETWORK!
With the high volume of candidates in the market, having a direct connection to a recruiter or company can make all the difference. The larger the candidate's network, the greater the chance of meeting someone who can help in the job search.
Good fortune came to one lucky job seeker by attending church events. (AOL recently reported the story.) One of my own clients took his resume to a housewarming party where he met an old friend from his days in the Naval Reserve. This led to a senior Banking position in Credit Suisse.)
Wasn't that the wildest coincidence?" Coincidence is just God's way of remaining anonymous.
TODAY'S PLAN B ... TODAY'S PLAN B ... TODAY'S PLAN B
The Great Recession is filling the ranks of Avon, Mary Kay, and Tupperware. Armies of new Avon ladies, Mary Kay reps and Tupperware sellers are advancing on living rooms across the country. Their ranks are full of professionals forced to take a second job amid the recession.
Laid-off bankers and stay-at-home moms, but also gainfully employed people worried how long they'll stay that way. All of them are willing to knock on doors, host parties or do whatever else it takes to peddle some makeup. "'I need money."
Job cuts, shrinking bonuses and scaled-back hours have pushed more people than ever to become direct sales representatives, a phenomenon industry experts say they've seen before in previous recessions.
In 2007, an estimated 15 million people nationwide were in direct sales. Some 58 percent of became reps as a second job, according to the Direct Selling Association.
When money began getting less, one full-time pharmaceutical sales rep signed up to host Mary Kay parties and give facials, working just six hours to make about $600 a week. "We were looking for a plan B for our family to make additional income,"
Direct sellers also can earn rewards, too, including jewelry, handbags, furniture, appliances, cars and vacations.
During stronger economies, people usually take on direct sales jobs so they can have money for leisure spending, said Larry Chonko, a professor at The University of Texas. "Times are tough as we know and there is an absolute need for extra income."
"Direct sales is not recession-proof, but it is the kind of business that even in a recession you can make success of it. And if you create a solid foundation now, then just wait until the economy comes out of the down cycle and goes into an up cycle."
OTHER OPTIONS -- A GOOD HOME BUSINESS
"As a manager of a Circuit City store. I was making over $70K a year but they let me go right after Christmas. In retrospect they did me a favor. I got a couple of months severance pay and used the time I had to find something new and different. I had read many books by Robert Allen and decided to check out a program that he had available. It was a way to develop multiple streams of income, http://tr.im/RobertAllenIncomeStreams .
I have to say that he knows his stuff and has excellent ideas and training. I am now making a little more money than I was before and see that my businesses should continue to grow. Best of all, I'm working less 20 hours a week, when I was putting in close to 60 before. I'm able to play ball, have a hobby, and best of all, spend so much more time with my children.
My suggestion to most is to do what millions of people are doing now, find a good home business. That won't work for everyone but if you find one that you can get into for virtually no investment and learn the right skills, you should do well.
There are two opportunities that my clients have had the most success with. One is an amazing opportunity to profit from Ebay and there are well over 720,000 people making a full time living with them. http://cli.gs/HomeBizSuccessSystem . That's a huge company to work with.
The other great opportunity is working with a company that we all know, Google, http://cli.gs/GoogleCashSystem. So many of my clients tell me that they are loving working for themselves, making more money than before, in less time, and enjoy the extra time they have to spend with their families."
Avoid all MLM, they are mostly scams.
Please E-mail or call me for a FREE consultation or price quote.
First, you need to discover job openings (by networking and talking to people) and also by uncovering them in a public library.
Second, you'll need to land interviews. (Most self-written resumes are too "basic" and unfocused to sell you. They are simply too weak to compete. One job seeker mailed out 600 basic resumes, got 4 interviews and only one job offer. His resume looked like hundreds of others who also used the same resume template or software.)
Third, you'll have to impress and persuade employers how valuable you can be. (Can you sell yourself in person?)
Although it is a picky buyer's job market, hiring has NOT come to a standstill. Companies are still hiring but job seekers need to work smarter to find job openings and also to get interviews.
The competition for a job is stiff. About 6,000,000 jobs have disappeared and most of the jobs that do come open are quickly filled.
The official U.S. unemployment rate is 9.7 percent. But don’t underestimate the scope of this crisis: the unemployment rate is at its worst level in 26 years!
Millions of hidden casualties of the Great Recession are NOT counted in the unemployment rate because they have stopped looking for work.
I don’t think businesses will hire back anytime soon,” says Allen Sinai, chief global economist at Decision Economics. “Companies are rewarded by the stock markets for not hiring and keeping their costs down. We may see another jobless recovery.” Martin Weiss feels that the employment situation is dire and a double-dip recession is a real possibility.
WHERE AND HOW TO FIND JOBS?
Research both old and new classified job ads in any major public library. That will tell you who was and may still be hiring in your field of competency. Some of those positions might be vacant again. (Please scroll down to my blog post dated 3/1/09.)
Networking at events, parties, functions, and in churches or temples or synagogues or mosques is essential. And don't leave out cabs and elevators! (One of my M.B.A. clients decided to take his resume to a housewarming party. Crazy? No! There he bumped into an old buddy, a fellow officer from his days in the U.S. Merchant Marine. This soon led to a senior Banking position in Credit Suisse.)
The choices of jobs may not be as numerous, but they are still out there -- from smaller mom-and-pops to larger government organizations like the U.S. Census Bureau.
Private companies in health care, smaller or boutique financial firms like Broadpoint, Pinetum Capital and BTIG, human resources, startup technology companies and biotech companies like FluGen, animal companion nutrition & drug companies, public relations firms, time-shares, security firms, and supermarkets are still looking for people to hire, as others scale back and trim down their staff.
GREEN JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR MBA's
And what about jobs in all of those "green" alternative energy industries that President Obama has been stimulating?
Shannon Small, an MBA coach and senior consultant with nextsteppartners.com, says: "In this economy, one of the greatest benefits of an MBA is the broad exposure. Companies that are trying to do more with less are more willing to put them to work knowing they have capabilities in business fields. With an expansive network they can tap into the greater reach of the alumni networks."
Small says that many of her students have gone onto jobs in "green tech and clean tech," two popular fields in the environmentally conscious Bay Area, alongside financial services firms and computer and internet startups.
Some students are taking an MBA as a "hedging strategy" against unemployment.
High Demand for Skilled Labor
Employers are begging for qualified applicants for certain occupations, even in hard times.
Most of the jobs involve skills that take years to attain. Welder is one, employers report. Critical care nurse is another. Electrical lineman is yet another, particularly those skilled in stringing high-voltage wires across the landscape. Special education teachers are in demand. So are geotechnical engineers, trained in geology as well as engineering, a combination sought for oil field work. Respiratory therapists, who help the ill breathe. And with infrastructure spending now on the rise, civil engineers are in demand to supervise the work.
The hospitality sector has been hardest hit, with retail not far behind, as national chains announce closures and cutbacks.
But Wal-Mart is hiring! While almost every other large retailer is cutting jobs, Wal-Mart says it will add 22,000 new workers this year. (Reported on June 4th)
It says a great deal about the world's largest retailer's strength and success during the recession. Wal-Mart has been adroit at keeping its prices low during the downturn. While the chain has often done well bringing in low-income shoppers, the middle classes now shop at the stores as their credit has been pinched and their salaries frozen.
With today's high unemployment rates you've got to work SMARTER to find a job. Job listings are not coming in as rapidly as before but you can still find them out there if you look hard enough. DON'T STOP LOOKING. You just have to use ALL of the resources available to you -- from traditional classifieds to online job boards and continue to build your network.
AMERICA IS GOING GREEN
It's no secret that America is going green. Green jobs are popping up everywhere, whether it's the technician installing solar panels on a home, the scientist researching ways to build better batteries for electric cars, or the executive looking for ways to reduce waste, eliminate unnecessary packaging and cut costs.
Job growth in this area is expected to top 50% by 2016, nearly four times the job growth for all other occupations combined.
A few business schools offer specialized programs, but a better bet might be enrolling in a few courses in the engineering or earth sciences school. Perhaps you could even find an industry-specific internship. (Reported in Career News, 8/4/2009)
FINDING A JOB IS THE HARDEST JOB OF ALL. YOU HAVE TO WORK AT IT FROM 9 TO 5 -- OR LATER.
Employers are still seeking to hire top-quality job candidates. While many employers throughout the United States may be cutting back on overall staffing levels, companies also recognize this period of time as an opportunity to hire top-quality job candidates.
Many corporate recruiters say the recession offers an opportunity to bring in top talent to their organizations, according to a JobFox poll of 200 recruiters. But 53 percent expect their companies to hire fewer new employees during the first six months of 2009.
Despite the growing list of corporate layoffs, employers continue to post millions of new jobs each month.
Are you logging onto an online job board or looking in the paper for your next job opportunity? These days job seekers should spend 60 to 70 percent of their efforts on NETWORKING. Let everyone know you're out of a job and available for work. People like to help, but they can't help if they don't know you're looking. On the average, 80 percent of job openings are NOT advertised at all. Networking may be the only way to hear about them.
Networking includes constantly using tools such as LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter, as well as in person.
The best way to find a job remains through word of mouth. And, in the recession, a lead or referral from a contact can give you the edge you need to land a new position. Online networking websites make it easy for you to keep in touch with members of your network, but keep in mind that face-to-face interaction is still important. Offer to treat people to coffee on occasion to catch up and talk about your search.
RECRUITERS: Otherwise known as headhunters or search consultants, recruiters are hired by companies to find candidates for them, and often know about unadvertised jobs. It's important to note, that recruiters do not work for or charge you, the job seeker. The company pays a fee, typically when a candidate is hired.
So, please stop to think if any company will be willing to pay $20-70,000 for the privilege of hiring you when so many other candidates are available without a pricetag. That is the downside of working with a recruiter. (Please read the first three chapters of John Lucht's classic for executive job searchers, Rites of Passage at $100,000+. Lucht explains WHEN to use a headhunter and when and why to AVOID them. This book is a "must have" for the job search.)
Recruiters must be able to identify easily how a candidate's past positions will help that person be successful in the role applied for. The language used to express past accomplishments takes the guesswork out of whether a candidate is qualified.
A cover letter should introduce the candidate and explain the reasons for applying for that position. The cover letter also should discuss why the candidate would be a great fit for the organization.
How can you beat the competition for jobs? First, by focusing and tailoring your job resume. You also have to work smarter searching all top career sites and niche job boards.
WHAT TO DO AT JOB FAIRS:
Paul Anderson, a former hiring manager for Microsoft and Expedia, offers a few ways to tackle a job search in the new world. First, scrap the elevator pitch. "Why the elevator pitch doesn't work," Anderson said, "is that nobody cares about you. They care about themselves. You have to change your mindset from self-serving to serving others. That means finding out what need you can fill for the recruiters.
Second, at job fairs, don't bring a sheaf of resumes and hand them out to recruiters like Halloween candy. Instead, get business cards from the recruiters. Ask them what kinds of jobs they need to fill and what kind of candidates they like." (Reported in Career News, 6/17/2009)
JOB INTERVIEWS: Did you know that when the job market was booming it took an average of 3 interviews to get 1 job offer? Now it can take as many as 17!
Reading business and trade publications gives you an advantage. They keep you sharp, well informed, articulate and in-demand. It's no secret that keeping up with the news and trends of your industry or profession (as well as that of your clients') will give you the competitive edge you need.
Try ending the interview by ASKING for the job on a trial basis. It never hurts to be proactive. If you feel the employment interview has gone well, don't be afraid to ask if you can prove yourself on a temporary basis. You'll demonstrate your enthusiasm for the job and desire to hit the ground running. At the very least, ask to schedule a second interview by saying: "I feel this interview has been so good, I'm sure you'ld like to see and talk with me again."
TRICK QUESTIONS: When you finally do land the job interview of your dreams, will you have what it takes to land the job offer? You must stand out during the job interview or you might as well be playing the lottery.
Most job seekers spend hours creating their resumes and cover letters, searching through job postings, reviewing classified ads and networking--all in order to land the job interview. Yet 90% of them don't know what to do when they get one. For example, one interview question still floors many candidates. It is the seemingly friendly but very dangerous: "Tell me about yourself." A weak or boring answer may cost you the entire interview! Another killer question is: "What is your biggest weakness?" SO, BE PREPARED FOR TOUGH INTERVIEW QUESTIONS. (Please buy Martin Yates' book on answering 200 interview questions and also consult Kenneth Iverson's book about how to apply for and obtain a Medical Residency.)
KEYWORDS: Many companies are subscribing to websites containing resume databases or using internal software to sort through resumes. Job seekers must use the correct language to make sure their resumes appear in these searches. Read through job postings and company websites to find recurring verbiage, and use that language where appropriate in your resume. Every part of a resume should speak directly to the open position and company. IT MUST BE FOCUSED.
DON'T GIVE UP. EVERY "NO" BRINGS YOU CLOSER TO THE FINAL "YES"
Job search guru, Tom Jackson in his "Guerilla Tactics in the Job Market", gives the following paradigm of the typical job search -- whether you are entry-level or a senior executive:
NO NO NO NO NO NO NO
NO NO NO NO NO NO NO
NO NO NO NO NO NO YES!
After each unsuccessful interview, a single "NO" needs to be crossed out. Then remember to thank God. Why? Because that "NO" brings you one step closer to the final "YES." And that is really good news!
NETWORK! NETWORK! NETWORK!
With the high volume of candidates in the market, having a direct connection to a recruiter or company can make all the difference. The larger the candidate's network, the greater the chance of meeting someone who can help in the job search.
Good fortune came to one lucky job seeker by attending church events. (AOL recently reported the story.) One of my own clients took his resume to a housewarming party where he met an old friend from his days in the Naval Reserve. This led to a senior Banking position in Credit Suisse.)
Wasn't that the wildest coincidence?" Coincidence is just God's way of remaining anonymous.
TODAY'S PLAN B ... TODAY'S PLAN B ... TODAY'S PLAN B
The Great Recession is filling the ranks of Avon, Mary Kay, and Tupperware. Armies of new Avon ladies, Mary Kay reps and Tupperware sellers are advancing on living rooms across the country. Their ranks are full of professionals forced to take a second job amid the recession.
Laid-off bankers and stay-at-home moms, but also gainfully employed people worried how long they'll stay that way. All of them are willing to knock on doors, host parties or do whatever else it takes to peddle some makeup. "'I need money."
Job cuts, shrinking bonuses and scaled-back hours have pushed more people than ever to become direct sales representatives, a phenomenon industry experts say they've seen before in previous recessions.
In 2007, an estimated 15 million people nationwide were in direct sales. Some 58 percent of became reps as a second job, according to the Direct Selling Association.
When money began getting less, one full-time pharmaceutical sales rep signed up to host Mary Kay parties and give facials, working just six hours to make about $600 a week. "We were looking for a plan B for our family to make additional income,"
Direct sellers also can earn rewards, too, including jewelry, handbags, furniture, appliances, cars and vacations.
During stronger economies, people usually take on direct sales jobs so they can have money for leisure spending, said Larry Chonko, a professor at The University of Texas. "Times are tough as we know and there is an absolute need for extra income."
"Direct sales is not recession-proof, but it is the kind of business that even in a recession you can make success of it. And if you create a solid foundation now, then just wait until the economy comes out of the down cycle and goes into an up cycle."
OTHER OPTIONS -- A GOOD HOME BUSINESS
"As a manager of a Circuit City store. I was making over $70K a year but they let me go right after Christmas. In retrospect they did me a favor. I got a couple of months severance pay and used the time I had to find something new and different. I had read many books by Robert Allen and decided to check out a program that he had available. It was a way to develop multiple streams of income, http://tr.im/RobertAllenIncomeStreams .
I have to say that he knows his stuff and has excellent ideas and training. I am now making a little more money than I was before and see that my businesses should continue to grow. Best of all, I'm working less 20 hours a week, when I was putting in close to 60 before. I'm able to play ball, have a hobby, and best of all, spend so much more time with my children.
My suggestion to most is to do what millions of people are doing now, find a good home business. That won't work for everyone but if you find one that you can get into for virtually no investment and learn the right skills, you should do well.
There are two opportunities that my clients have had the most success with. One is an amazing opportunity to profit from Ebay and there are well over 720,000 people making a full time living with them. http://cli.gs/HomeBizSuccessSystem . That's a huge company to work with.
The other great opportunity is working with a company that we all know, Google, http://cli.gs/GoogleCashSystem. So many of my clients tell me that they are loving working for themselves, making more money than before, in less time, and enjoy the extra time they have to spend with their families."
Avoid all MLM, they are mostly scams.
(Reported in Career News, 8/4/2009)
KEEP MOVING. KEEP MEETING PEOPLE. KEEP TALKING TO THEM. NEVER GIVE UP!
KEEP MOVING. KEEP MEETING PEOPLE. KEEP TALKING TO THEM. NEVER GIVE UP!
Please E-mail or call me for a FREE consultation or price quote.
mattgreene@aol.com
Tel.: 1-718-436-3504
5/05/2009
"YES, I will hire you today if you can produce more Sales or Profits for me."
ALL businesses are looking to hire people who can produce more sales or profits for them. How? By correcting or improving current operations or methods. Recession does NOT affect that kind of hiring.
Today's employers want you to address their needs and their self-interest -- NOT your own need for a job and an income. Employers are trying to stay in business and survive in this terrible economy. Many have been forced to declare bankruptcy. So, please write and speak and focus on what they want to hear. Ask yourself: WHAT WILL BE MUSIC TO A SPECIFIC EMPLOYER'S EARS IN 2011?
What are a particular employer's most urgent needs? If you can succeed in finding that out (or guess the most likely answer), you will be well on your way to getting hired. If you can help any employer to save or make money, you will be a valuable person to have on board -- in ANY economy. So put yourself into a make or save money mode every time you need to write or speak to any party who has the authority to hire you. Address these subjects in your resumes, cover letters and during all interviews and meetings.
Recently, the president of one New York company wrote a letter to the New York Times that contains valuable advice for every job seeker -- from entry-level to senior executive.
"All businesses are looking for people who can produce more sales or profits by correcting or improving operations. Recession does NOT affect that kind of hiring -- not even the Great Recession.
"If I had applicants who would 'ring the cash register' after they came on, and who would lower our operating costs or increase the productivity of our efforts, I would do a lot more hiring. So would many others. I know how Presidents and CEOs think...
"So, what can and should a job seeker like you do? TARGET a company you want to be associated with and study it. Research it. Talk to some of its customers. Try to analyze and find out what some of its problems are -- in your area of competency. Figure out how you would solve them...
"Search out the executive at the company who has responsibility over the area that interests you. Write to that person. Outline the problem you have researched and the solution you would propose. Present yourself as an applicant to handle that assignment and maybe others like it... Which employer will refuse to meet with you for a few minutes, if only out of curiosity?
"When you research the company, study its customers and their relationships with the company. Customers are one of the best sources of information about a company. If you explain what you are doing, they are often willing to provide the information you are looking for...
"PEOPLE WHO HIRE, RESPECT THIS APPROACH. IN FACT, WE ARE READY TO HIRE SUCH APPLICANTS."
During your meeting with such a prospective employer, an effective strategy might be to show him or her that you have already solved a problem or problems (challenges) similar to those facing him or her now and that you obtained very quick results.
But be very careful and tactful. You want to come across as someone who is capable of solving the particular problem (or rather, the challenge) without appearing to be a smart aleck or too "clever". No employer enjoys being told how to run his or her business.
Always remember, you are there to help and should not be seen as posing any threat (either real or perceived or imagined) to the person you are asking to hire you.
Bosses are under constant stress to meet or exceed their company goals and objectives. They also suffer from all sorts of hidden anxieties and insecurities, one of which is not having the latest college degree and/or not being too familiar with the state-of-the-art techniques being offered by recent and younger graduates. They also tend to be 45+ years old on the average. Most senior managers do NOT surround themselves with younger staff who might later outshine them. Only the stronger and very self-confident ones would risk that.
Please E-mail or call me for a FREE consultation or price quote.
Today's employers want you to address their needs and their self-interest -- NOT your own need for a job and an income. Employers are trying to stay in business and survive in this terrible economy. Many have been forced to declare bankruptcy. So, please write and speak and focus on what they want to hear. Ask yourself: WHAT WILL BE MUSIC TO A SPECIFIC EMPLOYER'S EARS IN 2011?
What are a particular employer's most urgent needs? If you can succeed in finding that out (or guess the most likely answer), you will be well on your way to getting hired. If you can help any employer to save or make money, you will be a valuable person to have on board -- in ANY economy. So put yourself into a make or save money mode every time you need to write or speak to any party who has the authority to hire you. Address these subjects in your resumes, cover letters and during all interviews and meetings.
Recently, the president of one New York company wrote a letter to the New York Times that contains valuable advice for every job seeker -- from entry-level to senior executive.
"All businesses are looking for people who can produce more sales or profits by correcting or improving operations. Recession does NOT affect that kind of hiring -- not even the Great Recession.
"If I had applicants who would 'ring the cash register' after they came on, and who would lower our operating costs or increase the productivity of our efforts, I would do a lot more hiring. So would many others. I know how Presidents and CEOs think...
"So, what can and should a job seeker like you do? TARGET a company you want to be associated with and study it. Research it. Talk to some of its customers. Try to analyze and find out what some of its problems are -- in your area of competency. Figure out how you would solve them...
"Search out the executive at the company who has responsibility over the area that interests you. Write to that person. Outline the problem you have researched and the solution you would propose. Present yourself as an applicant to handle that assignment and maybe others like it... Which employer will refuse to meet with you for a few minutes, if only out of curiosity?
"When you research the company, study its customers and their relationships with the company. Customers are one of the best sources of information about a company. If you explain what you are doing, they are often willing to provide the information you are looking for...
"PEOPLE WHO HIRE, RESPECT THIS APPROACH. IN FACT, WE ARE READY TO HIRE SUCH APPLICANTS."
During your meeting with such a prospective employer, an effective strategy might be to show him or her that you have already solved a problem or problems (challenges) similar to those facing him or her now and that you obtained very quick results.
But be very careful and tactful. You want to come across as someone who is capable of solving the particular problem (or rather, the challenge) without appearing to be a smart aleck or too "clever". No employer enjoys being told how to run his or her business.
Always remember, you are there to help and should not be seen as posing any threat (either real or perceived or imagined) to the person you are asking to hire you.
Bosses are under constant stress to meet or exceed their company goals and objectives. They also suffer from all sorts of hidden anxieties and insecurities, one of which is not having the latest college degree and/or not being too familiar with the state-of-the-art techniques being offered by recent and younger graduates. They also tend to be 45+ years old on the average. Most senior managers do NOT surround themselves with younger staff who might later outshine them. Only the stronger and very self-confident ones would risk that.
Please E-mail or call me for a FREE consultation or price quote.
mattgreene@aol.com
Tel: 1-718-436-3504
Copyright, 2006-2011 by Matthew Greene. All rights reserved.
Tags:
TO GET HIRED, INCREASE SALES OR PROFITS
RESEARCH AND OFFER TO SOLVE A PROBLEM
6/18/2008
SAMPLE RESUMES AND TEMPLATES HURT MORE THAN THEY HELP
In a recession or Depression or hard times, using sample resumes or resume templates will HURT your chances more than they can help. Why?
You may be copying blindly from someone else's resume without understanding why it was done the way it was done. That sample resume was once designed for someone else with a different work history and different resume problems or blemishes. It's like making your own diagnosis of what you need and then using the "medicine" prescribed for someone else's resume. This is not smart at all and it will HURT you. It will also cost you a few job opportunities.
In a Depression, there are fewer jobs to compete for and you can't afford to miss out on any.
Like most people, you have probably looked at one or more sample resumes to see how others have done it – to try to save a few dollars in this recession or Depression by doing it yourself. But how much can you really learn or copy or adapt from someone else's resume? Very, very little!
The sad part is that using sample resumes or a resume template will HURT your chances because you will innocently believe that you have constructed a good resume. Not so! It is highly unlikely that you have managed to write a winning resume. You will later find out the hard way that it WON'T get you job interviews. I see this all of the time. In the end, using sample resumes or a resume template may cost you much more than a revamped or improved resume done by a professional writer.
Why won't using sample resumes or a resume template work for you?
First, your own particulars and work history are NEVER the same.
Second, you CAN'T tell what information was included or omitted or downplayed, and so on.
Third, sample resumes do NOT reveal their construction and writing secrets to you. You see, it took a lot of thought and effort to create a "perfect" or winning resume (or to "paint"a woman's face and make her look beautiful)! What you are looking at in a sample resume is the final and "cleaned up" version of someone else's resume with all of the blemishes fixed or improved or downplayed!
This problem is very similar to trying to figure out any good-looking woman's beauty secrets. You simply CAN'T guess what she did to achieve that dramatic result. Have you ever seen the Before and After cosmetic and clothing makeovers on Oprah? That's what experts can achieve for you! The same applies to revamping or improving your job resume. A resume also needs a makeover.[See http://winning-resumes.com/resume_template_can_help_or_hurt.html]
Using a readymade RESUME TEMPLATE, is even worse in a recession. First, are you qualified to choose or select a suitable resume template to present your skills, strengths, experience, and education? I don't think so. I often see managers, sales reps and I.T. technicians presenting themselves in outdated, entry-level Microsoft Wizard formats. (These have remained unchanged since Windows 98 was launched. Besides,Microsoft are not experts on resume formats.)
Second, resume templates make your resume look exactly like thousands of others. That is terrible! Do you want yours to attract the attention of recruiters or not? Then it must be different!
To beat the competition for fewer jobs in this recession or Depression, your resume has to be carefully designed, written, and presented or reformatted and revamped.
It is all about the most effective presentation. Very few people can do this because it is seldom easy. Resume writing is an art. It is the art of self-marketing yourself on paper. In this recession or Depression, you need to sell yourself on paper more strongly than ever before.
To be successful, you must FOCUS your job search. What are you looking for? What is or are your most realistic option(s) in this recession or Depression? The more specific you can be, the more focused and successful your resume and job search will be -- even in this horrible recession or Depression.
The hardest job to find -- NOT the easiest -- is what anxious job seekers refer to as "any job".
As Yogi Berra wisely pointed out: "If you don't know where you're going, you'll end up somewhere else." Either nowhere or in some McJob that pays you much less than you're worth AND WON'T PAY THE BILLS!
In today's recession or Depression, you can't go job hunting with your father's resume. Would you attend a friend's wedding today in the dress you wore to your high school graduation ten years ago? Would any bride trust herself to do her own wedding day makeup? Of course not! If you want to look your best -- in person and on paper -- you must ask a professional to help you. It is that important.
It is a fact that most home-made resumes and resume templates will NOT work in this recession or Depression. They don't look right and they won't impress a picky reader. Don't wait to find this out the hard way. How long can you afford to wait to get your own resume "fixed" professionally?
PLEASE CALL MATT GREENE FOR FREE ADVICE ON 1-718-436-3504
OR WRITE: mattgreene@aol.com
Copyright, 2006-2011 by Matthew Greene. All rights reserved.
Tags:
USING SAMPLE RESUMES
USING SAMPLE RESUMES IN THIS RECESSION,
SAMPLE RESUME CAN HURT IN THIS RECESSION,
SAMPLE RESUMES HURT IN THIS RECESSION,
RESUME TEMPLATES HURT OR HELP,
RESUME TEMPLATE CAN HURT OR HELP,
5/04/2008
BEST CAREERS IN A RECESSION
CNN (and the Bureau of Labor Statistics) has recently reported some of the best careers during a recession.
Here is CNN's list of the best careers during a recession:.
Financial adviser: 41% growth rate with a $74,000 median compensation. Reason: Boomers will retire and will need financial advisers.
Software program manager: 29% growth rate with a $103,000 median compensation. Reason: Complex reasons still need to be managed.
Database administrator: 29% growth rate with a $77,000 median compensation. Reason: See above.
Physical Therapist: 27% growth rate with a $67,000 median compensation. Reason: Boomers knees and backs will begin to fail as the years go on. (What about Sports Medicine to treat millions of fitness fanatics who jogged with the wrong equipment?)
Physician assistant: 27% growth rate with a $53,000 median compensation. Reason: Care companies like Physician assistants because they are less expensive then doctors. (What about jobs in the medical device self-testing industry which has shown explosive growth?)
Environmental Specialist: 25% growth rate with a $53,000 median compensation. Reason: Global warming is a big deal right now.
Hydrologist: 24% growth rate with a $59,600 median compensation. Reason: Water is scarce and it is a necessity for everyone.
College professor: 23% growth rate with a $79,000 median compensation. Reason: As the economy shrinks education increases.
Certified public accountant: 18% growth rate with a $64,000 median compensation. Reason: Do you want to read those tax codes and deal with audit regulators?
Teacher: 12% growth rate with a $48,000 median compensation. Reason: One word- Union.
I would add to their list, jobs in the alternative energy industry (such as windfarms which is one alternative to the struggling automotive industry) or Human Resource Restructuring (to handle the big changes in corporate headcounts and benefits in the wake of company layoffs) or the IT industry where specialists in handling Acquisitions and Integrations have become much sought after because of the way large companies have been gobbled up or forced to sell or merge in the present economic crisis. The Credit and Debt Collection field will also be booming.
After all, this recession is expected to be both "long and deep" according to Warren Buffet.
Let Matthew Greene assist you to construct the right kind of resume as he has been doing since 1984. Greene delivers superior quality resumes and cover letters for a very reasonable fee. He will help you succeed in the above occupations during these very uncertain and worrying times.
Don't wait. Act NOW! Please visit my website .[ http://www.winning-resumes.com/ ]
E-mail or call me for a FREE consultation or price quote.
Here is CNN's list of the best careers during a recession:.
Financial adviser: 41% growth rate with a $74,000 median compensation. Reason: Boomers will retire and will need financial advisers.
Software program manager: 29% growth rate with a $103,000 median compensation. Reason: Complex reasons still need to be managed.
Database administrator: 29% growth rate with a $77,000 median compensation. Reason: See above.
Physical Therapist: 27% growth rate with a $67,000 median compensation. Reason: Boomers knees and backs will begin to fail as the years go on. (What about Sports Medicine to treat millions of fitness fanatics who jogged with the wrong equipment?)
Physician assistant: 27% growth rate with a $53,000 median compensation. Reason: Care companies like Physician assistants because they are less expensive then doctors. (What about jobs in the medical device self-testing industry which has shown explosive growth?)
Environmental Specialist: 25% growth rate with a $53,000 median compensation. Reason: Global warming is a big deal right now.
Hydrologist: 24% growth rate with a $59,600 median compensation. Reason: Water is scarce and it is a necessity for everyone.
College professor: 23% growth rate with a $79,000 median compensation. Reason: As the economy shrinks education increases.
Certified public accountant: 18% growth rate with a $64,000 median compensation. Reason: Do you want to read those tax codes and deal with audit regulators?
Teacher: 12% growth rate with a $48,000 median compensation. Reason: One word- Union.
I would add to their list, jobs in the alternative energy industry (such as windfarms which is one alternative to the struggling automotive industry) or Human Resource Restructuring (to handle the big changes in corporate headcounts and benefits in the wake of company layoffs) or the IT industry where specialists in handling Acquisitions and Integrations have become much sought after because of the way large companies have been gobbled up or forced to sell or merge in the present economic crisis. The Credit and Debt Collection field will also be booming.
After all, this recession is expected to be both "long and deep" according to Warren Buffet.
Let Matthew Greene assist you to construct the right kind of resume as he has been doing since 1984. Greene delivers superior quality resumes and cover letters for a very reasonable fee. He will help you succeed in the above occupations during these very uncertain and worrying times.
Don't wait. Act NOW! Please visit my website .[ http://www.winning-resumes.com/ ]
E-mail or call me for a FREE consultation or price quote.
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