Job search planning - steps, tips and tricks -

Job search planning - steps, tips and tricks - Since we are on the cusp of a new month, a new fiscal year for some and have just officially crossed into a new season, I am declaring this week on my blog as Job Search Future Planning Week. Everyone engaged in a successful search needs to have a plan. Today, some tips and/or reminders about how to get your job hunt off on the right foot. Stay tuned this week for posts and ideas that are a little off my typical path! Identify your 3% Peter Weddle explained that the genome project taught us that humans are 97% similar! So, he suggested that we each have 3% that is special and unique. Have you thought about that 3%? You need to focus and purposefully identify what you have to offer that makes you stand out from everyone else. Its not enough to assume that its obvious or that everyone will recognize your talents. Stop, outline what you have to offer and focus on your goals. Then, move forward with intent. Stay upbeat and positive it really matters Youre not alone try to focus on the silver lining in the job hunt. No one wants to hire Debbie Downer. Theres no telling how much a positive attitude will help you succeed, so do your best to stay upbeat, or at least to look upbeat to the outside world. Work on identifying companies not just looking for openings. Searching for job opportunities posted online can certainly take all of your time. Instead of focusing on open positions, consider targeting companies of interest (even if they do NOT have openings) and network your way into the organization so that you will be top of mind when there is an opportunity. Know how to tell your story Did you know that being able to tell your story is probably the most important part of the job hunt? You need to be able to share your elevator pitch when you meet people and its important to have some good stories to tell on your resume, in your cover letter and during an interview. I like Kathy Hansens Tell Me About Yourself, a book that is all about how to tell your job search story. Be sure to pick up a copy! Dive into social media if you havent already! Yes, this can take some time if you are going to do it full force. But, you have time, so go for it! Start searching for blogs in your niche. Guy Kawasakis Alltop list is a perfect place to find blogs in an array of topics, but you can certainly use Google to find current information in your field of interest. Spend some time researching and exploring. See if you can identify the stars in your field. Use online mechanisms to connect to them! (More about LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook later.) In fact, the New York Times published an article, The Brave New World of Digital Intimacy, which emphasizes the importance of expanding your network beyond your immediate circle: This rapid growth of weak ties can be a very good thing. Sociologists have long found that weak ties greatly expand your ability to solve problems. For example, if youre looking for a job and ask your friends, they wont be much help; theyre too similar to you, and thus probably wont have any leads that you dont already have yourself. Remote acquaintances will be much more useful, because theyre farther afield, yet still socially intimate enough to want to help you out. This idea is also proven in Malcolm Gladwells The Tipping Point, an excellent read for those interested in being connected! LinkedIn I cant emphasize how important it is to enhance your LinkedIn profile. Recruiters are sourcing from LinkedIn in large numbers, so if you arent there with a strong statement of your qualifications, skills and accomplishments, you are missing out! Use Twitter to help you find a job Yes, you CAN tweet yourself to a job. Get set up using the tips linked above and follow these links to learn what people to follow to help accelerate your search and about Twitter applications to use to help you propel your job hunt. FaceBook While Facebook isnt my favorite social network for job seekers, you can use Facebook groups to help with your job hunt, and there are many Facebook applications that are useful for job seekers. You may also want to review how to use Facebook for your job hunt. Start taking care of your digital footprint Satisfying Career, Happier Life suggests these services to help control your digital dirt: Reputation Defender: Find out everything thats being said about you online and get rid of the content you dont like. Search Engine Reputation Management (SERM) Displace push down the negative listings with favorable ones and ones that you can control or influence. DefendMyName Suppress negative Search Engine Listings about you or your company. These resources may be useful, but you dont want to be in the position of worrying about whether or not unsavory pictures or trash talking could have cost you an interview or a job. Be careful what you put online and youll never have to find out how well or quickly these services work! Dont forget to keep up your in-person networking If you want to succeed in business or your job hunt, you need to be able to engage on a person-to-person basis, tell your story and share information to help you connect. Consider the cost benefits of seeking career advice. The fact is, most people dont have a very good resume and have no idea how to search for a job in todays economy. In a competitive environment, your job seeking materials (this includes your LinkedIn profile and web 2.0 presence) will be even more important. Money may be tight, but hiring a coach and/or a resume writer might be just the boost you need to propel your search. Anita Bruzzese, career advice columnist and author suggests, If you dont think you can afford a career coach, consider giving up some of the extras in your life (a gym membership, eating out, cable television, etc.) which can can help you pay for a coach. Consider the cost of unemployment and the fact that you are much more likely to land a job in a timely way if you have a great resume, understand how to market yourself and are well prepared to interview and negotiate. Need a little help ramping up your search? Read how I can help get you going! photo by phlyersphan

Resume Writing Rules For Consulting Professionals

Resume Writing Rules For Consulting ProfessionalsThere are many different resume writing rules for consulting professionals. These rules help make a difference in the success rate of your professional search and the potential hiring decision you'll make. By following these tips, you can make a difference in getting hired or not.The first rule is to start off your professional search with as many options as possible. There is no reason to limit yourself by simply using an online search. Use one or two sources to build a list. Some of these sources can be free or low cost, so they're a great way to find out more about local firms. If you want to stay local, use internet forums or call a professional referral service.Next, get to work and do a little checking. Go through the listings that you have found. You can add any firms you've checked to your list or check the white pages or yellow pages to see if there are other firms that are considered successful with the type of job you have.W hen you have an idea of the best possible job you have, the next step is to put a contact on your resume. This is an important item to include because it makes the second rule easier to follow. In a networking situation, you may meet someone who might have the information you need. If so, let the person know that you're looking for employment and ask them for help.With your contact information, you can send them your resume. It's a good idea to send it to a couple of groups at once. Your resume is not as important as the knowledge you're able to provide to the employer, so give it a good look. Follow these guidelines and ensure that you're always putting your best foot forward.After you've gotten your resume sent out, you will probably find a few firms that you have to keep in mind when choosing your personal reference. Always remember that these reference should be similar to the position that you are applying for. Don't mention anything about the company's performance unless the c ompany specifically asks. However, if they don't specify a particular area to focus on, you're still being helpful and adding some credibility to your resume.Follow these tips and you can find yourself better jobs and more opportunities for consulting professionals. Success is achieved when you're prepared, so start now by using the proven resume writing rules for consulting professionals.

Starbucks, Chobani, Walmart Are Giving U.S. Jobs to Refugees

Starbucks, Chobani, Walmart Are Giving U.S. Jobs to Refugees When big companies like Facebook, Microsoft, and Ford spoke out against an executive order to ban Syrian refugees from the United States, Starbucks went one step further. The coffee chain pledged to hire 10,000 refugees over the next five years in the 75 countries where the company does business, in the wake of the White House order, which is being contested in federal courts. “We are living in an unprecedented time, one in which we are witness to the conscience of our country, and the promise of the American Dream, being called into question,” Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz wrote in a letter sent to all employees. Initially, he said, the company will focus “our hiring efforts on those individuals who have served with U.S. troops as interpreters and support personnel in the various countries where our military has asked for such support.” Initiatives focused on hiring refugees can be risky for companies. Supporters of President Donald Trump called immediately for a Starbucks boycott after the company’s refugee hiring pledge. Hamdi Ulukaya, the Turkish immigrant founder of the Greek yogurt brand Chobani, has received death threats because of his work with refugees. Nearly 30% of Chobani’s employees are refugees, most working in U.S. factories, and Ulukaya has personally pledged to give the majority of his fortune to help support the world’s displaced peoples. Still, many American businessesâ€"including the country’s largest employersâ€"hire refugees. About 50 companies, including Microsoft’s LinkedIn and Mastercard, gathered recently to discuss how to help the millions of displaced people in the U.S. and abroad, The Wall Street Journal reported. The coalition began as an initiative of the Obama administration, and was convened by the Tent Foundation, a refugee advocacy group founded by Ulukaya, according to the Journal. How many refugees are actually getting hired? We reached out to the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI), which works with businesses and community organizations around the country, for data on refugee hiring. In a recent two-year period, USCRI says its network of agencies has helped place a total of 4,816 refugees in jobs within six months of their arrival in the country. The USCRI says that it’s one of nine national refugee resettlement agencies, so the total number of refugees placed in U.S. jobs in recent years is likely to be in the tens of thousands. Most refugees placed by the USCRI appear to be employed in low-level jobs, earning an average of $10.26 per hour. The vast majority of companies that work with the USCRI are small businesses that hire just one or two refugees. The 4,816 refugees placed in jobs with the assistance of the USCRI received work at more than 2,300 different companies. But the USCRI works with some larger companies to place refugees in jobs as well. Below is a top 20 list of companies that have been hiring the most refugees, with the assistance of USCRI’s network of settlement agencies. As you’ll see, the companies hiring refugees include hotels, farms, food processors, house-cleaning services, temp agencies, and the world’s largest (non-government) employer, Walmart. Walmart: 79 refugees hired Tyson Foods: 66 Perdue Farms: 56 Hilton: 53 Snider-Blake: 50 Aeropost International: 45 Remedy Staffing: 40 Aramark: 39 Anchor Staffing: 30 Sterling Technologies: 28 Taylor Farms: 24 Elwood Staffing: 23 JBS Swift Co.: 23 Marriott Hotels: 23 National Delivery Systems: 23 River City Casino: 23 Pine Ridge Farms: 22 Cardone Industries: 20 Freedman Bakery: 20 Rite Stuff Foods: 20 Resettlement agencies say there are plenty of benefits for businesses that hire refugees. Many of the newcomers are highly educated, with the kind of work experience and skills that employers need. Still, refugees’ limited language skills in their new countries, as well as uncertainty over their training and degrees, uncertainty over how long they’ll be living in the area, and the likelihood that they’ve suffered through trauma are cited as reasons why some employers are hesitant to hire refugees. The opinions of potential co-workers, as well as the greater public, who may perceive refugee hiring as evidence of special treatment, also make businesses slow to embrace refugee hiring. “Many employers do not see an immediate business case for hiring refugees or asylum seekers,” a 2016 joint report from the Organization for Economic Development and Cooperation and the UN Refugee Agency explained. “Particularly among larger employers, the main motivation for employing refugees is currently corporate social responsibility, rather than meeting labour needs.” There is some evidence of economic benefits for companies that hire refugees, and for the countries that welcome them. A report published last year by the Tent Foundation, a refugee support group founded by Chobani CEO Hamdi Ulukaya, found that in Europe, every one euro invested in welcoming refugees can yield two euros in economic benefit for the country within five years, via net increases in productivity and spending. The report found that refugees often land jobs that locals “would rather not do, such as clean offices, pick fruit, work in hotels and restaurants and care for the elderly.” What’s more, the report explained how broadly a working refugee benefits the local economy: “Refugees who take jobs also create them. When they spend their wages, they boost demand for the people who produce the goods and services they consume. And they also create jobs for people in complementary lines of work.”

5 Networking Mistakes And How To Easily Avoid Them - Work It Daily

5 Networking Mistakes And How To Easily Avoid Them - Work It Daily You know the danceâ€"you walk in to a networking event and the room is filled with people that you’ve never met, but it seems like they already know one another. They’re chatting, shaking hands, and laughing. It looks so easy for them. But you want to turn around and leave. Sound familiar? Related: The Jimmy Fallon Effect: 10 Qualities Of Great Networkers It took a long time for me to learn how to connect with others at these kind of events. I used to be one of the first people out the door. But there is so much opportunity within each person. Networking is about building long term connections with good people. These are the connections that will matter to you years later. Here are some mistakes I’ve learned while networking and how to turn them around: 1. Mingling with people you already know A lot of people, especially the ones who do not feel as social, tend to stick to the groups they know. Networking is about branching out. People are attracted to authenticity, so just be yourself, even if that means admitting that it’s all foreign to you. Be honest. Try something like “I haven’t been to a lot of these events, but it seems like a really great crowd of people. How did you hear about this event?” Quick tip: If you do go somewhere there are people you already know, make it a goal to find someone that would be a good introduction for them. 2. Lacking confidence If I don’t have someone to talk to in the first 30 seconds, I usually hightail it for the coffee bar, head down, keeping to myself. I suddenly look scared, like I don’t know anyone, and like I don’t want to be there. But standing somewhere calmly, taking in the sights and people around, makes you seem more approachable. Find someone else who seems as uncomfortable as you feel. They will be grateful for your easy approach. Quick tip: Walk in like you own the building. That much feigned confidence makes you feel good, and turns into real confidence in minutes. 3. Not reciprocating the favor People also want to meet you because of your connections. We’re all hooked up in some way or another. Steve Dubin, co-founder of My Pinnacle Network, cautions against becoming this kind of connection.“You know the guy. Very outgoing, loud, lots of back-slapping. The problem? He is the ‘black hole’ of your network. He is the ‘one way’ street who gladly accepts personal introductions but very, very rarely reciprocates.” People are there for the connections just as much as you are. Be sure you’re giving back. Quick tip: When you connect with someone you like, keep them in mind after the event. What connections or referrals could you pass onto them later that would help? Keep a mental bookmark for them, share, and they will most likely do just the same for you. 4. Making business card collecting a priority Business cards are the easiest way to get in touch with another individual. But it’s only a small piece of (high quality) paper. Business card exchanges should ideally happened after you both feel a mutual connection and genuinely want to learn more about them. I’ve had people ask for my card right after introducing themselves to me. They never end up following up. It’s all because we didn’t bother establishing a connection. Quick tip: Only bring a few cards to share with people that you build a rapport withâ€"that way you make sure to give them away carefully. (But bring a couple more just in case someone another “card collector” asks for yours) 5. Not following up after the event At the event, chatting with new people and getting to know the crowd is half the battle. Following up creates connections and lets the other person know that you want to establish a relationship.You can do this a few ways. Depending on how you’re feeling about the bond, give the person a phone call or send a quick email telling them how great it was to meet them. Quick tip: Think of any other connections or resources that might be useful to them, like an event they might like to go to, or a helpful referral that might be of value to them. Networking is all about building long-term connections with others. It’s a reciprocal relationship that helps you through referrals, relationships, events, and resources you may have never heard of otherwise. Here’s the BIG secret: It’s really about being open to meeting new people and having a vested interest in their professional well-being. A giving relationship gives back. What are some of the ways you’ve opened up while networking? Would love to hear your feedback in the comments below! This post was originally published at an earlier date. Related Posts Why You Shouldn’t Underestimate Your Personal Network 5 Tips For Better Super-Connecting How To Activate Your Network As A Recent Grad   Photo Credit: Shutterstock Have you joined our career growth club?Join For Free!

6 Ways to Get Ahead of the Holiday Chaos, According to Joanna Gaines

6 Ways to Get Ahead of the Holiday Chaos, According to Joanna Gaines No one tackles time management quite like the queen of DIY projects, Joanna Gaines. The HGTV host of Fixer Upperhas shared tons of tips for getting ahead over the course of zu sich television career both on the screen and on her blog, Magnolia. And because its holiday crunch time, weve decided to key in on some of those tips.If youre anything like Gaines, youll want to get a head start of the holidays perhaps before your neighbors even put away their pumpkins. We dont blame you the holidays can be an exhausting, time-consuming few weeks of decorating, gift shopping, hosting and celebrating.Gaines shared her early holiday celebrations via her Instagram story in October, when she and her sister were cozied up by the fire listening to classic Christmas songs the night before Halloween. Maybe you didnt jump on the bandwagon that early, but if you get a grip of the holidays sooner rather than later, youll have mora tim e to enjoy all of the festivities.With that said, here are eight tips Gaines has shared to help you handle the holidays (almost) as well as she does.Photo via Instagram1. Hang onto tradition rather than stressing yourself out with the trends.While the popsicle-stick picture frames have cracked over the years, and the photos within them have faded it only makes me love them all the more, she wrote in her blog, Magnolia. I want to decorate our tree with our same ornaments that we ooh and ahh over each year.Our tree could never be complete without the kids handmade offerings.Its okay to skipiste onto family traditions, even if that means your tree doesnt necessarily look as chic as the trees on social media family traditions are what make the holidays beautiful. In fact, Gaines actively steers clear of all trends surrounding the holidays.Its rare for me to get excited about a new holiday recipe or trendy ideas for decorating the tree, she wrote. Im not looking for ways to reinvent th is season. Instead, all I want is to gather the same ingredients for the same beloved cinnamon rolls that Ive baked on Christmas morning for as long as I can remember.Photo via Instagram2. Simplify your gift wrapping.Handmade gifts are generally considered extra-special because the recipient appreciates the time and effort you put into making them, she writes on her blog. You can easily evoke the same appreciative sentiment with purchased gifts by putting a little extra time into the wrapping. This year, why not keep it simple by using brown kraft paper? Its classic, and the possibilities of making ansicht packages look beautiful are endless.She shares three tips for making gift wrapping look like the stuff of dreams, which include yarn, personalized letters and ornaments.Photo via Instagram3. Delegate seasonal tasks.Seasonal responsibilities like holiday decorating or baking are a team effort for Gaines family.Everyone takes a task The older kids lead the charge on hanging the orna ments while the younger ones hunt for everyones stocking, she wrote. And every year, Chip and Drake hang my very favorite antique sign, the one that we got earlier in our marriage, that says Christmas Trees For Sale.Photo via Instagram4. Use lots of garland rather than spending time (and money) on more complicated decorations.On her blog, Gaines shared that Garland is one of her favorite decorations, calling it timeless and beautiful wherever its placed. She uses it on her staircase, mantle, chandeliers and more.Photo via Instagram5. Make less of mess by using artificial plants in your home.Pine trees and festive sprigs might look beautiful, but they sure do leave behind a mess. Gaines uses artificial stems for some of her decorations to cut down on the vacuuming shell have to do later.I like to stick to one kind of stem and use a few in each vase because it looks the most authentic, she reportedly told Target. Make sure you tease out the branches to give them a little life and move ment.Photo via Instagram6. Light some candles.If youre looking to relax a little in between all the decorating, shopping and cooking, light some Magnolia Markets holiday candles, which come in two scents this season Joyeux Noel (mandarin, cranberry and clove) and Twelve Nights (cedar, citrus and Fraiser Fir).Photo via Instagram--AnnaMarie Houlis is a feminist, a freelance journalist and an adventure aficionado with an affinity for impulsive solo travel. She spends her days writing about womens empowerment from around the world. You can follow her work on her blog, HerReport.org, and follow her journeys on Instagram her_report, Twitterherreport and Facebook.Dont miss out on articles like these. Sign up

Get the Scoop on College Grad Resume Before Youre Too Late

Get the hammer on College Grad Resume Before Youre Too Late What Everybody Dislikes About College Grad Resume and Why Think daily about how youre able to demonstrate to prospects that youre a credible and competent professional. Students migrate from various sections of India to Noida as a way to have the shelter of the industrial expert aroma. Students interested in the specialty of automation are constantly looking for opportunities in training and internships so as to fulfill their dreams of working in an automation industry specifics. Hearsay, Lies and College Grad Resume There are a lot of career options that have come into the picture. All you will need is an excellent academic and career profile. Wherever youre on your career path, experience is invaluable, even if its not directly about the job you intend to submit an application for. The College Grad Resume titelbild Up When you get accustomed to editing work, you will build the necessary skills and flair to compos e a thesis for your PhD thats error-free. Practically speaking, it is simpler for PhD students to locate teaching jobs. A student has to decide on any one of the branch to acquire specialization and select a career ahead accordingly. Its a fact that starting a new business whilst doing a PhD isnt easy. On the flip side, you will want prospective employers to still know that youre out there and be able to detect you. When you work on assignments in your field for students enrolled in various colleges and universities around the planet, you get invaluable exposure to several topics and various perspectives on a particular topic. If youre sure of your very own particular abilities and creative talents, its possible to actually turn them in a profession. Since on-line education is currently standard at most universities theres a demand for highly skilled and educated scholar practitioners in the sphere of internet based education. Get the Scoop on College Grad Resume Before Yo ure Too Late Youll have experience to put on your resume and an excellent reference. If youre trying to discover a job utilizing conventional approaches like sending your resume to companies and hoping to get interviews, youre very likely to have a frustrating experience. A great expert help can make the ideal website according to the character of your company. Your company is put forward to the full world through a web site. Additionally, teaching can help you better your communication abilities. Furthermore, you may want to include things like any internship experience youve got. You could also list courses related to your area. It isnt crucial that you elect for an entire time course for an international academic exposure. All About College Grad Resume In an internet review process, the exact same recruiter might be sifting through hundreds of resumes attempting to get a perfect applicant. You may also regularly check employment opportunities throughout the State of Co nnecticut. Resumes should be one page and simple to read. They give you the opportunity for the next meeting i.e. your first interview. The Upside to College Grad Resume Sales-centric positions receive a schwimmbad rep, but they might be an excellent way to develop critical skills that will pay dividends no matter what you opt to do next. An intern will surely be be a penny-pinker due to his constrained budget. If youre in a full-time job you dont wish to leave owing to your PhD or searching for study leave and financial support from your employer, you may want to convince your boss your PhD can help in your professional development together with benefit the company in the very long run.

How to Handle a Reference Call - Spark Hire

How to Handle a Reference Call - Spark HireWe might not always like it, but at one point or another some of our employees are going to leave. Be it for a new job, a new location or a simple change of pace, employees will not be with us for forever. Hopefully when they leave they leave on good terms. Part of being an employer then, is to be able to convey this employees work ethic and drive to future employees if asked. If you accept it, being a reference for one of your former employees comes with a great verstndigung im strafverfahren of responsibility. After all, if you are an employer that relies on a candidates references then you know how much weight is distribution policyd on their input. So when it comes time for you to be a reference, you should have a good handle on what you can and cannot say. There is a fine line between the facts and your opinion.So say one of your star employees decides to leave the company for other opportunities. They were a great employee, had a stron g work ethic and always got the job done. You are sad to see them go, but its clear that when another employer contacts you to inquire about their work ethic, etc it wont be too difficult to answer their question. However, what if another employer contacts you to inquire about a not-so-great employee? What can you say? Moreover, what legally can you say? Currently, there is no law that states that you are only allowed to confirm employment and the employees start and end dates. If you had to fire this employee, you can release that information. If they quit, you can tell them that too. You can also legally refuse to give any detailed information at all. If you dont want to say anything, you can safely keep it to employment confirmation and the dates.On top of that, you can also tell this prospective employer why they quit or why you had to let them go. If they were constantly late for work or very unreliable, you can certainly relay that information to another employer. After all, i f they are thinking of hiring this person then they should know that these were serious issues you had to tackle. If this employee quit and did so in a very unprofessional manner, then its up to you whether or not you want to disclose that information.The situation only starts to get a little tricky when you start disclosing details. You can say whatever you want about this former employee, as long as everything you say is true and is fact. You have to be very careful about what you say though because if you say something, anything, that is untrue and your former employee finds out, they can hit you with a libel case or sue you for defamation of character. Thats why most companies have a specific policy in place on how to handle reference calls. Some companies stick to simply confirming employment and the start/end dates to avoid a potential mess.If your company does not have a specific policy, then it is up to you how much information you want to disclose about this employee. Howev er, keep in mind what was stated earlier and be sure to only convey the facts as they are. Not doing so can get you into a whole heap of trouble.