Arlene Schwartz Personalized Résumé Service JobFinder Blog

Best Master's Degrees for Finding Jobs

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 23 May 2010 01:44:00 +0000

According to a study conducted by Forbes and reported May 19th, these programs offer the best salaries and employment prospects over the next decade based on salaries and employment increase and job growth over the next decade:

No. 1: Physician Assistant Studies
Mid-career median pay: $98,900
Projected employment increase: 39%
Job growth, including replacement needs: 57%
Common jobs: Nurse anesthetist, clinical nurse specialist, director of nursing

No. 2: Computer Science
Mid-career median pay: $111,000
Projected employment increase: 27%
Job growth, including replacement needs: 39%
Common jobs: Database administrator, software architect, information technology consultant

No. 3: Civil Engineering
Mid-career median pay: $98,700
Projected employment increase: 24%
Job growth, including replacement needs: 41%
Common jobs: Project engineer, senior civil engineer, structural engineer

No. 4: Mathematics
Mid-career median pay: $96,900
Projected employment increase: 22%
Job growth, including replacement needs: 51%
Common jobs: Actuary, statistician, high school teacher

No. 5: Physics
Mid-career median pay: $110,000
Projected employment increase: 16%
Job growth, including replacement needs: 44%
Common jobs: Physicist, medical physicist, senior systems engineer

No. 6: Information Technology
Mid-career median pay: $97,200
Projected employment increase: 29%
Job growth, including replacement needs: 39%
Common jobs: Information technology project manager, information technology specialist, software developer

No. 7: Human Resources Management
Mid-career median pay: $81,900
Projected employment increase: 22%
Job growth, including replacement needs: 47%
Common jobs: Human resources consultant, human resources manager, recruiter

No. 8: Economics
Mid-career median pay: $108,000
Projected employment increase: 19%
Job growth, including replacement needs: 38%
Common jobs: Economist, financial analyst, business analyst

No. 9: Geology
Mid-career median pay: $90,100
Projected employment increase: 17%
Job growth, including replacement needs: 44%
Common jobs: Environmental project manager, hydrogeologist, petroleum geologist

No. 10: Business (MBA)
Mid-career median pay: $109,000
Projected employment increase: 17%
Job growth, including replacement needs: 35%
Common jobs: Business development manager, management consultant, senior financial analyst

BEST MASTER'S DEGREES FOR FINDING JOBS

Hopeful Jobs Report for April 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 10 May 2010 05:33:00 +0000

The slight increase in the April unemployment rate belies the otherwise hopeful jobs report, which shows the payroll increased throughout the private sector and ahead of expectations.

The US Labor Department said jobs increased by 290,000 in April, well ahead of Wall Street's 180,000 forecast. The unemployment rate, however rose to 9.9%; it was expected to remain at 9.7%. The government also revised the number of jobs added in March from 162,000 to 230,000.

The manufacturing sector added the most workers since August 1998, and the service sector saw its highest gain since November 2006.

> The manufacturing sector added 44,000 jobs
> Professional and Business sectors added 80,000 jobs
> Healthcare and Leisure and Hospitality also saw increases
> Employment also rose in the federal government from continued hiring of Census workers

> Transportation and Warehousing dropped 20,000 due to a large decline in Courier and Messinger services

Unemployment is the most important factor in the economic recovery as jobless levels will determine everything from consumer demand to home prices to credit availability, but conditions may improve well before the progress shows up in the headline figure.

The report a day after the Labor Department reported first-time jobless claims fell by 7000 last week, to 440, 000, in line with expectations. The decrease was the third in a row the government reported, representing a hopeful sign that jobless market is falling.

Additional encouraging economic indicators, include:

> The Institute for Supply Management, a trade group of purchasing executives, said the manufacturing sector expanded in April at its fastest pace in nearly 6 years.
> ISM data showed the services sector also grew in April, representing the fourth consecutive month of increases.
> Overall the economy expanded by 3.2% in the first quarter, the Commerce Department said, the third straight period of growth.

Top 10 High Growth Functions for Job Seeking Executives in 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 05 May 2010 00:08:00 +0000

ExecuNet has just published the 2010 Executive Job Market Intelligence Report, and the executive recruiters surveyed identified the top high growth functions for executive job seekers in 2010 as:

Business Development
Sales
Operations Management
Engineering
Marketing
General Management
Finance
Consulting
R&D
MIS/Information Technology

10 Laws of Enduring Success

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 17:02:00 +0000

I read Maria Bartiromo's, The 10 Laws of Enduring Success and was impressed by her life story, her interviews with well-known people from diverse backgrounds, her definition of success, and her guidelines for achieving success.

She describes how the definition of success has to be defined by each individual based on their values, goals, and desires. The stories of individuals exhibiting each law/characteristic are inspiring and captivating.

Her 10 laws include:

1. Self-knowledge: listen to your heart
2. Vision: plant your dreams on solid ground
3. Initiative: and keep rattling the cage
4. Courage: be bold, smart, and fair
5. Integrity: do the right thing
6. Adaptability: stay open to change
7. Humility: hold on to your humanity
8. Endurance: build your stamina
9. Purpose: know what matters most
10. Resilience: get up and move on

I would add a passion for what you do, willingness to work hard to achieve your goals, and the ability to ask for help when needed.

This is a book that I enjoyed and would recommend to others.

22 Most Revealing Interview Questions

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 01:32:00 +0000

What have you been criticized for during the last four years?

Did you agree or disagree with the criticism and why?

Where would you like to be in three to five years?

And how do you expect to get there?

How would you describe the most and least ideal boss you could choose?

How would you describe yourself with three adjectives?

How would your subordinates describe you in three adjectives?

Do you think you praise enough?

What would you do if you detected it a peer falsifying expense records?

What would you do if the company you just joined gave you $3,000 to spend during the first year in any way you felt appropriate?

If you have a choice, would you rather draw up plans or implement them?

State three situations in which you did not succeed. Why?

When you fire somebody, what would be your key objective? Why?

What personal need do you expect to satisfy by accepting this position?

What would you like to change in this job to make it ideal?

We all fib occasionally. Would you say something that is not entirely true? Give me three examples when you did.

What benefits can be expected from threatening an employee to do better?

If you encountered serious difficulties on the job for which you are now interviewing, what would they be?

What are three things you are afraid to find in this job?

We all have negative areas we would like to improve. Do you agree? If you do, could you give me three areas in which what you would like to improve?

How do you motivate people?

When do you think you have arrived? (definition of success)

Source: Use Your Head to Get Your Foot in the Door – Job Search Secrets No One Else Will Tell You by Harvey MacKay.

Interview Checklist

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 18:40:00 +0000

To help you in pre-interview, interview, and post interview planning, I have developed an interview checklist.

TIMING AND ADVANCED PLANNING

Try to schedule the interview for the last available day at your best time of day keeping in mind that the last person interviewed has an advantage.

Get a good night’s rest the day before.

Try to work out in the morning to help improve your alertness and relax you.

Create a contact sheet for each company with names, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses.

If a recruiter is involved, arrange a pre-meeting to help prepare you for the interview.

Review your videos of your simulated interviews (if you have them).

If any forms are needed, complete them in advance.

WHAT TO AND NOT TO WEAR

Shine shoes and check fingernails.

Get a haircut or a style … bring a comb or brush.

Wear a suit with shirt and tie or blouse. Don’t dress casually, even if they tell you it is casual Friday. First impressions really count and it isn’t casual for you until you get the job.

Coordinate accessories (including watch, umbrella if necessary, etc.).

Wear a minimal amount of jewelry (watch, wedding ring).

Don’t wear cologne (your interviewer might be allergic or just intensely dislike it).

RESEARCH / PREPARATION

Read recent articles on the prospective company.

Research the company web site for latest news and press releases.

Know the company’s most recent annual and quarterly sales and profits.

Google people you will be meeting for background on them.

Know how to pronounce the names of people who you will meet.

If possible, learn the names of the receptionist and administrative assistants.

If this is a second interview, review notes of past meetings.

Review the day’s business news so you have something to talk about.

Create a list of good questions you will ask the interviewer.

Check e-mails for any last minute rescheduling just before leaving.

THINGS TO TAKE WITH YOU TO INTERVIEWS

Cell phone – turn off before interview, or even better, leave it in your car.

Portfolio or padfolio.

Resume copies on quality paper (at least 6).

Copies of reference list (6) and letters.

Business cards.

Blank paper or notebook and pens.

Breath mints or spray.

Your personal calendar for scheduling follow-up meeting.

ARRIVING ON TIME

Plan to arrive several minutes early.

Check the weather report in case you need to plan on extra time.

Google a map and either pre-drive or investigate road congestion.

Investigate parking practices.

Identify the correct building entrance.

Anticipate going through security and having to wear a visitor badge.

MEETING OVER A MEAL

Eat something like a power bar or piece of fruit beforehand.

If possible, know the menu in advance.

Don’t order an alcoholic beverage or food that is difficult to eat.

PRIOR TO INTERVIEW

Do a once over in the mirror for hair, makeup, teeth.

Pay attention to your posture.

Have an idea of appropriate, positive opening comments.

Put on a warm, relaxed smile.

Prepare to give a firm, dry handshake.

Take a deep breath and believe in yourself.

INTERVIEW PROCESS

Give a firm handshake and warm smile.

Never put anything on the interviewers desk.

Respond with problem, action, result statements whenever possible.

Try to keep your answers no longer than 2 minutes.

Turn negatives into positives when asked about weaknesses.

Have good eye contact.

Be prepared to ask questions.

Thank the interviewer for the opportunity to meet with him or her and express your interest in the position.

Ask when the decision will be made and what is the next step.

Give a warm smile and a firm handshake.

POST-INTERVIEW FOLLOW-UP

Anticipate beforehand how and where you will debrief yourself.

Have stationery and postage ready for handwritten thank-you notes. Send thank you notes to everyone with whom you have interviewed, and, if possible the receptionist or gatekeeper. Even if you e-mail a thank you, send a handwritten note within 24 hours.

If a recruiter is involved, know how to reach this person for a debriefing.

Keep written records of how the interview went, what your strengths and weaknesses were, and how you might address some of the questions in the future.

Follow-up with a phone call.

For more information visit http://www.aresumes.net/ or check out Use Your Head to Get Your Foot in the Door by Harvey MacKay.

Don't Try to Fool Resume Scanners (Applicant Tracking Systems)

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 14:46:00 +0000

One of my clients recently asked me about loading her resume with keywords in white at the top and bottom of her resume. Apparently some outplacement firms are recommending this to achieve higher placement when scanned by Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). Be aware that resume scanning equipment is extremely sophisticated. You will be caught, your resume will be sent to the bottom of the pile, you will be seen in a bad light, and probably will be prevented from ever getting an interview with this employer or recruiter.

All of the keywords that are important or your resume should be clearly stated in your profile, core competencies, value offered, experience, and/or education sections of your resume. Don't be fooled into trying to fool a system that is extremely sophisticated. If you have a really good resume that quantifies skills and accomplishments and provides Problem-Action-Results (PAR) statements you should not need to try to trick the system.

If you follow the guidelines of good job searching, you probably won't be sending your resume to screening software as much as others. You will be networking by phone and in person. Y ou will be talking, communicating, building relationships, gaining leads and getting your foot in the door through referrals, recommendations, and the personal interest and assistance of those who know and respect you.

Remember, an honest resume that focuses on your skills and accomplishments combined with networking and making personal contact with people who you know or want to know, is your greatest technique for finding your next job.

Job Search Dangers in Social Networking

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 15:42:00 +0000

If you are using social networking on sites like Facebook, Myspace, and Twitter be aware that anything you communicate online can and often will be accessed by current and future potential employers. Words are powerful tools, and they can be powerful in preventing you from getting your next job.

If you are seeking employment or will at any time in the future, do not undermine your chances by:

Complaining about your boss, coworkers, or customers
Expressing feelings of being overwhelmed by your work
Using unprofessional language, including swearing
Exhibiting obnoxious or drunken behavior
Discussing activities that are illegal or show bad judgment
Providing questionable photos of you and your friends

Remember anything you write on these sites is accessible to employers forever and will be used to determine your desirability for a position. Don't hurt your chances of getting the job you really want.

Keep Learning and You Will Increase Your Chances of Getting a Job

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 04:26:00 +0000

Learning continually is essential to ensuring your success in the job market. You can find a lot to help you grow your skills through free videos and podcasts online and through free classes at the library. Your library card will also allow you free access (often from home) to expensive databases that you can use as resources in your job search. Your librarian is also a valuable source for finding information. One of the most valuable things I learned is college is that the only stupid question is the one that goes unasked.

Consider taking university classes. You can take many of these online.

Join Toastmasters or take Dale Carnegie courses to hone your public speaking and sales skills.

Keep abreast of current events and new advances in healthcare, business, and technology no matter what your field.

If you are in a technology field by the your third year of college much of what you learned in the first year will be obsolete.

Never stop learning and you will be much more marketable.

Great New Book for All Job Hunters - Use Your Head to Get Your Foot in the Door

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 03:22:00 +0000

Since most people have 3-4 careers and 10-12 jobs by the age of 40 according to the United States Bureau of Labor and Statistics, it is important to continue building your job-finding skills. Proactive preparedness is a much better plan than reactive panic. This week, I read the perfect book to add to your library if you are an X Generation, Y Generation, or Baby Boomer – Use Your Head to Get Your Foot in the Door – Job Search Secrets No One Else Will Tell You by Harvey MacKay.

This book is an easy read with short chapters, anecdotal stories, and great tips to boost your skills in planning and conducting an effective job search. Harvey MacKay reinforces much of what I have been telling my clients for over 15 years, including:

The best method of finding a job is through networking by phone and in person (66% of all jobs are found this way).

The best online network is Linkedin.com.

To remain marketable, you must continue learning.

Be willing to offer assistance to others.

Anger is only one letter away from danger. It can be destructive if it isn’t dealt with.

Believe in yourself. You are never a failure until you think you are.

Don’t take rejection personally and remember, all you need is one yes!

Use your computer for researching industries, companies, employers, and specific individuals but don’t spend valuable time that you could use for networking in person on the computer.

Take extra copies of your resume to the interview. (I say at least 6).

Be prepared to answer and ask specific questions at interviews.

Dress professionally even if you are told it is casual Friday. First impressions really can make a difference and casual is only for after you are hired.

The last candidate interviewed has a greater chance of being offered the job.

Send a handwritten thank you note within 24 hours after the interview, including one to the gatekeeper. This can be the deciding factor.

Use Your Head to Get Your Foot in the Door also provides lists and tools to help you maximize your chances to capture a job in this competitive market in which there are 6-8 candidates for every position.

I recommend this as a must read book and a great gift.

For more information visit http://www.aresumes.com/

Please Don't Text, Talk, and E-Mail While Driving

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 15:24:00 +0000

I watched a television program on the horrific effects of texting and talking on cell phones when driving. It is a terrible distraction that has increased the senseless deaths of countless lives. According to one source, the effects of these actions are 80% worse than driving while under the influence of alcohol and / or drugs. Nearly 500,000 people are injured and 6,000 are killed each year because drivers are talking, texting, and e-mailing behind the wheel. "I witnessed a neighbor who pulled out of his driveway without looking, stopped in front of me for a long period of time, drove on the wrong side of the road, and crashed a stop sign while talking on a cell phone. Fortunately, no cars were coming from the other direction. I know that cell phones have become a part of everyday life and that many use them as part of their business, but can’t these calls be completed in parking lots, coffee shops, and restaurants before driving off to your next appointment? We are talking about people’s lives – children, parents, brothers, sisters, and friends. Once you have lost someone to such a tragedy, your life is never the same. And, to have been the reason for a lost life is an unbearable burden to live with. So please text and talk on cell phones before and after you hit the road – not while driving. The life you save may be that of someone you love, or your own.

Where the Jobs Will be Found in the Next Four Years

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 03:30:00 +0000

The March 29th issue of Time Magazine has an article,“JOBS, Where They Are and How to Find Them by Barbara Kiviat. It describes the following:

WHERE THE JOBS WILL AND WILL NOT BE FOUND

TEXAS – Population growth and steady home prices will set the stage for new jobs.

WEST – Job gains will seem robust partly because the losses were so severe during the recession.

NORTHEAST – Finance employment has not fallen as much as was feared, so there are fewer jobs to add back.

RUST BELT – Manufacturing continues to decline. Green tech is looked to as a savior.

NUMBER OF UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE PER JOB OPENING IN INDUSTRY

Education and Health 2.3

Government 2.3

Professional and Business Services 3.5

Information 3.8

Financial 4.0

Wholesale and Retail Trade 6.4

Leisure and Hospitality 7.2

Manufacturing and Nondurable Goods 7.5

Transportation and Utilities 11.3

Oil and Gas Extraction and Mining 14.2

Manufacturing of Durable Goods 16.0

Construction 34.8

Metro areas expected to increase annual growth in employment over the next 4 years by over 3% include:

Austin, TX
Dallas, TX
Riverside, CA
Las Vegas, NV
Nashville, TN
Atlanta, GA
Tampa, FL
Orlando, FL
Charlotte, NC
Raleigh, NC

Those projected to increase annual growth in employment by 2% - 3% include:

Columbus, OH
Indianapolis, IN
Kansas City, KS
Memphis, TN
Birmingham. AL
Oklahoma City, OK
Baltimore, MD
Washington, DC
Virginia Beach, VA
Jacksonville, FL
Miami, FL
Houston, TX
San Antonio, TX
Phoenix, AZ
Tucson, AZ
Salt Lake City, UT
Seattle, WA
Portland, AZ
Sacramento, CA
San Francisco, CA
San Jose, CA
Los Angeles, CA
San Diego, CA

WHAT JOBS WILL BE ADDED AND SUBTRACTED IN THE NEXT 4 YEARS

EDUCATION AND HEALTH +1.2M

Educational Services –42,000

BUSINESS

Professional, Scientific, and Technical +1.1 million

Real Estate +135,000

Finance and Insurance +44,000

Management of Companies –63,000

Retail – Motor Vehicles +116,000

Retail – Food and Beverage –13,000

Retail Gasoline –111,000

DURABLE GOODS MANUFACTURING

Transportation +395,000

Machinery +164,000

Wood Products +162,000

Computers and Electronics +89,000

Primary Metals +83,000

Furniture and Related Goods +68,000

NONDURABLE GOODS MANUFACTURING

Food +59,000

Paper and Paper Products +24,000

Chemicals +22,000

Beverages and Tobacco -9,000

Petroleum and Coal Products -9,000

Apparel -19,000

Printing and Related Support -44,000

LEISURE AND HOSPITALITY

Accommodation and Food Services +522,000

Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation +74,000

OTHER

Construction +685,000

Transportation and Warehousing +600,000

Publishing -14,000

Utilities -32,000

GOVERNMENT

State and Local +439,000

Federal -123,000

NATURAL RESOURCES

Logging +9,000

Mining -50,000

Source: IRS Global Insight – projections are based on a large scale macroeconomic model of the US, its regions, and its industries.

E-Cover Letters and More

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 03:05:00 +0000

Electronic cover letters are used in the body of e-mails when you send your resume and cover letter as an attachment.

Electonic cover letters should be brief, to the point, written in bullet style format, and generally sent in response to a specific advertisement or posting.

You have less time than in a traditional cover letter to catch the attention of the reader.

Your e-mailed cover letter must capture your unique qualifications, highlight your most significant accomplishments, and request an interview.

Tips for making your e-mail cover letter work:

Use the e-mail subject line to let employers know your reason for contacting them. Mention the title of the position and your subject line or referred by Tom Sullivan for the position of regional sales manager. Resume of Jim Thornton, Sales Manager, referred by Tom Sullivan.

Bulleted cover letters often work best because they are easier and faster to read.

Do not include the employer or recruiter’s full mailing address. Use only Dear Mr. Green.

Make sure that your spelling, grammar, and punctuation are correct. Your e-mailed communication sets the tone and is your first impression. Don't ruin your chances!

In response to an advertisement, you may address salary history, salary requirements, ability to relocate, citizenship or residency status, foreign language skills, and technology proficiency questions.

You may include your longer cover letter in the body of a file with the resume that you are sending as an attachment.

Be aware that it is very easy to automatically delete e-mailed communications.

When possible, follow up, with a hard copy of your resume mailed to the employer or recruiter.

Follow up by telephone to make sure that the attached resume was received and read. Sometimes e-mailed resumes can be caught in spam filters. This is a good reason to make that follow up phone call. At the same time, you can try to arrange a meeting.

IT Jobs Available at The J.M. Smucker Company

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 15:01:00 +0000

If you are looking for an IT job with a successful, growing company you can check out smuckerscareers.com. They are interested in filling the following positions:

Applications Developer - Oracle HR / Payroll
User Support Analyst
Applications Developer - Sales and Marketing
Applications Developer - Supply Chain / Order Management
Applications Developer / Analyst - Enterprise Business Intelligence
Lead System Administrator - Infrastructure
Senior Siebel Developer

A Bachelor's degree and experience is required.

Good News - Green Manufacturing Jobs in Ohio

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 21:46:00 +0000

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory and BASF, the world’s largest chemical company, recently announced that they have have signed a world-wide licensing agreement to mass produce and market Argonne’s patented composite cathode materials to manufacturers of advanced lithium-ion batteries.

The agreement includes a proposal for the the construction of a world manufacturing plant in Elyria, Ohio that will create hundreds of high paying green jobs. When completed, the facility is expected to be the largest cathode material production facility in North America.

The impact of such a facility is anticipated to be significant as the facility construction and staffing will have a positive economic impact for Ohio and will attract further businesses to North America.

Should You Put Your Photo on Linkedin and Other Sites

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 26 May 2009 22:23:00 +0000

I have been thinking about the risks vs. benefits of a photo on online networking sites when you are looking for a job. It is illegal for an employer to hire you based on your age, race, ethnicity, or religion but I keep thinking about Susan Boyle. Susan has the most beautiful voice and I have listened to her more than once on You Tube. She shocked everyone on Britain's Got Talent because she wasn't young and beautiful. Once she was heard, she won over the crowd. But before she started singing, the audience was laughing at her. It was awful.

So, do you really need to put a picture on your LinkedIn site in order to connect with others? I don't know the answer. If you do upload a photo, I think it should be a professional looking head shot. Contrary to what you may think, many employers are still pretty conservative.

If you have any ideas about putting photos on the Internet make a comment or send me an e-mail at aresume@roadrunner.com

Top 10 Best Metros for Business and Careers

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 26 May 2009 22:20:00 +0000

View the complete list at Forbes Best Places for Business and Careers

Avoid Fluff Words on Your Resume

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 26 May 2009 21:59:00 +0000

Employers and recruiters see so many resumes with fluff or meaningless words that these words really turn them off. Some words to avoid on your resume are:

Visionary
Insightful
Inspirational
Interface
Innovative
Impact
Synergy
Synchronize
Thought Leader
Scalability
Buy-in
Drill down
Utilize

Remove responsible for and duties included from your resume and from your interview vocabulary. Employers don't want to know these things, they want to know what you accomplished. If you know your resume well and can expound on the statements in the resume using numbers and percentages to show how you benefited your previous employers and the value that you added to their companies, you will ace the interview.

Remove the fluff and add the substance to your resume, and your will optimize your chances of getting the interview, doing well at it, and being offered the job.

For more information and to newly added audio tips visit http://www.aresumes.net/

Audio Added to My Website

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 21 May 2009 19:12:00 +0000

I have just added an audio welcome to the Home page of my website and plan to add audio tips that coincide with different subjects on many of the pages of the website. I think this will enhance the benefits of visiting my website and make it more interesting to anyone who visits.

If you have something about which you would like me to create an audio tip, please e-mail me at aresume@roadrunner.com or call me at 330-666-5858.

To hear my welcome, visit http://www.aresumes.net. Any suggestions you may provide will be greatly appreciated.

How to Get Started on Linked-In

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 18 May 2009 15:21:00 +0000

You are invited to join me on Linked-In.com.

After creating an account and logging in, the first thing to do is start completing your profile.
1. From the homepage, click on Profile on the left side of page, which will bring you to your profile. Each section has an edit button.
2. Edit the Basic Info – name, professional heading, location, and industry.
3. Complete the Experience and Education with your top line info.
4. Complete the Summary with a short blurb or “elevator pitch” about yourself or your business. This is a quick way for users to understand your goals.
5. Edit your Public Profile URL. You can edit that last section to be your name or business or other phrase that would be easy for hiring managers and/or business prospects to understand.
You can copy this URL into your cover letters and résumé so others can access your LinkedIn profile as a supplement to your résumé and job application. This is a useful tool and shows prospective employers that you are Internet literate.

Do Later!
1. Use your current résumé as a reference to add more details to Experience and Education.
2. Add a photo; it helps people recognize you.
3. Add a link to your website, if you have one.
4. Follow LinkedIn’s suggestions to further complete your profile, such as getting recommendations from former associates or employers.

Now people on LinkedIn can find you. You’ll get invitations from current and former colleagues and classmates.

Visit and join http://www.linked-in.com/ to help you network online, but continue to network by phone and in person.

Congratulations Rachel Alexandra and Mine That Bird

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 17 May 2009 14:30:00 +0000

I watched the Preakness with great anxiety, remembering how horrible I felt when Barbaro was injured. At that time, I vowed I would never watch another horserace. But I watched the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness this year and was happy to see Mine That Bird, a long shot (50-1) owned and trained by "cowboys" from New Mexico, and Rachel Alexandra, a filly racing against the boys, win races and achieve beyond expectations. These beautiful horses had the drive and desire to repeatedly accomplish great things. I looked at them and thought about how proud they must feel, and I just hope that their owners won't push them to the point of injury. Mine That Bird and Rachel Alexandra can be an inspiration to you. When others may doubt what you can do, you can say I can and will do it, and then you can show them.

Quantifying Accomplishments

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 13 May 2009 18:38:00 +0000

Often job seekers find it difficult to quantify their accomplishments. It is very important not to lie or embellish on your resume and in your interviews. The best way to ensure your accuracy in quanitfying accomplishments is by maintaining a journal, notebook, or word document file as the events happen. Each time you have a problem, challenge, or situation, write down what is was, what you did to resolve it, and what the benefit of it was using numbers and percentages. Armed with this written documentation you will be much more confident in writing your resume and interviewing.

www.aresumes.net

Personal / Executive Branding

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 13 May 2009 18:31:00 +0000

My clients and I have developed effective tools to help them explore job opportunities for over 15 years that are today being called executive / personal branding. Don't let the terms throw you. If you can tell your story by providing the employer with the following information you have an "executive brand:"

What are you most proud of having accomplished in every position held ?
How have you benefited your employers - quantify increasing productivity; accuracy, efficiency, accountability; reducing costs; ensuring profits?
What problems, challenges, situations have you faced; what did you do to deal with the problem, challenge, or situation; and what was the benefit of what you did for the employer and client (PAR, CAR, SAR statements)?
What are your greatest strengths / skills.
If you could find a job anywhere, what would it be, where would it be, and for whom would it be - what is your ideal job?
Why should an employer select you over the other candidates he interviews for the position?

If you clearly and concisely answer all of the above questions, you and a potential employer will know who you are and what you can do for them.

If your resume includes your specific story with statements of your verifiable accomplishments including numbers and percentages, your resume will be used as a guideline for your interview. If you know your resume well and can expound on every statement on it, you will ace the interview. If you send a handwritten thank you note, in addition to an e-mail, you will enhance your chances of getting the job offer.

Having said all that, in a recession with so many jobs being lost, you may have to take a job that is less than ideal. You can keep looking, but the reality is that food on the table and a roof over your head may be more important right now than finding your ideal job.

http://www.aresumes.net/

How to Find a Job Today

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 04 May 2009 13:52:00 +0000

There is a lot of buzz on the Internet about using web resumes, Twitter, Facebook, and Linkedin.com for job-finding. A very good friend of mine who works in the outplacement industry suggests that old fashioned job searches - networking with people you know and making telephone calls and face-to-face visits - are still the most effective methods of finding jobs. Of the newer online methods, LinkedIn seems to be the best. Her recommendation is to use the best methods during the day and then supplement the search by using the newer methods at nights.

I listened to a recent podcast with 2 recruiters recently, and they said that the old fashioned methods are still working the best. When you consider that only 2-5% of all jobs are being found through the Internet and 45%-70% of all jobs are being found through networking, it puts it in perspective.

Don't spend too much time spinning your wheels on the Internet, talk with people, exude energy and enthusiasm for what you do, let them see the unique contributions and value that you will add to their organization, and you will find a job.

Although many people are saying there are no jobs out there, my clients are finding positions.

For more information and a schedule to help you with your job search, visit http://www.aresumes.net/

Over 1 Million Jobs Lost This Year

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 23:17:00 +0000

The economy has cut over 1 million jobs so far this year, according to the Department of Labor, and first-time filings for unemployment insurance increased 542,000 in the past week - the highest since July 1992. The numerous reports of corporate job slashing in November are a sign that the labor market won't start to recover any time soon.

Unemployment forecasts have risen as the economic outlook for 2009 continues to worsen.

The Federal Reserve Tuesday said it predicts the unemployment rate will remain around 6.5% for the remainder of 2008, and will rise up to 7.6% in 2009. But that's a far cry from the jobless rate forecast of 9% for next year with further increases in 2010 that Goldman Sachs released Friday.

More job cut announcements are likely on the way. U.S. automakers say they are on the verge of collapse, retailers are expected to have a miserable holiday season and financial institutions continue to struggle in the midst of a credit crisis.

But even if the economy begins to improve in the second half of 2009 as some economists predict, unemployment could still continue to rise. Typically job losses continue for many months after the economy begins to pull out of a recession, with unemployment rates peaking as much as a year after the recession hits its trough.

In an attempt to heal the ailing job market, President-elect Barack Obama has repeatedly stated his support for another economic stimulus package in the form of tax rebates to consumers, states and municipalities. The proposal has gained traction in Congress, with hopes that consumer spending and aid to governments will help boost the economy.

But Obama won't take office until January, and signed legislation could be a long way off. In the meantime, experts say the labor market will continue to struggle.

You need to be prepared for the possibility of a job loss no matter what industry you are in or what position you hold. Update your resume using numbers and percentages to quantify accomplishments, keep building your network, explore your options while still employed (you are more marketable), anf be willing to assist others in finding a job.

For help in preparing for a job search visit Arlene Schwartz Personalized Resume Service