Job search blog - your info source for current and emerging issues on job search

Feb 24, Job interview tips - asking for a second chance

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 00:33:56 GMT

There is often so much riding on the outcome of a job interview that some people buckle under the pressure, and blow their interview. I'm often asked if it is a good idea to make contact after the interview under circumstances like this, or for any reason - read about my thoughts on sending an interview thank you letter. The article that you can access at the link below also gives an interesting perspective on how to go about asking for a second chance when you've mucked up the first interview. If you decide to attempt this, you'll need to do it professionally and carefully. Best wishes Anthony

Feb 15, Career profile and your brand

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 22:23:17 GMT

One of the key issues for managing career in this century is brand management. That's right - managing your own personal brand. That's why I wanted to alert you to this article which appeared in Forbes "The first step to building your brand". You can read the article in full at the link below. The article explains that one aspect of brand management is to be able to explain who you are (in a professional sense) and what you have to offer. The majority of my clients find this difficult to do, either because they don't know or haven't thought about what they will say. Others have to develop the belief and confidence that this type of self promotion is quite acceptable for a job seeker. They need to realise that this is not 'big noting' themselves. When in job search mode it is critical that you be able to tell your story in a confident and professional way. And......it takes time and effort to put together a branding statement that is both interesting and informative. Developing a career profile statement for your resume involves a very similar process, and includes virtually the same type of content. Check out that link too if you're going to do some work on preparing your branding statement. Managing your brand in today's job market is very important. So.....how well are you able to explain who you are professionally, and what you have to offer an employer? Best wishes Anthony

Feb 11, An interview thank you letter or email - is this a good idea or not?

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 07:37:27 GMT

Deciding whether to send an interview thank you letter or an interview thank you note, and what to say in your letter

Feb 10, Told your 'overqualified' for the job - what to do about it?

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:51:39 GMT

The article at the link below, compliments of recruitment firm Adecco, deals with a situation where you miss out on wining a job because the employer feels you are overqualified. In competitive job markets it is likely that many people are applying for jobs for which they are genuinely overqualified merely because they are desparate for a job. Other people in established careers might be looking to take a step down in their career - perhaps due to health or as part of a strategy to focus on aspects of their work that they really enjoy. If this describes your situation then it is important to understand why employers are reluctant to hire overqualified people. The answer is basically their fear that you'll quickly become bored and quit the job. This means then the employer having to start the costly and time consuming process all over again.....something they wish to avoid, obviously. The article has a number of practical tips that could help you overcome this barrier to you finding a job you want. Just a final thought about how to deal with this employer objection and it relates to your career development planning. Specifically this is being able to provide a convincing explanation to the employer about why you are pursuing this career opportunity. Reviewing how you would answer some of the questions associated with the career development planning process therefore might also prove useful in helping you to deal with the employer's judgement that you are overqualified for the job. Best wishes Anthony

Feb 2, Job search - what not to do

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 08:46:21 GMT

Job search strategies continue to evolve over time. What was good advice about how to find work say 5 or even 10 years ago no longer applies. The article at the link below caught my attention because it succintly summarises five important things 'not to do' in your job search strategy. The main points in this article reinforce some of the suggestions I make on my pages which deal with resume guidelines and cover letter advice. I think the real point of the article is that unless you keep current with job search tactics relevant to today's hiring practices you can waste an awful lot of time and effort because you are approaching your job search in the wrong way. So.....take a realistic review of all aspects of your job search strategy. Consider implementing some of the ideas and techniques I have written about here on this website......that is, if you aren't already doing these things! Till next time - best wishes Anthony

Jan 27, You'll get hired for your attitude rather than skill

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:26:02 GMT

The article "Hiring for Attitude" that you can access via the link below confirms some very important points about your job search. It discusses, as you would expect, how important a job candidate's attitude can be in influencing the overall hiring decision. This idea is strongly supported here on my web page dealing with job interview tips. There are two of the broad streams of questioning you can expect in the interview process - one deals with your overall motivation, the other evaluates your fit with the organisation. One of the key attitudes that organisations are looking for when recruiting their talent is 'coachability'. In other words you have an open approach to receiving feedback, direction and instruction because underneath it all you are hungry for knowledge and you want to grow personally and professionally. So.....the advice is, learn all you can about the culture of the organisation where you want to work and really examine your attitude and how it might fit with this prospective employer. Best wishes Anthony

Jan 24, Job interview tips - what you absolutely must do to get that job

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 08:09:33 GMT

New job interview tips that will boost your confidence and transform your approach to your next job interview so that you land that job!

Jan 21, Answering interview questions - techniques to win over the interviewer

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 05:28:12 GMT

Answering interview questions involves much more than knowing what to say. Here are essential communication skills for how to answer interview questions

Jan 17, Recent graduate - do I show my part time employment in my resume

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 22:20:19 GMT

Hi, I've recently graduated from university and want to know how to create a resume that will help me get a job that is related to my field of study,

Jan 16, Using social media in your job search

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 22:35:26 GMT

The article at the link below, which appeared in Harvard Business Review, discusses the use of social media to boost your career prospects. If you aren't already doing this, 2012 might be the year to get this aspect of your job search strategy in order. When you read the article, a lot of attention is given to the issue of preparing your online profile. As I see it, this isn't so different from preparing a profiling statement for your resume. Your profile should convey in a targeted and compelling way exactly who and what you are in a professional sense. It should be designed grab the atention and interest of the reader so that they are inclined to want to meet you. What you say in your profile is worth plenty of thought and effort in its preparation. The guidelines on the career profile page of your resume will be useful to you in putting together a profile for use in social media. While the article focuses on using social media, there are several useful ideas which you can apply when creating your resume, and also use when implementing job search strategy. Best wishes Anthony

Jan 16, Essential behavioral interview tips for your first behavioral interview

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 00:05:44 GMT

These behavioral interview tips explain how you should prepare for a behavioral interview.

Jan 12, How to choose a career and your personality type

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 08:39:37 GMT

A blind spot that many people have in working through the process of how to choose a career is their suitability for a particular career path or occupation that is based on their personality type. Just like handedness......that is, your preference for using your right or left hand to do things, your personality type will also mean that you feel more comfortable doing some things in your work than others. For example, some people excel in seeing and working with the bigger picture, while others may feel much more comfortable working with the intricate details.....and vice versa. The article featured in the link below explains how a commonly used personality profiling instrument - MBTI, or the Myers Briggs Type Indicator, can provide important information about your personality type and preferences. The extent to which your personality influences things like career choice and job satisfaction is explained in much more detail here - career personality test. There is also a link to a free personality test which is very similar in its approach to the MBTI mentioned in the article. Armed with this knowledge you can potentially make much more informed choices about a career path or occupation that is suited to your personality. So....if you are in the process of deciding where next in your career, or identifying job roles for which you might be suited, consider completing a personality profile to assist your decision making. Best wishes Anthony

Jan 10, Advice for college and university graduates

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:37:24 GMT

Many of you will know that the job search process can be demoralising, especially when you're getting either lots of rejection or no feedback at all from your job applications. The labour market at present is very patchy. Graduate recruitment activity is being put on hold by many traditional employers of graduates. They're waiting to see how th economy performs, especially in the USA and in the Eurozone. The article at the link below has some really good advice for people who are yet to break through with the job offer they are seeking. While the article has been written for graduates, the advice is applicable to anyone who is experiencing frustration in their job search. So......stay positive, manage your attitude and the the things you can control, and forget the rest. Do make sure however that you have a balanced jobsearch strategy .....one that includes job search networking. If you're getting no response from written job applications it could be that your resume needs some re-work. It might be a good idea to go back to basics and look at how to create a resume with fresh eyes. Best wishes Anthony

Jan 7, How to start an e-business

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 05:21:30 GMT

Regular readers of this web site will know that I developed it under the guidance of SBI, or Site Build It. I've also recently advocated that an e-business is an avenue well worth exploring. This particularly applies if, like me, you are looking for an alternative stream of income as a hedge against the insecurity of the present job market. If you are at all curious about the possibility of starting your own e-business here's a great opportunity to take a peek behind the scenes to see how easy it is to get started. There will be live broadcast on SBI's Facebook page Sitesell Facebook which demonstrates how the business seed generator works. The seed generator is literally step No. 1 in starting your e-business. It is a tool SBI provides which literally helps to pick your brain for ideas around which you can build a business. The link below has the details of when the broadcast is taking place......but also note that it will be copied and kept on Sitesell Facebook for those people who can't watch it live. I urge you to check it out if the idea of a profitable e-business appeals to you. Best wishes Anthony

Dec 21, Employment self sufficiency

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 23:06:00 GMT

I've long held the philosophy that when it comes to security of employment, the only real security is that which an individual creates for themselves. In my own case I've either had lengthy periods of self employment, or when employed I've always been developing some sort of business as a sideline. The link below will take you to an article which suggests that by 2020 the independent worker will be the norm rather than the exception. So.....as we close out on 2011 facing a very uncertain world economy are you looking out for an opportunity to develop a little income security on the side? If so, please take the time to investigate, really investigate what literally thousands of people, mums, dads, teenagers all around the world have discovered through Site Build It..... a way to develop financial independence. Go to this link to take a look at what site sell can do for you. SiteSell has an extensive Facebook presence as well. If you want proof about some of the benefits that others have experienced with SBI have a look at this SiteSell on Facebook I'd also like to wish readers of the Job Search Mentoring Blog a happy family Christmas and New Year. For those readers who don't celebrate this occasion, and are fortunate to have holidays..... best wishes to you and your families too, for a happy relaxing holiday. I look forward to sharing successful job search success strategies with you in 2012. Best wishes Anthony

Dec 21, Panel interview tips that will further enhance your job interview skills

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 09:35:57 GMT

Helpful panel interview tips that will help you make an impact with a group of interviewers so much easier

Dec 17, Resume writing how to get started on the right foot so that your writing flows

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 06:59:01 GMT

When resume writing how will you get started? The biggest mistake people make is to just start writing. Do this and resume writing becomes much easier

Dec 12, Cover letter tips - 20 tips for writing the perfect cover letter

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 22:23:59 GMT

20 cover letter tips that take the guess work out of cover letter writing so that you have the perfect cover letter for your resume

Dec 5, Future employment - globalisation of labour markets

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 08:11:51 GMT

Continuing on with the theme of my last blog post I found an article which has some really interesting information and statistics about the increasing trend of global outsourcing of labour. Before I continue with the blog however, and before you read this article to which I'm referring, please note that I'm not pushing a political agenda here. I'm apolitical when it comes to this blog, and the services I provide through this website. My intention is merely to draw your attention to articles which provide commentary on jobs and employment and trends that might affect you and your family. Back to the article......which points out that most of us are familiar with the outsourcing of jobs such as call centers. However outsourcing labor by American companies hasn't stopped there - this is also happening in professions such as engineering, drafting, architecture, computer programming, web design, graphic design and other high tech jobs. And.....please note, this isn't just happening in the U.S.A. - it's taking place in all so-called first world countries. Anyway....read the article for yourself and make up your own mind! If this situation concerns you and you are open to exploring options check out the link I included in my last blog post - the first day of the rest of your life Best wishes Anthony

Dec 4, Employment future trends

Sun, 04 Dec 2011 08:16:39 GMT

This is a topic I recommend that anyone in employment keep track of. One thing for sure is that due to a range of factors the concept that many of us have grown up with in terms of what a career means is changing.....and changing dramatically. It would be a very foolish person who believes that they have a job or career that is future proof. Increasingly it will be up to each of us to to manage our own job security, our career progression and job search strategy. The link below will take you to a well researched article which is about 13 trends impacting on employment in the USA now, and into the future. The author points out what we already know....that jobs are scarce. But....jobs as we know them will become increasingly scarcer. If this concerns you in any way, and you are open to the idea of investigating other career and employment options that might mean a more secure future for you and your family I strongly recommend you consider this option - the first day of the rest of your life.....but a warning, this is not for everyone, but it could be! This changing employment scene almost certainly means your job search skills have to be up to scratch.....and my aim here is to help you to ensure yours are. Best wishes Anthony

Nov 30, Taking a different look at your failures

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 01:17:41 GMT

I came across this interesting article in the "Psychology Today" blog. The title of the article "Taking a positive look at failure" is an intriguing one, but you might be asking what's this got to do with my job search? The article concludes that there seems to be an increasing employment trend where employers are looking for people who are agile learners, have a tolerance for risk and can break out of "the paralysing effects of perfectionism". So the question begs "How do you cope with failure?" Can you demonstrate an ability to learn from mistakes? Are you a risk taker? An interesting read - I hope you enjoy it. Best wishes Anthony

Nov 26, Job search mentoring - a complete guide to managing your job search and career

Sat, 26 Nov 2011 03:44:13 GMT

Job search and career planning tips for the new millenium. How to get the job you want or change your career direction

Nov 19, Job search strategy - identify your value proposition

Sat, 19 Nov 2011 00:22:26 GMT

A critical question you will almost certainly encounter at some stage of your job search, no matter what your job search strategy is.....Why should we hire you? Convincing someone to employ you involves exactly the same process you see in sales every day of your life. If a salesperson can't help you to identify why you should buy their product and give you a compelling reason to buy.....then you won't buy what's being sold. Delve a little deeper into sales psychology and you'll find that the reason people are motivated to buy is because they have needs relating to the item on offer. The need might relate to something like:

Wanting to feel safer or more secure
Being able to do something more easily, quicker, more conveniently
Improving their appearance, image, status or reputation
Wanting something that will be durable and reliable
Saving money in either the short or longer term

Well, employers are just like you and me when we are buyers. They want solutions to their problems and needs. And....some of the needs they have in their businesses are very similar to the items on the above list. In terms of job search strategy then it makes sense to really clarify in your own mind what your value proposition is. What needs or problems can you help solve for a prospective employer? The article below has some useful tips in building your value proposition. Best wishes Anthony

Nov 11, Your career change resume involves using a particular resume style

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 05:59:25 GMT

There's a career change resume style that helpfully highlights relevant career information that is relevant to your new career objective. Here's what you do

Nov 9, If your career builder job search strategy isn't working this could be why

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 08:47:33 GMT

A successful career builder job search strategy has 3 parts to it. Try these out if your strategy needs a makeover

Nov 5, Making a Career Change

Sat, 05 Nov 2011 21:19:32 GMT

I am changing career fields. How do I show skills that will be useful in my new career field. I am going from Accounting to Medical Administrative Assistant

Nov 3, Cover letters - are they still relevant

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 03:19:48 GMT

I came across this blog article the other day which I thought I'd share with you. It is, after all, job hunting season for many people graduating from university or college. As the article points out, cover letters are still used by recruiters and employers, and yes.....they can make all the difference between getting an interview, or not! I've been helping clients for years to develop a catchy cover letter and my clients get great results from the approach I suggest. Here's a link to what I know about writing a cover letter and some special techniques if you are sending an email cover letter. Till next time, best wishes Anthony

Oct 27, Body language and job interviews

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 02:39:59 GMT

It has always been my philosophy in relation to job search strategy that it is the little things you do that can make a powerful difference to the result. Take the job interview for example. Many people will of course seek out examples of common job interview questions as a part of their preparation, and.....rehearse their answers to those questions. Just give the right answers to those questions and you'll get the job - right? Well, yes.....and no. The interviewers conducting job interviews, despite their best intentions to be logical and objective in their evaluation of candidates, will almost certainly be making subjective evaluations as well. Take a look at the page on job inteview tips and you'll see that one of the key factors influencing selection is the candidate's "fit" with the job and organisation. This is where the little things like body language come into play. Your style of communicating, of which your body language plays a big part, can have a major positive or negative impact on the interviewer's decision to hire you. The article at the link below gives you some timely and helpful 'do's' and 'don'ts' in relation to your body language during your next job interview. Best wishes Anthony

Oct 20, Do you have trouble saying "No"?

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 11:12:21 GMT

If you have trouble saying "No", it could be that you are suffering from FOMO - that is - Fear of Missing Out. This article from the Introverts Corner on the Psychology Today website provides some really helpful advice to those people who always say "Yes" when they would really like to say "No". So, what's this go to do with career development planning and job search strategy? Well....have you ever agreed to do something in your work that you would rather not have done, for example your boss is a bully and you've been coerced into taking up a job or a project that you'd rather not do. Should you find yourself continually in a position where you are doing stuff you'd rather not be doing, perhaps it's time to consider making a career transition. This is of course not a decision that should be made impulsively. So, here are some pages that might help you to reflect on what is actually important to you in your life and your work:

The main point of this post really is to point out that while we cannot always control the environment or context in which we work, we can control our attitudes and actions in response to our environment. In other words, if you really want to say "No", what is stopping you? Best wishes Anthony

Oct 13, How to ovecome shyness and low self esteem

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 07:58:19 GMT

Given the importance of job search networking in your job search strategy, if you suffer from shyness, low self esteem, or fear of social rejection, your chances of landing a job may be severely limited...unless you take action to overcome these barriers. Well.....here's some great news! You can do something about this. The link below will take you to the Careers - In Theory website, and a very insightful article about social rejection being a self fulfilling prophecy. The article argues that people who suffer from social anxiety - shyness, low self esteem, fear of rejection etc will tend to go into social interactions with negative expectations. That is they have the expectation that people will dislike or reject them in some way. As a result of this negative expectation they adopt a very defensive attitude which in turn has a negative effect on the very people they are trying to impress. The best part of the article is the description of some very simple actions you can carry out so that you adopt more positive, and helpful approaches when interacting with others. Best wishes Anthony

Oct 10, How To Show a Research Grant on My Resume

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 22:04:18 GMT

As a college student, I got a sizeable applied research grant for my AIAA Design Build Fly club. How would I put this on my resume? Hi David, There

Oct 5, Job interview process - assessing strengths vs competencies

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 22:55:54 GMT

There is a subtle change taking place in some of the major corporations around the world in the way job candidates are assessed during job interviews. Organisations such as Ernst and Young, the insurance group Aviva and Reckitt Benckiser are paying much closer attention to the natural talents of candidates - in other words their strengths rather than competency. Strength vs competency - what's the difference? A simple definition might be that a strength is something that we are naturally good at, and enjoy doing - it is an ability we often feel compelled to use, and we are energised when we use this capability. A competency on the other hand refers to our ability to do something, and we may or may not enjoy doing so. This ability may well have been learned rather than being a natural talent. Organisations using this approach find that when staff are given the opportunity to use natural talents on the job they display more energy and focus. So, in preparing your job search strategy do you have a concise understanding of what your employable strengths are? How well do you highlight these in your resume? If you are unsure of what your strengths might be, try some of the assessment exercises on my career aptitude test page. Click on the link below if you'd like to know more about this new strengths based job interview process.

Sep 30, Changing career - is this in your best interest?

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 05:45:16 GMT

The decision to make a career change is one that should not be taken lightly. Is being sick and tired of what you are doing at present a good enough reason to move into a completely new career direction? Is the grass really greener on the other side? Should you be pondering such a move at present I'd encourage you to go to the link below and take a look at the article which is entitled "10 Tips About Changing Careers". I think you'll find the article helpful because it contains some critical questions I believe everyone thinking of a career change should be asking themselves before they make the move. This link, making a career change has more information to assist you to deal with the decision to move on, or not. The article also will also help you to reflect on what direction to take if you've decided to go ahead with a change, but are unsure about the 'what'! I've also got some ideas about how to choose a career direction that you might want to take a look at that. Making a career change might well be the best thing for you to do. But.....do your homework before taking action to make the change. Best wishes Anthony

Sep 23, Seven trends in employment that will affect you!

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 02:40:19 GMT

Most people are probably aware that the world of employment as we know has started to change dramatically over the last decade. Yes.....these changes started before the dreaded global financial crisis, which has really just accelerated the pace of change. So, what's been happening? Basically, the idea of a stable career, with the one employer, has virtually disappeared. So many of us have been brought up in a system where it was accepted that the employer would look after you.... if you worked hard and were good at good at your job. Well, no longer. Go to the link below to read more about these changes, how they will affect you, and what you can do manage these changes in your life and career. One major outcome of these changes is that it will be up to you to plan and manage your own career direction. If you're not sure how to do this, or where to start, the page on career planning has some information you'll find useful, and practical. It is important to realise that change does affect us all. But we can certainly deal with it better if we can anticipate what the changes are likely to be, and to have a plan to deal with them. The purpose of this website it to provide you with as much assistance as possible in managing career change in your life. Best wishes Anthony

Sep 14, Don't read this if you're looking for work!

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 05:10:12 GMT

I came across this article on using reverse psychology as a means of influencing people to take the action you want them to. The title of the article "Do you use reverse psychology? Stop it right now!" I'll admit was the hook that made me read the article. As another test, did the title of my blog post cause you to do the exact opposite - you are reading this even though I said don't do it! So....this got me to thinking how reverse psychology might be used in various aspects job searching - for instance in writing the suject line of a cold call cover letter or in making phone calls to set up job search networking interviews. If you're strategic, analytical and creative in your thinking, I'm confident that using reverse psychology would be a winner for you - at least it might open some doors for you. But, then again, why would you try something that might not work? Enjoy the read, let me know what you think - leave a comment in the comments box below. I'd really like to know what you think. Best wishes Anthony

Sep 8, Career development planning - 8 Careers You can launch in 2 years

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 03:42:35 GMT

In an environment where some people haven't been employed for quite some time, perhaps due to a decline in demand for the type of work they do - here are some ideas that might be useful. The article, which you can access at the link below, explores 8 careers that can be launched within a two year period. Now while this will mean some re-training, at least by doing this you are being proactive about managing your career. There is some related information on the adult career education page as well. So, if you are wondering what you might be able to do in the future in relation to a career direction, take the time to review this information. Until next time, best wishes Anthony

Sep 2, Job interview advice - this absolutely works, try it!

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 23:27:00 GMT

I saw an article recently on one of the LinkedIn discussion groups that I follow in which an absolutely fantastic job interview strategy was described. And......it works every time to make you stand well above other candidates. The idea is to contact a customer of the organisation you are wanting to join and ask them some questions - like:

Why do you do business with this organisation?
What do you like most about doing business with them?
What do you think they would be like to work for?

How would you use this information in an interview? Simple! When you are asked a typical question such as "What do you know about us?" you would first of all tell what you have learned from doing the usual research. Then add the fact that when doing your research you contacted their customer/s (one of more of them) to find out about them. Most interviewers will definitely want to know what you have learned. Importantly, this response is so totally unexpected that you will certainly be remembered, positively, for your proactive approach. So......go the extra mile in your preparation and try this. If you've got an interview coming up soon, here are some other job interview tips to check out. Till next time, all the best! Anthony

Aug 30, Job networking - still the best way to get a job!

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 05:44:59 GMT

In a recent survey of involving more than 50,000 of their U.S. based clients, world wide outplacement firm Right Management found that 41% of their candidates had landed a job as a result of networking. This is in contrast to 8% of those surveyed who landed their job as a result of a direct approach to an employer. The results of the survey which were posted on Forbes.com found that in 2010 this is how people found their jobs:

Networking - 41%
Internet job board - 25%
Agency or search firm - 11%
Direct approach - 8%
Online network - 4%
Advertisement - 2%
Other - 10%

The survey which was conducted for 2008, 2009 and also 2010 showed remarkably consistent evidence that job search networking pays off. So.....if you want to polish up your skills in this area check out the material I've put together starting with this page - job search networking. Until next time, best wishes Anthony

Aug 24, Job interview skills - 10 more tips for success

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 23:55:10 GMT

When you've got a job interview lined up it's time to get involved with the all important preparation. Preparing thoroughly and well for the interview is by far the number one tip for job interview success tips. Not sure about what preparation is required? - it's covered in detail here at job interview preparation. But.....once you are at the interview what are some of the things you can do that just might make the difference between getting the job offer or not? Go to the link below to read an article published on PsyBlog entitled "10 Psychological Techniques To Help You Get a New Job". If you've got an interview coming up soon why not follow one of the tips in the article about visualisation! Best wishes Anthony

Aug 17, Employment trends - jobs of the future!

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 08:37:22 GMT

Now here's something interesting - jobs of the future! Thinking about a longer term career direction for yourself? Do you have children just starting out at school who will be relying on you for advice about their career? You should check out the article by clicking on the link below. The article provides a summary about some quite serious research commissioned by the U.K. Government and conducted by an organisation of futurists called Fast Future about jobs of the future. From a field of 110 jobs a final list of 20 jobs of the future was developed and researched. Jobs which potentially could exist by the year 2030. Within the article there are links to the original source of the data where you can read about the each job in more detail. There is also a video interview with the CEO of Fast Future in which the research is discussed. Here's just a couple of them - a vertical farmer, a body part maker, and a nano medic. Food for thought and not beyond the bounds of possibility. Don't forget the internet is less than 20 years old, and look at all the jobs that have been generated with the emergence of the knowledge society in which we now live. Best wishes Anthony

Aug 11, Has your job search stalled?

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 03:53:05 GMT

These are obviously tough times for many job seekers. It is not uncommon to hear of people being out of work for 12 months, or even longer. If you have been trying the same things over and over without getting any results the best approach to take is to change what you are doing. More than likely you will be aware of, and are implenting the ideas in the jobsearch section of this website. If not, that might be a good place to kickstart your jobsearch. Today I saw a helpful article which made a number of suggestions to help long term unemployed people. Click below on "more info" to see the article. I really liked some of the suggestions .....maybe you will too. Why not take a look at the article and try out some of the 10 suggestions? Best wishes Anthony

Jul 28, Resume guidelines; answers to frequently asked questions on resume preparation

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 11:05:56 GMT

These resume guidelines will help you get started on putting together your own professionally prepared resume. Find out what to do, and what not to do.

Jul 26, Management interview questions - key questions you'll be asked

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 09:04:58 GMT

The management interview questions you'll be asked will vary. They may cover how you manage task, people, or the technical aspects of your role.

Jul 20, Job interview tips - pay attention to rapport building

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 01:13:04 GMT

How important is it to you that your next job interview goes exceptionally well, and that you get a job offer? I'm guessing that your answer to both of these questions is "very important"! Otherwise, why are you bothering with job interviews. Of course you want that job! So, if you knew that by doing well in just one tiny, but crucial, part of the interview your chances of getting a job offer would be significantly increased would you be interested in finding out what you need to do? Well, read on...... A group of occupational psychologists, Murray Barrick and his colleagues, have published details of their research into the importance of initial impressions on overall decision making by interviewers in job interviews. Barrick and his colleagues worked with 135 volunteers who were keen to improve their interviewing skills. They were each put through two interviews with different interviewers. The interviewers were a group of experienced business professionals. The interviews were highly structured and explored the competencies of each of the "candidates" in considerable detail. Before this intense questioning began however the interviews began with some unstructured rapport building. Following the rapport building the interviewers rated their impressions of each candidate, and a further rating of each candidate took place at the conclusion of the interview. Barrick's study showed that there was a very close correlation between initial impressions of the candidate and their impressions at the conclusion of the interview. The researchers concluded positive first impressions were closely related to:

the extraversion of the person being interviewed>/li>
the candidate's emotional stability
the candidate's agreeableness
the candidate's conscientiousness - with conscientiousness being closely linked to better job performance

The relevance of these attributes is that were generally considered to be desirable and attractive in the candidates, as prospective employees, in the organisations represented by the interviewers. The researchers concluded that the rapport building stage of an interview gave an early indication into the perceived "fit" of the candidate into the role for which they were being considered and the organisation in which they were to be employed. How to communicate effectively and to create a positive initial impression is extensively covered in job interview skills. In conclusion, pay extremely close attention in your preparation for the interview in how you intend to create that all important great first impression - being offered the job is probably riding on how well you do this. If you are interested in reading the article about this, the link is initial rapport influences career decisions. Article source: Barrick, M., et al (2011). Candidate characteristics driving initial impressions during rapport building: Implications for employment interview validity Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology DOI: 10.1111/j.2044-8325.201.10236.x

Jul 12, 21st Century Careers - Will you be making a career change?

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 00:58:16 GMT

Making a career change, in fact lots of them will be a way of life according to authors JoAnn Harris-Bowlsbey and Ruth S. Lisansky in their 1998 book "Take Hold of Your Future". Chapter 1 of their book is devoted to career planning in the 21 century. Despite writing their book in 1998 the authors show a very clear understanding of the employment scene in the 21st century. Some of the key points made in the first chapter of the book include:

A smaller percentage of workers will have jobs in the sense that we define this word now.
For those without regular and long term employment with one organisation this also means the absence of accompanying regular pay, health benefits, pension or superannuation etc
Employers will be increasingly reliant on 'just in time' workers and outsourcing their labour requirements on an 'as required' basis.
Individuals will increasingly equip themselves with an array of skills and their focus will be on where they will use their skill next, rather than on one specific occupation.

Disturbingly, they suggest that people who are not prepared for this new age will be affected by the possibility of many less jobs for the unskilled or low skilled. Any work that does exist will be temporary and without the usual fringe benefits. They point to the emergence of a 'have not' class in society where a divider will be the lack of basic computing skills and access to the internet. On a positive note they point to the some potential benefits, including:

The opportunity for unprecedented fulfillment in your work because you can focus on what you love doing - no more boredom of the one job with set tasks.
Greater work-life balance and the possibility of shorter working hours.

So what does all this mean for you and me? At the very least you will need to have a continual approach to learning over your lifetime - developing your employability skills. And....you will need to have well developed job search strategies and job seeking skills. Then you need to have belief in your ability to succeed in what you set out to do in life. Quoting from the authors: "Research indicates that the single most important determinant of educational and vocational success is one's internal belief that he or she has the capability to succeed." The aim of this website is to help you to develop that capability and belief. We do this by providing you with comprehensive information and resources and easy to implement strategies to assist you in your job search and to successfully manage your career. Best wishes Anthony - Job Search Mentoring Article source: Take Hold of Your Future, JoAnn Harris Bowlsbey and Ruth S. Lisansky, The Career Development Ledership Alliance, 3rd Edition, 1998.

Jul 2, Interview questions to ask the interviewer? Here are some suggestions.

Sat, 02 Jul 2011 07:17:00 GMT

Having interview questions to ask of the interviewer is an important way of showing your interest in the position. Here are some suggested questions, and also some job interview tips about questions you should avoid asking.

Jun 26, Behavioral interview questions occur in most interviews, here are some examples

Sun, 26 Jun 2011 08:20:25 GMT

Behavioral interview questions - practice your job interview skills with these example job interview questions.

Jun 11, The top 10 interview questions and their suggested answers - questions 6-10

Sat, 11 Jun 2011 00:59:23 GMT

The top 10 interview questions that you're almost certain to be asked are continued here with questions 6-10 with suggestions for answers.

Jun 6, Career highlights - how to promote your accomplishments and capabilities

Mon, 06 Jun 2011 09:03:38 GMT

Your career highlights are your career accomplishments and on the job achievements. This is the concrete evidence employers want about your capabilities.

May 28, Common job interview questions you might be asked, with suggested answers

Sat, 28 May 2011 09:42:01 GMT

Confidently answer these common job interview questions and you're well on the way to a job offer.