Job Search Blog | JobHits

The Top 10 List of What Not to Do When Job Searching

Admin — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 03:39:00 -1000

Everyone makes mistakes when looking for a job. Whether it’s being unprepared for an interview or not disclosing everything on your resumé or application, mistakes are made because no one individual is perfect.

What follows are the Top 10 most common mistakes job seekers make when looking for a job. Don’t fall into any of these traps!

Number 1: Don’t Discuss Your Job Search at Work

If you’re employed, this should be self-explanatory. You don’t want to alert your present supervisor to the fact that you are seeking alternate employment. It’s just not a smart thing to do. Discussing your job search at works also includes having personal conversations about it with friends over the phone, or sending out emails to job recruiters from your company’s computers. Don’t do it. You will get caught, and then you’ll really be out of luck.

Number 2: Don’t Give Out Your Personal Work Number to Job Recruiters

Tying in with #1, it’s particularly bad form if you have a job recruiter call you at your present place of employment for a number of reasons. One, you might not be at your desk when the call comes through and someone you don’t want intercepting it might intercept it. Two, it’s just poor etiquette. Give them your cell phone number at the very least, then call them back when you’re on your break away from prying ears. If in the event that you are called at work by a job recruiter and are unable to speak to them, give them your home phone number and let them know when would be the best time to reach you.

Number 3: You Get Out of Your Job Search What You Put Into It

Jobs don’t grow on trees. A job won’t magically appear out of nowhere and drop on your head. You need to treat your job search as you would treat a job; something that you will do consistently for at least 8 hours a day until you reach your goal. You want to keep your effort up for as long as it takes you to get a job. Your time can be spent making calls to recruiters, temporary staffing agencies, and local career offices. Go to your local university or community college’s career office to have an advisor review your resumé and CV. There are always improvements that can be made. Ask for information on job fairs and local meeting groups for people who are out of work. Take breaks as necessary, but always keep your goal in mind.

In order to get a job, you need to make looking for a job your full-time job, as tedious as it might sound.

Number 4: Don’t Forget to Take Care of Yourself

Looking for a job can be an incredibly stressful and grating experience. Being unemployed and having little to no cash flow is also incredibly wearing. Be sure that you are taking your vitamins, getting enough sleep, and are eating a satisfactory diet. The last thing that you want to be while working on a job search is sick with stress. If you can find a place that offers meditation courses for free, sign up for them. During one of your breaks, get up and get out. Go for a walk. If you can’t go outside, do some push-ups or some crunches in your home, run in place, or do jumping jacks to get your blood flowing. Exercise releases endorphins which relieve stress. Eat a well-balanced diet, avoid caffeine, and drink plenty of fluids. When you’re stressed out, your body goes into fight-or-flight mode and shuts down. You need to train your brain to know that being unemployed isn’t a death sentence; it’s just a pothole you need to drive over to move onto smoother roads.

Number 5: Don’t Bank on That ‘One’ Opportunity

One of the worst things you can do while job searching is invest all of your time into one particular position. Why? Because as pessimistic as it sounds, there are probably dozens of other people applying for the very same position who may be more qualified than you are. That is why it is incredibly important to put a lot of leads out there. Utilise social media to put your name out there. Tweet about your unemployment. Post on Facebook that you’re looking for a job with a link back to your Linkedin page. If you don’t already have a Linkedin page, make one, connect with people, and see who you know.

Even if you only have one particular talent, there are probably dozens of jobs for that talent alone; don’t throw your application at one place and forget about all the others. Throw your application at all of them. The worst that could happen is that they could all turn you down for another candidate, but all it takes is that one company who says ‘yes.’ The more leads you have out there, the higher a success rate you will have by sheer force of numbers alone.

Number 6: Don’t Get Discouraged

Being laid off is horrible. Being unemployed is horrible. What’s worse is not being able to get back into the groove of things and emotionally lift yourself up enough to start looking for a job. If you’re having difficulty with this, find a support group. Talk with a job counselor or a social worker to help you get through it. Do something uplifting like spending some time with family and friends. Surround yourself with people who will support you and encourage you rather than feed into your despair, and always remember that sometimes job opportunities will present themselves when you aren’t looking. Feeling discouragement is normal, but letting it completely consume your life is counterproductive.

Number 7: Getting Distracted by the Mundanities of Life

We all have busy schedules outside of work, even when unemployed. Some of us have children. Some of us have elderly family members whom we care for. Some of us have dogs that need to be walked or cats that need to be fed. Some of us have workout routines and laundry and cleaning to do. Point being, these are all mundane things that either need to be rescheduled for later or passed off onto someone else temporarily, if at all possible.

Write up a schedule or a To-Do List for yourself and stick to it. “On Wednesdays, I will pick up the kids and do laundry. On Thursday night, I will walk the dog. Every morning, I will go for a half hour walk between 7 and 7:30.” Share your schedule with everyone you’re living with so that they are aware of it and can help you work through it. Maybe your partner can walk the dog or pick up the kids from school. Your partner can do the laundry and the cleaning on the days that you’re unable to do it. It’s all about compromise and learning how to deal with distractions. Your main focus while unemployed should be about getting re-employed.

Number 8: You Aren’t Perfect, and Neither is Your Resumé

Face it. You’re not perfect. No one is perfect. And because you’re not perfect, your resumé is inevitably going to have some errors. This is why it is imperative to read, re-read, and get someone else to read your resumé and review it for accuracy. Your resumé is the public face that you will show to your employers. It will be their view into your soul as a worker, which is why for all intents and purposes, your resumé needs to be as perfect as you can possibly make it.

Most career centres and job advisors will review them for free and give you suggestions on how to structure it appropriately or more professionally. It is advisable to keep your resumé to under two pages. By the end of page one, it is more than likely that the employer will have already made their decision regarding whether or not to hire you. You want to catch their eye and completely blow their mind within the first half page. Put your accomplishment statement towards the top and add a few bullet points with some of your more important scholastic or employment-based honours. You want to “get” them right from the get-go. Don’t waste valuable time and space on filler. Get straight to the point about what makes you the best and why.

The only way to do this, however, is to have someone else who is completely unbiased review your resumé for you.

Number 9: Networking and Diversifying

Doing job searches online is wonderful and convenient. If at all possible, however, you should do your utmost to diversify your job search by attending job search meetings, job fairs, or even community get togethers. Networking can be as complex as going to job search meeting and speaking with several potential employers in attendance, handing out dozens of copies of your resumé and business cards, and being a social butterfly. If you aren’t too keen on large social engagements, networking can be as simple as overhearing a conversation in public that interests you and injecting yourself into it: “I’m sorry for interrupting, but I overheard you talking about x. I’m actually very well-versed in x. Here’s my business card. Keep me in mind!”

Also, use a service to print business cards with your contact information on it along with a few bullet points on the back about who you are and what you do. There are several online services which offer double-sided business cards at reasonable prices. The person you give it to might not remember your name, but they might remember what you told them about what you can do.

Post your resumé to a number of different online sites. If you live in an apartment building, leave copies of your resumé in a common area for people to take. You never know; someone in your building might own or work for a company in your area that needs to hire someone with your expertise.

Get your friends and family in on your job search as well and ask if they know of any opportunities in your area. Give them copies of your resumé (or a link to it online) and tell them to get it out on their blogs and other social media sites. You’ll be amazed with the results.

Point being, diversifying your networking and using all avenues of networking will increase your chances of being hired.

Number 10: Practice Makes Perfect

You might think you know the job that you’re applying for, but you will always be thrown a curveball question during an interview that tests your knowledge. Learn what kinds of questions are commonly asked in interviews and practice your answers until they are ingrained in your memory. The last thing you want to do in an interview is come across as lacking in self-confidence because you are hesitant or unable to answer questions.

Practice your answers. Write up questions that you think an employer would ask someone in your position and answer them in writing. Give someone in your household a copy of the questions and tell them to give you a mock interview. Do not schedule an interview until you are confident that you will be able to hold your own and answer any question they might have. Be ready to discuss your faults in positive terms. For example, “Sometimes I’m such a perfectionist that I want to make sure that everything is right, which means it might take me longer to complete a project,” and not “It takes me a really long time to finish stuff.” Always stay positive.

Most importantly, be confident. Dress nicely, brush your teeth, and chew a breath mint before you go in. Take deep breaths and be yourself. You know what you’re doing!

About us: JobHits is a job search engine for jobs in the USA, UK and Canada. JobHits indexes jobs from major job boards in realtime and is helping more than 2 millions job seekers finding for jobs monthly.

Taking a Leap: Working Overseas Post-College

Admin — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 23:44:00 -1000

For an increasing number of graduates, the way to earn money post-college, pay back loans, and live somewhere other than in Mom and/or Dad’s house, is to work overseas as a teacher. Just as all of the brochures and overseas recruiting literature says, working overseas can be an incredibly rewarding and life-changing experience. It can also be incredibly trying, super unpleasant, and occasionally, downright dangerous. How do you know which type of working environment is on the other end of your flight? There are actually a few easy guidelines and questions to take that will help you know whether your choice of overseas employment is a good one or a poor one.

1. Recruiters
Most overseas jobs are found through a recruiter. Recruiters are especially prevalent in Asia, and they are quite persistent, which can occasionally feel overwhelming. Recruiters only get paid when a teacher agrees to a post, completes all the necessary visa work, and begins the job, so they are often less concerned about whether the teacher and the school are a good fit, and more concerned about making sure that the paperwork gets signed. Consequently, it is up to you to do the legwork of figuring out whether the school is right for you. Ask to speak with current staff, both foreign and native, and with the person who will serve as your primary liaison. Ask to speak with the teacher who is leaving, and also ask for a photo of your potential accommodations. These conversations can happen via email. Be sure to hold on to any correspondence you have with the school prior to signing any paperwork. If a school refuses to allow you to speak with current staff or see your housing, let your recruiter know, politely, that you are not interested in working at that particular institution.

2. Schools
If you are speaking with a school directly, again, ask to speak with current staff, the teacher who you are replacing, and to see pictures of the facility and your housing. Make sure you know how far away you will be housed from the school itself, and what public transportation is available if you are going to need to commute. When speaking about your rate of pay, ask if commuting costs are included in your paycheck, or if you will be reimbursed in some way, if there is a costly commute. If you are not familiar with the native language, ask to speak with the person who will serve as your primary contact. Sometimes that person has not yet been hired however, so if that is the case, ask to speak with a current member of the staff who speaks your native language, and take a few minutes to ask them questions about the institution and the conduct of previous foreign teachers. Being the foreign instructor who comes into an institution after the previous instructor was fired for tardiness and drunkenness can be very difficult, so try to get the whole story before you arrive.

3. Contracts
Review the contract closely. Some jobs come with housing. Some jobs come with housing, but the rent is removed from your paycheck each month. While the advertisement or recruiter may tell you that you are going to be paid the equivalent of $1500 US per month, your actual paycheck after taxes and housing may be closer to $900 per month, unless the contract states that you will be compensated housing in addition to your monthly salary of $1500 per month.

Make sure that start and end dates are clear, and that the day on which you will be paid each month is also clearly indicated. A contract completion bonus is standard and should be included in the contract as well. This bonus is usually equivalent to an additional month of salary. Make sure that the rules regarding breaking contract are also clearly spelled out. If a contract is skewed towards the employer, ask for changes that make it more equitable. The employer’s willingness to discuss and/or utilize these changes is usually a good indication of their willingness to be flexible. Occasionally, however, they will agree to your requests just to get you to sign the contract, and then they will change their mind. In this case, it is up to you to decide whether to stay. The most important step in contract signing is one that is often overlooked. The contract you sign must be in the native language of the school. The school should have you sign a copy both in English and in their home language, and both you and the institution should end up with a signed copy in both languages. You are allowed to have a native speaker review the native contract to insure that it says the same thing as your English language copy (or whatever your native language is) before signing it. If your school or hiring institution breaks contract, and you find it necessary to fight with them about it, the contract is only admissible in court if it is in the language of the court. If you are teaching in a country where your language is not the native tongue, then only having a contract in your own language is basically useless.

4. Visas
All visa paperwork should be completed prior to your leaving your home country. Completing this paperwork in a timely manner is a very good indication of whether the school you are potentially going to work for is organized or not. Depending on the requirements of a particular country, getting a teaching visa can take anywhere from two to six months, so be prepared to plan ahead. Visa requirements also vary widely, so be very certain you meet all the criteria. Online degrees are not always recognized, certain countries require different types of background checks, and various additional certifications are often required as well. The hiring institution should pay for part or all of the visa fees. Occasionally, it is necessary to start the contract and then get your visa. Remember, until you have the visa, you are working illegally, and you have zero rights in your new country. This means that the school is not required to pay you, house you, provide you with insurance, or even acknowledge that you are actually an employee. If there is a delay in your paperwork, you will most likely have to leave your hiring country for a few days in order to complete the paperwork, and then come back in. It is the hiring school’s responsibility to supply you with a roundtrip plane ticket to a nearby country, and a hotel room while you are there, so that the visa process can be completed if it becomes necessary. Make sure that you have a backup plan if you discover that the school has no intention of hiring you legally.

Understand, working overseas really is rewarding and life changing, and it is a great opportunity to learn a new language, learn about yourself, and gain lasting friendships. Also, there is really no better feeling than having a child smile up at you because they finally understand a concept with which they have been struggling. Though the information above may seem a bit daunting, keep in mind that the majority of the institutions out there are pretty great, and even if they do have issues, they are not insurmountable. Wherever you end up working, go into the job positively, and that is most likely the kind of energy you will get back.

Volunteering May Lead to More

Admin — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 06:22:00 -1000

Do you find yourself loving the time you spend cooking to feed the homeless? Or do you have a knack for getting people to help you and support a cause? (Think about the time you organized a neighborhood wide rummage sale in only two weeks.) Maybe you make quilts for the elderly. Maybe you are an amazing sales person but you’ve lost your luster in your current field. What do all of these hypotheticals have in common? Potential.

ALWAYS be There

You may initially go to the soup kitchen with intentions reaching no farther than helping feed the homeless. Something changes when you get there though; you become intoxicated with helping others. Before you know it you find yourself volunteering over and over again, until the staff has no choice but to offer you a paying permanent position. You’re there more often than they are, it seems appropriate they should want to keep you around.

Passion=Cash

If you have a passion, something you love with unbridled zeal, why not try and channel that passion into something to help others and pad your pockets too. Start your own non-profit organization. (Make sure you do all important research/ filing regarding tax status.)If you like to create things (dolls, cakes etc) turn that love into dollars and goodwill. Make a whole bunch and sell them, and donate the proceeds to your favorite cause. Do it often enough and you may get sponsorship from a major contributor.

Sell Sell Sell!

Most charities and non-profit organizations operate on a donations only basis. Those donations help pay for things like the overhead costs and research. If you have a proven track record of phone sales, why not turn that success towards a worthy cause? Volunteer at a local charities phone bank. If you have excitement and enthusiasm (as well as a bit of achievement) for the cause and obtaining donations a job will surely be forthcoming.

Anybody can help a charity. It doesn’t take a lot of money to make a difference, the most valuable asset you have is your time or experience. Even an hour of your time a week adds up to 52 hours throughout the course of a year. While it would be great to make a living doing something you love while helping people at the same time, this shouldn’t be your only motivation in volunteering. Helping your fellow man, making a difference; that should be incentive enough.

Leslie Cargile currently writes for PhoenixKiosk.com, one of the highest rated kiosk manufacturers. They offer a full line of kiosks and software for small business to Fortune 100s. Phoenix Kiosk: Innovative Technologies From Vision to Reality.

The Job Interview - Get Your Head in The Game

Admin — Mon, 16 May 2011 18:08:00 -1000

First of all you want to shake off any intimidation you may be feeling about meeting the person who has the power to change your life. Realize that they have the very important task of finding the best person for the job, and they want to choose well in the best interest of their company. They aren’t there to make you look bad or trip you up; if they are it’s not a job you want anyway. They may have a list of questions they want to ask you, but a good interviewer isn’t rigid about that; the list is a tool to bring a mutually informative conversation into play.

Do Your Research

It’s a sign of respect that you know some basics about their company; conversely it’s a really big mistake if you don’t.
Check out their website; what is their vision, what are their services or products, do they have multiple branches?
Think of what you could “bring to the table,” and how your skills and capabilities jive with their philosophies and plans for growth. This is often a question they will ask in one form or another, so be prepared.
Come up with a few genuine questions, based upon what you have learned; this shows them you are interested enough to inquire, as well as secure enough to bring up your own subjects.
Be ready to “change horses in the middle of the stream,” because once you get in the door you will need to adapt your ideas to what you see and hear, the interviewer’s body language, etc.

Be Brave

Be confident; make a list of your strengths and capabilities before your appointment, then recite them out loud in front of a mirror.
Think of the times in your life that made you the most proud, then recall the steps that got you there.
Be humble; they want to know you can interact with others in a cooperative manner.

Put Your Best Foot Forward

Present yourself in the best light; dress neatly and comfortably.
Have good posture; walk proudly with your shoulders back.
Shake hands firmly; a limp handshake can be your downfall.
Be sincere and show your integrity whenever you have the chance.
Try to put your own unique twist on common questions.

Don’t Jump Overboard

You are who you are, and you’re not who you aren’t. Plain and simple. If you start trying to morph into everything they had hoped you would be, you will look (and feel) foolish. Just be the best “you” that you can be.
When they ask what you like most and least (about your prior jobs or just in general), be prepared to tell them how you turn your least favorite tasks into positive ones. If you have trouble saying, “No” to anything (a common answer) then you might add, “But I realize I have priorities and can’t take on anything that interferes with finishing those first.”
Don’t go into long explanations, unless specifically asked. Keep your answers relative, concise and positive, and then look to them for the next question. If you wander off the track or expound “for days,” they will sense you are easily distracted and may have trouble making decisions or meeting deadlines.

During the interview be certain to listen as well as you speak, be “present” and alert and don’t oversell yourself. They will recognize the qualities they are looking for, or they won’t. Keep in mind that when you walk into an appointment you may just decide it’s not the place for you. There are two people making a decision here, and one of them is you.

Before having children, Loretta Pleasant worked full time for a reverse phone lookup service in Los Angeles. She now spends her time with her family and, when the kids are asleep, writing.

Ignorance Isn’t Always Bliss: Understanding How Headhunters Work

Admin — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 00:51:00 -1000

Today hundreds of people are, at this very moment, going about their business completely unaware of the fact that they’ve just been turned down for their dream job.

You yourself may be in the running for a great new position, but, as many firms outsource high level recruitment to headhunters, who only ever contact potential candidates after separating the wheat from the chaff, you may not even know about it. More significantly, if a headhunter decides you are not suitable, you will never get to know about it.

Even if you are not actively looking for a new form of employment, in times like these it doesn’t hurt to ensure that you are not being eliminated in the early stages of a recruitment process, regardless of whether you’ve applied for the job or not. A potential offer of new employment might be just around the corner and, even if you feel the position isn’t for you, you may be able to use the offer as leverage to boost your standing in your existing role. All told, it’s definitely worth knowing how headhunters go about the process of narrowing down their pool of potential candidates.

For a professional headhunter the idea of putting forward an inappropriate candidate is anathema. Whilst headhunters earn their money through commission, unlike other people in comparable sales and recruitment roles, headhunters are concerned with quality over quantity. Yes, they spend a lot of time looking for good candidates, but they also spend a lot of time pitching their services to good clients. Once they have clients keeping them and garnering repeat business is vital. One of the things most prized by their clients is speed.

It is unsurprising then, that headhunters have developed ways to reject huge swathes of potential candidates at a time. Whilst your average recruiter will look at the skills you have and asses from that what you might be able to achieve in the future, executive headhunters largely do the opposite, focusing on proven track records. Ensure your CV lists your achievements in your various roles. This is more important than listing the skills that you learnt from, or brought into those roles.

Bear in mind the volume of CVs headhunters and recruiters read through. Studies show that, to cope with the load, they spend less than a minute reading each one.

Another great tip is to be as involved in your industry as possible. Headhunters recruiting for higher level positions are only going to be interested in the movers and the shakers of the sector in question. Get yourself on a professional association membership list, or, even better, into the trade press relevant to the business you’re in. The paper trail proving your status should, ideally, be a lot longer than the one or two pages of your C.V.

References are another way headhunters will try and build a clearer picture of you as a candidate. Are yours in order? Is you relationship with your key referee as good as it could be? Why not give some of your referees from previous roles a call once in a while to catch up?

Headhunters will also talk to people you haven’t named as references in their investigations. Make sure, therefore, you maintain a high level of professionalism in all your working relationships. This is where trivial office animosity might come back to hurt you.

Finally, you should be prepared in your own mind, so that, in the event you do receive a call form a headhunter, you are able to make the most of it. It may be that, the role described to you does not immediately appeal, but remember, vital information, such as who the employer is, and perhaps even the salary, will be withheld during initial telephone contact. I knew a fashion buyer for a chain of department stores who received a call for a job which, initially, sounded as if it would have a very similar level of pay and responsibility. However, whilst the role was similar to their existing one, the employer turned out to be one of the biggest names in the industry meaning the pay, responsibility and desirability of the job were all much higher than their previous role.

The lesson here is to not say no straight away, or sell yourself short because you are not interested. Just because you are not interested in this role, that’s not to say you won’t be interested a future position this same headhunter may be commissioned to fill. Be as helpful as you can. Headhunters will remember you. They’re always looking for leads to capable candidates. Paint yourself as such a person and it is likely they will retain your information and come back to you with a more suitable offer in future.

Greg Harper has been in the recruitment business for a long time and has recently started to document his advice at his job centre site where you can also search for vacancies that are out there.

Careers for Those who Desire to Help People Turn Their Lives Around

Admin — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -1000

Do you help other people not because you have to but because you enjoy it? If so, then there are plenty of careers for compassionate, caring, and selfless people like yourself. Shown below are some of the careers that provide opportunities to improve the lives of others:

Life Coaches

Life coaches help individuals establish and achieve goals in various arenas of their lives, such as marriages and careers. Sessions are structured and results are measurable. Most life coaches are self-employed. Providing free sessions, attending networking events, and advertising locally can help life coaches find clients.

Some colleges and universities provide courses in life coaching. Short courses are available, and so are master's degrees if you're extremely motivated. Some courses include practice sessions with clients. Look for programs recognized by a notable accreditation organization such as the International Association of Coaching, the International Coach Federation, or the UK-based Open College Network.

Social Workers

Social workers help troubled groups of people like battered women, abused children, orphans, drug addicts, and people living in poverty. They also assist people with illnesses such as cancer, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis. Typically, social workers need at least a bachelor's degree. Many social workers specialize in a specific subfield of social work. Therefore, if there is one group of people that you are passionate about helping, you have the option of working exclusively with them.

Psychologists

Psychologists help a wide variety of people. By providing guidance, psychologists can help change peoples' lives for the better. Like social workers, many psychologists have a specialty. Those thinking about entering this field should be sensitive, mature, and compassionate. Most psychologists are required to have a master's or doctoral degree as well as a license to practice.

Community Outreach Workers

These folks strive to improve the lives of those living in a particular community. They offer members of the community a variety of assistance and educational programs. Jobs in this field can be provided by a number of different types of organizations, including health departments and nonprofits.

Physical Therapists

Physical therapists help people of all ages who have medical problems, health related conditions, injuries, or illnesses. They help clients improve their ability to move and perform daily activities. They assist clients who have had strokes, amputations, or burns, as well as those suffering from multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, or a number of other maladies.

Some universities in the UK provide a Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) as a post-professional qualification. The Bachelor or Master of Science in Physiotherapy is the qualifying degree. A physical therapist assistant requires less education if that is a route you are interested in considering.

Occupational Therapists

Occupational therapists strive to improve the quality of life of developmentally and physically challenged people. They help improve the lives of people with emotional, physical, mental, or developmental impairments and disabilities. Occupational therapists have an important role in improving their clients' ability to perform daily activities.

The United Kingdom has numerous universities that provide occupational therapy degrees, most of which are bachelor's degree programs. Master's degree and Postgraduate programs are also available. As is true in the field of physical therapy, there are programs out there that train occupational therapy assistants.

Probation Officer

Probation officers help rehabilitate convicted criminals by offering them counseling and by helping them acquire housing, education, and jobs. They interact with offenders on a regular basis to evaluate their progress and check up on their activities. Probation officers in the United Kingdom need a certificate of education, and the requirements for these vary by the age group with which you plan on working.

Speech Therapists

Those in the speech therapy field work with people who have voice disorders. Speech therapists can help people who stutter or speak with a harsh voice or inappropriate pitch. They also assist individuals who have difficulty in producing speech or have cognitive communication impairments such as a poor memory or short attention span. Additionally, they often help people who have difficulty in swallowing. Some clients of speech therapists have problems due to brain injury, stroke, brain deterioration, cerebral palsy, or learning disabilities.

If you're interested, a three- or four-year undergraduate degree program certified by the RCSLT (Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists) is what you should be looking for. These education programs are usually called speech and language therapy, speech pathology, or some combination of the two. Those with undergraduate degrees in a related field can qualify as a speech therapist by obtaining a diploma or an M.Sc. by taking a two-year post graduate course.

If you enjoy helping people, there are numerous careers that give you the opportunity to help people turn their lives around.

Brian Jenkins contributes feature articles on a variety of different careers, including careers in social work, to BrainTrack.com. He has also written a large number of profile articles on colleges, universities, and cities.

How to Network After College to Land a Job

Admin — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 17:32:00 -1000

I'm always looking to help new college grads get a job, because I know how it feels to not have a job offer waiting for you after graduation. It took me three months to find a job after I completed my bachelor's degree in accounting. That may not seem too bad in today's economy but I graduated back in 2002. The economy was much better then. Also, I had a marketable degree, high grades, and lived in a metropolitan area with a lot of open positions (Dallas/Fort Worth).

With all these factors, I thought it would be easy to get a job but after the first two unfruitful months I realized that searching for a job can often be difficult task.

I needed help so I researched online for tips on conducting a successful job search. I came across the book, College Grad Job Hunter, and it helped me by teaching me one of the most crucial job search skills: networking.

Before reading the book, my job search activities mostly consisted of sending resumes to online classified ads and cold calling companies. But the book showed me that networking is a much more effective method.

I learned that companies often ask their current employees for recommendations to fill a position before buying a classifieds ad. They want to avoid the time-consuming hiring process of wading through a sea of resumes and then interviewing many prospective job applicants.

Since companies go to their employees for recommendations, it is very effective to target these unposted job openings. There is much less competition for these jobs. And even if the companies eventually post an ad, they will still take special note of applicants recommended by their employees. However, you must have a suitable network to take advantage of these opportunities.

I began networking by contacting all the former classmates I knew. Also, I spent less time on the computer. Instead, I got out of the house and started meeting people. One day, while playing basketball at the college gym, I saw a former classmate who graduated a year ahead of me. I told him about my job search and he said my accounting lab student teacher from two years ago had recently become office manager of car dealership and was looking for someone to fill his former entry-level position.

I got the relevant contact information and contacted my former student teacher. He remembered me from accounting lab and had been impressed with my classwork. Within a week, he interviewed me and offered me a job.

I didn't stay long in the accounting industry. I didn't like the corporate environment and wanted to work at home so I learned about web writing and search engine marketing in order to become an online freelancer. Even in the online sphere, networking strategies are also very powerful. I have used networking to grow my business and land most of my clients.

Therefore, my best job search advice is to connect with other people.

More specifically, ask your friends, former classmates, and family for referrals. Ask them to give you a list of people who might have connections to open positions. Next, contact those people and tell them that you were referred to them regarding your job search. Also, ask them for referrals. This allows you to build your network exponentially.

Continue the process, contacting each person, until you find a job. If you take these steps, you'll drastically improve your chances of getting employed.

This is a guest post by Dee Barizo. He helps run The Best Degrees, a site featuring the top online degree programs.

Four Career Tips for Recent College Graduates

Admin — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 04:47:00 -1000

Students graduating from college today face the toughest job market in decades. Few companies are hiring new entry level workers, and many recent graduates are feeling ready to throw in the towel. By following these four tips, recent grads will be able to successfully navigate this employment dip and ultimately

1. Keep an Open Mind (but Don't Lose Sight of Your Dream)

Some college students create very specific visions of their career trajectories, only to have these visions shattered when they are not hired for their dream position. You must not get discouraged; instead, look for work or volunteer opportunities in fields that may not directly relate to your intended career path. It's likely that you will develop valuable skills through these opportunities, which will enhance your desirability to companies in your dream field in the future. And who knows – perhaps you will discover a passion that you never knew existed! Maintaining a flexible career outlook will lead to greater satisfaction down the road.

2. Find a Mentor

Through whatever means you can – family connections, college alumni databases, or volunteering/ job shadowing – try to locate a person with extensive experience in your chosen field who can give you valuable insight into the demands and rewards of the profession. Many experienced workers are eager to help out energetic and talented young people. In addition to offering advice, mentors can be a great networking resource, and can often help you to locate a suitable job. If you are fortunate enough to have secured a job, try to create a real relationship with your boss.

3. Make Sure Your Resume and Cover Letters Are Detailed and Targeted

It takes a lot of extra time, but you must personalize each resume and cover letter that you send out. Be sure you include only the most relevant work experiences to the position to which you are applying; there is no use in mentioning that you tutored children in Spanish if you are applying to an electrical engineering position. Additionally, unless you did something truly remarkable in high school, leave secondary school experiences off the resume. Your resume should be no longer than one page and should include specific details about your positions. Highlight specific accomplishments; if the children you tutored improved their test scores by a letter grade, make sure you mention that. When writing a cover letter, make sure you have researched the company or institution, and demonstrate your knowledge of the company in the letter. Be sure to mention exactly what you can provide for the company, and how you are unique among the many applicants. As was true with your resume, limit your cover letter to one page.

4. Be Resilient and Keep a Positive Attitude

It is very possible that you will face rejection many times throughout the process. It is important to realize that this is not a reflection upon you as a human being, nor it is a referendum on your skills. You have graduated from college, so you have shown yourself to have considerable intelligence, initiative, and determination. Bring that across in your resume and cover letters, and bring a positive attitude into your interviews. You will dramatically improve your chances of landing a position.

Michael Todd is a guest writer for BrooksidePatioFurniture.com which specializes in resin wicker patio furniture. Also, make sure to check out this developing site that provides information on bonsai trees.

Avoiding Labels in the Workplace

Admin — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 15:22:00 -1000

It's easy to label others, especially when we don't know them very well. While labels can sometimes be convenient and helpful, they can also be dangerous. Labeling can diminish people, deny them opportunities, and confine and limit relationships. Seeing others for who they are and what they can offer requires deliberate effort that can reap real dividends in the workplace.

Assume the Best

Assume everyone comes to work to do their best. Beyond what you see at work, they are someone's son, daughter, sister, brother, mom and dad. They pay taxes, coach their kid's soccer team, and cook meals for neighbors in need. If someone wants to turn right when you want to turn left, it isn't that they "don't see the big picture," "are unmotivated," or "disorganized." Most likely, they have goals, pressures, and experiences that differ from yours.

Understand Your Co-Workers

If you want to develop strong working relationships, you need to humanize others by understanding their background, job objectives and obstacles. Serve their needs. You have to help others before you can ever expect that they will help you. Go the extra mile and do the unexpected extras. Help them, praise them and share with them. Make sure they see their reflection in your leadership agenda by incorporating their strengths and abilities in shaping team plans and approaches.

Accept Responsibility

When problems arise, look in the mirror rather than out the window. Since this self-examination can threaten even the most secure ego, make the process easier by soliciting feedback early and often. This will allow you to make small, relatively private adjustments rather than large, public apologies. Reinforce this behavior (for yourself and your team) by describing the behavior and motives of others in the most positive way possible. For example, replace, "The IT people are ignoring our needs!" with, "The IT team is obviously busy, so we need to help them by making sure our initiative delivers value." Complaining about others reduces your power and turns you into a victim. Positive framing focuses on what can be done rather than who is to blame.

Incorporating these steps into your professional development can help you break through workplace labels and be a true leader.

Polly Math has extensive experience in corporate publications, copywriting, training and advertising. She writes for Pharmacy Technician Certification website and Demand Media Studios.

How Much Does a Resume Service Cost?

Admin — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 15:05:00 -1000

In order to get the job we want, we need to stand out from everyone else, and impress what could be our future boss. There are several people that are applying for jobs on a daily basis, and for us to be considered over them, we need to do something even more extraordinary. Not only is the economy bad, but it seems there are fewer and fewer jobs available. When we run into times like these, we need to make sure we do anything and everything to land the job we’ve had our eye on.

Without question you should always have a resume to give along with your application. This shows that you’re organized, willing, and hardworking already. Although, what do you do if you don’t know how to write up a resume? Instead of trying and making a bad one, you could consider a resume service. These are very popular and have a high demand. How much do they cost? Continue reading below!

How much does a resume service cost?

To have a professional writer write you a resume it can cost anywhere from $100-$400. It may not be cheap, but if may be exactly what your future employer is looking for; and that’s professional work right from the beginning. Although you may pay a couple hundred dollars, it may be totally worth it if you’re not comfortable writing up a resume yourself. If you’re not familiar with the formatting, what to write, and how to word things, leave it up to a professional!

What’s included in a profession resume?

When you use a resume service, they will not only write you a professional document, but they’ll also use a professional format, they will be able to highlight your strengths, deliver a summary about yourself, and help you analyze your careers all while delivering quality content.

In order to get the job you have your eye on, you need to seem professional, and be able to show off your hard work through a resume. You may have to pay a hundred dollars or even more, but if may all be worth it if you land the job of your dreams!

This is a guest post written by Hannah Munson. Hannah runs How Much Is It a website that is designed to help you find the cost of just about anything from baby delivery to tree removal.