Work Dish

What You Should Know Before The Job Search

admin — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Searching for a job can be one of the most difficult things you do in your life. You need to know certain things before you even begin looking for a good job that can become a lifetime career. The first is that you need a good quality resume that has been professionally written and designed. There are many programs available on the computer that can help you create a gorgeous resume that will attract potential employers. You should also spell check your work multiple times before sending it to a job center because spelling errors can go against you in terms of landing a job.

You should also know what you’re looking for when applying for different jobs. For example, you should not attempt to apply for the job of manager of a store if you only have part-time experience as a cashier. By sticking to what you know, you will be more likely to get a job quickly and have something that you can actually do well with for the future. Do not be afraid to also go to school or take classes to further your career if you are really having problems finding a brand new job for yourself.

Persistence And The Job Hunt Process

admin — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Persistence is the most important tool a job-seeker can have. Giving up on your job search is not an option. This article addresses how to use your persistence to advantage when searching for employment.

Keep Looking for Jobs

If you are unemployed, treat the job search itself as employment. Keep regular working hours and spend that time looking for jobs online or through other sources. Use this time to help your resume by expanding your skills or taking classes.

Securing the Interview

Getting an interview can take more effort than just a simple email or phone call. If you know a company is hiring, try to apply through the company’s website instead of just emailing your resume. Try to get in touch with the hiring manager directly whenever possible. Persistence is crucial, but don’t come across as too eager.

After the Interview

Even after you’ve finished your interview, your part in the job hunt isn’t over. Drop an email to your interviewer if you have their contact information. This email should be polite and let the interviewer know how much you appreciated the interview. If you don’t have the interviewer’s email, send a letter to the company’s address. You’ll increase your chances of securing the job if the hiring manager remembers you.

The Importance Of Positive Mindset While Entering The Workforce

admin — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

There is an old cultural tradition that my family adheres to every year. On the eve of the Chinese New Year, my mom cleans the house, and makes us clean our rooms, from top to bottom. The legend that drives this practice is the saying that goes “The state of your life o New Year’s Day shapes your life for the whole year. Act and think in a way that we want to live our life” She emphasizes that having a positive mindset for the year will make a significant difference in our lives. It is the same for every step in your life, entering the workforce is no exception.
Joining the workforce is one of the biggest steps a person will take in their life; its right there after learning to drive and going to college. “Entering the Workforce” paints a daunting picture: starched suits, black coffee and numbered “off” days. But it’s just like New Year’s Eve; having the right mindset is half the battle. Who doesn’t like to look good when going to work? Coffee will give that caffeine boost you need to get through to lunch. And those numbered “off” days; well, that just makes you want to savor those days when you have them, right?

It may not be the New Year, but think positive, guys! Good Luck and go get ‘em!

How To Land Your Ideal Job Quickly

admin — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Landing your ideal job quickly is a matter of taking the necessary steps meticulously to make sure you capture the employer’s attention. The first step is creating, or polishing your current resume and cover letter. Put special attention to emphasizing those experiences and skills that you possess, and the employer is looking for.

One of the most successful strategies is the use of headhunters, or professional recruiting services. These are constantly in the look for job openings and sometimes get information about confidential positions. Recruiters can be very helpful for you to get the opportunity of a job interview with various potential employers within your preferred industry.

Next, prepare for the job interview. Do research and try to get as much information as you can about this company. It shows commitment and interest. Work on your overall appearance for the interview; but most of all, make sure you prepare for possible questions with specific examples of how your skills and experience make you the best candidate for the job.

Last but not least, thank the interviewers in writing for their time, and for discussing with you more details about the position. This is a good touch for them to remember you.

Your Guide To Appropriate Job Interview Attire

admin — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

First impressions cannot be changed. When you go on a job interview, you have to look as professional as possible. Even if you are going on an interview for a job that doesn’t require more formal clothing, you need to dress for the interview.

Gentlemen, wear dress slacks and a dress shirt and tie. If you are in a cooler climate and may need a jacket, wear it. Make sure it’s a fitted blazer, of appropriate length, not a Yankees jacket. Pants and jacket should be black, navy, brown, beige or gray. Stay conservative. Shirts can be any subdued color that match. Stay away from bright colors in the shirt and a tie that matches is all you would need. If the job is a creative type, you can add a pop of color with a tie. Wear socks that match the pants and blend in when you sit down and cross legs and clean, polished shoes, black, brown or navy!

Women can’t go wrong with a business suit: skirt, blouse and jacket with neutral conservative colors. Do not wear anything that shows too much leg or cleavage.

Tattoos or piercings showing other than an earlobe is an immediate turnoff.

Tackling the money question at the job interview

www.workdish.com — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Job interviews have the uncanny ability to stress out even the most self-composed person. There are many tips for preparing for interviews in generalwe’ve even got some of our own on this site. The question of money deserves special consideration, though.Money is almost always a factor in accepting a job, whether we like to admit it or not. Even for smart budgeters who make savvy financial decisions (like visiting www.expertsatellite.com, for example), there will be certain salaries which they cannot and should not accept. But how do they (and you) let the potential employer know what these are, without wasting either person’s time?The first thing to do is to follow the lead of the companyto an extent. Some companies will ask for an expected salary range with the submission of your resume. Whether they do or not, it’s helpful to check a site like Salary.com to get an idea of the expected range, both for the position in general and for your level of experience. Be sure that you are able to back up those claims of experience as well.When it comes to discussing salary in person, most sources agree that you should never discuss it before the end of the interviewand the interviewee should never bring it up themselves on the first interview. Some interviewers may attempt to catch the applicant off guard and bring the money question up at the beginning. The best advice in this case? Change the subject. Focus on your strengths and experience so that you have a better basis for negotiation when the interviewer returns to the subject later on.When the negotiation process starts, give a value that is slightly more than you would expect. In most cases, you won’t get it, but you will still have a higher value from which to negotiate down. It’s also important to consider benefits and promotional opportunities when discussing compensation.These days, you can usually be sure that salary will come up during the first interview. Drew Ostrem, branch manager for a financial staffing firm, says, “Company managers are dealing with more overqualified applicants than ever before, and they don’t want to wait until the second or third interview to find out that they’re not even on the same page when it comes to salary.” These circumstances have even led to more executives being comfortable with an applicant bringing up the issue56 percent of senior executives in 2009 said they were comfortable with the interviewee bringing up salary during the first or second interview. However, if you choose to go against tradition and tackle the issue yourself, you should still be sure to follow the tips above and “establish your value,” as Ostrem puts it.

Entry-level positions with upper-level salaries

admin — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 18:24:29 +0000

As everybody knows, money can’t buy happiness. In this economy, though, it can be useful for buying a lot of other things, especially for a recently-graduated bachelors’ student. While salaries will of course vary based on cost of living and location, these are some of the careers that regularly net big bucks for college graduates.

High School Teachers: Teaching is generally thought of as a lesser-paying career. With the shortage of applicants, though, some school districts offer salaries of up to 60,000. This can handily make up for the terror of having to return to high school.
Registered Nurses: With either a bachelor’s or associate’s degree, an RN can earn over 50,000 in the first year, with some districts offering salaries in the upper 60,000 range. These degrees are an excellent pay-off for the time investmenttwo years can get you an RN degree.
Computer Software Engineers: IT jobs continue to be rewarding opportunities for recent graduates. With a computer programming degree, you can earn anywhere from 59,000 to 75,000 based on your experience and problem-solving skills. Computer hardware engineers, incidentally, can earn even more, and require a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering, information systems, or mathematics.
Financial Analysts: This position is especially important with the current financial climate. Multiple sources suggest entry-level salaries over 50,000. The benefit of this position is that not only will you have the money you need, but you’ll know where to put it to keep it safe.
Construction Jobs: Construction jobs require either a technical degree or time spent under the wing of a senior contractor. With the right training, you can earn up to 70,000 a year. In today’s economy, though, construction jobs can be more difficult to find, although hopefully that will change in the near future.

Build up a job network that’ll take you to the top

admin — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 18:22:08 +0000

If there’s one word that gets thrown around whenever you start your job search, it’s “networking.” But what does that mean, exactly, and how do you do it? Well, what it means is that the part of the job search that you see in the classified ads, online listings, and store-front windows is only the tip of the iceberg. To seal the deal on one of these positions, and to even be considered for the upper-level, unlisted positions, you’ll have to bring something more to the table than a blank slate. But how do you go about doing that if you don’t play golf with the CEO of the company, for example? It turns out that’s the interesting part.First, you may be more connected than you think. In addition to family members, consider any work or volunteer contacts that you may have cultivated in the past. Professors from your school are often connected to many people in their field. If you’re interested in a public office position, look into contacting local politicians, journalists, community leaders, or people with similar roles.Not all of the legwork has to be done by you. There are many existing organizations that bring together people who could be useful to you. These include class reunions, cocktail parties, conventions, business conferences, fundraisers, and more. For these opportunities, make sure you come prepared. Find out who’s going to be there, and who would be most important to meet. Do some research on their credentials, and make sure you can convey yours in a quick and accurate manner.The internet has made networking even easier to get started. Online communities like LinkedIn offer social networking for the modern job applicant, letting you connect with colleagues and easily seeing who they know already. However, the internet is not a substitute for reaching out in personjust an advantage. Make sure that you follow up with your connections, as well, as you’ll look much less trustworthy if you show up out of nowhere, ask for help, and disappear as soon as you get what you want.

Books to keep job-hunters (and those around them) sane

admin — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 18:21:38 +0000

During your job search, it can be relaxing to take a break and check out the latest New York Times bestseller (or whatever else you read for fun). However, there are a number of job guides that can be highly informative as well. While they might not be made into a movie anytime soon, they could help you land your new career and become your new favorite.

Don’t Send a Resume: And Other Contrarian Rules to Help Land a Great Job by Jeffrey Fox As you can judge from the title, this book offers some alternative ideas to job-hunting. While you might not end up following all of his advice, his perspective is a refreshing change of pace from some time-worn traditions.
What Color Is Your Parachute?: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers by Richard Bolles The title’s a mouthful, but after more than twenty-five years of revisions, Bolles has earned the right to elaborate a little bit. What Color Is Your Parachute? has gotten rave reviews from sources like Time, Fortune, New York Post, and more, and is applicable to all ages and all industries.
Job-Hunting Online by Mark Bolles and Richard Bolles Richard Bolles has also penned a companion to Parachute, specifically aimed at the latest technological wave to hit job-hunting. His son Mark Bolles provides another perspective. Since most people begin their job search on the internet, this is an invaluable guide to its pros and cons.
It’s Only Too Late If You Don’t Start Now: How to Create Your Second Life at Any Age by Barbara Sher Aimed more toward job hunters in their middle ages, this book can be informative for anybody with an open mind and an eye toward the future. Sher offers on the ways you can improve your life with new experiences, even after passing your “prime”.

Best job sites for the busy applicant

admin — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 18:09:05 +0000

There are plenty of sites online that say they’ll help get you a job. Here at WorkDish.com, we make a more modest claim: simply that we’ll inform you about the best ways to get the job you deserve. That being said, job listing sites can be helpful if you put the work in and have reasonable expectations. Here are some of our favorites, in no particular order.

CareerBuilder.com: Sometimes size does matter. Created in 1994, CareerBuilder now holds the title of largest job site in America. Every month, more than 23 million visitors check out the site, which has over 1,900 partners. The site offers a great way to search through both newspaper ads and employers’ web sites, but make sure to watch out for scams.
BilingualCareer.com: Knowing another language can be a big advantage in the job market. At BilingualCareer, you can post your resume and other qualifications and find tips on interviewing and resume writing. Every job listing is sorted by keyword, industry, location, and language, giving you one advantage over other sites in finding the place where you belong.
BestJobsUsa.com: “Best Jobs in the USA Today” makes a bold claim, but there’s no denying that this site include great company profiles which allow you to make educated decisions about whether you’ll fit in there. The site also features resources for interviews and resumes, as well as information if you’re interested in heading back to school.
CollegeRecruiter.com: This resource is designed for college students and recent graduates. You’ll find both internships and entry-level positions in a variety of industries and careers. This is a great way to make sure that college education doesn’t go to waste. As is appropriate given the site’s young clientele, you can also follow CollegeRecruiter.com’s Twitter (entryleveljob) to get up-to-date information.