Secrets of the Job Hunts Top 10 job hunting stories of 2007

Secrets of the Job Hunts Top 10 job hunting stories of 2007 Ive respected Chris Russell since I met him, and love how he is one of the top watchdogs and pundits in the career space. Chris has a broad perspective and easily moves between the recruiter, job board, resume and coach spaces. He recently posted his last podcast of the year, seven minutes of his top 10 job hunting stories. This is an excellent wrap-up, and I agree with his points. Check out the podcast here. Its interesting to note that JibberJobber doesnt fit anywhere in his commentary or list. I should note that Chris has written plenty about JibberJobber, and Im grateful for that, but one of these years perhaps well make his top 10 job hunting stories of a year. I should also note that I just wrote about four more paragraphs but decided to delete them (chuckle chuckle some things are better left unwritten!)! Secrets of the Job Hunts Top 10 job hunting stories of 2007 Ive respected Chris Russell since I met him, and love how he is one of the top watchdogs and pundits in the career space. Chris has a broad perspective and easily moves between the recruiter, job board, resume and coach spaces. He recently posted his last podcast of the year, seven minutes of his top 10 job hunting stories. This is an excellent wrap-up, and I agree with his points. Check out the podcast here. Its interesting to note that JibberJobber doesnt fit anywhere in his commentary or list. I should note that Chris has written plenty about JibberJobber, and Im grateful for that, but one of these years perhaps well make his top 10 job hunting stories of a year. I should also note that I just wrote about four more paragraphs but decided to delete them (chuckle chuckle some things are better left unwritten!)!

What Type of Font to Use?

What Type of Font to Use?Most of the traditional tools in finding the perfect resume layout was developed for business use and for using larger fonts for the resume. Therefore, smaller fonts are not that useful for most job seekers, unless they want to convey a very casual or informal impression. It is therefore essential to find a right size font for your resume so that it gives an impressive appearance to your presentation.Finding the right size font for resume depends on how you want to present yourself to your prospective employer. The first option is to try to convey your personal style through a big, bold lettering.If this is what you want, then the conventional layout will fit you the best. The space between the caps is enough to be able to present yourself as well as to be able to get the message across without any fuss.On the other hand, if you prefer to emphasize your personality through the use of shorter letters, then the conventional layout will fit you best. However, yo u should make sure that you can keep the message and the impression of professionalism, so that the employer does not get the wrong impression.If you have a preference about the formatting of your resume, then it is possible that you will find the format that is best for you. By changing the size of the letters that you will use in your resume, you can create a format that is more suitable for you. You should be able to find the right format for your particular requirements, even if it takes some time to find the right one.The next important thing that you should remember when you are looking for the best size font for resume is that you should not use only the same size fonts. The choice of using different sizes is often not advisable because of the following reasons:* The use of certain fonts for certain industries will be the wrong choice. For example, if you are looking for a job in finance, it is difficult to use a smaller font for your resume because of the context of the fina nce industry. Use of thinner fonts is therefore not the best choice, since it will only make it look sloppy.* The right font for a certain type of writing is another important factor that you should consider when you are looking for the right font for your resume. Remember that you are looking for the right type of font to make a lasting impression on your prospective employer.

Could Brexit Lead to Hiring Freezes

Could Brexit Lead to Hiring Freezes Could Brexit Lead to Hiring Freezes? Last week’s referendum on whether to leave or remain within the EU continues to have repercussions around the country and a number of companies are already saying they may have to freeze hiring and put a pause on their recruitment processes. Others, including big name multi-nationals, are saying that they may have to shed jobs or postpone projects in light of the result. So how does Brexit effect the jobs market?Hiring questionsThe Institute of Directors surveyed 1000 of its members in the light of the result and found that 25% of them had already planned to freeze their current recruitment activity. Another 30% said they would be continuing their recruitment despite the vote while 5% of companies already said that they would need to cut jobs to deal with the aftermath. A conclusive two-thirds of those spoken to said that the vote had a negative impact on their business. Director general of the IoD, Simon Walker, said that business leaders were already extremely concerned about the situation and around half expected other members of the EU to ‘punish’ the UK for voting to leave the union. He believed that people voting for Brexit didn’t realise that they were potentially voting for constitutional and economic chaos.At the moment, the flow of investment from foreign companies has all but dried up while international businesses are waiting to see what happens and what the answers to the numerous outstanding questions are going to be.Anticipating problemsBig name companies were already warning that the vote would have an impact on their business. EasyJet said that the vote resulted in additional economic and consumer uncertainty and believe that this would last into at least the summer. Correspondingly, they also think that this will affect their profits for at least this period.Foxtons, a London-based estate agent, said that their annual earnings would likely to be ‘significantly lower’ than last year and the upturn in the housing market in London expected to take place in the second half of 2016 would now likely not happen.HSBC said that they may have to move up to 1,000 staff away from London and across the channel to Paris in light of the vote. The staff would be those responsible for processing payments made in euros.Other banks say they may have to make similar moves depending on the ‘passport’ arrangement that is agreed. Currently, it allows banks working across the continent to do business without needing separate authorisation for each country. This so-called passport is used with countries outside the EU such as Switzerland the USA but if it becomes unavailable to UK based companies, then some would be forced to move to the continent. Moving abroadNor are banks the only ones to face having to relocate from within the UK in light of a ‘Leave’ vote. Before the referendum companies such as Airbus, JP Morgan, Ford and Toyota admitted they would have to review their investments in the UK if the vote went in fav our of the Leave campaign.Even British Airways could suffer, stating their profits would be lower and even issued a profit warning after the vote was confirmed. Others are concerned about the cost of imports with sports clothing retailer Sports Direct speaking about fears of the resulting drop of the pound versus the dollar, which has since come to pass.However, there is some optimism out there amongst big business. International Airlines Group, who own British Airways believe that in the long term their business won’t be affected, even though the short term issues have already been seen. Other companies have already prepared for what would happen if the vote was to leave, according to the chief executive of Goldman Sachs.Government responsePerhaps key for businesses large and small is how the government deals with the impact of the vote. The British Chamber of Commerce said that this response was ‘vital’ for business and that the health of the economy must be a number one pri ority, rather than concentrating on their own recriminations.Businesses need to see a detailed plan that will help to support the British economy during the transitional period as well as boosting confidence and allowing employers to resume hiring or avoid making job cuts. A prolonged period of uncertainty could be damaging for the long term and as their acting director general said it was ‘time to ditch the straitjacket of fiscal rules of investment’ with the aim of creating a better business infrastructure going forward. previous article A Splash of Blue â€" The Free Modern Resume Design next article Plain but Trendy â€" The Free Modern Resume Template you might also likeThe Best Way to Explain Your Sabbatical To a New Employer

Frugality is a career tool

Frugality is a career tool I have earned a lot of money in my life. But I have never had an extravagant life. I dont own a house. Ive never bought a new car. Ive never bought a new piece of living room furniture, and I do not own a single piece of real jewelry. What I have spent money on was always intended to help me with my career. That was so I know that I can always earn money doing something I love. I leased a BMW when it was clear that that mattered when it came to making deals in LA. I hired a stylist when I realized my clothes were holding me back in NYC. In Madison I have tons of household help so my kids dont have a crazy schedule because of my work schedule. I am convinced that frugality is a key quality for a successful career. Here is why frugality helps your career: 1. Spending money is generally a distraction. We know this. That people use it as therapy. People use it to fill holes they perceive in their lives. But the psychic energy it takes to spend money actually distracts us from what matters to us. Pay Pal reports that people wish their significant other would spend less money on Valentines Day. This encapsulates the whole problem to me. 2. Spending money is a vehicle for overcommitting. The biggest example of this is graduate school. The people who do best in a bad economy are those who are flexible about the types of jobs they can take and the types of careers they can move into, according to Philip Oreopoulos, professor of economics at University of Toronto. This flexibility is specifically limited if you go to graduate school you commit two, three, four years to a given career whether or not its going to pan out for you in the long run. And you commit to paying back school loans, which means you need to take a job that earns enough to pay those loans. 3. Spending money limits possibilities. If you invest in an expensive bicycle because youre going to do triathlons then you limit your ability to take off more time from work to actually train for the triathlon. In most cases, renting a house is better for you than buying one: If you buy a house, you cannot easily downsize, you cannot as easily relocate, and you end up limiting your earning power. (That link is to my brothers blog. This is dinner table conversation in my family.) 4. Entrepreneurship is a safety net if youre frugal in your home life. Careers today are unstable, and while companies used to provide safety nets for employees, today we have to create our own safety nets. The best way to do that is with entrepreneurship. But starting your own company is nearly impossible if you have high income requirements. Startups dont provide high incomes at the beginning. As I write this, I think about my friends who spend a lot more money than I do. I have friends with really nice houses, friends who take super fun vacations, and I have friends who would not be caught dead in the clothes I wear to work (for example, plastic rain boots because I dont want to pay for snow boots.) My friends would say theres a compromise: You dont need to invest everything in your career. You dont need to give up all the creature comforts of life. You can still have a good situation with both. Maybe its my obsessive nature. Im willing to make extreme tradeoffs. I wrote earlier about wanting to be an expert. About how it takes a singular, daily focus. And I think I have had that with writing. But in order to do it, I have given up a lot. Im not sure if thats right. Do we hear about Mozart playing kickball? I know, there wasnt kickball. But if there had been, he wouldnt have played it. Because you give up stuff. So I guess what Im saying is that being an expert in something requires frugality. Its not just a spending frugality. Its a focus frugality. Its the recognition that spending money is actually a distraction from the passion at hand. So the less you spend, the less youre distracted.

How To Create Effective Resume Writing

How To Create Effective Resume WritingResume writing for 2020, an essential step in creating a successful career, is as important as ever, as the job market is harder than ever before. The internet has given employers greater access to information than ever before, meaning that it is essential to your career that you not only keep abreast of the latest developments but also write a resume that will impress them.Thanks to recent changes in the way resumes are produced, it is now easier than ever to create a professional looking and interactive document that will ensure your application gets through the door. It used to be that you had to use custom software to create a formal document that was appealing to your employer, but this is no longer necessary. Even just a basic online tool such as Microsoft Word can make it possible for you to create a resume that will have real impact.You should always make sure that your resume is tailored to match your specific needs, starting with the ed ucation level you wish to achieve. Ideally, you should have no qualifications whatsoever and only have some basic English and knowledge of how to conduct research. When filling out the rest of the document, keep the education in mind so that you avoid mistakes like using college degrees instead of AS level qualifications.Before you can write, however, you need to gather information about the company that you want to apply to. In fact, by gathering this information ahead of time, you are likely to get better results as they are already working on what you say. For example, they may be looking for data entry workers, or possibly IT professionals. You might have gained access to their current employee database and know exactly what you want to say.The next thing you need to consider when preparing your resume is to consider the kind of work you want to do, as this will affect the kind of job you can apply for. For example, if you want to work in a manufacturing or construction company, you will probably be required to attend an interview. It is also essential to understand that employers nowadays prefer people with different skill levels, so you should make sure that you fill out your resume in such a way that you mention your skills in both science and computer programming.If you are aiming to work in a different industry, like the financial sector, then you will most likely have to apply online in order to get your resume to the right individual. This means that you will need to find a specialist resume writing company to help you with your application. If you have no idea where to look, then here are a few things you can do.Firstly, look for companies that offer their services over the internet. They are the most convenient way to go, as you can use the internet to complete all of your tasks without having to leave your home. However, you should still take your time when looking for such a company, as you do not want to end up wasting your time and money on th e wrong company.Also, consider joining forums and discussion boards that discuss such companies. This will help you to find out what other people think about the companies you are considering applying to.

5 Online Reputation Management Keys for Executive Job Search - Executive Career Brandâ„¢

5 Online Reputation Management Keys for Executive Job Search

How to Choose the Perfect Career Path - CareerAlley

How to Choose the Perfect Career Path - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. Children often know exactly what it is they want to do when they grow up. Even if the ambition lasts just a few days at a time, for that short period, they are completely committed. Unfortunately, as we get older and see more of the world, this certainty fades as we become more realistic about whats actually involved in different types of careers, as well as our own interests and skills. When we reach the end of our education, we may have some idea of our options, but its incredibly challenging to know which career path is the right one to take. If this predicament sounds familiar, take a look at this guide to choosing the perfect career path. When we reach the end of our education, we may have some idea of our options, but its incredibly challenging to know which career path is the right one to take. Tweet This Take a good look at yourself The first stage of your process should be to take a good look at yourself. You need to honestly evaluate your strengths and weaknesses, as well as your soft skills (or lack of), interests, values, and your personality. There are lots of personality tests out there which can help you to identify your key traits as well as career tests which will assess which careers you are most suited to. Some will also generate a list of possible careers which you should consider. Alternatively, you could arrange an appointment with a career counselor or similar professional who can advise and support you as you think through your options carefully. Image by Alexas_Fotos from Pixabay Create a list of possible careers Now you have a list of potential careers based on your conclusions about yourself and any self-assessment tests you took; the next step is to make a list. It should include of all of those which appeal to you, those which you know nothing about and even some which you have previously dismissed. You need to conduct research on each of them, and you never know what you might discover during the process. Research each of the careers on your list Work through your list of careers to find out the key information you need. This includes descriptions of the roles, key responsibilities, the qualifications required, potential salaries, and opportunities for advancement in the future. Streamline your list You should be able to rule out several of the careers on your list after your research. For example, some careers could include poor future prospects, responsibilities, or required skills you would find uncomfortable or would require higher education or training which you are not able or willing to achieve. Ideally, your shortlist should include no more than 3 to 5 possible careers as you will want to look into each of them thoroughly. Arrange interviews with professionals in each career To get a real insight into the last few choices you have in front of you, you should deepen your research. The best way to get a real idea of whats involved in a career is to interview people who are already working in those jobs and in your chosen industry. They will be able to give you honest advice and may even be able to put you in touch with contacts who could arrange an internship or work shadowing. Whether you want to explore new challenges within a career interest or to experience something new and exciting outside of your current career scope, you have options. A New Path in Life Choose your career path Your research should help you to gain enough of an understanding of each option to choose your career path. You should choose the path which makes you feel passionate and motivated and which gives you enough flexibility and opportunities for development in the future. Of course, your choice is not set in stone, and its common for people to adjust or change their career in the future. You can only make a decision based on the information you have at the time. Establish your career goals When you have made your decision, its time to work out what you want to achieve in your career in both the short-term (6 months to 3 years) and long-term (4 to 6 years). You need to work out what education and training you will need and how long those will take to complete. If you need to attend college, how will you fund your course? There are government loans and grants, but often these arent enough to cover all the costs of study, and additional private loans might be needed. You can find out more about the best private student loans at Crediful.com. Finalize your career plan Finally, you should finalize your career plan in a written document. This plan should set out all the steps you need to take to enable you to reach each of your career goals. You may even want to include a rough timeline, any potential obstacles you might meet along the way, and how you can overcome those obstacles. From short-term goals to long-term aspirations, your plan will help you to stay on track when you feel you are losing your way once your career has started. What's next? Ready to take action? Choose the right tools to help you build your career. Looking for related topics? Subscribe and make meaningful progress on your career. It’s about time you focused on your career. Get Educated Contact Us Advertise Copyright 2020 CareerAlley. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy + Disclosure home popular resources subscribe search

What is your unique value proposition -

What is your unique value proposition - Have you ever been to New York City? Near Central Parks south end, you will find hundreds of horse and carriage proprietors each hoping youll sign up for a ride around the park. In a more recent addition in the last several years, there are also many peddling tours pulled by a cycling guide. With so many choices, how can anyone make a living? It made me think about how important it is to identify and focus on a unique value proposition for people seeking business from tourists in New York City and job seekers trying to differentiate themselves in a crowded job market. Walking along Central Park West, I saw one horse-and-buggy driver who would have earned my business if I were planning to take a tour of the park. He let me take his picture (displayed here), but I noticed he wasnt sitting at the curb for long he was soon galloping around the park with customers in tow. What was different about him? As you can see from the photo, he went the extra mile in terms of his attire and that of his horse. Most of the drivers were dressed casually, almost sloppily in comparison to this one proprietor. Despite the heat, he went the extra mile to dress up his horse with a festive feather, matching his own purple vest. A top hat was the perfect addition to his look. Finally, his carriage was special and a bit unique compared to the other horse drivers. I envision tourists considering their photo opportunities. A tour is an investment; why wouldnt customers want the most for their money? If they assume most of the drivers are capable of providing a safe ride and basic, useful information, choosing a carriage clearly depends on aesthetic considerations, and this driver made the most of that fact. This month, the Career Collective (a community I co-coordinate with my colleague Jacqui Barrett-Poindexter) addresses the question of the mid-year job-search check-up. Theres nothing more important than knowing what makes you special when youre looking for a job. If you havent already spent time thinking about this important topic, the mid-year point is a good time to re-evaluate (Please click through to the links at the end of this post to my colleagues ideas about the topic.) Obviously, for the job seeker, neither attire (nor a top hat!) are necessarily distinguishing factors. (Although, make no mistake, how you dress can and does make a big difference in how you may be perceived.) Aside from aesthetic features, what can a job hunter do to help him- or herself stand out? Discover Your Hook What is special about you? What skills and accomplishments set you apart from every other person in the room? In your industry? Its not easy to determine what makes you special and unique, but its important to think about it if youre going to market yourself. Think about your work. What do you accomplish better than anyone else? (Or, better than most people?) Have you been able to solve a problem and come up with solutions no one else could? Think about the results you create; how do you make a difference? If you dont know what makes you stand out from the crowd, it will be difficult to convince anyone else why they should hire you. Context of Your Target Audience Once you begin to focus on what makes you special and unique, dont forget to consider how you fit into your target employer. You will find out the employer’s needs via research, informational meetings and networking. Dont forget to investigate industry conferences. Many post their speaker programs online, so even if it is not feasible for you to attend, its easy to learn your fields major pain points. How do your skills and accomplishments help address the topics top-of-mind to people in your field? Can you help the organization: Earn more money? Handle their work more efficiently saving money? Attract more customers? Solve some problem? Create a new product or service? Focus on the target audiences needs not on what YOU want Think about it…If someone approaches you and starts talking about themselves and what they want, how closely will you listen? Statistics demonstrate that people don’t typically have very long attention spans to listen to other people talk. Now, think about talking to someone who focuses on YOUR needs. A little more interested? I bet you are! Who doesn’t want to hear someone describe how he or she solves your problems! The lesson for job seekers: when you identify your unique value proposition, be sure it isnt all about YOU! Big brands like Disney decide what they offer before they create and place their advertisements.   When they want to advertise Disney World, they appeal to families and parents’ need for an affordable, yet magical vacation.   Their brand is all about magic and family fun.   Their television ads appear on shows with a high viewership of people Disney targets. If Disney didn’t consider what they offer, they wouldn’t be able to target their marketing.   By defining themselves and what problem they solve, they can offer a hook (an affordable family vacation). What is brand YOU all about?   What makes you special and unique?   Think about what you offer an employer.   Consider your top five work and personal accomplishments.   Write them down and think them over. Marketing Brand YOU Its great to know your value proposition, but if no one has heard of you, it wont do you much good! Make sure you put together a 360-degree marketing plan, including a high-quality resume detailing exactly how you are a good match for the position. Optimize your LinkedIn profile with keywords and a story that makes people want to learn more about you. Consider creating an online profile, or a social resume YourName.com to showcase your expertise and value. The site may include a blog focusing on your insights and accomplishments, or it may simply serve to help you own your name online and give you the opportunity to highlight what you want people to know about you if they search for you online. Create a Google Profile. This has always been a good idea, but with the introduction of Google+, it is even more important, since Google+ draws on your profile information. (I havent had a chance to write about Google+, but it is a new social network combining elements similar to Facebook, Twitter and several other networks. Learn about it HERE. Its still new, and not available to everyone, yet. The jury is still out regarding how useful it will be for job seekers, as right now, only early adopters have jumped on. Stay tuned for more information about Google+, but create a Google Profile even if you never plan to use the new social network. Evaluate your Twitter and Facebook presence. Are you using them to your advantage? I could write a book about how to make these networks work for youIn fact, I did! ?? My book describes how to use social media tools (including Twitter and Facebook). The basics: Be sure your profiles are suitable for anyone to view and represent the best, professional YOU. Dont waste the opportunity to connect with new potential colleagues. Learn what you can via social media channels about what is happening in your field or industry Following Twitter hashtags during conferences is a great way to accomplish this. Share what you know online to demonstrate your expertise and attract people to YOU. Conclusion Unfortunately, landing a job is a lot harder than donning a top hat and a purple vest, but with some planning and a real focus on what you have to offer your target audience, your mid-year career check-up couldnt come soon enough. Let me know if I can help. Here are links to Career Collective member responses! 4 Summer Strategies to Step Up Your Job Search, @DebraWheatman Putting Your Job Search Up On The Rack For Inspection, @dawnrasmussen Mid-Year Job Search Checkup: Are you wasting your time? @GayleHoward It is Time for Your Check-up Ms/Mr Jobseeker, @careersherpa Mid-Year Career Checkup: Are You On Your Game? @KatCareerGal How to Perform a Mid-Year Job Search Checkup, @heatherhuhman Reposition your job search for success, @LaurieBerenson Mid-Year Job Search Checkup: Whats working and Whats not? @erinkennedycprw Mid-Year Job Search Check-Up: Getting Un-Stuck, @JobHuntOrg Mid-Year Check Up: The Full 360, @WalterAkana 5 Tips for Fighting Summer Job Search Blues, @KCCareerCoach Are you positive about your job search? @DawnBugni, #CareerCollective Where Are The Jobs? @MartinBuckland, @EliteResumes Mid-Year Job-Search Checkup: Get Your Juices Flowing, @ValueIntoWords When Was Your Last Career Job Search Check Up? @expatcoachmegan Is Summer A Job Search Momentum Killer? @TimsStrategy Is It Time for Your Resume Checkup? @barbarasafani