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Reader’s Choice – Job Search Resources

CareerAlley — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 05:01:02 +0000

“Ch-ch-Changes
Just gonna have to be a different man
Time may change me
But I can’t trace time” – David Bowie

Every so often I cover suggestions/recommendations from CareerAlley readers. The following are resources &/or articles recommended via email. Enjoy and please keep the recommendations coming.

Resources:

Resumesimo – This site focuses on helping you build a better resume (in less than 10 minutes according to the site) – for free. You can download a free eBook with lots of great resources. To get started, click “get started” in the middle of the page. Next, you will see a number of templates (pick one). Once you choose the template, fill in your information (basic info, work history, education, etc.). It’s as easy as that. Give it a try and let us know what you think.

CRCC Asia Announces Temporary Solution for Unemployed US Youth – If you are looking for an internship, take a look at this link. There are some great opportunities to work as an intern in China.

How to Job Hunt – Dick Bolles, author of What Color is Your Parachute? – Some interesting short job-tip videos from Dick Bolles (Dick Bolles is a highly esteemed job-hunting/career-changing expert, best known for his best-selling book, What Color is Your Parachute?). The videos give job-seekers practical tips to help them land careers they love and start the new year off right. Take a look at this and Dick’s other videos.

50 Hottest Twitter Hashtags for Job Seekers – Put Twitter to work for you in your job search. This article tells you how to leverage Twitter to find a job. Who’s hiring, who has posted job openings and lots of other great hashtags. Take a look.

Job / Career Articles:

8 Great Pep Talks for Generation Jobless – A very interesting article, the topic of which I’ve seen first hand. If you are a recent college grad (or about to become one), take a read. Generation Jobless is a very real phenomenon. Take a look at some of the other articles on the site.

The Ultimate Unemployment Reading List – 65 or so great links for those who are unemployed. Some of the articles are focused on personal growth while others focus on job hunting and many of the resources you will need to successfully complete your job search. Lots of great links, take a look.

Good luck in your search.

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5 Things Not to Say At A Job Interview

CareerAlley — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 06:01:36 +0000

“It is possible to fail in many ways…while to succeed is possible only in one way.” – Aristotle

You get a call from the HR department and learn you’ve finally landed the big interview. You’re well prepared. You’ve done online reputation repair and scrubbed YouTube of any embarrassing videos there might be of you. You’ve put together a portfolio of your best projects, and you’ve used your final dwindling funds on buying a nice suit. You’ve printed up resumes and sheathed them in protective covers, you’ve shaved, showered, prayed, and now, you’re ready. Months and months of unemployment could be about to come to an end. Now don’t ruin it by saying something stupid at your interview! Here are five things NOT to say to a potential employer:

I really need a job. Any deviation of this is bad – I need money, I’ll do anything, I’ll work for cheap. This is not a welfare agency, it’s a place of business. You should be offering reasons why you’ll be a valuable asset to the company, not whining about your bad luck or trying to guilt-trip them into hiring you.

How long are lunch breaks? Just assume that it’s a normal job and management will allow a reasonable amount of time for you to nourish your body with food. Asking this question, as opposed to any number of legitimate queries about the company you’re hoping will hire you, makes you look petty. The employer is thinking—this is really all he/she is thinking about, the lunch break?

I smoke. This is shorthand for telling an employer that you’re going to take extra breaks. Everyone knows that smokers are masterful at squeezing in multiple five minute breaks into the workday. Even if you do smoke, don’t admit it in the interview. You’ll have to keep your smoke breaks minimal, if at all, and find a way to control the smell.

My last boss and I didn’t get along. Avoid talking about past failures in general, especially as they relate to previous jobs. Your new potential employer doesn’t want to get nervous about you during the interview. You should be highlighting your upsides, not talking talking about your possible downsides. If you got laid off or fired from a previous job, only discuss it if the story relates to an issue of professionalism or procedure that will make you look knowledgeable.

I can’t start until next month. This one is self-explanatory. Many times employers will give you ample time to prepare for a job, but sometimes they need you to start right away. If you’re not ready to work, don’t go into the interview.

There are any number of deviations of these phrases that are equally unprofessional. The basic idea is that during a job interview you want to be presenting yourself in the best light possible. Any utterance that makes you seem frivolous could cost you the job.

Good luck in your search.

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Five Career Tips for College Freshman

CareerAlley — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 05:01:33 +0000

If you are a college freshman, time is on your side. How, you may ask. Well for one, hopefully the job market will be better in four years. And for another, you have 4 years to do all of the things you really need to do to set yourself apart from your classmates and the millions of other people that are competing for jobs. I know some college grads that are working in liquor stores or as cashiers in clothing stores. I don’t think this is where you want to work when you graduate (not that there is anything wrong with that). You need to position yourself now to be in the best bargaining position 3 and 4 years from now. Now is your chance to get ahead of the game rather than wishing you had been more diligent. So where to start? Take a read.

Internships: There are all different types of internships, the important thing is to ensure you participate as often as possible. There are summer internships and internships where you participate part time while you are in school (like c0-operative programs). Obviously the best internships go the quickest, but if you do your homework now (no pun intended), you can get a head start. If you don’t already know, internships give you practical experience before you get out into the working world. This experience is invaluable. Additionally, many graduating college students get their best leads (and sometimes jobs) from previous internships. And last, but not least, the connections you will make can make a huge difference in your career (read below). ==>> Students: 6 Best Ways to Get a Summer Internship

Semester Abroad: There is nothing like international experience and the best way to get that is while you are a college student. Now if you have no interest in visiting a foreign country, then skip this bullet and move on the the next. But, before you do so, consider how this experience might help you get a job when you graduate. How great will it look if you can say you studied and lived abroad for part of your college career. Many colleges offer this type of experience and, if yours does, you should consider taking advantage. ==>> Options for Learning Beyond our Borders

Be a Star – Volunteer: There is nothing more powerful that volunteering. Besides the fact that you will be helping others who are in need, you will learn things that most people would pay to learn. You will learn skills that will become an asset in your career as well. Better yet, it looks great on your resume (the resume that will not have much on it when you graduate from college – and everything helps). Hiring managers look to see what you did during your college years. Did you just party or did you take advantage of opportunities to grow. Another advantage is the people you will meet, many of whom can have an impact on your career. ==>>Top 11 Reasons to Take Action

Participate in Every Career Fair: You should attend every career fair that you can. It is never too early. What you will learn now will help you when you are looking for a job. But don’t limit yourself to your college, you can attend career fairs at other colleges as well as career fairs held for the general public. ==>> 20 Top Career Fair Success Strategies

Build an Amazing Network in Four Years: Your network is your most important job search tool, don’t underestimate it. Make all of the friends that you can at school. Be active, participate in clubs and sports. Volunteer on campus. All of the people you will meet in the next four years (students, professors, etc.) could play an important role in both your first job and your career. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity. ==>> How to Leverage Your Fraternity or Sorority Network in the Job Search

Good luck in your search.

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Making a Molehill out of a Mountain – Find a Recruiter

CareerAlley — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 05:01:35 +0000

“It’s hard to lead a cavalry charge if you think you look funny on a horse.” – Adlai Stevenson

A former coworker called me a few months ago (having tracked me down after 20+ years) and wanted to meet for lunch to catchup. Her career over the last 20 years had started out quite good, but had been on a bit of a plateau for the last 10 years or so. Most recently, she found out that her current job would end in the very near future as she had successfully eliminated her own job (by outsourcing her function – not the smartest move). So part of our conversation was what she was doing to find a new job. The answer, amazingly, was NOTHING! “How can that possibly be?” I asked, you should be spending all of your free time looking for a job. Her view was that she did not think it would take her a long time to find a job, so why should she do any work now? Of course my immediate thought was that she was underestimating the enormity of looking and finding a job. She had, in effect, made a molehill out of a mountain. Today’s post is about finding recruiters.

Directories of Recruiters – Best to start out with the mother of all recruiters list from the Riley Guide. One of the best job search resources on the Internet, the Riley Guide directories of recruiters is like a list of lists. The main page starts off with a bunch of free directories to help you find a recruiter. This is followed by a list of fee-based directories (but first exhaust the free directories).

TheRecruiterNetwork – This website provides a listing of recruiters and allows posting your profile so that they can find you. The right hand side of the page has a list of featured recruiters. Click on Job Seekers from the top of the page to link to the sign-on page. Create a free profile which will be used as a way for these firms to find you. Use the featured recruiter list to look at individual recruiters.

Headhuntersdirectory – This site provides an online list of headhunters and recruiters that is free to use. The main page leads with an overview of the site and a regional selection page. Select your region to continue. For the US link, the next page lists all of the states down the left hand side of the page and a graphical map view where you can select your state. Clicking your state leads to a city listing to further refine your search. Clicking on a city leads to a list of recruiters where you can click on their website link to find out more about the firms, how to apply for jobs and additional resources.

Onlinerecruitersdirectory – Another directory for you to search, look at the box “I am a job seeker” from the right hand side of the page. From here there is a wide range of choices, from Revolution in Job Search to Tips and advice. You can check jobs from the nationwide recruiter’s network, look for a job board or, look for a recruiter or headhunter. Selecting the look for a recruiter or headhunter links to a search engine. Select your criteria (location, type of job function, etc.) and you will be provided with a list of recruiters. You can then send your resume to these recruiters.

Findarecruiter – The title is self-explanatory and their tag line “Find Recruiters • Headhunters • Executive Search Consultants • Employment Agencies • Staffing Firms • Search Professionals” supports the name of the site. The main page has featured recruiters on the left (click on any of these to be taken to their website). The right hand side of the page has a search engine where you enter your criteria to find a recruiting professional. Once the engine returns a list, you can view the available jobs for those recruiters. The left hand side of the page now displays Partner Recruiters (where you can also click to link).

Good luck in your search.

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5 Internship Myths Shattered

CareerAlley — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 05:01:05 +0000

“One goes through school, college, medical school and one’s internship learning little or nothing about goodness but a good deal about success.” – Ashley Montagu

I love internships. I’ve been an intern 5 times and now mentor a wonderful intern staff at my company, Come Recommended. Internships are extremely helpful for students and inexperienced professionals hoping to get that extra edge in a competitive job market.

In my newest book, Lies, Damned Lies & Internships: The Truth About Getting from Classroom to Cubicle, I examine today’s American internships with the hopes of igniting action in order to improve internships for the good of interns and companies alike.

In my time as a career coach and intern mentor, I’ve been amazed by the variety of opinions people have about internships in general. In light of recent controversies, it’s become abundantly clear that we need to find some middle ground.

When interns feel closed in by facts that are simply not true, it leaves them helpless within the system. In an effort to empower interns, it is necessary to dispel certain rumors and myths.

Here are 5 internship myths we shouldn’t believe:

You need to be a perfect intern to get hired.
Have you ever seen a job posting and think, “there’s no way they’d hire me”? Well, you definitely wouldn’t get the job if you don’t apply! Companies hire interns with the understanding that they are inexperienced and might make a few mistakes down the road.

Only college seniors intern.
You are never too young (or old) to be an intern! Today’s job market is tough and sometimes an internship is your best bet. Companies hire interns who are willing to work hard and learn, regardless of age.

You only need one.
The more internships, the better. Not only will extra internships fill up your resume, but you will gain even more experience and develop your own unique perspective of the industry. (On the other end of the spectrum, there’s no need to go crazy and complete 15 internships.)

I’m not going to do anything in my internship.
We are all familiar with the stereotypical intern constantly runs back and forth, getting coffee and making copies. While some companies do abuse their interns, many offer educational and productive programs. Interns at smaller companies in particular can expect to take on larger and more influential tasks.

Your internship will definitely hire you.
Just because you got the internship doesn’t mean you’re set for life. Your internship will end and the company might not have room to hire someone new. Work on your professional network and job searching strategies throughout your internship. You never know what could come along.

What other internship myths do you refuse to believe?

Author:

Heather R. Huhman is a career expert, experienced hiring manager, and founder & president of Come Recommended, a content marketing and digital PR consultancy for organizations with products that target job seekers and/or employers. She is also the author of Lies, Damned Lies & Internships: The Truth About Getting from Classroom to Cubicle (2011), #ENTRYLEVELtweet: Taking Your Career from Classroom to Cubicle (2010), and writes career and recruiting advice for numerous outlets.

Good luck in your search.

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The Best Companies for College Grads

CareerAlley — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 05:01:48 +0000

Third Law of Applied Terror – “80% of the final exam will be based on the one lecture you missed and the one book you didn’t read.”

We started interviewing our college interns a few months ago at my company and this Summer’s “class” will join in a few short weeks. Having graduated in what feels like a hundred years ago (and never having been an intern myself), I’m always interested in what the latest group of interns bring to the table in terms of background, tech knowledge and special interests. What is most interesting (since I didn’t do this at the beginning of my career), is the amount of time they’ve taken to research the companies where they are interviewing. Even more interesting, is that they’ve checked me out on LinkedIn and they know where I’ve worked and what I’ve done. Some have even taken time to see if they may know someone that I know based on my profile. So, if you are not getting the point by now, these college students are incredibly well prepared. Are you?

Today’s links are partially gleaned from Experience.com’s list of companies.

A Few Companies:

Accenture – The college career page for Accenture has lots of great information. The left hand side of the page has an interactive map where you can find where you would like to work. The right hand side of the page has a summary of a few featured jobs as well as a ling to allow registration in as a job seeker. Take a look at The Entry Level Consulting piece as well as Internships and Student Programs.

BDO – Their college career page has a mini slide show which illustrates all of the opportunities at BDO (which is an accounting firm). You can select the career path that interests you (or click “I have no idea”). Also take a look at the links on the left hand side of the page.

Capital One Financial – Capital One also has a page dedicated to college students, but also take a look at their main careers page. Their college page has a special link for “Future Graduates” along with a list of all of the colleges where they are recruiting (hover over the college to see what jobs are available). Taking a quick look at available jobs, there are 56 job opportunities at the moment.

A Few Related Articiles:

Best Places to Work for College Grads – This article, from AOL.com’s Jobs section, provides some really good advice along with a bunch of embedded related links. Please check out the related links as well as the “Search Jobs” link on the right hand side of the page.

25 Best Cities for College Grads – You got the “who” above, what about the “Where”? This article, from thedailybeast.com provides a pretty deep dive into what cities to consider along with a bunch of criteria that is also important (like housing, average age and number of singles). Also take a look at the pictures so that you can get a view of the cities as well.

Good luck in your search.

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5 Great College Career Sites for Summer Interns

CareerAlley — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 05:01:12 +0000

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain

Summer Interns in March? Yes, the summer intern interview process is underway at many companies and time is of the essence. While it’s never too late to try and get an internship, the sooner the better if you want one of the better opportunities this summer. I know that the process has already started at my company, and the college students who are “working their network” are the most likely to be selected. Better yet, so many of summer intern positions lead to full time job offers. So, break out your resume, references and suntan lotion for the start of the summer internship quest!

Internship Resources for College Students – A bunch of great resources from Quintcareers.com, including links to how to find an internship, internship do’s and don’ts and a comprehensive list of college internship sites.

Internships, Apprenticeships, & Volunteer Opportunities – If you haven’t visited the Riley Guide in your quest for a job or summer internship then you’ve been missing one of the best career sites on the Internet. Known for their vast listings of career links, their Summer Intern section will not disappoint. Starting with a list of Internships and Fellowships sites, the site lists additional resources for both study and non-study experience abroad. And, while getting paid would be nice, you should also consider looking at the volunteer opportunities sites listed here as well.

Internship Job and Blog Search – A college internship search would not be complete if you did not visit CollegeRecruiters.com. One of the best sources for career related information for college students, their Internship section is a great place to look for actual internship jobs. Type you location (or the location of where you would like to have your internship) at the top of the page and off you go. There were over 31,000 opportunities when I checked the site.

InternMonster – Although this site was in Beta when I checked it out, it is a great job search site dedicated to internships. There are links at the very top of the page for internships, students and blogs followed by a search engine for internships. Select Industry, Major and State from the drop down lists and the site returns opportunities. There is a login area for students on the left hand side of the screen (and it is free) with a list of featured companies on the right hand side of the page.

How to Find a Last Minute Summer Internship – Maybe you waited too long and are scrambling to find your summer internship before your parents make you work at some fast food joint for the summer. Take a look at this site. In addition to give some great advice as to how to approach your search, you can enter your email account and have opportunities sent to you every day. As if that is not enough, the right hand side of the page lists Internships for current week. Take a look.

Good luck in your search.

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Job Search Marketing Toolkit – Entry Level Jobs – Vol 3

CareerAlley — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 09:00:45 +0000

“Tell a man there are 300 billion stars in the universe and he’ll believe you. Tell him a bench has wet paint on it and he’ll have to touch it to be sure.” – Murphy’s Law

Why is it that we always need to learn things the hard way? No matter how much advice we get from our parents (and their parents before them), we all still need to “live the experience” first hand before we actually get it? Call it the “Wet Paint” syndrome (re-read today’s quote if you don’t get it). Job search is much the same. There is so much job search advice as to what to do and how to do it, it can be overwhelming. But, the good news is that there is a common theme for most job search advice and with some time and dedication you too will have your job. Today’s post is about how (and where) to find entry level jobs.

How to Find an Entry Level Job – This article is from CollegeRecruiter.com and provides some great advice about how to find an entry level job. From defining what an entry level job is to covering the basics of what you will to find that job, the article is full of advice and related embedded links to resources. But that is not all. The page also includes a job search bar on the left hand side of the page, followed by links to featured employers.

Landing your first job takes patience and persistence - Written by Lee Miller of The Star-Ledger, this article was posted on NJ.com and covers what you need to find your first job. From Networking to Social Sites and Branding, it is all about leveraging what you already have. This article is definitely worth a read if you are looking for your first job.

AfterCollege.com -This site is focused on a number of services to help in your to job search. The main page leads with a job search box. Below the job search box (which is center page), are links for featured organizations, employers and jobs. You can browse jobs by functional category or by the generic search box. There are links at the top of the page for Jobs and Resources (like interviews and resumes). There were over 33,000 job opportunities for those with 0-3 years experience.

EntryLevelJobsite.com – What better place to look for entry level jobs than a website by that name? There are tabs at the top of the site for Post Resume, Search Jobs and Career Resources. This is followed by a job search box, with advanced search and a job search directory to the right of the search box. Below this is a section for “Search Top Entry Level Jobs” on the left and recent job postings on the right hand side of the page. There were over 212,000 job opportunities posted when I checked the site.

CareerRookie.com – “Internships, part-time jobs and entry-level careers” is the tag line for this site. Top of the page has tabs for Resumes, Find Jobs and Advice & Resources. There is a key work search box on the right hand side of the page followed by sections for Top Entry Level Jobs and featured employers. There were over 3,000 job opportunities posted when I checked the site.

Good luck in your search.

College Summer Internships – Do You Have Yours?

CareerAlley — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 09:00:34 +0000

“A good rule of thumb is if you’ve made it to thirty-five and your job still requires you to wear a name tag, you’ve made a serious vocational error.” – Dennis Miller

I started interviewing college students for my company’s summer intern program this past week. It’s interesting to compare their resumes, what they’ve done during the college summers past and all of the extra-curricular activities. The money is nice, but it’s oh so much more important to get that experience on your resume (after all, mowing lawn’s for “Long Grass Landscaping” does not add much to your resume). Of course, any job is better than no job during the summer, but it’s never too late to get that summer intern job (well almost never). So today’s post is all about helping you get that summer intern job. Let’s start with the “how to” and then get to the “where”.

Students: 6 Best Ways to Get a Summer Internship – This article, from Moneywatch, provides an overview regarding the summer job outlook (an embedded link) and goes on to say that you should not be discouraged in your quest for a summer internship. Some good tips (like, “Can I wear my nose ring to the interview”) as well as the 6 tips. Lot’s of embedded links for additional information, as well as related links at the bottom of the page.

College Internship Opportunities – How to Find Summer and Semester Work Experiences – Another “how to” article from Suite101.com, with 6 tips (coincidentally) on where to find those internships. Some great advise with a few embedded links. Definitely worth a read. There are a few related links on the right hand side of the page.

Internzoo.com – If the name of the site is any indication, it sounds like this might be a great place to find those intern jobs. Top of the page are tabs for Advanced Search and Internship Advice. Center page leads with a Job Seeker sign up followed by a Companies box and popular searches. The left hand side of the screen has the latest internship postings. The Advanced search allows you to add locations and types of jobs.

CareerRookie.com – “Internships, part-time jobs and entry-level careers” is the tag line for this site. There are links at the top of the page for Resume, Find Jobs, Advice & Resources and Videos. There is a keyword search directly below the tabs which lists over 130 pages of opportunities. Below this are top entry level job categories and Vertical channels followed by featured employers. At the very bottom of the page are additional vertical channels, one of which is Internships.

SummerJobs – “Surf for the perfect summer job” according to the site. Top left hand side of the page has links for Search Jobs, Browse Jobs and Featured Employers. The center section also has a list of featured employers while the top right hand side has featured jobs. You can register on the site and have access to additional tools. There were over 500 summer job opportunities when I checked the site.

Additional Resources:

Good luck in your search.