Posts Tagged ‘find a job’

Q & A: Candidates and Companies

January 26th, 2010

By Joe Redshaw

Joe Redshaw

What does it say about a company that constantly has the same jobs posted?

That the company is either growing or they have quite a bit of turnover.  If you get an interview definitely ask!

Who is the ideal candidate; experienced or inexperienced?

Depends on your outlook.  An experienced candidate can often come in and hit the ground running, but often can be expensive.  If a company does not have time to train the person, then an experienced person may be needed.  But if the person is over experienced then they may become board in the role and move on sooner than later.  An inexperienced person will typically need a lot of training, mentoring, coaching and guidance.  However this person may stick around longer and could be more driven in the role.

What would you do if you were the applicant?  How would you proceed?

If I were unemployed I would be more aggressive in my job search.  Meaning I would send my resume and probably try to find out who the hiring manager was.  I would reach out to them and let them know I am interested and have sent them my resume…and this is why I think I am a great fit.

If I was employed and just testing the waters, I would probably just wait to see if the company got back to me, but it all depends on the job.  If it was my ultimate perfect job and you REALLY want it, then go after it.

To a certain extent your hands are tied.  You can submit your resume and wait, or submit your resume and try to follow up with someone at the company to show your interest.  After that, there is not much you can do but be patient and positive.

About Joe Redshaw

Joe Redshaw is the Corporate Recruiter for Gomez, the Web Performance Division of Compuware.  He has been a recruiter for almost 10 years and has experience on the agency and corporate side. Joe has screened thousands of candidates and has agreed to provide NEJS his perspective on HR/Recruiter practices.

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Laid Off After 40: Seven Deadly Sins And how to avoid them …

December 23rd, 2009

By Jackie Simmonds, NEJS Blog Editor

Jackie_Headshot V2If you attend networking meetings all you have to do is look around to visually see one of the largest demographic groups hurt in this recession – the over 40 crowd.   We all know that the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA) protects individuals who are 40 years of age or older from employment discrimination based on age. Under the ADEA, it is unlawful to discriminate against a person because of his/her age with respect to employment, including hiring, firing, promotion, compensation and benefits.  However when looking for a job these days it sure feels like age discrimination is alive and well.  Whether it is truly is age discrimination or wage discrimination as some of us like to put it, the reality is the over 40 job seeker needs to actively combat being labeled as “old”.

Elizabeth Pope has written an article for AARP on ways you can put your best foot forward as an older job seeker. Here’s what she thinks many older job seekers do—and you should not.

1. “I’ll just do what I was doing before.” Many jobs and industries have changed radically in recent years. Identify your transferable skills and explore new ways to use them. Find self-assessment tests and tools at jobhuntersbible.com, rileyguide.com and job-hunt.org.

2. “My experience speaks for itself.” Don’t start the interview with, “I’ve had 35 years in sales.” Instead, ask questions and use examples that highlight your experience, such as “I know the pitfalls of this sort of situation, and I have the contacts to work it out.

3. “I’ve always been successful, so why should things be different now?” In today’s job market, ability trumps seniority. It’s a plus to say, “I work well with Gen X and Gen Y.” Seek volunteer jobs working with younger people to get needed experience.

4. “I just need a job. I don’t have time for touchy-feely stuff.” Be prepared for questions such as “What’s your vision?” Many older job seekers fail to reflect on how their skills fit into a larger arena. Devote time to a serious inventory of your strengths, values and assets.

» Read more: Laid Off After 40: Seven Deadly Sins And how to avoid them …

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The Redundancy Club

October 16th, 2009

By Mary Bermel, Owner, Bermel Interactive

Marketing Consultant and NEJS Volunteer

Mary-7084-Edit

An article in the WSJ entitled Coping With a Job Loss – Again got me to thinking about a former employee of mine who, at the ripe old age of 28, was laid off 4 times.  Yes, 4 times by the age of 28.  Make no mistake, this was a top performer whose drive was matched only by an acerbic wit.  Oh, and did I mention an Australian accent that left clients hanging on to her every word?

As I recall, the retail apparel store she managed closed, followed by – are you sitting down – a Brisbane-based maker of snow for which she was a marketing manager.  (I think the Saudis now boast a huge indoor ski hill thanks to the technology from that bastian of all-things-winter, Australia).  Next, while she was on a sabbatical in the U.S. working on my team, the telecom company that had granted the sabbatical riffed her.  Most recently, I laid her off as part of a 1,500 reduction in force at Yahoo and was myself laid off within minutes of completing said duties.

She was less upset than annoyed, confident that her job had been rudely yanked from her rather than lost.  She quickly got on with the business of finding her next job, a skill set she surely has honed after 3 – er, 4 –  successive layoffs.  Despite being an Aussie, less than a year in NY, she managed to find a new role rather quickly, largely because her attitude was resilient, focused on moving on.   She had no reservations about telling everyone who could help of her predicament.  She used the web to market herself, search for jobs, connect with people who could help.  And in the midst of all of this, she wrote a small book about what to do when you are laid off appropriately titled “The Redundancy Club.”  Though short, I have no doubt it is inspirational, practical and full of cheeky and sarcastic comments that will make for good reading, especially if you appreciate  self-deprecating humor.

It’s easy to say successive layoffs build resiliency but we know that’s not true.  It’s easy to say a younger generation is better equipped to deal with the web-oriented demands of today’s job market.  That’s probably true.  That said, the lesson from her story for me is twofold:

a) Adapting to today’s job market and moving on requires all of us to develop a new set of skills.  We should value the usefulness of those skills and pass them along to others and of course, to our children.

b) Adaptation and moving on is also about a mindset.  At the end of the day, attitude is perhaps the greatest human freedom.

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Building a Tweet Content Strategy For Your Job Search

September 29th, 2009

by Marci Reynolds, CEO of J2B Marketing

Online Branding, Social Media & SEO Expert


I’d like to share my tips on Building a Tweet Content Strategy For Your Job Search.

When I discuss using Twitter with job seekers one of the most common objections I hear is, “I don’t know what to Tweet about.” As a result, many job seekers are not using Twitter.

As you probably know, Twitter is one of the most popular, social networking websites on the Internet and more than 20 million people visit Twitter every month. These visitors include hiring managers, human resources and recruiters that work for the companies that you want to work for. So.. I recommend that every Job Seeker use Twitter.

In an earlier blog post, I reviewed 5 ways job seekers can use Twitter for their job search. Today’s post will provide tips on the actual Tweet publishing; what to write about, where to get ideas and how often to publish them.  This is often called a Tweet content strategy. (Note: There is a video version of this post, available here.)

What Kind Of Tweets Should You Publish?

I recommend that job seekers publish a mix of different Tweet topics. Here are some specific examples

» Read more: Building a Tweet Content Strategy For Your Job Search

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How To Use LinkedIn Groups for Your Job Search (Video Blog)

September 29th, 2009

by Marci Reynolds, CEO of J2B Marketing

Online Branding, Social Media & SEO Expert

Click on this link to go to the Video Blog: How To Use LinkedIn Groups for Your Job Search (Video Blog)

About J2B Marketing

J2B Marketing is a “Job Seeker 2 Business”™ Internet Marketing Services Firm based in Greater Boston, Massachusetts and offering services virtually across the United States. From LinkedIn profile makeovers to launching Twitter strategies, J2B harnesses the latest internet and marketing communication tools available to help Job Seekers get back to work faster. The firm is led by Marci Reynolds, previously VP North America Sales Operations at Monster.com. Learn more at www.j2bmarketing.com.

Video Transcript

» Read more: How To Use LinkedIn Groups for Your Job Search (Video Blog)

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5 Ways To Use Twitter For Your Job Search

September 29th, 2009

by Marci Reynolds, CEO of J2B Marketing

Online Branding, Social Media & SEO Expert

There are many ways that using Twitter can help job seekers with their job search strategy and online branding.  I will cover five in today’s blog post.

It’s Not Just A LinkedIn World

I recently surveyed job seekers in the Massachusetts area about their online presence and found that while most job seekers had set up a LinkedIn profile, very few were using Twitter.

As you probably know, Twitter is one of the most popular, social networking websites on the internet and more than 20 million people visit Twitter every month.

These visitors include hiring managers, human resources staffers and recruiters that work for the companies that you want to work for. So, I recommend that every Job Seeker uses Twitter. Here are some specifics..

1) Using Twitter can expand and reinforce your online brand

By writing a compelling, keyword rich profile AND publishing high quality, targeted Tweets you will promote and demonstrate your skills, abilities, knowledge… and differentiate yourself from the competition. (FYI- Here’s more info on a Tweet Content Strategy for your job search.) » Read more: 5 Ways To Use Twitter For Your Job Search

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Ask The Experts Your Job Seeking Questions

April 6th, 2009

The New England Job Show has assembled a team of experts to help address your questions and concerns about job seeking in today’s market. One such person is consultant Judit Price. Her biography is shown below. Do you have a question for Judit? Submit it to info@nejs.org.

Judit Price, MS, CDFI, IJCTC, CCM, CPRW is an employment and career transition consultant and coach in private practice with over 30 years experience. She holds a Masters Degree in counseling and is a Masters level certified career guidance professional, Career Development Facilitator Instructor, International Job and Career Coach, Certified Career Master, Certified Professional Resume Writer and a Certified Personal Branding Specialist.

Judit is a senior consultant for outplacement and career marketing firms and has a private practice in Chelmsford, MA. She counsels individuals in career direction and job search strategies from entry and mid level professionals to senior level management. She consults for various organizations in the greater Boston area, and leads workshops and training seminars for other trainers in employment, leadership and world of work related topics.

She frequently appears in the local Merrimack Valley Media and was interviewed by The Wall Street Journal, Boston Globe, Fortune Magazine and other business publications. She appeared on the University of Massachusetts Lowell, Radio Station and the Chelmsford and Lowell Cable TV as part of a career series to help job seekers find meaningful employment.. She authored a Career Life Development Portfolio book for high school and college students, published by JIST Publications. She authors a biweekly column on career and employment related topic in the Lowell Sun Sunday business section. Judit is a member of the International Association of Career Management Professional, Career Counselor Consortium, Association of Career Management Professionals. National Career Development Association, Career Masters Institute, Business and Professional Women Networking Group, Merrimack Valley Venture Forum. Most recently joined as consulting expert for Career Builder and started a training seminar to prepare baby boomers for the third stage of their lives.

For more information on Judit, you can visit her web site at: http://www.careercampaign.com/

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