Strategic Employment Supports Network : SENSE

More on Resumes:The Worst Resume Mistake EVER!

Strategic supports — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 23:16:58 +0000

By Mark Swartz
Courtesy
Monster Senior Contributing Writer

What could possibly be the worst mistake you could make when it comes to your resume?

Not targeting it to the kind of job you’re looking for is a biggie. Leaving out keywords that a scanner can pick up is another no-no. So is failing to list your achievements in ways the reader will find meaningful.

But the biggest error of all in putting your resume together is simply this: being sloppy.

A spelling mistake here. Forgetting to leave out information that could be used to discriminate against you there. Sending it in the wrong format. Small bits of sloppiness add up quickly. They can end up getting your resume tossed into the “don’t call us, we’ll call you” pile in a flash. So here are three tips to prevent this from happening.

Tip 1. Don’t Rely Entirely on Spell Check When Proofreading

Think your word processing software will fix all the mistake on your resume? Well, mine couldn’t figure out that in the previous sentence I should have written “all the mistakes” rather than using the singular form of the word “mistake.” Instead, it told me to write “fix the entire mistake on your resume.” So much for letting your computer proofread your resume for you.

What should you do as an alternative? Check out how to get others to go over your pre-final draft and catch the errors. Either free or for a fee, a few more pairs of eyes on your work can spot what you – and that pricey word processor of yours – didn’t.

Tip 2. Customize Your Wording To The Job You’re Applying For

Generic resumes are a dime a dozen. You may be able to get away with a “one size fits all” approach if applying for lower paying jobs such as retail clerk or warehouse worker. But for the higher paying jobs, an employer expects you to put in some extra effort.

Try your best to match the requirements listed in the job ads you’re applying for. And create a dynamic Summary section atop the first page.

Tip 3. Send It In The Proper Format

In our era of electronic job postings and e-resume submissions (sending your application via e-mail and online form), don’t guess which format the employer prefers.

Follow their instructions on the job posting carefully. If sending directly to an employer via their e-mail, include your resume as scannable text within the body of the e-mail itself; then attach a version with nice layout and fancier fonts too, just in case they want to show it around to other staff.

What are those essential skills preferred by employers?

Strategic supports — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 00:18:32 +0000

The Ontario Skills Passport (OSP) provides clear descriptions of the Essential Skills and work habits important for work, learning and life. Essential Skills are used in virtually all occupations and are transferable from school to work, job to job and sector to sector.

This passport offers resources and tools that help build competence, confidence . It offers help for high school students, adult learners, job seekers, workers, employers, teachers, trainers, practitioners, job developers and counsellors a common language, resources and tools that help build competence, confidence and connections.

Follow this lead for more information: http://skills.edu.gov.on.ca/OSPWeb/jsp/en/introduction.jsp

Where to get your academic credentials evaluated

Strategic supports — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 23:47:11 +0000

In Ontario, there are a number of agencies doing this. In most cases, a fee is involved. This is done for employment or academic/further education or training purposes.
Comparative Education Service (CES) at the University of Toronto – Evaluates academic credentials that you earned outside of Canada. These evaluations for employment purposes – they might not be useful if you are applying to a college or university. CES compares your education to Canadian diplomas and degrees. This can help employers understand what kind of education you have.
International Credentials Assessment Service (ICAS) – Evaluates credentials from secondary school, post-secondary school and technical qualifications. Their reports describe the education you did outside of Canada and compare it to education you can get in Canada.
World Education Services (WES) - Evaluates secondary school and post-secondary school diplomas and degrees that you completed outside of Canada. WES has a contract from the Ontario government to perform evaluation services. You can use WES evaluation reports for 5 purposes: employment, education, immigration, post-secondary education, licensing and apprenticeship training.

Important/Useful Resources:

Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials (CICIC) – Provides information about international credentials for people from other countries who want to study or work in Canada and to Canadians who want to study abroad.

Foreign Qualification Evaluation and Recognition in Canada – Fact sheets from the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials (CICIC).

Alliance of Credential Evaluation Services of Canada – Some credential evaluation organizations in Canada are members of this Alliance. The website has information about standards and principles of evaluation.

Common Interview Questions and Answers

Strategic supports — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 05:29:29 +0000

When you do not have any idea of the nature of questions the interviewer asks, this lead will help you. (Don’t forget to pause/stop if you need more time.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3L3V5hg4QDE

How to prepare for a phone interview….

Strategic supports — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 20:11:03 +0000

Here is a link useful for those who are anxious about telephone interviews.

http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5113745/13558680

Courtesy: http://www.CareerSearchToolBox.com

More on Interview practice

Strategic supports — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:51:17 +0000

How to prepare for a job interview @ Yahoo! Video” title=”How to prepare for a job interview @ Yahoo! Video”

http://video.yahoo.com/watch/4548036/12179184

Courtesy: http:\\www.911jobinterview.com

53 Percent of Employers Plan to Hire Over Next Year

Strategic supports — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 02:50:33 +0000

August 25, 2009
CareerBuilder reports that employers expect new job openings, focusing on retention

By Stacy Straczynski

A majority of U.S. employers plan to hire within the next 12 months, according to a new study released today by CareerBuilder and Robert Half International.

Fifty-three percent of the hiring managers polled reported plans to take-on full-time employees, and 40 percent expect to hire temporary or contract workers. Another 39 percent will seek to part-time staffers, while 23 percent had no hiring plans.

Respondents rated customer service, sales, and marketing functions among the top areas for career opportunity. Technology, public relations/communication, business development, and accounting/finance positions were also cited.

When the economy improves, hiring managers predicted that jobs would be most abundant on the lower rungs of the career ladder, indicating that companies may look internally to fill vacant leadership positions. Almost one-third (32 percent) plan to hire staff-level employees and 28 percent plan to hire entry-level staffers. Manager- (7 percent), director- (2 percent), and executive-levels (1 percent) had the least prospect.
As U.S. employers look for signs of stabilization in the economy and potential improvement in their business prospects, they are preparing for a renewed, though gradual, expansion of the job market,” said Rosemary Haefner, Vice President of Human Resources at CareerBuilder.

Despite a weak job market, respondents said it is still a struggle to find qualified candidates, with 47 percent listing it as their greatest hurdle in hiring. Other challenges included convincing qualified candidates to leave a current position (22 percent), too many resumes to sort (18 percent), and over-qualified applicants (14 percent).

“Companies already are identifying the key skill sets they will need in new hires to take advantage of the opportunities presented by improving economic conditions,” said Max Messmer, chairman and CEO of Robert Half International, in a statement. “Firms that cut staffing levels too deeply may need to do significant rebuilding once the recovery takes hold.”

Although 90 percent of currently employed staffers reported job satisfaction, many will seek new career opportunities once the market picks up, said CareerBuilder CEO Matt Ferguson, in a statement. “Fifty-five percent of workers plan to make a career change, seek out new employers or go back to school once the economic recovery is underway. In addition to competitive pay and benefits, showing a committed investment in the professional development of employees will play a key part in retaining critical talent,” he said.

As such, employers will focus on building employee satisfaction and retaining existing personnel. Forty percent of employers said they are willing to provide increased monetary compensation. Better benefits and perks (20 percent), more recognition (11 percent), and a promotion (7 percent) were also cited as strategies to gain loyalty. Sixteen percent said they were not considering any of the above.

When asked what perks would entice them to stay with their current employer, almost half of employees (49 percent) rated a pay increase as their top incentive. Twenty percent cited improvements in benefits and other perks, such as technology upgrades (79 percent), tuition reimbursement or subsidized training (61 percent), and flexible schedules (47 percent). Nine percent would stay if offered a promotion, and four percent noted a desire for more recognition.

Read further at careerbuilder.com or http://www.incentivemag.com/msg/content_display/incentive/news/e3id7aa74bd2d86729bc679211f9e6708a4

Coutesy: Incentive Magazine

How to Love a Job You Hate

Strategic supports — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 02:20:16 +0000

Career Advice by Rigel Celeste on Aug 19th, 2009

Sadly, being grateful to have a job doesn’t make the daily grind in a position you hate much easier to bear. If you’re miserable and stuck because of a lack of options in this economy then first figure out why exactly you’re so unhappy. Is it your boss? Do you feel overworked and under-appreciated? Or maybe you’re just plain bored by what you do?

Once you’ve got the problem narrowed down you can take steps to make the most of a less-than-perfect situation.

If it’s your boss:
Poor communication can be an issue so see if you can set up regular meetings to go over your progress and help you maintain an understanding of what your boss wants from you. If there’s a personality clash between the two of you remember that managers often bear more stress than you know and so if they seem standoffish or rude it’s probably nothing personal!

If it’s the work:
Set goals for yourself or work to find solutions to challenges the company as a whole is facing (can you figure out way to save them money somehow?).

If you’re constantly worried you’ll the be next to go:
Resist the urge to let despair to take over and stay positive. Make yourself as valuable as possible by going the extra mile whenever you can, and by making sure all your work is top-notch. And of course it never hurts to build yourself a safety net by nurturing your network and updating your resume.

Read further and more at: http://blog.emurse.com/2009/08/19/how-to-love-a-job-you-hate/

Courtesy: emurse

Don’t fall into a job search rut

Strategic supports — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 01:56:39 +0000

(Abridged: Denver Unemployment Examiner )

How you approach unemployment can really make or break you. When you’re not working a nine-to-five, your job is to find a job. However, job searching eight hours a day may leave you somewhat brain dead. So, a schedule is in order. You have to figure out what you realistically can accomplish. Set some job search goals for yourself so you don’t fall into a pit of jobless despair.

Dedicate a certain amount of time each day to your job search. Do this in the morning or early afternoon. And yes, the responses you receive may be less than pleasing: “We have already filled the position,” “Your qualifications don’t meet our needs,” yadda, yadda, yadda. However, don’t take these rejections personally. It just may mean that your qualifications don’t meet the job criteria or the person hiring didn’t see a good fit.

Job searching is, unfortunately, a little like dating – it will either click or it won’t. There isn’t always going to be a clear cut reason why. Also, it’s important that you go out and do something. Anything. Don’t let your brain rot while searching. It can be something as simple as taking a walk. It’s better than doing nothing, because job searching can inevitably get you down. You have to work hard to do at least one thing a day that will make you happy.

Courtesy: The Career News, August 17, 2009:Vol. 9, Issue 33

10 tips for the interview followup

Strategic supports — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 13:40:15 +0000

Carole Martin

No offer; no call. You never hear from them. This is not only frustrating, but reflects poorly on the company. What can you do about this situation?

Not getting a follow-up call when promised is a very common occurrence. Candidates are sometimes sure that they aced the interview and are perfect for the position, in fact they are anticipating a call and an offer. But instead they get “nothing.” No offer; no call. They never hear from the company. This is not only frustrating, but reflects poorly on the company. In fact it is rude. What can you do about this situation? Here are some tips on how to handle the follow up that may save you from some anxiety.

1. Try to find out about the decision-process before you leave the interview. Ask when you could expect to hear back. Take that date and then add a few days before you start to worry……

Read further: http://50plus.com/50plus-article-print.cfm?documentID=20067