Paul Megan asked:


Remember when job-hopping was anathema? Well, you better take today’s hot new non-traditional career advice . . . start job-hopping!

Things have changed. The economy is booming, Younger job seekers are much more ambitious and almost instinctively understand that if they want to get ahead,. . . if they’re heading for the top, they have to job hop.

It’s really all part of the 21st Century job market and the dramatic changes that have occurred especially since 9/11 and Katrina. The old-fashioned job search approaches simply don’t work anymore. If you’ve been busy writing a traditional resume and then mass distributing it to job sites, job listings, a bunch of companies, some agencies and recruiters . . . well, you already know what I mean.

You’re probably sitting around nervously waiting for the phone to ring. Or hoping today’s mail will bring that priceless invitation to an interview instead of the more usual TNT (thanks-but-no-thanks) letter.

Non-traditional career advice is the solution to your job search dilemma. It makes you get in tune with today’s sophisticated job marketplace. You need to understand the employers aren’t interested in what you used to do for someone else (as outlined in your resume). They expect you to come forward with some understanding of the corporate goals are.

And they are impressed when you’ve done your research and come up with an ability to address your next boss’ personal requirements. This evidence of your commitment to excellence goes much further than a resume. It’s just another piece of non-traditional career advice.

So does a commitment to job-hopping. Curtis Crawford, author of “Corporate Rise: The X Principles of Extreme Personal Leadership,” advises that the more versatile you are, the more likely you are to move up. What’s more, he recommends:

1. Don’t be afraid to be visibly ambitious. In the past, ambition was confused with arrogance and ruthlessness–getting to the top at any cost. Ambition is achieving your goal the right way–honestly, ethically, all the while gaining the respect of your subordinates, peers and management.

2. Avoid getting stuck in one job. Avoid becoming a specialist which means you’re pigeonholed as being able to do only one thing well. That specialist thinking flew years ago–but not anymore.

3. Make significant contributions. Just moving through different jobs is not enough. Take jobs that provide platforms for you to make significant contributions. It means getting involved in critical areas such as product development, financial management, technological improvements, or improving production or distribution.

This departure from old-fashioned thinking is just one of the many exciting pieces of non-traditional career advice. It’s part of the amazing new alternative thinking that is consistent with expectations in today’s job marketplace!

Andrew Morris asked:


Graduates fresh out of college have a problem, and the problem is that they are fresh out of college. Other than some little work experience and theoretical knowledge, few graduates have the needed experience to become practical successes immediately they step into their first jobs. Entry-level positions are available which provide on the job training but the number of positions available is small and bears no reflection to the huge amount of graduates that institutions of learning churn out on an annual basis.

Most graduates are ignorant of this fact primarily because they are fresh out of school and do not realize the difficulty of getting employed and the rigors of the job market. The bulk of these graduates are still suffering from the aftermath of sorority and fraternity parties and they don’t really know getting jobs takes more than having educational qualifications. More importantly, it involves the personal readiness to work, showing employers you are ready and that you have the capacity to learn what you don’t know quickly. These bits of advice will help:

Aggression is Required

The majority of college graduates don’t act like they need a job; they wait on placement firms and prospects to send in their sparsely filled resumes. Most companies have a pile of such resumes sitting at the desk of a bored mid or low level employee with no interest in reading what you spent the last few years of your life doing in college, after all they are the ones doing you the favor by accepting your application in exchange for a job, job seekers are in no short supply.

A college graduate should be much more aggressive in searching for a job than someone who has years of experience and is switching employers. Such people have experience to trade and something to give to those that employ them and yet they seek out jobs actively, so why should college graduates with little or no experience have it easier? A college graduate has to be proactive and persistent and seek out the decision-makers in the establishment they wish to work in. Make calls, send e-mails and get directions. Sure, a number of rejections and slammed doors will come your way but sooner or later you will get the single positive answer that is all you need.

Do the Necessary Research

A prospective employee has to know more about the company they intend to work for in order to better structure their application and resume to meet the exact requirements and demands of such an organization. If you end up getting a job interview you’ll also end up doing better by virtue of this knowledge. Don’t think in terms of asking for a job alone, think in terms of asking for a job and telling prospective employers how you can offer your readiness to learn and work to match the precise needs of their organization.

Employing the Power of Networking

Established career seekers make use of networking in their arsenal of job seeking tools; recent college graduates looking for jobs can do the same as well. Better networking is possible by contacting people who are already established in the field you intend to find a career in. You can also network by finding other job seekers that are as serious as you are and who can share beneficial information with you which should help in career search goals.



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PAUL BOWLEY asked:


You’ve heard of “word of mouth,” right? If you’re job hunting, it’s another way of saying “job search networking.”

Advertisers know that word of mouth is one of the most powerful ways of getting a product known. Well, it applies to job hunting, as well. And, if you can see yourself as a product, then you can take advantage of the remarkable tool as part of your job search.

Unfortunately, most job seekers don’t use job search networking . . . or they misuse it. But, if you can master it, you can turn your time looking for a job into a matter of days instead of spending weeks or months pursuing old-fashioned job search methods.

So, whether you’re looking for a new job or making some other career change, the way you go about finding the majority of available jobs is to take advantage of “word of mouth.” That means you systematically employ the proven job search strategy called “job search networking.”

Very simply, it’s a vital tool for gathering information, talking to the right people and locking up an opportunity that’s right for you. Now, you can try to do that by distributing or posting your resume . . . and waiting for the phone to ring

Or you can discover how quickly you can make things happen by accessing other people, especially ones you already know I It’s really quite simple and straightforward. The only complication is your reluctance to look like you’re asking other folks for a job. But that’s a no-no in this application of job search networking.

For example, if you can put that notion of asking for a job aside and, instead, approach others for “advice,” you’ll be amazed at how helpful folks are willing to be to “advise” you.

Here are some tips to help you get the most out of job search networking:

1. Have your ducks in a row. Know precisely what you are looking for that’s consistent with your talents and capabilities. And practice representing yourself out loud before you approach anyone.

2. Never ask anyone for a job or to find you a job. Always ask for advice. It puts you and your contact at ease. And they will feel much more comfortable opening doors for you if they don’t feel under pressure, and you don’t appear as desperate.

3. Prepare a contact bank. This is list of people you know who would be pleased to offer advice. Or they can introduce you to someone who can be helpful.

4. Be an assertive listener. Your task here is to acquire as much information and insight as possible. And then, when appropriate, ask your contact to introduce you to other people who can advance your networking. Some of these introductions may mean direct access to a decision-maker who may have an opportunity for you.

Your job search blues can be quickly resolved when you master the skills of networking. When you do it right, you can dramatically move the odds in favor of locking up a good job in a matter of days!



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vijay allada asked:


Earlier Job search was a tedious task because of limited availability of tools online. But now it’s easy with the help of online job search engines like Jobmixi.com. It helps you to look for job openings across different Indian cities and states. What Jobmixi.com does is to create a huge database of jobs, which come from different company career pages and job boards. Then, it categorizes the collected jobs data so that job seekers can easily locate a job which suits them.

This has made the search process easy for job seekers and narrowed down into just job listings instead of using a regular search engine that may provide you a long list of results and some may not even be associated with the job you are looking for.

Another advantage of using Jobmixi.com is its large job database. If you are looking for job based on experience, location, salary, company then using Jobmixi.com is effective for you. Unlike the job ads in newspapers, which can only provide you limited search ads and you cannot go back to the ads posted the other day, Jobmixi.com pioneered with its search technology provides users with jobs searchable as long as the job is still open by the company.

Jobmixi.com is easy to use because all you have to do is using the search box. To make job search easier categories have been maintained based on keyword, location and technology the job seeker is looking for.

Jobmixi.com offers great features, which will make your job-hunting much easier. These include:

Free resume posting: Jobmixi.com allows you to post your resume. Then, Jobmixi will use this information so it can identify which job is right for you. Instead of looking for a job yourself, the job search engine will send you an email with the list of new job posting which matches your preferred job, credentials and work experience (based on the resume you posted). You can also create job alert for the keywords which you are looking for.

Advanced search: If you would like to narrow your search and would view only job openings that meet your specified requirement, utilizing the advanced search can do this. Criteria can be job location, salary, keyword, company, job type, experience.

Job advice: Jobmixi.com helps jobseekers by providing tips and advice about job search and interview skills. You can look up for articles about resume writing, preparing for an interview, etc.

Save job: whenever you search for jobs and come across any job which is of interest to you, you can save your favorite job in your profile page and get back to it at your convenience.

With all the above features I believe Jobmixi.com can help you land it to a dream job which you are looking for.



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Markell R. Steele, Career Counselor asked:


With the holidays now in full swing, there’s a tendency to want to relax and put your job search activities on the back burner. Many job seekers think that employers have stopped any hiring they might be considering and will ramp up in the New Year. If you buy into that, you’re missing 6-8 valuable weeks of search time. I recently helped a job seeker with interviewing preparation. She beat out 20 other applicants and got her permanent position right before Thanksgiving. She even got paid for the holiday time off even though she’d only been there for a week. The reality is employers seek candidates year round and even extend offers during this time. Karen Lewis, Careers in the Key of Life, agrees. She says, “don’t approach the job search with the attitude that it’s the holiday season and therefore, opportunities will be limited.  Life, and work, goes on 365 days a year.  Assume that people leave their jobs every day, openings are created everyday, so forge ahead.  Planned Happenstance occurs sometimes when you least expect it!

In collaboration with some other job search professionals, I came up with a few tips for job seeking during the holidays. We all agreed that connecting with people is the most important thing you can do in the job search and especially during the holidays. Your job search activities should include those that connect you to hiring managers and those who can give you good leads. You also need to be prepared to make your pitch and present your qualifications should the opportunity arise. The tips below will help you in important ways as you continue or begin a job search during the holidays.

Holiday Job Search Tip #1: Connect With As Many People As Possible

The holiday season is the perfect time to connect with people and make new contacts. Built into the holidays are numerous occasions for reaching out. You can send greeting cards and holiday updates, attend parties and events, and volunteer with churches or community organizations.

Sally Gelardin, job search expert, suggests sending out entertaining, not boring, holiday e-cards to all of your contacts. They’re conversation starters. People appreciate the diversion of well-written personable cards and are more likely to respond to an electronic card. To make a more memorable impression, Sally further suggests writing something humorous on the card such as, “I don’t usually have the time to send out personalized holiday cards, but since I am in the midst of a job hunt, I have the good fortune this year to have a bit more time on my hands….” or “Since I have time and like to keep up my skills, I’m volunteering with Santa this year, handing out free resume reviews…” You can fill in the blanks as appropriate.

It’s also important to attend as many parties and holiday events as possible. These are great opportunities to network and learn of new opportunities. To make the most of the networking opportunities, career coach, Linda Artel, suggests having your 30-second introduction ready and use it whenever it seems appropriate. She advises that you get names and cards when you can. If requested, send your resume before the holidays and follow up shortly after New Year’s. This is a great way to get into the hiring manager’s pipeline.  Career Advisor, Megan Pittsley encourages job seekers attend Chambers of Commerce mixers, professional association meetings, alumni gatherings, and singles groups, to name a few.  Those are great opportunities to network where people are out and about and make connections while others tend to take the holidays off!

Shahrzad Arasteh, Certified Professional Resume Writer, offers an additional perspective. She says, “Attend those holiday parties and gatherings!  Engaging in meaningful social interactions is good for your physical and psychological health.  Not only does attending holiday gatherings provide the opportunity for you to build and strengthen relationships and your network, but you might learn of potential job opportunities and receive advice/information that will be helpful to you in your job search.  Allowing the conversation to flow naturally, you might casually and very briefly let others know what you are looking for, or what skills you wish to use in your next opportunity.  Keep in mind that the gathering is a social one, not a business networking event, but do appropriately share a brief comment or two about your current career goals.  You never know if one of your conversation partners will end up being the one to give you advice (or even a job offer) leading to your next success!”

Holiday Job Search Tip #2: Stick To Your Job Search Plan

If you’ve been in job search mode for a couple months, by now you might be feeling a little discouraged because you haven’t seen your desired result- a job. It’s at this time that you really want to power through and continue your job search. Since, many other job seekers will be taking a break during the holidays, you’ll stay ahead of the competition. It’s important to stick to your plan so you can keep your momentum. If you think your job search plan and approaches could use some help, go get that help. I work with job seekers all the time and after talking with them for a few minutes I can pinpoint right where they need to focus more attention. You can do that on your own, too. A book I recommend is Get Hired Now! It’s a quick read and will definitely get your job search on track. I also hosted a teleclass in November called, 3 Secrets to Creating Luck in Your Job Search in which I outline three important factors for success in your job search. If you’d like a copy of the recording, send me a request by email, and I will send you the download link.

Holiday Job Search Tip #3: Polish Your Presentation

As you continue your job search during the holidays, you’ll be meeting new people and adding them to your network. The people you’ve already met might also be taking the time to check into your qualifications. You need to make sure you’re presenting yourself well in all mediums. Update and polish your resume to make sure it accurately and effectively reflects your relevant qualifications and accomplishments. You’ve probably heard that hiring managers use online sources more and more to get an impression of candidates. If you have profiles on linkedin, facebook or any other social media tool, make sure your profile is updated and professional looking. If you’re not confident about your interviewing, practice and hone your presentation skills. Enlist the help of a friend or family member.  The toughest interview I ever had was a mock interview my sister gave me years ago. Since then, I’ve gotten every job I’ve interviewed for. Be vigilant about making the most positive impression you can.

Holiday Job Search Tip #4: Volunteer And Help Others

The holiday season is a time of year when many of us are asked to donate our time to help others.  However, not only is volunteering good for society, according to job search expert, Judi Garcia, volunteering is a good way to increase your self-esteem and confidence while in the job search. She advises job seekers consider volunteering in their local communities because helping others is time well spent, while also networking with community and other professionals.  Also, you never know when a job idea or opportunity can show up.  Volunteering in the community can lead to a mentoring or leadership role as a board member, and looks good on a resume.



 



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