MOMS CAN WORK TOO!

Are you a stay at home mom who is looking to re-join the workforce? If you answered yes to this question than you might want to take some time to prepare yourself for the job hunt.

Let's face it. Today, it's almost a necessity to have both parents contributing income to keep a household going. The statistics tell us that more than 72 percent of women with a child over one year of age have returned to work; and this number steadily rises each year.

But it's not an easy situation to be in. Today's workplace doesn't really consider motherhood on-the-job experience. To be competitive, mothers returning to work have to navigate the same steps as any other job seeker, plus consider how to make their motherhood experiences work their advantage when applying for a job that others who have never left the workforce are also applying for.

But, maybe that's putting that cart before the horse. Let's first talk about how to get you started:

Ask yourself these three quick questions at the start of the job search:

1) Are you going back to an old profession or starting something fresh?

If you are planning on going back to the profession you left before becoming a stay at home mom then you might want to consider updating yourself on the new information within your chosen career field. Mom's looking to go this route also might want to consider taking a few classes in your career field to freshen up you qualifications.

If you are starting fresh in profession find something you like and are interested in. Try and find something that does not hinder a lot of stress among yourself for there will be many stresses at home when you begin working again.

2) What type of job are you interested in?

What skills do you have? If you are interested in interior design and just can't wait to tell your friends about that sale at your local fabric store, maybe retail is for you. Or, if you love being around children and were sorry to see yours go to school, look into working at a daycare. Take what you are good at and see where job opportunities lie.

3) What is important to you in the job?

Things to consider are: location of the job, the shifts required to work the job, as well as vacation and sick days that you are allotted. Also, do you need benefits? What about some sort of retirement plan? How flexible do you need the employer to be with your family time? What type of atmosphere do you require to be productive? Do you prefer working from a desk or do you need to be up and moving around?

Now that you've got an idea of where to start, take a look at what you have been doing besides raising kids for the past few months/years. Your main goal here is to assure an employer that not only have you not forgotten how to work, but also that you have been sharpening your skills while out of the working world.

Volunteer: As a mom you probably do a lot this already and just don't realize it can be considered work experience. Volunteering is a great way to build experience as well as contacts. This is also a great source of networking and can really be helpful when it comes time to land that perfect job. Consider volunteering with the American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, the United Way or any number of other local and national organizations. Not only will you be impacting your community, but you will be adding to your customer service, networking, event planning and other related job skills.

Stay Active: Your child will greatly benefit from you being involved in his/her experiences at school, but so will your resume. Consider joining the PTA. Offer to hold a position on the PTA board. Become a Class mom. These things will add to your experience with adults and managing meetings, scheduling conflicts, and overcoming challenges.

Remain Well Read: One of the mistakes Returning-to-Work Moms make is skipping over the industry information readily available to them. Read everything. When your kids are napping, read the paper. When your kids are playing, read magazines related to the field you want to work in. When your kids go to bed, get online and research what is happening in your field. Find out all you can about the company you want to work for.

If you follow these tips, you will have a better chance at selling yourself as a well-prepared job candidate than many others. And, when all is said and done, you will feel more confident about your skills and abilities, which will relay in body language and tell the employer more about you than your resume.

Things to remember:

Don't get discouraged. Finding a job takes time and effort. Remember, you are competing against people who are fresh in the workforce or right out of college so the pressure is on. Prepare yourself for difficult questions. Be prepared to sell them on why they need to hire you- and back up your argument with the skills and abilities you've gained while not a part of the workforce. The most important thing is to stay confident.

Consider working part time. If you find yourself with a desire to return to work, but aren't sure what to do, consider working part time. This may be a good way to get your foot back into the working world and meet some new contacts that can help you find the job you want long term.


Are you a member of Facebook? If so check out the Tampa Employment Guide Facebook page to get even more information about searching for a job.

Job Seekers: After an Interview a Simple Thank You Will Do

So... here you are. You've successfully navigated the treacherous waters of the job search, sending out resumes and then your lifesaver appears- the actual interview! You survived. Congratulations! But you're not safe yet. You can't just sit by the phone hoping it rings. Now is the time to put in that "extra something" to really make yourself shine-- Go the extra mile and make yourself stand out above the rest of the interviews. Send a hand written thank you note.

Did you know that less than 5 percent of job seekers actually send a thank you note after an interview? Yet, every career book advises you do so. So, why not do it?

A thank you note is simple, but there are some rules in sending a proper thank you. Here are the do's and don'ts of a thank you note.


DO'S:

• Make the note handwritten and personalize it to the time you spent with your interviewer
  
  Relate to a discussion point/joke/mutually interesting fact from the interview. If you discussed the price of tea in China, Google the price and include it as a "by the way, I thought you'd be interested to know, the price of tea is X." This shows the interviewer you are serious, thoughtful, and capable of researching facts and figures
  
  Relate in to your interviewer. If you discussed dogs, choose a card with dogs on the front. Include a little known fact about their favorite breed. Whatever way you choose to incorporate this, your interviewer will be pleased you remembered that fact about him/her.
  

• Put effort into the note. Be careful of typos, grammatical errors, and penmanship.
  
  Pre-write your note on your computer screen and copy word- for-word from there. Your computer will tell you of any grammatical or typing errors or so you can correct anything ahead of time. If you have unreadable writing, be sure to print and use all caps if you must. It is MOST IMPORTANT that the interviewer be able to read the card and know it was you who sent it.
  

• Send a thank you note to everyone that you interview with.
  
  Sometimes, one interview may consist of a panel of employers; therefore, you want to recognize everyone because they are all making the decision. Write and send a personalized thank you to each individual!
  

• Send a thank you note within 24 hours of the interview.
  
  I find that having the thank you note addressed and stamped and in the car is the best. When the interview is completed, drive to a post office, complete the card in the parking lot and drop it in the mail. This guarantees the card gets written, arrives as soon as possible after the interview and contains details from your conversation while they are still fresh in your mind.
  

• Send a thank you even if you get hired before a thank you gets sent.

DON'TS:

• Do not send a thank you note via email.
  
  Exception to this rule is if a business is very email savvy and does most of the work via email. But written notes are the best way to go!
  

• Don't copy a generic thank you letter that you can find online. PERSONALIZE!

• Don't say anything negatively, pushy, or make it seem like the note is intended as a plead for a job. Just say thank you and make it from the heart. It's your best bet.

As you can see, a thank you note is simple. Just make sure you carve out the little bit of time it takes to write a good, personalized and heartfelt note. It may not be the breaking point of getting the job, but it will certainly add points in your favor. But, I think of it as a tie breaker; if an employer is undecided between you and someone else. If you are both qualified and great candidates for the job, but you send a thank you note... That simple gesture may make all the difference. Think about it.

Here are some great links to check out for ideas of good, personalized thank you notes:

http://www.quintcareers.com/sample_thank-you_letters.html

http://jobsearch.about.com/od/thankyouletters/a/samplethankyou.htm

http://jobsearch.about.com/od/thankyouletters/a/samplethankyou.htm

* Remember don’t copy these samples, make your own!

Carly Sabato

Nervous About Explaining Employment Gaps

We've all known employers review a resume in detail before calling you for an interview. We also know they want an explanation for where you've been, what you've been doing and how well you've been doing it once you're in the interview. So, how do you explain those long gaps in your work history?

It's a tricky situation, so in this blog I'll focus on how to explain your job gaps and what you can do to still be valuable out of work.

Many times when critiquing a resume to send out to an employer we often omit jobs that do not pertain to the job that we are applying for, and that can cause unnecessary gaps in your resume.

For example, let's say you are applying for a sales job. You would not want to list your previous job in warehouse selecting or that time you worked as a janitor as your work history; you'll detail your experience in sales. But that leaves two years void of employment details, which will throw up a red flag to your potential employer. It might appear that you were out of work and then they have to wonder why that might be the case. But you know you have those 2 jobs you didn't list. So you're safe, right? After all you're a hard worker, so it should read through loud and clear to that employer. Right? WRONG. Anytime you leaves information off your resume, it leave the employer with questions in his/her mind. To alleviate those concern, simply list a separate section of unrelated work history. This way, they know you're not a slacker, you weren't off the grid and just didn't feel like working. You have documented activities and experience that, even though unrelated, kept you in the workforce and makes you just that much more valuable.

Now, for all of you who weren't working and don't have job experience to list... I wasn't calling you slackers! I'm sure you have some very valuable experience to list as well. There are many reasons you're not working-- maybe you were laid off. With the economy on a decline for the past year or so, many people find themselves in this situation. Or maybe you left the workforce to have kids. Maybe you left because your mother was sick. Whatever the reason, you'll need to have some information on hand to reassure your potential employer you remained active and are ready to step back into the game.

Let's discuss your options for staying active:

1) The best thing to do is stay active within your field of expertise.


Obviously, an employer wants to know how you are going to help their business. If you can tell him/her that, even though you weren't being paid, you took on an internship or a voluntary position to keep your skill set sharp, you'll certainly be considered a top applicant.

2) Volunteer in the community, at schools, or any type of organization.

Your initiative will be impressive and demonstrate that you are still working. It also tells the employer that although you may not be getting paid, networking is important to you as is gaining experience in fields where you may not be familiar.


3) Keep your resume updated.

You never know when you're going to run into job opportunities. Keep track of all your new skills and activities while out of work. Remember, just because it is not a job it still can go on the resume. After all, you still learned the skills, right?

4) Keep current on the skills you have.

Granted, money is tight when out of work but keeping up-to-date with information in your field is key to making yourself appealing to an employer. For example, if you work with computers, stay up to date with new software and how it works. A class at a local college or a seminar can really add value to what you have to offer.


5) Go part time.

Part time work is better than no work at all. The part time job can be in your field or can be something completely different. Either way you're still out there, you're still working, you're still fresh and that makes you a much better candidate.


6) Change it up.

Maybe losing your job can be a positive thing. Maybe it is time for a career change. Ask yourself if you really liked where you were to begin with? If not then what are you interested in? Is there a job that you have always wanted to go after? If so then take this opportunity to make it happen!

In Conclusion:

Having an answer to the question you want to avoid, "Why the gaps in your work history," is going to be better than no answer at all. Remember, it's best to be honest about you reasons ad explain yourself, but NEVER exaggerate or lie. Most companies will terminate an employer for lying on an application or in an interview. You've worked hard to earn this face time, don't blow it with an exaggerated fact.

Carly Sabato

Make Your Resume Work For You, Not Against You

Your resume is a key component in landing you the right job. A good resume gives the job seeker a voice. It tells who you are, what you have accomplished, and where you are going. Does your resume say all this about you?

Let's take a quick look at some good guidelines to follow:

1) Make sure your resume is 1 page and definitely no more than 2. (1 page is recommended)

Remember, employers are looking for a quick overview that will sell them on why they should interview you for their open position. Don't give them your life's history.

2) Tailor your resume to the specific job that you are applying for.

If you're applying for a customer service position, there is no need to include your janitorial experience. Keep the information relative to what you would be doing in the job for which you are interviewing.

3) Make sure your resume is updated (ex: contact information,etc.)

Don't forget to include your most recent work history. Don't leave gaps in employment- that raises flags for employers that may leave you out of the running for the job. Don't include your like/dislike/children's names or shoe size! These details are irrelevant unless specifically requested by the interviewer.

4) Does your resume have all the correct information?

A) Contact Detail
B) Career Objective
C) Employer History
D) Education and Training Qualifications
E) Demonstrated skills
F) Special achievements and rewards
G) References


Here are some helpful sites to build a great resume:

http://www.how-to-write-a- resume.org/
http://www.theresumebuilder.com/
http://www.razume.com/

Remember that a great resume will leave a lasting impression on an employer. So if you are not getting responses to the resume you are sending out; it might not be working for you. Consider takings your resume to a professional resume writer. Usually there is a cost involved, but often times the professional writer will design and write a resume that stands out miles above the rest!

DON'T FORGET THE TAMPA EMPLOYMENT GUIDE JOB FAIR IS FEBRUARY 9, 2010 FROM 10 AT: Museum of Science and Industry, 4801 E. Fowler Avenue, Tampa, FL 33617. We'll have resume writers to help you review your resume, free of charge!


Carly Sabato

Is It Really Private?

Today Facebook is a common thing; it seems everyone has one. However, as social networking sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn become more and more popular, your personal information becomes more readily available to anyone who is looking.

We've already discussed cleaning up your social networking sites to have them reflect a professional and responsible person. However, even if you removed all potentially risky information, you are not safe yet! Just because your personal networking it does not mean that your risky, personal, really-should-keep-to-yourself information can not be found. Your friends can contribute to employers finding out information about you that you would have rather kept to yourself.

Let's take a look at an example. You went out this weekend right? Your friend decides to post some pictures of Friday's festivities. Your page might be private, but your friend's page is not. Guess what that means? Those pictures are out in the world if the Internet where information can never be erased and is easily accessible to anyone who may be searching.

So what are your options? Erase your page? It's an option, but you can make your profile help you as long as it says the right thing. Here are some tips to help you out:

Tips to Privacy:

1) Be sure to let your friends know that you do not want to be tagged in pictures that they post and that you would prefer that the pictures of you not be posted at all.

2) Let your friends know that you would not like to talk about personal information via posts on your page.

3) Let your friends know why. Tell everyone you know you are on the hunt for a job and that you do not want your social site to reflect poorly against you. This is also an excellent networking tool! You never know who is looking to hire someone with your qualifications and experience, so be sure to tell everyone you know what type of position you are looking for.

Remember that anything that is posted to the Internet is out there for anyone to see. Keep your image professional and as wholesome as possible. If you question whether it is inappropriate for a potential employer to see it, it's too risky to post.

Carly Sabato

SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES CAN WORK FOR OR AGAINST YOU

What does your profile say about you?

Employers are no longer just looking at what you put on an application, your resume, or your criminal background. They are looking deeper than that and finding out who you really are.

Facebook, MySpace, and LinkedIn are all popular social networking sites and all sources that employers and schools are looking at when they are looking at applicants.

Recent studies on social media sites state that 1 in 10 admissions officers check applicants social networking sites and out of that 38 percent have lead to rejections based on what there social profile said about them.

Employers looking at your personal information may not seem fair, but like it or not what you put on the Internet is not private and employers have the right to look at what you are posting.

You might be reading this and deciding that you are going to get rid of your social sites all together. However, before you take your information off why don't you change what your profile says about you and have it work for you rather than against you. A good rule of thumb to decide what is suitable to post and what is not is the grandmother test. Ask yourself, "would my grandmother be happy to see this." If the answer is no, than take it off. Remember, what you post on the Internet is there to stay, there are NO take backs.

The best way to have your social networking sites work for you is to promote yourself in a positive manner. Base your site off of what your resume says. For example, if your resume says that you volunteer at such a place have your social site talk about what you do there and if you have pictures post them as well. Keep you profile updated and have it always reflect you in a positive light.

Check out out the Tampa Employment Guide page more postings and helpful tips for finding a job. You can also go to our Tampa Employment Guide Facebook page and add us for updates on what is going on in the Tampa Bay area and nationally as well.

BE PREPARED TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS

Getting a job is not simple anymore, it's actually a tough business. All job seekers are out for the same thing, a job! Therefore, doing your research and understanding what it takes to stand out in the crowd is going to be your greatest selling factor.

All processes in finding a job are important; however, the interview could be the most important part. No matter how good you look on paper if an employer does not see it in the interview chances are your not getting the job. To avoid this there are three simple things that you can do; RESEARCH, PREPARE, AND PRACTICE.

Researching all aspects of the company you are applying with is key to having a good interview. Preparing what you are going to wear, questions you have for the employer, and familiarizing yourself with the location of the interview are great steps to make you feel a bit more at ease. The third step could be the most important part; Practice. However, don't practice to where you sound rehearsed. Practice so you feel comfortable and sound confident.

Here are 10 Typical Interview Questions and Answers.
(Remember these are standard questions, it is not a sure thing that they will be asked but are a great way to prepare.)

1) Tell me about yourself?
Have a short statement prepared, that is work related and does not sound rehearsed - Think about what have you done in your past careers- relate to the position you interviewing for.

2) Why did you leave your last job?
Stay positive- DO NOT talk about major problems with management, never talk negatively about a supervisor, co- worker, or the organization.

3) What do you know about this organization?
DO THE RESEARCH! Find out where they have been and where they are going. What are the current issues they are facing and who are the major players.

4) Why do you want to work for this organization?
Fall back on the research you have done! Relate it to your long- term career goals.

5) What experience do you have in this field?
Talk about specific abilities you have that pertain to the job you are interviewing for. If you do not have exact experience talk about task performed at a job that could relate.

6) What is your greatest strength?
Stay positive. Say something about your great great skills in solving problems, or your organization skills. You can talk about how you work great under pressure and are a great leader. Be truthful and focus on your good points.

7) Explain how you would be an asset to the organization?
Highlight your best qualities and how your experience and professionalism will go hand in hand with what the company strives itself on. Relate all assets to the position you are applying for.

8)What have you learned from mistakes you may have made on a job?
This is a tricky question, but remain positive in your answer. Explain of a small mistake you made that led to a positive lesson learned.

9) Why should we hire you?
Don't sound cocky with your answer. You want to sound confident so point how your assets meet the organizations needs. One mistake people make in this question is comparing themselves to other candidates for the job; this is not professional.

10) Do you have any questions for me?

ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS HAVE QUESTIONS

Employers want you to ask questions. This shows interest and if you ask the right questions it can show that you have done your homework and that your are a great candidate for the job.

Here are two sample questions:

How soon will I be able to be productive?
What type of projects will I be able to assist on?

JOB SEEKERS: BE THE PRODUCT, SALE YOURSELF

To make a business profitable a company must put themselves out there to make there business and what they have to offer available and widely know among the public. Why should you, the job seeker, be any different? You're not, so get out there and sale your product!

Photo By: John McNab

Here are five helpful tips to guide you through the process:

1) Know the product you are selling: In order to sale one self to an employer you must know what you have to offer. Know your accomplishments, attributes, and better yet what you can bring to "there" company.

2) Trust in the product you are selling: Do you believe you are capable of doing the job? Can you do what you say you can do? Accomplish what you say you can accomplish?

3) Do you know who you are selling to? You can't apply for a job without knowing anything about what you are applying for, so do you research. Know the company you are seeing a job with. The more knowledgeable you are about the company the more questions you will have for the employer and questions are good. Employers like questions pertaining to the company, it shows you did your research and it makes you "the product" memorable.

4) Don't wait! When you are selling your products you must sale it everyday. You have to get yourself out there. So make calls, send emails, physically get out there and talk to employers. GET YOUR RESUME IN THE RIGHT HANDS!

5) Don't give up! Finding a job is like a job itself. It can be stressful , time consuming, and might take a while to get the results. Keep at it everyday, it will pay off in the end when you land that job!

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TAMPA JOB FAIR, TUESDAY FEBRUARY 9, 2010

Get those resumes out, dust off those good shoes, and put on that professional outfit; it's job fair time.

The Employment Guide is hosting a job fair in Tampa at MOSI to assist residents of the Tampa Bay area in finding a job. The job fair will be held on Tuesday, February 9th at the Museum of Science and Industry in Tampa, FL from 10am to 2pm. This event is free to attend. Photo By: Steve Rhodes

Did you know that the unemployment rate in Tampa is higher than almost anywhere else in the state of Florida? You know know what that means, right? YOU HAVE TO STAND OUT IN THE CROWD!

We recommend that you come prepared. Bring a resume, dress professionally, and be prepared with questions for the employers that are in attendance. Remember first impressions are important, so make your a good one.

Stay up to date with our Tampa Employment Guide Blog page for helpful tips to prepare for the job as well as more information in regard to the job fair itself.

Good luck and see you in Tampa at MOSI on Tuesday February 9!
If you are hiring company and would like to get in front of 1,000+ job seekers, please send an email to tampajobs@employmentguide.com or call our offices at 813-775-6275.