5 Job Blogs to Read in '09

If you are looking for a little bit of motivation and straight talk to get you going in 2009, here is a list of 5 great sites to get some solid career advice from. They are a part of my daily reads and I learn from them every time the keyboard hits the screen. Enjoy.

1. Brazen Careerist - This site is geared towards Gen-Y and the younger worker and has over 100 of the top young bloggers telling it like it is. Love them or hate them, Gen-Y is coming strong into the workforce over the next few years and Brazen Careerist is a great place to learn from the mouth itself.
2. Wiser Worker Blog - WiserWorker.com, a job site for older and mature workers has a fantastic resource for job seekers that are making a transition in careers or are looking to get back into the labor pool after retirement. It is written by Amy Hoster and is updated a few times a week with great content.
3. Lindsey Pollak Career Advice Blog - A JobSpot favorite and consistent advice giver. Look for Lindsey on Podcasts, her own writing and new syndication with ABC News on Campus.
4. Personal Branding Blog - While not a job specific blog, Dan Schawbel does an excellent job in helping you understand hwo your personal brand will ultimately help your career. As an added bonus, Dan interviews top CEO's and business leaders to gain their perspective on their job, career and branding outlook.
5. ERE.net - This is a great series of blogs that works from the recruiter end. If you ever wanted to get into the head of a top recruiter to see what they are looking for, trends in the industry and how you can get a step ahead, this is a great resource for you.

Those are my top 5. What do you have that you can bring to the table?

Have a great holiday.

Making a Difference in Your Job Search Today

While browsing through job tip articles across the web, I ran across an article by Lindsey Pollak that highlighted 11 key tips in finding a job in today's landscape. I find Lindsey's work refreshing, as she stresses the importance of working hard to find a job and that if you put in the time, have the resources and build your network, there is an opportunity out there for you.

Some of the highlights in her post include:
#7 - Volunteer. Lindsey says,

"Instead of using this time to worry about when you’ll land a job, use this time to help other people. Especially during the holiday season, volunteer opportunities are everywhere."

I agree. I think that volunteering not only allows you to help others, but also fosters your soft skills like communication, team work and leadership abilities.

#9 - Build your personal brand. Here Lindsey says,

"It includes developing personal “marketing materials” (your resume, a website or career-related blog, a work portfolio, business cards, etc.), having a professional online presence, practicing the way you introduce yourself and more."

With the tools that web provides and the low start up cost (use Blogger to get a FREE blog and all Social Networks cost you nothing but time) there is no reason not to be online, networking and building up credibility for yourself and the industry that you want to work in.

#10 - Send holiday greetings.

"use the holiday season as an excuse to reach out to every single person you know or even sort-of know,"

says Lindsey. Break out the old school pen and paper and foster the relationships that you have build throughout the years, whether it is a past co-worker, former boss, relatives or past clients and customers. Be genuine in your approach and the communication channels will re-open.

Head over to Lindsey Pollak's blog to read the rest of the tips and be sure to subscribe to her RSS feeds for the latest in job seeking advice.

To read more from Lindsey and a conversation she had with the Orlando JobSpot click here.

-Greg Rollett

The Tampa Rays and Your Job Hunt

The Tampa Rays are in the middle of an unbelievable season. Even die hard fans can tell you that they didn't expect to be leading the East come September. 

Well, the fat lady has not entered Tropicana Field quite yet, and those of you reading this are not pro ball players heading into an advertising heavy and money hungry post-season, the Rays give you some job prospecting hope.

Out With the Old, In With the New

1. Develop your skills over time. The Rays have a great farm system in place, meaning that their new young talent has time to develop and manage their skills in a simulated environment before taking on the million dollar pros in the big leagues. For you, this can mean jumping into an internship, volunteering or joining clubs and organizations. Maybe it's going back to school and pursuing your education. It may also mean taking an entry level job to gain the skills, contacts and learning experience before jumping into a big career change.
2. Competition is healthy. The Rays fought off the Bronx Bombers and are now neck to neck with the Boston Red Sox. Having competition breathing down your back keeps you on your toes and makes sure that your game face is always on. You can't win everyday, but with motivation of competition you can overcome your objectives, work hard and come out as a top revenue producer and excel at customer service. 
3. Play your best down the stretch. When there is great pressure there is usually great reward. As the year, quarter or other economic factors wear you down, you need to finish strong. You will find that looking for a job when all hope is lost, will usually result in a resurgence of new opportunities. It's like turning over that extra rock and finding gold, or grinding out the pain to throw one more fastball past Big Papi and clinching the East. This takes great concentration, but also some faith and the ability to see things before they happen. 
4. Silence your critics. Sometimes your friends and family are your worst critics. Some recruiters can push you to your bad side. The same goes in sports. ESPN, Sports Illustrated and others counted the Rays out before the season started. Now they are in the dug out laughing all the way to the playoffs. When adversity stares you in the face, it is you that has to make the ultimate decision if you will prevail or let your competition beat you out. Believing in yourself and your abilities are the key to keeping those critics quiet or better yet, turning them into fans and believers themselves. 

Down the stretch, never count yourself out. With all the difficulties in your way, it is very easy to lose sight of what you need to do. The Rays take it one day and one game at a time. For you, remember to take it one day and one interview at a time. 

Go Rays and happy hunting Tampa!

-Greg Rollett

Tampa Job Fair is coming September 23rd at Raymond James Stadium

Leave Your Current Job

The state of the economy is taking its toll of everyone in the workforce. With layoff rumors, corporate downsizing, acquisitions and, well, good old gas prices - it may not be the best time to leave your current job and find a new position.

However, some companies are growing and when the financial mess comes back around full circle, some will be in an even better position to see your talents and skill sets. So Tampa, what are some reasons that you may make you consider jumping ship?

• Lack of involvement - You come to work everyday, do your job and head home. Your bosses offer you no escape or even an opportunity to make your job more effective or to help grow the company. If your ideas are being shot down, and they happen to be good ideas, it may be time to take your ideas to a company who listens more effectively.
• You and your boss do not get along - It's hard making the trek to work, only to dread speaking to your boss everyday. It adds extra stress and pressure that generates less productivity.
• It's a long drive - Is your commute becoming a problem? With gas over the $4 mark, are you filling up too often and not getting a great return? Looking for work closer to your home may be a great option, or even an employer who entices employees with gas savings and incentives, or even reimbursement!
• No meaning in your work - Some people do not mind coasting through their work and wait patiently for the weekend. Others like to know that the work they are doing has a positive impact on "something" or "someone." If you need meaning in your work and are tired of pushing buttons and mouse clicks for no conceivable reason, a career change may be in order.
• Workplace culture - This is personal preference, but if you are not a suit and tie guy/gal, there are firms that have opened up the dress code. Don't like mandatory 12 - 1 lunches or strict 8-5 workdays. There are companies that offer flex hours, great benefits and other incentives to keep you happy and productive at work. If you don't like the culture, know that with a little research, you can find a local company that can help you in your lifestyle.

What else Tampa? What are some reasons for you to pack up your cubicle and move on? What can your employer do to keep you on the job? Employers, what are you doing to ensure that you keep the best people in their desks and moving up in the company?

Please join the conversation in the comments or send an email to greg.rollett@employmentguide.com.

For those looking to make a change, there is a Driver Job Fair in Winter Haven on August 2nd from 10am - 2pm. For everyone else, Orlando is having a job fair on July 29th and the Tampa / St. Pete area's next event will be September 24th. For those that can't wait, try searching for opportunities on the EmploymentGuide.com.

Health Care vs. Social Media

photo by rosefirerising

Since the launch of HealthCareerWeb a few months back, I have been digging and searching to find the gap that exists between Social Media and health care recruiting. In my quest I ran across Phil Bauman, a Social Media advocate who is also a Registered Nurse. This is 1 piece of a 3-part discussion we had about Social Media and the Healthcare industry. The other 2 parts can be found at the Orlando JobSpot and the Employment Guide Spot Blog.

In this session we are looking at ways that the Health Care industry has embraced open communication via Social Media and some hindrances that are stopping Health Care HR professionals from using these tools.

Being a registered nurse, Phil Bauman has the opportunity to offer hands on information as to what is available to him on his job. (Disclaimer: Phil works at just one health care company and may not necessarily have the access to tools that others do.) We are looking at on the job tools and not personal profiles on Social Networking sites. His thoughts on the technology available on the job as well as tips that can be implemented on the job are as follows;

• Most online tools that I have seen seem to be based on the employment and recruiting models of the 20th century. I think we need to move away from the resume-interview-cog model to a personal/professional branding model. A well-crafted and interesting blog can improve a person's awareness of their own skills and provide a deeper understanding of a candidate's background.
• Likewise, a hospital blog that allows its employees to blog is a great way to show prospective candidates "Hey, this hospital is WAY ahead of the game. I should check them out."
• Word of mouth is the marketing (and recruiting) of the future. It always was the best way to go, but in light of the Long Tail advanced by online social media, it's important that facilities intelligently investigate, invest and maintain the right kinds of social media. Again, a LinkedIn version for healthcare could make sense.
• Hospitals could even use social media for their staffing, their staff scheduling and job promotion.

I can attest to the recruiting end that Social Media is starting to make an impact on the way professionals are brought into organizations. With the rise in job boards and the ease of use in mass applying, HR professionals need to find ways to better position themselves apart from their competitors as well as passive job seekers. Using Social Media as a tool to filter through candidates, proactively search through great employees and showcase their institute is only the beginning.

Like Phil said, blogging can lead to an increase in brand awareness and recognition. This goes a lot further than recruiting great talent. If your great talent can increase the visibility of your company through blogging and Social Media you can increase business and your ROI starts to increase. Both are win-wins in today’s economic state.

So, why aren’t HR professional in the Health Care industry using these tools such as blogging, video, Social Networking and the like? Phil goes on to state:

• There are nurses who use social media. But in my experience, many nurses are unaware of the tools out there. Perhaps because Main Stream Media paints a caricature of blogs and social media. Also nurses get so busy with providing healthcare and don't sit at desks with internet access at work all day that it's easy for the world to pass them by. Facilities should encourage, not discourage social media.
• HR professionals in health care might also feel that healh care professionals aren't online. A solution would be for HR professionals to develop educational materials to their employees and prospective employees. A web page devoted to Social Media Education could go a long way for adoption. The process has to be active, not passive.
• HR professionals need to understand the value to empolyees, patients and the facility itself in using social media. Education is the key.

The second point is a strong one. If there are no other health care professionals networking online then essentially you will have no one to talk with. That’s the theory at least. Well, it’s a good thing theories are meant to be tested and changed.

Why not be the first to market? Why not be the innovative leader? Putting yourself and these organizations out to the web will start a conversation, whether you know it or not. People will find you via the network, word-of-mouth or through search engines. Web 2.0 is all about conversations. Allowing your peers, clients and other professionals to converse with you is a great thing to have.

On HealthCareerWeb we have made this an easy option for health care companies to say YES to. When you have an account with HCW, you have the ability to connect with other professionals, job seekers and industry players as well as post events and forums. The tools have been built, now we need you to join the conversation!

So, where is your institution? Are they talking online or still trying to figure this Social Media thing out? Please leave your comments, answers and questions in the comments. If you have other needs or questions, please send an email to greg.rollett@employmentguide.com and we can set you up with a consultation on Social Media and HealthCareerWeb.

The other 2 articles in the series can be found here:

Orlando JobSpot

Employment Guide Spot Blog

-Greg Rollett

Why You're Not Getting the Job

With the ease of submitting your resume through email and filling out applications electronically, it has become even easier for Tampa area employers to just hit the ignore button. Listening to readers, I am seeing that more and more job seekers are getting no reply, rather than a "no."

I caught an article from an HR rep who also writes for Brazen Careerist who stated 3 things that applicants do to warrant a "no response" or "no job." Rachel Robbins list is as follows.

1. Don’t Have the Basic Qualifications - If you know I’m looking for someone with a clean driving record don’t bother to apply if your license is currently suspended. If you know I’m requiring knowledge of a specific skill, system, etc. you’re probably not going to get the job if you don’t have it.
2. Being too Aggressive before the Interview - I’ve discussed this before on my blog. A perfect example from just this week: Candidate calls to return my call. I’m unavailable so he leaves a voice mail. Candidate continues to call twice more in the next hour. At this point I was purposely not taking his calls. PS. I love my receptionist.
3. Want too much money - If you’re applying for an entry level job don’t expect to make +$35,000. If you’ve been applying for a while and you’re certain that your interviewing skills and resume are great then salary is what is keeping you unemployed. Remember, at some point less money is better than no money.

I think these are great things to consider when applying for a position. You do not need to waste any time when paychecks are not coming in, and recruiters could spend more time looking at qualified candidates (which could be you) and less time weeding through "bad applicants."

Other things to note are:

Non specific objective. Simply stating, I want to use my experience to work for an organization," simply won't cut it anymore. Get into the job and let the recruiter know that you would be a great fit for them and why in 1-2 sentences.

General cover letter. If you are going to take the time to send it, at least make it worthwhile for a recruiter to read it. With the amount of cover letters they see everyday, all with the same body, you need to grab their attention and say how you can help "them."

So keep applying, but apply smart. And now you have a little knowledge into what the other end of the application sees and thinks, and knowing is half the battle!

Happy hunting Tampa!

-Greg Rollett

Want to Hire College Graduates...Sell Them

With the heat of the summer in Tampa and West Florida, comes graduation season. Thousands of college students are walking the aisle, getting their diplomas and heading into the workforce.

Top organizations know that marketing to Generation-Y, the Millennials, is important and necessary to acquire and retain top talent from this group. Gen-Y is patient. Gen-Y moves back home and waits for the perfect opportunity.

As an employer, how can you show these individuals that you are the perfect fit for them?

You need to be where the action is! Millennials are looking for jobs in the usual places, Employment Guide newspapers and on job boards, both large and specific to a niche and they are also doing research on Social Networks and corporate websites.

What are you doing to stand out from the pack? Is a bland print ad going to get the attention of a 20-something who is accustomed to watching YouTube videos, chatting on IM and reading blogs?

Is your HR department prepared to deal with the demands of better work-life balance, 401(k) demands and other benefits?

Are you ready to sell your company to Gen-Y, or are you still insistent on having them sell themselves to you? If you are nodding to the second, you may be behind the game. Your recruitment campaign needs to sell this generation more than ever. Does your campaign make someone want to get off the computer, off the couch and into your office?

If you are looking for help, the Employment Guide has solutions for you. We are tapping into the Gen-Y market and placing premium recruiting videos on YouTube, Myspace TV, Google and Yahoo to get your message where your recruits are hanging out. We pass your job posting along to partner sites and community leaders that are talking to Gen-Y and have their attention.

In the economy today, can you afford to have your competition get the candidates that are going to out pace and outsell you from the market? Start reaching them today.

For more information on reaching Gen-Y through Social Media and Employment Recruiting, please contact Greg, at greg.rollett@employmentguide.com to find a solution that will work for you and your organization.

Summer Jobs for Teenagers: Get a Head Start

photo by ErrrkMunxie

As the weather turns warmer in West Central Florida, so does the job hunt campaign for high school and college students who are looking for part-time work this summer. This increase in the job seeking population increases the competition for all job seekers, though this demographic generally finds themselves working in the retail and hospitality industry.

The motives for teens and their summer jobs is different than the general job seeking community. Teenagers and students are looking for entertainment and spending cash to supplement their days off. Some are looking to save for the upcoming college semester, and some are just looking for a way to pass the time.

In a recent CNN report, entitled 'Teens Face Tough Economic Summer,' Jim Taylor, vice chairman of the Harrison Group says,

"Go out and get a real, grown-up set of shoes. Get rid of the rings -- nose rings and other stuff. March up and down the mall with a really good resume. Walk into every story -- every store -- and say, 'I'm looking for summer work.' And you'll get a job."

The earlier teens start looking, the better, he added, because "if you wait too long, the jobs will be gone."

This is great advice for teens looking to break into the workforce this summer. With the slowing of the economy, retailers and other employers are looking for the best of the best to create additional sales and not just someone that folds clothes. Persistence will be the key along with a great outlook and attitude.

For non-student job seekers, the time is now to lock down a new position before the market once again becomes over-crowded.

Lucky for you, while the students are in school next week, you have a great opportunity to meet with some great employers at the Tampa Employment Guide's Summer Job Fair at Raymond James Stadium, Wednesday, May 7th.

For students who cannot attend, send in your resume to greg.rollett@employmentguide.com and we will add it to our 'Resume CD' that goes out to all the employers that are participating in the event.

Good luck to all the students and teens looking for employment this summer and be sure to sign-up for Job Alerts (can be found on the right side of this page) to get e-mail notifications of great new job opportunities that become available in your industry!

Happy hunting Tampa!

-Greg Rollett

Tampa Job Fair Invades Raymond James Stadium May 7th

The Tampa Employment Guide is fiercely working around the clock to find the best hiring managers and open positions in West Florida. And to celebrate, we are showcasing them at the Summer Job Fair on Wednesday, May 7th at the home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

*Send your resume to greg.rollett@employmentguide.com to pre-register or if you cannot attend*

They say the economy is slowing, but by the looks of the companies attending, its business as usual!

Showcasing employers for this career fair include:
ABC Fine Wine and Spirits
Aflac
Amazinflates
Argosy University
Asset Acceptance
Avon
Brink's Home Security
Brink's, Inc
CBS Radio
Creditor's Interchange
DeVry University
EcoQuest International
Gulf Coast College
Keiser University - Tampa Campus
Lee County Sheriff's Office
Macy's Credit and Customer Service
Mental Health Care
Metro PCS
Norwegian Cruise Lines
NovaPro
OR and L Facility Services
Plastipak Packaging
Quest, Inc.
RaceTrac Petroleum
Seminole HardRock Hotel and Casino
United States Army Recruiting
USAA
Verizon Wireless
Volt Workforce Solutions
Walgreens
Waste Management

Tampa Job Fair Tips and Strategies:
1. Research the companies - They are listed above. Look for their open positions on EmploymentGuide.com and even perform a Google search to see what it's like to work there.
2. Polish your resume and print multiple copies. - Make sure your friends and/or family proofreads it. Print at least 10 copies, you don't want to run out when you finally find a great opportunity!
3. Dress for success. - No shorts, tank tops or flip flops. Look like a professional and get treated like one. It may be hot out, so prepare with some good attire and comfortable shoes.
4. Be able to fill out a complete application. You want to be sure that you hand them in at the job fair and not get lost in the shuffle a week later.
5. Practice your handshake and opening approach. Your first impression needs to be great and create a lasting impression on the hiring employer.
6. Have fun. Your demeanor tells an employer a lot. Keep your spirits high as you never know what opportunity will knock around the corner.

Check out a clip from the local news about job opportunities in the Tampa area with the Employment Guide's own Jeff Derenthal:

We will continue to update the company list as they confirm. Happy hunting Tampa and we'll see you on the 7th!

Tampa Retail Need to Capitalize on Hype Products

I am not a gamer, but you can’t help but hear the footsteps of the gaming community as they prepare for the release of Grand Theft Auto IV. Pre-orders have been made, stores are staffed and prepared for the rush and living rooms and schedules have been cleared for hours of endless video game havoc.

With the economy slumping and un-employment hitting over 5% for the first time in a while, retail is sure feeling rocky right now. If there is no money to spend, there is no need to have staff standing around taking up clock space.

Retail Loves Hype

To get people into their stores, retailers and advertisers are trying their best to create hype around a product or product line. This gets the people in the stores. What happens when the customers get there is where the chain will either come out on top or sell a few gimmicks and repeat the process with similar results.

Retail Needs Great ( re: not just good) Employees

When these customers do decide to spend their hard earned money in your store you need to be prepared to give them a pleasurable and memorable experience. This happens with your sales team, check out process and other employees. For a product like GTA IV, consumers have choices in where they purchase the game. Give them a bad experience and they can walk on over to the next shop. Treat them to an amazing experience and they will be back for an extra controller, memory cards, the new system or the next “it” game.

Employees of these retail chains are usually replaceable. Managers, owners and franchisers need to treat the little guy like they are an important part of the team and not just a folder / greeter. This will allow them to care about their work and take care of your customers.

Turning Customer Experience into Repeat Business

A full house in your store means more opportunity for employment. Keeps your employees happy, they keep the customers happy and your business grows along with it.

When job seeking for companies in the retail area, look for companies that have happy employees and a great work environment vs. the one that has the “cooler” clothes or products. You will enjoy your work and more opportunities will present themselves with a business that is growing vs. one that is trendy!

*For a complete list of retail jobs in the Tampa, Clearwater and St Petersburg area, be sure to browse through the Employment Guide or visit us at our Tampa Summer Job Fair, May 7^th at Raymond James Stadium!*

And if you are going to be spending the next few days inside playing GTA IV, remember to get to work on time and get some sunshine. Its summer in Florida, remember?

Greg Rollett

16 Reasons to Blog While Job Hunting

1. For the writing and grammar skills it takes to write fresh content
2. To help with communication – through other bloggers and readers of your site
3. For research – You love your topic / industry so much that you research and write about it
4. To show your passion for an industry – You can always tell when what you are writing is passionate or a bunch of words on a page
5. For experience – Show off pictures of you on a job site, video of your latest presentation or on the job experience
6. To network with others in your industry
7. To build trust within your industry
8. To earn a few bucks before the new paycheck kicks in (Adsense)
   
9. To find opportunities that aren’t listed on job boards – like business opportunities, partnerships and start-up companies
10. To stay in the loop – the world is moving fast, blogging helps you keep up.
11. To create a schedule – blogging regularly shows employers your dedication to deadlines and how you manage your time
12. To showcase what you are good at – remember a blog is more than just words, its thoughts, videos, pictures, podcasts, reactions, links, controversy and more
13. Show your creative side – your blog is yours, so is your template, your thoughts and your posts. Be creative and showcase yourself outside of your resume!
14. For recognition – Let the deals come to you once you have branded yourself as a leader in a given industry.
15. Because it’s fun. Blogging creates a conversation based around a topic that interests you. When that happens, its fun, because you are passionate about the subject and love talking about it.
16. It’s the cool thing to do – over 100 million blogs and growing (sung in the Flinstones Vitamins voice)

Add your reasons for blogging while looking for a job in the comments. I look forward to coming up with an impressive list and publishing it as a downloadable file for everyone to print and tact up when you are starting out your blogging experience.

Happy hunting Tampa!

Greg Rollett

Know Where the Jobs Are

Last Friday I kicked off a new series geared towards a successful job hunt. We talked about what is necessary to find the jobs that are out there. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the month of March was not a good one for current workers and job seekers alike. They reported that the U.S. lost 80,000 jobs in march alone and 232,000 in the first quarter of this year. What I wanted to talk about today is the knowledge to know where the jobs are. Not just the hot industries like hospitality and healthcare, but actually where to look. Jobs can be found in the craziest of places from storefront windows and newspapers to blogs and local networking.

Traditional Outlets:
The Employment Guide and recruitment newspapers - Still a viable source for jobs. These papers are geared towards a certain niche and are generally free to the public. Be sure to follow the directions of the ad in how to apply and take advantage of phone numbers as it can save time and cash in travel.
Storefronts - No better way to say we need help than with a Help Wanted sign in the window. Beware that heavily traffic'd areas get the most applications and therefore have more competition. Look for these signs on back roads or act fast / immediately when it pops up.
Job Boards - EmploymentGuide.com, Indeed.com and Job.com offer many great jobs from a wide variety of companies. The great thing is that they are easily searchable by keyword and location. The downfall is that they are overpopulated with positions and competition is great as they have a very large reach.

New and Untraditional Job Resources and Outlets
Niche Job Boards - The Employment Guide is proud to offer 2 great niche sites, CareersInGear and HealthCareerWeb that show you very relative results for these 2 industries. The benefit of these boards is they get right to the meat of what you are looking for and also offer great advice, tips and articles surrounding these industries.
Google, Yahoo and Other Search Engines - Try typing in some keywords and a location into Google for jobs you are looking for. The more narrow and specific the search the better the results get. Search broad and you will be bombarded with opportunities.
Network! - The oldest form of job hunting but in a new generation. Get out and talk to people at bars, restaurants, conferences, trade shows. Collect business cards and make contacts with friends and family.
Networking 2.0 - Your kids are on there, maybe you are a kid and you're on there. What is it? Social Networking of course. Use it to network with others in your field. Start on a site like Facebook and look for colleagues, old friends or past employers / co-workers. Participate in forums and discussions. Don't be shy, ask questions and also answer them.

This concludes Part 2 of this discussion. Tomorrow we will continue down the networking path and talk about blogging and branding yourself in a crowded niche. Until then, happy hunting Tampa!

Greg Rollett

Oh, and Drivers get ready for the Tampa Employment Guide and Careers in Gear 'Driver's Job Fair' this Saturday, April 12th. Get all the info by clicking here!

A Successful Job Hunt

I am rolling out a new series about a successful job hunt over the next week. I have been writing an awful lot about it online, for upcoming articles and books and speaking about it at job fairs and conferences and thought that I would put it all together for you in this nice, neat little series.

Part 1 is simple: What makes a successful job hunt?

Resume: The more times change the more they stay the same. That one sheet of white paper that details your life’s worth of accomplishments is still the admission price when looking for and getting your foot into the door of a company.

Skill set: Employers are looking for a match. If you fit that match, you get the call. If you don’t, start positioning and training yourself to gain the skills and knowledge that mesh you with the company of choice.

Networking: The age old concept of networking is still a very highly held determining factor in landing a great career. Think of all your friends who found jobs due to their parent’s relationships, or the Fraternity and Sorority connections. What about the waitress who talked it up with the CEO of a sales company, and the next week was working on his sales team? Networking and building trust with hiring companies will put you on the fast track to a great position.

Desire to make a change: No matter what career change or job hunt you embark on, it starts with you, your mind and your motivation. You cannot find a new position by letting it come to you. A proactive approach is the key and that starts with your mentality and outlook on life.

Happy hunting Tampa and we'll be back on Monday for part 2. Where to look?

-Greg Rollett

It’s Not About the Tools, But the End Result

Here at the Employment Guide, we have a plethora of products for job seekers to take advantage of when they are in the position to search for a new career, part-time job, continuing education, and even work at home experiences.

Whether you are picking up a paper, using online job boards, signing up to social networks, blogging, watching videos or coming out to hiring events and job fairs, the goal is almost always the same: Get your foot in the door for an initial interview in the attempt to land a new job.

So if the end goal is the same, how do you get there? Frankly it doesn’t really matter as long as you do get there. Now some jobs and employers use certain types of media and advertisements, and you may miss their message if you are not looking in all the right places. However, there are great opportunities for employment in any medium that suits you. That is the key and employers are starting to realize it.

With the development and continuing growth of Web 2.0 technologies, companies are realizing that their message needs to come across in as many mediums as possible to attract the quality job seekers that are needed to fill their vacancies.

At the end of the day, the tools you use depend on you! That is the one great advantage we have here at the Employment Guide. We can offer you the chance to see great hourly and skilled positions at your convenience, in the medium that works for you.

The opportunities are out there for you to explore. It is up to you to make that call, polish up the resume and make a solid first impression at the interview. We can only offer the tools to get you excited about a career change.

Happy hunting Tampa!

P.S. Careers in Gear Presents the Driver’s Job Fair April 12th! Click here for more info!

-Greg Rollett

EmploymentGuide.com Makeover - New Job Seeker Application Process

Happy Friday Tampa. As the week comes to a close, I wanted to continue to share some of the new features on the shiny new EmploymentGuide.com®. On Tuesday we got into employer videos, which are a great showcase for a company to get their message across to you the job seeker. It puts a visual to the text in their postings and gives you an opportunity to see how life would be like at a particular company.

Today I wanted to touch on the new Job Seeker Application and Profile process that went live with the EmploymentGuide.com® site redesign. The old application was admittedly long and not very fun for you as a job seeker. The new process has been simplified to get to the core of an application and what an employer wants to see when viewing your profile.

Here is the first page:

These are your basic questions. Please answer them thoroughly and be sure to create a username and password that you will be able to remember. Your e-mail and phone number must be valid in order for employers to contact you, so please be sue to be careful and accurate.

Page 2 looks like this:

This is the section to paste past work experience and education history. Please be as informative as possible. Employers are looking at this profile to gather all the information they need in order to qualify you for their available position. Be sure if it is relevant, that it is listed.

I would suggest that it is in your best interest to upload or paste your resume into this profile. Most employers weed out applicants that do not have a resume attached to the profile.

After hitting continue, you are prompted with a confirmation screen. Ensure that everything you entered is correct and you are well on your way to finding a great new opportunity from the Employment Guide®.

Happy hunting Tampa and we’ll see you on Monday!

Greg Rollett

P.S. Careers in Gear Driver's Job Fair is coming April 12th at the Florida Fairgrounds. Click this link for more info!

Your 5 Point Agenda

Before sitting down for an interview you need to make sure you are well prepared for it and able to skillfully answer any question the interviewer asks you. There's an excellent technique in the book 60 Seconds & Your Hired! by Robin Ryan that can help you in preparing for an interview. The first step is to create your "5 Point Agenda".

The 5 Point Agenda is a technique that focuses on your top 5 strengths and gets the employer to listen to what you are saying. These 5 points are repeated throughout your interview which will help imprint your image to the employers brain to help you stand out and be remembered.

How to create your 5 point Agenda:

Examine your previous job responsibilities and make a list of any special accomplishments. Next review the potential employers requirements and make note of your own abilities and experience that will be most important to the employer. Now you can create your 5 points to build a solid picture focusing on how you can do the job.

So for a clerical position your five points will be like so:

Point 1: 5 years of customer service experience dealing directly with clientèle making a positive, professional image for the company.

Point 2: Detailed oriented, fast worker that can handle multiple task under stress and complete them according to deadlines.

Point 3: Has recently updated MS Office skills and experience working in company databases such as MS Access and Goldmine.

Point 4: Collaborating with staff to create and manage a thorough schedule to make sure all daily task were completed as assigned to prevent staff from over looking crucial tasks and to help staff meet deadlines for their clients in a timely matter.

Point 5: Assisted with numerous events and scheduled appointments that meet staff and clients needs accordingly.

The above 5 points are things a person interviewing for a clerical position can use to secure a job offer. Maybe the job he/she is applying for requires customer service and data entry experience and this person was able to offer specific examples of his/her expertise in that area. Please keep in mind that you can't use the above 5 points unless you actually have that experience.

These five points are the buildings blocks to answer the interviewer's questions - Robin Ryan

Good Luck and be sure to come back tomorrow for more interview tips!

Happy Hunting Tampa!

Samara Bowling

Tampa Employment Guide Job Fair Photos

The Job Fair this past week was a huge success! We had over 1000 professional candidates and the companies that attended couldn't be happier. Just take a look at some of the testimonials we received from some of the companies that attended:

"I have to say this was the best event I've ever attended in the country!"
-- AT Systems

Another testimonial:

Q. What did you like about the event?

A. Quantity & quality of applicants.

Q. What would you change if you could?

A. Nothing - Excellent event!

--Integrity Staffing

More testimonials to come!

Below are pictures of some of the companies that attended our fantastic job fair.

Excellent job Tampa! Our Job fair continues to be one of the greatest job fairs held in Florida! I hope to see you at our next Employment Guide Job Fair coming in the next few months!

Happy Hunting Tampa!

Samara Bowling

The Tampa Employment Guide is on TV!

The Tampa Employment Guide went on air with our own Jeff Derenthal giving tips to job seekers to attend our recent job fair. If you missed seeing us yesterday morning you can view us today right here on the Tampa Job Spot. These tips can be applied at the next job fair if you plan to attend in the next couple months. Remember the following:

• Dress Professionally
• Leave your bad attitudes at the door
• Don't bring you're children to the job fair.

Sadly a few job seekers didn't apply these important concepts which can dramatically reduce your chances of landing a great job. I know job hunting is rather stressful, but it doesn't help you at all if you have an attitude because employers will pick up on this and not consider you for the position.

Wearing jeans, midriff exposing shirts, flip flops, etc. will make it seem like you're not committed to your job search therefore employers will gather the notion that you won't be professional or committed to the position they are offering either.

Do not bring your children. Bringing your children to a job fair is just as bad as bringing them to work. Please find childcare or seek out a responsible baby sitter to watch your children while you're at the job fair. Please job seekers take these tips into consideration to improve your job search.

Click To Play

Please tune in tomorrow to read about how successful our job fair was and to see pictures of some of the companies that attended.

Happy Hunting Tampa!

Samara Bowling

Job Fair Preparation

When attending a job fair do you A) Go there to look around, say hello to employers and friends, get a free soda, and go home still unemployed or B) You go there to get a job? If your answer is "B" then read on to see how to properly prepare for a job fair and leave successfully gaining an interview for a new job.

1. Dress professionally, but remember to wear comfortable shoes. Don't dress for the job you currently have if you have one, but for the job you want. You will have the opportunity to obtain an interview at the job fair so first impressions are essential.

2. Bring at least 30 skillfully written resumes carried in a professional portfolio or brief case. Make sure your resumes are on resume paper and are only one page long. Bring change in case you need to make more copies.

3. Obtain a list of the employers that will be attending the job fair and do your research on the companies. Most companies have websites that you can visit to get a brief overview of what their mission, purpose, and goals are.

4. Prepare a 60 second introduction explaining your skills and what your career objectives are. Practice this small speech before the job fair to perfection.

5. When you arrive to the job fair get a list of all the locations of the companies and choose at least 5 companies of interest. Introduce yourself to these employers with a firm hand shake, eye contact, and a smile. Let them know you are interested in a position with their company, ask questions, get a company business card, and leave them your resume. Don't forget to network with other job candidates at the job fair. This could help you in the long run.

6. You will have a very brief time with each employer so make every minute count. Ask questions that will give you the opportunity to sell yourself. For example ask questions like "What skills and experience are you looking for in a [position title]?" When they answer then go into a statement like "Well, I have experience in...". Have a set of at least 3 targeted questions (ex. daily routine, qualifications they are looking for, programs they use, etc.)

7. After the interview follow up with a thank you letter. If the company recruiter said they are interested in interviewing you get a specific time when they will contact you and if they don't contact you when specified be sure to contact them.

I hope you don't miss out on our job fair in Tampa next Wednesday on January 23rd. For people who are already employed we will also be having business opportunities for you to earn extra income or you can start your own business.

Happy Hunting Tampa!

Samara Bowling

Resume Week II - The Thank you letter

Today is the final day of resume week. I hope you have learned a lot and found the information provided in the last two weeks helpful and rewarding in building you success to landing a wonderful job. Today we will learn the final step to making your lasting impression really last.

After you've put so much time and effort into your resume and cover letter you send it out and get that interview you worked so hard for. You go in dressed to impress, and ready to show your potential employer how good you can do the job. As you wait in the lobby you are given a application to complete while another person is being interviewed for the same position. Ten minutes later you go in for your turn and you do pretty well in your interview answering each question with total confidence. You shake the employers hand and thank him/her for the interview and you leave to go home.

Now that you're at home you wonder if there is anything else you can do to make the potential employer call you over the other applicant(s). How can you make sure they remember you without looking desperate?

The answer is the thank you letter.

You thank you can letter can be in one of 3 forms: a typed letter sent by mail, a hand written card sent by mail, an email.

If your employer has an email then this is the best way to go about this because it is the quickest form of communication rather than postal mail. If you have good hand writing you can send a hand written card, but if you prefer typing a letter then you can do so as well.

There is a certain formula that you use to write the thank you letter just like there is to write your resume and cover letter.

Step #1 The first paragraph should thank them for the interview mentioning the position you interviewed for. Next you should mention something about the interview that you found particularly interesting. Maybe it was a tour of the office, maybe you both graduated from the same school, etc.

Step# 2 The second paragraph is if they asked you for references you will state that you've attached them. You will then mention your phone number or email and address if they need to follow up.

Here's an example of a thank you letter:

Dear [Employer's Name],

I will like to thank you for the pleasant interview we had yesterday for the Administrative Assistant position. It was really an interesting experience to have a tour of the office and see firsthand how things run within your company.

I have enclosed the references you requested. If you have any questions please call me at 555-555-5555.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

As stated before remember to run a spell check to make sure everything is spelled correctly.

So when do you send your thank you letter? Immediately after your interview.

If you need to learn how to create a reference sheet follow the basic guidelines:

1. Remember to use you letter head on your reference sheet
2. Place your list of references on resume paper as well
3. Have 3-4 different professional references such as previous instructors, colleagues, or employers
4. Make sure you have permission to use the people you decide to use as a reference
   
5. Use the following format for each reference you list on your reference sheet:
   

[Reference First and Last Name]
[Job title]
[Phone number]
[Address at work or Email address]
[Number of years known]

Happy Hunting Tampa and have a great weekend!

Samara Bowling