Let's face it...today's job market is not what it used to be. Competition is still at an all-time high for any and every job. Previously "undesirable" positions and industries are still seeing huge volumes of potential candidates. Don't be surprised if you find yourself competing against a Master's level or Ph.D. for that entry level position that you thought nobody wanted! According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national unemployment rate is hovering right around 9%, but to families who are unable to make ends meet, this number can feel arbitrary and all they really know is that they are struggling. Spending hours on the internet or at job fairs can be a draining process, and it can become harder and harder to present yourself in an upbeat and positive light to potential employers. This is why an organized, professional-looking, and visually sharp resume is so critical. This is the first introduction between yourself and a potential employer, and these first impressions are everything!
If you've ever asked someone else for their help in crafting your resume, you know without a doubt that everyone has opinions on what to include and not to include on a resume. Should you open with some sort of "summary" or "objective" about your skills and experience? Should your resume fit on one page only or is it acceptable to make it 2? Do you need one general resume, and one industry-specific resume with you at all times? How do you write a cover letter? Does anyone read cover letters anymore? The list goes on and on and answers to these questions are still up for debate! The reality is the job seeker needs to make their own worth stand out in a confident way without seeming arrogant or unprofessional. Employers can afford to be extremely choosy so even one small mistake can be the fatal error that earns your resume a one-way trip to the shredder.
"Resume building workshops" are an excellent way to introduce job seekers to the art of resumes. Plus, they are a volunteer opportunity for professionals in the community to give their time. Our next resume workshop is tomorrow, and we have been fortunate enough to have the event sponsored by a local organization as part of their service learning project. This is also an opportunity to gain "match" support as well as cultivating relationships with interested community members who may be able to devote their time on a longer-term basis.
What do you think makes for a great resume that will stand out from the competition??
Monday, May 23, 2011
Monday, May 16, 2011
Yet Another Workshop?
In addition to the intake, enormous amount of case management, and cultural orientation, a resettlement agency should also provide another tool to newly arriving Americans: a job readiness workshop.
A workshop environment, when set up the right way, can be a wonderful learning tool. It can provide a safe and open environment for soon-to-be-working individuals to express their concerns in a safe setting and where they can learn real solutions. It is a chance for participants to learn from one another and to connect and bond as a community.
One topic that always comes up in our Pittsburgh job readiness workshop is transportation. We know why this is a concern: picture yourself lost on the bus without the language or topographical knowledge of the land. Now imagine knowing, even though you do not speak the language, that the bus goes in a circle and will come back to this stop again — or having pictures in your hand of the buildings you need to look for of your stop. This provides empowerment – and security.
All of us strive to empower clients to help them reach self-sufficiency. Job readiness workshops provide a sense of group learning, which furthers them toward that goal. Does your site already provide a job readiness workshop or something like it? If so, please give us an example of something that works well so that we can learn from one another.
A workshop environment, when set up the right way, can be a wonderful learning tool. It can provide a safe and open environment for soon-to-be-working individuals to express their concerns in a safe setting and where they can learn real solutions. It is a chance for participants to learn from one another and to connect and bond as a community.
One topic that always comes up in our Pittsburgh job readiness workshop is transportation. We know why this is a concern: picture yourself lost on the bus without the language or topographical knowledge of the land. Now imagine knowing, even though you do not speak the language, that the bus goes in a circle and will come back to this stop again — or having pictures in your hand of the buildings you need to look for of your stop. This provides empowerment – and security.
All of us strive to empower clients to help them reach self-sufficiency. Job readiness workshops provide a sense of group learning, which furthers them toward that goal. Does your site already provide a job readiness workshop or something like it? If so, please give us an example of something that works well so that we can learn from one another.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Don't Forget About the Basics
After being reminded of a very basic job resource I hadn’t utilized recently, it seemed like a good idea to reiterate the basic sources of job announcements and a couple of tips for using them more effectively. It always pays to keep up with the easy targets. They all have their limitations, but it doesn’t take too long to keep up with them and every little bit helps. It’s also good for clients to understand how they work and how to use them for their own independent job searches in the future.
•Craigslist – This is by far the most widely used source of job postings in Austin now, having surpassed the local newspaper classified ads. We help clients understand the limits of responding to posts, but encourage them to monitor it on their own. Sometimes, I spot an announcement from an employer I have contacts with and have been able to call and secure some attention for qualified clients who have applied. Sometimes I can follow-up in advance when a phone number is listed. Every week, I try to respond to key postings with a general advertisement for our services so they might remember to contact us first the next time they need to hire. I haven’t been able to track any job leads to this approach, but it doesn’t take me long and it can’t hurt.
• Local workforce office – Every State has some kind of workforce support program. Many have resource centers for job seekers. In Texas, they have a very well designed and maintained online job bank. You can input a profile and it generates job leads. All of the organizations that help refugees find jobs here have established their own profile to access entry level jobs we can then share with clients.
• Web-based job search sites – There are tons of these. http://www.Indeed.com compiles announcements from many job lists and has a feature that delivers job updates based on your criteria. I get one just for dishwasher jobs. I have to follow-up to confirm that the opening really does exist, but it’s very helpful. There are also sites specific to certain industries. http://www.Ihire.com offers several, including one for optometry that I recently used to help a pair of Cuban ophthalmic surgeons in their job searches.
• Newspaper classifieds – As I mentioned previously,, this source is much less popular than Craigslist now. But, the Sunday classified often advertise job fairs or large employer casting calls that can be helpful. I have tried to establish contacts found through a classified and it sometimes results in a longer term opportunity even if the advertised position has been filled.
• Employer websites – I regularly check a short list of on-line job sites for employers that we work with or would like to target. Even our strongest partners don’t always have the time to alert us when they post an opening. I always check our hotel partners web-based job sites, as well as large retailers and a few other firms that rely on their on-line presence for hiring purposes. I can then alert Employment Specialists and refresh contact with the employer if necessary.
• Business Journals – Many cities have a newspaper targeting the business community. The Austin Business Journal publishes an annual Book of Lists that I have found very useful for identifying potential new employers. The bi-monthly newspaper has been less useful for concrete leads, but has helped me identify long term trends, new major employers or vibrant industries. Plus, sometimes it gives me talking points for networking.
•Craigslist – This is by far the most widely used source of job postings in Austin now, having surpassed the local newspaper classified ads. We help clients understand the limits of responding to posts, but encourage them to monitor it on their own. Sometimes, I spot an announcement from an employer I have contacts with and have been able to call and secure some attention for qualified clients who have applied. Sometimes I can follow-up in advance when a phone number is listed. Every week, I try to respond to key postings with a general advertisement for our services so they might remember to contact us first the next time they need to hire. I haven’t been able to track any job leads to this approach, but it doesn’t take me long and it can’t hurt.
• Local workforce office – Every State has some kind of workforce support program. Many have resource centers for job seekers. In Texas, they have a very well designed and maintained online job bank. You can input a profile and it generates job leads. All of the organizations that help refugees find jobs here have established their own profile to access entry level jobs we can then share with clients.
• Web-based job search sites – There are tons of these. http://www.Indeed.com compiles announcements from many job lists and has a feature that delivers job updates based on your criteria. I get one just for dishwasher jobs. I have to follow-up to confirm that the opening really does exist, but it’s very helpful. There are also sites specific to certain industries. http://www.Ihire.com offers several, including one for optometry that I recently used to help a pair of Cuban ophthalmic surgeons in their job searches.
• Newspaper classifieds – As I mentioned previously,, this source is much less popular than Craigslist now. But, the Sunday classified often advertise job fairs or large employer casting calls that can be helpful. I have tried to establish contacts found through a classified and it sometimes results in a longer term opportunity even if the advertised position has been filled.
• Employer websites – I regularly check a short list of on-line job sites for employers that we work with or would like to target. Even our strongest partners don’t always have the time to alert us when they post an opening. I always check our hotel partners web-based job sites, as well as large retailers and a few other firms that rely on their on-line presence for hiring purposes. I can then alert Employment Specialists and refresh contact with the employer if necessary.
• Business Journals – Many cities have a newspaper targeting the business community. The Austin Business Journal publishes an annual Book of Lists that I have found very useful for identifying potential new employers. The bi-monthly newspaper has been less useful for concrete leads, but has helped me identify long term trends, new major employers or vibrant industries. Plus, sometimes it gives me talking points for networking.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)