Resolutions for Job Hunting

Taken from: http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/career-articles-7_new_year_s_resolutions_for_job_hunting-1069

If you’re still looking for work these days, try these seven helpful (and hopefully lucky) job-related resolutions:

1. “I will broaden my job horizons.”
Stop limiting yourself to only specific types of jobs. Promise to look for jobs you may not think you have enough skills for and go for it. Look into jobs that you may not even know you are qualified for and maybe find a new career in the process!

2. “I will consider relocating for a position.”
Never count out jobs that are “too far” away. Moving to a new city, state, or country for work may be just what you need. Look into large corporations with offices around the country to get an idea of where your skills are needed. You may end up getting the job of your dreams in a town you would have never considered.

3. “I will stay positive.”
This is the most difficult out of all of these resolutions but vital if you want to get a great job faster than your peers. People (especially potential employers) can feel you and your attitudes out in an instant, which is why it’s best to be positive regardless of the situation you’re dealing with. It will also help you feel better all around, too!

4. “I will always prepare for my interviews.”
It doesn’t matter if you’re interviewing to be a fast-food cashier or the next chief operating officer of a huge corporation. Be prepared! Rehearse replies to all types of questions you may (or may not) be expecting. Dress your best, be polite, and follow up afterwards to better your chances at scoring that gig.

5. “I will prove myself during all of my interviews.”
Ever go on an interview and become disinterested in the job 5 minutes into your meeting? It shows! Resolve to stay engaged and genuinely interested in what any interviewer is discussing with you. You may discover that the job you are meeting over has something more to offer or that the company has another position perfect for you.

6. “I will network more.”
This resolution may seem daunting, but can really be fun. Reach out to individuals through social networks online that may be able to assist you with your job hunt. Don’t mass message strangers asking for employment. Establish a formal rapport, stay in touch, and see what can come of your new professional relationships.

7. “I will stay educated and informed about my industry.”
While you’ve been unemployed, your respected industries have been evolving at mind-blowing speeds. Do you know what’s hot or not anymore in your field? Dedicate at least an hour a day to reading up on your respected industry. Stay in the know and blow your interviewers away with your knowledge on current happenings.

Does jobs bill offer enough to spur hiring?

Originally found at: http://www.hrmorning.com/does-jobs-bill-offer-enough-to-spur-hiring/

President Obama’s finally signed the much-debated $18 billion jobs bill. What does that really mean for your company?

The Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment (HIRE) Act is designed to encourage companies to bolster staffs through two tax breaks: savings on payroll taxes and an additional one-year tax credit on new hires. Besides the $18 billion in employment incentives, HIRE also authorizes $20 billion for highway and transit projects.

To qualify for the tax breaks, new employees must be (or have been) hired between Feb. 3, 2010, and Jan. 1, 2011. Each new hire must certify, in writing, that he or she’s been unemployed for 60 days.

The two-tiered tax incentives shake out like this:

• Through the rest of the year, employers don’t have to pay new hires’ 6.2% Social Security payroll tax, and
• Companies are entitled to a credit equal to 6.2% of total salary — up to $1,000 — for each new worker who sticks around for 52 consecutive weeks. The credit can be taken on the company’s 2011 tax return.

HIRE had been passed by the Senate earlier. But then it went back to the House, where it was modified, so the Senate had to vote on the measure again. It finally passed March 17, 68-29, in likely the most bipartisan ballot of the current Congress.

Will it work?

So will companies start hiring? Experts say the hardest-hit organizations, still suffering depressed revenues from the economic slowdown, probably won’t find the tax incentives enough to add substantial numbers of employees. Companies on the cusp of returning to solid profitability might find the tax savings the push they need to dive into the labor pool.

Overall, the administration estimates HIRE will create 250,000 new jobs.

What do you think? Are the incentives enough to make your company take on new workers? Tell us in the Comments section below.

To Find a Job, Go Where the Recruiters Are

Originally found on Yahoo hot jobs. http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/career-articles-to_find_a_job_go_where_the_recruiters_are-1155

You’ve updated your resume, posted it on five different job boards, and committed to scouring the Internet and responding to relevant listings within 24 hours. You’ve done what it takes, right?

Actually, you’ve barely gotten started. CareerXRoads’ recently released ninth annual Source of Hire Study shows that the job-search process has changed dramatically over the past few years. Today’s job seekers must be quick and flexible to succeed. Keep these things in mind:

Expect the job market to expand in 2010.
Although growth will vary by sector, the trend for reductions in new hires appears to be at an end, with 48% of the HR professionals surveyed by CareerXRoads indicating that they would be making more new hires in 2010 than in 2009. So if you’re serious about making 2010 the year you find your ideal position, create a balanced job-search strategy now.

Your online profile matters more than ever.
Recruiters haven’t quite figured out how to use social media, but expect to see more social media initiatives getting funded as the economy improves in 2010. What does your online profile say about you? Career-management sites that provide you with a professional home on the Web can allow you to share not only your skills and expertise, but also your specific interests and what you’re looking for in a new company. Far more effective than a Facebook or LinkedIn page, these career profiles announce your commitment to your long-term professional success, and they give prospective recruiters everything they need to know about you and your career aspirations.

Job boards are only one way to achieve long-term success–and it’s best to stick with the ones you know best.
Today’s job seeker has access to literally dozens of job sites, from mass-access boards to subscription-based services. Of these, the major boards remain by far the most popular among recruiters. The sample group of recruiters polled by CareerXRoads indicated that hires attributed to job boards represented 13.2% of external hires in 2009, so it’s important to also look to recruiting methods that result in more specifically qualified job candidates.

It’s not just about knowledge–it’s also about people.
Climber.com is a career-management site that works not only with job seekers but also with company recruiters and headhunting firms who are constantly on the lookout for referrals. The CareerXRoads study verifies that this is a growing trend. Among its polled sample, referrals made up 26.7% of all external hires in 2009–by far the largest source of hires, as well the most efficient, with the yield for referrals resulting in one hire for every 15 referrals. Networking, both in-person and online, will help you build strong contacts that can result in one of these coveted referrals.

Nervous about networking? You shouldn’t be. Effective networking isn’t about selling yourself. Rather, it’s about building relationships in which you provide assistance as frequently as you receive it. If you approach your networking effort as a way to help others, you’ll find it much easier to reach out.

30 Ways to Land a Job In 2010

Posted by Mark in Career on 01 6th, 2010 | no responses

Times are tough and finding a job isn’t exactly an easy thing. Using the same tactics as everyone else isn’t near as effective as it used to be. This calls for getting creative in your job search and tactics to land a job.

You have to stand out to prospective employers to get their attention. Grab their attention in some unconventional ways and you stand a much better chance of being noticed. Otherwise your resume will disappear in a pile along with everyone elses.

Use your imagination and get creative. And most importantly never give up.

Here’s a list of 30 ways to land a job in 2010:

1. Volunteer for an unpaid internship, it may lead to full time work.
2. Build an online portfolio/resume to send potential companies to.
3. Check Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and other social networking sites. They all have jobs that you may not find elsewhere. Read our guide to using Facebook as a job search tool.
4. After a job interview send a thank you note. It will leave a lasting impression.
5. Set Google alerts to watch companies you want to work for. You’ll be quick to know when they are hiring.
6. Find blogs related to the area of work your interested in. A good portion of them will have a job section.
7. Start your own blog and write about your area of expertise. Link to other related blogs.
8. Write guest posts on other blogs and article directories. Again showing your expertise.
9. Figure out what talent makes you different. Make sure it’s known at your interviews.
10. Watch for companies that recently acquired other companies. They will more than likely be hiring.
11. Learn another language. Bilingual people are always in high demand.
12. Make a video resume and put it on YouTube instead of using a written one.
13. Go straight to the source. Contact the CEO or manager directly instead of going through HR.
14. Take a job that you are way overqualified for. It may lead to other opportunities.
15. Make a top 10 list (David Letterman style) of why they should hire you.
16. Make a shirt with your contact info.
17. Start a chain letter with your resume, offer a prize to whoever gets you a job.
18. Make a PowerPoint presentation of your best work, find out if you can bring it in to the interview.
19. Network with interviewers.
20. Use Facebook ads. With millions of people, a well placed ad can make a difference.
21. Make business cards with your resume on it and hand them out.
22. Wear a sign with your contact information and stand out on the street around businesses your interested in.
23. Do some volunteer work that will increase the skills you need.
24. Network with others that are also looking for a job. Both for support and more opportunities.
25. Hand write a letter. Sometimes taking a step back away from technology will make you stand out as most people don’t use these methods.
26. Reverse interview: Call and ask for someone in HR and ask about the company’s vision and goals. Suggest skills of yours that may help.
27. Give ideas of how you think the company could improve.
28. Have your references call after you turn in your resume instead of waiting for them to be called.
29. Don’t just stay at home and look for jobs online. Traditional job hunting ways still yield results. Get out of the house and network as well.
30. Don’t neglect unconventional job search methods.

Those were some of the suggestions from us to you.Feel free to comment on how job hunters can get the most out in 2010. Do you know of anyone who has gone out of their way, or have really tried something unconventional when it comes to job search? Share with us.

WDI Executive Director Visits Washington D.C. – Member of White House jobs forum.

The executive director of Workforce Development, Inc. went to Washington, D.C., for a White House jobs forum on December 3rd.
Randy Johnson was among 130 experts in various fields who shared ideas on the economic recovery and what needs to be done next to improve the U.S. economy.

In the afternoon Randy participated in a breakout session on Preparing Workers and Strengthening Main Street.  The video of that breakout session, including Randy’s contributions, can be found at the link below.

http://www.workforcealliance.org/site/c.ciJNK1PJJtH/b.995605/k.CBB4/Home.htm?tr=y

The session was moderated by Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis and Domestic Policy Council Director Melody Barnes.

Workforce Development, Inc. Executive Director Participating in White House Jobs Forum

Rochester , Minn. , December 1, 2009

Randy Johnson, Executive Director of Southeast Minnesota’s Workforce Development, Inc. will be participating in the December 3, 2009 White House “Forum on Jobs and Economic Growth” .  Approximately 130 national leaders from business, labor and other organizations will participate on six discussion panels.  Topics include “The Innovation Agenda and Green Jobs of the Future.”  Other topics will explore further steps to increase lending to small businesses, make long-term investments in rebuilding infrastructure, encourage exports over consumption, give employers incentives to hire, and train workers for new-generation jobs.

Workforce Development, Inc. (WDI) is an independent, non-profit agency with a long history of serving the needs of job seekers and employers in Southeast Minnesota. WDI is dedicated to developing and advancing the workforce to meet the current and future needs of the ten counties they serve in Southeast Minnesota.

###

CONTACTS:

Randy Johnson

507.292.5180

rjohnson@wfdi.ws

WDI Makes National Report

WDI has been featured in a national publication

The Workforce Strategy Center (WSC) out of New York City has published a report “Employers, Low-Income Young Adults, and Postsecondary Credentials: A practical Typology for Business, Education, and Community Leaders.” The report was funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and features WDI’s Pre-Employment Academies.

WSC did research into more than 100 programs and led them to highlight 14 successful programs across the country. The Pre-Employment Academies were selected based on criteria that included programs that “demonstrated the greatest degree of success in advancing the population into postsecondary education and careers; having substantial employer involvement; and being portable, scalable, and replicable.”

The full report (pdf) is available by clicking here

A hunger for work: Dislocated workers try out culinary program

Red Wing Republican Eagle

By: Mike Longaecker, The Republican Eagle

Pariss Gary helps serve a meal that was prepared by students in a new culinary program.

They may not be ready for “Hell’s Kitchen,” but a group of laid-off workers might have a leg up on others vying for jobs in the food service industry.

Nine people on Tuesday received certificates from a four-week culinary training program at Minnesota State College-Southeast Technical’s Red Wing campus.

Officials say the program will arm select unemployed workers with new skills as they re-evaluate the job market.

“It’s really a great opportunity,” said instructor Tom Skold, a chef at Pepin’s Harbor View Cafe. “Somebody here is going to start a whole new chapter of their life.”

As instructor, Skold introduces students to the basics of food service: handling knives, serving safe food and working in a fast-moving, cramped workspace.

In keeping with the basic instruction, Skold said students don’t have to brace for verbal assaults, popularized on television by chefs like Gordon Ramsay on “Hell’s Kitchen” – one of many shows Skold said has driven interest in culinary programs.

“People can see at least that depiction of what it might be like,” he said Tuesday after a meal cooked and served by the students for invitees at Mississippi National Golf Links.

Students said they welcomed the opportunity to retool.

“This is a total change from what I’m used to,” said Red Wing resident Pariss Gary, who said he had worked for years in the fast-food industry.

The Southeast Tech program launched last month as a partnership between the tech school and Workforce Development Inc.

Randy Long, Workforce Development’s scholarship coordinator, said the organization received federal economic stimulus funding in the spring. The money — about $400,000 in total – was earmarked for training of dislocated workers.

Workforce Development’s board of directors decided on a short-term culinary program. Board member Roy Harley said it’s a good fit for the local market and addresses a work force need.

“There wasn’t another program in this area like this,” Long said.

Southeast Tech was chosen to facilitate the program. Barb Breza, Southeast Tech’s director of continuing education and work force training, said she hopes the program eventually become self-sustaining.

Meanwhile, out-of-work students are receiving free instruction, courtesy of the grant. Breza said the program would otherwise cost up to $1,000, depending on class size.

The next program begins Nov. 9.

WDI on KAALtv – Local Program Helps with Unemployment

Local Program Helps with Unemployment

(ABC 6 NEWS) – Minnesota’s unemployment level took a sharp drop from August, from 8% to 7.3%.

And one local program is one of the many contributing factors to that success.

“I wasn’t sure where I was heading before this program,” said enrollee Amanda Wondrow.

This program is Workforce Development Inc.’s Summer Employment Program.

“This gave us such a huge opportunity to meet the needs,” said Marge Kuethe, Youth Program Coordinator for Workforce Development Inc.

Born out of a 1.4-million-dollar sliver of the economic stimulus, it provided job training and opportunities to young adults and teenagers facing economic or other barriers.

“We were surprised at the number of youth that came to us,” said Kuethe.

In all, 600 people applied for the program.  That’s six times the normal summer load.

“At first I didn’t think much of the program.  It was kind of boring. I had class time. I’m not much of a class guy,” said Program Enrollee Allen McMahan.

When 22-year-old McMahan came to the program, he had been out of work for six months, scraping to get by for his girlfriend, their daughter, and another one on the way.

“When the program came around, it gave me a new door to walk through,” said McMahan.

That door led to a full-time gig at McNeilus Steel, and as of Thursday afternoon, a scholarship to go back to school.

“I honestly didn’t think I’d get the chance to go to college, and now I’ve got the scholarship, I’m enrolled, I’m back on track,” said McMahan.

And he’s not alone.

“This changed my life. I wasn’t sure when I’d be in school before this. I mean, I’d always wanted to, but I never had the chance,” said Wondrow.

Roughly 50% of the program participants have gone back to school, and there’s steady work for another 25%.

“I don’t know how to thank ‘em enough,” said McMahan.

Workforce Development used roughly 75% of the money allocated to it from the stimulus.

They say they still have money left over to help people through the end of this year, but say they’ll be asking the legislature for more money to keep the program going.

Ten Interviewing Rules

By Carole Martin, Monster Contributing Writer

Link

In the current job market, you’d better have your act together, or you won’t stand a chance against the com-petition. Check yourself on these 10 basic points before you go on that all-important interview.

Look Sharp

Before the interview, select your outfit. Depending on the industry and position, get out your best duds and check them over for spots and wrinkles. Even if the company has a casual environment, you don’t want to look like you slept in your clothes. Above all, dress for confidence. If you feel good, others will respond to you accordingly.

Be on Time

Never arrive late to an interview. Allow extra time to arrive early in the vicinity, allowing for factors like getting lost. Enter the building 10 to 15 minutes before the interview.

Do Your Research

Researching the company

before the interview and learning as much as possible about its services, products, customers and com-petition will give you an edge in understanding and addressing the company’s needs. The more you know about the company and what it stands for, the better chance you have of selling yourself. You also should find out about the company’s culture to gain insight into your potential happiness on the job.

Be Prepared

Bring along a folder containing extra copies of your resume, a copy of your references and paper to take notes. You should also have questions prepared to ask at the end of the interview. For extra assurance, print a copy of Monster’s handy interview take-along check-list.

Show Enthusiasm

A firm handshake and plenty of eye contact demonstrate confidence. Speak

distinctly in a confident voice, even though you may feel shaky.

Listen

One of the most neglected interviewing skills is listening. Make sure you are not only listening, but also reading between the lines. Sometimes what is not said is just as important as what is said.

Answer the Question Asked

Candidates often don’t think about whether they are actually answering the questions asked by their interviewers. Make sure you understand what is being asked, and get further clarification if you are unsure.

Give Specific Examples

One specific example of your background is worth 50 vague stories. Prepare your stories before the interview. Give examples that highlight your successes and uniqueness. Your past behavior can indicate your

future performance.

Ask Questions

Many interviewees don’t ask questions and miss the opportunity to find out valuable information. Your questions indicate your interest in the company or job.

Follow Up

Whether it’s through email or regular mail, the follow-up is one more chance to remind the inter-viewer of all the valuable traits you bring to the job and company. You don’t want to miss this last chance to market yourself.

It is important to appear confident and cool for the interview. One way to do that is to be prepared to the best of your ability. There is no way to predict what an interview holds, but by following these important rules you will feel less anxious and will be ready to positively present yourself.