It’s an important skill to be able to look objectively at one’s experiences and be able to learn from them. Having the openness to learn from the experience of others is equally key and will often help to shorten your learning curve. Sometimes, when looking for work, it is useful to read about the experience of others and adapt their actions and findings to your own job search.

This job seeker in Kansas City found, in addition to traditional job search techniques, that a search of LinkedIn for a specific job title was very worthwhile. When writing his cover letter, he explains, he tried to show some of the research he had done on the company and aligned his experience to show why he’d be successful in the position. Part of his tailored résumé included some bullet points to show why he was prepared for the job – even before getting the job!

Reading about experiences such as these is a good way to get new ideas or to help frame up some of your own ideas that are percolating in the back of your mind. Thinking, researching, and learning from others will help in your job search. Like the squirrels, learning through observation is an effective way to absorb information about what is most important in our lives.

There is no argument that connecting with employers in person is a critical part of job searching. Networking with companies and individuals is very important. Nevertheless, one should also be making as much use of available technology as possible. With many employers looking for new hires through the internet and social media, it’s certainly worth the effort to use different technologies where appropriate.

Many thousands of apps for smart phones and tablets exist and it turns out that not all of them involve hurling brightly colored fowl game at taunting swine. Pocket Résumé allows job seekers to create résumés on their devices using a form style of creation within the app. Its capability to make quick document changes would be helpful when applying for different types of jobs. Apps such as this allow for connection with LinkedIn and other professional networking sites.

The résumés one creates can be stored virtually in a number of ways, from free email services like Hotmail or Gmail to storage specific services such as Dropbox. The point (and advantage) of storing one’s résumés and cover letters in such a manner is that it allows a person to access and forward their documents remotely, should an unexpected job opportunity arise.

It’s important to tailor and customize your applications for jobs; effective use of tools such as these can provide a competitive edge when looking for work.

When looking at opportunities, it’s important to weigh pros and cons. The crystal ball is not always clear when a person is presented with choices. A couple of different job offers could manifest themselves or one could be currently employed and deciding whether to change jobs.

Choosing between two alternatives with different benefits inevitably creates a psychological dilemma. Selecting one means giving up the advantages of the other, so people often have a hard time. On a small scale, it’s like deciding whether to have a double cheeseburger or a sensible salad for dinner. No matter the choice, something is gained and something is lost.

To help structure your decision making, try this simple exercise. First, make a comprehensive list of all the factors important to you in a job; pay, interesting work, competent management, and so forth. For each position, rate these factors on a 1-to-5 scale or whatever you’ve chosen. Give added weight to any that are especially critical. Once this is done, compare the scores.

Viewing the ratings side-by-side can give you a better idea of how different jobs stack up. Try to assess the situation and choose the path that appears headed toward the most desirable future. Ultimately, it’s important to recognize that a person can only make the best decision possible with what information is available at the time.

It is essential to create a résumé that targets specific skills, education and experience from your background that relates to the job you are applying for. Identifying transferable skills is just as important, this could show employers that even though you may not have done that exact type of job in the past, it may give them and idea of what your potential may be. It is perfectly acceptable to experience a learning curve going into a new job.

Since you will be addressing or targeting specific skills, education or experience according to job qualifications, this of course leads to the obvious which is, you will create several different résumés during the course of your job search. The goal is to catch and maintain the employer’s interest from the moment they start reading your résumé. Try to avoid having irrelevant and unrelated information or placing crucial information too far into the résumé that it gets overlooked.

The time and effort put into your résumé and job search is an investment in your own future. Not only will you create great résumés, but the obvious result will be more positive feedback from employers in the form of job interviews. This effort will help you stand out as a competitive and qualified candidate and will enable you to be matched with better quality employers, create job stability, and even potential for higher wages. There is a direct correlation between the quality of job search you do, to the quality of employment you may find.

1. Personal Development / Job Readiness Employment Program
2. Literacy Upgrading / Trades component
3. Work Experience / Job Development / Mentoring

A unique aspect of this initiative is that it gives back to the community.  To enhance the trade occupational skills of participants, a construction project is established within the community and the participants, as part of the 16-week program, work on the construction project in partnership with a municipality, town, or local non-profit group that requires assistance.  This partnership has proven to be a win-win relationship and very beneficial to the participants as well as the community.

Enterprise Centre of Hants County is currently seeking to fill a contract position (as per external funding) for an Academic Essential Skills Instructor.

Description:

Working closely with the Project Coordinator and Work Site Coordinator, the Academic Essential Skills Instructor will deliver Essential Skills instruction. The program accommodates 12 – 15 participants and classroom instruction will be delivered the first 12 weeks of each session. Main responsibilities are to conduct individual Learning Assessments, deliver Essential Skills training, and using Adult Learning Principles, develop and modify curriculum accommodating all learning levels.

Hours:  30 hours per week / 13 weeks total

Rate of Pay:  $20.00 per hour

Start Date:  March 26, 2012

End Date:  June 22, 2012

Note: Pending further funding, this position may continue.

Please apply in person, by fax, or email applications to:

Rhonda Cox, Project Coordinator

Jump Start to Trades Program

Enterprise Centre of Hants County

80 Water St PO Box 2788

Windsor NS   B0N 2T0

T 902.792.2212

F 902.798.6644

Email: rcox@peopleworx.ca

Deadline for Applications: March 16, 2012

We are currently seeking applicants to fill for FUTURE positions located at the J.D. Irving Truro Sawmill

Labourers

 The successful candidate will have experience as a general labourer.  Individual must be a self-starter and team player.  The willingness to work varied shifts is required.  This is a site wide position, where the individual will work in a variety of areas.  Duties include: cleaning up, handling and lifting materials, as well as general labourer responsibilities.  The candidate must be hardworking with a strong work ethic.

 If you are interested in pursuing this opportunity, please send your resume to:

www.jdirving.com/careers

 No phone calls please.

That's a good question.

In the majority of job interviews, the folks on the other side of the table will ask this question at some point – usually at the beginning of your discussion.

It’s a vague, open ended question. The content of your response is important but the interviewer also cares about the confidence and enthusiasm in which you answer the question. A well spoken answer will help demonstrate good self-awareness and self-esteem.

It is always good to speak about professional accomplishments when answering this question. Trying to answer by talking about how your experiences and skills will help the company for whom you are being interviewed is always a good idea. Here are some suggestions with which you can start your answer:

“In the past few years, I have …”

“My personal philosophy is…”

“People who know me best say that I’m…”

“My passion is…”

These are just some sample ways to start your answer. The key is to think how you will follow up each answer with relevant, interesting, and concise explanations. Keeping the attention of the interviewer is important and being able to phrase your answer in a creative manner is one way to accomplish that goal.

Join us on Tuesdays.

Job Club is a great opportunity to practice your networking and job search skills. It is intended to be a safe and hopefully beneficial environment to practice important job search characteristics such as your 30 second commercial, effective listening skills, asking for business cards, and so forth. Practice, collaborate, and increase your comfort level!

The next Job Club will be on March 12th at 9 am. Starting on March 19, Job Club will be at 10 am on Mondays

Stay for five minutes, ten minutes, an hour – whatever makes you comfortable. No need to sign up ahead of time but feel free to call us at 896-3674 if you would like more information.

CONVERGYS NEW GLASOW IS NOW HIRING FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE REPS

NOW HIRING FOR

MARCH 19TH CLASS DEADLINE TO APPLY IS MARCH 2nd

LIMITED SPACES AVAILABLE

NEW STARTING WAGE IS $11.15 PER HOUR

+ EARN AN EXTRA $1.30 PER HOUR WITH OUR PAY FOR PERFORMANCE INCENTIVES!

NO SALES INVOLVED!

Convergys is currently looking for great individuals to join our team in New Glasgow as Inbound Customer Service Associates. We’re looking for individuals who can work between the hours of 8am-10pm

Monday to Saturday. No Sundays! All positions are full time.

Customer Service Associates are responsible for answering inbound calls from members of the healthcare community such as doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers who have questions regarding patient management, patient eligibility and billing. Outbound calling may be required only for following up with a previous inquiry. There are no outbound sales.

We’re looking for individuals who have:
•At least 1 year of experience in customer service (i.e., retail, food service, or contact centre)
•Completion of High School or Equivalent (additional customer service experience may be considered)
•Working knowledge of a PC specifically navigating on the internet and in Microsoft Office
•High energy and a positive attitude
•Commitment to providing customer service
•Excellent customer service , problem solving and communication skills
•The ability to multi task in a fast paced environment
•Flexibility for scheduling during operating hours (including holidays)
•A Criminal Record check will be completed upon offer of employment
•At least 18 years of age or older

At Convergys we offer:
•A base pay rate plus incentives based on performance – No Outbound Sales
•Shift Differentials
•Opportunities for Advancement – 90% of management started as agents
•Excellent Health and Dental and Vision Benefits
•Tuition Reimbursement- up to $2500/year
•Great Location – On Free Parking
•RRSP Program
•2 Weeks Paid Vacation
•Casual Dress Environment
•Great Employee Referral Program

You get a rush from doing your job well.
WE CAN RELATE.
But you also think it”s pretty cool when other people notice your impact too. We couldn’t agree more. So, what”s your motivation to succeed at Convergys? How about the great incentives we give top performers, or the fact that 90% of our current managers are promoted from within?

We”re Convergys, masters at helping great companies be even better through the proven power of relationship management. We believe in providing customer service that actually serves our customers, and careers that reward our employees” dedication and performance. Sound like big ideas you can support? WE CAN RELATE.

APPLY ONLINE TODAY! www.convergys.com/careers and select the New Glasgow location.
For Information Call: (902) 753-3005 or 753-3003

Fax 902-753-3088 attention Recruiting

Drop by 610 East River Road between the hours of 9am and 4pm Monday to Friday with your resume

Brainstorm, collaborate, and share ideas!

Free employment workshops will be held in February. Feel free to drop in at these times or call 896-3674 if you would like to sign up ahead of time.

Job Searching Ideas: March 15th, 9:00am

Résumés & Cover Letters: March 15th, 11:00am

Interview Skills: March 15th, 2:00pm

Detailed descriptions of the workshops can be found here.

Job Searching

Many people describe looking for work as a full time job in and of itself – and they’re right. Combing job search websites, writing résumés, and networking with employers takes a lot of organization and persistence.

The American television show 60 Minutes profiled a newly formed job search program in Connecticut that’s helping people who have been out of work for extended periods since the beginning of the economic downturn in that country. The segment does a good job of exploring a lot of the reasons and impacts (not all of them visible) of sudden unemployment. Here’s the link to that video.

An article from the Toronto Sun talks about the overuse of certain buzzwords and how including them in one’s résumé can actually be a detriment. That article can be found here.

No matter the country, the effects of unemployment seem to be universal. Being able to mitigate them is the key.

Intelligent Debate.

by Amanda Nicholson – Gen Y Impact on the workplace is only going to increase in the coming years, so shouldn’t we get to know them now? 

Gen Y or individuals born between 1980 and 2000 are potentially faced with stereotypes and prejudice when facing the job market. Older generations may have misperceptions on how Gen Y views work. So, for a little clarity let discuss some of them now. 

• All of Gen Y is Tech Savvy: Myth!

It might seem like all of Gen Y is tech savvy to older generations. However, the truth is that very few of Gen Y people are real technology geniuses. Simply put, Gen Y came to age with technology.  It’s important to note that Gen Y is more technology dependent than any previous generation. 

• Gen Y View Themselves as Entitled: Myth!

As a whole, Gen Y does not view themselves as entitled; they however do feel the need to communicate how they feel about their work environment and their job. They also talk to each other about their wages, bonus, and benefits for working with a specific company.  It is not uncommon for them to be glued to their Smartphones or to be surfing Social Media Networks. 

• Gen Y Seeks Glory: Myth!

Generation Y went to school in an education system built on group projects and assignments; as a result they often function better part of a team. They however, love recognition – being told they did a good job!  

• Gen Y is Expects Diversity: Truth!

Generation Y expects to see diversity within the workplace and workforce. This is the generation that has been taught to view everyone the same. In fact, they view differences as a non-issue. They are also the generation behind the green movement. They expect to see social change and support from their employers. 

• Gen Y is Not Afraid of Change within their Career: Truth!

It is not uncommon for Gen Y to work for a number of different organizations throughout their career. It is also true that Gen Y may change careers 2 to 5 times in their lifetime. The belief is: “I show my job love by how hard I work, not how long I stick around (Chulik, CareerBuilder: 2011).” 

Useful Tools.

by Mike Francis – It doesn’t matter what field you work in these days, there seems to be a plethora of information, misinformation, and opinion about how to use technology for an effective job search.  We have found some blogs that hit the nail on the head with their how-to guides and would love to share them with you.  Blogs.com has a top 10 of job search blogs that offer tips and tricks for several different fields. 

About.com has a very good blog on reasons for and against blogging as a tool for job search.  One nice add-on to this blog entry is that it is good to learn from other people’s mistakes.  Use the “what not to do” section as a warning that you must be careful in cyberspace when putting your ideas in such a permanent venue.

Canadajobs.com also posts information to their blog specifically tailored to Canadians.  I like this one, because it is difficult to find good Canadian content on job search. 

Other blogging tools for the eager job searcher are using Twitter, blogger.com, and LinkedIn to share your job search experience and your own tips.  Web 2.0 is full of opportunity to learn and share and should not be overlooked.

Blogs are a wonderful tool to use for your job search if you screen them well.  Try to filter your blog search by region or at least by country and then by industry.  The more narrow your focus, the more reliable your results will be.  Save your favourites and visit them regularly to ensure that you utilize them as effectively as possible.

Don’t forget the impact CareerworksNova’s blog has on Truro job searchers.  We post a lot of information that is very helpful to you the Truro/Colchester resident.  The staff here is always looking for more information to help you so try to stay up to date with us as much as you can.  Our Job Developer is actively searching, posting and reposting great tips and information to give you the skills and advantage you need to move into that next great job.

We look forward to bringing you more every month, so keep visiting.

Cheers

Interactive and Fun! Next Steps.

This month, CareerworksNova will be offering two sessions designed to practice new ideas using job search tools. These sessions are titled Next Steps because they are intended to provide participants with an environment to practice and refine their skills.

Next Steps: Active Résumé Writing. In this session, we will be learning and using Microsoft Word to create a new résumé or refine your existing document. Please feel free to bring your own laptop – there will be lots of working space.

Next Steps: Online Job Searching. This day, we will focus on creating and using an email account in an effective manner. Then we will practice using the internet as a tool for job searching.

These sessions are scheduled for 2 hours and will be held in March. Please call 896-3674 if you wish to register ahead of time or drop in to the centre at 60 Lorne Street, 2nd floor – look for our big blue and green sign near the street!

Waiting is the hardest part.

Getting called for an interview is one of the most exciting things to happen during a job search (second only to being told “You’re Hired!”). However, there have been occasions when communication between the employer and applicant breaks down. This may leave one to wonder if they did something wrong, if they missed an instruction, or if the employer simply vanished from the face of the planet.

A lot of employers use email, if not for initial contact, then at least to confirm interview times and for follow up. With the volume of applicants for many jobs, it is not realistic for an employer to contact every single person that applies for the role. In many cases, however, it is common courtesy for an employer to follow up with each person whom they interviewed – even if they were not the successful candidate.

Nevertheless, employers are human too, and sometimes steps do get missed. For example, if you’ve been asked by a prospective employer to send them more information (say, school marks or a driving abstract), it’s not considered impolite to send a follow up email to see if the documents were received.

If you’ve had a face-to-face interview and haven’t heard from the employer in a reasonable time frame (that’s why asking “When do you think you’ll be making a decision?” in the interview is valuable), it is perfectly acceptable to contact the employer. If you do, take this opportunity to reiterate your enthusiasm and point out your key strengths. Being told one way or the other if you got the job is often preferable to not knowing the outcome.

Standing out is key.

This article  from AOL makes some very good points about using all available tools when job searching. In particular, I really like the idea of incorporating a QR code into an application.

With the integration of social media and the internet into just about everything we do, job seekers are no longer bound by a two page resume to describe and demonstrate their skills.

Linking to a website, a Twitter feed, or a YouTube channel are just some of the ways that a person can communicate their background to potential employers. The author, Justin Thompson from CareerBuilder.com, shows how these technologies can give a person an edge when looking for work.

Social media is of utmost importance.

Stating that “Social media is the new 24/7 job fair…” mbaonline.com emphasizes the fact that social media is a huge part of job searching. Click this link for a view of the full infographic.

It's 2012!

CareerworksNova is excited to offer some new resources for people seeking employment!

On January 18th and 26th at 10:00am, there will be sessions for job seekers interested in learning some computer based skills to enhance their job search. These sessions are part of our new Next Steps series of workshops. Details can be found here. Our regular workshops will be held on January 11th.

This blog will continue to be updated with new and interesting items relating to job searching. At the Centre, inquire about our Job Board offering a partial list of local job opportunities.

Look us up on Facebook and Twitter for resources via social media. A full list of our services can be found here.

Drop by and see us at 60 Lorne Street, call us at 893-6859, or email guym@careerworksnova.ca

Growing by leaps & bounds, unsurprisingly.

As a follow up to our blog post several months ago on the subject of appropriate measures for online job searching using social networking, here are excerpts of an article that appeared on Thomson Reuters this morning. The entire article, written by Natasha Baker, can be found here.    

By Natasha Baker

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Facebook, the social networking site, is probably not the first place that comes to mind when contemplating new career opportunities. But Monster.com, the career search website, hopes to change that with BeKnown, a professional networking app that allows users to build their professional identities within Facebook.

“People are spending so much of their time on Facebook and at the same time companies are trying to find creative and productive tools to connect with potential talent,” said Tom Chevalier, global product manager for Monster Worldwide.

With BeKnown jobs are displayed based on a user’s work experience and network connections. When the app identifies a potential job the user can state their interest, which is relayed to the employer using information from the profile. Within the app users can earn badges, or visual emblems, based on their work experiences, accomplishments and strengths from the site or from colleagues to serve as aids for recruiters to highlight their accomplishments.

“You can have your connections giving you a skill endorsement, which is really a stamp of approval,” said Chevalier.

Launched in June, the app has been updated to introduce college pages for users to network with past alumni and to find jobs that have been posted by them. Chevalier said that it’s important that BeKnown maintain an explicit divide between a user’s social and professional lives by keeping the two networks entirely separate.

“That’s really important, both for users’ expectations of social networking versus what they might want to do as professionals, but also to establish boundaries that people can feel comfortable with,” he explained.

The updated app also lists jobs directly on a company’s Facebook pages. Similar apps for Facebook include BranchOut, which was released last year. BeKnown has been configured to work with iPhone and Android.

The "A-ha!" moment.

In speaking to employers daily, one of the main points mentioned to us is that they often receive dozens or even hundreds of unsolicited résumés. Yet few of those documents grab their attention. The problem lies in that there is often little or no preparation work or follow up performed by the job seeker. 

Their point is that the purpose of a good unsolicited résumé is to open the door on a face-to-face meeting with the hiring manager. Taking the initiative to research the company and its people before making the application is key, as is doing some follow up in a professional manner. 

Researching the company for whom you want to work helps a great deal. It offers a person the opportunity to start a discussion with an employer on a human level – be it over the phone or in person. Some employers have said that in this age of email-only résumé collection and online job boards, the concept of face time gets lost in the virtual world. 

While a company may say to only send a résumé to an inbox, it’s the candidates who can find a way to get in personally that tend to get extra consideration on their application. For example, finding out who is the actual hiring person and addressing that name on a cover letter may be the sole differing factor in your résumé and the others that they receive. Standing out (in a good way) is very important. 

Try calling the hiring manager or other key human resources professionals. Ask for a short meeting to find out what positions may forthcoming or to get more details about a specific posting and its requirements. The worst that can happen is that they decline and if so, at least you have made an effort. Because of this action, your name may stand out when the employer whittles down the applicants to be called for an interview.

Just some housekeeping items.

Please note that starting on December 12^th, clients will be asked to show identification in order to access documents that are stored on the CareerworksNova server (résumés, cover letters, etc). 

We are implementing this procedure in order to protect privacy. If you have any questions, please contact us at 893 – 6859 or csn@careerworksnova.com. Thank you.