Where Are The Jobs?

Where Are The Jobs?

If you are in career transition you are discovering that landing your next job may not happen within a matter of days or weeks or months or even years! There are many factors that will determine your success and reduce the length of your job search including a daily commitment, as finding a job is a full time job! Additionally, a carefully and methodically planned job search strategy should be reviewed and implemented with one key question in mind, “Where are the jobs”?

Close to 90% of recruiters are utilizing social media in 2011 to source potential candidates. Since they have the jobs, you need to be there. Establishing and maintaining a professional online presence utilizing Linkedin, Twitter and Facebook is a key job search strategy. In addition to networking online it is also imperative to network in person with no less than 2-3 meetings per day and at least that many per week attending professional networking groups. The likelihood that networking will be key to finding your next job is greater than any other job search strategy and it could take months off the length of your job search!

The number of online jobs continue to rise but use your time sparingly searching online job boards as it is not where the jobs are. At least not the majority of jobs. Although many positions can be found, recruiters have a more vested interest in enticing employers and other organizations to utilize their services for a substantial fee than using it to find potential candidates. It has been suggested that the success rate in securing a position from online job boards is approximately 4% so invest your time wisely by ensuring your professional resume is posted on all job search sites and updating it daily since your chances of being found will be greater than that of finding a job.

Dramatic changes in the economy and the rise and fall of various industries have impacted career directions around the globe. Job seekers are encouraged as employers are recognizing the value of transferable skills as well as the confidence and initiative required to successfully pursue a new career path. Of course success will be related to choosing the industry that will take you to where the jobs are. It would not be considered a prudent decision at this time to transition from Finance to Manufacturing or from mobile to land line technology so stay current with changing trends and technologies, economic conditions and business news to increase job opportunities. Be sure your qualifications meet the requirements of the position you are applying for to avoid extending your job search any longer than necessary.

Where are the jobs? Hidden, which is why networking is the best job search strategy with the best results.

Where are the jobs? Recruiters and HR professionals are trying to fill them and 89% are utilizing social media to search for potential candidates. Will they find you?

Where are the jobs? The upswing of many industries and evolving technologies will indicate where the jobs are so stay current and use the knowledge to assist in paving the way toward a long and successful career.

Reevaluate your job search strategies and ensure your path is leading you to where the jobs are especially this summer when most of your competition have decided to drop out of the job search race.

The Career Collective is an online community of expert career advisers and resume writing professionals. Each month these experts provide valuable information, Collaboratively Helping Job Seekers to gain the competitive edge necessary to succeed in the current job market. For professional advice in your job search visit:

4 Summer Strategies to Step Up Your Job Search, @DebraWheatman
Putting Your Job Search Up On The Rack For Inspection, @dawnrasmussen
Mid-Year Job Search Checkup: Are you wasting your time? @GayleHoward
What is your unique value proposition? @keppie_careers
It is Time for Your Check-up Ms/Mr Jobseeker, @careersherpa
Mid-Year Career Checkup: Are You “On Your Game?” @KatCareerGal
How to Perform a Mid-Year Job Search Checkup, @heatherhuhman
Reposition your job search for success, @LaurieBerenson
Mid-Year Job Search Checkup: What’s working and What’s not? @erinkennedycprw
Mid-Year Job Search Check-Up: Getting Un-Stuck, @JobHuntOrg
Mid-Year Check Up: The Full 360, @WalterAkana
5 Tips for Fighting Summer Job Search Blues, @KCCareerCoach
Are you positive about your job search? @DawnBugni
Where Are The Jobs? @MartinBuckland, @EliteResumes
Mid-Year Job-Search Checkup: Get Your Juices Flowing, @ValueIntoWords
When Was Your Last Career & Job Search Check Up? @expatcoachmegan
Is Summer A Job Search Momentum Killer? @TimsStrategy
Is It Time for Your Resume Checkup? @barbarasafani

Don’t make these mistakes on your resume

A mistake on your resume is all the potential employer is looking for to send your resume to the recycle bin. As a potential candidate, you may feel you are the perfect choice but initially you will likely be represented as simply one of many resumes. Due to the number of candidates, the selection process is not always one of "finding a needle in a haystack" but getting rid of the hay to find the needle. It is a process of elimination which will be done quickly and require little cause to reduce the numbers to those which will be manageable in scheduling job interviews. It is imperative to understand these mistakes on your resume could seriously impact your career.

Age – Sex – Marital Status

These personal details have no place on a resume in North America or in most other countries. Any mention and your resume will likely to be discounted from further reading. Since this information has absolutely no impact on your ability to perform the job, it is considered discriminatory and should remain personal.

Political & Religious Affiliations

Leave them out! Although age discrimination is decreasing people will always discriminate for religious or political reasons. It’s none of their business, so why place an obstacle in your way? As much as you don't want to be discriminated against, no potential employer wants to risk the accusation.

Hobbies

If your hobbies aren’t relevant to your career, leave them off. It’s information an employer doesn’t need to see. Again, your personal hobby could influence the reader on a personal level rather than professional, which is discrimination.

Volunteer Work – Community Involvement

Increasingly potential employers and recruiters are seeking people who participate in community activities and give their time for free. It says a lot about your character. However, if your volunteer work is related to religion or politics leave it out.

Employer Information

Including the name of your Manager and direct Supervisor and their contact details is not necessary. It has no relevance to your hiring. If the employer requires this information at the interview stage they will ask.

References

“References Available Upon Request” is a term which is severely outdated and simply a waste of space. It’s automatically assumed that you have a list of references which should be available on a separate reference sheet and taken with you to the job interview.

Remuneration

Your salary and bonus expectations are not required. Too high or too low, either could be a reason to eliminate you as a candidate or allow the potential employer to slot you into other positions that may not be of interest. Do not include any financial expectations in your resume.

Typos, outdated terminology and skills, lack of quantifiable achievements and too many pages are further mistakes on your resume that could send it to the recycle rather than securing a job interview. For further information on presenting a professional resume that is sure to get you recognized as a potential candidate, contact Elite Resumes for a free resume critique from Martin Buckland, Certified Professional Resume Writer.

How many resumes do you have?

Although you may choose to offer a resume with differing tag lines or a reworded "Projective", you really only have one resume when sharing your career history and your education. There is no room for any lack of consistency regarding titles, dates or degrees as facts are facts. You either worked for the company during that time period or you didn't! You attended a specific education facility and acquired a diploma or you didn't. If you choose to write more than one resume you could be risking your credibility whether intentional or not. A typo on a graduation date that varies from one resume to another could be conceived as an attempt to misrepresent the facts.

HR professionals and recruiters consider potential candidates for many reasons including experience, education, testimonials, personality and referrals. In addition to every qualification an employer is seeking there is one critical element, CREDIBILITY! If you are sending out resumes without consistent information you are jeopardizing that credibility. If you have created your Linkedin profile and it consists of varying information from the resume that a potential employer is verifying, you will eliminate yourself as a candidate. Your resume shows you were the VP but your Linkedin profile, which is linked to the company clearly shows you were a Manager. It will be an easy decision not to waste any more time if the facts are not clear.

The wide range of online information pertaining to individuals and companies available on Linkedin, Twitter and Facebook are being utilized by recruiters and HR professionals to seek out and verify potential candidates. Your name, personal brand, career history and education must all be consistent and verifiable. Any variances could be construed as a misrepresentation. Review your resumes and your online profiles to ensure your brand and career history are clearly and concisely represented. If you have a professional resume, simply cut and paste the applicable information to your online profiles to ensure accuracy.

Contact Elite Resumes for a free resume critique from Martin Buckland, Certified Professional Resume Writer.

Personal or Corporate Branding and Authenticity

One loud voice and millions of unheard voices is a fair analysis of years gone by but social media is changing everything from the political landscape to corporate social responsibility. Transparency and accountability; genuine, authentic and legitimate; these are the attributes that social media has unearthed and placed at the forefront in the success of your business, professional career or political aspirations. The availability of shared information is extensive and the spotlight must shine on a verifiable, engaging personal or corporate brand. A brand displaying an openness to communication, engagement and the testimonials to further secure credibility. A successful brand is not achieved simply by a well worded mission statement, it requires actions and accomplishments that will back it up.

A Divah.com post, Social Media as Corporate Whistleblower follows up on a Tim Horton's corporate social responsibility initiative with 3BL Media which appears to be all talk and no action. We can be assured that the increase in available online information and the social media spotlight will show the credibility or lack of credibility for all initiatives.

How Much is Superior Service Worth to Customers?, by Kimberly Weisul reports on a survey by American Express which is one more example of the ease of sharing information, acquiring feedback and clear expectations from a global client base.

Social Media was described in April 2008 by Joseph Thornley as follows;

"Social media are online communications in which individuals shift fluidly and flexibly between the role of audience and author. To do this, they use social software that enables anyone without knowledge of coding, to post, comment on, share or mash up content and to form communities around shared interests."

The perspective of millions is now being shared rather than that of a small percentage of authors. The increase in our knowledge base is phenomenal. An established social media presence can provide an abundance of connections with satisfied customers, friends, past employers, groups, family, education, interests, organizations, successes, expertise, colleagues, recruiters, companies and more. If consistent and verifiable, you can be assured of an authentic personal or corporate brand.

Keywords are Key is Here!

Keywords are Key is Here!

Keywords are key to having your resume noticed! With the increasing prevalence of scanning technology, employing keywords in a resume to attract maximum attention – by a human and/or computer scanner – has become a critical component of building an attention getting resume. Keywords are the terms deemed by the employer to represent the essential job attributes. Each industry and profession has specific keywords. Companies and recruiters are searching resumes for specific keywords and key phrases to find the candidates with the skills, qualifications and expertise to fulfill the job requirements. Incorporating keywords into a resume and cover letter help you to secure optimum attention and outperform your competition.

The keywords you select should portray your Value Proposition and match what the employer is seeking. Incorporating job specific and employer pertinent keywords in the top third of page 1 of your resume significantly elevates your chances of attracting the employers’ interest in your candidacy. How do you find the “right” keywords to secure maximum attention? Utilize your knowledge of the company, profession, industry and review online postings of similar positions. Each profession has the potential for hundreds of keywords. With the prevalence of electronic search capability, failure to incorporate the “right” keywords is not an option!

The top 48 keywords are listed for each of the following professions:

Accounting

Administration

Customer Service

Engineering

Finance

General Management

Hospitality

Human Resources

Information Technology

Legal

Law Enforcement

Manufacturing

Marketing

Not For Profit / Association Management

Operations

Public Relations / Corporate Communications

Purchasing

Real Estate / Property Management

Retail

Sales

Supply Chain Management / Logistics

Teaching / Academic

Review each list of keywords to find out how you could win a free resume from a Certified Professional Writer!

Contact Elite Resumes for a free resume critique from a Certified Professional Resume Writer.