 Are you sleeping through your Job Search?
Over the past year, we’ve worked with a number of clients who, to their surprise and dismay, are experiencing hyper-extended (12 months or more) unemployment. Stated one new client: “I just assumed I’d land a new job in 4 or 5 months. I was sending hundreds of resumes and no one was calling. I’m working part-time at a grocery store in the evenings now, and never expected to be in this position. It’s been 14 months.” While we spotted some fundamental issues with the resume that have helped our client start to see activity, the resume is but one branch of the entire personal marketing campaign of job search. We’ve outlined the 2 key misconceptions of what a resume does below. 2 Things Your Resume Won’t Do 1: Get you a job. A resume gets you an appointment with someone to discuss a job. We have never heard of anyone who received a call from a valid employer saying,” We saw your resume, you start tomorrow.” Think of your resume as a shortened marketing brochure, or expanded calling card. Outline your skills, your history of practical and quantifiable application of those skills, pertinent information that defines your abilities and cultural fit, key achievements, publications, patents – work-related value added information - and that’s it. This is not to say that the resume is not a highly personalized document; it allows you to manage the interview and articulate more effectively by pointing to those topics on which you are an expert, however, the key here is “interview more effectively.” The resume gets you an interview, not a job. 2: Make up for a poorly written cover letter or lack of employer research Excerpt from an interview with Senor Recruiter Paula Goodman of Columbia University (from SixFigureStart) “…Cover letters are important here. They need not be long, but they need to be specifically tailored to the job.” No matter how well-prepared your resume, a generic, “Dear Sir or Madam” cover letter just doesn’t cut it. If you are mass emailing generic cover letters and resumes, stop it. It doesn't work. If you are responding only to Job Boards, and while job posting boards are a good part of your overall campaign, this approach should be only a part of your search strategy, and you must still customize your introductory letter and resume to the position. 87% of new positions are found through a combination of deep research and networking; this is “active” job search as opposed to “passive”. A passive approach is when you put your information out there and hope for a call - it's a deceptive time-eater, and there is little ROI in passive approaches to search. If you focus on very specific companies where you know you are a fit, and watch those companies for career creation events - recent employees who have left, top management changes, new product releases, new facility or leased space transactions, new funding, new contracts, etc.- and then approach with a highly customized letter and resume defining your skills, accomplishments, value proposition and cultural fit, you will not be competing against 500 other people. You may not be competing with anyone at all. If you don't have access to a research database, start with LinkedIn Company information, Yahoo Finance and Google. Dig deep - don't just read the company's website. Study their competitors and approach them too. At RescueResumes.com, we do offer an affordable subscription research service, but these types of full research/CRM databases may not fit in everyone's budget, so if your budget is tight, use the free services and dig. Research the people, participate in a positive and professional way in the groups (face-to-face if possible and web-based) they participate in. Follow them on LinkedIn, Twitter & Facebook, and read what they are reading, understand their pain points and need. Demonstrate your expertise, and watch for an event that signals new opportunities. Then make your case to the most senior level person you can in your functional area with a highly customized cover letter and resume. While doing the above, certainly keep an eye on job boards, and keep in mind that there is often enough information posted for you to take the next step and not only highly customize your response, but do more thorough research on the target as well. Please don't hesitate to ask if you have a question here in the comments section, or want us to write a blog article on a specific question - we love to provide helpful information. Invite us to connect on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook too.  Website of Margo Rose at http://HRMargo.com It started with a lonely Tweet. That’s how Margo Rose describes it. I saw the message. It went by quickly - I noticed it. It was in my stream because I follow Chris Brogan, and I pay attention to what Chris Brogan is checking out. It also got my attention because of frickin’ #FollowFriday. See, on Twitter, #FollowFriday (aka #FF), was, and is, a pain in the butt. I suppose it has its roots in a well-meaning epiphany-message gone horribly viral, just as I suppose there’s an #Everybodyhugatnoon out there that never caught on. Just because we can, doesn’t mean we should people. One day, Chris Brogan wrote, and I am completely paraphrasing here: “Enough with this FollowFriday crap.” I could probably find the original Tweet, but it's Sunday and I have a deadline. Then, as I recall, he echoed Margo Rose’s suggestion of: “how about a #HireFriday instead?” An exasperated crowd-sigh of agreement rustled the twitter leaves. So I re-tweeted. So did those other sighing people. So did, and does, Mr. Brogan. Time forward, the thing has legs and they’re pretty sturdy. About the idea for HireFriday: From a July 2010 interview by TalentCulture Founder Meghan M. Biro with Margo Rose Margo Rose: “I started HireFriday in February of this year to extol the virtues, talents, and strengths of job seekers around the world. Within 3 weeks, HireFriday expanded to The United Kingdom, and now it’s thriving in Canada. I created guidelines for HireFriday to offer suggestions and guidance to recruiters and job seekers alike. When Chris Brogan was on Compassionate HR, we discussed FollowFriday, and how HireFriday is a much better alternative. Brogan said, ‘There was a time when FollowFriday had some traction, in its early inception, people paid attention to the stream, and followed others based the recommendations of trusted friends.” But, in my eyes, it just looks like clutter’.” (Full Interview here) Well Amen to that. I have respectfully jumped on the #HireFriday TweetTrain as long as it continues to take me where I want to go, continuing to provide real value. Real value right now, for job seekers, is free. I spoke with Margo Rose and I want her to succeed, and I believe she will. I want her to create jobs and grow a solution, and I believe that’s what she wants. I also believe her message resonates with a very specific market, one growing larger by seconds and about to boom. And not that you asked, but I also believe Margo Rose needs a sponsor. And an agent, and a great publisher and an editor. (her book is in the works.) Dr. Laura’s slot is empty. How about Margo Rose’s Compassionate HR? I’ll fetch coffee. HireFriday has the potential to be the first, successful web-based, perpetual job-fair, and in that, and in the broad possibilities of HireFriday as a brand, there is a multi-branched revenue model that just may work. It's important for Ms. Rose and Twitter. Moreover, it's important to the participating job seekers. To echo Ms. Rose (and I suspect Mr. Brogan), the message has to stay clean for it to work. The #HireFriday brand is evolving in partnership with some bright community voices with a lot to say, but ultimately, it is a brand with a singular message at its root, a message owned by Ms. Rose since 2009. Smart lady. It’s a good thing and will continue to be a good thing if it remains about one thing: the talent. It is alive with talent. It is a living, moving, recruiting hiring machine with real people who really want to work. Read their messages. #HireFriday. Karen Masullo for RescueResumes.com You can find Karen on her personal stream @OPCGal and the RescueResumes team @ResFix
Think you have a good resume? Take this quick test and see. Answers when you're done. Select Start Test below. Click Submit when finished, and you may wish to Refresh the page when done.  UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT
SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending Aug. 14, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 500,000, an increase of 12,000 from the previous week's revised figure of 488,000. The 4-week moving average was 482,500, an increase of 8,000 from the previous week's revised average of 474,500. The fiscal year-to-date average of seasonally adjusted weekly insured unemployment, which corresponds to the appropriated AWIU trigger, was 5.010 million. The largest increases in initial claims for the week ending Aug. 7 were in California (+4,393), Indiana (+1,999), North Carolina (+1,895), Pennsylvania (+1,626), and Georgia (+1,458), while the largest decreases were in Wisconsin (-1,873), Puerto Rico (-1,014), New Jersey (-688), Utah (-503), and South Carolina (-291). For more, read the official report Very funny sketch starring Alexander Armstrong and Ben Miller. See more at http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00nds07
Relief for Unemployed Job Seekers: Credit Checks Banned in Illinois – Careers Articles
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn signed a new law Tuesday — the Employee Credit Privacy Act — that prohibits employers from using a person’s credit history when it comes to getting a job. The law goes into effect Jan. 1, 2011.... Read Full Article http://andywergedal.wordpress.com/2010/08/12/relief-for-unemployed-job-seekers-credit-checks-banned-in-illinois-careers-articles/ JESS3 / The State of The Internet from JESS3 on Vimeo. Jesse Thomas is the CEO and Founder of JESS3. A creative interactive agency specializing in social media data visualization, JESS3 has architected visual masterpieces and interactive solutions for IBM, Intel, Microsoft, MySpace, Pfizer, Time Warner, NASA, Nestle, Pepsi / Tropicana, the Wall Street Journal and many other blue chip companies.
JESS3 is online at JESS3.com While the Sinopec International Petroleum Exploration and Production Company is indeed a real company, the Nigerian Scam below using this company's credentials is not. This scam recently resurfaced, but has been in circulation in one form or another for about three years. If you would like to read an excellent article and research on these types of scams, please see http://www.worldprivacyforum.org/jobscamreportpt1.html
INTRODUCTION: Ref: TR/EMP/EXP/VOL.IV/2010 Sinopec International Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Nigeria Limited, company based in Lagos, is a Production Sharing Contract (PSC) with NPDC and involves in oil and gas exploration and production activities in Nigeria . Sinopec International Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Nigeria Limited is operating Oil Prospecting Licenses (OPL) with NPDC. We are Legal Labour Consultant/Recruiters to SINOPEC / NPDC, In pursuant to the service contract with our client (SINOPEC / NPDC) wish to invite experienced, skilled and qualified expatriates/persons for the operations of an oilfield in Nigeria this year, Its output is expected to be 200,000 tons, or about 4,100 barrels per day. The Company is the operator of Stubb Creek field in the Niger Delta region and the location of a major oil and gas discovery. It is expected to produce an annual output of 200,000 tons, or about 4,100 barrels per day. This project is located in the Niger Delta region Oil Prospecting License (OPL) 209 and has recoverable offshore reserves of some 760 million barrels of oil. The Niger Delta project has a flexible design basis that will position it for use as a strategic hub for future developments. The project going on in the Federal Republic Of Nigeria, project schedule to commence work in August2010. The programme is the Production and Supply of Crude Oil to different countries, the project involves the Export of Crude Oils. That will aid optimum exploitation and exportation of the crude oil to the different countries. Sinopec International Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Nigeria Limited, with respect to the said project requires expatriates whose services will includes:- Technologist, Geological Technologist / GIS Specialist Geologist, Geophysical Engineer, Geo technical Technician, Technologist (Junior) Geo technical Technologist (Intermediate),GIS Specialist /Analyst, Hydro geologist(Junior)Jr. and Int. Processing Geophysicists , Land processing, Manager (VP) Geo science Mineral Processing Engineer, Permafrost Engineer, Reservoir Engineer, Reservoir Engineers Seismic Driller, Well Site Geologist, Well Site Geologists, Gas, Chemicals, Petrochemicals, Laboratory Acid Supervisor, Gas Business Coordinator, Nitrogen Supervisor, Drilling and Rig, Cement Supervisor Deep Cailed Tubing Supervisor, Derrick and Directional Driller, Drillers, Drilling Engineer Drilling Foreman, Forearm Drillers, Mud Logger, Rig Electrician, Rig Manager, Roughneck Roustabout, Tool pusher, Wire line Operator, Its, Computer Programming, Software and Graphics Analyst Family IT-Infrastructure (System Administration),Application Scripter IT Analyst Communications Spec Sr, Communications Technician, Computer Repair Technician, Illustrator Intermediate Programmer, IT Consultant, IT Consultant - Oracle Financial s, Management, Accounting and Administration. Account Manager, Accountant, Accounting Clerk, Accounting Systems Analyst, Accounts Receivable and Invoicing Clerk Administration Officer, Administrative Assistant-S&O, Administrator Contracts and Customer Accounts Assistant Project Manager, Audit supervisors / senior auditors, Co-op Student Accounting Cost Controllers, Dept Admin, Documentation Manager, Accountants, Admin, Energy Analyst, Executive Assistant Field Administration Clerk / Contract Employment, Finance Analyst, Financial Analyst, HR Administrator HR Coordinator, In-House Counsel (Intermediate),Joint Venture Accountant, Junior Client Services Analyst Land Property Administrator, Land man (to Sr Advisor),Logbook Auditor, Manager Projects Manager, Shareholder Relations (Intermediate),Procurement Specialists (FIDIC Procedures)Quantity Surveyors, Project Managers, Civil Engineers, Construction Managers, Structural Engineers Mechanical Design Engineers and Project Managers, Mechanical Engineer , Gas Treating & Sulfur Recovery Mechanical Engineer, Sub sea Engineer, Integrity Engineer, Offshore, Petroleum Engineer Engineer II/senior engineer, technical information, Engineering Superintendent, Static Equipment Design Rotating Equipment Design, PDS / PDMS Designers, Instrumentation Design Engineers, Process Design Engineers Civil Structural Design Engineers, Auto Cad Operators / Designers, Planning Engineers Highway Design Engineers, Estimating Engineer , Senior, Head Engineer / Team Leader Engineer HVAC, Engineer II, Drafting Coordinator, Drafting Technologist, Draftsman / Checker draftsperson -Structural, Intermediate Exploitation Engineer, Marketing and Commercial Bulk Fuel Marketing, Business Development Managers, Marketing / Sales Managers, Inside Sales Representative Field Sales Representative, Internal Sales / Buyers, Inventory Specialist, Senior SCM Field Rep / Buyer Building and Construction, Carpenter, Steel carpenter, Iron bender, Mason, Civil engineer Construction Site Supervisor, HVAC engineer, HVAC supervisor, HVAC technician, Spray painter, Insulator Scaffold, Tiller, Electrical & Instrumentation, Control System Technologist, Control Systems, Sr Designer Electrical Design Engineers, Electrical Engineer, Electrical Engineer, Electrical supervisor Electrical technician, Instrument engineer, Instrument supervisor, Instrument technician Instrument pipe fitter, Measurement Specialist, Electrical Production Technician, Electrical Engineer Instrument Technician, Lead Engineer, Instrumentation & Controls, Lead Operator ,Lead Project Controls Metering Engineer, Radiographer, Environmental, Health & Safety, Environmental Engineer Environmental Specialist, Environmental Engineer, Environmental Engineer, Environmental Field Technician or Technologist (Junior)Environmental Planner, Hazardous Materials Project Manager (Senior),Hazardous Materials Technician / Technologist (Junior) HAZOP,HSE Assistant, HSE Manager, Mechanical and Heavy Duty Equipment, Crane Operator Heavy Duty Mechanic, IWS TST Rotator Manager, Journeyman and 4th year Mechanics Journeyman Heavy Duty Mechanics And Apprentices, Machinist, Mag Operator, Mechanical engineer Mechanical fitter, Health & Safety Advisor, Mechanical supervisor, Mechanical technician Pumpman, Turbine mechanic, Apprentice & Journeyman Mechanics, Piping, Pipelines, Pipe welder Certified, Pipe welder mate, Structural welder, Structural welder mate, Piping Design Engineers, Plumber Piping Stress Engineers, Marine, Fleet Service Mechanic Helper, Auxiliary and Support Services Cooks, Distribution Analyst, Division Order Analyst-Grade 11,Driver /Operator, Field Facility Operator, Field Operator, Field Service Representative, Field Service Technician, General Laborer / Welders Helper, NE General Laborer, Researcher in Catalyst, Senior Analyst. Full time Interested candidates must have not less than 3 years experience in any of the above listed fields, interested candidates should forward their resumes / CV. On notice of intent, you are expected to forward to this office your application and CV / Resume, so that we can start the process for the engagement of your services. Further More: I wish to reiterate that only qualified applicants will be short listed and contacted for appointment with Project. SCOPE OF THE PROJECT: The exploitation and exportation of crude oil in Niger Delta region. SALARY: $18,000.00- $60,000.00, Monthly, can be transferred to any Bank or Country of your choice and all transfers must be made in conformity with the existing tax situation in Nigeria. CONTRACT DURATION: 48 months (Liable for upward review depending on your commitment and expertise) DURATION OF WORK PERIODS: Three months work, one month pay leave. You will be entitle to Three (3) months upfront salaries and relocation expenses on confirmation of your relevant documentation for commencement of work. We would like to have your detailed resume, if this Offer is acceptable to you together with an application via email attachment and you are to forward it to the below Email address. We await your response in this regard. YOURS SINCERELY, ENGR. XXXXXXXXXXXXXX HUMAN RESOURCES EXPATRIATE ASST. MANAGER Sinopec International Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Nigeria Limited. NPDC Liaison Office 9th Floor, Road Wing Foreshore Towers 2A Osborne road, Ikoyi, Lagos Nigeria. How to Avoid the dreaded typo (whether you are job searching or not):
1. Start your document, blog post, LinkedIn profile, Google profile etc. in Word or a like application. Check your Document Review settings - make sure you do not have options set to ignore words in Caps or other terms. Spell- and Grammar-check. 2. Do not automatically accept word processor suggestions: Somewhere, out there today, is a major proposal that has the word "seamy" where "seamlessly" should have been. Really changed the meaning of the paragraph. 3. Copy your text into Notepad to strip underlying formatting & HTML that may create issues if you are pasting into a CMS. 4. Copy and paste using a Browser that has a spell-check option. 5. Used web-based resources if you are in doubt of spelling or meaning of a word. http://www.wordcentral.com/ from Miriam-Webster is a good, free tool. There are many others. 6. Have an objective party review whenever possible, or set the work aside for at least a couple of hours so you may review it with "fresh" eyes. 7. Hire the great folks at RescueResumes and be done with it! |