Thursday, April 19, 2012

Conducting your Job Search on the Internet


Conducting your Job Search on the Internet


I.                   Why the Internet?
A.   Provides a specific search for the preferred job.
B.    Less Messy
C.   More up to date than the newspaper
D.   Allows you to view the job posting date.
E.    The majority of postings will allow you to electronically respond to the advertisement immediately via email.
F.    Provides a variety of job search engines (different search sites), rather than one newspaper.

II.                List of Job Search Engines

A.   www.monster.com

E.    www.dice.com

III.             Conducting a Internet Job Search

A.   Open your internet access site
B.    Choose the job search engine you would like to use
C.   Type the address of the search engine on the top of the page in the “address line” (i.e. www.monster.com)
D.   Double click on search jobs
E.    You will now be in the “Monster Job Search” page.
F.    You will see a window called  “Enter Key Words”
G.   Enter some of the skills you would like to use in your next position, or the position title you would like to have.  (For example:  If I were to do a job search for an administrative assistant, I might type the words “administrative, word, excel”)
H.   Next you will be asked to “Enter Location”,  here, is where you specify WHERE you would like to find a job.  There are a couple of cities listed in each state, so choose the city that is closest to the town you would like your job to be located.  (NOTE)  If you want to search for a job in more then one area or state, hold down the Control Key “Ctrl” and click each area you are interested in.  For example, if I was looking for a job within 25 miles of Woburn, I would click on “Massachusetts, Boston North, Boston, and Framingham/Worcester” .
I.       Next, you will be asked to select a “Job Category”, you have two choices here…  You may enter “select all” (this will list all the jobs that have the key words you have specified in the job description) OR you may select the types of jobs you are interested in.  HOWEVER, if you decide to select a specific occupation or occupations (just hold the control key down), the jobs in your occupation will only show up in your search if they contain your “buzz” words.  Sometimes it’s safe to just use “Select All”. If you have a numerous amount of Jobs come up in your search, then you can filter them down by selecting a Job Category.
J.      Next you will be asked how you would like the computer to “Sort Results By”.  You will be given the option of “Date” or “Key word Relevance”.  ALWAYS choose “Date”.  (this will list all the job postings in descending order from most recent to outdated)
K.   Your last step…  Double click Get Results.

A.  Now you have your list of Job Results.  (You will see that each job shows    you the DATE it was posted, the JOB TITLE, the COMPANY, and the LOCATION of the position.

B.    You may scan down your list of Job Postings and double click on each Job Title you are interested in.
C.   Each of the Job Titles will be Blue in color.
D.   Every time you click on a Job Title, a large description of the job will appear on the screen.  Read the job description.  If you are interested in the job, you may want to print it out for your keeping.  Also, keep a log of your own of all the jobs you are interested in, the names of the companies, and the contact information.
E.    This screen will also give you the option to Apply Now.  You may apply to the position by double clicking the “Apply Now” button and filling out the required information.  HOWEVER, you must be a member of Monster to Apply electronically.  (We will go over this at the end of the seminar).  But for now, just take the Company name, job title and Location, and start with that.  A phone number, fax number or email address may be included in the description and this will make your company contact a little easier, but if they are not included… Befriend your yellow pages, www.yellowpages.com, or 411 to find the phone number of your company.  When you call your company, ask for the name, number, and email address of the correct person to send resumes to for this position.
F.    Once you see the description of one of your jobs, and you wish to go back to your list of job positions, simply click the button at the top left hand of your computer screen < BACK
G.   At the bottom of the screen, you may see Page 1 –2 –ect….next, this simply means that there is more then one page of job listings to view, and once you have viewed all the listings on that particular page, click Next, this will bring you to the following list of jobs.
H.   When you are done looking at all your job postings, click the X  box at the top right hand of your computer screen.
I.       You have completed your job search, Congrats!

Facebook and Professional Networking


Facebook and Professional Networking

If you do decide to use the social networking sites for professional networking, here are some suggestions on how best to utilize it:
·         First, make a decision whether to keep Facebook social or expand your use.
·         If you decide to use Facebook for professional networking, take a close look at your Profile and decide what you want business contacts or prospective employers to see - and what you don't.
·         Create a simple profile (or clean up with your existing one) with minimal graphics and widgets.
·         Limit the photos you post.
·         Post content relevant to your job search or career.
·         Use Facebook email to build relationships with your Friends.
·         Choose your Friends wisely. Remember your Friends may be able to see information about your other Friends in your Profile.
Finally, "To be taken professionally, be very, very careful what you share with the world (remember 'The Emperor Has No Clothes' story). People seem to forget that everyone can see what you’re really not wearing."

CAREER COACHING QUESTIONS


Ten Big Questions

Please take the time to answer these questions. Use as much space as you want; write freely and without self consciousness. The purpose of these questions is to expand you! Email your responses to these questions to me at drmarcy@time2succeedcoaching.com.


1. What are your strongest beliefs about yourself and the world right now? Do you want to update any of these?


2. What gifts do you have that you’d like to make available to the world?


3. When in your life did you feel most creative?


4. When in your life were you most committed to something/someone?


5. What are the greatest accomplishments of your life?


6. About what have you taken the strongest stand?


7. What is the most important lesson you have learned to date? What bit of wisdom would you share with the world now?


8. Where do you get your energy from?


9. How might you sabotage this coaching process?


10. How will you know how effective coaching has been for you?

Tuesday, May 1, 2007

STAR Interview Technique

STAR INTERVIEW TECHNIQUE

Situation
Task
Action
Result


Situation: Big picture, politics

What were the things had to be done?
What did you do?
What happened?


How well do they understand the issues?

They are not going to let go off the hook.

Organized approach. Talk to me about it.

Every bullet on the resume incorporates the STAR story and the key selection criteria.

What are the responsibilities of the hiring managers?

Behavioral
Past behavior
Predicted future performance

If they have done it before, they can do it again.

Open ended questions.

Situational
Tell me about a time when…

Never what you would do.. what did you do

Multi dimensional perspective.

What really makes them think

Were they successful?
RESUME

QUESTION KEY SELECTION CRITERIA
(Job Description)

Those three should be linked.

Accomplishments should be on the resume.

Bullet point – Details

Tie in the resume to job description


- Skill
- Knowledge
- Attitude

Tells who you are

Work ethic
Team player
Honest
Reliable
Likable
Excited

Answer the question, not over kill

Preparation for The Interview

Preparation for the Interview

Three Types of Questions
1. Can you do the job? Skills and experience
2. Will you fit? Is the chemistry right?
3. Can we deal with your career compensation issues?
a. Why are you qualified?
b. What are your strengths?
c. What are your weaknesses?

Would you hire someone you did not trust? Body Language/Eye Contact
Would you hire someone who did not have credibility?

Trust and Credibility Key to success on an interview
Always answer a question with evidence…
Conduct a skills inventory on yourself. Prioritize them.
Match your skills to the requirements of the job.
Leave your own personal needs out of the equation.
4. Let the interviewer finish the question
Pause
Answer the question
Test the interviewers interest level – “I know we are running out of time’
“I know you are busy”
5. 20% presentation – 80% evidence and results
6. Opportunity and Responsibility
Career / Compensation Issues
What are you looking for salary-wise?
Where do you want to be three years from now?
· Job Content Interesting and Challenging
· Opportunity for more responsibility
· Salary will be commensurate with that responsibility
Everything you say comes from within.
Educational (Make notes in the blank spaces)

Related course-work
Major
Minor
Electives
GPA
GPA in minor
Activities
Fraternity/Sorority

Accomplishments
Educational
Extra Curricular
Publications

Honors & Awards
Strengths/ Weaknesses
When developing your skills inventory, it is imperative that when you state a specific skill or attribute that you can support that point to the following:
How?
When?
Where?
Why?
What did I learn from that?
How did I gain from that?
Did I reach a goal?
Did I accomplish something?
Did I reach an objective?
Did I pass a milestone?
Did I make a contribution?
Was I effective?
Did I finish what I started?




Skills Inventory Development:
Esoteric skills and Work related experience: Vocabulary/Lingo (50 words or phrases)
Technical – i.e. Engineering Credit Training, Attorney, Physician
Esoteric – i.e. Trading, Engineering, Accounting, Computer Science, etc.


Checklist
Generic Skills:
Communications Verbal/ Written
Management Potential
Supervisory
Management
Decisiveness
Project Management (has a beginning and an end)
Time Management
Organizational
Planning (non-functional)
Operations
Administrative (Paper flow, Record keeping, Bureaucracy)
Financial (Finance, Accounting budgets, Short term planning, Strategic planning)
Accounting (CPA requirements, Cost accounting, Managerial Accounting)
Analytical
Quantitative
Qualitative
Follow-through
Creativity
Computer literacy (Programming, using software i.e. Microsoft Office Suite, Lotus, dBase, etc.)
Computer hardware (PCs, LANs, Network, Mainframes, etc.)
Consultative/ Advisory
People handling skills
Political skills
Selling
Marketing
Learning skills/ Quick study
Educational – work related studies
Avocations, hobbies, athletics, other interests,…



Strengths (list your 3 strongest skills)
1.______________________________________
2_______________________________________
3.______________________________________


Weaknesses (list 3 real weaknesses)
1.________________________________________
2_________________________________________
3.________________________________________


Chemistry/Checklist (Circle 10 -12)
Hard working
Strong work ethic
Disciplined
Leadership
Tenacious
Responsible
Industrious
Determined
Motivated
Decisive
Personal
Easy to get along with
Outgoing/ extraverted
Careful
Shy/ introverted
Timely
Eager to learn

The Interview

FIRST IMPRESSIONS…. You do not have a second chance to make first impression.
1. What is the purpose of the interview?
a. Identification of qualifications / skills
b. Fit/ Chemistry
c. Career and compensation expectations
2. Roles that one takes on that one might not be trained for
a. SELLING
b. DEBATING
3. Selling steps
KNOWLEDGE
a. Product knowledge
b. Belief in product
c. Develop trust and credibility in buyer
1) How well do your know yourself? – Skills database
2) Confidence
3) Does the interviewer believe it?
PREPAREDNESS
a. Know buyer’s needs/ wants (Job Description)
b. Analyze those needs
1) Set priorities
2) Write job description
c. Address the needs of the buyer. Prepare mental or written outline of your presentation.
d. The seller’s needs never come before those of the buyer.
4. Debating
a. General statement supported by evidence
b. Presentation
5. Philosophy
a. Content of the job (day to day activities & functions)
b. Opportunity to take on more responsibilities
c. Compensation


The bottom line comes down to:
Can you answer the question “Can you do the job?”
1. Do you understand the position you are applying for?
2. Why are you qualified for this position?
3. What do you bring to the party?
4. What do you put on the plate?
5. What are your strengths? (How would you describe your attributes?)
6. What are your weaknesses?
Where do you come up short?
What would you like to improve about yourself?
7. Why are you looking for a job?
8. Why are you interested in this job?
9. How much are you earning?
10. How much do you want to earn?
11. If you could design the ideal situation for yourself, what would it be? Why?
12. What are your immediate goals?
13. Where do you see yourself three years from now? Five years from now?
14. What do you see as your major accomplishments?
15. How have you made a contribution?
16. How would this entity benefit in hiring you?
17. What do you do? What have you done?