10-A-Day

If you’re on the hunt for a new job, in this economy, with unemployment looming above 10%, you’re going to have to put some elbow grease into your search. Everyone’s vying for the perfect job, and you’ll have to consider that you won’t get every job you interview for. On top of that, you won’t get an interview for every job you apply for. So, you need to step you’re hunt into high gear.

While you’re not working, consider it your job to be finding a job. That’s where “10-A-Day” comes in. Every day, you should be applying for 10 jobs. Does that seem like a lot? Good!

Some estimates say that you’ll get 1 out of every 10 jobs you interview for. Well, how many jobs that you apply for will you get an interview with? You might not like those numbers. So think about it like this: If you’re applying for 50, or let’s say 70 jobs, per week, you’ve just significantly increased your chances of finding one.

If you’re applying for one job a day, that’s only 5-7 per week. Let’s look at those numbers again: 50-70 and 5-7. Need I say more?

Hop onto Employment Crossing today and search for jobs all over the United States. If there’s opening available, then it’s on Employment Crossing.

The people over at Employment Crossing are doing half of the work, searching for the best jobs, and the best opportunities in every sector. Whatever your skills are, Employment Crossing has the best jobs for you.

Tags: applications, apply, find jobs, Job Search, Jobs, unemployment

Hard Work: Your Best Friend

How’s that dream of yours coming along? Are you living in a Penthouse Apartment? Do you own that yacht next to P. Diddy’s? Are you the CEO of a multimillion dollar company?

Whoa there! Don’t get down on yourself if these day dreams haven’t come to fruition yet. They can and they will happen if you truly want them to.

Truly wanting something, like your dream job, for instance, is not simply wishing and hoping for it day after day. It’s not sitting at your current job, huffing and puffing about how you’d make ten times a better boss than the man with the corner office down the hall.

Truly wanting something is going out and doing what it takes to get that something. It’s a driving force, that cannot be stopped. It colors every move you make and it leads you towards those promised lands: corner offices, CEO jobs, and even yachts!

The best thing you can do to get your goals into gear is to find the job that will take you there. Without a doubt, the best place on the internet for jobs is Employment Crossing.

Employment Crossing collects job data from every region of the country and in every sector of the workforce. What do you excel at? Accounting? We’ve got it. Landscaping? We’ve got it. Marketing? I think you get the picture.

Start your journey towards that corner office today at Employment Crossing.

How’s That Screenplay Coming Along?

At least one of you reading this, I will endeavor to say, is an unemployed writer working on the first thirty (if you’ve been really productive) pages of your future award winning screenplay. If you’re at home, across from you, on the desk, or dining room table (wherever your workspace is) is your cell phone bill… not paying itself.

You’ve maybe just barely paid off your rent for the month and it’s left you without much more than money for 79 cent tacos from one of those fast food establishments you’ve been relying on for survival.

You and I both know that reality has set in and it’s time to face the facts:

YOU NEED A JOB!

Not only do you need a job, but you need Employment Crossing to find you that job. After all, you’re a writer. You want to make that B.A. in Enlgish or Journalism proud. You’re passionate about the written word and you won’t compromise yourself working behind the counter of the local coffee shop.

“No, sir. You cannot get half-caf. And no, sir. You cannot get a scone with that.”

Listen to me. Jump onto Employment Crossing and find that job that allows you to use your talents, your skill set, and take one step toward that ultimate goal of being a professional writer.

Don’t waste time, my friend. Get started today. You’re phone bill is begging you.

Tags: Careers, crossing, Employment, Jobs, screenplays, writers, writing

Boom Chicka Wow Wow: My Craigslist Interview

My interview suit was getting dusty. Thinking about interviewing made me nearly catatonic. I HAD to get out there and actually meet people instead of just sending out resumes.

I’d been unemployed for 5 months, checking all the sites daily for something new to come up, when I found a job for an office manager on Craigslist.  Most of the job listings on Craigslist are written by people who clearly need my services as a writer.  The number of misspellings and grammatical errors is just frightening, really.  Sure, put some character into it, but don’t make yourself look like a dumb ass.  The job for office manager was well written and seemed to be slightly more professional in nature than “Personal assistant needed.  Please send photo.”  So, I sent my resume like hundreds of times before.  This one was different, though.  The ad was for an office manager position at an adult production company.  Since my last position was at an Orthodox synagogue, I had to say something about it in my cover letter, which I admit was snarkier than usual.  Cover letters, as you know, are your potential employers only window into your personality, so if you have one… you should show it.  After all that time looking for a job and getting zero responses, I admit that my cover letters started to deteriorate.  Even this one was not my best, but at least it stood out.  In two sentences I showed them that I’m smart and creative.  My 7th grade English teacher Miss Gilbert drummed into me:  Show don’t tell.  It really is true.

They called me! Actually, they emailed me, but who cares? I actually got a response to a resume! Then I got worried because they told me to come to a house up in the Hollywood Hills and not, say, a studio as I was expecting. I called around and found a friend who agreed to come with me and wait in the car. You know, in case it got weird. I figured in all likelihood the guys at the porn company just found it easier to shoot their movies in a real house rather than a studio made to look like a house. I give kudos to them for being successful enough to own a house up there.

I showed up EXACTLY on time and still had to wait. I did wonder as I was sitting in the living room if there had been any scenes shot in there but I didn’t wait very long so my daydream didn’t get too far. I was shown into an office just after a guy with tattoo sleeves and multiple face piercings left.

I was extremely overdressed for the occasion. My two interviewers were wearing clothes that did not scream out “This is a legitimate business!” But, I managed to sit in a dignified way on the edge of a chair in my suit and heels. They asked me if I knew what they did at their company 3 times during my 15-minute interview. Maybe wearing the pearls was too much? Had they seen me drive up in my beat up minivan? I laughed at their jokes and explained how I could keep them organized. I asked questions about how they did business and tried my best to look unfazed when they told me the job also included production assisting and a bit of wardrobe assisting. I think it went pretty well.

It’s two weeks later and they haven’t called me back. I’m glad I went to the interview, though. Every bit of experience putting yourself out there adds another piece of glitter to you for when you shine in front of the employer who eventually hires you.

Tags: adult production company, business, cover letter, Craigslist, interview, resume

Social Networking Snafus & Your Job Search

Do you have a photo of yourself posted proudly on your personal social networking page? No, I don’t mean that professional portrait you framed and gave to your grandma last Christmas. I’m talking about that night two weeks ago when you and 20 of your closest friends decided to play beer pong on the roof of a abandoned petrochemical facility and Bob captured the moment on his phone…

In that handy “personal information” section of the same profile did you list the following dislikes?:Working, collating, filing,bosses, HR departments and wage slavery?

Before you send your resume out to the employer of your dreams ( or lets face it in this economy, any employer) you may want to tighten the privacy settings on your Facebook/MySpace/Social Networking Site of Your Choice and other personal ephemera floating around out there on the ‘net.

Prospective employers do treat these resources like a free background check and they will judge you by what they find.

According to research done by the Career Builders website 53% of potential employers will research you online. 43% of those who do research you rely on common search engines and 12% go directly to Facebook to check you out. According to Career Builders, two in five employers found information during such a background check that dissuaded them from hiring a candidate. One third of employers said that an online search of candidates qualifications proved said candidate lied about his or her qualifications.

Once you’re hired you need to be careful too. 28% of employers reported firing an employee over material they posted on the web. In most cases this material was derogatory towards an employer or another employee. It is important to realize that the internet is a memory monster, all those blogs you wrote when you were 16, those wild beer pong photos, political affiliations, likes, dislikes, music and friends are out there once you put them out there. The best solution is to never give out personal information over the internet. If you do, use a pseudonym and don’t post identifying photographs. Many people live a great deal of their lives on the web so this may be an impossible option. As an alternative, protect the flow of information. Go into your account settings and crank up the privacy. Plug your name into a search engine and read your results. If you see any issues try to fix them if that is possible.

Also remember that Social Networking can be used for good. You may be able to make employment contacts or employers may reach out to you. Make your best impression!

Don’t put your name or identifying information to anything online that you wouldn’t want your grandma to read…unless your grandma belongs to a motorcycle gang ( Hi Grandma!).

Let It Begin In 2010

Attention world: Let it begin in 2010!

Let what begin? Your career, your attitude, and the rest of your life. Put it in your head that this is your year. Allow yourself to succeed beyond your wildest dreams and reach heights yet unseen. How are you going to do this? Remember this phrase: It’s all in your head!

Your outlook on life will determine the quality of your mood, the company you keep, and most definitely your career. If you’re unemployed: change it! You might say to yourself, “But there are no jobs!”

THAT IS NOT TRUE!

Check out sites like Hound and Employment Crossing today. Don’t wait. The longer you allow yourself to go unemployed, the more problems you are likely to have.

There is no need to fear, log on and find a job that suits your expectations. If you are currently in a  job you can’t stand, cross over to a job you love with Employment Crossing.

You can have the life you want. Let it begin, in 2010!

Tags: 2010, Employment, get a job, hound, hunting, Job Search, Jobs, motivation, unemployment

Encouragement Part II

I previously wrote a post about the impact of encouragement on you and your career and I got some feedback asking for a more in depth look at the phenomenon of discouragement and encouragement and how it plays into your career.

I want you to stop whatever you are doing and think about five things you believe about yourself.

- Do you believe you are capable of earning a million dollar salary?
- Do you believe that you are capable of getting a promotion?
- Do you believe that you are on the verge of getting fired?
- Do you ALWAYS believe that you are on the verge of getting fired?

Okay, now I want you to think back to the origin of such beliefs. It is my guess that these sorts of self-perceptions have everything to do with the company you keep.

Have you ever watched an awards show like The Grammys or The Oscars? More often than not, you will hear the recipients of such awards doll out a long list of thank you’s. And they are also,  quite frequently, very long lists. This is an interesting bit of proof that the most successful of individuals do not do it all on their own. They do it with the encouragement and, more importantly, the belief of others that they can achieve such amazing feats.

Rarely, if ever, do you see someone go up on a stage after receiving an award saying they’d done it all on their own. In fact, I have never witnessed this.

My point is, you should take a step back and analyze your life in this way. Divide your friends and family into categories of those who encourage and those who do not encourage. Does your mother tell you that you are very intelligent. Does she tell you that she “knows” you can acheive anything you want in life? Then put her into the pile of those who encourage.

Conversely, do you have a father (or mother, even) who is always telling you that you cannot achieve this or that. Do they tell you that you need to revise your thinking to be more realistic? Do they say that you’re dreaming too big? Then put them into the other pile!

Once you’ve got your lists together, you have some serious soul searching to do. I do not believe that you should, or that it is realistic to completely excise these negative people out of your life; however, you do need to learn how to more or less ingore those people.

Positive encouragement is one of the most important tools you can possess in your quest for career. The affects it can have on your mood will increase your aptitude at work. They will even make those sleepy mornings easier by increasing your motivation for going to work. If you know that when you get to work, you’re going to achieve something great, then I have no doubt you’re going to be thrilled to get there.

On the other hand, if people are telling you that what you think you can achieve is unrealistic or that it’s not possible, then how do you think that will affect you at work? It will invariably diminish your ability to work to your full potential, and quite possibly leave you with a sense of depression and hopelessness.

Listen to me: You need to ignore those naysayers because we live in a world where anything is possible. And in your career the sky is the limit. That is, and always will be the truth.

When your outlook is positive, good things will happen. They may take time, but from the very moment you believe, you will start planting the seed of greatness. Your continued encouragement will act as the sunshine that lets them grow into beautiful flowers!

Tags: awards, Career, enocouragement, positivity, promotion, success

Christmas Shopping for the Job Seeker

It’s that time of the year again, with Christmas just around the corner.  Whether you celebrate Christmas, Haunaka, or just like to spread around good cheer, it’s gift giving season.  So what do you get for that hip and trendy job seeker on your list?  Here are a few suggestions…

1. A document bag - Your favorite job seeker will look and feel more professional with a nice leather document bag to hold his or her resumes.  Prices range from $50 to $5000 but even an inexpensive document bag will lend an air of professionalism.

2. Spa treatment or a manicure - help your job seeker look and feel their very best.  When we look good, we feel more confident and that will translate into an interview win.  Home manicure kits range from $10 to $100 and a day at a spa can run a few hundred bucks.

3. A new pair of shoes - Shoes really do make the man or the woman.  Interviewers will notice a professional pair of well kept shoes.  Expect to spend a hundred or more on a pair of quality shoes, or treat your favorite job seeker to a quality shoe shine for a bit less.

Whatever you end up gifting, remember that first impressions count, and job seekers will appreciate the thoughtfulness of a gift that helps them make the best first impression possible.

Three Things You Can Do While Looking For A Job

There are only so many hours per day that you can spend surfing job sites and tweaking your resume.  Here are three things you can do to help enhance your prospects while looking for a job.  Your goal is to make it easy for an employer to choose you and these simple things will help.

1) Stay Current

Keep up with any innovations or reforms in your industry.  Subscribe to relevant trade journals or other publications and keep up your membership in any professional organizations.  When you’re out of work this may seem like an uneccesary expense, but prospective employers will find it easier to hire you if you can demonstrate up to date knowledge of your industry.

2) Stay Connected

Nobody likes the out of work friend that badgers everyone they know for a job.  Maintaining your friendships in your industry however is a great way to hear about job openings, often before anyone else does.  Word of mouth jobs often come with personal reccomendations which make it that much easier for a prospective employer to hire you.

3) Stay Involved

Social networking isn’t just a Facebook page and online contacts.  Get involved and stay involved in your community.  Join a fraternal organization, volunteer for a political campaign or a youth center.  Share your time with your church or other charitable organization.  Volunteer work can turn into a paying gig, but it also will help you make local contacts that can lead to word of mouth jobs and volunteerism will plug holes in your job history on your resume.

Jobs You Don’t Want…

In this topsy turvy economy, lots of Americans are looking for work.  No matter how bad things may seem at times, there are still some jobs you just don’t want.

Take for instance this Craigslist post from a lawyer in Chicago:

Loop law firm looking to hire am energetic woman for their open secretary/legal assistant position. Duties will include general secretarial work, some paralegal work and additional duties for two lawyers in the firm. No experience required, training will be provided. Generous annual salary and benefits will be provided, including medical, dental, life, disability, 401(k) etc. If interested, please send current resume and a few pictures along with a description of your physical features, including measurements. We look forward to meeting you.

Other than the next to last line, it all sounds pretty routine until the follow up letter arrives, containing the following:

As this is posted in the “adult gigs” section, in addition to the legal work, you would be required to have sexual interaction with me and my partner, sometimes together sometimes separate. This part of the job would require sexy dressing and flirtatious interaction with me and my partner, as well as sexual interaction. You will have to be comfortable doing this with us.

Lastly, we’ve actually hired a couple of girls in the past for this position. But they have not been able to handle the sexual aspect of the job later. We have to be sure you’re comfortable with that aspect, because I don’t want you to do anything that you’re not comfortable with. So since that time, we’ve decided that as part of the interview process you’ll be required to perform for us sexually (i didn’t do this before with the other girls i hired, now i think i have to because they couldn’t handle it). Because that aspect is an integral part of the job, I think it’s necessary to see if you can do that, because it’ll predict future behavior of you being able to handle it when you have the job.

Any self respecting job seeker would immediately steer clear of this one.  If a potential boss can’t be bothered to capitalize the pronoun “i”, you can hardly expect them to pay attention to other important details, like salary and benefits.

For a listing of jobs you do want, check out the listings at EmploymentCrossing.com.