Monday, September 30, 2013

Draft Tips #16 - Shortest route, what you won't hear, watch out for that snake, and $50

It's all about knowing people.

This weekend, I went with some great friends to see a great band - Ultrasonic Rock Orchestra.

My friend, who invited me, is friends with members of the band so we had a chance to meet these rockstars!

What does this have to do with job hunting?  Well, it's all about who you know.  And you do need to still have a little fun now and then...

Speaking of knowing people, check out this article about the shortest route to a job.

It does help to get inside the mind of the people interviewing you.  After all, knowing your "customer" is key and what they are really thinking.

Whether or not you are a fan of the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare), the standard after leaving a job is to take health insurance through COBRA.  Here's why it may not be the best deal.

Lastly, being out of work doesn't mean you stop being productive.  But without a "job" to go to, it can be tough to stay motivated.  Here are some options to stay active and make a few bucks.


Upcoming Job Fairs!

Mass (details here)
Wed, 10/9 - Somerville

NH (details here)
Mon, 9/30 - Nashua
Tues, 10/1 - Somersworth
Tues, 10/1 - Nashua
Tues, 10/1 - Portsmouth
Tues, 10/1 - Conway (Christmas Tree Shops event)
Wed, 10/2 - Somersworth
Wed, 10/2 - Conway (North Conway Grand Hotel event)
Thurs, 10/3 - Manchester
Thurs, 10/3 - Concord (Sears event)
Fri, 10/4 - Northfield


Have a great week!  Let me know how  else I can be of assistance.

And...will you pass this email on to a friend who is also in transition?  They may benefit from this information as well.  

Share the archive of weekly emails with them.  The link is here.

Monday, September 23, 2013

Draft Tips #15 - Liar liar pants on fire? Rules for networking and body language

Still don't believe networking is the way?  This past weekend, I ran into my massage therapist at the supermarket.  He told me that it was time for a change, and he wanted to work closer to home so he had just applied to a couple of places.

Well, I was disappointed to hear that he was leaving the practice I had been using, but I wanted to help him.

In fact, I know of a therapist looking to expand her practice and is much closer to his home.

I'll connect them this week and hopefully it's a win for both of them.

All because he knew me and I knew someone through networking.  If you want to be successful finding a job, are you following these 9 rules of networking?

Because, if you simply apply online and pray, employers don't think you can really do the job.  They see a lot of "boasting".

But of course, you still have to get your resume - online or otherwise - to an actual human being.  Here's some tips on how to find the hiring manager for a job.

Once you're in the interview, does your body language give you away?  Here are a few tips.


Upcoming Job Fairs!

Mass (details here)
Tues, 9/24 - Newburyport
Wed, 9/25 - Plymouth
Thurs, 9/26 - Quincy

NH (details here)
Wed, 9/25 - Somersworth
Thurs, 9/26 - Concord


Have a great week!  Let me know how  else I can be of assistance.

And...will you pass this email on to a friend who is also in transition?  They may benefit from this information as well. 

Share the archive of weekly emails with them.  The link is here.

Monday, September 16, 2013

Draft Tips #14 - 4 tips for the resume, the 10 secrets, and the job hunting bloopers!


It's starting to feel like Fall.  The Red Sox are (hopefully) playoff bound and the Patriots are starting another season.

Every so often, it's nice to change things up and freshen that resume.

To that end, here's 4 tips to improve that resume.

But don't make these bloopers.  It's like the SportsCenter Not Top 10 list.  Klingon qualifies as another language, right?

And finally this week, here are 10 best secrets to job hunting,  If you're just sitting behind the computer, you're missing out.


Upcoming Job Fairs!

Mass (details here)
Sat, 9/21 - Brockton (Veteran's job fair)


NH (details here)
Tues, 9/17 - Portsmouth (Veteran's job fair)
Fri, 9/20 - Portsmouth


Have a great week!  Let me know how  else I can be of assistance.

And...will you pass this email on to a friend who is also in transition?  They may benefit from this information as well. 

Share the archive of weekly emails with them.  The link is here.

Monday, September 9, 2013

Draft Tips #13 - Strengths and weaknesses, what to do with your time, and how to spot a good recruiter


It's the most wonderful time of the year.  This commercial always cracks me up.

Back to school.  Back to work.

While you're searching, here's some tips on what to do to help keep your skills fresh and stay active.

Everyone whose looked for a job has worked with a recruiter at some point.  And some are better than others.  Here's some ways to spot a good one.

Once you get an interview, here's 6 things not to say, and how to respond to some questions.

When I interviewed, I hated these particular questions.  Here are some tips to talk about your strengths and weaknesses.


Upcoming Job Fairs!

Mass (details here)
Thurs, 9/12 - Pittsfield

NH (details here)
Tues, 9/10 - Tilton


Have a great week!  Let me know how  else I can be of assistance.

And...will you pass this email on to a friend who is also in transition?  They may benefit from this information as well. 

Share the archive of weekly emails with them.  The link is here.


Jack

Monday, September 2, 2013

Draft Tips #12


Subject: Draft Tips #12 - Hidden jobs, Botox, personality, thank you notes - and changes!


I've made some changes!

First, this emails series will now be called Draft Tips.

Why? Well, as I was reminded, the draft in any sport - football, baseball, basketball - is about players wanting to get "hired" by a team.  And that's what you're trying to do - in effect, trying to get drafted.

I've also created an archive of past emails with links, so you can go back in case you missed any.

The link to the archives is here.

This week, everyone knows that the jobs are all in the "hidden" market, not what you see on the job boards.

Here's some tips to find those "hidden" jobs.

Once you find those jobs, let's inject a little Botox (tips) into that resume.

And what does your behavior and personality have to do with job hunting?  Quite a bit.  Do you have these traits?

After that interview, don't forget the thing that a lot of people forget these days - the thank you note!

And a new section to each week's emails - Upcoming Job Fairs!

Mass (details here)
Thurs, 9/12 - 9am - Pittsfield


NH (details here)
Wed, 9/4 - 10am - Manchester
Wed, 9/4 - 9am - Manchester
Thurs, 9/5 - 10am - Nashua
Fri, 9/6 - 10am - Exeter


Have a great week!  Let me know how  else I can be of assistance.

And...will you pass this email on to a friend who is also in transition?  They may benefit from this information as well. 

Share the archive of weekly emails with them.  The link is here.

Sunday, September 1, 2013

Draft Tips #11

Originally published August 26, 2013


Subject: LI, staying positive, and are you 1 of these types?

I remember when I was laid off years ago.  I was happy that it happened and I was full of confidence that I would find a job very quickly.

Then the applying began.  And the waiting.  And interviewing.  And more waiting...

It really does a number on your state of mind.

Here's a nice article about staying positive during your search.

While you are searching, are you using LinkedIn?  If you aren't sold on this site, then you are really missing out.  Yet another survey states what is obvious to most.

Once under some stress, we tend to revert to certain traits and behaviors.  This article is for recruiters about the 5 types of candidates.  Are you one of these types?

Hopefully, during the interview, we can build some rapport and trust with the interviewer.  I've always believed that one can build credibility by asking great questions.  Are you asking these?

Lastly, don't forget the job fair this TUESDAY, August 27th, 10a - 1p.  Hosted by the Lowell Spinners and 2 local career centers.

The job fair information is here.

Have a great week!  Let me know how  else I can be of assistance.
 
Draft Tips #10a

Originally published August 23, 2013


Subject: Upcoming job fair info - Tues, 8/27!

Just wanted to share some information with you.

The Lowell Spinners, in conjunction with 2 local career centers, is hosting a job fair.

It's this TUESDAY, August 27th.  10a - 1p

Here's a link for more information on this event, plus a list of attending employers.

http://lowell.spinners.milb.com/content/page.jsp?ymd=20130820&content_id=57614626&fext=.jsp&sid=t558&vkey=

 
Draft Tips #10

Originally published August 19, 2013


Subject: Non-negotiables? LI knows, and how to turn down an offer

I went to the batting cages last night, and normally I can hit the 70 m.p.h. pitch no problem.  It was busy, but not terribly so.  And I picked my batting cage in between all of the others.

Light goes on.  Here's the pitch....swing...whoosh...  A complete miss.

Out of 45 pitches, I hit only a handful.  Quite the shameful performance.

I knew I had to make an adjustment.  I wasn't doing well, and doing the same thing over and over wasn't working.

Same thing with job hunting.  Today, job hunting is different than years ago.  Here's one author's list of the job hunter non-negotiables.

We use information and result to make adjustments.  There's a lot of news on "big data" and how it affects business and us.

Well, LinkedIn apparently knows you more than you probably think.  The recommended job postings mean something after all, and not just that there are jobs.

In baseball, batters want to get a hit, but many times the real objective is to get on base - whether that means a walk, or getting hit by pitch.  (Clearly, I'm hoping for these because I couldn't hit anything...)

In job hunting, the objective isn't to get the job.  It's to get the offer.  Why?  That way, you retain control and have a choice.

What happens if you need to turn down an offer?  Take a look at this article.

Have a great week!  Let me know how I can be of help.
 
Draft Tips #9

Originally published August 12, 2013


Subject: 49 resume tips, the worst interviews, stump the candidate, and PT into FT?

Summer is flying by for me, and pretty soon it's back to school for the kids.

That also means activity should pick up as vacations are finished and everyone is back to "work".

To be prepared, I found 2 great articles on resume writing.  One article is more comprehensive than the other, but both offer great tips.

The short version - 5 tips.

The long version - 44 tips.

Once you get the interview, here's what to say.

Getting the interview is one thing, but if you run into any of these situations, watch out!

They could be really bad...

Or you could feel like a contestant on Jeopardy.

If you run into any of those situations, please email me because I'd like to know just out of curiosity.

Lastly, if you thought about part time work as an entry way to full time work, here's 7 steps you must do.

Have a great week!  Let me know how I can be of help.
Draft Tips #8

Originally published August 5, 2013


Subject: How to follow up, but don't do these things!

There's a lot of reality TV and I'm not a big fan.

But one show that I have seen before is a show taking people (typically women) and giving them a complete makeover.  The show, What Not to Wear, is actually pretty neat.

Well, I thought of that show when I collected this week's articles.

Most of those people got in their own way when it came to fashion.  Hopefully you aren't getting in your own way when it comes to your job search.

Are you doing any of these?

Once in the interview, building rapport quickly is important.  And so is conveying information.

But your interviewer will hate these things, even though it's easy to fall into these traps.

After you've nailed that interview, use these 10 tips to follow up effectively and increase your chances for that offer!

Have a great week!  Let me know how I can be of help.
Draft Tips #7

Originally published July 31, 2013


Subject: Sorry for the late email, and less is faster?

I'm sorry.

Personally, it has been incredibly hectic.  It's been one of those weeks where I've done so much work yet it seems like I've accomplished nothing at the same time.

I didn't think of this much until I sent out the article about credit scores and job hunting a few weeks ago.  In case you missed it, the article is here.

Sure enough, I've been helping someone who was recently laid off from a long time position in IT.

Obviously, money is important right now for him and his family, and stretching that dollar is priority number 1.

By using an optimal debt strategy, he was actually able to reduce his overall payments and still pay off sooner than he would have.  This will improve his credit score over time.

It's not a gimmick.  It's math.  And it's more important for those in transition as it help stretch those precious dollars.

No articles this week.  But next week, I'll be back on my regular schedule.

Have a great week!  Let me know how I can be of help.
Draft Tips #6

Originally published July 22, 2013


Subject: 10 skills you must have, the 6 second test, and you may want to avoid these places

The temperature has finally come down, and summer can once again be enjoyable!

The one upside to the hot weather is that my grass didn't grow as fast - which is good, because I wasn't out there mowing because it was too hot!

Lawn mowing is not a skill that I particularly strive for, but here's an article for the 10 skills everyone employee should have.

In my experience in dealing with people, #4 is in very short supply.

That leads to my next question - how long do you have to make a first impression?  In the case of your resume, how long do you have to catch the recruiter's eye?

According to this writer, only 6 seconds!  So you'd better make your resume stand out!

Still, there may be places you don't want to work.  If you see jobs posted by these companies, you may want to pass on by!

Lastly, this week I found a nice article for those who have more, ahem, experience than others.  Unfortunately, that "experience" can lead to a tougher time job hunting.  So here's a few tips for those who have been around the block a few times.

Have a great week!  Let me know how I can be of help.
Draft Tips #5

Originally published July 15, 2013


Subject: LI, Twitter, credit, and that 1 important word

When you think of Volvo, what comes to mind?  Or how about Apple?  Coca-Cola?  Or take any brand we see each day, and I'm sure you can quickly come up with a word the describe that brand or company.

Well, what about you?  What's your 1 word?

I have to admit that this article made me think long and hard about this for myself, and I'm still working on it.  I would appreciate your ideas.

Speaking of LinkedIn, I see what this article is talking about.  Your profile doesn't have to be your resume!

Your profile can be as long as possible, but how long can your resume be?

Now that you have that 1 word, and your LI profile and resumes are set, here's a new way to find jobs.  I admit that I would have never thought of this myself, but given how popular this service is, why not?!?!

Lastly, when people are in transition, one of the first things to come to mind is money.  Whether you need to tighten that belt just a little, or make drastic cuts, it's not fun either way.

But the temporary impact in your income can affect how you pay your debt.  And in turn, that can affect your chances in landing a job.

Recently, I was helping someone with figuring out what order to pay off their debt.  They are trying to buy a house and needed to improve their credit score to qualify for a lower rate.

I know that it's not the same situation for you right now, but unemployment doesn't have to mean a drop if your credit score.

Let me know how I can be of help.
Draft Tips #4

Originally published July 8, 2013


Subject: Questions, non-verbals, and gaps Oh my!

Well, the holiday week is over and hopefully everyone survived!  And while I thoroughly enjoyed the cookouts and time with friends, I've had enough of this high heat and humidity!

If I wanted this weather all of the time, I would move to Houston and be near my mother!

But I digress...

This week, here's a nice set of articles for your summer reading pleasure.

1. Think of job hunting as a sales process.

2. Tailor that resume!

3. How to address those gaps.

4. Don't make these mistakes!

5.  During the interview, ask great questions.

6.  Mind your P's and Q's, and non-verbals.

And a bonus - hope you had a chance to hear Friends of Kevin radio last week.  I did a segment on 401k rollovers and some common ways people cost themselves money.

Here's the clip (you have to download to your PC first to listen)

Let me know how I can be of help.
Draft Tips #3

Originally published July 1, 2013


Subject: Have a nice holiday week, but don't forget to take a look at these

It's my favorite holiday this week - Independence Day!

Great weather.  Burgers and hot dogs on the grill. Family and friends laughing.  Parades.  Fireworks.  And the Boston Pops playing great music.

While you're spending time with loved ones, don't forget about other friends and professional contacts.

This week's articles are all about networking - social or otherwise - plus 1 about salary requirements.

First up is an article about the number 1 thing job seekers do wrong:

http://www.tlnt.com/2013/06/27/the-no-1-thing-that-job-seekers-really-do-wrong/?

What does your photo on LinkedIn say about you?

http://www.careerealism.com/linkedin-photo-harming-job-search/?

Are you giving employers reasons not to hire you?

http://www.therecruiterslounge.com/2013/06/26/more-employers-finding-reasons-not-to-hire-candidates-on-social-media-finds-careerbuilder-survey/?

Lastly, when you get that interview and get the inevitable question about salary, what should you say?

http://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20130626145254-7668018-salary-requirements-what-to-say


Let me know how I can be of help.
Draft Tips #2

Originally published June 24, 2013


Subject: A collection of articles on job seeker tips

It's now officially summer, and we're finally getting that warm weather.  Personally, I prefer this over the cold but I know not everyone is as excited about being this hot.

As I mentioned previously, I'd like to send out articles from time to time that may help you in your search.

Over the past week or so, I've come across these:

How to use social media to stay unemployed in 3 dreadful steps

How to Ensure Your Resume Goes in the Trash

And this last article is about conducting a remote search (i.e. moving to another part of the country), but tips #3 through #6 are applicable to any search.

9 Tips for Conducting a Remote Job Search


Let me know how I can be of help.