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TIPS AND TRICKS
Ten Keys To Job-Hunting Success

The job market is more competitive than every. The good news is you’re doing something about it by furthering your education. The not-so-good news is, that dream job is not going to just land in your lap. Follow these tips and go to the head of the line!

1. Set up a ‘job hunt headquarters’ in your home. It could a corner of your bedroom, a home office or your kitchen. This is where you’ll research companies, work on your resume and contact potential employers.

2. Create a winning resume. Don’t just list previous jobs; stress skills, achievements and results. Develop versions of your resume to fit various job titles. But be honest!

3. Network. Network. Network. Don’t limit yourself to searching the classifieds. Join online community groups in your area of interest, work with recruiters, and call or email potential employers directly. Explore every avenue that may produce a lead.

4. Position yourself as a problem-solver. When pursuing a job lead, don’t think “How can I get this company interested in me?” Instead ask “What can I provide to help this company be more successful?” (more…)

 
      Thanks to Geoffrey Chandler for permission to use this Photograph.

My favorite practice is to research the company that I am interviewing with and asking any questions about them that I can think of.

For me personally, I try to be myself because I want them to be able to evaluate whether or not I will fit into their corporate culture.

How I conduct myself in an interview also depends on the person interviewing me. Some more inexperienced interviewers will completely dominate the conversation—telling you everything they can think of without really finding anything out about “you”.

Always be prepared with an answer to:

“So, tell me about yourself”.

Most good interviewers realize that this is basically a useless question these days, but some still ask and you want to be able to answer that one without missing a beat!

That’s all for now!

Melanie
Associate Program in Paralegal Studies Student
Ashworth University School of Legal Studies  

              Thanks to Steve Evans for permission to use this Photo. 

The Ashworth University Career Center is a free student resource provided through our partnership with Experience.com, the nation’s largest career advancement site focusing exclusively on college students and young professionals.  You can access the Ashworth University Career Center through the Student Portal.  Simply click on the “Career Center” link on the left hand navigation bar after logging into the Student Portal.  Here’s an example of some of the very informative career enhancement articles you have access to within the Career Center:

The ability to plan ahead is a key trait of any good budgeter. Jenny, an Experience alumni, talks about planning for the unknown. “I’m sure I’ve gone over budget when I had my own company because of unforeseen things,” she says. “You end up eating it, and people are upset. But, you get better in time about knowing what things will cost. It’s a matter of experience. You find out what’s realistic.”

Because You Never Know…

“Unforeseen things happen. Say you’re in New York City shooting a sound shot and recording actors on a street corner. In New York, you’re given policemen on sets to help act as liaisons to the community. But, basically, a homeless man could come onto your set and start screaming. And there’s nothing that you can legally do. You can’t arrest the guy. The policeman could ask him to leave, but the man isn’t required to leave. It’s a public street. There’s freedom of speech. So, one person can basically ruin your entire day and cost you $50,000 or more. And there’s nothing that you can do about it.” In the spirit of random screaming homeless men, Jenny advises putting away a little money into your savings each month, just in case something comes up. “

I started to do that in my mid-twenties. I started off putting $50 into one of these automatic investment mutual funds. I didn’t even miss it. Every month I had it automatically withdrawn from my bank account. It’s great, because now I know if I got fired tomorrow, or if I lost my job, or if something happened and I had to take some time off, I have a little money. I know they say you’re supposed to have six months salary in the bank, but that’s a fantasy when you’re 21 years old. If you have at least two months worth, it’s a measure of comfort.”

Copyright © 1996 - 2008 Experience, Inc. - All Rights Reserved 

To read more of this great article, login to the Ashworth University Career Center through the student portal and click here.

Ryan Rode
Interactive Services Manager
Ashworth University

Absolutely! Professional recruiters have begun reaching out for job candidates on sites like MySpace and Facebook — and the rapidly
expanding LinkedIn, a popular business networking site. And this doesn’t include all of the job search boards and discussion
forums you can join to post your resume. These sites give you the opportunity to market yourself online by setting up profiles detailing
your work history and specific skills. The profiles often given recruiters a more well-rounded view of candidates than they can get
from structured online applications and questionnaires.

The key is to include in your profile certain keywords that will help others find you during a search. For instance, if you’re an
aspiring electrician, use words like “electrician”, “electrical” and “electrician apprentice”.

Some say that at least 60% of all jobs are found by networking. And his isn’t limited to online communications! Think about all
the people you know — friends, family, neighbors, hobby and church groups. These could all be helpful in generating new job leads
for you, too.

Ellen Fix
Blog Contributor  & Copywriter
Ashworth University

The Ashworth University Career Center is a free student resource provided through our partnership with Experience.com, the nation’s largest career advancement site focusing exclusively on college students and young professionals.  You can access the Ashworth University Career Center through the Student Portal.  Simply click on the “Career Center” link on the left hand navigation bar after logging into the Student Portal.  Here’s an example of some of the very informative career enhancement articles you have access to within the Career Center:

Getting Great References 

By Tory Johnson, CEO of Women For Hire

It’s inevitable that at some point in your job search you will be asked for references, and when you are, you want to be sure you have a great group of advocates who are prepared with answers that will help rather than hinder your chances at landing the position.

References are something you should think about at the beginning of your interview process and not just at the end when you are under immediate pressure to provide them.

Start by making a list of all the possible people you can use as a reference. Be sure to think about:

• Former employers
• Former Clients
• College professors
• Deans
• Family friends who have seen you in a professional setting
• Association leaders

Copyright © 1996 - 2008 Experience, Inc. - All Rights Reserved   

To read more of Tory’s great article, login to the Ashworth University Career Center through the student portal and click here:

Ryan Rode
Interactive Services Manager
Ashworth University

                        Image courtesy of deadgirlbelchesstars. 

Of all the forms of reluctance, shyness around other people tends to be very resistant to change. I suspect that everyone is shy from time to time and that oftentimes shyness gets in the way of taking advantage or new opportunities or new relationships.

While it is true that there is an inherent interest by many in overcoming shyness, as a counter-weight to that appal, there is a case to be made on the other side. The following quote is from Isaac Bashevis Singer:

“I don’t think that people should get over being shy. It is a blessing in disguise. The shy person is the opposite of the aggressive person. Shy people are seldom the great sinners. They allow society to remain at peace.”

Indulging those who seek relief, let me pass on some tips for overcoming shyness that I collected from an article by Roger Elliott.

1. Practice becoming fascinated by other people. Ask them about themselves, and concentrate when they answer you. Remember what they tell you about themselves so you can talk about it later, or on another occasion.

2. Great socializers make other people feel comfortable and interesting. How do they do that? By being really, genuinely interested in other people. If you are talking to someone and you feel boring or inferior, ask why that is. Is it really all your fault? (more…)

 
                                Image courtesy of Wikimedia.

It’s true: it’s all about relationships. And I’m not talking about the kind of endearing friendship that you might share between your spouse and yourself. I’m talking about professional, long-term business relationships. You see these kinds of relationships all the time: doctors, dentists, accountants, bankers, “your tax guy”, etc. Truly becoming successful within your career is something that isn’t measured by any one given value. For some, it’s purely monetary, while for others it may be a combination of physical satisfaction, monetary accumulation, and mental stimulation.

I know of one person who goes into work everyday and works her butt off just because she knows that it drives the girl in the booth to the left of her insane. And I’m not even joking. Regardless of your motives for working, there’s no denying that building strong, sustainable relationships is key in progressing quickly and smoothly through the career path. Some people will provide opportunities, and others will help build your skill-set. Chances are good that there’s always someone who can help you in one way or another. (more…)