Internships For High School Students: Getting Ahead in Your Career

By Lily Henderson

We are asked from a very young age what we want to be when we grow up. Our parents and teachers don't really expect us to know what we want to do for the rest of our life, but that doesn't seem to stop them from asking. Most of our answers are far fetched and unrealistic (I think my answer was that I wanted to be a princess). As I got older I really didn't give much thought as to what I wanted to be "when I grew up," not until my freshman year in college was I forced to make the decision to choose a major. At the time I chose nursing because several of my friends had chosen nursing. I never gave it a second thought as to whether or not I wanted to be a nurse. I figured it was wise to go into a profession that seemed to be recession-proof. After graduating with my degree, passing the licensing exam, and began looking for work did I realize that I absolutely had no desire to be a nurse. What had I done? All of this education was a waste. I often wondered, if I had taken more seriously their question of what I wanted to be when I grew up, could I have set forth the motions to get there far sooner than three weeks after college graduation?

Laying the Ground Work

I have been a writer since I was 5 years old. And before I could write the words down I would tell stories for hours to anyone who would listen. Creativity has flowed from my fingers for longer than I can remember. When I had told my mother that I had chosen nursing as my major in college she was shocked. She thought that I would have chosen Journalism, or at the very least, English. But I never thought that it was practical to make a living as a writer. I had heard the term "starving artist" enough time to know that I didn't want to wait until after my death to be recognized for my literary contributions. If only I had laid the ground work beforehand I could have been published before even leaving high school.

The first step is to answer the age old question: what do you want to be when you grow up? Its okay to be unsure of what you want to be, or even to be unsure of what you would excel at. Discovering what you are good at may take some time to figure out. When I took the first few steps from transitioning from nursing to a career in sales, and then to a career in writing, each step was a far greater challenge for me than what it would have been had I prepared myself beter for the future. If I would have taken the queues from my childhood I would have known to begin looking for intership opportunities at the local paper or newsroom, or any place I could have been able to find experience in writing and the publication process.. Interniships are successful in preparing you for your future because it allows you to find your niche, the career field for which you would be most successful.

Opportunity Favors Those Who Prepare Themselves

When planning for your future you will find greater opportunities come your way if you are the one with more experience. The most challenging thing that I found when I first became a writer was that the compitition was stiff. Agencies and Corporations where hiring for entry-level positions and wouldn't even offered an interview to anyone without a portfolio. If this was an entry level position, why was I expected to have enough experience to have a portfolio? Thats when I realized: I wasn't prepared. I had to start from the bottom and work my way up, and "entry-level" was NOT the bottom. Before attempting to apply for another position I began to compile some of my work. I was surprised in the areas in which I already had writing experience. In sales I was often required to create my own marketing collateral. I had even found sales letters I had written that were perfect for my portfolio. It wasn't until I had put together all of my work that I realized that I had already been a writer, I just wasn't getting paid for it directly. I offered my writing services at no charge for a few small businesses in my local area so that I could continue to add to my portfolio. After I was confident that I had the portfolio that might just land me an interview for work as a writer I put myself back on the market, and before I could even get an interview I was hired for my first paying, freelance gig. The snowball rolled down hill from there. I never did land the corporate job, but I have been able to find consistant work for myself, and in this economy, I count that as a success. It was more of a struggle than it needed to be, but that was simply because I hadn't started early enough. I hadn't gotten an intership that would have taught me the skills necessary to advance more quickly in my field.

Volunteer Work is Experience Too

Another great way to find out what it is that you may want to do as a career would be to volunteer. Local orginizations are always looking for someone who can donate some time, and in exchange offer valuable work experience. Any job that involves dealing with the population, whether paid or unpaid, teaches you customer service skills, and fundamental qualification that almost ALL employers look at in a potential candidate.

Volunteering is valuable for more reasons than just the experience that you gain from on-site training. It looks good to college admissions boards as well as potential employers. It allows you to fill your resume with experience, and skills, and provides you with a way to network yourself, long before you are even ready to join the work force.

When planning for your future you must consider the big picture. You don't have to get paid for learning certain skills to be able to reap the benefits of learning those skills. Whether you are working as an intern or as a volunteer the responsibilities that you take on in that position can offer you fundamental skills required to be better prepared in the future. Finding internship programs aren't difficult. You may ask yourself where would be a good place to begin looking these opportunities. High school guidence counselors will have information about internship programs offered to local students. There are even websites dedicated to finding these programs for students as well. You could even talk to your parents about opportunites offered at their place of employment. There are many different programs offered, you just have to take the initiative to put yourself in a position to be better qualified then the compitition that you will soon face when entering the work force.
　
　
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Teen Jobs: Finding Your First Job

By Lily Henderson

In many of my articles I have discussed how to market yourself by using your work history and educational background to secure just the right job. But what about people who have never had a job before? Looking for a job without any work history can seem like a challenge. For teens the idea of finding your first job may not seem that difficult, but many teens find themselves stuck babysitting or lawn mowing waiting to land their first minimum wage job. It may seem overwhelming when you have had no experience in a workplace, have never been through an interview, and don't know how to write a resume, or even if a resume is necessary. You may ask your parents for advice, but do they really know what its like to look for a first job in this economy? It isn't as simple as going down to the corner store and asking for a job, like when they were young. Even the laws are more strict about teens having a job than when your parents were young. Each state varies, but nationally kids between the ages of 14-16 are only allowed to work a few hours a day, and never more than 18 hours a week. Teens between the ages of 16 to 18 can work longer hours, but cannot sell alcohol, firearms, or tobacco. With all of these obstacles, teens find themselves asking, "how do I go about finding my first job?"

The problem that many teens face in this generation is that with a less than booming economy a lot of the minimum wage job are being filled with adults who are willing to earn less money for the sake of bringing in some kind of income. This means that jobs that were generally reserved for teens are now being filled with adults. The national unemployment rate is currently 9.2% which is the highest it has been in decades, but don't be discouraged teens, there are still employers that look to hire only teens.

Where To Find Work

Many employers who hire teens aren't looking for people with years of job experience, they are looking for a body to fill a position so that their business can operate. So who is it that hires teens? Fast Food Restaurants are probably the first thing that somes to mind. When I was a teenager I knew that I didn't want to work a job at a fast food restaurant. I didn't want to come home smelling of griddle grease and fryer oil. So I drove around, looking for signs reading "now hiring" and stopped in and filled out an application. I must have filled out a dozen applications with no luck. After only a few weeks of searching I found my first job, working in the front office of the local roller skating rink.

So, besides fast food, where else do they hire teens? Amusement parks, books stores, casual dining restaurants, coffee shops, movie theaters, retail stores, summer camps, and for those who live in or near a rural area, you can even find work as a farm-hand. Liepold Farms in Boring, Oregon hires teens year round to handle the more menial tasks of farming. If you have trouble finding a job just turn to the world wide web, the one HUGE benefit teens of this generation have that even the teens of the most previous generation did not. There are website that specialize in teen employment, and list all the local jobs for teens. Hireteen.com and snagajob.com have a section for teen employment, and soon absoluteknowitall.com will have an entire section dedicated to teens, with help on finding a job, good internship ideas for teens, and preparing yourself for the future. As for anyone who is looking for a job, the key to success is research.

"Do I Really Need a Resume?"

Sometimes when looking for work it doesn't take much research, but it is important to be prepared. Many first time job seekers don't believe that they need a resume, or think that because they have nothing to put on their resume that it is better not to have one at all. This is not true. It is important to have a resume. True, you may not need it to get that fast food job, because they are going to have you fill out their standard application, but being prepared with a resume tells the employer one thing: This job seeker put some effort into finding a job, meaning they will put in some effort into the position when hired for the job. Walking into an establishment with a resume will never hurt your chances of getting the job, so being prepared to present one to the prospective employer is always a good idea.

The question now is what do you put in your first resume? We know that having a printed resume will set you apart from the crowd, even if you have no work experience, because it allows you to showcase the things about you that you want to employer to remember about you. Even if your only experience is babysitting it is important for you, as a teen to list the work you have done. Emphasize the skills you learned, challenges you faces, and solutions you used to overcome these challenges. Think of your resume as an advertisement of you and your abilities, strengths, and work ethics.

The Interview

Now that you have done the research, know where you want to apply, and have some idea on how to display your qualifications, the interview is the next crucial step to obtaining your first job. Appearance is the most crucial element at this point in finding a job. Whether you have decided to get a job at a fast food restaurant or the local mall you must look professional, even for a non-professional job interview. You don't need a suit and tie, but it is important to be well groomed, well dressed, and look presentable. In many cases, teen jobs consist of positions that are the "face" of the business. Who do you see when ordering that extra large bucket of popcorn at the movie theater? Probably the kid from science class who always smells like cheese. But take a look at him now, groomed, in his uniform, being polite and prompt. Why do you think that he was able to secure a job? (And maybe you understand now why he always smells like cheese.)

Following Up

This is probably the most important part of getting a job. Employers are looking for candidates who have the ability to follow up with customers, because it shows a willingness to get involved and be responsible. Always make a follow up call or get in touch with the potential employer. Usually, it's best to wait about a week to make a call, and when you do, make sure to get on the phone with the person who will be hiring. Don't rely on someone else to leave the right message for you.

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Education Vs. Experience: Making The Grade

By Lily Henderson

A debate has gone on for years about the importance of an education verses real world job experience. Many people are convinced that they will not be considered for a job that they want to apply for because the job posting states that they want someone with a Bachelor’s degree. While we all know that you won’t be able to become a doctor, or lawyer, or even a Certified Nurses Aid or Paralegal without some form of education, however, in most industries there is some leniency as to the requirements. Education vs. experience can be debated by both sides endlessly, but much like the topics of religion or politics, the answer is just as obscure; it depends on the one making the decision.

The Importance of Experience

When I first graduated from college I thought that I would be getting job offers left and right, almost effortlessly. I graduated from a university, I had my degree in hand, along with all of the knowledge that I had obtained. I had a solid work history as a server, with recommendation letters from both my employer and the Dean from the university. I just knew that someone would hire me immediately. I based this on the experience my sister had when she graduated from college. The difference between me and my sister was that she had gone to a trade school to become a paralegal.

My sister had earned an Associate of Arts degree as a paralegal, making her slightly more marketable than a paralegal with only a trade certificate (also sufficient to become a paralegal in the state of Oregon). Yet it wasn’t her degree that helped her land her first position as a paralegal, it was the on-the-job internship required for graduation. That was something that my fancy four year university had not required. The lawyer that she worked with for her internship offered her the job before she had even graduated, and she has been working with the same lawyer for more than 10 years. I, on the other hand, worked as a server for a year and a half after graduation before I landed my first professional position. What was the difference between me and my sister? Experience.

Education: The Sound Investment

I can make the same argument for education. When I began looking for work after graduation I had begun to apply for jobs that were only in my field of study, health science. As time wore on, and I greatly desired a professional career verses my current serving job, I contacted the career counselor I had worked with briefly before graduating from the university. I asked him what I should do about finding a job. He cited the falling economy and rising unemployment rate, which in 2004 was only 5.5%, compared to the national unemployment rate of 9% today. He said that I would need to apply for jobs outside of my field of study. I was confused. Why spend tens of thousands of dollars on an education if a degree didn’t matter? That’s when he corrected me; it wasn’t that education isn’t important; he wanted me to understand that I wasn’t limited to jobs in science.

When I expanded my job search to include other fields I found that I was going on a lot more interviews, and eventually landed my first professional job. I was hired as a Customer Relations Specialist for a co-op buying program for independent restaurant owners; a job that had absolutely nothing to do with my education, but that I never would have been considered for if I hadn’t graduated with a Bachelor’s degree.

What Employers Look For From a College Graduate

The main reason why an employer would list that they are looking for someone with a college degree is that the position they look to fill requires it; as in the case of doctors, lawyers, accountant, etc. Yet, there are more positions that don’t necessarily require a degree, but the employer wouldn’t consider anyone without an education, as in my case with my first professional position. This is based on the personal bias of the employer. They believe that someone with an education would make a better applicant because it proves that the individual has a proven ability to analyze problems and produce solutions, has the ability to learn complex subject matter, and has drive, motivation, and better interpersonal skills. They tend to believe that having a degree proves intelligence, and ensures the applicant has more credible qualifications.

We all know, however, that this is just personal biases that the employer has, and does not necessarily define one’s ability and qualifications to be successful at the job they are seeking. So, take the time to properly identify the required abilities, knowledge and skills necessary for the position, and make sure that your experience proves more valuable by reflecting these qualifications. Make sure that your resume reflects these skills, regardless of your education. Apply for the position, even if it states that it requires a degree, and if given an interview, sell yourself on your experience. If the topic of education does come up bring the employers attention back to your experience and qualifications. You could even pose the question: Do you really think I am any less qualified because my education comes from on-the-job experience?

Looking for a job? Looking for a BETTER job? Go to, http://www.absoluteknowitall.com/

Negotiating For A Better Salary

A “How To” Series on Marketing Yourself to Employers

By Lily Henderson

How much are you worth? Have you determined your value yet? If you are unemployed it is easy to feel worthless, but that is a cop-out. By determining that you are worthless, you are stating that IF you ever find a job again, you will work for any amount of money they will pay you, even if it were under the table at the median income of a third world country. I know that it can be challenging to put a dollar amount on your worth, but what it truly takes is some research.

Along with your research you must also consider the other factors that impact your salary, besides your work history and educational background. These factors include where you live, what field you are in, the size of the company you work for (or will be working for), and especially how well you can “sell” yourself to the employer. While it may not seem fair, you will be judged by the person interviewing you, based on personality. So when determining your worth you must evaluate every factor that establishes your worth.

What Factors Determine Your Worth?

In my article last week, “How To Estimate Your Worth” I discussed figuring out how much you need to earn to pay your bills, reflecting on what your experience is worth, and the importance of being honest about your background. It’s easy to know how much you need to make, and it shouldn’t be too difficult for you to be honest. But what can you do to translate your experience into your true worth? Salary survey web sites can be helpful when looking for this information. Another great tool would be to talk to other people in the same field.

Discover what the difference in pay scale between entry, senior and executive level positions. How many years do you have to be in a position before you are no longer considered “entry-level?” Or do you only move up after receiving a curtain number of achievements within that position? These answers can vary greatly, usually depending on the company you work for, and which position within that company that you hold. If you are unemployed, just review your resume, and reflect on how long you spent at your last position. How did you grow within that position? What additional skills and experience did you gain with your time with that company? Do you now have the know-how to move up from an entry-level position to a senior-level, or to an executive position? Don’t underestimate yourself. If you have spent 5 or more years at any one position, or combination of two different positions in the same field, you probably have the experience to move up to the next professional level. The only thing left is to convince yourself that you are worth it, and begin applying for those positions. You may just surprise yourself with the results.

Evaluate Your Position

To evaluate your position you first need to ask yourself what you bring to the table. The best way to do this is to assess your professional progress. Have you received any positive work evaluations, or exceeded any goals? Have you received any awards or special recognitions? These are the things you should be documenting. Keep them in your employment file, and when it comes time for your job search and interview you will have this information readily available to let the employer know that you have the evidence to back up why you feel that you are worth that salary you will be asking for.

The Power of Networking

When I first began to work as a freelance writer one of the toughest things I had to do was to determine how much I should charge my clients for my writing services. I bought a few books on how to make it as a writer, and each of the books I read had a “price list” of services, each differing vastly. One book was written by an author from New York City, another from Chicago. I knew that I would not be able to command the same fees that these other writers were asking. Not to mention, I was an entry-level freelance writer. While my work history had given me many opportunities to grow as a writer, I had absolutely no idea what each service should cost for my client. I overcame this by speaking to other writers in my area. I was amazed at how forthcoming they were with the information, thinking they would view me as their competition. However, they were all more than willing to help, and several writers recommended me for assignments that they knew they wouldn’t have the time to complete before their client’s deadline. It was a great way for me to network with others in my field.

The Art of Negotiating

“Let’s get down to the brass tax.” My favorite line from the movie, Bruce Almighty. While I know it was a popular adage long before Bruce Almighty hit the big screen, every time I read it I hear Jim Carrey’s voice repeat those words, with the character expression that only he has mastered. If you haven’t seen the movie, I strongly recommend it. Not for its power of negotiations, but simply for its humor and lessons of good will. Yet, the character Jim Carrey portrayed was one of a push-over, knocked around by life until “God” gave him some of His heavenly power, at which time the character suddenly had the confidence to get the big promotion he had been longing for. Was it his sudden boost of power, or was it his new found confidence that was his power. Now the moral to that story was not how to negotiate, but some of the lessons are still good ones to take away from the movie.

Timing is one of the most essential aspect to consider when negotiating your salary. If you are making this negotiation at the time they offer you the position the employer is anticipating, in most cases, that you may want to ask for more than what they have listed as the approved salary for the position. This is when you should bring up your professional achievements. But it is important to first discuss the job before bringing up the salary. Once you have negotiated the job, that is when you should start negotiating salary.

If the employer has not yet discussed the salary for this position it is perfectly acceptable for you to ask the question, “how much is the salary for this position?” Employers don’t expect you to work for free, yet so many people will leave an interview, even a second interview, and have no idea what the pay is for the position for which they just interviewed. Some employers will even use this as a test. If an employee never mentions salary, when it does come time to discuss the pay the employer already has it in his mind that you will take whatever number he throws out. Take a little initiative, and ask how much they think the position is worth. You may find they are willing to pay you more than you expected, but in most cases you will be worth more than the price they quote you. Before throwing out another number, ask, “is there room for negotiations?” If the salary is set in stone, having been voted on by a board of trustees, then you can move on to discussing the benefits package. But if there seems that there is room to negotiate the employer will follow your question with another question. Most likely, “Well, what were you thinking the salary should be?” Again, be careful. You don’t want to be the first person to throw out a number. This would be the perfect time to mention your achievements. Site specific reasons why you are worth more than what they are offering, without putting a price tag on your work.

Also, you should never be afraid to turn down a job offer. Just as you shouldn’t take a job that you are overqualified for, you should not take less than what you are worth. Set a “walk-away” amount, and know that you can NOT work for anything less. You are a professional, and should be paid accordingly.

Visit http://www.absoluteknowitall.com/ for the latest job postings in your area.

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How To Estimate Your Worth

A “How To’ Series on Marketing Yourself to Employers

By Lily Henderson

In my article last week I touched up briefly on the importance of knowing what your qualifications are. This week I want to discuss not only being able to list your qualifications, but knowing what value your job experience has brought to you, your former employer, and soon to your new employer. This will help you in how to conduct a proper job search, how to create a polished resume that reflects your value, and give you the confidence to know what you are worth.

How Much Do You Need To Earn?

A very important decision you need to make when looking for a job is how much money you need to earn. There will obviously be limitations to what you can earned, based on past job history and educational background. But knowing how much you want to earn will help you pin point your search and help you to find the job that suits you best. While it may not seem like much of a “decision” it is important for you to determine your “asking price.” What is the minimum salary you need to earn to pay your bills? Do you need to earn the same as you did at your last job? Are you in a position to take an offer to earn less money if you stand to gain more in the future, such as experience in a new field, or more benefits with a lower income? When you begin your job search these are things you need to consider. Whether you are currently unemployed, or looking for a change from your current career, you have to first know what you are looking to earn.

If you are unemployed it may seem like any job is worth applying for, no matter what they are willing to pay, but I urge you to be careful of falling into this frame of mind. An Account Executive who is custom to making $70,000 annually should not take a job working for minimum wage at a local fast food place, unless of course it is the absolute last resort. The last resort being that every Account Executive, Sales Rep, or Administrative Assistant position in your area is filled. Save the fast food jobs for teenagers and college students. Can you really afford to take less than what you are worth for the sake of employment? If the answer to this question is “yes” then apply to any and every job you come across. Just be prepared to continue your job search, on a part-time basis, until you find the job that truly reflects your worth. Ultimately, I would encourage you to hold out for the better job, because if you do beginning your minimum wage job, you won’t have enough time to do a thorough job search, and may miss out on a better opportunity.

What Is Your Experience Worth?

In 2004 I graduated college ready to step into the work force. Bright eyed and bushy-tailed, with my fancy college degree in hand, I was sure that the first job I interviewed for would hire me on the spot. 15 months later I was still working as a cocktail server, making more money than any of the entry-level positions I applied for. I felt stuck and frustrated. When I had interviewed for what seemed like the 700th time for a job that had nothing to do with my major in college I was completely amazed when they called me back and offered me the job. It was a job in sales, working for a company that offered a co-op buying program for independent restaurant owners. My official title was Customer Relations Specialist, and for the first month on the job I wasn’t even sure what my responsibilities were. All I knew on my first day was that I was being paid $15,000 more a year than I had made the previous year as a server. As I learned the position, and what my boss expected of me, I also learned how to streamline my work, increase program membership, and boost the company’s profitability. As my experience within the position grew so did my worth to the company. Four years later, I was making twice what I had earned as a server. When I had made the decision to move out of state and leave my position my boss even offered to pay me more to keep me at the company. Why? Because he knew that I had made him a lot of money, and that losing me would cut into his profits. When I began my job search after moving to Portland, Oregon I realized that I was worth more than an entry-level salary, and began applying for jobs in senior-level positions. It took me less than 3 weeks to find work in Portland. After a year at my senior-level job I had set my sights on an executive level position. I approached my bosses, tried to negotiate myself a better position, and when I was turned down for the promotion I began to shop for my executive level job. Within a week I was recruited by a local telecommunications company in an executive-level position. Just as we matured from infancy, so does the experience we gain as we continue on in our careers. As you learn and grow within your position so does your value as an employee. This offers excellent tools for negotiations.

Negotiating Your Pay

So many people are afraid to negotiate, especially when it comes to asking for a higher salary. It is an unfortunate side effect of being an American. We live in a “price as marked” society, where people are conditioned not to negotiate a better deal. What happens when you visit the marketplace in another country? If you take a step back from your shopping and observe how the locals shop you will see patrons negotiating with the merchants in almost every transaction. In our country car shopping is one of the few transactions where American’s find it acceptable to negotiate. If you are someone who can get a great deal on a new car you are someone who can negotiate a higher income for yourself at an interview. If you are not someone comfortable with negotiating be prepared to take whatever they are willing to give. If you can muster up the courage to negotiate your worth, you might just possibly recognize your value. I will touch up more about this in an article next week, but it is important to mention this week as well. Knowing your value is crucial for negotiating your worth.

Why Not To “Bend” The Truth

When it comes time to update (or create) your resume, or go on an interview you must be able to sell yourself to the employer, this doesn’t mean that you should lie to get the job. Most people will offer the “Hollywood Spin” when speaking about their past experiences. Making yourself seem appealing to the employer by exaggerating your expertise is acceptable, however you can’t say that you have experience in a field that you have never worked. Giving the Hollywood Spin is not the same as bending the truth. The Hollywood Spin would be to say that you have extensive knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite when maybe you are an expert with Word, Excel and Outlook, but are not familiar with operating Access. Bending the truth would be to say that you have payroll experience, when the only payroll experience you have is cashing your own pay check, or summiting your direct deposit paperwork. I have beautiful, mesmerizing brown eyes. Well, I have brown eyes, and when I apply make-up just right they really stand out. Both statements are true, but if you were to read only the first statement, it suggests that my eyes are effortlessly stunning. I’m not lying, or bending the truth, I am simply leaving out unnecessary details. Lying would be to say that I have the most beautiful brown eyes of anyone in the world. It’s important to know the difference between lying and amplifying your experience when marketing yourself to employers. You don’t want to gain the reputation of a “fool’s gold” salesman.

When you are looking for a job it is important to know what you are worth. If you have limited experience look for work in an entry-level position. If you want to make a change in your career path, don’t underestimate what your past experience has to offer. If you have been unemployed for so long that you begin to question your worth you may forget that you have value as an employee. Whenever you feel unsure of what someone with your background should be making I encourage you to do some research. There are websites that will tell you what someone in your field with your years of experience in your local community should be making. Once you see the numbers you will begin to appreciate your worth to an employer.

For more information, please visit:  www.absoluteknowitall.com

How To Create a Polished Resume

A “How To” Series on Marketing Yourself to Employers
By Lily Henderson

Everyone will tell you that it is important to have a polished resume, because it is the first piece of information that an employer will see about you when considering you as a candidate for the position they wish to fill. There is a myth floating around that employers use some kind of program to quickly scan resumes, and kick out the candidates whose resumes don’t meet the criteria for the job. Well, it isn’t exactly a “myth” but so many people will spend their time loading their resume up with key words they feel this “program” will pick up and send their resume to the “interview” pile. These efforts are useless. You should worry less about making yourself sound perfect for any job, and worry about finding the job that best suits your experience, education, and skills. Looking for any job will usually result in finding the wrong job, not having the experience enough for the job you are hired for, and eventually put you back on the market looking for employment. It is worse to have a job you are not qualified for than to have no job at all. Let’s break it down, and find out what is the most crucial elements to having a resume that will have the employers calling you none-stop.

The Tale of Two Cover Letters

It was the best of times; it was the worst of times, but mostly the worse for anyone looking for a job.

Creating a polished resume goes far beyond just creating the resume. The cover letter is just as important, if not more so, than the resume itself. While it is perfectly acceptable to have just one resume, you should have a specialized cover letter for each job you are applying for. The employer can read your resume, but still not feel they know enough about your qualifications, and whether you would be a good fit for the company. A cover letter gives you the opportunity to allow the employer to obtain the information about you they cannot glean from simply reading your resume.

Not only is it crucial that you include detailed information about yourself, you must also be specific when addressing the employer. If the information is available, you need to address your letter to the person responsible for filling the position. If this information is unavailable, using the name of the company is acceptable, or addressing it to the HR department is also suitable. If none of this information is available in the job posting you may also begin with “Dear Employer,” however, I would avoid doing so whenever possible. The employer wants to know that you have taken the time to review the qualifications for the job, and are confident in yourself to be able to fulfill these obligations. To do this, you have to have fully reviewed the job post, including the information about the company; who they are and what they do, and why you feel you are a good fit for this position. Also, you need to take this time to site exactly why you feel you are qualified for this job.

Using a Resume Objective
When resumes were first utilized to gain employment, employers were interested in resume objective statements. They would primarily use this information to determine a candidate’s long-term goals. There is some controversy on whether or not to use an objective statement in the opening of your resume. Many people feel it is as important as including your contact information, others believe it is unnecessary. This is one of those things that really just depend on the employer. Some employers won’t read them at all, while others are curious, and ask you about your objective statement. Mostly, this is just useless information that the employer isn’t truly concerned with. So use your best judgment when creating your resume as whether or not to include this information. I haven’t used an objective statement on my resume for over 5 years.

Know Your Qualifications
A common mistake that people make is under-estimating their qualifications. Your previous job may have been as a telemarketer, does that mean you should only apply for positions working in a call center? No. What it means is that you know how to work in a calling center, but most likely the primary skills learned at that job were customer service, communication skills, problem-solving skills, and having the ability to redirect a customer’s thoughts to your way of thinking. These are most likely all the skills you would obtain in this line of work. So what does that mean for an unemployed telemarketer? You can branch out some from the job title you used to have. How many other positions can you think of that require customer service skills, communication skills, and/or problem-solving skills? There are so many different jobs that require these skills. But just as I mentioned before, while it is okay to look for a job beyond your last position’s title, you should still make sure it is a job for which you are qualified. Knowing what skills you obtained during your time of employment will help you in determining which information to include in your resume. When I am updating my resume I retrieve the information my employer gave me about the job description and responsibilities for my position. I post that, as well as any additional responsibilities I took on during my time in that position.

Formatting Concerns
Formatting is an issue that everyone deals with. How to include all the information without writing a book about your work history is where people go wrong all the time. First and foremost, your resume should be only one page long, two tops. This doesn’t of course include your cover letter, but all-in-all, if you send more than three pages you have sent too much. Also, play with the margins. It doesn’t have to be one full inch from the edge of the paper. I use text boxes in a word document so that I don’t have to mess with the margins of the entire page, plus this offers maneuverability for quick and easy format editing, and offers more space for crucial information. If you still struggle with fitting everything on one or two pages, remove the information from your resume and include it in your cover letter.

Professional Resume Writers
A professional resume writer, such as myself, is a person who is paid to write resumes. We know the best formatting for the type of resume you may need, we know all the key words employers look for, and we can write you a cover letter that can easily be personalized by the applicant. If you don’t have the skills to articulate how great of a candidate you are, a professional will be able to assist you with looking as good on paper as you are in person. These services range from $50-200 per resume, depending on the rates of the writer. I charge $50 for the cover letter, $75 for the first page of the resume, and $25 for each additional page. While, this may seem like a lot of money, especially for someone who is unemployed, you should consider this an investment in your future.

Visit http://www.absoluteknowitall.com./ A great place for employers and job seekers to meet.

How To Conduct A Proper Job Search

A “How To” Series on Marketing Yourself to Employers
By Lily Henderson

With the unemployment rate continuing to rise, those who are looking for a job often find themselves overwhelmed and easily discouraged during this process. They are unsure of what is entailed in a proper job search. Many will visit a few websites or job posting boards, fill out a few applications, and sit and wait for the phone to ring. When this doesn’t bring results frustration often sets in. They are unfamiliar with what makes for a successful job search.

A successful job search goes far beyond just knowing the popular job posting websites, or creating a networking site profile. There are even more important things than having a polished resume. While all of these things are important, the most important tool in marketing yourself to employers is conducting a proper search. There are three key principles to success when looking for a job.

Finding a Job Is Your Job.

The amount of time you spend looking for a job will directly reflect the number of interviews you will be called in for. Just as in any sales job, the key to success is numbers. The more times you post your resume, or apply for a job, the greater likelihood that you will find a job. This doesn’t mean that you should apply for every job available. An unemployed plumber is not going to get the job working as a doctor in a hospital, but he may get the job working as a sanitation specialist for a local corporation. But unless he is actively searching for a job every day, by the time that he does come across the job posting another qualified applicant has already applied, and will probably interview before the plumber even submits his resume. By being one of the first candidates to apply you will increase your chances of being called in for an interview.

Someone who is unemployed should be actively seeking employment 3 to 5 days a week, 6 to 8 hours each day. This may seem like a lot, but if you are unwilling to spend at least 20 hours a week looking for a job, you can’t expect to find one.

Know All Your Resources.

Sometimes you may not know exactly where to go when looking for a job. Job posting websites are an excellent source for looking for employment. Whether you visit a well-known, nationally advertised employment website or something more locally owned and operated. There are hundreds and sometimes thousands of jobs posted on these websites. I would recommend finding a site that posts all these jobs from your local area in one place, a site like www.absoluteknowitall.com/.

Another great source is a job resource center. These community-run facilities offer free computer access, classes for creating resumes, and many other services. They will sometime even provide practice interviews with someone who can coach you on proper interview educate. Many employers will even post jobs on a bulletin board at these centers. I recommend these types of facilities for people who are unfamiliar with the more basic steps to finding a job. These services tend to be reserved for people who are in low income households, but if you have been unemployed for a significant amount of time, you probably qualify for this assistance.

In addition to websites and resource centers it is a good idea to apply at employment agencies. You don’t have to be the only one looking for a job for you. These agencies have professional relationships with employers from all around your local area, and have the competitive edge in job placement that you will not obtain on your own.

Create a Job Tracker.

A job tracker is where you will be able to log in all of the important information about jobs for which you have applied. The information that should be included in the tracker is company name, position title, contact person, date you applied, method of applying (i.e. email, postal mail, fax), job source (i.e. agency, website), benefits provided, qualification requirements, etc. You should also include information about whether you were called in for an interview. You may find the need to edit this form a few times before you find a format that works for you. But be careful not to spend too much time creating this form. You don’t want to take away from valuable time you could use to actually be looking for a job.

The importance of a job tracker is to help you keep this information in a form for quick reference when called in for an interview, and so that you can track which sources were most successful for finding that opening. This will help you know how to further spend your time looking for a job. The tracker is also a very helpful tool in providing you with the basic information about the job, so that when you are called in for an interview you will sound professional and knowledgeable about the position when setting up the interview. Instead of saying, “uh, which job is this for?”

These are just the first few steps of many for successfully finding a job. A few other steps you can take before your interview is to review as much information as you can about the company you will be interviewing with. Visit their website if they have one, or conduct a Google search. It also helps to know what people say about them at the Better Business Bureau. You should know as much as you can about what products and services they offer. Know who the important people are at the company, and obtain as much information as you can about the position you are applying for. The more prepared you are when you go in for the interview, the more you will stand out to the employer as the perfect candidate to fill the position.

For more information on local jobs available in your area, go to www.absoluteknowitall.com

Interviews Gone Wrong!

Interviews Gone Wrong
A Series
Patrice
Patrice- Patrice got herself fired before she was ever hired.  She never knew what hit her.  It was painful to watch.  She was bright, beautiful, charming, and approachable.  She presented herself well and was professional.  Patrice came into a downtown Portland business and job shadowed my boss one rainy winter afternoon.  Her enthusiasm was genuine and it was apparent the big guy liked her right away.  David Carrera surrounded himself with attractive apprentices in his high end hair salon and day spa.  He was known for holding high standards in the salon and twice weekly classes that all new hires must attend for the better part of their first year ensured this.
Patrice knew the best way to get her foot in the door and stand out among the many applicants, was to come in on her own time, essentially volunteer a few hours doing what others hoped to do after a vetting process, and then secure an entry level position she would endure for ten to twelve months, all for a chance at a coveted position as a stylist or junior stylist in the salon.
And so, dressed impeccably, hair and make-up done to perfection, and in high heels, Patrice swept hair, shampooed hair, towel-dried hair, and all the while made chit-chat with the master stylist himself, David Carrera.  As she did, she complimented him, asked questions, and generally presented herself as someone who would fit in well among the existing staff.  Patrice was a smart young woman and it soon showed.  She proved she would have fit in with not only existing staff, but with the savvy clientele, too.
This was a fabulous strategy, and one can be used in other contexts beyond the beauty industry.  To volunteer two to four hours- even a whole day- is a great investment.  You will find out if this is the environment you want to work in in a much more meaningful way by actually working in it than you will by sitting across from a conference table.  You will be interviewing them as much as they will be interviewing you.
But back to Patrice and how she lost the job before she even got it- I already told you she looked great, handled herself like a pro, and was creative.  It was easy to read the boss’s face and see he was going to put her at the top of the short list for interviews.  He admired her spunk, it was clear.  He kept it professional, but the banter soon became relaxed, and I knew he liked her.  So what happened that took Patrice from “Yeah baby!” to “Not even maybe!”?
The ugly turn came when Patrice offered too much information.  She started bragging about her three small children.  We all love out children.  That is not to be disputed.  And this is not about how she gushed much too long about them, which she did.  She should not have, but in truth she should not have even mentioned them in this context.
David knew from experience that a young mother would be, by necessity, taking a number of days off to care for her children when they were ill.  He worked with women, remember?  This was not his first rodeo, and Patrice had just told him she had three children.  The spark left his eyes.  He lost interest in a matter of a couple of seconds.  I knew.  He knew.  She, however, had no idea, and continued to try and impress as him as she swept clippings and served coffee to clients.  She was allowed to finish the day, and possibly interview, but from that exact moment, her chances at a job in that particular establishment were zero.  She had shot herself in the foot and had no idea she had done so.  She had really wanted that job.  It was sad.
I could not tell her, as I stood awkwardly nearby that day, but I can tell you: Do not give away too much information to a potential employer. 
There are laws that protect you from a potential employer asking about your marital status, religious background, HIV status, number of children, and so on, but there are no laws against stupidity.  Therefore employers usually will ask you of there are any other things you would like to tell them about yourself.  This open ended question is everyone’s opportunity to divulge too much.  You are under no obligation to tell your future employer anything.  You may give a little detail about a hobby if you choose to, but spilling your guts is only going to hurt you.  I accidentally did myself a good thing in this scenario once- I had told my potential employer I had no husband, no children, no boyfriend, and no pets.  It was dumb luck.  I didn’t know any better than to say too much either, but in my case I had said the right thing.  David hired me that day.
Submitted by Carmen Lohkamp 
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