Goodwill Industries Week Celebrates New Jobs and Changed Lives

May 5-11, 2013 – Times are tough, without a doubt. People in our community and throughout the nation are struggling to find and keep good jobs. Even in these tough times, though, Goodwill® has reason to celebrate. Goodwill Industries Week is May 5-11, and we are commemorating the effective work we are doing to help put people to work throughout the Central North Carolina region.

Since 1951, Goodwill agencies across the United States and Canada have marked the first full week of May as Goodwill Industries Week, a commemoration that celebrates new jobs created and lives changed. By selling your donations in stores and online, including gently used clothing and household goods, Goodwill Industries of Central North Carolina, Inc. (GICNC) funds job training and placement programs. Last year, over 13,000 people here in our local community who were struggling to find and keep good jobs benefited from your donations, an annual increase of over 30% percent.

This year GICNC will host Open House events at each of our Community Resource Centers and Career Centers located in Guilford, Alamance, Randolph and Rockingham counties. In addition, our Retail Stores will be offering some great specials for shoppers. To find your nearest Retail Store, visit TriadGoodwill.org.

Celebrate Goodwill Industries Week with us and enjoy some great events, including:

All week, Goodwill Industries International (GII) will be hosting a virtual Career Fair which anyone can access online at http://www.goodwill.org to learn about career opportunities across the country.

The Job Search Today (INFOGRAPHIC)

Your Job Search: Who to List as Employment References

Question

“I’m applying for a job, and it says I have to list two references. Do I have to include this? I’m not sure who to put.” – Lee from Reno, NV

Answer

Thanks for your question, Lee. If the job you’re applying for requests references, you shouldn’t leave that space blank. Employers who receive large numbers of applications or résumés will often give each one only a quick glance before deciding whether to advance that candidate to the next round. Any omission in your application could cause you to be passed by.

What Do You Need to Prove?

Think about the position for which you’re applying – what qualities does that person need to demonstrate? Maybe they need to know how to manage others, how to solve conflicts or be detail-oriented. If you’re responding to a job advertisement, review the words the employer has chosen to describe its ideal candidate.

Next, consider the characteristics that all employers like to see in their staff. No matter what job you’re applying for, you want to demonstrate that you’re responsible, dependable, honest, a team player and someone who shows initiative, just to name a few.

Brainstorming Potential References

Now that you have your list, you want to think about the people you know who can speak to an employer about the ways in which you demonstrate those qualities. While former job supervisors are the first people many job seekers think of in terms of references, you can also consider asking these kinds of individuals:

• Professors or instructors
• Coaches
• Church or volunteer group leaders
• Coworkers
• Professional contacts who are familiar with your work

If you have a challenge in your background such as a criminal history including someone as a reference who can speak to your journey and positive qualities — such as a case manager or social worker — can be important.

Avoid listing family members or close friends as references – employers may perceive them as giving a biased opinion of your work. You should also avoid listing anyone who might have anything negative to say about you.

Contacting Your References

Once you’ve determined who you’d like to list as your references, reach out to them and ask them if it’s okay to list them on your job applications. You also want to make sure you have the most updated contact information – such as a phone number and email — for them.

If they say yes, brief them on the jobs you’re applying for and the qualities you’re looking to demonstrate. You may also want to provide this information to them via email, so they can refer to it if they receive a call from an employer.

If they say no, don’t get discouraged — after all, you only want references that are comfortable and willing to talk about you with potential employers. Be sure to thank them for the consideration and end the conversation politely.

 cross posted from goodwill.org

The Best Way to Follow Up After a Job Interview

Most career counselors and recruiting experts will tell you that following up after an interview is a must, especially if you really want the job and want the hiring manager to know it. Plus, following up after the interview gives you the chance to continue the conversation after the interview is over, or get a little closure to the interview process. The question though, is what’s the best way to follow up? The folks at HR Bartender have some suggestions.
 
In most cases, they say, an email is the best way to follow up after an interview—it’s fast, friendly, and unobtrusive, and doesn’t put pressure on the hiring manager to stop everything they’re doing and take your phone call, listen to your voicemail and call you back, or return a paper letter. The HR Bartender folks do note however that a paper note can often really stand out—you just have to use your judgment as to whether that would be in a good or bad way.

Take into account how you’ve been communicating with the hiring manager up to this point and follow suit. If you two have been speaking on the phone fairly regularly, it doesn’t hurt to continue the trend with a phone call to say thanks for the interview and express your hope you’ll hear from them—whatever the outcome—soon. Whatever you do, try to match your method to your interviewer’s most preferred method, and follow up a few days after your interview.

Remember, the post-interview follow-up is an opportunity to reiterate your interest in the position and make sure you and the interviewer are on the same page and that there’s no additional information they need from you. Your follow-up should include a reaffirmation of your interest in the position, and your clear belief that you’re still the best person for the job and could thrive at their workplace. Even if they’ve already made a decision, sometimes other candidates decline offers or seek other opportunities, leaving an otherwise busy interviewer facing the prospect of interviewing more people or debating if someone they’ve already spoken to is still on the market.

Cross posted from HR Bartender

You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know. You Know?

Have you ever applied for a position and think to yourself “I don’t stand a chance. This job is way over my head but I might as well apply?” First off, good job, for being confident and ambitious enough to apply for the position. But what happens if you get a phone interview? I’ll get to that in a moment.

If you are trying desperately to find a job, just casually looking for that matter, you need to treat the process as though it is a job. Here are some tips on how to organize your search.

1. Keep a book, note pad, Excel spread sheet, whatever is available to you and track ALL of the positions and companies you apply to.
2. Beside each entry document the main job duties that are in the description. Then make note of the parts of your resume that you believe are most applicable to the position.
3. If you are able to get contact information for any of the positions, make sure you document that as well.
4. Continuously update the list and put the positions you are most interested in at the top. Date when you applied to them so you know when to follow up on your application.

Now, back to the position you have no chance at getting. You have a chance. In many cases job descriptions are carefully crafted by Human Resource departments and don’t always give an accurate depiction of the nuts and bolts of the position. Refer back to your organized list and see what information you already have on the job. Then, look over your resume and put yourself in the recruiters’ position. Ask yourself; “Why would this resume make me stand out?” Chances are there skill sets that have been identified in your resume that has gotten you to the opportunity to interview.  Take the items on your resume that align most with the job description and make not of them. You will need to refer back to this information during the interview.

At this point you still don’t have a good idea of the position and the phone is about to ring. It’s OK. Breathe. When the recruiter calls, it is absolutely OK to inquire further about the position. Here is an example of what you may say…”I want to make sure that I am able to provide the best answers possible. Could you tell me what the 3 most important responsibilities are?” This can help you tailor your answers to what they want to hear.  Without this information you will find yourself in a position where you don’t know what you don’t know.  You know?

 

 

The HR Recruiter

The HR Recruiter has over 3 years’ experience working in Employment Services and Human Resources. He is currently working on his Masters of Science in Human Resource Development at N.C. State University. He is also a member of SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management). 

Mine the Hidden Job Market with LinkedIn

 

LinkedIn is more than an online resume. It is more than your modern-day Rolodex. It is a database of user-supplied information waiting for you to tap into it!

Where Are the Hidden Jobs?

You are looking for hidden jobs, which means they aren’t advertised. So how do you find them? You have to work this backwards. Who are the companies who could potentially hire you? Think about competitors, vendors, suppliers, and/or any other company that hires people to do what you want to do. This will require some research and this is where LinkedIn comes into play!

Search by Skills & Expertise

From the drop down menu “More” select Skills & Expertise. Enter in a key word for your work/occupation.

In your results you will see LinkedIn profiles of people with this skill and on the side you will see other related skills. See what companies they work for. These are potential employers, or target companies. Also note on the right side of the screen the “Related Companies” listed. Perhaps these are more targets. Go check them out.

And if you scroll to the bottom and you will notice recommended Groups on LinkedIn. If you are looking for industry groups to join, this could  be your ticket!

Search by Job Title

Use “Advanced People Search” to search by Job Title. (Use the job titles you have found during your research.) You may want to start by filtering your search by “current title only”. You can also filter your results by location. Take note of what companies these people work for and add those companies to your target list.

Searching Companies by Industry/Location Etc.

You can slide and dice a company search in many different ways:

• Name
• Location
• Industry
• Relationship (1st, 2nd, 3rd degree connections, or all LinkedIn members)
• Size (number of employees)
• Number of followers
• Fortune 500 ranking

You may want to see who the employers are in your city. Or you may want to see where people you know work. Or you may know that you want to work for a small company. You can filter your search by one or many of these criteria to find potential employers (aka target companies).

Following Companies

You’ve developed a list of target companies. These are places you would like to work or at least you think you may. These are not necessarily companies that are posting jobs at this time. This list is any company that could potentially hire you because they have positions you could do!

With your list in hand, follow these companies!

Part of your regular routine is to monitor the updates of companies you are following. This is easily done by clicking on the “company” tab on your home page of LinkedIn.

Now that you are following companies, LinkedIn is smart enough to suggest other companies you may want to follow. This is similar to the function you have seen with recommendations of people to connect with.

Company Research

See who you are connected to (or should be connected to) in the companies you are following. LinkedIn makes this easy to do. When you look at the company profile, it shows you who you are connected to who works there!

Check out the company’s tabs. They will have Employee Insights, and maybe even products/services and Careers tabs.

You can also see a list of companies viewed by other LinkedIn users. It says: “viewers also viewed:” Chances are, the companies listed there are competitors or similar. See if you should add them to your growing target list! Then, follow them too! If you want to be extra sleuthy, you can see where employees used to work and where they went after. Again, more potential targets for you!

Now What?

Your mission now, should you choose to accept it is to make personal contact with people who work inside your target companies and schedule an informational meeting! You are seeking information about what is going on within the company. Your secondary mission is to get to know the person and have them get to know you so that when they have a job, you are the person they will call before it gets advertised!

Opportunities…Not Jobs

I have purposely NOT discussed the “Job” search functionality within LinkedIn. Searching for posted jobs certainly is possible and something you can do on LinkedIn. I am pretty sure you can figure this out. Tapping into the hidden job market is a proactive approach to finding your next job. Give it a try! See what new companies you can add to your target list and begin following for potential opportunities!

 

cross posted from youtern.com

Utilizing Twitter in your Job Search

Twitter is gaining ground as a job hunting resource.  Read entire article here.

Most of my clients recognize LinkedIn as their chief online professional networking resource.  It also lists a number of jobs.  But most people haven’t awakened to the value of Twitter as a means of identifying positions within targeted companies.

I think too many people believe Twitter to be just another online time-eater… something filled with tweets about where someone’s eating lunch or gossip on the latest movie star in rehab.

Make use of hashtags (the “#” symbol) to identify key words important to you.  Words like #accountant, #accounting, #manager, etc.  When those words appear in someone’s tweets, they’ll also appear to you.

As for targeting employers, simply think of a company where you’d like to work.  Let’s say, for example, you wanted to work for the Wooden Group.  Simply search Twitter for Wooden Group and you’ll find @woodengroup.  Follow it.  Do the same for other employers.  It’s not uncommon to find positions listed on Twitter before they’re published elsewhere.  Why not get a jump on your competition using social media?

If you’re already using Twitter in your search, how has it helped you?  Or has it helped at all?

Randy Wooden is a longtime Triad career consultant and director of Goodwill Industries of Northwest NC’s Professional Center. You may reach him at rwooden@goodwillnwnc.org.

Finding Work When Moving

Moving to a new city or state can be an exciting adventure, but moving without a job is a terrifying prospect for many.  The reasons that you may want, or need, to move somewhere are numerous, but there are some resources that can make the job hunt in your new city easier.  Many times, you can start looking before you even pack your bags.

 

With job searching increasingly moving online, it has become very easy to scope out job listings ahead of time.  Websites such as Craigslist and Indeed allow job seekers to see job listing anywhere in the U.S.  On the right side of Craigslist’s main page you will see “Nearby CL” and links for U.S. Cities, States, and even worldwide.  Clink on these links to view jobs and housing anywhere you would like to go.  Indeed makes it even easier.  Simply put the city where you are thinking of moving in the “Where” box, and Indeed will search listings and companies near your destination.

 

Indeed and Craigslist are not the only places to look for work.  Most Chamber of Commerce sites have lists of major employers in their area.  Most major companies accept applications online, and many have a long hiring process that allows you to submit applications in advance of a move.  Most cities also have a free weekly paper that lists job and housing opportunities on their website.  Just search “free weekly paper” and your destination city to find it.

 

Of course another great option is to get involved with the Goodwill in the area that you are moving.  A Google search of “Goodwill” along with the city that you are moving will bring you to the website of the Goodwill covering that area.  Although all Goodwills are unique, most offer services to help people find work.

 

Looking for work can be stressful, especially if you are not living in the area you want to work.  Now more than ever, technology is making it easier to find work before moving.  These are a few ideas to get you started!

 

Jeremy Woolard

Career Connections Specialist

New Year Career and Job Search Resolutions

Are you finding it hard to make a career change decision? Are you looking for a new job position? Are you planning to start a business of your own? Making New Year’s resolutions is not a tough job. What is tougher is keeping or sticking those resolutions. Given below are some essential tips on how to make and keep resolutions.

Develop a plan
While making career resolutions, remember not to make compulsive resolutions. Studies show that career resolutions that are not developed according to a plan are very less likely to be achieved or fulfilled. Therefore, follow a series of essential steps to develop an effective plan for achieving the resolutions that you have made for your career.

Prepare a list of all your career goals
What are the changes you want to make? What goals do you want to achieve? Those who are faced with crossroads in their lives need to enlist all the future goals which they want to work towards and achieve. Setting up goals also requires you to be specific. You can not just say that finding a new job is your goal. The goal should be to find a job with the employer that offers you workplace flexibility and meets your specific requirements, in terms of your personal values, unique skills and strengths.

Rank your goals in order of priority
If you really wish to make your career resolutions work for you, break your larger goals into multiple smaller ones and prioritize them. Be realistic about resolutions you make and what you expect from your career. Do remember not to have too many goals at one time. This will only lead you to losing your focus. If a change of career is on your career resolution list and you require some additional training, your first goal should be to complete the training and acquire the skills you need. Next comes the step of changing a career .

Think of all the possible ways needed to reach your goals
Whether it is about finding a new job or changing a career, you need to think of new ways of achieving your career goals. For example, if you have been unsuccessful in getting a new job and are still trying, you certainly need to polish your job search skills. You need to review each single step involved in the process, right from resume making to landing a job of your choice. Be prepared to think new and different and use all the possible means that can lead you towards your goals.

Make changes in your lifestyle
Making resolutions and achieving your career goals relate to your surroundings. If your surrounding supports your efforts, it will help you a lot stick to resolutions you have made and lead along the path of career success . But how do you create a surrounding that supports your efforts? Well, you do it by making changes in your lifestyle, by reprogramming yourself, by replacing old behaviors with new one and by reorganizing yourself.

Be ready to celebrate your successes
So, you have broken your larger goals into smaller ones or smaller manageable tasks. Now be ready to reward yourself and celebrate each time you take a successful step or achieve a smaller goal. In this way, you will be able to record your progress and know that you are actually on the right path and progressing towards your ultimate goal.

Be mentally prepared to face setbacks
No path to success can be free of obstacles. Whatever career goals you have set, you need to include this in your new year’s career resolutions and stick to it. When you are trying to find a new job or planning to change careers, you will always come across many hurdles in your career. When you are prepared in advance to handle these setbacks, you will never by discouraged by such circumstances. And the setback will never become your excuse for giving up on your goal.

The most important thing to remember is that resolutions should never be created only to please others. At the end of the day, only you will be responsible for keeping to your resolutions and achieving your career goals. Making a career change decision or finding a more fulfilling new job always head the list of New Year resolutions people make. No doubt, New Year is a good time for making resolutions. However, you should not wait for an arbitrary date to start making resolutions.

 

Courtesy of Jobdiagnosis.com