Friday, November 29, 2019

Would You Resort to a Gimmick to Land a Job

Would You Resort to a Gimmick to Land a JobWould You Resort to a Gimmick to Land a Job?Would You Resort to a Gimmick to Land a JobPeople can sometimes resort to extreme gimmicks when theyre looking for work. The current recession has pushed some jobless Americans to do something a little over the top in their attempts to land new jobs.But are they signs of desperation or creativity? You decideA 53-year-old registered nurse in Florida printed a t-shirt with her web site address and contact information and wore it while riding her bike around the neighborhood.A new MBA graduate became a cab driver in New York after four months of unsuccessful job hunting. He attached his resume to the back of his cabs front seat, hoping riders would notice and help him out.Then theres the story of Joshua Persky, an MIT graduate who stood on a busy New York City street wearing a sandwich board plastered with Experienced MIT stufe for Hire while handing his resume to anyone whod take it. It paid off when an accounting firm hired him.And some of us have heard about the job-seeker who attached a shoe to his resume as a way to get my foot in the door.Of course, success in any of these gimmicks is measured by whether they get you hired or, barring that, how many interviews you land. And that can depend on whether an employer sees your gimmick as creative or desperate. It may work well for jobs in professions that thrive on creativity, such as advertising or marketing, but maybe not so in other fields.Standing out makes a difference. But its better to stand out through your qualifications, as expressed in your resume and cover letter, as well as in the interview process, to land the job. Going beyond that may help but only if the audience buys your act.What do you think of the over the top methods some job seekers use? Have you been tempted to try something similar? Tell us about it.

Sunday, November 24, 2019

Strategies to Get Organized Find Your Dream Job

Strategies to Get Organized Find Your Dream JobStrategies to Get Organized - Find Your Dream JobWhen youre trying to find a new job, keeping track of all your promising openings, applications, interviews, and networking events can be overwhelming. However, there are easy steps you can take to organize and stay on top of your job search. Strategies for Staying Organized 1. Create a Spreadsheet Creating a spreadsheet is a helpful way to contain and keep track of a variety of information related to your job search. In your spreadsheet, include key columns such as Company nameThe name of the organization to which you are applyingContact nameThe name of the contact at the company (typically, the person to whom you will submit your job application)Contact informationThe email address and/or phone number of the contactDate of applicationThe date when you submitted your applicationApplication summaryThe items you submitted in your application, such as a resume, cover letter, recommenda tions, and/or portfolioInterviewThe date of your interviewFollow-upWhether or not you sent a thank you notenzeichen after the interview and when StatusWhether or not your application was rejected, you received a second interview, or you were offered the job If youd like, add other columns such as the application deadline, the names of any personal connections at the company, and any other important company information. You can create your spreadsheet by using Excel or Google Sheets, creating a chart in a Word document, or using a spreadsheet app on your phone. Or, use pencil and paper to create a hand-written spreadsheet as well. 2. Use a Job Search Management Site A number of sites offer tools for managing your job search. If you decide to use one of these sites, look for one that is free or reasonably priced. For example, JibberJobber is a free site that helps you track what jobs you have applied for and the status of each application. You can also keep track of networking contact s to remember how they have helped you. Sites like JibberJobber allow you to bring all your job search activities onto one portal, minimizing the time you spend going back and forth between websites. Similarly, if you a have a job search website that you tend to use a lot, see if it has a job search management tool. Many sites, including LinkedIn, Monster, and CareerBuilder, help keep track of the applications to which you apply on their sites. If you use a number of different job sites equally, you will have to keep track of your information on each separate site, which might end up being mora of a hassle than its worth. 3. Use Your Phone If you use your smartphone more than a computer, you might consider using a job search management app. Apps such as Job Search Organizer and HiJob will help organize various aspects of your search process. Many of these apps are free. You can also keep track of your job applications using your notes or a spreadsheet app. Use your calendar, alerts, and alarms to keep track of deadlines, interviews, and other important dates. Tips for Staying Organized No matter what strategy you choose for keeping track of your job search, stay organized throughout the job process. First of all, simplify your job search. Apply only to jobs you are interested in and are qualified for. This will limit the number of applications you have to track and enable you to focus on job openings that really matter. The point of organizing your job search is to help reduce stress during the job search process. Therefore, dont let the process of organization stress you out. If you download too many organizational apps or use too many job search management sites, you can wind up with even more work to do. Identify your key needs- such as finding new job possibilities and managing your applications- and find a tool or strategy that helps you with those most important needs.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Powerful Women Have Powerful Ideas About Flexible Work

Powerful Women Have Powerful Ideas About Flexible WorkPowerful Women Have Powerful Ideas About Flexible WorkIf you want to feel inspired, check out Fortunes latest Most Powerful Womenranking.There youll see 51 women- including 22 CEOs of major U.S. companies- who in total represent a market capitalization of $1.1 trillion.But its easy to forget as you peruse this illustrious list that to get where they are today, these women had to navigate a working world that isnt always flexibility friendly. Lets take a look at what the top three of these female powerhouses have said about how workplace flexibility has influenced their career and leadership decisions.One of my early pivotal assignments was when I was the assistant to our chairman and vice chairman. I was learning a lot and being exposed to new areas of the geschftliches miteinander. During this time, I had a young child at home and was pregnant with my daughter. It was a challenge, but if I had decided not to take the job because I was starting a family, I would have missed that invaluable opportunity. I was fortunate to have two senior officers who held me accountable and ensured that I was contributing to the business yet provided the support and flexibility I needed to be a good parent and business partner.Mary Barra, CEO and Chairman, General Motors- Fortune Most Powerful Women ranking 1- quoted in the Wall Street JournalIndra Nooyi said PepsiCo is looking at building a daycare center on the company campus that would provide benefits such as care for sick babies and technology to allow parents to see what their kids are doing during the workday. Employees would need to pay for the service, she said, noting that she thinks the government should offer bigger tax breaks to companies that provide day care. I think we ought to lobby Washington like hell, she said.Indra Nooyi, CEO and Chairman, PepsiCo- Fortune Most Powerful Women ranking 2- quoted in the New York TimesMad Men-style sexism may be behind us, bu t subtler and even subconscious forms of bias still disadvantage women. Some managers, for example, may assume that female employees with children wouldnt want to take on a high demanding assignment- and, consequently, never put their names forward when such opportunities arise. Yet, the Women in the Workplace study found that mothers were 15 percent more interested in rising to the C-suite than women without children were. Leaders should invest in diversity training programs for employees at every level. In my experience, once managers are made aware of hidden biases, most are eager to address them.Marilyn Hewson, CEO, Chairman, and President, Lockheed Martin- FortuneMost Powerful Womenranking 3- quoted on LinkedInWhile one might assume that CEOs and other top female executives dont have to worry about workplace flexibility since they can call their own shots, the words of this impressive trio remind us that no one started out at the top. And lucky for the rest of us, when it comes to setting flexible work policies, some of our best leaders never forget where they started.And thats a powerful message to remember.Readers, what do you think about these powerful ideas about flexible work from powerful women? Tell us in the comments belowPhotos of Mary Barra courtesy of General Motors, photo of Indra Nooyi courtesy of PepsiCo, and photo of Marilyn Hewson courtesy of Lockheed Martin.