Job Fairs are an UTTER Waste of Time

Job Fairs are an UTTER Waste of Time Jacob Share, at Job Mob, wrote a post titled 25 Reasons Job Fairs Are Not a Waste of Time.  He has some really good, valid points.  My experience and conclusion was different. A few years ago I got a call from someone at a local radio station asking if I would speak at their job fair. In my job search I learned job fairs werent appropriate for the type of job I was looking for, and chose not to spend my time there. But I figured this would be a good opportunity.  Aside from being able to speak three or four times, they would do all the advertising, posters, handouts, etc.  And, he said they would mention JibberJobber multiple times on the various radio stations that was announcing the job fair.  Since they were multiple popular radio station, he assured me there would be awesome exposure (easily hundreds of thousands of people would hear the name JibberJobber), and they were expecting thousands of people to come to the job fair. Win, win, win, all the way around, right? And then, the day came.  I spent hours preparing my presentations.  When I got there it seemed that about 1/2 of the booths were empty.  The other 1/2 were entry-level positions, or not hiring at all (just collecting resumes).  There were very few candidates during the day, and those who were there were not dressed like they wanted a job (t-shirts, or tank tops, shorts, flip-flops, etc.). Of course, my presentations went well.  Kind of. Actually, no one really wanted to be there.  The guy from the radio station who had me come out would walk around the job fair and beg, and pull people into my presentation.  The most people I had in one was 8.  And they all looked like high school kids in a boring class, watching the clock. It was amazing. I saw that job fairs brought a certain type of employer, and attracted a certain type of candidate.  It was a joke.  An utter disaster.  A complete waste of time. Oh, what about the radio spots, you ask?  Aside from the fact that the DJ kept saying JibberJabber, instead of JibberJobber, it was completely useless.  It was one of the experiences that helped me realize that traditional PR was not all it was cracked up to be. Will I go to another job fair?   I doubt it.  If I do, Ill go with very little expectations. Job Fairs are an UTTER Waste of Time Jacob Share, at Job Mob, wrote a post titled 25 Reasons Job Fairs Are Not a Waste of Time.  He has some really good, valid points.  My experience and conclusion was different. A few years ago I got a call from someone at a local radio station asking if I would speak at their job fair. In my job search I learned job fairs werent appropriate for the type of job I was looking for, and chose not to spend my time there. But I figured this would be a good opportunity.  Aside from being able to speak three or four times, they would do all the advertising, posters, handouts, etc.  And, he said they would mention JibberJobber multiple times on the various radio stations that was announcing the job fair.  Since they were multiple popular radio station, he assured me there would be awesome exposure (easily hundreds of thousands of people would hear the name JibberJobber), and they were expecting thousands of people to come to the job fair. Win, win, win, all the way around, right? And then, the day came.  I spent hours preparing my presentations.  When I got there it seemed that about 1/2 of the booths were empty.  The other 1/2 were entry-level positions, or not hiring at all (just collecting resumes).  There were very few candidates during the day, and those who were there were not dressed like they wanted a job (t-shirts, or tank tops, shorts, flip-flops, etc.). Of course, my presentations went well.  Kind of. Actually, no one really wanted to be there.  The guy from the radio station who had me come out would walk around the job fair and beg, and pull people into my presentation.  The most people I had in one was 8.  And they all looked like high school kids in a boring class, watching the clock. It was amazing. I saw that job fairs brought a certain type of employer, and attracted a certain type of candidate.  It was a joke.  An utter disaster.  A complete waste of time. Oh, what about the radio spots, you ask?  Aside from the fact that the DJ kept saying JibberJabber, instead of JibberJobber, it was completely useless.  It was one of the experiences that helped me realize that traditional PR was not all it was cracked up to be. Will I go to another job fair?   I doubt it.  If I do, Ill go with very little expectations.

9 Job Hunting Tips for Graduates

9 Job Hunting Tips for Graduates Graduating from university and entering the real world  can be a scary time.  The job market is still tough for grads in 2012, 284,000 students graduated into minimum wage jobs, according to the Wall Street Journal. But staying positive is the first step to success. Take a look below at some of our top tips for graduates. 1. Be prepared to work your ass off: Being a young and relatively inexperienced worker, means that youre going to have to prove yourself in whatever  role youre in. Youre going to have many skills that your older counterparts are going to lack, and vice versa, so be prepared to dive in and embrace yourself for a learning curve like no other! Its going to be hard at times, but its definitely going to be worth it! 2. Keep living like a student: If youre savvy with your savings, graduate life is going to be a whole lot more fun. Lots of new graduates employees waste their first payslips but the trick is to keep acting like a student. This means youll save money and give you more options later on. 3. Think of your career as lumps of experience: When graduates are first exposed to the real world, it can often feel like your career path must be chosen immediately, and once youve been employed in your first job you MUST stay in that industry for life. The real world can be scary, but its best to think of your employment as snippets of experience, that fit together, even if theyre not in the same industry.4. Spend more time with people than your laptop: Become a people person and youre half way there. Shut the laptop and arrange a coffee meeting with the hiring manager from your favourite company. 5. Use your social networks to your advantage: Most graduates these days have a pretty strong presence on social media. Instead of hiding it, use it to your advantage! Network with influencers, sniff out what positions are available and create a network online. Its the perfect way to show off your skills and personality. 6. Dont forget about the small guys: Many graduates only think about the big-dogs when it comes to their first graduate jobs, but sometimes its best to check out start ups and smaller companies first. Usually theres much more autonomy and responsibility in smaller companies! 7. Tailoring your CV is vital: The graduate job hunt can be a pretty desperate hunt, but dont just blast out your CV to everyone and anyone. To really stand out, make sure you tailor your CV to each specific  role your apply for. 8. Showcase yourself: Creating a website is the perfect way to showcase your skills and experience. 9. Graduate recruitment agencies: The term recruitment agencies may strike fear into your heart, but dont let them scare you! Sometimes signing up to a recruitment agency makes the job hunt easier, so research your options to see if there are any that suit you. Image credit: Shutterstock

Apply Out Of Your League

Apply Out Of Your League I’m going to let you in on a little job searching secret: the “years of experience” section is kind of a white lie. The job I got after graduating from college “required” 3-5 years of experience. The job I have now “required” 5+ years of experience. How much experience do I actually have? 3 years.

Why You Need to Start Networking for Jobs in College

Why You Need to Start Networking for Jobs in College When launching a career, many students hear the phrase: “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” It doesn’t mean that you will build your career through the connections only. However, a strong network is fundamental for the successful beginning of your employment journey. There are several reasons for that. Why Students Should Network? First of all, networking raises chances to win job competition. Usually, graduates do not have much job experience, and ‘rich’ resumes to attract employers. Meanwhile, the competition is huge, and there are a lot of applicants with practically same skills and education diplomas. Then how can you stand out among other employees? The connections with people who can give you positive recommendations as well as advise you on job application. Secondly, lots of employers today rely on their networks to fill the vacant position. Having wide network of the right connections you have a chance to learn first about attractive job opportunity, be informed on company requirements and be ahead of other applicants. So, the right network can open the doors to the dream company. The research shows that today networking results in 60%-80% of all job offers. Thus, students who spend years in college focusing solely on studies are losing the vast opportunities of building strong connections. Fortunately, networking can be learnt as any other skill and is available for everyone. Let’s take a look at the most helpful networking tips. How to Network via Social Media: Though there are a lot of job resources today, college students should not ignore social media as a job search tool. Social media has opened up new networking doors. Now, you can reach people anywhere, not just at career fairs and industry events. To network via social media successfully, follow several simple rules. Use different social media channels. Though LinkedIn is aimed to establish professional connections, you should use other social profiles like Facebook and Twitter to network successfully. The thing is people have different social media preferences, so using different social media you raise your chances to reach the people you want. If you want to add someone to your friends network, standard ‘please add me’ message or ‘add friend’ button is not enough. Write personal messages introducing yourself and explaining why you want to connect with a person. Remember to be professional. Up until now, social media may have been a tool to stay in touch with friends and family, but now it should be considered as a powerful job search tool. According to a recent survey, nearly 95% of hiring professionals check social media during recruitment. Use social media to research your prospective employer. You’ll gain a lot more valuable information than the official website provides. This will come in handy during an interview. Social Media Don’ts: Don’t label yourself as a “jobseeker” or “unemployed.” You are a professionalâ€"no matter what your current employment status is. Once you’ve graduated, try something like “finance graduate with an interest in international banking.” Don’t just chat with people you already know. Though connections have to be supported, you should extend your network and build new relationships. Establish new connections without inflicting pressure. Don’t expect immediate reply, and do not bother your potential connections with daily follow up messages How to Network via Email: Sending emails is a great way to find new acquaintances, discuss opportunities or follow up with connections made on social media. Again, there are things you should keep in mind. Use an eye-catching subject line. Getting potential contacts to open your message will be the biggest hurdle of the networking process. According to email experts, a subject line that combines a personal touch with the implication of quick action yields a 93% open rate. Try something like, “Following up from Thursday’s career fair,” or, “John Doe from Iowa State University seeking a job shadow.” Be short and sweet. Briefly describe yourself and state your request. Make your message easy to skim. Include a ‘call to action’ so that your relations could develop. Specific request or suggestion will be more productive than just an introductory letter. Suggest to arrange a phone interview or a meeting to discuss certain questions. Email Networking Don’ts: Don’t forget to introduce yourself. It seem efficient to get right to the point, but take a few lines to tell who you are. Don’t forget to bolster the addressee’s ego a bit. Mention why you decided to contact a person, which accomplishments you admire, or highlight something that impressed you. Don’t start your email with, “To Whom it May Concern.” Networking requires personal approach and may not refer to whoever is willing to reply to your generic inquiry. Where to Find Contacts: Knowing who to talk to is just as important as knowing what to say. Here are some tips and tricks for locating the ideal networking contacts. Look for non-conventional ways to network. Volunteer at events, join student societies, attend lectures, or check out local entrepreneur clubs. Use your existing contacts. Ask people you know for introductions. Establish connections with college staff. There are ways to make connections with professors without breaking the hierarchy. Professors authoritative meaning can be definitely helpful when it comes to job or internship recommendations. Final Networking Don’ts: Don’t assume all networks are built the same way. Everyone has a preferred method of communication. Figure out the best way to reach out. Don’t be afraid of in-person meet-ups. Networking isn’t bound to the internet despite what our digital world has lead you to believe. Don’t turn social events into a business meeting. Not every introduction is the prime time for extensive networking. Get the introduction and then connect on a deeper level later. Author: Haley Osborne is a freelance writer, providing materials for various online resources. She is currently a blogger and writing expert at EssayTigers.com, a company providing custom writing services.

#84 - A Day in the Life of a Product Marketing Manager - Joydeep Gangopadhyay - CareerMetis.com

#84 - A Day in the Life of a Product Marketing Manager - Joydeep Gangopadhyay The Career Insider Podcast Apple Podcasts | Android | Email | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | TuneIn | RSSForEpisode 84of The CareerMetis Podcast, we will learn about:A Day in the Life of a Product Marketing Managerfrom our guest Joydeep Gangopadhyay.Guest Introduction â€" Joydeep GangopadhyayevalJoydeep Gangopadhyay is a Product Marketing Manager at Facebook.evalJoydeep has worked for Facebook for 4 years so far with a single mission in mind: Make meaningful connections between businesses and people.Episode Summary1. Joydeep goes in depth about what a Product Marketing Manager is, and the roles they play in the success of not only a company, but in building relationships with the people who need the product.2. He explains that his job is a lot about understanding the market, and how to best achieve a client’s goals within that market.3. He also shares his journey going from studying computer science and software engineering in college to what he does today, and the various stages alo ng the way.4.He gives some insight on something called the Regret Minimization Framework: the idea is to fast forward 100 years and ask yourself “will I regret not doing this?” in order to minimize the amount of regret you’ll have at the end of your life.5. Joydeep goes into his day to day , and the job he does surrounding the Facebook Pixel. He explains what the Facebook Pixel is, and how it benefits business owners who use online advertising to make sales.6. Joydeep’s day begins by gathering insights on where people spend time, and the trends they tend to follow. He then spends time looking at data surrounding growth, and determining why something is growing, in order to build products surrounding that marketing opportunity.eval7.He breaks the job down into 2 parts: Inbound Marketing which helps them answers the questions: What do we build, who do we build for, what do they need and why?8.The second part is Outbound Marketing: the product is built at this point, so how do we package it? How do we talk about it? How do we get it out to market? Joydeep also talks about various challenges he faces day to day, and what he’s learned from them.9. He also describes the best ways for a person to develop the necessary skills to become a product marketing manager, as well as how to apply for a job like this, since it’s often very difficult to obtain from a job posting site.10.He leaves us with some excellent advice surrounding life, careers, and taking risksQuotes“The role of product marketing manager didn’t exist 20 years ago”.eval“In hindsight, all those dots connect very well, but at the time there was a lot of uncertainty”.“We were on the cusp of a fourth industrial revolution that was information led”.“These publishers that were publishing videos online needed a way to monetize”.“Most of the things that we regret in life are the things we didn’t try”.“Challenges, if you can get through them, end up making you stronger”.“T here is great leadership opportunity in challenges”.“The biggest career risk is not taking any risks”.Links ResourcesTo learn more about Joydeep Gangopadhyay, you can connect with him onLinkedIn.Intro Music provided courtesy ofAccelerated IdeasEnding Music provided courtesy ofAccelerated Ideas(www.accelerated-ideas.com). Soundtrack â€"No Need to Rush

7 Things You Could Be Doing On LinkedIn But Arent

7 Things You Could Be Doing On LinkedIn But Arent So you think youve used all the right buzz words in your LinkedIn profile, but still, recruiters arent knocking down your door? What gives? Its time to stop lurking on LinkedIn it is so much more than just an online resume. LinkedIn is a social network and an online portfolio.  Draw attention to your profile by actually using LinkedIn. These are 7 things you could be doing on LinkedIn, but arent yet. Before you start applying these new ideas, search to see how many people or companies have viewed your profile. LinkedIn now summarizes this information for you when you view your profile.  You will see two numbers on your home page. LinkedIn tells you how many people have viewed your profile and how many people have viewed your posts. When you click on either number it will take you to a new page with greater detail. Take note of the companies and job titles of people who are looking at your profile. Are these companies you want to work for and job titles of people who could hire you? If so, youre on the right track. If not, youll need to be smarter in what you say in your profile and what you are sharing on LinkedIn. (FYI: I use the free version of LinkedIn). Write down your numbers so you can compare them to the number after 30 days of implementing some of these 7 actions. You will notice a difference. More importantly, youll experience more activity on LinkedIn too! 1. Tag Someone To make sure someone sees something you are sharing, tag them in your status update and they will receive a notification from LinkedIn. To do this, type the @ sign and begin typing the name of the person (or organization) you want to tag in the status update field. You will see a list of people begin to appear under the name you have typed. Then just click on the correct listing. You know youve been successful when the name is highlighted in blue. 2. Personalize Every Invite  To Connect You Send As common as this may sound, the majority of invitations people receive are generic. People you want to connect with are more likely to accept your invitation if you explain why you want to connect. In fact, some people consider the generic invite lazy or even unprofessional. To prevent this from happening, always  visit the members profile and then click Connect. If you accidentally send a generic invite, immediately send an InMail or message to the person you connected with and explain who you are and why you want to connect. We all make mistakes, but taking the time to explain yourself to a  future connection may actually strengthen your relationship. 3. Like, Comment or Share One Article Every Day It may seem extreme to post something daily, but most people will not log into their LinkedIn profile every day, and even if they do, they may not see your activity. When you share daily updates related news impacting your career interests, it increases the odds that people in your network will see your name and face in their home feed and associate you with the information you share. Add an introduction or short explanation about why you are sharing the article to catch a readers attention. Another option is to like an interesting post someone has shared on LinkedIn and leave a comment. Looking for ideas on what to status updates you should/could be sharing? Check out  10 LinkedIn Status Updates for Job Seekers 2 Ways To Find Great Articles to Share Skim your home feed on LinkedIn. Look for interesting and relevant news your network is sharing. Then share (or re-share) the article. Dont forget to tag the person who originally shared it. Its nice to receive this type of recognition! Read industry publications. If you search for and find something outside of LinkedIn, most publishers offer share buttons which allow you to share it on LinkedIn. Search your home feed on LinkedIn Whenever you like or comment on something someone has shared, it will ping them. This is one way to keep your name in front of your valuable network. 4. Write A Recommendation For Someone Before you visit a new restaurant or order a new product online, do you read the reviews? Recruiters and companies are no different. Before they hire you or even interview you, they want to know what others think about you. If its uncomfortable or awkward to ask for a recommendation, why not write one instead? Writing a recommendation for a colleague, manager or client is not only nice, it makes you look good, too. A well-written testimonial shows your professionalism, leadership and strong moral character. Seeing these characteristics in action may be more powerful than just listing them in your summary or on your resume. A well-written testimonial shows your professionalism, leadership and strong moral character. Seeing these characteristics in action may be more powerful than just listing them in your summary or on your resume. And one added An added bonus: The person who receives your recommendation may be prompted to write one for you in return, which will only bolster your LinkedIn profile. 5. Publish An Article On LinkedIn If youve always wanted to blog or have a knack for writing, this is your opportunity to show off your communication skills or tell a story about your job, company or career. You may choose to write a case study about a job success you took part in, list your favorite tools of the trade, provide your opinion on an industry trend or describe a personal career achievement. Anything you write should be free of grammatical and typographical errors so be sure to proofread your work before hitting publish. Looking for more ideas on what you can write about? Before you write your first LinkedIn post read this: Use the LinkedIn Publishing Platform to Tell Your Story.   Once published, share your article as a status update on LinkedIn and the other social media channels you are active on to gain greater readership. FYI: When someone searches your profile, your most recent article is featured immediately below your summary section. 6. Create a Career Summary Using SlideShare Sometimes it is challenging to condense your work history onto one or two pages. What if you could create a presentation highlighting your career achievements instead? Start by creating a visual summary of your career using your favorite presentation software. If you arent sure what to use, search online for the presentation program that you feel comfortable with. Then upload it to SlideShare, which is owned by LinkedIn.SlideShare is a repository of presentations on many different topics. Once you have uploaded your presentation into SlideShare, share it as a status update on LinkedIn. Use your creativity and youll find endless options for ways to use SlideShare to highlight your personal brand. (You can see 3 examples here) 7. Turn on LinkedIns Open Candidate Feature This newer feature on LinkedIn allows companies and recruiters to see that you are actively open to new jobs and opportunities. Recruiters who work for your current employer listed on LinkedIn will not be able to see this annotation, to prevent the wrong people from knowing you are on a job search. To turn this setting on, go to the jobs icon and click on Update career interests. Next, make sure you fill out all the fields requested by LinkedIn, such as the job title, geographic preference and types of companies you are interested in. This should help match you with the right jobs or opportunities. This post originally appeared on US News World Report On Careers

Differences Between CNA Job Description Resumes

Differences Between CNA Job Description ResumesWhile CNA job descriptions seem to be incredibly similar, it is important to note that there are several common differences between the two. These differences will have a direct impact on how your resume is going to look and what your experience with this field will entail.It may seem pretty obvious, but the title of your CNA job description resume should reflect the degree and specialty you hold. While you can choose from different sub-specialties, remember that only specific certifications will be listed. For example, the NCLEX-PN is an extremely important certification for any CNA job description resume. Therefore, when you choose the title for your resume, it needs to fully reflect the level of the certification.Another thing to note about your CNA job description resume is the length. The length of a resume can be as little as two pages, or as long as twenty-six pages. It is best to choose the length that fits your personal preferen ce, and it may be best to follow a recommended format that is used by your prospective employer. The format used in the CNA job description resume should match the format used in the employer's interview.Again, for CNA job descriptions, you should use only the most important certifications you hold. Again, the NCLEX-PN is not just a certification; it is an industry recognized certification that every CNA should have. Therefore, you should include only those certifications that apply to the job you are seeking.The next thing to do when it comes to your CNA job description resume is to choose your font size. While it is important to make sure your resume is eye-popping, it is also important to make sure it is easy to read.Also, another important consideration is the order in which you place your letters of reference. Remember, references must be given in the order they were given, so choose the order that most fits your resume.Now that you understand the differences between CNA job de scriptions and resumes, it is time to look at some sample resumes. You should now have a better idea as to what you should write in your resume, as well as some examples of what to avoid. Remember, the first impression of your resume matters a great deal, so make sure that it reflects exactly what you are looking for.