Career Tips

10 Dec

10 “HARD” THINGS YOU NEED TO DO TO “EASILY” GET HIRED FASTER

 

10 “HARD” THINGS YOU NEED
TO DO TO “EASILY” GET HIRED FASTER.

How can you speed up your search for entry level jobs in business and get hired faster?  You must be willing to work hard and do the hard things.

It’s not easy to “do” hard.  Here are some coveted tricks and tips for recent college graduates seeking entry-level jobs in business:

1) GET UP EARLIER.   Waking up earlier will force you to get a head start on your “to-do list”, giving you a chance to charge your batteries, organize the day ahead and accomplish your goals before you’re pulled in a million directions.

2) MAKE THE CALL THAT YOU HAVE BEEN AFRAID TO MAKE.  Pick up the phone and make that call.   Have a script in front of you so that you are prepared.   The worst thing that can happen is that you will be told THANKS, BUT NO THANKS.

3) LOOK HARD FOR THE ANSWERS THAT YOU DON’T HAVE.   Don’t accept the status quo.  It’s the person who goes the extra mile who will reap big rewards.

4) DELIVER RESULTS, NOT EXCUSES. There is no excuse for making excuses.  The hardest things in your entry-level job search will be the easiest to avoid and the most important to accomplish.   Stop pretending that accomplishing hard tasks does not apply to you and tell yourself that making excuses to avoid these tasks is just not an option for you.  Set your goals and work hard to achieve them.

5) DON’T BE AFRAID TO FAIL OR LOOK FOOLISH. It is always easy to play things safe.   You need to lead when no one else is following and banish the fear of failure.  “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10000 ways that won’t work.” was Thomas Edison’s philosophy about viewing failure as a very important component of success.

6) DO THINGS THAT NOBODY ELSE IS DOING.  Be innovative and do the unexpected.   Move forward, even when there are barriers.   This is how you will get yourself noticed and get your foot into the door.

7) FOCUS ON GIVING, EVEN THOUGH IT MAY SEEM LIKE YOU HAVE NOTHING TO GIVE.   In Adam Grant’s book “Give and Take: A Revolutionary Guide to Success,” he maintains that “givers”, the people who are committed to helping others, often get ahead because they make those around them look better and feel good.  Work hard to determine how you can “give” something to a potential employer.

8) CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE REJECTED YOU.   It’s hard to put a smile on your face when someone has just rejected you.   Remind yourself that nothing is ever personal and that saying something negative will never result in anything that is positive.

9) RUN FAST, EVEN WHEN YOU’RE OUT OF BREATH.   It’s always much easier to slow down.  It is a very competitive job market and slowing down your pace, however, could provide someone else with the opportunity to get that job offer instead of you.

10) WORK HARDER THAN YOUR COMPETITION.    Be willing to put in the extra hours that will deliver extraordinary results.  Remind yourself that if you believe it, you can achieve it.

Entry-level job seekers who get hired faster in a competitive job market are eager and willing to do the hard things that unemployed people don’t have the courage to do.   Embracing the hard things in your job search will set the stage for your success.

Think hard, do hard.   You need to do the things that scare you and that no one else is doing.  The results will surprise you and you’ll get hired faster.

09 Dec

SIX SMART WAYS TO ENERGIZE AN ENTRY-LEVEL JOB SEARCH.

 

SIX SMART WAYS TO
ENERGIZE AN ENTRY-LEVEL JOB SEARCH.

1. IGNORE CLOSED DOORS. “Don’t assume a door is closed; push on it. And don’t assume that just because a door was closed yesterday,that it will be closed today. ” Marion Edelman.
Today’s job market moves at supersonic speed and, therefore, it is to your advantage to leave no stone unturned. Pursue all job leads, even if you were told that a company is no longer hiring. If there are no openings today, see if you can request an “informational interview” so that you can meet the recruiting staff. Make a positive impression at the interview and continue to follow up. When a job does open up, your information will be right in front of the people responsible for hiring.

2. SCHEDULE AT LEAST ONE INFORMAL MEETING WITH SOMEONE NEW EACH MONTH. There is no such thing as “too much” networking. Push yourself to identify new people who might be able to help you identify new entry level business jobs. Meet for coffee or lunch and do your homework before you meet this new person; with a list of questions already prepared. Pick this person’s brain for promising career opportunities and possible referrals. Remember to write a thank you note to this person, either by email or snail mail.

3. GOOGLE YOURSELF OFTEN. Since it’s a given that potential employers will be doing online searches on you, it is very important to make sure that your presence on social media is clean. If you are seeing something that you don’t like, do everything possible to have it removed.

4. BE POSITIVE. Searching for entry-level jobs can be very frustrating; especially when rejection letters are received and emails and phone calls are never returned. It’s extremely important that you keep positive and try and surround yourself with positive people. Start the day off by listening to a motivational podcast (most of them are FREE!) or watching a motivational video on Youtube.com. Have plenty of articles and books that will inspire you and help boost your spirit. Remind yourself that 90% of success is mental and what you believe, you can achieve.

5. IMPROVE YOUR SKILLS. Now is the time to improve your skills to better prepare yourself for the workforce. Your goal? To have better skills than the competition! Check out Coursera, EdX, Khan Academy and Codecademy. All of these classes are free and they will make you more marketable for your next interview and will help you land your next entry-level job in business!

6. VENTURE OUTSIDE YOUR COMFORT ZONE. Being too picky and keeping yourself confined to certain jobs in a few select companies will significantly lengthen the time of your job search. Venture outside your comfort zone and try applying to new companies and considering possibilities across other industries, too.

08 Dec

HERE ARE THE TOP 10 BUSINESS JOBS FOR RECENT COLLEGE GRADUATES.

“Recession is when a neighbor loses his job. Depression is when you lose yours.”  This famous Ronald Reagan quote reminds us about the importance of selecting the best entry-level business jobs with growth potential.   Business jobs for recent college graduates with the best long-term prospects and growth opportunities have been evaluated and listed below.

1) MARKET RESEARCH ANALYST was ranked as the #1 top business job. Market research analysts assess data on sales trends, consumer demographics, preferences, needs and buying habits and make recommendations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts a 31.6 percent employment increase between 2012 and 2022 and 131,500 new job openings.

Median Salary: $60,300
Unemployment Rate: 3.9 %
Expected Job Openings: 131,500

2) OPERATIONS RESEARCH ANALYST was ranked as the #2 top business job. Operations research analysts use optimization techniques, data mining, statistical analysis and mathematical modeling to help businesses operate more efficiently and cost-effectively. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment growth of nearly 27 percent for operations research analysts between 2012 and 2022, much faster than average for all occupations. During that period, 19,500 new jobs will need to be filled.

Median Salary: $72,100
Unemployment Rate: 1.3 %
Expected Job Openings: 19,500

3) ACCOUNTANT was ranked as the #3 top business job. Accountants are responsible for auditing, preparing taxes, financial consulting, fraud-prevention and financial analysis. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 13.1 percent growth for accountants between 2012 and 2022, about as fast as average for all professions. An additional 166,700 accounting and auditing jobs will need to be filled during that period.

Median Salary: $63,550
Unemployment Rate: 4.2 %
Expected Job Openings: 166,700

4) FINANCIAL ADVISOR was ranked as the #4 top business job. Financial advisors help people better manage their money and meet their financial goals by recommending budgeting and retirement plans and investment strategies. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment growth of nearly 27 percent between 2012 and 2022.   An additional 60,300 new positions will need to be filled during that time period.

Median Salary: $67,520
Unemployment Rate: 2 %
Expected Job Openings: 60,300

5) BUSINESS OPERATIONS MANAGER was ranked as the #5 top business job. Business operations managers make sure that a company’s operations flow smoothly and their responsibilities include hiring people, negotiating contracts, budgeting and managing team projects. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment growth of nearly 12.4 percent between 2012 and 2022. An additional 244,100 new positions will need to be filled during that period.

Median Salary: $95,440
Unemployment Rate: 4.1 %
Expected Job Openings: 244,100

6) BOOKKEEPING, ACCOUNTING AND AUDIT CLERK was ranked as the #6 top business job.  Bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerks are responsible for recording financial transactions, managing and updating financial statements and verifying financial records for accuracy. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment growth of nearly 11.4 percent between 2012 and 2022. An additional 204,600 new positions will need to be filled during that period.

Median Salary: $35,170
Unemployment Rate: 6.4 %
Expected Job Openings: 204,600

7) MARKETING MANAGER was ranked as the #7 top business job. Marketing managers are responsible for developing strategies and campaigns for products and services that help a company maximize profits without alienating customers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment growth of nearly 12.7 percent between 2012 and 2022. An additional 22,900 new positions will need to be filled during that period.

Median Salary: $119,480
Unemployment Rate: 5.2 %
Expected Job Openings: 22,900

8) FINANCIAL MANAGER was ranked as the #8 top business job. Financial managers create financial reports, cash-flow statements, profit projections and additional financial analysis related to a company’s overall financial health. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment growth of nearly 8.9 percent between 2012 and 2022.   An additional 47,100 new positions will need to be filled during that period.

Median Salary: $109,740
Unemployment Rate: 3 %
Expected Job Openings: 46,300

9) MEETING, CONVENTION AND EVENT PLANNER was ranked as the #9 top business job. Meeting, convention and event planners are responsible for selecting and negotiating the best rates for venues, exhibit space, lodging, transportation, telecommunications, audio-visual displays, print- and Web-based materials and food and beverages. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment growth of nearly 33.2 percent between 2012 and 2022. An additional 31,300 new positions will need to be filled during that period.

Median Salary: $45,810
Unemployment Rate: 5.6 %
Expected Job Openings: 31,300

10) COMPLIANCE OFFICER was ranked as the #10 top business job. Compliance officers are responsible for being “in the know” about all of the laws, regulations, licensing and permits that exist within certain industries in order to make sure that companies are in compliance with internal policies and regulatory requirements.  The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment growth of nearly 4.6 percent between 2012 and 2022.  An additional 11,000 new positions will need to be filled during that period.

Median Salary: $62,020
Unemployment Rate: 2.6 %
Expected Job Openings: 32,400

 

07 Dec

ANNOUNCING THE BEST ENTRY-LEVEL JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR RECENT COLLEGE GRADUATES.

 

ANNOUNCING THE BEST ENTRY-LEVEL
JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR RECENT COLLEGE GRADUATES.

Which industries offer the best prospects for recent college graduates seeking management training programs and other entry-level career opportunities?   According to EntryCareers’ 2019 survey, here are the industries:

Internet Technology — 26 %

Customer Service — 19 %

Finance/Accounting — 16 %

Sales — 16 %

Business development — 15 %

Health care — 12 %

      1.  Software Engineer
Technology roles are among the top recruited roles for recent college graduates. In 2019, Microsoft, IBM, Google, Amazon, and Oracle are four companies aggressively recruiting software engineers, with starting salaries of $83,000.

      2.  Registered Nurse
Nursing is among the top professions that are likely to experience growth through 2026, with starting salaries of $58,400.

      3.  Sales Representative
In all economies, companies are always in need of skilled representatives to sell products and services. Starting salaries will vary, depending upon the industry.

      4.  Teacher
As more public and private schools modify approaches to education and implement new technologies, there are more opportunities for teachers. Salaries start at $40,000 with opportunities to make extra money tutoring and during a 3-month summer break.

      5.  Accountant
EY, PWC, KPMG, and Deloitte recruit recent college graduates with a bachelor’s degree in business, accounting, or finance. Entry-level salaries begin at $48,000.

      6.  Project Manager
Project Managers are skilled in identifying and clearing bottlenecks to ensure efficient and profitable workflows.   Entry-level salaries start at $57,500.

      7.  Administrative Assistant
Administrative assistants are natural organizers and strong communicators, and problem-solvers. This role is an excellent way to get your foot in the door for future management opportunities. Entry-level salaries vary depending upon the industry and responsibilities.

      8.  Account Executive
Account Executives work in a sales capacity to manage existing client relationships and bring in new clients. Entry-level salaries begin at $55,000.

      9.  Financial Analyst
Financial Analysts are hired by banks, insurance and financial services corporations, consulting agencies, and hospitals. Starting salaries are $59,300.

      10.  Account Manager
Account managers collaborate with clients, successfully manage accounts, and create new business opportunities.  Starting salaries begin at $52,900.

07 Dec

THE TOP 5 “HAPPIEST” JOBS IN AMERICA

THE TOP 5 “HAPPIEST” JOBS IN AMERICA.

Ever wonder what the “Top 5 Happiest Jobs” in America are? According to CareerBliss’s survey of 57,000 employees, here they are:

1) RESEARCH/TEACHING ASSISTANT (Average salary: $33,600)
Even though research/teaching assistants are not paid well, they are challenged by their work, like the job flexibility and their colleagues.

2) QA ANALYST (Average salary: $58,000)
QUALITY ASSURANCE ANALYSTS are responsible for maintaining software quality within an organization and developing stringent testing methods to assure this quality. QA analysts are challenged by their work and like their colleagues.

3) REALTOR (Average salary: $53,800)
Realtors like their company culture, job flexibility, clients and colleagues.

4) LOAN OFFICER (Average salary: $54,200)
Loan officers are challenged by their work and like their colleagues, job flexibility and compensation.

5) SALES REPRESENTATIVE (Average salary: $62,400)
Sales representatives enjoy their work freedom, colleagues, rewards and compensation.

05 Dec

ENTRY-LEVEL RESUMES: SIX QUICK TIPS FOR RECENT COLLEGE GRADS

 

ENTRY-LEVEL RESUMES:
SIX QUICK TIPS FOR RECENT COLLEGE GRADS

If you’re a recent college grad looking for an entry-level job in management, finance, insurance, accounting, marketing, real estate or any other business field, you should be using these six quick and easy tips when you create your resume.

Research shows that your resume has LESS THAN ONE MINUTE to get noticed by a recruiter and if this does not happen, your resume gets filed in a “circular file”, never to be seen again.   Therefore, up to you to do everything possible to create an impressive resume that makes a positive statement about your ability to be a standout employee.

1) LAYOUT.    Keep your resume to one page and have it looking “clean” with plenty of white space and subheads.   Have all your contact information neatly displayed on the top of the page.

2) EDUCATION OR EXPERIENCE – WHICH SHOULD GO FIRST?    Experience is usually the first item on a job candidate’s resume.   Recent college graduates, however, usually do not have that much experience and, therefore, it’s acceptable to have one’s education listed before one’s experience.   The only time a recent college graduate would not want to do this is if the recent college graduate had many impressive internships.

3) CUSTOMIZE YOUR RESUME WITH KEYWORDS.   Many times, companies will have computers (and not real people!) scan resumes to determine if the resume contains key words that are listed in the job description.   Therefore, it’s best that you edit your resume and modify it so that it contains some of the keywords that are in the job description.

4) INCLUDING A “GPA” ON A RESUME.   If your GPA is below 3.0, you do NOT want to include it on your resume.  Chances are, your “major GPA” is higher than your overall GPA and that is the GPA that you will want to showcase.

5) SCHOOL ADDRESS OR HOME ADDRESS?   If you have no plans to spend extended time at your parents’ house, you should be listing your school address on the resume.   Always list your cell phone number and your email address, but never your age.

6) MAKING THE MOST OF ENTRY-LEVEL WORK EXPERIENCE.  If you don’t have that much work experience and you’re seeking content to fill up space, try including a list of your skills and/or any possible volunteer work that you have done.   If you did something in high school that was extraordinary, including this on your resume is permissible.

 

 

26 Nov

YOUR RESUME: POWER WORDS AND STRATEGIES

 

YOUR RESUME:
POWER WORDS AND STRATEGIES.

Your resume is one of the most important tools of your entry-level job search and, therefore, it is one of the most important documents you will ever create. Although a resume alone will never get you a job, your resume must be carefully crafted because it provides recruiters with a snapshot impression of you that will, in turn, help you get selected for job interviews.

No matter which entry-level job you are seeking,it is essential that your resume expertly display your strengths, skills, achievements and goals to prospective employers.

YOUR RESUME HAS JUST 30 SECONDS TO “WOW” AN EMPLOYER. Given the fact that employers spend an average of just 30 seconds reviewing each resume for jobs for recent college graduates, it’s important that your resume include power words and strategies that clearly, concisely and persuasively capture one’s attention, as well as accurately represent your accomplishments and your skills.

AN ONGOING PROCESS. When creating your resume, you need to realize that your resume will never be “finished.”   While searching for entry-level jobs in business, you should be adding, editing, and reformatting your resume as your life changes.   Also, you should always be open and willing to edit your resume so that it is tailored to a specific job in a company.

RESEARCH BEFORE YOU WRITE. Your resume’s main goal is to demonstrate and establish your value to potential employers.   Therefore, before you even begin writing your resume, it is imperative that you research the specific skills and experience that are valued by potential employers in your field.  In a nutshell, you need to determine the attributes that you possess that would attract potential employers.

USE POWER WORDS. When describing your job responsibilities in your resume, use attention-getting power words or strong action verbs.   Vary your action verbs so that all of the descriptive text on your resume does not sound the same.  You should use present tense for your active activities and past tense for those jobs/activities with which you are no longer involved. Here are examples of great “power words” for resumes:

  • Authorized
  • Chaired
  • Cultivated
  • Delegated
  • Directed
  • Enabled
  • Executed
  • Facilitated
  • Fostered
  • Guided
  • Headed
  • Hosted
  • Inspired
  • Mentored
  • Mobilized
  • Operated
  • Orchestrated
  • Oversaw
  • Spear­headed
  • Trained
  • Accelerated
  • Accomplished
  • Advanced
  • Amplified
  • Boosted
  • Completed
  • Created
  • Delivered
  • Enacted
  • Enhanced
  • Expanded
  • Expedited
  • Generated
  • Improved
  • Lifted
  • Managed
  • Maximized
  • Outpaced
  • Produced
  • Stimulated

 QUANTIFY. Also, it’s very important that you avoid using “I,” “and,” “the,” and the use of any pronouns and prepositions.   Quantify your responsibilities and accomplishments whenever possible by using numbers, amounts, dollar values and percentages. For example, you might want to say that you “Processed daily receipts totaling $2500” or that you “Designed 6 costumes for a local production of” or “Supervised three new volunteers”.

KEY POWER STRATEGIES. In order to impress potential employers by quantifying your experience, use these 10 proven “Power Strategies” to focus on your specific achievements, accomplishments, student activities and volunteer experience.   Potential employers like hearing about candidates who can:

1) Save Money. Did you ever save a company or organization money, eliminate waste or discover a more cost-effective way of doing things?     .

2) Make Money. Did you make money for a company or organization by increasing sales, rearranging merchandise, creating compelling marketing material, writing successful proposals or making sales?

3) Save Time. Were you able to save time for others by finding quicker and easier ways to complete tasks or eliminating extra steps?

4) Increase Efficiency. Were you able to increase efficiency by organizing data, eliminating steps or developing better systems?

5) Retain Customers. Did your ability to provide superior customer service or resolve customer complaints help you retain more customers?

6) Increase Customer Base. Were you able to increase a customer base by increasing sales or improving the company’s reputation?

7)  Train/Lead. Did you train any other employees, students or volunteers or assume any kind of leadership roles with responsibilities?

8) Teach Teamwork/Sportsmanship. Did you teach skills that helped improve someone’s life or eased someone’s pain?

9) Confidence/Self Esteem. Did you teach new skills to children, younger adults or new employees that helped improve their confidence and self-esteem?

10)  Lead/Motivate. Did you lead a team or group and motivate them to get something done in sports, arts, student groups, project teams, or work groups?

Including power words on your resume and implementing the power strategies listed above will help get you hired faster.

26 Nov

3 SMART TIPS TO AVOID “ALL WORK WITH NO PAYOFFS” INTERNSHIPS

 

3 SMART TIPS TO AVOID “ALL WORK WITH NO PAYOFFS” INTERNSHIPS

Are dead-end internships the exception or the norm?   “For Interns, All Work And No Payoffs” reports that many entry-level job seekers feel “trapped in a cycle of internships with little pay and no job offers”.   How many internships (if any) does one need to work to land a dream job and/or a position with true growth opportunity?

One intern interviewed couldn’t break free of the “intern cycle” and was on his fourth low paying internship with no hiring prospects.   Another intern interviewed voiced frustration over the fact that she applied to over 300 jobs with no response, yet her applications for internships were answered.

There are always barriers and costs to entering a new profession, and some fields require serious experience for success.  Here are some smart tips on how to select internship opportunities that will pay off for you:

  1. ASK ABOUT HIRING OPPORTUNITIES AT THE INTERVIEW.  Ask your potential employer about the likelihood of securing employment at the end of the internship.  How many interns were hired during the last 3 years? Also ask about the specific accomplishments of other interns.    If no interns were ever hired and/or offered key responsibilities, it might be wise to look for internship opportunities elsewhere.
  2. INTERNSHIP AGREEMENT.   After you receive your internship offer, establish an “Agreement of Reciprocal Gains” with your employer that provides you with a gradual allowance to assume responsibility for more complex and useful tasks and projects.   In the beginning, you will most likely be asked to do low-level tasks but if you have mastered these tasks, your employer should provide you with the opportunity to become involved in bigger and better assignments.
  3. VIEW THE INTERNSHIP AS AN “EXTENDED INTERVIEW” AND GIVE A SUPER STAR PERFORMANCE.  Just because you were hired and you’re already in the company, does not mean that you will be given preferential treatment for hiring. As an intern, you need to rise above the expected and give a super star performance, even if your initial assignments are not very challenging.  You should also be going out of your way to meet and impress people in your company (in addition to the high-level executives in your department), who are in the position to hire you.