Job Hunting Success Story
Steve K., who works for the USAF, emailed me recently:
Hello all,
As some of you have known and some not, I put in for
cross-training to a different career field...Into
computers to be exact. Well, I opened up my VMpf
(Virtual Military Personnel Flight) and it said
APPROVED
I will start school in June and finish up in
September. From there I find out my assignment.
God does bless those who are faithful
Decisions, Decisions
This post is reprinted from an email I get every week from the folks at FranklinCovey.
You’ve been working intensely on a project for several hours and you feel your effectiveness dwindling. You have the thought that taking a break to read a little or eating an early lunch might regenerate you. But you have a deadline, and you’re not sure whether the break is really renewal or escape. How do you decide?
Job Opportunities Abound
The jobs are out there. We just have to know where to look. On a recent radio show, Clark Howard commented that Business Week reports on towns that are begging for workers.
WetFeet.com
A little bit more about WetFeet.com --
The Contractor's Handbook Appendix A (printable PDF) states that
WetFeet.com has established a reputation as a trusted source of inside information on companies and careers. Research companies and expand your career possibilities. Access editorial articles and advice from the experts at WetFeet.com. Get instant advice from job seekers and experts in the WetFeet.com community.
WetFeet.com > Weblog
"Each week, WetFeet.com scours the Web looking for news of note for those looking to manage their career more intelligently, and links to WetFeet.com resources that will help you deal with hot career issues."
Job Hunting Success Story
Gregg B. emailed me his job hunting success story:
Prayer actually worked for me.
I was looking for a job for 5-6 months I was going on a lot of interviews and nothing was happening... And I was being prideful - not praying about it a lot or consitently... Then when one day I just begged and begged for God to get me a job loudly in prayer... A day later I got a call for an interview and by week's end I had the job... I was humbled by God's power.
Wanted: Your Job Hunting Success Stories
That's right, gentle readers. I want to let others know about how you have successfully found a job. It may be your current one or a previous one - it doesn't matter. I want to encourage other job seekers with your success. You will receive no reimbursement from this, except for the gratification that your story has helped to inspire countless others who are where you once were.
Be specific, but don't mention any company names. That may sound like a contradiction in terms, and you may disagree with this approach - let me know and I may reconsider. Instead, use a generic title, such as "software development consulting company", "global consumer products company", and so on. If you would like some help, then let me know.
I will only use your initials or first name and last initial when presenting your success story. I am specifically interested in answers to the following:
Growing your network
One excellent way to grow your network of professional (and personal) contacts is to join mailing lists. As you participate, sharing information and helping others solve their problems, you'll be creating an electronic network.
Topica is one website that has something for everyone. You can explore their mailing lists by topic.
JobStar Central | Hidden Job Market
The best jobs are never advertised. Find out why and what to do about it.
Contract Employee's Handbook
From the Home Page
The Contract Employee's Handbook is a veritable gold mine of information that can help you:
- Find your next assignment and the one after that . . .
- Increase your earning power . . .
- Deal effectively with employment agencies . . .
- Manage your money . . .
- Build your own benefits package . . .
- And much, much more.
ElectronicsWeb | How to Get Comfy Networking
Heather Stone writes a 'must-read' article on how to do better networking. Here's a brief excerpt:
Mac Carter feels like a hero. As a HR administrator for a nationwide retailer, he has opportunities to serve people in a variety of capacities. But never has he felt better about helping someone than he does now.
Mac has a daughter in the Girl Scouts and while at a function with her, he met the father of one of the other kids. They got to talking over cookies and punch, and Mac learned the man was an unemployed distribution manager. Knowing that his company was in need of distribution management, Mac gave him the name and phone number of a department head that had hiring authority with his company. Within days the man called to express his gratitude, explaining their situation was fast becoming desperate. It made Mac feel good to know that he helped this man to find a job and helped his company to meet a need at the same time.
This scenario is illustrative of a typical networking success. It demonstrates the power of having contacts. The rule of "who you know" has long been a key job search component. Statistics have consistently shown that over 80 percent of jobs never get advertised because they are filled through the vague technique of "networking."
TestAndMeasurement | Recession? Who Cares? Take Control of Your Career & Tune-up Your Resume
Kerry Spivey offers advice on why and how we always need to keep our resumes current.
Association of IT Professionals - Dayton Chapter
I may want to attend their November 14th meeting. Must RSVP by November 11th.
AITP National Website
Making Contacts
I'm learning that it's important to know people in order to get that job. I've enjoyed going to career fairs and attending other functions that are geared toward meeting other people. I want to be aware of other functions that come along, too. There is also the benefit of meeting someone "cold" at the library, for example. I met a young man who knows someone from a local Dayton company, and he gave me that person's information so that I can contact her.
But the great thing about networking is that it's a Win/Win situation. I need to look for some way to help someone else in addition to my getting help. To be honest, it's been difficult to keep that perspective when I'm eagerly looking for a job. Even then, I need to keep in mind that someone will be hiring me because of skills that I can contribute to make them money.
Transferable Skills Tests
Career Storm and Career Storm Compass. Dick Bolles, of What Color Is Your Parachute? fame calls this "probably the best skill identification instrument on the Internet" (page 175 of the 2002 edition). It examines interpersonal, practical, information, and creative skills.
After completing half of the assessment, I was able to email the results to myself, since I am currently online at the public library.
This website is the companion website to Richard Nelson Bolles's phenomenally popular book:
The site began on the site of the Washington Post in 1996, and everything on the new site is completely free - you don't even have to register!
Also, in the site is an article entitled "Job Hunting After September 11th", in which Bolles offers some advice about searching for a job in the new world created by the events of that day. Worth a read.
Greater Dayton IT Alliance | 2002 Ohio Information Technology Salary Survey
Salary information for technology professions in Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus, and Cleveland.
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