Saturday, December 27, 2003

The age-old question answered: Is Any Job Better Than No Job?

Thursday, December 25, 2003

Resume and Cover Letter Guide

About.com has some excellent articles on resume writing, job search methods and more.

Monday, December 22, 2003

CNN.com - Dell cancels Indian tech support - Nov. 26, 2003: "AP) -- After an onslaught of complaints, computer maker "


Score one for keeping jobs in the US!

Saturday, December 20, 2003

CNN Money: Vanishing Jobs

The subtitle for this article says: "Structural change in the economy means many jobs are never going to come back."

I agree. I believe that the recent economic downturn and its subsequent recovery will mean not only that some jobs will never exist again, but also that new ones will be created.

The Online Job Search Companion | Pam Dixon

This site has a fairly comprehensive list of job sites, associations and other career related resources which may be worth checking out. List includes regional job databases, high tech jobs, best sites for new grads and more.

Thursday, December 18, 2003

Blogging Increases Your Work Drive

John Moore cheers for what blogging has done for his enthusiasm at work:

I admit - prior to this FC Now guest host gig I was a blogging neophyte. I had read the occasional blog but never had I participated. That was then, this is now.

I am now a blogging convert. All praise due to blogging!

Seriously, this week has done wonders for my work drive. I haven't been this engaged at work in years. I credit blogging to helping me make sharper, more strategic decisions at work this week. And, I have been a better, more consistent mentor/teacher to my direct reports.
Other people get fired over blogging (see Blogger's "How Not to Get Fired Because of Your Blog").

I haven't read much of FastCompany this week to understand what it is about John's job that has got him so enthused, but it sounds worth looking into, doesn't it?

Thanks to Ian for pointing me to the link!

BLOGGER - Knowledge Base - How To Get A Book Deal With Your Blog

I think I could do this.

Wednesday, December 17, 2003

GFN Career Centraal

There are over 1600 jobs posted on GFN.com, the "alternative" job search engine.

'Tis the Season to Be Networking

Last week I mentioned this, yet I think the folks over at WetFeet.com say it even better:

It can be hard not to feel like a Scrooge when you're still trying to find a job during the holidays—you're poring over job listings and sending out resumes while everyone else is taking time off, shopping for gifts, and planning holiday festivities. But don't cry "humbug!" just yet.
For want of a permalink, head over to the post dated December 8, 2003.

Five Myths About Holiday Job Hunting via an emailed newsletter from Execs-Direct.com

by Sinara Stull O'Donnell

When I was an executive and a corporate recruiter, I found that December was my busiest and most stressful month. It's no exaggeration to say I often made job offers on Christmas Eve and came in the day after Christmas to do the paperwork so that an employee could start Jan. 2.

Yet, the misconception that nobody hires in December is common, as is the poor advice that "you might as well take the month off." It may seem counterintuitive, but the opposite is true.

Holiday job-search myths have been around for a long time and are repeated like mantras, but shatter when scrutinized. Consider the following:

Myth No.1: "Nobody hires in December"

December is still a month employees are being paid to work. There are five reasons companies may hire in December:

  1. Many companies must spend the money in their budgets before the end of the year. Hiring "heats up in December because hiring managers are trying to reach deadlines to use budgets," says Susie Basanda, principal of Basanda Consulting, a recruitment management company in Ventura County, Calif.
  2. People tend to want to tie up loose ends before the new year. Hiring managers, human-resource representatives and executive recruiters are like the rest of us who have that feeling of urgency as the year-end approaches. If there are unfilled positions on their staffs, hiring managers naturally want to fill them.
  3. Positions open up in late November or early December because many professionals quit their jobs this time of year. As David Knowles, a senior recruiter with Excel Unlimited, an executive search firm in Houston, says, "The holidays can bring on a time of longing to be closer to family, roots and people. If no bonus is involved, people often will quit Dec. 1, and give two weeks notice so that they can be with family for the holidays."
  4. Headhunters are more motivated to place candidates before the end of the year. Almost all executive recruiters are paid on commission. This commission is based on fees their company earns for placing professionals. What helps the December job seeker is that this commission rises based on overall yearly billing. One might start the year at 30% and graduate to 60% by December. The catch is that it goes down to 30% again Jan. 1.
  5. Strong companies often want to start the new year with a bang. "Companies that are forecasting profits want to have key people in place to start the year off well," says Knowles.
Myth No. 2: "You won't find the job you really want in December"

You're just as likely to find the job you really want in December as in any other month. One reason is because you won't have as much competition, says Judy Kneisley, senior vice president and general manager for outplacement firm Lee Hecht Harrison Inc. "Because so many people believe in the myths, it's a perfect time to be out there," she says. It may sound logical that only losers would be desperate enough to look for jobs during the holidays, says Knowles, but "the fact is that winners are looking in December." Winners don't give up.

Myth No. 3: "Nothing ever happens after Dec. 15, so you might as well leave town"

Most recruiters advise job candidates to be flexible in scheduling interviews and meetings around the holidays. Eberhart goes a step further and advises candidates to avoid taking weeklong trips during the holidays. Basanda once held a round of interviews New Year's Day.

Myth No. 4: "Even if an employer has an opening, the hiring manager won't have time to meet with you"

The interviewing process can be slower during the holidays because of the number of days people are out of the office. But, as Basanda says, the process "will slow down but it doesn't stop."

Myth No. 5: "You'll have a better chance if you wait until the first of the year"

If employers have a need, they don't care whether it's January or December. "[Hiring] isn't focused on the time of year. It's focused on need," says Keith Mills, vice president for Aaron's Automotive, a manufacturer in Springfield, Mo.

Ms. O'Donnell is a free-lance writer and a career consultant in Springfield, Mo. This article was abridged from CareerJournal.com.

The Monster Blog

Rebecca says:

Welcome to the Monster Blog! This blog is dedicated to helping job seekers by providing career advice, tips, news, and information.

I'm a content producer at Monster, and while I will be providing links to useful Monster content in this blog, I will also be pointing to news and information from around the Web.
Thanks to Curt for the info!

Deloitte Fast 500: Technology Fast 50 - Search: "The Technology Fast 50 is a listing of the 50 fastest growing technology companies in a given geographic area based on five-year percentage growth"


Here's an interesting resource. Deloitte's Technology Fast 50 is a listing of the 50 fastest growing technology companies in a given geographic area based on five-year percentage growth. Select any region and year to get the list of growing tech companies in your area.

Tuesday, December 16, 2003

FunJobsReview.com - Realistic Reviews of Online Job Opportunities I came across this web site, served up by Google Ads. I thought it was actually sort of interesting, to see a 3rd party site that rates & reviews all of these "get rick quick / get paid to surf / get paid for your opinion" web sites. Personally, I always look at these as being a scam, but then again, I guess you never know...

MSN Women - Article: 8 Ways to Love the Job You Have

Now... if I only had a job to love!

Sunday, December 14, 2003

Advice From Successful Job Seekers: Don't Neglect Your Network

by Caroline Levchuck (via My Yahoo! Daily Tip)

Curtis Potter wasn't even actively seeking full-time work when he was appointed creative director of an advertising agency. He credits his new job to his solid professional network.

Potter had left his most recent job on good terms and had stayed in touch with his boss when he moved cross-country.

"I would visit whenever I went back to the West Coast and have dinner with him when he came to New York," said Potter.

Potter also built a strong network in and around New York City.

"A former colleague from a local agency called me and told me about the opening, and I sent my resume in. She talked me up to her bosses and they reviewed my resume. It turned out that they knew my previous employer," said Potter.

"I had two strong references going for me -- a former colleague and a former boss. The agency interviewed tons of people, but I think these connections made all the difference," said Potter.
This is great news.

Saturday, December 13, 2003

Success Quotations

Speaking of success, here are some quotations: QuotesBlog Google Search

Blog Housekeeping

I'm revising the blogroll, which you see on the left hand side. Cleaning it up, adding new sites, removing old sites, etc. It will be up sometime between now and when Jesus comes (*g*). Okay, before 2004, hopefully.

Job Hunting Success Story

Sue T. responded to a recent post and shared her job hunting success story:

Cheers !!!

I finally got a job!!

I got my job through a website called www.jobs.net.

I was doing my daily job search at my local workforce one in Florida, and I stumbled across this website, which I'd never heard of before. I decided to check this site out, and I found a position called yacht finance specialist (a.k.a administrative assistant). The funny thing about this position was it posted on August 18, 2003, and it was still on their site on November 12, 2003. I called the employer, and the reason why they did not find anyone was because none of the other candidates had passed the credit check. The company is owned by a bank, and passing a credit check is required.
In the post to which Sue responded, we posed some specific questions. Below we've listed the questions along with her answers.
  • What position were you applying for?
    Administrative Assistant
  • How did you contact the particular company?
    I called the company and then faxed them my resume
  • Describe the interviewing process.
    It was pretty simple. They were only interested in me because they had already posted this position on careerbuilder.com and had not yet found anyone qualified for it.
  • Did you work part-time or as a contractor/consultant with the company before being hired?
    No
  • How long was the process from your first contact with the company to your first day of work?
    I interviewed for the position on November 18th. I returned on December 1st and was hired after I found out I passed the credit check.
  • Describe your emotional state during the process. Were you anxious? Excited? Stressed? Impatient? Frustrated? Let us know.
    I kept wondering why the credit check was taking so long.

Friday, December 12, 2003

F**k That Job! takes a humorous look at the job market, highlighting the unusual, unreasonable, even ridiculous job postings out on the internet. From a Craig's List post "seeking a workaholic (and I mean workaholic) who is interested in total immersion in their job (if you are not inclined to this requirement with 24/7 availability do not respond to this ad)" to the jobseeker who is auctioning himself on eBay, this web site got a chuckle or two out of me.

VistaPrint Free Business Cards

When you're out networking for your next job contact, it's a good idea to have a personal business card handy. One method I've seen which is particularly interesting is to include sort of a mini-resume - some bulleted highlights of your specific job skills or areas of expertise.

The essentials to include on a networking business card include:
Name
Phone
Email address
Web site (where hopefully a description of your talents and your resume can be found)
Depending on your area of expertise, including a title or functional area might also be a good idea (i.e. Marketing Professional, Quality Specialist, Technical Consultant, etc.).

Re: the above noted URL, VistaPrint offers "free" business cards for the cost of shipping only (about $5), but these cards do include a text ad for vistaprint on the back. You can also print up cards on your personal printer (ok as long as you have a real paper cutter - the perforated edges on preprinted business card stock a la Paper Direct is sort of tacky), or check out your local Kinko's or Mailboxes Etc for low cost card printing options.


Thursday, December 11, 2003

Yahoo! Groups : jobsearchsupport
Newsgroups, Yahoo Groups and Job related discussion boards are an excellent way of networking online with other job seekers, sharing support, job leads, search ideas, and more.

Dice.com - Job search for Technology Professionals
Today, I read through my automated job search agent for DICE.com, and found no less than 5 job postings by recruiters for the SAME JOB. 5 out of 21 jobs returned works out to roughly 25% of my time wasted reading the same job description.

The thing that I've learned about many of these recruiter posts is that if you do a little bit of research, often you can find the employer on the web and apply for the job directly. Since recruiters charge a fairly hefty percentage for their services, it makes me wonder whether employers are using them at all these days, or if they give preference to candidates that come to them directly, without the extra price tag.

This is not to say that I haven't found jobs through recruiters in the past - just that in today's market, I'm wondering whether they are still of any use...

Wednesday, December 10, 2003

Job-Searching During the Holidays

If you're looking for a job, then the holidays present some great opportunities to continue your job search. During the various get-togethers, you can network with those around you. Friends, family, and so on. Check out some past posts related to networking (Google search results).

Why? A simple question
a post from the Occupational Adventure (sm) Blog

I should preface this post with an explanation that I am a Passion Catalyst (sm) - in short, I help people identify their passions and create careers that ignite them.

When it comes to finding your passion in your career, there's no way around it. Self-exploration is where it all starts.

Want a short, simple way to squeeze exponentially more insights from those self-exploration efforts? The secret word o' the day is...

"Why?"

Just that one little word, vigorously applied, will give you incredible insights.

For example, take a look at a commonly recommended question for finding your career passion..."What do you love doing?"

A valuable question, but by itself it falls far short of the insights that could be gotten by following the answers up with, "why?"

Because "what" you love doing isn't the whole story. You can say, "I love doing _____," but whether you're conscious of it or not, what you really mean is "I love doing _____ because _____, _____, and _____." You and I could say we love the exact same thing, and the underlying reasons might be completely different.

Asking "Why? What is it about it that is so enjoyable?" lets you dig down and find the underlying characteristics of the things you love doing. Once you know those, you can start trying to incorporate them into your career, whether by making small changes where you are, or identifying a whole new direction.

Friday, December 05, 2003

Job Search Tracking - Keeping It All Straight

Does anyone else remember a time when you send in a resume and literally count the minutes between the time it was sent and the phone ringing? Well, back in the day, it was just not as difficult to track the old job search. A binder, a spreadsheet, even your Sent Mail folder would do.

When I embarked upon my most recent job search, just over a year ago, I realized that none of these methods were quite right. I kept
bookmarking job descriptions on the big job boards, only to go back later to find they had been removed. In order to better track the specifics of the jobs I was applying to, I ended up developing a very simple web-based job tracking system where I could store all of the job related information in one place (including the resume and cover letter I sent it), and retrieve it on demand. After using the application for several months, I turned it into a free public job portal so that anyone can use it.

With all of the job related web sites out there, I'm surprised that no one has done this until now. The closest thing I've seen has been on private career center sites which provide some job search tools for their paid clientele. Other than that, there are some sites that let you track the jobs you applied to through their interface, but none of them let you track all of your job inquiries, regardless of source. If you've seen anything else like it out there, please let me know. Also, if you'd like to share how you're tracking your current job search, please add a comment below.

Should You Tell Your Employer That You Have AD/HD?

The previous post is one of many examples that show that having ADHD affects how one performs in the workplace. This article explains, with specific examples, that it may or may not be in one's best interest to disclose to an employer:

The answer is, it depends on the facts of the individual case. Generally, we recommend disclosure of AD/HD to an employer if (1) you can document AD/HD, and AD/HD is a disability under the law in your case, (2) you are qualified for the job, and (3) you need job accommodations that are reasonable.
The writers share instances when you should not disclose ADHD along with when and how to disclose.

Guidelines for Succeeding in the Workplace with AD/HD crossposted to Journey Inside My Mind

This document, provided by the National Resource Center on AD|HD, a program of CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder), is an excellent resource for individuals such as myself, who deal with the symptoms of AD/HD every day. The entire guide is available for downloading as a PDF file, too.

The symptoms of AD/HD create special challenges for the adult in the workplace, just as they do for the child in school. To date, very little research has been conducted that provides adults with AD/HD empirically-based approaches to understanding and coping with workplace issues. Until scientifically-based guidelines are available, it may prove useful to follow the procedures commonly used by career counselors to guide individuals in selecting a job and coping with AD/HD on the job. This information and resource sheet will:
  • offer tips for improving on-the-job functioning
  • describe the rights of individuals under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
  • provide guidelines for making career choices

The assistance of a career counselor or a psychologist, social worker, or other health care worker with career counseling training is extremely helpful in understanding and maximizing these factors. Some individuals, however, may be able to carry out the steps discussed in this information and resource sheet with the help of questionnaires, checklists, and suggestions given in the career counseling books on the reference list.

E-mail Can Be Key to Employment

Yahoo! HotJobs offers helpful advice on using email effectively in your job search.

Jobs Growth in Nov. Slower Than Expected

While that doesn't sound too encouraging by itself, I'd like to point to these paragraphs from the article:

The jobs market has been a weak link in the recovery, with companies hesitant to hire new, full-time workers out of concern that the improvements wouldn't last. Instead, employers worked their employees longer and harder, sending productivity to a two-decade high last quarter.


In Friday's jobs report, the services sector continued to drive employment gains, with health care and social services jumping by 25,000 in November. Hotels and lodging facilities created 13,000 new positions. Hiring also occurred in education, government and professional and business services.


In the goods-producing category, construction employment was up last month by 10,000.
Articles such as these are meant to describe overall trends, from a macroeconomic perspective. Jobs are available, and your particular circumstances may or may not be affected by what's reported nationally.

Go Get That Job!

Wanted: Your Job Hunting Success Stories

However it is that you got to this weblog, I'm encouraged that you've stopped by. Hopefully, you'll find what you're looking for.

Now, let me take this moment to ask you for something. I want to let others know about how you have successfully found a job. This may sound odd, especially if you're currently between jobs. Nevertheless, you probably have had a job before, and I (and I'm sure that many others) would like to know how you got it.

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:

  • What position were you applying for?
  • How did you contact the particular company?
  • Describe the interviewing process.
  • Did you work part-time or as a contractor/consultant with the company before being hired?
  • How long was the process from your first contact with the company to your first day of work?
  • Describe your emotional state during the process. Were you anxious? Excited? Stressed? Impatient? Frustrated? Let us know.


So email me your job hunting success stories at danimal0416[nospam]@yahoo.com(remove the [nospam], of course), and we'll get them published here at "Get That Job!"

Thanks!

Guest Bloggers and Other Contributors

I'm encouraged to have found some folks who are interested in guest-blogging or otherwise contributing to the content of this blog. Hopefully we'll be hearing from these individuals very soon!

To find out how you can contribute to this weblog, head over to the archive page for instructions.

Tuesday, December 02, 2003

About.com Career Center

From the folks at About.com, your guide to the Internet, comes the About.com Career Center, with info about job searching, jobs, resumes and cover letters, compensation, references, and more! Thanks to Curt Rosengren for the link.

Saturday, November 29, 2003

A Job-Hunting Success Story

This person's story indicates that you can get a job, even in a tough market, because people are still retiring, quitting, and getting fired from their jobs. Also, new jobs are being created.

By the way, I'm interested in hearing your job-hunting success stories! What advice can you offer, based on your success, to others? Please share your thoughts! Contact me at danimal0416 at yahoo dot com, with the subject heading of Job Hunting Success Story, or something similar.

Cheers!

Friday, November 28, 2003

How to Negotiate Freelance Writing Rates

You’ve taken the plunge: You’ve quit your nine-to-five job to become a freelance writer. But the joys of being your own boss soon give way to the sober realization that you’ll have to negotiate your salary on a regular basis. Do you know the best ways to maximize your earnings? The tips in this article could help.

Yahoo! News - Many Retailers Hiring More Holiday Help

Some of them even plan to keep the help around.

Thursday, November 27, 2003

Nine Things You Should Never Say In An Interview

Avoid the interview pitfalls as part of a strategy that sells your strengths and assets. Read the article.

Monday, November 24, 2003

So, How's Business?

Business at the hotel is very slow right now, and that means that I'm not working. I stopped by the Spaghetti Warehouse to see if they are hiring (they're not), and I spoke to one of the regular customers at the Dublin Irish Pub, who said that the line for bartending there is pretty long. I think I want to find a place that's closer to home yet, so that I wouldn't have to drive. I could take the bus or even walk.

Friday, November 21, 2003

The things people come up with...

I've heard it said that for a joke to be funny, there must be an element of truth to it. IreneQ's humorous post speaks truth as it relates to her profession:

Sometimes I wish I had a more ordinary job. You know, something like being a doctor or an accountant or a computer programmer. You say, "I'm a doctor," and that's more or less the end of that line of conversation. But just try to say, "I'm a journalist," and see what happens! read more...

Thursday, November 20, 2003

Greater Dayton IT Alliance Survey Question

I subscribe to a weekly email from these folks. Today's email had this survey question:

Would you advise an American teenager to study computer science at college?

Wednesday, November 19, 2003

Job Strain, Insecurity Hurt Health

Via WebMD:

Researchers say [that a new study by the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health at The Australian National University is] one of the first studies to look at the impact of the fear of job loss on health and the findings suggest that job insecurity can have potent health effects, both alone and in combination with other types of job stress.
In February I mentioned another article from WebMD suggesting that Depression could cost you your job if you don't seek help for it.

Take care of yourselves.

Two Years and Going

Mike recently noticed that it's been two years since he'd been laid off. It prompted a career move that's done him well.

Worst Jobs You've Ever Had

I suppose that it's not uncommon for anyone to take a job that, for whatever reason, becomes like a "thorn in the flesh." Sometimes these jobs are necessary just to make ends meet; one might even call them "survival jobs."

These jobs are are the ones that, long after leaving them, we often reflect on them and say, "That was one of the worst jobs I've ever had."

Rasmus recently started a new job, and he's mentioned that the work schedule is placing a heavy burden on his ability to stay up with his ability to succeed at school:

I have a simple job: Wipe that desk, vacuum this floor, clean this bathroom. Anyone can do it and the pay is fair. But six hours five days a week is affecting my schoolwork. I'm not home 'til midnight, and though I'm extremely tired, I still need an hour or so to settle down. At school, I'm so tired, I can hardly finish a sentence, much less listen to what anyone else have to say, and doing projects is out of the question. It's not working.
His experience reminded me of a job I had as a security guard while in college. I initially took the job because I would have time to sit and do homework. But I soon realized that it would be an extreme test of endurance and stamina.

After a full day of school on Friday, which began at 7 AM, I went to a part-time job at a hardware store from 5 PM to 9 PM. Immediately after that, I went to my security post, and I worked from 11 PM to 11 AM on Saturday

By the time I returned home, I'd been awake for almost 29 hours straight. All I could do was sleep until I had to wake up to go back to the 11 PM to 11 AM thing from Saturday night to Sunday morning.

I had a different post that I would go to from about 11:30 PM Sunday night through 8:30 AM Monday.

While I learned a lot about myself during this time, I'd still have to say that it was one of the worst jobs I've ever had.

>> What about you? What are some of the worst jobs you've ever had? (No company names, please.) You can leave your comments here or send me an email at danimal0416 at yahoo dot com. I will assume that your comments are worthy of posting here unless you specify otherwise.

Monday, November 17, 2003

Online Career Information Center

I recently received the following email:

Hello,

We have new job openings in the Dayton area and we are writing to ask for your permission to send you these job leads.

If you would like to grant us your permission, please click on the following link, or copy/paste the link into your web browser to complete the authorization form.

<--link not included here on purpose-->

We are looking forward to working with you and building a good, long term relationship.

Sincerely,

E-online Career Info Services

-----
Note:

You are receiving this invitation because you were in response to our employment ads posted in a newspaper or on the Internet, or your were referred this item by a friend.

If you are no longer available, please kindly ignore this email, or reply to this email with Subject: NotAvailable.

We will not contact you again.
My first thought was to ask, "Is this a real thing or is it just spam?" I decided to head over to the main domain in the URL, and it *appears* to be legitimate. I have no real need for the services they provide -- mainly job search information and *supposedly* job leads in my area. I'm not signing up for it. At least not now. Head over if you wish:
Online Career Information Center

Friday, November 14, 2003

Seasonal Employment, Part 1

We've been slowly unpacking the rest of our stuff. I say 'we', but I really mean my wife Jennie. One of the items she found is fond reminder of a job I had at Christmastime while in college.

A clipping from the December 24, 1993 front page of the Cincinnati Enquirer contains a photo of me. The caption under the photo reads as follows:

Dan Johnson, Jr., a senior at the University of Cincinnati, helps Logan Abner, 2, put money into the [Salvation Army] kettle at the Madeira Kroger store Thursday. Johnson plays the saxophone to lure donations.
The photo was taken by Glenn Hartong, and it shows me bundled up, wearing a Santa cap, with my alto saxophone hanging from my neck, helping Logan put his coins into the kettle.

I remember that job fondly. I needed it to have money for rent and stuff. The folks at the Madeira Kroger warmly welcomed my music. Every so often, as I would get cold, I'd go inside for a break. The crew of cashiers would ask me to play "O Holy Night" for them. I did, and everyone applauded. I was grateful to be able to cheer them up.

I also recall being encouraged by one of my friends' mom. I actually knew her because she took a class with me in college. She lived in Madeira, and once, on her way out of the store, she handed me a cookie and cup of hot chocolate. How very thoughtful!

I read in this past Sunday's classifieds that the Salvation Army is looking for talented musicians to man their kettles again this year. It something to consider.

crossposted to Journey Inside My Mind

Thursday, November 13, 2003

Nurse-Recruiter.com

Nurse-Recruiter.com is one of the top Internet Job Boards devoted exclusively to nursing professionals. The goal is simple: "to help bring nurses and healthcare employers together."

Wednesday, November 12, 2003

Veterans Job Information Fair

I found a flier with this information as I was leaving work, and I knew it deserved to be included here. - Dan

DoD Civilians, Spouses, and Family Members are also welcome

This Thursday, 13 November 2003, from 10 AM to 2 PM

Hope Hotel
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
For additional information, please call Sabine Benson at 937.656.0940 or Dave Thomas at 937.656.0939

Sponsored By:

Clark County Veteran's Office
Greene County Veteran's Office
Montgomery County Veteran's Office
Ohio Department of Job and Family Services
Veterans Readjustment Counseling Center
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base

Tuesday, November 11, 2003

Change One Thing...

Mike over at _monk recently reflected on his career change. At first he thought his time in his earlier career was a waste, but then he concludes:

then i realized, without the background in business i wouldn't be who i am. i prob would not appreciate what a great job teaching is and would prob not be as effective of a teacher (to the degree i am effective). as anyone who has ever wrote a computer program or read about chaos theory (or seen a bad sci-fi movie) knows changing one small thing in a complex system (such as life) often has wide reaching and unexpected consequences...
Amen to that.

Things 'They' Don't Tell You About Unemployment

Carla from Across the Pond shares her and her husband's experiences with being unemployed in the UK. She also points to OddTodd's "Laid Off: Help Wanted" cartoon.

I posted some comments to her post and recommended that she have her husband check out Dick Bolles' Job Hunter's Bible. It's the online companion to his book What Color Is Your Parachute? 2007: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers (What Color Is Your Parachute), which is republished every year. There is a wealth of advice on how to conduct an effective job search, including the Fairy Godmother Reports: a comparison of what you hope to find and what you actually get; how effective it all is; and some words to remember.

For example, there's the Fairy Godmother Report on Job-Listing Sites.

Wednesday, November 05, 2003

The Career News

TheCareerNews.com website boasts itself as "The Latest News, Tips, and Tools for Your Career."

Effective Communication is Key to Effective Job Performance

So, if you're in the hunt for a job, or if you're just wanting to become better at the job you have, then head over to this Chicago Tribune article, provided via Yahoo! HotJobs. Among other things, it involves

  • body language
  • listening
  • vocabulary
  • organizational culture, and
  • workplace diversity

The State of Geek: Part 1 -- Temp Job, No Health

This informative, insightful article from Shelley Powers at Burningbird examines how things are in the job market for IT workers now and in the future. She basically says it's going to hell in a handbasket.

I also found the accompanying comments well worth the read, too. Especially Phil Wolff's (He writes for emblog and a klog apart.).

Here are a couple more links to Phil Wolff:

Monday, November 03, 2003

Some Quotations To Start Off The Week

  • "Sometimes you just have to take the leap, and build your wings on the way down." - Kobi Yamada
  • "What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?" -- Dr. Robert Schuller
  • "We possess such immense resources of power that pessimism is a laughable absurdity." -- Colin Wilson
  • "We must travel in the direction of our fear." -- John Berryman
Quotations via QuotesBlog

Interview Tricks Are No Treat

This past Saturday I mentioned that employers are using psychological testing in the interviewing process. Basically, I think it's best to do your best and be honest during them, since it's really hard to prepare for them.

Not quite the case for the typical interviewing questions, however. I had mentioned the "What is your biggest weakness?" one. Then today I spotting this MSN Careers article with some advice on how to prepare for this and other tough interviewing questions: Interview Tricks Are No Treat

Saturday, November 01, 2003

Yet More Unemployment Claims Weirdness

Okay, here's what you do. Head over to the original post and read it. Then start to wade through the comments. But be careful, since some folks have inadvertently posted their comments more than once.

Personally, I haven't taken the time to try to understand what the current unemployment statistics mean for job seekers.

The Justice Dept's Attorney Workforce Diversity Study—Uncensored

The Memory Hole has posted a copy of the Justice Department's Attorney Workforce Diversity Study (6MB). I haven't read it myself (6MB is a lot for a dialup connection!).

Please send me any comments you have after reading the study or about the study.

Found via BlogDex.

Psychological Tests Becoming Big at Work

A recent study states that one in three employers is using these tests in the hiring process. ABCNews has the details... And here's a quote from the article:

Long popular in Europe, the tests are now becoming more common among U.S. and multi-national firms keen on determining what kind of workers their employees are, how well they'll get a long with others and whether or not they're suited for a particular job.
Some other headings in the article include
  • Top to the Bottom Testing, which talks about how these tests are being administered for CEO candidates as well as sales associates for a retail chain;
  • Seeking the Emotionally Intelligent, which describes how tests are being done to assess a candidates disposition and how he or she may work with others;
  • The Writing's on the Application, which shares how some companies are using handwriting analysis to "help weed out applicants who might be untrustworthy, or to hire people who have qualities like integrity or reliability."
For the job seeker this presents some challenges. When I went through job outplacement, I was taught how to answer interviewing questions in a way that would project a positive impression of myself to the interviewer. For example, one of the common questions was about my biggest weakness. The way to answer this question is to talk about a weakness and turn it into a potential strength.

I would think that the best strategy for these psychological tests is to be completely honest in answering the questions. Trying to answer a question based on what you think the employer wants to hear may not be in your best interest. In addition, it's difficult to discern how a potential employer will use the results of such tests. They may perceive answers to questions differently from how you do, for example.

Just be honest and do your best.

Friday, October 31, 2003

"Not everything faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced." -- J. Baldwin, via QuotesBlog - growing wiser on the wisdom (or stupidity) of others

Thursday, October 30, 2003

Use 'Trioing' to Help You Change Careers

It's an exercise to help you identify the skills you most enjoy using:

Here's how to "trio": Gather two friends or other people you trust. Identify several instances when you achieved something you were proud of. Write down those experiences. Then examine them to pinpoint what skills you used to achieve those successes.

By sharing ideas with your two friends, you can uncover skills that you didn't realize you had. Your friends can help confirm your strengths and skills too.

Wednesday, October 29, 2003

eclecticism > Of blogging and unemployment

Michael is now unemployed, having lost his job at Microsoft for something he posted on his blog. His experience and the related comments of others to his post more than adequately illustrate the need to be careful about what and where you post to your personal weblog.

It's hard not to be enthusiastic and want to share with others what you're working on, yet I see the need for restraint, especially when it comes to information that may put your employer at a competitive disadvantage.

Good luck, Michael, on your search for a new job. We're here for you, if you need help.

Good advice for telecommuting

There are some moments when it's better to let others' words speak for themselves. This is one of those moments.

When Will You Change Jobs?

That's right. I said, 'When'. Gone are the days of the womb-to-tomb jobs that used to exist. Maybe some are still around, perhaps.

So, you want to succeed in the 21st Century Workplace? The key, according to the folks at WetFeet.com, is identifying and developing skills that will easily fit into other roles. Check it out:

Profile of an Associate in the Consulting Industry

Via WetFeet.com comes this interview with Anna Kapoor, who says, among other things:

I have had the opportunity to manage a client team of 20 people to work on implementation of the recommendations that were made by our team. I don’t sit in my office doing spreadsheets all day.
Read more...

Searching for a Career Abroad?

WetFeet.com > International has everything you need.

Saturday, October 25, 2003

Job Sites for Writers

WritersDigest.com has categorized the 101 Best Websites for Writers for 2003. Among them are several job sites for writers. Thanks much to Jenny, the Creative Tech Writer, for pointing me to the link.

Friday, October 24, 2003

Using Lunch Time Productively

John Sumser of CandidateVoice.com writes:

Looking for work at lunch is a time honored tradition.
Yet, since work done on company computers, even during personal time, is being monitored, one must use caution.

Refer to the article to see what Sumser recommends.

Laid-off take survival jobs to pay the bills

USA Today reports that "more workers who find themselves unemployed are turning to survival jobs, taking hourly or part-time work to make ends meet as the economic rebound drags on." The link above contains several anecdotes from individuals who have done this. Also mentioned is the employment site SnagAJob, which has just earned a spot on the blogroll, once I figure out what happened to my ability to add to the Jobs blogroll.

Tuesday, October 21, 2003

How's It Going?

I've been browsing some other folks' blogs, and I've noticed that two of the folks on my blogroll (not the one for this blog, but for the others) are looking for work. One lives in England, and the other lives in Denmark.

Rasmus, the fellow from Denmark, writes:

I seriously and without a doubt need some extra income. I'm not at the point, where I'm seriously considering the many offers, I recieve by spam-mail, but almost!
This got me to start thinking about different things I've done to raise money and other odd jobs I've had.

I remember, in 1998, I had a technical interview at a local restaurant just after having donated plasma. I had the bandage wrap and everything. I had been trying to get a job at this consulting company, and I think that the interviewer might have simply had pity on me, having seen the extent I went to get money. Whatever the case, I got the job.

In college I responded to an ad in the campus newspaper from a downtown department store looking for folks to play Santa during the Christmas season. Yes, Virginia, I was Santa Claus! (chuckles to self)

What are some things you have done to get a job or produce income for yourself?

Monday, October 20, 2003

Can an 'inside' job candidate be risky business?

Joan Lloyd is a management consultant, executive coach, trainer & professional speaker, whose column "@Work", appears on bizjournals.com. In this column she explores the advantages and disadvantages of being an inside candidate for a job. Go there...

The Commute

I read in a recent copy of the Dayton Business Journal that the Dayton area is one of the best areas in the country as far as commuting times is concerned. I also recall hearing that Atlanta is one of the worst.

Commuting distance is definitely something to consider in your job search. Relocation may or may not be feasible, and the total amount of travel time during the day can be prohibitive in some cases. Or not.

Not since I was in college have I had a job where I didn't need to drive at least a half hour to work. It was great to take the bus where I needed to go and not have to pay attention to traffic, etc.

For my first job out of college, I travelled one hour one way to work for almost three years. When I got a consulting job, we moved halfway between the consulting territory, yet I still had assignments that meant at least a 40-minute commute.

Of course, if you work from home or telecommute, your commuting time is only the time from the bedroom to the office or wherever you do your work!

Long, Overdue Addition to the Blogroll: Resumé to Referral

I met Teena Rose at a job fair last year, and, in addition to a free resume critique, she pointed me to her company's website and let me sign up for a free email newsletter. I have yet to tap into the depth of knowledge available there.

Sunday, October 19, 2003

You Guys are Wonderful!

I started this weblog in July of 2002, and I never would have thought it would be getting as many visitors as it has been. I hope that you are finding the information helpful. Please feel free to drop me a line to let me know what you think!

How to Get Out of a 'Dead-End' Job

From Fortune.com's Ask Annie column:

The first step, say the authors of an intriguing new book, is to let people know you're looking for bigger challenges. Then, learn to spot opportunities around you.
The article also contains a place for discussion, along with some additional advice, etc.

Back by Popular Demand: Seasoned Professionals

Via UPI:

Older workers shoved aside during the dot.com boom are now finding jobs more quickly than younger workers, according to a survey released Tuesday.
Read more...

Also, check out Senior Success: News for working seniors and interviews with successful seniors who show the way to career and life enrichment.

What's in a job description?

Gentle readers, I now refer you to this post from Ian McKenzie, who quotes another writer. It is rife with interesting prose such as the following:

Employment ads are often written in a vague yet perky manner designed to make a 9-to-5 job replacing disinfectant cakes in urinals sound like a torrid affair with Catherine Zeta-Jones.

Friday, October 17, 2003

That Bartending Gig

... is about to get better. More to come in a few weeks or so.

In related events, I stopped by the bartending school to talk with the owner about some unfinished business between us. She was on her way out, so I told her I'd email her so that we could discuss what to do.

Wednesday, October 15, 2003

Markets and Jobs for Writers

From the About page:

"WritersWeekly.com is the highest-circulation freelance writing ezine in the world, reaching more than 70,000 writers each week. It has been published continuously since 1997."
Check out the links and other information about how to make money through putting your writing talent to work.

crossposted to Streams of Consciousness

Governor Taft's Third Frontier ~ Issue I

Hear from Bruce Johnson, Director of the Ohio Department of Development who will discuss Issue I, a state ballot initiative that is proposed to commit $1.6 billion to the Ohio Third Frontier Project and create thousands of high-paying, high-tech jobs. Issue I is the final component of a comprehensive economic development initiative that ultimately will invest $6 billion in Ohio. Through the Third Frontier Project. Ohio will build world-class facilities, support biomedical research and early stage capital funds, and provide low interest loans for job creation and advanced manufacturing.

Date: October 21, 2003
Time: 3:00 p.m.-5 p.m.
Location: 1900 Founders Drive, Kettering, OH

RSVP by Friday, October 17, 2003 to Brenda Blank:
Email: brenda@theresearchpark.com
Phone: 937-252-5906 Ext. 2.
Source: GDITA Events Weekly Update Email

Please RSVP by October 17th, 2003

October Casual Networking Event: Wings and Wireless

From the Greater Dayton IT Alliance event page:

Come join us at Buffalo Wild Wings for Wings & Wireless Connectivity.

Thursday, October 16, 2003 from 5 to 7 PM at the Buffalo Wild Wings located near I-675 and Wilmington Pike.
Look for more details, including a link to a map, at the page linked in the title of this post. They have said that registration is closed, but walk-in attendees are welcome.

Monday, October 13, 2003

Jobs Are Coming

So saith a story published by Christian Science Monitor via ABC News. The article starts off:

It's small comfort to people who need a job now, but experts say there's a dramatic labor shortage looming in the United States. read more...
Something to think about as you file your next unemployment claim.

New to the Blogroll: The Occupational Adventure (sm) Blog

Curt describes his blog as

An ever-unfolding mixed bag of nuts, loosely clustered around the the central theme of Occupational Adventure - that is, a career that really gets you juiced.

Curt's blog has been added as part of the "one good link deserves another"/"reciprocity" policy of this blog. Thank you.

Ready for a Career Change?

MSN Careers has some advice for anyone who is contemplating making a career change. The article includes "10 actions characteristic of a successful career changer."

Friday, October 10, 2003

Keeping in Touch

In general I think I've done a poor job in keeping in touch with people from high school, college, and former workplaces. Yet I'm beginning to see some changes to that, thanks to the ability to develop and maintain a web presence. The most recent example follows.

I recently posted something about one of my former college classmates in my blog "Journey Inside My Mind." The post refers to a band he was the drummer for, called "Deus Ex Machina." I checked that blog's referrer logs, and I saw that someone did a Google Search for his name.

I wondered if he had done the search on himself (I do this sometimes, too.), and thought that maybe I could track him down if he has any other internet presence. It turned out that he does. He's a drummer for a different band now, called "Chrome." I sent him a quick email, and I look forward to his reply.

Wednesday, October 08, 2003

Persuasion

Ian posts some relevant thoughts from Dale Carnegie's book:

Worker blogs raise some company concerns

Blogging on the job has both proponents and opponents, as this article from USA Today illustrates. Be careful about your time blogging on the job; it may come back to bite you if you're not.

Long Time, No Blog

Well, it's been about a week since I last posted. A classmate from high school contacted me recently. He works for Stelter and Brinck, Ltd., a company that manufactures industrial process heat equipment. I mention the company name, not because they're hiring or anything like that; I don't really know.

I guess I've posted it here to show that I've tried to make it easy for people to stay in touch with me, and it's encouraging to see it paying off.

Friday, October 03, 2003

More news about the job market

I just finished reading this article from the Business section of USA Today. Most of it contains information I've already mentioned here, yet there are some unique aspects that still deemed it worthy of a link here.

As I read the article, I found myself trying to look between the lines to see where and how the information conveyed helps me as a job seeker (Even though I currently have a job, I still find myself wanting to behave as though I'm still looking, albeit not as aggressively.). How does this same information I've read before affect my job search in the short term and long term?

I used to work for an IT consulting company. I now work at a hotel as a bartender. I like the change, but more specifically, I like that I'm making money to help support my family. I was willing to take this job, even though I don't get paid the same income I had as a consultant.

One thing I know the condition of the economy and job market has affected me is that I've had to seriously examine the kind of work I used to do and ask myself if I wanted to continue down that path or pursue something different. I think that a number of individuals are in the same situation.

So, read the USA Today article with a grain of salt, and use what you learn to help you figure out what you can do to improve your job situation.

As always, comments are welcome and appreciated!

Thursday, October 02, 2003

U.S. Labor Department Announces Grants to Promote Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The U.S. Department of Labor today announced $1 million in grants to benefit women entering nontraditional occupations. The grants will go to 10 community-based organizations, which will help employers and labor unions recruit, train, hire and retain women in apprenticeship and nontraditional jobs.

"This Administration is committed to helping women learn about the opportunities available and the fields of work, where long-term careers can be realized," said Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao. "From carpentry to masonry, more and more women are putting in long hours of training or retraining, and taking pride in the fact that their work is helping to make America greater."

The Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations grantees are: Oregon Tradeswomen, Inc., Portland, Oregon; Tradeswomen, Inc., Oakland, California; Women in Non-Traditional Employment Roles, Long Beach, California; Nontraditional Employment for Women, New York, New York; Women's Resource Center, Grand Rapids, Michigan; Montana Job Training Partnership, Helena, Montana; HRC, Inc., Wasilla, Alaska; Northern New England Tradeswomen, Inc., Essex Junction, Vermont; Chicago Women in Trades, Chicago, Illinois; and Area Resources for Community and Human Services, St. Louis, Missouri.

The Women's Bureau administers the grants with the Labor Department's Office of Apprenticeship Training, Employer and Labor Services. Additional information regarding nontraditional occupations for women can be found on the Women's Bureau website at: http://www.dol.gov/wb.
Source: U.S. Newswire

Wednesday, October 01, 2003

Handling Awkward Interviewing Situations

MSN Careers offers some advice on how to handle awkward interviewing situations, with a specific look at three scenarios.

An Interesting Dream

I had an interesting dream yesterday. I dreamt that I was asked to help out with an software application I worked on some time ago, and I was able to offer some preliminary help on the spot. This application was the most recent one I'd worked on last winter, and I didn't realize it was a dream until after I woke up. I guess that's usually how it happens, huh? One thing interesting about it was that I was using the computer used by another client manager from a project I'd worked on several years ago.

I guess this stays true to the tagline of my other blog, "Journey Inside My Mind": My dreams are weirder than yours.

Tuesday, September 30, 2003

Will your job move to India?

A frequent topic of conversation (or the subject of posts, at least) lately has been the future of the job market, both in the short term and the long term. This fantastic article from MSN Money describes what's happening in the job market. The bottom line, according to John Challenger, CEO of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, the Chicago-based outplacement firm:

“It’s false to think the only jobs that could go overseas are low-skilled jobs that pay low wages.”
Yet the tone of the article is not all doom for job seekers. In fact, it offers some encouraging words and even, for those looking for careers in areas that will be huge, some direction. So, take heart, and head over to the article!

Sunday, September 28, 2003

So, where are all the jobs?

This is the question posed by U.S. News & World Report as well as by many job seekers. In a somewhat technical discussion, the editorial examines why unemployment remains where it is, and indicates that there is a "glimmer of hope for the jobless:"

And here, at last, there is a glimmer of hope for the jobless. GDP growth may be accelerating and may move above 5 percent for the next two quarters. If it does, there will surely be a whole lot more jobs, especially in the labor-intensive service sector.

What's to be done? Not much, for now. No fiscal stimulus is possible, and the administration has already overdone its tax cuts. The only source of macroeconomic support will come from the Federal Reserve Board. It should keep short-term interest rates low and make sure rates for 10 years and longer don't spike any more.
This, then, is the opinion of Mortimer B. Zuckerman.

More Reciprocity aka One Good Link Deserves Another

This time the linkback goes to Robert's Potential Linux Jobs Bookmarks. It's definitely worth a look-see, and you may find that you'll want them as your bookmarks, too.

Friday, September 26, 2003

Job Openings in the Cincinnati, Ohio USA Area

These job openings are from an email I receive each week. The date at the end of the listing is the date it was initially posted.

  • Now Hiring! Looking for a job with a Christianity-based organization? Part time teachers are needed for a YMCA after school program. Hours: 1:30 - 6 pm Monday through Friday. Please contact Kati Terry at the Madisonville Branch YMCA 513-271-4879 [9/07]
  • Restaurant General Managers and Asst Mgrs Positions Immediately Available in the Cincinnati Area. Restaurant experience is a big plus but is not required, as special training is offered to qualified management candidates from other industries. Please email your resume to: JobsByJulie@hotmail.com or call 770-797-9433. [7/24]

Wednesday, September 24, 2003

Productivity as a Double-Edged Sword

Fred Sampson's Radio Weblog has some comments about PeopleSoft's battle to fend off a hostile takeover from Oracle:

Buried in the [CNET News.com - Front Door] story is this claim by [PeopleSoft CEO Craig] Conway: "He said the 'jobless recovery' phenomenon is a direct result of the leaps in productivity that companies have made by using information technology, including the type that PeopleSoft develops."

Sunday, September 21, 2003

President Bush Marks National Small Business Week

In his weekly radio address to the nation, President Bush praised small business owners (emphasis mine):

Every day, millions of Americans put in long hours building businesses of their own. Their hard work strengthens the economy, creates most of the new jobs in America, and supplies the innovation that drives our future prosperity. As we mark National Small Business Week, our nation honors the enterprise and hard work of small business owners and employees.

Small businesses are a key to upward mobility, particularly for women and minorities. There are over 3 million minority-owned small businesses across America, and that number is rising. And women-owned businesses now employ more than 9 million Americans. For the sake of all small businesses and our entire economy, my administration is pursuing an aggressive pro-growth, pro-jobs agenda.

The tax relief I have signed since I took office will save 25 million small business owners an average of more than $2,800 this year. Income tax relief is particularly helpful for business owners who pay their business taxes at their individual income tax rates.

We have reduced the burden of unnecessary regulation on small businesses, and we have passed much needed incentives for investment and new equipment, which will help our small businesses grow and create high-paying jobs.

These policies are working. A recent survey of small businesses shows rising optimism among owners, evidence of improving sales, and more plans to invest and hire new workers. This is good news for our communities and good news for people looking for work.
The President then continues, "Still, there is more to be done. I have proposed a six-point plan to create jobs, strengthen small businesses and build employer confidence."

Let's hear it for the small business owners and their employees!

Everywhere: A Great Place to Network

This neat article shows how you can network anywhere: a broken elevator, the back of a line at the post office, the coffee shop, and so on.

Thursday, September 18, 2003

Howard Dean Campaign needs IT support

The Howard Dean for President campaign is looking for a system administrator and a database administrator. Go to Joi Ito's Web to see more information.

link provided by Ingrid at ME and Ophelia

More Readers' Comments

Sandra posted a comment to last week's post about Interviewers' Pet Peeves:

I think that employers are overly-scrutinizing prospective employees in this day and time. The fact that recruiters have access to their potential employees whole life history is a violation of personal freedom. Criminal backround checks, for example, should notify the employer if the person is a murderer, a bank robber, or a rapist. In light of technological advances, an employer may look at a minor offense on the prospective employee's record as a reflection of the way that person is, no matter if they have changed or not.

I think employers should be trained to be more empathetic when making a decision on whether or not to hire. I also think that employers shouldn't have the right to inspect a person's history that isn't relevant to the future job. For example, if a rapist applies for a job taking care of people, the answer of course would be "no". If a bank robber applies for as a cashier, the answer again: "no". However, if a person who has a history of drunken driving applies for a job as a janitor then the fact that the drunken driving record has no relevance to the job applied for then the history sould be taken note on but shouldn't interfere with the chance of getting the job, unless of course the job involves driving, if the person hasn't been through some sort of rehabilitation.

Some Help from the Commenting System

Some Help from the Commenting System

I updated the YACCS commenting code and uncovered some comments readers have left. Such as Jim Stroud:

A couple of my job hunting articles were featured in a new ebook by Otis Collier called, "The Best Of Job Hunter Tips and Secrets: Volume 1." You can download a free copy from my website address or click on the attachment below. Please spread the word (especially to those looking for a job)!

http://jimstroud.com/job-hunting-tips.pdf

Wednesday, September 17, 2003

Wings & Wireless - Tech Thursday Networking Event

5-7 PM at the Buffalo Wild Wings on Wilmington Pike in Centerville, Ohio (map).

Are you going? I might.

Eliyon Networking

According to an email I received from the Corporate Communications department at Eliyon Technologies:

This service offers a quick, easy and free way to build your network and find lost contacts. It's a great support tool for a job search.
What do you think? I'm interested in whether you've been able to find people with whom you've lost contact.

Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Will Be Released 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 18

The information in this press release does not appear to merit anything special. I think it's just to clarify that the release of information will not be delayed by the hurricane warning.

Is Your Current Job Really That Bad?

Perhaps a look at this Popular Science article that describes The Worst Jobs in Science will encourage you. You won't believe what some people are doing for a living.

Tuesday, September 16, 2003

Thursday, September 11, 2003

Competition for Jobs in IT is Tough!

While browsing another Jobs and Employment Information and Sites weblog, I spotted the link to the employment page for a company called Signalogic, which includes some words from its President and CEO, Jeff Brower. I don't know if all companies are feeling like this, but it gives you a good idea what's going on in the managers' minds!

Restaurant General Managers and Asst Mgrs Positions Immediately Available in the Cincinnati, Ohio Area

Restaurant experience is a big plus but is not required, as special training is offered to qualified management candidates from other industries. Please email your resume to: JobsByJulie@hotmail.com or call 770-797-9433. [7/24]

Source: Christian Advertiser email. Be sure to let them know how you found out about the job lead! Thanks!

Wednesday, September 10, 2003

Labor Secretary's Statement on U.S. Senate Vote to Block Proposal Updating White-Collar Overtime Rules

I first heard about this proposal back in June of this year. At that time I mentioned that I couldn't see how the proposed rules would help the economy. I still don't. The Senate did a good job in blocking the proposal.

link via U.S. Newswire

Interviewers' Pet Peeves

"You sit facing the interviewer, feeling like things are moving along nicely when all of a sudden the interview takes a drastic turn for the worse. What just happened? You may have hit one of the interviewer's pet peeves, one of those things that automatically triggers a negative response.

Here are seven of the most common peeves provided by experienced interviewers, along with some tips on how to avoid them." Read more...

Tuesday, September 09, 2003

New to the Blogroll: Hiring Technical People

Johanna Rothman says nearly everything that I wish I knew to say:

Hiring technical people and being hired isn't necessarily easy, no matter what the economy is doing. Use the tips here to hire better, or find a new job.

Monday, September 08, 2003

Reciprocity or, one good link deserves another

When I saw this link in the referrer log, it moved me. It really did, and I wasn't sure what to expect when I went there. I am pleasantly surprised, informed, and entertained - simultaneously, if you can believe that.

What and/or whom am I talking about? Michael Laskoff, the self-proclaimed Ass of American Reemployment, and his job hunting website called "AskYourAss.com." He has linked back to this website, with the following kind words:

Dan Johnson, Jr. is your basic, smart blogger with a hell of lot of good insights into unemployment and links to useful places. Check it out.
Kind words indeed.

Alternatively, I ventured to his Drink Link page to see what's going on over there. It was an "Aha!" moment for me. As a bartender, I aim to keep up with mixed drink recipes, and that is just what this link has. Some I already knew, but others I did not. What a guy. This site's heading for the blogroll for sure.

Keeping In Touch

I've noticed that the commenting system is down. If you want to keep in touch with me you can find my email address, along with more info, on the archive page. Or, if you want to email me, the address itself is danimal0416 at yahoo dot com.

Friday, September 05, 2003

Staying Networked

Here's an article that offers some tips on how to keep your network alive. This is good advice for any aspect of business or -- if I can reach a little bit -- life in general. I touched on this a little yesterday, but I found the words of another to add to it:

What a lot of people don’t recognize, until they are faced with a job search, is that it pays to stay networked —particularly in good times, when you don’t feel the need as much to keep in touch. Staying networked on a regular basis will put you steps ahead of everyone else who has not remained connected when it comes time for a job search or getting the information or resources you need.
In the meantime, too, you'll probably find some way to help someone else along the way.

It's hard for me to pinpoint exact instances in which this blog has helped someone get a job, but I know that you're out there reading it. When I started it in July 2002 my intention was to find information that would be helpful to me in my own job search and then share it with others via this "network." Anyhow... go read the article already! ;)

Customize Your Resume for Different Positions

You wouldn't write the same letter to your mother as you would your girlfriend or boyfriend. In addition, you shouldn't have your resume set up to be so generic that it makes it difficult for a hiring manager to find out whether you qualify for a specific situation. Generic resumes wind up in the trash can. This article from WetFeet.com describes how to tailor your resume for specific positions. On your mark, get set, go!

What Employers Want

I remember the movie starring Mel Gibson from a few years ago, called "What Women Want." His character had miraculously gained the power to hear what women were thinking, and he was able to use that to his advantage.

Well, apparently we now have the ability to know what employers are looking for in job candidates. The mystery is solved.

Key Tips on Researching Companies before the Interviews Begin

After all, interviewing has some drama to it. Therefore, plan accordingly. The more you know about who you're meeting, the more confident you'll be, and the better you're chances of being remembered.

Free Work Costs Man Unemployment Benefits

A man in Buffalo, New York paid a radio station for some air time so that he could announce his talents to the general public as the host of a Saturday sports show. While his intentions were to help improve his chances for staying off unemployment in the future, the Labor Department has determined that his efforts qualify as work and have disqualified him from receiving unemployment benefits.

But it goes even further. He's being ordered to pay back $605 he's already collected. The man, John Bothe, lost his first appeal but will have his second appeal hearing on September 8th.

Peculiar.

Recession-Proof Jobs: What's Hot Now

A recent survey published by Challenger, Gray, and Christmas, Inc., a firm that tracks nationwide employment trends, lists the hottest jobs for the upcoming year. They are as follows:

information security specialist, financial planner, pharmacist, accountant, investigator, corporate librarian, nurse, physical therapist, pharmaceuticals sales representative and information technology consultant
Also, the aging population is driving demand for services in health care, financial, and pharmaceutical industries.

Read more...

Thursday, September 04, 2003

Effective Networking: Some of the Rules Have Changed

I'm a firm believer that Networking is one of the most vital aspects to searching for a job. I also believe that it needs to extend beyond the job search and into one's live in general. Even after obtaining a new job, I still recognize the value of keeping in touch with old business contacts. You never know when something you know or have may be beneficial to someone else, and vice versa.

Still, effective networking is different today than it was some years ago. The old techniques no longer work. In his article "Handy Hints for the Smart Job-Seeker" for Businessweek Online, Michael Laskoff discusses these differences with some tips for effective networking. Read it, put it into practice, live it, and share it. And be sure to keep in touch with me: danimal0416 at yahoo dot com.

THANKS!

Career Advice I'd Give My Child

Marty Nemko shares some career advice that he would pass on to his daughter. We get to listen.

Wednesday, September 03, 2003

Becoming State-Tested

Jennie just returned early from taking her test to become a State Tested Nurse's Aide (STNA). She seems to have a knack for this kind of work. When I think about what she does, I see that she is just so good at it. She really relates well with the residents, and I can tell that they love her. She has a gift of nurturing, which she is using.

I don't think I can express how proud I am of her enough. I guess we'll find out the results within a few weeks.

Labor Day, Productivity, Burnout, and the Like

Monday was Labor Day in the United States. I enjoyed the day off, but I could have just as easily worked and got paid instead.

I mentioned last Tuesday an article in Newsweek about US productivity. Over at Bene Diction Blogs On, there is more discussion about US productivity and burnout with some links for you to peruse. Look for the bold headline that reads "US Workers."

Tuesday, September 02, 2003

One Blog Referral Deserves Another!

... And so on...

In a recent post entitled "More Publicity Deserves Reciprocation," I mentioned Debra Paynter's Promotional Strategies blog.

Today, while browsing the referrer logs, I saw that she had visited and read that post. She then put forth some interesting comments on her blog with a post entitled "Where Does The Traffic Come From and Can It Lead to a Job?" Note: the permalink doesn't appear to be working, so check out the 8-29-03 post.

Wings and Wireless: A Tech Thursday Casual Networking Event

The next Wings and Wireless event will be on Thursday, September 18, 2003 at the Buffalo Wild Wings, 6210 Wilmington Pike in Centerville, Ohio.

Be sure to check out the Greater Dayton IT Alliance web page for more information.

I went to one of these before and found it to be a great opportunity to network with other in the same field in a casual environment. It's also cool to see the wireless networking capability the restaurant has.

Tuesday, August 26, 2003

Men At Overwork

This Newsweek article discusses how today's soaring productivity has been holding back job growth in an economy that's finally recovering. I just saw the link, but I only gave it a quick scan, deciding it was worth linking to here.

Let me know what you think.

More Publicity Deserves Reciprocation

I'm at the library, checking email and going through the referral logs, all during my one-hour allotted timeframe. Our home PC is still being serviced, so I have to blog at the library in the meantime. I'm also working as a bartender, which you may be aware of from the archives. I bring this up so that you can understand why there may be a long lapse in blogging.

I've been checking the referrer log, and the statistics are higher than ever! :) I'd like to give a welcome to those of you visiting from Monster.com's Vent page.

I'd also like to say thanks to Scott over at JobSeekersAdvice.com, for his encouraging words. Specifically:

Anyone know of decent blogs out there?

Some can hold a wealth of information - the people behind them tend to be very dedicated to the subject area.

Others suck and are no more than uninformed rants!

Here are a couple I´d recommend:

Get that Job

Where I found this Wired article about fake job postings.

Another for the web designers out there is Debra Paynter's Promotional Strategy Blog - a frank look at web promotion strategies.

Anyone else got a few to add? (they dont have to be career related!
Thanks, Scott, and you've been added to the Blogroll!

Wednesday, August 20, 2003

Greater Dayton IT Alliance Job Postings

Worth a look.

Tech Thursday Networking Event

This Thursday, August 21, 2003, there will be another casual networking event at Buffalo Wild Wings in Sugarcreek, Ohio (greater Dayton area) to again highlight their new wireless capabilities, sponsored by Latitude Communications. Bring your laptops!

See the link above for more details and directions.

via email from the Greater Dayton IT Alliance (GDITA)

Monday, August 18, 2003

A Career in Forensics Might Interest You

The popularity of CBS's CSI has generated an increased interest of those looking at a career in Forensics, as this article from AP's Entertainment wire discusses:

Chemistry labs and criminal justice programs are what's cool on campus these days, as "CSI" — the nation's top-rated show last season — and its spinoff "CSI: Miami," which ranked 14th in the Nielsen ratings, have created a whirlwind of interest in forensic sciences.

Thanks for Visiting

I just saw the site statistics report for this past week. I'm blown away and encouraged to no end by all the visitors - over 300 this past week! Please contact me if there is something you'd like to see more of. I can be reached via the mail link on the Archive page. Or you can just email me at danimal0416 at yahoo dot com.

Tuesday, August 12, 2003

Career Planning, Step-by-Step

Maybe I need to check this article out, too.

Wednesday, August 06, 2003

RSSJobs Home

Searching for a job via the internet just became a little more efficient:

Are you looking for a new job? Are you using the internet? Do you have search agents saved on Monster, Dice, HotJobs, and countless others? Do you have the time and patience to weed through all the job listings on all the job boards you would like to check on a daily basis?

Imagine creating all of your search agents in one place, and viewing the results all at once. Imagine knowing at a glance which listings are new, and which you have already seen. Imagine spending less time checking more job boards than you do now. Imagine doing this throughout the day, when you want to, and on your schedule.

RSSJobs allows you to create and save searches for Monster, Dice, HotJobs,and more in one location, then delivers the results to your favorite RSS Reader.
Read more...

Monday, August 04, 2003

I Got That Job!

Now working: Dan Johnson, Jr.! Where, you ask? Here: Hope Hotel & Conference Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

President Bush's Weekly Radio Address for August 2, 2003

In President Bush's weekly radio address to the nation this past weekend, he spoke mainly of how the economy is behaving, and commented specifically about job-creation and unemployment, among other things. I've included some exerpts from his address below, but you may want to read the entire text yourself:

This week, we received some encouraging news on the economy. The nation's economy grew faster than expected in the second quarter.

...

Yet this week's employment report also shows that many Americans who want to work are still having trouble finding a job. My administration is acting to promote faster growth to encourage the creation of new jobs. The key to job growth is higher demand for goods and services. With higher demand, businesses are more likely to hire new employees.

The best way to promote growth and job creation is to leave more money in the pockets of households and small businesses, instead of taxing it away. So we lowered income tax rates, cut taxes on dividends and capital gains, reduced the marriage penalty and increased the child tax credit. This week, the checks for up to $400 per child started arriving in the mailboxes of American families. That money will help American families move the economy forward.

We have also taken action to help small businesses, who are the job creators of America. We increased tax incentives for equipment purchases, giving small businesses an additional reason to invest. More orders for machinery and equipment means more jobs. And more business investment can lead to greater worker productivity, which helps raise worker wages.

We are starting to see results from our actions. My administration's economists believe that if we had not passed tax relief, our unemployment rate would have been nearly one percentage point higher, and as many as 1.5 million Americans would not have the jobs they have today.

...

America's economy has challenges, and I will not be satisfied until every American looking for work can find a job. By steady, persistent action, we are preparing the way for vigorous growth and more jobs. I have confidence in our economic future, because I have confidence in the people whose effort and creativity make this economy run -- the workers and the entrepreneurs of America.