January 1, 2009
The global economy that emerges from the current downturn will continue to be defined above all by globalisation – the progressive economic and financial integration of national economies, facilitated by dramatic improvements in the speed and ease of moving capital, goods and information around the world. This will create huge opportunities for the businesses, although it will also bring new competitive pressures.
There are a number of trends which will shape our post-recession economy in the EU and globally.
Rising incomes will be a feature of the global economy.The EU and US will continue to the growth of middle-classes in highly-populated emerging economies and will also create new opportunities for the businesses.These consumers will be purchasing higher quality goods and services, including those that are produced to high environmental standards.
Low carbon and greater resource efficiency
Managing global resource pressures, moving to low carbon economies and ensuring that the global economy is resource efficient and resilient to the effects of climate change will require a big structural transformation in how we generate and use energy. Governments have a key role in setting the policy framework and creating some of the incentives that will drive this transformation. In doing so, we are addressing not just an environmental imperative but a huge business opportunity as demand expands for low carbon goods and services and for greater energy and resource efficiency.
New technologies
New technologies will drive both consumer and business demand. They will also transform existing products, and are likely to force businesses right across the supply chain to develop new business models and adopt new, innovative ways of delivering services. The life sciences, for example, will be transformed by advances in genetics. Developing communications technologies that allow the transfer, processing and exploitation of huge amounts of data have the potential radically to change business and leisure activities and the way we provide public services.
Demographics
Demographic patterns will change markets in both the developed and the developing world. An ageing population in the developed world means that the ratio of older people to the working age population is expected to increase by 40%-60% in the advanced economies. This will reinforce the shifts towards spending in areas such as healthcare and leisure goods. In the developing world, the number of people under 25 will grow steadily, creating a big market for education.
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January 1, 1970
With gas prices heading higher each year, many people are looking for resourceful ways to save on fuel, such as taking the bus, the train, riding a bike or car-pooling to work. Yet even with these money-saving tactics, drivers are still paying for full auto insurance coverage on their vehicles.
As we all know, there are some corners that just can’t be cut. Or so we think! Many auto insurance companies are starting to consider a new insurance program that would offer consumers a discounted rate for reduced car usage. In fact, some insurance providers are already offering trial programs.
One big supporter of this new program is the Environmental Defense, anorganization currently promoting a Pay-As-You-Drive Insurance (PAYD) program to auto insurance companies throughout the United States. This innovative concept would link insurance policies to an odometer rather than just a renewal date on the calendar.
According to the Environmental Defense, PAYD would not only help save consumers money; it would also help reduce pollution. “PAYD provides financial incentive for driving less and is expected to reduce driving and congestion by 10 to12%”, states an Environmental Defense official. “Driving less reduces air pollution, toxic runoff from roads, and impacts on climate.”
PAYD would also make auto insurance more affordable for drivers by giving them more control of their auto insurance premiums – a change the National Organization of Women’s Cents Per Mile group would be happy to see happen. According to NOW’s website, low-income drivers often have to bear a higher insurance burden, unjustified by their lower mileage. This burden results in drivers dropping or not renewing their auto insurance policies. The new program will help to alleviate this problem, decreasing the number of non-insured drivers on the road while helping to reduce the financial strain on low-income and part-time drivers.
Exactly how does the PAYD program work?
Currently, there are two proposed techniques that could be used to detect car mileage usage. The first method involves installing a proprietary odometer that has an embedded cell phone that occasionally calls in your mileage to your insurance company. The other technique would entail installing a GPS device into an embedded phone, such as OnStar, to detail your actual routes.
Many groups object to this method because of the possible privacy infringement. However, the GPS device does have its advantages. Not only would it track your mileage, it would also detail where and when you drove. For instance, if you were traveling in a congested area during rush hour it might cost you more, as opposed to the savings you could potentially receive for driving during off-peak hours.
How much would it cost?
Auto insurance companies would convert a portion of your current annual rate into a per mile fee. Your auto insurance company would assign your car to one of its rate groups according to your zip code, type, and usage. Once your per mile rate is determined you will more than likely be asked to pay an upfront, set fee for your predetermined number of miles. Depending on how much you drive, you could either receive a rebate or pay more.
Testing the waters.
Currently there are two pilot programs underway in the United States. One program is through OnStar, who has joined with a national insurance company to offer a mileage discount program. Offered exclusively to motorists who own GM vehicles equipped with OnStar, this program will provide owners with the opportunity to earn an extra discount based on the miles they’ve driven. GM motorists have the potential to receive up to a 40% discount and save hundreds of dollars annually. Discounts are given to motorists who have driven less than 15,000 miles per year – the lower the vehicle mileage, the more significant the discount. Presently the program is only available in Arizona, Indiana, Illinois and Pennsylvania.
The other program, being offered in Minnesota, is designed for drivers that own a 1996 model year or older. This test study uses a matchbox-sized electronic device that is plugged into the owner’s onboard diagnostics (ODBII) port. Once set up, the sensor detects how much, how fast and when the vehicle is in use. From there, the information is used to calculate the customers discount. This free, voluntary program can potentially save participants up to 25% on their car insurance…a considerable discount when you are trying to conserve funds.
Looking for ways to save on auto insurance, but don’t have a PAYD pilot program in your state? Logon to Insurance.com’s auto quote comparison tool. There, you’ll be able to compare car insurance rates from up to 12 insurance providers, helping you save time and money on your auto insurance
January 1, 1970
With health care costs constantly rising, you may be looking for ways to lower your medical expenses. These 10 ideas can get you started.
1. Practice prevention
This may seem basic, but one of the most effective ways to lower your medical expenses over time is to maintain a healthy lifestyle. For example, you can:
Take advantage of wellness programs
Maintain a healthy weight
Exercise regularly
Kick unhealthy habits (e.g. smoking)
Have regular checkups
2. Shop around for health insurance
If you don’t have employer-sponsored health insurance, you may be ready to look for individual health insurance. Because premiums vary widely, you’ll probably save money if you get quotes from several companies. Evaluate each plan’s coverage and features, taking into account exclusions, limitations, and the freedom to choose health care providers, among other things. Also find out how much you’ll end up paying out of pocket in the form of co-payments, coinsurance, and deductibles, because even relatively small amounts of money can really add up if you make frequent visits to your doctor. If you’re healthy and just want protection for a major illness or accident, consider Catastrophic Health Insurance Coverage.
3. Cut the cost of prescription drugs
Try ordering your prescriptions through the mail, using a traditional or online pharmacy. If you belong to a prescription drug plan (e.g. through your health insurance), you may be able to get a three-month supply of your prescription drug through the mail for the same price you would pay for a one-month supply at your local pharmacy. You can also ask your pharmacist or doctor to recommend a less-expensive generic drug whenever possible. In addition, many groups and pharmacies offer prescription drug discount programs, although they usually offer small savings at best and large drawbacks at worst. Senior citizens and others on a limited budget may also apply directly to pharmaceutical companies for prescription assistance.
4. Check your medical bills
Check every itemized statement your receive from a hospital or physician to make sure that the bill accurately reflects the treatment you received and applies all available insurance coverage. Some errors, such as incorrect computer codes, are common, and you may be billed for health care you never received. Contact the billing office if you think you’ve found a mistake. If you’ve received an explanation of benefits from your insurance company that you believe is wrong, ask the company to review your claim.
5. Join your spouse’s health plan
Many married couples maintain separate health insurance coverage even though it may not be cost effective to do so. Examine both your coverage and your spouse’s coverage to see if it makes sense for either of you to join the other’s plan. Keep in mind that most plans allow you to add a spouse to your plan within a certain period after you get married (e.g. 30 days). Otherwise, you may have to wait for the plan’s annual open enrollment period.
6. Keep track of your medical expenses
Come tax time, you may be able to deduct certain medical expenses. The current IRS rules specify that you must itemize your deductions, and your total medical expenses must exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income. Allowable medical expenses include everything from health care services to medical aids (e.g. eyeglasses, hearing aids). And, don’t wait until the end of the year to track these expenses, if there’s a chance you’ll be able to deduct them on your income tax return.
7. Negotiate a discount with your health care provider
Many people don’t realize that you can sometimes negotiate to lower your medical bills. While it may not always work, it doesn’t hurt to ask your doctor, hospital, or pharmacy if they’re willing to come down in price. Before you begin to negotiate, do a little research to find out what other health care providers in your area are charging. You can also ask your health care provider if they’ll lower their price if you pay in cash up front.
7. Investigate health care incentives
Health care providers sometimes offer wellness incentives to their customers. These can include regularly attending a gym, pledging not to smoke, and preventive care programs. Many health insurance companies will give an annual or monthly discount if you simply get a physical once a year and have a doctor certify that you’re receiving proper preventive care.
8. Contribute to a tax-favored medical account
Your employer may offer a tax-favored health plan such as a flexible spending arrangement or health savings account (HSA) that allows you to put pretax dollars in an account. You can then use these funds to pay for or reimburse your out-of-pocket medical expenses, such as prescription drugs, dental care, and co-payments. Because these contributions are taken out of your pay before federal and state taxes are calculated, you get to use pretax dollars to pay your medical bills. In some cases, these accounts can provide an investment savings option as well.
9. Take advantage of free health screenings and immunizations
If your health insurance doesn’t provide adequate coverage in some areas, or if you don’t have any health insurance coverage at all, you may want to look into free health screenings. Local clinics and hospitals often provide a variety of screenings, such as blood pressure, cholesterol, and mammograms. You may also find free flu shots and well-child check-ups at government offices or your local WIC program.
10. Get to know your health insurance
Your health insurance may cover more than you think. Insurance companies often provide benefits designed to help you stay safe and healthy. For example, you may receive discounts on vitamins, alternative medicines, health club memberships, exercise equipment, and bike helmets.
You may also be surprised at the range of coverage your health plan offers. For instance, it may cover dental care for young children, chiropractic care, and acupuncture. Read your plan membership materials to find out what products and services are available through your health plan before you pay for them on your own
January 1, 1970
In 2010, the job market will be full of contrasts: some industries will be eviscerated while others face shortages of workers. The good news is that despite the recession, there are still real jobs to be had. The bad news is that you may have to change fields to find one.
The trick to job hunting in 2010 will be to figure out how your skill-set can translate across industries, says Elaine Varelas, a managing partner at Boston-based outplacement firm Keystone Partners, so that you’re not confined to searching one sector of the economy. “People are frustrated because it’s taking them a while to assess the job market,” she says. “They’ll have to figure out other things they can Ð and want Ð to do.” Successful job-seekers will be the ones who can figure out how to take skills learned in one kind of job and translate them into assets in others.
Here are the top 3 areas where work can be found in 2010:
1) Nursing & Medical Services
Perhaps the best bet in 2010: Becoming a registered nurse or medical technician. With over 50,000 new nursing jobs to be created this year alone, med techs and nurses will have their pick of jobs and salaries, the latter averaging about $57,000 per year.
Social services jobs will see a boom too, as a swelling number of retirees check-in for medical care, says the most recent Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report. But not all health care jobs will see equal growth. “The growth here will be more about the services and delivery people–nurses and technicians–than administrators,” Varelas explains. “Hourly workers interested in changing roles should get into any role that services the elderly,” she suggests.
2) Computing & Engineering
Computer-related jobs are projected to grow by more than 20 percent in the next decade, and 2010 will be no exception. Software engineering is particularly in demand, with network systems and data communications analysis also booming. These jobs also had some of the highest median salaries in 2006, according to the BLS, with computer software engineers earning a median income of $79,000 a year.
These positions are expected to grow at nearly double the rate of other types of jobs, but that won’t last forever. “As the software industry matures, and as routine work is increasingly outsourced abroad,” fewer computing jobs will be available in the next decade, the BLS notes.
But for now, technology workers are still in high demand, says Varelas. Most of the open positions will be found at smaller companies, where employers will be looking for a versatile, multi-faceted worker that can fill more than one role. “You have to be a business person who’s also a tech person,” to be an ideal candidate, Varelas explains. That could give an advantage to seasoned workers over recent grads.
3) Education
“To a great extent, education is recession proof,” says Roy Krause, President and CEO of recruiting and staffing company Spherion. In 2010, roughly 38,000 of our economy’s new jobs will be created in colleges and universities nationwide. As more students wait out the recession in college and graduate programs, the need for teachers, administrators, assistants and other staff will expand.
The demand for primary and secondary-school teachers will be booming as well. “There always seems to be a shortage there,” says Krause. Some of the most in-demand teaching roles will prepare workers for the most in-demand jobs. “There are literally not enough educational programs to generate the volume of health-care workers we’ll need,” Varelas explains. As high schools and universities expand to meet demand for nurses, computer engineers and teachers, the demand for teachers and professors will grow commensurately.
Post-secondary teachers can expect a media salary of about $56,000, according to the BLS, while kindergarten through 12th grade teachers can expect between $43,000 and $48,000.
January 1, 1970
Today’s job market is a whirlwind of wonderfully skilled and qualified people, resumes and job leads that seem to go on into forever. The job market evolves and changes often, as does the skills required in certain careers; and as people themselves evolve and move to careers that fit their skills, abilities and lifestyle, a job search can sometimes become a full time job in itself! Anyone who has looked for a job has likely run the gamut of job search rituals. From poring over your resume to practicing interview etiquette, sometimes it feels like there’s nothing left to do but offer a prayer to the gods and hope that someone gives you a call!
Resume Re-rewrite
You probably know your resume by heart. You want your resume to be a good showcase of your talents and abilities so each potential employer can see that you are the right person for the job. But then, so does everyone else. What can you truly do during your job search to get your resume on top of the pile- or even onto the right desk? First you need to slip into the shoes of the person who is doing the hiring.
How many resumes do you think this person is seeing for the same position? Lots! So your best bet is to keep your resume and cover letter short and sweet! Too much information could mean you will get passed over simply because there isn’t enough time to read it all!
It’s good that you were captain of your sports team in high school or in charge of office supplies at your last job but the person doing the hiring is wondering what’s in it for them if they hire you. During your job search, study up on the requirements for the position you are applying for and adjust the skills on your resume to fit perfectly with the position. Do not exaggerate your skills. Simply use the skills that are there.
Avoid the Scams
Online job search sites are a blessing and a curse for those in the job search market. Where there is a wealth of information and opportunity available there are also the predators that look to take advantage of numerous hopefuls who are just trying to find employment.
This can involve everything from ‘Work from Home!’ ruses that amount to nothing to actual phishing and identity theft. Avoid ‘cold call emails’ (emails from ‘companies’ that contact you even though you did not send them your resume) that ask you to click on a link taking you to another site and asking for personal information.
Do your own investigation by entering the company’s name into your browser instead and visit their website. Contact the company and if they are still asking for personal information right off the bat- such as your social security number- step away. Predators also will send fake emails that look as though they come from legitimate job search sites asking for credit card information. Legitimate and reputable job search sites such as these job sites will never send an email asking for that type of valuable information because they know this is how the scammers work.
Just the Facts: Researching a Potential Employer
It’s been said before and rightly so: knowledge is power. Companies spend lots of time and money on research and development to give them the competitive edge over their competition; and to make your job search a success, you should, too.
The good news is, you don’t have to spend millions or an extensive amount of time just to find out what industry the company is in or the names of the senior executives (including the one in charge of hiring). Most of that information can be found on the company’s website. Do a little background reading on the company and find out who its big name clients are, for example, or even if it has had any financial or legal problems of late.
Should you be given an interview, then it is a good idea to do get into a more detailed search about the company. When the prospective employer asks what you know about the company or the position, you’ll be able to give an intelligent answer. You will also be able to ask intelligent questions. Employers like that.
Keeping Yourself in the Loop
When up to 80% of jobs never get advertised because the positions are usually filled by ‘someone who knows someone’ who is currently in their own job search, you know networking is a great way to find a job. Even though it helps to an extent, you don’t necessarily have to sign up for a program that blasts your name through a network or attend every job search fair. Just talking to others is a reliable way to keep your job search going in the right direction. Giving the heads up to others as well when you find information that might be useful makes networking a two way street that will benefit you in the long run.
January 1, 1970
Starting a work at home business means having to prepare for many needs. Your own business? Why yes, work at home opportunities can mean establishing your own firm and being your own boss. Of course, it is not as easy as it sounds. To begin with, you need to fully realize the pros and cons of having your own business, a home-based one at that. Further, you would need the proper equipment, furniture, and the proper work space to be able to start working at home.
Some of the basic things that you need for working at home are a desk, chair, and a lamp. You can spend a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars on furniture depending on your budget. You will also need a place to store information such as a computer, filing cabinet, or an electronic organizer.
Working at home also requires communication equipment such as a phone, an answering machine, a copier, a fax machine, and an internet connection. Multi-functional machines that work as a fax machine, copier, and printer are also available and require minimum space so that’s definitely something you should look into. A second phone line for your business is also essential for working at home, not to mention useful for connecting to the internet.
Your space for working at home should be well lighted. For proper lighting, you can have rows of fluorescent lights installed. You can also have strong overhead lighting in your home office by purchasing and installing new or additional light fixtures like track lighting.
Working at home also requires proper ventilation that is good for you and your office equipment. The more office equipment you have operating, the more heat will be generated and excessive heat can damage them. If your office at home isn’t adequately ventilated, working there can be uncomfortable. Make sure the room the room for your home-based business is large enough for you and your equipment. Consider installing a small air-conditioner or using fans to cool the room.
January 1, 1970
One primary source of revenue for many job sites is the revenue generated by selling employers access to the database of resumes registered by job seekers. For some job sites, anyone who can afford the cost gains access, with minimal screening done to ensure that the purchasers actually have jobs to fill.
So, your complete work history, education, and contact information are available to anyone who can pay the access fee – employers and recruiters, hopefully, but also sales people, scammers, identity thieves, etc
What are the risks of not protecting your privacy?
If you have a job and your employer finds your resume online, you could be fired.
Employers have always viewed job-seeking employees as “disloyal” – potential risks for taking clients and/or confidential information to a competitor. In most cases, firing you for job hunting is perfectly legal in the United States.
This problem has a dangerous corollary: after you’ve landed your new job, your new employer finds your old resume online, and calls you on the carpet (or fires you) for your supposedly continued job search efforts.
Someone could steal your identity.
Identity theft is the #1 online fraud in the United States, according to the FBI. Your resume has almost everything necessary to take over your identity and your credit. If your Social Security Number (”SSN”) is on your resume in the U.S., an identity thief has everything they need – so don’t put your SSN on your resume!
You may be buried with “spam” (bulk unsolicited commercial e-mail) as well as direct marketing to your home or business.
So even if you don’t have a job to protect, you probably don’t want your e-mail inbox filled with junk mail, your phone ringing in the middle of dinner, etc.
Someone interested in harming you can find you easily.
Your resume, with completed contact and employment information provides vital information for them to find you.
Ethically-challenged, commission-based recruiters may ruin job opportunities for you. (Commission-based recruiters get paid their commission – typically a percentage of the annual salary – if a candidate they referred is hired.)
Without your knowledge or permission, the recruiter may “shop” your resume around to employers. Why is this NOT good?
Because you and your experience may be misrepresented, giving the employer a bad impression of YOU.
If you have sent that employer a resume yourself, you could lose out on a job because the employer may not want to hassle with the recruiter over a commission payment that may, or may not, be due to the recruiter.
You will be more expensive to hire than someone else with the same salary, because of the commission due to the recruiter.
Your resume may be so widely distributed that it becomes “junk mail,” reducing your market value.
January 1, 1970
Wanted: Abandoned Mine Plugger to locate, survey and put a cork in any hidden (but entirely dangerous) vertical mine shaft.
History
During the Gold Rush of 1849, thousands of people looking to strike gold and make a fortune traveled to California and other parts of the American West. Huge, snaking, cavernous networks of mine shafts were dug up during the hunt, but when every last tiny particle of metal worth anything was cleared away, people either moved on to another spot or gave up looking for more gold. As the Gold Rush continued, huge holes in the ground were left behind, and years of neglect covered up those holes as leaves, as dirt, leaves and other debris accumulated.
To put it into perspective: There are an estimated 47,000 abandoned mine shafts in California alone, and there are somewhere between 100,000 and 500,000 across the United States, according to the Bureau of Land Management.
The big problem is that no one’s really sure where many of these abandoned mines are, since most people didn’t document their excavations. These shafts could be literally anywhere, and an innocent, unknowing hiker could step on a patch of leaves, only to find himself or herself suddenly tumbling down one of these deep holes.
This is where you come in. It’s up to an abandoned mine plugger to locate these holes, evaluate the area inside and outside, and plug up the very top of the mine so that passerby won’t fall through. Before it’s plugged, a creature evacuation must take place (read: those with a fear of bats need not apply.) If bats do live in the area, mine pluggers won’t plug a hole entirely, leaving just enough space for critters to come and go as they please. Bat-free mines are corked like a bottle of champagne.
Must Know Isocyanates and Polyols:
You must be skilled in the art of plug making. In fact, if you can create a makeshift plug of polyurethane foam filled with isocyanates and polyols on the spot, you just might be our candidate. For the uninitiated: When mixed together vigorously, these alcohols create a hot chemical reaction. Once exposed to the open air, the mixture dries out into a bouncy, foamy material. To make the plug, a base is spilled out onto a tarp, where it’s left to dry and firm up. Once it’s ready, the foam is measured and cut to fit the size of the hole. That first layer of foam becomes the bottom of the plug. As each layer dries, another is added until the plug is flush.
Desired Skills and Qualifications:
A good knowledge of science — especially chemistry and geology — is necessary. Experience working in subterranean depths and the ability to correctly evaluate the physical processes of mine shafts is definitely desired. Bat lovers welcome.
Why You Should Want This Job:
If you want a chance to work outdoors and study the complex interactions between the Earth and wildlife (while simultaneously saving people from any unexpected falls) you should consider plugging away.
Do you think this is a joke?
January 1, 1970
Studies show clearly that a critical factor in life and business is resilience in the face of adversity. The question many of the unemployed, or those dissatisfied with their present employment, ask, is will my resilience last long enough for me to find and start my new job. Reports in the media already show that many people in the job search process have just quit looking for a new job.
How many rejections, unreturned phone calls, unanswered resume submissions, or just everyday bad news about the market, have challenged your confidence and resilience? The reward for your persistence may not pay off until the time is right. However, you may be able to compress your job search timeline in simple, but proven ways, that you may have forgotten or abandoned. Let’s review some successful ways to secure that next job interview and proactively take steps to reduce your unemployment cycle.
Communicate Directly With the Decision Maker About a Job
I have a friend (let’s call him Bob), who boasted unabashedly, that he could secure business from any client in the world. Let me describe how he got to the decision-maker.
This example deals with one of the world’s largest retailers. Through his due diligence in his job search, Bob discovered his target company had a long tradition of executive meetings on Saturday mornings. He assumed that on Saturday the “gatekeeper” would not be working and the target executive would arrive prior to the scheduled meeting to get ready. Bob went to his office on Saturday morning and called the executive, who answered his phone and was very courteous and receptive to Bob’s brief summary of his value proposition for a job.
I must admit that, in spite of the perfect timing, he was blessed with a little luck when this contact provided him the time to make his case for a job. As a result, a meeting was set and within 30 days a very large contract was signed.
You may be thinking this was dumb luck, and the stars were aligned just right to produce these results. I believe this is more a case of resilience and perseverance, which is ultimately rewarded. Keep in mind that it is the strategic design and execution that is preeminent and not the tactical approach. You must be creative and diligent.
Key Management Changes May Work in Your Favor
Going into the end of his third year of trying to secure a potential client’s business, Bob read in the Wall Street Journal, that the company was bringing in a new president. Based on the WSJ story and his own knowledge of the company, he knew that this president had a different management style than any of this company’s predecessors. This president had a reputation for change and also had a history of taking over companies and preparing them for acquisition.
Based on Bob’s hard data, as well as his speculation that the company might be going on the market for sale, he wrote a brief but direct letter to the incoming president. He explained, upfront, his history of attempting to do business with this company. He explained his company’s service and its history of adding value to clients. Finally, he asked for an opportunity to meet and describe what made his company better suited to be the new president’s vendor of choice.
Bob was invited to present his company’s proposal. At the conclusion of the presentation, and after three and a half years of trying, the president awarded the contract to Bob and asked for his letter of agreement by the end of the week. This was clearly a case of preparation, perseverance and timing.
Know When Your Previous Bosses Move to New Companies
Stay alert to key personnel changes in organizations in which you either presently or previously had a positive job or business relationship. Many years ago one of my mentors said, “The road to the top is paved with neither roses nor thorns, but with people.”
One of your most important resources for uncovering your next job is the people you have come into contact with during your professional life. Be aware of when they change jobs or companies. Follow up for personal and professional job search and relationship opportunitites.
Every Personal Encounter Can Lead to Your Next Job
Think of yourself as the quintessential sales professional who is “on” every waking hour. Don’t miss taking advantage of even the most routine or casual encounters to further your job search. I am suggesting conversations with targets of opportunity, where you initiate a brief interaction, which could lead to a follow-up conversation about a job or business opportunity.
This approach requires you to be yourself, and that you are courteous and approachable. During these brief conversations you can uncover a lot about the person’s company, position, and how their business is doing. It’s not that hard and the business discussion can pay huge dividends. This a great way to maximize your contacts while “in the process” of your job search. When you choose to not talk with someone, you diminish your chances to compress your job search timeline.
Don’t Be Complacent About Finding Your Next Job
As an Executive Recruiter, I know that employer timelines sometimes extend into months and you may not be able to speed up their process. Even when a position is “immediately” available, the interview process, reference checks, and securing an employment agreement can take months.
However, don’t compound your problems about the time invested in the job or business opportunity search, by being slow to start your job search. My observations show that time is not an ally in your job search.
Typically, with the candidates I see, there is a timing relationship that shows that the longer you are out of work, the more difficult it is to be considered by employers. In today’s market, it is clear that more job seekers are competing for a diminishing number of positions, and employers are not the ones who have to find you. You have to find them in your job search for your next job. Think about timing in your job search and do what you can to compress the job search timeline.
January 1, 1970
Looking for ways to impress a potential employer? Want to make your resume or job application stand out from the pack? During one two week time period, I reviewed 485 resumes and applications for 18 different positions. I interviewed 23 candidates and brought six back for a second, more intense round of interviews.
Believe me, I can tell you what rang my chimes. Some of this advice may surprise you. Some may even make you angry because it doesn’t seem fair or right to you. I can’t guarantee that all employers will agree with me, but why take a chance in this employers’ market?
Apply for jobs for which you qualify. My “no” pile of applications is increasingly made up of people who don’t even remotely qualify for the advertised position. These job applications frequently consist of a resume in an envelope. Why waste the paper, the stamp and the time? If you find yourself applying because it’s an area of work you might want to get into, or think you’d like, don’t bother.
Unless you can make the stretch and fit between your qualifications and background and the described opening, you are wasting your time. Each application or resume gets less than five minutes of my time. You need to quickly qualify yourself as a potential candidate because the employer doesn’t have or take the time to do it for you.
Write a targeted cover letter that introduces your key qualifications and highlights your “fit” with the position for which you are applying. Address the letter to the person conducting the candidate search, when known. And, no, don’t presume familiarity and write, “Dear Susan.” Until I know you, my name is “Ms. Heathfield.” Additionally, the cover letter needs to specifically address the available position. Spelling and correct grammar do count. So does the spacing of words on the page, an attractive overall appearance, and the “feel” of the paper. Online applications, which are the norm these days, must be targeted and formatted appropriately. Pay just as much attention to spelling, grammar, and appearance.
Target the resume to the job. Would you like to know how many people are looking for a “challenging opportunity to utilize my skills with a progressive employer who will provide opportunities for growth?” Don’t even ask; the answer will break your heart if this is how you routinely describe the position you seek in your resume. Even more importantly, in this day of instantaneous electronic publishing, no one needs to photocopy 100 resumes at an instant print store. Customization counts. Customization is everything when you are looking at substantially different opportunities, too. Say, you are looking for a training position or a marketing position. The identical resume won’t sell your skills for either field.
Lead with your strengths. What makes you different from 40 other applicants? On your customized resume, start out with the background and experience most important for the position you seek. The stage of your career is also highly relevant to the placement of information on your resume. If you are just graduating from college, lead off the first portion of the resume with your education and degree.
A seasoned veteran will start with an accomplishment summary and then list jobs, titles, companies and responsibilities chronologically. A network administration applicant should lead with his or her certifications (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) and list software and hardware experience (Microsoft Exchange, SQL Server) before listing jobs and education. The key is to make it easy for the resume reviewer to see that you are qualified for the position. You want your resume in the coveted “yes” pile awaiting an interview or phone screening.
