Now like a lot of you I have been trying to wrack my brain trying to think of new, different and innovative ways I can market myself to a potential employer. The days of walking down Main Street, finding a “Help Wanted” sign in the window, going inand applying for the job, interviewing and then showing up to work for the next 30 or 40 years like previous generations have done are history. That doesn’t happen anymore and if someone tried it today, let’s face it – you have a better chance of being tasered by security than you have of landing an interview with the HR Director.
When I first started looking for work after I graduated High School, I was lost. I had no idea what I was doing, I didn’t know how I should dress, I didn’t know how I should present myself, I didn’t have a clue as to go about getting a job. Part of this stemmed from the fact that while I was in High School my mother forbade me from working, and considering that she was a single mother and that if I wanted to live under her roof I had to obey her rules I had to do as she instructed. But that all changed as I was approaching graduation. All of a sudden she started to demand that I get a job, and she was really nasty about it too. It seemed like there was a change that had come over her overnight, and now if I wanted to live there while I started college then I had better pull my own weight around here, or find someplace else to live!!!!!!!!!
The way you looked for a job was straightforward – you looked in the newspaper, called the place up or found their address, went there and filled out an application, and waited for the phone to ring.
That was it.
As you can imagine there were a lot of places around town that I applied to that never called me for an interview, but that didn’t seem to matter to my mother. It didn’t matter to my father either who, even though I saw him every other Sunday and had no business commenting on how I was being raised by the women he cheated on and then left for his misstress, made no bones about telling me how much of a pansy and a sissy I was because I didn’t have a job or went out for the football team like he wanted. I even made the mistake of asking for his help in getting a job somplace by putting in a good word for me with the people he worked with. As you can imagine, even though he said that he would see what he could do I later found out that he never spoke to anyone about me.
Thank God for the internet. Things have changed for the better when it comes to job hunting now because we have so many other resources to utilize besides the “hitting of the bricks” that gets people nowhere. CareerBuilder, HotJobs and Monster have all been great tools for locating and applying for jobs, but this time they don’t seem to be enough. Something else is going to be needed if wifey and I are going to be able to stay in this house that we love and will fight to keep till our last breaths. Anthony Balderrama, a writer for CareerBuilder has a few suggestions for us in a new post he’s submitted that I found through MSN:
4 New Ways to Job Hunt
Where does that leave you, a job seeker who needs some way to make your résumé look more attractive than the 50 other ones in the stack?
Fear not: The rules of job seeking are in constant flux, and employers are looking for an impressive candidate, even if his or her credentials are unorthodox. The following are some examples of what other job seekers are doing to get an edge over other applicants.
1. Start a blog
Doesn’t it seem as if everyone and their mother has a blog these days? Except you, that is.Find a subject you’re knowledgeable about and start writing. Compose articles that illustrate your command of the topic and that can serve as resources for someone. Over time you’ll accumulate an impressive collection of work, says Lauren Milligan of ResuMAYDAY, a company that helps job seekers craft résumés.
“It doesn’t really matter what type of job you are seeking; there is always an angle that will interest people,” Milligan says. “If you are a financial manager, write about how a family’s investment strategy should change during a recession, or how to research an investment opportunity to avoid the next Bernie Madoff. If you are an administrative professional, write about time-management strategies or online tools that help you through your day.”
She stresses that you don’t have to be looking for a writing job to get an employer’s attention.
“Doing this will let potential employers know that you are engaged at an expert level and will gain insights into you as an employee that won’t be available to other candidates,” Milligan says. “It will also let employers know that you are comfortable with online tools. In other words, this is a great way to gain a competitive edge.”
2. Facebook / LinkedIn / BrightFuse
Even though social networking isn’t the technology fledgling it once was, it’s still new on the scene in terms of job seeking. We hear about people who get caught lying on their Facebook profiles, but people are getting hired via networking sites, too. You can use your education and work history fields to create a new form of résumé. Search your friends list for valuable contacts or join professional networks that can help you find a job or at least get the word out that you’re looking.“Technology doesn’t replace the networking step of the job search, but it can certainly make it easier and faster,” says Lynne Sarikas, director of the MBA Career at Northeastern University’s College of Business Administration. “Social networking sites can help you identify appropriate contacts for networking.”
3. Twitter
On Twitter, which is a different kind of networking site, you can leverage contacts in the same way, only you can Tweet about your job hunt and people can stumble upon your profile more easily.Your profile or Tweets can link to your personal site, whether it’s an online portfolio or blog. Not only will you make new contacts, but you’ll also have a larger audience viewing the hard work you put into your site, which can impress a potential employer.
4. Virtual career fairs
If you dislike the idea of taking your suit to the cleaners and finding a sitter for the kids just to head out to a job fair, then stay at home and go online.“[Virtual career fairs are part of] a growing trend among employers looking for a new, cost-effective way to recruit high-quality talent as well as tech-savvy job seekers,” says Jennefer Traeger, who works with Unisfair, a virtual job-fair provider. The global aspect of virtual fairs removes geographic obstacles that otherwise complicate job searches.
Anthony Balderrama is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.
Allright, let me take the suggestions offered one by one here:
1. Start a blog – hmmm “start a blog”, now let me see, let me see – oh wait! Well after being without a “real job” for 2,378 days now I think I have become an expert on what it is like to be unemployed and now underutilized. I know how frustrating the job search can be, I know how frightening it is to think that we may lose everything we own and I know what it is like to be thought of as less of a man by outsiders who live comfortabely and already have jobs – so I can write about all of those subjects!
Oh, right!
If anything a potential employer should be able to see that I am tech savvy and that I know my way around a computer. Also what this site would tell them is that I learn new tasks quickly and I do know how to monetize, if not effectivly market, a website such as this. I mean look at the ads I have up for products that people can get to help them with their cover letters, resumes and interviews. Look at the window for the products that I have up on Zazzle that are available, look at all the links I have provided to other sites. I may not have built this site from the ground up, but I did start with a themed template and went from there. That should show some HR Director out there that I do have some ability!!!
And another thing, if any potential employers read this blog and takes offense at anything I’ve written or an opinion I’ve expressed I ask you to instead focus on the passion behind the words. Yes, I am extremly frustrated, scared, angry and exhasperated at the moment. If you were in my position where you had a wife who was an asthmatic with two bum knees, a little on the “fluffy” side and had a tumor behind her sinuses that if untreated could make her go blind; and you had to get a job so that you could not only buy her the medicine that could shrink the tumor but also keep a roof over your heads, you would be frustrated, scared, angry and exhasperated at not being called back for a ligitimate job interview since October 20, 2007 yourself.
I am passionate about my subject matter, and I can be passionate about any job that I do and the empoloyer I do it for. I’m just asking for a chance.
2. Facebook / LinkedIn / BrightFuse - I’m on LinkedIn and I just opened up a Facebook account – and no there are no nude pictures of me on there, nor are there any pictures of a wild weekend I had that would embarrass a potential company. There’s very little on my Facebook page so there’s nothing to worry about.
3. Twitter - I’ve been on Twitter since February and I’ve got 948 followers as of today. I’ve found some interesting ways to network through Twitter. First off there’s Job Angels, their mission is to help bring people together in a community setting where each person commits to a single goal: to help just one person find gainful employment. You can follow them on Twitter at @jobangels, and you can also find them on Facebook and LinkedIn as well. There is also TweetMyJobs which is basiclly a Twitter job board. You set up your own profile at TweetMyJobs and then you can send out your resume over Twitter once every 24 hours over the Twittersphere. Employers can then be notified of any potential matchups and then they can contact you for an interview, or you could apply to any open position on the TweetMyJobs job listing board.
4. Virtual career fairs – now this is something that I had never heard of before, and I think that it is a much better idea – and in the long run a more economical idea – then the physical job fairs. This way gas is saved on both ends and money is saved by the employer because they don’t have to buy space at the local auditorium. The only thing is, where do you find these virtual job fairs? Well, if you Google “Virtual career fairs” you get a listing of the various sites that host them ranging from sites like CarrerBuilder to companies like Allstate.
So as you can see there are many more ways that we can market ourselves to potential employers, and the best part of it is – all these methods are free. Well, except the blogging part, but if you can find a good, reliable host that’s not too hard on your limited resources then go for it!
Anyway, that’s what I’ve done so far.
[...] Original post: Noooooooo, really? [...]
Well, it finally happened. I found a job today. of course, I feel like a kid in high school. For one thing, the first interview I had didn’t go so well, so i hit the streets, and the the internet to find a job that i could at least pay some of the bills I have that are accumilating. I was driving by the local Dairy Queen the other day with my sister in law and we stopped in to get something to drink after putting in applications. As a joke, I told her, ” I could work here. I like icecream.” The girl behind the counter told us to fill out an application. Well, I did and received a call last night from the woman who owns it and has for thirty five years. We got to talking. I told her my delima, and told her, I had never worked ina fast food place before. Well, my interview was today, and she and I talked more. I start Monday afternoon. I start out in the back and move to the front. I also let her know that I had other applications in and was waiting for an office job. (Provided I am lucky enough to get it!) She offered me the job, even temporarily. Said she would like to find a Manager that could eventually become a partner. I use to own my own concession stand. BBQ. But since I had never worked in a fast food, and not that I didn’t apply before because I have and was told I was over qualified. She said I looked smart enough, so I start Monday. I feel like a kid but I figured it would pay the bills. Starting over at my age isn’t easy but what the hey. A job is a job now adays and beggers can’t be choosers. I wasn’t expecting this one but it could very well be a Godsend right now.
Most people go on the internet. I have done that and just received an email saying that the hospital is looking for a job that I might quailfy for. I also received a call, which I missed when I was away from my cell phone from another hospital looking to try me at a pharmacy, provided I get through another interview. Don’t know about you but somedays, things seem to fall into place. So tomorrow I will check on my other options.
The best thing I can tell anyone, is to keep looking. Never give up. Some doors close, others open, and then you become overwhelmed with decisions as to what to take and what not to. I just got lucky. I hope others do, too.
I pondered the job market. I got discouraged, outraged, even angry that some potential employers didn’t even bother to look for the potential in the ones that were applying. I realized that they are missing out on some people that could benefit their companies, and work hard because they had to. I thought how sad that some who take advantage of having a job don’t do but the minimum and still keep the job they have, when others who need one get over looked because they were out of work for so long that most employers think they are lazy. The fact is, most don’t get the chance they deserve. They don’t get to prove their skills, their potential, their work ethics which could be more than any emploer could expect. It is sad that those being over looked could very well be one of the best employees their company ever had. It has nothing to do with money but prejudices against those who have been laid off and out of work for some time. What the employer doesn’t realize is those they over look could and would appreciate just having a job, to support their families, pay their bills and see that family members have the medical they need.
I hope employers see these blogs. They could be over looking potential employees that could be benefitial to their companies. they could be overlooking people who would work hard for them, who wouldn work for the good of the company. People need work, and they need to feel like they can support their families, get medical, and feel good about who they are.
Sometimes we have to take what we can get and it may not always be the job you want most but right now in this economy, we sometimes have to take what we thought we never have to. I was looking for something that I knew I could do. I wasn’t out to look for a get rich job. I just wanted something that could pay the bills and keep a roof over our heads. Sometimes life deals us cards that isn’t always a queen or king of a job but hey, if it is money coming in, take it. When the economy picks up, we can either stay with the employer willing to take a chance or move on to better things. I wish everyone luck. Just remember, it may not be what you are looking for but if it pays the bills and keeps you moving, take it. You never know, it could be a blessing in disguise. Even temporarily.
First off Karol, congratulations on finding the job. It may not be what you were looking for, but at least you found something where you could use experiance that’s related to the job. You never know what’s going to come your way when you least expect it. I hopw we’ll keep hearing from you to let us know how things are going.
I hope that potential employers look at these blogs as well. At first I wasn’t sure if I should let potential employers know that I had a blog. I wasn’t sure if some of the opinions I’ve expressed on here might turn off someone who might want to interview me, so I’ve kept this site seperate from my job-searching as much as possible. Wifey, who used to work in employment placement at one time, seconded that idea. Now after reading the article above and getting some other advice I am re-thinking that original assesment. So much so that I have put this blog on my Facebook and LinkedIn accounts.
I’m just hoping, like I said above that they can look past the opinions, and look at the passion and what I have done to put this place together. Hopefully someone soon will take notice and say “hey, maybe we can use this guy in our organization.” I don’t know if I’ll get something in the Administrative or Clerical area, but I’m hoping to get something where I can make use of the skills I have.
I personally feel that employers should know about this site. Why? Because one, there are thousands out therre who have been through what we have and how we feel. Some employers are missing out on the best of what some of us have to offer. some need a reality check and some need to know that thousands are looking and need work, and are willing to give their all, not just 50% of what the companies require. Why hire slackers to do a job, when they could very well hire someone willing to learn and stay with a company that gave them the chance?!
I would love to see future employers who blog and are in administration and such, take a look at the passion of your writing and the determination of you wanting to work. You have the skill but like many, most do not see it or want to give you and others, even myself, the chance because of work history. When one is out of work for so long, they think you are not skilled or willing to learn. That isn’t the case, of course but some think it is.
My job is not what I want. I know that I am more qualified and I have been putting in applications, and praying something else comes along quick. I have a new appreciation of those in fast food. as much as I dislike it myself, I need the work, the money to pay the bills but it is not for me. It is like sales. some have the skill for this sort of thing. i find that I do not but I am sticking with it, for now, and hope like hell something that I know I feel comfortable doing will come along. Administration, clerical or retail, even a hospitality job. As much as I dread going in, I go in and keep up my sense of humor, and I do what I am training to do. I keep a smile on my face and know that I am doing honest work, even though the pay is low and the hours long. It will pay my few bills that have piled up. I know that my determination will pay off. I am going to the school administration office on my next day off and applying for a secretarial job, as well as applying for convenience store work, and going to a few more hotels. I will find the job I can give more than 100% to and know that I can feel comfortable doing. I have the skill. For now, working the job I have will get the bills paid and I can give my all, even though I know it isn’t what I want. I sucked it up and still am until something better comes along. Until then, i can’t afford to quit. i am doing what I have to. (Even though, I feel like I am back in high school working for my first job… I am not a fast food type but hey, that is life and life goes on…)