I Want You! (Before you graduate highschool...)
EL MONTE, Calif. - Flora Ortiz slides into a seat in the darkened auditorium. It's the last day of school, and the choir is practicing solos. Onstage, a girl with long dark hair hurries through Scarlatti's Le Violette.Flora sits chin in hand, pink flip-flops twitching silently in time to the music. She sang in the choir all four years, wore the prescribed evening gown in the group photo, trilled the same high notes . But most days this spring, her school ID hung from a U.S. Navy lanyard around her neck, a quiet declaration of her independence.
Or was it a sign of indecision?
One day short of graduation, Flora is a walking conflict zone: a girl with pink plastic butterflies in her hair who's contemplating boot camp, who cries at antiwar protests yet dreams of wearing a uniform.
"I just want to do something different," she says. "Something exciting."
At El Monte High School in a working class, mainly Hispanic suburb of Los Angeles, the debate over military recruitment in schools hijacked Flora's senior year. Recruiters wooed her and antiwar activists dissuaded her. She chose the military, changed her mind, changed it back.
READ: The tug of war on campus
10:33 AM 0 comments
Is Your Resume Recruiter Friendly?
If you are in the middle of a job search, recruiters can be either your friend—or your foe. They have the power to keep you out of the hiring process or to introduce you to corporate hiring decision makers. The quality of your resume plays a key role in determining how recruiters will treat you in the job market. It pays to make sure your resume is recruiter friendly.There are three elements to a recruiter-friendly resume:
· Focus
· Core competencies or transferable skills
· Accomplishments
If your resume lacks any of these crucial elements, then you are probably not capturing the attention you deserve, and you are missing out on important interview opportunities.
1. Focus
Since recruiters’ time is at a premium, they must know your career focus within seconds of opening your resume. If your career focus isn’t clearly stated, you can’t assume the reader will take the time to search through your resume for clues. Most recruiters consider “Career Objective” statements worthless if they contain no real information about the specific position you are looking for and the industry expertise you offer. The best objective statements are concise and to the point.
2. Core competencies or transferable skills
Once a recruiter understands your focus, he/she will want to know if you have the required core competencies or transferable skills to accomplish the job. A thorough research of employer job descriptions will help you identify the core competencies your resume must feature.
You’ll capture and hold recruiter attention by including only those core competencies relating specifically to your focus. Be careful not to muddy up your personal marketing message by including extraneous skills. If you remember the all-important rule of relevancy, you’ll go a long way toward keeping the reader’s attention on your key skills.
3. Accomplishments
Once your resume has made it through the initial screening for focus and skills, the recruiter will want to know how you stack up against other candidates. Remember, with record-high resume response to job openings, recruiters need good, solid reasons to recommend you for consideration over the mountain of other candidates. Clear, concisely stated accomplishments are the best way to distinguish yourself from your competition.
Whether the recruiter works for one corporation or represents many corporate clients as a third-party recruiting consultant, he or she must be able to give valid reasons for promoting you as a viable candidate. You can make their job infinitely easier by including the information they need—and bring your resume to the top of the candidate pile. When your resume sells itself, you gain advantage points, and make the recruiter look good as well.
For optimum impact, write accomplishments that illustrate the strength of your core competencies, transferable skills and focus. An accomplishment is only valuable to your resume if it promotes the skills your target employers are looking for. Remember the rule of relevancy as you craft each of your accomplishment statements.
In today’s extremely competitive job market, employers rely heavily on recruiters to screen out all but the top few applicants. With a recruiter-friendly resume you’ll beat out your competition as the employer’s first choice to interview.
Deborah Walker, CCMC
Career Coach ~ Resume Writer
www.AlphaAdvantage.com
Deb@AlphaAdvantage.com
Maybe being unemployed is not so bad?
Maybe being unemployed is not so bad?
A job worse than yours - Professional Target Mover
I think I can, I think I can...
With unemployment at its lowest level in nearly four years but job growth falling slightly below expectations, the nation's labor market in June created questions but not overwhelming concerns for economists.
"A lean, mean jobs machine this economy is not," said Joel Naroff, president of Naroff Economic Advisors. "But jobs are being created and the unemployment rate is falling, so you really cannot complain too much."
Bill Sirakos, chief economist for Cullen/Frost Bankers Inc., said the June numbers -- which featured a drop in unemployment to 5 percent and 146,000 new jobs -- are indicative of an economy that is growing but not "ram-charging ahead at breakneck speed."
He called it "good, solid growth" that has so far avoided the runaway wages and inflation that the Federal Reserve has worked to avoid.
READ: Jobs Data Show Pace a Bit Slow
5:00 PM 0 comments
Jim Stroud in the news...
My article, "Why Social Networks don't work" was featured in the July edition of Online Recruitment Magazine. Visit the website to download a free copy: www.onrec.comHere is a snippet...
Unless you are new to the internet or, are a novice to its mysteries, you are no doubt familiar with social networks. For the uninitiated, social networks are online communities where people meet and exchange business information with one another. In the most perfect of scenarios, someone you meet in a social network will connect you to one of their trusted contacts and business will be consummated. There are several such networks in operation (among them Ecademy, Spoke and Ryze), but the most popular is Linked In of which I am an avid subscriber. To be fair, I have met quite a few people with Linked In and can sing some of its praises. However, there is a downside to using social networks of any kind. I suspect that it is this singular reason why many forsake social networks and dismiss them as a fad of the age. What is the leading detriment of social networks? Ironically, the issue is that many people do not know how to network offline and those habits are simply transferred to the online arenas of social networks.
Click here for the rest of the story
9:51 AM 1 comments
Pimp My Job: The title says it all...
How can "Pimp My Job" help you? |
Hey, I thought this was turning around?
U.S. firms planned the highest number of layoffs in June since January 2004, led by the automotive and retail industries, employment consulting firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc. (search) said on Wednesday.
Challenger, Gray & Christmas said employers announced 110,996 job cuts last month, up from 82,283 in May, and 73 percent higher than June 2004.
"The cuts are not necessarily an indication of economic weakness, but rather the by-product of numerous trends, including changing consumer demand, outsourcing, mergers and acquisitions, automation and consolidation," said John A. Challenger (search), chief executive officer of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, in a report.
READ: June Planned Layoffs Highest Since Jan '04
4:46 PM 0 comments
How can Talenthire help you?
 | How can Talenthire help you? |
The Happy, Sad Tale of Tom The Turkey
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The Happy, Sad Tale Of Tom The Turkey I recently visited the Atlanta offices of Microsoft to check-in with my employment cousins. I found happy, smiling faces on almost all I met. The receptionist greeted me with a Dentyne smile, Sponge Bob winked at me from a couple of cubicles and my fellow recruiters were all worker bees. Inside the conference rooms (each named after an Atlanta landmark) business was being handled and not too far from the Finance group was an advertising of after hours drinking in salute of the pending weekend. It felt like a Norman Rockwell painting of productivity and I wondered, how could such a perfect work environment exist? And then I heard the rumors... Someone half-heartedly laughed about the lurker on the grounds and another person gruffed at being a prisoner in their own car; I thought it all strange. I inquired deeper and discovered an issue that was polarizing my co-workers. It seemed that "Tom" was a popular character who frequented the Atlanta Microsoft office. Tom was a curious sort of fellow to learn about because he was hated by some, loved by others and misunderstood by all. Fascinated by the disparity, I took it upon myself to learn all I could about Tom. I wanted to demistify him, locate his soul and share with you a tragic figure worthy of Shakesphere.Dear reader, I would like to introduce to you - Tom The Turkey. |
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Tom, I hate you!
To recap the story, "C" had just parked her car and was exiting her car when she met Tom at his most terrible. His wings were outstretched, his beak uplifted and his throat blowing in the majestic wind. This was the Tom of legend, a wild turkey of strength who had decided at that moment to exert his ferocious turkiness to all who would witness it. Who could withstand such a display? Realizing an emminent threat, "C" lunges for the complex entrance with the speed of an Olympic champion. Sanctuary was within reach until fate intervened and "C" slipped and fell to the ground. Seizing the moment, Tom stretched his wings wider and pecked at the open air. His statement? "I am Tom! I am a Turkey! Fear me!" And (perhaps) fear him she did, with the reflexes of a cat "C" initiates evasive manuevers and manages to elude Tom as she enters the building from a side entrance. A rip of stocking and minor abrasion accompany her testimony of her ordeal. "Do you hate Tom The Turkey?" I ask her during our interview. "I don't hate the turkey," C says bravely, "but I don't want to be near it. As a vegetarian, I would not eat it but may very well kill it." |
Tom, I am going to get you!
That is what I heard in conspiratorial dialogues that I managed to overhear. Some said that they would kidnap Tom if they were assured of ransom; whereas others wanted to capture Tom so he could be released to the wild. It was also commented that someone would bring their German Sheppard to say "hello" to Tom in a most heinous way. When I asked why animal control had not dealt with Tom already, I was informed that due to some loophole that Tom was granted immunity from their intervention. (Does Tom have influence in quiet, dark places of power?) Be that as it may, Tom seems untouchable and all speculation of his capture has so far been the fodder of watercooler chats. |
Tom, I think I love you!
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Tom, I understand you!
This is what I heard from Tom's most ardent admirers. They were the ones that explained to me how misunderstood Tom was. "Tom was here before Microsoft moved in," they said. "He has a history with this area. Some time ago, Tom met and fell in love with a goose that has since migrated away. Since that breakup, Tom has lost weight and become embittered." I asked, "Is this why he patrols the parking deck, loading docks and other areas around here?" "I believe so," was the reply. "Perhaps in his own way, he is looking for the goose that flew away." |
Tom The Anti-Hero
"Don't hurt the turkey!" is a slogan adopted by the fringe group of Tom supporters. Perhaps in recognizing the hurt experienced by this fowl, it would be better to chant in Tom's defense, "Haven't you been hurt by love? Save Tom" Thank you.
P.S. Click here to buy your "SAVE TOM" tee-shirt. (Available while supplies last.) |
That is what I expected to hear from "C," my employment cousin who was recently attacked by Tom. To understand the attack is to understand a few things about Tom that all are in agreement on. Tom lives in the nearby woods surrounding the Microsoft Atlanta office. Tom also claims several sections of the parking area and is often seen blocking parking spaces and even entry into the complex itself. On more than one occassion, Tom has been known to present his dissatisfaction of tresspassers with a fierce "gobble" and sprint towards an opening car door. Blowing your car horn will not dissuade fearless Tom from protecting what he believes is his home and neither will a vigorous "shoo, get away." All who work in the Microsft Atlanta office know that they park and enter the building at the whim of a less than benevolent bird. Unfortunately for "C," she suffered the misfortune of confronting Tom on one of his "bad days."
That is what I heard from the pro-Tom-The-Turkey side of the office. This faction regards Tom not as a menace, but as a loving protector of Microsoft employees. He has been billed by some as a "Security Turkey," a tireless defender of the loading dock from unwelcome characters and smokers who choose the loading dock as their haunt. (Tom is most assuredly anti-smoking.) Tom is a goodwill ambassador to the pizza delivery guys and caterers who frequent the Microsoft Atlanta office, insuring them safe passage from truck to door. Furthermore, he is considered a mascot of the Microsoft Atlanta office. "L" mentioned to me how she has introduced Tom to her 3 year old son and watched them exchange gobbles from the car to each other. (Tom loves the kids.)
And there you have it dear reader, Tom is not a menace and not wholly a love figurine. He is (at heart) a creature wounded after love's embrace. He seeks solace wandering on the very grounds that he and his lost love shared and when he does not find his goose, he gobbles in the angst of unrequited love. This is why (perhaps) he confronted "C." It was not to assert dominance, but rather Tom was crying out for his beloved goose. Quite possibly, there was something in "C" that drove Tom to painful recollection and the reaction was... what it was. A hurting Turkey starving for affection.
7:31 AM 1 comments
FREE PDF: Using Google to find a job
Using Google to find a jobFor David Perry “Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters”
By Shally Steckerl http://www.jobmachine.net
(Used by permission)
Google is a very powerful search engine. When this article was published Google had indexed or catalogued over 8 billion web pages. Although that’s nowhere near the size of the World Wide Web, it does represent a vast part of the “public Internet.” Most employers these days list their job openings on public pages inside their website, making it easy to quickly search through them using Google and identify employers in your area with job openings that may fit your background.
Google Search
Lets start with the basics. Say you were looking for a job as a Financial Analyst in Atlanta, Georgia. Go to Google’s main search page located at http://www.google.com
From there, enter the following into the box and click the Google Search button:
The first part of this search tells Google to find you any web pages that contain employment words, or words related to “jobs” or “careers.” By enclosing them in a parenthesis you are ensuring that Google understands that you want pages with any of those words.
The second part of the search is the title of the job you want to find. By enclosing “Financial Analyst” in quotations you are telling Google that you want pages where those two words appear together separated by a space. If you don’t use the quotation marks Google may find pages where the word Financial is in one part of the page, say for example the beginning, while the word Analyst is elsewhere on the page. Because the two words are separated, that page would very likely not be relevant.
As it is this search may be rather expansive and include too many results for you to realistically be able to read through. You could be more specific and append additional job related keywords like (“Excel Modeling” OR Forecasting) to your search.
Want more? Click here to download this EXCELLENT resource.
12:04 PM 0 comments
Do you need CPR for your career?
You go to work as you have a thousand times before. You sit down at your desk at the start of yet another workday. But wait... what's that awful noise coming from your cube? It's the sound of your career gasping for breath! Quick! Save it before it goes completely under!
Signs Your Career Is Not Going Well
Are you:
# Consistently passed over for promotions?
# Not invited to key meetings?
# Unhappy with minuscule or non-existent salary increases?
If you see yourself in any of these scenarios, then it's time to perform career CPR and breathe new life into your flagging employment situation. Two remedies for an ailing career include seeking out new opportunities with your current employer or getting a new job elsewhere.
READ: Resuscitating a Flatlining Career
11:55 AM 0 comments
Where ya' at girlfriend?
The percentage of women in information technology has dropped sharply since 1996, according to a report being released today.
Women held 32.4 percent of IT jobs in 2004, down from 41 percent eight years earlier, despite holding steady in the overall workforce. And the percentages of Latinos and African-Americans in IT jobs still lag far behind their representation in the workforce, according to the report by the Information Technology Association of America.
The report suggests that corporate outreach, government initiatives and other diversity efforts have not made a long-lasting impact. The results come as U.S. companies face increasing competition abroad and an impending talent shortage at home -- with baby boomers edging closer to retirement and student interest in IT continuing to lapse.
``We're certainly concerned that after several years of noting this trend, we see no improvement,'' said Bob Cohen, senior vice president for ITAA. ``If we don't draw from the full talent pool . . . we're really competing with one hand tied behind our back.''
The data is drawn from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, and includes IT jobs in industries ranging from banking to retail.
READ: Women's share of IT jobs plunges
1:29 PM 1 comments
What's wrong with equal pay for women?
The trouble starts early on. From the sandbox to the playing field to the classroom, boys encounter far more power and control over their environment than girls do. Boys are often rewarded more often for taking a stand and admonished less frequently for making aggressive demands. It's no wonder they grow up more eager to negotiate than women.
Though women hold nearly half of the management level jobs in the U.S. work force, on average, white women earn 78 cents for every dollar a male earns. Minority women earn even less, with African-American women making 67 cents and Latina women being paid 56 cents on the dollar.
Experts disagree about how and why the difference persists, despite the gains made by working women and the laws that protect women from salary discrimination. Statistics from the Department of Labor point to one partial explanation: men and women enter different professions. Another recent study, conducted in the United Kingdom, suggests women are more likely to hold nonprofit sector jobs and positions in smaller private firms that simply pay less.
READ: Negotiating to Win
12:47 PM 0 comments
Life with Bill... (Vacation message)
Here is an out-of-office vacation message I received from a Microsoft co-worker. I thought it was cute enough to share.
Hi Team,
I’ll be out tomorrow through Friday June 27th for vacation. I won’t be on email, but will be reachable by cell in an EMERGENCY (XXX-XXX-XXXX).
For me, general vacation emergencies are:
1) Bartender, I need more ice in my rum swizzle!
2) Should I go to the beach or the pool today?
3) What time should I schedule my tee time for?
4) Oh Pool Boy- I need some fresh towels and a light misting!
However, these would not be considered emergencies warranting a phone call to me. If you just want to talk and find out how the weather is in Bermuda, give me a ring!
Xoxo,
Co-worker
EVENT: Meet me at TAG - June 21st @ 6:00pm
"Trends in Blogging and Online Social Networking"Courtesy of:
The Technology Association of Georgia (TAG)
Recruiting Special Interest Group (SIG)
www.tagonline.org.
When: Tuesday, June 21st, 2005
6:00 - 6:30 PM
Networking and Registration
6:30 - 7:45PM
Speakers + Question and Answer Period
Where: 1000 Abernathy Road, Northpark Bldg 400,
3rd Floor GeorgiaRoom, Atlanta, Georgia 30328
Cost: TAG Members: No Charge
Non-TAG Members: $20.00
