Friday, June 6, 2014

How to Apply your Military Experience to Civilian Job Postings

Your military experience can be a valuable asset when you are looking through civilian job listings. Learn how to make a successful transition from military service to civilian work life.

Preparation. Rest assured that many of your skills and accomplishments can be transferred to a variety of nonmilitary workplaces. In fact, it is likely that your background will be so broad that you will need to make a deliberate effort to narrow your focus to fit specific positions.
Of course, researching online job openings can help you become familiar with common job titles and descriptions. You will also want to extend your network to get to know people in the fields that interest you.

Resume Writing. Make sure you translate military terms into wording that your potential employers can understand. That means referring to people as executives rather than officers and describing your responsibilities as logistics rather than G-4. Try to eliminate specialized acronyms or spell them out if you must use them.

You may also need to shorten your resume so that you have a 1 to 2 page version ready. Look for irrelevant awards and training that you can omit.
If your past budget and staff responsibilities were much larger than the openings you’re now looking at, it would be wise to adapt your approach. Show that you can be content and effective working on a smaller scale.

Transition Assistance. Take advantage of programs that seek to reward you for your service. If you are interested in a career that requires further education, check out veteran scholarships from the government, universities and other sources.

Consult with your military transition office. For example, you and your family may be eligible for assistance from The Army Career and Alumni Program (ACAP). That can include counseling, workshops and other services.

Start your civilian job search at Jobvertise. Contact us to learn more about the world’s largest free job and resume database.

Friday, May 30, 2014

Work Opportunities: Companion Jobs Offer Clear Benefits for All Involved

Did you know that regardless of what age we are, having companionship is central to one’s overall well-being? It’s true. Healthcare professionals have long proven that the company we keep can help us stay mentally alert, upbeat, safe and healthy. So how does someone with little to no family support find that all important companionship? We’ve got a wonderful suggestion and it starts with looking for companion jobs on Jobvertise.

Companion jobs are just one type of contemporary, work opportunity that is available in America’s healthcare industry today. They generally involve sending someone to a person’s home to provide companionship as opposed to just medical care. So in many instances, all that’s needed to secure a companion job is the desire to connect with another human being.

In our opinion, that makes them jobs that are beneficial to both the caregiver and the care receiver. Think about it. The relationship gives each person involved in the situation an opportunity to socialize, venture outside of the home and feel connected to the world at large.

So what happens when most companions get together? Basically, it can be any activity that the pair agrees upon. For example, companions may accompany people on vacation, to a luncheon or an afternoon matinee. They can also take people to the shopping mall, a grocery store, doctor’s appointments, libraries and other places where they can engage in pleasurable pursuits.
The fun doesn’t have to be restricted to the outdoors either. Companions can also sit by a person’s bedside and share a conversation. In addition, some companion jobs also include homemaker services. They can be beneficial for people who are no longer able to do their own laundry, prepare meals, walk the dog or clean house.

To learn more about companion jobs and find out if there are work opportunities in your specific area, please contact us at Jobvertise today!

Friday, May 23, 2014

Work Opportunities: Unemployed Americans Should Consider In-Home Care Careers

Are you unemployed and looking for viable work opportunities? If so, keep in mind that we are at a point in America’s history where several factors will play a significant role in how, and where, we age. By 2050, our country’s population is expected to include 89 million people in the 65+ age bracket. Many of them are expected to have a myriad of health and financial problems. As a result, a large number of those individuals will have no choice but to seek out affordable, long-term care.
Based on the current cost estimates and work opportunity projections, the most appealing options these days appear to be in-home care and homemaker services. Depending on the area and the agency, they tend to cost anywhere from $19 to $25 per hour of service. Plus, seniors using such services can stay in their homes, control how much they spend on healthcare and maintain some form of independence.

Adult day cares, nursing homes and assisted livings, on the other hand, generally do not offer such benefits. In addition, they typically charge far more than what today’s in-home agencies and private homemakers do. A 2013 CNN report indicated that in some instances, facility living could very well run each senior $80,000 a year or more. And that’s an annual chunk of change that many Americans don’t readily have at their disposal.

With all of that said, it is safe to assume that the in-home care industry will continue to grow in the years ahead. So now is the time for unemployed Americans to consider work opportunities in home health. Entering the field via an agency typically requires an individual to have completed both high school and a certified nursing assistant program. Some in-home care agencies also require other things like an up-to-date physical, access to reliable transportation and the passing of a criminal background check.

To learn more about which domestic and international in-home care agencies are currently hiring and what their requirements are, please contact us at Jobvertise.

Friday, May 16, 2014

Great Substitutes for Work Experience

Graduates and career changers are struggling with this concept: how do I gain work experience when I don't have any?  Colleges tell us that degrees open doors, and you're still waiting for the doors to open.
  • New grads and people who just switched careers can benefit from internships.  Internships are paid or non-paid opportunities to learn their profession in a company related to the industry.  Internships are mainly for college students, but anyone who switch careers can find internships too. 
  • Volunteering in your profession is a great way to build experience on the resume.  Volunteers don't get paid but they gain hands on experience that will become valuable in the financial industry  The trick is finding one that represents your cause as there are many to choose from.  Even if you don't volunteer in your profession if the position you chose can be twisted to your advantage (use it to fit your financial job) then do it.
  • Staffing agencies can assist in finding you work.  They match your experience to jobs who are looking for employers.  You never know; companies may hire you permanently.  However, many staffing agencies require prior and steady work experience because many of their jobs require it.  It's going to take trial and error with staffing agencies because of this.  
  • Side jobs can count as work experience if you know how to write it in your favor.  If you do something (cut lawns, fix computers, freelance, babysit, etc) and get paid for it, it shows that you are a self-employed entrepeneur.  If you use the skills you learned instead of focusing on the job, it can work out.
  • Never underestimate what you learned in school.  Working on the school's newspaper, participating in fundraisers, and placing ads around the school are great examples of work experience.  Use that as work experience.  Use science lab and research papers as possible work experience on the resume too.  It shows that you did more than read books and take tests in class.
No matter how you choose to get experience be sure to network.  Making connections are the key to finding work and future work.  Strike conversations at coffee shops, at work, at school, at previous jobs and more.  Connect using social media as well.  Try to invest in LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and/or Google Plus for work.  Contact us for more information on networking.

It's a double edged sword.  Jobs want work experience.  You need work experience to obtain employment, but no one will hire you because you have no work experience.  These suggestions are the loopholes.  Take advantage of these opportunities and use it to find a job or gain your first job.

Friday, May 9, 2014

Want To Find a Job? Market Yourself

In the current environment, finding any job is a challenge. Landing your ideal job is even more difficult because jobs are just not all that plentiful right now.  In any jobs environment, a fundamental key to your search is whether you're marketed to, or you market to. Let me explain.

If you're doing things like leafing through help wanted ads in newspapers, scrolling through online job boards, or searching craigslist type job listings online, you're being marketed to. The challenge you face with this approach is you're in competition with dozens or even hundreds of other people who want the same job.

This kind of activity is analogous to consumers who want to buy the hottest toy of the current Christmas season for their child. There always seems to be a limited quantity of those toys available, and a seemingly unlimited number of people who want one. It would be easier if you could just reserve one of those toys for yourself before they're made available to the general public, right? Well, I'm sure there are ways you could do that, but I won't go into that here. After all, we're talking about landing a job, not buying a toy.

Just like with the toy analogy, wouldn't it be easier if you could somehow apply for your ideal job before any other potential candidates even know the opening exists? Of course it would, and that's where the idea of "marketing to" comes into play. When you're marketing to, you are in control of the job search situation.

The process of marketing to simply involves marketing yourself as a candidate for employment. This is where you have to apply some creativity. Carefully ponder this question: "How can I find job openings that haven't been publicized yet?" Pondering this question should spur all kinds of unique ideas if you allow yourself to think outside the box a little. Clearly, this will be easier for some than others, but with some time and effort, anyone can come up with a few viable ideas. The next step is simply to identify the best idea or ideas, then implement them.

Here's an example, just to help get your creative juices flowing:

I once read about an individual who was a marketing manager at a newspaper. When she heard that her position was being eliminated, she offered a cash reward on LinkedIn for help in securing a new position. Of course, lots of people use LinkedIn to search for employment, but she generated a lot of buzz around herself by using it just a little bit more creatively than everyone else.

Maybe you could try a variation of this idea, or maybe you'll think of some other unique way to market yourself. Whatever you end up doing, you're bound to enhance your chances of landing that job, and that's the whole point.

Does all this mean you should discontinue your current job search efforts? Of course not. After all, you never really know where you'll find that golden job opportunity. But by incorporating some more proactive job search ideas, you'll increase your odds tremendously.
For more job search tips and ideas, contact us today.

Sunday, May 4, 2014

Searching for the Right Temp Agency

Looking for accountants? There's an agency for that.  Looking for IT work?  There's an agency for that.  There's an agency for every line of work.  With so many to choose from how do you know which one is going work for you?  Job seekers must find the right agency.  Search for a temporary agency with the following in mind.
  • There are three main types of staffing agencies: temporary/contract, temp-to-hire/temp-to-perm and direct hire/permanent.  Choose one of these types and look for agencies that offer it. 
  • What kind of work opportunities interests you?  There is clerical/office, technical/scientific, industrial, health care, managerial and professional (accountants, law staff and advertising/marketing).  You will have to choose one or two you're most interested in.  Find agencies that carry those industries.
  • Where do you want to work? Location matters.  Choose an agency in your area.  If you are planning to more to another area, choose an agency in the new location. 
By now, the agencies are down to a handful (maybe more).  Evaluate your skills.  What do you possess in education, work history and through life? Be specific and write them down. Write down personality, interests, certifications, tests taken, and values.  Research those staffing firms online.  Talk to them over the phone.  Meet them in person.  Pay attention to how you feel during the process.  Inform them of the ideal work schedule and the type of work you're after.  Ask about their payment rates, benefits, experience in the industry, how they charge and testing for the right job fit. Narrow down the field some more.  If you feel good about the firm, apply there.  Apply to more than one in case the agency ends up not working out.  See how it goes.

Patience is a virtue with staffing agencies.  It's going to take time to find work that suits your needs.  Check in with staffing agencies weekly and ask about the job hunt.  Let them know about your interest in working, then give them space until the next week.  If nothing is happening for a long time it's time to cut them loose.  Focus on the agencies that are working hard to find employment for you.
The reason why many people don't use a temporary agency is that it's not a match.  Those bad experiences drive people away, and make people think all agencies are just like that one.  It shouldn't.  The truth is there's not enough effort placed in finding good employment agencies.  Working in a staffing agency is a hidden gem that takes research, trial and error.  If we have the energy to hunt for work, we can put the same energy in finding a good employment agency.

Your employment is valuable; it's going to be the job that pays the bills, buys food and takes care of you.  Search for job agencies like you would search for a realtor, plumber or electrician.  Contact us for more information.

Friday, April 25, 2014

Keep a Record of Already-Applied Job Openings

We are always looking for new job opportunities.  The way we start searching for work needs to change.  Many people start placing applications everywhere.  If a company representative calls for a job interview the last thing you want to say is "what did I apply for?"  Being organized during the job hunt will keep us on our toes.  Technology is making it easy to stay systemized.  Keep a record of every job we go after.

Another reason why recording job openings is vital is prevention.  We have a habit of sending resumes through social media, email, fax and company websites that we forget where we applied to.  This forgetfulness will have us applying to the same job more than once.  Applying to the same job more than once is a bad idea.  The company is aware of you; if they weren't interested in you the first time, the second, third and fourth time will not change their mind.  The company also gets the impression that you are desperate.

Our minds isn't going to remember everything, so record as much information about the job as possible.  List company name, address, contact information, job listings, job description, how you applied to job opening, if you get an interview and additional notes of importance.
Now, onto the record-keeping:
  1. Create a chart manually.  Use word processing or spreadsheet software to manually create a job seeker chart.  Include the information above as headers.  Fill it out and save it.  Save it to your computer or mobile phone.  Create a backup copy on flash drives, cloud software or email it to yourself.  An option is to print out a hard copy of the information.  You can store them in dividers, manila folders, envelopes or other filing accessory. 
  2. Create a profile on job sites.  In addition to searching for jobs on their website, you can create a profile too.  The profile will keep up with the jobs so you don't have to.  Apply for jobs using the provided information and retrieve the information when a job interview arises.  Monster, CareerBuilder, Dice and SimplyHired are examples of this. 
  3. Pay for job seeker web software.  If you're willing to pay some cash for coordination, you can find websites that will keep you organized.  Fill out information using their website and it does the rest.  It keep track of contacts, keep information categorized and offer many features to play with.
We all need work.  We have bills to pay, food to buy and people to take care of.  If we remain organized (no matter how disorganized our brains are) we will be one step closer to finding employment.  Contact us for more information.