Monthly Archives: May 2013

Tips to Save Money During Your Job Search

savemoney_may2013_webIf you’re unemployed or underemployed, looking for a job can make a tight financial situation even more stressful. Expenses incurred while searching for a job, like printing resumes and getting an interview outfit, may be necessary steps toward a better financial future. To help out your financial budget, make sure you take the time to think through your job search expenses and consider creative solutions to save you money.

Your Resume
Before you purchase a resume template or pay for a resume critique, spend a little time researching online or at the local library for resume writing advice. Make sure to take advantage of resume advice offered from a career center, guidance counselor, or staffing agency recruiter. If you have family members or friends who have experience in hiring, ask them to review your resume. Just because someone you know isn’t in a position to hire you, doesn’t mean they can’t help by critiquing your resume and offering real world advice.

Networking
Treating club or association meetings and conferences as networking opportunities is a good idea, but can be expensive. To help keep the costs down, contact the group directly and ask if first time visits are free, if there are scholarships to attend a meeting, or if they have any free events. Or maybe you can volunteer to work at a conference in exchange for free or reduced admission. Don’t be afraid to ask for special opportunities, almost everyone has looked for a job and can respect the need to be frugal during the process.

Access to Open Positions
Plan your job search wisely. If you’re going to spend time canvassing an area for businesses with help wanted signs or dropping off applications, invest in mapping out your route and making a list of companies in that area. Make the most of your time and gas by applying at every opportunity in one part of town, then move to the next area and repeat the process.

Another less costly alternative would be to apply with a staffing company. Most staffing companies don’t charge anything to job seekers and can be a one-stop way to apply for several jobs. Not only will you save time and gas money from applying all over town, but they’ll also be able to offer advice on your resume and interviewing tips to help you get the job at no charge to you.

Express Employment Professionals offers a free Get a Job ebook that has resume advice and tips for your job search. Download it today as a helpful guide to finding employment.

What are some ways you’ve saved money during your job search? Share them in the comments section below.

Being Right Doesn’t Always Get You Ahead in Your Career

Being RightWhen starting a new job, we all want to impress our co-workers and supervisors. That desire and initiative can be a good thing, but if you’re not careful, your need to impress could be seen as selfish energy. One way new employees try to impress their co-workers is by proving that they are right on a project.

New workers can get that incessant inner voice that screams, “People must agree with me! I must convert them to my point of view.” It could go as far as giving advice on a project, and then you secretly hope the project fails so you can flaunt the warning emails to managers. At this point, it’s no longer about the work – it’s about being right.

“There are three musts that hold us back: I must do well. You must treat me well. And the world must be easy.” ― Albert Ellis

Give up the need to be right. The need to be proven right is usually not in the best interest of company goals. It’s good to share your knowledge and advice when there’s an opportunity, but it’s important to listen, too. Sometimes that means coming to a compromise. Learning to work with your co-workers and not against them will help you get ahead faster than by just “being right.”

How do you provide value to your co-workers and managers instead of always being right? Let us know in the comment section below.

Save Money by Thrift Store Shopping For What to Wear For a Job Interview

Interview AttireWhen it comes to finding appropriate professional attire for a job interview, the cost of what you need could be a challenge. Shopping online or in person at malls and suit stores can rack up the dollar signs and quickly go beyond most moderate budgets.

Luckily, that doesn’t have to be an issue. In a news segment from Triad Area North Carolina news station Fox 8, fashion designer and motivational speaker Craig Stokes gave an overview of classic job interview attire and how he was able to find a professional wardrobe in a thrift store for less than $20.

Depending on your area, you might not be able to find perfectly fitted attire at your local thrift store. But if you consider some of his advice, you might be able to save a pretty penny for your next job interview while still looking fashionable and professional.

Are You Looking For a Job in All The Wrong Places?

jobs in wrong placesWhen embarking on the journey that is your job search, many job seekers only look for jobs online.  While online tools are becoming more prevalent than ever, many employers still have open job positions that are never posted online. Offline measures, like employee referral programs, are increasing in popularity because they prove to be more efficient than flooded online job boards.

Diversify
The problem with looking for jobs in all the wrong places is sticking to one tactic. Too many job seekers put all their eggs in one basket. That’s why it’s important to take advantage of both online and offline job search tactics.

Depending on your industry, location, and personality, you’ll be able to find the venues that work best for you. To diversify your job search for success, here are some job search tactics to consider focusing on.

Tap Into Your Networks
There is great value in having a strong network of peers, industry leaders, and influencers during your job search. Tapping into your network can help you stay informed of the latest going on in your field, learn about job openings not posted publicly, and get a foot in the door with a prospective employer.

Go Local
Online job boards and classified ads are great resources to find organizations that are advertising open positions, but don’t lose sight of local resources. Your town or city could have several employers that could be looking to hire people with your skill set. These local organizations might not be advertising their open positions through large online job boards. Search local news sites for their job boards and local classified ads online.

Your community likely has several resources that can help you learn about potential local employers. You can get a list of companies and organizations from your local Chamber of Commerce or visit the library to get information about employers that might not be associated with the chamber. Check company sites directly for open positions. Staffing companies are also well-connected with local employers and could be a free resource to help connect you with those organizations.

Leverage Your Social Networks
Just like your face-to-face network, there is great value in building and strengthening your social networks. Successfully using sites like LinkedIn can help you make connections with key decision makers at prime employers. You can also expand your network to learn from industry experts from all over the world who you normally wouldn’t interact with. Join local networking groups on LinkedIn for access to job openings.

There are several other methods to find a job, and you should consider trying as many as you can think of until you figure out what works best for you. As you look for a job, spread your efforts around so you’re not focusing on one tactic. What are some job search ideas you’ve come up with when trying to expand your job seeking arsenal? Let us know in the comments section below.

Whitepaper: Don’t Fall Off The Tightrope of Work/Life Balance

Increase your Work/Life BalanceOverworked? Finding time for family and personal activities while meeting the increasing demands of your job can feel like walking a tightrope in the circus we call life.

Check out this informational whitepaper to learn about the risks of burnout and stress, and how you can schedule time to focus on your personal interests without sacrificing your career goals.

Walking Along the Tightrope of Work/Life Balance

With today’s workplace constantly changing and workload quickly growing, finding the right balance between job duties and free time is more important than ever. That balance can not only bring peace between your two responsibilities, but also provide you with peace of mind.

The 10 Most- and Least-Common Jobs in the US

Least and Common Jobs in U.S.Did you know that there are more than 4 million retail sales workers in the U.S.? That’s enough people to populate some of the smaller states in the country. There are also only 310 prosthodontists in the U.S., which is probably smaller than your high school graduating class.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics recently released a survey outlining the most and least common occupations in the U.S. The survey also lists jobs by median wage, public and private sector, and geographic location. If you don’t want to scroll through pages of information, check out the multimedia news site The Atlantic for a quick summary and analysis of the information.

What do you think? Do you know of a job that is scarcer than a cosmetic dental surgeon? Let us know in the comments section below.

The 10 Most-Common (and 10 Least-Common) Jobs in America Today

Do You Know What to do When Severe Storms Hit Your Workplace?

Storms at the WorkplaceWhile April showers bring May flowers, the threat of severe storms is present all year long. Unlike working in bitterly cold or dreadfully hot environments, sometimes severe storms can strike at a moment’s notice.

Job duties demand most of you time, energy and attention. But, if caught unprepared for a severe storm, serious injury can occur to you, your co-workers, clients, or customers. According to the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), there were more than 450 weather-related fatalities and nearly 2,600 injuries in 2012.

The more you know about how to prepare, and protect yourself from severe weather, the more likely you are to avoid serious injury or death. Check out these guidelines to keep yourself informed, so you’ll be ready for any oncoming storms.

The Preparation
The most important thing to have ready for any weather related disaster is a plan. Be familiar with your employer’s weather disaster plan to know the proper escape routes or safest rooms to take shelter in during severe weather.

If your workplace doesn’t have a disaster plan, talk with your managers about developing one. Organizations like The Red Cross have checklists and recovery guides for major disasters that can be a great starting place for building a severe weather action plan. It’s always a good idea to be informed on local weather conditions by monitoring media reports by radio or phone.

The Action
If it’s too late to evacuate, stay indoors and limit travel to only necessary trips. Tune in to the radio or television for updates while keeping an eye on the sky for darkening skies, flashes of light, or increasing wind. During a storm, close outside doors and window, blinds, shades, or curtains; stay away from doors, windows and exterior walls; and remain in the shelter location until the danger has passed.

You should also listen for the sound of thunder, because if you are close enough to hear thunder, you’re close enough to be struck by lightning. Remember the 30/30 Lightning Safety Rule: Go indoors if, after seeing lightning, you cannot count to 30 before hearing thunder. Stay indoors for 30 minutes after hearing the last clap of thunder.

If the rain continues to pour for hours or lightly over several days, there could be a possibility of a flood. In case of flooding, do not walk through flowing water. Six inches of swiftly moving water can knock you off your feet.

The Aftermath
When severe weather has passed, remember to analyze overhead hazards such as broken tree limbs, wires and other debris. Be cautious walking around as well. There could be hazards like broken glass, leaking gas lines, damaged sewage systems, flooded electrical circuits, submerged appliances, or structural damage.

If your workplace has flooded, avoid the water as much as possible, because water may be contaminated by oil, gasoline, or raw sewerage. That’s why it is vital to thoroughly clean anything that came in contact with the flood water. If working with food, medicines, or cosmetics that have gotten wet, use your best judgment and throw out if in doubt.

You have no control on when and where severe weather will happen. But, you do have control on how prepared you will be when it does. With these guidelines, you’ll be ready to show the forces of nature that you’re a force to be reckoned with.