job search | Journey

Home/ job search

Tag Archives: job search

The Power of Investing: Tips for Living a Peak Performer’s Life

By Job Journey on Monday, April 13, 2015

There is more to investments than just money. When it comes to your career, you can invest in your job search, your education, and your experience. And according to former professional basketball player and motivational speaker Walter Bond, solid investors understand that they have to be patient with their investments. Reaching your goals takes time and commitment, so do your homework and consider your options before you invest. Walter also advises not to invest all you have into one option. Finding a job takes effort and time, so make sure you’re investing your hard work into more than one opportunity. How much you put into your job search and career goals impacts how much you’ll take away in the end.

“There are two kinds of people we need to consider – there are producers and there are consumers. Producers are the people we call ‘haves.’ Consumers are the people we call ‘have-nots.’ So, ask yourself the question, ‘What group do I want to be in?’”

As part of his year-long series of motivational messages, Walter Bond discusses the importance of patience, solid investments, perseverance, and more. Check out the full message below.

How has the power of investing affected your career and job search? Let us know in the comments section below.

About Walter Bond
A former professional basketball player, Walter Bond’s NBA career included 153 games with the Dallas Mavericks, Utah Jazz, and Detroit Pistons. Now, Walter takes what he learned from his life on the court and translates it into motivational and educational messages for thriving businesses and careers. With entertaining and dynamic messages, Walter has spoken to companies and associations throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Europe.

For more information about Walter Bond, visit WalterBond.com .

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.

Career Advancement Job Interviews

March Madness: How to Beat the Competition

By Job Journey on Monday, March 30, 2015

If you’re a basketball fan, March is the month for you. March Madness is filled with all your favorite college basketball teams competing to win top bragging rights. It’s a fun time of year, but these teams have put in a lot of hard work to make it to this point. In many ways, March Madness can apply to your job search. Check out these top tips to score a three pointer before the buzzer and beat the competition during your next interview.

1. Have a vision.
What do you want to do in your career? What are your skills and talents? What excites you most about getting up in the morning? Without having a vision for your job search, you won’t know where you are going. Instead of taking a broad approach when it comes to applying for jobs, narrow your search to just those industries and opportunities where you really want to work. Doing so will energize you, make you more productive in the application process, and allow you to speak more directly to why you’re the best for the job.

2. Do your homework.
Before your next interview, make sure you take time to research the company, the position you’ve applied for, and those who will be interviewing you. When you take the time to prepare, you have a wealth of knowledge to use to your advantage. Sadly, job candidates often don’t take the time to do their homework in advance and are ill prepared to answer some of the questions they’re presented, such as talking about what the company does or the duties associated with the job opportunity. Doing a little prep work beforehand automatically gives you an advantage.

3. Condition yourself.
Just like a great athlete, you’ve got to work on your own skills and abilities. In the job search game, your resume is what gets you in the door for an interview. What does your resume currently look like? What does it reflect about you? Before you apply for that next job, update your resume so it’s more targeted to the job. Make sure it shows how your talents match the job. Also, update your cover letter and make sure you always include it with an application. Again, customize this to the job, speaking directly to how you can perform the duties listed in the job description.

4. Find a coach you trust.
In March Madness, coaching is everything. A coach provides direction and leadership to the players, helping them learn where they need to make improvements, make a change, or understand they’ve done a great job. It’s important for you to find a mentor who can do this for you too. Find someone who has experience in your industry of interest and allow them to review your resume and cover letter, conduct a mock interview for you, offer tips and suggestions to ace your big day, etc. No matter what stage you’re at in your career, it’s always important to have a mentor.

5. Be selfless.
It’s not a bad thing to pursue a job opportunity for the impact it can have on your career, income, and overall happiness. But, it’s important those desires don’t overshadow what you can do for a company. Potential employers want to know what you can do for them, not necessarily what they can do for you. They want to ensure you’re not going to be a flight risk, can complete your tasks on time, be a team player, and help advance their business in new ways while finding ways to save money. At your next interview, if you really want to impress the interviewer, let them know how you can add to their team.

These are just a few lessons from March Madness that can help you get a slam dunk in your professional life. Do you have any other suggestions? Let us know in the comments section below!

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.

Reader Surveys

Poll: How Soon After Graduation Did You Get a Job?

By Job Journey on Thursday, March 26, 2015

Which is more important: education or experience? It’s an age-old question that has been researched and debated for decades, but one that doesn’t necessarily have a clear-cut answer. While the results from Glassdoor’s recent 2014 Employment Confidence Survey suggest that 82% of U.S. college graduates who were employed on a full or part time basis believed that their level of education has been an asset to their careers, 72% believe that specialized training outside of a traditional college degree is more valuable when it comes to the workplace.

Last year, we asked Movin’ On Up readers how their education has affected their career path. While the results of this poll were illuminating in the education vs. experience debate, we want to know how quickly recent graduates are being added to the workforce. To help determine how long a graduate typically spends looking for a job after going through the higher education process, we want to know how soon after graduation you landed a job. Let us know by voting in our poll!

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.

The Job Search

National Tolkien Reading Day: The Strength of the Spirit

By Job Journey on Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Tolkien Reading Day is Wednesday, March 25. An annual event aimed at encouraging the reading of works by J.R.R. Tolkien, the day is a great time to pick up a good book and transport yourself into its story.

To help celebrate Tolkien, who is most famous for his classic works The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, we want to take an in-depth look at one of his most notable quotes. Tolkien once said, “It is not the strength of the body that counts, but the strength of the spirit.” Here at Movin’ On Up, we couldn’t agree more.

Staying Strong in a Difficult Job Search
We know that the job search can be tough. If you’ve been struggling to find work for a while but haven’t had any solid leads or positive news, it can be easy to slip into a negative mindset about your search. But, as Tolkien points out, keeping your spirit strong is the key to success. Instead of giving up, learn to love your job search.

Stay social by networking with your peers, take a class to learn a new skill, volunteer at a local organization, read a book or newspaper, and do something positive for yourself. While the spirit may outweigh the body when it comes to staying positive during your job search, don’t forget to stay active and healthy too. In fact, physical activity can actually stimulate your brain into feeling happier and more relaxed – leading to a healthier spirit.

As with any quest, like those Frodo and Bilbo Baggins embark on in Tolkien’s classic stories, the job search often starts out tough before it gets easy. Stay positive, motivated, and realistic about your goals, and put forth the time and effort into making them happen. And remember, the strength of your spirit can take you far.

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.

tolkien_reading_day

The Daily Grind

Are You Stressed Out? Tips for Living a Peak Performer’s Life

By Job Journey on Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Time management is your ability to allocate time to each task you need to accomplish. According to former professional basketball player and motivational speaker Walter Bond, effectively practicing time management is extremely important to your success and mental wellbeing. By not managing your time, you may put yourself in stressful situations in your job search, workplace, or personal life.

“We all have 24 hours in a day, so why are some people more successful than other people? Simple answer: they managed their time better,” Walter says. “It’s not that they’re smarter – they just figured out how to manage their time.”

As part of his year-long series of motivational messages, Walter Bond discusses the importance of tracking your time, managing projects, keeping on track, avoiding stress, and more. Check out the full message below.

When it comes to your job search, how do you manage your time to avoid stress? Let us know in the comments section below.

For more information about Walter Bond, visit WalterBond.com .

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.

Networking The Job Search

Love Your Job Search

By Job Journey on Wednesday, February 18, 2015

We’ve talked about how to overcome a tough job search before, but can you actually have fun while searching for a job?

A seemingly endless job search with little success can be frustrating and upsetting. Hiring managers aren’t calling you back. Rejection letters come as often as the bills do. And, you have to keep telling friends and acquaintances that, no, you still haven’t found a job.

With all this stress, how do you stay sane during a tough job search? Try to have some fun. Below are tips on staying sane, upbeat, and happy when the job outlook seems anything but.

Stay Social
Being unemployed has the unexpected benefit of allowing you a lot more free time to reconnect with friends, family, and loved ones. Schedule coffee dates or go to networking parties. Rekindling past friendships can be rewarding on an emotional level, but you’re also likely to find someone who can help you in some way with your job search.

Take a Class
Learning a new skill not only benefits your job search, but boosts confidence too. By taking a class in a new hobby, a career-centered skill, or just for fun will help keep your mind active and your self-worth soaring. The U.S. Department of Labor even has job training programs available for those who qualify. In addition to learning a new skill, you’ll also meet new people and maybe even find a new career.

Stay Healthy and Active
If you aren’t working right now, why not use that free time to improve your health? Remember when you had to work long hours and couldn’t spare any time for the gym? Now you can. Countless studies show that exercise is vital to maintaining a positive outlook in life. According to the Mayo Clinic, “physical activity stimulates various brain chemicals that may leave you feeling happier and more relaxed.” You may also feel better about yourself when you exercise regularly, which can boost your confidence and improve your self-esteem, traits you’ll need during your job search.

Volunteer
According to a recent article in Psychology Today, “providing assistance to other people helps manage stress, provides greater relationship satisfaction, reduces depression, and can even reduce risk of mortality.”

Volunteering also puts you in the spotlight in front of decision-makers who can help you with introductions and referrals. You’ll feel needed, accomplished, and grateful for what you have, which boosts your sense of self worth.

Do Something for Yourself
Believe it or not, pampering yourself isn’t a frivolous indulgence. Consider it an investment in your job-hunting efforts. A new haircut, a quality manicure, or a new suit can do wonders for your mood, but also for your appearance in job interviews. A simple thing like a new scarf or a bright tie may be what you need to add that little spark that makes all the difference.

The truth of the matter is that most worthy quests are tough before they get easy, and your job search is no different. But, the more time and effort you take to keep positive, motivated, healthy, and realistic, the better your chances are.

Do you have any advice on having fun during a tough job search? Share your tips in the comments section below.

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.

Uncategorized

3 Interview Questions That Should Never Stress You Out

By Job Journey on Friday, February 13, 2015

Before a job interview, it’s common to feel anxious about what you could be asked and wonder what kind of curve-ball questions might be thrown your way. However, as a Forbes article reveals, “it turns out, most companies will ask more common interview questions.” And that means during your prep time the night before your interview, you can prepare yourself for many of the questions that could be asked.

Realistically, it would probably take too much time and effort to practice answering all the common interview questions. But, when Forbes, U.S. News, and Monster published their most common interview questions lists, there were three questions that consistently appeared near the top of all three lists. So, if you want to make a good impression and take some of the stress out interviewing, make sure you’re at least ready to respond to these three questions.

Why are you leaving your current job?
Yes, it may be the all-time most dreaded question, but you better have your answer ready. Monster recommends that your response focuses on what you’re looking for in this new position. For instance, the article suggested, “After two years, I made the decision to look for a company that is team-focused, where I can add my experience.” U.S. News advocates that you can also cite new challenges that you’re seeking, a recent move, financial instability at your former employer, and other true reasons. They suggest avoiding badmouthing employers or complaining about work. The same applies if you’re unemployed and the interviewer is asking why you left your previous job. The number one thing to remember is to stay truthful and positive.

Why do you want to work here?
While this one might seem easy to answer, you want to answer it well. Simply saying you just need a job, paycheck, or health insurance isn’t going to impress the potential employer. “Your answer here should focus on what about the substance of the role most interests you,” U.S. News explains. “Interviewers want to hire people who have carefully considered whether this is a job they’d be glad to work at every day, and that means focusing on the work itself, not what the job can do for you.” So, as you prepare your answer to this question, think back to the key tasks and responsibilities listed in the job description and specifically pinpoint what piqued your interest.

Why should we hire you?
This question is your chance to sell your skills and experience to the employer and to convince them that you will benefit their organization. As U.S. News amply explains, “If you don’t know the answer to that, it’s unlikely that your interviewer will figure it out either.” Of all the questions, this is the one you must be ready to answer. By combining your “elevator speech” with the specific details you know about the employer and position, you should be able to present your abilities and experience as a solution to the company’s needs.

There are plenty of reasons to feel nervous about a job interview, but being anxious because you’re unprepared for the questions shouldn’t be one of them. And, Monster agrees – “Too many job seekers stumble through interviews as if the questions are coming out of left field. But many interview questions are to be expected.” So spend a little time thinking through potential questions and formulating your responses. Not only will you be more likely to impress the interviewer and move on to a second interview, you’ll also be less stressed and better able to spot the signs that the interview has gone well.

How do you prepare for common interview questions? Let us know in the comments section below!

Movin’ On Up is brought to you by Express Employment Professionals.