So, it's the first day of summer vacation. Do you roll out of bed and
hit the mall, schlepping from store to store in search of a summer job?
Not if you already have a job lined up because you've developed a summer-job
action plan, as described in our feature article. Dr. Randall Hansen takes you
step-by-step through the process for finding a rewarding summer job
and provides a slew of suggestions for where to find great seasonal employment.
This issue, we spotlight our associate,
CareerShop.com, which describes
itself as "the Internet career site for the Computer Generation."
CareerShop.com offers a full array of automated services and tools to assist the
skilled individual who uses the Internet, computers or technology in
his or her profession to manage his or her career and career options.
Users have praised CareerShop.com's job search engine and resume-posting
services, citing numerous responses from employers. CareerShop.com also
offers a Personal Job Shopper, which e-mails jobseekers job listings that
match the criteria the job-hunter is looking for, links to virtual job fairs,
access to training programs, and specialized search engines for legal and
health-care careers. CareerShop.com also produces CareerTV featuring tips,
advice, and interviews with employers.
Last but not least, CareerShop.com is where our own Career Doctor hangs his shingle!
JobTrak: College Students Expect to be Millionaires
College students and recent graduates have high expectations of their earning
potential; 52 percent expect to be millionaires by the time they are
40 years old, according to the results of a survey released today by
JobTrak.com, an online job listing service for students and alumni.
Got a career question? The Career Doctor is holding office hours!
This issue, a question from Diane, who faces an ethical dilemma:
Diane writes: I am not sure how to proceed. After 10 months of unemployment,
I received a job offer, and after some negotiation, verbally accepted the
position. I have not yet received a written offer, and within the
last day, have been offered another position with a salary 60% higher
than the one I accepted, and a description more along the lines of what I had hoped to find.
In other words, the second offer is my "dream job." My dilemma is
obvious. Since I have not signed anything, is it ethical to retract
my verbal acceptance to the first position? I feel very strongly
about honoring my word, but in today's market, I question the worth
of such a philosophy. What do you recommend?
Q TIPS: Quick and Quintessential Career & Job Tips
Some career experts say that the line on your resume that reads "References
available upon request" is highly optional because it's understood. But the
line can serve one good purpose when it's the very last line of your resume --
to signal just that finality to the reader. It's a handy way of saying
"The End" at the conclusion of your resume, says Susan Britton Whitcomb
in Resume Magic. Now, if you're trying to conserve space on your resume, the
"References available upon request" line is one of the first things you can let
go.
If you're having difficulty finding that perfect job, consider registering
with a temporary agency. Temp work can be a great way to bring in some
cash while also enabling you to develop your skills, add items to your
resume, and network with folks at the various companies you're assigned to.
Business etiquette is no longer dictated by gender, says Kimberly
Goddard of Proper Protocol, Inc. That means everyone you meet in job
interview situations should get a firm (though not bone-crushing) handshake.
If you're interviewed by a woman, shake her hand just as you would a man's.
The webs of your hands -- where your fingers and thumb meet -- should touch.
Don't offer just the tips of your fingers, or worse -- the dreaded "limp fish"
handhsake.
Latest Additions: New Sites Added to QuintCareers
USInterns.com
-- a great site, where you can research, locate, and apply for internships throughout the United States.
Also includes some exclusive career resources, an interactive bulletin board, and links to
other useful sites. Free to job-seekers.
employMAX.com --
where job-seekers can search for jobs and/or post your resumes. One of the largest resume
databases on the Web, viewed by both Fortune 500 companies and executive search firms.
InternetJobs.com --
where you will only find Internet-related jobs from top Net-based employers. Job-seekers can post your resume, search for
jobs, use a search agent to help find job matches, and find some great tips and resources in
the resource center. Free to job-seekers.
BenefitsLink
-- a great collection of employee benefits resources, including the latest articles about benefits, a Q&A
benefits column, benefits vendor listings, message boards, job and resume postings for benefits
professionals, and more. Free.
Find even more additions to Quintessential Careers by visiting our
Latest
Additions section.
Quintessential Careers: Coming Attractions
Look for:
An expanded cover letter and resume service coming online May 1st.
Expanded resume resources section of Quintessential Careers.
QuintZine: Topics in Upcoming Issues
Watch for feature articles on these topics in upcoming issues of QuintZine:
For new grads: What the Real World is like * Thank You Letters *
Transferable Skills * Pantsuits vs. skirtsuits for interviews *
Case-based and behavior-based interviews * A Personal/Career Mission Statement
* How a SWOT Analysis can help you market yourself * Online Assessments *
Uses of a Functional Resume * Should your resume contain an objective? *
Where to find practice interview questions on the Web * internships
* how to choose a college * Q&As with well-known career experts
. . . and much, much more!
QuintZine
A publication of
Quintessential Careers
Publisher: Dr. Randall S. Hansen
Editor: Katharine Hansen
ISSN: 1528-9443
