THOSE LAZY, CRAZY, HAZY DAYS OF SUMMER.
The summer solstice has come and gone, and summer has begun to
sizzle in many parts of the world (and, yes, we realize
to some of our international readers, it's not even summer).
If you're job-hunting, don't let summer be lazy or crazy.
And let QuintZine help you clear away some of the haze.
HELP US WITH A FUTURE ARTICLE.
Have you ever worked for a temporary agency? We'd like
to hear about your experiences, positive or negative.
E-mail us at if you've ever temped,
and we'll send some specific questions.
BE PART OF A QUINTESSENTIAL CAREERS FOCUS GROUP!
Help us evaluate a prospective re-design of
the Quintessential Careers Web site. Please go
to
to participate in a brief survey. Names of
6 survey participants will be chosen at random
to receive lovely prizes.
Feature Article: A Career Objective
on Your Resume?
by Katharine Hansen
It's one of those sticky questions that divides
career counselors. Those arguing against objectives
say they are too limiting and usually poorly constructed.
Those in favor say that employers want to be able to determine
in just a few seconds what you want to do for the organization,
and what you're good at. An objective can help meet that
employer need. To some
employers, the lack of an objective
translates into a jobseeker who doesn't know what he or she
wants. On the other hand, numerous employers say they rarely
see a well-written objective.
Read more about the pros and cons that can help you decide whether or
not to use a career objective by
reading the entire story.
Quintessential Careers Site Award: The Riley Guide
The Riley Guide, created by Margaret Riley Dikel, is
one of the oldest and most respected career sites on the
Internet. It's a very good guide to job-hunting on the
'Net. And Margaret plans to give the Guide a major
overhaul this week (June 30 is the target date).
New major areas of the Riley Guide are slated to include:
Prepare to Search: includes all career info, counseling
info, help with the Internet. Careers, Union / Trade Assns., Counseling, Self-Assessment,
Handling Job Offers, Internet Tools & Tutorials, Internet Email and ISPs;
Resume Preparation: resume and cover letter info, Preparing Your Resume for the Internet;
Doing the Research: Employer info. Info on relocation and choosing a location. Info on job trends.
Employer Research, International Business Info, News, Business Rankings/Top Employers;
Searching for Work: Job info, plus job search guides and interviewing/networking/references stuff.
Margaret's big article on "Using the Internet in Your Job Search" will be divided into 4 articles
to cover the 4 job search activities. (Jobs, Research, Networking, Resume Prep and Distribution.);
Michelle Watson, a noted career expert and currently assistant director of career services at Lehigh University,
answers our five questions this issue.
"Employers are seeking success stories," Watson says.
"Resumes are now focusing not only on 'regular' job descriptions, but also
include concrete
measurable accomplishments. Physical portfolios, long thought of as tools for artists, will become
commonplace as candidates strive to show their talents,
not just talk about them."
Jobs in Government --
a great source for thousands of job listings for job-seekers looking for public-sector employment. Job-seekers
can search for jobs (based on job, location, etc.) as well as post your resume.
Qualified-IT Source -- a job
site for information technology and computer science professionals, where job-seekers can post your
resume (with a confidential option) and search and apply for jobs online. Job listings are updated hourly.
Also includes other useful services. Free to job-seekers.
refer.com -- an interesting new
job-hunting/networking Website, where you can search for jobs for yourself or your friends. The service is
free, confidential, and holds no obligation for you or the people you recommend. Hiring companies pay
a referral reward for qualified candidates, and if a person is hired on your referral, you get the reward.
traveljobz.net -- where
job-seekers in the travel, tourism, and leisure industries can search for a wide variety of
jobs or post your resumes. Free to job-seekers.
Find even more additions to Quintessential Careers by visiting our
Latest
Additions section.
BONUS! In addition to new sites that have been added
to Quintessential Careers, we present several new sections:
Florida Jobs -- a listing of job sites that cater to Florida
"Am I just a piece of meat?" is the plaintive cry of our first
Career Doctor patient this issue. He laments that all recruiters care
about is a person's ability to relocate.
David writes: "My home and family are here in Oklahoma City...
Why is it that nearly every recruiter or job search agent's
first words after "hello.." are either "relocate" or the
name of some other city?
"This happens even though I have indicated in my resume
objectives I am looking for work in Oklahoma City ...
Am I just a 'piece of meat who gets a better commission
for being forced to relocate, regardless of job openings in the
city where I already live?"
"Angie" is a college sophomore who has realized that her major,
mechanical engineering, is not what she wants at all. She's
at a loss as to how to find a new career path and major:
See the answer here.
Another reader seeks guidelines for how to format a cover letter
to be sent electronically:
See the answer here.
And a reader wants to know more about the role a CEO plays in a company:
See the answer here.
Q TIPS: Quick and Quintessential Career & Job Tips
It's no longer totally a man's world in information
technology. "It is a label that people in information
technology (IT) can't seem to shake: the nerd stereotype,"
writes Sherri Pfeil in Employment Review.
"And unfortunately, many girls are still taught early in
life that women are supposed to learn how to cook and
play with their dolls while boys play with computers.
Even little girls' favorite doll, Barbie, displayed a
lack of knowledge in technology when she proclaimed,
'Math is hard.' Although men still dominate the IT
industry, more women are joining the ranks and climbing
up the corporate ladder today."
Read more at this Employment Review.
Network "above your station." Ever hear the old wisdom
about how you should dress not like other people at your
own level dress, but like those at the level you aspire
to? The same applies to networking - at least to some degree.
You will often learn the most and make the best connections,
not with your peers, but with those at higher levels.
Certainly you should not ignore the members of your own
cohort, but be sure to include in your network a healthy
number of folks who are in the kind of job you hope to
achieve someday.
Headhunters, or as they are more properly known,
executive recruiters, work for client employers,
so we don't think of them as being especially
approachable by jobhunters. Yet, you can build
relationships with headhunters by serving as a
source for them, especially if your own career
is at the executive level. Executive recruiters
are always on the lookout for talented people to
fill positions at client companies. If you can steer
good people toward your favorite headhunter, you
may be favorably remembered when it's time for
your own job search. Similarly, helping a headhunter
find clients or serving as a client yourself will
stand you in good stead with the recruiter, who
will doubtless eagerly repay the favor when
you need help with your job search.
QuintZine: Topics in Upcoming Issues
WATCH FOR feature articles on these topics in upcoming
issues of QuintZine:
* Pantsuits vs. skirtsuits for interviews
* Case-based and behavior-based interviews
* A Personal/Career Mission Statement
* Online Assessments
* How a SWOT Analysis can help you market yourself
* Where to find practice interview questions on the Web
* Culturally competent resumes for global jobhunting
* Interviewing: It's more fun than you think
* How to choose a college
* How to land an internship
* Temping
* How to make the most of an internship
* Q&As with well-known career experts
. . . and much, much more!
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RESUMES * JOB SEARCH CORRESPONDENCE FROM TRUSTED EXPERTS * COVER LETTERS
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the lowest prices on the Web.
We create resumes,
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follow-up letters, and list-formatted documents,
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and Cover Letters!
QuintZine
A publication of
Quintessential Careers
Publisher: Dr. Randall S. Hansen
Editor: Katharine Hansen
ISSN: 1528-9443
