In tough job-hunting times, the persistent
myths about finding a new job seem to
rear their silly heads even more than
usual. Be sure you know fact from fiction
as you embark on or continue with your
quest for a job by reading our feature article.
Any job-search issues out there you'd like to
see de-mythologized? Wondering if an aspect
you've learned about job-hunting is truth
or fantasy? Have a pet peeve job-hunting myth?
Let us know!
How much of a job-hunting expert are you? Read
over our 15 myths and misconceptions about
job-hunting and see how many of them you believed
in and how many you knew were incorrect.
How much of a job-hunting expert are you? Read
over our 15 myths and misconceptions about
job-hunting and see how many of them you believed
in and how many you knew were incorrect.
Our job-search checklist follows the five
essential steps of job-hunting that we also
explain in our article, The Domino Effect:
Key Phases of Your Job Search.
For a successful job search, job-seekers
must be sure to have every element on this list
checked. To truly master the job search,
you'll want to master each element on the list.
Domain Name Sanity
-- where else can job-seekers get a Website (with the domain name of your choice), enough space to publish
your Web-based resume and career portfolio (20 megabytes), up to 50 email addresses, and lots of publishing
and promotion resources -- for under $20 a year!!
This deal is amazing -- almost too good to be true. If you don't have a Website, but want to put your
resume and portfolio on the Web, take advantage of these services! Fee-based.
This handy site offers two feature
articles at a time, as well as an archive
of previous articles. The Employment Spot
also provides links to "must-see" sites,
shortcuts to searching job postings and
uploading resumes, lists (such as best companies
to work for), tips, answers to visitor questions,
resources for specific populations, and links for
searching jobs by location and vocation.
iHireSecurity.com
-- a job site exclusively for the job-seekers in the security industry. Job-seekers must register (free) and
post your profile and resume. You are then emailed a list of matching jobs and new jobs that fit your criteria,
which you can then view and apply to online. Free to job-seekers.
PowerMingle.com
-- where professionals can meet, mingle, and network with other professionals. You create your networking profile,
and then can choose to be matched with other similar professionals or search for professionals you want to meet. They
also host event and exhibitor networking opportunities. Free to job-seekers.
totaljobs.com
-- a UK-based job site, where job-seekers can search for jobs by industry and location, register your profile and
CV, get tips on writing your CV, get help finding a new career, research companies, read articles about
lifeworking and succeeding at your job, and more. Free to job-seekers.
WorkinWireless.com
-- a job site exclusively for the semiconductor and telecom industries (Broadband, Cellular, Data,
Internet, Paging, PCS, Satellite and SMR). Job-seekers can post your resume, search for jobs (by job title,
state, and keywords), and find great career resources. Free to job-seekers.
Find even more career and job site additions to Quintessential Careers by visiting our
Latest
Additions section.
Steph writes: "My job was eliminated in November.
I posted my resume on all the major job search sites,
and applied for various positions. I never receive
a reply from any of the employers; I've only received
automated responses stating if interested, someone would
contact me within several weeks. Also, only several employers
have contacted me by phone. How can I get noticed to enable
me to get interviews?"
Rose Katz writes: "I am currently a New Jersey resident
and have been employed by Prudential for
the past 15 years
in an administrative capacity. I am looking to relocate to
North Carolina in the immediate future and have been
job hunting online unsuccessfully for a few months.
Can you give me some advice on securing a position
in another state?"
Donna writes: "I am having a difficult time finding
work with a BS degree in business, and a MA in education.
I was terminated on my previous job; what is the best way
to explain that to a perspective employer?"
Q TIPS: Quick and Quintessential Career & Job Tips
Our first issue of 2002 dealt with the long-distance
job search and offered Web sites for those trying to
decide on where to live (New City,
New Job: How to Conduct a Long-Distance Job Search).
One criterion upon which you might want to base a
relocation decision is the rate of job growth
for a given city. According to Business Week,
the top ten cities/metropolitan areas with the
highest rates of job growth are:
Visalia-Porterville, CA
Tampa Region, FL
Kenosha, WI
Las Vegas, NV
San Luis Obispo Area, CA
Laredo, TX
West Palm Beach-Boca Raton, FL
Fort Myers-Cape Coral, FL
Sheboygan, WI
Dallas, TX
If you're using your current place of employment as
headquarters for a search for your next job, be careful
about leaving tell-tale evidence of your search lying around.
Though it's questionably ethical to use company equipment
to, for example, produce and photocopy your resume, let's
face it, many people do. But if you choose to, don't leave
your original resume lying on the copier's glass or resume
copies in the output tray or even in the trash. As long
as you're using company equipment, use the shredder, too.
To be absolutely sure your current employer doesn't
discover your intention to leave (and to keep your
ethics squeaky clean), conduct your resume
production elsewhere.
Recruiting Trends reports that employers expect
to hire 19.7 percent fewer new college graduates
through May 2002. The Job Outlook 2002 survey by
the National Association of Colleges and Employers
found that 30 percent of responding employers
plan to cut back on their college hiring, while
30.1 percent plan to increase their college hiring,
and 39.9 percent expect to maintain their college hiring
at 2001 levels. In addition, more than 44 percent of
respondents plan to scale back on the number of schools
they will recruit at this year.
The hiring outlook is
worst for manufacturers, who expect to hire 30.1 percent
fewer new college graduates. Manufacturing organizations
hired an average of 156 new college graduates through most
of 2001; next year, they expect to hire an average of 109,
and hiring plans among service employers aren't much better.
But not all of the college hiring news is bad: Government/nonprofit
organizations project a 20.5 percent increase in college hiring.
We Want to Profile You!
Quintessential Career Profiles feature readers
who have interesting career stories to tell.
Did you obtain a job in an unusual way? Has
your career path been out of the ordinary?
Have you held one or more unusual jobs? Has
your job search been especially troublesome,
inspirational, or remarkable? We want to hear
from you! Tell us a little about your career
story, and we may contact you for a full
profile. Write to us
and let us know about you.
(If your e-mail program doesn't let you click on the link above
to open a new e-mail message, just write to
quintzine@quintcareers.com using the subject line
Quintessential_Career_Profiles).
QuintZine: Topics in Upcoming Issues
WATCH FOR feature articles on these topics in upcoming
issues of QuintZine:
* Identifying your workplace values
* How to choose a headhunter/recruiter
* How to write a counteroffer letter
* Home-based careers
* Career strategies for women
* How to start a job club
* Interviewing strategies for teens
* Using informational interviews to research companies
* How to use keywords to enhance your resume's effectiveness
* Letters of recommendation and references
* How to create and use a networking card
* How to resign from your job gracefully
* Quintessential Career Profiles of YOU, our readers
* Q&As with well-known career experts
* Book reviews
. . . and much, much more!
Don't ever want to miss another issue of QuintZine? Get a free subscription to
the email version of QuintZine by completing our
subscription form.
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RESUMES * JOB SEARCH CORRESPONDENCE FROM TRUSTED EXPERTS * COVER LETTERS
We create resumes,
cover letters, curriculum vitae, thank-you and
follow-up letters, and list-formatted documents,
such as salary histories and reference lists.
We also can provide critiques and makeovers of
your resume or cover letter. Credit cards accepted.
Quintessential Careers also offers writing services
for those who have been asked to give a speech and
need assistance in researching and writing their
remarks.
Need a speaker for your career-oriented conference or
event at your college or organization? The Quintessential
Careers Speakers Bureau can help! Our quintessential experts
can provide presentations/workshops on a variety of
career-related topics.
