Q TIPS:
Quick and Quintessential Career & Job Tips
Job-hunting tips from the October 14, 2002 issue of
QuintZine.
DBM, global human resources consulting firm, advises
job seekers to step up their networking efforts during
the next two months as companies look to fill any open
slots before year end, as well as start to plan for their
2003 staffing needs. "For many firms, it's a 'use it or
lose it' headcount situation as year-end approaches,"
says Tom Silveri, President, DBM. "Companies are still
only replacing existing critical staff as needed, but we
are seeing a small up-tick in activity. It's not a tidal
wave, but there is an increase in the number of job postings
and interviews being conducted."
DBM also offers this new research on career transition trends:
Seventy-five percent of job-seekers obtained their next
position through networking
Six percent of job seekers found a job through a search firm
Seven percent of job seekers found a job through the Internet
Some general downward pressure on salaries
Finally, DBM's ABCs for Job Seekers:
Aggressively network. Re-establish contact with
everyone you know and put your networking activities
into high gear.
Broaden your horizons and investigate job options
in different fields and industries. Many individuals
are disillusioned with corporate America and seeking
out opportunities in academia and not-for-profit sectors,
as well as starting their own businesses.
Consider temporary assignments or project work.
Volunteer with various groups to gain new skills
and network.
Dedicate some time every day to making contacts and
researching companies or new business ideas.
Elaborate but don't fabricate. Hiring managers have
heightened their screening requirements and are looking
for the perfect candidate, so make sure you highlight
how your experience matches their exact needs. However,
be truthful about your experience because companies
have also increased their background and reference checking.
Be Flexible in your salary requirements. The increased
number of available candidates is starting to put downward
pressure on compensation.
According to U.S. Department of Labor, 3.8 million
people are surviving today's economy by working a
full-time job while moonlighting with a second,
part-time position. Another 1.6 million people have
two part-time jobs, and more than 300,000 work two
full-time jobs.
Students, you need this! Portfolios are a great
way to market yourself. If your school is not offering
a service like Penn State is providing to students,
you need to talk to your administrators. Students capitalizing
on a new online portfolio service launched this fall will leave
Penn State with more than just a transcript and a resume.
The portfolio service guides
undergraduates through the process of collecting, selecting,
and reflecting on evidence of their academic and co-curricular
activities. Students can use free personal Web space accounts
to "publish" that evidence in an e-Portfolio that demonstrates
who they are, what they think, and what they've learned to
faculty, potential employers, and graduate schools. "Employers
can learn more from an online portfolio than from a resume
and a 45-minute interview," says Glenn Johnson, project manager
with the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences' e-Education
Institute. The Web site includes examples of portfolios developed
by students from several academic programs. One student's
e-Portfolio landed him an internship after his paper application
got lost in the mail. Read the full story by Dana Bauer.
DBM, global human resources consulting firm, advises
job seekers to step up their networking efforts during
the next two months as companies look to fill any open
slots before year end, as well as start to plan for their
2003 staffing needs. "For many firms, it's a 'use it or
lose it' headcount situation as year-end approaches,"
says Tom Silveri, President, DBM. "Companies are still
only replacing existing critical staff as needed, but we
are seeing a small up-tick in activity. It's not a tidal
wave, but there is an increase in the number of job postings
and interviews being conducted."
