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Best Careers and Job Growth Fields for 2010

Ron Proctor — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 23:38:24 +0000

U.S. News & World Report’s list of top jobs for 2010, broken down by categories considered promising growth fields:

http://www.usnews.com/money/careers/features/best-careers-2010

Science and Technology

Health care

Education and Civic

Business and Finance

Creative and Service

Boost Your Job Search – with LinkedIn

Ron Proctor — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 20:19:47 +0000

You are using Linkedin aren’t you?

When you’re job searching, be sure to use Linkedin to its’ full potential as a social networking site that will enhance your job search and boost your prospects of landing a new job. The best way to do this is to ensure you know what Linkedin is capable of – in order to maximize your employment potential.

Here are ten tips on optimizing your job hunting experience on Linkedin:

1. Edit your Profile. The first step is to make sure your LinkedIn Profile is complete. The more detailed your LinkedIn profile, the more chances you will have to be found and to be contacted. This is important because your profile is what you use to connect with people how you get found on LinkedIn. Complete your LinkedIn profile as carefully as you write your resume and provide prospective employers with detailed information on your skills and experience. If you’re currently unemployed, list your current position as “Open to opportunities”. If you don’t have a LinkedIn profile, sign-up.

2. Include a Photo. You can add a photo (a head shot is recommended) to your LinkedIn profile. Note that the photo can be no larger than 80×80 pixels. Do make sure your photo represents the professional you, not the personal you, because LinkedIn is all about professional networking.

3. Professional Summary. The Professional Summary section of your profile is a good way to highlight your experience. Select an Industry, because recruiters often use that field to search. Don’t forget the Headline, because that’s right at the top of the page when someone views your profile. It’s your first chance to make a good impression.

4. Include Keywords and Skills. Include the keywords and skills from your resume in your profile. This will make it easier for your profile to be found in search results.

5. Contact Settings. Your contact settings let your connections (and hiring managers and recruiters) know your availability. Options include: career opportunities, consulting offers, new ventures, job inquiries, and reference requests. Even if you’re not actively seeking a new job, it’s important to be flexible, because you never know when an
opportunity to good to pass up might come along.

6. Profile Website Links. The Links section of your profile is a good way to provide even more information to potential employers and to your contacts. If you have blog or a personal web site that is business related, include those links in the Links section of your profile.

7. LinkedIn Applications. LinkedIn Applications are a terrific way to share even more information in your profile. The blog applications enable users to feed their blog directly to their profile, so other LinkedIn users can see the most current posts automatically.

8. Your Public Profile. Don’t forget to make your profile public – that’s how the world can find it. Also, customizing your URL will give you a link that’s easy to share.

9. Grow Your Network. Connect with other members and build your network. You can find connections you’ve worked with, done business with, went to school with, or are otherwise affiliated with. The more connections you have, the more opportunities you have, but don’t randomly connect with people you don’t know. The point is to connect
with people you do know, so they can help you and vice versa.

10. Get Recommendations. To a potential employer, a LinkedIn recommendation is an opportunity to read a reference in advance. Having strong references can only help you when it comes to getting selected for an interview or for a job. The best way to get recommendations is to give them, so take some time to write recommendations for
your contacts and they will most likely reciprocate.

Source: Alison Doyle, job search expert

Job Search Engines

Ron Proctor — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 12:00:38 +0000

Use INDEED as your job search “Engine “

Tips and Suggestions from Indeed.com CEO Paul Forster.

“Job seekers narrow their search as much as possible in order to find jobs that fit their experience, skills, and desired location.”
“Focus on finding exactly the right jobs, rather than taking a scattered approach to job searching.”

More suggestions to help you focus your job search to generate listings that match your criteria:

Save Time With Job Search Engine

Using a job search engine saves time. Indeed.com, for example, searches jobs on job boards, newspapers, associations, and company web sites, including most of the Fortune 1000 companies. You can search for jobs all in one place, rather than having to visit all these sites independently.

Job Search by Salary

Indeed’s job search by salary tool enables job seekers to find jobs that pay at least a certain salary. Enter an annual salary in the search box to find all jobs that Indeed estimates pay at least that much.

Job search by salary uses proprietary methodology based on an analysis of similar job listings that includes salary, job title, job description, and location. Indeed’s algorithm extracts salaries from all job listings containing this information – about a fifth of the total – and then estimates salaries for the rest.

Job search by salary makes it easier for job seekers to find the job that is a right fit. It saves the job seeker time they may have spent applying for jobs they couldn’t afford to accept, and it also helps companies, because it limits applications from candidates who aren’t in the position’s salary range.

Advanced Search

The most effective way to search is to drill down so you are searching as narrowly as possible and getting to the right jobs. Use skills, interests, and location, as well as salary requirements, when searching for jobs. That way you can narrow your search so the results include only the most relevant listings. Click on Advanced Search and search by:

Keywords
Phrase in the job title
Type of employer
Radius

Set Preferences

Use preferences to choose which jobs you want to show on your results list. You can select only jobs within a certain distance from a zip code and jobs that have been published within a certain period of time.

Blocking Companies

If there is a company you don’t want to see job listings from you can block it, so you won’t see jobs from that company in future searches. Click on the ‘block’ link beneath each job search result. You can then manage the settings in your preferences.

More Actions

Use the More Actions link under the job posting to view all the listings from the same company, map the location of the job, research salary information, research the company on Google, email the listing, and get a permanent link to the post. You will also be able to find contacts at Facebook or LinkedIn who may be able to help you connect with the employer.

Job Search Tools

Indeed has job search tools you can use to help manage your job search and to ensure you get the job listings that match your interests. Job seekers can set up a my.indeed account to access saved jobs, searches, and alerts from any computer, and download job search plugins for Firefox and for Google Desktop, an application for Facebook, a button for your Google Toolbar, and other applications to help expedite your job search.

Source: Paul Forster, CEO, Indeed.com

Tips, Tools, and Resources

Ron Proctor — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:13:41 +0000

Social Media tips, tools and resources

It is clear by now that finding a new job is tough in this environment. I want to provide you with a posting which has a collection of tips, weblinks and ideas…

Check this Social Media Website- the Interactive Insights Group has some great content. Their chief Internet and social media strategist, Robin Broitman, has compiled a wide range of resources, advice and tools to help you build and manage your social media brand identity more effectively.

Check out this site for all you wanted to know (and more about how to build your brand on your personal website. How-To: Build & Manage Your Brand Identity with Social Media

Robin has been using LinkedIn for years and has found it to be one of the most useful professional networking sites online. It can help you build your professional network, establish your brand/image, and market your services. She has found LinkedIn’s group feature to be a helpful tool for driving traffic to her blog. Check LinkedIn SuperGuide -Tutorials, Tips and Tools

The Interactive Insights Group has a You Tube channel: Videos on Social Media and Web2.0 hand-selected by IIG/Interactive Insights Group, Inc.

The Interactive Insights Group has a Delicious link

Videos

Cheezhead is dedicated to issues pertaining to search engine optimization, Internet recruiting, human resources, employment branding, technology and marketing.

Cheezhead founder Joel Cheesman is one of the most widely-read bloggers on emerging recruitment issues in the world. Joel’s blog is a daily chronicle of how the Internet and technology are shaping human resources and how organizations can attract the talent needed to thrive in tomorrow’s economy.

Here are a sampling of Cheezhead’s Bi-Monthly HR / Recruiting - specific news and noteworthy items (such as Glassdoor and Mjob) - all of which may assist you in your job searching:

Click here to view the embedded video.

See more videos here Recent video topics: get away from online job databases, monster job hunter, mobile past, present and future, unemployed, a video, tech ticker interviews linkedin ceo, climber’s resume carousel looks time-consuming, michael spafferty’s video resume; plus more.

Job Search Tips

TIP: Here’s a contrarian networking idea: Stop thinking about networking and start trying to be useful to other people. That’s the advice of Dan Sullivan, founder of The Strategic Coach, a focusing program for entrepreneurs worldwide.

According to Sullivan, if you can bring confidence and clarity to people in your network by researching their needs and then offering something useful — in the form of product news, information about their customers, contacts, expertise, etc. — people will make time to talk to you. Because you will be seen as an oasis in today’s desert of bad economic news.

One thing is certain: If you keep doing what you’ve been doing in your job search, you’ll keep getting what you’ve been getting. And if you’re not getting calls from employers, why not try being useful to as many people as possible for one week and see where it leads you?

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TIP: Update your LinkedIn profile at least once a week. Add an article or presentation you’ve done. Change the information in your summary, update what you’re working on, add a book to the list of books you’re reading. You get the idea.

What to add? Add information that reflects your brand as a candidate. What would make you stand out to a hiring manager and/or recruiter? Be very strategic here—make sure everything supports and reinforces the brand you’re creating.

What does this get you? Your update will be sent to all your contacts in that weekly email LinkedIn sends out. Your name will keep coming up week after week with yet something else that brands you. A lot of visibility for just a few keystrokes.

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TIP: Responding to a network contact with an article or summary of key points from a recent seminar can also help to remind them of your presence and also provides valuable information that they may not have seen during their busy week.

First, they know you thought of them and secondly, you went the extra step of giving them the main points in the article. Most of us who receive articles love that considerate touch. Means we don’t have to feel guilty if we just don’t get around to the pile of articles we really mean to read someday.

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TIP: For going to a MEET UP, how do you feel about going to a meeting? What is the real reason you’re going? Did that reason get met? Do you like what happens and what you learn there? If you leave with one or two solid referrals and feeling energized by new information and/or new contacts, that may be a good meeting to keep attending.

With all the other things we’re talking about here that are essential job search components, if you feel like cutting back or cutting out these kinds of meetings, then do what seems to make sense for you.

Job search today requires creating a strategy that works for you. Test what you hear to see if it’s right for you–even the things we discuss here. Break out of your comfort zone (or perhaps it seems like you already left that far behind). Be creative and be yourself.

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TIP: Consider the Recruiter Side of the equation.. It may be tempting but so often a waste of your time to send a resume for a position where the key requirements don’t match your experience. If it’s a stretch to tie your experience to the absolute requirements, it’s unlikely anyone at the company will have the time, inclination or ability to make that leap.

Remember that recruiters have to present candidates to the hiring manager with a good reason for doing so. If they present candidates who don’t come close to the basic requirements, the hiring manager questions if the recruiter knows what they are doing. Recruiters rarely want to look stupid to their clients. So no matter how you try to spin it, they won’t be able (or willing) to sell it.

If you’ve got a resume that is oriented to how the hiring manager views the world, if you know how to position yourself and your experience in an interview, and you’ve got a clear, concise and very brief statement (sound bites can differentiate you) of what you bring to the table, you won’t need to send resumes off and hope the recipient can make the leap.

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TIP: What gets you to the strategic table is seeing (and being able to articulate) how HR value-add efforts impact the Profit and Loss. It is essential for HR Executives to make that connection and use the language of business. CEO is only interested in one thing– “increasing shareholder value”. HR must connect to that strategy in real ways they can articulate. They need to show the organization how their work impacts the P&L. If they do not, they may not be long at the strategic table.

All of HR, not just the executive leader, should know the Profit and Loss and annual report and know how to tie back the HR initiatives to those results. Read the annual report. Make an effort to understand the financial operations and financial results of the organization. Take your rightful place at the table. We need you!

So perhaps as part of your job search strategy, you might listen to CEO shareholder calls, network with CFO’s, learn the key financial terms and concepts. Translate your accomplishments into P&L impact. Talk about EBITDA in your next interview if you really want to differentiate yourself with a CEO or CFO.

One Stop Jobboard – Indeed

Ron Proctor — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 15:42:49 +0000

This is the one jobboard site you must use: Indeed

Click here to view the embedded video.

Using Indeed is just like using a general search engine like Google. You can quick-search from the Indeed home page, as follows:

Step 1. Type words into the box marked ‘What’ that describe the kind of job you are looking for, such as a job title, skill or employer name.

Step 2. Type into the box marked “Where” the city, the State or the zip code where you want to find a job.

Step 3. Click the ‘Find Jobs‘ button or hit Enter on your keyboard.

Jobs will be returned that match your keywords within 25 miles of the location you specify. If you enter two or more keywords, it will return only those jobs that contain ALL your words (you don’t have to include ‘and’ between the words).

Exact Phrases

To find jobs containing an exact phrase, put double quotation marks around the words.

For example, enter: “real estate”

Capitalization

The search isn’t case sensitive. It makes no difference whether you enter upper or lower case letters – e.g. “general motors” will give you the same results as “General Motors”.

Narrowing Your Search

If your search returns a large number of jobs, there are several things you can do. Look at the text links in the left hand column within the ‘Refine Your Search‘ box. Click on those that fit what you are looking for, which will return a subset of your original search results.

Alternatively, try adding more terms to the ‘What’ box and search again. Also, don’t forget to use the ‘Where’ box – using just your zip code works well.

Another great feature is to exclude jobs containing certain keywords. Just type “not” before any terms you don’t want.

contract NOT lawyer

Broadening Your Search

To find all jobs that fit your interests, you may need to broaden your keyword search. One way is to remove keywords from the ‘What’ box and search again. It is often more effective, though, to use ‘or’ between terms. If you are looking for a management position, for example, you could enter: manager OR director. This will return all jobs that contain either the word ‘manager’ or the word ‘director’.

Abbreviations

Some names and phrases are better known by their abbreviations than their full forms. To make sure you don’t miss any jobs, however, use both abbreviated and unabbreviated forms together.

For example, enter: HR OR “human resources”

Company Names & Job Titles

You may limit your search to show just jobs from a particular company or with a specific job title. For example, enter the following into the keyword box to return all jobs at Microsoft:

company:microsoft

Or, to return all jobs that include the word ‘consultant’ in the job title, enter this:

title:consultant

If there are multiple words in the company name or job title, use double quotation marks. For example:

title:”business development”

Complex Phrases

You can use complex phrases, often called ‘Boolean’ logic, to fine-tune your search.

e.g. (manager OR director) and healthcare

This will return all jobs that contain the term healthcare and either the word manager or director.

You can keep revising your search string to improve your results set. The example above could end up looking like this:

(manager OR director) and (healthcare OR pharmaceutical) NOT sales

You can see your last 10 searches in the bottom left hand margin of your screen, so you don’t have to remember your search strings or reenter them each time you search.

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Questions and Answers – from Indeed.com

How do you rank the search results?

Jobs are ranked solely by relevance or date. We do not accept payment to include jobs in the search engine or to improve their ranking.

How do I see only new jobs?

To only show jobs that have been added to the site since you last visited, click on the Show: new jobs link near the top of any search results.

If you want to change this setting for all your searches go to your preferences and for Job Age choose Show jobs published “since my last visit.” Click ‘Save Preferences’ — all new job searches will now return only listings that have been added to Indeed since your last visit.

Why does the search results page say that there are more results than I can see?

We remove duplicate jobs from our search results. To view duplicate jobs, click the “Repeat your search with the omitted job postings included” link at end of your search results.

How do I find jobs closer or farther from where I’m searching?

Change the radius using the “distance” drop-down box near the top of the results page. If you want to change the radius for all your job searches, open your preferences, select a different radius, and click ‘Save Preferences.’ All new job searches will use the radius you selected.

How do I remove results from a particular company or website?

To remove search results from specific companies and websites you must sign in to your my.indeed account.

After you’ve signed-in, click the “block” link at the end of any job in your search results. You can then choose to block all jobs from that company, or from the website the job is posted on. The companies and websites you choose will be saved in your preferences. Remove the company/website from your blocked jobs list to add their jobs back to your search results.

My search is not returning enough results. What can I do?

* Check your spelling: Both the ‘What’ and ‘Where’ and make sure the zip/postal code or state/province abbreviation is correct
* Remove search terms: By default our search results contain jobs with ALL of the words in the ‘What’ box. If you want to find jobs with ANY of the words, use OR between the search terms.
* Increase your radius: You may need to look farther away to get the results you want.

My job search is returning too many jobs. What can I do?

* Refine your search: The left column on the search results page contains links to help you narrow down your search. If the left column is not showing, click “Refine your search” at the top the page.
* Add more terms to the ‘What’ box: include any words that you would like the job title or description to contain
* Include a location: If you have not specified a location, add a city, state, or zip code to the ‘Where’ box.

When I search using my zip code, it also returns jobs from other locations. Why?

Jobs are returned within 25 miles of the location you specify by default, but you can change the radius of your search to get the results you want.

My search results are showing my city, but in the wrong state. What should I do?

Add the state to the ‘Where’ box and search again. If you don’t enter a state, we show results from the biggest city with that name. For example, just entering ‘Austin’ will give you jobs in Austin, Texas. If you want Austin in Ohio, you must enter ‘Austin, Ohio’ or ‘Austin, OH’.

Can I save my job search?

Yes. You may save your job search as a Job Alert email or as an RSS feed. Choose one or both to have new jobs matching your search automatically delivered to you. You may save as many different job searches as you like.

What is a Job Alert email?

If you save your job search as a Job Alert email, you will receive daily or weekly emails containing links to new jobs matching your search criteria. You may set up as many Job Alerts as you like and you may cancel them at any time.

What is RSS?

RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is a way to subscribe to a website and have new content delivered to you. In order to use RSS, you need an RSS reader. Internet Explorer 7, Firefox 2, and other web browsers have RSS readers built-in. There are also online RSS readers like Bloglines or Google Reader, and downloadable programs like NewsNetWire that you can use to view RSS feeds.

What is Salary Estimate?

Only about 20% of the jobs in our search results contain salary information. When a job posting doesn’t include a salary, we estimate it by looking at similar jobs. When salaries are available, they are shown in our search results. Estimated salaries are not endorsed by the companies offering those positions and may vary from actual salaries. This is a new feature so your feedback and comments are appreciated.

Niche Job Search Sites

Ron Proctor — Wed, 27 May 2009 17:40:53 +0000

Specific, targeted Job Search web links

There are specific job search sites (besides Linkedin and Twitter). These sites, known as “Niche Job Search Sites” may be useful to you in your job searhing. The “niche” websites listed on this posting are lesser-known job-search sites. I was surprised to see the magnitude of the available jobs listed on these sites.

Check for yourself to see if you can use any of these. Be advised that only 40% of available jobs are posted on jobboards. There are 40% for those jobs listed internally within an organization – for employees to make referrals to. And the remaining 20% of possible jobs are in the minds of hiring managers – your actual target for job searching (even though talking to a hiring manager is the most difficult method to get noticed in this job market, it tends to be the most lucrative).

By the way, niche is defined as: A situation or activity specially suited to a person’s interests, abilities, or nature!!

Go at this list of job search sites (listed in no particular order) to see what you can come up with!

1. Dice.com: This is the go-to site for jobs in technology. Companies like Dell, NVIDIA and Apple post jobs to the site regularly, along with non-technology companies looking for IT workers. Apply online or upload a resume for recruiters to view. For $29.99 per month you can see who has viewed your resume and be sure your resume places high when your area of expertise is searched.

2. IT Job Board: This site is the #2 computer/IT careers niche site. It works with the UK and Europe’s leading businesses and IT recruitment agencies to offer thousands and thousands of live permanent and contract IT jobs throughout the UK and Europe everyday

3. Jobsinthemoney: This #2 financial careers niche site features targeted job postings available in the JobsintheMoney.com database from companies across many industries and locations throughout the United States and cover a variety of positions for tax accountants, auditors, fraud examiners, analysts, controllers and CFOs, as well as many other finance and accounting professionals.

4. ComputerJobs.com: The #3 computer/IT careers niche site. This job board focuses solely on the IT professional. Founded in 1995 by IT professionals who saw a need for an effective way for job seekers and companies to connect, ComputerJobs.com has over thirteen years experience connecting thousands of high-tech employers with millions of qualified job seekers.

5. GovernmentJobs.com: The influx of cash from President Obama’s economic stimulus plan will lead to a host of new job opportunities in state and local government. Use this site to search for jobs in government offices throughout the U.S.

6. eFinancialCareers.com: The financial sector has been hit hard, but the surviving companies are still hiring. This site features jobs in areas such as accounting, finance and insurance. Check out the “emergency career toolkit” full of tips for keeping your career in gear, even during the downturn.

7. Medzilla.com: Healthcare and pharma remain strong industries, even during the recession. This site features jobs from biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies like Amgen, Teva and Baxter. Jobs range from entry-level drug sales reps to full-fledged medical and engineering positions.

8. SchoolSpring.com: This site saves educators the task of scouring the Internet for jobs in each individual school district. Executive, administrative and teaching jobs from around the country are aggregated here. Applicants can narrow searches based on subjects and grade levels taught. For an even more targeted search, try state-specific sites like EdJoin.org in California or NYEdJobs.org in New York.

9. HCareers.com: Head to this site for jobs in food service, hotels and tourist attractions. In addition to listings, there are free features like tips on writing cover letters, continuing education resources and a salary and cost of living calculator with advice on negotiating a raise.

10. MarketingJobs.com: Job seekers with backgrounds in marketing, advertising or sales come to this site to check out offerings from employers including The Walt Disney Company (Stock Quote: DIS) and the blueberry division of Driscolls Berries. Posting a resume is free, as are downloadable resources like industry magazines and more than 350 informational videos about various sales careers.

11. MediaBistro.com: This site is for anyone involved in the production of creative content, including editorial assistants, journalists and editors as well as those in media sales and advertising. In addition to the free job listings, there is a place to advertise availability for freelancing as well as career-related online courses and seminars.

12. Guru.com: This site plays the middleman for freelancers looking for contract work in industries like business consulting, graphic design and law. Job seekers can upload resumes and search and bid on jobs. Guru.com helps project managers award bids and even provides a safe online payment method to help guarantee a smooth delivery.

13. Startuply: This site will list small company posting site; majority tech jobs, but not all

14. Start-up jobs: This site is a also small company posting site

15. Venture Loop: Check here for VC-backed company jobs

16. NPost – Mostly tech and start-ups

17. Retirement Jobs: This is the #1 retirement careers niche site

In Summary, you may also want to check the world’s largest network of niche career communities, powering thousands of local and industry-specific sites. The Beyond.com network is comprised of many distinct channels, each represented by a premier career destination and backed by a powerful group of associated communities. Link: http://www.beyond.com/channels/

Beyond’s Motto: “The Focus of One, the Power of Many”

Beyond’s Mission: For community members to experience the targeted exposure of a niche job board, reinforced by the power and volume of their entire network. Jobs posted to one of their communities are automatically distributed and visible across all relevant network sites, providing for maximum exposure and targeted connections with high-quality candidates.