Beyond Folders : job search

Is it Time to Switch Jobs?

Community Manager — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 14:26:00 GMT

Switching jobs in an uncertain economy may seem unwise but sometimes it's just time to move on. But how do you know when the time is right to leave the security of your current gig for the unknown?

Know When It's Time to Go

Look closely at your current role. Are you growing? Adding skills? Moving successfully along your career path? If you're in a holding pattern because moving on seems too daunting in this economy, you are doing your career a disservice.

Moving on provides the possibility of finding a role which is a better fit for your abilities and sets you up for future growth. As a bonus: switching jobs can also be more lucrative.

Before you whip out your resume and start cold-calling your network, take a minute to assess your readiness to move on with the Monster.com "Are You Ready for a Career Change Quiz."

Other Factors to Consider

How happy are you in your current job? If the answer is not very, it's time to start looking. Life is too short to be miserable over a paycheck.
Do you have the time and energy to devote to the process of job hunting and starting afresh in a new role? Job hunting and onboarding in a new role takes mountains of time and energy. Be sure you are not distracted by health or personal challenges.
Is your current job imperiled? If your company or role is in jeopardy, job hunting is a no brainer. Don't hang in hoping that something will change; be proactive now before the ax falls.
Have you changes jobs recently? Do you have a history of job hopping? The average American will have 3 to 4 jobs or more in a lifetime, but if you've had that many in as many years, it may be time to hit the pause button and stay in your current gig awhile.

For more food for thought, read 8 Signs You Should Think About Quitting and its follow up piece Yes, You (Probably) Can Change Jobs Now.

Why Be Ordinary? How Unconventional Resumés Get You Noticed

Community Manager — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 15:11:00 GMT

Hoping your resume gets a second look? Consider building an unconventional resume to stand out from the pack. Gone are the days when career success was easy to chart: start at the bottom and work your way up.

Now, the world's economy is increasingly global and volatile. Knowledge rapidly becomes obsolete and experience often isn't as prized as the ability to be nimble and flexible. In this economy, an unconventional resume can trump a predictable, linear path.

Wondering what exactly constitutes an unconventional resume? We've rounded up some eye-opening resources on the benefits of taking the career path less traveled. Enjoy.

Has your career path been unusual? What are the benefits (and drawbacks) to taking the road less traveled? Share your thoughts here and on the Pendaflex Facebook page.

Avoiding Resumes Don’ts

Community Manager — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 15:04:00 GMT

In a crowded job market, standing apart from the pack is a must. But there's a not so-fine line between eye-catching and straight-up crazy. Major resume don'ts would seem obvious: skip the rainbow-hued paper and scantily-clad photos. Yet recruiters see these glaring mistakes and more on a regular basis, says the author of Think Twice Before Sending That Crazy Resume!

Want to avoid resume don'ts that will sand-bag your attempts to rise to the top of the hiring pool? Read on for mistakes to avoid.

Biggest Resume Don'ts: Resumes should be short and sweet; but be careful not to leave out crucial information. Hiring managers see glaring absences as red-flags, so be sure to explain any gaps in work history. Other advice? Skip distracting graphics, type treatments and photos.

Avoid the Top 10 Resume Mistakes: This helpful punch list ticks off common pitfalls including typos and grammatical errors, poorly worded objectives and using a generic, rather than targeted resume.

14 Fatal Resume Mistakes: Never fail to send a cover letter with your resume is the number one piece of advice in this thoughtful round-up. And make sure the letter is well-written, addressed to the appropriate recipient and error-free. Other useful tips? Avoid resume templates and cookie-cutter lingo. Hiring managers, who see a kajillion resumes, will spot these shortcuts in an instant and write you off as lazy and unimaginative.

Finally, we leave you with an amusing selection of jaw-droppingly awful resumes mistakes to avoid: 150 Funniest Resume Mistakes, Bloopers and Blunders Ever. We know you'd never make these mistakes, right???

What is a major resume pitfall in your book? Share your thoughts here and on the Pendaflex Facebook page.

Make Your Resume Pop

Community Manager — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 15:01:00 GMT

Job hunters know that a top-notch resume is crucial in this tough job market. Ensure yours stands out from the stack with these tips for making your resume pop.

Go Paper

The rise of LinkedIn and digital portfolios may have job hunters thinking the paper resume is going the way of the mimeograph machine. Not so, says a recent Wall Street Journal article. Paper still rules so smart job hunters should invest in premium paper stock: old school is still cool.

Add Punch

Resumes should convey professionalism, so stick to classic fonts and white or cream paper colors. But you can still amp up your attention-grabbing quotient with a personalized QR Code, that directs users to your online digital portfolio, blog or web site.

Be Digital Friendly

Paper is king but digital is a close second so make sure your resume is easily uploadable, downloadable and scannable by skipping formatting with bullets, boxes and indenting. Pepper the resume with rich key words that pop for both computerized searches and in-person.

Tweak Titles

Resumes typically are scanned by hiring managers in a nanosecond. So take time to create eye-catching job titles. We're not talking resume inflation here which is always a no-no, but if your title at your newsroom job was Assistant Production Manager, consider amplifying the information with a title like Assistant Production Manager for News Video. Now your title tells a complete story.

Double Check

Ensure your resume is error-free with exhaustive proofing. Check, check and check again; consider enlisting either a resume pro or an eagle-eyed friend to help you out.

What makes a winning resume in your book? Do you rely on any online resources for resume help? Share your thoughts here and on the Pendaflex Facebook page.

Professional Networking on Facebook: Branching Out from Just Friends

Community Manager — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 14:09:00 GMT

Facebook, the go-to social networking site of a staggering 750 million users, now has an increasing number of third-party apps that allow for professional networking. BranchOut is perhaps the best known; others include the newer BeKnown, as well as Identified and Work4Labs.

Companies are increasingly using social networking to source high-quality candidates due to its ease and cheapness. Given that many top-tier companies are shifting from traditional hiring methods such as job boards and third-party recruiters, professional networking through social media channels is becoming ever more critical.

Here's an overview of some of the players:

BranchOut: BranchOut is an app that allows Facebook users to unlock massive amounts of career data on Facebook friends (and even friends of friends). Users can search on a company name and see which of your Facebook friends work there (or used to).

BranchOut also allows users to import their existing data from LinkedIn, making profiles a snap to create. The app also allows companies to post job listings.

For more, read:

BranchOut=Facebook Plus LinkedIn Divided by Job Search

BeKnown: Job search behemoth Monster.com launched BeKnown, allowing job hunters to search for and apply for jobs without leaving Facebook. The app is fully integrated with Facebook, but lets users keep their personal Facebook information private, a major plus.

Job seekers can not only view and apply for jobs, they can see company information, get endorsed, and apply for jobs directly from the app.

For more, read:

Monster.com Launches BeKnown: Professional Social Networking for Facebook

Identified: A professional network that builds candidate profiles using relevant Facebook biographical data; allows recruiters to search all candidates by a variety of requirements such as GPA or school attended; the service also keeps sensitive social data out of the hands of recruiters.

For more, read:

Identified to Challenge LinkedIn by Building Job Candidate Profiles from Facebook Data

Work 4 Labs: An app for recruiters and candidates. Companies can post jobs to their Facebook Page and advertise via Facebook Ads. The app also offers referral features. Work4 Labs also develops Jobs for Me, one of the largest networks of university career centers and vertical job boards on Facebook. According to the company, users include blue-chip names such as Citibank, Accenture, Oracle, Microsoft, KPMG and Intel to name a few.

For more, read:

Tools of the Trade - Work4Labs: Work 4 Us App

Finally, we leave you with a useful read for optimizing social media to land coveted gigs: 5 Clever Ways to Get a Job Using Social Media.

Good luck with the job search!

"Why Didn't I Think of That?" Tips for Job-Hunters

Community Manager — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 13:28:00 GMT

Job hunting is increasingly a complicated endeavor. Tired of hearing "don't call us, we'll call you?" We've rounded up some creative job hunting tips to get you from prospective candidate to paid employee.

The Best Job Hunting Advice You'll Ever Receive:
This Huffington Post piece can be summed up in a nutshell: work harder than anybody else. Well-worth a read, the article encourages job hunters to forget about redoubling efforts to find a job but instead triple that effort. Bottom line: those that try hardest get ahead.

Seven Radical Steps for Career Changers:
This Fast Company article says to forget the conventional wisdom that job hunters should build a personal brand and work their network to find a job. Instead, the author advocates identifying the 5-6 companies where an applicant wishes to work and persuading those companies that you offer them value. Bottom line: It's about them, not you.

20 Mind Blowing Creative Resumes:
Looking for a resume to set you apart from the pack? The wildly creative resumes in this article are attention getting to say the least. While out-of-the-box resumes are probably best used by applicants in the graphic design or creative fields, any job hunter can benefit from the examples of creative ways to package oneself. Bottom line: You need to stand apart from the pack.

10 Out Of the Box Job Hunting Tips:
Business Week has a list of useful tips, although they aren't as unconventional as the headline suggests. The best tip in our book? Check out Craigslist for job listing from small business and start-ups. Bottom line: Don't leave any stone unturned.

Finally, we leave you with a fun article for any job hunter who has ever worried they'll be sidelined with an unexpected interview question: Offbeat Interview Questions Asked to Make You Think. Bottom line: There is no right answer, just opportunities to demonstrate you are undaunted by challenges.

Do you have creative tips for job hunting? Share your out-of-the-box advice here and at the Pendaflex Facebook page.

Why Aren't You Using LinkedIn?

Community Manager — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 13:34:00 GMT

More than 100 million people are using social media platform LinkedIn. Why aren't you?

In a tough job market, networking through social media is critical. LinkedIn allows job hunters, and even those not actively seeking work, to display their work and credentials to colleagues and recruiters alike.

Looking for a Job?

LinkedIn offers job hunters more than just terrific networking a click away. The service allows individuals to search geographically for contacts in HR departments and within specific industries. LinkedIn also allows users to follow what's happening at companies where a prospective candidate is looking. For more tips for optimizing LinkedIn, read Expert Tips For Using LinkedIn.

Making a Career Switch?

Career changers can use LinkedIn as a bridge to a new industry. The service lets users easily alert their network of a desired shift and the Group Directory and search features allows for research on the trends and job-openings in your desired field. For more, read Change is in the Air: 7 LinkedIn Tips for Career Changers.

Are You an Older Worker?

Don't let a job hunt fall prey to ageism. Demonstrate up-to-date tech skills with an active online personal brand. Many recruiters and career coaches view LinkedIn as the ultimate resource for job hunters. For the older worker, actively participating in LinkedIn shows relevancy and range.

Do you make effective use of LinkedIn? Have you had any networking or job hunting success with LinkedIn? Share your thoughts here and at the Pendaflex Facebook page.

From Dorm Room to Desk: What I Wish I Knew When I Started My First Job

Community Manager — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 18:40:00 GMT

Smart grads know hindsight is 20-20, so shorten the learning curve in your first job with been-there, done-that insight from experts further along the career path. Our round-up of advice offers both big picture wisdom and concrete, in-the-weeds details that will have you hitting the ground running.

Details, Details

You know the old aphorism about first impressions: make a good one. Be punctual, be polite and put in full days right off the bat. Other tips for impressing include learning co-workers' names and avoiding office gossip. For more ideas, read Your First Days Working at a New Job: 20 Tips to Help You Make a Great Impression.

The Big Picture (Can Take a While to Come into Focus)

Author, speaker and career coach Curt Rosengren encourages young professionals not to obsess about making the "right" choice when selecting a job or career. In The Most Important Piece of Career Advice for New Grads, Rosengren advocates viewing the first few years of work as "R & D" for a career arc. The odds of clocking 50-years at one job and retiring with a gold pocket watch are slim to none, so rather than obsessing about making the quote, unquote right choice, new hires should commit to continually making choices.

Rosengren urges novice employees to find a path that seems appealing and then to continually ask, "Is this work something I am passionate about?" and "What don't I like about this work?" Using the first few years as "research and development" for a career trajectory can allow a person to continually reset: exposure to different jobs and roles will provide a deeper understanding of what energizes and inspires you and betters the odds of achieving meaningful work.

What is the one thing you wish you knew when you started work? What piece of advice would you give your young self at that first real job? Share your thoughts here and at the Pendaflex Facebook page.

Hiring Overqualified Candidates: A Plus or Minus?

Community Manager — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 12:38:00 GMT

The uncertain economy is still creating an employment glut as job seekers continue to outnumber available roles. As more and more experienced workers pound the pavement, employers increasingly face a new problem: how to handle overqualified candidates coming through the doors in search of work.

Conventional wisdom says avoid hiring overqualified candidates. The rap on quote, unquote over-educated and experienced workers is that they will quickly grow dissatisfied with lesser roles, creating morale or managerial issues.

Not Necessarily a Negative

Not everyone agrees that seasoned candidates are a risk. A recent Harvard Business Review post, Should You Hire an Overqualified Candidate? cites a study that finds the risks of overqualified candidates becoming discontented and leaving are more perception than reality.

The post goes on to make the case that well-educated and experienced candidates actually present an opportunity for visionary companies and hiring managers to staff up on talent at a time when so many well-qualified candidates are ripe for the hiring.

Overqualified Can Equal Opportunity

Hiring managers can make good bets on overqualified candidates by keeping two factors in mind. First, prospective employers need to suss out why talented candidates are willing to take a lateral or lesser role. Is the worker looking to career shift? Gain a better work-life balance? Or perhaps the candidate is looking to return to the workforce after time at home? Discovering why candidates want a certain role can help employers determine if they are likely to succeed in a give position.

Second, employers can improve the odds of a successful fit by giving seasoned employees autonomy and challenging work. Empowering experienced workers to bring their A-game to a B-role can help turn a potential awkward fit into a workable proposition, creating a win-win for both employer and employee.

For more on how to best utilize seasoned job candidates, we like the advice in the New York Times article Overqualified? Yes, But Happy To Have the Job.

Does being overqualified rule a candidate out in your mind? Or have you had a successful hire with an overqualified employee? Share your thoughts here and at the Pendaflex Facebook page.

When It’s Time to Move Jobs

Community Manager — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 13:33:00 GMT

Gone are the days when employees spent their entire work life at one job, retiring with a gold pocket watch. In today's work world, it's not uncommon to change jobs, or even careers, repeatedly.

People move jobs for all types of reasons: money, desire for new challenges, boredom, and bad bosses. Knowing when it's time for a change is tricky. In today's uncertain economy, a job in hand is not to be taken lightly. So how do you know when it's time to go?

We've assembled some resources that can help determine if it's time to pound the pavement, resume in hand. Take these Q & A's and see if you're ready to move on:

Time to Change Jobs...or Careers?

Q&A: Is it Time for a Job Change?

Top Ten Reasons to Quit Your Job

Before You Go

Once a move is in the works, set yourself up for a seamless transition by following the advice in these resources:

Finally, take pains to leave your current job on a good note. We like the advice in USA Today's How to Leave a Job Properly.

How do you know when it's time to switch jobs? Do you have any tips or strategies for leaving on a good note? Share your thoughts here and on the Pendaflex Facebook page.

by Candie Harris

Managing Part-Time Employees

Community Manager — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 17:56:00 GMT

Seasonal employees, sub-contractors, freelancers, job-share workers: a growing sector of employment in the U.S. is part-time. Adding part-time workers allows companies to meet demand without sending payroll costs ballooning, but also creates management challenges. We like Inc.com's take on how to do it right: 7 Tips for Managing Part-Time Workers.

Tips include:

Write a proper job description. When an employee is part-time, it's even more critical to have clear expectations. Spell out responsibilities clearly.

Task part-timers with projects rather than open-ended assignments. Not all work is suited to part-time attention. Discrete, straightforward tasks are best suited to part-timers; save ongoing or service assignments for staff that is on the clock for the entire workweek.

Don't treat part-time employees as second-class citizens. Include all employees in important announcements and office functions and take pains to demonstrate that all employees are valued contributors, no matter their schedule.

Communication is key. Be clear that if emergencies pop-up, part-timers may need to be contacted during off hours. Be sure to have contact numbers and e-mails for such an occasion. Also, schedule regular office meetings during employees "on" days so lines of communication can remain open.

Finally, be open-minded about what part-time employees can offer. Managerial, as well as more junior roles, can often be handled part-time if a company and employee are willing to think creatively about how to structure a position.

How do you fold part-time workers into your staff? Share your thoughts here and at the Pendaflex Facebook page.

New Year, New Work Goals

Community Manager — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 15:08:00 GMT

January is almost over but 2011 is still in its infancy. With literally hundreds of work days between now and the 2012 ball's drop, you have plenty of opportunities to grow your career. Interested in being in a different place next January than you are today? Good, let's get started!

Begin by reviewing your career goals. Are you in search of a raise or promotion? Are you working towards adding a new skill set to your repertoire? Are you in a field that marries your interests and abilities? Did this past year move you any closer to your goals?

Next, review your past year. What concrete goals did you achieve that you can list on a resume? Were there opportunities that you seized? Missed? Can you chart growth from where you were last year?

Now you're ready to do some goal setting. We're talking big picture time. Ask yourself what do you want to be doing more (or less) of in your career. Set lofty goals. Envision your dream job. What trajectory do you want your career to take? How would you define success or achievement?

Then begin to drill into the details. How will you realize that dream job? What concrete step such as networking, job changing, additional education or training, do you need to undertake? Develop a concrete list of action items.

Finally, share your career path with others such as a trusted mentor or industry peer. Get feedback on your strategy. You may have overlooked something and an outside perspective never hurts.

Every Monday is a fresh start: make 2011 the year you focus on your career path.

Are you working towards any new work goals in the New Year? How important is goal-setting to achieving career advancement? Share your thoughts here by posting a comment.

by Carly Fadako

Nail that Interview

Community Manager — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 17:22:00 GMT

Acing a job interview is a matter of style meeting substance: sound smart, look polished and you'll enjoy better odds of landing the position. Even if a job hunt isn't currently on your to-do list, you never know when opportunity will come knocking so read on for tips for conducting winning interviews.

Style Matters

First impressions are the only impressions that matter on a job interview. Rare is the candidate who gets a second chance to correct a bad impression. With that in mind, here are a few style pointers:

Be on time
Turn off your cell phone
Dress for success in a professional outfit and have pristine grooming
Body language talks. Be sure to exude confidence and poise.
Make eye-contact and demonstrate good listening skills by leaning in and nodding affirmatively

Substance Seals the Deal

Employers want to make good hires: convey the impression that you are trustworthy and have something to contribute to the company bottom-line and you will be that much closer to joining the team.

Look for opportunities to create affinity with your interviewer. Mirror their body language and try to build common ground in conversation.
Commonality should be more than "we-like-the-same-sports-team" chit chat. Look for similarities in work styles: are you leaders, list makers, consensus builders, detail oriented or big picture visionaries?
Come equipped with ideas of how you can move the company forward, not merely with descriptions of what you've done at your old job. Paint a picture as to why you can be relevant on their team.
Be prepared with a story about a failure or challenge you've overcome. These are typical interview questions and you want to be prepared, just be sure to make the lesson you learned the star of the story.

Finally, recognize that acing the first interview means you'll be facing a second or possibly third round of interviews. Don't make the mistake of phoning it in, prepare for each subsequent interview diligently. The more interview rounds, the greater the odds of a job offer, so carefully prepare, giving each interview your full energy and attention. The useful What to Expect on Second and Third Interview offers additional insight.

How do you prepare for an interview? Share your thoughts here by leaving us a comment!

by Candie Harris

The Whys of Resume Writing

Community Manager — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 12:19:00 GMT

An up-to-date resume is a must-have for job hunter and job holder alike. Given today's uncertain economy, the smart employee is continually working to improve their personal brand, enhance their skills and have a marketable, well-written resume in their job hunting toolbox.

Make the Most of Your Resume

Compelling resumes are more than just well-written and carefully proofed; a persuasive resume clearly articulates a candidate's strengths. Don't fall into the common resume trap of putting down a laundry list of jobs, rather carefully asses what information best highlights your strengths and sells you for the role you wish to fill.

What to Put in? What to Leave out?

When assessing your work history and successes, carefully examine each piece of information you are considering for your resume. If it sells you, keep it in; if its extraneous information, detracting from your overall message and branding, get rid of it. I like to think of this as "5-Whying" your resume.

The 5 Whys, which I've posted about in the past in Problem Solving with the 5 Whys is a useful business practice focused on reducing waste and improving quality. What better way to streamline and polish your resume?

So let's get started. Look at each bullet point or job description on your resume. Does it reflect well on you? Does it enhance your marketability? Distinguish you from the competition? Does each sentence "sell" you? Is it relevant to the position to which you are applying? If the answers to any of these questions is "no," the information either needs to be re-written or eliminated.

Consider 5-Whying your resume with a friend or a colleague. It's often difficult to assess ourselves or our work with dispassion and detachment. Ask your reader to apply the 5 Why's to your resume; this will help you gauge how another set of eyes perceive your resume and its persuasiveness.

For more information on how to decide what information should (and should not) be on your resume, I've collected the following useful resources:

What do you look for in an applicant's resume? Do you have tips for resume do's and don'ts? Share your thoughts here and on the Beyond Folders Community's Facebook and Twitter pages.

by Bradley Eggers

Teen Jobs: An Important Rite of Passage

Community Manager — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 12:14:00 GMT

School is in full swing and your teens are doubtlessly juggling academics and after-school activities. Consider adding another important activity to your teen's to-do list: job hunting. A first job is an important rite of passage, teaching responsibility and money management skills. Even the act of looking for a job is a teachable moment, so don't let the down job market deter you and your teen from embarking on a fall job hunt, or for getting a head start in thinking about summer jobs.

Parent Trap

Parents can and should help their children navigate their first job hunt but should take pains to avoid falling into the trap of "owning" the job search. Try not to do all the leg work, or steer your teen to your preferred work, doing so will rob your teen of the chance to make their own decisions and mistakes. The act of looking is an education in its own right; let your teen dive in and take control.

Parents wishing to encourage and support their teens can help with resume proofreading and with big-picture thinking; for example, encourage your teens to think about what type of work they are well suited for and would enjoy. Shy teens might prefer a job shelving library books or working in a store stockroom rather than a role that requires people skills such as manning the library front desk or working the sales floor. A teen who enjoys animals might work as a dog-walker and a sports enthusiast might work at a sports camp or gym.

Job Snob

Parents can also help set realistic expectations. Many teen jobs pay minimum wage and often involve less than glamorous work. A teen may be surprised to learn how many hours it takes at a minimum-wage job to earn a coveted pair of designer jeans. Parents can help teens understand that all work has merit and that a job well done leads to increased opportunities down the road.

Encourage your teens to think outside-the-box. Jobs are harder to come by than ever and historically teen-friendly jobs such as retail and restaurant work are seeing adults vie for positions. Get creative: babysitting, dog-walking and other services such as digitizing photos or music are all jobs teens can look for in their own neighborhood. Many local libraries or civic groups sponsor teen jobs fairs or training. If a teen cannot find paid work, encourage them to volunteer to gain necessary experience for their go round.

Finally, take time to read through these resources we culled from across the web. Read these articles with your teen and discuss what tips seem most helpful and why.

Does your teen have a job? Do you have job hunting tips to share with teen job seekers? Share your thoughts here and on the Beyond Folders Community's Facebook and Twitter pages.

by Candie Harris