Career Advisor

With the release of the movie "Social Network" it seems appropriate to discuss social networks and your job search. Regardless of technology, the best way to land a job is still by having someone who already works at the company mention your name. Each year CareerXroads surveys large firms about where they find new hires. Since 2005 the top resource has held steady - 27% of all new hires came from employee referrals. Many of these referrals can be the result of properly utilizing contacts through Social Networks. Take time to connect with people who can open doors for you, take time to join groups in the profession you are targeting and control the information that appears on your profile. It’s important to note that many employers are now reviewing your social networking sites before they make a job offer. You want your information to enhance your chances of obtaining a new job - not hinder them! Read more: http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1903083,00.html#ixzz10T7fnM00

MUST READS

The "The Kiss of Death in an Interview" is an article located in our Career Portal Library under the Interview Icon. This article explains why using this particular response during an interview can ruin your chances of getting a job offer.

Use this URL to go directly to the library article mentioned above:
URL: www.thrpartnerscareercenter.com/library.php?content_id=63

UPCOMING FREE JOB SEEKER WEBINARS

You may register for the Free Training Webinars by clicking the WEBINARS Tab on the left hand side of our Career Portal Home Page. Remember to register for our upcoming free job seeker training webinars! The Webinars consist of 20 minutes of training and 40 minutes of Q&A where our Trainer addresses the questions that are MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU. No questions are off limits.

October 5th @ 1:00 PM CTS - Get Past the Gatekeeper

1. Techniques to help you reach a decision maker
2. How to treat Gatekeepers
3. Effective Responses to the Question "Why are you calling?"

October 11th @ 11:00 AM CST - Why Should Someone Hire You?

1. Learn how to position yourself to WIN
2. Ask questions that lead to job offers
3. Close the interview stronger than anyone else
4. Implement a good follow-up process

October 21st @ 2:00 PM CST - What References Help Most?

1. Learn how to KNOW what is being said
2. Identify individuals who will help you the most
3. Why personal references can hurt your chances
4. How to prepare your references for the call

To Your Successful Career Search,

Get Your Resume In The Hands Of The Right Person

The way to identify the "RIGHT PERSON" is to find the person within one of your targeted companies who would be either your boss or your boss’s boss! Let’s assume this person’s title is Accounting Manager because you are seeking a position as an Auditor. Many times you can find contact names on the company website. Many executives also have extensive profiles on various Social Networks. You need to learn how to navigate the Internet to find the individuals you are targeting.


If you don’t have the name, you call into the targeted company and ask for the "correct spelling" of their Accounting Manager’s name. When you ask for the correct spelling the receptionist assumes you already have the name and that you are just clarifying the spelling and she spells their name for you. You also want to confirm the contact's exact title. If the gatekeeper is being cooperative you might also ask for their direct line, so that you have this information for your follow up call.

Often job seekers speak with an uncooperative gatekeeper who will not give out information. Here is an important fact to remember: Gatekeepers typically go to lunch between 1 - 2 p.m. During that time, there is an Administrative Assistant who is covering the front desk and may not be happy to be filling in for the Receptionist. Often they will give out the information without asking any questions. Be nice to the gatekeeper and they will be more receptive to your call.

When you are in a job search, you need to use any and all resources to help you obtain interviews. This approach helps you target specific companies and hiring authorities and needs both your time and focus. Submit your resumes on a much broader scale by clicking here to try one of the new services we’re offering in our Career Portal:

URL: www.thrpartnerscareercenter.com/resume_distributions.php

To Your Successful Career Search,

Career Advisor

HOT TOPIC


It is time to accelerate your job search. Companies have begun to hire regardless of what the news is reporting. Remember, good news doesn’t sell advertising. Many hiring authorities are under pressure to spend their hiring budget before the end of the year, or their hiring budget could be reduced for 2011. This is all great news for you! Challenge yourself to increase all your job searching activities by just 10%. Send out 10% more resumes, make 10% more calls, and increase your follow up activities by 10%. This will provide you with 25-30% more results in your search.

Many of you have asked us to provide you with more job targets which is why we just recently added a service that can help your resume get in the hands of hiring authorities.

For more information on this service please visit:
URL: www.thrpartnerscareercenter.com/resume_distributions.php

MUST READS

Once you schedule a job interview, it is important that you are the most prepared candidate. The time to begin preparing is NOW. Sample questions you may be asked during an interview are located under Interviewing in the Library of our Career Portal. The Article is entitled "Interview Questions - You Must Know the Answers".

Use this URL to go directly to the library article mentioned above:
URL: www.thrpartnerscareercenter.com/library.php?content_id=54

FREE JOB SEEKER WEBINARS

You may register for the Free Training Webinars by clicking the WEBINARS Tab on the left hand side of our Career Portal Home Page. Remember to register for our upcoming free job seeker training webinars! The Webinars consist of 20 minutes of training and 40 minutes of Q&A where our Trainer addresses the questions that are MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU. No questions are off limits.

UPCOMING FREE JOB SEEKER WEBINARS

September 17th @ 1:00 PM CTS - Master a Strong 30 Second Pitch

• Learn how to master your personal commercial
• Understand the necessity to have several 30 second pitches
• Effectively answer the question "Tell me about yourself"

September 21st @ 11:00 AM CST - Cover Letter Do’s and Don’ts

• Learn what is most important in a cover letter
• Understand how a cover letter can reject you
• Learn what cover letters stand out most

*Log into the Career Portal and click on the WEBINAR Tab. Then click on the calendar for the dates listed above and register by clicking the webinar registration links.

TIP FOR THE WEEK

Your resume is the foundation for your entire job search. If you have not submitted your resume for a FREE Resume Review you owe it to yourself to obtain feedback from our experts.

Use this URL to go directly to the Free Resume Review:
URL: www.thrpartnerscareercenter.com/pro_resume_services.php

Networking Quiz

Networking is one of the most effective ways to find a new job in the current job market. You never know who can open a door that may lead to an interview and job offer. Over 50% of job seekers accepting jobs are the result of their networking efforts.

Take this short quiz to rate your current network. Rate yourself on a scale of 1 - 5 (with 5 being the highest rating).

1. You add at least three individuals to your network each week
2. You attend events that expose you to possible hiring authorities
3. Your family and friends understand you are in a job search
4. Ex-employers and coworkers are part of your network
5. You are passing out resume cards to everyone you meet
6. You volunteer your time and simultaneously network
7. You actively interact with other job seekers
8. Your network is helping you schedule interviews

If you scored from 30-40
You have a strong network and you have targeted people who can provide you with referrals that result in interviews. Keep up the good work.

If you scored from 20-30
Your networking efforts are average and you need to improve the level of person you are including in your network. You also want to set a goal of adding a minimum of 3 people to your network every week.

If you scored under 20
You need to put much more attention to building your network. You need to login to our Career Portal, click on Networking Icon in the Library and read all Networking articles and listen to all of the Training Webinars covering this topic.

If you have not ordered your FREE 100 Resume Cards - you need to do this today. It is difficult and often cumbersome to carry your resume with you, but the resume cards fit in any pocket, wallet or purse and serve the same purpose.

Use this URL to See a Sample Resume Card:
URL: www.thrpartnerscareercenter.com/resume_cards.php

To your successful search.

Career Advisor

MUST READS

There is an excellent article in the Library of our Career Portal under the Networking Icon titled "When you least expect it". This article lists the many networking opportunities you have as you go through your normal daily routine.

Use this URL to go directly to the library article mentioned above:
URL: www.thrpartnerscareercenter.com/library.php?content_id=203

FREE JOB SEEKER WEBINARS

You may register for the Free Training Webinars by clicking the WEBINARS Tab on the left hand side of our Career Portal Home Page. Remember to register for our upcoming free job seeker training webinars! The webinars consist of 20 minutes of training and 40 minutes of Q&A where our Trainer addresses the questions that are most important to you. No questions are off limits.

Listen to what other Job Seekers are saying:

"After attending numerous webinars ad nauseum, and having very low expectations, I was pleasantly surprised by the refreshing amount of quality info I received from it last Thursday! You see, the problem with job hunting in this economy is basically each HR expert is spewing out the same old rhetoric. But I learned a lot this time, gleaning nuggets of information; and for this, I am very grateful. What this also does for me is, energizes and renews my efforts, as it is way too easy to get discouraged and complacent in this economy, exacerbated by the highly competitive field I am in - creative. Thanks again for all the useful information...Now...to get busy and use it all!" Regards, Rhonda M.

"I just wanted to thank you for the excellent calls that you do each week for us job seekers. I am doing all that I can to get job offers with your guidance. Your advice and overall positive attitude has really kept me going in this really tough market." Mike L.

UPCOMING FREE JOB SEEKER WEBINARS

September 9th @ 9:00 AM CST - How to Handle Problem Areas

1. How do you address bad credit or negative references?
2. What if you’ve been unemployed for months?
3. How can you explain and unstable work history?
4. What if you have gaps in employment?

September 17th @ 1:00 PM CTS - Master a Strong 30 Second Pitch

1. Learn how to master your personal commercial
2. Understand the necessity to have several 30 second pitches
3. Effectively answer the question "Tell me about yourself"

*Log into the Career Portal at http://www.thrpartnerscareercenter.com/ and click on the Calendar for the dates listed above and register by clicking the registration link.

TIP FOR THE WEEK

Interview someone who has the job that you have targeted. The best way to sound like an insider is to talk to people who are employed in the type of job you want. They can provide you with information on how they found their job, they may be able to introduce you to hiring authorities and they can give you inside information that will help your search.