Job Seekers Need Local Media

A good job search depends on local media. In these days of satellite tv, satellite radio and the Internet, many people surf to be entertained and believe that if news is important it will find them. Sure, we now know all we need to and more about Tiger Woods' career bungles and love life, however subtle changes in the local labour market on which a good job search depends will probably never hit national tv stations or the world wide web. You need to know what's going on in the community where you seek work. What new businesses are coming to town and which ones are expanding? What projects are going on? Are there clues in the news to who may be hiring in the future? Is there an association or event that you should be part of for the sake of networking? Perhaps there is an opportunity for you to volunteer and gain more experiences and contacts. Maybe there is an unmet need that you could take care of with a small business or contract. Maybe there is a person in the news that you'd like to approach for mentorship. Don't abandon your local tv, radio and newspapers. Great jobs are rarely big news.

...Pam

Back to School Means Back to the Job Search

Did you see me on Global News last week?
http://www.globallethbridge.com/video/index.html?releasePID=NGXtefw6p6_Zc1I5UiiDOZ7vXOVPX6c5 - "Top News Sept 4.09", best viewed with Firefox.

Yes, there are jobs available for students now. Despite an increasing number of unemployed people in Southern Alberta and the highest student unemployment rate since 1977, The Works--Job & Career Services at Lethbridge College has NOT seen a dip in part-time job postings for students during back-to-school time in the last three years.


KISS

My advice to students is this:

1 -- Create a budget and stick to it. Check out resources at

Money Mentors

ALIS

Geezeo , Mint, and Wesabe

2 -- If you need to work while going to school, start your search now.

Visit your career centre on campus for free assistance with your work search and exclusive access to job postings. At Lethbridge College we've seen a dramatic drop in available part time jobs starting in October, so don't delay.

For more information on student employment rates from Statistics Canada, have a look at Academica's News


...Pam

Can you Tweet your way to a new job?

Lots of Gen-Y bloggers out there think so, however I think that the rules of marketing yourself are pretty much the same whether you are using social networking or going to cocktail parties to do it. There is something to be said for developing real relationships with real people and having the skills to discuss problems and opportunities face-to-face (or at least over the phone), whether those relationships start online or in-person. Employers are need skills, but ultimately they hire people, real people with real skills including real people skills. Go ahead and use the net but remember its just one more tool in your job search kit. And remember, the older the person, the slower they may be to adopt new technology; many managers are not net-savvy GenY-ers and won't be looking for you online, except on a passive job board or your emailed application to them. Eventually they will want to see a resume and meet you "for real". Will you be ready for that conversation?

Check out these pages:

How Blogging and Social Networking Can Impact Your Job Search

Will Social Networking Get You a Job? on Yahoo Hot Jobs

Twitter Your Way to a New Job on Employment Digest Net

KISS (Keeping it Simple for Seekers)
- Reflect your personality on your profile but keep it professional
- Post quality content that shows an employer the qualities and skills you can contribute
- Don’t blog, tweet or go on Facebook during company time unless its part of your job to do so
- Google yourself every once in a while; see what potential employers might see when they search for your name; you may be careful, but are your friends?
- Don't spam your followers or friends
- The quality of your effort determines the return you get from your investment of time
- Remember that social networking is just one tool

...Pam

Summer Job and a Summer Vacation? Can you have BOTH?

You sweat your way through the fall and winter semesters at school. You struggled to land a job for the summer or may be you are still looking. You need to work, but what you really want is a vacation. Can you pull it off? While you might be thinking of where you'd go and whether or not you can afford the trip, there is another critical piece to the planning process that is often overlooked by summer employees. Will the boss give you the time off?

Don't assume because everyone else at work is going to get some time away this summer that you will, too. The fact is that your job may exist because others are going on vacation and you are needed to hold down the fort. So how do you take care of you?

Negotiate!

If you know in advance that Cousin Jim is finally marrying his longtime girlfriend in Saskabush this summer and that you'll need a couple of extra days off to get to the wedding and back again, ask for this time off when you are negotiating other aspects of the job offer like pay and work schedule. You may have a rough time getting along with your supervisor if you accept a summer job only to ask for time off soon after your work begins.

Sometimes, though, opportunities to get away just pop up. On Tuesday you may think that you'll be stuck in an artificially-lit cubicle all summer, but by Thursday you may have an offer you don't want to refuse to stay at a beach-side cabin the following week. What shall you do? How should you ask?

The following articles all offer some good tips on negotiating days off and for other things, too, that make working worthwhile. Check them out:

Canadian Living - "Negotiate Time off for the Holidays"

Career Builder - Things You Can Negotiate for at Work and Didn't Know

Changing Minds - The Right Time to Negotiate

KISS

- Ideally, negotiate for time off when you are negotiating the job offer; you may even get paid days off if you ask for them up front
- Ask co-workers who have been on the job longer for tips on how to approach the boss
- Know your employer's (the organization's and your supervisor's) needs and tailor your request to be win-win
- Anticipate and plan around any draw-backs your employer may bring up
- Choose an appropriate time to meet; don't send your request by email unless several long-time employees insist that this is the best strategy
- Make your case clearly and be honest
- Be prepared for the offer of un-paid leave; will you take it?
- Be prepared for "no"; how will you cope if you cannot go?

Have a great summer and, my wish for you, a happy vacation, too.


...Pam