unemployedbrooklyn:

OK. So the roommate and I were looking through Craigslist the other day and the roommate was complaining that there should be a separate section on there for internships. It seems like every job you click on these days ends up being an internship. At the time, I told the roommate, gentle readers, that I didn’t mind so much as long as the title of the post made it clear that it was an internship opportunity. Then, even if filed under a section that I was perusing, I could simply ignore the unpaid positions.

The problem is that it’s just not that simple. Every day I click on more and more headlines that seem to promise jobs and it’s yet another unpaid internship. And another. And another.

excellent opportunity growing wholesale company
Reply to: job-nfg7s-1217074694@craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]
Date: 2009-06-11, 6:20PM EDT


Unpaid Internship - Great growing wholesale company, sells linens to hotels and retailers. Also, affiliated with larger apparel company. Work directly for president of the company as an executive assistant. The position provides excellent trainging in all aspects of the business including sales, production, merchandising, and overall company management. Please email credentials including resume or other qualifications.

Um. Excellent opportunity to work your ass off for free.
If the company is growing so well, why can’t they PAY the president’s executive assistant? Hm?

unemployedbrooklyn:

Rejection. It’s a fact of life. It happens to all of us, from time to time. It’s one of those lines that runs through so many aspects of our lives - from your job hunt to dating …

I stumbled upon this op-ed on the NPR website the other day - a parent writing about how her son had applied for a summer job, how he had gotten so into it - even corresponding several times with the person taking the applications - and how he never heard a word. Not even a form letter saying that the position had been filled. Now, I know in this day and age, and in this shitty economy, every job listed gets hundred of applicants. I know that in my job search, I have heard back from people … not at all. Even for jobs that were my exact job description. People just don’t have the same courtesy that they used to - appreciation for the time (or feelings) of others. And it stinks.

I’ve written here before, gentle readers, about the men I have dated and their strange and often not-nice behavior. Here’s the thing - telling someone you don’t want to see them any more stinks. It’s hard. You’ll probably hurt their feelings. But not telling them anything, just leaving them hanging, is a dick move. It’s something that guys - the world over - do. They just drop off the face of the earth. Because they’re cowards.

Maybe the people in HR are cowards, too. Maybe they’ve all been left hanging by some guy one too many times. Maybe they’ve just all forgotten how terrible it feels to be left hanging, sitting by the phone, waiting for that call that never comes …

1. 45% of Employers Now Screen Social Media Profiles says Harris Interactive after surveying 2,667 HR professionals.  Frankly, we’re surprised it’s not higher given how easily and quickly these are indexed by Google.  Here’s some more:

According to the study, “thirty-five percent of employers reported they have found content on social networking sites that caused them not to hire the candidate.” The big lessons you can learn are quite obvious, but bear repeating. Provocative photos and info are a bad idea (53% of employers won’t hire you), shared content with booze and drugs is also highly dangerous (44% dismissed candidates for this reason), and bad-mouthing former employers is very risky behavior (35% reported this a the main reason they didn’t hire a candidate).

We also think it interesting that emoticons, those friendly smiley faces you see everywhere, are actually big no-nos in direct communication. 14% of surveyed employers disregard candidates for that single lapse in judgment alone.

2. Economists surveyed by the Wall Street Journal  in August predict that the U.S. economy will lose an average of 27,000 jobs per month over the next twelve months, significantly better than the 70,000 average monthly losses they forecast for July.  Better than expected is good, right?

3. Julie Erickson shares some great Pre-Interview Suggestions:

• Remember to focus on what you provide of value to solve his problems - that’s what he is interested in. I always say ”employers care about your past only as it relates to their future, i.e. shows how you can help them achieve their goals.” So, when you tell stories about past projects, relate key learnings and skills to potential projects and clients at this firm.
• Breathe. Before and during the interview. Take your time answering questions. Have a conversation. Repeat the content of the question at the beginning of your answer. This does three things: demonstrates that you are listening to the person, reinforces that you are answering the question asked, and gives your mind time to organize your answer.
• If you are asked a tough question, you can use the above techniques, as well as saying “that’s a great question.” It flatters AND buys you time. Always strive for a “charge neutral” response, meaning no indication that you are uncomfortable with the question and its topic. Also, you can give a quick answer and then follow up with a question like, “I actually wondered about XYZ in relation to that. Is that an area your company is investigating?” The principle here is to turn the conversation quickly back to the employer.
• At the end of every answer, return to discussing the job at hand. You are always directing the conversation toward how interested in, qualified for, excited about, curious about, and committed to the job being discussed. Your past experience is evidence of how well prepared you are to add value and solve the employer’s problems.
• Anticipate questions and rehearse your answers prior to the interview. Think of an actor going into an audition. S/he prepares an audition piece as well as preparing mentally and emotionally. You are going into a similar situation. Common questions are “why are you interested in working for this company?” “Why do you think you can do this position?” “Tell me a difficult situation that came up and how you dealt with it.” “Why should we hire you?”
• Remember you are interviewing the employer. Your goal is to find your ”right fit” work - work where you feel useful, valued, and aligned with your talents and purpose in life. Develop your “Must Have List” as I discuss in other posts, and then assess the position and employer using those criteria. Come into any interview with your list of questions to see how well the job matches your must have list.

4. 8 Golden Rules to Getting a Job in a Bad Economy from Careerealism.com:

• Out with the old; in with the new: Make time and create room for new learning (this is increasingly necessary today)
• Think small as in new, start-up, entrepreneurial not large, mechanistic and bureaucratic
• “Let’s make a deal” wherever and whenever you can
• Think like a Consultant: Help businesses from the outside looking in (i.e. opportunities for project work with downsized companies)
• Get excited about competing; show a competitive drive (always grasping for the gold ring)
• When life gets tough, tough! Build a bridge and get over it
• Pay attention to the consequences of the economic downturn over the last couple of years and keep your eye on the future (watch affect on globalization, agriculture, R&D, Environment, etc.)
• Showcase your leadership qualities: Think like a leader not a manager

Today the focus is on why people get hired (or not) after employers see their online profile:

1. Potential employers are looking at your social networking habits says Heather Huhman - with some pretty interesting stats on why candidates get cut or hired:

Why Employers Disregarded Candidates After Screening Online

Job seekers are cautioned to be mindful of the information they post online and how they communicate directly with employers. Thirty-five percent of employers reported they have found content on social networking sites that caused them not to hire the candidate. The top examples cited include:

• Candidate posted provocative or inappropriate photographs or information – 53 percent
• Candidate posted content about them drinking or using drugs – 44 percent
• Candidate bad-mouthed their previous employer, co-workers or clients – 35 percent
• Candidate showed poor communication skills – 29 percent
• Candidate made discriminatory comments – 26 percent
• Candidate lied about qualifications – 24 percent
• Candidate shared confidential information from previous employer – 20 percent

Fourteen percent of employers have disregarded a candidate because the candidate sent a message using an emoticon such as a smiley face while 16 percent dismissed a candidate for using text language such as GR8 (great) in an e-mail or job application.

Why Employers Hired Candidates After Screening Online

Job seekers are also encouraged to leverage social media when advertising their skills and experience. Eighteen percent of employers reported they have found content on social networking sites that caused them to hire the candidate. The top examples include:

• Profile provided a good feel for the candidate’s personality and fit within the organization – 50 percent
• Profile supported candidate’s professional qualifications – 39 percent
• Candidate was creative – 38 percent
• Candidate showed solid communication skills – 35 percent
• Candidate was well-rounded – 33 percent
• Other people posted good references about the candidate – 19 percent
• Candidate received awards and accolades – 15 percent

2. Glassdoor.com examines the age old question - Offices vs. Cubicles: What’s the Better Workplace Environment?

1. JobRadio.fm Entry level Medical Jobs

Not all medical careers require advanced certifications and years of graduate-level education. If you’re seeking a medical job that can be obtained more immediately, you may want to consider one of these jobs that do not require a college degree. These entry-level, or “stepping-stone” medical jobs offer hands-on medical industry experience, and they don’t require you to invest so much time and money in training and higher education. Therefore, these jobs allow you to “test-drive” healthcare to see if the industry is a good fit for you long-term. Also, you can earn some money and increase your skills while obtaining more advanced degrees or certifications. (Download MP3)

2. Market Yourself in Thank-You Notes says Julie Erickson:

Always send a thank you note after any kind of interview, phone or in person. It’s a chance for you to reinforce your skills, your ability to meet the responsibilities of the position for which you’re applying.

Use the opportunity to reiterate your interest and amplify some point from the conversation that perhaps you wish you had addressed further, or that the interviewer seemed to pick up on and like. Stress how you are able to use your abilities and skills to resolve some challenge in the new position.

3. 7 Ways to Stay Positive During a Long Job Search from Lindsay Pollack’s blog:

• Engage in activities that make you feel good about yourself. Identify the skills and aptitudes that make you good at your work and also make a list of what you like about yourself, such as sense of humor or empathy. Then find a way to demonstrate those skills and characteristics. For example, if you are good at planning, organize the book drive at your child’s school. If you pride yourself for your ability to put people at ease, volunteer to work in the waiting room for families of surgery patients.
• Achieve tangible results. Many job search related activities do not provide an immediate tangible outcome. To maintain a sense of control, do something every day that does afford concrete results. It can be as simple as cleaning out a closet, organizing the garage or waxing the car. It can also be related to volunteer or family activities, such as writing a neighborhood watch newsletter or making cookies with the kids. Make sure, that at the end of each day, you can point to something you accomplished.
• Surround yourself with positive, supportive people. Identify those people who have confidence in you and build your own confidence in yourself. Avoid the people who always see the glass as half empty or those who drain your energy.
• Keep promises to yourself. Now is a good time to end a bad habit, take a class that you’ve wanted to pursue, or learn a new skill.
• Reward yourself. At the end of each day, chronicle the things you did well and reward yourself with a good book, a soak in the tub, or some other activity that says to you “job well done.” As far as job searching goes, pride yourself on the things you accomplished that day, rather than waiting for results before you celebrate what you’ve done. The latter usually doesn’t come as quickly as you would wish.
• Follow a healthy routine. Eat well, exercise and take good care of your body.
• Allow yourself some down time. You can’t be up and optimistic all the time, so give yourself permission to have a bad day. If you diligently follow the above suggestions, you can count on tomorrow to be better.

1. Julie Erickson shares the “must have list”:

This is a list of 5-6 aspects of a job or work that you MUST have. This is not “want to have.” This list is of the things that you must have in order for you to be satisfied and content in your work, the things that will make it possible for you to be excited to start the day when you wake up every morning.

So what’s the list?

1. Work you will do
2. Role you will play
3. Impact of your efforts
4. Physical environment
5. Colleagues, culture, emotional environment
6. Compensation

Check out her blog for the full explanations.

2. Keepie Careers says video resumes – more popular, but use with caution:

As candidates attempt to “stand out” in a tight job market, more and more applicants are turning to video. However, there are many concerns that are important to consider before directing “Resume You.”

• Recruiters and hiring managers don’t have time to review videos. You only get 8-10 seconds for a resume!
• Most companies use computer software to scan resumes and are not equipped to review video resumes.
• The obvious emphasis on the candidate’s appearance could lead to racial discrimination.
• The video could actually hurt a candidate who is not attractive.
• A non-professionally produced video could highlight negative qualities.

3. Andy Robinson at CareeRealism has advice on the rule of three (how to be unforgettable):

Research has shown that there is a rational behind the use of “three” in our societal story-telling — our brains tend to naturally think in threes.  Add one more element and the memory pattern tends to slip.  Why not take advantage of this human tendency when interacting with others?

Only thing to remember is that you can be unforgettable for a good reason or a bad one - so make sure you know what message you’re looking to get across.

1. New Research Examines How Career Dreams Die… some intense stuff:

Researchers found that it’s not enough to tell people they don’t have the skills or the grades to make their goal a reality.

People will cling to their dreams until they’re clearly shown not only why they’re not qualified, but also what bad things can happen if they pursue their goals and fail.

2. Not to state the obvious but, Parents: Help Your Graduate Get a Job.  Here are 4 way:

• Nepotism
• Recommendation
• Connections
• Coaching

3. From “The Personal MBA” comes The 4 Most Valuable Things I Learned in Business School (with a full breakdown at the site):

• Always Consider Opportunity Costs
• All Prices are Arbitrary
• Never Forget the Expectation Effect
• Actual Experience Beats Any Credential

1. Ethical?  No.  Effective?  Yes! Yves Lermusi over at ere.net has a message for candidates: cheating works (sometimes)!

The researchers divided the applicants into three groups, which we have taken the freedom to name:

• Complete liars: 173 candidates (1%)
• Fakers: 1,389 candidates (8%)
• Stretchers: 4,168 (24%)

In short, a third of the people you will see will pretend to have done many more things than they actually have. In practice it could look like this:

Yves has some more data and what recruiters can/are doing to stop cheating.

2. Listen up kids!  Glassdoor.com has 5 nervous habits to avoid during a job search:

• Don’t fidget.
• Don’t flip out.
• Don’t giggle.
• Don’t ramble.
• Don’t bite your nails.

To avoid resorting to your nervous nature, first step is to try and recognize what your habits are when faced with a situation that brings on anxiety. If you’re not sure what they may be or don’t think you have any, check with friends, family and any past trusted colleagues. It’s important to become aware of what the habits are so that when they occur your mind will hopefully register the action and tell you to stop.

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