Archive for career tips
Hawaii’s Hiring Hot Spots
Finding a job these days is tougher than ever, maybe you think the internet is the only way to find a job, think again! Hawaii has plenty of jobs but only if your willing to get out and meet people, take a walk, and network. If your looking for some hiring hot spots then consider taking a stroll in Waikiki, Ala Moana, or one of the malls on any one of the islands. Since the flood of candidates this year due to record unemployment some companies have reverted back to the way people used to find employees, a HELP WANTED sign. You can hardly walk a block these days in Waikiki without seeing one, “Inquire Within” it says. These jobs are for the taking and with some confidence, proper attire, and a resume you may find yourself with a job yet. Since opening up the “Help Wanted Hawaii Sign Spotter” in our forum Helpwantedhawaii.info encourages users to let everyone know when you spot a sign, let our users know. It is just one more way for you to find employment, and fast.
Aloha, Mike Nale, Founder, www.helpwantedhawaii.info
The Fight to get a Job!
Feeling the squeeze yet?
It is every man or woman for themselves right now, or at least it seems that way. The competition for a job in Hawaii has went up dramatically since this time last year. I can remember getting at least one or two calls a month from recruiters before and now my phone is silent, sound familiar? One thing you have to remember is that we have over 40,000 (documented) unemployed professionals in the state. If you are feeling the squeeze right now it might be time to start looking at other types of employment, I am. As I type this post I am reminded of what one of my friends, a recruiter told me, ” I am getting at least 20-30 resumes a day, I can’t keep up”. If your looking for a job in your industry or occupation then consider some alternate industries or skillsets as possible solution. It is a fight to get a job right now. I just interviewed for a position last week and I was certain I was going to get the job. I walked away feeling great and my interviewer gave me the impression that I was going to get hired. I found out they offered the job to someone else, sound familiar again? It is very competitive right now so as I always say, be persistent, be patient, and be understanding. Things will happen, eventually.
The fight though is not just here in Hawaii it is nationwide. This is an employers market and they can be picky. Alot of employers have started implementing testing over the years in order to measure competency and skill level of the candidates they are interested in so if your facing a skills test, be prepared. The recession has affected salaries as well just last week the State proposed salary reductions in order to save jobs. If the range being offered seems low it is probably due to cutbacks. Employers can get top talent for a bargain right now. The fight for jobs right now is real so you need to be prepared.
Aloha
Aloha, Mike Nale, Founder, Helpwantedhawaii.info
The Unemployment Trap, Watch your Step!
Advice to Keep the Unemployed Healthy & Happy
As the economy gets worse and unemployment goes up a rash of other problems are on the rise. I know because I have experienced some of those problems already. It is 3:56 pm and after 5 hours on the internet searching for jobs, 1 trip to Taco Bell, 2 cups of coffee, and 1 catnap, I woke up thinking about writing this post. I ran a google search and came across a really good article from CV Tips.com called Bad Habits When Unemployed, the article discusses some really bad habits or problems that arise from being unemployed. In Hawaii with an even smaller search area for jobs and little hope for paid relocation to the mainland some of these problems may already seem familar to you. In today’s post I would like to point out some of these potential problem areas and how you can identify them now and take action, before it becomes a big problem.
1. Health, it is easy to get lazy and sit at home and this can be damaging to your health, even your mental health. Go out and exercise, swim, jog, or something that will keep you physically fit, and keep your wits about you.
2. Watch your Finances, Lifestyle is important to all of us but you may have to cut back on things that you indulged in before you were unemployed. It is going to take awhile to find work so dont listen to that little voice telling you “Go Ahead” you may be unemployed for some time.
3. Relationships, Yes, relationships can suffer from unemployment. If you or your significant other are unemployed than it can become very stressful on your relationship, communicate, plan, and prepare for the worst.
4. Demoralizing, unemployment can throw your whole lifestyle into disarray it is important to remain focused and not get depressed. I have often found myself second guessing or asking the question, what is wrong with me? It is not you, we have record unemployment in Hawaii as well as the nation. I have talked to recruiters and hiring managers all over the nation and they are getting hundreds if not thousands of applicants, be persistant, be patient, and be understanding.
5. Rountine, Did you get up at 6am before? Set your alarm for 6am tomorow. Look for a job as if it was your full time job. When you break from your routine because your unemployed it is easy to develop bad habits. If unemployment was not on your schedule then why change your routine? Finding a job is your job, at least for now.
Finally remember to be honest with yourself. It is not going to be easy but with patience and a positive attitude you will find a job. I tell myself that everyday and I also try to follow the steps above. Sure I may not give up my coffee or a trip to Taco Bell now and then, but I have to keep busy, keep fit, and stay focused. Give it a try.
Aloha
Mike Nale, Founder, www.helpwantedhawaii.info
( To view a recent story on KITV4 Island Television News about Mike and Helpwantedhawaii.info go to the link below)
http://www.kitv.com/video/18912258/index.html
Marketing You.101- Tips on a Successful Career Search
Why would a company be excited to hire you, or make them think that you would be a great team member?
By Sally Raade, Staffing Consultant / Website: http://www.mpcandcompany.com
On any given workday, many job seekers are interviewing for the same position. How you do during the interview can often determine whether you get the job or not. It takes lots of preparation in order to successfully “Market Yourself”, and to make sure that you will stand out among the other job seekers.
Many job seekers don’t realize that they must treat their career as if it is a specialized business. Your career search is similar to a business trying to find the right client to market their specialized services to.
Let’s start with Step 1: Doing research about the companies that are currently hiring. First, read the job description and ask yourself, “Is this in line with what I’m looking for in my career search?” “Do I have the required skills to do the job?” “Am I interested in working in the type of business that the company is in?” “ Do I believe in what the company does? “ It’s this last question that is the most important factor in determining if the company is the right one for you.
Step 2: Once you have identified the companies that have positions you are interested in then it is time to start marketing yourself. Write a cover letter. This will be the tool that will help market your skills to a company. This is what the company will read first, before looking at your resume. If you do a good job of marketing yourself in the cover letter the company will look closer at your resume.
Step 3: The next step would be to review your current resume. Is it up to date? Is it in a format that makes it easy to read? And most importantly, “does it contain information about your experience and skills that will show the company that you are a good candidate for the specific position?” If you were able to secure an interview, then your resume, and your cover letter, did their job.
Before going to an interview, plan on how you are going to market yourself to the company. Think of what the interviewer will be looking for and try to have the right answers. Ask yourself these questions, “ What skills may be the most important to have for the position?” “Can I save the company time and money? “ “Or can I make money for the company?”
During the interview, you are being assessed on how you will perform the job in relation to the company’s objectives. Be prepared to explain why you are the right person.
Be confident and you won’t have any problem selling yourself to the interviewer to
show that you have the most to offer over other candidates. Your responses should
be concise. Use specific examples to illustrate your point whenever possible
Listen to what the interviewer is saying or asking you. The interviewer is attempting to determine whether you have the specialized skills and the personality the company needs, and you are attempting to determine if the company is the right company for
your career. Both parties are trying to get as much information as possible in order to make those decisions.
Let the interviewer know that you are motivated, honest, detail oriented, have the ability to multi-task, and have good organizational skills, etc. Some people have these traits, but what makes you stand out is the fact that you want to contribute to the company, rather than just be someone who does their job. Let them know that as a team member, you would always work to achieve the company’s goals.
At the end of the interview thank the interviewer, ask if there is anything else that the company needs to know about you, and what the next steps are. Tell the interviewer that you’re looking forward to hearing from him/her regarding the decision.
If you don’t think there’s a good fit, say so. The interviewer will remember you as an honest person. Perhaps the company will have a position in the future that is a good fit.
If you use these tips you will stand head and shoulders above most job seekers.
Just remember, the better job you do at marketing yourself, the better the results will be. The same as it is with any business.
[ Help Wanted Hawaii.info — Hawaii's Largest Online Job Board ] 