Narrowing In On Your Job Search

For many job-seekers the issue is not so much finding a job (hang with me here), but rather it is that they do not know exactly what they want to do for a job. I hear a lot from people that they are looking for “anything and everything.” While I wholeheartedly can relate to the stress, disappointment and (let’s be honest with ourselves) desperation of looking for new work, any career counselor or person in the know about looking for work will tell you first thing that this is the wrong approach to take. The “scatter shot” approach of applying to anything and everything can actually do more harm than good. Among other reasons, it is very time consuming to keep applying to jobs that you know deep down you won’t get --- whether overqualified or underqualified or no experience or education in that particular field.

A far better approach is to narrow in your focus, like a precise target, of what kind of experience and education you already possess, and also where your passions and interests lie. What, exactly, are you looking for? When answering this question, don’t settle for vague answers like healthcare, marketing, or information technology. Be specific. “I am looking to be a Windows Administrator at a small to mid-size manufacturing company.” “I am looking to capitalize on my ten plus years as a resident nurse for a local clinic.” “I am looking to bring my knowledge of online advertising to a start-up here in the Denver area.”

For many people, they do not know what it is that they are specifically looking to do. And that’s okay, don’t get MORE stressed about that! But instead, earnestly and intentionally seek out an answer to this question. What are you good at? What do you enjoy doing in a job environment? What kind of corporate culture do you gravitate toward? What excites you when you wake up in the morning? These and other questions will help you to narrow in on your job search, and therefore make the process a lot easier, less time consuming, and more productive.

Perhaps you have skills of organization and accounting and are looking to assist a small to mid-size business keep their books, whether employed directly by them or being self-employed. Consider the Accounting and Business School of the Rockies today for the training you need to accomplish this goal. Our three to four month Certificate programs not only give you the educational boost on your resume, but also the training and the confidence you need to succeed at your job. Call us today at 303-755-6885 for a free consultation and tour of the school that could be the next step in your job search process.

Education as Value for Your Job Search

People like to talk about the value in the things they possess. “That new car I just got has great value.” Value can basically be defined as something which has sustained worth, whether quantitative or qualitative. As job seekers, we want to show our future employer that we have value, that we have worth and are worthy to them in either a quantitative or qualitative manner, perhaps both! If you are good at sales, you will want to show on your resume that you will be valu(able) to an employer because of your ability to close sales, to generate leads, and provide superior customer service. These are what employers are looking for, and your cover letter, resume, and interviews are the opportunities you have to show the employers what kind of value you bring to the table.
Value can also be found in educational pursuits that you undergo. One of the biggest critiques from the non-traditional student (i.e. people over the typical college ages of 18-22) is that they don’t see the value in going back to school. It’s a lot of time, energy, and money. “If I go back to school now, what if I land a great job and will have to drop out of school anyway because of time?” That’s a valid, and common, concern. But I would counter that argument by asking: what if you don’t? What if you don’t get that job you are hoping for and spend the next year (or more) continuing to look for work. Wouldn’t it be more effective to have the educational credentials to show on your resume that you are able to do the job you are applying for…perhaps the job you didn’t get because of lack of education….to show your VALUE to an employer? I think so, and I would encourage job seekers out there to look again at going back to school to increase their knowledge base, perhaps learn new skills, and become more marketable…in essence, create value for yourself.
At the Accounting and Business School of the Rockies, we offer 6 three to four month Certificate programs for you to create value in your job search and in your job. We offer Professional Bookkeeping, Office Manager, Administrative Assistant, Call Center/Customer Service, Office Skills, and Microsoft Power User. Call us today to learn more about our small class sizes, our one-on-one attention from the instructor, and the affordability of our Certificates. We’re here to help you create value in your job search and the confidence in yourself to succeed. Call today! 303-755-6885

Utilizing Workforce Center to Help Land a Job

If you’re unemployed, utilizing the services of the Colorado Workforce Centers are a great way to search for jobs, better your skills, and hone in on what your workplace skills are. Each county has a Workforce, and they are specifically there to serve you and help you get that next job….hopefully your dream job! If you are not quite sure where it is you belong in the workforce, or if you do but are having a difficult time finding the right fit, take advantage of your local Workforce and see your tax dollars at work.

One of the neatest things about Workforce is that they are able to give people money to go back to school or to seek out additional training, for those who qualify. The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) is there to assist people to get that leg up above their competition and help people become more marketable to land that job they want. Getting trained or re-trained in this way will give you recent education on your resume, which is attractive to employers. It shows that you are interested in always doing better at your job and improving your skills.

There are a variety of training programs at colleges and vocational schools that a person can pursue utilizing WIA resources. One of which is the Accounting and Business School of the Rockies (ABSR). We offer six Certificate programs in Professional Bookkeeping, Administrative Assistant, Office Manager, Call Center/Customer Service, Microsoft Power User, and Office Skills. Any one or more of these three or four month Certificate programs can give you that recent education and the skills you need to land the job you desire. Consider the Accounting and Business School of the Rockies today by contacting us at 303-755-6885 or http://www.ABSRschool.com to get a FREE consultation about your next educational adventure.

Getting Education to Get Ahead

For many people when they experience a lay-off this can be a tumultuous time in their lives. Worry about their financial future arises, as their self-confidence lowers with each passing day, week, rejection, pass-up, etc. A time when a person is laid off can either be seen negatively, or it can be seen positively. Perhaps you are the type of person who views this time as a time of rejuvenation from the wariness that you have experienced prior. Perhaps it is a time of regrowth and retraining for new skills, and to finally find that thing “I want to do when I grow up”.

While these sorts of transitions into new careers and adventures can be scary, they can also be exhilarating. But whatever it is, it is not easy. Take a look at this recent article. To be sure, being your own boss and fulfilling your “entrepreneurial spirit” certainly has its rewards. But those rewards don’t come without a lot of hard work, determination, perseverance, and above all (I think) the ability to stay positive and optimistic in the face of uncertainty and overwhelming pressure. Easier said than done, for sure. But it’s not impossible.

What makes being your own boss possible? Well, among other things a great thing entrepreneurs can do is to gain the training that is necessary to start your own business--- and more so to keep your business going! Among other ways, the most well-known and accessible way for entrepreneurs to be entrepreneurs is to acquire the education in your chosen field. Luck happens, but do you really want to be lucky in business? Or do you want to be GOOD?! That’s a trick question, everyone wants to be GOOD at what they do.

A growing industry in today’s economy (and any economy) is bookkeeping. The beauty of being a self-employed bookkeeper is that there is always a client out there for you. The more people out there who own their own businesses, the more people out there that NEED a bookkeeper. With approximately 80% of businesses in Colorado falling into the category of “small business”, these businesses cannot afford to, or simply do not want to hire a full-time bookkeeper. That’s where YOU come in. Having the education to be a bookkeeper allows you to set your own hours, work for who you want, and earn the kind of money that you want.

The Accounting and Business School of the Rockies can train you to become a bookkeeper. We train you to have the confidence that you desire to do your own, or someone else’s bookkeeping. At such an affordable price, you can go to school full-time or part-time, at school or at home; to get in, get out, and get on with your life in as little as three to five months. For more information about the Accounting and Business School of the Rockies and how you can fulfill your dream of being self-employed, contact us at http://www.ABSRschool.com or call in at 303-755-6885. We’ll see you soon!