Being Professional In Your Job Search

I had a conversation recently with someone who is in the profession of Career Services. They work a lot with people on assisting with resume writing, job search technique, and the like. I asked her what the most common mistake people make whom she meets with. Her answer took me aback. She said that, in her experience, the biggest mistake people make in their job search is not being professional. By this she told me “horror stories” about clients she would meet with who treated their time together as if she wasn’t even in the room. Whether it be texting on your phone during their conversation, dressing inappropriately, and even expressing poor hygiene habits, all these things and more contributed to this woman’s notion of certain populations of the workforce. In short, some people are not professional about being professional. She told me one time, just one time, did a man come to their appointment dressed in business attire and ready and willing to learn about resume writing and job search techniques. Just one time!
As a job seeker, don’t let this happen to you. You’re better than that. And more importantly, you need to show others that you are better than that. Even if it’s not an official interview with a potential employer, think of each and every business encounter you have to make that encounter count. You want to be professional and leave a positive reminder about you to the person you are interacting with. Dress appropriately, turn the cell phone off, send the thank you note…do all these things and more for each encounter you have with a professional person and soon you will be on that other end helping others network with you and giving advice on the job search process.
If you need assistance with some of these “soft skills” or how to conduct yourself in an appropriate business exchange, consider the Accounting and Business School of the Rockies to help train you in all the necessary traits to being successful. On top of these skills, you can make your resume shine by adding a Certificate to it and make yourself that much more marketable. We offer short-term Certificate programs in Professional Bookkeeping, Administrative Assistant, Office Manager, Office Skills, Call Center/Customer Service, and Microsoft Power User. Call us today at 303-755-6885 to learn more about all these exciting opportunities to advance your job skills!

Tried and True Methods of the Job Search

There is a recent, interesting article on the internet (http://msn.careerbuilder.com/Article/MSN-2415-Job-Search-6-Crazy-Job-Search-Tactics/?SiteId=cbmsn42415&sc_extcmp=JS_2415_advice>1=23000) that talks about “out there” ideas that people have used to find work. While some of these ideas can get quite zany, they are all nonetheless quite creative. And for the purpose of the article, that’s the point --- creativity. While most people rely on combing the job ads in the newspaper or perhaps online job boards (which by the way Jobing.com is one of the best out there), the fact remains that you are joining A LOT of people in this endeavor.
The article begs the question: how can I stand out in this mass of people? It’s a good question to ask and the article highlights ways you may attempt to put some tactics into practice. But more likely than not, the average job seeker won’t go to these extremes to find work. Whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing is not the point here. The point is that the job seeker needs to think “outside the box” for getting themselves a job. In my own experience, thinking “outside the box” does not necessarily mean being the only person in the world who tries a certain tactic. In my thinking, why not try methods that are tried and true instead of attempting to reinvent the wheel? If it’s worked for most people, it will probably work for you.
So things like networking hard, job search groups, utilizing LinkedIn and other good job search engines like Jobing.com…..these are all great ways (and proven ways) of finding work. Stick to these tried and true methods and you won’t have to be looking through the obituaries in the newspaper for open positions! At the Accounting and Business School of the Rockies we care deeply about you succeeding in your career. And we believe that having short-term education in the area of Certificates is one of the best ways of doing that. Contact us today at 303-755-6885 to learn more about any one of our six Certificate programs and how they can help you get a leg up over your competition and into the job you desire.

The Job Seeker and the Holiday Season

It’s November now. And for the active job seeker that means that you might be starting to get worried about companies not hiring during the dreaded “November through January” hiring dry spell. While it’s true that there are a lot of companies out there that put the brakes on hiring during this time and enact a hiring freeze, it’s not true across the board. And that’s the important thing to remember when you’re looking for work --- there is always somebody looking to hire, always.

It can certainly seem as though during these months people are more concerned about “getting through the holidays” or “wrapping up loose ends for the year” sort of thing. But while some companies are thinking about “winding down for the year” there are other companies that are more future-oriented and looking to plan for the next year, and now. Often times that can mean rethinking the budget, planning for projects, and making new hires. It makes sense that during these supposed slow times for some companies, you bring in a new hire right now to have them get acquainted with everything and get trained, so as to start the new year out strong and productive.

Be encouraged during these months ahead that while some companies will be slowing down, others might be ramping up. Perhaps a toy manufacturer is expecting a huge Christmas season and wants to put YOU on to help out! Who knows what can happen during these months, that next job might be right around the corner where everybody else is taking the time off you are continuing on strong and shining like the star employee that you are.

These next few months might also be a good time, given your personal situation, to hunker down and finish up some educational endeavors or to start something new. The Accounting and Business School of the Rockies will continue on as strong as ever during the holiday season and we would love to assist you with your educational needs. Stand out on your resume and among your peers with an affordable, three to four month Certificate in Professional Bookkeeping, Administrative Assistant, Office Manager, Office Skills, Call Center/Customer Service, or Microsoft Power User. While others are filling up with turkey and pumpkin pie, you are gaining new skills that can help to propel you into your next career. Call us today at 303-755-6885 to learn more about these exciting opportunities!