Author Archives: MyJobHelper

5 Ways to Increase Your Productivity

Posted: February 9, 2016 at 9:34 pm

Share and Help your Friends With Their Job Search!

work smarter reminderThere is no arguing that we live in strange times. Distraction is everywhere thanks to the internet and smart phones. Something rings, beeps or buzzes…and there goes our train of thought. It’s amazing any of us get anything done at work EVER!!! Except some people do. They get a lot done. Turn off your Facebook notifications for fifteen minutes, and we’ll share their secrets with you.

1. Be present.   It’s impossible to keep track of what other people are saying while you engage in a one-handed scroll. Turn off your phone, and ditch the computer unless you’re using it to take notes. Giving somebody your full attention greatly reduces the likelihood of miscommunication. It also cuts down on the number of times somebody has to repeat themselves because your attention was elsewhere.

2. Take care of yourself. Ditch the junk food, take that extra flight of stairs, and make sure you’re getting enough sleep. People are at their most productive when they’re feeling good. That means eating healthy, exercising, and getting rid of the excuses.

3. Don’t waste time on drama. It is always in your best interest to keep things professional, and not emotional at the office. If somebody else is losing their cool, it’s even more important that you retain your own composure. Drama at work is exhausting and distracting. At the end of the day, everybody just wants to get their work done and go home.

4. Prioritize. Get the most important stuff done first. Make a list, stay on task, and start again the next day. Otherwise, your day will get eaten alive by stuff that just doesn’t matter.

5. Say NO.  Shonda Rhimes might have spent the year saying YES, but we don’t recommend that you do the same.  Smart workers know that their reputations are built on what they actually accomplish – not what they meant to do. Think long and hard before you agree to give somebody else your most precious asset. And of course, that asset is time.

Quitting Your Job Is The Key To Success

Posted: January 8, 2016 at 1:47 am

Share and Help your Friends With Their Job Search!

 

That headline is not clickbait, and they are certainly not words that I ever thought that I would type. Twenty years ago, companies looked for candidates with resumes that demonstrated  longevity and loyalty. Hopping from job to job was a red flag for recruiters. Now, changing your job every three to four years is actually viewed as a good thing. So what’s changed?

In recent years, there’s been quite a bit of data revealed around the benefits of short term employment for both workers and employers. Here are just a few examples.

Job hoppers are highly experienced at acquiring new skill sets. Employers are always going to seek out, and pay top dollar to job candidates with cutting edge skill sets. Their experience is a huge added value for companies who might otherwise remain stagnant.

Job hoppers work quickly to make a positive impact on their organizations. As a result, they quickly impress their employers with their ambition and drive.

Job  hopping increases your career stability. Moving from company to company allows job hoppers to develop impressive networks. If you’re good about maintaining contacts, then you have greatly expanded your pool of potential employers. That means you’re not shackled to just one company for your financial and career needs. Workers who spend their entire career at one company cannot say the same.

If you’re a lifer who’s still not convinced, then read this doozy of a statistic. Workers who stay with a company more than two years are paid up to fifty-percent less than job hoppers. It’s clear that the benefits of sticking around have evaporated. If you’re at a company handing out gold watches and matching your 401k, then by all means – stay put. However, the rest of you should be out there exploring your options.

 

 

Who’s Hiring in 2016?

Posted: December 11, 2015 at 7:39 pm

Share and Help your Friends With Their Job Search!

New Year is loading now

If you want to know who’s hiring in 2016, then you’re in luck! Every year, we take a look at what’s happening in the job market. There were some surprising changes this year with a surge in demand for truck drivers and retail sales workers. Read on to see what other fields are in demand as well. They might inspire you to think differently about your employment possibilities in the New Year!

Truck Drivers Tractor-trailer truck drivers have taken the top spot this year with approximately 228,000 jobs that need to be filled here in the U.S. Most successful applicants possess a high school diploma, a commercial driving license, and taken educational courses specifically in truck driving. One important caveat is simply in regards to lifestyle. A full-time job means you’ll be spending most of your time on the road. People who prefer to stick closer to home should steer clear and explore other options.

Registered Nurses Demand for registered nurses consistently outweighs the number of available applicants year after year. Obviously, the demands of patient care and the hours that go with them are not for everybody which might explain the staggering availability of jobs in this field. Currently, there are over 200,000 open positions for registered nurses in the U.S.

Customer Service Representatives  Working as a customer service representative is no joke. Fielding customer complaints, processing orders, and acting as a liaison between a company and the public can be a stressful and demanding job.  There are over 100,000 positions waiting to be filled this year if you’re a people person who can take the heat!

Retail Sales Workers We were shocked to see retail sales workers on the list this year even after adjusting for the increased demand for employees due to the holidays. If you have a flair for moving merchandise, polish off those resumes because they’re looking for you!

 

Job Interview Thank You Notes: Email or Letter?

Posted: December 4, 2015 at 10:01 pm

Share and Help your Friends With Their Job Search!

thankyounote

There was a time not that long ago when a job candidate would NEVER have sent a thank you note using anything other than a handwritten letter on heavy stationary. Email was considered informal, rude, tacky and disrespectful. How things have changed! Everything moves faster now including hiring decisions, which typically happen within forty-eight hours. Of course, you want your thank you note to arrive before any hiring decisions have been made. Unfortunately, that leaves snail mail out in the cold. Well…most of the time.

When To Send Email. In most cases, there’s simply not enough time to write and send a handwritten thank you note via traditional channels. While it may not be ideal, email will have to do. Compose and send your thank you email no later than 5:00PM  on the same day of your interview. Take the time to sit down at your desktop or laptop computer to avoid the errors that may crop up easily when you hunt and peck on a smartphone or tablet.

When To Mail A Letter. If you’re a stickler for tradition, then you may want to write and hand deliver a handwritten thank you note on the day of your interview. You can get it done if you write some of the content ahead of time, and then customize and personalize your thank you note right afterwards. However, that’s obviously not an easy trick to pull off. You might also want to consider first sending an email followed by a formal letter. That kind of attention to detail is sure to make a strong impression on your recruiter.

Whether you choose email or a formal letter, make sure you use your thank you note as an opportunity to enhance your consideration as a job candidate. Touch upon the highlights of your interview, revisit your strengths as a job candidate, and directly express your desire for the job. Good luck!

 

5 Rules to Remember at Your Office Holiday Party

Posted: November 20, 2015 at 9:36 pm

Share and Help your Friends With Their Job Search!

Enjoying in a red wine at Christmas office party.

Holiday parties are a great way for companies to thank their employees for a year of hard work. I’ve always appreciated the gesture, and the opportunity to spend time with colleagues away from the pressures of the office. Of course, there are a million ways for an office party to go off the rails. A manager has a few too many drinks. A supervisor cracks an off-color joke. An executive gets hands-y. Nobody wants to be THAT GUY, or THAT GIRL. You want to be the smart, sugar coated cookie who shakes all the right hands, says all of the right things, and leaves before things get ugly. So without further ado, here are five rules to remember at your office holiday party!

Dress appropriately. This one should really be a no-brainer, but I have been to one too many parties where common sense has clearly left the building. Don’t be a dunce. You know if your company is keeping it casual, or expecting you to clean up a little bit for the big bash. Keep it classy and professional whether you’re a lady or gent. Err on the side of conservative, and save the sequins and ugly Christmas sweaters for friends.

Keep the conversation light. Everybody at the party is there to have a good time. Stay away from topics that can stress people out. Nobody wants to discuss the fact that the company missed third quarter revenue expectations, or the admin who got fired without severance pay three days ago. Also, this is not the time to hit up your boss for a raise or a bonus. First of all, it’s just bad form.  Bosses are people too, and they’re entitled to enjoy themselves as much as everybody else in attendance. And more to the point, your fate was likely sealed weeks before you arrived at this shindig. Let it go, and go drown your sorrows in the raw bar. Ooooh…shrimp.

Lay off the booze. There might be an open bar there, but that doesn’t signal an alcohol fueled free for all. Have one or two drinks, max. Drink lots of water, eat plenty of food, and – of course – don’t drive if you’ve been drinking. Call a cab!

Keep your hands to yourself. If you’re single, repeat after us. These are your co-workers. They are not your friends. There is nobody at this party who wants to go out on a date with you. Go home by yourself. Get in bed by yourself. You will thanks us for this later. And actually, you can chant this mantra if you’re spoken for as well. Especially if you’re spoken for!

Say thank you! That party didn’t make itself. Taking your annual bash for granted is really, really lame. On the way out, find the person or people responsible, thank them for a great night, and then make a clean and sober exit.

 

How To Ask for A Year-End Raise or Bonus.

Posted: November 13, 2015 at 7:27 pm

Share and Help your Friends With Their Job Search!

stackofmoneywithbowIt’s the most wonderful time of the year! That’s because the holiday season can inspire a boss who is normally a Grinch to loosen his purse strings for a year end bonus or raise. Of course, it’s not good form to simply show up with your hand out. Instead, be thoughtful about the company’s performance over the past year – and how you contributed. Remember that time is of the essence! If your company is hammering out budgets for the upcoming year, you want to get that request in before they close the books. So without further ado, here’s a brief guide to your year-end negotiations.

  1. Decide whether to negotiate a bonus or a raise. It’s possible you’ll land both, but the odds of success are higher if you pick and stay in one lane. Bonuses are the way to go if you had a standout year at your company in terms of performance or sales. They’re a bit easier for a company to swallow over a raise because it’s typically perceived as a one time, fixed expense. However, a raise is certainly warranted if the scope of your responsibilities has significantly increased over the past year. If that’s the situation, get ready to make your case!
  2. Keep your argument simple. I deserve this raise (or bonus) because of the following major contributions. All of these contributions should be results oriented, and market oriented. Advocate for yourself based on your work, and be prepared with data to back any claims that the salary at your company is below market value.
  3. Prepare for pushback. Most companies aren’t prepared to shell out extra bucks just because you asked. If you encounter resistance, ask for details regarding why they are unable or unwilling to provide additional compensation. At least, you can then continue to advocate on your behalf. Maybe your employer can’t afford a bonus or raise, but they might willing to provide additional vacation time or tuition reimbursement.
  4. Timing may not be everything, but it’s pretty darn important. Don’t spring a request for more money on your boss over drinks at the company’s holiday party. As a matter of fact, eliminate the element of surprise altogether. Schedule a day and time when you have your boss’ full attention, and preferably when he or she is likely to be in a good mood. That might be over coffee on a Tuesday morning on a day that’s free of other meetings. It’s probably not at 5:00PM on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.
  5. Be persistent, and follow up. Push for a verbal agreement for more money during your first conversation, and request a next step so you have a reason to follow up. If you’re dealing with a larger company, you may want to set a specific deadline for HR notification. Then keep following up to make sure your raise or bonus is approved. Every week that your raise or bonus is delayed is another dollar out of your pocket.

How to Answer: Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years?

Posted: November 6, 2015 at 5:44 pm

Share and Help your Friends With Their Job Search!

Businessman Consulting Glowing Crystal Ball

Almost twenty years ago, I dressed up in my very best Banana Republic to embark on my first round of post-collegiate job interviews. There was a seemingly endless barrage of questions. On more than one occasion, somebody in the HR department asked, Where do you see yourself five years from now? It took quite a bit of composure to refrain from laughing out loud. After four years of running wild at school, I was at that moment cooling my heels at my parents’ house.  How about not at my parents’ house, lady. I would like to NOT be living at my parent’s house five years from now. While it was tempting to let that answer fly after a long day of interviews, I delivered a concise answer that I had prepared weeks prior.

“I am passionate about the agency world. I hope to learn and gain enough experience at an ad agency like yours to have secured a more senior position in Account Management.”

It was the right answer. I received several offers, and happily accepted a job that propelled me out of my parents’ basement and into the city. Right now, you’re probably shrugging your shoulders. Who cares? Why am I telling a story from ye’ olde job hunting times? That’s because this question is still one of the most commonly asked interview questions. So here are a few tips to help craft your own response when this question rears it’s charming head.

You and your company are ONE. Soul mates. You want to have beautiful corporate babies together. Okay, we’re getting carried away. However, you must be prepared to discuss how the company’s mission resonates with you personally and aligns with your future professional goals. That may sound lofty, but all you need to do is take a look at the company’s mission statement before heading into your interview. Take your cues directly from that mission statement to deliver an answer that the recruiter will be eager to hear.

Convey realistic ambitions. Everybody has professional dreams and aspirations. You might view this company as a springboard to greatness! However, this is not the time to inform a recruiter that you envision yourself as the company’s next CEO in five year’s time. Stick to talking points around “growing your career” which will likely find a receptive audience.

Demonstrate an interest in learning. You may not know exactly where you want to be in five years, but think about what areas of your career that you would like to develop. If that’s an area in which a potential employer can benefit your career, then that’s the perfect breeding ground for an answer. Incorporating that information into your response may help a company strongly envision you as future member of their team.

2015 Holiday Season: Who’s hiring?

Posted: October 30, 2015 at 7:52 pm

Share and Help your Friends With Their Job Search!

womanstringlights

Every year, the big retailers bulk up their seasonal workforce to meet the demands of the holidays. We’re happy to say that this year is no exception! Companies such as Target, Macy’s, GAP, Walmart, JC Penny and Toys R Us have thousands of positions open for both full and part-time work. Don’t miss out on a great opportunity to make some much needed cash. And if you’re lucky, some of these part-time positions may lead to full-time employment. Here’s a complete breakdown of where the jobs are this upcoming holiday season.

  • Amazon: +100,000 seasonal jobs. +25,000 full-time workers.
  • Macy’s: +85,000 seasonal workers. That number includes hiring at its other flagship brand Bloomingdeals. Roughly 12,000 of these positions will be in fulfillment centers.
  • Wal-Mart: +60,000 holiday workers. That number includes department managers in more than 3,500 stores. In 2014, the company claims it retained 50%+ of those workers for full-time positions.
  • J.C. Penney: +30,000 seasonal employees. Don’t expect these jobs to turn into full time work though as this retailer has been having a tough go of things, closing many of its stores over the past year.
  • Nordstrom: +11,800 seasonal workers this holiday primarily at both Nordstrom “proper” and their discounted Rack locations. Fulfillment centers will account for about 1,600 of those jobs.
  • Toys R Us: +40,000 seasonal with the opportunity for overtime.
  • Kohl’s: +69,000 seasonal workers.
  • Target: +70,000 workers in vorh its stores and warehouses.
  • Burlington Stores: +10,800 seasonal workers.
  • Sports Authority: + 3,500 seasonal workers. This may be a promising prospect for those of you seeking full-time employment as hundreds of these jobs will transition into permanent positions after the holiday season.
  • GameStop: +28,000 seasonal workers. The company is seeking sales associates, consumer electronics technicians and warehouse workers.
  • Belk: +5,800 seasonal employees, primarily in sales.
  • The Bon-Ton Stores: +13,000 seasonal employees in their retail stores; +500 employees in distribution.
  • UPS: + 90,000 to 95,000 seasonal workers.
  • FedEx: +5,000 more seasonal worker.

 *Data compiled by CNBC.

Say It Loud, Say It Proud: Bragging at Work

Posted: October 23, 2015 at 10:10 pm

Share and Help your Friends With Their Job Search!

bullhorn

Bragging at work seems, on its face, like a bad idea. Nobody wants to look like an attention hog! Unfortunately, laboring away in silence is an equally terrible idea. There’s no point in going the extra mile if nobody is going to notice. It’s critical that the people you report to know exactly how hard you’re working, and it’s up to YOU to tell them. That way you can reap the rewards of hard work in both salary increases and recognition.

Make sure you get credit where it’s due.  It’s a given that most people work as part of a team, and you don’t want to take all of the credit for a team effort. However, you shouldn’t let your contributions go unnoticed. The tactful way to speak up is to first praise the entire team for their role in a successful endeavor, but then make sure your specific contributions are recognized.

Articulate your contributions clearly. Vaguely indicating that you were somehow responsible for the success of a project isn’t a very effective way to build your brand at work – be clear about your role! Describe the nature of a project, any hurdles you encountered, and how you helped move a project forward in spite of those hurdles.  Let them know if you worked long hours, and where you went above and beyond as an employee. Those are the kinds of details that impress an employer.

Document your achievements. Time might erase an employer’s memory of all that you’ve done over the weeks, months and years. Your own memory might be fuzzy! That’s why it’s important to document all of your contributions as an employee. Create a written record of your hard work so everybody is on the same page. If you increased revenue, make sure you indicate by how much. Maybe you trained a sales force, or spearheaded an important new marketing initiative. Write it down!

 

5 Ways to Make A Job You’re Overqualified for Worthwhile

Posted: October 16, 2015 at 11:16 pm

Share and Help your Friends With Their Job Search!

Job Prospects for GraduatesWhen somebody tells you that you’re overqualified, it almost sounds like a compliment. The implication is that you’re too smart and skilled for your existing job. However, the reality of the situation is much more insidious. It means you’re working in a job that isn’t challenging or engaging. You’re probably “checked out” much of the time, and frequently feeling discouraged, resentful and underutilized. However, the situation doesn’t have to be so bleak. This job may not be your dream job, but a savvy worker will work hard to turn it into a stepping stone for the next phase of their career. Let’s look at a few ways to make the best of a less than ideal situation.

1. Ask for More Responsibility. Approach your supervisor and request additional duties or responsibilities. You might be pleasantly surprised at the types of projects management sends your way. Push for projects that allow you to tackle new challenges, develop new skill sets, and network with other people at the company who can help you further your career – or at least provide a valuable reference.

2. Help out your co-workers. Let’s say you asked for additional responsibilities, but management turned you down.  Don’t throw in the towel yet! Look around you to see if any of your co-workers need help. While you might be underutilized, there is probably somebody else in your office who is completely overworked. Offer to help them out! You’ll gain valuable experience, a reputation as a team player, and again – another valuable reference from a colleague.

3. Expand your professional network. Here’s the thing about careers. You never know who’s going to help you down the road. It might be the founder of your company, or it might be the secretary. Lay the foundation for future relationships with everybody in the office. Wrangle your way into meetings and company events so you can get to know clients and co-workers. Bring a coffee over to a colleague’s desk, or ask them out to lunch. Whatever you do, just don’t hide behind your desk. It’s easy to disappear into the fabric of a company, but it will get you exactly nowhere.

4. Keep your chin up. There really are no small jobs, only small people. Even the most mundane task is important to the successful operation of a business, and your ability to do it well is valuable. Remember that when you’re feeling small, and try to find your smile. If you’re doing a good job with a positive attitude, your employer likely notices and appreciates that immensely. Ditto for your co-workers.

5. Organize Your Exit. You’ve been working, networking, and exercising that smile. However, there may be a point in time where it becomes clear that this job is going nowhere. Don’t quit. Sit tight, get your work done, and organize yourself for your next job opportunity. Create documents that detail exactly what needs to be done for the next person stepping into your position, and of course – get that resume ready. Hopefully, the experience and goodwill you created in this job will greatly benefit you as you move onto the next position.