Tags: hiring process, hiring talent, job, job fair, job seeker

There is a major focus on jobs in the current economy – who is adding, why some are still laying off folks, and what is coming in the future.  There is a large pool of job seekers, some who have been looking for jobs for quite awhile.

The old standby methods are still used;  ads, job fairs, and listings on job sites.  There are some new twists, however.  Many companies, because of a flood of applicants, have set up online screening processes to find the candidates that most closely meet their needs.  This method does add time to the equation, as these systems can take awhile to sort through the information.  Companies may also set up their own private job fairs, looking for specific talent to meet a current need.  Some companies also participate in job fairs for the exposure and to “test the waters” to see who is looking for jobs and if they might meet a future need.  Many, when they are trying to find a specific person to fit an important position, use recruiters, or network through professional groups.

All this means that job seekers need to be more flexible and agile in their searching.  There are a few important things to be aware of, some of which I’ve mentioned before but bear repeating!

Showing up takes energy and effort you don’t always have, but it can pay off.  A recent job fair in Albuquerque paid off in some immediate job offers, and in other cases scheduling of follow up interviews at the company.  Note:  don’t show up in sweats or shorts!  You still need to appear professional, no matter what your occupation.  Business casual is most appropriate for these events.  Also it is good to have a polished resume with you – and have an email address they can access for followup.  Some applicants have put online resumes on Linked In or Facebook.  Do make sure these sites are done carefully and look professional.

For companies that require an online application, be patient – it may take awhile for them to get to your resume.  It never hurts to have a name to follow up with, just an email which lets them know you’ve applied and would appreciate their attention.  This may require some networking on your part. 

Finally, don’t apply unless you fit the requirements!  This just wastes everyone’s time, including  yours.  In the case where you are trying to make a career change, as I once did, you somehow need to present the resume as having experience and skills appropriate to the new field even though  they were learned in a different industry.  Your cover letter should explain why you are making the change and how you have prepared yourself for the new career.  

Good luck to both companies and job seekers.  Patience is the key.

Tags: applications, For Employers, hiring process, hiring talent, job fair, job seeker, job seeker attitudes

The Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce and Kirtland Air Force Base are hosting their second annual job fair at the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque on August 4 from 9AM to 2 PM.  Technology Ventures Corporation is also a major sponsor.
This year in addition to the government sector jobs available through KAFB and their partners, nmtechjobs.org and NM WIRED Project are expanding the employer list to include private sector technology job opportunities as well as administrative positions in the area. 
Opportunities in the government sector include: Federal Protective Service project managers and criminal investigators; Air Force Research Lab in physics, space sciences, geophysics, chemistry, computer sciences, all engineering field, and management positions; US Fish and Wildlife Service openings, and many more. 
In the private sector: Mechtronic Solutions software engineers, controls engineers, technical writer and others;  Analytical Solutions software programmers; Wells Fargo bank tellers, and others to come.

As part of this event there will be subject matter experts at the KAFB booths, as well as work stations to help job seekers navigate the USAJobs site to apply for government positions.  This is a great opportunity to learn about the jobs available with some of our largest technology employers. Check out the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber website for updates:  ahcnm.org.

Tags: candidates, hiring talent, industry news, job fair, job seeker

These are interesting times for job seekers and employers.  Because of the economic environment, the same old tools aren’t as effective as they used to be.  For one thing, there are many more job seekers than jobs, and that has been the case for awhile. 
Even so, groups are hosting job fairs on a regular basis.  Their reasons vary, but for the one thing it is a visible way to try to help the community and the candidates looking for opportunity.  Also, for the educational institutions it is a way to highlight a new group of graduates and bring alums back to the alma mater.  Events like these provide networking opportunities for both companies and candidates, and can give a good overview of the economic activity in the community. The question is, then, how does someone looking for work get the most out of an event where there may be 1000 people in line with them? 
A recent article in the Albuquerque Journal talked about the frustration some job seekers felt after attending a job fair at Expo New Mexico where there were approximately 5000 attendees and few opportunities.  Many companies were sending people to their online websites to apply, and there were few onsite interview opportunities.  Many employers participated as a show of support, but because of internal hiring policies weren’t able to actively interview at the booths.  Their online applications may include a prescreening process to determine if the candidate fits their needs. Also some employers may be anticipating a new contract and are collecting resumes in advance to test the waters.
So for the job seekers:  the best policy is to plan ahead.  Find out what companies are in attendance and check out their websites before you go.  Target the booths that have jobs to meet your talents.  Also it’s a pretty good bet that if there are no jobs listed on the company site that they are collecting, or just being a good citizen! 
Here’s a news flash – papering the booths with your resume without checking to see if you have the skills they need doesn’t get you points or even an interview.  It is also not a good practice to say “I’ll take anything you have” whether you are qualified or not.  There are still jobs available, and more coming.  Keep looking and do your research.  In the meantime, these fairs are a good way to learn about what is happening in your area, and maybe learn new techniques for your search.
Good luck!

Tags: applications, hiring process, hiring talent, Hiring Trends, industry news, job fair

The March online job fair provided an excellent opportunity for job seekers to access some great jobs.  It also had an impressive list of company participants, including Ball Aerospace, Sandia and Los Alamos laboratories, ZTEC, TEAM, Emcore and many more (see “New Mexico Virtual Job Fair Highlights Technology Jobs” 3/15/2010). 

We hope you all had a chance to visit our fair and get the latest information on job opportunities in the technology sector in New Mexico.  This venue is a fairly new concept, but one that provides a much more intimate setting and interaction between the job seeker and the employer.  It is easy to get lost on the “big boards” and stressful to stand in long lines to be able to meet the company representatives.  We set out to provide a similar venue without a physical site, and it has worked well so far.

 
We’ll be doing more of these in the future, and will keep you posted. In the meantime, please visit our free high tech job site, www.nmtechjobs.org, and see what is out there!

Tags: applications, For Employers, hiring process, hiring talent, job application, job fair, job seeker