The hunt continues – for good jobs and for good candidates.  The rules for hunting have changed somewhat as companies downsize, but need qualified folks for the jobs they have left.  Candidates have a harder time making connections and getting noticed in the crowd of job seekers. 
There are all kinds of new social networking venues for both companies and candidates to use, including LinkedIn, Facebook, MySpace and so many more. 
First important thing – don’t get too cute!  The resume/Facebook/LinkedIn information should fit the industry you are in and be appropriately professional.  Photos should look somewhat businesslike unless you are in the entertainment industry.  Likes and hobbies aren’t as relevant as past education and experience so keep that list under control.
Second important thing – if the company with job openings has a well-visited site, they may not post on the job boards, but just sort through the applicants that actually check out their company.  I have had some recruiters say that the big boards produce TOO many resumes, and many that aren’t applicable.  So – look for sites that are specific to the industry you are interested in.
Third important thing – it is worth keeping a resume active on  some of the niche sites (such as our site, www.nmtechjobs.org) as companies sometimes search in advance of a new contract or business expansion to see what types of candidates are available in their field.  It can serve as an introduction for you to companies you might not reach otherwise.
Good hunting!

Tags: applications, candidates, For Employers, hiring process, hiring talent, Hiring Trends, industry news, job seeker, job seeker attitudes

The ultimate goal of job hunting – getting hired!  There are a lot of people working hard at the hunt, so I thought maybe it was a good time to talk about success stories.
First there is the gentleman who attended the recent Kirtland Air Force/Hispano Chamber of Commerce job fair in Albuquerque.  He came prepared and was able to visit with a company representative about his skills and interests.  From that meeting he was invited for a formal interview, and was hired for a $50K a year job.
Then there was the person who was laid off from an out-of-state technology company and was networking in New Mexico.  He contacted the Technology Ventures Corporation recruiting service and shared his resume both on the free job site, nmtechjobs.org and with me.  I noticed that his skills and experience seemed a great fit for a local tech company.  They didn’t have any posted openings, but when I forwarded the resume they recognized his talent and added him to their team. 
One more example is the woman who was laid off from a local technology business and decided to strike out on her own.  Using the contacts and experience she had gained in her former position, she joined local professional organizations and contacted colleagues she knew in her field.  The result of her hard work was a successful consulting business.
So – keep looking, and be creative (an overused term but appropriate).  First and foremost always be prepared for an opportunity by having business cards and resumes at hand.  Dress professionally for any occasion where there might be an opportunity to make a contact to start you on the road to a new career, and keep your schedule flexible so you can take advantage of these opportunities.
Good hunting!

Tags: candidates, hiring process, hiring talent, job application, job fair, job seeker, job seeker attitudes

There is much talk about the need for more skilled applicants to meet future needs of companies, especially in the technology industry. Some refer to lack of math and science education, and others mention lack of manual skills for manufacturing jobs.

The American Management Association 2010 Critical Skills Survey found that managers are focused less on the basic 3R’s (reading, writing and arithmetic) and more on a general ability to respond to their environment. These skills, the 4 C’s, communication, critical thinking and problem solving, collaboration and finally creativity, are seen as important to today’s ever-changing business environment.

According to an article in Staffing Management (July-September 2010), the majority of executives assess both job applicants and employees on these skills. The respondents indicated that these skills help the companies respond to the pace of change in their business and the factor of global competitiveness.

As to how the current workforce measures up, over half the employers felt their employees were only average in communication skills and creativity and innovation. They did rate them slightly higher in critical thinking and collaboration and team building. They have addressed these issues in the workplace by using one-on-one coaching and mentoring, followed by professional development and training. The report did say that managers felt it was much easier to develop these skills in students early on, rather than teaching the experienced worker.

A few years ago I attended a meeting between employers and community college educators, held to get input from the business community on what they wanted future employees to learn. I was amazed that the issues were personal responsibility, clear communications, reliability (showing up on time and staying at work for their entire shift), and problem solving. Sounds like not much has changed. The real question is, why are students not learning these skills as part of their K-12 education? That opens an entire new topic for a later time.

In the meantime, as a job seeker, be aware of these needs and tune up your skills before you apply. Good luck.

Tags: applications, effective learning, hiring talent, Hiring Trends, job seeker attitudes, performance management

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

Our land of enchantment is ( as most of you know) a great place to work and play, and attracts a lot of attention from folks tired of cold rainy weather or just wanting to have our great views.  This attraction can help companies needing to hire, but can complicate matters for local residents trying to find a job.

New Mexico is definitely a networking state.  The local communities are small enough that you can make a connection with the people you need to meet if you stay on task.  That said, hunting for your perfect job here requires some networking. As opportunities open up, there are liable to be huge numbers of applications for each position.  In some cases the application isn’t even appropriate for the job.  This makes it harder for the employer to find YOUR great resume among the piles.  

Networking requires some courage on your part.  It takes energy to reach out to friends and acquaintances asking for their help in your job hunt.  Finding the right connection takes time but there is definitely a payoff for the work invested.

Luckily because employers can be overwhelmed by the applications they receive, they are now turning to their networks, especially current employees, to simplify the process.  It also can save them money in the recruiting process.  Employees also have an interest in adding qualified teammates to their organization, and they get kudos from the employer if they find the right candidate for the job.

Some cautions here:
Make sure your contact really is a fan.  People usually won’t  tell you to your face that they wouldn’t recommend you for a position, so while you are asking the favor, be sure to observe their reaction to make sure they aren’t uncomfortable with the request.
Make sure your contact is a well regarded employee of the company (no explanation needed).
Make sure that you qualify for the job you are applying for before you put a friend or acquaintance on the spot.  It helps no one if you make it to the interview process for an opportunity that isn’t right for you.
Make sure you have the right contact.  Sometimes the HR manager is the person you need to reach, but many times it may be the head of the department you want to apply to.  Ask your contact who actually will be doing the decision-making for this opportunity.  If you are applying for a tech position, having a contact in the billing department may not have the effect you are looking for.

Other points  to consider:  many positions are not posted, or haven’t been fleshed out yet, but if the right candidate comes along there might be an opportunity.  Especially in smaller companies, they may not think they are ready to hire yet, but when the perfect applicant shows up they speed the process along.  Also, some companies may work by contract, and hold resumes in file in anticipation of the next job.  All are good reasons to develop a good network and keep in touch with your contacts (without making a nuisance of yourself).

Good hunting!

Tags: applications, candidates, hiring process, hiring talent, job seeker, job seeker attitudes