New to the Job Search Market? Start Tracking! - Part One

When it comes to job search productivity, you should take a lesson from writer, management consultant, and self-described “social ecologist” named Peter F. Drucker, who teaches that, “What gets measured, gets done.”

Regardless of whether you are new to the job search market or have been looking for new opportunities for a while, here are some tips that may help:

One of the most useful things that you can do is start tracking everything you do that is related to you job search. If you happen to be a Luddite, (Someone who fears technology), you can use a binder to do your tracking; for those of you who are more tech savvy, you may find it easier to use a spreadsheet.

If you are going to start tracking your job search using spreadsheet files in a workbook, the sheets of your workbook should include the following:

Sheet 1
List all of the information from all of the job sites to which you belong. The columns on the spreadsheet should include you’re the name of the job search site, username, password and some sort of notation that indicates whether you posted your résumé or filled in an on-line form.

Sheet 2
List the jobs for which you have already applied. Write down the date that you sent in your application and whether you snail mailed your documents or sent them in via e-mail.

Sheet 3
If you applied via e-mail, you will need spreadsheet with the following column headings:

• Date you applied
• Closing Date
• Some indication that will show you if you applied on the company website or not
• Contact information
• Website address
• The email you used to send your application
• Company phone number
• Company address
• Contact name
• Phone number for the contact name
• A copy of the specific résumé that you sent
• Copy of the specific cover letter you sent - these letters should be tailored to fit the original job posting
• Copy of the original job posting
• Date of follow-up[s]
• Indicate follow-up mode i.e. phone call to a voice mail, human [list the name of the person you talked to] or e-mail, including date
• In the case of an interview, the date that the follow-up note was sent

You may have noticed that, for the purpose of this post, I have elected to gear my suggestions towards using spreadsheets to track your job search. If you were going to opt for the Word document and/or paper and pen method of tracking, it would be to your advantage to use the same headings and document files for your desktop or dividers for your binder.


Copyright © 2011, Career Matters. All Rights Reserved.Permission to Reprint: This article may be reprinted, provided it appears in its entirety with the following attribution: Copyright © 2011, Career Matters. Reprinted by permission of the author, Mary Salvino.“Career Matters” is a blog hosted by Mary Salvino, Senior Consultant for SMART Career Planning.com. This blog is dedicated to those who are seeking advice on managing their career and future job opportunities. We welcome readers to share their experiences, post their comments or ask questions about career related matters. For any questions or comments that are better addressed privately, please feel free to e-mail Mary directly at Mary.Salvino@shaw.ca

10 Character Traits of Successful Job Seekers

There are perhaps a hundred remarkable character traits that define the quintessential job seeker, however, only a handful of these traits rise to the top.

Here are some of the most common and powerful character traits that describe the most successful job seekers:

1. Driven
Drive is a very common characteristic among the most successful job seekers. Looking for new opportunities is challenging. The job market is competitive and requires a significant amount of both determination and motivation in order to succeed.

2. Goal-Oriented
Drive will take a job seeker only so far. In addition to drive, job seekers also need a plan. . Without SMART [Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Rewarding and Time-bound] goals and the ability to focus on the actions required to reach those goals, success can be elusive. In order to be successful, job seekers will need to take time to set goals so they have clarity about where they are going and how they intend to get there. Plan the work and then work the plan!

3. Confident
Confidence is a very powerful character trait that instils trust, facilitates respect, and often leads to increased success. The most successful job seekers have a steady, quiet confidence that doesn't border on arrogance or egotism. Remember the story of the tortoise and the hare.

4. Passionate
While it can be very difficult to overcome the challenges looking for work without a true passion for what you are doing, the most successful job seekers are able to incorporate things they are passionate about into their day-to-day search for new opportunities. Start a blog to demonstrate your depth of knowledge. Respond to questions on social media sites like LinkedIn.

5. Budget-Minded
Since a significant part of job seeker success is related to financial success, the most savvy job seekers become experts at creating budgets and sticking to them as they manage the operation of their job search. Job seeking requires that they have an intimate knowledge of their resources [time and money]. This ability to know exactly what they have available, where to reduce expenses, and how to make smart decisions when it comes to spending can often determine success.

6. Self-Reliant
The most successful job seekers have a defined sense of self-reliance. The ability to think and act independently, without the input of others, is a very common trait. Looking for new career opportunities is stressful; it behoves job seekers to find ways to mitigate that stress.

7. Humble
Although many job seekers may be self-reliant, the most successful are also able to ask for help when they need it, give credit where credit is due, admit when they are wrong, and accept constructive criticism. These job seekers have an ability to keep their feet on the ground during even the most stressful periods in their lives, and are able to remind themselves of how far they have come.

8. Resilient
Being a job seeker comes with its up and downs; there are victories, setbacks, chaos and calm waters. The most successful job seekers are those who are resilient and able to bounce back after an unexpected challenge and get back up after facing a setback.

9. Focused
Job seekers handle a vast array of responsibilities in their day-to-day lives. They wear many different hats during the course of the day. The ability to block out distractions and focus on the immediate issue, task or goal as well as the bigger picture is a key trait in the most successful of job seekers. Persistence pays!

10. Open-Minded
While focus is an important trait found in most successful job seekers, it's also important to keep an open mind and consider different perspectives. Sometimes job seekers need to consider alternative ideas, such as working part-time, having more than one job and perhaps trying new processes in order to reach significant levels of success.


Copyright © 2011, Career Matters. All Rights Reserved.Permission to Reprint: This article may be reprinted, provided it appears in its entirety with the following attribution: Copyright © 2011, Career Matters. Reprinted by permission of the author, Mary Salvino.“Career Matters” is a blog hosted by Mary Salvino, Senior Consultant for SMART Career Planning.com. This blog is dedicated to those who are seeking advice on managing their career and future job opportunities. We welcome readers to share their experiences, post their comments or ask questions about career related matters. For any questions or comments that are better addressed privately, please feel free to e-mail Mary directly at Mary.Salvino@shaw.ca

Does Your Résumé Make You Look Old?

Have you been applying for work and have little to show for it? Don't assume the lousy job market is solely to blame. Your résumé could be working against you as well.

Best practices for résumé writing have changed a lot over the past few years. If it has been a long time since you had to go through the process of creating and submitting your résumé to prospective employers, it may surprise you to learn that your document may be signalling that you are past your prime.

The most popular ways by which your document could make you look old are as follows:

1. Overdoing the contacts. Multiple phone numbers make a résumé look dated. You will look like a dinosaur if you list a fax number.

The solution: Instead, simply state your cell number and e-mail without labelling them as such. When people see 10 digits, they know it is a phone number. When those same people see an “@” followed by the domain name, they know it’s an e-mail address. On the same note, only list ONE phone number and use an e-mail address that is professional; those with e-mail addresses akin to shortmsassy@gmail.com need to rethink how they are choosing to present themselves to prospective employers. Further, use the same name on your résumé as you do on your e-mail address and if you want to get fancy and show off exactly how techno savvy you are, include a hyperlink to your e-mail address.

2. Salting your résumé and/or cover letter with clichés. Certain language has become so common in résumés that it is now virtually meaningless.

The solution: Skip these words and phrases, which LinkedIn found to be the most overused in online résumés: innovative, motivated, extensive experience, results-oriented, dynamic, proven track record, team player, fast-paced, problem solver, and entrepreneurial. Instead, use keywords from the job ad, which will help you get past the résumé-scanning programs many firms use nowadays.

3. Not describing past employers. A younger hiring manager may not have the same scope of industry knowledge as you and therefore will not be able to put your experience into context.

The solution: Include a sentence or two that describes what the company does in the career history section of your document.

4. Using outdated formatting. Although you may have been taught to put dates on the left, that is not how it is done anymore.

The solution: On the left side of the document, list your title and the company. On the right, list only the years and do not include the months. If, however, you are a recent grad, then go ahead and list the months.

5. Underselling self-employment. Job seekers are often too vague about periods of self-employment, which makes these look like periods of unemployment.

The solution: Be specific about the projects you tackled and name some of your clients, if you have permission.

6. Leading with an objective. Companies don’t care about you as much as they care about what you can do for them. There is no “I” in résumé.

The solution: Start with a summary or career profile focusing on what you can contribute. This person might say: 15-plus years of experience spearheading global business development campaigns. (Why not 28 years? "Fifteen-plus communicates well-qualified, but not over the hill.) You might also break out a bulleted list of expertise, and always remember to use numbers. The trend now is that companies will judge your future behaviour on what you have done in the past. Everyone understands numbers, so use quantifiable results whenever and wherever you can.

7. Revealing when you got your degrees. Scary as it is, the hiring manager may not have been born yet.

The solution: Take the graduations dates off your résumé. Clearly, you are not going to fool anyone by omitting the dates, but, at least, you are not slapping anyone in the face by listing them.

8. Delving too deeply into the past. Given that your earliest job experiences are probably well removed from the level and type of work you do today, it is best not to go too far back into your work history.

The solution: In general, go back only as far as the beginning of this millennium.

9. Highlighting your run-of-the-mill skills. Stating your familiarity with MS Word, PowerPoint, or Excel is not enough.

The solution: List specialized software such as Quick-Books or newer technologies programming platform Ruby on Rails, for example.

10. Noting passive activities. While hobbies can create common ground, you don't want to highlight those that are unrelated to your career. No one really cares about your golf score!

The solution: Athletic pursuits like cycling or running demonstrate vivacity, as do activities that show how you are giving back. Organizing a fundraiser and volunteering activities are good examples of what could be included in your résumé.

11. Giving short shift to recent experience. Many older job seekers are hamstrung by outmoded rules requiring résumés to fit on one page or two pages.

The solution: Expanding your résumé to the length required to highlight your skills and achievements properly.

12. Using gimmicks to get your document read. While submitting your résumé on brightly coloured paper or attaching the document to a box of cookies may have worked in the past, it is no longer the vogue.

The solution: These days, your documents are submitted electronically. While it is still possible to customize your résumé so that it is has a colourful background, it is important to understand that your résumé will be printed off on a printer that only contains black ink so your fancy background is likely to cause an unnecessary visual distraction to the person or people reading the document. Your document will look drab and grey and that is a result you don’t want.

Once you have decided on the résumé that works best for you, it is best that you do not stay fixed upon your masterpiece. The technology used today by hiring managers and recruiters are very prescriptive with regard to how information is used and stored. The software used by companies today will extract information, force candidates to fill in the blanks of the company’s on-line application form before the document is processed and often not allow you to submit your entire document.

The solution: Try to submit your information without going through the company websites that requires you to fill in the blanks. Have more than one version of your document, i.e. a short abridged version that you can submit to hiring managers and recruiters and a longer and more detailed version for people who do not routinely receive résumés.


Copyright © 2011, Career Matters. All Rights Reserved.Permission to Reprint: This article may be reprinted, provided it appears in its entirety with the following attribution: Copyright © 2011, Career Matters. Reprinted by permission of the author, Mary Salvino.“Career Matters” is a blog hosted by Mary Salvino, Senior Consultant for SMART Career Planning.com. This blog is dedicated to those who are seeking advice on managing their career and future job opportunities. We welcome readers to share their experiences, post their comments or ask questions about career related matters. For any questions or comments that are better addressed privately, please feel free to e-mail Mary directly at Mary.Salvino@shaw.ca

Will Being Unemployed Hurt My Job Hunt?

When it comes to searching for a new career opportunity, it may help you to keep in mind that every job hunter faces some tough hurdles. It should be noted that everyone has something to overcome, whether it's that they made too much money in their last job, never graduated from college, or fill in the blank. Regardless of the reason for your unscheduled ‘sojourn’ from steady employment, it is important that you do not to get hung up on it. Focus on what you have to offer and not upon what is ‘wrong’ with your résumé.

What follows are just a few suggestions to help you veil the gap in your employment history.

1. Start your own company. You have acquired skills throughout your career history, so why not look into selling those skills as an independent contractor. Look into finding short-term projects that will help you keep your skills sharp, while also introducing you to new people. The economy has forced companies to cut expenses wherever possible and this downsizing can be your ticket to a paycheque. Taking on a consulting or project role, even part-time, keeps you working and allows you to keep the career history flowing.

2. Get active in volunteer work. Everyone knows this is a good idea, but very few people actually do it. Helping out a non-profit organization can yield unexpected dividends. Not only will your work feed your soul, volunteer work can put you in a good position for making good contacts and perhaps lead you to your next ‘real’ job.

3. Update your skills. The time you spend being between jobs or underemployed is the perfect time for you to invest in yourself. Not only will you add to your skill set, studying will also put you in the position of meeting new people, a new support group and help you take your mind off of the everyday stress of feeling unwanted. If you cannot afford to enrol in a ‘formal’ school, then choose to study subjects wherein no ‘school’ exists. Become an expert in the use of social media, search engine optimization and the like.

4. Build your reputation on LinkedIn. Answering questions in your areas of expertise, joining discussion groups, and asking contacts from your contract or volunteer work to write recommendations for your profile are all good ways to raise your visibility in your field. Likewise, the more active and involved you can get in professional and trade associations, the better.

The point here is to get to know people outside of a formal job application or interview process. A person you meet informally who is looking to hire someone with your skills and qualifications, and who is impressed with you, will often want to introduce you to the company wherein the work.

Copyright © 2011, Career Matters. All Rights Reserved.Permission to Reprint: This article may be reprinted, provided it appears in its entirety with the following attribution: Copyright © 2011, Career Matters. Reprinted by permission of Mary Salvino.“Career Matters” is a blog hosted by Mary Salvino, Senior Consultant for SMART Career Planning.com. This blog is dedicated to those who are seeking advice on managing their career and future job opportunities. We welcome readers to share their experiences, post their comments or ask questions about career related matters. For any questions or comments that are better addressed privately, please feel free to e-mail Mary directly at Mary.Salvino@shaw.ca

Top Jobs for 2011 and Beyond

There is nothing like the present to take the time to consider what might be right for your future in terms of career options. Below is a list of 150+ career option to consider:


1. Accountants
2. Accountants and Auditors
3. Actuaries
4. Acute Care Nurses
5. Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses
6. Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes
7. Allergists and Immunologists
8. Anaesthesiologist Assistants
9. Anaesthesiologists
10. Animal Trainers
11. Anthropologists
12. Anthropologists and Archaeologists
13. Archaeologists
14. Athletic Trainers
15. Audiologists
16. Auditors
17. Biochemists and Biophysicists
18. Biologists
19. Biomedical Engineers
20. Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians
21. Cargo and Freight Agents
22. Cartographers and Photogrammetrists
23. Chiropractors
24. Civil Engineers - Green
25. Climate Change Analysts - Green
26. Coaches and Scouts
27. Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists
28. Compliance Officers, Except Agriculture, Construction, Health and Safety, and Transportation
29. Computer and Information Scientists, Research
30. Computer Security Specialists
31. Computer Software Engineers, Applications
32. Computer Software Engineers, Systems Software - Green
33. Computer Systems Analysts
34. Construction Labourers - Green
35. Coroners
36. Cost Estimators
37. Critical Care Nurses
38. Curators
39. Database Administrators
40. Dental Assistants
41. Dental Hygienists
42. Dermatologists
43. Distance Learning Coordinators
44. Education Administrators, All Other
45. Emergency Management Specialists
46. Employment Interviewers
47. Employment, Recruitment, and Placement Specialists
48. Entertainment Attendants and Related Workers, All Other
49. Environmental Compliance Inspectors
50. Environmental Engineering Technicians - Green
51. Environmental Engineers - Green
52. Environmental Restoration Planners - Green
53. Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health - Green
54. Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health - Green
55. Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers
56. Family and General Practitioners
57. Financial Analysts - Green
58. Financial Examiners
59. Fitness and Wellness Coordinators
60. Fitness Trainers and Aerobics Instructors
61. Forensic Science Technicians
62. Freight Forwarders - Green
63. Funeral Attendants
64. Geographers
65. Government Property Inspectors and Investigators
66. Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists
67. Heating and Air Conditioning Mechanics and Installers - Green
68. Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers
69. Helpers--Carpenters - Green
70. Helpers--Electricians
71. Helpers--Pipe layers, Plumbers, Pipe fitters, and Steamfitters
72. Home Health Aides
73. Human Resources, Training, and Labour Relations Specialists, All Other
74. Industrial Ecologists - Green
75. Industrial-Organizational Psychologists
76. Informatics Nurse Specialists
77. Instructional Coordinators
78. Instructional Designers and Technologists
79. Internists, General
80. Interpreters and Translators
81. Landscape Architects - Green
82. Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses
83. Licensing Examiners and Inspectors
84. Logisticians
85. Logistics Analysts - Green
86. Logistics Engineers - Green
87. Low Vision Therapists, Orientation and Mobility Specialists, and Vision Rehabilitation Therapists
88. Management Analysts
89. Mapping Technicians
90. Market Research Analysts
91. Mathematicians
92. Medical and Public Health Social Workers
93. Medical Assistants
94. Medical Equipment Repairers
95. Medical Records and Health Information Technicians
96. Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists
97. Medical Secretaries
98. Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers
99. Mental Health Counsellors
100. Museum Technicians and Conservators
101. Network and Computer Systems Administrators
102. Network Systems and Data Communications Analysts
103. Neurologists
104. Non-farm Animal Caretakers
105. Nuclear Medicine Physicians
106. Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
107. Occupational Therapist Aides
108. Occupational Therapist Assistants
109. Occupational Therapists
110. Operations Research Analysts
111. Ophthalmologists
112. Optometrists
113. Orthodontists
114. Paralegals and Legal Assistants
115. Pathologists
116. Paediatricians, General
117. Personal and Home Care Aides
118. Personal Financial Advisors - Green
119. Personnel Recruiters
120. Pharmacy Technicians
121. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physicians
122. Physical Therapist Aides
123. Physical Therapist Assistants
124. Physical Therapists
125. Physician Assistants
126. Physicians and Surgeons, All Other
127. Preventive Medicine Physicians
128. Private Detectives and Investigators
129. Prosthodontists
130. Psychiatrists
131. Public Relations Specialists - Green
132. Radiation Therapists
133. Radiologists
134. Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers - Green
135. Registered Nurses
136. Regulatory Affairs Specialists - Green
137. Respiratory Therapists
138. Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers
139. Self-Enrichment Education Teachers
140. Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners
141. Skin Care Specialists
142. Social and Human Service Assistants
143. Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other
144. Sociologists
145. Special Education Teachers, Preschool, Kindergarten, and Elementary School
146. Sports Medicine Physicians
147. Substance Abuse and Behavioural Disorder Counsellors
148. Surgeons
149. Surgical Technologists
150. Survey Researchers
151. Surveying and Mapping Technicians
152. Surveying Technicians
153. Telecommunications Specialists
154. Training and Development Specialists - Green
155. Transportation Engineers - Green
156. Transportation Planners - Green
157. Tree Trimmers and Pruners
158. Urologists
159. Veterinarians
160. Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers
161. Veterinary Technologists and Technicians
162. Water and Liquid Waste Treatment Plant and System Operators
163. Water/Wastewater Engineers - Green

Green Construction — This sector covers activities related to constructing new green buildings, retrofitting residential and commercial buildings, and installing other green construction technology.

Renewable Energy Generation — This sector covers activities related to developing and using energy sources such as solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass. This sector also includes traditional, non-renewable sources of energy undergoing significant green technological changes (e.g., oil, coal, gas, and nuclear).

Research, Design, and Consulting Services — This sector encompasses "indirect jobs" to the green economy which includes activities such as energy consulting or research and other related business services.




Copyright © 2011, Career Matters. All Rights Reserved.Permission to Reprint: This article may be reprinted, provided it appears in its entirety with the following attribution: Copyright © 2010, Career Matters. Reprinted by permission of Mary Salvino.“Career Matters” is a blog hosted by Mary Salvino, Senior Consultant for SMART Career Planning.com. This blog is dedicated to those who are seeking advice on managing their career and future job opportunities. We welcome readers to share their experiences, post their comments or ask questions about career related matters. For any questions or comments that are better addressed privately, please feel free to e-mail Mary directly at Mary.Salvino@shaw.ca