Business Corner

The modern job search has changed dramatically from only a few years ago. With the explosion of the internet most job searches typically now start online. As such, there’s a ton of information available on the web for the prospective job seeker. So much so, that it can be difficult to navigate and use in an effective manner. Let’s go though the big areas that should be used and explored in any quality search.
1. Search Engines: Mention the words “internet job search” and 9 out of 10 of us will probably think of online job search engines. These sites are almost always free (though most encourage users to register) and have a searchable jobs database to find jobs by location, keywords, salary etc.
Because of their popularity, these websites are often kept current and are easy to use and navigate. Additionally, they’ll often have a bunch of other free resources like salary surveys, resume posting, and company research. For many people, they’re truly becoming a one-stop shop for their job search.
There are several different types of online job search sites. The most popular and well-known are the big national websites (these are the Monsters and Careerbuilders). With all their resources they usually present a user-friendly website that also draws in the most job postings.
There are also the national niche’ sites. These websites are focused on a certain industry (i.e. technical or sales jobs), or a particular group or job type. While these sites certainly will have fewer available jobs, for the particular job-seeker they cater to they are often an excellent resource and help to find potential “matching” jobs quickly.
1. Regional websites are important because they offer the “next level” of job postings. Typically, it’s less expensive for an employer to post jobs on these sites (occasionally it’s free) so they can post a wider variety of openings. The sites also have the advantage of being Area-focused and can offer regional specific services and content.
2. Employer Websites: The most accurate, complete, and timely job information for an employer is available on their own website. Almost all large to medium sized employers (and many small employers as well) have a “Careers” or “Employment” section on their internet site.
Typically, these websites have the most current and accurate job information as they are maintained directly by the employer. Since there is little or no cost to add jobs to their own website (as opposed to placing adds on job search engines) all the available jobs are usually posted instead of only the high-profile position. Employers want you to find their job postings on their website instead of some search engine because it doesn’t cost them anything. As a result, it’s often the best place to find all the jobs for a particular employer.
3. Newspapers: Newspapers are the traditional source for job postings. Prior to the internet, job hunters frequently scanned the “want ads” in the classified sections of their newspapers. For many of the largest regional or national newspapers the want ad scanning has evolved into online posting of jobs that are searchable by the website user. These postings may also be the same that appear in the print version of the paper.
Many local or smaller newspapers many not have the resources to build and maintain a searchable website. Often, local newspapers are owned by a single company and have pooled their job search resources into a single site for all their newspapers.
While small newspaper websites may not have all the jobs on some of the larger more popular sites, they are an excellent resource for strictly local or part time work that wouldn’t warrant the employer placing (and paying for) an ad in a regional paper or search engine. If you want to find part-time work in Apple Valley, for example, the local Apple Valley newspaper is a great resource.
The job resources in the larger newspapers often can rival and compete with the big national job search engines. They usually have advanced search capabilities, resume posting, and employer/company research. The smaller newspaper sites can be more difficult to navigate and use and will often be solely listings of job openings that may need to be scanned manually.
4. Social Networking: One of the most effective means of find jobs is by networking with family, friends, and former co-workers. In the past, this was accomplished by each person maintaining their own manual “network” of people to communicate with. This too has changed (dramatically!) with the advancement of web based social networking websites where people can collaborate and communicate with others anywhere in the world.
Along with some of the more well known sites such as Facebook, there are also sites that focus exclusively on business networking. On these sites, networking with people who work in the industry or even at the company you’d like to work for can be a valuable advantage over other applicants.
These websites can offer you experience and insights that would be difficult to gather on your own, especially if you are making a career switch and have little or no experience in your new industry.
As with other web sites, be cautious about where you go and who to interact with. There are plenty of news stories recently about the misuse and true dangers that can occur with social networking websites. Just because the other individual says who they are and where they work doesn’t mean it’s true. Always be cautious and protect your privacy!
There you have it – use all of these resources for an effective online job search!

Being knowledgeable about what types of careers will be sticking around in the future and those that are losing momentum is something important to keep up with. This will not only let individuals know which companies are hiring, but it will let those going into school decide on majors that will be profitable and create a lasting employment future.
Network Systems and Data Communication Analysts
This is one of the fastest growing job markets available today. It is expected to grow by 30 percent within the next decade. The most important job that these people have is to transfer, store, and analyze information related to computers. More people will be needed for this job as the internet continues to grow and more uses become available.
Most of the time, this position will require a bachelor’s degree. Some different types of majors to consider are computer science, information science, and management information systems. Good skills to hone are problem-solving, communication, and analytical.
Physician Assistants
Within the next decade the need for physician assistants is expected rise to 39 percent. They practice different specialties under a physician. These are typically the people who provide diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive healthcare that was delegated to them by a supervising physician.
To receive training most must have completed a degree or have training in some type of health care. All states require formal training and that each individual pass the national exam to obtain a license. Anyone considering this field must not only become licensed but must possess a desire to serve patients. This means having good bed-side manner, the ability to handle pressure and make decisions in an emergency, and be emotionally stable.
Fitness Trainers and Aerobics Instructors
Fitness trainers and aerobics instructors lead people in various exercise activities that help access their level of fitness. This career is expected to have a 29 percent increase over the next few years. It is related to more and more people buying exercise and fitness equipment. Many exercises they help with are cardiovascular exercise, strength training, and stretching.
Training for fitness trainers is different depending on the type of specialization they want to go into. Most trainers do have to get certified no matter what they plan to do, however. One of the most important things employers look for besides training is the ability for someone to lead a class and do it safely.
Veterinary Technologists and Technicians
Many owners expect to put their pets in the hands of experts. The job of veterinary technologists and technicians is to perform medical tests, treat, and diagnose animals. By 2018 this vocation is expected to have grown by 36 percent. It is predicted to be one of the fastest growing fields, and people can find jobs as livestock management, pharmaceutical sales, and wildlife medicine.
Training typically requires 2 to 4 years of education. Most states require that vets pass some sort of exam to be certified. They must have great communication skills and be able to work with others.

Some of these may be obvious, but definitely helpful. The job I currently have I never thought I was qualified for, I didn’t think I was good enough, and never thought in a million years I’d find a job after college. These tips helped me and hopefully they’ll help you. These are in no particular order.
1. Most Employers do not rely heavily on GPA. Mine was a little above average at best, some of my friends had much better GPAs yet I was one of the first ones to get a job.
2. Be yourself. This one is obvious, but can’t be stressed enough. Show them show them who you really are. Personality is just as important as knowledge! The company will definitely train you in everything you need to know.
3. Speak up, speak confidently. Be confident in how you talk to them. If you aren’t sure of something tell them, be honest. Everyone appreciates honesty. Confidence can go a long way, but make sure you do not come off as cocky!
4. Firm handshakes and make sure you smile! Once again this shows confidence and shows that you have personality. I can’t stress enough how big of a factor personality is. People can tell a lot by just a handshake so make it count!
5. JOB FAIRS! I wasn’t going to go to the job fair in my last semester in college, but I am definitely glad I did. I was worried I wasn’t qualified, I wasn’t prepared and even that I didn’t dress nicely enough. All that was not true and things really worked out. Job Fairs give you one of your first few chances to get your name out there. These are your biggest opportunity to find a job and one that is right for you!
6. Build up that resume. I didn’t touch my resume for a long time, but a friend had helped me the night before the job fair. We fixed it and after just a little time working on it, I was very pleased with how it turned out. Make sure you include all your information in a professional layout. Make sure it is no more than a page!
7. When going into interviews, be prepare! Do your research on who is interviewing you. It pays to know a little bit about the company. It will show them how interested you really are. This is something that will really impress employers. They appreciate you taking your time to get to know the company.
8. Think about what questions that could be asked. Think about times when you were successful and unsuccessful. They will ask about both, and everyone has failed one time or another. Be specific. This will help keep you from being caught off guard by a question.
9. Don’t be afraid of a commute. I drive 45 minutes to and from work everyday. It is tough, because it makes the workday a little longer. You’ll definitely get used to it. It will be worth it. Many people struggle to find a job and sometime it is because they won’t apply to places that are a little bit of a drive from where they live.
10. Get in your zone. Everyone gets nervous before a big interview, it’s natural. Once the interview begins, just breathe and take your time answer questions. You prepared for this, following steps above will help you get into a rhythm and the interview will end up being easy and successful!
You can get a job in this economy, just work hard, be confident and put yourself out there and you’ll be fine. Good luck graduates!

Holiday job hunting is one aspect of the job search that is often overlooked. Very few people realize that job hunting during this time of year could be the stepping stone into their desired career. Indeed, there are many reasons why one should continue looking for a job during the holidays.
Firstly, many employers are more receptive to job applicants during this time of year. This is because there is sometimes less pressure on employers to find candidates, which allows them to take more time listening to applicants. Many senior persons also take time off work. Although this might mean that decisions will be delayed until they return, it also means that applicants will communicate with lower level officers who they can easier befriend and get useful tips from.
Holiday job hunting is also important because many businesses do not close down or, if they do, they only close down for a short period. During the December season, businesses want to clear stock or meet certain targets before the end of the year. So they may want to take on extra staff precisely for this purpose. In addition, businesses want to regularize the staff count before the beginning of the next financial year. Departments, too, want to utilize their head count allocation for the year and so may aim to hire as many staffers as they require before their approval lapses.
It is also during the holiday season that several workers in an organization need someone to temporarily relieve them of their duties. The company will, therefore, need to hire more people than usual to fill-in until the regular workers return. Even though such positions are usually temporary, many times these positions end up being a stepping stone to a permanent job with the same organization. This is also a good way to network. As you interact with other workers at the organization, they will inform you of job opportunities within the firm and even in competing organizations.
The other important factor to consider is that far fewer people search actively for jobs during the holidays. This gives you a good opportunity to compete with fewer qualified applicants for desirable jobs. Combined with the search for qualified personnel during the holidays, you will be better positioned to land a good job more than at any other time of the year. Remember that many job seekers also see this as the time to relax; hence, you should take advantage of this widespread laxity to move forward in your career.
But even with the opportunities available, always remember that starting early is always best. For example, do not wait until Christmas Eve to start sending out applications and making phone calls. Leaving it to too late will only work to your disadvantage. The earlier you start, the better your chances will be of catching any opportunities that arise.
Candace Davies, Owner of A+ Resumes for Teachers is a Global Career Management Professional dedicated to assisting educators worldwide leverage their strengths, accomplishments, and unique selling points to capture their dream career. Her team has successfully assisted 3500+ education professionals by transforming their talents into concise documents that secure numerous interviews.

Finding a good job any time can be tough. But, let’s face it, finding any job in a bad economy can be a very serious challenge. There are lots of questions like:
• Who is hiring?
• Are they a good company to work for?
• How stable are they?
• Have they fired or laid off any employees in the recent past?
• What type of salary do they offer?
• Is the salary and/or benefits package competitive?
• What positions are they looking to fill?
• Am I qualified?
And this could go on and on and on. And unfortunately, for most of us, there might not be very many concrete answers. You might just be taking a shot in the dark, rolling the dice, trying your luck or any number of old, used up cliches. The bottom line is, finding a good job, no matter what the current economic client is, can be a very tricky endeavor indeed.
Fortunately, there are several industries that somehow seem to be almost impervious to the economic client and good, strong candidates with the right experience, credentials and skill sets are always in demand. Take for instance the field of IT (Information Technology). Throughout the ups and down of the latest economic roller coaster, this field constantly shows growth and the right candidate applying for the right position is almost assured a position. Also consider the medical field. No matter what the economy does, people are going to always get sick and many will require medical attention. This fact makes the medical field another almost sure-fire bet.
Another field that doesn’t appear to suffer much ill effect from the state of the economy is the communications field. Granted, it too may have suffered somewhat from the current state of the economy but, the bottom line is, there are quite a few companies out there that are searching for the right candidate to fill that one opening that is open and requires just the right person, with just the right skills in order to keep the company moving forward.
So that brings us right back to where we were before. The plethora of questions that a potential employee has. And, let’s not forget, the potential employer has their own set of questions that they need answered, as well. So, the big questions is… How does the right employee and the right employer go about finding one another?
Fortunately, in the world of executive communication positions, there are executive search firms that make it their business to find the right employee and match them with the right employer and create a bonafide win win situation for all parties involved. If you are an employer looking for that special executive candidate that has all of the right skills, experience, tools, desire and energy or an executive candidate that is looking for the right company that will treat you with honor and respect, give you a challenge, help you to further your career and will definitely compensate a stellar candidate when they see one…. then you both need a quality, tried and true executive search firm and in the DC Metro area, that would most certainly be the Travaille Executive Search Firm.
Travaille has been in business since 1972 and they specialize in bringing together the right candidate and the right employer. Their years of dedication and service to the Communications industry have made them one of the front runners in sizing up the talent and making sure that the employee and employer get exactly what they want and need, even if neither initially knows exactly what that is. Their years of experience, attention to detail and unwavering dedication to optimal customer service, has given them a supremely unique ability to find the exact right square, round or oblong peg to slide seamlessly into the hole presented by the employers’ current needs. And since they serve all of the major metropolitan areas, including Washington DC, Maryland, Virginia, Chicago, New York, Dallas, Houston, Philadelphia and Los Angeles, you can be sure that there is position with a great firm that is challenging and rewarding in just the right area to suit your needs.