Job Searching: What that Job Description Really Means

A job description is the primary document used to create a job posting or vacancy announcement. A job description will identify the position summary, primary tasks, working conditions, educational requirements, prior experience needed and additional licenses and certifications. Typically a job description is written by a functional expert who knows the intricacies of the position. Job postings on the other hand are often written by recruiters who may not know anything at all about the position they are trying to fill.

To a potential employee reviewing an actual job description is gold. It's like having all the answers to the test before you get asked a single question. Imagine going to an interview knowing all the primary responsibilities of a position and being able to tailor your every response exactly a company's particular need. You would be an interviewing machine - unstoppable - able to land any job, anywhere, at any time.

The next time you are in the hunt for new employment - do a little investigative work. Call up the human resource department and see if you can get your hands on a job description. If they say no (just as you might expect), Google or Bing your desired position and see what other companies are saying about the position. Check out the many employment websites and see if you can put a few more pieces together. You can also try searching for your desired position with the words "job description" after it and you will be amazed at the amount of data you will find. The more information you have, the more prepared you will be.

Job Searching: Job Fairs, Useful or Useless?

Well in true HR fashion, the answer is "it depends." It depends on you the attendee and your attitude and preparedness and it also depends on which businesses are in attendance and their reasons for being there. If you are properly prepared to interview and have all your ducks in a row then job fairs can and often do provide very successful outcomes. Many factors affect your success and guess what matters most... Yup, timing! Timing is almost all that matters.

Attending a job fair can provide real employment opportunities assuming that you find the needle in the haystack employer that is looking for someone exactly like you. Right skills, right fit, right place, right time. All things being equal, every applicant that walks into a job fair has just as much of a chance of being hired as the next person. Your strategy is to be the most prepared person in the room.

Here are a couple of tips when planning to attend a job fair:

1. Research the attending companies. Know a little something about them before you step up to their booth. Try to learn what their needs are and present yourself as the solution.

2. Dress the part. If you are a plumber and are applying for positions within your industry, dress one level up from your normal work day attire. Pressed khakis and a polo shirt or long sleeve button up with clean shoes or boots would be very appropriate. If you are a financial auditor looking for work, you would be best in your suit and tie.

3. Bring resumes. Bring clean, non crinkled resumes for distribution. Even if you have previously applied online, have a clean resume to pass out. Be sure your resume has your contact information, highlights your best qualities and accomplishments, is free of errors and has adequate white space.

4. NO GUM. Gum at a job fair is taboo. Use breath mints if you have a concern.

5. Turn off your cell phone. Turn off your cell phone while in the main expo and remove your earbuds. Playing music from any portable device also demonstrates a lack of interest in the process.

6. SMILE. A warm heartfelt smile can go a long way in breaking the ice and establishing rapport.

Job Fairs are a great way to make a first impression, provided it is the right one. Making a bad impression during a job fair can leave you earmarked as a nonviable candidate for a very long time.

Job Searching: Contract Jobs, Why Should You Consider Them?

Are you considering a career change? Are you thinking about launching yourself into a new industry? Contract assignments might be worth some consideration.

Contract assignments generally have a specific start and stop time and are primarily project based work. Contract assignments may pay more or less depending on the needs of the organization. Generally, administrative, clerical and customer service professionals are paid on the lower end of the wage scale, while IT and engineering professionals are paid for their demand skills.

The trouble with contract assignments is that the "Employer" may not always properly vet the required skills and abilities or they may not fully convey the scope of what is needed to be done. Contract assignments can be very difficult - you almost have to take the bull by the horns and jump right in since you will not get the benefit of employee orientation.

When looking for an assignment, be careful to research those agencies that you will work with - as not all agencies are alike. Reputable firms will have a solid orientation program, clearly and easily understood processing documentation, history on their clients and a reputation for treating their employees well. If you have any concerns about working contract assignments, as for references. Employment is still a two way street and it is in your best interest to make sure you are working with a firm that pays their bills and pays you - ON TIME, EVERY TIME!

Job Searching: 3 Keys to a Successful Job Search

#1 - BE PREPARED: Research the company ahead of time and don't wait for the last minute to cram a bunch of facts into your brain. Bring extra copies of printed resumes with you, regardless if you have already sent previous copies. Take time to rehearse your responses and remember to breathe. Usually the interviewers (more often the hiring managers) are just as nervous as you are.

#2 - BE PURPOSEFUL: Make a plan for your job search. Be methodical and practical about the companies you want to work for. Don't apply for a job that you are not qualified for or willing to accept if offered. You are wasting your time and the employer's time. Without fail, that stuff comes back to bite you.

#3 - BE PROFESSIONAL: Dress appropriately and watch the perfume/cologne. You don't want an interviewer explaining how they were overtaken by fumes when you walk in the door. Keep your answers relevant to the job and not what you did last weekend. Revisit all your social media sites to make sure the photos where you might be prominently displayed with an adult beverage are removed. Use handwritten thank you notes after each and every interview. Yeah, I know you are thinking, "really?" Really! It makes a huge difference in determining who really wants to be there versus who is there just to collect a check.

Job Searching: Does "Luck" Really Exist in a Job Search?

Luck, Smuck. OK - admittedly there is a certain bit of right place, right time mojo in landing your most coveted job. But more often than not, it is about understanding the hiring process and being the most prepared person in the room.

You have got to check yourself -

• Make sure you have done your homework and read up on the company you are trying to work for.
• Ensure you are properly dressed for the big interview and don't be wearing all that super trendy attire. You want to look the part; not the part that everyone is looking at.
• Mark out your route to the interview just to make sure you aren't late and know exactly where to park. If you're late, you may be out of a job.
• Be sure that the cell phone is locked off and stowed in its proper position. Actually, best left in the car.
• Leave your friends and family at home. This is your opportunity to stand on your own - no one is going to hold your hand every day at work. You have to do this one by yourself.
• Use a breath mint, not gum.
• Get busy preparing your responses to the tough questions...

- Why do you want to work here?

- What did you like least about your last job and why?

- What are your strengths and weaknesses?

- Tell me about a time when you had difficulty working with your boss and why?

It's not so much luck that plays a piece of getting you employed, but there is something to be said for karma. What you put out into the universe you are certainly going to get that back. Think positive! Think persuasive! Think peace!

Job Searching: Should I take Any Job to Have a Job?

Work is work, right? Well, sort of.

Being employed to meet your financial obligations and provide for your family is so very different than having a career or a profession that you are passionate about and can't wait to wake up to do every day. So taking a job, to have a job can provide a means to an end, but may not provide you all that you are looking for in a career.

If you must work, a job that provides skills in training with a reasonable wage is the best case scenario. Continue to highlight your newly found job skills and expand on them to build a stronger resume and ultimately get a better job leading to hire wages. Sometimes taking a job that is just completely outside of your skill set provides you personal satisfaction and can be equally beneficial.

Volunteering, while unpaid, can strengthen your skills and help you build numerous networking relationships. Taking a job to learn a new trade, make business connections and increase your exposure or awareness to a particular industry are all great reasons to take a job.

The caution with taking any job, especially one where the money seems too good to be true - it probably is. Taking a job just for the money, comes at a cost; a cost that you may not immediately see. When considering a position be sure to evaluate responsibilities, areas of authority, working hours, location, benefits, drive time, the people you would be working with, etc.

The best advice is to take a job ONLY if you have to. Patience and perseverance will ensure that the right job will eventually come along.

Job Searching: Standing Out in a Job Search

Standing out in a job search can mean one of two things. You really nailed the first impression or you didn't and everyone else is talking about it. Standing out for the right reasons requires patience, perseverance and practice.

Patience: Take your time to dress the part, look for the right opportunity to speak and use silence to your advantage. When dressing the part, make sure you dress one level above the position you are seeking. Use your manners and be courteous when speaking to others - you never know who is standing next to you. I once stood right next to my interviewer in an elevator; turns out he was lost and I gave him directions to the job fair and ended up following him all the way to the table. Be sure to use silence to your advantage - don't interrupt and don't over speak. Silence demonstrates patience for the process.

Perseverance: Don't give up. Finding a job is work and it takes time to create and foster the right leads. When you feel yourself getting down about the process do a little volunteer work. Helping others will make your troubles seem less significant and again you never know who might be standing right next to you.

Practice: Repeatedly, over and over again and then a few more times ask yourself the most dreaded question in all of interviewing: So tell me a little bit about yourself. If you don't know the answer - you better make one up. A couple of things to remember:

1. Keep your answers professional and succinct. Tell the interviewer your name, 3 strengths and how they make you the right person for the job and let them know you want to work for such an amazing company.

2. Keep your response positive and upbeat and stay focused on your accomplishments.

3. Allow for the interviewer to process your response before jumping in and adding more qualifying statements.

Standing out in a job search (for the right reasons) is not difficult - being prepared, positive and professional will go a long way in getting you an interview.

Top 10 Strategies for Networking to Gain Employment

Having been in the business of helping people find jobs for a number of years and frankly, been a job hunter myself - here are our Top 10 Strategies for Networking to Gain Employment.

10.	Talk to people at your church and find encouragement through prayer.
9.	Send birthday cards to your friends, family and business associates – not emails – real cards in the mail with a stamp. It is important to stay in touch all the time, not just when you might be job hunting.
8.	Visit with your Doctor, Dentist, Hairdresser or Professional Service Provider. Several years ago while my husband was getting examined in the emergency room, the nurse found out that I was in HR and proceeded to tell me all about her husband’s qualifications as a great mechanic. We exchanged information and ultimately forwarded the husband’s resume to a large firm that was hiring mechanics.
7.	Visit with other parents while attending your child’s (or other family members) sporting or school events. You can develop a tremendous referral network with like-minded parents.
6.	Participate in social networking sites. Be careful to keep your entries and contacts professional.
5.	Attend professional and industry association events. Try to meet several new people at each event and follow-up with them within a couple of days.
4.	Consider getting a hobby that encourages team participation (e.g. golf, playing cards, scrabble club, etc).
3.	Contact previous employers or former customers. If you left on less than good terms . . . see Numbers 10 and 9 above and try again in a year.
2.	Volunteer – it’s good for the soul and the economy.
1.	Attend business events where you have no real purpose for being there. In the HR industry, we often attend construction pre-bid meetings simply because we are meeting people generally outside our area of expertise. We are not seen as competitors and generally walk away with new contacts.

For more on connecting – creating meaningful, dynamic and resourceful relationships I highly encourage you to read the book Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi – it will change your life.