I just wanted to give you a heads up if you live in Oklahoma. There is to be March Job Fair held in Oklahoma City, by Employment Services.
Location: Oklahoma City Community College
College Union Dining Area
When: Wednesday March 2, 2011
Times: General Employment opportunities from 10AM to 2PM
Health Care Professions from 12PM to 6PM
for additional information you can call 405-682-7519
or email: employmentservices@occc.edu
Local job fairs are an excellent opportunity for you to get out and mingle with other applicants and get a feel for your competition and also to visit with prospective employers to learn what is out there. The employers will let you know what types of positions they are looking to fill and the approximate salary ranges for those positions.
It is important that you stay current on what is being offered and how much companies are willing to pay for your expertise. In today's job market, it is not unusual to see salaries less than what you might anticipate them being.
Be sure to go to a job fair dressed as if you were at a regular interview. This is not the time to be wearing that faded tee shirt and your holey jeans! Be sure that your personal grooming and your attire speaks well of you and that you indeed are seriously looking for work.
Get a briefcase or a nice portfolio case in which to put plenty of your resumes. Put together several different types of resumes, targeting your various skills, to fit into the many varieties of positions that you can qualify for. Not one type of resume will fill the bill!
If you do not live in Oklahoma, or want to live here, check your local area for upcoming events. They are often held at various colleges and sponsored by your state's employment services division.
Happy job hunting!
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Need A Little Help From My Friends
Just like those of you who are out there looking for work, it is always nice to get a little help from your friends.It is called networking and each and every one of you who is looking for work should be using this very valuable tool in your job hunt.
You are one of many who are out there looking for work. Let your friends know, don't suffer in silence! Let your friends, your church family, and any other acquaintances you might have know that you are looking. You might be surprised at the leads you generate. They may know someone or someone they know who knows someone who is looking for a person with your expertise!
If you keep interviewing with companies and don't get an offer, go ahead and contact that person who interviewed you. Tell them that you really appreciated interviewing with them and even though you were not hired, would they happen to know anyone else who might be looking for someone with your background. You might not have been a good match for their company, but you might be perfect for someone else that they happen to know who is hiring.
Now I am going to ask for some help from those of you who are following this blog or even if this is your first visit here. I want to know if the information I have been giving you has been beneficial to you? Have I provided you with some good ideas of how to find work in some new areas that you have not considered before? Have I been able to give you some encouragement? Are there any areas of employment or helping you prepare resumes or for interviews that you would like me to cover?
This blog is written to help you find employment, be it something temporary to hold you over and put food on the table and a roof over your head until you find that perfect job, or to encourage you to look at some new avenues for a career path. The best way for me to serve you is to have some feedback from you on how I am meeting those needs.
So come on, give me a shout and let me know your opinions. I would love to hear from you.
You are one of many who are out there looking for work. Let your friends know, don't suffer in silence! Let your friends, your church family, and any other acquaintances you might have know that you are looking. You might be surprised at the leads you generate. They may know someone or someone they know who knows someone who is looking for a person with your expertise!
If you keep interviewing with companies and don't get an offer, go ahead and contact that person who interviewed you. Tell them that you really appreciated interviewing with them and even though you were not hired, would they happen to know anyone else who might be looking for someone with your background. You might not have been a good match for their company, but you might be perfect for someone else that they happen to know who is hiring.
Now I am going to ask for some help from those of you who are following this blog or even if this is your first visit here. I want to know if the information I have been giving you has been beneficial to you? Have I provided you with some good ideas of how to find work in some new areas that you have not considered before? Have I been able to give you some encouragement? Are there any areas of employment or helping you prepare resumes or for interviews that you would like me to cover?
This blog is written to help you find employment, be it something temporary to hold you over and put food on the table and a roof over your head until you find that perfect job, or to encourage you to look at some new avenues for a career path. The best way for me to serve you is to have some feedback from you on how I am meeting those needs.
So come on, give me a shout and let me know your opinions. I would love to hear from you.
Monday, February 21, 2011
No Light At The End Of The Tunnel
From what I have been seeing in the news, hearing from others who are still unemployed and looking for work, the present employment picture is continuing to look very bleak!
Over the Christmas holidays some workers were hired in anticipation of more people in the stores, letting loose of their hard earned cash buying gifts for loved ones. The sad thing is, not as many people were hired for this time period and few were retained afterward and were thus put back into the unemployment line.
Unemployment figures are deceiving as to the number of people who are currently unemployed as many who were once able to collect their benefits have now fallen off the rolls and are no longer counted in that figure, even though they are not working. Some people have totally given up looking for a job and are now in total despair as to what they are going to do next to keep body and soul together. The two sections of our population who are being most affected by our current economic situation are young college graduates who are anxious to get out into the working world so that they are able to begin paying on their student loans which they encumbered and are now coming due and the older sector of laid off workers who are over forty years of age! Yes folks that is what I said, anyone over forty is having an extremely difficult time finding a job.
A disturbing article I read the other day, stated that many companies who are in a position to be adding on new employees are not even looking at anyone who has been unemployed for over six months! Their reasoning according to one executive recruiter, who happened to spill the beans, is that they feel anyone who has been out of work for over six months now has "outdated skills" especially if they are in the hi-tech industry.
Some career positions I am afraid will never come back after this recession is over. Many duties and responsibilities were incorporated into existing positions when companies laid off personnel and I don't see those positions being recreated later on. If you haven't been reading and keeping up with the times about what career positions are hot and will continue to be hot hiring areas, I would suggest you start boning up now.
I can not stress this enough, any position that deals with elder care will be in high demand. I don't care if it is a community that is geared to just elder living facilities, to in-home care for those who are preferring to "age in place" in their own homes, special medical facilities that deal with care and rehabilitation for the aging population will all be requiring employees now or in the near future.
Lets look at some examples and perhaps this might even give you some ideas about starting your own business:
Senior living apartment complexes often have shuttle bus drivers to take residents to doctor appointments, to the beauty shop, the bank and the shopping mall.
Senior communities, where there is a club house and lawns to be maintained hire yard workers Some of these communities also have a Registered Nurse on staff to help with minor medical problems and to help residents with their medications to be sure they are taking them correctly.
So gyms have special instructors who work with their elderly clientele to be sure that they are exercising properly.
Nursing homes and assisted living facilities use a variety of nursing staff, kitchen help, a dietitian for creating balance meals, as well as a housekeeping staff and grounds keeping staff to keep the facilities clean and inviting for both the residents and their guests.
Some seniors are no longer able to drive and might appreciate having some type of service that would either take them to the stores so they can do their own shopping or be willing to pay someone to do it for them.
Home Remodeling businesses are now looking at concentrating on doing nothing but making existing homes safer for the elderly to live in. From widening doorways to make wheelchairs and walkers easy to maneuver through openings, to lowering cabinets and cooking prep areas in kitchens so someone in a wheelchair can prepare their own meals to installing safety bars in bathrooms and redoing showers and tubs so that they are easily accessible.
Lawn care services for the elderly are going to be needed as more an more live in their own homes but are no longer able to care for their property properly.
Are you a bookkeeper or an accountant? How many elderly people do you know that need assistance in making sure that their bills are paid every month and their stock portfolios (if they are lucky enough to still have any) are up to date and in order.
I hope these give you some ideas on places that you might look for work or perhaps venture into business for yourself.
Over the Christmas holidays some workers were hired in anticipation of more people in the stores, letting loose of their hard earned cash buying gifts for loved ones. The sad thing is, not as many people were hired for this time period and few were retained afterward and were thus put back into the unemployment line.
Unemployment figures are deceiving as to the number of people who are currently unemployed as many who were once able to collect their benefits have now fallen off the rolls and are no longer counted in that figure, even though they are not working. Some people have totally given up looking for a job and are now in total despair as to what they are going to do next to keep body and soul together. The two sections of our population who are being most affected by our current economic situation are young college graduates who are anxious to get out into the working world so that they are able to begin paying on their student loans which they encumbered and are now coming due and the older sector of laid off workers who are over forty years of age! Yes folks that is what I said, anyone over forty is having an extremely difficult time finding a job.
A disturbing article I read the other day, stated that many companies who are in a position to be adding on new employees are not even looking at anyone who has been unemployed for over six months! Their reasoning according to one executive recruiter, who happened to spill the beans, is that they feel anyone who has been out of work for over six months now has "outdated skills" especially if they are in the hi-tech industry.
Some career positions I am afraid will never come back after this recession is over. Many duties and responsibilities were incorporated into existing positions when companies laid off personnel and I don't see those positions being recreated later on. If you haven't been reading and keeping up with the times about what career positions are hot and will continue to be hot hiring areas, I would suggest you start boning up now.
I can not stress this enough, any position that deals with elder care will be in high demand. I don't care if it is a community that is geared to just elder living facilities, to in-home care for those who are preferring to "age in place" in their own homes, special medical facilities that deal with care and rehabilitation for the aging population will all be requiring employees now or in the near future.
Lets look at some examples and perhaps this might even give you some ideas about starting your own business:
Senior living apartment complexes often have shuttle bus drivers to take residents to doctor appointments, to the beauty shop, the bank and the shopping mall.
Senior communities, where there is a club house and lawns to be maintained hire yard workers Some of these communities also have a Registered Nurse on staff to help with minor medical problems and to help residents with their medications to be sure they are taking them correctly.
So gyms have special instructors who work with their elderly clientele to be sure that they are exercising properly.
Nursing homes and assisted living facilities use a variety of nursing staff, kitchen help, a dietitian for creating balance meals, as well as a housekeeping staff and grounds keeping staff to keep the facilities clean and inviting for both the residents and their guests.
Some seniors are no longer able to drive and might appreciate having some type of service that would either take them to the stores so they can do their own shopping or be willing to pay someone to do it for them.
Home Remodeling businesses are now looking at concentrating on doing nothing but making existing homes safer for the elderly to live in. From widening doorways to make wheelchairs and walkers easy to maneuver through openings, to lowering cabinets and cooking prep areas in kitchens so someone in a wheelchair can prepare their own meals to installing safety bars in bathrooms and redoing showers and tubs so that they are easily accessible.
Lawn care services for the elderly are going to be needed as more an more live in their own homes but are no longer able to care for their property properly.
Are you a bookkeeper or an accountant? How many elderly people do you know that need assistance in making sure that their bills are paid every month and their stock portfolios (if they are lucky enough to still have any) are up to date and in order.
I hope these give you some ideas on places that you might look for work or perhaps venture into business for yourself.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Hey Shutterbug!
Are you a good photographer? Are you one of those people who live to point that camera and take a picture of just about anything from a beautiful sunrise or sunset, to animals, old barns, and baskets of fruit on a table to a picture of a juicy steak on a plate? If so, you need to be turning your photography skills into a little extra cash for your pocket.
There are many websites on the Internet that will pay you for your pictures, no matter what the subject matter is. There are people who will pay a fee to download your pictures and use them on their websites and you are paid for that downloaded picture. How great is that?
In most cases, you will be required to complete an application with the websites you want to use to carry your pictures. Pay can range from 20 cents or 25 cents per download to as much as $7.50 or more, depending on the websites. Some require that you hit at least $50 in downloads before a payment is issued to you, but do not let that discourage you, if you have a good variety of subject matter that money adds up quickly. You can give a website either exclusive or non-exclusive rights to your materials. Be sure to read their contract agreement so that you can determine whether you are giving them the rights to your photos or if you are able to retain ownership.
Believe me when I say, there are people out there right now who are making a nice monthly income just off of the photographs that they are putting up on the Internet for sale. Here is a list of some of the better known sites although I am sure there plenty more that could and will be added to this list over the coming months as more and more people begin creating websites who are in need of art work for their website.
These websites are not listed in any particular order.
ThinkStock.com
123rf.com (rf stands for royalty free)
Crestock.com - with this company you can retain the rights to your photographs
Shutterstock.com
Dreamstime.com
IStockphoto.com
Bigstockphoto.com
cutcaster.com
fotosearch.com
So go ahead, take a picture of that bowl of ice cream with chocolate sauce or that cute kid with the dirty face from eating it! Alternatively, a picture of that sink full of dirty dishes to the dogs out playing in the sprinkler. You never know what someone is looking for from the most mundane subject material to those that you would most likely think someone would want to use on their websites.
Are you in need of ideas for subject matter for your photos? Just go browse the Internet for ideas, believe me, you will have so many ideas running through your head by the time you have spent an hour or two looking, you will feel like you are on a merry-go-round! Oh hey, there is a shot for you!
Get out that digital camera and get clicking and you will soon be on your way.
There are many websites on the Internet that will pay you for your pictures, no matter what the subject matter is. There are people who will pay a fee to download your pictures and use them on their websites and you are paid for that downloaded picture. How great is that?
In most cases, you will be required to complete an application with the websites you want to use to carry your pictures. Pay can range from 20 cents or 25 cents per download to as much as $7.50 or more, depending on the websites. Some require that you hit at least $50 in downloads before a payment is issued to you, but do not let that discourage you, if you have a good variety of subject matter that money adds up quickly. You can give a website either exclusive or non-exclusive rights to your materials. Be sure to read their contract agreement so that you can determine whether you are giving them the rights to your photos or if you are able to retain ownership.
Believe me when I say, there are people out there right now who are making a nice monthly income just off of the photographs that they are putting up on the Internet for sale. Here is a list of some of the better known sites although I am sure there plenty more that could and will be added to this list over the coming months as more and more people begin creating websites who are in need of art work for their website.
These websites are not listed in any particular order.
ThinkStock.com
123rf.com (rf stands for royalty free)
Crestock.com - with this company you can retain the rights to your photographs
Shutterstock.com
Dreamstime.com
IStockphoto.com
Bigstockphoto.com
cutcaster.com
fotosearch.com
So go ahead, take a picture of that bowl of ice cream with chocolate sauce or that cute kid with the dirty face from eating it! Alternatively, a picture of that sink full of dirty dishes to the dogs out playing in the sprinkler. You never know what someone is looking for from the most mundane subject material to those that you would most likely think someone would want to use on their websites.
Are you in need of ideas for subject matter for your photos? Just go browse the Internet for ideas, believe me, you will have so many ideas running through your head by the time you have spent an hour or two looking, you will feel like you are on a merry-go-round! Oh hey, there is a shot for you!
Get out that digital camera and get clicking and you will soon be on your way.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Rat Race Rebellion
I would like to take some time today to highlight a company that I really like and that is Rat Race Rebellion.
One of the reasons I really like them is because they take time to pre-screen all the jobs that they list, which is so important because out there in cyber space there are many companies that are scams and they try their very best to be sure that they only list legitimate companies with real offerings for you to look at.
They list companies from a variety of venues where you may have an opportunity to work at home or be able to work directly for a brick and mortar company. Today they listed a very unusual opening for needs from a reputable company that will provide some nice "perks". Their needs are only in certain cities, there is paid training at their offices and it will allow you to get outside and have contact with the customers you will be servicing. Have I tweaked your interest? If so, head over to their website Rat Race Rebellion and take a look for yourself!
While you are there, go ahead and sign up for their emails so you are notified of other positions that might be of interest to you and enjoy reading their blog, which is listed on the left side panel, for some uplifting ideas on how to handle today's job hunting world.
One of the reasons I really like them is because they take time to pre-screen all the jobs that they list, which is so important because out there in cyber space there are many companies that are scams and they try their very best to be sure that they only list legitimate companies with real offerings for you to look at.
They list companies from a variety of venues where you may have an opportunity to work at home or be able to work directly for a brick and mortar company. Today they listed a very unusual opening for needs from a reputable company that will provide some nice "perks". Their needs are only in certain cities, there is paid training at their offices and it will allow you to get outside and have contact with the customers you will be servicing. Have I tweaked your interest? If so, head over to their website Rat Race Rebellion and take a look for yourself!
While you are there, go ahead and sign up for their emails so you are notified of other positions that might be of interest to you and enjoy reading their blog, which is listed on the left side panel, for some uplifting ideas on how to handle today's job hunting world.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
New Year and New Goals
Okay, you’ve had a couple of weeks now to adjust to the let-down of the holidays, all the hustle and bustle and the worry about where you were last year at this time! Now it is time to pull yourself up by the bootstraps and go after that new job that you are in need of in order to survive.
I am sure that you like everyone else, made out your New Year’s Resolutions and have already promptly filed them away in a drawer, never to be seen again.
Now it is time for some serious evaluation here and you need to make out a GOALS list that you see every single day. No cheating now! This has to be a BIG GOALS BOARD where you are going to post all your wants and needs for your new job.
It needs to be out where you can see it on a daily basis. Statistics show that people who make visual goal boards are more likely to obtain their goals than those who do not!
Be realistic but dare to dream as well.
Start with the types of jobs you are looking for
The salary you are expecting to earn
The benefit packages that you want included
The regions of the country where you are willing to go to obtain these goals.
What are your strengths and what are your weaknesses? Not only skills wise but also personality wise?
Now what are you going to do to reach those goals?
Are you willing to work Temporary jobs while you look for what you want and need?
Do you need to think about going back to college? Can you get a grant…? Not a loan to do so?
Are you willing to relocate to another city or state? Have you done your research?
Have you reevaluated your salary needs? Can you get by on less now than you thought you could 6 mos or 12 mos ago?
Are you willing to sell some of your “stuff” in order to be in a better position financially than you are now?
Have you considered the idea of starting your own business?
Have you thought about working from home for a while?
When you see what you have to work with and what you need to get where you want to go your chances of getting there are so much better!
Let me know what you are doing to reach your goals, I would love to hear what you are doing.
I am sure that you like everyone else, made out your New Year’s Resolutions and have already promptly filed them away in a drawer, never to be seen again.
Now it is time for some serious evaluation here and you need to make out a GOALS list that you see every single day. No cheating now! This has to be a BIG GOALS BOARD where you are going to post all your wants and needs for your new job.
It needs to be out where you can see it on a daily basis. Statistics show that people who make visual goal boards are more likely to obtain their goals than those who do not!
Be realistic but dare to dream as well.
Start with the types of jobs you are looking for
The salary you are expecting to earn
The benefit packages that you want included
The regions of the country where you are willing to go to obtain these goals.
What are your strengths and what are your weaknesses? Not only skills wise but also personality wise?
Now what are you going to do to reach those goals?
Are you willing to work Temporary jobs while you look for what you want and need?
Do you need to think about going back to college? Can you get a grant…? Not a loan to do so?
Are you willing to relocate to another city or state? Have you done your research?
Have you reevaluated your salary needs? Can you get by on less now than you thought you could 6 mos or 12 mos ago?
Are you willing to sell some of your “stuff” in order to be in a better position financially than you are now?
Have you considered the idea of starting your own business?
Have you thought about working from home for a while?
When you see what you have to work with and what you need to get where you want to go your chances of getting there are so much better!
Let me know what you are doing to reach your goals, I would love to hear what you are doing.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Happy New Year Everyone
Ready………….Set………. GO!
Just a few more hours and this year will be history! If you are like me you are glad it is coming to a close and praying that the coming year is going to be better.
If you are still out there looking for work, I hope that you went ahead and did some job hunting before Christmas and that you are doing so right now as well! Chances are there are going to be some openings in January and companies will be collecting resumes right now.
Many companies laid off people in December, especially if they had no intentions of keeping them this coming year. By doing so, before the first of the year, they will not have to continue to carry their records on their books this coming year. Companies are famous for layoffs about two weeks before Christmas!
If you are still not employed, take this time to reevaluate your needs vs. your desires as far as your salary requirements and the types of positions you are looking for. Take stock of your actual needs. Can you cut some more corners in the way of expenses in order to be able to accept a lower salary? Are you now willing to relocate? Take a job that doesn’t have the fancy job title that you think you need to have?
Predictions are that the job market is going to be a tough one for several more years and there will be an abundance of available workers to fill even the most menial positions.
It appears that there are going to be some sectors that will have increasing needs for qualified employees. Expect there to be increased hiring in the health care industry. This will include everything from nurse’s aids, LPN’s, RN’s and PA’s in various types of employment settings from nursing homes, traveling nurses, and hospitals to doctor’s offices and the new types of housing developments where there are assisted living facilities as well as full care facilities in one location. Elder care is going to be on the increase as our aging population continues to grow.
In the past I would have suggested that there is always a need for teacher’s assistants, teachers, firemen, policemen and other types of law enforcement personnel to work in the jails and the court systems, or any position in a government setting, But with cuts in funds to operate these needed facilities at all levels of government, I would not recommend these occupations at this time. The coffers are hurting at city and state government levels as well as at the federal level. Many City and State governments are reducing services because of lack of funds to cover salaries.
Once again, brawn power over brain power may well be in demand. There will continue to be needs for good auto mechanics, plumbers and electricians. Not necessarily plumbers and electricians for new home construction but for taking care of needed repairs in existing homes. There may also be a demand for construction people who are good in handling remodeling repairs and changes to existing homes. Many people are deciding it is much more practical to put money into remodeling their existing homes rather than to try and purchase a new home in the present housing market. Again, look to an increase in work for the elderly who have decided to “age in place,” either out of choice or necessity. There will be work to do in making homes more wheelchair accessible, which will include widening doorways, adding safety bars in bathrooms and ramps outside to eliminate the need for navigating steps.
There is still work that will be available working on the Internet. Whether it is signing up to do surveys, which will bring in some money depending on how many you do per day, or writing articles for companies who will pay you to do so. You might also want to start a blog, such as this, where you share information with others and have affiliate marketing ads on your site that might be of interest to your readers. You won’t get rich quick but over time you might find this to be a nice source of some extra income and have an enjoyable time doing it.
Just a few more hours and this year will be history! If you are like me you are glad it is coming to a close and praying that the coming year is going to be better.
If you are still out there looking for work, I hope that you went ahead and did some job hunting before Christmas and that you are doing so right now as well! Chances are there are going to be some openings in January and companies will be collecting resumes right now.
Many companies laid off people in December, especially if they had no intentions of keeping them this coming year. By doing so, before the first of the year, they will not have to continue to carry their records on their books this coming year. Companies are famous for layoffs about two weeks before Christmas!
If you are still not employed, take this time to reevaluate your needs vs. your desires as far as your salary requirements and the types of positions you are looking for. Take stock of your actual needs. Can you cut some more corners in the way of expenses in order to be able to accept a lower salary? Are you now willing to relocate? Take a job that doesn’t have the fancy job title that you think you need to have?
Predictions are that the job market is going to be a tough one for several more years and there will be an abundance of available workers to fill even the most menial positions.
It appears that there are going to be some sectors that will have increasing needs for qualified employees. Expect there to be increased hiring in the health care industry. This will include everything from nurse’s aids, LPN’s, RN’s and PA’s in various types of employment settings from nursing homes, traveling nurses, and hospitals to doctor’s offices and the new types of housing developments where there are assisted living facilities as well as full care facilities in one location. Elder care is going to be on the increase as our aging population continues to grow.
In the past I would have suggested that there is always a need for teacher’s assistants, teachers, firemen, policemen and other types of law enforcement personnel to work in the jails and the court systems, or any position in a government setting, But with cuts in funds to operate these needed facilities at all levels of government, I would not recommend these occupations at this time. The coffers are hurting at city and state government levels as well as at the federal level. Many City and State governments are reducing services because of lack of funds to cover salaries.
Once again, brawn power over brain power may well be in demand. There will continue to be needs for good auto mechanics, plumbers and electricians. Not necessarily plumbers and electricians for new home construction but for taking care of needed repairs in existing homes. There may also be a demand for construction people who are good in handling remodeling repairs and changes to existing homes. Many people are deciding it is much more practical to put money into remodeling their existing homes rather than to try and purchase a new home in the present housing market. Again, look to an increase in work for the elderly who have decided to “age in place,” either out of choice or necessity. There will be work to do in making homes more wheelchair accessible, which will include widening doorways, adding safety bars in bathrooms and ramps outside to eliminate the need for navigating steps.
There is still work that will be available working on the Internet. Whether it is signing up to do surveys, which will bring in some money depending on how many you do per day, or writing articles for companies who will pay you to do so. You might also want to start a blog, such as this, where you share information with others and have affiliate marketing ads on your site that might be of interest to your readers. You won’t get rich quick but over time you might find this to be a nice source of some extra income and have an enjoyable time doing it.
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