hello friends.
i've missed you all. it's been over a year since i've written a post and BOY OH BOY has a lot transpired. i come to you with new perspective, greater faith, and a new job.
let's play catch up:
last time we talked i was working as a marketing assistant for a small company. i worked there for little under a year and it was an excellent experience. i would advise anyone who is about to graduate or new in the post grad world to work for a small company. you get to do a lot which means you learn a lot. consequently, you learn and grow into a better person. from one small marketing role that started with sales calls, i got to write marketing collateral, social media posts, and produce a monthly newsletter. i also got vendor management experience as well as account management experience. it wasn't without bumps in the road, but it was extremely beneficial.
lesson one: walk before you crawl. it makes walking a lot easier.
if i hadn't worked in this role, i wouldn't have been able to move into a bigger and better role feeding off my previous experience. we're all in a rush to make 6 figure salaries and be financially secure, but who are we kidding? we're still kids trying to figure this game called life out. success will come, if you're willing to humble yourself in learn.
i was definitely rushing. i got my first loan statement and said "Jesus, have mercy - how am i going to afford this?". instead of managing my money, i began looking for more money. i worked two second jobs to no avail and then i started seeking a new full-time position. i was exhausted, underpaid, and unhappy. i searched for three months and couldn't find a new role.
lesson two: discipline is everything. you could be rich and still broke if you're not willing to say no.
so i pushed although life (in my case) Jesus was telling me it's not time for you to switch jobs. to give myself a break from financial turmoil, i applied to graduate school. BEST DECISION EVER. it was something i did for all the wrong reasons, but worked in all the right ways. I always wanted my master's degree and i'm so glad i'm now pursuing it. back to my job situation - so after about 6 months of searching i found a position! joyous rapture right? NOT.
it was completely the wrong role for me. i found myself in a old, dirty warehouse with miserable people doing hardcore sales on the phone while other employees were playing basketball behind me (strange, i know). i cried driving there everyday.
lesson three: trust the timing of your life. AKA trust God.
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." - romans 8:28
in a situation so crazy that if i explained it you would think i made it up, i found myself without work...for seven months. it was the longest seven months of my life full of many challenges both personal and professional. i lost two dear friends to death, a relationship, and my peace of mind. i had no idea why this was happening. i was angry with God and myself.
however, we must realize that nothing is in vain, but rather everything has purpose. from these ashes of my former life, i was given another. we focus so much on what we lost rather than what we can gain. on monday, i start the job of my dreams. this position is key to my future as a project manager. i just finished my first year of graduate school with a 3.85 this semester ( i want a 4.0 grr).
lesson four: temporary. everything is temporary including pain.
there were moments when i thought my life was over, where i didn't see the light at the end of the tunnel or the purpose in the pain. we must recognize that almost all feelings and situations are temporary. this means they have an end. life is made of building blocks and tunnels. you go up based on experiences or you go through experiences to another experience. in all of this know - there is a destination.
"Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be." - psalm 139:16
Showing posts with label job search. Show all posts
Showing posts with label job search. Show all posts
cheers.
amb
Whenever I see great articles, I love to share them.
Here's an article from Campus Philly about How to Master a phone interview:
Campus Philly is an awesome resource for many things from upcoming job fairs to fun events in the city of Philadelphia.
I often see updates about free concerts and seminars on their site. I really like that they do a list of the top five
internships in the area. 
If you're in the Greater Philadelphia Area,check
out Campus Philly!
Another great article was on LinkedIn about how to discuss compensation during job interviews, I know a lot of people struggle when it comes to brining up money but, this article gives a lot of wonderful and real tips. The author holds nothing back lol
Click the link to read ---->>> http://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20130731192028-52594-how-to-bring-up-salary-on-a-job-interview?trk=tod-home-art-medium_0&_mSplash=1
Most of us use LinkedIn for a professional online profile, but it's an excellent resource for informative articles.
I always check the news section when ever I log on.
Executives from large companies often contribute to the site and write features so, you can get advice from someone
with experience.
-amb
I have a confession to make: this job is not the position of my dreams.
I'm going to be the new food supervisor for a big hospital in my area supervising two staffs at two different locations, a total of 100 employees. It's a job in the food service industry... A place I never thought I'd find myself again. Here's a little background: almost from the beginning of my work experience I've worked in food service. I was a hostess for a fancy restaurant during high school, a food service worker a my college, and worked at a hotel catering weddings during the summer. I served room service and breakfast to guests at the hotel as well. And to place the icing on the cake, for the last two academic years I was a shift supervisor at my college's main dining facility.
Working in food isn't terrible. It's just a lot of long hours and a very broad job title...your title may say one thing, but you could be doing anything and everything. I wasn't looking for that unpredictability in my new big girl life. I was seeking something more scheduled, predictable to say the least. Something in an office, in a cubicle with air conditioning lol. Life is anything but predictable so, here I am.
I want to say to all of you that during this job search, you have to start thinking like an adult. By that I mean: making decisions that you can build on that may not necessarily be comfortable. This job was an excellent big girl job choice because although its not in marketing:
1. It has excellent benefits.
Coming from class to corporate, college graduates know very little about the importance of benefits. Realize that now, as an adult, you will need medical insurance, a 401k or another type of retirement plan, and other essentials. Your job has to provide these for you or you'll be paying a pretty penny out of pocket. Benefits can add thousands of dollars in value to your salary. Working at a hospital, I can get medical insurance and many other perks for little money. For example, not only is my medical insurance great I get discounts on my cell phone plan and movie tickets. Ask yourself: how much money am I saving or gaining on my salary from benefits? ( You can find this information on sites like salary.com or Monster's salary center)
2. It provides me with an admirable job skill and experience.
I'll be managing on a higher scale giving me management or supervisory experience. Even if I do not continue in food service after this, management experience is a great thing to have going into other fields. It shows responsibility, leadership, time management, interpersonal skills, and so much more. I'll get experience with scheduling, budgeting, and everything that goes into running a high volume facility. The position may seem limiting, but in actuality it opens me up to higher positions in other fields. Ask yourself: what skills am I obtaining in this position that other jobs look for?
3. It can be built upon.
Your first job is a building block. It's an opportunity to gain experience and build to the next step. You don't want to work somewhere or in something where there's no room for advancement. This management experience can be built upon. I can work in this position for a year or more than rise to a higher position or take this experience to another field. Eventually, I could manage an entire location, a whole region, or be a director. Ask yourself: what does this position build to? What can I use this experience to achieve?
Overall, this job is a great choice for the present. I'm not saying you should give up on your dreams or seek positions that are not your interest, however you should see the big picture of every job opportunity. Often, we see experienced professionals working in a different industry then their major and sometimes a different industry then their experience. Why is that? They got experience after leaving college, discovered their true interest, and built on that. I have a family member whose background Is in the biomedical industry, but a strategic management company was interested in them. Don't feel restricted to one industry or one goal. Diverse candidates are treasured like specialized candidates.
I wanted to share this confession with you because I know that many of you will have the same emotions that I currently have if you take a position that wasn't what you imagined. It's not the end of the world, but the beginning of a new one :) the job title doesn't define you, you define who you are and who you are to be.
-amb
There are countless sites online where you can search for jobs, but which ones are effective? Maybe you don't know where to start or what keywords to use. Maybe you aren't using as many job sites as you should. In today's post, I'm going to review several job sites that are easy to use and have produced results for me.
read me first....
I suggest that you use every resource available to you in your job search. Majority of these sites are free and allow you to list your resume for potential employers to review. In fact, you can then later use your profile and uploaded resume to quickly submit job applications when you find a position of interest. In today's digital world, your online presence is almost as important as your physical presence. When receiving your application, its not unusual for your potential employer to search Google for personal information, check your Facebook, or review your LinkedIn profile. Consequently, maintaining an up-to-date and positive online presence is extremely important. Review your online profiles often and be sure to post an updates or inquiries you have. Furthermore, use the internet to your advantage. Google search companies you're interested in! Add a recruiter or headhunter on LinkedIn and express your interest!
Jobs, Jobs, and More Jobs: Sites that produce results
1. Indeed
Rating: A-
Pros:
Combines a variety of job posting sites into one simple view
Opens job postings in a separate window so you don't lose your results
Provides a review of the company right under the job posting
Sponsored jobs are revelvant to your search and usual a good fit (in my experience)
Allows you to save your resume and in some cases offers quick apply option
Cons:
Sometimes lists inaccurate locations for companies
Filters could be improved
Sometimes lists jobs from paid membership sites that can not be viewed in full
Overall - I really like Indeed. It was one of the first job sites I used in my job search and allowed me to find many available positions I'd be interested in. I like the simplicity of the format. The site is easy to use and allows you to save positions, keep a record of jobs you selected, and gives you the option of whether to get emails on listings or not. I do not like the filters for this site. It can be really difficult to get a large search down to more specific results with these filters. Watch out for sites like Doostang in results if you're not a member of Doostang. The posting may interest you, but you will be unable to view it without a membership.
2. Monster
Rating: B+
Pros:
Like a Facebook profile for the professional world
Widely used by employers
Easy to apply with quick application option
Variety of job listings
Email Notifications
Cons:
Email Notifications (lol)
Inaccurate locations for companies
Incomplete job listings
Very limited filters
Overall- Monster is "an oldy, but a goody". Its been around for quite some time and has built an excellent reputation. Consequently, many employers use and trust this site to post their openings on. I do find a good amount of poor postings on this site though. This isn't necessarily Monster's fault, but the poor employers who decide to list jobs on the site. I love the online profile portion and I do find that potential employers review my monster profile. The biggest con for me is the email notifications. They can be really annoying! Especially since sometimes its not anything new, but just old search results. Sometimes I receive 3-5 emails a day from monster with just search results. In addition to these emails, I receive 'personalized' emails with jobs that a Monster recruiter feels I would be perfect for. These jobs are usually positions I already applied for. I do find that Monster postings often pop up on other sites such as Indeed in search results.
3. JobFox
Rating: C-
Pros:
A lot of entry level positions
Apply to jobs in one click
Specializes in job alerts via email
Cons:
Must create an account to receive email job alerts
Excessive emails
A lot of sponsored jobs from Vector and another scam-like companies
I personally haven't had a lot of luck with postings here
Overall- JobFox kind of comes off as a site where sales companies can pay to have their job listings posted multiple times. 75% or more of almost every email I receive from job fox consists of sales, commission jobs despite what my search asked for. Not my favorite site.
4. Bright
Rating: C (updated 7/14)
Pros:
Collective search job site (brings all different job sites and postings into one)
A lot of listings
Great and reputable companies listed
Extremely easy to use
Cons: (Updated 7/14)
Filters aren't specific enough, maybe 6,000+ results in one search
Lots of repeats
Opens jobs in same tab as search results
Can't see full job posting sometimes on mobile devices such as iPhone/iPad
Overall- So far, so good with Bright. I love the layout. Its refreshing because it lists the site on which the jobs were found then the job listings. The listings tend to be spot on to my keywords and they literally search EVERYWHERE. I get Yahoo! results right along with Monster results and company's websites. I definitely will be using Bright in the future. It's a great site along I wish it was more specific with its filters at times. UPDATE (7/14) - used bright more and decided I'm not a fan. If your search is broad, it maybe helpful. It's similar to a search engine in the sense that it pulls all results: relevant or irrelevant, repeat or new.
5. LinkedIn
Rating: C+ (Based on its job search only)
Pros:
Everyone has one, every company has one
Large exposure
Great social networking element
Direct contact with recruiters and potential employers
Networking
Cons:
Not a lot of job selection for entry level job seekers
Not a fan of the search set up
Overall- I like LinkedIn, but I don't find that it has a lot for those new to the professional world. It's a great tool for networking and connecting with others on a professional levels however, its job search capabilities are limited. I will say that your LinkedIn profile is still extremely important. You may not find a job with LinkedIn, but you will have your profile reviewed by an employer you may have found someone else. As a result, it is still a crucial step in your job search. Keep your profile up-to-date, you never know who is watching!
6. SimplyHired
Rating: A
Pros:
All the pros of Indeed :]
Excellent filters
Fabulous Results
Cons:
I have none so far!
Overall - SimplyHired is a God send! This is where most of my applications come from. I find that the variety of jobs is excellent. I love the filters which allow me to get straight to jobs that fit my needs. They have unique filters like "New Graduate", "GLBT Friendly", and "Socially Responsible". How cool is that? Sorry, I get excited. I love the set up and options. You can decide whether you want emails or not for the day with one click. You can connect with your LinkedIn profile with one click. You can even get salaries with ease. Awesome site!
That's all for now :] I've heard things about FlipDog so I will be trying that. If you're looking for hourly wage jobs, check out SnagAJob. It was very helpful to me my pre-graduate job search. In closing, remember to pay attention to everything on the job sites.
Quick Tips -->>>
- Read the requirements over for every posting that you're interested in.
- Cross reference the company's location with Google maps. I find that they're often listed improperly.
- Make sure the resume you uploaded is the resume you want to use for that particular application
- Customize cover letters for every posting
- Pay attention to how you should apply: via email, via the company's website, or via the site the job is posted on
- Make a profile on every site! [Yes, every site] Record all the passwords and usernames in one locations
- Use your professional email
Happy Job Searching to all my readers! I know you'll be successful with confidence, proper preparation, and faith :]
-amb
This is an excerpt from a daily devotion from biblegateway.com called Girlfriends In God. This particular posting is from June 26, 2013 and written by Mary Southerland. I highly recommend this devotion for women of all ages who are seeking Christian spiritual guidance.
However, I believe this excerpt is a important lesson for everyone. I'm not going to lie, lately I've been feeling discouraged in this job search. Although I seem to be finding better job postings everyday and my cover letter writing skills are wonderful, I'm not getting the response I want. I've went on several interviews, yet the right position hasn't came my way. I recognize that I want the right job not just any job. By that I mean, I truly believe that there's a position that God has chosen for me. That position will lead me to my future career, provide me with the finances I need, and develop me. Everyone has a position that is the perfect fit for them. Now perfect doesn't necessarily mean comfortable. It may not be excellent money or glamorous, but its right for you right now.
As the bills come rolling in for my enriching, yet highly expensive liberal arts education, it's easy to lose hope. I began to lose confidence in my skills and lost faith that a position that will provide would appear. I began to stress as my anxiety about the future built. What I was failing to see was the beauty in waiting or as referred to above: rest.
If you haven't read the excerpt in the photo already, READ NOW! :)
The writer uses a story from her childhood about learning to play the piano. Long story short, she wanted to jump to playing and skip all the preparation. Her piano teacher was trying to instill the basics in her: the notes. She was completely uninterested until her piano teacher came to the most important concept in music, a rest. This was so profound to me. The most important step is rest.
Without rest, we won't be prepared for what God has for us in the future. Rest means preparation, growth, restoration, and dependence. You must prepare for everything you do in life. We can't skip to being CEOs and millionaires without networking and hard work. This is what this time is for. It's important to have a pause where you grow and evaluate. When I get a full time position, I won't be able to sleep all day or paint my nails fun colors or wholeheartedly pursue getting my license. Recognize that just because you haven't found your dream job, doesn't mean that there's not work to be done. What should you be doing today that you haven't done? Do you need to simply rest and take a minute away from your busy schedule? What can you achieve now that cannot be done later?
Secondly, there's the dependency portion. My mom always used to tell me to pray before the test the following prayer:
Lord, I did my part by studying now do your part.
If you prepare, God will do the rest. It's one part preparation, one part dependence. You have to be confident in not only your abilities and work, but also in God's faithfulness. Know that it can and will work out. Your loan bills will be paid. You will get to six figures one day. We spend too much time stressing instead of truly resting. By resting I mean having peace by doing own part then handing it over to God.
This portion of your life right now, let's call it PRE-EMPLOYMENT is exactly that. It's the PRELUDE for the best portion of your life. It's the calm before the storm, the preparation before the prize. It is not in vain, for it has a purpose. You cannot play piano without learning how to read sheet music. You have to learn every note and practice reading before you actually get to sit down and play. When you start playing, you won't be a star piano player, but the preparation and practice will help you. The more you prepare and learn, the better you will be at playing piano.
Don't lose hope for God has a plan and it's perfect. The bible says its better that what we've dreamed and imagined. Rest in that today.
-amb
OUTFIT NUMBER ONE
This outfit would only be appropriate for industries where you want to display your fashion sense or creativity. This industries include fashion, advertising, design, architecture, or some marketing firms.
Quick Tip -->> ladies and gents, I picked up this J.Crew button up at the thrift store. Yes, the thrift store. Check them out for business essentials especially blazers, pants, and button up shirts.
The black tapered pants and black cardigan are definitely business wardrobe staples. You want a basic pair of straight leg pants in black, brown, tan, and navy. A cardigan in black and brown can be thrown over any dress or top to make it more conservative.
The first makeup look is more of a glamorized day time with a bright red lip and highlighted eyes. This would specifically be cute for a interview at a fashion magazine or fashion design. I did not wear my geek glasses inside the interview because I felt they would be a distraction to the interviewer. This look is displayed on the left side of the first picture.
The second makeup look in the second picture is what I actually looked like in the interview minus the glasses. I wanted to be taken seriously so I removed the bright red lipstick and decided on a clear gloss instead. I kept the highlighted eye and removed my glasses when inside the interview.
The third picture is to remind you to remember to insert interesting details in your outfit. I decided to wear a tie which is not typical for a female. This creates a memory in the interviewer's mind for later. They may not remember Alysha, but they will remember the girl with the tie. Furthermore, I tied the tie in a unique knot that I found on YouTube. The tie became more than just a tie, but rather a conversation piece.
Lastly, notice I wore flats because they were most comfortable. I was going to an area that I was unfamiliar with and did not know if was going to have to walk a long distance to the office building or use stairs.
OUTFIT NUMBER TWO
I added a belt to create definition at the waist. Notice the belt is not overly tight or bright colored. I picked a dull leather built vs. a patent leather to keep the look conservative. Patent is more flashy and dressy. The belt is also small in size.
Quick Tip --> wrap the annoying hanger straps around your bra straps to keep a top like this in place! Nothing is more embarrassing or inappropriate then exposed bra straps.
Once again, neutral makeup is key. I look awake, alert, and naturally pretty. When the interviewer looks at me they'll see my face not a huge bang or bright green eyeliner. My hair is nicely cropped, but not in my face blocking my eyes.
I choose a summer ready leather sandal. The sandal is not strappy sending the message of a night out or just another summer day. It's specifically designed for more formal occasions like church, work, or special occasions although it could be wore everyday. This is an example of how to do a sandal for work : Simple, not too strappy, and classic colors or small details.
Lastly, I wanted to show the detail in the necklace. It's another conversation piece for today's follow up interview. I kept all the busy prints and details at the top of my outfit. Too much going on is simply that...too much going on. I'm not wearing earrings with this look. Studs are simple and keep my top half uncluttered.
Happy interviewing :)
-amb
