The Employment Guide® (http://www.employmentguide.com/) has announced the re-launch of its health care Web site, HealthCareerWeb (www.HealthCareerWeb.com).

As the weather turns warmer in West Central Florida, so does the job hunt campaign for high school and college students who are looking for part-time work this summer. This increase in the job seeking population increases the competition for all job seekers, though this demographic generally finds themselves working in the retail and hospitality industry.

The motives for teens and their summer jobs is different than the general job seeking community. Teenagers and students are looking for entertainment and spending cash to supplement their days off. Some are looking to save for the upcoming college semester, and some are just looking for a way to pass the time.

In a recent CNN report, entitled 'Teens Face Tough Economic Summer,' Jim Taylor, vice chairman of the Harrison Group says,

"Go out and get a real, grown-up set of shoes. Get rid of the rings -- nose rings and other stuff. March up and down the mall with a really good resume. Walk into every story -- every store -- and say, 'I'm looking for summer work.' And you'll get a job."

The earlier teens start looking, the better, he added, because "if you wait too long, the jobs will be gone."

This is great advice for teens looking to break into the workforce this summer. With the slowing of the economy, retailers and other employers are looking for the best of the best to create additional sales and not just someone that folds clothes. Persistence will be the key along with a great outlook and attitude.

For non-student job seekers, the time is now to lock down a new position before the market once again becomes over-crowded.

Lucky for you, while the students are in school next week, you have a great opportunity to meet with some great employers at the Tampa Employment Guide's Summer Job Fair at Raymond James Stadium, Wednesday, May 7th.

For students who cannot attend, send in your resume to greg.rollett@employmentguide.com and we will add it to our 'Resume CD' that goes out to all the employers that are participating in the event.

Good luck to all the students and teens looking for employment this summer and be sure to sign-up for Job Alerts (can be found on the right side of this page) to get e-mail notifications of great new job opportunities that become available in your industry!

Happy hunting Tampa!

-Greg Rollett

The Tampa Employment Guide is fiercely working around the clock to find the best hiring managers and open positions in West Florida. And to celebrate, we are showcasing them at the Summer Job Fair on Wednesday, May 7th at the home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

*Send your resume to greg.rollett@employmentguide.com to pre-register or if you cannot attend*

They say the economy is slowing, but by the looks of the companies attending, its business as usual!

Showcasing employers for this career fair include:
ABC Fine Wine and Spirits
Aflac
Amazinflates
Argosy University
Asset Acceptance
Avon
Brink's Home Security
Brink's, Inc
CBS Radio
Creditor's Interchange
DeVry University
EcoQuest International
Gulf Coast College
Keiser University - Tampa Campus
Lee County Sheriff's Office
Macy's Credit and Customer Service
Mental Health Care
Metro PCS
Norwegian Cruise Lines
NovaPro
OR and L Facility Services
Plastipak Packaging
Quest, Inc.
RaceTrac Petroleum
Seminole HardRock Hotel and Casino
United States Army Recruiting
USAA
Verizon Wireless
Volt Workforce Solutions
Walgreens
Waste Management

Tampa Job Fair Tips and Strategies:
1. Research the companies - They are listed above. Look for their open positions on EmploymentGuide.com and even perform a Google search to see what it's like to work there.
2. Polish your resume and print multiple copies. - Make sure your friends and/or family proofreads it. Print at least 10 copies, you don't want to run out when you finally find a great opportunity!
3. Dress for success. - No shorts, tank tops or flip flops. Look like a professional and get treated like one. It may be hot out, so prepare with some good attire and comfortable shoes.
4. Be able to fill out a complete application. You want to be sure that you hand them in at the job fair and not get lost in the shuffle a week later.
5. Practice your handshake and opening approach. Your first impression needs to be great and create a lasting impression on the hiring employer.
6. Have fun. Your demeanor tells an employer a lot. Keep your spirits high as you never know what opportunity will knock around the corner.

Check out a clip from the local news about job opportunities in the Tampa area with the Employment Guide's own Jeff Derenthal:




We will continue to update the company list as they confirm. Happy hunting Tampa and we'll see you on the 7th!

Today unfortunately is the last Blog that you will receive from me. Saying Goodbye to the lovely Atlanta Employment Guide is not easy, especially to my Keith you keep me laughing. I'm truly going to miss you. I have enjoyed my past two and a half months here as the Internet Specialist and will definitely miss each and everyone in the office. We have definitely had our laughs and cries and moments with trying to get those darn postings up at times but most of all we have remained a great TEAM! I am leaving to pursue a new career as a Territory Sales Manager for Menizzi Italy Eyewear, call me if you need frames. Lol... It has been a pleasure to have worked with you all and I wish everyone nothing but success and happiness!!! Keep in touch. Kisses..

I am not a gamer, but you can’t help but hear the footsteps of the gaming community as they prepare for the release of Grand Theft Auto IV. Pre-orders have been made, stores are staffed and prepared for the rush and living rooms and schedules have been cleared for hours of endless video game havoc.

With the economy slumping and un-employment hitting over 5% for the first time in a while, retail is sure feeling rocky right now. If there is no money to spend, there is no need to have staff standing around taking up clock space.

Retail Loves Hype

To get people into their stores, retailers and advertisers are trying their best to create hype around a product or product line. This gets the people in the stores. What happens when the customers get there is where the chain will either come out on top or sell a few gimmicks and repeat the process with similar results.

Retail Needs Great ( re: not just good) Employees

When these customers do decide to spend their hard earned money in your store you need to be prepared to give them a pleasurable and memorable experience. This happens with your sales team, check out process and other employees. For a product like GTA IV, consumers have choices in where they purchase the game. Give them a bad experience and they can walk on over to the next shop. Treat them to an amazing experience and they will be back for an extra controller, memory cards, the new system or the next “it” game.

Employees of these retail chains are usually replaceable. Managers, owners and franchisers need to treat the little guy like they are an important part of the team and not just a folder / greeter. This will allow them to care about their work and take care of your customers.

Turning Customer Experience into Repeat Business

A full house in your store means more opportunity for employment. Keeps your employees happy, they keep the customers happy and your business grows along with it.

When job seeking for companies in the retail area, look for companies that have happy employees and a great work environment vs. the one that has the “cooler” clothes or products. You will enjoy your work and more opportunities will present themselves with a business that is growing vs. one that is trendy!

*For a complete list of retail jobs in the Tampa, Clearwater and St Petersburg area, be sure to browse through the Employment Guide or visit us at our Tampa Summer Job Fair, May 7^th at Raymond James Stadium!*

And if you are going to be spending the next few days inside playing GTA IV, remember to get to work on time and get some sunshine. Its summer in Florida, remember?

Greg Rollett

My morning had started out rough. My elbow was hurting from an ongoing problem, but despite, I was sitting at my desk working when my Office Manager walked up and said, “Jenny, come here for a minute”. I felt faintly nervous walking into her office, but she wasn’t there. I looked behind me in confusion when my co-worker, said, “She’s in here” (referring to the conference room). Maureen walked through the door in front of me and when I walked in, the whole office (5 people that day) began in on “The Birthday Song”.

They had all signed a card and had a cake ready. My day really brightened up after that and I started wondering how many people celebrate birthdays in the workplace (it was the first for me). For me it was a warm feeling, but I wondered if anyone ever felt imposed on if put in that situation.

As I was researching ‘birthdays at work’ on Google, I came across many unique and interesting ways to celebrate birthdays at work. I also came across The Purse Forum. I found many differing opinions; some enjoyed the closeness in the office while others didn’t want to be reminded that they were another year older. But overall, in my opinion after reading the forum, people enjoy celebrating birthdays in the workplace.

I also found a neat site called PaulSadowski.com that allows you to type in your birth date and it gives you so much information about your birthday. Just for a few examples: Celebrities who share your birthday; how many seconds old you are; and the top songs in the year you were born. Check it out! PaulSadowski.com

April 8th marked the addition of a new resource on the Web for job seekers: WiserWorker.com. The Web site, which "is dedicated to the largest growing demographic group in the country, the Baby Boomers," strives to provide the most up to date senior employment listings, resources and information to aid the older worker.

One of the featured articles that has appeared on the site so far details a few myths about mature workers, courtesy of Brad Taft*. Some of them are pretty interesting, so here's a few highlights:

Myth #3: Mature Workers are More Likely to Leave Employers

The opposite is true. In fact, according to the National Association of Working Women, women over 45 are 88% less likely to leave voluntarily than younger counterparts.

Myth #6: Mature Workers are Less Intelligent

Studies clearly indicate that perception, emotional stability, motivation and fund of knowledge are far more important to intellectual functioning than age. In fact, the ability to use an accumulated body of general information to make sound judgment and solve problems keeps rising with healthy people. (Harvard study.)

Myth #7: Older Workers are Inflexible and Set in Their Ways

When people control their hours, exercise autonomy and find opportunities to learn, the more likely they are to continue working and make a strong contribution to their organization, according to the Center on Aging at Boston College and the Families and Work Institute. There is ample evidence that well-balanced people who like their jobs are better contributors, are more productive and more flexible in their willingness to meet new challenges.

Myth #9: Older Workers are More Expensive to Employ

The hardest myth to debunk. For example, health insurance costs less for a 55 year old employee than for a 35 year old with 2 dependents. Healthcare costs are dependent on the individual. Regarding pay scales, it is time for employers to realize that the only way for compensation to go is not "up" but, in today's economy, compensation needs to be market-driven at any age. In the global economy of the 21st century, both organizations and individuals must break the link between pay and seniority.

Myth #10: Older Workers are Technology Challenged

This is true from the standpoint that younger employees have grown up in a technology driven society, but studies show that the fastest growing group of Internet users are 55 years of age and up. All that's needed is a little amount of focused education.

In addition to detailing job fairs in local cities, jobs in 18 categories, and specialized articles focused on the mature worker, the site also features an informative resume builder to help the Wiser Worker craft the perfect resume (or update their already stellar resumes). If you'd rather have a physical copy of the resume builder, you can download a copy of The Employment Guide®'s Job Seeker Survival Guide.

WiserWorker.com will undoubtedly prove to be an invaluable specialized resource for the mature worker. So what are you waiting for? Live Young and Work Wiser!

*Brad Taft, MBA, CMF, is president of Taft Resource Group in Scottsdale, Arizona and provides career transition consulting to individuals. He specializes in assisting mature workers in achieving continued career success with a strategic planning approach. He is co-author of Boom or Bust!: New Career Strategies in a New America (Cambridge Media, LLC, 2006), a Career Management Guide for Baby Boomers and older workers. Learn more about Brad at www.AgelessInAmerica.com and contact him at BradTaft@agelessinamerica.com.

1. For the writing and grammar skills it takes to write fresh content
2. To help with communication – through other bloggers and readers of your site
3. For research – You love your topic / industry so much that you research and write about it
4. To show your passion for an industry – You can always tell when what you are writing is passionate or a bunch of words on a page
5. For experience – Show off pictures of you on a job site, video of your latest presentation or on the job experience
6. To network with others in your industry
7. To build trust within your industry
8. To earn a few bucks before the new paycheck kicks in (Adsense)
   
9. To find opportunities that aren’t listed on job boards – like business opportunities, partnerships and start-up companies
10. To stay in the loop – the world is moving fast, blogging helps you keep up.
11. To create a schedule – blogging regularly shows employers your dedication to deadlines and how you manage your time
12. To showcase what you are good at – remember a blog is more than just words, its thoughts, videos, pictures, podcasts, reactions, links, controversy and more
13. Show your creative side – your blog is yours, so is your template, your thoughts and your posts. Be creative and showcase yourself outside of your resume!
14. For recognition – Let the deals come to you once you have branded yourself as a leader in a given industry.
15. Because it’s fun. Blogging creates a conversation based around a topic that interests you. When that happens, its fun, because you are passionate about the subject and love talking about it.
16. It’s the cool thing to do – over 100 million blogs and growing (sung in the Flinstones Vitamins voice)

Add your reasons for blogging while looking for a job in the comments. I look forward to coming up with an impressive list and publishing it as a downloadable file for everyone to print and tact up when you are starting out your blogging experience.

Happy hunting Tampa!

Greg Rollett

The Monster Employment Index was released today for March and again Pittsburgh’s online recruitment activity continues one of the largest growth rates in the country, reflecting the broad-based need for workers across most job categories. Up 4% in March over February, the Index also shows a healthy increase of 9.2% over March of 2007 while nationally numbers are down 10% from 2007.

Last Saturday, April 12th the Tampa Employment Guide along with Careers in Gear had a very successful event for Truck Drivers and the Transportation Industry. There were over 400 interested job seekers that met with some great driving companies.

Covenant Transportation was awarded the 'Best in Show' award for the nicest truck at the event! Congrats guys!


Here are some photos to re-cap:


If you missed this event and wish to part take in a great job fair afternoon, the Tampa Employment Guide is having our Summer Job Fair on May 7th at Raymond James Stadium. Be ready for the event that can not only change your wallet size but your life as well!

Happy hunting Tampa!

Please join us at the Sofitel Hotel on Tuesday, May 20th, 2008 from 10:00am - 3:00pm. The address is: 5800 Blue Lagoon Drive, Miami, FL. 33126. There will many employers from a diverse range of companies looking to hire you! If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me at: jenny.manchester@employmentguide.com.

For more information on how to prepare for a job fair, please visit the following post: Making the Most of a Job Fair!

Job Fairs are a great way for you to explore potential employment opportunities and learn more about companies who are actively hiring in your neighborhood. Many people see it as a first interview, while others view it as an opportunity to gather information about potential employers. Regardless of what reason you have for attending, there are a few important things to keep in mind before, during, and after the job fair to make it successful.

Before the Job Fair

Find out what businesses will be there. The more information you can gather beforehand, the more successful the job fair is going to be for you. Spend time researching the participating companies. What types of jobs do they have open? What kind of people are they looking for? What kind of skills do these people need to have?

Develop some questions you’d like to ask employers. Narrow down your list of businesses to include those who have positions you are interested in, or are businesses you think you might like to work for. Then list some questions to ask the company representative at the job fair.

Proofread your resume – at least twice. If you don’t already have one, it is a good idea to put a resume together for a job fair. It gives employers a blueprint of your skills and something tangible. See “The Right Resume” and “Killer Cover Letters” for how-to information.

At the Job Fair

Dress the part. As with a job interview, first impressions at a job fair are important. How you represent yourself sends an immediate message to employers about how serious you are in your job search. It isn’t always necessary to wear a suit to a job fair – unless you are looking for a job that would require you to dress professionally at work. However, you should leave the jeans and T-shirt at home. Business casual is usually the most appropriate – slacks and a collared shirt for men, and slacks or skirt and a blouse for women. Make sure your clothes are clean and pressed. Avoid wearing excessive jewelry or clothing that is too short or revealing.

Take time to talk to employers. Don’t just drop off a resume and move to the next booth. Take time to get additional information and make an impression. The point is not to see how many resumes you can give to employers in the least amount of time – it is to establish some solid job prospects. Also, try to avoid approaching employers when they are crowded by a large group of job seekers. Approaching a crowded booth makes it difficult for employers to answer your individual questions, and they are less likely to remember you when they return to their offices.

Do your homework. If you have done research before the job fair, you won’t have to ask what the company does. Instead, you can ask questions about a specific position or department of interest. It works to your advantage if you can tell employers how your skills match with available positions. Employers want to hire people who are genuinely interested in their company.

Practice makes perfect. It may help to prepare a few sentences about yourself that give a brief, summarized account of who you are and why you’re interested in the position. It should be practiced until it can be said comfortably and effortlessly.

Let employers know you are serious. Greet the employer with a firm handshake and maintain eye contact throughout your conversation. Showing interest and good manners is important, regardless of the type of job. Every employer appreciates someone who is dedicated, conscientious, and attentive.

After the Job Fair

Follow-up with a thank you note. Experts agree that follow-up is an important part of attending a job fair. If you pick up a business card, or the name of the company’s job fair representative, send a thank you note a day or two later. This is not only polite, but will let the representative know you paid attention, are serious about the job, and are the right person.

Once you are finished asking questions about the company, ask the recruiter about the next step. This way you know when/how to expect a response, or if there is further action needed on your part.

Employers are making it easier to find new jobs, even careers!

Everywhere you look you see advertisements for job fairs telling you to show up at a specific location, at a specific time and date. Bring plenty of resumes, dress for success, no strollers, no children. Then you have to juggle your work schedule from the dead end job you are trying to get away from in order to make the job fair. Oh, don’t forget the rising gas prices!

Sometimes job seekers are forced to ask themselves these questions, what if I can’t find a babysitter, or I’m scheduled to work during a job fair, or worse yet, because I don’t have a job, I can’t afford the gas to get to the job fair? What other options do I have? Are there even any options?

Actually, there is another option! VIRTUAL JOB FAIRS – The latest and greatest way to find your next career!

Virtual job fairs (VJFs) are great, because you can see who’s hiring, wherever you may be, all you need is a laptop or a pc, and as we know these days, even an iPhone will work. The majority of us have jobs and we don’t have the time to appear in person. With VJFs you can sit back from the comforts of your home (or at your desk at work) and search for jobs that fit your criteria! You can do research on companies you are interested in before applying to them. How great is that? I can sit in front of my computer and I can find jobs that apply to me instead of having to drive across town to only find a couple of companies that might be a potential fit for me, and with the traffic jams on I-95 and I-595, who can afford to go through this?!

South Florida Employment Guide has a VJF coming soon, check back for more information on Employers currently hiring for full time and part time positions in your area, from May 19^th thru June ^st

Check out some virtual job fairs that are going on now or in the near future!
Click here to view current and upcoming Virtual Job Fairs

"Ghost Writer" Picture by: Ian Grainger
Written by: The Employment Guide

If you've picked up one of The Employment Guide®'s weekly publications recently, you may have noticed this little beauty:



It's no lie - we want to rename our blog, and we want you to help! Simply e-mail egblogger@employmentguide.com with your ideas - the more the merrier! - by April 30th, and we'll announce the winner the week of May 9th. What do I mean "winner"? If we pick your suggestion, you get a $25 gift card to Target! (In addition to the satisfaction of knowing you helped rename the Web's leading blog for hourly, skilled, part-time and full-time job seekers!)

It's up to you!

Mondays have to be the worst day of the week - right?

As we enter mid-April having been witness to all the economic carnage across the country every day in our living rooms courtesy of the news media, how is the job market here in Pittsburgh faring?

As a media that includes weekly print, one of the largest job boards on the Internet and Comcast Video on Demand Jobs across southwestern Pennsylvania we continue to see strong demand across most hourly job categories that is higher than what we saw a year ago.

In March the Monster Employment Index, which measures the level of online recruitment activity in select markets around the country, named Pittsburgh one of the 4 hottest metros in the country for online ad volume.

According to Harold Miller, President of Future Strategies, LLC, a consulting firm specializing in analysis, strategy, and communication and a contributing columnist for the Pittsburgh Post-gazette on economic matters, the reason for this strength is not job GROWTH, but the demand for replacement workers. With Pittsburgh being one of the oldest markets in the country, as measured by median age of the population, the number of residents entering retirement years is beginning to exceed the number of younger workers entering the labor force. This is creating a higher number of opportunities for employment across most categories. The most in-demand workers continue to be anything in the healthcare field.

Another helpful influence to remaining strong in employment opportunity is the local housing market. While many areas of the country experienced double digit growth in home values due in part to speculators and low interest rates, the Pittsburgh housing market saw only gradual, sustainable growth of a few percentage points per year. Because of this, home values never reached levels beyond reality and so are projected to continue slow sustainable growth in the future.

These reflections on our local economy do not mean we will not and have not felt the effects of the current recession. They do show that our area should weather this economic storm better most areas of the country.

Searching for jobs online is becoming the norm for most jobseekers. A lot of different companies offer sections on their Web sites that include the ability to fill-out resumes, cover letters and applications without having to lift a pen. The availability of job boards, such as those The Employment Guide® powers, have also gone a long way to make the Web a convenient and quick way to land a job. But how can you get the most out of your online job search?

Start by remembering that just because you're applying online, it doesn't mean you should skip the resume or cover letter process. As our Job Seeker's Survival Guide says, "The method of delivery may be the internet, but the importance of the message is still the same."

So once you've got your resumes and cover letters written, you're ready to start e-mailing them and attaching them to online applications. Make sure your e-mail address is generically professional and does not contain anything that could be considered offensive. Example: K-fed should not use "BritneysBabyDaddy@washedup.com" as his e-mail address. Rather, kevin.federline@email.com is much, much better. When sending a full e-mail, be sure to include an eye-catching subject line, leaving out UPPERCASES. (How rude.) Some other things to watch out for: do not add graphics, bullet points, use large fonts, or add color.

Once you've double checked the content of your e-mail for spelling errors and other mistakes, follow up! As soon as you've hit the send button, you should be dialing numbers on your phone. Ok, ok. Maybe not that quickly. But soon after, and if you want to really make an impression on the employer, follow-up with a hard copy of your cover letter and resume via snail-mail.

It's important to stand out as much as possible when carrying out your job search via the internet. You're likely to be one of many, so the more keywords and specifics you're able to include will help you out. For instance, instead of replying to a job posting with the number from the ad in your subject line, use the title of the position. Instead of "job #06718," say "experienced technician for supervisor position." If you've got the knowledge and time, create an online resume/portfolio site to direct the hiring employer to. However, keep in mind that if you use social networking sites like Myspace or Facebook, employers may search for you. Keep your profiles clean and void of pictures or information that may paint the wrong picture of you.

It's important, also, to beware of employment scams. Be wary of advertisements that try to obtain personal information, including your social security number, extend offers of employment without interviewing first, charge a start-up fee, require you to transfer funds, or are unable to give you a detailed description of the job duties you'll be performing. Check out our Search Smart page for more information.

For even more tips to help you through the job search, pick up a copy of The Employment Guide®'s Job Seeker's Survival Guide, or read it online at EmploymentGuide.com.

Always send a cover letter with a resume when applying for a job. The cover letter and resume have the same goal - to get the interview - but they should contain different information. The purpose of the cover letter is to develop a rapport with the hiring manager and give him or her an idea of your personality type.

Keep your cover letter short. Do not restate your entire resume in your cover letter.

Keep it clear, concise, and simple. Tell them:

• Where you learned about the job
• Why you’re the right candidate for the job
• How they can contact you

Experts say that your cover letter should be no more than four paragraphs on one page.

Use critical keywords that focus on your industry knowledge and skill set. In today’s competitive job market, larger companies often pre-screen the applicant pool by running all applications through a computer program designed to eliminate unqualified applicants.

Job title buzzwords include: manager, assistant, intern, representative, officer, maintenance, nurse, associate, merchandiser, clerk, cashier, loss prevention, buyer, technician, producer, shipping and receiving.

Computer proficiency buzzwords include: CAD, CADD, C++, Java, HTML, Flash, Adobe (name various products), and Microsoft Office Suite.

Format in business-letter style using a font size of 10 or 12. Choose an easy-to-read font style, such as Arial or Times New Roman.

Start with your name, your address, and the date. Include an e-mail address if you have one.

Do include a reference line indicating the position for which you’re applying, as well as the job reference number, if it’s listed.

Include a salutation. The letter has greater impact if addressed to the actual person that will be responsible for hiring.

Opening­­ - Gain Their Attention:

The best approach in the leading sentence is to stick with the facts and simply state why you’re writing the letter. The second sentence should then act as your attention-getter.

Body - Sell Yourself:

Here’s where you spell out why they should hire you. If you have particular education or experience point it our. You need to relate your skills to their job requirements.

Closing - Once Again:

State why they should hire you, ask for the interview and indicate any follow-up. Finally, add a complimentary closing, such as, “Sincerely yours,” your name, contact information, and a list of any enclosures. Do not forget to sign the letter before mailing.

© Job Seeker Survival Guide 2007

Last Friday I kicked off a new series geared towards a successful job hunt. We talked about what is necessary to find the jobs that are out there. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the month of March was not a good one for current workers and job seekers alike. They reported that the U.S. lost 80,000 jobs in march alone and 232,000 in the first quarter of this year. What I wanted to talk about today is the knowledge to know where the jobs are. Not just the hot industries like hospitality and healthcare, but actually where to look. Jobs can be found in the craziest of places from storefront windows and newspapers to blogs and local networking.

Traditional Outlets:
The Employment Guide and recruitment newspapers - Still a viable source for jobs. These papers are geared towards a certain niche and are generally free to the public. Be sure to follow the directions of the ad in how to apply and take advantage of phone numbers as it can save time and cash in travel.
Storefronts - No better way to say we need help than with a Help Wanted sign in the window. Beware that heavily traffic'd areas get the most applications and therefore have more competition. Look for these signs on back roads or act fast / immediately when it pops up.
Job Boards - EmploymentGuide.com, Indeed.com and Job.com offer many great jobs from a wide variety of companies. The great thing is that they are easily searchable by keyword and location. The downfall is that they are overpopulated with positions and competition is great as they have a very large reach.

New and Untraditional Job Resources and Outlets
Niche Job Boards - The Employment Guide is proud to offer 2 great niche sites, CareersInGear and HealthCareerWeb that show you very relative results for these 2 industries. The benefit of these boards is they get right to the meat of what you are looking for and also offer great advice, tips and articles surrounding these industries.
Google, Yahoo and Other Search Engines - Try typing in some keywords and a location into Google for jobs you are looking for. The more narrow and specific the search the better the results get. Search broad and you will be bombarded with opportunities.
Network! - The oldest form of job hunting but in a new generation. Get out and talk to people at bars, restaurants, conferences, trade shows. Collect business cards and make contacts with friends and family.
Networking 2.0 - Your kids are on there, maybe you are a kid and you're on there. What is it? Social Networking of course. Use it to network with others in your field. Start on a site like Facebook and look for colleagues, old friends or past employers / co-workers. Participate in forums and discussions. Don't be shy, ask questions and also answer them.

This concludes Part 2 of this discussion. Tomorrow we will continue down the networking path and talk about blogging and branding yourself in a crowded niche. Until then, happy hunting Tampa!

Greg Rollett

Oh, and Drivers get ready for the Tampa Employment Guide and Careers in Gear 'Driver's Job Fair' this Saturday, April 12th. Get all the info by clicking here!

Your resume provides a snapshot of who you are to a potential employer. Along with your cover letter, it is their first impression and must stand out in a competitive job market. To ensure you have the right resume, let’s start at the top. Here’s what your resume should include:

Include Pertinent Contact Information

• Resumes should start with your full name, address, phone number(s), and e-mail address (if you have one).
• You should always use a font size of 10-12 for your text. Choose an easy-to-read font style such as Arial or Times New Roman.
• Microsoft Word offers resume templates. To access, go to “file” and click on “new.” Then you will see a series of tabs. Click under “templates.” You will see several different templates listed. Open the one that you prefer and fill in your personal information.

State Your Objective

• The objective should be one sentence only.
• State the job you are seeking and what you hope to accomplish long term.

Highlight Your Skills

• Showcase any foreign languages you speak, computer and/or software skills, and any other technical or skilled trade certifications.

List Your Work Experience

• List in reverse chronological order the names and locations of employers, dates of employment, job titles held, description of job responsibilities, skills demonstrated, and accomplishments while on the job. It’s only necessary to go back ten years in listing your work experience.
• Be concise - use short, bulleted phrases (complete sentences are not necessary). State your contributions to the company, not just duties.
• Use action verbs and industry buzzwords to enhance the body of your resume.
• Action verbs include: accomplished, accelerated, operated, negotiated, produced, controlled, conducted, evaluated, solved, innovated, updated, trained, initiated, instructed, reinforced, performed and organized.

Catalogue Your Education

• List schools attended, degrees, grade point averages (if impressive), and honors. Note that it’s not necessary to list years attended or dates of degrees.

© Job Seeker Survival Guide 2007

I am rolling out a new series about a successful job hunt over the next week. I have been writing an awful lot about it online, for upcoming articles and books and speaking about it at job fairs and conferences and thought that I would put it all together for you in this nice, neat little series.

Part 1 is simple: What makes a successful job hunt?

Resume: The more times change the more they stay the same. That one sheet of white paper that details your life’s worth of accomplishments is still the admission price when looking for and getting your foot into the door of a company.

Skill set: Employers are looking for a match. If you fit that match, you get the call. If you don’t, start positioning and training yourself to gain the skills and knowledge that mesh you with the company of choice.

Networking: The age old concept of networking is still a very highly held determining factor in landing a great career. Think of all your friends who found jobs due to their parent’s relationships, or the Fraternity and Sorority connections. What about the waitress who talked it up with the CEO of a sales company, and the next week was working on his sales team? Networking and building trust with hiring companies will put you on the fast track to a great position.

Desire to make a change: No matter what career change or job hunt you embark on, it starts with you, your mind and your motivation. You cannot find a new position by letting it come to you. A proactive approach is the key and that starts with your mentality and outlook on life.

Happy hunting Tampa and we'll be back on Monday for part 2. Where to look?

-Greg Rollett

My co-worker, Maureen, told me her family’s funniest April Fool’s Day prank this morning so I thought I would share.

Maureen called her mother to say that her brother was in jail for a DUI. Her mother was frantically trying to re-finance their home to get her son out of jail when they decided to say, “April Fools”.

Then, Maureen’s brother called their dad and said that Maureen had gotten a DUI and was in jail. His response…”let her rot there”.

Needless to say, Maureen calls her mom in time of need!

If you have any April Fool's Day stories, jokes, or pranks to share please post them here! We would love to hear!!

Employment Guide was pleased with our past job fair held on March 25, 2008. We had Employers in Law Enforcement and Security; Also, Employers from Taco Bell, Burger King, Sullivan & Cogliano, and many more. There were many job seekers, most of whom left feeling satisfied with their time connecting one on one with their potential future Employers.

Sheila Chapman, Vice President of Sullivan & Cogliano Training Centers, Inc., said, “My representatives came back and raved about today’s job fair. It was well organized and represented. We feel strongly that with our career ready training and employment opportunities, we can successfully train and employ your attendees. Thank you and congratulations on the fair.”

Our next career fair will be ON-LINE starting on May 19th through June 1st. Stop by the South Florida Blog for more details coming soon!