The Baltimore Employment Guide September29-October 4

Check out this week's great career opprtunities:
American Beauty Academy
Good Shepherd Center
All-State Careers
Baltimore Bartending School
North American Trade Schools
Wackenhut Corporation
Pendum
First Transit
Canteen Correctional Services
Erickson
Ruxton Health & Rehabilitation Center

With the summer coming to a close and employers doing the most downsizing in six years, the job market does not seem to have a whole lot of hope right now. Even those looking towards retirement have just as big of problems to deal with. On top of that it does not help with the stock market crashing. Things are looking very down right now for our economy. So it is time to look forward to what the future may hold in Portland and how this affects our job market.

The unemployment rate in Portland however is exactly the same as the national average in the United States.So the labor cuts and the economic downturn did not appear to affect Portland worse than any company in general. In fact there are cities that have it worse than we do. And those looking towards retirement are doing more and more web surfing and social networking. This means that they are keeping up and surpassing generational trends that may have held them back. After the stock market crashed yesterday things rebounded and are headed in the right direction.

Life always seems to have a series of checks and balances that when one door closes another opens. So don't always feel that life is out to get you and keep you down in these tough times. Just keep pushing forward and look to the future.

Have you ever heard that 80% of jobs available are never advertised? The best place to hear about jobs is from friends, and friends of friends, etc... Word of mouth is a powerful tool, and employers often rely on it to get their positions filled. Using this to your advantage is commonly referred to as networking. It sounds a little lofty, and can be a bit daunting, but it's really one of the simplest things you can do to really get your job search going.

A survey conducted by CareerXRoads.com found that 28% of external hires in 2007 could be attributed to referrals. Compared to the second largest source of external hires, job boards at only 25%, this is a pretty important statistic. That's a lot of people telling their friends, and their friends, and so on and so on about a great position. That's the most basic form of networking, and it works.

But you're also networking when you go to a job fair and meet with employers, or other job seekers; when you visit with family members or friends or attend a social event; during random conversations at the doctor's office with other patients waiting in the waiting room; at church, work, etc... Effective networking comes down to making the most out of every conversation you encounter on a day to day basis.

So how do you make sure you're networking effectively?

Well, start by not being afraid to ask. If your friends don't know you're looking, they won't know to tell you about that great position that just opened up in their office. Be proactive and bring it up over coffee. Call an old friend for lunch and ask them if they've heard anything.

If you're out at your kid's ball game, strike up a conversation with the other parents, especially if the game goes into overtime. A fifteen minute conversation about how great the team's playing this year can turn into another conversation about jobs that they might know about in just about as much time.

If you're on MySpace, LinkedIn, Facebook or another social networking Web site, post bulletins or join groups. Online networking is one of the easiest ways to follow word of mouth. Large communities of your friends, and their friends, all talking about their lives, their jobs and jobs they've heard about, and all you have to do is turn on the computer. Not only that, but a lot of organizations have joined the bandwagon and have their own profiles and groups on social networking Web sites. What's great about online networking is you get to choose how involved you want to be: nobody can see that you're nervous, and they're not going to judge you if you're just being a wall flower. (But obviously, the more involved you are, the better the chance is that you'll be noticed.) Check out HiredIn for a great social network for job seekers.

If you're naturally a nervous person, calm down. There are a few things you can do to help make networking less mind-rattling. If you're attending a job fair or other public event, go with a friend. Sometimes having a co-pilot can help calm your nerves a bit. If you're shy around crowds, show up early. Not only will you look more aggressive to the hiring employers and other networkers, but you'll avoid the crowds and feel more at ease. Give yourself some goals to work towards. For example, say you're going to talk to someone new every day that could possibly lead to a great networking experience, and stick to it. If you talk to someone new every day for two weeks, that's 14 possible opportunities to learn about a new job.

Just remember that networking is as simple as saying hi! Who have you said hello to today?

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?

Rule #1: Remember 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."

Rule #2: Make sure your e-mail address is generically professional and does not contain anything that could be considered offensive. Example: "StanTheMan@hotmail.com" isn't nearly as impressive as "stan.winston@hotmail.com". 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.

Rule #3: 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.

Click on the image below to view a copy of this week's edition of The Employment Guide.



Don't forget to visit http://Columbia.EmploymentGuide.com/ for more job listings and to learn more about the employers you see in this week's edition.

Today, The House of Representatives rejected a $700 billion plan to bail out the U.S. financial system. This sounds disastrous, but what does it really mean, and what does the failed bailout mean for Orlando and the Central Florida community?

I certainly do not claim to be a financial expert, but I am good at scouring the web for information. Below are some sites to keep you updated on the bailout, the local economy and how local Central Florida individuals are coping and dealing with the situation.

Local:
Magic Fans Protest Economic Bailout
Orlando sounds off on the proposed bailout
Bailout plan and small business loans
Florida Law Makers Question Bailout Plan

National:
Bailout plan rejected (CNN)
What McCain and Obama think of the Bailout Plan

What is the bailout?
The Wall Street Bailout Plan Explained (New York Times)
A draft of the proposed bailout

Here is a quick widget I put together for the latest news on the Bailout Plan. You can copy and paste it on your own site if you want to, or check back for the latest news on the bailout as it updates automatically as news happens around the web. Bookmark this page for the latest information.



*Orlando and Central Florida, I want to hear from you about the Bailout Plan! What are your thoughts, opinions and ideas. Please leave your responses in the comments!

-Greg Rollett

Click on the image below to view a copy of this week's edition of The Employment Guide in Portland.

Click on the image below to view a copy of this week's edition of The Employment Guide.

Don't forget to visit Charleston.EmploymentGuide.com for more job listings and to learn more about the employers you see in this week's edition.

Click on the image below to view a copy of this week's edition of The Employment Guide in Charlotte, Raleigh and Greensboro.










Don't forget to visit EmploymentGuide.com for more job listings and to learn more about the employers you see in this week's edition.

Click on the image below to view a copy of this week's edition of The Employment Guide.





Don't forget to visit Atlanta.EmploymentGuide.com for more job listings and to learn more about the employers you see in this week's edition.

Tuesday, September 23rd the Orlando Employment Guide held its fall job fair at the Florida Mall in conjunction with Wiser Worker and the AARP Foundation. We had over 1,000 job seekers talking with 40 companies and schools to better their future.

If you found an opportunity at the event, or have a story to share, please leave it in the comments. Here are a few pictures from the career fair!

Instead of sending out resumes and waiting for the phone to ring, wouldn't it be nice if you could be the one making the calls and scheduling the interviews? Well, you can.

The two people you're about to read about did. They got job interviews using little more than their phones and some creativity.

1) The Coffee Cup Caper
Janet FritzHuspen from St. Paul, Minnesota, landed an interview after mailing a coffee cup to a local firm, then calling them to follow up.

Mailing a what?

"I got the idea for sending a coffee cup to employers from David Perry, the author of Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters," says FritzHuspen.

FritzHuspen found the job advertised online, then sent a box with a travel coffee mug, her resume and a cover letter. Her letter said, "I would like to meet you over coffee to discuss how I can benefit the ABC Corporation as your director."

"I sent the box via FedEx Ground, so I could track and know when they signed for it. I waited about 20 minutes after it had arrived. Then, I called and said, 'Hi. You just got my package!' and I went from there," she says.

FritzHuspen has sent three cups-in-a-box in the last two weeks. "I called and spoke with somebody at all three employers, and had a conversation with one hiring manager that resulted in an interview."

Now, here are four tips to make this "coffee cup caper" work for you:

1. Find names and phone numbers of hiring managers on Google. If you can't get a name, call and ask the company receptionist. That's what Janet did. She then referred to that receptionist in her cover letter, to drop a name and establish rapport. Smart.

2. If her interview doesn't turn into a job offer, Janet can parlay her contacts into referrals at other employers. All she has to do is ask the hiring manager and receptionist, both of whom have favorable opinions of her.

3. You can save money if you use FedEx Ground or similar service from UPS. Speed is less important than real-time delivery confirmation -- you want to call recipients right after they open your package. This makes an incredible first impression!

4. You can buy travel coffee mugs for under $5 at any good-sized store. Don't over-spend on this, but don't send cheapies, either.

2) Cold Calling
Gilbert Fonseca from Pharr, Texas, got hired for an insurance sales position very quickly after doing something very simple and direct: He called an employer that was expanding, introduced himself, and asked for an interview.

Imagine that.

Through research, Fonseca learned his target employer was expanding. A call to company headquarters produced the name and number of the local hiring manager.

"I just called the hiring manager and introduced myself. He wasn't too keen about my call, but I did what any job seeker should do -- I sold myself," says Fonseca.

Here's what he said: "Good afternoon Mr. X, my name is Gilbert Fonseca, I live in Pharr, and I heard that you're coming to our area. I wanted to introduce myself and explain how I know about you -- I worked for one of your competitors in the past."

At this point, the hiring manager pushed back and asked what the call was about. But Fonseca pressed on.

"I know how your products work and I have a big book of business I could bring with me," said Fonseca. This got the manager's attention -- who wouldn't want to hire someone who brings his own customers?

"That's pretty much where the conversation ended," said Fonseca, who got the names of other hiring managers and was told to call them.

No interviews resulted, so Fonseca pursued other leads. But two weeks later he got a call. "The hiring manager said that things had changed and I was asked to come in. I interviewed on Tuesday and had the job on Wednesday," he says.

Here are four things to keep in mind as you "cold call" for interviews:

1. This can work in any field. Just tell employers -- specifically -- what good things you've done before and can do again. Example: "I've saved/made more than $110,000 a year the last three years and can do the same for you." Do your homework and assign a dollar value to the time you've saved or money you've earned.

2. Follow a script. Although Fonseca didn't, it can ease your nerves to read from a piece of paper. Be sure to practice until the words flow smoothly.

3. The worst that can happen when you call employers is they say no. Nobody dies or goes to jail. But you may land a job interview. All you have to do is ask.

4. When in doubt, test it out. Pick five companies you have no desire to work for, call, and practice your script on them. (If you get offered an interview, call back later to cancel.) Then, when you're confident, phone the employers on your "A" list.

Now, go out and make your own luck!

Kevin Donlin is Creator of TheSimpleJobSearch.com. Since 1996, he has provided job-search help to more than 20,000 people. Author of 3 books, Kevin has been interviewed by The New York Times, Fox News, CBS Radio and others. His free report, The Simple Job Search Manifesto, is found at www.TheSimpleJobSearch.com.

A few weeks ago Greg Warmouth from ABC News Affiliate WFTV Ch. 9 came out to the Employment Guide offices to talk with us about "Digital Dirt." By Digital Dirt, we are speaking to leaving fingerprints on the web of conversations, pictures, videos and other media that would make an employer close your door in the hiring process. 

Have you Googled your name? These days the results that do or don't come up for your name could very well make or break the decision on whether or not you get the job. So let's say you search for your name and either nothing comes up or some negative things come up. Now what?

1. Try various versions of your name. Full name with middle initial, nickname (i.e. Steve, vs. Steven) You want to see what information is out there. Usually the name you put on your resume is the name that will be searched in Google. You can avoid or draw attention to certain search results based on what name you use on your resume.

2. Use Current & Create Profiles Online. One way to deal with bad or no press is to bury it with the information you want people to see. Utlize sites like LinkedIn, HiredIn, ZoomInfo, Emurse and other sites that allow you to create professional profiles and include your experience and expertise information. Manage your privacy settings on MySpace or Facebook for less than professional items. You don't have to remove everything - employers understand that you have a life outside of your day job - but make sure inappropriate material is not available.

3. Start Discussing. How can you distinguish yourself in your industry? You can browse LinkedIn Answers, participate in discussions on a industry-specific forum where you can showcase your expertise, comment on blogs or start your own. These are great ways to boost your search results.

4. Stay On Top of Things. Sign up for Google Alerts to get emails when a new search result shows up with your name in it. Knowing is half the battle, right? So this way you can be prepared and know what is out there.


Sources: Are You Being Naive -- and Just Plain Stupid -- About Your Online Reputation? by Anita Bruzzese; Why Google Might Be Killing Your Job Search , USNews.com

- Rosie Reilman

We're always striving to bring you relevant information about employment in the Carolinas and our newest feature is streaming video of our Job Fair events. We will stream our first job fair next Wednesday, October 1, from 10am until 2pm.

If you are unable to attend the job fair but want to see what our events are all about, simply bookmark this post and check back during the job fair to watch all of the action. We may even surprise you with tips from some of the recruiters.

We hope you can attend the Job Fair in person, but if you can't, we'll cover it for you. (The live event will appear in the box below. If it's between 10 and 2 on October 1, 2008, please hit the reload button in your browser to start viewing the live stream.)

Video clips at Ustream

If you are a recent graduate or an employer that is looking to hire young professionals in the Northwest, then this is your year! Forbes.com recently listed 5 Northwest cities in their top 40 list. Here is what Forbes had to say about Portland.

21) Portland, OR

In the two measures of graduates and companies, Portland ranks 19th nationally. What pushes it to 22nd has mostly to do with cost of living and salary data. Compared with West Coast cities like Seattle, San Francisco or L.A., Portland is cheap, but nationally it's still above the median-cost level, without the high salaries of other West Coast cities.

And the 4 other Northwest cities:

36) Salt Lake City, UT

Salt Lake City is the nation's leader in job growth and as a result is one of the country's fastest-growing cities. It remains to be seen whether the current economic boom will result in the development of a leading innovative economy that can, in turn, attract graduates from all over the country. The city is at a bit of a disadvantage because it ranks at the bottom of the never-married category.

28) Sacramento, CA

The good news for Sacramento was that it ranked 15th in its ability to attract and hold graduates from our basket of elite schools, suggesting that the Central Valley city is on young professionals' radar. However, none of our 400 best big companies and 200 best small companies call Sacramento home, which dramatically hurt its score.

19) Seattle, WA

Though Seattle is a growing destination for young professionals who have taken advantage of its growing economy, the number of Forbes-tracked companies there has not yet reached the level of critical mass to propel it into our top 15. By graduates alone, Seattle ranks ninth, but when you combine that with its 25th place ranking, it slips to 19.

1) San Francisco, CA

The total number of our tracked graduates and highly rated companies in San Francisco was second only to New York, except that San Francisco is a small fraction of its East Coast rival's size. Adjusted for its population, San Francisco has the highest share of graduates from the class of 1998 and the fourth-highest tally of companies. The exorbitant cost of living hurts, but high salaries and a top-quartile rating for its never-married population place it in the top spot.

For more information on how the rankings are determined, read the full article here. Congratulations to everyone who made the list and look forward to seeing who else makes the list next year.

Job interviewing is a two-way street. For the candidate and the employer alike, the objective is the best hiring match possible. The questions you ask in an interview are as important as how you answer the interviewer’s questions.
Formulating a list of questions is a good practice in preparation for any job interview. Most often, candidates do not know whether they will have another chance to ask questions about a job for which they are applying, so it is a good idea to go into the interview prepared to come out with job related questions answered.
Too frequently, the job search puts candidates into a position of near desperation to take the first job that meets their most basic criteria — it pays enough to get by. Therefore, less emphasis is placed on whether it is a good long-term fit than on whether the job can be “the one.”
Besides the questions you have already formulated, below is a list of others you might want to ask at your next interview. Some of these may not be applicable to all situations, so you can begin by deciding which of these are important to you.
About the Position
Why is this position open?
How often has the position been filled in the past three years?
What are some of the objectives you would like to see accomplished in this job?
What would you like to be done differently by the next person who fills this position?
If I were chosen for this position, what would be my top three priorities?
What are some of the more difficult problems one would have to face in this position?
How will you and the company evaluate / know if I am successful at this position?
About the Company
In your opinion, what products and services make this company the most successful?
Do you see any significant changes to the company in the near future?
What are the advancement opportunities for this position?
If it seems awkward to ask your question, you may consider beginning by asking, “May I ask you a few questions?” It is helpful to prioritize your questions, so that the most important ones get answered.
It is okay to have your questions written and in front of you as you ask them. Besides the questions above, you should ask specific inquiries about the company and this will show you have done your research.

Information provided by: Interview questions for you to ask.

Click on the image below to view a copy of this week's edition of The Employment Guide.

Don't forget to visit Charleston.EmploymentGuide.com for more job listings and to learn more about the employers you see in this week's edition.

Click on the image below to view a copy of this week's edition of The Employment Guide.



Don't forget to visit http://Columbia.EmploymentGuide.com/ for more job listings and to learn more about the employers you see in this week's edition.

Click on the image below to view a copy of this week's edition of The Employment Guide in Charlotte, Raleigh and Greensboro.











Don't forget to visit EmploymentGuide.com for more job listings and to learn more about the employers you see in this week's edition.

Click on the image below to view a copy of this week's edition of The Employment Guide.





Don't forget to visit Atlanta.EmploymentGuide.com for more job listings and to learn more about the employers you see in this week's edition.

Click on the image below to view a copy of this week's edition of The Employment Guide in Portland.

Wow did time fly! The time has come for our fall job fair and we couldn't be more excited. With unemployment rising and the cost of living going up, we at the Orlando Employment Guide are very happy to help the local Central Florida community find the job opportunities that can help them get back on track.

The list of attending companies include:
Aaron's Sales and Lease
Advoserv
Americall Group
Bankers Life and Casualty Company
Central Florida College
Centura Institute
Century Security and Event Staffing
City College
CNS Healthcare
Colorvision International
Conneticut School of Broadcasting
Corestaff Services
Cracker Barrel
Florida Army National Guard
Frontier Corp.
Global Business and Placement
Hilton Grand Vacations
Marriott Vacation Club
Mountain State
NASCAR Sports Grile
National Hispanic Corporate Achievers
Orange County Corrections Department
Preferable Staffing
Rock For Hunger
Rosen Hotels and Resorts
Sheraton Vistana / Starwood Vacation
SKY Resort Management
Southern Technical Institute
Specialty Products US
State Farm
Troy University
US Army
Westgate Resorts
Westin Imagine Orlando

This event is sponsored in part by WiserWroker.com and the AARP Foundation, however it is open to the public and any Central Florida individuals who are currently looking for employment.

The event will take place at the Florida Mall, just outside of Sak's 5th Avenue. For a map and more information, head on over to the EmploymentGuide.com.

See you tomorrow Orlando!

The autumn edition of the Pittsburgh Diversity Employment and Career Education Expo is set for October 1st from 10:00AM to 3:00PM at Mellon Arena. A company list is posted below.
As part of the National Employ the Older Worker Job Fair Series in conjunction with AARP Foundation WorkSearch, this event will also be held in conjunction with the Allegheny County Department of Veteran’s Affairs and The Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh.

All ages are welcome and encouraged to attend. No pre-registration is required and admission is free to all job seekers. We only ask that you come dressed for success and bring plenty of resumes. Parking at the arena, if you drive, costs from $5.95 to $7.95 for all day depending on which lot you use. Of course, Mellon Arena is serviced very well by public transportation, making this event easy to get to.

All job seekers who attend will be eligible to win one of 4 $50.00 gas cards to be given away at the top of each hour -11:00AM, 12:00 noon, 1:00PM and 2:00PM. As you come into the job fair (enter gate 10) you will be given a ticket to be used for the drawings.

Companies will primarily be looking for hourly, entry level up to mid-level skilled positions in Healthcare, Nursing, Sales, Customer Service, Social Services, Retail, Hospitality, Finance / Banking, the Building Trades and more.

Some of the companies and schools attending include:
Coventry Healthcare / Health America, PA Mentor, Advance Auto Parts, Mainstay Life Services, U.S. Navy, SMG, Aramark, PA Army National Guard, H&R Block, Aldi, Community College of Allegheny County, New Century Careers, CVS/Caremark, City of Pittsburgh Diversity 365, Giant Eagle Market District, CCAC Most, All-State Career, The Empyrean Group, Liberty USA, Builders Guild of Western PA, Everest Institute, Giant Eagle Getgo, Transitional Services, Life Pittsburgh, Verizon Wireless, Carnegie Mellon Facilities Management, CEP/Clayton Academy, Kaplan Career Institute, Leed's and more.

EG Weekly Publication September22-September28

Check out this weeks great career opportunities:
American Red Cross
Chimes
North American Trade Schools
John Hopkins
Stella Maris
Pendum
All-State Career
American Beauty Academy

In today’s job market, we know that job seekers are looking for ways to find employment. The Employment Guide is here to help the young, old and mature get on the right path to a new career.

Seventeen hundred people walked through the doors yesterday in hopes of finding a new job or start a new career. As the job seekers walked through the door we handed them an Employment Guide bag with a job seeker survival guide and a copy of our paper.

The doors were open from 10am until 2pm and this allowed hundreds of job seekers to speak with employers and submit their resumes. Some job seekers had interviews set up while others walked around and filled out applications for employers that interested them. There were forty employers that attended our job fair and they were very busy talking to the job seekers.

The Employment Guide also provided a table for the applicants to sign up for job alerts and/or complete job applications. The job alerts will be sent to their e-mail address letting them know what jobs are available for the job industries that the job seeker has chosen. They were over six hundred applicants that signed up. If you haven’t registered please do so at www.employmentguide.com.

Our job fair at The Baltimore Convention was a complete success!!

The next job fair is scheduled for Thursday, November 13, 2008 from 10am-3pm at Anne Arundel Community college. If you are a job seeker looking for a career in the health field please be sure to attend.

Click on the image below to view a copy of this week's edition of The Employment Guide.






Don't forget to visit Atlanta.EmploymentGuide.com for more job listings and to learn more about the employers you see in this week's edition.

Click on the image below to view a copy of this week's edition of The Employment Guide.

Don't forget to visit Charleston.EmploymentGuide.com for more job listings and to learn more about the employers you see in this week's edition.

Click on the image below to view a copy of this week's edition of The Employment Guide.




Don't forget to visit http://Columbia.EmploymentGuide.com/ for more job listings and to learn more about the employers you see in this week's edition.

Click on the image below to view a copy of this week's edition of The Employment Guide in Charlotte, Raleigh and Greensboro.











Don't forget to visit EmploymentGuide.com for more job listings and to learn more about the employers you see in this week's edition.

EG Weekly Publication September 15th-September 21st

Check out this weeks great career opportunites:
North American Trade Schools
Chimes
Corporate Express
George Hildebrandt, Inc.
Alban Tractor
First Transit
Mercy Ridge
Oak Crest
Professional Healthcare
Chipotle
All-State Career

This past weekend I was an attendee of IZEA Fest, a blogging conference that was held right here in our backyard of Orlando, FL. It was an amazing event with speakers ranging from Shoemoney to Merlin Man to John Chow to Tamar Weinberg to locals Ted Murphy and Etan Horowitz. Though every speaker had their own styles and niches, there was one key element that was present during the conference:

The Power of You.

At the end of the day it is YOU that has to make the decision to produce better content, drive traffic, perform your duties and make the decisions to improve your standard of living.

Now, I know most of you are not career bloggers, technology gurus and VC hounding entrepreneurs. However this advice can go a long way in your career path and in your job hunt.

What can YOU do today?
What are the things that you can do today to improve your life tomorrow? Is it making a few extra sales calls before lunch? Can you generate new revenue streams for your company and present them to your boss? Can you add or edit your resume just one extra time to make it stand out to the recruiter? Did you customize your cover letter and not throw out a generic paragraph?

The things you do today do not always show their effects immediately. Sometimes they take time to pan out. If you constantly and consistently do the little things everyday that are above and beyond your normal routine, great things will start to happen on a regular basis as you have set yourself up for them.

How are YOU different?
Every person is different, right? You have heard that saying a million times in different variations. The problem is that your resume looks like your competition. Your grades look the same too. Do your sales numbers jump off the page?

You have to set yourself apart. This is where personal branding comes in to play. I am a big advocate on blogging and using social media to upstart your personal brand. However there are many offline things that can get you ahead in the game. You can stay after class and talk to your teachers about their career path, the curriculum or tap them for a recommendation or a resource. You can volunteer at your job or for local organizations. You can attend networking events and meet people with similar backgrounds. Whatever you do, make sure you are confident and positive.

Being YOU
At the end of the day, a company is going to hire YOU, promote YOU and network with YOU. Being confident in your talents and abilities and ultimately showcasing what YOU have to offer will be your greatest asset.

Orlando, what do YOU have to offer? (don't be afraid to be yourself, even if it means ending the conference with your face in a cake!)

-Greg Rollett

Thank you to Karrie Valauri of AARP Foundation WorkSearch for submitting this very timely information for our blog. The Pittsburgh "Hire the Older Worker" Job Fair, part of the national series of job fairs in partnership between The Employment Guide, WiserWorker.com and the AARP Foundation WorkSearch, is coming October 1st at the Mellon Arena.


Interested in Changing Careers?
Interested in Remaining Marketable in the Workforce?
Are you Unemployed or Underemployed?

By 2010, one in three workers will be over the age of 50. As the relative proportion of younger workers declines, attracting and retaining experienced and reliable workers will be as important as ensuring that experienced workers are prepared to meet the skills in demand of the 21st century workplace.

AARP Foundation is dedicated to creating new opportunities for individuals to re-enter the workforce or to remain in the workforce. To assist individuals with obtaining and maintaining the needed skill sets for employability today and in the future, AARP Foundation has developed WorkSearch Programs.

AARP WorkSearch Assessment is an on-line instrument that helps the experienced, mature worker remain in or re-enter the workforce. It identifies work interests, personal characteristics and transferable skills. It offers quick tests to determine if one has the right skills for a job, online training programs to fill skill gaps, and job opportunities by zip code.

The WorkSearch Assessment System encompasses over 1200 job specific on-line courses, eighty of which are certified, and 75% of all job titles in the Bureau of Labor Statistics job bank are represented. It is available at no cost to experience job seekers of all ages and income levels.

“WorkSearch is an excellent tool to help you to focus in on the type of job you want, to evaluate your skills and to recognize skill gaps,” said to Roberta Davis, Employment Specialist for WorkSearch.

New job opportunities, however, often require additional skills, time and money. The right education and training can sometimes be out-of-reach, especially if you have limited financial resources.

Through the Foundation’s Training Assistance Program – the AARP Foundation is providing financial support for training to adult workers (40+) who have incomes that are at or below the median income for their community, and who are interested in training to remain in or re-enter the workforce. Because not everyone has the same interests or learns the same way, the AARP Foundation has established a number of different options, including on-line learning, classroom, and employer-based training to help people gain the skills they need to be competitive for today’s jobs.

Mature workers are being certified in many disciplines through the on-line certifications, including medical coding and billing, project management and technical writing. Classroom training has encompasses nationally recognized Customer Service certification, Quickbooks, and much more. Special on-line opportunities to obtain teaching certifications and bachelor’s degree in the accounting field are also available.

The third program offered locally through WorkSearch is the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP). This service provides paid training opportunities for unemployed residents of Allegheny County who are 55 years of age or older, who meet income guidelines and are currently seeking employment. Individuals train at non-profit organizations to obtain the experience and skill sets needed to become more marketable.

Past participant, Geraldine McCorkle, is now employed and refers to SCSEP as an “excellent program for seniors to get going and keep going. Thank you.”

AARP is committed to assisting the mature workers with making informed choices regarding employment interests and options, and meeting employment goals. It recognizes that what we do today, we may not be interested in doing or physically capable of doing five, ten years from now. Our skill sets may not correspond to the needs of tomorrow’s employers.

AARP Foundation also supports a National Employer Team for those employers who are interested in securing and maintaining a mature, skilled workforce.

So whether you are an employer interested is retaining a mature workforce, or an individual interested in changing careers, remaining marketable, or re-entering the job market, learn more about how AARP Foundation WorkSearch can help you achieve your goals.

Prepare today for tomorrow’s workforce…let AARP Foundation WorkSearch help you. Contact the local AARP Foundation WorkSearch office at 412-271-1580, or visit aarpworksearch.org.

The Employment Guide® recently launched a new resource for job seekers of the Baby Boomer generation: WiserWorker.com. The mission statement says, "WiserWorker.com is dedicated to providing quality employment opportunities and resources to the largest demographic group in the country, the Baby Boomers." In this spirit, WiserWorker.com teamed up with local AARP groups around the country to bring workers aged 50+ job fairs focused on their demographic. In conjunction with the Department of Labor's National Employ the Older Workers Job Fair Series (September 23rd through September 29th), WiserWorker.com will bring job fairs to 67 markets in 32 states nationwide.

With so many opportunities to meet with employers, what should you do to prepare?

First, start by revamping your resume. Your resume should be short and to the point. Remember this isn't a history of your whole life, just relevant work experience. Keep it under two pages and be sure to use a universal font choice and size. (Always type your resume!) Have a friend or two proofread it for you. Then, have a friend or two proofread it behind them.

Find out which companies will be at the job fair. If possible, visit their Web site and find out everything you can about the company. It is possible you could land an interview on the spot at the job fair so knowing everything you can about the company is a great start.

The night before, pick out what you're going to wear. It may seem silly to have an outfit picked out, but this is your first impression and that is what will stick with the employer later down the line. If you go into the job fair with wrinkled pants or skirts, a sloppy shirt or blouse, and casual shoes, you're less likely to get an interview on the spot or later down the line. Make sure your outfit is clean, pressed and business-ready. Steer clear of bright colors or patterns, opting instead for dark blues, blacks and khakis.

You can check out more ways to prepare for a job fair by picking up a copy of The Employment Guide's Job Seekers Survival Guide, or by downloading it from our Web site. How do you prepare for a job fair? Let us know at egblogger@employmentguide.com!

With so many jobs out there, it can become a little daunting to continue on your job search. But, only if you let it get the best of you. There are tons of ways to make your job search more efficient, less stressful and even more fun. All you have to do is be proactive and get started. To help you get out there and get it done, I've compiled a list of three of the best new innovations to come to the aid of job seekers.

1. Social Networking. Like Myspace, Facebook and LinkedIn, specialty social networks are popping up all over the place. And not only are social networks more and more prevalent, they're no longer just for developers and web-savvy startups anymore. You can start your own network using Web sites like Ning.com. The Employment Guide® has started a network just for job seekers called "HiredIn". According to the network's home page, "Finding a job is a social experience. The first place you look to find a better job is your friends and associates who are connected and know about job openings. HiredIn is an open social network where people can share information about job openings, connect with other job seekers and help each other enhance their careers." Joining is really easy, too. All you need to do is sign up on the HiredIn page, and then you can start discussions about the job you're looking for, or post jobs for others to check out. What's great about networks like this is that they help make your job search a conversation, which is the best way for information to be disseminated.

2. Blogs are another great resource that are beginning to emerge for job seekers. Many large companies are keeping their own blogs that have opened up their inner-workings to the outside. Job boards and recruiting resources, like The Employment Guide, have also opened up to the blogosphere. These are particularly useful as they offer great advice and links to other resources for job seekers. Sites like blogger.com are great places to search for job seeker blogs, or company blogs, and keep up to date on all the ways job seekers like you are revolutionizing their searches.

3. E-mail alerts. E-mail alerts aren't a new resource, but they're becoming increasingly useful to job seekers. Many job boards have a way for job seekers to sign up for e-mail blasts whenever a job becomes available in their area, or even by industry. The Employment Guide has "Job Alerts," which you can sign up for in the right side bar of the blog. You can sign up and specify which industries you're looking to be hired in, and whenever a company in your area is hiring you'll get an alert in your inbox. Applications like this that do the work for the job seeker are irreplaceable. Having the work done for you gives you more time to work on tweaking your resume, or working on your cover letter.

There are a ton of other resources and innovations out there for job seekers to take advantage of. These are just three of the best ones. How are you streamlining your job search? Let us know at egblogger@employmentguide.com or by leaving a comment!

Your Biggest Job-Search Problem

If you're looking for a job and haven't found one yet, by definition, you have a problem.

There's something standing between you and employment.

What is it?

Surprisingly, when I ask most job hunters what their #1 job-search problem is, they answer, "I don?t know."

Think about that. How can you solve a problem if you don't know what it is?

So, the first step is to define your biggest job-search problem. Only then can you solve it effectively.

Here's how ...

1) What's Your Biggest Job-Search Problem?

What's the one thing which, if you could fix it, would quickly result in you getting your ideal job, at your ideal salary?

Write all the possible problems down on paper without censoring yourself.

Some examples:

- I send my resume to employers and nothing happens
- I can't get past HR gatekeepers and meet with hiring managers
- I'm getting interviews, but no job offers

After you write down all your problems, rank them in order, from big to small.

Now, choose your biggest, most-frustrating problem.

Congratulations! You're ready for ...

Step 2) How Do You Solve Your Biggest Job-Search Problem?

Heh. That's a trick question.

Why?

If you actually wrote down your #1 problem, you are halfway to solving it already.

That's because when you outline a problem in writing, you demystify it. Defined on paper, a problem loses most of its power to frighten. It's like turning on the light after a nightmare -- there's nothing scary under the bed when you get a clear look at things.

So, with most of the fear factor gone, you can now solve any job-search problem by restating it as a question, with the help of one word: How?

To illustrate, here are the problems from earlier, restated as questions:

- How can I make sure employers get my resume?
- How can I get past HR gatekeepers and meet with hiring managers?
- How can I turn more interviews into job offers?
Now -- on paper, because that's the only way to think clearly -- let's brainstorm possible solutions ...

Problem: How can I make sure employers get my resume?

Possible solutions: Let's define "send my resume." For most people that means e-mail. And email is about as reliable as the pony express.

So, you need to know if your e-mail was received and opened.

The simplest way is to pick up the phone, call the employer, and say: "I've been having some trouble with spam filters. Could you verify that you got the resume I e-mailed you yesterday?" Here, spam is your friend -- I've met several job seekers who turned such a phone call into a long conversation that led to an interview. Try it.

Or, try a free e-mail notification service like MSGTAG (www.msgtag.com), or search Google for "read receipt e-mail" and "delivery receipt e-mail" for other solutions.

But why limit yourself to e-mail? Let's brainstorm further...

Why not differentiate yourself by printing and sending your resume (with cover letter) to the decision maker by postal mail?

Find their name by calling the employer and asking for the correct spelling of the person in charge of your department -- that's likely your future boss. You can also find names at www.jigsaw.com and www.zoominfo.com.

Bonus: Make contact with people at your target company and ask them to walk your resume into a manager's office the same day you submit it by email. This can start a conversation among executives that pushes your name to the top of the pile.

Problem: How can I get past HR gatekeepers and meet with hiring managers?

Possible solutions: Why not go around the gatekeepers?

Instead of going through HR and hoping to make it to the next security checkpoint, start at the top by contacting the person you want to work for -- they can then call down to HR and put you on the interviewing schedule.

In any case, strive to meet someone at your target employer. You may already know someone there. Or, someone they know may know someone.

Online, you can make contacts at LinkedIn.com and Facebook.com.

Offline, call the five most-successful people you know and ask, "What would you do if you were in my shoes?" This simple question instantly engages listeners and can produce a slew of solutions for any job-search problem -- try it.

Problem: How can I turn more interviews into job offers?

Possible solutions: Job interviews are like golf swings. No matter what you're doing wrong, others have faced the same problem -- and solved it.

As in golf, you need to identify what you're doing wrong, then practice new techniques. You'll likely find the answers from a book or a coach. Amazon.com is full of the former. The latter can be found by Googling "job interview coach" for helpful links.

Now, go out and make your own luck.

Kevin Donlin is Creator of TheSimpleJobSearch.com. Since 1996, he has provided job-search help to more than 20,000 people. Author of 3 books, Kevin has been interviewed by The New York Times, Fox News, CBS Radio and others. His free report, The Simple Job Search Manifesto, is found at www.TheSimpleJobSearch.com.

Tomorrow marks the 7^th unfortunate anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. With our country in the middle of a heated presidential campaign and the economy in a shaky situation, coming together to remember the American spirit helps us all gather the hope and spirit of those heroes that were lost on that day. All across Orlando and Central Florida, there will be Memorials and Remembrance Ceremonies to honor the 2,977 individuals who were lost on this tragically historic day. If you are interested in partaking in one of these events, the schedule and locations are listed below.

Rollins College and City of Winter Park - Rollins College will host a memorial dedication ceremony on Thursday at 10:45am at the front of the Warren Administration Building

City of Kissimmee – Both the Kissimmee Police and Fire Departments will remember those in the 9/11 attacks at the Kissimmee City Hall Court Yard at 8:30am.

University of Central Florida – UCF student veterans will be at the Reflection Pond at the 8:46 time frame for a memorial and moment of silence.

Orange City – The Orange City Fire Station will hold a 9/11 tribute that will be followed by Town Hall. The tribute begins at 8:46am, the time that the N. Tower was hit.

Marion County – the VWF Retirement Homes 2^nd Annual Marrion County Special Tribute to Our First Responders will also be on Thursday at 7pm.

Our General Sales Manager, Patrick O’Brien wrote in the Central Florida Community Guide this week that:

It is hard to imagine that we are now approaching the 7th anniversary of the events on 9/11. To me the images still seem so painfully vivid. While the memories will always remain, we need to also ensure that the American Spirit continues to thrive as well.

Orlando, if you have a 9/11 story that you would like to share, we will be more than happy to publish it tomorrow on the Orlando JobSpot. Please send the story to greg.rollett@employmentguide.com.

If anyone knows any other events happening around Central Florida, please leave them in the comments and we will update this post accordingly. God Bless America!

-Greg Rollett

Looking for a career opportunity?
The Baltimore Employment guide is having a Job Fair.

When: Wednesday, September 17
Where: The Baltimore Convention center
One West Pratt Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
Time: 10am-2pm
The following Employers will be attending from the Baltimore and surrounding areas:
Accountants, Inc.
Alban Tractor
Algorithme Pharma
All-state Career
The Arc of Baltimore
Avon Products, Inc.
Baltimore City Department of Social Services
Baltimore County Police Department
Chesapeake Financial Group
Chimes
Community College of Baltimore County
DeVry University
DISH Network
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Euler Hermes
FutureCare
Mary Kay Cosmetics
Maryland Department of Health & Mental Hygiene
Maryland Department of Public Safety
Maryland Transportation Authority Police
Maryland New Directions
NIDA
P-B Health
Pendum, Inc.
Provident Bank
Primerica
Sheraton Baltimore City
Sodexho
Stella Maris
Tessco
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans
Travel Advantage Network
United States Army
Utiliquest
WCBM
Wendy’s
Don’t forget to bring plenty of resumes and to dress for success. Some employers may interview on the spot so be prepared. Here are some helpful links to look over before you attend the job fair.
How to Answer the Four Most Common Interview Questions.
Dressing-for-Interview-Success
Resume-do’s-don’ts

I hope to see you there and wish you success in your career search!
Be sure to check back daily for an updated list.

The Tampa Rays are in the middle of an unbelievable season. Even die hard fans can tell you that they didn't expect to be leading the East come September. 

Well, the fat lady has not entered Tropicana Field quite yet, and those of you reading this are not pro ball players heading into an advertising heavy and money hungry post-season, the Rays give you some job prospecting hope.

Out With the Old, In With the New

1. Develop your skills over time. The Rays have a great farm system in place, meaning that their new young talent has time to develop and manage their skills in a simulated environment before taking on the million dollar pros in the big leagues. For you, this can mean jumping into an internship, volunteering or joining clubs and organizations. Maybe it's going back to school and pursuing your education. It may also mean taking an entry level job to gain the skills, contacts and learning experience before jumping into a big career change.
2. Competition is healthy. The Rays fought off the Bronx Bombers and are now neck to neck with the Boston Red Sox. Having competition breathing down your back keeps you on your toes and makes sure that your game face is always on. You can't win everyday, but with motivation of competition you can overcome your objectives, work hard and come out as a top revenue producer and excel at customer service. 
3. Play your best down the stretch. When there is great pressure there is usually great reward. As the year, quarter or other economic factors wear you down, you need to finish strong. You will find that looking for a job when all hope is lost, will usually result in a resurgence of new opportunities. It's like turning over that extra rock and finding gold, or grinding out the pain to throw one more fastball past Big Papi and clinching the East. This takes great concentration, but also some faith and the ability to see things before they happen. 
4. Silence your critics. Sometimes your friends and family are your worst critics. Some recruiters can push you to your bad side. The same goes in sports. ESPN, Sports Illustrated and others counted the Rays out before the season started. Now they are in the dug out laughing all the way to the playoffs. When adversity stares you in the face, it is you that has to make the ultimate decision if you will prevail or let your competition beat you out. Believing in yourself and your abilities are the key to keeping those critics quiet or better yet, turning them into fans and believers themselves. 

Down the stretch, never count yourself out. With all the difficulties in your way, it is very easy to lose sight of what you need to do. The Rays take it one day and one game at a time. For you, remember to take it one day and one interview at a time. 

Go Rays and happy hunting Tampa!

-Greg Rollett

Tampa Job Fair is coming September 23rd at Raymond James Stadium

While nationwide Manpower Survey shows broad decline for fourth quarter hiring plans, Pittsburgh should continue to weather the storm. Though down from year ago levels, quarter to quarter hiring activity should remain the same. Here is the complete news release:

Favorable Job Market Expected for Pittsburgh
September 9, 2008 – Pittsburgh area employers expect to hire at a steady pace during the fourth quarter of 2008, according to the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey.

From October to December, 27% of the companies interviewed plan to hire more employees, while 10% expect to reduce their payrolls, according to Manpower
spokesperson Kelly M. Scott. Another 58% expect to maintain their current staff levels and
5% are not certain of their hiring plans.

“Employers anticipate staff levels to be similar to the third quarter of 2008 when 29% of companies interviewed intended to add employees, and 10% planned to reduce staff levels,” said Scott. “Compared to one year ago when 36% of companies surveyed planned to increase staff levels and 10% expected to cut payrolls, hiring intentions for the fourth quarter are weaker.”

For the coming quarter, job prospects appear best in Durable Goods Manufacturing,
Transportation/Public Utilities and Wholesale/Retail Trade. Employers in Education and Public Administration plan to reduce staffing levels, while those in Services voice mixed hiring intentions. Hiring in Construction, Non-Durable Goods Manufacturing and Finance/Insurance/Real Estate is expected to remain unchanged.

Of the 14,000 employers surveyed in the U.S., 22% expect to increase their staff levels during the October – December period, while 13% expect to reduce their payrolls, resulting in a Net Employment Outlook of 9%. Fifty-nine percent expect no change in hiring and 6% are undecided about their Quarter 4 2008 hiring plans.

The next Manpower Employment Outlook Survey will be released on December 9, 2008 to report hiring expectations for Quarter 1 2009.

With the Charlotte Job Fair fast approaching this week, I thought we'd talk about what to do if a recruiter asks you to apply online. So great, you got yourself up out of bed (or out of work) to trek down to this career fair and all you have to do is apply online?

Yes, it can be annoying but your time is not wasted. Use the time you have taken to talk to the recruiter. This person might be the one to make the decision on hiring you. Ask them questions about the job and the hiring process -- What kind of person are they looking for? How long does it take to fill the position? Is there any testing required? How many interviews should you expect?

You might even get some valuable feedback on your resume and get a better idea of your chances of being considered for the job.

Also keep in mind that at The Employment Guide Job Fair, we'll have computers for you to apply right at the career fair if an employer would prefer you submit an application through their website.

If you need more advice, check out this video of advice straight from the recruiters.
So if you're in the Charlotte area, click here for more details on the job fair September 11 from 9:00am - 1:00pm

See you there!

- Rosie Reilman

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Don't forget to visit Atlanta.EmploymentGuide.com for more job listings and to learn more about the employers you see in this week's edition.

The Employment Guide was live and in center stage at the recent Florida Restaurant and Lodging Show at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL. We were the official computer center of the show and a partner of the FRLA. It was an exciting 3 days of meeting people, trying new foods, teaching employers how to reach our demographic and having a grand old time.

The Incredible Egg Man

It's strange but true: You can't get hired by an employment web site, or an HR department.

You can't get hired by a business, a non-profit agency, or a government, for that matter.

Rather, you can only get hired by another person.

This is what every successful job search boils down to -- people connecting with and hiring other people.

You can put the odds in your favor, and shorten your job search, simply by meeting more hiring authorities in the flesh.

But you have to do it right. You must dress and act the part you want to play as an employee, if you want to impress an employer enough to hire you.

That's the advice one man gave his wife that helped her win a job at a local college.

"She was going to mail her resume to apply for the position, but I told her that it was so close by, why not hand-deliver it instead?" said Daniel Dallaire, a financial services manager from Kamloops, British Columbia. "That way she could check out the place where she might be working at the same time."

Problem: As his wife was heading out the door, Dallaire noticed she was dressed in sweatpants and a T-shirt. Solution? "?I told her to change clothes and look professional before delivering her resume."

Good thing. She ran into the hiring manager at the office, and her presence -- her professional appearance and clothing -- had a positive influence on the decision to hire her later, according to Dallaire.

All kinds of good things can happen when you visit an employer in person.

Example: Several years ago, I wrote about Eugene, a software developer from Savage, Minn., who hand-delivered a portfolio of material to an employer after submitting his resume earlier.

As he was leaving, Eugene met several employees in the lobby. One question led to another, and he ended up interviewing them about ways to improve their work. Eugene submitted a white paper of possible solutions to the employer, based on his unique research -- and was hired only weeks later.

All because he decided to visit the employer in person.

According to Minneapolis-based recruiter Larry Harris, you should always try to drop off your resume rather than email or mail it.

When you learn of an opening for a job, call and ask for the hiring manager. Tell why you are calling, explain why you are perfect for the job and ask for a meeting. Then expect them to refuse -- they'll likely ask you to email your resume instead.

Here's where you turn opposition into opportunity.

According to Harris, an excellent response is this: "I could send you my resume, but I'm going to be near your office tomorrow around 11:00. If you don't mind, I'd like to stop by and drop it off. If you're available, I can introduce myself and hand you my resume. If you're not in, I'll just leave it with the receptionist. Would that be OK?"

This tactic is non-threatening -- the hiring manager can always duck into a closet when you show up -- yet it shows you don't shrink from rejection. And it can lead to more in-person interviews than you'll likely get hiding behind the anonymity of email.

If you've been surfing the Web and furiously sending out resumes by email, how's that working for you? How many job interviews has the Internet produced by itself? If you're happy with your results, great.

If not, try this experiment: Make a plan to meet five employers in the next five days, by hand-delivering your resume and a customized, well-researched cover letter to their office.

The worst they can say when you call to ask for a meeting is no. No problem -- just email your resume as you would have done anyway.

But if just two employers agree to let you drop off your resume, you've just secured two job interviews! Because, whether they say so or not, any in-person meeting with any employer is a job interview. You will be judged by your appearance, the questions you ask, and the knowledge (or ignorance) you display, just as in a formal interview.

So arrange your "resume drop-off" meetings this week and prepare accordingly. Then, go out and make your own luck.

Kevin Donlin is Creator of TheSimpleJobSearch.com. Since 1996, he has provided job-search help to more than 20,000 people. Author of 3 books, Kevin has been interviewed by The New York Times, Fox News, CBS Radio and others. His free report, The Simple Job Search Manifesto, is found at www.TheSimpleJobSearch.com.

Being young and in charge is no easy feat. Those that are able to balance their career at such a young age often have an eagerless to learn and help others. Lee Cockerell, a recently retired Exec. VP of Operations at Walt Disney World Resorts, has launched a new site that is all about encouraging Gen-Y to become leaders and showcase those that show excellence in leadership. 

If you went on a job interview don’t be discouraged if you didn’t get the job. I have a list that will help you improve on your next interview. Employmentguide .com has plenty of great career opportunities available.

Reason for Job Rejection: Why Did I Not Get the Job?

Candidates who appear to be highly qualified for a particular opening, but who fail to land the job, often wonder why they were rejected.
There is no single reason, of course. Sometimes another candidate's experience and background is even more on target than yours. Sometimes the person making the hiring decision simply likes another candidate more than you (and will concoct a more rational reason if necessary). Sometimes it's just sheer luck. But there often are real, rational reasons why candidates aren't chosen. With the economy tightening and companies being more careful about who they hire, understanding the reasons you may be turned down can help increase the odds you'll actually land the job you want.

Here are some reasons employers say no:
Appearance-This may sound superficial or discriminatory, but if your appearance doesn't meet the unspoken assumptions of the hiring official, you won't get the job. Most employers aren't seeking models; they want employees who are neat, clean, attentive to detail (no shirt tails hanging out) and look like people with whom customers and co-workers would want to be associated. So look at yourself critically. Shine your shoes. Wear conservative clothing that's pressed and fits well. Make sure your nails and hands are clean. And comb your hair.
No work references-This is an obvious red flag, says Allen Salikof, president of Management Recruiters International, a search and recruitment company. If a prospective employer can't ask anyone about your work experience, how can the company make an informed decision about hiring you? Even if you didn't get along well with your boss at your most recent job, get a colleague or someone in position of responsibility at a former workplace to vouch for your ability to do the job.
Attitude-If you seem angry or hostile you won't get the job. You may not be aware of your behavior, but if you seem to describe everyone you mention as a jerk, or if you denigrate a former employer, you come across as a malcontent.
Accomplishments-What specifically did you do on your last job? If you're purposely or unintentionally vague, a prospective employer can't figure out what you're capable of doing. Not clearly discussing your work makes your accomplishments - and you - suspect.
Interview behavior- Were you late to your interview? Were you less than courteous to anyone at the prospective employer's place of work? Were your phone manners less than perfect? If you don't conduct yourself professionally during the interview process, you will be disqualified.
Unusual commute- This may seem odd to note, but employers will look askance at anyone who lives too far from the job. Even if you're willing to drive 90 minutes each way to get to work or take three trains and a bus, an employer will wonder why you can't find a job that doesn't require such gyrations. They'll also be concerned - rightly - that your commute will affect attendance, punctuality and performance.
Playing hard to get-Taking too long to consider a job offer is a sign the employer isn't your first choice. That's not the way to start a new work relationship.
Information provided by: Reason for job rejection.

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Don't forget to visit Atlanta.EmploymentGuide.com for more job listings and to learn more about the employers you see in this week's edition.

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Don't forget to visit Charleston.EmploymentGuide.com for more job listings and to learn more about the employers you see in this week's edition.

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Don't forget to visit http://Columbia.EmploymentGuide.com/ for more job listings and to learn more about the employers you see in this week's edition.

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Don't forget to visit EmploymentGuide.com for more job listings and to learn more about the employers you see in this week's edition.

Check out this weeks great career opportunitites:
Lifetouch National School Studeos
Corporate Express
All-State Career
North American Trade Schools
Tesst College of Technology
Professional Healthcare Resources
Stella Maris
Ruxton Health & Rehabilitation Center
Pendum, Inc.