Retailers Are Adding Thousands More Holiday Employees

Are consumers expected to spend a lot of money this holiday season?

Hey, someone must be shopping.  Major retailers across the board are planning to add thousands of temporary employees during the upcoming holiday season.  While seasonal cashiers aren’t a new development, it’s worth pointing out that despite the ongoing economic slump, many stores are actually hiring more holiday workers than last year.

To find out who is hiring, check out the following link: http://thehighlow.com/2011/10/retailers-are-adding-thousands-more-holiday-employees/

Survey: Executives Say Poor Skills Fit Most Common Reason New Hires Don’t Work Out

Do candidates’ skills fit the job description?

For employers, determining a job applicant’s skills fit is a skill in itself — and one that, research suggests, isn’t so easy to master. In a Robert Half Finance & Accounting survey, more than one-third (36 percent) of chief financial officers (CFOs) interviewed said the top factor leading to a failed hire, aside from performance issues, is a poor skills match.

CFOs were asked, “Aside from poor performance, which one of the following factors is most likely to lead to a failed hire?” Their responses: Continue Reading

Is It Time to Retire the Old Resume and Start Fresh?

Everyone has something they consider “tried and true” that has provided them with consistent results every time. For some job seekers, that something is their resume. It’s possible that, 10 years ago, when they conducted their previous job searches, it worked wonders in scoring a lot of interviews. But these days, after initiating a new job search, it just doesn’t seem to get the same results.

Are you in this position? Do you have a resume that meant the world to you in the past but now isn’t raking in the interview calls? It may be time to retire the old resume and start with something fresh. Here are some ways to help you get this done Continue Reading

Why Measuring Progress in a Job Search is Critical

Conducting a job search can be an intense process that requires a lot of effort on a daily basis. With so much energy set forth, it’s easy to overlook small aspects of the search that could significantly impact the process. One aspect that could potentially have a major impact is whether or not you measure your progress. Keeping track of how the process is moving could make a huge difference in your getting hired. Continue Reading

The Best Companies for College Grads and Entry Level Jobs

“Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.” — Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

So what exactly is an entry level job? According to Wikipedia (and this is an excerpt) – “An entry-level job is a job that is normally designed or designated for recent graduates of a given discipline, and doesn’t ask for prior experience in the field or profession. These may require some on-site training.“. Now I’m not sure that is a perfect definition, because not all entry level jobs are for college grads. There are many entry level jobs for people who have not attended college or are college students. So how about this one from BusinessDictionary.com- “Bottom-level employment in a firm which usually requires ordinary-level of education, training, and experience qualifications. It gives a recruit the benefit of a gainful occupation, opportunity to learn and gain experience, and serves as a stepping-stone for higher-level jobs.“. Still doesn’t sound like the best definition but it is a better definition than the first one. Today’s post is about finding the best companies for entry level jobs (however they are defined). Continue Reading

Keep Your New Job Search on the Down Low

Typically, as a job seeker, you want to tell everyone who may offer some assistance about your job search. That is everyone except your current employer (and perhaps certain co-workers). If word gets out about your new job search, you may end up looking for employment out of need instead of want.

Here are some tips to make your next career move on the down low: Continue Reading

5 Cover Letter Tips to Get Your Resume Noticed

“Experience is a great advantage. The problem is that when you get the experience, you’re too damned old to do anything about it.” — Jimmy Connors

Sorry if this sounds strange, but nothing is more annoying (nor more important) than having to write a cover letter. On the one hand, it can be the single most important document in your job search (yes, possibly more important than your resume). “Why?” you may ask. A cover letter is your introduction. It can be the single reason your resume is (or is not) considered. Even if you have the best resume in the world with the most amazing work experience, a missing or poorly written cover letter may ruin any chance at getting your resume seen by the right people. In an economy in which high unemployment prevails and few jobs exist, hiring managers are being very selective about the few people they will hire. Continue Reading

Let Your Resume Show Prospective Employers That You’re Truly Invested

A common problem that employers have with job-seekers’ resumes is that they fail to show how interested the candidate is in working for the specific company. Instead, organizations often receive resumes offering a long, detailed list of everything the candidate has accomplished but no real explanation of how these accomplishments can help the company.

If you want to impress employers with your resume, it’s a good idea to make a couple of adjustments to shift its focus. By proving that you’re truly invested in the organization’s mission through your prior experience, you gain a leg up on your competition. Continue Reading

Does Your Resume Make Promises You Can’t Deliver?

When you’re in high hopes of finding employment, it can be a bit tempting to make promises in your resume that you hope you won’t have to prove you can deliver.  While it’s important that you look impressive on your resume, you certainly don’t want to get into the habit of telling white lies to get employed.

Doing this could truly backfire if you are actually hired for a position, especially once it’s revealed that you can’t deliver the results you’ve promised.  So if you want to impress without exaggerating the truth in your resume, here are some options to consider: Continue Reading

Include Volunteer Work on Your Resume

Volunteering your time to help someone or support a good cause is something most people are proud of. However, it seems that some job seekers are reluctant when it comes to including this work on their resumes. If you are looking for a job, it is important not to sell yourself short in your job search by not referencing volunteer work. Continue Reading