Helicopter Parents

I heard a new term on the radio the other day - it was "helicopter parents".  As defined by wikipedia - Helicopter parent is a colloquial, early 21st-century term for a parent who pays extremely close attention to his or her child's or children's experiences and problems, particularly at educational institutions.  In other words, they aren't letting the child fight their own battles.  I can understand there are times when a parent must step in to defend their child, but the extreme stories that were being discussed made me cringe.

When I heard the description, it made me pause and reflect on how this could impact someone's job search.  I thought back to the episode of "Everybody loves Raymond" where Marie, the matriarch of the family, approached a potential employer that Robbie was scheduled to interview with and nearly lost Robbie the opportunity.  (Lucky Suit, Episode :138 | aired February 4, 2002).

Have you ever had someone think that they were helping you, yet because of their "hovering" they really hindered your job search progress?  If all else fails, make your plan, adjust as needed, and if you need help from someone, ask them specifically for what you need.

Do you have experience with a helicopter situation?

Resume Tools

I read a blog article about 10 things that you can do with LinkedIn of which you may not have been aware. One of them included the resume tool. I went in and set up my resume. It took about 20 seconds. Unfortunately, I would be better served by a combination resume and the tool only allows a chronological resume.

The LinkedIn tool is perfect as long as your profile is 100% complete, your profile reads the same way you would like your resume to read, and a chronological format is the approach you would like to use.

Another tool that we recommend can be found on www.illinoisworknet.com in the Individuals pathway "Prepare" section. The tool within Illinois workNet will create and save up to 20 resumes for you.  You can pick from several templates including both functional and chronological.  There isn't a combination option posted, but you can always copy and paste from the workNet tool into a Word document.


A free tool that is available in the Career Resource Centers at an Illinois workNet Center is Winway resume creator.  This computer program allows you to select which of the three formats you would like to use and offers suggestions for tasks you may have completed based upon the job title that you enter.  Once you have all of your information entered, you may then go in and edit the description and tweak the resume to make it completely personalized to your experience.


Last but not least, the Illinois workNet Career Resource Centers offer free professional review assistance for your resume from our Career Resource Professionals, as well as workshops to help you with your resume and interviewing along with many other resources. 


What is the best resume tool you have found?

Do you have PO?

No, I don't mean a post office box.  I mean po - lateral thinking Wiki definition.

I was introduced to this concept by a person who answered a question that I had asked on LinkedIn.  I was trying to figure out how to have my full-time job with KCDEE appear above a part-time family business job that I started more recently than I had started with KCDEE.

The person responded to my query with the term po and I was able to make enough of a change to accomplish what I wanted to do.

Po means to rethink how you are currently doing, thinking, selling, building, etc., to be able to address a potential new approach. It reminds me of a brainstorming Rorschach test, or possibly an "if = then" proposition.

Let's take this to the job search.  If you apply the "po" principle to your job search - the question may be "Why am I not getting interviews?"
po = become an entrepreneur
po = revise resume
po = change target
po = target specific companies
po = become a hermit
po = retrain for a new career

Which of your ideas are feasible and practical?  What can you actually accomplish? Which ones do you need help with to complete?  Do you know your resources?

What are your thoughts?

Closing the sale

When you are in job search mode, you are in effect "selling" your skills and talents.  Your resume and cover letter are your brochure and sales material and your interview is your sales call.

Now, all of the salespeople reading this know that the next step is to find out where the process is going.  Some people will tell you that they have to think about your presentation or discuss it with a partner or supervisor.  If that is happening, you know that the next question is "When would be a good time to follow-up?" and then you put that on your calendar.

If you aren't fortunate enough to have someone who is that forthright with you, then you need to take the bull by the horns and figure out how to close the sale or ask for the sale.

You must be careful in an interview not to appear needy or pushy.  Stating that you would love to work for the company is great but must be conveyed in a sincere unassuming manor or the interviewer could interpret the statement incorrectly.

Closing the sale is typically about overcoming objections, but in an interview you must be careful about how you ask the question - go for the open-ended question that allows the interviewer to share concerns about whether you are a good corporate fit, or how you might be able to handle the job.

Asking for feedback about how you did on the interview could potentially backfire, but by asking how you compare to the other candidates you may find out that you rank well among the competition.  If it isn't among the highest, you may ask how you might improve to become the best fit or to improve your skills (interviewing or actual) for a future interview at this company or another. 

When you leave an interview, knowing if you are in the running for a position allows you to plan for your job search next steps.  If you are confident that you did well and the feedback is positive, you may not have to be looking for long.

Are you dialoguing?

"Two monologues do not make a dialogue." - Jeff Daly

This quote was in one of my emails recently.  It reminded me of a program I saw on television where two people were talking out loud to each other, but were carrying on their own conversation.  They each solved their own problem, but never acknowledged each others thoughts.  (The New Adventures of Old Christine)

Both the quote and program struck me as important when it comes to adapting your interview skills.  

You may be called for an interview and you have several points you want to share about your work history or experiences you have had, but what is the interviewer asking you.

When you are networking, are you so intent on sharing your projects that you are not listening to the person with whom you are networking?  Perhaps listening to what they are saying you might find a way that you can help them or "pay it forward" by connecting them with someone you know within your network. 

Holiday Job Search Tips

The holidays may offer time for reflection and resolutions, thoughts about family and future from Thanksgiving through the new-year.  The season also presents challenges and opportunities for people seeking employment.  KCDEE reminds people who are unemployed or facing an uncertain future to understand that jobs are available and for those individuals considering a career change, this is an excellent time to explore training and education possibilities.

We offer these “Holiday Tips” to inspire people to be diligent in their pursuit of education, training and employment opportunities and to ensure that they take full advantage of our Illinois workNet Centers.  The workNet staff works hard to satisfy the demands of our customers - unemployed individuals and companies who seek good employees. These  “Holiday Tips" are presented to encourage people to not despair during this season and instead make the best use of our resources in their quest to satisfy their personal career goals and to meet the needs of their family. Check the Illinois workNet website to find a center near you.

                   Kane County Department of Employment and Education Offers

                             Holiday Tips for Dislocated or Unemployed Workers

1. Continue to apply for full time work during the holiday season.  Make sure your application and resume are there for employers when they are considering hiring new people in the New Year.
2. Seek part-time work during the holiday season.  Many people are hired to fill positions created by holiday vacations or to meet year-end demand from customers.  Some employers evaluate part-time employees for full-time positions.  This is your opportunity to shine and make a good impression.
3. If there are any career fairs – dress for success and show-up with a resume.   Job fairs offer a great opportunity to meet potential employers face-to-face.
4. Network yourself, at gatherings, to people who might be aware of job openings.  Many referrals for jobs come from employees, talk to someone you know who works for a company where you would like to work and get the inside scoop on jobs.   In social situations maintain a level of professionalism.
5. Utilize resources from any training institution, college, university or school you have attended to help you discover jobs that may not be advertised or posted on an Internet job search website. 
6. Keep a watchful eye on expenses.  Focus on the many good things in your life and not the materialistic demands of the season.  Many successful people look back to tight financial times, when they focused on family and friendship, as some of the best, most meaningful moments in their lives.
7. Explore the services available to you through local agencies to improve your resume and interviewing skills. Help is available from the Illinois workNet Centers for job counseling, job search and access to a number of websites. 
8. Be positive and patient.  Understand that job loss, unemployment and job seeking are stressful situations.    There is truth to the fact that the hardest job of all is finding a good job.  
9. Get organized.  Write and design a new resume, list employers that offer good career opportunities.  Be methodical about your job search and set goals for contacting employers by keeping a daily contact log. 
10. Be courteous and understanding when you follow up with potential employers - your attitude on the phone may be the deciding factor in getting an interview or job offer.  A positive attitude to your job search and interviews will help you be successful.  “Thank You” notes and letters after the interview offer you another opportunity to sell yourself to an employer or to drive home a point you may have overlooked during your interview.
11. Try to be flexible in your approach to your career. Understand that you will always be acquiring new skills and adapting to new technology in almost every occupation.  Many people will change jobs or career paths with their current employer many times in their working life.  

The Illinois workNet Centers offer services from a group of partnering agencies, at a one-stop location, to assist job seekers find employment and where employers can meet their workforce development goals.   There are Centers in Elgin, North Aurora, DeKalb and satellites in Aurora and Yorkville that will help you.

The workNet Centers offer various workshops to help you improve your resume, your interviewing techniques and other skills to help you improve your job search activities.  Career counseling, labor market information about jobs in demand in your county and access to education and training resources are just some of the services available at the center to assist you in your job search.   

Are you prepared? Tough Interview Questions

Like every good girl scout or boy scout you need to be prepared for your interview.  The typical questions that you are asked about your previous employment are a cinch. But some of the following may take some thought and preparation.

• Tell me about yourself - prepare a few sentences that gives employers a rounded look at you and your personality.  Don't get too personal or talk on and on.
• Companies want to know if you have done your research about them, so you may end up with questions like: Why do you want to work here; how can you help our company; or why do want to work in _____ field?
• Questions often come up about your weaknesses or your strengths, achievements or disappointments, biggest mistake - prepare one or two for each and how you are coping or overcoming them.
• Often interviewers will ask about previous positions, bosses or co-workers, what you liked or disliked, pet peeves - be very careful to be as positive as possible.  Do not bash, but if there were challenges between you and something at a previous job, make a simple statement and move on.
• What will your references, co-workers, subordinates, or supervisors say about you? With social media, the "checking references" and only getting dates of employment is now secondary.  The savvy employer will know how to search you on the internet and find out what they want to know about you.
• Knowing about your goals and plans are important to employers so asking about where you see yourself in x years or will you be pursuing further education or what do you really want to do in life? How have you improved yourself over the last year? What has kept you from progressing as fast as you would like?
• Then may come the thought process development questions - how would you handle x? What does success mean to you? What motivates you? How do you motivate others? Your philosophy of life, work or your field?
• Knowing how you work is important to employers - whether you are a team player or work alone, help others succeed, offer suggestions to management, lead or motivate others, or how you deal with stressful situations.
• Why did you leave your last position? This isn't a big deal if it was to take an advancement or because the company closed, but if you were fired, you need a diplomatic, yet truthful response.
• How long have you been out of work?  What have you been doing since? Are two questions that a few years ago would not have come into play.  If you have been volunteering, working with a temporary agency, or taken on more domestic engineer responsibilities yet kept active with industry organizations, this will be a bit easier to offer a response. Employers want to know that your skills are still current.
• How do you spend your spare time? They can't ask if you smoke or drink or are involved in illegal activities, but they can  often deduce from your answers whether you might fit within their corporate culture.
• Additional questions may include whether you are willing to relocate or travel, work extra hours, or considering other positions and if your employer knows you are planning to leave.
• Employers cannot ask you:
  

1. Marital status
2. Sexual orientation
3. If you belong to a union
4. If you are on public assistance
5. When did you graduate from (high school or college)
6. Do you have a heart condition? Do you have asthma or any other difficulties breathing?
7. Do you have a disability which would interfere with your ability to perform the job?
8. How many days were you sick last year?
9. Have you ever filed for workers' compensation? Have you ever been injured on the job?
10. Have you ever been treated for mental health problems?
11. What prescription drugs are you currently taking?

If you are prepared, you can answer any question and hopefully, find your way into a new position.

Your Personal Elevator Pitch

Can you highlight your resume in an elevator ride?

Marketers and public relations specialists know that in many situations you have just the time it takes for an elevator ride to grab the attention of a reporter. Hence, the phrase “elevator pitch”, came to explain the amount of time you have to explain your business or pitch your story. Can this correlate to your personal elevator pitch when it comes to sharing the key aspects of your career with someone?

A career coaching company in New York suggests a two-minute pitch. That isn’t how long it should take to “get to” your point, but it should take no longer than two minutes to share the best points of your career with a tiny bit of embellishment. Richard Skaare, a communications specialist, suggests that your resume should be able to be boiled down to the 140 – 160 characters you would use in a text message. Now, those two concepts work in concert with each other. To verbalize and expound on the 160 characters could take about 2 minutes.

Unless you are in that dream situation - sitting on the Metra next to someone who just happens to need someone with your exact skill set - the concept of using a 160 character resume is reserved for Twitter or a text message. The principle behind both thoughts mentioned above is you need to know exactly who you are, what skills you own, and how you have used them. Better still you need to be able to communicate those same things in a short, cohesive, cognizant statement if time is limited.

A couple of situations where your elevator pitch will work perfectly are networking events or job fairs. Yes, you may hand someone your “real” professionally prepared resume, but, what will you say to that job fair representative that will make him/her put your resume in the “second look” pile. What will you say to those you meet at a networking event that will pique their interest and entice them to spend more time with you, finding out more about you in greater detail?

Creating your Personal Elevator Pitch

You want to include a few key statements about yourself:

1. Your position – I am an architect – This is your key statement
2. General Experience – in commercial development for 10 years – this gives listeners an idea of what level of expertise you have.
3. Your sub-pitch – I’ve supervised over xx projects ranging from 10,000 square feet to 130,000 square feet in 20 major metropolitan areas
4. Add interest - including Singapore, New York, Chicago, and Little Rock.
5. Apply it to your listener – My concepts attract new business from companies like …. – if you are using your pitch in a cover letter or interview, direct this last portion of your pitch to create a comparison to the business situation, perhaps their direct competition if possible.

Let’s go back to the 160 characters. Forced brevity sharpens the mind. Work with a trusted friend or counselor to keep your pitch brief. Just as in creating new marketing ideas, you may need to brainstorm ways to keep the word count down.

Using your Personal Elevator Pitch

You have created your personal pitch, but if you don’t memorize it, practice it and know how to modify it depending upon your audience, you could end up stammering and jabbering just as if you didn’t take all the time to create your pitch in the first place.

Tell me about yourself is a typical question you will be asked on any interview. When asked, you want your personal elevator pitch to just flow. To do that you need to write out your pitch, memorize it, practice it in front of a mirror, a family member, your employment and training rep, your dog, or the car in front of you in line at the drive-through. You want the words to just flow.

You want your message to be crystal clear. Refer to it enough throughout the interview, that if the interviewer is asked to tell their boss about you when your interview is done, you know how they will position you after you leave.

Remember that when you are speaking, use a personal level. Standards today are based on the medium of TV, using a conversational style that is friendly and one-on-one. Speak as if you are speaking to an acquaintance and tell the interviewer something in your pitch that they won’t read by going through your resume.

If you need assistance with your resume, your elevator pitch, or anything else with your job search, KCDEE has Career Resource Professionals in the Illinois workNet Centers to assist you.

How DO you answer?

A recent post on Veteran Careers at military.com was entitled "Handle the Stress Interview".  There are many tacts that interviewers take to determine whether a candidate will be able to handle the new position.  Reading that article lead to this thought - How DO you answer the tougher interview questions like - Why were you fired? OR Have you ever been convicted of a felony? What is this gap in your employment?

If that firing lead to the gap in your employment because of an intimate relationship with the penal system, you need to know how to handle an interview effectively.  KCDEE offers a workshop to help with that. 

Not everyone is as fortunate as Martha Stewart, Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, former politicians, or Robert Downey Jr. to have enough money or talent to pick right back up in a position that they held prior to being incarcerated. Most individuals who have an offense on their record will have to start over in the job market, let alone at the bottom rung of a career ladder. Often there are certain jobs that ex-offenders may no longer hold depending upon the offense they committed. Once you have established the types of jobs you will be seeking, you may want to review and attend some of the other career skills workshops offered by KCDEE.

When you are ready to begin filling out job applications and, hopefully, going on job interviews, here are a few tips to help you overcome the obstacles related to your previous offense.

1. Always tell the truth on your application. The truth, however, can be stated in the best possible way. For example, a question on the application asks “Have you been convicted of a felony in the past 5 years?” Your conviction was 7 years ago, you can truthfully answer NO. If it was, then you need to answer YES, but provide an explanation that includes your regret and what positive things you have done with that time.
2. Don’t leave unexplained gaps in your resume. Employers look at consistency in employment to find a potential employee who will help them meet their goals. Any gap raises a red flag and can often cause your resume or application to be put in the “reject” pile. Learning how to properly word a period of incarceration can make all of the difference between being seen for an interview or being bypassed.
3. Use a Functional resume approach. When you use this type of resume, you are able to highlight your skills rather than the chronology of your employment.
4. Offer a letter of Explanation. If you are fortunate to have an interview scheduled, you will need to explain your offense in person. If you don’t have an interview but are asked for more details about your offense, you should have a letter of explanation available that may be provided to a potential employer. The letter should include information about benefits the Department of Labor and the Internal Revenue Service offer to employers who hire ex-offenders.
5. At the interview. Offer, at the appropriate time, a three minute incarceration speech. The speech should key on three points – the mistake you made, why you exhibited poor judgment, and assure them of the changes you have made.

One of our biggest success stories is about a gentleman who was convicted of trafficking marijuana. After he served his 6 ½ year sentence, he returned to society with a high school diploma and no marketable skills. KCDEE provided the mechanism and funding for tuition that allowed him to start over. He has since completed an expedited computer related training, a Bachelor’s degree, and a Master’s degree. Throughout his education, he was progressively moving forward up the career ladder. Today he has experience and most importantly a future.

If you would like to register for our workshop please email (for Elgin, IL) elworkshops@kcdee.org (for North Aurora, IL) naworkshops@kcdee.org .

Make the Most of a Job Fair

I recently had a booth at a very large job fair in the area.  Many of the attendees were dressed in suits or other professional attire.  I cannot stress enough that the way you present yourself is your first impression.  So, do you want a business owner or hiring managers first impression of you to be in jeans and sneakers?


Granted, when running errands, I may not have perfect hair, make-up and outfit, but, I am not going to a job fair.  If you cannot afford to go to Neiman Marcus for a new business suit or other professional clothing, there are less costly alternatives.  Some organizations offer unemployed job seekers assistance with clothing for interviews, Goodwill often has clothing that still has the original tags on it, and many resale shops have great bargains, not to mention, one suit with different shirts or blouses can carry you through many interviews.  If nothing else, a freshly laundered pair of khakis and a dress shirt, along with a shave and haircut can show that you value the interviewers time and your own pride.

If you haven't ever seen the tips we offer to "Make the Most of a Job Fair" here are the highlights:

• Dress for a business interview.
• Bring pens and paper to make notes.
• Bring extra resumes, enough to leave at least two with every recruiter.
• Keep yourself and your materials organized. You may want to use a portfolio, folder and/or small bag.
• When you meet with the recruiter:
• Introduce yourself. Express confidence with a firm handshake and a smile, and by maintaining good eye contact.
• Be interested. Briefly explain what you like about the company and give your “elevator speech.”
• Ask the questions you prepared.
• Ask about the application and hiring process. What is the timeframe? Is there a good time for you to make a follow-up call?
• Do not ask about salary and benefits; discuss this only if the recruiter brings it up.
• Ask for a business card or ask for a contact name, phone/fax numbers, and/or email address. Take brochures or other information available at the recruiter’s booth.
• At the end of your conversation, offer a firm handshake and a thank you, making sure to address the interviewer by name.
• Keep a list of the employers you meet. After each conversation, make notes about the company and the conversation you had with the recruiter.
• Pace yourself. Take a breather after each conversation to collect yourself and reorganize for the next one.

 What do you think is appropriate job fair attire?

Why is rejection a good thing?

The very best letter or phone message that you can receive is the job offer.  Short of that, the next best contact you can receive from a business is the rejection letter.  You are thinking that I must be crazy right?? But, the reasons I am going to share will help you understand why it is such a good thing for your job search.

Rejection letters, phone calls, or emails are good for you because:

1. They let you know that the company has made a decision and you can move forward.
2. They give you a contact at the business and a way to network to similar businesses.
3. They give you an opportunity to find out what you could have done better.

Let's discuss the ways to find out what you could have done better.

In hiring situations today, the employer has the reigns.  They have the open position and with so many applicants, they can be super selective in their final choice.  In housing its called a buyer's market.  Finding out how to improve your personal "curb appeal" is what you are after.

• In no way shape or form should your request for feedback sound like sour grapes, be defensive or argumentative.
• Not every employer will give you an answer.
• Personalize your feedback request, just as you personalized your cover letter to the job posting.
• Thank them in advance for any feedback they may give you.

So as an example, perhaps you might say:

Thank you for letting me know that you have filled the XYZ position.  I would really like a position in the MNOP field.

If you have a few spare moments I would be most appreciative if you would be willing to provide insights about my interviewing skills, resume, cover letter, or salary expectations (whichever level of contact you achieved) to help me improve in those areas of my job search.

If you approach the communication as a learning experience for you, you will be more successful in getting an answer from your rejector.  Who knows - the letter you send may just give you a leg up if the person they chose doesn't take the job offer.

Have you been successful with this type of communication?

Use a Call to Action to Market Yourself

I just read a great blog post on Employment Digest about 4 great Tips for a Cover Letter.  It mentions a call to action.  I would like to explore this idea a bit further.

A call to action for those of you who are not in the marketing and sales industry is a statement in your letter or "advertisement" that makes a statement to cause the reader to want to act upon that statement.  A couple of examples are:  Call within the next 24 hours to save $.  Click here to print your coupon. Link here to read more tips to help you get back into the workforce.

When you are writing your cover letter the article on Employment Digest suggests that your call to action should be to ask for the interview. Asking for the interview is similar to car salesman or real estate agent asking if you are ready to make an offer on a car or property at which you have just been looking.

If you don't ask, they may not feel compelled to take any action at all.

Once you have had the interview and you are sending your thank you note, you may want to include a call to action that invites the interviewer(s) to view your website, read your blog or invite them to call you with the job offer!

Your thoughts?

Your Personal Elevator Pitch – Can you highlight your resume in an elevator ride?

Marketers and public relations specialists know that in many situations you have just the time it takes for an elevator ride to grab the attention of a reporter. Hence, the phrase “elevator pitch”, came to be to explain the amount of time you have to explain your business or pitch your story. Can this correlate to your personal elevator pitch when it comes to sharing the key aspects of your career with someone?

A career coaching company in New York suggests a two-minute pitch. That isn’t how long it should take to “get to” your point, but it should take no longer than two minutes to share the best points of your career with a tiny bit of embellishment. Richard Skaare, a communications specialist, suggests that your resume should be able to be boiled down to the 140 – 160 characters you would use in a text message. Now, those two concepts work in concert with each other. To verbalize and expound on the 140 characters could take about 2 minutes.

Unless you are in that dream situation - sitting on the Metra next to someone who just happens to need someone with your exact skill set - the concept of using a 140 character resume is reserved for Twitter or a text message. The principle behind both thoughts mentioned above is you need to know exactly who you are, what skills you own, and how you have used them. Better still you need to be able to communicate those same things in a short, cohesive, cognizant statement if time is limited.

A couple of situations where your elevator pitch will work perfectly are networking events or job fairs. Yes, you may hand someone your “real” professionally prepared resume, but, what will you say to that job fair representative that will make him/her put your resume in the “second look” pile. What will you say to those you meet at a networking event that will pique their interest and entice them to spend more time with you, finding out more about you in greater detail?

Creating your Personal Elevator Pitch

You want to include a few key statements about yourself:

1. Your position – I am an architect – This is your key statement
2. General Experience – in commercial development for 10 years – this gives listeners an idea of what level of expertise you have.
3. Your sub-pitch – I’ve supervised over xx projects ranging from 10,000 square feet to 130,000 square feet in 20 major metropolitan areas
4. Add interest - including Singapore, New York, Chicago, and Little Rock.
5. Apply it to your listener – My concepts attract new business from companies like …. – if you are using your pitch in a cover letter or interview, direct this last portion of your pitch to create a comparison to the businesses situation, perhaps their direct competition if possible.

Let’s go back to the 140 characters. Forced brevity sharpens the mind. Work with a trusted friend or counselor to keep your pitch brief. Just as in creating new marketing ideas, you may need to brainstorm ways to keep the word count down.

Using your Personal Elevator Pitch - You have created your personal pitch, but if you don’t memorize it, practice it and know how to modify it depending upon your audience, you could end up stammering and jabbering just as if you didn’t take all the time to create your pitch in the first place.

Tell me about yourself is a typical question you will be asked on any interview. When asked, you want your personal elevator pitch to just flow. To do that you need to write out your pitch, memorize it, practice it in front of a mirror, a family member, your employment and training rep, your dog, or the car in front of you in line at the drive-through. You want the words to just flow.
You want your message to be crystal clear. Refer to it enough throughout the interview, that if the interviewer is asked to tell their boss about you when your interview is done, you know how they will position you after you leave.

Remember that when you are speaking, use a personal level. Standards today are based on the medium of TV, using a conversational style that is friendly and one-on-one. Speak as if you are speaking to an acquaintance and tell the interviewer something in your pitch that they won’t read by going through your resume.

How we can help – We offer many resources to help you gain a new position on your way to a career. The Employment and Training Representatives at Kane County Department of Employment and Education can help you create a professional resume, refresh your interview skills, or help you find ways to network effectively. Visit www.illinoisworknet.com and click on the JOBS link, you can find additional tips to help you in your job search.

Four Offices to serve you:

• Elgin – 30 DuPage Court 847-888-7900 x 230
• N. Aurora – 2 Smoketree Plaza 630-844-6640 x 203
• DeKalb – 1701 E. Lincoln Hwy. 815-756-4893 x 240
• Yorkville – 811 W. John St. 630-553-8304

http://www.kcdee.org/

Is your job search a noun or a verb?

Recently, the word career popped up as the Merriam-Webster’s word of the day in my email. I thought I knew what the word career meant, but I was surprised when I read that it was referring to the verb Career – meaning to go at top speed especially in a headlong manner. This made me think that one could “career toward a new career”.

If your job search is not actively moving forward in a headlong manner, maybe it is because you aren’t using some of the best action verbs to describe your skills. Following are some action verbs adapted from The Damn Good Resume Guide by Yana Parker. They are great for resumes. Even better, incorporate them into your cover letters and during the interview as you speak about your previous work duties.

achieve, act, adapt, address, administer, advise, allocate, analyze, appraise, approve, arbitrate, arrange, assemble, assess, assign, assist, attain, audit, author, balance, budget, build, calculate, catalogue, chair, clarify, classify, coach, collaborate, collect, communicate, compile, compute, conceptualize, consolidate, contract, convince, coordinate, correspond, counsel, create, critique, customize, delegate, demonstrate, demystify, design, develop, devise, diagnose, direct, dispatch, draft, edit, educate, enable, encourage, engineer, enlist, establish, evaluate, examine, execute, expand, expedite, explain, extract, fabricate, facilitate, familiarize, fashion, forecast, formulate, found, generate, guide, identify, illustrate, implement, improve, increase, influence, inform, initiate, inspect, institute, instruct, integrate, interpret, interview, introduce, invent, investigate, lecture, maintain, manage, market, mediate, moderate, monitor, motivate, negotiate, operate, organize, originate, overhaul, oversee, perform, persuade, pioneer, plan, prepare, prioritize, process, produce, program, project, promote, publicize, purchase, recommend, reconcile, record, recruit, reduce,refer, rehabilitate, remodel, repair, represent, research, resolve, restore, retrieve, review, revitalize, schedule, screen, set, shape, solve, speak, spearhead, specify, stimulate, strengthen, ,summarize, supervise, survey, systematize, tabulate, train, transform, translate, upgrade, validate, write

When you describe your skills and accomplishments with action verbs potential employers will take notice. Which example has more punch?

1. I had 7 people that reported to me while we put merchandise back on the floor that sold the day before. We would scan the shelf labels to see other merchandise that needed to be filled that didn’t arrive in the truck. We would also help store the merchandise in the stock room with a computer system.

2. Supervised 7 employees; Responsible for merchandise replenishment; Generated lists of merchandise for replenishment; Processed merchandise for storage.

Not only will the action verbs help your resume sound snappier, it will help keep it to the recommended one-page length that hiring managers like to review.

How we can help – We offer many resources to help you gain a new position on your way to a career. The Employment and Training Representatives at Kane County Department of Employment and Education can help you find all the information you need to make your resume get noticed. Visit www.illinoisworknet.com and click on the JOBS link, you can find additional tips to help you in your job search.

Four Offices to serve you:

Elgin – 30 DuPage Court 847-888-7900 x 230

N. Aurora – 2 Smoketree Plaza 630-844-6640 x 203

DeKalb – 1701 E. Lincoln Hwy. 815-756-4893 x 240

Yorkville – 811 W. John St. 630-553-8303

www.kcdee.org

Protect your Job Search

Scams are Everywhere - Protect your job search!

Identity theft if rampant. Even your job search could cause you to fall victim. Protect your identity by watching for these ruses:

Stimulus come-ons - while the government is recruiting, they will not send emails or letters touting job openings from the federal stimulus plan.

Interview invites - Scammers will send emails to invite you to travel to an interview and recommend you arrange travel through THEIR "corporate office" for a discount. It is a way to obtain your credit card information.

Legitimate sites have been hit - Scammers have infiltrated legitimate job search sites. Be cautious when you post any of your information on-line or by email. Save emails with potential employers and ask that they contact you by phone or interview you in person.

10 Seconds - GO!

How long will it take before someone puts aside your cover letter/resume?
When you walk in for an interview, how long does it take the interviewer to make a decision about you before you even speak?

Do you have what it takes to make a phenomenal first impression in only 10 seconds?

The business community makes decisions quickly. When you present your résumé or yourself at an interview - you have 10 seconds to make a great first impression. Résumés and personal appearance are the two things in life where there are no do-overs. How we present ourselves in person or on paper is very important whether we like it or not. It is very important to make a good impression and KCDEE can offer the following advice.

Read the whole article on our web-page http://www.kcdee.org/articles_10seconds.html