Disappearing Act!

Everyone needs to take a vacation now and then (though I have not done much about this of late) but your job search should never take a break. Sometimes, you might get a bite, have an interview, get called back for a second round, be asked to submit references and be in the waiting stage when a planned vacation pops up. My advice is take your vacation, but make sure the perspective employer and your recruiter, if you are working through one, are able to find you at any time. An offer could easily be made by cell phone if needed but being unreachable for more than 24 hours could jeopardize the deal. Please do not feel chained to your home but make sure you are easy to find!

Always Represent Yourself!

I picked up the phone at my office recently and was engaged in conversation with a woman who told me she was inquiring about jobs for Mechanical Engineers. She answered a few basic questions tentatively then I asked her about software packages she knew and I heard her whisper, "he's asking about things I never heard of, which software do you know?" In the background I could barely hear someone mumble a weak answer. When I asked what was going on I was told her boyfriend was shy and did not like to talk with people! Needless to say, that was the end of that discussion and I told her I could not even review the resume of an Engineer who was unwilling to speak for himself.

This might sound fabricated but I assure you it occurs a few times each month. It makes me think of a few friends I had as a teen who let their parents speak for them all the time. As I have written previously, how you market yourself will dramatically impact your personal job search!

Programmer Needed

I have a client who is close to needing a consultant for a few months who can code and make modifications in PHP with MySQL. He told me that he prefers someone who could work from home for this project. If you or someone you know is qualified to do this, please email resumes to hblevin58@gmail.com.

ETC.

New Name / Same Place
Chubb Institute was sold several years back to Hitech yet retained its name with a disclaimer that it was no longer affiliated with Chubb Insurance. Now, Chubb is following in the footsteps of Ultrasound Diagnostic Schools, The Cittone Institute, and others and becoming Acclaim Institute.

SAP BW R/3 anyone?
I have a client desperate for a full time Business Analyst with those skills in northern NJ. Please contact me if interested at harold@smartstaff.jobs.

Check Your Phone Numbers!!
As a recruiter, I detest people who don't take the time to check contact information on their resumes. In the past week, I have seen at least a half dozen each of wrong phone numbers and incorrect email addresses. Most employers ask for candidates who pay close attention to detail. You make a lasting impression when your resume directs hiring managers and recruiters to the wrong person or an invalid number. Please be careful!!

The Maddog!

For the past 19 years, whenever I needed something recreational to listen to during the evening rush hour, I tuned in to Mike and the Maddog on NYC's WFAN radio. The Dog (Chris Russo) decided to resign and redirect his career stating today that, at 48 years old, it is time to freshen up a bit. Undoubtedly, Russo has a contract lined up to remain somehow in sportscasting.

Please do not think it is always so easy. Many folks contact me asking for help because they left a solid position seeking a change. Unfortunately, employers do not have the time to accomodate career changers during tough economic periods. If you are contemplating such a change, please share your thoughts with me or anyone you choose before making your decision final!

Job Fair in Newark on August 19

I just found this posting online and do not have any additional information. www.employmentguide.com looks to be the sponsor so I assume they will provide updates on their site as employers sign up for the event.

New Jersey Diversity Job Fair at Newark Gateway Hilton!
Date:August 19, 2008
Time:11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Facility:
Newark Gateway Hilton
45 Market St
Newark, NJ 07102

$6000 You Do Not Need To Spend!

A colleague was chatting with one of his candidates yesterday. This individual has been unemployed for a few months after falling victim to layoffs brought on by the fall of the sub-prime mortgage industry. He somehow met up with a representative of an executive placement firm and was told they could rework his resume and guarantee him a new job in a matter of weeks! The fee for this was $6000, before any services were provided!! Needless to say, well over a month has passed and the revised resume is still in the works and no legitimate interviews have been scheduled.

Please do not throw your money into the shredder like this person did. Hiring a job coach or resume writer is one thing but paying such a large sum of money is not a great idea. No one can guarantee you a new job no matter what they claim and rewriting your resume should certainly not take over a month to complete.

If you are in need of such assistance please write to me at hblevin58@gmail.com.

The Non-Profit Sector

The Newark Star Ledger had an interesting article about careers in non-profit organizations in its employment section on Sunday, August 3, 2008. I have had the pleasure of serving on search committees for non-profits and the intangibles of working in that sector could easily make up for the slightly lower earnings potential than that of the corporate world. If you are contemplating a change in direction or find yourself forced into a new path, think about the transferable skills you possess that might make you attractive to a non-profit.

One example to share is that most non-profits need to market their organization to gain members, supporters, financial gifts, etc. If you were responsible for promoting your business unit internally or selling your company's services to the outside world and you served in a leadership role for your house of worship, Little League, a food bank, etc., you now have crossover value!

Take a few minutes to perform a self evaluation and you might be stunned by the results.

Feel free to contact me for help evaluating yourself if you wish!