Blaine and Associates

Blaine and Associates

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

5 Myths That Hurt a Job Search - from BusinessWorkforce.com



Posted By: Staff Editor On: 8/13/2013 6:00 PM In: Job Seeker - Interview

Finding a job in today's job market is tougher than ever – it takes a lot of dedication, determination and good luck. It's not easy to market your skills, to send in resume after resume, knowing that you will probably only hear back from about 1% of the companies and through it all, you have to network, keep your skills sharp and struggle to pay the bills. It's probably one of the more difficult things you will ever have to face.
 
Despite everything, there is still another challenge that today's job seeker faces – knowing yourself. You have to be able to recognize the lies that you tell yourself and really examine the myths that you believe to be true to overcome them and reach the next level in your career. Some of the things you will have to do will feel uncomfortable at first, but with practice, it gets easier.
 
Here are 5 myths aren't true and that can really hurt a job search:
  1. Job seekers do not need to market themselves – I am always surprised by the number of people who are looking for work, yet are stubbornly resistant to the idea of marketing themselves. There seems to be this idea that personal branding and marketing are things that people do to reach the next level of their very professional career, not just to find a mid-level job. While its true that marketing is done by very professional, white collar executives, it's just as helpful to job seekers who are looking for an entry-level, low-skill job. No matter what type of position you are looking for, personal branding and effective marketing tools show that you are looking for a career, not just another job. It impresses hiring managers and will help you land the job you want (even if you do not want a career).
     
  2. Networking is for executives and high level employees – Networking is another thing that many job seekers believe is only for other people, like executives. Spending time with other professional people, printing up some contact cards and meeting new people can be intimidating, but it's the best way to find out about other job openings and it's a well respected way of getting your foot in the door. Even if you are looking for a part-time job, networking can put you in the path of business owners and other people who could be in a position to help.
     
  3. Asking questions during an interview makes you appear too picky – During an interview, you should always, always ask questions. Before going to the interview, you should spend some time researching the company and getting an understanding of who they are, what they do and where they are heading. Even if you are applying for a job as the night janitor, knowing this information is a great way to really impress the interviewer. Ask questions about the corporate culture, about what the interviewer likes about the company and what happened to the person who had the job last. These types of questions show that you are interested in that particular job and that you are interviewing the company as well.
     
  4. My skills do not need to be updated – This is one that I've heard many, many times. People who have been out of work for more than 3 months, but less than a year, are the ones who are the most likely to believe that their skills do not need to be updated. Depending on the industry, this probably isn't true. Even if it is, there are so many applicants for every open position, any job seeker is going to be competing against people that are hungrier, younger, more desperate for the job and who either still have a job or who have been out of work for less time. A hiring manger is going to prefer someone who is more current, so look for ways to update your skills while you are out of work.
     
  5. This is the way I was taught and the way I've always done it. I do not need to change – Out of all these myths, this one is probably the most harmful. I've heard people who have been in the workforce for 20 years or more say this and it never fails to surprise me. The fact is that the way that jobs are found today is completely different from how it was even just a decade ago. Now, it's all about social media presence, marketing, functional resumes and networking. A neatly typed, two page resume that chronologically lists every job you've ever had, complete with an objective statement and a list of references screams, “Hopelessly out-of-date”. I've even talked with people who argued with the career counselor they hired about these issues and actively resisted change, claiming that the career adviser was in the wrong.
 
Change is scary and it can be very difficult to spot the areas where you could use some work. I think we all have blinders on when it comes to objectively spotting our own weaknesses. If any of these myths sound familiar to you, they might be areas where you could stand some improvement.

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

New Job Listings!

Entry Level International HR Assistant    - $32,000 (West Los Angeles)

This is a position that "WILL" take you places.  We are searching for someone with 1-2 years HR generalist background that can work in an international HR department and assist in the hiring of hospitality personnel worldwide.  You must have solid MSW, Excel, and PowerPoint skills to assist with presentations, drafting correspondence, memos and emails, maintain files and personnel records, coordinate "award programs" for employees, handle flight and hotel bookings, and assist with special projects as requested.  This is an opportunity of a life time for a recent college grad with either internships in HR or 1+ years experience in a large HR department.


Executive Assistant to President of Fortune 500 Firm - 75,000 (Downtown)

You must be an EA who likes making their executive shine.  You will be the voice and face of this office.  You will work with some of the most influential corporate heads of our time.  You will be responsible for international board meetings, extensive and complex travel itineraries, expense reports, special projects including advanced PowerPoint presentations.  This is not a job that requires a 24/7 executive assistant.  It is a great work/life balance opportunity, but you will have to be sharper, more experienced, have excellent job tenure and references.  You are an extension of the President and will be required to be "tops" in your field.  Excellent benefits and bonus.


Real Estate Administrative Assistant - $55-65,000 (Santa Monica)

Do you consider yourself an "analytical" person at heart?  Can you assess reports and automatically see areas that are weak and strong....if so, this is a perfect position for you.  You will work as part of a large team in a commercial real estate company.  You will analyze reports, summarize data, book all travel, handle expense reports, type correspondence, presentations on PowerPoint, Excel spreadsheets for report summaries, as well as special projects as requested.  Excellent benefits, paid o/t, pension plan and profit sharing and great views of the ocean.  


Receptionist - $40 - 45,000 (West LA)

If you always have a smile in your voice, if you always like meeting and greeting the public, if you always arrive a work 5 minutes earlier than you have to, if you always like learning new things and meeting new people, this is the career opportunity for you.  The last receptionist just moved up in the company....and the one before her....and the one before her.  This is a position with no limit on where you can go in the firm - marketing, accounting, asset management, property management, HR, sales, you name it, and you can get there if you want it.  You need to have 2+ years working in a high volume corporate environment as a receptionist.  you should have MSW, Excel and Outlook skills as well.  This is a "personality" position - have a good one before you apply.


Entry Level Accountant - $35 - 40,000  (Century City)

If you are a recent college grad with a degree in accounting or finance and want an exciting opportunity, try entertainment management.  Our client is looking to add to their ever expanding offices.  You need just a minimal amount of experience in accounting, either a part time or summer job during school or accounting internships.  They will train you to climb the ladder and even sponsor you for your CPA license if you love the work and the environment.  This is a great opportunity for any entry level accountants.


Convention Temps - $10.00 hourly

We need numerous temps for upcoming conventions and special events.  If you have previous convention experience in registration or other areas, please call us to schedule an appointment.  If you are in between careers and could use some extra $$, call us too.  You must have great customer service skills and be able to stand for 3-4 hours at a time.  It is a fun way to meet new people, see never seen before consumer goods, work in some of the best convention arenas and hotels in So CA.  We are always looking for new people so refer your friends and family too.