Thursday, May 20, 2010

“'Job Search for Moms' author Nancy Anderson signs at Bound Brook library” plus 3 more

“'Job Search for Moms' author Nancy Anderson signs at Bound Brook library” plus 3 more

'Job Search for Moms' author Nancy Anderson signs at Bound Brook library

Posted: 19 May 2010 09:05 PM PDT

BOUND BROOK — Bound Brook Memorial Library, 402 E. High St., will host a discussion and book signing with noted job search expert and local business owner Nancy Anderson at 7 p.m. Monday, June 14. Her new book, "Job Search for Moms,'' is packed with many of the useful tools, techniques and worksheets used in her acclaimed career search workshops. A resident of Bound Brook, the author has more than 25 years of experience in the learning and development and human resources fields and has worked for several Fortune 500 companies, including Johnson & Johnson, The Bank of New York and The Chubb Group of Insurance Companies.

Anderson will take participants though three major portions of the book: Planning, networking and preparing.

The book will be available for purchase for $12. Walk-ins are welcome, but registration is encouraged. Call 732-356-0043. For more information, visit www.somerset.lib.nj.us/boundbrook.htm.

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Youths' job search just got harder

Posted: 20 May 2010 02:17 AM PDT

DAYTONA BEACH -- Marshalene Thompson arrived early Wednesday at the Dickerson Community Center to register her son for his first summer job as part of a youth program of the Center for Business Excellence.

"This was an opportunity for him to start his first job. It would help him with school clothes, life skills and learning how to work plus earn a paycheck," Thompson said.

But she had to walk away with no job for her son, Dewayne Walker.

The summer jobs program for youths was canceled late Tuesday after funding for it was not provided by the federal government.

Thompson, whose frustration was matched by other mothers and children who arrived early only to find the program was canceled, vowed to keep looking.

"I signed him up at Publix four times. Maybe they will call," she said.

The summer youth program, which attracted hundreds of people last year, even in the midst of record flooding, was a victim of federal funding cuts.

"We waited until the last minute," Christine Sikora, youth services coordinator for the Center for Business Excellence, told Bethune-Cookman University students Tarterria Smith, 22, and Kiara Jones, 20.

The federal funds required to put the program into effect were expected to come from approval of the Disaster Relief and Summer Jobs Act of 2010. The bill passed, but did not include funds for a Summer Youth Jobs Program.

The business center handles labor programs for the state, including the One-Stop Career Centers.

Smith said she wasn't sure what she would do now.

"I am tired of looking for jobs. This is sad," she said, adding she had hoped to earn money for books and clothing.

This year's program would have matched 300 youths with summer job positions for a period of six weeks, Sikora said. The program was free to businesses, and all youth wages would have been paid with funds from the bill.

Percy Williamson, director of Leisure Services for the city of Daytona Beach, said his department expected to hire 35 youths through the program.

Williamson said he was disappointed when he learned the program was canceled. "I am deflated that at the 11th hour Congress did not see fit to fund this program. There is no better summer program for young people than putting them to work," he said. "This is the worst possible news."

Vivian Lee, a guidance counselor at Atlantic High School in Port Orange, said students had been coming to her office looking for information about summer jobs and she told them about the program.

The cancellation is "a tremendous loss for the community," Lee said. "One of my students recently came to my office looking for employment. It saddened me when she said 'I am tired of being broke. I never have any money.' "

As businesses struggle to maintain in a shaky economy, it seems less likely that private industry will be able to step in and provide enough jobs this summer for students, said Lori Stone, a spokeswoman for the Center for Business Excellence.

Fast-food giants, such as McDonald's, have traditionally been where many students get their first taste of the world of work.

Allison Garrett, spokeswoman for McDonald's in Central Florida, said restaurants are always hiring as positions open up. But, "I don't know that it will necessarily be more this summer," Garrett said.

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Dress your best for job interviews, career fairs

Posted: 20 May 2010 08:33 AM PDT

With the economy continuing to flounder, more and more people are finding themselves on an unexpected side of the desk: The side where the interviewee sits.

As if job interviews and crowded career fairs weren't stressful enough, there's also the anxiety of figuring out what to wear. How can you tell how dressed-up — or dressed-down — you can go?

The answer to that question will vary considerably based on the kind of job you're seeking, but the following tips provide a basic guide for how to proceed. Read on so you can tackle those interviews with confidence.

1. Opt for a conservative look, not an outlandish one. Whether you're trying for a top executive position or a job that will require you to roll up your sleeves and get dirty, attire that is distracting is a no-no. In most cases it makes sense to choose simple, understated styles and colors — blues and grays, for example. Black also could work, so long as you won't be mistaken for an undertaker or a Johnny Cash wannabe. To avoid that fate, soften up your look by wearing another color near your face.

2. When in doubt, ask. If you're honestly not sure what kind of dress would be most appropriate for an interview with a particular employer, call the company and ask for some guidance. Don't bother the hiring manager with this; instead, call the human resources department and say, "I have an interview with So-and-So in the Such-and-Such department for a position as a _____. Could you let me know what would be appropriate dress for this interview?"

3. Dress for the job you really want. Some hiring managers recommend dressing one or two levels up from the position you're seeking. The point behind this would be to show that you're a serious job candidate who cares about making a good impression.

4. Accessorize with great care. This isn't the time to go with wild nail polish, jangle-y jewelry, face jewelry, ankle bracelets, strong perfumes or colognes, brightly colored or printed purses or briefcases, scuffed briefcases, open-toed shoes, backless shoes or bare legs. All of your accessories should be understated, inconspicuous and professional.

5. Cleanliness is next to employability. Clean, pressed clothes are important, of course, but here are some other key areas to remember: Have clean, polished shoes in good repair, clean, groomed hair and fingernails, well-brushed teeth, fresh breath and absolutely no body odor.

6. Stay up to date. For men, suits and tie patterns can look dated if they've been hanging in your closet for several years. Even worse, your suit might be tight on you at this stage of the game. The same goes for women's suits and dress-shirt patterns. To find out whether you're looking a little bit too 1996, ask a trusted friend to help you assess your professional wardrobe.

7. Don't wear these items! Just say no to: short skirts; capri pants; leggings; leather jackets for men or women; or turtlenecks for men. Men should wear collared shirts on job interviews — and in almost every situation, a tie won't hurt your cause.

8. Your own common sense and good judgment should prevail. If you know for sure that wearing a tie on a particular interview wouldn't be the right thing to do, then don't do it. Same for a formal business suit. But don't stubbornly think that this is the time to make a flashy fashion statement. Instead, this is the time to make sure your appearance doesn't distract in any way from all the good information you have to share about yourself.

9. There's no need to break the bank. Some of these tips might make you think that you need to rush out and drop hundreds of dollars on fancy new suits and shoes. That's not true. You can find professional clothes on sale at deep discounts at major department stores and discount retailers, and you often can find new or barely used suits and dress shirts at thrift stores. Also, nonprofit organizations such as Dress for Success help disadvantaged women throughout North America and in other countries to get outfitted for job interviews so they can get on the path to financial independence. For ideas about how to spend very little money on clothing, read this past 10 Tips column on the subject.

10. Set aside enough time for a final once-over. Before you walk into the actual job interview, slip into the restroom and look in the mirror. Is your tie flipped around? Do you have any food in your teeth? Is your hair standing straight up? If not, you're good to go!

Sources and resources:

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Five Filters featured article: The Art of Looking Prime Ministerial - The 2010 UK General Election. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

COLUMN: Marion County Library delivers access to new job search tools

Posted: 18 May 2010 09:49 AM PDT

Marion County Library patrons have access to several new job search tools.  The library has installed WinWay Resume Builder on all public computers.  You can come to the library and we'll help you build the resume that will help get you hired! 

You can use the software to build your resume, write a winning cover letter and also search professions and millions of jobs online.  A multimedia Job Interview simulator is included in the software package.  Be sure and bring all of your previous educational and job-related information with you when you come.

We are able to offer the WinWay Resume Builder software through a collaborative agreement with the Pee Dee Workforce Investment Board.

Another resource that we are excited to let folks know about it is a new initiative begun by the South Carolina State Library.  They have launched a new web resource called the WorkSC Web Site.

According to Dr. Curtis Rogers, Communications Director for the State Library, the new web site, WorkSC.org, was developed to assist libraries, state government agencies and employees, and citizens locate useful resources on the many facets of workforce development. 

The site, initially created with libraries and first-time job seekers in mind, offers many useful links for the beginning as well as seasoned job seeker.

Organized in an easy to use format, the web site features job news, a calendar of events, and links to featured job-related resources.  WorkSC.org visitors can learn how to create free email accounts, how to use Microsoft Word to write a resume, access job training tutorials and links to training opportunities hosted at libraries. Libraries and other workforce development organizations will soon be able to submit events for the calendar. 

Additionally, users can find links to South Carolina specific as well as national job listing sites along with helpful tips for job searching and building interview skills.  There are also Resources for starting a business and tips for thriving in the workplace after finding a job.

For more information, visit http://www.worksc.org.

Five Filters featured article: The Art of Looking Prime Ministerial - The 2010 UK General Election. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.
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