Posted: 10 Sep 2010 04:48 AM PDT

Ben Adducchio

Donald Asher is America's "job search guru."

September 10, 2010 · A sluggish economy and slow job growth actually means more business for one person. The man known as America's "job search guru" visited West Virginia University to speak Thursday.

Donald Asher feels very comfortable being called America's job search guru.

He's written 12 books and been published in numerous newspapers, journals and magazines.

He travels across the country speaking to students and others about the keys to getting into graduate schools and finding a solid job.

Asher says it's important for people who are unemployed to commit a lot of time to job searching.

"You have to commit a certain number of hours a week to your search. The national average number of hours per week that a person looks for work who has been unemployed for awhile is six hours a week," he said.

"You need to pump those numbers up to around 30 to 40 hours a week."

Asher says nearly every time he gives a lecture, he runs into people who are unemployed and looking to get back to work.

He says it's important for people to use that time wisely.

"Exercising and volunteering. You don't know how many people I've spoken to over the years that actually got a hot tip for a job offer through the volunteering, because the other volunteers are often spouses of people who are important," he said.

Asher also talks about what he calls the "hidden job market."

He says this includes sending e-mails and initiating person-to-person contact to apply for jobs.

He says more people are getting connected with prospective employers this way.

"Those connections will then bring you to a second level of connections, and the research is the second level and third levels of connections are the ones that give you the job tip that you need," Asher said.

Last night, Asher spoke to students at WVU, including many from the school's McNair Scholars Program.

McNair Scholars are first-generation college students.

Betty Mei is the assistant director of the McNair Scholars Program.

"He gives really good tips on how you make yourself stand out on paper, because that is your first step, how graduate schools look at you or how future job employers look at you," Mei said.

One other tip Asher gives is during a recession, graduate school is a good place to be.

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How To Search Out Of State For A Job

Posted: 10 Sep 2010 12:05 PM PDT

Searching out of state for a job is not an easy task. Taking the time to prepare and form a well put together plan is the key to success in a transition of this kind. With so many applicants in today's job market it will take hard work on an out of state applicants part to get noticed by a company.

The first thing that is essential to a long distance job search of this kind is to determine the type of job that you are seeking. Is it an entry level job or a specific position in a company? Entry level jobs are more difficult to obtain out of the area due to an over whelming amount of local applicants.

Research the area that you have chosen for relocation. Check the area for cost of living and job growth. Do you know someone currently living in the area? If you do then arrange to make a trip to the area for a few days to help in your research. Ask if you can use their local address for your job search.

If you do not personally know anyone in the area then arrange to take a trip and stay in a hotel for a few days. Get to know the local businesses first hand by leaving your networking business card with them as you travel the area using public transportation and a map.

Before leaving your networking business card or your resume with local businesses, first remove your mailing address and list your e-mail address instead. Also list a cell phone number in place of a land line. This will increase your chances of landing an interview when you live out of state.

Setting up an interview is when you will reveal that you are in transition of moving to the area. Be prepared to give an anticipated move date to the employer and your reasons behind the move. Request that a phone or web cam interview be set up initially followed by an in person interview at a later date.

Let the employer know that you are available for an in person interview at your expense if reasonable time is given for you to travel to the location. Make it plain that you are moving to the area and that you will incur all the costs of the move while restating the anticipated date of your move.

It is unwise to move first then find a job in today's economy. Planning the move while taking any job that is offered to make the move permanent is a better choice than moving first only to find out that the economic downturn has limited the amount of jobs in that area in your field.

Relocating with some form of income and resuming your job search after you relocate is a wiser choice than continuing a long distance job search. You could even look into renting a room in place of a hotel room or a home temporarily to make the move permanent.

Content copyright © 2010 by Gwendolyn Thompson. All rights reserved.
This content was written by Gwendolyn Thompson. If you wish to use this content in any manner, you need written permission. Contact Gwendolyn Thompson for details.

Search Firm Presents 14 Finalists for Bibb Co. School Superintendent

Posted: 09 Sep 2010 07:39 PM PDT

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The search continues in Bibb County for a school superintendent. And the PROACT Search firm has 14 candidates for the job.

At Thursday's school board meeting, the firm presented those candidate profiles to the board in closed session.

The board has until next Friday to rate the candidates and cut the list down to six or seven finalists. Then the board will start the interview process.

It hopes to have three top finalists by October 15th.

The firm received 173 applications for the job.

Out of the final 14, none currently work for the Bibb County school system.

Job Search Results

Posted: 09 Sep 2010 03:23 PM PDT

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