“Job counselors share career-search secrets” plus 1 more

Job counselors share career-search secrets

Posted: 29 Jan 2011 11:28 PM PST

With more than 23,500 people unemployed in the Pensacola area, job seekers need to know every trick in the book to find work.

"The last two years have been very tough," said Gil Bixel, director of Student Job Services at Pensacola State College. "We used to hold just one job fair a year because that's all we needed. But now we are scheduling four job fairs a year because so many people are out of work."

Ashley Anderson, an administrative assistant at Job Services, has seen plenty of resumes and has some advice.

"I would say the main thing I see people do wrong is being way too general with their resumes," she said. "If your resume looks like everyone else's, they will pass you over."

Lauren Loeffler, director of career services at the University of West Florida, suggests developing "soft skills."

"What we are hearing from employers now is that they are looking for employees with communications skills, critical thinking skills and project management experience," she said. "Those things are becoming really important in the job search process."

Encouraging signs

Even with unemployment lingering near 11 percent in the Pensacola area, Bixel said there are some encouraging hiring signs.

n Health care jobs still are readily available.

n Seasonal jobs at local hotels are starting to show up in job bank listings.

n The jobs bank at PSC currently lists about five pages of open positions, up slightly from recent months when it dipped to three or four pages.

To take advantage of those glimmers in the job market, Loeffler and Anderson recommend a mix of digital savvy and old-fashioned networking.

For example, job seekers need to be aware of the footprint they are leaving on social media networks.

"Employers routinely go to an applicant's Facebook or MySpace page to see what's posted," Anderson said.

Loeffler said anything posted online is fair game, so job seekers should be discreet about what they reveal about themselves online.

"If you have embarrassing spring break pictures posted on your Facebook account, some employers will use that against you," Loeffler said.

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Even annoying cell phone ringtones and obnoxious outgoing voice messages can be fatal to job seekers, she said.

Foot in the door

Successful job hunting still incorporates a lot of the traditional: networking, internships and co-op programs that help students remain in school while working.

Keith Moodispaugh, 28, used that strategy.

What started as a simple moonlighting job to help pay for school, has evolved into a promising career for Moodispaugh, who is close to completing a degree in business from UWF.

He started work as a night-cleaning contractor in 2002 at the National Naval Aviation Museum at Pensacola Naval Air Station.

That job led to a full-time job offer and increased levels of responsibility.

"The courses I'm taking now are focusing on business," he said. "And I'm being trained to take over the entire maintenance operation of the 500,000-square-foot museum when I graduate."

His advice: "Whatever field you're interested in, look around and make sure it piques your interest. If it doesn't, your job can get boring quickly."

Co-op to full time

Through the co-op jobs program sponsored by PSC, Donna Jones, 30, landed a job with the Defense Logistics Agency.

To keep the job and be eligible for promotions, she had to continue her education. She graduated from UWF and now is nearing completion of her master's degree in program management. Starting as a GS-3 pay grade, she's now a GS-9 and soon will be eligible for promotion to a GS-11.

Her experience in the co-op program taught her valuable lessons on what employers look for in new hires.

"Employers want someone who can do as many jobs as possible within their particular work setting," she said. "Nobody these days wants just a project manager; they want someone who can bring a variety of skills to a job. They want quality, not quantity, and want someone who has the potential to grow and learn."

Between 15 and 20 students participate in UWF's co-op program at a time, and Loeffler said they all have been placed in full-time jobs after graduation.

Participating in co-op programs not only improves networking, but it also provides an income and motivates students to complete their education, Bixel said.

Loeffler said job recruitment for college graduates is expected to rise nationally by 13.5 percent this year.

The Southeast will see a more modest 8 percent rise, she said.

Despite all the changes and new strategies being employed in the digital-age hunt for work, one approach remains timeless, said PSC's Anderson.

"Don't give up. Keep looking, especially now in this season," she said. "Just remember that sometimes you have to start with a job that may not be what you want."

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Evaluate offer, but don't shelve job search for consulting gig

Posted: 30 Jan 2011 02:16 AM PST

Question: I was reorganized out of my COO position last month, and I'm deciding whether or not to consult. I've been approached for two consulting opportunities (one out-of-town), yet I'm not convinced that it's wise to deviate from my goal of a full-time position. Are there suggested criteria to follow in making this decision?

Answer: It's nice to be wanted and even better to know at the early stage of your job search that employers are eager to pay for your expertise. Apply these three criteria in making a decision:

Value-added experience: Along with compensation, evaluate the quality of the experience you're likely to have. The out-of-town opportunity would make sense if it's fairly accessible or a place that you would consider relocating to in the future. If either of the opportunities is tailored to your skill set and provides the kind of environment you thrive in, then the consulting project is likely to be well worth your time. Likewise, consulting for a company with a favorable brand will be a reputation-builder for you.

Development opportunity: An assignment that gives you a chance to try something new and add to your skill set is likely to make you more marketable. View favorably a project related to innovation, leading through a complex change, cleaning up a mess, or serving on a start-up team. A true learning opportunity will be personally stimulating and make you a more attractive candidate.

Job search momentum: Don't shelve your job search for a consulting gig. Evaluate the amount of flexibility this assignment will allow for you to maintain the momentum of your job search. If you decide to accept one of the opportunities, make the time each week to focus on your goal of securing a full-time position.

Job Search

Sunday, January 30, 2011