Do You Make These Career Fair Mistakes

Do You Make These Career Fair MistakesDo You Make These Career Fair MistakesThe line was so long that it could have been mistaken for Black Friday at one of Americas favorite retailers. Instead of shoppers the hallway was filled with well-dressed jobseekers nervously shifting back and forth on their feet while silently practicing their elevator pitches. At exactly 8 a.m. the doors opened and several thousand people crossed the convention center floor, well on their way to new jobs. The career fair had begun.Whether youre a soon-to-be graduate or an experienced employee in need of a change, career fairs can be a valuable tool in your job search. Career fairs are an excellent way to efficiently connect with a large number of potential employers. Theyre relatively low cost, and they get you in front of companies outside your geographic area. Career fairs also may help you discover new or smaller organizations. Best of all, fruchtwein companies at the fair are actively looking to hire fr om the people that they meet.Remember that career fair from the top of the article? When it was all said and done, several hundred people received offer letters. Not bad for a few hours in your fancy clothes.If you have the chance to participate in a career fair, definitely do it. Dust off your resume, pop in a breath mint and get ready to put your best foot forward. As you prepare for your next fair, you can increase your chances of getting an interview by avoiding these common mistakes1. Wearing uncomfortable shoesThis sounds like such a simple thing, but trust me it has been the downfall of many talented job seekers. For some cruel reason, career fair planners rarely schedule these events in comfy rooms with soft, squishy carpets. Instead you will find yourself walking and standing for hours on unforgiving, hard floors with few available seats. When your feet hurt, it can change your posture, your nonverbal behaviors and your demeanor, all of which can make you seem less friendly or interested to an employer. You totenstill have to be professional, but this is not the time to choose form over function when it comes to footwear.2. Ignoring opportunities to be included in resume books or datakusinesMost career fairs have a resume book or online database where job seekers can submit resumes in advance. The process can be frustrating because it may require you to reformat your resume to fit certain standards or cut and paste key areas into a database template. This extra work is definitely worth it. If you are attending a career fair that allows onsite interviews, most candidates are chosen and contacted before the event even begins. Only a small percentage of interview slots are held for extraordinary candidates that stop by the booths. It is much easier to get noticed beforehand than to be one of several hundred eager faces standing in line. Even if there are no onsite interviews, your resume can generate interest for months after the career fair. 3. Talking to tired representatives at the end of their shiftsA few hours of shaking hands and passing resumes can make anyone a bit cranky. Now imagine that youre the recruiter with long lines of people clamoring to get your attention, each one of them earnestly trying to sell themselves. There comes a point of fatigue where even Superman would have a hard time breaking through. Make it easy on yourself and visit your top employers when the representatives are likely to be at their highest energy levels. Every company will have a schedule for its employees, but youre most likely to find fresh representatives either at the very beginning of the day or after lunch. Avoid approaching booths right before lunch or at the very end of the fair.4. Believing that youre speaking to the hiring managerYou did it You had a great conversation with the representative. You were witty, competent and confident, and the interviewer was impressed with you. As you turn to walk away (giving yourself a mental high- five), you miss the fact that the representative drops your resume into a pile with no additional notes or thoughts. In most situations, the recruiter is the gatekeeper, not the hiring manager. Your conversation is important so that your resume isnt discarded. However, after the career fair your resume, along with many others, will be dumped unceremoniously on the hiring managers desk. No part of your amazing conversation will be conveyed. If there is something that you want the hiring manager to know, research the job online, apply for it, attach a cover letter referencing your amazing conversation with the representative- whom you should mention by name- and send it to the company along with your resume.5. Grabbing table giveaways without speaking to representativesOne of the best parts about a career fair is the swag. Depending on the industries participating in the event, it is not unusual for jobseekers to walk away loaded with pens, stress balls, snacks, post-it-notes and all types of cool product samples. While I would never deny you the joys of treasure hunting, it is considered rude to grab armfuls of stuff without speaking to the representatives. Even if you arent interested in the company, it is critical to make a good impression because recruiters talk to each other more than you imagine. For many recruiters, career fairs are mini-reunions where they touch base with former colleagues, industry peers and college friends. A moment of greed at one booth could potentially tank your chances at another.6. Making private comments about companies in public placesPrivacy is dead. Well, at least at a career fair it is. If you have something disparaging, controversial or easily misinterpreted to say, you will want to wait until you get home. Every public space is potentially filled with company representatives poised to hear compromising information. Restrooms, elevators, coffee shops, restaurants and even the booths of competitors- you would be surprised at all of the places that recruiters show up. Always assume that someone is listening, and youll never go wrong.Career fairs are an excellent choice for serious job seekers. With a little preparedness you can make significant inroads towards your career goals. So get your resume ready, pull out those comfortable shoes, and get that interview.

6 Salary Negotiation Tips for Hiring Managers

6 Salary Negotiation Tips for Hiring Managers6 Salary Negotiation Tips for Hiring ManagersYou have finally found your next great hire You pored over countless resumes, completed all the interviews, checked references and now its time for salary negotiation. You want to extend an offer that will be accepted.While the offer isnt only about the compensation package, it usually is the top concern of job seekers.Before beginning the salary negotiation, its important to have a clear understanding of both parties objectives. Your objective should be to negotiate a fair, market-based compensation package that is competitive based on the unique combination of skills that you require in this new employee, while being fiscally responsible to your company.Use our salary calculator to look up salary ranges for technology and IT jobs in your area.Your potential employees objective should also be to negotiate a fair, market-based compensation package based on their unique skills and experience. In the best case scenario, both parties desire the same outcome, a negotiation that results in a win-win. Here are six tipsConduct market research. Prior to your salary negotiation discussion, do your homework so your salary offer is based on actual market data. Review salaries posted on current online job postings as well as a reputable salary guide from an industry expert. This research is critical to your effectiveness and credibility in the salary negotiation process.Make adjustments if needed. Compensation in todays IT world can be dramatic. Starting salaries are changing rapidly, especially in many high demand disciplines such as mobility, cloud computing, big data, security, etc. If you find a material difference in your budgeted compensation package and what your research tells you, make adjustments if you can. Just because youve always paid $70,000 for a certain role, doesnt mean youll be able to continue to find the same level of talent at that salary. If you arent offering c ompetitive compensation, you may be left settling for your second or third choice for the role.Minimize surprises. Talk about compensation expectations early and often with the candidate. You want to know as soon as possible what the salary expectation is and how flexible they are when it comes to negotiating a fair starting package. Its not about negotiating in the first interview, but about understanding the candidates expectations so both parties save valuable time if the compensation gap is just too large to bridge. There is nothing more frustrating than spending hours together with both parties thinking theyve found the right fit only to have the deal fall apart at the end because you couldnt make the numbers work.Take emotion out of the equation. Negotiating can become personal and emotional. Resist the temptation to dig in your heels. Nothing can make a positive situation like extending a job offer turn south faster than an intense and frustrating conversation around starting salary. Remain calm and keep the conversation professional, while maintaining an open mind. Dont let pride or inflexibility prohibit you from getting the employee you wantMoney isnt everything. Starting compensation is always high on the list of reasons potential employees accept or decline a job offer. That said, there are many other factors to consider, especially if youre limited in the salary you can offer. Can you offer a flexible schedule, such as working four, 10-hour days with Fridays off, for example? Is telecommuting possible? Working from home can save employees valuable time and money (in commute costs). Options such as these may be just enough to tip the scales in your favor from a reluctant candidate.Never extend an offer you arent certain will be accepted. Offer acceptance should be a forgone conclusion when you get to this stage of the process. You want to be so thorough in the interview process that you are confident the candidate can do the job, wants the job and that the compensation aligns with their expectations. If you have questions or reservations, have those discussions with the prospective employee before making the formal offer.You can find salary information for more than 75 IT jobs in our Salary GuideDOWNLOAD THE SALARY GUIDEThis post has been updated to reflect more current information.

Controlling Jitters Before Your Interview

Controlling Jitters Before Your InterviewControlling Jitters Before Your InterviewRemember Someone at the organization likes you and thinks you have a chance to contribute. Youve havent been called in to be tortured you have a real shot at getting hired. If this interview doesnt work out, you will have another one. There are a lot of jobs out there. Every interviewing experience you have will prepare you to do better in the next one. The person sitting across from you was once sitting on the hot seat just like you, and they survived and got the job even though their voice trembled a bit and their knees knocked a little. Everyones been through the situation and knows what its like. Just like everyone else, this person interviewing you has friends and casual acquaintances with whom they hang out. They arent always so formal. Try to connect with your interviewer on a human level, without being too goofy and informal. Dealing with anxiety It would be a shame to let something as ins ignificant and short-lived as an attack of nerves conceal your winning attributes. Here are some tips to prevent nervous tics and other imperfections from interfering with your best interview ever. If youre concerned with a piece of clothing in your interview ensemble maybe the naked-lady tie is a little racy and youre on the fence about it change it. In addition to favorably impressing your interviewer, your clothes should do nothing but support and feed the confidence and comfort of the intelligent, sensitive creature wearing them. During the interview youll want to look neat, clean, and well-composed. You should always wear a suit. Even if the workplace where youre applying is geschftliches miteinander casual (or has no dress code whatsoever.) Even if the interviewer tells you that you dont need to wear a suit. Its always better to overdress than underdress. Stick to conservative navy, gray or black. Women, wear pantyhose and closed-toes shoes. If a deficiency on your resume worries you, dont obsess on it and let it sink your spirits. Think about this deficiency and how you will explain it before you go in for the interview. Its there, so deal with it and move on. Remember, theyve agreed to interview despite this flaw, so it cant be a stopper. If there is any way of putting a positive spin on it without making it a feature of the interview, plan a short but sweet response. On the day of the interview, breathing exercises can help you relax and focus your energy. Closing your eyes, imagine a peaceful place. Or, visualize yourself acing the interview. Heres another one place your tongue at the roof of your mouth just behind the teeth and then breath quickly and forcefully through your nose for as long as you can. If you push yourself at this, when you then inhale deeply through your mouth again, you should feel energized.

Join the Twitter Conversation about HR Best Practices

Join the Twitter Conversation about HR Best PracticesJoin the Twitter Conversation about HR Best PracticesJoin the Twitter Conversation about HR Best Practices Charney, Social Media Engagement ManagerTwitter, the popular micro blogging site that limits users to messages of 140 characters or less, has catapulted from the margins to the mainstream. Major brands, spanning the gamut from entertainment to consumer packaged goods to professional services, have built both a presence and a following within Twitter, creating a diverse, cross-functional pipeline where instant engagement is as easy as pressing Enter.While many feel Twitters ubiquity might be as brief as its character limits, considerWhile it still only commands less than 2% of social media market share, Twitter usage soared 1170% year-to-year, according to recent data from Hitwise.Language trending firm The Global Language Monitor recently named Twitter the most popular word in the English language in 2009, displacing Obama.The majority of Twitter users are elend teens or college students, but rather working adults. Almost 42% of the sites audiences are age 35-49, according to Nielsen, with 62% of users accessing the site exclusively from their office.Social media-savvy HR and recruiters bloggers arealready using Twitter and while job seekers increasingly turn to Twitter to create connections, network and find opportunities, employers are following suit. The result a multi-faceted, real-time conversation about the business of hiring.How Twitter is Evolving Hiring and HRTwitter has quickly evolved into an invaluable tool for hiring experts and decision makers to engage both candidates and each other.Human resource professionals and hiring managers are turning to Twitter, primarily as a means to monitor and engage their employee populations, keep followers informed about their respective employment brands, as well as perform due diligence on potential new hires.Twitters status bar prompts users a simple qu estion What are you doing?For Human resource and employment professionals not currently engaging this valuable resource, the more pressing question becomes, What are you thinking?Learn to Manage Your Twitter AccountDue to its limited in-site search functionality and scant biographical information, finding relevant professionals to follow can prove as challenging as finding a top passive candidate for a hard-to-fill requisition.In fact, many report the inability to target relevant results as a main barrier of entry to Twitter adoption.Realizing the breakneck pace at which Human resource and hiring professionals work, the blessing of Twitters inherent real-time status and engagement can seem like a curse. Here are some suggestions to get the most out of your Twitter usageTwitters homepage can be cumbersome and relatively difficult to track conversations. The best and most valuable people to follow often update dozens of times a day, which can get overwhelming if accessing updates via text messages.Dedicated software helps rectify many of these issues, and can run in your computers hintergrund without an open internet window some even have the capabilities of integrating with other social networks so that only a single log on is required.Check out TweetDeck or HootSuite youll be glad you did.Rather than updating in real time, which can prove difficult at work, set aside some time each week to schedule your Tweets in advance.Two of the most commonly used programs for this are CoTweet and Social Oomph.Since youll probably be sharing links to interesting content and messaging related to job openings and your company (and because HR professionals love metrics), its a good idea to track traffic for your links.The easiest (free) site to do this is bit.ly, which automatically shrinks URLs to save characters.Now, ready to get started? Then check out our list of Ten Top Employment Bloggers to Follow.

3 reasons why I still read books in print instead of digitally

3 reasons why I still read books in print instead of digitally3 reasons why I still read books in print instead of digitallyThis past summer, I lugged across the Atlantic a big, heavy suitcase filled with nothing but books (heresa photoof it). Several puzzled readers justifiably asked me why I hadnt invested in a Kindle.In every other aspect of my life, Im a technophile, the prototypical early adopter. I have an iPad with a Kindle app on it, but I still prefer my books in print.For me, this isnt just a matter of nostalgia or personal taste (though thats certainly parte of it). There are at least three reasons why old-fashioned print books trump their digital counterparts.1. RetentionAbout a year ago, I noticed that I suffered amnesia after reading e-books. The content of an e-book- unlike a print book- would leave my mind as quickly as it entered. This initially struck me as counterintuitive After all, the content of e-books and print books is exactly the same.But the experience, it later occurred to me, is very different. Every book looks the same on an e-reader. Its the same white background and the same font size and color. Its like staying at the Westin- the rooms are the same whether youre in Cabo or Kansas City. E-books, like cookie-cutter hotel rooms, start blending into each other.When I sit down with a print book, I sink into a different kind of experience. Print books all look and feel different. The tactile differences help my mind separate one book from the other. I have a better sense of progress. I can make connections that I otherwise miss.Each physical book also comes with its own story- the story of the bookstore where I bought the book, the story of the wine stain on page 33, and the story of the notes I scribbled on the margins while carrying on an imaginary conversation. These stories add a melody to the words, engaging senses that otherwise remain dormant while reading an ebook.Research supports these intuitions. One study of tenth gradersf oundthat students who read texts in print scored significantly better on the reading comprehension test than students who read the texts digitally.This difference might also be related to our zugreifbar reading habits. In the digital world, we dont read like we used to. We drag our vision across the page. We scroll and skim. Ive noticed that these disjointed online reading habits carry over to all digital devices, including the books I read on Kindle. As a result, my attention fractures.2. RepetitionOnce Ive read a book on Kindle, its off my Kindle. It disappears into the ether. But my physical books go back on the bookshelf where they stare at me for years. Passing by them, Im reminded of the lessons learned. Some beckon to me for a second reading.For a long time, I refused to re-read books- I viewed it as a waste of time. After all, I read it once and got what I could out of it. There are too many good books to read, and too little time.Except Im not the same person I was a decade ago. Ive changed- more than I think I have. Every time I return to a book, its a new person reading it. I pick up on subtleties that I missed the first time around. New ideas become relevant because of where Im in life now.All great books, as Derek Thompson writes, seem to immerse me in another life, but ultimately they immerse me in me I am looking through the window into another persons home, but it is my face that I see in the reflection. Just as the face that appears in that reflection changes over time, so does what you get from reading the book.This is particularly true for books we read at a young age- books that were thrust into our hands by authority figures back when we were busy staging teenage rebellions. I suggest beginning there and re-reading some of the books that you were forced to read in high school. Youll discover a very different book than the one you remember.For example, I recently re-readRay Bradburys Fahrenheit 451, which I had first read in high school. I remembered the book to be about a dystopian society where a totalitarian government burns books. Except that its not. Theres another story line where the real culprit isnt the government. In the book, its the tribesthe dog-lovers, the cat-lovers, the leftists, the rightists, the Catholics, the Zen Buddhistswho pour the kerosene, light the fuse, and push their government to do the same. The book is a cautionary tale for todays society where dissent is policed by our tribes and unorthodox views are rejected as controversial.Ina podcast interview, the author Dan Pink recounts a similar experience in college when his professor assigned the class to readThe Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. When students protested that they already read this book in high school, the professor replied You may have read the book in high school, butyouhave not read the book.3. RelaxationFor me, picking up a physical book erects a psychological separation from the digital world. Reading a book on an e-reader m akes it all too tempting to be swayed by distractions screaming their 100 decibel sirens for attention.E-books, particularly when I read them at night, act as a force amplifier and send my brain into overdrive, just when it should be shutting down.Print books are my refuge. They open the world by shutting out everything else.InspirationMichael Harris, I Have Forgotten How to Read.Ozan Varol is a rocket scientist turned law professor and bestselling author.Click hereto download a free copy of his e-book, The Contrarian Handbook 8 Principles for Innovating Your Thinking. Along with your free e-book, youll get the Weekly Contrarian - a newsletter that challenges conventional wisdom and changes the way we look at the world (plus access to exclusive content for subscribers only).Thisarticlefirst appeared onOzanVarol.com.

The Biggest Myth About Office Skills Resume Exposed

The Biggest Myth About Office Skills Resume Exposed Heres What I Know About Office Skills Resume Without the correct keywords and phrases, your profiles and youre invisible, no matter how well-qualified you might illinois for the job which you want, because your resume rep bonnie be viewed by means of a recruiter. Telecommuting job resume layouts are much the exact same as the others, but there are a few things that need to be accomplished differently. If you get a wide selection of technical abilities, however, your abilities may wind up being precisely what gets you hired. Perhaps your skill tischset is totally different. Do show potential employers your skills are transferable and you are able to do the job well in a wide variety of contexts. Soft abilities, hard abilities, any skills. The work description will most likely incorporate a list of required skills. Rather than that, you use the name of a particular skill for each heading. Try to remember, the majority of th e distinctive skills that you set on your resume ought to be job-related skills taken from the work description and your best transferable skills. Make certain you have a minumum of one example for a time you demonstrated every one of the top five skills listed here. In this instance, your resume will want to be noticed so that it has a greater probability of being noticed. You are going to need an extremely extensive skill set to be successful. Those basic skills arent listed there as a test to be sure youre paying attention, but instead becuase theyre less basic as you may think. If there are a number of distinctive skills that would provide you an edge never fail to mention them. One of his goals is to demonstrate he is a specialist in all kinds of mail room duties. It is employed as an umbrella term for somebody with an extensive set of skills like using software, writing reports, organizing paperwork, and keeping a collegial atmosphere. Make certain that you have read y a minumum of one example for a time you demonstrated skills from every category listed here. If and when someone prints the document, you would like to ensure there are not any technical challenges. The Ultimate Office Skills Resume Trick Expenses cant be shared mng ndvdul. Organization Administrative jobs of all sorts need strong organizational skills. It is going to help you distinguish yourself from different candidates. An important portion of Office Skills training is to learn to create a resume that it is possible to use in your job search. Writing skills are also vital for many distinct jobs. Administrative skills are required for a number of jobs, which range from office assistants to secretaries to office managers. A Receptionist Skills Resume is quite helpful for entry-level candidates or career changers who dont have any prior knowledge in hand. As an example, say youre applying for the job of dump truck driver. To position yourself as the very best candidate for the role, you wish to only consist of bullet points it is possible to stand behind. For that reason, its far better to highlight your abilities and the simple fact which you have acquired multiple talents, in distributions-mix of drawing attention to how youve jumped from place to position. Some folks may believe that fancy is better, but in the event of a prosperous executive resume, easy and professional is the best way to go. The Argument About Office Skills Resume If youve obtained certificates in Office Skills, you can incorporate this training as a portion of your Education. Administrators should be able to hear an assortment of issues and solve them using critical thinking. Utilizing a Resume Quesionnaire is a superior method to assemble and organize your individual information for your resume. Most jobs require that you have a fundamental comprehension of computer programs like Excel and Microsoft Office, in addition to skills in internet navigation, social netwo rking sites and email systems.

Society of Women Engineers to Host First-Ever Online Career Development Conference

Society of Women Engineers to Host First-Ever Online Career Development Conference Just in time for Womens History Month (March 2014), the Society of Women Engineers (SWE)has recently announced its first Online Career Development Conference. The online conference, Take Charge of Your Career Development, will boast an array of accomplished speakers and bring together distinguished presenters to share their thoughts on how women can take control of their careers.Who Society of Women EngineersWhat Take Charge of Your Career Development Conference offering 4-5 webinar presentations per day ranging from 30 minutes to one hour.When March 13-14, 2014Where OnlineWe listened to the needs of our 26,000 members worldwide and worked to attract the brightest leaders in career development, said Peter Finn, SWEs deputy executive director and chief learning officer. The online format means regardless of schedule or location, attendees can take advantage of this slate of speakers perspective on professional advancement.The upcoming conference welches developed for women three to 15 years into their careers and aims to help engineers remain competitive in the marketplace by continuously sharpening their professional and technical skills. It will also show businesswomen how to achieve their career goals while maintaining work-life balance.The summit will offer a range of topics, includingUnderstanding emotional intelligence and its impact in the workplaceBeing an authentic leaderProactive approaches to career planning and transitionsCommunicating effectivelyDeveloping your brandNegotiating your compensationEngaging with community and professional organizationsAnd moreFor more details and to register for the upcoming conference, visit here.

Chronological Resume-Everything You Need To Know

Chronological Resume-Everything You Need To KnowChronological Resume-Everything You Need To KnowChronological Resume format is one of the three most popular resume formats used by job applicants. Also known as reverse-chronological resume, this format being the most conventional one, is the first thing that comes to everyones mind when they think of resume writing. Though it is not the perfect format for all job seekers, but it is the most sought-after one.What to include in a Chronological ResumeContact InformationProfessional SummaryTitleWork ExperienceSkillsEducationAdditional InformationHow a Chronological Resume is different from othersThis format makes itself unique by giving its utmost attention to the employment history. A chronological resume is quite effective as it gives the recruiters a clear view of your progress so far.All the experiences of the individual are listed in reverse order, that is, from the most recent to the oldest. You even need to include the starting and ending dates or the duration for the specific work experience. Also, you need to include your achievements at your former workplaces, as this is the most prioritized section in the resume.But, you must remember that this format also highlights the inconsistency in your job life, if any. And, also not to forget backfires on you, if you dont have any major experiences or achievements. So, it is not used by entry-level candidates or those who want to put more emphasis on skills not experiences.In short, a chronological resume is the best choice for those job applicants who have a solid and consistent employment history. Otherwise you may use a functional or combination resume.Its Advantages Emphasis on work historyPreferred by recruitersClearly shows the companies and the length of time you worked forConcise view of your achievementsIts DisadvantagesDoesnt highlight skillsShows the gaps in your employment historyReveals how frequently you have been changing jobs

All About Video Resumes

All About Video ResumesAll About Video ResumesIf you havent received yur first video resumes from candidates yet, you will shortly. The buzz is growing and video resumes are the next cool thing to do. In fact, the conversation has already moved from whether to make a video resume to how to make a professional video resume to enhance job applications. So, employers will be seeing video resumes - whether they want them or elend. And, most employers appear open to viewing video resumes. According to career publisher Vault Inc.s annual employer survey 89% of employers revealed that they would watch a video resume if it were submitted to them. Although most employers have not yet used this new technology as an evaluative tool only 17% have actually viewed a video resume - the vast majority are receptive to it.The primary reason why employers would value video resumes is the ability to assess a candidates professional presentation and demeanor (52%). What Employers Are Seeing in Video Resumes As an employer, my understanding from other employers is that the video resumes they are receiving are fairly unprofessional and may turn them off to a befhigung candidate. Giggly spoken lists of skills or discussing non-work hobbies are not positively affecting employment opportunities. Nor does unprofessional dress and an ineffective presentation. The other current employer complaint is the length of the videos. If an employer is interested in a candidate, after reviewing the resume cover letter and the resume, they might follow a link to watch a video resume for one to two minutes. According to the Vault Inc. study, referenced above, only 17% of employers have viewed a video resume. Take a look at Alison Doyles advice for job searchers about making professional video resumes that are acceptable to employers. Whats Wrong With Video Resumes From an employer perspective, I have several concerns with video resumes. In the United States, discrimination concerns and laws l ong ago discouraged applicants from sending pictures and personal information with the resume. So, employers need to consider several potential issues with video resumes. Video resumes heighten the possibility of managers practicing subtle discrimination, because face it, no matter how much training and understanding exists in this world, most employers still tend to hire people who are just like their best current employees. From a company cultural perspective, this may not be all bad, but from a diversity standpoint, its just plain worrisome. And, many employers in Europe, and elsewhere, have never stopped requiring the candidates picture and personal information with the resume. The possibility exists, that in our litigious society, an employer can be accused of discrimination later because the video resume supplies information that you would not know about a candidate from a paper resume. Information, that in many cases, you dont want to know because the possibility for subtle d iscrimination exists as mentioned above. However, career specialists identify that this saatkorn possibility of discrimination occurs throughout the employee selection process. As reported in E-commerce Times Tyler Redford, chief executive of ResumeBook, acknowledged that employers and career centers have been skeptical, and fewer than a third of its users have posted a video resume, even though it is a core feature. However, Redford and other supporters believe discrimination could occur at the interview stage even without video resumes, so that alone should not deter job seekers. Other attorneys are advising their employer clients not to accept or view video resumes because of the possibility of charges of discrimination based on age, gender, ethnicity, and disability. Just dont even deal with them, said Dennis Brown, an attorney in the San Jose, Calif., office of Littler Mendelson whose firm recently advised employers about the dangers of video rsums at a seminar. Browns main con cern with video rsums is that they reveal information about a persons race, sex, disability, age - all details that could wind up in a discrimination lawsuit. He believes that employers should stick to the old-fashioned paper rsums and avoid the potential legal hassles of video rsums ... The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission also has expressed similar concerns, noting that video rsums could also lead to the exclusion of people who are not tech-savvy, or minority applicants who may not have access to broadband-equipped computers or video cameras. On the flip side, employers should have concerns about requiring a video resume. This would only be appropriate for a position in which presentation skills were required, or possibly, in fields that require a portfolio. So far, employers have not experienced the pain of a video resume lawsuit. No one has yet filed a major lawsuit for discrimination by video rsum. But George Lenard, a St. Louis, Mo., employment lawyer, can envision a c ase centered on disparate impact. If an employer requires applications by video, then those without video cameras and broadband-equipped computers might argue they lacked access. Finally, when the average resume receives a few second overviews, expecting an employer to add the time to the process necessary to view a video resume, is asking a lot. And, I dont even want to think about future lawsuits in which employers are accused of randomly viewing video resumes, rather than viewing every video resume they receive. Final Tips About Video Resumes A video resume can be helpful when you are screening applicants who might have to travel for an interview, but teleconferencing, meeting in Google Hangouts, and even the traditional telephone screen can minimize the distance factor, too. In our Internet world, many candidate screening options are available. Employers are expected to practice non-discriminatory actions during every phase of the hiring process. Apply the same care and cons ideration to the video resume evaluation. Or, decide not to accept them at all return any video resumes received with instructions to follow the application process you advertised, to create a valid application.

Show You Mean Business by Starting Your Own

Show You Mean Business by Starting Your OwnShow You Mean Business by Starting Your OwnBusiness doesnt stop, nor should you. These job seekers became entrepreneurs to demonstrate that they were still strong employees.Tim Wood is a career software engineer who has ridden the technology-employment roller coaster for years. During the 2001 to 2003 downturn in tech, Wood went through a two-year period of unemployment and considered leaving the Information Technology industry altogether. He eventually landed a new position in IT, but it took more than the traditional job-seeking methods Wood started his own geschftliches miteinander.Woods entrepreneurial spirit arose less from a desire to go it on his own and more from a need to keep his skill platzdeckchen fresh in a very competitive job market. Few industries change more rapidly than IT, and Wood knew that he needed to be able to demonstrate that his talent and technique were current.Wood launched LiveCut, which lets a user go to a conce rt and use his cell phone and the Web to order, pay for and download recordings from the concert. I designed something from scratch that I had a strong personal enthusiasm about, and then built it using my computers and network at home, as well as open-source software, he said. I could then go out during my job and say, Hey, Im building something that uses Web services and SOAP data exchange protocol.Wood also formed an LLC, obtained a trademark on LiveCut for digital music sales and welches issued a patent on the underlying system technology. I made sure to do the geschftlicher umgang things I was able to, and so develop that way, as well as technically with the system engineering, he said.Wood, who was hired as a principal member of technical staff at Oracle, said working on LiveCut kept his tech and business skills updated and thus competitive, but it was also very important to save my own sanity.Business Doesnt StopDiane Hansen would no doubt understand. A little more than a yea r ago, Hansen was laid off from her position as marketing manager at Konami, a gaming company. Hansen said she had seen the writing on the wall, and she started positioning herself as a marketing and communications consultant.Like Wood, Hansen decided to go it on her own as a way to maintain a competitive edge while looking for a new full-time position. A top executive told me that freelancing is the best thing you can do because business doesnt stop just because you are not working, she said. Everything is continuously changing, especially in marketing and PR. By freelancing, I was able to keep my skills sharp, and that really helps.Working as an independent consultant paid unexpected dividends for Hansen, as well. As a marketing and communications manager she had directed PR agencies, but she had never been a PR person in the trenches, she said. Id written press releases, but Id usually pushed it off to an agency to execute. This gave me some execution skills I didnt have before, and now I find its actually my strong suit, which helped me enhance and build my resume.Hansen said her business also provided new networking opportunities, which resulted in new business and eventually a full-time position as a marketing and communications manager for Getaway Media. I certainly wouldnt have a position now that sustains me if I hadnt freelanced, she said. Its a nontraditional way to find a job, but it found me the right job - the job that was right for me.Balance and DiscretionDeborah A. Bailey, a career expert, speaker and author of Think Like an Entrepreneur Transforming Your Career and Taking Charge of Your Life, said thinking like an entrepreneur can be a valuable tool in this competitive job market, especially since employers typically want to see that candidates are productive and driven, even during periods of unemployment. Read the Business Owners Resume Riddle for more on making the move from entrepreneur to employee.However, she said, its important to sh ow discretion.For one thing, said Bailey, take care in articulating scope when laying out independent experience on your resume and in your cover letter. Potential employers could get scared off if they think you will spend more time on your own venture than you will on theirs. Also, she said, make sure that your side business cant be seen as competing with the company you are hoping to work for, and be mindful of intellectual property issues.A job seeker who can strike the right balance between being an entrepreneur and an employee stands a strong chance of being hired. A side project, said Wood, shows a proactive nature, shows original thought and shows the ability to execute and produce results.