Job search tips from Innovative Outsourcing

Here's are several useful articles from Innovative Outsourcing on finding a job using creative ideas.

"Innovative Outsourcing’s Job Candidate BlogSeptember 11, 2009

Get to Know the Interviewer Before the Interview

Filed under: Interviewing tips — innovativeoutsourcing @ 3:43 pm

What if I told you that you could get to know your interviewer before the interview? Well, you can. Social media websites have made it easy for job seekers to research other professionals and organizations. By putting on your “detective hat” you can quickly uncover information that will allow you to better prepare for your interview.

The candidates that have impressed me most over the years are the ones that took the initiative to get to know all about me and my company before their interview. LinkedIn (www.LinkedIn.com) is the most common social media website used by professionals for this purpose. In case you are not familiar with this site, listed below are just a few of the benefits of being LinkedIn. This site allows you to:

1. Create and manage your own public professional profile
2. Find and be introduced to potential employers, recruiters, and hiring managers
3. Be found for business opportunities and find potential partners
4. Gain new insights from discussions with likeminded professionals in private group settings
5. Make connections within an organization that could help you land a job

This tool may sound intimidating if you are not internet savvy, but getting started is really easy! To create your own LinkedIn public profile, go to www.LinkedIn.com. Once you create your account, you can immediately begin searching for people all over the world. To search for a particular person, go to the top of your profile page and click on “people”. You will see an advanced search page pop up that will ask you for more information about that person. This feature helps you better narrow down your search because LinkedIn has over 46 million members in over 200 countries and territories around the world. (You would be surprised how many John Smith’s there are in the world!)

Once you have found the person you are looking for, some of the things you may want to take note of are:

1.Where they went to school
(This could be a great ice breaker if you or someone you know graduated from the same school.)

2.How long they have worked for the company you are targeting
(Remember – People love to talk about their careers.)

3.Where they worked previously
(You may know some of their former colleagues.)

4.LinkedIn groups they are members of
(This can tell you a lot about their hobbies, church affiliations, blogs of interest, people they are connected to and community involvement.)

5.What they are currently working on
(Their status update)

Imagine having all this great information at your fingertips. Talk about a gold mine for a job seeker! These topics make for great conversation and will also help you connect with the interviewer on a personal level. Making a personal connection is so important. At the end of the day, when they are making decisions, they need to remember you out of the assembly line of candidates they interviewed.

Below are some specific examples of how to use this information to your advantage in your interview.

 “I noticed on your LinkedIn profile that you went to the University of Central Florida. I am originally from Orlando and my husband graduated from UCF.” Go Knights! (If they are football fans or just fans of UCF this could be a great ice breaker.)

 “I noticed on LinkedIn that you do volunteer work at ABC Company in Smyrna. I also volunteer for ABC Company.”

 “I noticed your “status” on LinkedIn stated that you are currently looking for companies to benchmark for a salary/compensation study. My best friend is an HR Benefits Manager for ABC Company, and she is always looking for professionals to network with. If you are interested, I can introduce you to her via email.”

What if you can’t find the person you are looking for using LinkedIn?

If you have searched LinkedIn and can’t find who you are looking for, try doing a Google search. You would be surprised what comes up. If you haven’t already done so, Google your own name to see what comes up. Just so you know – Many employers are now using Facebook, MySpace and LinkedIn to screen potential candidates. (Good rule of thumb – Make sure that your grandmother would approve of everything you have posted on the internet!)

For those of you who would like more information on LinkedIn, go to www.learn.linkedin.com/. There you will find all you need to know about the benefits of creating your own public profile and how to fully utilize LinkedIn in your job search.

I know you have heard me say this dozens of times over the last year, but most candidates do not get the job because they were not prepared for the interview. Don’t shoot yourself in the foot! Get to know your interviewer before your interview. Doing this research will thoroughly impress the interviewer and make for a more dynamic interview.


September 4, 2009
Clever Cover Letters
Filed under: Interviewing tips — innovativeoutsourcing @ 2:07 pm

Do you know how to write a cover letter that will grab an employer’s attention? Today I want to give you some tips to consider so you don’t email anymore “generic” cover letters. Your cover letter is the first chance you get to introduce yourself to the employer, so it is vital that you create one that is first-rate. A cleverly worded cover letter will be the easiest way to ensure your resume is the one they will choose to read amongst the stack of applicants. I can tell you from experience that sometimes it feels like we are looking for a needle in a haystack so providing the information below will help you stand out in the crowd.

When emailing your resume, use the “subject line” of the email to sell yourself!

Which example looks better to you?

“High-energy Recruiter – Kim Carbia – Applying to Job #49” or “Applying to Job #49?

The first one grabs the attention of the recipient much faster. Remember – the subject line of the email is your first personal advertisement. Don’t go overboard on the self promotion, but a tiny bit is ok. By putting both your name and the job number in the subject line it will help the hiring manager stay organized when sorting all the applicants.

Get to the point ASAP!

Don’t make it hard for them to determine whether or not you are qualified for the position. Cut to the chase by saying “I’m writing to apply for the Senior Recruiter position as my 14 years of staffing make me a great fit for your company…” In the first line, you’ve secured the readers’ attention because you have proven you are qualified for the job. Then, in a conversational manner, list the specific skills that you bring to the table and how they relate to their position. Try to keep your cover letter under three paragraphs and avoid too much personal information. (After you have written your first draft, go back and delete all the words that are not essential to the email. Wordy cover letters will not get read. Employers simply don’t have the time.)

Send with Caution!

I see this all too often. People get so caught up in developing their cover letter that they send it before attaching their resume. Then they have to apologize for this mistake in a follow up email. (Not a good first impression.) Also, before you send your email do a “spell check” and have someone else look at it for grammatical errors. Make sure you follow the potential employer’s directions when submitting your resume. Generally resumes should be sent as a .doc or .txt unless they request otherwise. When candidates don’t follow directions, many times they wind up in the reject pile, or they get deleted. Don’t let that happen to you.

The vast majority of job seekers “throw” together a cover letter without putting a lot of thought into it. As a result, they get passed over. In this competitive job market, you must write a cover letter with executive flair which conveys why you are the perfect candidate for their job. The bottom line is – if you don’t capture their attention with your cover letter they may never make it to your resume.

August 28, 2009
Is it Time for an Interview Autopsy?
Filed under: Interviewing tips — innovativeoutsourcing @ 8:33 am

Are you getting your foot in the door only to have it closed right after the interview? Are you tired of the “Don’t call us we’ll call you” and the polite smile? If so, it is time for you to do an interview autopsy. You have probably figured out by now that it doesn’t matter how great your resume is if you bomb the face to face interview. Most people do poorly in their interviews because they unknowingly give off too many negative vibes. Remember, one of the main goals of the interview is – to be liked! You also want to be remembered but not for the wrong reasons. Ask yourself these questions.

Are you making your interviewer uncomfortable?
Things like excessive eye contact or smiling, lack of confidence, phoniness, too much cologne, and talking too much can all quickly derail an interview. All of these bad vibes are picked up quickly by the interviewer and will cause them to remember you for all the wrong reasons. Practicing your responses to common interview questions in front of a mirror or a friend can really help you prevent some of these common pitfalls.

Are you coming across as a “road block”?
Hiring managers are looking for employees that are willing to do whatever is necessary to get the job done. Answering their questions with the “Well that is not my job” mentality will be a huge red flag — and seen as a negative. Be open and willing to take on new challenges and tasks, even if it means going outside your comfort zone. Due to budget constraints, many companies are expecting employees to “wear many hats.”

Are you asking “intelligent” questions?
It is very frustrating to a hiring manager when a candidate has no questions or asks petty questions at the end of the interview. You want your questions to be seen as thoughtful and intelligent. Don’t allow your only question to be something like “How many smoke breaks do we get a day?” Mindless questions clue the interviewer in to your lack of preparation for the interview. Again, prepare your questions in advance. (Depending on the questions, you may be able to use them for each job interview. Suggested topics for questions are: career advancement, what a day would be like for you in this position, work environment, company benefits, company philosophy and/or culture.)

Are you coming across as “high-maintenance”?
If you start off your interview complaining about things like how cold it was at your last job, you never got the respect you thought you deserved from your colleagues, and the coffee was always cold by the time you got in, chances are you are going to give off a “prima dona” vibe. Trust me – managers don’t want or have the time for any more employees like this!

Are they watching you sweat?
Did you know you could lose a job offer by simply not wearing an undershirt? Visible signs of sweat seeping through your clothing, hands or forehead will make for an unpleasant interview for all. Sweat in an interview will be seen as a weakness. Consider how your body reacts to pressure as you choose your outfit for the interview.

Interviewing is a skill that can definitely be improved upon, if you are willing to do an autopsy on your past experiences. If you’ve been invited to many interviews but have not received any offers, it’s time to ask yourself why. Doing things the same way you have always done them will get you the same results. As Dr. Phil always says “How’s that working for you?”

If you put these tips into practice I believe you will dramatically increase your chances of being liked in the interview, which in turn will increase your chances for a job offer.

August 22, 2009
Certificates Equal Jobs, Too
Filed under: Alternatives to traditional employment — innovativeoutsourcing @ 9:43 am

Have you ever been told that a college degree is the only path to a professional career? Well, I am here to tell you that is no longer the case. Now, there are many specialized careers, in a lot of industries that offer great pay and job security. And the best part is you can get into these specialty jobs easier and faster than you may think.

I picked up the Kennesaw State University magazine called “The Course” and found lots of interesting programs that I wanted to share with you. If you are looking to recreate yourself, make yourself more attractive/marketable for part-time/flexible work options, or advance your current career – I have some great news! You can earn a certificate in any of these great programs in around 6 – 18 months.

Paralegal Studies, Medical Office Assistant, Web Design, Hospitality Leadership & Management, Project Management, Personal Trainer, Pharmacy Technician, Human Resources, Phlebotomy, Technical Writing

These certificate programs have been designed to help you hone the skills that will be relevant to your career of choice. No more taking classes that are of no interest to you! According to the magazine, “courses required in a certificate program are directly targeted at the skills needed in a particular profession, unlike college coursework, in which the students are required to take approximately two years of general coursework like English, Math, Science, and History for any degree”. Universities are finally recognizing that not all students are “cut out” for the four year (or possibly longer) plan, so they are offering these certificate training programs as a great alternative.

If you are like me, you may think you don’t have time in your schedule to even consider something like this. Fortunately, they have made it easy for us! They offer online courses, which are awesome for anyone with small children, and they also offer flexible courses on campus in the evening.

Below are just a few examples of courses I found that could help you develop a new career in a short amount of time.

Administrative Assistant

If you are a stay- at- home mom looking to return to work as an AA, either full-time or part-time, you may want to consider taking the class that offers the Administrative Assistant certificate online. Employers know how much technology has changed over the last few years, so they will probably be hesitant to hire someone without that knowledge. In this class you will master the essentials of managerial and staff support, information and records management, communications technology, travel and meeting coordination, space planning, and office ergonomics. A class like this could quickly bring you up to speed on things like coordinating Webinars and GoToMeetings, using the latest MS Office products, and making online travel arrangements for executives. These are pretty basic skills that most companies will require of an Administrative Assistant. Full-time administrative Assistants can earn anywhere from $25K -$38K per year, depending on their responsibilities/job duties.

Personal Trainer

If you are looking for a career change and love working out, I have a great suggestion for you. KSU offers a Personal Trainer certificate that you can earn in just sixteen weeks. In this class you will learn the components to achieving optimum fitness, how to create exercise programs, the legal guidelines surrounding being a trainer, and all the basic components of developing a personal training business. Personal Trainers can earn anywhere from $21K – $75K per year, depending on how much they choose to work. And this field of work offers tremendous flexibility for folks looking to move away from an 8-5 work schedule.

Bookkeeper

If you were formerly an accounting professional in “corporate America” and you would like to now do bookkeeping work from home for small businesses, KSU offers several certificates in this area. In these online courses you will learn basic and advanced bookkeeping fundamentals and be introduced to double-entry bookkeeping. You will also gain experience with the popular business software, QuickBooks, which is used by many small business clients. (FYI… Most clients that come to I/O are looking for bookkeepers with QuickBooks experience.) Once you have earned your certificate, start volunteering your time doing the books for your church, school PTA, or other charity organizations. Even though you have large corporation accounting experience and now hold a bookkeeping certificate, potential employers still usually want to see some “hands-on” experience on your resume. Of course, there are many full-time bookkeeping opportunities in medium-sized businesses as well. So if you’re good with numbers and enjoy detailed, precise work, this would be a great field for you to investigate.

August 15, 2009
Solutions to Financial Crisis
Filed under: Money Management — innovativeoutsourcing @ 8:44 pm

Below is a list of local resources that are ready to help you where you are at.

Food Resources
How to apply for food stamps in Georgia :
Georgia’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
http://dfcs.dhr.georgia.gov/portal/site/DHR-DFCS/menuitem.5d32235bb09bde9a50c8798dd03036a0/?vgnextoid=024a2b48d9a4ff00VgnVCM100000bf01010aRCRD

The Atlanta Community Food Bank supports a wide range of people in need, from children to the working poor. Food pantries, community kitchens, childcare centers, night shelters and senior centers are among the agencies that receive product from the Food Bank and provide food and other critical resources for low-income Georgians who suffer from hunger and food insecurity.
www.acfb.org/

Get help paying utility bills in Georgia
Georiga House of Representatives resource list “>www.broc.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/house/communications/constservices/faq.html#6″>
http://www.heatga.org/

COBRA/Health insurance options for unemployed
COBRA FAQs from the U.S. Department of Labor www.dol.gov/ebsa/faqs/faq_consumer_cobra.html

COBRA: Continuation of health coverage from the U.S. Department of Labor
www.dol.gov/dol/topic/health-plans/cobra.htm

Resources for parents to aid in finding child care and family living assistance throughout GA
Georgia Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (GACCRRA)
www.gaccrra.org/index.html

United Way: http://unitedwayatlanta.org/

Georgia Child Care and Parent Services: http://www.workworld.org/wwwebhelp/ga_child_care.htm
Health care coverage for children of low-income families

Georgia PeachCare for Kids: http://www.peachcare.org/Default.aspx

Georgia Housing Search
Service from the Department of Community Affairs that helps users find affordable housing resources, including special needs housing: http://www.georgiahousingsearch.org/

MUST Ministries Homeless Shelter/ 6 week Program Cobb County: http://www.mustministries.org/

GA DHR Divison of Family & Children Services: Subsidized Child Care Assistance
Program to assist child care costs for low-income families : www.dfcs.dhr.georgia.gov/portal/site/DHR-

Travelers Aid of Metropolitan Atlanta: committed to providing H.O.P.E., Housing, Outreach, Prevention and Emergency Services, to individuals and families experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, homelessness: http://dogood.ajc.com/nonprofits/travelers-aid-of-metropolitan-atlanta-inc

Clothing Assistance
The Dress for Success organization prepares you for every step of the job interview process. http://dogood.ajc.com/nonprofits/dress-for-success

National Credit Counseling Services
National Foundation for Credit Counseling
http://www.nfcc.org/

Apprisen Financial Advocates a/k/a Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS)
http://www.apprisen.com/home/about.html

There are so many men and women in our communities that are too proud to ask for help. Don’t allow pride to be your stumbling block. Reach out to these groups if you need assistance. Your family is counting on you.

If you have a friend or neighbor who has lost a job, help them out, however you can. Drop off a gift card to a grocery store, a gas card, or even just cash they can use toward paying a utility bill. You can even do it anonymously if you feel the individual would have a difficult time accepting a gift like that. If several of us would pitch in and provide “tangible help” to those we already know personally who are going through a tough time, we could really make a difference. Too often we say vague things like “well, if there’s anything we can do, let us know”. Most folks are too proud to ever ask for help. So don’t even ask them if there’s anything they need – just go ahead and provide assistance where you can! It’s the “pay it forward” concept, if you give to those who are hurting, others will give to you when you go through a difficult time, too.

Choose to be a difference maker in your community, and help someone during this difficult time! We will all benefit, and economic recovery will occur so much faster.

Comments (3)
August 7, 2009
How to Live Large on Less
Filed under: Money Management — innovativeoutsourcing @ 7:27 am
Tags: Budget tips

This week I want to focus on the dreaded “B” word – Budgeting. To most job seekers, this is not a topic they want to discuss; but, according to the Department of Labor it is essential. Statistics are showing it is taking a jobseeker, on average, three to six months to find a suitable job. Common sense tells us that for the length of time a job seeker is out of work, their income will take a huge hit while their fixed expenses (telephone, mortgage, electric, gas, water, insurance and other day to day utilities) remain almost the same. Unfortunately, most job seekers are not adjusting their spending habits to their new financial reality. In doing this, they are increasing their personal debt by thousands of dollars every month, banking on the fact, that they will just pay it off when they get a new job. Taking this risk is an enormous mistake and they are playing with financial fire!

To most people, the word budget feels so restrictive, that they don’t even want to think about creating one, when in reality; budgets are linked to financial freedom. According to Dave Ramsey, a financial guru, “Many people view a budget as a straight jacket that keeps them constrained. However, when they see that a budget is just spending their money with intention, they actually experience more freedom than ever before.”

Today I would like to give you some budgeting tips, tools, and ideas that will help you take back your financial freedom whether you are employed or unemployed.

Plan Ahead

Planning ahead is what budgeting is all about. Be aware and plan for upcoming, unavoidable expenses like renewing your car tag. (I used that as an example because that one will be hitting my family this month.) If you know you have a few of these big, miscellaneous expenses coming up, hopefully, you will do less compulsory spending at Target next time you go.

Trim small/luxury expenses

In order to do this, again, you have to be aware of where your money is going. I want to encourage you to document on paper every time you spend money, whether it is a coffee at Starbucks, cigarettes, food, gas, birthday gifts or clothes. You will soon find patterns in your spending that you can trim out. You may also want to consider doing away with some luxuries such as eating out, cable television or gym memberships. By eliminating these unnecessary expenses you can save a considerable amount of money each month.

Plan your meals in advance

I have to admit this one is the most challenging one for me and my family. If you are anything like us, you love to eat out and hate going grocery shopping. I recently found a meal program called E-Mealz that has changed the way I feel about grocery shopping and cooking. E-mealz provides you a grocery list, great diverse menus and the cost for the whole list from the grocery store of your choice all for only $5.00 a month. When you see how much time and money this saves you, you will be amazed! For more information on how their plan works go to www.emealz.com/about.shtml. You don’t have to have a plan like this to save money but it sure helps keep you organized and in control of your spending. And don’t forget, the Sunday paper has lots of valuable coupons.

Look into loan consolidation

You may want to try to combine and consolidate multiple loan payments so that you have only one loan payment each month. If you have an equity line on your home, that may be an option for you to consider rather than depleting your savings or your 401K. Be sure that whatever form of consolidation you choose, you have shopped around for the best interest rate and that you have checked out each and every loan program thoroughly. Avoid all prepayment penalties, and balloon loans.

Avoid using credit cards

This is probably the most important tip on this list. Try to avoid using credit cards whenever possible. My husband taught me a long time ago if we couldn’t pay for it, we could not afford it. Just because we have access to credit cards does not mean we have money. We live in a society that has bought into the idea of “instant gratification” so much so that our country is in dire financial straights because of it. Credit cards should only be used for emergencies while you are unemployed. I have a friend that has a credit card spending problem. She would be the first to tell you that all those shoes and clothes are worthless now because she is working two jobs and living paycheck to paycheck, to pay them off. I want to encourage you to stop measuring your value by “what you own” and measure it by “who you are”.

Create a Budget for yourself

As I mentioned earlier, Dave Ramsey is a financial guru/author. If you are in need of sound financial advice you should check him out on the radio, read some of his books, or go to his website. He can set you on the path to financial freedom. Take the first step and create a free budget online at www.daveramsey.com/etc/budget_lite/. It does not matter how far in debt you are right now, he can guide you out.

I read something in a book the other day that I wanted to share with you. It is from a book by Max Lucado called Traveling Light. He says “Have you ever gone to the grocery store on an empty stomach? You’re a sitting duck. You buy everything you don’t need. Doesn’t matter if it is good for you- you just want to fill your tummy.” When we are lonely and in an uncomfortable place, we tend to do the exact same thing. We will buy anything and everything, not because we need it, but because we want that feeling to go away. For fear of not fitting in, we buy whatever gadget or cell phone that seems to be popular this month. For fear of feeling inadequate, we find a lender that will give us a loan for the biggest house on the street or the nicest car on the lot. If this season in your life causes you to be more mindful of your future spending, it will be worth it.

Whether you are unemployed or not, think about what causes you to spend money. Are you unknowingly leaving a spending legacy and a pile of debt to your children? Are you teaching them that “things” buy happiness? If you are staggering through this life with a load of financial burdens, it is time to lay them down. That is not the life you were created by God to live. Take the next step… a step to financial freedom.



August 1, 2009
“A Great Alternative to the Traditional, 40-HR Work Week”
Filed under: Alternatives to traditional employment — innovativeoutsourcing @ 1:02 pm
Tags: Portfolio Careers

Hello everyone. Welcome back. In case you are unaware, I took the month of July off to refuel and research employment topics for future blogs. I am so excited to be back doing what I love! I look forward to sharing my ideas and findings with each of you over the coming months.

Our last few blogs were on designing a Career Portfolio. This week I would like to tell you about a new “trend “called – Portfolio Careers. Yes, you heard me right. It sounds similar, but the idea is completely different.

Portfolio Careers are a well known trend in other countries but are just now catching on in the United States. For individuals with several different skills, talents and interests, this is a great way to make a fun, yet still lucrative “living” in a market where the traditional, 40 hour per week job opportunities are diminishing due to the current employment crisis.

Portfolio careers are built around the notion that job seekers can combine the income of several part-time jobs which will equal or possibly surpass the income of one full-time position. Do you have a collection of skills and or interests that you could turn into a business? Here are just a few of the skill categories that have been known to adopt this concept and have great success: Photographers, Graphics Designers, Artists, Teachers, Accountants, Recruiters, Musicians, and Writers.

At Innovative Outsourcing, we have many associates that are currently managing their own portfolio careers. A great example of this concept is an Accountant who works 15 hours a week for a client, teaches finance part-time at a local college, and owns her own tax consulting business. In this particular case, notice the associate uses the same skills in each job.

There are also others that have had great success using multiple skills and talents, which allows them to fulfill several of their passions while making a good living. Another remarkable success story is a woman that is an avid garage saler that sells her findings in an antique mall, sells real estate a few times a year, and substitute teaches at an elementary school. (Talk about interesting and flexible portfolio careers!!)

Many people are choosing the portfolio career route because they have:

 More control over their work/life balance.

 The ability to use multiple talents while fulfilling their passions to earn a living.

 The ability to be their own boss and bypass all the politics and hidden agendas in the corporate world.




June 28, 2009
What Should You Include In Your Career Portfolio?
Filed under: Interviewing tips — innovativeoutsourcing @ 12:47 pm
Tags: Career Portfolio

Last week I talked about the benefits of having a Career Portfolio. Today I want to give you some ideas of what to include in your portfolio. I will give you many options and ideas today, but don’t feel like you need to use all of them. Again, each portfolio will be unique because we are all different and we are applying for different types of jobs. The most important thing to remember as you design your career portfolio is the goal. You are building a case as to why the potential employer should hire you.

As I mentioned in the last blog, you can have a fancy website with a link for the employers to review or you can have a simple three ring binder with different categories. Whatever option you choose, all the items you include need to be organized, placed in the appropriate section, and easy for the employer to understand so you can accomplish your goal of showcasing things like your education, professional work experience, talents and passions, and major career accomplishments. Here are some of the more common topics that most recruiting experts suggest you include in a career portfolio.

Career Summary: A detailed description for the potential employer to get the essence of “who you are” – what gives you purpose and drive in the work place. (Other ideas may include your thoughts about your work ethic, career interests, and career goals for the next 2 – 5 years, (management style and/or philosophy – if you are applying for management jobs only)

Marketable Qualities: A detailed summary of your unique skills and professional experience. This section should focus on the number of years you have performed in this role, and the personal traits that have contributed to your success.

List of Accomplishments: A chronological, detailed list that highlights major accomplishments in your career to date. Stressing your accomplishments is one of the most important elements to selling yourself an interview.

Samples of Your Work: A sampling of your best work, including papers, marketing brochures, successful projects, presentations, etc. If you are the creative type feel free to include print samples; you can also include CD-ROMs, videos, and other multimedia formats.

Traditional Resume: A resume that summarizes chronologically your education, technical skills, career achievements, and professional work experience.

Publications: If you are a freelance writer this is a great way to showcase your creativity as well as your written communication skills. Include any published papers or ads that you were responsible for.

Letters of Recommendation: A collection of any awards or nominations you have received from management, past clients, and colleagues. (These are generally folks you would call on or use for a reference.) Awards enlighten the employer as to your personality traits and your teamwork skills.

Past Performance Reviews: Past reviews are a great way to give an employer insight as to your skills and capabilities. (If you did not save copies of these, call a few of your past employers and see if they would be willing to make some copies for you. By law they are required to keep them on file for at least ten years.)College

Transcripts, Licenses, and Certifications: A description of relevant courses, degrees, licenses, and copies of special certifications.

Professional Associations: A listing of professional associations for which you are a member of and conferences that you have attended that are relevant to the field for which you are applying.

Volunteer Work: A nice description of any community service/volunteer work that you have done for the community. (NOT the kind you get made to do) This speaks volumes to the employer about your character and willingness to step in and help when you see a need.

Once you’ve designed your career portfolio, share it with a few professionals that you trust, and ask them for their feedback. Be willing to tweak it as necessary for each interview. And please whatever you do – if you decide to create a portfolio, do it with excellence! Don’t “skimp” on it – remember, “a book is always judged by its cover”. It would be better NOT to create a portfolio, than to put together something that doesn’t look professional.

You might actually find that a career portfolio is not appropriate for each interview, depending on the time constraints of the interviewer. I would highly suggest that you ask the employer in advance if it is ok for you to use about 5 – 10 minutes of the interview time to present your career portfolio. Be aware that they may be pressed for time so go over the highlights quickly and then ask them if they would like for you to expand on anything. You have to leave time for them to ask you the questions they have prepared. I think you will find that most employers will be intrigued with this concept and appreciate your creativity!

Creating a career portfolio can be very fun and you will be reminded of a lot about yourself in the process. We all tend to forget things that we’ve accomplished or words of affirmation we’ve gotten from past bosses as we progress through our careers. Make sure you update your portfolio as often as you update your resume. (This is generally at least three times a year – even when things are going well, because you never know…) As I have stated in past blogs, knowing yourself and being able to sell yourself to a stranger is the biggest challenge of an interview. I really believe the career portfolio is a very valuable tool to use in an interview that will help you stand out as well as answer many of the questions that the employer will have about you.


Are you looking for a creative way to set yourself apart from all the other job seekers out there? Are you a creative type looking to showcase your unique skills? If you answered yes to either of these – you may want to consider creating a “career portfolio”. Career portfolios have been popular over the years with artists, photographers, writers and even teachers, but now, all types of job seekers are seeing the benefits and jumping on the bandwagon. Wikipedia defines a Career portfolio as a tool used to plan, organize and document education, work samples and skills. People can use career portfolios when they apply for a job, college or training programs, apply for a higher salary, show transferable skills, and to track personal development. They are much more in-depth than a traditional resume, which is used to summarize all of the above in one or two pages.

Here are just a few of the benefits to having a career portfolio.

 A career portfolio really captures the essence of “who you are” as a person for the employer. By outlining your passions, skills and experiences, you allow the employer to see what you have done and what you are capable of doing.

 It allows the job-seeker to showcase his/her talents and experiences by skills and functions rather than listing them chronologically like on a traditional paper resume. We all know that gaps in employment don’t look very good to a potential employer. They can even be misunderstood and become detrimental to the candidate if recorded chronologically in a traditional resume. The career portfolio emphasizes the skills rather than the dates. (Anyone who has chosen to leave the corporate world for any period of time understands the difficulties you face when you try to re-enter the workforce.)

There are several professional styles of career portfolios to choose from. The type of job you are pursuing will probably determine which style is right for you. Your portfolio can be as basic as a 3-ring binder with a table of contents with section dividers or it can be as extravagant as an online website with samples of your work, your resume, references and much more.

Recently, one of our candidates did something a little different in an interview that really impressed us, and I thought it was worth sharing with you. She was told by our Placement Specialist that that the client was looking for an Administrative Assistant with really solid Power Point skills. She used this opportunity to get creative in front of the client, and she designed a PowerPoint presentation on why she was a great fit for the job. (This is not exactly the same as a career portfolio but still a fantastic idea!) By doing this she accomplished several job seeker goals. She purposely set herself apart from any other candidates that interviewed for the position by showcasing her Power Point skills in that way. She knew that was an important element of the position’s requirements so she made sure the client knew she was proficient in the areas that mattered most to him.

Take it from a recruiter – Any candidate who shows up to an interview with more than just “words” will definitely stand out and be remembered. That is your goal, right? In this troublesome labor market, with unemployment higher than it has been in years, you must demonstrate and/or prove to the employer during the interview that you are the most qualified applicant for their position. By designing a career portfolio you can showcase your creativity, talents and experiences, which will vastly increase your chances of receiving a job offer.


Experts are now saying it is taking the average job seeker anywhere from three to six months to find a job. And for many others, the process takes far longer. Dealing with career rejection for such a long period of time can be disheartening and discouraging. Today I want to offer some advice that will, hopefully, help you overcome some of the negative emotions that often plague job seekers.

1. Don’t take it personally.

This is easier said than done, I know. But really, in most cases, you will find that the rejection has nothing to do with you as an individual. There are many reasons why employers pass on a candidate. Maybe the applicant that was chosen knew someone at the company, had a special certification or training that you didn’t, or were just simply more qualified to do the job.

2. Don’t be too hard on yourself.

Unfortunately, there is more competition out there than ever before. In a saturated job market like this, there are many job seekers competing for the same job, so the odds are not necessarily in your favor. My husband always says “Do your best and forget the rest”. That is all anyone can do. If you feel you need to improve your interviewing skills because of a bad interviewing experience, work on that. If you feel you need to take a class to get up to speed on some of the latest technology, go for it. But if you’ve given an opportunity your best shot and can’t think of anything you could/would do differently, don’t beat yourself up unnecessarily.

3. Remember you are more than just your job title.

Many times people get so wrapped up in their careers that when they lose their job they lose their “very” identity. I know from personal experience, when I decided to stay at home with my children, I began questioning my own purpose and self-worth. Each morning I woke up and did not know what to do with myself. After a year of battling depression, I finally realized there was so much more to life than working. I began really enjoying my family, volunteering in the community, exercising, and getting involved in my church. By expanding my world, I found out so much more about who I am as a person. I am so much more than an employee – I am a wife, a mom, a writer, a volunteer, a “team” mom and a Sunday school teacher. Take some time to find out what you enjoy and what you are good at. And go be a blessing to someone else in need. It will help you take your focus off your own troubles and make it easier to have an “attitude of gratitude”.

4. Be open- minded to new opportunities.

Be open-minded to a new career path or even going back to school to further your training and education. Take this time to brainstorm about your passions. Look into freelancing if you have a skill that is marketable. If you have the resources, you may want to look into going into business for yourself. You may be shocked at what you are able to accomplish if you are willing to be flexible and take a chance.

5. Don’t give up.

Recognize that you are in for a long road and allow yourself some time to get there. Minimize your daily stress as much as possible by doing things like reducing your financial debt, exercising daily, and surrounding yourself with positive people that will encourage you. (But be careful not to become a drag socially to those around you. Don’t let the fact that you are unemployed consume your conversations.)

A wise ninety- year- old lady named Regina Brett once said “If we all had the opportunity to throw our problems in a pile and see everyone else’s, we’d probably grab ours back. So no matter how you feel in the morning, get up, dress up and show up.” You will get through this difficult time, and hopefully, become stronger as a result. Don’t let unemployment steal your joy. You can choose to stay hopeful and optimistic despite your circumstances."