Anne PELCZAR       ...PR and Marketing
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Beware of SCAMS! Here is how to spot them

2/7/2012

2 Comments

 
Unemployment is right around 10%, which means that not only are unskilled workers unemployed, but skilled and educated individuals are facing hard times, too. It means that around 4 million residents of California are without work. The average number of resumes received for any one job averages 300 and is often much higher. Some of these resumes are submitted by friends and with referrals. Chances that your resume is even looked at at all diminish quickly. Taken it all together, it means that if you get a 10% return (that means an interview, not an offer) on your resume submissions, you are doing good.

It is not just difficult to find a job these days, it is scary! New grads essentially have little to no experience and most entry level jobs ask for 2-3 years of related experience. New grads do need enough money to cover their costs, but entry level professional jobs pay an average of say $14-15 an hour, which is below a living wage for a single adult when considering cost of living in California. So ads that promise up to $1000 a week are quite tempting. New grads send out tens and hundreds of resumes and hear nothing back. So when you actually get a reply right away with an invitation to an interview, that's exciting!

Especially for new graduates with all the challenges they're facing and who have little experience with finding a professional job, it is easy to fall for scams. Job seekers will go on craigslist, indeed.com, monster.com, simplyhired.com, and all the other job posting boards, and think they're safe there. Well, maybe not so much on craigslist, but at least on the others. So the first thing to realize is that EVERYONE can post ANYTHING on these job sites. The first thing to keep in mind is that all of them are full of scams. Obviously, there are also many legitimate job postings. Here are a few hints on how you spot the scams, and some resources to read up on to learn more about what a scam looks like.

                                               TOP 12 SIGNS THE JOB POSTING IS A SCAM

 1. If it sounds too good to be true, it really is!
Period.  "Well, maybe there IS a company that actually cares to pay me enough..." Bullshit! They don't have to give their money to entry-level employees... they're the least important. The sooner you accept that, the sooner you find a REAL job.

2. A legitimate job has a precise job description.
If is is vague, it's most likely a scam. If they tell you what they DON'T do, but don't tell you what they DO do, it's most likely a scam. Why wouldn't they just tell you? Well... because you'll really be doing something else than what you think you're applying for.

                                                            "NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY" =
                                  "EVERYONE DUMB AND DESPERATE COME TO US"

3. "No Experience Necessary"
EVERY legitimate professional entry-level job wants you to have some sort of experience. That's why internships and campus involvement are so important! They don't tell you that for nothing! If the add says "No experience necessary," that's code for "Everyone dumb and desperate come to us."

4. You have to have a degree! It's not optional!
If you are looking for a professional job, a degree is a core requirement. If you want to get into marketing, finance, accounting, education, counseling... you name it, you need a degree. Even legitimate sales positions want you to have a degree these days. There is no such things as a professional job without a degree anymore! That's what happened 30 years ago. Not anymore! You got a degree for a reason. You take a job that pays you for it!

5. Promise of High Pay
Entry level jobs are hard to get and usually not well paid. Companies simply don't have to pay you well... enough other candidates will gladly take the job for less. Also, legitimate entry-level jobs have a salary or at least an hourly wage. Legitimate companies usually don't advertise what they will pay you (because you don't discuss that until after you're offered the job, and you are supposed to know that it is somewhere around $15). If a job listing focuses on the money you'll earn, discard it. The more closely it spells out how and what you are paid, the more likely it is to be a scam. You don't have an entry level job to make money. You have it to get experience.

  IF YOU ARE GOING TO DO SALES, STICK WITH WELL KNOWN BRAND NAMES


6. Commission-Based Jobs
With or without promise of base pay - Red flag! Any commission-based job is more than likely a scam! Any commissions-only job is most definitely a scam AND a pyramid scheme. That being said, some sales jobs are commissions only, such as real estate. That's because you will essentially run your own business. Now THAT is legitimate. If you're working for someone else though, report to someone else and take someone else's work instructions, but you will only be paid on commission: Run! If you are going to do a sales job, you stick with large, well known name brands that are very clear on what your base pay is and what expectations are.

7. Growing or Expanding Company
It's code for "There is no one to train you and we need you to do everything for probably free." On top of it, you will have a name on your resume no one knows.

8. Immediate Openings for "a large number of people" or "only 2 spots left"
There is no such thing as an immediate opening. Even companies that need someone right now take a good two months for the hiring process until you're offered the job. It's something I personally don't understand, but it's just the way it is. Immediate opening probably don't even exist at McDonalds... the only place they do exist is in commission-based sales. Why is that? You're not really employed. No paper work, no extra hassles for their HR people to go through... you just start selling.

9. Apples are Apples, NOT Oranges - even if you paint them orange and spray them with orange scent.
Direct marketing is a fancy word for sales. Direct marketing is NOT marketing. It's sales. The term should really be outlawed. Those are the commissions-only jobs. Those are cold call and door-to-door sales jobs. Those are the jobs where you sell stuff no one needs while not making any money. Those jobs force you to use pressure-sales tactics that will make you go home every day hating your job. Those are the jobs that will look horrible on your resume because the industry you REALLY want to be in knows which those companies are.
Now, if that's what you actually WANT to do, I suggest you look for sales jobs or call center jobs. Look for those that plainly state that this is what it is. THAT's legitimate.

                                        IF THEY HAVE TO SELL YOU THE JOB, YOU RUN!

10. Offering You Personal Growth
That's really code for: "We can't pay you." Now I know we all care about growing personally and your employer does want you to be happy with your job... but they could really care less about that when finding a candidate. You do not work there to grow personally, you work there to grow the company because you know what you're doing. If you're a good professional match, you'll like your job and you will automatically experience personal growth. It is not the employer's main concern for you to grow personally, nor should it be. There are laws about that. There are laws about personal interview questions they're not allowed to ask. If they're trying to sell you the job because it'll fulfill you personally, you start running! If they have to sell you any job at all, you run! How many unemployed people are there again (4 million in case you forgot)? YOU need to sell THEM that you're the right candidate (remember, it's hard to find a job these days) - If it's the other way around, there is something very very wrong!

                                                            GOOGLE "NAME OF COMPANY, SCAM"

11. Nowhere to be Found Online
Now before I start: I did do my internship at a legitimate PR agency with no presence online. They were not to be found online. BUT their clients could be found and linked to them. They were integrated into a large production company that COULD be found.
My point is: Every business wants as much exposure as possible. It's the point of having a business. If they can't be found online, it's fishy. It they're supposed to have a portfolio or a client-base, it better be there for the world to see. That's something companies are proud of. It endorses them, it gives them a reputation. If you can't find nothing but a website with vague or general statements about what they do (or even worse: Inspirational quotes and fun pictures of employees), it's most likely a scam.
Instead of just googling the name of the company, google "name of the company, scam." See what that brings up. You'll probably be surprised. Cancel your "interview" immediately.
                                                 
12. BBB Rating
Now you would THINK that a Better Business Bureau rating would tell you if the company is legitimate. Sadly not true. That's because customers rate the business. If the customers are happy, the rating is good. If employees aren't happy, different story. Also, the BBB gives better ratings to paying members, which is why the head of the LA area BBB resigned in 2010 over a scandal about this sort of thing.

http://articles.latimes.com/2010/dec/27/business/la-fi-bbb-ceo-resigns-20101228

So do check out the BBB to see if they have a bad rating from the get go. And  then your decision should be easy. But even if they have an A rating, still do your research.


                                                PRIME EXAMPLE: THE "SO CAL GROUP"
                                                                                http://www.socalgroupinc.com/
A company that's recruiting relentlessly is the So Cal Group. I found their ad on craigslist. A friend of mine found them on monster.com. It sounded good. I googled them and found their website. Full of happy employees, inspirational statements and vague statements of what they actually do. Pay structure and training schedule is spelled out precisely to the dot on the i and the cross of the t. Personal growth is emphasized. No portfolio or client base listed. They say they do marketing, but don't specify what exactly it is that they do within marketing. You can't find anything expressly wrong with it, but you also can't find any precise information about what they actually do and what YOU would actually do. BBB rating is an A-, but it doesn't specify where the minus comes from. It really doesn't specify anything there either.

So I applied and figured it can't hurt to check it out. The very next day, they sent me an email telling me to call them. When I didn't call immediately, THEY called ME just a couple of hours later. NOW I was suspicious...I mean, I think I'm pretty darn good at what I do, but I don't think I am THAT essential for a company to not be able to wait a few hours to hear from me... my unestablished reputation in the business world must just be stellar... Fortunately, I was in a spot with no reception when they called and I told the girl I'd call right back. I didn't do that before doing some more research. I now googled "So Cal Group, scam" and guess what...

http://www.yelp.com/topic/orange-the-so-cal-group-inc

Check it out. I spent an hour reading all the devastating comments before I had seen enough (I could have read another hour) and came out enlightened. I also found names of other companies, as well as the mother company, that operate in the same way. I called them back and told them I was no longer interested. This goes back to my first point: If it sounds too good to be true, it really is!  DO NOT BE FOOLED!
*Disclaimer: I am in no way explicitly or implicitly stating that the So Cal Group is a scam. I am merely stating my findings and I am giving proper resources to back them up. The readers may draw personal conclusions from my factual statements.

                                                                                       

                                                                                    ABOVE ALL: BE WISE!
It's easy to ignore warning signs when you're desperate for a job. Do not make the mistake of falling for scams. Not only will you have a horrible experience if you actually were to take the job, but you would start out your career on the wrong foot... this is supposed to be your professional start into a wonderful and reputable career, where you learn the basics and the industry. Don't soil your reputation before it could even be established! Do not get into a line of work you do not want to be in with no expectations of transferring into the department you actually do want to be in,  just because it promises to pay well. IT IS NOT WORTH IT! This first job is your most important one! CHOOSE WISELY!

2 Comments

ESSENTIAL Interview Skills You HAVE To Know If You Want The Job

1/28/2012

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All the years of smart networking are finally paying off - I've applied to a myriad of jobs, and almost every single application went through someone I knew in the company. Out of that myriad of applications, even though most of them came with recommendations from within the company, I got 4 interviews. FOUR. Quite a few never even replied at all - despite the referral. That's how hard it is to get a REAL job! So what do you do to get it? -Oh, this one will be long. But you SOOO want to read this!!

#1: UTILIZE YOUR NETWORK! AGAIN: UTILIZE YOUR NETWORK! AGAIN: UTILIZE YOUR NETWORK!
Not just to get a job, but to find out everything you can about their industry and their company. It's some really easy and effective research AND it gives you face-time. So... if you are reading this and you're still a student: Get networking NOW! And HARD! It is work, it really is. But if you don't do it, you won't have a job later on. Entry level positions are usually hired from within... BE IN! Unless you're happy to be a burger flipper with a degree. Right now, you think it's nerve-recking to get the internship you want, or to just get an internship at all - wait until you have to do this for real! Start preparing now, build that network! And if you've graduated and are in my shoes: It's not to late to build a network. It's harder now because you're later in the game, but it's doable. Start now. The sooner you build it, the sooner you'll get a job.

#2: WHAT COLOR IS YOUR PARACHUTE
http://www.amazon.com/What-Color-Your-Parachute-2012/dp/1607740109
There it is. This is the Amazon link. Twelve bucks will give you the most valuable advice. Read it before you graduate. Have a plan to hit your job search running. Your job search should be a real job. Have a plan and a strategy and tactics. And know your objective, which is the job you really want. And don't stray from it. Don't settle for less. Know what you're worth. Because this is where you work to land the job you REALLY want... not just the next best thing.

#3: KNOW EVERYTHING THERE IS TO KNOW ABOUT THE COMPANY - FOR REAL!
Now that you're smart and you know how to look for the job you want, you have to make sure you get it. So when you go on that interview, be really prepared. I mean, prepare the hell out of it! Going on their website and reading every single word of it is only the first step in your preparations. It is your full-time job to know everything possible about that company, the open position, and the person interviewing you. You go into that interview and you know more about them than they do. You know their employees and what  they do, and how that relates to the job you're applying for, you know their clients, their partners, their alliances, their goals, their aspirations, their work ethic, you've read every single press release, everything in the media, you know what search results come up on google, you know their skeletons in the closet... I mean EVERYTHING! If you're not willing to do that, you probably don't have a passion to work there in the first place.

I went to a PR and marketing panel last semester, and one of the professionals on the panel, a PR professional working at Rogers and Cowan (a huge entertainment PR firm in LA for those who are not well versed in entertainment), said that she went to interview for her job and she knew she wanted to be at Rogers and Cowan (who doesn't?!). So she went into that interview and she knew all their clients, and what exactly they did for those clients, and she knew every conceivable detail. And they told her she got the job because she knew all those things and that showed them that she really cared and knew what to know. She could start the job running.

Along those lines, take two minutes to watch this video. It answers the question: "Why do you want to work here?" You better ace this one - IT'S A TRICK QUESTION!

        "WHY DO YOU WANT TO WORK HERE?" - WATCH YOUR ANSWER BELOW:

#4: BE YOURSELF!
What does that mean? I've read a job column in the OC Register the other day that my trusted ex-PR professor-turned-mentor gave me. It was written by interview coach Brad Remillard, and he answered the following question:

"I HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF INTERVIEWS FOR WHICH I KNOW I'M QUALIFIED, YET I STILL HAVE NOT BEEN OFFERED A JOB. JUST WHAT DO COMPANIES MEAN WHEN THEY ASK FOR QUALIFIED PEOPLE?"

The answer was so simple, but we easily forget: You're qualified if you fit in!
When you go in an interview, it's not because you need to proof your qualifications to them. If they didn't think you were qualified, you wouldn't be there in the first place. You've already shown them that. You sent your resume, they saw your skills and work experience, they already know you're qualified.
So while we, as the interviewees, focus on making sure to give them every detail of every job we ever had and how we can apply that to their company,  all THEY do is focus on YOU.  Not your qualification - on YOU. So what you do in the interview is SELL YOURSELF. You don't sell your resume, you've already accomplished that. And you know that because you're THERE. The interview is your soft sell. The part where you sell YOURSELF. As a person. As someone who is likable, articulate, able to interact with people, and most importantly: Who will fit in with the company and their team (so do your research and know what they're looking for in a team player and if that's you!). Someone who is self-confident, not nervous when presented with an unfamiliar situation (such as an interview), someone who works well with others (who doesn't interrupt the interviewer), someone who can give answers that actually answer the question and not just blurt out bullshit just to say something. Someone who knows what he/she is talking about because you know the field. This is to prove YOU, not your skills.

#5: DON'T PREPARE. IMPRESS!
So knowing that now, just how do you do that? It's really simple: By being yourself. Don't pretend anything in an interview. Don't pretend to be someone you're not, don't pretend to know something you don't. They've interviewed hundreds and thousands of people, they WILL see right through it. And even if you manage to deceive them in the interview, it'll just get you right fired after you start working and there is no more pretending.

YOU KNOW WHAT YOU KNOW, AND YOU KNOW THAT WITHOUT PREPARATION.
Now, I'm not saying don't prepare. Do know your strengths and you weaknesses. Do be able to describe yourself, applicable to the job, in 3 words. Do have your "Tell me about yourself" prepared like it's a movie script. But prepare minimally, don't have a script to every question - because it will take your personality out. And it'll make you nervous if you "forget your next line." And if you feel compelled to inject something, something you just thought of, something that makes sense, say it. Don't worry about the 30-second-per-answer rule. I have never ever kept that rule. I most certainly speak longer than 30 seconds per answer. But if you actually have something intelligent to say, that's ok! They want to hear that. They want to hear that you know what you're talking about and how THAT contributes to the company. And it has NEVER worked to my disadvantage. Now, don't make the mistake to ramble. Do stop yourself at a certain point. Don't go on unnecessary tangents. Do be precise - that's really the "30 second rule" - that's really just saying: Be precise. They want to see that you can do that. But as long as your answer stays intelligent and on the topic, give it personality.

HERE'S A WINNING EXAMPLE
Here's a good, hard example question: "You have so much background in another industry. How come you're applying for a job in THIS industry?" This is the kind of question where you'll be tempted to lie... because you think your real answer will look bad. Resist the urge - be honest. They can tell if you're trying to lie to just get through an answer, they really can. If you're honest, and you know exactly why you want to change industries, and you  can make it personal and actually show your reasoning that applies to their industry - perfect.  If you just applied for the job because it's a job, even though you really don't care at all about the industry - you lost them right at this point. You WILL NOT get the job. But we're going to assume you applied for the job because you had a reason (and ideally, that reason should never be money unless there's a compelling reason that ties in with the job). And then that's your reason.

Here's a good, easy answer: "You know, that's a good question. I have so much background in that particular other industry because I always thought I wanted to be in it, so I worked diligently on learning about that industry (This, by the way, shows them your commitment and efforts that are perfectly transferable). But after working there, after doing my internships, I just came to see that I didn't seem to fit it. Everything is so cut-throat and people in the industry just have a personality so different from mine (customize here and name qualities). And it's not that I couldn't do my job, because the job is the same in either industry. It's the industry itself I decided was not the right fit for me (This is where you show them that you know what you want based on primary research and initiative). But I also did a project in YOUR particular industry and I talked to people working it it (name companies if you can) and I found that people there are so different, and have a completely different drive for why they do their work. It was so much more enjoyable to work with them because they actually cared not just about their job, but about their company. They worked at that company because that's where they really wanted to be (And again, you are showing that your decision is based on intelligent research and long contemplation). And it was so much more enjoyable to work with them because of that. And I want to be able to be passionate about my job. I want to believe not just in my work, but in my company and in what they do. And I know that I can do that in THIS industry, not so much in the other. The job I do is the same (and these are the points that I am particularly qualified in), but I can do it in an industry (or company) that I really came to believe in much more than the other (And now you're telling them that you can do your job regardless. Make that point. But you told them why you want to do it for them)."

That's the honest truth. And that's a good answer. You were honest, you told them you love your job, and you love THEIR industry and here is why, and it took longer than 30 seconds. And it's perfect. That's your personality showing. Don't worry about being honest - that's exactly what they want to see.

#6: YOU'RE INTERVIEWING TO GET A FRIEND, NOT A JOB
Don't worry about throwing in all the big words. If you know what you're talking about, they'll automatically be in there.
Don't worry about forgetting something - just say: "You know what, I'm drawing a blank right now." They know you're not perfect, they know you're nervous. An interview is a test on how you handle being nervous. It shows how you'll handle that in real life. Don't panic. Don't try to pretend you're not nervous. In other words: Don't be a hero. That, too, adds a likable quality - that you can admit a weakness and that you know you're not perfect. Because guess what: No one is.

I bet that all of us forget these basic things because we know what's at stake... and we forget what's really important when trying to "make friends" just because it's called an interview.

                                See it exactly like this: You are trying to make friends with the interviewer.

You will work with them - they SHOULD be your friends. Why would they hire you and see you every day if they don't like you?! You're there, you're qualified. They'll train you anyway! This is where you become their friend. When YOU choose your friends, you want them to be nice, personable, supportive, you want them to believe in you and pull you up, you want them to be good people who care, you want them to share your passions and interests. Right? Well, this is a relationship you're building just the same. This is where you're telling them with all you're saying: "I want to be your friend. Like me!" This is also where you find out if YOU like THEM. Think about this carefully: Do YOU want to go to work there every day just to have a job, but have a miserable life because you hate the people you work with? Well... that's exactly what they do when they look at YOU.

So go out and be so successful now! And let me know what you can add to this. Maybe you have a good example to share? Use the comment box below, I'd love to use your input!

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10 Things To Never Put On Your Resume

12/23/2011

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I found this article on yahoo finance, written by Vivian Giang, and I couldn't have said it better. So here it is, I'd follow it to a T!

A new batch of December graduates is getting ready to fly the coop in search of a job and we hope they've already heard the bad news: There are a lot of unemployed people out there.
If the market far exceeds demand, how do you make sure you get past the resume screening process into the interviewing round? By making sure your resume is flawless.

"Somewhere between 95 to 99% of resumes have stuff that shouldn't be on there," Eli Amdur, senior coach and adviser from the Amdur Coaching and Advisory Group, told us. "The general rule is if you put anything on there that distracts the reader from your real accomplishments, then don't do it. Resumes need to be concise and clear."

We've compiled some tips from career experts to make sure your resume steers clear of the trash pile.

1. Get rid of the objective.
If you applied, it's already obvious you want the job.

2. Cut out all the irrelevant work experiences.
If you're still listing that prized shift leader position from your high school days, it's time to move on.
Yes, you might've been the "king of making milkshakes," but unless you're planning on redeeming that title, it's time to get rid of all that clutter.

3. Take a pass on the personal stuff: marital status, religious preference and Social Security numbers.
This might've been the standard in the past, but all of this information is now illegal for your employer to ask you so there's no need to include it. It will likely only hurt your chances of getting the position more than it would help you, says Catherine Jewell, author of the book "New Résumé, New Career."

Another piece of personal information you should never include on your resume is your Social Security number, Sara Player, client support specialist for CareerBuilder.com, told us. Player isn't actually sure why people decide to include their social security numbers, but she knows she sees it all too often and it's unnecessary, not to mention, a little risky.

4. Don't let your resume exceed one page.
Yes, this might be difficult if you've had a lot of experience and you're proud of all of it. But just because you're proud doesn't mean it's necessarily relevant. Cut it down; employers don't have the time to read two whole pages.

CareerBuilder.com's Sara Player says: "Keep your work history short and to the point. When you describe what you have achieved while in the position, try putting it in bullet form and put what is most important first."

5. Don't list your hobbies.
"Nobody cares — it's not your facebook profile," Player says.
In other words, don't put anything on your resume that's irrelevant to your job. If it's not relevant, then it's a waste of space and a waste of the company's time. ( I really wanted to highlight this one!)

6. Don't give them the chance to guess your age.
Yes, your age is included in personal data, but if you don't want to be discriminated from a position because of your age, it's time to remove your graduation date, says Catherine Jewell.

Doug Hadley of Mansfield, Texas, told MSN that he's begun to leave out the fact that he's a published author: "I don't want to have to omit such things, but I feel as though I don't even get considered if they are on my resume."

Sara Player advises to take out higher education if it's irrelevant to the position you're applying for or if you keep receiving rejection letters stating that you're overqualified.

7. Don't write your resume in the third person.
Charlotte Beckett, head of Digital at The Good Agency, told Linkedin.com that it's fine to write in first person in your opening statement, but the rest of your resume should be in bullet points, such as:

• Developed and delivered marketing strategies for a range of products

You should not write in the third person since the recruiter knows you're the one writing the resume.

8. Don't include references.
If your employers want to speak to your references, they'll ask you. Also, it's better if you have a chance to tell your references ahead of time that a future employer might be calling.
If you say "references upon request" at the bottom of your resume, you're merely wasting a valuable line, says career coach Eli Amdur.

9. Don't include a less-than-professional email account.
Make a new one. It takes minutes and it's free.

10. There's no need to identify your phone number.
Amdur says there's no reason to put the word "phone" in front of the actual number.
"It's pretty silly. They know it's your phone number." The same rule applies to email.

11. Don't include your current business contact info.
Amdur writes at Northjersey.com:
"This is not only dangerous, it's stupid. Do you really want employers calling you at work? How are you going to handle that? Oh, and by the way, your current employer can monitor your e-mails and phone calls. So if you're not in the mood to get fired, or potentially charged with theft of services (really), then leave the business info off."

This article is part of a series related to being Financially Fit

Retrieve this article here: http://financiallyfit.yahoo.com/finance/article-113810-11701-4-11-things-you-should-never-put-on-your-resume?ywaad=ad0035&nc
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It's All About The Framing: Are You Still Flipping Burgers Or Are You Getting Promotions?

11/3/2011

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Based on a comment I received on my last post, I came to realize that I really didn't make myself clear all the way. While I do stand with the statement that your related work does have to be related, you should be able to list your unrelated work if you really have to. It should be labeled "ADDITIONAL Work Experience."

Use additional experience if you don't have enough related items to put on your resume. If there is absolutely nothing else you can put on your resume that shows your expertise, interest, or experience in the field you're trying to get into, put on there that you were a waitress at Applebees. Or a server at McDonalds. And while that will not necessarily help you get the job, at least you're showing a potential employer that you are hard-working, and have hopefully acquired some sort of transferable skill.

From Burger-Flipping To Getting A Promotion
So, if you are going to put a job like that on your resume, make sure that your bullet points underneath show some sort of transferability to your desired position. For example, if you were a burger flipper at In N Out, that does not really help you in... well, any job outside of burger flipping. But you don't have to list "burger flipping" on your duty list. As a matter of fact, you don't have to list any duties at all. And let's face it: Why would you? There's nothing applicable of any of your duties to a professional job. So instead of duties, focus on your accomplishments. If you were a burger flipper at In N Out, that means you were actually promoted. As I hear, burger flipper is the highest "rank" you can get when working there. So instead of saying "flip burgers," focus on your accomplishment, such as "was promoted twice within one year." Or: Instead of "flip burgers", you "serviced 500 clients a day with a 99%satisfaction rate." See the difference?

THE POINT IS TRI-FOLD
-that means it's a pretty important point

First:
If you have no related experience, HOW DO YOU EVEN KNOW THAT THIS IS WHAT YOU WANT TO DO? How does your employer know that you have any sort of working knowledge at all? If there is no way you can show an employer on your resume that you have at least an idea of what you're going to do, why would that employer hire you?

And this is how it's done: One of my friends wants to work in event planning, but has never had a job in it, and has never had an internship in it. He also hasn't been in an event planning club. BUT he HAS been in a club that's done events. Before joining this club, he considered wisely which club to join, and picked the one that would help him most. Then,  instead of listing this one club in his extracurricular activities, or related experience, he listed all the events he's planned for this one club by name, and then bullet-pointed the tasks he executed for each event. Resume was full, experience was proven, and interest was shown. That's all it takes. He's also a server at a fast food place. No one needs to know that. It is no longer needed.

Secondly: If you HAVE to list unrelated work experience and you have nothing to replace that with, ASK YOURSELF HOW MUCH YOU REALLY WANT THAT JOB. I admit that, sometimes, life gives you certain extenuating  circumstances that don't allow for extracurriculars. I also believe, though, that if there's a will, there's a way. If you REALLY want to make it happen, you will. And honestly, that's the kind of attitude an employer will expect of you. They'll expect you to make the impossible possible. Literally. They will give you an undoable workload, and somehow you have to make it happen. Period. Start practicing.

Thirdly: You can apply all you want with a resume with non-related work experience. And you may even be REALLY smart. But don't forget the most important aspect: REALIZE WHO YOUR COMPETITION IS.When you apply for a job you have simply no experience with, you will be competing against applicants just like you, just that THEY have a resume full of experience. And they'll know what to talk about intelligently. Need I say more?

Glad I clarified it. Hope this helps. Don't take unrelated work off if it has a place, but do adjust your bullet points to the best of your ability. Do think outside the box and see if there's any way to replace it with something- anything- related. Good luck! And tell me about your successes!



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"Good Enough" Does Not Exist

10/21/2011

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In my PR classes and all the books we read for them, they all tell us one thing: THINK like the PUBLISHER. That's because in PR, your goal is usually to get media coverage. If you get media coverage, you've done your job and earned your money. If you didn't get media coverage, you didn't do it right. And then what's the point of having done it at all? It's PUBLIC relations! So they tell us: Think like the publisher. If I know what the publisher wants in his paper, then I know what to give him. Is that different with RESUMES? NO!

I had the not-so-pleasant experience last month to go through a stack of resumes to pick another intern to work at my internship site. "Oh fun!" I thought to myself as I started, "Let's see how those people wrote their resumes, this will be interesting." Wrong I was. It was interesting, alright, but in a painful way.

Just as it goes in PR, when you write your resume, think like the one who WILL or WON'T use your information: The hiring manager. All of us have more or less a stereotypical idea in our head of what our resume should look like: Contact info, education, related work, related coursework, applicable skills. Thank you very much. Most of us, however, then forget the KEY words: RELATED and APPLICABLE. So we throw anything on our resume that we can scratch together and hope that it sticks.


RELATED, people, the keyword is RELATED

What I saw was rather pitiful. How can you apply for a public relations position and somehow think that being a server at a fast food joint is related experience? It's not even unrelated experience. It's barely any experience at all. It's a way to make some extra money. It's NOT a professional experience, leave alone related. If being a server is all you got when applying for a position outside the hospitality industry, you should join a campus organization that does relate to your desired work PRONTO and get involved. Put THAT on your resume. No one cares about McDonalds - not even McDonalds cares about McDonalds. They don't want to hire their servers for their PR department, they're looking for people who know PR. Yes, even the interns.

When a hiring manager looks at your work experience, they want it to say two things: I know what I want to do and I have some sort of experience with it. When you write your resume, take the word "related" quite literally.


                                    THE THREE SECOND RULE APPLIES HERE, TOO
            Even though it goes: I look at you for 3 seconds and then you end on the floor.

Make it easy on the eyes!
I was essentially looking over about 30 resumes, one worse than the other, and I started feeling really bad for those students. Because this was just ME looking at them, and I don't make hiring decisions. The biggest mistake almost all of them made were the simple things, such as not having your resume organized in an easy-to-read way. I ended up spending literally 3 seconds looking at each resume (it's not a lie, they really do spend 3 seconds tops!). If nothing special popped out right away, and if it wasn't perfectly easy to glance over it and get the gist, I discarded it immediately. And mind you- that was only 30 resumes! Imagine the big companies you really want to work for that get 500 resumes for a job!

C comes after B comes after A. You do know that, right?
Those resumes were all over the place, most of them starting with an objective, which is the most unnecessary thing ever. Your objective is to get the job. Duh.  If you don't have clear headings and only important words highlighted, it's too much work to figure it out and no one will do it. When you opened THIS BLOG POST, did you scroll down to see how long it was? Did you read the bold headings first? Did they tickle your interest? Have you read the whole thing or did you fly over it? It's exactly the same with your resume. Your selling points better be bold (and that's your RELATED positions). Your headlines better stand out and be clear and your content under the headlines better reflect them. If it says related work, it better be so. And if it doesn't say related work, it may just be any work. But then you won't be hired anyway. All the resumes that had "student jobs" on there, I gave a smirk and put aside. Thank you. Next.

It's cut-throat, people, recognize it now. You are competing against hundreds and thousands of other people. If you can't even write your own resume right, how are you going to succeed out there in the jungle? "Good enough" does not exist! Scratch the phrase from your vocabulary entirely. Your resume is either excellent or it's trash. Learn it now, do it right, and be successful! Your resume is all they see of you - put it in a million dollar suit!

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The Most Hated Jobs And What To Do To Avoid Them

9/17/2011

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Would you have ever guessed that the most hated jobs are those you need a college degree for? If you have not yet quite decided what you want to do when you hit the real world, you might want to look at this article. And if you have, you might want to anyway!

Marketing and computer people beware!


http://finance.yahoo.com/career-work/article/113308/10-most-hated-jobs-cnbc

Of course along the way, as you are deciding what line of work and what industry you want to be in, you have to start or keep building your resume. Just going to school and graduating doesn't cut it anymore. Hiring managers want to see that you actually have an interest in their industry. You must have related work experience, whether it be a real job, an internship, or campus involvement. The more, the better, obviously. If you can fill a page, that's awesome! Not only does it show employers that you are interested in the field, it shows YOU if it really is what you thought it was. I knew people who changed their major after experiencing work life while doing their internship - at least they noticed that it wasn't all they thought it was before it was too late to make a change.

There are resources on every campus that will point you in the right direction. At Cal State Fullerton, for example, there's a website for student clubs. You'll be surprised how many clubs there are - there is something for every interest, no doubt!

http://www.fullerton.edu/deanofstudents/studentlife/clubsOrg.html

If you're looking for an internship or a job, visit your career center. Every university should have one. Every career center has staff specializing in certain industries - make an appointment and talk to them! It's free and gives you valuable insights. Cal State Fullerton's career center looks like this:

http://campusapps2.fullerton.edu/career/

My personal favorite tip: Conduct informational interviews. They don't get you jobs, and do not ask for one, but they really give you the chance to ask questions and they do give you face time and a chance to build your network.


Along these lines, you also want to make sure you take classes that directly relate to what you aspire to do for a job. Don't take classes just because they're open or fit into your schedule. Take classes that will actually help you. And then attend them with a positive attitude, knowing they will actually help you in real life. Think beyond graduating - that's why you're in school! Here's a tip: I really wanted to take a theory class, but I didn't need it to graduate. So instead of putting extra work on me, I am simply sitting in to listen and learn. No exams, no book reading, but I do get the knowledge I want. That was easy!

Now go and be successful - in the right kind of job you'll love!
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Networking Strategies That Really Work

9/8/2011

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All of us know that networking is essential to be successful. Most of us have started networking and are building their network. Many of us know it's about who knows you, not who you know. Few of us know how to actually network the right way to accomplish the latter.

Many people, especially students, think that a network is a collection of business cards.  And we make the mistake of thinking only of ourselves. It's a common mistake everyone makes, but especially students, because they think they have nothing to offer, so all they can do is ask for help.

Use the following strategies to make your collection of business cards an active network:

1. PICK THE RIGHT PEOPLE. Concentrate on the people you really deem important. Know what you want to do. Then research events that seem really helpful to what that is. Before you go, find out who is attending and research those people. When you attend, you can single out the most important people first and actually spend time with them to have a conversation about THEM and THEIR company. Show interest in them. Give them a solution, not a sales pitch of yourself.

2. FOLLOW UP WITH SOMETHING HELPFUL. Don't just say: "Nice to meet you, let's stay in touch." Remind them of something important you were talking about to refresh their memory of who you are. Maybe you can offer them a solution to a problem you've talked about. Maybe you can even suggest a business venture. Maybe you have a blog that appeals to them, or you found an article that they might be interested in. Include it in the email.

3. CONSIDER THEM YOUR FRIENDS. And treat them that way. They are not a means to an end, they are a long-term relationship. Remember that long-term relationships have to be cultivated and you need practice selflessness in order for them to work. Those kinds of relationships aren't easy. But no one said that networking is easy.

4. ACTUALLY STAY IN TOUCH. Networking done right is diligent work. It's ok to ask your network for help, but don't make that the only time you contact people. Think of creating a "newsletter" of sorts. Depending on the importance of what you may have to say or share with your network, send out this newsletter every month, or every other month, but be somewhat consistent. Make it as personal as you can (as in: Don't just copy and paste the same thing to everyone, even if it doesn't apply to them), but don't make it about you (unless it's some huge news). Make it something that may help THEM.

5. OFFER YOUR HELP AND SHOW APPRECIATION. Who would have ever thought of that?! Send over a quick line stating that if they happen to look for some help, maybe with a current project, you'd love to help out. Or just say thank you. If they've helped you in the past, keep them updated of how their help has paid off. Make them feel appreciated.

6. KEEP EXPANDING YOUR NETWORK. Some friendships will end, some will crystallize to be your inner circle. Never stop hiring friends. Always carry your business card. Make it a point to talk to people every day, no matter where you're at. Be interested in everyone. Be interesting. If you don't run into someone important, at least you will have practiced your interpersonal skills.

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Consider Yourself a Product

9/6/2011

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I am starting this blog because many a professional (and many a student) told me I have the gift of pinpointing exactly what to say to land the job I want. Consider this: I sent out 10 resumes, I got 13 interviews, and I had 5 job offers within two weeks.
I work in PR and know how to pitch things, including myself. That's the angle I take and it's working. I am happy to post my insights, share my advice, and work with you personally on your own job search and interview preparation.

What's the Catch?
Finding the right angle for a resume and cover letter is challenging, especially when you have a large pool of jobs and specialties to share. I've sent out many resumes before, resumes my career center at my university approved and called perfect. This resume listed all my professional jobs, all my extra curricular activities, and all my charitable work. After all, that's what companies want to see right? They want to see how much you can handle and how much you're involved. WRONG! They do not want to see how much you're involved. They could care less about all the jobs you've held and all the charities you support with all your heart. They want to see ONE THING ONLY: What you can do FOR THEM.

Think of it this way: You are not advertising yourself. You are selling yourself as a product.  Sometimes, that means you are selling only a specific feature of you.

Think of Yourself as a Fridge
Think of you as a buyer. Say you're in the market to buy a fridge. You are looking for certain features, right? You want a large refrigerator section, a decent sized freezer, 2 doors, and a water and ice dispenser. You could care less if the fridge also has the ability to bake a pie, call your office, or mop the floor. You already have an oven, a phone, and a swiffer for that. Now, if there's an option of hot and cold water instead of just a cold water dispenser, that's awesome. If there are inside drawers, perfect. If there's an option for a small compartment that's easily accessible through a small outside door (say to hold your lunch, or the most important items inside a fridge) - awesome! You might even pay a little bit more to have those conveniences.

Can You Be a Washer, too?
Start thinking of yourself as this fridge. Once you start marketing yourself as a product, you're on a winning track. You don't want to be a fancy fridge, you don't want to be a fridge that's too complex to figure out. And remember most importantly: You don't want to be an old, or outdated fridge. You want to be top of the line, but you do want to be a fridge. Unless the buyer you're talking to is in the market to buy a washer. Then you'll want to be a washer.

Once you internalize this principle, you have the right start and you're on the way to a thriving career you will love. For all the details on how to do all this right, stay posted and subscribe to my RSS feed! Love to share and hear your opinions!

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     Anne Pelczar specializes in utilizing the new rules of marketing and PR for professional success.
    This is my personal blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of my employer.


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