An open letter to the soon-to-be former Monster employees

Yesterday, Monster.com the popular job board announced it is laying off 800 of its employees. I wonder how many of them will use the site to find their next job? Oh, the irony.

Dear former Monsters,

Do not despair my friends. Getting released from the Monster work program can be a good thing. Think of all the niche job boards that you could go to work for? There are thousands of other job sites out there who could use some new talent. Heck, even Jobster is hiring again. Or you could go to work for Indeed.com, SimplyHired or Jobing.

There's even a social network for job board employees. Join and create a group for yourselves. Band together to find new jobs. Network with other job board professionals. And help build a community while your at it.

Being laid off is not the end of the world. Sometimes its a blessing in disguise. Use this time to reassess your career goals. If you're not happy in your current field, I encourage you explore your passion. Take what makes you happy and turn it into a career.

Good luck. Your fellow Jobboarders have your back.

~Chris Russell

Interview with headhunter Tom Ruff

Tom Ruff, CEO of pharmaceutical sales recruiting firm, Tom Ruff Company, joins me to talk about his new book: How to Break Into Pharmaceutical Sales. But dont be fooled, he's got some great career advice for any jobseeker including a unique thank you note strategy. (14 min)

Jobs in Austin, Texas

The population of Austin, Texas seems to be growing and generally getting older faster than area nurses can be trained. When you add to that the number of nurses that retire every year a city wide shortage is created. This leaves plenty of open health related Austin jobs that need to be filled as quickly as possible so that the quality of care provided does not decrease.

To make matters worse, the number of quality instructors in the Austin area is too low to make rapid training of replacement nurses a fast process. Currently to the ratio of students to nursing instructors leaves a lot to be desired. Part of the reason it is difficult to find enough teachers is the salary gap between nurses and nursing instructors in Austin. The average teacher makes only $35,000 a year compared to the students they are training who can easily expect to make anywhere from $40,000 to $70,000 directly after school.

Another factor contributing overwhelming number of nursing related jobs in Austin unable to be field at this time, is the fact that there is the extremely high burn-out rate experienced by individuals in this. According to Yvonne Van Dyke of Seton Family Hospitals of Austin Texas, “As many as 60 to 65 percent of nurses will leave the profession within two years of having entered it.”

Area hospital officials are currently putting a huge focus on residency and on-the-job training programs to try to avoid future nurses experiences this level of burnout. During any of these 18-week OJT programs nurses usually spend an average of 25 percent of their time in a classroom environment and the rest is spent working with patients under the tutelage of experienced nurses.

Right now employers of nurses in the Austin area should begin to consider different incentives to entice nurses toward the city. If the nursing shortage continues not only in Texas but in the US, then the most qualified nurses will have their pick of hospitals throughout the country. Most will choose whichever employer is offering the most money and/or benefits.

Funny Video for Friday: Multiple Interviews

Hat tip to Martin Burns

The Web as Media

There has been a lot of change in the present media world. Nothing is same as before, people are not more into radio or newspapers as the new media has conquered the world. People are no longer getting into the papers for advertisements as they are more into the internet for everything. It is because of the faster pace that people are into the internet as everything happens with a click. The Web is widening its wings and in the same line of its growth, Internet recruiting is also on a steep rise.

The Internet is at its peak providing the relevant information that is needed by the common people in doing a job search. It is reaching out to many people around the globe at the same time. Jobs depend on the criteria that people are into which provides the latest and corresponding information. Job seekers skill also plays an important role.

While searching for employment, through the internet it is very important to ensure that the entire task would be a challenge as there would be more competitors on the row. With internet as the possible media, it is possible to apply for different jobs at the same time. The same bio data could be applied for these jobs and it can really do wonders for you.

There are many scams present as job search websites and they also ask for lot money for enrolling in. Always be aware of these before stepping into any of the sites. Collecting good information from nearby can really help you get into the best job searches in the internet. Getting the best jobs is also in the skills and the resume which is attached along with the job search.

Finding Scams in Online Job Searches

Online job searches are becoming are more prevalent these days as it take less of your time and also could be done right at home. But finding a reliable recruiting company or website is a difficult task. This is because there are many scams which are increasing the number these days as the number of people seeking job through online is also markedly making a peak rise. There are simple tips which could help you spot the scam on site. It is really helpful in different ways and also leads you to your goal.

There would be those sites which promise a lot of money in seconds. Think twice before applying, as there is nothing that could help you make money in seconds. Beware of those which are too good and let you think again about the same. Any of the online sites which offer you loads in return of very less or no effort would be absolutely the greatest scam. The real online jobs or recruiting companies would offer you little amount at the start with a tougher work.

There are many jobs online which ask for money or deposits before putting in for work. This would ask in the name of training, supplies etc. These jobs would be scams as the employer is to pay the employee and not the other way round. Therefore, beware of any money asked as such.

Professional advertisements are given by companies which are reliable and dependable as they would surely have experience in the same field. They would also need quality writers. On the other hand, the fraudulent companies would surely advertise in such a way that there could be many mistakes such as grammatical, spelling which could be spotted. Be sure to do a background check. You can also spot excessive use of exclamation marks, capital letters and also other amateurish advertisement patterns just to attract the readers.

Applying for a job, 21st century style

So I needed an intern for the summer to help with some small projects for my blogs and other sites.

Did I post the ad on a job board? No.

Did I place an ad in the paper? No.

Did I tap my network for referrals? No.

I did what any self respecting blogger would do. I posted it on my blog. About a week ago I announced I was seeking a intern for the summer. I requested that interested candidates should NOT send me their resume. Rather, ...I went new school on them. I asked they create their own blog and answer 3 simple questions on it. Who they are, what motivates them and why I should hire them?

This little experiment led me to Hannah Hershey, a college student from Penn State. She blew me away with her blog. I was impressed by her sincerity and attitude in the writing. I hired her.

Call it "Job Application 2.0".

Online reputation management with RapLeaf

Rapleaf is a new site that promises to help make the web a better place by using Reputation Lookup and Email Search. They offer integration with to following social networking sites: Flickr, Friendster, LinkedIn, MySpace, Plaxo, Ringo.

You can get a badge at sign up for your web page, blog or Facebook profile indicating what they think your reputation is.

According to their site:

“Rapleaf’s goal is to make it more profitable to be ethical. Rapleaf is the only email-based reputation lookup on the web. We encourage you to lookup people’s Rapleaf reputation before transacting, hiring, or even interacting with them. We also encourage you to endorse your friends and leave feedback on buyers and sellers.”

Checkout Austin jobs at itzbig.

New Jobcast: Pharmacist Jobs

Jobs in Pods is attracting all kinds of companies. Walgreens is seeking highly skilled and patient-oriented pharmacists who want to make a difference in the lives of patients everyday. Did you know Pharmacists make between $110k-$125k per year? Listen to what its like to be a Walgreens Pharmacist. (8 min)



If your company is interested in doing some jobcasts to highlight your exciting careers contact Jobs in Pods.

Weekly Jobsearch Roundup #15

This week's roundup includes using Youtube to job hunt, good news about job search times, summer job hunting and some interesting job board news from Dice, Indeed, Hotjobs and others. (7 min)

Jobcentre Plus' UK Employment Report

Finding the right employee to fill an office's empty desks has never been an easy task. When looking for new workers one has to consider an educational background check, their particular talents, and what kind of personality will mesh well with the existing company culture. In the past companies were limited to the small pool of job seekers in their direct sphere of operation. This severely limited the available talent.

The solution to this problem was Internet recruiting. Through the use of the web, employers are able to reach a larger group of job seekers in a shorter amount of time. Online recruitment is becoming increasingly popular.

According to a recent survey taken by Jobcentre Plus, more United Kingdom employers plan to use the web to list office place vacancies this year than ever before. The annual survey polled over 4,500 British companies and found that more than a fourth of them were hoping to hire new employees in 2007, many of which have or plan to list their vacancies online. The number of available London, England jobs listed on the internet has increased to 16 percent from 12 percent in 2004. One out of eight employers polled said that they have posted a job listing with in the last twelve months.

Employers aren't the only ones turning to the web for career related issues and filling jobs in London. Individuals in the United Kingdom are now much more likely to use a job related search engine than ever before when seeking new employment. According to a recent Jobcentre Plus press release, the website (www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk) “experienced a record 6.6 million job searches conducted by nearly 2.2 million online job seekers.”

Many individuals find that searching for a new place of employment online is much more convenient than other options. With the internet one is able to find more job listings in a shorter amount of time. By using the web one is also less to one's immediate location. Those who desire a change of scenery are able to find a position in another city or even country with less effort than ever before.

Over the next several years, the number of available positions advertised on the internet will only increase. This method of recruitment is not only simple and convenient for job seekers, but also for employers. By posting job listings online, many UK business are finding that it takes less time than ever before to find the right talent to complement their existing workforce.

Career and Corporate Cool

I talk with Rachel Weingarten, author of the new book "Career and Corporate Cool" due out in August. She discusses the do's and don't's of fashion in the workplace as well as etiquette and other personal branding tips. (12 min)

eBossWatch, or why people quit their jobs

There's an old saying in recruitment circles: People quit their boss, not their job.


According to their site:

eBossWatch was created so that you can rate your boss and warn others about hostile working environments, because nobody should have to work with a jerk.

I tried to search for some reviews but you need to know a name or company. Would have been more fun to let us browse them freely.

Job Search getting shorter says CNN

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — If you’re looking for a new job, the search got shorter while your prospects got better, according to a new survey.

Employment seekers found positions 17 percent faster between April and June than in the previous quarter, according to the Job Market Index by employment search firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc

The median job search time for people who got jobs was 3 months, down from 3.6 months in the previous quarter. The figure was 29 percent lower than a recent high of 4.2 months set in the third quarter of 2006.

Almost 93 percent of those seekers said they were able to get equivalent or better-quality positions, compared with nearly 91 percent last quarter.

The biggest improvement was in job seekers above age 50, whose search times decreased by an average of 32 percent from the previous quarter, according to the study.

The Challenger Job Market Index is based on a quarterly survey of 3,000 job seekers across the nation.

The survey said that labor shortages spurred by low unemployment are allowing job seekers to secure higher salaries and more generous benefits.

“Skilled workers of any age are in demand right now, but the ones in highest demand are those who can hit the ground running with little or no training and begin contributing immediately to the bottom line,” said John Challenger, the search firm’s chief executive in a statement. “Individuals with 20 to 30 years of experience under their belts are obviously in the best position to do this.”

The firm cited the Bureau of Labor Statistics showing that the unemployment rate among workers aged 50 to 54 eased from 3.3 percent to 2.8 percent over the last two years.

The nation’s overall unemployment rate stands at 4.5% for June.

1 more way to find a job

Jason Alba of JibberJobber just posted an interesting story about damnineedajob.com. Gotta say its a memorable & unique way of finding work.

23 creative ways to find a job

Chris discusses 23 different ways for finding a job. Sometimes job hunting is just a matter of persistence and smart thinking. These 23 ideas could help jump start your job search. (11 min)



Credit to this blogger for the ideas.

Biggest, baddest job title ever

Has a cool sound to it, huh? With Sunday nights now devoid of The Sopranos, my new favorite show is ICE ROAD TRUCKERS on the History Channel. In last night's episode, one of the truckers got sent home because of excessive speeding. He originally got the job by responding to an ad in the paper (over 100 applied). Truckers are lured to the great white north of Canada for a chance to make a years salary in just 2 months. Problem is, its not for the faint of heart. Would you want to drive on frozen lakes where the ice is just 3 feet thick? Well I hear they have an opening now that one guy got banned. Are you game?

Digital dirt cant stop Miss New Jersey

Her facebook photos showed a silly college girl being silly. Thankfully reason prevailed in the latest case of digital dirt strikes again. Miss NJ can keep her crown.

All of the photos showed her fully clothed so I don't understand what the blackmailer was thinking when he/she tried this stunt. All of her photos were 'private', meaning only her friends could see them. Just goes to show us once again that nothing is private online. Hopefully employers are becoming more reasonable when Googling candidates and finding their silly photos.

Finding Jobs Online

Finding a desirable job can be almost as difficult as finding a mate. One spends countless hours searching for the right one. Then, after much internal conflict over whether or not they are suited for the position, they decide to send in their resume.

This is followed by the nerve racking ordeal of waiting to see if the company one has inquired about will call them back. Then when the hiring manager finally contacts them for an interview many people can't seem to decided on the perfect outfit.

Knowing exactly what is wanted from a career and where to find it makes a huge difference. The first thing anyone knee-deep in a job search should do is sit down and write a list of traits that their perfect job would provide. Afterwards, one should itemize the list in order of priority. Once the list is in order, the search for the perfect job can begin.

For job seekers everywhere the Internet provides the most listings for the least amount of time. Nationally known job search sites are a good place to begin. With the number of postings available, it can sometimes be difficult to weed through them all. Sometimes people get lucky and find the perfect position simply by typing in a keyword. Other times that leaves one with more listings then there is time to read through. Using the advanced search option is extremely helpful in these situations. Many sites are designed to make it easier to find a job based on level of education and salary. This cuts down on the time spent searching through minimum wage and entry level jobs.

Once a promising position is located, one should use their list to make sure that it provides several of the things they desired from a job. Cross checking this with ones talents and credentials can eliminate having their resume tossed into the trash can.

If one is unable to find a desirable position through a major job search website, they are not out of options. Going to the web page of their local paper and clicking on the link to area jobs will often produce listings that are not on such sites as Monster.com. Many local papers have designed their websites to pull postings from multiple sources including position usually only found in the paper and a variety of different internet sites.

One should also keep in mind any company in their area that they would enjoy working for. Often open positions can be found through a businesses website that may not be listed in other places.

Another option is searching for area temp agencies. Many of these list their available positions on their websites. One may still have to go in for an interview with the agency, but by searching their homepage prior to contacting them one can get an idea of the positions they specialize in and what is available at the time. This makes it easier to avoid to being told that there is nothing open in the industry one specializes in.

When looking for a job online is important to remember that a variety of sites exist to assist individuals in search. Using more than one web page inc

No Pictures on your Resume

If you've ever considered putting your picture on a resume, forget about it. I recently posed this question to some HR folks. Here are their reponses:

Unless the position was one specifically for facing the public (like an actor, on air personality etc...), I think that photos on resumes are not warranted & would hurt more than help.

Not a good idea. First impressions are so important and a photo is a distraction. Your resume should market your skills, experience and education - not your looks.

I agree that a photo can be a distraction on a resume, and I am a photographer! For Creatives, I would recommend a resume with good graphic and information design that is clear, relevant to the desired position and succinct.

Never a good idea. A good looking person will appear as if they are trying to get a position based on their looks rather than their qualifications. An ugly person runs the risk of frightening a prospective employer.

I would not mind the photo. I'm 100% committed to getting the absolute best person for the job. While there is some information in the photo that some may use in a stupid fashion (make decisions based on skin color, for instance), there is other more meaningful information there as well. I know that if an applicant comes to the job interview looking shoddy, it's not a positive sign. Information that comes across in a photo is just as valid as information that comes across in a face-to-face interview.

Pictures on resumes are problematic for all except actors and models - where people are being hired for looks.

Currently, with anti-discrimination laws and lawsuits, companies are supposed to hire candidates without considering race, sex, age or looks. If you attach a photo to a job application you now have an employer who knows most - if not all of these items. They may now reject you based on knowing this - since the search is supposed to not include these items.

The whole purpose of using a resume is to get an interview. Since, based on my networking with other resume writers, recruiters and hiring managers at companies - a resume with a picture is more likely to screen out, rather than screen in a client - I recommend for my clients NOT to include a picture.

From recruiter to comic: Tiffany Bridge

I've met a comedian who's now a recruiter but Tiffany Bridge is the first recruiter turned comedian I've ever known. Watch a clip from her appearance at the DC Improv. Read her old recruiter blog. It's about time there was a comic who talks about the recruiting industry.

PC Recruiter provides applicant tracking software to employers.

Summer Help Wanted: Blogger Intern

Are you a college student looking for a cool summer gig? Well look no further, I need a Blogger assistant for about 6 weeks.

Wanted: Web savvy 'techie' guy/gal who wants to earn some cash for those back-to-school sales coming next month. In this project oriented role you will assist me with my various blogs doing research, link building and the occasional blog post.

Compensation: you will be paid on a project by project basis. Opportunity exists for earning between $500-$1000 during this time depending on your ability. You will be paid via Paypal.

How to apply: First of all, DON'T SEND ME A RESUME!

Instead, all applicants must create a blog on their own using blogger, wordpress or another blog provider of your choice. On that blog you should post answers to the following 3 questions;

1. Who are you?
2. What motivates you?
3. Why should I hire you?

Then when you're ready send me the URL of your blog. Deadline for 'applications' is July 17th.

Weekly Jobsearch Roundup #15

In this 7 minute podcast get an update on the job market, find out what the new hot skills are and get a taste of creative job hunting tactics that backfired.

Skills Employers Want

Last week, author Dan Pink entertained the audience at the SHRM Annual Conference.

He spoke of certain skills that employers should be on the lookout for and I wanted to pass those along. As a job seeker its up to you to improve on these skills.

Design. “You don’t have to be a designer, but you do have to be literate in it.” When it comes to the aesthetic differentiators of products and services, “we’re all in the arts and entertainment business,” Pink said. “Hire the design inmates and let them run the asylum.”

Story. “Ubiquitous facts are free in today’s society, but building a master narrative to give them context is a talent. Find the storytellers and let them do that.”

Symphony. This means seeing the big picture, connecting the dots and finding meaningful patterns between them. “This is the new killer app.” Citing research that shows women and the middle-aged are best at this, Pink quipped, “So my best advice to you is hire more middle-aged women.”

Empathy. “This is hard to outsource or automate, and it’s hard for competitors to replicate.” Pink said one of the best ways to tell if a person is empathetic is to find out if he or she can distinguish between a real and a fake smile. In fact, Pink suggested that this become a skill those in the audience should develop.

Meaning. “In the U.S. we’ve gotten three times richer and not one bit happier,” said Pink, noting the phenomenon is true in other cultures as well. Look for people who want meaning, not just accumulation.

Google recruiting: has it peaked?

A few weeks ago I wrote how Google received over 1.1. million resumes last year. We all know they have been the employer of choice for a while now. But at some point that feeling will subside. A new article in WSJ suggests just that. At the recent SHRM conference I actually spoke to a couple of silicon valley CEO's who echoed the same sentiments. One said that top flight software engineers are flocking to new startups like facebook. Has google recruiting peaked? Time will tell.

A global career network for grads

Here's an interesting site: iHipo.com

CONCEPT: Combination of social network and jobsite for graduates and young professionals seeking international assignments with multinational employers and career networking with peers from around the globe.

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Weekly Job Search Roundup #14

Lots of job boards in the news. New announcements from Hotjobs, Jobing, Latpro and a tip to increase your odds for getting your resume in front of the hiring manager. (7 min)