Interview Questions

According to Christan jobs.com The secret to answering this question is to try to avoid negativity. Chances are there is more than one reason you left your last job. But no matter how your last job situation ended, try to keep a positive tone to your answer. If you do mention negative aspects of a previous job, back it up with some positive points as well. If you are too negative about your last job, you may be classified as a chronic complainer or whiner. Remember, your answer to this question will say a lot about your attitude toward your past, present, and future employers

Arizona bound ?

Talked to Unemployment today and asked if I would be eligible for unemployment if I went to a different city to seek work and the answer was YES.

scsc.state.pa.us - I will check here for listings as well and get a civil service test.

Career Guidance

Went to Career Guidance testing and Career Occupational Preference testing and after a LONG period of different testing- (months) the results showed that my education and experience are in line with my skills,passions,values and preferences. Service Professional,Business Professional, Consumer Economics, Clerical - Administration where the highest levels and I am very creative. It was suggested to look on the DOT - Dictionary of Occupational Titles and enter all the codes from the tests. Look in the Yellow pages and start going and knocking on doors. They also reminded me, that I have MANY transferable skills

Networking at ptwo.org

Went to a networking group this week and they gave me a lot of positive feedback on my resume. Ideas on marketing objectives while fine-tuning my skills and VERY motivating.
Off the top they told me to insert an OBJECTIVE or Summary into my resume (cover letters are going by the wayside for the interview process) each job should not more than 3 bullets. (Mine has 6 – they advised no one would read) FONT should be 10-11. Develop PAR statements (problem – action-result) examples.
Have examples of your work.
Know your resume
Yea- Ums- Yens’-etc shows poor education
Look up wages on Salary.com or wageweb.com – know the industry is paying
The average person is staying in a job 1.9 years to 5 years (sad)
Know about the company from the web- library – Google – networking
HR dept are getting 2200 applications a DAY – make yours stand out
Be able to sell your self in 30 sec or less- know your (boy scout statement) what’s your story- what do you want to do and where do you want to go?

Accreditations for every school.

You can check the accrediatations of every school on this web site

chea.org

Have you checked your credit score ?

Checked my credit score today at freecreditscore.com and got my budget in line.

Big milestone.

Picked Oranges

I am in denial about coming back to PGH in a few days at 16 degrees when I picked Oranges yesterday and walked in the 72 Degree sun

Get Modivated

Found this article - worth posting

When you are fulfilled professionally and personally, your customers, co-workers, friends and family become a part of the ripple affect. Turnover, complaints and conflicts are reduced, which bring increased productivity, improved relationships, quality of life and morale. You will have less stress and drama when you choose to make healthier and wiser choices. Work and life become fun and more rewarding for you, and everyone around you. If your organization and home are experiencing low morale, frustration and burnout, you can revitalize your culture's attitude and performance by addressing the following questions:What communication strategies are in place? What activities are in place to empower self-directed teams and individual growth? Are people skills, professional development and leadership abilities key criteria for recruitment, retention and promotion? What goals, performance measurements and accountability acitivies are implemented? What reward and consequence systems are practiced? How effective are front-line supervisors and managers as coaches and team leaders? What customer, employee and personal-growth feedback mechanisms are utilized? How open-minded is each individual to self-awareness and self-development? At the end of the day, does each individual feel appreciated and valued? And finally, ask yourself, "Do I consistently get out of bed each morning looking forward to my work, and my life?". There are many effective strategies that can bring about motivating and fulfilling environments. Some people know how different things can be because they have taken responsibility and actions to experience healthy and satisfying environments. While many other people have no idea how much better things can be because they do not question how situations can be handled differently. When you take the initiative to make positive changes in your workplace and personal life, you will get motivated, feel happier and achieve success. If you let life control you, you will not grow and prosper. This is your life to control and enjoy; go for it. It's never too late to get happy! To you and your getting motivated,

New Year Resolution

Look at the jobs are not on the list ;-) whats up with that ?

1. Spend More Time with Family & Friends
2. Fit in Fitness
3. Tame the Bulge
4. Quit Smoking
5. Enjoy Life More
6. Quit Drinking
7. Get Out of Debt
8. Learn Something New
9. Help Others
10. Get Organized

Look at the full add for GREAT links http://pittsburgh.about.com/od/holidays/tp/resolutions.htm

Voice Mail tip given to me

Do not pick up your phone when you do not know the phone number - or unprepaired for an on line interview.

Make sure your voice mail is professional and prepaired for all future employers

Employment Websites that may help

http://www.indeed.com/
www.monster.com
www.employmentguide.com
www.careerbuilder.com
www.hotjobs.com
www.jobsingovernment.com
www.flipdog.com (monster)
www.ajb.dni.us (America’s Job Bank)
www.asme.org (American Society of Mechanical Engineers)
www.ieee.org (Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers)
www.amby.com/worksite
www.6figurejobs.com
www.dice.com (hi-tech jobs)
www.wantedjobs.com
www.wetfeet.com
www.vault.com
www.resortjobs.com
www.usajobs.opm.us (federal government job site)
www.pacareerlink.state.pa.us
www.pgh-job-index.com (Pittsburgh Regional Alliance)
www.pghtech.org (Pittsburgh Technology Council)
http://www.pittsburgh.techies.com/
www.pittsburgh.computerwork.com
www.pittsburgh-employment.com
http://www.workpittsburgh.com/
www.county.allegheny.pa.us/jobs (Allegheny County Jobs)
www.city.pittsburgh.pa.us (City of Pittsburgh jobs)
www.scsc.state.pa.us (State Civil Service Commission)
www.careersite.com
www.recruitersonline.com
www.truecareers.com
www.academic360.com (Academic jobs)
www.brassring.com
www.philanthropy.com/jobs (Non profit jobs)
www.post-gazette.com (classifieds online)
www.pinnacletrainingservices.com ( net working )
Career Development Center – They will work on your resume for free and help with career choice
http://cdc.bluearcher.com/default.asp

Unemployment compensation page
http://www.dli.state.pa.us/

Good “Geek Jobs” page
http://www.pghgeeks.org/blogs/geekjobs.html

Another Good job search engine – better than Monster.com
http://www.flipdog.com/

KEY to getting a job – network, network, network.
Here are some groups I’ve belong to
Seekers
http://www.ingomarumc.org/Missions/Seekers.htm

Workquest
http://home.earthlink.net/~workquest/


This is a GREAT site for job searching, and ALL kinds of job search training: resumes, interview training, cover letters, networking. I CAN’T recommend this enough. They also pray a lot! J
http://www.ptwo.org/

This is interesting. Go to a bar. Buy a beer. Listen to some great jazz. And network with shakers and movers in Pittsburgh! I made some good contacts here:
http://www.entrepreneurialthursdays.com/

Put in your affiliation with US&S

http://www.pghtech.org/

Jump into it - 2010 is our year

It’s time to conquer your fears and make things happen for yourself.
Make this fun and a positive experience, not one that makes you anxious just thinking about it. If you fear rejection, you aren’t alone.
It’s normal

REJECTION

Going out on ANY job interview, my brother suggested - reminds me of the idea of my friend Carl told me “DON’T LEAVE ANY JOB INTERVIEW WITH OUT A LEAD “ASK THE INTERVIEWER... DO YOU KNOW OF ANY ONE WHO CAN USE MY SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE? “Instead, look forward to each new encounter as a chance to meet someone new and to expand your circle of acquaintances. If you proceed with an open mind, you just might be surprised at what is out there waiting for you!

Prepare and PRATICE for Ups and Downs

My brother said to me “there’s no guarantee that you’ll have one positive experience after another. HOWEVER, like Football (as we where watching Cincinnati and New York) you MUST practice. APPLY FOR JOBS YOU DO NOT WANT – YOU NEED THE INTERVIEW PRACTICE”. Enduring a string of interviews with potential employers can be discouraging, and there will be times when you’re just plain tired of making the effort. Don’t be afraid, it’s PRACTICE to take a break and use the time to nourish yourself and recoup whatever self-esteem you may have lost in the process. You can’t put your best foot forward unless you are feeling good about yourself, so do whatever it takes to stay optimistic and upbeat.

UP IN THE AIR

Went to see UP IN THE AIR today with Sally and Katie, thought it must be great George Clooney is in it!

Well if you are wondering what I have been through go see this movie, as I cried several times during it because IT WAS MY LIFE, it gives you a clue.

A THANK YOU note could land the job!

Today while sitting in Arizona on this beautiful sunny day of 72 degrees, I was reading the paper lying in the sun looking at the mountains in the desert listening to the water falls. I open up the news paper and read an article on the THANK YOU NOTE and the importance of it could be key, and here some highlights.

• Just like our mothers told us to do it shows impeccable manners plus gives you the edge.
• If you are interviewed buy more than one hiring manager, send a thank-you note to each person. (making each one a little different incase they compare)
• The notes must be hand written within 24 hours (this is AFTER you sent a quick email as soon as you get home.
• Use high quality stationary or a professional THANK YOU at Hallmark.
• Accomplish three objectives 1) Express your appreciation for the opportunity 2) reinforce your interest in the job 3) reinstate your value you can bring to the organization.
• Make it specific, bring up points of conversation you had during the interview.
• DON’T LOSE HOPE. When vying for the attractive job, anything you can do to catch the hiring manager’s attention can give you the edge.

A message from a friend worth sharing

Keep our lives free from the love of money and be content with what we have,
because God said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you" So we
say with confidence, the Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid, what can
man do to me. Hebrews 13:5

"Strive to live with less rather than more, give away out of my abundance
rather than accumulating more, relish what we have rather than resent what
is missing. Money & possessions will all pass away but we who do the will
of God lives forever" NIV Study Bible

We can see the Love of God through our struggles. A door will close but a
window will open. It can be like hell in the hallway but keep moving
through it.
Love,
Rick

Happy New Year

I am going to start the New Year out in warmth and sunshine. Going to Arizona for a week. Work on a solid new plan. Because what I have been doing is NOT working. I will not spend any more time and money on Career Builder and Job Finder and other job banks that just give you more advertisements and sell your name to many on line schools.