IT and the Professional Job Search

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IT and the Professional Job Search
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Introduction

• This morning we will be looking at the many ways
  Information Technology can help you in your
  career search.
• Lori Hitchcock
• Hitchcock Staffing
• lori_at_hitchcockstaffing.com
• 603.766.JOBS

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Topics of Discussion

• The eCoast and US Economies
• Marketing Your Skills on the Internet
• Finding Start-ups/Growth Businesses
• Resumes and Cover Letters
• To Post or Not to Post
• Working with Recruiters
• Documenting the Job Search
• Preparing for the Interview
• Earning Expectations.

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Job climate of the US and eCoast Economy
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The Labor Department calculates that the nation's
unemployment rate was 5.7 percent in October,
down slightly from the recent peak of 6 percent
in April. California's rate was 6.4 percent. The
department also figures that 1.4 million people
who weren't actively searching for a job -- and
therefore were not counted as unemployed --
wanted jobs and were available for work last
month. If such people were included among the
unemployed, the department calculates that the
nation's jobless rate in October would have been
6.3 percent, and even higher if the figure had
been seasonally adjusted as the official
unemployment rates were. The rate rises to 9
percent if those people who are involuntarily
working part time are included.
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In July, the most recent month for which data are
available, there were 3. 49 million job openings
across the country. At about the same time, 8.14
million people were looking for work, a ratio of
2.3 unemployed workers for every available job.
Source San Francisco Chronicle Sunday,
November 17, 2002
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Is the New Year going to bring a much-welcomed
change to the hiring climate? According to the
latest quarterly survey by Manpower, it just may.
Even as companies remain extremely cautious about
where the economy is headed, some of them are
ready to start hiring again. Manpower found that
20 percent of the 16,000 companies that
participate in its survey plan to add workers
during the first three months of 2003 12 percent
of those companies said they will cut their
workforces. While 20 percent does not seem like a
lot of hiring activity, it is the second
consecutive quarter in which more companies are
hiring than firing. Manpower's survey confirms
the findings in a report by the Anderson Economic
Group. "The fact that employers are expecting to
hire more workers while they're reading headlines
indicating that we might be involved in a war is
a sign of the remarkable resilience of the U.S.
economy," said economist Patrick Anderson.The
Los Angeles Times November 18, 2002
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The eCoast MonitorSummary of Launch Findings

• November 13, 2002

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Study Sponsors

• A joint undertaking of The Taylor Research
  Consulting Group, Inc., and the Whittemore School
  of Business Economics at UNH.
• In partnership with the Technology Roundtable of
  the Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce.

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What is the eCoast Monitor?
A periodic reporting of

• Economic level data (UNH)
• Surveys of local technology industry senior
  management (Taylor)

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Survey Methodology

• Web-based survey of senior management at eCoast
  hi-tech companies
• Of roughly 350 invitations sent, 97 participated
• Fieldwork conducted October 15-November 1, 2002

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We wanted senior management ? We got them.
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Diversity marks the eCoast technology industry
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eCoast technology companies see growth in the
coming year
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Marketing Your Skills on the Internet

• Using the job boards
• Finding job specific web sites
• Online newspapers
• Users Groups
• Alumni Associations

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Job Boards

• www.monster.com
• www.careerbuilder.com
• www.hotjobs.com
• www.dice.com
• www.ajb.dni.us
• www.careers.yahoo.com
• www.net-temps.com
• www.jobs.com

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Pros of the MajorJob Boards

• Great place to search for leads
• Offer helpful articles and job search tips.

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Cons of the Major Job Boards

• Due to the cost, small companies dont use the
  major job boards
• Companies surveyed reported they hire 3 times
  more applicants from their company sites than the
  majors
• Major job boards are a target of identity
  thieves.
• The competition is fierce. Monster receives
  35000 resumes a day.
• Many of the postings are bogus or outdated.

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eCoast technology companies vary widely in number
of employees
Median30
Median13
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Smaller businesses continue to dominate the
eCoast tech sector
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Job specific websites

• Provide access to more pertinent sites
• More likely to be used by smaller companies
• Less traffic means your more likely to be seen
• http//airsdirectory.com/directories/job_boards

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Online Newspapers

• Many companies still rely on newspaper
  advertising
• More likely to list a contact person
• Less likely to have bogus or outdated jobs.
• http//www.seacoastonline.com/news/employment.htm

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User Groups

• www.nhjobslist.com
• A good way to find companies with environments
  where your skill sets are pertinent
• A good source of information to help keep your
  skills current
• A good tool for internet networking
• A simple search on Google or your favorite search
  engine will lead you to many user groups.

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Alumni Associations

• Many colleges and universities have job posting
  and searching web sites for the use of their
  alumni.
• Check trade associations for web sites that
  pertain to your field.

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Finding Start-Ups and Growth Businesses.
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Venture Capital to New England is up 15 over
last year while other regions of the US continue
to show no growth or are loosing investment
capital.
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Internet Sites to help you follow the money.

• Venturewire.com
• www.masshightech.com
• bostonglobe.com
• check web sites of individual venture capitol
  companies to find lists of recently funded
  companies.

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Resumes and Cover Letters
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Resumes-One Size Does Not Fit All

• Tailor your resume to the job you are applying
  for.
• Emphasize your accomplishments as they pertain to
  the advertised position.
• Make sure your objective does not contradict your
  cover letter.

• Avoid Functional Resumes
• State clearly how your contributions have
  benefited the companies you have worked for.
• Check Grammar and Spelling!!!

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On the subject of labor, eCoast technology
leaders have only two areas of primary concern

• Wages

• Employee communication skills

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To Post or Not to PostThat is the Question
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Pros of Posting

• Your resume is out there for everyone to see.
• Companys search the job boards for candidates.
• Recruiters search the job boards for candidates
• Confidential Posting gives you some control over
  your information.

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Cons of Posting

• Your resume is out there for everyone to see
• You are using a generic resume
• Your security can be compromised
• You have little control over who uses your info

• The spammers and con artists will find you before
  the hiring managers do.
• You can actually eliminate better ways into a
  company by posting.

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Working With Recruiters
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Interview the Recruiter

• Does the recruiter have an exclusive relationship
  with this company?
• What is the recruiters fee?
• In contract situations, how can the company hire
  you?
• Does the recruiter have an actual job order or
  are they fishing and using you for bait?
• Can you control where your resume goes?
• Ask for references.

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Document Your Job Search

• Your job search is your job and you must keep
  concise records
• Create a spreadsheet or buy or download contact
  management software

• Company Name
• Date Sent
• Resume version sent.
• Cover letter sent
• Contact name, phone and email
• where did you find the lead?
• date for follow up

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Prepare for the Interview
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Sites That Can Help YouSet Realistic Earnings
Expectations

• www.homefair.com
• www.salary.com
• www.salary-comparison-and-calculator.com