6 Additional Ways to Have a More Productive Job Search Building Your Future Now

6 Additional Ways to Have a More Productive Job Search Building Your Future Now Getting the edge in securing a position during your job search is easier than you think! It all starts on your endyou must look for ways to improve and youll be surprised how far youll go applying several if not all of these tips: 1. Do your homework Whenever it may be: researching a company or a hiring manager, doing your homework will be obvious when you are interviewed. You have Google at your finger tips so there is no excuse to find out more about a variety of things during your job search. 2. Have a Positive Mindset When things go sour at any point during your job search its easy to get down and lose focus. Thats why you need be look for ways to maintain a positive mindset. Whether it be surrounding yourself with good people or reading self-help books, its all about finding ways to a have a bright outlook! 3. Setting Goals Goals are exceptionally important in any facet of your life. If you have a simple, yet effective statement like: I am going to get a quality entry level job at a good companythat can be the goal-statement you need to own and visualize! Of course, this statement can be a bit more specific, it none the less demostrates a written goal is more powerful than simply a rootless thought. 4. Time Management Priorize your timewhat opportunities are most advantageous to pursue? Having a calender is very handy as it gives you a strong visual and sets the course for the day and week. Tinker around with your schedule in the early days of your job search and see what gives you results. 5. Finding Areas of Opportunity Leave no stone unturned! Network constantly and discuss your job search to everyone you meet. But remember, always be generous, attentive and be willing to help out. Opportunities are all around youyou need to be at your best and most positive mindset in order to stag them! 6. Maximize Your Mobile The number one tool in your job search is your smart phone. Whether it be writing your resume on it, to applying to jobs the smart phone when maximized can really give you a boost during your job search! And be sure to download apps and tools that can aid you including: resume builders, word editors, calendars, time management tools and more. Make your mobile work for you during your job search. Image: Raw Pixel

Electrical Engineer Job Description Sample - Algrim.co

Electrical Engineer Job Description Sample - Algrim.co Electrical Engineer Job Description Template Download our job description template in Word or PDF format. Instant download. No email required. Download Template Using Your Template Follow these instructions to use your new job description template Step one: Fill out all details in your job description template using the provided sample on this page. Step two: Customize your requirements or duties to anything special to your workplace. Be sure to speak with team members and managers to gauge what's required of the position. Step three: When the census of the team has agreed on the description of the work, add in a Equal Employment Opportunity statement to the bottom of your job description. Step four: Check with your legal department, management team, and other team members to ensure the job description looks correct before creating a job advertisement. Choose a job board that's specific to your needs.

Tips For Your Job Interview Make A Good Impression

Tips For Your Job Interview Make A Good Impression Attending a job interview that could potentially kick-start your career is rather nerve-racking.  It’s vital that you make a good first impression.    It takes just seconds into a first time-meet before evaluations take place, that’s both consciously and subconsciously. That is why it is imperative that you finely tune little details in the build-up. Research Employers hate nothing more than assessing a potential candidate that knows very little about the vacancy. Research should be done beforehand even if it’s the night before.   Find out what the company’s philosophy is, who their competitors are and some background information on the business.  When approaching a new position you should be looking at what you could bring to the table, what would you change and how you’d add to their company. Be On Time When there’s only one chance of a first impression being late is not an option. It is better to be early if anything, so find out where the location is and what the traffic is like in the area. It could be worth doing a trial run to ensure you know exactly where you are going.  That way you don’t have to worry about being late or turning up over an hour before your interview is due to start. It’s ideal to arrive at the  reception desk ten to fifteen minutes before your appointment. Dress Smart Another important factor as you attempt to set a great impression is that its better to overdress than underdress. Wear smart clothes- men and women should wear trousers and shoes. It’s optional to wear a full suit or women have a few more options with dresses and skirts that are ideal for smart workplaces. It doesn’t have to be expensive or require lengthy shopping trips.  You can add ensembles and get everything you need without leaving your home with Debenhams discount codes for online shopping. Be Confident People and communication skills are integral in all workplaces and you’ll be judged heavily on this. How you interact with the interviewers will be the biggest point they discuss once you leave as they already liked what your CV had to offer and the qualifications you possess. There are many tips to conveying confidence as you act cool, calm and collective- this could help reduce your nerves too. Keep eye contact and don’t look at the floor. Although you are keeping eye contact it should be mentioned that you don’t want to make it uncomfortable by overdoing it. Speaking clearly is key, don’t mutter- speak with confidence! Posture is important, don’t slouch on your chair. Sit up straight and show an air of confidence. You should offer a firm handshake and not a limp one, as this is another impression setting gesture. Making this kind of preparation prior to your meeting could go a long way to securing you a new job, so although you don’t want to over-analyse your moves it doesn’t hurt to be organised with a sight of what you intend to do. Enjoy the test of confidence and show them the real you as you act as natural as possible. Images: Main  COD Newsroom   business woman  Steve wilson

Student Loans What Are Your Rights As a Borrower

Student Loans What Are Your Rights As a Borrower Ive got not one, but two master’s degrees. Yep, that’s right. Not only did I spend extra time in the classroom and completing field internships, Ive got the pieces of paper to prove it. And now, five years later, I’m still dealing with the massive mountain of federal student loans I took out to cover the costs of these degrees. Don’t get me wrong, I love going to school. I consider myself a lifelong learner and revel in opportunities for formal and informal learning. At the time, it was really a catch-22: I could either leave with my bachelor’s degree and probably find a remedial job in my field, or I could get a master’s degree which would allow me the ability to attain licensure and get a “big kid” job in my field. The “need” for higher education continues to be a stressor for many. A study in 2014 even showed that one-third of U.S. college students would rather have started a business instead of even attending college. The truth is, if I had known then I know now about student loans, I most likely  wouldnt  have gone to graduate school. At this point, my “what ifs” are moot points. Ive done the classwork and the year-long, unpaid, 40 plus hour a week internship, both of which I thoroughly enjoyed, and am now working to chip away at the debt I created for myself. This wasnt an easy undertaking. I didnt end up with a fabulous job right out of school. In fact, 2010 brought with it a series of years that boasted the lowest number of available social work jobs in the country. I had learn to advocate for myself with the “non-profit organization dedicated to helping make college a reality” that now holds my loans and “make[s] successful student loan repayment possible, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Education and private lenders.” Self-advocacy around student loans can be a daunting task. While I knew from my exit survey upon graduation I had to repay my loans (and the pretty much tried to scare that into you), I didnt know my rights or options as borrower. Here are five basic rights you have as a borrower: You have the right to loan counseling. The National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) provides opportunities for counseling when you take out a loan and when you graduate. The NSLDS is also a great resource for any questions you might have regarding your loans and options. You have the right to an income-based repayment (IBR) plan. That first number they stick you with isnt the be all, end all. An IBR plan allows you to pay back your loans based on what you’re making. This type of plan must be renewed every 12 months to remain valid. You have the right to a different payment schedule. How many years is it going to take you to pay off your loans? Did you decide on a 10 year plan when you first took them out? You can change your plan â€" some as long as 25 or 30 years â€" to help ease the burden of repayment. You have the right to consolidate your loans. I had heard about consolidation, but didnt really know what it meant as an option, so I didnt exercise this right as soon as I should have. By consolidating multiple federal loans into one monthly payment, you can also lower your monthly payments and have more time to repay. Check out the government’s FAQ on this. You have the right to deduct interest from your taxes. The IRS has determined that federal student loan interest payments can be deducted from your taxable income. Make sure you enter this information when filing your taxes each year. On a final note, last month, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan released a blog post about the proposed Student Aid Bill of Rights and is asking for individuals to take the pledge. You can visit Secretary Duncan’s blog to join in this cause and find out what others are saying on social media by using the hashtag #CollegeOpportunity.

How to cope with a never-ending job hunt - Debut

How to cope with a never-ending job hunt - Debut This post was written by an external contributor. If youre going through a job hunt that seems like theres no end in sight, it gets better, says Charlie Duffield There’s a saying about taking one step forward and two steps back which rings true when it comes to establishing a twenty-first century career. Sometimes life can throw you a curve ball and you find yourself unemployed, consumed by self-doubt and with repetitive strain disorder from alternately scrolling through uninspiring jobs boards and your sombre internet banking page. And lingering in the background, that cloud of uncertainty. How long will this last? When will it all end? Because that’s the worst part of job-hunting; it’s a phenomenal amount of emotional work for next to no recognition, and there is no fixed time frame. I could never have imagined that it would take me a year to find a new job after suddenly being ditched from a company I loved, with less than a week’s notice, just before the annual Christmas party (…can you hear the tiny violins playing?) Yet when you’re faced with an unexpected relapse into the world of recruitment, there’s no other option but to take a big gulp and submerge yourself into the unknown. Through the many long months of despair, frustration and half-baked career dreams, here’s what I learnt about trying to stay sane. Find a hobby As a word, ‘hobby’ conjures up twee images of collecting stamps or trundling off to Brownies every week…which hardly feels applicable to graduate life, but really, now more than ever is the time to recognise the value in trivial pursuits. When your brain is rejection-addled, panic-stricken and bludgeoned by application deadlines, having structured time to blow off steam will provide some much needed temporary relief. Bonus points if your leisure activity is something social job hunting can be incredibly isolating, but you’ll suddenly have a common interest and conversations won’t have to revolve around your lacklustre employment status. So join a sports club, enrol in a dance class, sign up to a book group or revitalise your neglected language skills. And just think, for one or two glorious hours a week, your brain will be too consumed by hobbying to worry about anything else. Don’t take it personally Rejection sucks. And when you’ve heard ‘no’ enough times, it can really start to affect your feelings of self-worth. But the truth is that there is nothing wrong with you if you keep getting interviews but not getting the job, remember that employers are still interested in what you have to offer. There are a plethora of reasons as to why someone might be selected over you; they might tick 10 out of 10 boxes whereas you only ticked 9, or it might be as immeasurable as the interviewer’s gut feeling. Ironically, the more you are rejected, the more you learn to let it not affect you as much, to brush it off and move on to the next potential opportunity. But again, there is nothing wrong with you it’s the situation you are in, which is tough, but ultimately temporary. Remember that you are not alone Searching for a job can be long, lonely and like being stuck in a perverse state of limbo. It’s so difficult because society intertwines jobs and our identity; the first or second question you’re likely to be asked when you meet someone new is ‘So, what do you do?’ cue immense feelings of internal angst and self-loathing. Yet some of the best unsolicited advice I received was from a complete stranger. He reminded me that whilst you may feel like an outsider, there are so many people who dislike, and even hate their current jobs, and few who have their dream career. When you think about it in this way, you’re on more of an even playing field than you think. You don’t have to tackle the job hunt alone reach out to friends or people who work in the same industry. Try and find yourself a mentor who can provide both moral and practical support. Take a break Job hunting is a job in itself. Your work-life balance and cash flow can take a hit as you desperately try and secure a new role. But be kind to yourself because ultimately so much is beyond your control; you can put all your efforts into a job application, but you never know who else might be applying. Your interviewer could be having an off day, or quite frankly just be a terrible interviewer (it happens). You may get tired, and disillusioned, and sad. Remember to go back to basics; nourish yourself with good food and get plenty of rest. Remember to laugh it will lighten your mental load. Read books which break the monotony of application forms, and interest your mind. Take time out to reconnect with yourself, focus your intentions, and you’ll feel all the more empowered on your return. Connect with Debut on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn for more careers insights.

Weathering The Storm What To Do When Your Company Is Acquired - Pathfinder Careers

Weathering The Storm What To Do When Your Company Is Acquired - Pathfinder Careers Weathering The Storm: What To Do When Your Company Is Acquired After a lot of uncertainty, the news finally comes out, and the shock waves ripple throughout the office: Our company has been bought. Not every acquisition means that the new owners will immediately clean house, but you can count on the fact that everything will be under close scrutiny as they begin digging deeper into their new purchase… much like a new car owner starts fiddling with all the gadgets to get the “hang” of them. During this process, decisions will be made about what is useful… and what isn’t. So where do you fit in this picture? Believe it or not, there are some things that you can do to keep your head above water, but don’t be fooled into thinking that your job is secure. You will need to hope for the best while at the same time, plan for the worst. Here are some tips to keep yourself afloat during this stressful transition time, and help you be able to weather the storm that is shaking up your workplace: 1) Learn everything you can about the new owner. Understanding the culture that you are going to have to fit in can make the difference as to whether you make the cut. Sticking with “this is how things used to be done” mentality can actually sound the death knell for your employment. Instead, try stretching your brain and learning to adapt. It could make the difference as to whether you end up successfully navigating the changeover. 2) Update your résumé. There is no job security anymore, and smart career managements update their career assets constantly. But if there is ever a time to start tweaking your résumé, now would be the time. You need to be ready to react at a moment’s notice, and sometimes, new company owners don’t even grant you that much! 3) Set up a meeting with the new boss. This isn’t so much of a “suck up” maneuver than it is a smart move to learn more about the person you’ll be reporting to… but also realize that it is a way for you to introduce yourself to them and help them ease through the transition by sharing information about operations. Most bosses who step in to take over staff from a company that was just acquired really don’t relish their job. It’s tough work figuring out what to do with everyone and consolidate workflows, job duties, and processes. Be the grease that can help ease the skids. You might earn yourself a champion in your corner as a result. 4) Quantify your results and have a performance portfolio at the ready. At some point, the challenge you’ll be faced with is actually justifying your job and / or work. The more in-touch you are with your accomplishments and your value to the company can be a saving grace as to whether you’ll be retained, or let go. 5) If the budget allows, sign up for much professional development as you can. While you may have made it through any initial personnel cuts, there is no guarantee that future ones won’t occur as the new company owners get more of a handle of operations post-merger. Don’t let up on your job performance, but make sure you maximize any workplace benefits you have coming to you, including taking additional courses/classes or attending conferences relevant to your job. There’s no telling when that will be cut back either! And in the meantime, you are adding to your job knowledge as a result. 6) If the company offers outplacement services, take them up on it. I recently worked with a technology company that was acquired and laying off a substantial part of their workforce as a result of consolidation of operations. The company generously offered outplacement services to all affected employees, but fewer than 50% took them up on it. Many were just waiting to get their severance check on the way out the door, never thinking for one moment of how tough the job market is out there. In fact, it was a very short-sighted rebuff on those folks’ part because they would probably have used up the severance check within a few months and then would be farther behind in their respective job searches because they had inferior résumé. Outplacement services offer employees the opportunity to receive professional assistance in résumé development and job search coaching… a valuable asset many would be jealous to have. 7) Before your original boss leaves, get a letter of reference. Sometimes, the management staff are the first to go in a merger, so if you have been reporting to someone who has great insight into your work and is considered a workplace ally, ask them for a letter of reference before they are laid off. This can make a difference for you in future job applications by having that recommendation already “in the can.” Any time you hear rumblings about a corporate merger/acquisition should be taken as a sign to start paying attention to your workplace. Nothing is secure anymore, and it is up to you to make sure that you advocate for your career… because no one else will!

3 Signs that your Career Goal is Too Big

3 Signs that your Career Goal is Too Big 3 signs that your career goal is too big Jeffrey has been in procurement for 15 years and he is tired of it. He went back to school recently and got his master’s in public policy and now he wants to do “something in regulatory policy.” Oh, and he wants to move from Denver to New York. Oh, and he needs to make a move quickly because his company is in trouble. Oh, and he’s already overwhelmed and completely disorganized in his job search. Time to get it under control! Jeffrey and I put together a plan and he’s rebooting his job search. My recommendations included prioritizing his goals and separating his job search into three efforts: Plan A, Plan B and Plan C. How many Jefferies are out there? A lot. Is your next-step career goal too big? If your goal is for a career step within your company, it can also be too big. If the employment market was thriving, companies were flush with open positions, and there was a shortage of candidates, then Jeffrey’s big, hairy, audacious goal (BHAG) might be realistic. However, it’s not. Today’s job market is quite the opposite: lackluster, competitive and lengthy for job seekers. To help the Jeffrey mini-me’s out there, here are three signs that your goal is too big: 1. Too many BIG moving pieces. The optimum number of things to change at one time is one. Try to keep the rest steady. If you are changing functions or departments, do that within your current company. If you are changing cities, stay in the same function. If you want to change industries, keep your function and city the same so you can focus on getting into your new industry. 2. No time or money for long-distance searches. No matter what, they require a bigger investment and take longer. Bigger investment? Yes, you will probably need to fly yourself to the future city for a week or more in order to network and interview. You can do a lot of work long distance. However, at a certain point you need to invest in a trip to meet great connections and multiple companies. AND you will probably need to relocate yourself because relocation budgets are restricted. During my long-distance searches, the first sentence on my cover letters was always, “I will be moving to city for my next career move and would like to join your company.” The longer time is due to the inability to network face-to-face, a bigger pipeline or funnel of job opportunities, time zone differences, and so much more. 3. Too much “I, I, I, me, me, me” and not enough “You, Your, Your Company” I hate to be the one to break it to you, but it’s a buyer’s market out there with an average of more than 250 applications per position. Does your résumé show the reader what you can do for them, or does it only talk about what you are looking for: “I want to leverage my background in…blah, blah, blah”? This isnt about you! It’s about your ability to meet the needs of the hiring manager. Are you reading the job descriptions in great detail and then pivoting your entire presentation to use their terms? Put yourself in their shoes: Would you hire you? This change in your perspective from “me” to “you” is critically important to your success. Re-read and edit all of your job search communications and your interview answers â€" the ones that you have pre-prepared (right?) â€" and show the reader what you can do for them. Make your primary next career-move GOAL a realistic one. Yes, stretch is good, but drastic changes away from what you know will take longer. If you are organized and committed to your career change, try juggling two separate goals. For example, one close to home with no major changes and one targeting a single change â€" and see which one is successful first. Use the comment section to ask your career-change questions. I want to hear from you!