Job Search Skills and Strategies for 2019

Job Search Skills and Strategies for 2019 Job Search Skills and Strategies The Complete GuideJanuary 2, 2019 By Jess Chen Reviewed by Mark Slack, CPRWNeed some tips and tricks to help you optimize your job search? We break down job search skills into four parts traditional search skills, ververwesen search skills, self-improvement skills, and attitude.Build My Resume NowJob search strategies and skills can be categorized into three partsPractical steps that you can take to improve your chances of getting a jobTools and tricks that a job seeker can use to increase interview chancesPositive psychological attitudes and outlooks that can help to reinforce the process and keep it goingFor some people, these come naturally. We all know those people who seem to create extensive networks with others as though it were second nature, right? Others of us need a little bit of help and guidance. Thats what this page is for.Weve separated job search strategies and skills into four sections trad itional search skills, modern search skills, self-improvement skills, and attitude.Naturally, we begin with tradition.1. Traditional Job Search SkillsThe foundation of a successful job search begins with traditional skills. These are the skills that existed before the advent of the Internet, instant communication, and online profiles. They consist of scanning newspapers, using the phone, walking into establishments with your own two legs, and generally having a hard-nosed sense of purpose to find employment. You may be wondering why its important that you practice these skills in these modern times. In short because they still work, and they leave a strong impression on hiring managers.So, for a brief moment, lets travel back in time to when no telephones were cordless and televisions were fat and heavy.Heres how someone would start their job searchScanning NewspapersScanning newspaper classified job ads for employment is still a key method for finding a job. Not all establishment o wners are web savvy, nor do they need to be. Many are older and more traditional therefore, the classifieds job section in your local newspaper is still worth looking through.What should be your strategy when looking through newspaper job ads?Get a pen, and circle jobs that look relevant to youChoose jobs that are below your pay grade. Dont be too picky throw out a broad net, just in case you ansturm into bad luck.Choose jobs that are above your pay grade. You may surprise yourself and end up in a better position than you could have imagined.If there is a phone number, give them a call directly. Even if theres also an email attached.Send a resume and cover letter via the email address given.Telephone Cold CallingCold calling is about as enjoyable as jumping into a cold pool. Nobody really likes it, but it can create too many opportunities to pass up. These are the benefits of cold callingYou can clarify the application process, if it is unclearYou may be first in line if the compa ny has just decided to hire new employeesYoull leave a strong impression on the hiring manager, who is likely to be surprised by a confident cold callYou can cold call any company you want especially the ones that could give you your dream jobBe koranvers to speak into the phone with confidence. If you sound meek, you may leave a negative impression.Legs Theyre Made For WalkingWalking into an establishment to ask about employment is even more nerve wracking than cold calling, but the potential is even greater. Take these steps to ensure a successful visit.Dress up to make a smart impressionBring copies of your resume and cover letterDo your research, and ask to speak to the hiring manager by their specific nameMake sure youve done your research on the company before walking in. There is a possibility that you will get interviewed on the spot, if youre qualified and lucky enough. You dont want to stutter and look foolish, having walked into an establishment without knowing its purpo se and cause for existenceLeverage YourNetworkDid you know that the 1 trait of successful people is that they ask other people for help? Many people have a fear of troubling others by asking for assistance. The truth is, people generally like to be helpful, unless youre asking for a serious time commitment. Fortunately, asking other people if they are aware of employment opportunities does not qualify as a serious time commitment, so you are in the clear.Ask your friends, friends of friends, and family if they are aware of any employment opportunities. With luck, that partie will recommend you directly to the hiring manager, which will almost certainly put you on a short list for an interview, given that you are qualified enough. TipYou may wish to send out aletter of interest to companies you are impressed by, even if theyre not advertising. You can use any contacts you have in the company to put in a good word for youIf you dont have many friends, family, or connections, this may be harder. Its never too late to start making new friends.2. Modern Job Search SkillsModern job search skills are quickly becoming an absolute necessity to successfully apply to major corporations, and especially modern types of business like web companies and app developers. By modern we are, of course, talking about the Internet and its various jobs search tools and aides. Currently, the defining characteristic of Internet-based job search tools is how rapidly they change. Fortunately, this has largely been for the better generally theres been increased ease of use, and less werbemail, scams, and nonsense.However, the rapid evolution of the Internet means that youll need to constantly brush up on your skills in order to keep up with the zeitgeist. Here are the major tools youll need to succeed in the current eraJob Search EnginesAlthough utilizing your personal network is best, sometimes it need to be supplemented. Job search engines are great because many of them now aggregate job postings from other websites, providing a huge collection of postings from around the web. Job search engines are especially useful for international searches, as that is where many recruiters will go first when seeking a particular employee with a unique set of skills.There are several online job search engines you can use to seek out employment. Each has its own benefits and drawbacks. You can read an article here explaining the virtues of each site. Dont rely solely on the search engine to do all of the work though, as its best to email the hiring manager directly, and call to follow up on your resume application.When used correctly, search engines are a great boost to any job hunt.TwitterAt first glance, Twitter is a terribly shallow mess of spam and nonsense. Yet, we can sum up our argument for why you should give Twitter a chance in three picturesAs it turns out, there are diamonds in the rough Use the search function to search for your profession, and you may encounter tw eets from companies looking to employ someone like you. Its worth a shot.Make aLinkedIn AccountThis is a must. Set up a LinkedIn account and tailor a well-worded outline of your career. Recruiters are using this network for professionals more and more frequently to find new talent. On LinkedIn, you can upload your resume, your friends and co-workers can endorse your skills, and they can also write letters of recommendation for you.Employers can actually find your profile when searching for related keywords, meaning that simply by having a LinkedIn account youre actually passively accruing job leads.You cant argue with that kind of efficiency.3.Self-improvement methodsDo you feel like your job search is unsuccessful because youre lacking marketable skills? The Internet offers a generous sortiment of gifts in the form of websites, that teach you valuable skills youd normally have to pay tens of thousands of dollars for in structured college courses.Here are a few sites you can use to learn some skills, and beef up your resumeCoursera This site partners with Universities to offer courses ranging from computer science to biology.Khan Academy Similar to Coursera, but more centered on self-learning rather than seminar style classes.Code Academy Learn how to code with this very simple tool.Mozilla Open Badges Mozilla and the MacArthur Foundation are partnering up, and will potentially revolutionize the way we earn and display our skill sets. Id highly recommend starting early on earning digital badges.Excel Easy Knowing how to use Excel (PIVOT TABLES) will often make your amtsstube mates think youre a magician. Some even say knowing Excel can help you rise faster in your job. Its definitely worth looking in to.4. Helpful LinksFor more information about job searching and strategies, check out Don Georgevichs collection of links covering all aspects of the job hunt.

How Having More Girls in STEM Might be a Very Bad Thing

How Having More Girls in STEM Might be a Very schwimmbad Thing Kids spend a lot of time behind screens, whittling away hours each day messaging friends on social media, playing games, watching movies or television series, reading and even doing homework. And parents especially those who work in Silicon Valley are worried for their childrens health. While encouraging more girls to pursue coding could lead to economic equality, many parents are wary about promoting further use of technology, especially when girls need more screen time outside of school to stay on the STEM path to pursue STEM roles.Nearly one in four American teens report an almost constant use of their tech devices, according to a study by the Pew Research Center. One report by Common Sense Media found that the amount of time young people spend on mobile devices alone has tripled in just four years children eight years old and younger spent about 15 minutes a day staring at a mobile screen in 2013, and now they spen d 48 minutes a day (which adds up to an average of two hours and 19 minutes a day for all screen media).Chris Anderson, the former editor of Wired and currently the chief executive of a robotics and drone company, as well as the founder of GeekDad.com, told the New York Times On the scale between candy and crack cocaine, technology is closer to crack cocaine. He added that technologists thought they could control technology use, but tech goes straight to the pleasure centers of the developing brain, which he said is beyond the capacity of regular parents to understand.Anderson isnt alone in worrying that technology is addicting. Some addiction specialists contend that the overuse of social media, video games and other screen media technology can affect the brain in the same ways that drug and alcohol dependency do. In fact, estimates posit that over 210 million people suffer from internet and social media addictions across the globe, which is no surprise given that statistics show w e spend an average of a day a week online, tapping, swiping and clicking on our devices 2,617 times each day.Technology can be so addictive, in fact, one study found that 71 percent of Americans actually sleep with or next to their mobile devices 45 percent of whom check social media instead of sleeping. Roughly 10 percent of teens actually check their phones more than 10 times per night. Even 90 percent of drivers admit to using smartphones behind the wheel, 50 percent of whom are reportedly checking social media. Forty-six percent of Americans go so far as to say that they could not live without their mobile phones.Like all addictions, technology overuse can have debilitating effects. A 2018 study found that teens who spend five hours per day using their phones were almost twice as likely to exhibit depressive symptoms than counterparts who dedicated only one hour on their phones. A study by the National Institute of Mental Health also found a significant association between soci al media use and depression. This research isnt surprising, however. Another study by the American Journal of Preventive Medicinefound that heavy social media users were twice as likely to report experiencing social isolation. Meanwhile, 52 percent of school-age students say social media makes them feel less confident about both their appearances and about how interesting their lives are.For parents interested in encouraging their daughters to pursue passions for STEM the question of how much technology use is acceptable is a tough one. To date, only 27 percent of all students taking the AP Computer Science exam in the United States are female, and just 18 percent of American computer-science college degrees go to women.The women who do go into STEM are more likely than men to leave their careers for jobs in other industries, too, according to Catalyst data. Fifty-three percent of women (compared to 31 percent of men) who start out in business roles in tech-intensive industries lea ve for other industries, largely because of isolation, hostile male-dominated work environments, ineffective executive feedback and a lack of effective sponsors, the research suggests. If more women worked in STEM, women would have female peers, leaders and sponsors, which would, in theory, lead to better retention rates.How does society get more women to enter STEM? Start them out young and expose them to more potentially dangerous screen time outside of school.The more young girls spend time using technology growing up, the more skills and perhaps the more interest theyll have in pursuing careers in STEM. Even the American Academy of Pediatrics says that evidence-based benefits identified from the use of digital and social media include early learning, exposure to new ideas and knowledge, increased opportunities for social contact and support.As girls grow older, women with technology experience may even have an advantage in the boardroom, according to Catalyst research. In 2016, women on corporate boards (16 percent) were almost twice as likely as their male counterparts (nine percent) to have professional technology experience among 518 ForbesGlobal 2000 companies.The conundrum To gain more technology experience, girls have to spend more time on technology.Its important there is balance in the online and offline worlds and in leisure and learning, but what that looks like for different kids at different ages and in different families is hard to prescribe, Jocelyn Brewer, a psychologist who specializes in the concept of digital nutrition, told The Guardian. Research shows that not having access to the digital world has a negative impact on kids so its about finding the right amount with a holistic approach.--AnnaMarie Houlis is a feminist, a freelance journalist and an adventure aficionado with an affinity for impulsive solo travel. She spends her days writing about womens empowerment from around the world. You can follow her work on her blog, HerReport.or g, and follow her journeys on Instagram her_report, Twitterherreport and Facebook.