?? 5 Offline Job Search Tools That Are Still Effective Today

?? 5 Offline Job Search Tools That Are Still Effective Today 169 When was the last time you applied for a job by fax? Photo by Todd Quackenbush My first resume in the early '90s was typed on what hardware maker Smith Corona called a “personal word processor”. It definitely processed my words! It was a computer keyboard attached to a printer the size of a small suitcase and it seemed to weigh a ton. The keyboard had a protective cover that flipped upwards and back, exposing a small monochrome computer screen. (Back then, digital screens were usually black characters on a beige or green background but I'll never forget how the Smith Corona had blue characters instead of black. I used to turn it on just because I liked seeing that novelty.) The machine had a typewriter mode which worked as you'd expect â€" each letter printed as your fingers touched the keyboard â€" but I don't think I ever used it for work, it would waste too much paper.eval Instead, I would use the more computer-like word processor mode where whatever I typed appeared on screen and could also be saved to a diskette. I think it even had a simple auto-save mode too.eval At the time, it was very cool as a “new age” typewriter and I was so productive with it that I continued using it for a while even after we bought our first PC. While you wouldn't want to go back to the days of typewriters and whiteout for your job search documents, other tools in the old job search toolkit that date back to that era are still useful today because so few other job seekers are using them. Which of these tools have you used most recently for job hunting? Photocopier Fax machine Handwritten letter Personal organizer or day planner Snail mail or delivery service View Results 5 job search tools that time forgot In increasing order of importance… 5) Photocopiers Most computer owners also have printers, and can print as many copies of their resume as they like. But what happens when you're at a job fair and start running out? Or maybe you just forgot to print enough copies before you came? 4) Personal organizers or day planners Sure, it's cool to have an iPad or another tablet, but they need to be charged, they break easily and they will empty your wallet. They're still not for everyone. Personal organizers, on the other hand, don't cost much, don't need to be charged and won't break so easily when dropped. Use one to manage your schedule, take notes, jot down ideas, organize newspaper clippings (e.g. job listings), store business cards (both yours and others') and more. Plus, just carrying one makes you look professional. 3) Your own handwriting Professor Randy Pausch, from Why Job Seekers Need To Carefully Handwrite Thank You Letters: Job interviewers and admissions officers see lots of applicants. They read tons of resumes from “A” students with many accomplishments. But they do not see many handwritten thank-you notes. If you are a B+ student, your handwritten thank-you note will raise you at least a half-grade in the eyes of a future boss or admissions officer. You will become an “A” to them. And because handwritten notes have gotten so rare, they will remember you. 2) Fax machines Who uses a fax machine anymore? Well, actually, most businesses do, judging by their websites and their listings in business directories such as the Yellow Pages (or Dapei Zahav in Israel). So why not fax in your resume instead of emailing it? A faxed resume can't be automatically flagged as spam, can't be blocked as suspicious by an antivirus program and just like with any other fax, you'll get a printed confirmation that it was sent successfully, which is more than you usually get. 1) Snail mail or delivery service Have you seen my 33 Most Unique and Funny Items Sent To Recruiters? Almost all those things were sent via snail mail or a courier service like FedEx or UPS. And all those things were memorable and attention-getting to those recruiters. ‘Nuff said. Bonus 6) Telephone While we've coveredwhy you need a smartphone to job search, most job seekers are still too hesitant to pick up the phone and dial. Yes, you should follow up after interviews, or to even see why you never received a response to your resume. But what about calling to see if there's even an opening in the first place? At worst, you could ask- “Oh, you're not hiring? Perhaps you can recommend a company who is, such as one of your business partners?” Question of the article Which classic job search tool have you used most recently? Did it help? Tell us in the comments. More reading about offline job search How to Combine Your Online and Offline Job Hunting Strategies Searching for a job that makes a difference: online and offline 8 Steps to Start Job Search Offline Executive Online and Offline Job Search Strategies

Writing a personal statement for Medicine University of Manchester Careers Blog

Writing a personal statement for Medicine University of Manchester Careers Blog Every Medical School will have its own criteria when considering a personal statement. The Manchester Medical School website has some advice on the application process, including what they are looking for in a personal statement. Their focus is on: Reasons for choosing Medicine Amount of work in a caring role Interests/Hobbies They are also interested in: Knowledge/experience of the healthcare system in the UK Evidence of teamwork Communication skills Determination/conscientiousness Intellectual potential How you deal with stress You should check the guidelines given by the institutions you are applying to. The first thing to bear in mind is that writing a solid personal statement is going to take time. Don’t try to do everything in one go. Give yourself plenty of time to write and re-write. It is likely that you’ll go through a few (or many) drafts before you are happy with your statement. The personal statement is about you. Medicine is a vocational course so you need to demonstrate your vocation. The admission tutors want to know who you are, what makes you tick and not necessarily a list of qualifications. Why do you want to become a doctor? What factors influenced you? Do you have any particular interests within the field of medicine? The amount of work in a caring role should not be merely a list of placements but a reflection on what you have learned from those experiences and how has that influenced you to apply for Medicine. Remember that empathy and people skills are very important in this area of work. Hobbies and interests should be relevant to your application. This does not mean that they have to be medical related but that you should demonstrate how they equipped you with skills that are valuable for the course you’re applying for. They will also confirm that you have a good balance in your life: you have a interests outside studying. Beware of plagiarism. Don’t borrow from others however tempting that is. First, it will most likely be spotted as UCAS uses specialist software to tackle plagiarism. Second, as much as you identify yourself with somebody else’s words, the bottom line is they are not yours. You must find your own voice. Double check for spelling, grammar and typos. Avoid exclamation marks and question marks. Ask a friend or a teacher to check it out for you; a pair of fresh eyes will always spot little mistakes you missed.  Don’t rely on spell-check because it doesn’t always work in the way you expect. For example, if you write “clinical trail” instead of “clinical trial” the spell-check might not correct it. Avoid clichés. Supposedly all applicants love science and want to help others. Go beyond the generalities. Also you won’t necessarily impress the admissions panel with a quote that inspired you. They have heard it all. In the Manchester Medical School, the interviewing panel includes clinicians and academics, some of which are non-clinical. Avoid flowery language and jargon as that will come across as pretentious. It is best to assume your audience will be well informed but non-clinical as that might very well be the case. Once you have a draft that you are happy with you can always get feedback from one of our applications advisers. Mariana Pinheiro Careers Information Team All Undergraduate Undergraduate-highlighted applications further study Medicine

Great expectations, revelations and frustrations getting to grips with life

Great expectations, revelations and frustrations getting to grips with life The Expectations “Go forth and conquer”, a wise man once said. This was to be my victory beat; the beat to which I would march head on into the fray of the graduate battleground. Armed with my 2:1, a whole load of ambition and enthusiasm aplenty, I was whole-heartedly confident that by the time autumn rolled around, I would have emerged victorious. The career ladder promised a world of opportunities and I was certain it  wouldnt  be long till I was swinging from its mighty rungs. The Reality Through the ever-flattering and brutally transparent looking glass that is hindsight, it is glaringly apparent that this was to be one struggle I was unprepared for. In fact, to say I was ill-prepared would be more accurate. Yes I was armed with the golden ticket that was my degree and the knowledge that the graduate market was certainly competitive â€" it only takes a glance at graduate employment statistics to appreciate that â€" but I was by no means ready to have my enthusiasm torn to shreds, my resilience beaten down and my focus stray off on some séjour all of its own. Five months in, I was left feeling black and blue, like I’d gone a round in the ring with a champion heavyweight: I felt disheartened and disillusioned, my expectations had been reduced to dust.  Most of all though, I felt frustrated. I felt disappointed and let down that nobody at university had prepared me to deal with the stark reality and emotional strain of tackling the job market. In short, all my hard- work seemed not only anticlimactic â€" had I missed the fireworks when I shook the Dean’s hand or tossed my mortarboard into the air? â€" but finding a graduate job suddenly became the be all and end all of my existence post-university; it became a huge weight to bear and my degree the shackles that I  couldnt  seem to shake off. The Frustrations I started by asking myself where I was going wrong; why was I still unemployed? Was my CV not ‘punchy’ enough; did I lack the relevant experience; had I chosen the wrong undergraduate course; is someone somewhere telling recruiters about the D grade I got at German AS-level and  didnt  disclose? Phew.   If this endless cycle of self-doubt and self-deprecation is starting to sound familiar and you’ve had Dashboard Confessional on repeat since July, take note young graduate. I don’t have all the answers on how to get on those damn rungs, but I do have a whole load of empathy and hopefully some bits of advice you might find useful on how to deal with tackling life after graduation. Perhaps, foremost, you need to be reassured that you haven’t lost your mind. I thought I’d hit crazy highway full throttle a couple of months back. I found myself entangled in what felt like an endless game of career chess, constantly thinking about my next move and which recruiter I was going to target next. I began to feel exhausted, sleep deprived and even thought I might be depressed. Naturally, I turned to the medical marvel that is Google and I was amazed to see how many other students had asked the same question. There are thirty-five million hits on post university depression and to know that I  wasnt  alone in feeling so horribly self-indulgent and embarrassingly caught up in my own negativism was really reassuring. It’s completely normal to feel at a loss and miss the safety net that education afforded us all for so long: it’s entirely natural to crave progression. It’s important to remind yourself that this happens to everybody at some point in their life. It’s just a bump in the road, an obstacle to jump over. When you thought you’d never get over that heart-wrenching first heartbreak, or you had to face a rejection letter from the university you really wanted to go to, and it felt like your world was about to self-implode, things worked out. You’re here, you’re reading this, you’re living proof that they did. Secondly, everybody has those friends who seem to have a tidy knack for swerving those bumps in the road. Right now this tends to be the friends that chose a vocational type degree who you can’t help but feel hindsight afforded a generous lashing of wisdom. Most of my friends from home are still studying for their Dentistry, Law or Medicine degree but are undoubtedly pre-destined for the dizzy heights of the career ladder. This particular aspect of the job hunt is, for me at least, the hardest element to deal with. Mastering the balance between being happy for your friends when you’re feeling at your most lost in a fog of self-pity and nostalgia really does take the face of a saint. It’s difficult to not feel shamefully envious, but it’s important to remember that this is about you and the action that you need to take. Look at what you have achieved so far and use this as motivation to pick yourself up. Once  youve  come to terms with accepting that how you’re feeling right now â€" whether that be confused, apathetic, envious or just downright lost â€" is entirely normal, you can begin to make some changes. For me, all these feelings and lack of focus really boiled down to one simple factor: I HAD NO IDEA WHAT I WANTED TO DO. Finding Direction Of course you’re going to be frustrated and exhausted when you’re applying for jobs that don’t hold an ounce of appeal and six months down the line you’ll be wondering how on earth you’re now going to get out of employment. It took me a while to accept this; that the reason I felt like I was going round in circles was, well, BECAUSE I WAS. I  didnt  know what I wanted to do and that was why I wasn’t getting anywhere; I’d slammed the brakes on without even realizing. I took a few weeks out in October mainly to reunite with my own sanity. Since then  Ive  stopped relentlessly trawling graduate recruitment sites â€" I got caught up in the notion that since I was a graduate, I should only apply for graduate schemes â€" and started to research other areas, ones  Im  actually interested in. I sat myself down, embarked on some pro-activity that was actually useful and made a list of the things  Im  most passionate about. Now  Im  applying for positions that  Im  actually enthused about, because if the criteria  isnt  on my list, then I don’t waste my efforts or my sanity applying and then waiting on the rejection email. The process is suddenly a whole  lot less tedious and draining. Of course this does limit the chances of getting a job straight away and I appreciate that some people need to start paying back the pesky loans. But if you’re fortunate enough to have parents that don’t mind having you around for a little longer,  Ive  found offering to work for free just to gain any titbits of experience in the sector you’re wanting to pursue has been a really valuable approach- after all, who can refuse the offer of free work. It’s also helping to sharpen my focus, giving me the opportunity to see what I like and what  Im  good at and vice-versa, with the hope I’ll eventually find the goal line. Developing a clear goal or at least having a strong idea is the best way to deal with this next stage in your graduate life. It  hasnt  been the natural progression we all expected and so you have to take hold of the reigns by finding your own means of transportation to take you in the direction that you want to head by, using the tools that  youve  worked hard for to get you there. A degree might not have been the golden ticket we all thought it would be, but it’s a hell of a good starting point. To jump on board and be in the race, you need a ticket. So stick it out, be honest with yourself and make some clean-cut decisions. You’ll be able to devise a straightforward action plan with a fresh perspective, rejuvenate from no more exhaustive graduate scheme applications that you  arent  inspired by, and tackle the rungs of the career ladder with new drive and enthusiasm. Good luck, stay strong and don’t be afraid to ask for help! photo credit: poonomo via photopin cc 19

Why Twitter Lists are Great for Hearing Through the Noise (and Stalking People)

Why Twitter Lists are Great for Hearing Through the Noise (and Stalking People) Whether you’re on Twitter or not, you’ll know that it is a vast, noisy place. There’s no getting away from what people had for breakfast, the latest football score or an article on how to use Twitter better. All of this noise can put many recruiters off and stop them from getting real value from the channel, however it’s also a massively valuable tool!  Bullhorn Reach reported in 2011 that Twitter attracted 3 times the amount of applications per job than jobs posted on Facebook and LinkedIn (compelling!) I am a massive fan of Twitter and the Lists functionality it provides. Heres why: What is a Twitter List? Simply, a list of Twitter users in one place that you can tune in to (and cancel out the rest of the noise). Think about the kinds of channels youd like on your Twitter TV: Clients listening to active clients and engaging with them. Targets listening in to conversations, hearing nuggets to help you with your strategy to work with them. Competitors who are they talking to?  What are they talking about? Candidates keep these people sweet; they are instrumental. Personal I use Twitter for personal stuff, but I need to keep it out of work space, so I add Eddie Izzard, film critics, etc to a separate list and tune in when I can. Thought leaders / trade bodies / suppliers to the industry what are they sharing which can help your brain or give you something insightful to share? Twitter Lists can be private (lists of candidates, clients, competitors lists you dont want to share) or public (lists of great content providers, thought leaders lists that make you look good). Benefits of Creating a Twitter List: Hearing through the noise (currently approx. 400,000,000 tweets sent per day). Tuning in to specific types of content (jobs, people, content, competitors, client etc…) â€" create private lists to help you keep up to speed on your sector without giving away your gold! Demonstrating your approach / specialism â€" create a public list called “Great IT content” and sharing it with people is a great tool for community management / engagement tactic. …and best of all, you can put people in to lists without following them and attracting attention (shhhh…) Stalking: Yes, you can add people to Twitter Lists without actually following them. Why is this a good thing? It keeps your following numbers down (strangely, this can help you attract more because you look less rabid!) They cant see that youve put them into a private list. Got a Great Public Twitter List and Want to Share it? Create the list Click onto it Grab the URL from the address bar (eg:  https://twitter.com/LisaMariJones/technology) and tweet it / share through Facebook/ LinkedIn etc (Have you got a great Twitter List?  Share it via the comments section below please.) Theres An App for that! There’s a million and 1 apps for Twitter that I could tell you about, but TwitListManager is a cute app that does what it says on the tin. Its great for helping manage your lists and much speedier than using Twitter. It: allows you to create lists (you can of course do this within Twitter too). you can scroll up and down the list of people you follow and simply tick which list to add them to (this is a pain in Twitter!) Nice and simple! Then   you get all of the benefits mentioned above. Have a play and let me know what you think. What lists could you create? How could they help you get more engaged with Twitter? Could you generate precious leads, candidates and content from these lists? Let us know in the comments below.

The work experience you need to secure a graduate job

The work experience you need to secure a graduate job Were constantly being told that work experience is one of the key things employers look for in an application, but its difficult to know exactly what kind of experience they mean and how much you need to do. We all know that juggling your studies around extra-curriculars and a part-time job is hard enough without adding tonnes of work experience on top. If you get it right though, work experience can be that golden ticket into your first graduate role, and a valuable insight into the industry. Just dont go overboard, and make sure to leave time for your studies as a rule you should be aiming for around one months worth of work experience as a minimum, but this should never clash with your degree. Once you know how much work experience you need, you just need to know what kind of placements you should be applying for. Confused? Dont worry, weve got you covered Law Securing work experience in Law is fiercely competitive but one of the best ways of getting your foot in the door with a law firm. Most of the bigger law firms will have formal schemes, and applications open early, so keep your eyes peeled to make sure you dont miss out. Here are some examples of the kinds of work experience you should be aiming for: Vacation schemes These are usually month-long placements for second and final year students, where youll be based in a law firm shadowing staff, working on projects and gaining a really in-depth insight into the company. Mini-pupillages These are shorter than vacation schemes, usually lasting 1-2 weeks, and are specifically based in a set of chambers, giving you an insight into life as a barrister. Open days These give you a short taste of what its like at a particular firm, and normally involve networking, guided tours and group activities. We went along to a Shearman Sterling open day to find out more. Work shadowing These are normally more informal, and are secured through speculative applications rather than official schemes. Theyre particularly useful for trying out a certain area of law to see if its right for you. Law society and mooting competitions Joining your university Law society will help you develop experience, and mooting competitions (essentially mock trials) are a great way of building your skills and confidence. Pro bono work This involves providing free legal advice to those who would otherwise be unable to afford it, and is a great way of using your law expertise to give something back to the community. Other ways to build experience  Watching court trials, visiting law fairs, marshalling a judge, part-time work, student journalism politics. Engineering One of the best ways to get work experience in engineering is through a year in industry. These can be an integrated part of your course, but if not, most universities offer services to help you organise your own. Many companies also recruit for summer internships, which often last around 6-10 weeks, as well as shorter placements over Christmas and Easter. Some of these can be competitive to get on, so if you dont manage to secure the engineering placement of your dreams, dont panic. Theres loads of other options out there which will look impressive on your CV. For example, smaller engineering companies might not advertise official work experience schemes, but are often open to taking on students for shadowing, volunteering or even part-time work if you send a speculative email. And dont forget that the skills you develop on non-engineering work experience, for example through part-time work, being part of a society committee, carrying out charity work, volunteering and independent travel, are all still useful assets to put on your application. Media Marketing Work experience in the media industry is notoriously unofficial and often done on an ad hoc basis, favouring people with connections in the industry. You can apply for summer work placements though, and some of the bigger marketing agencies offer paid internships and summer placements. They also often offer things like taster days and insight sessions, which although not very substantial, are a useful way of determining whether a company is right for you. Many aspects of the industry however, especially areas such as journalism, often require you to send lots of speculative emails and hope for the best. Dont be disheartened if you dont get anywhere at first you often have to send lots of emails to receive any response. If youre struggling, try targeting smaller publications or companies; you might think those big names are more impressive for your CV, but youll often learn more in a smaller organisation. Finance Banking For work experience in finance, internships and vacation schemes are your first port of call. The biggest accountancy firms have competitive schemes for this, but also offer insight days and work shadowing which are often easier to get on to. Getting work experience in your first year can be tricky, but in your second year you should be aiming to do either an industrial placement year or a summer internship. Research has shown that 75% of graduate vacancies are filled by those who have already completed an internship in the company, so getting some experience is essential. If you dont manage to get yourself a strong work experience placement theyre incredibly competitive after all why not try and get some experience in the finance department of a big company, in the public sector (think the council or NHS trusts) or in some charities? All big companies across industries including science, technology, media and culture, will have finance departments so try and secure some experience by sending out some emails. Consumer Retail Again, for a role in consumer or retail, a year in industry is the ideal way to gain some solid experience and a foothold inside a company. Just remember that deadlines for these placements often fall in December/January so you have to be quick off the mark. Theres also internships and summer placements to consider, especially for those in second year, and shorter term placements (1-2 weeks) which take place throughout the year but are often unpaid. Just remember that there are multiple different areas to the retail industry, so make sure youre getting the right kind of work experience or youre using your work experience to decide what it is you want to do. From retail management to merchandising and buying, the roles within the industry vary widely so know what path you want to take. IT Technology The important thing to remember here is that for a career in IT, you dont necessarily need an IT-related degree. Although STEM students are often preferred, being able to demonstrate a high level of experience will stand you in good stead when making an application. There are a number of formal schemes such as summer internships and shorter placements, as well as year-long industry placements, that you can apply for. But also consider things such as a temp job that you can fit around your studies, work shadowing schemes, or even just working on your own IT project. If youre involved in a society or campaign or if you can show how you used your IT skills to develop a website or improve the smooth running of operations, employers will be impressed you used your own initiative. Also have a look for volunteering projects; there are a number of initiatives to teach children and young people how to code you could get involved with. You could also have a go at a hackathon, an event where a group of software developers carry out an intense collaboration on a project, often in competition with others. Think outside the box and youll have plenty of experience in no time. Connect with Debut on  Facebook,  Twitter,  and  LinkedIn  for more careers insights.

Summary Sunday Get Noticed. Get Results. Be Successful

Summary Sunday Get Noticed. Get Results. Be Successful These six posts feature tips and advice for the biggest challenges job seekers and careerists face- how to get noticed, get results and be successful.   Every week I share hundreds of articles to help job seeker and careerists be more successful. The ones listed below are top performers and worthy of highlighting again- all in one place. Do you follow me on Twitter? Follow @careersherpa // < ![CDATA[ // < ![CDATA[ // < ![CDATA[ !function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+'://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js';fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document, 'script', 'twitter-wjs'); // ]] Get Noticed! The 5-Minute Technique That Will Get You Noticed by Important People by Aja Frost | The Daily Muse Got a Twitter account? Then this is absolutely for you. It can sometimes work  on LinkedIn too, but only if you tag the person. Get Results! The No. 1 Thing to Do When Job Hunting by Nancy Collamer | Next Avenue Nancy Collamers article is based on the presentation given by Gerry Crispin (expert on recruitment and hiring strategies, co-founder of CarerXroads) at this years Career Thought Leaders conference. What does Gerry say you need to do? Youll have to read the short article! Be Successful! 6 Ways to Make an Outstanding First Impression by Jeremy Goldman | Inc. Do you make the right first impression? These tips should help. College Is Worth It If You Have These Six Experiences by Brandon Busteed | Quartz Theres a lot of talk around the ROI from a college degree. To what extent can  you (your son, daughter, etc) influence post-college success? This article is based on research by Gallup The  Gallup-Purdue Indexâ€"a massive study of 30,000 college graduates in the USâ€"measured the degree to which graduates were engaged in their work and thriving in their purpose, social, financial, community, and physical well-being. recent Gallup research indicates that 25% of all college graduates in the US fail to thrive in their overall careers and lives. Spoiler: Here are the six experiences: a professor who made them excited about learning professors who cared about them as a person a mentor who encouraged them to pursue their goals and dreams worked on a long-term project had a job or internship where they applied what they were learning were extremely involved in extra-curricular activities #TChat Recap: How To Turn Horrible Bosses Into Happier Relationships by Meghan Biro | Talent Culture This is a summary and replay of #TChat- its part Twitter chat and part podcast. This provides you with two ways to learn more about the topic.  The guest was  Tony Deblauwe, Founder of consulting firm HR4Change. LinkedIn 18 Reasons Why You Need Every Employee Using LinkedIn Every Day by William Arruda | Forbes If you think LinkedIn is just an online resumethink again. Here are ways LinkedIn is a powerful tool for employers and employees!

Keys to Writing a Good Resume

Keys to Writing a Good ResumeSo, you're now well on your way to writing a good resume. If you need some help to write a great resume, then you may want to read this article. You will learn some tips that will help you create the perfect resume for yourself.The first thing that you should think about is the key word in your resume, which is the positive statement. Why? Well, it will greatly improve your chances of getting an interview, which is the most important step in the hiring process.When you get an interview, they want to know your abilities, so you will have to be prepared for hard questions. One of these questions is what you do in your spare time. Your cover letter should include this information in order to tell the employer that you have some job experience.Another thing that you should include on your resume is where you have taught before. This will prove to them that you are someone who has the ability to teach and provide valuable assistance. This will be very helpful in showing why you deserve a job in their company.Another thing that you should include on your resume is the objective statements. You can write your own objective statements but you should include your company's objective statements. Your objective statements will tell them what you do and why you deserve to get hired.Finally, you should also include your cover letter. Your cover letter will show the employer why you deserve to get hired. Your cover letter should also include the three points that they will look at when deciding whether or not to hire you.These are the keys to writing a good resume. Once you finish writing your resume, make sure that you always follow these tips.