CareerFood

Resumes that POP

Still playing catch-up but came across this great post on resume writing by Janelle Godfrey.

My only comment is I think 40 seconds is being a little generous...you're lucky if you get 20!

Don't be a Big Stinking Goober!

I've been on vacation for a while and just getting back into the swing of things. While trying to catch up on my reading, Dan over at Fracat almost made me fall out of my chair laughing with this one.

Thanks to the HR Guy for starting it off.

Career Advice from Kenny Rogers

AAAH, Kenny Rogers, a true American treasure.

Reading Bill Vick's latest news update on Employment Digest made me think of Kenny Rogers in The Gambler (A masterpiece of American cinematography). I love the petal to the metal, guns blazing, diving-in-head-first approach to career search that the article seems to espouse. (The biggest steak in Texas...I love that...Texans always have the best sayings)

But just like Kenny says...You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em....So true Kenny, so true.

Send a letter to the CEO of a few companies in town and see what happens...Why Not! Randomly calling up employers and asking, "How can I help?" Sure! Doing this to every CEO and Employer in town? MMM, not so good.

Today's Lesson
When searching for a job you need to remember you have a toolbox. Sometimes you need to use all those tools and sometimes only a few. The key is to figure out when to go in with guns blazing and when to hold 'em.

Gas, Utilities & Healthcare are Costly

We've started the DUH!! category of posts at CareerFood and the first entry is a doozie!

The Gallup Organization has just released its latest poll and this one really caught me off guard. In shock, I called up the Gallup Organization and spoke with a receptionist Pollster to confirm the results and she informed me that it is indeed true... Americans feel they are paying more now for Gas, Utilities, Healthcare, etc. than ever before.

SPOILER ALERT!
The sames Pollster also gave me a heads up on next week poll...Americans believe it is more likely to snow in Minnesota than Florida.

Interview Stalking Bad!

Polite and Professional Follow up Good!

Your HR Guy has a great rant about the subtleties of interview follow up and how caller-id plays into the equation. Stalking aside, a professional well prepared call or message to a hiring authority accomplishes 2 things:

1. It shows motivation and interest; and
2. It gets your name in front of them again.

A good rule to follow is...If you think your actions can be perceived as stalking, they probably are.

Top 10 Comebacks

Ouch!! The Biz Journal just released a new study ranking America's smartest cities. Guess what...Orlando did not make the top 10 or 20 or 50. Does that bother anyone other than me? What is even more troubling is that only one city in Florida made the top 50, and that was Jacksonville.

Are you kidding me? Jacksonville??

I have a big issue with how the Biz Journal determined the "Smartest Cities". Apparently they developed a point system based on level of education received. The higher you are on the educational ladder, the smarter you are..ergo... the smarter your city is.

HMMMMM? So I guess Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Wayne Huizenga, Richard Branson and others, who never received a college degree, are not really helping their respective cities out much?

What's Orlando to do? Well without further delay here are the top ten comebacks you can use when snooty people from cities like Omaha (#18) or El Paso (#48) make fun of you:

10. El Paso? Yes it's OK but I'm a Pace Picante man myself.
9. I hear Nebraska is beautiful in January (immediately start laughing uncontrollably).
8. How much do you pay in state income tax up there?
7. Two words - Mickey Mouse!
6. Do you use a shovel or a snow blower?
5. It must be fun to wear a rain coat everyday. (Seattle #1)
4. Yeah, going to the beach all the time does get a little boring.
3. Whoa, was that a tremor?
2. Golfing 365 baby!
1. Wow, you're really pale!

I Dream of...Banking?

Have you ever wondered what it would be like working for a bank? Well, according to a new article in the Biz Journal, the perks have gotten considerably better than Free Checking! Here are some of the benefits local financial institutions are offering new recruits...

• Full Relocation
• Car Allowances
• Signing Bonuses
• Paid Personal and Professional Coaching Services
• Free Daily Chair Massages

Just kidding about the last one...it might be nice though.

So let me get this straight...

I shouldn't answer my cell phone during the interview???

...and one more for your enjoyment!

So you've found the perfect job...

online. Everything is a match; salary, qualifications and even location. There is only one small problem, you have not yet received a response to your submitted resume. Hmmm?

If this sounds familiar, then you should probably read this.

I know you're a big fan but...

do you really need to have Shakira, Jay-Z, Rascal Flatts, Kelly Clarkson, or any other miscellaneous singer, rapper, pop idol playing as your voice mail message when I call?

Yeah...I get it...you're passionate about the music, the hips don't lie! It's also really fun to change it up every once in a while, keep 'em guessing..."who's Eddie going to have on his answering machine this week?" "He's so crazy!"

If I can, let me offer one tiny piece of advice...If you are looking for a job and have this playing as your outgoing message on the phone you listed as your contact...well... it kinda (please don't take offense) gives the impression that you're a moron.

So you should stop...or at the very least switch to Jimmy Buffett (everyone loves a Parrothead).