How To Gain Hands-On Experience for a Job - TheJobNetwork

How To Gain Hands-On Experience for a Job - TheJobNetworkYou know you need experience to get a job. Trouble is, you cant get any on-the-job experience without first having a job. Its the classic early career Catch-22. The good news, however, is that there are a ton of ways to gain work experience before you ever get your first proper job. Make sure to plan ahead and accumulate valuable skills and knowledge from ansicht experiences in time to apply for your first job. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) Here are a few great ways to get experience without getting hired.1. InternshipsAn internship is just like a job in that you do a ton of work, learn a lot, and gain valuable experience in a field. But its not at all like a job in that you usually get paid very little or nothing at alland the term is usually short. Internships are widely available, in almost every field. Figure out what industry you want to work in eventually, and then get invo lved learning the tricks of the trade. Youll have to fetch some coffee, but it just might get you hired one day.2. ShadowingUse your network, professional association, school career office, other programs, or even family members to find someone in your chosen field who would let you shadow them. This could be anywhere from a few hours to a few days, but lets you get valuable insight into the day-to-day experience of that field.3. VolunteeringYou definitely wont be paid, except in the satisfaction of helping others, but you will gain a ton of experience that will look excellent on your future resume. Many provide training. All will give you access to learning the skills youll want, whether that be in child or elder care, administration, writing, teaching, coaching, fundraising, sales, mentoring, phone manner, construction, arts, etc.4. School/Community WorkThink your extracurricular activities dont count? Any time you participate in a club or organization, whether sports or arts or r eligion related, you can gain a ton of experience that will set you up surprisingly well for the job market.5. FreelancingSometimes you have to prove you have what it takes before you can actually be brought on board. If you freelance, you can prove your talents and skills and expertise first and then make your way onto the payroll. And after your first gig, youll have racked up a ton of professional experience for next time.6. NetworkingIt isnt always all about what you know. Sometimes a job will come down to who you know. Make sure to start growing a robust network of contacts and keeping yourself as current as possible.

Our New Work-Life Balance Guide Ranks Companies Flexibility

Our New Work-Life Balance Guide Ranks Companies Flexibility Have you ever wondered whether a job youre applying to will allow for any flexibility in hours? Maybe youre looking for a 4-day work week, or maybe you just want to be able to work from home occasionally. Maybe you want to just duck out to binnensee your kids soccer game Whatever your reason for needing flexibility is, its probably not something you want to bring up during a job interview.A decent number of companies offer some flexibility benefits. But, they sure dont make it easy for you to figure out what which ones they are. Fairygodboss even analyzed the career websites of the Fortune 100 companies, and found that almost none of those companies published their flex policies publicly. Today, Fairygodboss is launching the Work-Life Balance Guideto help women discover which employers offer part-time jobs, flexible working policies and telecommuting positions. You can search by industry and company to see what other women h ave said about job flexibility at their firms and compare employers. On the flip side, for many women we talk to, flexibility is a top priority - or even sometimes a necessity - in their work. So, to help women avoid the stigma that comes with asking about flexibility and coming across as less-than-committed, weve crowdsourced the flexibility policies and practices of over 1,000 employers (and growing).The last time we checked, your job doesnt change on a daily basis. Since the largest component of your work-life balance picture hinges on the work part of the equation, were helping you find find jobs and build a career thats the best fit for your life. Even if youre not jobseeking, help us help other women by anonymously sharing the inside scoop on your companys flexibility policies here https//fairygodboss.com/work-life-balance-flexibility-guideFairygodboss is committed to improving the workplace and lives of women.Join us by reviewing your employer

8 Candidate Questions You Need To Be Prepared to Answer

8 Candidate Questions You Need To Be Prepared to AnswerDuring the interview process, theres a significant amount of heat on candidates when it comes to fielding questions to prove that theyre a good fit for an open role within a particular geschftliches miteinander. As they interview, theyll be meeting with a hiring manager and often a team of other employees. At this time, theyre expected to eloquently answer a range of questions about themselves. Everything from past work experience to their biggest weaknesses are fair game. But if a candidate approaches the process correctly and thoroughly, theyll also do their fair share of question-asking. Making koranvers a candidate is an appropriate fit for a lage is a two-way street.Why is it necessary for a job seeker to ask their own set of questions during an interview?To some people, it may seem odd that a job seeker comes armed with their own list of candidate questions to toss an interviewers way. The hiring manager clearly has the upp er hand. Theyve got a dozen or more qualified and interested applicants who want this position, so why should they waste time on someone who needs to verify that the job will be a good fit for them too? Heres why a candidate who asks questions during an interview is actually beneficial to everyone involved in the processIt shows the candidate is investedIf the part didnt care about the position and were simply seeking employment, they wouldnt want to know about the kinds of projects theyd be working on or the types of people theyd be working with, should they receive a job offer. Theyd just be glad to have a job and a paycheck. But by asking questions about the details of the role, this individual is illustrating that theyre interested in more than just a salary theyre seeking a career. Theyre showing that they want to contribute positively to this office environment, and theyre looking to stick around for the long haul.This candidate is valuable to an employer who loses time and mo ney by constantly having to train employee after employee when ill-fitting individuals leave after only a matter of months.Youre checking for cultural fitSomeone can be absolutely perfect for your company on paper theyre well educated, experienced, maybe even award-winning but in real life, they just dont mesh well with your team. Maybe their personality doesnt blend with the rest of your staff, or their work style or approach to projects doesnt sync up with how your office does things. When both interviewer and candidate ask questions about how that candidate operates versus how that office does things, it becomes easy to identify who would be a good fit and who would ultimately be unhappy should they be offered a role within that business.Youre identifying potential harte nusss before its too lateAn interviewer cant possibly cover every bit of information that a potential employee might need to know before accepting a job. By answering candidate questions and having a conversati on about the role, it allows potential hiccups in the equation to reveal themselves before its too late. If, for example, theres a certain type of client that the candidate absolutely refuses to work with, this point might come up when questioned about it during an interview. Had this back-and-forth elend taken place, the hiring manager might not have thought to mention the fact that the business serves this particular kind of client.Dont be surprised if candidates asks you questions in the jobinterview. They can reveal a lot.Click To TweetThe questions a candidate asks during an interview can vary from basic logistics about the job to more high level, deep thinking, lets stop and analyze this for a second inquiries. With that said, here are some candidate questions you should always be prepared to answer when you sit down for a one-on-one with a potential new hireHow does this company measure success?Success varies from business to business so any responsible would-be employee will want to know how your company gauges achievement. Is it based on sales? Leads? Projects completed? Be prepared to answer this thoroughly. You might also want to provide examples of the work habits of people who have been successful in this position in the past. For example, Susan had this position before you, and she seemed to find success by staying organized, attending networking events to grow her client base, and by doing a mixture of cold calling and e-mailing, while working connections she already had. Simply saying, We measure success by having people work hard and try their best isnt helpful to potential employees.What would you expect from me in my first month, 6 months, and a year from now?You should have a set trajectory in mind for your new employee in order to help everyone gauge this individuals achievement level and keep them on the right path. Giving them real direction and guidance about where they need to be headed is an important part of keeping the person motiva ted. When a new hire has no idea whats expected of them now or in the future, its easy for them to feel discouraged or overwhelmed by their role. You should have small, easily attainable goals for when they first begin their work. Youll also want to establish larger goals that could be accomplished after six months worth of work, and big picture goals that youd like to see accomplished after a years time.Why is this role important to the growth of the company?This isnt your typical what are my duties? question, and requires deep thought on the part of the hiring manager. Is the individual who fills this role taking over a position thats been around since day one, or are they coming in to take on a new position, filled with new projects and potential? Theres no wrong answer, but its important to establish which path this role will take the employee down. If its a position that everyone knows and is familiar with, the required job duties are more set in stone. Veteran employees know w hat to expect as they interact with the person in this position. This can cut down on the amount of ramp-up time required for a new employee, but it doesnt always allow for imagination and innovation on the part of the new hire. If its a newly established position, it lets the recently added team member figure out how to create value as part of the team. However, it can also take them longer to figure out where exactly they fit in within the business. Decide what needs are most pressing within your business and proceed accordingly.How will I be making other employees jobs easier?With this question, youre able to show the potential hire who theyd be working with most closely, while also indicating how theyre adding value to the company. This gives them insight into how theyd fit in within the organization, without having to break down the intricate inner workings of the team in a way that might be overwhelming to someone who doesnt even know where the restroom is located yet. Its jus t enough of an overview for them to understand where theyd fit in, without burdening them with information they dont need in this exact moment.What matters to people who work here?This can spark a valuable conversation about company culture as well as a discussion about the kinds of employees you currently have on staff. What are the people like? What can this person expect as they come to work each day? Is the office more collaborative or do people typically tend to work individually? Are office hours flexible or do people show up, work their set schedule, and then leave? What kinds of ideas are welcomed within the office? What kind of energy can you expect? Because this is becoming increasingly important to job seekers (and business leaders say culture and engagement is their number one challengeaccording to a study by Deloitte University Press) its a conversation worth having right off the bat.Companyculture is employers 1 problem (DeloitteUS). Fix it by discussing it with candid ates.Click To TweetWhat is your favorite part about working here?Job seekers view a veteran employee as a valuable resource when theyre on the hunt for a new career opportunity. They value honesty as they interview. Just as you want to make a smart hiring choice, they want to make sure that the next job they take is a great fit for them. Therefore, youll often get this question from potential new hires who are curious about what you as a real person, not just a representative of your company, like about coming to work each day. Is it the people you work with? The kinds of projects you get to work on? What makes you excited to leave the comfort of your bed, sit in traffic, and head to the office? Feel free to give your most honest answer. Theres no response that is too silly or small. Whether you love the additional educational opportunities youre presented with or the delicious, healthy free food thats always available in the break room, talk about it. Your responses are highly valu able to people who are hoping to join your team.What could my trajectory be within this company?Every hiring manager should want to hear this question because it indicates that the individual intends to stay within the organization for the long run. Be honest about the typical path a person who begins in this role takes, but also be willing to have a dialogue about other options. Just because past employees have followed a certain path, doesnt mean that is whats most desirable for your new hire. Be willing to give this individual the flexibility and freedom to operate in a way thats most appropriate based on their skills, needs, and desires as well as what benefits the company.What are some of the biggest challenges or problems facing this department currently?While you obviously want to paint your company in a positive light, theres no need to gloss over issues your business might be facing. Even the best-run companies experience regular challenges. If an interviewee asks you direc tly about the bumps in the road, be honest. You dont need to air all of your companys dirty laundry, but you can give some insight as to the struggles your department is working to overcome. Are you trying to deal with budget constraints? Is there a disconnect between your department and another department within the organization? Are you doing double duty as someone is out on maternity leave? Should this individual get hired, you want them to walk in on their first day with a complete picture of the kind of situations theyll encounter. Being honest about the challenges youre facing is an important part of making that happen.Regardless of how long youve been with your company or how deeply you believe in the businesss mission, you may find that at some point during an interview, a candidate poses a question that you simply dont know how to answer. Rather than worrying about seeing incompetent or unprofessional, feel free to be honest with this individual. Explain that youre unsure a bout the answer to their inquiry. Then direct them to someone who can provide the information, or offer to get the information and follow up. If you offer to get back to them yourself with the information, make sure you actually do this. Theres no shame in not knowing the answer immediately, but you owe it to the candidate to provide them with the information they were seeking in a timely manner.What are some other candidate questions you should be prepared to answer during the interview? Share in the comments below

Cleaning Up Your Online Image on Social Media Networking Sites

Cleaning Up Your Online Image on Social Media Networking SitesCleaning Up Your Online Image on Social Media Networking SitesHave you considered that the image that you are presenting to the rest of the world, including potential employers, may be working against your efforts? Have you recently checkedsome of the profiles you have on social media networking sites like Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, Twitter, or your personal blogs?Employers Use Social Media to Screen CandidatesWhile many of the social media sites are there for personal fun and networking, there are employers out there who are also represented. Its not uncommon for hiring managers or human resource people to come across interesting profiles and invite other members to learn more about career opportunities. Its also not uncommon for them to do their research there to find out more about job applicants, although the legality of this is often questioned.In a recent study conducted by SHRM (the Society for Human Resources Man agement) an estimated one-third of all human resources managers use some type of social media network to recruit and research potential employees. (HR Magazine, Dec. 08) So when employers are searching for you verbunden, what will they find? Hopefully nothing that will embarrass you or negate from your value as a potential hire.How to Clean Up Your OnlineImageHere are some tips to help you put your best face forward and help you get started on cleaning up that image on all the social media networks you belong to1. Remove any and all embarrassing photos or videos of you online.While it may be amusing to your friends and family, its not very flattering to your image.2. Create accounts, profiles and email accounts with mature sounding names.Avoid the following words sexy, sweetie, baby, stud, crazy, lover, or any other words that sound immature or sexual in nature.3. Be careful what you post online under your name.Do a quick Google search to weed out any posts on forums or networking s ites that are offensive. Likewise, stop posting personal things about your life unless its under a fictitious name.4. Develop a nice blog or website dedicated to your job search.On there, post a confidential resume (leave off personal information like address, phone numbers, etc.) and examples of your work portfolio. Leave off the cutesy pictures, music and themes make it as professional as possible.If you work hard to improve your image online, you should start to get better results when you do your job search. Be sure to use the social networking sites to let others know you are searching for a great new online job and see if you can establish any networks with companies that are hiring in your industry. There are a great number of resources you can tap into on the Internet and social media networking is one of them.Readers, have you had to clean up your online image? How did you do it? Tell us about it in the comments section below

Dont Thwart Job Search Success Avoid These 6 Mistakes

Dont Thwart Job Search Success Avoid These 6 MistakesDont Thwart Job Search Success Avoid These 6 MistakesSometimes, ur own worst enemy is the one staring back at us in the mirror. Although we mentally want to succeed, our actions might say otherwise, and in the end may be what is causing us to fail. During a period of unemployment, make sure you dont ruin your chance of job search success by standing in your own way. Keep reading to learn about the mistakes you might be making and how you can get yourself back on track.Here are six ways you could be ruining your job search success, and job search tips to correct these mistakes1. Taking ShortcutsIn an effort to save time or make the most of the time you have, you might take a shortcut here or there. Dont. Taking shortcuts only shortchanges your efforts and your overall success.What you should do Take the time necessary to complete the task, and see it through to the end. Set yourself up for success by managing your time.2. notlage As king Others for HelpUnemployment can come with feelings of guilt, embarrassment, or inadequacy. This mindset can lead to taking everything on, on your own. Dont try to do everything yourself as youll find yourself missing important details, feeling stressed, and limiting your opportunities.What you should do Reach out to your network and allow your connections to guide you. Rely on people whocan provide a different perspective, job search support, or a break away from the stress of job searching.3. Not Focusing on QualityIn theory, sending in 20 applications rather than 10 should increase your chances of landing an interview, and subsequently a job. However, when you dont focus on quality, your chances decrease. Hiring managers and HR professionals arent looking for someone who can do mediocre work quickly, but provide quality work within goal parameters.What you should do Make sure that you dot your Is and cross your Ts. Focus your efforts on ensuring the details of your work are o f quality. Places that you should focus are your cover letter, resume, social media profiles, and online portfolios.4. Avoiding ResearchYou found a job with a title you love and the requirements match up with your skills and experience. So, you send in your cover letter and resumewith the applications without so much as looking at the company. However, you arentever called for an interview, and werent evenacknowledged through the application process.What you should do Before sending in your application, prep your cover letter and resume to make the best impression. Research the company and include personal details in your cover letter about being a good fit. In your resume, focus your skills and experience on the company and the job you are applying. Dont forget the importance of keywords, too5. Letting Others Sway YouUsing the support of others is a great way to further your job search success. However, you dont want to let them sway your decisions. Sure, there are different perspe ctives to consider, but making a decision based on someones investment or ideas might backfire on you.What you should do Before beginning a job search, take stock of what you want. Consider doing assessments to help you learn more about yourself. Feeling more confident about your choices will help keep you from making decisions based on others decisions.6. Not Taking ActionTime is of the essence when conducting a job search. From applying in a timely fashion to returning phone calls, a lack of action can leave you without any job offers. Making quick and decisive decisions is necessary.What you should do Monitor for new jobs at the same time nearly every day. Applying quickly, after youve done your research and created quality documents, is pertinent. Also, dont be afraid to apply to those jobs youre on the fence about. Take action and take the leap.Job search success relies on you not standing in your own way. Dont ruin your chances by falling into a pattern of destructive actions. Rather, avoid the above mistakes by taking the time necessary to focus on the smaller details and the quality of your submissions.Readers, what steps do you take to have job search success? What are some other mistakes should job seekers avoid? Tell us below

Customize this Outstanding Entry Level Engineer Resume Template

Customize this Outstanding Entry Level Engineer Resume TemplateCustomize this Outstanding Entry Level Engineer Resume TemplateWriting the Entry Level Engineer Resume TemplateYour resume has only one purpose to generate interest beyond a casual glance. The key to writing an effective resume is creating an eye-catching presentation of your attributes thats likely to entice the reader to want to know more about what you can offer as a new employee. Use the following Entry Level Engineer resume template as the basis for your own well-crafted resume designed to boost your odds of landing the job.Create Resume Resume Template for Entry Level Engineer Ernest DixonProfessional SummaryRecent Electrical Engineering graduate seeking an Entry Level Engineer position. Expertise includes innovative design applications, system diagnostics, industry-standard circuitry and residential and commercial electrical installations. Possess excellent analytical skills, sold communication abilities and curr ent technical knowledge and insight.Core QualificationsPower system conversionsCircuit design and testingTroubleshooting and resolutionSystems analysisEquipment maintenanceTechnology designExperienceAssistant Electrical Engineer, January 2015 June 2015Wilson Electrical Systems, New Cityland, CADesigned complex electrical systems with great accuracy while working under the supervision of a senior electrical engineer.Assisted with the determination of the proper voltage required in the replacement of an outdated system as part of an extensive commercial project.Conducted a comparison of solar power systems that resulted in suggesting an option to a residential client that was approximately 25 percent less than their expected installation and operation cost.Electrical Engineer Internship, September 2014 December 2014Hughes Electrical Contracting and Consulting, New Cityland, CAConsistently showed a willingness to work flexible schedules to complete projects on time.Assisted with comp lete renovation of a 75-year-old home with an outdated electrical system.Updated content for the company blog and posted tips on their website and social platforms.Education2014 Bachelor of Science, Electrical EngineeringUniversity of California, New Cityland, CACustomize Resume

Customize this Outstanding House Supervisor Nurse Resume Sample

Customize this Outstanding House Supervisor Nurse Resume SampleCustomize this Outstanding House Supervisor Nurse Resume SampleWhen starting your own resume from scratch, it can be difficult to figure out what you should say and what you should leave out. You may not know for certain how you should lay everything out in a way that will impress a potential employer and land you the job you desire. In your case, a house supervisorinin nurse resume sample could be quite helpful in giving you useful tips for devising your own resume. You ought to use the resume sample below as a guideline for your own resume. How should you introduce yourself professionally? How should you talk about your qualifications? What is the best way to describe the positions that you have held? Our resume sample and tips can help you answer all these questions and more so you can make the resume you deserve.Create Resume Pagie Janes100 Broadway LaneNew Parkland, CA, 91010Cell (555) 987-1234emailexample.comProfes sional SummaryHouse Supervisor Nurse proficient at promoting and restoring patients health by developing daily management and long-term planning of patient care plans. Collabosatz with physicians and other professional staffs. Excels at providing physical and psychological support for patients, family members and friends.Core Qualifications Patient care planner Nursing operational standards Policy adherence Employee discipline Hiring and training SchedulingExperienceHouse Supervisor Nurse, April 2012 PresentLos Angeles Memorial Hospital Los Angeles, CA Schedule and assign nursing and staff to complete patient care requirements and follow up on patient care results. Complete nursing human resources tasks by hiring, interviewing, orientating, training, assigning and scheduling employees. Communicate job expectations and contributions to employees and ensure adherence to policies and procedures. Provide and perform annual budget information to meet nursing financial standards and moni tor all expenditures. Write and update nursing policies and procedures to maintain nursing standards. Create a compassionate environment for patients, family members and friends by providing psychological, emotional and spiritual support.House Supervisor Nurse, August 2008 May 2012Monterey Clinical Services Monterey, CA Answered any questions and addressed any concerns that patients, friends and family members had regarding patient care and progress. Established patient care goals to promote patient independence and provided counseling to patients, family members and friends to ensure understanding of diseases, medications and self-care skills. Maintain documentation of patient care services by auditing departmental and patient records.Education2008 Bachelor of Science, NursingUniversity of California Los Angeles, CACustomize ResumeWhy Is This a Good House Supervisor Nurse Resume Sample?You will notice that this jobseeker begins with a professional summary that briefly but clearly describes who she is as a house supervisor nurse. It is vital to begin in this way because you want to hook your readers attention and keep his or her focus by not requiring him or her to read lengthy sentences describing who you are. Just like in our house supervisor nurse resume sample, you want to keep your professional summary as concise as possible by using three sentences and leaving out first-person pronouns.The core qualifications in our house supervisor nurse resume sample are helpful because they are necessary requirements for anyone who would hope to hold the position. As shown, you want to state approximately six to eight impressive qualifications in a bulleted list so the hiring managers can see up front that you are a good fit for the job. The bulleted list is plain to read, and keeping the number of qualifications below nine makes it so the reader is not overwhelmed by information overload.This resume sample contains a good example of an effective experience section. The applicant describes her job not as a series of rote, memorized duties, but instead as a list of achievements and continued improvements to her work environment. Employers want to see that you go above and beyond what might be expected, so you ought to include things you do that may not be required of you but that you do anyway to make your surroundings better. Quantify your contributions with metrics when possible. Since you must be qualified to be a nurse, the education section is a necessary part of your resume. However, you do not need to go into extreme detail about your education because most employers just want to see that you have completed the necessary degrees.Why You Need a Strong House Supervisor Nurse ResumeThe nursing field, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, is supposed to grow 17 percent by 2024, which is good news for those looking for jobs in the field. However, a faster-than-average growth rate does not mean that you do not need an eye-catching resum e. In fact, it means the opposite you need a resume that will capture the attention of the hiring managers so that you stand out from the countless other applicants applying for the same position. You want to show that out of all the people applying, you are not only the most qualified but also the most valuable employee to have on the team. Using our house supervisor nurse resume sample will help you shape the most attractive resume possible.Costly House Supervisor Nurse Resume Mistakes to AvoidYou know by now not to make certain mistakes such as misspelling words, using unsuitable language, and lying about positions you have held. There are other mistakes, however, that as a nurse you ought to avoid to keep your resume striking and impressive.Nursing consists of dealing with medicines a great deal of the time, so practical knowledge of how medicines affect patients is necessary. Since this knowledge is so vital, you ought to include it in your resume. You do not, though, want to n eglect the human side of nursing. As a nurse, you constantly have to deal with patients, families, doctors, and other nurses. It would be a ghastly error to neglect to mention how well you work with others. This house supervisor nurse resume sample points out interpersonal skills in the professional summary and work experience sections. Employers want to make sure you work well with people you see on a daily basis, so do not forget to mention your people skills in your resume.ConclusionAs we have seen with the house supervisor nurse resume sample, you need to present your knowledge and skills clearly and quickly so employers can note how qualified you are at just a glance. By personalizing this sample or simply using it as a comparison piece, you can create a winning resume that will get you noticed in the growing field of nursing.