Take job search online; hone resume; practice interview

July 9, 2009

By Ronica Shannon The Richmond Register Thu Jul 09, 2009, 08:02 AM EDT

(Editor’s note: This is the fourth story in an occasional series about ways to survive the country’s weak economic conditions and bounce back from job loss and layoffs.)

Job interviews do not fall from the sky nor do they grow on trees. Most of the time, a job search is the first hurdle to overcome before preparing for the interview.

When it comes to searching for a job in the 21st century, it is all about the Internet.

Some popular online job-search engines include: monster.com, jobster.com, careerbuilder.com, simplyhired.com, TwitterJobSearch.com, Rise Smart.com, LinkUp.com and indeed.com.

Eastern Kentucky University alums have the option of utilizing the EKU Career Services department that has a database with more than 3,000 employers, both local and nationwide.

“The help we provide to alums is more job search strategies,” said Laura Melius, director of Eastern Kentucky University’s Career Services department. “We are seeing more and more alumni who have lost their jobs, and most of the times, it’s not because they haven’t done a good job. It’s just because of the economy.”

Losing a job can be a brand new beginning for some, she said.

“Some are interested in re-educating themselves or going back (to college) and getting another degree,” she said. “We’ve had folks who have been out for a short amount of time, and alums that have been out (of college) 15 and 20 years.”

There are plenty of job-searching tips to be found at jobsearch.about.com. The site also offers links to related topics, including interview and cover-letter-writing tips.

The job applicant should keep in mind that most people looking to hire for a position are more than likely being bombarded with resumes in today’s economic times, Melius said.

“The more an applicant can do to make their resume match what their employers are looking for, the better,” she said.

EKU’s Career Services department does not help applicants write resumes or put portfolios together.

“We do have the technology here to help them do that, but it needs to be their work,” she said.

It is now more important than ever to be specific in the wording on a resume.

“One thing to think about is how those applications are going to be screened,” Melius said. “Most of the time, they’re going to go through an electronic screening process. There’s not going to be a person looking at that resume. They’re going to be using software that is looking for key words.”

Before an employer decides who to interview, an “interviewing screening” process will more than likely be done over the telephone, Melius said.

Keep a resume near the phone so you are not caught off guard and are prepared, she said.

Behavioral-based interviews are much more popular now and require interviewees to take a more anecdotal approach, Melius said.

“The questions are going to be ‘Tell me about a time when...,’” she said.

Mia Centers, Richmond branch manager for CBS Personnel at 920 Barnes Mill Road, helps prepare potential employees for interviews. The company acts as a “temp agency,” placing people in positions that potentially could lead to permanent employment.

According to Centers, there are several aspects to consider before going to an interview.

“Make sure the interviewee knows where they are going,” Centers said. “Advise them to drive to the location prior to the day of the interview. We also suggest they arrive early and dress appropriately for the job interview.”

Appearance makes a first impression and should be given ample consideration, she said.

“Conservative dress is key,” she said. “We also suggest they have a professional resume to present to the interviewer when they arrive for the interview. When interviewing for a job, a person should be confident in their abilities and be capable of selling themselves to the prospective employer.”

There are many Web sites that allow you to post your resume online. Two of the most popular sites for this is monster.com and careerbuilder.com.

These sites also can help you build a resume and/or personal profile, search for jobs and seek advice.

Visit simplyhired.com to find a wide range of job listings featuring a variety of specialty areas.

Visit example resumes.org to find tips about how to construct a resume that will grab and keep the employer’s attention.

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