Rat Race Rewind

The Revamped Work Week

Someone once said, "Having a job is waking up and a time you don't want, to wear clothes you don't want to wear, to a place you don't want to go".  This person is obvioiusly a product of the standard 9 to 5 work week.  However, due to rising gas prices and an overall economic downturn, many businesses have decided to revamp the work week.

Some companies have adopted a four day work week, giving employees Fridays off, to cut back on the cost of utilities.  This option has its pros and cons.  Usually employers with four day work weeks require workers to put in 10 hour work days instead of eight.  On the plus side having the extra day off provides for long holiday weekends, time for doctor's appointments of just sleeping in.

Job-sharing plans are also popular.  Employees work part-time, sharing the responsibilities of a position.   This option is great for parents but, usually commands less pay.

Rather than cut the work week, some businesses are just allowing their employees to work out of virtual offices.  Virtual offices allow the employee to work at home, dispensing with a dress code and a long commute.  Meetings for the virtual office worker are usually conducted via a telephone conference or over the Web.  The only problem here is that it requires the employee to be disciplined,  organized and able to resist the distractions of home life.

Whatever option your future employer chooses, you will soon find that the 9 to 5 work week is slowly becoming a thing of the past.

When Opportunity Knocks

We have all heard the saying"When opportunity knocks you better listen".  But how many of us really take it to heart.   

A fifty year old woman I know recently secured a job with a non-profit organization after being out of work for 5 months.  A public relations specialist at a major firm in the MidWest,with 18 years experience, she felt finding another plumb position would be easy.  As many of us boomers find out when we are back in the job market, the journey isn't as easy the second time around.  When she came upon the PR position at the non-profit she was ambivalent.  She desparately needed a job, with her savings quickly dwindling but, the job at the non-profit was neither prestigious nor high- paying.

When she asked me my advice, I was reminded of something a very wise friend once told me, "When opportunity knocks, pay attention because a knock is always a boost".  A boost?  "A boost to your life", he replied. 

I shared this bit of wisdom with the PR specialist, and she instantly knew how she would reply to the job offer.  For sometime she had wondered what it would be like to start her own non-profit, maybe an organization that would help single mothers get a college education.  Working at this job would give her the experience she needed to make this dream come true.  Yes, the pay was low but, with some cutting back here and there, she felt she would be able to make it work.  What once seemed like an undesirable job for someone of her experience suddenly became the boost she needed for a future career.

Never leave a knock unanswered.  You never know where an open door can take you.

The lowdown on job boards

Remember when you looked for your first job.  You picked up a newspaper, searched the classifieds, and circled a few ads that looked promising.  After that, you either mailed your resume to the employer and waited for a phone call or, you went down to the business to complete an application.

Today's job search, for the most part, does not begin with a newspaper but, on the internet.  Online job boards have become the primary place for seeking employment.  They are not only a place where you can search through hundreds of listings everyday but, by posting your resume, you can be exposed to numerous employers too. You have probably heard of some of the major job boards like Careerbuilder, Monster and HotJobs but, there are many smaller ones that are popping up every day.  So how do you use these boards to get the job you want?  Here are a few tips:

1.    Register with more than one board

While major job boards can contain some of the same listings, it is wise to register with more than board.  Sometimes a company will only list with a few boards and they may not be the ones you are registered with today.  Also, listing with more than one board is like having a team of headhunters out there looking for a job for you.  If you don't get favorable results with one, you may get them with another.

2.     Look at specialized boards and company websites

Rather than looking through hundreds of jobs that are not in your field, go to specialized or company boards that are in your industry.  For example, I was in the insurance industry for several years.  There are several sites on the net, like GreatInsuranceJobs, that only list insurance related positions.   If you know specific companies in your industry, check out their websites.  They may have a job board on their sites that list current openings.

3.    Post resumes that reflect the specific job qualifications

Use key words in your resume that mirror those in the job requirements.  Many employers do key word searches to narrow down the number of resumes they have to review.  In other words, if they are looking for a candidate who can "problem solve in a fast paced environment" they may enter the words "problem solve" as some of their key words. If you wanted your resume to come out at the top of their search, you would include the words "problem solve" in your description of your responsibilities and experience.

4.    Make sure your resume is readable

If you attach a resume to an online application, make sure it is in a format that can be read by the employer.  Many companies are still using older versions of Word, so if you have a more recent version, you will need to convert your document, so it can be opened by the HR person. If there are any doubts, many sites also give you the option of cutting and pasting your resume.

5.    Watch out for scams

Even the most reputable job boards have the occasional scammer post a listing.  These people may list a job that requires little or no experience but promises high pay.  When you go to the site, they require you to buy equipment or some book without any promise of a job.