A Laughable Job Search

No matter what you do, you need these skills, to get the job that you want:

• Organizational skills
• Self-starter
• Confidence
• Critical thinking
• Flexibility
• Technical aptitude
• Persuasion (ability to sell yourself)
• Creative problem-solving
• Team player
• Active listening

Any of these skills are transferable from job to job, career to career. However, if you use these skill to describe yourself (or any other skills) make sure you know what that word means in the workplace.

During an interview, "Samantha" was asked how she had been flexible at her last job. "Samantha" proceeded to tell the interviewer that she could sit for long periods of time in her cramped cubicle because she took Yoga, which made her flexible.

Today's tip is handy when writing your resume especially if you are not the best writer. O*NET (and not the largest Polish web portal in case you google it) OnLine has detailed descriptions of the world of work for use by job seekers, workforce development and HR professionals, students, researchers, and more!

If you are a Waiter and your resume has:

• Hand out menus
• Take orders
• Serve food
• Collect bill
• Bus table

And believe me, I have seen resumes with this information on it (oh, and it is bus tables, not bust tables and take orders from WHOM?, your manager, your mother, your Drill Sergeant,...). Now, take a spin on O*NET, and the same Waiter resume is:

• Present menus to patrons and answer questions about menu items, making recommendations upon request.
• Write patrons' food orders on order slips, memorize orders, or enter orders into computers for transmittal to kitchen staff.
• Serve food or beverages to patrons, and prepare or serve specialty dishes at tables as required.
• Prepare checks that itemize and total meal costs and sales taxes.
• Collect payments from customers.
• Clean tables or counters after patrons have finished dining.

O*NET refines the language and gives you the added sparkle to your resume.

One former client, "Bill" is a Waiter. "Bill" enjoyed the job; however, wanted to branch out by becoming a Manager in a restaurant. "Bill" sent out dozens of resumes to several restaurants with the first version and not one restaurant responded to his resume. "Bill" used the O*NET trick and is now working as a Manager in a restaurant in Las Vegas. If I ever get to Vegas, "Bill" is comping my dinner :-)

Welcome to my hubpage on a laughable job search. Why laughable job search? I am a laid-off Career Advisor from WorkOne in Indiana aka "the unemployment office" and helped find over 3500 people jobs. Considering how many people are unemployed, one would think that how could workers from the unemployment office be laid-off, let me tell you, it sure has happened. The first comment when I told my friends and family (and when I still tell people) they usually reply "Oh, that’s funny" and/or "You're kidding". As I have told many people in their job search, you have to keep your sense of humor; otherwise, the job search drags you down. This hubpage will give tips job search, resume writing, answering interview questions, etc... and above all how to keep your sense of humor during your search.

A former client that I helped create her resume, Margie, is a RN. Margie, wanted to relocate to a warmer climate. She quit her job as she thought being a RN, she would get a job in no time. She spent the next week sending her resume to warm climate hospitals. Then the next week arrived, no job. Then a third week, fourth week, fifth week, and not even a reply. Margie asked me why this would happen since nurses are in such demand. I asked her if she sent the right resume (the one that we spent one week creating) and if she followed up with Human Resources at the hospitals. She did send the resume; however, she didn't follow up. I told her to go home and call the hospitals. She called the first one on the list and got the HR Director. The HR Director said, "Oh yes, I recognize your name Margie, I never received your resume; however, I did receive the Chocolate Sugar Cookie recipe. My kids just love them."

Moral of the story -

1. Never quit a job before you have another job.

2. Check your attachments that you send to employers.

3. Follow up with the employer after you send your resume.