Job Opening — San Francisco — Social Media Editor

Posted on March 18, 2013 by John N. Frank

This came my way via a college alumni listserv I belong to, details follow. The job is in San Francisco.

If interested, email the hiring manager at jennifer.cronin@blackrock.com

HELP WANTED

Social Media Content Editor

Responsibilities:
· Create, curate and edit content for company blogs, Twitter, LinkedIn, and other platforms.
· Work closely with content distributors to ensure content is written in a way it will be syndicated and amplified
· Partner with blog authors/content contributors to guide new posts through the editing and compliance process
· Lead weekly social editorial meeting
· Coordinate and manage the various social media editorial calendars
· Mine Google Reader and listening tools daily to derive relevant content for all social mediums
· Produce and analyze Google Analytics reports on a regular basis to help measure impact of blog content and guide future post strategy

Skills:
· Strong writing and editing skills for digital/social mediums
· Investment/financial knowledge – ideally exchange traded funds, mutual funds, and alternative investments
· Ability to interact and build relationships with senior company leaders
· Tech savvy with thorough knowledge of social media platforms including Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, etc.
· Familiarity with social media engagement/listening/publishing tools such as Radian6 and Spredfast
· Ability to meet deadlines while juggling multiple tasks
· Adaptive thinking with a focus on objectives
· Team oriented and collaborative
· Passion for the power of content in the social space

Other requirements and considerations:

Ideally 5-7 years experience writing for digital mediums. Series 7 a Plus.

Posted in Job opening | Tagged job opening, social media | Leave a comment

What Path Do You Think Will Lead to Your Next Job?

Posted on March 13, 2013 by John N. Frank

How do you expect to find your next job — through an online ad, through cold calling companies you want to work for or through a recruiting agency? Fifty percent of people think their next jobs will come through networking, reports Right Management, a recruitment and outplacement firm.

Always have a card ready when a networking opportunity arises.

The breakdown of responses Right received when it surveyed 600 people in the U.S. and Canada:

50% Networking
22% Job board
19% Agency/recruiter
8% Direct approach
1% Newspaper/periodical

“These findings track well with actual outcomes,” said Monika Morrow, senior vice president of career management at Right in a press release. “It turns out that face-to-face contact is how more than half of our candidates find new employment based on firm data for the past five years, although nowadays job searches may begin through social networks such as LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook. By itself, however, job boards are about half as effective in actual circumstances, just as the individuals surveyed anticipate. Continue reading →

Posted in finding a first job, job hunting, Job search tips | Tagged Always Be Job Hunting, networking, search tips | Leave a comment

Polishing Your Skills at Your Current Job — a Guest Post

Posted on March 12, 2013 by John N. Frank

It may come as no surprise to learn that by keeping your professional skills current, you will keep yourself in demand for potential employers. But how about the employer you already have? It’s all too easy to become complacent at work and forget that, by keeping your skills up to date, you can make yourself more valuable within the position you already have.

Guest blogger Jake Redknapp

Maximizing your skills at work is a great way to improve the worth of your existing position. It’s good for your employer and it’s also great for you. Not only will you find that learning will help you to stay abreast of new developments in both technology and technique, you may find that your work comes more easily as a result.

How to Make the Most of Your Skills
The best way to make the most of your existing skills is to use them, but learning is also a vital part of polishing your skills at your current job.

Learning can be accessed in various ways; either directly through your employer or by using an external learning resource. Some employers offer training incentive programs, which allow you the opportunity to learn at work and attend seminars, conferences or training sessions which will help you to maximise your existing skills.
Applying and using your existing skills may not always come easily, but the first step is identifying key areas in which your strengths could play a vital role. Applying your skills to these areas is all part of making yourself an indispensable employee.

Learning New Skills at Work
So you have a good set of skills, which has been enough to win you employment and ensure that your position is ongoing. But now you want to learn new skills, and may be wondering how to go about this.

The first step should be to determine whether the skills you wish to learn would be of benefit to your present employment. If not, it’s more than likely that your employer would not be interested in helping you achieve this goal. However if they would benefit your employer in some way it’s always best to draw up an outline of how this might be the case, and present it to your employer as part of a case for your undertaking in-house learning development.

The Benefits for Employers
Learning new skills, and maximizing existing ones, on the job is not only important for employees, it’s important for employers too. Having a highly skilled workforce has been proven to boost profit, and training employees is a time-tested way of preventing those employees from looking elsewhere for employment.

If you’re an employee wanting to polish your skills whilst at your current job, take full advantage of the incentive there is for your employer to help you do so. There are no downsides to learning – only benefits.

Jake Redknapp writes about human resource issues and news for small businesses, including in-house training and stress management courses for Watt Works.

In House Training & Consultancy at Watt Works is a method of maximizing your skills at work. Watt Works offers professional development across various industry sectors, including business, customer service and education.

Posted in job hunting, Job search tips, Uncategorized | Tagged skills development, skills training | Leave a comment

Are College Degrees Worth the Money?

Posted on March 11, 2013 by John N. Frank

Some of the most basics beliefs of the American Dream have come in for questioning during recent tough economic times. One of those is that going to college assures you of a higher paying job than not going does.

These days, some are beginning to question if a college degree really will help with employment or earnings.

Will a college degree help you get the job you want?

Roughly 48 percent of 2010 college graduates are working at jobs today that don’t require they have a college degree, the Chicago Tribune reported earlier this year. The story quoted a new study from the Center for College Affordability and Productivity. What’s worse is that 38 percent are in jobs that don’t even require a high school degree, the study reports. Continue reading →

Posted in job hunting, unemployment | Tagged Always Be Job Hunting, college degree, search tips | Leave a comment

How To Get The Employer of Your Dreams With Zero Work Experience

Posted on March 7, 2013 by John N. Frank

What follows is a guest post by Lisa Fox.

Lisa Fox

No one wants to deal with a terrible employer, even if you have only just begun your climb up the corporate ladder, so to speak. But how do you get the employer of your dreams with zero work experience?

The truth is that, of course, all employers are looking for candidates with work experience. Yet there are quite a few things you can do in order to make yourself an asset your dream employer just simply can’t do without, and none of them have to do with previous work experience.

In fact, these tips are very easy

have confidence
have a spectacular resume
pay attention
dress for success
be realistic yet optimistic

Let’s take a closer look at each of those objectives in further detail.

Confidence

The most important thing you must always do, no matter what — work experience or not — is be confident!!! You must be confident in yourself and your abilities before anyone will ever take you seriously.

I mean, if you don’t exude confidence over yourself, then why on earth should your dream employer place his confidence in you? It’s okay to be nervous, but try not to let it show. Always put confidence first. You can freak out later.

Have A Spectacular Resume

The second thing you must always ensure is that you have a truly spectacular resume, work experience or not. Most employers look for potential candidates who have furthered their education, whether through a formal college or even a technical school. If you have a chance to extend your education beyond high school, make sure that you do it. Also make sure that you are ‘fully certified.’ What does that mean?

Basically, if there is a certification that people in your desired field of work can have, make sure that you have it. It doesn’t matter what it is. Employers will not only find you more valuable, but they will also see that you have a very high dedication to your particular field, which translates into a very real dedication to your potential employer.

Pay Attention

Here is a step that most people seem to forget, yet there’s really no reason to. Really, this next step is all about common sense. Are you ready for this one?

Pay attention! Follow directions!

Not the life rendering tip you were looking for? Well, here’s the thing: When you fill out your initial application for whatever job you are trying to get, your potential employer will have a list of do’s and do not’s. If your employer specifically states that he only wants your name, age, date of birth, education, previous job experience, certifications, and any skill relevant to the job, that is all he wants.

If you send him a 10-page resume with a boat load of stuff he didn’t ask for in it, chances are he’s only going to throw it away. If you can’t follow simple instructions, why on earth would he or she want to hire you?

The same goes for the interview, should you follow the resume instructions and get called back. If your employer gives you a list of specific yes or no’s, then make sure you adhere to what he is asking you for.

Dress For Success

If you want a good-paying job right off the bat, you need to dress like you deserve it. Don’t go into your interview looking like a bum. Actually, don’t even go in there dressed for the position you want. Always dress as though you are interviewing for a position at least two above yours. If you want an entry-level position, dress as though you were applying to be a manager.

This not only shows that you are professional and care about your appearance, but also that you take your potential job, employer, and company very seriously. Showing up in inappropriate dress not only makes you look like a joke, but it also makes it seem as though you believe your potential employer is a joke also. No one wants to feel like a joke, and that is a surefire way to fail in getting your dream employer.

Be Realistic, Yet Optimistic

This is really a two-part tip. The first thing you need to do is be realistic. Know what sort of jobs you are capable of getting, and what companies or employers you might be a good fit for. It’s okay to strive just a little higher than you personally think is reasonable, but don’t over-reach yourself by too much or you will be setting yourself up for failure.

The second part is to be optimistic. Once you set your goals on something you know is at least somewhat reasonably attainable, be optimistic that you will achieve that goal. Tell yourself that you are worthy of that position, and that you will end up working for your dream employer. Give yourself morning pep talks if you have to, but always keep an optimistic mind frame.

So what do you think of our tips? Do you have more tips that you believe will be helpful in working for your dream employer with zero experience? Tell us all about it in the comments below. We can’t wait to hear what you have to say!

Guest Blogger: Lisa is a writer for DegreesThatPay.com which recently featured an article on The Best College Majors for 2013. She is a college graduate with a bachelor’s degree in communications, and has lived all over the United States and abroad. In her spare time, Lisa loves reading, writing, playing piano, and spending time with her golden retriever, Goldie.

Posted in finding a first job, job hunting, Job search tips | Tagged Always Be Job Hunting, job hunting, new job, search tips | Leave a comment

Posted on March 1, 2013 by John N. Frank

Worth reading…

SU Career Services

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Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Guest Post: Tips for Writing a Cover Letter

Posted on February 28, 2013 by John N. Frank

In the eyes of recruiters and hiring experts working in executive search firms, a resume is an all-important document. However, there is another document that is equally important: the cover letter. Whenever applying for a job, ensure that you always submit a cover letter along with your resume.

Different cover letters for different situations

The kind of cover letter you should send with a resume depends on, among other things, how you have learnt about the opening. Discussed below are three cover letter approaches, one for each unique situation. Have a look:

Cover letters in response to an ad

If you learned about the job opening through an ad, ensure that your cover letters addresses the points listed by the recruiter in the job requirement section of the advertisement. The more points you address in your cover letter, the better your chances of selection.

Cover letters when referred by someone

If someone refers you to a job, ensure that you list this information in the very first line of your cover letter. For such situations, an impressive opening line could be something like this, “I was referred by so-and-so, who is currently working at your organization as this-and-this. Mr./Ms. so-and-so informed me about this opening, and he/she believes I am a good fit for this and should contact you directly.”

Cover letters for unsolicited resumes

When sending unsolicited resumes, it is important that you keep your accompanying cover letter short, simple, and to the point. Information that you must put in such cover letters include: the position you are applying for, your work experience, current job role, and your top qualifications.

The top six cover letter rules you must keep in mind

When formatting a cover letter, ensure that you keep the following rules in the mind:

Introduce yourself and mention your purpose

The introductory paragraph of a cover letter is very important. You should use this space for telling the recruiter about the purpose of your writing and for introducing yourself.

Be concise

A cover letter should always be brief and to the point. Although there is no written guideline about the length of a cover letter, most hiring experts agree it should not exceed 350 words.

Be relevant

Your cover letter must be relevant to the job role you are applying for. If you are replying to an advertisement, focus on only those points listed in the job ad. Similarly, if you are writing a cold or referral cover letter, avoid giving a broad description about yourself.

Emphasize your top qualifications, skills, and achievements

Showcase your top qualifications, skills, and professional achievements in your cover letter. Things you could mention include, but are not limited to, a high GPA, a strong professional record, awards received from your employers, and unique skills relevant to the advertised job.

Do not exaggerate your experience or qualifications

A cover letter, just like a resume, must include information that is factually correct. You must ensure that every bit of information you list in these documents is truthful and accurate.

Edit your cover letter before sending it

Lastly, your cover letter should be well-written and free of grammatical/spelling errors.

Erik LArsonrors.

Erik Larson is a master’s level career counselor and an internationally certified as a Career Management Practitioner (CMP) by the Institute for Career Certification International. He was also recognized as a National Certified Counselor (NCC) through the National Board for Certified Counselors. You can check out his site at ResumeIndex.com.

Posted in job hunting, Job search tips | Tagged cover letter | Leave a comment

Posted on February 20, 2013 by John N. Frank

This may sound mundane, but it is extremely necessary to know when job hunting…

Stephanie L. Gross, MSLIS

Resume

Word .docs look terrible as plain-text files if you just change the extension. Follow these steps to ensure your formatting meets best practices no matter what version you’re using.

If you’ve spent time carefully selecting the right font for your resume, aligning the margins and crafting a clean outline of justified section titles and subtitles, the last thing you want to do is render the whole thing in plain text. But that’s just what you need to do, said several resume-writing experts, includingBarbara Safani, owner of the career-management firm Career Solvers and Job-Hunt.org.

Job Opening, PR — New York City

Posted on February 13, 2013 by John N. Frank

Here’s an interesting sounding position in New York:

Publicity Coordinator
Wenner Media

Wenner Media seeks a Publicity Coordinator to support the Publicity Department for the Rolling Stone, Men’s Journal, and Us Weekly brands. The Publicity Coordinator will be responsible for maintaining media mailing lists, overseeing press mailings, processing invoices, tracking media placements, managing phone calls, and other administrative responsibilities in a fast-paced environment. Additional responsibilities include assisting with media relations, sending news blasts and alerts, coordinating interviews, and internal edit and ad staff interaction.

The ideal candidate will be extremely detail-oriented and have a strong interest in working in the Public Relations field. Additionally, we are looking for an enthusiastic self-starter who possesses excellent organization, writing, communication and interpersonal skills, as well as the ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously and maintain confidentiality. Knowledge of MS Word and Excel required. Prior experience in a publicity environment or internship is preferred.

January is job hunting season.

Please send resume and cover letter to hr1@wennermedia.com and specify “Publicity Coordinator” in the subject line.

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Job Opening – New York City

Posted on February 12, 2013 by John N. Frank

I’ve become a bit backed up in posting all the openings I’ve seen lately, apologies. Here’s a reporter job in New York City to consider that is listed on LinkedIn:

Business Reporter

Reorg Research, Inc. – Greater New York City Area

Job Description

This is an opportunity for an enterprising reporter to get in on the ground floor of a financial news startup already with a large following and unique position within the marketplace. Reorg Research focuses on the increasingly hot news arena of corporate debt and restructuring. The successful candidate will work alongside a mix of plugged in business and journalism professionals with years of experience reporting and working on Wall Street. We’re looking for a dogged reporter with proven skills through either formal journalism training or comparable experience. A working knowledge of corporate finance is a plus.

HELP WANTED

Most of the work will involve hitting the phone to develop and maintain relationships with professionals across various business disciplines. This includes a lot of cold-calling and on-the-spot learning of many different industries to the extent it impacts the debt backing various companies. It will also entail frequent trips to court to sit in and report real-time on contentious and dramatic bankruptcy proceedings.

Yes, you’ll need to break news and file multiple updates per day involving minute changes in developing stories, but you’ll also be given a large degree of editorial freedom to conceive and produce longer, more comprehensive pieces. While scoops and proprietary info are the first priority, we also need someone whose moral compass is intact, someone who can act as an arbiter of these often times opaque markets where there may be questionable business ethics. Such items are far too frequently overlooked by general news outlets that just don’t delve in as deeply as we will, and we feel it will be a responsibility to shed light on those scenarios. So if you’re someone who’s looking to pen the occasional hard-hitting exposé, this would be a great fit.

This is a full-time salaried position with benefits and definite room for advancement as the company
grows.