by Faith Nsubuga, Business Partners 360 Intern

We have moved into the information technology age where most companies no longer posts jobs in newspapers or in the window sill.  They now utilize the internet to find candidates to fill open positions.   Here is a great article about online job searches:

http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/career-articles-the_online_essentials_for_your_job_search-674

by Faith Nsubuga, Business Partners 360 Intern

We have all been taught that a cover letter is an essential part of getting an interview. Remember that the company is looking for someone to fill a specific role, so tailor your cover letter to match the skills that the organization desires. Here is a great article that highlights the key points for a successful cover letter:

 http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/career-articles-cover_letters_that_catch_the_eye-852

It is frustrting business to be applying for jobs and not hear anything back.  You don’t know what you did wrong (or maybe you did nothing wrong and there is another good reason you haven’t heard anything).  Some good foo

(written by Faith Nsubuga, Business Partners 260 Intern)

What is the difference between McDonalds, Burger King, Jack in the Box, or In-N-Out burger? From the outside looking in they all seem to serve the same thing- meat on a bun with a few added extras. These companies spend millions of dollars each year working on their branding so that when you see their logo or drive by their restaurant an image, a feeling, an emotion pops into your head and causes you to want to eat there. What causes you to choose a McDonalds over a Wendy’s a Big Mac over a Whopper? They essentially have the same composition, but these companies invest a lot of time and resources in marketing their product to set themselves apart. As a job seeker you need to have the same mentality. What sets you apart? Why should a company choose you over another candidate? Are you a quarter pounder with cheese or a triple cheeseburger? How can you market yourself so that a company is interested in what you have to offer?
Human resource teams plow through hundreds of resumes each month. Most look exactly the same and boast the same experiences the same goals and the same earnest desire to work for their organization. In order to stand out you need to understand who you are, what skills you have to offer and how to market those skills so that they grab the attention of your desired employer.
Think of yourself as a brand. Let us call it “Me Inc.” As the founder and CEO of “Me Inc”, what can you do today to help improve your brand quality, to set yourself apart? What classes can you take to help increase your skills? What books can you read that will increase you knowledge and give you the edge over another candidate? What changes can you make to your resume or cover letter? Try and put yourself in the shoes of the recruiter or human resource agent and ask if you would stop and read your own resume if you were in their position. Would you hire yourself for that position based on your resume or the image that you put forth?
Keep in mind that the purpose of a resume is to get you in the door. Your confidence, experience, attitude, and the way you present yourself get you’re the job. Each of these factors can either add or detract from your brand. So take the extra time to learn your strengths, increase knowledge about your particular field of interest, update your resume and put your best foot forward. The time that you invest in yourself will lead to more opportunities for employment.

It is frustrating business to be applying for jobs and not hear anything back.  You don’t know what you did wrong (or maybe you did nothing wrong and there is another good reason you haven’t heard anything).  Some good food for thought and advice in this article on Yahoo:

http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/career-articles-6_reasons_they_didn_t_call_you_back-988

Jennifer Schoennagel

www.businesspartners360.com

by Faith Nsubuga, Business Partners 360 Intern

We have all at one time or another utilized a job search engine to locate a possible future employer. You enter a key word and then a variety of options pop up on your screen. You spend minutes and sometimes hours looking for that perfect job. This time consuming process can sometimes drain or discourage you. A great way to limit stress and save time is to utilize the services of a job coach. They act as a liaison between you and your future employer by determining if you are the right fit for the company as well as if the company is a right fit for you. They do the research, highlight your strengths, market your abilities and provide you with good options for a possible future career. So if you are looking for an easier and less time consuming way to find that job you have always wanted, try job coach and save yourself time and frustration.

The Phoenix metro area is among the top 10 places in the country to grow technology industry jobs, according to a new assessment by U.S. News and World Report.  Read more from the Phoenix Business Journal…

http://phoenix.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2009/09/14/daily47.html?ed=2009-09-16&ana=e_du_pub

Jennifer Schoennagel

www.businesspartners360.com

Reevaluating your budget and expenses?   Check out this article on the most and least affordable housing in the United States…

http://finance.yahoo.com/real-estate/article/107707/2009s-most-and-least-affordable-us-housing.html?mod=realestate-buy

Jennifer Schoennagel

www.businesspartners360.com

Written by Faith Nsubuga, Business Partners 360 Intern

It is 6am and the alarm clock goes off. I hit the snooze button a few times and convince myself that I just need a few more minutes. I slowly doze off and wake up with no time to really get ready and more tired than I was prior to hitting the snooze button. I get dressed and rush out of the house and into the traffic on the freeway. I am tired, hungry and impatient to get to work only to arrive at my job and wish that the day would go by a little quicker. The day drags on for what seems like an eternity. I wish I was doing something else or making more money. This routine continues day after day and before you know it, years have passed by. You may or may not be entirely content with your current job but the comfort that you receive when you get your paycheck every other week keeps you there from pay period to pay period. Sound familiar?
I have been in this position before and know many people who are not happy with their job but are hesitant to change. Imagine for a moment that you had no bills and unlimited time to do whatever you wanted. What would you spend your time doing? What is your passion in life? What makes you happy or motivates you to get out of bed in the morning? Imagine a little bit longer what it would be like to enjoy what you do on a day to day basis. What can you do today to get you a little bit closer to that dream? I am not an expert but here are a few tips to move forward into a new career path:
1) Decide what you want to do
2) Set short term goals to get you to your long term goal
3) Devise a plan and follow it. Many people dream but never take the time to map out how to get there.
4) Share your dream or vision with a close friend or family member
5) Learn as much as you can about the industry that you desire to become a part of
6) Be persistent. It is a marathon not a sprint so know that there will be hard times but with determination, discipline and persistence you can achieve anything.
7) Like Nike says – “just do it.” Stop giving yourself reasons why you cannot be or do what you want to in life.
Aim high. Dream big but be realistic and go for it. Life is too short to wonder what could have been. So work with a recruiter and apply for that job that you have always wanted, start that company that you have always dreamed of and do what it takes to make your hopes and dreams a reality.

For those of you wrestling with the effects of the economy, you probably feel like it has consumed your life.  Perhaps you are looking for a job or are having to cut back expenses to make ends meet.  It’s been a rough road, but today is the day to put your life BACK into perspective. 

Think of the men and women who got up the morning of 9/11/01 and went to work at the Twin Towers or the Pentagon (or boarded United Flight 93).  They were probably consumed with issues like bills to pay, plans for the weekend, a fight they had with their spouse or their unending to-do list.  Little did they know that they wouldn’t make it through the day and not have another chance to tell their loved ones how important they were to them.

So take a moment and absorb your life.  Look around you and give thanks for having another day to appreciate the nuances of life.  Do something completely out of the ordinary and go out of your way to help someone today.  You can go back to worrying tomorrow.

Best wishes to you,

Jennifer Schoennagel

www.businesspartners360.com