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Women2.0 interviews Julie Greenberg of Jobnob

Sunday, December 6th, 2009

Women2.0 recently interviewed me for their In Conversation video series on what it’s like to be a woman founder of an internet startup. Women2.0 is an organization that is dedicated to increasing the number of women entrepreneurs in tech ventures. You can see the whole video below. I talk about the following questions:

What is Jobnob?
What’s a mistake that you made early in your career that you don’t want others to repeat?
Who was one of your role models?
How did you find interns for your startup?
What was the value of earning your MBA before starting Jobnob?

Posted in Job Tips, Jobnob Company News | No Comments »

Unemployed? What you can do to be un-unemployed!

Wednesday, August 12th, 2009

Unemployment is no joking matter. It’s scary to be unemployed right now, but if you’ve just been laid-off, recently quit your job, or are scared that your job won’t even exist in a few more weeks, know that you can still find jobs out there. And finding a job as quickly as possible is the goal.

But to ensure that you minimize the amount of time that you are unemployed, it is key to not dwell on the fact that you are now unfortunately not employed. You have to remain focused, optimistic, and – most importantly – flexible to get yourself un-unemployed and back to work.

I think you can quickly guess why I say that you have to be focused and optimistic when it comes to your job search, but the flexible part may be a bit puzzling to you. I’m sure you’re thinking that you’re more than willing to be flexible when it comes to a new job: maybe you’re willing to take a pay cut, a lower title, or work a job in an industry you never thought of working before. That is not what I’m implying by being flexible though.

Being flexible in this economy means being willing to take on a job that you may never have thought of working before. Maybe you were scared that someone would scoff at you for dreaming of being a Deputy Supreme Knight, Product Design Manager, or even a Playboy Bunny. Before you completely write me off, take a look at the salaries of the positions that I just listed. I guarantee you that each one of those jobs is being paid more than someone who is standing in an unemployment line.

New Grads are Unemployed and Flexible. Are You?

Take a minute to really look at the entirety of your career. You may have held the title of CEO, Director of QA, or Marketing Manager. Take that title and think about if you were really happy working that position. Maybe you really loved your computer coding class in college, or you want to have the option of making an unlimited amount of money working in sales, or you really want to help people. This could be the time for you to press the reset button and start a new career in something that you’ve always wanted to try. It doesn’t even have to be as drastic a change as I implied above. I’ve heard there’s a growing demand for Ruby programmers and keep in mind that a company will always need Sales Managers to ensure the cash keeps flowing.

Posted in Companies, Job Tips | 1 Comment »

Getting Hired in a Competitive Job Market

Friday, July 24th, 2009

Rising numbers of layoffs are being announced as 2009 goes by, and many job seekers have been noticing (myself included) that it’s getting harder to get yourself noticed for a job opening in the ever increasing sea of applicants. I’ve already written a bit about how you can help make your resume standout, but how about when an employer has contacted you and you’re already in the thick of the interview process?

Recruiters and HR Managers are trained to look for certain qualities in a candidate and are tasked with pre-screening applicants based on certain prerequisite job skills or work experience that the hiring manager is looking for. This means if the HR Manager or Recruiter has already contacted you, you already fit the “mold” that the hiring manager is looking for, so you’re in luck.

However, just because you have the necessary skills, doesn’t mean you’ll automatically land the job, especially in this job market. With so many applicants out there, your personality, work ethic and even “likability” will be the most important factors in landing your next job. Keep in mind that though there are a lot of “qualified” applicants out there, what every hiring manager would like is someone they could work day-in and day-out with.

This means that when you go in for that interview, you really have to sell yourself. You’re no longer worrying if the hiring manager thinks you can do the job, chances are that if you got this far: you can. The key is that you have to show how you can be a team player: someone who’s easy to work with and would fit in with the company culture. Do some research on who you’re interviewing with. Ask the HR Manager if you can get a bio or a rundown of the person or people you’ll be speaking to. Do some research on the company; find out what it’s like and how you would fit in with the rest of the employees.

Good luck out there!

Posted in HR and Recruitment, Job Tips | 1 Comment »

How can I get a new job?

Thursday, July 9th, 2009

The job market may seem like it’s stagnating at the moment, but if you take a closer look at what’s happening in many industries you might be surprised with what you see: they’re hiring! So getting a job might not be as grim as the news makes it out to be.

Alcoa Inc. is the first blue chip company to report its financial earnings this year. Alcoa unfortunately reported a loss of $454 million in its first quarter. However, even with the bleak earnings reported in this most recent quarter, their HR department is still posting new positions at Alcoa as its CEO, Klaus Kleinfeld, rebutted this loss by saying that they “expect to see improvements in the second quarter. [Improved] cash flow will be our primary goal.”

Other companies like Google, Levi and T-Mobile are also taking the optimistic high route by announcing new products and expansions in business, despite the economic doom and gloom. So there’s no reason you shouldn’t keep your own employment hopes high.

To keep my own employment hopes high, I’ve been following these three basic rules:

1. Network – Now that you have extra time on your hands, get out there and talk to people. You never know who might need a position filled.

2. Be memorable – Business cards are like mini-resumes for those on the go. While you’re out meeting new people, keep business cards handy so you can make a lasting impression and so people can keep your name and number handy, just in case they do have a position open up.

Sales Managers

Public Relation Managers

Computer Programmers

You never know when something might come along, so stay sharp, keep your eyes open and your job prospects up!

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How to make your resume stand out

Thursday, July 2nd, 2009

Writing a resume is no fun, but it is a critical part of getting a job. And these days jobs are a bit scarce as more and more people are competing over the few jobs that are popping up. It’s an unfortunate fact of current affairs, but if you’re aware of the fierce competition and you prepare your resume for it, chances are you’ll fair better than most. I’m going to assume that you know the basics of how to write a resume. What I want to advise you on today is how to make sure you get the attention of the HR Manager that may be sifting through a stack of resumes, and at least get a chance to describe what you know how to do.

HR Managers are busy people, and with the deluge of applicants knocking on every door, you have to get their attention straightaway. Rather than beat around the bush, describing your fluffy dreams of “what you’d like to do when you grow up,” many HR managers would better appreciate a brief description of what you’ve done in your past that is directly applicable to what the hiring manager needs in a candidate. So do just that. Before you hit “send” on any job board, make sure you take a minute to write a career description that is relevant to the key features that the job description requires. There is a reason the description has a section that says “Job Requirements.”

Additionally, print a copy of your resume and take a minute to look at its visual impact. Is your resume organized and easy to read? Does it stand out? A little trick I like to do in Word is to go to Format > Borders and Shading… and click on the Page Borders tab. Then, frame my resume so it stands out. If you take a minute to highlight your abilities, maybe you’ll land that interview you’ve been waiting for.

bordersandshading

Do you have any tips or tricks you’d like to share or get feedback on? Feel free to send one back in our Comments section and maybe we can help you refine your resume even further.

Posted in HR and Recruitment, Interviewing, Job Tips | No Comments »

When you should ask for a raise

Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009

Knowing when you should speak to your boss about getting a raise in your salary can be a bit of a touchy subject for a lot of people. Everyone wants to be assured that their salaries are - at the very least - comparable to what they are actually “worth” on the job market. After all, work occupies a majority of the time of your life, and most people would like to know whether or not they’re being a chump working for nothing more than a bit of spare change.

I’m not sure about your mom, but I was always taught by mine that talking about money with someone you know (no less your boss) is a big no-no. I think that’s why many people will altogether just put off talking about their salary with their employer, no matter how much it might bug them. And unfortunately, this can sometimes make a person end up feeling angry, dejected and/or resentful in regards to their job - all because they feel that they’re “unappreciated” or “being taken advantage of.”

But as much of a taboo as you may think asking for a raise is, holding your feelings in like that helps no one at all. In reality, if you’re doing a good job at work and you really are being under compensated, having information to backup your claim for a raise will only make your case stronger. This is where Jobnob can help. Jobnob’s wealth of salary information can give you accurate and up-to-date information that you can use to know where you stand. If you’re being grossly underpaid, Jobnob’s salary information can give you an idea of what other professionals in your field of expertise are being paid. Who knows; we might even be able to give you some inside information about your very own workplace.

Google-salary

Now, I’m not saying that you should immediately research how much everyone else is making and shove that information in your boss’s face (especially in light of the current economic climate). Instead, knowing if you’re being underpaid is a powerful way to measure if you should be looking for a raise, or if that salary adjustment you got in your last evaluation really was “on the top of the curve.”

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New Jobseeker Book “Internet Your Way to a New Job” Hits the Mark! If You are Looking for a Job, You Need This Book!

Thursday, May 21st, 2009

This new book by Alison Doyle “Internet Your Way to a New Job: How to Really Find a Job Online” is a terrific book and an invaluable resource for anyone who is looking for a job. Whether you think you are already Internet savvy, or if you consider yourself a newbie, Alison has tips in here that I’ll bet you didn’t think of. That’s in large part because the author is an expert career coach and an authority on how to look for a job. In fact Alison Doyle is About.com’s Job Search expert, so she’s seen it all and tried it all. She uses her hands on experience to give you the scoop on what works, what doesn’t and what’s worth your time.

The book is terrific because it does a great job of connecting “old school” job searching tools like resumes, interviews and cover letters with “new media” tools like LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook. The book starts out with a chapter on building your professional brand, and if you don’t know what that means, then you should be buying this book! To quote Alison “In a nutshell, your brand is your online presence.” Too many job seekers think that their resume and references are their brand, but in today’s world, the first thing potential employers will do is hit Google to try to find out about you. So you need to craft your online brand and make sure that you have control over what they are seeing. Doyle will tell you exactly how to do this- what tools to use, and what pitfalls to avoid.

Internet Your way to a New Job is available in both a paperback and ebook (pdf) format at http://happyabout.info/InternetYourWaytoaNewJob.php The ebook normally sells for $14.95 but there’s a 20% discount on this site so you can grab it for just $11.95 (which is really a steal considering it’s got 139 pages of actionable advice). I don’t say this about every job searching book out there, but seriously folks, do yourself a favor and get this one!

Posted in HR and Recruitment, Job Tips | No Comments »

Been Laid Off in San Francisco? Then You Need the Career Mojo Workshop. Get Your Mojo Back (yeah baby!)

Tuesday, April 28th, 2009

Are you currently out of work in San Francisco? Searched all the job boards more times than you’d care to recall and sent off hundreds of resumes without so much as a peep? Don’t be discouraged. It’s actually time to shut down your computer and rejoin the real world. Career Mojo (sponsored by Emerging Blue- a leading creative services agency) is hosting a full day workshop that will help you refocus your job search and get back on track. It’s important not to get too isolated when you are unemployed. It’s very easy to feel lonely, isolated and like you’re the only one going through this struggle. But the good news is that you’re not alone, and by networking with other job seekers you will both feel much better and there’s a good chance that you can actually help each other out.

The event is on Tuesday, April 29, 2009 from 12:00pm-4:30pm at the SF Library Koret Theater. Different sessions include “Laid Off: What’s Next?”, “Resume Revamp & Interviewing” as well as networking and other helpful topics.

So if you’re sitting there wondering if you should motivate to go, the answer is YES! Get out, meet some people who are in the same boat as you are, and learn from the professionals how to navigate this tough economy and navigate where you want to go.

Posted in HR and Recruitment, Job Market, Job Tips | No Comments »

How to Get a Job: The View

Wednesday, April 15th, 2009

The View (yes, a la Barbara Walters) had a very good program on Tuesday 4/14 about how to get a job, so for those of you who missed it, I thought I would give you the highlights. There were several guests who spoke about everything from the state of the overall economy to practical tips on how to earn money from home. There are currently around 13.2 millions unemployed people in the U.S. according the Bureau of Labor Statistics and there are estimates that unemployment will rise as high as 10% by the end of 2009. So even if you are not currently unemployed, you may want to sit up and pay attention. I’ll give highlights on the show in order of the guests who appeared:

ANDY SERWER, MANAGING EDITOR OF FORBES MAGAZINE
Andy was the first guest and he went through a review of which industries are hiring, which are not and blamed greed for the current state of the economy.
Industries That Are Not Hiring

Transportation

Real Estate

Industries that Are Hiring

State Government

Local Government

MARGARET LEWIS, PRESIDENT HCA’S CAPITAL DIVISION
Next up was Margaret Lewis who says that HCA has 9,000 open positions at hospitals for jobs like nursing, x-ray technicians and physical therapists. They are looking for people who are passionate about working with others and love what they do (no big surprises here- when has an employer ever looked for someone who absolutely despised what they do?). She said where there are hospitals, there are jobs. I guess people keep getting injured and sick even in a bad economy.

GISEL RUIZ, SVP OF PEOPLE, WALMART
Gisel said that Walmart hired over 33,000 new people last year and that they are in process of building over 150 new stores this year alone. Business is booming at Walmart! The types of positions they are hiring for are: pharmacists, store management, HR managers and sales clerks. Walmart is looking for enthusiastic people with a strong work ethic and people who are willing and ready to serve Walmart’s customers (again- no surprises- you won’t see “slacker” as a prerequisite on their job postings). Walmart claims to provide training to new hires.

MARCUS BUCKINGHAM, CAREER EXPERT AND AUTHOR OF “THE TRUTH ABOUT YOU”
I thought Marcus actually had some very good advice. He apparently works in lists of three so get ready for the following three lists:

The Three Phases of Job Searching
1) Get Clean- sort out your finances. It takes an average of 120 days in this economy to find a job. That’s 4-5 months, so you’ve got to make your money last.
2) Get Ready- hire a headhunter, treat this as your new job. Set up a desk and plan your day from 9-5 around job searching.
3) Get a Buddy- you want to create an accountability plan, so have a job buddy who you schedule time with once a week to keep you on track.

The Three Questions You Will Be Asked In An Interview
1) What are your strengths?
Never say “I like working with people”- everyone says that you want an active verb like “selling to people, organizing people, motivating people, etc.
2) What are your weaknesses?
Don’t try to turn you weakness into a strength- it sounds lame. Fess up to it. Your weakness is something that you can still do well but that drains you. And you can talk about what you’ve done to address the fact that it drains you.
3) Why should I hire you?
Answer this by laying out how you think success will be measured in that job, what your strengths are, and how your strengths will contribute to that success. He also added that you should be ready to ask questions back when the interview asks you if you have any. It looks bad to just shrug and say “no”.

The Three Things NOT To Do In An Interview
1) Never be rude. (This includes being late).
2) Never lie. (The truth will eventually come out).
3) Take all the credit for your accomplishments. (Share credit for your achievements. Companies like team players).
Another obvious tip was to be careful what you post online on sites like Myspace and Facebook. It all becomes part of your personal brand.

TORY JOHNSON, CEO WOMEN FOR HIRE AND AUTHOR OF “WILL WORK FROM HOME”
Tory reminded us that there ARE jobs out there- we just need to make an action plan to go and get them. She created Women for Hire to help women get back to work and it sounds like she tries to help out new grads. Go Tory! She had a lot of energy and great suggestions. Her first suggestion was to join a Job Club, which is basically where several job seekers from an area get together to support each other, network and make you accountable on a weekly basis (much like Marcus’ job buddy idea). She made the valid point that if you ask your close friends and family if they know anyone who is hiring the answer is probably “no”. So it’s probably through extended contacts that you will actually find work. Sounds like Tory works in fives, so here is:

5 Mistakes People Make on Their Resumes

And lastly Tory gave some innovative suggestions on how stay at home moms can earn money from home.

Direct Sales (there are tons of products that you can sell direct to friends/family/whoever (although the average income from this activity is $2,500 a year, so it’s more supplemental income)
Online Selling (ebay, amazon, craigslist- sell stuff lying around the house, clean out your closets, etc)
Sell Your Skills (sites like elance, guru or odesk or liveperson.com where you can freelance your services over the internet to earn money).

Posted in HR and Recruitment, Job Market, Job Tips | 2 Comments »

What if We Knew Everyone Else’s Salaries?

Friday, April 3rd, 2009

Has it ever occured to you how strange it is that we don’t discuss salaries? And it’s been virtually impossible to get this information online or from any other source, so not talking about salaries means that we are all pretty much in the dark about them. So why is this? Who benefits from keeping all of this a secret? Some people say that it’s “personal information” but it’s not like a social security number- no one could get a credit card in your name or steal your identity just because they knew your salary. And as far as private, we as Americans are quite open about other “private” details including how many years of therapy we may have had or even intimate details about our sex lives. But we shut our traps in a hurry when it comes to salary information. What are we worried about?

Are we worried that people will judge us by the number that is our salary? Are we worried to find out that we actually earn less than our co-workers for the same job? Or that we are earning more than our co-workers? Who is this world of salary secrecy serving? I would argue that it is serving the employer. In any situation where there is not perfect information, it is going to benefit one side. When employees don’t know how much they can or should be earning, it allows the employer to pay wide ranges on the same job- and then it’s up to the job seeker to negotiate. But we alreay know that women on average earn about 60 cents on the dollar and minorities are also subjected to a discounted paycheck for the same job. What if women and minorities knew exactly what others (mainly white males) were earning- wouldn’t it be harder to have a discrepancy? I think yes. Write a line and let us know what you think.