Sunday, February 27, 2011

Cover Letters and Resumes



The Dallas Morning News, February 27, 2011, edition has an article by Cliff Garinn, on page 1J discussing cover letters and resumes.  Cliff notes that your cover letter must have the look and tone of professionally constructed letter. Obviously the letter must be free of grammar and typographical errors and should address how your skills and experience meet organization's requirements.   

If you are posting your resume on an Internet job site, typically no cover letter is required.  However, following a job interview with a prospective employer, a thank you letter is a must!

Please share with other job seekers your suggestions concerning cover letters and resumes.


Thanks!  Glyn    

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Internet Job Search Sites



The Dallas Morning News, February 20, 2011, edition has an article by Amy Winter, Creators Syndicate on page 1J which suggests that job seekers should look beyond local area for jobs. Listed in the article are the following job sites:


dice.com – technical jobs
computer.com – technical jobs
journalismjobs.com – writers’ jobs
creativehotlist.com – visual communication jobs
burryman.com – freelance writing jobs
idealist.org – nonprofit jobs
lawjobs.com – law jobs
ratracerebellion.com – work at home jobs (Creators Syndicate’s site)
workplacelikehome.com – work at home jobs
monster.com – general categories
careerbuilder.com – general categories
indeed.com – general categories

I recognize that there must be a thousand possible job sites; however, at least this list is a starting point.  Here are a few suggestions provided by the article:

1.    In the title of the position you are requesting, enter the title and a plus sign and/or the word telecommute or telecommuting.
2.    Do not enter your zip code, state and other information that might place a limitation on you.
3.    Other possible words to include in your application are independent contractor, work from home, offsite, virtual, remote, freelance, and anywhere.


Please share with other job seekers your experience in using any of these sites or other sites that you recommend.

Thanks!  Glyn    

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Watson and Jobs?



A thought provoking commentary on page A19 of the February 17, 2011, edition of The Wall Street Journal, “Is Your Job an Endangered Species?” by Andy Kessler reminded me of my early days at IBM.  As systems engineers, we were the change makers converting many manual tasks to punch card machines.  Now some 50 years later, many technological labor replacing innovations are in use, and we are wondering where the jobs have gone.

As an individual interested in technology, I marveled at the contest between the IBM computer named Watson (I assume after Thomas Watson, IBM’s founder) and two of the show’s highest money winners on the TV program “Jeopardy!I can only guess what the future of the use of natural language machines and how such machines or systems will impact jobs.

The article lists tellers, phone operators, stock brokers, stock traders, and librarians as jobs that have been eliminated.  In the Dallas area we can include toll takers and change makers. The question is asked: “What jobs will be destroyed next?” and suggests that there two types of workers: creators and servers. Creators are the ones that drive creativity - write code, design chips, create drugs, and run search engines.  Servers service the creators by building homes, providing food, offering advice, and working for governments.

After categorizing types of servers, the article concludes with a position note: “Fortunately, history shows that labor-saving machines haven’t decreased overall employment even when they have made jobs obsolete.  Ultimately the new jobs always overwhelm the drag from jobs destroyed – if policy makers let it happen.”  

The unknown is where will these new jobs come from and what will they require of us.  I think that education in technology and human relations will be important components needed to meet these new job requirements.

Please share with job seekers your thinking about jobs of the future and competing with other Watson computers to come. 

Thanks!  Glyn    

Sunday, February 13, 2011

The Dallas Morning News and monster!



While reviewing The Dallas Morning News February 13, 2011, edition, “Jobs Section” on page 1J, I noticed that there were many job postings with a job number and a monster logo shown at the bottom of each posting. Job seekers should check-out this new approach to finding jobs.  I have signed-up so perhaps I will get job myself.

Please share with job seekers your thinking about this new avenue for securing employment.  Hopefully it will lead to individuals finding jobs!  

Thanks!  Glyn    

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Being Successful!



An article in the Dallas Morning News on February 6, 2011, page 1J “Tap Your Strengths and Experience when Changing Careers” by Metro Creative Connection provides suggestions to job seekers who seek to change their careers.  The article quoting The Conference Board states 61 percent of workers under 25 are unhappy with their job and that less than 45 percent of workers ages 45 to 54 are satisfied with their jobs.

I remember when I was in high school, someone asked me what I wanted be.  I said that I wanted to be a success.  Some 56 or so years later, I still think that being successful is a worthy ambition. “Happiness is a state of mind or feeling characterized by contentment, love, satisfaction, pleasure, or joy.” (Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary). Perhaps we spend too much time seeking happiness and not enough time becoming successful.

In another blog I will discuss ideas for changing careers or vocations.       

Please share with job seekers how you have been successful.

Thanks!  Glyn