Singapore to Cape Town!

On April 2, 2012, my wife and I are flying to Singapore to begin a 30 day cruise!  We have been planning this trip for over a year and are most excited.

Our ports of call will include Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Maldive Islands, Mumbai, a side trip to the Taj Mahal, Dubai, Reunion Island, and Cape Town.  Since there will be Internet connection on the ship, Ocean Princess, I plan to continue to post blogs at least weekly.

I am hoping to find ideas and contacts to assist job seekers during the trip.

Please comment in this blog or email me at glynjordan@gmail.com if you have suggestions for me or Ann during our cruise.

Thanks.

Glyn

Getting Jobs by Glyn Jordan - The Book!

Here is the cover for my new book in press!  I will post a message when it is available on Amazon and Kindle.

Thanks.  Glyn

Jobs that Bloom in the Spring!

An article in the March 27, 2012, edition of The Dallas Morning News on page 5D, “Home Depot is adding 1,200 D-FW Area Jobs,” states that Home Depot is adding 70,000 seasonal jobs nationwide!  As the spring and summer seasons arrive, many organizations will be adding to their staffs.

While these jobs are seasonal, typical employee turnover may also provide openings for permanent employees.  I am thinking that now is an excellent time for job seekers to pursue opportunities at retail and wholesale organizations that have increased sales in the spring and summer.

To show initiative, I suggest that you get on your horse armed with a current resume and a list of references and ride to shopping centers, business parks, or any place where business is happening.  When you arrive, seek-out the local manager and ask him/her for a job!

Please comment in this blog or email me at glynjordan@gmail.com if you think my advice makes sense to you. 

Thanks.

Glyn

Helpful “Linkedln” Information for Job Seekers

A reader of this blog provided me the following link to a job search related article posted by Internet Service Providers:

"10 Reasons LinkedIn Can Cause Problems at Work” (http://www.internetserviceproviders.net/blog/2012/10-reasons-linkedin-can-cause-problems-at-work/)

1. If you are using your company email account for correspondence, or if it’s obvious to potential employers that you are contacting them from your present job, you may be sending the message that you’re willing to slack on your responsibilities at work, which is definitely the wrong message you want to send out. Prospective employers may take a dim view of your use of company time and resources for personal reasons.
2. You never know who may be looking at your LinkedIn profile, and this includes your current boss. You run the risk of having your employer see your resume or profile on the website, which will likely send up an immediate red flag to them. There goes the stealth mode for your job search. It’s wise to set your privacy preferences so that your personal info is not visible to employers.
3. Anytime it becomes apparent that an employee is searching for new job opportunities, whether the boss finds out or co-workers become aware, that employee’s future has been seriously compromised in his current role. Your current boss may make a preemptive move and dismiss you before you have the opportunity to find a new job and put in your two-week notice at your current one.
4. On the flip side, LinkedIn can cause you problems at work by providing your boss with qualified candidates to replace you if and when they realize that you’re on the hunt for a new job. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander, as they say.
5. Some companies monitor internet usage by employees, and can easily track website visits and record searches. Having your browsing history at their fingertips means that it wouldn’t be difficult for your boss to discover that you’re looking for a way out; and he may provide you with one… just one you hadn’t planned on.
6. The time you spend job hunting at work can lead to productivity issues. You want to leave your current position on your own terms, not because you were fired. It’s best to leave on good terms with your current employer so as not to burn any bridges. After all, you never know when you may need to come back or utilize an old boss for a good reference. That leads to another matter of potential concern …
7. If you have resorted to searching for new employment prior to making an attempt to improve your current situation, or giving your employer the chance to keep you, you could be missing out on a better opportunity at your current job. Before you start searching outside of your current company ask for any lateral or upward shifts that you may be better suited for within your current company.
8. Some companies have clauses in their employment agreements that prohibit employees from seeking work with competitive firms for a specific period of time after termination. You may be violating your current agreement with your job search, so it’s best to check on any statutes of limitations that your employer may have specified in your employment contract.
9. Prospective employers may inadvertently contact you or your present employer when screening your application. The last thing you want is for a prospective employer to contact your current employer if it’s going to compromise your job situation. Using the wrong email address or phone number could wind up costing you two jobs – the one you applied for, and the one that currently pays the bills.
10. Of course, if you were otherwise content at your current job, finding out that you’re grossly underpaid compared to similar positions that you’ve discovered are available via networking sites like LinkedIn can also be detrimental. Learning this information can cause a whole other kind of problem for you at work. Sometimes ignorance is bliss.

You may find other articles posted on the site to be informative.  However, you should recognize that the site is marketing its Internet consulting services and that I do not necessarily recommend them.

Please let me know if this type of information is of value to you or someone you know by posting your comments here or emailing me at glynjordan@gmail.com.

Thanks, Glyn

Where Are the Shade Tree Automobile Mechanics?

For many years I performed routine maintenance on my autos.  I was pretty good at changing the oil and filters, adding antifreeze and windshield cleaner and airing my tires.  However, I seldom replaced spark plugs or rotated tires.

Have you looked under the hood of the 2011 or 2012 model cars? I was amazed at the view!  I frankly could not recognize or identify most of the modules hidden under the covers.

An article in the March 18, 2012, edition of The Dallas Morning News on page 1D has an article by Terry Box, “A Going Concern”, discusses how the repair of automobiles has become more complicated requiring technically trained and experienced personnel. One large dealership in the Dallas area has a technology center within its service department! 

Since 11 million new cars are produced annually in the US, the need for trained personnel to maintain this new fleet continues to grow. The article states that personnel will be able to command some serious money.

My suggestion to anyone who has a love for fixing things, especially for anything automotive, that you investigate automotive maintenance and repair training available.  The article discusses the training provided by Universal Technical Institute of Irving; however, I am sure that a search on the Internet will find many similar organizations in your area.

You do not need an Ivy League degree to make decent money and have a very rewarding occupation that is your passion.  

Please share your thinking about the many jobs opportunities that technologies offer with readers of this blog by posting your comments here or emailing me at glynjordan@gmail.com.

Thanks, Glyn

Re-employment and Ex-Offenders

I provide job counseling at the North Dallas Share Ministries; frequently my clients are ex-offenders.  They discuss the challenges they face in finding employment. As I have written in my blogs, the failure to disclose a felony conviction can ultimately result in dismissal from your job.

So what actions should an ex-offender take?  Will only one mistake follow a person his/her entire life? Some types of criminal records can be expunged; however, I do not know if such records may still be obtained by employers.  Consequently, care must be taken prior to retaining attorneys and organizations that advertise the removal of criminal records.

Here is an article that you may find helpful:  “Successful Job Placement for Ex-Offenders: The Center for Employment Opportunities” written by Peter Finn and posted on the website: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles/168102.pdf.

There are a number of organizations that indicate that they employ ex-offenders.  Among these organizations is Goodwill Industries.  

Related searches for organizations that employ ex-offenders yields the following links:

associations that employ ex offenders

http://us.jobrapido.com/?w=ex%20offenders&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=ADWORDS_US_JOB_SEARCH&utm_agid=1294809827&utm_kwid=3410277327&adwords=

http://www.jailtojob.com/Companies%20that%20Hire%20Ex-offenders%20and%20Felons.html

http://outandemployed.wordpress.com/category/hope-for-ex-offenders/

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/jobs-for-convicted-felons/

Please comment in this blog or email me at glynjordan@gmail.com if you have knowledge or experiences that will assist ex-offenders in finding employment.

Thanks.

Glyn

Summer Jobs and Internships

What are you doing this summer?  Are you seeking a summer job or perhaps an internship?  Having four grandchildren in college, I am familiar with the task of finding a productive and perhaps a money-earning summer job.

As with any job search, networking is a proven strategy to use in finding summer employment.  College professors and advisors are good sources of job leads.  In addition, parents, friends, and even grandparents have many contacts that may have knowledge of potential positions – both jobs and internships or they may know someone who does.

I just discovered Snagajob, a website that provides good leads for all job seekers including students and individuals looking for part-time work.  I suggest that you give Snagjob a try: www.snagajob.com. I have no personal experience with Snagjob, but its website provides many participating hiring organizations and testimonies by several nonprofit agencies.

Please share your suggestions for finding summer jobs or internships with readers of this blog by posting your comments here or emailing me at glynjordan@gmail.com.

Thanks, Glyn 

Honesty and Resumes

Honesty and Resumes

An online article in USATODAY.com, http://usat.ly/y0J5EM , by Arita Bruzzese retrieved on March 7, 2012, “Time to ‘fess up on those resume fibs”, reminds us all to be truthful on our accomplishing and experience or perhaps later being shown the door. 

“The Supreme Court recently heard arguments in a free-speech case involving … an individual after falsely claiming that he received the Congressional Medal of Honor, even though he never served in the military.”

Perhaps it is easier to declare that you have earned a college degree than to actually attend the school and do the work required to earn a degree. I personally know of several cases of individuals that have lost their jobs because of their lying on resumes or applications for employment. 

I had a job counseling client at the North Dallas Shared Ministries who had been fired by a school district because she did not disclose a felony conviction which occurred years ago.

So my message today is the old cliché ‘honesty is the best policy.’  Further, if you have already committed an offense, perhaps it is time to come forward and admit the mistake.  Hopefully, your performance may provide a life line and save your job.         

What is your opinion about honesty and resumes?  Please share it with readers of this blog by posting your comments here or emailing me at glynjordan@gmail.com.

Thanks, Glyn 

Homesourcing and Homeshoring – New Terms?

Here are some definitions provided by Wikipedia of these new terms:

Homesourcing also known as homeshoring is "the transfer of service industry employment from offices to home-based employees with appropriate telephone and Internet facilities".^[1] Homesourcing is best thought of as a combination of outsourcing and telecommuting.
Homesourcing refers to hiring employees or engaging independent contractors. Homesourced workers are sometimes required to come to an office for training from time-to-time.

Traditionally, employers were most likely to homeshore call-centers and other customer service processes. However, this trend is changing as employers realize a wider variety of work is amenable to homeshoring. Knight Ridder Newspapers reports "it's no longer just call centers and information-technology jobs. Now it's architects, accountants, tax preparers and financial analysts."^[2]
According to researcher IDC, homesourcing is expanding by about 20% a year and homesourcing is "on track to explode".^[3]

An article in The Dallas Morning News on March 3, 2012, on page 1J by Christine Durst and Michael Haaren of Creators Syndicate, “The Retail Giant Opens oodles of Opportunities” mentions Amazon, American Express, United Health Group among companies hiring employees to work from home. 

The article refers readers to the following Internet sites:

http://bit.ly/xh9gH2
www.indeed.com
www.ratracerebillion.com
http://www.support.com
http://www.arise.com
http://www.1800flowers.com

I also found another interesting site: www.homesourcing.com  which contains links to work at home jobs.

Many of the open positions listed on Internet sites are for employees while others are for independent contractors.  I suggest that you check with an income tax adviser before you establish a relationship with organizations that post jobs on the Internet. Further, you should request a reference list of the organization’s clients to verify that it is a legitimate business.

Please share your experience with working at home jobs with readers of this blog by posting your comments here or emailing me at glynjordan@gmail.com.

Thanks!  Glyn

Notes:

1.   ^ "New words". Macmillan English Dictionary. Retrieved 2007-10-05.

2.   ^ Hall, Kevin G. (December 05 2006). "Homeshoring Grows: Companies Cut Costs by Shipping Jobs to Workers' Homes". Knight Ridder.

3.   ^ ^{a b c} "Who's Helping Homeshore Workers? For people interested in jobs that allow flexible hours at home, here are some companies that specialize in matching workers with employers". Business Week. May 2 2006. IDC is a subsidiary of International Data Group (IDG).[1]

A Bridge to Somewhere!

Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge Celebration!

Dallas is celebrating the opening of the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge which crosses the Trinity River connecting Downtown Dallas with West Dallas and Oak Cliff.  This event has me thinking about the purpose of a bridge.

Cursory research finds at least 10 bridges, three songs, and three films entitled “A Bridge to Nowhere.” Of course the primary purpose of a bridge is to facilitate transit from one location to another by passage over incumbencies such as rivers, streets, railroads, roads, and walkways.

So as a job seeker, what bridges will assist you in crossing the gulf between being unemployed to being employed?  I am hoping that suggestions contained in this blog will serve as bridges. However, you must determine where you plan to go.  Crossing a bridge to nowhere will likely result in a dead-end requiring you to return to the place you left.

Once you have selected your destination, I am sure that you will find the best bridge to get you there!     

What bridges will help you reach your destination?  Please share your thoughts with readers of this blog by posting your comments here or emailing me at glynjordan@gmail.com.

          Thanks.   Glyn

Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge