Is it Time to Return for Education and Training?

September is approaching and many individuals are entering or returning to school.  I think that education and training of any sort are important to obtaining and maintaining employment.

As new technologies using the Internet such as social media: Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, become commonplace, even experienced workers must continue to refresh their skills in order to remain relevant.  All jobs within organizations are undergoing changes to accommodate advancing tools and systems.  

There are many opportunities to improve your skills.  For example using the following Internet search arguments you will find the many organizations to provide you the education and training that will lead to your employment:

Technical schools (your location), e.g., technical school Dallas

Technical schools (your industry focus), e.g., technical school auto mechanic

Junior colleges (your location), e.g., junior colleges Dallas

Online schools (your major subject or degree), e.g., online schools - engineering, business, accounting, nursing, education

Universities (your major subject or degree), e.g., science, engineering, English

In addition, many schools advertise their offerings online, in TV commercials, and the print media.  Further, many organizations provide finance aid programs to assist in paying for tuition, books, and fees.

I urge anyone wanting to improve your chances of gaining meaningful and employment to consider upgrading yours skills through education and training programs.

Please comment in this blog or email me at glynjordan@gmail.com if believe that education and training could enhance your employment prospects.

Thanks, Glyn!

Suggestions for Cover Letters

An article in the August 18, 2013, edition of The Dallas Morning News by Cliff Garinn on page 1J, “Resume Reboot – Cover Letters as Professional Conversations”, provides suggestions for job seekers if they prepare a cover letter for their resume.

I personally do not know how important cover letters really are.  Many hiring organizations scan submitted resumes for computer selection prior to forwarding the resume to a human being.  

However, I think that a follow-up letter sent to the interviewer at the hiring organization after an in-person interview is very important.

If a cover letter is prepared, here of some of the articles suggestions:

1.   Free of typographical and grammatical errors

2.   No longer than one page

3.   Three or four concise paragraphs

4.   Addresses the hiring organization’s specific concerns

5.   Introduces the attached resume

Please comment in this blog or email me at glynjordan@gmail.com your suggestions for cover letters.  Do you think that a cover letter is really needed? 

Thanks, Glyn!

Social Media and Small Business

As a Score mentor, I participated at a conference for small business people sponsored by Sam’s Club, Constant Contact, and Go Daddy.  My assignment was to serve as a moderator for table discussions concerning the challenges faced by the small business people.   Represented at my tables were the following businesses:

1.   Home furnishing retailer

2.   Hair stylist

3.   Janitorial and security staffing agency

4.   Monogramming specialist

5.   Insurance sales person

6.   Distributor of organic foods

7.   English – Spanish translator

8.   Party supply distributor

9.   Conductor of tele-seminars for empowering women

10.     Kitchen  renovation specialist

11.     IRS certified tax preparer

12.     Antique shopkeeper

13.     Essential oils for body and health

14.     Information systems provider

15.     Specialist in sale and installation of window screens

I was amazed at the variety of small businesses represented. All the people were excited and determined to make their businesses successful.

A common challenge among all these individuals was the importance of gaining more customers and marketing in general.  The major theme discussed throughout the day was the use of social media by small business including:  organizational websites, websites including Facebook, Twitter, email marketing, and blogs.

I believe that if job seekers approach their task of finding employment as energetically as these small business owners, jobs would be found.

Please comment in this blog or email me at glynjordan@gmail.com if you are considering opening your own business.

Thanks, Glyn!

The 100 Best Jobs

According to US News and World Reports, here is a list of the 100 Best Jobs:

 

All jobs aren't created equal. In fact, some are simply better than the rest. U.S. News 100 Best Jobs of 2013 are the occupations that offer a mosaic of employment opportunity, good salary, manageable work-life balance, and job security. Some careers offer just the right mix of these components—for instance, our top tier is filled with tech and healthcare jobs—but the list also includes strong showings from occupations in the social services and business sectors. Even construction jobs enter the fray this year. Read more on how we rank the best jobs, and check out our full list.  http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/rankings/the-100-best-jobs

This article also categorizes the ”Best Jobs” into the following lists:

Best Jobs of 2013 — See our full list of industries and their jobs.

Best Business Jobs — Expect nearly 4 million openings in this industry this decade.

Best Creative Jobs — Three hot jobs where right-brain thinking truly pays off.

Best Healthcare Jobs — The medical field is classified by good salaries and great job security.

Best Social Services Jobs — These 30 jobs are more than a choice, they’re a calling.

Best Construction Jobs — Ten great jobs that prove this field is coming back strong.

Best Technology Jobs — Nine of the fastest-growing and top-paying jobs available now.

These links provide a description of the jobs, salary details, and job openings. 

Are these lists helpful to you?  Are there common themes among this list of jobs? 

Please comment in this blog or email me at glynjordan@gmail.com your suggestions to job seekers.

Thanks, Glyn!