What would we do without computers?

This evening as I was taking an exam online and the compatible internet feed went down half way through my test. As I sat in front of the screen and stared at the computer, I was contemplating whether I should use a hammer on the unit or toss it down the staircase, I wondered, what would I do without the internet and more importantly this computer.

I began my lessons using a pen and paper to take exams and turn in assignments. I can recall Sister Mary Frances still saying that penmanship was a key element in our future successes in school and life.

Time moved forward, I was able to use the new electric typewriter, the IBM Selectric. It was a marvelous invention for me. I took a typing class in high school so that I could learn how to use the modern invention. It was nice to know that I would be able to fit so much text on a single sheet of paper with out having to handwrite the pages. Then there was the correction tape –no more having to redo an entire sheet of typing now I could backspace and delete. This was fantastic.

Years ago there was such uproar that the machines, aka computers, would be the ruin of the modern world. Fast forward to the modern world and those same naysayers now use their high speed computers everyday to communicate shop and track household expenses. What would these people do without computers?

I think about our son serving in Iraq. He now can send us photos, e-mails and if he has any time left after working, sleeping and eating we can speak with him utilizing Skype. I can not imagine what the mothers’, fathers’ wives and children went through during WWI and WWII. Weeks and months went by before you heard one word from a loved-one. The stress must have been incredible.

I know that I can count money without a calculator, drive down the road with out a gps system and find my way to where I am going. Take college classes at a university versus online / distance learning and I could use a typewriter versus my computer.

What would I do without my computer?

Let’s hope I never have to find out!

Left in Limbo…

Job hunting in the digital age has an adverse affect not only on the employer who is posting the position but also the person via for the job. Current statistics state that for every job there are 6 qualified individuals who could be hired for the position.

Employers are inundated with resumes and have to sift through, interview and find the person who is the “correct fit” for the job. Many employers, including the Federal Government, issue disclaimers that says “Please also note that due to the high volume of applications we are not able to respond to all candidates. Due to the large amount of applications we receive we will only contact those who are successful in their applications.”

Although this statement is great for the employer it leaves the job seeker in limbo wondering if the resume was received, reviewed and recommend for the next step in the employment process.

Even more distressing in this job seeking digital age is the post-interview process. Many employers will mass interview to fill a single position and other will interview and never inform that another person had been selected for the position.

What’s a job hunter to do?

Here is a great article from NPR “Jobless? Get Noticed In The New Economy” People are now creating social media resumes and web resumes getting them noticed by employers and others. This is one way to track who sees your resume so that you can follow up.

Success for Women: Living with Purpose and Passion noted in the “Make an Impression” article one common job seeker misconception, that the person with the best experience is the one who gets hired, WRONG. It is about chemistry and how well you get along with the interviewer.

Finally I wondered what does a job seeker do when left in limbo by a company. Interviewer? Human Resource Manager?

I believe the job seeker should employ tried and true sale techniques. A site where a person can do some research on sales comes from Lee Ann Obringer “How Sales Techniques Work”

Here are a few of my favorites:

• Focus on your prospect or client's needs
• Use language that focuses on your prospect or client
• Help your prospect see the bottom line
• Find out your prospect's priorities
• Know your prospect
• Sell the benefits - not the product - That would be you!
• Know your products, as well as the market - be a RESOURCE
• Focus on your client's success
• Use explanations rather than excuses

Also remember be to persistent not a pest.

Finding Federal Jobs in the Digital Age….

Relocating to Maryland and searching for employment you would naturally think why not find a job with the Federal Government. For most of Marylanders, Washington DC is only a Metro Ride, so why not work for our country and help people similar to ourselves.

Welcome to the digital age of finding a Federal job

The issue is that candidates lining up in droves for these positions. Sites such as USA Jobs and Ave Central are excellent sites to find open positions for Federal jobs across the country. Yet compiling a resume and turning on the internet just isn’t enough to land one of the prized positions. The Federal Government has there own language and classifications for positions.

Steve Opperman said it best “Applying for Federal Employment is like trying to survive the perfect storm.”

Forget the resume writing class you were taught in college now a person has to learn the federal-talk to ensure that the resume you submit stand outs. Federal job seekers need to know the ins and outs of Federal resume writing so that they don't get shut out before they get to the door. Hence the need for researching how to write an federal electronic resume and perhaps purchasing novels such as The Federal Resume Guidebook: Strategies for Writing a Winning Federal Electronic Resume, KSAs, and Essays by Kathryn Troutman.

Time and patience are crucial for applying online for a Federal Job

Once you have done your research and found a position on USA Jobs or Ave Central now comes the fun part…applying for the position and Realizing that most Federal agencies to do accept your uploaded resume.

You HAVE to create an electronic resume on each job seeking website. At first when you begin the process of creating a digital resume you may want to toss your laptop across the room! Now you absolutely wonder why you thought that applying for a job online was going to be easy….breathe deeply and realize that it’s just the process. This is the tedious part of the process and soon will be over.

TaDah you have finished your online resume but I caution you. Many of the positions require you to answer supplemental questions can either be multiple choice or the dreaded essay. BE PREPARED to write up to 3000 – 4000 word answers on questions that vary from why you should be the person selected for the position or Please describe your experience in composing documents or correspondence involving moderately complex or technical information.

Good Luck!

Digital Thank you notes… Do or Don’t?

In this era of right now have we given up hand writing thank you notes? Recently I read an article written by Jen Burke Anderson called “Are thank-you notes passé in the e-mail age?” She spoke with an etiquette consultant who claims that thanking someone with a phone call or e-mail is passable, but a sent note is the best way to show your appreciation.
In the Scary Job Interview Thank You Note Story written on the Work Coach Café explains that yes you should still send a handwritten note to the interviewer but remember how you sign the letter and your message will be judged just as carefully as your personal interview. His suggestions are simple: keep it short, keep it sweet and watch for typos.

One key to whether or not you should send the interviewer an e-mail thank you note is to reflect on how you communicated with the person prior to the interview. For instance, if the person specifically requested that all communications be via email then it is perfectly acceptable to send an e-mail thank you note. On the other hand if the person called you on the phone and sent you a letter in the mail I would practice your penmanship you’ll have to send a handwritten note of thanks.

Virginia Tech Career Services reiterates my opinion “E-mail is appropriate when that has been your means of contact with the person you want to thank, or if your contact has expressed a preference for e-mail.” They also display some samples that can help inspire your letter writing.

If you need some more inspiration for how to write thank you notes check out this article I found called “7 Tips For Writing Thank You Letters With Class” written by Shawn Fawcett. The tips are basic but worth reviewing before you begin writing. Then head over to The Morning News “How to Write a Thank-You Note” for some in-depth instructions on what to do and why. Leslie Harpold notes that writing good thank you notes improves the frequency and quality of the gifts you receive. Now this is a great reason to break out the stationary.

Using Digital Media to research for a job interview

In these economic era the New York times is reporting that Job seekers now outnumber openings six to one, the worst ratio since the government began tracking open positions in 2000. Given this data it is increasingly important for a job seeker to be prepared when finally obtaining a personal interview.

Researching the people / person / company with whom you are meeting is one way to have an extra edge on the competition. Although the internet offers plenty of information for a researcher to find out about companies it can be harder to find out information on the person with whom you are interviewing. This is where social media can help.

LinkedIn is a website geared towards professional networking. This site usually has a complete listing of a person’s job history and many times includes an image of the person.

Twitter does a site where you can find out what a person’s interests are so that you can feel comfortable and know what topics to cover in your conversations.

Facebook is one of my personal favorites for finding images of a person. To often when you either e-mail or speak on the phone you develop a mental image that may not reflect the real image. To make sure that I am not surprised I try to find an image of a person this helps me prepare for whom I am having the conversation and concentrate on the substance of the meeting not the person.

Zoominfo is another personal favorite for researching people and companies. I can always find past articles, images, and just about anything that is currently posted on the web. This site helps me to compile a profile of the person or company so that I know what to expect in the meeting.

I recently read an article called Laid Off And Looking on the Wall Street Journal blog site, in it the author Alina Dizik states that “it’s critical to have significant knowledge about a company so you can make a good impression.” She expresses that a person does need to do research about a company but not so much that you showboat.

To put the rationale for why you should research a company before you go to the interview in sports terminology remember coaches tell the fans that preparation is the number one reason their team wins games.