USA - Job Hunting: There are ‘Apps’ for that
To help those conducting a job search right now, I would like to share this interesting article with you in the hopes that you find value in the information provided.
The national unemployment rate remains stagnant, with July’s measurement at 9.5%. Fear not, there are mobile apps that can really help you find your next job.
WorkDigital’s Real-Time Jobs application, for instance, lets you search the 50 million tweets-per-day for current job openings, whether you are sitting at your desktop or tapping away at your iPhone. The QuikPitch function lets you re-tweet your LinkedIn profile to any prospective employers.
Be sure that your LinkedIn profile, as well as any other professional network profiles, are always up-to-date, and tailored to your professional qualifications.
It is not wise to wait until you need a job! Your Resume should be updated regularly as your move forward in your career. In this way, should the unfortunate befall you, you will be prepared to begin your job search immediately, and contact your network of professionals.
If you have a network, take stock of it. Dig through cocktail party dinner jackets and suit pockets for old business cards, and use SHAPE Services’ Business Card Reader to scan and auto-update jpegs of your contacts into new directory entries.
“Scour your Facebook friends and LinkedIn connections to see their job titles, current employers and contacts of the people in their network,” says Jerome Young, founder of job search firm AttractjobsNOW.com.
There is also the tried-and-true route of the job search websites. Both Monster.com and Careerbuilder.com remain high on traffic lists, garnering 10 million and 14 million visitors a month, respectively.
There is also Craigslist.org, which is the whale of the group; this entirely free site consistently rakes in more than 60 million unique visitors monthly.
What is new; however, are the applications that go along with these sites. CareerBuilder.com’s app uses the iPhone’s GPS system to find jobs that are literally around the corner from you, and Craigslist Pro has an agent that runs designated keyword searches for openings, whether you’re using the app or not.
Bottom line: You MUST have an online presence, and you need it yesterday. “If you don’t have your own blog today, there’s no excuse,” says tech expert Katie Linendoll. WordPress and Blogger are both excellent sites to start with, and are FREE of charge.
This post has been edited prior to posting to Reciprocity, candidcomments.flokka.com.
Source: The Financial Post, http://www.financialpost.com/careers
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These Interview Mistakes Could Cost You the Job
Congratulations! You finally landed an interview, which is no small feat in this tough job market, so be sure not to blow it. Also, keep in mind that your ‘resume’ and references are what created the interview opportunity for you – personify that individual during the interview process.
Being ‘Informal’ is Inappropriate
Believe it or not, some candidates actually do get far too informal, offering hugs instead of handshakes after the interview. Others will even ask the interviewer to connect on social media sites. You want to connect with this individual professionally, not on a personal level at this point. Keep it professional!
Do not come off as ‘Overly’ Confident
Having a superb resume and a terrific background loses its draw if a candidate is arrogant or overly cocky during the interview process. This will also send up a red flag in terms of dealing with your co-workers and your potential to ‘fit’ into the firm culture.
Ignoring Details
Dress for the role you are interviewing for; show up a few minutes early, bring your resume copy and references with you, and do not indicate a preference of not working overtime or on a flex schedule. Keep your notes and questions for each interview separate to avoid any embarrassing moments!
Info Overload - Overwhelms the Interviewer
There’s a fine line between being thoroughly prepared, and information overload. Keep in mind your resume and references have already been read and checked.
This is especially relevant for mature, more experienced workers who may be applying for lower level positions in our current markets, or meeting with decision makers who are junior to them.
Be sure to do your homework; know everything you can about the position, company, industry, whom the largest competitors are, etc. Always permit the interviewer to lead the meeting, and follow his or her agenda.
Criticizing Former Employers/Co-Workers
Never speak negatively about former employers, bosses, or co-workers – this is a huge mistake! Do not allow yourself to be trapped into answering leading questions in this area, and get off the subject.
Unable or Unwilling to Respond to Questions on Background & Future
When asked what you have been doing since losing your previous job, answer honestly, not simply stating job searching! Perhaps you went back to school, took an online course, volunteered your time, studied a particular new computer program, etc.
A more challenging question would be the ‘three-five year plan’ query that inevitably comes up. Respond according to your career path, and the field you are currently pursuing with the firm. This could look like training in-house, courses, studying, etc.
Do Not Emote ‘Desperation’
A skilled interviewer can get you to let your hair down and reveal information that you should not be discussing, such as family matters, finances, etc. Keep your personal information private!
Be Conscious of Others
Everyone you encounter from the time you enter the building may in some way be related to the hiring process, so acknowledge the presence of others, particularly in the elevator, and treat everyone with respect.
Assume that you are on camera (which is likely the case) from the moment you enter the lobby, up to and including your departure from the building.
Ask ‘Smart’ Questions
Remember that an interview is a ‘2-way’ street, and is a ‘sales’ process for all concerned. Given that you have conducted proper research on the firm, you should have no problem coming up with interesting, and well thought out questions for the interviewer.
Not having a list of a few solid questions to ask indicates that you either lack interest in the firm, or have not properly conducted your own due diligence. Either way, it is harmful to you!
Alluding to Competition
If you have, or seriously anticipate other job offers, this is not the time to bring it up, so do not put that out there. If and when you are contacted with an offer, you will have an opportunity to negotiate appropriately.
Bypassing the Thank You Letter
Do not forget that a thank you letter is very important! Be sure it is clear, concise, and relates to the interview discussion and your interest in the position. For this reason, it is wise to prepare your thank you letter as soon as possible following the interview, so what transpired is fresh in your mind.
As I have stated in previous posts, always ask to take notes during the interview. If you are not permitted to do so, which is unlikely, jot down the important points as soon as possible – even if that means using the washroom or elevator, or sitting down outside the building.
Interviewing is an ‘emotional process’, particularly if you are attending more than two per day. Therefore, regardless of your memory retention, you are likely to forget what could turn out to be important points if you fail to take good notes that should mentally recreate the discussions for you.
Thank You - My Feed Info
I would like to reach out to you and thank you so much for your kind comments and support of my site. I truly appreciate the many great comments I receive, and of course, ignore the SPAM! LOL!
A number of people are asking me how to get my FEED or Subscribe via Email, so I am providing the information for you below, which is most unfortunate, as you should be easily able to see the Feed on any site. Since this is a Flokka sponsored site, I am not able to completely control the design and widgets at this time.
Under my photo on the top right, under my banner, is the text that says Reciprocity - Stay Tuned! with the RSS logo beside it, just click on the RSS logo, and there you go, you now have my feed.
Immediately below that is a box that is in bold that says Subscribe to Reciprocity by Email, which you can also elect to do, it’s up to you. If you click on this link, you will be subscribing to the site via email, versus simply getting the RSS feed.
I hope you continue to enjoy your visits, tell other people about this site, and elect to subscribe to Reciprocity. Since you obviously like the style of Reciprocity, you may also like to visit my other sites, such as: Trials&Tribs for a laugh or two, CorpSecrets E-Comm, and of course, iPlusMarketingCanada.
It is my pleasure to write for you, and so nice to know that it is appreciated. Thank You!
‘Good News Flash’:19 yr. old UBC Grad gets $200,000+ Funding
It is my pleasure indeed to share this story with you, particularly right after the bad news in the last one! This is so cool! I’m jealous, and yet, somehow proud that this new young celebrity is also from Vancouver.
Brian Wong of Vancouver, is developing an Advertising Platform for Mobile Gaming
At 19, Vancouver’s Brian Wong is one of the youngest entrepreneurs to raise venture capital funding, with a $200,000-plus injection of seed money to develop an advertising platform for mobile gaming.
This just goes to show you that you should ‘go with your gut’ and stick to your plans if you think you have a great idea!
Wong, a graduate of University Hill Secondary School, and the University of B.C.’s Sauder School of Business, had already launched the Twitter tool, Follow Formation, and recently left Digg, where he helped launch that company’s Android application.
Those accomplishments were all behind him before Wong celebrated his 19th birthday in April!
So far, it seems there are no challengers to his latest feat: Mark Zuckerberg was 20 when he raised money for Facebook.
“I’m pumped,” Wong said of his latest venture, which is moving along in stealth mode with the wraps expected to be taken off later this year.
“I decided to jump out and do the risky thing,” he said. His new venture, Kiip. me, so far has a $200,000 US investment from True Ventures in a financing round that has yet to be completed.
Wong, who graduated from UBC in May 2009, now lives in San Francisco and left Digg in June.
“I spent a few weeks deciding whether or not to join another company and ended up realizing now is the time,” he said. “There was this idea that was burning a hole in my head.
“I figured I would try to solve it and make a viable company out of it.”
The idea centres on an innovative way for game developers to turn their ideas into money, and reach consumers in the fast-growing mobile gaming space.
“The existing methods of just regular display advertising have become a little bit stale,” Wong said. “We are trying to figure out how to come up with an innovative way to help game developers to monetize, without comprising the game experience.”
Congratulations Brian! I would say ‘good luck’, but I honestly don’t believe you need it…all the Best to you!
Unemployment Stats – Deceiving Data
I wish I had better news to report on the employment front, however, that is not yet to be according to the latest statistics.
What disturbs me is the often confusing information announced by various media, as they do not accurately reflect the ‘true’ numbers of job gains or losses. Also, the discrepancy in our economists’ forecasts for our job growth are seriously out of whack.
BC
BC saw its unemployment rate decline last month as the province added a nation-leading 16,300 jobs, all of which were ‘part-time’.
BC’s jobless rate fell to 7.5% in July, from 7.8% in June, according to the recent Statistics Canada’s Labour-force Survey.
BC added 25,800 part-time jobs, easily offsetting the loss of 9,500 ‘full-time’ positions, survey data show. Consequently, BC was recognized for contributing the highest number of new jobs in Canada.
“Relative to July 2009, employment in BC has grown by 3%, the third-fastest growth rate among the provinces,” TD Economics said.
By industry, the winners were professional, scientific and technical services, up 9,900 jobs; manufacturing, up 8,700 jobs; and transportation and warehousing, up 8,100.
Losses were observed in health care and social assistance, down 15,300, and finance, insurance, real estate and leasing, down 11,200.
CANADA
Meanwhile, Canada’s labour market posted a disappointing performance in July: the economy eliminated 9,300 positions in the month, to the dismay of analysts that had anticipated a gain of 12,500 jobs, which makes me wonder, as the numbers are substantially dissimilar.
Across the nation, full-time employment tumbled by 139,000, while part-time gains of 130,000 were not enough to offset that decline. As a result, the national jobless rate edged up 0.1 percentage points to 8%.
Among the provinces, Quebec and Ontario were hit hardest, shedding 21,000 and 15,000 jobs, respectively.
Still, most economists do not believe the setback is enough to knock the Bank of Canada off its plan to gradually raise interest rates, which is only going to exacerbate the lack of financial support currently available for many families and singles.
USA
The U.S. Federal Reserve, however, will likely come under intense pressure to provide another push to the recovery after U.S. jobs data for a July showed a job market in a deep slump. Outside of the farm sector, U.S. employers cut a total of 131,000 positions from payrolls.
Revisions for May and June indicated that the US economy lost 97,000 more jobs than officials previously believed.
However, the private sector did add 71,000 to its payroll, but that was disappointedly far below the 90,000 expected.
The July data marks the third-straight month the U.S. economy produced less-than-stellar employment results.
This article has been edited prior to publication on Reciprocity, candidcomments.flokka.com.
Source: The Province http://www.theprovince.com/business/unemployment
Businesses Flourish with ‘Strategically Targeted’ Twitter Marketing
It is now a well-known fact that the power of effective networking on major platforms such as Twitter affords businesses immediate recognition and viable opportunities, which we can no longer afford to push aside for some point in the future, that just never seems to arrive in our busy lives.
The positive force of Twitter, in marriage with the synergies of Google, Bing, Facebook, LinkedIn, and several other well-established networks, holds an abundance of opportunity for establishing yourself, and your online presence.
Our service builds on your brand, while we simultaneously develop strategic targets within your growing number of niche followers.
We ask that you permit us to demonstrate our expertise during our generous offer of a FREE 10-DAY TRIAL.
There are NO obligations, and NO strings attached to this Special Offer! We only ask that you meet our straight forward ‘qualifying’ criteria.
As experts in the field of Twitter marketing, we will grow your following on Twitter in such a way that the benefits to yourself and your business will be abundantly apparent, within the first week!
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Stay Connected with clients & customers, yesterday, today, and tomorrow;
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Share and Learn Information Quickly with like-minded professionals;
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Collect ‘Real-Time’ Business Intelligence and receive qualified feedback; AND
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Build Your Relationships with current, potential, and new clients, and consumers.
Please visit http://iplusmarketingcanada.com for further details, and to complete our sign up form to take advantage of this FREE offer.
Announcement - Social Media Marketing on Twitter
Hello. I am sorry that I have been away for a while, but there are very good reasons for my absence! No excuses, it’s just that I have been totally entrenched in my new role with a great marketing firm out of the US. Between my new responsibilities, and other issues of a personal nature, I have been swamped! That’s putting it mildly believe me!
Anyway, let’s get to the great news! I am now on a long-term contract as the Senior Account Manager for a well-respected firm that specializes in growing all kinds of businesses, large and small, on Twitter.
I can honestly tell you that this service really gets positive results, because I took the FREE trial earlier this year, and the difference in my following was fantastic, even before the 10 days were up, and naturally, I ended up becoming one of their clients.
We have a different methodology and approach than most other Twitter marketing firms, and we DO make a positive difference in people`s lives, which is what makes it so cool! Everything is handled personally with our team of experienced marketing professionals, not some computer program that gives you a high number of anonymous followers that won’t help you, or your business succeed.
PLEASE NOTE: This does NOT mean that I am giving up my site here on Reciprocity, and I most certainly will still be writing, so please stay tuned!
If you need some help with your social media marketing needs, or have any questions, please visit the site at http://iplusmarketingcanada.com, and get started on YOUR FREE 10-DAY TRIAL today.
There are no risks or obligations when your trial expires, and it is FREE, so why not take advantage, and let us demonstrate how we can build your ‘targeted’ traffic, and improve your website traffic, page rank, & SEO in the process! You have nothing at all to lose!….check us out on Twitter here.
Canada - BC Job Search Websites
In an effort to help you with your Job Search efforts, I attach the following listing and links to 75 job search websites, which offer jobs in the Fraser Valley, the Lower Mainland, Vancouver and BC.
You will also find common sites such as Workopolis, and the Service Canada Job Bank that will cover most areas of Canada and provide you with a wider range of opportunities and more in-depth job details.
I hope you find this information helpful, and wish you Good Luck!
www.fvlgjobs.ca/
Jobs from Surrey to Hope
www.indeed.ca/fraser-valley-jobs
One search. All jobs. Fraser Valley
www.wowjobs.ca/
Over 100,000 jobs from thousands of job boards, employment and career sites in Canada
www.careerjet.ca/
22,068,197 jobs published on 71,582 websites in the world
www.jobbank.gc.ca/
Service Canada Job Bank
abbotsford.en.craigslist.ca/
Craigslist Abbotsford Jobs
www.bcjobs.com
BC job seekers and employers
www.eluta.ca
New jobs in Canada
www.jobboom.com
Online recruiting that specializes in the Canadian job market
www.indeed.ca
One search. All jobs. Canada
www.jobmire.com
#1 free job site in Canada
www.bcjobs.net
Connecting BC job seekers and employers
www.jobsincanada.com
Employer information, career pages, videos and social networking profiles
www.goodworkcanada.ca
Green Jobs
www.agri-labourpool.com/
Canadian Agricultural Labour Pool
www.allianceforarts.com/job-board
Vancouver Arts & Culture Jobs
www.bcama.com/careers/default.htm
BC Marketing Jobs
www.apeg.bc.ca/index.html
Engineering and Geo-Science
www.bcamp.bc.ca/
BC Association of Magazine Publishers
www.bcclassified.com/
BC Classifieds
www.bccf.com/
BC Conservation Foundation Jobs
www.lifesciencesbc.ca/Employment/
Life sciences jobs
www.newmediabc.com/employment.php
New Media jobs
www.winbc.org/resources/wireless_employment_links.aspx?page=1
Wireless Innovation Network
www.bcchamberjobstore.com/
BC Chamber Job Store
www.bcchefs.com/cook
BC Chef jobs
www.bcconstructionjobstores.com/
BC Construction jobs
www.bcia.com/
BC Institute of Agrologists’ job posting
www.bcit.ca/ses/
BCIT jobs
www.find-a-job-canada.com/bc.html
BC Find A Job
www.bcla.bc.ca/?__id=100280630136
BC Library Association postings
www.bcpsea.bc.ca/access/index.html
BC Public School Employers’ Association
www.bcsla.org/
BC Landscape Architects
www.civicinfo.bc.ca/16.asp
Public service jobs BC
www.employmebc.com/
BC Chamber of Commerce site designed to enhance labour market participation to benefit small businesses and unemployed, non-EI clients
209.205.95.211/joomla/ep/
Listings from BIV Media Group’s Employment Paper, Business in Vancouver newspaper and magazines
www.fwt.bc.ca/
Jobs and job seekers in new and emerging industries including IT, biotechnology, new media, engineering, and the trades
www.getyourcareerontheroad.com/
Trucking industry jobs
www.globaltech.bc.ca/
Tech jobs
www.go2hr.ca/Home/tabid/36/DesktopModules/Images/jobboard.aspx
Tourism jobs in BC
www.healthmatchbc.org/default.asp
Health industry jobs
www.hgcareers.com/
Hire Ground Careers
www.hitechbc.com/
Tech jobs
www.bcnorth.ca/classified/CatWorkOp.asp
Jobs in BC’s North
www.amssa.org/postings/index.htm
Association of Multicultural and Service Agencies job postings
www.jobsearchonline.bc.ca/index.htm
BC online job search
www.macenna.com/
Staffing service – post opportunities
www.makeafuture.ca/
BC education careers
www.miles.ca/
Miles Employment Group (Van)
www.mining.bc.ca/careers_and_education.htm
Mining industry careers
www.msemploy.ca/JobPosting/List.aspx
Microsoft professional jobs
www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/ns/lmi/workplace/jobs/help/help.shtml
Canadian newspaper jobs
www.northernopportunities.bc.ca/
Jobs up North
www.okanaganhightechjobs.com/jobs.asp
Okanagan tech jobs
www.pacifictech.net/html/pctn1000.cfm?A=Employment
Tech jobs BC
www.imakenews.com/spiritlink/
Urban Aboriginal youth jobs and opportunities
www.skgabc.com/
Sea Kayak Guides Alliance jobs
www.set-nanaimo.com/
Employment services for unemployed residents of the Nanaimo area who need access to technology and information to carry out their job search
www.stcwestcoast.ca/
Society for Technical Communicators BC job postings
www.bctechnology.com/statics/employmt.cfm
BC Tech jobs
www.techvibes.com/global
Tech jobs
www.cebc.org/index.html
Consult Engineers of BC jobs
www.classified.van.net/classified/classified.nsf/index
Vannet Newspaper Classifieds
www.witi.com/
Women in technology network
www.workablesolutionsbc.ca/
Job seekers with disabilities BC
www.workink.com/
Career development and employment portal for Canadians with disabilities.
www.charityvillage.com/cvnet/job_search.aspx?tab=browse
Charity Village jobs – Canada
This article has been edited prior to publication on Reciprocity, candidcomments.flokka.com.
Source: Chilliwack Today, http://www.chilliwacktoday.ca/?tag=bc-jobs
News Flash - Job Anxiety Remains Highest in British Columbia
While employment concerns have dropped over the past quarter, British Columbians continue to have the highest levels of job anxiety in Canada (25 per cent, down four points from March), which is also above the national average of 20 per cent, according to the June RBC Canadian Consumer Outlook Index.
A majority of B.C. residents (65 per cent) rates the current Canadian economy as good, up 12 per cent from March, and compared to 67 per cent nationally.
However, the long-term outlook is less rosy, with just 51 per cent of B.C. residents believing the Canadian economy will improve in the next year, down 14 points from March and below the national average (55 per cent). Seventy per cent of British Columbians are concerned about rising interest rates.
“While B.C. residents are positive about the current state of the economy and are loosening the purse strings a bit more, job security is still weighing on their minds and affecting their sense of financial well-being,” said Graham MacLachlan, regional president, British Columbia, RBC. “Having a solid financial plan in place that factors in a few bumps in the road can help offset these concerns and set the stage for achieving your goals.”
The RBC survey also found that fewer B.C. residents are delaying purchases and one-in-five (21 per cent) say that they will spend more on major purchases this year, up six points from March. Given the recent implementation of our HST, I find this fact interesting!
Overall, the British Columbian Consumer Outlook dropped four points to 96 from its inception in March.
Other provincial highlights include:
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Local Economy: Only 24 per cent of British Columbians believe their local economy will improve in the next three months, down 10 per cent since March but in line with the national average of 26 per cent since March but in line with the national average of 26 per cent.
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Personal Financial Situation: Nearly three-in-ten (27 per cent) B.C. residents believe their personal situation will improve in the next three months, on par with the national outlook and up one per cent since March. Looking ahead, 39 per cent of British Columbians believe their personal finances will improve over the next year (down two points from March and compared to 42 per cent nationally).
“B.C. is still expected to be among Canada’s growth leaders this year with real GDP of 3.5 per cent,” said Paul Ferley, assistant chief economist, RBC.
This article has been modified prior to publication on Reciprocity, candidcomments.flokka.com.
Originally Sourced from: RBC; RBC Royal Bank, July 2nd, 2010
Source: yahoo finance - http://yhoo.it/ba55Sw
Absence Announcement
Hello. I know this is rather late in being posted but I felt I wanted to let my followers and visitors know why I have not being posting lately.
I have been off the site over the past 12 days or so due to critical back pain and am still in recovery. My posts may be sporadic over the next little while, until I am able to sit more comfortably and get back to my normal scheduling.
Please hang in there with me during this very painful and frustrating time! I will be back as soon as I am able, I promise! I miss being here and receiving your encouraging and interesting comments.
Thank You!
My Best to You All!
