Empowering People To Change

For the past few weeks i have been working with a variety of clients seeking experience IT and Accounting Finance managers for a SAP project. I have found that is difficult locating professional in this market. Although the unemployment index is above 10.5 nationally. In some areas it is over 20.0% and the economy is very affected. Given this high unemployment why is it people have not differiented themselves in the job market, and seeked additional training.

I am not saying everyone is going to be an SAP programmer. However if we all trained or requested additional training perhaps we can resolve our problems and lower the unemployment index. Just a Thought!

Where the Jobs Are

It has been a while since i have posted to my blog. I have been busy with training and coaching executives who are having a difficult time with locating a new position and need some career advice.

The best advice i have for anyone today seeking a new position is to never give up or become not focused on our goal and objective. We have to try and change the way we do things with looking for a job, interviewing, resume writing, and proper attire for the job.

i am going to update my content more frequently and continue to write and empower people to change.

Usually people associate dining out with fun, pleasure and a relaxed atmosphere. All true statements until you are trying to land a job while going out for lunch. Candidates normally asked themselves why an employer would want to conduct an interview over a meal. There are many reasons why. The hiring manager may not want the office to know they are interviewing for a certain position. The position may require heavy client interaction and business meetings and not only are you being considered for the position but also you are being observed on how you perform in an open environment. It doesn’t matter what the reason is, but in an extremely tight job market you the candidate need to be prepared.
Here are a couple of Do’s and Don’ts to keep in mind.

The Do’s
 Shut off your cell phone – I know it’s very tempting to check you blackberry or phone but resist temptation. Even if your interviewer is checking their phone do not check yours.
 Learn the Restaurant – Find out something about the restaurant that can be associated with something you are interested in. Engage your interviewer about the restaurant ask a question “Have you been here before?” “What do you recommend?”
 Inquire about your interviewer – You need to break the ice, ask questions such as “What do you like most about the company?” “How did you get your position here?”
 Keep your guard up – Remember this is an interview not a social setting. Keep focused on what’s at stake. Some companies will send an employee that is similar in age and background that will try to possibly stay something that you should not have.

The Do Not’s
 Talk Excessively – Better known as the pregnant pause used by interviewers. When you are done answering a question do not fill the open air. It is interesting what is said when someone is nervous.
 Being Late – Whether it’s for an in office interview or lunch interview always arrive about 15 minutes early.
 Rude to Restaurant Workers – This rank’s number one as the biggest blunder. Be polite to your waiter/waitress. Be patient and keep you focus on why you are there.
 Your Ordering Taste – Keep in mind the price of the items on the menu. Ordering the most expensive item. Skip dessert and only order coffee if the hiring manager is having something. This shows that you are fiscally responsible. Beware of what you order. Order something that you need to use a fork, and stay away from onions and garlic.

Following these easy to remember tips will help you land your new position. Lunch interviews just added some more complexity to the hiring process. Also always do your research on the company and be prepared.

The Resume Checklist you Can’t do Without

With the current state of the economy and unemployment rising every month you the job seeker need to take full advantage of every opportunity you have. There are fewer and fewer jobs available thus making your resume the number one priority. Before you send out your resume compare it against this simple checklist.

1. Clear Objective
There has been much debate was to whether or not to include an objective on a resume. I am here to say “YES”. Your resume must have a clear objective, not one with a lot of words that is not clearly defining your interest. It is simple your objective should state the target job title your resume is going to speak to. Your objective helps lead you into your opening statement which you will then focus your resume on. This statement will immediately let employers know who you are.

2. Opening Statement

Most resumes open with the “Summary of Qualifications”. The problem is the qualifications summarized tend to be more fictional than real. Within this paragraph cliché phrases are used such as “results driven” or “proven track record”.

If your resume has these two phrases or phrases that are very similar you may want to restructure your resume. Don’t bore your reader, your reader is only interested in one thing can you do the job. Can you help solve their problem.

Instead present a clear and concise statement usually one sentence that highlights your single biggest strength and end with what benefit you can offer. This is normally justified by some dollar figure since in today’s business world everything comes down to dollars saved.

3. Measureable Results
Within this section you need to list specific achievements in a bullet form. Achievements should be justifiable someone you worked for received a benefit. You need to get your point across in this section you need to communicate to your audience your “true value” both clearly and specifically. These bullet points should be brief no longer than a sentence long. Ideally if you are able to assign a dollar value to your statement it will have a bigger impact with your new employer.

4. One Job Title = One Resume
Employers, Human Resource representatives, job recruiters have a short attention span, thus you only have a small window to lure them into reading more about you. Once you lose their attention or confuse them your resume will be put to the side. If you are applying for a controller position state why you are a great controller. Employers do not need to know areas that do not pertain to the current job you are applying for. Always use one resume for one position, do not use the same resume for different positions. You need to structure your resume for the job you are applying for. If you do this your resume will not be set aside.

5. At the Top
Put all important information at the top of your resume. Start with your most recent position and continue. Most resume readers spend approximately 20 seconds thus you have this amount of time to make an impact and to capture your reader to keep reading. If you have an important fact do not bury it within the body have it stand out. For example if you helped reduce costs by 10% this information should be highlighted at the top of page 1.
If you follow this simple checklist, chances are your resume will stand out and you will receive more call backs.

Carvechi, a premier career website for the areas of Accounting, Finance, and Information Technology, has announced a “Managed Solutions” division to assist national clients with challenging projects in Accounting, Finance, and Information Technology.

Miami, Florida (PRWEB) June 16, 2009 — Carvechi, a premier career website for the areas of Accounting, Finance, and Information Technology, has announced a “Managed Solutions” division to assist clients with challenging projects in Accounting, Finance, and Information Technology.

This new division is focused on being a project based solution service for clients who face the pressure of reduction in permanent headcount as well as the challenges of meeting pending deadlines with SOX compliance, internal control implementation, cloud computing, new Software implementation and assessment of work-flow. The Managed Solutions division is part of Carvechi ’s “Empowering Movement” which focuses on changing the mentality of corporate barriers in the job market thus causing a paradigm shift in the global mindset of how employee and employer synergistically bond in the United States and abroad.

Carvechi’s professional network of registered executive level candidates allowed us to create this exciting division to assist corporations with the many challenges they are facing in today’s global economy while focusing on creating change, sparking creativity, and building efficiency.
We empower and give free education to enable people during their career transition
Carvechi’s Managed Solutions division offers a wide variety of services for each targeted business area, and has the knowledge of experienced minority professionals to help our clients improve performance and achieve any goals. Donald Tee Carson, president and CEO of Carvechi stated “Carvechi’s professional network of registered executive level candidates allowed us to create this exciting division to assist corporations with the many challenges they are facing in today’s global economy while focusing on creating change, sparking creativity, and building efficiency.”

In addition to launching this new division, Carvechi has also remodeled its leading career website to provide enhanced features and user-friendly environment, enabling both candidate and employer to come together. People searching for a job are encourage to apply for positions at Carvechi and career opportunities range from accounting jobs, finance, technology, and executive careers. Employers can post a position for a low price of $349.00 with full database access to search resumes and job visibility for 45 days.

A great addition to the career site is the “Carvechi Live” module. In keeping with the theme of “Empowering People to Change”, Carvechi Live is a free repository of excellent articles on interviewing & resume writing techniques, career coaching, available opportunities, and latest news on the job market. Carson stated “We empower and give free education to enable people during their career transition”. Articles are written from leading industry experts and provide empowering information.

About Carvechi:
Carvechi is a minority owned company with over 50 years experience in Information Technology, Accounting, and Finance. With a premier career website and managed solutions division specializing in the areas of Accounting, Finance, and Information Technology. We are revolutionary in our process to educate and empower people while searching for a career. We offer job seekers the ability to post resumes, CV’s, and video resumes enabling hiring organizations the ability to view prospective candidates in a unique forum and in essence conduct an initial screening online. Our Managed Solutions delivers value to our clients regardless of size, state, local or federal government, at significant cost saving measures to ensure on time delivery of projects, quality, and professionals.

This is the innovative new trend in career websites and managed solutions.

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Technorati Profile

Due to the recent hard economic times in the United States Economy employers are finding ways to cut back on costs without laying off their labor force. Companies are looking at ways to reduce variable costs since they are locked into fixed costs such as leases.

In an effort to control and manage costs companies are reviewing current benefit programs that their employees are entitled to receive as full time workers. Some fortune 500 companies are looking to introduce taking away the 401k match they offer employees, or have their current employee pick up the full tab for their healthcare benefits. State and government offices are also looking for ways to reduce their spending by introducing furloughs instead of laying off workers. Employees are not standing still even in these tough economic times once notified of their reduced benefits most begin their search for new work elsewhere.

Although companies believe that the economy will begin to have an upturn heading into 2010 most said that the cuts were necessary for their survival, and they believe that more cuts can still happen heading into the 4ths quarter of 2009. These late recession layoffs often cost the company more money due to severance packages, and they need to rehire staff, retraining, and recruitment fees once the economy has recovered.

Companies also putting in place hiring freezes which result in 1) having your current workforce work longer hours to pick up the slack, or 2) reach out for temporary workers to help fill the void. Temporary assignments have been on the rise, and will continue into the early parts of 2010. The workload for companies has not reduced, and they still need able bodies to help complete pending deadlines such as system implementations, SOX compliance, and internal controls documentation.

Furthermore until we see a steady climb in our economy companies will still try to manage their variable costs by hiring temporary help thus saving the company money from paying out full time benefits such as 401k, healthcare, pensions, car allowance, and many other benefits.

You worked hard in school getting an education needed for to jump start your career and to land your first job. Don’t let these mistakes stall your career growth. Remember coming right out of school and entering into the work force you have a clean slate. Let your new employers perception of you see you as an up and comer not a slacker. Your behavior, attitude and appearance will play an important role in your success.

The following career killers should be avoided:

1) Procrastinating – In your school career you probably waited to study for a big exam until the last possible moment, and you probably ended up with a decent grade. This type of procrastination in the work place will be unacceptable. If you wait to pull together a big presentation chances are the preparation for this will be shoddy and shown to your boss and co-workers. There is always a chance something will happen as well you might be missing a key part of the presentation due to someone’s absence or is unavailable to assist you. The end result you will be seen as a slacker and you will find yourself on the “corporate slow track”.

2) Sense of Entitlement – Society has driven us to always get what we want. This is not true in the workforce. You need to be patient it’s not possible to gather ten years of experience from one year. Young inexperienced employees feel entitled to receive quick promotions, but it’s that attitude that will keep you from advancing. If you have a job you are lucky to have one in this economy. Remember you are at the bottom of the ladder, and need to work your way up. You will need to pay your dues that means working on the days that everyone senior wants off. This is the time for you to learn more and how to advance your career.

3) Settling into your Job – Getting adjusted to your job is your first step, but you should always be on the lookout for chances to shine. Do not be shy from to step up for more responsibilities. Go above and beyond your everyday tasks. This will demonstrate your talents to your boss and show your boss that you are a risk taker who takes initiative.

4) Avoid Office Politics – Within every office politics are alive. You need to beware of them and not fall into the trap of gossiping and backstabbing. Instead you should use this to your advantage by developing relationships, asking for advice, and offering your help by showing sincere interest in others.

5) Not being a Team Player – This is a situation that young employees need to pay close attention to. You want to be part of a team and help in making the project successful, but you do not want your efforts to be lost and not recognized. You need to be able to demonstrate your skills and build your career without giving the perception that you are only looking out for yourself.

6) Not Dressing the Part – You want to look the part. You want to look professional and in control not sloppy. In today’s society people tend to look at the visual more than your merits and skills. Look at your co-workers see what they are wearing. If they are wearing suits than you should be dressing similar. Do not wear a suit if everyone is wearing jeans.

7) Not Networking – Not only is networking a good thing to help you find a job, it’s also a good way to keep your job. Maintaining your contacts after you are hired is critical for continuing your career. You never know that a contact may help you find your next position if you follow the points suggested above.