Five Steps to Volunteer Your Way to a Job

Five Steps to Volunteer Your Way to a JobFive Steps to Volunteer Your Way to a JobIf youre not sure where to start, follow this guide to landing a volunteer position as a part of your job-search strategy.Industry experts and job hunters who have successfully parlayed volunteerism into paying jobs provided the following advice.Use your network to find open volunteer positions. That will get you into an organization faster. Jane, a job hunter who turned a volunteer job with the MSPCA into a paying job with a Web site focused on animal welfareDetermine whether the volunteer opportunity matches your availability horizon, both so you can achieve success and so you dont leave the non profit in the lurch. Robert J. Rosenthal, Volunteer Match director of communicationsIf you are able to secure a position where youre actually doing a job thats in line with your skill set, then you can absolutely list that on your resume as a position youve held. Disclose that you were a volunteer, but list al l of the duties and responsibilities that you had, as well as any significant responsibilities. Rahul D. Yodh, executive recruiter with Link Legal Search GroupJoin a professional organization or a chamber of commerce within your region. These organizations are already in the business of helping each other, and theres always a need for fresh blood. Professional organizations are a fantastic place to network and work. Its great exposure on many levels. Nate Towne, who found his position as a public- relations counselor at the Hiebing ad agency by performing volunteer work for an industry professional organizationTreat an extended volunteer job like any other job on your resume, provided it is related to your profession and can demonstrate what you accomplished at the charity. Stephen groraumlimousine Vreede and Steve Burdan, both certified professional resume writers who work with Ladders

Recruiters Ignore Age 50+ Jobseekers Who Do This

Recruiters Ignore Age 50+ Jobseekers Who Do ThisRecruiters Ignore Age 50+ Jobseekers Who Do ThisINBOX Ive applied to over 100 job listings, but have only heard anything from 2 recruiters in all this time. I didnt get very far with either of them, and Im not seeing what the problem is, especially since I met every qualification listed in both ads.Landing a new job requires that the recruiters and decision makers see what you see. You know in your mind you can do the job because you have 18 years of experience, including that exact job title in your history, including those exact duties. But people can only read your resume they cant read your mind.Similarly, people only hear what you actuallysay in the conversation, not what you meant to say, and not all the thoughtsyou had swirling around in your head. Your job when youre looking for a job is to communicate what the recruiter or employer needs to hear. Youll get passed over quickly if youre not speaking their language, speaking to t he core of their business problem, or offering a theory about what needs to happen that will benefit their business.Make Sure To Tell The Right StoryYou know the question is coming, so map out the answer ahead of time to, What do you do? (Pro tip the answer is not a personal history lesson about you, delivered by way of boring monologue.) The answer centers on the results you deliver, and who you deliver them for. Commit a short, clear, natural-sounding answer to memory, then massage the language to respond to several different types of opening questions that will come your way.Adjusting your core response is key here. Whatdo you do thats relevant to the person (recruiter, decision maker, interviewer,business contact) whos asking the question. If youre in an interview scenario,adjust your answer so that it dovetails with the central responsibilitypresented in the job description. Go so far as to use the actual words in thejob description, because they will sound familiar to the pers on listening toyou, and youre likely to deliver a significantly stronger impression.Dial Up Your Self-AwarenessWhat is the ad calling on a person to actually come in and do? Your dialogue isnt 100% about what you have done, can do, or want to do. Dial some of that down, and demonstrate awareness of what the decision maker wants. Your leadership skills may be top-notch, and you may have plenty of stories about that, but if the position is an individual contributor role, select stories that have to do with your contribution as an individual contributor.This self-awareness will also help you to not repeatedly hear that youre overqualified. Literally, dont feed into that. Dont hand them all the evidence they need in buchen to say to themselves, This gal is offering way more than what we need right now, and shes going to expect to be paid for all of that.Pull Something Out Of Your Back PocketYou know who doesnt get ignored? The person who brings something a little extra to the table. The good news is this is 101% within your control. What did you learn about the organization in social media or Google News? Zoom in on whats happening today, or whats coming down the pike. Develop a theory ahead of time and offer it up in your written communications and ultimate discussions.Dont just be a jobseeker who looks like the other 1,000 jobseekers. Be the person who articulated some insights about the direction it looks like the organization is headed, and how youve dealt with a scenario like that with strong success.Jobseekers over age 50 are getting hired week in and week out, so if youre struggling, find out what they did in the 5 Secrets Smart Jobseekers Age 50+ Know That Make The Job Search EASY You have to have the right language when facing the GenX HR person, and you have to come quick with the right answer when they ask, What makes you think youre qualified for this job. Learn what to do so you can land the job you want and deserve.

4 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Leave a Good Job- The Muse

4 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Leave a Good Job- The Muse 4 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Leave a Good Job- The Muse Even if you like your job, it’s pretty normal to question if you’d be better off somewhere else. Keeping an eye and ear open for new opportunities isn’t a sign of disloyalty. In fact, you might find that looking around only confirms that you’re in exactly the right role. Here’s a secret: The people who make the best career moves aren’t jumping ship simply for a bigger paycheck or to avoid one annoying co-worker. They’re forward-thinking, goal-oriented, and thinking holistically about how this change will impact their career. So, if you’re unsure if you’re leaving your current position for the right reasons, ask yourself these four questions: 1. Will You Be Better Able to Achieve Your Goals? Maybe you’ve always wanted to pursue a particular avenue in your career. Or maybe, you’ve recently found a passion you want to dig into at your day job. If your goal is to eat, sleep, and breathe content, and there are all of zero writing opportunities in your current role, it makes sense that you’d want to go somewhere where that’ll be a bigger part of your job. But, if that’s what you want in a new job, it has to be your priority. You’ll want this new role to solve the professional frustration you’re experiencing (and not just be the same problem in different wrapping) or help you meet that new goal. One great way to assess how your new role fits into the larger career picture is to find out what happened to the last person who held the job. This information can tell you a lot: If the company isn’t forthcoming with it, that’s a red flag. However, if the person got promoted within the organization or moved on to do the kind of work you’re dreaming of down the road, it’s a good sign that this is a positive stepping stone. 2. Does the New Job Give You the Chance to Expand Your Skill Set the Way You Want? If this new role empowers you to learn things you’d otherwise be spending your free time reading about, that’s a great sign. The old adage, “Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life” may be cliché, but that doesn’t make it irrelevant. Late nights will be a lot more palatable if you’re learning things that you feel are valuable- and interesting. So, ask yourself: Would you seek out the information you’re learning in this new job even if you weren’t being paid for it? And if it isn’t something you’d otherwise be studying on a Sunday? Then ask yourself if it’ll help you reach your overall career goals. (Because of all the reasons I’ve already mentioned.) 3. Will You Have a Greater Sphere of Influence? Most people are motivated by the opportunity to inspire meaningful, positive change through their work. There are few things as defeating for career-minded, goal-focused people than feeling ineffective. In a study where participants were asked to build consecutive sets of Legos for less and less money, one group’s previous creations were saved until the end of the experiment, and the other group’s were broken apart as soon as they were completed. Even though each group was being compensated the same way, the group that had its work preserved built more models. The lesson is: We like knowing our work means something- even in the short term. So, seriously consider a new job that will allow you to have a greater impact. 4. Are You Excited About the People You’ll Be Working With? Culture is a bit of a buzzword these days. It may be trendy, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t important. To succeed in a role in which you’ll work closely with multiple team members, you absolutely must get along with the people. That doesn’t mean you always agree- there are even times when you shouldn’t. Rather, your team members should be people you’d seek out and connect with regardless of you taking the job. They should both challenge and inspire you to think differently and expand your methods. So, ask to meet more people than just the hiring manager. Remember, it’s a recruiter’s job to lure you in with the best aspects of the job. Those traits may be legitimate, but you need the whole picture to make a solid decision. Pay close attention to the atmosphere, character, and situations you encounter. Just because you like your job doesn’t mean you can’t start thinking about the next step. And that goes both ways, just because you’re ready for the next step doesn’t mean you should jump right into it. Any new opportunity worth considering should offer an improvement in all areas: creative freedom, personal growth, career trajectory, and your personal network. Make sure your next move is a thoughtful one by asking the right questions and doing some honest self-examination. Photo of woman walking courtesy of Shutterstock.