Thursday, August 28, 2008

Baltimore Job Fair Video

Looking for a job in Baltimore, MD?

The Employment Guide is having a job fair at The Baltimore Convention Center.

When: Wednesday September, 17th
Time: 10:00am-2:00pm
Where: One west Pratt Street Baltimore, MD 21201

Be sure to dress for success and bring plenty of resumes.

Check out our video from our June job fair at Anne Arundel Community college.
Click on this link: Baltimore job fair video

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Top Ten Interview Mistakes.

What shouldn't you do when interviewing? Here are a selection of blunders, mistakes and errors a candidate for employment can make. Spend time preparing to interview so these don't happen to you!
Top 10 Interview Blunders

1. Don't Prepare
Not being able to answer the question "What do you know about this company?" might just end your quest for employment, at least with this employer. Background information including company history, locations, divisions, and a mission statement are available in an "About Us" section on most company web sites. Review it ahead of time, then print it out and read it over just before your interview to refresh your memory.
2. Dress Inappropriately
Dressing inappropriately can work both ways. You will certainly want to wear a suit if you are interviewing for professional position. When interviewing for a summer job at your local theme park or as a lifeguard, for example, dress accordingly in neat and casual attire. If you aren't sure what to wear, visit the organization and watch employees coming in and out of the office to see what they are wearing.
3. Poor Communication Skills
It's important to communicate well with everyone you meet in your search for employment. It is, however, most important to positively connect with the person who might hire you. Shake hands, make eye contact, exude confidence, engage the person you are speaking with, and you will let the interviewer know that you are an excellent candidate for this position - before you even answer an interview question.
4. Too Much Communication
Believe it or not, a recent candidate for employment, who, by the way, didn't get the job, didn't hesitate to answer his cell phone when it rang during an interview. Leave the phone behind or at least turn it off before you enter the building. Same goes for coffee, food and anything else other than you, your resume, your job application, and your list of references. They don't belong at an interview.
5. Talk Too Much
There is nothing much worse than interviewing someone who goes on and on and on... The interviewer really doesn't need to know your whole life story. Keep your answers succinct, to-the-point and focused and don't ramble - simply answer the question.
6. Don't Talk Enough
It's really hard to communicate with someone who answers a question with a word or two. I remember a couple of interviews where I felt like I was pulling teeth to get any answers from the candidate. It wasn't pleasant. So, even though you shouldn't talk too much, you do want to be responsive and fully answer the question as best you can.
7. Fuzzy Facts
Even if you have submitted a resume when you applied for the job, you may also be asked to fill out a job application. Make sure you know the information you will need to complete an application including dates of prior employment, graduation dates, and employer contact information.
8. Give the Wrong Answer
Make sure you listen to the question and take a moment to gather your thoughts before you respond. Like the following candidate, you'll knock yourself out of contention if you give the wrong answer.
The interviewer had completely described a sales and marketing position to the candidate. She emphasized that cold calling and prospecting were the most important skills and experiences needed for the position. The candidate responded to the question about what she did or didn't like to do in sales, with these words: "I hate to do cold calling and prospecting, and I'm not good at it." That response ensured that she wouldn't get the job!
9. Badmouthing Past Employers
Your last boss was an idiot? Everyone in the company was a jerk? You hated your job and couldn't wait to leave? Even if it's true don't say so. I cringed when I heard someone ranting and raving about the last company she worked for. That company happened to be our largest customer and, of course, I wasn't going to hire someone who felt that way about the company and everyone who worked there.
It's sometimes a smaller world than you think and you don't know who your interviewer might know, including that boss who is an idiot... You also don't want the interviewer to think that you might speak that way about his or her company if you leave on terms that aren't the best.
10. Forget to Follow UpAfraid you didn't make the best impression? Are you sure that you aced the interviewed? Either way, be sure to follow up with a thank you note reiterating your interest in the position and the company.
Finally, even if you do flub the interview, don't take it to heart. I don't think there is anyone hasn't blown an interview or two. If it happens, look at it like it just wasn't meant to be, learn from your mistakes and move on to the next opportunity.
Information provided by: Top 10 interview Blunders.

Monday, August 25, 2008

EG Weekly Publication August 25-August 31




Check out this weeks great career opportunitites!
Chimes
Corporate Express
American Red Cross
North American Trade Schools
All-State Career
Baltimore Bartender School
ECS-Mid Atlantic
Lifetouch National School Studios, Inc.
St. Elizabeth Rehabilitation
Signature Flight Support

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Tips for cutting back expenses in Baltimore

Here are some tips for cutting back expenses in today’s soft economy and you will see the extra dollars add up in your pocket.

Tip #1: A penny earned is a penny saved.
When you have few options on how to save cash, sometimes the only thing you can do is make some more money. Take out a second job, or research ways that you can make some more money from home (hint: writing articles like this pays pretty good). You've got talents, why not promote yourself on Craigslist or find freelance work on the internet. If you can do third grade math, you can be a tutor! If you can use some of your spare time to your advantage, why not? Generating more income, plus using all of these tips, is the surest way to make your cash go the distance. For more information about easy ways to make some extra cash, check out the sites listed below.

Tip #2: Bag Lunch
It can be fun to go out to lunch with your friends every day, but the fact is, even if you're eating McDonalds and Taco Bell, you're spending roughly $5 a day on your food. That's $50 every paycheck that goes directly into your stomach.
By taking a quick trip to the grocery store and spending a little time in the kitchen every Sunday afternoon, you can whip up a full weeks worth of chili or soup for maybe $10. Even if you have no cooking skills whatsoever, there's box mixes and Mac and cheese that can keep plenty of your hard earned money back where it belongs: in the bank!

Tip #3: Your Local Library
Libraries have been under the gun recently since few kids seem to care about reading these days. So what have libraries done to combat this? Expanded! Now your local library will carry popular DVDs and VHS tapes, CDs, and mine even has Playstation Video games, in addition to the books. Make the library your first stop for an evening's entertainment, and you have yourself a winner! (Another tip: many college textbooks are also available in the reference section, so you may not even need to buy those).

Tip #4: I'll have water
Soda can cost you as much as $2 these days. Water is free. Need I say more?

Tip #5: Save it all up
Instead of taking daily trips to the grocery store or Laundromat, save up all of your shopping and dirty clothes and do them once a week instead. You can always buy in bulk and save money. Small, one-load washing machines in my apartment building cost $1.25, but if I fill up a three-load washer, it's only $2.75.

Tip #6: eBay!
When you have few options on how to save cash, sometimes the only thing you can do is make some more money. Take out a second job, or research ways that you can make some more money from home (hint: writing articles like this pays pretty good). You've got talents, why not promote yourself on Craigslist or find freelance work on the internet. If you can do third grade math, you can be a tutor! If you can use some of your spare time to your advantage, why not? Generating more income, plus using all of these tips, is the surest way to make your cash go the distance. For more information about easy ways to make some extra cash, check out the sites listed below.

Tip #7: Walking
When you constantly drive everywhere, you're spending a lot of money on gas. College students know, you don't drive to class, you walk. You also walk to the restaurant, the post office, and basically, anywhere you need to be that is within a half mile radius of your home. It's cheap, it's healthy, and it can save you some serious money.

Tip #8: Cut down on expenses
Do you really need 1000 channels of Cable TV? Could you commission a friend to dye your hair instead of a salon? How about those fresh flowers that you bring to your girlfriend every other week? There are expenses in everyone's life that can be cut down or taken out completely, and identifying and eliminating them can save you a bunch of money.


Tip #9: Start Slow.
Figure out what 3% of your gross paycheck would be, and set that money aside every time you get paid. If you have the discipline to keep it in your checking account, go right ahead and do that, but for most people, the only way to be sure that you don't spend it is to make a withdrawl, and hide the cash in an envelope. Eventually, once you get a substantial amount, you can create your own savings account, which will considerably lessen the temptation to spend.

Once you get used to living by spending only 97% of what you make, it's time to take the next step, save 10% and spend 90%. Keep on going until you can't afford to save any more. Within two or three months, you should have a nice little stash.

If you are looking for a job or a career change check out www.employment guide.com or www.healthcareerweb.com for healthcare.

Information provided by: Nine tips to cut expenses.

Monday, August 18, 2008

EG Weekly Publication August 18-August 24




Check out this weeks great career opportunities:
Corporate Express
North American Trade Schools
John Hopkins University
Ruxton Healthcare
Professional Healthcare Resources
All-State Career
Signature Flight Support
Maryland Department of Public Safety

Friday, August 15, 2008

Resume Do's and Don'ts

Looking for a great career opportunity? Simply go to www.employmentguide.com for a complete listing of all different companies that are currently recruiting.
Here are the keys to successfully preparing and writing a resume. Follow these simple rules and you should achieve success in this important phase of job-hunting.

Do consider a bulleted style to make your resume as reader-friendly as possible.
Don't get overwrought about the old "one-page resume rule." It's good to keep your resume to one page, if possible, but if you have a lot of experience, two pages may be more appropriate. If your resume spills beyond one page, but you have less than a half a page of material for the second page, it may be best to condense to one page.
•But don't go beyond two pages with your resume.
Do consider a resume design that doesn't look like everyone else's. Many jobseekers use Microsoft Word resume templates and wizards. There's nothing wrong with them, per se, but your resume won't look distinctive if you use one; it will look like the resume of everyone else who used a Word template. These templates and wizards can also be a bit inflexible to work with.
Don't use justified text blocks; they put odd little spaces between words. Instead, make your type flush left.
Don't ever lie on your resume.
Do include as much contact information as possible -- any information that would enable an employer to reach you during business hours.
Do give your resume as sharp a focus as possible. Given that employers screen resumes for between 2.5 and 20 seconds, you need a way to show the employer at a glance what you want to do and what you're good at. One way to sharpen your focus is through an objective statement. The objective statement can be very simple and straightforward; it can be simply the title of the position you're applying for, which can be adjusted for every job you apply for. Or you can embellish the Objective statement a bit with language telling how you'll benefit the employer. Something like: "Objective: To contribute strong ____________ skills and experience to your firm in a _____________ capacity."
In this day of being able to manage our own computer files, you could have several versions of your resume that are exactly the same except for the objective. A specific objective is always better than a vague or general one.
Do consider a section such as "Summary of Qualifications," or "Profile," which can also help sharpen your focus..
Don't discount the possibility of a functional format for your resume. This format can be strategic for career changers, students and others who lack experience, those with gaps in their employment, as well as those re-entering the workforce. A functional resume is organized around functional skills clusters. After listing three to four skills clusters and showing how you've demonstrated those skills, you provide a bare-bones work history at the bottom.
Don't use personal pronouns (I, my, me) in a resume.
Do list your job information in order of importance to the reader. In listing your jobs, what's generally most important is your title/position. So list in this preferred order: Title/position, name of employer, city/state of employer, dates of employment.
Don't leave out the locations of your past jobs (city and state). This information is expected, but many jobseekers unwittingly omit it.
Do list your jobs in reverse chronological order.
Don't mix noun and verb phrases when describing your jobs. Preferably, use concrete action verbs consistently.
Do avoid the verb, "Work" because it's a weak verb. Everyone works. Be more specific. "Collaborate(d)" is often a good substitute.
Do think in terms of accomplishments when preparing your resume. Accomplishments are so much more meaningful to prospective employers than run-of-the-mill litanies of job responsibilities.
Don't use expressions like "Duties included," "Responsibilities included," or "Responsible for." That's job-description language, not accomplishments-oriented resume language that sells.
Do emphasize transferable skills, especially if you don't have much experience or seek to change careers.
Do quantify whenever possible. Use numbers to tell employers how many people you supervised, by what percentage you increased sales, how many products you represented, etc.
Don't list too much experience on your resume. The rule of thumb for someone with many years of experience is to list about 15 years worth of jobs. Age discrimination, unfortunately, is a reality, and even more likely, employers may think you're too expensive if you list too much experience on your resume.
Don't emphasize skills and job activities you don't want to do in the future, even if they represent great strengths for you. In fact, you may not even want to mention these activities. Why describe how great your clerical skills are if you don't want to do clerical work in the future?
Do remember that education also follows the principle about presenting information in the order of importance to the reader; thus the preferred order for listing your education is: Name of degree (spelled out: Bachelor of ________ ) in name of major, name of university, city/state of university, graduation year (unless you graduated more than about 15 years ago), followed by peripheral information, such as minor and GPA. If you haven't graduated yet, list your grad year anyway. Simply by virtue of the fact that the date's in the future, the employer will know you don't have the degree yet.
Don't list high school!
Don't include on your resume your height, weight, age, date of birth, place of birth, marital status, sex, ethnicity/race, health, social security number (except on an international resume), reasons for leaving previous job(s), names of former supervisors, specific street addresses or phone numbers of former employers, picture of yourself, salary information, the title "Resume," or any information that could be perceived as controversial, such as religion, church affiliations, or political affiliations.
Don't include hobbies or other irrelevant information on a resume. In most cases, they are seen as superfluous and trivial. An argument can be made that hobbies are interview conversation starters or that they make you seem well-rounded, but they are generally seen as fluff or filler.
Do, however, list sports if you're a college student or new grad. Many employers specifically seek out athletes because of their drive and competitiveness, as well as teamwork and leadership skills. Collegiate athletes should even consider listing their sports background in the Experience section.
Don't list references right on your resume. References belong in a later stage of the job search. Keep references on a separate sheet and provide them only when they are specifically requested.
Do realize that the phrase "References available upon request" is highly optional because it is a given that you will provide references upon request. If you couldn't, you would have no business looking for a job. The line can serve the purpose of signaling: "This is the end of my resume," but if you are trying to conserve space, leave it off.
Do proofread carefully. Misspellings and typos are deadly on a resume.

Information provided by: Resume-do’s-don’ts

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

EG Weekly Publication August11-August 17




Check out this weeks great career opportunities:
North American Trade Schools
American Beauty Academy
The Employment Guide
Chimes
All-State Career
George Hildebrandt,Inc.
Ivy Hall
Loomis
Signature Flight Support
Wackenhut Corporation
Alpha Security

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

The four most common interview questions

There are some questions that tend to pop up during almost every job interview.
The bad news: These questions can be quite difficult to answer.
The good news: Because they are so common, you can prepare for them well in advance and give a perfect answer without breaking a sweat.
So allow me to present four of the most common -- yet most perplexing -- interview questions and how you can best answer them.

1."Tell Me a Little About Yourself"
Sometimes the most general question can be the hardest. How can you sum up your entire life story in just a couple of minutes?
You don't.
This oldest of questions is not an invitation to talk about your difficult childhood, your favorite grandmother or how you won the state swim competition in high school. Instead, it's a request for you to describe what you can offer the company.
In his excellent book 101 Great Answers to the Toughest Interview Questions, author Ron Fry suggests focusing on:
•Your key accomplishments at previous jobs.
•The strengths demonstrated by those accomplishments.
•How these relate to the job for which you're applying.
The goal is not to summarize your resume -- the interviewer already has a copy of that. Rather, tell how you came to be interested in this particular company and job, and weave examples of past accomplishments throughout to demonstrate why you are the perfect candidate.
2."Why Did You Leave Your Last Job?"
Did you resign? Get laid off? Get fired? Storm out of the office in a huff, never to return? Chances are you'll have to explain it in an interview.
The most important point to remember when answering this question: STAY POSITIVE.
The biggest sign of a troublemaker is when someone trashes his or her former boss or company during an interview. It doesn't matter if your boss was a jerk or if you hated your coworkers -- an interview is not the place to vent past frustrations.
Rather, the best way to answer this question is to stay positive and talk about your desire for growth opportunities. This will paint you as a proactive employee who enjoys responsibility and challenges.
Here are some quick pointers for answering this question, depending on your circumstances:
•If you were fired: Be honest, but quick about explaining it. Don't get into the political details; rather, explain what you learned from the experience and how it makes you an even stronger employee today. It's not a good idea to lie about your termination. When the interviewer calls your references, he or she will most likely find out you were fired anyway. So be honest, and explain what you learned.
•If you were laid off: This is not nearly as taboo as it was even five years ago, so don't apologize or act defeated. If a company goes bankrupt or had massive layoffs, simply explain, "Because of the economy, the company decided to eliminate six departments, including mine."
•If you quit: Again, be honest and stay positive. State that the work being offered wasn't challenging enough, that you are seeking higher levels of responsibility or simply that you are ready to make the next step on your career ladder -- and that the job for which you are interviewing is the ideal next step.
The secret is to stay positive and discuss your desire for growth. Hiring managers love applicants who actively seek responsibility.
3."What's Your Biggest Weakness?"
What are you supposed to do -- tell them why they SHOULDN'T hire you?
The "weakness" question is popular with interviewers not because they want to torture you, but because they're interested in hearing how you tackle challenges.
The most important thing to remember is that after you name your weakness, you MUST discuss what you have done to overcome it.
Pick a weakness that is real but understandable or relatively harmless. Whatever weakness you pick, be sure that it is work-related ("I have a tendency to overfeed my dog" is NOT an appropriate weakness) and that you present the strategies for how you overcame it.
Here are a few examples:
•"I used to have a tendency to procrastinate. So now I am always sure to set a strict schedule for all of my projects well in advance and I set personal deadlines. This organization has really helped."
•"Once in a while, I focus too much on the details of a project. So now, when I'm working on a project, I always make sure at the end of the day to sit back and take a few minutes to think about the general scope of my work. It forces me to keep priorities straight and helps me keep the right mindset."
•"I used to have some problems with organization. So now I carry a schedule book around throughout the day and I also use this Palm Pilot to keep me on track. It's worked out great!"
You don't want to pick a weakness that will torpedo your chances -- even your weakness should speak strongly toward your skills. The examples above all address honest weaknesses; here are a few other "safe" weaknesses that are easy to discuss:
•I tend to be a perfectionist.
•I sometimes work too hard, leading to unnecessary stress.
4."Do You Have Any Questions for Me?"
Yes, you do.
You should always try to ask a thoughtful question or two at the end of an interview. It shows that you've been listening and that you've done your research on the company.
What should you ask? In his book 101 Great Answers to the Toughest Interview Questions, Ron Frey suggests some of the following queries:
•Does this job usually lead to other positions at the company? What kind of positions?
•What do you like best about this company? Why?
DO NOT ask about salary, vacation days, benefits or anything else that would make it look like you're more interested in the compensation package than the company. Also, don't ask too many questions; just a couple will be fine.
And the most important question of all: Don't forget to ask for the job!
•I'm very interested in this job. It's exactly the kind of job that I'm looking for. What is the next step in the interview process?
Check out http://www.employmentguide.com to begin your job search. If you are looking for a job in the healthcare field click on this link. http://www.healthcareerweb.com

Information provided by: How to answer the top four interview questions.

Monday, August 4, 2008

August 4- August 10




Check out this weeks great career opportunities:
S.A.F.E Management
Chimes
Professional Healthcare
Corporate Express
North American Trade Schools
All-State Career
Alpha Security
CES Security
Lifetouch National Studios Inc.