Does this mean that you no longer need to provide references? NO! An employer that is seriously considering hiring you is going to want to do a little investigative work to learn a little more about you. Calling references is typically how they go about learning more about you.

Reference Do's and Don'ts

• Old school! Never print reference information on your resume or cover letter. Upon request from an employer, provide reference information on a separate printed/typed sheet of paper.


• Give a heads up! Always inform a person that you intend to use them as a reference before providing their contact information.
• When asking to use a person as a reference, make sure you confirm their contact information and periodically touch base to see if there have been any changes to phone numbers, e-mail address, title, extension..
• It is best to avoid personal references (friends, family) unless specifically requested by an employer. Most of the time, employers are looking for professionals who can reflect on your job skills and performances.
• Obvious! When you are preparing a list of possible references, make sure you are only using people who have positive things to say about you!
• When asking for a reference, use your judgment on whether to ask for a letter of recommendation. In many cases, employers will call your references even if you have provided letters of recommendation.
• If you cannot obtain favorable references from former employers, be truthful with your interviewers about it. Most employers understand that we are not all perfect, and that there are two sides to most stories. Most employers will appreciate your honesty.

We welcome you to attend our employment workshops or taking advantage of our resume review services. As a reminder, resume reviews are done by appointment. Simply call me at 540-722-3415 to set up your resume consultation.

Re-Employment Workshop schedule for Feb. 13-17

• Tuesday, Feb. 14 @ 9 a.m.: Preparing for the interview with/mock interview exercise
• Thursday, Feb. 16 @ 2 p.m. - Creating a high definition resume
• Friday, Feb. 17 @ 9 a.m. - Job search strategies for ex-offenders

As time marches on, it's hard to keep a positive attitude, but you must continue to look forward, keep focused, and remain optimistic. Here are a few quick tips on how to keep on track with a positive attitude:

1. Look forward, not backwards -- what is done is done. Speaking from experience, losing a job is devastating. I do not need to tell you it is like a break up of a relationship or even a death, but wallowing in misery will not change the fact that your future is changing and you must move on.

2. Set specific goals -- set realistic and measurable goals to help stay on track. An example would be committing to yourself to sending out five resumes or applications a week, cultivate your network by reaching out to five people who are not part of your current network and maybe, finally, scrub out your refrigerator!

3. Learn new skills -- volunteering or taking a class can be very rewarding. You will learn new skills which will increase your marketability, fill a gap on your resume and be doing something nice for someone (or something) in return!

4. Evaluate your job search strategy -- if your current job search methods are not reaping any results, it is time to try something new. Attend the Re-Employment Workshops at the Winchester Workforce Center for the best methods to market yourself and find opportunities.

4. Do something fun! Do not spend every hour of every day of every week trolling job boards. All this will do is sink you further into despair. I think that for most folks, being out of work leaves a crater-size hole in your wallet and can limit activities, but find something rewarding and positive to engage in. On a personal note, while I was out of work, the highlight of my week was going to the library and checking out (for FREE!) the latest DVDs and magazines. Not as exciting as Kings Dominion, but sometimes we just have to lower the level on our "fun-o-meter"!

Workshops for the week of Feb. 6-10

Offered two days this week! Tuesday Feb. 7, 2012 @ 9 a.m. AND Thursday, Feb. 9 @ 2 p.m.: Attend a Re-Employment Workshop and learn to create a professional resume that will get you call backs! Covers how to present your professional work history and gain helpful formatting suggestions. An explanation and presentation on how to create a plain text resume will be included.

Best wishes --
Sam

With so many jobs filled through word of mouth, it is important to continuously cultivate and grow your professional network so you can find these unadvertised job openings. Linkedin is the tool to help you do just that.

Come spend the morning learning the ins and outs and tips and techniques to help you get the most out of this professional social media networking website. The workshop includes a 45 minute overview and 45 minutes for hands on time for you to work in the computer lab on updating your Linkedin profile.

In order for you to get the most out of this workshop, it is requested that you have at least functional computer abilities and have a general idea of what Linkedin is.

• When: Wednesday January 11, 2011 10am-12pm.


• Where: Shenandoah University, Room 111 Halpin-Harrison Hall


• RSVP (required): samantha.greenfield@vec.virginia.gov, 540-722-3415

After they were done speaking about his claims options, he was brought over to me to discuss employment options for those with a "past." I was able to craft a resume that covered 23 years of incarceration that even included job duties!

I will always promote the importance of networking, so I then referred him to First Step Employment Ministry (a local ministry at Grace Community Church) to be connected with an "Employment Mentor" (sort of an accountability coach). All along the way, everyone saw the same potential this guy has. Through his drive, professionalism and positive attitude, he was networked to a local business.

Even with 23 years of incarceration, he was offered the job. The VEC and First Step were able to help connect him and he brought about his success IN LESS THAN A WEEK AND A HALF!

This goes to show when the community resources work together and an individual is willing to take advantage of what we all have to offer, the sky is the limit!

A great way to cultivate your network is at large family gatherings and corporate holiday parties. Most people think of networking through traditional channels such as family and close friends, but holiday parties are social events in which you can network with people you would not normally ever get exposure to. Anyone and everyone you meet could lead to a potential job opportunity. Some tips for successful networking during the holiday season:

1. Introduce yourself to as many people as possible and share a friendly conversation with those you already know. The more eyes and ears you have on the street looking for opportunities, the better off you will be.
2. Know your limit! Don't indulge in too many drinks. You want to make sure that you are always professional and friendly because you never get a second chance to make a good first impression!
3. Be confident in your value. Make sure you are aware of what kinds of knowledge, skills and abilities you have to offer. What makes you different from the umpteen other people out there in the job market?
4. Don't walk away without contact information. In order to successfully grow your network, you have to build a relationship with people. Getting people's e-mail address and phone numbers will help you to continue the lines of communication long after the holiday party is over.

Don't let your unemployment ruin the spirit of the season. Even if you do not have a giant sack of gifts this year, your family and friend see your value! Give your time and attention to those who matter most!

Happy Holidays,
Sam

Workshop for Dec. 12-16

Tuesday Dec. 13 at 9 a.m. How to prepare for a behavioral interview with a group mock interview exercise.

All workshops offered at the Virginia Employment Commission are free and on a walk-in basis. We encourage everyone to take advance of the re-employment services offered right here in our community!

• 89% of companies will use social media networks for recruiting in 2011
• 1 in 5 employers use social networking sites to research job candidates
• 86% of employers say that candidates should make their profiles more employer friendly
• 65% of companies say they have hired via social media
• 79% of hiring managers review applicants online
• 56% of HR professionals use networking websites to source potential candidates
• 1 out 3 employers pass over candidates based on content of online profile
• 92% of hiring companies in 2010 will use or plan to recruit via social networks...Of these:
• 86% will use Linkedin, 60% Facebook, 50% Twitter

Source: CareerEnlightenment.com

A behavioral question will be very specific. For example when asked, "Tell me about a time when you solved a problem," the key words are "a time." Employers are looking for answers where you reflect on "specific" examples of "specific" incidents. You must have examples or stories for your answers and this is where your time spent preparing for the interview will give you a leg up on the competition.

Knowing what the "key competencies" for the type of job you are applying for is extremely helpful so that you know what kind of information to provide the interviewer with. You can find core competencies for specific job titles on www.onet.com, which provides detailed descriptions of hundreds of occupations. This website is also helpful when writing resumes.

Lets use the Core Competencies (CC) needed for a successful administrative assistant as an example:

(CC) Interaction with Others/Communication-
(Question) Tell me about a time when you had a difficult problem involving a co-worker?
(CC) Customer Service
(Question) Describe a time when you had an upset customer and how you resolved their problem...
(CC) Expertise/Continuous Learning-
(Question) Give me an example of a time you were assigned a task and were unsure of how to accurately complete that task
(CC) Resourcefulness/Results
(Question) Tell me about something you did that resulted in positive change...
(CC)Personal Accountability
(Question) Describe to me a time when you made a mistake...

These are some pretty tough questions to answer! By thinking ahead of time, strategizing about your previous experience in dealing with situations and by following the STAR approach you can formulate an answer that will tell the interviewer what they are asking for!

STAR Approach:

Situation or Task:
Describe the situation or task you are being asked about

Action you took to solve the problem:
Describe the action you took to complete the task or to solve a situation

Result you achieved:
Summarize the results that occurred as a direct result of you actions

Remember, a hiring manager wants to know how you handled things in the past because this is a good indicator on how you will handle similar situations in the future!

I will be the first to tell you, behavioral interview questions are tough! I highly recommend reaching websites that can assist you in formulating good answers. The Society of Human Resource Management - www.shrm.org- is one great source with a list of behavioral interview questions commonly asked. Another idea is to go to www.youtube.com and type in behavior interview questions. You can watch videos on the right and wrong ways to answer questions when faced with this interview method.

Our next Preparing for the Interview workshop is scheduled for Tuesday Nov. 8 at 9 a.m. I hope you will stop by!

Please feel free to contact me with your specific job related questions!
Kind regards-
Sam

* Gain a new skill or enhance an existing one while minimizing a gap in unemployment - things change so quickly these days. If you find yourself out of the workforce for too long, there is a chance technology can change, industry trends change, key players' change. Keeping yourself involved in your industry by finding volunteer or internship opportunities, you will be maintaining and keeping your job skills current.

On the flip side, if you have considered making a career change, volunteering will expose you to real life skills and situations you may encounter in a new field. This gives you an opportunity to try on a new career without having to make any long term or expensive educational investments without knowing anything about an industry.

* The chance to get out of the house and feel good about giving your time and talent- Knowing from personal experience, being out of a job for any length of time can be down right depressing. I remember feeling like life is passing you by, you're not sure where you belong and you are not a real part of anything important. Volunteering is the perfect cure for those types of emotions. There are so many good people, pets and organizations that could benefit from what you have to offer... your time and your compassion. It is human nature to feel good about yourself when you are doing something to help someone or something else.

* Introductions to new people who may help in your search- When I was much younger, someone gave me some dating advise: If you like a boy who reads, hang out in the library! The same theory holds true to employment opportunities. If you are looking for work in a veterinary hospital, volunteer at the SPCA. If you are looking for work in the medical field, volunteer at the free clinic...

* A positive experience to share when a prospective employer asks, "What have you been doing with your time?" A hiring manager will notice if you have been out of work for any length of time and they will want to know you have been doing more than playing Farmville on Facebook or watching re-runs of The Simpsons in your underwear. When it comes down to two equally qualified candidates, the one who has spent their time actively involved in their community will win out every time.

November Workshops:

• Nov. 1: Resume Writing


• Nov. 8: Preparing for a Behavioral Style Interview


• Nov 15: Finding the Hidden Job Market and Marketing Yourself in a Highly Competitive Job Market


• Nov. 22: Mastering the Electronic Job Search and The "Mature" Job Seeker

Virginia Employment Commission
100 Premier Place
Winchester, VA 22602
540-722-3415

Contact Samantha Greenfield or samantha.greenfield@vec.virginia.gov for additional information