David Sheeks

Okay, so you've made your interview checklist, you've sorted through the fake job scams out there, you've met with a recruiter to help you search, and now you've finally found someone who may want to hire you.  Congratulations!  Now comes the part that very few people like: the interview . But don't worry! This is not the time to be alarmed; it is instead a chance for you to really strengthen yourself in the job market.  An interview isn't just your chance to convince someone to hire you--instead it's a chance for you and a potential employer to learn about each other and determine if you are the best fit for each other. In a lot of ways it's like a relationship.  Many of us may remember trying to impress the popular person in school in hopes that we could convince them that we were "worthy" enough to date.  It was a status thing--trying to seem "cool" enough to get to hang out with someone you thought was of a higher social statu...

This week's article will focus on the job search--specifically creative ways to increase your chances of being noticed, getting the interview, and ultimately--getting the job you want.  Today I will focus on using recruiting firms to maximize your chance of getting an interview. Many people miss out on extremely good opportunities because they bypass recruiters entirely, or have no idea what they are.  Simply put, a recruiter is a representative who acts on your behalf to help you find a job.  He or she is someone who has made a career of placing people in positions that are perfect for them, and they are very good at what they do. Finding a recruiter is easy.  When you search the online job ads, you may see something like this: "Widget Assembler - 123 Staffing."  In this case, the fictional "123 Staffing" company is a recruiter.  They do not own the widget shop, but instead find employees to work for that shop.  The widget shop then pays the staff...

I must admit, I completely laughed when the iPad came out.  An enormous iPhone without the ability to make phone calls.  But when I sat down and used one for the first time, I thought, "Wow! An enormous iPhone, without a required cellular plan!"  Of course the iPhone is a little different from its iPhone counterpart (mostly as far as its technical specs), but essentially they are the same--running a similar operating system and capable of running the same applications. But is this necessarily a bad thing?  I use an iPhone myself, and I enjoy the versatility of being able to download and use applications with extreme convenience.  I don't have to boot up, wait for things to load, and so on.  It's just there, waiting for me to use whatever application I need in my work to get the job done. Tablets are essentially the same.  Both the Apple-branded and Android-based tablets run similar versions (and in Android's case, often the SAME version) of the smar...

In 2005, over 99 million TONS of paper and paperboard were used in the United States alone (source:  http://www.epa.gov/ne/green/paperuse.html ).  The amount of junk mail, fliers, books and so on require massive amounts of paper to be generated--and only a fraction of that is ever recycled. But in recent years, many IT departments have begun moving to a "paperless" environment.  ISO standards call for reduction or removal of printed materials from the workplace--all data is stored online and accessed electronically, ensuring that data is always up-to-date.  Even bulk mailers are getting more environmentally friendly, choosing to overload your email inbox instead of your physical mailbox, inadvertently saving paper in the process. But what about books?  Sure, books in digital format have existed for years.  But reading on a bright, backlit monitor can be a pain.  Staring at a computer screen for hours at a time can be exhausting, and the desire to g...

The job market out there is definitely tough.  I've had my share of let-downs on the roller coaster that is the job market.  In times like this people are often tempted to make themselves extremely available and extremely open-minded--even if that open-mindedness means compromising ones values. When there are a handful of job-seekers and a plethora of open positions, it's easy to take a stand for what you believe in.  When the chips are down and there are few guarantees, however, it's a bit harder.  I haven't been in the situation where I had to decide on a company I didn't agree with, but I did have a recent opportunity to take a stand for what I believed in nonetheless. Several years ago, I was certified as the youngest sponsor for a Christian leadership program.  The one-day seminar involved bringing teenagers in from all over Lexington, and was very successful.  Because of the amount of leadership work involved with this (securing finances, organizi...

Unemployment is near 9% and has been for the last couple years. "real" unemployment (unemployment applications plus those no longer eligible) is potentially something closer to 20%.  It is *hard* to find a job these days.  The facts are against you. The statistics are against you.  But there is one thing that should always be on your side, fighting in your corner: YOU. At risk of coming off as some over-the-top inspirational speaker, there are a few things I want every job seeker out there to keep in mind as part of their job search: as long as there is ONE job available in your field, you still have a chance. Take this example: The Tour de France allows a certain number of teams to compete and qualify every year.  Let's say that last year 500 applicants qualified.  News comes out that now, only 300 individuals will be allowed to qualify for next year's tryouts.  If you're someone who is struggling to make the cut in the first place, it is a pretty depr...

This time around in my job search is the first time I've used sites such as Monster, Careerbuilder and Craigslist to search for jobs.  In the time I've been on these websites I have been amazed at the sheer amount of garbage that hits my SPAM email folder on a daily basis. With unemployment currently high and a large number of job seekers out there, it is crucial to know what to look for.  With a few easy tips you can skip over the spam and get to what you really want--the legitimate job offer emails. 1: The Work from Home scam These almost never work.  Why?  Because they tell you that you will work a little bit and make TONS of money.  Most people think, "Well hey, even if they are only half-right, I'll still make more than enough to live on!"  The problem is that the companies offering the get-rich-quick schemes are not just doubly inflating their figures.  While they may show testimonials from "real people" who make $5000 a month, the average...