Help Me Find a Job: What You Must Do to Land a Job in a Hyper-Competitive Market

Here it is in one sentence:

You have to know what it is that sets you apart from the competition - and you need to know how to convey that to the prospective employer. Many candidates fail to do this. And they pay the price.

What's your "unique selling proposition?"

What is it that makes what you have to offer different from, and more valuable than, what other candidates are bringing to the table? (Note: this is not a simple exercise. Don't get discouraged if it takes you a lot of thought and creativity to pinpoint the most effective way to position yourself as a candidate. In fact, you should expect that this will require some effort.)

To uncover your USP, put yourself in the hiring company's shoes and think about your candidacy from their point of view. The fact that you want the job or need the job or think the job is a great career move or really like the company - none of those are unique points, and none will get the company to buy what you're selling.

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Veteran Career Opportunities in San Diego

Are you a veteran? Do you live in (or near) San Diego? If so, read on.

We try to keep up on any and all veteran-specific corporate hiring initiatives. Today we're sharing an effort we recently came across taking place in the San Diego area. Qualcomm, the technology company, is guaranteeing jobs to "post 9/11 veterans."

Now the guarantee isn't for a permanent position. But the company is committing to paid training for veterans followed by 6 months of full time employment. If all goes well, the company says, permanent employment would follow the 6 month period. 

We found this story on a San Diego new site, which has further details about the program, including the fact that all interested veterans must apply by the end of December. Read the news story and visit Qualcomm for more.

Help Me Find a Job with Career Research: How to ask the Right Questions, Get the Information You Need to Find Your Next Career

In today's blog post, we want to draw your attention to one of the whitepapers available in our FREE whitepaper library: 

Career Research: How to Ask the Right Questions, Get the Information You Need to Find Your Next Career If you’re in transition from your current job to your next opportunity, career research maps the way ahead. When you do your research well, you develop a depth of understanding of the marketplace that will make you an educated competitor in today’s tough job market. You’ll know what the hottest jobs are, where the money is, and which careers offer the most promising future. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD!

Why does career research matter for career changes? Because many folks have been in the same places of employment, positions and industry for many, many years when they decide to change careers. Assuming that a new position/industry/company will be the same as it was when you were last on the career hunt is a dangerous assumption. 

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Help Me Find a Job: Focus, Persistance and Organization

Back in July we wrote a series of posts about the building blocks of successful job searches. It's become one of the most popular groups of posts on our site and we wanted to share snippets of each building block today, along with links to the full-length posts. Enjoy!

	Increase your effectiveness by working from a written plan. This document must relate explicitly to your career goals and the specific elements you are seeking in your next job. Finish every day by compiling a list of activities to tackle the next morning. Celebrate whenever you successfully complete a milestone or empty your To-Do List. Read more about focus by clicking here.
	Keep track of the jobs and companies you have applied to. Create an excel spreadsheet indicating date of application, follow-up action required, type of follow-up action. It’s also a form of visual reinforcement that you are putting in the work. Some companies take time to contact candidates, so this list keeps you on track. Read more about organization by clicking here.
	Keep the door open. Even if you get an initial rejection, ask for feedback. Learn what it was they were looking for that they didn’t see so that the next time you may be even more prepared. Also ask to know when they may be hiring again. Read more about persistance by clicking here.

Find The Career for You: Preparation Options for Careers in Education

Getting ready for a career in education can require a lot of time and training. There are numerous accredited schools and colleges that allow you to receive the training you need to enter into a successful teaching career. Gaining the skills and knowledge needed to provide an education for others can require years of training based on the career you desire. You can choose to teach at various levels and well as in specific subjects. Preparation options for careers in education are available at the bachelor, master, and doctoral degree levels, allowing you to choose the career preparation that's right for you.

Elementary Education

Receiving the training needed to teach in an elementary setting can be done by enrolling in an accredited school or college. You can choose to obtain a bachelor, master, or doctorate level degree. The length of study will depend on the level of degree being pursued but may consist of four to eight years. Coursework will prepare you to work with elementary level students in child care settings as well as public and private schools. Coursework will include the study of topics like: 

• Discipline
• Music
• Physical Education
• English
• Science
• Social Interaction

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