By Progenuity Staff

The hardest to find tech skills aren’t tech skills at all. 

While employers clamor for candidates with top-notch technical skill sets in the latest technologies, they most want to reel in new hires who have enough business experience to apply those skills immediately. 

As the relationship between IT and business evolves, some of the newest and most in-demand IT positions are being redefined.  Many of the latest IT trends create entirely new IT categories and it’s challenging to fill positions that are newly invented.

Explosive growth in e-commerce and cloud computing are driving sharp spikes in demand for specialists with those skills.

• A recent IBM developerWorks survey found that 75% of participating organizations expect to be building out cloud infrastructures in the next two years. 
• Online retail sales increased by 12.6% in the US and 18% in Europe in 2010, according to Forrester Research.

•  Do try to get the initial interview through phone calls and networking, not your resume. You want to build a level of comfort with your interviewer before she sees your resume. This way, you will have already won her over, making your age a non-issue.
• Don’t tell the interviewer you took early retirement. By mentioning it, you may be giving the impression that you are thinking of retiring in a few years. It also reminds your interviewer that you’re older. Finally, there’s a message about you not wanting to work anymore in there somewhere. Best to leave it unsaid.
• Do mention accomplishments from more than 10 years ago only if they are extraordinary or the only example of experience you possess that meet the employer’s needs. Otherwise, leave it in your “unmentioned” pile.
• Don’t patronize or talk down to your interviewer. Odds are that you’ll be working for someone younger than you, so you’ll need to check your ego and illustrate that you’d be a good employee to not only work with, but to manage as well.
• Do stress past examples of loyalty to your former companies in order to demonstrate how you won’t be jumping ship at the first available opportunity.
• Don’t be afraid of new technology. If you don’t know how to use a computer, take a class or find someone to lead you through it. Don’t date yourself by calling attention to your disdain for new products and services.
• Don’t apologize or act defensive. Avoid phrases like, “Nobody really wants to hire someone my age” at all costs. Employers want to hire people who are confident about themselves and their abilities, regardless of age.

This article from McClatchy-Tribune Information Services has been adapted and edited by Progenuity for additional education purposes.  Please note that this editorial content was produced by McClatchy-Tribune news staff who are not employed by Progenuity or by Tribune Digital Marketplaces.  This article is not affiliated with any links or products that appear on the on the same pages. Reprinted with permission. 

By Jane Glenn Haas, The Orange County Register

The statistics tell the story: About half of the women 55-plus who are looking for work have been unemployed at least 27 weeks; many have been looking for 45 weeks or more.

No one knows how many have stopped looking. Nor does anyone know how many have decided to reinvent themselves, to change careers at a time when they expected to be thinking about retirement.

Diana Meinhold has put retirement on hold to help senior citizens sort through their financial records and obligations. At age 61, she has just become a licensed professional fiduciary.

Mature women can re-orient a lifetime of skills to segue back to work, says Nicolette Jackson, head of the career re-entry program at Orange Coast College, which offers more than 200 certification or licensing programs.  The programs range from health certifications in respiratory care to graphic arts, she says. Some take a year to complete and some three years. And some have a waiting list.

Meinhold navigated back into the workplace after retiring two years ago from her position as vice president of travel products and services for the Automobile Club of Southern California.

“I think I knew from the beginning of my decision to retire from travel that I wanted to work with seniors,” she says.  She initially became qualified as a residential care administrator for the elderly. But observing individuals’ needs for financial help prompted her to move into her current field.

Every woman out of a job needs to look at the skills she already has – not just the ones associated with her job – says Nancy Salzman, dean of re-entry students at Brandman University, which is associated with Chapman University and has a campus in Irvine, Calif.  “You have skills you are not counting,” she says. “If you have been a mother, daughter, friend, volunteer, organized carpools, you have skills. Start looking for what sparks you.”

This article from McClatchy-Tribune Information Services has been adapted and edited by Progenuity for additional education purposes.  Please note that this editorial content was produced by McClatchy-Tribune news staff who are not employed by Progenuity or by Tribune Digital Marketplaces.  This article is not affiliated with any links or products that appear on the on the same pages. Reprinted with permission. 

By Carrie Mason-Draffen, Newsday

Federal stimulus dollars for digitizing medical records will mean that IT professionals and hospitals and doctors’ offices must work closely to bring about this next big transformation for the health care industry.

“Information technology and all it has to offer is going to be extremely important within that paradigm,” hospital trade-group executive Kevin Dahill told a recent gathering of the Long Island chapter of the Association of Information Technology Professionals. Dahill is president and chief executive of the Nassau-Suffolk Hospital Council.

For the partnership to work, though, the IT specialists have to devise electronic medical records systems that provide “meaningful use,” as President Barack Obama’s health care reform legislation requires, said Denise Reilly of the e-Health Network of Long Island, a group focusing on electronic records. The law requires doctors to show “they have medical digital records systems and are using them,” Reilly said.

That means working closely with health care providers to come up with systems that will improve care and save doctors money, the speakers said.”It’s about what the information-technology community can bring to support the change that is going on,” Dahill said. And he urged IT people to “come up with ideas and offer them to our providers, who are desperately in need of them.”

Salvatore Volpe, a Staten Island doctor who has lectured on electronic medical records, told the crowd the switch to digitization saves him about $35,000 a year. He acknowledged initial investments are expensive and some doctors’ offices may have to consider financing beyond any stimulus they get. In the long run, though, he said, the investment pays off in savings and improved care because doctors are sharing patient information.

This article from McClatchy-Tribune Information Services has been adapted and edited by Progenuity for additional education purposes.  Please note that this editorial content was produced by McClatchy-Tribune news staff who are not employed by Progenuity or by Tribune Digital Marketplaces.  This article is not affiliated with any links or products that appear on the on the same pages. Reprinted with permission. 

By Progenuity Staff

You won’t be the only job seeker pursuing an opening. These tips will propel you to the top of the heap.

1. Customize your resume.  It takes all of twenty minutes to move the most relevant skills to the top of the list; to drop in a more relevant example of leadership; and to emphasize your experience in that particular industry. That twenty-minute investment pays off when the recruiter quickly realizes that your qualifications reflect the top priorities of that hiring manager.
2. Don’t fudge gaps. These days, lots of strong candidates have gaps of a few months on their resumes. Instead of talking around a gap, talk through it: explain how you productively used your time and what job-relevant skills and experience you gained.
3. Focus on what the manager needs. Yes, they’re interviewing you, but it’s really all about them.  When you start off a cover letter or interview about your career goals, your salary demands, or your work-life expectations, you convey that you are less concerned about what you give than what you get. Your interviewer can quickly determine if you have the required technical skills for the job. Much of the interview is spent on the cultural fit. If you’re all about you, you won’t fit in any culture.   
4. Forget your resume. It’s easy to assume that you’ve memorized it: after all, you lived it. But have a clean copy of your resume for yourself and for your interviewer. The worst that can happen is that you show that you’re well prepared.
5. Research the company – and the interviewer. In advance, not in the waiting room on your mobile.  Examine industry trends; news about new company projects in the pipeline; and recent promotions and departures. Use these insights to formulate questions about the company’s goals and how you can help them get where they are going.
6. Follow up with a thank-you. Old-fashioned? Yes. But courtesy is always appreciated, and can distinguish you from the pack.

By Jen Weigel, Chicago Tribune

Staying on top of the latest job-seeking trends can be overwhelming. To help you navigate your way through apps and alerts, here are the basics on three new techniques to help you find the right job.

Hear About Jobs

Job Search Television (myjstn.com) has the look and feel of a 24-hour news channel. News readers do 60-second videos on job listings from around the country, and these videos can then be shared through email or on social media. Job seekers can sign up for alerts to find out when a new video is posted, and career coaches are available to give advice for interviews.

“Research shows when you watch and listen, you retain more information than when you read,” said Roger Stanton, the CEO of Job Search Television. “Anyone who watches can click and apply right there on the site. They can even activate their web cam and record a 20-second personal intro with their resume if they choose.”

Make Your Business Card Mobile

Many people think a barcode is just for items at the grocery store, but now this technology is being used for your personal information and resume. With Vizibility, Inc. mobile identity kit, you can share your data via a (“Quick Response”) code and the quick swipe of a smartphone.

“We call this having your own mobile business card,” said James Alexander, CEO of technology company Vizibility, Inc. “You could apply for a job or send your video bio immediately with the QR code.”

Use Your Facebook Account

BranchOut is a Facebook networking tool that expands your career network to include everyone you know on Facebook.

“This came to the market to compete with LinkedIn,” said Jason Seiden, co-founder of workforce marketing firm Ajax Social Media. “When a friend from Facebook joins BranchOut, you see where they used to work, where they currently work, and where their friends work. But this might not be the answer for those people who like to keep their business world in LinkedIn and their personal life on Facebook.”

For those who have privacy concerns, experts say you can control what your Facebook friends see on your BranchOut profile.

“If you already use Facebook for business, this makes sense,” said Seiden.

BeKnown is another app on Facebook. It was developed by Monster.com as a networking tool.

“It was designed to keep Facebook users from having to log on to LinkedIn to connect with business contacts,” Seiden said.

BeKnown users are able to search job listings provided by Monster.com, while BranchOut relies on Indeed.com for their job listings.

All the tools in the world won’t help you get ahead, Seiden said, if you’re missing what he considers to be the number one technology for getting a job.

“It’s your smile,” he said. “That handshake, and that integrity or savvy you carry with you — you can’t demonstrate this if you are not face to face. There is not a technology on the planet that will do this.”

Copyright © 2011, Chicago Tribune
www.chicagotribune.com/features/tribu/ct-tribu-weigel-job-search-technology-20111103-8,0,748379.column

This article from Tribune Company news outlets has been republished for additional education purposes. Please note that this editorial content was produced by Tribune news staff who are not employed by Progenuity or by Tribune Digital Marketplaces. This article is not affiliated with any links or products that appear on the on the same pages.

By Joyce Lain Kennedy, Careers Now

Q. You said risk-averse employers look to hire people who are or have recently been in the same industry as they’re in. What about transferable skills? Don’t they count? — M.C.J.

A. Transferable skills are things like accounting and managing that are needed in most businesses. Yes, transferable skills count, but in a tight job market, “current mirror experience” counts more. Banks, for example, would rather hire someone with up-to-date banking experience than a person with retailing experience.

When you’re sinking in a tired industry — and you probably know it if you are — temping may offer a chance to restart your engine in a healthy industry. A tired industry is one where the work is being sucked overseas to cheaper labor, or old methods are being clobbered by advanced technology.

When you can’t solve the dilemma of “no experience, no job/ no job, no experience,” a dose of short-term shifts obtained through a staffing agency becomes a viable option. And when you can’t decide what you want your future to hold, a montage of work experiences may tip your scales.

Another temp idea: When interviewing for a full-time job and you don’t sense a forthcoming offer, you can propose working on temporary status for two weeks to demonstrate your qualifications and fit with the company environment. Set a deadline to avoid exploitation (being strung along at low pay and no benefits), and to avoid losing valuable momentum in your job search.

See how temp agencies make their case at StaffingToday.net.

Q. With smartphones and tablet computers projected to soon overtake desktop Web, why aren’t you writing more about mobile job finding? — T A.T.

A. Mobile Internet is rambling, not racing, toward the job recruiting category. Last year, the mobile Web seemed positioned to become the next big thing. But now there’s a different picture, says noted California consultant Master Burnett: “Almost all career websites are designed specifically for people sitting behind a desktop with a broadband connection.”

Read the latest measure of the spread of the mobile Internet for recruiting and job finding in a recent online article, “Just How Big the Mobile Business Is,” by Todd Raphael.

Job seekers can read details on how to use the mobile Internet for job search in chapter 3 of my book, “Resumes For Dummies, 6th Edition.”

Q. My father, nearing 50, still has his job of 25 years, where he works really hard. My mother is scared stiff that Dad will have a stroke from the workplace stress.

His stress is more than feeling as though he’s just another hamster on a treadmill wheel. Dad feels as though he’s riding a carousel’s wooden horse on a pole that constantly moves up and down. That’s because every time business dips even slightly, Dad’s boss comes up with new procedures and new goals, but no new training. These constant shake-ups require Dad to work unbelievable hours. How can I help him? — J.G.

A. Be there to listen when your father feels like talking. Learn more about the physical danger signs of stress on the job, and when the facts warrant action, consider organizing a family intervention. Become a surrogate networker for him, keeping your antenna up for a new and less stressful work environment.

Read a superb article on CareerCast.com: “Dealing with Job Stress During Uncertain Economic Times,” by Morley Glicken, a faculty member in the School of Social Work at Arizona State University. Glicken brings the workplace stress issue into sharp focus.

Q. I have accepted another job and plan to give my two weeks’ notice. My manager told the last person to resign to get out immediately. Is there a law to protect me? — V.O.R.

A. Check rights with your state department of labor; ask for free legal answers on websites such as LawGuru.com and Nolo.com.

Ask your new employer if you can start early. Get a temp two-week job. Good luck for doing the right thing, even if your boss isn’t.

Copyright © 2011, Tribune Media Services

www.chicagotribune.com/classified/jobs/chi-temp-job-transferable-skills-kennedy-20111105,0,2039518.column

This article from Tribune Company news outlets has been republished for additional education purposes. Please note that this editorial content was produced by Tribune news staff who are not employed by Progenuity or by Tribune Digital Marketplaces. This article is not affiliated with any links or products that appear on the on the same pages.

By Joyce Lain Kennedy, Careers Now

Q . I am told to develop an “elevator speech” or a “branding speech” about myself to use in job interviews. What should I say? — K.R.

A. Dan Schawbel is one of the big names in personal branding. He wrote “Me 2.0″ and publishes the website PersonalBrandingBlog.com. That’s the place to start.

Matt Bud offers good suggestions to use when you’re introducing yourself to a group of people that you hope will think of you for appropriate job openings. Bud heads a 37,000 member national network, The Financial Executives Networking Group (thefeng.org), and he advises:

• Don’t begin at the beginning and work your way to your current responsibilities: Your last 10 years are the most important. Focus on them.
• Open your remarks by staking out your territory.
• Skip irrelevant or short-term jobs.

Here’s what Bud would say about himself: “My background is primarily advertising and publishing. I was CFO of an advertising agency for almost a decade. Book-ended around that work were two experiences in the publishing industry. Early in my career I worked for Holt, Rinehart & Winston when they were owned by CBS, and my last corporate job was with The Thomson Corporation (now Thomson/Reuters). The Thomson Corporation is an information publisher, and I was with their West Group division, a legal publisher.”

Q. My brother has disabilities that we believe are keeping him unemployed in this economy. He’s not looking for a handout, just a chance to compete based on his strong workplace skills and his work ethic. Suggestions? — T.L.J.

A. Employers who hire disabled workers can get a tax break, but it’s been too cumbersome and restrictive to be a persuasive argument for people like your brother. Until now.

A free new online tool called Hire Gauge may help level the playing field. Developed by Think Beyond the Label, a nonprofit advocacy organization, the tool focuses on three federal tax incentive programs, which together offer serious savings, up to $31,800 per hire for a large company.

Knowing when to mention a disability in the job chase is a strategy decision. Gaining an invitation to interview with the hiring manager is paramount; it’s unwise to raise obstacles in advance, including in screening interviews. But during a selection interview with a hiring authority, after selling his qualifications, your brother can close with a bang by mentioning the cost benefits of hiring him.

Visit the Web site thinkbeyondthelabel.com and read about Hire Gauge.

Copyright © 2011, Tribune Media Services
www.chicagotribune.com/classified/jobs/chi-elevator-speech-guide-kennedy-20111108,0,2424848.column

This article from Tribune Company news outlets has been republished for additional education purposes. Please note that this editorial content was produced by Tribune news staff who are not employed by Progenuity or by Tribune Digital Marketplaces. This article is not affiliated with any links or products that appear on the on the same pages.

By Progenuity Staff

‘Show, don’t tell’ is a rule of good writing that applies to resumes, too. Here are five terms so often used in resumes that they’ve become meaningless.  Use these tips to show, not tell, why you’re terrific for that next job.

1. Motivated:  Who isn’t? Instead, explain how your stick-to-it-iveness got the job done. Use one sentence for each example, and no more than two examples of your work ethic per resume.
2. Excellent communication skills: Really? Then your resume had better prove it. Be sure to proof carefully – don’t rely on spell check to catch every error. Avoid jargon.  Review carefully to correct incomplete sentences, verbs and nouns that aren’t in agreement and word misuse.  . Your cover letter is the best place to illustrate your communication skills. Insert a short case study that shows your skills, insight and leadership in action – in no more than five sentences.
3. Extensive experience:  Let your interviewer determine what’s extensive and not – and more importantly, what’s relevant and what’s not.  Focus on the results you have delivered, not the number of years you’ve worked.
4. Team player:  On resumes, everyone gets along with everybody. Instead of claiming to be a good player, outline how your picked and led a team to accomplish a particular goal. Use metrics, if possible, to quantify your success:  “Increased social media audience by 80% over six months, leading a team of internal specialists.”
5. Successful: Says who?  Construct succinct case studies that start with your goal, explain your strategy, and report the results. Success doesn’t speak for itself, but it also doesn’t brag. Potential employers want to know not just what you did, but how you did it.  A resume that shows you in action will make hiring managers want to hear more.