Eight Mistakes to Avoid While Job Hunting Online

Boost your chances of finding your dream job on the Web
The Internet is a goldmine for job seekers who not long ago were relegated to newspaper want ads when it came time to find a new career. Potential employers are now just a click away on job boards such as Monster and Simply Hired, via social networking sites such as Craigslist and LinkedIn and directly through corporate Websites.
The fact that job hunting is faster online doesn’t make it any easier. Anyone who expects his or her resume to successfully navigate an employer’s “elimination pipeline,” must avoid these eight common mistakes:
Putting information, photos and videos on MySpace or Facebook that you wouldn’t want your new boss to see: The Internet has become the catchall for personal photos, videos and information, none of which should be accessible to potential employers. “Hiring managers know enough to get connected into Facebook,” says Dennis Nason, CEO at recruiting firm Nason & Nason in Coral Gables, Fla., “and you don’t want them reading about how you ‘got wasted last night.’ Keep those pieces of information – and the related photos – private.”
Building landmines into your online communications: If your job history dates back 50 years, focus on the last 20 years on your resume (and address the rest when you get the job interview). If you’re not willing to relocate or travel, keep it to yourself. And if you’re a smoker, don’t advertise it. “The fewer landmines you build into your online correspondence,” says Rick Gillis, a Houston-based job search and employment trends expert, “ the better chance you’ll have of getting the job interview.”
Including your physical address on your resume: Job seekers who are looking for jobs outside of their immediate region shouldn’t post their physical addresses on their resumes, advises Gillis. “Not only is it very 1980s, but putting your address on there can work against you,” he says. “Someone will look at your resume and say, ‘that’s too far away.’”
Not mirroring the job posting with your resume and cover letter: To ensure that your resume lands on the right desk, include keywords (from the original job posting) in the document. Mirror the original help wanted ad closely, says Gillis, who advises job hunters to use a smaller font (8-point, for example) to include keywords (each followed by a space) at the bottom of their resumes, “for the sole purpose of getting your document recognized by the recipient’s scanning and filtering software.”
Forgetting to follow up soon after sending your first correspondence: You wouldn’t make one sales call and expect the orders to come pouring in, so why would you send out a few resumes and sit back to wait for the job offers? After sending a resume, Gillis suggests following up a few days later with a quick email that says, “Hi, I’m just checking on the status on the resume I sent over.”
Sending hundreds of resumes out to jobs you really aren’t interested in (ie. not reading the job description): Just because you can hit thousands of employers with a few clicks of the keyboard doesn’t mean you should. “The mass mailing approach makes you feel you’ve accomplished something, but it’s also relatively unproductive,” says Nason. A better strategy is to find a company that you’d like to work for, check out the “now hiring” section of its website, and/or search the national job boards for openings at that company. “Then locate a specific hiring manager,” says Nason, “and direct your correspondence to that individual.”
for more please click http://www.blackenterprise.com/be-next/2010/05/14/eight-mistakes-to-avoid-while-job-hunting-online/

Lack of Practical Skills Blunts Quality of Graduates

Kenya is missing out on big opportunities to export professionals due to the nature of its education system which emphasises more on theory than practical skills, a World Bank study says.
Service markets such as the US, Europe and the EAC region which Kenya targets to export its professional services are increasingly demanding practical skills, a development that is locking out thousands of Kenyan graduates.
This comes at a time when Kenya is weighing the possibility of increasing its service exports hoping to earn a significant fraction of the multi-billion shilling industry.
A study conducted by the World Bank and the Export Promotion Council (EPC) has established that education in universities and professional institutions is theoretical and pointed out the need to invest more in practical training.

The government-backed study warned that the local education curriculum concentrated more on imparting theoretical knowledge at the expense of practical skills, attitudes and values key in the labour market.
There is an over-emphasis on passing examinations as opposed to meaningful learning which is eating away the country's skills base by churning out half-baked graduates.
The study titled, "Assessment of Kenya's Export Potential and Supply Capacities in Selected Professional Service Sectors" is currently being disseminated by the EPC.
Professional services exports surveyed include accounting, architecture, engineering, legal services, ICT and IT related services.
The report says that standards are falling among small and medium firms especially in relation to architectural services.
"Kenyan architects generally lack international exposure and training received at university is largely theoretical," reads a section of the study.
This has made it difficult finding adequate and competent local staff prompting multinational firms to source staff from abroad.
"The unscrupulous practitioners undercut their fees and end up offering substandard services thereby eroding the standards in the industry," said Steven Oundo, chairman of the Architectural Association of Kenya (AAK).
It has emerged that unregistered practitioners are not undertaking continuous professional development programmes that are supposed to be monitored by AAK and are therefore not up-to-date with the changing professional trends and therefore end up offering incompetent services.
Clients in Kenya are partly to blame for the declining professional standards as they put a downward pressure on fees and do not demand high quality work.
AAK lacks proper structures to penalise those who undercut fees, which is attributed to the outdated Planning and Building regulations Act of 1968.
Mr Oundo said the rush to convert technical institutions such as polytechnics into universities has killed the supply of intermediary skills and lowered the quality of workmanship in the building and construction industry yet these skills are required in the construction industry.
"Ultimately, there are some gaps that ought to be filled," said Ms Noella Mutanda, Head of Corporate Communications at the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA).
"We are working on a proposal to have insurance companies adopt risk-based supervision. However, insurance is very dynamic and companies ought to play their role in enhancing the technical capacity of their staff."
The study established that it is very difficult to find individuals with the required specialised skills thus companies spend considerable time with in-house training and sponsoring staff to attend courses externally.
For instance, PKF Kenya, an accounting firm, spends about 50 hours per staff member every year on education.
Retaining the staff after training poses a challenge to these companies as they are faced with the constant threat of polished staff seeking better fees elsewhere.
In the legal services sector, grasp of the law for most graduates is largely theoretical.
Qualified personnel are still few in the small firms while greater experience is demanded to effect work in this service export sector.
Professional associations have been accused of being lax at aiding continuous professional training.
These trade support institutions have failed to boost the quality of their training programmes and are not as active in hosting international seminars to educate the industry and increase networking exposure as firms expect of them.
Service exporters feel that incentives in the form of rebates or tax exemption for firms or associations bringing in specialised professionals to train talent from local universities would avail the more specialised courses to a wider audience of professionals in Kenya thus uplifting the high-end skills base.
IT firms for instance hire local talent but are forced to spend a lot in training them in specialised technology areas, mostly in foreign countries, since local learning institutions only impart basic knowledge.
Trade in services is emerging as an important component in the country's export trade.
Kenya's service sector had an estimated market size of Sh192.5 billion ($2.5 billion) in 2008 excluding revenues from tourism, transportation and remittances, and employed about 73,000 people.

Exports of professional services alone accounted for 3.7 per cent of the total service sector amounting to Sh7.12 billion ($92.5 billion) in 2008 which is still relatively low when benchmarked against competing countries such as Egypt, South Africa, India and the UK and thus lacks the economies of scale to compete effectively.
It is anticipated that opening up regional boundaries to allow free movement of labour in the EAC would incentivise the services export sector by reducing the existing non-tariff barriers to enable it harness potential in current and new markets.
The Tanzanian market has particularly been identified as imposing many tariff and non-tariff barriers to Kenyan service exporters.
"We are moving towards establishing common market protocols in the EAC region which will ease the exportation of services and increase the sector's contribution as the country moves towards achieving the Vision 2030," said Titus Ruhiu, CEO, Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Why Most Young People In Kenya Fear Self Employment.

5 May 2010 ... What you probably won't believe is that my friend's business is doing quite well. He has about twelve employees now, and has been profitable...www.careerpointkenya.com/2010/05/05/self-employment-in-kenya/

 

To be successful you have to enjoy doing your best while at the same time contributing to something beyond yourself.Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

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STARTING A BUSINESS: THE IDEA PHASE

You know you want to start a business, but what do you do next? Here's how to find the perfect idea for your business.

Many people believe starting a business is a mysterious process. They know they want to start a business, but they don't know the first steps to take. In this chapter, you're going to find out how to get an idea for a business--how you figure out exactly what it is you want to do and then how to take action on it.

But before we get started, let's clear up one point: People always wonder if this is a good time to start their business idea. The fact is, there's really never a bad time to launch a business. It's obvious why it's smart to launch in strong economic times. People have money and are looking for ways to spend it. But launching in tough or uncertain economic times can be just as smart. If you do your homework, presumably there's a need for the business you're starting. Because many people are reluctant to launch in tough times, your new business has a better chance of getting noticed. And, depending on your idea, in a down economy there is often equipment (or even entire businesses!) for sale at bargain prices.

Everyone has his or her own roadblock, something that prevents them from taking that crucial first step. Most people are afraid to start; they may fear the unknown or failure, or even success. Others find starting something overwhelming in the mistaken belief they have to start from scratch. They think they have to come up with something that no one has ever done before--a new invention, a unique service. In other words, they think they have to reinvent the wheel.

But unless you're a technological genius--another Bill Gates or Steve Jobs--trying to reinvent the wheel is a big waste of time. For most people starting a business, the issue should not be coming up with something so unique that no one has ever heard of it but instead answering the questions: "How can I improve on this?" or "Can I do this better or differently from the other guy doing it over there?" Or simply, "Is there market share not being served that makes room for another business in this category?"

Get the Juices Flowing
How do you start the idea process? First, take out a sheet of paper and across the top write "Things About Me." List five to seven things about yourself--things you like to do or that you're really good at, personal things (we'll get to your work life in a minute). Your list might include: "I'm really good with people, I love kids, I love to read, I love computers, I love numbers, I'm good at coming up with marketing concepts, I'm a problem solver." Just write down whatever comes to your mind; it doesn't need to make sense. Once you have your list, number the items down one side of the paper.

On the other side of the paper, list things that you don't think you're good at or you don't like to do. Maybe you're really good at marketing concepts, but you don't like to meet people or you're really not that fond of kids or you don't like to do public speaking or you don't want to travel. Don't overthink it; just write down your thoughts. When you're finished, ask yourself: "If there were three to five products or services that would make my personal life better, what would they be?" This is your personal life as a man, woman, father, husband, mother, wife, parent, grandparent--whatever your situation may be. Determine what products or services would make your life easier or happier, make you more productive or efficient, or simply give you more time.

Next, ask yourself the same question about your business life. Examine what you like and dislike about your work life as well as what traits people like and dislike about you. Finally, ask yourself why you're seeking to start a business in the first place. Then, when you're done, look for a pattern to emerge (i.e., whether there's a need for a business doing one of the things you like or are good at).

They Delivered
Here's a business startup story that's a great example of seeing a need and filling it. Entrepreneur magazine is located in Irvine, California, a planned community. Many years ago, there weren't many fast-food restaurants in the business area. Most were across town, where the neighborhoods were. Two young men in Irvine found this lunch situation very frustrating. There weren't many affordable choices. Sure, there were some food courts located in strip centers, but the parking lots were really small and the wait was horrendous.

One day, as they were lamenting their lunch problem, one of them said, "Wouldn't it be great if we could get some good food delivered?" The proverbial light bulb went on! Then they did what many people don't do--they did something about their idea. Coincidentally, they purchased one of Entrepreneur's business startup guides and started a restaurant delivery business.

To date, their business has served more than 15 million people! It's neither a complicated business nor an original one. Their competition has gotten stiffer, and yet they're doing phenomenally well. And it all began because they listened to their own frustrations and decided to do something about them. Little did they know that research cites the shrinking lunch hour as one of the biggest complaints by American workers. Some only get 30 minutes, making it nearly impossible to get out, get lunch and get back on time. So while these young entrepreneurs initially thought they were responding to a personal need in their local area, they actually struck a universal chord.

That is one way to get ideas--listening to your own (or your co-workers', family's or neighbors') frustrations. The opportunities are all there; you just need to search them out. If your brain is always set in idea mode, then many ideas may come from just looking around or reading. For instance, if you had read an article about the shrinking lunch hour, and if you were thinking entrepreneurially, you would say "Wow, maybe there's an opportunity there for me to do something. I should start researching it."

Inspiring Moments
Inspiration can be anywhere. Here's another classic startup story: Ever get charged a fee for returning a video late? Bet you didn't do anything about it. Well, when Reed Hastings got a whopping $40 late charge, instead of getting mad, he got inspired. Hastings wondered "How come movie rentals don't work like a health club, where, whether you use it a lot or a little, you get charged the same?" From this thought, Netflix.com, an online DVD rental service, was born. From its start in 1999, Netflix has grown into a big business with revenues topping $1.3 billion.

Getting an idea can be as simple as keeping your eyes peeled for the latest hot businesses; they crop up all the time. Many local entrepreneurs made tons of money bringing the Starbucks coffeehouse concept to their hometowns and then expanding from there. Take Minneapolis-based Caribou Coffee. The founders had what they describe as an "aha moment" in 1990, and two years later launched what is now the nation's second-largest company-owned gourmet coffeehouse chain. Other coffee entrepreneurs have chosen to stay local.

And don't overlook the tried and true. Hot businesses often go through cycles. Take gardening. For the last few years gardening products and supplies have been all the rage, but you wouldn't consider gardening a 21st century business.

In other words, you can take any idea and customize it to the times and your community. Add your own creativity to any concept. In fact, customizing a concept isn't a choice; it's a necessity if you want your business to be successful. You can't just take an idea, plop it down and say "OK, this is it." Outside of a McDonald's, Subway or other major franchise concept, there are very few businesses that work with a one-size-fits-all approach.

One of the best ways to determine whether your idea will succeed in your community is to talk to people you know. If it's a business idea, talk to co-workers and colleagues. Run personal ideas by your family or neighbors. Don't be afraid of people stealing your idea. It's just not likely. Just discuss the general concept; you don't need to spill all the details.

Just Do It!
Hopefully by now, the process of determining what business is right for you has at least been somewhat demystified. Understand that business startup isn't rocket science. No, it isn't easy to begin a business, but it's not as complicated or as scary as many people think, either. It's a step-by-step, common-sense procedure. So take it a step at a time. First step: Figure out what you want to do. Once you have the idea, talk to people to find out what they think. Ask "Would you buy and/or use this, and how much would you pay?"

Understand that many people around you won't encourage you (some will even discourage you) to pursue your entrepreneurial journey. Some will tell you they have your best interests at heart; they just want you to see the reality of the situation. Some will envy your courage; others will resent you for having the guts to actually do something. You can't allow these naysayers to dissuade you, to stop your journey before it even begins.

In fact, once you get an idea for a business, what's the most important trait you need as an entrepreneur? Perseverance. When you set out to launch your business, you'll be told "no" more times than you've ever been told before. You can't take it personally; you've got to get beyond the "no" and move on to the next person--because eventually, you're going to get to a "yes."

One of the most common warnings you'll hear is about the risk. Everyone will tell you it's risky to start your own business. Sure, starting a business is risky, but what in life isn't? Plus, there's a difference between foolish risks and calculated ones. If you carefully consider what you're doing, get help when you need it, and never stop asking questions, you can mitigate your risk.

You can't allow the specter of risk to stop you from going forward. Ask yourself "What am I really risking?" And assess the risk. What are you giving up? What will you lose if things don't work out? Don't risk what you can't afford. Don't risk your home, your family or your health. Ask yourself "If this doesn't work, will I be worse off than I am now?" If all you have to lose is some time, energy and money, then the risk is likely worth it.

Determining what you want to do is only the first step. You've still got a lot of homework to do, a lot of research in front of you.

HOW TO START A BUSINESS FROM SCRATCH

Are you driven to create the new business that you have been thinking about or are you just bored with your job and think that a new business will be less work?

Okay, so you have a great idea for a business start-up, but how far are you willing to go to make that idea for your new business into a money maker as opposed to a dream?

There are many questions that you have to ask yourself when you decide to Start your own business. You have to be totally committed to the idea and willing to work through any problems. If you think that your startup small business is going to be easy, think again. It is difficult, but rewarding at the same time. You have to be prepared to meet any and all challenges that lie ahead or your business will not be a success.

When you have your own small business, expect to work hard and long hours to get your business going. You will be on your own, without anyone holding your hand along the way. The profit that you expect to make may very well be in the future as most businesses do not turn a profit in the first year. But, if you are strong willed and determined to succeed in your business, you will be successful.

Running your own business start-up is not only financially rewarding, but personally gratifying. You are working for yourself, to make yourself rich instead of working to make someone else money. Those who are the most successful in the United States are those who have an entrepreneurial spirit. There is an old saying – “You never get rich working for someone else.” This is true. If you want to be truly successful, you have to have the gut to start up your own business, but be prepared to take on the challenges as well as reap the rewards.

Commitment is key to being successful in your own business. Before you start looking for business finance, be sure that you are totally committed to success. You need to be committed and passionate about your business idea and be willing to give it most of your time. You should start a business that you love, that you will want to continue to work on because you believe in the idea and the need for the business. Remember – if you are doing something that you like, you will never really work a day in your life. Those who succeed in their own business love the business that they are in and enjoy the work that it takes to build the business idea into reality.

Before you start your own business, ask yourself these questions:

  • - Can you put in the time it will take to make your business successful?
  • - Are you able to take on the challenges of a new business?
  • - Do you have people who will stand behind you with your new business, such as family and friends?
  • - Take this short quiz to see if you are the entrepreneurial type.
  • - Get a hold of potential clients or customers and talk about the business to determine their interest.
  • - Do a marketing study such as offering sample products or services on a trial basis to see the general interest in your business. .
  • - Research your competitor’s businesses so that you can better understand your own business prospects – learn their strengths and weaknesses and see how you
    can capitalize on strengths and eliminate the weaknesses in your own business.

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