Springfield Career Solutions
2008 Memorial Blvd., Suite B
Springfield, TN 37172
Tuesday, May 8
Wednesday, May 9
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Don’t miss this opportunity to meet with:
KrownKleen, Personnel Placements, All-Star Personnel, Randstad, and Staffmark
Bring your resume, photo ID, and Social Security card or birth certificate. Dress for success. Be prepared to complete job applications.
For more information contact:
Career Counselor AJ Geary
Phone: 615-384-7867
The TriStar Division of HCA Physician Services is hosting a job fair <——Click link to view open positions!
“Is a degree enough to be successful?”
Tip for the day: If you want positive career growth, improve your skills.
Q: Dear Connie: I am struggling on my job. I have a degree but that does not seem to be enough to be successful. Do you have any suggestion on improving my situation?
A: Dear Needs More: Education is a valuable tool needed to enter many desirable positions in the workplace. It is not uncommon for a job to require a specific level of education before you can be interviewed for that position.
Many people who lose their jobs find themselves undereducated. A person may have been able to obtain employment many years ago without having a high school diploma. Now, we are finding that entry level jobs are requiring a minimum of a G.E.D. or high school diploma.
Though you have accomplished a bachelor’s level degree, there are other skills that employers value and deem necessary for you to be success in a job. It may be time to develop your skill set in areas outside of your formal education in order to continue growth within your career.
A survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) reported that employers see three general areas that employees need to improve. The biggest group of failings reported by employers is in communication skills, specifically lack of writing skills. Other employers report that face-to-face communication is a problem because of the preference for e-mail communication. Interviewing, presentation skills, phone skills, and overall interpersonal skills are lacking, also.
The next group cited a lack of good ethics, analytical and problem-solving skills, initiative, specific computer skills, flexibility, and professionalism. Also, mentioned were independence, patience, and the willingness to work long hours to get the job done.
The third area was the lack of work experience in new college graduates. Some companies see the need for internships and any type of hands-on experience.
Compare the above attributes to your work skills and begin now to improve the ones that you find deficient. Also, give yourself time to improve on any of the mentioned skills you may be lacking. It will help you grow if you are able to find someone who has work experience, good interpersonal skills and work ethics to mentor you through this beginning phase of your career. Learning how to work is as important as learning the specific task that is needed for a job.
Connie’s Career Corner is your source for career information. E-mail questions for future columns to ConniesCorner@Nashville.gov .
Event topics and speakers are subject to change
Adolescent Programs at the Metro Public Health Department is currently seeking students who desire to become a part of the Youth Advisory Board (YAB).
The Youth Advisory Board is the premier youth advisor on public health issues affecting young people in Nashville. Their mission is to “serve as an advisory body of youth to the Metro Health Department and its Board, and promote youth awareness and knowledge of health in the community.
They are looking for responsible, outgoing, creative young people interested in fine-tuning their leadership skills and helping the community. The work of the YAB will have an important and positive impact on our community, for years to come.
The deadline for the completed application is Friday, April 27, 2012.
Click link for application: MPHD Youth Leadership application
CONNIE’S CAREER CORNER
Tip for the day: When I read a good resume, I never wonder how long it took the person to write it. Spend as long as you need to make your resume outstanding.
Q: I have been working very hard to get a job. I still have not found a job. What else can I do to find employment?
A: You may need to work smarter, not harder to find employment. Often we think because we are staying busy, we are working hard to accomplish a goal. The truth is job searching techniques change over time. You may be job searching using outdated methods.
Use the right tools for your job search, such as:
Start by building your network of acquaintances. People are more comfortable hiring a person recommended by someone they know. When you start a new job you are not the only one that has to make adjustments. The employees that you will be working with also have to adjust to you and your work style. Hiring managers know that if someone they trust recommends you there is a greater chance of you blending in and being a positive addition to their work unit.
It is important for you to know who you are and what you have accomplished in your work life. If you do not know how to express this to a prospective employer, it will make it difficult for you to tell him how valuable you will be to the company. Try writing your accomplishments down on paper (use your resume as a guide.) Then practice explaining your accomplishments to a friend until you can deliver the information in a smooth, conversational manner.
If you are not job searching at the present time, you probably will be in the future. On the average, most workers change jobs every three years. So, while you are happily employed, go ahead and do the work to get your skills up to speed and keep your resume current. Then, if you do need to search for a new position you will not have to do the groundwork during a time of stress.
Connie’s Career Corner is your source for career information. E-mail questions for future columns to ConniesCorner@Nashville.gov .
