Always be optimistic, NY is hiring every day, it’s just a matter of being smart enough to find where the jobs are.
These tips have been proven to work, so are worth a try if you haven’t already found employment.
The Grace Institute (www.graceinstitute.org) for women has an 80% placement rate which, although you would have to sign up for one of their courses, may be an alternative for those of you with longer-term visas. If doing a 14 week course gives you an 80% chance of getting a job, it may be a smart thing to do. Also, it will introduce you to the American way of life and help you to acclimatize to NY living.
Remember when walking door to door dropping off resumes, it is very important to develop a good rapport with the receptionist. View the receptionist as the gatekeeper who knows everyone in the organization. You don’t want to get on the wrong side of the receptionist :D. If she has any Irish in her at all, she might be able to help you get your resume in front the decision maker. I got my first job in the financial services industry in Texas because the receptionist heard my accent and we started talking about her great grand parents who originally came from Ireland (so emphasize that brogue!!). At the end of our conversation she said she would pass my resume on to the right person. I was called in for an interview the very next day, and was offered a job shortly thereafter. Again, this is in line with the Failte 32 principle of face to face engagement.
Job fairs are a great way to get in front of potential employers, and fit in perfectly with Failte 32 principles of pro-active engagement/networking, and face to face meetings.
With that in mind, please see job fair link below.
Remember the following tips:
Dress for success!!!
Your first impression is very important – Business attire is highly recommended
Bring Copies of Your Resume
You will be handing these resumes directly to the hiring managers from each company.
What to bring…
You should bring plenty of resumes, as you will be giving them directly to the hiring managers at each company. If you have a multi-page resume, make sure your name and contact information is on each page. Be organized with supplies you might need i.e. pens, paper, business cards, etc.
How long should you spend at the job fair…
You can spend as little or as long as you want at the show. In one hour you should be able to speak with at least ten companies or more.
What do I do at the job fair?
Walk up to each company, introduce yourself, shake their hand, give them a resume and tell them about yourself. These people want to hear you talk and see if you can listen as well. Tell them about your success at your current or last job, describe your job duties and how you can help them.
Also remember that it’s important to attend these fairs even if your ideal company is not exhibiting as you can pick up some good tips from exhibitors in the same or different industry.
Job Fair:
http://www.targetedjobfairs.com/tjf/events/detail.jsp?eventid=3381
We will keep you informed of upcoming job fairs in our job posting section on www.failte32.org
Please make sure you get to the job fair up to 2 hours beforehand as there may be a long queue.
Always contact the Chamber of Commerce in the location where you are looking for a job particularly if you decide to search for employment outside of NYC. This is important research you should do prior to relocating. For a complete listing of US Chambers www.chamberofcommerce.com
Dont forget, the Irish Examiner USA (www.irishexaminerusa.com) is offering all of you a free classified ad in its newspaper so please email us a few lines about the type of job you are looking for and your phone no.
Have you considered setting up your own business or working with someone who has set up their own small business. Visit www.nyssbdc.org. Please check if this satisfies your visa eligibility requirements.
Not to give preference to one any one of our affiliated organizations but it might be worth your while getting in touch with you county society. There are 32 county societies in NY representing each of the 32 counties in Ireland. Members of these societies have deep roots in the Irish community and might be able to help you find work particularly if you’re from their own county back home. For contact information, go to www.uicany.org.
There are details of Irish rugby/soccer and other clubs under the ‘affiliations’ tab so if you are into sports, why not join these clubs which are always looking for new players. This can be a great way of finding employment.
Those of you who have got jobs already, please let us know so that we can update our records, and please ask your employer if they are still hiring so that you might be able to help other Failte 32 job seekers.
Go to Fedex/Kinko’s and design your own business cards. Include your name, email, phone number (you don’t need to put your address), area of study. You need to have two things prepared when networking: business cards to hand out to potential employers, and your elevator speech. Your elevator speech is a 30 second description of your job bio. It’s called an elevator speech because you should be able to say it to someone (potential employer) you meet in an elevator before they reach their floor. You meet people everywhere, and some of these people might be employers or decision makers in their organizations, so you want to be prepared when you meet them, and not fumble through your job bio if they ask you what you do.
Research upcoming trade/industry fairs (not job fairs) in your area of study. If your area of study is in the tech industry, find out if there are any tech shows/fairs taking place locally. Generally speaking, the owners of these tech companies will be there to display their wares, and this is a great way to introduce yourself to them. You don’t have to tell them that you’re looking for a job (I’m sure they’ll figure that out themselves) but rather mention to them that you are interested in learning about their products and services and industry. Regardless of how you think they will be dressed, always attend these types of events wearing formal business attire, have your elevator speech prepared, and business cards ready to hand out. If possible, prior to arriving, learn as much as you can about their products/services and current and developing industry trends. You may have to pay a few bucks to attend these types of trade fairs, so you might as well get as much out of it as you can, and it will be money well spent if you plan and implement your strategy well.
Following are a few tips from the Dept. of Labor relating to networking, technology, and job fairs which reinforce Failte 32 principles of face to face meetings, the importance of developing your ‘job network’, and ‘working smart’ when looking for employment.
NETWORKING:
Posted: 07 Jul 2010 01:21 PM PDT
At a recent workshop hosted by the DoL’s Albany One-Stop Career Center, an informal poll showed a full 80% of the attendees had gotten their most recent job by networking – and everyone had gotten at least one job in their life through networking.
Obviously, it’s important, but what, exactly, is networking? According to theWall Street Journal, if you’re doing it right, networking isn’t something that takes lots of extra time and it should be easy, especially if you like to talk.
Think of everyone as a potential contact; you can network anytime: from waiting in line to working out to commuting.
You’re meeting people, then developing and maintaining relationships.
Sure, some conversations will be fleeting, but, at other times, the people you meet will become part of your close circle. Being open to — and staying in touch with — those who cross your path is how you make your own luck. At some point, you’ll learn about something that can benefit you professionally before the rest of the world finds out.
And don’t forget – networking is a two-way street. You are there to help, not just be helped.
Find out more about networking and other ways to enhance your career and your job search at your nearest DoL
TECHNOLOGY:
Posted: 07 Jul 2010 09:34 AM PDT
If you’re looking for a job, want an upgrade or even a career change, DoL’s smart technology can help.
Smart2010 stands for “Skills Matching and Referral Technology.” It’s computer software which reads your resume and extracts your skills, work history and education. It then compares this information with current local job openings and looks for new matches when new jobs arrive. Whenever there’s a match, you get an e-mail.
And one of smart2010’s most interesting features is that it may recommend jobs that you hadn’t thought of – jobs in a different field, but which need the skills you already have.
To find out more or to get your resume uploaded into the smart system, contact your nearest One-Stop Center.
Posted: 07 Jul 2010 09:41 AM PDT
Lisa Pelky, Manager of the New York State Department of Labor’s Albany One-Stop Career Central is focused on not letting any of her clients miss opportunities.
“We’re engaging the clients,” Pelky said. “We sponsor workshops – everything from life after UI to SMART Skills Matching and Referral Technology; we help them deal with whatever barriers they may have to returning to work, and we invite leaders from different sectors of the business community to sit on panels and discuss their industries.
Our clients find out what these companies are looking for in an employee. When they know that, then we can help them get that job and get back to work. “
Job search strategies, resume workshops, and networking are just a few of the services at your local center.
“We’re looking at emerging industries and recession proof careers because we want New Yorkers to not just get a job – we want them to stay employed.”
To find the One-Stop Career Stop nearest you, visit the New York State Department of Labor website:
JOB FAIRS:
Posted: 07 Jul 2010 09:56 AM PDT
“I want to be recognized.” “I want to get back to work.” “I want to hear, ‘You’re hired!’”
These are some of the reasons clients gave for coming to the DoL’s Albany One-Stop Career Center “Job Fair Success Workshop.”
And did the workshop help? Here is what some job seekers said:
“I wouldn’t have ever thought about rehearsing before a job fair.”
“Spending time on the internet researching companies who will be at the next job fair is a great idea – for that tip alone, I’m glad I came.”
“The workshop was great – I know my follow-up ‘thank you’ letters will help these employers remember me.”
For more help in your job search, visit your nearest One-Stop Career Center– and good luck!
The 6 “R’s” to Job Fair Success
Posted: 07 Jul 2010 09:22 AM PDT
RESEARCH, REHEARSE, REVISE, REVIEW, REINVENT, RESPOND – These are your keys to success at your next job fair. The New York State Department of Labor’s One-Stop Career Center in Albany hosts workshops to help clients prepare for upcoming Capital Region job fairs. Their keys to success will work for you too – no matter which part of the state you call home.
RESEARCH – the companies which will be represented at the fair, find out what positions they are looking to fill and see how those jobs match your interests and qualifications.
REHEARSE – practice your quick (60 second) presentation. You want to be able to quickly explain how your skill set match the hiring company’s need.
REVISE – Tailor your resume and cover letter to specifically address the needs of the company – the needs you’ve found through your research.
REVIEW – Look at your presentation, resume, cover letter and clothes to make sure you really are putting your best foot forward.
REINVENT – Be flexible. Look at your skills; see how they translate to a different field, then be willing to think outside the box when it comes to the type of jobs you are applying for.
RESPOND – Always send “thank you” letters to the people you interviewed with. That means you will need to get contact information during your brief job fair mini-interviews.
For more information, contact the One-Stop Career Center nearest you – and good luck!
______________________________________________
Posted: 01 Jul 2010 10:13 AM PDT
It’s what every job seeker wants to hear and the Department of Labor is here to help.
Beginning tomorrow, and every Friday – we’ll update the Department’s website to show you all the upcoming job fairs near you.
Find your nearest job fair; update your resume, (with help from your Department of Labor), dress for success and put your best foot forward.
Visit us at least every week and together, we’ll do everything we can to get you back to work!
To find a job fair near you visit the New York State Department of Labor website.
______________________________________________
“To Thank” or not “To Thank?”
Posted: 29 Jun 2010 11:28 AM PDT
Okay, so you’ve had the job interview… what do you do when it’s over? Do you send a hand-written thank you note, an email, or do you just sit and wait?
We went back to Jill Spoffard, recruitment manager for Pitney Bowes Insight, for some answers.
“In this economy you really need to stand out,” said Spoffard.
“I’m amazed with the amount of people I interview and I probably only receive a handful of handwritten notes for the year. When I do get them it catches my attention.”
This simple “thank you,” sends a strong, positive message to a prospective employer.
“I always think, ‘wow,’ they really took the time to write it out, put the stamp on it, and get my address. It really does have an impact. I might have two equally qualified candidates, but a hand written note just might give one an edge over the other,” said Spoffard.
Finally, if you’re short on time an email is certainly appropriate. Either way…Spoffard says you shoulddefinitely take the time to communicate.So, remember your manners and say thank you!
Source: labor.state.ny.us
