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Employment in St. Louis
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TOPIC:
Employment Page 2
100+
Resources for improving your employment situation!
Let's
get started. What is your definition of employment?
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A
hobby I get paid to do.
For just about every one of us, no matter what you call
it, employment is a necessity. Some of us just have more
fun at it than others, depending on our situation and
our outlook!
Some look at the work place as a great place. We are around
friends. We are challenged and enjoy participating and
contributing. We are compensated for our talents and efforts,
and we give back to the employer as much as we can because
we know we are appreciated. We look forward to going to
work, at least for the most part, most of the time.
Others of us look at the work place as a place we are
forced to go each and every dreaded day. We dream of escaping.
Some of us may even dream of winning the lottery and never
going to work again, ever. Of course some of those who
love their work would still like to win the lottery so
the don't have to go to work, but they still would choose
to go to work, at least part time.
What
is the difference? Is it a difference of personality or
the place that we work? Most
productive and happy workers feel appreciated, that they
feel they have a future with their company, that they
are expanding their skills and future options. Of course
income, insurance and others perks such as days off, free
parking and more also are part of the equation.
Do
you feel your current job fits this description and that
you control your destiny? Are you happy at work? Do you
go the extra mile, do you do everything you can do promote
the success and profitability of your company? If not,
please read on! Whether you are looking for new employment
or to increase your value to your employer for a raise
or promotion, this can be an exciting time for you as
you plan your future.
If you're looking for that new job, we're here to help
you research and land the right, job! We'll point you
in the right direction to find the job you want, with
great hours, pay and benefits. Just remember that if you're
currently employed, your dream job may be just a department
away or continuing education class away. In either case,
you need to start by analyzing your skills and your goals,
then move forward.
If you're wanting to stay with your current job, simply
pretend that you are starting the job search process with
them. Begin honing your work skills, resume writing and
interviewing skills and start your job search, for the
right position that meet your requirements. In any case,
if you've taken all the steps we will outline, you'll
be prepared to make a good presentation and get the job
or the promotion!
Here's a quick checklist of the
steps to take!
Follow
the checklist!
Self assessment
Career selection
Self preparation
Employer Research
A
few words about keeping a good attitude.
Before we start, we hope you realize that this may be
a very difficult and stressful time for you and your family.
So, let's call it a new challenge and opportunity! We'll
do your best to lead you to the resources you need to
find that perfect opportunity but you be sure to find
as much support as you possibly can, even taking into
consideration that you may need counseling for financial
or marriage needs. We'll provide those links later in
this section.
When
you're ready to get started.
Of
course we will explore many options, from headhunters
to employment or temp agencies to government work force
assistance. We will explore counseling and financial assistance
programs as well as ways to improve your resume or interviewing
skills.
A good place to start your job search is by calling
your local
Work Force office to find out what options for assistance
are available to you. I went through the program there
and I have to tell you, it helped me tremendously, particularly
with mock interviews and my resume.
Here
are just a few of the programs they offer.
* Job Listings
* Resume posting
* Resume Assistance
* Interviewing Assistance
* Training and counseling
* Keeping a good job
If you need help but are worried about calling because
you are having financial difficulties, most of these services
are free. You'll also find that for many of the government
services are free, but if not, they may be able to help
you on a sliding scale or even at no cost to you.
Find
support from nonprofit organizations as well!
Another
source of support is a local nonprofit organization called
Business
Persons Between Jobs. Businesspersons Between Jobs
is a nonprofit organization, located in St. Louis, Missouri,
consisting of professionals in career transition. As a
dynamic networking organization, BBJ is continually changing
and stands ready to offer highly experienced and qualified
individuals for your organization.
BBJ welcomes the opportunity to help you find your next
career challenge or to help you find the correct professional
for your growing organization.
Use
these sources to keep a positive attitude and explore
all options open to you, including advancement! Even if
you need continuing education or remedial education. The
local community college has a variety of options for you
and you may qualify for funding through loans, grants
or other instruments and programs. You may even qualify
for a grant or loan to pay for your schooling!
You can do much of this on-line, but one of your best
options will be to check with the local work force to
take a personal assessment test to determine your skills
and the best job opportunity for you.
Once you have explored all your options, you are ready
to start looking for companies you would wish to work
for, then target your efforts on those companies!
Getting
a raise or promotion at work.
Remember,
your best option may be to stay with your current employer,
so you just want to improve your skill set for a raise
or a new position with the company!
At one time, getting a raise at work was just a matter
of showing up on time each day and doing a good job. Or
by being willing to work overtime or a different shift.
Of
course prospective employers are going to look at your
past record for attendance and job performance, but they
are also going to look at your education and your skills
set, and how you can fit into their program. If you can
learn a new skill or improve your current skills set,
you can easily find a new job or even ask for a raise
at your present position. Continuing education and certification
should be a life long goal in the new economy.
Today, getting a raise or promotion at your present job
is mainly about increasing your contribution to the company
by increasing your skills set. The fact is that employers
are going to look at your past record for attendance and
job performance, but they are going to place more emphasis
on your education and your skills set, and how you will
contribute to the company in the future with your new
skill set.
So, if you have asked for a raise but have not received
it, you will either have to increase your skills for your
current job, apply for a different position in the firm,
or go find a job with a new company. Either way, it's
best to know what you offer your employer compared to
the rest of the work force so you can justify a raise
or higher remuneration with a new employer. :)
Finding
the right employer.
Now
you need to review the companies in the community. Start
at the
St. Louis Business Directory, Sorkins'
Directory of Business and Government and the public
libraries before you start looking at specific jobs
in the marketplace. You can also find much of this information
at the local Work Force office or Business Persons Between
Jobs office, or your temp agency or placement service.
Don't count on getting the first job you see that interests
you. Concentrate on finding the right type of job and
the right company first, then once you've found the right
type of job and company, then you start looking at which
of these companies have job openings. One of them is probably
looking just for you! Be sure you have sharpened your
resume and interviewing skills first, so when they do
call you, you are ready!
Honing
your resume and interviewing skills.
Being self employed for nearly 20 years, I had no idea
how truly complicated writing a good resume could be,
or what it really takes to be good at interviewing. It's
an never ending process of adapting your resume and answers
to the prospective employer, and it's always stressful
going to interviews.
Thank goodness I found both the Business Persons between
jobs and the Work Force office. They were both able to
help me understand the process, and the Work Force even
hooked me up with advisors from the community college
to help me with this process.
You
may also opt to utilize the
on-line tips for writing a good resume, but your best
option is to try to get professional and sometimes free
assistance from the Work
Force or the Businesspersons Between Jobs organization.
One of my advisors at theWork Force even sat at her computer
and helped me create it on her computer! My
new resume is 100 times better than the first three that
I did by myself and with the help of a job hunter! I can't
tell you how important it is for you to utilize this resource.
I was also able to sit in on workshops for interviewing
techniques, and had mock interviews to practice! I was
even able to take the tape home for review. You cannot
get this type of experience anywhere else without paying
big bucks for it. Use these services to expand your skills
and you may increase your income for years to come.
If you are utilizing a temporary or employment agency,
or even a headhunter, they may be able to help with your
resume or interviewing skills, but don't count on it.
Their main job is to find an employer who will hire you.
Now
it's time to find the right job!
Where
to start? Statistics from Work Force and other organizations
show that many job listings do not ever make it to the
classifieds, and most jobs are filled by other means.
All the information I have read tells me you will have
the best results finding a job by networking with other
people. Networking is talking to talking to friends, former
employers, fellow employees, etc. and even from volunteer
work. Of course you will still want to check the classified
ads and the Internet, just be sure this not the only place
you look for a new job.
Of
course most everyone thinks about starting out with classified
ads, and this is a good place to start, if you realize
that you may end up utilizing one or more of the other
resources to find the positions you want, especially if
you are in the professional field.
Start
with the local newspapers - such
as the Post, one of the best source for local classified
ads for employment.
Placement Services (Headhunters)
If
you'd like a list of headhunters such as Robert
Half or Haldane
and Associates, check the newspapers or search for
them on the Internet. Just be sure to ask if they charge
you for their services, or if the employer pays. If you
pay, it can be very expensive unless you get the job that
you really want and can justify the expense with a larger
income.
Again, For any of these sources,
just open the yellow pages in your phone book under employment,
or check the Internet yellow pages or search engines,
simply type in the key words St. Louis Employment and
you will come up with plenty of options.
The final word on this is that I advise starting with
research on the Internet, classified and the other services,
but the best place to start your job search is with a
counselor and support group at either the local
Work Force or the Business Persons
Between Jobs offices. The local Work Force works with
the Missouri Department of Economic Development and local
community colleges to help you find your job with little
expense on your part. It really is the best place for
you to start today!
Now, once you have the company you want to interview with,
here are a few quick tips!
Make
your office mobile and never miss a call, fax or e-mail!
Before
you actually prepare for the job search, take a few minutes
to get mobile. That's right, set up a mobile office so
you can work and play relaxed, knowing that you wont'
miss an important phone call, fax or e-mail even if you
are out of the office or even out of town.
This all can be done with the use of the Internet. Most
of these services are free or at least very inexpensive.
If you go through this site, you can set up most of these
services for free.
You
can create a simple free website where you can post your
website, accept e-mail, read your e-mail, check your to
do list, look up a phone number in your address book and
more. You can even store your resume on-line in your filing
cabinet so that you can retrieve and edit it from any
computer, anywhere!
If
you'd like more information on these services, and how
to use them, send an e-mail to jddavin@mynewoffice
and we'll tell you how to get our weekly newsletter.
You
should also have your free calling card to hand to prospective
employers and anyone who can help you your jobs search
with referrals. You can order 250
FREE calling or business cards here, in color! We
use them ourselves, and they are fantastic! You simply
go on-line, fill out the simple form, decide if you need
a rush order or not, then they are shipped right to you!
They're very professional as you can see, and they're
free! A no brainer.
This can be a defining moment in your earning potential.
That's why there's simply too much to tell you all here
about interviewing, so please be sure to review everything
you've learned at the local
Work Force or the Business Persons
Between Jobs and good luck to you! You should do just
fine along a you've gone through the free practice interviews!
Of
course there are many things to consider after the interview,
such as the thank you letter and hopefully a follow up
call to discuss wages and perks! Of course you'll want
o send a thank you letter even if you don't get the job.
If you did not know that you should send a thank you letter,
or you need examples, just review the materials from your
local
Work Force or the Business Persons
Between Jobs meetings. :)
These are all things that you will learn when you visit
the work force or join a group such as the Business Persons
Between Jobs. We keep mentioning them over and over, but
it really is the best place to start, and finish your
job search. We'll also add many of these ideas to our
free newsletter. Click here to get your copy by sending
e-mail to betterjobs@mynewoffice.com
Keeping
that perfect job once you've found it!
Whether you 've just found your new job or realize your
current job could be perfect if you could change just
a few things, fight to keep improving your skills and
make it the right job! It really is easier to keep a good
job or grow into a new position with a good company than
it is to look for a new job. Be sure to look at continuing
education as a necessity of life today, and work at keeping
your current job by being a valuable employee to your
employer.
You will benefit from a seminar by the Work Force which
tells you how to be a good employee and how to make the
most of your time and skills to keep the job and to move
up in any organization.
Relocating
to a new community - a big move in more ways than one!
If you are are you relocating for a new job, we understand
that it' an exciting time and a large undertaking. In
fact we experienced this event recently when my wife
took a new position in St. Louis, Missouri and we needed
to make a move to a new community and adjust to life
in the big city. We'd like to share a few resources
that were helpful to us in our move. We've found that
if you follow the links to these sites, print out the
guides that are supplied and follow them, you will have
a much higher probability of having a smooth and enjoyable
move to your new community and job.
Once
you do have a prospective employer, you'll want to compare
the cost of living for each respective community to
assure yourself that you can afford to take the new,
"higher paying" job in the new community.
You might even find you will be making more money and
spending less money with your new move. Let's hope so!
You can compare the cost of living for about any community
by clicking here for the "Cost
of living Guide".
To
start, you'll need to find and compare places to live.
Either in a new home or apartment. This is a big decision,
and one many times dictated by finances and future career
options. We can't tell you about your future career options,
but we can show you how to calculate
your monthly house payments for a buy/rent analysis.
Once you've decided, you can visit realtor.com
to find a real estate agent to help purchase a new home,
or apartmentguide.com
to view all the available apartments in the area. If you
buy a house, you'll also need to find
a mortgage institution, which is the entity that will
loan you the money for your home. If that did not make
sense and you need a glossary
of terms, click here! If you will be renting, you
may need renter's
insurance if you decide to rent.
Oh,
and don't forget to make your change
of address with the post office. You can do it from
this link on the Internet quickly!
If
you're feeling stress or just down, here are some motivation
tips!
Looking
for new employment is always stressful.
Volunteer work will make you feel you're helping someone,
which is good for you in general, but especially in this
time when you may be suffering from low self esteem and
concentrating only on your problems, which are not always
as bad as they seem by the way.
You may want to find sources for motivation and encouragement
on the net as well as from friends, professional therapists
and clergy. Becoming active in your church is one of the
very best sources for support.
Get
active in your church or find a new one in your new
community!
Now is a great time to build your faith and to get support
from old and new friends! There are many excellent churches
here in St. Louis and many resource on the Internet to
build your faith, so take the time to visit them for support.
Click here for more resources for your faith from
our faith site. We'll be adding a list of churches in
the future but just go throught the yellow pages under
churches to find a good church today and just get started
making new friends. It will help you and your new friends
when you get active and give something back!
The
best plan is to make a plan for the future. Find what
you do best, love the most, and be the best at it! Change
your attitude and change your attitude of work. Continually
improve yourself , your work skills, your attitude and
you will see that your work environment will be changed
too, even if it's not the perfect job, yet!
As
we asked at the beginning of this document, what is your
definition of employment?
Work.
My job.
My career.
A place to learn.
A hobby I get paid to do.
We hope you make employment a hobby that you get paid
to do, or at least enjoy your work. Let's make the most
of it!
That's all for now. Best of luck to you in all your endeavors!
Best of luck!
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Sincerely,
John
E. Davin
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Questions?
We'd love to hear from you.
You
can contact us at jddavin@mynewoffice.com or call us at 636-273-6713.
If you're interested in a free 1 hour consultation, simply
click here. Be sure to enter your name, addresss, and a bit of
information about what type of business you have, or what type of
business you'd like to start!
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Copyright
(C) 2002 John Davin
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reproduction of this site or content is
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This information is provided as is, without warranty,
either express or implied. No warranty is given for the
information or book's quality, performance, merchantability,
or fitness for any particular purpose. Neither John E.
Davin, Davin Computer Systems, Inc., nor its dealers or
distributors shall be liable to the purchaser or any other
person or entity with respect to any liability, loss,
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