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Dressing for Success…….for less

The importance of “looking your best” for a prospective employer is obvious, but what is “your best”?

Employers want to be assured that you will be neat, detailed and give care and consideration to your work.  Their first clue to your potential performance is the detail, care and consideration you give to yourself.

Your clothes speak for you first:

• Dress appropriately for the occasion –clothes should be neat, pressed and in top shape.  Shoes should be buffed, soles intact
• Make sure your dress style reflects your professional work style.
• Do not wear perfume or aftershave.  The smell could be offensive to a prospective employer.
• Women: Wear simple and understated jewelry that won’t distract the interviewer.

Quality isn’t necessarily expensive:

• Wear a palette of two or three basic colors.  Use black, beige, grey, or brown and accent with one of your favorite, more vibrant colors.  A classic look is always in style.
• Don’t spend your interview clothing allowance on fads–they are always priced at a premium
• Buy transitional fabrics that can be worn throughout the year

Your basic work (or interview) wardrobe should include:

(Women)

• Two skirts (one black)
• One suit
• One sweater set
• Two blouses (simple, not big patterns)
• One scarf
• One pair work shoes (lower heel)
• One pair of dressy shoes (max 3” heel)

(Men)

• Three suits (one grey)
• Five dress shirts
• Three ties
• One pair of shoes

Putting all the pieces together –a suit and tie, manicured nails, firm handshake, smiley face, and positive attitude—all complete the interview-ready image.

If you know of any opportunities that can lead one of our candidates to a job please let us know here. All it takes is a moment to play an important part in someone’s life.

Project EZRAH relies on the support of those within the community who are able to help friends and neighbors going through a difficult financial period.  If you are able to donate, please do so here.

www.EZRAH.org

Landing a job in today’s market takes luck, contacts and CREATIVITY.

Yes, send your resume, make calls, keep up your contacts and search for new opportunities. The creativity comes in when you add a few new (and novel) job searching strategies:

GIVE SPEED NETWORKING A TRY

• Prepare your 15-30 second “elevator” speech, highlighting your most recent project or accomplishment

• Make sure you have a quantity of business cards on hand with your name, contact information and industry

• Be open to follow-up on any connections

USE YOUR ALMA MATER’S ALUMNAE EMPLOYMENT/JOB RESOURCE DEPARTMENT

• Ask if your college or university has a social networking system in place

• Attend alumnae gatherings–you never know where that one–needed contact will be

POST YOUR JOB HUNT ON FACEBOOK AND LINKEDIN

• List what you are searching for and your qualifications

• Make the posting professional–not chatty

POST YOUR RESUME ON ONLINE JOB CLEARINGHOUSES (Craigslist.com, Monster.com, Idealist.com)

• Use key words that capture your industry

• Post various versions of your resume, each highlighting a different strength

JOIN A TRANSITION GROUP OR OUT-PLACEMENT FACILITY

• Usage of an out-placement facility is oftentimes offered with an exit package

• Project EZRAH’s LinkedIn group and monthly seminars will provide a core group to help you focus and expand your search parameters

VOLUNTEER OR FREELANCE – IT CAN SEGUE INTO A REAL (PAID) JOB

• Volunteer at an organization you’re passionate about

• Keep busy and current in your field by freelancing

• Build up your resume and broaden your contacts

• Let your dedication, work and expertise advocate for you

REGISTER WITH A TEMP AGENCY

• It can get your foot in the door of a hiring company

• Be friendly. Introduce yourself. Show your talent!

• Research the company and be knowledgeable about its products, mission, etc.

Most importantly, keep ACTIVE. The crucial aspect is not to be stagnant. The odds are definitely in your favor; the more opportunities you create for yourself, the more likely it is that employment opportunities will arise.

Keep plugging away…it WILL pay off!

HAVE A JOB?

If you know of any opportunities that can lead one of our candidates to a job please let us know here. All it takes is a moment to play an important part in someone’s life.

WANT TO DONATE?

Project EZRAH relies on the support of those within the community who are able to help friends and neighbors going through a difficult financial period. If you are able to donate, please do so here.

www.EZRAH.org

You found your “dream” job. It suits you to a “T.” The job was made for you!

Confidently you gather all that’s necessary to throw your hat into the ring via e-mail:
• Your resume is polished and ready to go
• The cover letter has been tweaked to fit the job description
• You take a deep breath and are ready to send the e-mail to HR

But wait!

Should the cover letter be incorporated into the body of the e-mail with the resume as an attachment?
Or
Should the e-mail introduce you and note that the cover letter and resume are attachments?

Is one too little—the other much too?

What should you do?

Keep in mind that HR is inundated with e-mails, cover letters and resumes. Making their life easier can make YOU stand out.

We suggest that you incorporate your SHORT (*) cover letter into the body of the e-mail and attach the resume.

(*) Since HR’s main focus is your resume, the cover letter need only be a short introduction, possibly giving a personal reference point (Mr. Jones in your legal department suggested that I apply for the position of Comptroller.)

Make sure your resume is polished and ready to go: Sign up for Project EZRAH’s Resume Workshop, May 26th at 11:00 am. To register, please call Shannon at 201 569-9047.

If you know of any opportunities that can lead one of our candidates to a job please let us know here. All it takes is a moment to play an important part in someone’s life.

Ingredients:

Sweeten your Shavuot with this simple and scrumptious chocolate cheesecake recipe.

• 2 3-oz. packages of cream cheese, softened
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 2 Tbsp. brown sugar
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1/8 tsp. salt
• 1-oz chocolate
• 1 cup whipped cream
• 1 9-inch prepared graham cracker crust

Preparation:

1. In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, sugar, brown sugar, vanilla and salt. Beat until creamy.
2. Melt chocolate in microwave. Then add to batter. Mix well.
3. Fold whipped cream into batter.
4. Spoon batter into crust.
5. Freeze until firm.

VARIATION:

Sprinkle 1/4 cup chopped nuts on the top of the pie.

TIP:

The pie can be kept in the freezer for up to one week.

ENJOY!  Chag Sameach from all of us at Project EZRAH.

www.EZRAH.org

If you know of any opportunities that can lead one of our candidates to a job such as inside information on an opening, passing along a resume, or personally recommending someone, please let us know here –all it takes is a moment to play such an important part in someone’s life.

Connecting an employer with a candidate that is right for the job is an important and rewarding mitzvah.

According to the Rambam’s teachings, this connection is the highest form of tzedakah, charity, because it enables a person to be self-sufficient.

In today’s job market, it is often difficult to identify job openings.  Securing a face to face interview is even harder.  A new position can quickly be filled by someone who had a “contact” at the firm—another job is filled by one of the first of thousands of resumes HR received.

What can we, as a community, do to help Project EZRAH candidates in their job search?

Simply put: A good word works wonders. If we can connect a candidate with someone who knows of a position opening up or who can pass his/her resume along to the “right” person, our candidates would have that needed extra edge.

Please help us:

• Let us know if an employment opportunity is opening up in your office
• Offer to speak with a candidate interested in your industry
• Pass along a resume

Do a mitzvah in helping someone find their true employment match.

You can do as little or as much as you feel comfortable with. We do not expect you to “go out on a limb” or to spend more than a few moments. We only hope that you can, in a simple and easy way, reach out to help a neighbor.

Click here.  All it takes is a moment to play such an important part in someone’s life.

In today’s wired world, many people have found themselves most comfortable communicating via emails, texting, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

However, the ability to be composed and speak clearly over the phone is an important skill for both the job hunter and the rising executive. Recognizing the interpersonal skills necessary for best handling telephone discussions is your first step to success.

Be prepared!

Before your hand even touches the telephone — do your research about the job, the company, the industry, etc.

Be prepared!

Practice your telephone interviewing skills with friends or, even, in front of a mirror to help build confidence

Be prepared!

Write down notes/points you want to hit and have the list readily accessible

Be prepared!

Have resume, paper and pen handy

Be prepared!

Open with your “Elevator Pitch” — the 30-second introduction you have been practicing

Be prepared!

Put your best self forward: Watch your language – no slang; this is your entrée into the company.

Be prepared!

Practice. Practice. Practice…. strategies over and over.

Be prepared!

Build your confidence level by rehearsing potential interview answers.

Be prepared!

To “knock ‘em dead”– you deserve it!

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www.EZRAH.org.

How to Create a Creative Eye-Catching Resume

An eye-catching resume is your calling card created to highlight what you can offer the prospective employer.

Try these tips for resume writing:

• The top 3” of your resume should feature a professional profile, noting what you can do for a company.
• Always prioritize achievements — put the most important on top.

• Keep it short — one-page.
• White space on the page is also important; it allows the reader to distinguish the material being presented.
• Maintain an up-beat, but truthful description of your employment history.
• Give the document a grammar check and a spell check and make sure to follow consistent tenses

Remember that, as a candidate, words like “best” or “first” only mean something if, indeed, you were the “best” (winning an award) or “first” (establishing a new system).  Remain positive, but honest in describing employment history.

Use strong buzz words that show how the phrase resulted in success at your job. For example:

Assembled

Launched

Initiated

Created

Established

Authored

Generated

Expanded

Negotiated

Managed

Researched

Things to avoid:

• Abbreviations and acronyms
• Negative words
• Abused words: a, also, an, because, the, very
• Any word you can’t define: You may think using these words make you sound smart, but if you use them incorrectly they could ruin your chances of landing the job
• Words that can be embarrassing if spelled wrong: assess, skills

Stay neat and organized, target a few of the above suggestions and your resume will be an evocative spokesperson for your candidacy.

Register for the next RESUME WRITING workshop by contacting the employment division at 201-569-9047 or email Shannon@ezrah.org.  A Project EZRAH seminar on resume writing can be viewed at www.EZRAH.org in the “Archives” section under 2/17/2010 seminar, “Ask the Experts.”



Unemployment Blues

Out of work.

Sent out dozens of resumes.

A few “bites” — but nothing concrete.

These are the words of the “Unemployment Blues.”

Project EZRAH believes you can change that tune with one word: focus.

Be pro-active so that you are emotionally “up.”  This helps you get job-ready.

Need some tips for focusing? Project EZRAH suggests the following:

• Start by scheduling your day.  Set a goal for each day, each week and each month.  Satisfaction is guaranteed when you look back and see that these goals have been achieved.
• Research internships in your field.  The New York Times recently reported that internships are no longer for the 20-something college senior.  Many of today’s internships are being filled by 40-50 year old who have knowledge of the field and who want to keep themselves active.
• Get a “buddy.”  Have a friend also out of work?  Jog together, go to lunch, arrange mock-interviews and first-time phone call sessions and critique one another.
• Volunteer at schools, senior centers, or hospitals.
• Go to the library. Read the papers, the blogs — stay on the pulse of your industry.
• Expand your network every day.
• Exercise daily.

READER SURVEY:  What other activities help you to be pro-active?  Comment below.

Eli Amdur an adjunct professor at Fairleigh Dickinson’s Graduate School of Business spoke at a recent Project EZRAH Seminar about Smart Strategies for 50+ employees (http://ezrah.org/new/videos/archived_videos.shtml).  “Remember the value of one,” and see how much “one” can do:  Get up one hour earlier and exercise, make one more phone call, even if you think you’re batting zero, do one activity (other than job search) every day, achieve one thing each day.

In other words, “Just direct your feet to the sunny side of the street.”  Help change your tune.

Stay active. Attend monthly Project EZRAH seminars.  On Wednesday, April 21:   Leveraging Technology and the Internet for an Effective Job Search.  Please register at: http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=dEdRWDBNY0hWaHpwOTMtb25heG0zU3c6MA

Visit www.EZRAH.org for more information.

Social Media And Your Job Search

Did you know that nearly half of all companies are, or will be, expanding their means of recruitment through social media in 2010?

To be an active player in the job search game, you have to start dabbling in Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and more. But, if you weren’t born in Generation Y, you might need to brush up your knowledge of the different programs.

READER POLL:  How has the use of social media positively affected your job search?  Tell us your success stories in the comment section below.

Project EZRAH realizes the importance of the social media tool in job searching.  Over 800 people have connected together in the Project EZRAH LinkedIn group http://www.linkedin.com/groups?home=&gid=1714047.

Dr Jennifer Proper, Director of Employment at Project EZRAH, shares a few tips on ways to increase your LinkedIn profile’s productivity.

• Build your network by joining industry specific groups online.
• Attract employers by making sure your profile is as complete as possible.
• Remember to get both personal and professional recommendations —they add a lot and have potential to set you apart from others
• Make sure your account settings are not set to private.  Your profile should be able to be viewed by the public so your information will be easily accessible to potential employers.
• Include phrases from your resume on your profile.
• Select a professionally appropriate portrait.

If you haven’t already built a profile, Project EZRAH can help you get started!  Free seminars on programs including LinkedIn are frequently offered.  Most recently, Mr. Steve Green, a LinkedIn & Social Networking Trainer, guided participants on ways to navigate the program and network for optimal results.   All past seminars, including those about social media, can be viewed in the archived videos section of our website, www.ezrah.org/new/jobs/archived_videos.shtml.

The next seminar will be April 21 at Congregation Keter Torah, 600 Roemer Avenue, Teaneck, New Jersey.  Led by Christine Incontro, Director of Job Development at Bergen County’s United Way, the session will explore the ways to leverage technology and the internet for an effective job search.
Sign up before space runs out (limited space available) http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=dEdRWDBNY0hWaHpwOTMtb25heG0zU3c6MA and take a proactive step in your search!

Project EZRAH’s job board is a great resource for the unemployed for both part-time and full-time work.  The EZRAH team has long term relationships with employers around the area and often gets advance notice of available opportunities.  It’s an interactive board where employers see employees and vice versa.  Log on to see what job fits your skill set: https://ezrah.org/new/jobs/index.php?offset=30&action=search.