JobBite Blog

If you speak more than on language you’re in luck.  You have an advantage over roughly 80 percent of Americans.  But how do you actually profit from your language abilities?

Throwing a language section on your resume is great but there are many jobs and industries in need of bilingual workers that you can target.  Bilingual workers often earn more than their English only counterparts for the same position.  Given the state of the economy it’s worth looking into every opportunity that will maximize your income.

Here are some industries to target where bilingual workers are in high demand:

1.  Education- Bilingual teachers and guidance counselors are in strong demand and they almost always earn more than English only teachers in the K-12 system.

2.  Health care- People of all backgrounds need medical care.

3.  Hospitality-  Assist visitors from around the globe in their preferred tongue.

4.  Social Services-  Complicated family issues go over a lot smoother if you can work with parents and children in their native language.

Posted on November 17th, 2008 under All Posts  •  No Comments

Hey guys check out alltop.com.  It’s a cool site where you can find all the top of headlines from around the web in one easy to use site.  Alltop covers all topics most readers care about; give it it a quick glance every day and it’ll save you a ton of time.  JobBite Blog is now one of the sites on alltop under the career section  so go check it out.

Posted on November 17th, 2008 under All Posts  •  No Comments

A promotion.  Most people strive for these.  With a promotion you gain recognition, career advancement, and of course, more money.  But how do you do it?  Some say just hard work while others say you have to know the right people.  While this may be the case sometimes, I think there’s more to it than that.  Here are some things you can do to increase your chances of being promoted:

1.  Be likable- Not easy for everyone, but basically be friendly, relaxed, and helpful with your co-workers and others.  Take in interest in getting to know those around you.  I mean everyone, not just those who can do something for you.

2.  Go above and beyond- Don’t just work hard, go beyond that.  Do what’s expected and then some.  Find ways to do things better, cheaper, and faster.  Volunteer for new assignments or projects that others may avoid.

3.  Don’t shy away from accepting credit- Don’t think for a second that tooting your own horn now and then is arrogant because it’s not.  Often times, It’s something you have to do to get the recognition you need to get promoted.

4.  Share your thoughts/ideas- Assert yourself in company discussions and meetings.  Prepare for such events and be ready to contribute something valuable to the discussion.

Posted on November 10th, 2008 under All Posts  •  No Comments

Sometimes people start off on the wrong foot with this question by saying negative things about their current or past job.  You need to avoid doing this.  What you want to do is explain all of the positive reasons why you are interested in a new position, specifically the position you are interviewing for.  Tell the interviewer what you like about the opportunity and how you will be able to positively contribute to the organization.  List the different things you will gain from this opportunity.  After your answer, the interviewer should be convinced that the new position better fits your strengths and goals.

Posted on November 3rd, 2008 under All Posts, Interview Questions  •  No Comments

Many job seekers fret about what their potential employers may discover with a background check.  Most people have nothing to worry about.  Usually, employers don’t care about a few issues that came up many years ago.  They care about your recent work accomplishments and how it is to their advantage to hire you.  As long as you’re honest and focus on the positives you’ll be fine.  But fudging even the smallest detail may cost you a job if discovered.  Here are some common areas background checks explore…

1.  Criminal History- Juvenile records are sealed but anything in the public record is available.  Some    states only provide information for a recent time period so look into your state’s law if concerned.

2. Education Check-  A problem area for many people.  In recent years everyone from executives, teachers, and politicians have been caught exaggerating their educational qualifications.  Be honest about your education.  If you are feeling like you may not have enough education focus on the valuable experience you have or consider taking night classes to earn a degree or refresh your skills.

3.  Job History Verification-  This is the big one that scares most people.  Potential employers will verify your work history.  A quick call to HR will reveal if you actually worked when and where you said you did.  Most former employers will do no more than confirm your job title and dates of employment.  To reveal more would put them in a position to be sued, though I have heard of some past employers saying less than desirable things about former employees.  If you’re concerned about this, have a friend call your previous employer and have them to some poking around to see what your past employer may say.

4. Credit Report- Some employers are looking for financial stability in their employees.  Any bankruptcies more than seven years old will not be reported.  Check your credit report for any errors.

5.  Civil Claims and Judgments- Ever sued or been sued before?  This may come up.

6. Driving Records- This will definitely be looked into if you’re applying for a job with significant drive time.

7. Reference Check- If you are asked to provide references on a job application, chances are the employer will call the numbers provided.  Questions tend to be work related.

Posted on October 27th, 2008 under All Posts, Most Popular  •  No Comments

Everyone makes mistakes at work from time to time and it’s perfectly normal.  Sometimes though people engage in persistent behaviour which undermines their credibility and career without realizing it.  Let’s take a look…

1.  Rumors & Gossip-  They’re everywhere in the workplace and it can be unavoidable sometimes.  Distance yourself from rumors and gossip the second they rear their ugly head.  I’m going to state the obvious here.  Don’t start rumors!  Even if it’s not a rumor but something that’s true just keep it to yourself.  Even if you just tell your office buddy, he or she will tell at least one other person and so on.  If you get caught spreading rumors, kiss your career at your current job goodbye.  You’ve lost all credibility in the eyes of those around you.

But actually starting rumors isn’t the only thing to avoid.  You must avoid having your name attached to a rumor in any way.  Here is a scenario:  one of your co-workers decides to let you in all little office gossip and while leaning over to tell you someone else picks up on the conversation and decides to tell the source that you and Jim where bad mouthing him even though you were just listening.  Or maybe the gossip spreads with both your name and the messengers name attached to the rumor now flying through the office.

Sounds bad right? Yep….so just don’t spread gossip in anyway and this includes listening to gossip from others.

2.  Office Romance- Not everyone will agree with this one but if you have the urge to ask one your co-workers out on a date just don’t do it.  Contrary to what you see on TV, office romances rarely lead to anything other than hurt feelings, distractions in the office, rumors, and eventually someone quitting sooner than they would have liked.

Do you think your boss wants to hear that Dan is bitter and unproductive because you refused date number 3? Having a productive and happy work life is difficult enough without adding acrimony and bitterness that comes along with failed romances and jilted men or women.  There are plenty of places to meet guys and gals without having to look across the cubicle.

3.  Wearing the wrong clothes- I don’t believe that clothes make the man but for many, how you dress speaks volumes about your competence level, intellect, and who you are.

The problem many men have is they simply wear old or outdated clothes in the workplace which makes others think consciously or subconsciously that they don’t have it together.  Clothes aren’t cheap but try to slowly put together a decent work wardrobe one outfit at a time.  Don’t under dress either.  The level of professionalism in your clothing should be similar to others in your workplace.

Women seem to have a different issue.  When they dress inappropriately it’s usually because they are dressing too promiscuously or flamboyant.  Wearing skirts that are too short, revealing cleavage, and plastering too much makeup on will send the wrong message to everyone around you including those who have the power to promote you.  If you dress like that because you enjoy the attention, do some self evaluation and decide if you want attention or the best career possible.

Posted on October 22nd, 2008 under All Posts  •  No Comments

This can be a tricky question.  What the interviewer is trying to figure out is if you will be departing soon to earn an advanced degree.  Some companies may be looking for this (the many companies that help pay for an MBA) or they may be looking for someone to learn and advance on the job.

You’re going to have to decipher what the organization you’re interviewing with is looking for.   Try looking on their website and see if tuition reimbursment is a benefit.  If they offer those benefits,  they may encourage their employees to pursue higher education.  I would suggest letting the interviewer know that you will be working in the best interest of the company.  This can be interpertued to mean delaying schooling if needed or possible re-entering the classroom.

Posted on October 16th, 2008 under All Posts, Interview Questions  •  No Comments

Most interviewers are good about asking the proper questions.  As an interviewee, you need to make sure you avoid mentioning certain things.  I know that when you first sit down with your interviewer you want to build some rapport.  This is fine but you have to start off with some safe topics.  What can you and your interviewer agree on?  Talk about the great weather you been having or maybe mention how Interstate I-10 just keeps on getting more congested than ever.  These are things everyone can relate to.  Try to avoid mentioning the following during the interview.

1.  Personal info-  I recommend making no mention of your family, pets, vacations, leisure activities, and definitely no politics.

2.  Criticism of past jobs or bosses.-  Regardless of how your past experiences have gone, I’m sure you learned something of value you can mention.

3.  Health Issues-  Keep this to yourself.  Enough said.

4.  Name Dropping-  I don’t care if your neighbor is the president of the company your interviewing with.  Don’t drop names.

Keep the interview moving with discussion of your professional accomplishments and what you are able to bring to the company you are interviewing with.

Posted on October 13th, 2008 under All Posts  •  No Comments

With this question the interviewer is trying to ascertain how knowledagble you are regarding stress management and how well you apply those techniques to yourself and others.  In your answer, detail some constructive ways in which you handle stress.  You might mention reflecting at the end of a stressful day on what went wrong and how you can do better.  Tell the interviewer that you often devise plans on how to deal with situations that are stress-inducing for you or your team.

Posted on October 10th, 2008 under All Posts, Interview Questions  •  No Comments

Job fairs are a fantastic place to meet employers and find a job.  At these fairs you have an opportunity to sell yourself and convince a recruiter that you are the best candidate for your desired position.  All too often though, job candidates fail to take full advantage of many opportunities a career fair presents.  Lets go over some tips and guidelines.

1. Arrive prepared

Before you arrive, gather as much information as you can about the companies attending and the positions they may be looking for.  Decide ahead of time what companies interest you and why.  When you speak with a recruiter they will want to know why you want to work there.

2. Wear A Suit

Too many people show up at job fairs dangerously under dressed.  Simply wearing work clothes or your best outfit isn’t enough.  You have to wear a suit.  There is no way to get around this.  It’s a must.  It doesn’t matter what kind of jobs are being presented, you must wear a suit.  Men, this means dress shoes, matching suit jacket and pants, dress shirt, and tie.  Ladies, you have a wear suit also though you have the option of wearing either pants or a skirt.

3.  Act Professional

This means standing upright with your head up.  Offer the person you are speaking with a firm handshake and look them in the eye.  Listen carefully to what they say and speak slowly and clearly.  Try not to act too anxious or nervous.  Be proud of what you have to offer any potential organization.

4.  Sell Yourself

You probably won’t get much time to speak with each recruiter so make it what you have to say really count.  Have a pitch already prepared before you arrive be ready to tailor to individual companies.  Don’t be afraid to sell yourself and tell the recruiter what you can bring to the company.  After the conversation is over look the person you are speaking with in the eye and ask for an interview.  The worst they will say is that they may get back with you.

5.  Follow Up

Get a business card from the recruiter you spoke with so that you can send him or her a thank you note.  In the note, thank them for taking the time to speak with you and reiterate why you are the best candidate for the job.

One more tip.  When you first arrive practice your pitch with a company you are not interested in.  This should help smooth out your pitch before you talk to the company you really want to work for.

Posted on October 7th, 2008 under All Posts  •  No Comments