Getting 'Linked'

I mentioned in my first article that I we would explore using social media to find new employment opportunities.  One of my current favorites is Linkedin.  All you do is sign up and start searching for groups that apply to you.  On a broad scale, you can sign up for job post groups that are national and those that are more targeted to your area (region of the country, state, city, etc.).  You can also search for groups targeting your desired career (programmer, graphic designer, lab tech, etc.) or specific skills (Linux, Oracle, etc.).  Once you join a group, go to the Jobs link.  From there, you should also click on the ‘Discussions’ link.  That link could be a gold mine of job openings for you.  Just remember that you may not always receive a response to your inquiry right away, since most individuals who place job postings don’t check messages daily.  They may check it once every week or two.   Also, be aware that there are many, many international recruiters posting jobs.  As always, keep personal information private.  If you do receive a response, check out that Recruiter’s web presence to see if they have signed up with the Better Business Bureau.   It’s not a guarantee, but the Better Business Bureau has a database of companies that have received complaints in the past.

Also, be prepared to receive messages from other Linkedin members.  If you do not wish to receive product advertisements or messages in general, be sure to ask to be taken off that advertiser’s mailing list.

As always, be very cautious.  Never share personal information until you have developed a working business relationship with a Recruiter or company representative, verified the company is legitimate and able to protect any information you give them.  If you still don’t feel comfortable, don’t do it.  I would never advise someone to share confidential information with anyone they meet over the internet.  I also give the same advice for someone you meet in person.  Always check out credentials and background of the company requesting the information, just as they would check out your credibility.

'TOP PAYING JOBS FOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES' now available!

Looking for a job?  Let me help you find a future!  I will introduce you to careers in hot, ever-expanding industries.  This book contains information to assist students and job-seekers with a High School diploma or GED in the search for great-paying opportunities all over the country.  Some jobs may start at a modest salary, but can offer you a ‘foot in the door’ to employer-paid training that will help propel you on your journey up the ladder.  Many of them offer you access to employer-paid training, licensing and certification to help you climb the ladder to even better opportunities with increasingly higher pay.  Jobs hired by industries including; Aerospace, Biotechnology, Chemicals, Construction, Education, Government, Nonprofit,  Energy & Utilities, Financial Services, Healthcare, Insurance, Hospitality & Leisure, Internet, Media, Manufacturing, Pharmaceuticals, Retail & Wholesale, Software & Networking, Telecom, and Transportation. 

Don't give up!  With this book you will be on the road to finding your new future!  This book was written by a professional Recruiter with over 20 years of experience and offers advice for the job seeker, along with the opportunity to review jobs you may not even know exist!

 

Top Paying Jobs for High School Graduates can be ordered from:

- Barnes and Noble at bit.ly/2dTeJ0S
- Kobo.com at bit.ly/2eaYgoA


 

 

 

 

Great Entry Level Job for a High School Diploma or GED That Can Lead to Better Pay

 

Sometimes it really pays to start in an entry level position.  The Patient Transporter position is a perfect example.  It pays well and, if full time, gives you benefits that you can use to move up the ladder.  The entry below is another excerpt from my book "Top Paying Jobs For High School Graduates".  This position is generally a starting position in a hospital, which also may provide tuition reimbursement and other training opportunities that will help you move into a higher paying position.  Tuition reimbursement is offered to employees in addition to their regular pay in order to help them become as valuable as possible, as opposed to a retail or fast food restaurant position that does not offer these opportunities, forcing you to pay for further education and training out of your own pocket.  They know that employees still need to use their own pay for rent, food, utilities, etc.  Larger corporations and organizations generally offer better benefits, so research those benefits online before applying or interviewing.  I grew up in a small town and was shocked, once I moved to the "big city" , at all the opportunities employers provide to employees with the goal of attracting and keeping the best talent.  Also be aware that some organizations may include a period of time you will need to stay employed by them after completing the advanced degree, and they may expect repayment if you leave within that period of time.  This is to insure that you use  your education to benefit the employer that paid for it. 

 

PATIENT TRANSPORTER

A Patient Transporter is responsible for safely transporting patients to and from their examination rooms or inpatient beds and other areas like therapy, surgery or radiology.  They may also retrieve and deliver medical records, lab results, supplies and medications.

 

Hired By:  Healthcare, Education, Government, and Nonprofit organizations.

 

Education:  May require a high school diploma or equivalent, and the ability to lift 50 lbs. or more.

 

Average Starting Salary:  Entry level salaries average between $17,000 and $24,000 per year

Top Paying Jobs That Do Not Require An Advanced Degree

Considering the high cost of a college education, there are many alternatives for individuals with a high school diploma or GED.  Many times, individuals in these jobs can make a salary comparable to that of new college graduates, without the educational loans to be repaid. 

In the next few weeks, I will try to post information helpful to individuals with a high school diploma or GED looking to get the highest pay possible.  This will include the job description, average starting salary, and education required to qualify for the position.  Some may require specialized training or certification, but not a higher degree.  I will also include a list of industries most likely to employ the position.

 

CERTIFIED MEDICATION TECHNICIAN

Certified Medication Technicians administer prescribed medications to patients and maintains related medical records under immediate supervision.  They are responsible for verifying the identity of the patient receiving medication and records name of drug, dosage, and time of administration on specified forms or records.  They may take vital signs or observe patients to detect the individual's response to medication.  Certification training will most likely be required to learn governmental recordkeeping requirements when handling pharmaceuticals.

 

Hired By:  Hospitals, Clinics, Pharmacies, Retail, Education, Government or Nonprofit organizations.

 

Education:  Requires a high school diploma or its equivalent and certification as a Medication Technician.

 

Average Starting Salary:  Entry level salaries can average between $20,000 to $29,000 per year.

Permanent vs. Contract – What’s the difference?

If you are having trouble finding a permanent position and really are anxious about what to do next, consider contract employment.  The difference between contract and permanent is who is generating your paycheck.  While working in a contract position, you are an employee of the office or agency who submitted your resume to your place of employment.  At the end of the year you will receive a W2 form from the same office or agency.  Generally, contract workers are hired by huge corporations.  A lot of them hire contract employees  permanently after evaluating their work ethic and skills.  For clerical workers, assignments can last from 1 day to 1 year.  For technical positions, they will generally last from 3 months to 1-2 years.  Many people are hired permanently by the employer at the end of an assignment, so if that is your goal, put your best foot forward during your contract assignment.  Other times contract employees are dedicated to special projects that are only budgeted for a portion of the year.  But don’t let that stop you.  Every contract assignment is an opportunity to network with other people at all level in the organization. 

As I have mentioned before, try to establish a relationship with as many agencies as possible.  This is usually possible when they have job openings available that match your skill.  If not, then keep them in mind but keep looking for others that have current openings.  Sometimes agencies will contact you because they have seen your resume posted on a job board as a candidate actively seeking employment.  This is a great way to passively search for a job.  Once someone has contacted you about an actual opportunity, keep in touch with that individual.  They may offer an online job board that you can search for other opportunities.  This is like a golden ticket to the ‘hidden job market’.  I suggest searching those job boards every other day.  Most employers want contract employees to start the following week, so time is of the essence.  If a job is more than 2-3 days old, it could be considered ‘stale’, on the other hand it could mean they are looking for specialized skills and have been unable to find someone matching the qualifications.

 

Contract employment is also a good way to fill in a gap you may have developed since your last job.  Most employers prefer candidates who recently entered the job market.  They sometimes feel that the longer you’ve been out of a job, the less current your work skills will be.

Among other things, contract employment can make you realize how valuable you are as an employee, and also can give you ideas about what skills you should pursue to become even more valuable.  As I’ve said before, Java Developers are in high demand at the moment.  Pursuing classes in Java programming and computer science could offer you a whole new way of life!  Nurses and Accountants will always be in demand, as well.

Don’t be afraid of contract employment, and consider it a potential stepping stone to a new career.  

Functional vs. Chronological

One day, while reviewing resumes, I came across a couple of resumes written in the functional resume style.  The candidate seemed to have excellent experience, and generally qualified for the position, but I just couldn’t make out the details.  I put it aside and went on to the next resume.

I’ve heard lots of arguments both pro and con regarding functional resume styles, but the fact is that if a Recruiter has 10-30 seconds to get a general idea of the candidate’s experience and skills and whether they match the job opening you have available, the functional style won’t answer those questions, and can appear very confusing.  After reviewing functional resumes, I usually draw the conclusion that the candidate is trying to sell their skills as a match for the position, although they don’t have the experience. 

To illustrate my point, I have simulated a functional and chronological version of one (fictitious) candidate’s resume:

FUNCTIONAL version

Writing experience:

Writing, editing, and proofing a variety of articles including Financial Outlook, Human Interest, Arts and Entertainment, Weather and Political Commentary.  Prepare age-specific, literacy level and culturally appropriate materials.  Provided documentation support for Accounting and Manufacturing departments. Writing and editing consumer product manuals for financial information and manufacturing production.  Assist in the development of material for the organization’s Web site.  Edited and produced the Government Space Program manual, a procedural manual used to train astronauts and help the organization win grant proposal support.  Communicate with field personnel by email, text and phone. 

Work History:

Writer/Product Specialist - Feedforall Industries, Des Moines, IA      2009-2009
Technical Editor/PC, NASA – Houston, TX                                                2010-2010
Writer/Editor, The New York Times – New York, NY                               2011-2011

 

CHRONOLOGICAL version

Feedforall Industries – Des Moines, IA                    January 2011 to December 2011

Writer/Product Specialist
•             Provided documentation support for Accounting and Manufacturing departments.
•             Writing and editing consumer product manuals for financial information and manufacturing production.
•             Computer programs used in this position are Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel

NASA – Houston, TX                                                  January 2010 to December 2010

Technical Editor/PC
•             Editing and designing government bid proposals for the Proposal Development Department.
•             Edited and produced the Government Space Program manual, a procedural manual used to train astronauts and help the organization win grant proposal support.
•             Communicate with field personnel by email, text and phone.
•             Prepare age-specific, literacy level and culturally appropriate materials.
•             Computer programs used in this position were Microsoft outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel

The New York Times – New York, NY                      January 2009 to December 2009

Writer/Editor
•             Writing, editing, and proofing a variety of articles including Financial Outlook, Human Interest, Arts and Entertainment, Weather and Political Commentary
•             Created end user documentation for clients using article layout standards
•             Assist in the development of material for the organization’s Web site.
•             Computer programs used in this position were Internet Explorer, Microsoft PowerPoint, Lotus Notes, and Word Perfect


From looking at these examples, I prefer chronological, unless you can summarize your experience that you feel makes you qualified for the job opening in the first two sentences.  Two sentences of qualifying experience would definitely, as a Recruiter, pique my interest and encourage me to read further!

Who, What, When, Where?

I was reviewing resumes one day and I came across a resume that stumped me.  I read it over a number of times, but it just didn’t make sense to me.  Finally, I gave up and moved on.  Could your resume be a casualty of the ‘summary of duties’ resume layout?  This is the type of resume that lists a summary of projects you have worked on.  No company names, duration of employment, titles, and location.  Whenever I see this type of resume, it raises a number of red flags.  Each red flag says, ‘this person is trying to hide something’.

Is your resume a casualty of the misguided notion that employer’s don’t care where you worked, how long you were there, or what was your title?  This raises so many unanswered questions, employers have no option but to ‘pass’.   You might think that is wrong, but the last time I called someone to get some answers regarding this type of resume, the phone conversation was as confusing as the resume.  It didn’t help.  Providing this information is a way of getting a foot in the door and grabbing the recruiter’s attention.  Usually this format is employed to hide the fact that the individual worked less than a year at each previous job.  The only way to correct this problem; develop the ability to stay at a job long enough to show you have an interest in a stable career.  This is usually 2+ years.  Once you show some maturity in your career, employers will show more interest in your resume.