NC Jobs Spot

Putting Charlotte and Triad Back to Work

2009-10-09T08:57:00.012-04:00

Putting America Back to Work

The Employment Guide is hosting two upcoming Job Fair/Career Education Expos in North Carolina.

The first one will be in Greensboro, NC at the Clarion Greensboro Airport Hotel on Tuesday, October 27th, 2009 from 9:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.

The Clarion Greensboro Airport Hotel is located at:

415 Swing Road,
Greensboro, NC 27409.

The second one will be the following week in Charlotte at the Marriott Charlotte Executive Park on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 from 9:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.

The Marriott Charlotte Executive Park is located at:

5700 Westpark Drive
Charlotte, NC 28217.

Job seekers can meet a variety of different companies that are recruiting in the Triad and Charlotte areas. Parking and attendance for both events are free to the public. Be sure to dress for success and bring plenty of resumes.

Everyone who attends will receive a copy of The Employment Guide and a copy of The Job Seeker Survival Guide, full of useful tips and information to help find the perfect job.

For more information, please email ncjobs@employmentguide.com. If you are interested in recruiting at this event, please call 888-512-0927.

Putting Triad Back to Work

2009-09-11T08:29:00.003-04:00

The Employment Guide and WiserWorker.com are hosting a Job Fair and Career Education Expo at the Quality Inn & Suites, Hanes Mall, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina on Tuesday, September 15th, 2009 from 9:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.

Job seekers can meet a variety of different companies that are recruiting in the Triad area. Parking and attendance for this event are free to the public. Be sure to dress for success and bring plenty of resumes.

Everyone who attends will receive a copy of The Employment Guide and a copy of The Job Seeker Survival Guide, full of useful tips and information to help find the perfect job.

The Quality Inn & Suites, Hanes Mall is conveniently located at 2008 South Hawthorne Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27103.

For more information call 888-512-0927.

2009-09-03T11:24:00.001-04:00

Putting Raleigh Back to Work

The Employment Guide and WiserWorker.com are hosting a Job Fair and Career Education Expo at the Holiday Inn Brownstone, in Raleigh, North Carolina on Wednesday, September 9th, 2009 from 9:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.

Job seekers can meet a variety of different companies that are recruiting in Raleigh and surrounding areas. Parking and attendance for this event are free to the public. Be sure to dress for success and bring plenty of resumes.

Everyone who attends will receive a copy of The Employment Guide and a copy of The Job Seeker Survival Guide, full of useful tips and information to help find the perfect job.

The Holiday Inn, Brownstone is conveniently located at 1707 Hillsborough Street, Raliegh, NC 27605. For more information call 888-512-0927.

2009-08-17T12:14:00.000-04:00

Putting Charlotte Back to Work

The Employment Guide and WiserWorker.com are hosting a Job Fair and Career Education Expo at the Hilton Garden Inn Ayrsley, in Charlotte, North Carolina on Tuesday, September 1st, 2009 from 9:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Job seekers can meet a variety of different companies that are recruiting in Charlotte and surrounding areas.

Parking and attendance for this event are free to the public. Be sure to dress for success and bring plenty of resumes.

Everyone who attends will receive a copy of The Employment Guide and a copy of The Job Seeker Survival Guide, full of useful tips and information to help find the perfect job.

The Hilton Garden Inn, Ayrsley is conveniently located at 1920 Ayrsley Town Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 27273.
For more information call 888-512-0927

Nurses, How About a New Coach Purse? Happy National Nurses' Week from HealthCareerWeb.com

2009-05-06T08:51:00.006-04:00

Today is National Nurses Day. National Nurses Day is also known as National RN Recognition Day, is always celebrated on May 6th and opens National Nurses Week. National Nurses Week begins each year on May 6th and ends on May 12th, the birth date of Florence Nightingale.

We celebrate nurses on the birthday of Florence Nightingale because she set an example of compassion, commitment to patient care, and diligent and thoughtful hospital administration that has shaped our standards for modern day nursing.

HealthCareerWeb.com is proud to recognize nurses everywhere for the quality work they provide and their tireless commitment to the health profession. To pay tribute, the healthcare job board and social network will give away a Coach purse to one lucky recipient.

For details on how to enter and win a Coach Purse visit HealthCareerWeb.com and click to register for the giveaway.

In addition, to further help nurses connect with nursing jobs, HealthCareerWeb.com will extend a special offer to employers for the month of May. Buy any single job posting or posting package and receive a matching posting or posting package absolutely free. Contact your sales rep or go visit our website for more information.

According to Denise Tanner, business development manager of HealthCareerWeb.com, “Evidence shows that if hospitals invest in appropriate Registered Nurse (RN) staffing, thousands of lives and millions of dollars could be saved each year. Nurses make the critical, cost-effective difference in providing safe, high-quality patient care and we are proud to honor them this month.”

5 Things to Do at a Job Fair (and 5 Not to Do)!

2009-04-23T08:15:00.004-04:00

One of the questions we are asked by many job seekers is what to do at a job fair, so we came up with a list of 5 do's and 5 do not's that should make your job fair experience more productive.

Do's

Do prepare before the event. Research the companies that will be attending. The fact that you know about the recruiter's company will go a long way toward getting you an interview.
Do talk to every recruiter at the event. You never know what a company may be looking for. You might not think your dream job is digging ditches, but "Ditch Diggers, Inc" might be looking for an IT professional at their corporate office. Even if the recruiter doesn't have a job that is a good fit for you, the process of talking with the recruiter is great practice.
Do sell yourself to the recruiter. Don't just ask or answer questions, have a 30 second pitch ready to present to the recruiter. Tell them what you can do for their company.
Do take something away from the every conversation. Any "inside" information you can uncover will help you on follow-up interviews.
Do follow up. Write a thank-you note, email another copy of your resume to the recruiter with a cover letter (you did pick up their business card, didn't you), and visit the company's website for more information

Do Not's

Do Not show up in cut off jeans and a tank top. Even if you are applying for a job as a "beach bum", this is not appropriate interview dress.
Do Not break in line. While you are obviously the most qualified applicant for the job, Bubba the bouncer may not agree. Be patient and wait your turn.
Do Not explain to the recruiter that you lost your last job because everyone at your former place of employment was an idiot, they all had it in for you, you really didn't steal that much from the company, and you are considering taking them to court.
Do Not cruise the tables looking for "goodies" that the recruiters may be giving away. If you are more interested in that Great 10 cent pen than an actual job, the recruiter will know.
Do Not cry at the job fair. Job Fairs are a No Cry Zone....especially if you are a big, hairy guy with tattoos and a leather jacket (it's tough to dry your tears on leather).

Job Fairs are a great place to meet face-to-face with recruiters. Be prepared, talk to everyone, and keep a positive attitude.

The Interview That'll Bag A Job!

2009-04-15T12:21:00.004-04:00

As we prepare for the upcoming Job Fairs in Greensboro and Charlotte we were searching for tips we can share with job seekers. We came across this great article, "The Interview That'll Bag A Job!" in the online edition of The Wall Street Journal.

The article shares several great tips from recruiters on what you should and shouldn't do on your job interview. Tips like "Don't appear desperate", to "show you've done your homework on the company" are all useful tips to remember when you land that interview.

We suggest thay if you do have an interview scheduled, read the article for some last minute tips.

And don't forget that a great way to get an interview is to attend one of our Job Fairs. You can find out more about our upcoming events and pre-register and upload your resume at http://www.employmentguide.com/browse_jobfairs.html . We're expecting 15 to 20 companies, like AT&T/ Yellowpages.com, Bojangles, Terminix, NASCAR Tech, Nouveau Riche, Vanderbilt Mortgage and many others.

So if you're looking for a new career opportunity, be sure to attend the job fair, do your homework, ace the interview, and land that great new job.

5 Job Seeker Tips! Resources for Job Seekers in the Carolinas

2009-04-13T13:43:00.008-04:00

1. To help you in your job search we post our weekly print publication - The Employment Guide online for the Carolina cities? You can look at and download our print publication every week and find jobs in your area.

2. You can also get job alerts emailed to your inbox. This way you don't even have to go to our website to search for the jobs being posted in your industry, we'll send them to you by email.

3. We also keep a list of upcoming job fairs all year long. You can find a list by going to our website and clicking the job fair tab along the top. From there you'll see job fairs that are in your city along with ones we've scheduled across the country.

4. As an added bonus you can also find us on Facebook and Twitter. Here you can follow us or be a fan to get the most recent updates on our job fairs, job openings and other job seeking tips and advice that we might have to offer to help your job search.

5. We also host the North Carolina Job Seekers Group on LinkedIn. You can network with recruiters and job seekers from throughout North Carolina.

Best of luck!

Career Expo Events - April 25-30th

2009-04-08T14:16:00.003-04:00

If you're looking for a job in any of these fields or seriously considering switching careers and need some extra training, ECPI College of Technology has a Career Open House coming up spreading over April 25th - 30th. You'll be able to see live demos and presentations to really get a feel for what the job will be like. The expo is also free.

Some of the career fields and industries that they'll cover are:
Technology:

Network Security
Electronics Engineering
Database Programming

Business:

Business Administration
Criminal Justice

Health Sciences:

Medical Administration
Medical Assisting
Practical Nursing
Medical Imaging Technology

Times and locations are:

Saturday, April 25: 10am - 4pm
Charlotte, NC 28208 - 4800 Airport Center Parkway
Columbia, SC 29210 - 250 Berryhill Road, Suite 300
Concord - Charlotte, NC 28262 - 124 Floyd Smith Drive
Greensboro, NC 27409 - 7802 Airport Center Drive
Raleigh, NC 27613 - 4101 Doie Cope Road

Monday, April 27: 9am - 8pm
Charlotte, NC 28208 - 4800 Airport Center Parkway
Concord - Charlotte, NC 28262 - 124 Floyd Smith Drive

Monday, April 27: 2pm - 7pm
Columbia, SC 29210 - 250 Berryhill Road, Suite 300
Greensboro, NC 27409 - 7802 Airport Center Drive

Tuesday, April 28: 9am - 8pm
Charlotte, NC 28208 - 4800 Airport Center Parkway
Concord - Charlotte, NC 28262 - 124 Floyd Smith Drive

Tuesday, April 28: 2pm - 7pm
Columbia, SC 29210 - 250 Berryhill Road, Suite 300
Greensboro, NC 27409 - 7802 Airport Center Drive

Wednesday, April 29: 9am - 8pm
Charlotte, NC 28208 - 4800 Airport Center Parkway
Concord - Charlotte, NC 28262 - 124 Floyd Smith Drive

Thursday, April 30: 9am - 8pm
Charlotte, NC 28208 - 4800 Airport Center Parkway
Concord - Charlotte, NC 28262 - 124 Floyd Smith Drive

You need to RSVP online or call 704-339-1010!

Heels.com Gives Free Shoes to Job Seekers in Morganton, NC

2009-03-26T08:21:00.004-04:00

Some positive news how a local company is helping out job seekers:

Amber Bollinger stood with her mouth open and smiling on Tuesday at the Employment Security Commission in Morganton. That's because Heels.com showed up there to give away lady's shoes. Heels.com is a North Carolina-based online shoe retailer.
The company has been in business for a year and a half, say company representatives. Company representatives arrived just after 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, surprising those who were there looking for jobs or filing for unemployment. The idea was to give away a new pair of shoes to women so they could wear them to job interviews.
"Being a bootstrapped startup, we know what it's like to work through adversity and against the odds," Heels.com spokesperson Linda McCoy said. "Our goal here is just to do what we can to help others work through their difficult period and hopefully bring smiles to a few faces in the process. During times like this, it is often the smallest things that make the biggest difference."

Read the full article By Sharon McBrayer from The News Herald in Morganton, NC.

A Positive Perspective

2009-03-23T08:36:00.000-04:00

Guest Post by Len Montgomery and Photo by respres

In these days of gloomy of prognostics, I feel it is important to find and acknowledge as many positive aspects of our economy as possible. In doing so, we can offset the pessimism that seems to follow the mainstream media news. In this spirit I would like to share some of the facts that have been skimmed over, or totally overlooked, concerning North Carolina.

Let me begin with our state’s population. North Carolina saw more newcomers to our state versus loss of residents than any other state. For every 100 people who moved away, we saw 180 people move here according to Relocation.com, a moving services website. Now I do not have the exact numbers of the comings and goings, but it has been a significant enough change that the federal government has announced that North Carolina, along with South Carolina, Georgia and Florida, will each receive an additional seat in the House of Representatives.

A good number of those relocating are buying homes. Our office gets a fair number of client relocation referrals. The typical family relocating will finance their home. That means there will be inspections, repairs, insurance, appraisals and a plethora of other services that may be required in the process to approve a home mortgage. Real estate generates a tremendous cash flow into our local economy over and above the cost of property.

With a growing population, new housing will be a necessity. In fact, just this week, Washington reported that new home starts increased over 22% in February all across the nation, with the exception of the west coast. This is still below last years new home starts, but is a very positive step. New housing is typically followed by new shopping centers filled with grocers, banks, restaurants and merchants of all sorts peddling their wares. And who will work, manage or own these new businesses? Sure, some will be big corporations. But more will be folks right here in our own communities.

With a growing population, new jobs are created. Or is the population growing because of the new jobs? Either way, we acquire a larger tax base to draw from for our state and local governments. Spreading out the tax liability helps to hedge off tax increases.

Many of our local residents have been watching the housing market carefully, waiting for the market to hit bottom and so they can swoop in and take advantage of great opportunities. Well, I don’t have a crystal ball, but I feel confident in saying that the time to act is now. Are homes at the lowest prices we are going to see? I don’t know. But I can promise that by the time we’ve all figured out that we are at the very bottom, home prices will be going back up.

One last observation to share: the glass is half full. That’s right. I said it. Although there are many naysayers among us, every fiber of who I am sees the best for our state. I was at a meeting this week where the keynote speaker kindly informed the group that she has chosen not to participate in the recession. What a novel idea! I have adopted this philosophy myself. We have a choice, we can change our attitudes and we will see a change in our results!

Len Montgomery is a REALTOR for GMAC The REALTY Team in Greensboro/High Point/Winston Salem area. Website: www.LenMontgomery.com or call at 336-812-8128.

Job Seeking in the Age of Facebook

2009-03-16T15:38:00.003-04:00

This is a guest post by Donna Ray Chmura, Esq. Sands Anderson Marks & Miller, P.C. Photo is by Andrew Feinberg.

We live in a time of unparalleled access to people’s personal information and a resulting loss of anonymity. Or, as the blogosphere puts it, “Google is Forever”.

In this day and age, job applicants need to be very aware of what their online profiles say about them. According to a CareerBuilder survey published in The Business Insider, 22 percent of employers check applicant’s Facebook, Twitter and MySpace profiles.

From personal knowledge, I can tell you that parents are checking out potential babysitters and nannies. I have always searched job applicants to spot check their resumes (I never considered interviewing the woman with a great resume whose last three listed jobs had no internet presence at all—was she making it all up?).

Now I conduct a more general online search, including scrutinizing profiles. I am looking for general character and maturity, drug and/or alcohol abuse, whether you are trashing former employers or being sloppy with confidential information.

Try it. Go to your favorite search engine (Google, Yahoo, Dogpile) and type in your name in quotes (use your proper name and your nickname and see if it makes a difference. What do you see?

Do you look responsible and trustworthy, or will I assume you will be too hung over to work on Mondays? Do your friends trash their co-workers, bosses and employers on MySpace? If so, I might assume you will come in and destroy morale. Do you present the kind of image your new employer would be proud to share with vendors or clients, or do you look like a Hooters waitress?

Sure you have a right to express your opinion and be yourself. But, as long as they are not basing their hiring decision on your race, sex, religion, age, family status or national origin, employers are entitled to their opinion of you as well.

Only you can decide if employment is worth a little online clean-up.

Donna Ray Chmura practices in the areas of contract and commercial law, business formation, employment law, commercial real estate, merger and acquisition, licensing, trademark and copyright prosecution and other areas of corporate legal interest. She is a member of the Business, Finance & Real Estate practice group in Sands Anderson’s Research Triangle Park office. She is an author of www.NCLawLife.com. Follow her on Twitter: @DonnaChmura. Call: (919) 993-3300 or Email.

The Sky Is Falling......or Not!

2009-03-13T11:31:00.001-04:00

The North Carolina Employment Security Commission just released the January unemployment figures, and it’s not a pretty picture. The unemployment rate increased from 8.1% in December to 9.7% in January…..oh woe is me, the sky is falling! What will we do? What will we do?

Don’t let yourself fall for the blood and guts, doom and gloom reports that are constantly bombarding us from just about every media outlet we come across. The age of instant access, 24-hour news is both a blessing and a curse. Sure it’s great to be able to keep up with what’s happening right now, but as media outlets compete for viewers/listeners/readers they are always going to lead with the most sensational story they can produce; and usually that story is the poor economy and job losses. Don’t allow yourself to be drawn in.

A great example of all of the doom and gloom is the recent reporting on local job fairs in the Carolinas. Many of the local news outlets began their coverage with live reports about the large number of job seekers at these events, and continued with interviews of those same job seekers, but mainly the ones who have been out of work for a long time and were not successful at the job fair. The stories then evolved into, “Job Fairs. Are they worth your time?” So called “experts” suggested that it was a waste of time attending a job fair. Typical reporting of the worst part of the story!

Very few of the media outlets reported on the number of job seekers who actually found a job or had a follow up interview scheduled. Which story is the most sensational….”Thousands line up looking for a job!” or “Hundreds find jobs!”

Sure, the number of jobs available is less than in the past, and the types of jobs may not be exactly what we are looking for, but there are jobs out there. As a nation we can’t allow ourselves to be pulled down by all of the bad news. You have probably heard the saying, "Perception is reality." If we all believe that there is no end to the current recession, then that is going to be our reality. On the other hand, if we all believe that things will get better, then they will. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but they will. We’ve been here before and have always come back better and stronger than before.

No matter what your political philosophy is, or whether or not you are a supporter of our new President, one point we should all agree upon when it comes to an economic recovery is “Yes We Can!”

24/7 Job Seeker Advice on JobRadio.Fm

2009-03-10T13:59:00.010-04:00

How would you like 24/7 advice on your job search? JobRadio.fm broadcasts various radio and podcast shows on the web with advice for any aspect of the job search! It's a great website that was emailed to us by one of our readers. Below you'll find the email that was sent to us that describes the site and gives a first-hand account of what exactly JobRadio.fm is and how this individual finds it useful.

I don’t always have the time to read a book or even listen to books on CD when it comes to career or job hunting advice. So what I do is listen to Jobradio.fm which is streamed live 24/7 on the internet and through iTunes radio. I like Jobradio.fm simply because it gives you a variety of career advice and job searching information that is useful and timely.

Jobradio.fm covers the basics like how to make your resume standout, how to explain gaps in your employment history, how to pass the phone screen interview, how to ace that interview once your in the door and how to network. You can also learn what the latest employment trends are in your industry. The basic format of jobradio.fm is the interview. They interview small and large business owners, major employers, people who have changed careers, the housewife who started a business at home, human resource representatives, recruiters, hiring managers and authors plugging their latest book. So if you don’t have the time to read the latest a book on networking or managing your career - tune in to JobRadio.fm.

- Allan B.

This seems like a great resource and we've listened in to a few really great segments. (We must mention that the opinions expressed on the jobradio.fm broadcast are those of the hosts and are not necesarrily those of the the writers of this blog). So it's definitely worth checking out and adding to your job search resources. Every tip that can help you stand out in the crowd is a great idea.

Click on the button below to listen now.

Listen in WINAMP or iTUNES

Guest Post: Tax Tips for Job Searchers

2009-03-09T08:06:00.004-04:00

This is a guest post by Patsy Schober, H&R Block, Charlotte, N.C.

This year, Americans are looking for every way to keep more of their money in their wallets, especially those currently searching for a job. If you find yourself between jobs, there are several things to remember this tax season, to ensure you minimize your tax liability and maximize your return. More than ever, taxpayers should consult the services of a professional to help them navigate through the complicated tax code.

1. Unemployment benefits are taxable income:
To avoid being shocked by a tax bill on April 15, taxpayers can complete Form W-4V – Voluntary Withholding Request so that 10 percent of an individual’s benefits are withheld for federal taxes. This won’t cover the cost of state taxes, so make sure to plan for that as well.

2. Job search expenses may be deductible:
If you’ve been unemployed for less than one year and you’ve acquired significant job-search expenses – such as out-of-pocket travel to interviews, educational courses, etc. – these costs may be deductible. Job-search expenses are claimed as part of the miscellaneous itemized deductions.

3. Another potential deduction could come from a job move:
Qualified moving expenses (the cost of moving you, your family and your belongings) may be deductible, even if you don’t itemize. To be eligible, your move must meet certain rules, so consult tax rules or your tax professional.

4. Think twice about lump-sum severance:
These can be a quick boost to retirement savings, but income infusions bring tax implications that you should carefully consider. If a lump-sum payment makes your total annual income higher than it was last year, some credits or deductions that you normally claim may be reduced or unavailable. Severance may be paid over several pay checks, which provides you with salary continuance and a more “regular” tax picture for the year.

5. Check your lump-sum severance withholding:
Companies that provide lump-sum severances are generally required to withhold 25 percent to cover federal income tax. This may or may not be enough to cover federal taxes. State taxes would also have to be accounted for as well.

Patsy Schober is an H&R Block tax professional in Charlotte, N.C. For more tax tips, visit www.hrblock.com/taxes/tax_tips

What to Expect at a Job Fair?

2009-02-24T08:37:00.002-05:00

Fox8 News in the Triad did a report this morning on what to expect at the job fair today at Quality Inn & Suites in Greenboro.

We'll be around from 9am and 1pm if you're in the Greensboro area so stop by and talk to our recruiters.

Are Job Fairs Worth Attending?

2009-02-23T15:52:00.013-05:00

Last week's job fair had a phenominal turn out. Unfortunatly there were more job seekers than jobs available, a sign of the times. For more than 300 job seekers there was good news, they were hired on the spot or called back for more formal interviews, but there were over 1,700 job seekers at our Tuesday event, which means many others were not so lucky.

It may seem like the odds of obtaining a job at a job fair are pretty slim, but actually the ratio of jobs to job seekers was 1 available job for every 6 job seekers. That's actually not too bad. If you think about how many people apply to one job on job boards, the ratio then becomes more like 1 job for about 50-100 resumes. With the job fair, at least you are able to speak directly with an employer and present yourself in a way that may lead to an interview. Being able to approach a recruiter with your success stories and add a personal touch are so invaluable.

In this sense, job fairs are a great asset to your job search and can provide an excellent opportunity to find employment. It's so important to be proactive in your job search, job fairs are a great way to do that.

If you're in the Greensboro area, please stop by our job fair tomorrow, Feb. 24, 2009 from 9-1. Be sure to check out tips from the last Greensboro Job Fair!

If you're in Raleigh, we also have a job fair coming up on March 3, 2009 as well. You can also check out the News & Observer's list of other upcoming job fairs as well in the area.

Can't make it? There are other ways to stay proactive and get connected to people who can help. One way that EmploymentGuide.com offers is through Job Alerts. Click on the Job Alert Icon and enter your email, zip code and industry. We'll email you jobs as their posted online. This is a great way to stay notified of new jobs as their posted on our site in the industry you're looking for.

The Employment Guide Carolinas Office Wants To Help

2009-02-19T15:13:00.008-05:00

Today was our second “Putting Americans Back To Work” job fair in Charlotte. Again, over 1,000 job seekers attended this event looking for employment. Unfortunately, there were more job seekers than jobs available, and while many walked away with a new job or at least a follow up interview, many more were not as fortunate. You've probably seen some of the blog posts and news coverage we've received in the last few days.

A few weeks ago we received an invitation to Job Angels, a group that's sole purpose to help job seekers out - just help 1 person find 1 job. We were moved by this initiative, so we at The Employment Guide here in the Carolinas decided to get on board.

At each of our job fairs we collect resumes for people who cannot attend or who would like to pre-register for our event. We then share these resumes with employers who attended our event. Because of the overwhelming amount of resumes we received for our February Job Fairs we decided to do our part and try to be “Job Angels” ourselves.

We originally published our offer on Twitter but decided to open this up to all of our blog readers as well. Throughout the month of February, if you have a job to offer, you can direct message @carolinajobs via Twitter or email ncjobs@employmentguide.com (Subject: Job Angel); we'll search our database for job seekers who match the type of jobs available.

To qualify for this promotion, you'll need to send us your:

Company Name
Job location (Charlotte, Greensboro or Raleigh & surrounding areas)
Job Title or Keywords (to give us an idea of what you're looking for)
How you want the job seeker to contact you

Only companies with hourly or salary jobs will qualify. We will research all companies who make request and of course reserve the right to withhold job seeker information from any company who does not qualify. We want to help as many job seekers as we can, plus this is a great opportunity for those of you with one or two jobs that you'd like to fill.

Once you send us your information, we'll research your company, search our database of job seekers, and then contact a few that we think might qualify to fill your position. We will encourage the job seekers to contact you directly. The great thing is it's free for all involved… our own little stimulus package right here in the Carolinas, and we didn’t have to spend Billions of $$$$.

- Rosie Reilman

Job Fair Today Gets A Lot of Traffic -- Still One More Day, Thursday!

2009-02-17T16:02:00.010-05:00

Photo copyright Davie Hinshaw/Charlotte Observer

Today it was apparent that there certainly is a need for jobs in the Queen City. Our Charlotte Employment Guide job fair attracted approximately 1,700 people. If you were unable to make it today, we still have added a second day to meet with employers. You can check out that information here or by clicking on the Charlotte Job Fair banner above.

The second day of our event will take place this Thursday, February 19th from 9:00am - 1:00pm at the Hilton Garden Inn on Statesville Rd. I-77 exit 18 off of Harris Blvd.

Here's media coverage that we received for the event today:
Charlotte Observer: Charlotte Job Fair attracts huge lines, or view the Photo Gallery
WBTV: Charlotte Job Fair today
WCNC: Line wraps around building for job fair (Video)
WSOC TV: Unemployed Seeks Scarce Jobs in Charlotte Job Fairs (Video)

Employers who are hiring, we've still got some last minute space available so please feel free to contact us if you'd like to attend Thursday. And if you're a job seeker we suggest that you:

Come prepared and bring plenty of resumes
Show up early so that you are sure to make it in to see the recruiters
And check out more job fair information and advice on our blog
Prepare a 30-second pitch for recruiters

If for some reason you cannot attend, or would like to send your resume, you can email it to us. Just put Charlotte in the Subject line. We'll give your resume to every employer that attended.

Update 2/18/09: Here are additional helpful news articles.

WCNC: Recruiter says Dress to Impress at Job Fairs
DigiTriad: Making Yourself Standout at a Job Fair

Networking is Important to your Job Search

2009-02-10T13:32:00.006-05:00

Yesterday, the Charlotte Observer published a story about a local Charlotte job-search group that gathers to network and share job searching tips and stories.

With unemployment rates reaching highs not seen in decades, career experts say networking has become more important than ever. In the Charlotte region, new
networking and support groups are springing up, and old ones are seeing new
life. Employment experts estimate that more than 70 percent of jobs are found through personal contacts, such as those found at networking groups.

Of course, fewer companies are hiring nowadays. At local networking groups, there are few tales of quick success landing a new job.

But those who attend say the networks offer leads, tips, motivation and, most importantly, hope in tough times.

Read the full story here.

It's so true that our networks are some of the first places we look and a lot of the times the best place to find employment. Sometimes a networking group like this can help, as the article said, with motivation and hope. It's hard not to get discouraged sometimes when searching for a job, let alone when the economy is the way it is.

One of the best networking opportunities in the Carolinas is the North Carolina Job Seekers Group on LinkedIn, hosted by EmploymentGuide.com. If you are a member of LinkedIn, check out the group and network with others looking for a new career. If you are not a member of LinkedIn, you might consider joining this networking site.

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Good News For A Change

2009-02-05T12:29:00.002-05:00

We have what we think is good news in the Charlotte area and want to share it with everyone......More Recruiters Are Attending Our Upcoming Job Fair Than We Anticipated!

That's right, we initially expected 15 to 20 recruiters would participate in our February 17th Job Fair at the Hyatt Place Hotel on Arrowood Rd, but we have sold out the venue and have ADDED ANOTHER JOB FAIR on Thursday, February 19th at the Hilton Garden Inn at the intersection of Statesville Rd and Harris Blvd, Just off of I-77 exit 18.

Job Seekers in both South and North Charlotte now have the opportunity to meet with companies that are actually recruiting. These events are part of the National "Putting Americans Back To Work" Job Fair series. The Employment Guide and employmentguide.com are hosting over 200 General and Healthcare Job Fairs in 2009 in the effort to put Americans back to work.

For more information on the upcoming job fairs in Charlotte click here.

Sell Yourself -- The Job Pitch at Fox Charlotte

2009-02-02T11:42:00.003-05:00

Fox Charlotte is doing a unique contest called the 30-second job pitch. For those of you who have had a hard time landing a job, this might be a great opportunity for you. Fox is taking contact information and will bring in selected people to give a 30-second pitch to employers in the viewing audience.

Read more details on the Fox Charlotte 30-Second Job Pitch

Even if you decide not to enter the contest or don't make the cut, knowing how to describe who you are and what you are looking for is still a good skill to learn.

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Guest Post: Communicate Your Value to Potential Employers Through Career Success Stories

2009-01-22T08:48:00.003-05:00

Photo by altemark

What is the best way to communicate your value to a potential employer? Through the use of career success stories. A career success story simply recounts a specific example of how you solved a problem for or added value to a past employer. The career success story has three basic parts:

Challenge – Describe the situation you faced.
Action – What steps did you take to solve the problem or get results?
Result – What was the end situation? (Use quantifiable figures when appropriate)

Career success stories are particularly useful during an interview because many employers rely on the use of behavioral interview questions. Behavioral interviewing is based on the premise that your past performance and behavior is a good indication of how you will perform and behave in the future. It offers a glimpse of how you've added value to past employers and makes it easier for hiring managers to envision how you can benefit their organization.

Employers don't want to hear about what a professional, customer service-oriented team player you are. They want you to prove that you were a valuable asset to your last employer. Relating a compelling career success story is an effective way to do this.

Think back to past situations in which you've demonstrated the qualities or skills that a potential employer is seeking. Prepare five to seven career success stories and practice relating them to a friend or family member. You'll be better prepared to communicate your value to a potential employer during your next interview.

Roxanne Ravenel is a Job Search Coach & Consultant; author of The Savvy Jobseeker's Guide & Workbook; and host of The Savvy Jobseeker Podcast. Visit SavvyJobseeker.com to learn more.

Snow on it's way?

2009-01-19T16:44:00.003-05:00

Maybe we'll all get snowed in and you'll get some extra time to make some phone calls and fine tune your resume. Or maybe just some time to telecommute and watch the Inaugurational ceremony tomorrow morning.

Raleigh, NC -- Snow began falling Monday across the Great Smoky Mountains as a frosty system swung toward the Carolinas, threatening the region with several inches of snow that are sure to stick as temperatures linger below freezing.

The fast-moving and intensifying disturbance was diving from Canada to the Carolinas, moving so fast forecasters were having trouble predicting which areas would face the most intense snowfall. It was moving over Minnesota by midday Monday but expected to hit the Carolinas at night.

Read full article on DigTriad.com

Be careful on the roads, everyone, if we do end up getting some snow.

Part Time Work is Tougher to Find

2009-01-15T07:44:00.000-05:00

The job market is changing. Well, we didn't have to tell you that. But recently the Fort Mill Times reported just how things are changing, particularly restaurants. They asked local restaurant managers about the situation in Fort Mill:

The food industry, typically an area where part-time work is available, has been closing its doors to new workers in recent months.
... Although many food service workers are high school or college age, there has been a recent shift in the types of people applying for part-time work, according to Patel. Many of the applications Subway has received come from people with full-time jobs looking for extra work on the side. Some come from people who have been laid off from corporate offices, Patel said.

This just means that those of you seeking out hourly jobs need to be on your game too.

"What the employers are looking for is the right attitude," Stone said. "Is this person going to be a good fit, or an irritant? If the people at the counter don't care if you're there, they're not going to keep their jobs."

This news isn't so that you will panic but realize that there is some competition out there, even for part-time employment. The story even tells accounts of some places getting up to 4,000 resumes from walk-ins in one day. It just requires a little more effort on the job seeker's part and fine-tuning of your job search strategies.

Read the full article from Fort Mills Times.