Career conference workshop videos posted

If you attended the Greater Rochester Career Conference and Job Fair on January 5 but weren’t able to attend all the workshop sessions you wanted, it’s your lucky day! Our team has posted video of all 8 workshops at the RochesterWorks Virtual Career Center .

There was a great lineup of presenters and workshop offerings presented during the conference, and the list of topics is below. Visit the Video Library to view your workshop of choice and learn more from our knowledgeable presenters.

40+ and New Again! You’ve Got 90 Days to Shine! Presented by Rita Carey: You have only one chance to make a good first impression – and here’s how: • Leverage your experience without alienating your coworkers • Create your 90 day plan for success • Keep your parachute packed

Business Panel:  Top Things Employers Look For Sponsored by RochesterWorks: An interactive discussion among business leaders about what they look for in employees, including trends within their industries and how the intergenerational workforce is changing the culture of companies.

Confidence: Getting Your Head in the Game Presented by Beth Sears: Getting the position which best suits your needs takes talent and experience, but the most talented and experienced people often do not get the job. The reason why is they do not have the confidence in themselves or they are beaten up by experience of downsizing. This seminar will identify 3 areas which influence the perception we paint for prospective employers and teach skills to help dramatically improve the image you present.

Key Strategies and Tactics for the Job Seeker Presented by Mike Chabalik: Attend this workshop and learn to enhance your people skills to interview more effectively and gather referrals.

LinkedIn: The Hiring Manager’s Favorite Place to Find Employees Presented by Greg Taylor: LinkedIn is the the hiring manager’s favorite place to find new employees.  Learn the following. 1. Create your profile so that you get found. 2. Find contacts at your target companies. 3. Research jobs, industries and companies. 4. Use LinkedIn extended features to distinguish yourself.

Top Tips for Job Seekers Presented by Karyn Haskel: Learn the rules of the job search game! This workshop will give you the inside scoop on recruitment and hiring from the business perspective. Discover tips on conducting the most effective online job search, getting your resume noticed and the best ways to follow-up.

Training Resources at Monroe Community College Sponsored by Monroe Community College: Interested in going back to college?  Changing Careers?  Refreshing your skills?  This workshop is an opportunity to learn more about the resources at MCC available for adults returning to college.  Additionally, we will highlight technology related programs offered at MCC.  Learn more about the practical hands on training that can lead to a certificate or degree in fast growing fields where jobs are in demand.

Spotlight on the January 2012 Employer of the Month

Congratulations to Iberdrola USA, selected as the RochesterWorks! January 2012 Employer of the Month. To be named an Employer of the Month a company must have new employment needs, be increasing the skills of the local workforce, and be offering opportunities to job seekers in our region.

RG&E, a subsidiary of Iberdrola USA, serves 367,000 electricity customers and 303,000 natural gas customers in a nine-county region centered on the City of Rochester. Iberdrola USA, a subsidiary of global energy leader Iberdrola, S.A., is an energy services and delivery company with more than 2.4 million customers in upstate New York and New England.

Current Job Openings

• Analyst – Gas Engineering
• Civil Works Engineer
• Construction Manager
• Construction Supervisor
• Director – Gas Operations
• Electrical Engineer
• Lead Engineer – Asset Management
• Manager – Vegetation Management
• Project Manager
• Protection and Control Engineer
• Site Manager
• Supervisor – Gas Engineering

For more information, visit www.rge.com or www.iberdrolausa.com.

Representatives from Iberdrola USA will be presenting to job seekers at the Job Network presentation on January 18, 2012 at 2:00 PM at the RochesterWorks! Goodman Street Career Center.  To register for the presentation please register online or call (585)258-3500. You must be a registered member of RochesterWorks! to attend.

The RochesterWorks! Career Conference and Job Fair is coming up. Are you prepared?

Registration is now open for the 4th Annual Greater Rochester Career Conference and Job Fair on January 5, 2012 at Monroe Community College. We’ll be hosting businesses with job openings, training providers with educational programs, and a great workshop series including business panels, LinkedIn sessions and much more.

So you’re registered, now what? Time to kick back and enjoy the holiday season? No way! Now is the best time to start researching and preparing for success. Follow these tips to ensure your success at this event or any job fair you attend:

• Review and research the list of employers that will be attending. Use LinkedIn or check out their company website, and network with your contacts for additional information.
• Remember to consider businesses outside of your target industry, because you never know what positions they may be hiring for. Also consider staffing agencies because you never know what companies they are working with. 
• If you see any positions you’re interested in, apply online then make a note to follow-up at the job fair.
• Bring multiple copies of your resume, along with a pen and paper to record any notes or names of new contacts.
• Always remember to dress for success!
• Introduce yourself with a short introduction and a smile. Use your research to ask targeted questions about the company and the open positions.
• Offer to follow-up after the fair and ask for their business card, then follow-up with the information you promised.

RochesterWorks! December 2011 Employer of the Month

RochesterWorks! recognizes Generations Child and Elder Care as the December 2011 Employer of the Month.

Generations Child and Elder Care is a nationally accredited, locally owned child care provider.  With over 19 years of experience, we offer quality programming for children 6 weeks to 12 years of age.  Our curriculum is planned by Early Childhood Specialists, designed to develop the physical, intellectual, emotional, and social skills of each child, while preparing them for their school-age years.  Along with daily care we offer a before and after school program, full-day pre-kindergarten, vacation club, and summer camp.
Generations incorporates a unique intergenerational program with our partnering senior care facilities as well as our own Elder Care services at the Gates location.

There are seven locations:  Fairport, Gates, Irondequoit, Webster, and three locations in the City of Rochester.

Current Job Openings

Assistant Teacher
Bus Driver
Cook/Cleaner
Lead Teacher
Site Director
Visit http://generations-care.com/ to complete an application!

Overcoming the Unemployed Stigma

Special thanks to our partners at the Monroe County Department of Human Services for this great article from their Weekly Employment Bulletin!

In the movie “The Company Men,” several managers get laid off. One of them is afraid that the neighbors will find out. He dresses up in the morning, and then leaves home in a suit, only to return for dinner as if coming back from work. Apparently, he perceives the social stigma of unemployment to be higher than the many negative consequences of his behavior – living a double life, missing opportunities within his network, and the inconvenience and inefficiency of scheduling an unproductive day. In short, a behavior that is emotionally destructive, wastes time and does not achieve positive results.

Let’s take a closer look at the issue of social stigma. It comes in two parts and either one or both might apply to you:

1. Your own perception: You blame yourself for job loss. Or you feel like a victim. Either way, you are in shock. You might even think that your worth as a human being has declined. You believe there is a social stigma attached to your situation without even knowing whether this is the case or not.
2. The perception of others: People might look down on you. Yes, for someone who has never experienced job loss and doesn’t understand today’s job market, unemployment is your fault.

The good news is that you can largely overcome both issues. Once you conquer your own fear and act accordingly, you will also raise the probabilities of overcoming any negative perception of others. How to overcome your negative perception:

1. Understand the facts: Losing a job is nothing unusual during your 30-40 years of work until retirement. You have to expect it. Your risk of being dismissed is independent of your level of hierarchy, education or your unit, your job is history. Bad luck. Don’t blame yourself. Move on.
2. Don’t view yourself as unemployed: Don’t call yourself “unemployed.” View yourself as somebody “between jobs,” somebody who is given time in exchange for losing a job. You might not even know at the time of lay-off whether employment, self-employment or something else is in your future.
3. Use your time strategically: Don’t just apply for jobs and watch the TV the rest of the day. Use your time wisely. Perhaps you would have better job prospects if you were certified in your field? Go for it. Want to check out a difference city with better opportunities in your area of expertise? Your time has come. The options to use your time to lay the groundwork for your personal and professional future are countless. The benefits could be amazing. By staying active, you are less likely to feel sorry for yourself. You acquire new skills and become a better job candidate. Your energy and emotional well-being will show in the confident way you act in front of others, including the HR managers who will be impressed by you.

How to overcome the negative perception of others?

1. It does not matter – disregard the noise around you: Who cares what others think? Whether you are unemployed, belong to an ethnic, religious or political minority, or whatever perceived shortcomings you have, there are always people who look down on you. Disregard them. You can’t please everybody. And should you come across companies that do not like to hire unemployed applicants, view it as their loss.
2. Change the perception of others through your actions: Notwithstanding the above, you will be surprised by how you can turn social stigma into admiration, even inspiration. If you use, let’s say, a few months of your time between jobs to invest in your job skills, get healthy, help a charity, and enjoy a long-postponed dream vacation with your spouse, you will be surprised at how others might now perceive you as smart and driven. Why? You were strategic and used your time wisely, while others just waited for better things to come. Your positive attitude plus the results achieve will make you a stand-out job candidate.

In sum, don’t let perceived or real social stigma of unemployment weigh you down. Your attitude and actions can help you overcome your own negativity and the views of others. Your odds of landing your desired job have just gone up!

Social Networking More Important Than Ever in Job Search

The results of a recent JobVite survey confirm that job seekers who use social networking sites are having increasing success finding employment. According to the survey, over 22 million job seekers found their last position through some form of social networking site like LinkedIn or Facebook.  The survey also found that job seekers with the highest number of contacts on those sites, aka “super social” job seekers, had better results finding work than those with fewer connections.

This confirms reports from a recent Wall Street Journal article which indicates some companies are moving away from using recruiters and using more “high tech” recruiting options, including upgrading to use the LinkedIn Recruiter tool.

While traditional referrals are still the number one way most individuals land jobs, social media continues to play an increasingly important role. The chart below shows an increase in the number of job seekers landing positions through social media sites, up from 11% last year to 16% this year.

Bottom line: continue to network both in-person and online to give yourself the best advantage in your work search. Visit one of our Career Centers and talk to a counselor about getting started!

Looking for tips on working with recruiters?

Representatives from ER Associates attended yesterday’s Job Network presentation and provided some great tips and strategies on how to work with recruiters to increase your chances of landing a job. 

Recruiters can work directly with companies or can be hired/outsourced to help companies with the candidate recruiting and screening process. In today’s saturated job market more and more companies are hiring outside agencies to help save them time and money, so making connections and building relationships with recruiters can really help speed up your search.

Here are some key do’s and don’ts their team recommended to maximize your success working with a recruiter:

• DO be honest. Be upfront with the recruiter about your background, employment history, and salary expectations.
• DO follow-up with a recruiter throughout the process. If you interview with a company and are truly interested in working with them, tell the recruiter first thing! If the company might not be the best fit, share that information as well.
• DON’T be a pest. Limit your follow-up to an appropriate number of calls or emails to your recruiter. A good rule of thumb is to check-in about once per month.
• DO be professional and personable. Recruiters are your “in” with a company, so always put your best job search face forward. Be friendly and courteous. 
• DON’T go around the recruiter and try to contact the company yourself. This will taint the relationship you’ve built with the recruiter and ensure you won’t be considered for other positions.

Want more tips on recuriters and companies that are hiring? Register for our weekly Job Network meetings.