1. Keep Your Resume Updated

If you want employers to notice your resume, you have to keep it updated. If you developed any new skills that look good to employers, put them on your resume. Also, make sure to customize your resume for each job you apply for. For example, if you are applying for an engineering position, you don’t have to list your position as a retail clerk while you were in college.

2. Use an Employment Agency

Employment agencies help qualified individuals find work in their fields. If you are having trouble finding work in your field, you might want to consider using an employment agency. A recruiter from one of the agencies will interview you and recommend you for positions that you are qualified for.

3. Don’t Be Afraid to Network

These days, many people find jobs through people they know. That is why you should network and take advantage of your connections. For example, you can ask one of your friends or old coworkers if they know which companies are hiring. If they do, they can put in a good word for you.

4. Always Send a Cover Letter

Always send a cover letter, even if the employer doesn’t require one. Employers get hundreds of resumes sent to them every day, so you have to do something to make yourself stand out. In your cover letter, don’t just restate the things in your resume. Make the cover letter more personal by stating why you want to work for a particular company.

5. Follow Up

Do not hesitate to follow up with a phone call if an employer hasn’t contacted you within a sensible amount of time. When the right person answers the phone, just tell him that you are checking the status of your application. Also, don’t be afraid to tell him that you are very interested in the position. Following up will show your interest and possibly land you an interview.

Searching for a job is not always easy, but following these tips can help you land that job much faster.

Written by Guest Author: Madyson Grant

Various studies have identified these decisive employability skills, sometimes referred to as “soft skills”. For employees who want to build a robust company, basic competency won’t be sufficient. In this article we’ve outlined the skill set from many studies and compiled them into a list of skills most frequently mentioned. According to experts to win a promotion or a job there are some very essential job skills. Here are these skills that are on employers’ wish lists.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills

By far, the most significant skill mentioned most often by employers is the ability to write, listen, and speak effectively. Successful communication is critical in business. The most requested skill employers look for is the ability to communicate strongly in both written and verbal forms, and whether you have the ability to organize thoughts and ideas effectively. Communication in the workplace is the backbone of any business.

When trouble arises, it’s often due to poor communication in the workplace. Particularly in this digital age when we rely so heavily on phone calls and emails to get things done, vital information can become misplaced or misinterpreted if not communicated clearly. For job seekers in particular, clear communication can provide a snapshot of their work style to employers.

Flexibility to manage multiple tasks

A prospective employee who can effectively cope with more than one task at a time is attractive to organizations. Employees may need to be able to manage several tasks at the same time. For employees who want to get ahead in the workplace, multitasking skills are desirable. Employers seek workers who can handle the workload without needing too much supervision or hand-holding during the workday proving a job well done.

Creativity and Leadership Skills

In companies where employees often work together on project. some employees must take on the leadership role to ensure deadlines are met, problems are addressed and all ideas are being considered. Employers often seek employees who have natural leadership skills. In addition, these employees must also have creativity skills so they can find and use solutions for potential problems on tasks, projects or assignments. They seek from employees the ability to relate to their co-workers, inspire others to participate, and mitigate conflict with co-workers. These are valuable characteristics to possess.

Reliability/ Dependability/ Responsibility/Loyalty

Undoubtedly, all employers wish for employees who will arrive to work every day on time, and ready to work, and who will take liability for their actions. Organizations desire employees who will have a strong devotion to the company. They want trustworthy employees who will act responsibly and with sincerity, both individually and as part of a team.

Analytical Ability

Employers seek employees who have the ability to assess circumstances or issues and identify key elements that need to be addressed to move on. They seek the employees who have the ability to find solutions to problems using creativity, reasoning, and past experiences. Having an analytical mind can guide an employee from a confusing situation at work by making educated assumptions and basing results off of past experiences.

Computer Literacy

It is very apparent that practically all employers will anticipate a basic level of expertise with a range of computer packages for spreadsheets and word-processing, and of course electronic mail and web use.

References:

http://www.conferenceboard.ca/topics/education/learning-tools/employability-skills.aspx

Learn Something New- Whether it be a new language or how to fix a laptop, learning something new keeps your mind working and bringing you new creativity to build on and stay motivated.

Get Organized- If you have that closet that you never want to open, or that drawer full of papers and folders, it’s time to get organized. Take a day and sift through the items that you absolutely do not need and donate clothing and shoes you haven’t worn this year. You will be doing a world of good for yourself, and maybe even for someone else!

Break Bad Habits- Generally it takes two weeks for your mind to get use to a certain routine, if you have anything in that routine that needs changing, now is the time to do it. Don’t leave anything for tomorrow that can be changed today.

Financial Stability- Pay off your bills before making any new purchases. Everyone has their own problems, relieve your stress and do not make your finances one of them.

Hopefully this short list will provide you with the inspiration to start something new, two months is plenty of time to change bad habits, get organized, and fix your finances!

St. Croix Recycles is a project of St. Croix Environmental Association, a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization. Consisting of a diverse group of residents, visitors, business owners and community leaders, St. Croix Recycles efforts are geared to establish and promote recycling and environmental initiatives in the Virgin Islands. The organization began in 2007 as a project under the Virgin Islands Resource Conservation and Development Council (V.I.RC&D).

Krewe de Croix organizes community events throughout the year including Mardi Gras celebrations and the Krewe de Barkus parade.

This article is brought to you by VolunteerVI, an extension of CareerVI.

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When planning your job search you have to consider different things, first you have to ask yourself the right questions such as: where do I begin? what skills do I have? How do I compete with others? Is it too much work to change careers? Am I too old to change careers? These questions will depend on where you are standing today.

Here are some tips you should consider when starting to look for the right job:

1. Plan your job search according to the time you have: sometimes you just don’t have enough time to search for jobs either because you don’t have any income to maintain yourself for too long or just because you are doing other activities that take away your free time. Planning your job search according the time that you have available is very important. It is always a good idea to get involved in different programs in your community or take an internship or volunteer job to start connecting with other people which might help you find the right job in less time while developing your skills.

2. Understand what you are good at and take advantage of it: knowing exactly what your strengths are and what set of skills differentiate you from others is a great opportunity to find the job that fits with all that and of course an excellent tool when interviewing for jobs. Employers are always going to look at your skills and how they fit into the position you are applying for but most importantly, they will want to make sure that you are absolutely convinced of what you are good at and capable of.

3. Try to always find occupations that fits your personality: there is nothing better than working on something you really like so if you are the kind of person who enjoys interacting with others, maybe an IT job where you interact only with a computer is not the right one for you.

4. Pick and choose your targets: because you already know what you are good at and what kind of jobs fits your personality better, also you already understand how much time you have for your job search, all you need to do is to pick your target companies and start applying. Prepare a list of those companies that you find most interesting and in which you can fit your experience, personality and education, then start sending your resume and cover letter across. Make sure you have different templates for this and you are contacting the right person to look at your application.

5. Stay positive: your positive attitude will help you focus in what you want and will also be reflected in any interview you might get. Undertaking some of these tips will sure improve your chances of getting the right job because even though there are tons of jobs out there, you are just looking for one, the right one for you!

CareerVI has recently done a survey to a great number of employees asking them on their opinion about the biggest issues they see in today’s workforce. Some of the answers received are things that could be easily improved with a little effort from the employees.
When you start a new job, you are excited and happy to finally enter the workforce; you are pleased to know that out of all the people interviewed you have been chosen to do the job. This shows you are capable and that you have a set of skills that are being considered as a good match for that particular job, however having the job is nothing if you don’t know how to be professional in what you do. Precisely, that is one of the biggest concerns employers have, lack of entry level professionalism. In the same line, another big distress for employers is the fact that employees don’t have the ability to comply with the company’s policies and procedures such as attendance, work ethics and again, professionalism.

There is a general worry about the employee being lazy, unmotivated or just wanting to make a dollar for the minimum possible. For all employers that were surveyed, the results and concerns were very similar. Lack of training and professionalism in customer service was another important issue. So, is there space for you to take action and become a better employee?
The first thing you need to do is to find the job that really fits your personality. There is nothing worse than a person who works in customer service but is not willing to deal with difficult customers or even smile. So, if you know what you like and you have the job, consider what the employers think and start making the difference.
Professionalism is an attitude; it is about believing in what you do and doing your best. When you act as a true professional and you believe in the quality of your own work and always aiming for excellence, the money will follow.

Stop worrying about the money, about the working hours and about your colleagues. Think towards what is best for you and consider that the best you do in your job, the better your employer will value you and they will recognize you. Success doesn’t come out of nowhere, it comes from hard work and professionalism, it comes from the actions you take and as Abraham Lincoln said once “Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other.”
Special thanks to All Saint Cathedral School, WTJX, R&J Islands Latte and all of the other companies who contributed responding to the survey and helping us understand what they think. Now you are ready to impress them.

If you are planning to get into customer service, the right personality is key to obtaining the job. A positive attitude is a crucial trait in the potential employee to perform their tasks correctly. Companies who have a customer friendly staff generally make a better impression on potential clients than those who do not. A good attitude at work increases the overall mood of the working atmosphere and therefore increases productivity. Good customer service is the art of bringing customers back for future business. Having knowledge of the inventory, experience using the product and helping clients make the best choices are examples of good customer service. Integrity and dependability are also key traits that one company signified would help a job seeker get noticed for a potential position. Having integrity leads to sincerity as employees tend to make the right choices when faced with a difficult task. Dependability is also a prominent factor as no employer constantly wants to look after any employee in making sure tasks are being completed.

Employers keep an eye out for interviewees who have the ability to perform given tasks, have a good knowledge of the job and who can follow policies and procedures. A prospective employee who is incapable of these three qualities will most likely not get the valued position. Showing that you are willing to go through great lengths to get the job done is a good way to prove you are worth the position. Additionally, explaining to employers your desire and passion for learning and adhering to the regulations necessary. Experience in the field you are interviewing for is also a prominent factor that will help in your goal to attain the position. Previous experience shows that you have a knowledgeable background and that you can adapt to their environment in a flexible way.

A confident interviewee is a person that can market and sell themselves to the employer. Your personal appearance matters greatly at the interview to determine whether you can get the job done well. Being confident and assertive are top qualities certain companies look for.The ability to grow in an organization depends on a variety of skills that the job seeker should possess. A diverse background represents that you are a quick learner and flexible to understanding new things. It also shows that you are capable of being cross trained for a variety of tasks. Communication is also a key factor; it will make you an asset to the organization, as many businesses like to base their employees on a clear cut communication pathway.

The right personality for a job varies per position, but one thing many employers identify as a plus is a friendly and outgoing character. This shows that you provide a positive insight and are open to handling difficult situations, whether it is an unsatisfied client or an unfavorable task. Employers note outgoingness in potential employees which also adds to their willingness to accept constructive criticism. There is no such thing as a perfect employee, but those who are close become adept to learning and eager to hearing feedback, picking up on their strengths and noting their areas for improvement. Lastly, a clean proper appearance shows neatness. Appearances can lead to a yay or nay on the job position, as a proper look demonstrates a welcoming representation of the company.

In collaboration with Budget St. Croix, WTJX, Innovative VI, and Divi Carina Bay.

It is perfectly acceptable to hold on to familiar ways of advertising but why not expand your possibilities? Online marketing seems to be the popular direction most businesses use these days. Below is a list of some smart ways to market online.

Create a Website: Having a website for your company is only half of the work. This is when reverting to familiar methods come in handy. Send a general notice to your local radio station encouraging the viewers to log on to your site. Tip: Make the website user-friendly and free. Have a link specifically for customers to give feedback about your business.

Connect on Social Media Sites: Whether you choose to tweet on Twitter or post with Facebook, the company’s name is sure to get around to friends of friends. Tip: On Twitter, create a Hashtag representing your business to create a common circle of fans. Connect your Facebook account to that of Twitter. This way, whatever you post on FB, it shows up on your tweet of the day.
Publish an E-Newsletter: Establishing a consistent time line update allows you to keep in touch with your customers (i.e., bi-monthly newsletter). It keeps the viewers abreast with the latest news with the company’s sales and services. This is a win-win method. Not to mention it is inexpensive. Tip: Include free samples and quotes to get the ball rolling on feedback from your new and familiar customers and supporters.

In closing, the advantages of marketing online are endless. Connect with the world!

Online Marketing works