The web surpasses traditional hiring sources such as classified ads and career fairs!

Booz Allen Hamilton completed a hiring survey early this year for Direct Employers (a non-profit association of employers). The survey included 73 leading employers across the nation and the results show that more than 50% of new hires were sourced from the Internet in 2005.

Sources of hires:

 

1. Employment Web Site - 21%
2. Referrals - 19%
3. General Job Boards - 15%
4. Search Firms - 10%
5. Campus Recruiting - 8%
6. Other - 6%
7. Niche Job Boards - 6%
8. Social Network Web Sites - 5%

If you're a recent grad (or know one), take note and get real: there are jobs out there - - you just need to take the most effective approach to finding them!
Career fairs and pouring through job listings in newspapers is not where most people are finding today's jobs. Students need to be more aggressive and creative in their job search; and that begins with expanding their contact networks.

Sure. . . according to Booz Allen Hamilton most new hires occurred through company web sites (see BBP Recruiting Trends section). But how do you know which companies you want to apply to unless you do your research up front and seek out information from "people in the know"?

Here's what you do first - - talk to friends, parents, parents' friends, and college alumni (including sororities, fraternities, or sports teams). Keep your attention on being specific so that people know exactly what you want; what type of company, what region, what industry, and what type of position.

Make a list of the top 10 opportunities and go ahead and apply on-line through the company web sites. But, you're not done yet! Follow up with your personal contact and let them know you're "in the system" and would appreciate any additional leads they may come across. In the meantime, be realistic about your intentions; don't obsess about finding the "perfect job". Focus on the fact that your first job is just that; your first job.

What determines one's success? I had someone ask, "How did you get to be successful?" and I had to ponder that question for a while.

When I was a child, being successful meant getting good grades and winning blue ribbons in a few local competitions. These could have been sporting events, Scouting events or a contest at the County Fair. When I was in high school, it was being "popular" (at least in some circle of friends), being a good athlete, maintaining good grades and of course having your own car. After college it meant owning your own home and being in a committed relationship with another person who was also committed. Later on it also included owning and operating a profitable business and maybe some other real estate investments. So, I guess being successful (or being viewed as successful) is relative based on where you are in life.

I'm not sure that someone would continue to be viewed as successful if they still owned a business when they were 70 years old and had to spend most of their time running that business. My ultimate goal and what I truly consider "being successful", is to be where my parents are in their lives right now. That is; still enjoying each other's company and being financially independent so that they have the time and resources to do the things they like to do; be it traveling or just "working" on projects of their own choosing without any set deadlines.

I think everyone has it in them to be successful if they remember to measure success on their own scale of relativity, both as to where they are in their lives, where they have come from and where they are going. Go out and be successful!!

Gordon Helm is President of G.R.Helm, Inc.

In a recent survey of 168 executives with an average age of 50 (reported by ExecuNet) more than half believe their age has disqualified them as a candidate for opportunities. Although it is illegal for interviewers to ask age-related questions, they still do it.

So, you can graciously refuse to answer or you can address the question behind the question; for instance "I am incredibly energetic and expect to be working for a long time." If you're asked "Aren't you overqualified for the position?", respond by emphasizing your strengths and accomplishments (which is the real value you bring to the table) not the length of your experience.

Radical Career Idea: If your intentions are to remain within the Corporate arena; consider shifting your focus towards the world of small business. For example, there are bio-technology firms founded by scientists with little business or management expertise that could really use the help of a seasoned business savvy person.

At Rinker and Associates, we help people master the art of interviewing. Contact us to schedule your practice interview and advance your interviewing finesse today!

Baby boomers, generally defined as those born between 1946 and 1964, now dominate the halls of power. As of last year, they controlled 41 of the nation's 50 governorships, exactly half of the 100 Senate seats and 275 of the 435 House seats. With the ascension of John G. Roberts Jr. and Samuel A. Alito Jr., they have even begun to crack that last bastion of the Silent Generation, the Supreme Court, where with Clarence Thomas they now have three of nine seats.

I recently watched a film called "The World's Fastest Indian", a semi-bio-pic covering the amazing land- speed record set by New Zealander Burt Munro in 1967 at the Bonneville Salt Flats. Munro managed to ride his customized 1920 Indian Scout motorcycle at record breaking speeds of more than 180 mph. And to me, that's not even the most amazing part of the story. The most amazing part of this story is that Munro was 67 years old when he set those land speed records.

Munro's primary objective in life was to be the fastest man on earth. Here was a man with a single focus wrapped around a passion for "going fast". Sheer determination (most people thought he was "crazy"), overcoming multiple failed attempts (offerings to "The God of Speed" included blown pistons), and a creative mind that never stopped thinking of ways to reach his goal (he smelted many of his own parts). His particular class record still holds today. Imagine that! :) LLR