June 2009
67 posts
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WHAT DO RECRUITERS WANT FROM A RESUME? →
Amit Puri is the Managing Consultant at Sandbox Advisors. He has over 10 years of business and HR related experience, with companies such as Bain & Co, Morgan Stanley and Citigroup. Sandbox Advisors is based in Singapore and provides career management and HR consulting services in Asia. Read below his findings upon confroting recruiters with the question, “what do you want from a...
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THE GREAT ONE-PAGE RESUME DEBATE.
With global unemployment rates at their highest levels in decades, I thought this might be an appropriate time to revisit the topic of resumes. I am frequently asked for advice on how to improve a resume. Without a doubt, the most common question I receive is: Should I limit my resume to one page?
I understand why job seekers eagerly pose this question. Ask any recruiter, human resources...
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FUN WITH FINANCE.
Freelance gigs go by in a flash. So do paychecks. This is something I must always keep in mind to avoid reverting back to the daily $18 lunch habit I had back in the ”401k + benefits” days.
My daily dose of inspiration to keep my finances in check comes from Little Miss Fortune, a blogger climbing out of debt who’s posts I’ve been reading for a few months. They deal...
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ROCK UNEMPLOYMENT!
“You gotta fight… For your right… To party!” Or, you can simply enter our “ROCK UNEMPLOYMENT” contest sponsored by the new Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Annex [link] at 76 Mercer Street in New York City. The Rock Annex is New York’s newest home full of rock’s most electrifying performances.
Before we get into the rules of the contest, let’s...
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I AUDITIONED FOR DEAL OR NO DEAL.
Ed. note: Welcome to the latest installment of “Janet Raiffa’s Recessionals,” a column by a laid-off recruiting manager in New York. Prior columns are collected [here]. You can reach Janet Raiffa via LinkedIn, leaving a comment here, or emailing 405club@gmail.com.
During my tenure in unemployment I’ve developed a number of bad habits and tics. Not sending out more resumes...
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GET FIRED UP.
You’ve heard of LinkedIn and most likely you love it like we do here at The 405 Club. Just like everything online that turns out to be a good idea, there will always be a new site or service that comes along to top it.
At a recent Brooklyn Pink Slip Party I ran into the founder of a brand new professional network and online resource center called FiredNetwork.com. At first I thought...
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TIME TO COLLECT YOUR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.
A new week means new opportunities, new connections, more resumes to send out, more cover letters to customize, etc and for doing such a great job last week… reward yourself by claiming your $405/week + $25 stimulus from the NY Department of Labor site [link]. For more information on unemployment benefits and eligibility check out our 405er Tips on our FAQ Wiki [here].
On another note,...
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UNEMPLOYMENT STILL BAD.
-By Guest Blogger crazynutjob. Read all of crazynutjob’s unemployment report recaps [here].
The Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report surprised some people this week with more jobless than expected. The major headlines did a decent job of backpedaling after last week’s unwarranted celebration. Bloomberg reports U.S. Jobless Claims Rise, Total Benefit Rolls Climb:
The number of Americans...
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PLAN YOUR JOB SEARCH LIKE A WEDDING.
Having just returned from the marriage of my younger brother to his new bride, all the lovely details of planning and executing a wedding are fresh in my mind. And since we’ve all heard the comparison of job hunting to dating, why not take it to the next level and plan your job search like a wedding! Here are several common wedding planning activities that may be applied to the modern job hunt:
...
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INDEBTED.
I’ve landed my longest gig since being laid off. Getting here wasn’t easy though. Along the way I faced post interview flubs which needed quick fixing and suddenly had to pick between two potential offers after months of getting zero.
For the next two months, I’ll be casting a show about women who are in debt. I can send more information about it to anyone who wants it (just e-mail me at...
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THE JOB SEEKER'S TOP 10 LIST.
It goes without saying that today’s job market is more challenging than it has been for many years. That means you have to work even harder to uncover opportunities and distinguish yourself among a crowded field of applicants. Here are 10 strategies to help you gain an edge in a tough employment market: #1: Leave your comfort zone. Don’t limit your search to your current industry or...
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MY NEW JOB AS A STREETWALKER.
-By Janet Raiffa, Contributing Writer, Member & Recruiting Manager. Read all of “Janet Raiffa’s Recessionals” here.
If I lured you in with the title I am pleased to report that I am not walking the street for any illegal erotic purpose. I may very well consider it further along in my tenure as an unemployed person, but for now I am just soliciting for signatures. I recently began a...
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Notes from the Breadline: Our Endless Numbered...
Welcome to the latest installment of “Notes from the Breadline,” a column by a laid-off lawyer in New York. Prior columns are collected here. You can reach Roxana St. Thomas by email (at roxanastthomas@gmail.com), follow her on Twitter, or find her on Facebook.
We’ve all heard the statistics about attorney layoffs, unemployment, and the sad state of the economy. But do the...
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FREE PINKBERRY THIS FRIDAY.
Free Pinkberry this Friday 6-9pm in a promotion to introduce their new summer fresh flavors. Enjoy your refreshing treat/obsession!
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CAREER COACH QUESTION.
I’ve noticed a lot of career advisors lurking around the site, which is a smart move considering most of us in the club are appreciative of any help we can get. So - life coaches, career counselors and HR experts, this post is for you…
After months of sending out resumes with no response, I got professional advice and a ‘resumakover’ (from contributors of the 405 such as...
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NYC GOLF ON THE CHEAP: PART 2.
Even though I’m still not the best golfer on the course or even somewhere in the middle just yet, I still love to take in the golf culture. My buddies and I trade “old man golf banter” back and forth as much as possible through the 18 holes, swapping great old lines our father’s used to say, and still say.
“Does your husband play golf” when you’re a bit...
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EXTREME CAREER MAKEOVER.
CNN has chosen three out-of-work professionals to get full career makeovers from a team of four top career experts. Result: One master plan for each, full of smart strategies to find a job in a tough market. The 405 Club will be monitoring this project, hoping to pick up some advice such as how to organize the job hunt, broaden your network, dress for interviews (hint: don’t wear black),...
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$1.00 Macaroni & Cheese On Wednesday, June 24th@...
-By Janet Raiffa, Contributing Writer, Member & Recruiting Manager
“Newsweek” published research earlier this month showing that obesity rates have soared in the past year as Americans have reacted to the recession. There are several possible causes for the 1.7% growth, which translates to about 5.5 million more people being considered obese than in the previous year. While belt...
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I LIKE BIKES.
Take a FREE bicycle ride of the South Street Seaport area and environs, thanks to the Downtown Alliance. According to their website http://www.downtownny.com/bikearound/, there are bicycles available at the Bike and Roll kiosk at South Street and Fulton Street, so you can enjoy exploring the neighborhood for 2.5 hours. You can even visit nearby Wall Street, and see if the smell of money still...
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WEEKLY UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIM REMINDER.
It’s time alright… to claim your unemployment benefits [click here for the NY Department of Labor site]. For more information on unemployment benefits and eligibility check out our 405er Tips on our FAQ Wiki [here].
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COMPANIES HIRING NOW.
It appears at times that job postings continue to increase as the economy improves ever so slightly. Listed below are a few of the top companies with job positions available NOW compiled by Resume Bear.
Fox Broadcasting Company has over 100 positions currently available at various locations nationwide. Fox offers a comprehensive benefits package ranging from health benefits to free movie...
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BUBBLE GIRL.
-By Cara Weissman, Contributing Writer, via My Unemployment
My Favorite Facts and Figures mentioned on The 405 Club: The unemployment rate has moved up from 8.9% to 9.4%. In an investigative report, a 30ish journalist applied for a wide variety of over 300 jobs. He landed 8 interviews, 2 callbacks, zero jobs. Do those statistics scare me? Heck no they don’t! They surround me like an...
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UNEMPLOYMENT BAD, BENEFITS EXPIRING.
You might not know it from today’s headlines, but unemployment continues strong with this week’s Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report. The headline from Yahoo Finance was Jobless benefit rolls drop sharply to nearly 6.7M. It sounds good, but the article gives an explanation that is less than copacetic:
The total number of people on the unemployment insurance rolls dropped for the first...
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HAPPY HOUR IN T-MINUS 5.5 HOURS AND COUNTING.
We just want to send out a quick reminder about our Happy Hour later today. Rain or shine, we’ll be getting together from 4-7PM at the Ship of Fools on 2nd Avenue between 82nd and 83rd Streets. While this is purely a social gathering, don’t underestimate the importance of digging out of your hole just to meet new people. When we launched The405.com it was with the intent of bringing unemployed...
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EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC
The premier of the long awaited 6th installment of the Harry Potter films is fast approaching. Good news for unemployed fans that could use a little enchantment in their lives.
This Saturday, forget that you’re a Muggle and indulge in a day full of wizardly delights for next to nothing.
From noon-6pm, rain or shine, there will be a Quidditch match...
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CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR GRADUATION.
We continue our series of dark humor cartoons on the reality awaiting newly minted degree-holders as they face an uncertain future, with few job prospects, in a very cloudy economic climate. (We will certainly welcome “newbies” into The 405 Club!)
-By Yvonne Fitzner, Contributing Writer & Member
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USE YOUR SKILLS TO PAY THE BILLS.
-By Garrett Dale, Founding Member, Music Industry Professional & Online Marketing Expert
Thank god for family. Since unemployment I’ve tried to use some of the time to reconnect with aunts and uncles I didn’t leave enough time for during my grind in the workforce. In turn they have not only become the leaders of my fan club/support group, but have actually become my part time...
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MILLION DOLLAR PYRAMID.
Ever want to see how a game show works? Now you can!
The Million Dollar Pyramid is taping tomorrow at Kaufman Studios in Astoria (Queens) and is still looking for some audience members. In case old school pop culture isn’t your thing - Million Dollar Pyramid is a half-hour long game show in which two contestants compete for cash, prizes, and the chance to win a million dollars. Two...
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MY NEW CAREER IN THE DARK.
-By Janet Raiffa, Recruiting Manager & Writer of The 405 Club featured series “Janet Raiffa’s Recessionals.”
As a lifelong penny-pincher and film buff I’ve always relished any opportunity to go to the movies for free. I’ve found a number of ways to get complimentary tickets, ranging from signing up for preview screenings hawked outside of movie theaters to calling or...
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BROOKLYN PINK SLIP PARTY ON TUESDAY.
That’s right, another unemployment party: this Tuesday, 6/16 at 7pm in Brooklyn. What makes this one stand out? Sangria specials aside, this event will be connecting the unemployed with hiring managers, entrepreneurs, and career coaches. If that isn’t enough to get you to go, there will also be live performances and FREE haircuts. The first hundred people to RSVP to the event will have the...
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FIVE WAYS TO REVIVE YOUR NETWORK.
-By Linda Griffin, Business and Leadership Coach, Founder of ClearWind LLC. Visit Linda’s blog to receive “Easy Networking Tips.”
I received a Linked-In message the other day from a former employee who has been laid off. I had sent him a connect request a couple of months ago and asked how things were going. He accepted the invitation but didn’t take the opportunity to...
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CONFERENCE CRASHERS.
-By Janet L. Falk, Contributing Member and Public Relations Professional
Are you eager to attend an all-day large industry conference, but the Registration Fee is more than $405? Here’s how to network with your former peers and get the latest news without paying the big bucks for registration: Attend the conference and proudly wear a meeting badge by working at the event. Conferences arranged by...
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IT'S CLAIM YOUR WEEKLY BENEFITS DAY.
Imagine if your weekly benefits were just potatoes? Luckily their not.
It’s Sunday which means it’s time to claim your unemployment benefits today [click here for the NY Department of Labor site]. For more information on potatoes, unemployment benefits and eligibility check out our 405er Tips on the FAQ Wiki [here].
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THIS WEEK'S NYC CAREER EVENTS.
This is a part of a weekly series of career events in the NY area found on the site of our friends at efinancialcareers.com.
A coaching session Tuesday evening on staying upbeat while job-hunting heads our latest compilation of free events of interest to professionals in transition. All the following events take place in New York City.
***
Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church presents an...
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GET YOUR SLIP ON.
-By Cara Weissman, Contributing Writer, Reality Show Casting Goddess and Founder of My Unemployment
This past week I slacked in my job hunt because I had the flu and lost my phone. Now that I have a phone and lost the flu, I’ve got some serious catching up to do.
Luckily there are two networking events coming up next week to help me make up for lost time. Thursday is The 405 Club Happy...
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HE'S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU.
-By Stacey Burgay, Guest Blogger, Video/Content Producer (TV&Web), Event Coordinator, Film Programmer & Founder of Slightly Overexposed Productions.
No, I’m not talking about A GUY, I’m talking about THAT COMPANY. I’m on day 4 of my extreme self-challenge to find work before my unemployment runs out. I don’t have any work booked till August. What’s a girl to do? I consider myself a...
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UNEMPLOYMENT MIXED.
The latest Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report is out. This is an exercise in having memory greater than one week. From the report (emphasis mine):
In the week ending June 6, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 601,000, a decrease of 24,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 625,000. The 4-week moving average was 621,750, a decrease of 10,500 from the...
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SHAKESPEARE: "BE NOT AFRAID OF GREATNESS" AND FREE...
-By Janet L. Falk, Contributing Member and Public Relations Professional
“Be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them” Shakespeare, Twelfth Night, Act II, Scene V or Two Ways to Get Tickets to Shakespeare in the Park which started last night. We LOVE Shakespeare in the Park, great acting, great plays and it’s...
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THE NEXT 405 CLUB HAPPY HOUR IN ONE WEEK AND...
In continuing with our nautical-themed event locations (we’ve been a fan of the Galway Hooker in the past), we are partnering with the Ship of Fools (SoF) for our next gathering. Two weeks ago we had a get-together at the Manchester Pub for the Champions League Finals, though the turnout was modest (guess there were not as many soccer fans in The Club as we thought) everyone who attended...
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USING CENTS.
-By Cara Weissman, Contributing Writer, Reality Show Casting Goddess and Founder of My Unemployment
Since Viacom still has yet to approve my Cobra subsidy (don’t get me started), I’ve had to seriously buckle down on my spending. To start, I’ve been returning everything I’ve recently bought but don’t need. First to go was an impulse buy from The Body Shop. The...
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MAN APPLIES FOR 300 JOBS AND GETS NOWHERE.
-By Janet Raiffa, Contributing Writer, Member & Recruiting Manager
If you’re getting depressed about your job search and your low hit rate on resumes this month’s “Esquire” may provide some consolation. While the cover photo of Israeli model Bar Rafaeli clad only in body paint will likely delight 90% of the male population (and 10% of the female population if statistics are correct), the...
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WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS, PRAY TO THE JOB GODS.
You’ve got recruiters on the case, you’re submitting online applications and customizing cover letters daily all while networking 24-7. You frequent social networks, job boards, support groups, job fairs and seminars. Yet you’re still jobless.
Perhaps it’s time to pray to The Job Gods. Email your prayer to 348roffaos@tumblr.com and it will appear on...
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REALITY BYTES.
We want to hear your voice. And see your face.
Beginning this week, I will be traveling around the city with Stacey B and a video camera. We want to film fellow 405ers speaking out on various subjects.
This week we are eager to know about your job hunt. Whether you have a rant (“why post a job if you are in a hiring freeze?”) or success story (“it actually got me an interview!”), tell us about...
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THE 405 CLUB IDEABLOB: VOTE FOR THE TWANKET.
Since our inception The 405 Club has heavily promoted entrepreneurial thinking. In an earlier post we’ve humorously documented how “Unemployment Breeds Entrepreneurship” by posting a picture of a man selling snowballs for a dollar, but in reality it is true. Many successful businesses have started during times of unemployment, ie. FedEx.
A recent New York Times article...
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MY SECRET SALAD SURPRISE.
-By Janet Raiffa, Contributing Writer, Member & Recruiting Manager
You know it’s a sign that you were not destined for long-term happiness at your job when the thing you miss most after your layoff is the salad from the takeout place across the street. Well, that’s not strictly true – I adored my very cool and cute hiring partner boss in Silicon Valley and many of my team members – but...
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NYC GOLF ON THE CHEAP: PART 1.
I have got to get a job to support my golf game. I have to laugh at myself everytime I hear these words come out of my mouth. As a child, my father relentlessly attempted with minimal success to get me into the game but sports like soccer, baseball, tennis and basketball always seemed like a better option for me. I wanted to run faster, jump higher, slam winners and make diving catches, all of...
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THE RECESSION'S GENDER GAP.
These charts from Mark Perry illustrate that the male unemployment rate has risen substantially relative to the female unemployment rate during this downturn. Indeed, the gap is now at an unprecedented level. I would conjecture that a large part of the explanation is the sectoral mix of this particular downturn in economic activity, including a significant slump in residential construction.
Via...
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APARTMENT HUNTING VS. DATING VS. JOB HUNTING: WHO... →
They say in New York you’re either looking for a job, an apartment and/or a boy/girlfriend. At the moment you happily attain all three, it’s just about time to move to suburbia. So what do you think? Who has it worse? The apartment hunter, the serial dater or the job hunter?
Join the discussion [here].
-By Garrett Dale, Founding Member, Music Industry Professional & Online...
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WEEKLY UNEMPLOYMENT CLAIM REMINDER.
Today’s the big day. It’s Sunday which means it’s time to claim your unemployment benefits today [click here for the NY Department of Labor site]. For more information on unemployment benefits and eligibility check out our 405er Tips on our FAQ Wiki [here].
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UNSONNET FOR THE UNEMPLOYED.
To the abundant and newly unemployed we sing
We croon sometimes jolly for those with time free:
To search for a job can be drama, farce or tragedy
Depending on the spirit and resources you bring.
We want you to know you search not alone,
And perhaps give you some mild heart’s ease
With videos, humor and news that hopefully please:
The truth is for income your future’s still unknown.
We can each...