National and Local Denver Sales Job Fairs!

Upcoming Job Fairs!

Get out and attend a few job fairs in your area! Here is a listing of a few upcoming job fairs worth checking out in your area.

Hanging With Denver's Mayor on Earth Day!

So What is Colorado Doing For The Environment?

I was doing a little Volunteer work yesterday for the Rocky Mountain Green Summit being held here in Denver. Nice way to find out what's going on around the state Environmentally and also what the future hold for this great Rocky Mountain State.


Hanging with Mayor Hickenlooper.
Nothing like your friend using a crummy cell
indoors & catching you offguard

One of the benfits of volunteering at events like this is that you not only get to Network with companies within the Industry I am focusing on, but also you get to hangout with Politicos like Mayor Hickenlooper. Since I had a minute, I got to ask him a few questions about our Renewable Resources and waterways!

Whether it was his topic of Green Successes in Transportation, Housing, and Energy Efficiency, or Denver's Greenprint plans and Clean Water. Hickenlooper, a former Geologist back in the day, has many great ideas to come but I guess it will come down to how many of them actually exist in order for him to take over the new reigns as governor after Ritter. Other Great resources for sustainability around the state.

Checkout these great Energy providers to help provide your daily needs or to help expand your business. Excel Energy, GE Johnson, Douglass Colony, Philips, Monument Constructors, Master Wall Inc, Ambient Energy and Colorado Biz.

Tricks To Use in Job Search

Hi-Tech Tricks to Use in Your Job Search
by careerinsight

It seems like just about everything and everyone has gone high tech. From refrigerators with built-in computers to high-powered handheld devices, technology is touching nearly every aspect of our lives. The job search process is no exception. While the traditional approach, with a focus on networking, strong resumes and solid person-to-person interviews, is still king, technological advances are in job hunters’ game plans across the country. If you are looking to enhance, here are a few areas to explore.

1. Tech Savvy Resumes

Many candidates opt to send their resumes to companies via e-mail, or choose to submit resumes directly through company or job search Web sites. Because of new Internet and e-mail technology, it pays to ensure your resume is technologically sound. When creating your resume, you should create the following formats:

•Traditional resumes: These are the typical, ink and paper resumes which are nicely formatted, professional, and eye-catching.
•ASCII, or “plain text” resumes: These are simplified versions of your resume, focusing solely on content. Plain text resumes have the advantage of being readable, no matter what computer system the reader is using. In a plain text resume, avoid italics, unusual fonts, and other fancy formatting. You can create a plain text resume by opening your resume in your word processing program and performing a “save as” function, selecting to save the document as “plain text.” ASCII resumes are best used when filling out online resume posting forms, which tend to convert resumes to plain text.
•Scannable resumes: Many companies prefer to receive scannable resumes, which are run through scanners with character-recognition capabilities. Companies then utilize applicant-tracking system software (ATS) to match stored resumes with open positions via keywords. For example, if a company is seeking a position with specific graphic design skills, the software will automatically select the resumes that include those skills. Therefore, you must make sure the right keywords are included in your resume.
2. Personal Resume Web Sites

For fields in which portfolios are necessary for the job search process, some candidates are finding that building a personal resume Web site is a convenient way to show off skills and accomplishments. You can develop a Web site that includes examples of your work such as articles, software you developed, artwork or photography and more. You can also include other items such as letters of recommendation.

3. Other Portfolio Options

Having a thick portfolio is important in many industries, and in the past this meant lugging around a huge binder or oversized case full of work examples. Today, a portfolio can be small enough to fit in your briefcase. You can burn all of your materials on a CD, or even create a PowerPoint presentation that shows off your best work. These tools can be put on display during an interview, or left behind for the company to examine once the interview is completed.

4. Video Portraits

If you’re not camera shy and really want to be tech savvy, you can tape an interview of yourself and post it on your resume Web site for employers to review. This can give the employer an example of your poise right off the bat. There are many options for how to do this, including creating your own video file using a digital camcorder or by utilizing a professional service.

5. Online Networking

Think you can only meet people at real, live networking events? Think again. There are a wide variety of online portals in which professionals can network, meet others in the field, and make great contacts. Most professional organizations have message boards and online forums, and there are many other sites such as LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com) and WorldWit (www.worldwit.org) that tout themselves as networking forums.

Top 10 Ways To Find A Job in Denver With A Tough Economy

Top Ten Ways to Find a Job

by Jill Czeczuga

When the economy is in bad shape, the job market is usually worse. Those with jobs are trying to stay employed and people without jobs are desperately trying to find a new job, both can be extremely stressful.

If you put in the time and effort into finding a new job you will be rewarded no matter how fierce the competition is. Stay motivated and persistent – finding a new job is your new job right now.

These are the top ten ways to find a new job:

1. Use the Internet Daily – It is so easy to get lost on the Internet wasting time on websites, job boards and social media sites with no real benefits. Make sure you are actively spending your time on the Internet looking for and applying to jobs and networking with those who may be able to help. There are a ton of useful job boards and career sites to help you focus your search. Check out Job Board Reviews to help find the most useful websites to your industry or profession. Do your best to stay focused on your job search for a few hours a day. Be sure to actively apply to jobs, don’t just upload your resume and wait for phone calls.

2. Perfect your resume – Your resume is often the first glimpse a potential employer gets of you and your skills, make sure it accurately details your skills and work history and how they can benefit your future employer. Make sure you have someone proof read it before sending it out and try to customize it for each job you are applying for.

3. Network – Let everyone you know that you are looking for a job. The more people you have out there on your team, with eyes open the more opportunities you will have. Tell everyone in your network what kind of a job you are looking for or any special skills you may have. You can forward your resume to people in your network and ask them if they know of anyone hiring or if they can check within their company for any open positions. Most people actually find and are hired through referrals from a friend or family member than any other source.

4. Go back to school – Now is the time to get the competitive edge over other job candidates. Many people are finding it hard to get to a traditional college or university and are opting for online schools and programs. Look into enrolling in an accredited online college for some online courses and upgrading your training. Increasing your education will improve your resume and get you one step closer to landing a job.

5. Target Local Companies – Get out and start knocking on some doors. If you are not having any luck online submitting your resume online, it’s time to get out and start meeting people face to face. Make a list of companies in your area that you would like to work for, call them directly to see if they have any openings that interest you. If that doesn’t work, put on some professional attire and stop by with your resume in hand.

6. Industry Mags and Social Niches – Sometimes the best positions that are the perfect fit are only being advertised in industry specific magazines and publications. Sign up for some Industry trade magazines, online groups, forums, and social networks. Reading up on the latest industry news is a great way to stay on top and find new open positions. It also will help with your industry specific networking.

7. Job Fairs – Can it get better than this. Job fairs are a giant room or convention center filled with companies who are looking to hire. Dress to impress, print out a bunch of copies on your resume and start talking to companies who are looking to hire. It’s such an easy way to meet people and get some help with your search.

8. Get some Professional Help - Recruiters, headhunters, and temp agencies are always looking for qualified candidates. Find some recruiters that specialize in your industry or position and get them your resume.

9. State and public resources – There are so many free resources offered by your state to help job seekers find a new job. Most states and counties offer everything from resume writing services, career counseling, and lots of sessions on all the skills you will need to find you new job. State and local resources are also often given lists of openings that aren’t posted or found in other locations. Pop on over and see what they can offer.

10. Consider Freelancing – If you are not finding the right full time position, consider taking a contract position or freelancing your services out. Many companies are not able to hire for full time positions but would be willing to give you a try on an as need basis.

Get on out there! Remember to Network, keep your head up and Don’t give up! There is someone out there waiting to hire you.

Top Denver Sales Job Search Sites and Tips

Link to 10biggestresumemistakes Site

Job Specialization: A Great First Step in Your Job Search
The Essential Skill of Executive Branding
Oprah Winfrey: Her Online Personal Branding and Your Job Search
How to Network
Video Resumes
5 Interview Questions You May Be Asked
Job Specialization: A Great First Step in Your Job Search
The Essential Skill of Executive Branding
Creating Your Position: Market yourself as the perfect candidate for your "dream job/career
Economic and Political Cartoons to Think About
Graphs, Stats; About the Economy
Don't Be Like This Alpha Dog -Funny Tips for the Job Seeker
When Interviewing Provide Results with Context
7 Tips for Negotiating Your Employment Package
5 Ways Twitter Can Get Your Fired
Job and Career Books:
101 Job Tips Every Job Seeker Should Know
Ultimate Job Search Book
10 Biggest Interview Mistakes
10 Biggest Resume Mistakes

How To Network in Denver For Business or Socially Without Effort

1. Choose the networking activities you love
Those networking activities (or relationship building activities), that you really enjoy. The ones that come naturally to you and have always come naturally to you.
2. Avoid networking acitivities which you hate
Activities which don’t suit your style and make you think “that’s just not me.”
3. Be honest with yourself
There’s a big difference between activities which are not your natural style – and activities which you’re scared to try out because they are outside your comfort zone.
So yes, play to strengths – but please don’t use this article as an excuse to avoid testing your comfort zone!
4. Keep a close eye on these 21 networking tips

1. Focus on networking with your warmest contacts FIRST
2. Be clear about your objectives and what you want (and don’t want)
3. Be generous in sharing ideas, resources, contacts
4. Don’t keep score
5. Be yourself
6. Ask lots of open questions – who? what? how? when?
7. Network with a wide range of contacts outside your immediate connections
8. Ensure you have an online presence and are using social media platforms to establish an online brand (Eg LinkedIn.com, start a blog etc)
9. Take a genuine interest in other people, their challenges and their goals (and not just your own needs)
10. Be systematic
11. Listen twice as much as you talk
12. Focus on the quality of relationships rather than the number of contacts you’ve got
13. Keep asking “How can I help you?” rather than “How can you help me?
14. Share and help others without expecting anything back
15. Keep nudging yourself outside your confort zone
16. Limit the time you spend on social media platforms. They can be great fun, but also a great drain on your time
17. Be spontaneous
18. If you’re not going to follow up religiously, don’t bother networking
19. Think long term relationships rather than short term job leads and opportunities
20. Don’t try and follow every tip on this list
21. Instead just incorporate ONE tip from above. Then another. Then another…
By Sital Ruparelia

Top 3 Ways To Find A Denver Colorado Sales Job in 2010

Top 3 Ways to Find a Job in 2010

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average job search as of November 2009 took 28.5 weeks — more than 7 months. That’s the longest since record keeping began in 1948.

But there is good news: People are still finding jobs, often faster than average.
How are they doing it?

From what I can see, talking to and counseling hundreds of people in 2009, successful job seekers do three things that can get you hired faster in 2010 …

1. Start with clarity
Here’s the best predictor of job-search duration: To the extent that you can clearly describe your target job title and a shortlist of 10-20 ideal employers, you will find work fast.
To the extent that you can’t, you won’t.
Think of it like this. If you walked into a bank and asked for a loan, they’d ask you a series of questions: How much do you need? What is it for? How will you pay it back?
If you can’t clearly tell the bank what you want, they can’t help you.
And if you can’t clearly tell networking contacts and potential employers what you want, they can’t help you, either.

2. Stop “networking” and start being helpful
Hands up — who loves networking? I thought so.
Like eating your broccoli, most people see networking as a necessary evil.
But it doesn’t have to be that way.
You can make better connections that lead to better job leads — and have a good time doing it — by helping other people.

Fred Stuck, from northern New Jersey, was hired last month for an IT position after networking effectively. Did he “work the room” at networking events or spring a “30-second elevator pitch” on friends and family?

No. He simply tried to be helpful.
“When a recruiter contacted me, I would say, ‘Send me the full job description,’ even if I wasn’t really interested in the job,” says Stuck.
He then offered to help the recruiter find candidates by forwarding the job description to friends and colleagues who looked like a good fit.
Stuck did more.
After being contacted by a recruiter, he asked to connect with them on LinkedIn, where many recruiters update their status with jobs they’re trying to fill. “I saw one update that said, ‘I’m looking for a Linux Systems Administrator.’ I knew someone and asked if they were in the job market. They said, ‘Yes,’ so I forwarded their LinkedIn profile to the recruiter. That person didn’t get the job, but they did get an interview.”

Meanwhile, Stuck was hired from a networking contact he made at a prior employer, in a job search that took only about half as long as the national average. He got what he wanted while helping others get what they wanted.

3. Go beyond email
Finally, let’s look at how most job seekers communicate with employers and networking contacts. It’s probably how you communicate, too.
It’s email.
And I submit that email is the root of most employment struggles.

Yes, email it convenient. But is it effective?
Put another way, if you had to get a message to someone across town by 5:00 tonight or face certain death, would you email it and then update your Facebook profile until dinner?
No. You might email that message, yes, but here’s what else you would do, in this order:

•pick up the phone, call, and ask if they got it;
•fax the message, call, and ask if they got it;
•get in your car and hand-deliver the message yourself.
So. If you wouldn’t trust your life to email, why trust your career … which provides the money you need to live your life?

If you make one resolution in 2010 make it this: Stop relying on email and online applications to find a job, and start doing whatever it takes to make personal contact at companies you want to work for.

To prove this non-email approach works, here are three mini-case studies from the Guerrilla Job Search files …
1) Jeff Donaldson, former Chrysler program manager, hired in November 2009. He got his winning job lead from a letter he mailed to networking contacts. Time to hire: 45 days.
2) Gail Neal, sales rep, hired in November 2009, after mailing her resume and cover letter in a thank-you note to an employer she learned of by meeting a LinkedIn contact offline. Time to hire: 52 days.
3) Mary Berman, marketing executive assistant, also hired in November 2009, after mailing her resume and cover letter in a box, with a coffee cup, asking to meet the employer for coffee. Time to hire: 53 days.

Now. What do the three success traits in this article — clear goals, helping others, going beyond email — have in common? Star Tribune