Dealing With Credit History on a Job Application

When filling out a job application you may have noticed the trend of employers asking for your credit history information. You may feel outraged at the personal intrusion, how does your credit history affect your ability to perform at a job? However, hiring managers see the credit issue from another point of view and believe that your score can be used as an indicator of job performance.

According to the Society of Human Resource Management, 60 percent of employers conduct credit checks on at least some of their new hires. This represents a significant increase from the last decade when only 25 percent of employers scratched this deep. So, if you are looking to get hiring, you may want to check out your credit score and start fixing any problems that may be on it.

Companies that use credit history as a qualifier for getting the job report that this data can show discrepancies or confirm information found on the resume and also uncover any distractions or personal management problems that may interfere with getting the job done. Some problems with checking a potential hire's credit score is that it sometimes doesn't provide enough information to explain any problems that may be on the report. In this economy, there are many reasons that a person may acquire bad credit that are beyond his control - from unexpected health problems, frivolous lawsuits, divorce and other reasons.

If your credit score is not as great as it should be, this is the time to start turning it around. Correct any mistakes that have shown up on your report and take the steps needed to raise your number. If you know you have credit problems, take the initiative to proactively discuss this with your potential employer instead of waiting for them to dig it up - problems will inevitably be discovered if you've given them permission to investigate. Show your future employer that you've taken steps to improve your financial status and are a responsible and dependable person - get plenty of references on your resume to back this up.

Todd Denning

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Finding 100K Jobs

For finding 100K jobs, the search engines are your best bet as they can provide you with a wide array of results. It is the latest and non conventional way of checking out jobs compared to the age old newspapers and magazine ads against which you sent your resumes. You can straight away get results for only jobs in the 100K category and nothing else. It is a search that is done the other way round and ensures the results are more spot-on.

Resume turns into a live document with specialized search

There are endless possibilities on the internet these days and it is easy to find the job of your choice even if they are jobs in 100K category. The reason why you should opt for specialized search engines is that your resume gets automatically turned into a live document. Visibility of your resume is ensured and there are more eyeballs checking your resume than with other alternative mediums.

With this feature, finding 100K jobs become far easier than ever before. The process is altogether very simple and you don't have to bother about getting them on to places for more visibility with your own effort.

With the help of specialized search engines tailored for 100K employment, your resume and you as a prospective candidate are presented as a brand. To get employment in 100K jobs, you would have to pay a small amount to the specialized search engines.

But this small amount is nothing compared to the specialized search for 100K employment that you can automatically benefit from. If you can back up your supplication with the required qualifications and experience, you can also become far choosier. There could be hundreds of options, but you can always pick and choose the one that is best suited for you in the $100,000 job category.

Tough competition

It is best to think beyond the little green pieces of paper if you are looking for a job in this category. You can pick from any field depending upon your expertise and skills. There are jobs in architecture, business management, engineering and consultancy jobs, healthcare and many more in this 100K category. Instead of relying only on recruiters or fee based searches, you can just look for $100,000 jobs without any fuss.

With a surge in competition, your search may not be easy and getting a job with a grand salary like the one you are looking for may not be an easy deal. With the blowback of the recession there are few jobs that you can pick and choose. Instead, your best bet would be to grab whatever you can lay your hands on. No matter how good you may be, there is always a chance that there could be also someone even better applying for 100K jobs.

Silas Reed

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Tips to Getting Promoted at Work

Most people think getting promoted at work is just a matter of working hard and hoping you'll be recognized when the time is right. This is not so, getting promoted at work requires a conscious effort of making behavioral adjustments that will get you and your work noticed and put you in the executive radar for consideration. In short getting promoted requires a plan. If you do not already have one, I'd suggest you get down to scribbling now.

• You need to ask yourself if you enjoy what you do and if you can thrive doing what you do currently- There is no point getting the extra responsibility that comes with a promotion if you do not currently enjoy what you do or have sufficient competencies to excel.

• Let your passion show through- Still back on point 1, you need to be enthusiastic about what you do and this is what others see, someone who is truly dedicated, committed and achieves results.

• Communicate effectively- The engine of the work place is communication, and it appears in various forms, emails, telephone, memos etc. Avoid spontaneous responses to email communication especially, carefully read and craft responses which you know you won't regret at a later date. Once in a while you will receive correspondence that will tick you off, resist the urge to damage your career by responding with expletives. Realize that sometimes you are being set up.

• When in doubt over communicate- Follow up is a key skill that is needed in the work place, keep your stakeholders updated all the time and remember to keep the important people in copy.

• Don't run away from added responsibility- If more work comes, take it on in your stride and do it well.

• Do more- People who get promoted are those who do more than their KRA's require and more than they are told to do. Put in your best and give more than is expected of you.

• Create Visibility- No one will promote someone they don't know or recognize. Make a conscious effort to be known (for the right reasons) and to be seen at the right places, saying the right thing.

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Top 5 Tips For Landing Your Next Social Work Job

1.) Be Visionary

Ever hear the saying, "When you don't know where you're going, any road will get you there?" Does this mantra guide your social work career? Have you thought about where you want to be five or ten years down the road? We are trained to ask this of our clients, but how often do we really ask this question for ourselves?

When developing your career path, you may find it helpful to think about a few things. You took the $13 an hour youth counseling job because that is the only one you could get at the time. Look around you. How many of your coworkers said the position was just temporary, only to be in the same spot, burnt-out, five years later? Are you where you thought you would be when you decided to become a social worker? What was that original passion and vision that moved you?

Have a future vision that motivates you and outline all the small roads that will get you there. Start with one road at a time (with time lines of course). Though following your passion may at times be difficult, just remember what Henry Ford said, "Whether you think you can or you can't, you're right." Believe you can!

2.) Who is in your Network?

As social workers we know everything is about our network, from finding our dream social work job, to creating social change. So, what area of social work do you want to be in and who do you know associated with that field? Perhaps more importantly, who don't you know that you need to know to get your break? How are you going to meet them?

Tap into your social network to get leads. Let EVERYONE know (by direct phone calls, emails, or visits) you are searching and what social work position you are searching for. You never know where an opportunity might come from. It can be helpful if you have an in to get acquainted with an organization, but if not, consider an internship or volunteer work. Many social workers have landed jobs through these opportunities. It's a win-win scenario. Perspective employers get to see a sample of your work and you get to see if an agency is a good fit for you.

You may want to consider the internet as an option for networking. You can find and introduce yourself to social workers on sites like LinkedIn or Facebook. Social Work Network is a similar site, but more specific to social work networking needs. You can find social workers by location, degree, school, company, and expertise/interests, as well as search thousands of social work jobs or internship and volunteer opportunities. These sites are free resources, so why not take advantage of them?

3.) Be Assertive

Ever want to say to an employer, "Don't call me, I'll call you"? You have the chance to do this at the end of your cover letter. Simply let the employer know you will contact them in a few days to discuss the position further. In a time where competition for social work jobs is fierce, such a technique may give you the edge.

Prior to calling, jot down a few things you want to know about the position, as well as a few points of value you add to it. Common questions are, "How did this position come to be open?" and "What is your hiring time line?" When you call, make sure the employer knows the call will only take a few minutes of their time. Here is a sample intro, "Hello Dr. Smith. My name is Andrea Ricci and I am calling about the Adult Advocate position listed on Social Work Network. I'll only take a few moments of your time [Shy away from asking whether or not it is a good time to talk, you might get shut-off immediately. Instead, get straight to the point]. I am interested in this position because I have my Master's Degree in Social Work and worked for seven years as the Adult Advocate for Yourtown Court [Just added value to the position and probably peaked employer's interest]. How did this position come to be open? [Nice open ended question]."

At the end of the phone call, ask for an interview. You don't want to leave the phone call open ended with the ball in the employer's court, so keep it in yours! Say something like, "It seems like my experience and this position are a good fit. Would it be possible to discuss this more in an interview? I have a portfolio of my work I would like to share for your review." You have nothing to lose by asking for an interview and now the employer is put in a position where they might say yes -especially if you're offering them a portfolio they may be interested in seeing.

4.) What's in your Portfolio?

Portfolios are excellent tools to showcase your skills and set you apart from the competition. It is generally a sampling of the work you have done during your social work career. Include, in a three ring binder, a label on the front with your name and contact information using bold, clear, traditional fonts. Use plastic sleeves to hold all of your documents and include a Table of Contents.

Here are some things to include in your portfolio: a resume (specifically tailored to the position you are applying for), grant proposals, press releases, media relations, anything that documents computer skills (presentation with PowerPoint, research with SPSS), research proposals, policy analysis, a professionally written letter, reference letters, supervisor evaluations, public testimony, certifications, etc. If it is not clear from looking at the document what it is, include a typed written white label on the lower right hand sleeve that includes the purpose, your role, and date of the project. Make sure to change the content of your portfolio for each job you interview to reflect competence in the skills necessary for each position.

Once you have a portfolio, hurl it in all your cover letters, phone calls, and job interviews. It is an extra incentive for employers to interview you and can sometimes make or break getting a position. When you leave your portfolio with a prospective employer, make a plan to pick it up. You may wish to ask the employer how long they would like to have the portfolio or you may choose to set a time line yourself, "I would like to leave my portfolio for your review. Would it be convenient if I stopped back on Friday to pick it up?"

5.) Check Yourself

Job hunting in the social work profession can be overwhelming. Make sure to take care of yourself through the process. Some people find it helpful to develop check-boxes of personal and professional tasks they wish to accomplish the next day. You may want to apply for three jobs, go to your son's soccer game, wash the car, and go to the gym. Include them all in one to do list, mixing them up if needed. The truth is...we only have one life. If one part of it is lapsing, it will affect the other. Tend to your personal needs equally with your professional ones so that both your private life and career are rising together and mutually benefiting one another.

Michelle Bussolotti, MSW, 

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