Job board scams

The young grad and lying hiring managers:Courtesy of Google

 Here's the situation: You've recently graduated college and have started actively seeking work on job boards with your shiny new resume. If you don't have any well-to-do connected uncles or companies flocking to you like the lucky few in this world, you will find out the hard way especially in today's economy, no experience equals no job. Unlike the 90's or early 2000's where you would be employed in under a month, in today's time, it isn't unusual to hear of candidates being forced to move back home and taking up to 6 months to find their first real job. My advice for all of you eager beavers today is to tell you about a growing trend I've noticed in the job market this year of shark infested companies who prey upon desperate graduates who have little or no experience.

Stewie of Family Guy Courtesy of Google

The Bait: Many of us have probably seen the job postings online showing a growing business you've perhaps never heard of or working with A-List companies needing to fill a role you could easily do, specifically looking for recent graduates and entry-level workers. If you're a disheartened grad thinking of applying to these postings, STOP WHAT YOU'RE DOING RIGHT NOW! I cannot stress enough the risk you are taking by applying to these jobs and here is why.

No matter what bologna job position the company is supposedly hiring , take it from a person who has been there, done that, it's a SCAM! IF you were unfortunate enough to already have applied to these blood suckers here are some red flags you are going to come across during the interview process to know this is not a legitimate position.

• The high volume candidate waiting room: Vary rarely will employers schedule interviews back-to-back. Many times just a few are conducted per day with those being spaced throughout a working day to give the employer and candidate time to review and prepare. If you notice several grads like yourself coming and going for the same position as if you in the hallway on school picture day, don't fall for it, it's a trap! 

• The Tiny Office: When you initially arrive, if you are sent to a shared building with an office space smaller than your dentist's office, it's a scam. Most legit businesses that are highly profitable can afford their own building or branch office. Occasionally you may run into a start up business still getting on their feet, but even these have an employee base of typically 200 employees in a small office. Anything under 100 running around smells fishy to me.

• The Turned Tables Interview Style: If a recruiter calls you in and starts off the interview with the company background and products or services they provide in a style that comes off as a company sales pitch to you the candidate, a red flag should be popping up in your head because I can tell you this is not how a " real" interview is conducted. In a "real interview, the employer will make you justify why you are qualified to work for them and put you on the defensive instead of the other way around. 

• The Ole' Switcheroo:  IF the hiring manager asks you what position you are hoping to work in for their company and then they tell you it is currently not available and that only a marketing or customer service position is open, red flags should be going off in your brain right now.First off, this makes them a liar since their job posting clearly stated otherwise, and no legitimate employer swaps positions in an interview like that. They will usually let you know the position has been already filled or that they have found someone more qualified for the job than you.
  

• The Salesman job with no sales: If a hiring manager starts to tell you of this different position that you realize is starting to sound like a sales job when you tell them you are not into sales and they continue, this is a red flag! Any company that pitches a job where a product will "sell itself" and you just sit pretty while making fat cash, I'm sorry to say is telling lies. These so-called "customer service " positions are high-turnover sales positions using cheaply paid grads that are easily fired when they don't meet the monthly quota.Don't let their Pinocchio success stories thrill you, 90% of sales people will quit or get fired their first year because they don't have the "it" factor to make it in a competitive market. A position that requires you to travel a lot or work during the weekend as part of your regular responsibility to them is also a fraud. If you are expected to shell out your own money for gas and sacrifice family time  for their company with no overtime compensation, this is a big red flag! No matter how a fake company sells it, if it involves you being in the public with their product somehow or working during the weekends, it is a sales position and this is bad news for you and here is why.
• You don't need a college degree to become a salesman: just ask any car salesman at your local dealer and they'll tell you.
• Sales experience will only lead to other sales positions. If you seek an accounting position for example and were forced to take a sales job for a few years, employers will most likely pass on your resume for not having the right field of experience and wonder if you are really even serious about your major for taking such a bone head job. Once you begin working in a field and gain experience, many times you will build in that same area. Examples of this would be working as a file clerk that leads to becoming an account executive over time. Being a medical assistant and eventually becoming an RN. See the career paths here?
• Working without being hired Full-Time: If a company tells you they would like you to job shadow someone for a day or week and try out the position first before you are trained and hired fully, run like the wind I smell a huge scam coming! What is going to happen is these companies are going to make you work long hours at a low rate doing high volumes of sales. Whether it is by phone or in-person, if a company is test driving you without making you sign an employment contract, pass on this opportunity.

• Asking about available Work Hours: If the recruiter asks you in the beginning of the interview if you would be available to work weekends or abnormal weekday hours that were not discussed in the posting, it is a scam. This is the shark company's way of weeding out potential victims from smart candidates. Believe me, you want to be the picky one and say no even if you are available to this opportunity.
• The Two Step Interview: Now occasionally, especially for clerical or management positions, a second round is to be expected so this isn't a sure sign of a scam, but if they tell you in the beginning it is just an initial interview to feel out your personality and that they will call you back to set up the next one after they've told you of all of the above red flags, it's a scam.

After experiencing a close call myself during my job search, my mission with this article is to help all of you avoid these same pitfalls and put these blood suckers out of business because there is a sucker born everyday and my job is to avoid it being you.

I look forward to your comments and stories about my article and encourage you to post them below.

Have a good day and be safe out there in your pursuits!

Regards,
Kate.

A woman's dirty little secret for the business casually confused

 

Hello Ladies.  So now that I've enlightened you with my words of wisdom on getting the job and how to pull it off on your first day, let's get down to the meat and potatoes of the situation..what to wear. I see fashion offenders everyday marching their sad little selves into the office. Be it ugly shoes in the wrong color or something my grandma would wear, unflattering tops or inappropriate cleavage bearing ensembles, and clueless cover girls in disguise. I have to admit, I myself thought I was going to become one of these black and white dressed people the rest of my life, reduced to neutral colors in the corporate world because standing out isn't always accepted in business.

Image courtesy of Google: Film still from Beauty and the Briefcase(2010)

Then I had an epiphany when I saw for the first time Beauty and the Briefcase (Junger, 2010) you can watch for free through Netflix instant or Youtube. Great movie by the way if you're into chick flicks starring Hilary Duff. In the film, Hilary is an executive admin for an investment banking institution. Despite this boring outer appearance, she dresses very chic and amazing in the film. My favorite outfit she nailed to this day, is the teal silk blouse, thick red belt, purple structured tote, and leopard pencil skirt and pumps she wore to work. After seeing the new realm of possibilities, I quickly began scouring  Ebay, Amazon, Forever 21, Express, Burlington..you name it, for these pieces I saw and wanted. After a killer trip to Ross, I can say my bargainista senses led me to a Jones New York silk blouse similar to the one she wore in the film I scored for $12 that retails for $100! Oh yes. Shut the front door. I also recently found a leopard pencil skirt for $15 at Forever 21. Does this give you ideas? Now, not every boss or work environment is going to take kindly to cat lady walking the floor or pink,yellow, and red being a staple in your wardrobe. Feel out the appropriate colors and attire you can get away with, and when in doubt, check with Human Resources, since they will know if it will fly for sure or not.

Mary of The Classy Cubicle in Fall Brights

Another form of inspiration I've been using lately is this woman from the Midwest or East Coast, forgive me Mary I forget, called The Classy Cubicle who Instagrams and blogs her daily outfits for work I can't get enough of. When I got a stuffy office gig, I turned to the internet for ideas on how to keep my unique style and be work appropriate. Then I found her. My work attire angel. I subscribed the day she posted this outfit on the left, I was shocked you could wear to the office. Those red pants and sailor stripes were my eye candy I had to have. Warning for those young professionals with limited budgets and student loan debt, her selections are more for Macy's minded ladies than working girls in terms of price and brand. Don't let that stop you, I have personally found most of her pieces at middle class retailers for a fraction of what she paid that look as good.

For instance, a while back she had this post of a stiletto like shoe with an adorable plaid pencil skirt. I was in love with the skirt and shoes at hello. Then I saw the sticker shock and was taken a back, but never fear, Just Fab is here! I found those exact heels for $40 in black and mint. Cha-ching!

 So there you have it ladies. Some weekend inspiration for you all to go out and blossom. My dream one day is to post Youtube videos and Instagram photos of my outfits like her to share with you all on how you can afford to look good at work. You can even be my shopping buddy for the day.

So some food for thought. When putting together a new work wardrobe follow my rules of success:

• own a black pencil skirt
• Plan on buying fabric softener, color safe bleach, and dryer sheets
•  buy outfits  by the piece
• Purchase things that can be worn with many different looks
• shop around online to check for specials, clearance items, and deals
• look at films starring career minded women or look at fashion magazines for inspiration. Some of my personal favorites are Sex and the City, Bride Wars,The Devil Wears Prada,101 Dalmations starring Glen Close, and Beauty and the Briefcase.
• Think of current trends and your favorite looks and tailor them to the workplace
• Avoid " Stripper heels" meaning anything over 3 inches is excessive.
• Don't show your buns or sweater puppies off to the world. Think of things you could wear to an event or to your mother and grandmother's home
• When buying jewelry, small is best. You are not Lady Gaga and this is not the Grammy Awards.
• Get properly fitted bras and underwear. Your appearance will change dramatically if these are done right. My dear friend Victoria can help you with that.
• Keep a lint roller, Tide to-go stick, and Wet Ones handy at work. You never know what might go wrong
• Follow the care instructions on garments
• For the love of all that is holy iron your pieces please! Wrinkles are not a good look.
• You can be a string bean or size sassy and still look fabulous!

Be on the lookout for Instagram and Youtube links in the future and have a beautiful day ladies!

-Kate

To-Do Checklist for your new job

Image courtesy of Google

Congratulations! You've made the cut! Out of all the talented individuals you were chosen for the position. Whether it was your witty personality or composed interview answers that swooned the boss off his feet, you now are onto the next scariest part of being employed: the hidden rule book of the working world. Don't worry, I'll walk you through the ins and outs of everything you'll need to know to be successful on your first day.

Goodbye snooze button, hello commuter traffic, showers, and coffee!

The first day of work is always a little scary. Especially for recent grads. Before you make haste at the first crack of dawn, here are some things to pack and prepare for the night before the big day.

• Go to bed early-Getting yourself prepared for a earlier schedule is easier by winding down no later than 10 p.m. This prevents headaches, stress, and thoughts overpowering your ability to get a good nights' rest to be awake and ready to learn your new position the next day.

Image courtesy of Google

• Mapquest and GPS your work building- Chances are your new employer is in a unfamiliar city and street location, so by making sure to have a hard copy of your directions in case, God forbid, your cell reception goes awry, you can still make it on time. Another helpful tip would be to Google map the building and include a photo of it with your physical directions so you can be on the lookout for the place if your GPS lands you nearby the address, leaving you to figure out which building to go into yourself.

• Wash and Iron 3 days worth of work attire- For obvious reasons and this also gives you a chance to contact HR and find out what type of attire is to be expected for that day. If for instance, you start mid-week at a place that does casual Friday, showing up in trousers is a bit overdressed for that day and will make you stand out and not in a good way. If your job is cut and paste corporate, avoid street clothes at all costs!
•  Personal Items- Believe it or not, they're obvious items people forget all the time you will need day to day on the job at your desk, a company will not provide always. These include lint rollers, tissues, hand sanitizer, breath mints, pens (oh yes, you can never have too many), post-it-notes,sun glass case, a watch ( some businesses do not keep giant wall clocks handy),a compact mirror for the ladies, and deodorant. The last item is more needed than you think. Under high pressure environments, you sweat more, meaning if you buy cheap deodorant and it wears off, your cube mates suffer. You know what I mean if you've ever come across a man during lunch hour in line who smells like he forgot to take a shower this week...ew!
   If you are a dude that does not want to be caught dead carrying a purse-like bag of things into work, stick your deodorant, mints, and hand sanitizer in your trouser pocket for convenience and unload them in a junk drawer at your desk

• Cubicle Personalization- Working in a a small area also has some benefits besides claustrophobia and vitamin D deprivation. For those who like to leave their personal touch on everything, plan on bringing your small box of goodies with you 15 minutes before your shift starts to get situated and make the place your own for the next few months or so. This could include, magnetic file holders, bobble heads, picture frames of family, small art, office supply holders, and fabric to place on the inside of your cubicle. stay tuned for ideas from my own cubicle makeover for ideas on how to recreate your space. If you are lucky enough to land your own office, consider temporary wallpaper or a mural. For ideas, try Murals your Way or Temp Paper.

Things to do your first Day

• Arrive 15 minutes early. Find your suite number or building, find parking, setup your cubicle or office.

• If you are an early bird and arrive extra early, grab coffee and breakfast before work- Nothing interrupts a business meeting more than a growling stomach.Trust me, I know this.
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• Smile or wave high to new co-workers you meet on your way to your desk. First impressions are important and a great way to start off your day and perhaps make a new work acquaintance.
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• Take a tour of your building and office. Learn where all of the exits are in case of a fire or work place shooting. Also become familiar with locked entrances,break rooms, and bathrooms. 

• Ask your boss or fellow co-workers what time lunch is- As this varies from place and people, it is best to go with the majority. If someone invites you to lunch, try to take them up on it to bond with your new co-worker and fit in.
• Put your phone someplace safe on silent and do not look at it at all on work time-This looks unprofessional and shows bad ethic. Want to know the time? Wear a watch.
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•  Meet/shake hands with all of your bosses and supervisors you will be working under- Establishes good re pore and is a generally accepted business practice.

• Bring  your own music device- Do not wear headphones that zone out co-workers from reaching you or make you seem distant, keep the volume at a minimum and tuned into something people would generally enjoy such as classical, soft rock, jazz, and top 40 hits minus rap and hip-hop. Save Jay-Z for the drive home. Bluetooth docks or battery powered radios work best.
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• Write or schedule your tasks for the first day- People will dump work on you the moment you arrive sometimes so be prepared to jump right in. Be detailed with instructions, ask questions, and write everything down because under new job stress, you will forget!

• Wear Comfortable Shoes- Ladies this implies to you more then the men, consider opting for a kitten heel or flats rather than pumps and for both sexes invest in Dr. Scholls..trust me they are a life saver!

Do all of this and you just might survive your first day. Good luck, kid!

How to get your first job

Image Courtesy of Google

First things first.  If you were fortunate enough to not have to work your way through college doing minimum wage jobs or interning for businesses, you are already behind. Believe it or not, getting your first job is like a hamster wheel. Employers want to see you have experience doing the job they are hiring for and require you to have at least 1-2 years of experience and you are looking for experience to get a job. It's funny how that works. What worked for me was internships. Now I know this may sound like slave labor, but don't cry foul yet, nobody said life was fair and every job you would have to do in life you would be paid for, if that were true I would be the CEO of doing dishes, taking out the trash, and cleaning my laundry. See?

Internship is also a code word for experience. As long as you gain skills and workplace knowledge from someone without your last name associated with it and they work for a legit organization, you are "in like flynn." Some skills entry level business grads should become familiar with are Excel, Power point, Word, Outlook, and Access for starters. If your line of work is more finance minded, SAP and Quick books are also some programs you should be studying up on in your free time while on the job hunt.

Courtesy of Google

It is important when drafting a resume with limited experience, that you have current job history and desirable skills to stand out from your seasoned competition. These can be life skills not earned at an organization that you have experienced in life, such as being president of school clubs, volunteer note taker for a class for credit, student aid for a professor, editor of the campus newspaper, missionary work in Africa...etc. These life experiences have skills associated with them you can later use on resumes and in interviews as evidence to support why you are an ideal candidate. Like college, businesses like well-rounded people too, so that one time you had to have a pep talk with your club to get them on track and lift their spirits or spend extra time running to the copy room for the professor, it will pay off.

Now the question is, how do I create a resume'? The truth is, unlike proper placement of postal information on a letter or logging into your computer, there is no one way to write one. You are going to find everyone's resume' template is as unique as they are.The one rule of thumb is to include skills, experience, and education onto one page with your name at the top in larger font and bold.If you have a lot to include, use size 11 for the body of your document and Times New Roman font. There are many good sites out there you can search and find examples of other grad students and senior employees resumes' to use as inspiration for your own. Other good resources to capitalize on for assistance with this are unemployment offices and temporary employment agencies.

Which brings me to my next point. Where to go when hunting for jobs. With technology so advanced now, applicants no longer apply in person for a job and many are found or inquired about from recruiting sites.

As soon as you complete your resume, run spell check, and are lucky enough to know someone in HR or familiar with how a good resume should look, you should immediately sign up that day with sites like Monster, Career Builder, Indeed..etc. Recruiters search these sites all the time for fresh meat, I mean entry level workers, right out of school, that are willing to work hard and cheap to break into the business world.


If you have job history doing tasks and obtaining skills a position is seeking, call your local temp agencies and sign up with a few to help find you work there as well. These agencies will hire you as their employee to complete an assignment at a business for a set amount of time, giving you legit and new experience to add to your humble resume. Word of caution, just like in retail, these businesses work as a middle man for finding the right candidate for a job and take a cut of the salary you will make, so the amount the client is willing to pay and your paycheck will differ. For those with bills to pay and experience to earn, this is a recommended option.

Courtesy of Google

Now just because you sign up with an agency and a career site does not mean recruiters and businesses are going to be falling over themselves to come to you.This is a two sided process. In the mean time, you need to search for jobs of interest with experience and skill level you can fulfill and apply to them too. The key to this is applying as soon as the posting is live on the site.  A one or two day old post is already going to have 30 people fighting for that one spot. Even if there are things in the position you may have to get better at or even learn as you go, apply. If a hiring manager likes your resume and scores you an interview, you can use this to sell yourself to employers to win them over with your personality and assets you have to bring to their company.

A big rule in business is to never lie. This includes resumes, school, skills, experience, and any opinion that is uttered out of your lips that can be heard by your potential employer. In business, there is a place called "The Blacklist" you never want a company to list you on or your professional life is over. It could be you rubbing colleagues the wrong way with an abrasive attitude, lying about your qualifications, or not doing what was asked of you. Do everything in your being to avoid this list.

Vin Diesel: Google

Now there is however a fine line about selling yourself in an interview too. Don't be too humble or you will seem like a complete rookie, don't walk in cocky and arrogant either. Buy note cards and create your answers you will rehearse with senior workers, whether that be family or friends, that can give constructive criticism about your interview to help you look your best to a boss or hiring manager.



Next, invest in your wardrobe. Gentlemen should own at least 3 suit jackets and slacks with appropriate collared shirts and ties to wear. Ladies should own black and nude closed toe pumps, kitten heels, or flats. Ladies should have the option of a shirt and trouser look and a pencil skirt, blouse combo (solid color, with no cleavage showing or sheer paneling and boat or scoop neck) not sexy or short, that enhances your face to stand out to the interviewer. Gentlemen should have their hair cut no longer than the middle of the neckline area, tapering as it  is coming down.Military cuts are frowned upon also.  Do not use gel or "wet look" products and do not apply strong cologne. Ladies should style their hair into an up do, such as a flat ironed pony tail, bun, or other hairstyle that keeps it out of your face and does not distract. Make sure to sport only naturally accepted hair colors your high school would allow you to attend with( in the school handbook). Cover any tattoos with foundation or clothing and remove all alternative piercings. Ladies should wear minimal jewelry such as a wedding ring or small earrings.  Ladies should consider manicured  or nude nails and very light makeup of faint eye shadow preferably brown, cream, or black, fine eye liner on top, and mascara with a tinted lip balm.

Both sexes should bring a brief case or satchel of sorts in a neutral color to carry extra resumes, reference sheets, breath mints, hand sanitizer, and a book or time passing activity(crossword, Sudoku), preferably not a cell phone, as that gives an impression of immaturity and disruption for office workers and fellow candidates in the lobby. Shut off your devices before entering a meeting room and write down where you parked your car for stress and embarrassment prevention. (Guilty)


Stay up to date with your email linked to your phone and create an account with just your name as the address. When replying about jobs or getting back to employers, wait a day if they are setting up an interview with you, so you don't seem desperate and unemployed. Respond to phone calls and inquires right away to secure a spot. Be cordial and prepared and practice, practice, practice interview questions.

If any or all of these tips helped you land a job, drop us a line. We love to hear from our audience. If you have an article suggestion you would like to read on a related topic, email us.

Happy Hunting!

Kate.

About this Blog

Image used Courtesy of bustedhalo.com

Up till now, we've been like baby eagles, always having our parents watching over us, giving us advice or comforting us about the new and stressful situations that are to come in our lives. It is now as graduates, we are pushed out of the nest and must fly out into the world on our own to figure things out in a very dangerous and cut throat world that preys upon the naive'. The one course you'll never learn at college that matters most, is what you are going to do with the rest of your life and how to become a somebody in the world. Those you must search for within and work hard at everyday to make it.

The sad truth is, while you were living it up on campus for the last four years, it never occurred to you at the time you might have to go out and get, God forbid, a real 9 to 5 job. Unless your dad, uncle, aunt, sister, brother, mother, or cousin owns or has inside connections with an entry level position at a corporation, most of us are going to have to pound the pavement and beat down doors in order to get that first job because lets face it, with the new economy, there are excess number of people out of work right now with more experience and qualifications to work for those same jobs than us, and employers get to be picky about whom they want to come work for them now.

This blog is written for people like myself, who are recent graduates trying to make a name for themselves in the world and figure out what the hell they are doing in the mean time. This is my first hand experience of how I entered the "real world" and advice I have to give you all who are currently doing the same.

I hate to burst your bubble, if you think for one minute you're as valuable as the fancy piece of paper you possess says you are, you're in for a big shock my friend, because as of today, you are a tiny fish in a big pond. You're only as good as the skills and experience you have and the connections you add over time. Get ready to fight off all of the sharks and schools of fish to swim your way to the top of the corporate ladder one day at a time.

Your life as an adult starts now.