By Brad - Thursday 3 Jul 10:15 am
Though the image of being a trucker may not hold the same appeal as the image of being a lawyer or political figure (or, maybe they do…) but why would anybody want to be a truck driver?
For one, truck driving involves a lot more than just driving a truck. There are many choices, from the type of truck to drive to the cargo you haul. All of these choices lead to different types of trucking jobs. Of course, the best part of this is that any job as a truck driver pays well.
If you want a job that will support you and your family, you want a job that requires training and experience, like truck driving. There are many ups and downs to being a truck driver, many of which may surprise you!
Many married couples get into the career of truck driving together, as long haul trips will keep you from home for weeks at a time but working as a team (alternating driving and resting shifts) allows a couple to work together and not be apart, as well as enjoy the time on the road together.
Long haul trips are a great thing for anyone who enjoys the open road, some good music, and the experience of traveling to unknown territories. A truck driving job can offer you exciting opportunities you would not find with a regular 9 to 5 office job, or a 2nd shift factory job.
Since truck driving is a career that requires training, proper licensing and certification it is also a career that pays far better than any job which requires no prior experience. Furthermore, acquiring the proper licensing and certification that it takes to be a truck driver does not take a long time.
If you have a 5 year plan that involves getting into a successful career, choosing a truck driving job as your career path can put you on the right road within a year.
The options of being a truck driver are not limited to simply acquiring a license and driving a truck. There are different types of jobs that involve driving a truck, including local jobs that allow you to come home every night. Or, you can invest in your own truck and choose the “owner operator” path, which allows you to be your own boss, make your own decisions, and grow as an individual self employed business.
Qualifying yourself for a truck driving job means you will have a freedom that no other job can provide.
Posted in: Truck Jobs
By Brad - Wednesday 2 Jul 12:39 pm
In less than a decade more than 75 million people have established a job search account at Monster.com. Millions more have used sites like Careerbuilder.com and Hotjobs.com or some other website dedicated to employment opportunities. With all these people searching no one wants to get lost in the crowd. Consider these five approaches to making your job search effective.
1. Focus the search with keywords. Don’t waste time and energy searching too wide a variety of job listings or applying for jobs you don’t want. Know what you are seeking then use keywords to focus your search.
2. Use multiple sites. Limiting your search to one job search website limits your opportunity. Employers don’t list on every available site; it isn’t cost effective. Some industries have their own career websites. Look around or consider a site like Indeed.com when you begin your search. Indeed.com and others search multiple job sites at the same time which may speed up your job search.
3. Market yourself professionally. Employers who list online screen applicants to weed out a large portion before they even start planning interviews. Don’t get eliminated for an unprofessional package. Prepare cover letter templates and resume ahead of time in plain text document so they can be read no matter what programs the employer is using. Have them reviewed and edited to avoid typos and errors. Establish an email address for your job search that is simple and professional. Some employers are just as savvy online as you are and can easily check your social networking page. Drunken photos, sexual innuendo (or worse) are not professional and may cost you the chance at a second look.
4. Follow directions listed in the job listing. Employers do not want to hire people who cannot follow instructions. Read the job listing and follow the instructions regarding what they are looking for and how they want that information. Many toss out any applicants who do not follow instructions without even glancing at the resume.
5. Apply for positions you are qualified for. Don’t waste time – yours or the employer’s. Know whether you are qualified and apply only if you meet the employer’s basic needs.
In order to make your online job search effective you should use the tools to your advantage. Start with these five simple rules and your search will yield more advantageous results.
Posted in: Job Search
By Brad - Thursday 5 Jun 6:24 pm
The most important step in your job search starts with you. Knowing what you want in a job is the first priority. Without a goal in mind your job search will be unfocused and haphazard. While a broad search may get results it may not yield positive results.
Whether you are beginning your first search or your fifteenth the same rule applies. Find out what you want. To do so follow some basic steps:
1. Ask yourself why you are searching. Are you just out of school? Have you recently been laid off? Are you tired of your current position and looking for a change? Do you need more money? Your answer is the first step to deciding what you are looking for in your job search.
2. List your strengths. What do you have to offer an employer? Be honest with yourself. If you don’t have experience in a new field can you afford to start in an entry level position? Do you have other strengths to offer that may outweigh your inexperience? Know what you have to offer.
3. Research your options. If you know you want a job in management or insurance for example – start researching to narrow your job search. Type in the keyword management in a job search engine and watch hundreds of jobs appear. Don’t waste hours sorting through these choices. Choose a more specific keyword search for better results.
4. Know what you don’t want. Knowing what you are not willing to live with is just as important as knowing what you want. Make a list of items you will not compromise – be it “I won’t wear a suit every day” or “I hate cubicles”. Avoid the items on your list so you don’t waste your or the employers’ time.
5. Prioritize what you want. Make a list of what you want in your next job and rank the list.
6. Be patient. Finding the right job for you takes time. By limiting your job search to what you really want it may take longer. It might be quicker to do a broad search and take any position you can get but a job you hate will send you back to another job search fast.
Searching for a job takes time, energy and patience. Make the experience more fun and efficient by taking the first step to decide what you want in a job.
Posted in: Job Search
By Brad - Thursday 5 Jun 6:24 pm
Beginning a job search can be overwhelming whether a person has been recently laid off or is considering options for a growth opportunity. Keep a few simple options in mind and your search will prove successful.
1. Develop an organized system. If you don’t take your job search seriously why would anyone else. Searching for a job is similar to having a job. Set up a schedule for searching, posting resumes, networking and making follow-ups. Make your search a professional priority is taking the first step.
2. Go to the source. If you are looking for a specific position in an industry do not limit yourself to large and generic job search sites. Head directly to the employers you are interested in and apply via their site or human resources department. Do not limit yourself to only the well known employers in your field either; try small and mid-size companies as well.
3. Work with a staffing firm that services your industry. If you’ve sent your resume to the companies you are interested in or if you’ve searched several sites and found no openings, you may need professional help for your job search. Consider a headhunter or staffing service that specializes in your industry. These services have direct and up-to-date contact with potential employers. They will also review your resume and provide insider information about what potential employers are looking for.
4. Network at industry events and through professional organization websites and forums. No matter how old-fashioned you think networking is or how you think the internet has improved job searching, there is little substitute for getting out and making your self known to potential employers.
5. Send cover letters and resumes to a specific person not “to whom it may concern” or to the “hiring manager”. Employers and human resources departments receive resumes and applications by the hundreds. You will be just another number added to the pile or scanned then disposed of unless what you offer stands out. The first step in getting noticed is to get your information to the right party then wow them.
Follow these five simple steps and your job search will begin the journey to a new job in the right direction. Just remember to be consistent and keep following up, you will get the job that is right for you.
Posted in: Job Search
← Previous Page
; ?>/images/feed-icon-28x28.png){kind=icon}
RSS FEEDS
