Ask Christy, the Career Coach

Spring Means It's Time to Find a Summer Job

It’s not too early for students to start applying.

My high schooler wants to get her first summer job. Do you have any advice? Thanks — Mary Anne Dear Mary Anne,  That’s a great question. And perfect timing – it’s not too early to start applying for summer jobs.  To answer your question, I thought it would be helpful to get ideas from my daughter, Katie, who landed her first job last summer.   Networking or Not Working Young or old, the best way to get a job is through networking. Because companies like to hire people who are recommended by their good employees, ask your friends if their employers have openings and if they would recommend you to their boss.  Don’t forget to ask your parents and your parents’ friends if they know of any job openings and for their recommendations.  The Power…

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Career and Testing Assistance Offered At Ela Area Public Library

Take control of your job search or prepare for the GRE or GMAT at the library.

If you are looking for work or are a college bound high school student preparing for the SATs or ACTs, the Career Resource and Test Prep section at the Ela Area Public Library acts as a new resource to do so. "We saw the need to implement a career section with the state of the economy," said Jenny Plohr, head of adult reference. Both sections are located on the second floor in the adult non-fiction section of the library. The Career Resource section boasts a significant collection of books, dvd's, audiobooks, pamphlets, and magazines pertaining to writing a cover letter and resume, how to ace an interview, and the job market. "A lot of people were coming in to get books about getting their resume and cover letter together," said Plohr. In …

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Ask Christy, the Career Coach

How Long Will that Job Search Take?

Here are some factors that can help you reduce the time it takes to search for a job.

Just how long will it take to find a new job? Good question, Neighbor. The answer to this question is really important in building your budget for this period of unemployment. The rule of thumb has been that it will take about one month for every $10,000 you earned. So if you earned $50,000, it would take about five months. Truth is, no one knows who came up with that formula or if it is true. I've worked with clients who earned $200,000 and landed in three months with several offers in hand (yes, during this recession) and I know people who earned $35,000 who haven't found a job in over 18 months.  What are the factors that really decrease job search time? 1. Your Attitude. Whether you're networking or interviewing, a genuinely positive …

Ask Christy, the Career Coach

Need Resources for an Internet Job Search?

I provide a list of online resources to help you land your next job.

What are the best Internet resources for job search? That's a great question and I'll be glad to answer that but first let me say something really important. Ready? Statistically, less than 10% of people get jobs through the Internet. When I hear of people spending most of their job search time on the computer, I get really concerned because they're not investing their time wisely. More than 75% of people get their jobs through networking or what I like to call "building relationships deep and wide." Spend about 75% of your time with people and about 25% of your time on the computer. The free websites I recommend here will help you be efficient online and free you up to network. Hope these resources are of help to you. If you've got a …

•  3 Comments

Marcia Sagendorph

11:16 am on Monday, September 27, 2010

I will Christy, and also passed it along to few people I know who are looking. Good reminder to get off that computer and get out among the people!   more ›

Ask Christy, the Career Coach

Have a Career Question? She's Got the Answer

I’ve just been laid off; what do I do now?

Hello, neighbors! I'm Christy Suerth, a Lake Zurich resident and certified career coach. My passion is to help people land better jobs faster. My secret sauce? I have 20 years of experience in human resources and employment. This means I've reviewed thousands of resumes, interviewed hundreds of people and worked with hiring managers and know how they think. Ask Christy, The Career Coach is a new weekly column for the Lake Zurich Patch dedicated to answering your questions about job searching.  Send your questions on resumes, networking, interviewing, branding, job search sites, LinkedIn and more. My promise? I'll provide you with current information to help you in this challenging job market.   Because this is my inaugural column, I'll …

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Christy Suerth

2:27 pm on Friday, September 24, 2010

Thanks, Tara! Perhaps you know of somebody who is "between opportunities" and you can pass along the link.   more ›