How do you do that? You get yourself described on paper like an advertisement - your resume is your written commercial. Once you get that together, you have to get the word out, electronically primarily. If people don’t have a lot of facility with electronics, we will teach them. It’s marketing tips, really.
Does anybody send a paper resume anymore? People are still doing that with very little return on investment. Some smaller firms will have you mail them a resume. Just go through the ads yourself, they say e-mail your resume or submit an online application.
Who is hiring right now? In Massachusetts, we are looking at health care and hospitality. Those are the big ones. There are some newer areas - but there are [fewer] skilled people to fill them - in biotech and with environmental-based companies.
Many people have been out of work for months or even years. What advice can you give them to help persuade employers they are up for the job? Volunteer. Get involved in some company that did what you used to do or get involved in a brand new, what we call, crossover occupation, which requires similar skills. People rarely say no to free labor. It gets your foot in the door and helps you hone skills. It also helps you psychologically.
Staying positive must be one of the biggest challenges. Sitting around and e-mailing and going on interview after interview is a bit demoralizing. An employer isn’t looking for someone who has been rejected a lot. They are looking for the positive person. You have to keep yourself up. It may mean taking a vacation, taking a time out. Whatever it is that keeps you fueled and keeps you upbeat.
Do most unemployed workers need to expect a pay cut in their next job? Many should expect it.
