I think I talk about networking every day with the job seekers I work with. …yet it isn’t really sinking in. As many hours that you spend on your resume (I hope it is hours) and cover letter and the praying that comes after…I’m telling you in this job market it isn’t enough. Getting a job is nothing like it was a decade ago. Mailing resumes and letters no longer is the key to the employment kingdom. Now, it’s all about networking, both in person and online. The first thing you need is a good computer.  Most of us already know our next employer, or we know the person that will lead us to our next employer. We are always building our foundation and it grows as we move through our careers. Job seekers and even people who still have a job must be vigilant about engaging with social networking websites such as Facebook and LinkedIn. They should attend as many networking events as possible. The secret is simply that most jobs are never advertised.

If you are not familiar with social networking or need assistance creating your own Facebook or LinkedIn account, try hiring a “personal brands manager” for more information or a few recommendations feel free to email us.  We are happy to help anyway we can. ….just get out there and network.

Job coaches are similar to mentors, but are paid for their services, and are readily available for hire. The field is quickly becoming more and more popular as a valuable tool in the job search. According to MONEY magazine, “A coach may be the guardian angel you need to rev up your career.” The Wall Street Journal says, “Career Management Coaches can identify missing skills or style difficulties and offer pragmatic tips.” And according to Newsweek “They’re part therapist, part consultant, and they sure know how to succeed in business.”

What do I need a coach for?

There are many reasons to hire a job coach. Perhaps you want to make a major life change, but the process overwhelms you. Is there something you’ve always wanted to do in life, but instead followed the practical path? Maybe you are feeling burnt out in your present line of work and need an outsider to provide some guidance, to remind you why you do what you do. Or maybe you’re like me and know what you’re good at, know what you want to do, but don’t know how to get paid for it.

Even in Resort locations job coaches are available and can assist coaching their clients with feedback, insights, and guidance from an outside vantage point. A good friend of mine is a job coach here in Steamboat Springs, Colorado and she has been by “Buddha” on more then one occasion when I have needed professional career building insight. Many of my decisions I have made thanks to her input and guidance and she has always led me down the right path.

We meet weekly with a group of local resort job seekers to network with other job seekers, update resumes and improve interviewing skills. Last week we talked a bit about how in the last six months interviewing has changed and how best job seekers can now market themselves.

Many of the resumes that we are receiving are coming from a website called visual CV, http://www.visualcv.com/www/indexc.html. This website helps job seekers create an internet based resume that stands out from the crowd. Applicants email their link to potential employers showing past work samples, graphs and charts of past work, photos and videos. Very creative, very impressive for the employer.

Another idea that one of our recruiters came up with for a local builder out of work was to create business cards or flyers to present to potential employees that are somewhat of an origami box with instructions that turn it into a little house. Of course, the job seeker listed his name, contact information and past accomplishments on the card. Different, creative and I am sure this applicant’s information will get to the top of the employers pile of same-ol-same-ol resumes.

The Steamboat Springs, Colorado ski season came to a end yesterday.  Seems like the entire town took a big sigh of relief late last night and today is sunny, peaceful, and relaxed. The mountain looks beautiful, resting as well as all the locals after another fantastic Steamboat Springs winter.  The job situation actually looks good. Our local newspaper lists about 15 open positions which is actually pretty good for this time of year and the slow economy.

Our weekly job search network group is strong with our employer contacts and support of each other growing. We meet every Wednesday at Epilogue bookstore here in Steamboat Springs, Colorado from 1:30-3:00pm.  This week we will focus on, and listen to, each others 2 minute commercials selling our skills and what we could offer employers. We also help support each other through the ups and downs of job searching during a recession in a ski town. All of which is challenging.

If you are in our neck of the woods….stop on by for a cup of coffee or tea and network with us!

Last week we held a workshop here in Steamboat Springs for job seekers. 14 folks attended, most baby boomers whom had been laid off after working in the same industry for 15+ years. None of them wanted to be in the position they were in, all were happy with their chosen industries, positions, and seniority that they had worked hard to build up this last decade+.

At first the group was fairly glum as we went around the room introducing ourselves and what brought them to the workshop.  Yet after the first 45 minutes of so (and lots of toys for them to play with) great discussion, creative ideas, and  new networking relationships emerged.  Each job seeker left the room with tips about which social networking websites, ideas to help manage their money, fun things to do with their free time, and of course some worksheets to work on to learn more about themselves and what direction would be best for their next new workstyle.

We ended the session with 14 new friends and a promise to meet every Wednesday afternoon at Epilogue bookstore to support each other through the ups and downs of job seeking during a recession in a resort town.

As I watch the daily news of more and more layoffs I realize that this recession is going to change the face of our workforce. Businesses that have been “living the highlife” and not strategically managing the long-term success of their organizations are starting to panic impacting millions of lives along the way. Those of us whom are among the 12.5 million unemployed in the US are now forced to consider making a career change.

As we see the faces and hear the stories of the lives impacted it is clear that many of these folks will be forced (willingly or not) to get some kind of skills training. Many of the unemployed are baby boomers and perhaps not so computer literate with 25+ years of employment with the same employer now competing with the Generation Y kids out of college and looking for work. 13.8 percent of our 8.1 percent of unemployed are under the age of 29. The rate for teenage workers, from 16-19, is far worse—approaching 20 percent.

Our advice to all job seekers is to diversify. Take those computer courses, work on your business writing skills, join a job search networking group. Be flexible-take a position that 10 years ago you wouldn’t have dreamed of doing, volunteer your time to the non-profit organization of your choice. You will be pleasantly surprised at what you will learn doing so. Be patient, stay healthy, support each other and together we will all grow a bit and we will get through this with new skills and new friends…which is a GOOD thing!

So we are in a recession and the news just seems to get bleaker and bleaker by the day. As we all know, on Friday (3/6/09), the U.S. Labor Department released jobless figures showing the unemployment rate is 8.1 percent for February which is the highest it has been in 25 years. Last month alone, 651,000 Americans lost their jobs.

The recession isn’t leaving any industry out as it is hitting home pretty hard here in Steamboat Springs. Most of the hotels we work with have cut staff, implemented mandatory unpaid time off and/or salary decreases. Locals are tightening up a bit - not frequenting our local restaurants as much, holding off on renewing their health club memberships, staying away from Starbucks…and quite a few are looking for work elsewhere.

Our team of recruiters has been busy helping job seekers re-access their current situations, job skills, talents, passions and encouraging them to take advantage of the free time they have to explore new careers within the resort industry. Even with our current economic situation, it is estimated that by the year 2020, more than half of all employed people in the world will be involved directly or indirectly with the tourism industry.

Jobs will return…..now is a GREAT time to obtain that Hospitality degree or additional certification that you have been thinking about the last few years.

If you are seeking a degree in the Hospitality industry, below are a few options to consider:

• The Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management requires a minimum of 120 units for graduation. This interdisciplinary program prepares students for careers in the hospitality industry and includes basic core courses and an area of concentration.
• The concentration in Commercial Recreation and Resort Management prepares graduates to be entrepreneurs, managers, planners, and program supervisors in the commercial recreation, travel tourism, and resort management career areas.
• The concentration in Hotel Management prepares students to manage and operate hotels, motels, and other lodging business.
• The concentration in Restaurant and Institutional Foodservice Management prepares students for management positions in various branches of the food service industry.

For more information about making career changes in the resort industry come to our Job Search workshop in Steamboat Springs, Colorado on Thursday, April 2nd where we will have some fun, interactive worksheets and information about tapping into your strengths, passions and what the next step may be to help you move into a new resort career.

The election is finally upon us…and as much as you want to share your political opinions…with your spouse, co-worker or potential new employer, keep those opinions to yourself.  Even if you have a interview scheduled sometime later in the week after the election, be discreet and keep your politics to yourself.

Keep away from wearing stickers or pins advertising your party affiliation and also be careful about what you mention during your interview (unless you are interviewing for a job working for an elected official or a political party).  Since you have no idea  what party affiliation the person interviewing you is supporting, there’s no point losing what could be a good job offer because you said too much or offended the interviewer.