The job search tools you need to land your next role

THE BACK-TO-BASICS APPROACH FOR WHEREVER YOU ARE IN YOUR PROCESS

The job market is tough right now. Many companies and industries are still hiring – either as essential services or as businesses start to re-open – but millions of people are still out of work, and competition for roles is increasing.

Are you searching for a job for the first time? Or were you laid off or furloughed and haven’t looked for a new job in years?

Go back-to-basics with these essential job hunt tools and strategies.

Optimize key words in your resume

Your resume should map back to a job description – either to the exact one you’re applying for or to others listed in your field. As companies are flooded with resumes and relying on technology to sort and find matches, your resume will need to stand out from the rest. Focus on what makes you unique, then incorporate key words from job descriptions. These should be accurate and highlight your skills, experiences or internships. Build a resume in minutes using AI-powered keywords.

Build and expand your network through job boards

Connect with thousands of employers that are actively looking to hire by uploading your resume and applying to roles through a job board. Whether an internal recruiter at a company reaches out to learn more about you, or you nab an interview for a specific role, your presence on a job board can become your own personal network. This is a smart move for all professionals, but especially entry-level and early-career workers who might not have the same personal connections as someone who’s been working for years.

And what if a company you’re interested in doesn’t have any open roles that match your skills or experience? Still apply. Or sign up to receive alerts about jobs. That company is constantly building a pipeline of interested, qualified candidates, and you’ll be on the list when a new role opens.

Work with a recruiter

Where job boards expand your search, staffing firms and placement agencies can supplement with a targeted approach. Many firms and agencies are industry-specific, from advertising creatives to tech professionals to logistics. Plus, as businesses weather economic uncertainty, there is an increased interest in using agencies to fill contract or short-term positions. Take advantage of these opportunities to gain on-the-job experience while bringing in a paycheck.

Practice your interviewing skills

Once your resume and skills get you to the next round in the process (congrats!), prepare to make a real connection with your potential new employer. Utilize your friends, family and others in your network to get comfortable talking about your skills, prior experience and why you are a strong candidate to fill the role. Practice your virtual interviewing skills and make sure your technology works prior to the interview.

It's easier said than done but – be patient

Even if your dream position is not available at the moment, look for any sort of opportunity to gain real-world experience and build transferable skills in industries and roles that are hiring. From temporary gigs to volunteer work or internships, keep making connections and adding skills to your resume.

The transition from a military to civilian career just got easier

HELPING VETERANS FIND THE RIGHT JOBS.

An estimated 250,000 U.S. military members enter civilian life each year. These brave men and women possess an array of leadership and business skills that make them a valuable asset to any civilian organization. Despite their potential to succeed in the civilian workforce, many struggle with making the transition.

Being a veteran myself, I know firsthand how difficult this transition can be. When it comes to finding a job, where do you even begin? How do you translate what you’ve done during your years of service into skills and experience that would resonate with civilian employers?

The good news is many employers recognize the value military veterans can bring to an organization and are eager to recruit them.

Knowing that employers are ready and willing to hire military veterans, the men and women transitioning from active duty need the right resources to help them match their skills with available opportunities.

Tech tools to find veteran-friendly jobs

One of the obstacles ex-military personnel face when job searching is understanding how to find civilian job equivalents to the roles they held in the military. That’s why CareerBuilder supports Google Cloud’s job search feature, which enables transitioning service members to find relevant civilian jobs available right now on CareerBuilder.com and our clients’ talent networks.

Using the Google Cloud Talent Solution feature, U.S. military service members can enter their military occupational specialty code (MOS, AFSC, NEC) on CareerBuilder and find relevant civilian jobs that require similar skills to those used in their military roles. (You can also include rank codes, for example, 11A for Infantry Officer or 11B for Infrantryman.)

Utilize online veteran communities

CareerBuilder and RallyPoint, one of the largest military-focused online networks in the world, formed a partnership designed to help veterans quickly connect with top employers who want to actively recruit them to work for their companies. CareerBuilder powers RallyPoint’s job board, connecting RallyPoint’s 1.5 million military members to their network of thousands of employers.

Transitioning service members often rely on sites such as Military Times for unbiased news and information affecting their military and civilian lives. Their career site hosts a wide range of jobs across industries from employers actively looking to hire veterans, and comprehensive tools for service members and veterans to use in their job search.

Top skills veterans should highlight on their resume

In addition to functional skills and accomplishments, veterans, especially those who feel underemployed or are in low-paying jobs, should highlight their soft skills when marketing themselves to employers. In particular, employers say they look for these skills that members of the armed forces typically bring to organizations after leaving active duty:

Ability to work as a team

Disciplined work approach

Respect and integrity

Perform under pressure

Leadership skills

Industries hiring veterans

Employers say veterans are being recruited across a wide variety of functions, including:

Customer service

Information technology

Production

Sales

Accounting/finance

Employers see the tremendous value in hiring transitioning military personnel and veterans – and these service men and women are just as eager to start their civilian careers. With the right resources and tools to help employers connect with veterans and veterans find the right jobs for their unique backgrounds, we’ll move closer toward the goal of having all veterans gainfully employed in meaningful post-military careers.

How to find a job when unemployment is high

HERE ARE 6 WAYS TO HELP COMBAT A COMPETITIVE JOB MARKET.

Just three months ago, candidates had their pick of who to work for, sometimes even “ghosting” after accepting a job offer. There were more open roles than candidates available for work, and the unemployment rate sat at record lows for months.

Now, with the COVID-19 pandemic turning our economy and social lives upside down, it can be tough to sort out what will help, what won’t and what you can actually control. It’s unsettling to see a 14.7% unemployment rate and hear about friends, family, and neighbors losing jobs.

But real-time data is showing positive signs, with week-over-week job losses starting to decrease and stabilize, and industries like construction, manufacturing, and retailare increasing job posts. There is still high demand for front-line response industries like transportation and warehousing – supporting huge retailers like CVS, Amazon and Home Depot – and non-critical care healthcare positions are also on the rise.

As you look for a job in this more competitive hiring landscape, here are a few tips to set yourself apart and find your next role, fast.

Upskill and highlight transferable skills

If your desired industry isn’t in high-demand, identify and leverageskills that can translate into a new profession. In some cases, economic downturns provide opportunity for continued education and development. Spend time taking online classes and trainings to upskill and strengthen your resume. 

Look for part-time and contract labor positions

While positions and long-term opportunities may be limited, look for work in high-demand industries inthat may be more short-term. This will allow you to add to or build on your skills while bringing home a paycheck.

Make sure your resume is competitive and up to date

Crafting a resume that best highlights skills and other achievements is important for any job seeker. Utilize tools like AI to build a personalized, job-specific resume. You’ll want to showcase your achievements in a concise, ATS-approved way.

Utilize a job board

When uploading and applying for positions on a job board, your resume can then be accessed by thousands of companies looking to source candidates and build their talent pipeline. This will also allow you to learn about roles that match your skill set and interests as they become available.

Clean up your social media

It’s important you don’t have anything that could turn off a hiring manager, like tasteless content or complaints about a former job or boss. In a CareerBuilder study, we found 70% of employers use social networking sites to research job candidates, and of those that do, 57% have found content that caused them not to hire candidates. If used wisely, social media can help you stand out and show skills or interests that don’t fit on a resume, especially when 43% of employers said candidates’ social media content influenced their decision to hire them. Make sure your online presence puts your best foot forward.

Nurture your network

Build and leverage your connections to make sure you are getting in front of the right people for roles that are open right now. Companies will often find new candidates through referrals, so job seekers should ask their networks in case anyone they know can introduce them to relevant hiring managers.

Companies hiring this week

Job seekers, here is our weekly list of 10 companies that are hiring this week. Click on the company names to learn more about the opportunities available.

1. AAA NortheastIndustry: Insurance and travel
Sample job titles: Travel agent, roadside technician, call center representative, insurance agent
Location: Rhode Island, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts
2. American Medical ResponseIndustry: Health care
Sample job titles: Paramedic, EMT
Location: Nationwide
3. Army National GuardIndustry: Military
Sample job titles: Infantryman management training, light-wheel vehicle mechanic, food services specialist
Location: Nationwide
4. Client Services IncorporatedIndustry: Financial services
Sample job titles: Customer service representative, call center representative
Location: St Charles, Mo.; Lenexa, Kan.
5. JM Wilson CorporationIndustry: Insurance
Sample job titles: Assistant transportation underwriter, branch manager, property and casualty underwriter
Location: Westerville, Ohio
6. Lawrence Merchandising ServicesIndustry: Retail merchandising
Sample job titles: Part-time merchandiser
Location: Nationwide
7. Orbital ATKIndustry: Aerospace manufacturer
Sample job titles: Manufacturing engineer, mechanical engineer, aerospace engineer
Location:Dulles, Va.; Chandler and Gilbert, Ariz.; Northridge, Calif.; Plymouth, Minn.; Luka, Miss.; Clearfield, Utah
8. PenfedIndustry: Banking/financial services
Sample job titles: Credit card representative, branch support representative, IT security engineer
Location:Nebraska, Virginia, Oregon, Pennsylvania
9. WhitlockIndustry: Computer software
Sample job titles: Sales representative, customer support, audiovisual systems programmer, on-site audiovisual service technician, field service technician
Location: Nationwide
10. WIS Intl.Industry: Retail
Sample job titles: Inventory associate/counter, inventory supervisor, inventory manager, area manager, district manager
Location:Nationwide

Companies hiring this month

Check out these 19 companies with open positions this month.

June is the month we celebrate dads and grads. So whether you're gearing up to join the workforce with your newly minted diploma or you're looking for a job change that will make Dad proud, take a look at these 19 companies hiring in the coming month.
1. 84 Lumber
Industry: Construction
Sample job titles: Manager trainee
Location: Nationwide
2. AAA Northeast
Industry: Insurance and travel
Sample job titles: Travel Agents, Roadside Technicians, Call Center Representatives, Insurance Agents
Location: Rhode Island, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts
3. Aetna
Industry: Healthcare
Sample job titles: Case manager, RN, health coach consultant, clinical care manager
Location: Nationwide
4. American Medical Response
Industry: Healthcare
Sample job titles: Paramedic, EMT
Location: Nationwide
5. Army National Guard
Industry: Military
Sample job titles: Infantryman management training, light-wheel vehicle mechanic, food services specialist
Location: Nationwide
6. Client Services Incorporated
Industry: Financial services
Sample job titles: Customer service representative, call center representative
Location: St Charles, Mo.; Lenexa, Kan.
7. Einstein Health Network
Industry: Healthcare
Sample job titles: Registered nurse, physical therapist, radiology technician
Location: Philadelphia
8. EmCare, Inc.
Industry: Healthcare
Sample job titles: Billing coordinator, site coordinator
Location: Nationwide
9. Epic Health Services
Industry: Home health
Sample job titles: Registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, speech language pathologist, physical therapist, occupational therapist, board certified behavioral analyst
Location: Texas, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Missouri, Indiana, Arizona, Illinois, Colorado, Maryland, Virginia, Louisiana, North Carolina, Oregon, Nevada, Washington, Michigan, Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida.
10. JM Wilson Corporation
Industry: Insurance
Sample job titles: Assistant transportation underwriter, branch manager, property and casualty underwriter
Location: Westerville, Ohio
11. Kindred at Home
Industry: Healthcare
Sample job titles: Hospice RN
Location: Nationwide
12. Lawrence Merchandising Services
Industry: Retail merchandising
Sample job titles: Part-time merchandiser
Location: Nationwide
13. Orbital ATK
Industry: Aerospace Manufacturer
Sample job titles: Manufacturing Engineer, mechanical engineer, aerospace engineers
Location: Dulles, Va.; Chandler and Gilbert, Ariz.; Northridge, Calif.; Plymouth, Minn.; Luka, Miss.; Clearfield, Utah;
14. Penfed
Industry: Banking/financial services
Sample job titles: Credit card representative, branch support representative, IT security engineer
Location: Nebraska, Virginia, Oregon, Pennsylvania
15. PSA Healthcare
Industry: Pediatric home health
Sample job titles: Registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, licensed vocational nurse
Location: Georgia, Florida, Texas, Colorado, Illinois, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Washington
16. TMX Finance Family of Companies
Industry: Financial services
Sample job titles: Store manager, district manager, general manager, general manager trainee, customer service representative, bilingual customer service representative
Location: Nationwide
17. ULINE
Industry: Shipping and packaging/office supplies
Sample job titles: Customer service, distribution manager, director of talent acquisition, inside sales, IT, marketing, recruiters, supply chain, warehouse
Location: Nationwide
18. Whitlock
Industry: Computer software
Sample job titles: Sales representative, customer support, audiovisual systems programmer, on-site audiovisual service technician, field service technician
Location: Nationwide
19. WIS Intl.
Industry: Retail
Sample job titles: Inventory associate/counter, inventory supervisor, inventory manager, area manager, district manager
Location: Nationwide

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How will Trump’s exit from the climate agreement impact job prospects?

Will President Trump's decision to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement mean sunnier or darker days ahead for U.S. job seekers?
On one hand, if you're a marine biologist studying the rapid decline of the Great Barrier Reef, you could experience solid job stability with high demand if Trump's decision helps keep the planet on pace to warm three degrees Celsius. On the other hand, if you're a solar energy system installer, your job prospects could be slimmer if the decision results in the continued use of fossil fuels. Or so it might seem.

In announcing his decision to leave the international effort to curb carbon emissions, Trump said that complying with the Paris Accord could cost America as many as 2.7 million lost jobs by 2025, citing research from the National Economic Research Associates (NERA). Several media reports, including The Washington Post's Fact Checker analysis, have since challenged that estimate of job losses, saying that Trump failed to disclose that the study "does not take into account potential benefits from avoided emissions. ... The model does not take into consideration yet-to-be developed technologies that might influence the long-term cost." The fact-checkers say Trump failed to balance the report's estimate of job losses with the potential job creation gains.
Trump and critics of the global treaty say exiting the agreement will actually spur jobs. But many experts say it will not, reported CBS News' Moneywatch. In reality, the renewable energy sector today is creating more jobs than fossil fuels – last year, more than twice as many people were employed in the solar sector than in coal mining, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. So, economists argue, sticking with fossil fuels has less potential for job growth, whereas shifting to a clean-energy economy has greater potential to boost employment.
Trump Critics: Exit Will Cost U.S. Jobs
Opponents of Trump's decision say withdrawing from the accord will lead to job losses.
California Gov. Jerry Brown told PBS that Trump's move is "going to cost jobs, not the reverse." He used his own state as an example of how environmentally based decisions can benefit the job market overall. While California has lost jobs, the net effect has been job gains of 2.4 million in last eight years, since the recession, and it was "driven by the clean tech investments and the climate action strategies," Brown said.
Shifting to Local Governments and Private Companies?
While the debate rages over whether the exit will cut or create jobs, there are some early indications that private companies and state and local governments are stepping up to fight climate change as the federal government steps out of the international effort. It remains unclear, however, how that would translate into job creation or job cuts, or if jobs could shift from the federal government to state and local governments or the private sector.
Just a day after Trump's decision, mayors from across the country pledged to work locally and to advocate nationally for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. As part of the Mayors National Climate Action Agenda, they say that they cannot afford to sit back and do nothing while global warming threatens their cities by creating coastal erosion, rising sea levels, flooding, deadly heat waves and droughts and other problems.
A recent Mother Jones article chronicled how Trump's stance on climate change resulted in a job shift from a federal government position to a nonprofit one for one woman. Jane Zelikova was working as a scientist at the U.S. Department of Energy researching how big fossil-fuel industries can reduce greenhouse gas emissions when Trump was elected. After his budget slashed funding for science and research, she quit her Energy Department job and in July will start a job at a small nonprofit called the Center for Carbon Removal, based in Berkeley, California.
'We Can Be Ready to Go'
She predicts a shift from federal leadership to more state-based action, citing the same positive job growth that Gov. Brown noted. "Western states are perfectly poised to lead on climate action," she said. "In terms of federal action, there's going to be very little, so we need to work with states, so that when the political climate changes and there can be federal action, we can be ready to go."
Regardless of what the federal government does in the agreement, the media report that the private sector is shifting toward cleaner energy. Cheap natural gas and renewables will continue to drive the retirement of coal plants.
Twenty-five companies, including Apple, Google and Facebook had united to urge the president to stay in the accord, and many leaders of these companies took to Twitter following the decision to express their disappointment. Time will tell if they step up where the government no longer will lead.
"Disappointed with today's decision on the Paris Agreement," Jeff Immelt, chairman of General Electric Corp. tweeted. "Climate change is real. Industry must now lead and not depend on government."

3 careers beyond customer service specialist

Are you working as a customer service specialist? Are you knowledgeable about the products of your company, and always willing to bend over backward to please your customers? Luckily, career advancement is within your reach!

 

As much as you love your job, though, that doesn't mean you want to stay in your entry-level position for the rest of your life. Because your job at the forefront of the company puts you in touch with many other departments, you can learn about those departments and choose where you want to go. Once you decide, you can start honing your skills so you can step into one of the following jobs.

Customer Service Supervisor
If your co-workers often come to you for help, you've already taken the first step toward becoming a customer service supervisor. As a supervisor, you'll help train new customer service reps, step in when a customer service rep is having trouble answering a customer's questions, and help your team reach its goals. Your new job will come with an increased salary, too; the national average for this position is $35,000 for full-time workers. To reach this next phase of your career, work on the following skills:

Proficiency with computer programs, such as Microsoft Word and Excel

Written and verbal communication
Technical expertise in your field
To let your employer know that you're ready for a promotion, strive to go above and beyond the requirements of your current job. This doesn't mean you should overstep your authority, but you can make wise judgment calls that will streamline the customer service process and please both your boss and the customers you assist.
If a promotion seems a little too far away, reach out to CareerBuilder and start looking for open customer service supervisor positions in your area.

Customer Service Manager
After you've worked as a customer service supervisor for a time, you may be able to add another feather to your cap when you become a customer service manager. The national average salary is $46,000, which is over 30 percent more than customer service supervisors make!
Managers have a tougher job than supervisors. They have to keep an eye on a team of customer service reps, and they may have to deal with disciplinary issues. They may also play a key role in developing a company's customer service policy.
Does this sound like it would be a good fit for you? Continue to hone the skills that are important for a customer service supervisor, but keep in mind that you'll need even better credentials to land a job as a manager. Most often, you can work as a customer service specialist or a customer service supervisor without having any college education, but that usually isn't the case if you want to be a manager. A college degree may be necessary in order for you to land the job.
If becoming a full-time student isn't an option for you, consider enrolling in a certificate program that will enhance your skills. Take online or night classes that fit your schedule. You might want to study  
 business management, accounting, and topics that relate specifically to your industry. Keep an eye on customer service manager job openings, and study the job description in each posting to get a good feel for what different companies want from their managers.

Other Jobs to Explore
Your experience as a customer service specialist may also equip you for careers outside of customer service. For example, if you work for a retail store, you may become interested in things like the visual merchandising aspects of how to set up a store. If you really enjoy working with people, you might branch out into sales. When you take up the mantle of a salesperson, you might have the opportunity to earn a nice commission on the products you sell.
Regardless of what your career goals are, you should always be looking for opportunities to advance. Seek out chances to learn, welcome feedback, and be flexible. When you focus on the keys to career development, you're setting yourself up for success. Before you know it, you could be out of your cubicle and into an office of your very own!