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Look Who’s Hiring-Macy’s Retail Certification

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Kwame Dow

Good Morning,

I received a message from an amazing resource, Tonya Haynes of Phoenix Business Development Group yesterday about the Macy’s Retail Certification training program.

The Macy’s Retail Certification is beginning its 3rd cohort, May 20, 2013.
10A – 4P, Monday – Friday
Held at: Los Angeles Urban League
5681 W Jefferson Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90016

The sessions will begin 5/20 and complete 6/6…the detailed calendar will be provided at the start of class.

The Macy’s Retail Certification Training program has been developed to recruit, train and retain well educated professionals within the retail industry.

Retail is 90% of the US gross domestic product (GDP-aka jobs created in America and funds the US economy). The retail industry consists of…

Clothing stores such as; Macy’s, Nordstrom’s, Ross

Point of Sale stores such as; Car Dealerships, Mobile Phone stores/kiosks, Apple/Microsoft Branches

Club stores such as; Sams, Costco and Smart & Final

To name a few…Is your dream to build a career within the retail industry? Do you know someone who would enjoy this exciting line of work?

What’s in it for YOU:

Guaranteed interview with Macy’s stores throughout the US**

A National Retail Certification that is accepted and observed at 100% of the retail establishments throughout the US**

FREE training that will have you on your way to the job of your dreams!

**Upon successful completion of the certification exam

If clothes, shopping and helping people find their inner “Fashionista” is your dream…apply via the below link by Friday, May 10th to begin you journey into a career in the retail industry or call the Los Angeles Urban League at 323.299.9660 x247.

Apply for the program Macy’s Certification Program

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Job Search Tip of the Week #130: Never Blame Your Former Employer…

Posted on April 30, 2013 by Kwame Dow

Good Afternoon,

Did you watch the NFL draft over the weekend? I certainly did! If you have been following our tips for any length of time, you know that I am a big Jets fan. As in every NFL Draft there are always surprises and twists and turns, this year was no exception. Matt Barkley, former quarterback from USC was projected to go in the 1st round but didn’t go until the 4th round…in full disclosure I recently found myself on the USC quarterbacks are overrated bandwagon but that shouldn’t negate the value of this tip in any way.

Tip of the Week: Never Blame Your Former Employer…

A few days before the NFL Draft, Matt Barkley said (I am paraphrasing) that he could have been more productive in his senior year if his coach Lane Kiffen didn’t tailor the offense to target one of the USC players. He went on to say that he wished he had said something instead of doing what he was told. As soon as I heard about this I immediately wondered how/if this would change his value in the draft? I am not an expert in the NFL Draft but I do know that it is the end one of the toughest hiring processes and since I am an expert at getting people hired then maybe I do know a thing or two about the draft. Did Barkley’s comments turn some teams off? You bet they did!

There is never a reason to blame your former employer for your lack of production, missing a business goal, sales target, promotion, etc. The last thing a future employer wants to hear is that you, “didn’t because” of your former employer. Even if it’s true there is no need to say it. Employers want to hire people that are accountable for their actions not those who blame others for their lack of production.

I am not saying that Matt Barkley’s comments lead to him being drafted with the 1st pick in the 4th Round but I am sure they didn’t help. Matt will likely go on and have a great career in Philadelphia but hopefully he learns from this. Don’t let your frustration with a former employer stop you from being the 1st pick in their hiring daft.

Have a great day and an even better week!
Kwame Dow

For more information on how Articulate U, can help you during your job search email us at info@articulate-u.com or give us a call at 323-540-4220.

Posted in Jobs & Careers, Personal Development, Uncategorized | Tagged 1st Pick in 4th Round, @ArticulateU, @MattBarkley, @USC, Articulate U, Articulate U is your competative advantage, Articulate U Resume Module, Career Coach, Employer sucks, follow us @ArticulateU, Get Hired, getting america back to work, Hire, Interview, Job Search, Jobs, lack of production, Lane Kiffen, Look Who's Hiring, Matt Barkley, never blame your former employer, New York Jets, NFL Draft, Personal Brand, Resume Module, twitter @ArticulateU, Your Value | Comments Off

Job Search Tip of the Week #129: Best Way To Uncover Your Accomplishments

Posted on April 17, 2013 by Kwame Dow

Good Afternoon,

Last week a client asked me how to put together a resume of strong accomplishments if they don’t have any. Don’t have any…that’s impossible! It’s not that this job seeker didn’t have any strong accomplishments it’s that he was thinking about them in the wrong way.

This is what I told him to do.

Tip of the Week: Best Way To Uncover Your Accomplishments

Most people think that an accomplishment is not an accomplishment if it isn’t “big”. The problem with this thinking is that what may be small to you may be big to someone else. For example, let’s say you put an Excel spreadsheet together and added a formula that automatically calculates and summarizes the content in it. This spreadsheet now saves you 5 minutes over the previous process. By itself this may not be significant but if you multiply that 5 minutes over a work-week it becomes 25 mins…now that’s pretty significant or BIG!

Do this exercise:

Think about a function you did in your previous job then compare how you did it when left to how you did it when you first began. Did you do it faster…if so how much faster and why? Did make less mistakes…if so how many less and why?

You have to think about the small things that you do because they may be the big things that your next employer needs to hear before they hire you.

Have a great day and an even better week!
Kwame Dow

For more information on how Articulate U, can help you during your job search email us at info@articulate-u.com or give us a call at 323-540-4220

Posted in Jobs & Careers, Personal Development, Uncategorized | Tagged @ArticulateU, Articulate U, Articulate U is your competative advantage, Articulate U Resume Module, Career Coach, Customize, first impressions, follow us @ArticulateU, getting hired, How to Uncover Accomplishments, Personal Brand, small things could be big things, unemployment, Work History, Your Value | Comments Off

Job Search Tip of the Week #128: Temp Your Way to a F/T Opportunity

Posted on April 9, 2013 by Kwame Dow

Good Afternoon,

I hope you had a nice weekend and are ready for a great week! I just got back from speaking to the Success Network at LAWORKS in Irwindale, CA and at the conclusion of my session I was asked if I really feel like the job market is getting better. I do!

Let me explain…

Tip of the Week: Temp Your Way to A F/T Opportunity

When the economy began to slow and full-time and temporary hiring came to a screeching halt most experts, including me agreed that an increase in temporary hiring would be the first indication of a true economic turn around/uptick. The reason being that temporary hiring increases a company’s speed to hire (time it takes to bring someone aboard). The faster companies can bring people aboard whether temporarily or in a full time capacity increases their ability to produce products/services and the economy reaps the benefits sooner and in a real way. It also gives companies the ability to “try before they buy” to make sure you are the right fit for them and them for you.

With an increased number of companies using temporary service agencies to bring candidates aboard it is yet another avenue to achieving your desired employment goal. This route is not right for everyone. It is however one of the best options for those who are currently out of work because often companies will need you to start immediately. Employees at temp firms also serve as your advocate and based on the relationships they have with the company they may be able to get them to loosen their requirements for candidates that the temp agency feels would be a good fit.

With anything, do your research and find out which agencies work with companies that are on your target list and reach out to them. In this case you should cast your net wide and sign up with multiple agencies for the best result. Before you know it you will have the opportunity of your dreams.

Have a great day and an even better week!
Kwame

For more information on how Articulate U, can help you during your job search email us at info@articulate-u.com or give us a call at 323-540-4220

Posted in Jobs & Careers, Personal Development, Uncategorized | Tagged @ArticulateU, @LAWorks, Articulate U, Articulate U is your competative advantage, Articulate U Resume Module, career, Career Coach, Economy Getting Better, first impressions, Get Hired, Increase in temporary hires, invest in you, Job Search Tip of the Week, Temporaty Agencies, twitter @ArticulateU, Work History | Comments Off

Job Search Tip of the Week #127: How Much $$$ Are You Looking For…

Posted on March 18, 2013 by Kwame Dow

Happy Monday!

During an interview you can sometimes be asked questions that you don’t want to answer. One of those questions is around how much money you are looking for. Last year we did a tip on how to answer this question and here it is.

How to Answer: How Much $$$ Are You Looking For…

“I am currently looking to make $50-$55K (or whatever your range is) however at this point in my career finding the right opportunity is most important to me.”

By answering this way you impress on the hiring manager that you are focused on your career and that this is not about just getting a job. You also are able to keep the conversation going just in case the range you put out there is above what they are looking to pay.

At the end of the day a great company is going to pay you accordingly. All you have to do is communicate your value and there is no way they will argue over a few thousand dollars.

Have a great day and an even better week,
Kwame

For more information on how Articulate U, can help you during your job search email us at info@articulate-u.com or give us a call at 323-540-4220

Posted in Jobs & Careers, Personal Development, Uncategorized | Tagged @ArticulateU, Articulate U, Articulate U is your competative advantage, Articulate U Resume Module, Articulate U-Cast, career, Career Coach, dificult interview question, experience, follow us @ArticulateU, Get Hired, How much do you want to make, invest in you, Job Search, Job Search Tip of the Week, Jobs, Personal Brand, twitter @ArticulateU, unemployment | Comments Off

Job Search Tip of the Week #126: Prepare Yourself For The Opportunity You Want

Posted on March 12, 2013 by Kwame Dow

Good afternoon ,

How are you doing with your one less hour sleep? This is one of my favorite times of the year because I enjoy the extra bit of sunshine in the afternoon and early evenings. A little lost sleep in exchange for some added sunshine sounds like a fair tradeoff – no? Yes!

Let’s talk tradeoffs…on Saturday I was listening to NPR and they had a story about employers feeling like college students aren’t fully prepared for the work world. Interesting, I would venture to say college students don’t feel like employers are willing to provide their entry level workers with the kind of training needed for them to be successful. True and True…so what to do about it?

Tip of the Week: Prepare Yourself For The Opportunity You Want

Here is the reality, college students have to prepare themselves for the opportunity that they want by doing internships. Classroom study alone is not going to get you hired. You have to have some “real world” experience and internships give you that. In fact, in many cases the training that employers don’t provide to new hires anymore is the same training that they do provide to interns. These are the same interns that they often offered full-time positions to when they graduate.

I know I sounds like I am a broken record but for the 101st time, you have to invest in your career. If you are no longer in college and looking to make a career change it’s important that you find a mentor, externship, volunteer, start a blog, go back to school, etc…but while doing all this you have to get practical and real world experience. It’s the real world experience that will make your goals a reality.

The economy, contrary to popular opinion is getting better and added 256,000 jobs in February. There are employers willing to hire and train employees but you have to show them you are ready for their opportunity. In fact AT&T is hiring over 500 employees in the Los Angeles area.

Use this extra bit of sunshine to prepare yourself for the opportunity you want…let us help you.

Have a great day and an even better week!
Kwame

Articulate U is your competitive advantage, don’t try to do it yourself let us help you Get Back To Work! For more information on our services email us at info@articulate-u.com 323-540-4220

Posted in Jobs & Careers, Personal Development, Uncategorized | Tagged @ArticulateU, Articulate U, Articulate U is your competative advantage, Articulate U Resume Module, career, Career Coach, College Students not ready for job market, Daylight savings time, experience, externships, follow us @ArticulateU, getting hired, hire train, Internships, invest in you, Job Search Tip of the Week, Jobs, Look Who's Hiring, Prepare Yourself for the opportunity you want, twitter @ArticulateU, unemployment, volunteer, Your Value | Comments Off

Job Search Tip of the Week #125:Don’t Send Unsolicited Resumes

Posted on March 5, 2013 by Kwame Dow

Good afternoon,

Last week a client asked if she has a list of companies that she wants to work for should she send her resumes to them even if they don’t have an opening. My answer…no!

Tip of the Week: Don’t Send Unsolicited Resumes

Unsolicited resumes usually get tossed in the garbage. As a hiring manager it was a rare occurrence when I read a resume that 1. wasn’t requested by me personally or 2. wasn’t walked in or emailed to me by a trusted colleague. With the response to each job posting being exponentially higher than it was in a “normal” economy, hiring managers have little time to read any correspondence that hasn’t been prefaced by someone they know.

So now the question becomes how do you get your resume emailed or walked-in by someone the hiring manager knows? This is the age of email, social networking, online profiles, etc. and because of this job seekers are really more empowered than ever before. I am sure that you have heard of 6 degrees of separation. Well when it comes to the business world it is more like 2 – 3 degrees tops.

Here’s what I mean. Go to LinkedIn and use their search option to find a company that you are interested in working for (by the way if you are a professional and you do not have a LinkedIn profile – you should). After executing the search you will likely find one (or more) person(s) that knows or is connected to someone that works for that company – pretty powerful stuff. A few years ago you couldn’t do this.

What do you do once you have this information? If it’s someone you know, reach out to them and ask them to walk your resume over to the HR Department. If it’s someone you don’t know well but he or she is connected to one of your contacts that you do know well, ask for an introduction.

The digital landscape affords the job-seeker unprecedented advantages. Work your network, reach out to your friends, and have them walk (or email) your resume into the decision maker’s office. When I was hiring I always entertained resumes that came directly from people I knew and respected. Even if I wasn’t hiring I always gave their referrals the courtesy of a call and even put their resume in my resume file for when opportunities came up.

Use your network, don’t send unsolicited resumes!

Have a great day and an even better week!
Kwame

Posted in Jobs & Careers, Personal Development, Uncategorized | Tagged 2-3 degrees, 6 Degrees, @ArticulateU, Articulate U, Articulate U is your competative advantage, career, Details, Digital Landscape, Don't send Unsolicited Resumes, first impressions, follow us @ArticulateU, Get Hired, getting hired, HR Department, Job Search, LinkedIn, Resume Module, Tip of the Week, twitter, twitter @ArticulateU, Use Friends and Coworkers, Use Your Network | Comments Off

Job Search Tip of the Week #124: Make Sure Your Resume Isn’t Filled With “So What” Bullets!

Posted on February 19, 2013 by Kwame Dow

Happy Monday!

Hope you had a great weekend; I certainly did! My 7 year old daughter presented a report on my native Guyana during the 2nd Annual Carter G. Woodson Black History Month Symposium, held by the men of Omega Psi Phi, Fraternity Inc. Talk about a proud dad…that would be me! Moving on to this week’s Tip of the Week.

Tip of the Week: Make Sure Your Resume Isn’t Filled With “So What” Bullets!

Do you know what a so what bullet is? If not, pay close attention because your resume may be filled with them. A so what bullet is one that once read the reader says, “so what!”

Examples:

•    Provided administrative support and answered phones
•    Developed and facilitated training
•    Tracked monthly sales activity

SO WHAT! All these bullets do is create questions. Who do you support? What kind of training do you facilitate? In what system and how much sales activity do you track?

Bullets are suppose to paint a clear picture of your successes not create more questions.

Examples:

•    Provided administrative support for a department of 10 including 2 Vice Presidents
•    Developed and facilitated training for SMART Technology in Special Education CTT classrooms
•    Created Excel spreadsheet to track $30K in monthly sales activity

Don’t let so what bullets stop you from getting hired. Send us a copy of your resume @ info@articulate-u.com by Wednesday of this week and we will review your resume for so what bullets.

Have a great day and an even better week!
Kwame

For more information on how Articulate U, can help you during your job search email us at info@articulate-u.com or give us a call at 323-540-4220

Posted in Jobs & Careers, Personal Development, Uncategorized | Tagged @ArticulateU, Articulate U, Articulate U is your competative advantage, Articulate U Resume Module, Black History Month, career, Details, first impressions, follow us @ArticulateU, Get Hired, getting america back to work, Job Search, Job Search Tip of the Week, Resume Bullets must say something, Resume Module, So What Resume Bullets, twitter @ArticulateU, Work History, Your Value | Comments Off

Look Who’s Hiring 2/11/13

Posted on February 11, 2013 by Kwame Dow

Good Afternoon,

I hope you had a great weekend! This Week’s Tip of the Week is actually a Look Who’s Hiring. Click on the link below:

Look Who’s Hiring Feel free to email this link to everyone in your network (even if they are not looking for a job) and ask them to do the same. Don’t forget to click on the like button on for this post and it will automatically post to your facebook wall.

Have a great day and an even better week!
Kwame Dow

Reduce the Stress and Frustration of your Job Search
Contact Articulate U, the experts at helping U communicate your VALUE!
Site www.articulate-u.com EMail info@articulate-u.com Phone 323-540-4220

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Job Search Tip of the Week #123: Use Social Media to Benefit Your Job Search

Posted on February 4, 2013 by Kwame Dow

Good Morning

I am guessing you watched the Super Bowl yesterday…what an amazing game! Congrats to the people of Baltimore-what an amazing season! As a Jets fan I am back to my old standby, “can’t wait until next year” #movingon. I was recently asked how does your social media presence impact your job search?

Tip of the Week: Use Social Media to Benefit Your Job Search

Whenever a new client contacts me to assist them in their preparation for a job search, the first thing I do is Google them. After I Google them, I then go to facebook, twitter, and LinkedIn to see what their online presence is saying about them. Guess what? So are potential employers.

In this age of social media/instant information all that a hiring manager needs to make a decision on hiring you is right at their fingertips. So you have to be careful what information you put out there about yourself. For instance if you are not happy with your current employer no need to call your boss a jerk on Facebook. Also if you think that your cube-mate shouldn’t have gotten that promotion don’t tweet that she is a low talent hack…not good.

Instead use social media to your benefit. Tweet about things that are job related and show your expertise. Join LinkedIn groups that are in line with your career goals and be an active participants on topics posted. If you blog make sure that you are blogging about things that reinforce the path your career is on.

When employers are doing “social media” research on you they want to see that you are an expert at what they are hiring you to do. Use social media for good and watch how quickly it will lead you to the opportunity of your dreams.

Have a great day and an even better week!
Kwame Dow

Posted in Jobs & Careers, Personal Development, Uncategorized | Tagged 49ers, @ArticulateU, Articulate U, Articulate U is your competative advantage, Baltimore, blog, Boss a jerk, career, Career Coach, Career Goals, Details, facebook, first impressions, follow us @ArticulateU, Get Hired, getting america back to work, getting hired, Google, Instant Information, invest in you, job related tweets, LinkedIn, Personal Brand, Ravens, San Francisco, Social Media, Super Bowl, twitter, twitter @ArticulateU, Work History | Comments Off

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