Articles - The Voice of Job Seekers

9 Ways Volunteering Can Shape Your Career

Volunteering is worth time and effort to advance in your career, or transition into a new one. The chance to choose the work environment and the time you wish to invest in your future is very popular and effective.

If you have doubt whether effort is worth it, then consider these reasons to volunteer:

1. Sharpen newly obtained skills

New certifications, diplomas, or degrees can increase benefitting the organization and costing you only time. There are times when the volume of opportunities will make a big difference in the continuing education of the user.

2. Make mistakes and learn from them

You can choose an environment that is slower and will tolerance trials and errors depending on the work. It even helps if you have a mentor who has time to monitor your progress and provide feedback.

3. Time to do something bold

Something you want to try? Volunteering can provide an opportunity to take a calculated risk. See #2.

4. Reveal weaknesses that can be strengthened

In my opinion, that is an element that many people are afraid to get past. We would like to ride out our strengths to the sunset, but the reality: We are afraid to grow and change.

5. Try new approaches to solving old problems

To some degree, everyone has to become a marketer in his or her career. When you change careers, you must market yourself in a way that shows that your old skills and attributes apply to your new career. Additionally, you must try new approaches to old problems. Volunteering provides that platform in a way that is not as costly, except for your time.

6. Build your resume

It has been proven that volunteering can great work experience, especially if you are piloting a new career path. This is a great opportunity for additional references, and to track improvement to show employers your abilities.

7. Networking

You’re not the only one who uses volunteering for the various reasons mentioned. It helps to know someone on the same journey, but not always a similar career path. For many job seekers who volunteer, the networking opportunities are worth the investment of time.

8. International experience

International work experience in any field is impressive and often it brings you new problems to solve. Mostly, it gives you a global perspective that is something that employers look for in candidates.

9. Document your journey for a blog or video

When you take others on your new journey with you, whether a blog or video, or even a training manual, it adds to your credibility. If you ask your place of service if you can video, many times they will say yes. These mdiums can bring recruiters and employers to you if you are willing to promote your blog even a little.

by Mark Anthony Dyson

Accounting, the Hot STEM Career, and Social Media Profiles Job Search Matter

Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, unemployment of accounting professionals is significantly lower than the national average across all occupations – at 4.2 percent compared to 6.7. Similarly, accounting jobs are expected to grow 15.7 percent from 2010 to 2020, compared to 14.3 percent across all professions.

Today accounting offers attractive STEM career paths and job stability, and industry trends – such as emerging specializations and technological advancements – are making the field more exciting and dynamic than ever. Mario Perez, accounting professor at DeVry University, and I discussed :

· Growing and emerging specializations, including environmental/green accounting and forensic accounting
· The convergence between accounting and technology
· Accounting for global businesses and the importance of a global perspective
· Integrated business teams: working with management, thus expanding the accountant traditional role
· Career changers pursuing accounting and what he/she must offer employers

See Mario’s bio below:

Mario Perez has worked his entire career in the accounting profession. Professor Perez graduated from Florida International University with a Bachelor Degree in Accounting in 1999. He later completed his Masters of Science in Taxation from Florida International University in 2001. Professor Perez successfully passed all four parts of the CPA exam in 2001 and is certified in the state of Florida.

After graduating with his Bachelor’s Degree from Florida International University, he worked for ExxonMobil as the Senior Accountant responsible for monthly financial reporting for all operations in Bermuda and Jamaica. He worked for ExxonMobil from 1999 to 2004. Since 2004 he has been working as a full-time Professor for DeVry University.

Professor Perez teaches all undergraduate accounting courses at DeVry and most graduate courses at Keller (where he has taught since 2002). He is also the Lead Faculty for the Becker CPA Review in South Florida. He teaches the Financial and Audit sections of the CPA exam and is one of the highest ranked instructors in the nation. He is also responsible for Becker marketing events in South Florida as well as scheduling courses and teaching assignments.

In the second segment of the show, I wanted to replay a recording from a workshop I conducted from April 2013. This is a workshop I offer 5 ways that job seekers can keep their job search relevant and meaningful. I asked my occassional co-hosts and contributors Sandra Tedford and Bianca “Sassy HR Girl” Thompson to offer their thoughts on using social media for their job search. I want you to note the startling difference between Sandra’s and Bianca’s perspective — it is still interesting to hear in 2014.

We addressed the following:

The importance of a LinkedIn profile and choosing to complete it in
Although many professions do not emphasize the use of social media, you will stand out if you do
Put your best foot forward when you do choose to use social media
Why people are still apprehensive in using social profiles to market themselves to employers

by Mark Anthony Dyson

3 Ways Your Career Voice Will Be Heard

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! I won’t join any of the loud celebrations that will occur today. But I do have a few words for the loud and insidiously boisterous careerists who finding that loud isn’t working for them.

When we are told that our point is not getting across, a natural reaction is to become louder. That does not always work. Your career voice is not about volume, nor frequency (not always).

Our society has a misperception the effectiveness of a loud career voice:

We think that a loud person should be the leader
That is the person that stands out
He or she knows what they are saying
A loud person should lead, we must follow him/her

Many times, this is an anomaly. What needs to be said: Employers experience and respond the same way. Those that argue this would say that a quiet person would need to be more vocal so others will know they have the qualities needed for the job. I would agree that being vocal is necessary, but being loud, obnoxious, arrogant, and conceded do not equal qualified or attractive.

I think delivery is everything, and there are ways your career voice will be heard:

1. Don’t be afraid to make the same point twice…or more

If you have an important point to make, don’t try to subtle or clever. Use a pile driver.

Click To Tweet

Hit the point once. Then come back and hit it again. Then hit it a third time – a tremendous whack!”~Wintston Churchill

Sending a message in a louder way will get an employer’s attention, but not heard. Communication 101 – unless the receives the message in the same way the sender delivers it, the fault lies with the sender.

When you interview, network, or ask for help, think of the best way the person may receive it. It’s likely that a temperate, straight-forward, and tactful approach works for most people. You may have to find three different ways to deliver it, but all of the ways must not leave anyone guessing.

2. Exude temperance

“Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.” ~Proverbs 25:15

Click To Tweet

Whether you believe in the bible or not, there is a lot of truth in not yelling, screaming, or cursing your way to persuasion. You stand out if you can make your point by using a disarming voice. It’s hard, but I think that the people who influenced me the most had high-levels of self control in their voice and actions.

3. Don’t give them ammo

Speak softly, and carry a big stick; you will go far ~ West African Proverb/Unknown

Click To Tweet

This is saying that your actions will speak louder than words. Always. If you are not known for action, then your words will fall to the ground. The more you have tangible and visible results, the fewer words you have to use.

Providing an example for people through your actions give employers an idea what to expect when they work with you. Your words are measured through your actions. It is not just employers who you need to impress. You have to impress the people who refer you too.

image credit