Video Resumes

"Savvy job seekers know that the paper resume is a dated approach to your job search. Having a professional video profile complete with your traditional resume, personality profile, and relevant accomplishments will increase your chance for hire by 30% or more - it just works."

- David DeCapua, CEO TalentRooster


While recently visiting a staffing agency in Lexington, I learned about emerging video resume technology from a company called TalentRooster. TalentRooster allows job seekers to create a video profile that employers can use as a preview of the candidate. Employers, staffing agencies, and recruiters are also using technology such as TalentRooster to conduct initial candidate screenings and to determine who to invite to the interview. Employers can pre-select which questions they would like for the candidate to answer. The candidate then answers the questions using a webcam or built in computer camera, and emails it back to the employer. It is inexpensive and convenient for the employer. A benefit to candidates is that they have time to think about their responses and can record their answers until they are pleased with their responses. Good Morning America even recently spotlighted this new tool. Learn more at TalentRooster. As GCDFs, do you see this type of technology replacing a traditional paper resume?

KCEOC Site Visit

Last week we travelled to Barbourville for an engaging day of training with the KCEOC staff. A highlight of the day was learning more about Carla's emerging theory regarding the differences in Heritage, Contemporary and Progressive employers and how they approach interviewing. Let your mind guess what type of questions each of these employers utilize in interviews. Watch for more details in future trainings.

The Power of Twitter and Social Media

Here is a link to a recent blog post from Master Career Counselor about Twitter.

http://bit.ly/m2HBQK

Daniel Boone Site Visit

In spite of record rainfall for April, we were able to schedule most of our April site visits. Our prayers go out to many of you in communities that are impacted by flooding. Last week we visited GCDFs in Manchester at the Daniel Boone Community Action Agency. After a morning of training and lunch, we toured the 1000 acre Levi Jackson Wilderness Road State Park and Mountain Life museum. This is a fabulous destination for youth field trips. So much history of Kentucky, and our nation, can be experienced here. Levi Jackson, for whom the park is named, was the first judge of Laurel County. His descendents donated the land for the state park in 1931. The park has a campground, hiking trails, mill, and Mountian Life Musuem. Many of the artifacts in the museum have been donated by local citizens and the Jackson family. The park is dedicated to the memory of pioneers, whose early struggles made possible the settlement and development of Kentucky and other states to the west by way of Wilderness Road and Boone's Trace. The park is also the location of the noted bloody 1786 Indian massacre of the McNitt party.

Trends to Watch

As GCDFs, it is part of our job to keep up with the latest trends. Last December, career counselors from around the globe linked up to brainstorm best practices, new programs, and trends that are impacting and projected to impact global employment, job search and career management. A white paper from the first ever Career Thought Leaders 2010 Global Career Brainstorming Day: Trends for the Now, the New, & the Next in Careers was recently published outlining their discussions. A few things I found interesting were the general consent that resumes are quickly going by the wayside. Google searches and LinkedIn will be the new tools. Another resource that was mentioned was Wordle.net. Wordle allows you to paste any text into it and then it creates a word cloud based on the words that occur the most frequently. This will prove to be extremely helpful in branding and making sure that our clients have the most effective industry key words in their resumes and LI profiles. Just last week I spoke to a group and one gentleman said is HR department just started using Wordle.

GCDFs, what are your thoughts on these new trends and how they may emerge in your region?

The Facebook Generation

New resources are emerging on how to better manage multigenerational workplace challenges. Father-daughter team Larry and Meagan Johnson recently published Generations, Inc.: From Boomers to Linksters - Managing the Friction Between Generations at Work. They specifically focus on the Facebook generation, also known as the Linksters. These 15-19 year olds have some common traits. They live and breathe technology; are more tolerant of alternative lifestyles; are best friends with their parents; and are very involved in green causes and social activism. The Johnsons go on to share 10 Tips for Managing the Facebook Generation. A few of the highlights include:

- Provide them with job descriptions and very clear directions
- Incentivize task accomplishments
- Treat them as valued coworkers
- Create microcareer paths
- Lead by example

With so many of our GCDF's working with this population, what would you add to the list?

Recent training and site visits took us to Gateway and Northeast Community Action Agencies. After training in West Liberty, we viewed the building sites for the new central office for Mountain Telephone and the new Judicial Center. The Judicial Center will house court rooms, offices and the 911 center. Little Caesar's is another new business in town located in an old discount store. It has been quite popular since it opened. We also toured a few local parks where youth and local citizens walk, picnic, and spend time. West Liberty also has a lovely park with war memorials. Lastly, we visited a Mennonite business. At Northeast, we learned about Tractor Supply and Gibbs Hardware (they have a business in Ashland) both likely to open this summer. Additionally, in Olive Hill a clothing factory is supposed to hiring up to 200 people. Thanks to both sites for your wonderful hospitality! Both locations are excited about Job Clubs coming to their areas.