Daily Career Connection

CompTIA’s A+ certification has long been recognized as the industry standard for vendor-neutral validation of entry-level computer hardware and software skills.  As of July 2007, the certification examination requirements for A+ certification have been changed to reflect recent advances in technology and hiring practices. 

Earning A+ certification still requires earning passing scores on two different exams.  However, the content and structure of the required exams have changed.  

Everyone will be required to successfully complete A+ Essentials (#220-601) exam, covering both hardware and software.  In addition to the A+ Essentials exam, A+ candidates will be able to choose their second exam from a pool of elective tests specific to particular specializations. 

Elective Tests:
* 220-602 IT Technician
* 220-603 Remote Support Technician
* 220-604 Depot Technician
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When you are ready to look for a new job, one of the best things you can do to increase your chances of finding a great job is to use the Internet as a job search tool.  There are many different ways to search for a job online, and you may well miss out on finding the job of your dreams if you don’t take advantage of this powerful resource.

Post Your Resume on Employer Sites
In today’s powerful job market, many employers are taking a proactive approach to finding qualified candidates for available jobs.  Click here for links to a number of sites where you can post your resume for free.  By posting your resume online, you have nothing to lose, and everything to gain if the right employer sees it at the right time.

Search Online Job Boards
Many employers are using online job boards to post their “help wanted” advertisements.  When you are looking for a job, it is in your best interest to check popular web-based job boards on a regular basis.  Some of the most reputable online job boards even allow you to register so that you can receive instant email notifications when openings are posted in your field.  There is no cost for searching online job boards, so click here to start looking for the job of your dreams.

Company Websites
Many companies post job openings on their websites.  Some even require applicants to complete their job openings via a web-based applicant management system.  While this is most common in larger companies in organizations, even smaller companies are starting to take advantage of online technology for managing job applications.  Most local hospitals, for example, post all of their job openings on their websites, along with specific instructions for how to apply.

Professional Association Websites
Many professional organizations post job openings for members and the organizations they represent.  If you are interested in working in a particular field, try to locate websites for professional organizations in the field.  For example, if you live in Mobile, AL and you want to work in human resource management, it is a good idea to visit www.mobileshrm.org, where you will find postings for local human resource management jobs that might not even be advertised anywhere else.

Thanks to Melanie at www.lifetips.com for providing this great tip.

DO:

• Be specific about your skills
• Use action words
• Keep to one page unless you have extension, unique experiences
• Use straight forward language, and have someone else proofread for grammar and spelling errors
• If possible, do it yourself, it will help on the interview if your information is fresh in your mind

DON’T:

• Ramble or write the resume as a narrative (use bulleted topics)
• Say anything negative
• List salary requirements
• Tell about hobbies, unless they are relevant to the work
• Give personal demographics (height, weight, age, children, spouse)
• Attach a photo

Thanks to Melanie at www.lifetips.com for providing this great tip.

Some interviewers will ask strange questions that don’t seem to have relevance to the job. These questions are designed to see how well you think under pressure.

Feel free to pause, consider and even repeat the question before you answer. Be as creative with your answer as they were with the question. Incorporate your work-related qualities into your answer and avoid getting too personal.

To prepare for strange questions, consider the following:

1. If someone were to write your biography, what would it be titled?
2. If you could be any character in fiction, who would you be, and why?
3. If you could have dinner with anyone from history, who would it be, and why?