Professionals looking for a job need to keep the search focused

Resume Thursdays is off to a great start with several professionals in our studios to ready to find a job.
   
Mark Wilson is first in the hot seat.
   
The engineering technician has been out of work for months and is now considering falling back on his side work, creating the first athletic association for home school kids in Roanoke.
“I’ve got a lot more abilities and talents besides just design and cad work, so that’s why I’m looking outside the realm of just that,” said Wilson.
   
Kathy Tisinger is the Career Center Manager at the Roanoke Higher Education Center.
   
She says professionals, like Mark, looking for work need to find those transferable skills, but that doesn’t mean applying for just anything and everything.

“You won’t be able to get a job if you’re operating from a place of desperation and just looking for anything, I’ll take anything I can get, that makes it hard to sell yourself if you have a particular expertise,” Tisinger explained.
   
Dr. Subrata Sanyal is taking that advice and staying focused, looking for work in research and development.
“If I go to a McDonalds and Wendy’s to face work or to a Wal-Mart they won’t take me, the point being they wouldn’t like train a person who will not stay,” Dr. Sanyal said.   
 
Tisinger says that’s a mistake people often make, applying bellow their experience level.
   
Her advice, keep up with changes in your field.

“If you’ve been out of the job market a little while or your education is 10 or 15 years old, you might want to think about going back and taking a class,” she said.

If you’re losing the job in the interview, schedule a mock interview.

“Have someone critique your interview, have someone take a look at your resume to make sure your skills are highlighted to the best that they can be.”

Tisinger adds if you are thinking about making a total career change and you can’t find a job doing so try volunteering, it’s a way to get experience and network.