What’s the Deal with this .JOBS (Dot Jobs) Domain Extension?

If you have been noticing more websites coming up in your job searches ending in “.jobs” and thought it might be some sort of error, let me explain what is happening.  There is a relatively new TLD (Top Level Domain).  The TLDs you already know are the familiar .com, .net, .org, .gov, .us, .uk and a few thousand others.  The new .jobs TLD is different, however, since it has a very specific purpose.  It is designed to help job seekers find jobs. Here’s how…

Blind Ads Explained

What are blind ads? When you are job hunting, you will see many job openings or job offers listed by recruiting firms or employment agencies.  Generally these job offers are sufficiently vague so that you cannot determine who the actual employer may be.  Do you ever wonder why that crutial information is not revealed? Are these jobs just as valid as offers made by the end employer?  The answer is complicated.  However, I can tell you a few things to consider before sending your resume or an application in response to a blind job ad.

Getting a Job Through the Back Door - Part 2

In my last post I talked generalized terms about how one might secure employment through non-traditional methods.  If you have seen the movie Erin Brockovich, you know of another great example of someone rising above the limitations of their resume to land a job and then turn the job into something great.  In fact, that movie should be required viewing for every college career center.  Although the facts may have been dramatized by Hollywood, Erin's success in overcoming a less than stellar employment history is inspirational.  Now, my story pales in comparison to the Erin Brockovich story, but it may be more accessible as a model for people who do not have quite as much courage, intelligence or self-confidence as Erin.  However, the end result of my story is the same in that I got a job I would never have gotten if I had played by the "rules."  My story...

Getting a Job Through the Back Door

     Everyone knows the traditional methods for finding a job.  You create a dynamite resume and cover letter; you tell everyone you know that you’re looking for a job; you find job listings on the Internet and in newspapers and send in your fantastic resume; you attend career fairs… and then you wait for the news that some company wants to schedule an interview.  Simple, right?  But what if all those great ideas don’t work for you?  What if you have a resume that does not fit the mold or skills that do not shine through on paper?  What if you don’t know all the right people who have the right connections in your chosen profession or industry?  The answer is that you have to start thinking like an employer.

Sales Commissions - Good or Bad

When you consider applying for a commission based job offer, it's important to look at the benefits and terms of payment carefully.  If a company is offering only commissions, they may be telling you a few things that are not beneficial to you. 

• First, if they do not provide training, they are telling you that they are not willing to make any investment in your chance for success.
• Second, if they are not selective in the hiring process and will "hire" just about anyone, they may be revealing the fact that they intend to litter the countryside with sales people.  After all, it is costing them almost nothing to hire as many people as possible, since they only have to pay you if you make a sale.  The reason they may be so willing to hire you is that they know they have almost nothing to lose.  You, on the other hand, have everything to lose.
• Third, if the employer expects their sales force to pay for they own supplies, pay for their own advertising, attend sales meetings at their own expense and pay for their own medical insurance, they are effectively saying that they do not value your services and are not willing to invest in your career with the company.
• Fourth, if the employer calls this commission-only job and "opportunity", you may want to consider running away from it as fast as you can - or at a minimum, you should want to do some very serious investigations into the validity of the company, the offer and the longevity of the other members of the sales force.

When you consider applying for a commission based job offer, it's important to look at the benefits and terms of payment carefully.  If a company is offering only commissions, they may be telling you a few things that are not beneficial to you. 

• First, if they do not provide training, they are telling you that they are not willing to make any investment in your chance for success.
• Second, if they are not selective in the hiring process and will "hire" just about anyone, they may be revealing the fact that they intend to litter the countryside with sales people.  After all, it is costing them almost nothing to hire as many people as possible, since they only have to pay you if you make a sale.  The reason they may be so willing to hire you is that they know they have almost nothing to lose.  You, on the other hand, have everything to lose.
• Third, if the employer expects their sales force to pay for they own supplies, pay for their own advertising, attend sales meetings at their own expense and pay for their own medical insurance, they are effectively saying that they do not value your services and are not willing to invest in your career with the company.
• Fourth, if the employer calls this commission-only job and "opportunity", you may want to consider running away from it as fast as you can - or at a minimum, you should want to do some very serious investigations into the validity of the company, the offer and the longevity of the other members of the sales force.

When you consider applying for a commission based job offer, it's important to look at the benefits and terms of payment carefully.  If a company is offering only commissions, they may be telling you a few things that are not beneficial to you. 

• First, if they do not provide training, they are telling you that they are not willing to make any investment in your chance for success.
• Second, if they are not selective in the hiring process and will "hire" just about anyone, they may be revealing the fact that they intend to litter the countryside with sales people.  After all, it is costing them almost nothing to hire as many people as possible, since they only have to pay you if you make a sale.  The reason they may be so willing to hire you is that they know they have almost nothing to lose.  You, on the other hand, have everything to lose.
• Third, if the employer expects their sales force to pay for they own supplies, pay for their own advertising, attend sales meetings at their own expense and pay for their own medical insurance, they are effectively saying that they do not value your services and are not willing to invest in your career with the company.
• Fourth, if the employer calls this commission-only job and "opportunity", you may want to consider running away from it as fast as you can - or at a minimum, you should want to do some very serious investigations into the validity of the company, the offer and the longevity of the other members of the sales force.