12/3/2012

Expert Tips for Your Flexible Search

Presented by

About Our Panelists

Sara Sutton Fell o Founder & CEO of FlexJobs

Jeremy Anderson o Director of Client Services at FlexJobs

Brie Reynolds ‐ Moderator o Director of Content & Social Media

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Today’s Topics

• What’s available in the Flexible Job Market? o Types of job flexibility o Most common flexible job categories

• How to Find Flexible o Types of flexible jobs o Avoiding job scams o Resumes & cover letters for flexible work

• The Holidays and Your Job Search o Continuing your job search over the holidays o Low‐commitment jobs for extra income

• Questions o Use Chat to ask – we’ll answer at the end o Join us for a post‐webinar chat on Facebook • www.facebook.com/flexjobs

Flexible Jobs: What’s Out There?

• Types of flexibility o Telecommute, flexible , freelance, part‐time o Compressed workweeks, job sharing, alternate shifts

• Who’s “working from home?” o 41% increase in WFH jjbobs since 2000 (U.S. Census Bureau, Oct. 2012) o 13.4 million people WFH full‐time in U.S. o 20‐30 million WFH part‐time

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What’s the Difference Between Telecommute, Remote, Virtual, Home­based? • Often used interchangeably o Remote Job o Done away from the in a remote location o Could be from home, on the road, or a remote office o Telecommute o aka, Teleworking o Trade your commute for a home‐based job o May be required to go to office regularly o Virtual Job or Home‐based Job o Most like ly working 100 percent from home o Usually not required to go to office

• Read entire to determine what the company is really offering

Most Common Flexible Job Categories

• Other popular categories • fields & locations o Advertising & PR o 50+ career fields & every o Computer & IT industry o Art & Creative o Research o U.S., abroad, or “anywhere” o Nonprofit & Philanthropy o Writing & Editing o • Top 5 flexible job categories o Accounting & Finance o Medical & Health o Engineering o Project Management o CtCustomer SiService o Consulting o Administrative o Account Management o & • Education/Experience Levels: o Sales o Entry‐level through executive o Many require a degree

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How to Find Flexible Jobs

• Web search o Keywords: telecommute, , freelance, remote work, flexible schedule, part‐time, independent contractor o Use smaller niche sites, specific to industry or flexwork

• Research companies o Go directly to company sites o Use FlexJobs’ FREE Guide to the Best Companies o Look at “Best Of” lists: • Working Mother’ s 100 Best Companies for Working Moms • AARP’s Best Employers for Workers Over 50 • Glassdoor’s Top 25 Companies for Work‐Life Balance

• Use Your Network o Talk to friends/family who work flexibly o LinkedIn: Who do you know in flexible jobs?

Avoiding Job Search Scams

• Only 1 in 60‐70 flexible job listings is legitimate

• Does the job listing… o Have a company name? o Require you to “invest” or pay to get the job? o Sound too good to be true, or too vague to understand? o Ask you for personal info like social security or account numbers? o Have lots of !!! And $$$ punctuation?

• Search for comppyany name & “complaint” or “scam”

• Never respond to unsolicited offers via LinkedIn or email

• Use smart keywords: o Good: Telework, telecommute, remote work, flexible schedule o Bad: work from home, work at home

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The Latest Flexible Job Scams

• Scammers use fake URLs pretending • Scammers use Instant Messaging to be large, well‐known companies to communicate with job seekers o G.E. Healthcare, CNBC o Pretend to be large company o Example URL: hiring, then ask for money via • http://cnbc.com‐index.in/ Western Union

• Scammers use well‐known company • Scammers hire “mystery names to get personal banking info shoppers” for wire fraud o Google Money Tree, Google Pro, Google Treasure Chest o Involves check cashing and wiring o Required job seekers to purchase a money via Western Union WFH “kit”

• Scammers prowl LinkedIn offering too‐good‐to‐be‐true jobs o Unsolicited job offers via your LinkedIn profile o Require job seekers to urgently sign up, give them 2 weeks of work, no pay

Resume & Tips for Flexible Job Searching

• ALWAYS include a cover letter – 38% of applicants are eliminated because they don’t include a cover letter • Describe what you’re applying for & why you’re qualified • Tell them why you specifically want to work for THEIR company • Why are you passionate about the position? • Type letter in the body of the email, not as attachment

• Tailor Resumes & Cover Letters for EVERY Job – Include all previous experience or working flexible hours • Can add to Summary of Qualifications or Skills sections, or include next to jbjob tilitle: “Sa les AiAssociate – TlTelecommute Pii”Position” – Highlight skills/experience most related to the specific job – Use job description for keyword ideas

• Proofread EVERY time – Over 10% of applicants eliminated for simple grammar/spelling errors

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The Holidays & Your Job Search

• Hiring Slows Down – Spend time researching companies – Network over holiday parties – Reconnect with contacts to wish a Happy New Year • Phone, email, or cards – Get organized for job search in new year

• Low‐Commitment Jobs for Extra Income – Personal Historian – HelpMe Expert – Internet Search Assessor – Online Substitute – Customer Service – Dog Walking – Online Tutoring – Interpreter – Writing, Editing

Question Time!

For More Information: Post‐Webinar Chat on Facebook: www.facebook.com/flexjobs

• www.flexjobs.com • Over 10,000 flexible job postings • 50+ career categories • Entry‐level to Executive • Job search advice & skills testing • Guide to Best Companies for Flexible Jobs

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