Quick Tips on How to Beat the Job Competition

Working in entertainment appeals to some youth as the ideal job situation. I've been blessed with the opportunity to do what I love and have a passion for, which is work in entertainment, but I also like to keep it honest and be realistic with the youth I mentor. You still have to be business savvy to work in entertainment, and there are other job industries out there!

I'm always reading up on ways to enhance my craft which gives me an advantage or a boost against the competition. I also like to put out valuable information for the next person if I feel it could help... Today, I came across an episode of Black Enterprise Business Report on TV1 that could be very helpful to those of you trying to break into the job force....

Orlando Ashford, a Chief HR and Communications Officer spoke with the show about what industries out there are actually hiring qualified candidates and he also gave sound advice on how to break into those job fields...

B.E.B.R. - Where are the jobs today?
Ashford - There are opportunities. You want to focus on what's happening in the world and identify with sectors that relate with that. For example, the growing career fields right now are health care, technology, and all levels of education.

B.E.B.R. - In what areas of the country are these job fields improving?
Ashford - Washington D.C., Boston, New York, and Austin are some.. Depending on what your interests are in the skills that you are developing, I would target that industry sector first, then find the city that corresponds to that industry secor and decide if you might want to live there.

B.E.B.R. - There are a lot of people who are looking for jobs, how do you stand out?
Ashford - You want to tell a story in the resume and tell a story in the interview. Ask yourself, can you draw a clear line of sight in the things that you can and have done and the impact that it has had on the business? If you can't draw that line, then it is diffucult to excite a person to attract you to that company.

B.E.B.R. - How do you make sure that your resume stands out from the rest?
Ashford - Build a tailored and professionally written resume.

B.E.B.R. -  Are there any resources out there that people can use that are free or inexpensive to help them with their job search?
Ashford - I always like to refer people to TheLadders.com. One of the things that they give as a part of their subscription is a resume critique. They will take your resume and give you a detailed critique of things that are working and not working with your resume. Then you have the choice to take your resume and re-write it yourself or pay to have it professionally written.

Further in the show, Lauren Milen Baez, Founder and CEO of Luxury Market Branding gave quick tips on how to brand yourself in today's market:

1. Know what makes your brand unique. Be able to tell your brand's story in a memorable way. First impressions are everything.
2. Be in control of your image. In today's market, your public footprint is readily accesible and often times deamed extremely realiable.
3. Understand your market and what they find relevant. You have to be able to put yourself in their shoes and think like them to be able to reach them and interest them.
4. Know your competition even better. Often times you can find ways to capitalize on their successes and find ways to learn from their failures.

For more information on jobs and careers, log onto BlackEnterprise.com .

I thought all of this was very inlightening!.... All information was courtesy of Black Enterprise Business Report which airs on TV1... Check your local cable listings for air times.

- J.Couture