Recently in Job Fairs Category

Come by the Times Union Job Fair today from 10-4. I will be there 10-1 doing free resume critiques.

If you can't make it today, Braathe Enterprises will be offering free resume critiques through October 17. Send your resume to resumes@saratogacollege.com and we will give it a review!

Since January 2011, Braathe Enterprises has mentored over 80 students through the Braathe Enterprises Virtual Internship Program. Working remotely with students for 5-7 hours per week, we have managed to produce some great improvements to resumes, engaged in incredible skills building and personality building activities, and helped students to gain experience with companies while they are still in college.

This fall, we are going on tour with our Virtual Internship concept. Tuesday October 2nd, we will be speaking at the University of Southern California to my current interns and future candidates. Sunday October 7th, we will be doing a free webinar covering how the program works as well for prospective interns and prospective for-profit and not-for-profit companies.

For more information, visit http://saratogacollege.eventbrite.com

Sometimes the most difficult decision in the job search is where to look for work. From job fairs to job portals like indeed.com, there often is a sea of information out there on where to find a job and how to find a job.

The best way I have found to find work is via developing relationships. Today, I encourage you to reach out to someone today who has nothing to do with your current job search (whether it be me, a career counselor like Dr. Tom Denham, or other trusted advisor) and find new ways to develop your search into one that is productive and more focused.

While online searches and job fairs can be helpful, sometimes well-timed and well-placed efforts in networking and meeting up with others can be extremely valuable.

When I truly enjoy a book, I can read it in under an hour or two. If I have a tough time with a book, I can take as long as a month to finish it.

Next time you want to get a book into your memory banks:

1. Start with the table of contents and find the topics that most appeal to you yet aren't things you read before. Read those chapters first.
2. Skim through the ones that contain content that you have read before.
3. Dog-ear or highlight as you read so you can go back to the content later for emphasis
4. Read digitally. I've found having my books on my Kindle app for the iPad has been greatly beneficial for reference.

If you follow these simple steps, you will find you can read a lot more than you used to.

Stop by the Albany Job Fair at the Albany Marriott on Wolf Road this Monday 10am-4pm
Professor Robert Braathe will be doing free resume critiques from 10-12

Professor Braathe has worked in management positions with Disney, Gap and Apple with hiring responsibility at all of those companies. He has used the same resume format since 1995 and has reviewed 1000's of resumes over the years. He is an avid LinkedIn profile user and consultant, a developer of solid resume content and influencer of positive energy in interviews.

Stop by the Saratoga Job Fair in Saratoga Springs, NY this Wednesday from 10am-4pm. Professor Robert Braathe will be doing free resume critiques from 2-4pm.

Career counseling and employment presentations will also be taking place

Employers at this fair include Curtis Lumber, Parsons, The Nurse Connection Staffing, Gideon Putnam Resort, Ellis Medicine, and more.

www.saratogajobfair.org

Tune in to a special edition of Capital District Business Profiles on Valentine's Day featuring motivational speaker and career counselor Dr. Tom Denham.

Dr. Tom has worked with colleges, students, and career professionals for many years in the Capital District and has great insights on how to make a career transition.

Have you fallen in love with your career? If you haven't, it may be time to listen to your heart and also listen in to our show 330-415 on Valentine's Day.

You may be in a situation now where you are unsure where the next step may lead, and its time to remove the fear from your life by facing it and moving on!

I volunteered my time yesterday at the Times Union Job fair from 10-1 yesterday to critique resumes of those who were seeking jobs at the fair. One of the recurring themes I saw among the resumes I reviewed was the lack of a LinkedIn profile link at the top of the page.

If you have a LinkedIn account, you should put your LinkedIn URL on your resume to use it as an enhanced version of your resume to direct employers to greater details than your resume can provide.

LinkedIn has become such a valuable resource for employers, job seekers and consultants among many others. From finding the right talent to finding the right service provider, having LinkedIn as part of your strategy as a job seeker or business person is crucial.

For those seeking to switch jobs or finding jobs, using the Skills feature on LinkedIn can enable you to stand out from others in your field of interest.

Come by the Saratoga City Center Wednesday 10/6 from 10-4 to attend a variety of free workshops, meet prospective employers, and get your resume critiqued.

I'll be at the event from 10-12 and 2-4 offering free resume critiques.

Workshop List

10:15am Your Job Search Made Easier with Social Media - Melissa Ward
11:00am Teachers-Teach! - Richard Michael Holmes
11:45am Look and Sound Different to Prospective Employers - Bruce Parsons
12:30pm Resumes, Cover Letters, Applying on-line - Susan Van Raalte
1:15pm Job Listings and Networking - Susan Van Raalte
2:00pm What am I worth? - Tiziana Rota
2:45pm Five Minutes to Find Your Vocation - Marion Altieri
3:15pm Ageism is Real But We Don't Care - Marion Altieri

In addition to my offer of free resume critiques online through September 17th (email your resume to robert@saratogacollege.com
), I will be at the following Job Fairs at the times below offering resume critiques and career advice.

Saratoga Job Fair
Saratoga City Center
Wednesday October 5th from 10am-12pm and 2pm-4pm

Times Union Job Fair
Albany Marriott
Monday October 10th from 2pm-5pm

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Another great service I'd like to share with you is Google Appointments. Google Appointments allows you to block out time for people to schedule time with you. You can specify the blocks of time, how long the appointments can be, and what for.

If you'd like to book an appointment with me, you can visit Robert Braathe of Braathe Enterprises Google Calendar to schedule a time to speak with me via Phone/Skype/GoToMeeting

Once you are established and well into your HR career, your next thoughts most likely center on advancement. Human Resources is continuously evolving to meet the business needs, requirements, and laws that are ever changing. If you want to move to the next level in your field, you must work hard and prove yourself. This means taking on extra projects, not being afraid to voice new ideas , becoming a Subject Matter Expert, and going back to school for additional training, certifications and/or an advanced degree.

1. Taking on more projects - When new projects arise, that usually means extra work and most people avoid more work like the plague. If you want to advance your career, you must be the person who steps up to the plate. Why? Well, for numerous reasons. When promotion time comes, you will be at the forefront of the minds of management for your willingness to roll up your sleeves and help the company in their time of need. Secondly, you are showing eagerness and a willingness to both learn and try new things and that is also a positive with management. Thirdly, with each new project that you complete, you are proving just how knowledgeable you are and how much your help can improve the HR process.

2. Voice New Ideas - Everyone has an opinion, but most are too afraid to voice them. If you have an idea or suggestion that you feel will help the HR process, then voice it. This shows initiative and drive, and it can also make a great addition to your resume if your idea succeeds.

3. Become a SME (Subject Matter Expert) - Read HR blogs, start an HR blog, answer questions on LinkedIn, build your profile on social media sites, and get recommendations on those sites. In other words, spread the word that you are an HR professional and a true subject matter expert in the field. Not only will your employers take notice, so will other in your industry and that can only help you in the future.

4. Advance your education - Many Senior level positions requires certain certifications, training, and degrees. By taking educational classes focused on HR, you stay ahead of the pack by learning of the new laws, regulations, and business process hitting your industry. Do you think you don't have time? Online education is becoming increasingly popular and is now widely accepted by big organizations. Here is one HR class being offered online that is merely 8 weeks and is centered around your schedule. You already have the education and with training classes, you also have the education, which makes you the ideal candidate for promotion.

With these four steps, you will be on your way to advancing your HR career. Have you recently moved up the ranks in HR? How did you do it?