09 Nov 11 What you’re looking for

Most of you coming to visit the site in the past month are here by searching for something specific.

SCOTI

The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services has not done much to help explain what SCOTI is or how Ohio citizens should use it.  A significant number of you find this blog because it’s one of the few (maybe the only) places that mentions it.

I’ve mentioned elsewhere that I’m not an expert on SCOTI. I wrote this post contrasting SCOTI and an Indeed Salary Search, and it remains one of the most popular articles people read.  I get emails from readers, asking how to sign up for it, and I reply with all that I know:

It’s been ages since I tried to use SCOTI myself. I’ve heard the ODJFS recommends checking out http://ohiomeansjobs.com

How to Answer Interview Questions

Many readers come here looking for ways to answer job interview questions.  I know I need to be reminded of these myself. In November 2009 I participated in something called NaPodPoMo, which stands for National Podcasters Post Month. Every day in November that year, I posted a video where I took a stab at a typical job interview question.  You can find that series of videos here: Job Interview Questions: NaPodPoMo 2009 Video Series

Some of your particular favorites have been:

• Persuade me that you have strong analytical skills.
• Show me how you adapt to various people, situations, and environments.
• What did you dislike about your last job?
• When have you had to be relatively quick in coming to a decision?
• When have you missed an obvious solution to a problem?
• When have you had to go above and beyond the call of duty in order to get a job done?

I’d also recommend checking out the broader Interviewing category, which includes posts that are not part of the NaPodPoMo 2009 series.

Counter Offer Letters

Two posts I wrote about counter offer letters don’t contain much information. I still point people to the Google search results for “sample counter offer letters.”

What else is important?

I’d love to know what you’d like to see more of. I’ve got some ideas that still need to be fleshed out, but I’d love to keep this as a valuable resource for you. Let me know if there’s something you’d like to see more of.  Also, let me know if you come across a bad link; i.e., one that no longer works.  I’d also like to know what’s working for you? I provide no guarantee that anything I write over here will work, but maybe something has worked for you.

Contact me.  And, if you’d like, check out what else I’m up to here

Tags: counter offer letters, interviewing, job interviewing, NaPodPoMo, Ohio Means Jobs, SCOTI

21 Sep 10 Filing for unemployment in Ohio

As I’ve said previously, I’m not an expert in Ohio Unemployment Benefits. I don’t work for the State of Ohio.  I’m just a guy sharing expertise gained from my own search and experience.

I don’t have to tell job seekers how frustrating it is to make sure you’re doing everything you need to get unemployment benefits. But I hope this post will point you  closer to getting the information you need.

It’s gotten easier to file

It’s gotten a lot easier over the years. Back in 2002, you might appear in person to file for benefits, but the office began encouraging people to file for Ohio unemployment benefits through their hotline: 1-877-644-6562. You’d get a card mailed to you and you’d need to fill it out and mail it back. Or you could call the phone number and file your claim that way. What’s nice these days is that you can still use the phone number, but you can also apply and get Ohio unemployment benefit information online.

SCOTI – should I really care about that?

One of the most popular posts on this blog is this one I wrote almost 4 years ago entitled Ohio SCOTI System and Indeed Salary Search. I’ve gotten emails from readers asking how to register for SCOTI. To be perfectly honest, I don’t think you can. SCOTI doesn’t even exist anymore.

When you file your initial claim, this is something you can ask the person on the phone.  They will probably point you to Ohio Means Jobs.

Related articles by Zemanta

• How to Survive Unemployment (socyberty.com)
• Long-term unemployed workers grow (news.cincinnati.com)
• Resuming unemployment benefits after work? (ask.metafilter.com)
• Unemployment payments on way (dispatch.com)

Tags: Business and Economy, Employment, job search, ohio, Ohio Means Jobs, SCOTI, Unemployment benefits

15 Nov 09 Tell me about your presentation ability – NaPodPoMo Day 15

Background

As part of NaPodPoMo, I’m releasing a video (preferred) or audio (if needed) segment every day in November 2009, where I’m practicing answering a typical interviewing question.  Will my answers be perfect? Probably not.  This experiment has the following objectives:

• Practice answering typical interviewing questions
• Produce content for the internet on a consistent basis
• Develop some rudimentary skill in video production

Behavioral Interview Questions

For Week 3 of NaPodPoMo, I’m trying out some behavioral interview questions.  These questions are asked to infer future performance based on previous behavior.  Because of that, the answers are going to be very specific for each person who responds.

Here, then, for your enjoyment, is the next installment of the series, as Day 15 of 30:

Describe the most significant or creative presentation which you have had to complete.

The background music for this series is called “Dodging Buses” by Derek K. Miller. Check out his Penmachine Podcast.

If you would like to download this file directly, you can do that as well. Direct link (mp4, 5:54, 11.3 MB)

Recent Media Appearance and Speaking Gig

Special thanks to NaPodPoMo founder Jennifer Navarrete for interviewing me for her NaPodPoMo project. I’ll update this post with the link to the specific interview as it becomes available.

A HUGE shout-out to the folks at the IHOM Job Search Ministry in the Cincinnati area for having me speak to them this past Thursday on the “Emotional Side of Job Search”. A heartfelt welcome to those of you checking this series from that group. Glad we got to share some chocolate together!

Related articles by Daniel Johnson Jr and Zemanta

• Mastering the Behavioral-Based Interview (timesunion.com)
• How To Use Interview Generator (slideshare.net)
• Show confidence without being arrogant (getthatjobonline.com)
• How I Got My Job as a Talent Acquisition Manager – Amybeth Hale (howigotmyjob.com)
• Why Some People Get Hired (punkrockhr.com)
• 15 Ways to Annoy Your Job Interviewer (usnews.com)
• Why will I be glad that I hired you one week from your start date? – NaPodPoMo Day 13 (getthatjobonline.com)
• Are you overqualified for this job? – NaPodPoMo Day 14 (getthatjobonline.com)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (11.4MB)

Tags: behavioral interviews, Derek K. Miller, interviewing, NaPodPoMo, presentations, video

29 Jun 07 Read local business journals for market info potential leads

Do you read the local business journal the city where you live or want to work? Years ago I started doing that, just to see what companies are doing in the area and as a potential source for job leads, a way to get an understanding of the job market. I can’t remember whether the Cincinnati Business Courier does it, but the Dayton Business Journal publishes these lists every week of fastest growing companies, top minority-owned businesses, etc. I liked looking at those lists because it gave the name of the top official as well as other relevant information for generating leads.

I’m currently have the RSS feed for the Cincinnati Business Courier’s Breaking News in my Bloglines collection. I often don’t know what to make of some of the information I read, though.

On one hand I hear that unemployment rates are up slightly, but then I read that the job market for IT professionals is pretty good. I even saw this morning that Cincinnati is ranked 18th on Forbes magazine recent Best Cities for Young Professionals list.

Does it seem confusing to you? It does to me, sometimes. Then I look at the details and see that the unemployment article is talking about Ohio metro areas overall. I guess that’s what we need to do – look at the details a bit more closely.

Also, I think it’s a good idea not to let negative information put a cloud over your job search efforts. Doing so can lead to making excuses. You’ll be tempted, as I am, to think and say things like, “Oh, the job market’s just down; that’s why I’m not able to find work.” Let’s think and believe bigger than that.

Related tags: getthatjob get+that+job job+hunt job+search career+advice job+market daniel+johnson+jr

25 Jun 07 Ron Hittle inspired me with one sentence

“To touch the soul of another human being is to walk on holy ground.” – Stephen R. Covey, via QuotesBlog

I met Ron Hittle about 3-1/2 years ago at a career workshop at Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio. I remember that it was an encouraging and inspiring time for me, since I was really struggling for direction in my career. The encounter and events since then have showed me how powerful connecting with one person can positively affect another.

That year I also met a recruiter in the Dayton area, and we’ve exchanged e-mails and phone conversations over the past three years or so, having become part of each other’s professional network.

She mentioned early on that I must have met Ron Hittle.

“How did you know that?” I asked.

“From then ending of your voicemail message,” she replied. “I do that, too.”

Imitation, it’s been said, is the sincerest form of flattery. This recruiter and I at different times had adopted Ron’s way of closing a message as our own.

It’s a little bittersweet that I share all of this, because a few moments ago, she called me to say that Ron Hittle passed away this weekend. He’d retired some time ago and had been dealing with some health issues, but it still came suddenly. My thoughts and prayers go up to the family, as well as those who knew Ron well. He will surely be missed.

As I mentioned, I didn’t know Ron that well, but he left a lasting impression on me just from one statement from his voicemail message, because it points to my own ability to do something about my life versus letting something happen.

If you’ve received an email from me or have heard me sign off on my mostly music podcast, you probably already know what I’m about to say.

Most people I know usually end a conversation by saying, “Have a great day!”

Ron Hittle would say, “Make it a great day!”

Thanks, Ron. I think I will.

Related tags: getthatjob get+that+job job+hunt job+search career+advice networking professional+development daniel+johnson+jr ron+hittle sinclair+community+college

Find information on Diversity recruiting at DiversityJobs.com.

20 Nov 06 Ohio SCOTI System and Indeed Salary Search

Update: Clarifying expecations.

One of the requirements when you file an unemployment claim in Ohio is that you sign up for their Sharing Career Opportunities & Training Information (SCOTI) system (UPDATE: The website now directs to no longer directs anywhere. Check out Ohio Means Jobs). Essentially, you get put into the system with your basic background, and, as participating companies search for individuals, you get contacted by SCOTI to call in to see if there is a suitable match. Receiving unemployment benefits is contingent upon your participation; i.e., if you don’t call, you may not get your unemployment compensation.

I recevied a letter over the weekend from the SCOTI system, and I just finished talking with the representative. The company is looking for an Application Developer with 3-5 years of experience with COBOL, CICS, JCL, and SQL. I don’t have that specific type of experience, and so it was determined that I’m not a suitable match.

One thing that does bother me about that position is the annual salary that the job was offering: $18,335. That sounded really low, and I mentioned that during the phone conversation, but the rep said that’s what it was.

After I hung up, I used the Indeed Salary Search to check whether I was right, and here are the results:

application developer COBOL CICS JCL SQL in Cincinnati, OH $79,000

View Larger Salary Graph

If the rate was really an hourly rate of $18.335/hour ($38,136/year), it would be a lot more reasonable, but still less than the average.

Hopefully the next opportunity will be a more suitable match. What are your thoughts?

P.S. Let me remind you that you can use this handy domain name to get here: http://getthatjobonline.com

Related tags:

getthatjob get+that+job job+hunt job+search COBOL CICS JCL SQL SCOTI Ohio unemployment indeed+salary+search dan+johnson

Tags: ohio, SCOTI, unemployment

16 Nov 06 Greater Cincinnati’s Best Places to Work

The Cincinnati Business Courier reports:

Four companies were named Thursday, from 16 finalists and more than 130 nominated companies, as Greater Cincinnati’s best places to work.

Receiving their awards before a luncheon audience of nearly 500 at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center were the Castleton Group, Cincinnati Airport Marriott, Cincinnati Marriott North and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.

…

Greater Cincinnati’s Best Places to Work program, open to any company based in the 15-county Greater Cincinnati region with 10 or more employees and companies not based here but which have at least 75 local employees. The program has been conducted by the Courier each year since 2003.

I might need to tap into my network to see if I know anyone who works at these companies.

Related tags:

cincinnati cincinnati+business+courier best+places+to+work castleton+group cincinnati+airport+marriott cincinnati+marriott+north children’s+hospital+medical+center getthatjob getthatjobonline get+that+job job+hunt job+search career+advice networking professional+development dan+johnson

22 Nov 04 Training Info in Ohio

A quick visit to OhioWorks.com this morning brought me to this announcement:

NOTICE: The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services is redesigning the job matching and posting services offered online.

As a result, OhioWorks.com has been temporarily replaced with Ohio Job Net Online.

Employers and Jobseekers who have previously entered information in OhioWorks.com will need to re-enter this information into OJN-Online (http://www.state.oh.us/ODJFS/OnLine).

We apologize for the inconvenience this causes.

Click Here to continue to OJN-Online.

Actually, I just wanted to see if the following links were valid:

• Ohio School & Training Provider Search
• Ohio School & Training Provider Search (different URL, same info)
• WIA Training Providers, similar info as the others, I think

22 Nov 04 Labor Exchange Self-Service System

I saw this link at the Dayton Job Center. Don’t know much else about it yet.

22 Nov 04 Hamilton County Department of Job and Family Services

Our family is looking to move to the Cincinnati, Ohio area next spring. This website is the local equivalent of “The Job Center” in Montgomery County, where we currently live.