Career Jamaica https://careerjamaica.com Tue, 19 Mar 2024 06:22:34 +0000 Joomla! - Open Source Content Management en-gb Resume Mistakes to Avoid https://careerjamaica.com/career-tools/item/61-resume-mistakes-to-avoid-new https://careerjamaica.com/career-tools/item/61-resume-mistakes-to-avoid-new

Your resume needs to be grammatically perfect. If it isn't, employers will read between the lines and draw not-so-flattering conclusions about you, like: "This person probably cant speak well or write" or "This person doesn't pay attention to details.
Avoid making this mistake by having at least two persons proof read your resume for you before sending it off. Also, if you are sending your resume in via email, send it to yourself first to see what the employer will see once they get it.

2. A Bad Objective

Employers do read your resume objective, but will often overlook candidates that use clichéd phrases like "Seeking a challenging position that offers professional growth." Your objective should provide employers with a clear impression of your professional goals and how they would potentially benefit their organization. For example: "Seeking a challenging entry-level marketing position that allows me to contribute my skills and experience in fund-raising for a non governmental organization."

Be sure your objective fits with each position you apply for. Do not send an employer hiring for sales reps the same objective you would if you were applying for a post as a brand manager. Read the job posting carefully and tailor your objective to match.

3. Lack of Specifics

Employers what to know what you have accomplished not a list of you duties. For example:

From the perspective of an HR Manger there is a huge difference between a candidate who states, "Worked with employees in a restaurant setting" as opposed to one that states "Recruited, hired, trained and supervised more than 20 employees in a restaurant with $2 million in annual sales"

Both of these phrases could describe the same person, but the specific accomplishments given by the second candidate will make them more likely to be the one called for an interview.

4. Attempting One Size Fits All

Whenever you try to develop a one-size-fits-all resume to send to all employers, you almost always end up with something employers will toss in the recycle bin. Employers want you to write a resume specifically for them. They expect you to clearly show how and why you fit the position in a specific organization.

5. No Power Words/Action Verbs

Avoid using phrases like "responsible for." Instead, use action verbs: "Resolved user questions as part of an IT help desk serving 4,000 students and staff." Click here for a list of our top Power Words to help you get started.

6. Leaving Off Important Information

You may be tempted the jobs you took "just because" or "just for the money" The soft skills you've gained from these experiences (e.g., work ethic, time management) are more important to employers than you might think.

Be sure to include them on your resume

7. Visually Unappealing

If your resume has four different fonts with italics, colours and and stylization, it may be too busy on the eyes. This may give a negative impression to the employer and in general, is just difficult to read.

Show your resume to several other people before sending it out and ask them if they it visually attractive? If what you have is hard on the eyes, edit. Remember: sometimes less is more!

8. Incorrect Contact Information

janine.b@mymail.com / janine_b@mymail.com. Notice the difference?

One incorrect digit, character or letter means that an employer will not be able to contact you. Check and recheck your contact information to make sure it is current and correct. Most importantly (and yes, more people than you would this do this) ensure that your full name is on your resume!

CJ Admin

]]>
careerjamaica@gmail.com (Career Jamaica) Resume and Cover Letter Writing Tips Wed, 02 Jun 2021 21:06:08 +0000
Local Job Scammer Arrested after stealing over US $15,000 from Jamaicans https://careerjamaica.com/career-news/item/57-local-job-scammer-arrested-after-stealing-over-us-15-000-from-jamaicans https://careerjamaica.com/career-news/item/57-local-job-scammer-arrested-after-stealing-over-us-15-000-from-jamaicans Local Job Scammer Arrested after stealing over US $15,000 from Jamaicans

Allegations are that while employed to a legitimate agency for recruiting students for work and travel programmes in the United States, Bowen posed as an agent of an unregistered agency and fleeced students of US$15,000, claiming that the monies were fees to help them secure jobs overseas.

A report was made to the Fraud Squad of the Counter Terrorism and Organized Crime Investigations Branch (C-TOC) when the students discovered that no jobs awaited them. 

He was remanded when he appeared in the Corporate Area Criminal Court and is to reappear on Thursday, March 17.

 

Original Article: Jamaica Observer 

]]>
careerjamaica@gmail.com (Career Jamaica) Career News Wed, 16 Mar 2016 00:01:40 +0000
JOBSPREE - JLP Promises 250,000 Jobs https://careerjamaica.com/career-news/item/52-jobspree-jlp-promises-250-000-jobs https://careerjamaica.com/career-news/item/52-jobspree-jlp-promises-250-000-jobs

"Probably the biggest disappointment for our young people is the promise that a jeep-load of jobs would come to you," said Holness.

The People's National Party (PNP) had promised the creation of short-term employment under the Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme (JEEP). PNP President, Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, said more than 60,000 JEEP jobs have been created thus far.

AGRO PARKS

Mindful of his St Elizabeth and Manchester audience, Holness said, "We will put in place a programme to train 10,000 young people in agriculture."

He said Sydney Pagon, Knockalva, and the College of Agriculture, Science and Education would be converted into "technologically driven agro parks so that our young people cannot just do the old practice of agriculture, but bring in technology in agriculture to triple and quadruple the yields of normal agricultural produce".

The jobs promised are part of the 250,000 new jobs which Audley Shaw, the spokesman on finance, said the JLP would create in the next five years.

"We are going to transform the same business process outsourcing ... . PNP say dem can create 30,000, 40,000 jobs; Labour Party say we can create 75,000 jobs in business process outsourcing," Shaw said.

He added: "If we can create nearly 100,000 jobs in that, we nuh can create 250,000 [sic 150,000] in everything else?"

The PNP, through campaign director Dr Peter Phillips, said that it would create a minimum of 100,000 jobs in the next term if re-elected.

WATER-IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME

Holness said that a JLP government would seek international funding to implement a massive water-improvement programme across the island.

"In the same way the Government has found money, through either developing an investment package or borrowing to build Highway 2000 and to complete the North South Highway, so too we must treat water as a priority for investment," Holness said.

The JLP leader said that the investment would lead to a minimum 15 per cent increase in agriculture over the next five years, which would result in at least one per cent of economic growth.

Holness said some of the jobs would come from community tourism, which would be expanded by improvements in the road and water infrastructure along Jamaica's south coast.

"We have a plan to develop the south coast, and that plan, when we put in tourism, lifestyle, housing, agriculture, housing, we can create, within this little zone here, more than 15,000 new jobs," Holness said.

Original Article 

]]>
careerjamaica@gmail.com (Career Jamaica) Career News Sun, 07 Feb 2016 05:52:05 +0000
Making Internet Income In Jamaica https://careerjamaica.com/career-news/item/51-making-internet-income-in-jamaica https://careerjamaica.com/career-news/item/51-making-internet-income-in-jamaica Making Internet Income In Jamaica

What this column aims to do is make you aware of some online money-making possibilities for your career.

According to Alicia Lyttle, CEO of Internet Income Jamaica, "Just by having an Internet connection and a little bit of knowledge, knowing what sites to go on, you can really make money on the Internet from the global economy."

This has to be great news for countless Jamaicans who can't migrate to seek better employment opportunities. What the Internet provides is the opportunity to stay right at home and earn US dollars.

Lyttle, whose company offers a series of 'Internet income boot camps', pinpoints the major obstacles preventing many Jamaicans from taking advantage of Internet income opportunities.

"Today, people are so afraid to learn how to make money online because they are afraid it's too good to be true or that the opportunity is a scam, or that it could happen for other people but not for them."

The fear identified by Alicia Lyttle is justified. Many Jamaicans including this writer have been scammed. And you know the saying: Once bitten, twice shy.

SURPRISE DISCOVERY

However, despite my scepticism born of painful experience, I decided to attend the 'Amazon Publishing Bootcamp' put on by Internet Income Jamaica, recently.

It was for writers who want to make money publishing their short stories, novels, non-fiction books, and other creative works through Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP). It was taught by an American expert on the topic, Joshua Montoya. I hope to share my training experience with you in a future article.

What you will find interesting and valuable, right now, is a surprise discovery that I made at the workshop: There are many Jamaicans quietly making a decent living, working on the Internet. These weren't IT pros. They were ordinary, everyday people like you and me.

At the class, I met the vivacious 68-year-old retiree Cherrel Robinson, for instance. Cherrel freelances as a ghostwriter of children's short stories and does editing on online job sites fiverr.com, upwork.com, and peopleperhour.com.

Robinson said: "I could survive on my pension. I only took up freelancing because I had so much free time and I love to write short stories for children. It's my gift. I researched Internet Income Jamaica after seeing Alicia on television. After two months, I decided to take the freelancing boot camp."

It's a special feeling, she said, making money doing work she loves. She has been earning up to $US1,000 monthly and is now looking to self-publish. Her experience was far from unique.

Other Internet income earners are working as transcribers, virtual assistants, voice actors, social media managers, and much more.

I recommend that you check out the above websites and the boot camps offered by Internet Income Jamaica. You might discover your own Internet income opportunity right here at home in Jamaica.

via: Jamaica Gleaner 

]]>
careerjamaica@gmail.com (Career Jamaica) Career News Mon, 01 Feb 2016 01:41:03 +0000
National Minimum Wage Increase to take effect March 1, 2016 https://careerjamaica.com/career-news/item/50-national-minimum-wage-increase-to-take-effect-march-1-2016 https://careerjamaica.com/career-news/item/50-national-minimum-wage-increase-to-take-effect-march-1-2016 National Minimum Wage Increase to take effect March 1, 2016
 
The insurance sums payable where a guard is killed on duty is to move from $2 million to $2.5 million. 
The minimum wage for other Jamaicans is to move from $5,600 to $6,200 for a 40-hour work week.
 
The new rates take effect on March 1.
 
Inflation 
 
Inflation since 2010 has increased by 54.5 per cent, with the Consumer Point Index moving from 150.4 in December 2009 to 232.3 at the end of December 2015. At the end of 2009, the minimum wage was $4,070, and it is being moved to $6,200, an increase of 52.3 per cent.
 
For the industrial security guards, the increase in wages has moved 46.3 per cent over the period, having started 2010 at $6,050.
 
The last minimum wage increase took place in January 2014. 
]]>
careerjamaica@gmail.com (Career Jamaica) Career News Wed, 27 Jan 2016 05:25:38 +0000
More US Jobs Coming - American Hospitality Sector Looking For 3,000 Jamaican Workers https://careerjamaica.com/career-news/item/49-more-us-jobs-coming-american-hospitality-sector-looking-for-3-000-jamaican-workers https://careerjamaica.com/career-news/item/49-more-us-jobs-coming-american-hospitality-sector-looking-for-3-000-jamaican-workers More US Jobs Coming - American Hospitality Sector Looking For 3,000 Jamaican Workers

The companies, Kiawah Resort, Mackinaw Seasonal Resort, Sea Pines, Harrah's Casino, Mission Point, and Sea Island Resort interviewed cooks, housekeepers, waiters, servers, receptionists, kitchen stewards, laundry, spa, cabana and fitness attendants, and housemen.

Rebound In The Market

The latest recruiting drive is a clear indication of a rebound in the market, which dipped in 2008, but has been seeing an upward trend since 2010.

"The 2015 total has been the highest recorded since 2010. We have had an increase of 56 per cent, from 1,232 hospitality workers sent to the US in 2014 to 1,927 in 2015," said Ferguson.

He noted that this year promises the possibility of an even more significant increase. "Not only have new employers shown an interest, but a few formerly registered with the ministry, but ventured to participate in the private employment programme, are now returning."

Labour Market Reform

The labour minister said part of his mandate, as instructed by Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, is to look at the whole question of labour market reform; growing the overseas programme, even while repositioning the ministry to be seen in the context of contributing to the country's growth agenda.

"And to see it in connection with our 2030 development objective of the country, ensuring this is properly aligned," Ferguson told the group of employers, who lauded Jamaicans as key to their businesses.

"You cannot teach friendly, and that's what Jamaicans have over the other nationalities employed to the programme. If there were 25 hours in a day, Jamaicans would have no problem working. They bring a lot to the table ... the Jamaican work ethic is great," says Sea Island's Jonathan Jerusalmy.

His colleague and senior recruiting manager, Margaret Harris, said she would employ a Jamaican over a Filipino or a Romanian any day.

But Harris expressed concern that the programme, which could be doing so much more for Jamaica, is being frowned on by some in the US who see it as taking jobs from Americans.

"And it's not taking jobs from Americans. We are employing Jamaicans in areas where we cannot hire Americans because of lack of population or quality workers," said Harris.

She argued that by bringing international team members to the US, this actually increases jobs for Americans through transportation, housing and the local economy.

"TJ Max is almost completely bought out when everyone is getting packed and ready to go back home. The problem with the programme is not on the Jamaican side, it's on the American side; because of the restrictions and all of the different changes to the programme that is been imposed, it is increasingly difficult for us to get our visas granted."

She urged the labour minister to seek audience with the decision-makers in Washington, DC.

"If you (Minister Ferguson) know anyone in Washington call them, maybe they would better understand the programme and why employers look to it for help," she stated.

Ferguson said one of the things he planned to do was to ask for a meeting with the US ambassador to Jamaica and Jamaica's emissary in Washington.

janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com

-Jamaica Gleaner - 
January 17, 2016

]]>
careerjamaica@gmail.com (Career Jamaica) Career News Sun, 17 Jan 2016 19:28:14 +0000
Top Jobs for College Grads in 2015 https://careerjamaica.com/career-news/item/41-top-jobs-college-2015 https://careerjamaica.com/career-news/item/41-top-jobs-college-2015 Top Jobs for College Grads in 2015

The survey, the nation’s largest with over 5,000 companies responding, indicates that employers are hiring college graduates at levels not seen since 1999-2000. The 16% increase in recruiting comes after several years of single-digit growth, igniting competition for qualified candidates.

The employers surveyed are expected to hire 120,000 new graduates this year, 78% of whom will have just earned bachelor’s degrees.

And, all of the top jobs involve STEM!

 

Here is a breakdown of the top jobs for college graduates based on several factors:

Top Salaries 
(by entry-level median pay)

  1. Associate Investment Banker $73,829
  2. User Experience Designer $67,532
  3. Front End Developer/Engineer $61,653
  4. Biomedical Engineer $60,752
  5. Forensic Accountant $60,397
  6. Clinical Research Associate (CRA) $59,068
  7. SalesForce.com Administrator $59,050
  8. Web Analyst $56,285
  9. Energy Analyst $54,204
  10. Product Marketing Specialist $53,488

Top Jobs By Percentage Growth

  1. Product Marketing Specialist 31.6%
  2. Business Development Associate 31.6%
  3. Process Analyst 26.7%
  4. Biomedical Engineer 26.6%
  5. Web Analyst 24.5%

Top Jobs By Job Satisfaction

  1. Web Analyst 81.25%
  2. Biomedical Engineer 79.66%
  3. Product Marketing Specialist 78.38%
  4. Salesforce.com Administrator 75%
  5. Process Analyst 74.19%

The Most Meaningful Jobs

  1. Clinical Research Associate
  2. Energy Analyst
  3. Biomedical Engineer
  4. User Experience Designer
  5. Food Technologist

For the full article, head on over to FastCompany!

]]>
careerjamaica@gmail.com (Career Jamaica) Career News Wed, 30 Dec 2015 04:00:37 +0000