Jobless Claims Fall As Job Market Gains Momentum

The job maket continues to gain momentum as we inch closer to 2012, with Reuters reporting that jobless claims have hit a 3 1/2 year low.

The Labor Department said the number of Americans who have filed for unemployment benefits dropped 4,000 to a seasonally adjusted 364,000, the lowest number since April 2008.  This comes on the heels of a report last week that claims had fell to 366,000, the lowest since May 2008.  It's certainly great to see the economy gaining momentum as the New Year approaches.

The question now is whether this trend of good news will continue when we hit 2012.  Fighting in Washington over a payroll tax cut and extension of unemployment benefits loom large, and job market prospects will likely hinge on the outcome of those battles.  In the mean time, enjoy the good news and keep up the job search!  Here's a new featured job we posted today to help out:

• Director for Development (FEATURED JOB): Serve as the Chief Development Officer (CDO) leading the college’s fundraising efforts. The Director will be responsible for generating new revenue, achieving annual fundraising goals, and developing relationships and partnerships with internal and external constituencies. In addition, s/he will be responsible for overseeing and directing the College's Foundation, and will work collaboratively with the Foundation’s Board to strategize and orchestrate methods of approach in the development of corporate, employee, private, and other charitable giving.

Fighting Career Roadblocks

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to discover that the job search is a tough road to travel.  You don't have to get very far into your search before you encounter some serious career roadblocks.  Some of these are out of your control; a lack of jobs available at your level of expertise, for example.  But there are other roadblocks that you can conquer with the proper preparation.  The key is to identify the obstacles before you reach them.

Here are some of the common roadblocks you will encounter:

• Planning.  Too many job seekers don't have a good idea of what their goals are before they start their search.  It's one thing to know what kind of job you want.  It's a totally different story to know how you want to go about getting it.
• Skills.  It's not enough to have only one or two career skills in this job market.  Start your job hunt by finding some avenues for continued professional development.  This could be through continuing education courses or, if money is an issue, volunteering to gain experience.
• Networks.  Finding the right career network contacts can prove difficult.  The thing to remember is quality over quantity.  It's better to have only a handful of reliable contacts than countless references who don't help you.
• Money.  You might come to a point where you have to choose between a job that pays you more but doesn't completely satisfy your needs, and one that pays less but is more in line with what you want to do.  It's easy to say to pick the job that makes you most happy, but this can be difficult depending on your situation.  Make a conscious effort to decide what is most important to you before you get to this point.
• Paralysis by analysis.  It's easy to over think when looking for work.  You don't need to completely overhaul your efforts if your first few job applications are not successful.  You should only think about what might be holding you back if you are consistently unsuccessful over a long period (say, a month).

COPD Foundation Jobs

We just posted a number of jobs from the COPD Foundation, located in Washington, DC.  Here's one of them, plus a couple of other listings:

• Campaign Director: The Campaign Director will be in charge of the COPD Foundation's Drive4COPD Campaign.  The chosen applicant will work with NASCAR, the Country Music Association, and many others to promote the work of the COPD Foundation during this multi-year national branding and awareness campaign.  Will be responsible for directing staff, partners, and consultants to organize events and programs to tie in new and existing Foundation efforts, that increase COPD awareness, health screening and Foundation support. Report directly to Executive Director in new DC office space (Metro-access Union Station location). Expected salary range $100k+, commensurate with experience.
• President & CEO (FEATURED JOB): The Bridge Street Development Corporation is looking for a new President & CEO.  Responsibilities include: Working with the Board of Directors, Senior Staff, and community stakeholders to fund programs and partnerships that build community strengths; promoting the organization's values and vision; leading senior team to develop strategic plans.
• Area Director of Development: With the Area Director of Health Initiatives, and in consultation with peers in Communications and Government Relations and Advocacy and the office Administrative Specialist, manage the operations of office location(s), including direct or indirect supervision of support staff and oversight of the facility, as well as direct supervision of Community Executives, Development. As a team, effectively represent the Society and its mission in the community. Hire, train, and manage location Community Executives, Development to ensure the achievement of fundraising goals. Supervisory responsibilities include recruitment and hiring, orienting and training of new staff members in their roles, goal-setting and performance management utilizing the Society’s Performance Management Process and including employee development planning, and employee relations and dispute resolution (with assistance from Division Human Resources staff as appropriate).

Leaving An Effective Phone Message

Even with all the different ways to contact employers, the telephone is still one of the most effective methods available.  Nothing can replace the certainty that comes with hearing the inflection of a person's voice.  It helps eliminate those "What do they mean by that?" questions.  But what happens if nobody picks up the phone?

Leaving a phone message for an employer remains one of the most difficult things for a job seeker.  It's all too easy to stumble on your words or go off on long tangents.  The key to a successful voicemail is to leave it short and sweet.  Recruiters are very busy people, and they don't have the time or patience to listen to long-winded messages.  Here are the only things you need to include in a voicemail:

• Your name (twice-once at the beginning and once at the end).
• Your phone number (repeated twice at the end, slowly).
• A reminder of your previous interaction with the individual.
• A reiteration of your interest in the job.
• A pleasant closing.

You also need to make sure to keep an upbeat tone throughout the message.  Practice it beforehand to make sure you don't drift into a monotone.  Trust me, there's no better way to bore a listener then sounding bored yourself.  When the recruiter comes back to your name as a possible candidate, you want them to remember you in a positive light.

Have any other tips for a great voicemail?  Let us know in the comments section.

Nonprofit Jobs Of The Day

Here are today's top nonprofit jobs:

• Area Director of Development: With the Area Director of Health Initiatives, and in consultation with peers in Communications and Government Relations and Advocacy and the office Administrative Specialist, manage the operations of office location(s), including direct or indirect supervision of support staff and oversight of the facility, as well as direct supervision of Community Executives, Development. As a team, effectively represent the Society and its mission in the community. Hire, train, and manage location Community Executives, Development to ensure the achievement of fundraising goals.
• Managing Director: The Managing Director of The Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of Greensburg is responsible to direct, manage, and oversee major gifts, planned giving, capital campaigns, endowment development programs, and supervise the areas of the Diocesan Lenten Appeal and stewardship education. The Managing Director is a member of the Bishop’s Cabinet, and supervises the staff of The Catholic Foundation.
• President & CEO: Housing Opportunities Made Equal of Virginia, Inc. (HOME), a 40-year old nonprofit advocacy organization serving the Commonwealth of Virginia, seeks a talented President & CEO. With central offices in Richmond, HOME works closely with local and state governments, citizens, corporate and philanthropic partners to make America’s promise of equal treatment in housing a reality, ensuring that every person has the opportunity to live in the housing and neighborhood of their choice.

Accepting A Job Offer: What Now?

You've finally done it: You got a job offer from the nonprofit you always wanted to work for, and you'll be starting any day now.  Surely all your work is over, right?  Wrong.

Once you've accepted a job offer from an organization, you have a couple of more things you need to do.  First off, you should send a thank-you letter to the organization.  The next step to take will be to inform other nonprofits that were considering you that you have accepted a job elsewhere.  But is there any scenario that exists where you don't have to let them know?

Depending on how far along you were in the process you were with an organization, it isn't totally necessary to let them know you have taken another job.  If you haven't yet been chosen as a finalist in the interview process, there is no need to contact them after you've accepted another job.  Once you get beyond that point, you must let them know.  You have to leave a positive impression so that you have a potential landing spot should your new job not work out.  Here are some other things to keep in mind when letting an employer know your taking another job:

• You don't need to share why you are accepting the job offer.  Simply tell them you have made your final decision, thank them for their consideration, and ask them to withdraw you from the interview process.
• Even though your decision is firm, let the employer know you look forward to possibly doing business with them at some point in the future.  Say something like this: "Your company is top notch and I do hope that our paths will cross sometime in the future."
• Don't get involved in a bidding war.  This will leave both organizations feeling manipulated.

Just In Time For The Holidays: Featured Nonprofit Jobs!

We have an early Christmas present for all of you job seekers out there: Two new featured nonprofit jobs!  Both of them are high level executive jobs at very well known organizations.  Let's start with the first one, shall we?

• Director of Business and Operations (FEATURED JOB): The Salvation Army of Salem Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center of Salem, OR is looking for a director of business operations.  This individual will lead the overall operations of the center and will play a central role in improving the quality of life of members.  He/she will lead the management team in development and execution of programs, rentals, operations, and marketing.  The chosen candidate must understand facility and plant management, have high standards of professionalism, and should be comfortable working in a Christian work environment.
• Chief Executive Officer (FEATURED JOB): The YWCA of the City of New York is seeking a new Chief Executive Officer to lead the organization.  The CEO will provide strategic leadership for the organization, improve and extend popular programs, and ensure the organization's fiscal viability and growth.  Ideal candidate will have proven success leading a nonprofit organization, the ability to work efficiently with other people (especially with a volunteer board of directors), and an established record of fundraising success.
• Senior Director of Development for Colleges and Programs: Live in the Delaware area?  The University of Delaware is looking for a highly motivated individual to be their next Senior Director of Development for Colleges and Programs.  This position is responsible for managing fundraising activity, especially major gifts.  This activity includes identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major gift donors.  The chosen candidate will report to the Associate Vice President of University Development.  Must have a strong background in fundraising.