Jobworksaz.com - Job Seeker Tips

Readers Respond to Internet Sourcing Career
By Joyce Lain Kennedy

Dear Joyce: I was most interested in your column about becoming an Internet sourcer, a job I can see myself doing at home. Most of the job leads I saw required working at a company office. Can you give more information about how to get started? -- E.J.

Dear E.J.: You might need to start in an office before moving your work home. Internet sourcing hit a nerve with column readers. Like you, they want to know more. Thanks to Barbara T. Ling, "The Internet Virtual Coach," here is a discussion group that posts job openings for Internet sourcers, as well as situations wanted: www.EGroups.com.

The earlier column mentioned the following discussion group, but the site is important for sourcers. Here it is again: Electronic Recruiting Exchange.

Also, thanks to Ling, here is a list of recruiting seminar providers, costing in the $1,200 to $3,000 range, which teach would-be sourcers the tricks of the trade:

CareerXroads

AIRS e-Recruitment KnowledgeBase

Recruiters Dream Network

PeopleClick

Amerinet

Ling's own Riseway Seminars

Remember, you need computer skills and you should be resourceful to succeed in becoming an Internet sourcer, also called Internet researcher or sourcing specialist.

Dear Joyce: I was called to give a reference for a former co-worker last week. The detail was surprising -- I wasn't her boss. My former co-worker found out she didn't get the job yesterday. I feel badly because I might not have praised her enough when I was caught off guard. In case this ever happens again, what questions should I expect to answer? -- E.S.S.

Dear E.S.S.: Your single reference didn't cost her the job. Here are the kinds of things reference checkers might ask:

What was the reporting (working) relationship?

How long did the candidate work for (with) you?

What title and responsibilities did the candidate hold?

What were some of their accomplishments (strengths)?

What areas of their performance needed improvement?

How did they get along with co-workers?

Would you rehire (work again with) the candidate?

Reference checkers might also ask questions that directly relate to the specific job, such as inquiring about the candidate's willingness to put in long hours.

Dear Joyce: If you had your career to live over, which would you choose and what would you do differently? -- R.P.

Dear R.P.: I'm still thinking about it. But I did receive a message from Andrea Hoover, president of JobLynx with a collection of what others have said if they could do their careers over. There are some good tips in her list. Here's a selection:

I would worry less about promotions and more about learning my craft.

I would take advantage of the company training programs, regardless of whether they related to my current job.

I would finish my degree. Why didn't I do that sooner?

I would make friends in other departments and other branches and not eat lunch at my desk so often.

I can't believe I stayed at some of my jobs so long. If I could do it over, I would leave the bad jobs sooner.

I would take more risks and go for more promotions. I think I could have moved up if I had given it a shot.

I wish I had been living below my means and saving money so I could change jobs more easily.

I wouldn't let people with bad attitudes get to me so much.

I would talk to my bosses more and find out what they really expect. Figure out how to work together instead of always clashing with them.

I would learn to resolve my problems at work instead of quitting so easily.

I wouldn't stay late so much. I think people got used to me always being here and then it was impossible to go home on time.

I would listen more to myself and recall more of the things I wanted when I was a kid. I used to have some pretty good ideas about what I should be when I grew up.

If I had my career to do over again, I would enjoy it more.

Do any of these second-chance pronouncements resonate with you?

Send career questions for possible use in this column to Joyce Lain Kennedy at Box 368, Cardiff, CA 92007, or e-mail her at jlk@sunfeatures.com. Sorry, the volume of mail makes personal replies impossible.