Can I get a job offer generated from my online profile?

Andrej asks: Would you think about to offer me a job if you look at my profile? And what kind of? I have never heard of a reporter getting a job without showing (written or video) clips. But my question is really only about whether my profile could attract some attention or not. I really do not expect somebody will offer me a job and his decision would be solely based on information from my profile. I would be weird also for me :-)

Profile:
During my journalistic career I’m trying to focus on various security topics, terrorism, US politics and world of intelligence agencies. Because of my job I have had chance to visit places like Kosovo, West Bank, Transnistria, Taiwan or USAF bases. I had also the privilege and luck to make interviews with many distinguished persons. Just mention few: Shirin Ebadi (Peace Nobel Prize winner), Kim Campbell (former Prime Minister of Canada), His Royal Highness Prince El Hassan bin Talal (uncle of King Abdullah II of Jordan), James Woolsey (former director of CIA), Gen. Wiliam Odom (former director of DIA), Mircea Raceanu (so called last political prisoner of dictator Nicolae Ceauşescu), Paul Wolfowitz and Richard Perle (two of eight Vulcans of GWB). The real special one was the interview with British explorer Fiona Thornewill. I called her when she was exactly on the South Pole after her record-breaking walk. I have many interests :-)
Specialties:

US internal, security and foreign policy and American society, Czech Rep. internal and foreign policy, China security and foreign policy, China-Taiwan relationships, world of intelligence agencies, security policy in general, transatlantic relationships, NATO, history of Cold War...but once again I have many interests :-)

In answer:
Simply put - NO!

Profiles wherever they are are profiles. They are there for peers as well as recruiters and HR Professionals working on behalf of employers to find you, but they are not focused enough to get you a job. Even if they are the best profiles in the world - like a VisualCV for instance - and say specifically I am Job Hunting, I or any other recruiter or HR professional would not offer you or anyone else a job solely on an online profile. A profile is there like an a positioning post at worst, and a bland advertisement at best - for those recruiters/HR professionals looking for those skills, it serves as a sign post to be found, create interest, open communication and possibly lead to a specific job application and hence later to a face-to-face meeting.

A profile is a profile, a CV/Resume is a job application.

Good Luck!

Bunny Girls laid......... off!

It's a sad side kick of the credit crunch, but the redundancies made in the financial sector have resulted in a number of companies in subsidiary services and associated market - including Hugh Hefner's Playboy empire laying off Bunny Girls - being forced in light of the down turn to make people redundant.

The downturn in the construction industry - did you know that half of the Rolls Royce and Bentley cars sold in the world are sold to people in the construction and property market - has resulted in UK luxury marque Aston Martin reportedly selling fewer than 20cars in August 2008, compared to over 180 in the run-up to the new 57 reg in September 2007.

What can employee's do about this changed climate? The simple answer is - be prepared. Look at your skills and aspirations, and start to think about what you would do if redundancy came? Don't assume the person who offered you a job even six months ago will still have an opening now, so have at least three options prepared - one up, one sides ways, and one downwards ALL of which for long term corporate employees should be to outside opportunities. Once you have decided on a plan, undertake a quick review of you CV/Resume - we at Ajiru are happy to undertake this for FREE.

Be prepared, and - Good Luck!

Declining an applicant due to geographic concerns?

Nechiele asks: Is it common practice to decline an offer of employment for a qualified candidate due to geographic concerns? I ask this because I have actively applied to several positions that I am well qualified for and have consistently been declined due to my location. I've gotten several 'suggestions' to outright lie and say I live in the area that I am looking at for employment; apparently that makes me a much more desirable candidate. That is an action that I'm just not comfortable taking. I am more than willing to foot my own relocation costs yet that fact seems to be overlooked more often than not. I am beyond frustrated to say the least. Any suggestions?

In answer:
Look at this from the employers risked standpoint:

- They have 150 CV/Resumes for this open position
- They have 10 highly qualified candidates
- 8 of those candidates are local

Add in the current economic woe's, and many companies are backing away from relocations due to:

- Hardships in home sales
- Costs of interviewing

But the biggest problem from the employers view point is that simply retention of employees is statistically better with local or regional candidates. It sounds like they have been burned in the past, either by quick turnover or a candidate accepting the position and then backing out before the start date. This typically occurs when the interviewer fails to determine the true motives of the job seeker, and might be the reason why the position is vacant to begin with. Also, many CV/Resumes say that relocation costs are not necessary, but then when the offer is on the table, the applicant asks for it.

Hence, what you are experiencing may feel discriminatory at the moment, but keep in mind that until your feet are on the ground in the community that you are seeking employment, you are not seen as a viable candidate unless you are totally outstanding. This isn't true for certain hard-to-fill openings but generally, you are seen as too high of a risk.

My advice is not to lie. You need to make it very, very clear at the outset in your Cover Letter that you are interested in the job because to want to, and have already planned to, relocate to that area. If you truly do not need relocation assistance, then put in your Cover Letter and repeated in the CV/Resume that relocation costs are already covered and be sure you dont ask for it.

Good Luck!