SOAR: A Recipe for Interview Mastery (FTE)

 From: AJ Mize - More info here

SOAR stands for Situation, Obstacle, Action, and Result.

It's a structured approach to answering interview questions that allows you to present your experiences in a compelling, organized manner.

Here’s how you can make it work for you:
Situation: Set the scene. Describe the context in which you were operating. Were you leading a team, working on a project, or facing a tight deadline? This sets the stage for your story.
Obstacle: What challenges did you encounter? Identifying the hurdles you faced not only adds drama to your story but also shows that you’re not shying away from difficulties.
Action: Here's where you're the hero. Detail the specific actions you took to address the obstacles. This is your chance to showcase your problem-solving skills, creativity, and leadership.
Result: End with a bang. What was the outcome of your actions? Highlight the positive impact of your efforts – be it increased sales, improved efficiency, or a satisfied client. Quantify your achievements if possible.

The Top Marketing ATS Resume Keywords of 2023

From https://www.jobscan.co/blog/top-resume-keywords-boost-resume/ 

Marketing, Media, Publishing, Graphic Design

account management, acquisition, acquisitions, administrative support, Adobe, Adobe Creative Suite, advertising, affiliate, agile, algorithms, alliances, analytical, analytical skills, analytics, analyze data, analyzing data, API, APIs, automation, benchmark, BI, brand, branding, broadcast, budgeting, build relationships, business analysis, business continuity, business development, business intelligence, business planning, business process, business strategy, business systems, case management, change management, client relationships, client services, CMS, coding, commissioning, complex projects, consulting, content, continuous improvement, contract management, conversion, correspondence, counseling, CPG, CRM, cross-functional team, customer experience, daily operations, data analysis, data collection, data management, data quality, digital marketing, digital media, ecommerce, e-commerce, editing, editorial, employee engagement, engagement, ERP, ETL, event planning, Facebook, fashion, field sales, Flex, fulfillment, HRIS, HTML, IBM, InDesign, industry experience, industry trends, information system, information systems, internal communications, inventory management, JIRA, journalism, key performance indicators, KPI, KPIs, lighting, machine learning, management consulting, market research, marketing, marketing materials, marketing plans, marketing programs, marketing strategy, merchandising, metrics, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Office Suite, Microsoft Word, MS Excel, MS Office, MS Project, negotiation, networking, operating systems, operational excellence, performance management, photography, Photoshop, portfolio management, positioning, PR, process development, process improvement, process improvements, product management, product marketing, product quality, project delivery, project management, public relations, publications, publishing, quality assurance, R (programming language), recruit, regulatory compliance, relationship building, reporting, resource management, retention, sales management, SAP, scheduling, scrum, SDLC, segmentation, SharePoint, six sigma, social media, SOPs, spreadsheets, SQL server, stakeholder management, standardization, startup, start-up, statistical analysis, statistics, status reports, strategic direction, strategic initiatives, strategic planning, strategic plans, strategy, strong analytical skills, telecom, trade shows, TV, X Twitter, value proposition, vendors, video, windows, workflows

College Seniors: A Handful of Industries Eager to Hire

 From:

The job market for recent college graduates is in flux, with some bright spots for employment opportunities alongside some toppling of expectations. While the overall job market is strong, there are some industries that are hiring more than others. For example, there is a high demand for workers in the health care and education sectors. However, the job market for communications graduates is more difficult, with openings in the media industry decreasing by nearly 64% over the last year.

Overall, the job market for recent college graduates is still strong, but it is important to be adaptable and open to different opportunities. There are many jobs available, but they may not be exactly what you were expecting.

IN-DEMAND JOBS FOR 2023: WHICH CAREER PATHS ARE WORTH PURSUING?

From: https://www.thehrdigest.com/in-demand-jobs-for-2023-which-career-paths-are-worth-pursuing/

1. Data Analysts and Scientists

2. Healthcare Professionals

3. Cybersecurity Professionals

4. Renewable Energy Technicians

5. Digital Marketing Professionals

6. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Professionals

A labor market cooldown: US economy added just 236,000 jobs in March

 From https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/07/economy/march-jobs-report-final/index.html

US employers added just 236,000 jobs in March, coming in below expectations and indicating that the labor market is cooling off amid the Federal Reserve’s yearlong rate-hiking campaign to chill inflation.

The unemployment rate dropped to 3.5%, according to the March jobs report released Friday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Economists were expecting a net gain of 239,000 jobs for the month and a jobless rate of 3.6%, according to Refinitiv. This is the first jobs report in 12 months that came in below expectations.

How Americans View Their Jobs

 from: https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2023/03/30/how-americans-view-their-jobs/

Only about half of U.S. workers say they are extremely or very satisfied with their job overall.

- Even smaller shares express high levels of satisfaction with their opportunities for training and skills development, how much they are paid and their opportunities for promotion.

- Most workers say they are extremely or very satisfied with their relationship with their co-workers (67%) and with their manager or supervisor (62%).

- About seven-in-ten or more say they’re treated with respect (78%) and can be themselves at work (72%) all or most of the time.

- Majorities also say they have at least one close friend at work (65%) and that they feel their contributions at work are valued a great deal or a fair amount (62%).

Worst Paying College Degrees

 From https://www.cnbc.com/2023/02/25/worst-paying-college-majors.html?utm_source=chartr&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=chartr_20230301

Is it worth it?
Maybe it depends where you live.


Theology and Religion - $36k
Social Services - $37k
Family and Consumer Sciences - $37k
Psychology - $37.4k
Leisure and Hospitality - $38k

Average Cost of 4 year public university is $39k
Average cost of 4 year private university is $51k

California Minimum wage is $15.5 per hour or annual $30.4k
New York minimum wage is $15 per hour or annual $29.4k 
Florida minumum wage $8.46 per hour or annual $16.5k
Ilinois minimum wage $8.25 per hour or annual $16.1k
Texas minumum wage is $7.25 per hour or annual $14.2k

Job Search Strategies That Work in 2023

 from: https://www.ziprecruiter.com/career/finding-a-job/job-search-strategies-that-work-in-2023

Take Advantage of AI

Polish Your Online Presence

Get Experience

Build Your Network

Dabble on Job Boards

Perfect Your Virtual Interview Skills

Be Patient and Flexible

2023 Employee Benefits & Workplace Predictions:

from: https://www.benefitspro.com/2023/01/30/2023-employee-benefits-workplace-predictions-this-years-must-have-benefits/?slreturn=20231026175320

Frictionless benefits 

Benefits are more important than ever. 2023 will be an acceleration year for frictionless benefits, with the member experience taking center stage. People need confidence in their coverage, and technology plays a vital role as a critical enabler to fuel advances for everyone in the benefits ecosystem: employees, employers, carriers, benefits administration software firms and brokers. Expect to see more embedded benefits, greater variety in benefits options such as fertility, elder care and tuition reimbursement, and broad adoption of all-in-one solutions that unify many of today’s point solutions for HRIS, benefits, and payroll. 

Shannon Goggin, CEO and co-founder of Noyo