Many New Mexicans need a little help these days finding a job. In-person interviews seem like a distant memory. Pandemic restrictions drastically changed how we search for jobs. The traditional interview, where you met your prospective employer at their place of business, seldom happens these days. Recruiters turned to virtual job interviews to maintain safe social distancing and minimize contact. (Steinberg, Scott, 2020) Today’s job hunter needs to get tech-savvy and quick. Goodwill’s Career Specialists can help you. 
 
As of February 1st, Goodwill is offering virtual and in-person consultations with Career Specialists. Our career experts can teach you to navigate a virtual world. You’ll learn how to use video conferencing platforms such as Zoom and Google Meets like a pro. They even help you download the apps and make sure they work on your phone, computer, laptop, or tablet. The benefit is knowing how to use them to aid your job search. 
 
Our Career Specialists will:

• Help refine your online presence
• Set up mock interviews followed by constructive feedback
• Teach you what to say and not say at interviews
• Prepare you with answers to typical interview questions
• Explain how to showcase yourself and your accomplishments
• Help you communicate your strengths and downplay your limitations
• Advise you how to dress for in-person or online interviews

 
Goodwill focuses on work history, polishing up resumes, and providing job leads. If a candidate’s skills strongly match a particular job, we encourage the employer to interview them!
 
“Sometimes the person with the best interview skills gets the job, not the one with the best skill set,” said Ramon Torres, NM Goodwill Employment Program Manager. “Most people need help because after they don’t get a job, they never find out it was a terrible interview.”
 
When someone has been out of work for a while, the stress begins to affect their confidence. A lack of confidence shows in subtle ways, often creating a perfect storm that keeps them from landing that next job. The loss of self-confidence can infiltrate a person’s tone of voice, facial expression and body language. Goodwill can boost job seekers confidence by addressing these issues during mock interviews.
 
“Remember, when you interview,” Ramon Torres advises, “don’t say you are honest, hardworking—these attributes are expected for all employees. They are not considered job skills.”

 Other interview tips from Goodwill include: 

• Don’t keep yourself a secret. 
• Learn to market yourself to prospective employers and brag about your talents. 
• Be ready for those typical interview questions with a short 30 second to a 1-minute description about what makes you a good fit for the job. 
• Don’t repeat your resume. 
• Focus on what makes you the best candidate.

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Torres suggests since your virtual recruiter cannot see your desk, take advantage of your at-home-interview. Put your resume in front of you or taped to a wall. Remember, the interviewer can only see you. Place post-it-notes with talking points on your laptop and get ready to nail that job interview. 
 
And, of course, when interviewing at home, be prepared for the unexpected photobomb or unavoidable interruptions. We love our kids, but no one needs a visit from a toddler during an interview. Inform your recruiter that your dog may furiously bark if Amazon makes a delivery. And above all, watch out for the scene-stealing family cat. (The Pet Collective, 2020) If that happens, show them how well you handle an unexpected crisis.
 
 
What to Expect from Goodwill’s Free Job Placement Program
 
Those over 18 years old and looking for full or part-time work are eligible for this free program. Participants range from less than high school educations to job seekers with multiple degrees. All of them want to improve their interview skills and freshen up their resume. Goodwill Career Specialists help veterans, seniors, young people, the learning disabled (LD), handicapped, and those with audio deficiencies. Job seekers with criminal backgrounds, those with gaps in employment, or transitioning to a new field can also get assistance. (R. Torres, personal communication, January 26, 2021)
 
Our free program works with all types of job seekers. As long as a person qualifies to work in the US, Goodwill can help with their job search and teach them to market themselves. Plus, our website leads learners to a portal with free online courses in Microsoft Word, Excel, Google Sheets and Docs, Photoshop, and hundreds of others to freshen up outdated computer skills or learn new ones. 
 
Expect to meet with a Career Specialist once a week for 30 minutes to go over your progress. 
 
  
Where to Find Jobs Today
 
After the pandemic ends, some jobs may transition back to the workplace; others will not. Call centers; personal shoppers; curbside pickups operations; those who deliver food and goods to homes; and restaurants with established drive-up windows have experienced job growth. Telecom, healthcare, and technology exploded in the number of people needed to fill new jobs. (Steinberg, Scott, 2020) Goodwill’s job placement program can help you find your niche in this fluctuating job market.
 
As national chains closed their doors and local small businesses disappeared, New Mexico suffered. Our unemployment rate rose to 8.8% in December 2020, when the nation’s unemployment rate stood at 6.7%. That translated to 10.7 million Americans out of work across the country. (Johnston, Stacy, 2021) Before the pandemic put our state in lockdown last Spring, we had an employee-friendly market. New Mexico flipped to a pro-employer job market during the pandemic with the coronavirus restrictions and high infection rates—too many applicants for too few jobs. And that is what makes finding a job in this world-wide pandemic a challenge.
 
Worse, there are also new risks associated with virtual job hunting. Sophisticated scammers only want your information, web histories, and web footprint to sell. Avoiding shady marketing scams, pop-up ads, and bogus phone calls keeps you safe. When you receive an unsolicited email with odd typos, broken English, or from a company you never contacted, be leery. If a recruiter offers you a job for which you are not qualified, think twice about replying. That ploy is called a “hook” or a “con,” meant to get you so excited you fall for their scam. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is. Our Goodwill Career Specialists can show you how to spot schemes.
 
Now You Know that Goodwill Finds People Jobs. Want to be One?
 
If you are ready to get expert help finding a new job there are two easy ways to get started. Call 505-881-6401 or click here:  https://www.goodwillnm.org/job-search-help.html  and submit your application to participate. There are no obligations, no hoops to jump through and no reasons why you shouldn’t take advantage of this free help.
 
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Goodwill Industries of New Mexico was founded in 1941 with the mission to provide skills training, job development, and social services for New Mexicans. Goodwill® provides a wide array of free programs and services to individuals in 33 counties of the state. In 2021, Goodwill's goal is to serve 21,100 individuals and place 1750 individuals in community-based employment. For more information about Goodwill and its programs and services, visit https://www.goodwillnm.org/free-services.html.


References 
Johnston, Stacy. (2021, January 26). “Current News Release: Economic Update January 26, Jobs State of New Mexico, US, Workforce Connection.” New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions (NMDWS). (Accessed 2021, January 31.) https://www.jobs.state.nm.us/gsipub/index.asp?enc=JdKtFhuODzQ+aO5C6MuCGQ==

Steinberg, Scott. (2020, May 24). “Coronavirus hiring: How Recruiters are selecting and interviewing job candidates during the pandemic.” CNBC @AKEYNOTESPEAKER. (Accessed 2021, January 30.) https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/24/how-recruiters-select-and-interview-job-candidates-amid-coronavirus.html

The Pet Collective. (2020, August 3). “The Pet Collective. “Cats on Zoom Calls” episode of Try Not to Laugh.” [Video]. YouTube and Facebook. (Accessed 2021, Jan. 31.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=762tbD11LxI; (Original Source) https://www.facebook.com/thepetcollective/videos/287253372699156
 

A great way to find hidden treasures at Goodwill New Mexico is by shopping at our Clearance Corner store. This store is unlike our other retail locations. The merchandise is displayed in large bins and separated by categories; hardline (houseware, tools, equipment) and softline (textiles). Shoppers can move easily through the wide aisles and search through the bins. Plus, we refresh the inventory hourly, so there is always an opportunity to find amazing items. Items are priced by the pound. At Clearance Corner, your entire cart is weighed, and you pay a single price a check-out. And now your shopping experience can be even more exciting because we've moved to a larger location and increased our store hours. Clearance Corner will reopen, in its new location, on January 4th, 2020.
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​​New Location and Hours
New Location: 5000 San Mateo Blvd, NE Albuquerque, NM. 
New Hours: Mon-Fri: 9AM - 2PM

For more info call us at ​(505)881-6566

Veterans, veteran family members, and other unemployed New Mexicans in need will continue to receive free services through Goodwill’s new virtual platform. This means that qualifying New Mexico veterans and their family members who are homeless or at risk of homelessness can receive help with job placement, temporary housing, rent, utilities, childcare, emergency supplies, assistance with VA or other public benefits, and much more.
 
Additionally, the virtual services provide critical job placement assistance to any unemployed New Mexican. Goodwill can introduce job seekers to an extensive partner network of local employers who are hiring now. “New Mexicans need Goodwill’s free programs and services now more than ever. It was an obvious choice for us to adapt to offering services virtually,” says Goodwill’s Marketing Manager, Pamela Russom. 
 
As a nonprofit partner in New Mexico for 79 years, Goodwill remains committed to advancing its mission to provide skills training, job development, and social services to New Mexicans.  Goodwill offers free programs and services to individuals in 33 counties of the state.  In 2019, Goodwill served over 20,000 individuals and placed over 1600 individuals in community-based employment. 

​Halloween is going to be different this year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have issued recommendations and guidelines for low- and high-risk Halloween activities. Those guidelines can be found here.​ The guidelines are advising against traditional activities like door-to-door trick or treating. But New Mexico's parents are getting creative and thinking of ways to celebrate Halloween in the house!

"There is no way the pandemic will stop our Goodwill DIY shoppers from celebrating Halloween safely. Those we have spoken with tell us they are not going door-to-door, instead, they are planning to have fun in the house. They also want to spend way less money to celebrate. This makes Goodwill a perfect place to shop for Halloween décor and clothing pieces for DIY costumes", says Goodwill Marketing Manager, Pamela Russom.
​
Goodwill wants all New Mexico kids and kids-at-heart to have fun this Halloween! So, we put our heads together and did a little research to determine what parents across the country are planning. Here are some of the fantastic Halloween ideas we found!  

DIY Halloween costumes from Goodwill are the trend for 2020! Parents are looking for old clothing that can be altered, distressed, or repurposed. Among the most popular costume ideas are everyday heroes like police, doctors, and nurses and the good old-fashioned choices such as zombies, kitty cats, and creepy dolls.

Our team of Halloween "experts" this year are kids ranging from 7 – 13 years old. Within 10 minutes of starting their shopping adventure at our Goodwill store on San Mateo Blvd, they found inexpensive clothing, shoes, and accessories to create their DIY costume. Each costume should cost you less than $20 even after you include the price of make-up and other accessories that you may not find at Goodwill.  
​
Here are supply lists, prices, and our "easy to make" ratings for the three DIY costumes we tried:

Interest in supplies for Halloween craft projects is at an all-time high at Goodwill. We narrowed our DIY choices to the easiest and most entertaining projects we could find.

Spell Book = $2.99  (price may vary) 
Rating: Easy 

What you need: Old books from Goodwill, mod-podge (make it yourself) paper towels, string or yarn, candle, black, brown, white paint (make it yourself) 
​
This spell-binding project is only moderately messy. Prep your
​workspace with a trash bag or paper bags to avoid mishaps. 

Ok, Albuquerque Moms and Dads, what's the Halloween plan? The New Mexico Governor's Office has shared CDC guidelines on high-risk Halloween activities. Guidelines call for no door-to-door trick or treating. Boooooooo! 

But don't get witchy about it! Instead, cast a spell to create your own indoor fun! Would you like a few fun and economical ideas for celebrating in the house? Don't worry; Goodwill’s got you covered on supplies for affordable fun!
​

Catherine Roster, Professor of Marketing, Anderson School of Management, University of New Mexico thinks it may have! Dr. Roster is a consumer behavior researcher who specializes in consumers’ decisions about getting rid of possessions and the impact of clutter on consumers’ health, safety, and psychological well-being.  She graciously shared her findings from a recent project with Goodwill Industries of New Mexico.  

Findings from Dr. Roster
Recently, I interviewed a group of professional organizers, experts who help people declutter for a living. My goal was to learn how the pandemic had impacted people’s motivation to declutter. Most agreed that their clients were highly motivated to clear out spaces in their homes. It was surprising to learn that people’s decluttering motivations varied widely, depending on their personal circumstances. For those who were fortunate enough to have extra time on their hands, the pandemic represented an opportunity to organize, redecorate, or transform spaces for different uses or purposes. But many people all of a sudden found their work and home were colliding. Stuff piled on the dining room table had to be cleared out quickly to serve as the children’s schoolroom. Bedrooms became dorm rooms for adult children kids returning from college, or home offices for telecommuting adults. There were not enough hours in the day as people assumed new responsibilities, like homeschooling while trying to do their jobs.  For these folks, extra time did not create the decluttering. Immediate needs drove it, and this only added to the stress of the pandemic.
​
I also learned from the focus group that people cared less about what happened to the things they decided to get rid of - they simply wanted them gone. They no longer had the luxury of storing bags of items while deciding if they wanted to donate or sell them. Those storage spaces, like closets, sheds, and garages, were being taken up by toilet paper and canned goods!

​In some ways, the pandemic may have helped people with a tendency to hang onto everything. Several of the organizers remarked that clients of theirs who formerly had a great deal of difficulty getting rid of things became more decisive and gained more clarity as to what was really valuable in their lives during the pandemic. One told a story about a client who realized “she doesn’t need 50 pairs of shoes in different shades of the same color.” Others noted that clients were more willing to be creative in re-imagining spaces. And perhaps most importantly, all of the organizers agreed that people gained a new awareness of the value of family instead of things.

In today’s throwaway world, it’s more important than ever to reuse the things we already have in circulation. The process of upcycling involves taking something old or already used, and repurposing and revamping it into something even better. Whether you’re new to the concept of upcycling furniture or you’re just curious, and want a DIY project, there are lots of ways you can take existing items and give them new life. Read on to discover more about products you can upcycle yourself to enjoy unique products for the home while contributing to a greener world.
The Benefits of UpcyclingUpcycling furniture is a great way to reuse items and give them a fun personal touch. There are many amazing benefits to upcycling, including:

• Saving Money: When you upcycle furniture, you’ll save your hard-earned money since most items can be obtained from thrift stores, yard sales, or even the dumpster. Instead of shelling out tons of cash for new designer furniture, you can enjoy beautiful pieces that are new to you without the high price tag.
• Creativity: The process of upcycling allows you to express and show off your creative side. Whether it’s through painting, distressing, or literally rebuilding furniture, it’s a great way to learn new skills and creative techniques. Upcycled furniture tends to have tons of personality and unique features that mass-produced products don’t.
• Giving New Life to Old Furniture: Used furniture may look like it’s worthy of the trash but upcycling it can give these items a whole new life. A coffee table with a scratched tabletop can be completely transformed into a beautiful statement piece. Chairs with torn upholstery can easily be revamped to become your favorite reading chair.
• Less Waste: Furniture that sits in a landfill can remain there for years, causing harm to the environment. When you upcycle, you’re helping to create less waste by repurposing and enjoying things that already exist rather than buying something new.
• Customize Your Furniture to Fit: Whether your home is large or small, you can customize your upcycled furniture to fit your lifestyle and your space. You can make tables shorter or taller, and you can also make sure that the furniture fits with your décor. Essentially, upcycling furniture allows you to customize items to suit your home and your taste.

Upcycling TechniquesEven if you don’t consider yourself artistic, it’s easy to upcycle furniture and make it fun. One of the easiest ways to do this is by painting old furniture in a new color. A wood table can easily be rejuvenated by transforming it from a dull brown color to something vivid and vibrant like grass green or sky blue. You can also update or change the finish of most wood furniture. Simply sand the wood to remove the old finish, then apply a new coat of finish or stain to give the furniture a fresh, updated aesthetic. Another upcycling technique involves changing out parts and replacing them with new ones. For example, add some metal casters to an old wooden crate or discarded tabletop to bring a fun, industrial-inspired vibe to your living room. If you love the farmhouse style, give your upcycled furniture a rustic look by distressing it or using chalk paint. The possibilities are endless, so make sure you’re creative and have fun while making your new creations.
Upcycling Ideas for Different RoomsFrom your home’s entryway to the bathroom and beyond, there are several ways you can use upcycling to add new looks and new furniture to various rooms.
Entryway

• Coat Rack: Take an old wood board or plank and paint or refinish in your favorite color. Attach some hooks or bent spoons to the wood, and hang it in the entryway for an easy DIY coat rack. Even a large tree branch can be made into a coat rack. Sand the branch and cover with a coat of paint or varnish, then attach it to a block of wood at the base using nails or screws to keep it upright.
• Storage Containers or Boxes: Vintage wooden crates make awesome storage containers. You can also take cardboard boxes and cover them with fabric or wallpaper to create charming shoe storage for an entryway. Take clean, empty paint cans and decoupage the outside in fun designs for quick storage of small accessories like mail and keys.
• Décor and Crafts: A vintage table lamp can have new life by simply adding a custom fabric shade and placing it on an entryway table. Cut the top of old shampoo bottles off at an angle, paint them, and hang them from a rope to add some fun hanging planters to your entryway.

Bedroom

• Nightstands, Dressers, and Bedside Tables: Look for antique or discarded nightstands and dressers and give them new life with a fresh coat of paint. Take a stencil and spray paint a unique pattern on the drawer fronts for a contemporary look. A simple sand and refinish can easily breathe new life into this bedroom furniture. Remove old hardware and add updated metal drawer pulls and handles for an instant furniture refresh.
• Old Mirrors: Revamp an old mirror by updating the frame. You can take a hot glue gun and glue seashells, glass, or tile mosaics around the mirror frame to give it a modern vibe. If you want something a bit simpler, just remove the mirror, then spray paint the frame in your favorite color.
• Lamps and Lamp Shades: Vintage lamps are easy to makeover by painting the base in a new color. You can even paint the lampshade itself to give your bedroom lighting a new look, or glue new fabric over the old lampshade. For a fun upcycling project, take old Mason jars and hang them upside down and use a light kit to create easy, rustic pendant lighting.

 Living Room

• Couch: Vintage couches are awesome, and you can upcycle one with a reupholster job. Switch out torn upholstery with luscious velvet fabric for a beautiful touch. If the old couch is in decent shape, simply change the legs to something new. Wood blocks or metal posts are great options to update old, scratched couch legs. You can even patch a damaged couch to make it look brand-new again.
• Coffee Tables and TV Stands: If the coffee table or TV stand is made of wood, a new coat of stain or paint is an easy DIY project. Paint the base or legs of the table in one color and stain the tabletop in another for a two-toned look. You can also use a nail gun and attach planks of plywood to the top of a TV stand or coffee table to give it a fresh, farmhouse-inspired feel. Take a vintage dresser, paint it or add decoupage to the case and drawers, and use it as a TV stand in the living room.
• Shelving: Make old shelving unique by applying patterned wallpaper to the inside or directly on the shelves themselves. Fabrics also work well to create a fun touch to older bookcases and shelving. If you prefer wall-mounted shelving, decorate or paint old wooden crates, wood planks, or raw wood slices and attach them to the walls using anchors and screws.

Kitchen/Dining Room

• Tables and Cabinets: Use an electric sander to gently sand off the old finish of dining tables and cabinets. Re-paint this furniture using spray paint, chalk paint, or a high-gloss enamel. To update an old dining cabinet, consider adding new doors or hardware. It’s an easy way to refresh old pieces by giving them a modern touch.
• Chairs and Stools: Repurposing dining chairs and stools is easy, especially if they’re made of solid wood. Follow the same steps for wood dining chairs that you would for tables to elevate their look. You can also reupholster old fabric dining chairs and add features like nailhead trim or button tufting to the back. Cut foam to fit a vintage stool, then cover it with your favorite upholstery.
• Frames: There are endless ways to upcycle old picture frames. Glue rhinestones, beads, and crystals to the frame for a romantic touch, or add some faux greenery or flowers around the edges to give it an organic vibe. Painting old frames is a quick and simple way to give them an update, too.
• Racks for Kitchen Utensils: Hang an old rake upside down and use it to keep your kitchen utensils organized. A vintage rolling pin can be mounted to the wall or cabinets to become an adorable towel holder. Bend vintage silverware into a hook shape, then attach them to a wooden board with a screw to hold all of your cooking tools.

Bathroom

• Reuse Cabinets for Towel Storage: Take an old cabinet and use your creativity to paint or finish it in your favorite colors. Replace a solid door with a clear glass door and use it to organize folded bathroom towels. Upcycled cabinets are also great to store toilet paper, cosmetics, and toiletries so you can declutter your vanity top.
• Shelves Above Toilet: An old baker’s rack makes a great etagere for shelving over your toilet. Paint the rack in a new color using an enamel spray paint to protect it from moisture. You can also mount shelving on the wall directly over your toilet using pieces of old wood or metal for a quick update.

Backyard

• Décor Ideas: Old flower pots made of wood, ceramic, or metal make beautiful garden décor. Hang vintage gardening tools on a fence and wrap them in string lights to create a whimsical backyard space. Metal tins and buckets are wonderful planters and you can re-paint them or wrap them in fabric to add some new color to them.
• Chairs and Tables: An eco-friendly way to make backyard furniture is to take old wooden pallets and repurpose them into tables or chairs. Add some cushioning to your custom chairs for a comfortable and unique outdoor space.
• Old Window Frames: You can repurpose and upcycle old window frames and use them as a wall succulent planter. Staple chicken wire to the back of the frame, then use it to attach your plants to it, creating a “living wall.” Attach old windows together to create a custom outdoor greenhouse.
• Old Tires and Wooden Spools: Wooden spools make great accent tables, and you can also use old tires for backyard seating or décor. Tires can be repurposed as planters, or you can stack them up and attach them together for a casual seat outside.

Whether you’re looking for ways to declutter or need inspiration, upcycling furniture is a great way to bring new life to old items. Use your creativity to come up with new ideas that will make vintage furniture brand-new to you. Browse a variety of paint colors and fabrics that will inspire you to give each upcycle a breath of fresh and air personality. Through upcycling, you can contribute to a greener world and enjoy the quality that vintage furniture provides.

Goodwill generally offers a selection of deeply discounted bar stools, small tables, bistro tables, folding tables, chairs, lamps and more. Think about what you need to make it comfortable.

• A clear, clutter-free surface is essential.  And give as much consideration as you can to posture. Generally, follow a 90-90-90 rule. Knees and hips should be bent at 90-degree angles and feet touching the floor.
• Don’t skip good lighting! Either from a lamp or a window.
• Pick a spot with easy access to an electrical outlet.
• Pay special attention to minimizing distractions. The best learning environment would have zero noise from TVs, telephones, vacuuming, or whatever.  

Organize the learning area. How will your student organize their materials? You could use plastic tubs, shoe boxes, or shelves to store learning materials and supplies. Goodwill always has a ton of different storage options.

Set the daily schedule.  This timing might be different for every family. But, because children function best within structure, maintaining a routine will be super important. Start with setting a schedule that is similar to their traditional school day.  If you want to be precise, while also offering a learning opportunity, try tracking time with an unusual wall clock or any clock with hands.  You can also build a cheap activity chart with materials you find at Goodwill. An old frame glued onto cardboard makes great bulletin board!

​Build in fun activities.  Goodwill has so many items for arts and crafts it is overwhelming. Pick a project on Pinterest and we guarantee you can find 90% of the supplies here.  Keeping them busy on a project will also, hopefully, give you some free time. It’s all about creativity, parents!

1. Gather and prepare all job search info needed/required

• Previous/current employer info: dates, supervisor name, addresses, phone numbers
• Three professional references (past supervisors, past coworkers, those that can attest to your character and work ethic)
• List all skill sets/strengths within the workplace relevant the type of work you would like to do
• List of positive on the job performance review attributes (formal or informal)
• List of accomplishments, awards, recognition
• List any criminal infractions (charged with or convictions, misdemeanors and/or felonies) You will need dates and names of infractions.
• Education info: institution name, degrees, dates
• Training certifications: including institution names, date

 
2 . Prepare a resume and a cover letter

• Use an existing template  (free templates can be found online and are ok to use)
• One page is ideally. Two pages maximum.
• Should have one resume for each type of different job role which highlights strengths and skills relevant for each
• For certain positions, a cover letter will be appropriate and is suggested for management or administrative positions.
• Cover letters can be kept and re-written/edited/tailored for each application. If you really want the job make sure your
  cover letter is asking for that specific job.

​3. Check your online personal profiles for professionalism

• Edit social media postings that could be seen as inappropriate for a business environment.
• Create an online profile using LinkedIn. This is like an online resume.

 
4. Take advantage of continuing education and training to broaden your skills 

• Take free computer skills courses online with our education partner GFC Global. 
• Investigate education funding through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.

 
5. Set aside time for finding job announcements and applying for jobs

• Ideally daily – Monday thru Friday
• At least three hours a day – goal of 5 to 10 applications per week
• Each application can take between 20 & 45 minutes to complete

 
6. Only use trusted job search engines such as Indeed or Glassdoor

• Use only one national job search engine as all tend to have the same announcements
• Don’t overlook staffing agencies as a helpful resource 
  • They often serve as hiring departments for many major companies
  • Always ask for direct to hire or temp to hire roles 

7. Spend more time applying for jobs and less time “looking”

• Avoid getting absorbed in the search! People often get “lost in internet space”
• Remember you cannot get hired if you haven't applied
• You should be able to find several leads within first 30 minutes of your search

 
8. Communicate professionally

• Every point of contact serves as an opportunity for you to be evaluated.
  • Watch your speech on phone calls and in emails 
  • Be courteous and dressed nicely when applying in person
  • Do NOT use an inappropriate email address  (superbabe505@mail.com) 
  • Be sure your voice mail set up and is not full. The greeting should be simple and polite. 
• If you receive a call from an employer, do NOT answer unless you can spend at least 5 minutes speaking to them. 
  Do NOT answer if you are in a loud environment. Wait until after the kids band concert. 
• Behave as if every call is from an employer and answer accordingly

 
9. Prepare for each interview

• Save job descriptions and review them thoroughly. Memorize responsibilities and performance expectations
• Research the company before you go. You should know what they do. 
• Research popular interview questions for the type of career you would like
  • Prepare written, bullet pointed answers for popular interview questions
  • Practice answering the interview questions
  • Write down your past achievements 
  • ​Practice explaining how your skills can positively impact outcomes in the workplace

10. Interview Tips

• Dress for success – a step above what is required of the role
• Be positive, smile, use an upbeat tone of voice, show enthusiasm
• Maintain eye contact
• If you're not understanding a question it is ok to ask, “Can you repeat the question please.”
• Use examples of past successes relevant to the skills needed for the job.
• Explain how your skills can positively impact outcomes in the workplace.
• At end of each interview, be sure to ask employer about:
  • Benefits
  • Opportunities for growth
• Get business card from person that interviewed you and thank employer them for consideration
  • Follow-up within 48 hours with a "Thank You" email or even a hand-written card 

​New Mexico Veterans and their families can find FREE HELP to recover from housing and economic hardship at Goodwill. Goodwill’s free services are broad but include independent housing, covering past due rent or utilities, and job placement support to secure the veteran a great job. The process is swift. All of this usually takes place within hours to days of the qualified veteran’s approved application for assistance.
 
This comprehensive level of assistance is not new to Goodwill. It’s part of the many free social service programs available to all New Mexicans since 1941. Marketing Manager, Pamela Russom, says, “we have nine free programs and services. Three of which cater specifically to veterans. Our dedicated teams consist of caseworkers with master-level degrees and backgrounds in the military. We know exactly how to help a veteran get back on their feet, and we have the resources to make it happen fast. Last year we served over 1800 New Mexico veterans.”
 
If you know a veteran or are a veteran in need, please call Goodwill’s corporate office at (505)881-6401 between the hours of 8am and 5pm, Monday through Friday. Veterans can also go online and submit their application for services here.