Careers & Coffee

Iowa courts are facing a serious shortage. The Gazette's courts reporter Trish Mehaffey talks with Becky Lutgen Gardner on the opportunities available to Iowa job seekers.Key points:Iowa is facing a 'beyond crisis' level shortage of court reporters, with 33 job openings in the state and a nationwide high demand.Court reporting offers an annual starting salary of nearly $56,000 and involves transcribing court proceedings using specialized stenography skills.There's only one school in Iowa offering a two-year real time/court reporting degree, contributing to the shortage. The program recently went virtual and saw its highest enrollment in years.Despite the strenuous certification process, court reporters enjoy the varied nature of the job and the learning opportunities it provides.The shortage is affecting court proceedings, with court reporters having to juggle between different judges and hearings, causing delays and increased stress.Temporary solutions include hiring retired court reporters and conducting remote hearings, but a long-term solution is still needed.Questions, comments? Contact us at Corridor Careers

In this podcast we discuss the recent trends in employee onboarding. Joining us is new product manager for Corridor Careers, Becky Lutgen Gardner. Becky brings a wealth of experience as well as recent employee onboarding experience.Resources:Back to Human, 9 employee onboarding trends for 2023Trends in employee onboarding that can shape your onboarding process

This week we chatted with Gazette reporter Izabela Zaluska. Izabela walked us through her story on the Iowa City program that builds connections for job seekers to the skilled trades.This interesting program helps job seekers learn more about trades before entering an apprenticeship program so they will better understand what trades are a good fit for them.Resources:Izabela's article on thegazette.comLink to program opportunityOther skilled trades opportunitiesJob openings in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City in trades

We had a great conversation with The Gazette's Des Moines Bureau Chief, journalist Erin Murphy.Recently Erin talked with a state economist in his piece on how difficult it will be to recoup Iowa's worker losses.Some highlights:Slow population growth for nearly a decade has led to more job openings than people to fill them in Iowa.'Brain drain' of young Iowans who benefit from Iowa's schools and universities are leaving at higher rates for other states.Retiring and aging workforce leave many skilled positions hard to fill with the sheer volume of them.Immigrants have continued to be the main source of new population in Iowa and many legislatures will be focused on how to reform legal pathways for immigrants who wish to come to Iowa to fill the many jobs we have to fill.Many state-funded upskilling and re-skilling programs are being strengthened by additional funding.You can read Erin's story here on thegazette.comSo what does this news mean for job seekers? More competition among employers for their skills. Additionally, job seekers who are currently struggling to find jobs or a better career can benefit from multiple apprenticeship or upskilling programs available near them at local community colleges or workforce training centers.Want to hear more from Erin Murphy? You can sign up for his weekday newsletter On Iowa Politics or listen in to his On Iowa Politics podcast. Once the legislative session in Iowa starts back up in Iowa, Erin will be covering all the happenings at the statehouse.

Just for fun:Confused Breakfast Podcast (mentioned Pork Tornadoes Drummer Mike Schulte)Freelance ideas mentioned:Social Media Strategist (content manager or creator, marketing strategist)Fiverr freelancing https://www.fiverr.com/Pet Sitting https://www.rover.com/Minor repairs (handy services)A big one we forgot to mention: Delivering newspapers!

In this podcast we review the Google-recommended functional resume format and talk about the ins and outs.Resources:Google webinar about practical resume strategiesMake a copy of this google docs functional resumeStandard resume templateVideo Resume tips

Mental Health resources for job seekers mentionedLocal Mental Health Tools988 Suicide HotlineFoundation2 Crisis Line

Free training from Google: Create a https://bit.ly/3fHEcK5 (resume that stands out) Nail your https://growonair.withgoogle.com/events/nail_your_job_search (job search process) Google https://grow.google/certificates/#?modal_active=none (professional certificate training) Kirkwood training resources https://www.kirkwood.edu/programs/continuing-education/fasttrack-career-certificates (FastTrack Career Certificates) IowaWorks https://www.earnandlearniowa.gov/apprentice (Earn & Learn Apprenticeships) Show notes: Identify your learning objective: What do I want to learn? Set a measure of success. Review learning opportunities: YouTube, Google, Kirkwood + beyond

This week the Careers & Coffee pod reconvenes to highlight an upcoming career fair in the corridor, taking place at the Lindale Mall on September 8, 2022. Many local employers will be there with a variety of positions, many entry level.  Job seekers can pre-register at https://www.corridorcareers.com/events/79-fall-career-fair (corridorcareers.com) When: Thursday, September 8 Time: 3:00-6:00 PM Where: Lindale Mall What: Connect with local employers and job search resources, all in one place: the Lindale Mall! This job fair will feature a variety of employers and job opportunities as well as job search resources if you need help with your resume or skills. Get registered today. A very fun bonus 

What's a good way to organize your materials to have a smooth job application process, over and over? We chat about some ways to keep sane while applying for multiple jobs. Key moments: 00:00 Job Fair Announcement 02:20 The Basics: what to have at the ready for the job application process 05:16 Work History vs. Resume: crafting a relevant resume 06:00 Highlight accomplishments 07:24 Contact info of previous supervisors/employers 09:26 What are your favorite skills? 11:47 No computer? No problem: local resources Cedar Rapids Public Library Opportunity Center Resources: https://www.corridorcareers.com/events/79-fall-career-fair (Corridor Career Fair Sept. 8) https://www.crlibrary.org/opportunity-center/ (Cedar Rapids Opportunity Center) (Ladd Library) https://hbr.org/2014/08/why-women-dont-apply-for-jobs-unless-theyre-100-qualified (Why women don't apply for jobs unless they are 100% qualified) Mentioned in this episode: Join us at our Career Fair We're connecting job seekers with local employers at the Fall Career Fair! Our Fall Career Fair 2022 includes an exciting community partnership with the Cedar Rapids Public Library, offering attendees resources in preparing for the process of selecting and seeking out new opportunities. Join us September 8, from 3-6pm.

In this Careers & Coffee, Dan and Liz return with some ideas for summer jobs that are currently available in the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City area. Recreation jobs Retail jobs Service tech jobs And a new feature announcement! https://www.corridorcareers.com/search?&engagement_type%5B%5D=Part+Time&engagement_type%5B%5D=Contractor&remote_type=Onsite&cat_id= (Part-Time Jobs available)

In this episode, Liz and Dan highlight the community resources that will be available at our upcoming career fair April 28th, 2022 from 3-6pm and what services they offer job seekers or anyone interested in career information. Highlights: https://www.crlibrary.org/opportunity-center/ (Opportunity Center), https://www.crlibrary.org/skills/ (CRPL Workforce Development Assistance) https://urbandreams.org/ (Urban Dreams) https://www.kirkwood.edu/explore/services/learning-services/trio (TRIO at Kirkwood) https://www.cedarrapids.org/business-resources/programs-and-networking/impactcr (Impact CR) https://www.facebook.com/IowaWorksCedarRapids/ (IowaWorks) https://www.deltavcodeschool.com/ (DeltaV Code School)

It's been a long time since entry level jobs were limited to retail or food service. Now there are opportunities that are technically 'entry-level' that you may not have considered. From janitorial, to sales, to service technicians, there are many opportunities to train on-the-job for a satisfying career that offers upward mobility. Resources: https://www.corridorcareers.com/categories/general-help-jobs (General help roles)

Just curious about a job change? Learn what you might be missing out on career-wise. This week's Careers & Coffee Pod talks about how not everyone is actively looking for a job, but many are open to new opportunities. Setting yourself up for the right opportunity if it comes along doesn't have to be accidental. Learn some steps to determine what roles you might consider, and how to evaluate what companies might be a good fit. Simple first steps can include updating or reviewing your LinkedIn profile or reaching out to friends who recently changed jobs. When you're not actively looking for a job, you can still be 'job curious.' Thinking over a change in your career? Dan and Liz talk thru the different steps you can take to explore a job change. Steps discussed: 1. Define what's wrong with your current job 2. Turn these into opportunities to become more satisfied. 3. Talk to friends who have changed careers recently. 4. Network to find any opportunities that might fit your skills. 5. Be open to consider opportunities that you discover. More resources: https://www.thebalancecareers.com/before-accepting-job-offer-2062206 (10 things to consider before accepting a job) https://www.forbes.com/sites/lizryan/2018/01/11/never-ever-take-a-job-unless-it-passes-this-test/ (Checklist for considering if a job is right for you)

Cover letters used to be a big deal when people were mailing resumes to employers. But are they still useful in digital form? Short answer: yes. Cover letters help candidates stand out with HR professionals or managers. They can also be remixed into a LinkedIn profile or used as an introduction in an online application if there is an opportunity to add comments to the form. Tips: Avoid over-used openers, add some creativity or a personal touch to your cover letter. Think of one of your proudest moments or memorable achievements. Identify what you learned from that proud moment. Try to apply that to a potential role you are interested or how it would serve an employer to have you as an employee. Resource: https://www.themuse.com/advice/how-to-start-a-cover-letter-opening-lines-examples (Cover Letter Opening Line Examples) View the latest jobs, get job alerts or build a resume on https://www.corridorcareers.com (Corridor Careers)

In these challenging times...it's hard to remember that there are unlimited possibilities. In this pod we talk about how to use creative visualization for job search and general motivational success. Tips for making it work and challenges to try with the 'playground of your brain'. Additional resources https://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/interview-visualize-success (Using visualization before a job interview) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tbHYvH347A (Daily listen with Earl Nightingale about taking action) https://linncountytrails.org/ (Linn County trails) to get outside on https://www.jcprd.com/592/Trails (Hiking in Johnson County)

Admin roles can be a rewarding way to explore career opportunities for multiple industries. What's up with administrative jobs? In this episode of Careers & Coffee, we give talk about what's trending with administrative jobs in Eastern Iowa and the skills you need to be successful in this type of role. Mentioned on the Pod: https://www.raygunsite.com/products/midwest-forecast (Raygun Midwest forecast T-shirt) https://www.mynextmove.org/profile/summary/43-6014.00 (Knowledge, Skills and Abilities needed from Onetonline)

Childcare can be one of the reasons working parents leave the workforce. Here are some resources discussed in this podcast all about childcare in Iowa. State resources: https://dhs.iowa.gov/child-care Workforce taskforce: https://www.futurereadyiowa.gov/childcare-taskforce Iowa Childcare Resources & Referral: https://iowaccrr.org/

Need money now? Sometimes there's a bit more 'month' after the money. Especially when you are between roles, it can be challenging. Resources discussed: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/uber-driver-drive-deliver/id1131342792 (Uber Driver) https://www.googleadservices.com/pagead/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChcSEwipjZDojev0AhXqJkwKHeojBWsYABADGgJvYQ&ohost=www.google.com&cid=CAESQOD2rqd-6-dYfnTOUVACeWesdKgcEOf0FzsdBOWIEfuOGlqBPEbXpm6Xslb29PhqlscfO4YVR28sVq7k2sj24z0&sig=AOD64_3gPbp-dvm57PZecg2oiUngWE4euA&nis=1&ved=2ahUKEwiE04Xojev0AhWOlWoFHXxWD-0QqyQoAHoECAQQBQ&adurl= (UberEats) https://www.chomp.delivery/driverSignup.xsl (Chomp Delivery) https://www.fiverr.com/ (Fiverr) Become a https://www.thegazette.com/become-a-carrier/ (Gazette Carrier)

Liz & Dan talk through the opportunities for people who are transitioning from one role to another. Plus a few ideas for those who want to ease back into to the workforce through part-time work.

This morning the Careers & Coffee team gets a little deep. Most people feel a need to connect their work life to something greater. But finding that 'calling' can be challenging to say the least. Dan offers some tips to find that fit. Show notes: Try a simple http://blog.corridorcareers.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/North-Star-Exercise.pdf (North Star Exercise) to figure out what guides you.

Some job seekers are reporting little interest from employers even though Iowa currently has more jobs than workers. Dan and Liz chat about steps you can take to make a real connection even when applying online. Resources: Metro Libraries offer job search assistance, please contact https://www.thegazette.com/library/ (your local library) https://www.facebook.com/IowaWorksCedarRapids/ (IowaWorks Offices) http://cedar%20rapids%20partners%20with%20des%20moines%20nonprofit%20to%20create%20jobs%20%27pipeline%27%20partnership%20with%20urban%20dreams%20would%20help%20train%2C%20employ%20underserved%20populations/ (Urban Dreams, Cedar Rapids) https://www.corridorcareers.com/job-tips/5-linkedin-tips-for-job-seekers (LinkedIn Tips)

Employers often use 'behavioral' questions to understand if a job seeker is the right fit. The Careers & Coffee team digs into a few and how to prep yourself to answer the tough ones. Resources: https://www.themuse.com/advice/30-behavioral-interview-questions-you-should-be-ready-to-answer (Over 30 Behavioral Interview Questions to Prep For) https://apps.apple.com/us/developer/zoom/id530594111 (Zoom App Download for iOS)

In this episode of Careers and Coffee, Liz and Dan do a follow up on Career Fair, and talk about filling out online job applications.

What's your skillset superpower? Are you great at at least 1 thing? Dan and Liz talk about how to either think about or articulate your superpower. This can be helpful in your focus as a job seeker, but also in your interview skills with recruiters. See, even though we have an active job market here in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City, recruiters are still picky, looking for candidates that they know will help them further business goals. Resources: Book discussed: The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results by Gary Keller https://www.amazon.com/Gary-Keller/e/B001IGQM4S/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1 (Amazon link) https://mln.polarislibrary.com/polaris/search/title.aspx?ctx=3.1033.0.0.5&pos=2&cn=88795 (Library link) Check out the latest 400+ https://www.corridorcareers.com/search (jobs on Corridor Careers)

Dan & Liz are joined by a new team member, Adamu Muhammad to talk about his recent job search experience and his advice for job seekers. Simply put? Keep at it. Don't allow rejection to get personal, and understand if you have strengths in your field, eventually a company will see your value and offer a position. We also briefly touch on cover letters, and why they are not such a thing anymore. At least in a tight job market like Eastern Iowa. Resume resources for job seekers: https://www.corridorcareers.com/resume-services (corridorcareers.com/resume-services )

In this chat, Dan and Liz discuss what makes a company a great place to work. Sometimes the very structure of the company lends itself to becoming a potential great place to work. Next they talk about how job titles are often just creative suggestions and the real job is in the description -using skill and industry matching can often lead to a better fit. Mentions: https://iowa.emsicc.com/assessment?radius=50%20miles®ion=State%20Center (Iowa Emci Skills Assessment) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5qQJhe7sLE (Simon Sinek talks trust between Employer/Employee)

Not sure what skills you should showcase in your resume? Wondering what will help you stand out to a recruiter? Sometimes they tell you exactly what they are looking for and it's your job to mirror their language. Dan and Liz also discuss basic zoom interview tips to help you gear up for landing that career you love in the coming months.

Are you socially awkward after a year of isolation? So is everyone. In this podcast, Dan & Liz chat about the benefits of work, the anxiety we're all feeling and how to overcome that state of overwhelm in your job search. Show notes: Upcoming career fairs: https://www.corridorcareers.com/events

Struggle to know what job you'd be great at? We talk thru some tools you can try to answer those deep questions. Resources: http://blog.corridorcareers.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Skills-Tendencies-Passions-Worksheet-1.pdf (Skills, Tendencies, Passions Worksheet) https://iowa.emsicc.com/assessment?region=State%20Center&radius=50%20miles (Emsi Assessment: FutureReady Iowa) Search https://www.corridorcareers.com/categories (Job Categories on Corridor Careers) Mentions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVsXO9brK7M (How to know your life's purpose in 5 minutes) https://www.amazon.com/No-More-Dreaded-Mondays-Publisher/dp/B004Q3JIL4/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=no+more+dreaded+mondays&qid=1623446949&s=books&sr=1-2 (No More Dreaded Mondays, by Dan Miller)

Dan and Liz discuss what's trending in the Eastern Iowa Corridor and how to enter a field with no experience. What career paths are available right now in Cedar Rapids / Iowa City How to get alerted when new jobs are added in your categories of choice How to get into marketing, with no marketing experience https://www.corridorcareers.com/job-alerts (Sign up for Job Alerts)

What questions should you ask during an interview? Curious about culture, or day to day activities? Ask. The Careers and Coffee team delves deeper into what questions to ask an employer during the interview. https://www.corridorcareers.com/job-tips/what-to-ask-employer-during-interview/ (More interview questions)

In this episode of Careers & Coffee, Liz and Dan discuss communicating with employers, and give some advice on cleaning up social profiles when looking for a job fresh out of high school or college. LinkedIn tips https://www.corridorcareers.com/job-tips/what-to-do-after-college-tips-on-finding-your-first-job (Finding your first job out of college)

Dan and Liz are no strangers to feeling overwhelm. We took a practical approach to today's question, 'What to do when you are feeling overwhelmed?' Some resources: https://www.thegazette.com/health-wellness/getting-enough-sleep/ https://www.cedar-rapids.org/residents/parks_and_recreation/index.php (Cedar Rapids Parks) https://www.icgov.org/parks (Iowa City Parks) https://northlibertyiowa.org/departments/parks/ (North Liberty Parks) https://www.thegazette.com/business/job-seekers-do-have-power/ (Job seekers do have some power - making positive choices) Looking for a job in Eastern Iowa? Check out corridorcareers.com or ask Alexa to “open corridor careers” to hear the latest job listings from Corridor Careers.

In this episode of Careers and Coffee, Liz and Dan discuss educational opportunities in our area and creative ways to advance your skill set even if you already have a job you like.

Resumes, always back to resumes? The team goes into resumes, keeping it short and snackable. Welcoming our developer, Josh Hlibichuck, Careers and Coffee talks about 'what should be in a resume that get's a manager's attention' talking keywords and objectives. Show notes: To use the free resume builder on Corridor Careers, simply create a user account and start building yours today: https://www.corridorcareers.com/users/new All our blogs about resumes are here: https://www.corridorcareers.com/job-tips/topics/resumes You can find resources about basic building blocks, keyword optimization and much more. Career Week Ask the Expert went in depth on this- see that panel on this channel! Like our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CorridorCareers or sign up for job alerts: https://www.corridorcareers.com/job-alerts

What do you do when you have a gap in employment? How do you network and have a plan to respond to employer questions? Re-entering the workforce can be tricky without the right tools. In this episode, Dan & Liz chat about a gap in employment and opportunities to bridge that gap. https://www.corridorcareers.com/career-week/ask-the-expert#resource-pack (Ask the Expert panel) https://www.kirkwood.edu/explore/services/career-services/skills-to-employment/index (Kirkwood Displaced Worker Program) https://www.kirkwood.edu/explore/services/career-services/skills-to-employment/index (Kirkwood Career Services) https://www.brainfuse.com/highed/home.asp?a_id=7D340384&ss=&r= (Resume Lab) https://www.brainfuse.com/highed/home.asp?a_id=7D340384&ss=&r= (Live Job Coaching)

Careers and Coffee is about all things careers. From finding that perfect job, to learning from our mistakes. Dan Holterhaus, Liz Kennedy and guests will keep things moving in these quick weekly chats covering jobs in Eastern Iowa. A career podcast for right here. This week the team discussed what we learned from Corridor Careers' Career Week 2021. Our Ask the Expert Panels and Monday Motivation with Bobby Stanley were some highlights and offered some great resources to job seekers. https://www.corridorcareers.com/career-week (Career Week Archive & Resources)

In this episode Dan & Liz answer a job seeker question about how to get into video game design or other very specialized job paths. They explore this question and share how job seekers can use the tools available to all in O*Net, the occupational database of the United States to determine what skills are needed and how you can take steps to get to the job you want. https://onetonline.org (Onetonline.org)