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SALT LAKE CITY -- A growing number of Utahns may be expanding their job-seeking horizons in a difficult employment market - possibly to as far away as China and Europe.
World Trade Center Utah, designed to build international business relationships is taking calls weekly from people who are willing to go overseas for work.
"Who do you know? Who is hiring?" Business development vice president Sheila Steiner says she is frequently asked those questions. "And, ‘I speak Hungarian, Chinese, Japanese …'"
Steiner says it hearkens back to her days at the University of Utah, where she was the director of MBA Career Management at the David Eccles School of Business.
"Ironically, even in my new role, we have so many people networking and seeking international opportunities, that sometimes it's hard to tell which seat I'm in," Steiner says.
Meanwhile, job prospects may be picking up in Utah. Job placement firms say they're seeing some early signs.
"We're seeing a lot of companies saying, ‘In Q4 we've got money to spend - let's use it or lose it, so we're going to hire people,'" Robert Half International branch manager Justin Rohatinsky says. "And a lot of what we're hearing from companies is, ‘Even if we may be slow Q4, we're planning for next year being a big year.'"
Rohatinsky says Robert Half has been slammed with calls and online applications from job-seekers - 300 to 400 inquiries per week.
The advice is to stick to the basics and apply for jobs that meet your qualifications.
"In a down economy, companies are just sick to death of seeing people that are over-qualified," Rohatinsky says.
Other pointers from Rohatinsky and Steiner:
- Do homework about companies
- Be clear on what you offer to your prospective employer
- Generic Resumes don't work - tailor them to the jobs you are seeking
- It helps to read the news (i.e., watching for what companies are expanding, etc.)
- Be versatile but targeted in your skill set
- Be flexible where you are willing to work
- Overdress instead of underdress.
E-mail: aadams@ksl.com
