In this economy, it’s important to do everything you can to get a recruiter to remember you. Going the extra mile could be the difference between getting a job offer and not getting one. An MBA and experience alone won’t impress recruiters, but by following these helpful tips, you could increase your chances of getting an interview.

Send a Follow-Up Note

Following up with a recruiter by sending them a note is an ideal way to get them to remember you. A handwritten note will make you stand out from other applicants, and remind the recruiter that you are available, interested, and thoughtful. It’s important to send a follow-up note in the right way. Be sure to let the recruiter know that you enjoyed speaking with them, and reiterate your interest in their company. Don’t talk about yourself too much, but do feel free to include some highlights relating to your education and work experience. Above all, mention that you hope to hear from them in the future, and include your contact information so they can easily get in touch with you.

Learn How to Tell a Compelling Story

When talking with recruiters, they’ll want to know more about you. They can find out the basics from your résumé, but what they really want to know is why. Why did you choose to go to a particular college? Why did you decide to major in History before going on to complete your MBA? Why did you decide to pursue an MBA after five years of experience in electrical engineering? Most of all, why do you want to work for their company? If you have an engaging story, one that is compelling and memorable, recruiters are more likely to remember you and want to speak with you again. Practice telling the story of how you got to where you are today with a friend or family member. It will make it much easier to tell your life story to a recruiter if you’ve told it dozens of times before to someone else.

It’s also important to be prepared to talk about why you want to work for their company. Recruiters are used to hearing MBA students give a short answer to why they want to work for their company. To really blow everyone else out of the water and make the recruiter remember you, have a more detailed answer prepared. For maximum effectiveness, make your answer about how your education and experience can benefit the company. You want to talk about how you can be an asset, but you don’t want to focus on how getting the job would benefit you personally. All of the focus should be on how hiring you would be beneficial for the company.

Show Them What You Can Do

A great way to get a recruiter to remember you is to prepare something that really shows what you can do. For example, if you’re an MBA student hoping to get a marketing job after graduation, you could prepare a brief presentation that highlights some ways you believe the company could increase sales. Whatever your field of interest, make a mock presentation and show it to the recruiter, then ask if you can email them a copy later.

Andy Anderson is a career counselor and writes for a site that outlines the best MBA programs, featuring extensive information and listings for the best online MBA programs available.

Many people are out of work, and they are looking for new jobs. With the slow economy, many people have been laid off due to a company having to downsize their expenses. Some of the companies thought this could save their company from going out of business completely; but this caused more people to start looking for new employment. Being unemployed is hard enough, but it is even harder trying to save on the gas used to hunt a job. But there are some tips that might help you conserve your gas usage while you look for that new job.

The first tip is to use your existing contacts and people you know. Inform them that you are now looking for employment, and if they know of any job openings to let you know. With the social media’s, we have more contacts than ever before; and the social medias can be used to our advantage. When you let people know you are looking for a job, you will have a chance to hear about a job opening sooner. By using this method, you can conserve your gas since you will only drive to job sites that are actually hiring.

A second method to conserve your gas is to prepare a resume that you can mail or fax to possible new employers. They will have the opportunity to review your resume, and then they can call you for an interview if they are interested in talking to you. This is another opportunity for you to conserve your gas; since you will only travel to them if they call you in for an interview.

A third method to save your gas usage is to look online for a job, and post your completed resume on some sites. But you will still need to apply for some of these jobs in person. There is several online job search engines that you can use to find a job in your area. These sites will allow you to post your resume, and the employers that are interested will be able to contact you by email or phone. This can narrow your travel time down and conserve your gas. You will only be going to employers that have shown an interest in you; you will not be making trips to every job you found online.

There will be a time that you will need to leave your house and actually go to the physical location of a business to look for a job. It is better to have a list of where to go to look for a job at before you leave home; this will make your driving more efficient and use less gas on the trip. Having a good road plan will ensure less gas usage. You will know exactly where you are going without making unnecessary turns and using more gas. It might not seem like very much saved, but every dollar you can save on gas adds up.

Another gas saving tip is to check your area for job fairs. A job fair will be in one location, and you will have opportunities to meet company representatives from the areas. The companies are looking for employees to represent their company. By attending a job fair, you will get to meet these representatives of these companies on a personal level; and all at one location. This will save you the gas of going to each individual company.

If you are unemployed, you will want to conserve all your money to pay your bills. Conserving the gas it takes to travel for job hunting is no different. Locating the best job can become expensive if you do not follow these tips. If you go out and just travel around with no idea of where to look or not care how much gas you use, then you will be broke before you find a job. Simple planning techniques are the solution to save gas while job hunting as well as using your contacts and online searches; you can save gas.

Marcie McDonald is an insurance consultant who writes for cheapestcarinsurance.org.uk and highly recommends checking online for car insurance comparison websites. This site even includes classic car insurance quotes.

Julia Child has become a household name among cooks in the United States and even throughout the world. Even beyond her death, her story and her impact on the culinary world continue to live on. While Ms.Child did not initially set out to become a world famous chef and household name, her career savvy and perseverance paid off by creating a career to which others can aspire to achieve.

Lesson #1 – Do Your Background Homework

Ms. Child is famous for her French cooking, but she did not know how to even speak French when she arrived in France with her husband in the 1940s. Determined to make her situation work, she invested the time and effort into learning the language of the culture that eventually became her passion. In order to advance your career, take classes, learn something new about your industry or technology.

Lesson #2 – Find Your Passion and Follow It

Ms. Child loved living in France. She also discovered that she loved French food. This passion and enthusiasm followed her throughout her entire career. Find out what you are passionate about and make it your life’s work. If it is sport fishing, find a way to integrate that into your work. Work should be something you enjoy and want to do, not something that is a dredge and to be avoided.

Lesson #3 – Keep Learning

Ms. Child did not start her career as a chef until she was well into her 30s. She was not only passionate about food, but she wanted to excel in being a chef. She took every class she could find and worked at it diligently until she had mastered whatever cooking technique or skill needed to succeed. Take the attitude that you never “arrive,” but instead are on an interesting and exciting journey.

Lesson #4 – Be Joyous

One of the things that set Ms. Child apart from chefs of her time was her enthusiasm and excitement about what she was doing. To watch her was to see her absolute joy and excitement about food, especially French food. Follow your joy and your passions and demonstrate and express your enthusiasm for your work.

Lesson #5 – Know that it Takes Hard Work

Being successful takes work. Ms. Child continued to be creative and find innovative solutions, even into her later years. She was willing to make the extra effort to not just pass her classes in culinary school, but wanted to be the top in her class. Do whatever it takes to reach your goals and achieve excellence in your field.

Lesson #6 – Acknowledge that You Make Mistakes and Keep Going

One of the things that Ms. Child did not waste time on was wallowing if she messed up and made a mistake. If something flopped, then it did not work and she moved on. She used failures as an opportunity to learn and moved forward. Know that you are human and will make mistakes. Use the lessons learned about what not to do and go forward, knowing you will do better next time.

Lesson #7 – Ask for Feedback

Ms. Child recognized that in her passion for French food, she was introducing something new to the American public at large. She frequently asked family and friends for feedback about what they liked and what they found easiest to make from her recipes and cookbooks. Be willing to hear what others have to say about your work and ideas.

Lesson #8 – Build on Your Foundation

Ms. Child was not satisfied to just be a cook. She wanted to be a chef, then she wanted to be a teacher. With each new skills, she developed a new set of goals and reached for them. Be willing to continue to develop your skills and build upon your foundation.

Lesson #9 – Be Willing to Test the Theory

Ms. Child quickly learned that food is a passion in France and an entire art unto itself. She became quite willing and wanted to test ideas and concept out, until she had absolute knowledge that they worked. Be willing to take a risk and challenge the status quo. You might be surprised and learn that just because something has always been done a certain way, does not mean it has to be done that way forever.

Lesson #10 – Value Yourself

Ms. Child’s first efforts at introducing French cooking to the American public were not easy. In fact, they took many, many years. She understood intuitively that what she wanted to accomplish was of value and could be successful. Even if you are faced with challenges in achieving your goals or introducing new innovations, stay determined and keep trying. Eventually, you will get there.

Another valuable lesson is to manage your finances and cut down any unnecessary expenses whenever possible. An easy way to cut down expenses is to do an online quote comparison at Kanetix Canada to find the cheapest car insurance quote and save money.

No one needs to be told that these are challenging times in which to be searching for a job. What we do need to hear is that there is hope in finding new employment! Yes, despite the current slump companies ARE hiring, they are just doing so in lower numbers and are choosier about who they hire. But you can be one of those who beat the trend and land a job, if you remember to keep in mind some simple but all important tips that can get you that extra edge.

First of all, employers today are looking for workers who can begin making a contribution almost immediately. Therefore emphasize your skills that are immediately transferable to the job, the things which you can do that won’t require much training. It costs employers time and money to train people, so stress the areas where you are ready to contribute from day one!

Problem solving and analytic skills are always in high demand, so when talking about past employment or education during a job interview be sure to stress any occasions where you distinguished yourself in identifying and solving a problem. Also never underestimate the power of networking. Use online social network tools like LinkedIn or Facebook to stay in touch with old colleagues in your field or to meet new contacts. You just never know who knows what or who and how they can help you! And don’t be embarrassed to let people know you need employment, as no one can help you if they don’t know what you need.

Sometimes the best way to enter a job is through the back door. If the precise field in which you want to work is not hiring, consider taking a job in a similar or related field that may serve as a stepping stone to the work you really want to do. For example, someone who wants to work in writing might take a job selling advertising – for the paper they want to write for! Once you get your foot in the door you may be surprised how quickly and easily you can move around once your real talents become obvious. Also don’t rule out relocating. Moving can be a hassle, but if your dream job is just not anywhere to be found where you live, consider relocating to where it can be found. In your job search cast a wide net and be willing to move if you must!

Unfortunately, sometimes things reach a point where you just need a job that provides you with some means to survive. In that case, you may want to temporarily take a job that doesn’t take full advantage of your education and skills and just gives a paycheck to pay the bills. Recessions don’t last forever, so there will always be new opportunities to pick up your original career path. In the meantime there’s no shame in doing whatever you need to do in order to pay the bills.

Finally be sure to project a positive attitude no matter how you may really feel. No one wants to work with a person who brings them down. To get a job in today’s market someone has to take an interest in you, and it is up to you to create that interest.

Nicole Rodgers has been blogging in the insurance, business, and finance industries for three years. Nicole’s nephew in Houston asked her if she had any tips for finding a job. Nicole told him some tips to find a job in these hard times and also some ways to save money just in case. She also gave him some examples of what she did when she was out of college looking for a job. She also suggested that he should take some Houston gmat classes just in case he wanted to go to graduate school.

Today’s economy is on a downward slope, which is not news. Jobs are scarce and those in need of a job are not having the same luck they had 7 or 8 years ago. With companies pinching every penny they can, the positions that were almost guaranteed to be there are no longer available. That doesn’t mean there are absolutely no jobs out there, you just need to look in a different place. Here are a few tips on where to look, how companies are choosing employees, and how to tweak your resume to land the job you are applying for.

Where to look

It used to be so easy to find a job. In the morning you could open the newspaper to over 4 pages of job postings. Now you will be lucky to find a column of listings. Most companies are turning to other methods of advertising their open positions.

The internet is a source that many use because of the free postings. If you already know what company you would like to apply for you can usually find a job listing on their website. Visit the website and click the link that is usually titled “Careers” or “Jobs”. If they have any positions available they will be listed there.

Online bulletin boards and classifieds is another way to find available jobs. Most of these sites are free to use for both the employers and the job hunters. Sites such as Craigslist.org and Yahoo jobs are full of posts or open positions. You do have to use caution however. There are many scammers that use these services also. If the pay seems to be too good to be true, it probably is. Fast food cashiers won’t make $25 per hour. If they are asking for personal information such as social security numbers or bank account information, it is a scam. You will run into a lot of these but don’t give up. Weeding through the dirt can still find you gold.

Most companies nowadays don’t want to spend the resources to advertise and interview applicants. Therefore some of these companies will turn to employment agencies to do their dirty work. Companies such as Spherion, Aerotek, and Priority Staffing, are national companies handling many different clients. This is a great one stop shop for employment of all kinds. They usually handle a range of positions from landscaping to computer programming and accounting. By visiting their office or applying online they can match your next job based on your previous work. With their pay based on finding employees, they work to get you hired.

What they are looking for

When a company is looking to hire, they have specific categories they look at. Longevity is one factor most companies are starting to look at even closer than in the past. They want an employee that has held their previous jobs for at least a year or two. They look for the reasons you are currently unemployed. If you were fired they want to know why and what the steps of your dismissal were. If you quit, they want to know why and what steps were taken to avoid such a drastic measure. Be honest with them and explain the reasons. Even if it sounds bad they would rather know the truth upfront rather than hearing it when they contact your previous employers.

When applying for a new position the most important first impression of your professional life is your resume. Standards are constantly changing for the type of resumes companies would like to see. Be sure your resume is up to date, includes the company names, dates employed, and proper job function. Be honest on your resume and don’t claim to know something you don’t know. If you don’t know PowerPoint don’t claim you do, they may just have you using it.

If your resume contains a variety of different jobs, try to slim it down to jobs that closely relates to the position you are applying for. It is easier to explain gaps in employment by omitting a job than it is for the employer to try and find your relevant work history. Employers are more likely to read a one page, dedicated resume that is tweaked for the position that they are trying to fill than they are to read a 3 page list of every summer job, transition job, and odd job you did that has nothing to do with their company or needs.

The job market is rough right now. Each job posting, interview, and call back is a chance at a position to give you security and peace of mind. Treat each opportunity as a step towards a secure future and make the effort to land the job. The more care you put towards the hunt, the better the chance for success.

London resident Thomas Hathaway is a financial consultant and a content contributor for payday-loans.co.uk, a company providing money advances when you need them.

The job market is still tough out there, even for college graduates.

Some studies show an increase in employment for college graduates, but studies that take into account under-employment or “true unemployment” reveal the true problem to be persistent.

Only about half of college graduates are getting a job that requires a degree, fewer still are getting jobs that require their degree. Most recent college graduates are either unemployed, working a temporary job just to get by, or working part-time when they’d rather be working full time.
While a lot of young people’s time and talent out there is going unused, the more innovative ones have found other ways to use their energy and advance themselves.

Improving hire-ability

While many college graduates remain unemployed or under-employed, they continue to try and land better jobs. One way is by continually polishing their résumés to make them unique, professional, and impressive. A second way is by going to different career websites or temp offices to try and develop professional profiles and get hooked up with employers. A great way to develop a professional persona and do some networking is ResumeBucket.com. Of course, the prevalence of these career sites has greatly increased the amount of applicants for the average job.

Starting a company

The bravest and most risky thing that recent college graduates are doing is making their own startup companies. With success stories like Mark Zuckerberg out there, it is clear that anyone out there with good web skills and a brilliant vision is a potential billionaire. With no more-stable options to shoot for, many young people are shooting for the stars. The problem with this is that, of course, the vast majority of these brilliant ideas don’t “make it,” and their founders wind up in even worse financial situations than they started.

Re-thinking living situations

Social norms in the US seem to be changing. No longer are children moving out and getting their own place the moment they turn 18. The new generation is known as “the Peter Pan” generation for their resistance to “growing up.” It is increasingly prevalent for children to stay with their parents well into their 20s. As people need more and more education just to get a decent job, they become dependent on their parents for longer and longer. When students do finally get their degree, they are finding themselves under-employed and saddled with student debt, and they still can’t afford to get out of the nest.

Young people that don’t stay with their parents are instead living together with friends in larger and larger groups. With the limited income available, even to many college graduates, it just makes the best financial sense to split rent and utilities bills up as many ways as possible. Living in a large group is vastly more economically-viable than having a whole apartment for one person or one couple.

Charity Work

The millennial generation is notoriously civic-minded and notoriously under-employed. Naturally, young, underemployed college graduates are finding a lot of time to volunteer for charity. With the organizing power of the internet, charities are getting a lot more volunteers than they used to.
Charity work is also a wise move on college graduate’s part because it looks good on their résumé or Curriculum Vitae. An excellent record of service can often make the difference between candidates when competition for a job is tight.

Travel

Those graduates that can afford to are simply taking some time off of the job market to explore the world. This is a great opportunity for the graduate to get to know their self, and hopefully by the time they need to apply for a job, the market will be at least a little bit better.

Thomas Stone began a relationship with his present, primary employer, while he continues to freelance.  He currently works with employers, who now need applicant tracking software, as job-seekers need to apply for more and more jobs before expecting to get hired.

With summer internships coming to an end, interns are mulling over what they’ve learned from the experience and how it might apply to future employment. How interns view their internship experience usually varies depending on their immediate plans.

Those heading back to a college or university to finish undergraduate studies might feel the internship rejuvenated their interest in school to prepare them for the job market. Those beginning graduate school might think the internship acted as a stepping stool that gave them real-world experience before continuing their studies. Those looking for a job might be left thinking that they’re still unqualified for a “real” job because the tasks they performed through the internship weren’t substantial.

No matter your what your experience was as a summer intern or what your immediate plans are, rest assured that your internship taught you some valuable lessons. The following are three ways anybody can apply his or her internship experiences to future employment opportunities.

Evaluate whether you’d want to work in that market again.

Working as an intern often means completing insignificant tasks that seem unrelated to your ideal career. However, working in any professional environment gives you a firsthand look into the inner workings of its industry. Gaining an understanding of the work environment before you actually have to work there is unarguably beneficial.

For example, you can determine if you thrive in an office environment or if you get bored. You can see if you’re more productive when working in groups rather than on your own. So even if the tasks you completed while working as an intern weren’t substantial, you still walked away with a realistic sense of the the industry. This could help you decide whether you’d work in a similar work environment in the future.

Consider what you’re worth.

Some companies pay their interns well while others offer valuable experience that translates to college credit. Unfortunately, it seems that more and more companies find it acceptable to offer internships without any compensation whatsoever, which can have a number of downfalls for all involved. Whether you worked for free or were paid for your services, the experience should motivate you to think about how your skills and work effort might translate into pay. Think about how much money you would expect to make if you get an entry-level position in the industry you’re interested in. Then consider if it’s manageable for you.

Determine if further education could better prepare you for your ideal career.

Depending on the career you’re working toward, you might need further education to prepare you. Some companies look for highly educated applicants while others look for those who have real-world work experience. Some look for both, but as a young professional, you have to start somewhere. If you’re preparing to graduate with a bachelor’s degree and aren’t sure where to go next, consider finding an entry level job at a company within, or related to, your industry. It’s possible you could work your way up from there. The decision to continue, or go back to, school can be costly, so you want to be sure it’s in your best interest when in comes to your immediate job plans.

This article comes from Surety Bonds.com, an online surety bond producer that operates nationwide. Surety Bonds.com helps young entrepreneurs and other business owners get their new enterprises up-and-running as quickly as possible.

Creating a professional online presence can help you to form long lasting relationships which could eventually land you an ideal job. It is also now inevitable that a future employer will “Google” you prior to an interview to gather more information on who you are. For these reasons it is vital to ensure that your online presence is kept professional.

1. Keep Facebook Private

Unless you have always been a very sensible and clean living person it could be wise to keep your Facebook profile hidden to strangers. An unprofessional image could do as much to hinder your chances of obtaining a dream job as an excellent profile page can help. If you do make your Facebook profile page public be sure that only the basic information can be viewed. View your profile as another user to thoroughly check that nothing about you is shared which could ruin your job prospects. This includes photos and comments that friends may make.

2. Use all the Social Media Tools Available

Using the Internet and social media is really like any other form of marketing. The old adage “don’t put all your eggs in one basket” really does apply to social media marketing. All too often I hear people asking “which social media site do you use?” which is then followed by a discussion about which is best. As it takes a relatively short time to create yourself a social media there is no reason to only limit yourself to one or two platforms. So create a professional Facebook profile page, also set up accounts with LinkedIn, Twitter, Google+ and Ecademy. Take a little time to write a unique profile page and interact with a few people and groups. If you have friends and family who use these services connect with them to build your profile. Having more online profiles means that it is more likely that should someone search for your by name in Google one of the profiles that you have created are shown at the top of the search results, rather than a page created by a well meaning friend which displays photos from your stag party, which leads us to the next tip.

3. Create Your Own Professional Blog

If you can buy a domain consisting of your real name, whether it be a .com, ,info or .me , do so. Then you can create your own website or blog that provides search engine optimised information about you in a way that you have total control over. Many people dive head first into social media marketing without at first even considering building their own website – personal blogs were really the first form of the social web. One of the biggest advantages of having your own website is that you can then link all your social media activity back to your site. This can create a much more professional image of you. You can also store a copy of your CV in pdf format on your site so that it is available to prospect employers and headhunters. It is also a good idea to write an HTML version of your CV to share on your website so that your key skills should appear in the search engines.

4. Keep all Your Profiles up to Date

Once you have set up your profiles it is important to keep them all up to date. Visit them at least ones per week to see how is interacting with you and also to check that noting has been posted to your profile page without your permission. Also keep an eye on the email alerts so that if a potential contact visits your profile or attempts to make contact you reply promptly.

5. Become Active in Business Related Groups

Most social networking websites provide groups to allow like-minded people to interact more easily. Becoming an active member of a group can vastly increase your visibility online. Of course, the first rule applies here – keep language clean and keep it professional. Many networking sites have areas of general conversation and chit chat. Be careful of what you say in these areas and in which threads (discussions) you join in, and being spotted in a controversial group could easily tarnish your professional image. Success through social media can be rather hit and miss. Some people spend a lot of time working at it and make little progress whereas others may have great success at networking with others. It is something that you should only do when all other more traditional forms of marketing or job hunting have been exhausted. Remember, the biggest benefit of social media for so many people is simply that it is a free platform in which you can advertise yourself, so make the most of it without letting it take up too much of your time.

Peter Dickinson is a marketing consultant Training Site, CoursesPlus. Courses Plus provides up to date professional training courses for all business sectors across the UK.

The engineering field is a broad one, with skilled engineers having the chance to work on projects ranging from buildings to aerospace. There is a shortage of qualified engineers at the moment, so people who are willing to take the time to bring their training up to scratch have a good chance of doing well in the industry. There are plenty of people who have experience in one specific area – for example CNC machine work, or using a welding positioner and doing some stick welding, but true engineers are few and far between.

Engineering Career Options

There are many different branches of engineering, including:

1. Civil engineering: Civil engineers focus on improving the environment in which we live. They work on everything from bridges to tunnels, roads and railways. At the entry level, this involves a lot of hands-on work, so if you know your way around a welding positioner and how to use welding equipment, that’s a bonus.  More experienced engineers may move on to supervisory or even planning roles.
2. Structural engineering: This is a more specialist branch – these engineers tend to focus on one specific type of project, for example oil rigs, or bridges. They advise the construction teams on the best materials to use, and guide the construction process to ensure that the buildings are safe.
3. Geotechnical Engineering: These engineers assess construction grounds before work takes place. They analyse the data they’ve gathered, and make recommendations as to how the construction process should proceed.
4. Aerospace engineering: This is one of the more glamorous fields. If you’re interested in aircraft, then this is a great opportunity to do some exciting work.

There are other engineering options. Some are more hands-on than others. If you want to work with welding equipment, then you’ll need to do more than just get some hands on time with a welding positioner. There are certifications for each piece of welding equipment, and for varying degrees of precision and quality of weld. You will need to get the certification that is relevant to the type of engineering work you want to do.

While it’s possible to get an entry level job and work your way up, there are engineering degrees, and practical based qualifications that will give you a leg-up in the industry. If you’re serious about working in engineering, then take the time to contact the Institution of Civil Engineers, Institution of Structural Engineers, the British Geotechnical Association, or another relevant body depending on the branch of engineering that you want to work in.

Engineering salaries for recent graduates are not astounding, but they are competitive when compared with earnings for recent graduates from other fields. Senior engineers earn more, and if you’re willing to work offshore or overseas, then that will also provide your earnings with a boost.

Engineering is a rewarding job that offers the opportunity to make a tangible change to the environment. It takes a long time to get qualified, but it is well worth it in the end.

This post was written by James Harper on behalf of Westermans, expert suppliers of welding equipment such as the welding positioner. James writes about business and industry related topics.

As a college graduate from the class of 2011, I can provide a firsthand account of how difficult it is to find a job straight out of college. Seniors spend an enormous amount of time preparing for interviews and researching the position to make sure the job is right for them. This involves spending a lot of time in resume preparation and researching the company you are interviewing with. When researching the company, if the position matches what you are looking for, you start getting really excited about the opportunity. You head to the interview dressed to impress and leave feeling confident you did a great job. A few weeks later, you receive the devastating email that they are pursuing a different candidate. It’s not easy brushing it off when you spend so much time preparing for the interview. Unfortunately for the class of 2011, this seems to be a never ending cycle.

It’s hard to stay motivated and think positively after repeated rejection during your final year of college. This is supposed to be a time for celebrating and preparing for the real world, but unfortunately most seniors don’t have that dream job to look forward to. Instead, there is a sense of urgency and anxiety. I was in a similar situation and went through the interviewing process a dozen times as I was searching for advertising and marketing jobs. I dedicated a lot of time into preparing for each interview and even had to re-schedule a handful of events and attend alternative lectures that were at inconvenient times. After the 5^th of 6^th rejection email, I started finding it harder and harder to get motivated for my job search.

While I was fortunate enough to land a marketing job that I love, a majority of my fellow friends and classmates are still waiting to receive an offer. While it’s hard to stay motivated, you need to focus on the positives. Look at how excited your friends are when they receive a job offer. It’s likely that they went out to the local bars and celebrated that night. It should be re-assuring to see that people are actually getting jobs and this will help reinforce that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Also, pay attention to how hard your roommates, friends, and classmates are working on their job search. Seeing how hard they are working should motivate you to try just as hard, if not harder, to prove to the recruiter that you are the right person for the position!

The last thing that helped motivate me the day of the interview was to listen to music that gets me pumped up. I usually listened to “Eye of the Tiger” on my iPod as I walked to the interview room. I’ll admit, I have felt pessimistic before an interview before, but this isn’t the attitude recruiters are looking for. They are looking for someone who is excited and energetic, so do what it takes to get you in that frame of mind. Keep in mind that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and all of your hard work will eventually result in a job offer. Get pumped and excited for your interviews and try to remain optimistic no matter what the situation is. Although it might seem tough now, all of your hard work will pay off when you land that dream job!

Adam Bruk is a graduate of the class of 2011 and now works as an SEO specialist in Indianapolis. When he isn’t researching trends in men’s sunglasses, you can find him helping friends with resume building and interviewing with hopes that they will also find their perfect job!

In today’s unsteady economy, finding a career expeditiously is becoming increasingly important. Job seekers can get an edge on the competition by working with recruiters. A recruiter will screen and evaluate you to determine if you are the most qualified person for a specific job or company. The best way to beat out other prospective employees is to get to the recruiter first. There are several ways you can do this.

Become visible in online networks.

Create a profile at LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook. Describe yourself in a professional way, and provide a link to your online bio. On Twitter, you can follow a recruiter whom you want to gain the attention of. Retweet their posts to show you have a vested interest in them.

Sell yourself.

Once you have become conspicuous and expanded your network, it’s time to optimize your visibility. Advertise yourself by creating a unique selling point that showcases your strengths. You can also join groups within your networks and contribute frequently and consistently to discussions. This will establish you as proficient in your field.

Create an online resume.

Upload your resume to ResumeBucket. Use the appropriate keywords in order to be searched by the right recruiters. To make it even easier for recruiters to find you, add your LinkedIn or other profile URL to the resume. Creating an expansive, well-connected network will put you under the spotlight for recruiters.

Write articles for various sources.

Getting published is one of the quickest ways to become noticed. Whether you choose to write a blog, a magazine article, or a newspaper editorial, make sure it gets noticed by the appropriate recruiters. You can do this by writing about your area of expertise. Provide some facet of personal information with the piece so a recruiter knows how to contact you.

Make yourself heard.

If you attend functions related to your industry, get yourself heard. Participate in group discussions, and inquire about speaking at the podium. Recruiters attend these events to connect with the right people. Speaking openly is an easy way to capture a recruiter’s attention. Participating in these events will also get you on the directory, which makes you easy to contact.

Recruit within your company.

Getting involved in the recruitment system at your company is a good way to learn the ins and outs of recruitment. This is like having inside access to the recruiter’s process. You will work with HR members, which means you can meet with recruiting partners. Once you are introduced to recruiters, you can take the proper steps to discuss your career goals.

Get referrals.

Inform the right people in your industry that you are looking for a specific job. Regardless of whether or not you are right for a job, a recruiter will be impressed if someone influential in the company recommends you.

Recruiters know what to look for, and their opinions are held favorably among employers. If you feel you are the best candidate for a certain job, get the attention of a recruiter. Following these simple steps will get you noticed without making you appear too eager or unprofessional. By doing so, you can quickly bridge the gap between you and the employer, service or company you wish to work for.

Nicole Rodgers has been blogging in the technology and finance industries for three years. She encourages everyone who is on the job hunt to have a phone system that is capable of syncing your home phone to your cell phone.  Missing an important phone call about a new job opportunity could be costly.

“INCOME POTENTIAL UNCAPPED!”

“MAKE YOUR OWN HOURS!”

“BE YOUR OWN BOSS!”

Anyone browsing the Craigslist postings for a new job is very familiar with these headlines. For the untrained eye, it is difficult to avoid clicking on such headlines because who doesn’t want an uncapped income potential, to make their own hours and to be their own boss?

These headlines are very enticing, and nine times out of ten they reference an opportunity that only pays you when a sale is completed(stuff an envelope, complete a task, etc.) Many people call it “eating what you kill”, meaning if you do not kill something and bring it home (making a sale) your family does not eat.

Since these positions do not come with a salary or hourly wage, an individual cannot afford to slack off a day, a week or a month if they are relying on the income. Many people with salaried positions can relate to having “one of those days” when you just act like you are working to keep your boss off your back. These are common during the holidays when everyone is wrapping up their Christmas shopping or planning their vacation. Many commission only professionals have the luxury of being able to slack off whenever they want without a boss coming down on them, but they also will not earn much.

Income Potential Uncapped

Yes, by definition many positions offer uncapped commission potential, but what does that really mean? It means that there are no top tiers that would limit your income once you reach a certain sales level. Often times sales positions pay on tiers, which means once you hit a specified threshold you are awarded the corresponding commission payout.

The truth is that everyone is capped at a certain point. It may not be by your company’s commission structure, but rather your time or resources. If you sell copy machines and it takes you a day to sell one, you will be limited not by what your company is willing to pay but by how long it takes for you to sell a unit. That is of course, unless you start going after larger clients that will buy in multiples.

Make Your Own Hours

These types of positions often come with the ability to work when you want and how you want. For some this is a dream come true, but for many it is a curse in disguise. In order to succeed in an environment with no structure or accountability a person must be dedicated, organized and driven. For someone considering this type of career, they need to seriously look at themselves in the mirror and give an honest assessment. Anyone can think they could be like that if they have to, but more often than not they will wash out in a few months. If you make plans to get up and clean the house every Saturday morning but end up lying in bed and watching TV instead, this is probably not the career path for you.

For those people that have what it takes to survive in this type of career, the rewards can be great. Companies tend to pay on a sliding scale when it comes to sales positions. On one side is a salary and the other side is commission. If everything else is equal, the higher the base salary the lower the commission, and vice versa. Since commission only professionals do not cost the company much in the way of personnel costs, they can afford to offer big payouts to their rock stars.

Someone looking for a fast-paced, commission-only career with huge income potential should consider financial services, insurance and the merchant services industry. They all have similarities but vary in the level of accountability. Insurance and financial services are heavily regulated industries, and therefore require quite a bit of training as well as checks and balances from people like district managers. The merchant services industry has few regulations and almost anyone can become a representative in a short period of time. Because of the low barriers to entry and the high payouts, the industry is very competitive and should not be approached lightly.

The main benefit of financial services, insurance and merchant services are what are called residual commissions. Residuals are repeat commission payouts for continued business with a client. For example, an insurance agent gets a percentage of each policy every time it renews, and a merchant services sales rep gets a percentage of the total credit cards processed by a business client. In the beginning these payouts will be small, but over a career they can add up to much more than one can make in new business alone.

Eric Stauffer is part of a small business-consulting firm that assists companies in setting up merchant processing. Their main goal is to help business owners get set up with reputable companies like First Data and Elavon. Their website focuses on reviewing credit card processing firms and suggesting which companies to do business with.

As we all know, finding a job to make ends meet is crucial, especially in today’s world. With gas prices reaching over $4.00 per gallon, and the expensive cost of living, it’s so important that we find a job that pays well, and that we get educated.

Yes, you can find great jobs without an education, but more than likely you need to know someone to snag the job. A business and/or marketing degree is a great major to consider because there are always opportunities out there.

So, if you’ve just recently graduated college with a marketing degree, or perhaps you’ve had one for years and you’re just now looking for work, here are a few different ways you can find a marketing job that’s right for you.

Networking

Networking is so important because it allows you to meet new people and have so many more opportunities. The more people you know, the more opportunities usually. Whether they want you to work with them, or they know of a great marketing job for you, networking is a great way to open the doors of opportunity.

Job Boards

The Internet is great because it allows you to do pretty much anything you’d like. You can create a website, read on any topic known to man, or you could even look for a job that’s available in the marketing industry. Job boards are a great thing to consider because you can find jobs online working with companies and/or you can find local jobs near your home.

College Career Office

If you’re having no luck looking on your own, you may want to consider going to a college career office. Leave it up to the pros to find you the job you’ve been working so hard to get. They may have several connections and may even be able to set you up with an interview.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a great website for networking, as well as looking for a job. On LinkedIn, they have job postings that regularly update. They have just about any professional job a person is looking for.

ResumeBucket Job Search

As always, there is a simple search for jobs using a job search website. In this case, ResumeBucket is great because it doesn’t just list retail jobs like others to, but instead it posts jobs for professionals, or a lot of career based jobs. You can search by category, keywords, location, etc. This is a great way to find work in your area!

As you can see, there are several ways to find a marketing job. Whether you use the Internet for job search engines, or you resort back to the old newspaper, there are plenty of ways to find the work you’re looking for! Just always keep in mind that networking is a great place to start. As stated above, the more people you know and talk with, the more opportunities you can come across!

This guest post is written by Jillian Avery. Jillian runs MyJobApps, a website that offers 1,000+ job descriptions, salaries, profiles, and much more.

Landing a job—any job—in today’s economy can be tough. Being overqualified for a job or underqualified can frustrate a job seeker just as much as having no jobs available. When you submit your resume, have a great interview and still get turned down, the frustration builds even more. Any number of reasons could cause someone else to get the offer for which you were hoping.

Resume-Related Issues

You don’t need to add detail to every job history entry on your resume. Keep the explanation to only those positions which note qualifications for the job at hand. While a one-page resume is quickly become a relic of the past if your relevant history deserves two pages, don’t force its length. Note the applicable entries toward the top of the explanations area and simply list below the other positions, noting the dates of employment, the name of the employer and your job title.

Other common resume errors include misspelled words, grammar errors and punctuation. Don’t rely on a word processing spelling and grammar check. Proofread it well; get help from others if you have weak skills.

Interview-Related Issues

You can fully and completely meet all advertised qualifications, but the people who place those ads may be extremely busy and either note the wrong qualifications or not note complete requirements. As you interview, you tailor your answers to what you know and what your background portrays. Alas, they may be looking for something slightly different, and your interview doesn’t reflect it. Someone else may get the job because of their scripting errors.

You might also meet every possible qualification, advertised or unadvertised. Your resume may be spotless, but your interview skills may be weak. You could be either overconfident and rub the interviewer the wrong way or come across as too meek or modest and undersell your abilities and expertise.

Your chosen interview dress code could be inappropriate for the work environment. As your cover letter must use appropriate language, your interview attire must meet the job requirements and dress code. If the job is in an office environment, don’t wear casual clothes even if you know the office allows workers to dress casually. Wear business attire. If you apply for a job as a medical lab technician, business attire would seem inappropriate—unless you wear a lab coat to the interview. Scrubs might be even more appropriate, but at least you look neat and that you know of standard lab attire guidelines. If in doubt, call a few days prior to your appointment and ask. You may feel foolish, but it’s far better to determine a dress code beforehand than it is to attend an interview dressed inappropriately. If you don’t choose to call, err on the side of caution and dress up a level or two from a basic position.

Other Reasons

Try to interview early in the process; set the standards others must exceed. If you apply late in the hiring process, you are compared to all others that come before you, and their names are more deeply seated in the employer’s mind.

Job requirements might change. Not all employers think to or are able to update or cancel their placement ads in a timely manner. Unfortunately, it’s the candidate that suffers.

Conclusion

Consider each interview as exchanging information, not just an attempt to sell yourself. Always have relevant questions for the interviewer and ask them as early as possible. You stand a better chance of receiving a positive response. Check your cover letter and resume, though. Don’t undermine your terrific interviewing skills.

This article was contributed by Holly Adams @ Coupon Croc. Dress the part for your job interview and save on clothing with Debenhams discount codes.

When you set up your personal Facebook page, complete with photos of you two-fisting margaritas on a topless beach in Cancun (your girls-gone-wild phase), you probably weren’t thinking about the fact that prospective employers might seek out your profile to see how you behave in your personal life (as a way to judge your fitness for a position with their company).  Ouch.  It’s a brave new world of interconnectedness and you should never assume that the people you interview with aren’t well aware of this fact.  On the other hand, social networking sites can also be used as a valuable tool to spark the interest of an interviewer.  It’s really up to you.  Here are just a few ways that your profile could either make or break your job hunt.

The first thing you should do is hide your personal profile.  Do you really want a bunch of skeezy strangers drooling over pics of you in a bikini anyway?  Probably not – have you seen To Catch a Predator?  The point is, you need to keep your personal information, well, personal.  So consider using a nickname rather than your full name and keeping this profile hidden from the view of anyone who is not an approved friend.  Also, make your profile pic decent just in case someone from your professional life accidentally stumbles on it.

You may not realize it, but even if you keep rather tame personal profiles on various social networking sites, there are certain things that are somewhat out of your control (such as what your friends may post).  In addition, you never really know what will turn off another person (especially one that is looking at your suitability for a job).  Suppose your “likes” include unicorns and glitter.  A potential employer may feel that this doesn’t mesh well with the cutthroat corporate mentality that they expect in their workers.  You get the idea.

What you can do instead is create a professional profile.  You don’t have to wait for interested parties to find this profile; you can direct them to it.  Instead of listing every award you ever won on your résumé (8^th grade spelling bee?) you might think about de-cluttering by posting these extras on your profile.  Then you can simply tell interviewers where to go if they want more information (or list your profile URL on the résumé).

You can also use this forum to post letters of reference.  Often you don’t want to include letters from your past employers with your application paperwork (if it’s too bulky, a busy HR rep may just dismiss the whole mess out of hand).  Instead, copy these glowing reviews from previous supervisors and colleagues on your professional profile page so that the people in charge of hiring can easily peruse them if and when they desire.

These days you have to be more careful than ever what you release into the digital world; it can easily come back to bite you (you know where).  Instead of leaving it up to chance, control your virtual image by creating separate spaces for your personal and professional information through social networking, and controlling the traffic to your profiles.  It could just help you land your dream job (rather than losing it).

Sarah Danielson writes for Midwest HR Illinois PEO Blog. Midwest HR offers innovative HR solutions to organizations that are focused on productivity, profitability, and growth.

Job loss is a hard thing for nearly every adult.  We all whine and complain about how we need more time off, but when you’re suddenly confronted with a layoff that leavesyou with all the free time in the world, it can be a pretty frightening place to find yourself.  As time goes by you will almost certainly fall out of your regimented routine and into bad habits, like waking at the crack of noon, busting out the Cocoa Puffs, and sitting in front of the TV for the remainder of the day.  You might even take to watching late-night infomercials when you can’t sleep (ugh).  In short, you may just be too depressed or unmotivated to take the steps necessary to find another job.  But if you do just one thing, you can get yourself back on track for success in securing employment.  All you have to do is make yourself a schedule to manage your time.

Thinking about hunting for a job, paying your bills, and meeting your responsibilities can quickly spiral into overwhelming despair.  It can be extremely stressful because it is currently beyond your control.  That’s why you need to make a plan for something you can manage: your time.  Put thoughts of success or failure out of your head (they won’t help you now) and focus instead on creating a schedule for your day that will keep you busy, productive, and working towards your goals.  Even this small measure of control in your own life can make all the difference in the world.

Start by planning out your average day.  Set your alarm clock to get up when you normally would for a job.  Take a shower and get dressed.  Have a healthy breakfast (it’s the most important meal of the day because it gets your metabolism going and wakes up your whole body).  Then do some job hunting (yes, every day).  You can search online (new listings may be posted daily), run through your contact list, or even walk into local businesses that you would like to work at to see if they have any openings you can apply for.  You might even want to join a couple of temp agencies.  Your most productive time will be morning, so use it for your most important activity.

After lunch, stop your job search.  You do have a life that probably needs some attention and if you become obsessive about hunting for a job you will quickly get burned out.  So keep yourself active by cleaning the house (or making those little fixes you never seem to have time for), exercising, working on your garden, reading a book, meeting with friends, or even taking a class at your local community college (or online).  Doing these things is a good way to keep from cooping yourself up and giving in to despair.  You might even take on a part-time side job for a little extra cash (if it won’t interfere with your unemployment benefits).

Make every effort to stick to your schedule and even though you don’t have to be on time, try to remain punctual (it’s just a good habit to be in).  Proper time management is essential to keeping yourself out of a rut when you’ve suffered a layoff.  It’s all too easy to give in to negative emotions that will hold you back from finding a new job or otherwise realizing your potential, so take control of your life by setting a schedule and sticking to it.  Before long you’ll find that opportunities are everywhere and all you have to do is take them.

Sarah Danielson writes for Appointment Reminder (our site) where you can send out a customizable text, phone, or email reminder to your clients. Increase revenue and customer satisfaction with Appointment Reminder.

Most job seekers these days have at least one social media account, and probably use it on a daily basis. Facebook, Twitter, and blogging sites keep individuals connected to their friends and family, but many do not understand the power of this type of online networking. Those who understand this power know that leveraging social medial to land a new job can mean getting hired faster, getting a better job, or lucking into a better salary.

The easiest way to use social media in a job search is to make use of existing personal networks. Someone who has a Facebook or Twitter account obviously knows people. Those people know other people, and can help get the word out that a friend is looking for a job. Job seekers can post a short description of their skill sets and what type of work they are looking for, and may hear back about opportunities others know about.

Bloggers can share the same type of information in posts, and can also show off a bit for potential employers. Those looking for creative jobs like photography, writing, or graphic design can prove their skills by designing quality content for their blog, for example.

Of course, there are times with sharing this type of information via a personal online network may not be appropriate. Individuals who are currently employed and are attempting to be discreet in their search for a new job may not want to advertise this information. Even if privacy settings are set at high levels and the circle of friends on one’s social network is quite small, information shared online can be reposted or printed. If everyone in the world cannot know the information, it should not be on a Facebook page.

For those who are trying to be a bit more discreet, but still want to use social media in their job search, career sites like Linked In may be an option. Linked In is a site for professionals, and many people with profiles on the site are not looking for jobs. The site is a great way to communicate with people in the same industry, so if a current employer sees a name in the listings, they generally will not conclude the person is looking for another job. Being active on Linked In, however, allows individuals to network with others in the same industry. Users will be more likely to hear about openings, and may even connect with the person doing the actual hiring.

There are many great ways of leveraging social medial to land a new job. Job seekers using the internet in their search should keep all standard online safety rules in mind, and should also be aware of privacy concerns. Those looking for new jobs should be very careful what they post online, and no one should ever post anything on the internet they wouldn’t want all their friends and family–and current employers–to know about.

Nicole Rodgers has been blogging in the education, finance, and technology industries for the past three years. She believes that graduate level education separates future business leaders from the rest so she encourages everyone who is interested in getting a MBA to get in a lot of GMAT practice. In her free time, Nicole also enjoys helping others become more Internet savvy.

One of the most important aspects of job hunting is networking.  Getting directly connected with individuals that know of job openings or even networked with the people looking to hire has always been difficult.  For our clients, networking is often difficult because they are transitioning from military life to civilian employment.  Luckily, technology is helping bridge the gap between employers and prospect employees.

With prominent companies like Boeing using social media as an avenue for job listings, it’s important to see which social media outlets offer valuable opportunities for networking and how they can help you in your job hunt.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn is an invaluable resource for individuals looking to network directly with individuals in directly within a given company or industry.  If you haven’t been exposed to LinkedIn you really should be.  Not only does it allow you to network with people you already know, it allows you an opportunity to search by company, job posting and industry and allows individuals the opportunity to directly see your work history.  LinkedIn allows you to connect other social networks you’re a part of and even allows friends or other individuals to write recommendations for you.  For a nominal fee you are given access to email individuals you don’t have a contact in common with.

LinkedIn is a worthwhile resource if you’re looking for job postings and network opportunities.  It allows you to gain exposure directly with individuals within a company, something other social media outlets don’t provide.  What is important with LinkedIn is that you find a way to purvey your worth clearly and find ways to set yourself apart from others.  Because this is a “professional network” having recommendations can prove extremely valuable when viewed by possible employers.

Twitter

Twitter can be a good and bad resource for job hunting.   Because twitter allows you to connect with individuals you don’t know based on interests you can easily access large amounts of information quickly and easily.  The ease of placing information on twitter allows for a seemingly constant flow of information.  Because of this you can retrieve large volumes of job postings with little effort.  Where twitter becomes difficult is that networking is largely limited to “following” a company or individual.  There is no guarantee those you connect with will reciprocate the interest back to you.  If you’re looking for a tool to quickly find job listings, twitter can help.  If you’re looking to develop a deep connect and network with individuals within a company or individual, this isn’t social network option for you.  Twitter is best used as resource for searching for information, finding basic listings and interacting (although very minimally) with individuals or companies you might be interested in working with.  Just know there is no guarantee that you interest and interactions will be reciprocated.

Facebook

Like most social media avenues, companies are starting to utilize Facebook more for job listings.  Although most people use Facebook to connect directly with friends it is slowly evolving into a network used by companies as much as individuals.  With that being said, Facebook is largely the most detached social media network in regards to networking directly with individuals in companies.  More often than not companies are simply updating the page listings and doing very little interaction with individuals on the other side of the desk.  Facebook is largely static and less interactive.  Where Facebook can prove valuable for job searches is the ease of communicating with people you already know.  Within minutes you can communicate to everyone you’re connected with on Facebook your job search efforts and ask for leads.  Considering you likely know most individuals you’re connected with on Facebook, you may be able to connect with their company or another company through them.

Make Social Helpful

It’s undeniable that social media outlets are evolving into helpful resources for those on the job hunt.  If you’re looking for networking opportunities with employers and individuals within those companies, networking is slowly becoming much easier than it once was. If you’re hesitant to go social with your job hunting, consider this; each of these social media outlets has hundreds-of-millions of users.  How many of them are looking to hire or know someone looking to hire?  What’s the chance that one of them has something to offer you in your job hunt?

Contributed by Defense Placements, a job placement and executive recruiting company that specializes in helping place top-notch talent into jobs around the world.  We specialize in promoting our clients to potential employers through a variety of methods, including social media.

Receiving a phone call from a head hunter can be one of the most daunting experiences an individual can receive. Whereas such a call can represent vindication of an individual’s hard work in their industry through such recognition it can also represent an alien experience which can be nerve wracking and terrifying if not approached with the right frame of mind. There are a number of different aspects which should be taken into consideration when accepting a phone call from a head hunter which will help maximise the potential of a good outcome for all parties involved.

What do they want?

For those who are not well versed in dealing with head hunters it is easy to make the assumption that they have got in touch for the sole purpose of offering a job. This, however, is not necessarily the case. Head hunters are employed by companies to find the best possible candidate to fill a certain position; in order to do this the head hunter will no doubt have to look at a number of different candidates before making a decision on which individual to forward to the company. This means that oftentimes head hunters will be reaching out to several potential candidates simultaneously, feeling them out to see if they would be hypothetically interested in a job away from their current position. The head hunter will make a short list based on their findings from this “feeling out” process and make their selection from there.

Repeat interview process

Due to the fact a head hunter will be looking at a number of individuals at the same time it would be advisable for a candidate to do the utmost to make an impression and stick in the head hunter’s memory. This means treating every interaction with a head hunter like an interview; being the most professional, courteous and respectful individual possible will make a mark. As a head hunter will be looking at a number of potential employees all with relatively similar backgrounds and qualifications there will oftentimes be not much to separate the candidates. Individuals who lack professionalism may find themselves, as such, filtered out of the head hunter’s search on these grounds.

How to treat the initial call

One of the earliest possible moments to show a lack of professionalism is during a head hunter’s first call. Usually such a phone call will be unexpected and come from out of the blue which can throw many an individual and give them reason to panic. Oftentimes a cause for concern will be the individual worrying over who the head hunter gained the telephone number from. On many occasions the answer is often innocuous; a mutual acquaintance or colleague could have passed on these details and it is not rare for contact details to be available on internet directories. Areas other individuals find stressful are discussing the opportunities offered by the head hunter in their place of current employment. It is, as such, worth swapping phone details with the head hunter and making arrangements to speak at a different time. This also allows the potential candidate time to prepare so as to make the best possible impression. So before the end of the first phone call it may be worth asking the head hunter for a few details to look up – such as the head hunter’s place of work and  the position to be discussed  on the later date.

What to do if the position offered is unappealing

If an individual is currently happy in their place of work it would be easy to dismiss the head hunter’s call out of hand. However, in doing so this could deny a future contact which could be especially foolish if present circumstances were to change. An advisable course of action would be to perhaps recommend a colleague who would possibly be more interested in the opportunity. This way the head hunter will be appreciative and keep the individual’s name in mind for future possibilities. Always be courteous and as helpful as possible with head hunters as they may be able to return the favour in the future.

Kieron Casey is a BA (Hons) Journalism graduate who blogs regularly on a number of topics including careers, employment and head hunters.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the total number of temporary-help employees has risen by nearly a half million in the past two years—that’s a 29 percent spike. That means that a large percentage of our recovery consists of temporary positions: either temporary contractor positions, or temp-to-hire positions. This is changing the whole terrain of what ‘having a job’ looks like in America. There are some obvious drawbacks to this shift. But are there are any hidden benefits?

The current job market can be really tough for a recent college graduate. With the national unemployment rate at 9.6%, breaking into the job market is harder than it has been in many decades. Many of the best positions require years of experience, leading to more competition for entry-level positions. Hiring a resume service may help you to look good; it may even help you think about new strategies and approaches in terms of how to sell yourself to a prospective employer. But no matter what you do, there’s no substitute for experience. And it leads to this unfair Catch-22: How can you be expected to gain experience if no one is hiring people without experience?

Not everything about the current job market is bad, however. Living in such tough times can have unexpected benefits, such as a return to traditional values, encouragement of entrepreneurship, the resurgence of inexpensive hobbies, the development of financial responsibility and the pursuit of higher education.

Traditional Values

With the economy suffering, people are starting to return to values that were important in the early 20th century, like thrift, valuing quality over quantity and favoring production over consumption. Knowing how to find clothing that will last for years without spending hundreds of dollars is a big benefit, especially when you’re looking for fulfilling employment. Also, being able to produce goods like clothing or food instead of purchasing them pre-made gives young people skills they can use the rest of their lives.

Entrepreneurship

Being unemployed or underemployed often leaves time for a person to focus on developing skills they can put to use making money. There are plenty of jobs you can perform that will enable you to make a little money and gain valuable experience. Gardening, art, carpentry, leatherworking, writing and computer repair are fields that can be pursued for little or no money; they can allow you to earn a little extra money on the side as you build valuable business experience. For example, many small businesses often require disaster recovery services for their computers, but seldom know where to turn. Furthermore, being the owner of a successful small business looks great on a resume – a valuable boost in this ultra-competitive job market.

Hobbies

Being able to relax is an important part of life. It helps relieve stress and provides the time required to recharge from a hard day (or week) of job hunting. Finding inexpensive hobbies is key when money is tight. Many people are finding they don’t need to buy pricey gear to have fun; instead, they play board games with friends, go hiking, visit art galleries, write, visit their local library, join a band or go dancing. Many of these activities can be enjoyed with friends, which can increase the enjoyment and result in deeper bonds of friendship.

Financial Responsibility

Having little to no money makes it necessary to develop greater budgeting skills that can be used for a lifetime. Many people are forced to live within their means, with little access to credit or the ability to buy luxury items. Though the trend in the past has been to go deeply into debt to purchase cars and homes or pursue education, many people are bucking this trend, choosing to drive more affordable vehicles, get an associate’s degree before moving on to a four-year school or rent a home while they save up a sizeable down payment for the purchase of a house.

Higher Education

Graduate school is a viable option for many recent college graduates, and has been made even more attractive by the unavailability of jobs. Though graduate school will end up costing more money, most students are able to defer their undergrad loans while they improve their employment qualifications. In addition to pursuing a graduate degree, some people are choosing to obtain a second bachelor’s degree, diversifying their qualifications; this route can be more financially difficult, however, with fewer financial aid opportunities available for second-time undergrads. Pursuing further education can also lead to internships and involvement in school activities, both of which are noticed by potential employers and can make an applicant stand out from the pack.

Though the current state of the economy makes finding adequate employment difficult for recent college graduates, many people are choosing to turn their economic hardship into opportunities for personal development. Returning to school and opening a small business are fantastic ways for the underemployed to bolster their resumes and gain valuable knowledge and experience. Finding inexpensive hobbies, developing the skill of thrift and learning to live within their means has many people experiencing less stress and working towards saving for the future. No matter how bad the economy gets, there will be ways to rise above the difficulties and live a more fulfilling, enjoyable life.

Thomas Stone used a resume service to land his current job. He began a relationship with his present, primary employer, while he continues to freelance.

Thousands of people are making the move from working in a traditional office environment to working from a home office as much as possible. The telecommuting craze has brought all sorts of too good to be true offers out of the woodwork, and dividing real job postings from scams is essential. One important thing to keep in mind is that there will always be more scams than legitimate offers, unless you are applying on a website that works to eliminate the scams through careful monitoring and research.

Tip #1: If it seems too good to be true, trust your instincts, because you are probably right.

As you search for a great work-at-home job, you are going to see hundreds of scam postings that promise astronomical earnings figures, such as “Joe B. made $8,000 just this month using XYZ Marketing Job, apply now!” Be realistic when you choose which home-based job to apply for, since there are so many out there that will steal your personal information and leave you with nothing to show for your work. You also run the risk of exposing your personal information to identity thieves and computer hackers.

Tip #2: Talk to other people who telecommute to find out what websites they have used that are reputable.

There are many different forums that people use to talk about work at home jobs, but be sure you are not logging on to a website that promotes one specific job specifically and solely. This is far more likely to be a scam website with spam robots to leave comments and encourage people to sign up for the service. The best advice may come from people that you know, such as friends or family members who have already made the decision to telecommute and have been at least reasonably successful.

Tip #3: You should never, ever pay to join a telecommuting website, not even a “one time” startup fee.

Although some reputable work at home job websites charge a portion of your earnings for website upkeep and maintenance, along with providing the connection between buyers and providers, but you should not have to buy products to get started. Very few legitimate telecommuting positions require an initial startup expense, especially those that deal with writing from home. Some product sales groups will charge you for the initial product shipment, but you should be even more wary of sales jobs since there are thousands of scams.

Tip #4: Check for accreditation from a company such as the Better Business Bureau before you sign up.

You should never give any of your personal information to a company that has not been accredited by the BBB. If the application does not offer any type of information about the company that you will potentially work for, it is not likely to be a legitimate opportunity. The business should always be willing to provide a little bit of background information to prospective employees, including areas on the company website such as the “About Us” tab. Check for a company name, founder information, and startup costs, not just a product name, along with ingredients or in-depth product description if you are applying for a job selling something.

Tip #5: Make sure that you have a way out in case you decide that you do not like the job later.

This is especially important if you are considering product sales, since you may receive the first product shipment and decide that you cannot or will not want to continue with the next step. Money back guarantees and return policies should be high on your priority list before you make any investment in the company. Companies that do not offer any type of guarantee, or only an extremely limited one, are more likely to be scams than one that is willing to stand behind the product or service.

Tip #6: Read the Terms of Service or Terms and Conditions page to find out what type of arbitration services the company provides.

One of the drawbacks to working from home is that you are faced with the issue of demanding payment on occasion. While working for someone in person usually almost guarantees that you will get paid, it is far more difficult to wring payment from an online source. There is no worse feeling than working for someone who conveniently disappears when it is time for payday. Look over the company policy pages to find out how they prevent this problem, both from their own end and from the customers’. Most reputable companies offer some sort of arbitration service to ensure that you are paid for your work.

Melanie Wymer has been a work-at-home specialist for more than three years in the area of freelance writing and a stay-at-home single mom for over two years. She is currently a staff writer for rangehoodhq.com, a site with reviews and information about wall mount range hoods and under cabinet range hoods. She also has experience with a variety of writing jobs, tools, and services, from oDesk to PayPal and everything in between, with a focus on writing innovations to make telecommuting easier and more streamlined.

Do you know that blogging can be helpful when it comes to searching for a job? Indeed your blog can be an instrumental tool to help you find the job of your dream if only you know how to promote yourself on your blog. You should continue reading this article if you want to learn more on this.

Share your knowledge

The first thing that you need to ensure is that your blog actually displays the knowledge that you have of a particular subject. For instance if you are a marketing graduate, you might want to set up a blog where you will be offering information about the latest development in the marketing field. One good idea will be to analyze current marketing campaigns and to provide your own input as a form of case study. This will help establish you as an expert in the field and thus attract the eyes of recruiters.

Blog as a resume

In our days where all resume are beginning to look the same, a blog can really help you to stand out of the crowd. Indeed a blog can allow you to show real-life example of what you can accomplish and even more. Think about photos, videos and recommendations that you can show on your blog. You are no more limited to paper and you will just be able to show whatever you want.

Post often

One key requirement is that you post often on your blog. Don’t think that just posting a few articles will help you land the job of your dream. You will need to make sure that your blog is updated often with quality content and that really add value to your readers.

Promotion

Even if you have the most interesting content you will need to promote your blog well if you want people to hear about it. Below I will be sharing some common ways that you could use in order to promote your own blog.

Social Media Presence

At the same time you will want to promote your blog across the different social media sites out there. One of the most recommended sites will be LinkedIn where you will be able to meet like-minded people and mostly recruiters. There are various groups that might be relevant to your industry and should be interesting for you to join.  Do not hesitate to share your blog posts with your LinkedIn contacts as well so as to build your reputation online.

Blog Commenting

Be careful here. I am not speaking about spamming other blogs to death to get a link. Basically you will find other relevant blogs within your niche and post some nice comment there with your name and a link back to your site. This will help place you under the radar of influential people within your niche. If you do it quite often you will begin to build a relationship with these persons and this can improve your chance of landing your dream job.

Besides this topic, Robert Bellarmine also write for Visitask.com where he deals with the subject of project management .

Recent numbers show that employers in the United States are beginning to hire more workers. Hiring rates for college graduates increased by 5% this spring, and early projections show that the expected hiring increase for the next year should be near the 20% mark. The hiring increase is a positive sign that more college graduates should expect to find work soon after graduation in the coming years. The hottest industries right now are health care and technology, especially biotechnology and data analyzing.

Start Job Searches Early

You don’t have to wait until you finish your last semester at school to begin searching for the right job. Job-hunting can take months, so it is a good idea to get a head start. Put together your resume and begin to canvas network connections while you are still in school for a better chance of finding work closer to graduation. The job market has picked up right now, but there are no promises that it will remain positive indefinitely. It is wise to jump into your job hunt since so many employers are hiring right now.

Take Advantage of Available Help

As a college student, you have several resources for finding work in your preferred industry. Your college should have an alumni placement department connected with many of the local businesses. There may be alumni who are interested in hiring graduates or students specifically from your school. The college’s career center can help you put together a resume and can offer suggestions for successful interviewing techniques. You could even approach your professor to ask if he or she knows of any job openings that are available in your field of study. Anyone with ties to your business is a potential resource for helping you find work.

Consider Part-Time or Internships

When you first graduate from college, you are excited to begin your career in a full-time position with benefits right away. Unfortunately, that is not always possible. If you’re having trouble finding work, maybe you should look into the possibility of working part time or becoming an intern for a company that interests you. Part time work and internships provide valuable hands-on experience that can set you apart from other applicants. Employers prefer to hire workers who have practical experience as well as a college degree, so you could enhance your resume by doing any kind of work in your field.

College Degrees Still Pay Off

Don’t be discouraged by how tough the job market has been over the last few years. Statistics show that college graduates still earn over $100 more each week than non-graduates. The unemployment rate for college graduates is lower than the rate for non-graduates, too. Those who did not attend college have recently had an unemployment rate of 9.7%, while college graduates were unemployed at a rate of 4.5%. The numbers show that it is worth the time and expense of a college education, even when the economy is struggling as it has in the last few years.

Jessica Bosari writes blog posts and articles for Education-Colleges.org, a site that helps students locate the best education colleges and teaching degree programs.

In the current economy, unemployment is a common problem that many people face. There are a number of considerations to keep in mind to ensure that the right job is obtained in a reasonable amount of time.

Stop Being Upset

Unemployment can happen for a number of reasons. Whether it is for performance issues or due to corporate downsizing, there is no changing the situation. It is not worth the time and effort to blame oneself or to be upset about the situation. It is best to move on and look for new opportunities.

Make New Contacts

Today, jobs are filled through a variety of different methods. One of the more prevalent methods would be through word of mouth and referrals. During the period of unemployment, it is important to make new contacts in the desired industry. This will certainly improve the chances of landing a job quicker. There are a lot of social networking sites that are great at doing this.

Stay Focused

One pitfall to avoid would be applying to too wide a variety of jobs. Simply looking for anything in any different industry is not wise. People generally do this initially because they are panicked from losing their job. Staying focused and driven is usually best. The right position will come along.

Stay Busy

During periods of unemployment, the most important thing is to make money. If there are no part-time positions available, this time should not be spent on the couch. Doing this only leads to depression and is not productive. Time should be spent wisely. This is a perfect time to catch up on projects that have been delayed or spent time volunteering for a favorite charity.

Hone the Interview Skills

For many people, interviewing is not something that is enjoyed or done well. Because it is a matter of selling oneself to a potential employer, updating and refreshing the interview skills is essential. This will allow one to be more confident and more polished when the interviews come. Practicing with a friend or spouse is a good way at getting more comfortable with interview questions.

Check With Former Employers

One thing that most people do not consider would be checking with former employers to see if there are any part-time opportunities that are available. This will not necessarily transform into a full-time job but may offer additional income.

Stay Upbeat

People do not choose to be unemployed. For many, this is often a frustrating, disappointing and difficult time. Regardless of this, it is best to remain positive as well as focused. Potential employers will want to see an upbeat person.

With the right attitude, patience and perseverance, overcoming unemployment is something that can be done.

James Hansen works for IncomeProtection.org, a site that helps you cover yourself and your income against redundancies or sickness, allowing you to stop worrying and get on with your life.

It’s no secret that finding a full-time job is difficult in today’s market. The economy is not necessarily at the height of its splendor. Nevertheless, getting a job is possible.

Resumes and Cover Letters

Do you use the same pickup line on every girl you meet? Do you use the same topics of conversation with every boy that takes you to dinner? If so, good luck starting a relationship! Looking for work is no different. Different employers want different things in their future employees. Using the same cover letter for every potential employer will lower your chances of being hired by any of them. Read each job posting carefully, paying attention to the requirements listed. Highlight your relevant qualifications in your cover letter using the same language listed in the job posting if possible

Career Centers

College career centers have plenty of resources available to students searching for employment. Check in with your college career center to find job openings. You might also be able to get their help revising your resume and cover letter. For many employers, typos are unforgivable. Be sure to be honest in both your cover letter and on your resume. Some employers might let a typo or two slip in a job application but no employer will forgive dishonesty.

Career centers can also provide useful advice on how to interview well and how to negotiate your salary and benefits. Career centers often host job fairs — excellent opportunities to become familiar with different companies and network with employers.

Job Interviews

Interviewing is a skill that, like any other skill, needs to be practiced, honed, and tweaked. Compile a list of questions you think an employer might ask you and prepare your answers. After you have your list, ask a roommate, friend, boyfriend, girlfriend, or family member to practice interviewing you. Whoever it is, make sure they give you an honest appraisal of your performance: learning what a good interviewee you are won’t help you find out where you need to improve. Practice with a variety of people, get feedback, work to improve your weaknesses and practice again.

Find out all you can about your potential employer, prior to going into the interview. What is the history of the company? What are its objectives? How has it performed over the past few months? Who are its competitors? Who are you replacing? What is the dress code? All of these are valuable things to find out about your future workplace. Not only will this help you know how to act in an interview setting, it will help you know if you even want the job prior to applying.

Soon after each interview, write a thank-you note to the person who interviewed you. Briefly express your gratitude to them for the time they took. Don’t write under any pretense; simply say thanks. Remember to ask how long it will be before a decision is made. If you don’t hear a response less than two days after that date, send an email, politely asking if the employer has made their choice. Pestering HR representatives or other employees doesn’t usually yield good results.

Be Patient

Don’t become discouraged if your first day on the hunt doesn’t yield work. Avoid falling into a job search routine as it might cause your hunt to become boring. Mix it up a bit. Try different ideas every day to help keep it interesting. If all of your efforts prove fruitless, you may need to settle for a lower-paying job. Don’t turn down a less-preferable part-time job in order to bide your time while searching for your dream job. Looking for work is tough, but if you’re smart, patient, and persistent, you will find work.

About the Author: Derek Gurr is a writer for MyCollegesandCareers.com. My Colleges and Careers helps people determine if an online education is right for them and helps them understand which online courses and online schools they can choose from to reach their goals.

Having a plan is always important to success, but it is especially critical now because you have less time to go off on tangents. You need to clearly define what you want to accomplish during your job search and exactly how that will be executed.

Be selective.

Because your time is more limited, you need to pick and choose the activities that will give you the biggest bang for your buck. Maybe that will entail belonging to a professional organization and attending the monthly/quarterly meetings, joining an industry group on LinkedIn, taking a class to learn about a new development in your field, or taking on a volunteer opportunity that closely aligns with what you do for your profession. Remember, it’s quality, not quantity.

Keep a schedule.

Utilize one of the many free calendar / to-do lists that allow you to identify what parts of each day, or week, you can allot to seeking out new career opportunities. It’s best to get in the habit of using these type of software programs in your everyday life. Many of them such as Evernote sync up with smart phones so you’ll always be able to view, add, and edit your schedule.

Always be networking.

Literally every time that you are out and about, you should be networking — at the gym, at your kids’ activities, in the grocery store. That doesn’t mean you will be doing some sort of narcissistic broadcast of what your needs are. But you never know who you may strike up a conversation with and if a connection will take root in one of those chance meetings. Every relationship starts with a seed, and you need to cultivate that seed until it grows into a plant. A little corny metaphor but it helps to think of networking as a process you need to work at.

Remember discretion.

This point really underscores all that you do. You have a job, so you want to make sure that your activities don’t put that in jeopardy. Be very careful who you divulge things too, you never know the extent of other peoples network. That guy at the gym could be the husband to your HR rep. Likely? Probably not, but it’s always best to stay on the safe side so you don’t find yourself completely unemployed. Basically before disclosing too much, make sure you know enough about them to ensure that you aren’t shooting yourself in the foot at your current job.

Job seekers, you have to go the extra mile to show employers you are the right fit. A few years ago, employers could handle the risk of hiring the wrong fit, but today it is very different. The cost to let an employee go and hire another is very high. Employers want to pick the right fit the first time around.

Here are some tips to help you stand out:

1. What is your brand and value proposition?

What will you bring to the employer? What makes you better than the rest? This needs to be communicated in your resume, cover letter, interview and even as you network. Have your elevator speech down. If you met the CEO of your dream company and had 30 seconds to talk about yourself, what would you say?

2. Utilized the free career-related workshops offered in your city.

Services that can cost hundreds of dollars are available at no cost (or very small fees) from organizations looking to help out job seekers in transition. Do your research! You might be able to get assistance with resume development, interview preparation, networking effectively, and much more for free. If you are in Portland or Washington, stay tuned to my site for information regarding events coming up in the area.

3. Research every organization before you submit your resume.

You need to know about these companies well before an interview. It shows your professionalism and more importantly your interest in the company. Employers want employees who will love their company not just the job. This will help you stand out by showing you are genuinely interested in the organization and you will be ready to hit the ground running day one.

Do not just check out the company’s website. Read articles on the company and create Google news alerts for companies you wish to work for. Your goal is to impress the employer with your knowledge of their company.

4. Joining LinkedIn is a requirement.

Job seekers are having amazing luck on LinkedIn. Recruiters, headhunters, hiring managers and others with hiring decision power are recruiting via this site. Make sure you are taking advantage of every aspect of LinkedIn. Many resumes and business cards will have a link to a LinkedIn profile. This is a requirement. Create your profile today.

You can also use LinkedIn to find out more about a company and their employees. I know some job seekers use the site to become more familiar with the person they will be interviewing with. You can also use it as a powerful networking tool and meet people who have similar interests as your own.

5. Your documents need to be flawless.

Resumes, cover letters, thank you letters, websites, social networking sites, portfolios and any other tool you are using to market yourself must be perfect. I know this seems like an apparent one, but typos and grammar issues are pet peeves of employers today. If you can, get the advice of someone in the industry you are looking to go into. Again, all marketing tools need to be 100% error free and be relevant to the industry you are applying for.

1. Make yourself findable first. Google yourself right now. Did your LinkedIn profile come up? ResumeBucket? If not build one nad make it public. If you have a preferred method of contact be sure to include it. Set up a separate e-mail account to easily manage your social networking profiles.

2. Make yourself even more findable. Post your resume on ResumeBucket.com, omit your home address and perhaps telephone number if it makes you feel more comfortable. Set up all the profiles we’ve outline in our previous blog “How to build your personal brand online”

3. Make sure when you build those profiles you use every keyword that applies to you. If you like to call yourself a researcher but your title is Strategic Recruiting Manager… and if you are anticipating a job hunt and tweaking a profile you should make sure every word related to recruiting and research both are enmeshed in my online profile.

4. Use job boards! Lucky for you you’re already on one. Head to the ResumeBucket.com sign up page and begin fleshing out your profile using the concepts in this blog.

5. Find someone who works at your targeted company who can pass your resume along, outside of the applicant tracking system. You want to be looked at by the hiring manager. You don’t want to be dumped in the black hole of resumes, so give yourself a fighting chance and work your network.

6. If you’re not interested in an opportunity sent your way but want to start building some relationships with recruiters let the recruiter know that “this one isn’t a fit” but what you’d really like is X, Y, and Z. They’ll keep that information because it’s valuable to them. Also, pass the opening on to your network. Referrals are gold in recruiting, and your recruiter will remember your helpfulness.

Have you ever feel like the poor interviewee in this video? However qualified you are and whatever value your experience could bring to the right role, it sometimes seems as if you just hit a wall with certain recruiters and employers if you are above a certain age.

It doesn’t have to be like this. Whatever age you are, it pays to get smart about your job search. ResumeBucket.com has thousands of job postings for people of all ages across hundreds of industries. Get clear on what you want and what your priorities are, many people don’t realize that these things change as you get older. Spend the time thinking these things out then create a plan of attack.

If you need help and advice in shaping your career as an older worker, we here at ResumeBucketBlog.com write at least three job search related articles per week. You can manually search our archives for useful topics or just browse through the categories listed on the right hand side. If you have a specific question about an article feel free to post in the comments section or send an e-mail to aaron@resumebucket.com

1. Setting goals based on outcome instead of performance. Focusing on outcome forces you to look for a quick way to get to the end result instead of taking your time to go through the appropriate steps of goals setting. When you set goals properly you will be doing it in a step by step manner. Furthermore, failing to achieve an outcome based goal for reasons outside your control can lead to a loss of enthusiasm and feelings of failure. Always set performance goals instead as this will give you a higher chance of succeeding.
2. Setting unrealistically high goals. This is a set up for failure: When a goal is perceived to be unreachable, no effort will be made to achieve it. Before you even get started, you have set your self at a disadvantage. Set realistic goals so that you can best decide how to go about achieving them. In retrospect to the above, goals can be set so low that you feel no benefit in achieving the goal. Always set goals that are challenging enough to be worth the effort, but not out of reach.
3. Setting vague and ambiguous goals. Goals that are not specific enough to lead to action are useless. How can you tell whether these types of goals have been achieved? If achievement can’t be measured against your expectations, you cannot observe progress towards a greater goal. And without being able to measure progress, goal setting becomes pointless. Key: Set precise and quantitative goals.
4. Not having an organized approach for setting and measuring goals.
   This leads to certain goals being forgotten, any achievement of goals will not be measured, and there will be no feedback for shaping new goals. Goals should be organized and attempted in a systematic approach. This will help you identify what does and doesn’t work.
5. Setting too many goals. With too many goals it will be hard to prioritize. This can lead to a feeling overwhelmed. If working towards your goals becomes too taxing, it will be easy to put off the smallest of task required as the next step. The key here is to have balance and harmony. Working towards your goals is just a part of your life. And your goals will best be achieved when they are in harmony and not conflict with the rest of your life. Remember that you deserve time to relax and enjoy being alive and not solely focused on your goals and achievements.

When goal setting does go wrong, not only are the benefits of goal setting lost, but the whole process of goal setting will seem useless, like a waste of time. You can avoid this and set goals effectively by being mindful of the 5 pitfalls listed above.

Jessica Hernandez, president and CEO of Great Resumes Fast and a former HR manager says the following. “When I was a hiring manager, applicants would often call to check on their status. It was frustrating and daunting, I didn’t have enough hours in the day to speak to every single person.”

In the current job market you definitely don’t want to risk bugging anyone who has the power to hire you.

Steve Kobs, a Human Resources Manager offers a solution. “If you call me on the phone and ask if we’ve made a hiring decision, you put me in an awkward position if I have to tell you bad news … or if I’ve forgotten who you are. Candidates who follow up by e-mail show respect for my time, which I appreciate.”

You want to avoid sending a follow up e-mail immediately after the application. Hiring managers already have overloaded inbox’s and if they see that you’ve submitted an application and right above it have another e-mail from you asking “Did you get my application?!?!” you are likely to leave a bad taste in their mouth.

The safest way to follow up on an online job application is to wait about a week then politely send a brief e-mail asking about the status of your recent application. Include the date and time you originally applied so they can easily search for you. Then just be patient and wait for a reply and refrain from following up more than once.

Set up Google Alerts

Google Alerts allows you to monitor the web for interesting and new content. Anytime the keywords you input are mentioned anywhere online you’ll get an e-mail with a link to where it is located. Set up alerts for the companies or industry you have your eye on so you can keep up with current trends as they happen. Consider putting your location along with your job title in to get notifications on job postings the second they go up. As you get more familiar with Google Alerts you’ll be able to tweak the search parameters to more specific and relevant things based on the results you are receiving. Check out the Google Alerts: Getting Started Guide for a more comprehensive walk-through.

Weekly Profile Updates

Be active in the networks you are apart of. By changing your status updates at least once a week you keep yourself in the mind of other people without being pushy or annoying. Set up a system to remind yourself to log into your LinkedIn, ResumeBucket, Facebook, and any other social networks you are apart of to update your status. The key to social media success is a give and take relationship. Don’t only bombard your followers with updates, you also need to take some time to give back and interact with them. The most efficient way to do this is to get involved in their discussion by replying to their status updates. The results you get from social media are directly related to the effort you put into it.

Be Proactive

Create your own little PR firm. When you are online you promoting your personal brand for others to see. To do this successfully you’ll need to be able to manage and control what information can be found about you online. The difference between getting your ideal job and being unemployed could be one satisfied person in your network. Take the time to explore the little nooks and crannies of the web and report your information back to your network for others to see. This will keep people interested in what you have to say and show them that you are a proactive and involved person. Just creating profiles on LinkedIn or ResumeBucket is a great start but the people who are actually seeing results from these websites are the ones who explore and interact with others using the tools provided to them. Best of all you’ll find that once you begin to understand how everything works and intertwines together you’ll find yourself having a lot of fun.

The Greeting : Get a name, any name. Sometimes you’ll be provided this information and other times you’ll need to do some research online or make a few phone calls. Try to avoid using “To whom it may concern or Dear hiring manager.”

Dear John Smith:

The Intro: Your opening paragraph is your introduction and presents the reader with some immediate and focused information regarding the position you are pursuing and a few core competencies that demonstrate your strength:

Having contributed as an operations and general business leader, I am writing to express my interest in [Name of Position] with [Name of Company]. You will see on the enclosed resume that I turned around an underperforming business, substantially improved productivity and employee morale, and possess critical and creative thinking skills that will facilitate my swift contribution to your sustained growth.

The Hook: This paragraph should define some examples of the work performed and results achieved. This paragraph should highlight your resume. This does not mean that you should copy verbatim what is in the resume. Rather, use this area to expand on some of the bullet points in your resume. You can also use this section to add anything that was left out in your resume such as awards or honors relevant to this position. Use bullets to define key areas of achievement and highlight what you bring:

My professional experiences include my recent position with XYZ Corporation as Operations Manager, and previous positions with ABC Corporation, and DEF Corporation. In all of my roles I guided the professional development of staff and gained consensus for the adoption of new ideas due to my demonstrated ability to clearly present value added recommendations. The following is a brief sample of the expertise I offer:

■  Implemented an innovative business strategy whereby inventory was maintained at vendor locations, resulting in the effective use of the system and annual savings of $250,000 for XYZ Corporation.

■  Established operating procedures that reduced employee downtime by 15%. In addition to conducting cross-training initiatives, I created an environment predicated on accountability for results, which improved the team’s commitment to the attainment of short- and long-term goals.

What You Know: This is where your background research on the company should be presented and tied into your specific skills. This shows the reader that you did some preliminary homework and understand the company’s goals and how you will help them get there.

After researching 123 Company, I understand that your immediate goal is to improve business performance and establish key benchmarks within ABC Company. Given my professional achievements, I am in a position to help you quickly achieve your goals.

Be as specific as possible. This is where you should really be selling yourself as the perfect fit for their company.

The Closing Paragraph: In the closing paragraph quickly summarize what you offer and close by either suggesting a meeting or indicating that you will call in a certain number of days. If you choose the latter approach, make sure you follow-up within the timeframe you reference.

I bring a tool kit comprised of leadership, strategic planning, and analytical skills; and I would be pleased to review my credentials with you to personally explore how I can contribute as a member of your senior leadership team. Please feel free to contact me at the number above to arrange a time to speak.

Sincerely,

Full Name

You have probably read every online article and magazine tip rundown on getting an employers attention that has been written in the last several years. I know that I have. But I have noticed that the same advice is constantly given: firm handshake, eye contact, seem relaxed but diligent, remain pleasant but not too casual, ask questions about the job, ect. What they fail to mention is how to show that you are better for a position than all of the other people using the same tactics.

That is always the problem that people forget when it comes to interviews or applications, whether in the workforce or freelance. It isn’t about impressing with confidence, at least not that alone. It is about making it clear that you have something that you can bring to the table that no one else can. In the end, what you are selling is your uniqueness.

Finding Your Unique Abilities

Being clear with someone else is impossible if you don’t first know what you have yourself. Before you present your application to a client or employer, you need to take some time to list all of those special things that make you you. What can you bring to the job that no one else can? What make you unique? What qualities do you possess that they should come to appreciate and rely on?

This can be anything that is listed as a skill, talent or personality trait. If you are dedicated, tell them so. Reliable and upbeat, tenacious when dealing with a problem, or just pleasant to work with. When listing skills, be explicit but honest. Don’t say that you can type 90 words per minute if you mean 60. Don’t say you can take on more work than is realistic. Never lie about work you never did. The trick is to impress them with real qualities you possess.

Showing Off Your Uniqueness

Everything you say will need to be proven. Some of it will be over time (such as with your personality traits), but some can be shown easily right away. Some ways you can do this are:

• References to past clients or employers.
• Websites that you have designed.
• Articles that you have written have ownership of or a byline attached to.
• A description of a former job or project.
• Screen caps, copies, prints of samples of a completed work.
• An online or physical portfolio.
• A networking profile with connected employers and clients, such as LinkedIn.
• Providing a discounted or free sample in the genre of their choice.

Filling in the Details

If you have stories of past projects or jobs that went well, have a couple of stories ready to regale them with. If it is related to the position you are applying for, all the better. Just make sure to be honest, never embellish the details, and be specific.

If you are asked to explain why a position ended, such as being fired, quitting or being laid off, be open about the details. Never point the finger of blame and be gentle with your explanation. If you made a mistake own up to it, but tell them how you learned from the experience and it will help you in your future endeavors.

Giving these details can be highly beneficial. It paints a more complete picture of who you are, and can help them to build trust while getting to know why you are the best person for the job.

Showing You Have What it Takes

When it comes to a job in the workforce, you are usually safe with being direct about past experiences. They can fill in the blanks by speaking to people who you worked for in the past, contacting references and asking questions. But when you are a freelancing looking for contracts or minor projects, you have to show them a different way.

What you should do is come up with examples of how you worked through other projects. The areas you want to focus on are your reliability, your ability to work to deadline and how you can solve problems on your own. These are all very important on independent contracts, as you are completely responsible for everything from the beginning to the final product.

Freelance or Workforce, Show You’re Unique!

In the end, you are showing that you are special, you have what it takes to get the job done better than anyone else, and you can deliver results. This is all based on you being unique, and so you should always show how those qualities that make you you are the ones that will get things completed the right way.

If you are able to get that across, then there is nothing you cannot achieve.

Annie is an online entrepreneur and stay-at-home mom. She blogs on viral marketing, green tools, web-based apps and healthy lifestyle. Her favorite free web application is Home Loan Finder, the largest home loans comparison tool in the world (mind that it is Australia-based)

Google your name and analyze the results.

Notice what comes up but also recognize what doesn’t come up. That is what you’ll want to work on. The following 5 steps won’t give you overnight results but if you stick with it you’ll be well on your way to dominating the first page of Google results in no time. The following are all strong link-building sites which are the corner stones of constructing your own search engine results page.

If you are looking to expand your personal brand online then it goes without saying that all of your results should be professional, but just in case: keep your personal online presence at the professional level that is expected in your industry.

LinkedIN

Create a profile and make sure it’s branded, searchable, and 100% complete. LinkedIN is go-to website  online recruiters use when sourcing potential candidates. The reason for this is because LinkedIN is specifically designed for business networking and their strict rules keep the spammers and illegitimate users away. Facebook is to your personal life as LinkedIN is to your business life. Your LinkedIN profile will be viewed by past employers, hiring managers, and future employers so do not claim anything that you can’t backup if questioned.

Google Profile

One of the strongest things you can do for your personal brand is to create a Google profile for yourself. This automatically holds a bunch of weight with the Google.com search engine practically guaranteeing yourself a first page rank for your name. Be sure to use some strategic keywords when you are filling out your profile such as mentioning your job title(s) and name drop big achievements, companies, or projects you’ve been apart of. This will help you come up on those search result pages. Remember you are fleshing out your real life personality on the Internet.

ResumeBucket

Build out a profile on ResumeBucket.com and upload the most recent version of your resume. ResumeBucket provides a free service that not only connects hiring managers with job seekers but allows users resumes to be searchable online. Having a ResumeBucket.com account also unlocks a large variety of free media tools which allow you to become a one-person marketing department. Practically everything an employer will want to know about you will be housed in this one place.

Twitter

Professionally use Twitter. Twitter.com is a very strong link building website but is also sometimes controversial in the job search market. Your handle should be your full name and be smart about what you post on Twitter. It’s a great way to connect with people in your industry because most companies have entire departments dedicated to monitoring major social media websites like Twitter. Use this to your advantage and interact with them. Key to visibility success on Twitter (and any social media website) is to participate in the discussion while sharing useful content.

Following these listed tips will significantly increase the amount of attention hiring managers will give your resume.

• Create a small keyword bank in the footer of your resume and use alternative job titles for the position you are applying for. For example if you list your position as “Secretary” but the hiring manager is doing a search for “Administrative Assistant” you might be scanned over and miss out on a potential job opportunity.
• When applying for open positions read the job description very carefully and stress your qualifications that match the posting using the same language as the ad.
• Submit your resume and cover letters in the .doc file type but always have a .pdf version of both in case the hiring manager requests one or the other.
• Include a concise summary of your unique qualifications for that specific job opening, giving the hiring manager a good reason to continue reading the entire resume.
• Figure in any awards and honors you may have received that a relevant to the job description and quantify these achievements.
• Format your resume and cover letter in a way that is easy to read and one doesn’t have to go searching for information. ResumeBucket.com provides hundreds of excellent resume templates and samples you can use. Careless formating is the number one non-content related that resumes end up in a hiring managers trash bin.

Having multiple resumes is a requirement in this tough job market. Take the time to edit each one to cater specifically to each job you are applying for. Putting in the extra effort it takes to follow the above steps will put candidates considerably ahead of their competition in this demanding job market.

Disney Interactive Media Group

Currently seeking:
Senior Software Engineer
Load Performance Engineer/Architect

American Red Cross

Currently seeking:
Regional Cheif Development Officer
Account Representative (Preparedness Health & Safety Services)

Major League Softball

Currently seeking:
Director of Communications, Media & Public Relations
Director of Marketing
Director of Franchise (Club) Sales

AT&T

Currently seeking:
Customer Service Representative – Austin, TX
Bilingual Relay Associate – San Antonio, TX
Bilingual Relay Associate – Augusta, GA
Telesales Representative – Plano, TX
Bilingual Sales Consultant – Miami, FL
Leveraged Service Representative – Lubbock, TX

Wines for Humanity

Currently seeking:
Wine Advisor for Charity

The following is a few aspects of networking to keep in mind when building your list of contacts.

Communication

The fundamental core of all successful relationships. Connections aren’t only made at corporate networking events but often happen in much more convenient places like the work place or extended family. Taking spontaneous chances and involving yourself in something you normally wouldn’t is an amazing way to not only work on your communication skills but to network with like minded people and begin building up your contact base.

Curiosity

Approach the act of meeting new people with a curiosity and joy instead of treating it like a chore. Many successful people are successful because they have a general interest in exploring and listening to other people. When you meet someone show interest! Find out some facts about them. Everyone loves to talk about themselves so ask questions about what they love, what are their goals and dreams. These are intimate questions that help establish an initial sense of commendatory between two people.

Persistence

A big problem people run into while building their contact sources is not following up after an initial interaction. You’ve already broken the ice so shooting a follow up e-mail is simple and takes no time on your part. If you have fears of being neglected then just realize that if you don’t follow up you will for sure be neglected. Be persistent but try to be invasive. Sometimes it’s a fine line so gauge your audience appropriately.

Assistance

Be a resource. If the idea of networking makes you uneasy, shift your mindset so you think about the process as an opportunity for you to help others. In creasing your network means you can be a better resource to a greater amount of people which is a genuinely good feeling. Like stated earlier, networking is tough and taking time to maintain but once you start getting little payoffs in the form of assisting others you’ll be reminded why you started.

Visibility

One of the most important aspects in great networkers is their ability to be seen by other people. This includes created a presence on the Internet with sites like ResumeBucket.com, LinkedIN, and Facebook. The sheer volume and reach of the Internet makes it a requirement for any one looking to make connections in their lives. But don’t spend all your time on the Internet, if you aren’t seen at the office function or maybe a fundraising event you’ll never know who you missed connecting with.

Appreciation

Show the people in your network your gratitude each time they do something for you, no matter the size or the favor.

A “brand” is a tangible label that immediately associates, expresses and reinforces – a niche, visual image, concept, or underlying values of a person or business. That brand creates expectations and makes a promise. Think about what comes into play when you make an indelible impression on an employer or client. Your reputation is your calling card, credibility is a must, and you will often be judged by the company you keep in clients and associations. All of these items are threads in the fabric of your brand, but what will make it unique, is your individual PDF – passion, determination and focus.

Continue reading on Examiner.com: Personal Branding in a tough job market – National work life | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/work-life-in-national/personal-branding-a-tough-job-market#ixzz1G8NhHpW9

Sending out blanket resumes to random employers just doesn’t cut it in todays job market. With the proliferation of the Internet during the past decade solidifying itself as the main source of information gathering for the majority of the population it’s effectively put the nail in the coffin on the old methods of job searching, such as attending networking events such as job fairs. Not to say that those ways still aren’t somewhat helpful but a job seekers time is much more efficiently spent building up their persona online, becoming visible to the growing number of hiring managers who have turned to the Internet to locate their ideal candidates.

In Schawbel’s revised and updated book, ‘ME 2.0: Four Steps to Building Your Future,’ he stands firmly behind the belief that your single greatest asset for success is your own self. However, the key to that success is developing your skills and assets, via social networking and other media outlets, into a personal brand that can be skillfully leveraged and crafted to build a bright future.

Research is going to be key for anyone looking to brand themselves online. The following bullet points should be used as a general guideline to creating your blueprint to begin exposing a personal brand online:

• What industry are you trying to break into?
• Where are the hiring managers in this industry looking?
• What is acceptable in your chosen field?

Then it’s time to begin researching the social networks and websites where you can promote your personal brand. LinkedIN.com should be the first go-to social network for any job seeker. It’s widely used by thousands of hiring managers and recruiters. You’re next stop should be ResumeBucket.com to utilize all the free media tools owning an account offers you. Both sites are free, please note you should never have to pay for any promotional services unless you are buying a domain for a personal website (highly recommended that you use your full name as the URL such as johnsmith.com).

Personal branding is the process by which you uncover what makes you special and desirable in the job marketplace by communicating your value to the right audience. It’s important as a tool because it empowers you to take advantage of your talents, get attention and the career satisfaction you deserve. In today’s job market where the unemployment rate is high the only way differentiate yourself and become visible to employers is by establishing yourself. If you fail to develop your brand, it will be extremely difficult to network, be discovered by employers, and achieve your potential.

Frustrated with seeing “experience required”? Here are some methods to help get around that.

Everyday job seekers hit the invisible brick wall known as “experience required”. Seeing those two words usually makes your heart sink because how are you supposed to get experience for the ‘experience required’ jobs, right? Common ways to subvert this blockade is to get an internship in the field you want to break into but taking an unpaid internship is hardly practical in this economic climate.

Here are a few tips to help you get your resume in the door even if it doesn’t meet the exact demands of the ‘experience required’ employer.

1. Make the layout professional

• Don’t go overboard with fancy fonts, graphics, or a confusing structure. For examples check out your Fuctional Resume blog.
• Keep it simple and easy to read. We have thousands of resume layout examples in our database. Feel free to edit one to tailor your specific needs.

2. Content is key

• Use your work history to highlight the talents you can bring to employers.
• Include any extra curricular activities you may have done in school, or charity, even being apart of a sports team tells a hiring manager you are a team player. Use at your discretion.
• Write a 2-3 short and concise introduction about yourself and your goals, be careful and don’t make it to wordy.

3. Clean up

• Be concise. Try to keep it at one page, two max. Employers who are looking at a fresh resume with little relevant experience are reading between the lines . Padding your resume with trivial information is a turn off to hiring manager and you’ll find yourself lost in the dreaded resume pile.
• Most likely your name will be Googled by employers. Make your Facebook or any other social sites that may come up private. You don’t want them seeing your pictures from Friday and Saturday nights. Instead build out a Linkedin.com profile, sign up and post your resume on ResumeBucket.com. Google yourself and see what comes up and work from there.

Post up your comments! We love to help out our users with any questions they have, and if you really want an outstanding resume check out our top tier resume writer.

Even in the toughest economic times, certain industries are better bets than others for your job search. The specific industries can vary with the times, so it’s important to keep your eye on what’s happening in the world, because that will affect the best industries to target.

Where do you find this out? Well, the most obvious place is your local or national newspaper. Many people never read the business section in the normal course of their lives, believing it’s all about stock trading and things they don’t understand.

But when you are looking for a job, these pages can provide invaluable information for you. For example, what if a major corporation based in your area, or even close by, is looking at expanding into a new product line? If they are doing that by acquiring another company, they probably won’t be a great target, and in fact they may have duplication of job functions and be looking to cut back on staff.

But if they say they are looking at expanding and there’s no sign of a merger, there might be opportunity. Visit the company’s website and read the news section; scan the corporate information as well as product line information. This can not only give you hints about job prospects, but when you tell them you’ve researched them in depth, they’ll be impressed by your initiative and possibly more inclined to hire you.

But what specific industries hold promise of fast hire? As I’ve mention, that varies depending on the times. But here are some guidelines to point you in the most promising direction.

First, look for industries that always have demand. For example, people have to eat, so food based industries always need people. People will always be dying, so the funeral industry always needs people. And babies are always being born, so industries based around children’s clothing and other products and services are pretty much recession-proof.

Trades connected to homes are always a good bet. In boom times, new home construction needs lots of tradespeople: carpenters, masons, plumbers and more. In not-to-good times there may not be so many new homes being built, but then people need to service their existing homes and appliances more so that they won’t need to buy new. So the same tradespeople still have work.

If you’ve never considered learning a trade, think of it in these terms and it may open up new possibilities. A good plumber will rarely be short of work!

But perhaps the hottest area for employment in current times — good and bad — is technology. Of course, technology isn’t just one industry. It’s a term that includes a wide range of industry segments and job markets. And the really good news is that it’s not just the technical experts that are in demand, but all the other business related job too.

If you are a manager, an administrative assistant, a bookkeeper, a clerk, an accountant, a salesperson — or any other of the jobs that typically can be found in any corporation, you’ll be needed in technology companies. And because technology companies tend to thrive in good times and bad, that makes them a promising target for your job search.

Industries with long term prospects based on ongoing demand for their products and services are also good places to look for jobs. There’s a whole collection of organizations that have emerged from the “green” movement of recent years. Companies that have an environmentally friendly take on traditional services are thriving. For example, think of the boom in green homes, and all the demand that creates. All that demand means jobs and fast employment.

As they’ve done throughout their lives, the baby boomers are still driving the markets. Now that they are reaching retirement age, they are creating a need for more services for older people. With this particular segment of the population, however, that doesn’t mean “eldercare” in the traditional sense. The boomer generation is staying active longer than previous generations and they’re looking to keep skiing, running, sailing, climbing and more. But they need specialized services and products to help them do these things, and companies who are providing them will do well for many years to come. Now is the time to consider joining these companies, and if you have something to offer them you may be snatched up very quickly.

Of course, they can’t hold back the aging process forever, so traditional care for the elderly is also in demand. If you have the right skills to offer, companies offering those services can also be a good bet for fast results from your job search.

So basically, even in these uneven economic times, it pays to watch what’s going on in the world, because that’s often what decides the fastest industries for you to get a job.

The dreaded line that almost every job seeker has been told at one point or another.  How are you supposed to get experience if you need experience to get a job? The 6 following steps are simple ways to help you increase your chances of landing an entry level position that will lead to the career you desire.

1. Browse and get involved in large job search engines such as ResumeBucket.com. Many companies are turning to the Internet to post their entry level positions because of the wide reach, low cost, and  variety of candidates they can pick from.

2. Look in the newspaper classified section. Local businesses still utilize the print medium but be sure to check the newspaper specific websites too. Craigslist is also a good choice for local opportunities.

3. Research the industry you want to enter. Often times there are many specialized job sites for your job path. Groups such as unions or professional organizations can provide contact information for job seekers looking to break into a new industry.

4. Network with the people in your industry and location you would like to work in.

5. Utilize college or high school career centers as a resource. These organizations will provide networking contacts, reference materials, and additional advice. Most also have their own job posting network for local businesses specifically targeting entry level job seekers.

6. Attend job fairs. They provide wide exposure and information about potential job opportunities for workers of all skill levels.

Start With Your Strengths

Before you start plugging everything you’ve done into your resume template, stop for a minute and reflect.  There are a few things that you’ll need to think about and keep in mind throughout the resume writing process.

Your Strengths:  What are the things you’re naturally good at?

Your Successes:  What are you most proud of?

Your Results:  Always focus on the results that you’ve gotten in your past jobs.

Take all of your job experience, educational experience, skills and qualifications and gear them toward your strengths, successes and results.  These are the things they’ll be looking for.

These are also the things that will be talking points during your interview.  Throughout the whole process of finding a job, your resume sets the tone for everything that comes later.  These are the things they’ll ask you about.

Spend Time On The Objective And Summary

A major mistake many people make is that they spend all of their time and energy on the job experience section.  This is the longest part of the resume, so it makes sense to spend the most time on it.  But, to a recruiter’s eyes, the objective or summary are much more important.  If they’ve got a stack of resumes to look at, they might be reading only those parts.  That’s why you’ve got to make them count.

The objective is a short sentence that tells who you are, what you want, and what you can bring to the job.  It should be that, and that only.  You don’t need anything fancy here; just tell them who you are and what you’re about.  It should only be one sentence.

The summary is the same, but instead of just one sentence, it has a sentence followed by bullet points.  The summary allows you to put a little more detail about yourself, but still, keep it short.

Trim – Too Much Detail Is A Resume Killer

Once you’ve written your resume’s first draft, be ready to trim some things out of it.  Resumes should be short and concise.  If your resume stretches on for pages and pages, it won’t help you in finding a job.  Say what you need to say, and move on.

Remember that the resume provides your interview’s talking points.  For this reason, don’t put anything on your resume that you don’t want them asking you about.  If there’s something you’re not proud of, leave it off.  Also be ready to explain if there are gaps in employment.

Finding a job is tough, but with a great resume, you’ll have it made.  If your resume is really good, they may even decide to hire you before the interview.  It’s the key factor that gets you the job.

This article was written by Richard Spencer, a member of the team at HirePulse, where the work finds you.

1. Don’t Be An Idiot

The first rule of job hunting while being employed is to be as inconspicuous as possible.  You don’t want your current employer finding out what you are doing, so simply don’t leave any clues.  Here are some examples of clues:

Using office equipment for the job search.

The first thing that comes to mind is the printer and fax machine, but using your work email to send out resumes is also bad news.  And if you suspect that your employers might be keeping tabs on your browsing history, websites like ours should be only looked at off-hours.

Trust no one.

Unless maybe you have co-workers who you’ve known from before this job and you trust with your life, don’t tell anyone what you are up to.  How hard is it to imagine that innocent conversation you had on the walk to Starbucks turned into a Happy Hour confession to your boss.

2. Time Your Interviews Well

Study the patterns of when you usually take time off or are away from the office.  Study the patterns of your co-workers.  Find out what gets a humorous quip and what goes unnoticed.

From my experience, if you can choose the day of the week, go for an end day.  Taking a long weekend by calling in sick on Friday or taking a Monday off because you had a long weekend are common place, and although you could get looked down on for having too much fun, they probably won’t suspect the true nature of your absence.

As for time of day, evening works best.  You can always say you have to pick the kids up from school or someone is flying in from out of state.  A long lunch and the traffic excuse of the late morning work as well, but are slightly more risky.  It is often hard to control how long you’ll be in the interview.

3. Learn To Change In Your Backseat

If Superman can trick everyone into thinking he is a mild-mannered reporter, than you can trick them into thinking that you’re going home early because of a stomach ache. I’m not saying to leave your interview clothes in a phone booth, but you could find a friend that lives close to your work, park your car farther away than usual and hide them in the backseat, or if you are really paranoid get them cleaned at a dry cleaner in the area.

Nothing says that you just had a job interview than dressing drastically different than usual.  Two sets of clothes, learn it.

And if you are female and your hair is a problem, start doing fancy things with your hair in the weeks leading up to the potential interviews.  Subtle self-improvement is a good thing.

4. Avoid Connections

This one is obvious, yet sometimes hard to control.  But you don’t want the person getting your resume to be friends with a superior at your current job.  The first way to avoid this is simply to think if you are aware of any connections.

The second way to avoid this is made possible by LinkedIn.  Look up the company you are applying for on LinkedIn and also their hiring manager or the person you are sending the resume to if you can find them.  Look through their connections (or it should tell you right away) for any similarities with your place of employment.  This can be tough in industries that are very close-knit, so use your best judgement as to how serious those connections actually are.

5. Don’t Slack Off

This should be a general rule regardless if you are planning to leave.  But nothing will sound alarms more than suddenly seeming disinterested in your work.  Granted, you must be disinterested in your work if you are looking for another job, but for both the sake of being discret and keeping a good reputation, try not to show it.

Whether you’re fresh out of school and looking for your dream job or you’ve worked your resume to death trying to find any job, there are a few things you need to know. Things that you’re not going to be able to learn from reading short lists like this one on the internet. This is a list of eight books that you should read, or at the very least skim, if you want to gain a little bit more knowledge and skills to aid you in your job search.

1) What’s Your Type of Career?: Find Your Perfect Career By Using Your Personality Type by Donna Dunning

http://www.amazon.com/Whats-Your-Type-Career-Personality/dp/1857885538/ref=sr_1_10?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1295112676&sr=1-10

While this book may be more pertinent to students, it’s still worth a read for recent graduates or anyone who’s unsure about their career choices. This book uses the Jungian-based Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and it will assign you one of sixteen different personality types. The book then offers eight different “Ways of Working,” and each way contains specific fields and positions for all the personality types. While this book should definitely not be the sole influence in your choice of career, it can definitely help you narrow down jobs or give you or at least give you some indication of what you might enjoy doing for a living.

2) Gallery of Best Cover Letters: Collection of Quality Cover Letters by Professional Resume Writers by David F. Noble

http://www.amazon.com/Gallery-Best-Cover-Letters-Professional/dp/1593574258/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1295115488&sr=1-5

The best way of learning is to learn by examples. This book provides you with over 300 exemplary cover letters, along with corresponding resumes, that can help you land that job or interview. The cover letters are among the most attractive and impressive letters written by top-tier professionals, and they cover virtually every type of career. The secret to success is looking at an example letter and using it as a template for your own.

3) The Resume.Com Guide to Writing Unbeatable Resumes by Warren Simons and Rose Curtis

http://www.amazon.com/Resume-Com-Guide-Writing-Unbeatable-Resumes/dp/0071411054/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1295115764&sr=1-1

Writing a good resume is a skill that takes a lot of practice and time, but with some guidance, you’ll be able to write a job-winning resume in no time. This book includes very detailed examples of resumes of all kinds, extremely comprehensive descriptions of nearly every acceptable resume style and format, and a quality step-by-step guide to writing the perfect resume. As a very desirable bonus, a free resume consultation by a Resume.com career consultant is offered with the purchase of this book.

4) How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

http://www.amazon.com/How-Win-Friends-Influence-People/dp/1439167346/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1295115181&sr=1-1

The job interview is arguably the most important part of the hiring process. Employers will already have weeded out everyone that is either under-qualified or over-qualified for the job at this point, so all interviewees will be on a somewhat equal footing. Though it was published almost eighty years ago, this book is still the master of all people-skills books. You’ll learn how to handle yourself in any social situation. You’ll learn how to get people to like you and you’ll learn how to win them over. Not only will this book greatly help with your interview, it will also serve you well when you’re communicating and interacting with other coworkers or your bosses.

5) 301 Smart Answers to Tough Interview Questions by Vicky Oliver

http://www.amazon.com/Smart-Answers-Tough-Interview-Questions/dp/1402203853/ref=sr_1_12?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1295113598&sr=1-12

This is not your ordinary job interview book. This book provides you with the knowledge that will allow you to answer all the quirky, unconventional interview questions you might get asked. Everyone can talk about why they want a job or why they think that they’re qualified for it, but how many people can answer “What is the best-managed company in America?” or “How many cigars are smoked in a year?” in a smart and articulate way? Don’t get caught off-guard by weird interview questions like that. Read this book.

6) Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters 2.0: 1,001 Unconventional Tips, Tricks, and Tactics for Landing Your Dream Job by Jay Conrad Levinson and David E. Perry

http://www.amazon.com/Guerrilla-Marketing-Job-Hunters-Unconventional/dp/0470455845/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1295113598&sr=1-4

This book will provide you with all sorts of unconventional information and tricks that can help you find a job. The internet is probably the most viable source for employment right now, and most people are making the switch from local newspapers and magazines to this new medium. Although the internet is a little bit bigger than Google, that’s what most people tend to stick with. Fortunately, this book lets you in on all the hidden opportunities that the internet offers with with websites like LinkedIn, ZoomInfo, and yes, even Google.

7) The Real Truth About Success: What the Top 1% Do Differently, Why They Won’t Tell You, and How You Can Do It Anyway! by Garrison Wynn

http://www.amazon.com/Real-Truth-about-Success-Differently/dp/0071629963/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1295116130&sr=1-2

Finding and obtaining a job is only the start of a career. You don’t start out with the highest position in the company or organization they work for. You aren’t going to be immediately successful as soon as you start a business or begin working. You’re going to have to work your way to the top, and this book will provide you with the knowledge and skills to do so. Through this book, you’ll be able to discover what you’re truly good at, and then you’ll learn how to use your abilities harmoniously with your goals.

‘Tis the season… to get ahead.

I was on the phone with a reporter yesterday who was asking me about tips for finding jobs during the holidays. “Yes,” I said, “from what I can see it’s going pretty well. We’re getting more and more job postings every day on ResumeBucket. Companies are hiring for the new year. Particularly there is growth in technology and finance jobs.” Then, she asked me a question that really got me thinking.

“So you’re saying people should look for jobs now, even though people are going away for the holidays?”

I was dumbstruck. It took me a few moments to respond, and I’m the kind of guy that really likes to talk. This woman was suggesting that she expected people to wait around during the holidays because no one else was working.

I’ve worked my entire career. It’s easy. You spend a small part of your day figuring out what you have to do, and a larger part of your day getting those things done. Create a list, knock it down. It’s simple. If I’m at work, I’m either creating work or completing it. How many times have I taken off more than a few days for the holidays? I can’t even remember the last time.

Here’s the thing – how is the fact that other people don’t work during the holidays a bad thing? Back when I used to work in the corporate world, I used to relish this time of year. Why would I use my precious vacation days when everyone else was using their time off? That’s silly! Do you know how much more work you can get done when half of your office is off drinking egg nog and hanging missletoe? I’ll give you a hint – it’s more than when they’re there.

The same applies for the unemployed. Let me give you a hint, people. Employers don’t like employees that take time off every chance they get. If you’re not employed, then looking for a job is your FULL TIME JOB. 8 hours a day. Make yourself do it. Prove to people that you don’t quit, that you’re a hard worker, that you put in your time and go the extra mile. This is NOT a vacation. You AREN’T getting paid for it.

Or, look at it this way. Maybe 20 to 40 percent of hiring departments are on vacation right now – sure. But so is 20 to 40 percent of your competition. Less competition means more results.

So forget a New Year’s Resolution – use this time when everyone else is relaxing to work double time. Kill it. Right now is when people are really paying attention.  And you can start at our sample resumes section of ResumeBucket.  Don’t wait, do it now.

Finding a job is just like learning to ride a bike.  Like riding a bike, this is something we can all do. And exactly like learning to ride, it is something we can pick up again at a later date because we remember the skills, even if they’re a bit rusty.

The Early Days

When you first pick up a bike, you have no idea what to do. Everyone has made it look so easy. The other kids are all able to do it. You get on, and you instantly fall off. You have no idea how it is done.

The same applies when you first start applying for work. You write your resume and send it out. You either don’t hear anything back, or you get lots of rejection letters. You wonder why. All your friends seem to be getting jobs. You however, have no idea how it is done.

Training Wheels

Your first experiences on a bike as a kid are with training wheels. These help you to get the idea of what you are supposed to do. The training wheels help the bike to keep its balance, while you practice the actions that you need to take to get the bike moving and keep it progressing along the road.

Your first experiences of creating a resume are often a bit like this; often when you are about to leave schooling for the real world. You have the supporting environment of college around you and careers advisory services to help you out. If you’re lucky, kind advisors help you to “stabilize” your resume. They look over your first few drafts and tell you where you’re going wrong. Their hints help to get you on track, to start moving and make progress along the road to getting a job.

Crashing

An inevitable of the learning to ride a bike experience: your first crash. You take off the training wheels and try to start riding without them. It was easy with them, so you’re definitely ready to leave them behind. You know that other people crash, you’ve seen your friends with scabbed up hands and knees and the colorful bruises that a fall can bring. It doesn’t put you off though, and you kind of think to yourself, “That won’t happen to me”. Your dad or mom is holding the bike seat and you’re all set. Then they let go, and the first thing that happens is you tumble to the ground, bike on top. Often you won’t feel like getting back on that contraption right way. You want to lick your wounds for a while and recover. However, mom and dad know best, and they get you right back on there again.

In your job search this also happens. You apply for jobs that you think you are clearly highly suited for. The job market isn’t all that great, but that is OK because you truly are great and surely every employer will be able to see it right away and snap you up quick. You send in your best application. You wait. And then you receive a rejection. Or worse, you receive nothing at all, not even an acknowledgement of your application. Your job application just crashed. This can be a very demoralizing experience, but just like riding a bike, it is something that happens to everyone. And just like the bike learning experience, you have to get up and keep going.

You Pick Yourself Up and Keep Going

You’ve fallen off your bike a few times now. You’re getting fed up. You’ll NEVER get the hang of this. You whine about it to your parents and friends. You’ve half given up, but suddenly something clicks and you just get it. You can ride a bike. And you’re riding along and it’s all going smoothly. You did it. You can join your friends on bike rides around the park without the training wheels. You feel good about yourself and your achievement.

You’ve received job rejections a few times now. You’re getting fed up. All you get is rejections. You don’t want to hear anymore about how there were “many other candidates more suitable” than you. You moan about it to your family and buddies. You’ve half given up, but you have to keep trying, because you need a job to pay your bills. And then suddenly, when you’re not really expecting it anymore, you get that job offer.

Finding a job is just like riding a bike. You try, you fail, you crash, you get up and start again, and suddenly it all clicks and works out for you.

Tip of the Day: For all you administrative assistants out there looking to improve your administrative assistant resume, check ResumeBucket as we’ve just expanded our resume samples section to include a ton more resumes.

As a new graduate seeking your first career job, it can be hard to know what to put on your resume. You’re told frequently to keep your resume to one page, but it can be very difficult to know what to fill that page with if you have no experience. Bear in mind that employers seeking recent graduates know that you have little or no experience. They’d be very surprised to see a resume packed with work experience. That said, there are some snippets of information that they do want to know about you, and these are what you should focus on:

1. Employment Objective

A nice addition to the top of your resume is an employment objective. This is one sentence which states what you are trying to achieve to your potential employer. This is also a great way to tailor your resume to the job that you are applying for, making it specific to each job. It might say something like:

To secure a role in an organization that will provide opportunities in the field of X.

X may be journalism, accounting, biochemistry or anything else that you wish to substitute it with.

2. Academic Qualifications

You’ve just graduated and one of the areas that your potential employer will look first is your academic qualifications. This should be located in the top third of your resume, where the employer’s eye is automatically drawn. If you have a GPA of 3.4, 3.5 or above, it is worth including that information. If not, you may want to consider leaving it out.

Other academic information that employers may be interested in include honors and awards won, or recognition for special academic achievements. If you studied abroad for a semester or year, or even just for a few weeks, it’s worth including. This is especially true if you studied in another language. This experience demonstrates to most potential employers that you are versatile and resilient.

3. Internship Experience

A graduate with internship experience shows that they are able to commit to and operate in the world of work for a period of time, and depending on the experience, can show that they are committed to a particular career. Internships should be listed on your resume. For each internship, pick out two or three achievements or assignments that you enjoyed working on, or better still, that are directly relevant to this specific application, and include them. Try to focus on achievements where possible, rather than on tasks performed. It will make you stand out a bit from the crowd. Any responsibilities over and above the internship requirements can be highlighted.

4. Extra-Curricular Activities and Volunteering

During your university days, you probably took part in a number of activities outside of your studies. Perhaps you worked on the student paper? Maybe you captained the football team? Alternatively, perhaps you mentored disadvantaged teenagers, or did some fundraising or organized an event? The first is professional experience and should be highlighted, especially if you can demonstrate specific skills that may be useful to your current application. The second shows leadership experience, which may be of significant interest to an employer. Mentoring is a very useful skill and so the third should also not be left off your resume. Event organizing demonstrates planning, organizing and follow-through. There is a never ending list of activities or volunteering that you may have been involved with during your university career. Think about these carefully and include them if they can demonstrate important transferable skills to this job.

5. Skills

Don’t forget your skills when finalizing your resume. Most roles have a list of skills that the ideal candidate will have. These may include relatively standard software packages such as Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint. They might include more sophisticated packages such as Quark or Adobe Suites. Alternatively, the skills sought may be language-based, so don’t leave out any language skills. Whatever your skills, it is usually worth including them in a section on your resume. Sometimes a certain skill might not be required for a particular job, but if your employer sees that you have that skill, it may put you ahead of the game because you can help out in with additional tasks that they had not thought of.

6. Demonstrating Attitudes

Finally, in your resume you will want to demonstrate a certain selection of attitudes that are relevant to most jobs. These may include:

• Flexible
• Team playing
• Multi-tasker
• Ability to communicate verbally and in writing
• Hard working
• Can get along with others

Try to make sure that your resume at least demonstrates all of the above, which are common to most job roles.  And for some additional help you can check out our sample resumes section for tons of templates to get you started.

Good Luck!

I’ll admit that I am a bit new to being on this side of the job hunt; the job seeker helper side that is. It is a fun and fascinating world that, with the unemployment rate where it is, is also a very large community. Recently in my travels through the internet’s job hunt world I’ve noticed there are a lot of questions and fears surrounding job scams.  And Craigslist seems to be the main proprietor of these fears.

After countless hours of research and some conversations with some really smart people in the employment industry I’ve put together the top five Craigslist scams that job seekers keep running in to.

If you have arrived here looking for scam validation and you don’t see your scam listed, just approach a job inquiry on Craigslist just like you would anything else on Craiglist (and leave your scam in the comments to help out others).  Craigslist also has some information on scams and their community is pretty helpful.

Excess Funds Scam

The Excess Funds Scam is probably the most popular scam on Craigslist.  The scam started in the buy and sell sections of Craigslist, but has since been re-appropriated to the jobs section.

The scam works by the “employer” sending you a check, or some other form of money that you are to deposit in your bank account.  The check of course is fake and your bank will figure it out in a few days.  However, the scammer tells you that you now have to transfer some of this money to another account, minus your wages.  And if they can convince you to send your money off before the bank notices the first check was bad, then mission successful, they’ve got your money.

This scam comes in all forms but the popular career choice at the moment seems to be with personal assistants.  The scammer explains they are out of town and your payment has to work this way.

Affiliate Link Swaps

A lot of companies make money on the internet through lead generation.  Basically, they try and get people to fill out forms and then sell their information.  This is not the scam, that is just life.

There are also companies that offer affiliate programs that puts a structure in place for affiliates to send them leads and in turn get paid.  Often times the affiliate runs a website that has a large readership and they figure their readers might be interested in the companies offer, all perfectly helpful for both the website owner and their visitors.

But when a scammer realizes you can get paid for every person that fills out a job application form, they tend to get creative.  The latest scam in affiliate link swaps looks like a perfectly legitimate job posting.  But when you click on to their website to fill out an application, suddenly you are not on a companies employment section, but are on a large national job board.  What you didn’t see was your browser passing an affiliate key to the site.

The site that seems to be gamed the most lately is beyond.com (they must have some loose affiliate guidelines).

These job board sites are usually legitimate though and at most the scam hurts the job seeker by giving their info to a bunch of head hunters and email lists.  But you’re definitely not making any headway in your job search.

TV Robot / Writing Samples

I call this one TV Robot because it seems that is the fake company name a lot of the scammers are using for this one.

The main target for this scam are recent grads and freelance writers.

The premise of this scam works on content generation.  Basically, in industries like search engine optimization, people are constantly looking to add good, well written, content on their site in the hopes of showing up on Google searches.  Freelance writers are pretty cheap, usually $15 for 750 words.  But many of these scammers are working for sites that need thousands of pages of content, or they could even be posing as a freelance writer on a site like elance.com.

The scam works by posting a job for writers.  Once you express interest you are asked to provide some writing samples.  The topics will be giving to you and you often have a time limit.  Once you turn in your work, that is the last time you hear from the scammer.

The best way to avoid this scam is to check out a company before you start giving out free work.  Many of these scammers find it difficult to create a physical office or credentials.

Pay to Play

This is a scam that has existed in the real world for a long time.  This scam would often take place in a big conference hall and would have beauty or self help products as the focus.  Often called pyramid schemes the business would rely on signing up new workers and each worker paying most of their profits back to the person who brought them in.

The worse part of the scam was the pay to play fee.  And this is where the system has materialized on the internet.  In order to “make thousands of dollars a month” you need the kit or start-up package.  This of course costs money.

Google Scam

This scam was rampant on the internet in the last few years, but seems to have been cornered onto Craigslist recently.

The scam basically explains that Google is paying people to put links on the internet or do some other mundane task.  Remember this is Google we are talking about; they have created cars that drive themselves, you can imagine they have other robots that take care of everything they need to do on the web.

Once again the catch in this scam is that you are asked to pay a minimal fee to get the start-up kit.  This fee can often be only a couple of dollars, for “shipping”.  But it is the credit card information that the scammers are really after.  Once they have this you will find an $80 reoccurring fee on your credit card bill each month that takes some serious effort to dispute.

If you have run into other scams on Craigslist please let us know in the comments.

Question – a prospective employer has just reviewed your resume and has decided to bring you in for an interview.  What do they do after reviewing your resume, but before calling you for the interview?

If you answered, “Try to find everything they can about you from the internet” then you are right!

It is pretty well known these days that an employer will Google your name before bringing you in.  And maybe at this point you’ve built a fort knox of security around your social profiles.  But like any good reputation management campaign, you have to show positive results for 10 slots; and at most Facebook is only helping you with one or two.  So what can you do to have Google work for you?  How can you make a prospective employer Googling your name be a good thing?

The Usual Suspects

First, get yourself on the major social networks; Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn.  Obviously you now need to be wary of your actions there.  For Facebook you should take heed of privacy settings, for Twitter you need to conduct yourself in a positive manner (if your history on the site betrays you, start a new account), and LinkedIn should be easy.

For all of these networks make sure that your full name is added as appropriate; no goofy aliases in the “name” field.  The power of these sites should move them to the top of your results page in no time.

Blogging

A great asset to have in your Google results is a bio page on a popular blog.  At first, this may seem like a daunting task, but blogs in your industry are always looking for guest content.  Bloggers love great content, and more often than not, they are offered sub-par content laden with ulterior motives of self-promotion.  If you can write interesting, on-topic, and earnest articles, bloggers will love to publish it.

You can get started by making a list of blogs that you read or blogs that you find that are related to your industry.  Contact these bloggers, ask them if they are looking for guest content, give a little bio of where you are coming from, and pitch them a few article ideas.

Once you get the green light to write for them ask if they have an “About” or “Authors” page that you could be featured on.

Remember to use your full real name and depending on the popularity of the blog, your bio page and potentially an article of yours will appear in your Google results.

Vanity Websites

If you know your way around web design or blogging platforms you can fill some of the results with your creations.

On the production side, if your career choice has anything to do with the web, make a website for yourself!  It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, just some simple HTML with the homepage title tag having your full name will get noticed by the search engines.  Here is an example I put together earlier this year:

Frank’s Resume

If you aren’t skilled in the ways of the web, there are a number of great sites out there willing to do the work for you like Square Space.

In addition to this you can start a personal blog.  A quick word of warning however: this is not your diary.  But a blog that has a handful of articles you wrote about the industry you are in can not only appear in your Google results, but can give prospective employers a taste of your writing skills.

There are hundreds of DIY blog sites out there, I would recommend either Wordpress or Blogger.  And don’t forget to use your full name as the blog’s title to ensure it’s place in the Google results.

Resume Bucket

Okay, I’ll make this one quick.  We do our best here at Resume Bucket to help employers find candidates; and this includes search engine optimization.  So don’t forget to upload a resume at our site, we’ll do our best to take up one of those Google results for you, and with the result being your resume, you are just re-enforcing your employment qualifications.  We even have a free resume builder to do all the work of building a resume site for you.

That should get you started on taking control of the first page.  Of course, there are those employers who will take the time to see the second page of Google results.

Have you taken any of the above steps in your job hunt?  How did it work out?  Have you tried other methods that also worked?  Let us know!

LOS ANGELES – Oct. 13, 2010 – ResumeBucket, the fastest-growing free online employment service, today announced the results of a study revealing what recruiters were searching for in the third quarter of 2010 (Q3). Compiled from a two-part study, ResumeBucket first reviewed the top 100 typed keywords most searched by recruiters looking for candidates. The top keywords and the industries they relate to were then categorized as follows:

Armed with the keyword results and top industries, the second half of the study included a survey sent to 1,500 HR managers and recruiters of the employers that currently use ResumeBucket’s services. The 10 question survey sampled recruiters’ plans for hiring in Q4 and into 2011; what stands out in a resume; and what tools they use to find candidates. Some of the key findings include:

• 93.5% of respondents plan on hiring in Q4 2010
  • 46% of those looking to hire 1-5 employees
  • 41.4% looking for 10 or more employees.
  • 51.6% of employers said that “Results stated in the candidate’s experience” was the most eye-catching aspect they looked for on a resume – several times the second most common result, the list of Previous Employers, at 17.6%, and the third most common, tailored content for the job, at 13.2%.
  • Only 2.2% of employers identified a candidate’s school as the most important area of a resume.
  • 87.4% of our employers primarily search for candidates on online Job Boards, as opposed to newspapers (4.6%), Trade Publications (2.3%), and professional recruiting or staffing services (5.7%).
  • 15% of Employers had made a hire through ResumeBucket within the past 3 months.

For more information about the study, or for a detailed results breakdown, contact ResumeBucket at info@resumebucket.com.

About Resume Bucket

ResumeBucket is the fastest growing free online employment service. Helping job seekers build a personal brand and better represent themselves to future employers, ResumeBucket provides each candidate their own website where they can easily post, edit, share and track their resume online. Nearly 300,000 people have already taken advantage and published their resume using the free service.

ResumeBucket is also a resource, accessed for free, by more than 1000 top employers to regularly search qualified resumes and post open positions. ResumeBucket is currently used by companies of all sizes, from SMBs to Fortune 100s, including Accenture, CBS, Dell, Ford/Mercury, GE Healthcare, Intel, Sears Holdings, Time Warner, Twitter, Waste Management and Yahoo!

For more information, please visit www.ResumeBucket.com.

Working at Neohire I am connected to some of the top VC funded start-ups. Not only do we work with top companies on immediate hiring needs, but we are in constant communication with various industry leaders on the future goals of their companies. I know what they need now and what they will need in the future so I am always looking for the best of the best when it comes to talent.

Being on top of industry trends and needs makes the difference between proactive recruiting and reactive recruiting. An important part of recruiting is not just knowing what your clients need now, but the organizational goals for the future and how they plan on getting there. Who will they need and when. Who will succeed on their team.  It’s important to know what your company wants to achieve and who they will need to help them get there.

Good tip for candidates- hiring does not slow at the end of the year. Most of the companies we work with want to finalize hiring decisions now to get great employees on board and ramped up for the beginning of the new year. Recruiters are constantly looking for top talent. Make sure your resume and profile are updated on the tools we use such as ResumeBucket and Linked-In. Talk with recruiters about the companies they work with and ask them to get you visibility to companies you are interested in. They could have an immediate role to fill or may need someone like you in the future. Keep making those connections and getting visibility to the right people.

…And if you ever are looking for a tech job in the greater Los Angeles area contact me, Gemma via Linkined or Gemma@Neohire.com

The only one stop website for literally hundreds of free resume samples and free cover letter samples. With the less-than-ideal economic times our world is pushing through, your resume and cover letter are the first tools of the trade for landing yourself that new career path, first job, or getting back into your industry. The first step…

You need to have an industry specific cover letter AND resume.

Now more than ever both your cover letter and resume need to compliment each other and be written flawlessly or you risk getting lost in that dreaded pile of other applicants.

Take advantage of our free, MASSIVE database of resume and cover letter samples.
We cover all our bases when it comes to sample documents for any type of career.

Preview the screen shots below to see what we offer to our users looking for a free cover letter and resume in the Nursing industry:

With an complimentary resume to follow up the cover letter:


Not bad, but if you were looking for something a little different, but still related to the Medical field, just glance at the plethora of free samples ResumeBucket offers just for that niche. Resumes. Cover Letters.

• Free Administrative Assistant Resumes!
• Free Banking Resumes!
• Free Clerical Resumes!
• Free Teacher Resumes!

That’s just a SMALL taste of what we have to offer. ResumeBucket.com houses so many free sample resumes and free sample cover letters, it would take hours to list them all! GO CHECK ‘EM OUT FOR YOURSELF!

Find one of that fits your needs, edit it, use it as a guide to create your own, or print it out as is. We have some of the most highly acclaimed resume and cover letter writers in the industry handing them to you for free. You are only a few clicks away from creating your own FREE professional sample resume and professional sample cover letter!

SIGN UP FOR YOUR VERY OWN RESUMEBUCKET ACCOUNT
It takes just seconds!

]]> http://www.resumebucketblog.com/resumebucket/free-samples/feed/ 1 http://www.resumebucketblog.com/resumebucket/promoting-your-personal-brand/ http://www.resumebucketblog.com/resumebucket/promoting-your-personal-brand/#comments Tue, 21 Apr 2009 17:46:13 +0000 aaron http://www.resumebucketblog.com/?p=140 Searching for a new job is a competitive field. You are in a contest with potentially hundreds of other qualified applicants so take that extra step to set yourself apart from the crowd and get noticed by that employer. So you have your resume–that’s a great start but now it’s time to create your personal brand.

The Internet is the best tool you have as a job seeker to create an amazing network of contacts. Social networking has taken off expoentially these past few years with websites emerging for specific niche demographics which include business networking. You will want to do a bit more in-depth research but a quick google search can give you list of business oriented social networks; it’s a good bet to start off with Linkedin and Twitter.

While social networks have gotten many people jobs, there is still a much more you can do for yourself. Consider carving yourself a personal space on the Internet. For example an excellent resource would be to create a website than expands on your resume. While your resume is a short and concise summary of your qualifications, a website can give those potential employers a lot more information should they choose to seek it out.

Remember anything you do online with under your name can potentially be googled so be sure to keep everything professional. This includes your Facebook and Myspace pages because employers often seek those out to get a feel for an individuals personality. This is a direct reflection of yourself to a potential employer so keep that in mind the entire time you are crafting your personal brand. You don’t want this happening during an interview! Websites should be easy to read and navigate so leave out busy artwork and confusing fonts. Before anything gets published you’ll want to proof read and correct all typos, consider having a friend go over it also to catch some mistakes you may forget. Remember, even one tiny typo could leave a nasty impression with an employer.

This is our nations first major recession in which job seekers have these types of tools at their disposal to assist them in their hunt. Be creative and consider ways to promote yourself that may be unconventional but effectively set you apart from the others in the market for your dream career.

First you should check out these ten rules that no longer apply when creating a resume, and edit your own accordingly. You then need to make sure your resume looks like an attractive document; for instance if it was sitting on your desk would you glance over it or would you pick it up? If you have trouble laying out your resume in an attractive fashion consider hiring a professional to draft it.

Every resume should have all your contact information at the top making it easy for an employer to get in contact with you through e-mail or a phone call. A common mistake that people make is putting a phone number, such as a home number, that is not exclusively your own. An employer does not want to leave a message with your significant other, or hear little children running around in the background. The same concept applies to your e-mail address. Create a professional one with your first and last name included.

Get to the point on your resume and don’t bore the reader with mundane facts about your personal life. Following this structure outline is a great start to creating a flawless resume. When formatting the final draft of your resume make sure you pay attention to detail; typos such as incorrect punctuation and misspelled words give a nasty first impression to the reader.

“A great resume doesn’t just tell a prospective employer what you have done but makes the same assertion that all good ads do: If you buy this product, you will get these specific, direct benefits. It convinces the employer that you have what it takes to be successful in this new position.”

A resume is your gateway into the any company, you need it to be an immaculate representation of yourself. The process of creating a flawless resume can seem overwhelming but with a little extra effort you can make your resume stand above the rest.

We hope this post this post finds you well on your way to a job you love, if you have any questions or comments feel free to post them and we will gladly respond.

Each cover letter should be tailored to go with a specific company. Do not make the mistake of creating a generic cover letter and attaching it to your resume, doing so shows lack of interest and plain laziness. You need to be willing to invest time and energy to formulate a directly targeted cover letter showing the hiring manager you are a legitimate prospect and not a desperate job seeker spamming out their resume to anyone who will take it.

The four main things that you should keep in mind when creating a cover letter are:

1. Research
2. Professionalism
3. Why me?
4. Format

Doing background research shows the employer that you have a genuine interest in their company! An easy start would be to research their website and do a quick google search. While doing that it’s a good idea to retain any excess information such as company history which could be useful during an interview, should you get one.

Keep the cover letter professional! Don’t use any crazy fonts or clipart. Keep it direct and to the point. Making it an eyesore to the reader will leave a nasty impression if they choose to read the entire thing. Format ties in here also. Research sample cover letters to give you an idea of how professional format looks.

After doing research go back and make an outline for yourself as to why you would be the ideal canidate for the avalible possition. This is a chance for you to expand on certain sections of your resume, but don’t get to wordy and try to expand on all of them–just the ones that are more so directly related to the specific job.

A cover letter gives your resume a boost, shows interest to the employer, and gives you a personality in your absense. Make sure all your effort that you put into your resume doesn’t go to waste by letting the cover letter fall by the wayside. For some examples of cover letters specific to your industry, be sure to check out our free sample cover letters on ResumeBucket.  Do everything in your power to get that job!

“Although today’s job market may be bleak, there are some bright spots if you know where to look. While   recessions hit some sectors hard, others go on like clockwork — or even experience growth.”

Be creative on how you approach looking for a new career. Apparently twitter is the new way to find jobs now. Stay ahead of the curve and get on networking websites because not all jobs are posted in the public sector. Your friend might not know of a job but your friend’s friend might know of an opening.

“Finding a job still requires networking skills – whether you are glad-handling potential bosses at a job fair in the city or following employees of the companies you want to work for on Twitter. It’s not about creating an “online brand” of yourself, but about using social networks to showcase or develop what you are already are doing in your life.”

Have you tried everything and still haven’t found that job? Rome wasn’t built in a day and your career won’t be either. It takes time and effort so work on it everyday and you will find a job. In the mean time, stay positive and focus on why the recession is good for you.

"Your resume here"

Times are obviously tough when folks with masters degrees are posting their resume in the middle window of the cab that they’re driving.  It’s both funny and sad; I don’t know Mr. Williamson, and I have no idea whether he’d be a good employee for a position in his desired career.  But I do know that he’s willing to do what it takes to make ends meet, and he’s definitely bold for posting his resume in his cab.

It just goes to show you, though: be creative when you’re promoting yourself, and you never know what will happen.  You might end up in an AP news feed =)

According to Wikipedia, multivariate testing is “a technique for testing hypotheses on complex multi-variable systems, especially used in testing market perceptions.”

If you don’t think that hoards of HR employees or office admins sorting through resume after resume is a “complex, multi-variable” system, think again.  You’re appealing to humans, the same way a product web site is trying to appeal to visitors.  You’ll never know what works best unless you try some different approaches.

Mixing Up Your Cover Letter

Whether it’s a separate attachment, the body of an email, or a cover page on your resume, the first thing a prospective employer will see is your cover letter.  So how do you make it count?

There are several variables, including:

• Your industry
• The type of company that you’re applying to (corporation, start-up, small business)
• Your experience level
• The public perception of the company
• What has worked for you in the past?

Don’t discount the last item — build off of your successes.  If you’ve had a lot of luck in the past getting interviews with formal cover letters, but not so much luck with friendly or personable ones, then figure out why the formal route has worked.  Is it because of your industry or the type of companies that you’ve applied to?  What perception did you have of the companies that interviewed you?  Did they seem relaxed or corporate?  Were they large corporations or small operations?

Start with what has worked.  And then make some variations.  Write ten different versions of your cover letter, and mix in different tactics:  slightly witty, confident, short and sweet, complimentary, excited, bold. Get some feedback from the people you respect to narrow your options down to 2 or 3, and continue to tweak.

Once you feel comfortable with your choices, move on to your resume.

How To Vary Your Resume

This can be a tough task for some people, especially those that do not have a lot of job searching experience.  What information should you include on your resume?  How much detail should you provide about your responsibilities at each position you’ve had?  Should you include references on your resume?  How many pages long should your resume be?

Start small.  Make an outline, and keep it simple at the beginning.  Stick to the primary sections of a resume:

Career goals, qualifications, experience, education, references.

Don’t waste any time tweaking your resume up front.  Wait until you complete these five steps before you spend any serious amount of time editing.  Don’t worry about typos, wording, styles, or anything else until you have some resumes to work with.

1. Create a solid, simple, visually attractive resume and save it as your first option, and then continue to build it out. 

2. Add each job title that you’ve held for each company that you worked for.  Save that as your second option. 

3. Add your responsiblities, in detail, to each job title.  Save that as your third option. 

4. Add every project of considerable size to your responsibilities, and save that as your fourth option.

5. Add your extra-curricular activities from college and/or high school, and save it as your fifth option.

At this point, you can go over each option and start tweaking.  Once you’re happy with your resumes, pass them along to your peers for review, and make the changes you see fit.

But I Don’t Work A Traditional Job

Actors send headshots with their resumes, designers send portfolios.  Mix these up.  Get a second set of headshots, or re-order your portfolio in a few different ways.  I don’t know what you’d send to NASA if you were applying for a job as a lead scientist, but I assure you it’s something more than a two page fact sheet about yourself.  No matter what you’re attaching to your resume, make sure there is some variation.

The Fun Part Begins: The Testing

Any statistical test requires a sample size.  This may mean applying for jobs in cities that you’ll never move to, or for jobs that you’d never take.  Your goal is to find out what works best for you.

Find at least 75 jobs related to your career, and email your cover letter and resume to each of them.  Keep track of them in a spreadsheet.  Select three cover letters and the version of your resume that you feel is the best fit for each.  Note which cover letter and resume you sent to each prospective employer in a column in your spreadsheet.  Send an even number of each pair.

Wait for feedback.  Any time you get a response, mark that row in your spreadsheet as a success.  If you get an interview, take it, even if you know you’re not taking the job.  This is practice!

At the end of your interviews, ask your point of contact what they liked or didn’t like about your cover letter or resume.  Get real feedback from people whose job it is to hire someone like you.  Make adjustments and start the process over.

What About Jobs That I’m Actually Interested In?

Apply for those, too!  After your first round of testing, you should have at least a general idea of what is working and what isn’t.  If option 1 netted 6 responses and the other two options netted less, go with option 1 for the jobs that interest you.  If each option resulted in a similar number of responses, spend the time to determine which of the options you think is best for each company that you apply to.

Most importantly, continue to get feedback.  Continue testing, even if you land a job.  Who knows if you’ll like it or if it will pan out? 

There’s no harm in sending your resume to prospective employers, even if you’re gainfully employed.  Knowing what works and what doesn’t for your industry will only help you when the time comes to find your next job.