Want to lose weight? Find a hot stock tip? Get a new job?

In these and most cases, we humans almost always seek out the newest advice.

We want the latest and freshest ideas. We crave novelty.

Yet … sometimes the best advice is also the oldest. Which may explain why the Bible, the I Ching and the Bhagavad-Gita have been in print and read around the world for thousands of years.

With that in mind, I’d like to share with you one old and one new way to find your next job faster …

1) Something Old: Win Friends and Get Hired

If you haven’t read the Dale Carnegie classic, “How to Win Friends & Influence People,” you should. It may be 70 years old, but its advice is timeless -- the equivalent of a master’s degree in human relations.

In it, Carnegie tells the story of one Charles T. Cubellis, who answered a help-wanted ad for a financial position on Wall Street. He mailed his reply and, a few days later, was invited to a job interview.

Before that interview, Cubellis spent hours in Wall Street finding out everything possible about the person who had founded the business. Later, during his interview, he said: “I should be mighty proud to be associated with an organization with a record like yours. I understand you started 28 years ago with nothing but a desk, a room and one stenographer. Is that true?”

Almost everyone likes to talk about themselves, and this employer was no exception.

He talked for at length about how he had started his business with just $450 and an idea. After weeks and months of toil, he finally built it into a successful venture. The employer was proud of his story and enjoyed telling it.

Finally, he questioned Mr. Cubellis briefly about his experience, then called in one of his vice presidents and said: “I think this is the person we are looking for.”

Now. How can this apply to your job search?

It behooves you to research your prospective employer, and show an interest in that employer and his/her problems. You may not always get hired, as our hero in Dale Carnegie’s book, but you will always -- always -- make a winning impression in every job interview if you can show an informed, intelligent interest in their business.

Here’s the best part: Thanks to the Internet, you won’t have to spend countless hours in your research, as Mr. Cubellis did so many years ago. Instead, you can uncover a treasure trove of data about your potential employers on sites like Zoominfo.com, Linkedin.com or Google.

2) Something New: Use MySpace To Get Interviews

OK, now here’s something from the 21st century -- how to find a job using MySpace.

(Unless your mailing address is: “A Cave, New Guinea,” you know that MySpace.com is the hottest social networking Web site around, especially among recent college grads.)

Last week I got an email from Karl Hass, a MySpace user in Minneapolis, who wrote:

“Today I posted a Bulletin about my job search to my MySpace account. All 215 of my friends could read it and I got dozens of responses, including a lead to a financial firm for a marketing position that I see as my dream job -- and the friend who gave me the tip happens to know the hiring manager.”

I immediately called Karl for more details.

It turns out MySpace lets you post “bulletins” to your profile that alert your connected friends. In Karl’s case, he wrote a short, simple bulletin that told friends about his job search and asked them to check with their employers for potential openings.

“It was faster than checking out employment web sites and filling out applications online. Everyone my age checks their MySpace profile at work,” so Karl was able to generate a total of three job leads in short order, he said.

So there you have it. One old tip and one very new. Try either -- or both -- and start getting more job offers today.

Posted by Steven Rothberg, CollegeRecruiter.com on October 29, 2006 at 3:50 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

What do employers want to see in your cover letter? That seems to be the question a lot of job seekers ask. Here are some basics that will help you start writing your cover letter and propel you into applying for new jobs. Ask yourself the following questions so that your job search is off to a good start.

What Job Are You Applying for Anyway?

It’s a basic step but sometimes it’s left out on a cover letter. The hiring manager is left to wonder what the cover letter and resume they have in their hand is for. If they have to guess, then you can forget about getting a call for an interview. They are too busy to spend that much time on one candidate.

Include the job you’re applying for towards the beginning of the cover letter. You could even make it a header to your letter. Make it apparent so the hiring manager doesn’t have to spend time looking for it.

Can You Fulfill Their Requirements?

If you’re applying for an advertising position, don’t go and talk about what great administrative skills you have. You have to demonstrate how you meet their requirements. If the job posting says they require a four-year degree and you only have a two-year degree, don’t mention it at all. Let your strengths speak for you instead.

As you review the posting, take note of what you can specifically point out to the reader. You don’t want to mention every point, but if there’s something unique about the position and you either have the experience, training or skills that suit that job to a tee, then you should make a point to mention it in your cover letter.

How Can They Reach You?

Make your contact information easily accessible. Include it in your header and your closing paragraph as well. Some even suggest adding your phone number below your signature. You want to be sure that when an employer is so impressed by your cover letter package that they just have to call you for an interview, they don’t get frustrated looking for a phone number or email address.

How Professional Are You?

How you present yourself on paper speaks volumes about who you are as a professional. Are their typos? Is the format correct? Do you have too much white space? Not enough? All of these little things add up to a very important impression on the employer.

Of course, these are just very broad aspects of your cover letter that you should include. However simple as these may seem, they are vital to getting interviews. If you overlook the obvious, then the employers will obviously overlook you.

Heather Eagar is a former professional resume writer and owner of http://www.CoverLettersMadeEasy.com who is now dedicated to providing job seekers with resources and products that promote job search success from beginning to end.

Posted by Heather Eagar on October 26, 2006 at 9:55 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

It happens. You get all pumped up to look for a new job, get your resume and cover letter all spruced up and then…nothing. How do you put the excitement back in your job search?

Remember Why You’re Job Hunting

It’s easy to forget why you felt it was important to look for a job in the first place. You get in a ‘job search grind’ and can’t seem to muster up the enthusiasm you had when you first started job hunting.

So how do you get some of that ‘I want a better job’ attitude back? Remember what you don’t like about your current job. Are there specific tasks or responsibilities that you don’t want in a new job? Do you want to come home energized from the day and wanting to spend some quality time with your family instead of being completely deflated and in a bad mood?

Then picture yourself in the job that you want. That you really want. Think about what you would do in a new position and how that makes you feel. Does it get your adrenaline pumping with excitement? Hold onto that feeling.

The Monday Blues

You know what I’m talking about. It’s Sunday night and you get this lump in the pit in the bottom of your stomach just thinking about going to work the next morning. It doesn’t have to be that way. You honestly can be in a job and career that you enjoy and believe in.

So when you feel a lack of enthusiasm for your job search, remember that you’re searching for an end to the workweek dread. Life is entirely too short to have a job that leaves you feeling anxious. Get out there and find a job that makes you feel good about yourself and look forward to each new week.

Picture Your Life in a New Job

Being in a career that you enjoy can enrich your life more than you can imagine. You’re healthier, your stress levels decrease and you’re relationships can improve dramatically. If you’re pleasant to be around, then people will be drawn to you.

Maybe money is part of your incentive of finding a new job. So you can imagine what you would do with a nice raise, incentive or bonus. Pay off some debt? Buy something you haven’t been able to afford? Need to save for your kid’s college tuition? Whatever the case may be, envision it and make it happen.

Your job search may not be the most exciting event that you’ll go through but it is one of the most important. The more psyched you are, the more energy you’ll have to look through job postings and send out your resume package. If you get bored with the whole process, your job search success could suffer. So keep your eye on the prize and you’ll reach your goals more quickly and easily.

Heather Eagar is a former professional resume writer and owner of http://www.JobSearchMasters.com who is now dedicated to providing job seekers with resources and products that promote job search success from beginning to end.

Posted by Heather Eagar on October 19, 2006 at 4:01 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

You’re really doing it. You’re going back into the rat race. After being out of the workforce for a couple of months - or even several years - it’s time to jump back in with both feet. But how do you do it?

I Can Do It

That’s your mantra for your job search. You’re concerned – even intimidated – by all those people out there who have a stellar work-record. But you know what? You have something special and unique that you can bring to an employer. That is what you have to remember throughout this whole process. You have to have confidence in yourself so that others will have confidence in you as well.

By all accounts, job seekers with a picture-perfect employment history do tend to have an advantage over you. Their resumes may be better received than those who are re-entering the workforce or are changing careers. But just because they may have an edge, doesn’t mean you can’t create your own.

Explain What You’ve Been Doing

This might seem like a very simple step, but oftentimes job seekers are afraid to address their employment gap in their resume package. However, if you ignore it, then the employer is left to fill in the gaps…usually not to the benefit of the job seeker.

In your cover letter, briefly explain why you’ve been unemployed. No need to go into great detail, but you should address it. While you’re at it, you can tell them what you’ve been doing with your ‘time off’ and how you’ve been constantly trying to improve yourself and enhance your skills. You’ve been doing this, right?

A Different Format May Be Necessary

Employers are used to seeing resumes in a certain format. When they see it differently, a red flag might go up. Why? Because it’s often a sign of a less-than-perfect work history. That’s okay. You can overcome that. Conduct a brainstorming session with yourself and write down all your skills and achievements. That is going to be your biggest challenge. It can be from past work history, what you’ve done while unemployed, or a combination of both. Then grab a couple of resume samples you can look at for help with formatting.

Interview as a Professional

Even if you’re a mom going back to work after several years, you have to leave that persona behind. The minute you speak to someone – via phone or in person – about a job, you are a job seeker in the professional world.

Interviewing is nerve-wracking even for job seekers who go through them every couple of years. It can be downright frightening for those who are returning to the workforce. One of the reasons for this is the lack of practice. Another one is lack of confidence. Sometimes, if you practice, practice, practice, the confidence will follow because you know you can present yourself in a professional manner and answer all those tough interview questions that are bound to be asked.

So for you job seekers going back to work, congratulations! You are embarking on a new chapter of your life. View it is a positive event, prepare yourself and your resume package and you just might find going back to work is an extremely satisfying and rewarding experience.

Heather Eagar is a former professional resume writer and owner of http://www.MomsBacktoWork.com who is now dedicated to providing job seekers with resources and products that promote job search success from beginning to end.

Posted by Heather Eagar on October 12, 2006 at 6:22 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Business protocol dictates that your resume be accompanied by a cover letter. Your cover letter is your introduction - the compelling reason for employers and recruiters to read on through your resume. Here are some tips for writing a cover letter that does its job.

DO...

Personalize your cover letter. Avoid 'To whom it may concern' or 'Dear Sir/Madam' whenever possible. If possible find out the person’s name; call the company. If there's only a fax number and no title for the person to whom it is going, then you probably have no choice.

Write a compelling cover letter that makes recruiters want to read on. Don't make it a repeat of what you wrote in your resume. .

Be brief and quickly make a strong point. The individual reading your cover letter will scan, not study it.

Highlight pertinent information and provide relevant data that may not be covered in you your resume. In fact, if you see an advertisement that requires certain skills or experience you have, but it's not strongly emphasized in your resume, this is the place to tout it.

Be positive and confident. Let them know how you'll make a valuable contribution or be a real asset to the company.

Make sure you tell them where and when to reach you.

Let them know that if you don’t hear from them by a certain date you'll follow up with a call to schedule an appointment.

Match the cover letter and envelope paper to the resume when mailing. It makes a better presentation.

PROOFREAD, PROOFREAD, PROOFREAD!!!!!!!!!!!!

DON’T...

Rewrite your resume in your cover letter, that is what the resume is for.

Bore the reader. Make your point in the fewest words possible..

Hand-write the letter if possible. After-all, this is a business letter. Use a printer or typewriter.

Use first names; Mr. or Ms. is more appropriate.

Forget to sign the letter.

Use a company e-mail address. You never know who is reading your e-mail. Avail yourself of the many free e-mail service on the Internet (yahoo.com, mail.com, etc.).

Posted by ResumePro on October 11, 2006 at 7:14 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

There’s no doubt about it, your resume is an important tool in your job search. It is a door-opener that can lead to interviews and job offers. Often it is your first chance to make a positive impression on people who can give you advice, assistance, and referrals. And it must convey all of your skills and qualifications in a powerful yet concise manner. That’s a lot of expectations for one or two sheets of paper!

How can you keep your resume from being drab, dull, ho-hum, weak, or boring? Follow these expert secrets and you will have a resume that is accurate, credible, and professional while communicating your true value and worth to an employer.

1. Be specific. When describing your job activities, include examples of specific things you have done that have been valuable to your organization. Be brief with general statements and generous with stories and examples. Your resume will be more credible and more powerful because you can back up your statement of qualifications.

Here’s an example. “Contributed strategies to increase customer loyalty and drive revenue growth” — tell the specific story: “Developed monthly customer focused newsletter providing investment advice and trading strategies. Increased trading activity and generated significant referral business that added 11% incremental business in 2004 and directly contributed to record year.”

2. Add numbers. As you can see in the previous example, it’s important to document your successes by measuring results. This is how you know your efforts were successful. Take a look at the various aspects of your job and see if you can show an improvement, then add numbers or percentages that are proof of your capabilities.

Every organization has criteria for success. Find out what matters to your organization, then document how you have helped them to be successful. Consider these areas of measurement that are meaningful to most companies:
* Revenue or sales growth
* Profit increase
* Cost control
* Efficiency improvement
* Productivity increase
* Waste reduction
* Activity increase
* Market-share growth
* Decrease in competition

3. Let your personality shine through. Your resume should be as unique as you are. One way to do that is by including your specific stories, as discussed above. Another is to share information about how you achieve results. Do you do it by persuading or convincing others? By inspiring your team? By sheer hard work and dogged persistence? Mention these kinds of traits in your stories and in your Summary/Introduction, and you will have a resume that is like nobody else’s.

Consider the difference:
(A) * Gained more than $400,000 in new business.
(B) * Relentlessly cold-called every new business start-up in the county, making as many as 20 cold calls per day for six weeks. As a result, gained more than $400,000 in new business — more than twice as much as any other sales rep in the office.

Here’s another example:
(A) * Led successful membership drive that met all chapter goals for new pledges.
(B) * Provided inspirational leadership to a dedicated membership team. Gained their support for new ways of approaching pledges; kept spirits high during intense three-week pledge period that often involved 12-hour days. Achieved 100% of membership goals for the first time in 8 years.

Most job seekers make the mistake of including too much detail about job duties in their resumes. Keep in mind, job duties are the same for anyone who holds that job. What makes you unique are the activities and achievements you contributed while you held that job.

Employers want to know that you will be successful working for them. What better way to prove it than by sharing stories that are specific, filled with hard proof (numbers), and indicate how you achieved your results?

Posted by ResumePro on October 6, 2006 at 10:06 AM | Leave a Comment (1)

Like all cover letters, business cover letters follow certain norms – such as introducing who you are and what you are looking for in a particular position. But if this were all there was to writing one, there wouldn’t be much else included. So, writing a business cover letter simply boils down to following some down-to-earth, common-sense principles.

For one, cover letters must be composed on high quality bond paper. Next, they must be devoid of typos and grammatical errors. Always include your contact details at the top of the letter, matching that of your resume. Include your street address, phone number and email (important!) so that they can reach you when it is time. Don’t forget to insert the date below the contact information.

The "Three Paragraph Rule" Of Cover Letters

Cover letters should be limited to three paragraphs unless there is a strong reason for extending it beyond this. If you go beyond the "three paragraph rule", you risk boring the reader, who must also actually get to your resume and read it also. Recruiters and employers are notoriously short on time. So you want to get to the point quickly and interest them at the same time.

The three sections/paragraphs form the actual letter, which is where you should concentrate to give the letter your best shot. Generally, many candidates lack knowledge of what to write, which eventually results in unnecessarily long letters. The three sections are the opening, body and closing paragraphs - in that order. The opening section/paragraph should begin with a greeting and limit itself to the position that you are applying for. It should give the reference number or advertisement reference if you are responding to an advertisement – don't make the employer wonder how you came to apply for the job.

Dedicate the second paragraph to giving your key qualifications, work experience, your background and suitability to the job in question. This can include bullet points as well. Close the letter in the last paragraph with a pleasant note setting the option for following up later – better yet, take the initiative and say that you will contact them in x days. End the letter with a thank you and your signature. As you can see, it is imperative that you use the second paragraph to make your point, and make it quickly.

Eliminate Errors

You should proofread the cover letter at least 2-3 times, eliminating the possibility of typographical and grammatical errors. It sounds rather elementary, but you will be surprised at how many candidates simply don't do this. The perfect cover letter is drafted by 2-3 attempts and is free from punctuation and spelling errors – the job killers. The great part is, you can always use the first letter as a template for writing subsequent letters for similar positions.

Writing a business cover letter isn't difficult when you have simple rules to follow. Stick to the rules above and you'll soon be writing cover letters that get attention – and results.

Heather Eagar is a former professional resume writer and owner of www.NothingbutCoverLetters.com who is now dedicated to providing job seekers with resources and products that promote job search success from beginning to end.

Posted by Heather Eagar on October 5, 2006 at 8:29 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

No matter how popular and how easy it is to apply for jobs online, the vast majority of people still find jobs the old-fashioned way: by talking to people they know and making personal connections to people who can hire them.

Don’t believe it? According to a 2002 New York Times survey, 64% of people found their jobs through networking. Only 15% credited either the Internet (4%) or ads (11%) for their jobs. If this news surprises you, then it’s time to put your network strategy into high gear — and devote most of your energy to the methods that really work.

What is networking?

Networking is nothing more than talking to people. When you’re looking for a job, you should talk to anyone and everyone who can give you ideas, leads, suggestions, and referrals. You should not expect that most people you talk to will have real job leads, but everyone you connect with can refer you to one, two, or more people, and the cycle goes on. Your goal is to build a knowledge and support system that will eventually lead you to the right person at the right time.

What should you tell your contacts?

What you say and how you say it is important. You will need to prepare and practice your message so that it is clear, concise, and lets people know how they can help you.

* Keep your introduction to 90 seconds tops. Longer than that, and you risk losing the interest of your audience at this early stage in the conversation.
* Don’t recite your entire biography. Give your listeners just enough information so they understand what kind of work you do, what you’re really good at, and what kind of companies and opportunities you’re interested in.
* Be sure you tell them what you need. Are you looking for an introduction at a specific company? Do you need some industry information? Do you want to tap into an alumni group or nonprofit organization? Be specific so your listeners will understand how they can help you.

Follow up on every lead.

If your contacts have been helpful enough to give you some names and phone numbers, be certain you follow up quickly and professionally, even if at heart you don’t think the referrals have much value. For one thing, you never know — perhaps your contact’s cousin has an “in” with your target company. For another, it’s good etiquette, and you’ll be able to go back to your contact for more help only if you’ve done as he or she suggested.

Get organized.

Networking involves lots of names, phone numbers, and cross-connections. Set up a good system so you can accurately track how you got someone’s name and how that person is connected to others in your network. Take notes every time you talk with someone, and schedule your follow-up activities on your calendar so you don’t forget.

Keep your contacts in the loop.

Periodically, send a brief status report to your network. At that point you might be able to ask for more help with a new, specific request. As long as you are polite, professional, and never ask for something your contacts can’t provide (like a job), your phone calls and emails will be welcomed.

Let people help you.

A lot of job seekers are hesitant to reach out to their network and, beyond that, to strangers they’re referred to. For some reason, it’s much easier to give help than to ask for it! Understandably, you don’t want to be a bother. But put yourself in your contact’s shoes. Wouldn’t you be willing to spend a few minutes trying to help a friend or the friend of a friend? Don’t you get a lot of pleasure from helping others? It’s best to get over your reluctance and open yourself up to the help that others want to give. You’ll probably be pleasantly surprised by how helpful and generous people are – whether your own friends and colleagues or people you don’t even know. This discovery is one of the true joys of networking – and once you experience it, you will certainly be a helpful network contact for your friends as soon as you land your next job.

Posted by ResumePro on October 5, 2006 at 8:02 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Follow these three simple steps to negotiate a higher level of pay in your current job.

1. Get Ready

Before marching into your boss’s office, arm yourself with some critical information.

Start by doing some research into comparable salaries. This data will help both you and your boss understand your true market value and the cost to replace you should you leave. Two good salary-research sites are collegerecruiter.salary.com and www.payscale.com – there are many more, and you should check several because you’ll find wide variations in the results.

Another way to gather general salary data is to review online job postings. You can also ask friends and relatives about pay ranges for professionals like you at their companies.

Of course, your company isn’t interested in paying you based on what everybody else is making, what you need, or what you think you deserve but rather on your value to the company. To provide credible, factual evidence of that value, you need to document what you’ve accomplished.

Pull out your accomplishment file, performance evaluations, and other documentation that will help you recall what you’ve done for the company in the last weeks, months, and years. Write up brief summaries of your activities along with the specific benefits and results – including hard numbers wherever possible. For greatest impact, tie your accomplishments to strategic company initiatives and goals.

Finally, based on comparable salary data, your level of responsibility, and the value you’ve delivered, set a compensation range that you think is fair. Also think about other perks and benefits you might ask for - this approach can be particularly effective at companies that have rigid salary structures and inflexible review periods.

2. Get Set

Mental preparation is key to a salary discussion that is positive and professional. Your preparation will build your confidence; now it’s time to make sure you are going in with the right attitude.

Banish any thought of demanding a raise, complaining that you’re underpaid, or comparing yourself to others in your department or at your company. You won’t win points by acting entitled or getting angry or emotional. Don’t bring up what you need or any personal situations that have strapped your finances. This is a business issue, and your goal is to stay focused and keep the discussion on a positive note.

Now, mentally prepared and confident, tell your boss you’d like to schedule some time to review your goals for the coming period. Do not tell him or her you are going to ask for a raise, and don’t say you want a performance review. Schedule a meeting in a quiet place.

3. Go

At the meeting, spell out what you plan to accomplish for the coming period, and get your boss’s agreement to these goals before moving on. Express enthusiasm and excitement for where the company’s going and how you’re going to help it get there.

Next, review what you’ve contributed in the last several months or even longer. Recap your accomplishments, being sure to stress the hard numbers and results. Again, before proceeding, get your boss to agree that these are the most important things you’ve done.

Now it’s time to ask for the raise. Reiterate that you are proud of what you’ve accomplished in the past and excited about the future. But you believe your compensation should be adjusted upward – to reflect increased responsibility, above-and-beyond performance, or significant contribution to company goals.

Then stop talking and let your boss react and respond. By preparing in advance, you should be ready to counter most objections with facts and figures, not anger, emotion, or defensiveness. And remember, in all negotiations it’s best to let the other party state a number first.

Above all, don’t let the discussion get contentious. Don’t threaten to quit. And don’t issue any kind of ultimatum. It’s likely your boss won’t agree to anything right then and there. Thank him or her for listening and establish the expectation and timing for follow-up. Then go write a brief memo summarizing the meeting, send it to your boss, and pursue the matter as diligently and professionally as you would any business issue.

With a businesslike and fact-based approach, you stand a good chance of getting something (if not everything) you want and will preserve your relationship with your boss. Regardless of what you negotiate, don’t let it affect your performance. After all you can use your fresh accomplishment summaries to update your resume and look for a better-paying job!

Posted by ResumePro on October 4, 2006 at 6:59 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Every job seeker on the planet has experienced the agony of waiting to hear – about a job, an interview, a key contact, a next step in the selection process. These guidelines will help you minimize the waiting without antagonizing your contacts.

Set the expectation. At the end of every meeting, clarify the next step and the expectation for follow-up. “Great, I’ll look forward to your call on Friday. If I don’t hear from you, may I check in on Monday?” With this approach, you’ll feel confident on Monday that your call won’t be viewed as intrusive.

Keep the ball in your court. Whenever possible, rather than waiting for someone else to take action, take the initiative to pursue a contact or expedite a process. Busy executives will appreciate it, and you’ll be assured that progress is being made toward your important goal of finding a new job. For example, if a network contact promises to pass your resume on to a colleague, you might say, “I know you’re busy, so I’ll be glad to save you a step and get in touch directly. May I use your name?”

Don’t be demanding. No matter how impatient, frustrated, or angry at a lack of response, never let negative emotions show in a voice mail, email, or person-to-person message. If your contacts feel uncomfortable when hearing from you, they’ll be less and less inclined to take your calls.

Follow up with a purpose. Of course you can simply call to follow up on a prior message or letter, but why not find a better reason to get in touch with your contact. Can you supply a bit of information on a topic you discussed? Share a news story or an idea? Refer him or her to someone who can help with a specific problem? With this approach, you’ll call with confidence.

Never ask for something your contacts can’t give. Remember, you want your call to be cordial, friendly, helpful, and professional at all times. If you ask for something your contacts can’t give, such as a job, they’ll feel guilty and uncomfortable when hearing from you.

And what about the protocol for following up when you haven’t had a meeting or even a conversation? You’ve sent your resume in response to an ad, and now you want to know if you’re in the running. Here is a strategy for this kind of follow-up call.

Try calling early or late in the day (before 8 am and after 5 pm) to improve the odds that your quarry will pick up the phone.

Leave a polished, positive message. Practice in advance so you can perform beautifully whether you reach a live voice or get routed to voice mail. Preparation will boost your confidence in making these difficult but critical follow-up calls.

Don’t leave your number or ask your target to call you back. Sounds contradictory, doesn’t it? But remember, you want to keep the burden off your contact and the ball in your court. Instead, leave a brief message and indicate you’ll call back “tomorrow at 8:30 a.m.” Then be sure you call precisely as promised, and repeat the process until (a) you give up; (b) you reach your target; or (c) your target calls you. (This happens much more often than you think, even if you didn’t leave your number.)

Decide how many times you’ll follow up before giving up. For many job seekers, once is more than enough. But chances are, your target is simply busy, and returning your call never reaches the top of the “to do” list. Consider persisting for four or five times, leaving a brief message each time, before you give up.

Most importantly, when calling any contact during your job search have a clear message about who you are, the value you offer, why you’re calling, and how (specifically) they can help you. This clarity will help your contacts to help you as best they can and will give you confidence when you pick up the phone. And that’s half the battle, ensuring that you approach your calls with an upbeat tone and a positive attitude.

Marty Weitzman, NCRW, CPRW, RPBC
ResumePro

Posted by ResumePro on October 2, 2006 at 8:36 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

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How Email Can Get You Fired.
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Jobseekers are increasingly searching the Internet during paid business hours. Making matters worse is that these same jobseekers are using a business email; have it listed within their resume; register for new accounts and send inquiries using it. Employers are forced to crack down on daytime surfing. Job searching while on company time is reason for an immediate dismissal. The other obvious problem that jobseekers likely haven’t considered is the impression using a company email has on the new company receiving the resume. Teena Rose, a resume professional with Resume to Referral.

Posted by Leading Resume Service for New Graduates, Students on October 1, 2006 at 9:29 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

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Posting to Job Boards: Smart Move or Foolish Practice?
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A recent survey conducted by Bullhorn Software indicated that 85% of recruiters use job boards to source for candidates. With that said, posting your resume to job boards can significantly increase your rate of return. Throwing your document into a “sea of resumes” may seem useless, however, it only takes one “shark” to find you. Think of taking your resume submission one step further by submitting to boards that target your position or industry. Latest career tip provided by Teena Rose, a resume-writing professional with Resume to Referral.

Posted by Leading Resume Service for New Graduates, Students on October 1, 2006 at 9:17 PM | Leave a Comment (0)