Following is a guest post from Adrienne Carlson who writes for ExecutiveMBAPrograms.org If you want to read the post on that site click here.

Unlike Facebook and the like, LinkedIn is strictly a social network for professionals with over 48 million members in over 200 countries. Working like a sophisticated online business card, members from those new to the workforce all they way to CEO's of Fortune 500 companies utilize the free service. However, there is a right and wrong way to do it, and below are the top ten rules of LinkedIn Etiquette for Business professionals.

Continue reading "Ten Rules of LinkedIn Etiquette for Business Professionals" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on October 28, 2009 at 10:19 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Okay, so by default, I weave guidance into my in-depth resume writing processes that smacks of coaching. Recently, Recruiting Animal (@Animal) took note of this in his blog post: "The Resume Writer."

However, today, I beg to differentiate myself: I am a word wrangler, message clarifier and career story teller (i.e., resume writer) - not a career coach. At the end of the day, my clients hire me for the influential 'words' that erupt from the virtual and literal pages that we create, for the words that spring from their lips during job interviews, networking conversations or when caught unaware in casual conversation.

As well, my job as a career writer is to push, prod, ask the reporter's 'who, what, where, when and why' questions, drive for deeper understanding of where the job seeker has been and even more importantly, provide them the spade to unearth their unique value drivers that help define where they want to go!

Continue reading "I'm not a career coach, and that's okay" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on October 22, 2009 at 2:46 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

For inside information on how HR personnel work, think, and operate I thought you all might find this interesting. This is out of Australia but wildly similar to what we do here.

Employers today understand that productive employees are the cornerstone of any successful business. Therefore, when a new team member comes on board it is vital that they participate in an Employee Induction Program. Why?

An Employee Induction Plan 'Sets the Scene'

An effective Employee Induction System showcase's the company's history, its mission statement, the direction its heading, company policies, training programs, and the culture within the organisation.

Continue reading "What are the 9 Components of a Successful Employee Induction Programme?" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on September 23, 2009 at 2:26 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

I just found a new website today that is still in it's "Beta" phase called JobSpeaker. It is a site that lets job seekers rate recruiters and find out more information about recruiters, career coaches, and others in the industry. It also appears that both employers and recruiters will be able to post information for job seekers. It's still a new site but if it really takes off I think it could be really helpful to job seekers. It kind of reminds me of Yelp but limited only to the job search/recruiting universe.

Article by Liz Handlin and courtesy of Ultimate Resumes

Posted by Candice Arnold on August 20, 2009 at 10:03 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Do you want to drive a recruiter or resume writer crazy? Then be sure and give long rambling monologues as answers to simple questions. Just like in the movie, "Dragnet", resume writers and recruiters are looking for. "Just the facts, ma'am".

If you hire a resume writer you should be prepared for an interview (some use questionnaires instead of personal interviews) in which you will be asked questions like "what kind of budget did you manage", "how many employees did you manage", "what was the scope of your job", and "what did you accomplish in the job". And of course, we need metrics to demonstrate that you achieve what you say you did. Those are the facts and that is the information that we need to help you create a great resume and to prepare for job interviews.

What we don't need are diatribes about how unfairly the company treated you. We don't need to hear the entire company history and how some minor aspect of that relates to how you were hired 20 years ago. We don't need to hear excuses for why you didn't keep any records of your sales numbers or sales quotas 10 years ago.

Continue reading "Just The Facts Please" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on August 3, 2009 at 8:51 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

There is a lot of talk these days about how job seekers can "market themselves" and "build a personal brand" and, a phrase I often use, "communicate their value proposition." All of this can sound intimidating when you're faced with finding a job in a tough job market. Believe me I know - I've been there. I've been thinking about this a lot after seeing a really great concert last week. The artist in question is a young Scottish singer-songwriter who is currently touring the US. His name is Paolo Nutini and his music is hard to describe because his latest album is an eclectic mix of reggae, bluegrass, acoustic folky stuff, a little bit of rock ... And as a performer, he's even harder to sum up.

He's not fashionably dressed. He's a terrible dancer. He spends most of the show hunched over in an odd posture, and he rarely makes eye contact with the audience - in fact he spent most of his New York concert with his eyes closed. So weird is his performance style that one woman mistakenly thought he had been drinking. I overheard her telling her friend 'I would have enjoyed it a lot better if he hadn't been so drunk.' And yet the show was magnetic! It was the most fun I've had at a concert in a long, long time. Why? I think it's because the music and the performance was just absolutely 100% authentic. Paolo was completely in tune with his songs and he and his band exuded joy.
That joy was magnified by an audience that felt the authenticity and returned it. More and more I am working on capturing this spirit when working with my clients.

When I first started resume writing, I did it like everyone else. I wrote resumes the way I saw everyone else do it. My resumes were good, but could have come from 10 other resume writing services. But now that's not the case. Because instead of trying to squeeze my clients' histories into a template, I am focusing on their individuality. On what makes them authentically different from everyone else. And, having identified their unique personal value, I'm structuring the resume to fully communicate it. It makes my job much more fun than it used to be, and results in resumes that can't help but stand out from the rest. If you're currently looking for work, take a long look at your resume and cover letters and see if they capture what's uniquely 'you.'

Article by, Louise Fletcher and courtesy of CareerHub.com. The Career Hub blog connects job seekers with experts in career counseling, resume writing, personal branding and recruiting.

Posted by Candice Arnold on July 27, 2009 at 9:43 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Normally I tend to write blog posts that attempt to be positive and informative. This is not one of those posts so if that is what you are looking for you should probably skip this one because it's a bit of a rant.

Do you remember that line in the movie, "Pretty Woman," when Richard Gere, driving his friend's Lotus, gets lost in Hollywood and asks a prostitute, played by Julia Roberts, for directions? She told him it would cost $20 for directions. He was shocked and outraged by the high price for directions and asked Julia Roberts how she could charge him just to point him in the right direction. Her response was, "Well, I ain't the one who is lost now am I?" Sometimes that is what I feel like saying to potential clients who try to negotiate a lower resume writing fee, question what I charge to write a resume, or just plain lie about the amount of experience they have. I feel like many people just don't understand the skill and time it takes to create a great resume and, therefore, undervalue the price of a really good writer.

I have had it with clients and/or potential clients who misrepresent the amount of experience they have in order to qualify for a lower resume rewriting fee. It's ridiculous, disrespectful, and rude. Don't they realize that I am going to figure it out once I start interviewing them?

Continue reading "I Don't Owe You Anything." »

Posted by Candice Arnold on July 21, 2009 at 7:23 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

I have recently heard about some really interesting online job search resources and tools that I thought might be helpful to job seekers.

15 Second Pitch is a free website that guides you through the creation of a 500 word pitch for you/ your services. I think this is a great tool for any job seeker because you need to have your elevator pitch ready whenever someone asks you why they should hire you. I heard about this tool from Susan Ireland and posted my 500 word pitch in the comments section of her blog as did many other people if you want to see what others' pitches look like.

Alliance Q is a job board created by and for large corporations. Don't put your resume on Monster if you want to work for ADP, Hewitt, or Avery Denison to name a few. Post your resume on Alliance Q instead.

I recently met a CPA/VP Finance job seeker who swears by RiteSite as a job search tool. I gave it a cursory glance but don't know much about the site. One thing he liked about it was that you can create resumes without your name on it that are searchable by recruiters so if you don't want your employer to know you are looking you can get your resume posted anonymously.

Liz Ryan recently wrote a post on Yahoo! Savvy Networker and I wish I had written it myself. She listed some key phrases to NOT include on your resume. And these are:

• Results-oriented professional
• Cross-functional teams
• More than [x] years of progressively responsible experience
• Superior (or excellent) communication skills
• Strong work ethic
• Met or exceeded expectations
• Proven track record of success
• Works well with all levels of staff
• Team player
• Bottom-line orientation

And finally, I want to address Video Resumes which haven't really taken off but some companies pitch to job seekers. While I can appreciate the benefits of a video resume for some people I can't imagine busy recruiters taking the time to load and watch a bunch of videos when its faster to just skim resumes. Also I read an interesting article about the legal pitfalls of video resumes which makes it pretty clear that if recruiters at large corporations listen to their attorneys they won't be watching video resumes to make hiring decisions.

Article by Liz Handlin and courtesy of Ultimate Resumes

Posted by Candice Arnold on July 16, 2009 at 2:43 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Once you embark upon a job search your resume, perhaps previously gathering dust in a file drawer, will become the most important document you own. Job seekers have a tendency to show everyone they know a copy of their resume; many of them seem to weigh each opinion equally and continuously edit the resume based on the most recent "great advice" they have been given.

It seems like everyone has an opinion about what you need to do to create a good resume. In fact, if you do a quick Google search you will find that there is no shortage of resume writers in this country. If you look in your local yellow pages you will also probably find "resume writers" who a really typists who can format information for you. So, whose opinion counts when it comes to resumes? How do you know if you are getting good advice or not?

Continue reading "Who Should You Listen to for Resume Advice?" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on July 1, 2009 at 4:59 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Boy, its been awhile since I posted. I have been extremely busy and have really let the blog slide so I need to get back on track!

I just got a new puppy, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel whom I named Oliver. He is so adorable and sweet. He spends most of his day keeping me company on a pillow that I have placed next to the computer on my desk. When he isn't sleeping he is running around the house, playing with my other dogs, exploring, sitting on laps, and generally spreading joy and fun wherever he goes. As I watch him grow and learn it occurred to me that adult humans can learn a thing or two from puppies.

1. If you fall down, get back up and keep going.

Oliver is very quick and spry; sometimes I don't even hear or see him coming until he has smashed into a door I am opening. The other day he ran head-on into a door just as I was opening it. I don't know how he didn't get a concussion. He didn't cry or whine. He just got up, wagged his tail and followed me out the door. As we get older I think most of us indulge ourselves in some time to complain or be upset about things that go wrong - maybe we should try to bounce right up and keep going instead of wasting precious time feeling sorry for ourselves. Easier said than done of course.

Continue reading "5 Things Humans Can Learn From Puppies" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on June 26, 2009 at 6:19 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

This post by Michael at Human Race Horses makes an argument that I hear often. In these days of social media and web-based job search, can a resume really do the job? Michael thinks not:

Another personal reason for wanting to kill my resume is that in looking at this little historical snapshot from so long ago - slightly over two years - it is really shocking to realize that it does nothing to communicate anything at all about me that I would want to put out if I were job searching. It doesn't effectively reflect: * extensive skills in social media * knowledge and expertise of Hr and how it applies to today's work environment * research skills, especially deep skills on the net * networking * blogging, writing and thought leadership

He wonders then whether he shouldn't scrap his resume in favor of online profiles where he can better communicate these skills. But this is the part of the 'resume is dead' argument that I don't understand.

Continue reading "Is the Resume Dead?" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on June 9, 2009 at 1:55 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the word gracious means "marked by kindness and courtesy; marked by tact and delicacy; characterized by charm, good taste, generosity of spirit, and the tasteful leisure of wealth and good breeding."

At times I am shocked and appalled by the lack of graciousness that some people demonstrate and at other times I am just as surprised when someone is unexpectedly polite, kind, or generous. I hope that I am always gracious and well mannered to everyone I know but I have no doubt that I make mistakes sometimes when I am in a hurry or not just not paying attention. I think that being well mannered and kind pays dividends in every part of your life and, certainly, when you are searching for a job.

Continue reading "Are You Gracious?" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on May 12, 2009 at 11:55 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Thinking about your prospects for landing that new job? You should think first about what your former boss and other references will say about you. While many employees believe that a former employer can't, or won't say anything negative about them, Allison & Taylor, Inc. says they might be unpleasantly surprised at the truth...

Isn't it corporate policy that an employer will only confirm the dates and title of employment?

Allison & Taylor, Inc. has found (since their inception in 1984) - that most managers and HR representatives will ultimately offer them some information about former employees beyond the normal purview of confirming dates and titles of employment. Note that there is absolutely nothing illegal about A&T's consultants asking your references for additional input on their employment experience with you.

How common is it that past bosses will badmouth former employees?

Over 50% of the reference checks we conduct come back as negative in scope (sometimes, significantly negative). Clearly, many of our clients have lost good job offers due to bad or mediocre comments from previous employers.

I have a separation agreement with my previous employer saying that neither of us will say negative things about the other. Should I have any cause for concern?

Having such an agreement in place is no guarantee that your previous employer will necessarily honor it. Unfortunately, we have seen countless instances where prior employers did not honor their written agreement with their employees.

This information was submitted to Ultimate Resumes by Jeff Shane, Vice President of Allison & Taylor, the nation's oldest professional employment verification and reference checking firm. If you want to find out more about their services contact www.allisontaylor.com or 800-651-2470.

Article by Liz Handlin and courtesy of Ultimate Resumes

Posted by Candice Arnold on April 17, 2009 at 9:29 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Interview followup starts even before the end of the interview and not with the thank you letter. This is necessary so that you are well prepared to make your follow up moves. You can start the process during the end of the interview when you are given the chance to ask any questions. Some of the questions you can ask are

• By when will you make a decision of hiring?
• How many more candidates do you expect to interview?
• Do you need any additional information to get a complete picture of my suitability?

You also end the interview confidently not only thanking him but also explain why you are the right person for this job.

Review the interview as part of interview followup

It is best to review the interview within 24 hours. Ask yourself: Where did you succeed? Where did you fail? What will you do differently next time? Seek feedback from members of your network. These could include headhunters, career consultant, your contact within the company etc.

Thank you letter

The follow-up letter as part of interview follow up should be more than a mere thank you letter. It should encourage the employer to call you for more interviews. Some of the sections in the follow-up letter should be as follows

Thanking the interviewer for the opportunity to interview. You should also appreciate any extra effort taken by the employer, such as introducing you to others, taking you through a tour of the plant etc.

• A brief note about your strengths, with the focus on those areas relevant for the position.
• Address any concerns expressed by the interviewer regarding your qualifications or experience in a straightforward and honest manner.
• A statement of your interest in the job and the organization
• Remind the interviewer about the next steps that you had agreed upon, such as a call next week.

The interview follow up letter should not exceed one page.

Sample thank you letter

Nancy E Spencer
Purolator Courier Corporation
300 West Hollywood
Los Angeles
California

Lisa M.Grant

After you have sent the followup letter, you should plan your next strategy in interview follow up. Use your common sense and imagination to schedule follow up calls.

Article by, Suresh Nair and courtesy of Resume Writing Quick Guide - Quick way to a professional resume

Posted by Candice Arnold on April 9, 2009 at 11:25 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

There are hard realities facing college graduates right now. The current economic outlook and job market are the worst we have seen in decades. For every job posting today the employers receive 500-1000 resumes, and the number is increasing quickly. A recent Yahoo article, on March 10, told of a company in Ohio that posted a $15 / hour janitor position and immediately received over 700 resumes - all of which were stacked on the floor. The reality is that there are fewer jobs, and much more competition. Only those who can differentiate themselves in a very competitive job market are going to get hired.

If you're one of the million plus who will be graduating college and heading into the job market this year, you need to do everything you can do help better position yourself to land a job. If you understand one critical point, you will put yourself way ahead of the game: Companies do not hire on work history, achievements and grades alone - they look for three critical components in addition to these factors.

Employers want to know:

• Are you a good fit for a specific role?
• Are you a good fit for the company or its culture?
• What might you be good at in the workplace environment?

Understand that employers spend hundreds of millions of dollars per year assessing job seekers to obtain this information (95% of companies see value in using assessment data). Through our assessment process you can do it yourself and provide employers with positive ways that you can contribute to their team. It's fast (less then 30 minutes), its simple (3 easy steps), and it's affordable ($29.99) You complete a brief, 15-20 minute, online assessment, select the type of role that you are applying for and upload your resume. ResumeFit inserts your assessment results directly into your resume and provides the employers with the critical data they need to better evaluate you.

Give employers what they want; certify your resume today and help them better understand you. You just may find that your resume shoots to the top of the pile, which may be enough to help you land your next job.

Scott Runkle is Managing Partner / SVP Sales & Marketing of ResumeFit. For more information on resume certification please visit: http://www.resumefit.com/rf/scripts/collegerecruiter.asp

Posted by Candice Arnold on March 20, 2009 at 1:08 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

I am still trying to figure out how to make the best use of Twitter and Facebook for both my personal and business use. I am amazed at how adeptly some folks navigate these social networking tools and how oddly others use them. Have you ever heard that saying, "Better to be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt?" - that was one of my dad's favorite things to say to us when we were kids. That and, "Don't tell everything you know." Dad's not a really chatty guy but, then again, he never says stupid things in public or documents things that could put his reputation at risk.

If you think about it, social media takes those truisms and tosses them out the window. We live in a day and age where technology has made all of us voyeurs to varying degrees and social media is a way for us to express our every thought, feeling, and experience with legions of observers. If you have access to someone's Twitter, Linked In, and Facebook pages and that person updates his/her social media pages frequently (not to mention MySpace) it can be like watching a reality TV show. You can read about their thoughts and feelings, see their personal photos and videos, know where they are going to hang out, who their friends are, who they voted for, and where they work. That is a lot of information if you ask me and sometimes too much familiarity breeds contempt - as you can see anytime you watch a reality TV show. When a camera follows reality show stars around 24 hours a day none of them look too impressive on TV.

Continue reading "Is Social Media Like Reality TV for Everyman? How Much Information is Too Much?" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on March 17, 2009 at 1:50 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Aren't we all envious of those people who are not only able to figure what their dream career is, but have the guts to actually pursue it? If all people were able to do the same, the world would be a happier place.

But it's not always easy being a dreamer. Because while these people may be pursuing their passion, it's often hard to do it without compromising a reasonable income. If you find yourself in this predicament, here are some tips to help you stay afloat financially while taking strides to pursue your dream ...

Find a Part-Time or Temp Gig

One of the easiest ways to bring in some extra cash while pursuing your dream career is taking on part-time or temporary work. With a part-time job, you work fewer hours, which leaves you with more time to take on your own projects. And with a temp gig, while you may have to work full-time, you can accept or reject jobs at your leisure based on pay and the length of the project, which offers a different type of flexibility.

Another job that some consider when needing flexible income is substitute teaching. Much like temping, you get to decide when you work. And the money isn't bad. For most districts, you can make anywhere from $75 to $120 a day. The only catch is that you usually need the equivalent of two years of college under your belt to qualify.

Try Working from Home

In the age where the Internet rules supreme - and companies are trying to cut back on their overhead - it is easier than ever to find a legitimate work-from-home job. So for many who are trying to pursue an income-lacking passion, working from home in customer service, data entry, or even freelance writing gives them the opportunity to bring in income and allows for great flexibility.

If this is a route you're thinking of taking, it's a good idea to make sure that the company you're looking to work for is legitimate. Check online scam reports, ask tons of questions about the business' reputation, and don't be shy about asking for professional references. The more effort you make to find out the legitimacy of the company, the more likely you are to actually receive an income from home - and that's kind of the point, right?

Take On a Lesser Version of Your Dream Job

There is nothing wrong with starting from the bottom to make your way to the top - the same goes for pursuing your dream. For instance, if your passion is wildlife photography, but you're having a hard time selling your pictures to major magazines, you may want to take a more standard photography job that will give you practice, credibility, and a little income. You can still try to sell your photos on the side until you get your big break, but at least you won't be starving while you wait.

Pursuing your dream can bring with it many challenges. But by bringing in additional income, you can alleviate stress, which often helps to improve creativity. Anything you can do to help foster what truly makes you happy in life is a great reward within itself.

Heather Eagar is a former professional resume writer and is passionate about providing working professionals with current, reliable and effective job search tools and information. Do you need a resume service? Compare the top ones in the industry at http://www.resumelines.com.

Posted by Heather Eagar on March 6, 2009 at 9:57 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

I know I have posted on this topic before but given our current economic situation and the tragic stories I have heard over the past couple of days I think it bears repeating. When times are tough its more important than ever to take care of your mental and physical well being.

It seems like many people worry about everything except their mental and physical health when they are stressed out about losing a job, not having enough money, or possibly losing a home. On the face of it that makes sense because those are such crucial issues. But if you aren't physically and mentally strong enough to handle devastating events then the whole situation will spiral out of control and you will be even less equipped to make sound decisions. I have also found that people who are depressed do not interview as well as those who seem happy and well adjusted. If you don't take care of your mental health you could wind up being your own worst enemy in job interviews.

Continue reading "Looking Out for #1" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 27, 2009 at 1:11 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

I have recently written resumes for several individuals who have spent long careers (20 - 40 years) with a single employer. None of these people had a functional resume before we started working together and most of them had not kept detailed notes about past jobs and accomplishments.

When I graduated from college in 1989 most large companies had college graduate training programs and if you joined one, the company expected that you would stay with them for many years, or perhaps, your entire career. Companies invested in a multitude of training programs and development opportunities designed to groom junior employees into senior level roles. Employee loyalty was valued and was rewarded by company loyalty - if you weren't particularly good at one job, the company would move you to a department in which your strengths could be utilized. Good employees were valued and were treated accordingly.

Continue reading "Have You Spent Your Entire Career At One Employer? If So, You Need to Read This Post." »

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 16, 2009 at 1:05 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

When I was about 4 years old we moved from Houston, Texas to a little town called Cushing, Oklahoma which is where I spent the next 13 years of my life. When we arrived in Cushing my parents, of course, needed to find childcare and that is how Mae Troxell came into our lives.

Mae was born in 1902 on a cotton farm in Nacogdoches, Texas so when we moved to Oklahoma in 1972 she was 70 years old. Mae was a tough old broad who was, on a good day, cranky, and on a bad day downright cantankerous. She demanded from all of her clients that she be given authority to spank her charges because she felt that if she assumed responsibility for their safety she also needed to be able to control the kids. I never got a spanking from her but I am pretty sure that both of my brothers felt the sting of the wire handle of a fly swatter on their bare legs a couple of times.

Continue reading "The Best Advice I Ever Received" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on February 9, 2009 at 11:40 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

With various sectors of our economy falling apart left and right, many businesses are closing, or cutting back at the very least. As a result, thousands of employees each month are being let go.

Some of the businesses that have been around longer are handling the need to let employees go by asking them to take a voluntary buyout package, which usually involves a hefty compensation package. Depending on the person, this could be good or bad. If you have been, or are about to be, offered a voluntary buyout package, take some time to learn the pros and cons. This way, you won't feel side-swiped by the request.

Are They Offering Enough Money?

Not that you're setting out to be greedy, but they are asking you to leave the company, right? This means you need to make sure that you and your family will be well taken care of until you can find another job. Some companies offer employees two week's pay for each year of service. For some, this adds up quite nicely. But does it measure up to the amount you could receive if you just stuck around and retired (that is, if your job will last that long)?

If you really think that leaving might be the best option, but you're not sure if you like the buyout amount they're offering, you may want to inquire about additional money owed. This might include making sure that you have money equivalents for unused vacation and sick days thrown into the package. Depending on what you have leftover, this could beef up your package quite nicely.

Will You Lose Your Seniority?

Another question to ask yourself when contemplating whether to take the buyout package is will you lose your seniority? Some companies will offer a large sum to employees they would like to buyout. But the downside to that is that when the employee tries to acquire another job, they will have to start at ground zero. For someone who has put in over 25 years at one establishment, this prospect can be very disheartening. This is especially true when taking into consideration that your job downsizing may mean the rest of the industry may be doing the very same thing. You want to make sure that the money you receive will be worth losing your seniority at best, and eliminating your prospect of a new job at worst.

Is It Worth Sticking Around?

Finally, before you turn down a buyout package flat, think about whether it's worth sticking around. If the company is going out of business soon, and stock prices are falling, you may want to snatch the amount they offer before you lose your chance at such a high amount in the future. Determining the fate of the company will take some research on your part. But it will be well worth it to gather the insight you'll need to make the best decision for your financial well-being.

Before you agree to accept any type of voluntary buyout package, you will want to consult with an attorney. An attorney can help you decide whether leaving is worth it. And also show whether the numbers that the company is offering (which may seem impressive) are really enough.

Heather Eagar is a former professional resume writer and is passionate about providing working professionals with current, reliable and effective job search tools and information. Need a resume writing service? Compare the top ones in the industry at http://www.resumelines.com.

Posted by Heather Eagar on January 30, 2009 at 5:07 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

I just found out about a new website called Hard2Hire.com which is just what the name sounds like: its for people who have a hard time getting hired and for the employers who are willing to give them a chance. Right now there are more than 100,000 potential employees with profiles on Hard2Hire and more than 2.8 million job listings on the site. Pretty impressive numbers I think for a new website.

Originally, Brian Poe, Founder and CEO of Hard2Hire.com and author of A Guide to Expungements and Pardons, set up the website to help ex-offenders find jobs once they had served their time. He has expanded the site to offer jobs for other non traditional folks like the elderly, disabled workers, and laid off workers.

Continue reading "A Unique Niche Website for Non-Traditional Employees" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on January 30, 2009 at 1:59 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

As the economy declines and layoffs continue are you concerned that, if your company downsizes, your position may be eliminated because of age discrimination? That's on the minds of many people in the workforce today.

If you are not aware of it, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) provides employers with specific guidelines when they are offering severance packages to their employees.

Continue reading "Age Bias and Your Rights at Work" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on January 29, 2009 at 9:13 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Every once in a while, you may do something you said you would not do: return to an ex-boyfriend/girlfriend, dive in the deep end of a swimming pool, or maybe eat frog legs. But for some, doing something they said they would not do falls into the realm of returning to an employer after leaving many years ago.

If you've thought about returning to a former employer, it's definitely not the end of the world. In fact, it could be the beginning of a new one. So if you're serious about boomeranging back to a former employer, here are some tips to consider before doing so...

Remember the Contributions You Made

The thought of returning to a company that you once worked for can be exciting and intimidating at the same time. On one end, you may be excited about the prospect of returning to an environment that was once very familiar to you. But on the other end, maybe thinking about what employees and managers thought about you leaving the company in the first place. You may also be thinking about how the environment you once knew so well may have changed since you left.

A good way to feel more comfortable about the pursuit of your return is by thinking of the contributions you made while there. If you left the company in good standing then it is likely that the company will be more than willing to welcome a knowledgeable and reliable employee back with open arms - even if you're now coming into a different position. They will likely have more faith in your abilities than a stranger's, which actually puts you in a better position than most others up for the same position. So if you're a little nervous, remind yourself of these contributions to help build your confidence.

Sell Your Knowledge of the Company's Culture

Another area of comfort that you can carry with you when looking to return to a previous employer is knowledge of the company's culture, mission, and what it values. This is a big deal since every company can be vastly different - and it takes time to get comfortable in a new one. Because you already understand how the company works, and what is expected of all employees, you have a better shot of sliding past your competition.

As for selling this point to the company, you can do it both in your cover letter and interview. If you are facing a recruiter who has entered the company since you've left, selling your knowledge will be especially important. Think about it; unless you were a dynamo, the recruiter will not likely be familiar with what you contributed. But that's okay; this is where you can explain that catching up will be like riding a bike. Essentially, all you'll need to do is learn new skills and begin to apply them.

Returning to a former employer can definitely bring with it great rewards. If you decide to return, take it as a positive experience. By rekindling old friendships and building new ones, you can make the return a great experience for everyone involved.

Heather Eagar is a former professional resume writer and is passionate about providing working professionals with current, reliable and effective job search tools and information. Compare the top resume services in the industry at http://www.resumelines.com.

Posted by Heather Eagar on January 24, 2009 at 1:03 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Sometimes it may feel that your time in your current career has just about run its course. It may seem that you've contributed all that you can and are now looking for new ways to make contributions to society; ways that involve you using different aspects of your creativity. If this is the case then it may be time to change careers.

But there are some careers that are easier to transition into than others. So if you're looking for a change, but don't quite have an idea of what the change should be, take a look these career options.

Jobs Resistant to Offshoring

While your career transition should have more to do with you wanting to make new and exciting contributions in another realm, and less to do with money, in the wake of a suffering economy, you should always remain financially realistic. There are some jobs (i.e. auto industry positions) that are simply not stable at this point. However, there are some that are more resistant to bankruptcy or offshoring. In your search to find a new career path that cultivates your interests, it doesn't hurt to browse careers like these.

Some jobs that fit into this category include genetic counselor, mediator, curriculum/training specialist, and user experience specialist. The same goes for ghostwriters. Any business that wants brochures, newsletters, TV or radio ads, or websites and would like their material written by someone needs a ghostwriter. If you have a passion for writing, that someone could be you.

Non-College Careers

There are many non-college careers that are now being considered great transitional careers. Why? Well, for starters, many of the professional jobs are being sent overseas for offshoring, leaving not much for recent college grads. Also, Baby Boomers who have recently suffered huge blows from the economy - many even losing most of their retirement in the financial/401k crisis - have had to return to old jobs or find new ones. As a result, many blue-collar jobs are now in demand. A few that may spark your interest include firefighting and plumbing, as well as becoming a hairstylist, locksmith, and biomedical equipment technician.

Healthcare

If your desire to contribute to society falls into the realm of making unhealthy people healthy again, then you might want to consider switching over to healthcare. Because there are many more aging Baby Boomers, as well as a larger number of immigrants needing healthcare, there is more of a requirement for help. This is especially true in the areas of patient advocacy, health informatics, and wellness coaching. So if making a difference in this way is ideal, you may want to consider traveling this route.

Of course, this is only an introduction to the possibilities transitioning into a new career can bring. You will definitely want to conduct more research, not just on what options will make the most sense financially, but also emotionally. But after creating a list of ideas that truly interest you, you may find that these or other easy-to-transition-into careers fall in line with your agenda. So continue to study what's out there, choose wisely, and carefully transition your way into the new career of your dreams.

Heather Eagar is a former professional resume writer and is passionate about providing working professionals with current, reliable and effective job search tools and information. If you're in need of a resume writer, compare the top ones in the industry at http://www.resumelines.com

Posted by Heather Eagar on January 23, 2009 at 11:26 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

The challenges faced by businesses and their employees these days has got me thinking about the tough decisions that are being made in companies all around the world. It is hard to be in a non-leadership role in the volatile economic environment in which we find ourselves because non-leaders are often limited in the information they can access. In other words, employees in some companies are just playing a waiting game to see what happens next.

A wise person once told me that "When faced with decisions try to look at them as if you were one level up in the organization. Your perspective will change quickly". There is another saying that "Incompetence always begins one level above you". The point of both of these quotes is that you need to learn to think like your boss. What are his/her goals? What pressure is senior management placing on your boss? When you change your perspective from simply focusing on your own issues at work to learning what is driving your boss's behavior and decision making process you will find that you are able to be a stronger contributor. You will also become much more understanding of decisions that can be difficult to deal with from an employee-perspective.

Many senior leaders learn this experience as they rise into higher and higher positions of responsibility. It is very illuminating to step out of one's own role and to look at the world from the perspective of your own manager or your managers boss. As you see the world from a higher perch you take in more of the landscape and from this vantage point your role within the organization as a whole becomes clearer. You should be able to see how you can contribute more effectively to the goals of your organization.

In troubled times I think it essential for good employees to understand the big picture so that they can (a) contribute at the highest level possible so the company performs its very best, and (b) get a realistic picture of the potential for job security or, alternatively, possible layoffs. The more you know about what is going on in your organization the less likely you are to be blindsided if layoffs or restructuring changes become a reality.

Article by Liz Handlin and courtesy of Ultimate Resumes

Posted by Candice Arnold on January 21, 2009 at 8:49 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

If you're just graduating from college, or deciding to enter the workforce after spending your adult years involved in other projects, then you have the benefit many others don't: building your career from the ground up.

For some, this prospect may sound scary - especially if they're in the midst of a career that has been rocky all along the way. But if you take your time to plan your prospective career - as well as alternatives - before you get started, you should be able to make rather smooth transitions along the way until you reach your ultimate goal. Let's look at how you can get this done ...

Decide What You Like

One of the most important ways to obtain fulfillment in your career is by first deciding what it is that you like. Many people have no idea what they would like to do with their lives, and this is totally understandable. Some people have always obediently followed the decisions of their parents. Others may have been forced to choose a path in college after too many years being "undecided." Luckily, no matter the predicament, it is never too late to choose.

The easiest way to decide what you like is by creating a list of the things you love to do for no money at all. If you're having a hard time coming up with a list, you can complete personality tests like the Ansir Self-Perception test, through which you will answer questions to help you determine your strengths. It will also offer careers you may be best suited to take on.

Choose Your Career(s)

Once you've created a list - or completed a personality test - your next step is to see what careers fall in line with your passions. For instance, you may absolutely love math and find that being an accountant, bookkeeper, or even math teacher may fall in line with what you love. Or you may love animals and find that you may be able to work in the veterinary world, on a farm, or even as a zookeeper. If your college degree is not compatible with your passion, that's okay. It will just be your job to determine what steps you'll need to take to make your dream a reality.

Create Your Plan - Get Where You Want to Be

Once you have determined more than one option for your career path, your next step can be to look more thoroughly at each one then create a plan that determines how far you want to get on each path (Director of Public Relations, Vice President of Sales, etc.). Next you would look at potential routes you can take to achieve your goal, including the number of years you would invest in each position along the way. You can research the strongest employment opportunities and history of economical strengths with each option. And of course, make room for flexibility in the event that you become dissatisfied with your career or want to make plans around your family.

Developing your career from the ground up can require a lot of soul searching. But it's a great way to find yourself - and your career. So don't be afraid to tackle this task. You'll find that your career success will likely be much easier to obtain with a plan in place.

Heather Eagar is a former professional resume writer and is passionate about providing working professionals with current, reliable and effective job search tools and information. Compare the top resume services in the industry at http://www.resumelines.com.

Posted by Heather Eagar on January 18, 2009 at 11:22 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Whether you're looking for a new job or trying to make financial gains at the one you're at, you may find that at some point you'll need to make a salary negotiation. But how can you do it if you never have before?

It's not as difficult as you may think. In fact, in many ways it can be similar to any other business transaction. So if you've been thinking that it's time to get a raise, or ask for a specific salary with a new job, take a look at some ways to get it done.

Approaching the Employer

Probably one of the most challenging prospects of negotiating your salary is deciding how to approach an employer. It can feel very intimidating to tell a company how much you want them to pay you. But this task is easier if you keep in mind that you're simply expressing your desire to be paid based on your skills and ability to perform.

So when is the right time to make the approach? If you're in the process of accepting a new position, then the right time is when you reach that point in the conversation. However, if you're looking to ask for a raise with your current employer, you'll want to make sure that you've explored the reasons that you feel it's time to increase your pay (years employed, responsibilities fulfilled, etc.). When you're ready to approach your boss you can simply ask for a meeting to discuss your salary. Then openly and honestly discuss the reason you feel it's time to increase your pay.

How Much to Ask For

The amount you should ask for will vary widely based on your field and the position you're in/seeking. This means it will be important for you to conduct some research to determine how much individuals with your level of education/experience in the position you're in/seeking are typically paid.

Also, the city you live in can make a difference. For instance, someone living in New York City might expect to make much more working as a Human Resources Recruiter than someone living in Nashville, Tennessee. There are a number of books and websites that can help you get an idea of what you might want to ask for within the parameters of your specific circumstances. So be sure to conduct your research to make sure you're not asking for too much or too little.

What Else You Need to Know

If you find that the salary you hoped for is not agreed upon, you don't have to give up hope. There are other factors like healthcare benefits, additional vacation days and bonuses that you may be able to adjust to create a financial equivalent. But if you are surprised with an offer that equals or surpasses what you planned to ask for, don't be afraid to still negotiate. You may find that you may be able to sweeten the pot even more.

Engaging in salary negotiations can seem like a fierce battle, but they typically are not. If you go in with an idea of what you want to make and the reasons why, you will most likely come out making more than you thought you would.

Heather Eagar is a former professional resume writer and is passionate about providing working professionals with current, reliable and effective job search tools and information. Compare the top resume services in the industry at http://www.resumelines.com.

Posted by Heather Eagar on January 9, 2009 at 11:21 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Happy New Year...long time no post. For the first time in several years I took some actual time away from work, writing, and blogging for the holidays. It was a little difficult to stay away from the computer but I know my husband, family, and friends appreciated it. It felt great to take a break but it also feels good to get back to work.

I found a website, Sparklist, that is really for reviewing newsletters for words that will trip up the spam blocker feature on most email programs but it occurred to me that it could be used for resumes too. Try cutting and pasting your resume into the review section of this site to see if there are any words in the document that might cause it to be tagged by spam blocker when you email it to a recruiter or hiring manager. I have never heard of a resume being blocked but you never know and this website is easy to use and free so it couldn't hurt to check.

Article by Liz Handlin and courtesy of Ultimate Resumes

Posted by Candice Arnold on January 7, 2009 at 3:40 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

One of the most challenging dreams to realize for many people is identifying then fulfilling their goal to acquire a great career. Sometimes it can seem that it will take a lifetime to actually get a foot in the door. But if you have an idea of what you would like to do in your professional life, then your next step is to begin making your dream a reality.

For many people, the route to starting their dream career will vary, but there are a few steps anyone can take to set them on the right path. Let's look at a few ...

Start Where You Are

Whether you're working for a temporary agency or at a job you've been at for years, if you want to step into the career you're really interested in, you can do it. Many suggest that a good way to get this done is to start right where you are, even if it's not ultimately where you want to end up.

Why? Starting at your current job helps propel you to your intended career because you can easily take advantage of advanced roles and responsibilities. For example, you may be working as a customer service representative but are very good at working on computers, and actually carry a degree in relation to information technology. You notice that your computer is operating differently and realize only a few tweaks are needed to enhance its performance. You bring this to the attention of your supervisor who calls a technician, from whom the few tweaks suggested are identical. It is then that you can reveal your education. With this type of disclosure, or the nerve to inquire about other additional roles and responsibilities, you may find that your desired career can start right where you are.

Constantly Update Your Resume

This is probably one of the most forgotten tasks among individuals wanting to step into a career - but it's an important one. Anytime you take on any new tasks, it is crucial that you update your resume immediately. This way you can better articulate what you've accomplished because it's fresh in your mind. Also, by updating as it happens, you can not only pick and choose the accomplishments that best suit any new job you're applying for, but you can also analyze the list to see what roles and responsibilities are missing from that list that you can take on to better your chances of qualifying for your career.

Study the Field

When trying to step into your desired career, it's a good idea to study the field your career is nestled in. Ways that you can study include looking at who is hiring and firing, what educational background is required, and which jobs will best get you to your peak goal within your career. Some resources available to help you follow trends include trade publications, newspapers, and even web blogs.

Stepping into the career you most want is something you can do if you take the right steps. So study your field, take on new roles and responsibilities at your current job, and update your accomplishments constantly. Your hard work can take you straight to the career you want sooner than you think.

About the Author:
Heather Eagar is a former professional resume writer and is passionate about providing working professionals with current, reliable and effective job search tools and information. If you need a resume writer, compare the top companies in the industry at http://www.resumelines.com.

Posted by Heather Eagar on January 3, 2009 at 10:19 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

The world is constantly changing before our eyes. Technology has created advancements that we could never have imagined 20 years ago. But with many of the advancements have come negative changes to our environment like pollution and global warming that affect the way we live our lives.

As a result, these changes have inspired the creation of jobs meant to contribute to and aid our environment rather than destroy it. These jobs are called "green collar jobs." If you are interested in learning more about this industry, take a look at how it affects you and how you can fit in.

What are Green Collar Jobs?

Green collar jobs are typically defined along the lines of blue collar jobs. However, these jobs were created by companies that want to help improve the environment. You can see minor changes in the everyday activities of some businesses. For instance, some grocery chains have stopped passing out plastic bags for free and have began charging customers with the proceeds benefiting the environment. Because so much more effort is being placed on "going green" there are many more jobs coming available to help create zero waste, conserve water, develop residential solar energy and more.

What Types of Jobs are Available?

Some specific job types that you might be able to get into that very directly mean to enhance the environment include bike delivery services, gas station jobs related to biodiesel, green waste composting, landscaping, construction material and debris hauling and reuse.

A few others include:
- Hazardous material clean-up
- Developments for non-toxic household cleaning products
- Expansion of open spaces such as parks, recycling, solar installation
- Printing with non-toxic inks and dyes
- Maintenance and repair for public transit
- Tree cutting and pruning
- Water efficiency and conservation
- Weatherization for homes
- Energy conservation

Many businesses are hopping on the "go green" bandwagon. So this is a good time to begin searching for employment in this area.

Can I Get Involved?

One of the perks of green collar jobs is that many of them offer on-the-job training. So if you're looking for an environmentally-responsible career change, or post-retirement job that can make you feel good about what you're doing, many green collar jobs can be easily moved into. Additionally, if you want a mid-to senior-level position, those jobs are available too.

The industry is growing so rapidly that in fact it is predicted that jobs in the energy-efficient industries could grow from the currently estimated 8 million available to as many as 40 million by 2030. If you are interested in finding out where you fit in, you can visit a career consultant who can help you find your way based on your specific skills. You can, for instance, use your human resources background to become a human resources manager at a solar energy company. As the industry grows, the opportunities will be endless.

If your passion falls in line with caring for the environment then green collar work may be right for you. So take your time, explore what's out there, and seek counseling if necessary. Then enjoy getting paid to make a difference in our world.

Heather Eagar is a former professional resume writer and is passionate about providing working professionals with current, reliable and effective job search tools and information. Compare the top resume writers in the industry at http://www.resumelines.com.

Posted by Heather Eagar on December 11, 2008 at 3:41 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

I am always amazed at the animosity that many job seekers have toward recruiters. In some cases it's justified because there are some slimy recruiters out there simply because there are no certifications or specialized education required to become a recruiter. Anyone can call themselves a recruiter and some of the folks who do are not particularly talented or professional.

With that said there are some amazing recruiters out there who are great at sourcing and placing top talent in great jobs. In order to work with recruiters and not get frustrated when they don't behave as you, the job seeker, think they should it's important to understand a few things about the role recruiters play in the hiring process.

Seven things you need to know:

1. Recruiters have tough jobs.

Most recruiters are contracted by, and nominally report to, an HR representative within whatever company they are recruiting for. Sometimes elite recruiters who are hired by a Board of Directors or a CEO to find a senior leader for the company report directly to the hiring authority. But most of the time HR is the liaison between the recruiter and hiring manager. Most companies give recruiters a very big "wish list" for their candidates because they figure that if they have to pay a fee to find a new employee the recruiter had better find them the perfect candidate. Also understand that HR people are, for the most part, overworked and under appreciated by their employers simply because they are overhead and, as such, do not generate revenue. So, HR people can be very hard on the recruiters they have contracted because, lets face it, crap rolls downhill.

Recruiters spend their days trying to find the absolute perfect candidates for their client while managing sometimes impossible client expectations. If you are a candidate who has been frustrated that a recruiter won't present you to his/her client for a job for which you are not a perfect fit you should try to look at it from the recruiter's point of view. He/she may have marching orders from the client that just don't allow him/her to take chances on candidates who don't match the exact specifications set forth by the client.

Continue reading "Seven Things You Need to Know About Recruiters" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on December 8, 2008 at 12:35 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

There is nothing worse than feeling like you're left out of the loop - especially when it comes to your career. But because there can be so many changes taking place in your field, you can look up one day and realize your entire industry has left you behind.

With the economy changing as quickly as it is, you can't afford to not know what the latest trends are. Including whether companies are laying off or hiring, as well as what fields are requiring that you learn new technologies. So how can you stay abreast of what's happening in your field? Let's look at some sure-fire ways to get this done ...

Read Industry Reports and Trade Publications

One way that you can make sure you always know what's going on in your industry is to read industry reports. You can read reports about what's going on specifically in your field, as well as reports about what's going on in the entire workforce. By doing this, you can know if your industry is dwindling, or check on industries paralleling yours that you may be able to move into.

There are a variety of industry reports you can look at to find out what's going on. For example, Execunet.com offers studies on hiring trends, information on what fields are best to enter, and much more related to top-level executive employment. Another industry reporting example is the Food Marketing Institute, which functions on and offline and offers a variety of surveys, facts and figures, and more through their website and quarterly reports regarding profitability, inventory productivity, and labor costs in the grocery and supermarket industry. Also, you can visit websites like ValuationResources.com that offer dozens of reports related to specific industries. There are many more resources available to keep you informed. You just have to make strides to find out what they are.

Read the Newspaper

Reading the newspaper may sound old fashioned, but believe it or not, it is still a great resource for discovering and staying abreast of industry information. Reading the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and the main and business sections of your local major newspaper can give you great insight into the trends of certain industries, as well as specific companies.

If you don't want to spend the money to subscribe to a newspaper, you can probably visit your local newspaper's website for information. However, to get in-depth access with the Wall Street Journal and The New York Times websites, you must subscribe online.

Join Professional Associations

Whether you're joining a local professional association, the Chamber of Commerce, or an online message board, you can find great in-depth information about your field and the workforce as a whole by joining other professionals in your field. It is through these affiliations that you can make necessary professional connections, link up with recruiters in your field, and simply keep your hand on the pulse of what's going on in your industry.

Staying informed in your industry is beneficial whether you're looking for a new job or not. By always knowing what's going on, you can become a major player in your industry, making a difference in your life and others.

Heather Eagar is a former professional resume writer and is passionate about providing working professionals with current, reliable and effective job search tools and information. Need a resume writer? Check out reviews of the top resume services in the industry at http://www.resumelines.com.

Posted by Heather Eagar on December 4, 2008 at 6:44 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

I graduated college nearly 20 years ago and since then I have witnessed many ups and downs in our economy. It has been my observation that when times are good some people are more willing to extend themselves to others than they are when the economy is not so strong. I have noticed this particularly when it comes to networking because I make it a practice to try to connect my clients and friends with any of my contacts who might be able to help them in their job searches. And by "contacts" I mean recruiters, professional colleagues, former co-workers, personal friends, acquaintances, and individuals for whom I have done favors in the past.

When the economy is strong it seems that my contacts are more willing to engage in phone conversations or even meet with job seekers whom I refer to them. [I should mention that I don't make random referrals - referrals are always well thought out and are appropriately introduced once permission is obtained.] On the other hand when people start to fear for their jobs or when the economy heads downhill it seems that they become reluctant to take any time to talk to people who are in the job market. My theory is that when people don't know of any job openings they can feel uncomfortable about talking to someone who is looking for a job. I am not sure why this is but it's a trend I have noticed and I don't like it.

Continue reading "Be Generous With Your Network When Times Are Tough" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on November 4, 2008 at 9:01 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

The main purpose of your resume as a job seeker should be to market your skills, experience and education to potential employers. Showcase your brand, so to speak. One way to quickly engage a hiring manager and maximize the success of your resume in the first 20-30 seconds, is through a powerful Summary of Qualifications.

Here are four key elements that should be included in a good Summary of Qualifications:

- Include years of experience and areas of expertise in your field. Remember that it is possible to accumulate experience you have gained from more than one job. eg. Let's say you work in customer service now and have been with your current job for three years, but have customer service experience from another job you did several years ago. Total those years for your Summary of Qualifications statement.

- Acknowledge any special or recent awards and professional recognition relevant to the position you are seeking. If you haven't been acknowledged by an organization, include an area of outstanding achievement from your last annual performance evaluation.

- Share industry specific certifications or professional training. eg If you are going after a supervisor's job and have taken a certificate in project management.

- Identify soft skills which are difficult to quantify, but give you a clear advantage eg. good public speaking, team building and multi-tasking skills.

Article courtesy of WorkBloom, an employment blog incorporating a comprehensive career resources section, including the largest database of professionally written resume and cover letter samples on the Web.

Posted by Candice Arnold on October 15, 2008 at 9:56 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

This week I received a phone call and it went something like this..........

Hello, how much do you charge to write a resume?

I wanted to cite some ridiculous number like $8,000.00 for starters, but I didn't. Instead, I remained the true professional I always try to be and offered: Speak to me first about your brand...

My what? What did you say?

"Your brand." I said "your brand."

What the @#$% is a brand? the caller asked.

You know, it's about your product -- you, the product...your features, value, your....blah, blah....CEO Of You...more blather....(from me).

Hmmmm. Well, let me be clear...all I want is a $%^&* resume. And I don't want to know about my brand or my product, okay?

And then the caller said they better keep checkin' around as I was the first person they'd talked to. (And obviously, I didn't tell them anything close to what they wanted to hear.)

Do you know how to play the career game in today's highly competitive, ever-changing, up, down, sideways, backwards, who-knows-what's next market? Can you easily and confidently say "yes" to these thought-provoking career questions listed below:

• Can you describe the personal brand of YOU?
• Can you speak with confidence, clarity, and credibility about your product, its features, value, and benefits?
• Do you know your product's strengths, flaws, and differentiators?
• Can you competently describe your brand's competitive advantage?
• Do you have a clearly defined target goal?
• Have you identified organizations aligned with your KSA's, preferences, values, and interests?
• Does your resume score you a homerun in the eyes of the reader?
• Are your interviewing skills top-notch and competitive?
• Can you name five things that you can do better than your competition?
• Can you name five of your best traits to produce a positive ROI for an employer?
• Can you cite five compelling reasons why an employer should hire you?
• Do you have a strong network that works to your advantage?
• Do you know 21st century job search strategies and how to best leverage for your career success in today's volatile market?
• Are you strongly motivated to stay on track until you achieve your desired career goals, no matter what?

If you answered "no" to one, or more, of these questions, you owe it yourself to come up with some "yes" responses to these basic questions. Indeed, the market is tough. And I am hoping -- for your sake -- that you have it within you to be tougher. Are you ready to get on your horse and ride?

Article by, Billie Sucher and courtesy of CareerHub.com. The Career Hub blog connects job seekers with experts in career counseling, resume writing, personal branding and recruiting.

Posted by Candice Arnold on October 13, 2008 at 10:08 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Career counselors often advise keeping an up-to-date resume because "you never know what might happen." Considering recent events, their advice should be taken seriously. Climber.com are a welcome addition to the Internet because they help job seekers keep their names on employers' minds.

Climber.com is a cross between a social networking site and a job board. It's for passive job seekers, and employers who are looking for talented, experienced professionals. Job seekers can create a profile, complete the Work Value Assessment, then wait for employers to come to them with offers.

It should be stressed that Climber.com is NOT for active job seekers. Anyone who needs a job right away should not rely on Climber.com. It's very much like LinkedIn in that a profile is completed and connections can be made; however, it's also like a job board because once a brief profile has been completed, jobs fitting the job seeker's skill set will appear.

"Keeping your irons in the fire" is not a bad thing to do in today's economy and uncertain job market. In fact, it's the most sensible thing anyone can do to ensure that they are prepared for anything that might happen in their careers.

Posted by Candice Arnold on September 29, 2008 at 7:27 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Bachelor of Science degree (major in Chemistry, Biology, Molecular, etc.) is not necessary, but it is helpful in medical sales, clinical diagnostics sales, laboratory sales, DNA products sales, sales of medical or surgical supplies, medical device sales, pharmaceutical sales, or any healthcare sales. So don't bury it at the bottom of your resume where I have to search for it. Candidates who don't have a BS try to hide that fact in various ways, but if you have yours, display it proudly. (But don't fake it!)

While we're on the subject of resumes: Recruiters have limited time to sift through the rubble of your resume, so it would be helpful (for you) to use bullet points. Make it easy for me to skim through and discover how fabulous you are. Your college professor wanted to read a well-crafted paragraph, but I don't.

If you have any questions regarding this topic or any other, please do not hesitate to ask....

Article by, Medical Sales Recruiter

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates seeking entry-level jobs and other career opportunities.

Posted by Candice Arnold on September 8, 2008 at 10:54 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

If you're in the market for a media sales job in London, get your CV (resume) together and upload it on Media Week Jobs' web site. There you'll find the latest media sales vacancies across the U.K., in addition to valuable advice on how to write a CV that will catch a potential employer's attention immediately.

Media Week Jobs has hundreds of vacancies for job seekers in need of entry-level jobs in advertising or media sales "all the way up to senior management candidates." They have job postings from such employers as Meltwater News, Leicester Mercury, Reed Exhibitions and many others. For those of you who prefer working with a recruiter, agencies like Ascent Solutions, Blossom Careers and Lipton Fleming have postings as well ... just to name a few.

So, if media sales is your passion, visit Media Week Jobs and upload your CV. No matter what your level of experience, chances are you'll find what you seek.

Posted by Candice Arnold on July 27, 2008 at 7:11 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

This morning I happened upon a blog called JobMob which has a couple of posts about funny resumes. I started reading and within about 15 minutes I was doubled over with laughter. I cut and pasted a few of the ones that I thought were the funniest (I divided them by category) but you should go over to JobMob and check them out. If you are a job seeker please review your resume and make sure that you don't include anything you see in this post in your resume. If you have any funny resume stories please email them to me and if I get enough I will create another post with the ones you send. Enjoy!

Hobbies/Activities:
"Getting drunk everynight down by the water, playing my guitar and smoking pot"

"Drugs and girls".

"Sitting on the levee at night watching alligators".

"Gossiping."

"Playing trivia games. I am a repository of worthless knowledge."

Why Interested in Position:
"To keep my parole officer from putting back me in jail"

Miscellaneous:
"I am great with the pubic."

A candidate listed her e-mail address as pornstardelight@*****.com

One candidate's electronic resume included links to her homepage, where the pictures were of her in the nude.

One applicant for a nursing position noted that she didn't like dealing with blood or needles.

Candidate included family medical history.

"It's best for employers that I not work with people."

"I have become completely paranoid, trusting completely no one and absolutely nothing."

Achievements:
"Nominated for prom queen"

One resume that came across my desk stated that the individual had won a contest for building toothpick bridges in middle school.

Arrests:
Candidate explained an arrest by stating, "We stole a pig, but it was a really small pig."

Personal interests:
Donating blood. Fourteen gallons so far.

Marital status:
Often. Children: various."

Reason for leaving last job:
"I thought the world was coming to an end."

"Bounty hunting was outlawed in my state."

Salary desired:
"Starting over due to recent bankruptcies. Need large bonus when starting job."

Bad traits:
"I am very bad about time and don't mind admitting it. Having to arrive at a certain hour doesn't make sense to me. What does make sense is that I do the job. Any company that insists upon rigid time schedules will find me a nightmare."

References:
"Bill, Tom, Eric. But I don't know their phone numbers."

Objective:
"My dream job would be as a professional baseball player, but since I can't do that, I'll settle on being an accountant."

To obtain a position within an organization in which both my fashion and administrative experience can be of great detriment."

Personal:
"My family is willing to relocate. However not to New England (too cold) and not to Southern California (earthquakes). Indianapolis or Chicago would be fine. My youngest prefers Orlando's proximity to Disney World."

Article by Liz Handlin and courtesy of Ultimate Resumes

Posted by Candice Arnold on July 25, 2008 at 8:08 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

One topic of frequent discussion among career professionals and recruiters is the future of the resume. What will replace the paper resume? Is an online portfolio the answer? Will we all eventually just use LinkedIn profiles (or something similar)? Are video resumes the future?

Sadly, I don't know the answer - if I did I'd be on a beach somewhere sipping something with an umbrella instead of here writing this post.

But I do enjoy seeing examples of successful alternatives to the resume. And they are never to be found on sites that allow you to create your own 'visual resume' or video resume, because how can you look different when you're using the same approach as everyone else? No, the ones that catch my eye are always a direct expression of the individual job seeker's personality. Which is why I like this slideshow resume so much ... Saran posted this in the comments on my own blog - after seeing it, I wanted to interview him even though I don't have a job for him! Nice work, Saran.

Article by, Louise Fletcher and courtesy of CareerHub.com. The Career Hub blog connects job seekers with experts in career counseling, resume writing, personal branding and recruiting.

Posted by Candice Arnold on July 17, 2008 at 5:27 PM | Leave a Comment (1)

Howard Nestler over on Blue Steps thinks executives should do away with the resume as a job search tool:

Nestler makes the point that when executives default to using a resume as a means of promoting, they have given up all the advantages that their skill, intellect and experience have provided them. "They become part of the crowd," Nestler asserts. "Imagine a political candidate running for office by merely circulating a resume."

"An executive must begin to see himself or herself as a product with discernable qualities and characteristics that set them apart from the many options a company has in today's job market." Nestler goes on to say that, "Executives must then headline their campaign with these qualities, which is something a resume does not do."

I could not disagree more! Most resumes don't do that, it is true. But the good ones do. To suggest that senior executives can somehow do away with a resume is a complete myth and could only be suggested by someone who fundamentally doesn't understand the hiring process at most organizations.

Try telling the headhunter who calls you about a great CEO opportunity that you don't have a resume because you are above all that. The headhunter's response would likely be "well write one and send it over to me ASAP." And when a company expresses interest in you after your networking efforts paid off, how do you think they'll respond to being told "sorry, I don't use a resume."

Perhaps what Nestler means to say is that the average resume isn't effective.There I would agree with him and I've written extensively on the subject. No matter what level (entry or executive) your resume must communicate your unique story. It must show why you are the perfect person to help your target company to meet its goals. It must help you to stand out, showing why you are uniquely qualified for the role. All this takes time and effort, but its well worth the work.

For more on how to write a game-changing resume, feel free to download my free report: The 3 Inside Secrets that Will Transform your Resume. Or buy a book. Or study samples online. Just don't follow Howard's advice and try to dispense with a resume altogether.

Article by, Louise Fletcher and courtesy of CareerHub.com. The Career Hub blog connects job seekers with experts in career counseling, resume writing, personal branding and recruiting.

Posted by Candice Arnold on July 16, 2008 at 12:50 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Finding the right entry-level job after graduation is a monumental task. The lucky ones found great internships that ended with full-time job offers. But those less fortunate have to pound the pavement and surf the Internet in search of the right jobs for them.

Part of that job search process is writing a winning resume and cover letter. In the course of my own Internet trolling, I came upon a Web site called Resume-Help.org. It has everything you need to help you conduct your job search. There are numerous sample resumes, interviewing tips, resume and cover letter templates, and even a forum. You can either ask your own question or browse the responses to questions asked by others. All of this is free.

If all else fails, they also provide a resume writing service, for a fee of course. The resume crtique feature will connect you with expert help in your area. Whether or not they charge a fee, I don't know. Although you'll have to do the interview on your own, Resume-Help.org gives advice on how to prepare and how to follow up afterward. They even have sample thank you notes. There are also job search tools for anyone having trouble getting started.

Your search for a great new job can be facilitated by a visit to Resume-Help.org. See what they have to offer. You just might find exactly what you need to get you started on the path to career success.

Posted by Candice Arnold on July 14, 2008 at 12:25 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

In our high tech society, recruiters and hiring managers probably don't receive many resumes through the regular mail. What's interesting is that some of our experts have stated that they won't look at a resume that isn't submitted electronically; however, most merely express a preference for emailed resumes because it's convenient and eco-friendly.

"I prefer resumes via email," says Craig Kasco, recruiter for 1-800-GOT-JUNK?, "as it not only cuts down on paper, but also demonstrates that some technical knowledge is present as well."

Tina Hamilton, PHR for HireVision Group, says "For most modern hiring managers - we need the resume to come electronically. Some have elaborate data base systems and some simply maintain applicants via spreadsheets. Either way, we need to be able to electronically file the resume. Sending by mail or fax usually requires extra effort on our part to enter the resume into our system. It is also not very eco-friendly."

Karen Wright, operationg director for KMSU 89.7 FM, likes to receive resumes via email because she can "file them electronically and not have more paper clutter."

"I like to share the document with others in my organization and the email makes it easy to do so," says Debbie Anglin, principal for Anglin Public Relations.

Steven Himmelrich of Himmelrich Public Relations, is one who prefers email, but will accept paper resumes. "Asking candidates to respond via email allows me to see how they use the Internet, how they write both email messages and cover letters, if they understand how to format a document so someone else can open it, etc.," Himmelrich says.

Susan Peppercorn, founder and CEO of Inspiring Career, points out that "company Web sites will state the preference of the company and hiring manager. Unless explicitly stated by the company, the method used to submit the resume usually doesn't matter. What is more important than how the resume is submitted is for the applicant to follow up afterward," she advises.

Linda Pophal, HR expert and business journalist, has no particular preference as long as the resume is well written and meets her standards for originality, grammar and punctuation, and a willingness to acknowledge the roles others played in the completion of projects.

Like Debbie Anglin, Carol McLaughlin, branch manager of Spherion in Canton, Ohio, likes to share resumes, so email submissions work better for her. "This allows me to forward to clients, as well as add to my computer system's search function. By saving the resume to my computer, it allows me to find it quickly or search for it via certain skills or background contained within the body of the resume."

"We only accept resumes that are emailed to us," says Tom Ruff, founder of the Tom Ruff Company. "It is too time consuming to forward resumes that thave been mailed to us and in our industry, clients won't accept them."

Regardless of how you send your resume, as long as it meets the standards specified by the recruiter or hiring manager receiving it, you should be fine.

Posted by Candice Arnold on June 26, 2008 at 8:37 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Hobbies on resumes? You have got to be kidding! I thought that went out in the '70's.

They did, when people put their hobbies like this:

Hobbies: Reading, Writing, Bicycling.

Who cares? No one, and that's why they went out. But here's a way to make them "in" again. If you list hobbies, make sure they are relevant to your targeted career (your audience) or differentiate you in the right way or are truly a part of your personal brand.

For example, I worked with an IT consultant who wanted to relocate. He was a young person with three years' experience in IT. In his previous life though, and while working his way through college, our IT consultant had a side job - as a rock climbing instructor. How cool! Here's a person who takes risks, who is athletic, and has a life outside a dimly lit screen. We added this job to his resume. Result? He sent out two resumes and got two offers. He called me while on the road - in his new company-paid car - and said, "Wendy, all they talked about was my rock climbing! Can you believe it?"

Continue reading "Resumes: When Hobbies Count" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on June 23, 2008 at 1:10 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Wikipedia defines a helicopter parent as someone who pays extremely close attention to his or her child or children, particularly while at educational institutions. The term suggests that like an actual helicopter, parents "hover" nearby, able to swoop in quickly to address, fix or handle situations.

The term is mostly used in a derogative way on college campuses, since these helicopter parents are accused of rushing in to prevent any harm or failure from befalling children, sometimes, despite protests from the children or college students they seek to protect.

Valerie Strauss in an article for Washington Post, says helicopter parents "are needy, overanxious and sometimes plain pesky -- and schools at every level are trying to find ways to deal with them".

As schools try to deal with helicopter parents, administrators have to balance other research that shows that students with strong parental involvement do better in school. The Harvard Family Research Project found that teens, whose parents played an active role in their education, do better in school and are more likely to enroll in college.

If parental influence supports better attainment in high schools, why would that not hold true for college students? Opponents of helicopter parenting would appear to be saying that once students are safely enrolled in college, parents should immediately take a hands-off approach.

With HigherEdInfo.com showing a 6-year college graduation rate in the US at 56.4% in 2006 and the 2003 annual ACT survey showed that only 37.5% of two-year college students were graduating within three years, is there a role for helicopter parents?

Experience, Inc., a provider of career advice and job hunting tools for students and alumni, surveyed more than 400 college students and new graduates on their parental involvement in college life. The overwhelming majority of college students described their parents as moderately involved. Twenty five percent of students in the survey responded that their parents were "overly involved to the point that their involvement was either annoying or embarrassing." Additionally, 13% of the respondents said their parents were not involved at all.

Is it possible that parental involvement at the college level could enhance rather than hinder college student graduation rates? Should college administrators now begin to embrace rather than reject helicopter parents?

To find out if your parents are helicopter parents or if you are a helicopter parent, the College Board offers a great quick 12-question quiz that could help you as a parent gauge your current level of involvement with your children. Whether or not, one agrees or disagrees with their quiz results, I did not agree with mine, it does offer the opportunity for personal reflection and could be the foundation of a conversation between college students and parents.

By: Marcia Robinson and courtesy of BullsEyeResumes College Blogs. Robinson has been coaching, training, and writing on career, workplace, employment and education issues for students and career professionals for 10 years.

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching entry-level jobs and other career opportunities.

Posted by Lisa Colbert, CollegeRecruiter.com on June 16, 2008 at 9:00 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

I spent part of my day today helping a client craft a compelling award nomination for a competition that a regional news journal is hosting to recognize outstanding women. As I was working with her I thought about the fact that many people don't think of self nominating for awards which, I think, means they are missing some opportunities. Don't be shy, apply for any local or national awards, leadership classes (like Leadership Austin or Leadership Greater Chicago), or other sorts of recognition. If you don't apply just remember that you will not win. And if you do apply the worst that can happen is that you won't win which isn't so bad.

I am not sure that many people realize that very often PR firms nominate their clients for awards and/or create buzz to help them win awards. People who win "40 Under 40" or "30 Under 30" awards are very often campaigned for by professionals - in other words they didn't passively sit by and hope they the were considered one of the best and brightest. They took action to give themselves an advantage. I mention this because I think that sometimes people are under the impression that just because they don't win awards means that maybe they aren't achievers when the truth is that sometimes you have to pursue awards in order to even be considered.

Many of my clients are superstars who have an entire section of their resumes devoted to awards and recognition. Many of these people self nominated for the awards they won. I have known a lot of people who feel shy about either self nominating or about asking someone else to nominate them and I always tell them to just get over it and send in that application. Or, you can hire someone like myself to write the application for you. The important thing is to take advantage of opportunities to apply for any and every award you can...every time you win one it will give you something good to put on your resume.

Article by Liz Handlin and courtesy of Ultimate Resumes

Posted by Candice Arnold on June 9, 2008 at 12:37 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

So you have executed a successful job search and landed a new job and you are anxious to get started building your new career in a new company. Once you get over your new employee fears and get oriented to your new space, you will find it takes more than smiles and kind words to fit in.

Here are few things to keep in mind as you make the transition.

Don't whine. At least not to the people you work with at the office. Talk about any job challenges or work related issues with friends, family or trusted colleagues in other companies, and not with your new coworkers. Avoid complaining about too much work, too many assignments or too long hours at the office. The fact is, no one really cares how much you have to do since everyone else has their own work, their own assignments, and their own long hours to deal with. Avoid becoming too cozy with the established resident whiners in your new company as well.

Make your manager aware of what you are doing and ask for feedback. A colleague once talked to me about a new energetic recruit who showed a lot of initiative on the job. Although this new worker meant really well, as my colleague put it, "She was running a great race, but she was in the wrong stadium completely." Make sure the work you are doing is relevant and critical to the department's mission. Additionally, make sure your work is being noticed. It will take a while for you to get into your groove in your new office, and making sure you are not working contrary to the flow is good. Watch also that you are not inheriting assignments from those who want to hand off their jobs.

Show enthusiasm and energy for the job, business or industry you are in now. If you just got hired by the largest plumbing fixture manufacturing supply company, you need to get excited about plumbing fixture manufacturing supplies business. People who enjoy the domains they work in are interested in learning more and will ultimately tend to do better on the job. If you are not prepared to have meaningful conversations about your job or the industry within which your company operates, you will not be happy.

Stay on time. If you have a problem being punctual, work really hard to correct that behavior. Be in the office on time, if not early, be back from lunch on time and do not pack up twenty minutes before your shift or day is supposed to end. Arrive on time for meetings and work harder on your own time if you have to. Of course today's workforce is more about productivity than time spent in the office, but it is still a good idea for to show others you respect their time. Once you understand the protocols and the routines of the office, schedules can change.

Limit talk about what you did in your old job, company or worse in a class. This one is pretty hard to do, but it is something you will master eventually. It is been my experience that people sometimes don't want to hear new ideas if they came from your old job, old company or worse from a class. Of course your prior knowledge will show in your work, but limit talking about where your skills come from. Feel free to credit publications, the media or a conference, but not your old job, company or class for new ideas.

Of course none of these tips are cast in cement. In addition to the requisite due diligence to do your new job well, you just need to heed some of these other workplace protocols that could expedite or slow your assimilation in the new environment.

By: Marcia Robinson of BullsEyeResumes College Blog. Robinson coaches, trains, and writes on career, workplace, and education issues for students and career professionals.

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching entry-level jobs and other career opportunities.

Posted by Lisa Colbert, CollegeRecruiter.com on June 5, 2008 at 2:51 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Earlier this week I received the following email from a client/friend of mine:

Hey Liz,

I hope you're doing well and business is still booming. I wanted to ask your opinion of something. After nine months, it has come to my attention that a former colleague/friend has plagiarized large sections of my resume (the one you helped me with). I offered it to her to use as a template when our employer was downsizing. We have been competing for the same contract jobs and she has recently undercut me for $10 less per hour on a 6-12 contract gig working with client of our former employer. The client assumed we had the same background and experience because we worked for the same employer and because she copied my resume. She's even posted part of it on LinkedIn along with other falsifications.

Any thoughts/ideas about what I can do?

Thanks,
Brad

My response was this:

Dear Brad,

I am so sorry to hear about this. If I could sue this woman for copyright infringement I would. This happened once before when another client did exactly what you did and shared his new resume that I wrote with a co-worker. The way I found out is that the co-worker/idiot who plagiarized his resume had the nerve to contact me to ask if there was "anything I could do to improve his resume" - I told him that he had already copied my work enough and that unless he wanted to pay me for the work he had copied that we had nothing to talk about.

In the future I recommend that you not show co-workers your resume because you really can't trust people not to screw you the way this woman has done. Plus, since you paid for the resume I would think you wouldn't want to give away the contents for free. I always get pissed when I find out that someone has plagiarized my resume work but I don't think there is much I can do about it short of copyrighting every resume I write and that probably wouldn't make my clients happy. This woman will get what's coming to her...what comes around usually goes around.

Regards,

Liz

The point of this post is: keep your resume to yourself unless you don't mind if ambitious co-workers copy your work or, possibly, take credit for your accomplishments. A huge part of the service I provide is helping my clients to target and articulate accomplishments. Do you want your co-worker to see the way you have described your success on a project and say, "Hey, I worked on that project too so I am going to put that great sentence on my resume."? What if, like my friend Brad, you wind up competing with this co-worker for the same job?

There are many ways to support friends and co-workers that don't involve giving away your resume so think defensively and don't share personal information that others could use to boost their careers at the expense of yours.

By: Liz Handlin, Ultimate Resumes Blogspot

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching entry-level jobs and other career opportunities.

Posted by Lisa Colbert, CollegeRecruiter.com on April 24, 2008 at 8:22 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Recently, I surveyed 159 job seekers by email, asking them this question:
"What is the biggest problem in your job search right now?"

The responses were intriguing and I had a hard time boiling the problems down to a manageable number to answer here.

But I did.

So, here are three of the most common job-search problems -- as chosen by you, my readers -- with my proposed answers.

Read on to see if your problem is solved here ...

Problem #1: How can I make contact with someone at a company where I'd like to work? I want to send my resume to a live person when applying for jobs.

Solution: When responding to a job posting, do whatever it takes to find out who the hiring authority is. Then, try to make contact with that person through your network.

If your network of contacts doesn't reach that far yet, build a bridge! Start with your personal network first, and Web-based tools second.

Remember: Computers don't hire. People do. So any information about an employer you can gather from the people you know (or the people they know) can help. Go through your email address book for names, or use Web tools like LinkedIn.com and Zoominfo.com to connect with more people.

Another Web resource worth a look is Jigsaw.com. The site aims to help you bypass gatekeepers by contacting decision makers directly, and it boasts more than 7 million contact names from more than 400,000 companies.
Jigsaw.com offers a free trial membership.

Problem #2: How can I find unadvertised job leads? I want to get beyond recruiters and HR gatekeepers to find someone who cares.

Solution: Spend time talking to people who already care about you. Start with your family.

Right now, the job you want exists somewhere in the mind of an employer. It may be advertised, or unadvertised, but it's there.

Your task is to get into the minds of as many people as possible, until you connect with the right mind -- the right employer. That's how you get hired. And that's what networking is all about.

Now. If you're at all average, you probably think you've told "everyone" in your family about your job search. But have you, really? Have you:

1. Written down the name of every single relative you have, aged 18 to 108?



2. Shown that list to your family to make sure you didn't forget anyone?



3. Called or emailed everyone on that list to tell them exactly what type of job you seek, the company you'd like to work for and the city you want to work in?



4. Asked each relative for the names of at least 3 people they know who might know of potential employment leads?



5. Thanked everyone you spoke to for their time?



6. Repeated this process every 30 days until hired?

What about relatives who live in other states or cities? Should you contact them for job leads? Yes! Because, you have friends across the country, right? Your relatives do, too. All it takes is one contact at one company and you'll be hired.

So stop making excuses and start making phone calls to relatives. And forget about pride here. Pride won't pay your mortgage.

In the end, you can't depend on a recruiter, the government or the Internet to help you -- they don't care about you. They don't even know you exist. But your family does. Start talking to them about your job search today.

Problem #3: How can I find good answers to the most common interview questions?

Solution: Try The Interview Center at Monster.com -- the direct URL is interview.monster.com. There you'll find tips for answering dozens of the most common questions, as well as virtual interview modules that let you practice online.

However ... once you know what you want to say, there's no substitute for practicing with another person. Because there's more to interviewing than words. You also communicate by your tone of voice, vocabulary, posture, wardrobe, the food stuck in your teeth, etc. So you absolutely must get feedback on these areas from people you trust. And mock interviews are the way to do it.

You need to practice live interviews for the same reason airline pilots practice making emergency landings in a flight simulator -- to build "muscle memory" so that your mind and body will react correctly in real life. Whether it's piloting your career or a 747, you can't afford to take chances.

Now, go out and make your own luck!

By: Kevin Donlin, President of Guaranteed Resumes and the creator of GetHiredNow.TV. Since 1996, he has provided job search assistance to nearly 10,000 people. Author of "51 Ways to Find a Job Fast -- Guaranteed," Kevin has been interviewed by USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, CBS Radio and others. His latest product, The Instant Job Search System, is available at http://www.collegerecruiter.com/guaranteed-resumes.php copyright (c) 2007 by Kevin Donlin

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching entry-level jobs and other career opportunities.

Posted by Lisa Colbert, CollegeRecruiter.com on April 18, 2008 at 2:24 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

About a week and a half ago I had the opportunity to moderate a panel discussion at a luncheon hosted by the Austin Technology Council. The topic was "Shortage in the Emerging Workforce: Evolving to Attract and Retain Talent" and the panel was comprised of some of the top Human Resource professionals in Austin Texas. The panelists were.

Heather Garcia, Director, ADP Total Source
Natalie Humphreys, Senior Manager Talent Acquisition, Dell, Inc.
Chad Macy, Regional Managing Director, Technisource Division, Spherion Corporation
John Termotto, Americas Staffing Manager, Freescale Semiconductor
Heidi Veselka, Global Human Resource Vendor Program Manager, Flextronics

When it comes to sourcing talented and qualified candidates, recruiters at companies both big and small are getting creative. Online job posting sites are just one source for candidates. Some companies have implemented alumni programs to recruit talent.

A key piece of advice these HR pros offered: Don't pass over seasoned professionals for young blood. Many of my over-40 resume clients want to remove dates of education and drop older experience just so they will appear younger to a recruiter...not only do recruiters see through that right away but just because you are over 40 doesn't mean you aren't a desirable employee in this market.

Each panelist brought unique skills and background to the discussion and some fascinating trends emerged:

1. Employees and employers aren't always in sync about what the other values most

   Chad Macy presented some information from a study that Spherion conducted about what employees value most and what employers think that employees value most in an employment relationship.
   Not surprisingly, there were some perception gaps.

   The study showed that employers believe that employees most value the management climate (good managers). Employees ranked benefits #1 and compensation #2 on their list of what they look for in an employer. Management climate was #4 on the employees list of values. On the other hand, employers in the Spherion study believed that financial compensation is only #7 on an employees list of desires.

   Smart employers who want to retain top talent will listen to what employees are really looking for. With that said, several conference participants pointed out that employee's needs/desires represent a delicate balance that is often in flux. For example, a job in a particularly collegial work environment might outweigh a job with higher compensation with a less desirable working situation.

   Without question benefits are important to almost all employees and companies are getting creative about what sorts of benefits they offer. Larger companies may extend opportunities for child education credits, scholarships, or stock ownership. Smaller companies may not be able to offer employees the highest salary, but offering comprehensive health benefits and the opportunity to grow with the company may give small companies a competitive advantage in this tight market.

2. Cutting edge companies are getting creative about retaining employees

   ADP Total Source has a robust employee development portal that enables employees to log on and peruse all jobs that they qualify for all around the world. If you work for ADP and you are tired of living in Austin you can look at all the jobs in the entire world that you could transfer to. This system is much more advanced than a simple job posting board because it targets jobs that match the exact qualifications of employees searching the system. ADP would rather retain and relocate a great employee than lose them to another company. Smart.

3. Recruiting through existing and former employees - alumni networks

   Dell is building an alumni program that is modeled after Deloitte's famously successful program. Former employees can log in, apply for jobs, or refer candidates. ADP TotalSource has implemented an alumni program to recruit talent as well.

   Freescale, which also has an alumni program, is aggressively creating a global "employment brand" so that when Freescale is mentioned people will immediately think about it as a desirable place to work. That way their employees will be come ambassadors for Freescale and will have a branding message to take to market. I think it's really smart of an HR department to take a marketing approach to attracting talent and, frankly, it's about time.

4. Employers are rotating employees within the company in order to make sure that talented employees don't leave because they perceive a lack of opportunity

   Dell is famous for its rotation programs...if you have ever seen a resume for a Dell employee you know what I mean. It seems like Dell employees transfer every few years based on their interests and performance level. This helps the company to keep retention up and employees challenged. Dell apparently fills 30-35% of open positions with internal hires. Bored employees who see little upward mobility look for jobs; those who are happy and challenged are more likely to stay put. Smart.

5. Cutting edge HR departments are trying to become a destination for employees to visit and discuss their career options

   One participant in the program likened visiting his HR department to being sent to the principal's office which got quite a laugh. The HR folks on the panel said that they are trying to change that perception in order to build strong relationships with employees that they can use to help retain top talent. I think it's high time that HR professionals understood the powerful role they can play in building trust with employees and retaining talent.

6. Some HR professionals have figured out that there are some no-cost things you can do to retain employees.

   Heidi Veselka and Heather Garcia both talked about how they welcome and orient new employees. Heather puts a small bag of candy and a note on new employee's desks to welcome them. Heidi told a story about when her former employer was acquired by Flextronics. She got a call from her boss to let her know that she was a valued employee and while they didn't know exactly where they were going to put her in the new organization, that she would have a job. That conversation cost nothing but it guaranteed that Heidi would stay with the organization instead of looking for a job as employees so often do during times of change.

   John Termotto of Freescale doesn't wait for employees to come to him: he makes a point to walk around his office and touch base with each employee in his department so that, on an ongoing basis, he knows how employees are doing and what they are feeling about their jobs. Simple, free, smart.

The panel discussion was great and I thought the takeaway was a very positive one for employees. If you have desirable skills companies want to hire you and they want to keep you! The trick is to find a company where your skills and personality are a fit for the environment.

Special thanks to Alisha Ring, Carol Dwyer, and Soozie Selfridge of the Austin Technology Council for hosting a terrific event.

By: Liz Handlin, Ultimate Resume Blog

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching entry-level jobs and other career opportunities.

Posted by Lisa Colbert, CollegeRecruiter.com on April 7, 2008 at 8:17 AM | Leave a Comment (2)

Looking for a new job? If so, you have a problem, right? You want to find work.

Would you like to solve that problem and get hired faster? Good. That's what this column will help you do.

Wait. Stop.

You've just read 39 words and all I've done is ask a few questions. You've just proven how engaging and powerful questions can be.

Now.

If you want to find out how three engaging and rather unusual questions could give you the answers you need to find your next job fast, keep reading ...

1. What jobs are really out there? Before investing precious time in a job search, wouldn't it be great to know exactly what the demand for your skills is right now, so you head off in the right direction?

   Well, you can. And it's easy to do.

   Just go to Monster.com (or any mega employment site) and play with search terms to get a sense for what employers are looking for.

   Example: Searching for "auto sales" at Monster turned up 77 job openings in Minnesota; "automotive sales" found 123 openings; and "car sales" brought back 152 job listings -- nearly twice as many as the first search.

   Knowing the demand for specific jobs will help you speak the language employers want to hear. In the example above, I would use "car sales" in my resumes, cover letters, and networking conversations, because that's the phrase employers seem to be looking for in that sector.

   Note: For a more accurate idea of what's out there, multiply the number of jobs you find online by four. Because only about 15-25% of job openings are ever advertised.

2. Are you being active or productive in your job search?
   A wise man once said, "Never confuse activity with productivity."

   Do you feel like you're getting a lot done every day, yet you're not getting calls from employers? If so, your activity is not productive, is it?

   To fix this, get a piece of paper and write down everything you've done in this job search -- and the last two before it -- the produced a face-to-face meeting with a hiring authority. That's the goal of your efforts, after all. We'll call these "A" job-search activities. They are productive.

   Then, write down everything else you've done in your search that didn't produce a meeting, such as picking up the dry cleaning, visiting ESPN.com, deleting spam, etc. You get the idea. These are "B" job-search activities. They are not productive.

   You can guess what's coming next, right?

   Starting tomorrow, spend as much time as possible doing "A" activities, and stop doing "B" activities altogether. The upsurge in real productivity you enjoy may astonish you.

3. How could you get others to find job leads for you?
   The most successful people multiply their efforts by using tools, teams and systems to get more done each day. Think Tom Sawyer painting that fence.

   You can do this, too. Here's how ...

   • Tools: Although I often admonish folks to look beyond their computer screens for job leads, the Internet does offer cool tools that can make you more productive in your search for work.

     You'll find some of the best at these two web sites:
     www.indeed.com/tools/jobseeker and www.simplyhired.com/a/tools/home.

   • Teams: Who's on your job-search board of directors? Don't have a board? For shame. All you have to do is ask 4 or 5 friends to meet every 2 weeks for lunch or coffee. Give them regular progress reports, ask for their input, hold yourself accountable -- and get hired faster.
   • Systems: Do you have an organized way of managing every job lead, from start to finish, until it either turns into an interview or is ruled out. No? More shame for you.
   
   

Instead, you need a system. It could be as simple as an Excel spreadsheet or a box of 3x5 cards, or as robust as the contact management software from ACT, GoldMine or JibberJobber.com.

Until next time, go out and make your own luck!

By: Kevin Donlin is President of Guaranteed Resumes and the creator of GetHiredNow.TV. Since 1996, he has provided job search assistance to nearly 10,000 people. Author of "51 Ways to Find a Job Fast -- Guaranteed," Kevin has been interviewed by USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, CBS Radio and others. His latest product, The Instant Job Search System, is available at http://www.collegerecruiter.com/guaranteed-resumes.php
copyright (c) 2007 by Kevin Donlin

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching entry-level jobs and other career opportunities.

Posted by Lisa Colbert, CollegeRecruiter.com on April 7, 2008 at 7:37 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Maybe because we're still at the beginning of a new year, or maybe because we're on the edge of a recession, resume writing has become an even hotter topic lately. On the heels of the great response on [a previous] Razume post, I thought I'd share some information about a new free resume help service my friend Louise Fletcher has just launched.

Louise is the president of Blue Sky Resumes, co-founder of the popular Career Hub blog, and author of the book, The Complete Guide to Resume Writing. Her approach to resume writing is based on her 15 years in corporate HR and learning what works in the real world. The essential point is that you must think of your resume as a marketing document and draft it accordingly. Similar to advice I've given in the past, Louise says that a critical mistake candidates make is thinking that the resume is about them, not about the employer. Job seekers are so concerned about their needs, and their experience, and making sure they explain everything they've done, and they don't stop to think about what the employer is looking for.

Louise's short and easy to digest 7-part online course can help you overcome this hurdle, and provides the same sound guidance that you'd receive paying a fee to your local resume writing service. Here's a quick overview of the contents:

· The #1 problem with 95% of resumes and how you can avoid it

· How to show employers exactly why they should hire you!

· Boost the response rate to your resume by 50% or more with a simple shift in focus

· The secret ingredient that the best professional resume writers use to spice up their clients' resumes

· How to use basic design principles to make an impression in that all-important first 20 seconds.

· How to evaluate your resume to ensure it's the absolute best it can be.

· How to use these resume writing techniques to ace your interviews

So if you're looking for resume assistance, check out the course and then post your resume on Razume for feedback!

Article by Alexandra Levit and courtesy of Water Cooler Wisdom blog.

Posted by Candice Arnold on March 10, 2008 at 4:41 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

A friend sent this to me...I thought you might enjoy a little comic relief.

http://www.geocities.com/whisperzz.geo/busjokes.html

Some of these are old jokes that have been circulating for a long time. Still, whether you think they're funny or not, you can learn from them.

ALWAYS spell-check and proofread your resume and anything else you send to a prospective employer. For example, in the "Resume blunders" section on that page, spell-check would not catch "ruining" as a misspelled word, even if you meant "running". The same goes for "composer" and "composure".

Also send your resume to yourself via email before sending it to any employers. Sometimes formatting issues can arise that make the document all but unreadable. I received a resume this afternoon that was riddled with page breaks, column breaks, and garbage characters. With all the page breaks, the person's resume ended up being 138 pages long! His contact information didn't show up until page 13! That person's chance of making it through the initial screening process are virtually zero.

Remember that your resume and cover letter are supposed to be a representation of your best work. Carelessness can cost you your dream job before you even have a chance to interview for it.

To your success,

David B. Wright
Author, Get A Job! Your Guide to Making Successful Career Moves

Article by Jim Stroud, "The Job Search Strategist" providing strategies, tips and tutorials on how to find work and advance your career.

Posted by Candice Arnold on March 3, 2008 at 9:07 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

I model my resume on the resumes of consultants I work with. But in general a resume should be clear and should give a manager glancing over it a good idea of your technical capabilities. I've seen managers raving about 1 page resumes, but I don't agree that a 1 pager does justice to someone's experience.

Furthermore, there is always a mixed review on cover letters, I don't really pay attention to them since they don't say anything to me. Your resume should spell out what, where, and how. Chances are that if you do not have something in your resume a cover letter will not save you from the trash pile. I have also received quite a few resumes with the cover letter addressed to the wrong company. What do you think happens to that resume?

Font's should be conservative, Arial 10-12pt, single spaced, regular round bullets, no underlines, bold only the job title, company name and date, and the heading can be a little bigger. Make sure your education is clearly marked on your resume. I noticed many Indian consultants do not put the school name; one consultant did not put that she went to IIT, a school comparable to MIT in the US and a huge advantage at certain firms. Place your most current education first, even it is not yet completed, unless you did not complete the degree at all.

Use action words such as develop, lead, recruited, gathered, analyzed, managed. Do not write prose "I was responsible for blab la bla... " boring and slow. You want your resume to be crisp and sharp.

Include your numbers! Especially if you do sales where numbers are important.

Feel free to email me for any questions! Comments are welcome. You can take a look at my resume for an example.

By: Gene Leshinsky, The Boston Technical Recruiter

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching entry-level jobs and other career opportunities.

Posted by Lisa Colbert, CollegeRecruiter.com on March 3, 2008 at 8:37 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Sometimes no matter how much you try you can't - and don't want to - make your current job work for you. Maybe it's too many demands coming from too many places; maybe it's the lack of systems that is driving you crazy. Whatever it is, you're at your breaking point and you know it's time to look elsewhere for career fulfillment.

If you're like most job seekers, a new job isn't going to fall into your lap the second you want it to. It's going to take a little time to find the right positions and companies in which to apply. And you know what that means, right? You have to make the most out of the situation.

Take Time to Unwind

If you're miserable at your job, you might have a problem with 'turning off' your thoughts about your current job and job search during your down time. That's natural and completely understandable. However, you don't want this to take over your life.

While it takes a lot of time and effort to find a new job, you have to make some effort to have fun and relax. Set up a certain amount of time to work on your job search each day or week while making time for other fun activities. This is a necessity for keeping your sanity.

Don't Get Overwhelmed

Take your job search one day at a time. You know the steps you need to take in order to secure a new position. Write out a plan and make it happen. Make it a doable plan though. If you don't have 4 hours a day to spend on your job search, then don't plan for four hour's worth of tasks. Instead, plan what you believe is achievable but that also makes you work on a timeline. Try not to get too stressed about the whole process. Prepare your documents and yourself for your job search and you'll gain more confidence in your ability to land a new job.

Make the Most of Your Situation

While you're looking for a way out, don't forget that there are many opportunities that may present themselves exactly where you're at. Training to sharpen transferable skills is a perfect way to add depth to your resume. There may even be positions in other departments become available that interest you. Of course, this only works if you're willing to stay within the same company.

If staying in the company is not an option - and especially if you have ill-will toward some people there - it may be tempting to step on some toes on your way out. Don't. You never know when you might see those toes again.

There is no need to go around with a chip on your shoulder just because 'you'll be leaving soon.' How soon is soon? You have no idea so put your happy-face on and act like you plan on being there until you retire.

Many times when you've come to the conclusion that you're ready for a new job, you're already behind in your job search. Get that resume updated and polished, search for posted jobs and network. Find out what's out there and then make your move.

Heather Eagar is a former professional resume writer and owner of http://www.ResumeLines.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 February 21, 2008 at 3:35 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

I first met Mellody Hobson in 2002 when I was working for the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. I created a program called Money Smart Week which was a campaign that brought together financial institutions, not-for-profits, schools, elected officials, government agencies, and other stakeholders with an interest in financial education for consumers. Mellody, President of Ariel Capital Management, was known for her efforts to educate individuals about investing, so I set up a meeting to talk to her about getting Ariel involved in Money Smart Week.

My first impression of Mellody was that she was very articulate and glamorous to the point of being intimidating. As I got to know her a little better I realized that in addition to having intelligence, charm, a great job, and designer clothes Mellody was also a tireless achiever. Notice that I didn't use the term "overachiever" because that would imply that her achievements are above her innate skill level. No, Mellody is one of those rare achievers who unintentionally make the rest of us feel like slackers.

I went to a top-tier college and a top ranked MBA program so I think I know a high achiever when I see one. The difference between Mellody and a lot of hard-working high-achieving individuals is that she makes it look easy because she appears to be doing what she truly loves and not just what will earn her the biggest paycheck. If you ever get the chance to hear Mellody give one of her famous speeches about investing I suggest that you stop what you are doing and go listen to her. She explains investing in simple, yet non-condescending terms and she is so passionate about the topic. She and her firm are particularly passionate about encouraging African Americans to start investing.

Mellody grew up in Chicago and attended Princeton University. She graduated from Princeton in 1991 with a degree in South African studies (note that she did not get a degree in finance or accounting). While at Princeton she approached John Rogers, founder of Ariel Capital Management LLC and a fellow Princeton alum, about an internship. John hired her as a summer intern and then hired her full time as the Director of Marketing when she graduated. By 2000 she had been named President of Ariel. How did she do it? Hard work, dedication, and just plain loving her job and the company that employs her. Ariel couldn't find a more passionate advocate for its investments than Mellody. The firm now boasts more than $15 billion under management.

Mellody is a regular contributor to Good Morning America's financial segments and she serves on the boards of the Chicago Public Library, The Field Museum, The Chicago Public Education Fund, and the Sundance Institute. She is a director of the Starbucks Corporation, The Estee Lauder Companies, Inc, and Dreamworks Animation SKG, Inc. She was named one of the Global Leaders of Tomorrow at the 2001 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. In her spare time she runs marathons and tutors underprivileged children. She isn't 40 years old yet.

Mellody fascinates me, in part because of the brilliant way she has navigated her career, but also because she is really a genuinely nice woman. Soon after I met her she invited me to be her guest at an Economic Club of Chicago dinner - I met a group of fun, smart, high-achieving women at her table. What an honor to have been included.

As I mentioned before I have met a lot of achievers, some of them quite famous. Few are as genuinely passionate about their jobs as Mellody seems to be. Few "walk the talk" the way she does. And few seem to push themselves in every area of their lives as Mellody does. She is the total package that we all wish we could be: smart, talented, hard working, high achieving, nice, beautiful, and well liked.

I think what we can learn from Mellody is that you should find a job you love working for people you admire and then work your rear end off. In other words: be strategic about your career and work really hard when you find the right job. If you have a job that you are great at and you are happy in your work environment you will have the energy left to push yourself in other parts of your life (run marathons for example) and you will naturally behave with kindness toward others. Generally speaking it's the unhappy achievers who aren't very nice to be around.

It is amazing what can happen when you are in the right place at the right time and you aren't afraid to fully commit yourself to your career. But you have to find the right place to work rather than just finding any old place to work. Easier said than done I know but that is what I have learned from Mellody. That and to be graceful even when you are under pressure. She is as classy a lady as you will ever meet and she is always gracious and charming no matter how little time she has. Like I said, she makes her success look so easy even though I know she has worked harder than some of us will ever work at anything we do in order to make it happen.

Oh, did I mention that she is rumored to be dating film director/producer George Lucas? He even took her to the 2007 Academy Awards as his date. If she wasn't such a nice person it would be so easy to hate her!

By: Liz Handlin, Author of The Ultimate Resume Blogspot

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching entry-level jobs and other career opportunities.

Posted by Lisa Colbert, CollegeRecruiter.com on February 11, 2008 at 7:54 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Last night, I was talking to my friend Whitney about her frustrations with her job. Whitney works for a small privately owned company where she is the top-ranking finance person. I think her title is CFO but I am not certain. She started at the company a couple of years ago when she had just graduated from college and because she is extremely competent and hardworking she has assumed progressively more responsibility the longer she has been employed by the company. She is one of those people (every company has one) who is the go-to person for everything. She "gets it" and never lets the ball drop no matter what she has to do to fix the problem. She knows how everything works and she always thinks about the big picture even when she is working on the most mundane of details.

The problem is that Whitney works too hard in relation to her compensation and rewards program. She worked all day on new years eve and half a day on new years day just to get caught up because they are understaffed. And she is grossly underpaid for what she does. If your employer doesn't value your contributions enough to staff properly or pay you fairly then why kill yourself for the job? I told her that she is just too young to be this stressed out over a job. She seems to like the job when the owner is pleasant to her but he isn't always easy to get along with and at those times it just isn't worth the effort to her. Should she quit?

Continue reading "How Do You Know When to Quit Your Job? " »

Posted by Sarah Ennenga on January 4, 2008 at 1:30 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

I bought my friends tickets to see The Big Apple Circus. They loved the show, and when I asked about their favorite acts, juggling was at the top of the list. Juggling just seems so amazing (as well as aerodynamically impossible).

The one fact that’s not apparent at the live act is the multitude of times the performers have dropped items during training. Untold hours of practice and lots of mistakes have led to a pristine performance at the circus.

I couldn’t help but see the correlation with job searching. The process can be so frustrating, and is fraught with rejection, roadblocks, and failure. There’s so much competition for the best jobs, and even the strongest candidates can be left jobless for a long time.

Continue reading "Job Search Juggling " »

Posted by Sarah Ennenga on January 3, 2008 at 10:37 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

An Application Checklist

Provided By: Associated Content, Inc.

Before you sit down at your computer to start filling out your graduate school applications, you’ll need to know a myriad of facts about yourself, and you’ll have to already have completed certain tasks.

Continue reading "Applying to Graduate School" »

Posted by CandiceArnold on January 2, 2008 at 1:08 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Reprinted courtesy of TheCareerNews.com

LOS ANGELES, CA -- If you're looking for a job but are currently employed, mounting a job search can be tricky. Posting your personal information online can also lead to other privacy issues if you're not careful. You shouldn't limit your opportunities by not posting your resume, but you certainly wouldn't want your current employer to find your resume on a job site. So what to do?

Continue reading "Posting your resume online without privacy worries" »

Posted by Sarah Ennenga on November 26, 2007 at 3:49 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

When was the last time you looked at your life and said, "How in the world did I get here?" A month ago? Last week? This morning? Sometimes you can wonder that in a good way as if you've had a great fortune in love, life and work. Other times, it's not thought of in such a positive light.

When it comes to your career, is it ever too late to 'go back?' It depends on each person's own circumstances but in more cases than not, it can be done. And sometimes it doesn't even have to be a complete reversal. Maybe a little side trip is all you need.

What were your dreams?

As a child, teenager and young adult, you had your dreams. What were they? Once you take a trip down memory lane, think about why they were your dreams. Did you want lots of money and acclaim? Did you want to try to save the world - one person at a time?

If you're like a lot of people, what you actually ended up doing for a living is something completely different than what you planned. And that's okay. Life doesn't always have to go according to plan. That's a part of life that makes things interesting.

However, if you want to dip your toes into a new pool, there are ways to do it successfully - without risking what you already have.

Take on a part-time gig

What? Why take a part-time job when you're already employed with a full-time one? This can be very useful if you think you want to completely change your career path. For example, you can be an accountant during the day but a pharmacist's assistant at night. (One note: be sure to clear any second jobs with your current employer. Many companies have policies regarding those situations.)

Take some classes or training

If you are curious whether or not you have what it takes to make it big in another career, start studying. Simply take some online classes, read up on necessary qualifications that you would need to earn and find out if it 'fits you.' This is a quick way to test the waters before taking the big plunge.

So before you resign yourself to the fact that you're in a career that you dislike forever, take the time to discover if there's something better out there for you. It doesn't have to be risky; take it ultra-slow at first, and if it feels right, continue down the path to a new, more rewarding career.

Heather Eagar is a former professional resume writer and owner of http://www.JobsCareersEtc.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 11, 2007 at 3:58 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Despite All the Tricks, Your Resume is Ultimately Only as Good as Your Career

Provided By: Associated Content, Inc.

There are thousands of ways to boost the power of a resume and get the most advantage out of your career. Some of these methods can stretch and strain and wrangle a decent-looking career out of the messiest patchwork of jobs and responsibilities.

Continue reading "Resume Writing Can Only Do So Much " »

Posted by CandiceArnold on October 1, 2007 at 12:53 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

It's no secret: your job search can be a drag. And it can be very draining on your psyche. Maybe if we go in-depth to see what really is all involved in a job search and what it entails, it'll help you gain perspective.

The Mental Preparation

Yep, you have to be in the right frame of mind for a job search. If you're not then it can mean a very stressful and tense time for you. It can also cause you not to put your best work into your job search.

Let me explain this last point. If you're dreading doing something, what do you tend to do? Do you procrastinate? Do you just hurry through it and not really take the time to care how good it is? This is where the problems start and that's why you have to begin your job search with enthusiasm and hope for the future.

Job Search Document Preparation

A good job search needs a good resume and cover letter. Let me correct that: it needs a GREAT resume and cover letter. Have you ever known anyone to be very successful in their current job and then you catch a glimpse of their resume when they start job hunting and you're stunned by how...amateurish it looks? Now, you know that this person is successful in his own right but looking at his resume, how would any future employer know that?

This happens more than you know - at all career levels. It also makes your job search stall before it really can even get started.

Interview Skill Preparation

If you don't know the walk and talk, then how do you plan on landing the job you want? Getting comfortable in an uncomfortable situation is crucial to your job search success and can determine whether your job search lasts two weeks, two months or two years.

Knowing that, why do so many job seekers take this part of the process for granted? People seem to feel confident in their abilities to convey all the important messages that will help get job offers. They 'know' the things to do and things not to do. Are you overly confident? Maybe now is the time to freshen up your interviewing skills.

Talk to Everyone

When you're job hunting, everyone you meet can be your friend. What I mean is that you never know who knows someone who knows someone who is hiring for a position that would be perfect for you. Having that inside tract is a great way to really boost your success rate of landing job offers. If the hiring manager knows someone who knows you, then you must be okay, right?

Your job search is not over until you have accepted a job offer. So if you still don't have one in hand, keep applying for job openings that are appealing to you, that you're qualified for and that you feel is a good step for your career. And don't stop until you have reached your goal of a better - more rewarding - job.

Heather Eagar is a former professional resume writer and owner of www.JobsCareersEtc.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 September 13, 2007 at 9:22 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

There has been a ton of discussion lately about stay-at-home moms sacrificing their financial health for the sake of raising their children. Whether you agree or disagree with this statement, there are a lot of moms returning to the workforce to make an extra buck and keep their foot in the corporate world.

However, it doesn’t have to be an all or nothing approach. What are some ways to successfully get you back into the working world? Take a look:

Work Part-Time

This can be one of the most appealing work alternatives for moms. You don’t have to give up all your freedom and time with your kids while earning a paycheck. That’s the misconception that many have while contemplating their next move. Not only does part-time work allow you to get your feet wet once again without diving in head first, you can pick up some new skills and start putting away some money while you’re at it.

Work-At-Home (for someone else) & Freelance

There are many ways this can happen. You can become skilled in a trade that hires home-workers such as medical transcriptionists. There are different courses out there to help you get started with such a thing. You can also become a virtual assistant or a freelancer for a business owner. The type of work would vary greatly depending on your strengths and the business owner’s needs.

Work-At-Home (for yourself)

Starting a business can be extremely scary and overwhelming but the Internet makes it easier than ever. Now don’t get me wrong: you still have to have strong business acumen and be willing to work very hard and constantly keep abreast of new marketing techniques, but you don’t need a lot of upfront capital. Domain names are cheap and there’s help out there to get started.

But do NOT get caught up in the easy-money scam. These scams prey on amateurs who might not know that it really is too good to be true. Those of us who have online businesses know that it takes time and a lot of hard work to become successful.

Volunteer

Now if you’re a mom who doesn’t care about earning an extra paycheck right now, then volunteering might be the route for you. It allows you to choose something you enjoy and believe in while honing some important business skills. Yes, volunteer work can easily be transformed into valuable assets that will work for you when and if it comes time to go back to work. It’s usually viewed upon very highly with employers.

Whatever you decide to do, make sure it’s your decision. Some people believe that all women should work outside the home. If not, you risk financial ruin. That is a very dire picture to paint especially where there are other ways you can gain financial security. Do what’s right for you and your family. If the time is right and you feel you are willing and able to jump back into working, then go for it…and don’t let anything hold you back.

Continue reading "Moms Going Back to Work for Financial Security" »

Posted by Heather Eagar on August 30, 2007 at 5:30 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Today I received this email with “your resume” in the subject line:

Hi Kim

I recently received your resume for a position our firm had been looking to fill. This position was filled, however your resume appears to be a good match for some of the employers who frequently use our recruiting services in Boston. If you are still actively looking for a job in your field, click this link. If you are looking for a site specific to Boston, try here. Remember that it is important to keep your online resume up to date.

Best of luck,

Jennifer McMillan
HR Manager

Continue reading "Job Search Spam: How Do You Handle It? " »

Posted by Sarah Ennenga on August 25, 2007 at 12:35 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

1. Does the service clearly define the target population?

Who exactly will receive my resume. Are they simply gatekeepers or actual hiring decision makers?

2. Does the service make it easy to know what kind of clients would most benefit from it?

Does this service specialize in an aspect of the job search process or purport to be all things to all career seekers?

Continue reading "10 Questions to Ask Yourself When Considering Paying Fees to Distribute Your Resume" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on August 20, 2007 at 3:38 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

So you've spent hours working on your resume? You're exhausted, frustrated, overwhelmed, and have no clue if your resume is good or not? I hear these words often (along with many more colorful ones) to describe the resume writing process. And the funny thing is, once you have your resume out there, and don't hear back from the hiring manager, recruiter, or somebody besides your mom, you may think your resume sucks (another frequently cited resume descriptor) or something. Maybe it does; maybe it doesn't.

Continue reading "Is Your Resume Good?" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on August 20, 2007 at 3:08 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

I get asked to endorse products and books and services all the time. I almost never agree, but recently I came across a service that I DO really like.

One of the hardest things for job seekers is to get their resume into the hands of hiring managers and recruiters. There are many companies out there who promise to zap your resume to thousands of decision-makers - they make it seem so easy. The problem with most of these services is that they are sending your resume to people who didn't ask for it in the first place, and who don't have time to look at it. In addition, it's usually a one-time deal and you have no opportunity to follow up with hiring managers.

That's why I like Resume Spider so much.

Continue reading "A New Twist on Resume Distribution" »

Posted by Candice Arnold on August 20, 2007 at 11:54 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Everybody says you should send a thank-you letter after an interview. Everybody is right.

People seem to be getting it because according to the Wall St. Journal about 90 percent of applicants send thank yous. Good news.

The bad news: Only half of those personalize their letters.

Ugh. People are sending form thank yous? That's worse than no thank you at all!

Continue reading "Oh, And Thanks!" »

Posted by Sarah Ennenga on July 30, 2007 at 10:29 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Real wisdom is timeless.

Whether it's "Love thy neighbor as thyself," from the Bible, or "You can observe a lot by watching," from Yogi Berra, wise words have a habit of sticking around.

The same goes for your job search. Some of the best employment advice you can get is as true today as it was back in your grandfather's day.

To prove this -- and to share some old-time job search wisdom with you -- here are three ways to find a job faster, taken from two books published more than 65 years ago ...

Continue reading "Old-Time Job Search" »

Posted by Sarah Ennenga on June 21, 2007 at 10:38 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Planning for retirement is a crucial part of your life and career. Whether you are young – or not so young – you have to be sure to take the proper measures to ensure your financial future. It’s never too late to start, but you have to start now.

The 401(k)

A 401(k) is a great savings tool and a good way to start saving for your retirement, no matter what stage of retirement planning you are in. If your employer offers a 401(k) plan, you can have a pre-determined amount of money automatically withdrawn from your paycheck and deposited in your 401 (k) account.

Most employers have 401 (k) ‘matching’ - where the employer will match every dollar you invest into your 401(k) account with an amount, usually from .50 to $1. Perhaps the best part of investing in a 401(k) account is that you are not charged any taxes on the money until you actually withdraw it as you begin your retirement.

Most 401(k) plans offer first-time homebuyers the option to borrow against their 401(k) for a down payment. However, keep in mind that if you make any withdrawals before retirement for any reason, you will have to pay a penalty of 10% to the IRS. Therefore, you should only borrow against your 401(k) as a last resort.

If You Are Nearing Retirement

If you are nearing retirement, three factors that you need to keep in mind are that you can accrue social security benefits, savings, investments and lastly, pensions after retirement. If you want to take advantage of these, you need to apply for these retirement benefits at least three months in advance. At the same time, you may want to sign up for Medicare, which will help you meet your healthcare expenses.

Evaluate and determine your retirement needs in order to maintain the same standard of living that you have now. Find out if you are entitled to benefits from your employer’s pension or profit sharing plan. Sign up and contribute as much as you can, if your employer offers a tax sheltered savings plan like the 401(k). Keep depositing money into your IRA account, where it can grow, tax-free.

Make financial security your priority though proper strategic planning so that you can retire without worrying that you may not have enough money to last throughout your golden years.

Just Starting Out To Midlife

Successful financial planning for retirement requires careful and calculated planning on your part. Your savings and social security income are surely not going to last for a lifetime – and there’s talk whether social security will even be around at all. With this in mind, the best way to financially prepare for retirement is to start saving today so that you will have a more secure tomorrow. And you can easily accomplish this through diversified investing. Today’s financial market has various options available, starting from US Treasury bonds to stocks to mutual funds. If you are younger, say in your 20’s or early 30’s, then you may want to have more aggressive investments. People in their mid 30’s to late 40’s or 50’s may want a more moderate-risk portfolio. The key point to remember with any investment is - the higher the returns, the higher the risks.

No matter what your age is, you should seek the help of a financial planner, accountant or stockbroker who can counsel and guide you in the right direction. When it comes to retirement planning, the sooner you get started, the better off you’ll be.

Continue reading "Building A Secure Future Through Retirement Planning" »

Posted by Heather Eagar on June 1, 2007 at 5:30 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Ever wondered why people trade down for a job when they are already settled in a high-profile job that pays them quite well? Many people trade down for a variety of reasons that include long-term career opportunities, change in lifestyle, job security, less stress, family reasons and so on.

Choosing to take a new job that pays less but offers advancement possibilities and a chance to learn new skills can be a tough call. However, some people view losing a bit of compensation a small price to pay when taking into consideration long-term career and lifestyle benefits.

When looking at a new job opportunity, always consider the complete compensation picture – not just the salary. Instead, look at the new job’s smaller salary package in light of the new role that it offers and other such benefits such as vacation, paid time off and other lifestyle-enhancing advantages. Here are some of the reasons that people may trade down for a job:

• Long Term Career Opportunities – In many cases, the long-term career opportunities in a new position might be better than your current one. If the new company is providing you with an opportunity to excel and if you will end up in a better financial condition over time, then it makes sense to consider trading down.

• Lifestyle – When changing jobs, most people are willing to trade compensation for a better lifestyle. For example, some people wouldn’t mind getting paid less if they could live in their preferred area. This is very important for professionals who are looking to settle down in a particular area and who are okay with taking a pay cut to do so. Having more time for family also plays a big role.

• Less Stress – Many people have started accepting jobs that pay less or offer them lower positions so they don’t have to deal with constant pressure and stress. Stress is one of the biggest factors why people leave their jobs and choose lower-profile jobs. Stress can lead to health problems and is directly related to low job satisfaction.

• Job Security – Most people leave jobs that are not very secure - and they accept jobs that may pay less, but offer greater security. If your current company is outsourcing a lot of work and is losing money, a new job at another company might have brighter long-term prospects. Most people would rather work for less money than be unemployed.

• Over 50 And Wanting ‘Less’ In Life – There are many 50+ citizens who are trading down for jobs that are less stressful, more convenient and give them more job satisfaction. Most of them say that at that age they want less in life and are happy with taking a job that pays less and keeps them happy, rather than dealing with a high-paying, high-pressure job.

If you are unhappy in your current position, or simply want more time to live the lifestyle that you want, trading down might just be the answer you’ve been looking for. It might be the best decision you’ll ever make.

Continue reading "Is Your Job Cramping Your Style? Consider Trading Down" »

Posted by Heather Eagar on May 24, 2007 at 1:23 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

The first thing that comes to your mind after getting your degree is to find a lucrative job in your chosen field. The job market is highly competitive and it is important to prepare yourself before you start your job search. Multiple careers, downsizing workforces, and a lack of job security are realities of today’s job market.

There’s nothing called a ‘lifetime career’ anymore - and on average, college students can expect to pursue about five different careers and change jobs about twelve to fifteen times during their working lives.

Planning

While most of us would love to get a job that pays well, what good is a job if it isn’t satisfying? You need to identify your goals and conduct a careful analysis of your skills and interests before heading out to find a job. Once you have a clear objective, it’s easier to focus on specific jobs that will give you both money and job satisfaction in the long run.

For a more effective job search, focus only on target industries and companies that are located in your geographical area (or an area where you would like to live). Put your research and networking skills to work - during your job hunt, if you get any good consulting assignments or temporary job offers, don’t turn them down. These jobs will give you good exposure and experience, along with a decent paycheck.

Do Not Underestimate The Power Of A Good Resume

If you lack the skills to write a dynamic resume, then don’t waste time - seek professional help from a career coach. After all, you need a well-written resume to get interview calls. A career coach not only knows what impresses potential employers, but can overcome the hurdles that a first-time resume presents, such as lack of experience.

A good career coach can not only help your resume present you in the best possible way, but can also help you clarify your career goals and evaluate potential employers. Best of all, they represent you and your best interests.

Your First Job Interview

Making a good first impression is important for successful job interviews. Make sure that you wear formal clothes for interviews unless you have been specifically asked to dress casually. Remember that on your first job interview, you are bound to be very nervous – that’s why you should be as well-prepared as possible, so there is less chance of you doing or saying something that could sink your prospects.

A career coach can help you be more successful on interviews – helping you to master such topics as asking the right questions and the art of negotiating salary. Your first job interview may not necessarily end up with you getting the job, however you must know how to deal with different situations gracefully.

As with anything worth having, the one thing that will help you find a good job is practice. Going on all types of interviews, even informational ones will help you become more comfortable and know what employers are looking for in candidates.

Continue reading "New Grads – Tips For Moving Out, On and Up" »

Posted by Heather Eagar on May 17, 2007 at 4:51 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Are you ready to move up the corporate ladder and shoulder management responsibilities? There are a number of indicators that can tell you if you are ready for the big leap. If you are in a staff or line job and feel that you should consider a career shift and look for bigger challenges, then maybe you should seriously consider moving into a management position.

You may not get promoted quickly to your desired position - promotions are highly competitive and you need to prove yourself (often over and over) to reach the top. This is possible only through hard work, motivation, confidence and your initiative for learning new skills and accepting challenges. You need to honestly evaluate your current work performance in order to determine whether you have given it your best shot.

If you are working for a big company, you need to consider how often management-level positions open up to know whether you stand a chance.

Make A Significant Contribution To The Company

In order to get promoted to a management position, you have to ensure that you significantly contribute towards the company’s progress. Propose new ideas or strategies to your boss to enhance the efficiency of the department. This initiative will not go unnoticed - organizations need people that actively advance corporate goals and help the company achieve its mission.

You can’t just let your career stagnate – if you are serious about moving into management, identify and develop the skills required to reach a management position. Let your boss know that you are focused on moving to a management position in the company. Then make good on your word - don’t miss out on the opportunity to representing your department at a meeting in your boss’s absence. Apply for internal management job openings as and when they come up. You need to promote yourself to let people know about your achievements and any new management skills you may have recently acquired.

Develop Business, Interpersonal And Technical Skills

Moving into a management position is not easy – and you can’t be technically or business illiterate. You need to be techno savvy and must develop good business skills. In addition, if the job you are targeting requires you to manage staff you must sharpen your interpersonal skills. As a good manager, you will be responsible for handling new projects, leading and motivating the workforce, meeting deadlines, and managing projects within the specified deadlines. To be an efficient manager, you need to build diverse experience that will be instrumental in dealing with difficult situations.

Moving into management isn’t easy – and dealing with staff on a continual basis will definitely be difficult at times. But by preparing early, being proactive and developing the required skills, you will be ready when lady luck opens the door for you.

Continue reading "Make Your Move – Right Into Management" »

Posted by Heather Eagar on May 10, 2007 at 1:30 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Are you thinking about changing your career? Are you worried about how difficult the transition is going to be? Then you are not alone. Many people go through similar anticipation when thinking about attempting a career change. Your career is among the most important things in your life, and changing it is one of the most stressful decisions you will ever make.

Be Passionate

The reason why you would even consider a career change in the first place is probably because you feel passionate about something and want to pursue it. There is no sense in making a change if you are not going to be any happier than you already are. You may be earning a five-figure salary, but if it is not making you happy and if you are not content with what you are doing, then it might be a good time to switch. Changing careers should be about passion and personal fulfillment.

Do Your Research

Make sure that before you make the final decision you conduct a thorough research on available opportunities. You need to analyze what skills you have and what skills you may need to acquire for your new job. You should be confident about salary prospects and other relevant information. You may have lots of expectations about the career you want, but conducting the necessary research will help you look beyond this rosy picture. Work with a mentor, such as a career coach, before you make the final decision.

Career Exploration

Changing your career can be overwhelming. Explore your options before you decide to make a commitment. Start by categorizing the careers you are interested in. This helps in narrowing down your options. Then pick only those that interest you the most, putting the others aside. Ask yourself questions such as:

• Why am I exploring this career?
• Will I need additional training or education?
• What are the opportunities and risks in pursuing this career?

These questions will help give you some very important and necessary answers. You can’t really begin on the path to career change until you know why you want to change and how you will go about it. The fact is that changing careers can be very time consuming and expensive, and you don’t want to start the process flying blind.

Once you have all the information you need, you can focus on one career option and work toward achieving it. Listen to your heart and head and then make a balanced decision. Whatever you do, remember you need to be flexible and devote a lot of time and energy to jump start your efforts.

Continue reading "Changing Careers – Ultimate Tips For Success" »

Posted by Heather Eagar on May 3, 2007 at 3:05 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Martin writes, “I was fired from my last job, which I held for over six months. The HR director would probably say I was fired if employers were checking my history. Should I just omit the job from my resume? This is my second job out of college.”

Continue reading "Should You Include the Job on Your Resume if You Were Fired? " »

Posted by Shawn Augustson, CollegeRecruiter.com on May 3, 2007 at 6:21 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

By Teena Rose
Get a monster of a graduate resume with GraduateResumes.com

With a strong economy, low unemployment rate and a job market flush with opportunity, it should be a good summer for college graduates jump-starting their careers.

According to jobsite CareerBuilder.com’s new survey, “College Hiring 2007”, 79 percent of hiring managers are planning on hiring recent college graduates this year, up from 70 percent in 2006. With 24 percent of hiring managers expected to hire more recent college grads at higher salaries than last year, the entry-level job market looks bright.

With that sunny outlook in mind, there’s a paradox that many college graduates face. Employers want experience. College grads usually don’t have. What to do?

This is the common Catch-22 of the entry-level job. Of course, 22-year-olds fresh out of college have spent their time in school, so on-the-job exposure is going to be non-existent. The part-time job at Taco Bell during the summer is not likely going to be relevant to that hard-earned degree in marketing.

The first thing the college grad must understand is that employers don’t simply base hiring on the amount of years you’ve spent in a particular field, especially with entry-level jobs. Recruiters looking for entry-level employees are equally concerned with finding candidates who are diamonds in the rough. Their long-term potential, interpersonal skills and leadership abilities are just as important as applicable experience.

Just because you’ve spent the past four years in college polishing up that economics degree doesn’t mean you won’t have some of the know-how employer’s desire. The internship is the key experience tool college students use to acquire the skills of their desired field.

Internships are in an opportunity for students to apply their classroom comprehension into real-time situations. This allows the student to receive hands-on training while testing the waters of his or her own career choice.

Employers love college graduates who have gone through an internship in a related field, but there’s more they’ll be looking at on the resume than an entry-level job seeker might be unaware of. Any activities during those years of college that can be translated into the everyday working world are valuable. Volunteer work, student government and even team sports are excellent indicators that a potential hire has the ability to work together with others and possesses leadership qualities.

Whether you’re captain of the basketball team, student body president or volunteered on a school political campaign, companies are always looking for campus involvement. The way a job recruiter sees it, someone involved in a handful of activities while pursuing a college degree is someone who can manage time effectively. And using time wisely on the job means a better bottom line for any company.

Once the internship and campus activities have been applied, there are still more skills that shouldn’t be left out. Any know-how gained that can be used on the job is important for a recruiter to hear. If your desire is to be a Web designer, the technical skills acquired during the past four years and mastery of different types of software is vital. If you’re a communications major but want to be an event planner, experience putting together parties, fund-raisers or other exhibitions are relevant talents.

With thousands of entry-level jobs out there this summer, college graduates simply shouldn’t take their experiences for granted. Whatever company you’ve targeted, do the research first, find out what their culture is, and leverage every possible amount of past experience you have when applying for the position.

Posted by Leading Resume Service for New Graduates, Students on April 30, 2007 at 8:25 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

If I failed to grab your attention with the title of this chapter you might not be reading this first sentence right now.

You can call it a ‘title’ or a ‘headline’ but the secret is to ‘pack a punch’ at the top of any written communications. Done properly, this practically forces the reader to explore a little further, to READ more of your letter, article, document, etc.

How can you use this secret with your resume cover letter?

This little-known gem works like magic and fits perfectly at the top of any job- search cover letter. With a powerful headline, you have the opportunity to grab the reader’s undivided attention. Without it you run the risk of falling victim to the dreaded, ‘scan and trash’ syndrome.

Continue reading "Cover Letter Tips #10 - The ‘Big Bang’ Theory!" »

Posted by Shawn Augustson, CollegeRecruiter.com on April 27, 2007 at 7:45 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Being grown up and having the freedom to ‘decide’ is a goal that most of us have. However, once we have reached our early twenties, and we realize that we are actually getting a little freedom, it is not such an exciting prospect. Why? Because along with the freedom comes the need to make responsible decisions, ones that are likely to dictate the course that our lives will take.

Getting Closer To Graduation Day

As we get closer to graduation day, whether it is for our first or second degree, or continuing education courses, most people are faced with a bewildering question – “What do I want to do?” It is now time to be proactive and take life by the horns. The course of your life has already been decided by the courses you took and your experience – for better or for worse, they have narrowed down your choices.

The key to figuring out where you fit in professionally is to put your academic or previous working life on paper and send your resume to prospective employers. It is then that you will see how it measures up in the real world. When it comes to your employment-related skills, ask yourself - how do they compare with the jobs available on the market? Do I have what employers are looking for? If your answer is ‘no’, ‘maybe’, or if you answer your own question by the fact that you are not getting any calls for interviews - then it’s time to do some reassessment – and decide if you need to bolster your skills with additional training, courses or meaningful work experience.

Once your skills are solid, you should compile a list of employers that you could approach. Why? Because jobs don’t grow on trees – you have to go after them! ‘Proving your worth’ is the name of the game. Once you get a few interview calls, (and with any luck, a subsequent job offer), you need to decide if you are going to take the job or not. At this stage, it is imperative to make the right decision – weighing salary, potential for advancement and the type of company – to be sure that it is the right job for you. If you have to wait a while longer for a suitable job to come along, then do it – it will be better for your career progression in the long run.

It Is Wise To Seek Wise Counsel

Whatever stage of your career you are in, a sound piece of advice is to seek counsel from the ‘experts’, such as a career coach. Run your ideas and career options by them. A good career coach is likely to be well-informed about the current trends in the job market and is also likely to be able to tell you how a particular job choice will (or won’t) help you. A career coach works for you, so you will receive sound advice.

Whether you are changing careers or just starting out, this phase of your life is likely to be scary - but it needn’t be traumatic. By taking advantage of additional training, education and the right career guidance, you should be just fine.

Continue reading "Career Decisions – Charting Your Own Destiny" »

Posted by Heather Eagar on April 26, 2007 at 9:31 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

I've written before that your job search is like an advertising campaign: to be successful, you must sell yourself to employers and convince them to "buy" by hiring you.

When it comes to advertising, you can learn a lot by emulating copywriters -- the people who write words on paper that persuade other people to buy.

Continue reading "3 Job-Search Success Factors" »

Posted by Shawn Augustson, CollegeRecruiter.com on April 26, 2007 at 6:45 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

We received a resume services inquiry from a frustrated job seeker who wrote, “I’ve sent my resume out so many times but I never get a call back. I need help!”

I opened her resume to see MS Word’s “Track Changes” feature turned on, and someone had written this comment in his work history: “Can you stretch this date a bit more to cover the gap?”

Continue reading "Resume Writing Tip: Turn Off Track Changes " »

Posted by Shawn Augustson, CollegeRecruiter.com on April 24, 2007 at 6:52 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

If you are not satisfied with your current job, you may be tempted to quit right away. However, this may not be a smart career move - and you should leave your present job only after you find a new one. When you’re looking for a new job, don’t burn any bridges along the way, because it is imperative to still maintain a cordial relationship with your current employers.

Keep It Covert

Most people make the mistake of letting it be known that they are miserable in their current job. Doing this gives the boss a big red flag that you may be ready to jump ship and seek your fortune elsewhere. No matter how awful you may feel, do not let on that you have already ‘checked out’ mentally. Everything needs to go on as it always has. Don’t give your current employer a chance to fire you, or worse, give you a bad reference.

Even if you are really, truly unhappy, you need to keep your wits about you and remain calm so you can think. Do you really want your current employer to know you’re looking? Think about it.

Get Off That Phone – Especially If It’s Not Yours

When you really hate your current job, you’ll do whatever it takes to get out. Understandable. But let’s be smart in the deal. Do not use the office phone to call prospective employers or let them call you. You run the risk of a colleague overhearing your ‘business’ conversation – and before you know it, word is all over the office that Johnny is looking for a new job.

If you are looking for a new job, it’s your business, and no one else’s – keep it that way by using your cellphone (outside on your break) or waiting until you get home to make that phone call.

Interview On Your Own Time

The time will inevitably come when you’ll have to go on interviews. That said, it is not smart to take long lunches, extended breaks and lots of sick days in a row to attend job interviews. This is the surest way to attract unwanted attention. If you must, schedule a vacation day well in advance of the interview date – even better, try to schedule a few interviews on the same vacation day to kill two birds with one stone.

Looking for a job when you’re desperate to leave your current one isn’t easy. It takes patience and planning. Keep a cool head and you’ll land a great new job sooner than you think.

Continue reading "Desperate To Leave Your Job? Avoid These Fatal Mistakes" »

Posted by Heather Eagar on April 20, 2007 at 7:21 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

As a new management graduate, your job prospects are looking better than ever! According to Job Outlook 2007, employers are planning to employ 17.4% more new graduates than they did in 2006. This increase is across all sectors – service (19.8% increase), manufacturing (9.5% increase) and government/non-profit (9% increase).

This year, MBAs will enter a market with 22.1% higher demand for their skills. MBA degree holders in demand are in the fields of Accounting, Business Administration/Management, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Information Sciences and Systems, Marketing / Marketing Management, Computer Engineering, Civil Engineering, Economics and Finance.

Upbeat Employment Market

The market is looking up, the economy is improving, rising demand for goods and services, the baby boomers are nearing retirement age – all these factors are contributing to the booming employment market. Most employers have already solidified their spots at campus recruitment sessions for the spring of 2007.

Starting salaries are expected to go up by nearly 10%.

Prospective employers are looking for a high level of motivation and fresh ideas that will benefit their organizations. They are looking for candidates that they can mold to be future leaders. A good GPA will help you get your foot in the door. To progress, prospective employers are looking at communication (grammar and writing skills), honesty, teamwork, leadership potential and a strong work ethic.

Work experience in the form of an internship at a leading company will help you stand out among the many job applicants.

Innovative Salary Structures

Employers are trying to be innovative in their salary structures to attract good candidates. Medical (life and dental) insurance, tuition reimbursement, planned social activities, bonus/commission plans, flextime, longer vacation and telecommuting are just part of the attractive perks and compensation packages being offered. In addition, as an MBA, there’s a good chance you’ll get a signing bonus.

Don’t let the booming employment market let you get complacent, even if you are graduating as an MBA with experience. Enlist the help of a job and career coach to help you ‘market yourself’. Be sure to attend your first MBA interview armed with knowledge about your prospective employer, the prevailing market conditions, the motivation to be a team player and a willingness to learn. Often, attitude trumps aptitude in the employer’s eyes.

Continue reading "Job Outlook for MBAs in 2007 – You’re Gonna Need Shades" »

Posted by Heather Eagar on April 13, 2007 at 1:28 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

If your job search needs a jump-start, it pays to sit down and analyze your situation. You should carefully question everything you're doing. But, be careful -- the wrong questions can be harmful to your career health.

Example: Never ask yourself questions like, Why can't I find a job? Or, Why won't anyone hire me?

Such "Why" questions will prompt your brain to give you excuses instead of answers -- you're too old/too young/too experienced/too stupid, etc. There's not much you can do about being young or stupid, is there? Which just leads to more frustration.

Continue reading "How's Your Job Hunt Going?" »

Posted by Shawn Augustson, CollegeRecruiter.com on April 13, 2007 at 7:05 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

GraduateResumes.com is a professional resume service for new grads and entry-level professionals. She’s authored several career books, including "How to Design, Write, and Compile a Quality Sales Brag Book" and "Cracking the Code to Pharmaceutical Sales (includes sample resumes)." Visit GraduateResumes.com today.

A rosy job market for entry-level job seekers just got stuck by a thorn.

College graduates had been on a good run during 2006, when they hit the streets for their first jobs. However, a February report from the Labor Department may mean that the brakes have been applied to a fast-moving market.

During 2006, employers added an average of 187,000 jobs per month, which corresponded with the lowest unemployment rate since 2001. The February numbers showed that 2007 may not be as bright as once thought. The Labor Department showed the U.S. economy created the fewest jobs in two years, even as the unemployment rate fell to 4.5%. Nonfarm payrolls increased by just 97,000, the lowest since January 2005.

Many economists believe the trend of slower corporate profit growth has produced a cautious environment directly related to overall economic weakness and, in turn, a slow down in hiring.

Just last year, the graduating class of 2006 entered a strong market where 72 percent of employers planned to hire graduates, compared to 64 percent in the previous year.

Whether there’s a weak jobs forecast or not, graduates in the crop of 2007 still face the same challenges and formulas for jump-starting their careers. The first place to start for any entry-leveler is a polished resume.

The job may be listed as entry-level, but most require experience and education that’s relative to the requirements. All relevant material should be included, like volunteer work, internships and interests, in order to make the employer aware that you’re familiar with the work. For example, if you’re applying for a job in public relations and you volunteered for three months working on a political campaign, then it’s relative material for a resume. If you flipped burgers for six months at McDonald’s, it likely won’t have much weight as PR rep, unless you’re making lunch.

The format of any resume nowadays is just as important as the writing. High quality paper resumes are still in demand, but electronic versions, whether HTML, Flash or on your own Web link are all necessary in today’s high-tech environment. There are hundreds of job boards, but Monster.com and Careerbuilder.com cover the widest range of listings across the country, so these sites are the best place to start.

If where to start, and what to do are still up in the air as graduation approaches, there are plenty of occupations that are hot now and will be in the future, including IT. Tech jobs in the U.S. for entry-level workers are in high demand, even though it may seem a lot of the work is outsourced. Grads that are tech-savvy and have some background to prove it are being coveted by companies with jobs in developing, business systems analysis, and technical support. Other job markets expected to be flush with opportunity in the future include retail sales, healthcare and teaching.

Posted by Leading Resume Service for New Graduates, Students on April 9, 2007 at 3:24 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

No one really knows when youth ends officially. But if you are over 50 and looking for a job, you probably feel that the rules have all changed. These are the times of downsizing, ‘right-sizing’ (whatever that means) and cost-cutting. If you have ever lost a potential job to a much younger, lower-paid candidate, you might have asked yourself if you’ve reached your expiration date.

Yes, age bias still exists – let’s not be in denial about that. But there are all kinds of biases that exist in the workplace and the matter of age is now less of an issue. Today, many companies are realizing the fact that younger employees are more liable to shift from company to company in an effort to strengthen their careers. But older employees are more likely to stick with their present jobs and have more loyalty. Companies (finally!) have begun to realize that stocking their workforces with younger candidates may not be the wisest thing to do with respect to their retention strategies.

Now, this doesn’t mean that you can shimmy right up to that 20-something Human Resources Director and expect them to just give you the job - it all boils down to what a particular company is looking for at any given point in time. If a company values the immediate cost savings that only a younger employee can offer, then you probably don’t stand a chance. But if you can manage to convince them that your knowledge and skills are a lot more cost effective in the long run, then chances are your age won’t be an issue anymore.

In order to achieve this, you need to take stock of your qualifications and skills. Once you determine what skills are marketable, you’ll probably stand out from all the other candidates.

Tips - Differentiating Yourself From The Masses

• Find organizations that will view your skills and qualifications as appropriate to their business.
• One of the biggest misconceptions about older employees is that they are less technically savvy as their younger counterparts. If you are computer literate, add that to your resume. List all the software packages that you know how to use. If you aren’t proficient with the computer, consider taking classes.
• Networking is extremely important for the older employee in the job market today. Search for former business colleagues, organizations and employees at firms that interest you.
• Always concentrate on your past achievements and not on your age. You can leap over impending hurdles with regard to your age by displaying strong vitality, good work experience and refined work ethics. Make yourself seem like someone who can get the work done and who can bring a lot of profits to the table with your maturity and exceptional qualifications.

The bottom line is that an organization either has to hire talent or develop talent. So, if you are articulate enough about your skills and talents and can show that you are a fast learner, your chances of getting a good job, irrespective of your age, are very high.

Continue reading "Over 50 and Job Searching – Cultivating Your Upper Hand" »

Posted by Heather Eagar on April 5, 2007 at 2:13 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Don’t Underestimate The Power Of A Resume

You may have spent hours searching for your dream job and applied for a job in every promising company you came across. In spite of your sincere efforts to find a job, you may not have received an interview call yet. Have you ever stopped to wonder why none of them have ever bothered to call you?

One possibility could be that you did not have the necessary expertise to qualify for the jobs that you applied for. This problem can be solved to some extent by upgrading your skills or enrolling in a course that could make you eligible for the job. On the other hand, it could also be possible that your resume never got noticed. No matter how qualified you are, your resume will not be considered if it is not structured properly. Generally, most companies receive hundreds of resumes on a daily basis. In order to simplify the recruitment process, employers and recruiters generally screen applications on the basis of resumes. All those resumes that are badly written are discarded first - making way for well-written, attention-grabbing resumes.

Is your resume one of the latter? Think hard before answering. And then get your resume evaluated by a professional career coach.

Avoiding Common Resume Mistakes

Most people underestimate the power of a dynamic resume and often overlook their importance during their job search. Your resume speaks volumes about you and can make or break your chance to make that all-important first impression. Avoid writing long and boring resumes, as employers do not have that much time to go through them. Ideally, your resume should be limited to one page. Do not use fancy ink or fancy paper to advertise yourself. Make sure you have what the employer is asking for. If you don’t have the required skills, it doesn’t matter how fancy your resume is. Keep it simple and use normal, legible font.

Resume Content

The content of your resume should be relevant. If you are applying for a job in a law firm, that lemonade stand you ran in the 12th grade has no business on your resume. Think about it – it just makes sense. Outdated information should be strictly avoided when preparing your resume. Make sure that the content is arranged properly and in the right order so that your employers can easily find the details they are interested in. You must have the necessary documents that can support the qualifications and achievements mentioned in your resume. Do not write elaborate explanations to justify why you had to leave your previous job.

Before submitting your resume, ensure that there are no spelling mistakes or grammatical errors. Do not forget to attach a crisp cover letter with your resume. A cover letter is as important as a resume and you can’t afford to overlook its significance.

If you’re not getting interviews, you need to stop to think of the possible reasons why. Don’t just keep on doing the same thing that isn’t working. The tips above will help you to correct the problems and finally start landing you some interviews.

Continue reading "Why Aren't I Getting Interviews?" »

Posted by Heather Eagar on March 29, 2007 at 2:55 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

It’s often been said that saying the right words at the right time is the key to success in the business world. If you have a line in your presentation that really captures attention…or if you say something particularly clever in a job interview…you may be able to achieve a career high you never dreamed possible.

It’s also no secret that a resume needs to be worded quite carefully if it is to accomplish the job applicant’s hoped-for results. While you’re drafting the wording for your career highlights, job duties, and other essential information for your resume, you should give some serious attention to keywords.

Continue reading "The Right Keywords Can Get Your Resume Noticed Among the Harshest Competition" »

Posted by Shawn Augustson, CollegeRecruiter.com on March 28, 2007 at 7:50 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

I’m a gadget freak so I’m always on the lookout for cool new tech toys. I got a kick out of Ubergizmo’s report of a pillbox charm that you can attach to your cellphone, available in Japan. It got me thinking that the majority of resumes out there should be sent with a bottle of aspirin because they are so boring and headache-inducing. What can you do to avoid this fate and keep the hiring manager’s interest?:

Continue reading "Resume Tip: Send Aspirin with Your Resume? " »

Posted by Shawn Augustson, CollegeRecruiter.com on March 28, 2007 at 7:03 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

More than 50% of people lie on their resumes. No wonder why hiring managers approach resumes with their antennas up, looking for gaps, holes, inconsistencies, or just outright lies. Hope A. Comisky of law firm Pepper Hamilton LLP reports that employers are conducting more frequent background checks on job applicants, indicating that employers are no longer accepting resume claims at face value.

Continue reading "Resume Tip: What’s Wrong with Being Yourself, Warts and All? " »

Posted by Shawn Augustson, CollegeRecruiter.com on March 26, 2007 at 1:01 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Maggie writes, “I am having a hard time turning my daily responsibilities into meaningful results. Any advice for a desperate job seeker?”

A: This is a popular question and I answered a similar one in this post: No Accomplishments? Oh Yes You Do!

Continue reading "Resume Writing Tip: 8 Ways to Uncover Your Accomplishments " »

Posted by Shawn Augustson, CollegeRecruiter.com on March 26, 2007 at 7:58 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

I spent the weekend in NYC and saw the hysterical Broadway musical Avenue Q. The show follows a new graduate named Princeton (a puppet) who doesn’t know how he will get a job and make ends meet with his useless degree in English. Princeton realizes that he’s got to find his purpose:

“I don’t know how I know, But I’m gonna find my purpose. I don’t know where I’m gonna look, But I’m gonna find my purpose.” - Avenue Q, Purpose

Continue reading "Entry-level Resumes: What’s Your Purpose? " »

Posted by Shawn Augustson, CollegeRecruiter.com on March 23, 2007 at 7:17 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Do you keep getting rejected at each and every interview that you go on? Is this getting you down? Making you feel dejected? Before you decide that ‘it’s all someone else’s fault’, have you thought of the possibility that you might be going wrong somewhere during the interview process? Well, instead of just sitting there and wondering why you’re not getting any good job offers you should probably try to find out why and make changes. Most job seekers feel that they have been rejected for no reason whatsoever, but this is usually not true.

Reasons Why You Might Be Getting Rejected

Here Are Five Of The Most Common Reasons Why Interviewers Reject Applicants:

• Lack of Confidence and Enthusiasm – When going for an interview, you must always show enthusiasm for the job. You don’t have to be a David Letterman, but a little bit of eagerness can work wonders for you. Enthusiasm, confidence and boldness will indeed do more for you than any college degree can.

• It’s All About Me – Yes, you probably are itching to know all about the benefits, leaves, vacations, insurance, etc. but you shouldn’t lead in with these questions. First, your interviewer will want to know if you can benefit the company. You can’t negotiate about vacation time before you have even been offered the job. You need to put your needs on the back burner for a minute and try to convince the interviewer that you are the perfect person for the job and that you have always wanted to work there - then you can get down to discussing the salary and benefits.

• Poor Appearance – First things first - if you really want the job, dress well. You can’t walk in wearing cut off jeans and a baseball cap! Most people get irritated about being rejected because of their nose rings, unpolished shoes or even bad breath. But these factors really do matter. Remember that companies hire people - not academic qualifications and past experiences. If you don’t look presentable then they won’t like you. And, if they don’t like you, then it won’t matter how impressive your experience is, you’re just not going to get the job. It might not be fair, but that’s the way it is.

• Going Unprepared For The Interview – If you flounder when being asked certain basic questions, you will give the impression of being unprepared and not interested in the company or the job! The time that you spend in preparing for your job interview will be time that is invested wisely.

• Lacking The Wow Factor – Even if you don’t particularly like selling toothbrushes door-to-door, you need to realize that at every interview, you must sell yourself. In today’s competitive market, it is necessary to promote yourself. After the interview, you can send a Thank You note and follow up with a telephone call at least two to three days later. Today’s companies are frantically searching for competent employees. So, it is good to sell yourself and show interest in the job.

Prior to going on an interview, make a note of your strengths and talents. Present yourself with enthusiasm and confidence. Make sure you follow up and once you’ve done all this, be ready to have multiple job offers waiting at your doorstep.

Continue reading "Ignorance Is Not Bliss – Why You Aren’t Getting Job Offers" »

Posted by Heather Eagar on March 22, 2007 at 1:54 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

I’ve written about common resume blunders, surefire ways to diminish the power of your resume. But what will really send your resume to the “Delete” bin? Here are five unforgivable errors that will likely doom your resume. Check your resume to make sure you’re not guilty of the following

Continue reading "Five Ways to Send Your Resume to the Trash " »

Posted by Shawn Augustson, CollegeRecruiter.com on March 22, 2007 at 1:38 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

It is difficult for a resume writer to answer the question, “How much do you charge to do a resume? This article will help you to see things from the perspective of a resume writer.

Let's "listen in" on a call from a job seeker seeking to have his or her resume "typed up."

Continue reading "Resume Services and Rates – Do They Add Up?" »

Posted by Shawn Augustson, CollegeRecruiter.com on March 22, 2007 at 11:04 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Pretend for a moment that you are a hiring manager. The receptionist knocks on your office door and announces that Mr. Smith has arrived to interview for the currently advertised pharmaceutical sales representative position. Baffled, the hiring manager states that there must be a misunderstanding because she never scheduled Mr. Smith for an interview. She instructs the receptionist to tell Mr. Smith to forward his resume and cover letter to express his interest in the company and the position.

Continue reading "I Don’t Need A Resume – I Can Tell Them What I Do When I Get There" »

Posted by Shawn Augustson, CollegeRecruiter.com on March 22, 2007 at 6:34 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

To many candidates, a resume is simply a document that details their progression from school and university through each different role to date in their career. While it is quite true that this is theultimate purpose of the resume, it is also true to say that it can secure for the successful candidate a new role at a salary thatfarsurpasses your immediate expectations.

The reason that your resume can make this possible is twofold. Firstly, a strong resume will offer you an opportunity to demonstratethe many ways in which your employment will yield results and enhance company success. Secondly, smart candidates understandthat by quantifying the percentage of growth, sales, profitability or cost reductions that they have the ability to make within anorganization will prompt an employer to sit up and take notice. Hiring managers understand that candidates who can transformoperational success and generate more sales or decrease costs are certainly worth an additional $10,000 or $20,000 in salaryexpenditure. An additional salary hike is obviously a far more cost effective method of spending money as it requires considerably less operational spend than losing thousands of dollars in operational inefficiencies or down turned sales and profit margins.

Continue reading "Your Resume can Secure a Salary Beyond your Expectations" »

Posted by Shawn Augustson, CollegeRecruiter.com on March 21, 2007 at 3:30 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

How many times have you heard someone say, "Just put it on your resume. There's no way they're going to find out"?

It is tempting to put little white lies on your resume. These might include overstating your knowledge of required software ("If they call me, I'll teach myself over the weekend"), a certification ("They'll never go through all that trouble to find out") or extending dates at a former employer ("They can't find out. The company went out of business").

So what's the big deal? It's not like you're claiming to be a medical doctor, right? Who are you hurting anyway? You're just stretching the truth a little to get your foot in the door -- or so you tell yourself. If these are familiar thoughts, you might want to re-think them. Why? Because the risk of getting caught is real. The odds of getting away with listing false information on your resume are probably, well . . . who really knows? Do you really want to find out the hard way?

Continue reading "Would You Lie On Your Resume?" »

Posted by Shawn Augustson, CollegeRecruiter.com on March 21, 2007 at 1:31 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

1. Choose Your Format Correctly - There are two main resume formats - chronological and functional. If you are seeking a job in a field in which you already have work experience, you will probably want to choose a chronological format where you will be able to showcase your job history. If, however, you want to transition into a different field, you definitely need to use a functional format. This will allow you to focus on your strengths and transferable skills and not box yourself into a certain field.

Continue reading " 5 Steps To A Successful Resume" »

Posted by Shawn Augustson, CollegeRecruiter.com on March 21, 2007 at 8:23 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

If you are still stuck on the habit of searching job ads on the newspaper then you are certainly missing the great wonder of technology and Internet that makes job search easy, convenient and successful. Through the idea of postings your resume online, you are into great career opportunities that would come to your way. Here are the 5 essential guides on posting resume online.

Continue reading "5 Essential Guides on Posting Resume Online" »

Posted by Shawn Augustson, CollegeRecruiter.com on March 20, 2007 at 10:00 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Finding a legit telecommute job can be difficult. Telecommute jobs are in high demand and hundreds if not thousands of other people are competing for the same position.

So how do you stand apart from everyone else? Your résumé.

Your telecommute résumé the first and often the only document a potential employer has to make a hiring decision with. Here are some tips specifically for your telecommute résumé to keep it on the employer’s desk and out of “file number 13”.

Continue reading " 5 Resume Mistakes Telecommuters Often Make" »

Posted by Shawn Augustson, CollegeRecruiter.com on March 20, 2007 at 8:45 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

The ancient Greeks carved a nifty saying on the wall of Apollo's temple at Delphi. It's just two words long, but it could have a profound impact on your career and your life.

The two words are: "Know thyself."

How well do you know yourself, especially when it comes to your job search?

Have you ever sat down and thought -- really thought, long and hard -- about the kind of work that would make you happy and support you for years to come?

Continue reading "Job Seeker, Know Thyself" »

Posted by Shawn Augustson, CollegeRecruiter.com on March 19, 2007 at 10:04 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Shaping Your Career

You need to have great career skills to climb the corporate ladder successfully. Career skills are also crucial if you want to switch jobs within your field. Your skills play a vital role in differentiating you from many others who probably have the same educational qualifications as you. Marketing and negotiation skills and public speaking and leadership skills are some of the skills that if mastered, can help you excel in virtually any career field.

“Networking” To Advance Your Career

Social networking is one of the most popular ways of connecting to people across the world through the Internet. Networking enables you to stay in touch with the right people and develop good business contacts crucial to your career growth. After all, getting a great job is all about being at the right place at the right time. And networking gives you a phenomenal power to stay connected with the right people to advance your career in the right direction. If you love to talk and make friends, networking wont be difficult at all.

Networking simply requires that you interact with people effectively. You don’t need to be a close friend of someone to get a job or ask for a favor. “You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours” is the overriding principle for getting favors through social networking. There are a number of social networking sites you can choose from. Another way to network is to join a local organization or a social club. Once you get into the habit of socializing and meeting people on a regular basis, you will be able to develop good contacts that can help you progress in your chosen career.

Set Realistic Goals

To be able to enjoy career success, you have to set realistic goals. Impossible, unattainable goals often become the cause of disappointment, dealing a blow to your self-esteem in the bargain.

Work With A Career Coach

A well-rounded career necessitates a good balance of interpersonal relationships, recreation and work. All these ingredients in the right proportion will make your career more meaningful than just a series of jobs. Work with a career coach, partner, or mentor who can motivate you and guide you on your path to success. A career coach can help give you the necessary tools to hone your business skills and encourage you to stick to your plans. You can also be a part of a support group or a group of likeminded people with similar business objectives and career interests.

There are many effective ways to improve your career. Always remember that career improvement is a journey – there isn’t necessarily just one destination.

Continue reading "Improving Your Career – A Contact Sport" »

Posted by Heather Eagar on March 15, 2007 at 9:14 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

A Job Search Is An Emotional Roller-Coaster Ride

Searching for a job can evoke a range of emotions. If you are searching for a job, then you may often be more open to negative and depressing emotions like anger and shame, instead of positive emotions. These emotions may rise and ebb, only to resurface again later.

Searching for a job is like going on an emotional roller coaster ride - but what you may not know is that there are ways that you can control the twists and turns of your job search. Career consultants say that 90% of job search is an internal process (i.e. managing your emotions). Managing your emotions means that you are able to manipulate your thoughts and emotions in a way that serve you positively.

Tips To Surviving Your Job Search

While it is good to stay away from depressing emotions, it is not a very bright idea to stay away from your emotions altogether. They will invariably become your strengths. Try to look for value in your emotions because doing so will help put the situation in perspective, and you will then be able to think clearly. For instance, the strong emotion of anger can also give you the energy to act in a positive way, just like the emotion of guilt and embarrassment teaches you to reexamine your behavior and act in accordance with your set values and principles.

Often in times of distress, we tend to talk to ourselves. Psychologists term this behavior ‘self talk’ and believe that it is healthy provided you are giving your distressed mind positive messages like ‘I can do it’ or ‘I will remain calm so that I can analyze my situation more optimistically’.

Fear is another emotion that most job seekers face. Fear can often make you feel that the situation is out of control. To get out of this mind-trap, you can make and keep promises to yourself. Set goals that will empower your mind and get you into action mode. For more effective control over fear, start writing a journal and register all your fears and the possible steps that you can take to overcome it. Also write about the barriers that are holding you back from applying those steps.

Another very good way of beating job search stress is to participate in a job search support group. Most regions have at least one, but if your area lacks one then you can form a support group on your own. The Internet also has lots of job search support resources.

The most important thing to remember when facing the stress of looking for a job is to remain positive and active. By not letting your mind become idle, you can stop negative thoughts and fears from taking hold in the first place.

Continue reading "Surviving Job Search Stress" »

Posted by Heather Eagar on March 8, 2007 at 9:45 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

In the not-so-recent-past, job seekers had to spend hours upon hours walking around visiting companies and career consultants hoping to get a good job. They had to pour over newspapers and job listings for hours and then call up every prospective employer to ask for an appointment. But the advent of the Internet has changed all that. Now one of the most effective and efficient ways to look for a job is by using online career services. Unlike days past, the new online job services offer comprehensive advice concerning interviews, resume writing, and even career coaching – all at reasonable prices, and some services are free of charge.

Online Career Sites- Job Searching Made Simple

Online career sites started out small – but with time they have become bigger and better, and offer more value-added services. With online career services, you have a rich repository of career-related information at your fingertips 24/7. Using an online job service is very efficient. Instead of having to go to several different sources for career-related information and help, you can find everything you need in one place.

Is The Online Career Site Reputable?

We’ve all heard of job-related scams, so it pays to be careful. Scammers create false vacancies and post them with the intention of getting personal information about candidates and later misusing it. If you follow certain practices while using an online career service, you will be secure. To verify that an online career service will do what they say they will, ask yourself the following questions:

• Is there a ‘help’ function – contact email or otherwise?
• Does the service offer career coaching (it is hard to fake this)?
• Is there sufficient information on the site (a dearth of information suggests a scam)?

You can also verify the reliability of an online career service from sources like the Better Business Bureau.

A reputable online career service offers lots of features and information upfront. A good site will include lots of free articles, resume writing help and career coaching available. In addition, they will offer free tools and assessments for job seekers to use on their own before seeking live help.

Gone are the days when a career site only allowed job seekers to post their resumes and search available vacancies. Today’s career sites are comprehensive tools, offering complete career management, planning and consulting.

Continue reading "Modern Online Career Portals – The One-Stop Shop" »

Posted by Heather Eagar on March 2, 2007 at 2:13 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Here's an email I got from a job seeker who knows how important networking
is, yet is reluctant to do it. In other words, fear is wrecking his career.

Could it be wrecking yours, too?

Read on and see if this applies to you ...

Continue reading "Is Fear Wrecking Your Career?" »

Posted by Shawn Augustson, CollegeRecruiter.com on March 1, 2007 at 7:26 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

OK, that's a harsh title, I know.

But, as a professional resume writer, I see SO MANY resumes filled with errors and ineptitude that I had to alert you to some of the worst.

Without further ado, here's how you can write a resume that works ... by NOT writing one that is brutal.

Continue reading "Resumes That Are Brutal" »

Posted by Shawn Augustson, CollegeRecruiter.com on February 22, 2007 at 9:45 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

I can hear you now: "Huh? I'm looking for work. How can I stop being a job seeker?"

Well, you can think that way, if you want to be like everybody else. But why be ordinary?

Let me illustrate with a thought experiment ...

Continue reading "Stop Being A Job Seeker" »

Posted by Shawn Augustson, CollegeRecruiter.com on February 20, 2007 at 5:24 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Ever had a new job just sort of fall into your lap?

I'll bet it's happened at least once to you or someone you know.

Perhaps you got a phone call from an old friend who referred you to a hiring manager. Or an email from a relative urging you to apply at their company.

Wouldn't it be nice if there were a way to "attract" more job opportunities like this?

Well, I believe there is.

Continue reading "Can You Attract a New Job?" »

Posted by Shawn Augustson, CollegeRecruiter.com on February 1, 2007 at 5:25 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

The purpose of your resume is to make the reader want to interview you. Resumes should be informative, concise, consistent, and should highlight intriguing skills and experience. They should grab attention early and provide a concentrated, convincing argument that you perfectly match the position at hand.

Continue reading "Resume Writing" »

Posted by Shawn Augustson, CollegeRecruiter.com on January 31, 2007 at 5:03 AM | Leave a Comment (2)

In our contemporary, technology-savvy workplace, it is almost impossible to avoid emailing cover letters and resumes to potential employers; in fact, email is usually the initial means of communication between employers and their job candidates. A series of questions may cross a person’s mind when he or she is about to send a submission via email. Because email is still such a young method of communication, no definite standards have been set for emailing cover letters and resumes. However, as more and more employers find examples of what they do not want to see, more authoritative guidelines are being formed.

Continue reading "Email Etiquette " »

Posted by Shawn Augustson, CollegeRecruiter.com on January 21, 2007 at 2:31 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

It’s an unfortunate fact that a glass ceiling exists at all for women. Throw being a mom on top of that, and you might have lowered that ceiling even more. As is true in most things in life, it’s not accurate to say this is always the case. There are exceptions, and hopefully those exceptions will soon be the norm. Until then, here are some tips for moms moving upward at work.

Dress the Part

It’s a good idea to always have one last look at yourself in the mirror before you make your entrance into the office. Maybe it’s even your car window that substitutes as a mirror for you. Moms are resourceful so figure out a way to make sure you look ready to work. Going in there with baby slobber and some breakfast crumbs on your clothes doesn’t scream, “Promote me!”

With young babies it’s very difficult, if not impossible, to keep looking fresh and professional. So make getting dressed the last thing you do before leaving the house. If that won’t work for you, slip on a button down shirt that you can wear over your clothes until you don’t have to worry about it getting dirtied up. No matter how rushed you are, though, just be sure to take the shirt off before heading into the office!

Talk Business

Yes, when you’re at work, you’re still a mom. You’re always a mom. However, you don’t want to remind people of that all day every day. You have your close friends at work that you can speak to about personal things, but keep talk like that to a minimum with other co-workers. You don’t want to be portrayed as someone who’s focus and attention is always anywhere but at the job at hand.

Take the Tough Assignments

Just because you have to pick the kids up from daycare at a certain time, doesn’t mean that you can’t tackle the big projects. See how you can manage some of the tasks at home after the kids go to bed. Try to squeeze in a little work time on the weekends. Don’t sacrifice all your family time; certainly not. However, if you can manage and/or work on projects even while you’re not at the office, your superiors will take note.

Arrange some time with your IT department to get you mobile and able to login into your work computer from home. Of course, check with your boss prior to this to ensure there is no company policy against that.

Getting ahead at work is not an easy thing to do no matter who you are. You have to work hard and prove your worth. Moms have challenges but they can be conquered. Know your constraints and how to work around them. Make the decision to promote you an easy one for the powers-to-be.

Continue reading "Overcoming the Glass Ceiling for Moms" »

Posted by Heather Eagar on January 19, 2007 at 12:01 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

When most law students graduate, they face an oh-so-daunting Catch-22: many entry-level jobs require previous experience, which many law graduates obviously do not have. They may also be encouraged to lie about which schools they attended, since consideration of the school a candidate graduated from is often a make-or-break factor in getting hired by a top firm. This leads many misguided law graduates to include “little white lies” on their resumes, even though the first rule in resume writing is “Do not lie.” So why do people continue to fib about job experience and schooling? They must be doing so under the misconception that they can cover all of their tracks flawlessly, failing to anticipate that people might check up on them. Well, I will let you in on a little secret: if you lie, people will find out about it.

Continue reading "“Lies, Lies, Inside and Out, All Lies!” (Resume Lies, That Is.)" »

Posted by Shawn Augustson, CollegeRecruiter.com on January 19, 2007 at 9:32 AM | Leave a Comment (1)

If you're in the middle of a long job search, it may be difficult to get out of bed some mornings and pound the pavement one more day.

Heck, even if you're just starting to look for a job, motivation can be hard to come by. You might need an occasional pat on the back -- or kick in the rear -- to get going.

If so, here are three ways to motivate yourself and get back to work faster...

Continue reading "Three Job Search Motivators" »

Posted by Shawn Augustson, CollegeRecruiter.com on January 18, 2007 at 12:05 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

You’ve been in a dead-end job for months, or even years now, yet you can’t seem to gather up the courage to look for a new job. Or your company announced there will be a series of layoffs coming this year and you don’t know if you’re going to be affected. Is that enough to make you start job hunting? If not, then you could be considered a job search procrastinator.

Prepare for Layoffs

“I’m comfortable where I’m at.” This is one of the more common scenarios when someone doesn’t want to look for a new job even when critical situations arise. I’m talking about those who go down with a sinking ship. The ship being the company for which they’re employed, of course.

If your company announces upcoming layoffs, that means the company is in trouble. Possibly not in fear of bankruptcy but it’s not doing as well as planned or expected. You know heads are going to roll but you don’t know if yours is going to be one of them.

I’ve known people who have stuck it out till the very end. And where does that leave them? Without a job. and scrambling. Even if you are offered a severance package, it might not be enough to support you and your family.

Something that employees have to realize is that when this situation occurs, you can’t be too confident about your place in a company. You have to weigh the risks involved with sticking it out. Yes, you want to be loyal to your company…when possible. But don’t let that loyalty blind you to the fact that you could very well be out of a job soon.

Going Nowhere Fast

You’re educated, a hard worker with high work ethics and you do your job well. So why are you in the same position you’ve been in since you were hired?

For many people, this is not a problem. They crave that ‘sameness’. It provides comfort knowing what to expect each and every day. They don’t want something new and ‘better’. They’re happy where they are.

However, there are others who don’t look for jobs out of fear. Fear of change. They want something more, new and different but they’re not getting the opportunity with the company they’re at.

But at the same time, they realize they have a good stable job. Why mess up a good thing?

Taking the Initiative

If you find yourself in either of these situations, you have to look at the pros and cons of looking for another job. What’s the worst thing that can happen if you stay? Conversely, what’s the worst thing that can happen if you find another job? Are there greater benefits of starting to look around to see what other companies have to offer you?

No one can answer these questions for you. Each job seeker’s situation is different and everyone has different responsibilities and goals. Take time to explore the reasons behind your job search procrastination. Maybe it’s to save you from yourself and from reacting too quickly. Or maybe it’s holding you back from reaching your full career potential.

Continue reading "Are You A Job Search Procrastinator?" »

Posted by Heather Eagar on January 11, 2007 at 9:34 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

If you feel alone and isolated in your job search, there is hope. No one has to, or should, feel isolated during their job search.
If you feel isolated, perhaps it means you confine yourself to your home and spend all day searching for jobs on the Internet. If you have a strong feeling of isolation and disconnection from the world, perhaps today is the day for new strategies!
Being isolated from the world is not healthy for your job search. In some cases this isolation can trigger the “blues” or varying levels of depression. Moreover, a job seeker functioning in this state of mind is not very productive and not attractive to employers.
Here are five strategies I recommend to overcome isolation:
1. First, leave your home for many hours each day because jobs are not in your computer. It will be a miracle if you do land an interview due to the Internet. If you want great things to happen in your job search, then go where business people are... they are in their offices, at professional meetings, at conferences, at lunch, etc. Mingle with them, integrate yourself into the business world, be seen, and be visible. This is the best way to find a job and your feeling of isolation will diminish.
2. Second, consider volunteer work. Select organizations you believe in and invest a couple of hours each week volunteering. It will make you feel great about yourself, you will have an opportunity to help other people, and your isolation will diminish. It’s a great tool to build new business relationships and network.
3. Attend professional meetings. A group of professionals with similar backgrounds and interests will be useful. They know what is going on at other companies and in their industries. They have connections you need. Become an active member in the organization, volunteer for projects, get involved in committees, talk with other people, follow up with other people you were interested in, etc. Be seen, be visible, and be active.
4. Form a career team of 2-3 people who can help you with research and administrative tasks, and allow you to focus on marketing and networking. Meet with these people regularly to discuss your job search, strategies, and ideas.
5. Use the telephone to connect with friends, family members, and others who can support you during your job search. These people may be able to provide you with leads and critical information for your job search. They can boost your spirit as well.
Your primary strategy should be focused externally. Job opportunities will not be delivered via your e-mail account. These are just a few strategies to overcome job search isolation. There are many people willing to help you during your job search… connecting with people on a daily basis will be a tremendous boost to your spirit and job search results!

Posted by NewLeafCareer.com on January 8, 2007 at 2:18 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

We’re now about one week into January. How are those resolutions coming along?

While I can't help you lose 10 pounds or finally learn French, if you've resolved to find a new job in 2007, here are two shortcuts to try …

Continue reading "Happy New Job in 2007 -- Part 2" »

Posted by Shawn Augustson, CollegeRecruiter.com on January 3, 2007 at 5:04 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

If you’ve been looking for a job for any length of time, you’ll notice there are many out there beyond your level of expertise. Why is that? Is it because of your education? Your lack of experience? If you want to move ahead in your career, sometimes you need to make yourself more marketable. How exactly can you do that?

Further Your Education

Many job postings today ‘require’ degrees. If you’re in the market for one of these positions and you don’t currently hold a degree, then you need to seriously consider exploring obtaining one. Start gathering information about online distance programs, if that would suit your lifestyle better. This is true for undergraduate and graduate degrees.

If you don’t feel that a formal education is what you need, look into other specific training programs that are suitable for your field. Look through job postings and take notes on the areas where you can improve and research ways on how to do just that.

Take Advantage of Your Situation

If you’re currently employed, you can use your position to better yourself as well. Take on new tasks that will allow you to gain that experience you’re lacking. Head up a project and manage it and the people a part of it to get some managerial experience.

It can be difficult to muster up enthusiasm to try new things at a job that you dislike. If that’s you, you need to change your frame of mind. Instead of dreading every day, look at it as an opportunity to train yourself for a new, and better, job.

It’s imperative that you don’t sulk in your misery. Potential employers can spot a desperate job seeker a mile away. Even if you are desperate to get out of your current situation, take advantage of the in-house training they may provide. Can you take outside classes to hone up on your computer skills? If there is a weakness in your resume, take this time to make it a positive instead.

Looking for a job is a stressful situation. However, if you can make yourself more attractive in a potential employer’s eyes, then you need to do it. There are lots of other job seekers out there just waiting to take your dream job. Strive to make yourself easily employable and then the difficult part will be deciding which job offer to accept.

Continue reading "How to Train Yourself for a New Job" »

Posted by Heather Eagar on December 21, 2006 at 8:18 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

According to the FirstGov.gov Web site, three of the most popular New Year’s resolutions are losing weight, saving money and getting a better job.

Continue reading "Happy New Job in 2007" »

Posted by Shawn Augustson, CollegeRecruiter.com on December 21, 2006 at 10:24 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

It happens five days a week. You have to shift gears from being a mom to being an employee – even the boss. How can you effectively shift gears and get yourself ready for the workday ahead? How do you gain and keep respect with those who work alongside you?

Be Confident with Your Choices

There’s nothing worse than not being comfortable with who you are leaving your children with during the day while you’re at work. Do your research and ask for referrals from trusted friends and family. You definitely don’t want to be worried your child isn’t being taken care of properly while you are trying to concentrate at work.

Mommy guilt might be a coined phrase but it certainly fits many working mothers. This is something you have to come to peace with if working is something you really want to do or your situation requires you to earn a full-time income outside the home. This guilt will weigh you down in everything that you do…including work. You employer will not appreciate your focus and energy being focused elsewhere.

Make the Rules Clear

Your work life and your home like will function more efficiently if rules and expectations are laid out beforehand. If the daycare closes at 6 o’clock every day and you need to leave work at 5 o’clock to be there on time, then your supervisor needs to be aware of that. Let the people you work with know this too so that meetings that you have to attend won’t be scheduled at the end of the day.

Also, try to save up your sick days in case your child is sick. Of course, this can’t always be the case but the more you can show your employer that you’re not trying to take extra time off (which, of course, is not the case), the more he and your co-workers will respect you. Those that don’t have children can perceive these ‘extra’ days as an unfair advantage to parents. When possible, trade off with your spouse on who takes the time off. This can increase the ‘partnership’ feeling of raising your kids in a two-income household.

When you’re a mom and an employee, you have to wear two hats. The key to success is to know when to wear each one. When you’re in mom-mode, it’s best to be 100% there in the moment with the kids. However, when you are on the job – even though you can’t ever completely turn off being a mom – you owe it to yourself and your employer to contribute all you can. It is possible to be a great mom and a valuable employee.

Continue reading "Going from ‘Mom’ to ‘Employee’" »

Posted by Heather Eagar on December 14, 2006 at 8:42 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

It can be intimidating walking into a career fair…all of those employers waiting for YOU to come and meet them. However, if you’re armed with the knowledge and confidence that you need, this could be the beginning of a new – or – better career.

Do Your Research

Treat the career fair as a bunch of mini interviews. Find out beforehand what companies are going to be there and which ones you’re interested in talking to. For those organizations, do your research just like you would for a ‘real’ interview. Your enthusiasm will be apparent to the employer, and that is a good thing.

It takes a lot to stand out in a career fair. By showing your knowledge about the company and/or industry, you prove that you might just have that extra something they’re looking for in an employee.

Dress the Part

The first impression you make on an employer is extremely important. Don’t make it a negative one. Dress as you would dress for an interview. Yes, that may mean uncomfortable high heals or hot suits and ties, but you want to be sure you don’t dress too casually. Employers may think you’re not taking the career fair seriously and that you’re just wasting their time.

Act Like You’re ‘On’

It can be difficult to remember while you’re walking around at a career fair that employers could be watching you. Especially those you have already spoken to. So be careful what you do while deciding your next step, so to speak.

Try not to do anything that might be construed as negative. Watch your facial expressions - grimaces, rolling your eyes, exasperation - all things you want to avoid. If you just spoke with an employer and then as you were walking away, sighed and rolled your eyes, you might want to cross that company off your potential list.

Be Prepared

Whatever you do, be sure you have several copies of your resume and cover letter. Better still, for the companies that you know you’re going to speak with, write a specific one for them, just like when you apply to job postings. You might not be able to be as specific as you would in that situation, but bringing some non-generic job search documents along with you can serve as a great start to a conversation with a company.

In addition to your resume package, you may want to have a few copies of your references. Even though it’s not common for an employer ask for references at a career fair, you never know what they may throw at you.

Remember, a career fair should be treated as a real way to network and obtain job leads. No matter what kind of career fair it is, that one event could be a key to making connections that can help you get a job now or in the future.

Continue reading "Standing Out from the Crowd at Career Fairs" »

Posted by Heather Eagar on December 7, 2006 at 3:27 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

1. Using MS Word “Resume Templates” for creating the resume.
For many, the first source of resume assistance in this day and age of the Personal Computer complete with Microsoft Office Suite is usually the “Resume Templates” found within MS Word. Sadly, while these templates result in fine looking printed resumes they achieve the worst possible results for electronic resumes. Bill Gates is not who you should be relying on for creating your resume. He’s never had to even interview for a job in decades. Trust us, don’t use MS Word templates and instead create the resume from scratch using the template as a guide only.

Continue reading "Top Ten Resume Blunders" »

Posted by Shawn Augustson, CollegeRecruiter.com on December 7, 2006 at 6:34 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Your closest co-worker just got a new job...and it makes you crazy because that could have been you. You’re as qualified as her; you have the same background and experience…why weren’t you the one who got a new job? Oh yeah, because you actually have to apply for a job in order to be offered it.

How many times has this happened to you? You are technically job searching but you only casually look through job postings not having any intention to apply for any of them and you haven’t really gotten your resume and cover letter in the best shape possible. So what do you really expect to happen? It seems that many people are waiting for the Job Search Fairy to come and drop the perfect job in their lap. As you may have guessed, it doesn’t work that way. So, what can you do?

Get Out of the ‘Wish Mode’

Stop wishing for a new job and start actively looking for one. It’s a common situation: you look through job postings and picture yourself with that company, doing that job, earning more money. Sound familiar? Or someone close to you got offered their dream job and you’re still sitting on the sidelines wishing it was you who was moving onto bigger and brighter career endeavors?

You need to take your job search into your own hands and be proactive. Don’t sit and wish each day away. Work doesn’t have to be such drudgery.

You just have to…

Buckle Down and Do It

You’ve been putting off getting your resume and cover letter up to par and that can be a huge force that holds you back. If you’re not confident with your job search documents you send out, chances are you’re not going to get a whole lot of calls for interviews.

If it’s a task that you don’t want to tackle yourself, don’t. There is no law that says you have to write your own resume and cover letter. In fact, a professional resume writing service can garner very positive job search results, in most cases. It is money well-spent if you choose the right company for you.

It’s a win-win situation: you don’t have to stress about writing your resume package and you can be assured that the package you send out is above average…exceptional in many cases.

Now, It’s Time to Get Excited

You’ve got everything in place and you’re ready to start applying. So, instead of just daydreaming about the jobs you see listings for, apply for them. Today. Don’t wait until tomorrow or next week. Take the time to apply right now and you’ll see that you’ll get into a pattern of acting immediately. It’s a good habit to get into. You’ll get a lot more results that way. Why? Simply because you’ll end up submitting your resume package more often.

Every time you submit your resume, just think: “This could be it. This could be my new job.” Isn’t that exciting? You never know what will come of your applications right away but the possibilities are endless. That alone should get your blood flowing and your heart pumping.

Now get out there and take charge of your job search. There’s no time like the present.

Continue reading "New Job Envy – Do You Have It?" »

Posted by Heather Eagar on November 30, 2006 at 4:33 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Last week I surveyed 159 job seekers by email and asked them this question:
"What one thing could I do to make your job search easier?"

The responses were intriguing and I will share with you my answers to the most relevant ones in this and future columns.

Continue reading "3 Job Search Problems Solved" »

Posted by Guaranteed Resumes on November 27, 2006 at 6:48 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Resumes that get results have one thing in common - they answer the employer's key question: what's in it for me?

Continue reading "The "What's in It For Me" Resume" »

Posted by Shawn Augustson, CollegeRecruiter.com on November 20, 2006 at 7:16 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Think you're qualified for that job you want?

Prove it!

If you do, it's a sure bet that you'll get hired faster.

Here's how to do it by improving your resume and job interview skills in just one afternoon ...

Continue reading "Prove It And Get Hired" »

Posted by Guaranteed Resumes on November 9, 2006 at 6:36 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.

Continue reading "Stuck in a Job Search Rut?" »

Posted by Heather Eagar on October 19, 2006 at 4:01 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.

Continue reading "Cover Letter Dos and Don'ts" »

Posted by ResumePro on October 11, 2006 at 7:14 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.

Continue reading " How To Ask For a Raise" »

Posted by ResumePro on October 4, 2006 at 6:59 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)

In this day and age, as job competition has increased, interviewing techniques have also gotten tougher. Larger corporations often adopt multi-layered interview techniques from initial screening until the job offer stage.

Interview Styles and How to Handle Them Confidently

The need for different interview styles has evolved with the increasing complexities of jobs and work environments, as a scientific means to testing candidates.

Behavioral Interview

This style of interview uses the premise that past behavioral and performance history reveals enough indicators for a prediction of future performance. This type of interview can begin with concealed questions, such as asking you to narrate a tricky situation you have handled in the past. For example, "Please let us know your best accomplishment and how you were able to accomplish it." However, the questions will not necessarily be limited to your past. Look at this one: "If you had to purchase accounting software, how would you choose it?" This question aims at bringing out your software knowledge, as well as the decision making process that you may use.

Case Study

A slightly refined technique within the behavioral interview is the case study style. Expect to encounter a real-life situation here. Something like "evaluate different accounting software as a precursor to purchase and implementation" should not surprise you. If you take this question with an open mind, you will be able to produce the best answer without getting flustered. You will recollect different variants of software that you are acquainted with through years of usage. From your current knowledge, you will make the right choice by analyzing various aspects like robustness, customizability, user-friendliness and cost effectiveness. You may even brainstorm with your team of users.

But what does all this signify to the interviewer? Simple - it speaks of your:

• Experience
• Confidence
• Willingness to engage people
• Team spirit
• Composed and robust decision making style
• Problem solving ability
• Perseverance

Stress Test

You will probably face questions like "why are there so many job changes in your career?" or "why weren't you promoted in your last job despite being there long-term?" These are clever questions, designed to make your squirm in your seat. They will make unprepared candidates go speechless. But the interviewer is watching you closely and observing changes in your face, behavior and body language.

Quite naturally, these are hard questions that require time to remember exact scenarios and find ways to simplify and shorten your answers. Give precise answers, including specifics about the question. Since there are no wrong answers in the stress interview, what they are really looking for is how you respond to unexpected stressors.

These are three prevalent types of interview styles. However, in actual practice, you may come across a blend of one or all three. Use the information above to be successful, and you will be able to give the interviewer exactly what they are looking for.

Continue reading "Three Tricky Interview Styles - And How To Ace Them" »

Posted by Heather Eagar on September 14, 2006 at 8:31 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Everyone who is on a job search has different preferences – however, for practical reasons, your job search can’t be longer than what is reasonable. Unfortunately, many job seekers aren’t aware of the intricacies involved in the recruitment process of any organization which can result in longer job search lead times. The second unfortunate thing is that a good percentage of these job seekers have wrong ideas, or worse yet, overestimation of their skills and abilities. This can result in total failure at the prescreening stage.

1. Always Begin With Self-Assessment: This is equally applicable to those seeking subsequent job changes as well as new candidates. Your self-assessment should tell you more about your character type, your job preferences, willingness to take responsibilities and abilities to take risks, as well as whether you are a leader or want to tread a safer path. It should also shed light on your salary needs, in addition to your skill sets and experiences. This includes revelations on your perception of life and your job, the job security you need, ability to multitask and motivate employees.

If you are brutally honest in your self-assessment, it will help you acquire those skills that you lack and target your resume to those jobs that call for matching abilities.

2. Research The Job Market: This is not about just looking at the classifieds in different media, but categorizing them to analyze later as to how many of them match you to about 90-95%. If your tabulation is skewed unfavorably, try and find out the reasons, which could be anything from your ambitious expectation of salary, mismatched skill/age/experience or location preferences. This is what they call the proverbial pin pointing of the problem. Once you identify it, it becomes easier to deal with realistically.

3. Choosing a Career Field: Although this is broadly decided through your education, you need to identify your niche to choose a field and narrow down your job search. Bear in mind that your chosen field probably has prospects and growth potential within the industry to make room for future job changes. For example, choosing to be a cost accountant has a higher scope in every respect than a broad-based job search for an accounting position.

4. Improve Your Job Search Skills: Student counselors and HR counselors assess and guide your job search skills. Being on track and informed keeps you abreast with changes in job market demands. Job search skills include adaptation to circumstances with respect to your resume, interviews, and handling salary issues and behavioral issues effectively. Career workshops are critical to learn what employers’ expectations are, how they are changing and how to handle sticky issues effectively.

5. Job Search Campaign: Begin your campaign with realistic targets for a start date, job position, location and salary. Shorter targets normally mean accepting smaller salaries and organizations. Expanding your network, pursuing advertisements, approaching employers directly, having target cover letters and resumes and being enthusiastic & persistent will pay off handsomely in both the long and short run.

Your job search strategies should address all the concerns of both the employers and yourself. The five tips above lead you on the path to a better job search and are effectively designed to plug the holes on either side.

Continue reading "Five Tips For A Successful Job Search" »

Posted by Heather Eagar on August 31, 2006 at 4:54 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Things can go really against you despite your thorough preparation for just a couple of ‘types’ of interview questions. However, it is possible to ignore or forget the other types of possible interview questions. This brings us to different ‘types’ of interview questions, along with traditional questions or questions pertaining to your core skills.

Types Of Interview Questions

It is crucial for you to be able to anticipate different types of questions that may come up in an interview. Let’s categorize them into three types:

1. ‘Out of the box’ questions and hardcore questions are the traditionally asked ones that cannot be readily anticipated. They may or may not be related to the job at hand, and are designed to see how well you can ‘think on your feet’.

2. Questions That Test Behavior And Problem Solving Abilities. These aim to find how you have conducted yourself in difficult situations and how will you do if the situation were to repeat itself. Interviewers always want to test you for unexpected and accidental circumstances.

3. Lastly, There Are Illegal Questions which are sometimes cleverly framed. These are aimed to find out your nationality, religious or ethnic background, marital status, etc. Illegal questions are not always intentional, but sometimes they are. The world isn’t fair, and you may as well know this going in.

Sample Questions

Let’s look at some samples from two categories:

Traditional Questions/Behavioral Questions

1. Tell us about yourself. In my humble opinion, the most overused and overworked, and unfortunately the most likely first question in any interview. This question can be manifested in any form. As there is no right or wrong answer to this, this is an open-ended question, most often used by inexperienced interviewers. However, if this question does come up (and you should assume that it will), then stick to answering strictly in business terms; NEVER volunteer personal information.

2. Why do you want to join us? This is another question belonging to the same category as the earlier one but usually follows it. As such, it is routinely predictable and you should have your answer ready. You need to list the benefits of your joining them from both points of view (the employer’s first, then yours).

3. How would you describe yourself? Adopt a realistic approach towards this question and use adjectives like ‘honest’, ‘hard working’, etc., instead of the overused/ambiguous answers like ‘courageous’ or ‘results-oriented’.

4. ‘Describe a situation which demanded working overtime’ (or any variations on this question). If you have been in the corporate world for any length of time, you should have encountered this scenario. This question is devised only to see how you will possibly conduct yourself, as the new employer is probably anticipating similar situations happening should you be hired.

5. ‘Tell me about a decision that you made which was a bad one’. This may well be a hypothetical question. But if you had had made a bad decision, a ‘positive you’ will explain this in a structured mixture of truth, admission, failure analysis and so on. In other words, logically turn a potential negative answer into a positive one – avoid making yourself look incompetent at all costs.

Let’s take a look at some possible illegal questions. Employers know they aren’t supposed to ask them, but many do anyway (and some in different variations, so as not to be overtly illegal):

Illegal Questions

6. Does your religion preclude you from working weekends? (overtly illegal question)
7. Are you planning to have kids? (designed to reveal your family status, or perhaps your sexual orientation)
8. When/Where were you born? (A clever way of finding out your age or ethnicity)
9. Your last name sounds unusual; what’s your origin? (designed to reveal your ethnic background)

As a job seeker, you will invariable come across all types of interview questions. There are as many different types of questions as there are interviewers. It pays to be aware of the many types of questions that you will encounter – doing so will ensure that you handle such questions with confidence.

Continue reading "Be Prepared for Any Interview Question" »

Posted by Heather Eagar on August 24, 2006 at 3:12 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

An employment thank you letter shows good taste, gratitude, and in general shows a new employer that they made a wise decision in hiring you. Most new hires do not write one, so if you are one of the smart few people who do, your relationship with your new employer will get off to a great start.

Continue reading "An Employment Thank You Letter Shows Good Taste" »

Posted by Heather Eagar on August 22, 2006 at 9:24 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Preparing for a phone interview is primarily a mental exercise, and something that is easy to prepare for. It is the second impression that you will make on a hiring decision maker – the first impression was obviously made for you by your resume and cover letter, and must have been positive, or you would not have the phone interview appointment. That being the case, it is worth while to prepare for the interview and be ready to put your best foot forward.

Continue reading "Preparing for a Phone Interview" »

Posted by Heather Eagar on August 22, 2006 at 9:21 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Interview advice is available from just about everywhere and everyone. An interview can be seen as an opportunity instead of a trial, which is what most people feel that they are on when they are being interviewed for any job position. It is as much of an opportunity for a potential employer to discover what a candidate has to offer their company as well as what the company can offer the candidate. Just as it is expected that an interviewer will ask questions during an interview, you need to be prepared to ask your own questions during the interview. Asking questions shows the interviewer that you are interested in their company and have put thought into becoming an employee.

Continue reading "Interview Advice" »

Posted by Heather Eagar on August 22, 2006 at 9:18 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

The interview thank you letter is a piece of correspondence that will definitely help a good candidate win a position. Think of it as an extension of the interview itself and as a way of emphasizing any positive points that you may have made about yourself and your willingness to work for the company you’ve interviewed with.

Continue reading "Interview Thank You Letter Basics" »

Posted by Heather Eagar on August 22, 2006 at 9:15 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

The interview follow up letter can make or break your chances of becoming hired. For that reason it should become an essential part of your job hunting tool box, right in there with the other tools you use: resume, cover letter, thank you note, reference sheet and salary history.

Think of the follow up letter as a second chance. Some people don’t interview in person as well as they can write. Living up to the standards your resume set for you may be difficult. If that is the case, then the interview follow up letter will improve your appearance after the fact. Other people interview well in person, and are able to use the follow up letter to reemphasize key points discussed with the hiring manager, and remind the hiring manager of the good points about the applicant. In either case the letter is essential and if prepared properly will help the applicant get the job.

Continue reading "The Interview Follow Up Letter" »

Posted by Heather Eagar on August 22, 2006 at 9:11 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

How to write a thank you letter to use after an interview, a phone interview, or even to someone who passed your name on to a hiring manager is an art that is not taught as often as it should be by placement services and others who help job seekers with finding jobs. They always cover the basics of resume writing, interview preparation, cover letter writing, how to create a reference sheet, and even how to prepare a salary history, which isn’t even required that often, but it is a subject that should be covered. It is a necessary skill that puts the capstone on the interview or other contact you had, makes you appear to be thoughtful and intelligent, and put you above the crowd.

Continue reading "How to Write a Thank You Letter" »

Posted by Heather Eagar on August 22, 2006 at 9:08 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

You want to be a success at work, doing a job you love, right? Right.

But sometimes it is hard to figure out how to get your career moving in the right direction -- whether you’re 22 or 72.

So, based on my experience observing thousands of job seekers over the past 10 years, here are three tips to help you set the goals and build the skills you’ll need to reach career nirvana …

Continue reading "How to Enjoy a Better Career" »

Posted by Guaranteed Resumes on July 20, 2006 at 5:04 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Some people always seem to get hired faster, get more promotions and make more money on the job, in any economy.

Why is that?
While there’s no one thing that will guarantee career success for everyone, there are 3 things you can start doing today to make yourself more valuable -- to any employer, in any industry.

Here they are …

1. Add Value
“Adding value is the single most powerful personal attribute you can possess,” says Les McKeown, President & CEO of Success-At-Work.com and author of several books on career achievement.

Did you ever hand a job or task to someone, knowing you would have to go back over it once they finished, to fix the inevitable errors and generally “mop up” after them?

“People who add value are just the opposite. You *know* when you give them a task that it will be completed on time, the way you want it, with no loose ends or unfinished parts,” says McKeown.

However, really successful “value adders” see the completion of an allocated task as only the starting point.

Maybe it’s by turning an event into a process. Example: not just clearing up a filing mess, but putting a filing system in place to avoid future backlogs.

“In whatever form it shows itself, naturally successful people consistently and appropriately add value -- all the time,” says McKeown.

2. Become an Expert
A sure-fire way to increase your value on the job is to keep learning. This can be as complex as getting your MBA or as simple as reading a book every week.

Whatever you do to increase your expertise, make sure your boss knows about it! Completing training, such as Microsoft’s MCSE certification, can make it more likely that you'll be rewarded appropriately in your next
performance review.

Here’s an example from the field of medicine.

I’m told the average physician makes $160,000 per year. Not bad. But I know a liver specialist in Michigan who makes $500,000 and lives in a house the size of an airplane hanger. He’s a recognized expert. And he’s rewarded
accordingly.

What subject can you become an expert in at work?

3. Be There Every Day
To paraphrase Woody Allen, can 80% of success really come just from showing
up?

The answer is yes, in the minds of many.

“I still remember my first promotion with a mixture of pride and amusement,” recalls McKeown.

“I was a young kid back in Ireland, and I had a paper-route before school. I needed the money and never missed a morning. After 3 months, the owner pulled me aside and said: ‘Les, I’m going on vacation for 3 weeks. I want
you to be in charge. I’ll give you an extra 5 shillings every week.”

When McKeown asked his manager why he had been chosen over older, more-experienced newsboys, he got this reply: “Simple. You’re always there. That means more to me than anything else. I wanted peace of mind on
vacation. I knew you’d be there every morning.”

Are you “THERE” every day for your employer? If so, you may find your steady presence makes you more valuable than less-dependable co-workers.

By adding value, becoming an expert, and “being there” every day, you can make yourself indispensable to any employer. Which can lead to faster promotions, keys to the executive washroom -- whatever it is that defines
career success for you.

Now, go out and make your own luck!

copyright © by Kevin Donlin

Continue reading "Why Some People Almost Always Succeed At Work" »

Posted by Guaranteed Resumes on July 8, 2006 at 8:58 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Last Friday I met a former boss and co-worker for lunch. The three of us chatted over old times at a Thai restaurant in downtown Minneapolis.

In between bites of spicy squid and gulps of iced tea, I realized we were covering valuable ground that could help almost anyone find a new job faster.

So I wrote the following tips on a napkin after the meal. Read on to learn four ways you can turn lunch with an old co-worker into a new job offer ...

1) Sharpen your employment goals
When you sit down to eat with a former colleague, the conversation will inevitably turn to work. Be ready to discuss your job search and the position you’re looking for.

A side benefit of talking about something is that it forces you to think more clearly about it. So, the more you discuss your current career goals, the clearer they’ll become in your mind ... which helps you achieve them faster.

Tip: Be sure to ask your former co-worker for feedback and advice. You will flatter them and get free guidance counseling at the same time ... while enjoying a bite to eat.

Win-win-win.

2) Get referrals to other hiring managers
Of course, the ideal outcome of any lunch with an old workplace friend is a new job lead. Be ready for this -- it happens all the time.

Example: One of my resume writing clients, Kevin C., from St. Paul, Minnesota, struck pay dirt during lunch with a former manager.

Kevin says, “I called an old CEO of mine who I worked for 6 years back. After revisiting what I had done since we worked together, he gave me a list of 10 CEOs and their companies with whom he had customer/vendor
relationships. I hit on about the 7th one and was asked to come in for a lunch meeting and interview. After interviewing 3 more times, I was invited to join the team. My new salary represents an increase of 32.5%! I love my
new job and make more money than before.”

It’s good to love your new job and get paid more, right?

3) Practice and polish your pitch
Here’s another benefit of lunch with an old boss or co-worker: You can ask them for feedback on your networking pitch.

Your pitch is your 15-20 second “commercial” you use to tell others what kind of job you’re looking for and why employers should call you.

Example: “I’m looking for a position as a customer service manager for a company that wants to add $220,000 in revenue from existing accounts, as I did last year. Who do you know that I should be talking to?”

4) Lightning can strike
It’s one thing to get a job lead during lunch with former colleagues. It’s quite another to get hired back again. But if you left your old boss on good terms, he or she just might ask you to come back.

To illustrate, here’s another example from my client files. When Eric H., a design engineer from Ohio, came to me for a new resume, I suggested he contact his prior managers to ask for letters of recommendation, since those are valuable documents to bring to a job interview.

Four days later, he sent me this email message: “Thanks to you making me call old employers for recommendations, one of them just offered me a great job!”

It turns out that an old boss was looking for someone with Eric’s skills. Since Eric had done good work before -- and would have no trouble fitting into the corporate culture -- he was offered the new position, right over
the phone. It could just as easily been over lunch.

Now, go treat an old boss to lunch, and make your own luck!

copyright © by Kevin Donlin

Continue reading "Eat and Get Hired" »

Posted by Guaranteed Resumes on July 7, 2006 at 8:52 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

If you walk into a car dealer and announce, “I want a car,” what kind of reply will you get?

The sales rep will say, “Sure. What are you looking for?” Then he'll ask for more details -- the make, model, color, price you’re willing to pay, etc.

It’s never enough to say, “I want a car.” You have to be specific. Otherwise, nobody can help you.

Why, then, do so many people say, “I want a job,” and then fail to get more specific than that? Is it any wonder that so many job searches sputter and lurch along, like a ’67 Chevy in need of a tune-up?

But this is not for you.

If you want to find the right job, you must first answer three questions in specific detail. Here they are ...

Continue reading "Get Hired Faster -- Get Specific" »

Posted by Guaranteed Resumes on May 31, 2006 at 10:23 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Got a difficult problem in your job search? Say, a lack of networking contacts? Or trouble answering interview questions?

Well, you've got company. Problems in a job search are as common as potholes in March.

But ... have you ever written your problem down on a piece of paper?

I'll bet you haven't.

Because, when you write problems down, you take an immediate, huge leap towards solving them. Think about it: Every great invention or solution, from the atomic bomb to the Xbox, was first worked out on paper.

Why not solve your employment problems the same way?

Here's a three-step method that will help you do it ...

Continue reading "Speed Up Your Job Search -- Write It Down" »

Posted by Guaranteed Resumes on May 26, 2006 at 5:55 PM | Leave a Comment (0)

Most people spend more time writing a grocery list than they do creating a list of companies to work for.

That doesn't make a whole lot of sense, does it?

Let me ask you point blank: do you have a written list of companies you want to work for?

If not, you have company. Roughly 98 of every 100 job seekers I've spoken to in the last 10 years couldn't name three ideal employers. (But they could name at least three items from their last shopping list!)

Embarking on a job search with no list of ideal employers is like going to the grocery store without a shopping list … on an empty stomach. You'll grab the first things you see and probably end up regretting it later.

So let's fix that. Let's create a list of 25 organizations where you'd be happy working.

Continue reading "Job Shopping With a List" »

Posted by Guaranteed Resumes on May 18, 2006 at 11:35 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Everything has a market. If you could go back in time thirty years and tell someone people would actually be buying water in 2005 for prices higher than gasoline, you would probably be severely ridiculed. Go back fifteen years and tell someone that you would actually be able to purchase air in an oxygen bar and they would think you had been hitting the sauce. Water and oxygen are interesting products because they are readily available, free, and vital to life. There has been a demand created for them out of, well, thin air.

The basic principle of selling air or water is the same as selling an entry-level career in which you have no experience. Entry-level workers are cheap, plentiful, and easily found. As a new graduate/entry-level worker with little or no real experience, what can you do to sell your experience to employers? The same as if you were selling air – package it well, market it effectively, and create a demand.

Packaging your budding entry-level career is the first and most important step to getting your start. How you present your background and education in an entry-level resume is the make-or-break point. You have 35 to 60 seconds to pique the interest of the employer in your non-experience. The entry-level resume should be hard-hitting and aggressively written in order to gain that attention.

The key is to find your point of individuality and play upon it. Each brand of bottled water has a “claim to fame” whether it is that the water is from a mountain spring, or it is flavored, or it is vitamin-enriched, etc. You can do the same thing with your entry-level resume. Do you have an exceptional academic record that can be highlighted in your entry-level resume? Do you have an internship that adds value to your degree? Have you worked your way through school and financed your own education? There is something in everyone’s background that is notable and can be used to advantage in an entry-level resume.

Appearance is also key to a resume. People are drawn to attractive things – it’s human nature. By packaging your qualities in an attractive, eye-catching format, your entry-level resume will automatically have an advantage over your competition. Appearance can be more than pretty whiz-bangs in a Word format. Even database-friendly entry-level resumes can be made more attractive with the strategic use of spacing, font size, and placement of text.

Marketing yourself as a valuable entry-level hire is the second component of success. How do you go about getting your entry-level resume to employers who are seeking trainable workers? With the Internet, sending out your entry-level resume is very easy, but are you sending to the correct people? An indiscriminate resume blast may not be the best selection if you have set strict parameters on relocation preference. You need to find out who would be in the market for entry-level workers with your education and who might be a good match for your career goals. A little (gasp!) homework might be in order!

Finding out about employers and selecting those in the market for entry-level personnel is called market research. A little research on employers, their goals, and the work opportunities they offer will assist you in being more focused in your hunt for that first “real” job. It will also provide insight on how best to approach a company. Knowing what the employer wants helps you to position yourself as the best choice. Just as product manufacturers do market research before they launch a new product, you can do the same to better market your entry-level career.

Creating demand is the third aspect of marketing your entry-level career. Personal career branding backed by solid research and an excellent entry-level resume will compel potential employers to contact you about joining their teams. Demand can also be further enhanced during the interview by being well-prepared, mature, and knowledgeable. An entry-level candidate who is eager, open to training, and flexible is desirable by employers.

As an entry-level job seeker, you essentially are selling “air” - lack of experience. To do that, you must create a great package (a resume), market it strategically, and create the demand. Most people take air for granted and laugh at the thought of paying for it. Put those same people at the top of Pikes Peak where the rarified air of 13,000+ feet is thin and most will pay for air at the oxygen bar at the summit café. Air can be very valuable to those in need.

Posted by Leading Resume Service for New Graduates, Students on April 24, 2006 at 11:38 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

From the time children are old enough to talk, grown-ups persist in asking the foolish question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Most of the time, a four-year-old will answer something like, “a fireman, a policeman, or a dancer.” Little children want to be heroes and fairy tale characters because these are the larger-than-life characters that populate their worlds. It is rare to encounter a preschooler who plans on a career as a nuclear physicist or a sous chef.

As children grow up and mature, they will answer the question more along the lines of their interests. A typical preteen will answer, “jet pilot, NFL star, or movie star” as their chosen career field. A high school student will start to consider the career question in a realistic manner but usually from the point of view of what career is popular or what career pays well, such as, “physical therapist, doctor, or lawyer.” The career choices have changed as they have grown and experienced more of the world, but are still idealistic to some degree.

As college students, these recent-high school students are required to decide at the beginning of their college careers what career path they want to pursue. When naming a major course of study, a college student usually is still in the “doctor, lawyer, chief operating officer” mode and decides to select a career path based on career popularity and income potential. Interest starts to play a role at this stage, but many students find it difficult to translate interests into careers or employment. The choice they make will determine the course of the next four years of college study and set their investment toward a specific career path.

Is it possible to successfully make a career choice and plan an education to achieve that goal at the tender age of 19? Obviously it is because many people go straight through college to become physicians, engineers, and other professionals with never a hesitation. It is interesting to note, however, that 80 percent of college graduates never work in a career related to their major field of study. The average American will also change career fields at least three times during his lifetime. Such statistics bring into question the value of choosing a career path as a freshman in college.

June Rankin* grew up confident that she was going to have a career as a veterinary surgeon. As soon as she was old enough to legally work, she gained a part-time position as a veterinary assistant for a local veterinarian. She took the ACT in her junior year and scored a composite of 29. Offers of scholarships started to arrive. She was confident of her chosen career path – four years of pre-vet and then acceptance into the very competitive veterinary medicine school of her choice.

What June did not take into consideration was her natural abilities. She had an IQ that put her in the “gifted” range and had worked for five years in a hands-on veterinary practice where she had seen nearly every type of procedure and participated in most of them. What she couldn’t do was balance a chemical equation, work the trigonometric equation for a hyperbole, or understand derivatives in calculus. Her natural abilities were simply not math-oriented.

June ended up failing miserably at the beginning of her college career, finishing up on probation status with the university and very frustrated with her studies. She considered hiring a tutor but realized at best she would achieve a C average, not good enough to be competitive in the race for veterinary school admission. In the end, she changed her major and the following semester made the Dean’s List – she had found her natural abilities. She went on to success in a career field in which she loves to work.

June learned a good lesson early on – do what you do well and career success will come. Unfortunately, many invest large sums of money and time in education only to discover after graduation they hate their new career. An investment up front in career assessment, ability testing, and research of careers would be an investment that brings huge returns while saving a great deal in wasted time and funds.

All successful people, however they define career success, all say they chose their careers because they love the job and because they are good at doing it. It is impossible to be truly successful in a career and hate it. (If you hate your career, you are not successful.) The key is to find activities you like to perform, find out in what tasks you are naturally skilled, and then find a career that combines the two.

Research, introspection, testing, and investigation into career options can help you achieve career happiness. A career coach or career counselor can lead you through the process of finding your career niche. If you find yourself past college and in a career you do not like, it is time to start planning a career change. A career coach can support you through the process of career transition without career upheaval. Invest now in professional coaching or counseling for your career and bask in job happiness in the future.

*not her real name.

Posted by Leading Resume Service for New Graduates, Students on April 24, 2006 at 11:37 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Many college career offices and some resume books are emphatic that it is vital to have an objective in your resume. The objective section is the first section after the header and states your job search or career goal. A traditional objective statement is one sentence that succinctly states your goal in terms of a position or type of company for which you would like to work.

An objective statement is very limiting and is often the weakest portion of the new graduate resume, coming in a position on the resume where you want to project the most power – the top half of the first page. If you limit yourself with your objective to one type of job, you are greatly handicapping your prospects for success since most new graduates are quite flexible in the type of position they are seeking or the company for which they would like to work. By using an objective statement, you are narrowing your opportunities at a time in your career when you truly have all sorts of choices.

Objective statements tend to be weakly worded and poorly considered. Most new graduates sense that employers are not so much interested in what the candidate is seeking in a job, but rather interested in whether the candidate’s background meets their needs. An objective, in its very nature, is not employer-focused. As a result, most new graduate job seekers write very poor objectives.

Let’s look at this example: “Objective: To apply my skills and enthusiasm in business to meet the needs of a progressive company.” What does this objective actually say? Does it address the needs of the employer? Does it give any information about the candidate? Would any job seeker NOT consider him- or herself enthusiastic when vying for a new job? This objective statement is a very typical, ineffective piece of writing that all-too-often appears in new graduate resumes.

If an objective statement is not the best choice for a new graduate resume, then what is? A better choice for the beginning section of a new graduate resume is a summarizing statement or paragraph. Three to five lines of text (not necessarily complete sentences) that summarize the qualifications that a new graduate has to offer an employer. If the new graduate has specific qualifications that provide an edge over the competition, that information should appear in the summarizing statement of the new graduate resume.

Examples of information that might give a new graduate an edge over other candidates might be bilingualism, scholarship receipt, internship experience, leadership experience, or high honors. If you have worked your way through college, financing your own education, that is a plus factor that shows dedication and work ethic—traits an employer would be seeking. Employers also like to see prior military experience since often that translates into maturity and leadership abilities. All of this information would be good to have in a summarizing statement.

Avoid cliché or overused phrases and words in a summarizing statement on a new graduate resume if possible. Some examples would be “enthusiastic”, “detail-oriented”, “people person”, “goal-oriented”, and “dedicated”. These phrases have been used so much in resumes that readers no longer give any credence to them and consider them fluff. Choose better words that more powerfully paint a picture of your qualifications.

Keep your summarizing statement to a summary, not an expository paragraph. If a piece of information does not contribute directly to positioning you as a candidate to be interviewed, it should not appear in the summary and maybe not even in the resume. Within three to five lines of text, you need to capture the reader’s attention and generate the desire to read the entire resume rather than scanning it cursorily and putting it in the ‘maybe’ pile.

An example of a well-written summary:

“Hands-on experience in civil projects involving environmental and construction aspects of the engineering field. Superior knowledge of computer systems, design and analytical projects. A mature student achieving high academic honors while maintaining part-time employment; scholarship recipient and former military member.”

This summary was for a resume of an engineering student seeking an internship with a high-profile civil engineering firm. In approximately four lines of text, the summary gives a good picture of his strengths and the unique qualities he possessed that would make him stand out in the crowd. It won him several interviews with leading firms including an interview with the Army Corps of Engineers (due to his mention of his military experience). He later was hired by the company he interned with and is now a junior partner in the firm.

It is doubtful that a weak summary or an objective statement would have had the effect this particular summary had in making his resume stand out in the crowd. If he had simply used “Objective: Civil Engineering Internship” it is almost certain he would have had a longer, more difficult search. As it was, he gained an internship within two weeks of beginning his application process. Speed is an asset when vying for the limited number of internships that are available for students and this summary definitely sped up the process for him.

When constructing your new graduate resume or resume for an internship, remember to consult with an expert in resume writing for the best results. Most experts will tell you to ditch the objective statement and go with a powerful summary statement to reach out and grab the attention of the hiring manager. The top half of the resume is the most important part of the resume and it must not only introduce you to the reader but also make the reader want to pick up the phone and call immediately. Can an old-fashioned objective statement do that? Hardly.

Posted by Leading Resume Service for New Graduates, Students on April 24, 2006 at 11:33 AM | Leave a Comment (0)

Ever got your car stuck in the snow before? (If you're reading this in Minnesota, where I am, the default answer is, "You betcha!")

If so, you know that a sure-fire way to get your car unstuck is to rock it back and forth, by shifting from drive to reverse again and again. By going in the op