Resumes and Cover Letters

Instead of applying only to "new" companies ... try revisiting old possibilities. You might hesitate to reach out to companies you have already applied to for fear of seeming impatient or nagging, but we beg to differ. It never hurts to get back in touch with people you've already contacted. You can let them know you are still looking for work to see if they know of anything that might be up your alley, or you can specify the type of position you were hoping to find in their company. Even if you interviewed with an employer, reach out to them and get feedback on why they didn't hire you. If they chose a more experienced candidate, for example, maybe they have an open position that is a better fit with your qualifications.

Source: Career Builder

Abridged: CNBC News

As most of us have football playoffs on the brain lately, it\'s helpful to look at the lessons that translate from the sports field to the job search field. The idea that offense wins the game is particularly relevant in this job market. It\'s easy not to fault job seekers for playing it safe. But while we don\'t suggest every job search tactic be the equivalent of a Hail Mary pass, the reality is that defense just keeps you in the search while offense gets you the job!

Reviewing your resume over and over again for typos is defense. Positioning your resume with the language and detail that gets you the job you want is offense. Positioning is proactive. Rekindling old contacts and reconnecting with friends is defense. Seeking out those people who are specific decision-makers in your areas of interest and developing a relationship with them is offense. You are proactively making new job opportunities for yourself.

Scouring the job boards and filling out applications is defense. You are covering your bases which is key. However, identifying specific companies and specific industries that you want to serve, researching their pain points, and positioning yourself as the solution is offense. You make the employer realize that they have a need, and you can fill that need. Playing offense does not mean being risky or reckless. It means being brave enough to do those activities that will make things happen for you.

Abridged: Yahoo! Hotjobs

Posting a successful online resume requires techniques most job seekers just don\'t know. Resume search terms, resume SEO, data retrieval rules: These are key factors. Here are a few ways to enhance resume performance -- both in online search engines and at organizations that store resumes in their own databases.

1) Keywords - Resumes are ranked based on how many times they repeat the right keywords. If your resume doesn\'t repeat the right keywords (or search terms), numerous times, searchers are unlikely to find it. 2) Critical Keywords - Your resume should repeat basic, core search terms. Job titles like; creative director, business analyst, CFO. Job descriptions like; creative direction, business process analysis, corporate finance. These should be prominent in your resume\'s headline, opening section and every job description -- wherever you can fit them.

3) Synonyms - To cover all the bases, you also need synonyms to your keywords with comparable titles and parallel job descriptions. 4) Qualifications Summaries is another way to up your keyword count. This offers another opportunity to reiterate your keywords. 5) Finally, list specific keyword terms on your resume. It\'s also a perfect way to showcase your diverse skills. Cite general search terms like \"application development\" and \"software engineering\" and list specialties like \"Web development\" and \"Web-based applications\".

Below you will find a URL that provides an easy-to-understand guide for improving and updating your resume. This video is worth three (3) minutes of your time.

http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Resources/CareerResources.aspx?sc_cmp2=JS_Nav_AdvRes

Abridged: NY Times

NEW YORK, NY -- As optimism grows about a 2010 recovery, individuals and businesses are continuing to operate in new ways that helped them survive 2009. Candice Shehorn, founder of Key Pointe Coaching, said workers who still have jobs and whose companies rode out the challenges of 2009 are heaving a collective sigh of relief. But she also sees optimism among those who have lost jobs - even job seekers who feel discouraged from being out of work for some time.

Many job seekers are seizing the opportunity to go to a trade school, pursue advanced degrees or update their job skills by taking distance learning classes online. The overall impression is this has been a rough year. The optimism stems from a shift in how people look for work, with many putting new efforts into searching for a job using social media and online networking. Job seekers are learning it\'s not about asking who is hiring, but looking for support and making connections.

With the poor state of the economy, more people are willing to help out others. Now is NOT the time to coast along with minimal effort. Now IS the time to really get into action and cover all the basics. For example: update your resume and cover letter, post your resume on niche job boards and career websites, set up your online professional profile and continue networking both online and offline. This year\'s economic recovery is expected to start out slow with momentum building down the road.

From MSN Careers -

So it\'s the new year and you\'re now thinking about a new job. Maybe you\'re currently unemployed or you\'d like to find a new job, but the current state of the economy has undermined your efforts. You don\'t have to wait out the storm. Take new steps to prepare for your 2010 job search. By laying the groundwork now, you\'ll be well-positioned once the job market recovers, giving you a valuable edge.

Here are a couple of key steps to get you started: Update your resume! The most essential element of any job search is an up-to-date resume. If you haven\'t touched your resume in awhile, dust it off and make sure it highlights your most recent skills, areas of responsibility and accomplishments. Taking a little time over several weeks to work on this document is better than rushing to complete your resume all at once.

Also be sure to keep your online professional profiles current. If you don\'t have one yet, go to LinkedIn.com and create one. Your professional profile serves as an informal resume for recruiters, who are frequently using these sites to locate talented candidates. Make sure to put your best digital foot forward. In a competitive job market, a polished professional reputation can make or break your chances of landing a new position in 2010.

Social networking sites and online searches are the newest way that many employers are checking up on prospective hires. A 2009 CareerBuilder survey showed that 45 percent of employers use social networking sites to research candidates. Thirty-five percent of those employers found content that caused them to dismiss the candidate. Make sure to remove any photos, content or links that can work against you in an employer\'s eyes.

Did you know that less than 25% of all recruiters have scanning technology for keyword identification?

It\'s true that recruiters sometimes use scanners to sort through resumes looking for certain keywords. But resumes appear contrived when candidates consciously try to include them. Describing a business-development position using such terms as \"needs assessment\" and \"contract analysis\" in order to squeeze in more keywords is a misguided strategy. Assume that a human being -- not a computer -- will be reading the resume. Tjherefore, do what I do - add a listing of 12 - 15 \"areas of expertise\" in a special section found in the top 1/3 of the resume. Make it easy for the reader to identify the skills that you offer an employer. Do not rely on scanners to pick up your skills. Only large companies, gov\'t agencies and selected recruiters can afford to buy the technology. Keep this in mind when you are writing your resume.

When moving from one job to another or transitioning between bosses and departments you can easily get stuck with twice the work. You might be eager to start the new job, but Mr. Brandon advises sitting down with the old and new bosses together to reach an agreement about how the transition will be handled. Who will take over your old role? What will your new job responsibilities entail? \"Negotiate time frames for the new job,\" says Mr. Brandon. If you\'re asked to take on work in addition to what you do now, ask for a priority list and find out who you will report to for the new responsibilities.

Source: WSJ.com

If accomplishments can be quantified, do it -- but use discretion. Brandishing borderline performance numbers signals a lack of experience and bad judgment. \"Phrases like \'managed a budget of $500,000 or \'led a team of two\' might catch my eye in a bad way,\" warns Olaf Weckesser, a former recruiter for McKinsey & Co. Better to spin it as \"managed company\'s largest budget.\"

Adds Alexandra DeMarino, a Citigroup recruiter: \"If a small number is impressive, you absolutely have to put it in context.\" Because you can\'t provide context for academic numbers, don\'t include GMAT scores below 650 if you\'re targeting a top firm. DeMarino suggests bragging about nothing less than a 3.7 GPA.

Jobs often are not advertised, and the only way to find them is by networking. Many employers prefer not to advertise on the Internet. They prefer to fill vacancies in more personal ways. Job hunters who go on the Internet, typically only 10% or less\" are successful, said Richard Bolles, author of \"The Job-Hunter\'s Survival Guide\" and \"What Color Is Parachute?\"

That means finding and contacting companies that can use your skills, Find a live human being there that you can connect to so you\'re not just another resume coming in the door. Contact that person via email or telephone, and say, for instance, \"I understand you\'re in the process of rolling out a new product. I would like to talk to you about how I can support you in this,\" Also send your resume and a letter \"packed with reasons for them to want to talk to you.\"

Source - MarketWatch.com

Contact that person via email or telephone, and say, for instance, \"I understand you\'re in the process of rolling out a new product. I would like to talk to you about how I can support you in this,\" Kay said. Also send your resume and a letter \"packed with reasons for them to want to talk to you.\"

Revitalizing your career in the middle of a job search involves two important steps: Step 1: Begin acquiring a new skill or refreshing one you already have. You might, for example, take a course in a second language at a local community college or attend a new certification program offered by your professional or trade association. You can choose almost any topic just as long as it will clearly and meaningfully enhance your ability to contribute on-the-job.

Step 2: Add the fact that you\'re back in school to your resume. Note it in the summary at the beginning of that document and, in its Education section, provide the name of the course you\'re taking, the institution or organization that\'s offering it, the formal outcome if there will be one and the term \"On-going. Those two simple steps will instantaneously transform you into a new person. They\'ll enhance your skill set and also demonstrate your attributes to employers.

Most importantly, this course of action will set you apart from other candidates by demonstrating that you have two very special attributes: you understand that in today\'s rapidly evolving world of work, staying competent in your field is an ever-moving target AND you take personal responsibility for keeping yourself at the state-of-the-art. You recognize the responsibility and accept it.

Source - Peter Weddle, Build Career Fitness

What\'s more, younger workers are often perceived as job hoppers -- quick to jump from one opportunity to the next. Employers aren\'t likely to want to invest in training new talent -- especially in this environment -- unless employees are committed and stable.

Source: WSJ

As to whether or not you include the dates of your degrees, career experts have varying opinions. In most cases, it is a good idea to include them. If your resume attempts to indicate that you are younger by leaving out graduation dates or eliminating 10 years of early career history, \"you could run the risk of surprising the interviewer and disqualifying yourself -- not so much because of age, but because you have misled the employer,\" says Sheryl Spanier, a career coach and consultant. When you include early work experience, it isn\'t difficult to calculate the general age of a candidate. So why make the recruiter do the math? Leaving out the dates of your degrees may also make it appear that you have something to hide. What\'s more, many employers verify degrees and will ask you to provide graduation dates, so you might as well provide them. Be sure to include any recent continuing education and dates you completed the work.

For professionals who are in their mid-50s and older, it will be harder to overcome potential employer biases. \"If you are a youthful 55, perhaps you could post a professional photo of yourself on LinkedIn, which most recruiters check these days,\" says Ms. de Lande Long. In addition, in your cover letter, you\'ll want to differentiate yourself \"by showing results, (understanding of) technology and demonstrate ease in interacting with colleagues of all ages,\" she says.

During the interview process, avoid the \"been there, done that\" attitude. Instead, show interest, commitment, enthusiasm and energy. \"If you\'re bored with your profession, you can be sure that comes through in an interview,\" says Susan Chadick, a principal at Chadick Ellig, an executive-search firm serving small and mid-size companies and startups.

Let\'s not kid ourselves - age discrimination does exist in the workplace. The Age Discrimination Act of 1967 is supposed to protect those 40+, the law is frequently violated. But don\'t despair. There actually are advantages to being over 40 .

In my mind, the down economy is a good time to position yourself as a competent and confident professional in your area of expertise and experience. You need to be careful about how your market your experience but you need to emphasis your skills and strengths as an older worker who will have a flatter learning curve as well as have a better sense of how to effectively approach complicated business (as well as political) issues with clients, colleagues and vendors.

Let\'s try to figure out where your relationships with references may be going awry. A few questions for you:

* Did you let them know beforehand that you would be giving out their names and contact information and listing them as references?
* Have you explained to them what kind of job you\'re looking for, and what you\'d appreciate their emphasizing when employers call?
* Have they got an up-to-date copy of your resume?
* Have you thanked them for being willing to put in a positive word for you, even if no one has called them?
* Have you done them any good turns lately (or ever)?

If you answer \"yes\" to all of the above, that\'s a good start.

Next consider: Are your references still in the jobs you think they\'re in?

Source - Money Magazine

You need to decide how concerned you are with having your personal contact information on the Internet. How important is it for you to be able to \"disconnect\" your Internet resume when you are no longer looking for work? If resume confidentiality and Internet disconnecting are important to you, we recommend following these tips.

Choose the confidentiality feature when posting your resume online. Also make sure you do not have your personal information in the body of your resume. Replace this information with \"Confidential Resume\". One other suggestion is to get a separate email address to use for your job search activities. Make sure the email address doesn\'t contain identifying information like your last name. Then, once your job search is over, you can cancel the email address at anytime.

If controlling the distribution of your resume is important to you, using the confidentiality feature on job boards is key. This way when you have secured a new job your personal information will not be exposed online to other recruiters and hiring managers will not be able to reach you.

Abridged: Posting Online Blog

If you\'ve been sending your résumé out for a month or more with no response, ask yourself a few questions. Have you developed a plan that outlines the job functions and industries that most interest you? Are there new keywords you need to incorporate or are your bullet points not playing to your strengths or the company\'s needs?

No pictures
Sure, we know that you are good looking, but unless you are applying for a job where the physical traits are very important (e.g., modeling, acting and so on), and unless the employer specifically requested it, you should avoid attaching your picture to the resume.

Credit - http://www.dailywritingtips.com

1. It\'s taking hiring managers 4.5 to 14.4 weeks to fill a vacancy. A shortage of qualified applicants was noted as the top hiring challenge.
2. Companies aren\'t focusing exclusively on full-time additions. 40% said they intend to bring in contract, part-time or temp employees.
3. 45% of workers plan to change employers or careers when the economy recovers.
4. IT is expected to be a top area for change in the coming years. When managers were asked which departments will add positions first, technology ranked first.

Source - Robert Half International and CareerBuilder

There are many gainfully employed people who are very frustrated and dissatisfied with their current roles. Reasons may include: those of you still employed are doing the jobs of several people, there are few internal opportunities within your company, or there are fewer opportunities outside of your company. There are other people who are working in a contract or part-time role, when what they truly want is a full-time role with benefits.

Here are a few words of advice: The employment market does seem to be slowly improving. There was a drop recently in the number of Americans filing first-time claims for unemployment benefits. Additionally, the early September numbers showed a decline in the total number of Americans collecting unemployment benefits. Companies are slowly hiring. There are sectors that are definitely hiring, including green/alternative energy companies, health care, and biotech, to name a few.

Career counselors recommend thinking about what skills you may have that are most transferable to these emerging industries. Keep an active network so when hiring picks up, you are top of mind with your contacts. Be positive and professional in your current role. You may need a reference from this company some day. Learn whatever new skills that you can while in your current role. Don\'t despair. Economists are forecasting a slow recovery, but a recovery nonetheless.

Abridged: Boston Business

I find it interesting that there appears to be a prevailing belief that job seekers do not need a cover letter in their arsenal. That is flat out not true!!! If you are looking for work, you need to have a cover letter!!!

When applying for a job a cover letter should be sent or posted with your resume. Your cover letter should be specific to the position you are applying for, relating your skills and experience to those noted in the job posting. Your cover letter is your first (and best) chance to make a good impression! You need to include the following information:

1. Name of Hiring Manager (if available)
2. Employer Name and Address
3. Name of Position Coveted
4. Name of Website Where you Found the Posting

You need to highlight in less than one page:

1. State why you are Qualified for the Position
2. A Brief Listing of your Past Successes
3. What Type of Contribution you wil make to the Hiring Organization
4. Summary Paragraph

These are key elements that you should use for your cover letter. Do not leave any of these line items out of the letter. Good luck with your letter



Content

Don\'t limit your job search to only one type of industry or job role. You are shooting yourself in the foot by limiting your options. Diversify your portfolio of job industries and roles and you will increase your chances of landing a great job.

Remember, your job search is all about the numbers game. You should never put all of your eggs in one basket for jobs. So hit the ground running and pound the pavement. The more jobs you apply to, the more people you network with and the more interviews you go on will lead to the perfect job.

Of all the questions a hiring manager may ask you during a job interview, the last one could be the most important -- and trickiest to answer: \"Do you have any questions for me?\"

This simple query can stump even the best-prepared job candidates. Yet, it offers a golden opportunity to set yourself apart from other applicants. Asking smart and pertinent questions allows you to steer the conversation and expand upon your top skills, qualifications, and attributes. Following are wise questions to consider -- and some of the reasons they\'re worth asking:

Question #1: What are the opportunities for advancement, and do you typically promote from within?

Given the high costs associated with hiring and training new staff, employers are looking for job candidates who will stick around for a while. Asking this question shows that you are ambitious, goal-oriented, and eager to grow with the firm over the long term. It also can help you determine what your professional future with the organization would be like.

Question #2: What types of training programs do you offer?

Employers value workers who keep up with the latest industry trends and developments. By asking this question, you can emphasize your dedication to expanding your skill set. If applicable, it never hurts to mention several specific proficiencies you\'ve gained through previous professional-development programs or continuing education courses you\'ve taken.

Question #3: While researching your firm I learned that the company recently [fill in the blank]. Can you tell me a little bit more about this development?

Impress interviewers by doing your homework. Review the firm\'s website, marketing materials, executive bios, and recent annual reports to get a good sense of the organization and its leaders. Asking a beyond-the-basics question shows that you\'re a serious candidate who\'s interested enough in the position to scratch beneath the surface to learn as much as possible about the firm.

Credit - Doug White, Robert Half International, Yahoo! HotJobs

Let employers make a first offer, as it is primordial to push off any actual salary talk until after you\'ve secured the position. At that point, it\'ll be much easier to negotiate since you\'ll know that the company wants you on board.

WHO KNOWS ABOUT HIDDEN JOBS?

The hidden job market is accessed through people who know about openings, plans and employer needs. These individuals primarily are employees, consultants, former employees, and may also include vendors, customers, business partners and others with inside connections. In today\'s marketplace, relevant news and unadvertised job leads are passed along among contacts -- by word of mouth and electronically on social networking sites, personal and corporate blogs, online and in-person support groups, and alumni networks.

There\'s much more to know about finding secret gems in the job market. Browse the topic on the internet. It\'s not just what you know or even who you know, but who with the necessary authority to hire knows what you know, and how you can contribute to the organization\'s success.

Once you have made contact and submitted your resume for consideration, following up is as important as the air you breathe.

It\'s harder for an employer to say \"no\" on the phone than to turn you down by e-mail or in a tweet. But it\'s easier to reach an employer using digital access. The key to effective follow-up is establishing the employer\'s preferred frequency and mode of checking back before you leave the interview room.

The latest job figures reveal that the number of unemployed workers for every available job rose to 5.7, up from 5.5 the month before. Think of it: nearly six job seekers for every opening. Get busy and follow up.

Source - Joyce Lain Kennedy - The Hidden Job Market

Your job is to be knowledgeable about the company for which you\'re interviewing. Random facts about last night\'s episode of \"Dancing with the Stars\" or your favorite blog will not get you the job. Never feel you have to fill an interview with small talk. Find ways to talk about serious subjects related to the industry or company. Pockets of silence are better than padding an interview with random babble.

Source - Yahoo.com

All good cover letters should:

1. Explain why you are sending a resume.

2. Tell specifically how you learned about the position or the organization

3. Convince the reader to look at your resume.

4. Call attention to elements of your background

5. Reflect your attitude, personality, motivation, enthusiasm, and communication skills.

6. Provide or refer to any information specifically requested in job advertisement

Abridged - www.career.vt.edu

It can happen to anyone at anytime. A softened economy forces your employer to make cuts; your company merges with another and staffing changes; your department is restructured; a new boss cleans house; or you simply didn\'t perform to your manager\'s expectations. Whatever the reason, anytime is now. Here\'s what you can do to stay afloat:

1. If you think you may be fired, do not resign!
Out of pride, many people fall into this trap and wind up waiving claim to severance pay, benefits, earned bonuses and commissions and unemployment compensation. With so many victims of downsizings and reorganizations, being \"let go\" doesn\'t carry the stigma it once did -- in fact most prospective employers won\'t even bat an eye!

2. Q: Should I try to negotiate a better severance package?

A: By all means, yes. According to the National Employee Rights Institute (NERI), employees have more bargaining power than they realize. Don\'t be pressured into signing anything on the spot. Tell your employer you need to review the proposed agreement with your legal and financial advisers. Then, check the company policy manual to find out what is standard practice for employees in your situation. If you can, talk to others whom the company has terminated. You can argue your case on merits such as length of service, specific accomplishments and amount of time required to find comparable employment in today\'s labor market. Be sure to document your achievements, and if your family has special needs (due to illness or disability) you may want to let your company know the hardships this termination may cause.

Remember, money is not the only thing at stake. Consider how long you will continue to be covered under company health and life insurance and the status of any earned -- or close to being earned -- bonuses, commissions, vacation time and vesting in 401(k), pension and profit sharing accounts. You also may want outplacement services or an agreed-upon letter of reference. Also think about getting your severance payment as salary continuation rather than a lump sum agreement. Salary continuation often allows for a continuation of disability benefits and also lets you answer yes when asked if you\'re still employed.

Source - Career Builder

Remember, your resume is a marketing tool designed to sell your skills and strengths. You need to highlight specific achievements that present a comprehensive picture of your marketability. Be certain to quantify your achievements to ensure greater confidence in the hiring manager and thereby generate interest – percentages, dollars, number of employees managed, budgets, accounts managed, etc.

...is by far the most important part of the resume. If your resume lacks a strong summary statement and listing of your core competencies, your changes of having the hiring manager read the remainder of the resume are greatly diminished. WHY?
Because resumes are now read in the monitor and not the piece of paper. The top 1/3 is what pops up in the monitor when they open the document. First impressions count! If the first impression is lukewarm, they are not going to read the rest of the document. Like you and I, hiring managers are strapped for time and they are not going to waste theirs on a candidate they feel is not up to speed. Therefore, be certain that your top 1/3 is strong in focus and qualifications.

All too often career choices don\'t lead to personal happiness on the job or to maximizing one\'s potential. Most people stick with certain jobs or careers because it\'s \"what they know\" or what they think they\'re good at. Sound familiar?

Have you been bored, unsatisfied, or worried that your current job might be eliminated and found yourself wondering...\"is this all there is?\" Or maybe you\'re out of work and in a rut? Perhaps now is the time to start exploring a different career. But with so many different types of jobs and careers, how do you figure
out what\'s right for you?

Taking career assessment tests can open up possibilities by
helping you uncover the tasks, experience, education and training needed for your next career move. This enables you to make better career decisions and market yourself to your best advantage. Working in an unsatisfying career can dramatically reduce happiness, productivity, self-confidence and self worth.

Source - Career News

You should always be cognizant that the title of the job that you are applying for may not be consistent with the actual responsibilities of the position.

\"Many job seekers don\'t realize how much title inflation there is at some companies, and how much title definition variance there is in the marketplace,\" says John Nicholson, CEO of Résumés That Jump, a résumé writing service. At his previous company, marketing coordinators had major responsibilities, such as managing multimillion-dollar budgets and working on high-profile partnerships..

He knows that at similar companies, they could have had fluffier job titles, like \"senior marketing manager,\" but they\'d also have fewer responsibilities.

\"When it comes to résumés and job interviews, titles are a lot less important than what you\'ve accomplished and what you can bring to an employer,\" Nicholson says.

Therefore, it is important to read the job descriptions and make sure that your resume is consistent with the responsibilities of the job, not just the title. Titles are often inflated and, in all honestly, are rarely transferable.

Three Action Items for enhancing the value of your cover letter as a job-search marketing tool:

1. Have you added more credibility to the value judgments you make about yourself by attributing them to a professor or former employer(s)? For example, \"My former employers can attest that I am a motivated hard worker.\"

2. Have you taken advantage of your networking contacts by referring to someone the employer knows in the body of the letter?

3. Have you presented your Unique Selling Proposition? What makes you different than the rest?

Abridged - QuintCareers.com

1. Spray and pray.

Don\'t blindly send your resume unsolicited, electronically or otherwise, to any company without first making verbal contact. Says Ryan, founder of AskLizRyan.com, \"Tossing out un-customized cover letters and undifferentiated resumes in huge volumes and crossing your fingers is a job-search non-starter. That doesn\'t work, and it hasn\'t worked in 10 years, or more.\" Establish a connection before sending a customized cover letter and, adds Ryan, \"You can even customize your resume if a job opening calls for it.\"

2. Stand in line for a job fair.

Admits Ryan, \"Sad to say, but most job fairs are a waste of time. Avoid the huge cattle call-type job fairs where zillions of employers have booths, yet no one is taking resumes.\" There are some job fairs that have value. Ryan, a former human resources executive, points to company-specific open hours and college placement job fairs. Tap your network to learn if anyone can recommend worthwhile fairs. \"Ask around before you head off to a job fair or risk having your time wasted and your ego dashed.\"

Source - Yahoo.com

I hope that everyone had a great holiday weekend.

Written by Liz Ryan, information below will be helpful to everyone who is looking to network / find a new career opportunity:

1. Get a new "one."

You'll need a ONE -- an online networkingemail account -- just for use in discussion groups and social networking sites. If you don't get an account just for this purpose, you may find your "regular" home email address (or, worse, your work address!) beset by spam messages and bacn (social networking spam). Get a new address at Yahoo! or another free-email site today, and use it for all of your online networking adventures.

2. Find your group.

Yahoo! Groups is the epicenter of group online discussion, with 10 million groups covering every topic from search engine optimization to moms working from home. Search for a group that suits your taste and then join it, taking care to read the group's membership guidelines before you plunge into the conversation.

3. Stake your claim.

MySpace, Facebook and a zillion other high-profile sites are fun and diverting, but LinkedIn is the place for business networking, and basic membership is free. Create a profile and invite your friends to become first-degree connections with you on LinkedIn -- your friends will be able to share your contacts, and vice versa.

Great article for both managers and workers about career diversity, hard work as well as a positive spin on loyalty in the workplace.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124545228391132771.html

TACOMA, WA -- Forget just about everything you think you know about finding a job. \"Many changes have happened in the job market since 20 years ago, since 10 years ago - since last October,\" said Paul Anderson, a former hiring manager for Microsoft and Expedia. He believes that job hunters need to understand human behavior and outfox this new system. He offers a few ways to tackle a job search in the new world.

First, scrap the elevator pitch. \"Why the elevator pitch doesn\'t work,\" Anderson said, \"is that nobody cares about you. They care about themselves. You have to change your mindset from self-serving to serving others.\" That means finding out what need you can fill for the recruiters. Second, at job fairs, don\'t bring a sheaf of resumes and hand them out to recruiters like Halloween candy. Instead, get business cards from the recruiters. Ask them what kinds of jobs they need to fill and what kind of candidates they like.

Third, leverage online social networks, such as LinkedIn.com, to connect with as many people as possible. Online networks allow you to find and seek advice from contacts who work for the companies you have targeted for your job search, it allows others to endorse you, and it allows you to post specific information about the job you want, Anderson said.

Source: The News Tribune

Find an insider. Develop a networking list of friends, former colleagues, and acquaintances who might know people at your target companies. Taking the time to pinpoint key contacts at the company where you are applying will help ensure your rĂŠsumĂŠ gets into the right person\'s hands. What\'s more, an introduction to an insider will help avoid needing to use the rĂŠsumĂŠ upfront.

Particularly when answering ads through online job boards or through a corporate Web site, be sure to include critical keywords high up in your résumé. For example, for someone applying for a human-resources position, it would be wise to include key words such as \"recruiting\" and \"hiring\" near the top of a résumé for better search optimization. Other clues to the right keywords can be found in the job description -- try to use words found there in your résumé.

Source - WSJ.com (Jane Porter)

It\'s one of the first things people think to do after losing a job: quickly get a résumé into as many hands as possible. But career experts say doing so without a strategic plan is a mistake -- wasting time and energy and resulting in few callbacks. \"Most people sprinkle their résumé around like confetti hoping they will land in the right spot,\" says Ford Myers, president of Career Potential LLC, a Philadelphia-based career consulting firm. \"It\'s a bad strategy.\" How to get the most out of your résumé:
[Resume] Getty Images

Make a wish list. Take the time to identify the companies you want to work for before you sit down to write your résumé. \"You have to know where you are headed,\" says Robert Saam, a senior vice president at Woodcliff Lake, N.J.-based outplacement firm Lee Hecht Harrison. \"This informs how to do your résumé.\" For example, knowing a company you are applying to is in the midst of making acquisitions can help you structure your résumé to highlight relevant work experience, he says.

Source - WSJ.com (Jane Porter)

You Can Be Personal AND Professional

Looking to add some sort of personal touch to each interview is bound to engage at least one or two hiring managers and could make the difference between being overlooked and being hired. Here\'s an example of how to move the conversation in this direction. Take the lead. \"I noticed in your company brochure that you take good care of your employees and as a result they have a high level of loyalty to your organization. In my last job I was in charge of the annual sales meeting one summer at a resort with an Olympic-sized swimming pool. I suggested we hold our session poolside. We then invited attendees to stay afterward for a swim and drinks on the company. We even provided bathing suits in assorted sizes for those who didn\'t bring theirs. Employees talked about this event for months afterward.\"

A conversation-starter such as this will provide so much more information and insight about you, your creativity, personality, and client relations than stock answers to typical interview questions. So make a plan now to be friendly, be confident, be creative, and spark the discussion with personal details that draw in the hiring manager.

Source: Jimmy Sweeney - CareerJimmy.com

Use the top 1/3 of the resume to \"explain your value\" by exhibiting the core competencies, areas of expertise and skills / accomplishments that you bring to potential employers. The top 1/3 is the most important part of the resume. If the top 1/3 is not \"up to speed\", you are only prolonging your job search. This is critical and you need to have a summary statement (NOT AN OBJECTIVE) that is compelling.

It is illegal to discriminate people because of their age, but some employers break the law nonetheless. It is very hard to prove age discrimination. However, we all need to be aware that it happens regularly.

In order to avoid discrimination (and keep your resume shorter), applicants over 40 years of age should not list all their work experiences. You are going to be interviewed based on your last two (2) jobs, not work history from 1994. Therefore, it is only necessary to have your resume date back 10 - 12 years at most. Only include older experience if the company is a recognizable brand in your field or if you have a major accomplishment that adds tremendous value for the particular job you are seeking.

Control the image that employers develop about you--use \"Power Words\" or verbs that match the level of position you want. For example, Roger wants to use the experience he\'s gained to move into a management position. To strengthen his image he should use as many \"management oriented\" words as possible. Which example below do you think is the strongest?

Typical Verbs:
Gave work assignments to staff of entry level accounting clerks.

Power Words:
Directed workflow, supervised and trained accounting staff performing posting to general ledger, accounts receivable and payable accounts.

Source: sfgate.com

A 2006 survey by executive search firm ExecuNet reports that 77% of recruiters said they use search engines to check out job candidates. In a CareerBuilder.com survey of 1,150 hiring managers, one in four said they use Internet search engines to research potential employees. One in 10 said they also use social networking sites to screen candidates.

I suggest that you need to keep your online presence ultra-conservative. A friend of mine is a Facebook junkie. She posts continuously during business hours. I had a candid conversation with her about this very subject. She saw \"the light\" and now keeps her posts to evenings and weekends. Her posts are more generic now than before (which is good - no need for her (or anyone else) to post anything that may be construed as controversial or as a negative by others.

Putting your resume up on a social network doesn\'t guarantee you a safe landing elsewhere. Though professionals can find jobs with the assistance of social network connections, it requires a bit more planning and effort than most job seekers realize.

Dan Schawbel, a personal branding guru, contends that \"most job seekers don\'t optimize their profile, cultivate their network, join and participate in groups, use applications and exchange endorsements.\" In other words, they don\'t do the important things that will get them noticed by hiring managers or recruiters. In fact, job seekers tend to think of social networks as a solitary pursuit. They invest the time to build a profile, invite friends or professional contacts to connect with them and sit back and hope for the best.

In recent months, some freshly unemployed professionals have formed or joined groups on LinkedIn among other sites for purposes of achieving strength in numbers. Social networks are a good tool to provide active job seekers with opportunities to expand their range of contacts and target a specific employer, however it\'s up to the job seeker to continue networking on a daily basis.

Source: MSNBC

Job seekers hurt their own cause when they don\'t focus on specific ways they can help potential employers and instead simply mass distribute their resume. Individuals need to show hiring managers what they can do for the organization, not the reverse. Thoroughly research companies where you want to apply, customize your resume and cover letter for each opportunity, and in your communications with employers highlight your accomplishments and skills that demonstrate how you can positively impact the firm\'s bottom line.

-- DeLynn Senna, executive director of North American permanent placement services, Robert Half International

Industry associations and societies are great places to make connections to your next job! Attending industry events and becoming active in your association of choice will open avenues for you that would not normally be open to most people. This is a great way to \"show your stuff\" and penetrate the hidden job market. Spend time finding the right organization for you and become actively involved.

(From BestSampleResume.com)

To get you started, following is a list of things to keep in mind when creating electronic resumes.

* Use standard fonts in which none of the letters touch.
* Keep in mind that underlining, italics, and fancy scripts may not scan well.
* Use boldface and capitalization to set off elements. Again, make sure letters don\'t touch. Leave at least a quarter inch between lines of type.
* Keep information and elements at the left margin. Centering, columns, and even indenting may change when the resume is optically scanned.
* Do not use any lines, boxes, or graphics.
* Place the most important information at the top of the first page. If you use two pages, put \"Page 1 of 2\" at the bottom of the first page and put your name and \"Page 2 of 2\" at the top of the second page.
* List each telephone number on its own line in the header.
* Use multiple keywords or synonyms for what you do to make sure your qualifications will be picked up if a prospective employer is searching for them. Use nouns rather than verbs that are keywords for your profession.
* Be descriptive in your titles. For example, don\'t just use \"assistant\"; use \"legal office assistant\".
* Make sure the contrast between print and paper is good. Use a high-quality laser printer and white or very light colored 8.5-by-11-inch paper.
* Mail a high-quality laser print or an excellent copy. Do not fold or use staples, as this might interfere with scanning. You may, however, use paper clips.

In addition to creating a resume that works well for scanning, you may want to have resume that can be E-mailed to reviewers. Because you may not know what word processing application the recipient uses, the best format to use is ASCII text. It allows people with very different software platforms to exchange and understand information.

Here is a list of things to avoid when crafting your electronic resume:

* Tabs. Use space bar. Tabs will not work.
* Any special characters, such as mathematical symbols.
* Word wrap. Use hard returns (the return key) to make line breaks.
* Centering or other formatting. Align everything at the left margin.
* Bold or italics fonts. Everything will be converted to plain text when you save the file as a \"text only\" document.

List your technical knowledge first, in an organized way. Your technical strengths must stand out clearly at the beginning of your resume. Ultimately, your resume is going to be read by a thoughtful human being, but before it gets to that point it often has to be categorized by an administrative clerk, and make its way past various sorts of key word searches. Therefore, you should list as many directly relevant buzz words as you can which reflect your knowledge and experience. List all operating systems and UNIX flavors you know. List all programming languages and platforms with which you\'re experienced. List all software you are skilled with. Make it obvious at a glance where your strengths lie - whether the glance is from a hiring manager, a clerk, or a machine.

For both the resume and interview - be certain to provide specific examples of your successes. Provide numerical data if position. Make your example easier for the hiring manager to understand and correlate to the job they wish to fill. Your examples should highlight your successes skills you are marketing.

This is a very good article - a must read for all career-oriented people

By ALEXANDRA LEVIT - WSJ.com

It used to be enough to walk into a job search with an impressive résumé. If you were really enterprising, maybe you\'d have a portfolio to showcase your best work. Now, though, people want a better way to stand out, and that has resulted in the very 21st-century concept of personal branding.

If you\'ve been in the workplace longer than 10 years, you might be thinking that personal branding was actually born in 1997, when management guru Tom Peters wrote about \"the brand called you.\"

But never before has personal branding been so mainstream. The Internet makes it possible for everyone to establish a brand, and if you don\'t know what yours is, now is the time to find out.

Experts such as Dan Schawbel, the author of \"Me 2.0: Build a Powerful Brand to Achieve Career Success,\" define personal branding as how we market ourselves to other people. Your brand should be strong and memorable enough to set you apart and to make a positive impression on people you don\'t know.
Show You Can Do the Job

\"Personal branding serves as career protection in uncertain times,\" says Mr. Schawbel. \"It\'s also a critical tool for reinventing yourself because you can leverage the reputation and skill set you already have to prove you have the ability to do the job you want.\"

A veteran of the recruitment research field, 41-year-old Jim Stroud developed an early interest in social media. Hoping to launch a new career in the field, Mr. Stroud built an online brand as \"The Searchologist.\"

\"A searchologist is … someone who is proficient in searching the Internet\" for people who aren\'t actively seeking new jobs, he explains. His presence in search engines and networks such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, as well as a podcast series and blog, led Mr. Stroud to his job as social-media development manager for EnglishCafe, an English learning community for global professionals.

So how do you create a personal brand? Start by understanding where you are in your career and where you\'re going.
How Are You Perceived?

\"The personal brand is, first and foremost, about the person,\" says Mr. Schawbel. \"The clearer you are about your destination, the easier it will be to communicate why others should pay attention.\"

In addition to showcasing your own blend of expertise and experience, your personal brand should communicate the qualities and values you want to be known for -- for example, being cutting-edge, helpful, provocative, approachable or honest.

If you need some help, do an informal focus group with personal and professional contacts to get their feedback on how you are perceived. Ask if they see you as the type to thrive under high-pressure situations, or if you\'re more comfortable knowing exactly what to expect and having time to prepare for it.

Mr. Schawbel recommends taking a course in Web development or graphic design so you can translate your brand visually.

Become familiar with the tools, including online communities, of your industry, and make sure your presence on all of them is always updated to consistently and accurately reflect your brand -- you.

1. Talk to your boss. Sit down and have a very direct and pointed conversation with your boss about your future in the company. Stress that you want your job performance to meet the company’s goals. Share your own career goals with him or her. Your boss will respect this display of confidence and maturity.

2. Volunteer for boards. If you have your career set on something beyond what you are doing in your present position, seek out opportunities to volunteer or serve on advisory boards, where you can build a reputation as someone who is passionate and dedicated to your particular industry.

3. Be innovative. Never be afraid to think outside of the box and put your business acumen to work. Stay on the lookout for creative solutions to problems that will make you — and your boss — look good.

Source - Allbusiness.com

Source - WSJ.com

Employers may be scaling back on layoffs, according to a new survey of large companies, but that doesn\'t mean an end to the pain for workers, as employers say they plan to introduce plenty of other cost-cutting measures.

Just 13% of companies polled earlier this month said they expect to trim their work forces within the next 12 months, down from 23% in a December survey. The latest findings, released Wednesday by consulting firm Watson Wyatt Worldwide Inc., include responses from 245 large U.S. companies representing more than 4.1 million workers in a range of industries.

But employers say they intend to save money with multiple initiatives, including freezing salaries, reducing workweeks, eliminating training programs and boosting health-care premiums. Infact, IDG of Framingham, MA, a leading technology publisher, announced last week that they were eliminating matching contributions to their 401K program.

Meanwhile, employers may not be done cutting staff and reducing pay, warns Tom McMullen, leader of the U.S. reward practice at Hay Group Inc., a management consulting firm. \"Many organizations are still keeping their options open when it comes to layoffs,\" he says. \"If the economy continues to substantially degrade, we expect those hardest hit to make further labor-cost reductions via additional waves of layoffs and salary reductions.\"

Indeed, the Watson Wyatt survey shows that 61% of employers expect their current financial performances to remain poor at least until the end of 2009. About half said they plan to increase their cost-cutting actions in 2009 and beyond.

There is one bright spot: Employers aren\'t leaving displaced workers out in the cold entirely, the Watson Wyatt survey suggests. Of the 52% of respondents who said they already made headcount reductions, 29% are offering extended severance benefits, including benefits coverage, pay or job-search assistance.

Being out of work and looking for a job is difficult. The physical demands of the task are great, and the longer it takes, the greater the threat to one\'s sense of well-being. Helpful suggestions about how and where to look for a job, how to create an effective resume, have a successful interview, etc., are everywhere, and they are worthwhile.

You should also have a daily routine. Add checking out the agencies that deal with temporary employment and keeping your network of friends and family aware of your situation to your routine. While you are in the process of actively looking, by going on the Internet and checking career web sites, be sure that you are also going out each day and physically checking any leads you get. It is vital that you do something every day in regard to your search for employment.

It\'s also extremely important that you do your usual morning routine as though you are going to work. Get up, get ready for your day, get dressed and go out, even if only for a walk. Otherwise, it is all too easy to fall into a depressive, slothful state of inactivity, and develop a full-time attachment to some form of distraction like TV, reading or surfing the Internet.

Source - Las Vegas Sun

Give the employer a good idea about the nature of your past work experiences. For example:

Bad title: Accounting
Good title: Management of A/R and A/P and Recordkeeping

I get aggravated when employers provide employees with stupid, innocuous job titles. If your employer gave you a job title similar to \"Manager of Legacy Operations\", you should change this to \"Operations Manager\". Do not embellish but make sure your title is consistent with the responsibilities you held. You can explain the adapted title in the interview.

Abridged: The Ladders

NEW YORK, NY -- In a world where one-line text messages are routine forms of communication, is there still a place in the job search for the cover letter? According to TheLadders.com, an online platform for the $100K+ job market, the cover letter is still a useful tool in differentiating yourself from other candidates applying for the same position. Here are a few tips for writing the perfect cover letter.

1. Get Their Attention: A cover letter must grab a reader\'s attention with a succinct message that convinces them to read further.
2. Less is More: A good cover letter is a teaser. It should clearly convey the \"who,\" \"what,\" \"when,\" \"where,\" \"why\" in the first paragraph.
3. Prove Relevance: Mine the job posting and company website for the specific words and clues to what the employer is looking for and use those words in the cover letter.

In the current market, many job seekers are dealing with situations that are difficult to explain in a resume. The cover letter is where you can explain these situations. Always turn negatives into positives. Embrace cover letters as a way to differentiate yourself from the competition.

1. Find contacts within the organization who can direct your resume to the hiring manager. A novel idea is finding vendors who may have direct access to the hiring authority.
Vendors are always willing to help if they can see the benefit that you can provide to them.

2. Post your resume on Zoominfo, Monster, Craigslist, CareerBuilder and other reputable websites. However, do not rely on these websites as a sole channel for conducting your job search.

This is a great article about career adjustments and career diversity. Originally published in The Wall Street Journal, it is worth five minutes of your time.

Allan

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123604733853815783.html

Just because you are a member of LinkedIn, Plaxo or another of many social networks, does not mean that you are connected. You have to build, nurture and maintain your network. Do not ignor your network. Stay in the forefront. I regularly send articles of interest to my publishing colleagues. This is my way of showing the value I bring to the industry.

You network is an asset that will pay dividends in the present and in the future, as long as you keep the network \"fed\".

Ok - We have had enough of the gloom and doom of the country\'s economic plight over the last year. However, all is not lost and yes, you can earn a pay increase during this downturn.

Here are three tips that you implement if you are looking for a merit increase:

1. Show your worth - present to your boss how your contributions either increase revenue or decrease expenses.

2. Loyalty - If in this era of disloyalty by both employers and employees, loyalty always hold value. Demonstrate your loyalty often - go over and beyond the call of duty and you will be rewarded.

3. Leverage Your Talent - Successful companies must retain top employees -- a circumstance that could work in your favor when it comes to a raise. Smart bosses understand that it is better to have experienced, hard-working and successful employers on payroll when business picks up as opposed to training new staff. Training is costly and if the new employees are not up to speed fast, many opportunities for revenue growth are lost.

Many employees don\'t realize that industry downsizing will affect their jobs until it\'s too late. In this economy, you should be on the lookout for telltale signs. \"Ask yourself if there have been layoffs, mergers or acquisitions in companies similar to yours,\" says Lynne Waymon, co-author of \"FireProof Your Career Toolkit.\"

If your profession is in trouble you likely won\'t be able to rely on cushy severance packages or the ability to quickly land a job with a competitor. Before you become a layoff victim, reorganize your finances so that your liabilities are as low as possible and set up an emergency fund. Update your résumé and line up your references so they\'re ready to go when you need them.

Source - WSJ.com

Also, consider that this may be the time to switch to an industry in which jobs are more plentiful. Health care and private education continue to see employment gains, and if you can use your current skills in an area that will receive funding from the new economic-stimulus plan, all the better.

Resumes that include a long list of “responsibilities included…” are plain boring, and not efficient in selling yourself. Instead of listing responsibilities, therefore, describe your professional achievements.

If you are going to describe your past professional achievements, it would be a good idea to make them as solid as possible. Numbers are your friends here. Don’t merely mention that you increased the annual revenues of your division, say that you increased them by $100,000, by 78%, and so on.

The Latest News, Tips and Tools For Your Career

Abridged: Blethen Maine Newspapers

PORTLAND, ME -- Even in today\'s job market several of my clients have landed full-time jobs -- and very good ones at that. While their fields, backgrounds and areas of expertise were distinctly different from one another, their process for finding and eventually securing a job, was quite similar. Here\'s a list of their winning strategies:

1. Updated, well-written, spot-on resumes that included results-oriented examples of competencies
2. Positive attitudes that kept them going through the tough days
3. Consistent and regular meetings with their contacts to keep them in a networking loop
4. Clearly communicated their job search goals in terms of the value they brought to the field
5. Thorough research of the companies with whom they were interviewing
6. Impeccable follow through after meetings with thank you emails
7. Being prepared for anything that came along during meetings
8. Realistic notions about how long the job search process would take

In each of these cases, the successful job seeker found out about a position before it was ever posted. They had their foot in the door and made an impression that set them apart from other candidates who applied through traditional avenues. What will your winning strategy be?

...are a waste of time, energy and effort. The best case scenario is to highlight your abilities in one page. However, it is perfectly acceptable if you have worked for more than two companies to have a resume of more than one page in length, but NEVER more than two pages.

If you’re having trouble, invite someone to help you scale down the content. Also, be certain that the most important content is above the scroll line of your monitor. If the content above the scroll line is not compelling, the hiring manager may not read the read of the resume.

As furloughs for full-time workers in both the public and private sector become more common, career coaches suggest using furlough days to work on personal branding, in case there are layoffs. \"Resist the temptation to feel like it\'s a holiday,\" says Chandlee Bryan, a New York career coach. Ms. Bryan advises people to use the time to network, work on cover letters and update your résumé.

You also might look for career-related seminars or training during your time off. Some community colleges offer weeklong -- or shorter -- training seminars that are typically low cost and could give you a skills boost. If your company has an education-reimbursement policy, you may not have to foot the entire bill.

Depending on the health of the industry you work in, a furlough could be a good opportunity to make a segue into another field. Roy Cohen, a career counselor for the Five O\'Clock Club in New York, says unplanned time off can be used to gather information on industries that interest you, speak with recruiters, organize informational interviews and even volunteer at companies in different fields to gain exposure to other areas. \"You can trip, have bad interviews and experiment knowing that you have a safety cushion,\" he says. \"It\'s like a job-search laboratory.\"

Source - Dana Mattioli of the WSJ.com

Industry-specific jargon, buzzwords and technology keep changing, and your resume should be rich with these keywords. Study job postings on Monster that match your career target, and note which keywords appear repeatedly. Incorporate those keywords that match your background into your resume.



Credit: Monster.com

A good starting point to tailor your resume for a specific employer is to identify what possible problems he might have at hand. Try to understand the market of the company you are applying for a job, and identify what kind of difficulties they might be going through. This does not mean to write, \"Since your brand only has two shelves in all the local supermarkets, I will make certain you secure two more shelves:. Rather, you should illustrate on your resume how you and your skills would help to solve those problems. \"Track record of improving market penetration\" should be an excellent example in this situation.

Weave select keywords and key phrases pertinent to the position into your cover letter. The sole purpose of the cover letter is to reflect that you are a ringer for the position. Pull out key points from the resume and place them prominently in the cover letter to help introduce the broader skill set contained in the resume.

Don\'t be intimidated by the depth of work involved in designing a great cover letter. Think about your job search in terms of quality not quantity. Job seekers sometimes become desperate when jobs seem scarce, and they resort to quick and ineffective techniques to securing a job.

Writing cover letters that you would want to receive, if you were on the other end of the spectrum, is a good rule of thumb to follow. Outline all the core elements that are pertinent to each specific company, use language and specifics that speak directly to the reader and ensure they display you as a perfect match for the opening. With these select techniques, you\'re destined to secure more interviews and more job opportunities.

Credit : Teena Rose - Jobseekerweekly.com

Do not include “no kidding” information

There are many people that like to include statements like “Available for interview” or “References available upon request.” If you are sending a resume to a company, it should be a given that you are available for an interview and that you will provide references if requested. Just avoid items that will make the employer think “no kidding!”

DO NOT use a Functional Resume When You Have a Good Career History

It irks hiring managers not to see the career progression and impact you made at each position. Unless you have an emergency situation, such as virtually no work history or excessive job-hopping, avoid the functional format.

Credit - Monster.com

This excerpt is from Today\'s Wall Street Journal for the rest of the story, access the URL located below the following paragraph.

Look for hybrid jobs.

Midcareer workers could help themselves find a new spot during the recession by looking for hybrid jobs, which require knowledge of more than one skill, says Betsy Richards, director of career resources at Kaplan University, an online education service.

\"If you can show you have multiple talents, you have a better chance of getting the job over someone who has spent their whole life being very focused,\" Ms. Richards says.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123103359678451651.html

\"We are moving away from the focused job where someone is only doing, for example, finance. Instead, they might be doing finance and project management,\" she says.

Do not be ashamed if you have just lost your job. It is OK to announce to your network that you’re looking for a new position. Leverage your network - the more colleagues / friends who know you’re out there seeking a new opportunity, the more likely you’ll find a job.

You will find plenty of useful information on job ads. Analyze not only the ad that you will be applying for, but also those from companies on the same segment or offering related positions. You should be able to identify what profile they are looking for and how the information should be presented.

You don’t need to list all your work experiences
If you have job experiences that are very short in length, not relevant to the current opportunity, or more than 10 years in the past, you should just omit them unless they can provide real value. Mentioning that you used to sell hamburgers when you were 17 is probably not going to help you land that executive position. Also, even though there are laws that protect us in the country aganist age discrimination, there are plenty of employers who either do not know the laws or deliberately break the laws every day. Be cognizant of dates and irrelevant jobs. You do not have to include your life history on your resume. Just the most relevant points are sufficient.

While most companies do use utilize software to scan for keywords on an applicant\'s resume, it is important to include keywords / core competencies into your resume. These words need to be prominently displayed for easy identification by the readers. If your resume doesn’t have the keywords related to the job you are applying for, all you are doing is lengthening your job search cycle.

These keywords will usually be nouns. Check the job description and related job ads for a clue on what the employer might be looking for. You can read more about resume keywords on the article Tapping the Power of Keywords to Enhance Your Resume’s Effectiveness.

A good resume is easy for the hiring manager to read and identify your strengths. Please make sure the key words / core competencies are located in the top 1/3 of the resume. Do not dismiss this issue - it is of vital importance.

9. Attention to the typography

First of all make sure that your fonts are big enough. The smaller you should go is 10 points, but 10.5, 11 or 12 is probably safer. Do not use capital letters all over the place, remember that your goal is to communicate a message as fast and as clearly as possible. Arial and Times are good choices.

Like it or not, employers will usually make a judgment about your resume in less than 20 seconds. Under this time frame the most important aspect will be the titles that you listed on the resume, so make sure they grab the attention. Try to be as descriptive as possible, giving the employer a good idea about the nature of your past work experiences. For example:

Bad title: Accounting
Good title: Management of A/R and A/P and Recordkeeping

Source - 44 Resume Tips

Did you spend substantial amounts of money looking for a new position last year? You may be able to succeed where Nelson Rockefeller failed and take a tax deduction for many of your job search-related costs. The three major categories that are deductible include:

1 Outplacement and Employee Agency Fees: If you pay for job counseling or to have an agency match you with an employment opportunity, this expense is generally deductible. Of course, if you are reimbursed by an employer or anyone else, you cannot deduct these fees.

2 Resume Preparation, Mailing and Related Expenses: Paper, envelopes, portfolios, postage, phone calls and the like add up. To deduct them properly, you\'ll need to keep meticulous records, including receipts and notes on the purpose of purchases.

3 Travel and Transportation Expenses: Whether you take the bus to an interview or fly across the country to pound the pavement, your job search-related travel and transportation expenses may be deductible. But remember: The amount of time you spend searching for a job versus engaging in personal activities during your journeys can be a factor. In other words, a three-week trip in February with one face-to-face informational interview thrown in isn\'t going to cut it. These deduction rules are complex; get professional advice.

Source - John Rossheim - Monster.com

Like millions of people coast to coast, you may have resolved to start the new year with renewed job-search enthusiasm. If it\'s been a while since you brushed up your old resume, you\'ll want to begin your job search with a New Year\'s resume check up. Here are a few questions that will help you focus your resume for even better results in the new year.

1. Has your career objective changed since your last job search?

1a If so, have you positioned your credentials for this change?

2. Are you attempting to change your industry or profession?

3. Does your resume feature accomplishments from top to bottom?

4. Was your last job search prior to 2001?

If so ... you\'re in for a shock. Today\'s job market is fiercely competitive, and a polished, professional resume is critical to winning an employer\'s notice.

5. Does your resume have what it takes to compete against an avalanche of candidate responses?

Most important -- are you getting responses from your resume? Your resume has only one job: to get you interviews. If that isn\'t happening, improve your message. It\'s vitally important to have a resume with a strong message that sets you above the crowd.

After receiving a call, print the job posting and tape it in the binder and write down the important points of the telephone conversation. Write the time, hotel and the name of the institution on interview schedule received from Jean. Keep records of all your contacts on the index card. Do some research on each interview and make sure you have a couple of specific questions for the interviewers.

Perhaps the most important thing you can do in December is to review your job search timeline. Don\'t go into the new year wondering when you\'ll be re-employed. Instead, set a date and work backward to develop your schedule of steps. The earlier the date you set, the more aggressive your job search will have to be, so use these December weeks to set the stage.

Attend parties and networking events. Make sure you pass out your business card, and collect the contact information of the people you meet. Opportunities for business socializing abound in December, so take advantage! Look through your database for people you should greet with a holiday card. Continue sending out resumes and cover letters until at least the 15th.

Spend time with a trusted adviser to review your job search so far. Look for weak areas and new ideas to try in the new year. Revise your resume if needed. Catch up on research in your industry; plan ways to use the data in your job search. Set your schedule for January, including meetings with networking contacts. Get something onto every weekday for the first two weeks of the year, so you can hit the ground running.

Abridged: AJC.com

Many job seekers and career transitioners view the holiday season as the time to put the job search on hold. But the holidays and the \"good will toward men\" cheer might yield a golden networking opportunity!

Some 80 percent of jobs are found through networking. And what better time to make connections than at a holiday networking event. Check out your local networking sites, or search Google for, \"networking events\". Look in the local newspaper - even make sure to consult with the local Chamber of Commerce, which may have a list of holiday mixers. Those are a great place to network and they usually have free food!

It\'s a tough economy, but folks are being hired. Many companies rely on networking contacts and they fill positions when someone refers a candidate. So before you put away your resume and interview clothes, take another look and remember - your job search shouldn\'t take a holiday!

Abridged from careernews.com

Simply put any responsibilities that you have had in the last 10 year which hiring managers would view favorably.

Examples (non-inclusive):

1. Effectively managing people is a valuable trait to include in your resume
2. Budget management
3. Management of outsourced services (freelancers)
4. Sales figures
5. Awards
6. Territory Development - Market Penetration
7. Project Management (marketing, operational and IT)
8. Computer skills

I will include additional skills in another entry later this week.

If you\'re not following trends within your particular industry, you could be caught off guard by a layoff. Is your position or division vulnerable to outsourcing, further automation, or elimination? Brown-Volkman, whose practice is based in New York, says, \"If your job is being eliminated or outsourced, you will want to know about it before you are in the room with the human resources person telling you that your job is going away.\"

She urges professionals, \"Look for trends and then train yourself in growth areas. Having the right skills at the right time ensures that no matter what is happening around you, you will be needed and employable.\"

Credit - PhillyBlurb.com

If you are making an obvious career change, such as accounting to sales, you must explain it in the cover letter. Say something like: As an accountant, I have worked closely with clients and internal staff on numerous projects and dealt with all levels of management in a competitive financial environment. I would now like to expand and advance my career by applying my developed skills to a sales position. Relevant skills and experience include my ability to secure advocacy concerning multiple business concepts, client follow-up and strong presentations skills.

This technique will allow you to address your career change with confidence in a brief, casual tone and immediately return to how you could be an asset to your future employer.

Abridged from http://www.resume-resource.com

Yes, I know that times are tough on the job front. However, if you are in need of extra cash before you find a new full-time opportunity, try seasonal retail positions. While the pay maybe not be what you have been accustomed to, seasonal jobs will:

1. Get you out of the house
2. Enable you to continue to be productive
3. You will get to meet new people and perhaps create some new networking opportunities.
4. Most retailers give seasonal employees discounts on merchandise in the store.
5. You can learn about a new business that perhaps can help you moving forward in your career.

I feel I have a responsibility to address all issues concerning resume writing. A recent article from The Wall Street Journal addresses a trend called \"resume fraud\". It is an issue that all jobseekers and hiring managers need to be cognizant of when going through the hiring process.

The revelation last week that at least 10 senior executives and directors at publicly traded companies had corporate biographies claiming unearned academic credentials raises a question: How well do companies vet prospective hires?

Experts say while the vast majority of companies -- about 90% -- perform background checks on potential employees, the vetting process can vary widely.

Practices range from simply contacting references provided by candidates to hiring an outside investigator to check employment history, academic credentials, credit history, press coverage and legal and criminal records.

A fair number of job applicants misrepresent their credentials, surveys suggest. Kroll Inc., the investigative arm of Marsh & McLennan Cos., estimates that about 20% of job seekers and employees undergoing background checks exaggerate their educational backgrounds. In a 2004 survey of human-resource professionals, 61% said they \"often\" or \"sometimes\" find résumé inaccuracies when vetting prospective hires, according to the Society for Human Resource Management.

In short, be aware that if you lie on your resume, then you are placing your character and integrity at stake. If lying really worth the risk. If you did not finish your requirements for a Bachelors, then write \"BS Economics, University (one term shy)\". From my experience, this is an issue that can be explained in the interview. Do not lie and let the manager find out in the background check.

Two more line items you need to consider when networking

3. Handing Over a Resume

Your paper resume is something to bring along to job interviews and job fairs. Most resumes change hands via email these days, and that\'s why there\'s no point in bringing your paper resume with you to a networking event. Don\'t email your resume to a person you\'ve met at a networking event, either, unless he or she specifically asks for it. Forwarding a resume is much less likely to get you an interview than creating solid relationships based on conversation.

4. Asking for Leads

It seems like the most obvious thing in the world: You\'ll go to a networking event, tell the people assembled there that you\'re job-hunting, and ask them for job-search leads.

That\'s a great thing to do when you go to a gathering designed for that purpose. But asking for leads in your job search is not appropriate during your first meeting with a new acquaintance. Most of us are unlikely to be aware of the job openings in our own companies, much less in others. We can ask, \"Do you have any advice for me?\" but that\'s it. The greatest value of attending a networking event will be the one, two, or may

Two More Networking Traps to Avoid from Liz Ryan

Asking for Introductions

Face-to-face networking events are great for making the acquaintance of people you didn\'t know before you arrived. Be happy if you leave a networking soiree with one or two good new contacts, people who\'d be comfortable continuing the conversation at a later date. People don\'t go to networking events to be hit up for introductions, and that\'s why we shouldn\'t ask for them. A 10-minute networking conversation doesn\'t create enough relationship \"glue\" to justify our asking such a favor.

Handing Over a Resume

Your paper resume is something to bring along to job interviews and job fairs. Most resumes change hands via email these days, and that\'s why there\'s no point in bringing your paper resume with you to a networking event. Don\'t email your resume to a person you\'ve met at a networking event, either, unless he or she specifically asks for it. Forwarding a resume is much less likely to get you an interview than creating solid relationships based on conversation.

Job Search Networking Traps To Avoid (Part 1)

By Liz Ryan, The Savvy Networker
http://www.asklizryan.com/

We\'ve heard it a hundred times: networking is essential for job seekers.

We may have read up on networking techniques and may feel supremely comfortable talking to strangers. None of that makes much difference when we find ourselves networking in a job hunt. Most of the rules of non-jobsearch networking simply don\'t apply when our networking is focused on getting a new job.

Here\'s why: the networking conversations we\'d be holding wouldn\'t include the statement, \"I\'m looking for a job.\"

Networkers\' eyes glaze over when they hear those five little words. These aren\'t mean or inconsiderate people. It\'s just that the stereotypical job-hunting networker can\'t talk about much besides his job search. It becomes hard to maintain a conversation. People drift away, because it\'s awkward to say more than \"uh huh\" and \"how frustrating\" when the subject turns to \"My Hideous Job Search.\"

1. Detailing your Audio Resume

Most experienced networkers by now have learned that a new acquaintance doesn\'t need to hear our entire business spiel. Job seekers often forget that conversation is a two-way street, instead showering a new contact with details about the job we left, the job we\'re looking for and a hundred reason why we\'d a be a great employee. That level of detail doesn\'t help; it hurts.

Research shows that 10 to 15% of job changers are choosing to enter a new field. The average employee now changes jobs 7 to 10 times in a career, with at least two or three of those moves being jumps to a completely different kind of business. Notes David Reimer, a vice president at outplacement giant DBM, \"Young people now are much more willing to admit when something isn\'t working out. It\'s the same realization that used to hit people in their 40s, back when the model was, you picked a career and then stuck it out no matter how restless you were.\"

To find out what new industry is right for you, ask yourself when you\'ve felt most satisfied. Pinpoint which job or task made your strengths come to the fore and was most enjoyable. What skills did you use? Once you\'ve thought that out, find a knowledgeable advisor you can use as a sounding board. At the same time, try to find out as much as you can about fields other than your own, by asking around among friends and relatives as well as college alumni and through social networking sites.

After you\'ve decided what business you want to go into, get to know as many people working in it as you can. Join trade groups, go to conferences, participate in online chat rooms. Don\'t be shy. To get past your lack of experience when you do meet hiring managers in your new field, bear in mind that your work experience is more than just a chronology of the jobs you\'ve held. Tell what you have accomplished in each role. If you can state a problem and what action you took to reach a solution you are proving you have what it takes to make it in a new career.

Comments from John Challenger, CEO of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, the nation\'s first, oldest and premier outplacement consulting organization.

Whatever the economic climate, you can use these four strategies to maximize your opportunities:

* Rely on research. Outplacement and job-market expert Challenger recommends that job seekers do their due diligence. \"What\'s going on in the economy? What\'s going on in my market? Where are the companies that are hiring? Research all this online and see who\'s doing well in the market and position your next job search around companies that are in growth mode right now.\"

However, even if an organization\'s numbers are down, he reminds professionals, \"Don\'t give up on a company that\'s doing poorly. Troubled companies need good people to solve their problems.\"


* Think positive. Janet White, author of \"Secrets of the Hidden Job Market: Change Your Thinking to Get the Job of Your Dreams\", says she thinks workers should stop reading the headlines. \"Don\'t buy it,\" she says. If you begin your job search with the wrong mind-set, it may not go right.

\"Avoid falling into the mind-set that it\'s tough out there, there\'s a lot of competition, and not enough opportunity for you,\" White says.


* Don\'t blame the economy alone. Are you flying blind or do you have a solid job-search strategy? Susan D. Strayer, author of \"The Right Job Right Now: The Complete Toolkit for Finding Your Perfect Career,\" says, \"One of the things I always see when there is an economic downturn is that job seekers tend to be lazy in their searches and blame it on the economy. That\'s not a good strategy.\"


* Market yourself. Although we are seeing unemployment rise and the economy somewhat weaken, there will always be jobs available for those who are determined to find the right fit. But it\'s important to remember that looking for a job is all about marketing yourself.

Each job posting on Craigslist receive an average of 51 responses. These resumes are mostly read on the monitor. Therefore, it is important to make sure that your resume is not in a template and that the document is formatted with the most important information must be found above the scroll line.

Ok - you have your completed resume and cover letter. You are ready to start your campaign. Your friends tell you to post on HotJobs, Monster, CareerBuilder, etc. Sounds great. However, you need to be aware of your identity and if you want your name and address posted on the Internet.

Hear are a couple of best practices that you must incorporate into your search:

1. Never post your address. Name/City/State/blind email is fine.

2. However, when you send your resume to a hiring manager, you MUST include Name/Address/City/State/Zip/phone/email.

Sending your resume to a hiring manager must be treated differently than posting online. I would never call a candidate into an interview if I did not have all their contact information from a resume that was sent directly to me. The only exception that I would make is for resumes that are were sent via the job posting services.

Keep this element in mind when planning your strategy.

There are some headhunters who operate within a large company and may have several job openings that she is working on at one time. If she is working out of a small company then she may be working on just one position. She will not have hundreds of job openings like an online job board will have.

Because of the limited jobs, her focus must remain narrow to only those candidates that match the job openings she is working on.

MIchael Green from JobSearchInfo.com recently published a brilliant article about Headhunters. This is a must-read for all job seekers. I have always said that job seekers should allocated only 3 - 5% of their time to headhunters. After reading the article, you should agree. (Part 2 tomorrow).

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Recruiters, also called headhunters, are often misunderstood as to what they are, what they do and what they are looking for.

Most people, particularly in upper level positions, think that the only way to find another good top level position is through a headhunter. That appears to have historical value – at least for the other guy. Don’t get this mixed up with being headhunted – which is where your name has come up and you are being offered a deal to leave your current position and move to one being offered.

So let’s look at headhunters. A headhunter is engaged by a company to find the right person for a specific job. This person is given specific skills and qualifications. She is paid by the company. Usually, she is only paid when the job is successfully filled and not until. Sometimes, a headhunter may be kept available to a company by being paid a retainer.

Therefore to make money, she has to make the company who has hired her happy by finding the right person for this position. The company in this case is her employer and therefore her focus – not the people looking for a job.

Project management skills produce results. Those same skills that produce corporate results are also personal assets. The discipline that brings in a major IT project on time can also guide personal projects such as the search for a new job. Project management is going to improve your odds at getting a better job at better pay. Here are some tips to help you successfully bring in that all important job:

* Set project objectives. Define what success looks like. Start by articulating your vision of the job you want. As in any project, lean on your team. Get input from those close to you who can give you objective insights to those questions.
* Establish a project time line and milestones. Your job search should have a schedule and a delivery date. Once you commit to that time frame, establish some milestones. Schedule dates for tasks such as finishing your resume and researching companies.
* Plan for changes. All project managers encounter obstacles, so it\'s better to think early on about which emergencies would make you revise your plan.
* Prepare, then implement. Consider your most valuable skills and assets. Spruce up your resume and write cover letters.

Source: ComputerWorld

You may have come across a blurb in a publication that brings up the subject of the hidden job market. And you\'ve probably asked yourself \"why is it hidden and how can I find it?\" Well I have good news for you. The hidden job market isn\'t really hidden; but it will take creativity, resourcefulness and determination to access.

The hidden job market is just another name for a proactive job search. Gone are the days when looking through the Sunday paper with highlighter in hand would consistently result in promising job leads. And if you are waiting by the phone for hiring managers and recruiters to contact you after posting your resume on one or two job boards, make sure you have access to a bathroom - it will likely be a very long wait!

Check the job boards routinely and set up an automatic search agent so the job boards will send you an email with job postings matching your criteria. If a proactive job search sounds like a lot of work...you are absolutely right! In a competitive market, the candidate who is willing to put in the time and effort, while being a bit more creative and tenacious, will likely have the advantage. There is some truth in the old adage that we make our own luck. So what are you waiting for? It\'s time to get busy and find that best fit career opportunity!

Source:Exploretworoads.com

It\'s not necessarily what you know, but whom you know. Recruiters and hiring managers are inundated with resumes and turn first to those candidates who have a connection to someone in the company.

If unemployed, join a networking group to stay connected with professionals in your industry. Build relationships with people who may have the inside track on jobs. Meetings are listed in trade publications or online through job-search and networking sites.

More and more Americans are being affected by a malady that Randall Hansen calls the \"Job Market Blues\". Hansen, a nationally recognized career and job-search expert and founder of QuintCareers.com, says that \"job-seekers can employ five strategies for staying upbeat and fighting the blues in a weak job market.\" Here are his suggestions:

1) Keep a positive focus. While it can be extremely difficult to do, job-seekers must show confidence and a positive attitude when job-hunting. 2) Surround yourself with support. Job-seekers should seek the support of family and friends - some of whom may even be able to offer job leads. 3) Don\'t be discouraged by what you hear or read. With all the bad economic news that abounds, it\'s easy to get caught up in the negativity. Job-seekers should focus on positive aspects, such as programs that offer free-job advice and retraining.

4) Have a long-term focus, but short-term goals. Job-seekers who have the most success in finding a new job are those who set daily job-search goals, such as tracking down job leads, applying for jobs, making new network contacts or going on job interviews. 5) Remember that everything counts. The job-seeker who gets hired is not always the most qualified but the one who made the best job-hunting effort. Job-seekers should perfect all aspects of job-hunting, including finding job leads, developing strong resumes and cover letters, and polishing interviewing skills.

Abridged from QuintCareers.com

Online job boards are the most often utilized recruiting tool for hiring managers at small and mid-sized organizations, according to a recent study by the Inavero Institute for Service Research, a leading provider of employment related research tools. The study conducted in June 2008, included more than 1,000 hiring experiences throughout the United States in a variety of industries.

More than 50% of those surveyed had implemented online job boards as a part of their recruiting strategy in the past year and allocation of overall recruiting budget was found to be continuing a shift to online job boards. Online job boards are currently the top hiring tool. Recruiters report applying multiple resources as part of their hiring portfolio and average three resources per open position. Online job boards produce the greatest number of applicants with 19 applications per job opening, nearly double traditional media\'s average.

The study\'s findings suggest that while there are multitudes of hiring tools available, it is critical to choose the appropriate medium based on job description and job type in order to yield the highest quality candidate and save valuable time and resources throughout the hiring process. While traditional media continues to be utilized there is also a clear trend towards online job boards and other nontraditional media in the budget mix of hiring managers.

Source: PR Newswire

in a professional, tactful and understated way. B

Becoming an \"expert\" in your field of choice is great! It is better to let others know the value that you add when they become your colleague.

It is up to you to take the first steps to establish your expertise and build your professional reputation. Start marketing yourself by writing a blog, becoming a freelancer writer for the industry business journal, be recognized a fixture in an industry association and if possible, sit on an industry panel or, better yet, a speaker, at an industry function.

The more visible you become, opportunities will come across your plate frequently and in abundance.

Is right now!!!

This is not salesmanship. In brief, the reasons are:

1. Summer is usually slow because of summer vacations. Employers do not want to bring in new employees because the continuity of training new people is not available when staff is taking vacation time.

2. Now that the summer is almost over, people are back at their desks and the positions that are vacant need to be filled.

3. Most companies begin their annual budgeting process for calendar year budgets in September. If the position has been budgeted for but not filled, hiring managers may lose the opportunity to fill the position due to budget cuts.

Therefore, if you are looking for a new position, the time get the resume updated and start looking!

Beginning of the new year is also a great time to look because budgets are new and hiring managers are anxious to start the new year with a bang. However, take advantage of the spike in new job opportunities in the market - you will be glad that you did.

Read this article from Kevin Donlin of the Thesimplejobsearch.com - a great resource for job seekers.

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Start by visiting Craigslist.org to find your city or state. Then click on jobs, where you\'ll find listings ranging from Accounting, Engineering and Manufacturing, to Marketing, Software and Web Design.

\"You can browse job postings by headlines, but searching is more effective, especially in the busier communities. And it\'s best to search for skills rather than job titles,\" according to Jenna Lloyd author of the forthcoming book, \"Craiglist 4 Everyone\".

Example: If you want an administrative position, you could search for Secretary, Executive Assistant, Office Manager, etc., and still miss out on listings. But almost all administrative job postings mention typing or word processing, so searching for core skills like these can uncover a large number of relevant results, according to Lloyd.

Mark Chatham, from Ridgefield, NJ, found his current job on Craigslist in October 2006, when he was hired as a Managing Director for online retailer Big Joys Distribution.

\"I found their job posting on newjersey.craigslist.org, emailed my resume and was asked to interview a few days later,\" says Chatham.

Chatham must be doing something right -- he\'s landed four jobs on Craigslist. His advice is to position yourself as both qualified and memorable. His resume included the facts that he held a patent at age 18 and once appeared on the TV show, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? \"Employers remembered me,\" he says.

Because employers receive an average of 51 replies for each job ad, according to Craigslist\'s own data you must work hard to stand out. Do this by writing a resume that connects with hiring managers, one that proves you understand their business and that you have the skills they want. \"I tweaked my resume each time to make it relevant to the job I was applying for,\" says Chatham.

One thing to keep in mind when using Craigslist is time management. You only have about 960 minutes per day to spend on a job search. So make sure you limit your time using online tools like Craigslist. Otherwise, you may find yourself wondering where another day went, and why you\'re no closer to finding a job.

Another issue is trust. A quick look through the job postings will turn up dozens of potential work-at-home scams and get-rich-quick schemes. In larger cities, there\'s a fee to post jobs on Craigslist, which weeds out most scammers, but this is not the case in smaller cities. So listen to
your instincts -- if a job sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

If you\'re unsure about submitting personal information to an employer on Craigslist, don\'t. Simply send them a resume that masks your home address, names of your employers and other identifying data.

Also, it\'s important to follow directions when replying to a job posting on Craigslist (or anywhere). Pay close attention to what the employer asks for -- do they want you to email your resume as an attachment or paste it into the body of the email, for example. Because companies can afford to be picky, they may drop you from consideration if you botch instructions.

And don\'t forget the cover letter, even if it is only emailed. \"Take the time to write a message in your email that tells employers which ad on Craiglist you\'re responding to and where you saw it. Don\'t skip this last part!\" advises Lloyd.

A final note on Craigslist: To me, it\'s a throwback to the days of Usenet bulletin boards in the 1990s. You won\'t find any fancy graphics, audio or video here. But you will find the sort of DIY community spirit that helped build the Internet into what it\'s become. And that makes Craigslist worth a look if you\'re looking for work.

Focusing on your accomplishments rather than your specific responsibilities will help keep your resume concise. Resumes do not have to be long diatribes of details in order to be effective. I always stress to my clients that I want accomplishments (both numerical and quantitative) emphasized in the resume.

According to Lauren Mulligan of ResuMAYDay in Chicago, resumes are typically skimmed for a mere six to eight seconds. \"Make sure you\'re identifying the companies you worked for, how long you were there, and if you earned a promotion. Those are things that people look for immediately.\" Also, if your job title is long and vague, tighten it up so that people immediately understand what you\'ve done. For example, \"Marketing Manager\" is much more accessible than \"Global Identity Architect.\"

I agree with her, but be certain to make sure that the professional summary is strong and includes the key words related to your experience and the field of work you wish to pursue.

Accomplishment-driven resumes are much more productive than detail-oriented resumes that appear to be re-purposed job descriptions. She adds, \"If you are loaded up on peripheral stuff, it\'s too hard for a hiring manager to find your story.\"

Resumes with accomplishments will shorten your search cycle, position you in a better light and ultimately enable you to command higher compensation.

Abridged from Yahoo! Hotjobs

Do not ignore your cover letter. While resumes are the most important part of your package, you need to send a cover letter with each resume you email / fax /mail to each hiring manager. Your cover letter may make the difference between obtaining a job interview and sitting on the sidelines. Even if an employer doesn\'t request a cover letter, it\'s helpful to send one.

Personalize your letter. If you can, take five (5) minutes and find out the name of the hiring manager. Access you network, use the Internet or even make a phone call to find out who the hiring manager is. This is important and should not be comprised.

Your work DOESN\'T have to define you. It\'s possible to make a decent living without having to miss all your daughter\'s soccer games or go incommunicado with your buddies. Next time you get the urge to gripe about your life-absorbing job, redirect that energy towards improving your situation. Keep your eye on the prize, and in a few years\' time you could be juggling work and personal responsibilities like a pro. So what are you waiting for? Get started today by finding the career development program for you!

Source: Yahoo!

The rise of online networking sites has made it easier to connect with colleagues and learn about job openings. It\'s also part of a much larger trend in which more information about you may be available to anyone who\'s interested - including hiring managers, who often perform Internet searches on job candidates.

If you want to advance in your career, you need to make sure that both your online networking efforts and your overall Web presence are working for - not against - you. A good way to do so is by treating all of your online activity as part of a public relations campaign that presents a professional image for potential employers and colleagues alike. Use networking sites with care.

Professional networking sites make it easy to expand your web of business contacts, an essential element of any successful IT career. Valuable professional connections can also come from more socially oriented sites such as Facebook and MySpace. And remember, online networks aren\'t just job search tools; they can also help you stay up to date on industry trends and find mentors who can offer valuable career advice. Also, they can alert you to upcoming events and educational opportunities.

Source - ComputerWorld

Learn more about the business of the employer you work - or want to work - with. Understand the challenges and goals in a specific field so you can tailor your skills to help solve industry-specific problems in any position. For instance, the healthcare field has specific laws, processes, and limitations, and knowing these can help you use your time and capabilities in a way that specifically serves your employer. If you work with an employer that relies on sales, learn about sales and customer methodology so your efforts can directly, rather than generally, support the sales teams.

Are you taking a break from your job search and surrendering to the lazy days of summer? The conventional wisdom is that almost everyone is in vacation mode from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Consequently, many postpone job searching until September. Is this a mistake? Could you be missing opportunities if you take the summer off? We asked the career experts to find out.

\"I often hear job seekers say that they want to take the summer off,\" says Wendy Terwelp, career coach and president of Wisconsin-based career management firm Opportunity Knocks. Terwelp says that by the time the summer ends, job seekers who took the summer off will be competing against even more job seekers who have followed the same strategy.

Anne-Marie Ditta, president of First Impression Career Services, agrees. \"A fair number of job seekers think that recruiters and hiring managers are unavailable during the summer,\" Ditta says. Therefore, many believe it\'s a waste of time to job search from June through August. But nothing could be further from the truth.

Source - Monster Resume Expert

The Summary Statement is the bread and butter of your actual resume document. The summary serves as an introduction to you and the skills/talents/achievements that you offer the hiring manager. The Summary Statement sets the tone and is the first piece read by the hiring manager. Pay attention to what you say, and how you say it.

The Summary Statement is very different from the objective statement. I do not write Objective Statements on any resume with the exception for student resumes. After all, the objective is obvious - you want to get a job! Most writers and all templates that I have come across use Objective Statements. If you have been in the workforce for more than two (2) years, Objective Statements provide very little, if any value. If you feel the need to state an objective, do so in the cover letter.

The Summary Statement is always found above the scroll line. It is the single most important element in your resume. DO NOT WASTE this value \"real estate\" with some fu-fu Objective Statement such as \"I am seeking a position where I can enhance my skills and become a valued employee\". Makes me sick just writing that statement.

Ok - I am sure you get the point!

A personal network used to mean some friends from work, from church, and from the neighborhood. Before the Web was spun, our contacts were usually fairly narrow. Ideally, you already keep in touch with an assortment of former co-workers, colleagues and industry peers who will notify you about job leads before they go public. More important than what you know is who \"knows what you know\". Make sure you\'re on the radar of people who have access to the kind of job leads you want.

If you\'re looking to work for a specific company, the key is to connect with a current employee. That might mean asking contacts in your network. An easy way to accomplish this online is through online networking sites, where you can essentially connect with your friends\' friends. First, ask for an introduction. Then, if you\'re at a lower level, the social etiquette is to say you want an informational interview. If you\'re at a high level, say you want to talk about the market and where the industry is going.

after all, the resume is a marketing tool. You have worked hard and the resume is designed to enable you to tell hiring managers why you are the right person for the job you are seeking.

Go ahead - give yourself credit. Toot your own horn and tell them what you think you could really bring to the table. State your accomplishments. Explain how your work led to increases in revenue, decreases in expenses or better processes and protocols. But promote yourself in a professional manner, not like a boxer who is fighting for the world championship or football player who just scored his first touchdown.

5. Watch your attitude. Now is not the time to complain constantly. If you have constructive ways to make the workplace better, present them in a professional manner. Do not whine or complain excessively. A reputation as a morale-killer can lose you your job.

If the time has come for you to pursue a new and better opportunity, you should take stock about where you are in your career, where you want to go for your next step and what skills and accomplishments you can build on.

A new web publisher provides a free career testing service that helps you prepare and best position your talents for the job market. To access this test (about 10 - 15 minutes tops), visit http://www.hireaspirationsusa.com. Take the test and let me know your thoughts.

Many organizations like to put candidates in one room and have 3 - 5 associates \"grill\" them with questions. Not my favorite method but it is becoming more and more popular. You may wish to read this enlightening article by Joann Lubin in today\'s Wall Street Journal.

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Anxious about meeting a key hiring manager? Your job-search jitters may soon intensify when you confront the ultimate stress test: a panel of interviewers.

Group grilling has long been popular among academics, government agencies and nonprofit organizations -- sectors that prefer decisions by a consensus of constituencies. As the job market becomes more competitive for people at every level, this practice is spreading to law firms, management consultancies and high-tech businesses. Employers, who now have the luxury of being picky with candidates, see selection committees as an efficient way to measure applicants\' mettle under fire.

To read the rest of the article:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121244844150939511.html?mod=todays_us_nonsub_pj

When you search for a new opportunity, remember that manners and courtesy are just as important as your qualifications. Don\'t kid yourself - people lose out on great opportunities because they leave proper etiquette at the door.

Keep the following in mind (sounds obvious but I have encountered many screw-ups during my years interviewing people for positions at all levels):

1) Write thank-you notes to interviewers after you had the interview. Recap your desire for the position and your key qualifications.

2) Address correspondence to the correct parties. \"To Whom It May Concern\" lands in the circular file.

3) Use a firm handshake. Crushing to see who\'s the strongest is a no-no and the \"limp fish\" lacks enthusiasm.

4) Wear clean, pressed, well-fitting, appropriate clothing to your interview.

5) If you\'re on a lunch interview, wait until the interviewer orders so that you order something comparable. Don\'t order messy foods or finger foods. And do not order a beer, wine or cocktail!!!

A hybrid resume is a combination of the chronological and functional formats. The format works for professionals who have built a record of successes in one field but wish to explore opportunities in another field. Strong hybrid resumes list both skills and the chronological work history that recruiters are looking for.

Make no mistake, staying on top of the news and trends of your industry are an integral part your job search. In fact, according to a recent survey conducted by Beta Research Corporation, on behalf of The New York Times Job Market, the majority of employers (85%) surveyed agree that keeping up-to-date in a candidates field of expertise is a very important tool for conducting a successful job search.

So, whether you\'re looking to move up or to move on, reading business and trade publications can definitely help you move right in to the job of your dreams! For starters, being fluent on the latest trends in your profession can be invaluable while networking or interviewing. These magazines keep you sharp, well informed, articulate and in-demand!

Put these \"Seven Secrets\" of a \'Short and Sweet\' Cover Letter into practice and get your phone ringing next week:

1. Write a cover letter that fits on one page - MAX - three paragraphs total!

2. Give your letter plenty of \'white space\' by creating generous margins and double spacing between paragraphs.

3. Use bullets and numbered lists when appropriate. This allows for easy scanning.

4. Start the first sentence of each paragraph with bold-faced type to draw in the reader.

5. Create paragraphs with three to four well-written sentences each. Convey your passion and enthusiasm to be interviewed for the position being offered.

6. Print out the completed letter and scan it for that \'easy on the eyes\' appearance. Remember, less is more.

7. Clearly and directly ask for the opportunity to be interviewed!

(courtesy of Jimmy Sweeney, President of Career Jimmy)

Go beyond your expectations. Look for ways to go beyond what you\'ve been told to do. Volunteer for additional tasks. But be careful! Don\'t volunteer for more than you can handle. You want to be known as a go-getter who gets the job done well.

You should do some research on the companies you are applying to. These days, it\'s so easy to do that - almost every company has a web site. It doesn\'t take long to check out a web site and read some information.

You should look and see what kind of feeling it gives you about the company. Check out their mission and values statement. Does it fit in with your values, and your long-term career goals?

Source: J. Givler Consulting

Sal Iannuzzi, CEO for Monster Worldwide, was featured in today\'s Wall Street Journal. As part of the interview, Sal provided five tips for today\'s job seekers. His tips are fundamental and make sense.

• Stay focused on what you want to do and the type of position you are looking for.
• Seek jobs that are relevant and build onto your long-term goals.
• Cast a wide net; your dream job may be hiding in a company or industry you never considered before.
• Be diverse, as jobs with different responsibilities provide valuable experiences.
• Keep building on those experiences. Eventually, you\'ll be able to apply what you\'ve learned to just about anything and be successful.

Divide your time. If you\'re focusing most of your efforts on searching job listings and sending out resumes, incorporate more networking into your routine. Spend at least half your time establishing new contacts. The people you meet could provide you with job-search advice or clue you in to new opportunities.

You\'ve prepared for your next job interview by researching the company, brushing up on your sales pitch and pressing your suit. But one key task remains: Figuring out what to expect as compensation. While the belt may be tightening, you can still negotiate yourself a nice raise and compensation package if you leverage your unique skills.

Keep in mind the demand for someone with your skill set and what your contribution can be to the firm. Make sure your resume is ladened with your successes. Research other positions with similar titles and see what the pay range is (see www.salary.com).

If you due your homework and come more prepared than the hiring manager, you will get the compensation package you desire.

We are all adults, but nothing wrong with a little homework.

This spring, 1.5 million university graduates will enter the worst job market in years, thanks to an economy on the brink of recession. But appearances can be deceiving, and the sinking economy may not translate into a poor market for these grads. That\'s not to say it\'ll be a cinch for every graduate to find a job. Some industries are hot; others have gone cold. And each person\'s job search depends on everything, from education to effort.

The U.S. economy is shedding jobs, retail sales are down, and consumer confidence has plummeted -- all signs of a downturn that keeps getting worse. New college grads always offer one advantage: They cost less. Regardless of whether we\'re in a recession or not companies are not cutting back on their new hires because they tend to be less expensive. Even with that, the National Association of Colleges and Employers predicts an average starting salary of US$49,300 a year, up 4% from a year ago.

There\'s also the perennial corporate goal of plucking the best employees from each graduating class. That\'s particularly important now as millions of Baby Boomers rapidly approach retirement. There\'s a demographic shift going on, and by 2011 there\'ll be wholesale retirements,\" said John Challenger, chief executive of Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc., a Chicago outplacement firm. \"So you better keep the pipeline filled. Workforce planning specialists feel they can\'t let a single hiring season go by.\"

Reprinted from www.financialpost.com

Improve your skill set. Are your skills obsolete? Take extra classes to brush up the latest skills. If career improvement seminars are offered at work, attend them. You want to show your employer that you are still viable in the workplace, and that you have the necessary training to continue doing a good job.

Source: JobJournal.com

Boost your visibility. You want to be noticed in a positive way. Make sure you are on time to work, and that you limit your vacation time. Also, if you are making solid contributions, make sure that they are noticed. You don't have to be obnoxious about it, but you should make sure that your boss is aware of what you add to the company. You want to be known. The first people fired are those with a negative impression. The next to go are those that are unnoticed and therefore expendable.

CareerBuilder.com created CBsalary.com to offer its users a free salary calculator. CBsalary.com is an easy tool with which to search salaries for thousands of jobs. This is a good tool to use when preparing to launch your search.

CBsalary.com is easy-to-use and provides great value. Fast and intuitive, it is worth your time to incorporate into your strategy.

The Wall Street Journal is a favorite of mine. This act is in today's Journal.

If you've been in the same industry for decades, changing careers might seem daunting. But, for many recovering executives, nonprofits, career coaching or making a clean break are all real options.

To access the rest, please view the following URL:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120767069301298203.html?mod=CarJMain_topmiddle

While a recession may not be inevitable, the economy is showing slowed growth, and this could mean that some companies consider downsizing. Worries about a U.S. recession have many also worrying about their jobs.

You want to make sure that you can keep your job if times get tougher. Below are five things you can do to improve your chances of being kept on.

1. Come up with ways to cut costs. See areas of waste at your company? Point out practical ways to improve efficiency and cut costs in the workplace. Obviously, now is not the time to ask for a raise. Bonus: If you can see a potential new revenue stream that requires a low (or better yet, no) cost investment, get that going. Someone who is innovative at stretching resources is more valuable than someone who does nothing more than consume them.


Courtesy of AllBusiness.com

There is a lot of hoopla over the recession. Or coming recession. But the truth is that the job market is just fine, according to Penelope Trunk who writes the Brazen Careerist blog. The health of today's job market is not so much a function of economic indicators as it is a function of demographic trends.

Employers are also receiving fewer hours of work per person from post-Boomers because of their focus on family (Gen X) and entrepreneurship (Gen Y). Due to these factors, the employee shortage is increasing. Employees will be in high demand for the next decade and demand will continue to be strong. Polls conducted by Robert Half show that most companies will continue to ramp up hiring.

So listen to talk of recession, but don't let it get you down. There are a few precautions you should take in case you get laid off or downsized. But really, don't decrease your expectations for your job just because housing prices are tanking and hedge-fund managers are suffering. Keep your chin up, and your expectations for your employment up as well. This might just be a surprisingly great time for your career.

Source: JobJournal.com

Take stock of your finances. Identify and prioritize your bills and debt. An immediate need for cash flow may require you to take a temporary assignment. It can give you a sense of productivity and give you some good experience.

Do not let your ego get in the way of your search. Picking up a side job is a good thing for your morale, ego, family and pocketbook. I have a friend who has let his ego get in the way of practicality and his ill-advised decision may cost him his family, friends, not to mention his career.

Stay productive and gain a new perspective. It is a good thing - healthy for the mind and soul.

Make a list of contacts from your friends, family, colleges, former companies, charities and volunteer organizations. Reach out and tell them what kind of position you would like. Find a contact who can introduce you to a decision maker at companies where you want to work.

This is the fundamentals of networking. Take this seriously because in the end, networking is always the best way to find a job.

From: Job Seeker Weekly

Now that you have "detoxed" from the last experience, the time has come to update the resume and get the ball rolling. The resume is your marketing tool to the hiring managers.
The resume represents a brand - YOU. Make sure your resume targets the position you want, your key accomplishments and measurable results of those accomplishments (IMPORTANT). Be certain that the key words are prominently displayed on the resume. Post your resume on the Internet at general and industry specific job boards, as well as, social networking sites like LinkedIn. Utilize your network (MOST IMPORTANT) and professional associations (GREAT RESOURCE) whenever possible. Make sure it gets in the hands of executive recruiters as well. You don't want to leave any stone unturned.

Partial Credit to Jobseekerweekly.com

In order to best plan your search, you will need to assess your value. Conduct research using websites, recruiters, career coaches and others in similar positions to the one you're seeking to determine what salary and benefits you can request. Make a checklist of your skills and identify those that are transferable to other industries that are in a growth mode.

Salary.com is a great website for you to start your research. Your research should not take more than 30 minutes so please, do not be fearful - this is time well spent.

You need to get your ducks in a row and plan your job search strategy. Despite the need to mobilize a quick job search, you need to think it through. Take some time to step back and create a thoughtful and measured approach to your job hunt. Carefully pick your channels (i.e. - networking, Internet, trade associations, magazines, newspapers, job fairs, recruiters). Be specific about the position you want and target 10 - 15 companies where you want to work.

The more calculating you are, the better the results,

This week, I will be writing about actions you need to take when you unexpectedly lose your job.

First - do not dwell on why the company closed or had unannounced layoffs. Once you understand the issues, move forward with the experience of what happened. You can learn from the experience and use this background to your advantage in your next position. But to sit with family, friends and colleagues and perpetually speak about the issues and people involved is not a productive use of your time.

To begin, identify and prioritze your bills and debt. An immediate need for cash flow may require you to take a temporary assignment. It can give you a sense of productivity and give you some good experience.

Tomorrow - Building your job search strategy!

Suppose you're already out of work. Take advantage of it. The old thinking was that workers could only gain and expand skills at a regular job. The new thinking is that there's plenty of growth to be found elsewhere, and a traditional job can even prove stifling. Generation Y-ers are driving this new concept of success.

This line of thinking can be success across all generations. Instead of holding on to rigid ideas of what work should be, open up to new ways of thinking. A new outlook and approach like this will help you hold on to your current job, or pave the way to your new career.

From the Jobseekerweekly.com Newsletter

The most effective job hunts are team efforts. Ask people about the companies they know and where you'd fit. Ask people to recommend managers who will teach you a lot. Ask people for advice on positioning yourself in your resume. Ask people to introduce you to their friends. Most people will help you if you ask -- we all want to feel useful.

From Yahoo!

Someone recently asked me about using percentages in a resume and whether or not it was the right thing to do.

My answer - ABSOLUTELY!!! If a percentages helps you deal the story about a revenue increase or expense decrease, use the percentage. It is acceptable and encouraged as part of your marketing strategy in the resume. We are all evaluated by the results we produce. Percentages help us understand the results and by all means should be included where beneficial.

If your resume isn't generating the responses you want, perhaps it is because you are sending the document to the your party or a generic email address. As a matter of fact, emailing your resume addressed to the actual decision maker almost always guarantees that your resume makes it to that person's desk, without getting lost in email.

I suggest that you take a few minutes and conduct some due diligence on the company and learn the name of the hiring manager and his/her email address. It may take some ingenuity to get past the gatekeeper, but that is all part of the game. Usually getting the name is easy but the email address is harder.

Try this - if the gatekeeper will not provide an email address, ask them if they will forward the resume for you. At that point, they most likely will give you their email address. As long as you have the name of the hiring manager, you should be able to figure out their email address by the structure of the gatekeeper's email address.

A bit tricky, but sometimes you have to think outside the box to get what you want.

You can also try faxing the resume. Just ask for the departmental fax number. Address the cover sheet properly and the resume will get to the hiring manager.

Good Luck!

From Resume Writer Julie Ghatan:

It is very common and advisable in certain cases to remove very brief (1 - 9 months) positions from the resume to avoid the appearance that the candidate is a job hopper. Often, a hiring manager may wonder what happened in such a short period of time to make the applicant decide to abandon his position. The job of a resume writer is to make the client as marketable as possible and place the client in the best light possible without deceiving the hiring manager.

When you decide to look for a new job it's typically for one of two reasons.

1) You don't like your current job
2) You lost your job

Our first inclination is to get another job doing the same exact thing, as quickly as possible. Take some time to think. Do you like your career? Do you like the field you work in? What might make you happier? The earlier you do this in your career the better.

One lament I hear from more experienced job seekers is that they feel trapped. Because they are senior and because they've only worked in one area, every new job needs to be in the same exact industry and job title. That doesn't necessarily have to be the case. And now that you're changing jobs, reassess your priorities and make sure you're not just blindly jumping into the next job.

Courtesy of JobSeeker Weekly

If you are asked your salary requirements early in the hiring process the company is using this question as a pre-screening tool. Be careful! If you answer too high you may disqualify yourself from the running and if you answer too low you may be depriving yourself of a much higher salary once hired.

Consider the following responses:
1. Negotiable
2. Depends on the benefits package
3. Share the salary range you have researched

Try the following approach:
"That's a great question that I will be able to answer later in the interview process once I know more about the position and its challenges, I should be able to accurately answer your question. Still, I have done research on www.salary.com, so I'd be looking for a position within the $k-$k base salary range. Clearly, you will want to be confident that I'm the right person for this position, as well, before discussing salary and benefit information with me...am I correct in assuming that?"

Excerpt from Salary.com

Interesting question. Easy answer.

If you want someone to read the resume, then you have to give them the best chance to read it. What do I mean? Well, when you come in the office and check your morning email, I bet that you find you have "email overload" from senders who email during off-hours. Many times, I bet you do not have the time to read all of the email. Well, hiring managers have this issue as well. Many people send their resumes from home in the evening. This resumes get caught in all the email clutter.

If at all possible, find a way to stay away from the clutter. Try emailing, if possible, between 10am and 3pm M- F. This way, the reader will likely be at his/her desk and the clutter of last night's email will be minimized. This theory applies for regular business email as well.

Give this theory a try. Let me know if it works for you.

Sandy Vandiver, a client of mine, just shared an interesting bit of information. If you send your resume via a Craigslist posting and the file is more than 150kb, the message will not be delivered. This will occur only when you are sending the resume in a .PDF file. Therefore, I suggest that when you are sending your credentials via an ad on CL, send the MS Word document and not a .PDF. A .PDF is usually 3x larger than the MS Word document and apparently this is a new problem that all job seekers must be cognizant of throughout their search.

Here are five mistakes job seekers should avoid:

1) Fire ... ready, aim. Don't waste your time shooting out resumes before you've aimed for your ideal job. Think before you send.

2) Assuming you're on a first-name basis. Never call your interviewer by his or her first name, including interviewers younger than you, says career expert Sally Haver. Until you hear, "You can call me Fred," or the equivalent, address the interviewer formally.

3) Your life's an open book. Keep your private life private by making your social profiles closed to the public.

4) Winging it. "One of the biggest turn-offs for a hiring manager is when a candidate they are interviewing has not done the research necessary to understand both the position and the company they are applying for," says Kip Hollister of Hollister Inc., a New England staffing firm.

5) Neglecting your appearance. Don't dress too sexy, too casual or wear too much jewelry. Instead, dress for the position you want to have.

Courtesy of CareerBuilder

Hiring managers search for keywords that are related to the job they are attempting to fill when they read resumes, whether they be online, via email or in print. Therefore, your resume needs to have keywords that are easily recognizable to the reader. Having the correct keywords in the content will help separate you from the masses who you are competing against for the the position. This is a fundamental of resume writing that I strongly recommend you do not ignore.

When you attend the interview, you will need to bring a printed version of the resume.

1. Use white or light-colored 8 1/2 x 11 paper, printed on one side only. Provide a laser printed original if possible. A typewritten original or a high quality photocopy is OK. Avoid dot matrix printouts and low quality copies.

2. Do not fold or staple.

3. Use standard typefaces such as Helvetica, Futura, Optima, Universe, Times, Palatino, New Century Schoolbook, and Courier.

4. Use a font size of 10 to 12 points.

5. Don't condense spacing between letters.

6. Use boldface and/or all capital letters for section headings as long as the letters don't touch each other.
Avoid fancy treatments underline, shadows, and reverse (white letters on black background).

In general, your cover letters allow you to expand upon and emphasize particular aspects of your resume -- based upon the requirements of the particular position you're seeking. Therefore, consider what the specific organization needs and address your letter to those needs. Many recruiters can spot form letters and don't take them as seriously as letters adapted to their specific company, so write a carefully adapted letter rather than a generic one that you send to every company to get your foot in the door for an interview.

There are several important factors and strategies within your control that need your attention in order to maximize your job search efforts. Consider the following questions to determine if you might be undermining your own success. By focusing on these questions, you might reverse your pattern and realize your goal.

1. Do you present yourself in a professional way? Appear well groomed and you may get a second interview.

2. Are your resume and cover letter tailored to the specific job and skill requirements? Tweek your resume & cover letter for each you you apply to.

3. Do you consistently follow through? A thank you note can be a determining factor in getting a second interview.

4. Is your job search strategy diversified? Looking for jobs online is convenient, but it shouldn't be your only strategy.

5. Do you indulge in negative thinking? Stay positive and be open to support from others.

The new year in beginning and with the flip of the calendar, hiring season is in full bloom. Here are some cover letter tips for your campaign.

Subject - Networking with colleagues and friends.

* Always read a one page letter!
* Always remind the recipient how you are acquainted
* List your abilities and strengths.
* Always include one significant accomplishment
* Ask for job leads and referrals (this is what networking is about).
* Always ask if you can send along a copy of your resume - do not attach at copy (you, not the recipient, is conducting the job search)
* Send a thank you note to those who respond.

The specialized job boards are far more effective than the broad-based boards (i.e. - Hotjobs; Monsters). Joel on Software -- that's a great one if you are a programmer. But if you're a generalist, don't think a generalist job board will help. Fewer than 10 percent of all jobs are filled via those big boards. Your best bet is always networking. Trade Magazines and Industry Associations are another great resource for finding new opportunities.

Keywords are vital for online resumes for two reasons:

1. Resumes are read on the monitor and need to be formatted with keywords at the top of the page.

2. Corporate recruiters and search firms are using software packages that scan resumes for pre-selected keywords. Therefore be sure to include words that are common in your industry. And remember, always spell out the acroymns!!!

Show your interest in the company by asking the interviewer specific questions. It shows you've done your research and it makes the interview more of a conversation. It also shows how you think--that you reviewed the information and you want to know more.

Hiring Manager know two things about their budgets:

1. If they have a position in their budget that they have not filled, they need to or they lose the funding.

2. They know what is in their approved budget for next year and are ready to start interviewing for a January 2 hire.

Most hiring managers prefer to hire through networking or referrals. Candidates through these channels are pre-qualified, saving the hiring manager time and energy looking for top candidates. It also savings on advertising or headhunter expenses. Plus, if they hire a candidate for a January 2 start date, then they are ready to begin the new year on the right track - producing results faster and more efficiently.

So, what are you waiting for. Get a jump start and begin your job search today! Get your resume in line and start networking. This is solid advice and those who follow it will be pleased with the result.

Career Objective versus Professional Profile

Question I am asked often - Should I list a Objective or a Professional Summary on my resume? While an interviewer may be slightly interested in what you want to do with your future, he/she will be much more interested in what you can do and what skills you have amassed.

The Professional Summary should be the first section of your resume. In most cases, the summary the single most important part of the resume. Always appearing at the top of the resume, the summary is a concise, one paragraph description of your tangible and intangible skills. The summary is your marketing statement. It must be strong and pop off the monitor (for my new readers, resumes should be written for reading on a monitor). If the summary lacks depth and excitement, then most likely you will not get called into the interview.

This is the new gospel. Summary > Objectives. Take that to the vault - it is the truth.

Unless an ad states that "only submissions including salary requirements will be considered," your best option is to address the question without actually answering it, by using a statement such as: “Salary is fully negotiable,” or “Salary is negotiable, dependent upon the responsibilities of the position.” If your skills and background are an obvious fit for the position being targeted, this will probably be sufficient. It also shows your reader that you did recognize the question and didn't simply ignore the answer. You'll place this statement toward the end of your cover letter.
(from www.1st-writer.com)

Personality can be just as important as your skills. If the hiring manager as read the resume, the will already believe that you have the necessary track record and skill set. At this point, they it is just as important to make sure your personality is a "fit". Smile and be yourself. Make eye contact. And speak frankly during the meeting. Fabricated answers come across more easily that you realize. Do not let the interview think you are "stiff". Keep small talk to a minimum and let your professionalism and personality stand up - you will be happy you did.

No, not who's your daddy? Who is your boss - enquiring minds want to know.

If you have reported to someone important such as a vice president or department manager, say so in your resume. This indicates that you know how to deal with people across all levels of an organization. Communication skills are important, especially in big companies. Make sure you add information to the resume and cover letter that will position you as a communicator.

Frank Guidice, a noted job guidance consultant, published this datapoint recently. Without question, this is a line item you should consider when building your resume.

"78% of all hiring managers prefer a chronological resume, a resume organized by dates of previous work experience."

Functional resumes do serve a purpose (ie career change) and I do write some functional resumes on occasion. However, I advocated Mr. Guidice's stance - chronological resumes are the standard and when searching for work, always error on the side of being conservative when it comes to your formatting (except - graphic designers). You should use formats that are clean, easy to read and do not have the template or "boxy" look (pre-formatted).

If you are applying to tons of openings and not getting them, think about whether your resume stands out enough to get a job in the field you're pursuing. If you are working hard to find a job and are not getting calls for an interview, it's safe to say that you need to change what you're doing.

Call a professional and ask them to critique your resume and your career objective. Good resume writers will provide career advice when a resume is obviously not up to speed.

Yes, you might think this is self-servicing, but keep and open perspective and you will understand what I am writing.

In this business, you pay for what you get. Nice cliche, but it is true. When you hire a writer who tells you that they will write a resume and cover letter for you, all for the grand total of $99 - BEWARE. Why the cause for concern? Well, for $99 - you will receive a template resume and cover letter, mostly likely a Microsoft template, that looks horrible in the monitor and on paper. It exhibits LAZINESS.

I think of templates and I cring. You can hire a professional writer who will create a customized document that is professional in look and feel, ladened with keywords and positions you for the interview and the chance at a new position and a raise. Sending the hiring manager a template is a mistake. Sending the hiring manager a customized, professional product is the best practice you can incorporate into your search campaign.

Employers typically spend 5 to 10 seconds reviewing your resume, so applicants must find ways to quickly and effectively tell the hiring manager about their experience and skill set.

Your resume is your personal brand and brands need to have a great first impression. The professional summary is the first thing the reader sees. Therefore, it makes sense to be certain that this element is powerful. The professional summary must be ladened with keywords and jump off the monitor screen. The professional summary tells hiring managers why they must consider you for the position.

Therefore, make sure that your professional summary is strong. Make certain the summary is well-written and clear in its intent. The better the professional summary, the more interviews you will take in.

Before building your resume, write down a list of 10 - 15 keywords that best describe your current position or the industry the you are working in. Be certain to include this keywords in the Professional Summary and, at the minimum, your two most recent positions. And yes, it is OK to put them into bold face or italics print to help them stand out.

It is ok to be professional aggressive and make your keywords standout.

A pristine credit report can provide an edge in seeking employment, and a bad report can cost you your dream job.

More and more employers are using credit reports to screen employees. The use of credit checks has increased 55 percent since 2000, according to a 2006 national survey conducted by Harris Interactive for Spherion Corp., a leading recruiting and hiring firm. The survey found more than a third of companies were checking credit reports in 2004.

Employers can ask to see your credit report if you are a job applicant or being evaluated for a promotion, reassignment or retention, according to the Federal Trade Commission. However, the employer must have your written permission.
Employers left with a bad impression have to notify you of this and provide you with a copy of your report as well as a summary of your rights. If they've chosen someone else for the job or taken an adverse action, such as a dismissal and the report influenced the decision, they will have to notify you and provide contact information for getting a free credit report. The report is free for 60 days.

When you are in the interview, please be certain that your answers to specific questions parallel line items on your resume. If, for example, discuss your experiences as a marketer, experiences that qualify for a particular position or certification, tie it into your narrative, e.g., "When I managed multiple direct mail initatives, I learned that ..." Build on your resume, but don't refer directly to it (assuming the interviewer has it in his or her possession); make sure the connections are there, but do it subtly.

If your job hunting includes email - 95% of all seekers do use email, then you need to use email the correct way.

I suggest:

1. Do not copy and paste your cover letter or resume into the email client unless the hiring manager specifically requests that you do so. (Honestly, if they request this, then they have a problem with their virus software - but that is another discussion)

2. Create an email signature for yourself. Here is mine as an example:

Allan J. Brown
MARKETING AND BUSINESS OPERATIONS
TRADITIONAL AND ONLINE PUBLISHING

San Francisco, CA 94123 USA
415.292.4754
allan.brown@pacbell.net
www.allan-brown.com
SKYPE - allancall

3. Create a short 1 - 2 line blurb that serves as an introduction and purpose statement. Make the line unique from your cover letter.

Here is an example:

Amy,

In reference to your posting on ___________, I have attached a copy of my resume and cover letter for review by you and your colleagues.

I have been afforded the opportunities in my career to build a track record of successes as a marketer in the fields of magazine publishing and online marketing. I am looking to secure a challenging opportunity where I can make a contribution that will meet, if not exceed, the standards of the management team. Any assistance that you can offer would be greatly appreciated.

I look forward to speaking directly with you in the near term.


Sincerely,

First Name, Last Name

This small strategy will help improve your results.

I have written about this issue in the past but I believe it needs to be brought up again since I am receiving an
inordinate amounts of requests for resumes for professionals looking to change careers (I know that working for employers of any size is hard, but the amount of disgruntled employees seems to be growing rapidly - this is for another blog entry).

For those who do not know the difference between chronological and functional resumes, including the scenarios of when to utilize a specific format, please read below.

The Chronological format is widely preferred by employers, and works well if you're staying in the same field (especially if you've been upwardly-mobile). Only use a Functional format if you're changing fields, and you're sure a skills-oriented format would show off your transferable skills to better advantage; and be sure to include a clear chronological work history!

This is a test.

Golden rule in resume writing (and all writing for that matter):

When using numbers, also spell out 1 - 9 as a word and not a numeral. Any number over 10 can be kept in numerical form.

Right - Managed eight accountants.
Wrong - Increased sales by 7 accounts in first month.

Right - Oversaw 12 retail stores.
Wrong - Ran 7 delivery routes.

it is time to reemphasis this issue, especially for departmental managers, directors, sales people, marketers as well as anyone with a numerical goals (customer service/call center) or budgetary responsibility.

Whenever feasible, utilize numbers, percentages, financial figures (budgets and revenue) These line items will stand out in your resume, especially if the resume is Internet ready. Don't be shy, the more quality figures the better.

Examples:
- Managed a department of 10 with a budget of $1,000,000.
- Increased sales by 25% in a 15-state territory.
- Exceeded sales quota by 166% in FY2006.
- Decreased operating expenses by $42K in first quarter through more efficient and effective utilization of existing resources
- Contributions to the launch of the new software packages resulted in an increase in revenue of $325K in just one month.

Get the picture. Numbers and figures work. No need to be humble, utilizing them will increases your chances for landing the interview.

In the body of your resume, use bullets with short sentences rather than lengthy paragraphs. Resumes are read quickly. This bulleted sentence format makes it easier for someone to quickly scan your resume and still absorb it. Infact, it is ok to use bold face print to highlight key words in the bullet.

I read dozens of resumes every week. The overwhelming majority of the resumes list a great set of skills. This is nice. But you want to know what is nicer. A list of accomplishments. Let the reader know what you have done. Be specific. It is ok to say that, given that you are a territory account executive, that you built a book of business that was worth $5M/year, exceeding quota by 45%. It is OK to say that you built an account base of 75 stores, increasing penetration by 30 doors over the past year. Employers want people that produce. Do not be afraid to let hiring managers know your accomplishments. You will be happy you did.

When it comes to getting a job, who you know does matter. Let former co-workers, colleagues and mentors know you're job hunting and ask them to connect you with prospective employers.

Join professional associations; attend seminars and classes in your area of interest; or volunteer to expand your professional network and community.

Use the Internet to connect and create opportunity. Meet someone at a local seminar? Send them an email to thank them for the chat and ask them to let you know of relevant job openings. Better still, ask them to introduce you to people in their network that may have a job lead or could open doors at prospective employers.

(courtesy of Career News)

I have a pet peeve. Whenever I open up an attachment and see a MS Template resume, I say UGGH! Yeah, you probably think that is weird, but I really despise MS Templates because they look like a series of boxes that are crammed with text. Believe me, the engineers who build MS Word were not thinking about the poor guy who needed to build a resume and wanted to do this in MS Word.

The layout of your resume is important. Make the layout an extension of your skills. Show your organization and creativity in a professional way. Make certain that you highlight the most important information about your work experience, skills and education. At first glance this information forms the image that employers have of your skills and abilities. Do not be afraid to use conservative colors (dark blue) and keywords across the top of the document. Make the resume stand out in a professional, creative way. And please, stay away from Microsoft Resume Templates!!!!!

Clients ask me all the time about follow-up. They wonder "How often should I follow-up? Should I call or write?"

Like so many things, this issue depends on, and calls for a degree of judgment. What I add to the bottom of every cover letter (personally addressed cover letters) that comes off my desk is "I will contact you the week of _______. This is a professional approach that shows that you are interested in gaining an interview. I always recommending one professional phone call, then followed up by an email after you have alloted enough time (3 - 4 days) and you still have not received a response.

Also, if you speak with the hiring manager and he/she has not evaluated applications, do not be afraid to ask what's a reasonable time to check back, and how they'd like you to pursue the matter if you don't reach them live. They'll respect the question, give you clear guidelines, and you'll know how to proceed without antagonizing anyone.

Valid Points from Dale Carnegie.com

Focus on your strengths. Focus on what you have to offer to that particular position. Many skills you have picked up in your past position are beneficial to any future jobs you pursue.

Keep an open mind. When you read through job openings, reply to anything you find interesting. Research the company's Web site to see if there are other job openings it may have.

Network. Let people know you are searching for a position. Someone might have ideas, or may be able to put you in contact with someone who is hiring.

Don't give up! It takes a lot of patience, as well as motivation, to stay confident in getting a new job. Keep your goals in mind, and remember that everything takes time.

This applies to salespeople, marketers, project managers and even systems administrators. Quantify your experience wherever possible. Make it a priority to include numerical figures, such as monetary budgets/funds saved, revenues secured, time periods/efficiency improved, lines of code written/debugged, numbers of machines administered/fixed, etc. which demonstrate progress or accomplishments due directly to your work.

Job site CareerBuilders.com recently asked pollsters Harris Interactive to survey hiring managers and find out the wackiest resume items they've seen lately. Out of 2,627 responses, here are the top ten:

A job candidate...

1. ... attached a letter from her mother.

2. ... used pale blue paper with teddy bears printed around the border.

3. ... explained a three-month gap in employment by saying that he was getting over the death of his cat.

4. ... specified that his availability to work Fridays, Saturdays, or Sundays is limited because the weekends are "drinking time."

5. ... included a picture of herself in a cheerleading uniform.

6. ... drew a picture of a car on the outside of the envelope and said the car would be a gift to the hiring manager.

7. ... listed hobbies that included sitting on a levee at night watching alligators.

8. ... mentioned the fact that her sister had once won a strawberry-eating contest.

9. ... stated that he works well in the nude.

10. ... explained an arrest record by stating, "We stole a pig, but it was a really small pig."

Feel better now?

What's the dumbest resume mistake you've seen? Or even committed on your own resume? Enquiring minds want to know...

I cringe everytime I read someone's objective statement. It is always full of fluff and non-sense. Let's see - "Seeking an opportunity where I can expand my horizons as a marketing professional". Yeah, duh.

Serious job seekers will build a professional summary that is full of Keywords for their particular industry/occupation. Here is a good example of a recent professional summary that I wrote: "SENIOR-LEVEL FINANCIAL SERVICES PROFESSIONAL with hands-on responsibility for the business operations of a successful start-up company with a real estate portfolio of more than $11M. Astute analyst and strategic thinker with MBA in Finance, Harvard University training as well as practical business experience in modeling, raising capital, negotiating mergers, marketing, sales, operations and relationship management. Articulate and persuasive presenter; inspire trust and confidence; highly skilled negotiator. Demonstrated ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously, producing results that met, if not exceed, the expectations of a loyal customer base. P/L Responsibility."

See the difference. Unless you are fresh out of school, never use an objective statement. We all know the objective - it is to get a new job! Tell the hiring manager something that is going to get them to read the entire resume! A good professional summary will add great value to your resume and open doors for you. An objective statement is fluff. Point taken?

Many job posting will specifically state "No Phone Calls Please". This is an obvious indication that the hiring manager does not want to be inudated with calls. That is understandable. However, it should be noted that many job seekers lose out on the "dream job" because they are too passive. There is a happy medium. I advise my clients to be professionally aggressive - in other words, unless specifically indicated by the line "no phone calls please", do not hesitate to add in the your cover letter "I will contact your office the week of _________ to schedule a time to speak about the career opportunity with _________. However, if you add that line, then you better call. It is ok to call if you preface that you will be contacting the hiring manager. This is not badgering and is very professional. I laugh when clients want to take the passive approach " I look forward to hearing back from you soon". You will grow old with wrinkles if you serious expect someone to automatically call you back. The job market has changes and one of the changes is that hiring managers do not have time to call everyone back. Therefore, do not worry about bothering someone - just be professional, respectful and forthright when you call.

Resumes for sales people are different than for other positions. When I am working with sales professionals, I tell them that the most important that I need for the resume is sales numbers. After that, the second most important thing I need is sales numbers. Get the idea!!!

Sales professionals are judged on revenue, the ability to surpass quota and account management. In all of my resumes, this information is prominently displayed. Make sure it is in your resume too!

It amazes me that so many people do not take into account how resumes are being handled by hiring managers in the age of the Internet. Resumes are now read more often on the computer screen, but necessarily on paper. Therefore, does it make sense to create a resume that has your strongest attributes in the top 1/3 of the page, the space that is seen on most computer screens? An overwhelming number of resumes that come across my plate seem to emphasis "fluff" in the top 1/3 of the page and not the important skills and experience the applicant brings to the table.

My advice is to build a strong summary statement, using key words, viewed in bold face print, to let the reader know exactly why you are qualified for the position you are seeking. Why mess around - get to the point. The information in the top 1/3 of the page will get the reader to view the rest of the document. If they do not see a possible match based on your content at the top of the page, you will be bypassed. All of my resumes are what I call "Internet Ready". They are filled with content formatted for the reader to view easily and make a quick decision concerning the candidate. I also use keywords across the top of the page as a means to not only help the ready pre-qualify the candidate, but also to help the resume rank higher in the search engines. My resumes contain no fluff, no wasted space, all relevant content. Use this criteria and you will open more doors and secure more interviews!

Trade Magazines as a Job Resource,Attention Job Seekers - Print is not DEAD!!! While the Internet has changed the methods that we search for new jobs, some tradition channels are firmly intact. While it is all well and good to use Monster, Hotjobs, Craigslist and other online-centric channels for your search, the best resource, other than networking, remains the trade journals that cover your industry or vocation. These magazines are free to qualified applicants and carry valuable information about the job market within your vertical. Trade magazine publishing has been around for over 100 years and is not going away anytime soon. Utilize this resource to uncover great opportunities as well as cutting edge industry news. If you have questions about trade magazines, drop me a line at resumes@allan-brown.com

I read this article this morning and felt that I should share this with my readers. Written by Susan Guarneri in The Career News.

1) Get Focused: What specific type of occupational field, what level within that field, and industry are you targeting? Trying to be all things to all people in a "generic" resume just doesn't work anymore.

2) Get Branded: Differentiation is key to career and job search success. Your brand encompasses how you do things, your passions and values, and your effect on others.

3) Get Up-To-Date Education: Don't assume that Bachelor's Degree you got 10 (or even 20) years ago suffices anymore. Employers want to see that you are actively engaged in learning about advancements in your field and acquiring new skills and knowledge. They don't want to be the ones to have to train you on what you should already know!

4) Bonus: Keep track of your accomplishments. They are the "meat" that makes up the resume main course. Without relevant and convincing results, you may be perceived as just a "seat warmer" in your current (or past) jobs.

Although there are laws in this country that protect aging workers, you need to be aware that these laws are not only difficult to enforce, but that hiring managers do not always know the law, let only abide by federal and state statutes.

If you're over 40 years old and wish to avoid age discrimination, you need to understand that you do not have to present your entire work history on your resume. In the resumes that I write, I will only go back 10 - 15 years of job history. In cases where my client considers the history to be important, I usually will add a section "Relevant Work History" and add brief information without using dates.

Each situation is different depending on industry. Healthcare is an industry where age is not an issue. Other industries, such as technology and publishing, age discrimation can run rampant. Feel free to drop me a line if you have concerns.

Many people are under the impression that it is best to wait until January 2nd to begin their job search. Their belief is based on the premise that they will not be able to get in touch with hiring managers during the holidays.

This line of thinking is inaccurate. Hiring managers can be contacted during December and are ready to speak with people concerning new opportunities that are budgeted for the next calendar year. I have found two new positions in the month of December because I took the initiative and interviewed during the holidays.

You should use the month of December to update your resume and to start making contacts for your job search. You will be surprised just how many phone calls get returned and how many meetings you will be able to secure.

Read this article from LearningAndLife.com. Think it should be of interest to my readers.

Between the ages of 20 and 70, most of us will spend one third of our life at work. That's a whole lot of time to spend in frustration or unhappiness. Government statistics show that 1 out of every 5 people change jobs each year. If you're unhappy in your career - now is the time to get a new one!

Find your passion and plan ahead. Don't wait until you're desperate to quit your job. You should consider what you're good at and what you enjoy doing. Then research your industry and get yourself excited about your new career before you start it. Make sure you choose your new industry wisely. Taking time to research industries will reward you in the end. Know the business before jumping in. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has information that can help you learn about how strong an industry is.

I cannot stress enough that now is not the time to stop looking for work. Do not use the holidays as an excuse! Contrary to popular opinion, this is a good time of year to find a job. Employers don't stop hiring just because it's the holidays. In today's Career News, Dave Harshbarger explains why hiring continues, regardless of the time of year. "For many of us, the holiday season is a time to sit back and relax, to take a break from business, to focus our attention on friends and family. For businesses, the needs that drive hiring throughout the year don't change just because the paid holidays are bunched up on the last pages of the calendar."

Do not use the holidays as an excuse to take a break. This is a GOOD TIME to find a new position. All I ask is that you get out there and give your resume the best shot to succeed. You just might be surprised!

2007 is upon us and this will be a great year to find the opportunity you deserve. But to land that great job, you need to be in the game. Therefore, start the new year the right way and update that resume. Make sure it is loaded with key words and is customized to your career. Do not use a template - hiring managers frown up the use of templates. Once you have updated your resume, make sure it is uploaded to the major job posting sites (i.e. Yahoo! HotJobs, Monster, Craigslist, Career Builder). Access the trade publications and industry association bulletin boards and classified ads - these are always a great source. And, most importantly, utilize your network!!! Let people know you are available! Do not rely on headhunters and employment agencies - these channels should only be 5% - 10% of your strategy.

It is a great time to look for work. Do not let the first two months slip by without looking if you are truly tired of your present job. Budgets are full and hiring managers want you! Remember, you gotta be in the game to win!! Best of luck to you!

Just returned from a business trip to Mainland China (my fulltime business is marketing for both domestic and international publishers). What a great experience!!! Beijing is NYC on steroids. I have never seen more cranes in my life!!! Hope to revisit again later this winter.

Anyway, let's talk about functional resumes. Functional resumes are best utilized when specific skills and accomplishments gained through experience will demonstrate the candidate's competency/qualifications. The functional resume is best and most often utilized when the candidate is going to make a career change. Functional resumes can also be written for students who have no or very little/unrelated work experience and are applying for their first or second position out of undergraduate school.

Job seekers should ALWAYS avoid functional resume when considering positions within government, non-profits or if they plan to stay within their area of expertise. Drop me a line at resumes@allan-brown.com if you want more information on advantages and uses of functional resumes.

I read a great article this morning by Caroline Levchuck concerning how to promote yourself in your current position or an interview without being viewed as arrogant, conceited or a braggart. She hit the nail on the head. If you are self-confident and produce work that meets or exceeds expectations, it is ok to communicate your successes and strengths in the proper context. If an interviewer asks for a demonstrated success, it is perfectly acceptable to mention a key accomplishment, just be straight forward. Do not get all "wordy" with phrases like "I do not mean to brag but..." Being forthright and assertive is an attribute that is a common qualification for many jobs. Express confidence in yourself, this will come across in a positive fashion to employers. Promote yourself without embellishment - let your track record do the talking. Feel free to drop me a line if you have any questions.

The specialized ones work. Joel on Software -- that's a great one if you are a programmer. And craigslist is great if you want to clean houses while naked. But if you're a generalist, don't think a generalist job board will help. Fewer than 10 percent of all jobs are filled via those big boards.

According to written reports, fewer than 10 percent of all jobs are filled via the large general interest job boards like Monster.com, HotJobs (Yahoo!) and CareerBuilder. This channel should be part of your mix, but also be sure to use vertical job boards such as Joel on Software (programmers) and Marketing Sherpa (Marketers). Also use your professional associations like the Western Publishers Association (WPA) for publishing professionals and the Professional Association of Innkeepers International (for hotel management). These are great sources for job opportunities and the hiring managers will like the fact
that you know the professional associations that support your interest. Give it a try - you will open doors that you may have never been able to find.

After you have gone through an interview session, it is extremely important to write a thank you letter to the interviewer(s). This is standard protocol and needs to be done with one business day. The letter can be send via USPS or email - no need to get extravagant with UPS or FED EX. Keep this letter short and to the point - three or four sentences tops. Talk about one or two significant points that were addressed in the session, indicate that you are interested in the position and if presented with the opportunity, that you would make an impact that would exceed expectations. One week later, send a follow-up note, to express that you are interested in scheduling another time for you and the interviewer to speak.