Are You Using Your Mobile Device To Find Jobs? You Should Be

Are You Using Your Mobile Device To Find Jobs? You Should Be
By Todd B Bavol

Finding a job today is a challenge. You do have many sources to consider. You could spend some time using the newspaper as they did ten years ago. You likely have dozens of tools available online to help you to store and send out your resume. But, what about your smartphone? Are you using your mobile device for job applications? You could be. More employers than ever are realizing the importance of providing this option to incoming applicants.

Applying Onsite

Some of the best and biggest employers are using Internet website designs to allow them to interact properly with mobile devices. This means that can find a job using your smartphone. You visit the company's website and it is optimized to allow you to easily navigate it from your smartphone device. More so, you can apply right on the site for the job. Job applications like this do range widely but many sites are making it work.

Third Party Apps

Many of the largest online job sites are using tools to allow individuals to communicate with potential applicants using a mobile device. If one of the sites you are using is one that allows this type of feature, it may be a good idea to use it. Find out if the job site has an app to make it easier for you to find out what the latest job ads are and apply for them online right from your phone. You should be able to access your resume, browse through the current ads and to submit your application just as you would if you were on the actual site.

Why It Matters

Why should you be using a mobile device to find a job? Today, there are dozens if not thousands of people applying for the same position. If you do not act quickly, chances are good you will miss being one of the first to apply. Does this really matter? It could mean the difference between someone reading your job app and not. More so, you need to be able to get to those job apps faster. Why not use that time you are sitting on the bus or the time you are spending waiting for your child's practice to end to apply for jobs. It may be one of the best ways for you to connect to potential employers on your time. It is a simple way to get the most from the application process.

Todd Bavol is the President and CEO of Integrity Staffing Solutions. Integrity Staffing Solutions is a national staffing firm assisting individuals and corporations in making the right employment fit. To view job openings in Warehouse, Professional and Administrative positions, visit the Integrity Staffing Solutions web site at http://www.integritystaffing.com.

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Should You Take On A Holiday Job If You Want Full Time Work?

Should You Take On A Holiday Job If You Want Full Time Work?
By Todd B Bavol

As an employee, a holiday job may seem like a good thing. You need the work and therefore you feel you should take any job that comes along. In situations like this, any type of position that puts money in the bank is a good idea. For those that may not be that desperate for a position, though, should you take on temporary work like this if it may only last for a short amount of time? Depending on your career goals and if that company fits into your plans, it may be a good idea to use this type of position as a stepping-stone into future employment.

Is The Company The Right One?

One of the key factors to keep in mind during this process is whether the holiday job is with the right company. If the company is one that has the potential to be a career stop for you, then applying for this type of temporary position can be a good thing. If you do not want to build a career at the business, or it is out of your realm of career jumps to achieving your goal, then it may not be a good move. Ask yourself this. If this company were hiring for your long-term career goal would you apply there? If not, then move on.

Is The Company Growing?

Sometimes, you can make a decision like this by taking into consideration the actual movement of the company. If they are bringing on staff just to handle a Christmas rush, but they are struggling throughout the year to maintain operation, this is not a move to take for long-term career goals. Focus instead of finding a position that is with a strong, stable company.

Is There An Option To Stay?

No temporary job is going to guarantee or even offer a permanent position to those working during the holidays in an advertised position. For example, it is unlikely to say it is hiring 20 people and one of them will be permanent. However, if you step in and do a great job from the day you arrive, and there is a need for a new person on the long-term staff, you can count on that temporary position becoming a permanent one.

Take some time to check out that holiday job and find out if it could open a few doors for you in the long-term career goals you have. Knowing it is unlikely to be a full time position is important, but getting your foot in the door is a good thing.

Todd Bavol is the President and CEO of Integrity Staffing Solutions. Integrity Staffing Solutions is a national staffing firm assisting individuals and corporations in making the right employment fit. To view job openings in Warehouse, Professional and Administrative positions, visit the Integrity Staffing Solutions web site at http://www.integritystaffing.com.

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Recent Grads: 5 Tips to Improve Your Job Search

Recent Grads: 5 Tips to Improve Your Job Search
By Lea McLeod

Do you have a clear goal for your job search plan?

Do you have processes set up to support you throughout?

I'm often surprised when I speak with recent grads in the job search. Though anxious to become employed, they often do not have clearly set goals about that search. As well, they often don't have good structure and processes to support the effort.

Without a clear goal, and a good job search strategy, you'll end up wandering in the proverbial desert and get discouraged pretty quickly. Here's a better way.

My suggestion is that a good job search starts with a clearly defined goal, and goes from there. So here are 5 ideas on how to get your engine running. We'll cover the rest in Part 2 of this post.

1. Set a goal!

As they say... if you don't know where you're going, any road will take you there.

Even if you don't know exactly "what you want to do" you can still identify other qualities you desire in a job or an employer, and construct a job search around that. You probably have an idea about things that are interesting to you. What kind of employers interest you? What type of work you would like to pursue, in what industry, in what location, by when? Pick your starting place, and go after it.

Write your goal down and look at it every day. When you ask people to help in your job search, the more specific you are, the better able they are able to help. Get a clear goal and let it saturate every part of your job search.

2. Create a structured workspace.

You need a good workspace that's devoted to your job search. Create one that gives you easy access to all of your necessary information. Your job is now to find a job. So create a workspace to accomplish that mission, just as you would if you were working from home.

Keep all of your materials at hand, like extra copies of your resume, business cards, or work product. Then you aren't running around looking for them if you get an interview in short order.

3. Create your personal profiles.

This is all the self assessment you need to do before you ever write a resume, or go on an interview. Look at all the attributes you offer an employer, and clearly develop your marketing messages. How do you want to present yourself? What is your key value proposition?

These are the messages that go into your resume, cover letters, LinkedIn profiles and social media persona.

4. Target your desired employers.

Since you've identified your goal and desired qualities for your workplace, it's time for research. Evidence shows the best way to find a job is to target potential employers and go after them, whether they have jobs posted or not.

So, identify 15 - 20 employers or organizations that appeal to you from a career perspective. This list may morph and change as you start putting your plan into action. But a target list is a good starting place.

5. Develop your job search strategies.

Research also shows that sitting on the big job boards is probably the least effective way to spend your job search time. Only 7 to 10% of all jobs are placed through them. A job board like Indeed.com gets 1.5 BILLION hits per month. Yikes, that's a lot of competition! Why work that hard?

Though this may be the place where you are most comfortable, I urge you to expand your comfort zone and come up with ideas for more effective job search. They should include:

• Online - Include the big job boards if you must, but also niche job boards as well.
• Social Media - Leverage Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn to connect and explore job opportunities.
• Warm Networking - Don't make this harder than it needs to be. Start with the networks you already have and go from there.
• Informational Interviews - These can be a great resource for you, a chance to leave a great impression, and a way to build your contact base!
• Cool [Offline] Networking - This is about creating connections where maybe you don't have any direct links already in your network. Pick up the phone and call organizations that do work you are interested in. Even with no contacts you can call and ask for the hiring manager of a job that appeals to you. Also, check out networking events, career fairs, and other face to face opportunities to boost your connection factor.

For a more detailed look at all these steps, download my audio tele-class recording - Job Search Secrets for New Grads. It's free, and in the second session you'll hear a deep dive into creating a job search plan.

For a more detailed look at all these steps, download my audio tele-class recording - No More Back to School: Job Search Secrets for the New Grad.

It's free, and in the second session you'll hear a deep dive into creating a job search plan. http://www.degreesoftransition.com.

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How To NOT Get A Job (2nd in Series): Voice Messages As Cartoon Characters

How To NOT Get A Job (2nd in Series): Voice Messages As Cartoon Characters
By Charlene Holsendorff

It was my first time calling this new client. The phone rang once. Twice. Three times. I poised in anticipation of his voice message.

I got an ear full of a gruff, matter-of-fact command: "You know the drill. Do it!"

I stared momentarily at the handset, stupefied. No personal identification. No suggestion that he might possibly call back. Just do it, since apparently I know the drill. Beep! My gut reaction was to hang up, indignant. (I know consultant colleagues who would've done so instantaneously).

In that split second, though, I decided to proceed with leaving a message because I was determined to alert this guy to how he's shooting his job search squarely in the foot. Could I not have just as easily been an HR person, a company decision maker, a recruiter calling?

YOUR VERBAL BRAND MESSAGE

Inasmuch as today's job search has evolved into a marketing campaign of promoting yourself to employers, job seekers must be mindful that how you communicate - both written and verbal - is part of your Brand, how you are seen and defined by others. Your Brand, after all, speaks to your professionalism (or lack thereof) and fortifies (or derails) your credibility.

Just like major companies and products, building and protecting your Brand is paramount. The components of your brand include your verbal, written and visual presentation. One component of your verbal presentation is your phone voice message. (In upcoming posts we'll continue discussions into other components of a compelling Brand.)

So, you're looking for a job. Hopefully, you're making new networking contacts, re-connecting with previous contacts, developing job leads. The fact that you're not working doesn't mean that your professional self is on hiatus.

Your Job Search Voice Message Should Include:

Introduction: Your Full Name*

That you can't take the call right now

Invitation for caller to leave a message

That the caller can expect a return call

*If this is the residential family phone, state the family name, i.e.: "This is the Walker residence" or "This is Mr. & Mrs. Walker" or "This is the Jones/Walker residence." Don't say, for example, "This is Sandy and Bob Walker." Maintain a business approach in your phone Introduction.

THAT'S ALL FOLKS!

Then there's the time I called the client whose voice message was an impersonation of Mickey Mouse. Yes, Mickey (Disney icon) Mouse!

"Hi! Ha-ha! This is George. Ha-ha!" His falsetto voice sliced squarely into my disbelief. I found myself staring, yet again, at another telephone handset totally incredulous!

"Leave a message! I'll get back to ya. Yep, I will! Ha-ha!"

Can you hear him... Mickey?!

How can I approach this gentleman and keep his dignity intact while at the same time sending the firm message to STOP TALKING LIKE A CARTOON CHARACTER if you want to get a job! I'm not terribly surprised that he hasn't yet returned my call.

Request a complimentary Resume evaluation or Coaching information by emailing Charlene at: chrleneh@verizon.net. Request FREE "Job Search Success Pointers."
Check out Charlene's LinkedIn profile: http://www.linkedin.com/in/charleneholsendorff.
Check out Charlene's Blog: http://SlicingBananas.com.

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Fastest Way to Find a Job - Tip 13 - Internships / Volunteering

Fastest Way to Find a Job - Tip 13 - Internships / Volunteering By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Peggy_McKee]Peggy McKee Internships / Volunteering Internships are fantastic. There are more paid internships than ever before, but even unpaid internships can be extremely valuable to you-if you can snag one at a company within your career area. Some internships are the very formalized set-time programs (8-weeks, 12-weeks, 1-year, for example) where you're completing a certain set of tasks, making a set amount (usually limited) of money, with a pre-determined outcome. Some of those internships are the only way you can get hired at some very popular companies that everyone wants to work at. They don't have issues with talent. Lots of people want to work for them, so they can afford to be very choosy about who they take on-even for an internship role. Other internship programs are less formal and prescribed programs. For instance, Ventana Medical Systems (that I recruited for a number of years) was one of those. I remember a young man with a biology degree and not a lot of experience who would not have been considered for one of their roles because of his lack of experience-even though he was in an MBA program at the time. Well, he had a week off (Spring Break) coming up and said to me, "Hey, if you can find me somewhere that would let me work over my Spring Break, I would work 40-60 hours over that entire week. I'd get myself there, pay for whatever I needed to, and work for free for the whole week, because I know that something good would come out of that." Well, as it turned out, he did have to pay to get there, but they decided to pay for his hotel for the week and even took him out to dinner. He did a marketing project for them and got to know them pretty well during that week, and they decided they really liked him-and guess what? When he finished his MBA, they hired him. That should go to show you that internships really can translate into a paying job. Who could benefit from an internship? Everybody. We could all use a little hands-on time, and we don't always have to get paid for it because we're investing in ourselves. And sometimes those investments are the ones that give us the biggest payoff. Volunteering can offer you the same benefits-if what you volunteer at supports the role you're trying to get. Volunteering at the hospital, food bank, or local PTA is a wonderful thing... as a philanthropic gesture. It's generous, caring, and wonderful, and I know that those experiences are worthwhile-but they are probably not going to help you get a job. Since my focus is not to prod you in your civic responsibilities or your charitable work, that's not what I'm going to steer you toward. My focus is to get you a job quick. The fastest way to that success is to find some way to volunteer at an organization where you can learn or use skills that are relevant for the job you want. That's going to be different for everyone, and you may have to be creative to think of and root out opportunities, but the time that you spend honing whatever skill it is will be worth it for you. You can talk about it on your resume, on your Facebook page, on your LinkedIn updates and it will be more than what someone else has who didn't volunteer their time... and that will help you stand out. Peggy McKee is a career coach and the CEO of Career Confidential, a website dedicated to helping job seekers find a job fast. See the website here => http://careerconfidential.com/blog/ Find links to 25 fast job search tips in the entire Fastest Way to Find a Job Series here => http://careerconfidential.com/fastest-way-find-a-job-series/ Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Fastest-Way-to-Find-a-Job---Tip-13---Internships-/-Volunteering&id=7343817] Fastest Way to Find a Job - Tip 13 - Internships / Volunteering

What Does It Take to Be a Work At Home Employee?

What Does It Take to Be a Work At Home Employee?
By Ed Dickinson

What does it take to work from home? You may think that it takes a lot to work from home, but it does not. Being an at home employee has never been easier. With the advancements in technology, more and more people are working from the comforts of their home. Companies have more employees working from their home offices than ever before and the number of work at home employees is only increasing.

So what does it take to work from home? It basically takes only three things to become an at home employee: the right tools, the right attitude, and the right skills.

Technology has made it so much easier to work from home or work from anywhere in the world. As long as a person has an Internet connection and a good computer or laptop, work can get done. High speed Internet connection is required and a computer with up to date software is needed. To work for many companies, a land-line telephone to handle incoming calls will be necessary. The main thing that is required is a quiet work space. If you want to work from home, you may want to have another room in the house to use as your office. As you can see there are not many physical requirements for working from home.

The next thing a person must have to be an at home employee is the right attitude and temperament. A person should be focused and motivated to do the work without having someone look over your shoulder to make sure you are doing his or her work. Even though you are working from home, punctuality is a must. You must be organized in order to keep track of your daily schedule and to put in a solid day's work day in and day out. Home workers tend to be entrepreneurial. If you want to succeed and be an at home employee, a person has got to want it and go for it. Perform and you will reap the benefits from your company.

If you have the right attitude and right tools, the only thing left that is needed are the right skills. Many companies only hire employees with the proper skills and experience.
There are companies out there that advertise jobs that state no experience necessary. If you come across a company like that, be careful. You'll want do your research before committing to them. Companies like that are often scams or have shady practices.

As you can see, it does not take much to be an employee who works from home. The right technological tools combined with the right attitude and skills can help anyone to become that employee.

To find companies who are hiring work at home employees, check out http://www.sidejobsfromhome.com or http://www.homeworkerslist.com. Both sites are good resources to find companies who are hiring now.

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Revitalize Your Job Search!

Revitalize Your Job Search!
By Georgiana Carollus

Is your job search stalled? Is it time to review your strategies and see what you can do differently to revitalize your search? Here are five action steps to take:

1. Make your actions congruent with your goal and move out of your comfort zone.

Everything you do is either moving you to or away from your goal. No doubt some tasks are easier for you than others. Take a critical look at what you are doing and what you are avoiding. In order to get results, make the decision that you will do what it takes, no matter how uncomfortable, to get the results you want. When you challenge yourself to take these actions, be sure to acknowledge and reward your efforts.

2. Plan your work and work your plan.

Are you finding excuses to do anything but your job search? When a job search is stalled, it can be difficult to stay engaged in your search. This may be time to find a job search buddy that you report to periodically on your actions. The best candidate for a job search buddy may be another job searcher. Accountability to each other can help you both stay on track.

3. Take excellent care of yourself.

Take good physical and emotional care of yourself. Eat right, exercise, get enough sleep, and avoid any temptation to self-medicate. Be a friend to yourself and treat yourself as well as you would treat a friend or loved one. Pay attention to your mind and what your self-critical voice is saying to you. You have the power to silence that inner voice! When it starts criticizing you, give your mind something else to do - take action, sing a song, or just tell it to stop! The mind cannot perform two actions at once, so if your mind starts criticizing you, find something else to do.

4. Maintain an attitude of curiosity.

The job search path is rarely linear and it often takes unexpected turns. When you have expectations about what should and should not happen, you often leave yourself open to disappointment. A better approach is to maintain an attitude of curiosity about what will happen next. Release your judgments and be curious about where your next lead will take you. Be curious about what you might learn today that will take you closer to your next job.

5. Review your performance.

Here are two great questions to ask yourself about your latest job search efforts: What did I do right? What would I do differently? Answering these two questions will help you see your strategies that are working and to also see possibilities for improvement.

A job search is hard work. Keeping your spirits up is important to your confidence and success. Take high-value actions and push yourself out of your comfort zone. And, most importantly, be a friend to yourself and treat yourself well.

Is your resume working for you? For resumes that get results, visit http://www.ResumeswithSpirit.com.

Are you a friend to yourself? Visit http://www.FriendYourselfProject.com to find practical tips on how to recognize your brilliance and to treat yourself as well as you treat your friends and loved ones.

Georgiana Carollus, a Certified Professional Resume Writer, is a career services professional with more than 15 years of experience in career assessment, career development and advancement, and all aspects of resume writing and effective work search techniques.

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How to Improve Your Resume and Get More Interviews

How to Improve Your Resume and Get More Interviews
By Georgiana Carollus

Is your resume generating interviews for you? The purpose of the resume is to land interviews and if your resume is doing that for you, your resume is doing its job. If you are not getting interviews, it might be time to review and tweak your resume. Here are some resume tips for you to consider.

Responsibilities Versus Accomplishments

Rather than showcasing specific accomplishments, many resumes only present job responsibilities. While it is important to note responsibilities, in order to stand out, it is more important to capture specific achievements that demonstrate the range of what you accomplished. If you don't give specifics, employers will have no way of knowing what you did or what you are capable of.

Numbers tell the story. Wherever you can, add numbers. To your general job responsibilities, ask: What was the result I achieved by doing this? How I can use numbers to describe the results?

Organization and Presentation of Information

You should pay close attention to the organization of your information. Resume reviewers can see hundreds, if not thousands, of resumes every day. It is essential that you present your information in a clean, easy-to-read format. The font needs to be large enough to read and there should be a good balance between text and white space.

One common mistake made by those who create their own resumes is the creation of a laundry list of bullets that include both job responsibilities and accomplishments. A better strategy is to write a short paragraph or two to describe job responsibilities and reserve the bullets to highlight very specific accomplishments. This allows your accomplishments to be more easily seen and appreciated.

Employer-Focused Resumes

The best resumes are employer-focused and they recognize and address the needs of the employer, not the job-searcher. Start your resume with a Professional Summary that highlights your job-specific skills. Review job notices and be sure to include how your skills can address the needs of the employer. And, importantly, include keywords related to the position requirements.

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)

ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) are widely used today. While these systems are becoming more sophisticated, there are formats, including headers, footers, and text boxes, that can present scanning difficulties. To avoid being invisible, take your contact information out of headers and text boxes in Word documents.

Consult Career Service Professionals

If your resume is not getting the results you want, consider consulting a professional. If you are unemployed, check to see if you qualify for State/Federal job search assistance and research local job clubs. If you are a college graduate, find out if your college offers alumni career services. Many Professional Resume Writers offer a complimentary review of your resume along with an explanation of how they might be able to help you.

An effective resume that stands out from others can improve your chances of being noticed and invited for an interview. Create a strong employer-focused resume to get the results you want!

Is your resume working for you? For resumes that get results, visit http://www.ResumeswithSpirit.com.

Georgiana Carollus, a Certified Professional Resume Writer, is a career services professional with more than 15 years of experience in career assessment, career development and advancement, and all aspects of resume writing and effective work search techniques.

Are you a friend to yourself? Visit http://www.FriendYourselfProject.com to find practical tips on how to recognize your brilliance and to treat yourself as well as you treat your friends and loved ones.

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Fastest Way to Find a Job - Tip 18 - Networking Events

Fastest Way to Find a Job - Tip 18 - Networking Events
By Peggy McKee

Networking Events

Do you have a love/hate relationship with networking events? You know how important networking is for your job search and career success. Networking events are specifically set up so you can network and meet new people. That's a very good thing. Yet, the thought of "working the room" and walking up to total strangers to introduce yourself makes you feel a little sick, at worst, or insincerely schmoozy, at best.

While networking events are not as instantly beneficial as say, contacting hiring managers directly, they're still a worthwhile use of your time and you should learn how to do them well. That said, here are some tips for you to use before, during, and after the event.

Before the event

See if you can find out what people will be at the event and research them and their companies. It's always better to have some background rather than just going in cold.

Give yourself a goal to meet. Decide that you're going to have X number of meaningful conversations, or you're going to collect X number of business cards. That should keep you moving in the right direction, rather than getting sidelined in a conversation with one person or hiding in the corner.

Bring your positive attitude. Remember that everyone there is interested in meeting people. That's why they came. So there's no reason in the world to feel awkward. Dress in something that makes you feel confident and professional, stand up straight and put a smile on your face. You will feel better, and you'll be more likely to attract others, too.

During the event

Get there early. It's easier to walk into a room with less people in it that haven't gotten deep into conversations yet, rather than a room full of people already talking to someone.

Before you do anything else, start by introducing yourself to the person at check-in, and ask where you can find the organizer. Introduce yourself, and thank them for setting up the event. That should start you out on the right foot.

Try looking for people who are standing by themselves. If you're nervous, it's easier to strike up conversations with them rather than break into a group. And chances are, they're nervous, too.

Have some conversation starters ready, like, "Hi, how are you?" or "What brings you here today?" (See, they're not hard.)

Focus on asking questions and gathering information, rather than selling yourself-but have a quick, clear explanation of who you are and what you're looking for ready to go.

Think about spending 5 minutes establishing a connection rather than just grabbing their business card and running.

When you do get a business card, take a couple of seconds and write a few notes on the back to jog your memory later.

After the event

You must follow up with every business card or contact info you have, or the entire event will be worthless to you. Send an email, connect on LinkedIn... something. I would follow up within 24 hours. Just continue the conversation. Tell them it was nice to meet them, ask a question about how something they told you turned out, ask how things are going, give them a few more details about you, tell them if there's anything you can do for them don't hesitate to ask. And then add them to your list of contacts to maintain to keep a healthy network.

Peggy McKee is a career coach and the CEO of Career Confidential, a website dedicated to helping job seekers find a job fast. See the website here => http://careerconfidential.com/blog/

Find links to 25 fast job search tips in the entire Fastest Way to Find a Job Series here => http://careerconfidential.com/fastest-way-find-a-job-series/

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Fastest Way to Find a Job - Tip 19 - Industry Organizations

Fastest Way to Find a Job - Tip 19 - Industry Organizations
By Peggy McKee

Industry Organizations

Industry organizations are some of the best job search resources anywhere. These can be fantastic because they are a direct connection for you to people in your field-including potential hiring managers, but that's not your only benefit here. You can expand your network, you can learn a lot about your field, and you can often find out about jobs that aren't necessarily listed on national job boards.

For instance, I was a part of several organizations when I was in clinical diagnostics sales:

• The American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC)
• The American Society of Microbiology (ASM)
• Society For Neuroscience (SFN)
• Clinical Lab Managers Association (CLMA)

My membership in these organizations paid off for me in multiple ways, over and over again. I ended up with great connections to potential customers as well as great sales reps and industry leaders I learned a lot from. My network and my knowledge both grew as a result of my membership. Every industry has some of these organizations, and they are extremely valuable for you.

There are thousands of these kinds of associations. Here are some examples:

American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)

National Retail Federation

International Association of Administrative Professionals

Information Technology Association of America

Society for Economic Dynamics

International Advertising Association

This list isn't even big enough to qualify as the tip of the iceberg because there are just so many of these organizations. Find yourself a directory and start looking. I think that Weddle's Association Index is a good place to start.

So how do you take advantage of these resources?

Industry organizations usually have an events calendar you can find with lots of opportunities to participate. They will very often hold at least monthly events. Go to these events. They are very valuable to you, maybe more so than alumni organization events or generalized networking events because they are a concentrated gathering of people in your field. Think about all the hiring managers you could meet!

When you go, just follow the guidelines of good network event practices: Don't be shy about introducing yourself. Have a quick but confident explanation of who you are and what you do ready to go, but listen more than you talk. Try to make some sort of a meaningful connection beyond just trading business cards. Follow up after the event with a personalized email or LinkedIn invitation to connect (no generic invitations allowed).

Industry associations also usually have very strong networks within the organization... everybody usually knows everybody, and when you join, you will eventually know everyone, too.

Some industry organizations have internal job boards, which can be helpful. But beware... they will also attract a pool of highly motivated, connected candidates who also belong to that organization and saw the listing, too.

Bottom line: When it comes to industry organizations, join and participate. They're worth it.

Peggy McKee is a career coach and the CEO of Career Confidential, a website dedicated to helping job seekers find a job fast. See the website here => http://careerconfidential.com/blog/

Find links to 25 fast job search tips in the entire Fastest Way to Find a Job Series here => http://careerconfidential.com/fastest-way-find-a-job-series/

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Fastest Way to Find a Job - Tip 22 - Resume Blasts

Fastest Way to Find a Job - Tip 22 - Resume Blasts
By Peggy McKee

Resume Blasts

I included resume blasts on my Fastest Way to Find a Job Series not because I like them, but because some job seekers think these are the way to go, and I have a better alternative.

Resume blasts used to be the hot, hot thing back in 1999 and before. When I got my first job back in the early 90's, I sent out 1000 resumes to hiring managers in my field all over the country... lots of envelope stuffing and stamp-licking. My ambitious peers were doing the same. And then that moved from snail mail to email, complete with services to do it for you. All those people who were doing resume blasts were making a lot of money from providing that service with the lists they had created... although they weren't getting people very many jobs. Not that they told you that. And now they're getting people even fewer jobs... because they send emails.

I get the theory: the job search is a numbers game, so you should send your resume out to as many people as you possibly can. (I used that theory myself, back when I didn't know any better.) SOMEONE is going to have a job opening to talk to you about. That's the idea behind resume blasts.

But here's the problem, especially now: No one's getting email they don't want. Spam filters take care of that, and you wasted all that effort on something that hits the spam folder rather than the inbox. Plus, now you're married to that service and give the impression of a spamming mass marketer. It's not the same as if you wrote that person a personal message.

So I'm negative to resume blasts, but I am positive to contacting hiring managers directly. Why is that different? When you contact hiring managers directly, you are personalizing your message for them. You don't send it as a resume blast, because it won't get seen. If it's not personalized, it will be dismissed because of how "form letter" it looks.

The truth is, the job search is a numbers game... but you have to play it differently than you used to. You have to play smarter, not harder. You have to find enough hiring managers in your field and contact them to give yourself the opportunities you need in today's market. Most jobs aren't posted, anyway, so the only way you'll know about them is if you ask. The key is to find them and send them not a generic resume, but a personalized message that sells you as a potential solution for their problems. That's the fastest way to find a job.

Peggy McKee is a career coach and the CEO of Career Confidential, a website dedicated to helping job seekers find a job fast. See the website here => http://careerconfidential.com/blog/

Find links to 25 fast job search tips in the entire Fastest Way to Find a Job Series here => http://careerconfidential.com/fastest-way-find-a-job-series/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peggy_McKee
http://EzineArticles.com/?Fastest-Way-to-Find-a-Job---Tip-22---Resume-Blasts&id=7352712

Fastest Way to Find a Job - Tip 17 - Newspapers (or Craigslist)

Fastest Way to Find a Job - Tip 17 - Newspapers (or Craigslist)
By Peggy McKee

Newspapers (or Craigslist)

If you know that I'm not very fond of job boards as a job search resource, then you must be really surprised that I would talk about newspapers or even Craigslist in a series about the fastest way to find a job. I'm sure you assume that I think newspapers belong to the Dark Ages and Craigslist is just the online version of classified ads. Which it is... but bear with me.

Newspapers are less relevant for the job search than they used to be (poring over the classifieds used to be THE way to find a job), but don't count them out yet. Companies still post job listings in newspapers, and you'll also find information about career fairs or job fairs that could be useful to you.

The way newspapers are especially relevant to your job search today is through the news stories. Keep an eye on the headlines for news of expansions, acquisitions, or other growth opportunities in companies. Growth usually means hiring.

If you find that a company is getting ready to expand, build a new facility, move into a new area, or whatever, that's your cue to find out more about that company and how you might get your foot in the door. Do your research and find the hiring manager in the area you'd work and contact that person. If you're lucky, you'll find it in the newspaper article itself. If not, you'll have to work a little harder. But that's why they invented Google and LinkedIn. The hiring manager you eventually contact will appreciate your initiative, and probably be impressed that you were keeping up that closely with their company.

I recently read a really good business review out of Fort Worth and if I were looking for a job in Fort Worth, I would be reading this whole thing from front to back. It talks about who's moved into what positions, who's hiring... it's just stuffed with great information. You should be able to find a similar resource where you live. It's just business news.

Now, on to Craigslist. There are a lot of jobs posted on Craigslist, but you do have to be careful with it. If the company doesn't publish their name in the ad, don't assume that they're a Craigslist Killer, but you do need to ask them to divulge their name before you give them any information.

I've actually hired someone through Craigslist myself. I did not publish the name of my company because I didn't want that total exposure of my company's name along with the fact that we were looking for this type of person. But, when the candidate called me and began that conversation, told me a little about themselves and then asked for the name of the company before we went any further, I was more than happy to tell them. At that point, it was relevant. Before, it would have just been unnecessary exposure.

If it's a real company, they will be happy to tell you who they are when you call.

Newspapers and Craigslist would not be my first plan of attack in a job search, of course, but I do believe in maximizing your efforts and opportunities. They are a resource. Jobs are listed, and companies make the news, so spend a little time checking them out. Not a lot, but a little.

Peggy McKee is a career coach and the CEO of Career Confidential, a website dedicated to helping job seekers find a job fast. See the website here => http://careerconfidential.com/blog/

Find links to 25 fast job search tips in the entire Fastest Way to Find a Job Series here => http://careerconfidential.com/fastest-way-find-a-job-series/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peggy_McKee
http://EzineArticles.com/?Fastest-Way-to-Find-a-Job---Tip-17---Newspapers-(or-Craigslist)&id=7352666

Fastest Way to Find a Job - Tip 25 - Offbeat Ways

Fastest Way to Find a Job - Tip 25 - Offbeat Ways
By Peggy McKee

Offbeat Ways (Sandwich Boards, Dating Services, Your Child's Ball Games, and other Desperate Job Search Measures )

If you've been out of work for a long time, you're ready to try anything to find a job. Some of today's suggestions are a little tongue-in-cheek, but some of them could be crazy enough to actually work for the aggressive job seeker... and I thought you might enjoy them.

Sandwich board

If you're standing on the side of the road with a big sandwich board announcing to the world that you need a job, you would count as desperate-but maybe not crazy. I've seen job seekers get featured on the news by trying something like that, especially in big metro areas. If you were a business owner, wouldn't you at least take a second look at someone who obviously wanted to work so badly?

And actually, in some instances this method could work in your favor. If you're a graphic designer, someone in marketing or advertising, or some kind of artist, you could do some kind of attention-getting, attractive graphic on your sandwich board and get some attention that way.

That kind of in-your-face advertising works. I know you've seen cars rolling around town with big whole-car wraps that advertise some business or other... same principle. It brings in customers for those businesses. Maybe you should put a sandwich board on your car...

Dating service

I know someone who married through a dating service and has been happily married for 10 years, but I don't know anyone who ever got a job that way. But doesn't it make you smile to think about meeting someone for a "first date" and instead picking their brain to see if they're a good networking contact?

Your child's ballgames

I know one guy who sells insurance and wears t-shirts that advertise his company to his child's ballgames and he swears by that. He says that people end up calling him and giving him business.

Are you the kind of person who chats with other parents during your kid's games? Then you're a networker. Not that I think you should spend all your time talking about your job search at social functions... I don't. But neither do I think you should be shy about saying when it's appropriate, "I'm looking for an opportunity in X. If you happen to think of anyone I should call, let me know."

Sometimes those social connections can be more valuable than business ones. The wider variety of connections through a less-homogenous social group means a wider variety of people they know. And your social connections know you better and are often more interested in helping you out as a friend.

You might be tempted to try some desperate measures in your job search. A few might pay off. But the real key, in any job search, is to focus on the things that reward you the most. Work smart. Use the 80/20 Rule. Know what actions will bring you the greatest chance of reward. Always, always, what will reward you the most is direct contact with hiring managers. They are the ones with a problem to be solved, a job to be filled, and the authority to say "Yes, you're hired." Use every bit of aggressiveness, creativity and enthusiasm you have and channel it toward finding and contacting as many as you can and find your new job.

Peggy McKee is a career coach and the CEO of Career Confidential, a website dedicated to helping job seekers find a job fast. See the website here => http://careerconfidential.com/blog/

Find links to 25 fast job search tips in the entire Fastest Way to Find a Job Series here => http://careerconfidential.com/fastest-way-find-a-job-series/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peggy_McKee
http://EzineArticles.com/?Fastest-Way-to-Find-a-Job---Tip-25---Offbeat-Ways&id=7352729

Fastest Way to Find a Job - Tip 23 - Friends/Family/Church

Fastest Way to Find a Job - Tip 23 - Friends/Family/Church
By Peggy McKee

Friends / Family / Church

It is so important to talk to your friends, family, and church about your job search situation if for no other reason than they are your support system. The job search is too stressful to carry it on your shoulders alone.

I've known job seekers to leave the house every day at the same 8am time just like they were still going to their job because they didn't want to let their family know they'd been laid off. They didn't want them to worry. And they then went off to try to look for a job and come home at 5 just like nothings changed... even though it did, in a big way.

That's a terrible way to handle this situation. That means that you, the person who's looking for the job is bearing the weight of the job search all alone, and it's crushing. It's just too much.

So the first thing I want you to do when you find yourself out of a job is tell your friends and family and church if you have one. It's good for you.

If you want a more practical reason than that, think of this: if it's good for you, it will be good for your job search. If you have a happy, healthy attitude, it will show. You project what you're feeling inside to potential employers. There have been studies that show that people with positive attitudes get jobs faster than those with negative attitudes.

And here's an even more practical reason: your friends and family and church peeps know people, just like your "official" network does. For instance, I'm someone who knows a LOT of people. I have hooked so many people up with jobs in so many ways, completely outside of recruiting. You have no idea what connections your friends and family might have, and very often the most informal relationships can hook you up with a great job lead.

But friends and family could easily prove valuable even if they don't have a lead or someone for you to talk to. For instance: I know someone who wanted a waitressing job at a restaurant and couldn't get hired. She was their hostess, but they wouldn't move her over to waitressing for a year, they said. So she talked to a friend of a friend, and that person started coaching her on how to move up faster. They told her to first memorize the menu. Then, on a slow day, find a waiter to follow around and see how they do their job. When someone doesn't show up, offer to take their shift. Help the waiters clean up so they can see that you're dying to do their work.

Not everything is as easy to transition into as a waitressing job... but: Every job has "insider" tricks and tools that would help you move into that job if you knew what they were. And someone in your network just might know what you need to know to do that.

Talking to your friends, family and church family is not as valuable as contacting hiring managers, but it can definitely help you into the job you want.

Peggy McKee is a career coach and the CEO of Career Confidential, a website dedicated to helping job seekers find a job fast. See the website here => http://careerconfidential.com/blog/

Find links to 25 fast job search tips in the entire Fastest Way to Find a Job Series here => http://careerconfidential.com/fastest-way-find-a-job-series/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peggy_McKee
http://EzineArticles.com/?Fastest-Way-to-Find-a-Job---Tip-23---Friends/Family/Church&id=7352722

How To NOT Get A Job (3rd in Series): Wacky Email Address!

How To NOT Get A Job (3rd in Series): Wacky Email Address!
By Charlene Holsendorff

You and your spouse are looking for a new babysitter, as your current sitter is cutting back on that responsibility. You've gotten the word out to friends and family who are tapping into their resources as well.

Sure enough your neighbor calls to not only suggest someone, but to also tell you to anticipate an email introduction.

Great, you think! It had taken several weeks to even get the name of your present sitter, who has been watching your two pre-teen children for a couple years now. Later that week your neighbor calls to say she's spoken to the prospective new sitter - have you heard from her?

You scroll through your list of newly received emails. What's this? You see an email name you don't recognize. You lean in closer and adjust your glasses to read:

BacardiGirl @ domain dot com

You sit back, slowly, with furrowed brow.

YOUR BRAND MESSAGE: WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?

How inclined are you to want to invite BacardiGirl into the care of your two children?

Is it such a great leap to consider, as well, how an Employer will be equally hesitant to respond to a job applicant with the email moniker Born2BWild?

In an Ohio University study, email addresses played a key factor in whether applications received a call back for 1,000 posted jobs at the MGM Grand Casino in Detroit. The lead researcher at the time, Kevin Tamanini (subsequently a Ph.D. senior consultant in Organizational Psychology), noted that "the urge to be creative may lead some people to deliberately select e-mail names that could be considered unprofessional."

First impressions are indeed important - that's not a new idea. Your unprofessional email moniker may very well create something other than a positive impression. And, that impression may very well derail you from the application process, even though you may otherwise possess all the necessary qualifications.

Some of the actual email addresses deemed unprofessional in the Ohio University study include: AllieCat@, DrunkenSquirl@, BigHotDaddy@, FoxyLady@, Gigglez217@. "The urge to be creative may lead some people to deliberately select e-mail names that could be considered unprofessional," Tamanini noted.

We've established in previous articles that job seekers must be mindful that how you communicate becomes, in fact, your Brand. Your Brand speaks to your professionalism (or lack thereof) and can either fortify or sabotage your credibility!

Think about your email address at your last job. Most companies typically use a configuration of the employee's first and last name. Your job search email address should likewise include some form of your first and last name, with the following considerations:

1. Use your full name:

GeorgeMonroe@; MaryannJones@; WalterSmith@; ClarkWeston@; ArthurWashington@

2. Abbreviate either your first or last name if they are longer:

Gregory Masterman might use: GMasterman@ or GregoryM@

Felicia Piccoriella might use: FeliciaP@ or FPiccoriella@

Patricia Clarkson might use: PatClarkson23@ or PClarkson15@

Xavier Grendelman might use: XavierG@ or XGrendelman@

3. Inclusion of numbers is acceptable, but Avoid using any type of indication of a birth year or age:

BobMarsh1952@ or GloriaLerner61@ doesn't bode well for the discerning Employer or Recruiter! Is that Bob's birth year... Gloria's age?

4. Researchers also recommend Avoid references to personal interests or hobbies including references to favorite movies, no matter how popular of a choice it may be.

FINAL THOUGHT: Retain the snazzy email moniker for dazzling your friends and family members, absolutely. But for the job search create a separate professional email address that represents you as the credible expert that you hope to convey.

Request a complimentary Resume evaluation or Coaching information by emailing Charlene at: chrleneh@verizon.net Check out Charlene on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/charleneholsendorff Check out Charlene's Blog: http://SlicingBananas.com

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http://EzineArticles.com/?How-To-NOT-Get-A-Job-(3rd-in-Series):-Wacky-Email-Address!&id=7356160

Can I Use Social Media to Enhance My Career?

Can I Use Social Media to Enhance My Career?
By Erin Kennedy

Instead of getting discouraged by the lack of response to your resume... get busy!

There are a myriad of tactics and tools you can use to improve your resume and not all are painful or require a lot of redo to your resume. The thing is they can help you get a job and isn't that what you want?

So how do you go about fixing your resume quickly?

1. Delete your objective. Many companies do not care what you want. It's a sad truth but one that have to live with. Removing your objective gives more space for you to focus on skills that the employer craves.


2. Add a straightforward statement that explains why you are uniquely qualified for the position. Such as: Proven Marketing Leader with Far Reaching Corporate Experience. Make sure that your statement is true and matches your job description. The last thing you want to do is make yourself out to be something that you're not. HR Managers hate this, especially if you use a headline in your resume. But, if done correctly a statement helps recruiters immediately see that you are what they're looking for in a candidate.


3. Include a summary of skills (keyword bulleted list), especially if you have skills related to the open position. But, also include things like certifications, features you have, language skills and any technical abilities that would set you apart from your peers. Do you understand Linux or can you program C++? Then add that on your resume. Any skills that you possess should be showcased because it gives you extra value to the employer. You may not need those skills but it's good to have them on your resume.


4. Look through job descriptions in order to identify keywords companies are looking for on your resume. This sounds trickier than it actually is but there's a site called wordle.net. that can help you. On this site, you can copy and paste the job description and it will give you a simple, easy to read explanation about the keywords that your prospective employer is looking for. Keywords help your resume stand out and if a company sees that your resume has the needed keywords, you stand a better chance of landing the job. Adjust your resume according to the keywords and to match the description of the job.


5. Replace weak words and statements with Power Words. Instead of saying "Contributed to the company newsletter," write, "Managed the award winning Vista monthly publication, the flagship magazine of Made-Up Company, the world's largest manufacturer of silicon diodes." Both statements may be true but the second one carries a lot more weight and showcases your talents. Make sure your statements are said with power.

The job market is tough right now, so you have to take advantage of any opportunity. Do not let one slip by because your resume is not up to par. Next month check out more tips on how to improve your resume and get noticed!

Erin Kennedy, MCD, CMRW, CPRW, BS/HR, is a Certified Professional & Executive Resume Writer/Career Consultant and President of Professional Resume Services, Inc. She is a nationally published writer and contributor of 12 best-selling career books. She has achieved international recognition following yearly nominations and wins of the prestigious T.O.R.I. (Toast of the Resume Industry) Award.

As a proud member of CDI, NRWA, PARW, and AORCP, Erin also sits on CDI's Credentialing Committee for new certification candidates and serves as a Mentor for CDI's Member Mentoring Committee.

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http://EzineArticles.com/?Can-I-Use-Social-Media-to-Enhance-My-Career?&id=7356229

Job Hunting? The Secrets That Recruiters Don't Tell You

Job Hunting? The Secrets That Recruiters Don't Tell You
By Nick Leigh-Morgan

Tip 1: Write your own CV/resume

Don't go and pay $50 to have someone write one for you. It's a waste of money. How on earth can a complete stranger do a better job than you can of summarising your career to date?

Writing a cv is easy, you just need to know what recruiters are looking for. The key thing is not to be taken in by those who suggest you need to load your CV with lots of dynamic words: initiated, managed, started, etc etc and don't pack your cv with lots of management blurb and the latest buzz words. With the exception of possibly school leavers and graduates, 99% of what a good recruiter will look for in your cv is what type of work you've done and who you've done it for. You can pay someone to add in all the clever layout, design, graphics and buzz phrases you like but it will make absolutely no difference if you don't match the job requirements. So avoid jargon, cliches or trying too hard to impress and try to mimic the key word and phrases the employer has used in the job description, but above all, it's your career history so you should write it.

Oh and 1 more thing, when you list the companies you've worked for, please explain what they do. OK, we've all heard of Walmart but don't assume the recruiter knows about every company.

Tip 2: Create an elevator pitch... on video

If you want to stand out to an employer, send your CV containing a link to a video of you. Record a video of you outlining the core skills you have to offer, your 2 biggest achievements to date and the type of role you're most interested in. No more than 60 seconds, upload it to YouTube, get the link and then embed it onto your cv under this heading:

Watch my 1 minute pitch

A potential employer is more likely to interview you and not someone else if they can actually get a feel for who you are and how you come across.

Oh, and look smart when you do it!

Tip 3: Attach a proper covering letter

Whether asked to or not, always submit a covering letter.

Don't just put...

"Dear Sir/Madam,

Enclosed is my CV for the role of xxx yyyy...
kind regards...
etc"

You need to really sell yourself. Outline exactly how your experience matches the key criteria set out in job description.

Tip 4: Make sure you're on LinkedIn

Even for if you're not very senior, get a profile added to LinkedIn and select the option that says you're open to hearing about career opportunities.

If you already have a LinkedIn profile update it to say you're not working for xxxxx anymore and are actively pursuing a new role. You don't have to say the dreaded word... "unemployed' but you do have to make it clear that you're in the job market.

Ideally you want to try to build up your network of LinkedIn contacts before you start needing to look for a new job, so every chance you get of connecting with someone you meet/contact make sure you connect with them to build up your personal network of contacts. Job hunting is and always has been as much about who you know rather than just what you know.

Tip 5: Send speculative cvs... lots of them... but not to HR

Go on to LinkedIn, identify the companies nearby that you think could be interested in you. Then search LinkedIn to find out who the head of the relevant department is and try to connect with them on LinkedIn. Just make sure you alter the standard LinkedIn connection message to let them know you're looking for a new job.

Whatever you do don't try to contact HR. They are invariably very busy doing something else and will just put your details 'on file'. In addition the HR team won't necessarily know all the roles coming up in the business in the next 6 months. The head of the department will.

If you can get an introduction to that person, so much the better so look out for any connections, even tenuous ones and try to get them to introduce you. A referral from someone is much more likely to get a response.

Oh and make sure you ask that they forward this on to anyone they know. They might not be hiring directly but they will probably know someone who is.

Tip 6: Spy on your target list of companies

Assuming you've drawn up a list of companies who might be interested in you, either sign up for job alerts or an RSS feed from them. If they don't have those facilities (many won't), use a service like http://watchthatpage.com. It allows you to add in urls of company career sites and as soon as a page changes (i.e. a new job is added), you'll get alerted. It's not perfect as there's no guarantee the job will be what you're interested in so you may wish to use this tool for only the companies you're very keen on working for.

Alternatively follow their company pages of Twitter. Bigger companies often have a separate account just for their jobs so follow those. Tweetdeck is a great way to follow numerous different Twitter feeds in one go.

Tip 7: Use a resume distribution tool

There are companies out there where you can upload your cv and they'll distribute it to lots of job boards for you so your details get stored into their cv databases ready for employers to search and contact you.

Here's a good example: resumerabbit.com

Tip 8: Use social media and become your own career PR agent

If you don't have one, get a Twitter account. Tell the world, via a tweet, that you're looking for a new job... "interested in #marketingmanager roles" or whatever target job title you have. Also make sure you say this as both a tweet but also in the summary section of your Twitter profile as it's more likely to be found.

Then do the same on any blogs you write, Facebook, Google+ etc etc. No need to be proud, just tell everyone you're looking for a new job.

Post a question on relevant groups on LinkedIn... "What were the most effective channels you used to find your last job". This way you don't necessarily sound like you're begging for someone to interview you but a. you're letting people know you're in the market and b. you could well get some very useful feedback from others who have recently just gone through the exact same job hunting process.

Do the same on any websites in your industry. Usually they will have a blog post or a forums section for general discussions.

Also make sure you ask the same question on Quora or Yahoo answers.

Tip 9: Create a website all about you

If you have any technical skills buy a domain with your name on it then create a page with your name and target job title in the url:

fredmsith.com/marketing-manager

Then post your cv to that domain and make sure you mention your target job title and all the key skills you've got several times so it's got a chance of being picked up by the search engines. If any recruiters search on Google for people with that job title they may well find you.

If you don't have any technical skills, any competent web developer could copy your cv and post it to your new career site in a matter of minutes.

Try a site like this to build your careers site: freehosting.com

Tip 10: Try a Google / Search engine search

Whichever search engine you use, type this in:

(careers or current vacancies) and "your preferred job title" and location

The search engine will then produce a list of companies recruiting the job title you list, in the approximate location you list. If that location or job title doesn't yield much, try a different mix.

Nick Leigh-Morgan is the MD and founder of iKrut, a free applicant tracking system. Nick has over 16 years experience in the recruiting industry, covering staffing firms, direct employers and now web based recruitment software. A graduate of Economics and Politics, Nick specializes in publishing articles on the future of recruitment and careers advice.

Visit Nick's website at http://www.ikrut.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nick_Leigh-Morgan
http://EzineArticles.com/?Job-Hunting?-The-Secrets-That-Recruiters-Dont-Tell-You&id=7349540

Making Your Resume Readable and Scannable

Making Your Resume Readable and Scannable
By Todd B Bavol

Creating a resume is one of the most important steps in applying for a job. As a job candidate, you need to ensure this piece of paper displays your skills and helps you to get into a job interview. It is no easy task today. For many positions, there are dozens if not hundreds of people applying with just one or a few slots to fill. Even as the economy improves, employers still want the best of the best from any job candidate they bring in. To get into that job interview, polish your resume to make it easy to read.

Know How It Will Be Used

Step one is to ensure your resume has the built-in features it needs to get attention by the right people. Before it can get into the hands of a hiring manager, though, it needs to make it through the automated process. For this to happen, it is a good idea to use keywords. Keywords are specific words that employers are using to narrow down the field. Attributes the job candidate has, such as "motivated" or "experienced" are some of these. On the other hand, it may include specific words as they relate to the field or job positions a person has.

Make It Scannable

Once the resume makes it through the automated process, the next step is to get the hiring manager to pick up the phone to schedule an interview with you. One way to encourage this is to ensure your resume is scannable. It needs to be easy to read and easy to see the fine details of without requiring a lot of time. Here are some tips:

• Keep each item to one or two lines only.
• Use bullet points for keywords that relate to your job skills.
• Be brief and avoid paragraphs.
• Get rid of the "objective" portion of the traditional resume. Instead, use a "summary" section instead.
• Avoid the fluff. Only include details that can help convince the reader you are the ideal job applicant for the position.

A job interview can be a tough process. Yet, getting into a job interview is even harder. Be sure your resume has all of the features, including keywords and an easy-to-read style to encourage the job interviewer to pick up the phone and call you. If you do not do this, the outcome may be something you don't want - not hearing back. Invest a bit of time in cleaning up your resume for better results.

Todd Bavol is the President and CEO of Integrity Staffing Solutions. Integrity Staffing Solutions is a national staffing firm assisting individuals and corporations in making the right employment fit. To view job openings in Warehouse, Professional and Administrative positions, visit the Integrity Staffing Solutions web site at http://www.integritystaffing.com.

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http://EzineArticles.com/?Making-Your-Resume-Readable-and-Scannable&id=7359571

5 Mistakes You Are Making on Your Resume

5 Mistakes You Are Making on Your Resume
By Todd B Bavol

Your resume is a critical component to your success in the job hunt. It is the first impression people will have of you, long before they call you in for an interview or discuss anything about your qualifications for their position. Are you making one or more of the most common resume mistakes? If so, you'll want to make big changes fast.

Top Resume Mistakes You Could Be Making

How could you make any type of error? What could you be doing wrong? Could this be why you have not had much success on your job hunt?

1. How long is your resume? It's often said that one page is all you should turn in. If you have too many must-include details, though, don't try to shrink the font to get it in because this makes unreadable. Go with two pages instead. Most hiring managers are likely reading your resume online so one or two pages is just fine.

2. Are you including an Objective or a Summary in your resume? Instead of including an objective (which is usually the same on every resume - to get a job), include a summary. Hiring managers want to see a short, two or three-sentence statement outlining your experience, which job you are applying for and why you are applying. It shouldn't be longer than 30 seconds if read out loud.

3. What contact information are you including? Busy hiring managers want a fast way to contact you, such as an email address. Include your phone number as well. Did you know there's no real value in including your street address, though? Avoiding it can prevent identity theft risks, too.

4. Are you including keywords? These are words automated systems will use to find key candidates out of a job applicant pool. Without the right keywords, that are specific to your qualifications and job skills, no human will ever see your resume.

5. Are you using paragraphs? If your resume looks more like an essay than an outline, you've got a problem. It should include brief details, not large-scale novels about your positions and history.

When you take the time to get rid of these potential errors, you could see an uptick in the number of times a hiring manager gives you a call. Keep in mind that, on a job hunt, you should still personalize the resume to the positions you are applying to. Be the best job applicant by ensuring your resume mistakes are fixed long before you turn them in.

Todd Bavol is the President and CEO of Integrity Staffing Solutions. Integrity Staffing Solutions is a national staffing firm assisting individuals and corporations in making the right employment fit. To view job openings in Warehouse, Professional and Administrative positions, visit the Integrity Staffing Solutions web site at http://www.integritystaffing.com.

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Fastest Way to Find a Job - Tip 24 - Career Counseling Centers

Fastest Way to Find a Job - Tip 24 - Career Counseling Centers
By Peggy McKee

Career Counseling Centers

There are two types of career counseling centers: college counseling offices and post-graduate work centers. If you've gone to college you're familiar at least with the first kind of career counseling office, but I'd be willing to be that you didn't especially think your college career office was that helpful. Career counseling centers geared toward working (or previously working) adults are a different breed of cat and can run the gamut from very helpful to a waste of time.

Mostly what career counseling centers advertise is that they will help you through the process of choosing what it is that you want to do with your life. If that's what you need, then maybe that's an option for you. But I've seen those same centers also advertise resume-writing help, interview help, and job search help. They are often heavily recommended to folks who have been laid off, downsized, or otherwise displaced from their jobs. This is not the same as career coaching.

Aside from the career-choice advising, I have not heard great stories about career counseling centers and their ability to help you find a job. In other words, I think career counseling centers might be able to help you choose a job, but not able to help you actually get the job you've chosen.

Mostly my impression is that their advice is outdated (like resume blasts), their advisors are unqualified, and their work isn't very specific or cutting-edge. I hate it that people who get laid off rely on this kind of a service to help them because it's free and they think it's going to be valuable. And then what happens is that it doesn't work and they've lost all that time.

And if your career center offers classes to help you brush up on your skills, that doesn't mean it's worthwhile. Don't spend your time in a class that isn't teaching you anything if you know that there are more productive ways you can teach yourself things. The internet is actually a very good, incredibly under-rated way to educate yourself on an incredibly wide variety of topics (including the job search itself). I've seen Ivy-league university class lectures on some fascinating topics. I've seen "how-to" videos on YouTube. There are papers and articles and blogs and videos of all kinds, and it's all free.

I'm sure there are some outstanding career counseling services somewhere. But if you use one of these services, please be judgmental about what you're getting. Do your own research about what you need in a resume to represent you strongly in a job search. Be logical about who it is that you should be talking to about getting hired. It's the decision maker, the hiring manager, that you should be spending time contacting... they're the ones who can say "yes, you're hired," so it makes sense that you should be aggressive and go talk to them, right?

Peggy McKee is a career coach and the CEO of Career Confidential, a website dedicated to helping job seekers find a job fast. See the website here => http://careerconfidential.com/blog/

Find links to 25 fast job search tips in the entire Fastest Way to Find a Job Series here => http://careerconfidential.com/fastest-way-find-a-job-series/

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Tips on Crafting a Resume Cover Letter That Will Attract the Hiring Manager

Tips on Crafting a Resume Cover Letter That Will Attract the Hiring Manager
By Adekunle Ibrahim Agbaje

Do you lack the requisite knowledge required in crafting a resume cover letter that will attract a hiring manager? Is your resume cover letter appealing enough to get you invited for interview by recruiters once it is submitted? We in human resource practice especially talent hunters have always known that getting selected for interview is by no means easy. Studies have shown that ninety-five percent of letters attached to resumes are usually ignored by recruiters.

This is because they are not appealing. We have however discovered that attaching an appealing letter to your resume will increase your chance of being selected for an interview. We have also found out that a job seeker can use such a letter to make a compelling case for himself different from what is included in the curriculum vitae. We have also discovered if such a letter is well written and individualized to specific job openings, it should open doors even where your CV could not. The objective in this article is therefore to expose the secrets behind crafting a compelling letter that will always appeal the talent acquisition expert.

What is a resume cover letter?

Some people see the resume cover letter as that letter which is attached to the resume when being submitted by the job seeker to the hiring manager for a job on offer. It could also be seen as a letter of introduction to an employer which is used to submit the curriculum vitae for review by those engaged to shortlist for selection by the employer. Consequently, it is supposed to provide detailed information on why you as a job searcher are qualified for the job you are applying for. An effective letter should explain the reasons for your interest as a job hunter in a particular organization and specific skills you possess which is related to the job on offer. Like the resume itself it is a marketing tool or a sales copy to promote you the job seeker. However, it presents you the opportunity to quickly introduce yourself and grab the attention of the hiring manager and arrest his interest so that he will be forced to go through your resume. They are therefore sent or uploaded along with the curriculum vitae when applying for jobs.

How to structure your resume cover letter

The first tip in the crafting of an attractive resume cover letter that will attract the hiring manager is in the structuring. That is the way the letter should be written. There are certain steps to be followed without which it will not be appealing.

1. The resume cover letter must be crafted in such a way that it would be tailored to meet the specifications of the job being applied for. Therefore avoid sending the same type of cover letter when applying for different jobs.


2. It should not give the employer the same kind of information as you have in your CV. It should be tailored to meet the need of the employer.


3. It should be concise, free of grammatical errors and mistakes. It should not be more than a page.

Information to include in a resume cover letter

The information to include is another vital tip in the crafting of a resume cover letter that will attract the hiring manager. The information should not be different from what is requested in the job advert. You should therefore give back to the hiring manager what he has requested. The information should include:

1. What appealed to you about the job on offer and why you prefer the job to others?


2. Giving of honest assessment about your qualities and abilities.


3. Seizing the opportunity to mention other qualities you possess which you have not mentioned in your resume.


4. Mentioning why you should be considered for the position on offer even if you are not a perfect match for it and why you want to work for the organization.


5. Touch briefly on your experience and leaving the meaty part for your CV.

From the foregoing the challenge that could be experienced in crafting a resume cover letter that will attract the hiring manager must have been taken care of. Without any knowledge about the structuring and the necessary information to be included, writing such a letter becomes a problem. Consequently, arresting the attention of the recruiter and reading of your CV becomes impossible. If that should happen making a compelling case for your being shortlisted for interview becomes impossible.

Most job seekers make the mistake of writing unappealing resume cover letters, forgetting that to arrest the attention of most employers and get them to read your resume and consequently get shortlisted for interview, you must Craft a resume cover letter that will attract the hiring manager.

Having been engaged in talent acquisition for over twenty years I have come to know the benefits of writing appealing resume cover letters and why you need to craft one. Do you want to learn how to write a cover letter that will attract the hiring manager? You should therefore endeavor to visit my site: http://visionoppservices.com/allaboutjobs to learn how.

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Fastest Way to Find a Job - Tip 21 Career Coaching

Fastest Way to Find a Job - Tip 21 Career Coaching By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Peggy_McKee]Peggy McKee Career Coaching If you're in the job search, you have certainly heard advice about job boards, networking, or even temporary work. But have you ever considered a career coach as a path to a new job? When I say "Career Coach," I do not mean the kind of life coach who helps you decide what you should do with your life. Don't get me wrong, they have their place, but what I'm talking about is a coach who helps you with your career: finding and getting a job that will help you further your career goals. This one is near and dear to my heart, because I am a career coach. In my career coaching role, I help people on an individual basis knock down the barriers that are holding them back. These barriers could be anything from negative internal voices that cause them to not step out and do the things that they should; to resumes they think are good because they were professionally written but don't actually sell them as a candidate; to people who don't know how to sell themselves in the interview and only need coaching on how to answer interview questions (practice and role-playing interview questions is incredibly helpful). That's the kind of career coaching I do. That's mostly what I do, although I do have a few people calling me to talk about what they want to do when they grow up. Maybe you need a career coach to talk to you about what career field you should be in. If they know a lot about that field, they are an incredible resource for you. To me, that's more valuable than a personality test (although I do think personality assessments are valuable) because that's first-hand knowledge that you can tap into and see if you think it would fit you or not. I have a lot of people who want to talk to me about transitioning into medical sales because I have such a strong background there. A lot of people I just shepherd into the role they want, but one man spent time with me talking and learning about medical sales and eventually got enough information that told him that career was not for him. That time he spent with me as a career coach saved him hours and hours of effort and a large amount of money that he would have spent on getting himself ready for that career. It helped him clarify. When you are choosing a career coach, make sure the person you're listening to has real experience. Either someone in your direct industry with experience there, or a recruiter who understands what hiring managers are looking for and can show you how to sell yourself for the job. Your coach should be an expert you can learn from and grow with. Peggy McKee is a career coach and the CEO of Career Confidential, a website dedicated to helping job seekers find a job fast. See the website here => http://careerconfidential.com/blog/ Find links to 25 fast job search tips in the entire Fastest Way to Find a Job Series here => http://careerconfidential.com/fastest-way-find-a-job-series/ Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Fastest-Way-to-Find-a-Job---Tip-21-Career-Coaching&id=7352710] Fastest Way to Find a Job - Tip 21 Career Coaching

Finding a Job Using LinkedIn Is an Option

Finding a Job Using LinkedIn Is an Option
By Todd B Bavol

LinkedIn is a professional social media website. It can also help you when it comes to finding a job. Though it is not, in any way, the place to go to find job ads, it is a place to go to learn about other people, do some job networking and to grow your profile so that anyone that actually wants to interview with you can see exactly who you are and what you have to offer to them. LinkedIn is a free site with some great opportunities, but to make it work for you, you need to know how to use it effectively.

Did You Know Keywords Matter?

When it comes to finding a job using a site like this, you may think all you need to do is to fill out your profile and just wait for the job offers to come in. That's not the way this social media site works, though. Rather, what you need to do is to connect and network with others. To do this, you need to use keywords.

Keywords are the type of words people type into search engines to find things. The same is true on LinkedIn. When finding a job, you may type in the names of companies, for example, in the industry. A hiring manager, on the other hand, is likely to type in specific job skills, qualifications and other descriptive words of people who meet their needs.

Networking Is Essential

Like any other social media site, you will need to work on using this site for job networking. That means that you will need to have a complete profile. You'll need to use links back to your blog or website to showcase your work. You can use various job apps to help you to track down opportunities. Most importantly, you need to make connections with people in the industry who want to work with you and who may be able to help you in your search.

Finding a job on a site like this takes time. However, if you use the site to create a profile for yourself, do some job networking there, and work to build up your profile and connections, you could find the type of career you have been waiting for. The site is free to use, but it is also one of the largest and most powerful social media tools for professionals today. Use it as a way to make connections and impress those who you do interview with. The fact is, they will go to the site to check you out even after an interview.

Todd Bavol is the President and CEO of Integrity Staffing Solutions. Integrity Staffing Solutions is a national staffing firm assisting individuals and corporations in making the right employment fit. To view job openings in Warehouse, Professional and Administrative positions, visit the Integrity Staffing Solutions web site at http://www.integritystaffing.com.

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