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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