dkingsland967 asked:


I’m relocating to DC and I’m having a whale of a time finding a job. I’ve applied to around 50 jobs in the past 3 months and have had only one contact. It’s really odd too, because some people I know in the area tell me the market is great, but others say it’s bad. I also understand that hiring freezes are common there right now. I have a BA degree and basically 2 years of professional experience.

Anyway, I just want to see if anyone on here in the DC area could offer some advice. I’ve mostly been searching through University websites looking for jobs (my most recent experience is in college admissions). I’ve also used the Washington Post job listings and craigslist, and some company websites.

Note: I WILL NOT use Monster or CareerBuilder. I listed my resume on these two websites a year and a half ago during another job search and I still to this day get identity theft/pyramid scheme/multi-level marketing scam emails all the time.

Thanks so much for any help!

icanplaygood2 asked:


I just recently had to add my husband (who recently lost his job and coverage) and my newborn baby to my insurance plan at work. I now have 200 dollars cut out of my check every 2 weeks when I get paid. I have a $30,000 yr salary that was substantial at first but now I don’t know. I only have a BS degree. I have been working in this field for 4+ yrs. I’m too exhausted to job hunt. I wouldn’t be able to work a second job because of baby and exhaustion. My main point is a good job is too hard to come by but what are you all’s views? Should I start looking for something else or just wait on a potential raise at the end of the year? Do you really think my salary *****? My workplace is really laid back and settle. I’m a case manager for elderly and disabled ppl. I know most of you are going to say make more money to live lavishly but I just want enough money to pay my bills, etc have not live a fantasy life. It would be kinda nice but I’m not the kind of person to die for fortune or fame.
Ins through BCBS. By they way, I really don’t think I’ll be able to make anything much more than 35,000 in any other job wiht my education and skills.

Rachelle asked:


I think i owe student loans, but i’m not sure because i’m still in school but it comes up on my credit. I do owe bank statements and my cell phone statements that i couldn’t been able to pay because no one hires me. Does credit have anything to do with why you don’t get hired? SOMEONE TELL ME PLEASE. Because job hunting has just became so hard for me!

camclk2004 asked:


Ive been sending resumes everywhere i really need some help.

PAUL BOWLEY asked:


Look. Seeking a good job is never easy. And don’t let anyone tell you it’s piece of cake!

All the same, some folks will tell you all you have to do is write a terrific resume. Then post it on some job sites like Monster or HotJobs. Or mail or email it to some companies or agencies. Maybe answer a few want ads. Sounds pretty automatic, doesn’t it?

Of course, the only thing left for you to do, they tell you, is to sit back and wait for some responses. And, if you’re like most eager folks seeking a good job, you’ll probably get some responses. For example, you’ll get some TNT (thanks but no thanks) messages. You’ll get a couple questionnaires and applications requesting additional information.

You may even get a call or two from a HR staffer who is doing a survey. They usually ask what your salary requirements are because they’re really trying to compare what they’re paying with the going rate. And, if you’re very lucky you may even be invited in for a screening interview (along with potentially dozens of your competitors).

This type of seeking a good job is called “keeping your fingers crossed.” It may work for you eventually (usually after weeks and months of waiting). But, is this any way to lock up an exciting, high-paying job that meets your needs and expectations?

If you plan to be successfully seeking a good job in the 21st Century then you have to run your job search like a small business. So getting on the right career track or finding the very best job opportunity is largely a matter of MARKETING. That means you have to see yourself as the PRODUCT.

And your success as a marketer will be determined by how well you master the four P’s . . . the basic blueprint for all good marketing.

Here they are: Packaging, Positioning, Promotion and Pricing.

Each of these must be carefully worked out and strategized before you go into the job marketplace. They become the action plan for your campaign success. An employer is not going to buy your package unless you can offer features and benefits that are absolutely compelling.

Of course, the flip side of this strategy is the realization that your next boss is the consumer of this package. That means you have to become your own best salesperson. You have to be prepared to communicate your strengths, capabilities and assets with compelling persuasiveness.

That means your resume has to take a powerful bio-action approach. But, more importantly, you have to go way beyond the “automatic” and easy approaches and develop a job search plan that will put you in charge of seeking a good job rather than passively waiting to see what happens. When you do, you’ll find that best of all jobs waiting for you!

Jim Johnson asked:


Moving is often regarded as one of the most stressful events in a persons life. And that may be true, but the process of house hunting need not be very stressful at all. If you approach house hunting in a logical and organized way, the process usually goes much smoother and easier. So here are some house hunting tips and ideas for you to consider.

The very first consideration to be made when you’re planning a move is the location or general area to which you’re going. Try to get to know as much as you possibly can about it in advance. If you either have a family or are planning one in the future, get to know the schools in the area and try to move into a school district that has a good reputation for education. Consider also how close and convenient your home would be to shopping centers, medical facilities and so on. And don’t forget about your job. How much time would it take for you to commute to your work from that location or area?

If you know someone in law enforcement, you can often find out a lot about the crime rate in a particular area by just asking them. Sometimes they can steer you away from certain parts of the area that tend to have more problems.

It’s also a good idea to just drive through the general area and get a good feel for the kind of houses that are available there. Quite often, you can tell a lot about the quality of the householders by just taking a good look at the condition of their homes and properties from the outside.

Now that you have a good idea of the location that you prefer, it’s time to start seriously thinking about what kind of home will work best for you. Here is where taking a little time to sit down and write out your needs and wants can help you focus in like a laser on the house that will fit you best. Make a list of all the important features including how many bedrooms you need, what size garage, how much square footage should be in the home, whether or not you will need a fenced in yard, and so on.

Before even starting to look for your dream home, now is the time to line up your financing arrangements. Shop around and find a lending institution that will give you your best mortgage deal. By getting pre-qualified for a home loan, you will be able to know exactly how much house you can afford, and will be in a better position to put in an offer when you find it.

Now it is time to actually get out and go find the home of your dreams. Expect that your house hunting adventure will take quite a bit of time, and don’t try to rush it or get impatient in the process. Here is where having a good real estate agent to represent you can be a big help. So ask around among your family and friends, and most likely you will get some good suggestions on reliable, trustworthy real estate agents that have good reputations.

As you arrange to visit various homes or open houses, another good idea is to take along with you a notepad and make careful notes about the important details of each home that you visit to help you recall the information later on. This is very important as you will no doubt visit quite a few homes in your house hunting endeavor, and they can get very confusing unless you have a way to keep it all straight.

By following this procedure, you can bring some organization and order to a process that can easily become very haphazard and difficult. But if you use the suggestions provided above, they can most likely help you find the home you want quickly and easily.

expertvillage asked:

Job hunting advice. Learn tips on how to find out if you spelling someone’s name correctly in this free self-editing lesson for writers and job seekers.

PAUL BOWLEY asked:


You’ve heard of “word of mouth,” right? If you’re job hunting, it’s another way of saying “job search networking.”

Advertisers know that word of mouth is one of the most powerful ways of getting a product known. Well, it applies to job hunting, as well. And, if you can see yourself as a product, then you can take advantage of the remarkable tool as part of your job search.

Unfortunately, most job seekers don’t use job search networking . . . or they misuse it. But, if you can master it, you can turn your time looking for a job into a matter of days instead of spending weeks or months pursuing old-fashioned job search methods.

So, whether you’re looking for a new job or making some other career change, the way you go about finding the majority of available jobs is to take advantage of “word of mouth.” That means you systematically employ the proven job search strategy called “job search networking.”

Very simply, it’s a vital tool for gathering information, talking to the right people and locking up an opportunity that’s right for you. Now, you can try to do that by distributing or posting your resume . . . and waiting for the phone to ring

Or you can discover how quickly you can make things happen by accessing other people, especially ones you already know I It’s really quite simple and straightforward. The only complication is your reluctance to look like you’re asking other folks for a job. But that’s a no-no in this application of job search networking.

For example, if you can put that notion of asking for a job aside and, instead, approach others for “advice,” you’ll be amazed at how helpful folks are willing to be to “advise” you.

Here are some tips to help you get the most out of job search networking:

1. Have your ducks in a row. Know precisely what you are looking for that’s consistent with your talents and capabilities. And practice representing yourself out loud before you approach anyone.

2. Never ask anyone for a job or to find you a job. Always ask for advice. It puts you and your contact at ease. And they will feel much more comfortable opening doors for you if they don’t feel under pressure, and you don’t appear as desperate.

3. Prepare a contact bank. This is list of people you know who would be pleased to offer advice. Or they can introduce you to someone who can be helpful.

4. Be an assertive listener. Your task here is to acquire as much information and insight as possible. And then, when appropriate, ask your contact to introduce you to other people who can advance your networking. Some of these introductions may mean direct access to a decision-maker who may have an opportunity for you.

Your job search blues can be quickly resolved when you master the skills of networking. When you do it right, you can dramatically move the odds in favor of locking up a good job in a matter of days!

Tina R asked:


I love my job. I’ve been there for over 3 years. Me my co-workers have fun working together, and we are considered to be a top-notch sales team. People outside our company say I am great to work with, and I do an exceptional job.

But the head of our department is at odds with me. When I first came here, people warned me he was a bad boss, but I decided to give him a chance. My good work earned a thank you card from him for a great sales presentation I made.

There have been blowups between him and others. In the past year, many from our dept. quit because of him. This summer, I found a Dilbert comic that reminded me of him. He found it, confronted me. I apologized it hasn’t happened since. But later, he kept bringing it up in meetings. Today, I just got an annual review, and mostly all he talked about was that comic, and I’m now untrustworthy non-conforming. But then, some of my co-workers got bad reviews from him today, too. We can’t ALL ****!

Time to job hunt?

Eric G asked:


I worked as a delivery driver for Pizza Hut for about 2 years. It was a great job. I drove around, listened to music, didn’t have to deal with people very much and made great money. However, it took it’s toll on my car so I can’t do that anymore. Anybody know of other driving jobs with many of the same perks for which I wouldn’t have to use my own vehicle?
Forget to mention that I’m currently attending college so I’m interested in something part-time.