innit_x asked:


I’m 15 and looking for my first job. I’m in the process of writing a resume. Who are acceptable references? I’m fairly new to the area so the only people I can think of are all teachers…

Thank you all for any advice, I really appreciate it!

Human asked:


Just arrived to Australia (Brisbane), don’t know anybody here, looking for a job in Audit or Accounting, any good advice ?

Jay Stanley asked:


Given the fact that there are multiple applicants for any opening and H.R professionals spend less than a few seconds in scanning a resume before either accepting it or consigning it to the waste bin, the importance of a good resume cannot be overstated. A well written resume is the proverbial foot in the door that can lead to greater opportunities, and in the case of a job seeker, that translates to an interview, and if all goes well, the job.

A resume is a dynamic entity that changes with the professional growth and learning of an individual. It is meant to be a brief yet informative statement of purpose and capabilities of a professional. Professionals should regularly spend some time in taking stock of their professional achievements and new skills acquired. This helps them to obtain an awareness of their position in the job market and update their resume so that if a good job opportunity comes their way, they are ready to make the most of it. Since a person with the most current knowledge and related experience is always in demand, an updated resume that is in sync with the skill-set of the professional will stand out among the other resumes. An updated resume also serves to remind professionals of their own accomplishments such that they can elaborate on them just by taking a glance at the resume. This is of immense help while facing an interview board.

Sometimes, job hunting can yield great results if professionals try to extend themselves to streams of work that they have not previously considered as career options. Upon making a rational assessment of the qualifications that they have earned and the skills they have acquired, many professionals find that they can in fact apply for more than just the obvious jobs. A switch in job responsibilities within an industry or a move to another industry is often achievable with excellent consequences for the professional both in terms of remuneration and work satisfaction.

It is always advisable to post a resume on as many online job sites as possible. This exposes the resume to a very wide audience including both employers and recruiters. Professionals do not necessarily have to post the same resume on all the sites; they can customize their resumes to meet the requirements of the job openings posted on different sites. Companies are often partial to particular job sites and visit them more regularly in search of prospective job candidates. It may also be a good idea to avail the services of resume distribution companies that can distribute an individual’s resume to several job sites as well as prospective employers.

The key to getting a good job is to have the right credentials and letting people know that you have the right credentials; this entails staying networked and if it implies taking help from friends and family for submitting one’s resume for an opening, professionals should not shy away from it. Often, resumes floated around by acquaintances can lead to an interview call. Job seekers should not ignore this effective medium of distributing their resumes and gaining information on exciting job opportunities.

Paul Megan asked:


If you’re a recent grad . . . or you’re getting ready to hit the job hunting marketplace . . . you better know and understand the rules. Practicing them will dramatically upgrade your response rate. Ignore them and you lose!

There’s a lot been written about how to prepare a job hunting resume and how to conduct an interview. Refer to the website mentioned at the end of this article for tons of free information on these important issues. However, before you even get to the resume . . . and before you prepare for your first interview . . . there are some basic rules that can be overlooked to your peril.

1. Make sure your voicemail greeting sounds professional. It’s a major turnoff to employers trying to reach you to encounter some sophomoric announcement that you think is cute.

2. Likewise, don’t use an email address that you think is so clever. It’s probably not the first impression you want to leave with an employer trying to reach you. For the purposes of your job hunting, set up something simple like your first and last names.

3. On the subject of emails, make sure you carefully proofread. Not shortcuts or symbols you might use with close friends. Instead use the same rules of punctuation and grammar you’d use if you were writing a letter.

4. Make sure your cell phone is turned off before you go into an interview. Nothing interrupts the flow of a good interview than your cute ringtone!

5. Dress conservatively. Match your dress to the expectations of the organization you’re talking to. In any case, no jeans, t-shirts, low necklines or sandals–even if you’re talking to some hip dot.com company.

6. Be sure to send a carefully crafted thank you letter. In it you should summarize the particular strengths and capabilities you can bring to the table.

Look, heading into the job hunting marketplace when you’re new to it is never easy. And there are many other important rules to master. Fortunately there’s a fast and easy alternative job search system that can have you talking to your next boss in a matter of days. In the meantime these basic rules can help you launch your job campaign correctly.

Matthew Lesko asked:


Rockville, MD (July 4, 2005) - Two-thirds of Americans indicated in a recent national survey that they believe the government has financial programs they would be eligible for but don’t know enough about them to apply - primarily because the government is not doing a sufficient enough job of letting Americans know. The survey was conducted by the University of Connecticut, Center for Survey Research and Analysis. These recent survey results reveal that many Americans think the government is doing a poor job of letting people know about government financial assistance programs. Of the 1,000 people surveyed, nearly half (48%) earning more than $75,000 annually, believe they are eligible for money they don’t know about. A significant majority of both Democrats (73%) and Republications (60%) believe there is money available they are unaware of. And more people under the age of 44 (72%) than over the age of 60 (56%) believe there is unknown money due to them. “During these tight economic times when families are watching each and every penny they earn and spend, it is crucial for Americans to know what monies are available to them,” says Matthew Lesko, New York Times Best Selling author and consumer advocate who works to educate Americans about free government money. “It is imperative for all Americans to know what they have access to.” Do You Think You Are Eligible For Gov’t Financial Programs But Don’t Know How To Get Them?* ……………………..Yes …………………………………….. 65% ……………………..No ……………………………………… 27% ……………………..Don’t Know …………………………7%

* U of Connecticut Survey

Recent studies by the government itself and other research organizations show that over 50 million consumers don’t know to take advantage of programs that they are legally entitled to including: 4 million senior citizens can receive up to $1,000 from Medicare but they don’t apply because they are unaware of the program (http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d04363.pdf) 6 million families are missing out on free health insurance for their kids (http://www.kff.org/medicaid/loader.cfm?url=/commonspot/security/ getfile.cfm&PageID=28333) 10 million families can get up to $4,000 a year for groceries but don’t apply (http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d04346.pdf) 8 million college students can receive grants and low interest loans but don’t apply (http://www.acenet.edu/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Press_Releases_200 4&TEMPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&CONTENTID=3245) Single moms can receive some of the $673 million in collected unclaimed child support payments (http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d04377high.pdf) 29 million senior citizens don’t know they can get colonoscopies, bone mass measurement, prostate cancer and glaucoma tests paid for by Medicare (http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d03958.pdf) According to the United States Government budget data for 2005*, the government gives out over $1.5 Trillion a year in money programs to individual taxpayers, and only 12% of this money goes to the poor**. This is an average of over $11,000 for every U.S. taxpayer. And this figure continues to grow every year no matter who is in the White House. To learn more about this survey or how to access resources for government money, please call Matthew Lesko 301-929-8400 or visit www.lesko.com/survey.

extra m asked:


Monster.com never really worked out for me. I used my universities links for when i was in CA. but im moving somewhere else now, and am not sure how to go about finding work. I have a college degree, have 3 years work experience..it ***** having to start from scratch. i really **** the job hunt more than the job itself most of the time.

Judy asked:


I’m a college student looking for a full-time job to pay for my bills and tuition. I’ve been applying everywhere using hotjobs, craigslist, and even applying in person. I’ve never waitressed, and I’m really not into retaill; I want a job that’ll look good on my resume.

So far I’m having little success. I’ve gotten a few interviews, but no job offers. I got an interview as a bank teller, but the position was too far to commute so the Bank Recruiter claims she’s looking for a closer position for me. I’ll believe it when I see it. I’m just getting very discouraged.

Should I just go to a temp agency and hope for the best? I’m not low on cash right now, but I will be unless I can find a job in the next month or so? Maybe my standards are too high…

Job hunting *****.

Lee Dobbins asked:


Graduation should be a time for rejoicing because a person has finally got the degree he has aspired and worked hard for several years. However, the lack of employment opportunities has made graduation a moment of truth. Graduation is in fact the start of a person’s quest for the best job he can find considering his educational attainment, talent and work experience.

A person who wants to find a good job should not just sit around and be complacent just because he already has a degree. Unless a person is a computer genius, employers will never knock on his door and bend down on his knees to hire him for a job.

Job hunting is an art and a person should use all the strategies he can muster to develop very good job hunting skills. Job hunting should not really be a hit and miss effort but it should be a skill that has to be developed.

A person on a job hunting mission should arm himself with a very good resume. New graduates do not have much work experience to build their resumes on but they can be creative and make their resumes effective and attention catching. The resume is one of the most important tools a person should have when on a job hunt.

Employers do not have all the time in the world to read novel-like resumes to make sure it is really just a preview of what you have to offer to the employer. The specifics can be discussed later on during the interview phase. However, an applicant will be scheduled for an interview if his resume is impressive enough for the employer.

Never submit a resume without a cover letter because it is some sort of an introduction to your resume. A cover letter is like a teaser and employers sometimes make a decision to interview an applicant just on the basis of his cover letter.

It is always advisable to do some research on the type of company a person is applying for. Research on the people behind the company; the history of the company and even the people working for the company. This can help any applicant especially during the interview and in determining his chances of being hired and of advancement in the company once hired.

Look out for career or job fairs because employers usually flock to these job fairs. In the same manner, job applicants also flock to these job fairs so make sure you come well prepared with several copies of your resumes and cover letter. Bring extra envelopes for your resumes and replace them when they get soiled. Making an impressive first impression can do a lot for your career.

Job fairs are usually held in universities especially when graduation time is near. These fairs are also held in malls or other public areas that are accessible to a greater number of people. Look out for announcements of job fairs on the radio, televisions and even posters in the park.

It is always wise to network. Keep in touch with family friends, with past classmates and with other contacts who may present you a job opportunity. People in your network may know of a job vacancy which fist your qualifications and getting in touch with them and letting them know that you are looking for work will remind them to call you up when an opportunity for such need presents itself.

Always read the papers because job vacancies are usually advertised on newspapers. In fact, make it a habit to check the papers everyday because there are plenty of job opportunities not just in the advertisement of classified ads section but also in the news reports.

A solicited job application is fine but there is no rule in submitting unsolicited job applications. Send your resumes to several companies in your areas of interest even though they have not advertised a vacancy. Some companies do not advertise their vacancies. Submitting a resume even if unsolicited can give the applicant an advantage over the others who will still wait for an advertisement.

There are a thousand and one ways to get a job but a person really has to be creative and industrious to land the best job the soonest possible time. SO go out, network with friends and associates, join job fairs and make sure you submit the best resume!

Jennifer Geary asked:


Sitting in the waiting room, your hands are cold and clammy. You have an interview with the executive board and are so nervous you feel like last night’s supper has a date with your tongue. In the midst of this, your stomach is growling from not eating anything for fear of rejection and you have already relieved yourself in the waiting room bathroom four times in the last 10 minutes. These horrible feelings, of course, could not be possible if you hadn’t had a professional, informative, and structured resume.

Many options are available today for creating, printing/viewing, and submitting a resume. After everything is said and done, the most important part of a resume is the impression it makes on a potential employer. A bad impression makes a lasting one. Treat your resume as though it were the only contact an employer would have with you and it is the deciding factor in obtaining an interview and a job.

The internet, your local library, and career centers are great locations to obtain free advice and information for building your resume. Professional services are also available for creating your resumes. No matter which path you decide, you will need the basic information outlined in this article.

To start, make a list of every job you EVER had. The reason for this is that you will create a handful of resumes to fit the type of position you are applying for. If you keep one list, you can always copy and paste the information into your resume template which we will discuss further down. Make a list of the following items: Name, address, and phone number of employer, name of supervisor, dates worked (try to get it down to the month and year), starting pay, ending pay, position held, and duties performed. This will give you a guide to use when creating your resume and filling out applications.

Example Job History Entry:

Name of Company1234 Smith Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45241, 555-555-1234John Jones, $8/hrPosition Held – Description of duties.

Once you create your list, you are ready to build your resume. Your research sources will also have some example templates for you to use. The basic sections of your resume should include:

1st - your name, address and contact information at the top

2nd - Employment Objective. This is optional. If you are applying for an executive or management position, it is good to have an objective. This lets employers know what type of position you are looking for and how they can fulfill your needs for a position. This section should include no more than two short sentences and should never replace a cover letter.

3rd - Work Experience. Copy and paste from your work history into the body of your resume. Remember, you don’t need to copy all of it, only the jobs that pertain to the position you are applying for. Try to get the most recent positions listed. If there are gaps, you can discuss them in your interview.

4th - Education. ESPECIALLY list this if the position you are applying for requires a certain degree and you have it. If you have no college, at least list your high school status and any certifications if you have them. If you are directly out of high school, emphasize any activities you participated in while in high school. The more activities you are involved in, the greater your chance of being hired quickly.

5th - Interests and Activities. List these if you volunteer in the community, have hobbies or are members of clubs which pertain to the position you are applying. It doesn’t do me any good to tell my employer I like to sew when I’m applying for a Web Designer position. If there is nothing to list here, don’t put this section in.

If your resume won’t fill one page, list two or three references to take up the extra space. If your resume is too long, don’t list your references and change the margins, font, design, etc. to make your resume fit one page. It is very important that your resume not be more than two pages and takes up at least one page.

Things to do:

Proofread, proofread, and proofread!!! There is nothing like the feeling of handing out a resume when your name is spelled wrong!!

Pass your resume out to friends and especially your references to proofread. Sometimes other people can see things you need to change or have ideas about things you need to add or take out. Give it to your teachers, family, and co-workers or anyone who is willing to look at it. You should also be familiar with your spell-check on your computer and use it.

Use action words in your duties performed section such as: accomplished, analyzed, applied, awarded, budgeted, built, centralized, communicated, completed, contributed, coordinated, created, and decided.

When submitting your resume through an online service, be sure the format is easy to read for the recipient. When sending your resume through e-mail, ensure the recipient has the ability to view it. Do not copy and paste into your e-mail body as it makes it very difficult to print. When printing your resume, make sure it is on 81/2 by 11 inch paper. Do not use colored paper, use good quality white paper. Clean copies are essential.

Use the same font and font size throughout the resume. You might want to bold your headings, but be sure it is clean and easy to read.

Keep your resume up-to-date. An easy way to do this is to keep your list of employers up to date and all you will have to do is copy and paste again when you are ready to use your resume.

Mistakes to Avoid:

Do not use brightly colored paperDo not date your resume Do not crowd your words together and cause your resume to look busy and visually unappealing Try to keep your resume to one page. If you make your resume longer, you lessen the likelihood of it being read. An employer has likely advertised widely and may have to scan dozens of resumes - added length may mean they won’t read yours. Do not use abbreviations that are not in common use.Do not list your salary requirements. If an employer requests them, they should be listed in your cover letter.Do not attach classified advertisements. Do not attach a picture.If there are changes since you last reworked your resume, do not hand write the additional information; re-do it!Do not print your resume with a poor printer or an unusual typeface; both make it harder for an employer to read.Ensure your resume is formatted correctly when submitting an electronic copy.

There are so many different styles of resumes you can create, so personalize your own. Remember; make it simple and easy to read, but eye catching too. The internet and local newspapers are great sources for job hunting. Being confident in your abilities will back up your written accomplishments. Happy hunting!

Visit THE one site for searching thousands of job boards, newspapers, classifieds, and company websites here.

http://www.allwantedjobs.com/

Ryan I asked:


Recently my circimstances in life have changed drastically and have forced me to move out of my parent’s house and find a job and somewhere to live. I am a high school graduate who, until recently, went to a local college to get a Bachelor’s in Accounting. I do not have a degree yet because I can’t get funding to resume my collegiate studies (I have already been to the financial aide office and although I can raise some of the tuition money, I can’t raise it all without a cosigner for a student loan). My family is not helping nor speaking to me due to circumstances beyond my control. I need to find a job that can support me for the means to live on my own. Restaurants do not pay enough for rent, etc. I am 20, articulate, attractive, and professional and have strong aptitudes in Mathematics and Science. Any suggestions of a job I can obtain to make ends meet until I get my life back in focus? I need your advice.