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.

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/

Mark Doherty asked:


At System Recruitment we have a highly qualified and motivated staff of recruitment experts who can help you find the jobs you want in many fields. This includes such areas as IT jobs, SQL jobs, Sales jobs, and Programming Jobs. We can also locate Engineering jobs such as those of Corrosion Engineer and Environmental Engineer. We are a United Kingdom based firm located in Birmingham and we have been in the recruitment business since 2000. As a result we have established a top reputation with many companies throughout the UK.

This puts us in the position of being able to help you, the job seeker, find IT Jobs, Sales jobs, Programming Jobs, Engineering Jobs, or any other of a variety of jobs you may be looking for. We have job candidates come to us who are seeking entry level positions or a new job to enhance an existing career. We also assist people who have the qualifications to make a career change. We are experts at locating full time jobs, part time jobs, and contract jobs. The jobs we look for tend to provide lucrative compensation packages and good job security.

It is easy to put us to work on your behalf. You can quickly and easily register your CV with us right on our website. One of our recruitment experts will then discuss such matters with you as your current job, your qualifications and the specific requirements you are looking for in IT jobs or other openings. Our recruitment specialists will work with you every step of the way to find the job opportunities that fit your needs and you will always know immediately when we find openings that we think meet your criteria. Unlike some companies, our staff at System Recruitment will not keep you in the dark. You will make the final decision about where you want to submit your CV.

In order to be successful for its clients a good recruitment firm must have the resources and technology to constantly monitor the job markets and know when and where the openings for Engineering jobs and other positions are occurring. Our experienced staff members are experts at keeping their fingers on the pulse of the job markets and many firms in the UK rely on us to fill their open positions.

There are good Sales jobs, Programming jobs, Engineering jobs, and IT jobs opening up in the United Kingdom all of the time. However, you may have a tough time finding the one that fits your needs if you do a job search on your own. That is why you should let us at System Recruitment do all of the hard work for you. You do not have to take just any job or stay in a current position that you find unrewarding. You deserve the right job in the career of your choice.

Let us begin helping you today by giving us a call 0121 616 5066 and discussing your needs with one of our friendly staff members. It could be the most important call you ever make.

IC asked:


If you have been looking for a job on websites which are known to provide good references between employers and employees then you have definitively seen some job positions which sound more like advertisements, they often promise compensation which is hard to believe and have no direct phone contact, instead they redirect you to a sign up page or to a sales page which is 14 miles long.

The reason you see these “fake jobs” at job hunting sites is because they work very well with the prospects who visit these sites who are genuinely interested in a good career opportunity. Recently there has been an increase in “business opportunities” at these sites which promise to make you this much money in almost no time. This is often a red flag which should tell you this particular “job” is not real and you should stay away from it.’

I had a recent experience with a friend who told me there was a great business opportunity at a job oriented website which involved making money with rebates. My friend was really excited about the idea because the website which had a huge sales letter promised people they would make a six figure income within their first year, and when you are looking for a job such flashy claims can turn things in your head upside down. The fact is that the idea is legit, but the website wanted to charge people about $200 dollars for extra advice in order to receive specific information about the business/career.

On top of that, it also had an SSL (hot linked) logo which indicated the site was secure and a 100% money back guarantee. There is a problem with all of these claims which are placed on such sites to claim they are legitimate businesses, when it comes to money back guarantees you need to make sure you can get a hold of the people you are dealing with, this site had no contact information other than an email address which is also a red flag.

Real jobs do not charge you an up front fee in order to disclose information which will help you perform your duties, nor real businesses. If you are in between jobs and are seriously considering starting your own business then it is imperative that you do a complete research about the business you are trying to start, make a good business plan and don’t let other people fool you with false promises and guarantees. Good working businesses are not sold cheap, so it is obvious that if someone knows of a business which makes them money they will not want to create competition for their own which is another indication that the business idea you are being sold on doesn’t work or may not be legitimate.

Jonathon Hardcastle asked:


We are known for what we do rather than what we are. This is an unfortunate reality but one has to accept it. Getting a job is not that simple, but before that the most important thing is knowing what sort of job you are capable of doing and want to do.

First up, consider and revise the goals you have set for yourself. If you don’t have any then make some. Be sure about what you want to achieve and only then can you pursue it. When considering what type of job you want, think about your weaknesses and strengths and then look for a job that suits you best.

The next step is to make a list of all the companies/organizations that you want to apply to. Having done that, it is time to write and send them your resume. Writing an impressive and honest resume is important. Leave out any information you feel would give them a wrong impression if that is possible and focus on highlighting your achievements and positive aspects of your academic and extra curricular activities.

Do some research on these companies and find out on what basis they tend to hire their employees. Find someone recently employed if possible and inquire about the type of questions they can possibly ask. Prepare yourself for the interview and be confident. If your academic results are not good enough, show them that they do not reflect what you are capable of. Companies usually tend to employ people who are confident, show good management skills and are acute learners, rather than based on their academic records.

When you appear for your interview, keep in mind you are about to become a professional, so start acting like one. Dress properly in a business suit and stay upright. Show them you are confident and that you were made for this job. While expressing your point of view on some question they might ask, hold back your biases for a while and make them hear what they want to hear. If you are asked about your future plans and goals, be realistic when you answer.

The amount of competition in this world keeps growing and getting a job becomes more and more challenging. You might fail in your first few interviews but eventually you will find a good job that suits you. Keep trying, because giving up or accepting defeat will be the beginning of a troublesome and worthless life.

Tony Jacowski asked:


In order to conduct an effective job search, you have to know what you are looking for, why you are looking and how to go about it. There are a few common myths and misconceptions to be aware of so your job hunt stays on the right path.

-After college, jobs come easily: You should never expect that you will get job offers immediately after you graduate. It will take time for you to find a good job. The fact is that some people will be lucky while others will have to wait longer. You need to have patience - on average, finding a suitable job takes 3-4 months. Don’t waste your time simply waiting. Until you find a good job, try working in a smaller one, at least part-time. It may not pay you as much, but it will at least keep you occupied.

-Putting your resume on the Internet means more offers: This is not always true. Think about what recruiters must be going through. They get more than a hundred resumes everyday, and it is definitely not possible for them to consider each and every one of them. The best advice here is to personalize your resume to meet the requirements of each job that you apply to.

-Classified ads make up the majority of job openings: Agreed - ads in the newspapers and on the Internet do make up a good deal of job openings, but not all of them. The jobs that offer a big position and a huge salary are usually not advertised everywhere. This calls for some savvy networking. Try to approach companies even if there is no opening advertised, and don’t forget to leave your resume with them. If there is an opening, be being proactive, you may receive a call for an interview.

-Job-hopping is bad: This is a very popular misconception that everyone seems to believe. Though this used to be a fact some years ago, but now the mindset of the average employer has changed. Changing jobs frequently was once viewed as instability in character. But now it is okay to change your job after a year, as this now indicates your ambition to learn and advance in your career.

-If you’re over 50, it’s over: This issue can never pose as a problem as long as you have the proper education, relevant experience and the right attitude. Having the right attitude means being open to new ideas, team spirit and contributing to the company.

Virginia Bola asked:


Looking for a job involves a wide range of responsibilities: preparing a resume, looking at ads, contacting employers, calling and visiting friends and acquaintances, follow ups, interviews. While none of us ever plan to be out of work for very long, it can be very useful to immediately start documenting your activities and your feelings to provide a road map of where you have been and where you want to go. It helps to have a central location for recording your daily actions so you don’t miss anything important or forget a critical deadline. It is also reassuring to have somewhere to go when you’re feeling blue and too lethargic to go anywhere or do anything you consider “productive.”

Start a job search diary right now. Even if you have been unemployed for some time, start one anyway because a late start is better than never doing it at all.

Take a plain old exercise book and title it: Job Search Diary. Find a spot to keep it where it will always be close at hand when you need it, probably several times a day.

If you are newly jobless, start out by recording your feelings. Writing out (keep it simple, it’s not the great American novel) what you are thinking, in black and white sentences, helps to sort out your jumbled emotions, clear your mind, and reach a better understanding of your inner self. Jot down your anger, your fears, what you expect, what you secretly dread. Pouring out your soul will release a lot of the inner tension you’re feeling and soothe your nerves.

This record is for you - no one else will ever see it - so you can be brutally honest. If you fear you are a loser who will never amount to anything, write it out. If you think you’re really a good, competent worker but your old boss was a jerk or the company sucked, put it down.

If you have been out of work for a while, make your initial entries a recap of what has been happening in your life since you lost your job. Trace the sequence of events and see if you can remember how you felt at different times. There were probably times when you were overwhelmed and stressed out: record when you felt that way and, if you can recall, what activities you were engaged in when those feelings appeared. There were also probably times when you felt hopeful or elated. Record that too and what events were connected with such emotions.

Use your diary as a place to plan what you want to do. List all activities that you are going to perform that will get you back to work. You might initially plan on updating your resume and reading the classifieds to gauge the state of the labor market. If you are further along in the job search, you might list some networking targets or identify some employers where follow up on earlier contacts might be beneficial. Frequently, throughout the day, record what you did, who you talked to, how you felt.

This is going to become your Special Place where you have a record of your journey from the badlands of unemployment to the green fields of regular work. Visit it often to keep updating your plans, record your smallest successes and failures, and unload your emotional baggage.

When you can’t bear the thought of one more telephone call leading to one more rejection; when you can’t find the energy to get dressed up to visit an agency or cold-call an employer; when you can’t stand the sight of another misleading ad or internet job site; then reach for the comfort of your journal. Read over what you have written and see the changing moods of your long pilgrimage. See if you can identify a pattern. What were you doing when you felt despondent and alone? What were you doing when you felt upbeat and positive about the future? Concentrate on your own specific actions, not merely your reaction to outside events. If you can find a thread relating what you do to how you feel, you have found a valuable key for managing your hunt for work. You now know what to do to feel pretty good and what not to do to avoid a recurrence of despair.

Maintain your diary throughout your job search and it will become an increasingly rich source of information about you and your inner self. It will challenge you to get active and it will comfort you when you just want to curl up into a ball and turn your back on life.

When your final exultant entry is made - I got a job! - find a quiet time to completely read through all the entries to give yourself a full appreciation of how far you have come and how hard you have worked for your eventual success. Give yourself a mental pat on the back for hanging in there and never accepting defeat.

Then close it up and lock it away in a safe place. If you ever find yourself jobless again (and it happens to many of us over and over), take it out. Reread it for the insights you will gain, and the mistakes you’ll be able to avoid, in your next (probably shorter) job search campaign.