Finding Work Directly By Skipping The Classifieds

Posted on July 9, 2010 by admin

Chances are that you have watched a movie or television show before, which involves one of the characters frantically searching for a job, poring through the classifieds everyday and following up on all those leads only to get nowhere. While you may have thought that this only happens in television shows and movies, the reality is that those shows are based on real life. Too often, jobseekers find themselves scrambling about, responding to one classifieds ad after another to no avail.

The key to finding a good job lies in knowing exactly what you want. You can hardly expect to find appropriate work opportunities if you have no inkling of what it is that you are looking for in a career. You need to take the time to decide what industry, position and department you would like to work in, and use this as the starting point for your job search. Knowing exactly what you want will also come through when you write your resume, and employers like job applicants who are sure about themselves and their chosen career path. Once you know what you want, you can begin your search in earnest.

Most people who scour the classifieds for job openings are usually people who have no idea what they want. This is why other methods of job hunting will not work for them because those other methods require a person to be sure about what they want to work as. These other methods of finding work are much more direct than circling advertisements in a newspaper.

Jumping Straight Into The Job Market

The internet is an excellent tool for finding work if you know how to use it properly. In recent years, many websites have been created that are great for finding the right job. These websites are also known as resume databases. Despite their somewhat banal-sounding name, resume databases are actually an exciting new development. With a resume database, you need only craft your resume to reflect the exact type of work and workplace that you are looking for, and wait for an employer to come to you. Contrary to popular belief, many employers are constantly on the lookout for new employees. They merely hold out until they find employees that they think are worth hiring. By listing your resume on one or more resume databases, you greatly increase the chances that an employer will find your resume who thinks that you would be the perfectly addition to his company’s workforce.

Networking is another effective method of finding work directly by skipping the classifieds. Even if you are currently unemployed, you are sure to have contacts from your previous workplaces, family, relatives, and even friends whom you can talk to. You never know which of them might know of a job opening somewhere that suits you, or who might know a friend of a friend of a friend who is looking to hire someone such as yourself. The power of networking as a job seeking tool is often underestimated, but by putting feelers out, you will soon find that there are a great many job opportunities right below the surface just waiting to be found.

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Important Jobseeker Tips: Email My Resume

Posted on July 8, 2010 by admin

In this day and age, sending anything by regular post is quickly becoming a thing of the past. Email has left regular post in the dust when it comes to communication over distances, not least because of its reliability and speed. The same can be said of sending in resumes. Earlier, the only way to send your resume to a company was to send it by means of regular post. Nowadays, however, it is considered acceptable or even standard for prospective employees to email their resume to a company’s human resource department. In short, it would be best for you to simply select an ‘email my resume’ option instead of sending it by post.

What do I mean by ‘email my resume’? The answer is simple – with so many people having trouble writing their resumes, enterprising individuals have developed a wide range of online tools to help jobseekers with resume writing. Among these are resume builders, which allow a user to input their information and details, which the builder will use to construct a complete resume. These powerful tools are extremely useful for people who truly struggle with writing a resume. Besides that, they also offer a host of other features, among which is usually the option to ‘email my resume’.

With most resume builders or databases, once you have completed your resume you have a few options. Among those are the options to print your resume, or to email it. The first option is for those people who are not comfortable with approaching a company by email and would much rather do it the tried-and-tested way – through regular post. The second option is for people who place more faith in technology and would prefer the convenience of not having to print their resume, seal it in an envelope, buy and stick on stamps, and head down to the post office to post it. If you are thinking about applying to more than one company for a job, then you should definitely make use of the ‘email my resume’ option.

Why Email My Resume?

One good thing about choosing to email your resume instead of sending it by post is that you communicate directly with the human resource department of the company you are applying to. Sending a resume by post is a relatively impersonal way of sending in your resume as compared to emailing it, because the person who receives your resume immediately knows your email address without even having looked at your resume. This makes it that much easier for the company to get in touch with you if they have questions or would like to schedule an interview with you.

Another thing to consider is that statistically, email is far more reliable than regular post. The computer code and hardware that controls emails has been refined over the years to the point that it is almost unheard of for an email sent by someone not to arrive in the intended recipient’s inbox. Regular post, however, is still subject to human errors and as such is far less reliable.

When it comes to your resume, you should not take any chances. So what are you waiting for? Get online, create your own resume and hit that ‘email my resume’ button.

More Tips for Emailing Your Resume

Sending A Job Interview Thank You Email

Posted on June 23, 2010 by admin

It is accepted that job applicants are expected to send a thank you letter to their interviewers after having gone for their job interview. Earlier, it would have been inconceivable for an applicant to have done this by sending their interviewer an email. In this day and age however, with technology being integrated into almost every part of our lives, sending a job interview thank you email has become an accepted practice.

Post or Email? What are the Deciding Factors?

If you are having difficulty deciding whether to send your thank you letter via post or email, there are certain guidelines that can help you reach a decision. The first thing to consider is whether or not you have the luxury of time. If time is short and you think that your prospective employer will come to a decision regarding the job opening very soon, then you should definitely send a job interview thank you email instead of posting a letter. In such a situation, sending a letter by post might take too long and your prospective employer might reach a decision before even having received your thank you letter.

Even if time is not of the essence, however, you should also consider the personality of your interviewer and the company you are applying to. As a general guideline, large and formal companies will expect a thank you letter by post while smaller companies will be satisfied with a job interview thank you email. You should also assess the level of rapport you form with your interviewer during your interview. The more you connect with your interviewer, the less formal you have to be in your future communications with him or her, and the more a simple email conveying your thanks becomes appropriate.

How To Organize Your Email Message

As is evident from its name, a job interview thank you email must convey your sincere appreciation and gratitude towards your interviewer for taking the time to talk to you and get to know you. Letting your interviewer know that you are a courteous and polite individual with a firm grasp of social conventions such as sending thank you letters is the first step towards cementing your interviewer’s good impression of you.

Next, you should sit down and go over your interview in your mind in as much detail as possible. Try to remember every question that was asked and the answer that you gave. As you do so, you will probably realize that there were questions that you might have answered better or even entirely differently. Your job interview thank you email is a good place to remedy those little errors. Doing this will help to smooth out any rough edges on the picture that your interviewer would have formed of you.

Finally, let your interviewer know that you are still interested in the job and are enthusiastic about getting it. A line or two reiterating exactly why the job interests you and how your personality and characteristics make you suitable for the job is a great way to end your job interview thank you email. With an email like that, you are sure to leave a lasting impression on your interviewer, making it that much more likely that you will land your dream job.

Check Out the CareerRush Job Interview Thank You Letter Example!

How To Handle Yourself During Multiple Manager Interviews

Posted on June 2, 2010 by admin

Though most companies choose to take advantage of a Human Resources department, which simply hire a single individual to hire their staff members and interview them, many companies will actually require applicants to go through multiple interviews in a single setting. These interviews are then conducted by multiple managers within the company and are generally known as multiple manger interviews. Many companies rely on these types of interviews in order to gain different opinions and information from each manager who takes part in the interviewing process.

These types of multiple manager interviews have been known to produce a higher quality of employees; this is due in part to several reasons. For instance, an applicant who may be unqualified may be able to convince one manager that they have the skills needed in order to obtain the position which they are applying for. However, the chances of this same applicant fooling multiple interviewers are slim to none. Therefore, this type of process can generally weed out weak applicants.

When you learn that you will be taking part in multiple manager interviews, there are numerous tips and suggestions that you should keep in mind. These tips and suggestions will assist you with truly convincing these managers that you are the best choice for their open vacancy.

Simple To Follow Multiple Manager Interview Tips

The first thing you need to focus on is consistency. Keep in mind that each manager who is interviewing you may ask you the same question as a previous manger. You will want to remain consistent with the manner in which you answer these “like” questions. If you fail to do this, this could result in the managers believing that you are not being open and honest with them. Remember, that all of these managers will meet with one another and will analyze the manner in which you answered specific questions. If they notice that you have answered the same question differently for each of them, they may begin to question your general consistency.

Another major element that you will want to consider is the length of your interview. If you are being interviewed by multiple managers in a row this process could run a few hours. The main thing you want to keep in mind is keeping your energy level high throughout the entire process. Don’t be completely energetic with the first manager, only to fade out and become quiet in the interviews with the last two managers. You will want to maintain the same level of energy throughout so that each manager can gain the same opinion about you and your attitude and general demeanor.

Multiple manager interviews may seem intimidating! The truth is they are supposed to be. These types of interviews are designed to find the best possible applicants available in the work force. Therefore, you should take these types of interviews very seriously, because chances are that is the way that these managers are looking at them. So keep your energy level high and remain consistent from one manger to the next.

More Job Interview Tips…

Printing Your Resume Professionally

Posted on May 28, 2010 by admin

When you set out to compose your resume, one of the aspects you will need to take into consideration is the manner in which your resume will be laid out. The layout of your resume is a key factor to creating a professionally designed resume. If you use a layout that is not professional and effective, chances are that your resume will never gain the attention that you desire. Moreover, you should also consider printing your resume professionally in order to further create an air of professionalism around your resume.

The content that you place within your resume is of course the most important element of your resume. However, if you don’t present your resume in a professional manner, then chances are that many employers will not even give your resume a second glance. Therefore, you must seek out a way to successfully go about printing your resume professionally.

The first step is of course choosing the perfect layout for your resume to enhance the manner in which it will be printed out.

Choosing The Perfect Resume Layout

The first thing you will want to consider when it comes to selecting a resume layout is the type of industry for which you are seeking out employment. Once you have this determined, you can begin to search online for layouts that are designed with your specific industry in mind. If your resume is for general employment, then you can avail of general employment layout samples which you find online.

Just be sure that you only shortlist and use recent and updated layout resume templates that have been released in the past year. This way you can be sure your resume layout is up to date with the current industry standards.

How To Go About Printing Your Resume Professionally

Once you have composed your content and decided on a proper layout, you will then need to be sure that you go about printing your resume professionally. You will first want to consider the grade and type of paper that you use when printing your resume. It is usually best to go with a medium grade paper that is an off-white shade. Flimsy or cheap paper tends to tear easily and paper that is brilliant white can actually hurt the eyes of the reader and you want to avoid both these scenarios, which is why you want to take serious consideration when choosing the type of paper that you will be using.

It should be noted that there are several paper manufacturers that actually offer specialized resume printing paper. This may be the easiest route to choose when you are considering printing up your resume at home on your own. However, you are not limited to this form of printing. There are several professional services that you can take advantage of that offer professional printing of resumes for a fee.

Either way, just be sure that you take your time when laying out and printing up your resume in order to ensure that you are being as professional as possible. Remember, your resume is your first impression! Make it count!

More Resume Writing Tips…

The Importance Of Being Honest In Your Resume And Interviews

Posted on May 27, 2010 by admin

When seeking out employment at any type of company, it is crucial that you are completely open and honest in all aspects of your interviews. This also includes being honest with the information that you are presenting in your resume. Oftentimes individuals will blatantly lie in their resumes or will provide false information in hopes of gaining attention from potential employers. Other applicants will place what they consider to be little “white lies” in their resumes in order to make themselves appear more experienced and more valuable.

The problem with these types of lies is that you are completely getting off on the wrong foot with these potential employers. Not only that, but you also run the risk of being terminated from the company to which you are applying. If a company discovers that you have been dishonest in the way that you presented yourself in your resume or in the information which you provided them during your initial in person interviews, they are legally able to terminate you. This is just one of the main reasons and most important reasons that you should consider when it comes to not being honest in your resume.

Why Are People Dishonest In Their Resumes?

There are two main areas of interest on resumes wherein most applicants are dishonest. The first area of interest is their job history. Many applicants may have gaps between years and places of employment. They are fearful that these gaps in employment will present a negative image for themselves and they go to great lengths to fake or decrease the amount of gaps in their employment history in order to convince a potential employer that they are reliable and are responsible.

The problem with lying about these gaps in work history is that a potential employer can quickly and easily check your past employment history when running your references. They can contact your past employers and can determine what your exact years and months of employment were. They can also determine if you left the company on your own terms or if you were terminated from your position.

Given the many loopholes that are bound to arise once you start lying, you should never even consider not being honest when it comes to this section of your resume. Keep in mind that it is relatively easy for a potential employer to check out any of the information mentioned in your resume. It is crucial to be honest if you truly want to gain employment.

The second most common area of interest within resumes wherein applicants are dishonest is in their education section. Most applicants are under the impression that employers will not bother to check out the education of their applicants before hiring them. That’s not true; many employers will actually ask you to provide them with proof of your diploma or degree before they will even consider hiring you.

Whether it is your education or your experience, it is always best to be honest when it comes to your education or lack thereof. Just be ready to explain to a potential employer why you have not graduated or sought out further education or why you chose to leave your previous employ.

More Jobseeker/ Job Search Tips…

Using Examples During An Interview

Posted on May 26, 2010 by admin

When you attend a job interview you will either make or break your chances of winning the job that you applied for. Given the utmost importance of the interview, it is imperative that you take a few moments and truly prepare yourself for the way that you will present yourself in your interview. You should consider each and every part of the interview process and should look into using examples during an interview. Interviewers enjoy it when a potential employee can take an example from a past work experience or life experience and can use it to answer a question backed with facts.

If you truly want to make an impact during your next interview, you should begin by researching the types of questions that you may be asked during your interview. The good news is the Internet features numerous websites and references that you can take advantage of in order to obtain sample interview questions. Once you have acquired such a list, you should begin to determine how you will answer each question prior to attending your interview. You may even want to enlist the help of a friend to assist you in this process. Your friend can read the questions to you and you can simply practice how you will successfully answer them.

Once you have a sample list of questions, you will want to begin figuring out how you can begin using examples from your past experiences to add more depth to your answers. Some common interview questions will already encourage example use. For example, a common interview questions is: “In the past how have you dealt with a negative complaint from a customer?” A question like this requires using examples during an interview.

How else can I go About Using Examples during an Interview?

Using examples during an interview is very simple if you compare each and every interview question that you are asked with another job in mind or with a past experience in mind. For example, when asked a question such as: “What do you bring to our company?” You should be able to quickly consider any positive effects that you had in your previous place of employment. You can then reveal what it was you did at your past place of employment in order to use this experience as an example of what positive effects you will have at this new place of business if you are potentially hired.

Every interview question that you are asked is an opportunity for you to take advantage of examples. This allows you to show a potential employer your various achievements and the positive effects that you had at your previous place of employment.

This method of using examples during an interview is much more productive and effective than just giving general answers during an interview. With the use of examples you can prove to a potential employer that you are well worth your weight in gold.

When taking part in your next interview be sure to prepare yourself with examples in mind so that you can truly impress your interviewer.

How to use examples during a job interview…

Job Interview Example Videos…

Getting Past Age Discrimination

Posted on May 25, 2010 by admin

One major concern amongst individuals who are seeking out employment is the question of age discrimination. Older individuals who are looking to get back into the workforce are more acutely aware that age discrimination does exist in this current day and age. With that in mind, more and more people are looking for innovative ways of getting past age discrimination so that they can be gainfully employed despite being considered “old”. The good news is that getting past age discrimination is not as difficult as it may seem.

First and foremost, you should be aware that age discrimination is illegal. Therefore, a company cannot simply decide against hiring you just on basis of your age. If you are physically and mentally capable of completing the job, then you cannot be turned down just because of your age. Moreover, if you have the skills and training necessary to complete any job, age is a non-issue.

The first step that you can take in getting past age discrimination is by being careful in the way in which you compose and craft your professional resume. Start by seeking out current resume formats. The format of resumes that you once used when you first got started in the work world would most probably be considered outdated when compared to the resume formats that are considered standard today. Therefore, you will need to be sure that you are planning out and laying out your resume in a professional and effective manner that is current with the times.

How To Avoid Age Discrimination From The Get-Go!

Many older individuals will make major notice of their age in their resume and will craft detailed cover letters that clearly point out their age in the manner in which they reveal information about themselves. This will generally put up a “red flag” that you are an older individual. The idea to avoid age discrimination from the beginning is to be sure that your resume never truly lays out your age in an obvious manner.

What you want to do with your resume is show a potential employer that you have the skills and education needed in order to seriously be considered for a position at their company. You want to show them that you are the best person for their job. If you can do this without revealing your age, you will be triumphant in defeating the bug-bear of age discrimination.

Once you have proven to a potential employer that you are qualified for their position through the use of your resume, you will succeed in getting your foot in the door. These potential employers will not be aware of your age until they meet you in person for your interview. However, you will already be one step ahead of your competition by the mere fact that you have already enticed them to invite you in for an interview based on your previous work experience and skills.

The best way to avoid age discrimination is to not let your age affect you! If your age does not affect you, then chances are it also will not affect your chances of obtaining the desired employment.

More Jobseeker Tips…

How to Become a Solution For Your Target Employer

Posted on May 24, 2010 by admin

When seeking out employment you must have an effective and proven strategy in place. You need to realize that when it comes to filling a vacant position at a specific company, you are most likely not the only individual who is seeking out that position. Therefore, you will need to formulate a strategy that will make you stick out and that will put you ahead of your competition. Once such strategy presents you to try to be a solution for your target employer.

Here is the truth: all employers are hiring employees to fit and meet a specific need at their place of business. They need to find a person who will act as a solution in filling this position and carrying out its responsibilities in a professional and effective manner. Regardless of your skill set and previous experience, all you need to do is prove to any potential employer that you are the solution to their problems. If you can prove yourself to be a solution then you will be able to acquire the position that you desire over your competition with very little effort.

How can I Make Myself Appear to be the Solution?

The first thing you should consider is “first contact.” Your first contact will most likely be in the form of your personal resume. The first thing you should do is learn everything you can about the position you are applying for. You should consider the responsibilities that are involved in this position. Then, look back at your work history and determine which are the other positions you have held that match up with or feature the same type of responsibilities as this new position you are applying for.

From there you should compose a very strategic cover letter that states that you have read the responsibilities of the position for which you are applying and that you already have the skills necessary in order to fill this position and to carry it out without concern. You should shortly cover these past experiences in order to truly show a potential employer in your resume that you have the training and skills necessary to fill this position and that you are eager to get involved.

Never hesitate to add in this personal aspect. Feel free to tell a potential employer that you hope to excel at their company and in their position. You need to immediately show them that you are the solution to their vacancy and that you are more than trained and eager to get started in the position. You don’t need to be robotic in your resume. Add a degree of personality to show them how you truly feel about the position you are applying for.

Try to be a solution for your target employer to show them why they should choose you. Try to be a solution for your target employer so that you can show them why you should be considered above your competition. The quicker that you become a solution and prove to a potential employer that you are the solution to their needs, the quicker you will able to acquire the position you desire.

Learn More By Watching Our Job Interview Example Videos…

Avoid Slamming Your Old Employer

Posted on May 20, 2010 by admin

When seeking out employment in an industry that you are passionate about, you may often be tempted to speak negatively about a past employer in order to gain favorable attention from a potential new employer. Many people feel that if they are staying within the same industry and they speak poorly about another company in the same industry that will help them curry favor with their new employers and earn them huge brownie points. While theoretically this may sound like a good idea, you should avoid slamming your old employer at all costs! In fact, the moment you say anything negative about an old employer you could actually jeopardize any chance you may have of clinching the job.

This is very true when it comes to both, in person interviews as well as information that you present in your resume. Many resume writers will use their cover letter to point out their negative experiences while working for the company’s main competitor. When you do this, not only do you create a bad image of your old employer but you also create a poor representation of yourself. A poor representation that could actually endanger your chances of gaining the employment that you desire.

Why You Should Avoid Slamming Your Old Employer

One of the main reasons you should avoid slamming your old employer is because it immediately creates a poor image of yourself. A potential employer could see your slamming of an old employer as a poor quality trait. They may assume that you are a whiney person who is simply looking for any reason to complain. Therefore, they may pass up on hiring you, fearful that you will constantly complain while working for them or that when you leave their company that you may turn around and slam them as well.

No one wants to hire an individual who seems to be bitter. The moment you show a potential employer that you are bitter person who holds grudges, they may assume that you will bring that same attitude to their company. Most employers are also aware that this type of attitude can quickly spread from one person to another and if they were to hire you, they would be fearful that your attitude would affect everyone else around you that you work with. This could result in a collectively poor work ethic and could result in future problems for the company.

How To Avoid Slamming An Old Employer

The best way to avoid slamming an old employer is not to talk about them unless asked. Even when asked about a past employer, avoid speaking negatively about them. Just explain why you are no longer employed with them in as professional and respectable a manner as you can muster. There is no need to recount every reason why you hate your old employer and why you are now looking for new employment.

As the old adage goes- “if you have nothing nice to say; don’t say anything at all.” It’s far better to just keep your opinions to yourself rather than to say something or to place something in your resume that will reflect poorly on you in the long run.

More Job Hunting Tips…

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