Let me know if you hear about anything I would be interested in.

Recently I was introduced to someone who almost immediately told me he was looking for a job. Then he said those deadly words: “Let me know if you hear of anything for me.” What a networking killer.

I didn’t know enough about him to even be able to identify a good “anything” yet here he was asking me to let him know when I found one of those. At this point, unfortunately, people often say “sure” and then move on. Don’t kid yourself the way I used to. They won’t remember you.

The Easy Way Out (Leading Nowhere, unfortunately)
It’s hard to think about, but right now we should ask ourselves, “Have I done that?” If you have, think about what you were hoping to accomplish. And how did you feel when you said it?

Remember the words and tone of the response you got. That memory alone may convince you not to make those requests any more.

Help Them Be Able to Help You!
I told him I wouldn’t know how to identify a good “anything” for him. He paused, and then said, “Oh, I’m asking you to do all the work here, aren’t I? Not only do I want you to let me know when you hear about something, but I am leaving it up to you to figure out what I would want to hear about.” He got it!

Sample of Email Requests that Get You Nowhere (again!)
I wanted to share a portion of an email I got from someone just a couple of days ago. I did not know this person, and there wasn’t any way I could be of any assistance to him based on the information in the email.

In addition, I have no idea what “seek your advice on any current and/or future searches for your clients” really means. Strangely that phrase or something similar is in almost every email I get from job seekers.

“I’m currently in a career transition following the elimination of my position due to a company-wide reduction in force.

A copy of my resume is attached and I can be reached on xxx-xxx-xxxx. Please let me know if you hear about anything that might be of interest to me.

I’d appreciate it if you would let me know when you have searches for your clients that would be a good fit for my experience and skills.

Thank you for your time and consideration and I look forward to hearing from you.”

Heartbreaking Results from so much Effort
If I hadn’t been curious about where he learned to write this kind of networking email and how he expected it would help him, I would never have called him. I would have deleted his email and not kept his information. I bet he sent a lot of these out, and I know that was a lot of work.

When I spoke to him, he admitted that he had been coached on how to write this email. He said he had sent it to a lot of people, and was really disappointed in the results. I was the only person who had contacted him!

Tip to Try: Help Others Help You
Please be specific about how others can help you in job search. People do really want to be of assistance. Give us specifics about how we can help you, and you’ll be delighted at the good information that starts coming your way.

Author: Katherine Moody

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With this in mind, here are top 7 ways to crush your fear of Job or Career Fairs and meet helpful people including willing strangers.

1. Packaging - How you dress, How you hair looks. How you accessorize. How you smell. And how clean and polished your shoes are, especially your heels, make a difference, first to you and how you feel, and to the people you meet. You never get a second chance to make a good first impression. Corny, but so true. (Read entire article and learn what is best color to wear to job or career fairs and to any interview).
2. Attitude – No one on the planet looks forward to a Job or Career Fair except for sponsors and few, very few of those  “working the booths.” Yup! If your attitude is upbeat, edgy, filled with energy, and  “positive,” you will benefit.
3. Get Remembered - Your mission is To Be Remembered. A) Have a two-sided business card. B) Hand out individually wrapped breath mints before you move to the next booth or person. C) Wear a fresh flower and give some away. D) Bring day-glow imprinted micro-sized helium-filled balloons and give some away. You’ll be remembered.
4. Huge Legal-Sized Resume - At job fairs, first time through, resume “viewing” time is 5 seconds (not minutes). Enlarge first page of your resume on legal-size (8.5 x 14) piece of paper. Hold it up (higher when applicants are in front of you) so recruiters can say “yes” or “no” to on-the-spot interviewing. Hand out regular-size resumes printed on off-white paper only.
5. Five (5) Applicants Interviewed At The Same Time – Ugh! That’s what to expect at busy career fairs. Your job: Speak up. With energy and just loud enough to be heard, answer in short statements: “I can do that.” Or “I have done that for 5 years.” Or “That’s what I do best.” (Read entire article to get more tips).
6. Follow-Up – Get Business Cards. Circle on each lead person’ name. Get primary or best e-mail address. Get direct line number. Mail three days later (not e-mail) thank-you note that starts with the words “you” or “your,” not “Thank you!” Remind them WHO you are by what you were wearing that day. Beat competing applicants.
7. Expectations – Make a written list of what you must do at job or career fairs. Add that you need to make friends with other professionals. Get acquainted. You give them leads about jobs that match them not you and they will do the same.

Author: Stephen Q Shannon

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You should avoid leaking your job search plans to your new employer, at least until you plan to leave. Doing this is not easy, but you can manage it if you follow some simple tips.

Online Stealth

Online job search sites have made job searching very easy and highly confidential. You can send hundreds of resumes at the click of a button. But while clicking, be aware; don’t end up sending your resume to your own boss. Poorly managed Internet job searches can have severe repercussions to your current job, so you need to be extra cautious while conducting one.

o Before posting your resume, find out about the Internet job search service that your current company’s human resource department uses – or you may find your resume on your boss’s desk.

o Don’t provide too much information on the net about your current job. If a job site demands more information, then there is a good chance that they may leak this information to other job sites without your permission.

Obscure and Discreet

Your resume can get you busted, so don’t include your business contact number or other business information on your resume. You should always list your home address with your residential number as well as your personal cell number. Create a separate email account for your job search and be cautious while responding to suspicious job requirements.

Never use company property like the office computer or printer to conduct your job search. It may be convenient, but it is risky and dangerous as some companies scrutinize employee computer usage – so use your personal home computer or visit an Internet café.

“Dress to succeed”, but you should always be tactful. Don’t suddenly wear a suit and come to the office – carry a change of clothing in a bag or cover it up with a jacket. Avoid interview calls during office hours. Schedule your interviews before or after hours or take a personal break.

Be Diplomatic

Avoid disclosing your job search details to your co-workers or office friends. Otherwise, you can be sure that your boss will find out from someone. Always inform your family, as they can help you in case of emergency, and can cover up for you. By disclosing the details to your family, you can be sure that they won’t spill the beans to your colleagues.

Try Frankness

Interviewers and recruiters have been in the market for years and they know all about confidential job searches. So try telling them about your confidential job search and they will understand your situation. There is no need to feel guilty or shy on this subject.

If you are still employed, conducting a covert job search is very important. Follow the tips above and you will be able to leave your current job on your own terms.

Author: Tony Jacowski

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You might not be. After all, you are doing the same searches on different websites. Once again, this is an important task, but does it ever feel like it is a waste of your time? If so, you want to closely examine desktop applications that work as job finding tools; they are commonly referred to as job finders.

While you can keep doing your searching on all those career search websites, I encourage you to do a little bit of experimenting. Most desktop job finders have a free trial period. Give that free trial a try; ditch the job search websites. But wait! Why should you? What difference you will see?

Maximize the use of your time: If you didn’t already know, a job finder is a program that helps you find a job. They accomplish this goal by searching all the best job sites for you. Good job finders will search hundreds of career sites. Great finders will search thousands for you.

The neat thing is that these are the same career websites you are visiting and searching each day. The only difference is that you need to do just one search. Yes one search! There is no more having to visit ten or more sites a day just to keep performing the same search. One search will search hundreds or thousands of websites for you!

Get the same great features: Many people wonder if they lose anything important when making the switch to doing a traditional website search and searching with a job finder. Most often, you will not lose anything at all. See most of the features are the same. It is not uncommon for you to setup email alerts of new jobs; a desktop application will let you do this. It is not uncommon for you to gain access to advanced search features; a desktop application will give you that same access.

It is not uncommon for you to apply to jobs directly through the website; a job finder will let you do this too! In fact, you are likely to gain access to features not found on a traditional career search website, such as the ability to add customized notes to a job!

As you can see, there are a number of benefits to giving a desktop job finding program a try. So what are you waiting for? You are searching the same websites you have always been searching; you are just making better use of your time now when doing so.

Author: Adnan Masood

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If you have been searching for a job for a while and are tired, feeling discouraged, and just want a break, it’s time to employ some rules that will help you to stop overextending yourself. Before engaging in a job search, it’s vital to take some time to develop good habits that will help you stay motivated and optimistic.

Remember that Job Seeking is Job Within Itself

Many people take for granted the amount of energy required to conduct a job search. Neither your mind nor your body are prepared for the activity. In order to become skilled at job searching, you’ve got to put yourself out there every single day, and get used to the idea of searching for a job as its own occupation. Like any other daily job, you may eventually get tired and bored with job searching. So give yourself breaks in between, and even give yourself room to adapt to your “learning curve.”

Take Care of Your Entire Self

You may be used to thinking of yourself as a “worker” and now that you’re out of work and searching for employment, you’re struggling to regroup. A job search can be a great time to get on-the-ball physically and mentally.

For instance, you might have been accustomed to physical activities before you started your last job, but let those die down as you traded them for hard days at work. Whether you’re into running, basketball, or something else, you now have the time to get back into your physical activity and improve your body. It’s also important to watch what you’re eating. As the old saying goes, you are what you eat, so develop a diet that will keep you lean and energetic, focusing on greens, fruits, and other high health menu items. Working out and eating right will revitalize every aspect of you, and you’ll feel much better.

On the emotional side of things, it’s good to pay attention to how you’re feeling during your job search. For emotional drain, which can be pretty taxing, keep a journal to help you stay focused and encouraged. To keep your mind calm during a stressful job search, try meditation, prayer, or even yoga.

Conducting a job search for a long period of time is definitely a tall order. It’s something you don’t want to take for granted because the wear and tear can drain you before you know it. This makes it important to watch all aspects of your health, so take occasional stock of how you’re doing physically, emotionally, and mentally. This will help to prepare you for not just the job search, but also interviews, and essentially your first day on your new job.

Author: Heather Eagar

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What you need is a way to evaluate your job search strategies to see whether or not they are working effectively for you. 

Ready to get started? Here are 12 building blocks to a successful job search and the goals that will help you get to where you really want to be in the world of work: 

1.) Making networking phone calls: Effective job searches begin and end with networking. Start by making a list of everyone you know: family members, extended family, friends, present & past co-workers, faith community colleagues, barber/hairdresser, dog groomer, neighbors. Even list the clerks who work in your favorite grocery or video store, bank tellers and gas station attendants. Everyone! Call or talk to each person on your list (most people can easily produce a list of 50-100 people). Target: Make 3-5 new networking phone calls weekly. 

2.) Contacting employers before openings occur: The process of applying for a job before an opening is known to be present is referred to as accessing the hidden job market – and doing so is critical for job search success. By using a great on-line tool such as Reference USA to access employer information, you can mail targeted resumes and cover letters to companies that match your size, focus and sales criteria. Target: Mail 5-10 targeted but unsolicited resumes with cover letters weekly. 

3.) Responding to online postings: There are literally hundreds of sites like Monster.com, and you can pour hours and hours into searching them for job opportunities. Remember to search on multiple titles or portions of titles and to post your resume at every opportunity. Target: respond to 3-5 postings weekly. 

4.) Responding to newspaper help wanted ads: This is the favorite job seeking strategy of searchers everywhere, but guess what? Out of every 100 resumes an employer receives, they will throw away 92-95! Target: Submit only 3-5 resumes and cover letters weekly in response to help wanted ads. 

5.) Identifying new employers to contact: Find employers the old-fashioned way: in phone books, through networking leads, through word-of-mouth, in reference sources and online databases (such as Reference USA, mentioned above), through articles in local papers and through the Yellow Pages of your local phone directory. Target: Identify and research 5 new employers weekly and use them to fill your quota for #2, above. 

6.) Contacting recruiters and employment agencies: Its not appropriate for every job seeker to contact recruiters and employment agencies, but if this strategy makes sense for you, then by all means make use of them. Target: Contact 1 new recruiter or agency weekly. 

7.) Making follow-up phone calls & sending thank you letters/cards: Sending out resumes and cover letters is only the first step in the process of developing relationships with employers. About 1 to 2 weeks afterward, call them to verify they received your materials and to inquire about next steps. Always follow-up on interviews and make is a habit to send thank you letters or cards afterward as well. Target: Make 5-10 follow-up phone calls weekly and send a thank you letter or card for every job interview or informational interview you participate in each week. 

8.) Managing your references: How do you manage references? Supply each one with a copy of each version of your resume. Keep them up-to-date on what is happening in your job search. You dont need to call them weekly, but you should generate news every few weeks at least. Give your references a copy of all the references youre using so each one can refer an employer on to someone else on the list if asked. Prepare your references by giving them background information, adjectives and descriptive words that sell your best stuff. Target: Contact each reference at least once per month during your active job search and contact everyone when that perfect opportunity comes along to prepare them. 

9.) Practicing interview answers: Dont just practice the night before an interview. Target: Practice your interview answers and questions at least 1 time per week. 

10.) Practicing the salary negotiations process: Ditto with salary negotiations. Target: Practice your strategies and responses at least 1-2 times per week. 

11.) Staying socially connected with employed others: Job searching is extremely lonely, so make sure you stay socially involved with family and friends. Target: Get out of the house at least 2 times weekly to see friends or extended family. 

12.) Managing your attitude and energy: This is the most important building block of all, because without a positive attitude and high, focused energy, you wont achieve the result you want. Targets: Do at least 1 fun and creative thing outside your house weekly. 
Why not take Fridays off (if youre unemployed) and enjoy! Absolutely, categorically dont job search on weekends. Exercise, take care of your body, and journal. Feed your mind good books and your spirit hope. 

Strengthen or do more of what works. Adapt, replace or fix what does not work. Reevaluate your search progress every 30 days for as long as it takes for you to find the work you really want. And, if your job search results do not markedly improve within 45 days, see a career search professional for individualized assistance. 

Author: Cheryl Lynch Simpson

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How you handle these factors can make the difference between a long, drawn out job search and one that nets quicker results. Rather than focusing on what we cannot change, let’s focus on what we can. Here are five reasons that you may not be getting the results you want in your current job search:

You’ve already convinced yourself that there aren’t any jobs available.

Henry Ford once said, “If you think you can do a thing or think you can’t do a thing, you’re right.” Attitude and confidence play a large role in success – whether you are an athlete, businesswoman, or job hunter. Your belief – or disbelief – in your ability to achieve success will greatly impact how you conduct your job search and the impression you make with others.

Imagine an unseeded tennis player that is scheduled to go up against a top-ranking player in a match. This isn’t the situation that she’d hoped for. But, now that it is here, how will she approach the opportunity she’s been given? She has two options:

She can step onto the court already looking defeated. Head and shoulders dropped. Slumped posture. Panged look on her face. She is, in effect, telling her opponent, “You’ve already won.” Not surprisingly, she will be right. Her fear will become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

On the other hand she can consider this to be a tremendous opportunity. She knows how good her opponent is and she respects her game. But, she is confident in her own skills and ability. She sees this as the biggest opportunity of her career and she is determined to go for it. This attitude of confidence and self-belief is just as critical to her success as her talent and abilities.

What is your belief about your ability to succeed in your job search? It will either limit your ability to succeed or propel you forward. Limit the amount of negative information you allow in each day. Find the balance between staying informed and absorbing every negative report about the job market and the economy. Improve your job search skills and techniques. This will further boost your confidence.

You’re not as productive as you think you are.

“I’ve been looking for a job for months, but I’m not getting any results.” This is the most common complaint I encounter with my job search coaching clients. My response is, “What have you been doing during those months?” Their initial response usually sounds promising. They’ve sent out twenty resumes or spend two hours per day combing job ads. However, when we look at the numbers more objectively we usually discover room for improvement. Sending twenty targeted resumes out in two weeks is impressive. Sending out just twenty resumes over the course of two and a half months will considerably lengthen your job search.

The average job search can range from three months to a year. The length of your job search is largely determined by the time, energy, and effort that you put into it. If you are a full-time job hunter, approach your job search much the same way you would approach a full-time job. Carefully assess your current job search. What kind of time and effort are you putting into your job search? Are you a full-time job hunter, a part-time job hunter, or is your job search become more of a hobby? Honestly assess your situation and make adjustments where necessary.

You have no clear plan.

Can you imagine a sports team entering a game without a game plan? From little league to the pros there is always a game plan is place. You study the opposition. Study the field of play. You play to your strengths while exploiting the opposer’s weaknesses. As a job hunter you must take the same approach.

Learn about different job search strategies. Conduct careful research on your field and industry. Learn as much as you can about your targeted geographic locations. Your industry may be dying in your local region yet blossoming another. Create a plan of action based on the information that you gather and implement it consistently. Keep track of your results and make adjustments as needed.

You shy away from high-risk, high-reward job search techniques.

It isn’t uncommon for a frustrated job hunter to reveal that they spend countless hours on their job search each day. The majority – if not all – of that time is spent in passive job search activities like surfing online job boards and combing through newspaper ads. These activities are convenient and feel safe. However, they are not the most effective strategies for landing your next job.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 70 percent of all jobs are found through networking. If you are currently involved in a job hunt, networking should be an integral part of your strategic plan. Learn how to network effectively. If you are hesitant or perhaps shy, begin slowly. Practice with friends or family to raise your confidence. Then take the plunge. Realize that the best way to get over your fear of networking is to just do it. The more you network, the better you’ll become at this essential skill.

Remember that networking is about building mutually beneficial relationships with others. Keep in touch with the members of your network. Don’t just call upon them when you need something. Look for opportunities to support them as well.

You’re trying to go it alone.

A job hunt can be a lonely and devastating experience. Do not isolate yourself. Communicate with friends and family. Let them know how you’re feeling. Get support from others. If you can’t find the support that you need within your own circle:

• Join a job hunters group locally or online.
• Buddy up with another job hunter and commit to calling each other at least once a week.
• Work with a job search or career coach.

Enlisting the support of others can provide ongoing support, encouragement, and added accountability. Many job hunters find that this greatly improves their results. Honestly assess your current situation. If your job hunt isn’t getting any traction consider how leveraging support can improve your results.

We are in a highly-competitive job market. Yet, jobs are available. If your job search isn’t getting results, rethink your current strategy. Improve your outlook; ramp up your activity; establish a clear game plan; go for high-risk, high-reward strategies; and get needed support.

Author: Roxanne Ravenel

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The June of 2008 US News and World report listed the jobs that older Americans are most likely to find available. I will use this article as a jumping off point in the search for jobs for mature Americans. We will not visit all of the jobs and professions in the article because in our current economic straits, some of the jobs would be untenable. For instance, real estate broker does not seem like a particularly good job to have right now even if it was available.

The jobs we will look at are:

1. Retail Sales/ Sales worker
2. Driver
3. Secretaries/Administrative assistant
4. Tax preparer

Let’s make a few simplifying assumptions. First, let us stipulate that the elderly worker is willing to move to get a new job and that he is willing to train for a new job if necessary. These assumptions may not be as arbitrary as they seem. If you and a large number of coworkers were laid off, it is less likely that the particular skill that you have is not in demand in the place where you live. A willingness to retrain and a willingness to move virtually doubles your chances of getting a new job.

Given that we are talking about an older worker, a long apprenticeship is out of question. Jobs like engineer, doctor, lawyer, and machinist are out unless you already possess those skills.

Of the four areas we have decided to look at let’s see which one would be the most fruitful. We are going to use one of the large popular job search sites to do our looking. Namely Yahoo’s hotjobs. We are going to simplify our search criteria to make it easier to search and find the most jobs.

Let’s search on the word “retail” by typing that word in the keyword box and clearing out anything that might be in the City or Category boxes. Then push the search button. I get the following:

1. Retail: 21,944 jobs

A very good supply. Let’s try some similar search terms:

A. Sales: 36,938 jobs
B. Worker: 8,513 jobs

2. Driver: 15,167 jobs
A. Truck: 8,372 jobs

3. Admin 16,455 jobs
A. Administrative 16,455 jobs
B. Secretary 7,511 jobs

4. Tax 3,451 jobs
A. Tax Preparer 65 jobs

If you are doing a thorough job search you might want to compare these results with those from the job search sites like Monster and HeadHunter. If you really want to wade through all the jobs in the working universe–and if your skills are not much in use you may have to–I recommend one of the meta search engines such as Indeed, JuJu, or SimplyHired. The meta job search engines allow you to search all the little job search sites in one fell swoop.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, what can we learn from our Yahoo hotjobs search? If you want to increase your odds of getting a job nationwide, don’t become a tax preparer. Such advice must be taken with a grain of salt. Obviously as we get nearer to April 15th the demand for tax preparers should increase and the results of the search will change. But if you want a job right now, doing someone’s taxes does not look like the way to go.

Advertising yourself as a worker or a guy who knows trucks does not look like the best way to get a job.

If you have a resume that says you are a secretary, it seems like you might do better by creating a new resume that talks up your strengths as an administrative assistant.

Despite the weak economy, someone somewhere is still hiring retail sales folks. An administrative assistant with retail sales experience should be able to find a job pretty easily.

For grins let’s add a few more jobs that we think might be in demand.

1. Manager 36,652 jobs

2. Trainee 1,560 jobs

3. Entry level 14,734 jobs

Even if you are trying to enter a new field, do not look for a job as a trainee. Rather you should look for the entry level jobs.

As long as there are employees there must be managers so if you have a management skill that looks to be a good bet for you.

Different jobs sites go through different procedures when you actually look for the details on a job and try to apply. On Yahoo, you will sometimes need to click through to the website of an individual company and apply for work there. On the other hand, if you have saved your resume on Yahoo hotjobs, there will likely be some jobs you can apply for while never leaving the Yahoo website.

I would advise against the work at home jobs that you find on job search sites. Yes, such jobs exist. I have had two different ones. The problem is that most of the work at home jobs you will see are a scam intended to do one of two things. Either separate you from your money or to infect your computer with viruses or adware.

Some of the jobs you want to apply for may require office skills or software experience that you don’t have. Often there are community colleges or two year institutions near you that can quickly and cheaply teach you all you need to know. Some well equipped libraries have Microsoft Office software that you may practice on for free.

You should go to a vocational school only as a last resort. They can be expensive. If you do wind up at a vocational school, make sure that it has been in business for a few years. Make sure that it is accredited and licensed to operate in your state. Check for complaints against the institution on the better business bureau web site. See if the vocational school has any job search assistance and talk to former students to see if the assistance was timely and if employers welcomed the certificate that the vocational school offers.

Author: Michael Skinner

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The harder the job, the harder it is to get the job. Essentially this means that if you are an entry level employee, it should be a fairly reasonable process. But if you are at mid-career and have held significant authority and responsibility, it’s going to be a more lengthy and sophisticated course.

As someone who has been in the staffing industry for more than 18 years, I wanted to share an “insider’s perspective” on what every job seeker should know about the process. I’m continually amazed that potentially great candidates for my jobs simply don’t represent themselves as well as they could by not playing by the job-search rules.

Yes, I agree there should be room for creativity in the process, and what works for one might not for the other, but there are some general rules that apply 99% of the time. Here are 50 recommendations to apply to your search:

The First Step – a Killer Resume

1. Don’t worry about it being one page. Since most resumes are emailed and rarely printed, it’s not a big deal to have a two-page document. Be sure to have your contact information at the top of the second page as well. You could possibly need a third page, but try to avoid that.

2. Put the best information at the top. Since resumes are viewed electronically (most often using MS Word), the top half of the first page is what is in view when the recruiter reviews your resume. If the most relevant and most compelling information isn’t in that partial view, it is often not even opened or printed.

3. Replace your “Objective” with “Summary of Qualifications”. That way you don’t have to customize your resume with each position you send it for. This information is more meaningful to the reader as well. List your top professional skills at the top of the resume so it’s the index to the rest of the document.

4. List your most recent job first. Resumes should list work history in reverse chronological order with the most recent at the top. Typically you would go back through the last ten years, but that’s up to you based on how related and impressive your older jobs are. The point is that you don’t have to go back to the jobs you had in high school.

5. Balance tasks with accomplishments. Recruiters want to know what you did, but not on a micro level. It’s not necessary to list each and every task you do in a day. A general summary of your key responsibilities is important to have on your resume. Additionally, a bullet or two about your results as related to your tasks proves your success in your role.

6. Accomplishments should include quantifiable information. Include specific values in your statement (i.e. dollars saved, percent of increase or decrease, numbers of employees supervised, etc.). This information adds validation and credibility to your employment history and can really set you apart from others.

7. Save some information for the interview. Think of your resume as the Cliff Notes of a great book. You are just presenting the important highlights. The details and stories associated with the content are meant to be discussed in the interview.

8. Format your resume so it’s easy to read. A plain font like Arial or Century Gothic is easy on the eyes. A “curly font” like Times New Roman can be distracting and busy looking. A font size of 10 to 12 works best. White space is important, so keep your margins to an inch on all sides.

9. Include Searchable Keywords. Most recruiters use keywords to search for resumes on the job boards and in their own databases. If your resume does not include the keywords they are using in their search, it won’t pop up. Read job descriptions for your skill set and add recurring words from the description to your resume. Keywords usually are specific to education, equipment, and job titles. So, if the position required a bachelor’s degree and experience with Vertical Milling Machines as an Industrial Engineer, the words bachelor’s, Milling, and Engineer would be used to search for resumes.

10. It’s okay to double dip. Most resumes are emailed these days, but why not use an old-fashioned technique of mailing a nicely printed hard copy as well? The extra step will serve as a reintroduction of your credentials and also show you are willing to go above and beyond to get the interview.

Don’t Skip the Cover Letter

11. Have one. Whether you choose a full letter or a detailed email message, it is important to customize your resume by adding a specific message when you send it. This is an easy way to stand out as so many people simply attach their resume and do not bother to outline their experience.

12. Correlate what they want with what you have. Read the job description and requirements thoroughly and write three key bullet points that match their information with yours in your cover letter. This makes it easy for the reader to determine your qualifications quickly.

13. Use sir names. It is appropriate to refer to the recruiter or human resources representative by Mr. or Ms. in your written communication. Until you meet personally and are given permission to call them otherwise, it is best to be more formal.

Attention to Detail Goes a Long Way

14. Make finding your resume easy. When submitting your resume by email, include the title of the position you are applying for in the subject line. You can also include a short tag line that catches the eye. For example, Customer Service Manager-10 years experience in multi-channel center. And use your full name as the file name for your resume document so it can quickly be referenced.

15. You shouldn’t be crazylazy@yahoo.com. Be sure your email address is appropriate for a job search and not personal. You can get additional email addresses at most domains like AOL, Yahoo, and Gmail.

16. Use a header for your contact information. Include your name, phone number, and email address at the top of each page of your resume. Especially at job fairs, resumes with multiple pages can easily be separated.

Where to Search

17. Surf the Net. A company with 100 or more employees is highly likely to post their position on one of the major job boards like Monster, CareerBuilder, HotJobs, and/or Craig’s list. Be sure to get your resume posted to all those sites, so it can be searched by as many recruiters as possible. But, when searching through job postings, just use a site like Indeed.com which pulls positions from all the boards. That way you only have to visit one site to get the benefit of all of them.

18. Read the Sunday paper. Yes, printed Help Wanted ads are used less now that the Internet is so integrated for job searching, but smaller employers still use this resource since licenses for posting on the major job boards are expensive.

19. Stop in the CareerCenter offices. These state funded and operated centers offer one-stop information on getting a job, opportunities for training, hosting on-site interviews and job fairs, and networking opportunities. Plus, their services are free. Make it a point to visit a CareerCenter at least once a week during your search.

20. Brave your way through a job fair. What a great way to hit up a slew of employers all in the same day. Yes, you have to repeat your story and schmooze the whole day, but the efficiency is worth it. Don’t pass by any booth without stopping to ask, “What kinds of positions are you hiring for today?” Employers are paying to be there and are interested in seeing many candidates. It’s win-win to at least make an introduction with every employer there.

21. Spread the word. Connect with former coworkers and managers, friends and family, and just about anyone who knows people. Let them know you are in the market for a great job and give them permission to share your resume. Follow up with an emailed copy so they can easily forward it to their contacts.

22. Tap into social networking. Using sites like LinkedIn.com is helpful for researching positions, companies, and the people who work at them. Get your profile posted for free and join groups associated with your industry and interests.

Be Prepared for Being Screened on the Phone

23. Even though it’s on the phone, it’s still an interview. Recruiters often call candidates whose resume initially matches their requirements to get further information and make a decision about inviting them to an interview. Play the part and represent yourself in the same way you would if sitting in front of your interviewer.

24. Be sure the timing is right. If a recruiter calls you unexpectedly and it’s not a good time, politely offer to call them back later in that same day. That way you can focus without distractions; they understand you have a life. Plus, you’ll have time to review the details of the position and the company and collect your thoughts before returning the call. Better yet, when you are in job search mode, let your calls go into voicemail so you can take control of the return phone call.

25. Be a compelling communicator. Since there is not an opportunity to see facial expressions and body gestures on the phone, your voice qualities have to be top notch. Sounding confident, interested, cooperative, and pleasant is a skill that is worth practicing before going live.

26. At the balance of power. You are not in the driver’s seat with the interview process. Let your interviewer guide the call and ask the questions. At the end, if they invite you to ask any questions, always find out what the next step of their process is. Close the call by thanking them for their interest and expressing your own.

Ace the Interview

27. Knowing a little means a lot. Visit the company’s website and be familiar with their products or services. Determine what makes them different from others in their industry. That way when the question, “What do you know about our company?” comes up, you’ll have a great response.

28. Dress the part. Keep the “one-up” rule in mind. Always dress at least one step up from what you would be wearing on the job. It’s far better an option to be overdressed than it is to be underdressed, so respect the process and your interviewer by suiting up.

29. Go with your “Sunday Best”. You never know what the taste of your interviewer will be, so it’s always best to be conservative in your style and color choice. You can’t go wrong with a solid color suit or separates and a button up shirt or blouse. Avoid open toe shoes and over accessorizing.

30. Arrive 10 minutes early. Not a half hour early. Not 10 minutes late. Ten minutes is enough time to settle down a bit before you actually meet. If for some reason you will be late, realize you have possibly blown the interview, but make a phone call to explain your situation.

31. Make a powerful introduction. Set the tone for a great meeting with a warm handshake, look in the eye, “happy to be here” smile, and “Hello, Mr. Insertnamehere, it’s nice to meet you.” Regardless of gender, it is proper in a business meeting to greet your host with a handshake. It should be appropriately firm and use the full hand.

32. Bring additional copies of your resume. This shows your interviewer that you are prepared and resourceful. Plus, now you get to show off that baby in its intended form; resume paper still exists.

33. Be polite. Wait to be shown where to have a seat. Don’t put your personal belongings (ex. Padfolio, keys, and resume copies) on his/her desk without asking first. Accept the glass of water if offered. You may need it since you will be doing most of the talking, and being nervous can make you choked up and dry.

34. Honesty is always the best policy. A good part of the interview is centered on your work history. Be honest about your skills, contributions, and reasons for leaving. There is a way to present even not-so-pleasant situations in a reasonable and understandable way. Covering up, omitting information such as work history, or lying is sure to come to light eventually.

35. Show interest. When the interviewer is talking, you want to show signs of engagement by looking at him/her directly, nodding in acceptance, smiling, and showing interest. You can be enthusiastic without looking excitable. You want the vibe to be positive and open, so approach the meeting as such. Your body language will follow your mindset.

36. Don’t wear out your welcome. You’ll know when things are wrapping up. Have a few questions saved for the end, but don’t go on too long. Most interviews are less than an hour, and often the interviewer’s schedule includes more appointments after yours.

37. Ask the “must know” question. It is important that you know what the next step is in their hiring process. Often, more than one interview is required to get the job. Ask about the hiring process and when you can expect to hear from them next, and confirm that you have provided enough information to be considered for the next step.

38. Leave a lasting impression. There is no better way to do this than to shake their hand, thank them for their time, and express your interest in all that you heard. Saying something like “I am very excited about this opportunity and look forward to hearing from you by Thursday.” reinforces your interest and confirms the timeline for next steps.

Following up is a Forgotten Art

39. Send a thank you note or email. This is as obsolete as rejection letters have become. But, it’s one more opportunity to make a positive impression, so why not do it? As many times as you can get your name in front of the person responsible for hiring you, do it.

40. Follow up after a reasonable amount of time. Hiring the perfect fit takes time. But, if it’s been more than a week, or later than you were told you’d be contacted, you should send an email to express your interest in the position and ask for information on where they are in their process. It’s a good idea to attach another copy of your resume to this message.

41. Say thank you to “No, Thank You”. If you get word that you have not been selected to move to the next step, reach out once more to thank the interviewer for his/her time and valuable information. You might have missed this opportunity, but additional contact could keep the door open for future positions.

Some Harsh Realities

42. It’s a competitive job market. You read the job description and consider yourself perfect for the position. The problem is that others will feel the same about themselves. The way to stand out is by not only having all of the skills required of the position, but some additional or unique qualifications as well. Maybe your education is from an impressive university; perhaps your longevity is legendary; it could be that your accomplishments are more striking than most. The only way to know is to send your resume and cover message and point out those distinguishing features. It’s okay to feel confident about your specialized skills and showcase them in this process.

43. Fast is not always fast. The advent of Internet recruiting has a down side – quantity verses quality. Recruiters get flooded with response immediately after posting their position. Their job is to filter the random to get to the right one, and that can be an exhausting and time consuming process. Keep track of the resumes you’ve sent and follow up after a week if you have not received a response.

44. A resume black hole does exist. Some companies have sophisticated applicant tracking systems, and others are quite unorganized and amateurish with their hiring process. It is not unusual for resumes to get overlooked or misfiled. If you feel truly qualified for the job and a week has gone by without a response, resubmit your resume and cover letter.

45. You are likely to not get any response to most of your resume submittals. Rejection letters faded away several years ago because the task of sending them became overwhelming due to the volume of candidates generated from Internet recruiting methods. Again, if you feel the position perfectly suits your background, follow up with another copy of your resume after a week has gone by. For added follow up, mail a printed copy as well.

46. Recruiters and Human Resources representatives often do not fully understand the job description. They may hire for every position in the company, so it’s understandable they can’t be an expert on the requirements for each job. Here is where LinkedIn.com can be helpful. If you have not had any response to your resume, and you feel you are truly qualified, search the company name on LinkedIn.com and consider sending it to someone in the company who may better understand your qualifications. It’s a risky move, and could ban you for life with that recruiter, but it can also be a bold and resourceful move that gets you to the next step with the right person.

Preparing for the Emotions Involved with the Process

47. First there is the Fun Phase. When you first start your job search, it can be very exciting. There are a lot of positions out there, and so many seem to be a perfect fit for you. You spend time thinking about what’s next, and how great it’s going to be, which is very enjoyable. Bask in the fun phase; it usually doesn’t last very long.

48. Then you move into the Frustrating Phase. After sending out countless resumes and getting no response, it’s easy to get frustrated and annoyed. You attend every job fair and have circled through your network more than once with no job offers. No news is not good news in the job search process. Allow yourself permission to be in this phase, but pull yourself out quickly because it can be very defeating.

49. The worst is Futile Phase. When things aren’t going your way, you start to give up because of your lack of controlling the process. You feel depressed and useless. The best way out of this downward spiral – be useful. Volunteer some of your time, tackle that list of things you’ve wanted to do around the house, take a break from the job search process for a few days and enjoy time with your family. Again, accept this phase as part of the normal cycle, but be aware of when you are in it and what it takes to get you out of it.

50. And then it’s back to fun. The timelines associated with each phase vary with every person. It’s okay to move through them at your own pace. It’s helpful to have a good support system in place and to talk to others who are in the same situation. As much time as you can spend having fun with the process, the more productive you will be. Getting a job is a job-but it can be an interesting, informative, and inspiring one if that’s the way you choose to work it.

Author: Carol Albert

Related posts:

1. 5 Tips For a Successful Phone Interview
2. Tips For Successful Job Hunting: How To Get A Job Without A Resume
3. 15 Sure-fire Ways to a Successful Job Interview and the Top 10 Questions to Ask

1. Research the Company

The job interviewer is very likely to ask you why you are interested in the job for which you are interviewing. If you are able to respond in a way that demonstrates an accurate understanding of the company, the researcher will likely be very impressed with you.

The fact that you took the time to learn the organization’s mission or that you have a clear understanding of the company’s primary product line sends the right message. It lets the interviewer know that you have both initiative and a genuine interest in the job.

2. Dress the Part

First impressions definitely make a difference in how an interview perceives your suitability for a particular job. If you are dressed inappropriately for a job interview, the interviewer may well subconsciously exclude you from being considered before the job before the questions even start.

Conventional wisdom regarding appropriate dress for job interviews is that you should dress as if you already have the job. It’s even better to take it a step further and dress as if you already have a job one step above the one that you are trying to get.

3. Punctuality Matters

Being on time for a job interview is crucial. One of the biggest challenges for employers is having deal with employee tardiness and absenteeism. By being late to a job interview, regardless of the reason, you are sending a message to the interviewer that you are likely to have issues with punctuality.

You should plan to arrive at the location of your job interview approximately 15 minutes early. By planning ahead and allowing some extra time, you will have enough of a cushion to deal with traffic slowdowns that might occur along the way.

4. Prepare for Common Interview Questions

There are a number of questions that most job interviewers tend to ask in interviews. Almost every interviewer is going to ask you to describe your greatest strengths and weaknesses. Employers usually ask why you are interested in the particular job for which you are interviewing. You are also likely to be asked to describe your long-term career goals.

By thinking ahead about the best way to answer these types of questions you will be better prepared to give appropriate responses.

5. Be Ready to Ask Questions of Your Own

At the end of a job interviewer, it is very common for the interviewer to conclude by asking the candidate if he or she has any questions. This is another area where you can distinguish yourself from other applicants by being prepared to ask good questions. You can always ask the interviewer when a decision will be made about the position. You can also ask for permission to follow up with the interviewer about the position. This demonstrates a genuine interest in the job.

What you shouldn’t do, particularly in a first interview, is ask questions about the amount of vacation time, holidays, the cost of health insurance, or even pay. Such discussions are more appropriate once a job offer has actually been made. Asking such questions early in the interview process is presumptuous, and sends the wrong message to the interviewer.

Author: Mary Gormandy White

Related posts:

1. Interview Tips – An Interview Crib Sheet
2. 5 Tips For a Successful Phone Interview
3. Interview Success Tips in a Tough Economy