Marketing You 101: Tips for the Job Seeker

Does any product really succeed in the marketplace without a marketing plan? Is there any successful widget or gadget or service that gets by under the "if we build it, they will come" theory? No! Just look around you and observe what sells. How do you hear about it? What is the pitch? The truth is, whether it is subtle or loud, every successful product in the modern American marketplace has a marketing plan built around it.

What is the one product you know better than anyone else? What product can you most persuasively describe the benefits leading to a "buy" decision? That product, of course, is YOU and the valuable service that you bring to an organization lucky enough to hire you. Think of your career search efforts not simply as "looking for a job" but rather as an integrated marketing campaign using multiple synergistic channels to get the word out about you and how you will bring value to an organization. This article will describe some practical steps you can take as a job seeker to plan and launch a marketing campaign with YOU as the product.

Any successful marketing campaign will have four phases which you should incorporate into your larger job search campaign: Research, strategic planning, implementation, and assessment. I will describe the crucial elements to each phase.

Research. The first part of any marketing campaign is to understand the various marketing channels that are available. What is a "marketing channel"? It is simply the path you will use to communicate your message to those who should hear it. Some important channels for the job seeker are:

Your extended network. Arguably the most important channel because it is estimated that 60% of all positions are landed through one’s network. Your task here is to discover and marshal the people in your network so that they can help you land a position that you want.

My book,Get the Job You Want: Practical Strategies for Your Job Search Campaign (Signalman, 2008) discusses in much greater detail a successful approach to do this.

Social networking. This has really come to the forefront in the last two years as being an effective channel to get your message out. Sites like LinkedIn and Facebook are the most well known but there are others out there as well.

Traditional internet job search sites. It is important to have a presence on Monster and CareerBuilder and others that may tailor to your specific targeted industry(ies).

Recruiters. There are a lot of them who would love to place you with a happy client and collect a nice fat fee. Find out which recruiting firms may specialize in your area of expertise and then approach them first.

Organizations, associations, and networking groups. Are you a Rotarian or a member of another community organization? Or perhaps you get your college alumni association newsletter and indeed can claim membership? These groups will typically have some career help available. My college alumni association actually holds a career fair twice a year. Leverage these organizations to help you get the word out about what you can offer a prospective employer.

Strategic Planning. Now that you have identified targeted marketing channels, the next step is to develop a strategic plan that will tailor your message in an appropriate way for each marketing channel. And by the way, it is not effective to only employ one channel or one way to communicate your message. It is critical that you use every tool at your disposal while at the same time ensuring you have a consistent message. In strategic planning you should actually write down your plan so that you can refer back to it often and also note which aspect was successful and which was not (which you will be doing in the assessment phase).

Implementation. Often, it is not what you do but how you do it that is a key determinant in success. In this phase you need to be disciplined about carrying out the plan that you developed with enthusiasm. As you get down into the details of implementation, you may find that you need to make some adjustments to your message along the way. That is perfectly fine. That means you are observant and open to feedback. Just ensure that you have a consistent message across the different channels. For example, I have seen a case where a candidate’s resume came across my desk as a Business Analyst looking for the same type of position and have also seen this same person looking for a Quality Assurance position. This may not be inconsistent if this person has the relevant experience in each field, but one needs to be careful if the various messages are not consistent because it may cause "confusion in the marketplace".

Assessment. In this phase you want to take some time to assess the effectiveness of your marketing efforts within each channel. One way to do this is to measure the number of inquiries that you are getting and their source. If you are getting some great inquiries through one of your channels, you may want to consider putting more of your time into working that channel since it apparently is reaching the right folks. Part of this phase is to see what works and what doesn’t and to go back to your plan and make adjustments accordingly.

Remember, you are your own best advocate. You, more than anyone else, knows how to articulate your own value proposition. Approach your job search like you are developing a marketing campaign using the phased approach I have outlined and you will clearly stand out from your competition.

Get the Job You Want

careers, Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy

 

Looking for a Job - Conduct a Self Assessment and Appraisal

When it comes time to look for a job or gainful employment – whether it be an entry level position or a major upgrade up the corporate or career ladder one major step that is often overlooked is a clear self evaluation and assessment of a person’s own skills and abilities. After all who knows your inner strengths and personal weaknesses better than yourself and none other?

Self evaluation is often a most difficult process. That is why is so often gets overlooked. If it is hard to take criticism from others – whether it be at a baseball or football game , a spouse or a boss in what is so supposed to be a most positive and learning experience – the oft feared "yearly or even quarterly "evaluation" it is never pretty nor a fun task to enjoy or endure. It is the same and similar as to why people usually miss this step in the job seeking process – that is the self evaluation.

Yet a self evaluation can make the difference between you getting or not obtaining that offer of employment – be it that promotion you never seem to get or that entry level job which gets you up the ladder from that ordinary "Big box" store somewhat menial and certainly lower paying job.

The product that you are selling in job interviews is "you". Most likely you spent a fair amount of time and expense preparing that resume and cover letter. Yet the general and overall purpose of a resume is not to get a job – few people ever got a job offer simply by submitting a resume. If they did gain employment its most likely because either the firm or the field was desperate for employees or it was not a good place – indeed a terrible place to work. The purpose of the resume and cover letter is to get the product into the door – into an actual face to face interview situation.

Most people in an interview situation generally only think of the skills and attributes that they have used in the last while or in their current or last job. They short change themselves and even the potential employer. Most people have skills and attributes that may never have thought of to portray or mention. It is a situation analogous to the iceberg that hit the Titanic – only a small percentage of any people being interviewed actual and inherent skills and talents come to the surface and are visible to the naked eye – the interviewer and indeed the interview subject.

A full self appraisal may well identify these traits, talents and attributes to you, before that actual interview – perhaps even before the resume is made and updated as well. By being forewarned and informed you are in a much better situation to identify yourself as self as the talented soul best suited for the job at hand and as well market yourself well and hopefully better.

As well if you do have faults or shortcomings that either have not been identified by yourself , or need explanation a self evaluation is the best place to start either becoming comfortable to an answer to that situation or questions or take steps to rectify any situations or provide yourself with extra training or education.

It’s about getting that job, seeking employment, getting ahead in life - all by presenting yourself in the best possible light and manner.

If you do not take the time and effort to present yourself in the best way and means in order to either get better employment and remuneration who else will ? It’s all up to you.

A genuine and real self assessment and appraisal is one of the best things you can do. It is more than worth the time and effort spent in the ordeal. Believe it.

By Syd Nohcud

careers, Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy

 

Down Economy: Maintaining Professional Image in the Job Search

Although current unemployment numbers are at all-time high’s, there are jobs to be had – to those who are best prepared. Whether you are currently employed or in professional transition, with the right approach, you can get the job you want even in this currently tight job market.

A powerful tool at your disposal is your professional appearance. It is common knowledge among career coaches, that the way you present yourself in the workplace is a critical key to impressing those in hiring positions, second only to job performance. If you are considering a promotion at your current company, dressing professionally allows your immediate manager and other decision makers to see you in the role you’d like to have.

Look at the way colleagues who impress you dress. Those in positions you aspire to are likely dressing a level up from their own position and are good barometers to prepare for your advancement. Even in a company with a relaxed dress policy, opportunities exist to take your appearance to the next level. Many employees will dress at the lower acceptable levels of a casual policy. Hold yourself to a higher standard that reflects discernment and quality in judgment. These trait inferences transfer to perceptions about your work and thought processes. In every situation, make sure that your clothes are clean, neat, pressed and appropriate for the environment.

If you are looking for job opportunities outside your current organization or are presently in transition, the networking circuit is a great place to begin building your personal brand. With so much change taking place now, networking events are plentiful. They present an environment to get in contact with people who either know about open positions or can put you in touch with those who do (gate keepers). Use the occasion to promote yourself with confident body language and a successful appearance. Some ways to do this:

1. Dress as if you are attending a job interview. Don’t wear your best interview suit if the environment does not call for it, but do dress with the same level of attention to detail and grooming.

2. Shake hands with everyone you meet using a firm web-to-web handshake and maintain direct eye contact, which demonstrates self confidence and sincerity.

3. Introduce yourself with your first and last name and repeat the other person’s name to cement it in your memory.

4. Prepare a "mini resume" calling card that features your contact information on the front, and a list of your key competencies on the back. This helps those you meet remember your objective and area of specialty. Give this the same attention to appearance and accuracy as you do your full resume.

5. At the event, remember that you are not the only person shopping for a job. Can you help someone else in his or her search? Chances are they will be willing to help you, too (and it doesn’t hurt your karma).

6. Follow-up with those whom you’ve made connections in a well-written email or LinkedIn invitation within a week of the event, ideally, within 48 hours.

7. Thank the host via email or LinkedIn. Consider a "public" thank you via LinkedIn recommendation or posting on their Facebook wall. This is great advertisement for them, and an opportunity to increase cayour public presence.

Social media sites are another forum within which to promote a professional personal brand in your job search. According to a recent survey by recruitment solutions provider, Jobvite, 80% of companies plan to use social networking to find and attract candidates this year. If the majority of your pictures on Facebook feature an inebriated, partying version of you, it’s unlikely to make a favorable impression upon a hiring manager. Practice prudence in your online postings. Remember that recruiters are using these sites as research, and findings can be a deciding factor in a competitive hiring environment.

There are several social mediums to consider, with LinkedIn ranked in the lead with it’s resume-like format. Even 3rd-place Twitter, though, is tapped by 42% of recruiters (Facebook is second lead). With this kind of activity, social media sites provide plenty of opportunity, but also require careful attention. Just like networking and presenting yourself daily at your company, you’ll want to "dress to impress" here too. What you put on your site pages represents you to anyone who visits virtually. Offensive jokes and lewd remarks won’t reflect positively on you. Also consider grammar, word choice, and typo’s when portraying your professional brand online.

The Kelly Global Workforce Index from Kelly Services showed in January 2008 that 32% of survey respondents found their most recent job online (including social media sites) and 21% found work via 'word of mouth,' like that which takes place at networking events. Conduct your search with savvy by putting your best self forward —both in person and on the Internet.

By Patty Buccellato

careers, Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy

 

How to Find Quality Leads in Your Executive Job Search

One of the toughest parts of conducting a job search at any level, especially the executive level, is finding, and keeping track of, your leads. These leads might include all of the opportunities you’ve found online, running into people at casual events, serious networking functions and so on.

Of course, when you find a lead, you want to follow up on it. But it’s not easy to follow up on something if you forget that you found it. So let’s take a look at ways that you can not only find quality leads, but also keep track of them effectively so that you can follow up in a timely fashion.

Finding Your Leads

There are a number of ways to go about finding quality leads. Luckily, you have access to a great source for leads in the Internet. The first places to look are sites that are dedicated to executive-level job seekers like ExecuNet, 6 Figure Jobs and The Ladders. On these sites you can find great advice on ways to effectively search for jobs and elevate through your career. Also, you can search for high-level jobs on the sites.

But of course, finding leads doesn’t stop at the Internet. You should also be venturing out to networking functions in your area to meet new people. Whether you attend a board meeting, job fair or even the casual outing, you can connect with great people who can tip you off to new leads. Don’t forget your previous co-workers, long-term mentors and even prior clients. Any and everyone is game when it comes to finding leads, so don’t take anyone for granted as you compile your list.

Keeping Track of Your Leads

One great way to keep track of your leads is by creating a spreadsheet. You can sort the leads into categories that work best for you. For instance, you might create categories that focus on how you connected with your leads. In this case, you might create category titles like "Job Boards," "Networking Events," "Social Functions," etc.

Or you might categorize your leads according to how you would like to follow up with them. In this case, you might choose headings like "Immediately," "1-2 Days" or "3-4 Days". You can also sort them according to the format that you want to follow up with them in: "Phone," "Email" or "In Person". You get the drift. The point is that you want to make sure that you organize the leads you encounter in a way that allows you to follow up with opportunities and people in an appropriate fashion.

Following Up With Your Leads

Following up with your leads is both the easiest and most difficult part of the process. Now that you have everything compiled, you actually have to do the work of catching up with people via phone, email or in person. You might also have to shoot off your executive resume or biography via email or snail mail. It can be an exhausting process; however, it’s one that’s well worth the work.

There’s nothing more rewarding than reaping the benefits of hard work. When taking the time to find, organize, and follow up with your leads results in your next job, you’ll know how much your hard work has paid off.

executive resumes

A great resource for outstanding executive resume writers.

By Heather Eagar

careers, Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy

 

Presenting Yourself as a Brand During Your Job Search

When you are in a place where you want to make sure that you are going to get the job that you need, you will find that you are going to have to find the best way to ace that job interview. Your job interview is going to be the time when you wow your prospective job employers and more than anything else, it is going to decide whether you get a job or not. Why, then, do so many people prepare badly for this event or fail to prepare at all? This is something that can make a huge difference when you are looking at moving forward and at the end of the day, you will discover that this is the best time in the world to market yourself as a brand.

A brand, even more than a person, is something that any interviewer is going to be interested in. Isn't a brand more exciting and doesn't it stand for more in the mind of the viewer? For instance, are you someone who is interested in moving forward and getting the right kind of attention? How do you feel when you recognize the brands that you like and respect when you are on the job hunt? What brands make you interested in what you are doing, and what brands are going to teach you a lot more about the kind of work that you are looking into doing? Take some time and learn more about branding and what it can help you do.

With the right kind of branding under your belt, you are going to be able to make a much deeper impression on the interviewers in questions. When you are going to find the career that suits you and when the career of your dreams is on the line; remember that you are looking at something that can make a huge difference in the way that you are moving forward. Take some time and learn more about your job and what kinds of brands are most important.

For instance are you in an industry that values a lot of off the wall creativity or are you in an industry that needs reliability and steadiness above everything else? When you are looking at moving forward in your industry, you are going to have to look into how things are marketed and how you can market yourself. The more you learn about the industry and the more that you look into what is necessary, the better your options are going to be. Take some time and make sure that you look into how you are going to be able to brand yourself and how you would market your services.

Also remember that you are going to need to know yourself. Are you someone who is interested in moving forward and in making sure that you are going to be at the top of your field? What are your interests and where do your strengths lie? The more you know about the work that you are doing, the more you are going to be able to really sell yourself. Marketing is for everyone these days, so look into how your brand is going to affect the way that you can get work.

By Elizabeth Martinez

careers, Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy

 

Top 10 Job Search Mistakes to Avoid

It is easy for any Job Seeker to launch out into a job search market with great enthusiasm but no real plan to help see them through to their goal. Take time to look at plans for finding your next job and make sure you are avoiding these 10 Job Search Mistakes.

1. A job search requires much time and research to find job openings and many job seekers make huge mistakes when they do not put in enough time. Without doing the job research they do not send out enough resumes to get call backs for interviews. A. Harrison Barnes recommends his job research website Hound. It can provide the job research so the job seeker has plenty of opportunities for which he can apply.

2 It is a mistake when job seekers confine their job search to one media like newspaper advertisements. CEO of Hound, A. Harrison Barnes, offers his clients every job that can be posted by anyone, any where in the free world. A team of researchers and high end servers locate and post jobs continuously for Hound members.

3. Mailing or posting resumes for jobs everyone else is competing to get is a limiting effort. A huge mistake for a job seeker is to apply to a job that is being bombarded by resumes from all the classified ad readers. When applying for a well advertised position there will be competition for the job opening. Your chances for landing the job are greatly decreased.

4. Many job seekers make a big mistake when they use a cookie cutter resume style which is not tailored to a specific employer and a specific job. The A. Harrison Barnes website will coach members at Hound.com that a resumes should be very unique because it describes skills, experience, and who the applicant is as a person.

5. A job seeker applying to positions for which he has less than minimum requirements, experience or education is a mistake.

6. The job seeker does not have a system for organizing and tracking job search materials. This is a mistake and can result in missed interviews and missed opportunities.

Job seekers accumulate a lot of information and notes for specific job opportunities. Candidates can have different resumes, multiple cover letters, and a long list of jobs to which they applied. The applicant may get several business cards while networking with contacts or doing research on different companies. A Harrison Barnes suggests it is important for the job seeker to stay organized and have notes and business cards at hand should a call back come after an interview.

7. Many job seekers do not realize it is a numbers game to get an interview and to get hired. They do not apply to enough employers to get any interviews. The mistake is underestimating the amount of contacts and interviews that need to be made before the fish will bite.

Research has found the average job seeker in the market for an annual salary range of $30,000 to $100,000 talked to 26 different people about jobs and hiring before they were actually hired.

8. It is a mistake to take rejection personally. The self confident job seeker knows she has got to kiss a lot of frogs before the prince of a job appears. A good way to deal with the rejection of a job opportunity is to have the next one lined up.

9. No plan to get the job. There are many things a job seeker can do to research and make contacts for jobs. Meet with a recruiter? Interview a person already doing a similar job in which there is interest? A. Harrison Barnes suggests putting 20 hours a week into the job search, unless working and looking for a job at the same time. Then, 10 hours a week is a good goal for job searching.

10. E-mail communication only can be a mistake. There have been several articles written on the mistakes that can happen when only using email as the communication tool. To avoid making most mistakes, call the hiring firm or business and verify their e-mail address so a hefty security system does not send communications into Spam when it comes into your mail box.

In conclusion, there are many mistakes to avoid when searching for the perfect position. Remember, whether the job hunt is a do-it-yourself project or whether assistance is hired in the form of a job research website, the search is yours. The results depend upon the job seeker and his investment in the organization and steps required when completing every goal necessary to land the job. Good luck in the job search!

By Elizabeth Martinez

careers, Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy

 

Smart Job Search - How to Find The Perfect Job in Employment Websites

Smart online job search is defined as the process of mastering the job search tools in employment websites and then using those search tools to find the perfect job for you. Thereafter you apply and take the job interviews.

Why would you want to spend valuable time in employment websites? Why master the art of online employment search?

The reason is pretty obvious.

Without a job, you're likely to be in a big mess. People who are unemployed end up being broke and unable to meet their financial commitments to their family as well as stakeholders.

Yes, being gainfully employed and getting regular consistent income is absolutely important. That is why job search sites or employment websites are the best place to relax and unwind . . . if you are unemployed or badly need to change your job.

Who are the stakeholders that you can't afford to disappoint?

Some of those key stakeholders are . . .

1. Your landlord or home owner . . . he wants his rent paid as and when due or you're out on the streets cold and hungry

2. The utilities company . . . you won't get gas or electricity if you don't pay your utility bills as and when due

3. Your bank . . . your home will be foreclosed if you don't pay your mortgage commitments as and when due

The list goes on and on.

Bottom line.

Staying out of job is not an option. To be happy and proud, you need to have regular consistent income. You need a decent paying job. And employment websites, otherwise called job search sites, are the best place to hang out and make your dreams come true.

How do these job sites work? And how can you get the most value from them?

Employment websites are essentially employment databases or job banks devoted to hosting job openings posted by employers.

Who are the customers or clients of these job banks?

They consist of the unemployed who desperately need jobs and employers who want the best hands for the job vacancies in their organization.

However, the employed also visit these job banks fairly regularly especially when they are bored or pissed off with their current employer and desperately need a job change.

Job sites recognize that they need to provide user-friendly and easy-to-use tools to continue to enjoy patronage of job seekers. So, most do just that . . . they provide simple search and navigation tools that entice customers to keep coming again and again.

So, how do you get the most from these job search sites and find your perfect job?

I recommend you do three basic and simple things.

1. Understand how the database is organized and start your search with this basic structure of the database. For example, global employment search sites may be organized in three broad categories, namely, . . .

* jobs by country

* jobs by profession and

* jobs by industry

Country employment websites may be organized by profession and also in terms of state-by-state job categorization. That is, job categorization in terms of the states in the country in question.

2. Use the job search sites employment search tool.

Virtually every job bank or job database has a search tool that can be used to search the entire database to find specific jobs. The good news is that the employment search tool of most job search sites are simple to use and visibly displayed so it is difficult to miss.

Use this job site search tool to narrow your search and find that dream job you've prayed for all year.

3. Subscribe to the RSS feed of the major employment opportunity web sites. The beauty of RSS feed is that you get notified every time a new job vacancy hits the job market. That way, you won't miss your preferred job when it becomes available.

Job search sites offer great value especially in these days of global economic recession with fewer jobs. Therefore the smart thing to do is to keep your ears to the ground by staying connected with news from job opportunity web sites.

Do this right and you're likely to find that dream job sooner than later.

By Samson Itoje

careers, Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy

 

Creating a Web Presence for Your Job Search

Many people don’t realize just how important it is to create a positive web presence when in the midst of a job search.

Unfortunately, it is almost inevitable that a major employer will spend some time Google-ing you before they decide whether they want to consider you as a candidate. So instead of avoiding creating a web presence, it’s good to just dive right in and get started.

Get Social Networking Profiles
One of the first steps to consider when creating your web presence is acquiring some social networking profiles. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter are the key sites because they allow you to connect with millions of other professionals in a variety of ways. Also, they help to get your name listed in the search engines so that if a recruiter Google’s you, you’re there and you’re a professional.

Purchase a Domain in Your Name
Another way to create a web presence is to purchase a domain in your name. There are a few good reasons for doing this. First, you get to control what is put out there about you by adding another listing in the searching engines. Second, you get to take the name before someone else does - someone who could ruin your name’s reputation. And third, purchasing a domain using costs less than $10 for an entire year.

Start a Blog
Some job seekers have found success in their search after starting a blog that’s relevant in their field. By starting a blog, you add to your web presence, increase the listings in search engines under your name and show recruiters that you’re knowledgeable in your field. Depending on the success of your blog, you could even find that you don’t need to find a job. Some bloggers have been able to support themselves with their blogs alone - after a lot of hard work and dedication, of course.

Network with Care
When you social network and begin making connections, it’s good to make sure that you also network with care. In the middle of your networking, you’re bound to run into old friends from college and probably some old high school buddies as well. This is great. But be sure to keep your wild frat and sorority stories to a minimum. In fact, it’s better to reminisce about them in private messages. If you’re concerned that your professional and personal lives won’t mix well then leave your social networking sites for professional purposes only.

Manage You’re Web Presence
Once you’ve created your social networking profiles, purchased your domain name and started a blog, it’s good to make sure that you keep your online presence current. This means sending out updates on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter pages and keeping your blog up-to-date. Also, if you’ve purchased your domain, you could create a simple web page that directs readers to your other profiles.

Creating a web presence is one of the cheapest and most effective ways to light a fire under your job search. So if you haven’t already hopped on this bandwagon, there’s no better time than now to get started.
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By Heather Eagar

careers, Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy

 

Job Search Tips - Top 3 Mistakes That Will Keep You Unemployed

Everyone makes mistakes. That's a given and excusable part of being human. But if you're embarking on a job search, you can ill afford too many of them. One mistake here or there, and your job search can be set back weeks if not months. So, what are some of the common mistakes that are made in a job search? Here are my top three...

Fuzzy Goals

If you're stumbling out of the house in the morning with the goal of "getting a job," good luck with that. This is the kind of economy, in the aftermath of the worst recession in 50 years, that will chew up and spit out those job seekers without a clear career goal and a plan to achieve it. Why? Largely, it's the shear number of applicants for available positions; they're simply overwhelming recruiters and hiring officials. Weeding out those applicants who "just want a job" is the first order of priority for those overtaxed employers.

Take some time to identify the position you want, and the company or companies that are capable of offering that opportunity. It's a new world order out there, and those who know what they want and focus their job search like a laser are more likely to get what they want.

A Resume That's Too General

Forget the illusion that a general resume allows you to apply to a variety of job opportunities. In reality, a general resume simply facilitates you getting rejected from a number of job opportunities. As mention above in "fuzzy goals," recruiters and hiring officials are overwhelmed by the shear number of resumes coming in daily. When they've got an opening, it's a title with a real specific set of duties and responsibilities. If your resume doesn't demonstrate job goals and qualifications in keeping with that title, you're out.

Employers today don't have the time or inclination to wonder if your stated objective, "A challenging position with a progressive corporation..." really means, "Senior Buyer with a national apparel retailer that could benefit from an impressive, 10-year history of contribution to comparable store sales and gross margin improvement." If the employer needs to fill a position for a buyer and is left staring the above two objective statements, guess which resume gets the call and which one gets the boot?

Target your resume to a specific job opening or a narrow range of potential openings. While that might mean tweaking the document seemingly every time you turn around, it beats the alternative: a single "general" resume generating zero phone calls.

Wasting Your Time On Internet Job Boards

Yes, there are jobs listed on job boards. And there's the siren call. The problem is, some of those jobs are out of date, and many others are increasingly ‘generic' jobs (that don't necessarily exist) posted by employment agencies or recruiters trolling for candidates to represent. While the latter isn't necessarily a bad thing (assuming you don't mind being deceived), the end result is one more person standing between you and a hiring official. Finally, even when the listings are legitimate and timely, there are thousands of candidates responding to every job listing. It's a crap shoot at best, with success rates of landing jobs running at about 2-4%. Compare that to a success rate of over 60% for ‘word-of-mouth' referrals.

Post your resume to a couple of job boards if you must, or schedule a very limited time every few days to peruse the latest listings. If you see an interesting job pop up on a job board, use the listing information as a springboard to pursue the opening directly through the company's website, or via your growing contacts in the industry.

Personal, one-on-one contact with decision makers, movers and shakers is time better spent that will improve your odds the most in landing your next job. Limit your time on the internet in general, and on job boards in particular, or run the risk of being consumed day and night with nothing to show for your job search but bloodshot eyes.

It goes without saying that your resume needs to be "top shelf" in this tough job market. If you're considering a professional resume service, make sure their writers are certified, have experience with your industry, and are prepared to conduct a consultative interview over the phone. Former recruiter David Alan Carter has put together Resume Service Reviews of 10 of the Web's most popular writers, reviewing quality of workmanship, spelling out their pricing, and giving each a star ranking. (Note: David's "Top Pick" actually guarantees interviews.)

By David Alan Carter

careers, Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy