Job Search Tactics

Read about the job search tactics recommended by a career expert for recent college graduates.

Job Search Tactics for Recent College Grads

by Kevin Donlin

Just graduated from college? If you're hitting the streets in search of your first job, you may find it slow going in this economy.

Take heart.

Here are three tips for finding that first job faster, based on the advice of career experts and my experience advising 2,000+ job hunters.

1) Don't sit back -- be aggressive

"In this job market, don't wait for placement firms or prospects to respond to your mailed resumes," advises Paul Richard DiModica, President of DigitalHatch, a sales training and consulting firm.

"Deal with decision makers only. Call the VP of the department you want to work in and ask for an appointment. Never deal with HR -- they do not make decisions and are more 'resume traffic managers,'" says DiModica.

The more persistent and proactive you are, the better. Sure, you might get the phone slammed in your ear once or twice. But the more "Nos" you hear, the closer you are to that one "Yes" that comes with a job offer.

2) Research for insights

The more you know about the company you want to work for, the better you can tailor your resumes and cover letters to hit them right between the eyes. And the better you'll do in a job interview.

"Research the company you are trying to seek employment with. Review their earning statements and Web site. Gain an understanding of who their customers are and what they want and need," says Richard Schuttler, Ph.D., Associate Dean at the University of Phoenix.

The more extensively you research a company, the more intelligently you can approach them with potential solutions to their problems. (Remember -- never think: "Give me a job." Think: "Here's how I can help you.")

3) Plug into your network

Networking is both the most effective and most overlooked tool in every job seeker's tool kit, no matter what your age or experience level.

Here are three uncommon ways to network better, according to Paul Richard DiModica:

* Contact your religious leaders -- they are networking experts. Ask for help reaching decision makers at target companies in your community. If your own leaders can't help you, perhaps their colleagues in another congregation can -- just ask!

* Contact the head of the chamber of commerce in your city. Buy that person lunch at their favorite restaurant, then ask for advice and introductions. Take notes!

* Make a list of 50 companies you like best. Call the switchboard and get the name of the VP you would work for, then call that VP and ask for a 20-minute appointment (it can help to buy lunch here, too). If you've researched the company ahead of time (and you must!), you can wow them with your knowledge and ideas.

Here's hoping these pointers help you make that all-important leap from college student to full-time employee!

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Job Search Secrets

Learn creative job search secrets for locating job opportunities using free resources.

Three Creative Job Search Secrets

by Kevin Donlin

In my continuing series on job search tips for hard times, here are 3 ways to locate job openings using free resources at your disposal.

This week, I interviewed Bob Picha, founder of San-Diego-based Ideas At Work, a company dedicated to the release of human potential in individuals and organizations.

Based on 30 years of career-consulting experience, Bob's insights are sure to surprise and more importantly help you find a job faster.

1) Read the paper, but not the want ads

Research is your first step in ferreting out job openings. And since almost everyone gets a daily newspaper, why not start there? But don't spend a lot of time on the want ads, advises Picha.

"I take an indirect approach in looking for companies that might be hiring. For example, I skimmed today's Wall Street Journal and found these tidbits:

* "Toyota now wants 15% of global market share, which means they'll be expanding worldwide and perhaps hiring locally..."

* "China is buying $1.2 billion in telecom equipment from Lucent and Motorola, which points to both firms needing new personnel..."

* "Earnings for Cendant rose 19%, so they may be hiring..."

"The list goes on," says Picha.

All is takes is a little digging to uncover these "jewels" that point you toward companies in need of new employees.

Two more ways to use the newspaper to uncover expanding businesses are:

* Monitor the business section for firms signing new commercial leases, a sure sign of a need for increased capacity.

* Look for companies receiving venture capital -- since it's so difficult to get these days, such firms are likely to have a viable business model ... and a need for new employees.

2) Consider temporary employment

Temporary agencies can open the door to a wider range of jobs than you think they're not limited to office support or light factory work.

"Many savvy employers use temporary agencies as a screening device. It's a chance to put temp workers through a trial period. And, if the employee is talented enough, a job can be created just for him or her," says Picha.

In Southern California, some companies draw 33-50% of their staff from the temporary work force, according to Picha. Similar figures may apply to other parts of the country.

Temporary agencies are all around you, too.

"Just visit www.google.com, search for 'temporary employment,' and you'll find a huge number of temp agency listings. You can sort them by geography, industry -- whatever," says Picha, who found 59 agencies listed for his Southern California region.

3) Network smarter, not harder

I've said it before, I'll say it again networking is how 70-80% of the best jobs are filled. But in today's economy, don't expect a plum position to fall in your lap. You must network smartly and more creatively.

"Try calling on vendors and suppliers who know of companies that might be hiring. These include your local banker, CPA, lawyer and real estate agent. These people all have a great deal of knowledge," says Picha.

Don't forget associations there's one or more for every field of work. Use them to meet decision makers who can hire you. Call the reference desk at your public library for help finding associations.

When you call or meet networking contacts, ask for names of growing companies who could use someone with your experience. Ask for a contact person at the target employer(s), but avoid the HR department, since they often act as gatekeepers and may shun you.

So there you have it.

Three job search tips to help you use the newspaper, temp agencies and your network more creatively and effectively than before.

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Job Search Lessons

Read about job search lessons learned during job search experiences.

Job Search Lessons from the School of Hard Knocks

by Kevin Donlin

Have you been hit hard by the slow economy?

If you're 30 or younger, you've probably never experienced a recession as a member of the work force. And when compared to the go-go economy of the late 1990s, the current rash of job cuts and hiring freezes must seem especially frightening.

So I tracked down and interviewed James Adams, a 70-year-old former Minneapolis resident who's seen it all.

He's has held -- count 'em -- 107 jobs in his life. In fact, Adams became so skilled at getting jobs that the U.S. government hired him to teach his job search secrets to others!

Without further ado, here are three job hunting tactics for hard times, from the school of hard knocks.

1) Don't take every help-want ad at face value

Some employment ads are written to prevent all but the most gung-ho job seekers from applying.

Reason? To prevent a flood of resumes that would take days to read, some employers purposely place ads that ask for unrealistic qualifications.

"I recall a help-wanted ad for a shipping clerk that read like a laundry list. They wanted someone with a college degree (master's preferred), able to lift 300 lbs., type 50+ words a minute -- it went on and on," says Adams.

So, how did Adams overcome this obstacle?

"I took the direct approach. I went down to the company and said, 'Here I am!' I told them that God himself couldn't meet all their qualifications, but if they wanted a top-notch shipping clerk, I was their man."

He got the job.

2) You may be more qualified than you think

Adams once advised an applicant to talk about her hobby as a private pilot when interviewing for a position at a utility.

Why?

The job required a manager to oversee a plant delivering electricity to consumers across California. Making the wrong decision -- or no decision -- would put thousands of people in the dark.

As a private pilot, this woman had safely landed a crippled aircraft not once, but twice. Had she not made the right decisions fast, while focusing on a solution, she wouldn't have survived.

By proving her decision-making ability, which transferred easily from piloting to power plant management, she aced out dozens of other applicants -- and got the job.

3) Rejection letters can be a good thing

Your response to a letter of rejection may, incredibly, get you the job.

Because, when a hiring panel interviews several applicants but still can't decide on one candidate, they may send out rejection letters to test the mettle of those job seekers.

"I was consulted by a woman who interviewed very well for a position, but still got a letter of rejection. Most people would have torn up the letter and gone on to other things," says Adams.

Instead, Adams told her to write a gracious reply, thanking the company for their time and reaffirming her strong desire to work for them.

Did it work?

"The top contender for the position had to relocate on short notice. The hiring panel remembered the letter they got from the really eager and pleasant woman who replied to their rejection letter. She got the job," says Adams.

So, take it from a job search pro who's been there and done that. You can do great things in your career if you exercise persistence, politeness and a little street smarts.

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Job Research

Get advice from professional resume writers on how to research prospective employers in your job search.

Know the Employer

ResumeEdge.com

by ResumeEdge.com - The Net's Premier Resume Writing and Editing Service

Just as you must know yourself before you begin an interview, so too must you know your prospective employer. Knowledge of the company helps you tailor your responses to questions and gives you confidence. It shows the interviewer that you care about the company and want to make a well-informed decision, and it gives you fodder for posing impressive questions to the interviewer. All of the information you gather will help you anticipate the company culture and gauge the expectations that they will have of you.

Understanding the Mission

At a minimum, you need to discover the company's purpose and trajectory. The employer will be convinced that you do not care about the job if you have to ask what they do. Look on the company website to discover how the company presents itself. Make sure you can articulate what the company mission statement is. If the company has a tag line, memorize that as well. If available, request a copy of its annual report. For newsworthy companies, check media sources like newspapers and business magazines to find out where the company is going and what its challenges are. Discover if they have any specific goals for the near future, like the production of new products or new partnerships. Talk with someone who works there or has worked there to find out whether the company fulfills its mission.

Study the Market

You also must familiarize yourself with the company's market. If they sell a product, who are their target customers? If they provide a service, to whom is it rendered? What is the nature of the products or services? These are the kinds of things you should be conversant in when you sit down for an interview. In addition, it is useful to know who are the company's competitors. Is it a business down the street, a conglomerate, a new or established company?

Company Structure

Find out what the structure and scope of the company is. Besides identifying whether the company is small, medium, large, or enormous, you need to know its configuration. Is it a division of a larger company or owned by a parent company? Does it own other companies? What are its strategic alliances? Is it a local, national, or international company? Also discover whether the company has divisions and what they are. It is also useful to know at what stage of growth the company is. Have they recently grown or laid off employees? At what rate? Using your internet, media, and personal sources, uncover as much as you can about the internal workings of the company.

Know the Customer

Moreover, it is useful to know how the company makes its money. Who are its clients or customers and how many of them are there? Is it a family-owned business or a start-up company funded by angels? Getting your hands on a share-holders report could be very illuminating as you determine what the company's earnings or losses are. Are their profits increasing or are they mired in debt? Is there another company funding them for a period of time at a loss? Compiling this information will enable you to assess the financial stability of the company.

Employee Relations

Finally, you will benefit from knowing how the company treats its employees. Interviewing current or former employees will give you the information you need to determine whether you are likely to receive the kind of treatment you desire or require. How much of the company earnings are shared by employees? What are the salary ranges for various positions? Gaining this kind of information will help you assess a compensation packet that you can feasibly negotiate. Do not forget to uncover the benefits package offered by the company when you consider the attractiveness of compensation. In addition to compensation, discover whether employees receive training or mentoring, how many hours a week the employees tend to work, and how long employees tend to stay at the company. Finally, you might check to see if any complaints have been filed against the company.

Interview Background

Since you need to connect with the person responsible for the interview, it is helpful to discover as much as you can about that person as well. Is this your prospective boss or someone screening applicants? If possible, discover what the person is interested in and where he or she previously worked or went to college. Gather information that will help you establish an easy rapport.

Your quest for information can seem elusive without the ability to conduct an audit of the company's financial statements or at least interview employees of the company. With a bit of networking, the latter might be more feasible than you would initially think. Several other resources will help you:

* The company website

* Company statements and brochures

* Newspaper and magazine articles

* Reviews of best and worst companies

* Employees of the company

* Public records

* Information held at local job search agencies

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Job Interview Mistakes

Receive helpful advice from a career expert on how to avoid interview mistakes.

Four Common Job Interview Mistakes -- And How to Fix Them

by Kevin Donlin

"Many's the slip twixt cup and lip," said Shakespeare (if I remember my high school English correctly).

Translated to your job search, that phrase means: "Even the best resume in the world is worthless if you fluff the interview." Unfortunately, it happens every day. Job seekers send out excellent resumes, get called for the interview ... and blow it.

So, to help you avoid the most common interview blunders, I consulted a nationally renowned expert on the subject, Carole Martin.

The following tips are from my conversation with Carole, the Job Interview Coach for Monster.com and the most capable interview expert I know, with 15 years of human resources management experience.

Blunder #1: Poor Non-Verbal Communication

"Interviewing effectively is about demonstrating confidence. Things like standing straight, making eye contact, and connecting with a good, firm handshake are all vitally important," says Martin.

Think of it like this: we humans have only been using words for the past 10,000 years or so, right? Before that, we communicated by grunting, posturing and clubbing each other over the head.

We humans have been paying attention to non-verbal cues for many thousands of years longer than we have verbal ones. It's in our genes.

The person who interviews you is no different. That's why your body language plays such a vital role in shaping the first impression you make. It can be a great beginning to your interview. Or a quick ending.

Practice accordingly.

Blunder #2: Failure to Listen Actively

"From the moment you start talking, your interviewer is giving you information, either directly or indirectly. If you are not listening actively, you're missing out on a major opportunity," says Martin.

Make sure you take copious notes, jotting down every key phrase and idea your interviewer uses. Doing so will demonstrate your enthusiasm for the job, your attention to detail ... and it will help you recall what is said. So you won't ask a question that's already been answered, for example.

Good communication skills include listening and letting the person know you heard what they said. Observe your interviewer and match their style and pace.

Blunder #3: Talking Too Much

"Telling the interviewer more than they need to know can be a fatal mistake. Candidates who don't prepare ahead of time tend to ramble, sometimes talking themselves right out of the job," says Martin.

Remember that you're at the job interview to get information as much as you are to give it.

"Prepare for the interview by reading the job posting thoroughly. Try to focus on the skills you have that match the requirements of the position, and relate only that information," says Martin.

Blunder #4: Appearing Desperate

This can be tough to avoid in the current job market. After all, you need a job! But you must rein in your emotions.

"As a rule, if you interview with a 'Please, please, hire me,' mind-set, you will appear less confident. Maintain the three Cs during your next interview: Cool, Calm, and Confident! You know you can do the job. Make sure the interviewer knows you can, too," says Martin.

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Cover Letter Mistakes

Learn about three cover letter mistakes and how to avoid them.

Avoid the Top Three Cover Letter Mistakes!

by Deborah Walker

As a career coach and professional resume writer, I'm often asked "How important are cover letters to my job search?" My answer is, "It depends on how long you want to search for your next job." If you are in no hurry to get interviews, then don't worry about your cover letter.

The fact is I've never met a job searcher who wants to have a painfully slow job search. The whole point of sending out resumes is to get multiple interviews as quickly as possible. But many job seekers still unwittingly sabotage their efforts by using substandard cover letters. Instead of helping you, your cover letter may actually be hurting your job search.

For fast job search results, make sure to avoid these top three cover letter mistakes:

1. Not understanding the hiring motives of your audience

2. Repeating rather than introducing your resume

3. Overuse of the word "I"

1. Not understanding the hiring motives of your audience

There are three basic audiences that a job seeker sends his/her resume to: executive decision-makers, resume screeners, and third-party recruiters. Each of these groups has its own hiring motives.

* Executive decision-makers are looking for candidates who will have a significant impact on bottom-line initiatives, such as time saved, income generated, revenue built, etc.

* Resume screeners are searching for candidates who directly match the lists of qualifications in the job description.

* Third-party recruiters are looking for selling points to help position you as a top candidate.

Knowing these hiring motives will help you craft your cover letter specifically to catch the attention of your particular hiring audience. By appealing directly to the reader, you are creating an immediate bond that will make you a stronger candidate.

2. Repeating rather than introducing your resume

Repeating the exact same things you wrote in your resume is one of the most common cover letter mistakes. No one wants to read the same thing twice. By the time most people have finished writing their resume, they feel that they have run out of ideas and just cut and paste to create a cover letter.

Instead, the cover letter should be what sells the reader on your skills. Like the jacket-cover introduction to a good book, the cover letter should give the reader a taste of the great things to come and encourage them to read more.

If you are don't have any idea what your top skills are and how they will help the company, neither will your reader. Take the time to craft the right words and statements to make your skills shine.

3. Overuse of the word "I"

A cover letter that begins nearly every sentence with "I" is as boring as a conversation with someone who only talks about himself. That kind of person one avoids at all costs. Is that the way you want your reader to see you?

Focusing all the attention on yourself may seem like a good way to sell your skills. But it can also reflect lack of interest in the company, in the job, and in making a real contribution to that workplace. There's a good balance to be drawn between selling yourself and selling what you can do for the company.

Creating variety in the sentences of your cover letter is an easy way to show your interest without being self-centered. By shifting the emphasis to the recipient/company - and away from yourself - you can prove that your main interest is not just in winning the job but also in doing it effectively. Try to rewrite sentences that start with "I," "me," or "my," to start with "You," or "Your." Show how you can make a difference for them.

A cover letter that is poorly written may cause your resume to be ignored. But a well-crafted cover letter will invite and encourage the reader to take a closer look at your resume. You'll make a positive first impression before your resume is even opened.

Rather than making your cover letter an afterthought, take the time to really consider the type of presentation your cover letter will make. If your resume isn't winning you job interviews, consider hiring a professional resume writer to help. It's true what they say: You never get a second chance to make a good first impression.

Deborah Walker, CCMC

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Job Bank Posting

Learn about the effective use of job banks in your job search strategy.

Job Bank Posting: Needle in a haystack approach to marketing yourself, or one of the best strategies since networking?

By Teena Rose, Career Writer, Resume to Referral

Technology has grown in leaps and bounds - even the resume industry has been transformed with the introduction of various job-search conduits, such as online recruiters, headhunters, and job banks.

Like many employment agencies, job banks have seen a significant growth spurt in the last 10 years. I think I can safely say there are 1,000s of job boards containing the descriptions of open positions located locally, nationally, and internationally.

Job banks may seem intimidating to some, but in reality, they are no more than a fat section of help wanted ads in the Sunday newsletter - online.

Many job banks also possess a resume submission area, allowing a document to be available online and searchable by keywords and key phrases.

Taking it one step further, these same job banks have incorporated "job sleuths" into their script programs. Jobs matching your skill set, target area, and/or salary requirement are automatically submitted by e-mail account for your review and action.

An increasing number of recruiters are focusing themselves within a niche market; and because of this, a rising number of industry-specific job banks have emerged. Finding job banks serving the information technology, sales, health care, and manufacturing industries (among others) are more common today than even 10 years ago.

Job bank results can vary upon a number of variables:

... Visibility of the job bank

... Keywords / key phrases contained in the resume

... Jobseekers current industry and position

... Requirements for target position (i.e. some companies seeking medical sales professionals require a minimum of 18 months sales experience)

A number of resume writers now advertise "keyword strong" documents, catering to technological advancements.

Posting to job banks can be an added approach to your job search, but shouldn't replace the tried-and-true results produced from networking.

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Graduate Job Search

Get advice from professional resume writers on how to find your first job after graduation.

Finding a Job

ResumeEdge.com

by ResumeEdge.com - The Net's Premier Resume Writing and Editing Service

You know exactly what kind of career you want. Your resume is perfect. You've forced your friends to spend hours asking you practice interview questions. Everything is in order - except you don't know how to go about finding the job openings.

The first step is to shift your networking skills into high gear. Start asking friends and family members to ask their co-workers, friends, hairdressers, optometrists, accountants, and other acquaintances if they've either heard of any available, relevant job openings, or if they know of someone to whom you ought to talk.

Another good way to make connections is to contact your college alumni office or career services center to see if either has a list of alumni who have volunteered to serve as mentors and contacts to young jobseekers.

Also, if you've held internships in the past, get in touch with your employers and co-workers from those experiences and ask if they can point you in the right direction.

While there's truth to the adage that the best jobs are never advertised, that doesn't mean you can't find a good job outside the networking realm:

* Check out Internet job listings.

* Go to trade websites for the career field in which you're interested. Often, occupations have professional associations with websites that include job listings. If you don't know the name of the association or trade organization that unifies your potential colleagues, do a search or ask someone in the field. Those websites are also an excellent way to cull contact names.

* Go to job fairs. You can usually find advertisements for job fairs in your local newspaper.

* Visit the websites of companies for which you would like to work. See if they have any job listings posted within the site.

* If you're interested in working for a medium- or large-sized company, call the human resources departments of potential employers and ask if they have any job openings.

* Read the classified section of the newspaper. If you want to relocate, find out what newspapers serve the places you'd like to live and then browse those papers' classified sections on the web.

The most important thing to remember is that the job search is often like a roller coaster ride. You might find some great opportunities, only to find that positions have been filled. And, in turn, you might investigate something you don't think you're interested in, only to strike a gold mine. The important thing is to keep you head up, and keep pushing forward. As long as you're persistent and patient, you will either find a good job, or you'll find a job that will serve as a transitional job that will open doors for you.

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Executive Resumes

Get advice from professional resume writers on how to write executive resumes.

Executive Resumes

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by ResumeEdge.com - The Net's Premier Resume Writing and Editing Service

Executive resume formats generally have:

1. A more conservative appearance.

2. A separate area showcasing Career Accomplishments.

3. A finished length of two or more pages.

That said, Executive formats can be used by any job seeker, especially those who have career or academic accomplishments and seek a more comprehensive approach to employment history - if that comprehensive approach is relevant and enhances their candidacy.

Conservative Appearance

Executive Resume format generally employs the Times New Roman font, which is universal on PCs, easy to read, yet elegant in appearance. Designer fonts, which include BlackAdder II, Castellar, and Broadway, are best left for graphic designers, artists, and those in nontraditional industries. The ample use of white space and underscored section headings are aesthetically pleasing and provide visual cues about where one data area ends and another begins.

Career Accomplishments

This is the hallmark of the Executive resume and what hiring managers most want to see. In this economy, when dozens or even hundreds of applicants with essentially the same backgrounds vie for each opening, the only characteristic that will separate a candidate from all the others is what they accomplished in previous positions. In an Executive resume, these achievements are showcased near the top of the first page. What's more, these accomplishments are generally quantified in terms of percentages, dollar figures, and time periods to specifically indicate what was done.

Finished Length

Executive resumes are usually two or more pages because of the sheer breadth of a candidate's experience. However, a modern resume should be only as long as it needs to be to contain the data relevant to the current job search. It's unwise to expand a one-page resume to two pages to meet an arbitrary page length, just as it is to cram a two-page document onto one page, reducing white space and font size to such an extent that the finalized document is hard to read and not aesthetically pleasing.

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E-Mail Cover Letters

Get expert advice on creating a professional image when submitting your resume for jobs online.

Creating Resume Cover Letters for Online Submission

by Vault.com - The Most Trusted Name in Career Information

Something happens to people when they get online. Maybe it's the instant access, maybe it's the anonymity, but when people get online they sometimes get overly casual and informal. This might be fine when your talking to your friend in Omaha or the someone you just met in a chat room, but it doesn't work well when you're trying to get business done.

Just because you're communicating online does not mean you should consider yourself exempt from any of the formalities of paper-based communication. Online cover letters are notoriously awful, poorly written throwaways of fewer than three lines whose only purpose is to say "I'm applying, this is my resume, have a nice day."

When formatting the cover letter, stick to left-justified headers and four-inch wide text lines in your paragraphs. You never know when the address you're mailing to has a small e-mail-page format that will awkwardly wrap text around the screen. Also, many e-mail systems cannot handle text enhancements like bolding, bulleting or underlining, so play it safe by using CAPITAL LETTERS -- or dashes -- if you need to make an emphasis.

Proper E-mail Cover Letter Etiquette

Anil Dash, the former chief information technology officer for an online music video production studio in Manhattan, lost his job this January when the company fired nearly all its employees. Since then, Dash figures he's applied for more than a dozen jobs, contacting every one of the potential employers - befitting an out-of-work CIO - through e-mail.

But every time he prepares another e-mail, he faces a choice. Should he bother to write an e-mail cover letter, the sort of thing he'd do if he were mailing the resume, or should he merely dash off a few lines to the effect of, "Hi, I'm interested in your job, and I've attached my resume as a Word file. Thanks." "I do cover letters for jobs I really want," Dash says. "For ones I don't care about, I just spam them."

Why Cover Letters Still Matter

According to recruiting experts, Dash is doing the right thing by writing extensive e-mail cover letters. Even though cover letters came of age in the age of pen and paper (or typewriter and paper), they still have a place in the 21st century, when want ads, resumes, and interviews all fly over virtual networks. "It's going over the Internet, but it's the same product," Madeline Miller, the manager of Compu-Type Nationwide Resume Service in upstate New York, said of e-mail cover letters. "The cover is very important and it should be the same quality if you were to mail it."

Since e-mail messages generally tend to be conversational and quickly written, many people aren't used to drafting carefully written e-mail cover letters. But Miller said any applicant who creates a fully-fleshed e-mailed cover letter has an advantage over an applicant with a more slapdash cover letter.

"There is a tendency to jot off a few lines, and people might write, "I'm applying for this job, here is my resume," Miller said. "But if there is a cover letter, that could put somebody over the top." But at the same time, make sure your e-mailed cover letter isn't a chore to read. If brevity is a virtue with conventional cover letters, it's a necessity for e-mailed cover letters.

Appropriate Cover Letter Length

Reesa Staten, the research director for OfficeTeam, a staffing service firm, says e-mailed resumes shouldn't run more than two or three paragraphs.

"You want to include the same type of information, albeit in a shorter version," Staten said. "What you don't want to do is rehash your resume. There's no need to restate what you've done in the past. What you want to do is tell them where you learned about the listing, why you're right for the job, and how they can reach you."

Tips for Sending Cover Letters and Resumes

If you really want the job, follow up an e-mailed cover letter and resume with a hard copy you mail. Make sure this hard copy includes a cover letter, too, that restates who you are and why you're qualified. Somewhere in the cover letter, be sure to write, "I recently e-mailed you my resume and I'm following up with this hard copy."

Why should you do this? A hard copy gives your resume another chance for exposure and makes it easier for a potential boss to pass around or file your cover letter and resume. In cases where your e-mailed cover letter and resume have been overlooked in someone's in-box or rendered inaccessible by a computer glitch, a hard copy may be your only chance for exposure.

If you're including a resume as an attachment, first make sure the prospective employer accepts attachments. Then, in your cover letter, mention the program you used to create your attachment. ("I've enclosed a cover letter written in Microsoft Word 2000.") It's also a good idea to include a cut and paste text version of your resume in addition, in case the person reading the resume doesn't have the software to open your attachment.

With any resume file you're attaching, open it first to make sure it's updated, error free, and the version of your resume you want to send. Sending a virus is tantamount to sealing your job-doom. Save a copy of whatever you send by including your own e-mail address in the "BCC" field or by making sure a copy goes to your "Sent mail" folder. This allows you to resend the letter if a problem pops up. Lastly, don't fill in the "to" field with the recipient's e-mail address until you've finished writing and editing the cover letter and resume. This prevents you from accidentally sending off the message before it's ready.

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Effective Resumes

Gain helpful hints and tips from a career expert on how to improve the effectiveness of your resume.

Simplify Your Resume

by Kevin Donlin

About 150 years ago, Henry David Thoreau had two things to say that can help you write a better resume today. They are: "Simplify! Simplify!"

You've heard many times that you have only 15-30 seconds to impress readers of your resume. So, the simpler and easier-to-read you can make it, the better.

Here are three ways to do just that.

1. Begin with clarity.

I'm always amazed by the number of resumes that begin with no objective or summary statement. As a result, the employer is forced to start reading without knowing what the applicant can do.

Many resumes begin by listing education, for example. But even if your degree is in high demand, such as computer science, you're still leaving room for misinterpretation (Does this person want a job in network administration? Telephone support? Internal help desk?)

Instead, try opening with an objective such as this: "Position in network administration where my computer science degree and technical skills will add value."

If you want to be more flexible about the job you're after, you can say: "Position where my computer science degree, troubleshooting skills and customer service experience will add value."

2. Group information logically.

Hurried readers want to quickly scan through your resume. You can help them by breaking things down into logical groupings. Don't jumble things together, as in this example:

Windows NT 4.0 Workstation, Windows NT 4.0 Server, MS Exchange, DOS, Windows 95/98, MS Word, MS Excel, MS Access, MS Outlook.

Break longer lists into smaller bits and give them a clear heading, like this:

COMPUTER SKILLS

* Operating Systems - Windows NT 4.0 (Workstation and Server), Windows 95/98 and DOS.

* Applications - Microsoft Exchange, Word, Excel, Access and Outlook.

3. Focus on results.

To make it easier for your reader to picture you achieving results on the job for him/her, clearly show how you've done it for others. Be as specific as possible.

Avoid dry language, like this: "Responsible for maintaining accurate inventory, acquisition and delivery of supplies."

Try saying this, instead: "Vastly improved customer service while cutting costs 24% by accurately managing inventory, acquisitions and deliveries."

Simple is good. When you begin your resume with clarity, group your information logically and focus on results, you'll enjoy a simply wonderful job search.

Best of luck to you!

careers, Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy

 

Business Opportunities Advice

Starting your own home business is not a simple task. However once you’ve made that first move and worked your way through everything the next most important thing is to market your business. That is where most of us go wrong – either because we’re not entirely market savvy people or because we try to do what most of the companies or organizations we know are doing right now.

However for your own unique business and your budget this might not be the best place to look at. A common mistake people who start up a business or even after a successful period of the business do is try as much as possible to advertise the business at different places.

Did you know that studies show that an average person has to see an ad at least 6 times before actually considering buying that product or service? If this is the case, then advertising purely will not be the best of options to take.

Finding your business opportunity in itself is an art. So what you must do is first find out ways and means of how you can promote your business that will bring positive results. One of the easiest ways of doing this is buy telling your friends, family, neighbors, previous work collogues, basically everyone you know about your business and what it does. This way, even if they don’t use your service they will recommend it to people they know and we all know what wonders ‘word of mouth’ can do.

Provide services from your business to charitable causes – Not only does this make your business show upon good light but will gain respect among the community as a decent and genuine business.

Another good way of promoting your business and tapping into new opportunities is by partnering or co-advertising products with another similar or complimenting business. For example, if you’re running a business to do with financial consulting, you can partner with a local bank to display your card and in turn you may direct them to the bank if a loan is required by a client etc. Your local community is a great source that can be tapped in to.

Most importantly, look out for opportunities that can add value to your business as well as the community or customer base you’re looking at as people buy confidence in a business more than the product itself.

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10 reasons for a telecommute job

Telecommuting is essentially working from home full time, or several days out of the workweek. More and more companies are finding that it makes their workers more productive to have this type of a work schedule. The following article gives ten reasons why you should telecommute.

1. Flexible work hours. If you are telecommuting, your schedule is more flexible. This will allow time for running errands or doctors appointments.

2. You’ll save money on buying clothes for work. If you work from home a few days a week, this means less outlay for clothes for work. You can work from home in your bathrobe and slippers if necessary, and no one will know the wiser.

3. You’ll save money on your dry-cleaning bill. If you work from home you won’t have to spend as much money on your dry-cleaning. You will be wearing those types of outfits less often and they will require cleaning on a less frequent basis.

4. You’ll save money on parking. Many places of business, especially in the heart of the city, charge you a monthly fee to park your car. If you are working from home full-time, you won’t have to pay this fee. If you are working from home only part time, you may be able to split the cost with another employee or have the fee reduced by your company.

5. You’ll save commute time. If you are working from home, you won’t have to deal with driving through traffic at peak commute times. No more traffic jams!

6. You’ll avoid office politics. If you work from home you won’t have to deal as much with office politics. You can get down to business and not worry about getting caught at the water cooler by the office gossip.

7. You won’t be micro-managed. If you are telecommuting, you can basically perform your job without someone looking over your shoulder. This can allow for a less stressful work situation.

8. You can spend more time with your family. By telecommuting you will have more time to spend with your family. You will be able to be home when the kids come home from school, or be able to pick them up and take them to their soccer game or karate lessons.

9. You will be more productive. If you work from home there will most likely be fewer distractions around you; therefore, you should be more productive.

10. You will be helping the environment. Working from home a few days a week or full time will reduce the number of cars there are on the road, thereby reducing the amount of pollution in the air.

Now that you have some tips on why your should telecommute, use them to your advantage. If your company is hesitant to implement a telecommuting program, suggest a ‘pilot program’ to start with. Include the tips listed above as part of your campaign for telecommuting. Good luck!

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