Job hunting is more competitive than it has been in years. The present economy means that there are countless newly-unemployed people looking for the same jobs you are. Therefore it is more important than ever to know everything you can about job hunting skills.
Make sure everyone you know is aware that you are looking for a new job. Most jobs are never advertised and therefore if you are searching only in newspapers and online job sites, you are missing a lot of opportunities. Utilize social networking sites like Facebook, MySpace and Twitter to get it out there that you are looking for work. Just remember to use social networking wisely. Anything and everything that you put on the web is something that a potential employer can see. Therefore, choose wisely before you share too much in cyberspace.
Research companies in your area and check their websites. Jobs may be listed there that are not listed elsewhere. If you are interested in working for a particular firm, call them, send them your resume and follow it up with a phone call. Get the name of a contact person to speak with there.
Create a sensational resume, having spent a great deal of time on it. Have it proofread and critiqued by several people. Remember to tailor it to every job you apply on. It will make a huge difference in getting interviews, as the resume typically makes the very first impression that someone has of you. Grab them with a great “Career Objective” that is perfectly tied to the job you are seeking. Use resume buzz words and terms from their job description throughout the resume and cover letter to help cinch the fact that you are the perfect fit for the job.
Write thank you notes after a job interview. This is a crucial step that many people skip. Doing this one thing can make the difference between choosing you or someone else for the job. Be prompt with the note; send it the same day as the interview. Send thank you notes individually to all those who interviewed you. Reiterate your desire to work at the firm, your suitability for the job, add anything you may have forgotten to mention and above all, thank the interviewer for their time and the opportunity.
Prepare well for interviews. Learn everything you can about the company you are being interviewed for. Prior to the interview have intelligent questions formulated that show that you have knowledge of the company, because the interviewer will always ask if you have any questions. Practice the answers to typical interview questions. Write out the answers and rehearse them, so that you feel comfortable answering them during the stress of the interview. Have impeccable grooming and dress your best for the interview. Remember that first impressions are made in the first seconds you meet someone, so put your best foot forward, radiate confidence and offer a firm handshake to create the best impression possible.
Treat the job hunt like you would a job. Start early in the day and keep going until the end of the workday. Dress like you are going to work, or even better. Do not sink into the trap of depression because you are job hunting. Strive to do your best at job hunting, because that is your job if you are out of work.
By working hard and putting the required effort into your job hunt, you can be confident in the fact that you are doing all you possibly can to find a job. Be patient and use your imagination as you seek opportunities. Before you know it, you’ll find the perfect job just for you.
Read customer reviews of professional resume writing services, learn the best cover letter tips, and submit your resume for a free resume analysis at JobGoRound.com.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Did you know that it takes less than 30 seconds for an employer to look at your resume? Thirty seconds determines if your resume makes it to the second round, which could be an interview, or is filed in the round filing cabinet. So what can you do to give yourself the competitive edge? Your resume has to capture the employer’s attention. In today’s economic environment, the competition for jobs is fierce.
There are so many people vying for work that your resume really does have to stand out to get noticed. The resume is an expression of yourself, so you have to stand out, you have to get noticed. Here are what I consider to be the three top resume writing mistakes that people make.
Resume Mistake 1: Listing Your Job Duties Instead of Your Accomplishments
Avoid statements such as “Job Duties” or “Job Responsibilities”. Employers want to know about your specific accomplishments and contributions to your previous employer. Did you save money, improve a process, solve a problem? By listing your accomplishments you are letting the employer know you can accomplish the work. This will certainly set you apart from the competition. When listing your accomplishments use bullet statements and action words instead of a narrative paragraph. Remember you have 30 seconds to get your point across, so make it easy to read.
For example, instead of:
• I wrote down my duties in a job manual
• I reorganized the publications and forms department
Use this instead:
• Constructed a procedure manual giving step by step instructions on how to bill a client
• Completely restructured a failing publications and forms department into a model department
Resume Mistake 2: Not Using Key Words
Do you know that 80% of resumes are scrubbed through a database looking for key words? Those resumes where key words are identified get noticed by employers. Use key words in your qualifications and accomplishments. Think of them as encoding your resume with powerful words. Another tip is to read the job posting closely; key words employers are looking for are usually in the posting. There are many websites that list key words. One of my favorites is ResumeBuzzWords.net.
Resume Mistake 3: Sending the Resume as an Attachment without Knowing how it will look
Have you ever opened an attachment and found it completely messed up? Somehow in the transmission the layout became distorted, the bullets were out of alignment, or the top of page 2 ended up on the bottom of page 1. The same thing can happen to your resume if you don’t do a test run. Email your resume to a few friends as an attachment and confirm how it looks on their computers. If it looks good, send it off to the employer. If there are problem you want to know about it now. You may have to save your resume in a text format with a .txt file extension.
Tip: Be sure to read resume service reviews before choosing a resume writing service.
There are so many people vying for work that your resume really does have to stand out to get noticed. The resume is an expression of yourself, so you have to stand out, you have to get noticed. Here are what I consider to be the three top resume writing mistakes that people make.
Resume Mistake 1: Listing Your Job Duties Instead of Your Accomplishments
Avoid statements such as “Job Duties” or “Job Responsibilities”. Employers want to know about your specific accomplishments and contributions to your previous employer. Did you save money, improve a process, solve a problem? By listing your accomplishments you are letting the employer know you can accomplish the work. This will certainly set you apart from the competition. When listing your accomplishments use bullet statements and action words instead of a narrative paragraph. Remember you have 30 seconds to get your point across, so make it easy to read.
For example, instead of:
• I wrote down my duties in a job manual
• I reorganized the publications and forms department
Use this instead:
• Constructed a procedure manual giving step by step instructions on how to bill a client
• Completely restructured a failing publications and forms department into a model department
Resume Mistake 2: Not Using Key Words
Do you know that 80% of resumes are scrubbed through a database looking for key words? Those resumes where key words are identified get noticed by employers. Use key words in your qualifications and accomplishments. Think of them as encoding your resume with powerful words. Another tip is to read the job posting closely; key words employers are looking for are usually in the posting. There are many websites that list key words. One of my favorites is ResumeBuzzWords.net.
Resume Mistake 3: Sending the Resume as an Attachment without Knowing how it will look
Have you ever opened an attachment and found it completely messed up? Somehow in the transmission the layout became distorted, the bullets were out of alignment, or the top of page 2 ended up on the bottom of page 1. The same thing can happen to your resume if you don’t do a test run. Email your resume to a few friends as an attachment and confirm how it looks on their computers. If it looks good, send it off to the employer. If there are problem you want to know about it now. You may have to save your resume in a text format with a .txt file extension.
Tip: Be sure to read resume service reviews before choosing a resume writing service.
How to Apply for Government Jobs
There are literally, millions and millions of Government jobs out there and there is actually a specific process you need to complete in order to apply for such a job. The benefits, health, dental, paid vacation and holidays are outstanding and they are all provided through taxpayer’s money.
There are resources available online that makes looking for a government job easier than hoofing around town looking door to door. Here are the steps you need to know:
1) Current Openings: You will need to look at the current openings in your area first and any job search site can help you with that. USAJobs.gov is the best place to search for a government job. From this you can decide which jobs are of interest to you.
2) Application: You can fill out an Optional Application for Federal Employment (OF612). This is a downloadable file in Microsoft Word (.doc) format. Once you fill it out you can print it. Optionally, you can write a federal resume. These resumes must contain additional information than private sector resumes and are formatted a bit differently. Get more information at KSADoctor.com.
3) Information: You will need to provide certain information as well:
a. Full name
b. Mailing address
c. Phone numbers, day, night, mobile
d. Social Security Number
e. Country Of Citizenship
f. Highest Federal Civilian Grade, if any
g. Education – school name, address, degrees, majors
h. Work Experience – fully detailed information
i. Other qualifications – job related training, skills, certificates, leadership, honors, awards, etc. etc.
4) Civil Service Exam: There is a number of civil service exams possible and each department has their own tests and how they administer them. There are written tests, essay tests, in-basket tests, assessment centers, performance tests, physical abilities tests, psychological tests and of course an interview. Not all of these tests are needed for each posting; this was just a list of what types of tests there are for various government positions. There are online resources for information on the individual tests.
a. These tests are scheduled to happen at certain times and you will be assigned a date and time to appear for your testing.
b. In order to be considered and possibly hired for a position, you must pass any and all tests given to you. If you are not hired during the valid date for the test results, you will need to re-take the tests at another time.
5) Interview(s): That’s right, there will probably be more than one interview and just like the Civil Service Tests, you must do well on all subsequent interviews to receive a job offer.
Just because you do well on everything, does not mean you will get the job for which you apply. As with any other employment offer, there are other people vying for the same job as you. Being that this is a government posting, the number or people applying is probably even greater than in the private sector. Be sure to really study up on the specifics of what will be expected of you throughout the screening process.
Lastly, depending on the position, some agencies may want you to undergo a physical examination, drug screening or a probation period before hiring and these periods can last anywhere from 6 months to a year. That’s it, now you know how to apply for government jobs.
Get more help with federal resume writing, KSA writing, and more.
There are resources available online that makes looking for a government job easier than hoofing around town looking door to door. Here are the steps you need to know:
1) Current Openings: You will need to look at the current openings in your area first and any job search site can help you with that. USAJobs.gov is the best place to search for a government job. From this you can decide which jobs are of interest to you.
2) Application: You can fill out an Optional Application for Federal Employment (OF612). This is a downloadable file in Microsoft Word (.doc) format. Once you fill it out you can print it. Optionally, you can write a federal resume. These resumes must contain additional information than private sector resumes and are formatted a bit differently. Get more information at KSADoctor.com.
3) Information: You will need to provide certain information as well:
a. Full name
b. Mailing address
c. Phone numbers, day, night, mobile
d. Social Security Number
e. Country Of Citizenship
f. Highest Federal Civilian Grade, if any
g. Education – school name, address, degrees, majors
h. Work Experience – fully detailed information
i. Other qualifications – job related training, skills, certificates, leadership, honors, awards, etc. etc.
4) Civil Service Exam: There is a number of civil service exams possible and each department has their own tests and how they administer them. There are written tests, essay tests, in-basket tests, assessment centers, performance tests, physical abilities tests, psychological tests and of course an interview. Not all of these tests are needed for each posting; this was just a list of what types of tests there are for various government positions. There are online resources for information on the individual tests.
a. These tests are scheduled to happen at certain times and you will be assigned a date and time to appear for your testing.
b. In order to be considered and possibly hired for a position, you must pass any and all tests given to you. If you are not hired during the valid date for the test results, you will need to re-take the tests at another time.
5) Interview(s): That’s right, there will probably be more than one interview and just like the Civil Service Tests, you must do well on all subsequent interviews to receive a job offer.
Just because you do well on everything, does not mean you will get the job for which you apply. As with any other employment offer, there are other people vying for the same job as you. Being that this is a government posting, the number or people applying is probably even greater than in the private sector. Be sure to really study up on the specifics of what will be expected of you throughout the screening process.
Lastly, depending on the position, some agencies may want you to undergo a physical examination, drug screening or a probation period before hiring and these periods can last anywhere from 6 months to a year. That’s it, now you know how to apply for government jobs.
Get more help with federal resume writing, KSA writing, and more.
Friday, April 3, 2009
How To Post Your Resume
Everything helps in the search for a job, especially in an economy where things are tight and jobs are hard to find. Therefore job seekers should put every advantage on their side. Posting a resume online is a very good way to publicize yourself and your abilities. A company on the hunt for the right individual might just come across it and contact you.
However, putting your personal information on the internet leaves you vulnerable to spam, identity theft and much more. Knowing the proper way to post your resume will help you increase your visibility; reduce the risk of being a victim of crime and limit the amount of spam you have to deal with.
1. Remove any contact information from your resume, with the exception of an email address you have created specifically for this purpose before posting it. This will help to protect your privacy. Make sure that you check this email address regularly so you don’t miss out on any good opportunities. Make sure that the email service has a spam-guard feature.
2. Make sure your resume is short and to the point. Be truthful and be sure the resume is free of typos, grammatical and spelling errors. It needs to be eye-catching and easy to read. Many sites request that you put a title on your resume. Be sure it is catchy and memorable.
3. Judiciously select the site on which you will post your resume. Make sure that it is not open to the public free of charge. Companies should have to pay a fee in order to browse through the resumes there. Having access to resumes by paid membership only reduces the risk of false leads, spam and other abuse.
4. Choose online services, which allow you to make and save multiple copies of your resume on their site. Most services also include a job bank as a part of their site and by having your resumes already saved on the site, it will make it much easier and quicker for you to apply on jobs advertised there.
5. Choose resume posting services that will allow you to put your resume on multiple job boards at the same time for no additional charge. This increases the chance that your resume will be found by someone looking for job candidates.
6. When you have selected where you will post your resume, you simply need to either copy and paste it to the site or upload it, depending on the site’s requirements.
Taking the time to post your resume online will be beneficial in the long run for a variety of reasons. You will open the door to opportunity by allowing potential employers access to your resume. Since many jobs are never posted, countless companies looking to recruit check data banks of resumes to find potential candidates. In addition, companies that provide this service often have other information available for use, such as tips on resume writing. The online storage space they provide is also very beneficial.
Post a resume online today and see what good things can happen to you and your job hunt. Review the top resume posting services today.
Be sure to read resume service reviews before choosing a resume writing service.
However, putting your personal information on the internet leaves you vulnerable to spam, identity theft and much more. Knowing the proper way to post your resume will help you increase your visibility; reduce the risk of being a victim of crime and limit the amount of spam you have to deal with.
1. Remove any contact information from your resume, with the exception of an email address you have created specifically for this purpose before posting it. This will help to protect your privacy. Make sure that you check this email address regularly so you don’t miss out on any good opportunities. Make sure that the email service has a spam-guard feature.
2. Make sure your resume is short and to the point. Be truthful and be sure the resume is free of typos, grammatical and spelling errors. It needs to be eye-catching and easy to read. Many sites request that you put a title on your resume. Be sure it is catchy and memorable.
3. Judiciously select the site on which you will post your resume. Make sure that it is not open to the public free of charge. Companies should have to pay a fee in order to browse through the resumes there. Having access to resumes by paid membership only reduces the risk of false leads, spam and other abuse.
4. Choose online services, which allow you to make and save multiple copies of your resume on their site. Most services also include a job bank as a part of their site and by having your resumes already saved on the site, it will make it much easier and quicker for you to apply on jobs advertised there.
5. Choose resume posting services that will allow you to put your resume on multiple job boards at the same time for no additional charge. This increases the chance that your resume will be found by someone looking for job candidates.
6. When you have selected where you will post your resume, you simply need to either copy and paste it to the site or upload it, depending on the site’s requirements.
Taking the time to post your resume online will be beneficial in the long run for a variety of reasons. You will open the door to opportunity by allowing potential employers access to your resume. Since many jobs are never posted, countless companies looking to recruit check data banks of resumes to find potential candidates. In addition, companies that provide this service often have other information available for use, such as tips on resume writing. The online storage space they provide is also very beneficial.
Post a resume online today and see what good things can happen to you and your job hunt. Review the top resume posting services today.
Be sure to read resume service reviews before choosing a resume writing service.
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