Playing offense in your job search
CHICAGO, IL -- As most of us have football playoffs on the brain lately, it's helpful to look at the lessons that translate from the sports field to the job search field. The idea that offense wins the game is particularly relevant in this job market. It's easy not to fault job seekers for playing it safe. But while we don't suggest every job search tactic be the equivalent of a Hail Mary pass, the reality is that defense just keeps you in the search while offense gets you the job!
Reviewing your resume over and over again for typos is defense. Positioning your resume with the language and detail that gets you the job you want is offense. Positioning is proactive. Rekindling old contacts and reconnecting with friends is defense. Seeking out those people who are specific decision-makers in your areas of interest and developing a relationship with them is offense. You are proactively making new job opportunities for yourself.
Scouring the job boards and filling out applications is defense. You are covering your bases which is key. However, identifying specific companies and specific industries that you want to serve, researching their pain points, and positioning yourself as the solution is offense. You make the employer realize that they have a need, and you can fill that need. Playing offense does not mean being risky or reckless. It means being brave enough to do those activities that will make things happen for you.
Cover all your bases & distribute your resume fast!
LOS ANGELES, CA -- With so many people currently in the job market or looking for better career opportunities, how can you make sure your resume will be seen? With advancing technology, the internet is an extremely popular resource for posting and finding resumes. But with all the career sites available, wouldn't it be nice if your resume could be found on all of them?
Consider a site that can make that happen. You post your information to their site once, and they distribute it on up to 85 different top career sites! It's called Resume Rabbit and it's so easy to use. Just fill out one simple online form and in just 5 minutes you'll be well on your way to landing that job you've been searching for. There's also a personal posting report auto-login feature that lets you log in to the many sites where your resume is posted in just one mouse click!
Let Resume Rabbit cover your bases and save you hours of filling out forms to post your resume online. Use those saved hours to take the offense in your job search while 1.5 million employers still see your resume daily. Broadcast your resume fast with Resume Rabbit today.
Tips on overcoming a troubled economy
AURORA, IL -- The troubled economy is a major factor in why many job hunters are more stressed than ever. But despite continued layoffs and double-digit unemployment, some companies are hiring, according to Illinois Department of Employment Security spokesman Greg Rivara. "It's a sign that the Fox Valley, along with the rest of the United States, ultimately will come out of this recession," says Rivara.
There are two keys to weathering the ongoing storm. It is critically important for job hunters to be optimistic and realistic. Think positive and be productive. Identify what you can do to make yourself more attractive to potential employers. Anything that a job hunter can do to show how they can bring success to an operation will benefit them in the long run.
Job seekers should take an honest assessment of their skills so they are ready to take advantage of all employment opportunities. So often individuals think of themselves as a good electrician or a good carpenter rather than thinking or approaching it in terms of 'I am very good at the skills that make me a good electrician or a good carpenter.' Identify those skills and see what other occupation or career track those skills might apply to.
Winging it won't cut it in today's job interview
NEW YORK, NY -- It's a very different labor market now than it was a year or two ago. Candidates need to be aware the market has changed, they should be treating every opportunity as the golden one. Employers are no longer in a rush to woo job hunters. When it comes to shining during a job interview, there are some critical things every job hunter needs to be aware of. Adapting to the current labor market is the first step to a successful interview.
In the past, job seekers were able to get away with cutting corners or winging it ... but now you have to be over prepared. The basics count more than ever. Research the company well: Know who is who in the company, what the opportunity involves, why it is vacant and ask questions about what you don't know. Courtesies count. Be on time, be dressed for the job, make eye contact, shake hands, take notes, say thank you and follow-up.
When it comes to a second interview, be aware that while you've made it through one round, the level of competition just increased. It's critical to remain focused on what you can do for them. Lastly, confidence counts. When you're passionate about a job, it generally comes through easily to the interviewer. In the current job market, it's all about differentiating yourself from the competition.
Job search engine helps you beat the competition
LOS ANGELES, CA -- With a new job search engine called MyJobHunter, you can search all top career sites at once & apply to all matching jobs with one click. Just enter your search criteria, review the matching jobs and select the ones you want. Then, click a single button and you'll instantly apply to all selected jobs with your resume and cover letter (without having to log into each job site separately).
Click another button and you can automate the whole process! MyJobHunter can remember what you searched for, search for it again each day, and AUTOMATICALLY APPLY FOR YOU to new jobs matching your criteria. Review jobs in advance or put searching & applying on auto-pilot. The choice is yours.
You'll also get an application history report that makes follow-up a breeze! It shows the jobs you were applied to, full job descriptions, employer contact info, and application dates. You can even add personal notes to each job! This service is proven to reduce hours of job searching and resume submitting to just minutes. Simply upload your resume, enter your job search criteria and let MyJobHunter take it from there. For more information visit MyJobHunter.com.
Online education provides answers
NEW YORK, NY -- As Americans continue to struggle to maintain their jobs or gain employment, they have sought a means to make themselves more valuable to employers -- enter online education. "With the job market in such dire straits, many people are utilizing the flexibility of online education to make themselves more competitive," said Dr. Alan Walker, president of Upper Iowa University (UIU).
Enrollment for online education continues to climb during this time while we are seeing traditional educational institutions across the country making cuts or shutting their doors completely. "We are finding that people like the flexibility of taking courses online, enabling them to continue to work full time or take care of their families while still pursing their educational goals," said Dr. Walker. "The key is offering a high-caliber online curriculum with the comfort of knowing a campus or center is nearby if needed."
Online education also gives students the option of a hybrid course-load that combines online and on-campus classes. A meta-analysis release by the Department of Education shows that people who took all or part of their classes online did better, on average, than those who experienced only face-to-face instruction. As the job market and the American economy rebound in the next few years, it will be important to examine how online education contributed.
Find the right school & increase your marketability!
NEW YORK, NY -- If you think that the only way to earn a degree is to spend gobs of money and traverse across a complicated college campus, taking anywhere from two to eight years to get your Associate's, Bachelor's, Master's or even doctorate degree...think again. With advances in technology, you can now get your degree online, from an accredited university in your spare time and from the comfort of your own home.
Through online classes, you can learn at your own pace while earning the same respected Associates, Bachelors or Masters degrees as on-campus students, but for a fraction of the cost and more conveniently. To learn more about available schools & programs, and instantly request complimentary course catalogs of the ones you like, go to Find-The-Right-School.
Reasons to change your career ...
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- We can all find reasons to stay in jobs that make us miserable. Change feels terrifying, especially now. But if the negative aspects of your job outweigh the benefits, think hard about what career would fulfill you.
If you feel a growing chasm between your personal values and your professional life, consider a job in the nonprofit sector. Most corporate sector jobs have analogous positions within nonprofits. If your do-gooding instinct includes a heavy dose of patriotism, you might consider a job with the federal government. As private sector companies shrink their workforces, the government continues to hire. Government jobs, as well as jobs teaching English, are good options for people who want to live abroad. A number of agencies place native English speakers in English-teaching jobs outside of the U.S.
If you're ready to quit your day job and make art your profession, consider relocating to a new city like Boulder, CO, or Nashville, TN. These artist-friendly places have young, diverse populations and many museums and arts organizations. Prepare for a bumpy road financially though, and seek out grant-making organizations. To acquire an entirely new skill set--consider enrolling in online courses and get a degree. Think through your career goals, take a few assessment tests and commit to making 2010 your year of change.
Career Tools Highlighted in This Issue:
- Resume Rabbit - Saves You Time Get your resume on posted on over 85 niche boards & career websites!
- MyJobHunter - Job Search Engine Tool Search all job sites at once. Apply to matching jobs with 1-click
- Find The Right School Today Earn a degree online and increase your marketability!
