• Keep a record of all calls you’ve made, resumes you’ve forwarded, and applications you’ve completed. Call back or visit these employers about two weeks after you’ve given them your resume. It’s a good idea to speak to the person who is actually hiring for the position. If you don’t know that person’s name, ask the Human Resources or Recruiting office for it.

• Searching for a new job can often be an exhausting experience, even harder than a full-time job. Though it may seem a long time before you receive a call from a potential employer, do not get discouraged! Use your energy to make a daily, weekly, and even monthly plan of what you need to accomplish. You really will feel good when you see your plans on paper, especially as the “things-to-do” list shrinks and changes every day!

• Make a specific plan of action. Determine a reasonable number of in-person contacts that you can make daily, as well as Internet and phone contacts. Try to get out of the house at least once daily, preferable in the morning to help you to get up and get moving. Make a daily schedule the day before and plan it around an eight hour day. The more structured you become, the more organized and positive you will feel about the process. Finding a job is a job in itself! If you’ve been out of work for an extended period of time, this will help you to “get back into the swing of things”. You’ll need to stick to a daily schedule, get dressed in “work” or “interview” clothes, and will begin to socialize again.

• This is hard work so don’t get discouraged!! You may want to join a job club through your local Job Service, or through a community agency, to help keep yourself motivated, share ideas and frustrations with other job seekers, and to keep yourself on track.

Source: aetna.com

1. Decide what kind of job or jobs you will be looking for. You may need to change course after you get a feel for the job market and what employers in your area look for. Your local State Job Service Office can help you to determine what is happening in your local job market, and can offer guidance and advice if you do not have a specific goal in mind.

2. If you are going to try work in a new field, you will want to create a new resume. Focus your resume on the skills, qualifications and experience that are most directly related to the job you are applying for. Be sure to give special treatment to your most valuable skills – from an employer’s point of view. You may want to write several versions of your resume if you are applying for very different jobs. The job application will be asking you for the history of the jobs you’ve held, so you can be more creative in your resume. There are many free, online resume formats available for your use, and you can use these as samples if you are not comfortable with your own format.

3. Create a network of friends, family members, and former co-workers. Ask for their contacts in the job market, and contact these people to stay in touch with new opportunities. The best job opportunity may come from someone you know! Consider searching in your neighborhood at places you frequent, for example, where you shop, eat, bank, or do other business.

4. Search for jobs any way you can think of – be creative! Some examples are; the Internet, local Job Service (public employment office), the newspaper classified ads, the telephone yellow pages, Organizations for the Disabled, Job Fairs, etc. Always have several copies of your resume with you – you never know when you might be in a situation or with someone who can provide you with a lead.

5. Call local employers to ask about openings that fit your own skills and experience. Ask about the kinds of positions in the company, and the qualifications needed to get those jobs. This information can only help you to learn more and be more prepared in interviews. Tell them about your own background and ask if there is a position available that would utilize your skills and abilities. If nothing is available now, do they expect any openings in the near future? Get the company address so you can send your resume (and be sure there are no typing or spelling errors!). Ask if they know of any other employers in the area that may be looking for someone with your experience (they usually know what is going on with the local competition!).

Source: aetna.com

In coping up with the booming technology, people find it easier scouting for a job using the technology of the Internet. Websites like Monster.ca and Workopolis.com are just among the things that help. Even employers find it more convenient and a lot cheaper to create their websites and post jobs. However, some employers keep certain positions off the market because they still prefer to find a perfect candidate for the job who is recommended by their ever trusted employees. This is the case wherein networking comes in handy. That is why keeping a relationship with lots of people is really advantageous.

Source

School is just about out for the summer and according to Northeastern University’s recently released 2008 Teen Job Outlook the summer job outlook for teens and young adults is pretty bleak. The path to a summer of success is to get those resumes sent in now. Governor Rod R. Blagojevich is proud to offer some help with that, with the free and easy-to-use website: www.ILWorkInfo.com/icrn. 

It is but a normal thing that people take a leap of faith when talking about their job. In some instances, they would realize that their present job is no longer doing them any good. In some cases, they may have had a fundamental enthusiasm for something that is not related to the present job that they have but for reasons that can not be explained they have not acted on it. Leaving behind a corporate career to pursue a personal endeavor like a hobby or anything you are passionate about is a bit risky. You will be needing tons of determination and patience.

Source

Employers plan to target business, engineering, and computer-related degrees at both the bachelor’s and master’s degree level in 2007-2008. This year, at the bachelor’s level, the list is topped by accounting, followed by mechanical and electrical engineering, and computer science.

Master’s level

At the doctorate degree level, employers will mainly target computer engineering and electrical engineering graduates, followed by computer science, mechanical engineering, and business administration/management.

Employers looking for graduates with associate degrees, too

The demand for associate degree graduates appears to have dipped slightly for 2007-08 graduates. In 2005-06, 33 percent of employers said they would hire two-year graduates; in 2006-07, it was 39 percent of employers. This year, only 27 percent plan to hire associate degree graduates.

Degrees most in demand this year are technology/engineering and business administration/management degrees. There is also a high demand for computer science and information sciences majors.

Employers interested in two-year graduates include utility companies, state and local government, and consulting services.

Employers that hire associate degree graduates say these students often have more work experience than four-year graduates and have developed a good work ethic, making them a good choice for entry-level hiring. In addition, they often enter the work force with a special skill set unique to the positions they seek, so employers need to do less training with these graduates.

In addition, most two-year grads have realistic expectations in terms of salary and promotions; hence, they have more longevity in the world of work.

Source: jobweb.com

Before You Go Online, Answer These Questions
The answers to these questions will begin to build a list of Keywords you can use in your search.

What Do You Want to Do? What Can You Do? (Skills and Occupations)
What skills do you have, what interests, etc. Identify general occupations that interest you, not specific job titles.
Think healthcare or sales, not Chief Medical Officer or Director of International Sales
Who Do You Want to Work For? (Industries and Employer Preferences)
What industry interests you, what type of employer? If you have some specific companies you want to target, great!
Fortune 500, Inc 500, high-tech start-up, family-friendly organization…
Where Do You Want to Live and Work? (Location location location)
Is there a particular city, state, region, or country?
California, Southern Maryland, “someplace with sailing, good golf courses, and very little snow.”
Don’t laugh. I know someone who focused his search this way.
Saying “anywhere they’ll hire me” will not work. There’s just too much stuff online. However, you can take the time to research the industry or occupation you’re interested in and find out where they are hiring people….

Source: rileyguide.com

Employers use job applications to standardize the information they have from all their applicants. You have to fill out the application as completely as honestly as possible. Remember that this is what some employers use to decide whether to call you for an interview or not.

When filling out your job application, bring your resume with you, as well as contact details of previous employers. Take a few minutes to read the instructions carefully before filling out the blanks. Be as neat as possible when you complete the application form. The application form is a reflection of you, and a legible form will swing in your favor. Answer all questions truthfully, especially for sensitive questions like why you left your last job. Being honest doesn’t mean that you should be negative though; try to make a positive spin on your answers. Finally, be prepared to fill out all sorts of job applications – from simple one-page ones to applications with multiple pages and questions.

Job aggregators have been helpful to job seekers. They keep a log of companies who have openings, and you can upload your resume in their database for future reference. Pretty neat, eh? Not quite. These job aggregators rely on keyword search since they receive thousands of applicants per day. When a company is in search of a new applicant to fill in a position, they do queries that will bring back results that match the keywords they just typed.

So what do you have to do? The key here is to refine the contents of your personal log file. Maybe instead of writing “I have no job experience since I am a fresh graduate”, you may want to write “I am a fresh graduate, seeking my first job. Although I don’t have any work experience, I am more than willing to learn and use my skills… etc.”. In this way, there is a better chance that some of your keywords might be picked.

Photo taken from http://www.abc.net.au

You’ve heard the cliché “Simplicity is beauty.” The same theory applies to make-up. Your future employer wouldn’t be happy to see too much gunk on your face. What’s important is that you look fresh and neat! To be safe, go for neutral shades, like brown or beige. Even eyeliner works wonders. The purpose of cosmetics is to highlight your best features. It’s how you apply them that matters. For your cheeks, a rose-colored shade would do. Resist wearing sultry shades. A crimson red lipcolor wouldn’t be so hot for an interview. The no- makeup look wins my vote!

For guys, a solid colored conservative suit is best to wear during an interview. No prints please! Patterns somehow diminish the formality in your demeanor. A long-sleeved white shirt plus a dark tie gives guys the smart casual look, though most male applicants nowadays seem comfortable in donning in pastel-colored shirts. Some even wear powder pink ones.

Never wear white socks. You’re not a first-grader so please replace yours with dark ones. Slip your feet into a pair of shiny black shoes. As much as possible, the only accessory you’d wear would be your watch. And it’s not even for the purposes of style.

Keep your hair neat with gel. However, don’t style them up the way band stars do. It’s like something is sticking out of your head. Shave your beard or moustache, and give up your goatee for just a few days. Be quite like a guy-next-door type, at least until you pass the job interviews! To complete your outfit, carry your documents inside a portfolio or a briefcase.