Friday, April 30, 2010

Job Search Networking - Two Essentials and Neither is Your Resume

The hidden job market really isn't all that hidden.
It's actually right in front of you, and all you need to do is network your way in. You'll be surprised at how willing people are to assist. You can accelerate getting into the hidden job market when you are prepared for networking.

So if you're going to a networking meeting-coffee with someone, an association meeting or conference where you will meet people who can hire you, an informational interview phone call-please have these things in place first.

First create your search strategy.
I'm amazed at how many people ask to talk to me about their job search without having defined who they want to meet, companies they would like to work in, etc.

I was talking to one job seeker and told her that I was really unfamiliar with her job function. But I might know people in her target companies so could perhaps help by introducing her. I asked if she had a list of companies where she wanted to work. What was her strategy?

Her response was that she was hoping she could just network and not have to create a strategy. When you have a strategy defined, you know exactly what to ask for. One way to guarantee they won't be able to help you is to say, "Well if you hear of anything I might be interested in, let me know."

Creating a strategy takes some time and perhaps some introspection and honesty. It's time well spent.

The second essential is your career brand.
This is how you become memorable. By having your brand statement, you help people talk about you! You stand out and capture their attention.

Sadly and surprisingly, most job seekers today cannot tell a recruiter, hiring manager or networking connection what is compelling about them-what makes them the candidate to hire. In today's economic climate, it may feel as though experience and skills are just commodities. What can put you in the lead, make you memorable to your networking contacts and irresistible to the hiring manager is all built around your brand.

With these two essentials in place, you're ready to make a big impact with your networking. Enjoy!

Admitting to being the original reluctant networker, Katherine Moody would do almost anything, including hiding out in the ladies room, to avoid a networking event. So she interviewed some networking masters to learn their simple and rarely discussed secrets. Then she went on to get her last 4 jobs by networking her way into the hidden job market with those simple secrets. Katherine shares those insider techniques on her job secrets blog. http://hrjobsearchsecrets.com While there, get her free report: How to create a memorable brand for your networking. You'll love what it does for your networking!

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Own Your Brand: Be The CEO Of Your Job Search

As a job seeker, your brand distinguishes you in whatever way you choose. How you cultivate your profile will directly speak to your next employer.

It's often said that to be successful in the career world, those who are job searching need to be able to showcase their experience on multiple plains and platforms to capture the attention of those hiring. To de-mystify the process, think of your skills and accomplishments as a product; a valuable service to a company that is looking to solve a problem. Essentially, online profiles on social media such as LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter are a way to personalize your brand and secure your future career. A few rules apply for all:

Your picture speaks volumes. In fact, it probably gives the recruiter or H.R. manager a much deeper glimpse into who you are than one might originally think. Your picture should be professional. If ageism is a concern, consider taking a picture of your networking or business card.

Profanity is out. Remember, you are speaking to your future boss and company. By using cursing, or otherwise questionable phrases, or even linking to questionable pictures or articles, it will make those looking question your integrity.

What happens on social media, stays on social media. There's one question to ask yourself once your profile is complete: "Are you being authentic?" What you post on Facebook, tweet on Twitter and proclaim on LinkedIn will remain in search engines for months to come. Personal integrity is vital to your brand.

Jason Douglas, online marketing manager for Spyder Trap Online Marketing, has often spoke the phrase, "Be who you are, with a filter." When questioning what to say and where, consider this easy guide:

LinkedIn is the office: Be professional and courteous in every way, never using slang or adopting lax speech.

Twitter is the water cooler: It's the perfect place to discuss your next opportunity, last night's game, challenges and display what you bring to a potential employer.

Facebook is the bar: It's a much needed rest from the suit and tie, however, profiles should be privatized except for your name and network.

Douglas sums it all up perfectly, "People care about what you achieved, but want to know how you did it. The ability to answer the what, how and why is essential." With authenticity and the correct marketing, you can shorten the job search period and heighten the passion behind a career transition.

Original Article

5 Ways to Optimize Your Resume For Database Search

1.) The first thing you should not overlook when submitting your resume is to include a keyword summary. This lets you add keywords that may be used by the searcher even if those same words are not found specifically in your resume. Be sure to separate each keyword with a comma.

2.) Just providing a keyword summary is not enough. Having a keyword loaded “Qualification Summary” at the beginning of your resume creates a visually stunning document in addition to making your resume database search friendly.

3.) Use your industry’s most preferable search terms. Get keyword hints from the job itself. You will find that each employer may use certain keywords to explain the position that they are hiring for in the job description. Use those words to your advantage when compiling keywords for your resume.

4.) Fill your resume with top keyword titles. These titles should also expose valuable keywords to search engines.

5.) Lastly, spell out exactly what you are looking for from your future employer. If you plan on working in Colorado, type the entire word: Colorado. Don’t use abbreviations in your resume.

If you aren’t getting a call to interview with a recruiter or hiring manager, use these basic tips to optimize your resume for database searches.

By Cass Fisher. Remember to specifically gear your resume towards the features of your next position. See Unemployment Effect 2010 for more ways to find out what hiring managers are really looking for.

Original Article


Tuning Your Resume to the Right Keywords

At large companies, recruiters rely on a computer program called an applicant tracking system that stores and filters resumes to find the best candidates for a job. To make the match, ATS software relies on keywords – words and phrases that tell the program a candidate is a good match for a specific job description. Just as search engines like Google use keywords to find the right Web pages, ATS software uses keywords to find the right resumes.

How Employers Use Keywords

While they can’t guess the exact keywords recruiters are using, resume writers try to find the likeliest possibilities for your industry and function.

Where do you find the right keywords to include in your resume? Professional resume writers recommend you start with the job posting, which will contain a description of duties and qualifications. The ATS will try to match as many of the words in the job posting to the words on your resume. The more matches, the better the fit and the better the chances you will get an interview.

Repeated words, section headings and specific terms comprise good candidates for keyword selection. Also look at similar job postings as a cross-reference to find the most likely candidates for keywords. Recruiters and headhunters can often guide you. Online and print publications also include guides for keyword research.

Other sources of keyword research:

1. Go to Web sites that represent companies and associations related to the candidate’s target industry in search of other buzzwords.

2. Search LinkedIn profiles of users who have similar jobs to see what keywords they’re using.

3. Go to association Web sites to see what keywords other industry professionals have used.

While you’re researching keywords, keep a master list to make sure the important words are represented in your resume when you apply for specific jobs.

The specific words employers seek relate to the skills and experiences that demonstrate your experience with the skills necessary to do the job. Both hard and soft skills will fall in this category. Industry- and job-specific skills are almost always included in keyword lists. Highly technical fields can also include specific jargon or terms that demonstrate subject expertise. Job titles, certifications, types of degrees, college names and company names also demonstrate an applicant’s qualifications. Awards and professional organizations can also be considered strong keywords.

Ultimately, job hunters should ask themselves, “What keywords would I use if I were writing this job description?”

Matthew Rothenberg is editor-in-chief of TheLadders.com, the premier Web site for online job listings for $100K+ jobs, resume writing tips and resume advice.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Getting Your First Teaching Job: The Job Search

So, you’re about to graduate from college. Where do you start looking for a job? Newly-elected MENC Collegiate National Chair-Elect, Diana Hollinger, has some tips for you.


Tips When Job Searching

  • Start early, even before you finish school
  • Observe deadlines
  • Define what you want and what you offer
  • Be flexible, expect a less than perfect job, and set realistic salary expectations
  • Update resume/portfolio, manage your letters of recommendation and contact information, and maintain your files
  • Use letters of inquiry, and follow up on those inquiries
  • Network constantly, create a website, and think outside the box
  • Make a good impression early and with everyone
  • Be willing to take on extra duties
  • Focus your search—create a list of possibilities
  • Target your letter/resume to the job listing
  • Get experience, substitute teach in your desired districts, and look in urban and rural areas where there are shortages

Where to Start

Networking

  • College ensemble conductors
  • Music education professors
  • Music store staff
  • Other music teachers, former teachers, master teachers
  • Other students, recent graduates, friends
  • Administrators from student teaching
  • Relatives, friends, and colleagues in other cities
  • Studio teachers
  • Substitute teach
  • Conferences – MENC National and State, local workshops, etc.
  • LinkedIn/Social networks

Out of State Job Considerations

  • Must have state certification
  • Each state has different standards
  • Some states have “reciprocal licensure”
  • You may need to take exams or coursework to be re-certified in a different state



These ideas and tips were used in the “Job Search and Interview Strategies” session given by Diana Hollinger and Jill Sullivan during the 2010 Biennial Music Educators National Conference, March 26, 2010, in Anaheim, CA.


Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Watch out for job-search time traps

Dear Liz,

I've been job-hunting since November, and I keep getting sidetracked. At first, it was wonderful to have so much free time, but now I feel like I have no free time at all. I can barely make time to throw a couple of resumes into the job sites every week. Any advice?

Thanks, Shel

Dear Shel,

It is a gift to get some time for yourself after years without any. Who can blame you for smelling the roses, enjoying nature and sampling some coffee shops? No doubt you needed recovery time, especially if you underwent a painful departure from your last job. It's great that you got to take a breather.

Now, it's time to spring into action.

You'll need a job-search schedule, and a commitment to stick to it. Five hours a day of active job-hunting is a great target. And please, no more tossing resumes into the void. Every resume you send must be targeted to the job, and accompanied by a pithy Pain Letter that speaks to the need behind the job ad. Avoid the Black Hole where resumes go to languish, Shel. When you lob a resume into the abyss, you've wasted your time. Put in the extra 20 minutes it'll take to make every job-related outreach count.

Here are the most dangerous job-search time traps I've encountered. If any of these are gumming up your job-search engine, take action.

Volunteering

It is wonderful to volunteer for organizations we believe in; moderation is the key. If you've overbooked yourself and are stressing out about cupcakes, silent auction donations, or some other volunteering obligation, you're taking the focus off your job search. Cut back.

Home Organization

There is nothing like a garage so clean you could eat off the floor. (So they tell me.) That's a much lower priority than getting a new job. Don't let your house, your spice cabinet, or your garden rule your schedule. Your job search is Job One. You can clean the garage once you've signed the offer letter.

Job Search Groups

Job search support groups are wonderful. But when you're spending so much time in support groups that you're no longer job-hunting, the tail is wagging the dog. The best job-search support groups are the ones where you hold one another accountable for taking job-hunt steps -- not commiserating about the state of the job market.

Having Fun

I've seen you on your bicycle whizzing down Baseline Road at 40 mph, and you look cool, believe me. But riding another 50 miles today won't help you get a job. Researching employers, making overtures, meeting friends one-on-one to network and applying for posted jobs (not through the Black Hole, but directly) will get you a job. After your five hours of assiduous job-search activity, go ride your bike, or go hiking, or have fun another way. You deserve it.

Sleeping

You've probably heard that unemployed folks sleep more than other people. If you're sleeping the day away, your job search is not moving forward. Set your alarm like you used to do when you were working -- because you're still working. Your job right now is to find a great job to fund all those bike rides.

Liz Ryan is the CEO of Ask Liz Ryan, a Boulder human-resources and career-development consulting firm. She can be reached at liz@asklizryan.com. Her "Job Search Over Fifty" workshops begin May 6. For more info, visit asklizryan.com/spring2010.html.

Monday, April 26, 2010

How to pay for vocational training

How to pay for vocational training


Highlights
  • Learn about Job Corps and apprenticeship programs in technical fields.
  • Find specialized awards for vocational and technical school students.
  • Pay your tuition through the Trade Adjustment Assistance program.

With low tuition price tags, nonexistent room and board costs and significantly reduced student fees, vocational training schools and technical colleges are cheaper than four-year institutions, but may be harder to pay for. Because vocational students have lower costs, they also have reduced fiscal need and therefore qualify for fewer and lower federal grants than four-year students, say the experts.

Some vocational students won't qualify for need-based federal aid like the Pell Grant, but merit-based awards, dislocated worker assistance and other programs are available. Here are some waysto pay for vocational, technical and trade schools.

The government is bigger than FAFSA

Students should start the search for vocational aid by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid at www.fafsa.ed.gov, says Anne Falk, financial aid assistant for the South Hills School of Business & Technology in State College, Pa. Then they should check out other federally funded options.

"Vocational students are still eligible for the same federal grants and loans as four-year students, but they're also eligible for funds through the Trade Adjustment Assistance program," she says. "A lot of students have a large portion of their tuition at vocational schools paid for through those programs."

Currently, the Trade Adjustment Assistance program provides dislocated workers who have lost their jobs to overseas competition up to 104 weeks of paid occupational training they can use to attend technical colleges as well as four-year institutions. As of this past January, the Department of Labor created two additional job training grants totaling $250 million to help dislocated and young workers transition into such "green" occupations as hybrid auto technicians, weatherization specialists, wind and energy auditors and solar panel installers. Workers who aren't transitioning into a green field will be eligible for financial aid and low-cost retraining, too, says Veronica Meury, executive director and vice-president of Universal Technical Institute Foundation, the Phoenix-based funding arm of Universal Technical Institute vocational school.

"Through the Workforce Investment Act, there are vocational programs for disadvantaged youth, vets through the Veteran's Administration and programs for the military and National Guard," she says. "Representatives from the Native American community could qualify for extra money and free courses as well."

To maximize their federal funding, future technical school students should first fill out the FAFSA form, then head to their local One-Stop Career Center for information on retraining opportunities. Making contact with your state department of labor can be beneficial as well. Certain states like Michigan have separate funds to train workers to fill high-demand occupations in the area.

Job Corps and apprenticeship programs

Younger workers who need more than just coursework may be able to find a helping hand through Job Corps or apprenticeship gigs, says Michael Thurmond, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Labor in Atlanta.

"The benefit there is that (apprenticeship) programs combine vocational training with on-the-job experience," says Thurmond. "With an apprenticeship, the employer usually pays the student's tuition and gives them a paid job so the student isn't going into debt."

The federal Office of Apprenticeships currently lists registered apprenticeships in more than 1,000 career fields, but Thurmond adds that students can also find additional opportunities through local labor unions.

Job Corps offers another alternative to paying your own vocational tuition. Available for low-income youth ages 16 through 24, Job Corps offers free on-the-job training in more than 100 technical areas ranging from heath care to manufacturing, as well as free courses at local community and vocational schools in select fields. Job Corps programs are free, last anywhere from eight months to two years and provide students with no-cost housing, health care, a living allowance, career counseling and, at some centers, child care. Information on programs and eligibility requirements is available at jobcorps.gov.

Specialized scholarships and loans

"Most students don't realize that there are scholarships for vocational schools that four-year students aren't eligible for," says Meury. "Organizations like the Automotive Hall of Fame and The Home Depot offer strictly vocational scholarships."

Meury advises students to start the hunt for free tuition by checking out scholarship search sites like Fastweb.com, contacting their vocational school to find out about institutional funds and investigating aid opportunities through large and small companies in their field. Students can also win scholarships based on how well they perform on certain career assessment tests including the VICA SkillsUSA test and through vocational competitions in their field offered through companies such as Ford and AAA.

If students can't land scholarships, take out federal loans or afford school themselves, their options may be limited, says Falk.

"In the past few years, we've seen more private lenders back out of lending for students attending technical and two-year institutions," she says.

While several major private lenders have stopped creating small loans for shorter degree and certificate programs, other organizations such as Sallie Mae still offer loans specifically for accredited technical, trade and vocational schools. Check out student loan rates at Bankrate.com.

"The money is out there for trade students, they just have to do their research and apply," says Meury.

Get Hired: 15 Best Job Boards for Freelancers

Nowadays financial issues seem to be a common problem, with everyone complaining about what difficult situations they’re in and how they have no money. Freelancers face the same problem as all other people. Projects are fewer, payments are very low and the request for work is enormous. To help freelancers in their search for work, here is a list of opportunities for everyone.

1.48hourslogo

Pros:

Even if a quality logo requires a lot of time and work (including research, sketches and drawing) here a logo can be ready in 48 hours (but a competition can last as long as 6 days). A customer writes some lines about his project and the freelancers submit a jpg picture of their work. At the end the customer selects the winner which gives him the original format of the logo.They take a flat commissioning of 29$ for each project, which is paid by the client. The designer is paid via PayPal.

Cons:

Too few projects, this website and the concept itself are good but need some ads and promo.

2.99designs

Pros:

In my opinion this website is the best. Here the process is like the one at 48hourslogo. There are a lot of projects, the filters are perfect and the prices are high. Here you can find some of the best designers in the world. Also the blog gives you a lot of resources. A few months ago they started a new concept: a freelancer posts his work, a customer likes it and buys it. The freelancer then customizes the project depending on the demands of client. Interesting right? If you are the winner, then depending on which way of payment you agree upon ,it is possible you will have no fees to pay or in the worst case no more than 25$.

Cons:

The website is only for designers, I believe that this platform will be the best once it has jobs for developers too. I hope that the team of 99designs will read this article.

3.Coroflot

Pros:

In my personal opinion a place that allows you as a freelancer to present a portfolio is better than one without this feature. I listed Coroflot because of this option, even if it is useful only for designers.

Cons:

Many projects are only for developers.Another con: in order to post a job here you have to pay a lot (265$) and freelancers are free to bid.

4.Elance

Pros:

Elance is one of the biggest freelancing job’s website and there are a lot of jobs for everyone..They restrict the number of bids, depending on the type of account. Here in order to be a provider/client you have to pass an exam (few question about how to pay or how to be paid, how litigations are resolved etc). The fee of Elance varies from 4-6% plus 2,75% for the payment processors.

Cons:

The number of bids is restricted, which is generally a negative point but for such an important site I believe that restricting the access of amateurs is a plus.

5.Freelancer

Pros

This is a huge place with a lot of jobs. This website presents a great advantage: the jobs are from various domains as: websites, IT, mobile phones, writing, content, design, engineering, science, sales, and business. All the jobs are very clearly categorized so it is very easy to browse and find out what tasks you want. The pay is good, depending on the complexity of each project.. Freelancers need to pay 10% or 5$ of the total funds received and gold members pay only 3%.The system for employers is very variable depending on their preferences.

Cons:

On the downside there is no blog or collection of articles to help you in your activity as a freelancer (tips &tricks).

6.Guru

Pros:

This website has two ways of navigation: one for employers where they list all the freelancers available (they have also some good filters to find the appropriate ones) and one for freelancers that also has a good layout of their projects and a helpful assortment of categories. There you can find jobs in all fields; soon a blog will help you in your freelancing career on Guru.Freelancers are charged 5% or 10% of the project value, depending on their membership level (basic 10%, guru members 5%).

Cons:

As I was navigating as an employer I saw this title “world’s smallest price”. I believe that as a freelancer that is offensive, they could as well write this ”we have a lot of losers, come on!”. I understand the importance of publicity but morality is a must not an option. For freelancers they posted an interesting title “Be one in a million, not one of millions”.


Boards 7 - 15

Best-Kept Secret Twitter Tips for Job Search Full Article

The best kept secrets are not those which are hidden behind 1000 locks. The best kept secrets are those that are always in front on us — too obvious to be noticed.

If you have not believed this so far then start believing in it, as nothing is truer then the above statement is. And it will become more evident when you will read the best-kept secret twitter tips for job search in this series.

Twitter, as we all know by now, is a 140-word marketing nuclear bomb. It is also referred as virtual water cooler where people talk about things that matters to them. Twitter is not just a micro-blogging tool, but it is a search engine in its own right that has the strength to overpower Google. Twitter can be used in many ways, but we will focus on using it as a job search tool. All the tips in this and subsequent posts are geared towards that only.

For a novice, twitter may look useless, but so did search engines in their initial days.

Easy-to-remember username

Username is your twitter name, and this is the first thing that a person finds about anyone on twitter. This is akin to the first part of your e-mail ID — everything before @, and you will not want your username to spoil the party. Hence, do not use your nickname or any other silly things in there. While saying that I did not mean to say that your nickname is silly, all I meant was that your username should look classy. Cheesy stuffs do not cut it. Your twitter name should also be easy to remember.

Real name for real people

Use your real first and last names in the designated space. Do not use any cool-but-idiotic-sounding words in place of the first and the last name. It will hurt your image, and create hindrance in getting a job. A person without real name does not sound like a person, at least not on the Internet.

Real picture

I know how badly you wanted to look like Brad Pitt, but the fact is you are not him then why to use his picture as your profile picture? Believe me it will not impress your employer, and most of all they will come to know it is not Brad Pitt who is applying for the job. Take my suggestion and pull that picture down, and instead use your own picture, preferably in business attire.

In the twitter profile, nothing but close-up of your own picture should be there.

Write a powerful bullet bio

In twitter profile, you do not get a lot of space to talk about yourself; nevertheless opportunity is there to capitalize on the little space you get. You should write a powerful, sharp-edged bio. Every word should be telling. The space is limited, so use only what will make the employer click on the accompanying link. Write a powerful bullet bio.

Add a web address

Do not add URL of the website where you talked about your cool kitten. No employer will like to know about her. What you can do is add the URL of your cool kitten website in your website under fun and hobby section, if you desperately want to show that to your employer. But, reserve the web address space on twitter for your professional website — the one that will inform your client about your professional skills and expertise.

Add location

Using this is slightly tricky. You can only add name of your city, if you are living in a big metro, but generally use name of your county along with the city name. This will tell your employer about your whereabouts. It will help them make their minds.

Customize your profile

The best thing about twitter is it allows you to create a custom profile for your twitter account. You can choose whatever background you want for your twitter profile. Twitter background provides you a wonderful opportunity to brand yourself. Your profile page should speak volume about you.

Theme-based design

Do not choose just any background. This will not do any good. Always remember a good design begins with ideation. With finding a theme for the design. When I say theme I meant what is that one thing that you want to convey to the viewers of your twitter profile. Begin with writing down the points you want to convey until it boils down to one or two core points that you must convey. This will be the essence of your twitter profile.

Now think of a design theme of the blog based on the core you have found.

Designing background

Start designing a background based on the theme you have found. To find the dimension of the background, you can search Google. I do not suggest reinventing the wheel. Just conduct a Google search and you will find a twitter background template.

First tweet then follow

What most people do after joining twitter is they start following as many people as they can and as soon as they can. This is a very bad strategy to increase your twitter follower count. A good one is to start with posting informative and entertaining tweets followed by following people in the fields of your interest. This way you will get more active followers who will give you more opportunity.

No spamming please

Do not start tweeting in bulk as people with “spammer” tag does. Act with moderation and tweet only what is really, really important. If you want people to hire you for a job then do not post stuffs that will take away from your image.

Talking of quality content, I will recommend you to record a video of you talking about what you do, what is your qualification, and how much work experience you have, etc., and tweet this video cover letter once or twice a day.

Do not act desperate

This will not do any good. Tweeting too much may force people to ignore you, if not unfollow you. There is no need to post your résumé five times a day. Tweet your résumé or video cover letter maximum twice a day. That is enough.

You should not deviate from this tweeting practice for even a single day. Have patience, result will come.

Original Article

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Best-Kept Secret Twitter Tips for Job Search (Part 4)

So far in the series, we have talked about branding your profile on twitter through customizing your background, setting your URL, and writing your Bio, etc. In the fourth part of twitter tips series, I am going to talk the content part of branding. I will tell you how you can keep yourself in the good book of your prospective employers by being responsible in twitter usage.

First tweet then follow

What most people do after joining twitter is they start following as many people as they can and as soon as they can. This is a very bad strategy to increase your twitter follower count. A good one is to start with posting informative and entertaining tweets followed by following people in the fields of your interest. This way you will get more active followers who will give you more opportunity.

No spamming please

Do not start tweeting in bulk as people with “spammer” tag does. Act with moderation and tweet only what is really, really important. If you want people to hire you for a job then do not post stuffs that will take away from your image.

Talking of quality content, I will recommend you to record a video of you talking about what you do, what is your qualification, and how much work experience you have, etc., and tweet this video cover letter once or twice a day.

Do not act desperate

This will not do any good. Tweeting too much may force people to ignore you, if not unfollow you. There is no need to post your résumé five times a day. Tweet your résumé or video cover letter maximum twice a day. That is enough.

You should not deviate from this tweeting practice for even a single day. Have patience, result will come.

Original Article

Saturday, April 24, 2010

Best-Kept Secret Twitter Tips for Job Search (Part 3)

Twitter is the best thing that has happened on the Internet in the recent years. In just 140 characters it has changed the way we communicate. Its 140 characters have also forced the giant Google to remap its strategy, and redraw its SERP (search engine result pages) — Google said it will include social media status updates as well, and to take share of this [micro blogging wonder] end it also launched Buzz.

This is what twitter has done to the giant, and it will also help you a great deal in searching for a job. In this part, I will tell you how you can brand yourself on twitter, and how it will help you.

Customize your profile

The best thing about twitter is it allows you to create a custom profile for your twitter account. You can choose whatever background you want for your twitter profile. Twitter background provides you a wonderful opportunity to brand yourself. Your profile page should speak volume about you.

Theme-based design

Do not choose just any background. This will not do any good. Always remember a good design begins with ideation. With finding a theme for the design. When I say theme I meant what is that one thing that you want to convey to the viewers of your twitter profile. Begin with writing down the points you want to convey until it boils down to one or two core points that you must convey. This will be the essence of your twitter profile.

Now think of a design theme of the blog based on the core you have found.

Designing background

Start designing a background based on the theme you have found. To find the dimension of the background, you can search Google. I do not suggest reinventing the wheel. Just conduct a Google search and you will find a twitter background template.

This is it for now. Go ahead and customize your twitter profile to impress your prospects.

Original Article

Friday, April 23, 2010

Handy FaceBook Tip For Job Seekers

Don't want the world ( including prospective employers ) to know about you web visits???

If you don't want people to know that you have a FB account: As of yesterday, there is a new privacy setting called "Instant Personalization" that shares data with non-facebook websites and it is automatically set to "Allow." Go to Account > Privacy Settings > Applications and Websites and uncheck "Allow".

Best-Kept Secret Twitter Tips for Job Search (Part 2)

Yesterday we started a series with some obvious twitter profile optimization tips that will help you find a job. In this post, I will continue the discussion and will share some more twitter power tips for job search on twitter (click the link to read part 1). These are must-apply tips for all kinds of twitter profiles, so you can use these even if you are not in the job-search market.

Write a powerful bullet bio

In twitter profile, you do not get a lot of space to talk about yourself; nevertheless opportunity is there to capitalize on the little space you get. You should write a powerful, sharp-edged bio. Every word should be telling. The space is limited, so use only what will make the employer click on the accompanying link. Write a powerful bullet bio.

Add a web address

Do not add URL of the website where you talked about your cool kitten. No employer will like to know about her. What you can do is add the URL of your cool kitten website in your website under fun and hobby section, if you desperately want to show that to your employer. But, reserve the web address space on twitter for your professional website — the one that will inform your client about your professional skills and expertise.

Add location

Using this is slightly tricky. You can only add name of your city, if you are living in a big metro, but generally use name of your county along with the city name. This will tell your employer about your whereabouts. It will help them make their minds.

We will talk about twitter profile customization in one more post then we will move further. These are practical tips, and will only benefit you if you work upon them. Reading only will do no good to you.

Once you are done customizing your twitter profile, send me your twitter URL, so that we all can see your work. Meanwhile, you can use the comment box below to leave your suggestion and feedback on this post.

Original Article

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Simply Hired® Launches Integration with Facebook® Connect (beta)

Simply Hired® Launches Integration with Facebook® Connect (beta)

Today, Simply Hired announces the launch of the first job search experience to combine the world’s largest social graph with the largest jobs database. Through an extended beta integration with Facebook Connect, job seekers can now interact with their Facebook profile and friends on SimplyHired.com to receive customized job recommendations and land a job.

Simply Hired is committed to offering the best job search experience and providing tools to help job seekers find their dream jobs. We have been hearing from our users that they’re frequently using social sites such as Facebook to find a job. In fact, according to one of the latest SimplyHired.com polls, 65% of respondents already leverage their social graphs to job search. To better understand how we can successfully offer job seekers a search experience leveraging their friends, we are rolling out this Facebook Connect integration.

With this functionality, authenticated Facebook users will be able to discover jobs based on their current or previous work titles, location, interests and their friends’ companies on the home page of SimplyHired.com. From the search results page, job seekers will be able to browse friends’ companies and search for job openings. We hope that this integration will help users leverage their Facebook friends to get an inside track on a job.

To enable this feature, users must opt-in. Information or activity about a user’s job search will not be shared on Facebook at any time.

To start using this feature, visit SimplyHired.com.

Best-Kept Secret Twitter Tips for Job Search (Part 1)

The best kept secrets are not those which are hidden behind 1000 locks. The best kept secrets are those that are always in front on us — too obvious to be noticed.

If you have not believed this so far then start believing in it, as nothing is truer then the above statement is. And it will become more evident when you will read the best-kept secret twitter tips for job search in this series.

Twitter, as we all know by now, is a 140-word marketing nuclear bomb. It is also referred as virtual water cooler where people talk about things that matters to them. Twitter is not just a micro-blogging tool, but it is a search engine in its own right that has the strength to overpower Google. Twitter can be used in many ways, but we will focus on using it as a job search tool. All the tips in this and subsequent posts are geared towards that only.

For a novice, twitter may look useless, but so did search engines in their initial days.

Easy-to-remember username

Username is your twitter name, and this is the first thing that a person finds about anyone on twitter. This is akin to the first part of your e-mail ID — everything before @, and you will not want your username to spoil the party. Hence, do not use your nickname or any other silly things in there. While saying that I did not mean to say that your nickname is silly, all I meant was that your username should look classy. Cheesy stuffs do not cut it. Your twitter name should also be easy to remember.

Real name for real people

Use your real first and last names in the designated space. Do not use any cool-but-idiotic-sounding words in place of the first and the last name. It will hurt your image, and create hindrance in getting a job. A person without real name does not sound like a person, at least not on the Internet.

Real picture

I know how badly you wanted to look like Brad Pitt, but the fact is you are not him then why to use his picture as your profile picture? Believe me it will not impress your employer, and most of all they will come to know it is not Brad Pitt who is applying for the job. Take my suggestion and pull that picture down, and instead use your own picture, preferably in business attire.

In the twitter profile, nothing but close-up of your own picture should be there.

Start fixing your profile now and when you are done send me your twitter URL. That’s all for today, will meet tomorrow with some more tips.

Original Article

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

6 Interview Mistakes To Avoid

I interview a lot of people. A lot. And, as some of you may have noticed, there are quite a bit more people chasing fewer jobs these days. So, in the interest of helping others out, here are some suggestions of things not to do during an interview.

To preface my comments, I work in the IT field and my interviewing technique was fine tuned during a long stint at a very demanding federal client. This environment was very fast paced and very high profile (I think one of the guiding comments from the client was “just keep my name out of the Washington Post”), which lead to an unfortunately high level of stress in the job.

When I had the opportunity to interview someone, I usually have between 30 to 60 minutes to determine if the person will be a good fit. After a few times, I believe I have created an interview approach to inject as much stress as possible into the situation to evaluate a potential candidate’s response. Some of examples of this approach would be:

  • Giving absolutely no feedback whatsoever. No smiles, no nods, no widening-of-the-eyes, nothing. I have found a lack of response induces far more stress than anything else I could do.
  • Asking questions to which there is no answer that could possibly be “right.” A textbook example from my undergraduate Morality & Justice class would be a train speeding towards five people with a switch: if you throw the switch, the train is diverted to another path on which a single person stands — but, that person would have no way of avoiding being hit; or, do nothing and the five die. What do you do? (Obviously, that’s an example, but it’s the kind of question where there is no “right” or “good” answer, so to speak; the whole point is to find out how the person gets to the answer more than the answer itself)
  • Providing real world scenarios, but somewhat contrived to avoid the usual canned answers.

The types of technical questions I ask usually contain buried knowledge; meaning, while the question was plainly asking one question, it would assume detailed knowledge of four to seven things required to formulate a reasonable response. As a hypothetical from an unrelated field, “when is it appropriate to use the feminine dative case?” This assumes you know:

  • Latin
  • The declension of a verb through all three genders and all five cases
  • The applicability of said genders and cases



Here are a few of the mistakes I see from interviewees:

  1. Trying to know it all:
    In the IT field, there are too many possible variants on too many details to know them all. “I don’t know” is a perfectly valid answer, if for no other reason because you cannot know it all. “I don’t know, but here’s how I would find out” is an even better answer. But, if you try to BS your way through an interview (where there’s really nothing that can go wrong, other than maybe not getting a job), you’ll try to BS your way through the job (when lots of things can go very wrong).
  2. Trying to have it both ways:
    Q: “If you had to pick between planting a garden or weeding a garden, which would you choose?”
    A: “Well, I can do both.”
    Yes, I’m sure you can, but that’s not what I asked. I know you’re worried that if you say “planting a garden” while you think I might be looking for a weeder so you’ll miss the job. But, in actually, I usually have slots open for both; by trying to straddle the fence, I think you’re telling me what you think I want to hear, rather than actually answering the question. Which leads to the next thing…
  3. Not answering the question asked:
    Q: “Tell me about the time you worked in McDonald’s”
    A: “Well, I learned a lot there. But not as much as I did volunteering for the United Way!”
    (a) This isn’t politics; you don’t get to answer the question you wanted to answer. (b) If I wanted to know about the United Way, I would have asked about the United Way. Now, I have to go back and ask you – again – for details about McDonald’s.
  4. Giving obviously canned answers:
    Q: “What do you see as your biggest fault?”
    A: “I care too much.”
    No self-respecting interviewer should ever ask that question, but – even if it does come up – no interviewee should ever hand out the generic advice column answer. Take it from me, we interviewers read those columns, too.
    A side note for interviewers: If you must ask this question, here’s a better formulation – “When you look back over your career, what would you say is your biggest success story? You know, ‘I did good there’?” and the converse, “When you look back over your career, what would you say is your biggest failure?” *Everyone* has both succeed and failed at least once. If they say they haven’t, that’s a red flag.
  5. Not having any questions for the interviewer:
    As a general rule, that shows you didn’t prepare, don’t know anything about the company or the position and don’t seem really all that interested. If you do ask questions, ask about the work itself, the conditions, the staff turnover, the client interactions, what would be their biggest problem du jour – anything to show some interest.
    Do not, however, ask about vacation time, pay ranges, bonuses and the like. The time to ask that is with the HR person and/or manager. Technical/line people either don’t know those answers or (probably) won’t be allowed to answer. Not to mention that it may not present you in the best light.
  6. Asking how you did:
    Perhaps it was because of my interview style, but I have a surprisingly large number of people asking me how they did — and usually in just those words (“So, how’d I do?”) in a serious, not self-deprecating or joking around kind of way. It almost always ends their chances. In my opinion, you should have the self-confidence to know how you did — even if you’re wrong. But, that’s just a personal pet peeve.

Of course, now that I read this, I might sound a little bitter. Really, I’m just trying to help out a people who are looking for a job and may run across someone like me.

Original Article

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

New 'green collar' job placement portal launches

By Jackie Headapohl

100417Green Collar Job Board Screen Shot.jpg
Green Collar Earth is a job placement board for people seeking environmentally friendly work.If you're dream job consists of working to promote a green economy, then you'll be happy to hear a new job placement portal that launched this week.

Green Collar Earth is a job search, career and recruitment website devoted specifically to green-collar employment.

"I created Green Collar Earth to support job seekers and green companies who are focused on creating and sustaining healthy environments," said Karen McCulloch, founder and CEO of Green Collar Earth LLC.

Green Collar Earth posts employment opportunities only from companies whose openings fit the United Nations Environmental Program definition of a green job — those that help protect ecosystems and biodiversity, use natural resources efficiently and reduce waste.

The site, which will post opportunities from across the country, doesn't have many positions posted yet, but it does have an interesting blog about green collar employment.

Monday, April 19, 2010

Turn A Rejection Into A Job Offer

It can be done if you make the right moves.

by Susan Adams,
The woman was interviewing for a lucrative position as director of a sales team. After having three great meetings full of lively conversation about how she'd handle the job, she was optimistic. But then came the fourth and final interview, with the company's executive vice president. Things were going swimmingly until the interviewee asked a question designed to lock in the offer: "Do you have any issues with my candidacy?"

"Frankly, yes," the executive replied. "You're good with people, but you don't have the analytic background we need. Not only would you need to steer the sales team, but you'd need to analyze information and data too." Shocked, the woman left the meeting realizing the offer she'd thought was in the bag was gone.

In a high-pressure job search, is it ever possible to turn a no into a yes?

Absolutely, says Robert Hellmann, a career coach at the Five O'Clock Club, a career counseling firm, who also teaches career development at New York University. Hellmann was coaching that very woman, and he helped her turn the situation around.

After every job interview, Hellmann advises, you should write not a thank-you note but what he calls an "influence letter." In this case, that letter became his client's key to getting back into the running.

The letter should always address the conversation you've had and your skills and experience. First, in the interview, you should ask what challenges the company is facing and what the new hire will need to do as soon as she starts work. In the influence letter, address those challenges concretely, ideally by describing similar challenges you've tackled at a previous job and how you handled them.

If, like Hellmann's client, you've been told there's a specific issue with your candidacy, deal with it head-on. Hellmann's client asked the executive to provide her with a set of data on which she could do the kind of analysis he'd said the job required. At first he didn't respond, but a week later she received a terse two-word e-mail--"OK, here"--with a spreadsheet attached. She spent the following three-day weekend attacking the spreadsheet, and on Monday night she e-mailed back a thorough analysis, with a request that he save a slot in his calendar for her to come in and discuss what she'd done.

At their next meeting the executive was enthusiastic. Then the candidate asked the second question Hellmann recommends all job-seekers raise before concluding an interview: "How do I stack up against the competition?"

"Frankly," said the executive, "you're one of our top two candidates." Goal scored. She was back in the running. But then he added that the other candidate had already held the exact sort of job he was filling, and he didn't see why he shouldn't hire someone he knew would be ready to hit the ground running. Given the other candidate's ideal fit, the executive asked, "why should we hire you?"

Deflated again, the woman went home and started a second influence letter, describing how she would bring a unique competitive advantage to the job. She stressed her ability to rally team members and motivate them to outdo themselves, describing specific instances when she'd done just that in previous jobs. She gave several examples of how her leadership strengths boosted performance and surpassed goals. Then she sent off the letter and waited. The executive called her shortly thereafter and offered her the job.

She had turned a "no" into a "yes."

Hellmann advises you not only to carefully craft an influence letter after each interview, but also to watch yourself carefully during the interview itself. A common pitfall is bad chemistry. Hellmann had a client once who arrived in a suit and tie at an interview where the manager quickly removed his jacket and made himself comfortable. The nervous candidate kept his jacket on and failed to relax.

"The manager was sending a message, but my client didn't want to pick up on it," Hellmann observes. Even though he wrote a strong influence letter after the fact, the candidate didn't get the job. The lesson, Hellmann says: If the chemistry is lacking, do your best to pick up on and mirror the interviewer's vibe.

Another common mistake: bad writing in the influence letter. Some of us just aren't great wordsmiths. But usually we know it, and help is available. Even good writers realize it's best to let their copy rest overnight before a final review and revisions. If you're a lousy writer to start with, find a friend who's better and ask for help.

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Top Social Networking Sites – Applications for job seekers

If you are looking for most of the Internet in your job search to be sure to check the following Web sites and applications:

Twitter

You can change the visibility as a work in sport or an expert in your field level Twitter to participate in discussions on topics that are familiar in that position you as an experienced professional. job seekers must be on Twitter, because the recruiters use to source candidates to search for documents in theirBIOS. I suggest that job seekers have a link to their LinkedIn profile or web resume so recruiters can go to another site for more detailed information, Since Twitter is the short power.

Twellow.com

You can use the network to expand finding thought leaders and other professionals in your area using Twellow.com. Twellow many different categories you can search for people. Since you do not need anyone's permission (unless they are to follow tweetssure), you or someone you want to follow, and many people will follow you back. You can also see who are the people who follow retweeting. The people can be good for you to follow.

Tweetmyjobs.com

Know of open positions, I would recommend the use of job seekers tweetmyjobs.com. It 'a service that directly post jobs for job seekers to text message, and it takes about eight seconds to find a position. Jobseekers can register asMany of the more than 7500 channels they want, quoting the job title and geographic areas. You can follow me on Twitter at @ TweetMyJOBS TweetMyJobs.

LinkedIn

Many recruiters are looking for social media sites for the candidates than positions on job boards instead. Profiles occurs on potential candidates' contact with them on LinkedIn. In addition to a LinkedIn profile job seekers can get their profile on LinkedIn increased participation in groupsand answer questions on LinkedIn Answers section. Recruiters have a positive impression of the candidates who deserve the best answers through thoughtful answers to the comments section.

Also, I recommend that job seekers use the page works on LinkedIn to find open positions. LinkedIn is all automatic connections you have on contract jobs company's vacancy. This is a useful feature, since it is always useful to try to network your wayto a company.

Facebook

You can join groups on Facebook and on topics of interest as a work in sport is based. If you are a member of a group can help people in the group that you want to identify the friend. Members of the group is probably very open free ding you because you had the group together. You might say something like: "I see we are both members of the group of accounts in the government. I am very interested in connecting with other professionalsarea and would like to introduce you to my network connection "It 's a good way to grow your network and find out about job opportunities ..

Easy Resume

You can do this program on Facebook with a smaller version of your resume to your Facebook profile instead.

Brave New Talent

This social networking application that allows you to have direct contact with employers and employers' organizations to participate in online communities.

Original Article

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Don’t Be A Stealth Job Hunter!!!

Are you trying to find a new job without letting anyone know you’re unemployed? Many people try, very few succeed. Especially in today’s job market, it is extremely difficult to get a new position without extensive networking!

That word seems to scare many people. In their minds it conjures up images of glad-handing Multi-Level-Marketing salespeople who wants to show their “plan” with the “perfect” opportunity for you without knowing anything about you. Or it draws memories of the brother in-law who became a life insurance agent and has been haranguing every distant family member for months to buy a new policy from him.

Those bad memories are caricatures of networking or sales, and not the image you would create by effective networking for a new job.

Don’t hide from the people that can help you! Here are some thoughts and some practical help to do it right…

Especially now, there is no shame in losing your job! Often, I hear people say they don’t tell others they are looking for a job because they are embarrassed over being unemployed. Too often they blame themselves somehow when in fact market conditions can make anyone a casualty of a lay-off. When companies are forced to make drastic cuts in their expenses, they often have to cut broadly and deeply. Often they will cut a whole department, or a straight percentage from every department. The decisions of who stays and who goes are often made very arbitrarily with the bottom-line the primary concern. Survival of the company is more important than cutting carefully with a scalpel.

Over the past 2 years, virtually everyone recognizes that no one is immune. There is no stigma to a lay-off as there may have been years ago. There is no need for embarrassment, or shame. It is what it is and generally people don’t view your unemployment as a reflection on you, but rather a sign of the times. I was told of someone recently that didn’t tell his wife that he had been laid-off for 3 weeks. He rose, dressed and left for ‘work’ each morning just as he always had so his wife wouldn’t suspect, but spent his day at a coffee shop. Now that’s stealth, and not at all a good idea.

Who do you tell? Everyone! You never know where your best leads will come from, and usually they come from the most unlikely sources. Make a list of everyone you know. Studies show that most people, on average, know more than 350 people. Create lists in groups to help jog your memory. List ALL your family members, close and extended. List friends. List ALL your previous co-workers from everywhere you’ve worked. List service providers like your doctor, accountant, lawyer, real estate agent, dry cleaner, mail carrier, etc. List other parents on your kids’ sports teams. List other parents you know from your kids’ school. List people you know at church, temple, or mosque. List people you know from former vendors, customers, trade associations, user groups, or professional associations. List alumni from your schools. Hopefully, you get the idea… make lists of everyone you know!

Then gather contact information… find where they work on LinkedIn, call the main number of the company and call them. Gather email addresses if you have them. Google their name to find something of theirs with contact information. Use resources like Jigsaw.com, ZoomInfo, or the phone book!

What do you say? That will vary with how you know them, how well you know them, and what position they hold. However, as a general rule, one thing you don’t want to say is: “Do you know of a job opening?” The vast majority of people you talk to will not know of something off-hand and then the conversation becomes awkward and cut short.

As a suggestion:

I’m connecting with everyone I know in order to network effectively to find a new position. I realize you may not know of a specific open position in my field. However, I figure my job while I’m looking is to keep adding links to my chain of people, connecting one to another until I find the right opportunity.

I’m hoping you may be able to give me names of a couple of people that you know that would be worthwhile for me to talk to… either anyone else you know in my field, someone that you might reach out to if you were in my situation, someone that just seems to know a lot of people, or anyone you know at companies that seem to be doing well.

I’d be grateful for any specific job leads if you know of one, however, I’m really only hoping for the next couple of links in my chain.”

People can’t help you if they don’t know you are looking! Don’t keep your job hunt under wraps. Let everyone you know you are looking, touch base with them regularly (every 4 to 6 weeks), and keep adding to the links in your chain until you reach someone with the right opportunity for you!


Author:

Harry Urschel has over 20 years experience as a technology recruiter in Minnesota. He currently operates as e-Executives, writes a blog for Job Seekers called The Wise Job Search, and can be found on Twitter as @eExecutives.

Original Article

Friday, April 16, 2010

Job Search - How to Handle Rejection and Follow Up

Last Saturday evening my wife and I visited friends at their home. They are a couple I have known since elementary school days, seventh grade as I recall. Yes, childhood! They grew up living next door to each other, dated during high school, and are still together. Last year they celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary.

They had invited several people for dinner - all of whom I have known since childhood. After dinner we were seated in their family room talking about some of the silly stuff that has happened over the years. Suddenly their cocker spaniel, who happens to have run of the furniture, wanted attention, and jumped into my lap. I was a little surprised, because at home we will not allow our dog on the couch, and I was not expecting little Rex to land on me. But I decided that is okay. I am a dog-person.

I petted Rex for a while, and when I stopped he stuck his muzzle under my arm and pushed upward - hard. He wanted to be petted more. A few minutes later when I again stopped, he gave me the muzzle-up treatment again. I said, "No, Rex," but he continued to want me to rub under his ears. He would not take "No" for an answer. So he persisted. Rejection did not bother him. He simply continued to let me know what he wanted.

People do not enjoy rejection, and most will go out of their way to avoid it. Therefore they will no ask to be hired. They might be turned down. Then they do not try to contact the interviewer again a few days later to see how things stand. Have you been there? You have gone through an interview, did not get the job at that moment, and a couple days later when you want to call back, suddenly the telephone seems to weigh 2,000 pounds. You can not bring yourself to call.

Relax. The business is looking for a particular person to fill the job position, they had more interviews to do, and the owner wanted the office manager to interview everyone who applied - whether or not they qualify. You are on the list, and you helped put yourself at the top of their list. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. You just have to call to keep reminding them you exist. You have to be like little Rex, and not take no for an answer several times.

Almost nobody calls back to follow-up with the interviewer. How crazy is that? Other people applying for the job all have telephones that seem to weigh a ton. When you follow-up you are making yourself stand out again. Do it. You will be surprised.

Don Schenk has been conducting hiring interviews for four decades. The real, insider's secret to Job Search is not what you think it is! Discover the 3 little-known strategies that will make the interviewer want to hire you within the first 30 to 40 seconds of the interview! Go to:

http://www.HowYouFindAJobFast.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Don_Schenk

Should You Try to Look Younger for Your Job Search?

Robin Ryan, author of "Over 40 & You're Hired"

Age discrimination. Ask any baby boomer who's been job hunting for several months and he'll likely tell you a personal horror story. Although the practice is illegal, many over-40 job hunters report that an employer was excited about them as a candidate -- until they met in person, leaving the candidates with the sneaking suspicion that their age had everything to do with not getting hired.

Can age discrimination be hampering your job search? According to the survey results of hiring managers conducted for and published in my new book, "Over 40 & You're Hired", many employers reported that they believe that someone under 40:

  • Will work for a lower salary

  • May seem more eager

  • Shows more initiative

  • Has a "fire-in-their-belly" attitude

  • Has better computer skills

  • Seems more adaptable

  • Is less old-fashioned or stuck in their ways

My advice: Don't look old!

I'm not just referring just to your image. Your résumé, cover letter, networking approaches and personal presentation and how you perform in the interview all must show you have a lot to contribute.

I had one 69-year-old client, Mary*, who came to see me for coaching on interviews and salary negotiations. Her hair was completely white, and her face showed the lines and wrinkles of age. Yet she was fascinating and vivacious and demonstrated exuberance for life. Her résumé was full of recent accomplishments. She went out to four interviews and got four job offers. Those four employers weren't rejecting this 69-year-old woman, they were fighting over her. Mary had mastered the secrets to self-marketing and using her strengths and talents to prove to the employer she was an ideal candidate.

That is exactly what you must do to get ahead in today's tough economy. Here are some key strategies and resources to implement:


1. Advertise recent results

Employers report that the typical résumé gets a 15-second glance. Focus on the last 10 years. State the action you performed and the accomplishments you achieved. Stress money earned, costs eliminated or time saved. Productivity enhancements get attention, so make sure you note any you've made. Be a skillful editor; keep your résumé to no more than two pages.


2. Brighten up

Too many mature workers show up looking weather-worn, tired, defeated, desperate, just plain old and worn out. You must have an enthusiastic attitude that radiates energy to reassure an employer you are ready and able to do the job. Look vibrant and contemporary. A warm smile, a firm handshake and great eye contact are an absolute must. Dress in a fashionable suit in a flattering color and style. Fit is critical -- don't wear anything dated, too tight or too loose. To take some years off your appearance, try a new hairstyle, dye your hair, switch to contemporary eyeglasses and get your teeth whitened. Men should be clean-shaven; women should go light on the makeup.


3. Network backward

Your professional reputation is really other people's perception of you, your work strengths, image, passion and personality traits. Track down and network with old bosses, former employees and colleagues. They can outline what you are good at, build your confidence (often necessary after a firing or layoff) and be a terrific link in helping you meet potential hiring managers.


4. Be sharp for the interview

Your next boss can be younger -- maybe a lot younger -- than you. Know the challenges and trends in your field. Research not only the company but what its competitors are doing. Take steps to modernize your vocabulary so that you can come across as current and flexible. Offer examples of recent accomplishments. Emphasize that you are a quick study and constant learner. Write out answers to potential questions.Rehearse your answers and keep them brief. Employers lose interest fast, so never talk more than 60 seconds when responding to a question.


5. If you don't have it, get it

Skills and certifications need to be up-to-date. Check job ads and see if you are lacking any skill today's employers ask for when hiring people for your type of job. Computer skills are essential! If you are over 50, expect to get some questions and even a test on your computer ability. Many employers stated they do not accept what you tell them at face value -- they test you. So go to class, read books, use the tutorials and practice using these skills -- nothing will make you look older than not knowing how to attach a file to an e-mail.

*Last name withheld at person's request.

Original Article