Midlife Career Change Tips and Advice » Job Hunting

Job Hunting – Back To Basics

admin — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 05:07:00 +0000

There are many ways that you can look for a new job. You might scour employment websites, the want ads in newspapers, or even rely on word of mouth. However, how you go about your search will make the difference between just envisioning your dream job and actually landing it.

In order to land your ideal job, you will need to have the most effective search tools at your disposal and be very creative in the process.

Finding Job Openings

It is well known that the most coveted job openings will not be posted on any job board or in the newspaper. Most of these positions are filled through referrals and networking. Many employers will only go to job fairs or career seminars because they are more likely to find candidates who are passionate about their careers and hungry for new opportunities.

A good place to start your search would be the college from which you earned your degree or any specialized training.

Many colleges, both large and small, have career placement departments that assist graduates in securing employment. They often have access to many opportunities that are not posted elsewhere. The placement department can also give you interview tips. You may have a fantastic resume – but it won’t mean a thing if you can’t land the job.

Be In The Know

Before each job interview, you should research the company and gather as much information as possible so that you will be prepared. It helps to know how long they have been in business, what other opportunities are available, the size of the organization, and its financial worth.

Your work is not done until you immediately send a thank you letter to your interviewer thanking them for their time. This simple act of courtesy can leave a lasting impression.

Your search begins and ends with you. You should know what your goals are and how to go after them. If you have a clear vision and a plan to get there, then you will find the right opportunity.

Finding Recession-Proof Jobs

admin — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 12:53:38 +0000

Recession can be a very stubborn thing. Once it drops by, it can take a while for it to fade away and disappear. However, that doesn’t mean that we should simply sit back and let it overcome us. It can, after all, wreck havoc on our finances and personal lives. In these tough times, finding a job already seems improbable – just imagine being in the market for jobs that are not affected by recession. But take heart. There’s still hope yet. Here are top 6 tips for finding recession-proof jobs:

1. Look for jobs in secure industries.

If you’ve read the news by now, trying to get a job in an auto plant is like trying to get on an elevator that’s going down – and you’re trying to go up. The same is true if you’re trying to get a leg in real estate.

Instead of wasting your time trying to join an industry that’s experiencing some bad times, try to set your sights on industries that have remained stable or are experiencing growths. These include:

- Health care (nursing, caregiving, special care, medicine, physical therapy and other support manpower)

- Law enforcement

- Information Technology (network administration, software design and development)

- Support Services (customer service, administrative assistance)

- Sales and business development (product management, retail and wholesale)

- Engineering

- Education (teaching, school administration and other related support services)

2. Boost your resume.

If an employer sees nothing promising or exciting in your resume, they won’t think twice about throwing your piece in the trash bin. Before you try to hook a recession-proof job, consider revamping your resume right now. Take a copy of your latest and review it. If your resume is several months old, there’s a high likelihood that it needs a makeover.

3. Focus on accomplishments.

A common error among jobhunters is detailing their job descriptions in their resumes. Although this is helpful in establishing their work experience, it may not always give the prospective employer a good idea of what you can do. Emphasize on the results that you have produced instead.

4. Adapt your resume.

Typing out and printing a generic resume is a huge mistake. Generic is average, which means that you have very little to help you stand out from the crowd. If you want a recession-proof job, make sure your resume is something that your employers will find attractive.

Consider the industry you’re targeting. If the job calls for someone who has a strong sales experience, emphasize your sales background. If the job calls for someone who had been involved directly in marketing and promotions, show your qualifications in these departments. The more relevant your resume says you are, the better you’ll be at landing a recession-proof job.

5. Expand your reach.

Other than advertised job vacancies, consider other venues for finding recession-proof jobs. Look for trade magazines, papers, clubs and associations. You could also tap your network of professionals in the same field.

6. Get further education.

In tough times, you ought to arm yourself with tougher credits. One is by obtaining additional training or education. Getting certified or expanding your professional qualifications will help make you a more desirable hiree.

Recession-proof jobs are usually the most popular among jobhunters who are probably considering the same strategies as you right now. It’s likely that for every recession-proof job that is available out there, there are thousands of other jobhunters out to get it. If you have better qualifications courtesy of better training and experience (in case you’ve had hands-on education or internship), you’ll come out as the best, most capable candidate.

Are You Considering A Professional Resume Writer?

admin — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 08:52:24 +0000

Professional resume writers are services you need to consider when your resumes don’t result in job interview invitations. Most resume writers usually ask you one question to determine whether you need their services: are you getting interviews for the types of jobs you want when you submit your resume? If you aren’t, they say that you need to call in the professionals.

However, a resume writer’s services can be quite expensive, so you may want to consider a few other factors before hiring help.

Check if there are any basic improvements you can make. If you haven’t had a chance to proofread your own resume yet, do so. Just double-checking your spelling and grammar may be enough to catch the reason that you aren’t getting many callbacks.

Make sure that your resume is geared towards the type of career you want. Especially if you are changing careers, your resume may reflect skills and a work history that doesn’t focus on the type of job you are looking for now. Consider making a list of the ideal abilities of someone in your dream job, and then reworking your resume to show that you have these skills.

Focus on describing your accomplishments. Your accomplishments will set you apart from other applicants, and can clearly show a potential employer why they should hire you.

If you are still having trouble, though, it may be time to seek professional help. Many resume writing services can truly improve your resume and help you find the job that you want. However, keep in mind that paying a professional resume writer doesn’t guarantee that your resume will land the perfect job. Instead, a good resume is just an edge in your competition with other applicants.

There are also plenty of individuals who look for work as resume writers but cannot provide you with the help that you need. It can be hard to find a reliable resume writer. While professional services may seem high, using a low-priced service can actually be a problem. Extremely inexpensive resume writing services may be little more than scams.

At the minimum, you want to work with a resume writer who is easy to contact, can provide you with samples of both resumes and cover letters, and provides their costs in writing ahead of time. You may also want to work with a resume writing service that offers additional services, such as job search consultation and interview preparation.

You might want to consider choosing your resume writer through the Professional Association of Resume Writers (PARW). PARW maintains a list of certified resume writers, and their certification has come to be considered the industry standard. So, if you are considering a resume writer with a simple Internet search you can locate the resume writing service you plan to work with.

Dream Job Hunting Tips

admin — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 10:57:52 +0000

So you have tried many job hunting tips but still cannot get the job you want? If so, then these tips offer help.

Several days ago one of my readers asked me an advice on how he could show the talent of public speaking or speech writing to his target employers. He mentioned that he had already sent letters to many politicians offering speech writing services but got no response from them.

This is actually a classic story, where you send lots of application letters to prospective employers but get no interview invitation at all. If this happens to you, consider hiring a good resume writer — if you haven’t. A reputable resume or CV service can help you profile the needs of prospective employers and tailor your service offerings to their needs as well as guarantee you to get an interview.

What if a resume writer cannot help you get an interview at all? If even after using a resume writing service your resume or CV still can’t help you get an interview I would suggest you use another approach. And as a case study let’s use public speaking or speechwriting career.

If you really have an outstanding ability in public speaking or speech writing then the issue is how to get noticed by your potential employers. As your application letters have failed to work for you I would suggest you build a social or business network to reach the employer. Here is how you can do it.

Steps To Network Your Way into Your Perfect Career

At first, it can be difficult to know who might have the right connection for you. But, with the development of social networking sites like Facebook.com, you have new tools to mobilize your social network as you can pass the word around that you’re looking for a job.

Many social networking sites also allow you to search for the company that you would like to work as well as help you find its employees online. Contact these employees and see if they can help you build a connection that will develop into a position.

You might also consider checking through which employers your friends connect you to, and building on those links. If you’re aiming an ideal position at a specific company, you can make a connection with the right person to get you that job using the company’s hierarchy that is often available through its website.

You might also consider joining professional associations covering public speaking or speech writing, even if you don’t have a job in the field. Membership rosters can be very valuable in a job hunt, because you can simply look up the relevant individual in companies that interest you.

Remember also to start blogging because a blog that shows your expertise can help your career. Blogging regularly can establish you as an expert on a subject. You don’t need credentials to blog about any topic, but if you can show yourself to be an expert, you will use your blog as leverage for getting a job from the employer of your choice.

Blogging can also help you display samples of your work like a lengthy list of speech writing documents, especially if you can provide many testimonials from high profile politician or business executive clients. If you’re a speechwriter the easiest way to show your writing skills is to write convincing news and stories regularly, for which blogging is ideal.

So, there are many ways to network your way into a dream job or career. If you cannot rely on your friends and family as well as submitting resumes to classified ads, your social or business network might help you find an employment that you’re looking for.