Finding a job is one of the most difficult and stressful events of one’s life. Through years of working in the career consulting field, our writers have been helping professionals find jobs for decades.
The Job Search category includes articles related to searching for a job, finding a job, contacting employers, job markets, negotiation and general job search topics.
Finding Jobs Created by the New Stimulus Bill
We all know that in 2009 some major adjustments have been occurring on the job front, including a new stimulus bill that is proposing to create 3.5 million new jobs. But how are you affected by this new bill?
If you have been recently laid off from an employer affected by the recession, or are simply looking for a new opportunity, the bill is going to open new ones. So let’s take a closer look at just what this new bill can mean for you in your search to find a new employment opportunity.
Four Ways to Make Finding a Great Job a Little Easier
Probably one of the toughest tasks any employment seeker has to take on is the process of finding a job. This is because active searching requires just as much time and effort as actually working a 9 to 5.
But just because a job search is not served up with much glitz and glamour doesn’t mean it has to be a bad experience. In fact, there are ways to make the process flow a little smoother. Let’s take a look at four of those ways:
Remaining Financially Stable While Pursuing Your Dream
Aren’t we all envious of those people who are not only able to figure what their dream career is, but have the guts to actually pursue it? If all people were able to do the same, the world would be a happier place.
But it’s not always easy being a dreamer. Because while these people may be pursuing their passion, it’s often hard to do it without compromising a reasonable income. If you find yourself in this predicament, here are some tips to help you stay afloat financially while taking strides to pursue your dream …
How to Handle Looking for New Employment After Being Fired
Being fired from a job is not pretty – especially if you have a stellar work ethic. But sometimes it happens to the best of us. We may have been matched with a difficult co-worker or manager, or maybe just caught up in extenuating circumstances that resulted in our release.
Unfortunately, no matter why we were let go, the act alone can be viewed upon negatively by prospective employers. So to help you, let’s look at some ideas to think about when trying to approach a new job for employment.
Should You Accept a Low – Paying Job Offer or Stick with Unemployment Benefits?
So you’ve recently been let go from your company and are receiving unemployment benefits when an amazing thing happens – you get a job offer. But it’s not the offer you were hoping for. While it will definitely pay the bills, it will result in you taking less than 50-percent of what you were making.
What do you do? Is it best to take the low-paying job or continue taking the unemployment benefits? This is definitely not a decision that comes with a textbook answer. However, you may benefit from some basic tips to help guide your decision.
Waiting for Job Opportunities – How to Keep Yourself Occupied
With over 500,000 people losing their jobs in the month of November 2008, and over 10 million unemployed in the United States to date, the thought of acquiring a job can almost seem hopeless. But it’s not. Companies are still hiring, jobs are still available, and you can have one – as long as you don’t give up.
How to Manage Salary Negotiations
Whether you’re looking for a new job or trying to make financial gains at the one you’re at, you may find that at some point you’ll need to make a salary negotiation. But how can you do it if you never have before?
It’s not as difficult as you may think. In fact, in many ways it can be similar to any other business transaction. So if you’ve been thinking that it’s time to get a raise, or ask for a specific salary with a new job, take a look at some ways to get it done.
Making the Most of Your Job References
When searching for employment, you will find that most employers will at some point ask you to provide a list of your references. This may seem like a simple request to fulfill, but it actuality, choosing references is something that should be done with care. So before you throw your own list out there to employers, let’s take a look at some ideas to keep in mind.
Tips for Finding Great Internship Opportunities
College can be an exciting time. You have the opportunity to mature as a person, develop great friendships, and start determining what you want to accomplish in your life.
As you make this determination, it is important to acquire experiences along the way that can help develop your career. One of the best ways to get this done is through an internship. If you’re looking to open the door to some great internship opportunities, here are some tips to get you started.
Green Collar Jobs and How You Can Fit In
The world is constantly changing before our eyes. Technology has created advancements that we could never have imagined 20 years ago. But with many of the advancements have come negative changes to our environment like pollution and global warming that affect the way we live our lives.
As a result, these changes have inspired the creation of jobs meant to contribute to and aid our environment rather than destroy it. These jobs are called “green collar jobs.” If you are interested in learning more about this industry, take a look at how it affects you and how you can fit in.
Networking Can Jump-Start Your Career
There are a number of ways that you can acquire the job you want. You can go the traditional route of finding an ad and applying for the job, or going through the temp agency where you can get your feet wet in certain fields.
But another great way to get a job is through networking. Whether you have a family member who can make recommendations for you, or you join an organization where you get inside tips on companies, meeting the right people help you get you the job you want. Let’s look at some ways you can make networking work for you.
Four Questions to Consider before Relocating for a Job
The job market is more uncertain than it has been in years. It is for this reason that many people are willing to do things they weren’t before to accept a job, including relocate.
But if you’ve found a promising job opportunity in a new city, don’t pack your bags just yet. Relocating takes a lot of thought and preparation, and is definitely not a decision to be made in haste. So before you actually take on a job that requires you to relocate, first consider these four questions.
Searching For Jobs When Times Are Hard, How To Make Yourself Stand Out
7.7 million Americans were unemployed at the end of 2007, according to the Department of Labor. Out of these 7.7 million people, and with a questionable economic forecast, how are you going to make yourself stand out and get the job? With a few tips, you may find yourself with more options that you think.
In a challenging economic environment, the most important tip for job seekers is to use your network. With less jobs and more competition, any edge up is going to be useful. When you invest time in relationships with colleagues through professional associations, alumni groups, friends, family or church groups, you may find out about an opening before the general public.
Another tip for job seekers that is under-utilized is making phone calls to companies. If you know there is an opening or think they are going to hiring soon, do what you can to get on the phone with the hiring manager, or that person’s supervisor. This may take a little digging to find out who the right person is to contact, but your initiative could be rewarded with an interview. For example, if someone in your alumni club mentions to you that XYZ, Co. just got a new contract and will need to add staff. Call the new project lead and ask for an interview.
When you are actively job seeking, staying organized can be the most important advice. Keep track of your prospects. You will want to have the job announcement, your cover letter, along with notes about the position and company, the names of the interviewers, the status of the interview, and any tasks for follow-up, including a thank you card. Keeping track of this information will help you if you get called back and for networking possibilities. It is important to follow-up with all interviews. While you may have dropped out of the running for the original position, by following up and reminding them of your skills and availability, you may considered for the next position they have available, or agree to pass your name on to others in the company or industry.
Research and preparation can never be minimized when job seeking, but when times are tight, this can help you stand out. Don’t go into an interview without a good understanding of the company. Research the services or products and come up with one or two clarifying questions about the company. This will show the interviewer that you are interested in the work they do and are already thinking about how you could contribute. Many companies have web sites that can give you this information quite easily. If you can get a sense for the corporate philosophy, be sure to incorporate this into your answers in the interview. The more you know about the company, the more you can apply your skills directly to the work they do.
Depending on what career section you are looking at, your prospects may not be so bad. Service sector jobs are actually on the increase, to include technical and professional services, food service and health care. Regardless of your field, going forward with these tips and a positive attitude will make a difference to prospective employers.
by Teena Rose, President of Resume to Referral, an Executive Writing Service
Job Application – Don’t Forget Critical Information
If you haven’t already been disappointed with the process of having to complete a job application after laboring for hours and weeks to develop the perfect resume, by reading this you are more than likely never to suffer this disappointment. Lucky you!
The Write Way To Get The Job You Want
All job seekers ultimately ask one basic question – “Why do I need a good resume?” The answer is simple. You need a good resume to market yourself, have a written record of your skills and accomplishments and to sow the seeds of interest in the minds of recruiters and potential employers. In short, if you want a rewarding, fulfilling career, you need a good resume.
What Questions Should I Ask During an Interview?
What are good questions to ask during an interview is a good question in itself, and one that always comes up when a conscientious person is preparing for a big job interview. The fact that a person even wonders that sets them apart from the crowd of applicants and means that he or she is a proactive individual, intent on making a good impression and proper presentation of skills and experience.
When the Job Search is Over, be Sure to Say Thanks
Using a job acceptance letter when offered a position shows true professionalism. It is a way of saying “thank you” to the person who hired you, and giving them assurance that they made the right decision. You have presented yourself to them as a professional with your resume, cover letter, reference sheet, salary history, letters of recommendation, follow up note, and any other personal marketing materials you’ve used while job hunting. You went out of your way to make sure that the interview went well, and probably did your homework on the company before going in for that first interview. Now using a job acceptance letter will be a capstone on all your work, and perfect the positive professional image you’ve tried to convey throughout the job search and hiring process.
10 Ways to Tell It’s Time to Find Another Job
Getting axed, sacked, canned or fired hurts. It does nothing for your self-esteem and it doesn’t look great on your resume. You’re always better leaving your position on your own terms. But how can you tell when your job may be on the line. Here are 10 things to look for.
Derailing Identity Thieves While Job Searching
Going up against identity thieves is like playing a very intense game of chess. A player makes a move, but not before thinking of the opponent’s potential moves. It resembles an intense game of cat and mouse, where there can be only one winner.
Don’t Sabotage Your Job Search with False Assumptions
Most job seekers understand that the job market has changed radically over the last few years. Sadly, however, many still hold to job-search assumptions that do not apply to our current market conditions. If you believe any of the following five statements, you could be dragging your job search out longer than necessary. Cut your job search time by knowing the truth about the job market and learning how to combat these assumptions.
This blog's author, Debra Wheatman of Careers Done Write, provides executive career services including resume and cover letter preparation, job search / interviewing strategies and professional branding including how to effectively use LinkedIn, Twitter and other social media in your career.
Visit CareersDoneWrite.com to learn more about how we can put your career in gear with interview catching resumes and professionally written career documents.