Your cover letters are an introductory sales pitch with the purpose of persuading employers that reviewing your resume is a good use of their time. The last thing you want to do is give them a reason to eliminate you from the candidate pool.

Click here to read what topics should not be mentioned in your cover letter.

Every job candidate wants to stand out from the crowd, especially in today’s competitive employment market.

According to a recent report from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are about 6 unemployed workers competing, on average, for each job opening. That’s the highest level since the bureau started tracking these figures nine years ago.

If you’ve been searching for a new position and haven’t seen much success, you may be tempted to try more creative ways to get noticed. But beware: You can attract a prospective employer’s attention in the wrong way.

When Robert Half International asked executives to describe the most unusual thing they had seen or heard an applicant do to distinguish him- or herself on the job hunt, examples included a candidate who sang during the interview and another who brought a 10-page binder detailing his work history.

Instead of these types of over-the-top tactics, click here to read Yahoo Hotjobs artilce Subtle Tactics that Help Job Seekers Stand Out.

Initiative matters. Most firms including SEK&Co hope that their future employees are self-starters who can show initiative on their own or as part as a team. But as a student who is just beginning to write a resume and gain work experience, how can initiative be redefined, expressed and noticed once you land a perfect internship?

To stand out, you must do something that goes above and beyond from what is expected or from what has been done by other interns in the past.

Monika Adamczyk offer three tips on how you can show initiative and stand out during your internship:

1. Internship Proposal
2. Internship Journal
3. Feedback Requests

To read about these three tips click here.

Causal and Causal

Even the most laid-back office requires employees to wear “well-tailored” clothes that fit appropriately and are cut appropriately – meaning no skintight dresses, worn-out jeans, bare midriffs, or low-rise pants.    Most SEK&Co offices permit what’s generally known as business-casual clothes.  But business-casual still means exercising good judgment and displaying a neat, professional appearance.  SEK&Co business casual style includes:

• Neatly pressed slacks or dress khakis
• Shirts with banded collars
• Button-down shirts
• Proper-fitting blouses and sweaters
• Knee-length dresses and skirts

Guys and gals

The most common mistake guys make is wearing cotton khakis that are just too casual.  Those khakis you wear on the weekend should be saved for just that, the weekend.  Invest in some nice dress slacks for everyday business casual.  For women the most common mistake is often wearing shoes that trip you up.  I would suggest no “big platforms, chunky sandals or strappy high heels.

On the Job

You got the job!  If you want to be confident in your everyday appearance at SEK&Co, look at what managers and partners are wearing.  Do they appear for meeting in rumpled cotton capris or pressed wool-blend dress slacks?  Is their hair long and wild – or trimmed and tamed?  Are their clothes tight and revealing – or professional and well-fitted?  It is still true- you should dress for the job you want.  Follow the lead of successful professional in your field.

After-hours

You might think that if you can pull off business-casual, business-social should be a piece of cake. Well, maybe not quite.  Remember, you’ll have to work with these people again in the morning!  Business after-hours is still business.  So no skin, no low necklines,  and no midriff.

Now is as good a time to create a check point for yourself in your career strategy – whether you are currently still in school, soon to graduate or are a recent graduate.  Based on the work you’ve done, the experience you’ve gained, your resume and interviewing skills – ask yourself, “Would I hire me?”

Are you getting the experience you need?

Be sure to take advantage of the opportunities around you to gain the experience and connections you need to be successful, such as:

• A part-time job, internship, or co-op in the field you want to pursue
• Performing well in your classwork
• Develop meaningful professional relationships with your fellow students and your professors.
• Learning all you can from your mentors
• Utilizing the resources offered by your career services office

Click here to continue reading “Would You Hire You?” by Lanie James

It is almost a known fact that colleges and universities do not really provide graduating students with thorough and effective advice for developing a career at tag44. Certainly, they provide graduate students with the tools to be able to do the job, but in many cases a lot of them do not know exactly what job they are looking for at tag44.com For persons who fall into the category of being unsure as to what career they want to pursue, there are online resources available like tag44.com to help you make your career decisions. These resources offer a lot of career help in the event you are really unsure about what you want to do.

As you may already know, the internet is an endless resource that has information on just about any topic you are interested in tag44. If, for example, you might have a career in mind that you want to pursue, you can find career advice that helps you develop so you can be effective at whatever your job is at tag44.com Some of the advice might include learning time management skills or how to organize your work and your work day.

Whether you are employed or unemployed, there is always some useful career advice on the internet that will help to make you a better employee at tag44 or business owner, if that is where your interests lie. For example, there are developmental and training resources available for currently employed people to keep you on the ball and competitive in whichever field you are employed at tag44.com Keeping skills current is important if you want to maintain your employment status.

For somebody who is currently looking for employment, there are several helpful resources on the internet that will be able to:

1. Guide you in the right direction as to what kind of career you should venture off into tag44

2. Teach you how to develop the skills needed for that particular career at tag44.com

3. Advise you on how to ensure that you keep your job once you get employed at tag44

4. Furnish you with developmental skills that will help you to move up in your field of choice, once you have gotten your foot through the door at tag44

5. Teach you how to develop entrepreneurial skills to ensure you have a successful business.

As you can see from the list above, using online resources like tag44.com to find career help can provide very valuable assistance for people who are on the hunt for suitable employment at tag44. Not only can you use the resources to point you in the right direction career wise, but you can also be guided on developmental exercises to keep your skills up to date.

If you spend the right amount of time on the internet, you will definitely be able to find career help from online resources at www.tag44.com that will guide you in the right direction as far as employment opportunities are concerned. Get the career help you need to day by jumping on the internet and starting your search at tag44. You will be guaranteed to find some very helpful information, depending on the site you visit tag44.com

I’m a huge supporter of college students keeping their Twitter accounts open to the public. One of the best parts of the site is the random and exciting exchange of information across the vast Twittersphere. When a person puts his account on private (to shield his or her tweets from the scrutiny of potential employers), that person is also limited to conversing within the comfortable boundaries of his or her followers list. I think that by being smart about what is posted, any college student can maintain an employment-friendly Twitter account that is open to the public.

The idea for the post Four Things To Avoid Tweeting About by Dan Klamm came because he got sick of hearing people talk about “damaging your reputation” by “posting bad content” on social networking sites. What exactly constitutes bad content? Dan decided to break it down into a few concrete categories of tweets that can hurt your chances of employment.

Click here to see what specific things you probably want to stay away from within your 140-character updates

Everybody wishes they’d been given helpful advice before starting a new job.  Here are a few guidelines to follow.  It could mean the difference between being an average employee and becoming the go-to person, a strength that could get you promoted in no time.

• Make friends with everyone you can, even before you start the job, if possible.
• Pay attention to the culture of the organization and make sure to decipher the “unwritten” rules.  Too often people discover them after they’ve been broken.
• If you don’t know the answer to a question, instead of fudging, just tell the person you’ll get back to him with that as soon as possible with the answer.
• Ask as many questions as you can if you don’t understand something.  It will show your interest and enthusiasm in your work.
• Carry a notepad and take good notes on what needs to be done and background information.  Over time your colleagues will look to you to answer questions.
• When asked to do something, respond: “I’ll have that to you by…” and insert a timeframe.  Stick to it.
• Don’t participate in office gossip
• Get along with others.  You can be the smartest person in the office, but if you don’t know how to foster relationships, your career progress will stagnate.
• From Day One, start a network.  Put people in touch with each other.  Be a team player.  Help everyone you can, whenever you can.  Why?  What goes around, comes around.

- Adapted from Fortune.com

I visit my local library often.  I enjoy reading, but I also like the idea of putting my property taxes to work – free DVD rentals, audiobooks online, newspapers, references, etc.  The list is virtually endless.  A couple weeks ago, I went to borrow a couple DVD’s, and I saw a flyer for free resume critiques, interview assistance, and one-on-one career advice.  I couldn’t believe this was being offered for free.  Given the rise in unemployment, certain towns/cities are offering these services for free.  This was a service I was willing to pay for, but I submitted my resume for review, and they gave some great feedback.

So visit your local library periodically to see what’s being offered.  You won’t be disappointed.

Daphne R.
www.careercougar.com

If you think of your career in this fashion, then your job becomes more than just a job.  It becomes your own company.  Most people have entertained notions of being their own boss.  Here are some tips to turn your ho-hum work into something more.

• Realize your career is your own small business.  Don’t turn it over to anyone else to run it.
• Define who you are and what you can offer.  What are your strengths and skills.
• Know your customer or employer.  Know to whom you are selling your expertise.
• Ask this question:  Why should the customer buy from you rather than someone else?  Be sure to answer it.
• Quality and customer satisfaction are crucial to your success.  This is true whether the customer is your boss or a fellow employee.
• Be informed at all times of what’s going on in your business.  Is it growing, shrinking?  Plan ahead to take advantage of the situation.
• Be your own research and development department.  Keep your skills at cutting edge constantly.  You must bring out new, better, higher-quality products and services.
• Always be ready to change direction and start a new business/career when the time is right.

- adapted from TTG Consultants

I’m often asked how important a cover letter is when submitting a resume for a position, or if one is even necessary at all. Career Rocketeer’s answer is “It depends.”

Click here to read  “Cover or Uncovered” and learn how important it is to submit a cover letter with your resume.

One of the hard truths about job hunting is that jobs don’t always go to the best candidates. They  sometimes go to the candidates the employer like the best.

That is right it can be about chemistry. And a big part of chemistry comes from small talk. Most adults know the basics of chitchat, but, let’s face it, some of us are better at it than others. So, whether you are an introvert or extrovert, click here to read seven tips for being a small talk pro.

Click here to read 7 Tips for Chatting With Your Job Interviewer

If you are actively job hunting, you’ve probably discovered that there are jobs out there.  However, because you have so much competition, you also may be finding it difficult to generate a response from your efforts.  If you’ve been focused to submitting your resume to job openings found on job boards, job search engines, and local newspapers, but have received few follow up calls and even fewer interview requests, then it’s time to develop a better strategy.  ResumeBear offers nine steps to help you get the job you want.

1. Identify not only the position you want (and are qualified for) but the companies you would like to work for.
2. Ramp up your networking efforts.
3. Make sure your cover letter is top notch.

Click here to read the six other steps that may help you get the job you want.

It’s no secret that competition for jobs is fiercer than ever. And as the stacks of resumes grow taller and the eyes of HR staff grow wearier, it behooves the thoughtful candidate to find a way to make that rectangle of type into something more than a wan recital of past tasks and responsibilities.

That document is your ambassador, so it needs to do more than rehash old job descriptions; it needs to attract attention of overburdened employers.

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the resume as personal branding tool.

Click here to read an article on Editorial Emergency’s website and  learn how to use your resume as a personal branding tool.

No matter your resume and talents, if you mess up a job interview you won’t get the position.  In today’s tough economy you need every possible edge.  The authors of the new book, “I Hate People! Kick Loose from the Overbearing and Underhanded Jerks at Work and Get What You Want Out of Your Job,” see it as a simple equation:  You want to be liked –not hated.

In an article on Yahoo HotJobs, Jonathan Littman and Marc Hershon offer 10 simple things you can do that will get you liked during your job interview.  Click here to read the article 10 Ways to Be Liked in Your Job Interview

Looking for job openings seems to the most critical step in the job search process for job seekers.  But is it really?

Career Hub that following-up with a thank-you note or letter, at minimum, after a networking event, an information interview or job interview is more important.  I strongly agree!

Why you might ask.  Click here to read why it is important to follow-up with a thank-you note.

Many think body language can betray a person’s inner thoughts, but it is easy to misinterpret the signs.  The best way to use body language as a communication tool at the office or in a sales meeting is to try to mirror the body language you want.  To generate positive body language, try using positive nonverbal clues like the following:

Smile.  It communicates pleasure, and people instinctively want to smile back.  Plus, people are more likely to be receptive to what you say when a smile begins the conversation.

Give a firm, full handshake.  First impressions are important, and nothing communicates confidence better than a good handshake.  The physical contact of the gesture also create a feeling of having bonded with the other person.  But avoid shaking too vigorously or letting the hand go limp.

Make eye contact.  It establishes comfort and trust between people.  Avoiding eye contact can often be misinterpreted as insincerity or dishonesty.

- Adapted from Entrepreneur

One thing to remember when you are interviewing for a job – you need to interview your potential boss as much as he or she needs to interview you.  You want to know whether this company is a place where you want to work and you need to know that the work culture is right for you.  But your main focus should be on how to pick the right boss.  How do you do that?  Here is a list of 12 questions you should ask a potential supervisor before taking a job.

• Have you ever been a mentor to someone on the job?  How did it go?
• Tell me about a success for one of your team members- and how did you help bring it about?
• Feedback is often hard to take, but it can also be hard to give.  Could you give me examples of when you’ve given both positive and negative feedback to employees and how you handled it?
• What would your employees say your strengths are?  Your weaknesses?
• How have you communicated big changes in the company?
• What kinds of jobs have you had in your life and how long have you been a leader?
• Have you ever helped anyone achieve professional goals?  How did you do it?
• Do you like to delegate?  Could you tell me about a time when you delegated an important task to someone on your team?
• Outside of monetary compensation, how do you reward good work?
• How many people on your staff have been promoted in the past three years?  What was your part in the promotions?

- adapted from Development Dimensions International, “Turning the Tables on the Job Interview”

Looking for a job has always required impeccable behavior on the part of the job-seeker.  But according to etiquette consultant Jodi R. R. Smith (www.mannersmith.com) the current rocky economic times make it all the more important that job-seekers not overlook propriety in their search.  Here are a few of Smith’s tips:

Be Professional - especially when communicating electronically.  There are a lot of people out there crafting outrageous e-mails when they are inquiring about job openings, Smith says.  Don’t relax the old rules of job-hunting and interviewing just because you’re using modern modes of communication.  As Smith says, an e-mail that reads, “Dude, so what is this job about?” just isn’t going to cut it.

Have an error-free resume ready to go.  When a recruiter calls, you should be able to e-mail your resume to him or her while you’re speaking.

Make sure you have a professional-sounding voicemail message on whatever phone number or numbers you give to recruiters.  You don’t want a potential interviewer to call you and get a long, silly message you’ve designed for your friend’s amusement.

Smile and be pleasant.  Your disposition makes the first impression on interviews.  Extend kindness to everyone you meet – including receptionists and anyone else who may not be involved in the interview process.  Be upbeat, but not phony.

As the Career Resource Librarian at Simmons College, part of my job is to research online career resources for all of the disciplines at the college, including library and information science career resources.  A favorite website of mine for information professionals applying for library positions is the wiki below:

How To Apply for the Library Job

This site takes job seekers through the entire process of the job search process, outlining topics such as finding a job, preparing for interviews, and accepting the job offer!

A tight employment market is creating new demands on job seekers according to The Career Exposure Network, a source of niche job sites for woman, diversity, and MBAs.

“With more candidates applying for each open position, standing apart from the competition is increasingly critical to getting the offer letter.” sated JillXan Donnelly of CareerExposure.com.  “The rules for job seeking are changing and candidates need to switch up their game to make new connections and learn new skills that will get them noticed.”

Click here to read Career Exposure’s tips to getting noticed.

I just graduated from Yale and I’m unemployed.  Four years ago I entered college with 1300 other handpicked Ivy League newbies who were teeming with ambition and naïveté.  We were equipped with eager minds, open ears, and a lifetime supply of Bed Bath and Beyond dorm products—and our futures looked so bright we nearly had early onset cataracts.  Fast forward four years later and we found ourselves sitting at commencement—the bulk of us were unemployed, and our futures suddenly looked duller than a butter knife.

A common misconception is that Ivy Leaguers are instantly absorbed into vacancies in the job market because of our educational pedigree.  Others often tell me that “at least you’re the best of a bad bunch.”  This “bunch” is approximately 1.5 million students who graduated in 2009. According to a Collegiate Employment Research Institute survey, the unemployed 2009 graduate also faces the competition of 1.85 million additional unemployed job seekers with bachelor’s degrees or higher. It can be difficult to sell yourself when there are literally dozens of other trained candidates competing against you for the position—individuals with, perhaps, more experience or degrees under their belt.  Sure, the Liberal Arts education sparkles with prestige and promise.  But in this tough market, while you may boast extensive knowledge of the painting styles of 13th century Sienese religious artists, lacking command of practical marketable skills can slow you down a bit in the job hunt.  It’s sometimes a struggle to pitch the following successfully: “I couldn’t take business classes because my school didn’t have them, but I can learn good, promise!!”

So the Ivy League unemployed are aware of the current crunch, and believe me it is palpable and consuming.   It’s true the benefits of a college education are unparalleled—a college education gives me the benefit of long term security, but the current recession yields days when I feel like I’m riding shotgun on a one-way train to a career as the backstage popcorn girl in 2029’s Gremlins on Ice.  I am clearly not alone in this, but there are several things that a recent college grad should keep in mind to help navigate this new job market:

1) Your inexperience can be attractive to employers:
The CERI survey says that “markets generally favor young adults in recessions, and 29 percent of the employers in its current survey indicate that they have shifted their hiring in favor of new college graduates over experienced workers.”
Seems odd at first—wouldn’t employers prefer candidates with more prestige in degrees/experience/employment history?  Nope—your entry level salary of $30,000 is far more appealing to the company than the six figure earnings that higher degrees might demand.

2) Don’t fret about not being able to go to your alma mater’s career fair this year: focus on web postings in your job hunt.
Employers have had to cut costs on all fronts, and this includes traveling expenses to college career fairs.  Joining a social job posting web site like Onecubicle.com keeps you up to date with the most current job listings for the 20-something demographic.

3) Email your professors!
When looking for the best job candidates, 58 percent of employers are now relying on referrals from faculty members or advisors who can recommend their favorite students for potential jobs.  CERI reports that “Some employers are demanding direct access to faculty in an effort to identify the best candidates.”
A friend of mine, after his 35th job rejection, realized that his childhood dream was to do fieldwork around the world for National Geographic.  He went to his geology professor, explained his situation, and after a couple of phone calls he was asked to accompany an arctic expedition on the Beaufort Sea as a dispatch writer.  Keep contact with your favorite professors from school—just writing a short email explaining that you are in the trenches of the job hunt and eager to work can open the channel for exciting opportunities.  Who knows—your archeology professor from first semester junior year could be looking for someone to help catalog Incan artifacts on an all expenses paid mission to Peru, and you just might be the perfect person for the job.  Such experiences can help boost a resume, or even balloon into an eventual career.

4) During your job hunt, pursue outside interests that might appeal to what employers are currently looking for.
Keep in mind that currently “There is built-up demand for certain majors, particularly in the agricultural and food sciences, engineering and IT.”  Only about 6 percent of employers are planning on seeking social science or humanities graduates during this hiring season—a bleak forecast for most job seekers.  Try volunteering or interning with a company that is in tune with the current interests of employers, or better yet—apply the skill set you learned from your major to these areas.  An art major with a gardening hobby could start a cleverly-designed blog about household sustainability—the possibilities for staying engaged with what employers are looking for while job hunting are endless.

Keep yourself open to possibilities, and continue making connections and moving forward in order to maximize your prospects!

http://blogs.csun.edu/news/clips/2009/03/30/recruiters-still-courting-college-grads-but-signing-fewer-new-hires/