Let yourself have those moments, but don’t stay “there” too long, or woe-is-me becomes a habit!

1. Take a brisk walk for 30 minutes or an hour.

I always come back from a walk energized and more awake than when I left – better than a cup of coffee and cheaper, too!

It may feel like you can’t “spare the time” for something as “pointless” as taking a walk. Trust me – you’ll be much more productive when you get back! Medical researchers tell us that walking stimulates blood circulation in our brain, and we all need our brains to function at their best for job search. I find it always raises my spirits and my productivity!

Many people cannot walk briskly for 30 minutes, or at all. So appreciate that you can. Do it outdoors, if possible, somewhere you will be safe. Enjoy the sun on your face, the breeze through your hair, the trees, the birds and squirrels, your neighbors and the neighborhood, and/or whatever else is available that pleases you esthetically or emotionally.

If you can’t walk outdoors, walk indoors at a mall or a big box store. Become a people-watcher, increase your understanding of how retail works (who knows when that will come in handy), or whatever else interests you about walking inside.

Find something to appreciate and enjoy about your walk – even if it’s only the fact that you’re not still sitting at your computer.

2. Help someone.

Volunteering as a win/win! It truly helps the volunteer as much as it helps the people or the organization the volunteer aids.

You can target an experience or skill gap on your resume with your volunteering. Volunteering is another way to get away from your computer. You’ll have a great reason to get out and meet new people. You may even learn some new things that will help you in your job search. And, some of those people may end up being helpful for your job search, too.

In the USA, we’ve got -

• Volunteer.gov which is “America’s Natural and Cultural Resources Volunteer Portal” connecting you to all kind of opportunities on the country’s public lands.
• Serve.gov which is the Federal Government’s portal to community service opportunities.
• The political party of your choice – 2012 is an election year, in case you hadn’t noticed, and you can participate in the process directly. It’s VERY educational!

You can also volunteer at your child’s school, your place of worship, maybe even your local public library or city hall. Look around and see what’s available and/or needed.

If you want to really impact your job search with your volunteering (who doesn’t?), volunteer with a local professional organization. My favorite “volunteer position” is running the badge table where everyone checks in at the start of the meetings. Check off the names, hand out the badges, and introduce yourself. If the table is quiet, start a conversation. At least you’ll meet most everyone attending the meeting, so they won’t be complete strangers at the next meeting (never stop at attending only one meeting).

This is good for the spirit, too, making you realize that you do have value even if you don’t have a job, and that you are an important and contributing member of society.

3. Don’t job hunt in solitude.

I don’t think there’s anything more discouraging than a solitary job search. When you job hunt by yourself, it’s very easy for the struggle to feel like a colossal personal failure when it is just “job hunting as usual.”

There’s no one to commiserate with, no one to cheer you up (or kick you in the seat, metaphorically, of course). There’s also no one to double-check that resume for typos, or to share a contact at a local employer.

“Misery loves company” is an old cliché that is true, and with “fellow (job seeker) sufferers” around you, it will be obvious to you that you aren’t the only one struggling. You aren’t the only one who isn’t getting 100% (or even 50%) call-backs. And you may learn more about how to job search effectively – social media, job boards, local networking opportunities, etc.

If you attended a college or university, undergraduate or graduate, get back in touch with them. See if they have career counseling available for “alums.” You often don’t need to have actually graduated to qualify as an alumni/ae. So, check them out.

Find a local job search support group and join it. You can often find postings about them in the local library, city hall, places of worship, or the Career OneStop Centers we have in every state of the USA.

4. Cultivate an attitude of gratitude.

It may sound sappy, but when you focus on what you have – the great and the good things in your life – it helps put a job search, even a long one, in perspective. And it helps most of us to be more positive and optimistic during the day. It also helps with going to sleep more easily, if that’s a problem. Try it!

Before I go to sleep at night, after I’ve turned off the light, I run through a list of everything I have to be grateful for, starting with the big stuff we often take for granted – a safe and dry place to sleep, electricity, the country (mostly!), the Internet (usually!), my computer (most of the time), my education, my family, my friends and colleagues, and so on down to the “little” stuff like an important phone call or email or a child’s laugh and a husband’s hug.

We all have stuff to be grateful for – perhaps some of us need to dig deeper to find it than others. But I think that it’s SO important to remind ourselves of all the “good stuff” in our lives, so the woe-is-me feelings don’t take over, bumming is out, and sabotaging our job searching.

Bottom Line:

Job hunting is hard work.

http://www.workcoachcafe.com/2012/02/01/handling-those-job-search-blues/

Every quarter, FPC surveys professionals to gain insights on their perspective on workplace issues and trends. Today’s report is published as part of FPC’s 2011 Year in Review, which includes a special video interview with Marc Cenedella, founder & CEO of TheLadders.com, regarding the state of recruiting in the economic recovery.

Of the approximately 1,500 professionals who responded to the survey, a strong majority indicated that they were planning to look for a new job when the job market improves (79%). Half of the survey responders felt that they had gained marketable skills and lack advancement opportunities in their current position. Employers’ actions in tough economic times seem to be playing a role in employees’ plans for 2012, as 28% indicated they would move on at least in part due to how their employer treated its employees during the recession, while 8% stated that they were well treated and planned to stay put. Continuing insecurity caused 10% of respondents to indicate they were being cautious and waiting for even greater improvements in the job market before seeking out other opportunities.

Additionally, over two-thirds of the respondents who were unemployed at the time of the survey felt that their employment status did not impact the hiring decision of the employers with whom they interviewed. Within the 24% of respondents who indicated that they thought employers were reluctant to consider them due to their unemployment, 8% were specifically told that being unemployed put them at a disadvantage compared to other job candidates.

Finally, respondents proved relatively indifferent to work-life balance perks either as a selling point for a new position or as a “keeping” feature for their current employment. Half of respondents indicated that perks such as casual Fridays, free lunches, and company-sponsored events were important to them, but would not dissuade them from considering a new position that did not offer them. 41% of respondents replied that it did not matter to them whether their employer offered those perks.

Responders surveyed during the months of October, November, and December 2011, across all industries and job levels, answered the following questions:

“Are you planning to look for a new job when the job market improves?”

28% Yes; my company wasn’t very good to its employees during the recession and I want to move on
51% Yes; I’ve gained marketable skills and I don’t see room for advancement here
8% No; my company handled its workforce very well during the recession and I want to stay
10% No; the job market is still too tenuous and I want to be cautious
3% No response

“If you are currently unemployed, do you feel that potential employers may have been reluctant to hire you due to your unemployed status?”

8% Yes; I was told in an interview that being unemployed put me at a disadvantage against other candidates
16% Yes; no one mentioned this specifically, but the interviewer(s) seemed to continuously probe about my unemployment
44% No; my experience and skills seemed well received and my unemployed status wasn’t a topic of conversation
25% No; the interviewers all seemed very understanding about the impact of the recession on employers
7% No response

“In thinking about company culture, how important are work/life balance perks, such as talent shows, casual Fridays, company sponsored movie night, and free lunch etc?”

50% These things are important to me; but are not deal breakers when looking for a new employer
3% These are great selling features and I would not work for a company that did not offer them
6% These are great keeping features and are one of the reason why I like my employer
41% It does not matter to me whether my employer offer these perks

Ron Herzog, CEO & President of FPC, said, “As the economy and the job market continue to improve for college-educated management professionals, we’re seeing a level of pent-up demand for career change that candidates may have put off over the past couple of years due to economic uncertainty. Despite much of the negative commentary we all hear these days, employers are finding that they need to compete to attract and retain their top talent. Companies should be thinking about this in a proactive way.”

About FPC

FPC is a national executive search firm with close to 70 franchise offices. Since 1959, FPC recruiters have been committed to bringing together the right individual with the right opportunity. FPC conducts research to provide the most current advice and information to job candidates and client companies. FPC press releases share pertinent results with the public. For information about FPC, call 800-886-7839 or visit http://www.fpcnational.com.

Image via CrunchBase

Latest from The Business Journals Top 25 ‘oddball’ job interview questions from 2011From quirky to crazy: ‘Oddball’ job interview questions 25 ‘oddball’ job interview questions for 2011 Follow this company ., and they have some reason to be. Glassdoor reported that 21 percent of unemployed job seekers in a survey said it was “unlikely” they’d find work in the next six months. That’s down 11 points from the previous quarter, when 32 percent reported that bleak outlook. It’s also the lowest level of pessimism since Glassdoor started this survey in 2008.

People may be more optimistic because of other good news about the job market. Chicago’s Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc. Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc. Latest from The Business Journals Houston CEO turnover increased slightly in 2011Holiday retail hiring almost healthyU.S. unemployment nears 3-year low; 200,000 jobs added in December Follow this company reported that planned job cuts by U.S. employers fell in December to 41,785, the lowest level since June. The 606,082 job cuts in 2011, though higher still than 2010’s 529,973, were quite a bit lower than the recession high mark of 2009, when 1.3 million jobs were cut.

Government sector job cuts — there were 183,064 of them — accounted for most of the increase in 2011. The financial sector came second, with 63,624 cuts in 2011.

John Challenger, CEO of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, said looming U.S. Postal Service U.S. Postal Service Latest from The Business Journals American to lay off 150, cancel 2 routesAquilent extends USPS workAquilent extends Postal Service work Follow this company cuts mean the public sector will likely keep struggling to recover, though. “Involuntary layoffs at the Post Office could total as much as 120,000, according to one plan, with another 120,000 lost through attrition,” he said.

Read more here: BizJournals.com

Image by Sean MacEntee via Flickr

For the country as a whole, the unemployment rate fell in 2011. That’s good news, right?

Not so much for African Americans.

As the economy slowly improved last year, the unemployment rate fell for both whites and Latinos.

But at the end of the year the black unemployment rate was 15.8 percent, exactly where it started out 2011, according to the government’s December jobs report released Friday. That’s a sharp contrast to the white unemployment rate, which fell to 7.5 percent last month.

Read more here… Local 10 News

Industry leading online marketing and local SEOservice provider, 29 Prime, announced the creation of over 200 positions to support its recent expansion. The positions are located in its sales, customer service, technology and recruiting departments. Anyone interested in these positions can apply onl

Image by kevindean via Flickr

ine by going to 29 Prime Jobs to apply.

The new staffing will support 29 Prime’s continued growth in providing online marketing and advertising services to small businesses nationwide. 29 Prime helps a wide spectrum of businesses from local attorneys and accountants to plumbers and electricians.

“We are really excited about our growth prospects,” said Tony Redman, 29 Prime COO. “Our success enables us to provide jobs to the City of Irvine and the greater Orange County area to help lower its unemployment rate from where it is at over 8%.”

29 Prime provides extensive training and a comprehensive benefits package to all its positions. The jobs at 29 Prime are a great opportunity for people to learn new skills in the fast growing social media, mobile marketing and local search business segments. 29 Prime has a full suite of services that address all 3 areas known in the industry as Social, Mobile and Local advertising and marketing.

“While we are hiring from the community at large, we are making some targeted efforts to recruit returning veterans from Afghanistan and Iraq,“ said Redman, “We want to do what we can to help Veterans transition back into the workforce. It is our way of saying thanks for supporting America.”

ABOUT 29 PRIME – 29 Prime ( http://www.29prime.com ) specializes in increasing small and medium-sized local businesses visibility on the Internet. The company guarantees front page placement on Google search or the service can be free after 60 days and also offers placement on Yahoo & Bing, as well as other value-added services, such as Video SEO, Coupons, Facebook, and Twitter. 29 Prime uses proprietary technology that makes it a leader in ensuring that clients remain on the front page week after week. Headquartered in Orange County, CA, the company has numerous sales offices located throughout the United States and abroad.

With more than 66% of employers monitoring employee email use (according to an American Management Association study), great care needs to be taken to prevent job loss while job hunting.

Top 10 Stealth Job Search Tips

1. Don’t openly job search. That’s a good way to get fired.

It’s called a “stealth job search” for a very good reason. It needs to be very low profile. Don’t share job search plans and progress with colleagues or co-workers. “Loose lips sink careers.”

2. Job search at home. Not at work – not even during “personal time.”

Employees have no guarantee of privacy – even during their “personal time” at work, during breaks or at lunch time. Many employers monitor use of e-mail, Web surfing habits, voicemail messages, and even use of services like personal Gmail accounts.

3. Use a personal or other non-work e-mail address to for job search.

Using a current employer’s name, address, and phone numbers as contact information is a very good way to blow a job seeker’s “cover,” and makes it impossible to stay in touch if the job seeker leaves or loses their job.

4. Follow employer “social media use” and “Internet use” policies.

Employer policies should define what is acceptable and what is not. If the employer has them, smart employees pay attention. It is not safe to assume that a lack of policy means an employer doesn’t care or isn’t paying attention.

5. Keep a low electronic profile of the job search.

Don’t announce the job search in Twitter, a blog, Facebook, LinkedIn, or an elist. Don’t post on every job board or send to every network contact – widely distributed resumes can so easily end up in the wrong hands.

6. Carefully raise personal visibility, online and off.

Look for boss and co-workers profiles on LinkedIn via a company search to see if they it is “safe” to use. Slowly create a 100%complete LinkedIn Profile and Google+ Profile. Join local professional and business organizations, and be an active member.

7. Disguise the current employer’s name on the resume.

A job search can be “outed” when someone at work (boss, co-worker) discovers an employee’s resume on Monster or CareerBuilder, etc. So, disguise the current employer’s name (e.g. “IBM” morphs into “Multinational Information Technology Company,” etc.) on posted resumes.

8. Let Google and Indeed send opportunities to the personal email account.

Develop a list of potential employers, and set up free alerts through Google Alerts and Indeed Alerts to have new opportunities sent to the personal email account.

9. Use the “confidential” setting when posting a resume at a job site.

When using job sites, be sure the resume is designated as “private” or “confidential.” See Job-Hunt’s Cyber-Safe Resume article for tips on converting your resume to one that will protect your privacy and your job.

10. Add a personal/non-work email address to the LinkedIn Profile.

LinkedIn allows more than one email address to be associated with a Profile, and having both a work and a personal email address will protect against loss of the Profile if the job is lost.

Find more information about safe and effective online job searching at Job-Hunt.org, a favorite site of Dick Bolles, author of “What Color is Your Parachute?”.

For more on Stealth Job Search, visit Job-Hunt.org.

Wrong. In fact, this is a misconception of epic proportion, says Ford R. Myers, president of Career Potential and author of “Get the Job You Want, Even When No One’s Hiring.”

“People have this mistaken belief that everyone is on mental vacation during the holidays, and that nobody is focused or thinking about hiring,” Myers says. “The perception is that everyone turns their brain off after Thanksgiving, and that’s a myth.

“[In addition, job seekers] get very busy with additional activities, parties, and gifts to buy. They feel like they just can’t handle it, so they put their job searches on hold, because ‘nobody’s hiring anyway, so why bother.’ It’s a circular thing … one leads back to the other,” he says.

The holiday season is actually the time to amp up your job search, because companies have the money to hire and your competitor job seekers aren’t on their game. Not only that, but “it’s the holidays” is a built-in excuse for getting back in touch with people who could potentially help you land that dream position.

Here are some of Myers’ career tips for the holiday season, including a couple for happily employed people:

Take contract work, retail work and temporary work. Myers has many executive-level clients doing temporary work or retail jobs during the holidays to tide them over. He advises that these seasonal jobs are a good way to get a foot in the door with a company, even if the actual job is below your level. “I have an executive client delivering packages at UPS, and now he’s a known commodity. Maybe he’ll wind up getting a professional position,” Myers says.

Network. Whether it’s with a phone call or a holiday card, make contact with everyone in your network to catch up and let them know you’re looking. And attend every social event you’re invited to, even your alumni association Christmas party.

Volunteer. Soup kitchens, clothing drives and other non-profits are always looking for extra hands during the holidays. “Volunteering makes you feel good and allows you to give back, but on a more selfish note, you’ll make contacts with other volunteers,” Myers says. “It’s a whole new network of people.”

Do a “career inventory” on yourself. If you’re happily employed, the holidays are still no time to lay down on the job. Make a list of tangible accomplishments from the year, think about your plans moving forward and consider what new challenges you’ll take on in the year ahead. And make sure you get that year-end review with your boss.

Interview. “At this time of year, even if you’re comfortable in your job, interview for other jobs anyway to gauge your value in the marketplace,” Myers says. “You don’t want to get rusty and complacent in your job, and it improves your interviewing skills.

“And what if they make you an offer that’s $40,000 more than you’re making now?” he adds. “Even if you don’t take the job, that tells you something.”

Source: Chicago Tribune

Image via Wikipedia

Updated: December 13, 2011, 6:28 AM

WASHINGTON — Joblessness has declined far less than firings since the recession ended in 2009, creating a record divergence that shows companies lack the confidence to hire.

At 8.6 percent in November, unemployment has fallen 1.5 points from a 26-year high of 10.1 percent in October 2009. By contrast, claims for jobless benefits, which track staff cuts, have decreased 40 percent since peaking at an average 652,500 in the four weeks ended March 27, 2009, to 393,300 in the period ended Dec. 3.

Scarce jobs represent a threat to household incomes that risks pushing the world’s largest economy into a self-reinforcing cycle of meager gains in spending and employment. That is one reason President Obama is pushing to extend a payroll tax cut that he says will spur purchases and push employers to look for more help.

“The pace of hiring is just so much below prior norms,” said Julia Coronado, chief economist for North America at BNP Paribas in New York. “There’s just a lack of demand in the economy. That explains the wedge between the jobless claims and the unemployment rate.”

To read more (Source):  <a href=”http://www.buffalonews.com/business/article670762.ece”>Buffalo News</a>

Other Interests: Family, coaching youth sports, golf, fishing and hiking.

This is what I suggested he do:

The “Other Interests” portion of a resume is not necessary. In fact, it is the only aspect of your resume that I think someone might find something to nit-pick about. Why? Some people might worry that since you listed “Family” that you might be more focused on your family than your job. I admire that and I agree that you have your priorities straight if that’s the case, however, some employers expect you to put the job first. You can put your family first without having to “warn” the employer that you are doing so. If a need arises that you have to make a choice between your family and your job, then you should get to make that choice, but don’t let the prospective employer make it for you before you ever get a chance to interview for the job.

Does that make sense?

The other items don’t need to be there either simply because they are possible reasons to exclude you more than they are possible reasons to include you. How can that be? What if the person screening your resume tried to play youth sports and failed miserably – or their father wasn’t around for them? What if the resume screener went on a fishing trip once and fell out of the boat into deep water and it scared him/her so bad that fishing is now considered a hated hobby?

Don’t give the prospective employer any reason to eliminate you. These things DO happen. It’s crazy, but it’s true.

So, now you know the answers, too. Don’t give the employer a reason to exclude you. If you have this section on your resume, consider removing it. There is no sense in getting yourself taken out of contention for a job simply because someone else has a bias.

You are so much better off writing your resume BEFORE you need it.

Use a proven guideline to lead you through the process so that you don’t waste time wondering what you should list on your resume.  One of the best guidelines you can use is shown below.  It will show you, step by step, how to create a professional resume.

The information is based on a chronologically formatted resume, but it can be tailored to any format you choose.

The resume guideline:

The Resume Heading.  It tells the employer who you are and where to contact you.  List your name, address, phone number(s) and email address if you want to be contacted that way.  Proofread this carefully to ensure all of the information is completely accurate.

Job Objective.  While some experts say this section isn’t necessary, you stand a much better chance of getting the job you are seeking if you tell the employer exactly what position interests you.  Sure the cover letter will mention what you are looking for, but what if the cover letter gets separated from the resume?  Focus your job objective on the company’s goals and the job position, not your needs and wants.

Education.  If you list your education next (you can list your work experience if you think it makes a better impact), be sure to include the name and location of the institution, your course of study, graduation dates (or dates of attendance) and your GPA if it’s good.

Work Experience.  This is fairly easy with one exception:  the dates of employment.  That is what usually drives people the craziest.  In this section, write out the name of the employer, your title, the dates you were employed and your work-related responsibilities and accomplishments.  Consider that anything which relates to your new job should be at the top of your list so the employer reads that first.  If you write that you opened the mail when you also supervised 6 people, you have it backwards.

Activities/Honors.  These goodies should have a section of their own and should be listed toward the bottom of the page.  Again, if it fits with your job objective, list it. If it doesn’t, but it looks good, use it if you have space.

Other.  There are other possible sections you might want to add to your resume.  They could include foreign languages, computer experience, volunteer work and professional affiliations.  If they apply, use them.

References don’t even need to be mentioned.  Everyone knows that if you are asked for references, you can provide them.

So, now you have everything you need to write your resume.  Ok, so you have a great guideline for writing your resume.  The rest is up to you, your memory and whatever time it takes to get it all in print.

Yes, it’s a bother to have to write a resume, but you have to do it, right?  Just get it done.  You can do it!

“Going forward, labor experts say one of the most troubling trends in the jobs market is the number of long-term unemployed—workers who have been out of work for at least six months and have looked for a job within the last 30 days. Currently, that group includes six million Americans—or 43 percent of the total number of unemployed workers. The average duration of unemployment now stands at about 40 weeks, meaning many job seekers have been unemployed for almost a full year. Experts worry that the long-term unemployed are losing the skills that once made them valuable before they lost their jobs. “[There is] a mismatch between the demands of the job and the qualifications of the applicants,” O’Keefe says. “That mismatch is the reason why willing individuals go unemployed and important jobs go unfilled.” Source: http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2011/10/05/despite-high-unemployment-millions-of-job-openings

There are jobs available. It’s just that the positions are in fields that folks don’t want to work in or are not trained for. So, how can this be addressed?

Check out the U.S. Department of Labor’s website and see what trends are popping up in various industries and get the training needed to get those jobs. In some cases, it will require education and in other cases it could simply require additional work experience as an apprentice or as an intern – or – even as a volunteer.

There are jobs available.

One of the “kids” was “how far can they creep”? – as though a prospective employer is a monster of some kind.

I see things posted online all the time that I cringe at reading. So much of what we do is open to public scrutiny now. In a way, it IS creepy. At the same time, it is in our control to be vigilant with what we post. Thus, we learn self-control.

About 2,000 mock interviews are done annually. The interviews, along with resume critiques, are some of the professional development opportunities Career Services offers all students free of charge.

Stevens said students need to develop themselves professionally as soon as possible, rather than waiting until they are seniors.

“It’s all about who they know and what they can bring to the table, which will land them the job at the end of the day,” Stevens said.

However, some students said they feel career services does not advertise mock interviews well.

Troy senior Anthony Rink, a construction management major, said the last time he remembered hearing about mock interviews was in a psychology class sophomore year. At the time, he was not interested because of the schooling he still had to complete.

Still, Rink said he is very interested in doing a mock interview before he graduates.

“I figure that it is a good experience to go through before you have your first interview out of school,” Rink said.

Chairman of the school of accounting and professor Philip Kintzele said mock interviews are so beneficial that five accounting classes require mock interview as an assignment for class credit. This is the third year with the requirement, he said.

“Evidence has shown that it has helped position students in the job market,” Kintzele said.

Students interested in scheduling a mock interview must first submit an updated resume to Central Michigan University’s eRecruiting website. Career services will then create a custom interview, matching the student’s career choices with specialized questions.

The mock interviews are conducted by volunteer Human Resource undergraduate majors in their sophomore year or above. The 45-minute interview is divided into two sections: a recorded interview and a review of the interview with feedback.

After completing a mock interview, students receive a detailed hard copy of their evaluation and are taught resources for future interviewing success.

Students should come to the interview prepared to learn and be open to constructive feedback, Stevens said.

Rochester Hills senior Scott Walbrun highly recommended students to take advantage of the mock interviews. He participated in one as an assignment for his business communications class.

“The interview was effective because you can never get enough opportunities to practice talking to people in a professional setting,” Walbrun said. “The fact that we were able to evaluate my abilities post-interview made the entire process very valuable.”

Stevens said experiences like internships, part-time jobs and on- or off-campus organizations will ultimately land students jobs.

“It’s not always about the 4.0 GPA,” he said.

This post was written by:
Shelby Miller – who has written 5 posts on Central Michigan Life.

Source: Central Michigan Life

JobSearch and its two co-founders, Andrew Figgins and Jason Wroble, are delighted today to announce the launch of the new website for their flagship brand, viewable and easily searchable at jobSR.com.

Visitors to the site will find the aesthetic to be simple, clean and inviting, which is a reflection of the Chicago-based company’s overall vision. Relying on these principles also helped guide the the development of the site.

“With a name like JobSearch, it’s easy to measure our success when it comes to job seekers,” said Andrew Figgins. “Instead of wasting time creating an account or checking a bunch of boxes, we’re already receiving great feedback on our simple search, which literally takes 5 seconds to do.”

The new site embraces this “no-frills” approach, immediately connecting job seekers with powerful search results based on two simple bits of information – job name/title and location.

For employers, appearing front-and-center to a targeted audience is key in driving quality applicants to apply. With this in mind, employers who post jobs with JobSearch automatically appear at the top of search results for their region and industry.

“We at JobSearch are ourselves employers, which we take into account in all our communication and sales presentations,” says Jason Wroble. “With this in mind, our price-point of $50 per listing is the same for every employer, from IBM and Groupon to “mom-and-pop” stores and entrepreneurs. “

As a testament to its commitment to employers, JobSearch offers a 45-day listings instead of the typical 30, and is also currently accepting the coupon code 50FOR25. While posting a new job, employers can enter the code to receive a posting for $25 instead of $50.

See what simple job search is all about, and head to JobSR.com now!

About JobSearch (http://jobsr.com)
Founded in 2011, JobSearch is a Chicago-based job search engine focused on connecting job seekers and employers. Delivering on the promise of its name, JobSearch is one-stop-shop for job seekers, aggregating quality full-time and part-time jobs from sources like CareerBuilder, SimplyHired, Indeed, and many regional and industry job boards. To reach this audience of job seekers, JobSearch offers employers the ability to targeting specific regions and industries with their job postings, as well as a level playing field in terms of pricing.

Visit http://jobSR.com.

So, take some time to figure out what it is that you really want to do. If you need assistance in understanding what some job titles mean or what some jobs entail, there are several things you can do. The first is to browse the Occupational Outlook Handbook. It is a very helpful guide provided by the U.S. Department of Labor.

It will give you a great deal of information about specific jobs, including:
• Job overview and duties
• Education needed to obtain the job
• Outlook for future growth in the field
• Earnings estimates

It is a great resource.

Another option is to enter the job title in which you are interested in the box below along with the city of your choice at Indeed.com and it will return job openings. You can review the jobs that are available and determine what employers are seeking as well as what the current demand is for the position. Oh, and it’s free.

Networking is unlike a job fair or open call for resumes, where the only objective of the event is searching for employment. Networking involves people meeting each other and working to create relationships which will benefit all parties. Sometimes, this will actually lead to a job offer. Meeting people can lead to a new job whether or not that was the purpose of networking. Putting your best foot forward in every social situation is vitally important; you never know when or where a job opportunity may present itself and you want to present your self as a confident, competent and positive individual.

You can never know in advance when it will benefit you to present yourself like this, so you need to be this person all of the time, everywhere you go. You may meet someone who can offer you a great job opportunity where and when you least expect it.
When meeting people, their first impression of you will be colored by these three factors:

1. How you look
2. How you act
3. What you say

These are all factors which you can control – your ability to make a good first impression on others is largely dependent on your confidence in your own abilities. This isn’t “fake it till you make it”; this is rather a process of showing your true self to others in the best possible light.

You can never tell when a job networking opportunity may present itself, so be prepared at all times. Carry your business cards with you, make sure to look your best at all times and project a confident, friendly attitude – this will present you as a person with whom others can do business.

You can benefit from the “hidden job market” if you are willing to put in the effort to present yourself well. With the determination to succeed and a positive attitude, you can use this hidden job market to your advantage.

Brought to you by Carla Bosteder and Best Interview Strategies

I’ve greatly enjoyed sharing tips and strategies over the past few years to help people get hired, get noticed, and get ahead. And I’ve loved receiving feedback from people as they advanced in their careers.

But it’s time for me to try something new, to take a different path. (You can find me at ProfitBasedMarketing.com.)

I was very selective about who will be carrying on after me. Carla is a special person, and I have no doubt you’ll be in very good hands.

I wish you peace, happiness and prosperity in your career and all aspects of your life! It’s been a pleasure serving you!

Sincerely,
Bonnie Lowe

My name is Carla Bosteder.

I have over 20 years of experience in the field of Career Planning and Human Resources. I have spent time on both sides of the interview table and am very knowledgeable about what works and what does not for job candidates.

Who am I?

I am an internationally recognized resume expert. I have been in the personnel/human resources industry for over 20 years. I have been THE Resume Expert for CVTips.com (in the United Kingdom) AND StudentSavvy.com (in the United States), both of which approached me for my outstanding resume advice. I have also owned and run a variety of websites on career-related topics, such as resume writing, the job search, and now, on job interviewing.

Why should you trust me?

When the Society of Human Resource Managers (SHRM) requested my help in creating an article for their 200,000+ membership, I was more than honored to oblige. Why? This organization is THE professional association in the Human Resource industry. To garner their trust and respect is quite an achievement and I am thrilled that they came to me for expert advice.

I started working in the Career Planning and Placement Office at Southern Illinois University while I was pursuing my Bachelor’s degree back in the 1980’s. My exposure to the interviewing process on campus created my life-long desire to help others achieve success in finding a great job.

Through the ensuing years, as I worked in the field of Human Resources, I saw the kinds of resumes that people were sending in to apply for job openings and experienced their ability (or lack thereof) to succeed in the job interview process. What I learned from all of these experiences is that there is a good way to go about a job search – and every other way that people struggle with throughout their lives.

Bonnie has created an amazing site here and I intend to continue it with the same great information that she has provided for years. I will be adding content to the site to further enhance it, and that’s with a goal of helping you navigate the job search process with even greater ease (and success).

Blessings to you as BestCareerStrategies.com changes hands.

Carla Bosteder

Let me first say that I am one of the few people on the planet who has not yet purchased a smart phone (my cell phone is quite stupid). So I could not test this app myself.

However, I did view a couple of videos that demonstrate how it works.

This video is a demo made by someone reviewing the app: Demo/Review Video.

This is a professional video showing the app’s features: Pro Video.

After reviewing those videos, I think this app can be helpful to job seekers.

Practice is very helpful prior to a job interview, and this app would be great for that.

My suggestion would be to send your recorded interview to friends, peers, people to review and critique FIRST. Then, after it’s polished and as good as you can get it, put the link on your social networking sites where you mention that you’re looking for a new job.

Whether or not you should send the link of your recorded interview unsolicited to people/companies you want to work for is another matter. Some will consider that spamming. Others will think it shows initiative and demonstrates your eagerness to work for them.

I think a good compromise would be to include a link to your recording on your resume, perhaps with an introduction such as: “For a quick way to get to know me better, listen to a job interview audio recording I made by clicking here…”

I imagine that will make them very curious; they may think you secretly recorded your last job interview! Who could resist clicking on the link?

The best thing would be to test this idea by trying it with only one or two potential employers, see what happens, and then decide whether to use it again.

Even if you don’t provide your audio link to potential employers, it’s a good way to practice, to hear yourself answering questions, and to perfect your “presentation” skills.

So I do recommend that you give this app a try. It’s less than a buck,
and you can get it here.

Good luck with your next interview!

MacKenna Stevens of MastersInSocialWork.com has compiled a fantastic list of resources you should check out: “Top 97 Unemployment and Joblessness Blogs.”

It’s the perfect “one-stop-shopping” source of valuable tips and information for anyone who is unemployed or seeking a new job.

I suspect it took quite a while to compile, so take advantage of all that effort and use the handy list to get back to work!

Here’s the link again: Top 97 Resource

Monster.com used to be the largest job search engine in the U.S. Not any longer. According to comScore, Indeed bypassed Monster.com in October 2010.

ComScore data reports that Indeed received 12.3 million visitors in October, a monthly increase of 19.6%. Monster had 12.1 million visitors. Coming in third was CareerBuilder with 11.3 million visitors. These stats reflect the main jobs sites only and not their entire networks – in which case, Indeed would be edged out by larger properties Monster and CareerBuilder.

But Indeed is growing aggressively. The site adds nearly one million new jobs to its index each week, and is becoming the most popular choice for the majority of U.S. job-seekers. Indeed gets more monthly page views devoted strictly to job searches than Monster, CareerBuilder and HotJobs (which was purchased by Monster last year) combined! However, the other sites offer additional content, such as career advice and resume-building tips.

Keep in mind that size doesn’t always matter. Indeed may be the biggest job search site at the moment, but one of my favorites is LinkUp, because of the quality of its listings — they come directly from the websites of companies that are hiring.

Photo: LadyDragonflyCC

Employer: “I notice you put three different names on your application: Saint Nicholas, Kris Kringle, and Santa Clause. What shall I call you?”

Kris: “Kris is fine.”

Employer: “So, Kris, tell me a little about yourself.”

Kris: “I’m a jolly old elf who lives at the North Pole. I love children and reindeer. I’m good at making lists. And I don’t mind travel.”

Employer: “Hmmm… You’ve got a spotty employment history. You’ve worked at Macy’s and many other stores, but only for a few winter weeks. Why is that?”

Kris: “I can only get work in late November and most of December. I tried applying during other times of the year, but they just gave me an odd look and shook their head. I think it might’ve been age discrimination.”

Employer: “Uh-huh. How are your team-building skills?”

Kris: “OK. I once had trouble with a new member of my team. The other team members used to laugh and call him names. But I had him guide the team one foggy night, and afterwards the rest of the team loved him; they even shouted out with glee. It was pretty weird at the time, but everything’s cool now.”

Employer: “What are your greatest strengths?”

Kris: “My listening skills are excellent. I have a strong lap. I’m good with kids. And I’m not afraid of heights.”

Employer: “What are your biggest weaknesses?”

Kris: “Milk and cookies. They’re the reason I have this belly that shakes like a bowlful of jelly!”

Employer: “Why should I hire you?”

Kris: “I see you when you’re sleeping. I know when you’re awake. I know when you’ve been bad or good. So be good, for goodness sake — and hire me! Otherwise, I’ll have to put you on my ‘Naughty’ list. Believe me, you don’t want that.”

Employer: “Are you threatening me?”

Kris: “No. I’m not very good at threats. With the cost of gas and electric heat these days, people actually look forward to receiving a lump of coal. I’m just saying it’s better to be on my ‘Nice’ list, because I send a copy of my ‘Naughty’ list to the IRS.”

Employer: “When can you start?”

Kris: “Ho, Ho, Ho!”

Just as people read the cover of a book to determine whether or not it’s one they want to buy, hiring managers, HR professionals and recruiters like to read a cover letter to determine whether or not to spend time looking at your resume.

But here’s the thing: it must be an effective cover letter. It must grab their attention and make them want to learn more about you. Most cover letters fail to do this.

In this video, I provide helpful tips on how you can create effective, attention-grabbing cover letters to stand out among all the other candidates.

Photo by: Screenpunk

So with that in mind, here are the top five things you should NEVER do:

1. Be late. If you don’t make it to the interview on time, the hiring manager will think you won’t make it to work on time, either. Or do anything else right. Plan to arrive 15 minutes early. Don’t rely on Internet-map driving directions; go there the day before so you’re clear on exactly how to get there and how long it will take. “Horrible traffic” is no excuse for being late. Every company wants to hire someone who plans ahead, anticipates potential problems, and succeeds despite those problems. If there is a REAL emergency, call to explain and ask to reschedule.

2. Show you didn’t prepare. “Ummm… uh…my mind just went blank. Can I get back to you on that?” is not a good way to answer a question. “What do you guys do around here?” is not a good question to ask. Research the industry, the company, the job, even the interviewer, if possible. You can do all of that online. Be prepared for likely questions. Be prepared to offer specific solutions to help them achieve their specific goals. Remember the 5 Ps: Preparation & Practice Preceed a Powerful Performance!

3. Badmouth your current employer. No hiring manager wants to hear about the unfair, stupid, incompetent people you’re trying to escape from–not even when they ask, “Why do you want to leave your current position?” It may be tempting to tell them what a jerk your boss is, but do NOT say anything negative. Ever. Even if every negative word you say is absolutely true, the hiring manager will label you as a complainer who can’t get along with others. Instead, say something neutral about your current employer and then shift the focus by saying something complimentary about the hiring manager’s company (based on the research you did). For example: “I’m looking for different career opportunities. That’s really why I’m here. I want to contribute to an organization that is leading the way in the [whatever] industry. I know that ABC Company is not only an admired industry leader, it’s making a positive difference in people’s lives. I want to be part of that.”

4. Lie about your skills or accomplishments. And by “lie” I also mean exaggerate. It’s dishonest. It’s wrong. It’s likely to be discovered. Don’t do it.

5. Be unprofessional. This includes wearing clothes that are too casual, being disrespectful to the receptionist (or anyone else), letting your cell phone ring during the interview, chewing gum, failing to listen, and countless other unprofessional behaviors. Always remember: your goal is to impress everyone you meet. Be professional!

Getting a job is already hard enough. Don’t make it impossible by sabotaging your interview!

Without exception, they were the best people I’ve ever had the privilege of working for.

Please remember our veterans (and not just on Nov. 11) as people. Sons, daughters, fathers, mothers, sisters and brothers… all willing to give the ultimate sacrifice for their country and their beliefs. Those who served in the past, and those still serving today, have my respect and my gratitude.

They are my heros.

Photo by: Talli_1985

At the job interview, Nancy answered every question well.

Unfortunately, her behavior sabotaged her performance.

When introduced to the interviewer, she said, “Thank you so much for seeing me. I really need this job.” After answering one of the questions, she added, “I hope I answered that sufficiently for you. I really need this job.” As the interview was ending, the last thing she said was, “Thank you for the opportunity to interview for this job. I really need it!”

Nancy, like many other job candidates, believed that letting the interview know she really needed the job would help her to get it.

But that’s not true.

As a matter of fact, being “too desperate” for the job is one of the most common reasons hiring managers will reject you, regardless of your qualifications. If they know how desperate you are, they will wonder to what lengths you will go to get the job—would you exaggerate on your résumé or lie during the interview? You don’t want them wondering about things like that. Be enthusiastic about the opportunity, but don’t be a “Needy Nancy.”

Here are six other behaviors to avoid during job interviews (despite the names, all behaviors apply to both men and women):

“Overly Familiar Fred” behaves like he’s best buddies with male interviewers, and flirts with female interviewers. He’ll smile, wink, joke around and try to come across as God’s gift to the hiring manager. It’s OK to be friendly and charming to a point, but there’s a line you should never cross. Professionalism is paramount. Don’t be an “Overly Familiar Fred.”

“Aimless Amy” behaves like she wants a job… and any job will do. It’s obvious to hiring managers that she doesn’t know what she wants to be when she grows up. Be prepared to communicate clear career goals and give compelling reasons why you want the specific job for which you are interviewing. Don’t be an “Aimless Amy.”

“Rambling Randy” behaves like he’s trying to win a talking contest. He goes on and on, telling personal stories and getting completely away from the point of the question. Listening is as important as talking. Don’t talk just to fill a temporary silence from the interviewer. Stories are good, but they should be relevant and brief. Don’t be a “Rambling Randy.”

“Emotional Emma” lets her feelings interfere with her performance. If a tricky interviewer insults her appearance or skills to gauge her reaction, she’ll become visibly upset—perhaps even burst into tears or hurl insults back at the interviewer. If you have a temper or cry easily—or tend to get overly nervous—focus on remaining calm during the interview, no matter what. I’m not saying you should hide all emotions; no one wants to hire a robot. Let your personality show. But don’t be an “Emotional Emma.”

“Arrogant Andy” behaves like he’s doing the hiring manager a favor by coming in for an interview. He speaks in a condescending tone when answering questions he feels are beneath him. He enjoys bragging about his accomplishments, never mentioning team efforts. He is confident that his qualifications are far superior to those of other candidates. He’s sure the interview is just a formality, and believes the job is his if he really wants it. No matter how qualified you are, it’s more important to be likeable. No one will hire an egotistical jerk. Don’t be an “Arrogant Andy.”

“Timid Tina” behaves like she’s afraid to be noticed. She avoids eye contact, speaks in a quiet voice, answers questions with the fewest words possible, and rarely smiles. When asked if she has any questions as the interview winds down, she quickly says “No,” and looks longingly at the door, eager to escape. Many people are shy; very few people enjoy being interviewed. But no matter how desperately you wish someone would hire you based solely on your résumé, it’s not going to happen—you’ll have to talk your way into the job. Force yourself to show confidence and enthusiasm. After all, you have a lot to offer! You can’t offer anyone anything if you’re afraid to be noticed. Don’t be a “Timid Tina.”

Remember, at the job interview, your behavior outweighs your answers. Avoid the above behaviors, and be a “Successful Sue!”

Photo: Andres.thor

Here are 5 ways to do that:

1. Think of the interview as just a conversation between you and someone you just met—someone you like.

2. Think of the person interviewing you as an equal, not a superior. Remain respectful, courteous and professional, but don’t think of yourself as inferior in any way.

3. Think of yourself as a valuable, talented person whom any company would be lucky to have on their payroll. They need you as much or more than you need them.

4. Think of the interviewers as being just as nervous as you. Perhaps they’ve never interviewed anyone before.

5. Think of the job as just one of many opportunities. You want to be enthusiastic and assure the hiring manager that you want the position, but convince yourself that it’s not the end of the world if you don’t get it. It may not have been right for you anyway. There will be more opportunities.

Above all, remember that “Preparation and Practice Precede Peak Performance.” When you’re confident and well prepared, you’ll be less nervous… and more likely to get hired.

Photo: Aoife city womanchile

Suddenly the silence was shattered by an unearthly sound! “Grrrrrooowwwwlllll!” The grumbly-gurgly-rumbling noise was so loud, I was sure the “big one” had hit (where I work is only 3,500 feet from an earthquake fault) and the roof was caving in!

I quickly ducked my head and scanned the room for falling debris. Then I noticed my coworkers. They were looking at ME, their eyes wide in shock.

“Holy crap! What’d you do, skip breakfast and lunch?” One of them asked.

To my horror, I realized the awful noise had come from my growling stomach!

I considered crawling under the table as my face turned red as a chili pepper, but responded, “Whoops, please excuse me. I don’t know why that happened. I’m not even hungry!”

The meeting carried on and five minutes later it happened again. “Grrrrrooowwwwlllll!” Everyone looked at me but no one said anything this time. I mouthed “Sorry” and looked down, embarassed. I wanted to punch myself in the stomach. Stupid stomach!

Fortunately it was a short meeting. After it was over I slinked away to my desk and wondered why my stupid stomach had betrayed me.

Has something like this ever happened to you? Perhaps at a job interview?

You should never go to a job interview on an empty stomach. Food gives you energy and helps to keep your brain alert! But will eating before the interview keep your stomach from growling? Maybe… maybe not.

Stomach growling is the result of the process your body uses (which involves muscle contractions, gases and air) to move and digest food. (TMI, right?) Stomach growling can happen at any time — not just when you’re hungry — but if there’s food in your stomach or small intestine, the growling is usually quieter.

A good way to keep your stomach quiet is to eat several small meals instead of a few large ones. Remember that on job interview day. Or when you have to attend an important meeting.

You can read more about stomach growling and other fun digestive facts here: Why Does My Stomach Growl?

Photo: designwallah

I’d only gone about a quarter-mile from home when it happened.

Just as I was turning a corner, a large dog darted out in front of my car! I slammed on the brakes and was suddenly spinning out of control. As the car hydroplaned off the road, I felt so strange — almost detached, as if I was observing the accident happen to someone else. The panic didn’t hit me until the car stopped moving in a soggy field.

I sat there gripping the wheel as adrenalin causing my heart to do its best to pound its way out of my chest. Two thoughts went through my head: (1) I’m okay; (2) My boss is an idiot.

Let me explain that seemingly out-of-context thought about my boss. He was the Group Commander (I was a Civil Service employee working on an Army base in Okinawa at the time). As the Commander, part of his job was to keep the soldiers and civilians who worked on base, and their families, safe.

During the previous six months, there had been three car accidents caused by dogs running into the street (there were several packs of stray dogs roaming the island). In one of the crashes, a person was killed.

So my boss the Commander issued this advice to everyone: “If you’re driving and a dog runs out in front of you, hit the dog. That’s better than swerving to avoid it, crashing your car, and possibly killing yourself or others.”

I thought that was excellent advice (even though I love dogs). It made sense to me — if faced with the choice of hitting a stray dog or possibly getting killed in a car crash, I’d hit the dog. Wouldn’t you? (No, you probably wouldn’t… read on.)

While my intent was to follow his advice, I failed to do that when the dog ran out in front of my car.

Why? Because although it was something I could foresee — I knew about the previous accidents and thought I was prepared for the possibility, telling myself I’d follow my boss’s advice — it was NOT something I could control. When it happened, I reacted without thinking, slamming on the brakes and jerking the wheel to avoid the dog. I bet you, and my boss, would’ve done the same thing. Hence, my thought that he was an idiot for thinking people could control their instinctive reactions and follow his “wise” advice.

By now you’re probably wondering what the heck this story has to do with job interviews.

Here’s my point: career advice, and especially job interview advice, is given by well-meaning people (like me), is usually based on sound logic… and is sometimes totally useless.

There may be times when you just can’t follow the advice — even when it makes sense; even when you want to follow it; and even when you plan to do so.

No matter how well you prepare for a job interview, something may happen that triggers an involuntary reaction. If you’re nervous, you may laugh or blurt out an inappropriate answer to a serious question. You may forget the name of your interviewer. You may stutter or stumble over your words. A stray dog may run into the room and cause you to jump up and spill hot coffee all over the interviewer!

Circumstances and your emotions are not always under your control.

But if you make a mistake or “have an accident” during your job interview, it may still be possible to win the job. The key is to recover from the mistake by taking action to overcome it.

Since this article is already long and Darin Manis wrote helpful tips on how to overcome job interview mistakes, I’m going to refer you to that: please go here to read “8 Interview Mistakes and How to Recover.”

Hang in there, do the best you can, watch out for stray dogs and don’t feel bad if something causes your interview to spin out of control. Fix it if you can. But if you can’t, don’t give up on your job search. Get back out there and keep moving toward your next opportunity!

Photo by: Clover_1

One of the most important aspects of preparation is doing research about the company for which you want to work. Why? Because knowledge is power. The more you know about the company, the better off you’ll be at the interview.

Because doing research can be somewhat tedious, this is a step most job seekers don’t take – so it will give YOU a definite advantage. You can use the information you find to customize your comments during the interview. The interviewer will be impressed that you did your homework, and will believe that you are interested in the company as well as the job. On the other hand, if you don’t know squat about the company, the interviewer may not only be unimpressed, he may be downright insulted. Not a good way to make a good first impression!

One more reason to do this research – it may save you from making a terrible mistake! If the company has a poor reputation, is in the middle of downsizing, or has a history of frequent layoffs, it’s much better to find out about it before the interview, rather than after you’ve accepted a job offer!

So do your research. Google is my favorite research tool. Here are a few more:

It’s well worth your time to check it out:

Isn’t it great to see a mega-corporation trying to be a little more green?

How did customers respond? Did they thank Frito Lay for thinking about sustainability and helping the environment, for doing the right thing? Nope.

They complained… about the noise the new bag makes. Seriously. Sun Chips sales plummeted.

You can guess what happened then. Or you can read the Wall Street Journal article.

But the best part is the video that’s with that article: “Sun Chips: The Loudest Chip Bag Ever.”

Whether or not you care about the environment, Frito Lay, Sun Chips, or noise pollution, watch the video — the ending is hilarious.  :-)

I’m selling my timeshare in Atlantic City, located on the famous Board Walk. Why? Because I just bought one in Sedona, AZ, and don’t need two!

The timeshare is for one week every other year.

Even if you have no interest in Atlantic City, you should consider this. By joining a timeshare exchange service, you can exchange yours for stays at timeshare resorts all over the world.

See all the details about the timeshare I’m selling (through a listing service) here.

The price listed is negotiable. Make an offer!

see more Gifs

Photo: usfbps

During your check-ups, you ask each doctor about his qualifications.

Doctor Smith speaks at length about his experience and achievements, telling you all about the commendations he’s received, the internship he completed at the prestigious Mayo Clinic, his memberships in various medical associations, and his appointment to a special hospital oversight board. He tells you he is the most qualified doctor in the state. By the time he’s finished telling you all about himself, your check-up is done and the appointment is over. He seems a bit arrogant, but his credentials are impressive. You now know a lot about him.

Doctor Jones, on the other hand, gives only brief answers to your questions about his qualifications. He spends most of your appointment time asking you questions about your medical history and overall health, listening carefully to your answers, and giving you helpful advice. After you mention your occasional back pain, for example, he asks about your job and then recommends ergonomic improvements to your work station as well as specific stretching exercises to prevent your pain from coming back. By the time you’re finished telling him all about yourself, your check-up is done and the appointment is over. He seems genuinely interested in you and your well-being. He now knows a lot about you.

You asked them the same questions. Doctor Smith focused on himself. Doctor Jones focused on you.

Which doctor would you choose?

Most people would choose Doctor Jones. People (even shy ones) enjoy talking about themselves to someone like Doctor Jones who listens, cares, and helps to solve their problems.

Another characteristic most people share is always wanting to know, “What’s in it for me?” People make decisions and take actions based primarily on how the outcome will impact their wants and needs. This isn’t selfish; it’s natural and necessary for survival.

Guess what — hiring managers are people, too.

During a job interview, you’ll be answering questions designed to help the hiring manager determine if you’re the best candidate for the job. You have to focus on yourself, right?

Yes and no.

You can turn the tables at the interview, put the focus on THEM, and be more like Doctor Jones than Doctor Smith.

First, do extensive research on the company, the position for which you’re applying, and the hiring manager, if possible. Your goal is to determine how you can help them achieve their mission and objectives–or how you can offer ideas, suggestions, and solutions for challenges they may be facing.

Then anticipate likely interview questions and design your answers to address their (usually unspoken) desire to know “What’s in it for me?”

For example, let’s say that during your research you found out that the company will soon be implementing a number of “green” initiatives to help protect the environment. It’s a company-wide program and every manager (including the one who will be interviewing you) will be involved. During the interview, when asked to “Tell me a little about yourself,” you could include a sentence or two about how you’re very interested in “green” issues and have always wanted to work for a company that is taking action to protect the environment. That answer seems to be focused on you, but it’s actually focused on the hiring manager, who will be thinking “This person will be eager to help me with that company-wide ‘green’ program I’ve been stuck with.”

See how it provides an answer for his “What’s in it for me?” question?

Try to incorporate into your answers information about how you will be able to help the company and the hiring manager with issues that are important to THEM. With a little determination, you can do this with virtually any question. Even one like “What’s your greatest weakness?” You could say “I’ve always had a somewhat poor memory. I’d forget my mom’s birthday if I didn’t write it on the calendar. That’s why I always use detailed checklists so I can keep track of all details and never miss a deadline. This practice really came in handy when I volunteered to organize XYZ Company’s Earth Day Festival last year that showcased their environmental initiatives to more than 10,000 people.”

See? You’re answering a question about yourself, but including information relevant to one of the hiring manager’s self-interests. He now knows you have experience with planning environmental events, even though it may never have occurred to him to ask you about that.

Even though both examples I gave are related to the same issue (environment), try to identify more than one issue and plan to address each through different answers to anticipated questions. Remember, prepare and practice your answers!

Now, let’s go back to the fact that people like to talk about themselves to someone who listens and cares.

Typically during a job interview, you’ll be asked if you have any questions. This is when you get the hiring manager to talk about him/herself and topics he/she would enjoy telling you about. Questions you might ask include: What do you enjoy most about working here? What attracted you to this line of work? How did you win the Whatzit Award? (Something about him/her based on your research or what you see in his/her office.)

Listen carefully and show genuine interest. If the hiring manager mentions something you have in common, briefly acknowledge that common interest, but avoid the temptation to start talking about yourself. Remember, you goal is to let the hiring manager enjoy doing the talking. Smile, nod, and ask follow-up questions to show that you’re fascinated by whatever he/she is saying. This will put the hiring manager in a great mood, and he/she will relate that happy feeling to you.

Yes, this process of focusing on THEM instead of just yourself during the job interview is a lot more work. But I guarantee it will make you stand out from all the other candidates who focus only on themselves!

Well, you may have to get used to it.

“I now ask candidates how many friends and followers they have on Facebook and Twitter.”

That quote from a hiring manager is both interesting and troubling to me.

I understand the reasoning. In this particular case, the hiring manager runs a nonprofit organization. She needs all the free publicity she can get, and having employees who post about their work on Facebook and other social networks helps to spread the word about their organization for zero cost.

But is that sufficient reason to ask candidates about their friends and followers — and judge them based on the numbers?

I’m sure other qualifications are taken into account by this hiring manager, but if she didn’t put a lot of weight on social networking, she wouldn’t be asking that question. In many career fields, there are far more qualified candidates than jobs. If they are all equally capable of doing the work, it might be tempting to use their social networking potential as justification for picking one over the others.

Is this going to become a growing trend? Employers, seeking free publicity for their companies, hiring people based on their “worth” as social networking tools?

Does that possibility bother you?

1. Be fashionably late (about 15 minutes) for your interview. Punctuality is for wimps.

2. Be sure to start off the interview by making your demands known right up front. No sense wasting time if they’re not going to give you the penthouse office, Mercedes company car, offshore account for your monthly bonuses, and private masseuse you deserve.

3. If you forget the interviewer’s name, just call him Slick. If it’s a woman, use Sweet Thing. Or vice versa.

4. Speak softly; a whisper is best. You want the interviewer listening as carefully as possible to everything you say.

5. If you don’t know the answer to a question, change the subject by saying, “That’s a very interesting question. Wow, those are some big feet! What size shoes do you wear?”

6. Bring a bag of peanuts to munch on during the interview (after all, you don’t want your stomach to growl!). Be considerate; don’t toss the empty shells on the floor, pile them neatly on the interviewer’s desk.

7. When asked a stupid question like “If you were a bird, what kind of bird would you be?” respond with an equally stupid answer like “I’d be an ostrich, so I could leave the biggest possible pile of bird crap on your list of questions.”

8. When asked about your experience, keep details to a minimum. Everyone loves a good mystery! Use vague sentences such as “I took care of things. It’s best that you don’t know too much,” and then wink and aim your finger gun at them.

9. Show how cool you are by using these phrases as often as possible: Ya feel me? Don’t get all salty on me! My last boss was a real cheeseball. I’ll blitz you my refs. Hey, gotta beat feet, I’m late for my tweetup! Peace out!

10. Finally, disregard all these “tips” and ace your next interview!

Dear Bonnie,

My name is Andrea Simmons, and I’m a huge fan of your blog! I graduated from Seattle University, and started reading it when I was doing my own job search! Since then I have joined a small startup company that helps students (and professionals) build great-looking resumes in 15 minutes and then publish them online.

Anyway, your recent blog post on ‘When Does Your Interview Really Begin’ was so totally relevant to what we’ve been working on here at JobSpice that I felt I had to write you and tell you what we’ve been up to (as I agree that the interview starts way before the actual meeting; I think it starts with the resume). In the last few months, we’ve gotten dozens of large universities, (Northwestern, University of Washington, ASU and more) signed up to use JobSpice, and we’re expecting about 250,000 students to have accounts on the site this Fall. But we want to do more than help students build resumes.

In the feedback we’ve gotten from students who are already using the site, most say that they love the ability to post their resumes online and then tweet the URL to friends or potential employers. I just thought I would write to you to tell you about all that JobSpice has been up to because I feel our web application could really benefit your readers!

Anyway, I’d love to hear back from you and hear your thoughts on what you thought of JobSpice.com and the ease of building a resume with our web application. I’d really appreciate your advice!

I receive many solicitations to promote other sites, and to be frank, most of them are crap (the solicitations and the sites themselves). But Andrea is one smart cookie. Her email to me was NOT a “canned” generic request like 99% are; she made it obvious she’d actually read my blog; and she appealed to my ego by paying me a compliment before making her request. How could I refuse?

I was pleasantly surprised by what I found.

JobSpice enables you to quickly create an attractively formatted resume by following the prompts and filling in the blanks. You can choose from several format designs. The prompts guide you on the type of content to consider including in your resume. So I like the resume-builder at JobSpice.

But I also like the fact that JobSpice includes helpful articles on topics like making the resume CONTENT more effective. The best resume design/creation tool in the world won’t help a clueless job seeker to get hired if he/she doesn’t understand how to effectively communicate accomplishments. If you decide to use JobSpice to build your resume, be sure to read the articles on its blog first.

I do recommend JobSpice. It’s a useful, and even fun way to create and post your resume. It has a free trial, and if you like it, it’s only $20 for a year of service. That seems like quite a bargain to me. I suspect they’ll raise the price as their service gains in popularity. Check it out here: JobSpice.com.

I don’t know if this is reality or clever fiction, but check out this post from The Chive on how “Jenny” decided to quit her job with the help of a white board, photos, and email — click here: Girl Quits Job.

I suspect this entertaining story is fiction, designed to do what it’s doing: go viral on the web and bring “Jenny” lots of attention. She may be a model or wannabe actress. This may actually be her version of a resume rather than a resignation.

If you’re tempted to quit your job in a similar fashion, consider these points before you do anything rash:

1. Once something is released on the Internet, it’s very difficult to take back. It may be out there “haunting” you forever. Employers often do online searches of job candidates. Not everyone will think quitting in this way is cool. Most would never hire anyone who makes a public mockery of her boss (even if he deserved it) — and by extention, the company she worked for.

2. I can easily imagine Jenny (or anyone doing something similar) getting sued for defamation of character or whatever by her ex-boss and his attorney.

3. General rule not specific to Jenny’s example: don’t quit your job until you have a firm (written) offer of employment somewhere else. There are exceptions, of course. But whenever possible, try to land your next job before leaving your current one.

But all that seriousness aside, I must admit I enjoyed viewing Jenny’s probably-fake resignation.

Photo by: German G

What would you do if a recruiter called, or an old colleague asked if you’d like to come work for him at a different company–and he offered you more money? Would you be tempted to use that job offer as a bargaining chip for a raise or promotion?

It’s a risky move, but one worth looking into… carefully.

The first thing you need to do is decide how appealing the new job offer is. How much better is it than what you have now? Would you seriously consider leaving your current company and starting over with a new employer? What would need to change in order for you to decline the new offer and stay where you are? A promotion or raise? More responsibility?

Before you talk to your boss, decide what you want, and what you’re willing to do if you don’t get it.

If you really don’t want to leave, don’t pretend you do just to negotiate a raise. Your boss may call your bluff! Just explain that you received an unsolicited offer that you are not seriously considering, but it’s prompted you to want to discuss your future.

If you are on the fence about whether to take the new job or not, discuss the possibility with your boss in a non-committal way. You might say, “I have been contacted about a new opportunity, and I’d like your advice on figuring out what’s best for my future.”

Discuss the terms of the other job, and what you’re most interested in — the salary, other benefits, more responsibility, etc. Give your boss the opportunity to make a counteroffer, but do not threaten to leave if this doesn’t happen. No one responds well to blackmail.

[SIDE NOTE: Where I work an engineer received a job offer with another company. He threatened to leave if he did not get a promotion. Because he was heavily involved in several major projects, it would've caused significant problems if he left on short notice. He held all the cards, and he knew it. He got his promotion. Two years later, an even bigger promotion opportunity opened up in his department for which he was qualified. Do you think his boss gave him even the slightest consideration? No. By demanding the earlier smaller promotion, this guy doomed his chances of further career advancement at this agency. Bosses don't appreciate being threatened, and they don't forget.]

Keep this in mind–even if your bargaining efforts are successful and you get what you want and decide to stay, your boss may now have a lesser opinion of you. Your loyalty may be in doubt, and even if the negotiation process was very non-threatening, your boss may resent having to go through the process at all.

Consider the consequences for either outcome before you use a job offer as a bargaining chip!

Photo by: Alex France

If you wait until then to display your “best interview behavior,” you may lose the job before you answer the first question!

This is a rather extreme example, but one of the nation’s leading airlines often flies job candidates to their headquarters for job interviews. The airline provides the round-trip airfares. What the lucky candidates don’t realize is that their tickets are tagged to identify them as job applicants on their way to an interview with the airline.

Those candidates are being evaluated from the moment they enter the airport. If candidate Mary Smith is inconsiderate to fellow passengers or rude to a flight attendant, for example, this information is reported to the hiring manager before Mary arrives for her interview. She’ll go through the interview, may do a great job answering the questions, and will be totally mystified about why she is NOT selected for the position.

Here are more typical situations where your interactions with people prior to your interview may affect the hiring decision:

- When you talk to someone from HR on the telephone to schedule your interview;
- When you exchange small talk while riding in the elevator with someone;
- When you talk to the receptionist while waiting for your interview to begin;
- When someone walks by while you’re waiting and starts a brief conversation with you.

Those are just a few examples.

Imagine Joe the candidate arriving at an office building for an interview which is being held on the 10th floor. Joe gets into the elevator and says “Good morning” to a woman who gets in at the same time. The woman responds with “Good morning.” She sees that he’s pressed the button for the 10th floor and asks, “Are you here to see Mr. Jones?” Joe says “Yes. I’m interviewing with him for an engineering position.” Because Joe is nervous, he says a bit too much. “I’m really dreading this. I hear Jones is a grouchy old bastard.”

The elevator arrives at the 10th floor and they both step out. Mr. Jones is there to greet Joe, and says, “Good morning. I see you’ve already met my daughter.”

I’m not trying to make you paranoid, but if you suspect that every person associated with the company is a spy for the hiring manager, do you think you’ll be more aware of your behavior while in their presence? You bet!

Don’t wait until you meet the interviewer to turn on the charm. Your interview may begin — and be over — long before you realize it!

If you’ve rehearsed what you’re going to say and know the perfect answer to every potential question, you’re half way there. There’s just one important thing you’ve forgotten:

Yourself.

How do you sell yourself and show your potential employer how valuable you can be to their company? You want to make them hire you today and not even think about other applicants. You know you’re the right person for the job, so how do you make them see that? Here are seven easy steps you can take to really make yourself shine during the interview process.

1. First, find out everything you can about the company you’d be working for. Who are its customers? What is its mission statement? How does the job you’d be performing relate to the company’s goals? Finding out this type of information gives you great insights on what kinds of questions to ask your interviewer and shows them that you’ve done your research and already have some background in the company’s business and objectives.

2. Read over the job description carefully. Analyze your own strengths and see how you can tie the two together. If you have previous experience, make note of those times where you helped achieve a specific result. Employers give more serious consideration to applicants who have a background and a track record in their industry than those who do not.

3. First impressions count. It should go without saying that you should arrive 10 minutes prior to the interview, dress appropriately (if not above) the position you’re applying for, greet your interviewer with a firm handshake and maintain eye contact throughout the discussion process. Be enthusiastic, personable and outgoing. Show a sincere interest in the people you meet and the work you’d be doing. Interviewers can tell if you’re desperate!

4. Show that you can solve problems and work well under pressure, since nearly every job will require both skills. If you can identify a particular problem in your industry or that you may face when doing this job, give the interviewer some ideas of how you would solve it. Be calm, relaxed and confident. Some nervousness is expected, but your overall mannerisms (such as fidgeting, nail-biting, slumping in your chair) will be an instant giveaway on how well you really work under stress. Likewise, if you project confidence and security in how you carry yourself, the interviewer will definitely notice.

5. If your mind goes blank when asked if you have any questions (and you should always have a couple of questions ready), consider asking why this position is open. What’s the company’s track record and turnover rate? Are they performing well and keeping employees on board? Remember, you’re not just selling yourself on how you’d be a great fit for this company, but finding out how this company could also be a great fit for you.

6. If an interviewer asks a question that makes you feel uncomfortable, smile politely and ask, “Why would you like to know?” Remember, your employer is prohibited from asking you personal questions, including references to your race, gender, sexual preference, marital status and child care situations. Your interview should be focused on how well you can perform the job, not your home and family life.

7. After the interview, be sure to follow up with a thank-you note. Recount your strengths in the letter and highlight your qualifications. Touch on specific discussions or conversations you had with the interviewer to help them remember that polished, professional, enthusiastic candidate (you). Close the note by letting the interviewer know of your sincere interest in the position and your confidence in doing it well.

If you keep all of these suggestions in mind, you’ll not only have seriously impressed your potential employer, but you’ll come away from it feeling like a winner too!

For even more detailed, step-by-step help with acing your next interview, check out my Job Interview Success System.

Photo by: Foreversouls

I have never personally experienced age discrimination. But I know it happens every day, even though it’s illegal (in the U.S.). It’s hard to prove, so the fact that it’s against the law doesn’t discourage all companies from doing it.

If I had to find a new job today, at age 52, I’m sure it would be difficult for me to compete successfully against younger candidates… even though I’m an expert at job interviews (and appear young for my age… at least in my mind).

Strategies for trying to avoid age discrimination during the job search include:

Photo by: Thomas Hawk

When you’re looking to get hired or get promoted, what do you think is your most important asset?

Your experience? Knowledge? Skill? Talent?

While all of those are advantages that will help you achieve your goals, there’s one thing that’s more important than all of them combined.

Your attitude!

I attended a board meeting recently. It should’ve been spelled “bored.” Just about everyone’s eyes were glazed over as one dull presentation after another was foisted upon the meeting attendees.

Then something changed.

Someone who had never spoken at a board meeting before got up, went to the lectern, fired up her PowerPoint presentation, and totally blew everyone away!

People perked up in their seats and listened attentively to her every word. When she was done, people actually clapped! (If you’ve ever attended a public agency board meeting before, you’ll know how remarkable that is!)

The board president said, “I’ve seen hundreds of presentations. This is the first time I’ve ever seen one that elicited applause!”

Was this presenter more experienced, more knowledgeable, more skilled or more talented than all the others?

Absolutely not. As a fairly new employee, she was actually inferior in all of those areas.

What made the difference? Her attitude.

She was enthusiastic, positive, upbeat, energetic and truly excited about what she was talking about! It wasn’t the quality of her presentation that impressed people, it was how she made them feel. Her enthusiasm was contagious, so the audience greatly enjoyed listening to facts and figures that, presented by someone without her energetic attitude, would’ve bored them to tears.

Everyone in that room will remember and think very highly of her–not the more experienced, knowledgeable, skilled or talented presenters–because of her attitude.

You know why companies conduct time-consuming, labor-intensive job interviews instead of simply hiring people based on the qualifications presented in their resumes? One of the biggest reasons is to find someone they’ll enjoy working with. This can only be conveyed in person, by your attitude.

Think of your own coworkers. Who do you enjoy working with? The smart guy who has all the answers but acts superior? The woman who has the most experience but whines or complains whenever she’s asked to do something in a new way?

Or the person who always smiles, listens to you, stays positive, friendly and supportive no matter what?

‘Nuff said.

By the way… how’s your attitude?

Image by: See-Ming Lee

I get asked these questions a lot: “Should I send separate thank-you notes to everyone who interviewed me? Can I just send one thank-you note to the hiring manager and ask him/her to thank others involved in the process?”

The answers are yes and no, respectively.

Send a separate thank-you note to everyone who interviewed you, whether it was an informal pre-interview phone call, an interview lunch meeting, or the final formal interview after a lengthy process.

Don’t be stingy with your thank yous!

Sending thanks is an easy thing to do, it will only take a few minutes–and it will make the recipients feel good about you! Why wouldn’t you jump at the chance to do that?

You can make your thank-you notes relatively short. They can be sent via snail-mail or email.

(There are differing opinions on which is best. I prefer the now “special” touch of a real letter over the routine method of email; others think email is best because it’s faster. Just remember that what you say is more important than how you send it.)

Make each thank-you note slightly different by mentioning something in particular that you and the recipient discussed. This is a good reason to do your thank-you notes right away, while the interview is fresh in your mind. You might even want to take notes for this purpose.

Here’s a great tip that will really impress the hiring manager: add a P.S. that mentions how helpful someone was, by name. I’m not talking about people directly involved in the interviews; they should get their own thank-you notes. But if there was a receptionist, an HR assistant, or someone else who was helpful during your interview process, say so. Those people are rarely recognized, but may have influence with the hiring manager. The boss will think of you as someone who appreciates his team, notices things most other people overlook, and goes the extra mile.

Why make this a P.S.? Studies show that most people read the P.S. before (or even instead of) reading the main body of a letter. This P.S. will get attention and impress the reader, which will get your entire letter read and your thoughtfulness remembered!

P.S.  Thank you for reading this. 

Photo by: Dey

If you’re feeling dissatisfied at work and think a bigger paycheck is your key to happiness, you better think again.

According to studies done by the Templeton Foundation in England, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the U.S., and the University of Illinois, once your basic needs are met, having more money does little to make you more satisfied with your life.

What does make most people happiest? Spending time with family and friends, and contributing to the lives of others.

The two biggest things that lower people’s happiness levels? Losing a spouse, and losing a job.

If you’re feeling low, here are five steps you can take to lift your mood:

1. Be thankful for the things that bring you joy. Make a list, and add to it continuously. Include insignificant things (a delicious cup of coffee in the morning) and important things (a parent’s recovery from an illness).

2. Be kind. I’ve seen this on a bumper sticker: “Practice Random Acts of Kindness.” Include both random and planned acts of kindness. Whether it’s helping a stranger to pick up a bag of dropped groceries, or treating a friend to lunch, it’ll make you feel good to be kind to others.

3. Thank someone. Whether their deed was big or small, show gratitude when someone has helped you. It’ll make you feel good to say–and make them feel good to hear–the two magic words: “Thank you!” (Of course, it goes without saying that you should thank people after a job interview or recommendation, right?)

4. Get rid of the grudge. It’s impossible to go through life and never get your feelings hurt. But becoming angry, holding a grudge or dwelling on feelings of resentment only make things worse. Think about it–do you enjoy feeling angry or upset? Even if the person who wronged you never apologizes, forgive him/her. Get over it and move on.

5. Spend more time with family and friends. As previously mentioned, this is what makes most of us happiest. You’ve probably heard that a man on his deathbed will not be thinking, “I wish I’d spent more time at work.” Get your priorities straight and you’ll be much happier. So will your family and friends!

Now go make yourself happy!