Despite of constant warnings about the career dangers of posting certain content on social-media sites, many job hunters still don’t follow the advice. Social profiles are easily remembered and not always in a positive way. Recruiters, who often move around from company to company, carry this information with them. This can significantly reduce your chances for a long period of time.
People don’t realize that small things like spamming their resumes or bending the truth can damage their career. Job hunters often send cover letters that claim a specific position at the company or submit the same letter for several other openings. Those candidates are loosing their integrity immediately. To avoid that, it is recommended to write about the two or three positions you’re most qualified for in a single letter. Read this »
It is no secret that online networking through websites like LinkedIn is a very important part of any job search campaign and opens doors for new opportunities. Networking is not necessarily about finding a job right away; it is about connecting with people with common interests who may help you later when an opportunity arises.
One of the best and most effective ways to network on LinkedIn is by helping others, interacting with other members of the community, engaging in discussions, answering questions, etc. Your new connections will often help you in return. As we say “what goes around comes around”.
The winter holidays are over and many job seekers are now returning to their job search. If you are currently unemployed and haven’t had much luck in 2009, this moment may be a good time to reevaluate and adjust your strategy. We have put together this list of 10 New Year’s Resolutions, as voted by our readers, to help make your Job Search in 2010 more productive.
1. Stay Positive
2009 was a difficult year for many job seekers. If you haven’t been able to find a job, the last thing you want to do is give up looking or lose hope. All professionals agree that a positive attitude makes a drastic difference. If you radiate confidence, potential employers can feel it and you will perform better at interviews. It is easier said than done but we feel it is so important that we have put it up at the top of our list.
Read this »
Most job seekers take time off between Thanksgiving and New Year’s when companies and recruiters typically slow down their hiring efforts. During holidays everybody is too busy buying gifts, decorating houses, sending out holiday greeting cards. A lot of people don’t even think that it is a great time for the job search.
Here are a few reasons why you should actively look for work during the holidays:
1. Less competition. Since most job seekers put their job search on hold, that’s good news for you! This can result in fewer applications for non seasonal work and opportunity for you to get noticed by potential employers seeking full time employees for the coming year.
2. HR managers are not so busy. Many employees will take time off leaving the hiring managers to fill in. This allows managers to spend more time interviewing candidates.
Read this »
With the U.S. unemployment rate surpassing 10%, many Americans are getting desperate for jobs in their home towns or even within their states. How about within the country?
If you are a highly-skilled and experienced professional, who have been unable to find a suitable job in your area, perhaps you should consider looking elsewhere? Have you ever considered looking for a job overseas? Many don’t realize that there are positions open to Americans abroad: from the U.S. government and military, to U.S. corporations and non-profit organizations operating oversees.
America has always been a land of immigrants. As a country, we were built by immigrants. In fact, the word “immigration” has become an integral part of our culture and a hot topic of many debates. So much so that we have forgotten about “emigration” – the opposite process of people leaving the United States to look for a better life elsewhere. Unfortunately, with the current economic conditions this is turning into a reality. Read this »
Have you been looking for a job during a few months with no results? You probably think it is a bad economy because you have been doing everything you could. You are right - it is not the best time for job seekers. But have you been doing everything you could?
Let’s try to understand what you might have done wrong or did not do at all.
1. Have you created a great resume? It is extremely important to have a great resume. Only a well-written resume can get you noticed and should convince an employer to invite you for an interview. And that is exactly what you need!
In today’s world we all have to be careful of identity theft and fraud on the Internet. Most people already know how to protect their identities online: from online shopping to social networks, many take steps not to become victims of identity theft or online fraud.
Unfortunately, the same can’t be said of online job search. Driven by their job search instincts, many job seekers post their resumes left and right and without much through about what might happen to their private information.
Consider this: your resume contains ALL your private information: your name, your e-mail address, your home address, your phone number, your employment history, and much more. Imagine what might happen if this information ends up in the wrong hands. The least of your problems could be your e-mail address being used to send you spam advertisements or your phone number ending up on telemarketers’ lists.
Unfortunately, it could get a lot worse. Identity thieves and fraudsters may already have some of your information (most of it readily available online) but compiling all of it from multiple sources could be a challenge. Obtaining your resume makes it much easier for identity thieves to pose as you online. In fact, there have been cases where armed with a stolen credit card number, thieves would specifically search for a victim’s resume to get their correct billing address.
Read this »
A recent study, conducted by the University of Sydney (Australia), has found that as far as wages, it appears that size really does matter. The study has shown that a 6-foot tall man earns $960 more on average per year, when compared to his colleagues who are just two inches shorter.
The study suggests that taller men earn more because they are perceived to be far more influential at work than shorter people. We often respect taller people more because they have a higher self esteem. Higher self esteem results in better communication skills and often taller people tend to appear more charismatic. Why is that? The explanation is simple – self esteem develops in adolescent years and then has an effect for the rest of the person’s life. Kids with a higher self esteem are more likely to join social groups where they will learn to interact and network with people (a skill that is very important in the business environment).
Andrew Leigh, the economist conducting the study, reports:
“After controlling for age, height, region and family background, participation in athletics is associated with an 11.4 percent increase in adult wages, and participation in every club other than athletics is associated with a 5.1 percent increase in wages.”
Gender also plays a role. For example, a 6-foot tall feet man can expect a 1.5% higher income compared to their average workmate, who is 5 feet 10 inches. However, according to the same studies, a woman would need an additional 4 inches in height to get a similar increase in earnings.
Read this »
The advice is very simple: unless you write a personalized cover letter, addressed to the person who is likely to be reading your resume, and unless it is tailored specifically for the company and the position, don’t even bother including one with your resume!
Generic cover letters rarely get any attention. In fact, 9 out of 10 recruiters admit they don’t look at them at all…
…unless it has their name on it.
Before writing a cover letter, consider its purpose. Many job seekers would agree that the purpose of a cover letter is to capture attention and to make your resume stand out.
Unfortunately, cover letters are rarely written in a way that accomplishes that. Why?
Let me give you an example: Next time you open your mailbox at home, pay attention to the junk mail you throw away right away vs. what captures your attention. Chances are you would immediate throw away advertising claiming special deals that look like they are sent to millions of other “lucky” customers. You know there is nothing special or unique about them. However, you would probably pay more attention to the mail that is customized to your needs or preferences or something that has a personal touch and is of value to you. For instance, a hand-written envelope with your name on it containing a personalized coupon for a 50% discount on an item that you really need would probably get a lot more attention from you.
Despite of constant warnings about the career dangers of posting certain content on social-media sites, many job hunters still don’t follow the advice. Social profiles are easily remembered and not always in a positive way. Recruiters, who often move around from company to company, carry this information with them. This can significantly reduce your chances for a long period of time.
It is no secret that online networking through websites like 
Most job seekers take time off between Thanksgiving and New Year’s when companies and recruiters typically slow down their hiring efforts. During holidays everybody is too busy buying gifts, decorating houses, sending out holiday greeting cards. A lot of people don’t even think that it is a great time for the job search.
Have you been looking for a job during a few months with no results? You probably think it is a bad economy because you have been doing everything you could. You are right - it is not the best time for job seekers. But have you been doing everything you could?
A recent study, conducted by the University of Sydney (Australia), has found that as far as wages, it appears that size really does matter. The study has shown that a 6-foot tall man earns $960 more on average per year, when compared to his colleagues who are just two inches shorter.
The advice is very simple: unless you write a personalized cover letter, addressed to the person who is likely to be reading your resume, and unless it is tailored specifically for the company and the position, don’t even bother including one with your resume!
