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Archive for March, 2009

Customized Resumes: Necessary or Not?

Tuesday, March 31st, 2009

Many people who specialize in job searches recommend that you write a customized resume for each job you apply for. However, many of us are hesitant to invest the time required to change the resume every single time we apply on a job, especially if we are doing an intensive job search and are willing to take practically anything in order to keep on top of our bills. Reinventing the wheel each time means that we can apply on fewer jobs because it takes so much time to apply on each.

However there is a solution. Not every application needs a customized resume. If you are looking for a job to help you meet your living expenses while you find the job you really want, a one-size-fits-all resume should be sufficient in that particular job search. If you are looking for a position in one particular field, you should be able to draft a resume that will need minimal changes to fit any job you apply for within that field. Every time you make a significant change to your resume, save the new version. You may need to use it again in the future.

Customized resumes that show that you have the experience and/or knowledge to perform the tasks listed in a job description make your resume stand out amongst the many other one-size-fits-all resumes sent for any particular opening. It shows that you care enough about getting the job to go above and beyond before you even get an interview. That says a lot about your character and is a quality most companies are constantly searching for.

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Posted in Resume Writing | 2 Comments »

Choosing the Right List of References

Monday, March 23rd, 2009

One of the final steps before hiring an employee is to check references. Companies will not even ask for your list of references unless they are truly interested in hiring you. Therefore, it is a very good sign that you soon may have a new job. However, before you halt your job search and stop celebrating make sure you have the right list of people on you references.

-Make sure you know what those contacted will say about you. A less than glowing reference can ruin your chance of securing that new job.

- Make sure the list is current. If you have college professors on your list and you’ve been out of school for a while, you may want to replace them with other individuals. If a potential employer contacts someone from your list who doesn’t remember you anymore or mentions that you have had no contact in years, it does not give the impression you want.

-Don’t use only people from your latest job or only people you know    socially. Make sure the people on your list are from different aspects of your life to show how well-rounded you are.

A good choice is a former boss; a co-worker; someone who has known you for a long time and that you are still in contact with; and someone who has witnessed your work ethic outside of a traditional job. This last reference might come from someone who has done volunteer work with you. Quite often the projects people take on in a volunteer capacity show excellent work skills that are not evident in the regular paid work that they do.

Get the right list of references and secure the ideal job for you.

Posted in Job Search | 2 Comments »

Job Search Beyond The Newspaper

Saturday, March 14th, 2009

Checking the job ads in the newspaper has always been a so-so way of finding out about job openings and who is hiring. These days, more than ever, these types of ads represent a tiny fraction of the jobs available at any given time. Therefore, it is important for the job seeker to look beyond the newspaper and try some nontraditional routes of finding a job.

- Use social networking, like Facebook, Myspace and Twitter to learn about who is hiring. Such sites make it easier than ever to reconnect with people you haven’t seen in a while. Make sure that everyone you know is aware of the fact that you are searching for a new job. You never know where that tip you have been waiting for will come from.

- Read business journals and the business section of your local newspaper. If expansion or growth is mentioned for any company in your area, check out if they are hiring. The company’s website may be a great place to start, as many companies list openings there first. You may also wish to send a resume with a cover letter mentioning where you learned about the growth of the company.

- Check online job banks and the websites of major employers in your area.

- Call and talk with someone at the local Chamber of Commerce to see if they have any tips on who is looking to hire.

Remember in a tight economy fewer companies are hiring and more people are looking for work, therefore competition is unparalleled. Be vigilant in seeking out unique ways to get the inside scoop on job openings and put every advantage you can on your side.

Be sure to try the JobGoRound job search engine.

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Posted in Job Search | 1 Comment »

3 Ways to Deal with Difficult Coworkers

Sunday, March 1st, 2009

There is one in every office. One individual always sticks out from the others as being difficult to work with, difficult to get along with or just simply unpleasant to be around. That person can ruin the workday for others and his or her bad attitude can rub off on those around. However, if you know how to deal with difficult coworkers, you will stand out for your strong people skills.

• Be upbeat, smile and say hi to your difficult coworker. Expect the other person to react the same way. If they do not, keep on smiling.
• Limit interactions with the person. Keep it professional and friendly when you must work together, but keep it short also. The fewer interactions you have, the less chance he or she will ruin your workday.
• Don’t talk to others at work about the situation, as it will make you appear petty.
• Remain professional, remember that you do not need to like everyone you work with and they don’t need to like you. You just need to be mature enough to work together when necessary regardless.
• If the difficult coworker is someone you work with regularly or closely, you may want to have a private conversation with him or her about the situation. This is especially important if you previously had a good relationship and now do not. There may be an underlying problem that you are not aware of.

Whether dealing with a coworker who is difficult with everyone or just difficult with you, it takes finesse and professionalism. Handling such a person in the right way gives you a chance to shine.

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Posted in Office | 1 Comment »

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