One of the best ways to be easy to find by employers you want to work for and jobs you want to have is to tailor your resume for the job you want. Keywords are key! In your profile and your resume be sure to include a number of different keywords that indicate your skills, experience and interests. For example, if you want to find a job as a marketing consultant specializing in sporting goods, include keywords or phrases such as sporting goods, sports marketing, marketing consultant and sporting goods consultant. Anything that might apply to the industry in which you wish to work and the position you hope to attain will help employers locate you. Additionally, in your profile on the job search sites, be sure to include any and all pertinent information related to your experience. This will help employers filter you in when doing a general search for qualifications.

It can be easy to get lost in the big job search sites. Give yourself an edge on the competition by including important keywords in your profile and your resume when you post them for potential employers to view. Adding keywords can give you the opportunity to found by more employers.

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It seems like a no-brainer, but what you wear to an interview is going to be part of that first impression you give to your potential employer, and you want that first impression to be positive. Dressing for success and dressing for the job you want are more than just silly sayings. They happen to be true! But you don’t want to go overboard (or under board, for that matter). You don’t want to overdress and you especially don’t want to under dress. Go for neutral. You should look nice and well groomed but not overstated or inappropriate. A suit and tie or, at the minimum, a blazer, slacks and a tie are good choices for men. Think on the conservative end when choosing suit, shirt and tie color. Unless you’re interviewing in a field that embraces a more expressive style, keep it simple. For women it’s always acceptable to wear a blazer over a blouse with pants or a skirt. Women should also keep it simple. Avoid elaborate hair or makeup and save your tight fitting clothes for your personal time. Also stick with simple jewelry. Again, unless you’re looking for a job in an industry where colorful or flashy clothes are the norm, keep it simple and tasteful with a slant toward the more conservative.

When preparing for that all-important job interview, don’t overlook the importance of wardrobe. Making a good first impression is important, and how you look will have a big impact. Keep in mind when choosing your interview outfit that your clothing should make a good impression, but should not detract from you. Keep it tasteful and simple and you’ll be on your way to looking great!

One resume is great if you’re applying for the same kind of position at the same kind of company doing the same thing every time you put your resume out there. This isn’t likely the case. When jobs and companies are similar, one resume will work. However, if you apply for positions in different industries or different types of departments within a company you need to have a slightly different focus or slant to your resume. A resume for a marketing coordinator at a telecommunications company is going to look different than a resume for a marketing coordinator at a clothing manufacturer. Focus your skills and experience on what the industry demands. When applying at tech companies highlight your tech skills and list your technical aptitudes and experience. When applying for positions at communications companies, present the skills that relate to that industry at the top of the list. You want to capture the attention of your prospective employer without making them wade through a list of skills that don’t apply to the position they’re trying to fill.

Although writing one resume can be daunting, and writing two can seem like a monumental task, take the time to make at least two or three different versions of your resume. Having a focus that is relevant to the market in which you’d like to be employed can benefit you in the long run.

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Many companies and corporate recruiters will search professional networking sites looking for candidates for positions they have open. Having a complete profile is important; it can be one of the ways employers find you. Use keywords and related information in your profile. Have a real and professional looking photo of you, not a cartoon character, for your profile picture. Post links to your blog or a website that contains samples of your work so companies and recruiters can quickly see what you’re about and what your skills are. Make sure your profile is clean and looks professional. Even though you may use it primarily for a social tool, making it appealing to prospective employers can pay off when they find you and your profile. It’s also important to have a complete profile before you start to do any searches or contact/follow anyone.

Contact People

Searching and finding other people is the whole purpose of these networking sites. You can use them to find other people from companies you are interested in working for using the search tools. You can also search for corporate groups and pages that are in your field. You can join groups related to your career and look through the members and people and contact them. This is where the value of these networking sites comes in. These groups will connect you with others in your field that you can network with. You can meet people you have never had access to before, and knowing more people increases your chances of finding a job.

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Use your friends! Write postings that indicate you’re looking for a job and in what field. Chances are someone knows someone who can introduce you or refer you or recommend you. You might even know someone who knows of available positions that they can give you the information on.

Check the job boards on the sites. Most of these networking sites have job boards or marketplace information where job postings and information can be found. Check it regularly for anything new that might fit what you’re looking for.

Don’t join more networking sites than you can keep up with. And don’t spend all of your time on these sites; remember to keep some time for job hunting the old fashioned way. Use the social networking sites to your advantage. After all, it’s not what you know it’s who you know!

Though hand written notes used to be commonplace, emails have taken their place. Not only is it essential to write a thank you note to your interviewer, you should also include a note to the recruiter and/or the HR representative you worked with before going to the interview, if applicable. And just a note of thanks is not enough. Many candidates will write and send a quick note of thanks to their interviewer. This is great, but to really set yourself apart, consider including a few other elements. Make reference to the conversation that took place in the interview. Relate elements of the questioning to your skills and experience that may not have come up when you were in front of the panel. And if possible, even include links to relevant information or articles that pertain to the topics of discussion. And most important, thank them for their time and indicate that you look forward to hearing from them.

Follow-up after an interview is essential. Letting a hiring manager know you appreciate their time will keep you in the forefront of their mind when they consider candidates. But do more than thank them! Highlight elements of the interview that went especially well and make reference to items that may not have been covered in the interview. Keep it brief, but make an impact with a follow-up email.