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How to Make Money without a Job

September 24, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Most people have one source of income, usually in the form of a job. When that source is cut-off because of lay-offs, company restructuring, or whatever else company executives call it, the situation can be extremely disastrous. Some people even lose their homes after losing their jobs. That’s why it is important to be able to make money even without a job. There are avenues to do this.
The situation may look bleak after you get laid-off. With this article though, you can take charge of your life. You can even look for a new job during your free time. It is important to remember that the key to a stable financial future is to create alternative, ideally multiple streams, of income. So here are some ways for you to make money without a job:
•    Hold a Garage Sale – while you can only do this once or twice at the most because of your limited items, the garage sale can give you the necessary push. The income you earn here can be used in a new business venture. For some people, the money can relieve the financial stress they’re under after losing their jobs.
•    Buy and Sell – some of the most successful businesses today trace their roots back to buying and selling. You can follow this route as well but be prepared for hard work. Starting this type of business is significantly different from a 9-5 job because the income is inconsistent. It might be worth it to try though especially if you are familiar with the goods you’re selling.
•    Start Blogging – setting up a blog and monetizing it with advertisements has become a popular way to earn extra income. Take this one step further by making sure that your blog’s design appeals to its targeted audience and by updating the blog with fresh content regularly. In addition, promoting it through search engine optimization and social media marketing are highly recommended. These will make sure that your site will get noticed and attract more readers. Use a free website builder to get started.
•    Sell Your Skills – if you’re reading this article, then chances are you can speak English fluently and write in the language effectively. There is a large demand for skilled work in today’s environment. A lot of companies are hiring people who can work off-site to minimize operating costs. Take note that in many instances, you’ll have to work as an independent contractor, not as an employee.
•    Invest Your Money – if you have money to invest, then putting it into mutual funds or index funds can help you yield better returns than if you put it in a bank. Always be aware that there are risks associated with this move. Nevertheless, investing provides an ideal scenario because you are making your money work for you.
Use your imagination to think of ways to earn money without a job. You’ll be surprised by the ideas you generate. In most cases, it’s just about going for it and working towards financial stability for you and your family.

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Looking for Jobs the Old Fashioned Way

September 14, 2011 By Leave a Comment

With all the advances in technology it is now commonplace for job seekers to go online in an attempt to find employment. What many are missing however, is a time tested method for getting a job that still works today.

If you are looking for a job, then consider going to the source. In other words, go to the places you are interested in working. This will require a great deal more energy on your part versus sitting at a computer and uploading your resume, but the result you get may surprise you.

This method is as easy as printing up about 20 resumes and creating a plan to visit a few places you would like to work at. Then you get into your car and off you go.

Be sure you dress to impress with this method and always put on a smile. Once you are inside, ask to speak to a manager. Once you see the manager, introduce yourself and hand them a resume as you are explaining to them that you are seeking employment.

Sometimes this can get you an interview in the near future and sometimes even right away. Therefore, you should be ready to interview should the manager feel the urge to do so with you.

Again, this method is more work as opposed to the digital way, but this approach often leaves potential employers with a great impression of you. Your go-getter attitude may be just what they want to see in a potential hire.

Gaining employment is often about making connections. That’s what’s great about this old fashioned approach. At the very least, you will be getting your name out there. So, the places you visit may not be looking to hire, but they just might know other places that are and those types of connections can end up meaning a great paying job for you.

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Writing Your Resume Utilizing the Web

August 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment

No longer are we limited to trawling through local newspapers and job agency listings in order to find our ideal career as the internet has provided with a new and more in-depth avenue. With many employers and job agencies listing vacancies online, we can not only find hundreds of jobs that relate to our experience and interests but we can also apply for desired roles in mere minutes.

Those who do not possess good writing skills may be hesitant when it comes to writing their own resume. As your resume is a first impression of you as a candidate, the way in which your sentences are structured and the information included is vitally important. Although there are a number of resume writing services that can help you obtain a professional resume, by utilizing the web you can write an effective and attractive resume that can help you land your dream role.

The web is currently filled with a number of different articles, tutorials and so forth that work towards drafting a professional resume, meaning you are guaranteed to find all the help you require. Utilize the web to search for phrases such as ‘resume writing’ or ‘professional resume samples’ to obtain a list of useful websites. You will require reading through must of the material provided in order to decipher which are the most useful points to use, but there are ways in which to successfully utilize the information provided.

Firstly, save any information you find that you feel is useful for your resume writing- in particular, any points that relate directly to your field of interest. Save these either as a document or on your computer, or make some notes that you can refer back to. Investigate into professional formatting for resumes, in particular the types of font you should use and how to lay out the different sections included within the document. Where possible, use different snippets of information to create a template document that will help to guide you through the writing process. This will help to make your resume writing more thorough and effective, and will also save you time.

It is always beneficial to look at resume samples, in particular, samples that relate to your specified field. This will help you identify the most important pieces of information you will need to include, such as industry specific qualifications and obtained skills. In terms of content, you should also think about what you do and do not want to add from the samples you have viewed. Do you want to include a career objective? How do you wish to list aspects such as your work experience and qualifications? Do you think it is necessary to add additional information such as your hobbies? In terms of the content you do add, this should be a mixture of information that must be presented following candidate requirements, and what positive aspects of you as a person you feel may benefit your application.

With some aspects of your resume, you may be able to simply copy and paste sections from a sample and tweak this to fit you. Although this can save time, refrain from copying too much content as you want to try and portray your personality through your resume which can be achieved by the way you present yourself through your writing. Often, you may even find pieces of text that are not written correctly and this will give you guidance in terms of what to write, and will show what not to do in resume writing.

Writing your resume can be no easy task- especially in the instance you do not possess great writing skills or if you have been out of the job-hunting game for some time. However, by utilizing the many resources on the web, you can gain a well-written, informative and professional resume that will do its utmost in representing you to potential employees. Your resume will not help you gain a job, but it will help you obtain the interview needed to shine. So, help your eligibility by utilizing the web for a resume that really packs a punch.

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Avoid the Top 10 Resume Mistakes

August 10, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Writing a resume can be a very daunting task. There are so many different techniques and approaches that can be used that it can be hard to know which one is the most effective. Whilst there is no definitive format for a writing a good resume, there are some things that need to be avoided at all costs. It is really easy to make a few simple mistakes on your resume which can be detrimental to the job hunting process. Here are some common pitfalls that we have all made in the past when writing a resume and what to do to make sure that you avoid them.

• Bad spelling and grammatical errors. Once you have written your resume, you need to check it and re-check it over and over again. There is no excuse for sloppy grammar and spelling and it gives the impression that you just don’t care. If need-be, get someone else to check your resume for you.

• Vagueness. Your resume needs to be specific in order to read professionally so make sure you are clear about what you have done and give examples to back up your point.

• Trying to write a ‘one size fits all’ resume. Each job you apply for will require different skills so it is not plausible to create one resume and send it out to multiple employers. Instead try to tailor each resume to the job you are applying for. Clearly show how you would fit the specific role with your experience and educational history.

• Emphasize duties instead of accomplishments. Don’t just list your job duties instead describe your accomplishments.

• Waffling or not giving enough information. There aren’t actually any rules as to how long a resume must be, there is however a guideline that suggests you shouldn’t go over 2 pages. Different people’s resumes will differ in length and people have more or less to say accordingly. Even though the guidelines state sticking to a 2 page resume at most, if you don’t feel like you need 2 pages then don’t be afraid of using 1 instead. On the other hand don’t feel as though you have to cut yourself short if you exceed 1 page.

• A bad objective. The resume objective statement section is really important for most employers and will be the first thing they see when they look at your resume. Don’t be vague here; instead force yourself to be specific and choose something that focuses on your employers needs as well as your own.

• Lack of action verbs. Make yourself active by using the right adjectives; this will also force you to be more specific when describing what you have actually done.

• Leaving out important information. Don’t forget the essentials. Also don’t discount the importance of including more menial jobs as these still highlight important skills gained.

• Lack of professionalism in layout. Keep your resume tidy and professional by sticking to one plain font and font size and organize it in compact paragraphs or bullet points. You want your resume to be visually attractive and not cluttered otherwise it may put the employer off reading it.

• Incorrect contact information. Make sure you include your up to date contact information such as home address, email address and telephone number. Double-check simple things like this as they could be the difference between getting that job and not.

Avoid these common mistakes and you should produce a really great resume that will impress prospective employers.

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Review of CareerStrides Resume Service

July 31, 2011 By Leave a Comment

With so many resume services out there, it can be difficult to make a decision. When you compare the services of two firms, for example, both may offer the same thing at first glance. Upon closer inspection, however, quality and rate issues start to emerge. It is important to understand that the industry is fraught with firms that act like “resume mills”. That just means that the information about each client is entered into a pre-set format with little or no understanding about his/her education, skills, experience, and other capabilities.

Choosing to use the services of “resume mills” can do more harm than good. Potential employers might think that you are not taking the application seriously. There are other resume service firms that take this to the other extreme. They ask clients to fill up a comprehensive worksheets or questionnaires. But there is a loophole here as well because they become too focused on the technicalities without understanding the personal goals and objectives of the client in his/her career. Fortunately, there are companies that offer top-quality services out there. CareerStrides is one of those firms.

Here are the features you can expect from CareerStrides resume writing service:
•    Phone Consultation – having a certain level of personal interaction is important when writing something as important as the resume. The writer will have a consultation with the client to gather all relvant information.
•    Personal Attention – unlike other firms that just enter your information into a format, each resume that is written by a CareerStrides writer is given personal attention and is professionally done. All samples you see on the website are written by expert resume writers.
•    Expertise in Various Fields – there are 10 distinct career categories that CareerStrides excel at including sales, IT, executive, customer service, professional, management, executive, nursing, teaching, pharmaceutical, and finance.
•    Nationally Recognized Writer – the founder of CareerStrides is Linda Matias, who is the former present of the National Resume Writers’ Association. She is also the author of two career-related books.
•    Related Services – if you don’t want your resume written from scratch but want to improve your current one, there are other services you can take advantage of including resume polish, resume critique, and other writing-related assistance.

If there is one downside of CareerStride’s service, it is the price. The comprehensive evaluation service, for example, is priced at $75. The polishing and rewrite plan both have customizing pricing. When it comes to your resume though, it is important to treat this as an investment rather than an expense. After all, it is the resume that will get your foot in the door for an interview and set the stage for a long and fulfilling career in your chosen industry.

At the end of the day, what is important for employers is to know that you, as the applicant, took the time to read and understand the job description. It is ideal for you to submit a highly customized resume that tells the employer you’ll take the job seriously.

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Top 5 Online Resume Writing Services

July 31, 2011 By Leave a Comment

When it comes to resume writing services, you definitely want to get the best. After all, the resume is the paper that will get your foot in the door for a potential interview. It can have a long-term impact on your career and financial future. In this article, we’ll look into the top 5 online resume writing services out there.

•    Resume Writers – the company specializes in providing personal writing services by a certified writer. Having been in the industry for nearly a decade, they have expertise in over 5 dozen fields. Job seekers who are failing to get even an interview can boost their chances by hiring an expert. There are four basic process involved in the services: submitting your info, meeting the writer, getting the first draft, and the final revision. One main benefit offered by Resume Writers is that they guarantee that you will receive a reasonable number of interviews. If this doesn’t happen, you can ask them to rewrite the resume.
•    Resume Edge – one of their main selling points is that they can provide less than 48 hours turnaround. This is important if you need a professional resume at very short notice for a job fair or any other event. The writers at Resume Edge specialize in more than 40 industries. They can write for all levels so whether you are just starting in your career, are interested in a government job, or need an executive resume written, you can count on them to do good work.
•    Resume Planet – this firm is considered as a “one-stop” shop when it comes to resume writing. They cater to job seekers with varying levels of expertise. Whether you are in the technical field, healthcare industry, the government, or creative industry, you can be sure to get appropriate help from resume planet. The company also offers cover letter writing, KSA writing, and other forms of letter writing services.
•    Dream Resume – if you’re looking for fast and affordable service, choosing Dream Resume may be a good idea. The firm specializes in helping clients land their dream job. Aside from resume writing, they also offer to write your referral contact letters, follow up letters, and cover letters among others. If you want to distribute your resume to the top job sites, this firm can help with that initiative as well.
•    Career Plus Resumes – get job-winning CVs when you choose this resume writing company. Career Plus Resumes know how to make use of keywords to get your resume scanned by employers. The firm aims to give clients the strongest resume that will help them land a fulfilling job. Investing in your CV is definitely worth it.

So there you have it, the top 5 online resume writing firms in the company today. There are lesser-known firms that offer equally good writing services at a lower price. But the firms listed above have proven many times over that they offer good value for your money.

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Hiring an Executive Resume Service

July 29, 2011 By Leave a Comment

When hiring an executive resume service it is important that you use a different set of criteria than you would with a regular resume writing service.  This is because an executive resume needs to market your skills differently.  Some of these services are extremely valuable and can craft a very compelling executive resume that is very effective.  On the other hand, there are also executive resume services that don’t really understand the difference in purpose or design.

Why Hire an Executive Resume Service?

There are two types of people that normally wonder why an executive resume writing service is necessary  They are people who are applying for executive positions for the first time and those who have been an executive for a long time with a single company.  The biggest reason that you need to use this type of service is because a cookie-cutter resume simply won’t cut it.  If you want to be hired to an executive position then you need to act like you deserve to be there.

You can leverage the specialization of an executive resume writing service to ensure that your resume is on par of current trends.  This immediately shows your potential employer that you have a current knowledge of the industry.  It also ensures that nothing is overlooked.  These services know what needs to be included, even if you don’t.

What To Look For In an Executive Resume Service

There are several things that you should keep you eye out for when looking at these services.  The most important thing to focus on is whether or not you can talk to them.  The best services will set up at least one meeting, normally via Skype or over the phone, where the person writing your resume will ask for any information that they need.  This will ensure that they highlight all of your strengths.  Plus, it helps them get a better idea about who you are.

Another key feature to look for is the ability to get alterations and rewrites.  The best services will allow for multiple rewrites, in some cases infinite rewrites, to ensure that your executive resume includes everything that you want in it.  If they refuse to do rewrites, then that could mean that they don’t really stand behind the quality of their writing.

Finally, you need to really look at their example resume.  As an example, it likely won’t truly reflect the end result because each resume should be tailored to each person, however there is one thing to take a close look at.  You need to make sure that their writing style is focused on promoting your previous results rather than just listing skills and experience.  As an executive, businesses want to know what you offer, namely previous results and what your vision is – not where you worked.  Make sure that the example resume is more of a results-oriented marketing brochure rather than a standard list of previous employment.

Hiring an executive resume service is a very valuable investment that can quickly yield results.  The key is knowing what to look for when deciding which one is right for you.

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Turning Military Experience Into Civilian Skills

July 29, 2011 By Leave a Comment

One of the most difficult parts of shifting from a military to civilian workforce is creating a suitable resume.  It’s not a question of whether or not your previous experience is useful, but rather how to translate it into an effective resume.  Turning military experience into civilian skills can be extremely difficult, but it doesn’t have to be.  There are some simple steps that can go a long way in getting your resume into shape and crafted effectively for a civilian employment opportunity.  Here are a few tips that can ease the transition and boost your odds of landing the job that you want.

Use What You Already Know and Have Already Done

For some reason, a lot of people end up ignoring what they learned in the military because they don’t know how to turn their military experience into civilian skills.  This is a huge setback and should be avoided.  The first step needs to be identifying all of the skills that you learned in the military.  If you can’t identify exactly what skills you have, then it won’t matter how you translate them on your resume.

Shifting to General Language

Once you have all of your military experience identified and organized, the next step is altering the language so that it is more understandable by a civilian.  The first part of this process is to simply strip out all of the military specific language.  This includes any abbreviation and acronyms.  If it isn’t a skill that exists in the civilian workforce, then you will need to change it.  The next part of this process is actually changing the way that you phrase things.  You are essentially demilitarizing your entire work history.

Connecting Your Skills to a Purpose

Now that you have the descriptive aspect of your skills in order, the next step is to connect them with a specific purpose.  You need to take a close look at your skills and find a direct connection to a job function that you will be asked to do.  The more closely you can manage this, the better your resume will do.  To be fair, this step is true of all resume writing, however it is consistently a weakness for people who are turning their military experience into civilian skills.  The three types of skills that you want to give special attention to are technical skills, interpersonal skills, and leadership skills.  No position in the military exists that won’t give you at least a handful of skills in each of these categories, so play them up whenever possible.

The biggest fact to keep in mind is that all you are really doing is changing the way that you state your experience.  When turning military experience into civilian skills, it is really just a name-game.  You are finding a way to relate military phrasing and descriptions to the average person.  Once you are able to do this, there is no reason that you can’t create a relevant and effective resume for any position in the civilian workforce.

If you need help, you can hire a resume writing service help you create  your civilian resume.

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Getting Paid Without a Job – Self Employment

July 29, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The idea of getting paid without a job has a very appealing ring to it.  A number of people become self employed solely so that they can ditch their box and the office cubicle.  There are a number of benefits to doing this, but also some factors that need to be carefully considered as well.  Some people thrive in an environment where someone is constantly looking over their shoulder, which means that they wouldn’t likely do well on their own.  Here is a closer look at what getting paid without a job really means and a quick introduction to the benefits of self employment.

The idea of getting paid without a job doesn’t mean that you don’t have to do any work at all.  Instead, it means that you don’t have a traditional 9 to 5 and you don’t get paid per hour.  Instead, you earn exactly what you are worth, whatever that may be.  Additionally, this means that you can have a lot of different sources of income, rather than just one employer.  The most common example of someone who gets paid without a job is a freelancer.  They take on projects and get paid for the work that they do on each project.  The reason that it isn’t considered a traditional job is because they get to choose what projects to accept and when they want to work on them.  If they get a bunch of high paying projects, they could take a month off of work and no one could say anything about it.

What Are the Benefits of Getting Paid Without a Job?

The biggest benefit of getting paid without a job is the freedom to do whatever you want.  If you don’t wake up and don’t want to work today, then you don’t have to.  On the other hand, if you get into the zone and want to work for 12 straight hours, you can.  Another benefit of doing this is that you get to set your own rate of pay.  If you don’t think someone is going to pay you enough for something, then you can simply say no.  Finally, you are in complete control over your future.  You can do whatever you want, however you want.

2 Quick Things to Think About With Self Employment

The most important thing to consider before you decide to try getting paid without a job is whether or not you can handle the responsibility.  A big concern for some people is not having a predictable income.  When you first start out, there is a good chance that there will be some weeks or months where you aren’t making much money.  This can be very stressful, so make sure that you can mentally cope with this happening. While it may be tempting to establish and utilize new small business credit cards to keep yourself afloat, you can quickly get yourself into trouble if you don’t keep your spending habits in check.  A credit card is a good way of keeping track of your business expenses and taking care of short term cash flow issues, but your focus needs to be on generating income.

You should also consider implementing a two pronged approach regardless of how you plan on generating income.  The first strategy is making money directly for whatever you do.  These are often one-time payments for a specific action.  The second part of the strategy is often overlooked, but the most important piece of truly getting paid without a job.  You need to find at least one source of recurring income.  This is income that you make no matter what, over and over again for something that you did once.  A common example of this is network marketing.  You recruit people to your downline and then get paid every month for actions that they take, such as making a purchase or recruiting others.  Your one action is recruiting them and you get a consistent recurring income from it.

Getting paid without a job is an excellent solution for most people.  However, make sure that you really think about what it takes to be self employed and have your own home business before you get started.

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10 Simple Steps to Professional Resume Creation

July 25, 2011 By Leave a Comment

We all know that 1st impressions count! What does your current resume say about you in the eyes of a potential employer? Is your resume conveying your brand? Is it tailored to the job or industry you are targeting? Is it updated? Each of these factors will impact your ability to create the powerful intended first impression. To create a powerful resume, follow the steps outlined below.

1.    Contact Information- Why this may seem simple and straightforward, many job applicants fail to include their most up-to-date information. At the top of your resume, be sure to include your full name, mailing address, telephone number (cell and/or home), and active email address. You can choose to center your contact information or you can center left, using different sizes of font to create visual interest.
2.    Establish Objectives- Before writing your resume, give some thought at to what kinds of positions you are applying for, your qualifications and your overall job search objectives. As you begin to compile information about yourself and your career history, begin by writing it all down; you can always condense it as you begin to write. There is some debate about the ideal resume length- some say 1 page, some say that it is okay to have a longer resume. As you develop a career history, it becomes challenging to limit your information to a single page. The main thing to keep in mind with regard to length is that the writing should be condense- don’t include words just for words sake. Include only the relevant information on this important document.
3.    Resume Keywords- With the increased number of online job searches and employers utilizing the internet when searching for qualified candidates, it is important to incorporate targeted keywords into your resume’s content. Be sure to incorporate keywords that will likely appear in your ideal job postings to increase the likelihood of a match.
4.    Career Objective- This is an optional section of your resume as some applicants choose to incorporate this information in their cover letters. Both styles are acceptable, so be sure to choose the one that best matches your personality and the industry and/or position you are applying for. If you choose to include a resume objective section, it is vital that this information be custom tailored to the position you are applying for. Some sample resumes objectives could include:
a.    “To obtain a position at XYZ Company that will maximize my management/sales/customer service skills and experience.”
b.    “To secure a position as (_____)”
The most important consideration when creating your resume objective is to summarize both what you are looking for and to point out what skill sets, training or experience that you have that matches the opportunity. Search for online samples within your chosen career for inspiration. Create a draft and ask trusted friends, family and industry mentors for their opinions. This will help you tremendously in creating a final piece of copy.
5.    Executive Summary- This section is used to summarize the candidates experience within a few sentences, and is often the first section reviewed by potential employers. Be sure to capture your expertise and experience within 2-3 sentences in order to increase your opportunity for further consideration. For example, you may choose to note your language skills, your career accomplishments, any education or training that sets you apart from other candidates, military service and anything else that would summarize you as a candidate.
6.    Education- It is important to place the most important information within a resume first. If you are a recent college graduate, you may decide that this information is more credible or vital for your job search than employment history. However, the further that you get in your career, the less important education becomes to a potential employer. When noting your educational experience, be sure to include the college or university attended, the degree obtained and the field the degree was awarded. It is not necessary to include the date of graduation and is in fact, not recommended as it can be a factor in indicating your age to an employer.
7.    Experience- This section should include your career history, beginning with the most recent. Include the basic information which includes the name of the employer, the years of employment, the city of employment and your position(s) held. In addition to this basic information, it is critical to include how you contributed to the organization. Did you win any awards or receive any accolades? If you were in sales, what were your results? Be sure to highlight not only accomplishments but how you met and overcame challenges. To add a punch to this section, include dollar amounts, percentages, statistics and timeframes.
8.    Extracurricular Activities- It is in this section that you can highlight your outside interests, leadership positions held within the community and overall involvement. Be sure to include recent activities, awards or accolades received, and leadership positions.
9.    References- It is not recommended that you include actual references on your resume, but rather the notation that “References are Available Upon Request”. Have 3-5 references available in the event that an employer asks you to furnish them. Of course, ask your reference for permission prior to using their names!
10.    Proofread- Once you have created your basic resume framework, proofread! Nothing turns off a potential employer than spelling and grammar mistakes within a resume. As stated earlier, this is your first impression; you don’t want your first impression to state that you make errors when creating important documents!

By following these 10 resume creation steps, you should have a document that will represent you well within the marketplace. However, if your self-created resume isn’t capturing the attention you desire, consider hiring a resume professional to edit your content. Remember- your career is your financial gateway to the future you desire. So, spending time creating and editing this document will pay huge dividends over the course of your career!

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