Those days are over. In the days of Monster.com, and amidst a tight job market, employers are frequently swamped with hundreds of resumes competing for each opening – even at wages 30 percent less than what a comparable job paid 5 years ago.

Those aren’t very good odds.
The days of the blind resume blast are over. Everywhere you go, you find frustrated job hunters with the same complaint: “I’ve sent over 200 resumes and I haven’t even gotten a call for an interview.”

Freshwater fishermen
Take a lesson from flyfishers: The fish don’t bite the same lures all the time. When the fish stop biting a certain lure, fly fishermen don’t keep fishing with that lure. They change lures! They talk to each other and go with what works! If you’re still sending resumes “over the transom” to someone who’s never even heard your name before, where you’re competing with hundreds of others, chances are good that one of the other people has already met the owner or director of H.R. You need to figure out what “lure” to place in the water so you can be that guy.

Cold Mailing vs. Warm Mailing
Sun Tzu wrote that the wise warrior made sure he had already won the battle, before committing troops. Likewise, you need to have most of the battle won, before you send your resume. That means you should have already met the boss, and already know what he or she is looking for.

How to Meet the Boss
One thing’s for certain: You aren’t going to meet the boss sitting at your laptop tweaking your resume. Go where the bosses are! Here are some ideas:
• Volunteer. Community organizations like the Rotary Club, Kiwanis, Boy Scouts and other community service organizations are full of business people seeking to give back to their communities – and build up their own list of contacts in the process. Just be sure to go to serve the community, before you go job hunting. If you go there with a self-serving purpose, they can tell. Trust me.
• Industry Groups. Just because you’re out of work is no reason to let your involvement in industry groups slide. If anything, you need to increase your involvement. If you have an industry or professional association, join it. Make sacrifices to attend meetings. Even better: Volunteer to organize events! What does this do? It gives you an excuse to get on the phone with business owners throughout your community, inviting them to the latest conference or luncheon.
• Bars. Don’t knock it – men and women have been picking each other up for years. Is there a bar located near where you want to work? Go there for happy hour. Order iced tea. It’s cheap. And strike up conversations with nearby workers as they get off work. Gain market intelligence. There’s nothing wrong with asking “who would I talk to if I want to work in your department?” Then when you make the phone call, you have a name to drop, and some intelligent questions to ask.
• Walk in. Most people are afraid to do this – but salespeople willing to walk in 50 to 100 businesses a day frequently make excellent money. Why? It works. Walk in with a stack of resumes and ask for the owner. You just got out of another appointment, but you were nearby, work in the field, and wanted to introduce yourself.
• Calling. In most cases, forget about calling between 9 and 5, unless you have an invitation to call, or you already know the person. You’ll get Miss Donut Box, the 9 to 5 flunkie who takes pride in being a gatekeeper. She can’t hire you, but she can shoot you down in a hurry. When calling the boss, call before she gets there, or call after she leaves. The boss often gets in early and works late. That’s why he’s the boss. (The exception is restaurant owners. Call them between 3 and 5 pm in most cases).
• Agents. Maybe you don’t have much of a rolodex yet. But any good employment agency does. Because they’ve been using these very techniques to build up relationships with potential employers for years. We can’t stress this enough: Leverage your contacts by using a quality employment agency. In most cases, the employer, not you, pays the fee anyway. If you do pay a fee, it’s tax deductible – and can save you weeks, months and sometimes years of unemployment. Even if a placement doesn’t lead to anything permanent, you are still working in the industry, keeping your skills current, and gaining new experiences, and meeting people you otherwise would never have known.

Sure, job hunting isn’t fly-fishing. But the two still have a lot in common. You need to go out dressed right, equipped with the tools you need, provisions to last you quite a while before you land a catch, the flexibility to alter your methods in pursuit of a goal, and the intestinal fortitude and courage to stay out in the river, among the fish, never letting discouragement get the best of you, and never letting up until you reach your goal.

Check out our CAREER section to find the right job for you!

Here are the five possible reasons why you’re not given a chance to go through the initial interview:

1. It‘s all in your resume.
Your resume is and will always be a very powerful tool, especially when you are still trying to land a job. Any mistake can work against you. That includes misspellings and grammatical errors. You will less likely receive attention if your qualifications do not match those expected by the employer. Also, a resume without a list of references is considered inferior.

Before you submit your resume, make sure you have checked all the details. Be complete and truthful to all information. Some employers are good in scrutinizing resumes, they can tell which ones are fabricated.

2. You failed the written examination.
Some employers will conduct a written examination before the interview. There are a number of reasons for this, but the primary basis is that a written exam can eliminate those who don’t have enough idea about the job. This way, only the best among the batch of applicants can be prepped for an interview. Surely, you cannot proceed to the next level if you fail the tests.

3. There is someone much better than you.
You might believe that you have what it takes to land the position, but unfortunately, someone could be more qualified than you. This is something you don’t have a control of. You can greatly reduce the chances of being sidestepped by improving your skills.

4. You don’t have the personality.
Just because it is an accounting job, it does not mean you have to be Mr. Grinch. Friendliness, open-mindedness, and a high sense of comfort and trust to people around you still count. A lot of employers do judge people by their gut feel. If they think you are not friendly enough, they may be apprehensive of hiring you. After all, this might mean you are a hard person to talk to.

Certainly, there are some traits you cannot change about yourself, but you can try to be more approachable and confident in dealing with people.

5. You were not just nice.
This is one good reason why you should treat the receptionist or even the security guard properly. You may not be aware of it, but a number of them can actually put a good (or bad) word for you to the employer.

You don’t have to give them special treats when you submit your resume, but make sure you leave a good impression by giving them your sweetest smile or just a simple “Hi!”. This is also an excellent way to get to know more about the company’s culture. Moreover, if you land the job, you already have a potential friend to count on.

Check out our Hot Jobs section for the latest opportunities.
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Google Alerts is a fine tool provided free by Google for monitoring your online presence. It is very useful for anyone in to Personal Branding as you get alerts sent to you as soon as you are mentioned somewhere on the Internet. Other uses for Google Alerts would be to monitor news about your company, competitors, share prices, weather warnings and so forth. One often overlooked use of this tool is to monitor employers and what new job openings they post, this little article will teach you how to do this…

Read the original article here: How To Use Google Alerts for a Live Job Search

To many, business cards are meant only for those who are trying to promote their enterprise to strangers and possible partners. What they don’t know is that business cards can also be a very powerful job hunting tool.

Business Cards can Build your Connections
Not all jobs are found in the Internet or even in job posts inside newspapers or on bulletin boards. Some job vacancies can come from your friends, family members, and random strangers. That is why if you have such a huge desire to land a job immediately, you should also try to increase your network connection.

A business card is one of the best materials you can use for establishing connection for a lot of reasons.

• First, it is considered traditional and formal. No one is going to raise his or her eyebrows should he or she get one from you.
• Second, it is easier to carry. Potential employers can keep your cards in their wallets or pockets with a reduced possibility of losing them (unless they deliberately throw them away).

Get All Your Contact Details in One Location
Don’t you think it would be easy for your potential employer to get all your contact details in one go? The company’s HR manager does not have to open your resume just to have your phone number or email address. Instead, he or she may just look at your business card. A business card can contain as many contact details as you wish: home phone number, mobile number, fax number, e-mail address, and even your website.

Tell Them What You Know
When you think of business cards, you will probably just consider contact information when it comes to content. However, these are not the only types of information you can print there. You can also put down your list of services or excellent skills, perhaps in abbreviated or bulleted form. You can place this list on a two-fold business card. You can also utilize the back portion of the cards for these kinds of information. Make your business card the briefest and the most precise resume.

Share Your Portfolio
You really don’t know who you are going to bump into, so you better make sure you bring along your portfolio as often as possible. Nevertheless, that would be cumbersome. What you can do instead is set up a website, publish your complete resume there, upload your best samples, and add a website link to your business card. Ensure that you indicate that it is a portfolio link.

You have to remember, though, business cards can only get you this far. You will never get the job you like if you cannot prove to your potential employer that you deserve it. You may want to improve your skills, relevant knowledge, and level of education to further increase your chances of getting that dream job.

Check out our Hot Jobs section for the latest opportunities.

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Over the past several years, I’ve collected a lot of advice and opinions from HR recruiters and from job seekers about what is the best way to go about looking for a new job.
Below is the most updated list of great job seeking tips. Be forewarned – this is an exhaustive (read: long) list but I think you’ll find a lot of nuggets of useful information in here.

Read the original article here: The Best Job Search Tips Ever… a Comprehensive List

Admit it, any kind of rejection is bad, especially if it is something you really want for such a long time. Coping will not take overnight either. However, before you start wallowing in self-pity, learn how to deal with it more effectively using the following tips:

• Grieve and get over it.
Many of the so-called experts will tell you to move on. The problem is, since you did not deal with the emotion, it crops up a lot of times. In fact, a lot of people develop a fear of looking for jobs because of their past rejections.

When you are rejected and not that emotionally strong, grieve over it. If you feel like crying, then cry. Don’t bury your sentiments. Even if you’re a macho man or a guy with too many tattoos, letting your emotions out is not a sissy thing.

However, put a limit on when you will allow the pain to hit you. After grieving, pick up the pieces, move on, and look for another job.

• Know it is not your entire fault.
There are many reasons why you are rejected, so stop blaming everything to yourself. For one, there is definitely someone better than you. Your qualifications may have not matched to the needs of the company. Or the firm may be “reserving” you for a much better position.

• Be ready for it.
Of course, it is important to face every challenge with a positive outlook. Nevertheless, do not shut off your mind to negative possibilities, including rejection. It may hurt, but the set expectation will somehow soften the blow.

• Talk to someone.
If it is necessary for you to give off emotional loads, share the experience with someone. Grab a few beers or go out with friends. Spend time with your boyfriend/girlfriend or husband/wife. Have the warmth of your family over dinner. Allow positive energies to take over the negative ones. Before the day ends, there is a huge chance you will forget the feeling of rejection.

• Assess yourself.
Use the rejection as a chance to evaluate yourself as a potential candidate. Perhaps you definitely need more education or training, or you lack considerable experience. You may even need to improve how you “sell” yourself to employers. Use the experience of rejection as a learning tool. In time, this will increase your self-value.

• Send a Thank You note.
Saying “Thank You!” to someone is an easy thing. But how about saying it to the one who rejected you? It may be the last thing on your mind, but it actually helps. It shows your integrity, level-headedness, and sportsmanship. It also allows you to inform the “rejecter” that you are just around should an opportunity that matches your skill will be available.

• Put everything behind you.
As much as possible, push all the bad memories off your mind, especially when you are going to have another interview. How you feel and see your rejection experience can have a positive or negative impact to your forthcoming interviews.

Check out our Hot Jobs section for the latest opportunities.

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If you have not noticed it yet, many companies are now publishing their job ads using the power of the World Wide Web. Most of these organizations also encourage their applicants to send their resumes online. There are even others that would compel you to open their database and create your own profile.

Now, the question is – “Can you rely on the Internet when seeking a job?”. Well, the answer is YES! You can depend on the web but don’t spoon-feed yourself. You must still exert effort and determination. Remember, the internet is just a medium – it’s not a sure way to get your dream job.

Watch out for Online Scam Jobs
Read the condition completely. Thanks to the World Wide Web, almost all information you need are available with just the click of the mouse. This includes a long list of job ads from people all over the world. Because of this, you now have plenty of opportunities to choose from.

However, you should be very careful because there are many job-scams found online. These are “positions” that will require you to pay up before you can receive your first assignment. These could also be companies that do not give salaries to their employees after rendering the agreed service. There are also others that will offer you hundreds of job openings — only if you have $20 – $100 to pay.

Fall into these traps, and you are already ripped-off of your money, time, and effort even before you begin working. Click only job ads from reputable websites such as www.Monsters.com. This site has the biggest online job databases to date and it contains millions of resumes from all corners of the globe. Submit one and you could be the next lucky employee.

There are also plenty of false data online. A cunning employer may appear compassionate and fair through his self-created reviews in various websites. He can also create a blog damaging another person’s reputation.

Aside from looking jobs online, you can ask support and help from labor unions and organizations. Most of them have tie-ups with the best companies within the state or even within the country. You can also ask help from your friends, ex-colleagues, family members, neighbors, association and alumni members, and former classmates.

Self-Gratification
It may look tiring, but online job hunting is fun and easy. You only need to have patience, willpower, and the eye for in-demand jobs.

When you’re already employed, nothing beats the words “You are hired” straight from your boss’s mouth. There is the feeling of gratification and fulfillment, knowing you have exerted effort and spent time pursuing the job that you have been longing for.

Check out our Hot Jobs section for the latest opportunities.

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How do you exactly avoid them? Here are tips you may want to remember:

1. Do not look for jobs on Craigslist.
Okay, let us not put all eggs in one basket. There are still a lot of good stuff in this free ad website; however, it will take some time before you can verify the authenticity of every job post, more so of the poster. If you are hunting for a job online, go to well-established ones with good reputations. It should also be recognized by companies.

2. Ask questions.
It is okay to ask questions, including about your salary, job description, and anything that pertains to your potential work, especially if you are not going to go through any formal interview. The legitimate ones can answer your questions willingly. In fact, many of them will provide you with the details even before you inquire. The fake ones, well, you will never hear from them.

3. Inquire about contracts.
Legitimate companies will ask you to sign a contract or sometimes non-confidentiality agreement. Nevertheless, take a look at the contract. Does it sound fair? Does it list down your responsibilities and the obligations the company has toward you? Does it bear the complete name of the business and address? Can you keep a copy?

4. Stay away from scam-prone jobs.
Some jobs are considered to be prone to scams. This means they are more likely to be false than true. One good example is data entry. Scam-prone jobs will usually ask money from you before you can begin the “work”. This money, as scammers will say, will serve as payment to the teaching / training / orientation materials they will send you.

If you want to do online jobs, you have better chances with writing, graphic designing, medical transcriptioning, and editing, to name a few.

5. Protect your resume and portfolio online.
If you cannot help sharing or exposing your resume online, make sure you protect it. Publish it only on trustworthy resume websites. It’s better if you’ll post it to your own website for added protection. It is common to hear stories of applicants whose works have been utilized without their permission.

6. Ask for recommendations or referrals.
You can save time and effort, and you’ll be less susceptible to scams if you ask friends, family, and former close co-workers if they can recommend a job to you. These people are those you trust and surely would not place you in a situation where you end up getting scammed.

7. Trust your gut feel.
They say that everyone is blessed with a sense of instinct. If you do not feel comfortable with the job, then there is a huge possibility it is your subconscious telling you not to go for it.

Check out our Hot Jobs section for the latest opportunities.
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• It gives you the necessary experience you need.
Most employers give more weight to experience than educational background (except on managerial or supervisory levels where both experience and educational attainment matter). When an applicant has an experience related to the position he or she wants, the company does not have to spend a lot of money for training. It also means that the potential employee will not have a hard time adjusting to his or her role in the organization. Experience is considered as an asset.

If you are asked to do some more jobs than what you are required during your internship, think a hundred times before you complain. You can actually include these details in your resume just to let the employer know you can do more and are willing to go the extra mile.

• It can boost your resume.
We have already said it. Employers look for those who have experience. An internship will give you such a huge edge over those who have not. In a time where there are millions of students who graduate each year, you definitely need to have that higher level of competitiveness.

• You may just land a job.
It is common for employers to hire interns as regular employees. They have seen how these people work, and they can gauge if they deserve to be part of the company or not without really spending money for the recruitment process. Another advantage of employing an intern is that he or she does not need to be trained or oriented anymore. The intern is already familiar with his or her job.

• You can get a salary.
In a study conducted by Career Service Office for the year 2008 to 2009, around 61 percent of interns received salaries from their employers. Although not that much, intern compensations can already pay for your water bills, transportation, and food.

What to Do with Your Internships?

1. Get a certification from your department and / or from the employer.
It is easy to make a claim about your internship. Your future employers will demand a proof from you. A resume can be more credible if it has several internship certifications with it.

2. Be very specific of your job.
When you are creating your resume, list down all the essential and huge internship tasks you’ve tackled before. If you can provide figures (such as helped increase sales to 10 percent), then include it to your portfolio.

3. Include the employer in your List of References.
This way, it is easy for the HR officer or the employer to check your claims.

Check out our Hot Jobs section for the latest opportunities.

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Sandwich degrees are so much better.
It is already a given fact that having a degree or a certificate of completion gives you an edge over those who never made it to college or vocational school. However, those with sandwich degrees will fare much better. A sandwich degree is a course that provides at least a year of on-the-job training for students.

This is preferred by many employees since OJT training can already be counted as a working experience. They usually hire those who already know the ins and outs of their jobs and those who demand less training and less company expenses.

People skills are highly demanded.
Take a look at all the job ads. You will notice that virtually all of them need people who know how to speak, write, and listen effectively. Even if you are working behind the desk from 9 to 5, you still have to interact with your boss, colleagues, and even clients. You have to convey the right attitude and people-skill to everyone.

All it takes is initiative.
Companies do train their employees to do the job better. They will also provide troubleshooting tips when the going gets tough. Nevertheless, you cannot expect business owners to be always reminding their workers about a certain issue. Initiatives then come in. Those who show such trait on the job are often those who get promoted. This is because majority of employees with initiative also develop leadership and interpersonal skills. These workers also have a high grade for communication skills.

You have to be an IT-educated person.
Brick-and-mortar businesses are already adapting technologies to speed up productivity and improve accurate data. Every business maintains at least one computer. Thus, if you are computer illiterate, it will be very difficult for you to land a job. On the other hand, you are on a good head-start if you have intermediate or advanced IT skills. Therefore, it is best to pick colleges and universities that incorporate IT in their curriculum.

If you’re applying on a job that does not primarily revolves around IT (such as being an accountant, office clerk, HR manager, sales representative, teacher, and the likes), your computer experience does not need to be topnotch. As long as you know how to operate the machine, then you’re good to go.

Work ethics still matter.
In spite of the many changes in the workplace, certain things still remain. It is essential for would-be employees to honor working schedules, to show respect to their heads and fellow workers, to offer support to their subordinates, to follow the rules, and to never engage in office politics and gossip.

Check out our Hot Jobs section for the latest opportunities.

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