February 13th, 2010
Trapped in a loop living a day to day routine with nothing new and nothing to look forward to? Have you ever walked your way to your office chair asking “why the hell am I here again?” ---finding no other answer but “yeah, I need to.” Let me show you how to steer clear of these….
1. Set yourself free from routine Don’t brew your own formula for a career burnout. If you have a very strict to-do list, rearrange them. Bring new items to light up your desk. Skip your packed lunch and eat out with different people. Talk about new topics. Spice up your day with a little spontaneity.
2. Do something new, do something more! If you always come home tired and someone asks you how’s work today and all you can say is it’s the same, then you better do something about it. Learn new skills related to your industry. Start something new and productive. Make up for what your boss is not good at. Earn that much deserved recognition.
3. Be a driving force New innovations sprout like mushrooms these days. Industries have been forced to reinvent themselves to keep up with the times. Be a part of it. Become an expert in your career and keep learning new ideas and trends and help… Read More
Posted in Free Advice | 3 Comments »
February 12th, 2010
Have you ever tried to mail your resume out while keeping you fingers crossed not really knowing what’ll happen next? Well, it’s not a coincidence or a pure matter of bad luck if doing this doesn’t get you a response most of the time. It can be helped. So, if you don’t want to send your resume into the abyss, consider these:
Labeling Indicate what position you’re applying for especially if that company is hiring for different job positions. Update your contact info if you can’t be found, you can’t be hired. Address it to the right person. Do you know how irritating it can be to read something you know should be addressed to you but just says “to whom it may concern.” Use some elbow grease, research! Find out who you have to address it to or what department should your application be forwarded to.
Customizing A generic resume can never be as impressive as one that is tailored for a specific job. Have you ever heard how a person who is good at a lot of things is an expert at nothing? Employers would always be looking for the best for a certain position, not just someone who can do a lot of stuff. And do you know how a heartfelt… Read More
Tags: custom resume, generic resume, job applying, job positions, job seekers, jobs, resume writing
Posted in Applying for a Job, Cover Letters, Free Advice, Job Search Tips, Resume, Resume Do's and Don'ts, how to write a resume | 1 Comment »
February 12th, 2010
It’s been a common practice for many writers and journalists to make some sort of predictions before the year is concluded. As everybody knows, a forecast, if you want to call it that, bears as much significance as an easily forgotten thing.
Before 2009 was concluded I did ponder on doing my own predictions of how it’s going to be for the job market in 2010, but I figured giving a list of what employers and job seekers should do, would be more relevant. I came up with at least 5 things that should be considered.
For Job Seekers
1. You should regularly update your resume. This is applicable to all job seekers and would-be job seekers (in short, everyone). Many job seekers tend to postpone doing their resumes until they come face to face with the necessity to submit one. Treat your resume as a dynamic, breathing piece of document that changes with time. You may have acquired additional skills and may have accomplished noteworthy tasks or goals along the way; you may have been promoted and so your responsibilities have also changed; or maybe you have taken a different career path. These changes should be reflected on your updated resume, which should be… Read More
Tags: improve areer, jobs in 2009, professionally, resumes, social media, unemployment
Posted in Free Advice | 1 Comment »
February 9th, 2010
A lot of people deserves a promotion but doesn’t get it. A lot of people wants a promotion but just gets stuck dreaming it. For most people it takes forever to land one. It’s not something you can do tomorrow but it’s something you can work on today.
Image is everything Create an image that oozes with professionalism. Be punctual. This is a trait that is most valued and admired in every workplace. Dress to impress, dress for success. This is a really good trick as this can get you noticed by all the right people. Additionally, make yourself known. Be friendly. It pays to know people in the HR department. It also pays to be popular in the workplace as this can help your name be on the top of the list for promotions. Just make sure that you’re popular for all the right reasons. Offer a helping hand to colleagues or your boss who might be drowning in his workload. This can show that you have the skills and the time to do bigger things! Be a pillar of positivity. We all have complaints about our jobs, but this can be done gracefully. Don’t be the person who drags everyone down instead offer a ray of hope in challenging situations. Soon enough you’ll be… Read More
Tags: employers, get a salary raise, job, promotion, skills
Posted in Career Changes, Free Advice, Promotions | 1 Comment »
February 9th, 2010
You feel complacently confident and the interview is progressing marvelously. It looks like you have everything they’re looking for – background, skills, and experience. You seem to have established an affinity with the interviewer in that short span of time and you get good vibes about the corporate culture. What could go wrong? And then the dreaded question that you wished wouldn’t be asked.
“What made you quit your last job?” You know the truth, of course; you were fired. Thing is, you have to answer the question; no matter how unpleasant the idea is or that the thought of it still smarts. Here’s the challenge: How do you answer this question and make it work to your advantage instead of giving the impression that you are a whiner?
Think quickly… You realize you can’t totally fib your way out of this. Interviewers are known to have a “third eye” or a radar or what-have-you; they can tell a BS when they hear one. The fact: You and your previous boss were rarely on the same page on a lot of issues. You might say it was a simple case of difference of opinion; but it was frustrating for both sides. As expected (it’s been known… Read More
Tags: fired, I need a resume, Interview, Job Search, job seeker, prospective employer, quit job, Resume, resume writer, unemployd
Posted in Applying for a Job, Job & Interview Questions | No Comments »
February 8th, 2010
Once you get the hang of it, it becomes easier to avoid the most common and apparent resume mistakes such as typos and the likes. However, there’s one resume mistake that’s so simple, you wouldn’t think you’d miss it. The funny thing is, even the savviest of job seekers tend to overlook it with all the verifying, double-checking and proofreading before submitting the application. Sadly, this often-neglected, small, simple thing can either shore up or knock down the first impression you’re trying to make on a probable employer.
This simple little thing is the filename you use for your resume before you send it. 
If you think back, have you been sending attachments with filenames that are clear, professional-sounding and indicate attention to detail? Or filenames which give an impression of being hurriedly done and lack attention to specifics?
It’s unfortunate that majority of job candidates don’t seem to realize that when resumes and cover… Read More
Tags: filename, hiring manager, mistakes, resume advice, resume writing
Posted in Applying for a Job, Free Advice, Resume Do's and Don'ts | 1 Comment »
February 8th, 2010
You’re thinking of trying something new in a field different from where you are now. You’re quite confident that the background and skills you have can be a perfect fit for this “something different” you’re looking into. There’s only one hitch: you don’t have all the requirements that the employer in the new field expects.
So now, you’re unsure whether it’s sensible to apply. Of course, you’d be having second thoughts, especially in the midst of a recession. It’s a huge decision. But if you take the time to do some research, face up to some challenging questions, and turn to online resources to better evaluate your transferable skills, you’d be able to have a clearer picture of where you want to go – whether to take the bull by the horns … or sit it out.
First, search company websites or even a general job board where job descriptions of the position you’re seeking are posted. A comprehensive job description should give a full list of duties and responsibilities of the job, together with the minimum (the must haves) and preferred (great-to-haves) or favored qualifications.
Then, truthfully answer these questions:
1. To what extent… Read More
Tags: change careers, history, job description, Job Search, job skills, resume writing
Posted in Applying for a Job, Career Changes, Free Advice, Job Search Tips, Resume | 2 Comments »
February 8th, 2010
1."Can you tell me something about yourself?" When an interviewer asks you this, they don’t want to know about the kind of movies you watch, family issues or your favorite color. This is your prompt to give a general view of your background and experience relative to the position you are seeking. Focus on some accomplishments that you feel really proud of and how you think those have equipped you for the job you’re interviewing for.
2.“What would you say is your greatest weakness?” Take a moment to breathe before you answer this and don’t blurt out anything that could jeopardize your chance and eliminate you from the race. Make sure that you avoid drawing attention to a weakness that is in direct contradiction to one of the decisive qualities that the hiring manager is looking for. And don’t even think of saying the hackneyed “I’m a perfectionist.” line. The best approach to this is total honesty; mention a real weakness but not something that will affect your ability to do the job. You can skirt around this by mentioning a skill that you’ve just started to learn and want to pursue.
So be wary of these red flags that scream “your resume sucks!” 1. You follow the one-page rule While it is necessary to be concise with your resume, it doesn’t mean that you have to limit your page to one and eliminate the necessary information that could have helped you get the job. Reducing the font size to eight and eliminating the margins are not ways to make a good impression to your would-be employer. Besides, what is the point of a one-page resume if all of your information is crammed using small font size that is impossible to read? Be direct and to the point, and by all means... if your list of relevant… Read More
Tags: employers, how to write a resume, job history, Job Search, references on a resume, resume mistakes, Resume Sucks, writing a resume
Posted in Applying for a Job, Free Advice, Resume Do's and Don'ts, how to write a resume | 2 Comments »
February 3rd, 2010
sIt is not uncommon among job-seekers to make little mistakes that can make even The Grinch flinch, even at the thought. A clumsy move as you trip over when you reach to shake hands with the potential boss; you can’t put a name to the face of an interviewer so you give it a shot – apparently a misfired one, when you realize it’s the wrong name; or you suddenly become aware that you put the wrong telephone number to a résumé, just as you hit the “Send” button. We have all done it...
These résumé funnies...or not so funnies if this has happened to you, can precipitate more than just a few winces; they can be fatal to your chances of making it to coveted jobs – jobs that you know you are highly qualified for.
It is now 2010 and another year has already seen its first month fly by. Everyone’s making some sort of a move to make life better. And so now comes the time to write a resume. Perhaps you’ve given it your best shot but more often than not, you either can’t find the right words to write a brief and concise version of your career or you just have the knack for working your way to an enormous blunder (or a few ones, for that matter).
Here’s one example… Read More
Tags: accomplishments on a resume, how to fix my resume, Job Search, resume mistakes, Resume problems, resumes
Posted in Applying for a Job, Free Advice, Humor, Resume Do's and Don'ts, Resume Help | 1 Comment »
