Fastest Way to Find a Job - Tip 17 - Newspapers (or Craigslist)

 

If you know that I'm not very fond of job boards as a job search resource, then you must be really surprised that I would talk about newspapers or even Craigslist in a series about the fastest way to find a job. I'm sure you assume that I think newspapers belong to the Dark Ages and Craigslist is just the online version of classified ads. Which it is... but bear with me. Newspapers are less relevant for the job search than they used to be (poring over the classifieds used to be THE way to find a job), but don't count them out yet. Companies still post job listings in newspapers, and you'll also find information about career fairs or job fairs that could be useful to you.

The way newspapers are especially relevant to your job search today is through the news stories. Keep an eye on the headlines for news of expansions, acquisitions, or other growth opportunities in companies. Growth usually means hiring.

If you find that a company is getting ready to expand, build a new facility, move into a new area, or whatever, that's your cue to find out more about that company and how you might get your foot in the door. Do your research and find the hiring manager in the area you'd work and contact that person. If you're lucky, you'll find it in the newspaper article itself. If not, you'll have to work a little harder. But that's why they invented Google and LinkedIn. The hiring manager you eventually contact will appreciate your initiative, and probably be impressed that you were keeping up that closely with their company.

I recently read a really good business review out of Fort Worth and if I were looking for a job in Fort Worth, I would be reading this whole thing from front to back. It talks about who's moved into what positions, who's hiring... it's just stuffed with great information. You should be able to find a similar resource where you live.

Fastest Way to Find a Job - Tip 23 - FriendsFamilyChurch

 

 

 

 

It is so important to talk to your friends, family, and church about your job search situation if for no other reason than they are your support system. The job search is too stressful to carry it on your shoulders alone.

I've known job seekers to leave the house every day at the same 8am time just like they were still going to their job because they didn't want to let their family know they'd been laid off. They didn't want them to worry. And they then went off to try to look for a job and come home at 5 just like nothings changed... even though it did, in a big way.

That's a terrible way to handle this situation. That means that you, the person who's looking for the job is bearing the weight of the job search all alone, and it's crushing. It's just too much.

So the first thing I want you to do when you find yourself out of a job is tell your friends and family and church if you have one. It's good for you.

If you want a more practical reason than that, think of this: if it's good for you, it will be good for your job search. If you have a happy, healthy attitude, it will show. You project what you're feeling inside to potential employers. There have been studies that show that people with positive attitudes get jobs faster than those with negative attitudes.

And here's an even more practical reason: your friends and family and church peeps know people, just like your "official" network does. For instance, I'm someone who knows a LOT of people. I have hooked so many people up with jobs in so many ways, completely outside of recruiting. You have no idea what connections your friends and family might have, and very often the most informal relationships can hook you up with a great job lead.

But friends and family could easily prove valuable even if they don't have a lead or someone for you to talk to. For instance: I know someone who wanted a waitressing job at a restaurant and couldn't get hired. She was their hostess, but they wouldn't move her over to waitressing for a year, they said. So she talked to a friend of a friend, and that person started coaching her on how to move up faster. They told her to first memorize the menu. Then, on a slow day, find a waiter to follow around and see how they do their job. When someone doesn't show up, offer to take their shift. Help the waiters clean up so they can see that you're dying to do their work.

Not everything is as easy to transition into as a waitressing job... but: Every job has "insider" tricks and tools that would help you move into that job if you knew what they were. And someone in your network just might know what you need to know to do that.

By Peggy McKee

Fastest Way to Find a Job - Tip 21 Career Coaching

Career Coaching

If you're in the job search, you have certainly heard advice about job boards, networking, or even temporary work. But have you ever considered a career coach as a path to a new job?

When I say "Career Coach," I do not mean the kind of life coach who helps you decide what you should do with your life. Don't get me wrong, they have their place, but what I'm talking about is a coach who helps you with your career: finding and getting a job that will help you further your career goals.

This one is near and dear to my heart, because I am a career coach. In my career coaching role, I help people on an individual basis knock down the barriers that are holding them back. These barriers could be anything from negative internal voices that cause them to not step out and do the things that they should; to resumes they think are good because they were professionally written but don't actually sell them as a candidate; to people who don't know how to sell themselves in the interview and only need coaching on how to answer interview questions (practice and role-playing interview questions is incredibly helpful). That's the kind of career coaching I do.

That's mostly what I do, although I do have a few people calling me to talk about what they want to do when they grow up. Maybe you need a career coach to talk to you about what career field you should be in. If they know a lot about that field, they are an incredible resource for you. To me, that's more valuable than a personality test (although I do think personality assessments are valuable) because that's first-hand knowledge that you can tap into and see if you think it would fit you or not.

I have a lot of people who want to talk to me about transitioning into medical sales because I have such a strong background there. A lot of people I just shepherd into the role they want, but one man spent time with me talking and

5 Tips for Managing Job Interview Nervousness

Sometimes, a job interview means so much to you that you just cannot afford to let something to wrong. When it comes to taming your anxiety and getting back on track so you can wow the job interviewer, you'll need a few tips. If you are focused on the opportunities that this job can offer to you and you are worried about what will happen if you do not get it, you are overwhelming your mind and not going to give the job interviewer the best possible chance to see who you are and what you have to offer. Instead, consider a few helpful tips.

1. Know the company well. The more you know about the job and the position you are applying for, the more comfortable you will feel during the interview. If you haven't reviewed anything, you are less likely to know what they want from you.

2. Try to smile and keep a smile on your face throughout the meeting. This naturally puts you at ease and helps you to look approachable to the other person.

3. Do some deep breathing exercises before you go in and keep breathing deeply while you are sitting in front of the job interviewer, too. The goal here is to ensure you are getting the best possible deep breaths in because this will naturally reduce your stress.

4. Realize that you have what it takes to land this position. You can feel comfortable about it because you know it is something you can do.

Making a Great Impression - 10 Tips For Job and Scholarship Applications

Are you applying for a job or scholarship? The following list of pitfalls to avoid apply to *all* aspects of the process: resumes, cover letters, essays, and even your interview and thank you note. Here are 10 tips to help you distinguish yourself from the competition.

1. Not answering the question

If an employer or committee asks a question, be sure to answer it! They ask questions in part to hear your answers, and in part to make sure you can follow instructions and stay focused. Sometimes you can answer the question in a creative way, but make sure you have a professional review your answer (for interviews, practice this skill before the actual interview!). The perfect essay or interview response answers the question and shows off your key strengths and accomplishments.

2. Exceeding the word or page limit

Your application can get thrown out if you do not comply with the word and page limits. Do not take that chance! There is no point in writing a brilliant essay if it never gets read. Would you rather write 511 words that never get read or 500 words that do? If you are having trouble staying within the word and page limits provided, work with an expert to help you concisely say everything you want to say. Practice concise verbal answers too before you get to your interview!

3. Pointing out why you do not qualify for the position

Why would you highlight the reasons an employer would not want to hire you, or the reasons why someone else might be a better recipient of that scholarship? Many applicants make that very mistake. You can be sure that the people reading your application or sitting across from you in an interview already know what's missing from your application - they have seen your resume. If they are talking to you, it means they are willing to overlook some of your weak points. Showcase your strengths so that the committee trusts you to do the

Make Money Online - Tips on Making Extra Money Online

Nowadays everyone seems to have a hard time with their jobs. You work for 7 to 9 hours and then return home, tired and so you don't have enough time to spend with your family. But with the new introduction of online jobs you can earn extra money while being at home with your family and without working overtime in the office. I have a few tips on making extra money online that would help you get started for your online job.

The internet will provide numerous ways on how to start a new online job. You can keep your regular job as well as start an online job at home which will help you make extra money without doing stressful jobs.

A good website that offers online jobs is Freelancer.com. There are also other websites such as Elance.com, eHow etc that would provide a number of online jobs as per your convenience. You should pick a job that best suits you. A person who is a professional at software programming would have no benefit in writing articles.

Now here are the tips on making extra money online:

1. Researching is the most important factor in this field. Make sure that you do ample amount of research before you avail on an opportunity.

2. Start a marketing campaign to attract customers to your products or services. If you do not have a marketing campaign then no one

Five Tips for Making Money Online on a Micro Job Site

Micro job sites are increasing in popularity and for very good reasons. Firstly, it enables virtually anyone to make some very good income by offering their skills on a casual basis. You can work whenever you want, doing what you enjoy and get paid well for it. On the other hand, if you are a business owner or someone who needs a specific job done, you get a great piece of work for a much lower price. And for both buyer and seller the work can be completed quickly and efficiently.

However, many people struggle to get many (if any) job assignments from the micro sites they list on. Here are five things yo can do to maximize your sales and income:

    Offer jobs that are in demand. Think about what you can do that a large number of people would want. They may well be things that other people might find to be monotonous or too specialized. It isn't much use to offer something which hardly anyone would want, yet there are many sellers who make this mistake.

    Price it right. Look at what others are selling similar services for. You don't need to be the cheapest, but you do need to be competitive.

    Create a great profile. Talk a bit about yourself and why you are listing jobs for sale. Above all you want to communicate your professionalism and your passion for providing a great service. Buyers want to know you will be reliable and do a great job.

    Go the extra mile for the first few jobs you do so that you get great reviews. Many buyers will make their decision on who to hire by looking at reviews. If you can stand out as being an exceptional worker you have a much better chance of being selected.

    List your jobs on multiple sites. Buyers are looking on