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After executive headhunter Steve Viscusi appeared on Good Morning America recently, he reviewed thousands of résumés from job seekers looking for advice.

Viscusi, host of the nationally syndicated radio show On the Job With Steve Viscusi and author of On the Job: How to Make It in the Real World of Work (Crown: Three Rivers Press), came up with these tips to help job hunters avoid common mistakes on their résumés.

1. Have a “normal” e-mail name, NOT blondie@aol.com or hotstud@yahoo.com.

2. Unless you’re Sarah Jessica Parker or Lara Flynn Boyle, why have your middle name on a résumé? Middle names are just an unnecessary distraction. The exception to this rule are women who are have hyphenated their maiden and married names.

3. Have more than one résumé. Change objectives and skills to reflect qualifications that are used in the job you are applying for. (This is my most important tip!!)

4. Use a font size that can be read by someone over the age of 40. Remember: faxed résumés shrink. 5. White paper only. Nothing fancy. 6. I advise that you mail, in addition to e-mail, your résumé, and always bring several extra copies when going in person.

7. Rarely leave anything off your résumé. Companies generally will check backgrounds (only after you start). Your résumé should match what they will find out.

8. I hate pictures on résumé. 9. Never mail résumés in your boss’s envelopes or using your boss’s e-mail.

10. Have someone else proof your résumé — don’t rely solely on a computer’s spell-check program.

11. Do not include the actual names and telephone numbers of references on a résumé. They are distracting and do nothing but take up space. Including “References available upon request” at the bottom of your résumé is more than enough.

12. When looking for a job, you need to send out a minimum of 100 résumés. Yes, 100. Send half of those to companies not looking. Just like every company that has an employee that hates their boss, every boss has an employee they’d love to get rid of. Send résumés to places you want to work regardless of whether or not you heard of an opening.

13. Always visit the company’s Web site.

14. Always send a follow-up letter.

15. If you have a cell phone, add it to the résumé so that a prospective employer can reach you easily and quickly, 24/7.

16. Don’t forget: Appearances count! a. Whiten your teeth. Buy the whitening strips or go to a dentist. b. Do not wear cologne or perfume. c. Don’t wear too much jewelry. d. Turn off cell phones and pagers.

Article Reference: http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=124885&page=1#.T5j6nlJoi9s

NEW YORK (Fortune) — With the U.S. economy apparently getting ready to take one of its cyclical snoozes, employers are more hesitant to take on new hires than they were even just three or four months ago – and the recent uptick in unemployment means more competition for each opening. That doesn’t mean you need to give up on the idea of looking for a new job. In fact, if your company is going through a merger or seems likely to announce layoffs, your best bet may be to start your job search right away.

What’s different about job hunting during a slowdown? Sure, the fundamentals – a resume that highlights your achievements and is easy to read, customized cover letters that succinctly tell why you’re the best candidate for a particular job, and diligent follow-up (including prompt and impeccable thank-you notes) – never change.

But when the market’s tough, you have to work harder at job hunting and be more flexible, say Annie Stevens and Greg Gostanian, managing partners at Boston-based executive coaching firm ClearRock (www.clearrock.com). They’ve come up with seven tips to help you get the job you want.

1. Request more face-to-face meetings. During boom times, it might be okay to rely on phone conversations and e-mails with networking contacts and recruiters. But right now, “people need to have more in-person meetings, in order to gather more information and make a better impression,” says Stevens.

2. Step up your job-search activity. “The sheer numbers of letters and phone calls also need to increase,” says Greg Gostanian. “Plan on making up to 40 phone calls a week, and sending out between 15 and 20 letters to prospective employers, recruiters, and others. It’s important to keep quality in mind when developing these contacts, but there’s no question that part of this process is a numbers game. In a slower economy, you need to better your odds by making more contacts.”

3. Try to be as flexible as you can. With so much uncertainty in the air, employers may not be jumping to offer you a full-time job at the salary you have in mind. Instead, they might propose contract or project work, bringing you on-board part time, or hiring you full time at less than what you were hoping to earn. If you can possibly afford to, at least for a few months, accept what they’re offering, especially if it’s at a company where you see growth and the potential for bigger opportunities later. Once you have a foot in the door, says Stevens, “show what you can do, and how you can help them achieve their goals.”

4. Consider relocating. Job candidates who are willing to move are in even shorter supply than usual these days – partly because tumbling real estate values in many places mean that relocating involves selling a current residence at a bargain-basement price (in some cases, for less than is owed on it). But being open to the idea of moving improves your chances for success, Gostanian notes. “When you expand the geography where you’re willing to live, you have a bigger playing field with more opportunities,” he says.

5. Scour the hidden job market. “In good times, only about 20% of available positions are ever advertised or posted. In a slower economy, even fewer jobs than that are publicly announced in any way, because employers don’t want to be inundated with resumes,” Stevens says. So dig deeper into uncovering unadvertised openings through networking, and by contacting potential employers directly. Whenever possible, register on companies’ web sites to receive e-mail updates about new openings that fit your experience and skills.

6. Spend very little of your time on Internet job boards and help-wanted ads. It’s fine to keep an eye on the job boards and post your resume on job sites, especially niche sites that specialize in your industry or your area of expertise. But don’t fritter away too many hours online. “Fewer job openings mean more people are chasing the same advertised and posted positions,” notes Gostanian.

7. Take advantage of social networking sites. If you aren’t already using web sites like LinkedIn, Facebook, Friendster, and MySpace to re-connect with old acquaintances and make new ones, this would be a good time to start.

Reference:

http://money.cnn.com/2008/02/12/news/economy/job.hunting.fortune/index.htm

Remember that guy in New York City who wore a sandwich board day in and day out looking for a job? Now, he was determined. But even with his drastic, proactive approach to searching for a job, it took him over a year to land steady work.

In the past three years alone, nearly 10% of the working population has been laid off. Even in 2010, when there were initial signs of a rallying US economy, looming issues elsewhere severely impacted that recovery. Jobs are still scarce, but the good news is that major retailers, corporations, and businesses are, at long last, searching for skilled, qualified help once again. The game has changed though; these same businesses are in search of skilled employees who bring something new to the table. Gone are the days when a degree was guaranteed to find you a new job.

Undoubtedly, if you were one of those workers laid off, you’ve been struggling to make ends meet. If you have a family, the concern about debts and meeting monthly payments is even greater. By any means possible, you’ve managed to weather the storm. Getting back on your feet is no simple task – case in point, many of the workers laid off back in 2007 are still searching for a job. There is some light at the end of the tunnel however. If you’ve been let go, you have a prime opportunity to hone your skills and perhaps become even more eligible for positions you would not have previously applied for. By using this downtime constructively, you can accelerate your career for the future!  http://www.careerberg.com

Acquiring New Skills

If your career has been put on the back burner for the time being, you should take this time to fine-tune your other skills and even add some new ones to your resume. Technological skills are a valuable negotiating tool when searching for a job and a persuasive argument as to why HR should take a second look at your resume. These skills include coding, software, blogging, social media, and countless other efforts that companies are investing in to establish or promote their brands aggressively online. Local YMCAs and municipal organizations, too, offer regular courses on a variety of topics, including business basics, web design, copywriting, and accounting.

Volunteering is another great way to get involved. After all, when you’re interviewed by a potential employer and asked how you spent your time, you’re going to want to have a solid answer. Identify what you’re most interested in and seek out groups or clubs in need of volunteers. Consider donating your time to a children’s organization, the library, a university, political group, or church. When it comes time for finding a new job, these experiences will add “oomph” to your newly designed resume!

Finding a New Job

There are multiple avenues available when finding a new job – and they’re not all online! Sure, searching online may be your best bet in many instances as it allows you to apply for numerous jobs in a short amount of time, but there are a number of other possibilities that you can pursue.

Discover the advantages of networking when searching for a job! With Facebook and LinkedIn, you can connect with old friends, co-workers, and acquaintances online, many of whom may be able to help you while finding a new job. If they don’t know who is hiring, they’ll still know to be on the lookout for you should anything come up. Joining a local support group is another great way to meet people in the business or industry you’re interested in, and like your online contacts, they can offer you some direction when searching for a job.

Searching for a Job the Right Way

Sure, times are rough, but above all, don’t give up. Realize that there are countless others in your position, perhaps just as positive that finding a new job will be nigh impossible. Capitalize on both your time and interests – and refine your job search – to help your progress along the way. When searching for a job, focus on what you do best, but gain a competitive advantage by working on new skills as well. You’ll never get anywhere sitting around – jump up, be proactive, and grab a hold of your future.  http://www.careerberg.com

You know what it is that turns finding a job into a disastrous experience? It’s putting in all that time and energy into a job campaign. And then nothing happens!

I’ve personally assisted hundreds and hundreds of job seekers since 1985. Most of them have come to me discouraged with their progress. They just can’t understand why they’re not getting results. They feel they’ve done all the right things. And nothing’s working.

When I asked them how they organized their job campaign and what they were doing, here’s what they told me:

1. wrote a traditional resume with objective statement and reverse chronology work history.
2. Mailed and emailed it to dozens of employers.Posted it on several job sites.
3. Routinely answered lots of want ads.
4. Contacted several employment agencies and a handful of recruiters.
5. Made phone calls directly to several companies in the area.
6. When a decent response didn’t materialize, redoubled efforts and wound up distributing hundreds of resumes.
7. Waited and waited for the phone to ring with the right opportunity.

There’s one simple reason why this traditional job campaign isn’t working: they’re doing it BACKWARD!

Most folks, if they don’t know any better, do all the traditional tasks they’ve been told you need to do to find a job. They start with a resume. Then they use various mass media approaches to distribute their resume. And wait for the phone to ring.

Instead, the focal point of your job campaign has to be on the one person who can make a hiring decision about you. All your initial efforts should be directed toward identifying the organizations that match up with your interests. And then the hiring decision-maker who could be your next boss. http://www.careerberg.com

Everything else flows from that information your resume, interviewing strategies, negotiating skills, and, of course, the various techniques used to get in front that decision-maker, preferably without them seeing you prematurely as a job candidate.

There are lots of strategies to use to identify the person who could be your next boss. But, by far, the best one is to take advantage of people you already know. But don’t approach them by asking them to find you a job. That’s a big turn-off. Instead, seek their advice. And in the course of your conversation ask if there any folks they could introduce you to who might be in the know.

As technology and the way we use it continues to evolve, so do the expectations for those who are searching for a job. Gone are the days when all you had to do was write a resume and send it in to those job listings that seemed to be a good match. Rather, those who are serious about finding a job in today’s job market need to take full advantage of social networking opportunities if they hope to stand above the competition. http://www.careerberg.com

Thanks to the growing popularity of social networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn, today’s job hunters need to become Web savvy as they search for a job and form the personal and professional connections that are needed to navigate through the job market. Furthermore, as they enjoy the use of these social networking sites, they must remain forever aware of the online reputation they are creating as even the slightest mistake could make it even more difficult to land a job in the future.

“It’s almost like social media has replaced the white pages,” said Nancy Halverson, who is the senior vice president for learning and talent developing at the recruiting firm of MRINetwork, in a New York Times article. “Recruiters don’t even know how to find you if you don’t have a presence online. Its nonnegotiable – you have to have a profile on a social networking site.”

For many people who are in the job market, however, managing the technical requirements necessary for job hunting in today’s market can be a challenge. As such, a growing number of individuals are turning to career offices and continuing education departments to help them learn how to navigate today’s technological world successfully.

“Teaching people how to use these new tools is really becoming one of the main things that we do in career counseling offices,” said Nancy Richmond, who is the assistant director of career counseling and exploration at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. “We’re showing that that using social media is a great way to show employers that they’re on the forefront of cutting-edge trends. It can be extremely helpful for their careers.”

To that end, Richmond holds special workshops twice a year that are designed to teach students as well as alumni how to use social networking sites such as LinkedIn to build a positive online presence. In addition, she provides one-on-one tutoring to those who are interested in improving their online profiles while also providing counseling services to those who are interested in learning more about approaching potential employers or other networking contacts online.

Workshops like these are hardly a rarity. In fact, many colleges around the country are now offering similar programs to their students and alumni – largely because their students are asking for them. At the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, for example, those who are interested may participate in a series of continuing education courses entitled “The Language of Social Media” that is designed to provide people with the boost they need to get started in the world of online networking.

“We think it’s important not just to teach people why they should have a presence online, but also to teach them about how to be consistent – what’s appropriate in how you represent yourself online, and how you should go about promoting yourself,” said Laurie Boettcher, who is teaching the series of classes at Wisconsin-Eau Claire. http://www.careerberg.com

Undoubtedly, using social networking sites can be a tricky task, particularly for those who have never had to worry about creating an online presence in the past. Furthermore, it’s not just a matter of mastering the technological aspect of creating an online presence. Rather, it is also about understanding the subtle social skills that are involved with networking with people online.

“What you’re really trying to do on social networks is expand your sphere of influence,” said Miriam Salpeter, who is a job coach based in Atlanta. “You want to grow the number of people that know about you. As more people get to know about you and see who you are, that can pay off.”

http://www.careerberg.com/

The world economy has just experienced one of the biggest jumps in to recession ever seen, the UK has suffered huge job losses, the country has no idea what’s going to happen next with regard to the economy and you find yourself in the lucky position where you need to try and find a marketing job. Do you give up? Throw the towel in? Or just put your head in the sand? No, follow these 10 tips on what to do when searching for a marketing job and you may find yourself saying hello to your new boss, before you know it!

1)    Research the market. With numerous degrees available in marketing and business, an old or rookie perspective job hunter needs to know what qualifications, desired experience or skills are required by employers. For those already in marketing positions, you more than any should know that the world of business changes quickly, really quickly. Don’t make yourself look like you don’t know what you are doing by sending out CVs that have no updated training, skills or education from the time you joined your current company, ask to go on courses, check to see if your qualifications are still appropriate for the companies you would like to work in and research who it is that attracts you as an employer. Research salaries, there is no point in jumping from a position you want to leave in to a position that is going to create more difficulties for you financially even though you are in “marketing”. If you are new to marketing, research exactly what it is someone does who works in marketing. If you are seasoned marketing professional investigate what other avenues of marketing interest you if you want to have a change of professional scenery.

2)    Be up to date with what’s going on in the world of marketing It is important to be on top of your game, whatever your profession. Be aware of current marketing topics, what’s happening in the world of marketing, innovations, figureheads and leading companies.

3)    Network. Whether you are new to marketing or not, networking can never be thought of as a waste of time. It’s a skill and exercise in used in the business day that allows relationships to be built outside of the pressurized sales pitch or interview.

4)Pay very close attention to your CV and have others proof read it. There are few jobs that have a greater emphasis on the CV of their prospective candidates than marketing. Make sure your CV has been read, re read and checked for every minute detail. Remember, the CV is often your only way in to a company, so make it good. Other people often see blatant errors that we don’t in a document we are familiar with or may indeed, pick up on a writing style or tone used in you CV that doesn’t portray the real you or doesn’t do you any favors. Be prepared to take constructive feedback.

5-Prepare to door knock. Job hunting, whether it be in marketing or not, is all about numbers. The more CVs you send out, companies you contact, interviews you go on the greater the chance of your being hired in the marketing job you want. Send speculative CVs, make speculative calls and be your very own agent, after all, who better to sell you than you.

6)Ask for referrals. If companies are not currently not hiring and tell you so when you cont.ct them, ask them about other marketing roles they are aware of that have come up recently, or good recruitment agencies that specialize in marketing roles.

7) Make sure you are ready at short notice. Interviews often come up at short notice. Once you send your CV, application form or make a phone call to a company and they show interest in you, be sure to make yourself available for interview. The longer the window period from the discussion of the interview, to the time of interview allows for other developments to occur that don’t include yourself, in what could be your perfect job.

Consider temping. If you are new to marketing and have the ability to work on long term or short term temporary marketing jobs, then this can be a great way to get on the ladder and try out the whole concept of marketing for you as a your new profession. People are often hired on to permanent contracts when they have been temps within a company and at the very least you are gaining valuable experience and knowledge that makes you look even more like a marketing professional on paper.

9) Practice your interview skills. While you are busy networking, talking to perspective employers and recruitment consultants, you can use this time to rehearse your interview technique and how you come across to others in a professional setting. For new graduates this can be invaluable and for the more seasoned business person, just watching other people’s reactions to how you interact with them can be a great way to hone in on areas that you can improve on.

10) Preparation. Whether making a phone call, going to visit a recruitment consultant or having a job interview, know the company you are meeting before you get there. Google them, look at company web sites, ask about them through networking, do this all in advance and you will not only come across as someone who is astute, but you will feel more confident in your abilities and your interview.

http://www.careerberg.com/

Preparing well for a job interview can be the secret to success. More often than not, people ignore the significance of preparing well for an interview. It is essential to work on your special skills and abilities, to highlight yourself as the ideal selection. Preparing includes understanding the company and the job profile, the reason why you want to be a part of that organization and in what way the organization would benefit by hiring you. These form some of the common questions that are asked by interviewers. Preparing for a job interview enhances the quality of your interaction skill. It helps you to empower yourself with confidence in your own abilities.

Basic Preparation
There are no hard and fast rules associated with the preparation of a job interview. But, there are certain tried and tested strategies that can be implemented to increase your chances of success. Basic preparations include an objective assessment of skills, values, interests and achievements, updating your resume and research on the organization and the position applied for. It also includes practicing answers to probable questions. You need to also pay attention to the details of your chosen attire and overall appearance, knowledge of the location of interview and the protocol for follow-up. http://www.careerberg.com

Main Preparation Prior To The Interview Procedure

Aside from basic preparation, you also need to prepare for certain important factors. Some are mentioned below:

Self-Assessment:
This is very important and should be done methodically to understand yourself better. It helps you to assess your abilities, identify your strengths and discover areas for improvement. You should keep all concrete achievements, including articles, congratulatory letters, certificates and appreciation from clients or your present employer.

Updating Your Resume:
You need to update your resume so that all of your recent achievements are included. Your resume should be written with functional headings to help the interviewer focus on your achievements. Your resume is the primary introduction to the employer. It should be designed to create a favorable impression; therefore, you should ensure that your resume is written with crystal clarity.

Research:
Research helps you to assimilate information about the company. You should gather as much information as possible on the company before attending the interview. You could visit the public library, local bookstore and the Internet to collect relevant data. This enables you to understand the work culture, mission and priorities of the organization.

Utilize Your Alumni Network:
It would be helpful for you to discuss the organization with alumni who have already worked or are working in the organization.

Interviewing is a skill that is best developed by practice, to ensure improvement in your style and presentation at an interview. Preparing for a job interview is one of the most crucial stages of building a career. It has the power to make or break your interview.

When people are looking for a job, they tend to spend a lot of time writing and revising their resumes and preparing to answer job interview questions. However, even employers who accept resumes from applicants are going to ask job candidates to fill out an application prior to making an offer.

Unfortunately, many people overlook getting prepared to fill out a job application form. Too often, people with excellent skills, great resumes and professional interviewing techniques disqualify themselves from jobs because they do not fill out job applications correctly. Filling out job applications is an important part of getting a new job, and it is necessary to make sure that you are just as prepared to fill out these forms as you are to answer tough job interview questions.

One of the most common job application problems is leaving sections of the application blank, or only partially filled out. Keep in mind that each question on a job application is there for a particular reason. If the question is on the form, the employer wants it to be answered. If you provide incomplete information on a job application, the message you are sending the employer is that you cannot follow instructions. No one wants to hire an employee that can’t fill out a simple form.

One of the most common omissions on job applications is the last names of the individuals listed as references. This is a red flag to employers, who are really have to wonder about your suitability for employment if you don’ t know the last names of your references. How well can someone speak for you if you don’t know the person’s last name?

Another common problem with job applications comes in when applicants think that writing the phrase “see resume” is sufficient for the work history section. You should always fill out the work history section on an employment application in its entirety. Many companies have very specific hiring and reference checking procedures that are based solely on the application form.

It is also important to think about how you are going to list your reasons for leaving your prior positions on job application forms. It is important to be truthful, but there are tactful ways to be truthful and there are ways to be truthful that can keep you from being considered for a new job. You might not have liked your last boss, but you certainly shouldn’t list that as your reason for leaving your last job.

Before you start applying for jobs, you should get a standard job application form and fill it out completely. Get someone that you know and trust to review the form to make sure that the form is complete and that the content is well written, spelled properly, and make sense as written. That way, every time you go on a job interview, you will have all of the information you are likely to need with you already.

Mistakes happen, and even the best person has made mistakes. After all, humans learn by experience, so a few errors helps us be better people in the end. One moment in your life that you don’t want to be in a learning curve is when you’re out looking for a job – a mistake during an interview or on your resume can cost you the chance of applying for a position you really want.

Never assume that simply applying for a job is enough. Because of mass communication and Internet resources, employers receive a record number of applications for every job. Sadly, employers even have to sort through many false applications sent in only to fulfill welfare programs. So it’s important to let them know your application is a genuine application and that you want the job.

Employers have to carry out a lengthy screening process whenever they fill a position, so it is important to show your interest in the job by making contact with the employer through telephone, email, or, best of all, a personal meeting. Personal contact shows your genuine interest in the job available.

http://www.careerberg.com
One major mistake many people make is lying about a past job if you left on bad terms. Potential employers seem to have a sixth sense about experiences that you glossed over or were dishonest about, so it’s best to try and put a positive spin on resume blemishes. Show that you’ve learned something from the experience or play up important parts of the past job rather than trying to cover up a bitter relationship.

It is best to find a traditional way of phrasing your strengths, as buzzwords can be confusing. Another thing to avoid is the use of words that are too logistic and lack spark, which is the opposite of using too many overly hip or trendy words. You should keep these same rules in mind when writing cover letters also.

Strive to achieve a balance of professionalism and ease of reading when you write. Try to balance friendliness with professionalism when writing your resume or cover letter. Avoid using slang or buzzwords and focus on using appropriate tone, because the right tone will get results.

There are many more mistakes people tend to make when searching for a job or attending an interview meeting. Some of the worst errors are eating during an interview or making crude jokes about someone’s race or gender. Of course, there are many small, subtle mistakes people make when job seeking as well, and those are often unconscious. So if you want an extensive list of what not to do when trying to land a job, look up the information on the internet.

When people have a goal in mind or want to find something, there’s one simple process that needs to be carried out – that of actively going after or searching for that prize. The search for a great job is no different, and while mass communication makes job hunting easier, there’s still a lengthy process involved when you’re trying to find the job you want. Here are a few tips and pointers that will help you on your journey to employment. http://www.careerberg.com

Are you wondering why you still haven’t landed a job? More than likely you have made the same mistake as most other people, which is that you are searching through only one source. Don’t look at only the local newspaper; broaden your search to other sources. Also, by keeping track of where you have submitted your application from the beginning, you can circumvent the difficulty of managing multiple sources and avoid duplicate submissions.

As always, an excellent source for current job listings is the newspaper. Newspapers can also be found on the Internet as well as many other job listing sites. When searching online, try to scan several sites to expand your chances. Don’t underestimate the ability of networking. Friends may know of a place that is seeking new employees, but also consider asking a former coworker or even previous employers. Often, they can give you a lead on a job that’s open. To start networking, it is suggested that you expand your search horizons. It is imperative that you commit to allow time for an in-depth search, despite your busy schedule, since the results will be rewarding.

It can sometimes take a fair bit of time before you do find employment, and you may have to send out many applications or go through a few interviews before landing a job. You’ll need to make sure you stay motivated to stick with your search, as most people end up giving in to frustrations and quitting the hunt. Certainly, if you do stop looking for employment, you’ll never gain a job, so you should find ways of making sure you continue looking, by giving yourself small rewards or by applying some guilt to yourself. Any method that keeps you on the hunt and far away from discouragement is the right one to choose.

Just remember, it’s not really a “job search” if you aren’t actually searching. It’s never really easy to find a good job, even now with the availability of the Internet. It is necessary for you to devote a great deal of time and effort to it rather than just waiting for something to appear out of the blue. If you are lucky enough to have that sort of luck come your way, then jump on it. Otherwise, you have to go out there and find opportunities rather than wait for them to find you.

The last thing to make sure you do during your search for employment is to research your field of profession thoroughly and take an in-depth look at companies you apply to. You may find that the industry you want to work in is saturated in your region, which will tell you to find a different spin on what you can do and expand your horizons, or you may find that an attractive company really isn’t that pretty, once you find out their history. To be successful in your search for employment, be persistent and knowledgeable, always on the lookout for information that will help you land that perfect job. http://www.careerberg.com