Friday December 11, 2009
The holiday season provides a perfect opportunity for job search networking. Even if you're out of work and out of holiday cheer, it's important not to miss out on any opportunities to meet people who can help you find a job.
Accept all the invitations you receive and consider the networking you're going to do as a key part of your job search. Even if you don't feel like going to a party or other holiday celebration, you'll not only meet people who can, and would like, to help. You might even have much more fun than you expected!
These tips for networking at holiday parties, will help you the most out of all the holiday events you attend.
Related: Top 10 Office Party Don'ts | Top Seven Office Party Gaffes
Image Copyright Copyright Kevin Russ
Wednesday December 9, 2009
It's important to remember that even if you have gone on lots of interviews, it is a good idea to brush up your skills and take some time to practice interviewing. A job seeker who had been reviewing our job interview questions and answers told me "I've been reading your pages recently and am happy to say that I had my second interview yesterday. You were of tremendous help. 75% of your probable questions were asked and answered as you suggested."
I'm always interested in adding to the list, so if you've been asked some difficult interview questions that you don't see here, please let me know.
Also, note that there are some questions that are usually referred to as illegal interview questions and although it's legally-risky to do so, it is not necessarily against the law for interviewers to ask them. Here's more information on illegal interview questions.
Job Interviews
Image Copyright Zhang Bo
Wednesday December 9, 2009
Once you have decided to resign from your job, there's no point in criticizing your company, your boss, your co-workers, the job or anything else. Even if you hated your boss, hated the job, and can't wait to get out of there, don't burn your bridges. You might need a reference in the future and you don't want to give anyone any ammunition to use against you. Save your parting shots and keep your feelings to yourself.
Instead, write a formal resignation letter, so it can be placed in your employment file. Keep your resignation letter simple and short. Don't go into too much detail about why you are quitting and what you are doing next. Your letter shouldn't be negative or nasty - it honestly isn't worth venting.
When you're not sure what to write, review sample resignation letters to get some ideas. You can use them to create your own personalized resignation letter. On a related note, email isn't really the best way to resign, but if you're working remotely or you don't have the courage to resign in person, here's how to send an email resignation message.
Here's more advice on how to resign gracefully and how to resign on good terms.
And if you're already written a resignation letter that helped you part with your employer on good terms, I'd like to include it in our collection of samples. Here's how to submit your letter.
More: Resignation Letters| Resignation Letter Examples
Tuesday December 8, 2009
Before you can start to job search, you need a resume. A resume is a summary of your work-related history - a written compilation of your education, work experience, credentials, and accomplishments. Writing a resume, especially the first time or if you haven't updated yours in a while, can be complicated because your resume is going to be reviewed by software as well as by hiring managers. You need to write it for both audiences.
Review these top resume tips for choosing a type of resume, selecting a resume font, customizing your resume, using resume keywords, explaining employment gaps, reviewing resume examples, and more tips for writing interview winning resumes.
I'm probably sounding like a broken record, but writing a cover letter to send or post with your resume isn't easy either. That's especially true in a competitive job market, like this one. When you need to write a cover letter, it can be the small things that can knock you out of contention, and as importantly, how you present yourself in your letter that gets you an interview.
Review these cover letter tips and techniques for writing top notch cover letters to send with your resume, including cover letter format and presentation, choosing a type of cover letter, writing custom cover letters, and cover letter examples and templates.
Next, take a look at these 10 job search tips that will help your hunt for a new job go smoothly.
Resume and Letter Tips
Image Copyright Pali Rao
