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When you need to write a cover letter, it's sometimes the small things that make a big difference. Review these tips for writing top notch cover letters, including how to choose a type of cover letter, custom cover letters, plus examples.

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Pregnant and Job Searching

Saturday November 21, 2009


If you're pregant and job searching, how should you handle it? When's the best time to mention your pregnancy to a prospective employer? Before the interview or after you have a job offer?

Here's advice on how to handle employment issues when you're pregnant, what you need to know about pregnancy discrimination, and suggestions and tips on handling your pregnancy while working or conducting a job search.

For prospective moms (and dads) here's what you can expect as far as maternity leave and parternity leave (now usually called family leave) after you have a baby or adopt a child.

More: Benefits Questions and Answers

Image © Antoine Barrillon

Your LinkedIn Profile When You're Unemployed

Friday November 20, 2009

George is just one of the job seekers who have written to me asking what they should put in their LinkedIn Profile when they are unemployed. It's definitely an issue because even though you, like many other people, are out of work, you want to present yourself in a positive light to prospective employers and to networking contacts.

Krista Canfield, Senior PR Manager at LinkedIn has suggestions: "If you're currently unemployed list your current position as "open to opportunities." If you just recently lost your job, make sure you update your status field in your profile so your network knows that you're looking for a job. You can update it with, "John is currently looking for a finance position. Do you know anyone who's hiring?" or "Sarah is interested in freelance opportunities. Let her know if someone in your network needs help writing or editing." It's a quick and easy way to let folks you're connected to know that you could use their help."

Krista also, noted that "One member of ours was unfortunately laid off so he updated his status to show he was currently looking for a new position. He was able to find a new job within seven business days of being laid-off because someone in his network knew someone who was hiring."

It's important for anyone job searching or growing their career, and who is out of work or currently employment, to use LinkedIn to job search. Review LinkedIn's Back-to-Business Checklist for Job Hunters for tips that will help if you're re-entering the workforce, changing careers, or if you're laid off and are looking for a new position.

And here's more on how can you ensure that you're not missing out and you're using the full power of LinkedIn to job search.

More: LinkedIn

Image © LinkedIn

Job Search Holiday Travel Tips

Thursday November 19, 2009

Do you have Thanksgiving travel plans? When you're traveling while you're in the midst of a job search, it's important to be able to not miss out on emails or phone calls from prospective employers. Hiring doesn't stop, just because of the holidays, and staying connected could give you an advantage over other candidates who don't check messages until they get home from a trip.

You won't want to miss out on a job opportunity or a conversation with a connection who can help your job search, because you're not at home or out of touch.  As long as you have the right job search travel tools with you, you won't have any problems accessing voicemail, email, or the Internet.

For me, my IPhone, besides being one of the best toys I've ever had, quickly has become an essential tool I can't do without. If you have one, or another smartphone, get your phone set before you  go.  Download job search iPhone  apps that search for jobs by keyword and location, apply for jobs,  email job listings, keep track of your contacts, and even create a resume.

You don't need to spend all your time job searching, but if you spend a little while keeping your job search going, you'll be ahead of the game, instead of playing catch-up when you get home.

More: Job Searching During the Holidays | Job Search iPhone Apps

Image Copyright Sean Locke

New Unemployment Extension News

Wednesday November 18, 2009

Update November 20:  Here's additional information from the National Employment Law Project on unemployment benefits running out at the end of the year:

The National Employment Law Project (NELP) released a new analysis finding that one million workers will become ineligible for unemployment benefits in January 2010 unless Congress reauthorizes the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act's unemployment insurance programs by the end of December. The critical benefits provided to jobless workers by the ARRA are set to expire at the end of the year, which means that even with the latest 14 to 20 week extension enacted in November, 30,000 workers a day will be left without any jobless benefits in January. By March, the number without federal jobless benefits will swell to nearly three million workers.

Update November 18:  There has been quite a bit of confusion about the new unemployment extension, which provides for an additional 14 weeks of extended benefit coverage for every state and an additional 6 weeks in high unemployment states. Part of the reason is that the new legislation changed the exisiting tiers of benefits. The new third tier of EUC will provide extra weeks of benefits to applicants who have exhausted both EUC Tier 1 and Tier 2 benefits. Tier 1 provides up to 20 weeks of benefits, Tier 2 now provides 14 weeks of benefits (it was 13 weeks).

In addition, the new unemployment extended benefits are only available to workers who run out of state unemployment benefits before December 31, 2009. This means that if new legislation isn't enacted, more workers are going to be running out of benefits. The National Employment Law Project (NELP) reports that a million workers will become ineligible for unemployment benefits in January unless Congress reauthorizes the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act's unemployment insurance programs. By March, the number of unemployed workers without federal jobless benefits will rise to nearly three million workers.

States are updating their web sites, but it's taking time because computer systems have to be reprogrammed, so check with your state unemployment office for details on extended benefits in your state.

More: Unemployment Extension | How to File for Unemployment | Share Your Unemployment Story

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