Skillfully used, an informational interview is one of the most valuable sources of information about jobs, careers, and companies. While it may cover some of the same ground as the information on a company website, an informational interview presents opportunities for an intimate and flexible inside view of a company - directly from someone who works there.

Erik Sorenson, CEO of Vault.com, the career services website, explains: "In an employer's market, it is that much harder to reach the interview stage, but executives are open to meeting with professionals on an informal, 'informational' basis. You're not going to walk in and get a job, but an informal meeting can supply you with tips for your resume and job search, valuable interview experience, and at best, an opportunity to impress someone who will remember you when a job does become available - or recommend you to someone else."

Here's more on interviewing for information and how informational interviews can boost your job search.

Related: Questions to Ask During an Informational Interview

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Social media, including sites like Twitter and Facebook, can help you find a job and connect with people who can assist you with growing your career.

However, it works both ways. Social media when used the wrong way can backfire and jeopardize a job offer or even your current job.  I am amazed that people still post "I hate my job" on Twitter or complain about their boss without thinking of the possible ramifications.    Then they're surprised if, all of a sudden, they don't have a job.

It's important to be careful and consider what you shouldn't do, as well as what you should do, when using social media to job search. What you put in your LinkedIn Profile, who you connect with, when and where you use social media, and what you share with the world, all can make a big difference in the outcome of your job search.

Here's how (and how not) to use social media to job search.

Related:  Network Before You Need To | Be Careful What You Tweet

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When you're writing a resume, it's important to get it right. Everything from the content you include in your resume to how you present that content matters. It doesn't make a difference how qualified you are, in general, if the resume reviewer can't tell that you're qualified for that particular job. I've seen some that aren't even close, with no explanation as to why they would be a good fit for the position.

It's important to take the time to write a resume that reflects why you're a top tier candidate who should be selected for an interview.

Resume writing isn't always easy and, in addition to having a well-written resume, you need to make sure that your resume looks good. Resumes with bad formatting or typos are often rejected, regardless of how qualified the candidate might be.

Here's how to write a resume that will impress the hiring manager or recruiter. Once once you have a draft, review these resume writing tips to make sure your resume helps you secure an interview.

Releated: Resume Templates | How to Write a Cover Letter

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Do you have a bad job, first job, or how you found a job story to share? We have received lots of interesting worst job stories - ranging from second wives to mind readers and plain old bad jobs that are high stress and low pay.   First job stories run the gamut, too - from paper boys to princesses and just about everything in between.  They are fun to read, and we'd be thrilled to add your stories to the lists.

Photos are a welcome addition to your story.  Just a word of warning though - if you're still working at your bad job, don't include your last name or a photo.   You don't want to lose your job because of what you posted online, regardless of how bad it is.

First Jobs
What was your first job? How did you get your first job? What did you love (or hate) about it? What did you learn from the experience?
Share Your First Job Story

How I Found a Job
Finding a new job isn't easy, especially in a difficult economy. Share your job search success story and what you learned during your job search.
Share Your Job Search Story

Worst Jobs
Have you had a really bad job? Share your worst job story and let us know what made it a bad job, what you learned, and how other people can avoid a bad job situation. If you'd like to include a photo, upload one to go along with your story.
Share Your Worst Job Story

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What do employers want to know before they hire you? You might be surprised at how much they want to know and how much they check. Employment background checks are being conducted by employers more frequently than in the past and some employers will confirm, very thoroughly, every detail of your resume or application. Employers may also require a pre-employment physical examination to determine the suitability of an individual for a job.

In addition, companies are concerned about negligent hiring lawsuits where employers can be held responsible for injuries caused by an employee, if they did not check the employee's background. Your credit history is important to employers because it an indication of how responsible you are.

What do you do if your employment history is shaky or your credit needs repairing? Zachary Hummel, Partner in the New York office of Bryan Cave LLP who represents employers in all aspects of labor and employment law, shares his perspective on the best strategies for job seekers when it comes to job applications and employment background checks.

More: Employment Background Checks

The unemployment rate hit a tough milestone last month, reaching 10.2% for the first time in 26 years. Since the start of the recession, payroll employment has fallen by 7.3 million jobs.

In October, non-farm payroll employment dropped by 190,000 jobs. Over the past three months, job losses have averaged 188,000 a month, however, declines are much smaller than they have been - last winter and spring job losses were over 600,000 a month. Among the unemployed, those who have been out of work 27 weeks or more increased to 5.6 million.

On a related note, the Senate and House have now passed unemployment extension legislation. This new extension extends jobless benefits by 14 weeks for every state and an additional 6 weeks, for a total of 20 weeks, in high unemployment states where unemployment is over 8.5%. If you're out of unemployment, or about to run out, check with your state unemployment office for updates on when you'll receive benefits.

More: Unemployment | Extended Unemployment Benefits | Unemployment Rate

With all the focus on online job searching, it's important to remember that some employers recruit the old fashioned way.   Smaller local companies don't always post on job boards or on their company web site, so you may not find their job openings online.  Instead, they  advertise in their local newspaper or pennysaver.

In fact, I'm seeing more help wanted ads in my local newspapers than I have in a long time.   Since the recession began there had been mostly line ads and not many of them.  My Sunday paper had quite a few display ads like we used to see every week.  Plus, some of them were for top local companies with multiple job openings.

So, don't forget to check your newspaper's classified section.  You don't need to run to the store to buy the latest edition of the paper. Online newspaper editions which contain the help wanted classified ads are available for most papers and the help wanted ads are typically searchable by date, category, keyword and location.

Related:  Help Wanted Ads | Job Listings | Local Job Search

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November 6 Update: President Obama has signed the unemployment extension legislation. Unemployed workers should check with their state unemployment office for details on when payments will start being made. The extension provides for 14 weeks of extended benefit coverage for every state and an additional 6 weeks, for a total of 20 weeks, in high unemployment states where unemployment is over 8.5%.

November 5 Update: The House voted to approve the unemployment extension today. The next step is for the President to sign it.   After that happens, check with your state unemployment office for details on when payments will start being made.  UnemployedWorkers.org has checked with many state unemployment offices and reports that "The first payable week of benefits under the new extension is the week ending November 14, 2009. Benefits would not be legally payable until after that date. Most states have been able to make their first payments under new extension laws in the past within about 3 weeks of enactment, which would be around the first of December."

November 4 Update:   The Senate has voted for an unemployment extension.  The  Senate voted 98 - 0 to extend jobless benefits by 14 weeks for every state and an additional 6 weeks, for a total of 20 weeks, in high unemployment states where unemployment is over 8.5%.   The House needs to approve the extension, which then goes to the President to sign.  Hopefully, that will happen this week.

November 2 Update: The Senate voted 85-2 Monday to limit debate and move ahead on an unemployment extension vote. A final vote is expected later this week. The Senate unemployment extension legislation would provide up to 14 additional weeks of unemployment insurance benefits to out-of-work people whose benefits are running out. Unemployed workers in the 27 states where the unemployment rate is at 8.5% or higher would receive and additional six weeks of benefits.

The Senate agreed on an 87-13 procedural vote Tuesday to bring unemployment extension legislation to a final vote, however, the legislation is still being negotiated in the Senate and may not be voted on until Monday. If it is approved, final passage would be on Tuesday, then the legislation would go back to the House to be reconciled with the legislation that has already been passed there. Once the legislation is approved by both the House and Senate, the next step is for the President to sign it. Then the states will start paying extended benefits to those who qualify. Once it's in effect, information will be available on state unemployment office web sites.

Senate Democrats have a counter showing how many Americans (156,387 and about 7,000 more each day) have run out of benefits and how long (21 days and counting) since the legislation has been delayed.

The National Employment Law Project has clarified who the extension will cover:
If you have exhausted your full range of federally funded benefits before the passage of this bill, you WILL be eligible for these additional weeks... However, in another important aspect, the bill is NOT retroactive. You will not receive a lump sum payment dating back to the time when you exhausted benefits. The benefits will only be paid going forward.

Share Your Unemployment Story

• Share Your Unemployment Story
• Read Unemployed Worker Stories

More: Unemployment Extension | Unemployment Discussion Forum

November 6 Update: President Obama has signed the unemployment extension legislation. Check with your state unemployment office for details on when payments will start being made. The extension provides for 14 weeks of extended benefit coverage for every state and an additional 6 weeks, for a total of 20 weeks, in high unemployment states where unemployment is over 8.5%.

• Share Your Unemployment Story
• Read Unemployed Worker Stories

November 5 Update: The House voted today to approve the unemployment extension. The next step is for the President to sign it.   Once it's signed, check with your state unemployment office for details on when payments will start being made.  UnemployedWorkers.org has checked with many state unemployment offices and reports that "The first payable week of benefits under the new extension is the week ending November 14, 2009. Benefits would not be legally payable until after that date. Most states have been able to make their first payments under new extension laws in the past within about 3 weeks of enactment, which would be around the first of December."   States have been doing their best to keep up-to-date and to post updates as soon as they have them, but it may take some time for the logistics to be figured out.

November 4 Update:  An unemployment extension has been approved by the Senate.  The  Senate voted 98 - 0 to extend jobless benefits by 14 weeks for every state and an additional 6 weeks, for a total of 20 weeks, in high unemployment states where unemployment is over 8.5%.   The House needs to approve the extension, which then goes to the President to sign.  Hopefully, that will happen this week.

November 2 Update: The Senate voted 85-2 Monday to limit debate and move ahead with a vote to approve unemployment extension legislation. A final vote is expected later this week.

October 29 Update: The Senate is moving closer to voting to extend unemployment insurance. The Senate agreed on an 87-13 procedural vote Tuesday to bring the measure to a final vote. However, the legislation is still being negotiated in the Senate and may not be voted on until next week.

The National Employment Law Project has clarified who would be covered by the extension:
If you have exhausted your full range of federally funded benefits before the passage of this bill, you WILL be eligible for these additional weeks... However, in another important aspect, the bill is NOT retroactive. You will not receive a lump sum payment dating back to the time when you exhausted benefits. The benefits will only be paid going forward.

October 24 Update: Reports indicate that unemployment legislation will be on the agenda for the Senate next week, but there is no timeline for a vote on legislation that would extend unemployment benefits for the 2 million workers who are running out of unemployment.  

October 2 Update: Senator Max Baucus, Chairman of the Finance Committee, introduced legislation - the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act of 2009 - that provides additional weeks of federal unemployments benefits to workers in all states. Baucus and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid propose four extra weeks of extended unemployment benefits for all states, plus 13 additional weeks for the 27 hardest-hit states. In addition, Senator Jeanne Shaheen will introduce an amendment to give all states 13 weeks of extra unemployment benefits, plus an additional four weeks on top of that for Michigan and other hard-hit states. Hopefully, we'll see action early next week on the proposed legislation.

September 23 Update: The House passed an extension of unemployment benefits last night. The extended benefits would covering an additional 13 weeks of unemployment for more than 1 million workers in 29 high unemployment states whose benefits will expire before the end of 2009. The next step in the process is for the Senate to approve an extension.

September 20 Update: The House of Representatives is expected to propose an extension of unemployment insurance benefits next week. If passed, the extension would provide an additional 13 weeks of benefits to jobless people living in states with an average unemployment rate of 8.5% over the last three months. A vote is expected by mid-week and if it passes, the Senate is expected to follow suit and act quickly to extend benefits which are running out for hundreds of thousands of American workers.

July 24 Update: Millions of unemployed workers are going to start running out of unemployment benefits in the near future. What can you do if your unemployment runs out or you're about to run out of unemployment benefits? First of all, check with your State Unemployment Office to make sure that you are receiving all the extended benefits you qualify for. If you're close to being out, take a look at the other resources that are available for unemployed workers and take advantage of whatever you can to help you get by until you find a new job.

June 18 Update: To discuss unemployment, post information on extended benefits in your state, or ask questions about unemployment benefits, visit the About.com Discussion Forum Unemployment section. You'll be able to ask (and answer if you have information) questions on unemployment.

June 18 Update: The National Employment Law Project reports that since the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) was signed by President Obama, 25 states have enacted jobless benefit policies that will enable thousands of workers previously barred from the system to collect unemployment benefits, while 21 high-unemployment states have extended jobless benefits an additional 13-20 weeks.

March 27 Update: Updates on the unemployment extension are continuing to come in on a state by state basis. Check your state unemployment office web site regularly for updates on extended benefits in your location. Also, check the comments below and add your own updates, if you have news to share. Thanks to everyone who is providing updates. I appreciate your help keeping everyone up-to-date on the extension and unemployment benefits.

March 3 Update: States are starting to post updates on the unemployment extension, so check your state unemployment office web site frequently for news. New York, for example, has an Emergency Unemployment Update stating that 13 additional weeks of benefits are available, along with answers to frequently asked questions about eligibility and payment.

February 22 Update: The National Employment Law Project (NELP) has a Q&A (PDF) that details the new options available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act which allows high unemployment states to provide up to 13 to 20 weeks of additional extended benefits to workers who run out of federal funded unemployment benefits. Currently, are 20 to 33 weeks of benefits for workers who run out of their state unemployment, so this plan, if adopted by the states, would provide additional weeks of federally funded benefits.

States need to qualify for the funding, based on the level of unemployment. The Department of Labor has a weekly trigger notice with an update of which states have reached the unemployment level to qualify for the extended benefits funding.

More information on extended benefits will be available on state unemployment office web sites, hopefully, in the near future.

Unemployment Resources

• Unemployment Benefits
• Unemployment Extension
• How to File for Unemployment
• Job Loss Checklist

There is a school of thought that says unconventional job search tactics work.    Doing something different can help you stand out from the crowd and get noticed.  It can also backfire, but that's a story for another day.

Job search engine Juju.com has compiled some of those tactics that job seekers use to get attention. Here's a sampling:

Advertise Yourself: Imagine being stuck in traffic and glancing up at a billboard only to see the words "HIRE ME" under a massive headshot. That's what Pasha Stocking did, spending $7,000 though, in order to get noticed.

Got Food?: A job candidate once sent a cake designed as a business card with his picture printed on the cake. Another job seeker baked cookies with icing to write several reasons why she should be hired.  A way to getting hired is through a hiring manager's stomach?

HIRE ME Sandwich Board: "Experienced MIT Grad For Hire" read the sandwich board that Joshua Persky was wearing as he handed out resumes in a highly concentrated area of investment houses and commercial banks. This one worked - Joshusa got the attention of an accounting firm in midtown Manhattan, where he is currently working.

On a related, but a bit less unconvential note, Janet FritzHuspen from St. Paul, Minnesota, landed a job after mailing coffee cups to area employers.   She found jobs advertised online, then sent a box with a travel coffee mug, her resume and a cover letter inside. That one worked, too.

Here's more on guerilla job hunting and how it can help you find a job fast, from guest author Kevin Donlin. 

More: Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters

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You have a job interview scheduled, but you're sick, or simply can't make it. What should you do? I know how important job interviews are, but given the concerns about seasonal (or common) flu and swine flu (H1N1), even if you have just a cold you should reschedule the interview.

Showing up to a job interview sick is going to panic the interviewer not impress them. So, if you have any respiratory or flu-like symptons, including a cough, runny nose, stuffy nose, or sore throat, do both yourself and the hiring manager a favor and stay home.

There are other reasons beside illness that necessitate rescheduling an interview. What's important is to let the company know in a timely manner that you won't be able to make the interview and to try to secure a new interview date when you talk to them.

Here's how to reschedule a job interview.

Related: How to Cancel an Interview | Interview Excuses

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November 6 Update: President Obama has signed the unemployment extension legislation. If you're unemployed, check with your state unemployment office for details on when payments will start being made. The extension provides for 14 weeks of extended benefit coverage for every state and an additional 6 weeks, for a total of 20 weeks, in high unemployment states where unemployment is over 8.5%.

November 5 Update: The House approved an unemployment extension today. The next step is for the President to sign it.   Once it's signed, check with your state unemployment office for details on when payments will start being made.  States have been doing their best to keep up-to-date and to post updates as soon as they have them, but it may take some time for the logistics to be figured out.

November 4 Update:   The Senate has voted in favor of an unemployment extension.  The  Senate voted 98 - 0 to extend jobless benefits by 14 weeks for every state and an additional 6 weeks, for a total of 20 weeks, in high unemployment states where unemployment is over 8.5%.   The House needs to approve the extension, which then goes to the President to sign.  Hopefully, that will happen this week.

October 2 Update: Senator Max Baucus, Chairman of the Finance Committee, introduced legislation - the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act of 2009 - that provides additional weeks of federal unemployments benefits to workers in all states. Baucus and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid propose four extra weeks of extended unemployment benefits for all states, plus 13 additional weeks for the 27 hardest-hit states. In addition, Senator Jeanne Shaheen will introduce an amendment to give all states 13 weeks of extra unemployment benefits, plus an additional four weeks on top of that for Michigan and other hard-hit states. Hopefully, we'll see action early next week on the proposed legislation.

Representative Jim McDermott, Washington, introduced legislation, H.R. 3404, which would an additional 13 weeks of unemployment benefits for workers in states where the overall unemployment rate on a three-month rolling average is at or above 9% (currently 20 states). In addition, the legislation would continue provisions in the Recovery Act set to expire at the end of the year, including extended benefits and increasing the amount of unemployment by $25/week. Rep. McDermott said he will push for quick passage of the legislation in the House in early September.

More:  H.R. 3404 Status | Extended Unemployment Benefits

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 Cover Letter Tips

• 10 Cover Letter Tips
• 10 Curriculum Vitae Tips
• 10 Resume Tips

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You have found a new job and you're ready to give two weeks notice to your current employer. Or, you've lost your job. What's the best way to say goodbye? First things, first. Regardless of the circumstances of your leaving, if you are about to resign, your first responsibility is to let your employer know that you are resigning. You need to part on good terms and you don't want your boss hearing rumors of your departure through the grapevine.

The next step is to say farewell to co-workers and to let them know that you are moving on to a new position, starting a job search, retiring, or doing something else with your life.

Here's how to say goodbye diplomatically and without burning any bridges, include what to say, how to say it, and how to send a goodbye note.

More:: Goodbye Letters | Resignation Letters

I received an email the other day from someone who wondered what happened to the dress code for job interviews. She said that she'd seen more applicants lately in ratty jeans and sneakers or flip-flops than dressed in interview appropriate attire.

Is there a job interview dress code, anymore, she wondered. The answer, in a nutshell, is yes. It does matter what you wear to a job interview. When you are dressing for a job interview the image you present is important, even if you're applying for a part-time job at a local store. Your image is what makes the first impression on the interviewer, so it's important to dress appropriately when interviewing.

Regardless of the type of job you're interested in, you want that first impression to be a great one. When dressing for an interview for a professional position, dress accordingly in business attire. If you're applyng for a job in a more casual environment, a store or restaurant, for example, it's still important to be neat, tidy, and well-groomed, and to present a positive image to the employer. And, even if you're a teenager going on an interview for a first job, what you wear matters, too.

More: What Not to Wear to a Job Intervew | What Not to Wear for Teens