9 Job Search Tools Every Job Hunter Must Use

9 Job Search Tools Every Job Hunter Must Use 68 Call it the 21st Century Job Hunter's Toolbox. This is a guest post by Krista Mitchell. If you’d also like to guest post here on JobMob, follow these guest post guidelines. Use all of the following tools in order to make the most of your job search and minimize the time it takes to land a job. These tools use every arena available to get you professionally known and wanted by employers in today’s changing job market: on paper, in person, online, and through friends and acquaintances. So… decorate your toolbox and toss in the following:eval 1) Social media presence Recruiters are turning to social media more and more to find candidates. Some of the big career and networking ones are LinkedIn and now, Google+.eval Complete your profile as much as possible to be viewed more often, and connect with others on the site. On LinkedIn, you can even have recommendations posted on your profile, so hit up your former bosses, clients, professors, and coworkers for glowing commentary about you. Join LinkedIn groups, post insightful comments on bloggers’ articles, and use online platforms to discuss relevant issues to build business relationships. Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter are also popular but not quite as much for job search purposes. However, if you have a Facebook or other social media account, be sure that nothing unbecoming is viewable by the public. 70% of recruiters say they have declined a candidate due to improper social media material. 2) Network Networking is the most effective way to find a job. It involves contact with people who are your friends, relatives, church members, former high school or college classmates and professors, online acquaintances, former coworkers, neighbors, fellow shoppers in the grocery line, etc. This is your key to the hidden job market, the jobs that are never advertised. You communicate with each person what line of work you are seeking and briefly your experience and/or education and request that they keep you in mind should they encounter career opportunities matching your profile. The list should grow over time as you meet new people online and in person. Continue following up with each member of your network on a regular basis. 3) Business card Something small that briefly states who you are and your specialty comes in handy when meeting new people, when a business card seems more appropriate than handing out resumes to everyone you meet. Be selective though, giving cards only to those who seem possibly promising. Cards are also easier for people to hang onto in the event they come across a job that might interest you. Don’t feel limited to the traditional format though. Creativity breeds remembrance. You could choose a unique shape or style that matches your occupation. For inspiration, see these 125+ Creative Business Card Designs That Make You Unforgettable. 4) Elevator speech This works well with the business cards. An elevator speech is your brief three-minute speech introducing yourself and describing your professional career and target position. Hopefully, it leads to a conversation. At the least, it gets your name out there to one more person, an opportunity to pass along a business card, and potential to generate new job possibilities. 5) An open mind If you limit your scope to only traditional, permanent, full-time positions with full benefits, you may be searching a lot longer. The uncertain economy has employers wary of hiring. More companies are shifting to part-time employees only, temporary contract work, and less than traditional full benefits. It is increasingly popular for companies to delegate hiring to temporary agencies that screen applicants for them and put them in “temp-to-hire”. If the company doesn’t like who the temp agency sends, they can simply request someone else, and in the mean time, the company doesn’t have to pay out anything for benefits on the temp worker. 6) Résumé Your résumé should highlight accomplishments, special achievements, and awards, illustrating your skills and knowledge. It should cover various aspects of your career briefly. Save the full description for the interview. 7) Cover letter Every résumé should be accompanied by a cover letter, which introduces you briefly as a professional, tells how you learned about the position, and describes how the company may benefit from the value you offer. It should address a specific person at each company rather than “Sir or Madam” which shows a lack of research about to whom you’re writing. Use the letter to also discuss issues not addressed on a résumé, such as gaps in your employment history or why you are interested in the position if it is not in your historical line of work. End the one-page letter with a call to action, a request to meet with the reader to discuss the position further. 8) Portfolio Bring this with you to every interview. Your work portfolio is a collection of examples or photos of your best work, awards, letters of recommendation, performance evaluations, and the like. A portfolio comes in handy, because it illustrates your capabilities to the employer before the stage of checking references, which isn’t usually done until the employer is already serious about you. It may be a three-ring binder with pages or a book you have printed at a printing shop. For those in high-creativity occupations, a CD with examples of your finest creations might be more appropriate. If your portfolio is on a CD, you might even send one with each résumé. 9) Follow-up letter/Thank-you note Following every interview, mail a brief letter or simple thank-you card to each interviewer, thanking them for their time and reiterating the value you offer. This is a tool used by few but with increasing popularity and could make the difference between you and another candidate, impressing the employer enough to make you a job offer. These are your tools. Develop each to present yourself in the best light possible, clearly conveying the type of work you seek and the value you offer to employers. It is a demanding toolbox for a challenging job market, but if you use these tools consistently, your job search should result in an array of possibilities and offers in less time than the traditional job search. About the Author Krista Mitchell is a Certified Professional Resume Writer who expertly crafts resumes designed to highlight your value with impact with Composure Resume Writing Service. She is also an Employment Specialist with a helpful array of labor market information. Free resume reviews are offered on her website at www.composureresumes.com. She guarantees your satisfaction as your resume is not complete until you say so. Her LinkedIn profile is available at http://www.linkedin.com/in/kristamitchell. If you liked this article, you'll also enjoy 12 Free Tools To Promote Your Job Search Self.

Writing a Resume For Nursing Graduate School

Writing a Resume For Nursing Graduate SchoolA little known fact about nursing school is that when it comes to your resume it really is a two way street. After all, a resume isn't just for your professional accomplishments, but it's also your personal statement that can tell the recruiter's a great deal about you.More people are using their resumes as a tool to attract the attention of employers, because as medical care providers you need to demonstrate your expertise in order to get a job. You also need to convince the recruiter that you have the abilities necessary to complete the work. Some people might be nervous about writing a resume for nursing graduate school, especially if they haven't studied anything related to medical care.Of course, it is not as difficult as some people think, and there are certain things you should avoid doing. One thing you should avoid is to go in for the obvious answers to the questions on your form. There is no sense in doing this, since recruiters d on't really want you to know the answers to their questions. They don't want to know your hobbies or interests, what you did in high school, or even if you read a lot of fiction.All these things are perfectly fine to put in the personal statement section, but when it comes to the nursing grad school job section, it is better to keep it simple. Write about your accomplishments and responsibilities while in school, and then take a moment to describe why you want to become a nurse. This is the kind of thing that don't have to be written out, but simply needs to be stated.Another important thing you should avoid is to go in for lengthy sentences. Writing a lengthy sentence is a sure sign that you are not sure of yourself, and might be giving off the impression that you lack the ability to write. If you can't write a short paragraph, then chances are you really are not going to be able to write a long one either.There are a lot of things you should keep in mind when you are writing a res ume for nursing graduate school, and a great way to keep this all in perspective is to use common sense. For example, a student who has completed nursing school and wants to get into a position as a nurse, should not go in for the position that will require him to work from home. This would put him in an environment that he would most likely not be comfortable with.Keep in mind that your goal is to find the best position for you. This means that if you do end up working from home, then it should be on the very last pages of your resume. Not only will it make it look like you are trying to cheat the recruiter, but it won't even add to your resume.Writing a resume for nursing grad school is about getting yourself noticed, and this means being honest. You must make sure that all of your experiences, both good and bad, are included. As long as the information is up front, then you are more likely to land that nursing grad school job.

How to look smart throughout the winter months

How to look smart throughout the winter months The weather is changing and we’ve definitely entered the cold season. It’s time to put away the shorts and linen shirts and give your wardrobe a complete revamp to make way for those winter clothes. This season is the perfect time to take another look at what you have ready to go when it comes to smart and stylish clothes. When it comes to winter clothing it is all about layering. The weather is unpredictable so it is best to be prepared for everything. With layering, you can keep yourself warm but it also offers you the opportunity to remove items should you get too hot. Here are some tips on how you can take this on and dress smart this season. Work outfits Depending on your office dress code, the winter commute to work can be one of the best times to dress smartly this winter. If your company requires you to dress quite formal then a dark coloured trouser suit in classic black, navy or grey is a good choice. These colours go with pretty much anything making it easy to layer up. You’ll want to combine this look with some black heels and a white blouse. To finish, a duster jacket in grey and an oversized scarf is best to create a simple, smart and stylish winter outfit. Another great work outfit for those cold days would be to wear a turtleneck jumper underneath your work blazer, instead of a shirt. Some office settings may see this as too casual but others will find it acceptable. Maybe double check with your boss first. Everyday outfits For your everyday outfits, you may still want to remain smart, as well as being a little less serious with your style. Stick with a plain t-shirt as your base layer of clothing, this will be the framework for your outfit. Pair it with skinny black or dark blue jeans and a pair of Chelsea boots. You could even opt for simple plain white trainers. Finish your look off with a biker style jacket. It’s fair to say leather jackets are the perfect way to finish off your outfit if you’re looking to add a little edge to your smart look and when combined with layers make for pretty warm outerwear. Not into leather? A quilted jacket will see you through the season, make it a statement style or a bold colour Superdry is a good example of a high street store with lots of easy to wear styles up for grabs. Accessories Lastly, when it comes to accessories, you don’t need to overpower your outfit. They can change the vibe of any look â€" a slogan beanie adds a more casual feel while matching knitted gloves and a scarf are great for everyday smarter looks. Here are some accessories to consider adding to your wardrobe this season: Scarf â€" These are often great for adding to the more formal look and can even be worn without a coat on warmer days. A black cashmere feel scarf is always a good option, as it adds a little luxury to your look. Gloves â€" Gloves are an essential winter accessory but they are often overlooked when pulling together an outfit. Leather driving gloves are great when you’re clearing the car of all the ice in the morning but should also keep hands warm when just out and about. Tan or black are good colour choices. Hats â€" Hats aren’t for everyone, so try a couple on to see what suits you best. A slogan beanie is a great winter accessory if you’re trying to tone down a smarter look but you can dress things up with a beret or a pom pom beanie that still work for the winter months. Try out some of these looks when attempting to look smart even when it’s cold out.

Bentley College Students Learn How to Blend Social Media with Personal Branding - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Bentley College Students Learn How to Blend Social Media with Personal Branding - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Yesterday I went back to Bentley College and gave a talk on the fusion of personal branding with social media. This time the students were taking one of the first ever social media classes. From my 4 years at Bentley, it was obvious that this school was far ahead of others, with leading technology, such as the stock trading room and state-of-the-art library. Im glad they recognized the role of social media in the school curriculum, but my mission was to teach them how they could apply their classroom learnings to their own lives. Part of their course assignment is to blog about their journey in social media throughout the semester. I actually think this method is a great way to teach students first hand about blogging and by using it as an inter-class communication device they are learning by doing. As you can tell from the pictures below, I ran into some technical issues when I was filming the presentation, so instead I just took snapshots. If anyone can suggest a better way of pod casting, please let me know. Image 1: This picture depicts me introducing myself, stating that I work full-time at EMC as their first social media specialist and how Im a personal branding expert. Notice that Im wearing jeans in these pictures. I typically dress more business casual during my presentations. My thoughts here are that my audience is college students that tend to dress very casual when attending classes, so in order to become more affiliated with them and at their level, I wore what they did. Image 2: When I viewed Seth Godins post called Why bother having a resume? I felt it was a perfect fit for an entirely new slide I wanted to introduce to students. The quote I included was Great jobs, world class jobs, jobs people kill for those jobs dont get filled by people emailing in resumes. Ever. Every opportunity I get now is not on a job board, but rather through an individual looking for a specific type of expertise/talent. College students are notorious for resume submissions to the usual suspects. I also mentioned that 75% of jobs are taken through networking. If you arent building your eBrand or networking at this point, then you are passing off jobs to others who are. Image 3: This one dates back to one of my original philosophies behind personal branding, which is that you can apply corporate and product marketing concepts to the individual. Here I discuss the Marketing Mix or the 4 Ps of Marketing, which is one of the most well known and used concepts in the practice. Person is the product being sold to a recruiter. Place is the location of the company. Price is your total brand value and promotion are the strategies you implement to gain visibility and attention. View the presentation [slideshare id=318718doc=keynote-bentley-college-round-2-1206311322380162-3w=425] For more of my presentations see my SlideShare account

Top Rated Resume Writing Services

Top Rated Resume Writing ServicesThe most obvious benefit of hiring top rated resume writing services is that they help you find the right job for yourself. They are able to take your resume and convert it into a professionally written document that will make a good impression upon a potential employer. These professionals also have the ability to get their resumes posted on multiple online and offline job sites to assist in the marketing of your application.Resume writers are available in many cities around the United States, including Los Angeles, Chicago, New York and San Francisco. With a carefully planned and coordinated marketing plan, the type of candidate they select can be matched with the job required by a company. The main benefit is that the resume of each prospective employee is unique and ready to use. A resume that has been professionally created is immediately recognizable and widely recognized.Many applicants desire to know how to write a good resume, but few realize how much work goes into it. Asking someone to read a resume and give it an honest opinion may seem unfair, but the fact is, some people just do not have the required writing skill and they simply do not do well with difficult grammar and spelling. Therefore, if they are to be hired, a resume needs to be written to perfection and must be done by a professional.After the job is filled, the applicant must learn what to do next. More often than not, there is little work to be done once the job is filled and only a limited amount of work necessary once the job has been filled. This means that the majority of the applicants will need to keep their resumes current.In many cases, employers will provide additional information to the candidates once the job has been filled, but these documents can be sent via email and the candidates can expect to receive one such document a month. There are still other important issues to be considered, such as how long is the resume going to be used. The l ength of time for which the resume is utilized will be determined by the type of resume the person has and the qualifications that are required for the position.The idea behind creating a resume is to be as professional looking as possible. The use of well designed fonts, spacing and formatting options, as well as attractive pictures will make a big difference. Creating an effective resume can be difficult, but it is possible to do so if you hire top rated resume writing services. In most cases, the design process involves using resume templates and a professional layout, although creating your own resume is often possible when the candidate is doing their own research or wants to use a customized design that they have already created.The majority of employers that employ employees will spend a significant amount of time thinking about the specific job the candidate is applying for. In many cases, the employer is interested in seeing that the potential employee has experience in the specific field. If the prospective employee already has experience working in the field the job requires, it may help to use the same layout and formatting in their resume, as this can help to make the resume more user friendly.Once the resumes are completed, they will go through an evaluation process and should be able to choose the company they want to work for from among the many available opportunities. In most cases, it is possible to apply to the job for which they have been assigned to. The process can take up to two weeks, but the more qualified the applicant is, the quicker the resume will be approved.

What Sets You Apart

What Sets You Apart These are the workplace competencies employers say they are looking for: Teamwork Adaptability/flexibility Customer focus Planning organizing Creative thinking Problem solving decision making Working with tools technology Workplace computer applications Scheduling coordinating Checking, examining recording Business fundamentals How many of these do you excel at?   I know you were just performing your job and that problem solving was a regular part of that.   Can you ask yourself whether you did it better than others?   Did you ever save the day? Employers, I believe, want to hire a candidate who minimally possesses and DEMONSTRATES all of these.   So it isnt enough to say you are a strong teamplayer or have strengths in problem solving, scheduling and customer service.   You will need to prove you have successfully used these skills- in a way that they can appreciate. What can you do to outshine the competition?   You can develop your skill level in talking and writing about yourself. This job search is truly a marketing campaign. Remember the Coke vs. Pepsi rivalry?   What do they do to win over customers?   What I do know is that they each spent a ton of money on their campaigns to win new customers. So besides  re-tooling a  product that would directly compete, they let customers know about it. You dont want to be a best kept secret.

Job Length How Long is Long Enough

Job Length How Long is Long Enough Job Length: How Long is Long Enough? What is the best job length of time? I get this question a lot. The answer: It depends. Recently, industry experts revealed on Bloomberg News that the average job length only lasts 3.68 years. Wow. The era of having a job length that stretched from when you graduated until you retire is long gone. The workforce is now dominated by agile, quick learners who get bored easily and want more challenges. It’s not so much about upward mobility now, but more about intellectual stimulation. But from an employer’s perspective, this requires a complete overhaul on how they think about managing their employees. With such short job length from employees, a lot of history is lost when workers depart for other jobs.   Project momentum can be stalled while a search ensues for a replacement.   Shifting dynamics mean team reshuffles. The benefit to employers is that having new hires also brings fresh new ideas to the company on how they do business. But the question still remains: How long is long enough at a job? The answer has many shades of grey. The best bet: match posted job requirements as closely as possible.   Take the time to research multiple job listings for similar positions, which should give you a clue of what the minimum might be. While loyalty is becoming a faded, antique term, having some maturity in the type of work you do is also actually a valuable asset. There is a big difference between “knowing” how to do a job vs. actually doing it. You may feel that you are up to the challenge, but that is very different from being able to step in and know exactly what to do. Another thing to consider about job length isn’t as much about how long you have been there… more about what you actually did while you worked.   If you are toiling just to put in “time” and don’t have much to show for it, you really aren’t any better off than when you started. It’s more important to get in there and demonstrate results. Oftentimes, those results are what attract employers to you… versus you having to go looking for them. If you are being courted by another employer or stalked by a recruiter anxious to present you to one of their clients, this means you’ve already proven your worth.   Value reigns supreme over job length these days. My advice: concentrate on building up your value through positive contributions… versus looking at the clock and saying: “Am I there yet?”