http://www.recruitingblogswap.com/ Grow your blog's readership by swapping links and articles with other blog authors and publishers. en-us Recently, I was a featured expert for an article about job search 2.0. I was asked: “What one thing do you want job seekers to know about Job Search 2.0 to help boost their competitive edge in this tough job market?” You can read the original article here. Various experts offered their advice, and I highly recommend you read it if you’re an active job seeker. For my part of the article I shared the importance of personal branding in your job search, and I want to elaborate a little more on that aspect today and how it relates to your resume. As a former HR manager who has reviewed thousands of resumes, when I look at a potential candidate I’m doing two things: First, I’m asking myself if this person has the minimal requirements for the position (i.e., do they meet the job description?), and second, how does this... http://jobsinstockholm.blogspot.com/2010/03/is-your-resume-missing-this-critical.html Sat, 13 Mar 2010 15:04:20 -0500 What is gobbledygook? Webster's New Encyclopedic Dictionary defines it as “wordy and generally unintelligible jargon.” Unfortunately, gobbledygook is found everywhere: in newspaper articles, brochures and, sad-to-say, many resumes. If you commit the error of trying to impress the reader with your use of fancy words and jargon (rather than clearly conveying facts and ideas), your message will FAIL. If you write sentences like the following examples and expect the reader to understand what you do (or want to do), you may be very disappointed. Consider this sentence I recently found in a marketing manager’s resume: <p style="padding-left: 30px;"><em>I oversee a team that demonstrates capacity to provide comprehensive support for executive-level staff including scheduling meetings, coordinating travel, and effectively managing all essential tasks. </em></p> So does the team demonstrate the capacity to provide support, or do they actually do the work? The sentence suggests that they might be able to do the job <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>if</em></span>... http://www.mnheadhunter.com/mh/2010/03/gobbledygook-and-your-resume.html Thu, 11 Mar 2010 10:25:54 -0500 Mystery shopping or secret shopping is a great way to secure outside income and enhance your resume. A mystery shopper is someone who provides normally a retail, restaurant, grocery store, or convenience store establishment an impartial evaluation on their location’s performance regarding customer service, in-stock product, cleanliness, and the customer experience. Sometimes shoppers are asked to visit a location to take pictures of a display or a new grocery freezer for the competition. Companies who recruit and provide mystery shop services to these retail companies have come under fire because of work at home and get rich quick scams that prey on people who are looking for a quick way to make a buck or are lured into signing up for a program by paying a fee. Reputable mystery shop companies never require a fee. They pay you after you complete a shop. There are a... http://marysevinsky.wordpress.com/2010/03/11/your-career-as-a-mystery-shopper/ Thu, 11 Mar 2010 07:14:33 -0500 <img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-3579" title="stair" src="http://careeralley.com/wp-content/uploads/j0286817.gif" alt="stair" width="65" height="59" />"<em>There's a lady who's sure all that glitters is gold And she's buying the stairway to heaven.</em>" - <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Led_Zeppelin" target="_blank">Led Zeppelin</a> Okay, let's be honest, it's all about money in the end. "No way" you say, "money is not the driving factor for me, it's all about the experience". So maybe that's true, but unless you are independently wealthy, you still need money to pay the bills and put food on the table. After you find your job, the one that really motivates you, the money comes next. And, if you are like most people, you want to be paid what you're worth. Most times, we are only worth what the market will bear. Unless we are so unique as to command an amazing salary (and if you were you would probably not be reading this article). So what are... http://dailycareerconnection.com/worth-your-weight-in-gold-know-your-bottom-line Wed, 10 Mar 2010 07:54:06 -0500 <img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-3366" title="handshake" src="http://careeralley.com/wp-content/uploads/j03157722.gif" alt="handshake" width="129" height="99" />“<em>Few things help an individual more than to place responsibility upon him, and to let him know that you trust him.</em>” - <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Booker_T._Washington" target="_blank">Booker T. Washington</a> Trust. We often over look the value of trust until we've been cheated, let down, disappointed or all of the above. This is true not only in our relationships with each other, but in our relationship with our employer. Most people want to trust everyone and everything, but for those who've been burned "big time" (like losing your job through no fault of your own), trust is hard one. So exactly what does "trustworthy" mean"? Well, according to <a href="http://www.yourdictionary.com" target="_blank">yourdictionary.com</a>, Trustworthy means dependable and reliable (and, of course, worthy of trust). So how do you know if a company is trustworthy? Do your research. How do employees, customers and the general public feel about the... http://www.careeronlineblog.com/2010/03/whos-hiring-from-forbes-most.html Tue, 09 Mar 2010 23:20:01 -0500 If you find you’re sending out resume after resume and your phone still isn’t ringing it’s missing a competitive advantage. What your resume needs is to clearly show the hiring manager who you are, why you’re the best at what you do and how you’re going to meet their needs. You have to peak the hiring manager’s interest enough to get the call and below are a few reasons why your resume isn’t quite making the cut. NO FOCUS, CLEAR DIRECTION, OR JOB TARGET When a hiring manager views the first third of your resume they have no idea what you do. If they have to read down to the end of the first page to figure out what you do or where to put you they won’t invest the time. Spell it out up front through a personal branding statement and powerful career summary. IT USES DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES VS. ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND... http://careeralley.com/careers/3-reasons-why-your-resume-is-missing-a-competitive-advantage/ Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:53:12 -0500 <img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-3641" title="hidden" src="http://careeralley.com/wp-content/uploads/hidden.gif" alt="hidden" width="76" height="89" />"<em>Greatness is not a function of circumstance. Greatness, it turns out, is largely a matter of conscious choice, and discipline.</em>" - <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_C._Collins" target="_blank">Jim Collins</a> So many of my posts have been about where to find a job (as you would expect). But then I started thinking, what about the not so obvious places to find a job? You've heard the usual statistics "80% of all positions are filled without employer advertising" or "80% of all jobs are filled by referral" and finally "most job seekers find jobs through networking". Now there is some truth to this (although I'm not convinced about the statistics), and you should ensure you focus on this as one part of you job search strategy (hence this post). <ul> <li><a href="http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/findingajob/Unlocking_the_Hidden_Job_Market__2004825-1512.html?subtopic=More+Job+Hunting+Tips" target="_blank">Unlocking the Hidden Job Market</a> - This article, posted on Yahoo's <a href="http://www.hotjobs.com" target="_blank">Hot Jobs</a>, not only covers... http://www.thedailyrecruiter.com/the-daily-recruiter-blog/the-hidden-job-market-find-yours.html?SSScrollPosition=0 Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:56:27 -0500 Let’s face it: not all people are created equal in the corporate world. Some make it to manager status after years of hard work – and then there are others who get there at a young age. In this day and age, new young managers are growing in number as the corporate moves toward a more youthful and futuristic direction. According to the US Department of Labor, there is a consistent increase of professionals 20-34 years getting a managerial position. In fact, 15% of them even hold executive spots. Despite the big responsibilities to be encountered, being promoted to become a manager is gratifying, that comes without a doubt. However, holding the position without the traditional requisite age that usually goes with it before is definitely a bigger challenge. The difficulty comes in when the readiness of new young managers is not at par... http://icareersearch.wordpress.com/2010/03/08/new-young-managers-and-the-training-they-need/ Mon, 08 Mar 2010 11:30:33 -0500 <img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3700" title="matches-2" src="http://careeralley.com/wp-content/uploads/matches-2-300x225.jpg" alt="matches-2" width="160" height="120" />"<em>If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.</em>" - <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_ford" target="_blank">Henry Ford</a> The perfect job. I'm sure you've been asked "What would be your perfect job?". And, you probably have an answer (and if you don't, you should). I've been asked that by recruiters and career counselors many times over my career and the answer has changed as I've learned about opportunities I never knew existed. So what I'm trying to say is that we don't always know what we want because we don't always know what's out there. Job discovery is an important part of the career planning process and you should have an open mind when considering opportunities. So do you want that faster horse or the car you didn't know existed? <strong>Where to find Recruiters:</strong> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.TheRecruiterNetwork.com/" target="_blank">TheRecruiterNetwork</a> – This website provides a listing... http://marysevinsky.wordpress.com/2010/03/08/find-your-recruiter-and-discover-your-job-vol-6/ Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:32:51 -0500 <img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3647" title="railroad-tracks" src="http://careeralley.com/wp-content/uploads/railroad-tracks-224x300.jpg" alt="railroad-tracks" width="116" height="156" />“<em>Success means having the courage, the determination, and the will to become the person you believe you were meant to be</em>” - <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Sheehan" target="_blank">George Sheehan</a> Unemployment may be up, but these companies have over <strong>4,000 job opportunities</strong> and are looking to hire them direct. What does that mean? It means that these opportunities may not be posted or advertised anywhere else. Company career sites are part of the "hidden job market" and exploring these sites should be a regular part of your job search strategy. <ul> <li><a href="http://www.alcoa.com/global/en/careers/welcome.asp?" target="_blank">Alcoa</a> – Located in 34 countries around the world, Alcoa’s main business is the production of aluminum. From the careers page, you can search openings, find out about the company or visit the student section which is dedicated to recruiting for college students. To register on the site, you must select search openings, select your... http://jobsinstockholm.blogspot.com/2010/03/links-to-jobs-at-company-career-sites.html Mon, 08 Mar 2010 03:39:25 -0500