Career Marketplace Blog

In this article for About.com, David Nassief describes Job Interview Follow-Up

Read an excerpt from Nassief’s article. Read Full Article

In the SMARTMONEY BLOG, ENCORE, Kelly Eggers explains how to present your professional experience in her article, Age-Proofing Your Application.

Read an excerpt from Eggers’ article below. Read Full Article

It’s not about your age; it’s about how you present yourself.

Many job seekers believe they’re not considered for open positions because they are too old. The real reason their resumes wind up at the bottom of the pile has more to do with how they present themselves and their industry savvy, say recruiters and hiring managers.  (For the ten worst things you can put on your resume, click here.)

Those who present themselves as up-to-date on industry trends and fluent with new technologies will have a leg up, regardless of their age.

If you are worried that your many years of industry experience will submarine your chances of getting a job, there are things you can do to present yourself as a strong candidate, regardless of your age.

Provide the Right Kind of Contact Information

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In this article for Blogging4Jobs, Jessica Miller-Merrell writes, Job Searching on Social Networks – Yay or Nay?

Read an excerpt from Miller-Merrell’s article below. Read Full Article

With the explosion of social media it seems that individuals and companies alike are using social networks to make personal and business connections. From tweeting customer complaints to maintaining photo albums on Facebook, it has become the norm to take everyday tasks to a social medium.

 But what about job searching? Countless employers and recruiters are present on Twitter, Facebook and now maybe even Google+. With the job market still floundering, social media is a natural fit for many job seekers, especially recent college graduates who tend to be tech-savvy and accustomed to social networking already. To determine how to successfully navigate the job search process in today’s digital landscape, let’s examine the benefits and potential pitfalls of using social media for professional purposes.

Why Social May Not Be the Solution.

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How can you get an edge in your job search? LiveCareer News explains Job Seekers Should Customize Search in Order to Get Hired.

As the job market remains competitive, many potential candidates will have to switch up the way they search for a new job.

It’s important to remember that each job seeker will have to customize the way they market themselves in order to stand out from the competition.

Many older job seekers do not have to follow the outdated advice that they need to keep their resume to one page. Workers with more experience may need to extend their resume to a second page in order to highlight their wide range of skills.

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In this article for About.com Dawn Rosenberg McKay explains, How to Evaluate a Job Offer.

Read an excerpt for Rosenberg McKay’s article below:

In this article for the Wall Street Journal, Dennis Nishi explores the pros and cons of Taking On Two Jobs.

Read an excerpt of Nishi’s article below:

After working a full day at the stables of her horse transport and training business, Melissa Weiser heads to BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse.

But the 40-year-old from Los Angeles isn’t grabbing a drink with friends. She works evenings as a waitress to make up for the dip in her business and to get health insurance.

“I can be pretty exhausted by the end of the day,” she says, “but I manage by micromanaging every moment because I know I need to do both jobs well.” Ms. Weiser is one of 7.3 million Americans that the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says hold more than one job simultaneously.

Although moonlighting sounds like a good way to earn extra income or make up for pay cuts, career experts say workers should think twice before taking on a second job. The additional load can increase job stress, lead to burnout and potentially jeopardize your day job. So it’s important to plan carefully and factor in time and expenses like commuting and child care.

Employees should review their employment agreement and handbook for rules about taking on a second job. Many companies have non-compete policies that prohibit working for competitors or require employees to get approval of outside work to ensure there’s no conflict of interest.

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In this article for US News and World Report Lindsay Olson explains, How to Get Your Resume in Front of the Right Person.

Read an excerpt of Olson’s article below:

Job-hunting is serious business these days.

You need to make sure you’re getting your resume in front of the decision maker, but that can be more difficult than expected. Send resumes to a company generically, rather than to a specific person, and your resume could end up in the garbage. It’s well worth the time it takes to do the necessary research so you can write a targeted cover letter and make certain that your job application lands on the right desk.

Try these tips to increase your chances of the right eyes reading your resume: Read On

In this clip for the CBS hit show, How I Met Your Mother, Barney gives advice on how to create a video resume.

How I Met Your Mother – Barney Stinson: Resume Builder

Wall Street Journal article No Market for Lazy Job Seekers, Ruth Mantell warns job seekers of common mistakes that can derail their job search.

Read an excerpt of Mantell’s article below. Read Full Article

Summer is a season to relax, unless you’re a job seeker.

Given the steep competition for jobs, people who are energized and organized — and those who avoid lazy mistakes — are the likeliest to land a spot.

“It’s not all down to the economy — it’s often about how productive people are during their job search,” says Richard Jordan, a staffing management panel member at the Society for Human Resource Management. “The Internet has made it really easy for people to get a sense of false security about how productive they are.”

That means avoiding the “post-and-pray” technique in which job seekers apply to positions online, and then wait for the offers to roll in.

“Just applying through an online job search doesn’t do anything other than throw your résumé into a pile with [those of] hundreds, if not thousands, of other job seekers,” says Dan Ryan, an executive search consultant based in Nashville.

Another red flag: submitting résumés and cover letters with errors, says Holly Paul, U.S. recruiting leader at PricewaterhouseCoopers, a New York-based accounting and consulting firm.

“I see spelling mistakes, I see punctuation mistakes, I hit delete in two seconds. I don’t even bother to continue reading,” Ms. Paul says.

Here are five more mistakes to avoid:

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