Career Marketplace Blog

In this article for U.S. News and World Report, Miriam Salpeter explains The Best Way to Take Control of Your Job Hunt.

Below is an excerpt of Salpeter article. Read Full Article

Wouldn’t it be nice to have a little more control over your job search? It’s frustrating applying over and over again for jobs and never hearing back.

When you apply online, the odds are against you unless your qualifications exactly match what the employer wants. (In other words, unless you are applying for the job you already have.) It’s not impossible to land an opportunity via an online application; many people do find jobs that way, but it doesn’t change the fact that you’re not likely to get hired from a resume drop.

What should you do instead? Stop looking for a job. Start looking for a company.

You may be surprised, but it may be the best career move you never considered. Instead of spending all of your time searching for appropriate job descriptions and targeting your resume to apply for them, you should consider shifting some of your efforts to identifying organizations whose goals are in line with your interests and whose problems you know you can solve.

Read On

In his article for U.S. News and World Report, Tim Tyrell-Smith lists 10 Signs of a Healthy Job Search.

Some of those signs are:

• You enjoy networking
• People seem to remember you
• You are not relying on your resume

Read full article and view complete list

In her article for Forbes Magazine, Susan Adams writes, Two Myths About Résumés

Below is an excerpt from Adams’ article. Read Full Article

Over eight years as a career coach in New York City,  Win Sheffield has observed the myths his clients tell themselves about the challenge of finding a job.

In this piece, he lays out some facts and some fictions about résumés. (I’ve edited his words a bit.) He writes:

Résumé Myth #1: Putting together my résumé is the most important part of my job search.

The thinking behind this:

Every ad requires a résumé. Everyone who wants to assist me says that they can forward my résumé to HR. To get a job I need to interview and before an interview, interviewers ask me to send my résumé. The only way people will know who I am professionally is by my résumé. It is therefore the most important part of my search.

The appeal – why we want to believe it:

Read On

In her article for U.S. News and World Report, Alison Green reports 8 Things You Should Know About Job References.

Green explains details about reference checks including:

• Employers don’t always stick to the references on the list you gave them.
• References are often highly subjective and opinionated.
• You can find out what kind of reference someone is giving you.

Read on to read to complete list and how your references can influence a potential job offer.

Yahoo! Contributor Aly Adair shares, First Person: How a New Approach Helped Me Land a Job in This Economy.

Below is an excerpt from Adair’s article. Read Full Article

I spent five years searching for a career job that would last until I retire. Like millions of other Americans in the bad economy from 2006-2010, finding a job was nearly impossible. Despite following all the advice of headhunters, human resource consultants, friends or family members, it was what I term “The AND Factor” job search strategy that finally landed me a job. I am over 50, had a failed business, and an MBA from 1981, when most of my interviewers were not even born! Most human resource professionals looked at me and said, “AND why should I hire you?” Or, “AND what makes you better than these 2,000 other young applicants?”

Many older job seekers share similar backgrounds: we all have some level of college degree; we all have years of supervisory/management experience with a major Fortune 500 company; we have families to feed, we have not had to look for a job in 20 years; we are old-school thinkers when we prepare resumes, go on job interviews, and network. After watching a television show that profiled other older professionals trying to find a job, I realized that we all do a couple of things wrong in our job search.

I decided to try some different strategies to see if I had better results. I call these new job search strategies “The AND Factor” job search strategies. My supervisor told me they received 105 resumes for the management job I applied for at the state agency. How is it they hired me for the job? It is critical to give the hiring manager your “AND factor” – they want to know why you are the best person for the job! “AND what makes you so special?” “AND why should I hire you?” Here are the “AND Factor” job search tips that helped me land a career job against all odds.

Read On

U.S. News and World Report On Careers article, The 10 Most Common Job Interview Questions, Alison Green helps you to prepare for your next interview. In today’s competitive job market, it’s important to anticipate what an employer will ask you during the interview process.

Green lists common interview questions and gives you advice on how to become comfortable in your answers. Read Full Article

Common Interview Questions from Green’s article:

• What do you know about our company so far?
• Tell me your strengths?
• Tell me about a time when…
• What has been your biggest professional achievement?

Read On

In his story for ABC News, Zachary Sniderman shows readers 5 Ways to Get a Job Through YouTube.

Sniderman’s tips include success stories from people who have found job opportunities using YouTube. Read Full Article

Have you found success in your job search using YouTube or other Social Media sites? Tell us your story in the comments section.

Forbes.com In Pictures: Tips for Creating the Best Possible Resume, gives you helpful advice on how to update your resume.

Tips in this slideshow include:

• Write a 40-50 word summary that includes three reasons someone should hire you.
• Include all awards and accolades
• Break up text with bullet points detailing your accomplishments

View More Tips

This slide show complements Susan Adams’ Forbes.com article, Give Yourself a Resume Makeover. Click here to read Adams’ article

U.S. News and World report article, The 10 Best Questions to Ask at a Job Interview, Karen Burns gives readers sample questions they should ask during the interview process.

Below is an excerpt from Burns’ article. Click here to read full article.

You’re interviewing for a job. After 20 or 30 minutes, you’re asked: “Do you have any questions?”

The worst thing you can do is ask, “What is it your company does?” (Hey, it has happened.) The next worst thing you can do is say, “Um, nope, I don’t have any questions.”

You need to ask some questions! Asking questions shows your interest in a company and makes you look smarter (smart people tend to be inquisitive). Asking questions gives interviewers a chance to talk about themselves, a thing most people love. And—this is important—asking questions is a way to find out if you really want to work for these people.

Bottom line: Don’t make the interviewer do all the heavy lifting. Take an active role in the interview process and improve your chances of landing a job.

So what should you ask? Here are 10 suggestions:

1. “Can you describe a typical day for someone in this position?” If your interviewer appears to be nervous or ill at ease, a non-abstract question like this is a good way to get the ball rolling.

2. “Could you talk about the history of this position?” Specifically, what you’re trying to find out is how long the position has existed, how many people have held it, and why it is now available.

3. “What were the major strengths and weaknesses of the last person who held this job?” Or in other words, what kind of act would you have to follow. This is also a chance to find out what happened to your would-be predecessor. How this question is answered will tell you a lot about the dynamics and expectations of this workplace.

4. “What are this position’s biggest challenges?” You’re naturally curious about the downsides of the job. But find out in a way that makes you look confident and unafraid to tackle problems.

5. “In what area could your team use some improvement?” Do you get an honest-sounding answer? This is important. It’s also an opportunity to talk some more about how your skills specifically match this company’s needs.

6. “What are the prospects for advancement?” Asking this demonstrates that you have ambition, and makes you look like a big picture person.

Read On

About.com Guide, Alison Doyle reveals 10 Resume Tips – Top Ten Resume Writing Tips*.

Tips from this article:

1. Choose a Basic Font
2. Include Resume Keywords
3. Tailor your Resume Objective

An effective resume should be easy to read and tailored to the position. This will stand out with employers and get closer to an interview.

Do you have a resume writing tip that worked for you? Tell us about it in the comments section.