In the limited time an interviewer has with you, their mission is to know you and assess your worth, especially in relationship to the other candidates interviewed. Asking you questions is the way they accomplish that mission.

You'll be asked to tell the interviewer about yourself, your qualifications (especially as they pertain to the specific opening), your professional background, your likes and dislikes, your strengths and weaknesses, and your goals. So the first step is to know yourself. Be prepared to talk about your skills, competencies, qualifications and accomplishments. Understand your strengths and weaknesses. Explore the goals you have for yourself – both current and future.

Especially know how to convey the value you bring to the table – the strengths, unique gifts and marketable assets that are distinctly yours. Know your value proposition; it describes your worth. It is what uniquely defines you, and differentiates you from the crowd. If you want to stand out in the huge ocean of candidates that represents your competition, you need to become fluent in this arena.

You may also be asked why you left your previous position. This is where the interview can get a bit tricky. How you answer this question can make or break your chances. No matter how challenging your supervisor was or how grueling the workload or the sixty-hour weeks were, you must frame your response in a positive light. If you left your previous employment because you were downsized, that's ok. That's happened quite a bit in the past few years. If you resigned, be very careful how you state this. Your attitude can enhance or end your chances. Be honest, and be sure to indicate your desire for stability as an overriding factor.   

Keep in mind that while your answers will help the interviewer assess your skills for the position at hand, it's how you respond that more importantly determines your overall fit with the company. Personality is ninety percent of the battle. You may answer a question factually, but your attitude might tell them no.  On the other hand, it's far better to establish a rapport with your interviewer than to answer every question correctly. A skill can always be taught, but when was the last time you successfully altered someone's personality?  

Find out everything you can about the interviewer's quirks and traits. Are they confrontational or laid back, serious or informal, friendly or stern? What is their position within the company, and how long have they been employed there? Are they the decision-maker and therefore in a position to make you an offer? They may simply be a screen, filtering out all the non-viable candidates from further review by higher-ups. If they are a screen, try and discover upon whose shoulders the hiring responsibility falls.

You need to learn as much as you can about the position for which you are interviewing. Why does the position exist – are you replacing someone or is this a new position created because of company growth? If you are replacing someone, is it because they retired, resigned or were terminated?  Understand the fundamental responsibilities of the position, especially in relationship to similar positions you have held in the past. Know what possibilities exist for your growth within the position and the company.

Research the company, using Google, Dunn & Bradstreet, Hoover's, Standard and Poors, or any of the other sources of corporate information. Who are its competitors in the marketplace and what percentage of the market do they own? Are their processes state of the art and at the cutting edge of technology? Are they a public company or privately held? If public, how are they perceived by investment advisors, what is their earnings track and how has their stock performed? If a privately held company, is it a family-run business with non-family members being in the minority? That would be ok; however, it could affect your chances for future promotions and growth.

Know the industry. The company might be at the forefront in terms of their processes, sales and marketing efforts, and growth, but its industry may be on its way out. If you see a delicious-looking apple growing on a dying tree, you might hesitate before pulling it off and taking a bite.

Do your research in all these areas so you can be well-prepared. Get on the Internet and find out everything you can. Make phone calls. Make sure you know all there is to know, so that you will go to your interview with great confidence and self-assurance.

Come to the interview dressed appropriately. Establish a comfort level early in the interview and maintain that rapport throughout. The initial handshake must be firm but not gripping. Eye contact is critical throughout the interview. How you sit in your chair and shift your posture can make or break your effectiveness. Remember, you're there to sell yourself, so be sure to ask for the offer before the interview is over. Fully armed, you can ask all the right questions and come away a success.

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Anyone who is trying to determine their career choice can easily be intimidated these days to say the least. With so much to offer, where does one begin? Perhaps we would all benefit from time to time to think about what it is that gives us the energy to keep going. Anyone who desires to be successful at what they do is going to have to put their heart and soul into the task. What type of career choice is best for you?

A career choice that includes being self employed is one that more and more people are considering today. With the advancement of technology it is becoming easier all the time to make contact with the outside world from the comfort and convenience of your favorite chair, which for most of us is quickly becoming the one sitting in front of the computer. Let's face it, wouldn't most of us rather stay home and set our own hours, if we are so fortunate to be able to create an income without having to abide under someone else's seemingly strict rules and regulations?

This type of career choice is the perfect one for the person who has something to sell and can do it from home. What about the homemaker with young children who have entered school and whose passion is interior decorating? What better way to create your own income than to determine where your gifts and passions lie, and then present them in a package that a select market can hardly refuse? Being able to set her own hours, she embarks on a new challenge and starts to market her business. With the added convenience of technology today, she is able to run her business from the home computer and enjoy the added benefit of choosing her own hours to do so.

When considering what type of career choice works for you, it would be wise to determine whether your career lends itself to the possibility of being your own boss. Perhaps it is more appealing to you now to be employed by somebody else, but the day may come when the benefits of being self-employed begin to look better and better.

This is a viable option for the person who has the determination to hang in there through thick and thin and who realizes that it can take several years of hard work and dedication before he is able to reap the financial benefits. It is probably safe to say that this is not the best career option for the one who is weak at heart.

If you are considering this as a career option, there are some things you should ask yourself and consider seriously before taking the plunge. Are you being realistic as you lay out your personal goals, and do you have a strong level of confidence that you will be able to achieve them? Are you persistent enough to work through adversity even if it seems to be lingering at your doorstep?

What about having to live with the uncertainty that your business will indeed be enough to support your financial needs? This type of career option is definitely more suitable for the risk taker. Are you organized and able to keep on top of your responsibilities?

The benefits of considering self employment as a career option are able to far outweigh the negative aspects for the person who likes to be in control and prefers to be his own boss. The convenience of being able to choose your own hours is probably one of the most appealing aspects, along with the freedom of not having to abide with the rules and regulations of a large corporation or being under the watchful eye of your employer.

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Today's economy presents some very special challenges to people who are unemployed, underemployed, or who are simply trying to give their own business venture a shot in the arm. At times, the job search can seem daunting, if not impossible, as it takes quite a bit of encouragement - and creativity - to keep pressing forward. A highly flexible [power] networking plan is important - one that requires "out of the box" thinking in order to increase your chances of securing desired employment. The following is a list of options to pursue in order to launch a successful personal marketing plan, which is what networking is all about. Most will cost you little or nothing to implement and for the cash strapped person that can be a real help. I wrote these suggestions for business flight attendants who, understandably, have suffered much since the 2001 terrorist attacks. You can easily modify the suggestions for your particular field of interest.

1. Attend aviation job fairs [carry plenty of business cards and copies of your résumé with you].

2. Join an employment support group.

3. List your résumé with an agency.

4. Create an online résumé for additional exposure.

5. Go to retirement parties of former associates.

6. Become your local airport's liaison to the surrounding community.

7. Attend a catering class.

8. Form a networking group in your area.

9. Go to conventions.

10. Attend other aviation related meetings [medical seminars, safety and security symposiums, dinners, golf outings, barbecues, fund raisers, 10K races].

11. Serve on an aviation related committee as a volunteer.

12. Volunteer for the Corporate Angel Network.

13. Accept other types of employment within your target company [i.e., dispatcher, sales, customer service, etc.].

14. Write an article about some aspect of corporate aviation and publish it online.

15. Organize a wine tasting seminar in your area or approach a local caterer/vineyard about being aviation's representative to their business [be prepared to offer plenty of free publicity for them].

16. Work temporarily for a caterer specializing in inflight service.

17. Start a part time business by selling a product that corporate aviators need.

18. Finally, for the savvy [some would say nervy] flight attendant the following type of suggestion could produce dividends: Hang out at the local after work watering hole where aviation folks gather. Learn the language [culture] of the company; find out who the movers and shakers are, etc.

Some people might accuse you of being a shameless self promoter, as if you had a contagious disease. Let them think the worst of you while they sit at home fretting about work and while you are winging your way to points hither and yon!

Do not be deterred, but start thinking outside the parameters you [or others] have imposed on yourself; your goal is employment and your name is golden - as such, gold must be prominently displayed in order to command the proper attention [employment] that it so richly deserves!

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Working abroad can be an exciting, rewarding and horizon broadening experience; and if you take the time to plan ahead carefully before you go, you will make your transition into the overseas work place a smooth and successful one.

So, if you're considering relocating overseas to take up a temporary assignment or you'd like to move abroad permanently and find work there are basically three main aspects of expatriation that you need to think about before you make your move and this article examines them for you.

1)Location

Unless you're being relocated by your employer to a fixed location you will quickly discover that it's a big wide world and you therefore have a great deal of choice when considering which country best suits your lifestyle and employment requirements. In an effort to narrow down your search a little consider any country you're interested in in view of the following considerations: -

i)The location's distance from your home country and your family and friends – remember that there will be times you want or need to return home and/or to catch up with old faces. How easy and affordable will it be for you to go 'back home' should the need arise and how simple will it be for your friends and family to come and visit you?

ii)The weather – some countries are more or less hospitable in weather terms and someone who originally heralds from Tropical North Queensland may find it a struggle to cope with the wet, grey winters in England for instance and someone from Canada may find is a shock coping with the searing summer temperatures in Spain. Thinking about your ideal overseas location from a weather perspective may well cut down your choices!

iii)Your family – particularly if you're expatriating with children you'll need to think carefully about the healthcare and education facilities available overseas and also about getting your essential insurances in place before you go. Some countries are more expensive and restrictive than others…bear this in mind.

iv)Language barriers – if you're considering moving to a country where the mother tongue is other than your own will this restrict your employment prospects? Can you overcome this by learning the language before you go or do you need to reconsider your destination?

2)Employment

Are you a professional in a given industry or do you have a flexible skill set that will allow you to seek work in many different sectors? Do your qualifications translate favourably and transfer directly overseas? What sectors would you like to work in, in which countries can you find work in a profession that suits you?

These are all questions you have to consider carefully. Next, if you're moving overseas permanently you need to be practical and realistic and consider the long term employment prospects for you, your spouse and any other family members accompanying you…if you can find employment today how easy will it be to change employer or advance your career later in life?

You should then examine your desired location carefully and determine whether or not you need work permits, residency visas and permission to work and live abroad, if so you should get the ball rolling and apply as soon as possible in case of any paperwork and administrative delays.

Also consider the taxation and financial aspects of working abroad…remember that if you're moving to a low cost country the economy will likely pay lower wages than you're used to, will these be sufficient to sustain your ideal lifestyle?

3)Accommodation

Last but not least is the thought of finding somewhere to live abroad. By now you'll have a clear favourite in the location stakes but now you need to examine the property market and whether it's easy and affordable to rent accommodation when you first arrive and whether, long term, it's possible for foreign residents to purchase freehold property abroad.

If you're planning on moving abroad permanently you'll also need to think about moving your household belongings and personal effects with you, and what about transporting your pets overseas too?

There are many relocation companies who specialise in relocating individuals and families abroad, these companies have a fantastic skills base to assist you with every single aspect of the process. If on the other hand you're on a budget or looking to work abroad for a shorter period of time use the internet to find forums and information sites dedicated to expats, working abroad and the particular countries you're interested in and you'll quickly be amazed at the wealth of invaluable information out there.

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When the word "networking" is used, we tend to think of upwardly mobile college graduates with a bursting day timer in hand chatting up the competition at business meetings, conventions, or workshops. The average blue/pink/white collar worker disconnects, feeling that they could never be that pushy, don't know enough people to even start the attempt, and that the method only works in competitive business environments.

Wrong!

While networking can, and often does, follow such a scenario, the concept is much broader than that. The premise is that most people find a job through someone they know. It may be a direct referral or, more likely, indirectly hearing about an opening that seems suitable.

Procedurally, networking could not be simpler: contact everyone you know to see if they have any firsthand knowledge about job opportunities. Then contact all the people they know. Obtain referrals to other people from everyone you contact and in a short period of time, you will have a veritable army of people working with you to find the right position.

An organized approach to this time-demanding but highly effective technique is discussed in depth in my workbook "The Wolf at the Door: An Unemployment Survival Manual" (Authorhouse, 2003). Contact lists in various categories are provided as well as schedules for follow up and strategies for maintaining the strength and commitment of your lists.

For now, let's look at the different levels of networks you can develop.

1. Sizzling Contacts.

These are the people you know personally. They include your family, friends, former coworkers, and acquaintances: your barber, your mailman, your doctor, your real estate agent, the guys you see at the golf course, the women at your club, your children's teachers, other PTA parents - anyone with whom you have regular contact. Often, you need go no further. How many of us obtained our first job through our family or their friends? It is a common occurrence. Look for a moment at ethnic groups and how they operate. Most new immigrants find a position through personal contacts. Hispanics are famous for bringing in their brothers, cousins, and nephews when there is an opening. Most companies who hire mainly Spanish-speaking labor never advertise. All they have to do is tell their employees that they need more workers and the next day dozens of assorted relatives show up and they can make their selection. There are large ethnic communities in different parts of the country: Vietnamese, Armenian, Indian, Korean, Chinese, Irish, Portuguese, Samoan, and Filipino. In almost every group, initial job search is strictly word-of-mouth. Later, as individuals, many workers become culturally assimilated and move into more mainstream jobs but the core of the group, especially those with poor English skills, tend to remain within their original subculture. There are, for example, airlines whose entire ramp staff at some airports are Pacific Islanders, manufacturing companies where the usual language on the production floor is Portuguese, and supermarkets where the workers (and customers) are overwhelmingly Korean. Contrast the successful employment rate of these groups with, for example, African-Americans who are very loosely tied to their communities. Until recent attempts by Church and civic organizations, networking was almost non-existent in African-American culture and a consistently double-digit unemployment rate directly reflected that lack of connectivity.

2. Warm Contacts.

From everyone you seek out while you are making personal contacts, you try to obtain the names and contact numbers of people they know and if you can use their names as a source of referral. If all the people you directly know, literally dozens, give you a few names to call, you may have well over a hundred names within a few days. Frequently the first and second level contacts are all that is required. Someone you touch will know of something suitable somewhere.

3. Tepid and Cold Contacts.

If you are really unfortunate, your circle of social acquaintances is very limited, your geographic area has devastating economic blight, your have negative or limiting personal aspects (prison record, disabilities, a very poor work record), then you may need to expand an extra level or two. Secondary referrals have some potential but the more tenuous the link between you and your friends and the target person, the less effort to help you is likely to be encountered. When you have exhausted all of your contact lists, unlikely but possible, you are left with the standard job search techniques (classifieds, internet, job fairs, agencies) or cold calling. Cold calls, whether by telephone or, preferably, in person, require you to call or walk into an employer without any introduction, and with no knowledge of any openings. You are likely to receive many negative responses to your queries but sometimes you just happen to time it perfectly and there is a newly available position that suits you. While the chances are sobering, you can still feel proud that you are out in the world, taking positive actions for yourself, rather than withdrawing into the sanctuary of home where the odds against success become astronomical.

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All work has purpose. All work has value. You are the best person to evaluate the value of your work. The value of your work depends on whether or not your personal needs are being met.

Are you passionate about your work? You may be working in your chosen profession, even with a company you have always wanted to work for, and still you may experience moments of job dissatisfaction. Here are some areas to consider when evaluating your work and work environment.

How much autonomy do you have when producing your work? Everyone has a different level of comfort when it comes to his or her independence when working. It's important for you to be aware of your need for self-governance or the degree of management you prefer.

Do you have the opportunity to enhance your community? If your workplace is not currently involved in the community perhaps you can be the architect of a new program that would enable yourself and your co-workers to support outside organizations. Becoming involved with the community will increase your satisfaction at the perceived value of your work and have the organization you work in.

Does your work provide you with social contact and help you maintain or build your social skills? If the work you produce does not require enough interaction for you then perhaps you can look to your workplace for other opportunities to socialize.

Engaging in in-house organizations will provide you with a social outlet, they can help you develop a sense of belonging within the company and can be very useful with networking.

Does your work challenge you? Maintaining current skills and developing new avenues to utilize them can help maintain your sense of satisfaction. Developing new skills will not only build your self-esteem but they can enhance your ability to contribute to the company you work for, and increase your opportunities for advancement.

Compensation in terms of monetary rewards is perhaps the easiest criteria you can look at when determining the value of your work. Since we live in a mercantile society, having our basic necessities met is a common measure of our works value. What you consider necessity is up to you.

Our personal identities are often entwined with the employment choices we make. If you are feeling dissatisfaction with your employment choices it is important to remind yourself that you have purpose and you have value beyond measure.

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Every successful pharmaceutical sales job search requires two basic elements: time and organization. All other components are secondary. If you are organized , you will find more time to conduct a full-scale job search. The rule of thumb in todays economy is that it takes 1 month of job searching for every $10,000 of target salary before you get an offer. As with all rules, this can vary depending on your location, target industry and other factors; but no matter how long your job search will take, getting organized before you begin will ultimately save you time and energy.

So, what is the best way to organize your campaign? Initially, you need to take a personal inventory on the specifics of your search. To start, you should:

* Identify your skills and experience. What are you looking for in your next position? What issues do you need to consider (commute, travel, childcare, etc).
* Locate and begin researching your target market. Are you searching by pharmaceutical companies or within a geographic area?
* Prepare your career portfolio materials, such as your résumé, generic or posting-specific cover letter s, professional biography, brag book , etc.

After determining the direction of your job search campaign, you should ensure you have an organized approach to 3 major areas. Follow these initial steps to effectively organize your job search efforts:

* Time - Determine how much time each week you can realistically devote to your search. You will need to build in time to search for, read and apply for advertised positions, but you also need to make sure you allow time to continue your networking efforts, write follow-up correspondence, following up on leads and visiting any employment professionals; like recruiting agencies. Be sure to work within your natural energy patterns if possible. Most people have a preference for the time they make telephone calls or search job boards so try to build this into your day. It is also helpful to tackle your least favorite tasks first thing each day to get them out of the way. Try keeping a time log that tracks the time you spend on certain activities. This can be an effective tool if you find that you are struggling to stay on task.
* Space – Think of the space you have to conduct your job search. If it is organized like an actual office, you will be more inclined to approach your job search in a professional frame of mind. The bare minimum you need is a comfortable chair, a desk or table devoted solely to your job search, a telephone and basic office materials; like notepaper, pens and highlighters. Of course, it is helpful if you have a computer and a fax machine. Other supplies that streamline your job search include: index cards, telephone directory, file folders and a calendar. Establish a filing system for each custom-tailored résumé you have. Consider having a separate file for each job you apply to that contains the positing or advertisement, the cover letter you sent, the résumé submitted and copies of company information you have researched. This will make it easy to document any conversations on the inside of the manila folder and you can easily take that folder with you when you interview.
* Contacts - A dynamic network of contacts is essential to any job search and successful career. Over the course of a typical job search campaign you will speak with hundreds of people so it is important to keep track of them. This is useful during your search as well as later on in your career. A great way to manage your contacts is a simple card file. Be sure to get a business card for anyone with whom you meet and develop a standard information card for those you encounter over the telephone or via e-mail. Track the obvious information like name, title, address, telephone and fax number, but go one step further and track the source of the contact. Think of it like the "6 degrees of separation" game. This is a great way to effortlessly expand your network. Be sure to develop a system that allows you to set up follow up reminders for meetings and telephone calls.

You already know that searching for a new job can be both time consuming and overwhelming but being organized can help you manage your network, stay focused and maximize your available time. All these can lead to expanded opportunities, decreased frustration and perhaps a faster resolution to your job search!

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One of the unfortunate realities of the job search process is often, people who are a good fit for a job get passed over because of an inadequate resume. In this age of online recruitment, hiring managers and recruiters may review a hundred or more resumes before deciding on who they want to interview. Given this high volume, they are only able to spend 30 seconds (or sometimes less) scanning a resume to determine whether the candidate could be a good fit for the position.

When a recruiter sees your resume, they want to quickly determine which of the following four categories the resume belongs in:

1. Resume is not appropriate for the job at all - for example, a bookkeeper applying for an accounting job. Recruiters hate it when job seekers send in resumes for positions they're completely unqualified for. Some job seekers think it doesn't hurt to send a resume even if the position isn't a match. They think maybe they will be considered for other positions they're qualified for. A recruiter's attitude is often that if the job seeker can't read directions and applies for the wrong position, the person can't be a great candidate anyway and will throw the resume in the garbage.

2. The person is not experienced or skilled enough to do the job. For example, if the job calls for someone who can work independently and the resume only shows experience working as part of a team.

3. The person is too senior or too expensive. This is kind of the "overqualified" scenario. If you apply for a job that pays $50,000, but the recruiter thinks from looking at your resume that you could make $60,000 -- or thinks from looking at your previous positions that you had been earning $60,000 in the past, they will shy away from selecting you. Recruiters don't want to place someone who will end up leaving for a better paying position after just a couple of months on the job. With third party recruiters, they don't get paid their placement fee if this happens, plus it may ruin their relationship with the client company. With direct employers, they will incur the opportunity cost of having to get another person up to speed if you quit prematurely.

4. The person's background matches the position and they would be happy to take the salary being offered. This is the category you want to fall in.

HOW TO MAKE YOUR RESUME FIT THE POSITIONS YOU'RE APPLYING FOR

Your most recent job title should be about the same as the position you're applying for. If you're applying for a position as a Senior Accountant, your last position should ideally have been a senior accountant. Or if your last position was slightly junior to the position you're applying for, the recruiter will be looking to see that you spent enough time in that position to learn the skills and gain the experience someone with the more senior title would be expected to have. Your most recent job title should *not* be more senior than the position you're applying for. If it is, you may want to consider "downgrading" it. While lying on your resume is generally a bad idea, this kind of presentation change, which does not promise that you're qualified for something you're not, may be necessary to overcome the "overqualified" reaction.

If the position you're applying for requires specialized experience or knowledge, it is important that your resume communicate that you have that experience and knowledge. Here is where going into details is helpful. Going into details about work you did that is not relevant to the position you're asking the recruiter to consider you for could be detrimental because it can make your resume seem dauntingly long.

HOW TO GET HELP IMPROVING YOUR RESUME

The best ways to get advice on improving your resume are to talk to recruiters and hiring managers. And not just any recruiters and hiring managers: they should be people who are currently hiring or have recently hired someone with your background. You can find these people through networking with people you know, or through cold calling/cold emailing. With hiring managers, you can contact a company that hires people with your skills and try to get an informational interview with someone who manages people with your background. Even if this person is not hiring at the moment, an informational interview will give you a chance to learn about the industry and for you to ask them to critique your resume. You could present it that you want to learn about their company for future employment opportunities, even if they're not hiring now. People feel flattered if you tell them you like their company and want to learn more about it.

With recruiters, you can probably find one in your field by networking. You can also access directories of recruiters on sites like these:
http://www.recruitersonline.com
http://www.topechelon.com

Another avenue for networking to find hiring managers and recruiters is through the various professional networking online forums. With these forums you can contact people working at specific companies and sometimes you can connect with a hiring manager or HR rep who might be willing to help give you feedback and information. WetFeet's site has some good forums along these lines:
http://www.jobsearchinfo.com/wf.htm

While not as good as getting information from the "horse's mouth," another option is to connect with someone who recently landed the same kind of job you're going for. You can do this through networking. After looking at their resume, you may notice things that may have given them an edge in getting noticed and considered by the employer who ultimately hired them.

Resume writers and job coaches can be another source of information. The caveat here though is that many resume writers and job coaches have expertise in only certain fields. The ideal situation is to find a resume writer or job coach who has recently helped someone get placed in the same position, or at least the same field, that you're going for. You may be able to get a prospective resume writer to let you talk to someone they helped get placed recently as a reference to vouch for the quality of their services.

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You are positive that you want to pursue a career in a dental office, but you are unsure if your resume will get you there. There's reason to worry; most employers use a job applicant's resume as the main item in determining if they will bring you in for an interview or not.

Many job seekers are in the dark when it comes to developing a winning resume and cover letter. They make a number of mistakes that may cost them a potential job, such as: not stressing their skills and accomplishments enough, use of wording that is vague or confusing, not providing enough relevant information, using a sloppy format, and providing too much information.

There is no one correct resume format to use, but since many of you will not have a lengthy employment history yet, it is recommended that you use the functional format. The functional format emphasizes your relevant skills and training and is great for first-time job seekers. It includes the following sections, in the order provided:

1.Objective - phrase your career objective to match the position for which you are applying. For example, if your goal is a front desk position, then a good objective would be: Position in a dental office utilizing my strengths and training in customer service, administrative duties and office technology.

2.Education - list your education in reverse chronological order, starting with the most recent first. Include relevant courses or special projects.

3.List specific examples of your skills and training.

4.Provide activities that are applicable to your objective. You can use school, community activities, and volunteer activities.

5.Employment History: Include this section only if you have a work or intern history.

Your name, address, phone number, and email address information should be centered at the top of the resume. Use an email address that sounds professional; do not use an email address that is amusing or inappropriate.

All impressive resumes and cover letters are well-written and avoid spelling and grammatical mistakes. They are typed and professional and are no more than one page in length. They provide relevant information that is appropriate to the position. Weed out irrelevant details by asking yourself if a piece of information will help you get an interview; if it doesn't, then don't use it.

Your cover letter should make the employer want to read your resume. It typically has three paragraphs: the opening, body, and closing.

The opening should state the position for which you are applying and how you learned about the job opening. The body should highlight your skills and qualifications for the position. And the closing should request an interview and suggest a time for your follow-up call.

Always address the cover letter to a specific person - don't use "Dear Sir or "Dear Doctor." Find out the name of the person you should send your letter and resume to. Make sure you spell all names correctly and use proper grammar. Print on the same quality and color of paper as your resume and do a separate letter for each job that you apply for.

Use the tips and guidance provided here to make your resume and cover letter stand out above the rest in your pursuit of that great position in the dental office profession.

"Changing Lives...One Career at a Time."

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Take the jobseeker in Alabama who, knowing that his IQ was far above average and that in the course of his life had learned valuable skills allowing him to function at a very high level, embellished his resume by adding a doctorate that he had never earned. And knowing that because he had never graduated from college or earned a degree he was forever kept away from the best jobs and the highest salary. So it seemed only a little white lie to add Phd., to the academic credentials on his resume. After all he could talk the talk and walk the walk in his defense industry specialty.

The gentleman was so wrong – in any high security position a background check will be a priority and he, of course, did not survive his. Now, he may have had a good job for a short time, but because of this indiscretion, could be forever ruined in that industry. Fortunately for him, his employer did recognize his value and decided to keep him on and send him to school. This story has a happy ending but it is certainly the exception rather than the rule.

The truth is, lying on your resume is just plain stupid, and ranks right up there with the other 10 most stupid things people do in their lifetimes. In fact, lying at any time is the single act that gets most people in the most trouble - trouble in work, in relationships, trouble everywhere.

If you have weaknesses in your work history, references, or credentials before you lie about it consider that a skilled resume development specialist can assist you in highlighting what you can do, have done, and will do well for an employer. That same specialist can assist you in ways to overcome other weaknesses on your resume such as age and termination.

All employers are looking for the right person to solve a particular problem. Your job is to convince that employer that you are the right person – most employers know that there are very skilled job seekers out there, not all of them with impeccable credentials, and will be willing to overlook certain weaknesses if everything else is in place.

I had the opportunity to work several years ago with an attorney who was let go from a very high-level state government position because a lie he had told on his application 20 years prior had surfaced. None of us want that kind of skeleton to come back and cost us our jobs.

A job application is a document that may never go away, they can remain on a persons record the entire length of their work life. Make sure that you understand how to fill them out properly. Once again a skilled career specialist can assist you in answering questions on an application in the most positive light without dredging up old issues that you may not want to deal with today. Employers will almost always hold an employee responsible for entries on an application regardless of the circumstances.

The bottom line is don't lie about your ability, background or credentials, certainly paint the best possible picture of yourself, but don't go over the line – it just isn't worth it.

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There are several types of online resume formats that can be used when contacting potential employers. When you search for job openings online, some companies will have on their websites which online resume format is acceptable.

If you don't know which format is acceptable to a certain company, call them and ask. The worst thing you can do is send an online resume in the wrong format and have it ignored.

PLAIN TEXT RESUME

This format is also referred to as ASCII. Many companies used to accept this type of resume a few years ago when searching for a job on the internet was still new. When this format is used, the resume is written in plain text with no formatting. The resume is sent in an email to the employer.

Unfortunately, because the resume is unformatted, it looks pretty ugly and is hard to read. With the advancements in word processing and email functions, companies are turning towards more professional looking online resume formats.

PDF RESUME

This type of resume is delivered to the employer in PDF format (Portable Document Format). You write your resume in Microsoft Word or some other word processing program, format it, convert it to PDF and save it. The file can be sent by email as an attachment. The employer needs to have a PDF viewer or Adobe Acrobat in order to view it.

Sometimes this can pose a problem because of computer viruses. People are wary about opening attachments to emails. If the employer wants you to submit your resume by this method, go ahead and do it. More than likely, they have software that can detect viruses in attachments.

WEB PAGE

Some people use a single web page to display their resume. You have your own personal website. You write your resume in HTML format, upload it into your own website and give the URL address to employers so they can visit your web page and read it. This takes care of the problem of email viruses. Make sure this is acceptable to the employer.

FILL-IN-THE-BLANK RESUME

This type of resume is used by online employment sites and employers' websites. You just fill in the blanks and the information is sent electronically into a database. There's not much room for creativity as with your standard mailed-in resumes. The way to get your resume noticed is to use keywords.

Keywords are nouns that describe your skills and achievements. "Product development", "project coordinator", "Excel", "Powerpoint" are all keywords. They describe what your skills are and what duties you performed on your previous or current job.

This last online resume format is the one used most often by employers. The rule you should remember however, is if you don't know which format to send your resume, go to the employer's website. If that doesn't work, call them and ask.

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There're many ways to conduct online job search. However, many job seekers only think of posting resumes and searching opportunities on big job sites like monster.com, hotjobs.com and careerbuilder.com etc. There's nothing wrong with it, but according to a survey conducted by careerXrooads.com, of all hires in 2006, only 3.6% come from monster.com, 1.5% come careerbuilder.com and 0.5% come from hotjobs.com. Morever, many companies only advertise their job openings on their own company websites and some other speciality websites. Wouldn't it be nice if you can use search engines to find these opportunities that are ignored by other job seekers?

Before we go any further of how to conduct online job search, I would like to talk a little bit about Boolean Logic. If you are a math or a computer student, you may have already known it. Actually, it's very powerful, yet simple to use in search engines. The following are some of the most popular Boolean operators, modifiers and field search commands.

AND: Collects documents that include all terms.
Google default operator.
Example: job AND nursing
OR: Collects documents that include at least one of the terms.
Example: nurse OR rn
NOT Collects documents that include the term that precedes it but not the term that follows it.
AltaVista: AND NOT; Google: - (e.g. –submit); All The Web: ANDNOT
Example: manager AND NOT sales
NEAR Collects documents with both terms that are within close proximity to each other (usually 10 terms or less).
AltaVista ONLY. Useful for finding contacts within a specific location.
Example: manager NEAR marketing
Quotation Marks "" Specify an exact phrase
Example: "SAS programmer"
Parenthesis () Define a search subset
Not used in Google
Example: (iowa OR ia) AND (manager OR director)
Wildcard Symbol * Matches any type and number of characters.
AltaVista ONLY.
Example: manag*
url: Look for keywords in the document URL.
Google: inurl
Example: url:position AND ibm
title: Look for keywords in the document title.
Google: intitle
Example: title:position AND merk
link: Look for pages linked to a particular URL.
Example: link:dell.com
host: Scans a specific computer or host of a URL.
Example: host:mit.edu
domain: Looks for pages within a specific domain like .com, .org, .edu.
Example: domain:.org AND nurse
like: Looks for pages related in content
AltaVista: like:
Google: related:
Example: like:dell.com
filetype: Looks for pages with a specific file type attached or documented
Example: filetype:xls OR filetype:pdf
Now, let's say you're a pharmacist and is looking for a new job in boston area. So you can go to www.altavista.com and conduct online job search using the following string:

url:job AND pharmacist AND contact AND position AND boston

If you use www.google.com, you don't need to type in AND since it's default operator in Google. So you can just use:

inurl:job pharmacist contact position boston

Now look at some more complicated online job search examples:

(url:(job* OR opening* OR position* OR employ*) OR title:(job* OR opening* OR position* OR employ*)) AND send AND benefits AND opening AND EOE AND contact AND "SAS programmer" AND boston

("resumes@" OR "jobs@" OR "careers@" OR "hr@" OR "human resources") AND (apply OR "send us" OR "send your" OR submit OR "fax us" OR "fax your") AND ("organic chemist" OR medicinal chemist") AND (synthesis OR synthesize)

Now you see the power of online job search? Try different key word combinations and use them in different search engines. Some links you find might be junk links, but keep trying, as long as you pick up right key word combination, you should be able to find many job opportunities that are buried in deep deep web and are ignored by other job seekers.

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There was a time when a person who wanted to find work had to buy newspaper and look through the classified ads section. The advent of the internet has changed that by creating opportunities for people to work either in a different state or in another country.

It has made the world a smaller place rendering it accessible for anyone with a computer to search for a job and apply to it.

There are many sites that offer such services. All the person has to do is open an account, fill up the necessary fields then submit your resume.

These sites usually ask for pertinent information such as the person's name, age, address, contact number and social security number.

Additional information that will be requested is educational background. Employment history is also another thing that has to be mentioned which includes the job description and highlights that one has experienced during that person's career. A section in the account will also ask the preferred industry of work, if the person is willing to do field work or open to relocation and the expected salary should one be accepted for the job.

With all the information provided, these sites will then match your qualifications with the jobs available. This service is free and matches can be seen when the person logs on the account or gets a notice via email.

Some sites offer a service with a fee that will place the resume over other applicants giving that person more priority but even that is a not a guarantee that one will get the job.

Online job hunting is not just for professionals. It caters to anyone who wants to work either full time, part time or on a per project basis.

Applying online is not only done through job sites. You can also check the websites of companies that usually have a section on careers to see what openings are available. You simply have to go through the process of giving certain information and uploading your resume.

There are many jobs available in the market. The internet has made it easier for companies to make people aware that there are vacancies available. It has also made it convenient for applicants to apply online instead of walking to an office and dropping of a resume. With everything that is just a mouse click away, all it takes is a little effort on one's part to sit down in front of a computer and looking for a job.

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Online education courses are a great way to learn many things. With the sheer number of people today who have regular access to the Internet, the opportunities to learn these things are far greater than they were just a decade or two ago. Without online education, the only way to learn a new skill or take a class would be to physically attend that class or find someone who could teach you privately. Because of the technology of online education, there are literally thousands of things you can learn and many of them can be studied right from the privacy of your own home.

In many cases, the fact that you are learning from home can be a real benefit. Consider the privacy you have in your home. If you are learning something new, there's no need for others to even know you are studying this particular subject. You may be embarrassed to let others know that you don't already have this knowledge, or it might simply be in your best interest that others don't know. For example, you may be seeking to gain a training certificate that will put you in line for a promotion. It might be politically incorrect in your current employment to be making this move. Your current supervisor might resent the fact that you want to move up. While secrecy is never a good thing, being discreet about your plans might be a wise move. You may even be looking for employment elsewhere and taking online education courses may be a stepping stone to that move. Again, letting your current employer know about your educational goals could be cause for tension in your current work environment.

It could also be that you just want to learn something new. You'll find literally hundreds of online education courses available. Whether you're wanting to learn to sew or you want to work on a degree, you can likely find an online education program that's just right for you.

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Non-verbal interview behavior can drown out your verbal self-presentation.

Practice interviewing in front of a full-length mirror or, better yet, videotape yourself if you have access to such equipment. Turn the sound down and watch yourself carefully.

How do you sit in your chair? Upright with an aura of energy and enthusisam or slumped as if you no longer care? Do you maintain good eye contact or look down at your hands when a question is difficult to answer? Do you lean forward to make a connection with the interviewer or appear distant and disconnected? Do you use your hands for an occasional gesture, to emphasize a point, or are they always in motion, as distractible as those ex-jocks on TV who constantly flail away regardless of what they are saying?

Can you cross your legs at the ankle and stay still or do you constantly shift in your chair and irritate everyone in the room? Do you have unconscious habits or mannerisms that distract from your professional demeanor such as twisting your hair, rubbing your nose, licking your lips, or cracking your knuckles? How is your voice? Is it monotonous, clear, nasal, or shrill? Do you smile - at appropriate moments not constantly like a beauty contestant on the runway?

Being aware of all that you are presenting to a potential employer can make your verbal presentation more effective and increase your chances for a successful outcome.

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So you noticed the new job board posting on your way back from lunch. They finally decided to fill the assistant manager spot in your department! Trouble is, you've only been in your current position for about eight months. There's also been some talk of hiring from outside. Should you go for it anyway? Here are some ways to tell if it's time to power up the corporate ladder.

1. You're currently one notch lower than assistant manager. If your job title includes the word Senior, then you've likely earned some recognition at your place of employment. Is assistant manager the next step up? Why not give it a shot? The worst thing that can happen is that you don't get the job... and hey, there's always next time. When you go for the gold, people will realize you're quite a gem. Start getting noticed for your ambition and drive!

2. A large portion of the department responsibilities falls into your lap. Don't underestimate your own worth. If you're currently doing the work of two or more people and doing it well, then you should be compensated for it. Is it possible you were overlooked? Don't feel slighted. Negativity holds us back from getting where we want to be. Instead, take a strategic leap forward. Sometimes people get so wrapped up in their own issues, they fail to see what's before their eyes. You know the job like the back of your hand, and that's far more than a stranger off the street knows. Speak up and make your capabilities known!

3. Your manager consistently looks to you for solutions. If you're playing problem-solver at the office, that's a pretty good sign that people value your input. What better indicator of your ability is there than a boss who seeks you out for answers? Does your supervisor come in from meetings and immediately drag you away for a private pow-wow? You've already got a foot in the door! Now get the rest of yourself behind that desk in the corner office for a view of the skyline!

4. Your manager confides in you regularly. Are you the Big Cahuna's main confidante? Good office chemistry is hard to come by. If your boss trusts you with everything from top-secret office rumors to "what to do with that belligerant marketing coordinator," to the fight he had with his wife last night, this speaks volumes about his opinion of you. Sounds like you've very naturally clicked into Position 2 in the chain of command. Time to lock in to more money and an official manager status on paper.

5. You're well-known and respected among your colleagues. Do people smile and greet you by name when you walk into a group setting? Do managers of other departments frequently solicit your opinion? When the boss is away, do your peers appoint you to act in his absence? Being the office social butterfly is one thing. To know that your fellow employees admire and respect you for the job you do is another. One of the biggest indicators you're ready for a promotion is if your boss's boss has faith in your ability. Having a support system in place works in your favor and can be the 'in' you need to get ahead.

6. You're often asked to represent your team of coworkers in meetings. As much as we dread them, meetings are a vital part of daily corporate life. Meetings are where opinions are voiced, issues are hashed out, schedules are coordinated and progress is made in leaps and bounds. A great leader can speak on behalf of a group. A great leader can effectively communicate in all directions- from upper management to lower, from lower to upper, and also laterally. If people place their faith in your ability to get a message across, that means they're willing to let you represent them. There is no better indicator of management potential than being summoned as a spokesperson. Take it as a great compliment, and then take the next step toward your success!

7. You feel personally responsible for the welfare of your department. Do you find yourself thinking and speaking for the group? Are your peers in your best interest? Often, you can sense when you're ready for a position of increased responsibility. The true commandier operates from the point of view of 'we' instead of 'me.' Do you feel genuine pride when a member of your team goes above and beyond the call of duty? Do you act as the automatic diplomat and defender? When a coworker encounters a setback, are you truly moved to help them overcome their problem? Do you empathize with their disappointments? Rejoice in their victories? It's time to heed the call!

8. Your peers look to you as an advisor and comrade. Corporate life is full of folks at cross-purposes. Clashing wills, clashing personalities, misunderstandings, injustices of all kinds. If you have a gift for navigating through the rough waters, smoothing ruffled feathers and healing bruised egos, maybe it's time to seriously think about moving up. Trust is earned, not bought. If you have been offered the gift of others' trust in a setting where people mow over each other to get ahead, that is truly a great thing. Use it for the good of the group!

9. You truly love your job. You know in your heart how you feel about your job. Do you dread getting up every morning? Or do you look forward to facing the challenges of a new day... tackling that project... making your own small contribution to the bigger picture? If your work is your passion and you truly love what you do, it will be very apparent to those around you. Enthusiasm is contagious. If you can light a fire under someone's behind, there is no one more suited for a position of authority. This is your time to shine... so be a star! Get the recognition you've worked so hard to achieve, and step up toward making an even more powerful difference for the future of your company.

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A lot of places around the world call it A Curriculum Vitae, in North America, it's a Résumé. This is definitely one of the most important tools that any jobseeker has at their disposal. You may be THE best candidate for a particular job by a long way, however, if you don't make it to the interview stages the company will never know.

Many companies (especially the larger corporations) will use computer software to "read" all the résumé's and reject any that don't fit a particular template. This may seem unfair, but it's cost effective.

So, for some jobs you have to beat the computer and still read well enough for someone who may not have any knowledge of the position you are applying for. It is definitely worthwhile to adapt your resume for the position that is advertised. There may well be some of the "buzz" words the "filter" is looking for mentioned in the job description. It is very important that you can substantiate all the claims you make, preferably with physical examples or letters. This will be essential in any in interview situation.

There is now a wealth of information available online, from books, local employment offices and with professional writing agencies. You can also access other people's résumé's that are posted online which will give some great ideas for style and content.

Professional writers may seem the answer, but, all the research I have done seems to lean away from them.

I have never used one and feel that it will give a good impression if you have written it yourself (this will display literacy). Apparently, if they are professionally written, they are easy to spot; however, they may be worth the expense if you are stuck. You can always "customise" what has been written to make it your own work.

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Job-hunting can be a daunting experience. You might find it difficult to know where to begin to find the job that is most appropriate for you. Searching for employment can also be a full-time job in itself, requiring you to spend countless hours researching companies, drafting cover letters, writing resumes, and sending out application packages to prospective employers.

Fortunately, in the age of the Internet, there are some high-tech solutions to the problem of making sure your resume gets in the hands of an individual who is looking for someone of your qualifications. Resume distribution services are increasingly becoming the job-hunting method of choice for a number of job-seekers. Thanks to some innovative software, resume distribution is easier and more effective than ever before.

For instance, software packages such as www.resumerabbit.com and www.jobsearchaccelerator.com can be tremendous aids for you as you begin your search for employment. The reach of these services is vast. For example, you can greatly increase your exposure, since such services allow you to get your resume posted on more than 75 sites.

By filling out a simple form, you can show off your job qualifications to numerous prospective employers. It's estimated that such services can save you up to 60 hours of research--time which you can then devote to actually meeting corporate recruiters. You can also post your resume to numerous categories of career sites--from general sites, such as general purpose, to specialized sites, such as accounting or sales and marketing. You can also receive information about prospective jobs via e-mail, enabling opportunities to come to you via your personal inbox.

Some services even allow you to have your own resume web page with your personal web address. This increases your visibility, making it more likely that you will catch the eye of a would-be employer. The services can also provide you with a resume template, if you're having difficulty composing a resume on your own.

It is to your benefit to use technology to its full advantage when job-hunting. By subscribing to a resume distribution service, you will gain the tools you need to enhance your visibility to prospective employers. You will also save countless hours surfing the Web for possible jobs. In the end, a resume distribution service can greatly increase the likelihood that you will find the position you've been dreaming about.

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Matching Your Skills to Find Appropriate Jobs

Skills refer to the things you do well. The key to finding the most appropriate jobs in the industry is recognizing your own skills and communicating the significance written and verbally to a probable employer.

Majority of the most viable skills are those that are used in a variety of work settings. What are these skills? Would matching your skills to find the right job be successful?

* Determine your skills. This would help you in becoming the lead candidate of landing the job. A skill does not necessarily mean it was adapted in a work environment. If this would be your first job hunt and you have no job experience to date, you still have a chance in the industry.

Majority of skills, including knowledge-based and transferable, could be absorbed and developed as a volunteer, a student, a homemaker, or in your other personal activities. The skills you have used for these activities can still be applied to your desired jobs.

Organizing and listing your personal skills could help you easily fill out job applications, provide useful information for job interviews, and prepare quality resumes.

First, you should categorize the skills by separating your interests and aptitudes from your work experience.

1) Aptitudes and interest. These include all of your hobbies, activities you have been involved in the past, and all the things that interest you. By listing all of these down, you could examine the skills it takes to achieve each item.

Skills from aptitude and interest may be homemaking, playing basketball, fixing cars and many more. All of these items could determine if you are capable of working with a team, able to handle multiple tasks, have viable knowledge of human development, knowledge of electronics and ability to diagnose mechanical and numerical problems. The list goes on, but make sure to consider the skills that would be beneficial for a working environment.

2) Work history. This includes volunteer, part-time, freelance, summer and full time jobs. Once you have listed all your past employment, examine the skills you do work each work duty.

* Ask for help. As soon as you have your list ready, you could now go to job services that could help you acquire your desired job. You could also search job yourself. However, always remember to match your skills and abilities in your list to the needed skills and abilities of various jobs.

In most cases, people who seek jobs are threatened with job titles. This should not be the case. As long as your skills and abilities could meet the requirements of the workload and job title, your possibility of acquiring your desired job increases.

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Most people don't give much thought about references until after a potential employer asks for them. After all, searching for a job is very time consuming and doesn't give you much of a chance to think about anything except getting interviews. But reference checks are a very important part of the job search process: both for job seekers and for employers. For employers, references are a chance to add depth to the information they have learned about you from the interview and from your resume.

At a minimum, your references should confirm the information the employer has about you and that you are a competent employee. However, you should strive to provide references who can be as enthusiastic about you and you would be about yourself. A great reference makes the hiring manager feel good about their decision to hire you and sets a positive tone for your first few days on the job. As the saying goes, you only get one chance to make a first impression and your references can help you do that.

Getting Your Ducks In a Row

It's a good idea to get a reference letter from your manager as soon after leaving a position as possible. Getting a reference letter right away makes it easier for your manager to recall specific contributions you made to the team. Even if you don't end up needing a reference right away, having the reference letter provides you with something to fall back on in the event you are unable to contact your former manager at a later time. Plus, if you decide to go back to the manager a year or more later to ask them to provide a phone reference, you can remind them about the reference letter they wrote for you.

Before asking someone to take the time to write a reference letter or provide a phone reference, it's a good idea to get a feel for what they would say about you. One way to do this is to say "Do you feel you know me well enough to write a good reference letter?" instead of just "Could you write a reference letter?" This way, if the person doesn't feel they could say something positive, they have an easy way to decline your request.

Employers who ask for references want to confirm dates of employment and position titles at a minimum. They will also try to find out if your former boss would rehire you given the opportunity. And many employers will ask the reference to grade your abilities in the specific areas that will apply to your new job. For example, if you're applying for a job as a manager, the employer may ask your reference to rate your managerial skills on a scale from 1 to 10. Having a sense of the types of questions employers are likely to ask your references, you should try to gauge the potential reference's response to these questions before deciding to let them vouch for you. For example, you could say "I'm curious - if you had the chance, would you hire me again to work for you?"

Using Non-Employer References

If you don't have a lot of good references from former employers, non-employer references can be helpful too. Generally, a potential employer will want at least two references from former employers. But if they require three references, you may be able to provide two from former employers and one from someone else. Professors, former co-workers and customers can all be good references if they know you well. If you have a choice between providing three lukewarm references from former employers or two lukewarm references from former employers plus one glowing reference from someone you didn't work for, the latter is probably the better choice. A survey done by the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) found more than eight out of ten human resource professionals regularly check references, so don't count on an employer not contacting a lukewarm or bad reference.

Legal Issues

There are a lot of misconceptions about the legal issues surrounding reference checks. Some job seekers mistakenly believe that former employers can only provide dates of employment, position titles and salary history. Even though many companies have established regulations specifying that managers are only to confirm dates of employment, position and salary history, many managers are either unaware of these regulations or simply ignore them. Legally, an employer can provide as much information as they want about your tenure with their organization.

As long as a former employer does not knowingly provide false information in a reference check, it is fair game. An employer can legally say or write negative things about you if they are just opinions. For example, the employer could say "John was a horrible manager." What is not legal would be for an employer to knowingly provide false information. For example, if a former manager didn't like you, they could not say "John started a fire in our office building that caused thousands of dollars in damage" if it was not true. Regardless of the legal rules, you do not want your references to say bad things about you. There are companies that for a small fee will call your references and provide you with the results. If you suspect a reference you're using is saying unfavorable things, you may wish to consider using a reference checking firm.

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If you haven't looked for a job recently, there are new tactics that hiring professionals are using that you should be aware of before updating your resume.

Employers and recruiters increasingly rely on electronic resumes, resume posting boards and job banks to find job candidates. Resumes are either being scanned or input directly into keyword-searchable databases, and accessed when an employer inputs a keyword list of requirements that best describe the position they are seeking to fill.

The database searches for keywords describing job titles, responsibilities and descriptions, degree requirements, computer knowledge as well as personality traits. This software scans through thousands of resumes and identifies those that most closely match the imputed keywords. The more keywords or "hits" the software finds in a resume, the more likely it will be read by a HR professional. Keywords are the most important element of a scannable resume.

What exactly are keywords? Keywords are nouns or noun phrases that identify skills unique to a specific profession or industry. Although active verbs have long been essential for building a successful resume, now the noun or noun phrase that follows an active verb is equally important. For example:
- Self-motivated IT manager with a strong work ethic and problem solving abilities
- Talented Graphic Designer of 4-color direct mail catalogs and corporate web site design
- Accomplished in Microsoft Office software applications, Excel, Word and PowerPoint
- Nominated by the New York Times for the Pulitzer Prize in news photography

Keyword nouns are the experience and skills that are specific terminology used in your job and are still relevant to your job search. Other sources for identifying keywords are job descriptions, job titles, software requirements, educational degrees, college names, company names, professional organizations, awards you've won and personality traits. Words that are repeatedly used in trade journals and classified ads in association with the job title you are seeking are also keywords.

Whatever your final word choices are, your keywords should accurately describe your skills, talents, and experience. As a word only needs to be used once for it to be considered a "hit" in a keyword search, use synonyms wherever possible to broaden your number of hits.

The Summary area of your resume should consist of several short statements that highlight your most important qualities, achievements and abilities. By tailoring every word in the "Summary" to your targeted goal, you can make this area keyword rich.

The most common ingredients of a well-written Summary are listed below; use what best describe you:
- a sentence describing your profession
- followed by a comment stating your level of expertise
- followed by two to three statements related to any of the following:
- unique mix of skills
- range of environments in which you have experience
- a special or well-documented professional accomplishment
- a history of awards, promotions, or superior performance commendations
- one or more professional or personal characteristics
- a sentence describing your professional objectives or interests
It's important to list only the skills you would feel comfortable using if you were to be tested. Should the position you are seeking require knowledge of software you don't know, consider taking lessons before listing it on your resume.
If you've submitted your resume online to sites like monster.com or careerbuilder.com your resume has already been electronically imputed into their databases. But what happens if when it's scanned from a paper copy?

OCR software attempts to match characters scanned from your resume with standard letter shapes. This makes it imperative that your resume is formatted with a font that OCR can recognize, font choice the single most important factor in creating a scannable resume. Simple, conservative typefaces such as Times New Roman, Arial, Helvetica, Verdana and Courier are some of the best choices.

Other content and design guidelines are:
- keep it simple and conservative
- use high quality 8-1/2 x 11 inch, white or off-white paper, print on one side of the paper only
- format headings with either Bold text or ALL CAPITALS.
- use headings sparingly but consistently to support your information structure
- don't use italics - it skews characters and confuses OCR
- don't use underlined text - it confuses OCR
- use no more than two fonts in sizes between 10 and 12 points
- allow margins and line spacing (white space) to keep the document from looking crowded
- use horizontal lines to separate sections of your resume
- don't use vertical lines, graphics, shading or boxes
- your contact information with your name is printed at the top of each page
- a summary, where your best assets, whether education, experience, or skills are listed
- categories are clear and text is indented
- dates of employment are easy to find and consistently formatted
- each entry highlights a capability or accomplishment
- verb tense is consistent; current job is in present tense; past employment is in past tense
- use a minimal amount of punctuation, it can confuse OCR
- capitalization, punctuation, and date formats are consistent
- no typos or spelling errors
- don't fold or staple your resume, if you mail your resume use a large envelope

Your resume should be a quick and easy to read, containing no fluff and no unnecessary words. As hiring professionals look through hundreds or even thousands of job applications, they may spend only a few seconds reviewing each resume. To catch their attention, you must quickly convey that you standout from the competition. A successful resume is one that does not exclude you from consideration.

Your resume is a personal self-marketing tool; so make sure you get a powerful and accurate message across. By fine-tuning your keywords to meet the qualifications of each job, the more likely that you'll be asked to an interview where you can sell yourself.

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There has been a lot of talk recently about American jobs moving overseas…offshoring is the buzzword for it. During difficult economic times it is often easy to find a scapegoat to blame for a downturn in jobs. While government reports and politicians try to downplay the impact, offshoring is something to take seriously. This article will discuss the permanent effect offshoring will have on U.S. jobs and what you can do to make sure it doesn't happen to you.
Economic crises of the last thirty years have tended to blames overseas competitors for America's financial woes. During the seventies it was foreign steel to blame and during the eighties it was foreign agriculture. The current trend of moving American jobs overseas, particularly to India, The Phillipines and other developing nations has been troubling to many. While some people think this is a temporary situation, shifts in the American economy and world politics indicate otherwise.

These global economic changes are big and they will not go away. American companies have taken advantage of the global market, establishing icons of American culture like fast food, retail stores and computer software everywhere. With all these events and situations, it only makes sense that American companies would turn to foreign labor.

Besides, the economic impact of the world's political shift, the American economy has transformed itself. The rise of the computer has shifted the United States economy from an industrial nation to a nation of information and service. This means there will be less jobs in making things and more jobs in marketing and servicing things. Unfortunately the American education system has been ill prepared for this inevitable change. In the mid to late nineties, thousands of well paying computer jobs went to foreign nationals on temporary work visas. Additionally, domestic workers on a whole will move from being permanently hired employees to contract or temporary employees. As a worker, it will be more important to market yourself, keep a good network of contacts and maintain your technical skills.

Although this news sounds grim, it's really not. Most of the jobs going overseas are in the lower salary ranges like customer service and technical support positions. Meanwhile, the new "hot jobs" pay very competitively, even for workers who lack employment experience.

If you're afraid your job may be going overseas, or you want a better paying career with more advancement opportunities, take a look at these hot jobs:

1. IT Security
2. IT Project Management
3. IT Outsource Management
4. IT Database Administrators
5. Health Care - Medical Assistant
6. Health Care – Nursing
7. Health Care – Home Health
8. Health Care – Dental Hygienists
9. Health Care - Medical Coding
10. Health Care – Medical Office Administration

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