Are You Asking Yourself, “What Is The Best Career For Me?”

June 30, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Career Change, Job Search

Are you finding yourself pondering on the question ”what is the best career for me?”  No matter what the circumstances, you will need find the answer to that question.  Whether  you are just out of school and looking for a job for your first time or you’re a mom that wants to re-join the work force or maybe your an executive and are just looking for a career change, there are still a lot of jobs to pick from.  Even in today’s economy, there are still jobs to be had.  You may have to aim just a bit low to start off with though.

So, how are you going to answer the question, “What is the best career for me?”  Maybe you’re searching for part time work to fill a some hours up around your study time, home life or maybe you just want some extra money.  If this sounds like you, then try the bigger supermarket chains, they usually have part time employees for checkout lines, re-stocking the shelves or night cleaning.  You can also visit your closest mall to see if the stores there are looking for part time help.

If you’ve never worked before then you can’t be too choosy about the job choice.  Getting an interview is your first step.  You should have a really nice resume as this will help you out a lot.  There are many people applying for jobs today and you really want to stand above everyone else.  You have to convince the prospective employer that you’re going to make a very reliable employee.

Your first job won’t matter too much, but it’s going to give you a job reference to add to your resume and you’ll be getting valuable experience.  But try to find work in the area that you want to go into.

Once you get a few months or maybe even a year of working under your belt then it’s time for you to be looking around for the job where you will be able to build a career.  Again, a really good resume is a must if you want that perfect job. Help to get yourself a professional resume, and Save $20 when you purchase a Resume and Cover Letter at ResumeEdge.com.

I hope this helped you answer that question, “What is the best career for me?”

How To Make A Resume To Land That Great Job!

June 27, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Resume

Are you wanting a new or better job and you need to learn how to make a resume?  When learning how to make a  resume to land your perfect job, you are going to need to figure out which resume format is going to be best for your profession and set of skills.  To figure this out you need to know who your resume readers are going to be and what information are they going to want to know about your background and you.  How to make a resume really stand out be sure to write down a lot of notes all about your employment background, skills, awards or any recognition you have ever received in your past.

The three different resume formats you can use are chronological, functional and combination.

Chronological
This is probably the easiest formats to do it’s also easy to read and very popular.  You begin the resume with your most recent education and employment and then work backwards from there.  This is perfect if you are looking for a similar job to your last one.

Functional
This resume will organize all your information and experiences by area of expertise.  Instead of making a big deal about your employers and job titles you are instead going to highlight your job skills.  Really you are trying to avoid your employment history.

Combination
This one combines both the chronological and functional together.  This format you are going to first list your skills but then you are also going to include all of your employment history.  This is a great way to  show off oyur skills and experience.

If you are going back to work after a long time out of the work force or just coming out of college then the chronological resume is not for you.  This is going to show the fact that you don’t really have a lot of experience.  I believe that the functional format is best for you.  For those of you who have a lot of experience and you choose the functional format this can raise some red flags because it doesn’t include your employment history, which can be of concern to potential employers.

When learning how to make a proper resume you need to determine which resume format will be best for your skills and profession. To figure this out you need to think about your audience and what information should that audience know about you and your background. You should write down some notes about your employment background, skill set and any awards or recognition you have received in the past.

To make absolutely sure your resume is the best it can be, you can use a service like this one – a build it yourself resume kit, which contains forms that will help you complete your resume section by section, industry specific brainstorming phrases to help you get your content right and much more to help you prepare your resume.  It  only costs $29.99, and is a good way of preparing a professional resume without spending out on a full resume writing service.  You can then be sure that you will be producing a ‘knock them dead’ resume!

Find the Perfect Job

June 21, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Feature, Job Search

You may be fresh out of college, or you may be looking for a career change, either way you can find the perfect job opportunities online.   Many websites not only offer resources to help you find the perfect job, they also showcase a range of employment opportunities.

Before you can find yourself the perfect job, you need to have a think about what type of job you are qualified to do.  To do this, you will need to take into account your educational background as well as your previous employment history.  The last thing you want to do is to waste your time and a prospective employers time, by applying for jobs that you are just not qualified for.

If you are searching for a job in a specific area then you would be better doing a search for job opportunities online within that particular field, rather than trawling through sites that mainly list more general jobs.  Many companies will not even advertise their positions on general employment sites.

To locate the perfect job for you some research into local companies hiring in your area is going to be a help.  You can start this by checking out the specific websites of companies you are interested in working for.  Lots of companies use their own sites to let people know what vacancies they have.  Not only is this cost effective for them, but it also gives any prospective employee the chance to find out about the company.

There are lots of websites online that will be aiming to match employers with employees by use of resumes, so it is definately worth submitting your resume to some of these sites.   An employer using this type of site is going to save themselves money, and in today’s economical climate this is important to anyone.

When looking for your perfect job online, you must still remain professional.  Your first email should be written in the same way as any traditional cover letter would be, don’t fall into the trap of forgetting proper etiquette just because you are using email to communicate.

Searching For Your Perfect Job

June 17, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Feature, Job Search

If you are searching for a job, you need to ensure that you are doing everything that you can go find the right job for you.  Just remember that the more thoroughly you are searching for your perfect job, the more opportunity you will have to land it!

It’s a fact that almost all of the fantastic jobs you find, will not have been listed under the classifieds.  Your local paper may well be your first choice when searching for a job and you should make sure that you do keep your eye on this.  You could also search for a job by using the internet, and you may well find jobs that are not advertised locally.   Although the top jobs are not necessarily listed in either place.  You sometimes need to do some research and actually send your resume out to the employers you would like to work for (ake sure your resume is the best it can be by using a service like this one).

Networking also plays an important part in searching for the right job for you, so include networking with those that are in the same line of work as part of your job searching activities.  Often someon in your field will know of a position that is about to come up, way before it is advertised, and they may well be able to recommend you for it.

When searching for the right job you must be persistent, but definately not overbearing.  It will be no good just sending out resume after resume and then sitting back waiting for the calls to come in.   In this current climate there may have been ten, twenty or thirty or more resumes that look just as great as yours, all sent to the same potential employer.     Your chances of securing that all important interview will be increased if you follow up your resume with a phone call.

You will undoubtedly be one of many people searching for the right job, so make sure you stay one step ahead of the rest by selling yourself – this takes practic but once perfected it really will help you to land that dream job.

Common Interview Questions – How To Answer Them

June 12, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Feature, Job Interview

So you have landed yourself an interview, but that is not the end of the job hunting process.  Now you need to prepare yourself for your interview and practice your answers to some of the common interview questions.

You will find that most of the interviewers will nearly always ask the same questions, which does make it slightly easier to prepare.

If you go to the interview fully prepared then you will give  the impression of being confident (even if you are shaking with nerves underneath).  These are some of the most common interview questions:

Tell me about yourself – Obviously your interviewer is not going to expect you to give every single detail about yourself, they are going to be looking for a clear and concise summary of your professional life.  The summary should last only for a minute or two, and needs to be professional, so try not to wander off course.

Explain what you do in your normal working day – It is in answer to this question that you are going to want to really highlight all of the skills that you use presently, and pay particular attention to those skills that are transferrable to the new position.  You should try and make your working day sound interesting and full of challendges that you are able to rise to and solve.

Why do you want to leave your present position? – This is the tricky one.  If you are looking for a new career, then you could go through some of your reasons to want to change industries.  Other answers that will normally satisfy an interviewer are that you are trying to find something a little closer to where you life, and/or you are searching for a company that you can grow with.  Never say that you are leaving to get more money.

Please describe what you consider your best and worst attribute -  Well the first part of this question is fairly easy to answer in an interview, but the second part can cause a real problem.  You need to say something about yourself that is bad, but it can’t be so bad that the person interviewing you sees you in a bad light.  One of best solutions is to say something along the lines that you are a perfectionist so will tend to keep on working on a particular project until every single detail is correct.

What makes you want to work with us? – This is your chance to put the research you have done into the company to good use.  You can explain that you feel they are at the cutting edge of your profession and that you would love to grow alongside an industry leader.  Also point out how some of the duties and responsibilities listed in their ad are things you want to work with.

Remember that preparation is the key here.  If you attend an interview and provide good answers to the questions, you are a large step closer to getting the job you want.  There is a great book available that goes through almost every question that an interviewer could ask you, and guides you to answer them all in the best way to land the job.  Visit the website here, and see how much you can help yourself  prepare for interviews, and give yourself the best possible chance to secure the position you want.

Is It Time For A Career Change

June 10, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Career Change

Have you got to the stage that you can’t stand the thought of going to work for one more day?  If so, it might well be time to look for a new job.  If there is nothing you like about your present job, then it may well be time to consider a complete career change.  The thought of changing your career may worry you, but it might just be what you need. Read more

Job Search Tips

June 8, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Feature

Searching for a new job is becoming a much more common occurrence these days, especially with all the layoffs from companies downsizing or even going out of business.  But searching for a job doesn’t need to be too painful, and there are many ways to make your job search easier.   Here are some job search tips:

Treat job hunting as though it is a full time job
You need to work on your job search every day, just as you would do a job.  If  it will help you, get dressed in work attire, sit down in your home office, and then start making those phone calls, searching online, networking, sending out your resume and cover letter, etc. Read more

Job Interview Tips

June 8, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Feature

Job interview tips will help you to prepare for your next interview. Let’s face it job interviews are definitely not on the list of fun things to do, but if handled correctly, you can land that wonderful position you’ve applied for. Take some time to go over these tips before the big interview day arrives.

Dress for success. Dress conservatively, unless of course the interview is for a job at a trendy clothing store. Never turn up in casual clothes, even if the position is of a more casual nature. Keep your makeup, jewelry, make up and cologne toned down. You want your personality to be the spotlight here. If you’re not sure what is going to be best to wear, ask for guidance from someone whose opinion you respect. If you are applying for jobs, then plan ahead what you may need to wear, so if you need to add to your wardrobe, you have time to do so.

Prepare for the interview. There are many typical interview questions, so practice how you will answer them. If you don’t know what sort of questions to expect at your interview, then find out online or from an interview publication – there is a great guide that walks you through this here.  Even if you have to resort to talking to yourself in the mirror, practice, practice, practice.  You will feel much more confident and do better if you are well prepared.  The interviewer will also pick up on this.

Do your Research. Find out all you can about the company – their philosophy, best practices, future goals, direction headed, current issues and growing pains, etc.  Try to weave in this information during the interview, this will really impress them, and they will be glad you went the extra mile.  For an example, if you are interviewing for the position of medical billing for an HMO, you should at the very least, know what an HMO is compared to a PPO or traditional insurance.

Communicate clearly. You are selling yourself in an interview, and obviously they’re not expecting you to reply to their questions with one or two word answers. Each answer you give should be a statement, explain what you mean and give examples where possible.  Show them your accomplishments in your current position and let them know what benefits you could bring to them.

There is nearly always a question where you are asked about your weaknesses.  The trick is to turn your weakness into a strength. For example you could talk about a past weakness and how you’ve learned from it, or you can say your weakness is always expecting 200% from yourself and not being satisfied with anything less.  Have a think about the company and position you are applying for, and prepare your answers beforehand.

A job interview need not be as challenging as it seems if you go into it prepared and confident. In fact, preparing for the interview is an important component to the interview’s success.  To get expert help in preparing for any job interviews, try this guide which is full of hints and tips to help you succeed

Is a Great Resume Still Necessary?

June 7, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Resume

Are Resumes Alive or Dead?

As more and more companies are using the internet to advertise their open job positions, prospective job hunters might begin to wonder whether a resume is still necessary. While it can be argued that certain aspects of job hunting have indeed changed, for example, using social media to help with the hunt, other processes have not.

A resume is very much still a vital part of being hired for a position. This is because a resume will showcase the amount of your knowledge, your achievements, and of course, your skills. It’s your opportunity to give a potential employer that great first impression, as your resume is going to be the first thing that they see.

Perhaps a better question might be, should I send a hard copy of my resume or am I better to send an electronic resume? Electronic resumes, (often referred to as e-resumes), are sent via electronic means, usually this would be through email, and are not delivered via snail mail or fax.

The answer to this would really depend on what the company has requested. Many companies are putting their job offers online, and they want the resumes and applications to come to them electronically as well. Each company should have its preferred method of receiving resumes listed and you should follow this to the letter. Make sure you are prepared for either option, and have a hard copy ready to mail and an e-resume, you can then send out the correct type of resume to any company you are applying to.

If sending your resume electronically is what you are doing, bear in mind there are several ways to do this, so read their instructions and send as they have requested, it could be:

Word document email attachment,
Text document typed right in the body of an email,
PDF attachment,
Cut and pasted onto the company’s resume page of their website.

Another great benefit to having an e-resume is that you can post it onto virtual job boards and job-related websites that accept them.

The older style paper resumes are still important as not every company has gone down the digital information path, and would be happy to receive an e-resume. Often it can be a good idea to follow up your e-resume with a paper copy sent via regular mail. You might also want a paper copy to bring along to interviews so you can refer to it if necessary.

Whichever way you are sending your resume, it needs to be the best it can be. It can often pay to use the services of a professional resume writing firm like , this one to make sure you have the best chance of success.

So to conclude, while some aspects of job hunting have changed, sending resumes continues to be an important part of the process. Make sure your resume is top class, and have both paper and electronic resumes at the ready and send either through the proper channels as requested. This way you are giving yourself the best opportunity you can, to obtain an interview

What Career Is Best For Me?

June 6, 2009 by admin  
Filed under Feature

Whatever your personal circumstances, you need to find out what career is best for you. Whether you are a school-leaver seeking work for the first time, a stay at home mom who now wants to look at re-joining the workforce after some years out to bring up children, or an executive businessman looking for a career change, there are many jobs out there to choose from – even in this current finincial climate, there are jobs, you just may need to aim slightly lower to start off. You may even be looking for some type of part-time job to fill in a few hours around study or your home life, or just to earn some pocket money. If this describes what you are looking for, then take a look at the big supermarket chains, they frequently use part-time staff for checkout duties, re-stocking shelves or even cleaning. Visit the local shopping mall and see if any of the stores are advertising for part time jobs.

If you’ve never had a job before, then you are not going to be able to be too fussy about choice. The first thing you will need to do is to get through the door for an interview. This is where having a really good resume will pay dividends. With so many job applications on the market today, your resume really needs to stand out from the crowd. You need to convince a prospective employer that you are going to be reliable and are employable. Having that first job will help you on any future applications you make.

So really whatever your first job is, it’s is not going to matter too much – it will give you something to put on your resume and you will be gaining valuable experience. Do try and get a job in the field you want to eventually work in.

Once you have a few months or even a year of employment under your belt, it’s time to look around for a job you could really like doing, and one that you can build a career around. Again a good resume is really going to help you here.

If you want help in writing a resume that gets result, you should visit Resume Edge.