Are You Linked In?

by candacemoody

By now, you know that LinkedIn is a great resource for professionals in a job search. It’s a great way to enhance your in-person networking. One of the weaknesses of personal networking is that you meet only the person you meet. You might get to chat with him or her for a few minutes at a professional or social event; you might even, in that short time, get to know what he does or where she works. What you don’t get to know (much) about is who she knows. Each of us is valuable as a contact, but it’s our network of contacts that really adds value when people meet us.

Prepare for a Phone Interview

by candacemoody

The credit for this post goes to Susan Heathfield, a Human Resources expert who has been covering HR for about.com since 2000. In her HR newsletter, Vol. 11 No. 81, dated July, 2010, she writes an excellent article for recruiters about how to construct questions for an effective telephone screening interview. Viewed in reverse, you can use her questions as a way to prepare for a phone screening – or any in-person interview.

Make the Most of Applying Online

by candacemoody

Every day, we hear from jobseekers who are discouraged with their job search. “I’ve applied for hundreds of jobs online; I never get a response at all, let alone an invitation to interview.” It’s easy to believe that you’re doing something productive by applying online, but it’s only true if you are taking the time to make your applications as complete as possible.

Dress for Confidence

by candacemoody

After you’ve been job searching for a while, your confidence takes a beating. You may feel invisible; especially if your job search is mostly online, you may feel like no one knows you’re there. It may be tempting to go for comfort over style when you do venture out. After all, who cares what you wear to the grocery store, right?

Shy? Here’s How to Get Over It.

by candacemoody

One of the keys to a successful job search is networking, which can be defined as meeting people you don’t know to ask for something you don’t have. If you’re by nature a shy person, networking can be agonizing. When biologists and zoologists use the term shy to describe animals, it generally means “tends to avoid human beings.” Career coaches define it the same way.

Free Online Education

by candacemoody

Organizations like WorkSource are there to help with funding education for demand occupations. But that’s not your only option. Many top universities offer free courses online. Education Portal.com ranks several of the best free university courses available for people who want to enhance their personal knowledge or advance in their current field.

Changes for your Post-Recession Resume

by candacemoody

If hiring activity really starts to improve in late 2010, you’ll be getting more chances to put your resume in front of the right people (defined for our purposes as “people who have jobs to fill.”) Here are some tips for making sure that your post-recession resume tells a good story about how you weathered an extended layoff.

Categorizing Your Skills: Self Management Skills

by candacemoody

Skills are one of the most important things you have to convey to a prospective employer. If you had to name your five most important and valuable skills right now, what would you say they are? Here is a way to organize your thinking about skills as you prepare for an interview.