What Jobs Should You Apply For?

Patricia Frame talks about how to know if you're qualified for a particular job and whether or not you should apply for it. Here you go...

5 Ways to Have a Fast Job Search

In this video, Peggy McKee tells you how to get a job much faster than other job seekers.

Use Facebook to Find Job Leads

Another great video by Peggy McKee of Career Confidential. This time Peggy explains how you can use Facebook to find job leads.

How to Present Yourself at a Career Fair

Things you should do before you go to the career fair. And how to present yourself to a recruiter once you're at the job fair.



video by ClearedJobsDotNet

Find Your Hidden Job Market

Recruiter Peggy McKee says the hidden job market has four times as many jobs as the number you see posted online in your field. Here's how to find those unannounced jobs:



As you can tell from this video, Peggy is a dynamic person. She's created some great job search products. Check them out!

The 16 Best Facebook Pages for Job Search

Facebook has become far more than a site for photo sharing and chit chat with friends and family -- it's now used for job search. I've been compiling my list of the best Facebook pages for job search, and thought I'd share it with you.

As you click through the following Facebook pages, notice that some allow comments, others do not. I especially like the ones that allow you to ask questions and encourage dialog with fellow readers. They make you feel like you've joined a community for online support, even if you don't ask a question or leave a comment.

Which are your favorites?

Susan Ireland's List of The Best Facebook Pages for Job Search

In alphabetical order:

• About.com Job Searching
• CC Career Services (federal career counseling)
• Career Savvy
• Careerealism
• DeniseMpls Career Services
• Encore Careers
• Futures in Motion
• The Job Connection
• Job-Hunt.org: The Online Job Search Guide
• Keppie Careers
• Profilia CV - Resumes, Cover Letters, Career Advice & Translations
• reCareered
• The Riley Guide
• Susan Ireland's Resume Site
• Tim's Strategy
• What Color is Your parachute? FOR TEENS

As a job seeker, you may know of others that should be added to this list. Tell us about them in the Comments section. Remember, we're talking about the best Facebook pages -- not regular websites -- for job search.

More posts on using social media for your job search:
4 Ways to Manage Your Online Reputation
Excellent Email Example to a Job Search Network
20 LinkedIn Subgroups to Tighten Your Job Search Focus
42 Job Search Quotes for Twitter

When Employers Google Your Name, Does It Hurt Your Job Search?

I bet you’ve heard this job search advice: “Google your name so you know what recruiters and employers are finding out about you.” Seems reasonable enough, until you take into account that Google offers up personalized Google search results to each of its users.

This means the results Google delivers to Mr. Employer will probably not be the same results Google delivers when you Google yourself. And that could hurt your job search!

Why Personalized Google Search Results Differ From User to User

When Google selects and prioritizes search results, it takes into account several things in addition to the words (or name) the user types into his search window. Things such as:

• Keywords commonly used by the user who’s conducting the search
• The user's geographic location
• Information from the user’s Google profile
• Other tidbits of info Google has gathered throughout the user's online history

All this data influences the search results Google presents on the user's screen. And it influences the order in which the results are presented.

An Extreme Example of How Personalized Search Results Could Hurt Your Job Search

Let's say Mr. Employer uses the same computer for business and pleasure. Over the years his Google searches have included topics in his healthcare profession as well as his personal interests in golf, fly fishing, dating, travel, politics, reading, and other topics.

Your resume comes across Mr. Employer's desk as a potential job candidate. Before calling you for an interview, he decides to Google your name by simply entering your first and last names into his Google search window.

Now remember, when choosing what results to deliver to Mr. Employer, Google takes into account your name (which Mr. Employer entered) and Mr. Employer's online profile and his history of Google searches, including ones about his personal interests – that’s what makes it a personalized Google search.

Here are the search results Mr. Employer found, in this order:

1. A link to a blog post where you wrote a comment about all the time you spent on the golf course in Hawaii when you were supposed to be attending a professional healthcare conference. (Google “guesses” that Mr. Employer is interested in this because of his history of looking up golf trivia and his profession in healthcare.)

2. A link to your Facebook wall where a friend talks about your date with a golfing friend's friend who got drunk at a country club you went to, complete with a photo of her in your lap. (Google ranked this high on Mr. Employer's search results page because the post got so much traffic on Facebook and because the event happened at a golfing venue.)

3. A nasty tweet you sent about a political candidate who happens to be a proponent of Mr. Employer’s political views. (Google noticed this tweet because it got retweeted so many times, using the popular twitter hashtag #politics.)

4. A link to a YouTube video page that has a comment you wrote denouncing the healthcare products manufactured by Mr. Employer’s company. (Google easily drew the connection between the name of Mr. Employer’s company and your name in that comment.)

5. A link to Mr. Employer’s local real estate forum where someone with your name asked what would happen if he didn’t pay the overdue property taxes on his home. (It is not you or your town, but Google put your name together with Mr. Employer’s location and decided it was relevant to his personalized search.)

6. A link to a newspaper article reporting someone else with your name who was arrested for drunk driving in the town where Mr. Employer lives. (Again, Google connected the dots between your name and Mr. Employer’s home town, and assumed it deserved a spot on page one of his search results.)

7. A link to yesterday’s newspaper article about the murder of a police officer in your town with your comment offering sympathy to the family at the very bottom of an extremely sensational webpage with a long list of similar comments. (Google got it right that you wrote the comment. Unfortunately, because the comment is so recent, Google ranked it higher than your professional links on Mr. Employer’s results list.)

8. A link to a report in an important legal journal about a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in which one of the parties who was involved in an embezzlement case in your state has exactly the same name that you have. (Google probably selected this link due to Mr. Employer’s regular activity on political and media websites, in addition to your name appearing in the article.)

9. A link to a news piece about someone much younger than you who has your name and has just won a full four-year scholarship to the local college because he’s an outstanding student. (Again, Google has coupled your name with Mr. Employer’s interest in media websites to deliver an article that is not relevant to you or your job search.)

10. A link to Amazon for a book about fly fishing (Mr. Employer’s favorite sport), authored by someone other than yourself who has the exact same name as you.

11. A link to a directory of many people who share your name and live in places where Mr. Employer has traveled. None of the people listed are you.

Finally!!!!
12. A link to your LinkedIn profile! But unfortunately there are only 11 search results on page one of Mr. Employer’s results page so your LinkedIn profile has been bumped to page two, which Mr. Employer doesn’t bother to look at.

See how much Mr. Employer’s information influences the search results he gets from Google? Likewise, if another employer searches your name, his results will be determined by the information Google has on him. And when you Google your name, your results will also be different.

The bad news about personalized Google search:

• You don’t have full control over what an employer will find about you (or someone he may think is you).
• You can never be certain what his personalized search results are, because you can’t see his screen when he Googles your name.

The good news:
You’re not totally helpless! Follow Susan P. Joyce's 4 Ways to Manage Your Online Reputation, so that hopefully:

• Mr. Employer won’t find anything that would damage your job search.
• You can influence Google to place your best, most professional stuff near the top of page one – things like your LinkedIn profile, your website address, that professional article you wrote, and other relevant professional activities.

By the way, it’s not a bad thing for Mr. Employer to find your wholesome personal activities, especially because, thanks to personalized Google results, it’s likely that you and he share those activities. However, you really want your prized professional links to rank higher on Mr. Employer’s search results – the top three items on page one would be ideal – so they’re sure to be spotted.

The Long and the Short of It
Despite all your efforts, Google may still deliver undesirable results when an employer Googles you. But you can reduce your risk by never typing or uploading anything, anywhere online that you wouldn’t want an employer to see.

More Online Job Search Advice:
Online Reputation Management for Job Seekers
Don't Fail This Google Test. Get Your Resume and LinkedIn Profile in Sync
What Email Address Should I Use for My Resume and Job Search?

Do's and Don't for a Strong Job Interview

Job interviewing isn't easy. Most of us get nervous and leave with the feeling we could have done better to present ourselves. In this interview, author Lavie Margolin gives us some do's and don'ts that might save the day in your next job interview.

What is the single most important tip for creating a strong job search strategy?
Create a marketing message for every job that you apply to. Remember that one size does not fit all. If you send the same cover letter and resume, your response rate will be low. For every job that you apply to, make sure your message is targeted specifically to that employer. If there are aspects of your background that would be especially appealing for that job, make sure to emphasize them. With recruiters giving your resume an initial once-over for less than 30 seconds, you need to have a targeted message in order to stand out.

What interview mistake is most common among job seekers, and how can they avoid making that mistake?
People often interview to “get it over with.” The interview is the time to sell your skills, experience and abilities relative to the position. You have to maximize that time.

People often interview by providing general answers but they must think about what would be most appealing to that employer. For example: What are the strengths necessary for this job? What types of challenges would the employer want to know you have overcome?

Job seekers allow the interview to become an interrogation. An interview should not be similar to your favorite police drama. An interview should be a professional conversation. The employer asks a question, you respond and then ask an intelligent follow-up question. It is an excellent opportunity to show you have done your research and you are knowledgeable about the position and the industry.

Interviewees often do not send thank you notes or follow up effectively. When an interview is wrapping up, make sure to express your interest in the next steps in the process. Ask if you may take their card and when would be a good time to follow up. Make sure to send a thank you note and again reinforce your interest in the position. Wait until the time frame the employer has given you regarding hearing from them has passed before contacting again. For example, if they say you will hear by Thursday, contact on Friday. I would suggest sending a follow-up email at that point. Wait a few days and then follow up with a phone call. After leaving one phone message, do not leave additional ones. You can try back again after a few days. If you get the answering machine again, just try back later.

Lavie Margolin is the author of Lion Cub Job Search: Practical Job Search Assistance for Practical Job Seekers. His blog is Lion Cub Job Search.

Could It Pay to Say "I'm Unemployed"?

After all the talk that employers prefer passive (employed) job seekers to active (unemployed) job seekers, there may be a new twist: Employers get a tax advantage for hiring the unemployed.

According to the Reuters article, Obama Signs $17.6 Billion Jobs Bill:

The legislation would exempt businesses from paying the 6.2 percent payroll tax on new employees who had previously been out of work. Employers would also get a $1,000 tax credit if those workers were still on the job a year later.

Here's how my tax professional explained it in his recent newsletter (reprinted here with his permission):

It's part of the HIRE Act, passed March 18. Employers normally "match" the 6.2% FICA tax on the first $106,800 paid to each employee. This year, employers who hire anyone who certifies he/she was not employed more than 40 hours in the 60-day period before hiring get a tax "holiday." Key rules: employee must be hired after February 3, can't replace another employee unless former left voluntarily or for cause, applies to wages between March 19, 2010 and end of year. IRS issued a revised Form W-11 for the hire to certify the unemployment, and is revising Form 941 to allow for the credit. In 2011 the law expires, but a credit of up to $1,000 can be earned for any qualified employee who is retained for at least 52 weeks.

Does this mean the active job seeker now has a leg up on the passive job seeker? Maybe... if the employer knows about and values this tax advantage.

So here's the big question: Which employers want unemployed job seekers and the corresponding tax advantage? I did some research, hoping to find a list of such employers, but no luck.

Then, I remembered stories about creative job search strategies that had actually worked, like the sandwich board resume, a clever YouTube resume, and the $6 Google ad campaign. Does the Jobs Bill open the door for another unconventional approach... like marketing your unemployment status as a tax benefit to a potential employer?

In other words, when approaching the right company, sell yourself as the ideal unemployed job candidate who's going to save the employer tax dollars. You could actually use the dreaded "unemployed" (or "available") word in your cover letter or email.

Now, this goes against the grain of most job search advice -- including mine. But it's creative! And it could possibly work -- at least the Obama Administration is hoping it will.

When to Say You're Unemployed

It might pay to state that you're unemployed if you:

1. Try to get a job at a new or growing company. Is there a new plant or branch operation that's looking for new employees? Such a company might be open to hiring quality unemployed job seekers in order to get on board with the Jobs Bill tax incentives.
2. Apply for a job in a struggling company. What companies are not thriving, and therefore might be looking for every way to save a dime -- even from Uncle Sam? Working for a struggling company probably doesn't fit with your image of job security, but it might be a place to park yourself for a spell.
3. Find a job with a tax-savvy company. What companies are financially smart enough to understand the value of a good unemployed job candidate and the tax savings he or she brings along with the deal? Maybe a company in or related to financial services?
4. Seek employment with a small business. What small business is open to your suggestion that they save on taxes by hiring you? This might mean taking the bold step of educating the employer -- very concisely -- in your cover letter.

If you take an "I'm unemployed" job search approach, I suggest you look busy on your resume by listing a current activity (professional development, volunteerism, or personal project) that's relevant to your job objective, even if you're not getting paid for it. You want the employer to see that you're relevant and involved in your profession, no matter what your employment status.

The Jobs Bill will expire at the end of this year. The clock is ticking! How can you take advantage of it in your job search? Let's brainstorm here in the Job Lounge and add ideas to this list.

For another idea for solving your unemployment, check out Barbara Safani's article, Unemployed Need Not Apply. Barbara suggests networking in your community where employers won't be put off by your unemployed status because they know and trust you.

And, for a lively discussion on whether it's fair for employers to prefer passive job seekers over active job seekers, read the Why isn't this illegal? discussion in the Job-Hunt Help Group on LinkedIn. You must be a member to access the group, but it's free to join.

Why You Should Target the Hiring Manager -- Not the Job -- in Your Job Search

Career experts tell you to target your job search. But what's the target? The company? The job? Sales Recruiter Peggy McKee says:

Target the hiring manager! Find a hiring manager that looks like the type of person you want to work for, and target your job search for that hiring manager.

In this video, Peggy explains how and why:

Gold, Silver, and Bronze Awards for Hiring Companies

Which employers are doing the most hiring? Companies in retail, technology, communications, healthcare, finance, and hospitality, according to Indeed.com.

Indeed.com is a search engine for jobs, which recently reported that the following companies posted the most jobs in the month of January:

GOLD AWARD:
JCPenney - over 7,000 new jobs

SILVER AWARD:
Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) - over 5,000 new jobs

BRONZE AWARD:
AT&T - over 4,000 new jobs

To read the list of all top ten contenders, see Companies that bring home the gold.

Can You Really Find a Job on Twitter?

There's a lot of buzz about finding your next job on Twitter, but how exactly do you go about doing that? Is Twitter really a useful job search tool?

I just discovered TwitJobSearch, a search engine that connects job seekers and recruiters for specific jobs through Twitter.

How good is it? I really don't know, but at least in theory it seems to have potential.

How the Tool Works

1. On twitjobsearch.com, enter the job title you seek.
2. When the search results come up, click the "I can do that" icon associated with a job that appeals to you.
3. At that point you're asked to sign up for TwitJobSearch. Note, signing up allows TwitJobSearch access to your Twitter account.
4. From there you can:
   - Apply for jobs.
   - Send messages and your profile to specific recruiters.
   - Allow recruiters to contact you.
   - Upload information such as your resume, LinkedIn profile, or video message.
   - View similar information about recruiters.
   

To get a feel for whether TwitJobSearch is right for your job search, check out this video by cruitertalk.



Please note, I am not endorsing TwitJobSearch, and I have received no compensation for discussing it on my blog. In fact, I'm curious to know if it's something I should endorse.

Please tell us your experiences with and opinions of this and other Twitter Job Search tools. Inquiring minds want to know!

Top Ranked Job Search Sites by Dept. of Labor

It's official: The list of top job search tools on the web, according to the US Department of Labor's Tools for America’s Job Seekers Challenge.

Divided into six major categories, here are the results in alphabetical order:

Career Exploration Tools

ASVAB Career Exploration Program
Career Coach
CareerNoodle
CareerOneStop
FastWeb
Great Job!
JobTitled
Kuder Journey
Monster Career Advice
Monster Career Benchmarking

Career Planning Tools

50+ Career Coach
Career Ready 101
CareerScribe
GadBall.com
Monster's Making It Count Program
National Career Readiness Certificate
Optimal Resume
ResuWe
Susan Ireland's Resume Site
The Riley Guide

General Job Boards, Listing Sites, and Aggregators

America's Virtual OneStop
CareerBuilder.com
Careerstallion.com
Indeed.com
JobSearchUsa.org
LinkUp.com
Monster Newspaper Partnerships(PDF)
Monster.com
Simplyhired.com
USAjobs.gov

Niche Job Boards

Specific Occupations:
Excelle
HR Guru
Inside Tech
Media Buzz
Sales HQ

State/Local Job Tools:
Employ Florida Marketplace - Florida's Online Career Resource
IHaveAPlanIowa - Everyone Needs a Plan To Succeed
Illinois workNet
WECAN- Wisconsin Education Career Access Network
Workforce Central Florida

Military/State/Local Government:
Fire Link
Military.com
Police Link
Transition Assistance Online
VetJobs

40 and Older Worker/Senior:
AARP Job Board
OurExperienceCounts
Retired Brains

Diverse Populations:
Diversity & Inclusion Networks
MarylandDiversity.com
TexasDiversity.com

Ex-Offender:
GoodWill services for Ex-Offender
HIRE Network
The Next Step/WOTC Solutions

Students:
AfterCollege
Monster College, a Monster Community
OSU-OKC Job Postings

Social Media Job Search

Door64.com
GreenJOBS.pro
JibberJobber.com
JobHunt.org Twitter
Jobs-Assistant
LinkedIn
Linkedin Jobs Group
Susan Ireland's YouTube Playlists
Susan P. Joyce's Linkedin Group
TweetMyJOBS.com

Other Job Matching and Career Advancement Tools

Alison.com
Career Directors International
Department of Education- Training Grants
Human Capital Institute
Monster Evolutions
Monster Real-Time Labor Intelligence
Monster’s Keep America Working Tour
SkillUP
Step 9: Apply for a Job Using Shortcuts
WaggleForce

I'm delighted to see that many of the job search tools I recommended are on this list. My thanks to all of you who participated in the voting!

Break into the Healthcare Field... Even If You're Not a Brain Surgeon

Healthcare is one of the strongest career fields; and it has a constant need for many types of professionals -- not just healthcare providers. If you're not already in the healthcare field, consider using these tips to break into medical, pharmaceutical, or other healthcare sales.



In this video, Medical Sales Recruiter Peggy McKee tells how to get your foot in the door, even if you don't have a sales or medical background. Here's a quick peek at what Peggy explains:

1. How to write your resume:
Include keywords.
State a clear job objective.
List your technical degree, if you have one.

2. The value of a preceptorship (aka job shadowing)

3. Online and in-person networking tips
Ask your network for introductions.
Say specifically what you want them to do.
Use email (not the phone) to stay in touch with your network.

4. Interview Advice
Research and understand the company.
Answer questions to the interviewer's satisfaction.

If you want to try your hand at medical, pharmaceutical, or other healthcare sales, check out Peggy McKee's many videos. Also see these related posts:

MBA in Healthcare, What to Do With It
Find a Mentor for Your Medical Sales Career
MyMedicalSalesJobs (job board)

Curious about pursuing a job in healthcare? Check out some of these:

Paramedic
X-Ray Technologist
Medical Billing and Coding Specialist
Phlebotomist
Occupation Therapist

12-Step Crash Course in How to Write a Resume

Need to write your resume in a hurry? No time to read a book on resume writing, and can't afford to hire a professional resume writer? No problem, here's a 12-Step Crash Course in How to Write a Resume. Continue reading...

The Worst Mistake in a Job search

What's the worst mistake you could make in your job search? Launching into it without preparation.

In this video, Patra Frame explains why it's important to do your homework before writing your resume and sending out into the job market. Here are two basic questions to ask yourself:

• What job do I want?
• What kind of job environment do I want to work in?

Patra says that doing this basic preparation before the job search will put you ahead of 90% of other job seekers. Wouldn't that be worth the prep time?

Mad Men Resumes: Does Your Resume Work Like a Successful Advertising Campaign?

Create your resume like it's part of a Mad Men advertising campaign. Know your audience (your potential employer), and write a good resume that matches the employer's definition of success.
Continue reading...

The Pink Slip Blues

If you've recently been slapped with a pink slip, what's your first step to recovery? It may depend on how urgently you need a new job. If you're strapped for cash, you'll have to start looking for new work right away. If you have money stowed away (enough to cover at least eight month's worth of living expenses), consider taking some time off to work through the shock and awe of having lost your job.

Whether you jump into job-hunt mode right away or take a break, you need to deal with the emotional side of having had your job terminated.

You Got Fired
If you were fired from your job, come to grips with why you were asked to leave and figure out how you can avoid a repeat performance on your next job. These questions may help:

• Was the job description above or below your qualifications? Being over- or under-qualified for a job can cause poor performance. Recognizing this may help you find a more suitable job this time around.
• Was the company culture not a good fit for you? It's hard to excel if you're in an environment that doesn't match your personality (for example, formal or casual) or lifestyle (for example, political or religious). Identify what company culture brings out the best in you, and find employers with that mindset.
• Was there someone or something that caused your departure (for example, a disagreeable boss or unfair employment practice)? What role, if any, did you play in the situation? Get advice from a job counselor or trusted friend to understand how to prevent such a thing from happening again.

Understanding and accepting your job termination will help you move on to a new job – one that you'll enjoy and thrive at. It will also help you talk more easily about your last job in a job interview. (Yes, it'll probably come up in a job interview, so it's best to be prepared.)

The Big Layoff
If you got laid off from your job, research what caused the layoff so you can speak knowledgably about it to recruiters and hiring managers. Here are some things that might be helpful to know:

• How many employees were laid off
• How many rounds of layoffs there have been in the last five years
• The reason the company gave you, the public, and its shareholders for the layoffs
• Whether the company is closing completely or might get turned around
• Why you think you were chosen to be laid off. This is a hard one, but once you understand this to the best of your ability, you'll likely see it wasn't your fault. This realization will help you move on with greater self-esteem.

If you're really down and out, you may need to get professional help. Consider asking a therapist, career counselor, or religious leader for a few sessions to discuss your situation. Also, try to find a support group (in-person or online) where you can work through the grief of your job loss with others who are in the same boat.

For more on having been laid off or fired from your job, read these posts:

Explaining a Job Termination
Fired But Don’t Know Why
Job Search Resilience
Gaps and Layoffs and Resumes, Oh My!

List of Top Job Search Lists

Lately, there have a lot of "Best Of" lists for job search information. Here are two I find particularly comprehensive and well organized.

Top 20 LinkedIn Groups ALL Job Seekers MUST Join by CareerRocketeer.com

The 101+ Best Job Search/Career Twitter Accounts by Job-Hunt.org

Know of more lists? Add them under comments!

Use Nonprofessional Social Networks to Find a Job

A quick look at Wikipedia's List of Social Networking Websites gives you an idea of the array of social networks out there. As the Wikipedia site states, "the list is not exhaustive, and is limited to some notable, well-known sites."

The list ranges in subject matter from Anime to Web biographies (and everything in between). None are specifically about job search (although LinkedIn and a few others have job search functions). So how can these networks help with your job hunt? If you have common interests with any of the networks on this list, do the following:

1. Join it.
2. Make contacts with folks who share your values, interests, and passions.
3. Use the network's functionality (such as special groups and Q&As) to build your list of contacts and establish rapport with them.
4. Ask your network contacts if they know of job openings or have industry information that would be useful to your job search.

I'm not suggesting you join these networks just for the purpose of exploiting people for your job search. I'm saying, join networks that you're sincerely interested in, enjoy the online community for its subject matter, and keep an eye out for opportunities that might serve your job search. In fact, doing this could uncover a new career option in a field you're passionate about. Wouldn't it be cool to have a job you really love and believe in?