Write a Good Resume - How to Fine Tune Your Resume

Write a good resume and you will be amazed at what a well-written and formatted resume will do for your job search.

The difference is like going to apply for an executive job in tee-shirt and jeans or wearing a suit. Odds are the tee-shirt and jeans guy would be out the door without a second thought. In the same way your mediocre resume will be one of the first into the trash.

Making the initial cut is probably 10% substance and 90% presentation. Part of the presentation is a great cover letter, Which introduces you and your resume, and which asks for an interview. Then it falls to the resume and you want to be sure it it up to the task of getting you that interview.

1. Check grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Most word processing software have these checks built in and they catch most of these kinds of errors but they are not perfect.

2. Check for run-on and difficult to read long sentences. If sentences go on and on break them up. Same for paragraphs. Too much text together on a page is difficult for the eye to read.

3. Be sure you are consistent with your use of dates, numbers, and abbreviations. If you format a date as 8/2009 in one place and August, 2009 in another - you need to fix it. Either format is fine, pick the one that appeals to you and stick with it.

4. Use power words, active not passive. Use words like accomplished, built, consolidated, maintained. Look at your resume for places to put in power words and for places to change the voice from passive to active. Use strong and clear words and phrases that are colorful.

5. If possible print your resume out and read it several times yourself, then have a friend go over it to find errors and statements that don't make sense.

6. If you don't have your own computer and word processor, Google and your library have provided an answer for you. Visit your library and use one of their computers. Go to http://www.docs.google.com and use the free word processor that is part of Google Documents. You can save the resume document on Google and send it off to job search sites like Monster and Career Builder.

Perhaps the biggest point in today's job market is to target your resume to the employer you are sending it too. With word processors so available there is no reason not to. Your resume can show your prospective employer your suitability for the position, why you are uniquely qualified and should be chosen.

Looking for a job in Singapore, you can get a list of available jobs at jobs bank Singapore.

An article by Dougles Chan - A recruitment coach that speciliased in recruitment training and recruitment mentoring in Singapore and globally.

Contact Dougles Chan @ +(65) 9388 0851 or email to dc@dougleschan.com for your recruitment training and mentoring needs.

Career Changes at Midlife - Finding the Career You Were Meant to Have

Women finding themselves at the stage labeled "midlife" (read 40 and up) may be in a tumultuous period of transition that can be confusing and scary. Menopause, empty nest syndrome, divorce, aging parents, downsizing, etc. can come hand in hand with yet another transition: a career challenge.

Midlife women should first realize that they are not alone. The MacArthur Foundation study "Midlife in the United States" found that 36% of women have experienced a midlife crisis by age 50. Many of them are looking to new careers as part of their solution to how life is unfolding at this time.

Divorce often adds to the need to find a career because of distressing financial realities. The MacArthur study found that the divorce rate for women in their 40s is higher than that of those in any other age range. And if they have spent years at home raising their children these women find themselves without "marketable" skills and are likely to panic.

Another reason women change careers at midlife is because they are looking for fulfillment. Some may have already had a successful career or finished putting the kids through school. They are ready for more: possibly work that gives back to their community or expresses more of their creative spirit.

· How to Make a Successful Career Change During Midlife

Remember that you are a veteran: you have been through several life transitions before reaching this one. Like any growth period in your life there is bound to be fear, stress and confusion. Here's the great part about getting through this one: you get to use all the life skills and wisdom you have been accumulating to make it work.

Therefore, it is important take the time and space to reflect on this life-altering decision. Let your choices be less driven by financial need, and be more about your talents, desires and life purpose; in short a decision that makes you feel great.

Again, remember that you are not alone. The Pathfinder Center reports that more women over 40 change careers than those in their 20s and 30s combined. And because of the demand for career transition services, there are many resources to explore: books and tests about aptitude, interest, values, style and personality. The possibilities can be overwhelming.

Here is where Career Transition Coaches come in. At minimum they will help you with a thorough evaluation of the physical, emotional, financial and professional aspects of your life. But if you want the best, you want a coach who will help you discover what hasn't worked for you. And that coach should be a guide to help you ingrain the beliefs, attitudes about life and yourself that will lead to the kind of prosperity you deserve.

You will want someone at your side as you consider taking huge risks in order to step into a bigger idea of yourself. It means creating new habits and a new self-image. Imagine someone standing with you who sees the greatness in you that you cannot yet believe in.

· Why Midlife Career Changes are Working

While women at midlife may face obstacles in returning to the workforce or starting a new career, they are making it work. The number of women making more than $100,000 has tripled in the last decade. And women in their midlife years are poised to add to these numbers because they have the skills, confidence and desire to pursue their dreams.

Statistics show that women's ability to fulfill their dreams increases after age 50. So there is a lot of reason for optimism. Take heart and embrace the challenge.

Looking for a job in Singapore, you can search a list of latest jobs at job bank Singapore.

A recruitment article by Dougles Chan - A recruitment mentor that speciliased in recruitment training and recruitment mentoring in Singapore and globally.

Contact Dougles Chan @ +(65) 9388 0851 or email to dc@dougleschan.com for your recruitment training and mentoring needs.

You Cant Get a Good Job Without a Degree - Exploding the Myth

How many people do you know who work at a minimum wage job because they don't have a college degree? Why, everyone knows that you simply can't get a good job without a college degree. Now many of us are starting to hear that you can't even get a good job without a graduate degree.

Ladies and Gentlemen, that is just plain wrong; it is a myth. It is a myth perpetuated by unknowing, but well-meaning parents who want their children to be successful. It is a myth perpetuated by colleges and universities hungry for student tuition money.

Many of those same parents did not have college degrees and to them a college degree was something magical that set someone apart from the masses. My father was like that. He encouraged me to go to college, get a degree, and get a good job. He was well-intentioned, but he was wrong. There are many paths to success that do not need a college degree.

Some successful people who never went to, or didn't finish college, include Henry Ford, Michael Dell (the founder of Dell Computers), Bill Gates, and Rachael Ray. There are many others.

Of course, there are also some jobs, like being a doctor or a professor that do require college degrees. And, for those who want that, that is the path they must pursue.

However, just because you don't have a college degree does not mean that you can't be successful. You can be successful--as successful as you want to be in your wildest dreams--as long as you are willing to work hard toward your goals.

Here is how not to find a better job with no college degree. Send out mass mailings of resumes. Answer ads on the internet by filling out forms. Apply blindly at every open position you can find hoping that someone will hire you. None of that works. It doesn't even work if you have a college degree.

You have to make yourself stand out from the crowd. Fortunately, that is not difficult to do, but it does take some work. Here's how you can make yourself stand out from the crowd.
First, be competent in everything that you do. Learn how to do what you do well, even if you think it is beneath you.

Next, always be learning more about what it is you want to do. For example, if your dream job involves running a store, learn all you can about running a store. Read everything you can find on the internet. Read everything you can find in the library. Enroll in a correspondence course. And don't neglect learning the practical side of things. Get a job working in a store. Do it for free if you have to, but learn what you need to know.

Then, when your opportunity comes, you will be ready.

Unfortunately, there are no shortcuts. If you want a better job, or if you want to follow your dream whatever it may be, you need to have the knowledge and abilities that you will need.
Once you have that knowledge and ability, you simply have to demonstrate it to people who might hire you or to people who can help you reach your dream. Admittedly, some larger companies have inflexible rules about who they can hire, but small business seldom does.

In summary, to get a better job with no college degree, decide what you want to do and prepare your plan to achieve that goal. Then get busy. That is exactly what all those famous and successful people without college degrees did.

Looking for a job in SG, you can get a list of latest jobs at WDA jobnet.

A recruiting article by Dougles Chan - A recruitment mentor that speciliased in recruitment training and recruitment mentoring in Singapore and globally.

Contact Dougles Chan @ +(65) 9388 0851 or email to dc@dougleschan.com for your recruitment training and mentoring needs.

Doing Welding Jobs Abroad - Is it a Quick Way to Get Rich?

This is almost everyone's desire, to have a job that provides wealth beyond their wildest dreams, easily and timely. Welding jobs abroad has its benefits, but is doing this skilled and often dangerous profession overseas, the way to achieve that wealth?

That depends on some factors which I will go into shortly. Let's get one thing out of the way, doing welding jobs abroad will not make you rich overnight, no matter who you are working for. On the upside, there is a lot of money to be made from welding, if you stick with it. There is also decent demand for welders, due to the many parts of the globe that are currently experiencing a shortage of skilled welders.

The factors that determine your potential income from welding abroad. Some of these factors include, your experience in the welding field, certification from a respected and relevant institution, how well the employer pays and whether or not you are part of a union to name a few. Those are the most critical factors that will most likely determine your welding income abroad.

Doing welding jobs abroad should be considered, if there is a strong possibility that you can provide a higher standard of living for yourself and (if you are the breadwinner) your family. If you can make more money on a consistent basis, welding in another country as opposed to welding in your home country, you should not pass up the opportunity.

A different environment will provide you with fresh experiences in the field of welding. You will become familiar with the methods and customs of the type of welding you are doing, in the country you are visiting. This helps to determine the best way to do your job. While doing welding jobs abroad may not make you rich quickly, welding in the right place can easily provide you with with more money for a better standard of living. Why not give it a shot to see how much more you can make?

Looking for a job in Singapore, you can search a list of latest jobs at Singapore WDA job bank.

A recruiting article by Dougles Chan - A recruitment mentor that speciliased in recruitment training and recruitment mentoring in Singapore and globally.

Contact Dougles Chan @ +(65) 9388 0851 or email to dc@dougleschan.com for your recruitment training and mentoring needs.

Aggressive Job Search Strategies For a Difficult Market

For those of you who are out of work, and conducting frustrating and fruitless job searches, you must use every method possible to get re-employed. In IT and Software, as well as in most fields, "there are jobs out there." We might be in a deep recession, with no chance of it ending in the near future. But that notion is a self fulfilling prophecy. Proactive people are getting new jobs everyday. Again, you need to do whatever it takes to get your career back on track, today!

You must make yourself the most employable candidate as possible to get that new job. If you lack strong interviewing skills, then get them now. If your resume doesn't convey a compelling case why you should be hired, then find someone to assist you. If you don't project a positive and proactive image and attitude, then change it. All the tools that you need are available. You just need to use them.

I see too many people who seriously impair their own job search. They don't know what they want, or they do know what they want, but they aren't qualified, unless they get more training. They are unwilling to even consider a position at a lower level. Remember, the longer you are out of work, the more difficult it will be to find a position comparable to your last one. Still, for some of you, a career change may be your only hope for employment. If so, get good unbiased advice, get training, and then from a more marketable position, start looking.

Certainly you can contact all the headhunters you want, or you can post your resume on every job board that interests you. But if you have been walking these passive paths towards a new job for three to six months with no success, then it's time to start running! It's time to envision yourself working and regaining your self-respect and self-worth. If your vision is strong enough, it will become a reality.

Research and utilize social media outlets and other forms of networking. Contact companies directly - even if that means knocking on companies' doors and asking to speak with the appropriate hiring person. I know this may sound extreme, but these are extreme times that call for bold and innovative action. Contact alumni from your alma mater; contact everyone you have worked with in the past who has even a remote chance of helping you. Follow up on every lead. Call, email and text message to the point of being a pest. And most importantly, do it now!

If you aren't being ultra-assertive, then get a career coach to help you discover, and develop that vital competency. Bottom line: you have to take yourself off auto pilot and break through the barriers that are between you and the job you want. You might be angry, depressed, scared, panicky, or feeling sorry for yourself, but honestly, companies could care less. They need people with the right mindset to give them 150% effort from the get-go, and those are the people who are "acing" the interviews and landing the jobs.

I hope my call to arms motivates you to develop a winning strategy and a winning attitude that to an employer makes "you" the best choice for the job. Stop listening to the naysayers and cynics who sap your energy and poison your pride. Forget about the media and its endless barrage of negativity. I know you can do it, and deep down, you know you can do it too. So, be prepared, be skilled, be positive and get out there and do it! Soon you will be moving up in success, rather than sinking down in failure.

Looking for a Singapore Jobs, you can always check out the latest jobs in Singapore job bank WDA where thousands of jobs are available.

Can't Find A Job?

Why can't I find a job?

If you've been asking yourself this question recently, trust me you're not alone.
Searching for a new job can be a difficult and frustrating task especially when you are out of work or when you are in a job you hate and want to escape.

If you can't find a job and are increasingly frustrated with your lack of results, let's look at the possible reasons for this outcome:

1. You are not getting interviews: If you aren't getting interviews, your resume and cover letter are not doing their jobs. Their job is to get you interviews. Either that, or you are applying for the wrong jobs. Your resume and cover letter need to sell you to the employer and show them why you are the best person for the job. Alternatively, are you applying for jobs you really have no chance of getting? If so, don't waste your time or the time of the employer who might eventually have a job that suits you that you should be applying for.

2. You are getting interviews but not job offers. If you are unable to close the deal in the interview process, look for possible problems: Are you coming across as too aggressive or laid back during interviews? Are you asking for too much money? Is your style of dress turning interviewers off? Are you better on paper than you are in person? Get as much feedback as possible (ask for positive and negative feedback) from any employer you interview with who has turned you down for a job. Make improvements for future interviews by fixing your mistakes.

3. Are your references hurting you? This can be a difficult one to figure out but are you certain that your references are speaking as highly of you as you hope and expect? I've done references that actually hurt the candidate! Yes, bad references do happen and they can cost you jobs. Carefully think about who you are using as references and determine if they are helping or hurting you. If you are finding that employers are doing references on you and you are not getting job offers, there might be something wrong in the reference check stage.

Looking for a job in SG, you can search a list of latest jobs at Singapore WDA job bank.

A recruiting article by Dougles Chan - A recruitment coach that speciliased in recruitment training and recruitment mentoring in Singapore and globally.

Contact Dougles Chan @ +(65) 9388 0851 or email to dc@dougleschan.com for your recruitment training and mentoring needs.

Job Search Tips - 5 Things You Need to Know and Do to Get the Job YouWant

With the world economy in a severe economic downturn, job-hunting these days is becoming discouraging for the many thousands of people who are out of work. With hundreds of thousands of jobs being cut each month, trying to land a job through the newspaper or on the Internet rarely yield any responses. Patiently waiting for the phone to ring for a job interview is a process that quickly looses it charm.

By adopting a smart approach to job-hunting, you can turn your job search campaign into a successful one. A successful job search campaign requires:

* A clearly defined goal

* An action plan

* Putting that plan into action everyday until you achieve your goal.

Here are the things you need to know and do to land a job:
1) Never act unemployed. You are in transition between jobs. You are not a job applicant, but instead a professional "sales person." Likewise, practice professional habits only. This is especially important when answering the telephone.

2) Know the type of job you seek and where. Verbalize it to everyone. Remember, you need other people to get you hired. Know your assets, and present evidence of your current and past accomplishments, problems solved, goals attained, credentials, and diplomas (your "Prove it" File).

Make sure you read the job description. If the requirements are, "must be a U.S. citizen, must be able to pass a drug test, and a background and security investigation" do not submit your resume to this position if you have a criminal record, may test positive for substance use, have bad credit, or are heavily in debt.

Also, many job-seekers often leave off very important and critical experience or information that is pertinent to the job they are seeking. Just as bad is to bury this important and relevant information so deep into the resume that the recruiter will not see it. No employer has the time to play Sherlock Holmes or guessing games to figure out your qualifications or background. This is why it is imperative that if you meet the requirements for a position, your resume must immediately grab the resume reviewer's attention with your skills/experience.

3) Prepare your references now and keep your resume updated. Keep your resume, personal contacts and references on a flash drive, and carry it with you at all times. With a flash drive, a job contact or recruiter can attach it to the USB drive on their computer, and save your resume to their computer. It is imperative that your contact information is complete, easy-to-read, and placed at the top of the first page of resume, and not just on the cover letter. This includes your full name, address, working telephone numbers (home, cell phone, and a day-time number) that has a voice-mail attached to them, and a professional e-mail address. People who are serious about a job make it as easy as possible for recruiters or employers to reach them.

4) Do not use unprofessional email addresses. Email addresses such as foxy-lady@yahoo.com, sexy-hot-chocolate@hotmail.com, or party-animal@gmail.com are a turn-off to employers or recruiters. With the many ISP's merging or going out of business almost every day, create a permanent email address. Many job-seekers choose to use a work email address, but this is not recommended. There are plenty of free services on the Internet such as Yahoo, Hotmail or G-mail. Remember, your resume will be the first impression a potential employer or recruiter will have of you, so put your best foot forward!

5) Avoid long resumes with long paragraphs. In the process of reviewing hundreds of resumes, it will take you 10 seconds or less to grab a job recruiter's attention. A resume should never be more than 2 pages. If you cannot adequately communicate your background in 2 pages or less, there is a problem. This can indicate to hiring personnel that either you have had too many jobs, a career that is not focused, an inability to be concise, problems with communicating in writing, or something similar. All of which make you undesirable as a potential new hire.

No matter how tempting it may be for you to go into detail about the first job you had 25 years ago, don't! Instead, let your resume showcase your most recent accomplishments. For the most part, employers and recruiters are only interested in the last 5 to 8 years of your career, 10 at the most. If you are a recent graduate with limited professional work experience, your resume should be only one page.

Remember, a resume is like ad copy. Keep it short, to-the-point, and reflect the keywords the employer uses to describe the qualities and skills they're looking for regarding the position. No job recruiter has the time to read long paragraphs, which look like a narrative out of War and Peace.
Your resume should be easy to read. The reader should be able to "scan" your resume for your skills and accomplishments.

Consider using the following formatting techniques:
1. Use bullet points.
2. Use appropriate amounts of "white space" to help guide your reader. Take a look at the Sunday classified ads in the paper. Notice how the ad copy is easy to read and is spread out using key bullet-points to emphasize the criteria consumers are using to make a buying decision.

Seeking for a job in SG, you can source a list of latest jobs at WDA jobs bank Singapore.

A recruitment article by Dougles Chan - A recruitment mentor that speciliased in recruitment training and recruitment mentoring in Singapore and globally.

Contact Dougles Chan @ +(65) 9388 0851 or email to dc@dougleschan.com for your recruitment training and mentoring needs.

Job Search Tips and Ideas

Job search websites have attractive employment vacancies. This are the first links that you should log into if you are jobless. Every page has the employer's name and contact details. These web sites is connected to other links that have other interesting vacancies. As an applicant, you will be able to obtain the necessary information that you need on training, support services and conditions of the work you will be doing.

As a rule you must have the qualifications needed if you are to succeed. There are also partnership agencies that work together to sift out the best employees available. Tax incentives can be negotiated online. Some of the agencies involved include: non-profitable community organizations, division of vocational rehabilitation among others. Job Search partners are under the department of work force development.

The work force development department is known to sponsor the employment center. The governing council is guided by state policies as it collaborates with development oriented organizations.

Wisconsin Job Search is sponsored by the American department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. This site gives a proper description of career plans and provides assistance in employment search.

There are special programs for immigrants, the youth, the older generation and veterans. Financial literacy programs can be arranged for you. There is also information on health care, transport, languages just but to name a few. The employment centers linked to this web site meet the minimum standards set by the government. The site has various tools that will enhance the search process. On request, you will be given professional advise on how to write your resume.

Search for a Singapore Jobs, you can always check out the latest jobs in Singapore job bank WDA where thousands of jobs are available.

Finding a Job with a High School vs College Graduation

Whether you choose to enter the job market with a high school vs. college graduation under you belt can have a very significant impact on the jobs you will be able to do and the amount of money you will be able to make.

According to a report entitled "The Big Payoff: Educational Attainment and Synthetic Estimates of Work-Life Earnings," a person with a high school degree can expect to earn an average of $1.2 million over the course of their working life, and a person with a bachelor's degree can expect to earn an average of $2.1 million dollars over the same period of time. The report estimates that people with a master's degree will earn an average of $2.5 million, people with doctoral degrees will earn an average of $3.4 million dollars, and those who get professional degrees will earn the most, an average of $4.4 million.

That said, all those figures are an average, so it doesn't mean they are written in stone. There are good-paying careers you might pursue with only a high school diploma. Construction contractors can make a lot of money. So can entrepreneurs, small business owners or investors. All of those careers can be difficult, risky and taxing, but they do offer the possibility for a person to make an excellent living without a college degree.

Then there are good-paying careers that require a two-year technical education such as plumbing, electrician work or nursing. Those careers pay fairly well and offer opportunities for advancement and entrepreneurship.

On the flip side, there are many careers that require a bachelor's degree (or higher) that do not pay very well at all. To be a teacher, social worker or public interest lawyer, you almost always need an advanced degree. Yet these professions do not offer tremendous financial rewards.

When you are considering going to college in terms of how it will help you make more money, you should think about what type of job you want. If your dream is to become a general contractor, you might be better off getting construction experience, learning skills on the job rather than in a classroom. Or if your goal is to make a good deal of money with only a bachelor's degree you might not want to graduate with an English, Sociology or Philosophy degree. Choose a more financially rewarding course of study like Engineering or Accounting.

In general, we encourage high school graduates to go on to college. A college degree is viewed as the traditional pathway to success. As stated earlier in this article, the general financial trends support that notion.

However, it is crucial for every person to do what is right for them. Sometimes, opportunities open up when they are least expected. And other times, the most obvious pathway to financial success is less rewarding. We know that people with advanced degrees make more money, but these degrees take time and money to earn. People spend years of their lives and take on a massive debt load to earn these degrees. So, they may make more money, but they will owe a significant portion of that money.
Be sure you know what you want. Have a realistic idea of how to get there, and go for it.

Searching for a job in SG, you can find a list of latest jobs at WDA jobnet.

An article by Dougles Chan - A recruitment mentor that speciliased in recruitment training and recruitment mentoring in Singapore and globally.

Contact Dougles Chan @ +(65) 9388 0851 or email to dc@dougleschan.com for your recruitment training and mentoring needs.

How to Find a Job Using LinkedIn

A new grad sent an inquiry about using LinkedIn in her job search - here's the answer, in the form of a letter to my young friend. Take a look, and see how LinkedIn can help in your own job search!

Dear Emily,

Congratulations on your new degree! Here are a few ideas on using LinkedIn in your job search.

I don't think that an overt outreach campaign that reaches out to people (whether hiring managers, HR folks, or other influencers) at various companies and tells them about your job search, is going to be especially satisfying for you. For one thing, this is the sort of contact that people fear when they're trying to decide whether or not to join a network like LinkedIn. Unless there is some clear, compelling intersection between your background or talents and the company's specific need, I would view this as typically unwelcome contact.

(I'm just one person. But I'm a ridiculously long-in-the-tooth HR person, with a focus on job hunting.)

Luckily, there are many better ways to use LinkedIn in your job search. Here are four of them, for starters:

1) Check out LinkedIn jobs, naturally. If you can see a job there, that means that you're connected to the job, which is very sweet for a new grad. If you do not have tons of connections, connect to your parents' friends, or anyone you know who's already in the business world.

2) Use LinkedIn for your job-search research project. You will focus on specific companies - you should do that, as it gives you a target for your job search and turns you into an active job researcher/seeker rather than just a person who trolls Monster.com all day long. As you identify these companies, you can learn a TON about them via LinkedIn. Search on the company name to find people who work there now or who used to work there - what sorts of backgrounds do they have? What sorts of education? Which of these target companies seem most suitable for you given your own experiences and interests?

If you're looking to apply at a company and don't feel comfortable contacting someone who works there now, out of the blue (and who could blame you for that), contact someone who USED to work there! Corporate alums are under no pressure to recommend you for a job, and will most likely talk very freely about their former company. This is the indirect approach - LinkedIn is a terrific vehicle for that. (Do the person a favor, since he or she is helping you - create a logo for his or her teenage daughter's blog, for instance.)

3) Use LinkedIn to find relevant headhunters to talk to. Headhunters are well-connected and, like real estate agents, seldom shun a phone call that comes out of the blue (although it may take them awhile to call you back). They may not be able to help you find a job specifically - lots of search people don't work with new grads, because new grads are not the job-seekers that firms will typically pay search people to find for them - but they can advise you nonetheless. In ten minutes on the phone with a headhunter you can learn enough to target some companies, drop others from your list entirely, and save yourself hours or weeks of trouble.

4) Very important - use LinkedIn to expand the network of people you ALREADY know, who should be informed that you are out of school and job-hunting.

Where there isn't a compelling rationale for contact, it's awkward to reach out to strangers and say "Gee, want to hire me?" But you should absolutely use LinkedIn to get back in touch with people you already know - friends of your parents, your friends' parents and older siblings, the lady you babysat for in high school, anyone you interned for during college, the McKinsey VP who sang in choir at church all those years with your mom - get it? - and enroll them in supporting your job search.

What you are doing with LinkedIn in this case is simply pulling together your existing network (the people you know, though you may not have thought of them as your network) and bringing them up to date on your professional status. Here's how to find them:

a) do a LinkedIn search on the city where you grew up and identify people you know. If you grew up in San Jose or New York or Chicago, scratch that and go right to b)

b) sit down with a piece of paper and a pencil and list everyone in business that you know. A new grad should be able to list 100 such people - push yourself. Think about Girl Scout leaders, the volunteer who directed "Grease" your senior year of high school, the track team parents, the librarian back in your high school who is a corporate Knowledge Manager now - you can do it! Once you have the list on paper (actually, do it in Word so you can cut and paste names into the LinkedIn search box) start looking for these folks on LinkedIn.

Some of the people on your list won't be on LinkedIn yet, of course - if you really want to include them in the network you're constructing, you'll have to find their email addresses so that you can invite them to join. The easiest way (short of phoning them) is to Google them - there's a decent chance you'll find an email address that way. Out of your starter list of 100 friends-and-family advocates, perhaps you'll end up with a decent network of 65 LinkedIn contacts. Perhaps more!
Good luck Emily! Don't be timid when it comes time to negotiate the multiple job offers you are sure to be juggling before long.

Want to help people find a job and do something meaningful and make a difference in other peoples life by starting your own recruitment company? Check out Dougles Chan inspirational recruitment stories.

Job Search Strategies in a Down Economy

Serious times call for serious measures especially as they apply to a job search. Whether it's a first job, the fifth or the fifteenth, there are ways to prepare, actions to take and activities to do that move the process forward. For some, who are searching because of downsizing/layoffs, it may feel embarrassing to be separated from a job and career that was a source of pride, comfort and income as one 45 year old professional mentioned. If  you really like your job, your company and your co-workers, being separated from them is disconcerting and painful.

People were experiencing layoffs, downsizing, re-engineering, mergers and sticky situations with bosses,mentors and co-workers.   "Networking" was rather new-ish. Oh, it's been around for centuries but there was no formal name applied to that common sense and common courtesy reciprocal process.  Now, networking was merely a noun and now it's a verb---a word of action!
When I experienced a teacher layoff from the career my Mother said you could "always fall back on", (so much for that myth), I was stunned, annoyed and felt betrayed.  What I learned:

1. It's OK to be ticked off.  But give yourself a time allotment to be angry.  10-14 days


2. It's OK to grieve as job loss is a loss of more than income.  10-14 days


3. After time periods for #1 and #2 are over (and hopefully they will occur simultaneously), it's time for action. My mantra in all my books including Face To Face: How To Reclaim The Personal Touch in A Digital World, is that good things don't come to those who wait. "Good things come to those who initiate".


4. Go to a fundraiserC


5. Check out MeetUp.com for a local group in your area


6. Join a BNI group


7. Visit 40+ or the Job Search Group from your local EDD office.


8. Attend a Pink Slip Party


9. Talk to people in lines, next to you at sporting events, in the laundromat, etc.

The theme is that the more visible we are, the more viable we are.  The first step is to "work", in the nicest manner possible, every gathering, event, party by MEETING people and having conversations that build connections. The second is to network like it's 1989. Not only does that mean to "find friends" and become "linked in", it also means to consistently do the one- on- one follow-up with people you know or just met.

We have more options than ever to follow-up: we can text, email, poke, write on a wall and--- how's this for a retro thought---PICK UP THE PHONE! Have a conversation where you can HEAR tone, pacing, inflection and share a laugh. Too many people are avoiding the phone and losing phone skills. The main problem is that some employers are so inundated with resumes that they conducting phone job interviews first.

We all know that just looking at Want Ads is NOT enough whether they appear in the local paper, The Wall Street Journal, on a professional website or on Craigslist.  Don't misunderstand, we do need to be exploring all avenues and that includes want ads, job boards and websites.  People post and advertise jobs in the hopes that the dream employee will read the ad and respond.

Since the early 1980's, there was knowledge of what was then called "THE HIDDEN JOB MARKET."   It's not that it was hidden as much as it was word of mouth...out of the mouths of people we knew who knew of openings at their company or in their profession.

The answer to the dilemma, "How to FIND the hidden jobs" is the same now as it was 30 years ago: Be Visible. Be Viable. NETWORK! By the way, that is how people have learned of job openings for decades even before the term was appropriated to describe those activities which connect us to others.

When I ask my audiences how many of them have learned of at least one of their jobs through another person, about 80% of the group raises their hand.  It's the way the workaday world has always worked. You learn that your company needs another mechanic, tailor, administrative assistant, sheet metal worker, legal consultant and you tell a friend who knows someone who fits the description. Sometimes those jobs are filled through the informal word-of-mouth networking process before they are posted.

Now that the play 9 To 5 has been revived we are aware that the workday used to be just that: 9 to 5. Even as it has expanded and spilled over into our personal lives due to technology and the blurring of lines of demarcation, I would encourage using our 5-9 time slot to build that professional job search network.

Point:  People refer jobs to people they know or know of though a close source who can vouch for that person. Many people (in spite of sites that build on 6 degrees of separation) aren't going to risk a reputation on someone they don't know. I won't.

Therefore, it makes sense to be visible in professional and alumni associations, community organizations and local groups. Additionally, we have the option of going to meet ups and tweet ups! Mother's warning: "Go out, you'll never meet anyone sitting at home" is no longer true. We can meet a lot of people online and even become techno friends a term described in Friendship by Joseph Epstein.  In this down economy, we need to connect in as many ways as possible.  Over a beverage... well, that's a good start!

Seeking for a job in Singapore, you can always check out the updated jobs in Singapore job bank WDA where thousands of jobs are available.

LinkedIn Status Updates - The 7 Do's and Don'ts

This question usually comes right on the heels of my stating that you should use the Status Update Box every day of the week. Yep, you guessed it. The question is: "What should I use the Status Box for?"

Before I dive into the answer to this question, let me give you my perspective on why I think the Status Box is one of the most powerful proactive marketing features on LinkedIn. My perspective has been shaped by several authors whom I have been reading, following, and learning from in regard to developing strategies for social media usage.

One such author is Shama Hyder Kabani, who wrote a book I highly recommend called " The Zen of Social Media Marketing." The method she shares for successful online marketing is called ACT, which stands for Attract-Convert-Transform, and she reviews all of the online tools available to move a consumer of your products or services through the stages of ACT.

In one of her "AHA! Zen Moments" (which is where she shares her biggest ideas), she states, "Social media marketing works best as a tool for attracting traffic and attention. It doesn't work as well for converting strangers into clients. It is better suited to converting strangers into consumers (i.e., blog readers or newsletter subscribers)."

The consuming step she is referring to here is that step before they become customers or clients. She is not referring to consuming products or services but rather information--the kind of information you, because of your experience and expertise, are uniquely able to share.

Several features on LinkedIn allow you to share, but by far the best sharing feature on LinkedIn is the Status Update Box. Using it to share pertinent business information is a strategy that will pay dividends if used correctly.

That being said, many people are using this feature as if it were a Twitter or Facebook feed and are talking about all kinds of personal, not-even-close-to-business information. This information really turns me off, and I hear many of you expressing the same feeling. I know sometimes the lines are somewhat gray and it is a matter of personal judgment, but we need to keep in mind that this is a business networking site and approach it accordingly.

With these perspectives for attracting and sharing in mind, I now want to give you some specific ideas (both good and bad) to help answer the question: "What should I use the Status Box for?"
7 Good (and Bad) Ways to Use The LinkedIn Status Update Box

DO THIS:

1. Share links (using a URL shortener) to interesting articles, websites or video you have found that some individuals in your network might appreciate. Don't worry about whether all of your connections will find the information equally valuable. Also, try to use words that grab the readers and encourage them to click the link.

2. Pose a question that could lead to solving a problem you have, like: "Anyone know any good controller candidates?" One of my connections saved $20,000 in recruiting fees by posting an update like this a couple days before calling a recruiter. (I apologize to all recruiters for having to mention this situation.)

3. Conduct an informal poll of your network (which consists of many smart businesspeople) relating to a topic that is of interest to you, such as: "What interest rates are you seeing for lines of credit in the current environment?"

4. Mention a person or a situation that might be helpful to some of your connections, like: "I just met with John Jones from ABC Insurance Company and found out they are saving companies lots of $$ on workmen's compensation insurance."

5. Talk about an event you are attending or have attended to encourage involvement and/or questions about what you learned there.

6. If you are a job seeker, don't use this to say, "Hey, I'm still looking for a job." Rather, mention job fairs you are attending, people you are interviewing with, networking events you are going to, etc.
Remember--having your name show up on a consistent basis on your entire network's home page is extremely important whether you are in job-seeking mode or not.

7. Use the "Like" feature when you see a helpful update from one of your connections. Doing this shares that update with your entire network. This is a great way to give the writer of the helpful update exposure to your network that he/she wouldn't normally have.

DON'T DO THIS:
1. Mentioning personal things--like what you had for breakfast and the fact your dog is sick today--is just wrong. This suggests to the business professionals in your network that you don't really respect their time.

2. Continually talking about specific products and services takes people back to the days of big newspaper ads and screaming radio messages. This is not the purpose of social media, especially LinkedIn.

3. Avoid talking about topics that might be sensitive to some of your audience. I am too embarrassed to even think about, let alone share, some of the items I see posted as status updates. You know what I mean. If your mother wouldn't want you talking about it, don't put it in your LinkedIn Status Box.

4. Think twice before posting your physical whereabouts. I have heard several real-life examples of people's homes being broken into after putting out an "I-am-out-of-town" update on Twitter. Sorry, all you Foursquare users, but I had to share that.

5. The LinkedIn/Twitter interface is causing people to have too many LinkedIn updates as well as inappropriate updates. So, if you are using that interface, be selective about the updates you share between the two platforms. LinkedIn and Twitter are designed with different purposes and strategies.

6. The netiquette on LinkedIn is no more than a couple updates per day, whereas on Twitter you are almost expected to tweet twenty times per day. (I apologize to my Twitter followers for not getting out twenty per day!) So, watch the frequency of your LinkedIn status updates.

7. Don't waste your time reading updates from people who violate all of the above. By using the "Hide" function, you can stop an individual's status updates from showing up on your home page.

When you see an annoying status update and decide you do not want to see any further updates from this person, simply scroll over to the right side of that status update and unveil the word "Hide." Once you activate this function, you will be freed from receiving further updates from that person.
Follow these simple suggestions, and you will be on your way to being a model LinkedIn citizen!

Want to help people find a job,do something meaningful and make a difference in other peoples life by starting your own recruitment business? Check out Dougles Chan inspirational recruitment stories.

Finding the Best Online Job Search Site

Finding the best online jobs search site can be a daunting task for a lot of internet users whether you are an old pro and very savvy or just a rookie and still learning the ropes. The process is not as hard as one would think and there are a few things to keep in mind when searching.

First thing you need to do is weed out what you are not looking for. If you are not qualified and are not looking for a six figure position, then ignore those that tell you that you will be making huge money no matter what the economy. Most online job search sites will tell you the types of jobs they offer so you can easily eliminate the ones that are not for you.

Then take a look at the online job search sites that offer the types of opportunities that are a better fit for you and the kind of employment that suits you better. Many are set up to offer jobs with major retailers, jobs in health care, restaurant jobs like jobs at Chick-fil-A as well as positions in the service industry like jobs at Marriott.

Just because you are not looking to make your next million at our new employer doesn't mean that you can't find a good job online via an online job search. There are many blue collar jobs to be had via the internet and you would be surprised that some of the companies that hire employees strictly from an online job search. It's not just the big boys, there are many smaller companies that to those that are job seeking online.

It's easier for them to get a series of resumes via email, sort through them, see who would be a good fit and then make phone calls or return emails to set up interviews. It takes less time, requires less energy and frees up the human resource folks to do some of the other things they need to do in order to keep their company running smoothly.

So when you are hunting for that perfect job do your best to find the perfect online job search site for your career.

Seeking for a Singapore Jobs, you can always check out the latest jobs in Singapore job bank WDA where thousands of jobs are available.

What Makes a Good Job Search Site, and Why Some Are Bad

First, A Reality Check
Using job search websites is not the best way to find a job.

No online service can equal the results that are possible for a well-conducted networking campaign. But in today's wired world, no job search should proceed without them. They keep your resume in circulation 24/7. They publish a tremendous amount data, and offer a certain amount of guidance and support. The trick is knowing how to use them effectively.

How to Tell a Good Jobs Site from a Bad One
The best job search websites can save you time and keep you focused. Others are shameless marketers just pushing products and cashing in on Internet traffic.

It's important to learn how to use the good sites and avoid the bad ones. Here's a quick guide to get you started. The good sites generally reflect a sizable investment of time, creative energy and money. The people who have put them together are obviously serious about what they're doing, and while they are just as eager to make a buck as anyone else, they offer value for the money they receive.

You should prefer sites that offer something of real value before you give them anything...including your email address. This could be a free report, a self-administered career assessment or list of sample job descriptions. Take a look at what they offer. If you like what you see, sign up for their email newsletter or register as a client. Usually, you can tell a bad job search website in seconds. If the pages are "link farms"--with little or no content and masses of links to other sites or product offerings--don't waste your time. Don't waste your money, and above all else, never trust a site like this with your personal and/or financial information!

What Can You Expect from a Good Jobs Site?
At the very least, you can use the better sites to educate yourself on what jobs are available, where they are and what they're paying. Companies may read your resume, and you may even get that long-awaited phone call asking you to come in for an interview.

A job search website cannot, of course, guarantee you a job--not even a paid subscription service like TheLadders, but they may help you get your foot into the door. Think of them as your back-up plan, and spend the majority of energy on the important building blocks of the career search process: career assessment, career research, and mapping out an effective job search.

What's it Cost?
It depends. Some job search websites--even some of the best ones--don't cost a penny. Others, particularly those serving an upper-level, executive clientele, charge a user fee or subscription.

TheLadders.com, for example, requires you to pay for access to their high-end salary listings, and in this case, considering the types of opportunities the site publicizes, it's probably worth it.

When is a Jobs Site NOT a Jobs Site?
Answer: when it's an aggregator.

Indeed.com and SimplyHired.com don't offer their own content. Instead they pull listings from all the major job search websites, company websites and newspapers, and display them in a page of search results. This can be very helpful. In seconds you can get a good idea of your options and what's available. Just don't expect a site like this to offer any kind of personalized service. It's not what they do.

Is Bigger Better?
Monster.com is arguably the best global platform for job seekers. It comes loaded with advice for the job hunter. Great content on the site includes a "how to" on putting together a resume that rocks the world, well-written job descriptions, interviewing tips, and lots of salary information.

One of the nice things about Monster is that you can search jobs using as many as eight different criteria including location, salary, education level, job category, years of experience, and job duration. Whether you are just starting out or are making a mid-career transition, a massive site like Monster is a good place to start.

Of course, you cannot forget about CareerBuilder. CareerBuilder, which has been around since 1995, is the granddaddy of job search websites. It's powerful job search engine allows you to use up to seven criteria to gain access to its massive database of available jobs. You can post your resume, sign up for alerts to jobs that match your keywords, and get a heads up about upcoming career fairs.

Looking for a job in Singapore, you can always check out the latest jobs in Singapore WDA job bank where thousands of jobs are available.

Finding a New Job - When Fear Becomes Inertia

I found a very depressing site the other day. It came up when I Googled the phrase "I hate my job." It's full of people complaining about what they do for a living. And it's more than just venting. Much of it is not only hostile, it's hateful. Very few seem to be doing anything about their circumstances except finding fault. Are they expecting to walk into the office one day and find a significant change has taken place?

Individuals such as these are one reason why I teach people the system of how to find their perfect job. When you combine the understanding of the science and psychology behind what's involved in the job search with the importance of awareness, you begin to realize it's not only possible to achieve it, but it's do-able in a short period of time because you are the one controlling - through your mental attitude and ensuing choices - both the process and the outcome.

The most common reason some people fail to make a change is fear - usually fear of change combined with landing in the same miserable type of environment. It's like the person who's been dating a long time and always winds up with a jerk. Pretty soon you just leap to the conclusion that that's the only thing around and don't realize that's a fallacy. A shift in perspective and you can say, "Hey, maybe the problem isn't something else. Maybe the problem is me."

And once you've stopped blaming circumstances outside yourself, then you can take responsibility, be open to finding a new way, and watch your search unfold in a dramatically different manner.
So fear of leaving, fear of change, fear of landing in the same situation again, fear you'll never find a decent boss, that you won't be paid well or enough or more, that it will be too far to drive (the list goes on) are all underlying - and often unconscious - reasons why change doesn't happen.

It's the belief that "There's nothing out there," and "What would I find that's different/better than this?" that's part of the problem. But that belief perpetuates itself. In other words, as long as that's what you believe, you're not going to look.

What you think, what you say, and what you believe is what you manifest. How will you find anything if you don't look? Or if when you look, you find something wrong with every opportunity that catches your eye?

o "Oh I could do that! No, probably too far to drive."

o "There's something....yeah, but they're not going to pay me as much."

o "Hmmm - what about this? No, that sounds like it's going to be a lot of hours."
And as this goes on for weeks at a time, nothing changes. You find a way to sabotage every potential opportunity or optimistic thought about changing companies.

But that's entirely normal. Underneath all that is self-doubt, anxiety, fear of rejection, fear of having made the wrong decision, and once you're into the process - fear of having botched the interview, feeling as if you are botching the interview process - right now. Why not just blow it off? After all, you've got a job that pays.

Some have no problem getting started but can't seem to follow through and finish. When you begin, you think of all the reasons why you want to leave. Then as an offer seems impending, you think of all the reasons why you want to stay. So you stay, and find that nothing has changed. You still want to leave, only now you're kicking yourself for having turned down a job you worked so hard to find.
The best way to conquer fear is to walk straight into it.

When you want to go, write down the reasons why and what isn't satisfying about your job. List the characteristics of the environment and job you want to be in. As you get toward the end of your search and find yourself with an offer in hand, go back to that list of what you don't like about your job. Know that the job you're leaving isn't going to change, and that's why you are.

Because once you've made the switch, you'll find the fear disappears and a renewed confidence takes its place. And once you've committed yourself to a new path, the new becomes the old and familiar, and you'll wonder why you ever contemplated staying at that other place that made you so miserable.
If you've done your homework on what you want, if you've done your prep before the interview, if you've been honest with yourself and the hiring authorities, you could find yourself in a job you love. And there are a lot of people like that. Just Google "I love my job" instead of its alternative. Which site would you rather have an entry on?

Seeking for a job in Singapore, you can always check out the latest jobs in Singapore job bank WDA where thousands of jobs are available.

Cold Calling Tips For a Job Search

Anyone in the market for a job right now knows what the challenges are. Job hunters already know it takes more than a good set of skills and a well-written resume to compete for a position in 2008. Searching for the right job today includes uncovering all the resources available that may lead to great career path with a solid company. Although there are hundreds ways to find a job, one of them is an often-untapped source.

Cold calling during a job search can be the most effective tool used to land a job, but people may abandon the idea for a variety of reasons. One reason is that it's much easier to read a classified ad than it is to go out and discover open positions on your own. Scanning the internet job boards doesn't require much effort either. Both of those methods are fine if your specialty skill or talent is in demand, recruiters may then be looking for you. For everyone else, reading the classifieds can be a lot less productive than cold calling.

Maybe the idea of cold calling is new to you, or you've never considered it before for other reasons. Now might be good time to revisit it. It may be worth stronger consideration if you've been out of work for a while or if everything else you've tried has failed.

Statistics show that many job openings are never advertised publicly. If they are not filled by a recruiter, they are filled either in-house or by word-of-mouth, or some other form of networking. This is especially true for many of the more desirable jobs. People want to work with people they know, so their associates are usually the first to hear about vacancies.

If you're already convinced that cold calling is they way to go but didn't know how to do it, here's a plan to help you get started:

Target the companies that fit well with your career plan.

The first phase is the research phase where you're looking at every business that may require your skills. It's an easy task in small cities but may take a bit more effort in larger metropolitan areas. The yellow pages, classified ads, trade magazines, and internet searches will help reveal the names of places where your talent can grow.

Everything begins with a list.

Prioritize the names of the companies you'd like to work for ahead of those who simply hire for the skills you have to offer. Almost every company has a presence on the internet with their own website. You'll be looking for the characteristics that are most import to you, whether it's benefits, paid-training, salary, or a location close to home.

It's sometimes about who you know.

Identify a list of contacts you have at each firm. Include every possible source you know, from the receptionist to the CEO. The next list includes the names of neighbors, friends, and relatives who know people at your targeted company.

Put the lists to work.

Contact everyone on your list to gather information and take careful notes. You're trying to find out who the decision makers are and who reports to whom. Ask for names and titles, and get phone numbers with extensions if you can.

Before you start dialing...

Have an idea of what you're going to say and write a script if it helps. The goal is to make the most of the conversation in the briefest amount of time. Prepare and rehearse a few open-ended questions so you can avoid getting all yes-no answers and end up with the dreaded dead end conversation.

It's time to start calling.

Reaching the right person may take more than one call. It's always advantageous to be able to open a conversation by mentioning the name of the person who referred you. It immediately establishes some common ground after you introduce yourself. It also helps to get by the gatekeepers whose primary purpose is to screen out calls like yours. You'll ask questions that tell you if and when positions are opening and what qualifications are needed. Whether you're speaking with the decision maker or a person who knows the decision maker, both are valuable. Anyone with information may want to share more than the actual decision maker is inclined to do at the time.

Ask for a meeting.

If things are going well, ask for a 10-minute visit to discuss what you could contribute to the company. Offer to forward your resume in advance or make an appointment for a second phone conversation. The point is to leave the conversation with something.

Do follow up and be persistent.

Sometimes everything falls into place with perfect timing, but don't be disappointed if it doesn't. The key is to be persistent and continue to explore all avenues. Follow up every call with a written thank you and remember to include your original sources of information on the list. One of those people could deliver the tip that will make your cold calling mission a successful one.

Search for a job in Singapore, you can always check out the latest jobs in Singapore job bank WDA where thousands of jobs are available.

Job Search Tips - The Pros and Cons of Career Fairs

When it comes to finding a job, you are likely to look a lot of places and this is a good idea. The more places you look, the more jobs you are likely to find. But what about a career fair? It is a good way to find a job or just a waste of your time?

The Pros of Career Fairs
Networking: You will run into many individuals and companies at a career fair. This is a good chance to get out of there and network. Not only can you handout your resume or a business card, but you can also exchange personal information such as a cell phone numbers, email addresses, or twitter names (yes really). In today's society, networking can significantly improve your chances of landing a job. It is all about looking in the right places and having a good resume, but sometimes it is also about who you know.

Learn: You might be surprised how much you can learn at a career fair. Most importantly, you will learn about some local companies that you didn't even know existed. This is great because when you are in need of a job, you are encouraged to examine all of your options. While most hiring companies prefer to post a listing online, some like to have the option to meet interested job applicants in person.
Interviews: All job fairs and the companies who attend them are different.

Some aren't even actively hiring right now, but they want to create a good database of resume for later. Some companies are hiring and will just collect your resume; their reps are there to do that collecting and tell all interested job seekers about the position. Best of all is the fact that some companies will do on-the-spot interviews! You might walkout of the career fair with a job or an appointment for a second, more formal interview.

The Cons of Career Fairs
Time: Job fairs are nice to attend because you might walk away with a great job. On that same note, you cannot ignore the fact that they require a lot of time. On average, most individuals are at the average fair for at least three hours. After all, there might be hundreds of booths setup and you want to do more than just run up and hand them your resume; you want to stay and network. If you are unemployed, this time will be well-spent. If you are employed and just looking for a new job, you might find some time problems.

Fees: Lets get one thing clear first, not all career fairs cost money to attend. For example, those that are held in public places like a local mall are typically free to attend. It is typically advised that you don't pay to attend a job fair unless a limited number of individuals are allowed in. As mentioned above, there are no guarantees so you might not want to take the risk.

If you want to eliminate the time and hassle of attending a career fair, do your job searching online; it is fast and easy. In fact, you can save even more time by using a desktop job finding program. These programs do vary from program to program, but they are designed to let you search hundreds or even thousands of job sites with one single search. Many also come with other great features, such as customized notes, built-in replies, advanced search features, and more.

Seeking for a job in Singapore, you can always check out the updated jobs in Singapore WDA job bank where thousands of jobs are available.

Informational Interviews Using LinkedIn

One of the many, many fantastic applications of LinkedIn is that you can use it to land informational interviews. Informational interviews are just what they sound like: they are interviews that you conduct to gather information, usually about a job or a career field you're interested in. They last 20-30 minutes, and give you an opportunity to get answers about what a typical day is like, what the person likes or dislikes about the field, and what it takes to be successful. You can also use it as a mentoring session and ask for their advice on your situation and your best career/job search moves.

Research tips for informational interviews to help you compile your list of questions. Informational interviews are strictly for you to get the "inside scoop" from someone who knows, and they help you to expand your network. (FYI: If you're lucky, you might get a job lead, but it's bad form to go into the interview expecting this person to help you get a job.)

But how do you go about setting up an informational interview if you can't do it through your current contacts?

Use LinkedIn. Once you create a profile, you can make connections and introduce yourself to people on LinkedIn, and then ask them directly for an informational interview. Most people are flattered to be asked, and won't mind talking to you for 20 minutes. If they're really pressed for time, they might offer to answer questions by email-which you should definitely follow through on. Also, you can join groups and participate in discussions, and post your questions there. This can be an especially effective tactic for entry-level job seekers. I've seen some really great LinkedIn discussions packed with valuable information for job seekers.

LinkedIn pages are tremendous sources of information on people you'd like to interview and companies you're interested in. Once you've set up your interview, use LinkedIn to prepare for it just as thoroughly as you would for a job interview. Get all your ducks in a row so that you don't waste that person's time by asking questions you can look up the answers to. Coming to the interview prepared with background knowledge and intelligent questions leaves them with a great impression of you as a confident, competent go-getter they will remember (in case they run across a job opportunity for you later).

After the interview, remember to send a thank you letter. If you can, include a relevant article or a solution to a company problem-something helpful to them. Then, include them in your network by routinely contacting them every few months. A successful informational interview gains you valuable information and an expanded professional network-and who knows where that might lead?

Want to help people find a job,do something meaningful and make a difference in other peoples life by starting your own recruitment agency? Check out Dougles Chan inspirational recruitment stories.

First Five Things to Do When Considering Your Job Search

Looking for a job? Five things you need to do first.

1. What is your niche in the marketplace? Job seekers are taking whatever they can get. Although this can be effective; more than likely, this method will prove time consuming and frustrating. Look at your skills and brainstorm what is you are qualified for and passionate about. If you were thinking about making a career change and getting a fresh start, now is the time.

2. Based on what your answer to number 1, create your sales tools to reflect this. Your sales tools include resume, cover letter AND your dialogue when interfacing with a potential employer, business contact, etc.

3. Develop your personal sales force. Carefully examine your sphere of influence. Who in your sphere is positioned to help you? Although this is a version of networking, this will prove highly effective in a short period of time.

4. Be proactive. A large percentage of the unemployed are passive in their approach. They submit dozens of online applications and wait for the phone to right. Do not get caught in this trap. Differentiate yourself by being proactive.

5. Maintain a positive mental attitude. There is little solace to know that hundreds of thousands of people are feeling the same way you are. There are jobs available. Put yourself in the perspective of the employer. With the cost of labor going down and the talent pool deepening, the employer is going to hire someone they like. Maintain your energy level and a positive outlook.

These five activities will help you get on track for a worthwhile and effective job search.

Looking for a Singapore job, you can always check out the updated jobs in Singapore job bank WDA where thousands of jobs are available.

6 Steps To An Easy Job Search

The Job scenario has never been better than in the recent past. Especially after the lull that followed leaner years, this year is turning out to be really a wish come true for job seekers. With the manufacturing and software engineering industries doing so well, these growth vehicles are back in the news for all the right reasons. But wait a minute - does this mean that it is a cakewalk for every Tom, Dick and Harry to walk out with a job offer? Not quite! This time around, recruiters and employers are taking no chances after having been bitten by a spate of economic slumps and mass layoffs.

6 Steps To An Easy Job Search
Internet job exchange companies have paved the way for a successful job search by simplifying and in most cases reducing the number of steps in the process leading up to a job interview. Here we take a look at the 6 easiest steps to a job search.

1. Identifying Your Area Of Interest: Whether you want to be in the software engineering field or in finance management, it is important you identify it before you arrive at the threshold. Look back to recollect the field where you had at least above average successes. This will also show you your strengths.

2. List The Skill Sets Wanted By Employers: Every advertisement specifies what an employer is looking for in a candidate. Check whether you have these before applying. You may want to invest in advanced management training, such as Six Sigma Training, which is currently experiencing very high demand.

3. Make A Striking Resume: A good resume highlights key points using headings, bullets, etc. Organize the structure of your resume in such a way that it matches key skills just as they appear in the top portion of the advertisement. Also, use bold fonts to highlight job titles. Use interesting verbiage; for example, instead of the bland 'contracts officer', say 'contract deal closer'.

4. Locating A Job That Interests You: There are traditional ways of searching for jobs. These include newspaper ads, Internet databases, the Bureau of Labor Statistics for government jobs, etc. Although the Internet provides tons of job listings, you can't ignore the traditional offline advertisements. Some companies want to avoid Internet placement of ads because of the hassles of sifting through tons of resumes that they receive.

5. Placement Agencies: Placement agencies or employment companies are another way that you can get your resume out there. These recruitment agencies have agreements (contracts) with employers for filling their recruitment needs. Agencies complete all the pre-employment formalities before short listing candidates to be forwarded to the employers. These jobs are often not advertised and only registered candidates of the agency are called for pre-selection interviews. The advantage is here is that there is often less competition.

6. Referrals: Sometimes companies rely on referrals. Although this eliminates the hassles of sifting through tons of resumes, it is a kind of assurance of the character of the candidate. So, networking with present and ex-employees of employers can provide surprise job opportunities.

Seeking for a Singapore job, you can always check out the updated jobs in Singapore job bank WDA where thousands of jobs are available.

Job Search Tips And Ideas For Job Seekers

All of us appreciate support, encouragement, and tips when we are job hunting. Knowing that you are not alone and there are resources to help can really increase your confidence. Good luck in your search and may your future be as bright as you are. If you know people in the field you want to be in, ask for a referral or introduction. You've heard about the fabulous pay and great benefits for County and State jobs, know where to find them and use any and all tools available in your area.

Set yourself apart and use the internet differently than the competition by having job openings emailed directly to your inbox and using company websites to educate yourself on the mission and vision the organization. Ask plenty of questions before, during, and after the interview, and always do your home work so you aren't wasting your time or that of the human resource professional you are speaking with.

If you know people in the field you want to be in, ask for a referral or introduction.

o "________, I've heard good things about your company and you seem to like it, right? Who would I talk to about floating my resume?"

o "________, I haven't seen anything that Company XYZ is hiring, but do you happen to know anyone in HR you could put me in touch with?"

County and State jobs are coveted - know where to find them. Set up your profile and find out what's out there that may be a dream come true for you!

o See if your State and/or County has a website for their job postings (try googling the name of the state and the word jobs - same thing for the county)

Set yourself apart - use the internet differently than the competition.

o Use the Job Center website if your State or County offers this helpful tool and have your resume and cover letter ready to go.

o Have Job Center jobs matched to you and emailed directly to your inbox.

o If you have a social networking profile, tidy it up a bit... foul language and drinking pics should be taken down - you don't want to send the wrong message.

o If you have your resume on multiple sites, make sure it's the same or similar on each. If you update one, update all of them.

Ask Questions.
(Before, During, or After the interview it's important to ask questions. If you aren't sure what to ask - here are some examples:)

How would you describe the company culture/work environment?
What type of employees tend to excel at this company?
What qualities are you looking for in your new hires?
Can you tell me more about the interview process?
What is your turn over rate for the type of position I am interested in?
What type of training do you offer?
How often do you provide reviews and feedback?
What are the most important skills for the job?
How would you describe your ideal candidate?
What are the three key skills/strengths vital to this position?

Do your home work.
o Most companies have a website with important information about the company and if you're lucky - information for job seekers.

The Shiny Sparkly Resume!
If a car on a car lot doesn't look shiny and impressive, you'll likely drive by without checking the sticker. Your resume works the same way - if your resume doesn't catch the employers attention you will not get the phone call or the interview much less the job.

Make sure your resume is shiny and sparkling!

Choose Resume Words Carefully / Surpassed vs. Completed
o Anyone can complete a task - surpassing expectations shows that you went above and beyond.

Catch the readers attention and capture interest by using strong words to describe your accomplishments:

Sample Headlines
o Dedicated ______ professional with ___ years of experience in _______

o An accomplished _____ professional with proven entrepreneurial success and expertise in ___________

o Talented _____ professional with over ___ years of experience providing outstanding support to ____________
Sample Qualifications
o Extensive hands on experience in ______

o Diverse _ skills with exceptional __ background in _________

o Fluent understanding and extensive experience managing _____

o Thrive in deadline-oriented, fast paced situations

Focus on: How you saved the company time or money, How you problem solve, How you use your creativity, How you initiate change and develop others, How you use your skills, How you work successfully with a team.

Submit Your Resume/Application
Always read the fine print and submit your resume/application just ask the employer specifies (ie: if they tell you to fax... don't email - if they request a resume and cover letter, don't forget the cover letter, etc... ). Make sure your resume is short and sweet, to the point, and impressive!

Follow Up
Follow up with a phone call or a card (yes, the kind you mail... set yourself apart)
The follow up should be short and sweet - if you send a card, it could say: Thank you for considering me for the _____ position with company XYZ; I am looking forward to meeting with you. Please call me at ____ and we can schedule a phone interview or face to face meeting.

Prepare for the Interview
Make your list of traits, skills, and abilities

Story Format
Stories Should...
Describe a challenging situation

Describe a difficult decision

Describe your strengths

Describe your successes

Describe your weaknesses

Describe a time when the result was not what you planned for

Don't Forget to Ask Questions?

When the potential new employer asks: "Do you have any questions?" your answer should always be a quick "yes" - and go back to those questions you had ready during the job search:

THANK YOU!

The potential new employer will thank you - but be sure to thank them for their time too. Then... follow up with a thank you card (yes the kind you mail - it will set you apart from other applicants)

Seeking for a Singapore Jobs, you can always check out the latest jobs in Singapore WDA job bank where thousands of jobs are available.

How to Get Ready For a Job Interview - Three Job Search Tips That Work

If you're looking for employment, you need to know how to get ready for a job interview. You can talk to anybody and everybody about what to do, but it won't help unless you get job search tips that work.

Employers say people applying for a job often make mistakes during the interview process. It doesn't do any good to have a great resume if you don't seem like a good hire when you meet in person.
Here are three ways to make sure that you are ready for your job interview.

1. Arrive on time.
The best way to make a bad impression on a potential employer is being late. If you're just a couple of minutes late, the people doing the interview will remember it during the rest of the hiring process.
Find out where you have to go. If possible, go there a day early just so you know how to get there and how long it takes. Then leave in plenty of time, allowing for possible traffic delays.

If you're late for that initial meeting, the employer will automatically think that you're likely to be late for work often. No matter how good your reason, it will almost certainly be seen as an excuse.
Furthermore, if you're late, you are telling the people doing the hiring that you don't value their time. Whatever the reason, you were somewhere else doing something else while they were waiting for you to show up.

2. Research the job and the company.
Applicants that come across as knowledgeable about the position for which they are applying and the organization doing the hiring have a clear advantage over other candidates. It is especially impressive when you can match your strengths to what the potential employer needs.

Consider this scenario. A newspaper needs to hire a reporter to cover local government. An editor goes through a stack of resumes and decides to invite two people to come in for an interview. They have similar backgrounds.

During the discussions, one candidate knows about journalism. He talks about how he develops sources, covers events and writes stories. He's clearly articulate and qualified.

The second candidate goes over her background, but also mentions how she thinks her aggressive reporting style will fit in with the newspaper's inclination toward investigative journalism. She has read previous stories about the city council and throws out several ideas for potential stories.
Which reporter will get the job?

3. Be confident, but not cocky.
Many job applicants think they have to show how smart they are. Unfortunately, they come across as arrogant.

Remember that in addition to your qualifications, the potential employer will be thinking about how you will fit into the workplace. If the person interviewing you thinks you have some sort of superiority complex, he or she is not likely to recommend that you be hired.

These suggestions will help you feel relaxed and confident during the hiring process. Once you know how to get ready for a job interview, you can concentrate on finding other job search tips that work.

Looking for a Singapore Jobs, you can always check out the latest jobs in Singapore job bank WDA where thousands of jobs are available.

Interview Questions: Expecting A Job Offer And Still Interviewing Elsewhere?

What if you are expecting a job offer with one company and then get an interview with another company?

Specifically, you haven't yet accepted an offer but are expecting one shortly.
I don't suggest accepting a job offer and then changing your mind and accepting another company's offer. That's unethical.

The reality though is that timing often plays a big part in how we move forward in our career. You might be approaching a job offer with one company and are then invited to attend an interview with another company that you are also interested in working for.

What should you do?
Unless you've received the job offer in writing, it isn't yet a job offer. In this case, your job search isn't over yet as far as I can tell.
Until you have received a job offer in writing and have accepted it, I always think it's good to keep your options open. I've seen verbal job offers retracted and instances where a job offer was believed to be forthcoming only to get shot down by an unexpected company hiring freeze.

A good interviewer (and recruiter) will ask you specifically if you are interviewing with other companies and if you are expecting any job offers shortly. They will ask you where you are specifically in each stage of the interview process if they are really interested in you.

If they don't ask, you might decide to bring it up yourself in an interview. You should always leave an interview understanding what the next step is.

Is there another interview and if so, when? Will a job offer now be made to the successful applicant?

Ask the interviewer just before you leave the interview what happens next and when you will hear back from them.

If you are interviewing with Company A and are expecting a job offer with Company B shortly, you should close the interview with Company A by confirming the next step in the interview process and the timing. Afterall, if you're expecting an offer from Company B within the next week but Company A isn't planning to hire someone for their job for another month, the timings don't match up.

At this point, you should consider letting Company A know you are interested in their position but are expecting an offer from another company shortly and see if they won't speed up the interview process. If they are really interested in you, they should try to accommodate your schedule as best they can.

It may or may not be possible for them to do so or they may simply choose not to accommodate you but you won't know unless you ask.

I'd only use this strategy when you have already been given a verbal offer from Company B and are waiting to receive it in writing or when you already have the offer in writing and have some time to make your decision as to whether or you'll accept it. Simply "thinking" that you're expecting an offer from Company B doesn't really hold much weight.

Otherwise, you will have to decide yourself whether to accept Company B's offer or take your chances and hope that Company A pans out for you in one month's time. Chances are that Company B won't wait one month to see if you accept their offer while you're actually waiting for Company A to offer you a job.

Unfortunately, sometimes timing just doesn't work out in your favor during the job search process.
Part of managing your job search is managing timelines as best you can and ensuring that the people you are interviewing with understand where you are in the process.

If you simply tell Company A you've accepted a job with Company B without making them aware earlier that you had a job offer waiting, you may miss out on a good job offer with Company A that might have been made available to you had they known about it earlier.
I have seen instances where upon being told that a job candidate was expecting a job offer elsewhere, a hiring manager sped up their company's hiring process in order to successfully hire someone they were really interested in.

If you are seeking for a recruitment consultant Singapore job, you will need to obtain the CEI certificate to be qualified to operate as a license recruitment consultant in Singapore.

7 Tremendous Ways to De-Stress Your Job Search

Many of us have come to understand that our attitude towards our circumstances determines the outcome of our situations. It can be very difficult in the current economic climate, however, to remain calm, focused and positive. In addition to the hours we spend on updating resumes, writing fabulous cover letters, searching job sites and networking with friends, family, and former co-workers, we must spend time taking care of our emotional selves. Here are some tips that will help.

1. Remove from your vocabulary the following words: fired, let-go, down-sized, re-structured, laid off, unemployed. Replace with: empowered, free-agent, blessed with an opportunity for insight, growth and positive change!

2. Fully engage in joyful activity at least one hour (preferably two) every day. Allow yourself to feel good! Play with children, garden, paint, dance, sing, enjoy pets, spend time with loved ones. Just do it (and don't feel guilty that you're not working on your job search). Whatever generates a feeling of happiness and joy will shift your energy to the powerful positive we all need.

3. Bask in your own glory. Make a list of your past accomplishments and post it where you can see it daily. Surround yourself with pictures of people, places and events that remind you of how much you have accomplished and how many people you have helped. Never forget that the world needs what you have to offer!

4. Turn off the news. No one can listen to that gloom and doom and escape the negativity. Instead, create your own story. Tell it exactly the way you want it to be and enjoy the wonderful feelings your story creates for you. Tell it over and over again.

5. Do not apply for jobs that you don't want. It is a lose/lose situation. If you get the job, you will be unhappy and likely miss the opportunity that is waiting for you. If you don't get the job, the rejection you face is worse than the rejection that you feel for a job you really wanted. Why? Because you didn't want that "inferior" job anyway!

6. Do spend some time volunteering in an area of interest. Using your gifts and talents to help other people, animals or the environment is a win/win situation. Not only do you get to experience the feelings of pride and self-worth, but you get to expand your networking pool to include people who are working in areas that you care about!

7. Use this temporary crisis to reconnect with your true Passion. As you bask in your past glory, delight in joyful activities and volunteer to help others, you may begin to feel or see signs of passion igniting! Don't ignore it. If it feels good follow it regardless of what the collective "everybody" in your head might be saying. Only you know the right path for you. Trust yourself and don't be afraid to take chances.

Search for a Singapore job, you can always check out the latest jobs in Singapore WDA job bank where thousands of jobs are available.

Gathering References for Your Job Search

Reference Format
It is a good idea to create a separate document which includes a list of people that have agreed to speak to your prospective employers who support you.

Make sure that your reference page matches the same style and format as your resume.

You want to include the names of your references as well as full contact information (including job title, employer, business address, email, phone number). The more information you give, the better that reference appears.

It also is a good idea to list a comment on how this person knows you. Such as business colleague, long time acquaintanceship, etc...

What do you think would look better?

How Many References Should You Have?
Ideally you would like to have 3 to 4 references for an employer. If you are seeking a higher level position, this might require more references (around 7 to 10). Make sure to list your BEST references only. It is up to you to list people who will speak highly of you, and also have a higher position or education title.

It is generally a good idea to list your strongest reference first.

How To Choose Your References
Your references should know you very well and be able to speak highly of you. Do not give a reference from a former boss or supervisor in which you left on bad terms... not a good idea.
Instead, pick someone whom you have worked closely with. If it is your first "real" job, and you are unsure who to pick, you might want to ask a professor.

Always remember that professional references are preferred over personal references. Sometimes, with new employees seeking their first job, they might not have 4 professional references. In this case maybe ask a friends parents to speak highly of you. Odds are that they might have a higher level position and can give your references a credibility boost.

Reference Relationships
Another good reason why you should never "burn any bridges". You never know when that supervisor, manager or co-worker that you could not stand to be around might come in handy. I had a supervisor of mine at a previous position that I could not stand, but I bit my lip knowing that his reference would come in handy some day. Which it did.

Once you selected your references, it is a good idea to contact them and let them know that a telephone call might be coming from your potential employer. This way your references are expecting the call and it does not come as a surprise.

Also, just because nobody has contacted them in a week, does not mean that the employer has forgotten about you and moved on. So be sure to remind your references that a phone call might still be on its way.

Submitting References
Unless your application or employer is asking for references up front, it is generally best practice to wait until further notice before submitting them.

Thank Your References
Remember, your references are doing YOU a favor by speaking highly of you. They are playing a major role in the hiring process, so you want to follow up with a thank you.

Here are some good tips on how to follow up:
Thank you cards Phone calls Holiday cards An email is not personal and I do not recommend it. It is better to get on the phone or send an actual thank you card then a simple email or Facebook message. A little effort goes a long way.

Searching for a Singapore job, you can always check out the updated jobs in Singapore job bank WDA where thousands of jobs are available.