There is no doubt that unemployment is at an incredible high and that there is more competition for every available six figure job out there. At the same time so many of the companies that have folded were small business or those in industries where many of those who where employed were actually independent contractors
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There is an ongoing debate about whether cover letters have any value. People who like to dress casually often have a tie rolled up in their pocket when they head to a nice place for dinner. They may need it or they may not. Doing a cover letter for every customized resume can’t hurt and
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Today, job seekers are lured to advertising, books, DVD’s and webinars on the so called hidden job market. Let’s bring this out into the light so it is not hidden anymore. The people who are peddling the information on the hidden job market want it to stay hidden so more will participate in whatever they
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Are there any Recession proof jobs? Jobs are vanishing day by day all over the world. The news media reports hundreds of jobs being slashed and giving hopeless forecasts. If you are concerned with losing your job and not to sure where to turn, it would be a good idea to look for a solid
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  You are looking for a job and decide to join the local Chamber of Commerce to do some serious networking. The first event you attend is for new members. The room is full of people sitting around large tables. The announcements are over and suddenly you are alarmed to hear that every person in
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Although the Internet has been a boon to networking over the past decade or so, there is something to be said for a face-to-face networking over business lunches or trade shows. Adding a personal touch that might be missing from cold emails and Twitter, a lunch with a colleague can be an invaluable tool for
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It can be a difficult truth, but a huge part of the first impression we make on others is based on how we look. In fact, this can be a major factor in getting hired. We all make assumptions about who people are based on their appearance. This is not always superficial or negative, it’s
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Almost all job seekers recognize the importance of preparing for a job interview. And that means more than just showing up with your resume in hand and a smile on your face. You probably know at least some of the things you should do to get ready. However, have you also thought about what you
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There’s an old adage in communication: “Tell the audience what you’re going to tell them, then tell them, and then tell them what you told them.” In other words, preview, present, and review. The objective of this communication strategy is to make sure your message gets across. While saying something five times may seem redundant
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People who encourage job seekers to create video resumes, also promote techniques on how to post those videos universally and how to send them to hiring managers. They believe that video resumes are a good way of distinguishing the job seeker and giving them an edge over their competition. Posting your video on YouTube or
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In job search, once you have begun to build profiles and make connections through sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn, what specific ways can you ‘add value’ or help your new social network contacts as you work to befriend them and gain their trust? Below are 21 ideas to get you started. As you network
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My most frequently asked question: Why do you recommend being specific about the job I want? Many people tell me I should be more general. Here are three great reasons to get specific about the job you want – your “right fit” job: 1. Specificity allows you to identify jobs for which you are suited
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February 9th 2011 – Businesswoman Fiona Reeve has been named as the 2011 Business Mentor of the Year in the Yell Mentoring Works Awards, for the valuable support she regularly gives out via online business mentoring site horsesmouth. Fiona and two other deserving award winners have given advice to more than 120 UK businesses and
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If you could be a superhero, what superpowers would you have? Totaljobs.com jobseekers have told us about all sorts of obscure interview questions they’ve been hit with; from defining their fictional superpowers to listing their top five favourite films. Here are some of the more popular and recurring themes: * If you were a fruit
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The concept of making a thank you letter after a job interview is about just the same as the after sales support given by companies in the sales or service industries. For example, when you buy a certain gadget, somebody from the supplier calls you up days later to check if the gadget has been
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