The most effective way to get a job in this economy
LOS ANGELES, CA -- Lost your job? Join the club. Better yet, join the party. As unemployment numbers hit historic highs, "pink slip" parties are popping up in big cities around the country. Hundreds of axed employees are going to happy hour meet-and-greets, where one can enjoy a drink and discuss career prospects with eager recruiters.
People are finding creative ways to stand out above the pack. In order to get a job in this economy, people have to get out there. And while there are no guarantees of gaining anything more than good conversations and a few contacts, some pink slip attendees have had success in finding new employment. Pink slip parties offer those on the prowl for jobs a chance to share information among themselves.
"If you take your network and compare it to the network of a total group, you get access to more people - if you can help each other, it's a win for everyone," said John Challenger, CEO of outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas. Pink slip parties are just one extension of social networking. Whether online or in person at networking events, many agree that these one-on-one connections have stood the test of time as the most effective way to get a job.
Recently laid-off? Circulate your resume faster!
LOS ANGELES, CA -- With so many people currently in the job market or looking for better career opportunities, how can you make sure your resume will be seen? With advancing technology, the internet is an extremely popular resource for posting and finding resumes. But with all the career sites available, wouldn't it be nice if your resume could be found on all of them?
Consider a site that can make that happen. You post your information to their site once, and they distribute it on up to 85 different top career sites! It's called Resume Rabbit and it's so easy to use. Just fill out one simple online form and in just 5 minutes you'll be well on your way to landing that job you've been searching for. There's also a personal posting report auto-login feature that lets you log in to the many sites where your resume is posted in just one mouse click!
Circulating your resume online is easy with Resume Rabbit. You could spend hours and hours posting your resume individually to all the top career sites - or you can let a site like Resume Rabbit do it for you. Then, 1.5 million employers can instantly see your resume daily. Broadcast your resume fast with Resume Rabbit today.
Make sure to sign up for unemployment benefits
DALLAS, TX -- Finding yourself unemployed can be frightening, as too many people are learning these days. If you find yourself in that position, try to keep from panicking. Your priority needs to be figuring out how to survive financially during what could be a long period looking for work.
It can take three to four weeks after you file for unemployment benefits to know if you qualify. So it's in your best interest to be proactive and sign up immediately. Your weekly benefit will range between $58 and $450, depending on past wages and the length of time you worked in the past five quarters.
The stimulus package added $25 to weekly benefits, which should now start to show up around mid-March. The stimulus plan also excludes the first $2,400 of jobless benefits received this year from federal income taxes. Currently all unemployment payments are taxed. Regular unemployment insurance can last for up to 26 weeks, but recent extensions by Congress have added 20 weeks.
Employability tips during recessionary times
SEATTLE, WA -- Many industries are playing a bit of a waiting game while we see how the employment and market situation moves forward, and how long it takes to do so. Here are some ideas on what job seekers can do to maximize their employability during these difficult economic times.
Stay put - not unsound advice by any means, and clearly it's not a good time to be looking at leaving an employer for a new one, unless absolutely necessary. Minimize the gaps on your resume. If you find yourself in a situation of unemployment, the challenge is to find another role quickly so that you don't have a significant gap on your resume. One way to fill the gaps is by showing that you went back to school for extra training or volunteered to get more experience in your industry.
Critically analyze your resume - it sounds obvious, however approximately 50% of the resumes employers receive contain basic spelling and grammatical errors. Make sure you promote your successes and responsibilities in each recent role, and do not be afraid to explain or justify an employment gap where appropriate. Take the time to tidy up your resume presentation, and ask others that you trust to critically review it too.
Consider updating your job skills immediately.
NEW YORK, NY -- According to the U.S. Census Bureau the difference in lifetime earnings between a high school diploma and bachelor's degree is a million dollars. Add on a master's degree and you can expect to earn an additional half a million dollars. Those with professional degrees earn much more - about 4.4 million dollars during their working life.
Jennifer Day, Chief of the Education and Social Stratification Branch at the U.S. Census Bureau says, "In 1999, average annual earnings ranged from $19,000 for high school dropouts, to $26,000 for high school graduates, and $45,000 for college graduates and $99,000 for the holders of professional degrees. That includes medical doctors, dentists, veterinarians and lawyers.
If you think that the only way to earn a degree is to spend gobs of money and traverse across a complicated college campus, taking anywhere from two to eight years to get your Associate's, Bachelor's or Master's or even doctorate degree...think again. With advances in technology, you can now get your degree online, from an accredited university in your spare time and from the comfort of your own home. To learn more about available schools & programs, and instantly request complimentary course catalogs of the ones you like, go to this website.
Connect with the right employer for you
NEW YORK, NY -- It's 2009. Do you know where your next job is? Finding a new job is tough these days. New hires are in decline, unemployment is north of 8% so there's plenty of competition and people who have jobs are making Herculean efforts to hang onto them. And, if you do manage to land a meeting with a potential employer, the contemporary job interview process is way too one-sided.
Think about it. Companies can size you up like a side of beef. They can check references, implement background checks to see if you've been arrested or have a bad credit rating. Some companies have even created calculated interview questions designed to see if you're Mensa material or whether you should be fitted for a drool bucket. Seriously. It's high time that job seekers have some leverage. After all, we have questions, too.
So if you're hip-deep in a job hunt, look past the job responsibilities, the perks and the pay. Take a long look at the company itself. How much money does it make? How fast do they lay off employees? Any government contracts? Have they ever been sued? Is the company privately funded? Knowing the answers to these questions before you accept a job offer can mean the difference between the corporate fast track and career-induced chaos.
Online search tool makes finding a job easier!
LOS ANGELES, CA -- Are you tired of going to several job sites every day and having to search each one separately? Do you dread submitting your resume & cover letter over and over for every job you apply to? Do you find it difficult to keep track of where you sent your resume for future follow up? Now a new service called MyJobHunter.com solves all that!
First, MyJobHunter will instantly search all major job sites for jobs matching your requirements. Next, you'll review a list of job matches and put check marks next to the ones you like. Then, press a single button and your resume is sent to the jobs you selected. It's that simple! They'll even personalize your cover letter with each job application. Login any time to review jobs applied to and even add follow-up notes on each one.
Check out these other great features. Don't want to forget keywords that generated perfect jobs? Try the "Saved Search" feature. Want MyJobHunter to find & apply to jobs for you? Turn on "Auto-Apply" and your resume is automatically sent to new job matches every day. You'll never miss an opportunity and your resume gets there before the competition! Try it now at MyJobHunter.com.
Tips to deal with a job loss, fiscally and emotionally
Shreveport, LA -- Corporate restructuring and downsizing seems to be a way of life in today's competitive business environment. Folks are losing jobs and homes, and their net worth is suffering. No matter what type of loss a person experiences, the emotional process is the same. So if you recently suffered job loss or are worried about the possibility, be aware of the phases you may go through and learn how to prepare and move forward.
When a person experiences loss, a natural response is fear then denial. People often begin isolating themselves. When remorse about things you did or didn't do surfaces, talking with someone can be a big help. When loss occurs, you are not alone. Sharing your story and the feelings you are having can help. The next emotion is usually anger. It's normal to be mad. This is why it's important to talk about it. Take care not to lash out and cause permanent damage to relationships.
Finally, you accept and deal with the reality of your job loss. Working through the stages can be hard on you physically and emotionally so make sure to take care of your self. Make sure you eat well and get plenty of rest. During the time of a job loss, it's also a good idea to catch up on your reading and make sure you stay in the loop as to what's going on in your industry.
Keep up with the news & trends of your industry
LOS ANGELES, CA -- Whether you're looking to move up or move on - reading business and trade publications lets you move right in to the job of your dreams. They keep you sharp, well informed, articulate and in-demand. It's no secret that keeping up with the news and trends of your industry or profession will give you the competitive edge you need. And now, you can get your trade magazines without having to pay for them.
Through a special offer from The Career News, you can instantly get a subscription to practically every leading industry and business publication. It takes only a minute to search the website to quickly find the magazines matching your skills and interests.
First search by publication title, industry, or geography. Then, pick the magazines you want, fill out a brief online subscription form and press submit. It's really that easy. For more information or to sign up now for your complimentary trade magazines, go to TradePub.
Career Tools Highlighted in This Issue:
- Resume Rabbit Get your resume on up to 85 job sites - Takes only 5 minutes.
- Find the right school today Earn a degree online and increase your marketability!
- MyJobHunter - Job Search Engine Tool Search all top job sites at once & apply to jobs with 1-click.
- Complimentary industry and trade publications Subscribe online to multiple industry and business publications.
