Finding a Job:

The old expression goes something like "it's much easier to find a job when you currently have one". This adage is totally true since your resume looks a lot more solid if you are already employed somewhere. You will come across as less desperate in your interviews and it shows that you are a valuable asset at another company. If you come into job inteviews as an unemployed job candidate, odds are it will show. Finding a job is not that easy, especially when unemployment is high or when certain industries are in a hiring freeze. It's important to update your resume every year or so with new job titles, job descriptions, or new responsibilities. When I was younger it was pretty much understood that I would work (like my brothers and sisters) while we went to high school. We all had part-time after school jobs that kept us busy and gave us an understanding of how to keep a job and earn $$$. When I finally got my college degree I was very prepared for work and knew how to find a job, unlike many of my high school friends that had never worked a day in their lives and were clueless when it came to finding work. I honestly believe they thought that the employers would come looking for them instead of the other way around.

---

College graduates are the ones with the hardest road in front of them in many ways. Many have zero job experience and their resumes are probably very limited in scope. The one big advantage they offer prospective employers is that they are eager to find work and haven't been jaded by 15 or 20 years of office politics and companies ups and downs. Whether you are a recent college grad or someone that was recently layed off or fired, the skills you need to find a job are within you. Having a "network" of people to rely on in times like this is crucial. Many jobs at companies are filled in-house first meaning current employees get first access to them. I have had more friends refer another friend for a position and the company hires them. Having an "inside" opportunity at a job is your best bet. It's not a terrible thing to network yourself when unemployed, don't be embarrassed. Many people at some time or another are without work during their lifetimes and this just may be "your time". Start playing more golf to meet business owners, join a club, etc. Keep yourself in the mix of everyday life so you can meet more people that might potentially lead you to work. The newspapers are another source of job ads but they are slowly losing their appeal to online classified sites that are easy to maintain and update on a daily basis. Job fairs tend to be more of a recruiting tool for pyramid marketing schemes, but they can be worth a look if you have nothing better to do. We often hear the question "Should I take a job that I don't see myself at in a year just to make ends meet or will that look bad on my resume if I quit within a year". Anytime you can work and show that you are a responsible part of society that will clearly be an advantage on your resume. No company wants to hire an employee who jumps from company to company, but employers understand that people need to pay their bills and sometimes jobs are not permanent. Once again, you are much more employable if you are currently employed. It might sound like a dumb expression, but it is true. Don't get down on yourself if you are not having any luck finding work, at any given time in America 5% (that's 1 in 20 workers) of people are unemployed and during really hard economic times that number can stretch to 10% or beyond. Countries like Germany have a constant 10% or higher unemployment rate so the U.S. often doesn't look so bad when compared to other countries around the world. The 2 best sources for finding a job, besides word of mouth amongst friends and family, are online job sites (see below) and temporary job agencies or headhunters.

Best Job Sites:

The Internet has revolutionized the way people find jobs. We used to search through the help wanted as in the Sunday classifieds not too long ago. Online job sites like Monster.com, Hotjobs.com, or Careerbuilder.com are popular spots to search for work. Craigslist.org is another excellent online employment source that lists jobs in your specific area which is very helpful. All the job sites let you search by category - health, finance, marketing, sales, Internet, web design, etc. You simply type in your field of interest or expertise and your location and jobs with (say 50 miles) will appear on the screen. You can apply right on most of the websites by either answering the ad directly or attaching your resume to a specific email address they give you. Gone are the days where you call the place of employment or drop off resumes. Most ads specifically say "PLEASE, NO PHONE CALLS". Your resume is then dumped into a pile of 100's more and sorted by software programs more often than human eyeballs. Many companies weed through all the job applicants by looking for keywords on certain resumes and slowly eliminating the ones that are never going to work out or even get an interview. The lucky few that survive are then given a phone call or email to setup an interview. My recent job search on Craigslist proved to be fairly frustrating. I did get 1 phone interview and 1 real live interview, but no job offers. The phone interview ended with a discussion of salaries (it was a consulting job) and the person doing the phone interview became dead silent when I told her my hour rate as a consultant. I immediately knew I wasn't going to get that job.

Temp Agencies - Headhunters:

Instead of waiting for a full time job to open up, consider working with a temp agency that will find you part time work (maybe full-time) in a company. I know dozens of people who were either looking for "real jobs" or had just been layed off and wanted to get back into the workforce. Temp jobs are a great way to test the waters in new industries or just get a feel for a company before committing to a full-time position. Usually, if the company likes your work, they make an offer through the temp agency to hire you full time. Sometimes, you are a niche employee and will have to get a headhunter to help you get back into the workforce. Either way, a temp agency or headhunter may be the best bet for you. The best known temp agencies are Kellyservices.com and Manpower.com. As for headhunters, check out the website HERE - it's a directory of headhunter services throughout the United States.

Back to School - Getting another Degree:

Many people who are layed off get a severance package (a few months to a year of salary) so they can pay their bills for a while until more work comes their way. You may find that your skill set is outdated or needs some updating. Consider taking some classes at your local university or possibly go for that Masters Degree you never got. It's never a bad idea to improve the skills that you currently have, they may lead to a job opportunity. Even if you do find work while going to school, you can try to take evening classes until you finish the degree or certification program. Lots of individuals who take courses and classes to improve themselves come back into the work place with a whole new excitement and confidence they never had before. Plus you will have more goodies to put on your resume and hopefully be able to demand a higher salary in the long run. Talk with your local community college or university to see what classes are offered.

Do you have a quality site or product that belongs in this guide? We are always happy to evaluate or review new products and websites. Feel free to contact us at the email address below and let us know about you. If you have a demo product you'd like us to look at, please contact us before sending anything. Thank you.

Review and Internet Guide Index: Computers and Internet: - Amazon Kindle Review - Best Selling Wireless Routers Household/DIY: - Replacing a Furnace - Most Popular Bread Makers Cars and Automobiles

Audio/Video Electronics - Best 50" LCD TVs - What is Tivo and how does it work? Top-Rated Digital Cameras and Photos: - Top HD Video Cameras - Buying a Digital SLR Camera Entertainment/Hobbies

Health & Fitness: - Teeter Inversion Tables - Recumbent Exercise Bikes Travel - Disneyland Hotel Guide - Hotels and Lodging - Top 10 Things to Do in New York Sports and Outdoors