Here's how to gain some speed in your job search


How long does it take to land a job in a tough market? It depends on many factors. Your industry, qualifications, career requirements. Your preparation, diligence and focus. But many job hunters don't have the time to deal with all of these issues. Bills are piling up. They need employment right now.

There are ways to shorten the length of your job search. It takes effort and attention, and perhaps a bit of compromise, but it can be done. The more proactive you are, the better your chances of finding a job quickly, and the sooner you can stop worrying about the bills. Here are a few tips that may help:

Aim for jobs that match your experience.

Get faster results by applying for positions in your current field. Think of it this way: If you have solid experience in sales, you'll slip into an inside or outside sales, marketing, client services or customer support role. But if you try to transition to a position in finance, your search may take longer.

Load up with keywords.

It's essential to create a powerful resume that highlights your value as a new employee. It's also important that your document specifically target your chosen field. But there's one more step to building a high-impact resume. It involves keywords.

These days, many employers screen resumes electronically. They use computer applications to search for specific words and phrases, and only read through resumes that meet their criteria. So, fill up your resume with suitable keywords. Find them by researching job postings and identifying the skills, experience and training required for these roles. Also, mull over your background and call attention to your primary qualifications and credentials.

Talk about your goals.

If you spend most of your job searching time on Internet boards, you probably need to change tactics. The Internet is a great source of information and an excellent communication tool, but job boards tend to move very slowly. If you need a job now, networking is your answer.

Don't give up other methods of job hunting — a speedy job search must cover all the bases, including newspaper ads, networking, recruiters and contacting companies directly. At the same time, it's imperative to let people know about your skills, accomplishments and enthusiasm. If you have bills stacking up, let go of your fear or shyness for a while. Attend meetings, business groups and social events. Contact teachers, friends and acquaintances. Stop by local businesses. Get the word out!

Get ready for interviews.

What's the best way to impress hiring managers in a job interview? Prepare in advance. Know your work history. Gather examples of your achievements. Research the company, and walk in there with a few ideas that might help the organization grow. If certain aspects of your background need explaining (such as employment gaps or layoffs), practice your statements in advance.

Prepare your physical presentation in advance as well. Dry clean your suit. Print several copies of your resume. Be ready for every opportunity that comes along.

Remain focused and confident.

Rushed job seekers, here is my final advice: Keep your eyes open for opportunities in every direction, and target each one with confidence. Go get 'em.

8 hot companies in US that are hiring now

1. Slide

Type of hire is the budding entrepreneur; someone who in a few years will want to start their own thing. They know that with every effort at Slide they are ultimately investing in themselves the most and so tend to be very productive.


Bring not just your skills, but also your thoughts (about the industry, Slide, etc.) to the interview. If you're engaged and interested, it tends to stand out.


2. DonorsChoose

looking for Customer obsession. Humility and humor.

A plainspoken manner of communicating. Disdain for buzzwords like


3. Meredith Whitney Advisory Group

looking for 10 more people in research, sales trading and back office.


4. VEVO

We're looking to hire roughly 35 at the moment, with more jobs added once the launch happens. We're looking for people across just about every level and discipline. From ad sales, engineering and accounting to music programming, there are a number of positions that we're looking to fill in next six months or so.


5. Kiva

positions growing up to 13 in the next two months.

looking for People who are entrepreneurial, who value teamwork and are incredibly intelligent.


6. Mint

We have 4 open jobs at Mint, and expect about 17 openings after combining with Intuit. We'll be hiring quite a lot -- mostly in engineering, user-interface and -experience design and product management, but also a few in customer service and marketing.


7. Facebook
looking for a culture of entrepreneurs and builders who move fast to get things done and strive to make an impact on the world.


8. Walmart.


We have over 40 positions open in everything from product management to engineering to marketing. We've been able to grow the site at two to three times the rate of the e-commerce industry.

Top 10 essentials to help with job search


top-10 list of essential tactics to help job seekers gain an edge in a tougher employment market:

•Step outside your comfort zone. Avoid limiting your search to your current industry or field. Identify your transferable skills and experiences, and communicate them to prospective employers.

•Minimize work history gaps. If you are unable to find a position right away, consider temporary assignments, internships and part-time opportunities, all of which can potentially lead to a full-time role.

•Be flexible. Remain open to all possibilities, even if the job title, salary and benefits may not be exactly what you hoped for. Once you get your foot in the door, you will have a chance to prove yourself.

•Find jobs before they’re advertised. Read your local business journals and newspapers to identify companies that are hiring or expanding, and send them your resume.

•Cast a wide "net." General job boards can be useful, but don’t forget industry and trade association websites, which may have more targeted career opportunities.

•Network — online and off. Tell everyone you know that you are looking for a job, whether in-person or using professional networking websites.

•Manage your digital footprint. Think your friends are the only people who viewed those less-than-professional vacation photos you posted online? Think again. With a few mouse clicks, potential employers can dig up information about you on blogs, personal websites and personal networking site profiles. Make sure you do a thorough self-search and take any necessary corrective action.

•Customize. Tailor your resume and cover letter for each opportunity. Employers want to see why you’re the right person for their job.

•Enhance your marketability. Find out what skills are most in demand and take steps to give yourself an edge in these areas. Focus on sharpening both functional and interpersonal skills.

•Meet with a recruiter. Staffing executives can be your eyes and ears in the job market. Recruiters also provide useful feedback on your resume and interview skills, and help you locate full-time and temporary jobs.

10 Boilerplate Phrases That Kill Resumes

Here are the worst 10 boilerplate phrases -- the ones to seek out and destroy in your resume as soon as possible:

* Results-oriented professional
* Cross-functional teams
* More than [x] years of progressively responsible experience
* Superior (or excellent) communication skills
* Strong work ethic
* Met or exceeded expectations
* Proven track record of success
* Works well with all levels of staff
* Team player
* Bottom-line orientation

The top things to do when you can't get a job

If you've been out of work for several months and aren't getting any interviews, or you're going on interviews but not getting any offers, maybe it's time to adjust your approach to job hunting.

There's no particular length of time after which the alarm bells should sound, but the general rule is, if you've sent out dozens of résumés and aren't getting any bites, or you've gone on a dozen interviews but haven't received any job offers -- do something.

In Pictures: The Top Things To Do When You Can't Get A Job

From Intern To Employee

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How To Stand Out At A Job Fair

Twitter To Find A Job

If you're not getting any interviews, it's time to reconsider your résumé. First, examine it to make sure it contains no spelling or grammar errors. Then have a friend or colleague check it. "You cannot succeed in this competitive market if your résumé isn't 100% accurate," says Connie Thanasoulis-Cerrachio, an expert at the career Web site Vault.com and former chief operating officer for Merrill Lynch Campus Recruiting.

Thanasoulis-Cerrachio recommends including a personal interest section at the bottom. Most hiring managers aren't comfortable interviewing prospective job candidates, and they're not good at it. Adding a section on your personal interests gives them a conversation starter.

"Most interviewers are just as uncomfortable as the job candidate, so they gravitate toward something they're comfortable with, like personal interests," Thanasoulis-Cerrachio says.

Include a section up top detailing your skills. It should include hard skills like knowing certain computer programs and soft skills like being a strong communicator or team player. Try to match the language used in the job ad.

Most important, though, emphasize the results you achieved in each position you held, instead of just listing job responsibilities. You become a much more compelling candidate if instead of saying you managed a team of three you say, "Managed a team of three employees who interacted with clients and had a 100% client retention rate over two years." Prospective employers also want to hear about money you saved, or new clients you brought in.

As for your cover letters, they should never be a regurgitation of your résumé. Instead, make a compelling case for why you should be hired. The introductory paragraph should state the position you're applying for. The middle few paragraphs should highlight the critical three elements of the job description, explaining why you will fit the job well. Use the hirer's language. If the job ad says the candidate needs 10 years of experience using communication skills, describe how your communication skills saved the day at a previous job.

Don't blast your résumé around like spam. Instead, conduct a focused job search, applying only for positions that you're truly qualified for. Make a list of all the companies you'd most like to work for, and use your personal network and sites like LinkedIn to find connections you have at each one. If you've got a Twitter account that you use professionally, great. If not, start one. Many human-resources professionals are on Twitter. If you can find one at a company you're interested in, start following him or her.

Retweet (Twitter lingo for forwarding) what that person has written, and comment on any interesting posts. "After a few weeks of following them, direct-message them, saying, 'I'd love to talk about your company. It's a place I've always wanted to work, and I'd love to hear about your experience there,'" says Dan Schawbel, author Me 2.0: Build a Powerful Brand to Achieve Career Success.

If you've been going on a lot of interviews but not receiving job offers, it's time to re-examine your interviewing technique. Among the most basic elements to consider: Are you dressing appropriately for the interviews? Men should always wear a suit, and woman should wear either slacks or a skirt with a nice top. Also, leave yourself plenty of time to get to the interview.

Try not to let too much empty time pass after the last item on your résumé. Volunteer, take a class to learn a new skill or find freelance work somehow, through your network or on Craigslist. "The worst thing to do is go into an interview, and when they ask what you've been doing, you stare at them with a blank face," Schawbel says.

Practice before going on each interview. Research the company, and go in with a solid knowledge of its most significant concerns, clients and competitors. Some questions always come up in any interview, so be ready for them. Most people ask candidates what their strengths and weaknesses are. The key to answering the weakness part -- and you should always have an answer -- is to spin it in a positive manner. For instance, you might say, "I'm not the strongest analytically, but I've been working on that, and when I put together a report, I always have someone check it."

"The interviewer wants to know that you're self-aware and mature enough to talk about your weaknesses," says Thanasoulis-Cerrachio. "You have to know how to describe the weakness the right way."

Also, interviewers always ask whether you have any questions. Always come prepared with several. They show that you're interested and you've done research.

Throughout the interview remain confident. Preparing in advance will help with that. Always look your interviewer in the eye, and offer a firm handshake. It sounds small, but the appearance of confidence goes a long way -- especially for roles in which the job requires you to interact with outsiders. Don't boast, but boldly state your accomplishments. Also, never be negative in the interview, particularly about any former boss, co-workers or company.

Always send a thank-you note, by e-mail or postal mail. Not only is it good etiquette, it's an opportunity to smooth over any fumbles made during the interview or follow up with additional information about yourself.

Finally, when you don't land a position, don't be afraid to contact the interviewer and ask what you could have done better or why you didn't get the job. You might get back some much-needed insight.

Interview DOs and DON'Ts



Interview DOs
Do Dress appropriately for the industry; err on the side of being conservative to show you take the interview seriously. Your personal grooming and cleanliness should be impeccable.

Do Know the exact time and location of your interview; know how long it takes to get there, park, find a rest room to freshen up, etc.

Do Arrive early; 10 minutes prior to the interview start time.

Do Treat other people you encounter with courtesy and respect. Their opinions of you might be solicited during hiring decisions.

Do Offer a firm handshake, make eye contact, and have a friendly expression when you are greeted by your interviewer.

Do Listen to be sure you understand your interviewer's name and the correct pronunciation.

Do Even when your interviewer gives you a first and last name, address your interviewer by title (Ms., Mr., Dr.) and last name, until invited to do otherwise.

Do Maintain good eye contact during the interview.

Do Sit still in your seat; avoid fidgeting and slouching.

Do Respond to questions and back up your statements about yourself with specific examples whenever possible.
Do Ask for clarification if you don't understand a question.

Do Be thorough in your responses, while being concise in your wording.

Do Be honest and be yourself. Dishonesty gets discovered and is grounds for withdrawing job offers and for firing. You want a good match between yourself and your employer. If you get hired by acting like someone other than yourself, you and your employer will both be unhappy.

Do Treat the interview seriously and as though you are truly interested in the employer and the opportunity presented.

Do Exhibit a positive attitude. The interviewer is evaluating you as a potential co-worker. Behave like someone you would want to work with.

Do Have intelligent questions prepared to ask the interviewer. Having done your research about the employer in advance, ask questions which you did not find answered in your research.

Do Evaluate the interviewer and the organization s/he represents. An interview is a two-way street. Conduct yourself cordially and respectfully, while thinking critically about the way you are treated and the values and priorities of the organization.

Do Do expect to be treated appropriately. If you believe you were treated inappropriately or asked questions that were inappropriate or made you uncomfortable, discuss this with a Career Services advisor or the director.

Do Make sure you understand the employer's next step in the hiring process; know when and from whom you should expect to hear next. Know what action you are expected to take next, if any.

Do When the interviewer concludes the interview, offer a firm handshake and make eye contact. Depart gracefully.

Do After the interview, make notes right away so you don't forget critical details.

Do Write a thank-you letter to your interviewer promptly.

Interview DON'Ts

Don't Don't make excuses. Take responsibility for your decisions and your actions.

Don't Don't make negative comments about previous employers or professors (or others).

Don't Don't falsify application materials or answers to interview questions.

Don't Don't treat the interview casually, as if you are just shopping around or doing the interview for practice. This is an insult to the interviewer and to the organization.

Don't Don't give the impression that you are only interested in an organization because of its geographic location.

Don't Don't give the impression you are only interested in salary; don't ask about salary and benefits issues
until the subject is brought up by your interviewer.

Don't Don't act as though you would take any job or are desperate for employment.

Don't Don't make the interviewer guess what type of work you are interested in; it is not the interviewer's job to act as a career advisor to you.

Don't Don't be unprepared for typical interview questions. You may not be asked all of them in every interview, but being unprepared looks foolish.

Don't A job search can be hard work and involve frustrations; don't exhibit frustrations or a negative attitude in an interview.

Don't Don't go to extremes with your posture; don't slouch, and don't sit rigidly on the edge of your chair.

Don't Don't assume that a female interviewer is "Mrs." or "Miss." Address her as "Ms." unless told otherwise. Her marital status is irrelevant to the purpose of the interview.

Don't Don't chew gum or smell like smoke.

Don't Don't allow your cell phone to sound during the interview. (If it does, apologize quickly and ignore it.) Don't take a cell phone call.

Don't Don't take your parents, your pet (an assistance animal is not a pet in this circumstance), spouse, fiance, friends or enemies to an interview. If you are not grown up and independent enough to attend an interview alone, you're insufficiently grown up and independent for a job. (They can certainly visit your new city, at their own expense, but cannot attend your interview.)

Resume - 9 common mistakes

1. Keep updating your resume - Do not wait until you a job posting to apply for a job. Keep a list of what tools that you worked on, client project details, client contact s for references. Keep updating your working resume so that you can plug and play around with your resume when you see that elusive job opening.

2. Short n Sweet Goals - Keep your objective crisp. First impression is the last impression. Therefore, the job that you are applying to and your objective should match. An example would be “My short term goal is to work as a database administrator and eventually move to managing a team”

3. Accomplishments, Achievements matter - A recruiter is not interested what a payroll system did; he or she is interested to understand what you did as a DBA with that payroll system. Did you fine-tune the database? Did the response time go up and thus the downtime? Your skills are best highlighted through your achievements. So do not be shy, talk about it.

4. The Nitty Gritty - Do not get bogged down writing five pages resume that you had worked with a Fortune company in Hawaii or Madagascar. The point is to eliminate old job details. Does it matter to a recruiter that you worked on Oracle 6.x in 1997 NOW? No hope, so focus on your last few jobs.

5. Your Personal Life - Keep it at home. A recruiter especially the hiring manager is not interested in your personal life. No one is interested whether you lead a soccer team or you were exceptional in music. Tell the reader how you can manage databases, show your ability to work in a team, manage projects, deadlines etc.

6. Educational Qualifications - Keep it chronological, Month and year of graduation is good.

7. References: Think about it - Will you provide the name of your realtor or bank manager? Not? Even if you provide, if I call your banker will he/she understand the purpose of the call? No never, provide references.

8. Language, Spelling, and Grammar - Always do this. Check the document properties in your word document before you send a document. You do not want your company name, friend's name in your document.

9. The Package - Whether you send an email, fax, mail, or post - package your resume - do not fold, print on the right quality of paper, no color please (thank you). Finally yet importantly, as mentioned before Resume is your Product that you use to sell yourself to get a job
. So think about it, highlight your achievements, differentiate your resume, and customize it for each job opportunity.

Resume : Tips For Developing The Summary :

1. Focus on functional strengths first, such as years of experience, areas of expertise, knowledge of key technologies, knowledge of processes or methodologies, or any other items that are DIRECTLY related to your experience or training. Then if you have the room, you can add statements that reflect personal strengths such as skills regarding communication, leadership, troubleshooting, etc. If possible, you can use these personal strengths in a combination with strong statements of functional expertise.

Example:

Over 15 years in technical support with proven ability to rapidly troubleshoot, diagnose, and resolve complex technical issues.
In this case you are documenting your technical support experience but also mentioning your troubleshooting skills.

2. Don't be afraid to mention any major certifications, training, IT skills or education in the summary, even if you are building a formal education section and a formal technical skills section. If you are an MCSE and expert in Windows 2000, then let them know in the summary, the tech skills section and the experience section.

3. Don't go overboard with the adjectives and self descriptions. Usually 2 at the most per statement, otherwise the statements become overwhelming and you almost loose some credibility. Read more..

How to Fatten a Flat Salary

1. Request a variable pay program.

"A majority of companies (90 percent) have at least one type of broad-based variable pay plan." Variable pay plans include awards, bonuses, and incentives. If you're unhappy with getting a raise that barely equates a cost-of-living increase, talk to your supervisor and human resources department about how you can tie your pay to your performance. Set aggressive goals with your boss and agree on the compensation you'll receive if you meet them.

2. Consider relocating.

Where you work may be as important as the work you do in determining the size of your raise next year. The Hewitt survey shows that salaried exempt workers in Washington, D.C., Houston, Denver, Los Angeles, and New York City will all enjoy higher-than-average increases, while their counterparts in Philadelphia, San Francisco, Milwaukee, and Minneapolis/St. Paul will receive lower raises. Keep in mind, though, that cost of living varies from city to city, and a minor bump in salary may not counter the sharp increase in housing.

3. Change industries.

If gains are stagnant in your industry, consider switching to one that is enjoying more lucrative times.

4. Plan to get a raise anyway.
* Have a plan. Position yourself as an irreplaceable employee.
* Keep track of your progress. Don't spend six months trying to stand out only to forget all you've done when you're in front of your boss.
* Don't beg -- request a raise!

Six Flexible Careers That Pay $70k

Post Secondary Teachers

Did you know that many college teachers and university professors are retiring? You'll work on a school calendar, with summer, spring, and winter holiday vacation time if you want it. Some professors only report to campus two days a week. They make up for it by the work they do at home, but not reporting to campus every day can lead to flexibility.

You'll need a master's degree to teach at the community college level and a doctorate in your field to qualify for tenure-track professorships at four-year colleges. Positions for post-secondary teachers are predicted to rise by an exceptional 12 percent through the 2006-2016 decade. 2007 salary averages were $98,974 for professors, $69,911 for associate professors, and $58,662 for assistant professors.
Travel Nurses

Nurses can work long hours. But travel nurses work long hours with scheduled time off between assignments if they want. You can arrange for short-time postings to great locales, or long-term ones once you find a niche.

You'll need an online two-year RN or bachelor's degree in nursing to qualify. Jobs for registered nurses are expected to continue to boom, rising by 23 percent through 2016. The top 50 percent of working registered nurses earned between $73,170 and $87,310 in 2007. And travel nurses can receive pay for relocation and housing.
Software Designers

High tech and flex time. Software designers--including game design experts--often hire out on a per-contract basis, working intensive schedules to launch a new product and then enjoying time off between engagements. Some only work on an on-call basis. And job growth will be stupendous, rising by 38 percent during the 2006-2016 decade.

You'll need at least a bachelor's degree in software design or applications, and a master's degree if you hope to run a consultancy. The median 2007 annual wage was $83,130.
Management Analysts

Management analysts work hard, but work smart and enjoy great flexibility. More than 27 percent are self-employed, which is more than three times the national average for all self-employed professionals. You'll offer yourself as a consultant in sales, marketing, technology, health care, and finance to top companies home and abroad.

Many management analysts find work with consulting companies with only a bachelor's degree in business or finance, while the more successful ones who work online from a home office hold at least an MBA degree. Job growth is predicted at a healthy 22 percent, and the median 2007 annual wage was $71,150.
Interior Designers

Interior designers also lead the way in the number of self-employed, flexible career professionals with 26 percent running their own companies/consultancies. Train for the field through an associate degree program, but add a bachelor's degree in art or design to advance to the more flexible positions. Study fabrics, CAD design, ergonomics, color theory, and more. The top 50 percent in the field earned on average between $60,200 and $81,800 in 2007.
Real Estate Sales Agents

Home sales are temporarily slumping, but look at the number of new commercial buildings rising on the landscape. Most brokers have college training in real estate, business, law, marketing, or finance. You may need to work 1-3 years to get your broker's license, but you rent or borrow office space, and work your own hours. In 2007, the top 50 percent of real estate agents earned between earn between $65,040 and $106,790.