Posts Tagged ‘job searching tips’

The national unemployment picture is worsening with a recent increase in jobless numbers to 8.5%. In March alone, 663,000 jobs were lost. Since the official start of the recession in December 2007, a staggering 5.1 million jobs have vanished, according to the U.S. Labor Department.

We’ve all seen the news reports showing the lines at job fairs approaching those seen at American Idol tryouts. And I’ve been reading a lot lately about some unusual methods job applicants have used to get a foothold with employers. Some people are blogging for career development about their industry and about their unemployment experience. Some are strolling city streets wearing their resume on a sandwich board or dropping off donuts at their prospective employer’s, along with the traditional thank-you-for-the-interview note. And more people are saying they’re willing to relocate for a new job. Read more »

The job-loss numbers in America are staggering. Every day, more companies announce layoffs, only increasing competition for the positions that are available. Job hunters need think creatively if they want to rise to the top of the resume stack.

Try these four job-hunting tricks to put yourself ahead of the pack:

1. Pull out all the stops. Aggressive job hunters may want to take a cue from Joshua Persky. He’s strolled New York City’s streets wearing a sandwich-board resume declaring “Experienced MIT Grad for Hire.” While it may seem a bit extreme, his stunt worked! He’s now employed as a senior manager at accounting firm Weiser LLP, thanks to a recommendation by a recruiter who saw him in all of his sandwich-board glory.If nothing else, Persky’s approach shows us that no tactic is too “out there” when looking for employment — and that creativity counts. If you’re not ready to parade around town wearing your resume, try hand-delivering it to businesses instead. This will give hiring mangers the opportunity to match an actual person with a name, setting yours apart from an inbox full of faceless resumes.
2. Use your social network page as a business networking platform. It’s important to put your best foot forward, even online. But in addition to tailoring your page as an interactive resume, take the opportunity to “friend” business acquaintances, former colleagues or anyone else who can help you with job leads and recommendations.
3. Check out alternative job boards. Websites like CareerBuilder and Monster are great resources for job hunters, but be aware that everyone else is looking there too. Instead, try Craig’s List or company websites where you’d like to work.Also, look into job boards specific to your industry, like MediaBistro.com for media industry professionals. From teaching to healthcare, construction to fashion, a simple Internet search will reveal job boards in many professions.
4. Make a video resume, and bring your image into the 21st century. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a talking picture is priceless. A video resume is a great option to explore if you’re confident you can pull off a dynamic, professional-looking piece that will boost your employment opportunities.