When creating your resume, know the position you would like to obtain.  Tailor your resume to that specific position.  You will need to tweak your resume for every position you apply for. 

Keep it short 

 Employers don’t have the time to read pages of text.  Avoid lengthy explanations and full sentences.  Use bulleted lists.  Do your best to be as concise as possible. 

Use numbers 

 Numbers give more credibility to all of your accomplishments.  Use specific numbers when possible.  Don’t say that you managed records.  Say that you were responsible for 500 records.

Titles 

 Specific titles also add credibility.  Be as specific as possible.  Don’t say you were in marketing.  Say that you were the assistant supervisor of product marketing. 

Start at the top 

 Be sure to list your most important or relevant experience at the top. 

Choose your words wisely 

 The words you use in your resume speak volumes about your ability to communicate effectively.  Instead of “came up with,” use “generated.”  Instead of “talked with,” use “interviewed”.    

Your chance to shine 

 Your resume is your chance to make a big impression.  Don’t just list your responsibilities at your last job. List your accomplishments.  Don’t say that you managed files when you really implemented a new filing system. 

Love it or leave it

If you don’t feel that a certain piece of information is beneficial, leave it out.  You don’t have to include all your jobs in a resume.  Choose the things that convey your best attributes. 

Hobbies

 Employers aren’t too concerned with your hobbies and interests.  Unless you’re certain that your ability to collect rare stamps will give you a leg up on the competition, leave it out, especially if you are short on space.

Career fairs are an easy way to get an idea of what it is you want to do.  Your college organizes them; all you have to do is show up.  Keep an open mind as you look around. You never know what you might stumble upon.  Take as many pamphlets, flyers, and brochures as you want.  It can’t hurt.  When you have some time, go through all the information and see if anything interests you. 

Utilize your college career center and counselors

Stop into the career center regularly and get to know the people there.  Their job is to assist you.  Browse through any files and information they have.  Ask about students in recent years.  You may form a lot of connections here. 

Perfect your resume

 Attend a resume workshop or set up an appointment with someone who can help you.  A strong resume is a building block of the job searching process.  Learn helpful hints like what information to include and choice words to use.

Print business cards

Just because you haven’t graduated quite yet doesn’t mean you can’t have a card printed.  Include your name, e-mail address, and telephone numbers.  You could also include your college or your area of study.  Be creative.  Use the back of the card as a calendar or to display your best attributes.  Hand the cards out everyone you know. Networking is very important. 

Speak with professors

Keep your professors up to date.  Let them know that you’re searching for a job.  Ask them for any recommendations.  You never know how they may be able to help you. 

Consider relocating

 Be honest.  Is relocating an option for you?  Sometimes the jobs are where you aren’t.  On the other hand, perhaps you always wanted to move across the country, but an ideal job is located right in your home town.  Be flexible.

Apply for unlisted jobs

 Don’t spend all your time looking in the same places as everyone else.  If there is a company that you are interested in, apply.  Even if they did not post openings, apply. 

Remember, you’re new to this

 Keep in mind that you probably don’t have too much experience.  Let go of those perfect job fantasies.  Most jobs will be entry-level positions.  On the plus side, these positions have opportunities for advancement.

A web site is a great way to increase your online presence and an excellent showcase for all your accomplishments. However, many people think that because they don’t have experience or programming skills, a web site is not a possibility for them.  This couldn’t be more wrong!

It’s easy to create a web site that will market you or your company.  Online site builders make creating a web site as simple as using a word processor. A fantastic web page can be created in less than three hours.  Using online sit builders is inexpensive and many companies even have FREE trail periods!

Once your web site is made, you can edit it any time you want, accept payments and donations, and even see how many people have visited your site. 

Coordinate your web site design with your business cards and letterhead too!     

• Be organized and decide how much time you are going to devote to job hunting each day.
• Keep track of what you mailed on what dates and who it went to. 
• Always proof read all correspondence with potential employers.  Check for the correct names and titles. 
• Remember, finding a job is a game of numbers.  The more you apply for, the more chance you have of obtaining one. 
• Don’t spend too much time online; everyone else is looking there.  Many positions aren’t advertised, but you should contact employers directly. 
• Show your face. Face to face interviews are always better than phone calls or e-mail interviews. 
• Always follow up.  Whether it’s with a phone call or a thank you card, always follow up. 

First, search for your own name.  You may be surprised at what is listed among the results: information about that legal battle with your neighbors, embarrassing college photos, or a poor choice of words quoted in your local newspaper.   Even if your image is squeaky clean, there could be a dozen others with your name that aren’t. 

One step you can take to combat this is to boost your online presence.  Blog or create a web site about you.  Post your resume, write about the important work you have done, and display any honors you have received.   

Search for online site builders that make creating a web site as easy as using word processor.  Add images and text without any programming skills.  Update your site whenever you want.  See how many views your site is getting and where they are coming from.  There are even FREE trial offers out there.

Try coordinating your site with your business cards and letterhead as well.  Your future employer will certainly be impressed by your ingenuity and attention to detail.   

Starting up a small business?  Boost your web presence today!

You see those crazy iPod commercials on TV and you hear about the “Facebook phenomenon.”  However, it is crucial that you understand, and are able to talk about what these technologies are and how they are important.  Do some research online. Go to an electronics store.  Recruit your technophile friends and family members to give you a crash course.  You must be able to show your potential employer that you are able to stay current, and that you’re never too old to learn new things. 

You must also keep technology in mind when creating a resume.  Try creating an electronic resume.  Use links to connect the page to a personal web site, social networking page, blog, or to any work you have done in the past.  Also link to any awards or favorable press coverage you or your company has been a part of.  Many employers today frown upon traditional resumes and e-mails.  They want to know that their employees are forward thinking and technologically efficient.

So many people today have enormous web presence. This is a great way for you to show your potential employer who you are and what you are about.  Start a blog.  Blog about news, sports, the arts, your field of work, or whatever interests you.  You could also create a Facebook or MySpace page.  These social networks are a fantastic way for you to display your attributes and accolades.  These sites are also a very beneficial way to network, especially when searching for a job.    

            You may not be a technology whiz kid yet, but a willingness to learn is the first step.  Do your best to become familiar with a lot of the technology that you are hearing about every day.  It will aid you in your job search as well as in the workplace.

7 – Be Early

Always be extra early when being interviewed for a job.  Make sure you have plenty of time to find parking, find the correct office, and take a few moments to calm yourself beforehand.  Even if the interview site is nearby, leave your house extra early, it will be just the day when a car accident causes a massive traffic jam on the highway. 

Always look your best.  It is important that you convey an image of professionalism to your potential employer.  Always set the bar high, no matter how other people at the company dress.  You want to appear well rested, put-together, and ready to take on new challenges. 

5- Leave behind a business card or customized pen

Handing in a perfected resume at an interview is standard practice.  However, when the competition is stiff, applicants must try to stand out.  When leaving, thank the interviewer for meeting with you and hand them a business card or customized pen with your name and contact information.  Having business cards or customized pens is a small step that can make a big difference. 

4- Know the company

Be as knowledgeable as possible when you go into your interview.  It is important that you seem interested in the company and the position.  Read about the company on its web site and in business magazines. 

3- Follow up with a thank you card

Once the interview is over, don’t sit back and wait for someone to contact you.  It is important that you send thank you cards to everyone who interviewed you.  This is also your opportunity to clarify or rectify any weak points in you interview.  Send the thank you cards as soon as possible. 

2- Have questions

Always have questions for your interviewer prepared.  The questions you ask are just as important as the questions you answer.  Thoughtful questions demonstrate an interest in the company and the position, as well as an eagerness to learn. 

1-Be positive

Be positive!  Even though you may be nervous, show confidence.  You have worked hard to prepare for this interview.  This is a time for you to have a discussion about your attributes.  Emphasize your good points.  If your weaknesses should arise, don’t panic.  Simply explain your willingness to improve.

Politicians aren’t the only ones who can use lawn signs to get their name out to the public.  Custom lawn signs are a creative way to seek employment as well.  Design a lawn sign marketing yourself and your skills that acquaintances and prospective employers will notice as they pass by.  Create your own lawn sign or choose from designs online.  Don’t have a lawn? No problem.  These signs work well for urban and apartment dwellers too.  Simply place them in any visible window. 

During these tough economic times, job seekers must demonstrate ingenuity and resilience.  A custom lawn sign is a quick an easy step that can make all the difference while searching for employment.

In today’s uncertain economic climate, people are doing whatever it takes to find a job.  With all the competition, job hunters must take advantage of every opportunity to get their name out there, but with limited time and resources this can be difficult.  However, using your car as a moving advertisement is a good way to target as many people as possible.

Car door magnets and window decals are a quick and easy way to market yourself.  Create your own or browse designs online.  Include your name, phone number, e-mail address, even a photo.  Name your ideal job, or list your best attributes.  Car door magnets and window decals come in different sizes and dozens of colors.   Now, whether you’re driving to the grocery store, the bank, or back to your parents’ basement, you will always be visible to prospective employers.  Car door magnets and window decals will make a statement about you, your creativity, and your perseverance. 

Car door magnets and window decals are also a great marketing tool for small business owners as well.  Design a colorful decal advertising your flower shop, or slap a magnet on the side of your pickup truck to spread the word about your landscaping company.  Always remember to keep some business cards in the glove compartment for potential customers, too.

As you wrap up your interview with a potential employer, you aren’t too sure what they’re thinking.  Then, as you prepare to leave, you hand them a customized pen with your name and contact information.  Suddenly, a smile comes over their face, and they commend you on your ingenuity.  Instead of a run of the mill business card, you have given them something with your name on it that they can actually use.  You have left a lasting impression, and walk out of the interview with a good feeling. 

If you are looking for a job, customized pens are an inventive way to market yourself.  Design pens that reflect your personality.  Hand them out to acquaintances and possible employers.  Who knows where they may end up?  Customized pens are a fantastic way to reach a large amount of people for a small amount of money.