Top Job Search Websites

FEATURED JOB SEARCH:

Yahoo Hot Jobs

Leader in the online recruiting industry

http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/



College Grad
The #1 Internet job search service for college students and recent grads.
http://www.collegegrad.com/

College Recruiter
The leading job board for college students searching for internships and recent graduates hunting for entry-level jobs and other career opportunities
http://collegerecruiter.com/

Monster
The premier global online employment solution for people seeking jobs and the employers who need great people
http://www.monster.com/

Indeed
Indeed.com is a search engine for jobs, allowing job seekers to find jobs posted on thousands of company career sites and job boards.
http://www.indeed.com/

Simply Hired
Simply Hired is building the largest online database of jobs on the planet. Our goal is to make finding your next job a simple yet effective, enjoyable journey
http://www.simplyhired.com/

Career Builder
As the U.S.'s largest online job site, CareerBuilder.com puts over 1 million jobs in front of poised job seekers wherever they are - at home or at work - in print and on the Internet
http://www.careerbuilder.com/

Jobster
Search for Jobs, build a career network, and connect with the hiring team at the companies you want to work for. Meet your future employer with Jobster.
http://www.jobster.com/

Job Central
Find local jobs and apply online via company employment career sites. No middle man. Job Central is a free service of Direct Employers Association
http://www.jobcentral.com/

Jobfox
Expand Your Job Opportunities with Our Revolutionary Job Technology.
http://www.jobfox.com/

Jobserve
Search JobServe for over 50000 permanent jobs, contract jobs and temporary jobs advertised weekly. Jobs in IT, Accountancy, Engineering and Sales plus other
http://www.jobserve.us/

Snagajob.com
Search over 100000 jobs on SnagAJob.com. Find all types of employment - full time, hourly and part time jobs. Our jobs are updated daily
http://www.snagajob.com/

topusajobs.com
Jobs and Careers: Search jobs from specialized job search engines. Find your ideal career. Jobs updated daily.
http://www.topusajobs.com/

Job Monkey
JobMonkey is to help you find seasonal or year-round jobs working for employers who can offer you unique opportunities to travel the world, have fun, and earn good money doing it.
http://www.jobmonkey.com/

job.com
Start your job search at Jobs.com. Find jobs that are close to home. Search job opportunities in your field. Jobs.com makes your employment search easy.
http://www.job.com/

Dice
Dice.com, is the leading career website for technology and engineering professionals, and the companies that seek to employ them, in the United States
http://www.dice.com/

Careerjet
Job search engine designed to make the process of finding a job on the internet easier for the user. It maps the huge selection of job offerings available on the internet in one extensive database by referencing job listings originating from company websites, recruitment agency websites and large specialist recruitment sites
http://www.careerjet.com/

Return2WorkMums
Website just for women thinking about or actively trying to return to work after a career or maternity break. If you are in need of some friendly, professional guidance then check us out at:
http://www.return2workmums.co.uk

Hire My Parents
If you’re a parent looking for some flexibility in your work life, so you can spend more time with your family, this is the place you’ll find every option, from freelance to fulltime.
http://hiremyparents.com

Enterprise Nation
A free resource to help you start and grow a business from home. The site attracts over 100,000 unique visitors each month who read content, watch the home business show, and meet peers in the forums.
http://www.enterprisenation.com

Americas Job Exchange
AJE is America's Career Destination! Our mission is to provide everyday Americans the job opportunities and career tools to find that dream career. The American dream is alive and well on AJE!
http://www.americasjobexchange.com/

Duncan & Associates
Specialist in international recruitment. Are you looking to return to South Africa, and want access to exciting job opportunities? For contact details please visit
www.duncanassociates.co.za

BankJobs
Welcome to Bankjobs.com, the #1 career site for banking and financial services jobs and resumes!
http://www.bankjobs.com/

© RedStarResume Publications – www.redstarresume.com

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Resume Gift Voucher

Resume Gift Voucher

Some presents are just more meaningful than others. RedStarResume offer resume gift voucher packages that are not only thoughtful, but are ones that will positively impact someone’s career path. A professionally written resume & cover letter is the perfect gift for any student, recent graduate or potential job seeker.

RedStarResume are industry leaders in writing resumes and cover letters, and we have helped thousands of job seekers with staying one step ahead of their competition. If you know someone who can benefit from professional resume help, the RedStarResume gift voucher is the perfect gift!

What are BENEFITS to a RedStarResume gift voucher?


The perfect gift for any job seeker or recent graduate
Written from the recruiter’s point of view
Direct knowledge & experience with the methods for writing the most effective resumes
One year expiry date
2 -4 days turnaround time (under 24 hr option available)


How does it work?

Easy 3 step process
Choose the appropriate voucher
Fill in your details
A personalized voucher will be emailed to you. This can either be forwarded to your intended recipient or printed off to be presented as a gift

© RedStarResume Publications – www.redstarresume.com

Your Resume … just how important is it?

When the time comes to looking for a job, your resume is by far the most important link between you and your potential new job. Once you interview and are given the two greatest words of “you’re hired,” your resume becomes a worthless document. That is, until years later when you decide you want a new challenge, and you reach back into the drawer, dust off the resume and start again.

In a recent college poll, over 90% of college students said they had no idea about how to write a good resume. Even more alarming was that 95% of the students interviewed did not list achievements on their resumes.

In the current economic climate, it is imperative that your resume is not only structured and formatted correctly, but that it is also easy to read and pleasing to the eye. For every single job you apply for, there are potentially 100, 200, and maybe even 300 other people with similar skills who are applying for the very same position. With so many applications it’s no wonder that a candidate who has written an incorrect resume is not getting the interview requests.

In my experience, the main reason candidates finds their applications continually rejected has nothing to do with their skills or experience (or even with the lack of skills or experience) – it is because their resumes are just not good enough to get them an interview.

Don’t let this happen to you. If writing your resume is stressing you out, think about using a professional resume writer. Many applicants these days use professionals to help them get a leg in front of their competition. Remember – your resume is the most important tool you have to get a job. A professional writer knows how to highlight your strengths and portray this on your resume. In the competitive world we live in, you need to be one step ahead of your competition. A professional writer can help take your resume to the top of the pile.

© RedStarResume Publications – www.redstarresume.com

Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/RedStarResume

Instant Resume Killers

Want to cause a recruiter to toss your resume instantly? When an employer is faced with several – possibly hundreds – of applications, he or she will try to narrow this list down quickly. Making one of the following mistakes can get your resume tossed in just a matter of seconds.

1. No cover letter attached

This is not a good start to any job application. Failing to include a cover letter instantly means that you have failed to put in that extra 10 minutes of effort, and this is never a good thing. A lot of recruiters delete their first round of applicants simply because they have not included a cover letter.

2. Applying for the wrong job

It happens all the time – candidates get so caught up in applying to as many jobs as possible that they accidentally send their resume sand cover letters to the wrong people. When a recruiter sees that a cover letter has been accidentally addressed to the wrong company, it will get tossed immediately.

3. A bad picture on a resume (especially an inappropriate one)

It’s true that different resume standards apply to different countries. That being said, some countries are more accepting (and encouraging) of pictures on resumes than others, however please stick to professional-looking photos only – you are applying for a job after all. There is no need to include a picture of yourself posing in a tank top or drinking with friends. Better to stick to no picture at all.

4. Providing little to no details about your work experience

Employers want you to be as specific as possible with regards to your qualifications, and therefore you should provide an adequate amount of information. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen people list their job titles ONLY under “work experience”, and that will just not cut it. Once an employer sees that you’ve provided little to no detail on your experience, they will immediately delete your resume.

© RedStarResume Publications – www.redstarresume.com

Laura is the Marketing Coordinator for RedStarResume, a business that provides resume and cover letter writing services for students, graduates and young professionals.

http://www.redstarresume.com
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/RedStarResume

How far back should your resume go?

I recently came across a resume that listed a summer cashier position in 1976 as part of a person’s “professional experience.” While it may seem a little strange or ridiculous to include an irrelevant position from nearly 25 years ago, I can tell you that it’s actually not that uncommon to come across something like this. A lot of people think that they literally need to include everything they’ve ever been involved with on their resumes, and I can assure you that not only do you not have to follow suit, you also don’t really need to go back any longer than 10 years.

The main goal of your resume should be to impress the reader with the specific qualifications and experiences that make you fit to be hired for a desired position. That being said, the reader is most interested in what you have done recently, not in what you did over 10 years ago. The bulk of your resume should be devoted to the last few years of your working history – this is what potential employers want to know about.

If you’re like most people, you’ve probably held a number of jobs over time if you include the part-time and casual positions. If wrote a little bit about each one of these, your resume would probably near the 4 page mark on experience alone. Considering it shouldn’t be longer than 2 pages, this is far from ideal.

When it comes to listing your professional experiences, stick to the most recent and relevant positions. There is no need to include everything, and writing about too much will sometimes blur your positions together and detract from your real qualifications. Unless you’ve held the same position for over 10 years, there is really no reason to go back any longer than this, and employers don’t even expect to go back that far on your resume anyway. If you do have quite an extensive work history of relevant positions, focus on the most recent ones and then simply list the earlier positions under a new category for “previous or other employment.”

Just remember that there is such a thing as “too much” on a resume. Focus on what the hiring manager wants to see, not on how much information you can cram onto it.

© RedStarResume Publications

Laura is the Marketing Coordinator for RedStarResume, a business that provides resume and cover letter writing services for students, graduates and young professionals.

http://www.redstarresume.com

Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/RedStarResume

What Spelling and Grammar Check Won’t Pick Up on Your Resume

You’ve probably been told over and over that the use of proper spelling and grammar are extremely important on your resume and that one little mistake can ruin your chances at obtaining a particular job. It seems to me that these warnings are given out all the time. When I ask people to tell me the number one mistake on a resume, they almost always say that it’s bad spelling and/or grammar. This really makes me wonder because it’s pretty rare that I come across an error-free resume. There always seems to be something, whether it’s a misspelled word or a missing comma. The best explanation I can come up with is that people today seem to rely a little too much on spell and grammar check programs.


Spelling and grammar check programs are great in many ways, and they seem to pick up a lot of common mistakes. For example, they automatically add apostrophes to words like “can’t” when you forget to put one in there. Or they might automatically capitalize the word “I.” They also do a good job at highlighting some clearly misspelled words. Despite all of these benefits, however, programs like these should not be seen as flawless.


There are tons of things they can miss, and below are a few examples:


Same word, different spelling: Some words sound exactly alike, but have different spellings with entirely different meanings. Spell check will not pick up when these words are used improperly. These words could include: then, than, your, you’re, too, to, two, their, there, are, our… and this is only naming a few.


Word choice: Did you know, for example, that the words “which” and “that” can not exactly be used interchangeably?


Punctuation: Comma omissions and unnecessary commas are usually not picked up.

Overall structure of your resume: Is your resume written in past or present tense? Or are the tenses all over the place? Consistency is something these programs won’t notice.


I’m not saying that you shouldn’t use these programs – they are useful in many situations. I’m saying that you shouldn’t rely solely on them to check over your resume because they aren’t foolproof. It’s important to check and re-check it yourself and to then also show it to a couple of friends and see what they can find. We sometimes rely on computers to do too much for us, and we forget that they aren’t even close to flawless. Don’t underestimate the capabilities of the human eye.


© RedStarResume Publications


http://www.redstarresume.com


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Poll: What are the most annoying interview questions?

Poll: What are the most annoying interview questions?

How to Make a Career Change

It is NEVER too late for a career change! Sure, you might not have direct experience in a certain industry or job, but you need to prove to any hiring manager that your existing skills are, in fact, transferable skills.

If you’re debating about making a career change, don’t be afraid. Even if a career switch later in life seems like a completely radical change with many possible consequences attached to it, you should still go for it if it’s something you really want to do. My best advice is to set up a plan before making the dive. A large-scale transition will not happen overnight, and this is why it’s important to ensure you have a “plan of attack.”

Also, make sure your career change is realistic. Although I encourage everyone to follow their dreams, you also need to stay realistic. If your dream is to become a pilot, but you’ve worked in banking for the last 15 years, the chances of you becoming a pilot are a lot harder (but not impossible)! Also remember to be flexible. You are making a career change that could involve a lower salary or relocation. These are some of the sacrifices you could be asked to make in the short term.

When you begin applying for new roles, you need to ensure your resume is targeted toward this new job. Obviously you are not going to have direct experience, so it’s important to highlight not only your current skills and achievements, but also (and most importantly), that you are able to adapt your skills for this new job.

In making the career change, your skills are by far your best selling point. Many skills that you use on a day to day basis (such as leading, managing, liaising and communicating, for example) are all transferable skills that you can use to prove to a hiring manager that you are right for a particular job.

5 point plan to making a career change:

1) Make sure of your reasons for wanting a career change. One bad day at work or hating your boss do not suggest you want to change careers

2) Brainstorming – sit down and brainstorm ideas of the type of industry/job you really want to do

3) Planning – Set out a plan to follow. Make it realistic. Remember your career change won’t happen overnight. Realistically, it can take about 6-12 months. Don’t quit your job on day 1. Included in planning is financial planning. How much is this career change going to cost you? How much do you plan to get paid? You need to know these answers!

4) Networking – Talk to friends, speak to recruitment agents and sign up to online networking sites

5) Executing your plan. Speak to an expert in regards to interviewing, resume writing and cover letter writing. Apply directly, and begin to follow the steps of your plan.

© RedStarResume Publications

http://www.redstarresume.com/

Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/RedStarResume

Listing Hobbies & Interests on Your Resume – Should You Or Shouldn’t You?

I frequently come across resumes that include a section for “hobbies and interests” or something similar. Many people think it’s necessary to include something like this, however I can assure you that it’s probably best to avoid doing so. There is a limited amount of space for content on your resume and just a small amount of time for the reader to look over your information. That being said, you should use it strictly to highlight your professional qualifications and achievements, not your personal hobbies and interests.

Hiring managers are looking to see how you can specifically help them and their companies, not whether you enjoy skiing or bike riding. This sort of information is often times seen as “fluff” – in other words, irrelevant information that is used solely to take up space on a resume to make it seem longer. If you’re concerned about your resume looking too short, there are lots of ways to increase the content without having to lists your hobbies and interests. Think about substituting them for something more work-related, like a section for your professional qualifications or computer-related skills. Or maybe try adding some achievements onto your professional experience section.

While I feel I make a strong point against listing these on your resume, people are always going to be adamant about using them. So, if you absolutely must include your hobbies and interests, try to at least make them pertain to the job you are applying for. Do any of your hobbies involve using your leadership skills, for example? Do they show a pattern of long-term commitment? The most important thing to remember is to keep the content on your resume professionally relevant.

© RedStarResume Publications – http://www.redstarresume.com/

Laura is the Marketing Coordinator for RedStarResume, a business that provides resume and cover letter writing services for students, graduates and young professionals.

Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/RedStarResume

Poll: What is the first thing you look for when applying for a new job?

Poll: What is the first thing you look for when applying for a new job?

Top 50 most Annoying Co-Workers

The jury has spoken!


Top 50 most Annoying Co-Workers:


The loud talkers,

The coughers

The Eavesdropper

The Gloaters,

The Gossipers,

The Open Mouth Chewer

The Blame Shifter

The Cubicle Ninja

The procrastinator

The Rude co-worker

The corporate survivor,

The “know it all”

The smart A**

The narcissistic type

The non-confrontational type

The rat type

The “ear-bleeding sports fanatic”

The “I’m-always-right-and-you’re-always-wrong person”

The “I work 7.5 workday and don’t do more than is required”

The floater

The sighers,

The “Always running late” co-worker

The Sapper of productiivity / energy levels

The Incompetent

The Judgmental co-worker

The Negative co-worker

The Complainer

The Sneaky co-worker

The Person whose non-work-related conversation is restricted to sports.

The Blame shifter.

The Illiterate Ignoramous.

The Doofus/ Dumbass.

The Super Suit.

The butt kisser

The Too Sensitive

The “Aw-shucks” manipulator.

The motivational speaker.

The gum popper

The throat clearer

The know-it-all

The Grinch

The 3 sneezer

The Micromanager

The office bully

The Pessimist

The “Mr. Popular” Co-worker

The Participator of illegal activities

The “monopolizer of meetings”

The “Put up posters all over the office” person

The Passive-aggressive


© RedStarResume Publications – www.redstarresume.com

Ever have one of those days?

Intern, Travel, Volunteer – What are the best ways for students to spend their summers?

• Internship:
Internships provide opportunities for students to gain experience in their chosen fields, determine if they have an interest in a particular career, create a network of contacts, or earn school credit. Although you may feel that graduation is still a long way off, if you can gain experience in your chosen area, you will help to reduce the challenge of interviewing post-graduation without any real work experience. Remember there are at least 3 summers as a college student. If you can make use of at least one of them it will put you in a good position when your time comes to graduate.

• Travelling:
Travel and experience the world! Broaden your mind and experience different cultures and traditions. From the beaches of Australia to the jungles of Brazil, the memories you gain while travelling are priceless and you just never know who you’re going to meet along the way. Go see the world while you can – you have the rest of your life to work!

• Volunteering:
Volunteer your time for free. This could include working for free for a company related to your field of interest or sacrificing your time to help others (there’s no better feeling than helping those less fortunate than ourselves). In the long-term, volunteering looks great on your resume, and it could open doors for future opportunity. Remember to network. This is by far the most important advice to give a student.

• Combine travelling and working:
Find a job or internship in a foreign country. Perhaps learn a new language. You never know the opportunities that can present themselves.

• Spend time with your family and friends

• Get some exercise, stay healthy and active!

Whatever you decide, just make sure you have fun and enjoy yourself.

© RedStarResume Publications
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/RedStarResume

To view all “Tips from the Pros” Check out our website www.redstarresume.com

Top 5 Cover Letter Mistakes

If you’re going to take the extra time to write a cover letter that you include along with your resume, you might as well write it properly! We talked to a few recruiters and found out that they frequently find mistakes so annoying that cause them to immediately discard some applications all together. Here’s a sample of some of the mistakes they mentioned:

Letter addressed to the wrong person or company: It doesn’t annoy hiring managers that you’re probably applying for other jobs, but it does annoy them when you don’t take the time to check that your cover letter is addressed properly. Sending it to the wrong person or company will get your application deleted immediately.

Spelling and/or grammar mistakes: You’re probably tired of being told to check and re-check your work, but it is extremely important! When spelling or grammar errors show up on your cover letter, the person reading it is going to think that you either don’t know how to write properly or that you didn’t bother to check it over. Either way, it’s bad news for you.

It’s too long: Cover letters should be short and to the point. They should provide some basic information about how you are specifically qualified for the job in question. That’s pretty much it. Anything longer than a few paragraphs starts to look more like an essay, and it’s an immediate turn-off.

No contact details: It happens quite frequently – people forget to include their name, let alone a way to contact them. While your details may be on your resume, no one wants to take extra time to fish for information that should have been provided for them right away.

No cover letter: This is the worst mistake of all. You’re competing against dozens of other applicants who have instantly shown that they took more time to apply than you.

At the end of the day, you just want to give yourself the best chance possible to be called for an interview. Think about what a potential employer wants to know most about you, and try to convert this into a cover letter.

© RedStarResume Publications

Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/RedStarResume

To view all “Tips from the Pros” Check out our website www.redstarresume.com

When Is The Best Time to Apply For Online Jobs?

The job application process is no doubt tedious and tiring for everyone. We've all been there - sifting through the various job ad postings, sending through resume after resume, and all we want to do is get the application process over with as fast as possible. Everyone tells you to at least take a few minutes to tailor your resume and cover letter to each job you apply for.

Personalizing your application materials no doubt increases your chances of getting a call back, but I'm also going to let you know that there is another way to increase your chances at getting that interview call, and it has absolutely nothing to do with who you are or with the quality of your resume and cover letter - it simply has to do with when you send through your materials.

I recently had a friend complain to me about getting no call backs at all. She had sent through personalized resumes and cover letters dozens of times and had not received one interview invitation. Sure, the job market is extremely tough in some areas at the moment, but to receive zero phone calls out of dozens was a bit alarming to me.

I asked her to show me her resume, and everything looked great. She told me about the sites she was applying through, and I saw no problem with that either. But she then told me about the application process itself, and this is where an important detail stood out - the time she was sending through her resumes.

Many job seekers, especially the already employed, use nights and weekends to send out the bulk of their applications, and this can sometimes put them at an immediate disadvantage. Anyone who's worked in an office environment knows that Mondays are usually extremely hectic. Everyone's trying to catch up on their emails and phone calls, and there usually isn't a lot of time to spare, especially on things that are not urgent, like reading resumes. The first thing most people do when reading emails is prioritize and figure out what needs to get done sooner rather than later - resumes, especially ones sent days ago, usually fall into the "later" pile.

The point is that you want to be sure that your resume and cover letter are noticed. Sending them through on the weekend not only puts your email toward the back of the line chronologically, but it also puts it among the spam messages that have filled up the inbox, and you don't want to accidentally get deleted.

Ideally, try to respond to job advertisements during the day, when someone is most likely to see it, let alone read it. If your only time to apply for jobs is on the weekend, at least try to send through your cover letters and resumes toward the later part of the weekend, preferably on Sunday evenings. You want your resume and cover letter to be one of the first things the hiring manager sees, not something that they see toward the bottom of their inbox that they will "get to later."

© RedStarResume Publications – www.redstarresume.com

Laura is the Marketing Coordinator for RedStarResume, a business that provides resume and cover letter writing services for students, graduates and young professionals.

http://www.redstarresume.com

Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/RedStarResume

Avoid Spelling and Grammar Mistakes on Your Resume

It's common knowledge that spelling and grammar mistakes can be extremely damaging to your resume's chances of landing you a job interview. Everyone seems to be aware of this fact, and this is why they are constantly reminded to check and then recheck their resumes.

So then why are these mistakes found all the time on resumes? A lot of times, people are reluctant to share and have their resumes edited by others, and failing to do so can result in small errors going undetected.

Showing your resume to someone else benefits you in more ways than one. For one, it provides an extra pair of eyes to look for any spelling of grammar mistakes. While you may be absolutely positive that there are none, especially since you've edited it numerous times, it can't hurt! I can tell you from experience that 7 out of the 10 resumes I read contain some sort of spelling error, and I'm willing to bet that most of these people did several edits on their resumes.

Have you ever read something so many times that you started memorizing and reciting it more than actually reading it? This happens a lot with resumes. We get so caught up in what we think it says that we sometimes forget how this translates onto paper. I notice a lot of times that people write things like "... responsible updating data..." or "...selected represent the company at various trade shows." If you just read that for the first time, you probably noticed that a few words are missing there. Obvious, right? Read it a few more times and you might find yourself automatically inserting the missing words. This is what happens quite often with people who write and then edit and re-edit their resumes.

Showing your resume to someone else eliminates the chances of this happening as they will be more likely to catch small mistakes like these. They can also provide an objective critique on your resume.

While you clearly know more about your past experience than anyone, translating this onto paper for a stranger to understand is sometimes very difficult, and the person critiquing it can point out any job descriptions that don't make sense or aren't very clear.

Overall, having another person or two look at your resume before you send it off can do nothing but help you. The job market out there is tough at the moment and you want to give yourself the best chance possible - don't let small errors that you looked over damage your chances of landing an interview.

© RedStarResume Publications – www.redstarresume.com

Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/RedStarResume

When Should I Look to Apply For an Internship?

Internships are extremely important and beneficial to college resumes, so if you have the opportunity to apply for one, I would 100% recommend it. Internships are huge resume boosters and will no doubt give you an advantage over the competition when it comes to real world job seeking after your college graduation. The key thing to note, however, is that with internships, planning ahead is always your best option.

Most do not work like jobs in terms of the actual hiring process. With jobs, ads are posted and can be filled within only a few days because the start date is almost immediate. With an internship, the process is quite different – the actual start date could be months away, which is why you need to think about it in advance.

If you’re thinking about applying for an internship with a major corporation (or with one that you anticipate will be accepting applications from thousands of students around the country), you will definitely need to apply for this months in advance. Many summer internships are filled by the spring, and, in turn, ones for the fall are filled during the summer.

While most internships are filled months in advance, this does not make it true for all internships. Colleges all over offer internships with various departments or with school-based organizations that you can usually apply for toward the beginning of the semester. While they may not seem like the most exciting ways to spend some of your free time, they will definitely add value to the resume you send out to that internship you really want.

The main thing is that if you’re just starting to think about internships and haven’t found one you’re interested in yet, it’s never too early to at least start drafting and preparing your resume. You won’t be able to apply for a job or internship without one, and you want to be prepared the minute you see one you like.

© RedStarResume Publications – www.redstarresume.com

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Poll: Rate the Big 4 Accounting Firms

Poll: Rate the Big 4 Accounting Firms

Top 20 Best Summer Jobs

Ideally the best thing you can do is try to find an internship which is related to your degree or passion. One of my favourite rockers, Ozzy Osbourne worked in a slaughterhouse before rising to fame with Black Sabbath! This is the best way to gain real life experience as well as having something terrific to put on your resume. For example, if you're studying business then an Intern in a big financial bank would be fantastic and also good pay (but long hours!) In reality however you have left finding an internship to the last moment and now you find yourself searching for a summer job that pays well without consuming your entire summer.

No matter what job you're doing over the summer never forget to network. Speak to people, ask questions, learn new skills and most importantly have fun.

And if you think you're too good for a summer job think again. Some of the biggest stars in the world spent their summer mopping floors at a local Dairy Queen (Gwen Stefani) or saved up some extra cash as a paper boy (Tom Cruise). Matthew McConaughey found himself short of cash when travelling around Australia (before he was famous) and took a job on a farm moving chicken manure.

Top 20 Summer Jobs:

Sales: The skills you learn in a sales job will help you for the rest of your life.

Post office worker (great pay!)

National Park services

Camp counsellors (not great pay but accommodation and food is free)

Resort or country club (Get paid to live by the pool)

Tour guide

Restaurant staff

Web design

Tutoring (Be your own boss - great pay!)

Telemarketing - Can you sell? Are you a talented speaker? Telemarketers may annoy you but the good ones can make a lot of money

Campus Jobs - Working in the labs - Check out jobs area in your university

Construction worker

Valet

Pet and House Sitting

Writing articles for sites that will pay you

Convention Worker - Is the boat show in town?

Landscaping

Lifeguards

Dog walker

Barista

© RedStarResume Publications – http://www.redstarresume.com/

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Dream Job ... Is there such a thing?

What is a dream job?

Do you know someone who has the dream job?

Is there really such a thing as a dream job ?

RedStarResume posted this question on LinkedIN. Here are your answers:

“It depends on what is the basis of somebody defines his/her dream job.. Is it learning, Money, Foreign trips, Brand Name etc. etc.

According to me, its about identifying who you are, what your natural talents are and then getting into a job where you get to apply your talents on a day to day basis. In other words you have an opportunity to do best every day and you look forward to coming to work everyday.

Therefore, there is something which an Individual has to do to get a dream job (identifying what is he looking for and what talents he brings on table) and then there is something which Organizations have to do (identify the talent, put him in a right role and give him a great manager) and you might land into a dream job” - Ashish

“A dream job is one that makes you look forward for the Monday throughout the weekends, week after week, month after month & year after year” - Souri

“The phrase to ‘create a personally satisfying career path’ doesn’t sound as snappy but is probably more helpful. The idea of ‘finding your dream job’ makes several assumptions, each of which has it’s limitations:

1) There is only one job that would fit you – you may have many options and you can’t do them all

2) It already exists out there – you may have to invent it

3) You will stay the same forever – your priorities and talents will change over time

4) The job will stay the same forever – the nature of the job may change

Sometimes the biggest problem is not ‘finding’ the job but recognising it when you see it. As an afterthought. Some people talk about a dream job as being something that has personal meaning. The question remains. Do you find a job that already has meaning or do you try to find the meaning in your job?” - David

“There is potential in every job, to be a dream job? Well, I think so. Any job can be a dream job through your attitude, gratitude, and choice.

Are you a clerk at a bookstore? Are you a city garbage truck driver? or is it washing cars or fixing computers ? Maybe you love to mow people’s lawns. Well, there are no menial jobs; only menial attitudes. Choose a job you love and you’ll never have to work a day in your life and that is your dream job” – Abdul

“Walking to work with a big smile on your face on a Monday morning in anticipation of the day and week ahead is probably a good indicator. I also think that the challenge once you’ve found it is to continue to appreciate it, to be able to walk away from it on a Friday or in the evenings and not to covet it too much. Otherwise the ‘Dream Job ‘ may be fleeting” – Richard

“A dream job is one that you’ll do even if you’re not paid for it” -Y.K.

“A dream job is one in which you are able to utilize your talents in meaningful ways, participate in activities that serve others and your higher self, and compensation becomes a byproduct of personal reward and satisfaction. Many people are fortunate enough to work in situations that inspire passion and growth in themselves and others. Learn what makes your heart sing and pursue it relentlessly” - Monica

“This depends on your definition of the “Dream Job.” If you mean perfect in every way, obviously no one has this type of job.

However, if you mean a job that has its hiccups along the way, but offers job satisfaction, self-fulfilment, the opportunity for advancement, the potential for increasing salary–the “Dream Job” certainly exists. My father once told me he had the best job in the world. He was teaching at a renowned university. He loved teaching. But he was also doing research and grant writing, and bringing in a lot of money for the university. He had the freedom to coach my baseball teams and attend any of our games. The money wasn’t great, but that increased over time.

With realistic expectations, the “Dream Job” exists. It is not perfect, just as dreams are not perfect. I suppose a job without its problems would be boring and lack challenge” – Bob

“Absolutely!!!! It is when your passion, lifestyle, and abilities come together. I happen to have had several dream jobs” - Robin

“I had the pleasure some years ago to be driven at high speed around a race track by a professional racing driver.
Talking to him afterwards I said that he must have found his “dream job” or words to that effect.
He replied “It’s not bad but I really wanted to be a porn star!”
Some people are never happy – funny old world isn’t it! “ – John

“NO! You can have a job you enjoy, however keep in mind that a job is a job. There are things that you are not in control of when it comes to a job like keeping it or the attitude of your superiors. I would say the best situation you can be in is if you work for yourself” - Jeff

“The dream job is the one you really like to do, matching exactly with your competences, your capabilities and your expectation, the one where you will face challenges, bringing you from competence to excellence, the one where you can give the best you can do, source of blooming and happiness” – Eric

“No, there aren’t any dream jobs. There are jobs that you live to do, that you can’t wait to do. But even with that type of passion, every job has its negatives. Co-workers you don’t get along with, managers, who don’t see eye to eye with you, too long hours, too little pay, and the possibility that your job will be eliminated or outsourced. If you enjoy what you do and are eager to come to the office in the morning, that’s pretty special even if it’s not perfect” – Darlene

“A dream always remains a dream. I wanted to be an artist but end up selling photo albums and in the printing industry. I have a dream about a girl I love when young, but gain it was a dream. Wild and silly dream like wanted to be John Travolta….but never happen….anyway, dreams keep me going” – Daniel

“I think there are “dream roles” that you can envision as you grow and develop over your career. These tend to involve greater scope, stretching, and drawing on a different basket of skills that you want to strengthen. The goal is always elusive though, as you quickly grow into whatever dream role you eventually land, and it gets replaced with a new dream. To paraphrase Browning, a person’s reach should always exceed their grasp…

PS. I have had some amazing jobs but NEVER ONCE have I woken up first thing on a Monday wanting to do anything other than go back to sleep!” – Rob

“I think there are as many “dream jobs” as there are people in the world! I believe there are a lot of elements that come into play when somebody defines their dream job. They are in the right environment, with the right people, using the their strengths, compensating for weakness, doing the right things, achieving the right goals, etc…

A seemingly simplistic view of a dream job might be when your life’s mission or purpose is fulfilled in the job you do. That’s certainly been the case for me and I am living my dream job!” – Shellie

“Yes, Dream Jobs Do Exist! But the definition of a dream job is different for each one of us.

I understand where some of the previous responders are coming from, referring to the fact that a “job” can’t be compared to or labelled in the dream category.

However, in the context of having a job, I have met many people who have described their experiences as “Dream Jobs.” There are people out there, my sister for instance, who are absolutely passionate about what they do and are living out their dream doing it – she is a Chief Nursing Officer and is dedicated to excellence in patient care and the professional development of nurses.

This is not to say that dream jobs aren’t full of challenge and bad days. Most jobs are.

Having a dream job does not mean your job is perfect. It just means it is exactly what you want to be doing, and for whatever reason, you find the ultimate satisfaction in doing it, whether this be through intrinsic rewards, professional or social benefits, monetary rewards, etc – you are living your dream job”

I hope you find yours!
Marjorie

“Does a nightmare qualify as a dream??? I always try to keep in mind that any company with a career opportunity created that opportunity for a reason. The company more often than not is looking for some one to step up to a major challenge. If you are dreaming of being able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, then you can have your dream job” - Kenneth

“Sorry to put a bit of a damper on this discussion, but at some point those of us engaged in job search have to be realistic and make the best of what we can get” - Judy

“A dream job is just a job that you look forward to going to. A job that makes you happy, it doesn’t have to be something outlandish or farfetched. And as for dreams go, once those die then we’re going to have issues” - Dexter

“Absolutely they exist! I have it – I LOVE going to work, love where I work and my job duties are well suited to my talents and personality! I encourage everyone to find this type of position where they are appreciated and can grow” Wendy

“Many people would like to find their “dream job”. But whether they are able to find it or not is finally the outcome and what defines the existence of a “dream job”.

If people have the talent to turn their dreams into reality – then yes, they are able to find their “dream job”. If they are not able to do so, then they keep searching and some find it successful, some not and the cycle continues.

WHAT IS A DREAM JOB
Basically, there is no such thing that is lying out there in the world as a qualified, identified entity that could be called as a “dream job”. Its all in the perspective and thoughts of the person searching for such an opportunity.

JOB SEEKER PART
If people believe and wish to attain something then its up to them to find out whether they are eligible and capable of achieving it, in the first place – in terms of everything like expertise, experience, skills, etc. And, if they do not possess any or all of such things, whether they can learn, improve, acquire such things. Once they feel eligible, they can start looking for it – BUT HERE IS THE CATCH – they should be clear on what they are looking for and they should search in the right place at the right time thru the right means, clarity is critical. If not, they have to keep searching and whether they will get it or not is a question.

Above all, the core skills or “life skills” or “soft skills” like communication, presentation, personality related, leadership skills come in to play apart from the job related skills and technical skills. If people possess such skills and talent, if they are able to attain that particular position/title/level in job or career then they feel they are in that “dream job” – that dream is a reality.

DREAM JOB – HOW TO MAKE IT A REALITY
But yes, dreams can be turned into reality and it all depends on the person, but not necessarily all in a particular time frame expected – that’s the most important, what really matters whether there is a time factor attached to it – to convert that dream or goal or objective into reality. Only such time factor associated clear goals have chances of becoming a reality. So that dream has to be a goal, and that goal has to be associated with time, and this should have proper plans and means in place – then yes, this dream job can become a reality” - Venkdesh

© RedStarResume Publications – www.redstarresume.com

Tips to find your next job

What can you do to be competitive when looking for a new job? Writing a quick resume late at night and applying for random jobs is NOT going to get you the job you are looking for. Is there an educational or university course being offered which could help you now or in the long term? What skills do you have to shine above and beyond other candidates. Make a portfolio of your accomplishments you have achieved in your academic or professional life. In the current economic climate employers want to know what YOU have to offer them. You need to sell yourself! and sell your success.

Below are some further ideas and suggestions to find yourself a new job

Learn new skills: It’s never too late to try to learn a foreign language, or a new piece of computer software. (Best example was a senior archaeologist of 10 years who came to me wanting to change life direction. After 6 months learning spanish then travelling through Spain for another 6 months, The senior archaeologist is now a junior English/spanish translator)

Research: Find out where the demand is. While many industries are having trouble in this recession and laying of employees other areas are increasing employment

Sell yourself: Take time writing your resume, and tailor your resume specifically to each job you are applying. Do not send out the same resume to every job advert you see. Remember if you’re sending out generic resumes then you will get the same generic responses

Use your social network. Don’t be embarrassed about looking for work. Tell your friends and family. You never know who may be looking at hiring staff with your set of skills

Use free networking sites to advertise yourself and your skills. Promote yourself via sites like LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/

Use a recruitment agency that specialises in your particular area. Get to know the recruitment consultant, and follow them up weekly. The more you appear visible, the more they will remember you

Share with friends: Brainstorm ideas and share experiences with friends that are also looking for jobs. Exchange advice, strategies, and plans

Act straight away: When you get a lead or hear about a job opening apply immediately. There is no need to wait. Prepare your resume and send it immediately. The longer you wait the more likely another candidate will apply ahead of you

Don’t let a lack of experience discourage you from applying for jobs: When tailoring your resume towards the job you are applying for, concentrate on the skills and abilities you have to match that certain job

Most importantly: Don’t give up – Never stop looking. While you’re searching for your new job is there something else in the meantime you could be doing. Do you have skills to freelance? Maybe you can sell goods online. Keeping yourself occupied helps you to stay positive and upbeat rather than moping around the house feeling sorry for yourself

© RedStarResume Publications – www.redstarresume.com

Why Am I Not Getting Called for the job Interviews?

A true story…

A candidate was applying for a job that he felt was probably beyond him in terms of experience and skills, however he figured he’d apply and “hope for the best”. The job application asked for a resume and personally written cover letter to be submitted to the hiring manager. When the candidate went to send the resume and cover letter he decided that instead of writing the generic “To whom it may concern” on the top of his letter, he would call up the company and find out the name of the hiring manager. Thus, he began his letter with “Dear Mr. xxxx”

As insignificant as this seems, the candidate ended up getting the job. Years later this young man became the right hand man to the hiring manager who had now become the CEO of the firm. When the hiring manager was asked why he had originally employed the boy he said, “He was not the strongest academically or experienced candidate, but he was the only person out of 100 candidates who had taken the time and effort to find out my name…”

Although gaining employment is subject to many unpredictable factors that are far beyond your control (such as employer perceptions, competition and personal choice), there are countless factors that are controllable that you may be doing wrong. Remember, your resume only has 10 seconds to make an impact. When the hiring manager has 100 resumes on his or her desk and needs to pick the top 5, all it takes is the simplest error for your resume to be deleted.

My advice is this: If you’re going to spend time applying for jobs then DO IT PROPERLY. You are not going to get an interview by sending out a resume that is written or formatted incorrectly. By doing just the smallest things correctly you will find that success is just around the corner.

Is your resume full of clichés? Do you use words such as “hardworking”, “loyal worker” or “enthusiastic”? Do you send out the exact same resume for every job? If the answer is yes, then you need to take greater effort to differentiate your resume and make it stand out from the crowd. Include your achievements with examples. Don’t just write “I am a hardworking individual” as this does not inspire. Rather, explain to the reader why you are a hardworking individual. If you’re not inspired by your resume then why is a hiring manager going to be inspired?

Your resume is your selling tool. Take a look at it. Are you proud of how it reads? Does it sell your strengths, skills and accomplishments? In this tough economic climate you need to go the extra length to get an interview.

Find below 15 reasons why you may be missing out on getting that interview:

• Generic resume

• Resumes that do not inspire

• Clichéd resume

• Your resume does not use key words

• Your resume is formatted incorrectly

• Your resume is not targeted

• You don’t use a cover letter

• Your cover letter is boring/generic/clichéd

• Your resume and cover letter are too embellished

• Your job search is restricted to the Internet/Google/Yahoo

• You are only seeking out the perfect job (Is there such a thing?)

• Spelling mistakes / bad grammar

• Lack of professionalism

• No follow up

• Unqualified / Overqualified (you need to be realistic)

© RedStarResume Publications – www.redstarresume.com

The Job search market can be a tricky place to navigate. Whether you are just starting out, moving up the ladder or changing your current situation, RedStarResume have all the resources to help improve your chances of success. http://www.redstarresume.com/

Top 10 Resume Mistakes

Resume Killers

My philosophy is simple: Stick to the facts. If in doubt, leave it out!

Abbreviations
Avoid abbreviations! They are unprofessional and not universally accepted. Trust me; nothing looks worse on a resume than seeing sentences resembling the following: “duties included answering the fone and going 2 c clients.” This is a resume, not a text message. Make sure you use correct words and proper sentences.

Personal Information
Leave off anything related to hobbies or personal interests. If it doesn’t relate to employment it doesn’t belong on a resume. Information such as weight and height is irrelevant (unless of course you’re trying out for basketball team). I have seen resumes where people include their eye colour and comments about their skin (“glowing skin”). Do not give the reader a reason to eliminate you because of your personal characteristics. Again, stick to the formula – if it does not relate to the job it doesn’t belong on the resume.

Graphics / Artwork
People feel that in order to be noticed they need their resume to look like a piece of artwork. This perception is wrong and has the opposite effect of appearing unprofessional and amateur. At the end of the day, the employer only wants to see skills, duties, and achievements. He or she is not interested because your resume is shaded yellow with a butterfly in the top right-hand corner.

Negativity
Never, never, never be negative on your resume or cover letter (and most importantly, in your interview). If you left your previous job because you hated your boss, keep it to yourself. Do not try to explain this on your resume because you cannot explain those reasons in writing. Remember, a resume’s job is to promote and sell. Do not get eliminated immediately for being negative.

No Dates
DO NOT MAKE THE READER HAVE TO GUESS! This is such a killer on any resume. INCLUDE DATES. What years did you go to high school? How long did you go to university? When did you graduate? How long did you work at your current job?

Do not make the person reading your resume have to ask these questions. The minute this happens, your resume is going to one place—the trash bin! Make sure your resume flows and you have no gaps in your dates. If you took a year off to go travelling, include this. When you include dates DO NOT just include years. For example, “I worked at McDonalds from 2006-2008”– what does this mean? Did you work for 3 from January 2006 to December 2008, or for a little over 1 year from December 2006 to January 2008.

Long-winded
Long long long long long resumes are boring!!!! If an employer sees an extremely long resume, they will immediately develop a negative frame of mind. Remember, resume readers tend to have little patience, especially when they need to read 100 resumes. You do not gain extra brownie points for writing the longest resume—enough said!

Lack of achievements / highlights
I never understand how people get this wrong, but so many times people fill up their resumes with irrelevant information, and they leave off the most vital part of a resume—showing off your highlights and achievements. Think about it—most people who apply for the same job can all do the standard day to day duties. So what separates the good resume from the bad resume? It’s the one that includes achievements and highlights. It includes how they were an asset at their previous job. Employers want to see not that you just worked and did a good job, but that you added value to the company. Leaving off your achievements is the best way to get your resume tossed in the bin. Alternatively, including value-added achievements is the best way to get your resume put on the top of the list.

Irrelevant information
Everyone is proud of achievements they have accomplished throughout their life. Finishing second place in the 100 metre sprint final in my first year of high school was a great thrill, but is it relevant on my resume? Does it add value to it? Use common sense when including “extra information.” Receiving your CPR certificate is relevant when you’re applying for a job that requires this, such as a lifesaver or swimming instructor. It isn’t so relevant if you received your CPR certificate 10 years ago, and now you’re going for a job as a CEO.

Grammar mistakes and typos
People read this point and think, “Obviously my resume isn’t going to have spelling mistakes and typos.” I can tell you from experience that 1 in 5 resumes will make this vital mistake. When an employer has 100 resumes, the first 20 are eliminated because of grammar mistakes or typos. These mistakes are glaringly obvious on a resume. Make sure you use spell-check, but more importantly, re-read your resume. Even give it to someone else to read over.

Fluffy
You may think that using words such as “diligent,” “meticulous,” or “industrious” to describe yourself may make you sound smart, but unfortunately they are seen as “fluff” words. Focus your resume. A fluffy resume is going into the same place as a resume which has incorporated any of the above points – the trash bin!

© RedStarResume Publications – www.redstarresume.com
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Best Tips on How to Get That Pay Raise You Deserve

Waiting on that raise that never seems to come…

A friend recently told me that he was expecting a raise soon simply because “I haven’t gotten one in the last 2 years.” There was no direct reason – no one had told him about this supposed upcoming raise, and he hadn’t done anything major in the last few months to expect one. He simply expected that one would come, particularly because he hadn’t received one in his entire 2 years there.

I always wonder about this kind of thinking because, from the way I see it, employers are never lining up to give people more money. If you’re waiting around for your boss to give you a raise for no specific reason, you’re going to be waiting for a long time. A raise doesn’t come simply because you’ve worked somewhere for a specific amount of time or because you haven’t received one – you have to earn a raise and, even when you do, you probably still have to ask for it.

It’s no secret that an employer is going to try to pay you as little as possible. I don’t mean this in a mean way – I’m just saying that they aren’t going to go out of their way to pay you more than they have to, simple as that. This especially applies to those of you waiting on that raise you haven’t received yet. Think about it – why would your boss give you more money to do the same exact job? What would be in it for them? Whether you’re deserving of a raise or not, it’s not going to come at the drop of a hat.

Employers are not looking to give away money that they don’t have to, so if you continue to wait for them to offer you one, you may be waiting a while. If you think you deserve a raise, let your boss know and give your specific reasons. This can include examples where you have increased productivity, saved them money or even how you trained new employees.

Providing specific reasons is the key to getting your pay increase. Remember everyone wants more pay and greater benefits. A pay rise is just like a negotiation. You have to provide something in return to receiving something. If you can prove to your employer that you are worthy of a pay increase your employee is more likely to give you one. One last thing. If you feel you deserve a pay rise and have evidence to support your argument, don’t be afraid to ask for it.


A lot of people sit quietly and say nothing to avoid “rocking the boat,” and they have the mindset that a pay rise will eventually happen on its own. Don’t let this happen to you. You deserve to get paid as much as you can.

© RedStarResume Publications – www.redstarresume.com

Laura is the Marketing Coordinator for RedStarResume, a business that provides resume and cover letter writing services for students, graduates and young professionals. http://www.redstarresume.com

Just for fun

Your Cover Letter is just as important as Your Resume!

Unless you are being recruited by a family member, friend, or close acquaintance, every single hiring manager will want to look at your resume before they call you in for an interview.

I cannot stress enough how important it is to have a cover letter accompany your resume EVERY SINGLE TIME you send it in and to make sure that it’s tailored specifically to the job you’re applying for.

Think about it from a hiring manager’s point of view. They can receive hundreds of applications for a single job position that they need to fill in just a short amount of time. On top of their regular job duties, they need to sift through all of the applications and find the top 5% to call in for an interview. It’s just not possible for them to look at every single person’s application. So what do they do? They narrow down the field by using the easiest and fastest tool they have – first impressions.

Let’s relate this to a different topic – sports. You’re a coach and need to “recruit” the best players possible for your team…

You’re coaching a soccer team and need to pick 15 members for your squad out of a potential 100 and you only have 2 hours to do so. It’s impossible to take a good look at every single player’s skills in only 2 hours, so you need to quickly narrow your search before you can study the players further. In order to do so, and without knowing anything about the players, you’re going to rely on your first impressions to make the first cut.

Take a look at the players standing before you – are they all wearing proper soccer attire and equipment? Do they look excited and enthusiastic about being here? Think about it – if there’s someone dressed in a soccer uniform and cleats and another one wearing jeans, a t-shirt, and sandals, one of them definitely appears to be more interested in joining your team than the other. Building on that, and only considering first impressions, one looks a lot more capable than the other. While there may be a hundred explanations for this difference, it really doesn’t matter when you have a limited amount of time – the ones who don’t look interested are not going to make the first cut.

Consider the above situation and think about it from a hiring manager’s point of view. You have 50 applications before you and you need to call 5 people in for an interview. You have a limited amount of time to decide, so you need to eliminate some applications quickly. What can we see without even reading the details of each application? Some have cover letters along with the resume and some do not. The applications without cover letters are a little bit like the people showing up to soccer tryouts with jeans and no equipment. They make a terrible first impression – they don’t appear as interested as the other ones, so why should anyone bother with them?

Applications without cover letters are always the first ones discarded. The presence of a cover letter shows a genuine interest in a job position because you actually took the time to write it. The current economic climate is not exactly one that is overflowing with jobs; it’s not like companies are hiring for the sake of it. Make sure you show a hiring manager that you have taken the time to merely write a letter to show your interest in their job position. If you don’t bother showing an interest in them, the hiring manager will have no interest in you.

© RedStarResume Publications – www.redstarresume.com

The Job search market can be a tricky place to navigate. Whether you are just starting out, moving up the ladder or changing your current situation, RedStarResume have all the resources to help improve your chances of success. http://www.redstarresume.com/

What are the hardest challenges facing graduates in 2010?

Top 5 challenges facing graduates in 2010:


Competition (too few jobs and too many graduates)
Here is the scenario… You have graduated college with a good looking degree; you feel on top of the world and ready to pick and choose your dream job. The reality however is that your one of a many in the same boat. While you feel as though you would be best suited for a particular role there can be hundreds of other people who feel the same way as you. I often tell the story about my days as a recruitment consultant where I used to recruit for graduate positions. I would post a graduate position on the job boards and by lunch time I would have 200 applicants in my inbox. So what can you do to differentiate yourself from the rest of the crowd? You need to ensure that your resume is in the top 5-10% of all resumes. A single mistake in your resume can be the difference between your resume ending up in the interview stack or in the deleted folder

Downturn in the economy:

We are all sick and tired of hearing about the global financial situation, sluggish economic growth and rising unemployment. Unfortunately this is the situation which new graduates find themselves facing when looking for a job in 2010. My best advice is to network, stay patient and increase the effort into the job search. You are going to have setbacks and days when you feel like the whole world is against you. The real challenge will be ones of Continuing perseverance and confidence.

Lack of Real world experience:

My advice to all graduates (and those preparing to graduate) is to seek work experience. I personally hated this advice while I was at university but looking back now my work experience helped me plan out my career and gain vital experience in competitive industries. When the time came to put forward my resume, my previous work experience set me apart from many of my competitors.

Too high expectations:

Many graduates (myself included) complete university and expect to hand pick the job which they want. Furthermore in 2010, graduates have an expectation that they know what is best and should actually be the boss rather than working for the boss. So many times I have had graduates apply for job positions which are so unrealistic and then get despondent because they are not getting interview requests. It’s important for graduates to realize that they need to gain the experience before they can call themselves the boss.

Debate between further higher education and job seeking

Do you continue to study or start straight away with the job seeking? Many graduates don’t have a choice in this matter but for those who do continuing to study can lead to greater results long term (financial and job position) and also further help distinguish yourself apart form other graduates. On the other hand is it better to start working and get your foot in the door? There’s no better education then real life experience of learning on the job.

© RedStarResume Publications – www.redstarresume.com

RedStarResume: #1 resume writing service for college students & graduates
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Find the right job

Secret Cover Letter Tips

It’s no secret that the job application process has changed significantly in the past 10 years. Applicants used to send hard copies of their resumes and cover letters to hiring managers via email or fax, but most jobs today are posted online and applications are sent to hiring managers via email.

Applications still consist of cover letters, but the format of cover letters has changed a little bit in the online revolution. Cover letters used to be written in a standard letter format, and while this standard format is still widely accepted today and is by no means wrong, a lot of people are adapting their cover letters to complement the use of email in the application process.

One thing I always encourage people to do is to place their cover letter in the body of their email in addition to attaching a copy. I suggest this for 2 reasons. One, it speeds up the process for the recruiter (as they will only have to open up one attachment instead of two) and two, it helps eliminate the possibility (in the recruiter’s mind) that your email could be spam. Think about it – if you received an email with attachments, you would be more likely to open the attachments if there were some personalized text in the body. There will also be times where the recipient is unable to open your resume attachment, and they are much more likely to respond and request another copy if there is some text in the body of your email.

I do also suggest that you ALSO include a copy of your cover letter as an attachment just in case the recruiter would like to print it and show it to people.

In the grand scheme of things, these suggestions seem pretty minute, but with the competition as high as it is right now, why not pull out all the stops?
Good luck!

© RedStarResume Publications – www.redstarresume.com

Are you currently looking for a new job and need some tips or advice? Contact us directly with your questions: enquiries@redstarresume.com

Tips for the Telephone Interview

Phone interviews are becoming increasingly popular as a means of narrowing down candidates for a more traditional face to face interview. In the ultra competitive society we now live, a job advertisement can attract hundreds of resumes from candidates with similar set of skills and backgrounds. The recruitment process is all about finding the one perfect candidate among the basket full of candidates. The phone interview has become a popular, flexible, inexpensive and speedy way of finding that one person.

Preparing for a PHONE INTERVIEW

Before you begin your phone interview make sure that you are confident in your understanding of the position you are applying for and the company you are applying with. Do extra homework on the company’s history and research recent company news. Preparation is the key and will make a great impression on your interviewers.

Prepare your Interview location. Make sure you’re in a comfortable place with no distractions. Keep your resume in clear view, have a pen and pad to take notes and a glass of water sitting close by. Minimise any outside distractions that could potentially take your mind off the interview (HOT TIP: Disable call waiting on your phone). Dress the part so you feel and sound professional. The more professional you feel the more professional you will come across on the telephone.

Most importantly – Practice Interviewing. Rehearse and Practice. There are many ways to help you prepare for the telephone interview. Have a friend/ family member conduct an interview. Ideally, rehearse with someone from the same industry. The best way to hear how you sound is to tape yourself. Remember the more preparation you put into the interview the better prepared you will be.

Preparation is the key! Write down answers to questions you believe are going to be asked. Have questions ready to go so when the interviewer says “Do you have any questions to ask us” you’re ready and prepared.

What to do during the phone interview:

Remember to Smile. Experts say that smiling puts you in a better state of mind and will project a positive image to the listener

Speak in a steady voice. Don’t rush what you’re trying to say. Ensure that you sound enthusiastic and passionate.

Don’t forget to breathe. It will help you stay calm and sound more relaxed.

LISTEN – Answer the questions which are being asked. Do not make the mistake of telling the interviewer what you want to tell them. Give them the answers to their questions.

Keep a glass of water handy – Nothing is worse than having a dry mouth
Address the interviewer in the appropriate way. Do not shorten people’s name. They are your potential employer not your “mate”

Take your time – Don’t rush the interview. This is your time to shine. If your feeling nervous take a moment or two to collect your thoughts

“Cheat Notes” Prepare beforehand with notes to help drive you through the interview. If the interview is going to be technical than have notes ready to prompt yourself if needed
Don’t forget to ask questions. (For tips on the best interview questions to ask go to the “Tips from the Pros” page of http://www.redstarresume.com/)

What NOT to do during the interview:

Don’t eat, drink, chew gum

DO NOT SMOKE

Don’t interrupt the interviewer.

Don’t answer with just a “yes” and “no”- elaborate your answers, provide examples if applicable

Don’t be too Casual/informal

Long winded answers to questions

Conclusion:

The only way to master a phone interview is to practice, be professional, and show your passion for the job role. Remember you have made the phone interview stage so don’t blow your interview by not being ready.

Good luck!

© RedStarResume Publications – http://www.redstarresume.com/
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Are you Graduating soon?

Don’t despair! Just because there is doom and gloom in the world does not mean businesses are not hiring. It does however mean that competition for the job you are searching for is even more competitive than ever. So how do you get a step ahead of your competition?

Just like Nike and Adidas are two of the most recognisable brands in the world, as a graduate you need to think of yourself as a brand that you are selling to potential employers. Consider what makes you exclusive — why should an employer give you the job? If you don’t think your special enough to work for a particular organisation than why are they going to choose you out of all the people applying for the same job? Remember that your resume is one of a potential 100 / 200 if not 500 resumes sitting on the employer’s desk. The hiring manager or recruitment agent have limited time in reading your resume so in order to stand out among hundreds of other applicants you have to market yourself effectively.

First impressions count so make sure the right one is made about you.

The most important rule for a graduate is the message you convey to a potential employer. Everything you say and do should reinforce the idea that you are indeed the perfect candidate for the position. You have the required skills to fulfil the role and the organisation which you are applying for is 100% the place where you want to work.

If the role demands attention to detail, demonstrate these qualities through your punctuality and error-fee resume, and illustrate them with experiences about previous positions. Don’t waste time on information that doesn’t reflect your suitability for this particular position.
In the technological age we live in and the world changing each and every day, employers are likely to seek and be impressed with graduates who demonstrate flexibility and adaptability, showing that they will be able to cope with these future changes.

One last thing – Stay positive
No one says it’s easy to get a job. These days many industries are increasingly competitive, and the job-hunting period can be difficult and long. It may take a considerable length of time and multiple rejections before you find your first job. Getting a foot in the door is often the hardest part of the whole job process.

© RedStarResume Publications – www.redstarresume.com