Author: Marcella Van Oel, Content Manager

Optimizing the Jobless Interval in Your Life

Jobseekers sometimes worry they may be passed over for a job because they’ve been unemployed “too long”.  A six month job search is not uncommon yet that gap may create a negative image for some hiring managers.  To strengthen your resume and your position with the interviewer you will need a viable story that delivers your true value and promise of what you can do for the company.

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Relationship Building: 101

Let’s say that you’ve already identified at least one person, maybe a few people, who do the kind of work you’d like to do. In other words, you have a role model.  In order to make best use of this relationship, there are a few things to understand about choosing to associate with like-minded people and how these relationships can help.

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Turn Your Resume Straw Into Gold

I’ve just been handed a list of six terms that no one is interested in seeing on your resume.  When you see them on your resume here are some reminders of ways to revise them to your advantage.  Keep in mind: Get to the point quickly.

1)      Responsible for
Doesn’t every job come with responsibilities?  Instead speak to the outcome of your responsibility.from: Responsible for production costs….
to: Improved profit margins by reducing production costs 10% in three months.

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Are You A SMART Job Seeker?

If you want the qualities of a successful job seeker, consider:

1)      Strategy:  Most job seekers have none, or poor strategies for approaching job search.  There are hundreds of applicants per job via electronic listing and many looking for work still use this method as their main approach when only 15% of jobs are found online.
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Small Business Challenges, Your Opportunities

In order to bridge the gap between an employer’s needs and your own, try putting yourself in their shoes, and you’ll get a huge perspective shift. I recently sat in on a group discussion about the needs of a small advertising agency regarding client relationships and talent acquisition for the firm, and found the concerns surprisingly similar.
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In The Interest Of Not Wasting Time…

What do you do with your time between jobs? After you’ve run through all the domestic busy-making you can make with cleaning, decluttering and other garden variety household chores, sooner or later you’ll want to take a deep breath and face the inevitable with a closer look. Besides taking classes and volunteering, what are some of the creative ways to acquire new skills related to your expertise?
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