Career Changes - Re-Learning Job Hunting Skills After Layoffs

Careers today are not what they used to be. Even just a short decade ago, high school students were encouraged to attend college and then go out in search of the best and brightest careers that suited their interests. Today, even college graduates are having trouble finding work, which is a sure sign of troubled times. For those already in the career world, job security is nearly unheard of, and many people face the risk of losing jobs that they have held for years. Some, in fact, are being laid off from positions that they have held their entire lives. What are people to do in a situation like this?

It's not going to be easy, and it certainly won't be fun, but it is necessary for people who have been laid off or lost jobs to turn their attitude into one of focus and drive. Layoffs are not uncommon today, and many people spend their working days with the looming shadow of unemployment hanging over their head. It can happen to anyone, as the business world has clearly demonstrated. The best thing that you can do is to be prepared. Be prepared for that ill-fated notice or meeting. Be prepared for starting over. Most importantly, be prepared for job hunting in today's economy, which could entail re-learning how to find and apply for the jobs that you are qualified to perform.

It isn't hard to re-learn the job hunting skills that you need to find a successful job after you have been laid off. In spite of all of the disparity in the career world, there has never been more assistance out there for job seekers than there is today. Because jobs are so scarce and so many people who have never been out of work now find themselves in that position, the public assistance of many state and local governments are reaching out to help. Sponsoring training courses, career resource seminars, and even job hunting classes, these public departments are doing everything that they can to prepare people for the new working world.

Any yet, the jobs are still few and far between. If someone is laid off from a longtime position, it can be extremely disheartening for them. They have to face financial uncertainty, a loss of identity in most cases, and the new struggle of finding a new job in an economy where there aren't many available. The most important thing for these people to understand is how to effectively hunt for jobs in today's economy. Despite the obvious lack of options, there are rules and guidelines for job hunting today that have changed greatly over the years. Knowing these skills is the best way to snag one of the very few jobs that is available.

Tony Jacowski is a quality analyst for The MBA Journal. Aveta Solutions - Six Sigma Online http://www.sixsigmaonline.org offers online six sigma training and certification classes for lean six sigma, black belts, green belts, and yellow belts.

Energize a Stagnant Job Search - 7 Career Tips for Job Hunting

For those job seeking professionals that have been searching for a job for months or more, the whole job search process may seem a bit stale. Countless hours are often spent on job search websites and job search engines such as CareerBuilder.com, Dice.com, and Monster.com often resulting in minimal feedback. It is frustrating to go months without finding a job. Inevitability you begin to question career choices, your professional skills, experience, qualifications, or even your education. But you're not alone. In times of high unemployment, a slow moving job market can create the appearance of a job search that becomes stagnated.

In this seven part series we will provide job search strategies and tips to revive your job hunt and reenergize your career confidence.

1) Part Time Job, a Temporary Job, or Volunteering

Seek out short term, part-time, or temporary work in your career field is a good way to get your foot in the door. Even if there does not seem to be any full time jobs opening any time soon, part time work and temp work is a way your employer can get to know you and your work ethic. If a job happens to open up or a new position is created, then you are at a higher advantage then others applicants who may be applying for that same job. You'll have much more than a resume to show the company.

2) Work on your Personal Brand

If someone were to search for your name online, what, if anything would they see? In all likelihood, hiring you is a big investment to any company or organization. Especially in challenging economic times and an employer driven job market, companies are being more selective about their job applicants.

Take a few minuets and search for yourself online to determine what your digital footprint is. Do you share a name with someone that could create a career opportunity or a problem with your online image?

Use your personal brand to let the employer know your strengths, why they should hire you, and that you are a worthy candidate to investment in. If you remember, the personal brand is your life and professional skills as they appear online. You want your personal brand to be accurate and truthful, but you also want to it to make you look great to an employer. Your brand should reflect your overall qualifications, education, and indicate your career goals.

See what shows up in a Google search and a Yahoo search. Having a LinkedIn profile and profiles on other professional social networking sites can help to create a positive digital footprint. Your profile should be professional and consistent. Keep your information consistent with similar career goals and career objectives in each profile. Avoid blending social media and your online professional image. It is important to keep your private life PRIVATE. That is a mistake many people make with personal branding which may cost them being selected for that next job or opportunity.

3) Changing Careers or Branching Out to New Industries

Diversify you job search and branch out into new job markets you may not have considered in your previous job hunting strategies. Pick a career field, any career field and determine if your skills and qualifications would translate into new job opportunities.

That is not to say that you should just apply for the first job opening that presents itself. As a matter of fact, the opposite is true. Choose a career field that may benefit from your professional knowledge. Your best option is to look at a small geographic area and determine what employers are within this region. Examine what the area employer's job positions and the job descriptions they are seeking and compare the qualifications to your resume. A midlife career change into a new industry can appear challenging but rewriting a career change resume and cover letter can quickly expand your employment options.

Examine your strengths. If you are not good with people, do not apply to personnel jobs. If you do not have an aptitude for math, do not apply for engineering or accounting jobs. Choose an industry or career field you know you can succeed in and focus your job search in that field. Perhaps you haven't found a job yet because you are stretched across too many possible career paths. You may have missed an opportunity while you were wasting your time and applying to jobs that do not suit you. As a job search seems to drag on, it may seem tempting to try to apply for everything, but stay focused on your qualifications and job skills.

Be realistic about the types of jobs you are applying for. Most often when make a career transition into a new job market you will find yourself competing for more junior level positions then you would within your current career field. Changing careers may seem like a step backwards; yet showing potential future employers you are capable of taking on new challenges, have the foresight, and flexibility to expand your skill set across industries can become a strong asset.

4) Use Career Counseling and Career Advice Services

Get some help. If month after month has passed with no job offers or employment prospect you may need some help with your job hunt. You do not want to be put in a position where your financial obligations overtake you focusing on your job search.

Recent college graduates and college alumni can use their college's career services department. Beyond employment listings and postings, many college career service departments offer interview preparation assistance, resume writing and career advice, and can assist you in choosing a career path. These services are often helpful when you are considering changing careers or at a career transition. Also, many companies seek out students from specific universities, colleges, and specific degree program or departments. A career advisor in the schools career services can connect you with these companies.

Beyond the college or university career services centers, look into what career placement services your local city or county provides. Contact your local chamber of commerce to begin your search for these types of local services. Many of these services are either free of charge or at a minimal fee to local residents.

Depending on your specific situation, consider hiring a professional career advisor or career counselor. A professional career counselor's job is to help you figure out exactly what you want to do and advise you on how to maximize your resources and qualifications.

Before electing to get a career counselor, do some research on what services the career counseling service provides and what their recent candidate placement success rates are. This way, you will know what to expect as an end result. Will they help you find a career path, provide resume writing advice and interview preparation, placement services, and help you along the way? Do not be afraid to ask for help when the job search seems to be dragging on. Having a career advisor or an independent career service can help you revitalize your job hunt.

5) Is Your Resume Writing Reflective of your Career Objective

Refresh your resume and your professional image. If your job search appears stalled, take this time to review your resume and your overall professional image. This includes your cover letter, professional social media sites such as Linked-In, and your professional references.

If employers have already seen your resume and you have not received any responses back, then this might be your cue to give your resume a second look. Check your resume for spelling mistakes, typos, and poor grammar. Those are a definite turn-off to any potential employer.

Do you think your online resume would pass the 20 second test? Remember that 20 seconds is generally the amount of time an employer will spend looking over your resume. In that time frame, an employer will decide whether or not he or she will call you in for a job interview. If it has been a while since you have been called for any interviews, then this may indicate that your resume does not pass the 20 second test. Some resume writing changes may be necessary. Also, be sure that your resume is aesthetically pleasing and your resume qualifications, education, and experience properly flows together.

6) Using only Top Job Search Engines can Limit Your Career Options

Not all job search websites are created equal. Searching that next job opportunity using online job search engines can distribute your resume to many companies and employment centers. Although, not all job search websites are weighted the same for your professional career field or industry.

Major job websites like Moster.com and CareerBuilder.com are great choices to broadcast your resume skills and qualifications. However, your chances in getting noticed on these online job search sites are low. Thousands of career professionals and job seekers are posting and updating their resumes daily, and in a highly competitive job market, being too general with your career objectives may not result in you landing that job.

Take some time to research what are the best job search sites, specific to your industry or career objectives. If your career field is within the medical industry, look for those web sites that focus specifically on medical jobs or nursing jobs. Expand your career and look for part time job search opportunities to get into a company or organization.

Be focused and specific in your job search and make sure you are looking everywhere. Limiting yourself to just a few major job sites can be disastrous. Many of the jobs you are seeking may not be listed on the common and the most popular job search engines. So, try looking at lesser known job sites, and on industry specific ones. Check your local newspaper daily, especially on Sunday editions. Sometimes a job listing may be printed on only one day in the newspaper.

Keep checking your professional social networking sites and keep your eyes open for mentioning of possible job openings. You might be missing out on great opportunities by limiting your search to one place. If you are unemployed, be sure to tell everyone that you are looking. People talk and word will get around. Your friend's cousin's girlfriend may be in the Human Resources department in a company where they are hiring. You could be surprised where you find your next job. Whatever you do, do not stop looking until you find what you are looking for.

7) Revisit your Long Term Career Choices

What long term career planning steps have you considered throughout your professional career. Often times we can become comfortable and somewhat complacent within our chosen occupation after we have met certain education and experience requirements. However, over time we can loose our job security if our skills are not continually up to date or with economic shifts, technology innovations, or company restructuring.

If you find yourself in a position where there does not appear to be any jobs in your career field, they you may consider changing industries. Change can be good, but when you mention changing careers, often people confuse this with more schooling or education, significant changes in their schedule, or starting back at the beginning. While any change may require some retraining or new on the job knowledge, changing careers maybe easier then one would think.

Examine what parallel industries or other careers use your same talents. Seek out career counseling and take several career tests to help you determine what industries you maybe unaware of that use your qualifications. A career counselor can help you with this decision and provide you some inside knowledge on specific career fields. If you do not have a career counselor, then you may want think about who in your local area hire professionals with your skills and list all the things you loved about your old job. Then look for jobs that have those same qualities. You can also look at things you disliked about your old job, and look for jobs that do not have those qualities. Take a reputable personally or career test and consider jobs that work for your personality type.

The worst thing you can do is nothing, especially if you see major changes coming in your career field where your future employment could be effected. A proactive approach can open new doors and provide you with new career opportunities.

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Job Hunting After 50: Don't Let Age-Bias Hold You Back!

Is there age discrimination in the job market today? Ask anyone job hunting after age 50 and they will likely say, "Yes." The problem in most situations is it's a very difficult thing to prove.

With the high level of competition for most jobs; after 50 job hunters seem to be facing an uphill battle for available positions.

Here are five ideas the after 50 job seeker can use to level the playing field:

1. Change your way of thinking. If you think old, act old and constantly talk about the past: guess what? You will be thought of as old and probably out of touch.

Change your way of thinking. You are not old, you're experienced. Get physically active. Learn new skills. Study and acquire new qualifications. Think and discuss the future. Stay positive and project the right attitude. Do these things and the age issue will fade away.

2. Get aggressive in selling the benefits you offer a prospective employer. Use your cunning and experience to market yourself against younger candidates. You have a record of accomplishments that match up well with the employer's needs. Take advantage of this fact.

In a job interview take the issue of age head on. Weave into your interview answers that you are physically active, have learned a variety of new skills in the past two years and have effectively worked for a variety of younger supervisors. Don't leave these unspoken questions unanswered as they may be negatively used against you at decision time.

3. Focus on one job at a time. Even though you may be skilled and could qualify for a number of varied jobs your job hunting focus should be to go after only one job at a time. This means to focus like a laser on the employer's needs. Write your resume and cover letter to emphasize accomplishments that fit the employer's template for the open position. Remove anything from your resume that may detract from your attention on this one job.

Your goal as a mid-career job hunter is to meet and exceed the job's requirements. If in your experience you performed a function only about 5% of the time and it's the number one need for the employer amplify your skills in this key area.

For the next job this function may not even be listed so your resume writing plan is to always match the employer's needs. It's a bit more work but it will pay off.

4. Clean up your resume. Take out experience over 15 years old. Remove dates of college graduation. Strongly emphasize your strengths and accomplishments. Make sure as mentioned previously that your skills and accomplishments match as closely as possible what the employer is looking for.

When finished ask yourself, "Would I hire this person for this position?" If your answer is a strong, "Yes," you've got a powerful resume. If the answer is, "No," you've got some more work to do.

5. Selling the benefits of a product is a successful marketing approach. So in marketing "You," the benefits and value you bring to the job will be your most telling argument.

No employer is looking for twenty-five years experience but is much more interested in what results you'll achieve if offered the job. Your accomplishments demonstrate a history of providing a financial benefit to your previous employers and it's up to you to show how you can be just as productive in your new position.

As a job hunter after age 50, you must highlight your strengths and the age issue will fade into the background.

John Groth has changed careers seven times during his working life. Learn more about changing careers, job hunting after 50 and career planning at http://careersafter50.com. Discover how others over age 50, built winning career plans and found the right careers by effective job hunting after 50.

Career Change - Change Careers or Change Employers?

There are several reasons people find themselves evaluating their careers. Perhaps you lose interest or you find something that interests you more. Perhaps your company is downsizing. The first step to take is to make sure what you really want to do is change careers. Following are 10 considerations to ensure a path toward career change success.

(1) Assess your likes and dislikes - A lot of people change careers because they dislike their job, their boss or their company. Identifying the dislikes and examine your likes. What do you really like doing when you are at work, when you are at home - in your spare time? What are you passionate about? If you are not sure, consider taking a career assessment test.

(2) Research new careers - Spend some time researching the types of careers that involve your passions.

(3) Transfer skills - Leverage your current skills and experiences to your new career. There are many skills (i.e. communications, leadership, planning, etc.) that are transferable and applicable to what you want to do in your new career.

(4) Training and education - You may find it necessary to update your skills and broaden your knowledge. If the skill you need to learn is one you could use in your current job, see if your current employer would be willing to pick up the tab.

(5) Network - One of the keys to successfully changing careers will be your ability to network. People in your network may be able to give you job leads, offer you advice and information about a particular company or industry and introduce you to others to expand your network. Even if you don't think you already have a network, you probably do - consider colleagues, friends and family members.

(6) Gain experience - Keep in mind that you are essentially starting your career again from square one. Obtaining a part-time job or volunteering in your new career field not only can solidify your decision but give you much needed experience in your new career. Also, consider temping in your new field to gain experience.

(7) Find a mentor - Your mentor may be able to help you by taking advantage of his or her network.

(8) Change in or change out - Some people change careers, but never change employers. Remember not to start asking about a job switch until you are completely ready to do so.

(9) Job hunt - Prepare your resume, cover letter and references. Contact those in your network. Seek recruiters and search for job openings in newspapers and online.

(10) Be flexible - A new career may involve anything from accepting a lower salary at first to relocating to making a lateral move as a springboard for a bigger career change. Also, consider starting your own business or consulting as other avenues.

Use these tips and do some research to determine if you are truly interested in a career change, or simply interested in changing employers.

Hilary Basile is a writer for MyGuidesUSA.com http://www.myguidesusa.com, you will find valuable tips and resources for handling life's major events. Whether you're planning a wedding, buying your first home, anxiously awaiting the birth of a child, contending with a divorce, searching for a new job, or planning for your retirement, you'll find answers to your questions at MyGuidesUSA.com.

Find employment tips and resources, such as resume and cover letter development, interviewing skills, and information for those considering a career change at http://jobs.myguidesusa.com

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Long-Distance Job Hunt - Not Bagging the Big Game? Try These 10 Networking Techniques

"Andrew" has been job hunting for about a month and is feeling very frustrated. He has applied for about 100 jobs in his target city in another state. He is doing a lot of things right. He researches companies and then contacts those he likes, talking about how he might fit into their plans. He holds an excellent interview and has boatloads of confidence.

Andrew is qualified. There is no question about that. He has recommendations from people who would hire him back in a heartbeat. It is just that his wife has a new job out of state, and he wants to live there, too. He is an absolutely wonderful find for anyone in his industry.

The problem is he is being turned down for positions he qualifies for, and even for some he over-qualifies for.

A long-distance job search is a horse of a different shade. Almost everything that is difficult about a local job search is even more difficult when conducted long distance. Here are 10 steps to ratchet up the response from the hiring managers:

1. Give first: The heart of networking is its mutuality. When you contact people, ask what you can do to help them. Be ready to give and give first. Yes, you are looking for a job, but you are also and foremost looking to fill a need. This attitude alone can put you at the top of an employer's list.

2. Work more through your contacts: When you ask someone to recommend you, don't stop with a good word or a letter of endorsement. Ask them to put you in contact with someone they actually know at the company. Or someone who knows someone. Don't forget to play the six degrees game. LinkedIn has a very professional introduction request that's effective.

3. Be persistent: If one thing with a hiring manager doesn't work out, ask them about other opportunities in their department, other departments, and other companies.

4. Recheck your list: Who have you thought of contacting that you haven't contacted yet? We often forget to make a contact or leave one out because it's a little uncomfortable. Use your imagination to find another more comfortable way to make the contact.

5. Maintain contacts you have: It's best if you've maintained communications with everyone you've ever met throughout the years, but few of us are that good. So, forgive yourself for not being an ubernetworker and start contacting people. LinkedIn and Facebook are perfect for this.

6. Do it again: Recontact the people you've called already and see if anything has turned up since you talked with them. Remind them of your target, especially if something has changed.

7. Develop more contacts. This is especially difficult with a long-distance job search, but there are ways around it. Go through your address book. I have relatives or friends in nearly every state. You probably do, too. In most cases, people will welcome the opportunity to help you. The hard part is asking.

8. Work your online social networks: Do more with contacting people through Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. There are usually groups you can find on Facebook, for example, that allow you to learn more about people there and perhaps find a friend or friend of a friend who can put you in direct contact with the right person. If you don't know much about these networks, read Jason Alba's book, "I'm on LinkedIn, Now What?" (He also has a nifty job search organizer at jibberjobber.com.)

9. Take off! Plan a trip to your target city to follow up with people face to face.

10. Get a pep talk: Find at least one person who encourages you, whether it is your career coach, your spouse, your best friend, or a job club. Talk with them often to keep up your spirits and remind you of the benefits you will derive when you reach your goal.

When you're done with step 10, start over at step 1. This is the most sure-fire way to land a job in this economy or any other. Talk with your people, and make more people your people.

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How to Know If You're Ready For a Career Change in 10 Steps

Just because you are bored at work is not reason enough to throw in the towel and quit. Making the decision to change careers is a huge one that should not be taken lightly. There are many things to consider and pathways to take which we have outlined for you below in an easy 10-step process.

* Step 1: Assessment of likes/dislikes- Finding things you don't like in your job are easy if you're thinking about quitting. But also think of the things you like so you can identify them easier at an interview. Rediscover yourself and you might discover a direction for your career change.

* Step 2: Researching new careers- Once you've discovered your passions, research which jobs fit them. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook can help find a job that matches what you enjoy. Our section about on-ramping might give you some good pointers as well.

* Step 3: Transferable skills- A lot of jobs help give you skills needed in multiple career atmospheres. Figure out which skills you have that will apply to your new job.

* Step 4: Training and education- Go slowly! If you are trying to get a new degree, take only a few classes at a time to make sure you enjoy it. If you are training for something that could be used in your current job, see if they don't mind paying for it. If you are worried about paying for classes, check out StudentFinanceDomain.com.

* Step 5: Networking- Colleagues, friends and family members all are part of your network. They can help you find job leads, offer you advice and information about a particular company or industry, and introduce you to others so that you can expand your network.

* Step 6: Gaining experience- Two words: Part-time and volunteering. Remember, you're starting completely over. No job is too small and every job is valuable.

* Step 7: Finding a mentor- Pretty self-explanatory. Keep in mind that your mentor can help expand your network in your search for a career change.

* Step 8: Changing in or out- Don't overlook your current employer. Although you might not be happy with the position you have now, somewhere else in the same company might suit you better. Remember; don't bring up a change until you are 100 percent sure that it is what you want.

* Step 9: Job-hunting basics- Do not let your ego get in the way. Chances are it has been a long time since you've been on a job hunt. Research interview tactics, resume builders, cover letter resources and salary negotiation resources.

* Step 10: Be flexible- A lot of things will come at you sideways. Look at things positively and think about moving laterally to make a bigger career move later.

Melissa Rubin is a senior copywriter and Web developer at OTO Networks, a digital marketing company located in Baltimore, Maryland. Her primary responsibilities include SEO, link building and creating content for multiple sites. A preview of a site on which she has worked, http://www.ModernWorkforce.com, is available with this article.