Jobs Search

Stimulus Job Hunt Success Stories
By Margot Carmichael Lester, Monster Contributing Writer


Wondering who’s getting those jobs created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)? We talked to some workers with economic stimulus success stories and tapped them for tips to help you in your job search.
Read the rest of this entry »

Grieving Time

Before you bounce into job-search mode, take some time to grieve. There’s no denying your loss. And while you may be thinking your employer will call you back on Monday, it’s highly unlikely. So go ahead and mourn, and then prepare yourself for the new life ahead of you.

No More Excuses

It can be easy to use work as an excuse for not being in great shape. After all, who has the time or energy for the gym after working a Read the rest of this entry »

Not to steal from Dave Letterman, but the “top 10” has become part of the American zeitgeist, so I apply this easy approach to all my action lists — including my post-layoff job search — and keep track using my 10 fingers.

1. Don’t Ignore an Opportunity: The day I was let go, I walked out with a job lead and name at 4:30 p.m. by simply chatting with a coworker about my layoff, who said, “I know XYZ company is hiring and I know someone there.” I asked, “May I have that name please?” By not being overwhelmed with job-loss news, you can realize the potential of a next step.

2. Get Your Resume Ready and Out There: I updated my resume the night I was let go, as a good working draft to be polished with CareerPerfect, Monster’s Resume Writing Service, so I could post the final version on Monster as soon as possible. I live by the Girl Scout motto: Be prepared.

3. Network into Action: I updated my LinkedIn network that night, too. I simply plugged in a quick Twitter-like update in the “what are you working on now?” section, so it wasn’t front and center on my profile page but more an aside. It was a positive “seeking new opportunities” sound bite. And using that section also posted the short message out to my network — you never know who knows whom. Having a strong network is critical for successful networking.

4. Proactively Plan Ahead: I wrote up a daily logbook of job activities and tasks to do, planning out into the future months. It is vital to me to establish a solid routine in writing early on in my job search so I honor the commitments made to myself for my action plan. I include networking events, contact calls, career counseling and next steps, and avoid the slippery slope to stay home under the covers or wearing bunny slippers.

5. Volunteer Your Expertise: I found one conference right in my backyard being orchestrated by a fellow sports friend. This volunteer work allows me to use my marketing skills to promote the event, liaison with key speakers and interact with the C-level participants in a dynamic business setting. Showcasing my marketing expertise as a current action yields an interesting topic of discussion in an interview when asked, “So what are you doing now?” Find an event (trade show, conference, sporting or charity event) that can use your expertise while allowing you to rub elbows with EMPLOYED folks who can see your capabilities in action. You’ll be networking while showcasing your expertise and even having fun (novel idea)!

6. Establish a Healthy Regimen: I consciously decided that from now on, I will either go jogging or to the gym every morning at 8 a.m. A healthy body lends to a healthy mind. In short, feeling physically good enables me to focus on an effective job search.

7. Find a Professional Home for the “Work of Finding Work”: I also committed to myself to either be at the outplacement office or library as my work office from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (my au pair is legally paid largely upfront until August, so it is only a small weekly maintenance fee right now). Plus, my young sons like the routine of my coming home from work and smothering me in hugs and kisses — they keep me in perspective!

8. Keep a Routine in the Home Life: I spend time with my young sons, Owen and Evan, from 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. every night (an hour more than what they are used to) and then do a half hour of house cleanup. Having a routine on the home front is reassuringly normal, not only to my little ones, but also for myself. Small children internalize stress if their routines are not kept to their normal framework. Job searching is stressful enough without the younger set in the family being impacted.

9. Apply Extra Effort: From 9 p.m. to midnight, I do more job search work, so that’s 10 hours of job search work a day. I committed the extra time to maximize my effectiveness. While they are tough hours, it is tougher the longer you are unemployed.

10. Create Your Own Support Group from Those Who Know You Best: Given many months of previous layoffs at my firm and the ensuing national press, I was bound to receive panicky emails from friends asking me if I was alright. To sidestep that, I proactively texted a brief note on my cell that said, “yes, I was let go and yes, I am doing well and have action plans in place.” One text to 30 friends resulted in a sort of controlled, private Twitter network and supportive group feedback.

You’ve been unemployed for six months. You think you’re too old, fat or stupid to find a job. Keep thinking that way, and you’ll prove yourself right. Negative thinking and speaking can derail your job search. Most employers want to hire happy people — not people who are down on themselves and the world.

Picture two job applicants. Each walks into an office for an interview and is greeted by a receptionist who says, “Good morning.” The first says, “I thought I’d never find this place. It’s raining so hard that I got drenched just walking from the car to here.” The second says, “Those directions you gave me were great. It sure is raining, but we really need it, don’t we?” Which of the two would you want to hire? Read the rest of this entry »

If you’re looking for the cities most likely to have new jobs funded by the federal stimulus plan, seek out those with research universities, alternative energy research and production facilities, and state capitals. That’s where the biggest job gains from the federal stimulus are likely to be found, experts say.

“In the short run, the vast majority of stimulus money is going to government, construction projects, education and health, so those places that have universities, medical research organizations and state capitals would be in better shape to take advantage of the stimulus,” says Joel Kotkin, director of the Urban Futures Program at Chapman University and executive editor at NewGeography.com, which publishes an annual list of the best cities for jobs. Read the rest of this entry »

“It’s constant pressure from every direction. I have to carve out time for each of the buckets,” says Jay Burke, a senior product manager at a high tech firm, part-time MBA student and father of a 2-year-old girl. Work, family, school and a household keep Burke in constant motion and, at times, painfully busy.

Burke and millions of other men could comfortably meet the multifarious demands of careers, children and wives — if only our planet took 36 hours to rotate about its axis. But in terrestrial reality, working fathers feel they often fall short on the multiple to-do lists they live by. Read the rest of this entry »

A growing number of blue-collar workers are using resumes to sell themselves, and it’s not hard to figure out why. A resume is a marketing piece, and all job seekers can use some help marketing themselves regardless of industry. Read the rest of this entry »

Why Should We Hire You?
This is another broad question that can take you down the wrong road unless you’ve done some thinking ahead of time. This question is purely about selling yourself. Think of yourself as the product. Why should the customer buy? Read the rest of this entry »

Those hazy, lazy days of summer can make a business suit feel as comfortable as a suit of armor. Fortunately, you can make a professional statement and still beat the heat with these tips.

How Casual Is Summer Business-Casual?

Even some of the most formal workplaces — such as those within the financial and legal industries — now institute a “casual Friday” policy all summer long. But what does “casual” mean in the workplace? Read the rest of this entry »

For many job seekers, the interview is the most difficult part of the job search process because of its impact on the hiring decision. For older men concerned about showcasing their experience without raising a red flag about their age, interviews can be more of a challenge.

An interview is similar to a sales meeting, only you’re forced into an unfamiliar marketing position where you’re both the salesperson and product. You usually have less than half an hour to convince the interviewer you’re the best candidate for the position. Read the rest of this entry »