Your Job Resume Is Not Enough to Get a Job

A job resume is one of the key components to landing a position. You need a job resume that shows off your job skills as well as your work experience. What else can you possibly need to turn heads and to get the attention of a hiring manager? There is more to it. If you are failing in any of the following areas, it does not matter what is on your job resume. You will not get a job.

The Right Cover letter
A cover letter is not an option. Even though many people send job resumes off through email these days, that initial email that provides your resume as an attachment needs to communicate a great deal to the hiring manager. It needs to provide a captivating first sentence that gets an individual reading it to want to continue. In short, you should state specially what you are applying for and why you can help to solve the company's needs. It can be brief, but it must be a personalized cover letter. Do not try to send off a template cover letter and get results.

The 2 Minute Commercial
Once you get the job resume in the hands of the hiring manager, he or she will want to call you to speak to you about your qualifications, job skills, and work experience. That's when you know you are going in for a job interview. However, over the phone, you need to land a two-minute commercial about yourself. Prepare this in advance. Be sure to have just a few sentences that are clear and do not sound rehearsed to help you to make a good first impression on the hiring manager.

A Solid Interview
To have a good interview, you need to further communicate with the hiring manager. That is, you need to be able to discuss yourself openly. You need to be personable. You need to be friendly without being arrogant. Take a few minutes to consider what you do well on a job interview and what you need to work on. Polish your skills.

Do these things well and you may be able to get that job after all. To get a job, you need to have a stellar resume. That is not something you can do without. However, this is not enough. You need more than that including the ability to sway them into contacting you for a job interview and then nailing it once you get there.

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Think Long Term: Defining Your Ultimate Career Goals

You need a job. You are looking for a job. Yet, you may not have officially defined your career goals. Many people who lose a job find themselves struggling to get into any position. They are happy taking whatever they can find just to have a paycheck coming in. While that may be necessary and a good thing, you also have to think of your long term goals. Your career goals should be defined so that you can, ultimately, find a job in the field that can offer you a path to achieving your goals.

What Do You Want to Be?
It may be the same question you struggled with in high school and college. What do you want to be? You may not even know. However, taking the time to establish long term goals can help you on your career path, including helping you to find a job in the field that will eventually help you to achieve this career goal. Here are some questions to ask yourself to better put you in the frame of mind of finding an answer to this question.

• Do you want to work in the same career path you are on right now? If so, what is the highest career position you want to have in that field?

• In your ideal job, what are the types of duties you will do on a day to day basis? What activities do you find joy in that relate to your job search?

• What type of people do you want to be surrounded with when you find yourself in your career position?

• What type of company do you want to be working with? Perhaps you want to run your own company or work in a Fortune 500 organization.

• What type of job salary do you realistically want to have when you are in your career position?

• What areas do you want to learn and explore more in before you find yourself making a decision about your career path?

Often times, by asking ourselves questions like this, it is possible to reflect better on what the ultimate career goals are. For example, if you know you want to work in a specific type of company, you ultimately need to get your foot in the door and begin working your way up. If you want to apply for a job that will put you in the right career path, avoid those positions that may not give you any ability to move towards that future.

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Focus on Skills: Using Summer to Add to Your Resume

The summer months are the perfect time for individuals to add to a resume. During this time, employers are often adding to payrolls and expanding. This may be a good time to find a job. However, it is also is the best opportunity for you to add to your resume. By taking the time to improve your resume, you may be able to increase the potential of finding a job faster. The key is to know what employers are looking for, find ways to get that job skill or educational requirement, and then to do it now.

Going Back to School
One of the ways that you can add to your resume is to simply go back to school. Many area colleges have offerings during the summer months. What's nice about it is there are numerous flexible educational schedules at this time. For example, you may be able to take an even or an early morning course at a community college. On the other hand, weekends are available, too. Many community schools also offer online courses and distance learning programs. Because summer is the perfect time to get in that one or two programs you need, there is no reason not to dive back into school right now.

Getting More Skill
If you really want to improve your ability to find a job, amp up the job skills you have. You can do this in various ways, but the best way to do so may be to get a part time job. Again, if employers in your industry are hiring right now, get into a part time position. Be sure to check in with staffing companies as well. Many times they will have access to part time positions available in the field you need. This way, you can add more job skills to your resume. This may help you to be a more favorable candidate for the position you really want to obtain.

Applying for jobs is not easy to do. However, if you boost your job skills, it is possible that you will end up with a better resume. When you add to a resume, you increase the range you can offer to a prospective employer. In some cases, you may be able to offer more than the next guy, which means you have a better chance of finding a job that you really want to be in and beating the competition for it.

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5 Things You Need to Do to Get a Job Fast!

If you are reading this, you probably are wondering why it is so hard to get a job. You are probably so used to hearing employers tell you "Well thanks, we will call you" and then not calling, that it is frustrating and exhausting. In addition to that, many people around you are probably saying "There are no jobs" or "No one is hiring." Don't believe that, it is highly likely that those people are doing It wrong. Continue reading, and you will find out job hunting techniques that will guarantee you a job before you know it.

1. SEARCH FOR JOBS THAT HIRE FREQUENTLY:

No matter how bad the economy is, there are certain career fields that always need new people. Security is one of those fields. Many many times, no experience is necessary to become a security officer. In that case, the only requirements are that you are 18 years of age, and you have a valid security license (some security companies will assist with obtaining your license). Online job boards is one of the best ways to find these jobs. Also try the yellow pages under Security Guard & Patrol Services. Go down the list, call each one, and ask if they have any security positions available. By this time you are guaranteed to have an invite to submit an application.

2. KNOW THE RIGHT TIMES TO TAKE ACTION:

Don't waste your time going into the place where you want to work after 12:00 in the afternoon looking for a job. That's what everyone else does and that's why many people struggle to get jobs. Monday through Wednesday from 8am - 9:30am are the best times to walk in to a place of business and inquire about the job, or to follow up on an application. It is much more likely that the person who has the power to hire you will be there.

3. BEND THE TRUTH ON YOUR APPLICATION:

If you have been the job bouncing type (moving from job to job), never write all of your employment history down on the application. Most employers see that as a sign of someone who will not stay at their company long. Keep your application simple. Instead, only write down two employers (3 at the most) that you have worked for, and expand the time periods you have worked for them. For example: If you worked at McDonald's for 1 year, Burger King for 1 year, and Taco Bell for 1 year, don't report it all on your app. Instead, only write down McDonald's and say that you have worked there for 3 years. It looks much better if you have only worked for 2 employers in the past 10 years, than 5 employers. Additionally, it makes it easier for you to finish the application, and for the employer to review it. Yes, I know this is lying but lets face it, you have to do whatever it takes to get the job. Most employers do NOT call and verify references or employment history. Do not believe what everyone else tells you. Telling the complete truth is the reason many people are unemployed today.

4. DO NOT WAIT FOR THEM TO CALL YOU, FOLLOW UP:

This is another reason many people struggle to get employed. They submit an application, and then proceed to just sit around waiting for a call that never comes. Sometimes employers forget to call, or they hire someone else because they called first. Always call or walk into the place of business after you submit your application, and ask to follow up on it (even if the end of the application tells you that you will be contacted if you qualify for the position). Make sure while doing this, you remember rule number 2: Know the right times to take action. Always keep in mind however that this does not work every single time. Some employers may tell you to wait for a call, others may schedule you for an orientation right then and there. You will never know unless you follow up.

5. ALWAYS DRESS UP:

One way to stand out from everyone who is too lazy to dress up, is to dress up. A suit and tie will more than likely make employers feel like you deserve the job over someone who is wearing casual clothes. Even if you are just walking in to submit an application, wear your suit and tie. You never know who will be watching, and many times you can get surprised by the hiring manager asking you when you can start.

There you have it. Using these tips should guarantee you a job. You will no longer have to suffer from the "There are no jobs" or the "No one will hire me" syndrome. If you haven't tried these tips yet, put them in to play and watch it work for you. Remember, you are the one who needs a job, not the employers. Good hunting.

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5 Ways to Pay for Trucking School

So you're looking to get into the trucking business, but what school should you go to and how should you pay for it? Paying for trucking school can be a big expense and depending on what school you go to could make a difference on who hires you (we will examine that in another article).

The tuition cost for trucking school can be a heavy burden. Assuming you don't have the money to pay out of pocket, there are several ways to cut down on the cost and still start a new career in the trucking industry. I'll explain five of those ways for you right here.

1. Use a Credit Card with 0% interest. I use to be in the banking business before I started recruiting truck drivers. Our bank decided to pursue trucking schools in an effort to boost our credit card clients. What we found was that the average trucking school was charging 21% for student financing, but our card was 0% for the first 12 months and between 7-13% after. This is a huge savings in the end. Many times new students couldn't get approved on their own, but with the help of a supportive relative were able to. First, try on your own and if you're not approved explain to your family member that you're looking to better yourself with a new career and need a little assistance.

2. Use trucking school finance. Yes, the rates are much higher, but you have a very high chance of getting approved.

3. Go to work for a company that provides your schooling upfront. Typically you will not make as much as you would going in with a CDL, however you will have little upfront expense and in a month or two you'll be making just as much as everyone else. Classausa.com has several companies that will finance your education upfront. Just keep in mind, most companies that pay your education upfront will require that you stay with them for a period (typically 6-9 months).

4. Borrow the money from family on contract. These days there are several low cost legal services online. For a small fee you can draw up a legally binding contract that may give your family member or friend more confidence when loaning money to you.

5. Apply for private or government funding that is offered to provide grant money for skills training. Some of these programs include the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), vocational rehabilitation (VocRehab), Trade Adjustment Assistance (TRAY/TAA), and the welfare-to-work (WtW) programs. Military veterans have the additional option of applying for funding through the Veterans Administration (VA).

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Why You Need to Review Your CV to Target Each Job Application

Before you submit it to a CV site for review it's worth reviewing your CV yourself first and checking for glaringly obvious errors or gaps in your employment that the CV site couldn't possibly know about without your input.

What's also important though is how you use your CV to target specific employers. If you've used the services of a good CV site to review your document then you should have a strong, solid base to work from. However the CV site might not be aware that you're applying to different types of roles within different sectors and so there's nothing wrong with tweaking it to suit each individual job application.

Let's say you've just finished university and you're applying for a mixture of different jobs before you go travelling. You know you want a temp job in admin but you don't mind in which sector. The contents of your CV will need to vary to capture the attention of the person who will be reading it from each job sector you apply in.

Why a quick CV review before you hit send can improve your job prospects.

Sending a slightly different CV to each employer or recruiter by taking the time to address the specific requirements of each position means you'll have a much higher chance of landing a job.

The great thing about submitting a CV via email is that these days you have the opportunity to embed links and therefore make your CV a little bit less of a static document. Instead of just saying things like: "I run a popular design blog" you can place a hyperlink within your CV that directs readers to your blog. There's so much opportunity here to impress employers.

Quality is always more important than quantity when it comes to applying for jobs and sending out CVs. Spend some time tweaking your CV or enlist the help of a CV site to review it for you and tell them what sort of jobs you're applying for. Your time is much better spent sending out just one or two CVs a day that you've spent time customising and perfecting, than sending a less targeted CV out to lots and lots of companies in a blanket style approach.

CVs should not be rigid documents that go months or years without being updated. You should adapt and customise your CV for each and every job that you apply for so that it best sells your strengths and qualities to each individual employer and each individual job.

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The College Grad, Social Media, and Finding a Job

Finding a job as a college grad is hard to do when the economic conditions of the area you live in are not as good as they used to be. Finding a job in short has become difficult in some industries. What is a college grad to do? One thing to do is to use social media. It has come a long way from being just a place to connect with friends online. Now, if you use it right, social media can be a very powerful tool in finding a job and starting a career, even if you are just out of school.

What Not to Do

Before you can consider using social media to help you with finding a job, you need to focus on what you shouldn't do with it. If you have a Twitter page, LinkedIn profile, and a Facebook page, you need to look through them and ensure there is nothing on those pages that could otherwise hurt you. Look for comments you may have made that are negative about your old job. Don't talk about how you cheated at school. Be sure you look and seem like a professional. Many employers and hiring managers are looking at social media profiles to get a better idea of the type of individual you are.

How to Network

Networking to find a job is not always easy to do. However, when finding a job as a college grad, who you know is a very important part of the job. Keep in mind you can network to find a job with a variety of people. That includes people you went to school work, previous jobs you were working at, and even your parent's friends. Take a few minutes to consider all of the people you know.

The good news is you can just look through your social media profiles and make connections. Is your cousin friends with the hiring manager at a company you want to work with? Try to friend that person. Finding a job like this is not always easy to do, but it can be the best way to actually achieve the type of position you want in a tough environment. This is especially true when you keep working on building your social media profile. Don't stop at just one site, but keep connecting with others. Networking to find a job like this may take more time behind the computer, but it may net you more time in front of the right hiring manager.

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Managing the Feeling of Defeat When You Cannot Find a Job

You are frustrated because you cannot find a job. It is not easy when the economic condition of the US job market does not seem to be improving fast enough. You have gone on one job interview after another and are not seeming to get anywhere. You have updated your resume. You have perfected your cover letter. Nevertheless, you are having a very difficult time trying to get the results you want and need. If you cannot find a job and are frustrated with it, consider these tips.

Don't Let Emotions Hold You Back

Often times, the feeling of defeat is what kills your motivation to find a job. You find yourself unwilling to apply for jobs or not as aggressive in your search to find a job. You may not pick up the paper or search the job boards as well as you used to. This feeling of defeat could be holding you back from getting the job you want, though. Apply for jobs and keep working towards looking for new avenues, job boards, and resources to help you to find a job. In short, you need to put your emotions to the side, no matter how bad it is, and keep going.

Change Things Up

One of the best ways for you to achieve your goal of finding a job is to simply keep looking but to do so in a different way. For example, you may spend a lot of time on job boards, but realize that you are competing with hundreds of other people for those positions. The odds are too far against you. Rather, look for companies you would like to work with, visit their website, find their hiring page, and apply for jobs there. Go right to the source.

You also need to keep working on networking. Job networking is the process of talking to others and getting attention for your job skills by sharing information about your job search. For example, you should have social media profiles for job networking. You should also be talking to friends, family, and even that person at the bar you see every week. The more people you tell, the better.

Finally, look for expert help when you cannot find a job. Sometimes, the job interview you need and want is available through a third party, such as a staffing agency. You do not have to feel unable to find a job, but you do have to be aggressive in continuing the search for it.

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How to Be a Valuable Potential Employee

Are you a valuable employee? If you are looking for a job, you need to prove to the hiring manager that you are a valuable potential employee. That is, you need to show that the company will benefit from working directly with you, if they choose to hire you for the open position. To do this, you will need to learn what the company is looking for as well as what specific job skills and job qualifications you have that can fill those needs. Then, you need to be sure the hiring manager knows exactly how good of a fit you really are.

What Does the Company Need?

Before you go in for a job interview with the hiring manager, you need to read through the job description and know what specific needs the company has. You can learn this in a variety of ways, most importantly by simply reading through the job description thoroughly and knowing what area is most important to the company. This may be something the company stresses more than one time, for example, in the job description.

What Do You Have to Offer?

Once you know what is important to the company, it is up to you to ensure the hiring manager learns about your job qualifications in that area. Your job skills and job qualifications should be evident in your resume, cover letter, and then again during the job interview. For example, if you look over the description and it seems to indicate that the company needs someone who has a very specific job skill in manufacturing, be sure to stress your ability to perform that skill (and any others that the company may want as well.) Discuss those needs with the hiring manager. When you do, you instantly become a more valuable potential employee than people who lack those skills.

Keep in mind you should also be showcasing the other skills you have as well, including your background, ability to work through problems, and your desire to learn and grow. You want to seem like a leader, but you also want to be the type of person that wants to fit in and do well within a company. You don't want to be a rebel because those types tend to cause difficulties for hiring managers later on. To be a valuable potential employee, aim for proving yourself through your skills. Do this and you will find yourself well on your way to landing the job that you want.

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Lifestyle of an Offshore Oil Rig Worker

Oil companies are always looking for a few good men, and women, to work on their offshore oil rigs. The money is not, bad but the work is hard and conducted in difficult conditions with an ever-present danger of injury or death. Companies do their best to compensate their employees for the boredom and close quarters that are part of working on the rig. They know that keeping workers happy means more productivity and lessen the likelihood of accidents.

Accommodations: Each "day", regardless of which shift you work, begins with a wake-up call in the form of a knock on the door. Food, laundry and maid-service are provided just as though you were on a cruise ship; however, you will be sharing a very small room with up to three other individuals.

Safety: Safety is a big issue, both from an individual and from an overall perspective. There are many ways to get hurt on an oil rig; additionally the rig itself can be endangered along with the lives of everyone on board when precautions are not taken.

You will be required to wear a hardhat, safety glasses and steel-toed boots, all provided by the company, whenever you are on the working portion of a deck. Safety regulations are numerous and sometimes annoying. Even something as minor as not grasping a railing when going up or down steps can result in a scolding; platforms tend to shift unexpectedly. Wearing jewelry, including wedding bands is prohibited as well.

As one would expect there is a real concern about fire on an oil rig and no one is allowed to bring matches or lighters on board. On some rigs, however, smoking is permitted in a designated smoking room and safety matches are provided.

Schedule: Rigs are operational 24 hours a day and shifts are 12 hours long. Depending on the company you work for, you will either be working 14 days followed by 14 days off or a 14 and 21 on/off schedule. Each shift is broken-up by a "morning" and an "afternoon" break as well as lunch.

Food: Breaks are taken in work gear and at "tea shacks", were beverages and cakes, rolls and other snacks are available. For lunch, you take off your work gear and eat in the galley. Generally food is catered and of a good quality. Meals and snacks are provided free. Occasionally, suppers revolve around a theme such as Mexican, Italian or Chinese.

Entertainment: Television and DVD's are available as is internet service for computers. Many rigs even boast a small gym and a sauna. Ping Pong is pretty much standard on oil rigs as well.

Working on an offshore oil rig pays well but isn't for everyone. You have to ask yourself if you can stand working and living in close quarters with bunch of other people. It takes a positive attitude and a willingness to go the extra mile necessary to avoid accidents and confrontations. If you can make the adjustment, you can work your way up into positions with more responsibilities and even better pay.

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