Exploit the internetís job-finding prowess

About 42% of 753 laid-off managers surveyed land interviews after posting their resumes or retrieving job listings online, according to a survey by outplacement consultants Lee Hecht Harrison. Thatís up from 20% in 1997.

As a matter of fact, according to a recent poll by the Society for Human Resource Management, 88% of human resource professionals now rely on Internet job postings to get the word out about positions open at their organizations. So using the Internet for job finding works! Still, with an estimated 40,000 job boards, and literally millions of jobs currently spread out amongst the top 100 job boards, you must use the Internet creatively.

Big career sites such as Monster.com provide a vast array of vacancies and employer data, but you can also expect a fair amount of competition. And because job boards charge employers and recruiters to search resumes and post jobs, more and more headhunters and company recruiters are lowering their costs and turning to the lesser expensive, smaller job boards to search for candidates. So to optimize your job search, itís a good idea to post your resume to several career websites both large and small.

Where to post your resume
There are hundreds of sites where you can post your resume online. Some sites, like MonsterTrak, let you upload an existing resume with the click of a button. On other sites you can cut and paste or use a resume building wizard. Start with the top job sites like Monster, CareerBuilder, HotJobs, Job.com and FlipDog. Then keep track of where youíve posted your resume and make a list of your login names and passwords.

If you are interested in saving time, use a service that will post your resume for you. Resume Rabbit will instantly posts your resume to 90 of the top career sites, including the ones listed above. Youíll get a personal online posting report with login information for each site so you can update your resume and apply directly to job postings.

Whatís an ASCII resume? And why you need one.
ASCII (pronounced askee) is an acronym which stands for American Standard Code for Information Interchange and is used to describe computers documents that are stored in clear text format.

In plain English, an ASCII text document uses the simplest form of text, meaning there is no formatting within the document and the text will look the same when viewed in a variety of formats or word processing programs. While itís fairly plain looking, youíre guaranteed that your resume is readable no matter how viewed. Having an ASCII formatted version of your resume, is a must for todayís job seeker who uses the internet in their job search.

Use an ASCII resume when:
-Submitting to a Resume database via web form.

-Posting to an Online job board.

-Inserting your resume in the message field of an e-mail document.

-Sending your resume as an E-mail Attachment.


How to find those unadvertised jobs
They say itís not what you know itís who you know. As a matter of fact, many of the best jobs never make their way to the classified ads. The secret to getting the unadvertised jobs is to get your resume in the hands of several quality and targeted recruiters.

One service, Resume Mailman will put your resume directly into the hands of quality headhunters and recruiters. Their network is filled with over 10,000 talented recruiters having direct connections to the best unadvertised jobs. Your resume can be instantly emailed directly to thousands of recruiters in your selected areas who specialize in your selected skill sets. The process takes about 10 minutes.

Worries over job security abound among women
Abridged: OC Job Finder
What do working women want? A good job with benefits, according to a telephone survey of 1,450 U.S. women. The survey reveals that 48 percent of the women polled were unemployed in the past year or had relatives or friends who were unemployed. Twenty-five percent were employed but did not have medical insurance, prescription drug coverage, sick pay, or retirement benefits.

The survey dramatically demonstrates that the jobs crisis deeply affects Americaís working families, said Linda Chavez-Thompson, executive vice president of the AFL-CIO. The new jobs being created offer 20 percent lower wages, on average, than those that have been lost, and many donít offer basic benefits.

The AFL-CIO noted that women may be more concerned about job creation and job security these days because they contribute significantly more to their familiesí total earnings than they have in the past. In 1999, for example, economists at Northeastern Universityís Center for Labor Market Studies reported that from 1983 to 1997, the real earnings of married couples with college degrees went up 45 percent, from $70,079 to $101,780 and most of that gain stemmed from womenís wages.

Laid-off... now what?
Sometimes, when we are unexpectedly laid-off it is hard to focus on what to do, or where to begin. The first, and most important step is to assess your financial situation to determine how long you can survive without a regular paycheck. Next, focus on your job search. Hereís a quick checklist to make sure youíve covered all the bases.

Ask your employer about severance pay, accrued time, & sick pay.

Request information on continuing health & life insurance coverage.

Ask about outplacement resources.

Request a reference letter for your files.

Apply for state unemployment benefits.

Put your resume on all the top career sites.

Send your resume to specialized recruiters.

Professional business cards for networking

Whether employed or not, you must always carry a fresh supply of business cards to hand out when the time is right. Thereís nothing worse than making a great contact, searching for a pen and writing your number on a napkin - that theyíre sure to lose. Personal business cards project an image of professionalism and leave a lasting impression.

Many job seekers today find their jobs through networking. Thatís because it works. Some great places to network are Alumni Events, Job Fairs and Professional Industry Association functions. Look into finding these event in your area. Donít be shy. Put on professional clothes, your best smile and go as frequently as possible. You may also make some life long friends.

Free for Career News Subscribers: Get 250 premium quality, full color business cards at no charge to you. Using pre-designed online templates, you can create professional, attractive business cards in seconds. Instantly preview the cards online before submitting your order. To get your complimentary business cards, click this link.

Thank you notes shouldnít just be sent to the people who interview you. Rather, you should say thank you, in writing, to everyone who helps with your job search - from the people who gives you advice to the people who provide you with job leads. Itís amazing how much momentum thank you notes can create. People really appreciate them, and often upon receiving one, go the extra mile and take some additional action to help you in your job search (such as contact someone on your behalf and make a connection).

Try to send your thank-you note within 24-48 hours of any conversation. The note may be handwritten on a small, professional, thank-you note card (if you have extremely neat handwriting and only a brief message to convey), word-processed, or emailed. We recommend a card sent by regular mail. They take more work, and as a result are usually more appreciated and effective. Donít forget to include your email address and phone number so the recipient can pass it along.

Search jobs on 110 career sites at once - free!
While the job market is a bit tighter than usual, there are plenty of available jobs if you know where to look. On the internet alone there are literally millions of jobs listed amongst multiple job-board sites.

Now you can search 110 of the best career sites with one click, absolutely free using a great website called WantedJobs.com. Select your job category, preferred locations and keywords and youíll instantly see all matching jobs on all the best career sites.