Five Things To Discuss During Your Interview

Job Vacancy Indonesia, Employee, Vacancy

A job interview can be a stressful event. You're trying to remember what to talk about, and how to make sure the interviewer knows you're perfect for the job. What should you remember to mention? Here are some tips.

Your Skills:

Re-read your resume so all skills are fresh in your mind. Put an emphasis on the skill requirements of the interviewer and make sure they know you are capable of doing what is required. Some employers won't read the specifics of a resume, or will have missed or forgotten about it. Stressing your skills will help them remember why you should be hired. 

Your Flexibility:

If you're flexible, let them know. If you can work late, can do overtime, or can work weekends or travel if you need to, tell them. Don't appear too eager because they may not have any need for you to work extra hours. But by letting them know of your availability, you present yourself as an attractive candidate.

Your Attitude:

Projecting a positive and professional attitude will leave a happy memory in the minds of your interviewers. A can-do approach to work is always welcomed by employers. Give yourself a pep-talk before you go in and tell them that you're a hard worker, you're cheery, and you'd enjoy working for them.

Your Willingness to Learn:

Since most jobs evolve over time, you want to showcase your willingness to learn new skills. Make sure you tell them about programs or tools you've learned and retained in your past jobs. They'll likely be impressed by your willingness to adapt and to learn new things. It shows a strong work ethic and talent.

Your Interviewer's Needs:

If you've got the skills they're looking for, tell them. If you fulfil the requirements of the job ad, make sure you stress how you fulfil them. Make sure your interviewer's needs and requirements are met. They want to know that the person they hire will be a perfect fit and will have everything it takes to do the job. By stress your skills and how you fulfil their particular needs, you're telling them to hire you.

It's important to bring forth some of your best qualities at a job interview. Your skills, your flexibility, and your ability and willingness to learn new things are usually key requirements in an interviewer's list of needs. By fulfilling these needs and telling them how you can do the job, you are projecting your capacity to do the job.

Accelerate Your Learning Curve for More Success and Less Stress

by Susan Dunn

Jobs Indonesia,  Careers,  Indonesia Vacancy

Downsizing and technological advances put demands on us to learn more and learn it faster. As support staff and auxiliary positions disappear, job functions are consolidated, teamwork becomes the norm, and computer and other technologies keep proliferating, we are faced with a stressful amount of new things to learn in a diminishing amount of time.

Yet the faster you can learn new things, the more valuable you will be to your employer, and the more likely you’ll be to advance in your Careers. It isn’t an option these days. 

 

WHAT LEARNING CURVES HAVE IN COMMON

What can you do to accelerate your learning curve and increase your value to your employer? The interesting thing is that there are things all learning curves have in common, whether you’re learning how to facilitate team work, learning a new software program, learning a new language, or learning how to negotiate. The better you understand the mechanics of THE learning curve, the better you’ll be able to deal with the individual ones that come along, and this is part of Emotional Intelligence.

 

GETTING RID OF THE FEAR

If you think back on things you’ve learned in the past, you’ll probably realize that one of the things that slowed you down was fear. I can certainly think of examples in my own case.

 

An example of how fear can slow you down is evident if you’ve watched a young child learn how to ski. A child doesn’t fear failure nor success, nor do they fear falling down. New things are an every day occurrence for a child, and this is just the next one. In learning to ski, they fall repeatedly and bounce back like a rubber ball. They consider it all fun. Thus there is nothing slowing down the learning except their ability to master the motor skills. What a relief!

Many of the Emotional Intelligence competencies facilitate learning. One of them is flexibility. The skiing example shows a sort of physical flexibility, but this is applicable to mental tasks as well. We don’t all learn best the same way. You may be sent to a seminar or training that doesn’t fit your learning style. If you’re flexible, and have learned how to learn (the learning curve), you’ll be able to shape things to your own benefit.

 

Take learning a new software program, for instance, something many of us are faced with almost monthly. One person may learn better by reading the manual, while another may do better by being shown. Yet another may be used to the “throw them to the wolves method,” or by hearing a tape or looking at an interactive video on the computer screen.

 

This has to do with your innate learning style which can be discovered through an assessment such as the StrengthsFinder® profile, by working with a coach, or by analyzing your own history. Generally when left to your own devices, you’ll do what comes naturally to you, which will always be the quickest and easiest way for you to learn.

 

LEARNING HISTORIES

A client I’ll call Alicia learned how to type when she was 6 years old. Her mother let her ‘play’ on the family typewriter. By the time she got to high school and took a typing class which attempted to teach her “touch typing,” it was too late to unlearn the old ways, yet she keyboards at over 100. Would anyone complain about the method?

 

Then she took a jobs Indonesia where her boss told her he wanted a newsletter in two weeks, and gave her – wouldn’t you know? – a Mac. Being used to tinkering, she started right in, asking an office mate some pertinent questions, and figuring it out fairly rapidly although she had never touched a computer before. Someone else might have refused that jobs indonesia or demanded lessons.

 

The next job Alicia had she was required to use a PC, and she tackled that on her own as well.

Nick, however, learns best from formal instruction, and then having a manual at his side. It confuses him if someone tries to instruct him sitting by his side or talking to him. He would rather work on his own, in peace and quiet.

Emotional Intelligence starts with self-awareness – knowing your emotions as well as your cognitive abilities, and particularly how they interface. Nick and Alicia were both able to learn computer skills, but they were comfortable in different settings, and it’s emotional “comfort,” that gets rid of the fear and accelerates the learning curve. Learning has a huge emotional component to it that is just now being honored in our schools and in the work place.

 

MOVE RAPIDLY FOR BEST RESULTS

A crucial point is the longer you stay in the confused stage, the more stress you’ll experience. This will reinforce itself, making it harder for you to learn in the future. In essence you’ll be slowing down your learning curve each time.

The faster you learn each thing, the less agony, and the better and faster you’ll learn in the future. It’s a win-win. Your employer wants you to learn fast, and it’s in your best interest to learn fast.

 

Another great benefit is then learning is fun – like the 6 year old learning to ski. This is turn will make you more resilient (the stress-buster for the 00s) because studies have shown that lifetime learning contributes to resilience.

The ability to change rapidly, be flexible and learn quickly are highly valued by today’s employers and reduce your personal stress levels.

These are all Emotional Intelligence competencies you can learn. How? Start with an overview of the field and an assessment of your own Emotional Intelligence (EQ or EI). You can take an interactive Emotional Intelligence course on the Internet, and then work with a certified Emotional Intelligence coach who can provide individual instruction to improve your competencies.

 

Developing your Emotional Intelligence has many benefits. It can accelerate the learning curve because it teaches you correct patterns, makes previous knowledge more accessible, allows for better cognitive functioning, and manages the emotions so they help the process, not hinder it. It can also increase your ability to get the help – and the kind of help – you need from others.

 

Even if faced with learning something completely new, you’ll learn to recognize the steps and feelings that go along with each stage which will eliminate a lot of stress.

 

You’ve taken care of your academic education, but what about your Emotional Intelligence? Take a second look. Many people are finding it to be the missing piece in their Careers plan. 

 

Careers Tips : Assess your skills and interest

By mappingyourfuture.org

Jobs Indonesia, Careers, Indonesia Vacancy

Think about your interests

• What do you like to do? Think about experiences you have enjoyed. What kind of school, religious, social, or sports activities do you like?
• Make a list of 10 activities you have enjoyed doing in the past four years.
• Evaluate those interests. Think about what you liked about the activities. What challenges did the activities offer? What skills do you need to develop further to continue in those activities?

Consider your skills

• Evaluate school, volunteer, work, or leisure experiences.
• Make a list of your school activities (clubs, organizations to which you belonged). Make a list of any volunteer work you have done (either through social, civic or religious organizations).
• After you have assessed your interests and skills, determine the relationship between skills and interests and possible careers. You may need to research different careers.

Job Tips : Job Search Tips for Older Job Seekers

Job Search Tips and Strategies for Older Workers
By Alison Doyle

Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy

I'm always a little surprised at how young can be considered old by employers. In some industries, especially high-tech, even mid-thirties can be considered old. In fact, I spoke to one computer programmer who considered the workers in his office who were over thirty old!

Unfortunately for older job seekers, the older you are, the longer it can take to get a job and the harder it can be to get hired.

What can you do to address age discrimination and promote your candidacy for employment? There are strategies older job seekers can implement to help expedite a job search and to find gainful, and meaningful, employment.
Job Search Tips for Older Workers

Resume Tips for Older Job Seekers
One way to overcome the perception that your age is an issue, is to age proof and edit your resume. Limiting what you include on your resume, from a chronological perspective, can help job seekers avoid the stigma of being considered "too old" by a prospective employer.

Cover Letter Tips for Older Job Seekers
Your cover letter is critical, as well. Review these cover letter tips for older job seekers, including what to include in your cover letter, how to showcase your skills, and how to effectively market your candidacy to employers.

Emphasize Your Relevant Experience
When writing your resume and your cover letters, there's no need to mention every job you've ever had. Include only the most recent positions and, if you attended college, don't list your graduation dates.

Fashion Tips for Older Job Seekers
You can strategically write your resume and cover letter, but you can't change the basic facts - your actual age and your employment history are etched in stone. However, there are ways you can work on your appearance when you are job searching. And that can make a big difference when you're interviewing. Here's how to update your job search image.

Use Your Network
Networking is still one of the best ways to find a job. Regardless of when you graduated, if your alma mater has a career network use it to contact alumni in your field of interest. Use online and offline networking resources to make connections to help with your job search.

Consider a Career Change
It can be easier than you might think to change careers. Here's advice on how to successful implement a mid-life career change.

Get Job Search Help
If you're struggling with your job search, consider seeking assistance. There are no-cost programs provided by OneStop Career Centers, non-profit groups, and local libraries, for example, that can assist.

Keep Your Skills Current
Everyone applying for employment, regardless of age, needs to be computer literate. If you can't send an email, or don't know what Instant Message is, take a computer class. There are classes offered, free or low-cost, by continuing education centers, churches, libraries, and school. The more current your skills, the better your prospects for finding employment.

Don't Give Up
Job searching typically isn't easy, regardless of how old you are. So, don't give up. It might take a while to find a job, but, there are employers who understand the value of an older worker with maturity, life experience, and skills.

Share Your Job Search Story
Share your job search success story and what you learned during your job search. What job search tools did you use, what job sites worked for you, how did you conduct your job search?

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CAREER TIPS -> BE WISE

By jidaw.com

Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy

How to Tips for the Information Technology Career. Be Wise tips are to help you with developing careers in computers for Careers planning, career choices and IT career strategy.

Boosting computer careers - the computer career in computer and information systems - Information Technology Career Tips. 

You will need to make career choices every step of the way. Decisions will be taken about IT certification, Computer education, Technical training, Practice tests, Study Guides, Exams, IT professionalism and jobs.

A successful IT Career is more about wisdom than anything else. BE WISE!

42. Too often our career growth is hindered because by “good” reasons. It isn’t a crime to experience hiccups in your career journey, but respond with positives - create time, improve your preparation, network, develop your skills.  

Stop Planting Excuses. Be Wise. Excuses achieve nothing.

What “good” reason can there be for not updating yourself? What are the “good” reasons for your inconsistency? There is no middle ground. You’re either doing something to improve your career or you’re buried in the excuse planting season. If we sow excuses, what do we reap? What’s stopping you from starting? Why have you given up? Be honest, what do you really want from your career - results or excuses? There is no reward for excuses.

41. “Wait for perfect”, “stay with the crowd”, “don’t take risks”. Run, don’t walk away from such thoughts. The worship of fear is born to kill dreams. A programming career without audacity is one without substance and character. Want to build a successful career in Networking? Ignore the familiar and rock the boat! Be Wise. Your career decisions and growth can’t wait for 100% certainty.
 

Sure plan, do your research, finish your homework, choose wisely. But to start your IT career or business, never ever wait for perfect. And go beyond noise and popularity. What are you afraid of? The unknown, failure, rejection or becoming an outstanding contributor in the IT industry?  

40. SUBSTANCE OR SHOW. Are your career decisions based on substance? Is programming the right path for you, or are you a “me-too” activist? Career growth requires taking risks. But what really is your motive? Money, show or purpose? Is certification what you need, or is the promotion in control? Be Wise. The choices we make are life changing.

Your training decision appears sensible, but how did you choose your course and training institution? What is the main issue driving your job change? Activity can never be a substitute for substance. What matters more - ceremony or career growth?

39. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE. IT newcomer at zero level? Or does your career need a lift? Stop waiting for luck or fate. Enough of the excuses! You must own and drive your growth process. Are reward and fulfillment in your IT career horizon? Then banish fear and excuse. Be Wise. Provoke growth - Take risks. Seize the initiative. Connect with family, colleagues, counsellors for support and guidance. But never hand over your power. Nobody else is in charge of your movement forward. It’s your life. It’s your future. Responsibility for your growth lies with you.

38. THE OPPORTUNITY IN THE PROBLEM. When difficulties come how fast can you run? Are you one track minded when career efforts don’t seem to be working? Slow promotion, no job, “Boss-from-hell”? Tough! But develop your turnaround mentality and approach. Be Wise. Sometimes there are no right answers. Growth comes from being comfortable solving problems. Bad exam results do not mean bad IT professional. Career success has several routes. Is that challenge your full-stop or a seed for growth? Enough of the victim sing-song! Instead look for your opportunity in that problem.
 

37. HOPE IS NOT A STRATEGY. You have hope and can see opportunity in Information Technology, but are those enough to make your career happen? Where are you? Where are you going? Be Wise. Hoping for the best, “whatever will be, will be”?? Without a sense of direction how will you reach your full potential? What is the purpose of your IT education? Coordinate your efforts and plan with your priorities in mind. Ignore the noisy crowds - let the main issue be the main issue. It is your job to create your own path.

36. DO SOMETHING NOW. You have ideas and you love the IT profession. Great! But unless you act, all you get is a big fat zero. What’s your excuse? The environment isn't right? Expecting to be supported? Be Wise. Wait for perfect and wait forever. Take charge and start building your amazing IT career now. IT professional, make your knowledge move today! Challenges exist but create your own path by investing in effort. Sitting in the farm all day doesn't make you a farmer. It is what you do that matters. Take action. Grumbling never achieves. 

35. MONEY HAS ITS LIMITS. To grow your IT career money helps for training, certification and books. But money is not the supreme ultimate resource. Stop allowing money to limit you! Be Wise. Can money cover up a dinosaur like attitude to tech learning? Or will money buy people networks or goodwill? Without putting in effort, time or common sense what is money? Does money mean creativity? Money assists but understand what money can do for your IT career, alternatives that exist and what you must do for yourself. 

34. CREATIVITY IS NOT A LUXURY. You can't grow by feeding on the predictable. Are you satisfied with the one-way street of convention? Training and certifications aren't enough in the world of constant change. Be Wise. Think outside familiar and comfortable routines to create new value. Is the creative path stressful? Or does it look strange or crazy? So what? Open your mind! Status quo is dead. Growth is the reward for expanding your mental bandwidth. Let dead dogs rest in peace.

33. PURPOSE AND CONTRIBUTION. The IT professional must have goals and a purpose. But it's not just about your agenda. Direction is important but your technical strengths are nothing without the value balance. Be Wise. What are your priorities vis a vis contribution? The key driver for career growth isn't your Java certification or your agenda, but is instead the value you create. Are you solving problems with your programming skills? Does the business make more profit with your networking know-how? Contribution is what gives backbone to your agenda.

32. GET BEYOND THE CERTIFICATE. Has your learning experience honed your problem solving skills and your learning ability? Have you used the classroom to build personal networks and improve your people skills? Be Wise. As you learn, open up your mind to ways of making the right impact in your career. What you put into your learning effort will often determine what you get out of the experience. Do you want growth, or is the certificate your only goal? See further than the certification. 

31. STOP LOOKING FOR GUARANTEES. Building a fulfilling IT career is not maths. Your Java knowledge doesn't guarantee anything. You need to step outside your comfort zone and take calculated risks if you want to succeed in Network security. 

Be Wise. Real IT professionals tackle the unknown and also anticipate and embrace change. The silver bullet-shortcut-password mindset is for robots. Network with other people, take up challenges and apply wisdom while learning from your experiences - both good and bad. 

30. IT IS NOT A HAPPY-GO-LUCKY PASTIME. It's about intense preparation and committing lifelong to a full-fledged career. Networking isn't flash-in-the-pan gambling. Or is programming an all comers affair? Be Wise. What is interest without the drive, without commitment? You should enjoy going the extra mile to look for the solutions, to remain current, rather than getting yourself hooked on quick fix supplied by the immediate results druggist.

29. The true IT professional is a positive, knowledgeable and supportive influence. Cisco guru, do you help or do you intimidate with your expertise? King of Java, are we safe in your hands? Be Wise. Trust is the mother of growth. But professionalism and trust isn't just about being "nice". It's also about having the courage and judgment to do the right thing in difficult situations.

28. You're perfect, right? Don't make me laugh! Nobody is an angel. But don't empower your weaknesses. Why let limitations bully you into defeat? Be Wise. Grow, learn from mistakes and empower your positives. Who are you and what do you offer? Despite shortcomings make a difference, be a positive contributor, with your attitude and tech know-how. It is your mission.

27. Knowledge is a "must-have" for your IT career. But have a clear understanding of what knowledge tools (training, education, certification) can and cannot do. What can knowledge do for you and what do you need to do for yourself? Be Wise. While knowledge confers advantage, it doesn't guarantee anything. Without a positive solid ethics attitude, initiative and people skills the train isn't leaving the station.

26. Stop asking only questions about pay, jobs and benefits. Your salary is not your value. Be wise. Growth comes from service and contribution. Ask the right questions: Is there a future in IT? Does that future include me? How do I empower myself to become a value provider?

25. What is your staying power in IT like? You can't afford to get burnt or worn out by the incredible rate of change and challenges. Be Wise. No matter how well you start and perform, how worthwhile is your effort if you don't finish? Develop your backbone with a can-do, can-bounce-back attitude. Achievement requires resilience - commitment and perseverance in the face of change and obstacles.. 

24. Sometimes less is more if you get your priorities right. Vegetating away at a job that doesn't enhance your value, simply because of the money is downright dangerous. Is it just about the pay packet? Be Wise. Growth is when you are creating opportunities for yourself now and in future. It isn't just about a meal ticket.

23. The worst thing you can do to your IT career is to take important decisions, such as investing in certification, without thinking about your long-term career focus. Be Wise. How will your decisions and investment take you from where you are to where you should be? Having a long-term career focus is the single most important driver for high quality career achievement.

22. Run, don't walk away, from any training provider that says you're guaranteed a job if you register for classes with them. Be Wise. Are you more interested in giving somebody money than your education or career?

21. As you gather experience in the industry, don't burn bridges you might need tomorrow. Be Wise. It is easier to succeed when you build your own personal network of individuals that you can rely on for advice, job leads, technical assistance and other helpful support.

20. Have a passion for what you do. Understand, and be happy, with what you do. Be Wise. It's difficult to be motivated; it's difficult to excel when you work at something you don't like.

19. You can't claim to like the IT field and yet be unwilling to make the effort required for constant knowledge acquisition. Be Wise. In the IT field, ignorance is the path of the dinosaur.

18. Don't run from challenges that will crop up from time to time in the course of your career. Be Wise. Often challenges are an opportunity to conquer a difficult area, and carve a niche for yourself.

17. Your career is about value. Be Wise. Certifications, tech skills, degrees, experience don't amount to much if you can't use them to create real business value.

16. Focus on substance rather than style when taking career decisions. Be Wise. "All that glitters is not gold". Avoid becoming a hostage, always choose career value over popularity and hype.

15. No IT career is better than the other. Be Wise. "One man's meat is another man's poison". The best career for YOU should be based on YOUR interests, assets and abilities.

14. Setting career goals is important. But planning is a lame excuse for unfruitful career indecision. Be Wise. Your IT Career isn't just about planning. It's also about doing, not promising to do. You must follow through.

13. Approach your IT Career like a marathon, not a short sprint. Be Wise. If immediate results are what you are after, then the IT field might not be for you.

12. As an IT professional, maximize your career advantage by developing a good combination of soft skills and IT knowledge. Be Wise. Of what value are your IT skills, if you can't effective present yourself or your skills?

11. The acquisition of popular advanced level certifications by newcomers is not a guarantee of jobs. Beginners need to master the basics before moving to the advanced. Be Wise. Why waste your money and time on advanced level training and certification that is not useful to you at your level?

10. Integrity is the hallmark of a true IT professional. A bad reputation spreads faster than wild fire. Be Wise. Solid tech and soft skills will not take you anywhere if you can't be trusted.

9. Sometimes the career advice you need to hear may sound upsetting to you. Don't listen only to what you want to hear. Be Wise. Choose Brutal but honest over nice but self-deceit. Use frank but painful advice to make the necessary changes that will grow your career.

8. As you invest in knowledge and self-development don't carried away by "the best". Can you make the effort? The best instructors, books, training centers cannot replace your effort. Be Wise. It is one thing to have "the best" tools, it is another thing to make the effort.

7. Learn from your mistakes and from your successes. Be Wise. If don't make any mistakes, you're not doing anything. You learn and grow not only from what you did right but also from what you messed up.

6. As you develop your IT skills and knowledge never confuse repetition with practice or learning. Be Wise. Mindless repetition on its own is cramming. Repetition must be combined with analysis and understanding to be of benefit to you.

5. Experience is essential for a career in IT. But depending solely on experience limits growth. Be Wise. What is experience without passion or initiative?
Experience on its own restricts you to what you do on a regular basis. To get real value from work experience - Invest in lifelong learning. Invest in a success-driven attitude.

4. Interest in an IT career is of no value without action. Be Wise. Interest is cheap. Effort will cost you. What're you doing? What are you investing to achieve your career goal? Time, money, books or just interest?

3. You will need to use career tools and your personal network as you progress in your career. But don’t be totally dependent on others. Be Wise. Learn how to dig deep by your own effort. To move without resourcefulness is to move in reverse. Besides, whose career is it anyway?

2. IT is not a “get-rich-quick” scheme. IT is professionally and financially rewarding if you focus on acquiring practical skills and building your career rather than on sudden, immediate wealth. Be Wise. Nobody is in IT for the sole purpose of making you rich. If “fast money” is your sole aim, you won’t last under the intense workload and incredible rate of change.

1. Personal networking is essential for career growth. Over 80% of all career opportunities are found through networking. But your personal network doesn't work for you alone. It isn't a self-centered one-man show. Be Wise. What do you contribute to the network? The key to having a strong and dependable personal network is not "receive only" or "give to receive", but instead it is "give more than you receive." 

A successful IT Career is more about wisdom than anything else. BE WISE!

Interview Tip : When the First Interview Is a Phone Call

By PHYLLIS KORKKI

Jobs Indonesia, Careers, Indonesia Vacancy

Some companies sometimes receiving hundreds of applications for a single job, it is becoming more common for hiring managers to conduct initial screening interviews over the phone. This saves them considerable time and money — especially if a candidate lives out of town.

Don’t take these interviews lightly. “It is important to prepare for a telephone interview just as you would for a regular interview,” said Alison Doyle, a job search specialist for About.com, which is owned by The New York Times Company.

The employer will normally call or e-mail you in advance to set up an interview time. If possible, arrange for the interview to be over a landline phone, as it tends to be more reliable than a cellphone. Make sure that children, pets and other sources of interruption will be out of the room. Keep a glass of water nearby.

Phone interviews can often last a half-hour to an hour, Ms. Doyle said; be sure to have your resume in front of you, along with a list of your accomplishments. Long pauses or halting responses caused by a lack of preparation could keep you from making it to the next stage. Do your best to be personable, but don’t overdo it by, say, trying to tell a joke and guffawing.

One advantage of a phone interview is that you don’t need to worry about what to wear (although dressing up might make you feel more confident). But some companies have started to conduct video interviews, Ms. Doyle said, sending Webcams to be used temporarily by applicants who don’t have them at home.

Tips Career ==> 5 Career Tips to Help You Achieve Financial Success

By Ashley Jacobs

Jobs Indonesia, Careers, Indonesia Vacancy

Everyone who has gone through the process of finding and landing a job knows the reality of how difficult it is. As a result of this understanding, there are thousands of career tips available to those who are seeking employment as well as those who are currently employed. It seems like everyone wants to offer their advice on how to go about having a successful career because just about everyone knows that without a successful career, financial success is virtually impossible to come by.  Throw in the fact that we are in a recession and the unemployment rate is the highest it’s been, the road to both career and financial success is that much more bumpy.

I recently went through the job hunting process and it was not an easy process to go through.  During this process, I heard far more than my fair share of advice. While helpful, listening to all these tips was nothing short of overwhelming. After hearing hundreds (if not thousands) of tips, there are 5 main bits of advice that I found to be extremely useful.
Here are the 5 best career tips people have shared with me.

Tip 1: Have More Than One Source Of Income

This is a tip that I haven’t heard too often but absolutely LOVE. Prior to hearing this advice, I always thought that once I had a career, I would have one sole source of income that would allow me to keep a roof over my head and food in my stomach. While this probably will be the case, having multiple sources of income is a fantastic idea for two reasons.

First, if you lose the job that is your main source of income (which we all know is a legitimate possibility clearly demonstrated by the recession), you have other sources of income to fall back on. True, they may not provide you with as much money as your main source of income, but at least you will still have some means of making money.

Second, it is always nice to have some extra money. Having another source of income can enable you to have extra spending money or help you save money for major future financial goals (i.e. buying a house or paying for your kids to go to college).

Tip 2: Be Prepared When Interviewing

After taking a course on interviewing, the importance of being prepared during an interview was extremely evident. What do I mean by being prepared? There are two parts to this.

You MUST do your research on the company. Know the facts on who will be interviewing you. Know how your skills will benefit the company. Be up to date on major company news. Know as much about the company as you possibly can prior to going into the interview.

You must also be prepared with questions to ask the interviewer. This demonstrates an interest in the company. One great question to ask is “What does it take to be successful at this company?”

Another thing to remember when interviewing is that your interview starts as soon as you are within view of the building the company is in and doesn’t end until you are out of site. Don’t speed in and out of the parking lot and don’t be obnoxious on your cell phone in the elevator. Anyone from the company could see you do those things and what company would ever want to hire a reckless, obnoxious employee?

Tip 3: Join LinkedIn

Networking is vital to finding employment opportunities. The saying is true, it’s not what you know but who you know. While using social networking sites may seem like a risky way to go about networking to find a job, LinkedIn provides a highly professional site in which to network.

LinkedIn enables you to create a profile based on your employment and educational experiences. You can then search for people you went to school or worked with and add them to your network. You can also look at people in your friend/coworker’s networks and see if there is anyone you would like to connect with and ask your friend/coworker for an introduction.

There is no risk of being tagged in inappropriate pictures or having friends post less than flattering comments on your profile. That being said, if you do own a Facebook or Myspace, learn to use your privacy settings to make sure potential employers can’t see unprofessional comments or pictures on your profile. Or, better yet, get rid of anything inappropriate on your profile.

Tip 4: Don’t Let Your Career Consume Your Life

Never let your career run your life. You want a career that fits into your life, not that runs your life. Many people lose sight of this. The importance of having a job and being able to provide for yourself (and a family) seems to cause many people to throw themselves into their work ESPECIALLY due to the fact that the unemployment rate is the highest it’s ever been. Loyal employees have been getting laid off and it has caused most people to really step up their game at work to try to prevent this from happening to them.

The problem with this is that taking on this career preservation tactic causes your life to revolve around your career instead of having your career just be a part of your life. Determine what you want in a career. Make sure that your career fits into how you picture your life being. If you want to be able to spend time with your family, make sure your career enables you to do that. If your current career doesn’t, it’s time to start looking for employment opportunities that will enable you to have the lifestyle you want.

Tip 5: Do What You Love

This is probably the oldest, most used piece of advice out there. While some people may disagree with it due to the fact that they feel that if they do something that they love everyday eventually they will get sick of it, this is probably the best piece of advice ever.

If you aren’t in a career that you love, getting out of bed each morning to go to work is going to make you miserable. And who wants to be miserable everyday? Definitely not me.

By doing something you love not only will you enjoy getting out of bed each morning to go to work but you will (most likely) be more successful at your job. People tend to put more effort and energy into the things they love to do. The more effort you put into something, the more successful you will be at whatever you are doing.

Regardless of whether you are employed or actively seeking employment, be sure to keep these tips in mind. Additionally, be sure to listen to the advice and insight of others. There is no such thing as too much advice and every little tip helps when you are trying to have career and financial success.

10 Best Part Time Jobs For College Students

By Azhar Devaraj Victor

Job Vacancy Indonesia, Employee, Vacancy

What are the best part time jobs for college students? These are jobs which allow flexibility in terms of working hours and to a great extent location. The main focus of college students should be their studies and the timely completion of the courses that they have signed up for. Though part time jobs enable college students a source of much needed income, such jobs should not, in any way, distract them from their studies. Based on the above, the following are some of the 10 best part time jobs for college students:

1. Online Surveys: There are several sites and Google Ads that will help you learn more about online surveys. Pick the ones that have a proven track record and are offered by reputable sources.
2. College or on campus jobs: Check out the part time jobs that are available at your college or those near you. It could be something administrative especially during student intake peaks or an operational job. The library, counter, student counseling, cafeteria or any such service areas offer part time work opportunities.
3. Sales Promoters: You will be surprised at how much you can make for just a few hours a day. Pick those where you can select the number of hours you wish to work or the shift that is suitable to you.
4. Fast Food Workers: Turnover is very high especially at the popular outlets. They take on many part timers who leave to take on better opportunities. These people need to be replaced on a constant basis as service standards have to be maintained.
5. Hotel F & B Assistants: These are high labour intensive jobs. Conferences, seminars, weddings and other such events require a lot of manpower.
6. Online Affiliate Marketers: There is a huge opportunity here and they are among the best part time jobs for college students. You can do this with just a computer with Internet connection. You can work from anywhere, chose how much you want to do and when you want to work. A laptop would give you greater freedom with this type of work.
7. Donors: Find out from the hospitals nearest to you whether they need donors. Some pay for blood and plasma donations.
8. Care Centre Helpers: Homes for senior citizens or nurseries need people to spend a few hours reading, talking, to residents, playing with children or doing some cleaning. Call these centres and find out what they may be able to offer.
9. eBay Sellers: Sell products online. There are many other sites where you can do this. However, eBay is the best and most popular.
10. Research Study Assistants: Some post graduate students might need someone to organise their documents, type or read some material and make notes. Research centres may need some participants in their programs.

Surviving a Prolonged Economic Downturn

By Sarah Weinberger

Job Vacancy Indonesia, Employee, Vacancy   

Many people are facing dire times during a prolonged economic downturn, which started by and large in late 2007, although depending upon your specialty, the beginnings of the recession started in the '80s with the outsourcing of American manufacturing jobs to other countries. It was just a matter of time before white collar work got outsourced too. The politics of the situation, though, do not change the reality for many people. With bills to pay and many people out of work for two years or more with no unemployment benefits, philosophical discussions are a moot issue. Solving the problem is tantamount. For some, joining the military is an option, especially if you are younger, but for others that is not an option.

Although I cannot promise anyone a sure fire way that guarantees a job, I can tell you how to what the best strategies are, which will place you in the best possible position, so that you can get one of the few jobs, which are available. You do not have to work hard, but you do have to put in time and be smart. Okay, so let us begin.

The first thing that you should do is to discard old beliefs. Sending out five or so targeted resumes that you research and know that you are qualified for every couple of weeks does not cut the mustard anymore, so to speak. What you think of your qualifications is not as important as what the employer and recruiter thinks of your qualifications. Apply to anything and everything within plausibility of your field. You do not need to read the job descriptions. You only need to glance at it quickly. Your motto should be to throw enough things against the wall, so that not only will something stick, namely that you get an interview, but that you get hired too. You need to make a nuisance of yourself. Be heard. You should send out several hundred resumes every other day. In a month time period, you should have sent out several thousand. Yes, you can do that and not spend more than a couple hours a day on the activity. I will tell you how later in this article.

In most jobs, one does a varied number of things. For instance, many people in white collar jobs have to do a bit of project management, even if you are not the project manager (PM). Maybe you had to train people. Did you ever have to write something? What I am driving after is that you should explore working in a related field. It does not matter what you think of your skills, but what the hiring manager thinks. I say hiring manager, because you can work around recruiters. They are two dimensional in nature, as are human resource managers. By the way, being a human resource manager is another possibility.

Create one resume for each type of work. Mention every job that you had, but emphasize skills in the area that you want to push. Try to recollect back to your time and think if you did anything in that field, if even scarcely. If you did, play that up. Do a search on job boards and find industry buzzwords in the field. Research what they mean. You can do that by doing a Google search. Add those buzzwords, which you feel comfortable. Maybe you can study a bit those buzzwords and do some practice exercises with them, so that you know the lingo.

When the going gets tough, the tough should start working smartly and aggressively. Craft one cover letter for each job type. Be willing to accept a small decrease in pay, if you get into high-paying field for which you really do not have that many skills. You will be receiving remuneration for advancing your skillset and getting into a new line of work. Be happy. I did not say to sell yourself short. You should never do that.

When the topic of distance comes up, act like you have been to that location a zillion times. The answer should always be that the distance is not bad and that you can do that easily. What difference is it to anyone what the actual time is? You are not being paid for it, so why discuss that you will be on the road for an hour. Be firm and reassuring that the distance is not bad and that you are experienced.

Work every job board and be prepared to talk with recruiters and human resource personnel when they call. Never, and I do mean NEVER, discuss your job search and how it is going with anyone. It is not their business. When a recruiter asks if you have any pending interviews, be firm that you do not discuss your job search. Act like a manager and the one that is in charge. Take control of the conversation. That includes finding out what the job position is. Most recruiter will not initially give out this information, as they want to screen you to see if you have the skillset. They may ask you to describe your ideal job. Try to avoid getting angry or agitated. That only hurts you. Obviously, the answer is any job that pays and is close to home, but you cannot say that, sadly. Tell them what they want to hear. You must tell them that you want to work in that field for which they are calling. How can you do that? You do that by keeping track of which jobs you applied to and having the information at your fingertips indexed by company name and contact person. If someone is calling you, more than likely it is because you applied for the job.

I will give you a word of advice. Be very cautious about giving out your social security number and other key pieces of information. You do not need to fill that out on an initial interview. If it becomes serious, then provide it. If a company requests it for tracking purposes, such as with Bank of America, I would think twice. Companies like Bank of America do not care about you. They could care less. It is up to you to protect your own interests, just as they do their own. I would think twice about applying for those types of jobs. Maybe you want to if the situation is desperate enough, but I would still error on the side of caution.

Searching for a job effectively today cannot be done the old fashioned way. Employers and recruiters have tools to help them, you should as well. More than likely you have either a computer or a laptop. It is time that you get a software program which will help you do the chores related to finding a job. When checking into a software tool, your software tool should allow you to apply for jobs without opening a million tabs. It should assist you with your with resumes and a host of other things.

Be careful to not get flustered and throw up your hands doing a job search. Let us look at a common situation, where this happens. Remember, people will only see the end result, the final email, not all the hard work that went into applying for a job. Job boards are the most notorious, as far as being a pain in the rear. Even so called simple boards, like craigslist, are a pain to use. Take craigslist, in order to apply for a job, you must navigate to a job category and then open up jobs of interest on a separate tab. You then have to open up a new blank email form, one for each job, and then fill out each piece of information that goes into an email, one by one. You can easily spend ten minutes to send out one resume. The work does not end there, as you should keep track of this application, so that you can add information later on and retrieve information later on too. Yes, this part of the job search process is the most tedious and the most dreadful.

Be careful to not feel humiliated dealing with job boards, endlessly rewriting resumes, and especially talking with recruitment and employment contacts endlessly. There is also the matter of a long period of your life, not knowing when money will flow again, without money, seeing your life put on hold. That has an enormously damaging feeling to one's psyche. To avoid these issues, even with help, you should do things that reinforce your sense of self-worth. For different people that can mean different things. Spend a portion of each week reinforcing your self-esteem. That will help you in your job search, as nobody wants to hire a loser.

You should also note that the best time to apply for jobs is the first thing in the morning, so that people see your email when they first get in. If you send out emails on a Sunday or in the afternoon, it will get buried along with other people's email. Did you know that applying for a job on a job board merely sends an email to the person that took out the ad? This restriction puts more pressure on you.

Okay, I suppose that I do not have to tell you, but dress well and dress to impress, even if you are a college graduate. I do not say that lightly. I talk from experience. I was still at college, when I went for my first job interview. I asked my father how I should dress. He told me that I am a student and then will see me as such, so I should dress that way. Not having anyone tell me different, I listened to him. I was taken aside after the interview and given a talk to by the hiring manager about how to dress. Needless to say, I did not get that job. Speaking of learning things through the School of Hard Knocks, and I hold a PhD from that university graduated with high marks, you should listen to criticism and accept it if it is valid, but reject it if you do not feel that it suits you. People say things to help you, but that does not mean that everything that someone says will help you. You know yourself best, but do not be prideful and reject good advice.

If you want to dress well and on a budget, I would recommend JC Penney, if you happen to have one in your area. They have great men's and women's professional outfits at great prices that anyone can afford. I would also check out Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack. Sometimes they have last year's outfits at reduced prices.

When the phone rings and you start talking to someone, if you do not know an answer, do not try to bluff anyone. That looks bad. Jot down the question for latter research, but for the moment just say that you do not know. The worst that can happen is that you blow the conversation, but will learn the question for the next person that calls. Many company's do a phone screen at first, so expect that.

More than likely, if you get the job, then you will get the offer within a day, most likely within a short time of the interview. When interviewers keep interviewing, then they did not like you. It is as simple as that, although they may interview other people and then get back to you, so you never know.

There is a job for everyone, just as there is that certain someone for everyone. You have to be persistent and stay in there. Keep up the education. If there is a long period of unaccounted for time in your resume, add in short block to account for the period. I would recommend adding in some sort of education. That can show people that your skills are still relevant.

The first step to finding a job is to stay focused and come up with a plan. Decide that you will apply to jobs. Do that like you would any other chore that you do every day. The most important thing is to not get discouraged and remember that you are a valuable person. Be creative.

By following these steps, you will see that the phone will start to ring and you will get interviews, both phone and onsite. From there, it is up to you. Be positive and smile at the interview. Do not forget to shake the person's hand.

Let me know your thoughts. I would like to hear from you. You can leave a comment on the blog or by sending an email via the site.

Job Seekers - GET OUT

By Meredith Masse

Job Vacancy Indonesia, Employee, Vacancy   

If you're like most job seekers, you're spending your day searching job boards, sending your resume fiendishly to anything that looks close to what you might want to do and crossing your fingers that someone...ANYONE... will just call you in for an interview.

My friends, it's time for a change. First... So you're feeling a little... let's face it... unmotivated, maybe bordering on apathetic. It happens to all of us at one time or another so first, please know: YOU ARE COMPLETELY NORMAL. You're allowed to have your feelings, and I always encourage family, friends and clients alike to REALLY FEEL them. What you're going through right now is no fun to say the least. But I also would not be doing my job and fulfilling my mission if I were to let you stay there too long. So this is your official kick in the pants. Get up. No, really, right now. Stretch. Take three deep mind-clearing breaths. And set your mind to GET OUT. Out of your doldrums AND out from behind that computer. That's right: it's time to DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

"GET OUT? BUT WHERE?" My strongest recommendation for your "theme" for the next month:

GET OUT! Step away from the computer and get your face out there in front of people who can hire you, recommend you, refer you. Some ideas (and I and other readers welcome your comments below with more suggestions!):

CHECK THE CHAMBER. Does your local Chamber do ribbon cuttings for new members? You will find attendees to these events aren't the typical cast and crew of most networking events. Go and be ready to introduce yourself to all the new faces.

ATTEND GRAND OPENINGS. Keep an eye out for the businesses that are opening their doors at grand opening events. Again, not the usual cast of characters and a great way to meet the people from the surrounding businesses. Open houses, too. If you know of businesses holding open houses, go! For all the same reasons noted above.

GET SOME CLASS. Go to a computer class, a LinkedIn class, a class related to your hobby (art, cooking, wine tasting, pottery, quilting, golf, exercise, fly fishing...), something that engages your brain, helps you learn a new or keep up a skill, gets you into a space with others who are doing the same. The trick is you cannot be shy. Again, introduce yourself and start to make new connections.

"MEET UP." Love hiking? Speaking a foreign language? Check local "meet-ups" in your area to find like-minded people who enjoy the same activities you do. You'll have one thing instantly in common and may find that will accelerate the ice breaking to start talking about how you can support one another in other ways. You support them with what they need; they'll support you in your job search.

VOLUNTEER. Everyone and their grandmother will tell you that volunteering is a great resume builder and that volunteers often have the first "in" for positions as they are available. ("Duh," Meredith.) But I'm talking about volunteering for the sheer joy of helping someone (or some "thing," cause, crusade, etc.) else other than yourself. Go give to someone else selflessly for a day. Consider volunteering for a cause where you stay busy helping others and focus on their challenges rather than your own. Helping others gives you the satisfaction of knowing you are making a difference in the world. That alone will elevate your mood. And don't ignore those other volunteers. Have I said it enough? Introduce yourself and really connect with the other volunteers. You never know who they know.

GO TO LUNCH. Schedule lunch with former colleagues, community connections, employed friends and others who might know people you need to know who can help in your search. Buy them lunch (or coffee) in exchange for time to tap their expertise. Tapping into their ego in this way works. EVERYONE loves to be asked for their expert $0.02 and advice. Everyone. And it gets you out of the house. Be prepared with specifics you want to ask about. Make the most of your time and theirs. In the process you're starting to create champions and advocates for " Cause: You."

ASK. All this "getting out" is all very well and good, but make the most of it and ask people with whom you are developing these relationships for help with exactly what you need: introductions and referrals. Get specific: "I would love to meet anyone who works in XYZ industry, ABC company or holds 123 position in an organization. Do you know someone like that you could introduce me to?" Or "I saw an opening at ACME Company and remember you mentioning you knew people there. Would you help me be get my resume in front of some people there?"

FOLLOW-UPING. My friend TC (Very Direct Marketing) coined the term to replace that nasty "c-c" word we all hate (Cold-calling). As you GET OUT and build your "database" (little black book, contacts in your Blackberry, friends on Facebook, connections on LinkedIn), you have to stay in touch. Contact them at least once a month to stay top of mind (another favorite TC-ism) and remind them how they can hep you. This includes your best friend's mother, the manicurist at the salon where you get your hair done even if she doesn't do your nails, the guy at Goodyear who changes the oil in your car, your favorite bartender and her manager.

"WHY BOTHER?" BECAUSE NETWORKING WORKS. "But, Meredith, I hate networking." Maybe this will help motivate you to change your mind:

• 75-85% of job openings are never published on those job boards you so love to spend your time on.
• Even better, 70-80% of job seekers report finding their "next position" through networking.

Enough said?

"WHAT DO I NEED?" A eye catching - kick butt - top of mind resume! Even with all the social media in the world, you still have to have a resume. Consider it your personal brochure that answers, "What's in it for me if I hire you?" every hiring manager is asking. ( Resume help here! ) A decent 30-second "commercial" describing what you're looking for, what you offer and how others can help. Again, the more specific, the easier it is for people to know how to help you. Personal business cards. Yes, get business cards even if there's no company and title to put on them yet. Include all your contact information and consider using the space on the back of the card to put some "promotional" wording about why YOU are the best one for the job. VistaPrint.com has a nice selection of FREE business cards. You pay shipping. A little courage. I promise, with practice, it gets easier.

Again, step away from the computer. And when you do, report back here! Tell us about your successes. Recall your funniest snafus. Let us help you refine your networking techniques to help you land that job faster!

The Government Pay Scale

By Steven Bronsons

Job Vacancy Indonesia, Employee, Vacancy 

Government jobs always score high when compared to any other job. There are lots of people who show a great amount of interest in these government jobs because of the kind of security it offers. Just a year ago the world was struck with recession.

Lots of private companies had to cut down their expenses and as a result of which many people lost their jobs. The craze for the government jobs have increased after this incident. If you are a resident of America then you might be aware of the federal jobs that are so much popular.

The federal government is known to employ at least thousands of people each year. Other than this you will be overwhelmed to learn that 3 million people in America work with the government. There are lots of other benefits that are offered to the government employers.

First of all you might be aware of the government pat scale. Other than the salary they also offer different kinds of insurances as other benefits. This is the reason why people are interested in the government jobs these days.

The government pay scale is usually decided according to the level in which you work. The federal jobs are usually divided into levels and they are known as GS. The levels start from GS1 and can go up to GS15. The salary increases as you go up the level.

Other than the levels there are certain steps present in the level. As you go to up the steps the salary keeps on increasing. The starting salary of the federal government employee is usually 16,000 or even more. There are ten steps in each level.

When you reach step 10 in the first level your salary increases to 20,000 and even more. The federal government pay scale is equally distributed. When you reach the last level your government pay scale increases a lot.

The levels are usually divided according to the skills and qualifications that you have. GS1 level is meant for the entry level jobs. If you can increase your qualification then you can surely go to the top levels present in the federal government jobs. People who are employed in the top levels usually get the research positions.

The government pay scale for them is really high. To understand the federal pay scale you need a lot of reading as well as comprehension. The time you spend in each of the levels will help you learn the job and will also help you make advances in your career.

You need to give at least two to three years time to each of the steps. When you reach step 10 you can think of moving to the next level and hence you pay scale will increase up to a certain extent.

These jobs are very much popular in America. Some of the cities where you can try for these jobs are Colorado, Ohio, Alaska, Oklahoma and many more. To get proper interview calls you must also pay attention to ksa writing.

How to Get Started on Your Resume: A Five-Step Primer for Established Job-seekers and Career-Changers

by Katharine Hansen, Ph.D.

Careers , Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy

As an established job-seeker, you probably have a resume. Thus, getting started on the resume that will take you to the next rung in your career ladder may be a simple matter of spiffing up your existing document using guidelines in this article and many other resume resources on Quintessential Careers.

But some established job-seekers do have to start from square one. I sometimes hear from job-seekers that they have been recruited into most of their jobs or obtained them through networking and have not needed a resume. Or they have not needed one in such a long time that the resume they have is quite outdated.

Most people find the idea of creating a resume overwhelming. Even the notion of revamping an existing resume can be daunting.

This article takes you through the steps to getting started on your resume and provides a refresher if you have a resume that needs updating and polishing.

Step 1: Consider whether you really want to tackle your resume on your own

Consider hiring a professional resume writer. An investment in a professionally crafted resume can pay off big time. There's no shame in hiring a professional resume writer. You hire doctors, lawyers, financial advisers, and tax consultants when you lack the expertise in those areas, so why should resume-writing be different? Many employers and even more recruiters actually encourage the idea of professionally written resumes because hiring managers want to obtain your information in a reader-friendly form that clearly tells how you can benefit the organization.

See our article Why Hire a Professional Resume Writer?.

Step 2: Review resume samples to get ideas for wording, layout, and current resume trends.

If you decide to take on your resume without professional help, looking at sample resumes will give you ideas that you may want to apply to your own document. For content, you'll want to review resumes in your own and similar professions, but resumes for other occupations can offer ideas for resume organization and layout.

By looking at samples, you'll get a sense for the sections that are typically included on a resume and how those sections are organized. You'll see how resume bullet points are worded. You'll get ideas for distinctive resume designs that will help you stand out.

You can find samples in many resume books, all over the Internet, and of course, here at Quintessential Careers. See our resume samples here.

Step 3: Prepare to craft your resume by brainstorming and gathering information.

The resume-preparation step comprises several sub-steps:

1. Determine the focus of your resume. What kind of job or jobs will you be targeting? Your resume must target your desired career goal with precision. Job-seekers tend to forget that employers review resumes extremely quickly -- often in just a few seconds. An employer taking such a quick glance should be able to immediately grasp what you want to do and have a sense of the value you can contribute to the organization. Your resume must focus on key strengths that position you to meet a specific need and target specific jobs/employers. In other words, employers give little consideration to one-size-fits-all resumes that aren't focused on a job's specific requirements.

2. Decide whether you will need multiple versions of your resume in your quest to target different types of jobs. Since specifically targeted resumes are much more effective that "general" resumes, you may need more than one resume if you are open to more than one type of job. At the very least, you'll want to tweak and customize your boilerplate resume for each job you apply for. See our Cover Letter and Resume Customization Worksheet. You may also need more than one resume format. While chronological resumes are the strong preference of most hiring decision-makers, you may be in a situation in which a chrono-functional resume would be more effective -- or you may want to experiment with both formats. Read our article What Resume Format is Best for You?

3. Identify the audience for your resume. Will it go primarily to recruiters? Directly to hiring managers? Will you use it mostly for networking and career fairs? Each audience will require small tweaks in your resume presentation. For example, you'll probably want to stick to one page for networking and career fairs. For recruiters, provide substantial information about each organization you worked for and your reporting relationships. Research the preferences of your target audience.

4. Brainstorm your accomplishments and results. Your resume must -- with a future-oriented flavor -- emphasize results, outcomes, and career-defining performance indicators. Using numbers, context, and meaningful metrics (e.g., previous years' performance, competitors, counterparts, forecasts/projections/quotas, industry trends), the resume must paint a picture of you in action -- meeting needs/challenges, solving problems, impacting the company's big picture, growing the business, enhancing revenue, and driving profits. Concrete, measurable accomplishments are the points that really help sell you to an employer -- much more so than everyday job duties. If you can achieve the important step of identifying your accomplishments, the rest will fall into place as you work through the remainder of this article. Read our article For Job-Hunting Success: Track and Leverage Your Accomplishments and use our Job-Seeker Accomplishments Worksheet to help.

5. Compile your employment data. For the experience section of your resume, you'll need the name of each employer, location (city and state), and dates of employment (starting and ending month and year). Resist the temptation to refer to employer-supplied job descriptions in composing your resume; job-description language is the antithesis of accomplishments-rich verbiage that makes a resume effective.

6. Develop a branding message that you will execute not only in your resume, but also in all your other job-search communications. Today's resume communicates a brand relevant to targeted employers. The branding expressed in your resume captures your career identity, authenticity, passion, essence, and image. "Branding is... best defined as a promise," says my partner, Randall Hansen, founder of Quintessential Careers,"... a promise of the value of the product… a promise that the product is better than all the competing products… a promise that must be delivered to be successful. Branding is the combination of tangible and intangible characteristics that make a brand unique. Branding is developing an image -- with results to match." If you have not already developed a personal brand for your job search, do so as you prepare to craft your resume. See our article Branding Your Resume and our branding resources.

Step 4: Just do it. Get words on paper.

Sometimes the best way to get started on your resume is to just start writing in a Word or text document (Notepad or WordPad, for example). Just jot down your version of the typical components of a resume (that you've seen in the samples you've reviewed) and worry about formatting, fine-tuning, and polishing later.

Also consider developing the components of your resume through our worksheets:

* Keywords Worksheet -- use this worksheet to help identify keywords for use in your resume and cover letter. These keywords will likely vary according to job/type of job you are seeking.
* Resume Components Worksheet -- a critical worksheet to help you develop every aspect of your resume. Whether you're starting your resume from scratch or just tweaking an existing document, use this worksheet to make your resume sparkle.
* Resume Professional Profile/Qualifications Summary Worksheet -- use this worksheet to help you develop bullet points for this very important resume section. You may want to tweak the section slightly for each job/type of job you apply for. (Not aware of this section of a resume? Check out: Fundamentals of a Good Chronological Resume.)
* Especially vital for career-changers is our Transferable Skills Worksheet -- use this worksheet to develop lists of skills and examples of how you've used them. Determine which skills are transferable and applicable to each job/type of job you plan to apply for, and plan how to portray those skills in your resume and cover letter.

Now, put all the components together, using the organizational and layout models you've admired in the samples you've reviewed. As you'll note in most sample, the majority of items on a resume are presented as bullet points, and most of those bullet points kick off with powerful action verbs. See a list of sample verbs here and samples of action verbs in use here.

Step 5: Edit, proofread, and polish your resume.

Edit your resume to make sure the wording is the best it can be. Cut out all unnecessary words. Ensure that each bullet point packs a punch.

Typos, misspellings, missing words, and weak grammar can kill all your good efforts in constructing your resume. Proofread, and then put your resume down for a while before proofing again. A good technique for catching errors you would not otherwise notice is to read your resume from the bottom up. Then ask friends or family to proof it for you.

How does your resume look? Is it pleasing to the eye? Is the type size and font easily readable? Can the reader's eye easily follow the resume's organization? Are the margins wide enough? These are all aspects of polishing your resume.

Polishing can also include getting the opinion of others. Enlist members of your network (especially those who share your profession) to read your resume with an eye toward answering the question, "If you were hiring for the type of job I seek, how would you respond to this resume?" You can also self-critique your resume using our Resume Critique Worksheet. Finally, consider having your resume critiqued by a professional resume writer. Resume critiques are usually quite inexpensive or even free because resume writers use them as tools to promote their resume-writing services.

Finally, consider file formats (beyond the standard Word .doc) that you may need for your resume -- such as ASCII text, HTML, or PDF. See our article Your E-Resume's File Format Aligns with its Delivery Method.

Final Thoughts
Don't forget all the other components of your job search as you craft your resume.

A resume is an important part of your job search, but it's far from the only component. Remember that you'll also need a cover letter for each job you apply for and a references sheet separate from your resume. You may want both a print and an online career portfolio. You'll also want to shore up your network and prepare for interviews.