Finding a job is hard.  Now try and find a job you love…that’s even harder. 

But, it is possible.

Most people don’t treat job searching like a real job. A lot of the time that could be spent on finding a job you love is squandered. You can actually find a job much, much faster if you eliminated time wasting activities from your day to day schedule.

These are three of the most important ones to tackle.

Checking Email and Facebook

Checking your email is important when you’re searching for jobs, because potential employers may contact you by email.

However, checking your email more than two or three times a day is just counter productive. If you’re refreshing your email constantly, perhaps once every hour, you’re just wasting time and energy.

The same is even truer with Facebook. Unless you’re reaching out to your social contacts for job leads with Facebook, you shouldn’t check it any more than once a day for a few minutes.

It’s very tempting to burn time on the internet when you’re job hunting. It can help alleviate stress and it feels like you’re doing something. In reality however, it’s wasted time that could be spent on job searching.

Constantly Checking the Job Boards

Sites like Monster.com, CareerBuilder.com and Craigslist get new posts every day. It definitely makes sense to check these sites daily.

However, it doesn’t make any sense to check them hourly. Sitting in front of your computer and refreshing these sites constantly is not the most productive use of your time.

Being the first resume to reply to an ad doesn’t mean you’re any more likely to get the job. Most prospective employer won’t be sitting in front of their computers reading every resume as it comes in.

Instead, most employers will wait a day or two then go through every resume that was sent in. So as long as you get your resume in within the first 24 hours, you’ll be fine.

Check the job boards no more than twice a day.

Doing Nothing

Finally, the biggest, worst and easiest to fall for time waster is doing nothing.

Being unemployed shouldn’t be a ticket to laziness. At least not if you want to find a job.

There are so many things you could be doing that’ll increase your chances of finding a job you love. These range from fixing your resume to reaching out to your network to applying to jobs by email to even just by walking in the door of companies you want to work for.

What Next

Treat your job search as a full time job.

Write out task lists and perform them systematically.

These three time wasting activities can literally suck up as much as 80% of your time. If you eliminate them from your daily schedule, your chances of getting a job will increase exponentially.

Find a Job You Love Quicker by NOT Doing These 3 Things is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

You might also like to read:

1. 6 Ways to Use Twitter to Find Your Next Job
2. The Five Things Job Recruiters Want From You Now
3. Why You’re Not Getting Hired

Learning how to build rapport like a seasoned pro isn’t hard.

Building rapport with clients or other business partners will help you to connect better and eventually grow your sphere of influence.

Basically, you just need a few solid rapport building techniques and you’ll find yourself developing super business contacts in no time.

Here are 6 tips to enhance your business communication skills and build rapport with your network.

1. Smile

You look fantastic, now you just need the final wardrobe accessory…a smile. Always smile when you’re meeting someone, people respond better to a friendly face.

2. Remember Names

Repeat the individual’s name when you’re introduced and say it again when you’re saying goodbye this conveys interest (and people love to hear their name).

3. Firm Handshake

A firm handshake helps to make a great first impression and expresses trust.

4. Make Eye Contact

Eye contact shows you’re interested in the individual and communicates confidence.

5. Match Speech Speed & Volume

Mirroring speech patterns is a plus because people will feel you’re “tracking” with them and establishes a bond.

6. Find Similarities

People like people similar to themselves and in turn they’ll be more receptive to you.

So you see, learning how to build rapport is really quite simple.  Once you incorporate these 6 tips in to your conversations, you’ll find business communications go even smoother.  Clients and business partners will bond with you and you’ll be able to grow your network and your business with solid relationships.

One More Thought

While you’re at it, why not try these tips out in your personal interactions and see how people respond.  Chances are your personal relationships will also benefit (who knows, they could result in business contacts too).

What do you think?  What other “rapport builders” would you include?  Leave your tips and comments in the box below.

How to Build Rapport Like A Pro (And Convey Charisma) is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

You might also like to read:

1. How to Build Your Brand

Salary negotiation can be one of the trickiest aspects of interviewing for a job.

If you do it properly, your salary negotiation can be as much as 25% more than if you negotiate salary poorly. If you’re in the job for years or decades, that 25% can really add up.

On the other hand, bringing up pay at the wrong time or in the wrong way may actually reduce your chances of getting the job in the first place.

When should you bring up pay in an interview?

And how do you go about salary negotiation once the topic is on the table?

The Timing: Wait for Them to Love You

If you were considering buying a house, would you talk about price before you’ve decided you’re interested? Probably not.

You’ll want to see as many houses as you can first, until you find one you fall in love with. Then you negotiate for the best deal you can on that house. You’ll likely be willing to pay quite a bit more for the home you fell in love with than a house that you were just kicking the tires on.

The same is true when an employer is thinking about hiring you. They may ask questions like “What kind of salary are you looking for?” before they’re actually serious.

But the best time for you, the interviewee, to really answer these questions is once the employer has already decided they want you on their team.

Once they’ve decided that, you have much more leverage. You’ll be able to negotiate a much better deal.

In other words, try not to address pay at all until everything else has been discussed and it seems like there’s a good fit.

Tips for Negotiating the Best Salary

Before you even walk into the room, do your research.

What does this company pay other people on their staff?

For large companies, you may be able to find out by doing some in-depth searching online.

For smaller companies, you’ll likely have to try to find out by talking to people. If you don’t know anyone in the company, you’ll have to gauge by getting a sense of the overall industry.

For example, if you’re interviewing for a small solar company and can’t find out how much they pay, instead try to find out the average salary for other people in your position in the solar industry.

Know what value you bring to the company.

Know what problems you’re solving for them that other people can’t solve. This will give you a good idea of what you’re worth to the company.

Be willing to say no.

Have several options so you can create the impression that you can walk away if they don’t present you with a great offer.

Negotiating salary is both an art and a science. Be prepared when you walk into the interview and only talk about salary in concrete terms once they’ve already decided they want to work with you.

What do you think? What other “salary negotiation” strategies would you include? Leave your questions and comments in the box below.

Savvy Salary Negotiation Tips is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F91IOp2fb1A

Click here to Download Your Action Plan to Achieve Your Goals

Don’t you just love the beginning of the year?

So many exciting possibilities…

So many exciting plans…

Now you just need a way to organize all the things you would like to achieve.

Not to mention a way to filter your list of what you actually will do and what is nice, but probably won’t get done.

And finally, how will you get these tasks done, because you are busy with regular “life stuff”.

Well, it’s possible to achieve what’s most important to YOU!

Click here to download your FREE (No Sign-Up or No Survey required) Achieve Your Goals Tool Kit

How to Achieve Your Goals in 2012 is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

There’s no tool more powerful than LinkedIn when searching for a job.

With over thirty five million members and a network that includes everyone from ground level employees to Fortune 100 CEOs, you’re really missing out if you’re not taking full advantage of the power of LinkedIn.

If you’re looking for a job, here are the most important things you need to know about LinkedIn.

How Recommendations Work

Recommendations are professional “testimonials” for you written by other people who have a professional relationship with you.

These recommendations can be from past employers, past managers or even from people you’ve managed in the past. You can also get recommendations from big clients you worked with.

The goal of recommendations is to give prospective employers more of a sense of who you are and to build credibility.

Both the quality of your recommendations and the quantity matter. Someone with 10 recommendations looks a lot more solid than someone with just one or two.

A good recommendation should be one that’s very specific about the qualities that they liked about you when they worked with you, these qualities also support your brand.

LinkedIn’s “Company Profiles”

LinkedIn has many company finding capabilities that can lead you to job opportunities you may never have thought of yourself.

For example, let’s say you’re a programmer in the San Francisco area.

By going to the “Company Profiles” area of LinkedIn, you can find out the job history of everyone who works at a certain company.

Using this feature, you can compile a giant list of all the companies in your area that hire people like you.

You can also use the “Company Profiles” feature to see where people go after they leave that company. This can be very useful for finding companies that are hiring right now.

In other words, if you notice that a lot of people are leaving firms in your area to join a certain firm and it all happened in the last 3 months, that might be a very good company to contact and see if they have openings.

Getting the Foot In the Door

LinkedIn will tell you exactly how “close” you are to other people on LinkedIn. It does these through degrees of separations.

You can find out if anyone in your network works in companies that you might want to work for. It can also tell you if you know anyone who knows anyone in companies you’d like to work for.

Using the degrees of separation feature, you can easily find people who can help get you through the job hiring process.

These are some of the most important things every job seeker needs to know about using LinkedIn for job search. LinkedIn is one of the most powerful and essential tools for finding a job in today’s job market.

If you’re on Linkedin, let’s connect.

If you’re not and would like a little help setting up your profile contact, send me (Theresa) an email – I’ll help set you up.

LinkedIn Job Search Benefits: 3 Important Tips Know is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

You might also like to read:

1. 4 Tips for Networking with Strangers on Linkedin
2. How to Search for a Job Online
3. 4 Job Search De-Stressing Tips

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LptAKDiXjzA

Business attire fashion can be tricky, especially when you are trying to convey a message of confidence, but you want to look terrific.  When meeting new contacts it’s crucial to leave a great impression and what you wear has a impact.

This one outfit will become your “go-to” business attire when you want to make a great great impression!

Click this link to join us on  Facebook for more business etiquette tips. >> http://www.facebook.com/BusinessEtiquetteBasics

Business Attire: Fashion to Look Fantastic at Any Business Event is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

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2. How to Look Chic at Social Events
3. Women’s Business Clothes: Women’s Business Clothes: Dress Pants

One of the most effective strategies any job seeker has at their arsenal to search for a job online.

Employers are increasingly turning to the internet to find potential candidates. It’s both more effective and cheaper than more traditional means of finding job candidates.

How do you search for a job online?

Follow these tips.

Clean Up Your Digital Identities

Tech savvy employers are going to start by Googling you and looking you up on Facebook and Twitter. Before you do anything else, you need to make sure that whatever prospective employers look, they will find positive things.

Google yourself and see what comes up. If old posts or out of date information comes up, see if you can take it down or update it.

If there are pieces of information or pages that you don’t have access to, the best you can really do is create your own page and try to get it above the irrelevant pages.

Make sure you own your name’s domain – E.g. YourName.com.

Remove any unprofessional photos you have on your Facebook.

Make sure you change your profile photo to something presentable.

Start a Blog On Your Industry

One of the most powerful ways to make an impression on a prospective employer is to start an influential blog in your industry.

For example, if you’re looking for work in the search engine optimization industry, start a blog on search engine optimization.

Discuss the latest techniques and changes in the industry. Share your personal opinions.

Prospective employers who’re researching you will be able to see that you have initiative, you’re intelligent and you’re competent based on your blog.

Searching for Jobs Online

There are many places you can search for a job online.

First of all there’s Craigslist, a free classifieds board. Because it’s free, there’s a very high volume of postings. Unfortunately, because it’s free, the quality of jobs is often lower than paid sites.

Other job posting sites like Monster.com or Career Builder are also great for finding job. Keep in mind that anytime you try to find a job with a job board website you’ll be up against a fair amount of competition.

Finally, you can find jobs using social networking sites like Twitter,  Facebook and especially LinkedIn.

These social networking sites will allow you to do two things.

First of all, let everyone in your network know that you’re on the job market.

Second, you can also use it to find people in companies that you might want to work in.

These are just a few of the ways you can search for a job online. Time spent exploring online tools for job hunting is time well spent.

What  strategies have worked for your job search?

How to Search for a Job Online is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

You might also like to read:

1. LinkedIn Job Search Benefits: 3 Important Tips Know
2. How to Use Social Media in Your Job Search
3. How’s Your Job Search Going? How About a Boost?

Gaps in employment are easier to fill than you might think.

One of the biggest troubles about extended unemployment is that being the fact that you were unemployed can make it more difficult to get employed in the future.

It’s not that employers are discriminating; it’s just that in many professions, being unemployed also means your skills are rusting.

If you’re an engineer for example, if you haven’t fixed a piece of machinery for a year, chances are you’re going to need some re-training when you start up on the job again.

If an employer is presented with a choice of 20 candidates and one candidate has holes in their resume that can’t be explained, chances are that candidate isn’t going to get picked.

But if you have gaps in employment, don’t panic!

There are many ways you can patch gaps in employment and actually have them come across as a positive thing, making you seem more employable!

The main thing employers don’t want to see is someone who spent 6 months or more doing nothing related to their profession.

Make it Seem Like You Developed Skills

If you’re having trouble finding a job, why not spend an hour or two a day taking some sort of class?

Even if you just took one or two classes over a six month period, you can put the course in your resume. You can claim you took a personal break, but also used the opportunity to develop new professional skills.

This shows initiative and also gives the impression that your skills have improved rather than deteriorated.

Volunteer for Projects in Your Field

Volunteer to help with projects that are in your area of expertise.

If you’re a graphic designer, offer to do some pro-bono work for various non-profit organizations.

If you’re an engineer, why not help solar companies install solar panels for free?

If you’re a lawyer, why not take on a few pro-bono cases while you’re looking for your next employer?

By volunteering your time to worthwhile causes, you make your employment gap seem like it was spent doing something meaningful, while also keeping your skills sharp.

Get Creative

There are many ways you can make it seem like your skills stayed sharp or improved during your time off.

You can take on freelance projects. You can even start a small business.

The main thing employers don’t want to see is someone who spent 6 months or more doing nothing related to their profession.

Realistically, that’s not very good from a skill perspective either. Even if you lied on your job application and filled gaps in employment by extending your jobs, chances are your employer will be able to spot the rustiness in your skills.

Don’t try to fake it.

Instead, fill your gaps in employment by actually doing something productive. Just one or two projects or one or two classes are all you need to fill several months of gaps.

How to Fill Gaps in Employment is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

Business dining etiquette is crucial and can help you make a tremendous impact in your business meeting.

It is often said that respect begets respect. This only goes to show the importance of the practice of business etiquette whether you are dealing with long-time or new-found clients as well as with your other business associates.

The corporate world is a host to a wide range of possibilities. Nowadays, many business opportunities no longer transpire within the four walls of the office. Many professionals conduct transactions over meals. Some of them are done while playing golf, during some special business functions, and during some entertainment events. Needless to say, the restaurants are among the common venues where contracts are signed and business deals are closed.

Here are five essential business dining etiquette tips that you should observe to set yourself up for the most successful outcome.

Arrive Early

Prior to the actual meeting itself, you have to come up with a schedule.

• Is it going to be at breakfast time?
• Is it at lunchtime?
• Or will you have dinner instead?

Whichever schedule you settle with, what is very important is that you arrive at the venue earlier than your client does. Don’t let your client wait for you. Being on time,  preferably ahead of time, is a sign of courtesy and respect. By arriving early you have more time to get settled, to use the restroom, to check your documents, to warm up with your dialogues, and anything else you need to do before your meeting.

Research

There are instances when it is the client who suggests the venue of the business meeting. If the place is unfamiliar to you, it is vital that you do your own research.

Check out the website of the restaurant, make phone calls, or ask other colleagues for directions and any other helpful tips regarding the venue.

Some restaurants are hard to find or the parking might be a little tricky. By asking around or doing a “dry-run” before you’ll be prepared and won’t be caught off guard.

It will also be helpful if you check out their menu beforehand, so that you already know what to order for yourself. Doing so will save you from wasting too much time.  Your guest, however should not be rushed.

To Drink or Not To Drink

Before the business meal itself, it is best to determine if it’s appropriate to order alcoholic beverages.  If you are not sure, ask others who know the individual. Of course, you have to know your own responsibility as you drink. More so, be sure that you know your own capacity to tolerate such alcoholic beverage.  As a “safe” rule-of-thumb, it’s best to refrain from ordering alcoholic beverages for breakfast and lunch meetings.  During dinner meetings it’s more acceptable to order a bottle of wine, that is if your guest will join you.  If your client or associate is not at all a drinker, then skip it.

Small Talk

What are you supposed to discuss for the meeting? You may start the conversation with some hints about sports, travel, business trends, current events, entertainment, etc. Small talk helps to set the mood of the business meeting. As soon as you feel that your guest is already settled, then it is appropriate to discuss the purpose of the meeting.

The Check

You may or may not be paying for the meal. However, there are times when the total amount of the meal may exceed that what you have previously expected. In times like these, your extra cash can save the day. It’s also worth mentioning that even though it is infrequent, not all restaurants accept credit cards or check payments!

Business dining etiquette is something that develops over time and you need to integrate it into your own style. Watch others, see what stands out – good and bad – and incorporate the good into your business dining etiquette SOP (Standard Operating Procedure). Proper manners impress clients and associates, you’ll come across as having charisma, and encourages long-term business relationships.

What business dining etiquette tips have work well for you?

5 Essential Business Dining Etiquette Tips is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

You might also like to read:

1. Business Etiquette Tips: What is the Proper Handshake Etiquette When Seated?
2. Dining Etiquette – European vs. American Dining Style
3. Dining Etiquette – The Basics

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRyhYsnc3Uo

Social events are great and usually a lot of fun. However, have you ever had to “juggle” your plate and glass around to free up your hand when you were being introduced to someone?

This easy technique will solve that problem forever and you’ll look chic at all your social events!

Click this link to join us at  Facebook for more chic etiquette  tips. >> http://www.facebook.com/BusinessEtiquetteBasics

How to Look Chic at Social Events is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

You might also like to read:

1. How to Break the Ice at Networking Events
2. Business Attire: Fashion to Look Fantastic at Any Business Event
3. How to Use Social Media in Your Job Search

The image you project when you are meeting an individual for the first time is long-lasting.  Your initial handshake is very important for making a great first impression.

So…

Is it OK to stay seated when you’re introduced and shake hands from a seated position?

No. It’s proper manners to stand when meeting someone for the first time.

In addition to standing, make sure to smile and make eye contact.

What if there is not enough room to stand?

If you find that there’s not enough room, then it’s OK partially stand and shake hands.

To add an extra bit of manners, say something like,

“Excuse me for not standing, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

The individual will see that you are making an effort to be polite.

There are many ways to make a lasting first impression and taking the time to stand and shake hands always show great manners.

Business Etiquette Tips: What is the Proper Handshake Etiquette When Seated? is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

You might also like to read:

1. 5 Essential Business Dining Etiquette Tips
2. Dining Etiquette – The Basics
3. Business Etiquette: 4 Key Cultural Basics

Brush up your job application email skills and stand out!

If you’ve been out of the job market for a awhile, it’s a whole new environment. Not only do you have to contend with hundreds of other job candidates, but you have to brush up on how to present your job application, so it get the attention it deserves.

Today the internet has more or less taken over the job search market. When someone wants to find a job, they don’t go to the newspaper, but Craigslist, Monster or LinkedIn.

Because of this, it’s becoming increasingly more and more important for candidates to learn how to write job applications that stand out.

It’s important to remember that many of these job positions will receive dozens, even hundreds of applications, often within just a few days of posting their listing.

If you want to stand a chance of getting the job, you need to be able to cut through all that clutter and make an impression on the recruiter.

Here’s how to do that.

Start With an Attention Catching Subject

The first thing a recruiter’s going to do when he checks his email is scan through all the subjects. Your subject needs to jump out and grab his attention.

Try to highlight just one thing about you that might interest the recruiter.

For example, if you’re applying for a programming job, good subjects might include:

• “Former Google Employee”
• “Security Expert Fluent in 7 Programming Languages”
• “Programmer Who Gets Things Done – Examples Inside”

The Body Copy

Your first sentence and your first paragraph is your most important chance to get their attention. Present the most powerful things you have going for you as quickly and concisely as possible.

If you have a reference or a contact in common, state that right upfront. For someone who’s getting a lot of emails, knowing someone they know can make a big difference.

Often times arranging your best points in bullet format will make reading easier than in paragraph format. Also, your paragraphs should be short, not huge block of sentences.  Huge block are hard to read and people just don’t have time.  More on this in the next point…

Keep it Short

It’s tempting to want to go into all kinds of details about yourself and why you’d be a good candidate. Refrain from doing so.

Have no more than 4 short paragraphs or 3 medium paragraphs in your email. Your whole email should be about half a page long, perhaps even less.

Remember: Recruiters are scanning many emails at once. They don’t have the time to read your whole email in depth.

Make it short and concise. If you get the interview, you can give all the details then.

Have a Visually Appealing Resume

What looks good on a computer screen and what looks good on paper are slightly different.

On a computer screen, you can use just a tad bit more graphics to spruce up your resume without it looking tacky.

Definitely use a PDF attachment rather than a DOC attachment. It just comes off much more professional. If you have a cover letter, just put it in the same document as your resume as the first page. Don’t use two attachments.

Quick Tip: How do you create a PDF?

1. Have your document open.
2. Select to Print. Select PDF (see image below).
3. Select Save as PDF.

Hocus-pocus, now your Word document is in PDF format!

When you combine all of these suggestions together, you’ll present yourself as a great candidate and your application will get the attention it deserves. The job search process is just that, a process.  You will find a great opportunity, however, it requires persistence, consistence, and patience.

How to Write a Job Application Email That Gets Attention is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

You might also like to read:

1. Proper email etiquette with corporate comedian Greg Schwem
2. Lying on Your Job Application – What Can Happen?

Great job interviewing skills include being able to highlight your experience and strengths.  However, accomplishing this without sounding like you’re boasting can be a bit of a challenge.

Your goal in an interview should be to convince the interviewer that you’re competent and that you’re the right person for the job. To do that, you can’t be afraid of showing off your strengths. However, being too boastful is also a big turnoff for employers.

So, how do you walk this delicate balance?

Stick With the Facts

If you increased your last company’s website traffic by 77%, stick to that fact. Talk about how you did it in a systematic way.

Leave out your personal opinions. Don’t tell them how nobody else could have done it or how your co-workers thought you were a hero.

If what you’ve done in the past is impressive, the facts will speak for themselves.

In fact, a person who achieves impressive results while being slightly self-deprecating is often more impressive than someone who’s full of themselves.

Be Assertive on Important Points, Back Off on the Rest

If your job is to increase website traffic, don’t be afraid to let your interviewers know that you can’t program and can’t build websites.

Always be assertive on the most important points in your job description. For example, if your job is to improve manufacturing efficiency, that’s the one area where you simply can’t afford to be overly modest.

However, in any other area, don’t be afraid to back down and be a little more modest.

Nobody can be good at everything. Anyone who tries to sound like they’re great at everything is more likely to raise disbelief than garner respect.

Be Detailed in Your Weaknesses

One question that’s often asked in job interviews is,

“What do you think are your 3 greatest strengths and your 3 greatest weaknesses?”

Many interviewees try to answer this question in a way that doesn’t really shed any light on their real weaknesses.

However, a much better approach to this question is to be very honest with your weaknesses. This allows you to in turn be very honest with your strengths.

If your job is to improve mechanical efficiency for example, you can “brag” a lot more about your strengths and your results if you’re not afraid that you have trouble managing larger teams of people.

Your strengths just seem more believable when offset by weaknesses. Again however, your weaknesses should be in areas that are not in the core job description of the job you’re applying for. Don’t say you can’t manage people if you’re interviewing for a project management position.

If you follow these tips on job interviewing skills, you’ll be able to share your strengths and experiences much more powerfully without sounding overly boastful.

Job Interviewing Skills: How to Highlight Your Experience is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

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1. Successful Career Transition – 5 Skills

via careerealism.com

“It can be overwhelming to think about how much work it actually entails to find a job in today’s web 2.0 world.

If you are very serious about it, you have likely educated yourself in all the various facets of a job search and become well-equipped to go out and tackle the task. But, so have many others.

Once a company narrows down the candidate pool to a group of people they want to meet, and you are one of them, it’s time to start thinking about your next steps. Only one person can be chosen in the end. When all things are equal, what makes you stand out?”

Continue reading…

Top 5 Best Practices to Stand Out in a Job Interview is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

You might also like to read:

1. 10 Ways to Stand Out at Work
2. Does Your Cover Letter Stand Out?

via careerealism.com

“You’ve polished your resume to no end, especially after finding a job posting that precisely fits your skills.

But did your cover letter merit the same attention?

Many hiring managers use your cover letter to gauge your interest in the company, as well as your aptitude for the job.

Therefore, when you resort to “Dear Sir, I’m interested in your open job, here’s my resume,” you’re missing out on a critical chance to persuade employers to take you seriously.

Here are five of the most crucial mistakes made in cover letters…”

Continue reading…

Don’t Make Theses 5 Cover Letter Mistakes? is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

You might also like to read:

1. Writing Your Resume Cover Letter
2. Does Your Cover Letter Stand Out?
3. How to Write a Perfect Cover Letter for Any Job

via careerealism.com

“It’s a typical story for many job seekers. You apply for a bunch of jobs. You get some interviews, but can’t understand why you aren’t hearing back from so many of these companies. Whether it’s to actually get a job interview or to be called back for a second interview, oftentimes, you may come to the conclusion that you just aren’t as qualified as many of the others.

Other times you know you are qualified, so what gives? While there are many factors that come into play here, it is a fact that some less qualified candidates are chosen over more qualified candidates simply because they have stronger soft skills than their more qualified counterparts.”

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6 Soft Skills Employers Desire is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

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1. Successful Career Transition – 5 Skills
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“When preparing your resume, you might find yourself coming face to face with some issues from your past.

Perhaps you will then find yourself trying to figure out how to fix those issues to make your resume look a bit cleaner and more professional. It’s just a resume to help you get a job interview. It’s not a legal document of any sort, right?

Maybe you are eight credits short of graduating from college but you dropped out for some reason. What are eight little credits? It probably would just look better if you go ahead and say you have a degree.

Even better, what if you have an associates degree but the job requires a bachelors degree? A degree is a degree, it doesn’t really matter which kind of a degree, does it?”

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Lying on Your Job Application – What Can Happen? is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

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1. How to Write a Job Application Email That Gets Attention
2. Career Change Best Degrees for Job Security

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“Remember the good old days of high school? How the clothing you wore really defined your image?

Surprise! The work world isn’t much different. The only thing that has changed is that for the most part, no one is going to say anything directly to you about what you wear…they simply won’t hire or promote you if the image that you project doesn’t fit within the company culture.

What we wear and our appearance DOES impact our career, from the first few seconds in an interview to what you choose from your closet on a daily basis.

Sound trivial? It is, but as the employer sees it: it isn’t.”

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Your Appearance Impacts Your Career is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

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“You sent out the resume – you’re a perfect fit – and yet no one calls. Sound familiar?

In fact, a majority of candidates today do not receive a response on a submitted resume.

So the big question is, “When is it appropriate to follow-up with an employer on my submission and how do I do it?”

There is no answer that will fit every scenario, but there are some good rules you should follow.”

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3 Rules to Follow-up on Your Resume is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

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1. Writing Your Resume
2. 5 Key Rules to Successfully Change Your Career
3. 10 Rules to Start Your New Job on the Right Foot

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“You’ve probably heard it a million times: Personal branding is important to the success of a job search. Why is it so important? Because as a unique job seeker, it helps define you as an individual and makes you stand out as a prime candidate.

There are aspects of your background that make you incredibly unique and highly qualified—and your job is to highlight those aspects so that hiring managers don’t have to guess whether you’re perfect for the job.

To help you get started, here are five personal branding techniques to try when working on your resume.”

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Brand Your Resume With These 5 Techniques is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

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1. How to Build Your Brand
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“WARNING: If you’ve been affected by a layoff, or you get laid-off in near future, you should see if your employer will provide you with outplacement services to speed up your job search.

Why? The average length of time it takes to find a job right now is 39 weeks.

Unemployment benefits (depending where you are) run for 26 weeks. Do the math.

You need help as a way to shorten that job search!”

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Why to Request Outplacement If You’re Laid-Off is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

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“LinkedIn is the premier business networking site for job-seekers at all levels and all ages.

There are some things newbies need to know about LinkedIn, though, before it will be valuable as a job search tool.

In fact, whatever you’re using LinkedIn for, you should follow these 10 tips.”

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10 Secrets to Successfully Grow Your LinkedIn Network is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

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1. 6 Tips to Grow Your Network
2. LinkedIn Job Search Benefits: 3 Important Tips Know
3. 4 Tips for Networking with Strangers on Linkedin

Guest post by Holly Miller

Are There Legitimate Work At Home Options?

People have long been attracted to the idea of legitimate work at home opportunities. Unfortunately however, many are discouraged from the endeavor by the flood of “get rich quick” scams, or they believe the only options are selling health goods or cleaning products.

Fortunately, those are far from the truth about opportunities based in a home environment. Depending on your skills, interest and drive, it’s entirely possible to work from home and still pay your bills.

Freelance Writing

If you have the ability to follow instructions and string words together coherently, you might investigate content brokerage sites with which you can contract for freelance writing. Different sites have different payment methods and scales, so look carefully. Contracting with multiple sites helps ensure reasonable work availability, therefore a perfect work at home opportunity.

Reimbursement can be by piece, by word, by project or by revenue-sharing. The last method depends on your ability to write about popular topics and often generating your own traffic. Ads are placed on your posted articles, and if a visitor clicks on the paid advertising, you earn a share of the advertising revenue. This method of payment does not often pay well, but the volume of pieces you produce can increase your profile and expertise in any given field.

Blogging is included in this section, for there are many sites that need competent bloggers. The freelancer would write to the site’s specifications on topic, length and keyword use, and most offer reimbursement either by word or by piece. You are able to blog for more than one web site owner and gain multiple streams of income.

Transcription Services

A high-growth legitimate work at home option, transcription services can be for medical personnel, for businesses or college students. If you accept a project from students, ensure you only transcribe, and the student isn’t requiring research and development of the piece.

Transcription specialists often need specialized equipment, most of which is needed for training courses. There is more to transcription than just the ability to type. You will need that training and certification if you don’t already have it.

Medical Coding and Medical Billing

Medical personnel and health care facilities don’t run on cash transactions. The bulk of their finances is gained from insurance companies, and that means each service rendered must be properly coded then billed.

Transforming written documentation of services and medical conditions into alpha-numeric codes is called medical coding. Listing those service and diagnosis codes properly on the appropriate forms and reviewing the accounts until fully paid is called medical billing.

Both of these occupations lend themselves well to work at home or telecommuting. A computer, a telephone line and knowledge in these fields is all it takes: You don’t have to sit in an office to fill either of these job descriptions.

Telephone Call Centers

Although most telecommute employers require on-site training, many call center positions are filled by work-at-home employees. A quiet environment, a land line and a compatible computer fill most employers’ basic requirements.

You may be required to read from a script for callers, act as a telephonic troubleshooter who talks users through action steps or you might simply take sales orders or take messages.

Summary

There are more legitimate work at home opportunities than ever, whether you start your own business, consider one of the above few samples, find other telecommunications positions or develop your own idea. Don’t limit yourself to in-office positions in the Electronic and Information Ages.

This post was contributed by Holly Miller, a writer for Coupon Croc. Trying to organize your home office? Shop online with John Lewis promos and save on everything from electronics to furniture to streamline your at-home work space.

5 Legitimate Work-At-Home Job Possibilities is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

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“If you’re an executive planning your next career move, it might surprise you to learn you’ll be judged by more than just your resume during your job search.

In other words, a full resume is NOT necessarily the best fit for every job search contact.

Surprised? You’ll find recruiters, company owners, Boards of Directors, and other hiring decision-makers often look at your experience through a series of interviews and investigations—which means your executive resume is just one part of the process.

Here are 4 must-have documents for an executive portfolio designed to capture attention at all the right levels…”

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What You Need for Executive Job Hunting Success is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

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“Today’s career experts agree most people experience a change of career 3 to 7 times throughout their working life. This means a complete transformation—new job, new industry, new employer. It’s a big deal. These are the kinds of changes that cause massive amounts of stress, anxiety and worry. Sure, they can be exciting at the same time. But overall, a change of career is nothing to sneeze at. It takes more planning and preparation than most people realize.

So, if you’re considering a career change, these tips will help you understand what to expect on the long road ahead.”

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How to Plan a Career Change is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

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1. How to Successfully Plan a Career Change
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“Many people writing a resume for their first job make these mistakes:

• They try too hard to be clever and stand out by using fancy fonts, colors, clip art or even video resumes.

• They think volunteer work, summer jobs and school honors or adult-ed courses do not count.

• They are not clear about their career goals; they apply for everything and expect their resume to get them “any job.”

• They do not research what employers want.

Your resume helps you land your first job by presenting you at your best…”

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How to Write a Resume that Helps You Get Your First Job is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

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“If you are not getting enough interviews or job offers then it is time to analyze your job search strategy. Here is a quick way to drill down to the core issues that will need adjusting.

Situation: I am not getting enough calls for interviews.

If the phone is not ringing then either your resume is not good or you are not getting it into the right hands.

Look at your resume and scan it for 20 seconds, the same way an employer would. If you don’t say, “I would hire this person,” then it probably needs work.”

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How’s Your Job Search Going? How About a Boost? is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

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1. 5 Steps to Instantly Improve Your Job Search Results
2. How to Use Social Media in Your Job Search
3. How to Search for a Job Online

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“Nowadays, it seems like many employees at work really zone in on the job requirements of their position.

Some employees will make sure they stick within their job requirements and do not do much more. Others will work very hard at their job and excel in it. However, there is a minority group of employees who really step up and contribute in any way they can.

If you want a chance to advance in your company, you will have to be a part of that latter group.

If you do your job and do it well, you will brand yourself into a person really good in that job. However…”

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10 Ways to Stand Out at Work is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

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1. 5 Sure-Fire Ways to Make Networking Work for You
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“We often work with people who are still employed but who have seen the writing on the wall for the future of their companies. They seek us out to proactively start their job search process before they find themselves in a desperate situation. Many who are currently employed are nervous about sending any signals that they are seeking new opportunities. So what can you do to keep your job search confidential while using social media?”

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How to Use Social Media in Your Job Search is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

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1. Social Media NO-NOs!
2. 3 Job Search Facts You Need to Know
3. How to Search for a Job Online

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“Having written an entire workbook teaching people how to reduce the “frazzle” of life, it always surprises me when I stumble on a new stress management technique that actually works.

Sure, there’s always some new fangled idea floating around. Unfortunately, more often than not, I find such ideas are full of promise but lack the substance to really make them worthwhile.

This is why I’m so excited to share my latest discovery and how it came about.

Here’s the story:”

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Manage Stress at Work With 1 Strategy is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

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“Psychology Today says we process small clues, everything from tone of voice to posture, and in a snap we form a larger picture in our minds.

This means that hiring managers may draw conclusions, and finalize their opinions, in under a minute.

One study found that people shown 20 second video segments of job applicants formed similar opinions to hiring managers who were given 20 full minutes with the applicants.

Now that’s a snap decision.”

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30 Seconds to Make a First Impression is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

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1. Don’t Make Theses 5 Cover Letter Mistakes?
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“The smart job hunter will recognize Twitter’s functionality has become a reality not only for media celebrities, but for both main stream and start-up businesses.

Twitter is being used for corporate branding, marketing, and scouting for plugged-in “high value” talent to fill jobs.

Corporations, HR practices, and recruiters all value access to Twitter’s 75 million users. CEO’s, HR, hiring managers, career experts and recruiters are all actively using tweeting as a part of their messaging and staffing strategies.

It only makes sense job seekers hunt in the same forest as their prey!”

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6 Ways to Use Twitter to Find Your Next Job is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

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1. Find a Job You Love Quicker by NOT Doing These 3 Things
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“Many job-seekers spend time, worry and money on their resume, trying very hard to make them perfect. They agonize over each line and each word.

What makes it worse is that everyone thinks they are a resume expert. Headhunters say one thing. HR professionals say something else. Your brother-in-law thinks he has the perfect resume style. There are thousands of templates on the Internet, in bookstores, and even on MS Word. How can you know which one is right?”

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Is Your Resume is Mostly Useless? is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

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“By now you’ve learned the traditional ways of job searching don’t work anymore. A few years ago you could put your resume up on Monster and CareerBuilder and wait for the phone to ring. Those days are gone. So here are five things you can easily do that will quickly improve your job search results.”

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5 Steps to Instantly Improve Your Job Search Results is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

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1. How to Use Social Media in Your Job Search
2. Common Job Search Mistakes
3. How’s Your Job Search Going? How About a Boost?

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“Sometimes, fixing the little things can offer the most benefit. Anyone writing a letter to a hiring rep should follow some golden rules before hitting start on the fax machine, licking that envelope shut, or hitting “Send” on that e-mail. Treat your letter like any piece of business correspondence. It should have a professional appearance, a professional tone, and possess accurate grammar and punctuation. Remember, you’re out to impress, not turn a job away. Your correspondence should command attention, and if it doesn’t, you’re virtually sabotaging the opportunities that took so long to uncover.”

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4 Things to Avoid When Writing a Cover Letter is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

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“With all the layoffs that have taken place over the last couple of years, it’s no wonder many of those who are still employed often feel stretched to the maximum of their productivity. It can be very demanding looking for another job when your current one is continually stressing you out. After all, when you get home from a long and frustrating day, the last thing you want to do is give any more thought to the world of work.

Unfortunately, most new jobs don’t just fall into your lap—you have to go out and get them.”

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3 Job Search Facts You Need to Know is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

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1. How to Search for a Job Online
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“Do you need a cover letter for your resume? The answer is, “Yes!” Recruiters and hiring managers read cover letters and cover e-mails for three main reasons”

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Is Your Cover Letter Read? is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

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“It’s time to dump the old line: “Please accept this application in response to…” If you’re still starting your cover letters with this overused one-liner, then I implore you to stop what you’re doing, delete the line, and spend a few minutes reading this article to discover seven new examples of how you can catch the hiring manager’s attention with an attention-grabbing opening line.

Entice them with the job title and some of your standout accomplishments.”

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7 New Ways to Start Your Cover Letter is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

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“You’ve read the job description, but the interview is the time to read between the lines. Find out as much as you can about the company you may work for before you take the job. It could save you time and frustration down the line.

We all know to have questions prepared when we head into an interview. It makes us look interested and on the ball. But the list of questions you ask a potential employer should be as much about you interviewing them, as them interviewing you.

Before you sign on the dotted line, be sure you know what you’re getting in to.”

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How to Successfully Interview a Potential Employer is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

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2. Interview Tips: Tell me about yourself. A GOOD answer / example.
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Social Media NO-NOs! is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

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1. How to Use Social Media in Your Job Search

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“It seems like everyone writes about careers and the job market today. As a job seeker, the amount of online advice available can be overwhelming. Which advice is the “right” advice? Who should you listen to? How will you distinguish bad advice from good advice?”

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Is The Career Advice You’re Getting “Good Advice”? is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

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1. Career Change Advice: Jump Start Your Career in 2011
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3. Career Change: 6 Ways to Pinpoint Your Perfect Career

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“Today’s career experts agree most people experience a change of career 3 to 7 times throughout their working life. This means a complete transformation—new job, new industry, new employer. It’s a big deal. These are the kinds of changes that cause massive amounts of stress, anxiety and worry. Sure, they can be exciting at the same time. But overall, a change of career is nothing to sneeze at. It takes more planning and preparation than most people realize.

Continue reading…

How to Successfully Plan a Career Change is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

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1. How to Plan a Career Change
2. 5 Key Rules to Successfully Change Your Career
3. Career Change: 6 Ways to Pinpoint Your Perfect Career

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“For career newbies especially, my recommendation is to always focus on positive work behaviors you can start practicing now. When the time comes, moving up the corporate ladder will seem effortless. This is because you do what is right and focus on the positive. Bosses will notice and when the right time comes, the promotion you want is just a natural next step.”

Here are 8 straightforward work behaviors for moving up the corporate ladder

8 Secrets to Moving Up the Corporate Ladder is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

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“In today’s job market, it’s very easy to become frustrated by the lack of response to your resume or application submissions. The fact is there is about a 6:1 ratio of job applicants for each available position. What does this mean? It means you have to stand out, head and shoulders, above the rest of the applicants. It means you have to have the perfect resume and cover letter, tailored for each position to which you apply, that easily shows that you have the background (or potential) for the position. Let’s assume you have all of that, and you’re still not getting calls.”

There may be some reasons why >> Continue reading

Why You’re Not Getting Hired is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

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“The simple truth is: hunting for a job can be tiring, demoralizing, and frustrating. I often encounter people who have internalized their inability to find work as a sign of personal failure. Confidence and self-image suffer. As that happens, it becomes increasingly difficult to present the optimistic, energetic “can do” persona that employers seek.

We all hear the longer you are out of work, the harder it is to get work. One of the reasons for this is employers are looking for you, Mr. / Ms. Jobhunter not to be jaded, tired, and “down.” And, they fear that the longer you are out of work, the more likely it is you won’t have the vim and vigor they seek.”

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8 Steps Energize Your Job Hunt is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

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“As a job applicant, there are benefits and disadvantages to a phone interview. Some people are well-spoken and are great on the phone, but in person, their nervousness gets to them. Some are more comfortable speaking in-person and lack personality on the phone. Under both situations, it can be a challenge when you don’t have feedback that may typically appear through face-to-face contact.

Regardless of the situation, you need to put your best voice forward to leave the employer with a good impression. This may be the only shot you have at getting a step closer to securing a job offer with them. Remember that the employer may change their mind about inviting you in for an interview if you fall short of their expectations or leave a negative impression on the phone.”

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Phone Interviews: Put the Best Voice Forward is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

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1. Phone Interview: 10 Tips for Impressing
2. Professional Phone Etiquette

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“Many job seekers I often speak with are intimidated by networking events. It’s not that they do not want to network; it’s that they don’t know how to approach people they don’t know.

As much as we all want to know how others can help us, when networking, it’s not recommended for you to go straight into pitching. It’s a turnoff to many people, especially when you don’t know the person.”

Here are 5 ways to break the ice at networking events and approach people

How to Break the Ice at Networking Events is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

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1. Why Networking in Person Still Matters
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“Understanding the transferrable skill sets you have in your career arsenal are pivotal to whether you can make an effective leap between entirely different fields. Many people have interest in other areas but completely lack the building blocks to make a transition to an entirely different sector.

What happens then is like watching a train wreck in slow motion: the person wants a job in the new field so badly that they end up convincing themselves that their qualifications match, when in fact, they do not.

I call this career blindness. They simply can’t see that they aren’t even remotely qualified.

The end result is that the job seeker ends up beating their head against a brick wall and doesn’t understand that they haven’t matched their background in terms of ‘apples to apples’ to the job opening.

And the employer ends up not even considering the application because of this very mismatch.

The clarity in making a strong case for an employer to hire you comes from understanding the top 5 things you’ll need to know before changing industries.”

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6 Tips You Need to Know Before Changing Industries is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

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“How do you prevent procrastination? By doing it NOW, as soon as you remember it and as soon as you reach the item in your to-do list. Do not give yourself any excuse or reason why it has to wait or why it can wait.

Once you get started doing, there is no stopping the habit. It takes good self-discipline in order to prevent procrastination. It’s difficult telling yourself to do it now.

But this behavior can be habituated just as you get into a habit of procrastinating. You can also habituate yourself into doing this immediately. So how do you start this habit of doing things now?”

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5 Surefire Ways to Prevent Procrastination is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

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“Job seekers, you have to go the extra mile to show employers you are the right fit. A few years ago, employers could handle the risk of hiring the wrong fit, but today it is very different. The cost to let an employee go and hire another is very high. Employers want to pick the right fit the first time around.”

Here are 5 tips to help you stand out >> Continue reading

Are You Being Smart with Your Job Search? is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

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1. How to Search for a Job Online
2. 3 Job Search Facts You Need to Know
3. How’s Your Job Search Going? How About a Boost?

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“Entrepreneurship may sound like a dream to some, especially if you’ve been on the job hunt for several months with no luck landing a new job. But it’s important to first determine if entrepreneurship is the right direction for you before attempting to launch a new business venture in this economy.

Are you on the fence? Ask yourself the following questions to gauge whether you should consider being an entrepreneur or stick with your current career”

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Are You Ready For Entrepreneurship? is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

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“Consider the first step to entering an interview – the handshake. While it may take less than 10 seconds to complete a handshake, in that time, the interviewer has already developed an impression of your character based on eye contact and the firmness of your shake. A weak handshake and lack of eye contact can leave the impression you are timid and insecure. A sincere and firm handshake with eye contact expresses professionalism and confidence. An overpowering handshake with a fixed gaze may come across as overconfident and arrogant. So, be cautious with your next handshake and start the interview off with a positive impression.”

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Your Interview Body Language Shows From Head to Toe is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

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1. Phone Interview: 10 Tips for Impressing
2. Business Etiquette Tips: What is the Proper Handshake Etiquette When Seated?
3. Top 5 Best Practices to Stand Out in a Job Interview

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“Your resume is a company’s first look at what skills and accomplishments you might bring to the job. Don’t make it their last look!”

Click here to read the 5 major resume mistakes to avoid

5 Worst Resume Mistakes is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

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1. Resume Tips for a Career Change
2. Don’t Make Theses 5 Cover Letter Mistakes?
3. Common Job Search Mistakes

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“Everyone has been telling you to network in your job search, right? What exactly does that mean, though? How does talking to people about the fact you don’t have a job get you a job?”

Read 5 Ways to Make Networking Work for You

5 Sure-Fire Ways to Make Networking Work for You is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

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1. How to Break the Ice at Networking Events
2. 10 Ways to Stand Out at Work
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“Employers will question the interest to change careers mid-way and whether you have thoughtfully processed what a change in career may mean. Often times, there will not be an opportunity for a lateral move and the pay scale may be different. Other questions employers may have will concern whether you have transferable skills from your previous experience.

Faced with the various challenges of a career change, be prepared to address the questions that will come your way by following some simple rules of advice. You’re going to need a different approach to impress potential employers.”

Click here to continue reading.

5 Key Rules to Successfully Change Your Career is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

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1. How to Successfully Plan a Career Change
2. How to Plan a Career Change
3. Career Change: 6 Ways to Pinpoint Your Perfect Career

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“BEWARE: Job seekers aren’t the only ones who sometimes get creative when it comes to selling themselves (i.e. resumes and cover letters that have been, shall we say, “tweaked” to make a person look like the ideal candidate). Some employers have a tendency to use verbiage that makes their open positions sound better than they really are. Over the years, I’ve noticed some popular job descriptors that should be viewed as warning flags a potential employer might be trying to put an overly optimistic spin on a less-than-stellar work situation.”

When you are reading the want-ads, consider these following translations.

Click here to read more about what that job description really means.

What Does That Job Description REALLY Mean? is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

via careerealism.com

“It’s the job of the cover letter to make the person want to read the resume. That’s it. The letter doesn’t get you the interview — that’s the resume’s job. But if your cover letter isn’t persuasive in a different way, your brilliantly crafted resume will never make it to the first pass.

So what makes a great cover letter?”

Click here for >> 5 easy tips to make your cover letter stand out

Does Your Cover Letter Stand Out? is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

You might also like to read:

1. Writing Your Resume Cover Letter
2. How to Write a Perfect Cover Letter for Any Job
3. 5 Key Parts Of A Cover Letter

via careerealism.com

“There are a few standard career management tips I recommend to every professional regardless of position, industry, experience level, or future ambitions.

These things are super easy to do and they help ensure you’re taking at least a minimally active role in your professional development. No matter how busy you are, there’s just no excuse to ignore these tips. Get started NOW.”

Click here to for 5 Career Management Tips to Follow Now!

Are You Following These 5 Key Career Management Strategies? is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

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1. Career Success: 6 Key Factors
2. 5 Key Rules to Successfully Change Your Career
3. Successful Career Transition – 5 Skills

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“One of the worst things you can do during your job search is annoy the hiring manager at the company for which you want to work. Not only will it probably ruin your chances at landing the job at hand, but also you probably won’t be considered for future positions, either.”

Click here to read >> 5 Ways to Annoy Hiring Managers.

Are You Annoying Hiring Managers? is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

You might also like to read:

1. 5 Sectors Hiring Now

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“Have you done an audit on your e-mail address lately? I don’t mean opening up your account and looking for messages. I mean taking a closer look at the actual e-mail address you are using.”

“…an e-mail address could potentially torpedo your job search before you even get it off the ground because the one you are using doesn’t project a professional image.”

Click here for 5 Crucial Email Address Naming Tips for Professionals.

Is Your E-mail Address Sabotaging You? is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

via careerealism.com

“The past four years, so much emphasis and shifting has gone to the web/online world because that is where the growth and movement trends are. In-person networking has taken a hit, as evidenced with down enrollment in chambers, fee based networking events and professional organizations. It’s not that people don’t want to go; it’s simply been a matter of finances, or is it? Are we substituting an e-mail, tweet, post or text for live in person activities thinking that is going to grow relationships?”

Click here to read Why it is important to blend your online and offline activities.

Why Networking in Person Still Matters is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

You might also like to read:

1. How to Break the Ice at Networking Events
2. 5 Sure-Fire Ways to Make Networking Work for You
3. 4 Tips for Networking with Strangers on Linkedin

via careerealism.com

“Let’s face it, a blanket cover letter just isn’t going to cut it these days. So how can you make the best use of your time while maximizing your results? Here are a few simple steps to customizing your cover letters. (And if you don’t think you SHOULD customize your cover letter for each application you submit, then we have bigger problems than I thought…)”

>Click here and find out 4 important points to include in your cover letter to make it stand out from the rest of the crowd!

How to Write a Perfect Cover Letter for Any Job is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

You might also like to read:

1. How to Get a Job : How to Build a Cover Letter
2. Does Your Cover Letter Stand Out?
3. Writing Your Resume Cover Letter

via careerealism.com

“The next time you are reaching out to someone new over LinkedIn, consider bringing in one or more of these elements to your message. I’m sure it will make a big difference in your response rate.”

Click here to read the 4 tips

4 Tips for Networking with Strangers on Linkedin is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

You might also like to read:

1. How to Break the Ice at Networking Events
2. 10 Secrets to Successfully Grow Your LinkedIn Network
3. Why Networking in Person Still Matters

via careerealism.com

“Job seekers are spending long, grueling hours, hitting the job front from multiple angles, but the stress is becoming unbearable.”

And so, here are 4 great ways to reduce your stress.

Click here to read the article.

4 Job Search De-Stressing Tips is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

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1. 50+ Job Hunter – 15 Great Tips to Move Forward
2. 5 Ways to Be Smarter With Your Job Search
3. 3 Job Search Facts You Need to Know

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“It would be safe to say you would have probably entertained the question of how to get promoted even before you graduated or left school. In my chats with juniors from my industry, I am often asked this question which I gladly answer. However, I sense they simply want short cuts to the next level.

These experiences pushed me to pen these 9 obvious but often not practiced tips on how to get promoted. Start internalizing these tips and make them part of your career management plan. Before you know it, you would have moved up to the next level.

One main reason for people to ignore these obvious practices on how to get promoted is because they seem very long term. But they are not at all. All you need to do is to consistently DO them. I have broken them down to 3 main sections: Plan, Attitude and Action.”

Click here to continue >> 9 Easy Steps To Get Promoted

9 Easy Steps To Get Promoted is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

via careerealism.com

“Standout from the Crowd of Experts

The number 1 strategy job seekers neglect is the selling of their UVP (unique value proposition) over other qualified candidates. Your competition is not the under-performer with an unpolished resume and poor communication skills! (Wouldn’t that be easy?)

Your competitor is smart, hired a professional resume writer, is articulate, and accomplished. So, you, must introspect, dig deep, and develop a enthralling marketing plan that persuades from resume, to online brand, to interview, and through follow-up by seducing your employer with the promise of success through a differentiating value you, and only you, can offer.

You must examine your career performance, find those special ways in which you deliver results–own them and promote them! Because to win in this challenged job market, you must sell a unique value proposition/a brand/a differentiating value.”

Click here to continue >> The #1 Problem Finding a New Job

The #1 Problem Finding a New Job is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

via education.yahoo.net

“Looking for a solid financial future?

While there are no guarantees in today’s world, getting a degree that promises job security and good pay – in good times and bad – is what many people are seeking to do.

But how do you know which degree to pick? To determine our list of degrees you can bank on, we took a look at job security data from various sources.

We also looked at PayScale’s 2010-2011 College Salary Report, which analyzed over 100 college majors to see what average salaries come with each bachelor’s degree.

The results are clear: some degrees greatly outperform others.”

Click here to discover the 6 degrees for best job security.

Thanks for stopping by – Theresa

Career Change Best Degrees for Job Security is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

You might also like to read:

1. Career Change: 6 Ways to Pinpoint Your Perfect Career
2. Lying on Your Job Application – What Can Happen?
3. Career Change Advice: Jump Start Your Career in 2011

via careerealism.com

“We are all human and we all want to help each other. The idea is to get in touch with as many people you can (in the right channel), make a connection, gain their trust, cultivate the relationship, and earn a good lead. It is as easy as pie!”

These tips are not only a great way to grow your network, they are also great business etiquette.

Click here to learn all 6 tips

6 Tips to Grow Your Network is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

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1. 10 Secrets to Successfully Grow Your LinkedIn Network
2. 50+ Job Hunter – 15 Great Tips to Move Forward
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“If you’ve constantly looked at other resumes to get ideas, you might find employers are on to your game. Weary of reading the same phrases over and over again, hiring managers are starting to expect more from top candidates who want to stand out in the crowded job market.

Here are 7 phrases that appear far too often on resumes, with recommendations on how to improve your wording for a sharper, more professional message”

Read 7 Overused Phrases

Thanks for stopping by Theresa

Job Resume: 7 Overused Phrases is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

You might also like to read:

1. Resume Tips for a Career Change
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3. How to Get a Job

via careerealism.com

It’s now time to put that Cover Letter together…but how?

Here’s a concise article that demonstrates just that and best of all you can break it down into 5 easy parts.

Read how to put a good cover letter together

Thanks for swinging by – Theresa

PS: Good luck getting that interview!

5 Key Parts Of A Cover Letter is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

You might also like to read:

1. Writing Your Resume Cover Letter
2. Does Your Cover Letter Stand Out?
3. How to Write a Perfect Cover Letter for Any Job

via careerealism.com

You’re excited because you got that interview you had been hoping for lined up. Next step you start practicing how you are going to verbalize your accomplishments. But what is the best way to communicate your skills?

There is a great way to communicate your accomplishments that is both organized and doesn’t take forever to get your point across. This method is called STAR.

STAR stands for
S – Situation
T – Task
A – Action
R – Results

It’s a great way to organize your thought and when you’re in the middle of the interview remembering these steps helps you to stay focused.

I came across this article that explains a similar method of STAR, guess you could call it PAR. Here’s the link, so you can check it out and start getting prepared for that interview.

Good luck on the new job! Read about how to convey your accomplishments.

Thanks for stopping by – Theresa

Career Change Advice: How to Best Convey Your Accomplishments is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

You might also like to read:

1. Career Change Advice: Jump Start Your Career in 2011
2. Is The Career Advice You’re Getting “Good Advice”?
3. Career Change: 6 Ways to Pinpoint Your Perfect Career

via education.yahoo.net

“Take charge of your future and jump start your career in 2011 with the right training.”

Are you looking for a new career and wondering which industry to explore for good job potential, then read this article. It covers 8 jobs with good growth potential.

Also, you will find information about the job responsibilities, average annual salary, and there are links to find education programs.

Click here to read about 8 careers to consider for 2011.

Thanks for stopping by – Theresa

Career Change Advice: Jump Start Your Career in 2011 is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

You might also like to read:

1. Resume Tips for a Career Change
2. Career Change Advice: How to Best Convey Your Accomplishments
3. Career Change: 6 Ways to Pinpoint Your Perfect Career

Why Should I Hire You? is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

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1. Interview Tips: Why should we hire you? – the GOOD answer
2. Job Interviewing Skills: How to Highlight Your Experience

10 Rules to Start Your New Job on the Right Foot is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

You might also like to read:

1. 5 Key Rules to Successfully Change Your Career

Resume Tips for a Career Change is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

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1. Career Change: 6 Ways to Pinpoint Your Perfect Career
2. How to Plan a Career Change
3. How to Successfully Plan a Career Change

Your Resume & What It Says About You is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

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1. Resume Tips for a Career Change
2. Action Verbs to Kick Up Your Resume!
3. Is Your Resume is Mostly Useless?

Personal Branding: 7 Tips to Develop Your Persona is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

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1. Your Personal Branding Story
2. How to Build Your Brand
3. Interview Tips: Tell me about yourself. A GOOD answer / example.

Your Personal Branding Story is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

You might also like to read:

1. Personal Branding: 7 Tips to Develop Your Persona
2. How to Build Your Brand

You Can Work From The Beach! is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

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1. 5 Legitimate Work-At-Home Job Possibilities
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Action Verbs to Kick Up Your Resume! is an article from: Business Etiquette Basics. We invite you to stop by, we have more articles on career change and advancement.

You might also like to read:

1. Resume Tips for a Career Change
2. Writing Your Resume
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