Telling you that it’s “tough out there” is a bit like saying the sun’s hot or that the Kardashians love attention—it’s self-evident, particularly if you’ve been hunting for a job and are tired of the endless rounds of leads and interviews that never seem to go anywhere.

Like Elmer Fudd tracking Bugs Bunny or Wile E. Coyote chasing down that sneaky Road Runner, always being the pursuer and never getting your mitts on the prize is pretty exhausting. How do you keep going in the face of constant rejection?

Here are a handful of ways to keep yourself together during even the cruelest job hunt.

It’s Only Personal When You Make it Personal

Get told “no” enough times, and it’s only natural to start thinking that something’s wrong with you. You wonder what others have that you don’t. You wonder what you’re lacking that others aren’t. You wonder what you need to fix that others don’t. In other words, you make it personal.

There are all kinds of reasons you might not get a job. Maybe someone else ticked more boxes than you. Maybe the position was filled by an internal candidate. Maybe your interviewer had an off day, which tainted his or her opinion of you during the interview.

After experiencing rejection, it’s tempting to answer the question “why?” by blaming yourself. But that only serves to diminish your self-confidence and make you second-guess your next move. That kind of judgment ignores the fact that, as humans, we’re all works in progress with all kinds of strengths and weaknesses, and we’re all continually developing and learning. Long may that continue.

Hearing “no” isn’t a judgment about who you are. It’s just something that happens. What really matters and what shapes your experience is how you respond when it happens.

It’s a Process

You don’t get to the end of your street without leaving your front door first. You don’t write a novel without first writing “chapter one” at the top of a blank page. And you don’t land a new job without going through the process of landing a new job.

That might mean getting a hundred rejections, or it might mean getting three. You may need you to widen your search or get creative about how you sell yourself. You may need to take advantage of your network or even take a leap of faith and apply for something completely out of the box.

The point is, you’ll never get to 100% without going all the way from zero to 99% first. Know that searching for a job is a process, and commit to taking meaningful steps to guide you through that process.

People Do Extraordinary Things

Things might be tough right now, but the fact that you’ve come this far counts for something. It means you’ve encountered tough times and grappled with difficult circumstances, and you’ve found a way through. It means you’ve been low, but you’ve survived.

Consider this just another test that the universe has put in front of you to see what you’re made of. That means you have a choice to make—a choice to either stand tall and embrace the challenge in front of you (even if you’d rather be anywhere else), or to hang your head and stop trying.

People do extraordinary things every single day, but perhaps the most extraordinary is the choice to continue putting one foot in front of the other because the alternative isn’t who you want to be.

Take Care of the Basics

A long job search can take its toll. You get tired. Sometimes sick and tired. Your finances take a hit—sometimes severely so. You lose faith. Sometimes hope goes missing, too.

It’s easy to let things slide when you’re worn down, but you have to take care of the basics.

Keep your head nourished with continual learning that sparks your mind and bends your thinking. Nourish your body by prioritizing proper rest, exercise, and healthy eating. And nourish your heart by doing things that make you feel like you—like spending time with loved ones, laughing with friends, being in nature, listening to your favorite music, or offering help to someone in need.

Equally important is being responsible enough to stop your finances from hemorrhaging. Don’t ignore a worsening financial situation; suck it up and deal with it. Look at how you can downsize or consider getting a short-term job to keep your finances ticking while you keep looking for something long-term.

You’re responsible for these basics, and owning them will only serve you well.

Don’t Do it Alone

An unexpected impact of a long, tough job hunt can be isolation—feeling distant and alone in your struggles while your friends and family go on with their regular lives.

An important part of finding your way through the job hunt is realizing that you don’t have to do it alone. Whether it’s confiding in a friend, venting to your partner, or letting someone help you out, it’s vital to not make yourself an island.

This could be as simple as asking for a hug. Or maybe you can get some outside input on your resume. You might want to bounce some cover letter ideas around with a couple of friends or an old colleague. Maybe ask someone to facilitate an introduction. Try seeing a career advisor, or if you’re feeling really low, make an appointment with a professional who may be able to help you.

There are people willing to support you and help you and want to see you soar. Whatever you do, don’t cut yourself off from them.

If you’re in the middle of what feels like a cruel job hunt, I have one last thought to leave you with: When you wake up each morning, ask yourself, “What’s my intention today?”

It’s a deceptively simple question on the surface, but asking yourself this at the start of the day can help you dig deep, hang on a while longer, and, perhaps most importantly, go easy on yourself.

The post How to Survive an Endless Job Hunt Without Losing It appeared first on Résumé Writing and Career Services.

From time to time I have a question come from job seekers along the lines of…

If I take this job, how will it look on my resume for the next time around?

It’s certainly a valid question to ask… but one that usually has no easy answer!

When making decisions regarding job offers and career paths, the choices are very personal and often driven by immediate circumstances. There are a number of things to consider….

What are your career goals?

In order to know whether a particular job will help or hurt you in obtaining the next job you want, you have to know what next job you want! If you have no direction in mind for your career, then it’s not possible to know whether taking this job will help or not.

I had a conversation with someone that is young in their career in accounting. They had risen to an Accounting Manager role in their last position before being caught in a massive corporate lay-off. They now have an opportunity at a staff accounting role in a smaller organization, however, it would pay even better than their last leadership role. Their concern is whether taking that kind of position would help or hurt in the move they may choose to make after this one.

A very high percentage of people don’t really have a plan or goal for their career, and rather simply view their work as something to show up to and perform each day in some vague hope that it will lead to better things. There is nothing intrinsically wrong with that approach, and many people ultimately end up in positions of great responsibility or prestige without really having aimed to get there. If that’s your approach, any one particular job may help or hurt in that process, but that can’t necessarily be figured out in advance.

If, however, you have a distinct objective for your career, planning and choosing carefully how to get there is imperative.

What are your current circumstances?

One obvious consideration always has to be your current circumstances. Regardless of your career goals, thought has to be given to your immediate needs. Ask yourself several questions, including…

• How desperate is my current financial situation?
• What is the financial risk of not accepting this position now?
• What are the prospects of a more attractive opportunity surfacing in an acceptable period of time?
• …and others.

Other questions to contemplate…

• What would my resume look like with a longer gap vs. a position that’s a step backward?
• How does an extended time unemployed affect my skills and employability?
• Could I make a credible case to a future employer of why this position is an asset rather than a diversion to my goal?
• Would I be content doing this position on a daily basis?
• Is my career a major consideration for me or do I work primarily for a paycheck?
• …and others.

No one should make a decision whether you should take a particular job or not. It’s a personal choice based on your goals, preferences, and circumstances. However, asking yourself a number of key questions can make the decision clearer.

The post Take a Job or Build a Career? appeared first on Résumé Writing and Career Services.

The following is some insider insights on how to create a solid DIY résumé. That is, if you’re brave enough to undertake the task on your own, knowing full well the consequences if in the end your résumé turns out to be a faux 2 carat Cubic Zirconia instead of the brilliant 2 carat diamond you hoped it would be.

Style and Format: It is mind boggling how many different styles and formats exist for résumés today. Of course not each style works for each person and personality. Keep this thought in mind: in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade the villain looking for the Holy Grail chose the glittery cup and died and the Templar said “he chose poorly,” while Indy chose the most modest cup and lived and the Templar told him “you choose wisely.” The moral is “you need to know what will work for you and not for someone else.”

What you can do is what I do once a month to get new ideas. Google relevant résumé samples in your field and related ones for style and format purposes. View at least 200 (I view >500 at a time) to see how many ways the same type of person can be presented to the same audience. Look for which ones look generic, which are over used, which stand out in your mind, and which would most appeal to you if you were a decision maker and print out the 50-75 you like the most. Then choose the 3 styles and/or formats you think are best for you and create different résumé versions around them.

Content: I’m fond of saying a résumé is less about you and all about what the employer wants to buy. So again I would suggest you go online and print out 75 jobs that you want to apply for (location does not matter) and read them over and take notes about what the common denominator is in each job posting. This will then be the basis of your core résumé.

Wording: Once you know what you need to say look over all the résumés and jobs you printed out and look to see how others phrased what you want to say. If a bullet or sentence fits your speech pattern and personality and reflects what you need to say use it but not verbatim. Rewrite it and make it your own.

The Final Step: Never ever submit a résumé without having it doubly proofed and critiqued. Wait at least 1 day before you proofread it yourself and then have someone with top grammar/spelling skills look it over for you. After seeing it so many times and knowing what should be there you are prone to errors if you only proof it yourself. Also have it critiqued by someone who knows what employers are looking for before you submit it. You may think it is great but they may have a different opinion coming from a more realistic perspective.

Whenever I come up with a new style or format I test it out first by seeking feedback among a group of two dozen people I know and trust as SME’s who will give me critical feedback. They’re brutally honest and tell me what they see and why it works or does not work in their expert opinion and they make suggestions about what I might want to change. Then I will take it all into consideration and make the necessary adjustment and if they all say it looks great but it won’t sell I’ll abandon it for good.

The Consequences: In addition to a poor résumé not generating interest in you from employers for jobs you applied for, your poor résumé will go into the company / recruiter ATS or database. So if you upload or submit a better version at a later date the original poor version can remain in the system for 30-days and up to a year depending on how often the database is purged and a new résumé can replace it. So make sure the résumé you send is the absolute best before you send it along.

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When you’re writing your résumé or working on your LinkedIn profile, we bet you’ve wished you could get into hiring managers’ heads. What are they really looking for? How can you make your resume catch their eyes?

Thankfully, TheLadders got into their heads for us.

In a recent study of on-the-job behavior, TheLadders used eye-tracking technology to see where recruiters are spending their time when they’re looking at your résumé or LinkedIn profile.

The study confirmed a couple things we’ve heard before – like the fact that recruiters really do only spend about six seconds looking at your profile – but it also discovered some new things about how to make your resumes (both on and offline) more likely to catch a recruiter’s attention in the right way. For example:

1. A Picture Says a Thousand Words

Heat maps of recruiters looking at LinkedIn profiles showed that they spent an average of 19% of their time looking at the profile picture. Yep, that little piece of real estate really matters! So, make sure yours is telling the right story – one of you being professional, likable, and great at what you do – by putting extra care into the photo you choose (no selfies here, please!). Try this awesome new tool to learn exactly what message your photo is sending.

2. Facts, Not Fluff

The heat maps also showed that recruiters spend almost 80% of their résumé review time looking at your name, your current title and company, your previous title and company, your start and end dates, and your education. The rest was just scanned for relevant keywords.

What can you take from this? Well, while we wouldn’t advocate not putting any descriptive text at all, make sure to keep your summary and experience descriptions short, sweet, and easy to read (i.e., bullets are great, mega blocks of text are not).

3. Don’t Get (Too) Creative

Finally, the study found that recruiters found professionally rewritten résumés more “usable,” saying their organization and visual hierarchy were easier to follow. We don’t think you actually have to shell out for the professional services if you don’t want to, but make sure to format your résumé in a relatively standard way, making it easier for recruiters to find exactly what they're looking for as quickly as possible.

The post 3 Ways to Make Your Résumé More Recruiter-Friendly appeared first on Résumé Writing and Career Services.

When hiring managers post jobs, many times they get many more applications than they care to go through. They want to find that needle in the haystack that is the perfect person for the job, but it can be incredibly tedious to go through a pile of applications.

Hiring managers look for things to weed out people who are unlikely to be successful in the job. They also want to get the hiring process over as soon as possible, especially if the position has been vacant for a while.

Don’t make your application one of the first ones discarded. Avoiding these common job application mistakes will help keep your application out of the garbage before the hiring manager gets serious about compiling a list of finalists

1. Not Following Instructions on the Job Posting or Application Form

Like in grade school, the instructions for any assignment are incredibly important. Most people have had the experience of a teacher handing out a quiz with directions at the top saying to write your name and answer none of the questions. This trick is designed to teach students the importance of reading directions before beginning a task.

Some adults still haven’t learned that lesson. Follow instructions in the job posting and on the application form. Failing to do so will get your application thrown away because it shows the hiring manager that you lack attention to detail.

2. Leaving Fields Blank on the Application

Human resources professionals and attorneys spend hours creating and revising application forms. Leaving fields blank leaves the hiring manager with less information about you than he or she has about other candidates.

Much like neglecting the application form’s directions, leaving fields blank shows a lack of attention to detail. Tossing incomplete applications is an easy way for a hiring manager to cut down the number of applications that must be considered.

3. Turning in the Application Late

There is no legitimate excuse for turning in an application late. Even if you discover the job posting until two hours before it closes, you must get the application turned in on time. Hiring managers have very little information for basing their decisions. If the only thing you have ever turned into this person is late, that doesn’t bode well.

If a hiring manager already has a sizable applicant pool by the closing date, the hiring manager may discard all applications turned in past the deadline. Hiring managers cannot toss out one late application simply for lateness without doing the same to all late applications. As long as they do this with all late applications, they are justified in doing so.

4. Spelling and Grammatical Errors

Spelling and grammatical errors look unprofessional on job applications. If you know you’re a bad speller or self-editor, get someone to proofread your application or at the very least run it through the spell check feature of a word processing program. One or two errors probably won't get your application tossed in the garbage, but several of them will.

Make sure you know the commonly misspelled words on government job applications. A job application is too important a document not to make sure it is error-free.

5. Not Explaining Gaps in Employment

Gaps in employment are not always a bad thing, but they do raise a red flag for hiring managers. If left unexplained, hiring managers will assume the worst.

When you have a gap in employment, be sure to explain what happened. Don't let a hiring manager assume you were fired for cause when you really left to take care of a sick parent or newborn child.

If you left on bad terms, say so. It is better that a potential employer find out this information from you up front than later in a reference check with a previous supervisor. You may have only a small box on the application to enter your explanation, so be careful how you write your reason. If the space is available and it is appropriate for the situation, explain what you learned from that experience.

6. Not Including All Required Attachments

When a job posting requires more than a completed application form, the organization is telling you that they will use these additional materials to make the hiring decision. If you omit these materials, the hiring manager is missing information to compare you with other applicants. Therefore, the hiring manager will throw out applications that do not include all the required attachments.

7. Failing to Tailor Application Materials to Each Job

When you apply for a job, you want to show the hiring manager that you are the right fit for the job. The best way to do this is to tailor your qualifications to the knowledge, skills and abilities listed in the job posting. Whether accurate or inaccurate, failing to do this shows the hiring manager that you do not care enough about getting the job to spend the time to thoughtfully consider what the job entails and how to show that you can do it.

Experienced managers can spot a person’s base cover letter. If you don’t take the time to write a new cover letter or at least edit your default one, why should a hiring manager take the time to read what you send in for every other job?

8. Applying to a Job You Are Obviously Overqualified For

Hiring managers want new hires that are a good fit for the position and will stay for a reasonable amount of time. Someone with a doctoral degree and 20 years of experience in academic research who applies for an administrative technician position can obviously perform the tasks required for the job; however, this person is almost certainly a bad hire. Such an individual is overqualified for the position. This person would find the position boring and would begin looking for work soon after coming onboard.

Applying for a position far beneath your credentials looks suspicious. Hiring managers wonder what went wrong in previous jobs that cause you to seek for a job that appears beneath your abilities.

9. Applying to a Job You Are Obviously Unqualified For

Do not apply to be an astronaut if the last math class you took was Algebra II. Applying for a job you are obviously unqualified for wastes your time and the employer's time. If you do this consistently, you will develop a reputation for taking wild shots in the dark with your job applications, so when people see you apply for a job you’re qualified for, they’ll be less likely to take you seriously.

10. Leaving the Reader Confused

When hiring managers look at application materials, they want a clear and concise picture of what each candidate will bring to the job. Using too many big words will bore readers and make them want to stop half-way. Be as brief as possible while giving a thorough explanation of your work history and why you would be good for the job.

Make sure that your ending and beginning dates for each job are accurate. A typographical error on a year will confuse readers. It could look like you have an unexplained gap in employment or that you held two jobs at the same time when you really did not.

The post 10 Mistakes That Will Get Your Job Application Thrown Away appeared first on Résumé Writing and Career Services.

I often mention in my posts why it’s important to belong to job search networking groups. That is because I am the founder and facilitator of 2 such groups. For the last 5 years, I have met with job searchers in various stages of their search. The members represent different industries and roles. The thing they all had in common was their job search stress and frustration.

One of the things I urge them to do is to see the positive things in their lives. They are facing many negatives, and it prevents them from seeing anything good. To help them look for the good, I ask each member to say their name, the type of work they are looking for, and one good thing that has happened to them since the last time we met.

Often they have to dig to find something good and come up with something like their car started that day. It is a good thing; they didn’t have to take their car in for repairs. Eventually, they begin to see that yes they are unemployed, but not everything in their life is bad.

Here are some of the “good” things they have shared:

• S. spent the day with his son on the son’s 10th birthday.
• M. was able to take care of some family issues that no one had time for.
• C. updated her portfolio.
• J. lowered her blood pressure after being laid off from a toxic work environment.
• S. finished a home improvement project that he never had time to finish. His wife was very happy.
• L. met the love of her life at a networking event.
• A. & J. grew up in the same neighborhood, each moved away, and many years later reconnected through a networking group.
• Many people said they met wonderful people.
• Countless people announced they had a phone screen or an interview.
• Numerous mentioned something about the weather; it rained; it didn’t rain; it didn’t snow;or they saw a rainbow.

Big or small each good thing helped a job searcher see that there was hope. Even the employed members still have good and bad days because everyone does. We should all look for the good in our lives and be grateful. When we are grateful for what we have, the things we don’t have seem less important.

The post How To Cope With Long Term Unemployment appeared first on Résumé Writing and Career Services.

I’m often asked by job seekers whether I think they ought to check out a temporary position instead of waiting to land a new FTE (Full Time Employee) role. While everyone’s situation is different… most of the time my answer is… Yes!

People have varied preconceptions of what a temporary role entails. Some perceptions may be right, and many are wrong.

Temporary work has evolved greatly over the last 20 years and today it’s not uncommon for people to develop successful careers out of “temporary” work.

Here are some Myths and Facts about Temporary positions…

Myth
Temporary jobs are only for Administrative Assistants or high-level consultants.

Fact
These days, there are temporary, contract, or consulting opportunities for almost any field. I’m always amazed when I hear of a staffing firm or recruiter that specializes in placing people in fields that I would never have imagined. Certainly there are a great number of contract / temporary positions for Accountants, Financial Analysts, Programmers, Engineers, Technical Writers, Machinists, Farm Workers, and others. However, there are also opportunities for Doctors, Veterinarians, Nurses, Caterers, Waiters/Waitresses, Seamstresses, Retail Staff, Managers, Hotel Staff, and dozens of other fields and professions. No matter what kind of position you’re looking for, you’re likely to find temporary, contract, or consulting opportunities in your field.

Myth
Temporary positions typically pay far less than what you would earn in an FTE role.

Fact
While pay may be lower in some situations, there are many more where pay is actually quite a bit higher than what an FTE role might pay. Benefits typically aren’t always available or very good when they are available. However, the hourly wage often more than compensates for the loss in benefits. A computer programmer that might make $75,000 per year as an FTE, can often earn $50 to $60 per hour on a contract assignment, equating to $100,000 to $120,000 per year. The same is often true for many other fields as well.

Myth
It’s always better, and cheaper to get health insurance from an employer than to purchase it on your own.

Fact
Company health plans can vary dramatically in cost and coverage from one employer to the next. It’s not unusual for a company to only offer a one-size-fits-all option that may be far more expensive than something you might find on your own that’s better tailored for your needs. There are many factors that go into this, and it’s important to do your own research for your circumstances. However, it’s often possible to buy cheaper and better targeted health plans on your own than to rely on the company benefit.

Myth
It will hurt your resume and perceived career track to have a temporary or contract assignment on it rather than waiting to find a new FTE role.

Fact
The reality in most cases is that it shows you’re proactive, and focused on staying productive rather than simply waiting indefinitely for a perfect role to come along. You can certainly keep looking for an FTE role while working in the temporary position, and you’re gaining new experience, an income, and a productive track record along the way.

Myth
A short-term assignment will mess up my unemployment benefits.

Fact
Rules vary by state. However, in the vast majority of situations, a temporary assignment only puts benefits on-hold while you’re working and they can be resumed when the assignment ends without loss of weeks you’re eligible to receive. In the meantime, you’ve gained experience at a new organization, earned more than unemployment benefits pay, extended the length of time you can get by without a new FTE role, and filled in a gap on your resume.

More Facts…

• Temporary positions often turn into FTE roles if the company has an opening and they’ve seen, and like, your work.
• Many people create a new career out of working only temporary or contract assignments. It provides more variety, flexibility, some detachment from office politics, and often much better pay.
• Temporary positions typically pay hourly… for EVERY hour worked. Full-Time salaried positions often end up paying less on an hourly basis if you work more than full-time hours without additional pay.

Too often job seekers don’t consider temporary positions because they think there are too many negatives. In reality, many of them would greatly benefit from considering some temporary work options. Explore what opportunities might be available to you!

The post Are Temp, Contract, Consulting Assignments Worthwhile? appeared first on Résumé Writing and Career Services.

In 2011, I was an account executive with Scor Global Life Americas Reinsurance Company, in Plano, Tex., near where I live. When Scor acquired Transamerica Reinsurance, I was laid off along with several other people that October.

At that point I called Mike Pado, a former colleague at Scor who had left the company several months earlier for a job as president and C.E.O. of Aurigen USA Holdings. Aurigen is based in Bermuda, and Mike had been hired to look at starting a life reinsurance company in the United States.

Mike, who works out of Red Bank, N.J., was still in the planning stages for the new venture when I spoke to him. He said that at some point he’d need a person who knew the reinsurance industry and its top executives and could contact them for a snapshot of the United States market. He knew I fit that bill. But he was hoping that the person he hired would also be an actuary. I’m familiar with risk assessment and risk management in that field, but I’m not an actuary. So besides my age, I was worried about that.

I had done a good job at Scor for 12 years, and I was disappointed that I had been laid off. My level of anxiety was fairly high. The Aurigen venture sounded like a great opportunity if it worked out. But the business world often has certain misperceptions about workers 55 and older. Some people think we’re set in our ways, we don’t have the energy we used to have, or that we’ve lost our drive. They may worry about offering us a lower salary than we earned previously. I knew I’d have to address these concerns when job-hunting.

I told Mike I was interested in working for him, and we left it that we’d stay in touch while he continued to develop a business plan and consider a staff for the United States company. In the meantime, I sent out 300 résumés. I heard back from about a third of the companies and had about 12 or 15 interviews, but no luck.

By June 2012, eight months after Mike and I first talked, I still hadn’t found a job. Then Mike called and said he could offer me a three-month position as a marketing consultant, and that we’d see what happened after that. I was excited, but a consulting job was not ideal for me. I told him I would do the best job I could for him but would continue looking for a staff job with benefits, and he understood.

Consulting works well for people who like short-term projects and freedom, but I’ve always liked having a staff job. I like the feeling of belonging, and benefits are important.

I started talking to executives right away to gather the information Mike wanted and help him determine whether there was room for another entrant in the United States life reinsurance industry. I spoke to a vice chairman, 11 company presidents, 25 chief actuaries and 30 life underwriters and sent Aurigen’s annual report to customers and others, sometimes with a handwritten note.

My work helped Mike make a case to his board that another United States life reinsurance company could do well. In October I got the news that Mike’s proposal had been accepted. He was finally able to hire me as an account executive on staff for his new-business development team. I was able to stay in Texas for my new job at Aurigen.

Right after hiring me, Mike had me join him and the Aurigen pricing team at the October 2012 conference of the Society of Actuaries in Washington. Many industry executives attend, and I’d help sell prospective clients on the benefits of working with the new venture.

When word got out that I’d been hired, my former colleagues gave me a warm reception, which was nice. Several welcomed me back to the industry, and one asked about my sales territories. It felt great to know that I hadn’t been forgotten.

Rather than start a new company from scratch, Mike began looking at United States insurance companies to buy, choosing one that Aurigen closed on and renamed this past spring.

Some people might have no problem retiring after being laid off at 59. Maybe they tell themselves it’s not what they would have wanted, but they make the best of it. Or maybe they are ready to retire, so it turned out to be perfect timing. I’ll be 61 in September, but I want to keep working, so getting a chance at this job worked out well for me.

It’s easy to get depressed about being an older job seeker. You have to keep your eyes open, stay focused, and be open to possibilities. You never know when and how an opportunity may come along.

The post Older, Unemployed, and Landing the Job appeared first on Résumé Writing and Career Services.

So, you’re looking for a job. You’re not alone, and right now it’s safe to bet that it’ll take a little longer than usual before you score the permanent job position you want. What are some ways to earn extra cash in the meantime, pay the bills and maybe have a little fun to boot?

Before you start a part-time job, make sure that you know what you’re looking for in terms of permanent work so that your side odd jobs don’t create a conflict. Balance is the key, and if you are doing side jobs to make money, make sure they help your future career path.

Restaurant and food service work. Whether you’re serving up chilled martinis or burgers and fries, waiting tables is often considered one of the best ways to earn extra cash – and there’s a reason for that: the industry offers some of the most flexible part-time jobs, and with tips you can earn well over minimum wage. Most shifts don’t conflict heavily with regular office hours, which is helpful for making business contacts and attending interviews during the day. Job prospects are considered excellent due to the high employee turnover that is characteristic of this industry – but don’t forget that competition can be stiff at upscale establishments where the tips are the highest. Waiter/waitress median hourly wage = $14.50 (including tips)

Retail jobs. If food service isn’t for you and you just need a side job that makes money to fuel your job search engine, then working in retail could fit the bill. Employment growth for these jobs usually reflects the expansion and contraction of the economy, so right now, it might be a little harder than usual to land a position. Despite that, retail job opportunities are still considered good because of the high level of turnover in this sector. Furthermore, warehouse, clubs and supercenters are supposed to have excellent prospects as their popularity is strong with bargain-hunting consumers. Sales clerk/cashier median hourly wage = $8.16

Temp agency work. Companies are wary about hiring directly at the moment, creating many temporary job opportunities. “Employers are looking for flexibility,” says Eric Buntin, of Randstad US, a staffing company. However, they are still looking for plenty of entry to mid-level temp positions that, with a little patience on your part, may turn into a full-time job. “It’s important to be flexible, but be clear with the agency about your long-term and short-term plans, so they can help you meet your goals,” advises Buntin. “Some contracts could be just for a week, then become one month and eventually lead to a hire.” Salaries vary widely depending on the industry and your experience level, but the potential is there to earn quite well while you’re waiting for a permanent offer. Entry level temp work (healthcare) median hourly wage = $8.00; Experienced contractor hourly wage = $35.00**

Recreation workers. Sharing your knowledge of creative arts or sports and recreation can be a fun way to earn extra cash, and this job sector offers an unusually large percentage of part-time and seasonal employment, leading group outings or activities. Work environments range from community centers to summer camps. This is considered a tough field if you want to get into it full-time, but for part-time, job openings are good, stemming from the large number of people who leave the field each year. Recreation worker median hourly wage = $15.03

Test prep instructors and tutors. Opportunities in educational support are growing, many of which are part-time job positions, usually scheduled during evenings or weekends. If you’ve done well on standardized tests and have a passion for helping others succeed, you can earn $100/hour teaching GMAT prep courses. If test prep doesn’t sound like a fit, students from elementary school through college are often in need of tutoring or extra help with homework assignments as well. Test prep instructor wage = $100/hour*; Tutor = $13.40

If you’re looking for more casual ways to earn extra cash, you can get a long way by using a little creativity, according to Robin Ryan, Seattle-based career coach and author. In her years of coaching people toward the right position, she’s seen many innovative and entrepreneurial spirits earn extra cash with side odd jobs they develop themselves, from mowing neighbors’ lawns after finishing their own, to planning birthday parties for their children’s classmates.

“One woman was cooking dinner for her family one night and thought to herself, why not offer to cook for other families in the neighborhood,” Ryan recalled. She ended up having a number of families willing to pay for meals a couple of times a week. For just a little extra prep time in the evenings, this turned a side odd job into extra cash.

“Also, if you have clothes that don’t fit anymore, furniture, or that terrible gift that your aunt gave you for Christmas – sell it!” Ryan advises. Sites like Craigslist or Ebay are easy ways to earn extra cash, or you can rally a few neighbors to have a larger garage sale to increase your inventory and your earnings to few hundred dollars in an afternoon.

Whichever route you choose, part-time work is important. “A serious job search takes about 20 hours per week,” according to Ryan, “any more than that is just spinning your wheels – job searching is slow. Fill the rest of your time with something that produces results. Psychologically, this helps a lot.”

Claiming Unemployment and taxes:

If you’re collecting unemployment, you may be wondering how a side job will affect your claim. Legally, you must report all earnings, which will then be subtracted from your unemployment check until you exceed the amount of your benefit. Sometimes it is just a partial deduction from you benefit, so it’s best to check with your state’s unemployment office for full details on how to report your earnings.

Regarding taxes on self-employment or odd jobs, you usually don’t have to report earnings of $400 or less. The IRS gives complete information in publication 501 about federal filing requirements.

Sources:
Salary data from PayScale.com unless otherwise noted.
*Salary quote from Veritas Prep.
**Salary quotes from Randstad US.

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You’re a seasoned professional and it has been at least 3 years since you needed to look for a new position, and the last time you changed jobs you were either recruited for the position or referred by someone you know.

Fast forward to the present; you’re unemployed, recruiters are not returning your phone calls, and today many of the people who recommended you for jobs in the past are your direct competition.

Sound familiar?

You have done your homework, gotten outplacement advice, and read every book there is, however I think you may need to hear this one more time to get it right, because there is no margin for error in conducting a job search in today’s economy.

So here is some strategic advice on how to kick your job search into high gear.

1. Don’t go fishing: Target where you want to go. Before you do anything you need to know what positions you qualify for in this new economy and make some tough decisions. Do you want to stay in the same field, or, better yet, can you? Where are you going, is your next job a step up, a step down or a lateral move. What do you want it to be and what is realistic financially, emotionally and career wise?

2. Define and promote a Personal Brand: Your job search is worthless if you cannot see your value to a new employer and devise creative ways to get this message across on paper, in person, and through all means of new social media. What is your specialty? Is it making money, saving money, is it your soft skills, like leadership and management style, your contacts, or hard skills like accounting, closing deals, or strategic planning? Get a tag line that describes you and make it your brand. Here is an example:

Senior Executive l Business Operations – Distribution – Logistics

‘Expert in driving a business from where it is to where management wants it to be’

3. Get a Marketing Document instead of a Resume: This is a document that showcases and validates who you are and why it pays for a recruiter or decision-maker to pick up the phone and call you to schedule an interview. It should be produced in a style and format that is best suited to your field, your level and your personality without looking like a boilerplate document, and it should contain a mission statement, and at least 2 solid endorsements that will verify that you are as good as or better than you claim to be.

4. Round out your Portfolio: You should have a One-Page Networking Bio; a social media presence that lets people see the total package you can deliver, and establish yourself as a subject matter expert on numerous topics within your field and industry.

5: Take your job search seriously: This means being honest with yourself and others about where you are willing to make compromises and where you are inflexible. It means trusting others to help you and not being a Lone Wolf. It means investing in your future and not being shortsighted about what you can and can’t do on your own.

6: Talk to an expert: Get advice advice and assistance in evaluating where you stand at this point and what it will take to get on the right path.

The post Executives BEWARE: There’s No Margin for Error appeared first on Résumé Writing and Career Services.