The most effective way to get a job in this economy

Abridged: Today MSNBC

LOS ANGELES, CA -- Lost your job? Join the club. Better yet, join the party. As unemployment numbers hit historic highs, "pink slip" parties are popping up in big cities around the country. Hundreds of axed employees are going to happy hour meet-and-greets, where one can enjoy a drink and discuss career prospects with eager recruiters.

People are finding creative ways to stand out above the pack. In order to get a job in this economy, people have to get out there. And while there are no guarantees of gaining anything more than good conversations and a few contacts, some pink slip attendees have had success in finding new employment. Pink slip parties offer those on the prowl for jobs a chance to share information among themselves.

"If you take your network and compare it to the network of a total group, you get access to more people - if you can help each other, it's a win for everyone," said John Challenger, CEO of outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas. Pink slip parties are just one extension of social networking. Whether online or in person at networking events, many agree that these one-on-one connections have stood the test of time as the most effective way to get a job.

2 Very Important Tips For Starting A Business in Your Home

For more and more people, home is not only where the family is - it's where the business is! I have ben doing business for the past 12 years from home and I love the flexibility and convenience. During the last 20 years, large numbers of people have chosen to market their skills and talents from home. Recent studies estimate that as many as 20 percent of new small business enterprises are operated out of the home, and this trend is growing. Many home-based businesses are even started on a part-time basis and then expand into full-time businesses as the market for the business develops and grows.

Why a home based business?

People are attracted to home based businesses for many different reasons. 

They include: 

1. Experiencing the personal satisfaction of making their own decisions
2. Expressing their own ideas and being their own boss. 

Those starting home-based businesses come from many different groups, such as homemakers, single parents, youth, dislocated workers, hobbyists and people interested in adding to their incomes. The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well even in this economy...actually especially in this economy. 

1. First have a mission statement or vision for your business.
2. Make a business plan. Every business should have a business plan, including a home-based business.

The best place to get started with that is the Small Business Website. 

http://www.sba.gov/ 

They have detailed instructions on how to get started in your state. With references to laws, policies and procedures. 

Are you stuck for words and ideas for your resume?

Are you stuck for words and ideas for your resume? Ever wonder when you are going to start on your resume? Well, here is a good site to get you started. It has a lot of free resume templates based on the job. One good book I would recommend is the Resume Magic: Trade Secrets of a Professional Resume Writer. It has a lot of very insightful tips and tricks, so that you can churn out a great looking resume. 

Writing an exciting resume that catches the attention of hiring managers is not an easy task. Employers are looking for capabilities and concrete examples of skills and abilities such as organizational leadership and involvement, a strong work ethic and a sense of commitment. Be detailed when describing your accomplishments. If you have had internships, summer jobs or academic accomplishments,  make sure to include this experience on the resume. It may seem as if it is not important but its exactly the opposite. 

Another favorite book of mine is Resumes For Dummies  The Dummies series, as much as it is simple it can bring to light the many small details that you can take for granted.  The Resume Handbook: How to Write Outstanding Resumes and Cover Letters for Every Situation  is yet another good read. It can help you to get your resume up to par so that once in the hands of interested employers you will get immediate feedback and interviews.

The One Question Your Resume Must Answer

I found this article by Joe Turner very interesting. He says "Hiring managers are looking for one element that will make them stand up and take notice of a candidate. That one element is a strong benefit to the employer. When you provide an employer benefit, you speak their language. They want to know more. Unfortunately, too many resumes lack this." 

Yes, we are told to talk about ourselves when we write a resume but the "how-to" is definite noticed in the example that Joe outlines below.

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Two Approaches

Here is an example. Suppose you have the skill: "Excellent oral and written communication skills."

How can we answer the question, "So What?" in the mind of the employer?

Here's how: Offer an example of how you've used these skills in your job to the benefit of your employer by writing an employer benefit bullet like this:

"Wrote and presented successful training program for 155 company new-hires, resulting in measurable gains in company's inventory efficiency over 12 month period."

The first example statement is a cliche. The second statement leaves no room for doubt: This candidate can communicate orally (in front of a group, no less) and in writing.

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His article is a great eye opener for those who would want to tweak their resume for far better results in the work place.

As a recruiter, Joe Turner has spent the past 15 years finding and placing top candidates in some of the best jobs of their careers. Author of "Job Search Secrets Unlocked," Joe has interviewed on radio talk shows and offers free insider job search secrets at jobchangesecrets.com.

Here is the article in its entirety 

http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/career-articles-the_one_question_your_resume_must_answer-477  

The Brazen Careerist the blog that is about a different kind of carreer advice

I love reading The Brazen Careerist the blog that is about a different kind of carreer advice. Written by Penelope Trunk. Besides this fabulous blog she has a book out called the BRAZEN CAREERIST. If you are looking for a job then this is one book I totally recommend.

Here is part of her interview on Amazon where you can find her awesome book.
Brazen Careerist: The New Rules for Success
Q: What makes your career advice different?
A: I explain why old advice - like pay your dues, climb the ladder, and don’t have gaps in your resume - is outdated and irrelevant in today’s workplace. I have a reputation for giving advice that is counterintuitive but effective, like take long lunches, ignore people who steal your ideas, and stop vying for a promotion. Both the New York Times and Business Week cited my writing as especially in tune with today’s new workplace.

Also, I am known for test-driving my advice before spewing it. In my personal life, I routinely (often awkwardly) demonstrate buzzwords before they buzz, like the quarterlife crisis, portfolio career, and shared-care parenting. My own career choices have been featured by Time magazine and the London Guardian as examples of the new issues people face at work today.
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So read her blog for some fresh new ideas for your job search. a good read !

3 TIPS for Writing or Re-writing your RESUME !

If you are writing your resume for the first time or want to re-write your resume, there are a few good places to start. Yes, it is one of the most BORING things to do as you have to go back and recap your LIFE and put it neatly on paper or nowadays online.

Resume-Help.org says "Keep in mind, your resume is a marketing tool to get you in the company and in front of the decision maker. Once in, you will need to do the sales pitch, and close the deal. With that said, you don't need to go into detail about every accomplishment in your resume. Strive to be clear and concise, as the purpose is to generate enough interest in you to have an potential employer contact you for an interview."

3 TIPS for Writing or Re-writing your RESUME !

• Open up a Word doc and start putting down JOBS and DATES ! It is important to be accurate.
• Take the time before you start your resume to form a clear and obtainable objective.
• For the first time Resume writer like a college graduate, Kate Lorenz of CareerBuilder.com has outlined "Seven Things to Know Before Writing Your First Résumé"

Making the web work for you...Work The WEB !

In order to make the web work for you when you have lost your job or are thinking of quitting !
Make the web work for you by WORKING THE WEB ! Here are 3 points to ponder and work on !

1. Start a blog that "glorifies your skills" Toot your own horn, no one is going to do it for you cause you know yourself the best !
2. Use CraigsList for finding a job in your city, town. Look in the classifieds or make your own ad and show that your skills are available.
3. Use www.Ladders.com for professionals that are looking for executive positions. Make sure you look at the resume keyword list, which is like an SEO tagging of your resume. This will help your resume pass through the first level of approval, which is usually scanned by a computer.

Personal time management skills with To-Do Lists

Personal time management skills are essential skills for effective people. People who use these techniques routinely are the highest achievers in all walks of life, from business to sport to public service. If you use these skills well, then you will be able to function exceptionally well, even under intense pressure.

One way to achieve this is with To-Do Lists

By keeping a To-Do List, you make sure that you capture all of the tasks you have to complete in one place. By prioritizing work, you plan the order in which you'll do things, so you can tell what needs your immediate attention, and what you can quietly forget about until much, much later. Start with the most important tasks at the top of the list, and the least important tasks at the bottom.

Here are 3 FREE online To-Do list tools

1. Orchestrate uses a unique method to help you organize your to do lists. Rather then simply allowing you to create a list, it lets you create multiple lists each with their own name.
2. Ta-da List, is a to do list and nothing more. It’s clean and simple, gets right to the point, and only provides feature that you actually need.
3. Remember the Milk is a more feature packed task management solution. It allows you to organize your tasks into tabs and tags, make time specific tasks with automatic reminders and repeat intervals, and even has collaborative features.

Are you TWITTERING? You should if you want to network and find a job!

Tired of the online resume posts ? Cant find anyone to talk to to get yourself in a new job...then its time to TWITTER yourself into a new job.

What is TWITTER ? Twitter is a mini-blogging application that you can use to send quick messages out to friends, family and anyone on the web and via cell phones.

You can use Twitter to communicate "What you are doing", "Where you are headed" etc. Great place to promote products, share your ideas - quick and easy. In this day and age of "way-too-much-info" you want quick and easy spurts of info to keep you connected. So twitter about yourself and someone will find you....instead of the traditional - other way around.

Is an image consulting business right for you?

Ok so you have spent all your time learning how to impress others. Well you have all those tips under your belt. And you still cant find a job....

Well, good looking ! Why not make a career out of being an " Image Consultant"

Article from http://www.atotalwaste.com/getajob/imageconsultant.html

You might have seen them while watching TV shows such as Extreme Makeover, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, or What Not to Wear. Or you might have heard that Martha Stewart should have used them to give her advice on how to look sympathetic to a jury.

We’re talking about Image Consultants, and they have one of the hottest new businesses today.
Also known by such titles as wardrobe consultant, fashion stylist, or makeover consultant, image consultants are paid to show people how to create a fabulous impression. They might recommend wearing different colors or new styles, go through closets to toss out clothing that isn’t working, shop for a new wardrobe, and put together incredible outfits. They might advise a change of hairstyle, makeup, or grooming.

However, image is more than physical appearance. In addition to how someone looks, we also form impressions based on how someone talks and behaves. So image consultants may also advise people on their vocal communication (voice, grammar, vocabulary, etc.), non-verbal communication (handshakes, posture, eye contact, etc.) and etiquette – from dining to cell phones.

Most image consultants also develop a network of strategic partners they can refer clients to, such as hair stylists, makeup artists, nutritionists, dentists, personal trainers, plastic surgeons, and voice coaches.

Image consultants offer the kind of advice that can help people land a job, get a promotion, find someone to love, or just feel good about themselves.

It’s no wonder they are so well rewarded, typically earning at least $50 per hour advising individuals how to present a better image. A particularly lucrative avenue is presenting training programs for corporations. Image consultants can earn thousands of dollars a day teaching seminars on dressing professionally (including dos and don’ts for casual Fridays), telephone etiquette for customer service staff, communication skills for new supervisors, and other topics.
TIP: If you are one of the rare few who think image doesn’t matter, try shopping at a fine store dressed in what you would normally wear to clean your basement or move furniture. Then visit the same store looking well-groomed and wearing your best suit. Chances are the staff will treat you quite differently!The first step to becoming an image consultant is to decide what kind of services you want to offer. You could specialize in wardrobe or fashion consulting, offer advice on communication skills and etiquette, or be a makeover consultant who gives feedback on “the whole package.”

The next step is to get some experience. While there are a variety of books and training programs you can use to quickly learn the basics, nothing beats hands on experience. Offer free makeovers for friends and family members who will agree to let you take “before and after” photos. You can then put the photos in a portfolio or on a web site to help you get paying clients.
There are many types of clients who use the services of image consultants, including: women who want a new look, job-seekers, corporate executives and their spouses, beauty pageant contestants, lawyers and their clients, cancer survivors, television personalities, transgender individuals, politicians, and singles seeking a partner.

“It is a great time to get into the field,” says celebrity image consultant Gloria Starr. A 20 year industry veteran who has helped shape the image of clients such as Destiny’s Child, 3M, and Celebrity Cruise Lines, she shares expert advice on how to get started in the FabJob How to Become an Image Consultant.

“This is the busiest time in my 20-plus years. People are looking for the edge in business,” says Starr. “Presenting themselves for success by dressing well and using appropriate business and dining skills opens the doors for greater recognition and success.”

Is an image consulting business right for you?

Skills that can help you succeed in this career are a strong visual sense as well as excellent communication skills. You must be able to diplomatically tell someone what they need to improve about their appearance.

1. Image consulting is a service business so it doesn’t require a large investment to get started.
2. You can start part-time while working at another job.
3. To be credible, you must have a professional image yourself.