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 !