Build An Impressive Free Resume Online In 15 Minutes With JobSpice

Original Post Here [MakeUseOf]

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While popular services such as Monster and CareerBuilder may have some job postings (the Internet doesn’t truly list all the openings), they also make you jump through lengthy account-creating and advertisement hurdles in order to get a chance at creating or uploading a resume.

If you’re uploading a resume that you created the painful way through Microsoft Word, you’ll also have to go through the hassle of converting your resume to PDF in order to prevent the potential employer from seeing the squiggly red lines in your resume indicating that your last name or your most recent employer’s isn’t grammatically recognized, among other formatting risks. Save yourself all the trouble (and time!) and let Y Combinator-funded JobSpice help you build a free resume online in 15-20 minutes!

As JobSpice is built in the actively developed Javascript library, jQuery, you can definitely expect it to be very speedy and easy to use.

The job application process… and how to break through!

Original Post: The job application process… and how to break through! from TheWiseJobSearch by Harry Urschel

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In this job market, it seems many job seekers have moved to Egypt… to the State of De-Nile!
They believe they can simply apply to job after job online, and through that process they will get a job. Although most of them instinctively know what the reality of that process is in today’s market, few change how they pursue that new position. Hopefully, by making today’s reality clear in this article, in black & white, some job seekers will wake up and realize they may need to try a different approach.
So… you see a job posting online that you like… and you decide to apply. What’s going on behind the scenes?
If the position is at a large company, chances are great that no one will see your resume or online application at all. Your submission doesn’t go to someone’s email or land on anyone’s desk, but rather goes into a database. Chances are you are one of anywhere from 500 to 1,000 people that applied in the same way (one large company I know receives 750 to 1200 applicants for every online posting).

Can Facebook Harm Your Job Search?

Original Post Here

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For years now, as social media has proliferated, we’ve been hearing more and more about how what you do online can be viewed and viewed negatively by your boss… or by a prospective boss.
But what about Facebook? After all, can’t you control who sees what on Facebook?
Well, if you’re doing a job search, you’d certainly better hope so.
According to new research by Microsoft, if HR people can check your Facebook page, then they probably will. And what they find there can have an impact on your chances of getting hired. In other words, Facebook can have an impact on your job search.
(via GigaOM)

“…the top online factors for rejecting a job applicant are unsuitable photos/videos, concerns about a candidate’s lifestyle and inappropriate comments written by the candidate.
(…)
The survey also found that not only are HR staffers search for information about job applicants online, most of their companies have made online screening a formal requirement of the hiring process. Recruiters and HR professionals also said that they believe the use of online-reputation information will significantly increase over the next five years. And while the survey found that most consumers manage their reputation at least to some extent, a significant percentage (between 30 and 35 percent depending on nationality) “don’t feel their online reputation affects either their personal or professional life [and] consequently, they are not taking steps to manage their reputations.”

So, obviously, the key takeaway here is that you should be aware of your privacy controls, and definitely make use of them. This article from last week’s New York Times is invaluable: The 3 Facebook Setting Every User Should Check Now.
Because, the other point to keep in mind is, your online profile can actually help your job search in a lot of ways. As the article says:

“Our research shows that managing your online reputation can be a significant benefit. Everyone should think critically about the image they’re digitally portraying,” Peter Cullen, Microsoft’s chief privacy strategist, said in a statement.

If you’re not using social media as a part of your job search, then you’re not taking advantage of all the modern tools available.
Just make sure those tools are helping you, and not hurting.
And, as I always say at the end, don’t forget the invaluable job search tool of resume writing.
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Dress to get the job!

Original Post Here [TheWiseJobSearch]

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From time to time I get asked about what’s appropriate to wear to a job interview, networking meeting, or other event. The answer varies based on the circumstances and type of position.
The key to keep in mind at any time, however, is that first impressions do matter and dressing appropriately and professionally is a prime component of that first impression.
The way you dress can tell someone a lot about you:

• Do you pay attention to detail
• Do you think this meeting is important
• Do you care about the impression you make
• Do you care about being current
• …and other characteristics as well

So… what is appropriate dress for your meeting or event?

Negotiate Your Way to Getting Paid What You're Worth

Original Post Here

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One of the trickiest parts of landing a new job is making sure you get paid what you're worth. Negotiating your salary is part art, and part science, but there's one rule that never changes: be nice.
Photo by Orin Zebest.
Wired's How-To Wiki has a great collection of tips on figuring out what a job ought to pay and how much you can expect to earn based on your level of experience and education. Once you've got a ballpark estimate, you'll need to get your prospective employer on board, and that's where good negotiation tactics come in handy.
We've mentioned ways to hone your negotiating skills before, but one tip in particular is important to remember. It pays—literally—to be nice when you're trying to find a middle ground between what you want to earn and what the company is willing to pay.

Salary negotiation may make you feel as ruthless as Gordon Gekko, but the basic rules of human decency still apply. After all, you will have to work with these people. Don't hold out for the maximum offer. Don't hint that you need the dough to pay off your gambling debts or your mother's life-saving operation. Don't complain that your best friend from high school is making twice as much... in an entirely different field. And don't — we repeat, DON'T — bring the subject up in an interview. Wait until the interviewer brings it up, even if that means waiting for a second interview — which is what you were going to do in the first place, remember?

Hit up the post for more tips on getting paid what you're worth. Did you negotiate your salary before you took your current job? How'd it work out for you? If you've got tips to share, we'd love to hear about them in the comments.

Get Paid What You're Worth [Wired How-To Wiki]

Six Ways to Maximize LinkedIn When Job Hunting | NewmanPR

Original Post Here

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Uploaded on January 16, 2010
by nanpalmero
1) Make sure that your page is up to date — I realize that LinkedIn is not much fun and that you’d rather be on Facebook, but it is important to have your information fresh and current.
2) Make sure that your page and your resume jibe — If your employment history doesn’t match up between your resume and your LinkedIn page, that could be an indication that you’re hiding something or, possibly worse, you’re just sloppy.
3) Proofread, proofread, proofread — enough said.
4) Use a professional, and recent, photograph of decent quality — it’s like wearing business attire to an interview, duh! And nobody wants to see your picture from the kegger at the beach last weekend.
5)LinkedIn doesn’t provide much real estate in which to work your writing mojo, but in those places where you can be descriptive, be creative and show a little style.
6) Join appropriate groups and join their conversations — It is, after all, social media. Be judicious in the groups you choose to join. It’s best to select groups related to your desired career, which should, besides giving you an opportunity to learn about the business, enable you to network with people who might be looking for a sharp, savvy candidate.

Rocket Surgery Made Easy - Joel on Software

Original Post: Here

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Rocket Surgery Made Easy
Recommended by Joel Spolsky Monday, January 25, 2010

  

Steve Krug has written a follow up to his usability classic Don’t Make Me Think. The sequel, Rocket Surgery Made Easy, is a terrific, short, concise, fun guide to running simple “hallway” usability tests to improve the usability of your software and websites. Highly recommended.