| ing a job search is a daunting task, even for | | | | come into play. Cost of living, for example, can be |
| seasoned professionals. There are many pieces to | | | | dramatically different from one city to another. A |
| the puzzle, and each piece plays its own important | | | | $50,000 a year income in Mobile, Alabama is equal to |
| role in the process. Knowing the pieces of the | | | | over $122,350 in Manhattan, New York, a 145% |
| process is a crucial element for your success. | | | | increase. |
| While there is no such thing as doing too much, there | | | | Other factors, such as quality of schools, real estate, |
| is a basic guide to follow. It consists of five painless | | | | environmental quality, quality of life, and proximity to |
| steps that will outline your work ahead. Together, | | | | friends and family should also be evaluated. These |
| they form the foundation of a job hunt that will yield | | | | factors are more difficult to measure than cost of |
| exceptional results. | | | | living. Not having your mom to watch the kids can |
| 1. Put together a great resume. | | | | cost you thousands of dollars a year and must be a |
| Before your job search ever begins, you need a | | | | part of your decision. Write down pros and cons for |
| resume. The resume is the first contact you will have | | | | each factor and take a look at the entire picture. |
| with a prospective employer. It is an extension of | | | | 3. Put Out the Word. |
| your life and a summary of your accomplishments. It | | | | Once you have a resume and decide your desired |
| is how a manager will pick you out of | | | | location, its time to get hustling. The most important |
| hundreds
possibly thousands of applicants. It can | | | | place to start, and the most often overlooked place, |
| mean the difference between exciting job interviews | | | | is your network. Your network is the group of family, |
| and a phone that never rings, between success and | | | | friends, coworkers, and acquaintances that make up |
| failure. | | | | your life. They are the backbone of your search and |
| This is a complex task for two pages (maximum) of | | | | a great source of information and leads. |
| paper. That’s right, two little pages to talk | | | | The big advantage of your network is that it is |
| about your education, job experience, | | | | compiled with people who already know you. |
| accomplishments and awards, special skills, training, | | | | Depending on your relationship, many people in your |
| professional experience/affiliation, and so on. Basically, | | | | network will feel a vested interest in your success, |
| you need to sum up your life, and make it | | | | and will go out of their way to help. If they come in |
| interesting, in two pages. | | | | contact with a potential employer, they can vouch |
| There are numerous websites that can help with | | | | for your character and work ethic on the spot and |
| writing a bullet proof resume. Some offer free | | | | help you leap to the top of the prospect pool. |
| information and examples for you to follow, and | | | | 4. Look Online |
| some will write the resume for you (for a fee of | | | | With the advent of the internet, the first place many |
| course). is an excellent website for writing and | | | | job seekers look for job listings is now online on the |
| posting your resume. | | | | internet. There are more job search websites than |
| Professional resume writing, when done by a human | | | | you know what to do with and each one is telling |
| resource expert, can give you a significant edge over | | | | you they are the best. The truth is they are. |
| the competition. You can expect to pay $100 or | | | | is another excellent job search website. They have |
| more for this service, and can be well worth the | | | | great tips, will write your resume and cover letter |
| money. However, before hiring someone to write it | | | | for, and get you job hunting in minutes. |
| for you be sure to check their credentials. | | | | You can find more by going to and doing a search |
| 2. Determine the locations you may want to live. | | | | for jobs. The key to successfully using these |
| Once you have your resume polished and shiny, its | | | | websites is being systematic. Pick a time everyday |
| time to think about where you want to live. | | | | when you can spend time working online (example: |
| Determining a location can have a significant impact | | | | from 2pm to 6pm daily). Start a daily journal and |
| on your income earning potential. Some jobs are | | | | write down what job search sites you visit and the |
| concentrated in certain areas and the pay can be | | | | job listings you apply to. This journal will keep you |
| dramatically more than where you live. For example, | | | | from back tracking and can save you hours of time. |
| the vast majority of computer programming jobs in | | | | 5. Look Offline |
| the U.S. are in Silicon Valley, California. Jobs there can | | | | Do not overlook the tried and true ways of finding a |
| pay up to five times more than other parts of the | | | | job. Get the daily newspaper and other classified |
| country. | | | | periodicals to look for listings. Also, get a copy of the |
| Unfortunately, pay isn’t everything. To | | | | Sunday edition from the papers in the locations you |
| accurately assess your situation, other factors must | | | | are interested in living. |