| When you're unemployed, you can waste a | | | | nurses, tech hotshots). Small |
| lot of time learning the job search | | | | businesses are more and more posting |
| "rules of the road". Here are 10 job | | | | jobs on Craig's List, Monster and other |
| seeking tips that can help you hit the | | | | job sites - they find them often |
| ground running. | | | | cheaper, faster and easier than |
| 1. Be positive | | | | newspapers. For the job hunter, using |
| A positive mental attitude will make all | | | | searches to target specific jobs and |
| the difference. Don't reflect too much | | | | locations is a godsend. Time-saving |
| on the past, on the last job. What | | | | sites like let you do Google-like |
| counts is the present. This could be an | | | | searches vs. job postings from many |
| opportunity in disguise. Focus on the | | | | sites. |
| future - your next job - and make this a | | | | 7. Tailor your resume and cover letter |
| change for the better. | | | | for each job |
| 2. It's a marathon, not a sprint | | | | The employer often mentions specific job |
| You may be lucky and find something new | | | | skills needed. If you have these |
| quickly. But most likely, your job | | | | skills, make sure they can't be missed: |
| search will take a while. Most likely | | | | tweak your resume to highlight them. A |
| it will be months - not weeks - of | | | | little extra time will land your resume |
| effort to land your next job. Don't | | | | in the the interview pile, not the |
| worry: it takes most people this long, | | | | reject pile. |
| not just you. Meanwhile, pledge to keep | | | | 8. Play employer with your resume |
| an even keel. Avoid the emotional | | | | Look at your resume as a prospective |
| roller coaster of getting too caught up | | | | employer would. Gaps in employment, |
| in the drama of every potential job. | | | | frequent job changes, etc. raise red |
| Conserve one of your strongest assets - | | | | flags for employers. Be prepared with |
| a healthy mental outlook. | | | | answers for these likely questions. |
| 3. Know thyself | | | | 9. Interviews are an acquired skill |
| What type of job do you want? Why? And | | | | Your early interviews may not go as well |
| what makes you qualified to get that | | | | as you hoped. Don't worry: you'll get |
| job? Start your job search looking | | | | better as you go along. Better yet - |
| inward - not outward. | | | | have a few practice interviews with a |
| 4. If feasible, upgrade you | | | | friend before the real thing. After a |
| This might be the time to take a few | | | | few times you'll be a veteran, and |
| classes and upgrade your job skills. | | | | possibly better at it than the person |
| This need not be a long, costly | | | | doing the interview! |
| endeavor. Selected computer classes at | | | | 10. Be yourself during the interview |
| your local adult education facility can | | | | Disregard advice that you must "perform" |
| help qualify you for a better job. | | | | during the interview - this will only |
| 5. Resumes. Cover letters. Oh my. | | | | make you tense and unnatural. Of course |
| A job search requires new skills. You | | | | be positive and professional. But be |
| need to know where to look for job | | | | yourself. If they don't like the real |
| postings, the ins and outs of | | | | you, how happy would you be working |
| unemployment, how to write a resume, how | | | | there? Focus instead on building |
| to write a cover letter, interviewing | | | | rapport with the interviewer. If it |
| techniques, etc. There are many | | | | looks like you fit in - if you are |
| resources online to help you. Check for | | | | someone they will enjoy working with day |
| job search organizations in your area | | | | in and day out - you have answered their |
| that give workshops on these topics. | | | | important unasked questions. |
| It's time well spent. | | | | Looking for a job is no walk in the |
| 6. Online job sites are a great resource | | | | park. But you can do it. Follow these |
| Newspaper job listings guarantee lots of | | | | tips to keep positive and focused on the |
| competition; what's more, they focus on | | | | goal: your next job. |
| jobs where demand exceeds supply (think: | | | | |