Employment Digest

Keep up to date on articles and news and subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

In order to conduct an effective job search, you have to know what you are looking for, why you are looking and how to go about it. There are a few common myths and misconceptions to be aware of so your job hunt stays on the right path.

• After college, jobs come easily: You should never expect that you will get job offers immediately after you graduate. It will take time for you to find a good job. The fact is that some people will be lucky while others will have to wait longer. You need to have patience - on average, finding a suitable job takes 3-4 months. Don't waste your time simply waiting. Until you find a good job, try working in a smaller one, at least part-time. It may not pay you as much, but it will at least keep you occupied.

• Putting your resume on the Internet means more offers: This is not always true. Think about what recruiters must be going through. They get more than a hundred resumes everyday, and it is definitely not possible for them to consider each and every one of them. The best advice here is to personalize your resume to meet the requirements of each job that you apply to.

• Classified ads make up the majority of job openings: Agreed - ads in the newspapers and on the Internet do make up a good deal of job openings, but not all of them. The jobs that offer a big position and a huge salary are usually not advertised everywhere. This calls for some savvy networking. Try to approach companies even if there is no opening advertised, and don't forget to leave your resume with them. If there is an opening, be being proactive, you may receive a call for an interview.

• Job-hopping is bad: This is a very popular misconception that everyone seems to believe. Though this used to be a fact some years ago, but now the mindset of the average employer has changed. Changing jobs frequently was once viewed as instability in character. But now it is okay to change your job after a year, as this now indicates your ambition to learn and advance in your career.

• If you're over 50, it's over: This issue can never pose as a problem as long as you have the proper education, relevant experience and the right attitude. Having the right attitude means being open to new ideas, team spirit and contributing to the company.

Tony Jacowski is a quality analyst for The MBA Journal.

A cover letter typically accompanies a resume. A good cover letter should complement a resume, not duplicate it. It's purpose is to interpret the resume and add your personal touch creating a critical first impression. So knowing these tips for writing cover letters could be just what you need to get that job interview over your competition.

Your cover letter is an essential part of your job search and should be tailored and targeted to individual employers whenever possible. When you know the name of the company and person to whom you will be sending your resume, then a cover letter is essential. Here you can state more specifically what type of work you are applying for, which is especially valuable if you omitted an Objective on your resume. It also gives you the chance to write less formally about who you are, what you can accomplish in the position and what you know about the firm you are applying to. Lastly, this item can really help separate you from the crowd…you must research the firm whenever possible and demonstrate you know:

1. Something, anything special about the products or services they produce.

2. Their target markets: business, general consumer, national or international.

3. Their current hiring needs and how you can help fill those needs.

Below are 5 key tips for writing cover letters that will certainly help separate you from all the rest:

1. The exact title of the position you are interested in. If that's not possible, then state the general type of work you are applying for.

2. Why you want to work for this company.

3. A sample of what you know about the company's product lines, marketing strategies, type of clientele, and where they stand against their competitors.

4. If you are open to travel or relocating, then state that in your cover letter. If not, omit this all together.

5. Any other specific items about yourself or the job that will help get you that very important interview.

Your cover letter should help generate interest in you and your attached resume. You then close by requesting an interview, or better yet, telling the reader when you will be calling to arrange an interview. Personal contact shows you are aggressive and interested in that firm specifically. The above tips for writing cover letters will get you that interview.

Writing a good cover letter can seem like a daunting task. But there is an easy way to crank out professional cover letters in a matter of minutes.

A great exercise to undertake if you're thinking of a change of career is to capture all the different ideas you have about possible career options in the one place. You can choose to use a few sheets of paper, a new notebook or a file or folder. It really doesn't matter as long as all your ideas go in the one place.

Kickstart your Ideas Pool

Initially you should write down all the thoughts you've had over the past few months. Note that these don't necessarily need to be job titles but can just be general clues about the sort of role you'd like to have eg. "travel" or "would like to work with children". Choosing a new career requires detective work to put all various clues together so the more information you can provide the better.

Study the Appointments Sections

Buy newspapers and other publications with appointments sections on a regular basis and got through them with a highlighter pen picking out anything words, phrases, job titles or job descriptions that capture your imagination. You can either cut these out or write down the information. The best way to approach this is to forget what your logical brain is telling you eg. "this job isn't within travelling distance" or "I don't have right qualifications". You're not actually going to apply for these positions, you just want to build up a picture of what appeals to you.

Talk to your Family, Friends and Colleagues

Ask people who know you well what they think you'd be good at. You might be surprised at their responses. Think too about what you wanted to be when you were younger. Did you enjoy playing at being a doctor, a teacher or a fireman? These can also be important clues about what you're interested in. Be conscious of other people's jobs when you're going about your daily life. For example, you might be at the hairdresser's and think you'd enjoy their job although you're not actually any good at cutting hair. Ask yourself what is it about that role that appeals. It might just be the chance to meet lots of different people.

Brainstorm Further to Add to your List

Take a look at some of the words or phrases that you've written down and see if you can think of any job titles that might these might describe. Look at the job titles that you've written down and see if you can think of any similar occupations eg if you've written psychologist you might also think of counsellor. If you've got particular subjects you're interested in then try and broaden this out eg. there are lots of different fields of law.

Once you've got your list together start to see if you can group the ideas into themes and decide which themes are most appealing to you. Do further research if required before working out how to bridge the gap from where you are now to where you want to be.

Jacqui Mitchell is a successful career coach and consultant.

There are some simple strategies that can help you deal with gaps in employment.

How to Handle the Questions

The best way to handle a time gap of more than 2 years would be to be honest. If you took time off for personal reasons, for example, say so - but try not to give too many details. Usually, any information that you provide will be accepted if the gap was a long time ago. Recent gaps in employment generally require more explanation.

You can try using different types of resume formats (depending on your situation) to cover the gap.

Functional Resume- Software professionals who have vast experience in several technologies frequently use this resume style. Job seekers who have minimum experience also prefer this format. Job seekers who adopt the functional resume style systematize it by adding their specialized skills and functions. This resume style is purely functional, stating employment dates, company names, and position titles.

This style also works well for homemakers who are returning to work after awhile. Functional resumes are not used as frequently as the chronological style, but if well drafted, it can cover up any gaps in employment and can be used as a marketing tool.

Chronological Resume- This format is also called the default format, as this resume type is organized in reverse chronological order starting with job titles, names of the employers, employment dates and achievements within a time period of 10-15 years. This style is the best bet for those who have lots of experience in one field and who don't have many employment gaps.

This resume style is well accepted, as it is usually short and concise, with details well specified. Conservative career professionals or job seekers who are searching for openings in the international job market also use this format.

How to Include the Explanation

If you prefer using a functional resume, you should include a short explanation for the gap in your cover letter. Including a legitimate explanation always helps - just make sure that you mention it in passing and don't get too detailed unless you are asked about it later.

If you have a big gap and don't mention it in your cover letter, then many recruiters may discard your resume thinking that you are not serious about your career. If it's a minor employment gap, recruiters generally will understand, but if you had a more complex issue resulting in a larger gap, then it is better to specify it during the interview on your own.

The biggest concern for an employer when they see gaps in employment is whether this issue is an indication of your probable future absence. How you address any gaps in your employment will usually determine whether you will get the interview or not - so be prepared.

Tony Jacowski is a quality analyst for The MBA Journal.

Dealing with job loss, particularly the feeling of isolation can come with job layoffs, can be challenging. For many people, the workplace is a central part of day to day social and human connections. When job layoffs hit, you often lose more than your job and your income, you also lose your daily structure and connections with clients, customers and colleagues.

To make matters worse, just when you need support, you may find that your relationships with some friends and family members become strained or distant after a layoff. Perhaps the people in your life who you thought would support you through a stressful time have fallen short of your expectations. Or, maybe you have not been able to confide in the supportive people in your life because you're still feeling the often embarrassing sting of losing your job.

The reasons for becoming isolated during a period of unemployment are as varied as the individuals who experience it. However, isolation can significantly add to the stress of dealing with job loss. Even fairly introverted personalities need to be careful of the dangers of disconnecting after a job loss.

How You Can Help Yourself

1. Get Away from Your Computer

Yes, your computer can be one good tool to help you with your job search. But that's all it should be, one tool. There are plenty of other job search activities that can get you away from your computer screen. Too much time sitting alone in front of the computer searching for job ads can make even the most serene person feel anxious.

2. Get Dressed

No one is accusing you of laying around in your pajamas all day. However, when you're unemployed, it's easy to get out of your normal self care routines, and that can lead to isolation. When you don't feel good about the way you look, you won't get out and meet with others. Take the time to put on clothes that make you feel good about yourself each day so you'll be more inclined to get out of the house and seek out others.

3. Get Out of the House

Make a point of having a face to face conversation with at least one person each day. You don't have to talk about your recent job loss with that person if you don't want to. It could be as simple as going to a friend's house for coffee, or signing up to be part of a local community group that interests you. Whatever you do, just ensure that you have some personal connection each day.

How Others Can Help

You'll probably need different kinds of support and different times. It's helpful to remember that one person will probably not be able to give you everything you need in terms of support. Instead of getting frustrated with a friend who gives you positive encouragement but doesn't understand your need to vent your frustration, try to appreciate the way your friend supports you and seek out someone else who will let you vent when you need to.

At different times when you're dealing with job loss, you may want to talk with:
•    someone who believes in you without question, encourages you and builds up your confidence.

•    someone who has been through the same thing recently and knows how you feel.

•    someone who will be completely honest with you and tell you the whole truth even when you might not want to hear it.
Staying connected with people when you're unemployed and dealing with job loss is about a lot more than just networking for job leads. Seeking out the company of the supportive people in your life can help you to be positive, proactive and hopeful as you cope with the loss of your job.

Staying connected with people when you're unemployed and dealing with job loss is about a lot more than just networking for job leads. Seeking out the company of the supportive people in your life can help you to be positive, proactive and hopeful as you cope with the loss of your job.

Lisa McGrimmon is a career counselor, author and entrepreneur who has helped over two thousand clients achieve their career goals. If you'd like to learn exactly how to manage your career and gain enormous control over your future, visit http://www.careerchoiceguide.com - For job search tips and resume ideas go to http://www.careerchoiceguide.com/resume-ideas.html.

Looking to stand out — or at least stay employed — in the current deteriorating economy? Judith sills, a psychologist, suggests becoming your own brand.

“If your reputation is what people say about you, especially behind your back, and your résumé is what you say about yourself, especially on paper, your brand is all that — plus,” she writes in Psychology Today. “It is the professional identity that you create in the minds of others.”

Your brand should be distinctive, valued and stand for something. It could mean becoming the acknowledged expert in a particular area, or it might be associated with particular characteristics. For example, the author said that if she were trying to brand herself, she would “strive to make Judith Sills Inc. known for ‘timely creativity.’ ”

While there is no definitive template to follow, she says, at least three approaches will probably work well if you want to become a brand.

You will want to participate in events that provide visibility, Ms. Sills writes. “Speaking engagements at professional conferences or in-house presentations establish your expertise.” Working with groups other than your own will help spread the word about you.

Second, do not just show up at meetings. “Make your presence known,” she says. “Show what you know.”

Finally, be consistent. “At heart, branding means, ‘I know I can rely on you for certain things, whether great graphics or ingenious spin.’ Understand what you deliver and make sure you deliver again and again.”

Working smarter The four-hour workweek promised by the best-selling book of the same name is probably not realistic for most of us. Still, lori johnston writes in pink, it is possible to create a less exhausting schedule, without cutting back on income.

In addition to the usual ideas about delegating responsibilities whenever possible, eliminating procrastination and planning the day in detail, she suggests these:

Close the door. Yes, it sends the signal that you are husbanding your time, but that is the point.

The 80-20 rule applies. Figure out which 20 percent of your work life is causing 80 percent of your problems, and see if you can eliminate it.

Limit e-mail interruptions. Create an automatic response that says you are going to respond to e-mail messages only at certain times of day. (Provide your phone number if someone needs you immediately.)

And if all else fails, “move to Italy,” Ms. Johnston writes, adding that the country has one of the shortest workweeks in the world and “long summer holidays are the norm.”

Love inc. “corporations are people, too — it’s a basic principle of corporate law,” adam freedman writes in corporate counsel. “but as valentine’s day approaches, one can’t help wonder: can a corporation fall in love?”

Somewhat insincerely, Mr. Freedman, a practicing lawyer, answers yes, and points to the language of mergers and acquisitions for proof.

“Mergers often come about after one corporation has been through a rough patch and is on the rebound (or at least its stock is beginning to rebound),” he writes. “While damsels in distress await for their knight in shining armor, corporations in distress pine for a white knight to save them.”

And, of course, should the romance (that is, merger talks) go well, you might expect a tender offer.

Final take -  here’s something to think about on thursday, courtesy of marie claire: according to a study done by the equal employment opportunity commission, some 11 percent of sexual harassment complaints “are filed by men against their female supervisors.” from 1990 to 2006, the study found, the percentage of charges filed by men “nearly doubled.” paul b. Brown

So! You've finally gotten that dream job for which you've been searching for eons and eons. You find yourself enveloped in the daily excitement of producing results, discovering solutions, and beefing up the company's bottom line! Life is good until you realize:

You've kinda sorta forgotten about yourself. The time you used to spend at the gym or walking outside or playing DDR or … is now sacrified to your career. What can you do? Where can you go for tips on how to keep yourself healthy if when you're working your fingers to the bones?

The new diet and fitness community, Big Huge Minds at http://www.bighugeminds.com , now provides the answer for you. Created by Barbara Ling, Internet recruiting pioneer and trainer, it offers not only a weight loss community that prides itself on finding all the answers, but even a specific category for career-specific weight loss motivation at http://www.bighugeminds.com/career-specific-diet-motivation/ .

Every career field has its own limitations when it comes to getting fit…and what works for a police officer might be useless to an engineer. But at Big Huge Minds, people can post their specific problems their career gives them with regards to diet and health, and the community will spring into action.

I asked Barbara what motivated her to build this diet/fitness community. Among other things, she told me, "I've lost 45 pounds myself and found myself being asked by dozens of individuals for the resources I used. Many weight loss and diet communities don't like links to outside resources, but I don't agree with that whatsoever. Nobody (except my mom!) knows everything, but everyone knows something! Put all those 'somethings' together, and you'll get a vibrant power that delivers answers."

The community is only a week old, but more than 40 people have registered and are actively posting. If you have job-related diet questions, drop on by and ask! You'll love the responses you get.

10 Six-Figure Jobs without a Professional Degree

Earning $100,000 in any profession requires a combination of hard work, career training, and personal experience. These ten jobs prove that you can grow your salary to six figures without a law degree or a medical school diploma. In all ten cases, online career training programs can help you learn the skills to pursue a career with megabucks potential while continuing to build experience at your current job.

With education and will, these ten career equations offer ways to earn serious money:

#1: Marketing Manager + trend spotting = a Six-Figure Income

In today’s economy, nearly every kind of enterprise requires a marketing manager to grow sales. So what makes a top manager? Professionals at the start of their marketing careers can use the best practices learned in online marketing degree programs to understand the constantly shifting landscape of sales and marketing. Having a nose for the financial news and being the first to spot a market trend means career advancement. According to government statistics, most marketing careers offer salaries and bonuses of over $100,000 at the executive level.

#2: Health Services Manager + the science of compliance = a Six-Figure Income

Complex legal requirements and pressure from insurance companies have created a demand for health services managers who can maintain compliance while maximizing profits. The top ten percent of healthcare management professionals can earn performance bonuses that raise their annual compensation packages to over $117,000. Experience managers with compliance skills will find that an online healthcare administration degree program can help them move from the job they have into a health care management position.

#3: Information Systems Manager + high goals = a Six-Figure Income

Set your sights on a CIO position if you want an information systems management position to payoff big time. If you’re already a manager who likes deciding everything from hardware to personnel, pursuing a degree in IT online offers a convenient route into information systems management. Aim for the corner office and rack up some experience if you want your technology degree to yield a six-figure salary. More than half of the CIOs responding to a recent government salary survey reported annual incomes of over $100,000.

#4: Financial Manager + ethical choices = a Six-Figure Income

Having an MBA in finance is a good start, but even an MBA needs good experience and smart choices to grab a stratospheric salary as a financial manager. Today’s highest paid CFOs blend career training with solid track records and high ethical standards. Finance careers in commodities brokerages offer salaries of over $120,000. Many online finance degree programs offer professionals the opportunity use work projects as research opportunities, making finance career training even more convenient.

#5: Human Resources Manager + high performance = a Six-Figure Income

In human resources, performance is golden. Successful HR managers do much more for their employers than stage recruiting fairs at local universities. By developing compensation programs and reducing employee turnover, HR managers can earn hefty bonuses. According to government statistics, the top ten percent earn over $129,000 annually. For professionals with business degrees, earning a human resource management degree online can be an exciting first step toward a job as a “talent tactician.”

#6: Fashion Designer + uniquely individual style = a Six-Figure Salary

Winning “Project Runway” isn’t the only way to earn $100,000 in a fashion design career. While many six-figure fashion designers may not yet be household names, they cater to clients who prefer custom couture. A high salary in a fashion design career requires more than just a fashion design degree, though. According to experts, successful designers must find a niche, market their brand, and build a loyal base of private clients.

#7: Court Reporter + overtime = a Six-Figure Salary

Even though government statistics show that many court reporters earn over $40,000 per year, some court reporters to have the chance to make much, much more money than that. Why? Document backlogs in certain cities have pushed overtime pay for court reporters to record levels. The court reporter who adds freelance transcribing for private depositions and business meetings to a base income can crack $100,000 per year. In addition to earning your bachelor’s degree, most states require certification.

#8: Computer Application Development Manager + leadership = a Six-Figure Salary

Application development managers lead small teams of programmers through specific deadlines. Tight budgets and competition for graduates of computer programming degree programs keep AD managers busy. It’s a career in which leadership pays. Most application development managers earn over $98,000 annually. Veteran managers skilled at getting the most out of their teams can earn a computer programming degree and make the leap to an AD management position.

#9: Nursing Supervisor + persistence in leadership = a Six-Figure Salary

At first glance, nursing schools don’t seem like a rung in the mega money ladder. Still, some veteran nurses are realizing their dreams of becoming leaders in their field. By earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree, experienced registered nurses can qualify for higher-paying administrative jobs, earning about $55,000 per year. Given the competition in some cities for talented nursing career professionals, that income escalates dramatically. With persistence and performance, administrators who reduce turnover and maximize compliance can now reach six-figure incomes.

#10: Education Administrator + quality assurance = a Six-Figure Salary

Under pressure to save money while reducing class sizes, many school boards recruit expert leaders from the business community to serve as education administrators. School boards expect to pay these “civilians” more, so an effective leader can turn a degree in education administration into a six-figure career. Adding a master’s in education administration to an existing business degree offers enterprise professionals a new career option. Although most education administrators earn about $77,000 per year, they too can hit six figures with bonuses for improving standardized test scores and staff turnover rates.

So, where there’s a will, there’s a way to a six figure salary–even in fields that don’t yield six figures as a rule. These ten careers not only offer earning potential far beyond the norm (which the BLS reported at just short of $36,000 in 2005), they also lure workers pursuing allied career paths into getting enough education to jump ship. Perhaps 2008 will be the year you decide to join them.

5 Rules of Thumb for Job Hunting

Three career experts and authors give ‘thumbs up’ or ‘thumbs down’ to long-held conventions.

How many of us take for granted that certain rules are the norm for job hunting? Looking at some of those long-held conventions, ADVANCE spoke with three career experts and authors to get their “thumbs up” or “thumbs down.”

Our panelists include:

* April Callis, president and principal consultant of Springboard Consulting, East Lansing, MI, and author of the recently-published career tome, Springboard to Success: Strategies To Keep Business Casual From Making Business … Casual, (Kensington Press, 2005).
* Louise Kursmark, master resume writer; president, Best Impression Career Services, Cincinnati; and author of 12 books on resumes, cover letters, interviewing and other job search topics.
* Scott Bennett, author of The Elements of Resume Style: Essential Rules and Eye-Opening Advice for Writing Resumes and Cover Letters that Work (AMACOM, 2005).

1. On your resume, include your GPA if it’s 3.5 or higher.

Thumbs Down: You should include cum laude or summa cum laude though, Callis advised, as they indicate a high GPA “without the silly 3.785.”

Thumbs Up (for recent grads): “A high GPA is evidence of your intelligence and your ability to achieve, and might give you an edge over other new graduates whose grades are either not shared or not as high,” Kursmark said. “I recommend including GPA if it is higher than 3.0.”

Thumbs Down (for seasoned professionals): “After several professional jobs, your work experience becomes your strongest qualification, and what you did in college becomes much less relevant,” Kursmark added. Instead, focus on your job achievements and use your education simply as a credential, without added detail, she said.

Thumbs Up: Bennett noted that including your stellar GPA is one more way to quickly convey evidence of skills you can bring to bear anywhere. “Concerns about GPAs being disregarded by prospective employers due to perceived grade inflation (e.g., easy “A”s) are overblown-hiring managers know that plenty of schools still require a boatload of hard work before awarding As or honors.”

2. Never, ever talk about money until you have the job offer in hand.

Thumbs Up: Do not discuss money until you have the offer, Callis maintained. When they decide to offer, it’s because they want you - employers will pay for what they want. She asserted that talking about money before the offer can often knock you out of the running, for two reasons: 1) You don’t understand timing; and 2) You may scare them off with expectations (they don’t want you enough yet).

Thumbs Up: Kursmark said there is no advantage to you in discussing compensation before the employer has made the decision to hire you; early in the process, it can only serve to screen you out.

“In advance, prepare and practice a variety of responses that deflect or defer compensation-related questions,” said Kursmark. “However, because it can be difficult for anxious candidates to always perform smoothly in an interview, you should also prepare a response that includes a salary range (not a precise figure) so that you can respond to the question without limiting yourself to a specific figure.”

She provided one caveat: If you are working through a recruiter, then “thumbs down” - you will need to disclose salary information if you want to go any further in the process.

Thumbs Down: Bennett said employers request salary requirements for several important reasons:

1. They don’t have time to interview candidates they cannot afford to hire.
2. They don’t want to waste the time of candidates they cannot afford to hire.
3. They want to see if the candidate can follow directions. This third reason, Bennett said, is why many employers discard response letters and resumes from people who fail to address this request. He added that you should never include a statement of salary requirements unless an employer first requests one.

3. Don’t talk about promotion opportunities until after you are hired. You should be focused on the position you’re aiming to obtain.

Thumbs Up: Callis said you should get inside the mind of the hiring manager, who thinks this: “While I do want someone who is ambitious, I don’t want you to take this job just for the promotion opportunities. The search is painful enough and I don’t want to redo it in 8 months.”

Thumbs Up: In general, Kursmark said. Focus on the value and benefit you offer as related to the needs of the organization and the position. As long as you don’t appear self-serving or interested only in yourself, it’s perfectly OK to ask about the company’s track record of promoting from within, or to discuss additional areas where you might be able to bring value to the company.

Thumbs Down: If it is important to you, it is perfectly acceptable to ask if there is room to grow over time in an organization, Bennett said. He explained that interviews are a two-way process: “If you seek opportunity for advancement over time and an organization can’t offer it, it’s good to know up front. Questions such as this need not detract at all from your genuine and clearly stated enthusiasm about the position offered.”

4. Small talk can be toxic. Avoid it all costs.

Thumbs Down: Small talk, Callis told ADVANCE, is crucial to the interview. But stick to safe topics, like weather, transportation and sports.

Thumbs Down: Small talk, Kursmark said, is a great way for you to build rapport with your interviewer, and it shows that you are adept in social situations.

Thumbs Down: Bennett noted that some hiring managers will start an interview with a moment of small talk to help put the candidate at ease. “If the receptionist or the interviewer initiates small talk, then it is quite natural to respond with a genuine, brief, courteous reply. If you question yourself about the appropriateness of something you are about to say, your instincts are telling you something. Listen to them and hold that thought.”

5. Send a thank you note to each person you met during the interview.

Thumbs Up: Everyone knows they should send a thank you note, but only a small percentage actually do. It’s good to get your name in front of those with hiring power again and for the company to realize that you do follow through on things, Callis said.

Thumbs Up: It’s about good etiquette, Kursmark explained, “it will reinforce the positive image you created in the interview, and it will set you apart from the vast majority of candidates who do not take the time to write a thank you note.” She added that rather than writing a simple “thanks for your time” letter, you should take this opportunity to continue selling yourself and your value to the employer. Reiterate key selling points, show that you understand the challenges of the position and the needs of the company, and present yourself as the solution.

Thumbs Up (Way up!): “Help prove that civility is not dead,” Bennett said. “Many a close call between two similarly skilled finalists has been decided by receiving from one of them an error-free, brief, clear, focused and genuine thank you note.”

He advises getting business cards from each interviewer so you have the correct spellings and contact information. If the timeline of an employer’s hiring process allows, a mailed thank you card will set you apart from the crowd, Bennett added, but “if the timing of an expected decision is tight, individual e-mailed thank you messages are fine, too.”

It is a new year and your resolution is a whopper: you want a new job. Great, but prepare to work your tail off. Not only are jobs a wee bit scarce, but most people do not understand the amount of effort required nor the tactics required to successfully land that dream job. The good news is that with the right effort and know-how, you could soon be upgrading your cubicle.

Let’s start with the issue of time. You need to be dedicated. This means the task of job hunting becomes a regular daily task. If you are currently unemployed, this begins first thing in the morning. If you are currently employed, commit to using your nights at home and your lunch hour at work (or other great moments of escape). That is the easy part. Here is the killer. How much time should you spend on the job search? That depends on how quickly you wish to find a new job. Stated more motivationally: how quickly do you wish to leave your current job? If the goal is six weeks or less, you should be spending 15 hours per week, minimum. If the goal is closer to six months, you should be spending at least 10 hours per week. Any less than 10 hours per week and you are not serious about finding a new job.

On to successful job hunting tactics. Begin by using a spreadsheet to track every single job search-related task. What is the task, when is it due, etc. If you map out the specific sequence of tasks before you, your odds of success increase dramatically. Use the spreadsheet to organize the following must-do job hunting best practices:

• Polish your resume. If you have been with the same organization for a long time, your resume will be out of date. Do not focus on specific tasks as much as specific skills you have honed and can leverage in other jobs with other organizations. Avoid organizational specific jargon. Try to quantify your accomplishments in terms of time saved, costs saved, clients gained, revenues generated, etc.

• Let someone else polish your resume. After you have knocked off the dust, send it to at least three trusted professional friends. Tell them to play the role of a hiring manager. Ask them what your resume “says” to them. Ask them what signals it sends.

• Master your “elevator pitch.” The elevator pitch is your highly concise and compelling explanation of what you are looking for and why you are awesome (approximately 15-20 seconds). Don’t be shy. You use it when speaking to nearly anyone who you involve in your job search - not simply contacts at companies where you apply or interview.

• Post online. Depending on the nature of the job you are seeking, the popular online job sites might be worth your time. Some question how useful they can be for a variety of reasons. Who cares. They are free and when you are hunting for a job you cover all of your bases.

• Contact headhunters. If you do not know any, call your most successful friends in business, they will know a few. Headhunters vary in quality like any other professional, so a solid referral is best. There is no downside with headhunters, you do not pay them, employers do.

• Map out your network. Your network is much larger than you think. Current friends, friends you have lost touch with, old colleagues, college acquaintances, your dentist, they lady who sold you your first car, your uncle you have not seen in six years, etc. Think hard and start contacting them. The research is clear: it is who you know.

• Contact high potentials. These are people who are not in your network, but you know about them and feel they can help you. You want the opportunity to work for their organization or you merely want their advice, and maybe access to their network. Approach in person or via phone if possible. You never ask for a job or access to their network. You ask for professional advice and a fresh pair of eyes to look at your resume. Offer to buy them a cup of coffee. If you connect with them, it could lead to a great new contact or even a job.

• Follow up. Work the spreadsheet and make sure you that you follow up with all of the people on your list. There are two types of follow up. The first is you trying at least three times to contact someone on your list. The second is you getting back to them twice after the initial contact. The first time is immediately after speaking with them to say thank you. The second is a few weeks later (email will suffice) to say hello and update them on your progress.

• When rejected, find out why. It is difficult for some people to be honest, but you still need to try. When you are rebuffed by an organization, get on the phone and ask why. Was it a particular aspect of your personality? What? Self awareness is step one to changing your job hunting and interviewing skills.

• Celebrate rejections! Realize that every single rejection puts you one step closer to a job!

Dr. Dewett is a business professor, author, consultant and speaker specializing in leadership and organizational life. As quoted in the New York Times, BusinessWeek, the Chicago Tribune, MSNBC and elsewhere. His new book is Leadership Redefined.