Employment Digest

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Have you ever wondered what happens to your resume after a prospective employer receives it? It used to be that someone a human would sift through all the resumes, scanning for keywords and relevant experience. In todays job hunting world, that human has, in many cases, been replaced by a computer. Thats right. The finely crafted resume you worked so hard to make impressive, is casually dismissed by.a software package. The fact that human eyes never actually read your resume or the cover letter you agonized over is simply the reality of the digital era.

So, whats a job hunter need to do to get noticed? Well, its important to let go of old rules that will do you a disservice in todays job hunting world. The first of these is

Your resume should be no longer than two pages.

This is probably the hardest rule to overcome, because its been ingrained in our psyches for decades. Yet, distilling your work life history down to two pages or less means you may be leaving out important details that could garner you a coveted interview.

Dan had been the Vice President of Corporate Affairs at a large multibillion-dollar manufacturing company with operations in several states. Unfortunately for Dan, a larger company acquired his, and hes now looking for new employment. He has emailed his resume to several promising opportunities but hasnt gotten anywhere close to the response hed been hoping for. And now hes beginning to think theres a problem with his less than two-page long resume.

A quick glance at his resume is enough to spot the problem. It looks like an airline itinerary with titles, dates and locations of previous jobs but scarce information on the increasing value he brought to each position. As he resisted the suggestion that a longer resume might help his job hunting chances, he invoked an all-too familiar lament, I talked to a headhunter. Headhunters, who prefer to be called Executive Recruiters, do live in a world where shorter is better in terms of resumes. This is because the recruiter acts as your personal sales force, pitching you to potential employers. A full-blown resume would get in the way of their sales pitch. So, by all means, have a Cliff Notes version of your career available for recruiters, but also have a fully developed resume handy for everyone else.

The second rule to break is

Just the Facts, Maam.

By all means, your resume should be factual and not fanciful. But sticking to only the dates, locations, titles and tasks of your previous positions wont sell you as a well-rounded employee. The key to a successful resume is Value. What Value did you bring to each of your jobs? A compelling resume must include this all-important ingredient other wise you wont stand out among the field of candidates any better than a needle in a haystack. Here are four ways to demonstrate the value you brought to past employers and, more importantly, will bring to a potential new employer.

First Impression:

Most hiring managers will give the first page a quick scan and either decide to read it or discard it. The first page must identify you as a valuable business resource or theyre on to the next resume. Position your responsibilities in terms of Value not tasks.

What They Need versus What You Want:

Have you ever included a Professional Objective at the top of your resume? This is all about you and what you hope to find in your next work experience. But hiring managers care a lot more about what they need, not what you want. An easy way to address this is by providing a Professional Summary, which highlights exactly what you bring to the table. Determine what makes you valuable and put it first!

Its Called Capitalism:

Focus on how your hard work has profited your company. What did you do to make or save money, improve customer service, streamline processes, generate or retain customers? Limit the discussion of your daily responsibilities to a sentence or two and focus on your achievements.

Show Me the Money:

Support your professional accomplishments with facts, figures and percentages. This is the surest way to be noticed. For example:

- Generated a 7.9% annual increase in plant productivity not oversaw plant operations
- Managed $1.3 million in key accounts not Account Manager
- Decreased departmental turnover by 79% not good interpersonal skills

By highlighting your value to a prospective employer, you stand a much better chance of being noticed by humans and pre-screening software and considered as a viable candidate. In todays job market, breaking the rules may be exactly what you need to do to land the job of your dreams!

Copyright 2008, Pat Faber-Garey. Pat Faber-Garey brings two decades of workforce transition management to bear in helping business leaders take advantage of change. A published author, Faber-Gareys 2006 book GREAT JOBS FOR GRADUATES: 90 Days to the Career of a Lifetime, is used as a university textbook. She is a regular speaker and industry source on workforce management and human resource development topics. Extreme Agility, LLC

Don’t make these job-search mistakes

Before John Yocca found his current job, he had been unemployed for seven months. Unexpectedly laid off as part of a major downsizing, Yocca took some time off trying to figure out what he wanted to do.

Now a senior account executive with Stern and Associates in Cranford, Yocca eventually found temporary work in the golf industry, a passion of his, and began exploring the possibility of working full time in the field. After a while, though, Yocca got discouraged and decided to go back to what he knew best. So, he reached out to a recruiter he had worked with in the past. Advertisement By coincidence, the recruiter was working on a search for which he was particularly well-qualified. Within a day, Yocca had an interview; a week later, he had a job. In hindsight, Yocca says he wishes he had pursued his job search more diligently and reached out to his network much earlier.

With the economy losing 80,000 jobs in March, the third consecutive month of rising unemployment, many more people are likely to be facing a period of unemployment in the coming months. Some of those affected may find themselves out of work for an extended period of time. Should you find yourself among the casualties of what will hopefully be a brief economic downturn, avoid the common mistakes that can unnecessarily lengthen the time you look for work.

The most common problem for individuals who have been looking for a job for an extended period of time is “they get discouraged and lose their confidence,” said Julie Kampf, president of JBK Associates, an executive recruiting firm in Engelwood. This can lead them to interview poorly and make bad decisions, such as accepting the wrong job out of fear nothing else will come along.

Here are some mistakes to avoid during a job search:

# Don’t wait to begin the job search. While trying to determine what you want to do next and not simply jumping at the first job that comes your way is a sound strategy, taking a long vacation is not. A few days off to clear your head and re-energize is fine, but then get to work. The sooner you start, the sooner you will find that next great opportunity.

# Don’t apologize for the time you have been unemployed. Let your potential employer know you have been focused on finding the right job and be able to describe the efforts you have made to do so.

# Don’t take rejection personally. Human resources professionals and executive recruiters are bombarded by resumes, e-mails and faxes from candidates. If they don’t get back to you, be persistent, but don’t be a pest. Finding a job is a “numbers game.” The more opportunities you pursue, the better your chances.

# Don’t be embarrassed to ask your friends and business associates for help. “Those are the people who know you best and are the most likely to help you,” says Kim Bishop, vice chairman of the national recruiting firm Slayton Search Partners, who is responsible for the firm’s New York-New Jersey region.

# Never stop networking. Reach out to your contacts on a regular basis, whether that means just checking in to say hello once a month, forwarding articles of interest or simply sending a birthday or holiday card.

“Objects in motion tend to stay in motion, while objects at rest tend to stay at rest, unless acted upon by an external force,” says Newton’s First Law of Motion. When it comes to finding a job, a similar principle comes into play. Employers are interested in people who are active and involved. They want to know you are positive, motivated and energetic. They are looking for someone who has been busy, even while engaged in a job search.

So while you are looking, take courses that will enhance your skills, get involved in professional organizations and engage in volunteer work. This will not only expand your network, but will demonstrate you have been productive during the time you have been out of work. Consulting or freelance work also can be a plus, as long as it doesn’t keep you from focusing on your primary objective of finding a job.

The biggest mistake you can make when you are unemployed is to “rely on someone else to find you a job,” Kampf says. People in your network, career coaches all can help you. They can offer ideas, provide leads and give you advice, but ultimately, you have to take responsibility for your own job search.

A veteran human resources executive, Lee E. Miller is the author of “UP: Influence Power and the U Perspective — The Art of Getting What You Want,” and the co-founder of YourCareerDoctors.com, a website devoted to career success. Mail questions to Lee@YourCareerDoctors.com.

Yes, you have been working for a while at your current job. Yes, you have been working hard. Yes, you have made some definite positive changes for the company. Now it is time for you to make some more money. But the question is, why won’t the boss give it to me? The answer is simple, they are already getting great work out of you, why should they pay you more? Also, if they pay you more, then that means they will make less in profit. I know when you read this that you are thinking your employer either doesn’t think this way, or if they do that it is very evil, but at the end of the day, it ’s just business.

All businesses are in it for the money. They all want to sell as much of their product or service as possible, while spending as little as possible in materials, labor, intellectual property, etc. So, how to ask for a raise? Well let me give you a few pointers to motivate your employer to upping your dollars:

1. Understand that the company is in business to make money, not to pay you. This is critical to having the right approach when you walk into the boss’ office.

2. Schedule a time with your boss to discuss your compensation. I know this seems like a ‘duh’ thing, but really, how long have you wanted a raise, but not done anything to push the matter? You can’t receive anything, if you don’t ask for it. Being proactive will get you a lot further, a lot faster.

3. Make sure to stay very professional, and keep a low tone of voice when speaking to your boss. Facts are a lot more important than opinions. If you can show your boss evidence of being underpaid, and not be offensive when presenting your case, you are much more likely to obtain the raise you are wanting.

4. Instead of protesting how hard you’ve worked, how you are always on time, and very reliable while at work, focus on the benefits the company receives by employing you. Explain to the boss how you have helped to increase sales, or how you have worked to lower the company ’s costs in particular areas. If you are in customer service, explain how you have worked to appease your customers, and note any repeat business the company has received from those customers. If you are in administration or a technical area, explain how much time you were able to save other employees by the systems you have put into place. If you have saved those employees a lot of time, they are able to do more, and the company will not have to hire additional people, i.e. you are saving the company money.

5. Do some market research on average salaries for comparable jobs in your area. Monster ’s Salary Wizard is a good place to start. If you find that you are being paid considerably lower than your peers, this is good ammunition to bring to your boss’ attention.

6. Finally, the best way to get a raise from your current employer is to get another job. In my own experience this is the best way to apply enough pressure to get the raise you deserve. If you go out there and find another job that pays more, then go to your boss and tell them you have another offer on the table that you are considering, they will be much more likely to negotiate with you. Fear of loss is one of the best sales tactics. And make no mistake, when you ask for a raise, you are a salesman, you are selling yourself to your boss. The great thing is, if your current boss says no to the raise, then you can take the other job.

Don’t be deceived by tenure, or other baloney things that employers may put out there. You don’t have to wait for an annual review to get a raise. But make sure that if you are asking for a raise, that you have some very solid evidence of why you deserve a raise. Asking for a raise is a delicate issue, however, with a calm and knowledgeable approach backed with industry and local facts, you will put yourself in the best position for getting that raise.

After working 16-hour days for seven years as an investment banker, Rachel Thebault decided to follow her dream: a career in baking. All it took for her to decide to go from banker to baker was a batch of chocolate truffles.

Thebault had been baking as a hobby since she was a child. But the demands of her full-time job gave her little time to bake for fun let alone for a living. That all changed after she cooked up some chocolate truffles for a New Year’s Eve party. Almost immediately, friends began putting in orders of truffles and cakes for their parties and weddings.

In 2004, Thebault decided to leave her job at Bank of America Corp. for culinary school, and now, with the help of her financial background, she has her own bakery. “It was a huge step for me to give up such a lucrative career that I was successful in to go back to school in a new field,” says the 32-year-old Thebault.

Leaving a steady job in hopes of making a career out of a personal passion has its challenges. But leveraging what and who you already know can make the transition easier. Thebault regularly taps her investment-banking skills as she works to build her own baking business. “Being able to understand income statements, balance sheets and how the financial structure of a business works has been very helpful,” she says.

Story continues below After graduating from culinary school, she rented space in a commercial kitchen to make special-order cakes, cupcakes, truffles and cookies as a way to ease into commercial baking. As an investment banker, Thebault spent years working with retail and restaurant clients and had a strong idea about what made the successful ones tick and what doomed the lackluster ones. When she decided to move into a storefront shop, Thebault says her finance background gave her the know-how to set up a business plan and determine her target market. Her previous career also gave her a valuable resource: contacts and colleagues from her banking and college days she could call for tips on marketing and strategy, and legal advice. Using that bridge from her old career, Thebault opened a bakery, Tribeca Treats, in New York City a year ago.

Thebault isn’t alone in taking that big step to switch careers. A study by outplacement consulting firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc. found that nearly 40 percent of all job seekers in 2007 weren’t just looking for a new employer, they also were hoping to switch to a new industry. And a survey of job hunters conducted last year by Salary.com revealed that nearly 60 percent of respondents wanted to change careers.

While Thebault’s path might seem long about three years it is quite typical. A career reinvention takes an average of three to five years to complete, says Pamela Mitchell, founder and chief executive of the Reinvention Institute, a coaching and consulting firm in Miami. Mitchell advises clients to stay in their current careers and continue to draw a salary for as long as possible while they develop a clear plan for their next profession.

In some cases, you might be able to use that time to look for experiences in your current job that you can take with you. One client Mitchell worked with wanted to become a full-time writer after a 10-year career in the nonprofit world. “When she looked around at her current job, she realized that she could work on internal projects that would connect her to contacts she would need to know in the future,” says Mitchell.

Finding part-time or volunteer work in your dream career can be a low-risk introduction to a new industry and will help build experience. Nina Storm, 33, always had a passion for causes and wanted to join the nonprofit world. She was working as a casting coordinator for Universal Pictures when she heard about and became interested in Global Green USA, an environmental nonprofit. She joined the group’s new Los Angeles committee as a way to learn more about the organization. “As a volunteer, I formed relationships with the staff, and I became more confident in skills which at that point weren’t represented on my resume,” Storm says.

After volunteering for a year, including working as a planner for the group’s Pre-Oscar Party, she interviewed to be the group’s event coordinator. She landed the job and now, a year and a half later, Ms. Storm is Global Green’s events manager, producing six or more large events around the country each year.

Dipping your toes into a new career while still collecting a corporate paycheck also can open your eyes to a reality Thebault warns of: “When you turn your passion into your career, it becomes a job.” That may mean dealing with budgets, marketing, hiring and firing the less-scintillating aspects of the work that you probably never faced when, say, baking for friends and family.

To avoid a rude awakening, it is wise to look before leaping, experts say. Talk to someone who does your dream job to help determine whether you can be satisfied by being part of the process working to keep your bakery running rather than doing all of the baking yourself. Ask them about the downsides. “Otherwise, doing the thing you once loved will be the worst job you’ve ever had,” says Mitchell.

That isn’t the case for Elizabeth Vianna, 41, who turned a recreational interest in wine into a career she loves. She decided to leave her job as a clinical toxicologist at New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center after a particularly good glass of French wine Sociando-Mallet. Vianna had been going to tastings for years when an idea hit her: She could put her background in science to use in making wine. She abandoned her plan to attend medical school, moved to wine country and enrolled in the graduate program in enology at the University of California, Davis, a decade ago. Vianna worked through two internships and held two assistant winemaking positions before landing her current job as winemaker at Chimney Rock in the Napa Valley in 2005.

“Work doesn’t feel so much like work anymore,” says Vianna, who primarily makes Bordeaux varieties for Chimney Rock. “Like any job, there are times when it’s stressful, but at the end of the day, I’m amazed at what an enchanting way of making a living I have found.”

6 Tips for Landing Your Dream Job

Do you have a job that’s just like everyone else’s? Are you looking for a nine-to-five…but wish you weren’t? Do you wish there was another option, one that would lead to an exciting, unique, and fulfilling line of work?

I recently interviewed more than 100 people who currently hold their dream jobs as research for my new book. These individuals who are travel journalists, event planners, fashion designers, forensic scientists, interior decorators, internet business owners and more have one thing in common: persistence.

As unattainable as a dream job might sound, with the right amount of forethought and preparation, you can make the move as well. Here are six tips to get you started:

1. Learn about yourself. Take time to do a self-assessment of your values, how you like to work, and what you’d be compelled to do even if you never got paid. Research careers and industries that map to your skills and interests. Hit the Internet, set up informational interviews, take relevant coursework, and arrange to go onsite at a company in your chosen field.

2. Don’t be deterred by a lack of experience. In developing a resume and other promotional materials for the field you want to pursue, think about how your current skills and talents apply to the responsibilities you’ll hold in the new job. For example, knowledge of project management, client relations, information technology, and sales will take you far in most types of careers.

3. Ease into a new career one foot at a time. Perhaps this means earning a paycheck at your current job while doing a part-time internship in your new field or taking an adult education class or workshop on the weekend. The only way to find out if you’re passionate about something is to try it ideally with as little risk as you can manage.

4. Remember that any progress is good progress. Even confident people stay in unsatisfying jobs because they feel safe, and because they’re afraid of making a bad decision. But in the quest to uncover a source of meaningful work, though, your worst enemy is inertia. Make an effort to do one thing, like e-mailing a networking contact or attending an event that moves you a bit closer to your big picture goal.

5. Start early. Twenty and thirty-somethings have more flexibility when it comes to test-driving different careers. The process of self-discovery is much easier when you’re unencumbered by family responsibilities and substantial financial burdens, and when you haven’t yet reached a level in a career where it’s tougher to turn back. That said, it’s never too late to pursue your passion. More and more baby boomers are leaving the world of traditional employment for alternative career paths that will fulfill them well into retirement age.

6. Have realistic expectations. Even if you’re lucky enough to hold your dream job, there’s no such thing as the perfect work situation. Every job has its ups and downs, and aspects we love and aspects we don’t love. And dream job doesn’t mean “cushy” job. As your mom always told you, anything worth having in this world requires some effort. There will be some days you feel like shutting the alarm off and going back to sleep, but many more where you feel more energized by the prospect of work than you ever thought possible!

This is a guest post from Alexandra Levit. Alexandra writes Water Cooler Wisdom, a career advice blog. Her new book, How’d You Score That Gig? A Guide to the Coolest Careers and How To Get Them, has just been published.

Being a freelancer simply mean you work for yourself and provide a service or talent which can be outsourced. There are a number of services which can be outsourced, such services include programming, writing, web design, search engine optimization, etc. Services such as these usually can be accomplished from a remote location without the need of a local onsite presence. This being the case makes freelancing very appealing as a provider and as a buyer.

It’s almost obvious how providers benefit from freelancing and opportunities of freelance jobs. Without having the need to arrive onsite this mean freelance providers can work from home or remote and save on travel expenses. It also means the freelance provider is not restricted to only local opportunities. With the ability to reach the globe through the Internet it would seem being a freelance provider is a wise career move. If a freelance provider is able to make a name for themselves then the opportunities can become endless. Making a name in your target market takes time and dedication. You should continue to grow your talent and skills as this will set the stage for your freelancing career path. When freelancing there are many ways to find freelance jobs. One of the best methods of finding and securing freelance opportunities is by being a member of freelance job boards, such as RemoteGurus.com, GetAFreelancer.com, and Elance.com.

These freelance job boards are commonly frequented by those seeking outsourced talent, but the catch 22 is that these job boards are also frequented by competitors who are also competing for the same freelance jobs. These freelance job boards operate in a reverse auction style, buyers post jobs and projects while freelance providers bid on the jobs and projects in hopes to be selected as the winning bidder. Since its a competitive platform as a freelancer you must be competitive with your rates. Using these job boards you will most likely have to shortchange yourself in order to win bids, but the trade-off is you will most likely continue to find and get new work.

The freelance job boards are great for building your brand and visibility as a freelance. As you continue to build a name for yourself and your popularity on the boards grow your reputation will begin to precede itself. The freelance job boards are designed with a rating system which allow buyers who you perform work for to rate your talent and services, the more ratings and the higher the rating the more likely you will land new projects consistently. Having high number of positive ratings also mean you will more likely be able to bid higher (without shortchanging yourself) on the projects with a good chance of winning the project. The key is keep a reputable name and your business will continue to grow in time.

Buyers benefit in a number of ways by outsourcing their jobs and projects to talented professionals. For a small business owner or home-based worker, outsourcing to remote freelancers is an ideal solution. Outsourcing to remote and telecommuting professionals mean you do not need to have an onsite physical address or rent additional office space, you immediately save on overhead expenses. Using reverse auction-styled job boards such RemoteGurus.com, GetAFreelancer.com, and Elance.com you will be able to evaluate your freelance provider before accepting them as the winning bidder. You will have access to view their rating history and user profile, you should use such information to your advantage — it’s called doing your homework.

These type of job boards help you find freelance providers in a controlled environment and helps lower the risk of getting ripped off. These type of job boards allow the buyer to place money into escrow before releasing the funds to the freelance provider. Escrow simply allow you and the freelance provider to have a fair and positive experience without being taken for a ride. The buyer cannot cancel payment once in escrow, they can only send (approve) the payment to be released to the freelance provider. The provider has the option to cancel payment once in escrow (canceling payment will return the funds to the buyer — leaving the provider unpaid), but the freelance provider cannot send (approve) the payment.

By both parties sharing this responsibility it puts control into each party hand. If the project is not completed to your satisfaction then as the buyer you simply do not release the funds to the provider out of escrow. This protects you from getting screwed out of money. In most cases if the provider did not complete the job to satisfaction they will cancel the payment and all funds return to you (the buyer). If for any reason there is a dispute then you can involve the project board owner to handle the dispute and return your funds to your account. It’s really a win-win situation.

In conclusion, as a freelance provider you will be well on your way to being a sought after freelancer if you use the freelance job boards as your springboard for growing your name and brand. My advice is to bid low and sell yourself short in the beginning just to get jobs, projects, and experience. Once you have built your name and rating then you can start increasing your bids and asking for the going rate. Work for reviews in the beginning and you will be on your way to working for money. As for buyers, as long as you do your homework and check provider reviews then use escrow for payments, you will increase buyer protection for yourself. Using freelance job boards you can find quality, professional, and affordable freelance providers who are competent and reliable. Best of luck to you.

Ant Onaf is a content writer in association with RemoteGurus.com a freelance job board platform for finding and posting jobs in writing, jobs in web design, and much more. Ant Onaf ingenuity, dedication, and experience with technology and Internet marketing has made him an monumental icon on the web.

Searching for jobs can be challenging, even in the best of times. Whether you have just graduated from school or are a seasoned professional, speaking Spanish contributes greatly to your qualifications in a growing number of markets in North America. The steps below are designed to help you refine your search and land your prize assignment.

Seek and Ye Shall Find

The resources you use for finding employment will differ, depending on whether you are merely looking for place to use your Spanish in the course of normal duties, or plan to teach the language. Excellent sources for bilingual jobs are Lat Pro and Diversity Inc. If you are looking in the education market, Teachers Net is a premier resource. In either case, make sure to register which any site so that they can keep you informed about any new opportunities. And use any associated forum so that you can communicate with other people looking for similar jobs. But you might want to be a little careful about divulging any information that could give a lead away to a potential competitor. And it should go without saying, but do your research on a company or educational institution well before your first interview or email contact.

What Do You Really Want?

This may be stating the obvious, but make sure that your desires are in line with the positions you are apply for consideration. One popular technique is to interview yourself, focusing on questions asked by typical employers. Just as they will want to know your true motivations for applying to their organization, you should be aware of how the position will fulfill your requirements. It is best to be as specific as possible in your responses, which shows decisiveness and commitment. Employers are generally more interested in determined applicants, showing clarity around both their strengths and weaknesses, than those who show a lack of interest and foresight.

Time to Apply Yourself

Take any application, whether written or online, very seriously. This application packet is your virtual ambassador until the recruiter or potential future boss gets a chance to communicate with you personally. Design a resume in a style and format that works best for you. Even though many applications now are stripped down to text format, the language and organization evident in your application is your first chance to put your best foot forward, so to speak. For example, if you are lacking in work experience, you can focus more on previous volunteer work and educational achievements. It is never to early to show confidence and enthusiasm. The only caution is to steer clear of boastfulness.

If at First You Do Not Succeed

Find a job, especially one that meets most or all of your requirements, is a journey. Most of us do not get our ideal job on the first attempt. But if you apply the above techniques to your search, and see this as part of a life strategy, the perfect job may come looking for you rather than the other way around.

Andrew Morris shows that the four secrets of finding trabajos are … http://www.trabajos.ca

Last fall there was a CEO succession at the company where my husband and I work. In November, my husband, who was in upper management, was the first to be laid off. In a nanosecond, not only does your work network crumble but so does your social network. What do you say or do for your co-worker and friend who has been fired or laid off?

Whenever there is a change in management, employees become afraid. Your job feels very insecure; you become defensive, protection your position. With a change in management, there is usually some form of change coming down the pike. When a company brings on a new CEO, it may well mean changes in top management. For example, Jach Welch became president of GE (General Electric) when GE was in trouble. He was know by the nickname “Neutron Jack” because many folks lost their jobs. However, he turned the company around to be viable in today’s world, thereby saving and creating jobs. That is great for those who stay or get hired, and not so great for the ones who lose their jobs. That scenario happens every day in companies all over the county. What do you say or do for your co-worker who has been laid off.

1) When you see your friend, say “Hi, I am sorry to hear about your job.” Loosing a job isn’t leprosy. I can’t tell you the number of our friends that wouldn’t, couldn’t or didn’t know how to talk to us. They would avoid us by looking at their shoes and walk away. Just say “Hi!” The friendship and support is needed and much appreciated. Just keep in contact.

2) Do activities with your friend. Go to lunch or dinner with them, play golf or cards or go to a show. You don’t have to fix the situation, just be a friend.

3) Listen. Your friend will need to sort things out and make plans for the future. It is easier and nicer to have a friend walk the path with you.

4) Encourage your friend through the process of the job search, It can be very lonely and frustrating to look for a new position. It is very important to be positive during this time. You are much more likely to land a new job with a positive , upbeat attitude. Call your friend, frequently to see how he/she is doing and how the process is going.

5) Depending upon the circumstances, the friend may have to move. Stay in contact with your friend during the process. It there are ways to help, do so if your are able. Having your friend over for a simple dinner is a wonderful gesture.

6) There will be a whole host of emotions that everyone will go through during this process. You don’t have to get stuck in “life sucks” conversations. Simply recognizing the emotions of anger, disappointment, sadness, and grief may be all that you need to do. Then you can get on to what is right and good in the new opportunities that present.

7) Be a “Friend.” Be present and available to the extent you can. You never know when this person or another friend will need to be there for your. “Pay it forward,” if you will.

Getting fired or laid-off is not the worst thing in the world. Learn from the situation and grow. It is a doorway to new opportunities that await you and your friend. Celebrate the friendship you have had. You are both better for having known each other.

Are you having trouble with the stress of being fired or laid-off? I invite you to visit http://healthworksenergyhealing.com

Offered from Mary Pat FitzGibbons, RN MS and wife of the recently “laid off”.

The decision to move and live in China provides a challenge to newcomers on a variety of levels. When evaluating your options on coming to China, it is important to understand your wage and purchasing power. For those being paid in RMB, the local currency, you may notice that the sum of money appears to be less that what you would make at home. There is a reason for this.

Basic items and the general cost of living in China are remarkably less than in any other western county.

In China, you can live in two worlds. If you want to eat at swank western restaurants, travel by taxi, and frequent international bars and clubs, you can for a fraction of the price of what it would cost you at home. In some instances however, specifically with regards to western food and drink, the prices can be equal or greater than they would be at home. These prices are often equalized when looking at the big picture. If you prefer to eat at local restaurants, take the bus and metro, and socialize at local haunts, you will have more money at your disposal. Many people decide to live a combination of the two; the lifestyle choice is up to you.

Many expatriates living in working in China arrived to teach English in China. These are often the same individuals who question whether they will have enough money to survive, live well, and travel. The answer in the majority of cases is that yes, a good living standard is the norm for teachers. These individuals should be aware of the benefits of finding jobs while still in their home country.

The other half of the expatriate puzzle is those who are transferred over to China from their local office. Many of these individuals are given salary options such as partially being paid in RMB and partially in their home currency. Executives and business professionals can expect to live a higher quality of life in China if their salary is kept the same as at home. Other factors to consider are benefits, the cost of education for children (which can be high for international schools), transportation, and housing allowance.

Regardless of the lifestyle choice, many expatriates living and working in China find themselves living lifestyles which are more filled with luxuries than they would be at home. China presents a wealth of lifestyle choices, and those can vary day by day. As the country continues to surge forward more areas of China are now equipped with western amenities and thus, increasing prices. Even so, it will be a long while before the inflation starts to reverse the trend of quality of life in China for expatriates.

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The Thank you letter, or also known as the follow-up letter, is written similar as you would a Cover letter.

You will use three steps in writing a simple thank you letter.

1. First, you’re going to market that all-important connection with the grab his attention

2. Then you’re going to market your skills and capabilities and reemphasize your “fit” with the company’s needs

3. Finally, you’re going to urge the employer to take action.

As you have probably guessed, the follow up letter is more than just a humble expression of your gratitude. It serves a real purpose.

After you’ve been interviewed by a hiring manager (or any who does the interview), you should always send a follow up letter. This may seem like courtesy-thanking the employer for taking the time out of their busy day-but it’s actually a way to increase your chance of landing the job.

The biggest reason this letter is able to do that is because it reminds the employer why you can fulfill their needs. You can also mention any capabilities that you might have not stressed enough in the interview.

Another good reason for sending a resume thank you letter is that it may put you ahead of the competition.

Think about it. Most employers will consider an applicant who sends a thank you letter following the interview more favorable than those who don’t send one, yet well below half of applicants take the time to do this.

If you need more information about writing a Thank you letter, Resume, or Cover letter, visit www.shibaresumes.com to get help.