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The Job Seekers’ Top-10 List

There’s no question job seekers face a challenging employment environment and must work hard to find new opportunities. To help professionals looking to make their next career move, Max Messmer, chairman and CEO of Robert Half International and author of Job Hunting For Dummies(R), 2nd Edition (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.), recently discussed the 10 strategies every would-be employee should follow. “In this economic environment, applicants must be resourceful,” said Messmer. “A successful job search often depends on who you know, which means candidates need to make sure their efforts are as far-reaching as possible.” Messmer offers the following top-10 list of essential tactics to help job seekers gain an edge in a tougher employment market:

1. Step outside your comfort zone. Avoid limiting your search to your current industry or field. Identify your transferable skills and experiences, and communicate them to prospective employers.
2. Minimize work history gaps. If you are unable to find a position right away, consider temporary assignments, internships and part-time opportunities, all of which can potentially lead to a full-time role.
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Do not think that you can make any of the following errors when writing your cover letter and still get the interview. The time and energy that you put into your cover letter will pay off - providing you have not allowed any of the following errors to creep into your writing. To help prevent these critical errors, consider downloading and using a cover letter template.

Cover Letter Error #1: Using your cover letter to restate your resume. What sense is there in writing a coverletter that just restates your resume? There is none! Your letter introduces you. You may use a point of your resume in your coverletter that shows why you would be a good candidate, but that is all. A good template will help you avoid this error.
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Scouring the local papers for best job choices is something your older siblings may have done while visiting the consultancy went out with your parent’s outdated music sense, so welcome the new-age online job hunting facilities for your self - and grab the best of the Internet’s endless range and reach! Who knows - your dream job may be in virtual space itself - just a click away, so why not begin today?

We bring you tips and hints on landing the perfect job of your choice and how to do it safely, conveniently and in the comfort of your home: all you need is basic qualifications to hunt for a particular job, a PC and internet connectivity and of course, the time and patience to search these online. There is really no dearth of job portals and websites advertising thousands of jobs online from various local business chapters (in your town or city) to national and even international job postings, so you have endless variety at your disposal and no dearth of choices when it comes to deciding on a field of work - all thanks to the internet and how its brought the world closer!
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Pay attention to your personal public image in your job interview preparation. These are three critical details that are often overlooked in preparing for the job search and job interview process but they can derail your chances of getting the job you want.

Your Voicemail Message

Check what your voicemail message sounds like. Increase your chances of success while job hunting by making sure your voicemail message conveys a mature and professional personal image. Update it before you begin the job search and interview process to reflect what you would like a prospective employer to hear. Funny and wacky voicemail messages prevent employers from taking you seriously. Keep it simple, concise and clear. Start with a greeting, state your first and last name and the phone number clearly, say that the call is important to you and that you will get back to the caller as soon as possible. End with a heartfelt thank you. Follow through on the professionalism of the message by checking your messages regularly and returning calls promptly.
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Many people don not want to use the services of a professional resume writer simply because it is very expensive. Resume writers normally charge an amount depending on a person’s level of experience, which translates into how complex the assignment will be. Top notch resume writers even charge in the thousands, but those writers work mainly with executives who can afford it.

Whether or not to have someone write your resume for you is a personal decision. Based on experience, however, very few people who have had their resumes professionally written have regretted their decision. This is because after they saw how big of a difference their revamped resume was compared to their original one, they realized they made the right decision. Also, throughout the resume writing process, they gained an appreciation for the work that resume writers do.
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Most superstar candidates cheat themselves out of the interview because they write their resume as if they were a regular employee. Their unique abilities to work closely with others and solve problems are never mentioned. These abilities are called “soft-skills” and employers love them.

This can happen for a number of reasons. Most often, it’s because writing about what you did is hard enough. Writing about how you did your job can seem nearly impossible. Some completely overlook the fact that soft-skills are important to employers. Others make the huge mistake of waiting until the interview to make any mention their soft-skills.

Candidates lose job opportunities when they write strictly about what they did, rather than how they did it, failing to mention their soft-skills.
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With the unemployment rate in the United States having shot well past 6 percent, and new reports of layoffs every day, job seekers are going to have to stand out from the crowd with top-quality resumes if they want a shot at an interview and job offer. By using professional resume templates, job seekers can be confident that they are making a good impression.

Unfortunately, resume design and format is often an afterthought, even in industries where the need for an applicant to demonstrate his or her experience in the field is a given.

Part of the problem is that job hunters don’t always anticipate that they may need to put a resume together quickly. But even people who know they will soon be looking for work are at a loss when it comes to deciding on a format for their resume.

Some spend hundreds of dollars or more on resume services that may have long turn-around times. Others cobble together a so-so resume on their own or end up settling on one of the handful of resume templates preloaded into Microsoft Word. Some people just update the same resume they’ve used during their last three job searches. But in today’s competitive job market, the resume you used when you graduated college 15 years ago just isn’t going to cut it.

It’s a good idea, especially in these uncertain times, to always have your resume updated and on hand.
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Your resume is your opportunity to make a first impression! It needs to be a quality, error-free document that makes the human resource director stand-up and take notice. If you are older (over 40), it also needs to be written in a way that gets you in the door.

The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA), was passed to protect individuals who are 40 years of age or older against age discrimination in the hiring process.

However, have you noticed that job ads often contain requirements like: ‘Two years experience required’ or ‘Bachelor Degree required’? These may be wiggle words that allow a company to reject an applicant for what appears to be a legitimate job requirement, when in fact the underlying reason that applicant is being rejected is age!

After all, training a new employee is expensive. An insurance company that hires a new agent or adjuster will often spend in excess of $10,000 in training before that employee is ready to go. The company wants someone who is going to be there for awhile. In addition, the older applicant may present more health risks than a younger person, which is a consideration in regard to benefits and the cost of health insurance.

So what can you do to maximize your chances of an in-person interview when submitting a resume and you are over 40?

First, delete all references to time and years. It’s fine to list your jobs, experience and qualifications, but if you write that you ‘graduated college in 1972′ or that you were a manager at a company in 1967, you just gave your age away. Do not list when you graduated, the dates of employment, or any dates at all!

Second, make sure that your resume is one-page and error free. No spelling or grammatical errors at all!

Third, taylor the resume to the job you are applying for. HR will insert ‘key words’ in the job ad. For instance, if the job call for a ‘team player’, be sure to include, both in the resume and your cover letter, what you’ve accomplished that shows that you are a team player. Those key words may make the difference between getting an interview or not.

What profession recognizes the value of older workers?

The insurance profession employs a substantial number of older workers as both agents and adjusters, as there seems to be a recognition that older workers are reliable and serious about keeping their jobs. The University of Central Florida trains hundreds of new insurance employees every year through the Accredited Claims Adjuster Designation and Registered Customer Service Representative Designation. Information on the program is available at http://www.ce.ucf.edu/insurance

Conclusion

Age discrimination is illegal if you are over 40, however it is subtle and it does exist. If you are an older applicant applying for a job, let your resume make a great, ‘age-free’ impression!

Dr. Michael Birzon is an attorney and adjunct professor with Florida Insurance University/University of Central Florida. Dr. Birzon has litigated claims for over 30 years and is the author of the Accredited Claims Adjuster Designation approved by the State of Florida. You may contact Dr. Birzon at (407) 927-1235 or email at: flainsu@mail.ucf.edu or http://www.ce.ucf.edu/insurance

You’re 50 years old or older. Your job was recently eliminated. The economy is stagnant. You can’t afford to retire.

Are you ever going to find another job?

Probably.

Is it going to be easy?

Probably not.

It takes longer to find a job at age 50 than it does at age 30. (By the way, if you’re over 40, you’re in the same boat - so don’t start feeling too smug!)

It’s more difficult to land a new position once you’ve hit a “certain age” for a number of reasons. Two have less to do with the chronological number per se and are more a function of your level of experience. First, once you’ve gotten to this point, you’re more expensive. Second, you’re likely to be looking for jobs higher up the corporate ladder (which are always in shorter supply regardless of the state of the economy).
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Templates have many faces and styles. Some are specific to an industry. Use these templates as guides in drafting your own letter.

A template is defined as a file or a document serving as a starter for a specific application. This is a good way of starting a cover letter, especially for first-timers who are lost on how to begin their drafts. Edit these templates to fit the requirements of every employer.

There are unlimited sources of templates online. Be sure to only get the main ideas and keep your letters original. Be catchy and concise.

Ways of Writing Template for Cover Letter There are two main ways of writing a cover letter. The traditional way is writing in complete sentences and paragraphs. This way of writing is often preferred as it displays an applicant’s communication skills and grasp in the language. The second way is the bullets or executive outline. This form is shorter and easier to read.

Cover Letter Template’s Section A paragraph form template should be written in the following order: - the heading - date - salutation - body - closing - signature.

Block-style paragraphing with three or four paragraphs should be enough. The introduction indicates how you learned about the company and the position you’re applying for. It should also include your significant qualifications. The second paragraph is reserved for your background and other credentials. The final paragraph expresses your desire to be interviewed and gratitude for your employer’s time.
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