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So you’re jobless. Now what? - It’s a situation that more and more people are finding themselves in today. - Career consultants say that as dire as prospects may appear, there are measures people can take to get ahead in their job search. And, conversely, there are definitely things they shouldn’t do. - Most say job seekers need some basics: an updated resume that is accessible and can be easily altered on a computer, appropriate interview attire. Candidates also should be well-versed in answering interview questions as well as prepared to ask a few of their own. - Marty Nemko, an Oakland, Calif.-based career coach and contributing editor for career matters at U.S. News & World Report, said the biggest mistake people make is overselling themselves. This goes for the resume and interview. - Experts laid out a number of tips for those trying to beat the economic challenges and land a good job. - There’s the all- important resume, which should contain active language and avoid cliches. The experts also offer advice on how to dress and act in the interview and what to do afterward. Finally, they urge job seekers to get out and mingle.
It’s the resume that initially represents a job seeker. However, Nemko and Bernice Kao, job/career specialist with the Fresno County Public Library, disagree on the details. Nemko said there is no one-page resume rule. If the resume warrants two pages, he said, it should be two pages. "You want to have as much in there as possible," he said. "But have a brief summary at the top so they can be seduced by that, like a headline. But don’t pad it." Kao insisted a one-page resume is best. "On average, human resources people have seven seconds to review a resume," she said. They don’t want stapled pages, and, she said, resumes should be printed on white or off-white quality paper. Steer clear of bright colors. Career advisers say each resume should be customized to fit the position and emphasize the exact skills that match the job. Check for typos and spelling; these little mistakes can cost you an interview Language and dates
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