JobMonkey.com, the coolest jobs on earth

Job Search Resolutions for New Year's

----------------------------------------
JobMonkey.com
Volume VIII, Issue #13
----------------------------------------

Happy New Year and welcome to another JobMonkey Newsletter.

The New Year is a great time for job seekers to reassess their job search process and to get back on track for 2009. Last week, we talked to you about Seasonal Employment, which is a great option if you are in a short-term job pinch. This week, however, the newsletter is focusing on the needs of long-term job searchers. Our spotlight article offers up four New Year's resolution to ensure that you land the job of your dreams this year.

IN THIS NEWSLETTER:

1) Spotlight: 4 New Year's Resolutions for the Job Seeker
2) Around the Monkey: Staying Positive During Your Job Search
3) Job Announcement: Communications Job with CBS Radio

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SPOTLIGHT: 4 New Year's Resolutions for the Job Seeker
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Everyone makes New Year's Resolutions - lose weight, stop smoking, get out of debt. In light of the current economic situation, financial resolutions will no doubt be popular this year. For job seekers, those resolutions take on a whole new sense of urgency.

If you are unemployed, underemployed or just unhappily employed, the looming New Year is an ideal time to take serious stock of your job searching methods and to plot a winning strategy for 2009. Here are four resolutions you should consider putting on your list.

1) Clarify Your Goals
You can't find your dream job if you don't know what you are looking for. Take some time to really think about what skills you want to use in your next job, what kind of work environment would make you happiest, and the salary range you would like to command. You may not get everything you are looking for in a job offer, but without clear goals, you are sure to get none of it. Resolve this year to be focused, directed and purposeful in your job search. Here are some resources that may help you in charting your professional goals.

2) Expand Your Network
Eight out of ten new jobs are not advertised. So how do people land these positions? By networking. Networking is a fancy term that means something very simple: talking to people you know to learn about hiring opportunities. For example: You talk to the people you know about your job search in computer programming; those people suggest you talk to their friend/colleague/relative, who suggests you call their boss because their firm is looking to hire a new programmer. Voila! In order to maximize your networking potential, you need to cast as wide a net as possible. Resolve this year to connect with at least five new people every week, through networking in person and networking online.

3) Rework Your Resume
If you have sent off hundreds of job inquiries but have heard back from just a handful, it might be your initial approach that leaves something to desire. Your experience won't speak for itself. Your resume and cover letter need to do your initial talking. Resolve this year to have a stellar resume, one that truly stands out from the crowd. To get you started, JobMonkey has a host of resources on how to write the perfect resume - from a rundown on the elements of a resume to an exhaustive list of action verbs to punch up your experience.

4) Perfect Your Interview Techniques
Whether it was your networking connections or your stellar resume (or, more than likely, a little bit of both) that got you in the door, nothing is going to get you a job offer but you. Public speaking is a major fear for most Americans and there is no situation more intimidating than a job interview. Resolve this year to conquer your insecurities and ace every job interview you land. Start your homework with JobMonkey's crib sheet on Interviewing Types and Tips.

--------------------------------------------------------------------
AROUND THE MONKEY: Staying Positive During a Job Search
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Do you find yourself getting down in the dumps during a job search? That's normal, especially given the current economic conditions. But potential employers can read those emotions like an open book during an interview. Here are some tips for staying positive in the face a frustrating job search. Even if you don't think you give off that "desperate" vibe, you should check these out!

Find current jobs in the Job Center.

JobMonkey Home >>>