Top Ten Tenets For Successful Job Hunting

On a wintry December afternoon, in the year when the World Trade Centre in the US was bombed, I was seated smug in my residence atop the Gladstone Hotel, in the USA. As a result of that bombing, many companies suffered damage to their life and property. My company had also borne the brunt of the bombing. I was looking for a new job in my field of work.

Today, I had a meeting with my consultant who was helping me find a good job. When I reached his office, he had just come and was checking his mails from the previous day. On seeing me, he left his desk and came to the cabin door. He seated me on a sofa in his cabin and started discussing with me about my job search. He said that he would share with me secrets that consultants normally avoid discussing with their candidates. He shared his trade secrets with me on that day.

He told me not to depend on any consultant to look for a job. On the contrary, he told me to just follow the ten tenets that he would give me so that employers would come chasing me instead of me chasing them for jobs. What he told me next was very innocuous to me, but when I applied those principles to my job search, the results were amazing. Through this article, it is my endeavour to share the secrets that he divulged on that day, with everyone.

1. Don't Become Prey on the Job Hunt

Consultants today offer a list of allied services apart from helping you look for jobs. These can range from Building A Resume to Sending Resume to 1000 Companies. Whatever they ask for these services, whether it is Rs1000/- or Rs3,000/- it is overpriced.

2. Just Relax...Seriously

Be yourself during interviews. Stay calm and avoid hyperventilating during interviews. It pays to keep quite when required and speak only when asked. The interview is not the venue for a frank discussion about your career, but it is an opportunity to hard sell the product that is you.

3. Rise in the Wee Hours

Rise early in the morning to start your day at the crack of dawn. Every successful person worth his salt has started his day early so as to accomplish more during the day. Our body is at its most productive best in the early morning hours and fatigue sets in as the day wears on.

4. Make Your Resume, Include Just the Facts

Your resume is the story of your career. Narrate it as directly as possible, making it simple to read and understand. Present it in government style, gray flannel prose.

Top Ten Tenets For Successful Job Hunting

5. Keep Cover Letters Short

The whole world has Attention Deficit Disorder. There is a general tendency for attention spans to peter out at about 3 seconds. Please keep your cover letters short, just mentioning the basic essentials, concluding with an indication that your resume is attached and bid goodbye.

6. Get A Recruiters Attention The Old Fashioned Way

Try to do memorable work in your industry and create a reputation for yourself. Let your employers come looking for you and not the other way round. Your brilliance can't be hidden by your employer. Always note that someone is looking at you all along. It may also be possible that while you are working, you may be poached by your company's competitor.

7. Don't Editorialize

When writing your resume or during an interview avoid mentioning clichéd adjectives for yourself like "highly motivated, results oriented, visionary, world class entrepreneur" Let the prospective employer decide for himself after he has had time to consider your many accomplishments.

8. Think Before Posting Your Photo on LinkedIn

One should abstain from posting his photograph on LinkedIn or for that matter any other networking site unless it is an asset to be shown off to people. If you feel that your face is one of your strengths, and you wish to display it to people, by all means post it.

9. Be Yourself In Interviews

Throw away all the notes you have made from the net on attending interviews. Avoid following a fixed script during such a case. Try to be yourself during an interview. Try to give an extempore interview without any rehearsals. Just keep your wit and common sense with you when attending an interview.

10. Come Clean Constructively

Don't be freaked out by the question: 'What wrong turns or unfortunate choices have you made during your career?' The ability to answer this question with confidence and conviction will demonstrate your capacity for honest self analysis.

These are the 10 golden rules which are required to be followed when looking for a job for yourself. While following these you will not feel the need of any external agency for finding a job.

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Welding Jobs: Got Gas? (As Long As It Is Natural You Can Get Rich Making The Most of It)

Most people don't think of welding and natural gas at the same time they think of wealth building.

These two elements (welding and natural gas) will soon converge into an economic power house for any entrepreneur with vision. Find out why.

Why Welding? The metal shop in high school closed long ago - along with auto shop and wood shop. For decades, most welders started out in high school metal shop - and now for two decades metal shop has been considered, "mental slop" by the elites who only see "intelligent pursuits" as those involving computers and other tech.

Sadly, this has caused a huge and growing shortage of welders and other trades.

Just as the powers that caused "computer class" to replace "metal shop" - the powers that rule the welding industry don't understand their own industry well enough to update the focus of welding. This is because the welding game has changed.

"Tradition" can be a train wreck - and that is the case with welding education.

Welding education today is like a re-run of the movie, "Back To The Future." It is 1950 all over again when you step into a junior college welding class. Hours and days are spent on book learning. Hours and days are spent on learning techniques and processes the average welder will never use.

Yes, one or two things taught in structural welding classes are applicable in the job market - enough to get the average welder coming out of a year of more of education a job welding for $10 to $15. Last time I checked you can make that much cleaning windows...

Where is the Entrepreneurial Opportunity in welding?

Pipe welding covers a lot of ground - there is carbon steel pipe, aluminum pipe and stainless pipe. Each category has a variety of types, sizes and applications. Welding any and all of them produces excellent incomes. Individuals can make $75,000 to $150,000 a year without a welding truck (called a rig).

Welders with their own rig are making up to $300,000 a year.

Welders who own 3 rigs and weld themselves while managing other welders can and do top $500,000 with a relatively small business organization.

Where does natural gas come into this?

The United States has $178 Trillion in natural gas and oil on U.S. Federal Lands alone! We are not tapping that gas now - the vast majority of the wells which have recently caused the USA to become the largest producer of oil and gas on the globe are located on private lands. The reserves of oil and gas on private lands is beyond belief - and no longer disputed. We will be swimming in oil and gas for generations to come.

Did you think solar and wind would win the day?

Much like propaganda in any country at any time in history, wind and solar is NOT what most people think. The power production is minuscule. When your neighbor gets solar on their house - you paid for a large portion of that system because of large federal and state subsidies. Solar and wind (after all the noise about them) still make up less than 5% of all power production - and a very high price has been paid by all us for it.

On the contrary, oil gas operate in a pure, true market environment.

The oil and gas industry will not be shut down because the government "pulls the plug" on subsidies. AND natural gas is a very low emission, low polluting energy source!

Welding Jobs: Got Gas? (As Long As It Is Natural You Can Get Rich Making The Most of It)

My brother held 11 patents for co-generation technology in the 1980s. He built a large business because the market was subsidized. When the subsidies were stopped, the business stopped. The same thing will soon happen for solar and wind.

Oil and gas produce huge amounts of energy and won't be replaced for 100 years.

Natural gas usage will increase dramatically in the coming years. We will soon see over the road diesel trucks repowered with natural gas (for example). Honda has made a natural gas Civic for many years. Police cars, taxis and city buses are powered by natural gas right now.

Where will people fill up?

There is a small but growing number of natural gas stations across America. And many homes in America run on natural gas. Filling stations which can be installed at residential locations are on the market now. Would you like to fill up your car at home for $3? You can! The Russians are working on airplanes powered by natural gas. The possibilities are endless - and many will be reality sooner than you think. And yes, you could build a business just installing natural gas filling stations.

Conclusions:

If you can think of a "dream industry" to work in, what would it be? If you want one that will have expotential growth over the next 20 years think oil and gas. Unlike the growth of hamburger stands in the 60s, oil and gas jobs pay very well. Walk into Midland Texas with no experience and get a job as a "roustabout" (a common laborer) and you'll make $40,000 to $50,000 - and that is the bottom of the ladder.

The best part about pipe and pipe welding:

The oil and gas industry is the biggest employer of pipe welders. The growth of natural gas utilization means enormous amounts of pipe must be welded. The American Welding Society or AWS sets the standards for welding. Way back in 2007 they said, "The average rig pipe welder in Alberta Canada makes $330,000 a year."

I recently spoke to a welder who went one step further contracting repairs with a refinery in 2013. He made $400,000 in 2013.

What is the bottom line?

Welding and the oil (and particularly natural gas) present an exciting fast growing opportunity that can make anyone with some moxy and get up go rich in the coming years - regardless of the condition of the rest of the economy. Is that why North Dakota has 2.6% unemployment? Did you know Midland, TX has 2% unemployment? Did you know that 5% unemployment is considered "Full Employment" because 5% of the work force should not be working? These numbers are stunning - they are incredible.

The USA must go through another deep recession. to wash out the debt that is keeping the general economy down. Many areas of business we now think of as "bullet proof" will shrink or disappear. The DOW will probably sink to 5,000 by 2016 or 2017 - but naturals gas will stay strong which means pipe welding jobs will be plentiful, even during the next recession.

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Five New Year's Resolutions That Can Have a Big Payoff in 2017

According to a new survey by a careerbuilder, 22% of present employees are looking to change jobs and look for new companies in 2017. At the start of new year, every person has a new year resolution, like losing weight, changing a hobby, or to have a better character etc,. But in terms of job change also, new job seekers and job hunters are said to have resolutions. What is your job hunting resolution for 2017?

The above-mentioned figure of 22% is average for all ages and groups of job applicants. But, for younger workers, the percentage is even higher. They form 15% of job seekers overall, and one of out of every three applicants is looking to seek a new job as per the survey.

Apart from this new job finding resolution, careerbuilder has thrown in more light on the current trend of employees in terms of their resolutions for this year, which are:

49% of them wants to save more of their salary.

38% of them wants to have less pressure in their jobs.

30% of them are seeking promotion or a salary hike.

28% of them wants healthier food at work.

26% of them wants to learn new courses and acquire new job skills

It is never a bad time to change your career progression, and there is no better time than the new year that offers the perfect time to make new job resolutions. Here are 5 new year's resolutions that make a big difference in 2017.

Five New Year's Resolutions That Can Have a Big Payoff in 2017

Expand Network:

Against popular thought, it is not good to start networking when you require a job. It's in fact always before hand that you start increasing your chain of friends and acquaintances which can help you get the job. Always have a broad, diverse and optimum network that can help your job search easier. It is better not to start your conversation with "I am looking for a job, can you help me". Instead, put it at the end or just before the end of the conversation, so that you don't sound like you approached them for job search.

Take Challenges:

If you have been in a job for a while, it is most probable that you get used to it as a part of general complacency and would have a daily routine of things to do. Take this new year to come out of the comfort zone and try exploring new things without highest risks. Maybe to take on a new course and try a new job which needs higher job skills than you have, and who knows this may your year to shine.

Get organized:

Though it may look like a stereotype, a little bit of organization helps you in the long run. Keeping your desk organized, files and folders in place on your desktop will instill some order. Doing this will help you keeping your appointments and meeting your deadlines easier. The major emphasis should be given to make a more concerted effort in getting organized and keeping your things in order.

Acquire New Skills:

Always treat each day as a new day, and try to learn new things related to your job or skillsets. Try to acquire knowledge and make yourself more productive by using it. Always try to go the extra mile. Try to pitch in for the projects outside of your job role and see if your knowledge helps. Always ask proactively if you can join.

Keep Documents Updated:

Always keep your documents up-to-date and is very important for many reasons. You many never know if a recruiter or a friend of your acquaintance may call you out of the blue with a great job offer. If such opening is surprisingly offered you should have your resume and documents ready to get going. Plus, it is better to always add your acquired skill sets and accomplishments when they are fresh in mind than adding them after 2-3 years all at once.

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Top 10 Job Strategies for Recent College Graduates

When the graduation celebrations have ended, many recent graduates must consider what they are going to do with their lives. When I started talking with my students and other graduates from other institutions, the clarity of what they were going to do after college life was murky at best. Surprisingly, the majority of the graduating seniors did not have any idea of what they were going to do.

Perhaps, it is generational because Millennials have a different outlook than Baby Boomers. In my last job strategy book, I along with my co-author, William Bailey, researched this problem and found a huge disconnect between what organizations desired from potential employees, and what today's job seekers expect of employers. This article explores 10 new job strategies for recent college graduates in how to increase their success in employment.

THE ECONOMIC LANDSCAPE

The economic picture should give recent college graduates some hope. According to a recent National Association of Colleges and Employers, the top bachelor's degree, which would be in the highest demand, was business administration and management. Of the 169 surveyed employers, 86 stated they intended to hire graduates with this degree.

In another college employment study by CareerBuilder.com, 74% of employers planned to hire more recent college graduates this year (up from 67% from 2016). Half of these employers planned to offer recent college graduates higher pay than last year; 39% of these surveyed employers would start recent graduates with $50,000 or more (compared to 27% in 2017).

The most sought after majors for these employers were: Business (30%), Engineering (26%), Computer and Information Sciences (23%), Engineering (16%), Communications Technologies (13%), Mathematics/Statistics (11%), Construction Trades (11%), and Health Professionals/Related Clinical Sciences (10%). With this positive job outlook, college graduates cannot afford to relax because of the continual changes in the job market.

NEW JOB STRATEGIES

Recent college graduates must enhance their job strategies. In today's competitive environment, getting a job in one's major is not easy. In fact, more experienced and older workers are now competing for entry-level jobs.

Top 10 Job Strategies for Recent College Graduates

Companies are more demanding due to the surplus of seasoned and young talent before them. According to the Economic Policy Institute, one in eight colleges graduating class of 2016 were under-employed. Underemployed relates to those individuals in the college-educated workforce that are doing jobs that don't require a college degree or not in their intended major.

With that said, those unemployed individuals would prefer to be working in their major full-time. In the Office of the New York City Comptroller's 2016, the study found that, by 2014, Millennials were making about 20 percent less in real terms than what older generations made during their first years in the labor force. Thus, recent graduates cannot afford to misunderstand the job market.

Peter Cappelli, the author of Why Good People Can't Get Jobs, notes that the impersonal nature of the current employment process: "Like a replacement part, job requirements have very precise specifications. Job candidates must fit them perfectly, or the job won't be filled, and the business can't operate."

In a surplus market with numerous potential candidates, employees can be picky. When a list of prospective applicants does not meet the requirements, many times, these positions are left unfilled. Sadly, most job seekers have not figured this reality out. Yet, loaded with the right attitude and good job strategies, recent graduates can ensure themselves of better success in this job market. The following are the 2017 job strategies for more employability:

•     Possess a good character that makes you an attractive person.
•     Connect your ideal job with your interest, skills/abilities, and value/belief system.
•     Build an effective personal brand, including an online personality connected to LinkedIn.com and critical online networks.
•     Pursue additional education and certifications (i.e. Google digital marketing certifications) that separate you from the competition.
•     Use daily positive self-affirmations about your skills and abilities to keep your energy level positive.
•     Build an incredible professional network for identifying job opportunities.
•     Learn how to seek out critical advice and mentorship, but develop the capacity to use it.
•     Develop a questioning attitude about life to promote problem solving.
•     Network with subject matter experts, industry leaders, and highly successful people to increase your job opportunities.
•     Target desired positions and apply periodically (daily, weekly, etc.) so that you are actively engaged in new employment.

CONCLUSION

In today's difficult economy, college graduates must be more assertive despite the positive forecast for employment. Getting a job isn't easy. This article demonstrated how recent college graduates can increase their chances of being hired with 10 new job strategies. In fact, many Millennials will face future employers that have a variety of job options to fill a job vacancy.

Individuals who understand the new mindset of current employers will have a better chance of successfully navigating the employment landmines. Yet, a savvy job seeker understands these employment changes and makes the necessary corrections to make his/her personal brand attractive to potential employers. If individuals want to be more effective in their job hunt for 2017, they can use these job strategies to navigate future career challenges.

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Turn Your Talent Into Your Dream Job

We've all gone out into the job market for any of a variety of reasons - just out of school, changing careers for more money or better opportunities, looking for a better change at advancement, spouse re-located, laid off from a prior job, company went out of business, or even just looking for a change of pace. Regardless of the reason, here are a few steps to think about that might give a little structure to this process. You can read many more articles on our website, Talent Exchange USA, but this overview can help get you started.

Step #1 - Identify Your Talent

To start with, it's important to be self-aware. Knowing what you're good at early in the game will make the entire process of securing a new job go more smoothly. To start with, don't sell yourself short. You should make a list of everything that you're good at. Think about things you've done well at other jobs, and also think about things you do well outside of a work environment. Knowing what you already have a natural talent for can help you think about careers you may have never had the opportunity to pursue before. You should really stretch yourself to think "outside the box" and even include special skills your friends and family may have commented on. Don't be bashful when you prepare this list - you're the only person who will see it, and you will want to refer back to it when you're farther along in your job search.

Step #2 - Identify the Career You Want

Start thinking about careers and begin scanning some of the larger job search engines like Indeed.com and Monster.com. At this point, you aren't looking to apply for jobs - just recognizing what all jobs listed are a good match for your talents and starting to form some ideas on what type of careers you are interested in. Refer back to your list of talents during this process - the best thing that can possibly happen during an interview is for you to get the opportunity to tell the interviewer that you are very talented at performing the work and that you have a natural interest in doing it because you enjoy using this certain talent. While you're looking at job listings, remember that you're looking for jobs where you can enjoy using your natural talent, and this may include a type of work you've never done before. That's okay! Many employers give talent and sincere interest more weight than previous experience. After all, isn't it easy to explain during an interview that a prospective employer should hire you since you have the talent to perform the job well and enjoy doing the job rather than hire someone else who may have experience, but lack the inclination to do the job well or lack the true interest in the job to stick with it for a long-term career?

Step #3 - Prepare an Effective Resume

Be sure to take the time to prepare a good resume. Even if you are going to apply for jobs where a resume isn't required, the information you compile in a resume is often requested on job applications and having a resume handy makes job interviews go much smoother. Whether you believe it's a valuable exercise or not, trust us -- just do it.

To start with, never forget that the resume is designed to tell your prospective employer what they need to know to make a determination about whether to invite you to take additional steps with them. Consider it a first date - after the employer has read the resume, you don't want them to ditch you. Write your resume the same way you would go on a first date - putting your best foot forward, being completely honest, and trying to present information that makes the employer interested in you to such an extent that they will want a second date - that is, to call you in to talk to you.

You can find resume templates on a number of websites and in the software that comes with most computers. And to be honest, the template you choose doesn't really matter. An employer who has looked at thousands of resumes will tell you that the content is all that really matters no matter how attractive the format, font, etc. looks.

At a minimum, any resume should contain a section listing education and a section listing employment history. While you want to put your best foot forward, always be honest with your choice of words. If you haven't completed a degree, don't represent that you have. Your wording should clearly explain whether you graduated at a school or studied at the school, whether you received a degree or were working towards a degree, etc. If you present it one way on the resume and have to explain it differently later on, the relationship you have with your potential employer has been damaged - even if to a small degree. If you think you can dupe an employer by excluding these sections, you should realize that the resume will almost certainly not be given serious consideration. In the employment history section, do not mention why you left each job. This will likely be on the employer's job application form and can be better explained at an interview.

Try to make your resume stand out in some way. Perhaps you've achieved something very important that might not usually be at the top of a resume, but because of its personal importance to you, you put it at the top. For example, what if you are applying to be a flight attendant and you include the fact that you personally raised $500 for cancer research last year? It's the type of thing that can make an employer spend some time to read through the rest of the resume because of such a compelling personal fact.

Other items you will include on your resume:

Contact information (obviously) - this should include your name, address, at least one telephone number, and your e-mail address, and is almost always part of the header of the document.

Career Objective - there is debate over whether this section should be included on a resume. It's a good idea as long as it's well-written. Use this space to briefly describe how you can use your talent to help the company or business to which you are applying. Do not be too broad in your career interest because it doesn't seem interesting to the employer. Do not be too specific because it may seem that you're only interested in a very narrow field of work. Play with the wording until you think you've selected a phrase that succinctly describes your talent and how it fits well with the employer.

References - a short list of people who can best describe your background, education, work history, etc.

Step #4 - Search for Your New Job

There are several places to search for jobs. One of the most popular methods is by using online job search engines. There are hundreds of them out there - just type "job search websites" into a search engine such as Google and you will find all types of options. Add your state to the search and you can start seeing some local sites to check out. There are also the big, tried-and-true sites such as Indeed and Monster. Links to these can be found on the home page of the Talent Exchange USA website.

Turn Your Talent Into Your Dream Job

But don't forget some other useful job search sources - your local newspaper will run job listings, and the list is usually larger on weekends. And don't forget to talk to friends about job openings they might know about. And there's no harm in dropping off resumes at companies you are interested in, even if they are not actively looking to fill a position. When a job opening does come up, there's a chance they will pull your resume from their files. If you can't drop the resume off - or if they refuse to accept it in person - mail them a copy marked "Attention: HR Department". Beat the pavement and be persistent. As you go from business to business dropping off resumes, talk to people and network - you'll be surprised at some of the good leads you will pick up along the way.

Step #5 - Know What Resources Online Job Search Sites Offer

Be sure to become familiar with the resources available on online job search sites. You will find everything from resume templates, online job applications, articles, sample interview questions, cover letters, downloadable phone apps, and RSS feeds you can subscribe to so you know when new jobs are listed. Don't underestimate the value of using these free resources.

Step #6 - Prepare for an Impressive Interview

Dress up! If you have any doubt about how to dress for the potential employer you are going to interview with, err to the side of being overdressed.

Think ahead. Go online and search for common interview questions and sample answers. While you don't want to use the same answer, take the time to think about how you can answer the question using your own experiences and history.

Be friendly! Regardless of how mean and grumpy your interviewer acts, employers tend to prefer employees who are positive and cheerful. Remember that this is the same person who will be bringing you daily duties and special assignments if you are hired, so displaying a professional demeanor, a smile, and a "can do" attitude demonstrates what you can offer as their employee.

Be prepared. If you are extended an invitation to interview at a company, take the time to learn a little bit about the company. At the end of the interview, it's not uncommon to be allowed to ask a few questions. Make them thoughtful questions. Don't just ask something about the company to pretend to show interest - it will come across very fake. Instead, using the information you learned about the position during the interview, think of some questions that show them that you're very much thinking about the job already. Things like: How many people will be in my department?, What time will my shift start?, As people grow their skills in this particular job, what type of opportunities are there to get additional training or professional certifications related to the job?, etc.

Don't discuss pay unless the employer brings it up. If you secure a job offer, there's nothing wrong with respectfully declining it if it doesn't pay enough, but it comes across as very presumptuous to ask about pay when a job offer hasn't even yet been extended.

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Wanted - Oil and Gas Jobs in the USA

If you qualify, you can apply for and fill one of numerous oil and gas jobs in the USA that are currently available. There are job opportunities for those who are new to the petroleum and natural gas industry as well positions for more experienced rig workers and senior staff. In this article we can explore some of the oil and gas jobs in the USA.

There are literally thousands of people out there who are looking for an oil or gas job in the USA or Canada. Some of the most wanted jobs they are searching for includes rotating apprentice operator, cylinder operations engineer, geologist, mechanical project engineer and rotating equipment engineer. The demand for drillers and various engineers have also increased in recent years.

Wanted - Oil and Gas Jobs in the USA

If you are ready for a really challenging job, you should consider working on an offshore oil rig. An oil rig requires individuals who are hardworking and dedicated to their job at hand. An oil rig rarely rests and runs 24 hours a day. Rig workers usually gets paid more than their counterparts working on land. Available oil rig jobs include the following positions.

•     Catering crew
•     Crane operators
•     Drillers
•     Electricians
•     Mechanics
•     Paramedics and doctors
•     Barge superintendent
•     Roustabouts
•     Sub-sea engineers
•     Welders
•     Project managers
•     Drilling engineers

Are you more interested in working in the transportation and refinement sector? There are many oil and gas jobs in the USA that needs to be filled. Here are a few positions that are in demand.

1.     Pipeline technician
2.     Facility engineer
3.     Production engineer
4.     Petrophysicist
5.     Measurement technician
6.     Gas and power plant engineer
7.     Electrical engineer
8.     Mechanical engineer
9.     Construction specialist
10.     Piping materials engineer
11.     Controls engineer
12.     Environmental project engineer

The job vacancies above are only a snapshot of the kinds of positions that petroleum employers are offering. You may join the thousands of people who are already seeking and finding oil and gas jobs in the USA. Reserve yours now.

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Job Seekers Beware of These 5 Shocking Traps When Looking For a Job

During my last 5 years I have changed my jobs 2 times. I found job market interesting and It is now my passion to learn the job market and have observed the good and bad trends in the market. One of the most shocking things I have observed is that there are quite a lot of hidden traps and I would like to share a few with my readers.

During my research I have came across very professional recruiters and there where a handful that caused me some trouble. I have categorized them in to five distinct groups. Before I continue I would like to make it clear to my readers that recruiters are sales people their goal is to make a sale to benefit their pocket.

Client hunters type 1 (Reference killers)

Reference killers are the recruiters who are interested in getting your references first so that they can call them to get more business for them in future.

There is a growing Trent among recruiters especially in staffing industry to call job seekers and give false impression about lucrative jobs. They will lie that there is an excellent position with one of their clients in your home town or near buy and they have good hold on the account. They will urge then to send resume and need reference as managers including contact info of the current /last position.

Their goal is get the reference so that they can build some contact with the people and they will continue the same trick to others. These recruiters then pass the manager contacts to their sales lead or they may sell it other vendors.

Client hunters Type 2 (New Business development seekers)

This category of recruiters are interested in knowing your project managers and to know more about the company you worked for so that they can contact the managers to sell their services.
One evening I got a call from a recruiter a reputable small consulting company the recruiter was exceptional he was sympathies with me. We went over the resume and see the projects and the status of the projects I was in the last 2 years.

Job Seekers Beware of These 5 Shocking Traps When Looking For a Job

After the interview I realized that I got robbed again during the so called interview process the caller was able to get the detailed info about the project and key contacts in projects. I later learned that the same caller made contacts with the people I mentioned during the interview. There is an open secret that the best way to know about accompany is to interview the people in the company.

Serial Head hunters (Resume collectors)

This category of recruiters is only interested in resumes and will do any thing to get that.
Many time I get calls from a recruiter that he/she has a great position with salary almost 30% more than I am making now and they want the resume immediately and the employer is waiting for my resume.

I was really excited and gave the resume immediately then I waited for almost 2 months then I got a call from the same person asking for referral to my friends .

Over friendly

These are recruiters who get too friendly for the purpose of getting you to a job which can gain him/her the most benefits.

Most of the recruiters are very friendly just like a car salesmen and often there is a trap with over friendliness. One of my friends had a good job with a fortune 500 company one day he got a call from a recruiter who got his number from one of his reference. They became friends and pursued him for an exceptional opportunity with a start up which shady funding.

H1b only

This category of recruiters will only recruit you only if you are on a visa they will be after you if you tell that you are a visa holder.

This set of recruiters will give preference to you if you show that you are a visa holder. Once I told a recruiter that I am a visa holder and he was all over me. The recruiter was offering free training and was willing to help me in all possible ways.

This objective of this article is to educate you with the above dangers be smart it is your responsibility to protect your references and use it only when needed.

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Finding Job Openings Near You

It can be hard to find a job in the current market. You have to think about a lot of things when you are looking at the job openings in which you are interested. Due to the current state of the economy, it is essential that you have a solid education behind you. You need the experience and the skills necessary to land a great job. So, throughout the course of this article, we will discuss the best ways to locate the right jobs for you, specifically on the Internet as well as locally. That way, you can get your job before anyone else.

First of all, it is vital to create a solid and impressive resume to use in your job search. You can easily do this simply by engaging in a little research. The best thing you can do is take a look at some resume examples and samples. That way you can see how to do it right. You want your resume to look as professional as possible and samples can help you along. You will see the proper format. However, have someone proofread it before you start submitting it anywhere.

The next tip involves where you will post your resume. Basically, you should do it all around the Internet. You need to look for the many popular sites which encourage you to post your resume on them. That way, possible employers can look at your resume, see your skills and experience, and get right in touch with you. You can find a job this way quickly and with surprising ease.

Once your resume has been posted at some or all of these sites, your work is not done. On the contrary, you need to keep your eyes open for a job at all times. You can do this on similar sites or you can search for a job that fits your criteria. The point is to make sure that you filter your search appropriately, such as to your local area.

Finding Job Openings Near You

When you want to find a job, you have got to be certain that you have the right skills for the positions in which you are interested. You are wasting your own time and your employer's time by applying for a job that you are not qualified to do. Similarly, if you look for a job beneath your skill level, you will be bored.

So, if you want a job that will help you make ends meet, you should be able to find one easily. You can even look for help wanted signs around the neighborhood. However, if you want a career oriented position, then you need to make sure that it provides a challenge to you.

After you have followed the aforementioned steps where the Internet is concerned, you need to broaden your search. Basically, you need to start looking around your area. There are lots of opportunities in places you may not expect. However, it is essential that you make sure people know your name and your face. You have to knock on people's doors and let them know you are out there.

Clearly, there are lots of job openings out there and lots of ways you can take advantage of them. You just have to do the work necessary to find the right job for you.

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Federal Job Search Strategies: 7 Tips to Help You Succeed

Despite constant calls by politicians and policy makers to reign in government spending, the federal government remains the largest employer in the United States. According to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, there are currently more than 2,700,000 employees working for the federal government in civil service positions. For nearly every federal job vacancy, the number of applicants exceeds the number of available positions by at least tenfold.

Why do so many Americans aspire to a federal job? The answers are diverse. Some consider it a patriotic duty, while for others it's an act of enlightened self-interest. Whatever your motivation, however, the benefits are significant. Simply put, Uncle Sam is an excellent boss.

Working for the federal government offers employment stability that cannot be replicated in the private sector. Once a new employee completes a predetermined probationary period (usually 1 year), lifetime employment is nearly guaranteed. Laws and regulations governing federal personnel practices make it extremely difficult to fire, lay-off, or forcibly transfer most employees. On the rare occasions when lay-offs do occur, displaced employees are given very preferential hiring treatment for similar positions that becomes available. The result is that very few federal employees have ever missed a day of work due to a lay-off.

Fringe benefits, including an excellent retirement package, are also a major motivating factor. Health benefits for federal employees are generally better than those offered in the private sector, and the government currently picks up more of the premium costs than most private employers. For an employee enrolled in Blue Cross/Blue Shield's family coverage, for instance, the government currently pays $578 of the $771 monthly premium. Retirement benefits are based on a complicated formula that incorporates the employee's salary, years of service and retirement age, but independent studies consistently determine that the plan is more generous than nearly all private sector employers.

Federal salaries are competitive as well. In 2005, the average salary for all federal workers worldwide is $60,203. Due to the salary structure and political realities, raises are virtually guaranteed every year. In January 2005, the raise was set at 3.5%. In addition, salary adjustments are made for employees in major metropolitan areas.

Federal service also provides far more opportunity for advancement than most other employers. At the senior management level (known as the Senior Executive Service, or SES), salaries range from $107,550 to $162,100. There are currently approximately 7,000 SES employees in federal service.

With all of these benefits, it's no wonder that many job seekers are trying to land a position with the federal government. While the competition is fierce, here are some key strategies that can help you in your search:

1. Check the government's official employment web site (http://www.usajobs.opm.gov) often. Virtually every federal job vacancy is listed there, and it's updated every day. Most vacancy announcement are only open for a period of approximately 3 to 4 weeks, and the application process can be detailed, so it's best to check frequently so you can start working on your application as early as possible.

2. Avoid services that claim to help you land a federal job. Companies that guarantee you a federal job are scams, and these services can't do anything that you can't do yourself.

3. Be willing to accept a pay cut. While federal salaries are competitive, the compensation structure is such that salaries typically start low but increase quickly. Every federal job has a starting grade and a "full performance" grade. Typically, professional positions start at grade 7 in the federal pay scale (referred to as General Schedule-7, or GS-7), and increase to GS-9, GS-11 and GS-12 at 1-year intervals. For an employee in Washington, D.C., that would mean starting with an annual salary of $35,452 but earning $62,886 after three years of service (not counting the annual government-wide salary increases of approximately 3% per year).

Federal Job Search Strategies: 7 Tips to Help You Succeed

4. Consider "trainee" positions. The term has a negative connotation, but starting in a designated trainee position can be a great way to get your foot in Uncle Sam's door. These positions, which generally require no specific work experience, are typically filled at the GS-5 level ($25,000 - $30,000 per year). Because many federal jobs are only available to current or former federal employees, working as a trainee for a year or two often opens a lot of doors.

5. Read the vacancy announcement carefully. Procedures for applying for a federal job have been streamlined in recent years, but it's vitally important that your follow the instructions provided to the letter. Unlike their private sector counterparts, federal hiring managers have to abide by standardized procedures without exception. For instance, they are legally prohibited from considering applications that arrive after the closing date on the vacancy announcement--even one day late. Likewise, if you don't submit the requested documentation on time (transcripts, etc), they can't collect it from you later.

6. Bulk up your resume. This may be good advice for any job hunter, but it's particularly important when applying for a federal position because of the way initial GS grades (i.e., starting salaries) are determined. Many vacancy announcement can be filled at any of a few different GS grades, and the level at which a new hire is brought on board is determined by his or her years of pertinent employment history. It is a little-known secret that federal hiring managers want to start new hires at the highest grade they can justify, because by doing so they can minimize the risk of turnover. Most federal employees who leave government service before retirement do so during the first five years of their career, because starting salaries in the private sector are higher.

So, how can you help your new agency pay you more? If you're in a position that makes it difficult to gain work experience in your desired field, remember that self-employment, if legitimate, counts as employment experience for federal hiring purposes. For instance, if you're a stay-at-home mother with the goal of re-entering the workforce as a writer, working from your home as a freelance writer for three years would count as work experience when you apply for that federal job. Incidentally, on the date of this article there are currently 27 writing and editing vacancies listed on the USA Jobs web site!

7. Above all, don't give up. Although the competition for federal jobs can be tough, the benefits are well worth the effort. Like any job search, most applicants can realistically expect to be turned down many times before they are offered a position. Tenacity and a positive attitude are your most vital assets.

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Top 10 Paying Jobs in the USA

Normally the annual list for the Top 10 paying jobs is quite accurate, although there is a disagreement among experts on the public labor and the private sector. When a new specialized profession comes out to the marketplace which is well paid and with high requests for the few professionals available, generally this one jumps almost instantly onto the list.

Every year there comes out a new list with just a few changes from the last years Top 10 Paying Jobs list. Certain jobs are always going to be on the Top 10. As expected these jobs are highly specialized and always in demand no matter what the current financial climate or location the survey is conducted like CEO's, Doctors, Surgeons and Lawyers, for an example. These jobs are for the highest paid professionals in the United States of America.

Some lists will break out jobs into sub-categories like 'Doctor' could make the list multiple times for Psychiatrists, Obstetricians and Surgeons, for an example.

 Top 10 Paying Jobs in the USA

Let's take a look at a few different lists of the top 10 paying jobs in the USA for 2009.

1. Physicians and Surgeons

2. Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

3. Engineering Manager

4. Podiatrists

5. Investment Banker

6. Computer and Information Systems Manager

7. Air Traffic Controller

8. Lawyer

9. Marketing Manager

10. Natural Sciences Manager

According to the Sources used to make this Top 10 statistic, these are the best paid and highly requested jobs in the marketplace. I hope this information is helpful if you are going to fit in one of the above professions and that you can benefit from this article.

Did you know it takes 9 months for the average American to find a job?

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12 Steps to Targeting Success in Your Career or Job Search

Is your job search sagging? Are you still looking for that ideal next job? Or are you about to begin looking for new work and are not sure of the best way to go about it? What you need is a way to evaluate your job search strategies to see whether or not they are working effectively for you.
Ready to get started? Here are 12 building blocks to a successful job search and the goals that will help you get to where you really want to be in the world of work:

1.) Making networking phone calls:  Effective job searches begin and end with networking. Start by making a list of everyone you know: family members, extended family, friends, present & past co-workers, faith community colleagues, barber/hairdresser, dog groomer, neighbors. Even list the clerks who work in your favorite grocery or video store, bank tellers and gas station attendants. Everyone! Call or talk to each person on your list (most people can easily produce a list of 50-100 people). Target: Make 3-5 new networking phone calls weekly.

2.) Contacting employers before openings occur:  The process of applying for a job before an opening is known to be present is referred to as "accessing the hidden job market" - and doing so is critical for job search success. By using a great on-line tool such as Reference USA to access employer information, you can mail targeted resumes and cover letters to companies that match your size, focus and sales criteria. Target: Mail 5-10 targeted but unsolicited resumes with cover letters weekly.

3.) Responding to online postings:  There are literally hundreds of sites like Monster.com, and you can pour hours and hours into searching them for job opportunities. Remember to search on multiple titles or portions of titles and to post your resume at every opportunity. Target: respond to 3-5 postings weekly.

12 Steps to Targeting Success in Your Career or Job Search

4.) Responding to newspaper help wanted ads:  This is the favorite job seeking strategy of searchers everywhere, but guess what? Out of every 100 resumes an employer receives, they will throw away 92-95! Target: Submit only 3-5 resumes and cover letters weekly in response to help wanted ads.

5.) Identifying new employers to contact:  Find employers the old-fashioned way: in phone books, through networking leads, through word-of-mouth, in reference sources and online databases (such as Reference USA, mentioned above), through articles in local papers and through the Yellow Pages of your local phone directory. Target: Identify and research 5 new employers weekly and use them to fill your quota for #2, above.

6.) Contacting recruiters and employment agencies:   It's not appropriate for every job seeker to contact recruiters and employment agencies, but if this strategy makes sense for you, then by all means make use of them. Target: Contact 1 new recruiter or agency weekly.

7.) Making follow-up phone calls & sending thank you letters/cards:  Sending out resumes and cover letters is only the first step in the process of developing relationships with employers. About 1 ½ to 2 weeks afterward, call them to verify they received your materials and to inquire about next steps. Always follow-up on interviews and make is a habit to send thank you letters or cards afterward as well. Target: Make 5-10 follow-up phone calls weekly and send a thank you letter or card for every job interview or informational interview you participate in each week.

8.) Managing your references:  How do you "manage" references? Supply each one with a copy of each version of your resume. Keep them up-to-date on what is happening in your job search. You don't need to call them weekly, but you should generate news every few weeks at least. Give your references a copy of all the references you're using so each one can refer an employer on to someone else on the list if asked. Prepare your references by giving them background information, adjectives and descriptive words that "sell" your best stuff. Target: Contact each reference at least once per month during your active job search and contact everyone when that perfect opportunity comes along to prepare them.

9.) Practicing interview answers:   Don't just practice the night before an interview. Target: Practice your interview answers and questions at least 1 time per week.

10.) Practicing the salary negotiations process:  Ditto with salary negotiations. Target: Practice your strategies and responses at least 1-2 times per week.

11.) Staying socially connected with employed others:  Job searching is extremely lonely, so make sure you stay socially involved with family and friends. Target: Get out of the house at least 2 times weekly to see friends or extended family.

12.) Managing your attitude and energy:  This is the most important building block of all, because without a positive attitude and high, focused energy, you won't achieve the result you want. Targets: Do at least 1 fun and creative thing outside your house weekly.

Why not take Fridays off (if you're unemployed) and enjoy! Absolutely, categorically don't job search on weekends. Exercise, take care of your body, and journal. Feed your mind good books and your spirit hope.

Strengthen or do more of what works. Adapt, replace or fix what does not work. Reevaluate your search progress every 30 days for as long as it takes for you to find the work you really want. And, if your job search results do not markedly improve within 45 days, see a career search professional for individualized assistance.

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