Jobs Search

A new year normally signifies change, or the desire to change. People resolve to quit smoking, lose weight, or do something else to improve the quality of their lives. It's not uncommon, as January rolls around, to consider searching for a new career. If you are like the tens of thousands of Americans who start the new year pounding the pavement (or at least checking the online classifieds) for work, you will want to go in prepared.

What is it about job hunting in 2010 that makes it different from any other year? There may not look like much innovation, but with smart phone usage on the rise some people may have a head up on others when it comes to pursuing desirable positions. If you want this to be the year to embark on a fabulous career, it would help to take a few steps to better your chances and put you above your competition.

1) Revise Your Resume. Did you look for work last year, and receive few to no bites? Make your first job search resolution a complete resume makeover. What have you done noteworthy in the last year that should be added? What skills and positions are too stale to keep listed? Especially if you work in technology or marketing, it's important to stay current because trends change quickly. It's nice that you can master HTML, but some companies will want to know if you can handle FBML.

2) Consider More Education. Do you think you need to brush up on basic skills? Perhaps you need to learn new technologies in order to get noticed. You don't necessarily have to go back for a degree, but if you are looking for specific positions in design, Internet development, or even marketing you will be required to stay updated on new trends and platforms. As you check the classifieds, double up your research by consulting local community colleges and education centers for relevant classes.

3) Approach More References. Believe this, when recruiters ask for references, you can be certain they will call the list you give them. If you have had the same people on your reference list for years and years - particularly former supervisors you haven't seen in a while - there's a possibility these seemingly helpful folks can hinder your job search. An old boss might not realize your growth in certain fields, whereas somebody closer to you know can present a more rounded picture of what you bring to the table. Go over your reference list and consider rotating a few names.

4) Create Opportunities. Undecided about what you want to do, or maybe nobody is hiring for what you seek? If you're able to get by, you may wish to try "creating" an opportunity that could turn into a job. Volunteerism is a great way to network, so why not offer your time and skills to a local organization supported by your dream company, or seek an internship at your workplace of choice and see what develops. It's not uncommon for temporary work to become a career.

5) Get Connected. Finding the job you want means being accessible at all times. If you don't have a cell phone, now is the time to get one and keep it charged. If you can't afford a smart phone plan (almost unlikely, since many plans seems better than those of land lines), spring for a throwaway like TracFone and use that number on resumes. If you do have a smart phone, find a good job hunting app and use it diligently. Get to the listing before your competition does.

Once you have your plan set, take charge of your job search and make this the year you embark on an exciting new career!

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