Putting Veterans First in the Job Market

Finding a job is hard enough these days, and even harder for returning military veterans. Now Thomas R. Suozzi, the Nassau County executive, wants to put servicemen and women returning from Iraq and Afghanistan at the front of the line for job openings.

By Linda Saslow-
“Although in today’s economy it’s hard to foresee how many jobs we will be able to provide, the veterans will have first preference.”


Mr. Suozzi announced Warriors to Work, a program to provide job opportunities for those veterans. He said it was the first public-private program in the country to provide employment opportunities for returning veterans from the current wars.

“Over 3,000 Nassau County residents have served in Iraq and Afghanistan since 9/11, and there are still hundreds more fighting for our country today,” Mr. Suozzi said after announcing the initiative. Federal Labor Department statistics for 2007 show the unemployment rate for veterans, including those 18 to 24 who served in Iraq or Afghanistan, was considerably higher than the rate for nonveterans.

Mr. Suozzi said he got the idea for the initiative from Fred Wilpon, the principal owner of the Mets, who, during a Dec. 15 meeting at a Nassau restaurant, suggested that Mr. Suozzi “do something for veterans.”

Mr. Suozzi met with officials of the Building and Construction Trades Council and the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System and received commitments for jobs from them. Then he received pledges from four trade unions and a dozen other companies. The participants include the Long Island Federation of Labor, the Bethpage Federal Credit Union, CVS, King Kullen and the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

The unions and companies committed to placing more than 200 veterans who have served in Iraq or Afghanistan in jobs on Long Island this year. The county’s Veterans Service Agency will work with human resources departments to help match veterans to appropriate jobs.

James Castellane, president of the Building and Construction Trades Council and a Vietnam War veteran, said in a telephone interview that the initiative was modeled on the Helmets to Hard Hats program, which since 2003 has been helping veterans find jobs within the 36 trade unions represented by the council.

“These jobs have to have a pension, an annuity, medical benefits and a union card,” he said, referring to the council’s commitment. “Although in today’s economy it’s hard to foresee how many jobs we will be able to provide, the veterans will have first preference.”

John R. Durso, president of the Long Island Federation of Labor, which represents 135unions and 250,000 employees on the Island, said the county’s program would give business and labor an opportunity to work together to support veterans.

“We will be talking to different employers and affiliates to get as many jobs as we can,” he said in a phone interview. “Where there are already jobs available, we will help slot them for veterans, and we will also work with employers to help create new positions.”

Michael J. Dowling, president and chief executive of the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System — the Island’s largest employer, with 38,000 employees — has already increased his initial pledge for 2009 to 20 jobs from 10. He said he expected to be able to provide even more jobs to returning veterans, at all levels, on a continuing basis. Since 2004, North Shore-L.I.J. has hired 94 people who identified themselves as veterans, said a spokesman, Terry Lynam.

“Being such a large organization, there are openings all the time, and we are committed to providing permanent positions with benefits and a career track,” Mr. Dowling said.

Two years ago, he said, North Shore-L.I.J. set up a family wellness center to help veterans deal with stress-related problems; for employees who serve abroad, jobs are guaranteed upon their return, with compensation for salary missed during military service.

Richard A. Cody, a retired four-star general who served as vice chief of staff of the Army from 2004 to last July, joined Mr. Suozzi to announce the new initiative.

“When soldiers return after 12 to 15 months away from their families, many haven’t had time to do job searches or think about their transition,” General Cody said. “Today, veterans return home with broader skill sets than ever. Many of the vets possess years of high-tech vocational training, leadership skills, and some have earned college degrees while on active duty.”

Mr. Suozzi said that he would continue to encourage businesses and agencies to sign on to the Warriors to Work initiative and that the county’s monthly newsletter to veterans would remind them of the program.

Source: Veterans Today

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Stable Demand for Sales Jobs

SalesJobs.net, a Beyond.com career community and Web site for job seekers and employers in the sales industry, reveals there is a stable demand for sales jobs providing hope for sales professionals and new college graduates alike in the face of today’s economy.

The recent recession has caused a decline in jobs across a multitude of industries, creating a pool of highly qualified talent not seen in years. Many businesses are taking advantage of these candidates to fill sales positions that offer high-reward and low-risk to the company. This trend has allowed the sales sector to remain strong, experiencing close to a 10% increase in the number of sales jobs posted to SalesJobs.net in January 2009 as compared to December 2008. In Q4 2008, the top positions for sales jobs were Sales Manager (68%), Pharmaceutical Sales Representative (15%) and Cashier (5%), with the top cities for jobs ranked as Houston, New York and Chicago, according to SalesJobs.net. Of the sales jobs posted in Q4 2008, 67% were looking for a candidate with less than one year of experience and 63% required at least a four-year degree. With the increased quantity and quality of competition in the job market, SalesJobs.net reported a 27% increase in sales professionals looking for a job over the past year.

Source: Recruiter Trends

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Veterans Green Jobs Career Training Program Supports Veterans

Veterans Green Jobs announces that it has opened enrollment for the Spring and Summer 2009 sessions of the Veterans Green Jobs Academy™.

The Academy is a unique hybrid of classroom and on-the-job training designed to move the experienced, disciplined military veteran into a meaningful career in green industries. Veterans Green Jobs Academy™ programs include free or low-cost green job training; multiple industry-recognized home energy audit certifications; and job placement services to veterans seeking to help America restore its economy, environment and communities. All honorably discharged veterans are encouraged to apply now for 8-week training programs beginning in April, June and August 2009. The Spring 2009 session of the Academy focuses on home energy efficiency and conservation with an intensive Home Energy Audit Training (HEAT™) certification program. HEAT™ brings environmental education together with supervised on-the-job-training to meet the consumer demand for experts to help lower residential energy consumption. "Reports indicate that there are nearly 2 million returned or returning military personnel who now face the challenging task of transitioning into civilian careers after their tours in Iraq, Afghanistan or elsewhere. Without effective support and viable economic options, many veterans and their families face serious hardships," says John M. Garcia, Secretary for the New Mexico Department of Veterans Services. "At the same time, America has a rapidly growing demand for trained workers to implement a nationwide shift to more sustainable 'green' technologies, energy sources, business practices and lifestyles." The Veterans Green Jobs Academy™ has designed scalable curriculums in environmental industries, business management, and specific job skills that can be immediately applied to the marketplace. The HEAT™ Program is just one of several energy-efficiency-related programs being developed, and future programs offered by the Academy include renewable energy, green building, historic building preservation, and disaster preparedness, response and reconstruction. "Veterans Green Jobs is working to mobilize a highly-skilled population to lead the revival of a national service ethic to address our most pressing problems," says Brett KenCairn. "That includes setting a standard so that green jobs in this country offer a true living wage and job security, and so that careers in green industries lead to energy independence, ecological restoration, community renewal and economic prosperity for all Americans." In collaboration with a broad consortium of partners, Veterans Green Jobs is supporting veterans' military transitions through programs and support services that promote their personal healing, along with a community-based movement towards healing the economy and the environment. In doing so, Veterans Green Jobs is also mobilizing a dedicated field-tested workforce that our society has already invested in to help the US move quickly towards greater environmental and economic security. Academy programs will expand to 15 states in 2010 and are anticipated to be in all 50 states as soon as possible.

Source: Recruiter Trends

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Part-time Opportunities

Most people (meaning job seekers) perceive part-time jobs as a waste of time and offer less than full-time positions.

Many part-time jobs pay just as much as full-time as a 40 hour per week job and there are number of part-time jobs that offer benefits such as health insurance, 401(k), vacation days and employee discounts. Here is a list of the best part-time opportunities.

1. Tax Preparer
2. Substitute Teacher
3. Private Tutor
4. Part-time Receptionist
5. Computer Technician
6. Copy Editor
7. Direct Seller

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Recruiters Can Be Found At......

Recruiters and other HR professionals are appearing on professional and social online network groups.

But before I discuss the main topic permit me to sidetrack a bit in order to set up why I decided to talk about (once again) why you have to cast a wide net in your job search and consider tapping into a social network groups.
 
I read an article today that talked about how online job board postings have dropped by 23% over the past 2 months. The writer cites a report written by a research group who reported the reason in the decline was due to a less in demand for labor. I think that is partly true. However, what was missing in that article is what alternatives are employers taking to fill attrition.

In today's climate employers are charging their HR department to think out of the box to find and implement cost effective or no cost methods to find candidates. Posting jobs on job boards or in newspapers can be very expensive and have an impact on a company's budget. An employer who is watching his/her budget may be apprehensive about vesting thousands of dollars and a year long contract to advertise openings in their company using these venues. Especially when there are other methods to find new talent for their company such as online social network groups.

One site that is attracting and building a membership base of industry Recruiters is Twitter. Twitter currently has more than 140 Recruiters who tweet and follow other's updates. If you are not familiar with Twitter you may assume from reading this is that this social media is exclusive to Recruiters and HR professionals. But it is not. The Twitter base is swelling beyond 100,000 common people. Twitter has been described as walking into a room of conversations and looking for a "hook" to decide if and when to jump in. So, how do you connect with some of these Recruiters?

If you click this link http://twitter.grader.com/search?Term=recruiter you will find the most influential Recruiters on Twitter. You can follow their updates and learn about job openings and hiring events they are working on.

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Health Care Employers Are Hiring

While the recession injured many industries in 2008, health care was one of the few bright spots in the employment picture, growing by 372,000 jobs last year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ January 2009 Employment Situation Summary. The large aging population has health care employers in need of qualified workers: stat. Therefore, despite the current economic conditions, health care employers will continue to increase staff in 2009, according to CareerBuilder.com’s annual health care hiring forecast, conducted online within the U.S. by Harris Interactive.

Close to one-in-five (17 percent) of large health care employers (50 or more employees) plan to increase the number of full-time, permanent employees in 2009, while 67 percent foresee either making no change in the number of employees or are unsure.

"The health care industry continues to boast high demand for qualified workers. Employers are reacting to this need by continuing strong recruiting efforts this year," says Jason Ferrara, Vice President of Corporate Marketing for CareerBuilder.com. "Half of health care employers, the highest among industries we surveyed, have open positions for which they can’t find qualified candidates. In response, health care employers will have to adjust their recruitment and retention strategies to find and keep top talent."

Health care recruitment trends for 2009
1. More Flexibility. Flexible work options continue to be an important benefit for health care employers to provide in an effort to attract new candidates and to prevent employee burnout. Forty-one percent of health care employers will provide more flexible work arrangements for employees in 2009, including:

· Alternative schedules – come in early and leave early or come in later and leave later

· Compressed work weeks – work the same hours, but in fewer days

· Telecommuting

· Job sharing

· Summer hours

2. Recruitment Tools. As demand for qualified workers continues, health care employers will leverage a variety of recruitment tools to reduce the time-to-hire cycle and fill open positions. Health care employers plan to spend more money on the following recruitment tools in 2009:

· Online recruitment sites

· Newspaper classifieds

· Career fairs [click the "Job Fair Calendar" tab at the top of the page]

· Staffing firms and recruiters

· Social networking sites

3. Freelance Workers
To help alleviate their employees’ demanding work load, health care employers are hiring contract and freelance workers to help get the job done.

4. Green Jobs
Being "green" is a burgeoning movement within the health care industry as companies seek ways to run more efficiently. Health care employers plan to be more environmentally aware in 2009, as 14% plan to add "green" jobs, up from 7% in 2008. "Green jobs" are positions that implement environmentally conscious design, policy and technology to improve the conservation and sustainability.

With the growing job count in the nursing profession, NursingCrossing, a job site catering to nursing professionals, has reportedly added 12,255 nursing jobs in a single week, bringing the site's job count to a staggering 89,923.  As reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs related to nursing and residential care facilities grew by 19,600 from January to August 2008.

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10 Cities for Growth Opportunity in 2009

If your job search strategy includes opportunities outside your local area check out this list of cities projecting job growth in 2009.

No. 1: Madison, Wis.

Unemployment rate: 3.5%

Madison has several things working in its favor, one being the University of Wisconsin, a major employer. The university's technology arm, the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, supports scientific research at the school and helps drive breakthroughs in health care, biotechnology and medical devices, resulting in strong local businesses in all those fields. Adding to the city's optimistic job outlook is its highly educated workforce and the fact that it's the center of state and county governments--both big employers (city government is a big one too). Add to that an ideal mix of start-ups and medium and large businesses, and you have a city that is not reliant on one main employer.

No. 2: Washington, D.C.

Unemployment rate: 4.2%

That's a rise from 3.2% in October 2007, but still it remains well below the national average. The largest job growth has been in federal and local government. Other major employers include defense contracting, law and education. There are so many schools and colleges that education is the third largest employer, and the area is expected to add 30,000 more education jobs in 2009.

No. 3: Boston, Mass.

Unemployment rate: 4.4%

Boston's unemployment rate has risen almost a full percentage point since October 2007, when it was 3.5%, but things continue to look good on the job front there. All those colleges keep on employing thousands of area residents, and the many hospitals and research institutions make for a strong showing in health care. Not everyone who works at those institutions is a physician or researcher either--finance staff, managers and all kinds of back-office workers are always needed. With so many educated men and women wanting to stick around after graduating, Boston has become a hub for the tech and pharmaceutical industries. The city lost just 900 financial sector jobs in the past year--far fewer than other, harder hit places.

No. 4: Richmond, Va.

Unemployment rate: 4.4%

A year ago, Richmond's unemployment rate was 3.1%. But at 4.4% currently, it's still well below the national average. One reason is its healthy mix of industries and business sizes. The area doesn't rely on one or two huge companies to employ most of its residents. Public accounting, manufacturing and service remain strong fields, and with the nation's capital just three hours away, there are plenty of jobs in government contracting and defense. The military bases in the area contribute to a strong showing in government-related jobs.

No. 5: Milwaukee, Wis.

Unemployment rate: 4.8%

Milwaukee's unemployment rate is barely changed from a year ago, when it was 4.7%. The aging population has helped health care jobs multiply; they've grown by almost 30,000 in the past 12 months. Many health care, energy and environmental companies that were based in Chicago have been moving to Milwaukee for its cheaper expenses. The city is only about an hour from Chicago by train.

No. 6: Pittsburgh, Pa.

Unemployment rate: 5%

This city's unemployment rate has climbed in the past year from 3.9%, with much of that job loss in manufacturing. However, it continues to have several strong industries, particularly education, health care and government. The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center is the city's largest employer, with 40,000 workers. Banking, technology and education also continue to keep the economy and job market lively.

No. 7: Baltimore, Md.

Unemployment rate: 5.1%

Though unemployment in Baltimore jumped from 3.6% the previous year, the jobs in education, professional services and business services have grown. The city's close proximity to Washington, D.C., means there are many government contractors around and many commuters who live in Baltimore but work in the nation's capital.

No. 8: Seattle, Wash.

Unemployment rate: 5.3%

Unemployment here increased from 3.7% in October 2007, but certain sectors have stayed quite strong, including biotech and health care. The area has a large elderly population and several Veterans Administration hospitals that employ considerable numbers. You'll do best looking for a job in Seattle if you're trained in the knowledge economy; the city has very few blue-collar positions to offer.

No. 9: Houston, Texas

Unemployment rate: 5.4%

The unemployment rate has risen from 4% in the past year. However, government jobs, particularly in oil, gas and other types of energy, continue to be strong. The city added 11,100 government jobs just in the last year.

10. Dallas, Texas

Unemployment rate: 5.6%

Dallas enjoys job growth very much like Houston's, concentrated in government positions related to energy. The city also has growing technology and information technology industries that are providing work, and it's home to many companies handling government contracts.

Source: Forbes.com

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Working with Recruiters

Job Search: Working with Recruiters - The best video clips are right here





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Job Growth for 2009

Despite the daily news reporting on a downturn economy, the U.S. Department of Labor reports that the nation's total workforce actually increased by 2.2 million workers during the last 19 months.

The most recent report from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that at the end of October 2008 there were 3.1 million job openings. And although unemployment rose to a 14-year high of 6.7% in November 2008, one notable, unreported fact is that between 4 million and 5 million people have been hired each month during 2008. While the media may report that no company is hiring, the reality is that many companies are. And while many industries have shed jobs during the past 12 months, the education, healthcare, and government sectors have actually created 400,000 new jobs (read my article "Where the jobs are" ). Job seekers have distinct advantages because of the Internet and the job creation initiatives articulated by President-Elect Obama. You should use the Internet to focus your efforts on industries targeted by the presidential initiatives. These industries are likely to include construction, Internet infrastructure, alternative energy, education, and healthcare. President-elect Obama has discussed multiple initiatives to improve the nation's transportation, energy, and communication infrastructures, as well as advance healthcare and education. These initiatives should stimulate job growth.

Here’s more encouraging news. As companies begin to feel the effects of the economic downturn, many are ramping up their workforce planning activities. Workforce planning is the process by which an organisation aligns its workforce requirements to the business strategy using business analytics. The most prevalent concern among employers is the scarcity of critical talent. While they are under enormous pressure to trim down their workforce in preparation for 2009, it’s important to consider the implications their actions will have on their future workforce needs. Some employers reported that they are experiencing challenges retaining critical-skill employees and top performers. Having the right number of people performing in the right roles will be crucial for companies to position themselves strongly for when the economy recovers.

What does all of this inside information mean to you? Do not give up on your job search. There will still be a job market in 2009.

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How to Work a Job Fair

Job fairs are a great place to network. It's an opportunity for you to showcase your skills and make an impression on an employer. But do not set your expectations high. You may receive an on-the-spot interview but typically, recruiters and managers do not make job offers at these events.

To get the most out of a job fair, you should be prepared to talk confidently about your skills and how they could meet the needs of each employer you talk to. You want to stand out to employers based on the value your skills could offer their company. Here are a few tips.

1. "Plan Your Attack" - What to do the day before. Make a list. Get a list of companies attending and choose 10-15 that are offering positions that you are interested in.  Research each company of interest. Many job-seekers go to fairs to "see the sights" and are not prepared to interview. You can get a huge jump on the competition by doing some research on each of the companies you want to interview with. Hoovers.com offers alot of information -- very little for free and more for a fee. Web100 tracks the largest American and international companies on the Web. Vault.com is well know for it's insider reports on thousands of companies. Talk to current employees to get an idea of the work environment. Ask them what they like and dislike about the company and why they chose to work for the company. Go to your favorite search engine and find the company's websites. Inspect your resume to ensure that it is updated and has accurate information. Make sure you have different versions of your resume (example: admin/clerical, management, payroll, etc.). Prepare a "Wow" statement. This is a 60-second introduction, which should include your name, your skills and why you are interested in this company. Be sure to include some interesting fact that you learned about the company during your research. Practice your approach. Work on your handshake as you hand over your resume, your eye to eye contact, and your introduction. It's part of the impression you will leave with the employer.  Put together your "Job fair kit". A bonded portfolio presents a more professional appearance and can neatly store your resumes, notebook and pen. If you have business cards leave them at home. Your resume is your business card. Pack plenty of copies of your resume(s).

2. "Execute, Execute, Execute" - The Day of the Job Fair.  Arrive early and revisit each booth before leaving. Turn your cell/pager off before entering the event.  Don't forget the eye-to-eye contact and firm handshake. Have your resume out and ready to hand over. Remember to smile. Helps to relax you and shows enthusiasm. Try to eavesdrop when employer speaks with other candidates so you do not ask the same questions. Use follow up questions. Ask intelligent questions - 1) "What are your fields of greatest need and do you anticipate these needs changing over the next few years?"; 2) "What kind of career opportunities are available for people with my degree and skills?”; 3) "What qualities are you looking for in new hires?"; 4) “What are your future hiring plans?”; 5) “Describe the work environment at your organization?”; 6)“What characteristics do you see in successful people at your organization? “Get a business card from each company you are interested in.  Jot down notes about company you visited and conversations you had with the recruiter. You will need the information for your follow up. Do some networking with your fellow job seekers in terms of sharing information about job leads and companies. After you leave the job fair reflect on what you did well and what you can improve on. Write those thoughts down so you can work on them before attending your next job fair.

3. "Life after the Job Fair". As a recruiter I am amazed at how few job seekers actually take the time to follow-up after a job fair, thus when you do it, you will get an edge over the many others who do not.
Send "Thank you" notes or letters as soon as possible. In the letter or note, thank the recruiter for his/her time, restate your interest and qualifications for the position, reiterate your interest in a second interview, and make a promise to follow-up the letter with a phone call. Mention something you learned about the company while you were at the job fair. Refer to those notes you took at the event. Another method is to call the recruiter the evening of the fair and leave a voicemail message thanking the recruiter again for his/her time that day. A more concrete and traditional method is to write a thank you note and mail it the next day to the address on the recruiter's business card. I would recommend including another copy of your resume.

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The Secrets of Successful Networking - Part 1

Looking for a job is a job in itself. We've all heard this. So those on a serious job quest polish their resumes and dutifully distribute them around town.

For many, the concept of networking conjures thoughts of calling up people they know and having lunch or coffee with them and talking about opportunities that may exist in that person's company. Aggressive networking carries this a step further.

First, make a list of people you know who have jobs in your line of work or related to your line of work. Then sit down and call each person on your list and suggest that you meet for a coffee or something equally brief. There are two reasons for this. One, you don't want to take up a lot of the other person's time and two, lunches and dinners get to be expensive if you have many of them to buy.

Take networking seriously. That is, don't spread the meetings with your list of contacts out over a month-long period. Start on a Monday morning and call everyone to book a get-together for later in the week or at the latest, early next week.

When you have the meeting, keep it light. Don't show up with your resume and ask, "Do you know of any jobs?" This is simply a reconnaissance mission. The person you're having coffee with is in the business and knows what's happening. Ask for this information. Try saying something as simple and straightforward as: "You're plugged into what's going on around town. Any suggestions on who I can talk to about what might be coming up in the future?"

By the end of the week, you may have a couple of dozen names of people in the industry. Sit down the next Monday morning and call them. Introduce yourself, explain where you got their names and ask if you can have 15 minutes of their time. Suggest meeting for a coffee near their office. Often, the person will say something like, "Why don't you drop in around 3 p.m. We can talk here in my office."

Schedule your week, filling in time slots to meet people. And again, get three names from each of these people. After a while, you may notice an overlapping of names as your contacts give you names of people you have already contacted.

Don't ask for a job. Just the same as meeting with your acquaintances, keep it light. Say that you're looking for a place in the industry and in the meantime, you're making an all-out effort to keep plugged into what's happening.

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Interview and Job Hunting Mistakes

Sometimes I'm asked, "How did I do?" or "What can I do better?" These are good and legitimate questions to ask of your interviewer. But you should brace yourself for a candor response. If you are not open minded and willing to change you will sabotage future interviews and job search activities.

Here are some of the most common interviewing and job hunting mistakes that can prevent you from landing your next job and progressing up the career ladder.
1. Treating the receptionist rudely. Since the first person you meet on an interview is usually a receptionist, this encounter represents the first impression you'll make. Don't mistake low rank for low input. Often that receptionist's job is to usher you into your interview. The receptionist has the power to pave your way positively or negatively before you even set eyes on the interviewer. The interviewer may also solicit the receptionist's opinion of you after you leave.

2. Poor handshake. The three-second handshake that starts the interview is your first opportunity to create a great impression. But all too often an interview is blown right from the start by an ineffective handshake. Once you've delivered a poor handshake, it's nearly impossible to recover your efforts to build rapport. Here are some examples:

• The Limp Hand (or "dead fish"): Gives the impression of disinterest or weakness
• The Tips of the Fingers: Shows lack of ability to engage.
• The Arm Pump: Sincerity is questionable, much like an overly aggressive salesman.

Even if you're a seasoned professional, don't assume you have avoided these pitfalls. Your handshake may be telling more about you than you know. Ask for honest critiques from several friends who aren't afraid to tell you the truth.

3. Having a bad attitude. Interviewing while still angry at a former employer. Being, acting, or thinking negative. The problem with negative people is that they seldom realize how terribly negative they really are. They may have good business skills, but they stay unemployed a long time and can't figure out why.

4. Can't articulate your own strengths and weaknesses. Only you can recognize your most valuable strengths and most hurtful weaknesses. Be able to specify your major strengths. Your weaknesses, if such must come up, should only be turned around to positives.

5. Talk, Talk, Talk. Rambling, interrupting the interviewer and answering to a simple question with a fifteen-minute reply - all of these can be avoided if you've thought through and practiced what you want to communicate. Good answers are to the point and usually shorter.

6. Cut the puffy stuff. I know that you want to promote yourself. But too much puff is a huge turnoff to employers. The key to presenting yourself as accomplished yet modest is to introduce all self-promoting topics with an air of humble gratitude, even mild bewilderment.

7. Failure to match communication styles. It's almost impossible to make a good first impression if you can't communicate effectively with an interviewer. But you can easily change that situation by mirroring the way the interviewer treats you. For instance:

• If the interviewer seems all business, don't attempt to loosen him/her up with a joke or story. Be succinct and businesslike.
• If the interviewer is personable, try discussing his/her interests. Often the items on display in the office can offer a clue.
• If asked a direct question, answer directly. Then follow up by asking if more information is needed.

8. Not asking questions - and asking too many. Use your research to develop a set of questions that will tell you whether this is the job and the company for you. This will help you limit and focus your questions. But don't overpower the interviewer with questions about details that really won't count in the long run.

9. Thinking "something will come along." Waiting for something to happen. As a rule, good things don't "just happen." Successful people make them happen. Effort usually equals results. As a rule, the harder you work at a job search, the sooner it ends.

10. Thinking someone else will find me a job: a recruiter, a counselor, my neighbor, my employer, my spouse, my pastor--anyone. Even with counseling and support, this is really a "do-it-yourself" project.

11. Thinking they're more marketable than they are. Declining job offers that pay less than the last job or are somehow inferior. It's often best to accept a weaker offer and leverage up from there.

12. Taking rejection personally. The best way to cope with rejection is to have so many balls in the air that one loss doesn't matter much. Having your entire future riding on one potential offer is clearly a red flag.

13. Acting desperate. You may feel desperate. Just don't let them see you sweat.

14. Shooting too high (or too low). It's essential to know where you're marketable. You learn that through networking, and by asking others where they think you're competitive. Ask college professors, experts in the field, and especially those in jobs similar to the ones you want.

15. Looking for "a job" rather than for a good fit where you'll be happy. Sometimes it's necessary to take the first job that comes along. Most of the time, it's not. Whenever possible, hold out for the right fit.

16. Launching a job campaign before you know who you are and what you want to do. (The cart before the horse.) This is like building a custom home without a blueprint. Usually, the result is a short-term fix. Then you're back in the job market.

17. Asking for "a job" instead of asking for advice, ideas, and referrals. Business contacts-especially strangers--are generally willing to point you in the right direction, but they dislike being asked directly for a job, because they're uncomfortable turning you down.

18. Not preparing for interviews. Your competitors will be prepared. They will have rehearsed the answers to difficult interview questions--sometimes even on videotape. Why shouldn't you? Also, don't interview half-heartedly. Go for the job offer. You can always turn it down later.

19. Hard-selling. Coming on too strong. Pushing people to give you names. Sometimes called NFL networking. Hard selling creates bad feelings about you and is actually counter-productive.

Final Thoughts. Just as a strong resume wins you an opportunity to interview, strong interview skills will win you consideration for the job. You already know that you won't earn an interview unless your resume sets you apart as a candidate of choice. Similarly, you should know that polishing your interview skills can mean the difference between getting the job offer -- and being a runner-up.

Start your job search with a resume that creates a stellar first impression, then back those facts up with your extraordinary interview skills. You will have made yourself a better candidate by avoiding these pitfalls. And no one will have to talk about you as the candidate who "almost" got the job.

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Niche Job Search Sites

Once you have built a solid résumé, you need to get it out there where people can see it. Post it to all the major job sites and to the niche sites you have identified for your industry or profession.

Q: Why should you bother with all the work it takes to find and post on niche job sites?
A: The big job boards important, but they aren’t enough. Niche job sites offer many advantages, both for employers and for job seekers. Employers receive far fewer resumes for each job listing than they would on Monster.com or Yahoo! HotJobs, yet the resumes they do receive are often more qualified and more targeted simply because they are focused in their job search. Job seekers deal with fewer competing applicants and therefore have a better chance at making the short list of candidates to be contacted for the next step in the hiring process. The big job boards should, of course, be a part of your overall job search strategy, as many employers only post on one job board or only a few - by having your resume on as many relevant job boards as possible you maximize your chances of being found by your ideal employer.

How do you find the niche job sites specific to your industry or area of expertise? Just go to your search engine of choice and search for (your niche) + “job sites”. For example, a search for accounting job sites will yield a number of sites specific to accounting jobs. You may even try localizing your search, such as searching for “Accounting job sites New York” (with or without quotes).

Try a few different variations when searching so you’ll find more good sites to use. You can even try your target title such as “fixed assets manager job sites Los Angeles”.

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