Getting a job after being fired

 

CHARLOTTE, NC -- Will being fired devastate your chances of getting another job? Not necessarily. Here are some steps to help you get back on that job search wagon after you have been fired. Cool off: Chances are that you're angry about being fired. If you jump right into job hunting, you risk entering an interview with a negative attitude.

Maintain a positive attitude: Even though being fired is not the best situation in which to look for a new job, having an upbeat personality and staying confident about your abilities can help you overcome this hurdle. Strengthen your resume: An updated resume that focuses on your accomplishments is necessary when beginning a new job search. Focus on how your actions at recent jobs have helped improve productivity or efficiency.

Network with former colleagues: By obtaining an interview through a connection with someone who knows you personally, you give yourself an advantage. Your skills and work ethic may not be questioned as thoroughly as they would be when applying for a job where no one knows you. Having a list of former supervisors or colleagues who are willing to vouch for you helps offset the negative feelings a potential employer may have when he finds out you were fired. Tell the interviewer about your termination: Being up front and honest shows the interviewer that you're willing to address a negative situation openly.

Employers start giving their hiring process a boost

 

NEW YORK, NY -- As competition for talented workers heats up, some companies are giving their hiring process a boost and reducing their interview-to-offer times. The big change? The tech company, Intel, started to hire for some jobs in a week's time, instead of the multiple weeks it used to take. The process is now being whittled down to a couple of days, says Cindi Harper, Intel's (INTC) Americas talent delivery manager. "The talent's not waiting," she says. Neither is Intel, apparently.

Welcome to the new world of hiring in a hurry, an emergent recruitment method as more employers look to snag talent from college campuses and beyond, before their competitors get to them. Several companies are simultaneously facing a talent shortage and growing demand for their goods or services, so they are speeding up the talent pipeline and searching for other shortcuts to fill key jobs.

A return to pre-recession hiring times? Last year, the average time from first interview to job offer was 22.5 days. More than one in five employers said they had missed out on a candidate last year because they didn't give an offer fast enough. Employers are finally feeding a pent-up demand for new blood after resorting to huge cuts during the recession. Candidates that are intent on a new job appreciate speed and often think less of companies that stall in hiring.

Job search tips that get results

 

MIDDLETOWN, NY -- A job search can consume a lot of your time. Scouring job listings, filling out applications, writing resumes and cover letters, and going to interviews makes it difficult to focus on each task. But you don't have to spread yourself so thin while looking for a job. Here are some search tips to get you going:

1) Know your skills. Know what you are good at and how this relates to a particular job. 2) Have a clear job objective. Know where you want to go, or it will be most difficult to get there. 3) Know where and how to look. Because three out of four jobs are not advertised, you'll need to use nontraditional job-search techniques to find them. 4) Spend at least 25 hours a week job-searching. This includes networking, working with a recruiter and joining industry related forums and online groups.

5) Get two interviews a day. It sounds impossible, but this can be done once you redefine what counts as an interview. 6) Do well in interviews. You are unlikely to get a job offer unless you do well in this critical situation. Knowing what skills you have and being able to support them with examples is a good start. 7) Follow up on all contacts. Following up can make a big difference in the results you get in your search for a new job.

Easy way to find a good recruiter in your industry

 

NEW YORK, NY -- When looking for a job, you may want to consider working with a recruiter. Recruiters, otherwise known as head hunters or search consultants, are hired by companies to find candidates for them, and often know about unadvertised jobs.

It's important to note, that recruiters do not charge the job seeker. The company pays a fee, typically when a candidate is hired. When contacting a recruiter send a resume and cover letter just as though you were applying for a job. If a recruiter calls you, always call back - even if you are not currently job hunting. You never know when circumstances might change and you might need job search assistance.

 

Avoid these top mistakes in resume writing

 

CHICAGO, IL -- Keeping in mind the little things that employers don't want to see on a resume will increase your chances of getting that job of a lifetime. Many people don't realize how often a resume can make or break a chance at a job. Here are some things to consider when writing a resume:

Instead of listing your objective on the top of your resume, a general summary of your skills and qualifications works much better. If you're good at something, don't be afraid to go into a little detail and boast about yourself. Being a great employee is what is going to land you a great job. Average people work average jobs and exceptional people work exceptional jobs.

Potential employers want to hear about the things you did that made you a great employee. If you went above and beyond by saving the company a lot of money or bringing in hundreds of thousands of dollars of new business, then by all means put that on your resume. It's important to let them know what makes you better than all the other applicants. Keep the information on your resume relevant. Don't include jobs on your resume that will have no influence on the position you are trying to get. When creating your resume make sure it looks professional and neat. When sending your resume out, always include a cover letter.

Create a resume in minutes! No experience required.

 

MIAMI, FL -- You have just 10 seconds to make an impact on a prospective employer. While your resume is your passport to get a better job, most people don't know how to write one that gets real results. You need to sell your skills, achievements and experience in a way that makes employers want to know more about you. But how? To get real results, you need to:

Choose the right resume format

Emphasize your most impressive selling points

Paint a positive picture of your accomplishments

Create a visually striking layout and design

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Are Facebook Profiles the New Resume?

 

SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- Employers are increasingly using Facebook and social networks to recruit employees. Want proof? Just look at all the technology being developed for recruiting with Facebook. It's becoming more important than ever to have a strong Facebook profile if you're looking for a new job. The new Facebook Timeline layout certainly presents some added opportunities for job seekers to make a great first impression.

Is Facebook Timeline the new resume? No, but the way you portray yourself online is very important for your career. The new timeline gives you an unprecedented amount of control over your online identity, and with that control comes more opportunity to differentiate yourself. Just make sure that you are conveying the "you" that you really are. Consider these two tips:

In general, people use Facebook for personal use, so they don't bother updating job titles and companies. However, the new Facebook Timeline layout does emphasize that static profile field, which highlights your current employer and job title. Make sure that your professional fields are up to date and complete.   It's also important to pick who sees your posts/updates. For job-seekers, you can post some of your updates as "public". Just be sure to share with the world only that which you are proud for everyone to know about.