Attention, Attention: Tips for Boosting Your Visibility at Work

by Doug White, Robert Half International


If you're concerned about protecting your job, it's important to take steps to raise your profile. While you don't need to brag about your on-the-job achievements in order to get noticed, increasing your visibility does require some self-promotional savvy. The following tactics will help you attract attention for all the right reasons:

Go public with your ideas. Is your brain brimming with bright ideas that could help your firm generate revenues, cut expenses, or streamline work functions? You can't afford to keep them to yourself. Be bold by pitching your solutions to management and speaking up in meetings and brainstorming sessions. Remember that when times are tough, confident communicators, innovative thinkers, and smart risk-takers are in demand; timid wallflowers are not.

Keep your skills current. From attending brownbag training workshops to getting involved with your company's mentoring program, take advantage of the professional development opportunities your employer offers. In addition, join industry associations, attend conferences and seminars, seek relevant certifications, and read specialized publications to keep up with the latest developments in your field. The key is to leverage your knowledge by sharing information and insights with your boss and coworkers. Being regarded as a go-to expert will significantly enhance your job security.

Consistently convey your value. If you work tirelessly behind the scenes but shy away from the spotlight, it's time to take center stage. The truth is that hunkering down and quietly doing quality work might not be enough in today's recessionary times. You need to promote yourself, too. Tactfully toot your own horn by periodically apprising your manager of your successes. You'll add punch to your status updates if you quantify your contributions, linking your efforts to any positive impact they've had on the bottom line.

Make your networking efforts an 'inside job.' Many professionals think of networking only in terms of developing outside connections. But expanding your reach within your own firm is just as critical. Strive to establish strong relationships with colleagues throughout your workplace. Sign up for cross-departmental initiatives, attend company-sponsored events, and generally endeavor to be an outgoing and helpful team player. As the saying goes, people like to work with people they like. The more allies you have in your corner, the better your chances of keeping your job.

Finally, make a name for yourself by standing up when others step back. Be the first person to raise your hand when your manager needs someone to take the lead on a challenging new project -- even if the assignment falls outside the confines of your job description. It might require you to move beyond your comfort zone, but displaying drive and initiative can pay big dividends. You'll not only hone valuable leadership skills and discover untapped talents, but you'll also build a reputation as an indispensible employee.

Robert Half International is the world's first and largest specialized staffing firm with a global network of more than 360 offices worldwide. For more information about our professional services, please visit rhi.com. For additional workplace articles and podcasts, visit workvine.com.

Jobs Sources , Career

by Joe Turner, for Yahoo! HotJobs


As the economy has worsened and millions of job seekers are chasing after fewer and fewer jobs, what you put on your resume has become more important than ever. Before you send your resume anywhere, run it through this quick five-point checklist to determine if it needs a tune-up or a complete overhaul.

1. Clear Objective

There has been a lot of debate lately among the resume-writing "chattering classes" about whether today's resumes even need an objective. After 15 years of reading resumes for my clients, my answer is definitely, "Yes." However, I should clarify. By "objective," I'm not referring to the fluff that most job seekers concoct. The objective should be your targeted job title and nothing more. This focuses the resume and necessitates that you use the rest of the resume to support why you're the best candidate to fill this particular job title. It also leaves no doubt in your reader's mind about who you are.

2. Opening Statement

Does your resume open with a long paragraph titled, "Summary of Qualifications"? Problem: Of the thousands that I've read over the years, most are nothing more than fiction. Long laundry lists of skills and assorted keywords. Two of the biggest offending phrases are "results-driven" and that ever popular "proven track record."

If your resume looks like this, you might want to rethink your approach. Don't bore your reader by emphasizing keywords and hackneyed cliches. Employers want to know how you can solve their problem right now. Don't annoy them by failing to answer this urgent question.

Instead, include a simple, concise opening statement. This one sentence is usually called a Unique Selling Proposition. It should define who you are, your single biggest strength and end with a benefit that you offer. Ideally it should be something measurable, since everything boils down to dollars. This strips away the fluff and quickly answers that critical question in their mind. Do this, and you make it easy for them to call you.

3. Measurable Results

OK, now you have a great opening statement. For Act Two, you must back that up with added proof. Don't rely on tired cliches. Tantalize them with a bulleted list of specific achievements. By achievements, I mean an end result that reaped some benefit for either your employer or the client you've worked for.

This may require that you think outside your box or cubicle. Regardless of your role, you have a bottom-line impact on your employer. Your job is to communicate your true value clearly and specifically to your next employer. It may take a bit of effort to develop these bullets. And that's all they should be. No more than a one-sentence brief description of the benefit or result and how you accomplished it.

If you can put together a concise list of five to seven good achievements that are Return-on-Investment (ROI)-oriented, you'll score a lot quicker than relying on those unexciting cliches.

4. One Job Title, One Resume

Resume readers are very focused and they're looking for specific items. They have very short attention spans and can be easily distracted. When they get distracted, they start getting confused, and when that happens, they screen you out and reach for the next resume.

So, if you are looking for a position as a project manager, tell them why you're a great project manager. That's all they want to know. Don't tell them about how you used to work as a carpenter or how you managed and ran your own consulting business. They don't want or need to know about your other unrelated careers or positions. Even if you were great at them.

Use one resume to sell one job title. If the resume doesn't clearly explain why you're the best project manager in your city, then either drop the information or minimize it because it doesn't belong there.

Stick with one career on one resume and you'll have less chance of getting screened out.

5. "Above the Fold"

Place all of your most important selling information at the very top half of page one. Most resume readers spend about 20 seconds of actual eyeball time before they decide to move to the next resume. They are not going to waste their time looking through your resume to find critical information, such as how you "increased revenues $350K" or "decreased labor costs by 12%." This information should be polished like gemstones and presented on a silver platter at the very top of the first page. Do this, and they'll be spending a lot longer than 20 seconds on your resume.

As a recruiter, Joe Turner spent 15 years finding and placing top candidates in some of the best jobs of their careers. The author of "Job Search Secrets Unlocked" and "Paycheck 911," Joe also hosts his weekly "Job Search Guy Radio Show" on JobRadio.fm as well as other locations. You'll find free tips and advice here.

When Young and Old Compete for Jobs, Who Wins?

When Young and Old Compete for Jobs, Who Wins?
by Maria Hanson, for LiveCareer


When economic woes hit, it's often the older workers who suffer most. But this recession is proving to be different. Figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that younger workers are getting the ax while older workers are more likely to keep their jobs. And many jobs that would traditionally go to younger, less-experienced workers are getting swiped up by seniors who are coming out of retirement because their nest eggs have disappeared.

Last summer, the employment rate for teens was the lowest it's been in 60 years. Meanwhile the employment rate for those over 55 had actually increased almost 5 percent. The trend appears to be continuing for the upcoming summer job market, with competition for top jobs stiffer than ever.

Why the Change?

Experts say many companies have learned the hard way that hiring only cheaper, less-experienced workers or eliminating those with most experience isn't necessarily a wise move.

"They've seen that the short-term savings of laying off the most knowledgeable, productive, and experienced workers is not worth the long-term impacts," says David DeLong, author of "Lost Knowledge: Confronting the Threat of an Aging Workplace."

The Benefits of Hiring Experienced Workers

Older workers are in luck because these days more companies are seeing the benefits of hiring those with some years under their belt. "People are in their prime in their 50s and 60s," says Stephen M. Wing, director of workforce initiatives for CVS/pharmacy, which has won many awards for its hiring and treatment of older workers. "Their life experience is invaluable."

Among the traits Wing says the older workers embody: "They're very loyal employees. They work hard. They've got good social skills. They're dependable. They want to be there."

Job-Search Lessons for All Generations

Whatever your age, there are lessons to be learned from this new dynamic that can help you get the job you want:

* Play up your experience. In the past, workers with decades of experience were encouraged to downplay this on their resumes. While you don't want a long resume padded with irrelevant information, don't cut out significant experience just to avoid seeming overqualified or for fear of age discrimination.

Make sure you have a job-winning resume that emphasizes all of your relevant skills and experience.

* Focus on your soft skills. If you don't have much work experience, emphasize personal skills and traits that employees find valuable, like dependability, people skills, and a good work ethic. You can highlight these soft skills in a summary of qualifications at the top of your resume and call them out in your cover letter and during an interview.

A career test can help you to identify your particular skills of value.

Jobs That Are Red Hot Right Now

Jobs That Are Red Hot Right Now
Some Professions See High Demand, Possible Shortages
by Larry Buhl, for Yahoo! HotJobs


Amid the worst recession in decades, there are a variety of hot prospects -- well paying, satisfying professional jobs -- going begging for qualified applicants.

For those with the aptitude and the skill set, these jobs offer good potential for advancement, and many don't require a four-year degree or years of training, according to Laurence Shatkin, career information expert and author of "150 Best Recession-Proof Jobs."

Health Care

Doctors and nurses get most of the attention, but health care is a huge and multifaceted field with a wide range of opportunities. If you want a good idea of how wide, consider the number of specialists who provide your doctor with all of the records, lab tests, and other information before and after your (often short) consultation.

Physician assistants are generally allowed to do everything an M.D. does, except for writing a prescription (in some cases) and opening their own practices. Although they don't have the earning potential or superstar status of most doctors, their average salary is well above the median. Nurse practitioners also have a strong earning potential. Both can set up their own practices and specialize in certain areas.

Diagnostic cardiac sonographers are also in high demand. These professionals collect reflected echoes and Doppler signals from images and tracings of a person's heart, using ultrasound equipment to assess the cardiac chambers, valves, and major blood vessels.

According to the American Society for Clinical Pathology, half of all laboratories in the U.S. struggle to hire qualified laboratory technicians. Lack of awareness of the laboratory profession is a key factor in the shortage of applicants for these "under the radar" jobs. But salaries and prospects are expected to continue rising, Shatkin tells Yahoo! HotJobs. "The ever-expanding and changing technologies means there will be more and more for a lab worker to do, which should also boost employability."

* Physician assistant
Two-year training program, and at least two years of college; license exam
Salary: $82,000

* Nurse practitioner
Master's degree in nursing
Salary: $74,000

* Cardiac sonographer
Two-year associate's degree, or 1-year certificate in diagnostic sonography
Salary: $56,000

* Laboratory technician
Bachelor's degree with coursework in chemistry, biology, and statistics; state certification and license
Salary: $51,000


Manufacturing

The U.S. manufacturing industry is contracting, but amid the manufacturing bust are some booming job prospects for those with a specialized technical background.
"It's true that older and lower-skilled workers are losing their jobs in manufacturing," Shatkin says. "But there are newer, highly skilled jobs in manufacturing that are in great demand now, and require only vocational training and an apprenticeship."

Computer control operators use computer numerically controlled (CNC) machines to cut and shape precision products for cars, planes, and a variety of machinery. CNC programmers develop the programs that run the machine tools. They review three-dimensional computer aided design (CAD) blueprints of the part and determine the sequence of events that will be needed to make the part.

Although the number of jobs in these fields is projected to decline slightly over the next seven years, skilled professionals will have excellent opportunities, according to the BLS. That's due to the limited number of people entering training programs and employers' difficulty in finding workers with the necessary skills and knowledge.

* Computer control programmer and CNC programmer
Two-year degree or vocational degree and apprenticeship
Salary: $33,000 (computer control operator) $44,000 (CNC programmer)


Financial Services

Although the financial services industry has taken big hits over the past year, one overlooked area of finance -- actuarial services -- is doing fine. Demand for actuaries, who develop, price, and evaluate financial insurance products such as life, auto, health or homeowners insurance, is expected to grow moderately through 2016 according to the BLS.

Even amid the industry shakeout, financial analysts and financial planners still have plenty of opportunities. Financial analysts evaluate the economic outlook of different sectors and industries for organizations that wish to invest. Personal financial planners and advisors help individuals with their personal investment needs. Financial analysts are employed by a variety of industries, from non-profits to school districts to hospitals. However, analysts might consider going the self-employment route, as they can earn far more than salaried employees ($63,000 versus $48,000 for those with at least five years' experience).

* Actuary
Bachelor's degree in mathematics, statistics, or finance; professional certification
Salary: $86,000

* Financial analyst 1
Bachelor's degree in finance preferred
Salary: $48,000

* Financial planner
Bachelor's degree in finance preferred; examination for Certified Financial Planners
Salary: $61,000

Note: Salaries are medians for each profession and are taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and PayScale.com for professionals with five years or more experience.
* An earlier version of this article mistakenly noted the median salary for physician's assistants as $62K instead of $82K. We regret the error.

Career Opportunity

The Job Seeker's Top 10 List

The Job Seeker's Top 10 List
by Clea Badion, Robert Half International


It goes without saying that today's job market is more challenging than it has been for many years. That means you have to work even harder to uncover opportunities and distinguish yourself among a crowded field of applicants. Here are 10 strategies to help you gain an edge in a tough employment market:

#1: Leave your comfort zone. Don't limit your search to your current industry or field. Expand your horizons by focusing on your transferable skills. When writing your resume and cover letter, note the qualifications you possess that are valuable in any number of jobs, such as leadership and communication skills, and showcase how those abilities would apply to the open position.

#2: Minimize work history gaps. Hiring managers look for applicants who have remained professionally engaged and kept their skills current during periods of unemployment. If you are unable to find a position right away, consider temporary assignments, internships, and volunteer opportunities to stay active professionally. You also might consider taking a class to increase your knowledge in a specific area.

#3: Be flexible. Remaining open to all possibilities is essential in a challenging economy. Don't overlook a position even if the job title, salary, or benefits may not be exactly what you hoped for. Once you get your foot in the door and prove yourself, you may be able to renegotiate aspects of the position.

#4: Manage your digital footprint. Think your friends are the only people who viewed those wild vacation photos you posted online? With a few mouse clicks, potential employers can dig up information about you, too, on blogs, personal websites and networking sites. As you look for employment, keep tabs on your online reputation to make sure there is no information about you on the Web that could affect your professional reputation.

#5: Find jobs before they're advertised. Read local newspapers and business publications to identify companies that may be expanding, and send them your resume, even if they have no advertised openings. These firms may be searching for good talent anyway.

#6: Cast a wide net. While the major job boards can be extremely useful, don't forget to investigate industry sites specific to your industry or professional discipline. These venues may list more targeted career opportunities.

#7: Network online and off. Tell everyone you know that you are looking for a job, including those you've met through networking websites such as LinkedIn and Facebook. Just keep mind that, while online networking is effective, it's still important to arrange face-to-face meetings. Ask an online contact to a lunch meeting to build rapport.

#8: Customize your materials. Sending out a generic resume isn't likely to catch a potential employer's attention. Tailor your application materials to showcase your relevant skills for each opportunity, based on the job description. Employers want to see why you are the best fit for a particular position.

#9: Enhance your marketability. Find out what skills are most in-demand in your field and take steps -- such as enrolling a class at a community college or a weekend seminar -- to give yourself an edge in these areas. Attending events hosted by a local professional association and reading relevant trade publications are good ways to determine which abilities employers in your field value most.

#10: Meet with a recruiter. Staffing professionals often have access to open positions that aren't advertised and can effectively double your job search efforts. They also can provide useful feedback on your resume, cover letter and interview skills, helping you improve your job-hunting techniques -- and chances at landing a position.

Robert Half International is the world's first and largest specialized staffing firm with a global network of more than 360 offices worldwide. For more information about our professional services, please visit rhi.com. For additional workplace articles and podcasts, visit workvine.com.

Should You Work For Free to Get a Job?
by Molly Hallman, Payscale.com


On May 7, 2009 about 400 people showed up at a bar in San Francisco to meet other people and find out if they were a good fit for each other. No, this was not a dating mixer. This was Jobnob's fair for professionals willing to work for free. That's right, out-of-work professionals pitching their skills to start-ups for a chance to offer professional services for no pay. Did I mention there was a line out the door to get in?

True, prospective employers were supposed to buy alcohol for their prospects. So, this begs the question, are these people insane? Drunk? Maybe not. In fact, there are some pretty compelling reasons to think about working for free if you are unemployed.

The Benefits of Working for Free

Consider the following payoffs for choosing to work on a cutting-edge project or new career path, minus the cash flow.

Career path -- This is your chance to transfer your expertise to an emerging market, one that really interests you. Richard Chun, a product manager in Silicon Valley, donated time to a start-up to gain experience in the iPhone applications market. "I wanted to learn about a new market that was gaining a lot of attention. I helped them set up a process for product marketing. The product became the number one application in the history of iPhone," said Chun. Taking work for free to more proactively steer your career path shows you have the initiative to think outside the box in order to get the results you want.

Networking -- You meet more people with influence while you are working than while you're sitting home posting your resume to job boards. Al Hulvey, chairman and founder of GreetingsManager.com from the Silicon Valley in California, found that working for free at start-ups helped him "meet people and stay current with innovations." Of course, the hours you put in can detract from your job search. It is important to weigh the benefits of working for free carefully. Setting limits keeps you from being taken advantage of and also helps you stay disciplined about your goal of a new job.

Resume solution -- A gap on a resume is a common dread among job seekers. Working for free lets you add another layer of job experience to your resume and eliminates the stress of figuring out how to explain the gap. Be sure all of your tasks you take on for no pay will be worthy of a bullet point on your resume later.

Confidence -- Let's face it, being out of work is a bit depressing. If you are one of the many with the unfortunate habit of equating personal worth with a job title, the sudden lack of work can hurt your self-esteem. Working for free can boost your self-confidence and give you a sense of purpose. That purpose can generate enthusiasm that transfers to your job search, affecting how you interact with job search contacts as well as your interview performance.

Enthusiastic references -- You may have had the experience of working for someone who was truly grateful and pleased to have you as an employee. Imagine how eager they will be to refer your good work, not only because of its quality, but because you had the work ethic to follow through with excellence without a financial incentive.

Chasing the dream -- Of course, the greatest hope of all is to work pro bono for a start-up, setting yourself up as the obvious candidate-for-hire once the company is funded. The upside potential (maybe becoming a millionaire) has its appeal.

Is It All Upside?

Some job search professionals do not agree with the work-for-free strategy. They think it demeans workers and sets them up to be taken advantage of. They say your good ideas are at work to make someone else rich and there is no guarantee of an upside for you. There is also a big risk of losing momentum on your job search.

Despite this potential for disappointment, many folks who work for free have positive experiences that lead to paid work opportunities, career growth or both. "I love marketing, and I figure, why not?" says Hulvey. "I've done it to help out colleagues. [I recommend putting in free time] if you think it has upside potential."


Jobs Sources

Web 2.0 Careers: Making Money by the Click

Web 2.0 Careers: Making Money by the Click
by Michelle Goodman, PayScale.com


Forget looking for your next job in a traditional office. Armies of recovering cubicle dwellers are making an honest-to-goodness living right here on the Web -- and we don't mean by selling diet pills or kitchen accessories to unsuspecting friends and relatives.

From writing and graphic design to software development and social media marketing, countless creative types are hanging their own virtual shingle, often with a minimum of overhead, sometimes even surpassing the salary they made as an employee.

Seven successful web workers share how they did it, how you can follow in their footsteps, and what pitfalls to watch out for:

1. Blogger

According to the Wall Street Journal, 1.7 million Americans make money blogging and 452,000 of them derive a majority of their income from it. Ariel Meadow Stallings is one such blogger, dividing her time between the blog she writes for her part-time corporate job and her own blog, Offbeat Bride. "It took about a year to build traffic to the point where advertising and sponsorships made sense," says Stallings, who's been publishing OffbeatBride since January 2007 and now averages nearly a million page views a month. Her advice to would-be bloggers? "Just blog. And then blog more. And read other blogs." For tips galore on earning a living as a blogger, see ProBlogger.

2. Web Designer

Bloggers often need help updating their site design and code, which is where freelance web designers like Liz Andrade of CMD+SHIFT Design come in. Like many Web jobs, once you have the skills in the bag, the office overhead is minimal. "If I have a laptop and an Internet connection, I'm in business," Andrade says. And while she studied design in college, she learned far more about Web design and business branding on the job. To follow in her footsteps, Andrade suggests first working in a junior position at a boutique design firm. She also suggests meeting other freelance designers on at popular online water coolers like FreelanceSwitch.com, FreelanceFolder.com, and WebWorkerDaily.com.

3. Social Media Marketer

According to the Pew Internet and American Life Project, 1 in 10 U.S. adults now use microblogging sites like Twitter to update friends and colleagues on their status, mood, or latest personal news. Not surprisingly, publicists and marketing mavens like Lisa Hanock-Jasie have begun promoting their clients on these social media sites. "It's become more a virtual work existence these days, with the majority of client contact via the Web -- be it live Web chat, e-mail, or IM -- or phone conversation," the independent publicist says. The upside: finding work online is easier than ever. The downside: the isolation. To beat the solitude, Hanock-Jasie regularly schmoozes with several professional groups on LinkedIn.

4. Web Community Founder

With the Pew Internet and American Life Project reporting that a majority of U.S. adults under age 70 use the Internet, it's no surprise that Web communities have been sprouting up like weeds. But launching a successful online community is much more involved than starting a freelance business, says Lara Eve Feltin, who in 2005 co-founded Biznik, an award-winning web community for the self-employed, with husband Dan McComb.

"Dan built the first version of the site in his spare time," Feltin says. "And because our product helps small businesses, a lot of people offered to help us for free." Dan's Web development work alone saved them hundreds of thousands of dollars, Feltin says. In short, be prepared for lots of ramp-up time and -- if you have no volunteers -- lots of programming and legal expenses.

5. E-commerce Site Owner

Armies of savvy craftsters and artists sell their wares online. Take Maggie Kleinpeter and Michael Pittard, who in 2001 opened the online store Supermaggie, where they sell Kleinpeter's hand-made scarves and print T-shirts to retail and wholesale customers. "It took about three years for it to provide full-time income for both of us," says Pittard, who built and maintains the website. The pros of running an online boutique: "The world is your storefront, and we have practically no overhead," says Pittard. The cons: There are no dressing rooms online, and customer feedback isn't instantaneous. To learn more about starting your own e-commerce business, see the community pages on Etsy.com and sites like TheSwitchboards.com, SuperNaturale.com, and Craftster.org.

6. Social Media Application Developer

In March 2009, the blog TechCrunch.com ran the headline "Some Indie Facebook Developers Pulling in over $700,000 a Month." While Web developer Jesse Stay has yet to hit that financial jackpot, he does credit SocialToo -- the online collection of social media tools and services he built -- with providing 80 percent of his income. (The rest comes from consulting work.)

His advice for hopeful social media developers? "Don't expect to get any investment." Most startups never see a venture-capital dime, even in good financial times. Instead, he says, you'll need to rely on your savings until you make enough cash to pay yourself a salary. To learn more, see the blogs All Facebook and Inside Facebook and the developer forums and wikis of your favorite social media platforms.

7. Infopreneur

You know that old saying about making money in your sleep? There's an entire population of Web entrepreneurs who aren't just waxing poetic about it -- they're doing it. Erin Blaskie, an Internet marketing specialist who was making six figures by age 23, is one of them. Though she got her entrepreneurial start in 2004 as a virtual assistant, she now creates and sells virtual training programs for entrepreneurs who want to promote themselves online.

Her advice to hopeful infopreneurs? "Check out what already exists in your market and see where there are gaps." Also, "Ditch the perfectionism! The cool thing with info-products is you can produce it, publish it, and edit it later if need be."

Michelle Goodman's latest book is "My So-Called Freelance Life: How to Survive and Thrive as a Creative Professional for Hire." Visit her blog at Anti9to5Guide.com.

Job Info , Jobs Sources , Career

Catching a Recruiter's Eye Online

by Mike O'Brien, CEO, Climber.com


Think your online brand can't make or break you in today's super-competitive job market? Think again.

According to a recent survey of 100 executive recruiters conducted by ExecuNet, 77% of recruiters reported using search engines to find background data on candidates. Of that number, 35% eliminated a candidate because of what they found online (an increase over the prior year's total of 26%).

National news magazine BusinessWeek points to even more impressive numbers, with a recent poll indicating that 87% of recruiters use search engines and social networks to decide about candidates. Additionally, at Climber.com we have seen a 300% increase in recruiter traffic from the major search engines over the last three months.

So how do you make the most of your online career brand?

1. Get Visible -- the Right Way

To be noticed by today's tech savvy recruiters, you need to create a positive online presence for yourself, stat. And it's important to manage your message to control what recruiters see. Working with an Internet-savvy career company can help. At career management site Climber.com, proprietary software and search engine optimization tools are designed to present each candidate's skills and background in the best light. You will also want to review all of your online profiles to make sure that there is no evidence of CLMs (recruiter speak for "Career Limiting Move").

Free online tools -- such as social networking sites LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook -- can help contribute to your online presence as well. But while they are useful for a search on your name, they won't necessarily position you well on the specific search terms recruiters use.

2. Understand Why Recruiters Are Doing the Research

Let's face it -- the economy is tough, and recruiters have to be more resourceful than ever to find the perfect candidate. Search engines provide hundreds of free candidates, and companies such as Brownbag Recruiter and JobMachine now have classes to teach recruiters how to use search engines to source candidates. In addition, recruiters don't have time to waste on a candidate who's not a good fit since there are millions more people out there looking for work. Recent government data reported that there are 3.8 job seekers for every job in America today.

3. Turnabout Is Fair Play, Search Them!

If you're targeting specific employers, do your research. Based on their sites and company information, identify keywords that are likely to appeal to your ideal employer, and include these keywords in your online profile.

After studying the search terms that recruiters have used over the last four years, Climber.com can optimize user profiles to feature the top keywords that recruiters use when looking for candidates in their location, industry, and occupation.

4. Manage Your Online Brand Like a Rock Star

In today's heavily networked world, your online brand is the way you connect with your audience. So manage it faithfully. Anytime you post online, whether on your blog, your website, your social networking page, or as a contributor elsewhere on the Web, you're adding to your online brand. Review your information frequently, and look at your online presence through a recruiter's eyes. On the Internet, it's tough to "erase" unfavorable content once it's live -- so manage your brand up front to make the most of your career opportunities.

Jobs Sources