The Savvy Networker

Handling the Dreaded "Tell Me About Yourself" Question
by Liz Ryan


Most of us don't like to rattle on about ourselves, so the job-interview question "Tell me about yourself" can easily throw us for a loop. Where do we start? Do we talk about growing up in Kansas, or jump into our career as a cost accountant? We're paralyzed, wondering, "What does the interviewer want to hear?"

Our instinct to wonder what the interviewer will find relevant is a good one. The big mistake job seekers make when asked "Tell me about yourself!" is that they launch into a rambling story. The interviewer leans back in his chair, and here's what he's thinking: "If I can get outta this interview in 55 minutes, I can still get to the dry cleaner before it closes...."

We begin to lose the interviewer the minute we start talking about ourselves. As we tell our story, no matter how gripping it is, the interviewer isn't learning in any substantive way whether or not we can do the job. The only way we'll be able to get close to the mark (what the employer needs in its next cost accountant or office manager, that is) is to ask a question. But we've been asked a question ourselves. Can we turn that question around?

We can! Here are three ways to shift the "Tell me about yourself" request into a question that will let us dig into the employer's business pain--the reason the job opening exists in the first place.

Let's imagine that the interviewer says, "So, Justin, tell me about yourself."

You'll say something like one of these three things:

1. "Okay! I don't want to keep you here for hours, though. Could I ask you a question or two in order to tailor my remarks?"

2. "For sure. I'm an office manager, as you know. I'm very focused on desktop publishing and newsletter creation, and I love to manage projects and my boss's schedule. Shall we talk about day-to-day office management, or shall I tell you about some projects I've run?"

3. "Perfect. I was born in Minnesota and went to school there, before moving to this area three years ago--and now, to make my story more relevant, may I ask you a couple of questions about the situation here at XYZ Foods?"

Your trusty gut already knows that any way you respond to the command "Tell me about yourself" runs the risk of being 100 percent irrelevant to the interviewer. We can use our interview "air time" to learn more about the position and to discover where the interviewer's interests lie. Then we can talk about something that our conversational partner will care about! That's a much more satisfying feeling, believe me!

(Get more tips in Liz Ryan's "How to Answer the Trickiest Job-Interview Questions.")

Liz Ryan is a 25-year HR veteran, a former Fortune 500 VP, and an internationally recognized expert on careers and the new-millennium workplace. Connect with her at www.asklizryan.com. The opinions expressed in this column are the author's.)

Jobs Sources

Staying on Track to Get Your Bonus

by Margaret Steen, for Yahoo! HotJobs


Bonus time has come and gone, and yours wasn't as large as you were hoping (if you even got one). Where did you go wrong -- and what can you do now to make sure that next year you get a healthy bonus check?

You first need to make sure you understand how your bonus was determined. Often, individual bonuses are based on a combination of the company's performance and the individual's performance.

What Goes Into a Bonus

The company performance part of the calculation "isn't usually all or nothing," says Laurie Bienstock, practice leader for strategic rewards at Watson Wyatt Worldwide, a human resources consulting firm. Generally, the company has to meet a certain financial threshold before it will pay any bonuses at all. After that, it scales up to 100 percent of the planned bonus money -- or even more, if the company does exceptionally well.

At many companies, individual performance also comes into play at bonus time. Sometimes individuals' bonuses are tied to the overall rating they receive in their performance evaluation; other times, they're based on whether the worker accomplished a specific list of goals.

Keep Your Boss in the Loop

When it comes to bonuses, communication with your boss becomes critical.

"If the bonus is directly tied to your performance rating, make sure you understand what you need to do to either meet or exceed expectations," Bienstock says.

If the bonus is based on a list of goals, then you need to be certain you understand from your boss what those goals are -- and how success will be measured.

"When you have that conversation with your boss and you walk away and you think this is what you're supposed to do, write it down and send it to your boss and say, 'This is what I heard, is this correct?'" says Jan Schmuckler, an organizational psychologist.

Measures Throughout the Year

It's equally important to keep talking with your boss during the year about how you're progressing so there are no surprises when you open your bonus check.

One of the most confusing parts of performance-based bonuses is what happens when you can't meet one of your goals due to circumstances beyond your control. Perhaps a project is canceled or delayed; maybe you move to a new job with new responsibilities. It's very important to talk to your boss when this happens. Can you replace some of your old goals with new ones? Don't make assumptions about how your boss will handle it -- and don't wait until the end of the year.

Not a Solo Performance

You may find it frustrating to have part of your pay tied to your performance evaluation or to how well the company does. But this is the way of the future. A recent survey of employers by Watson Wyatt found that 22 percent of U.S. companies had increased the amount employees could receive in bonuses, and 10 percent had made performance-based pay available to more workers.

"Companies are also raising the bar on how hard it is to achieve those," Bienstock says. Almost half increased the company's financial goals that are tied to paying bonuses, and more than one-third increased individual performance expectations.

Jobs Sources , Career Opportunity

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.

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Follow Up After an Interview Without Being a Pest

By : Anthony Balderrama

Comparisons between job hunting and dating are common, and never are they more true than when it comes to the follow-up. After a date, you want to let the other person know you're interested, but you don't want to appear desperate. Plus, you don't want to feel foolish if he or she had no intention of contacting you again. On the other hand, what if he or she is waiting for you to make the call and if you don't, you'll miss out on a great romance?

So many questions and no definite answers to any of them. Ultimately you have to use your judgment and hope for the best.

Following up after a job interview is similar. As if you weren't nervous enough, you end up asking yourself a dozen questions and imagining hypothetical situations. "If I follow up now, do I seem desperate? If I wait too long, will they think I'm lazy? What if I'm the front-runner but I bug them and they cross my name off the list? What if I'm tied with someone else and my initiative gives me the edge?"

As with dating, job hunts don't have rules set in stone. At best, you can do what feels right and see what happens.

Here are three possible methods for following up with an employer and ways to know if you've crossed the line from eager to annoying.

1. The thank-you note is necessary after an interview, and no job seeker can afford to forgo it. Thank-you notes tell hiring managers that you respect their time. They have packed schedules and can afford to spend time interviewing only a select group of applicants, so your note acknowledges how grateful you are to get some face time.

Appropriate: An e-mailed note on the same day of the interview shows that you are courteous and don't dawdle. For most employers, an e-mail is an acceptable form of thanks because e-mail is a part of everyday business life and arrives quickly. A handwritten letter can be sent as a supplement to the e-mail if you want to stress your gratitude or you know the interviewer is old-fashioned.

Overkill: If you're going to follow up with a letter after your follow-up letter, think again. You already said thank you, so what else do you need to say? Both you and the hiring manager know that another letter is your way of asking, "Did I get the job?" Don't clog the hiring manager's inbox with more notes unless you want to be thought of as a pest.

2. The phone call is daunting and not the right move in every job situation. In fact, many job postings specifically state, "No phone calls." Unless you're feeling brave, you might want to skip it.

Appropriate: Unless you were specifically instructed not to call the hiring manager or another contact, you can make the call after an appropriate amount of time has passed. In this case, if you were given a deadline for when a decision would be made, let it pass and wait a few extra days and then make the call. Just once (unless instructed to call back).

Overkill: The phone call is one of the easiest ways to sabotage your image. Call once, when appropriate, and don't call again unless you've been told to. Phone calls are a nuisance in a way that letters and e-mails aren't. You can decline to open a message or just read it and ignore it. A phone call is harder to ignore if it requires the hiring manager to screen his or her calls once you become a repeat offender. If the company wants you, it probably won't forget to call you.

3. The pop-in causes you anxiety when your in-laws do it. Your place is a mess and suddenly you're forced to entertain people who you might not like very much anyway. Don't do that to an employer if you want to be considered for a job.

Appropriate: Stopping by to visit the company is rarely acceptable. Unless you have an explicit indication that you're welcome to show up uninvited, which would actually imply that you are invited, showing up in person is inappropriate. This follow-up is one case where once is almost certainly too much.

Overkill: When you show up and the hiring manager or receptionist gives you a look that says, "Why are you here?" you'll know you've crossed a line. Employers are busy -- they have schedules, meetings, clients and tasks. By showing up unannounced, you not only disrupt their routine but also imply that you are more important than their obligations and deserve their immediate attention.

Of course, you're bound to meet someone who broke one of these rules and impressed the hiring manager by his or her audacity. Perhaps going against etiquette will work for you. Just be aware that you're risking your professional reputation and could be removing yourself from the running for a job where you were a top candidate.

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6 Steps for First-Time Job Hunters

By : Kate Lorenz

Congratulations, you've done it! You made it through college, have your degree in hand and are finally ready to make your mark. You are now in the real world and it's time to get your professional life started.

If you are in the middle of this crossroad, it can be scary, exciting, confusing, overwhelming or all of the above. Following are some steps to make a successful college-to-real world transition.

Step 1: Pinpoint Your Direction.
After four (or five, or six) years of college, you are completely certain about what you want to do, right? If not, now is the time to determine what your strengths are and identify what kind of careers suit you. Are you someone who loves to be around people? Or are you happier crunching numbers or creating computer programs? Consider all of your strengths, weaknesses, likes, dislikes and interests when thinking about your career plan. Read about fields that interest you and talk to others who are doing jobs that you find interesting. Focus your direction on positions and fields that match your interests and talents.

Step 2: Do Your Research.
It is vital to learn as much as you can about the companies that interest you and to consider all of your options, says Pam Webster, a recruiting manager for Enterprise Rent-A-Car. She should know: Enterprise is the nation's largest recruiter of college graduates.

"You should be open-minded about opportunities in companies and industries you might not have thought of before," she says. Once you have identified companies that you want to target, Webster suggests looking at their Web sites, reading news articles and talking to current employees to learn as much as you can. "You also need to look at a company's stability," she says. "Is the company going to be there for the long term?"

Step 3: Assemble Your Toolkit.
It is important to have the right tools for any task. The tools needed for a job search are a résumé, cover letter and a portfolio of your work. Take the time to develop a résumé and cover letter that clearly convey your strengths and experience. Here are a few tips to remember:
# Think about the type of résumé you need. A functional résumé, which highlights your abilities rather than your work history, is a good choice for first-time job seekers.

# Focus on accomplishments and results you have achieved, rather than simple descriptions of experiences.

# Use action words in your résumé and cover letter to describe your experiences, such as "initiated," "produced" and "managed."

# If you are low on practical work experience, look to your part-time work, school activities or volunteer positions. "Evaluate all of your experience and translate how it applies to any job you might apply to," Webster says.

Step 4: Network.
One of the most important tasks in any job search is networking. Take advantage of any resources you have, including your school's career placement office, friends who graduated before you and are already working, friends of your parents, former professors, and neighbors. Send e-mails to ask if your contacts know someone who can help you. Pass your résumé around and ask others to do the same. Call your contacts to see if they know someone who works for a firm you are interested in joining.

Step 5: Play the Part.
If you want to join the professional world, you need to act -- and look -- the part. Buy a business suit and wear it to all of your interviews. "Make sure your e-mail address and voice mail greeting are appropriate," Webster says. That means if your e-mail user name is "crazygirl2005," you might want to get a new account. Webster says you should also remember to be professional at home. "Be prepared for a phone call or a phone interview at any time," she says. The more you play the part of a well-trained professional, the more people will see you as a professional.

Step 6: Don't Give Up.
The real world can be a real challenge. Set realistic expectations and recognize that you will probably have to start at the bottom and work your way up. You will likely face rejection as you start looking for your first full-time job, but everyone goes through it. Just remember to be proactive, be persistent and remain confident that there is a great job out there for you!

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Are You Shooting Too Low in Your Job Search?

By : Beth Braccio Hering

Does your application secretly have the words "overqualified," "desperate" and "likely to be bored stiff within a month" written all over it? If you are aiming too low in your job search, chances are employers will read between the lines and notice -- and move on to someone else.

There are two primary reasons why people aim low, says Duncan Mathison, co-author of "Unlock the Hidden Job Market: Six Steps to a Successful Search When Times Are Tough":

1. They want to increase the number of opportunities. (More lower-level positions are available than higher-level ones.)

2. They think it will raise their odds of being hired. (They believe they will appear more qualified compared to other applicants.)

Lisa Quast, author of "Your Career, Your Way!" and founder of Career Woman Inc., a Seattle-based career development consulting company, adds that workers who are laid off or fired may think they just need to find a new job as quickly as possible due to their economic situation. Beyond money matters, she notes that sometimes people "lack internal confidence about their skills and abilities" and "don't have a clearly defined strategic career plan," both of which can lead them to apply for lesser positions.

The dangers

At first glance, it might seem that being overqualified would be a good thing. Wouldn't an employer like to get somebody who is even better than the job description?

Don't bank on it.

Overqualified candidates raise concerns in a hiring manager's mind. Will the person insist on doing things his own way? Can he accept instruction from somebody who is his superior at the firm but his equal (or less) on paper? Will the worker jump ship as soon as he finds a better job? Will he constantly be jockeying for more money and a higher position instead of focusing on the job for which he was hired? Will he get frustrated with this lower position and quit?

It's not just employers, though, who face risks; it's job seekers, too.

"The biggest danger is that you will not be hired if you shoot too low and then think to yourself, 'Good grief. I can't even land that crummy position. I must be a real loser!'" Mathison says.

Quast says other key dangers for the applicant include:

* Losing money. Accepting a job that pays $10,000 less per year than you're actually worth totals $200,000 in lost wages over 20 years.


* Stifling progress. You'll be less likely to be doing work that will allow you to grow and develop in your field.


* Becoming bored: Frustration from job dissatisfaction can escalate stress and harm health and overall well-being.


Upgrading your job search

Instead of downgrading a job search in order to try to increase the likelihood of landing a position, Mathison suggests coming up with a more fruitful plan of attack.

"When the economy is tight, a lower percentage of open positions are actually advertised as employers rely on less expensive recruiting through referrals and informal word-of-mouth advertising," Mathison says. "This 'hidden' job market actually becomes a bigger share of open positions. This means that networking plays a bigger role in uncovering unadvertised leads."

To maximize potential opportunities, Mathison recommends job seekers spend more time researching employers and asking people in their network and at professional organizations for leads. "Directly approach people who could be your future manager and tell them of your availability. These are the people who care most about what you can do and how you can make them and their teams successful."

Quast suggests spending some time on self-examination.

"Clearly define your career aspirations. If you don't know where you want to go, how will you determine how to get there? Know your strengths and weaknesses when you search for a new position so you can avoid targeting jobs that are beneath your skills. Identify those things you do better than other people. These are the things you do that will set you apart from others and that make you special."

Above all, hang in there and exude confidence. After all, if you don't believe you're worthy of the job you really want, how will anybody else?

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Do You Get Flustered During Interviews?

By : Lizandra Vega

After months of seeking out jobs, hundreds of revisions to your résumé and going to every networking event you can, you've finally landed an interview. After brief small talk about how bad the traffic was or how slow the elevators are, the interviewer switches gears and begins her formal line of questioning.

"I see you currently work for our main competitor. What makes our company a more appealing choice for you?"

It's not a difficult question to answer. But suddenly you're tongue-tied and your answer comes out as: "Well, actually, it's like, um, you know."

What happened? This scenario is all too familiar to many job seekers. In stressful situations such as speaking in front of a group or interviewing for a job, people often revert to filler words such as "like," "you know," "basically" or "actually," and even sounds such as whistling, snorting or giggling to patch over pauses before collecting their train of thought.

We're all guilty of throwing in one or two of these utterances during normal conversation, but the danger lies in how often they are repeated. When you rely on these interruptions as substitutions for actual words in order to express your thoughts, you diminish your image as an intelligent professional and viable job candidate. You may be perceived as an individual who has trouble focusing, or as someone who has difficulty organizing his or her ideas -- deficiencies that potential employers interpret as hindering your work performance.

Self-awareness is a fundamental step toward correcting such habitual speech patterns that disrupt the flow of conversation, so here are seven ways to pick up on when you're about to trip up.

How to eliminate common speech hurdles and increase your verbal fluency:

1. Evaluate your verbal communication skills by taping yourself as part of a mock interview, suggests Leah Ross-Kugler, a certified speech-language pathologist. That way you can go back and listen for where you stumble.

2. Prepare talking points about yourself and keep them tucked inside your writing portfolio. Discreetly refer to your points in order to keep the flow of conversation moving smoothly.

3. Focus on your breathing by taking replenishing breaths between phrases so you can use complete words instead of sounds. Ross-Kugler explains this helps slow down your speech and allows you concentrate on what you're going to say next.

4. Modify a distracting behavior such as giggling by smiling. By using an action considered to be positive and engaging, you not only patch over potential gaffes but also improve your connection with the hiring manager.

5. Wear a ring or a watch on a hand that is not routinely assigned such accessories. They serve as reminders for avoiding nervous laughter during an interview, Ross-Kugler says.

6. Join a speaker's group such as the National Speaker's Association or Toastmasters International to practice and improve your verbal communication skills.

7. Keep an empty "filler sound jar" and lots of pennies handy. Monitor the number of filler sounds you use or enlist a friend or family member to do so. Similar to keeping a "swear jar," throw a penny inside the jar each time you use a word filler, snort, giggle or do anything that interrupts your flow of speech.

When you want to get the right message across, it's best to let the words flow. While you may not catch every 'um' or 'ah' at the next interview, you'll certainly reduce the number you say and come off as the clear, intelligent candidate you are.

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The Best Way to Conduct a Mediocre Job Search

By : Kaitlin Madden

Most of us can pinpoint some form of mediocrity in our lives. For example, I am mediocre in that I do my own laundry, but I rarely separate my lights and darks. I like to run, but never more than three miles at a time. I watch the History Channel, but only to make up for the brain cells I've lost while overindulging in reality TV. I know that I am mediocre in these areas because I have blue socks that used to be white, I run four days a week but haven't lost a pound, and I probably know more about the Kardashians than I do about the Kennedys.

If you have been at your job search for a while now, and: A. Haven't gotten an interview, B. Haven't gotten a second interview or C. Can't seem to close the deal and land a job, mediocrity has probably contaminated your job search like a pair of blue jeans in a load of whites.

If you are guilty of one of these mediocre job-search tactics, it's time to step up your game.

You apply to 10 jobs per day, but don't send a cover letter

A cover letter can be time consuming. You have to find out the name of the person you are sending it to, and tell that person -- in a unique and extraordinary way -- why you are exactly what the company is looking for. You may even be able to double the number of applications you send out in a week by not including a cover letter. So you decide to stop sending them altogether. The only way that not sending out a cover letter with your résumé is anything other than mediocre is if you're in the job market only for the thrill of the chase. In that case, it is an excellent tactic.

"Hiring managers know that it's easy to just send in a résumé," says Monique Honaman, CEO of ISHR Group, a leadership development company based in Suwanee, Ga. Providing a customized cover letter that targets the specific job opening shows that you put some extra energy into applying for that position, and it also tells the recruiter why you are a good fit for the job, she says.

Basically, if you don't include a cover letter with your application, you might as well just change your first name to "Lazy" on all of your application materials, because that's all the recruiter will see anyway.

You land an interview, but don't research the company beforehand

Would you go to Paris without knowing how to say, "Where's the bathroom?" in French? Would you make a chocolate cake without a recipe? Would you go on a blind date without doing an Internet search on the person first? If your answer is yes, you may also be inclined not to research a company before an interview. Although it may seem like you're saving time initially by winging your interview, in reality, you're actually wasting time, since your interview will be fruitless if you show up unprepared.

"There is nothing more embarrassing in an interview than being asked a question and not knowing some very basic element about the company and its product or service lines," Honaman says. "And don't think that hiring managers don't have some stock questions in mind to get at the very basics of whether you have done your research. You can't convey a message of, 'This is the perfect job for me' if you don't know the basics about the company."

Although research is time consuming, it is also time consuming to go on 10 interviews and not get a job offer. In order to rise above mediocrity, remember the five P's: Prior preparation prevents poor performance.

You do so much research that you don't have any questions for the interviewer

Before your interview, you may spend days researching the company, the industry it's in and the type of position you're up for, so by the time the interview rolls around, you may think you have all the information you need about the company. When the hiring manager asks, "So, do you have any questions for me?" you reply, "No, I think I'm all set!" Even if this is true, ask a question anyway.

"Someone who doesn't ask any questions appears to be disinterested in the position and that apathy shows through," Honaman says.

So, if you want the job, it's best to ask something (read: anything). "Hopefully, the interview process truly did generate a few questions in your mind," Honaman says. "If not, be prepared with a few 'stock' questions such as, 'What do you like most about working here?' or 'After reviewing my résumé and having this interview, what concerns, if any, do you have about my fit for this role?'"

This lets the interviewer know you were paying attention and are interested.

You have plenty of questions to ask, but you don't think before you speak

For example, "If you ask about work/life balance, do it without sounding lazy," says Ed Muzio, author of "Make Work Great." "One of the best ways I ever heard this put was like this: 'Every job falls somewhere on a continuum; on one end is people putting in their 40 hours and leaving, on the other end is 90 hour weeks with nothing but work and sleep. Where would you say this job falls?' One of the worst ways I ever heard it put was like this: 'Are people expected to work, like, a lot of extra hours?' Same question, different message," Muzio says.

If you ask thoughtful questions that reflect both your interests, as well as the employer's, you're sure to leave a good impression.

Like anything else in life, when it comes to a job search, you get out of it what you put into it. A mediocre effort yields mediocre results, and -- unless you don't mind selling yourself short -- it's best to put 100 percent into your job search.

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