What should you do when you receive notice of a layoff? What’s the best way of surviving a layoff ? First of all, you should check with your company on the benefits you may be entitled to when you leave. It’s also important to file for unemployment insurance , and to make sure you have all the bases covered, so you can start a job search. However, to back up a step, there are ways to be prepared for a layoff – before it happens.... 

There are thousands of employment websites where you can apply for jobs online.  Applicants typically  apply online for positions via a  job board or apply directly at a  company website . In some cases, job seekers are required to register and to build an employment profile. Once you’ve built your profile, you can apply for jobs and set up job search agents to email you when new jobs are added to the system. On other …  Read More →

There isn’t just one best job search site, though there are some really good ones.  In fact, what’s best for you, might not be a good site for someone else. Job searching is personal – you need to find job postings that are a match for your specifications and are located where you want to work. That’s why you need to spend some time checking out sites with job listings to see which ones give you the best results -... 

How should you resign from your job ? How about what you shouldn’t do when turning in your resignation? I’ve seen resignations handled both ways. One employee left a note on her manager’s desk saying she quit and wouldn’t be back. Another employee got mad, yelled at the boss, and walked out the door.   Neither option, of course, is the best …  Read More →

I was lucky enough to get my first part time job because my mom shopped several times a week in our local grocery store and she heard they needed staff. I worked part time during high school, full-time during the summer, and during breaks from college. Two of my three brothers ended up working in the store, too. My other brother worked in the drug store across the street which, of course, was also frequented by my mom on a regular basis. More than... 

I’d like to expand my collection of resumes, letters, and CVs. If you have a cover letter, resignation letter, thank you letter or other job search related letter, resume or curriculum vitae that you’re proud of, I’d like to consider adding it to our samples. Simply send it to me via email, along with the form giving me permission to use it. I’m looking for samples that reflect all levels of job seekers – from students... 

The unemployment rate was 9.7% in February, with non-farm payroll employment losing 36,000 jobs. Employment fell in construction and information, while temporary help services added 48,000 jobs.  Health care employment continued to grow in February.  The number of people working part-time  who preferred full-time work rose from 8.3 to 8.8 million in February. I’ve heard from unemployed workers who have unexpectly lost their jobs after... 

 There’s often the perception that LinkedIn is for professionals, not for college students or recent graduates.  That’s not the case though, and LinkedIn is as great a networking and job search resource for those who are just starting a job search as it is for those who have been around for a while. If you’re not sure how to get started, take a look at these tips from LinkedIn. They will help you create your profile and start... 

When, despite your best efforts at keeping your job , it’s not going to work out and resigning is the only option, what should you include in your resignation letter ? What’s the best way to let your company know you’re moving on? When writing a  resignation letter , it’s important to keep your letter simple, brief, and to the point – include just the facts and leave it at that. It should also be positive,... 

One of the points that comes up repeatedly in the unemployment stories  that site visitors have been kind enough to share is that if you have a job, do you your best to keep it.  I know that’s often easier said than done, and in many cases, there is absolutely nothing you can to do to avoid being laid-off.  However, sometimes, you can turn the situation around and keep your job – even if you hate your job .  At the least,... 

There is good job market news to report for January and February.   TweetMyJOBS  reports that the site featured 1.2 million Twitter job postings in the last 30 days with postings for more than  7,000 companies. The February 2010 CareerCast.com/JobSerf Employment Index , which measures managerial recruitment activity online, also showed  growth in this month with an increase of 12.5 points since January. Cities leading the rebound in per... 

Job interviews can be stressful, even if you have gone on lots of them.   The best way to interview as painlessly as possible is to take some time to review common  interview questions and sample answers. There’s no need to memorize responses, because you don’t want to sound canned, but do take some time to think about what you’ll say, so you’re not fumbling for an answer during the inteview. Also, take a look at these... 

It only takes a few minutes to send a thank you note , letter or email  after a job interview – and it’s a step in the hiring process you don’t want to skip. Sending a thank you letter is a good way to reiterate your interest in the job and to remind the interviewer why you are the best candidate.  Surveys report that hiring managers think more highly of the candidates who appreciate the chance to interview, so it’s... 

I get questions all the time about employee rights. Job seekers want to know about what happens with overtime  when they are considered an exempt employee vs. a non-exempt employee . They also wonder about unused vacation and sick pay and commission and bonuses when they leave their job.   Employees ask about overtime, comp time, wages, and other related issues.   I also get asked frequently about getting fired and what happens when your job... 

What is important when you’re applying for jobs? What’s most important to hiring managers ? What do recruiters really wish they could tell candidates for employment? The Corporate Executive Board/Recruiting Roundtable survey of recruiters and hiring managers reports that 75% of recruiters surveyed spend 5 minutes or less reviewing candidate information and 28% spend less than 2 minutes.   Given that you don’t have much time...