Finding a job can be difficult depending on what your skills are but in today’s internet world it can be easier than you think. Have you ever thought of using a social media website to promote yourself into a new career? You can do just that by using LinkedIn.

This website is just like most social media websites such as Facebook and Myspace but the sole purpose is for professionals to interact with the same people that are in the business or field that they are in or trying to join. They always say that “it’s not what you know”, “it’s who you know”, and for the most part that is absolutely true. LinkedIn will provide you with the, “who you know” part, so it would be a wise decision to join and start interacting with future business contacts.

If you are job hunting, when you are creating your profile you need to give it the time and attention it deserves and just not post general information about you. The profile needs to be perfect because this is what employers will see first and base their opinion of you on it. This is where you make your first impression and it could be your last depending on what time is spent.

If there are any options at all when filling in your profile you should fill them in. Including a professional photo will definitely help also. You don’t want to include that picture of you partying. Once again, take as much time as it deserves to completely fill out your profile.

After your profile complete it is now time to start networking to find that job you are after. This can be accomplished by using LinkedIn advance search. All you need to do is go to that page and search for the company that you would like to be hired by and search for recruiters. Once you find the recruiters just send them a simple message saying that you are interested in joining or discussing a job opportunity within that company and you would like to receive a call to discuss it further.

Now most likely you will get a response so you better be ready to receive that phone call. Have all your answers to common questions ready to go so you don’t sound like you have no idea what you are doing. Since this company won’t hire you on the phone you should already prepare a resume and know what time is good to go in for an interview. For instance, if they ask you when you can come into the office to fill out an application you should already know that answer. You don’t want to be stumbling around trying to figure it out.

To look even better to companies it is a great idea to already have a network setup with other people in that field before you contact them. All you need to do is send off about 10 requests to people that are in that field then it will look a ton better for that company reviewing your profile versus someone with no contacts.

Note – Scroll down for links to our favorite Resume resources including samples.

Writing a good resume can make or break your career. There’s a very delicate balance between not enough information and way too much. You have to find that middle ground that an employer can browse through your credentials without having to read what looks to be an autobiography. Because we care about your future and job prospects here at Everyday Career, today we’re going to look at some tips and steps to follow when putting your resume together. Although no amount of instruction can fully prepare you, we’ll at least try to get you started on the right track.

1. Firstly, get your thoughts together and figure out your life’s history. Before you even begin writing you’re going to need to remember all of your previous places of employment and places of education, as well as any other merits you have earned along the way. Don’t get fancy with the summer jobs you had mowing the neighbor’s yard or the five elementary schools you had when you were eight. Stick to the ones that matter.

2. Now that you’ve got the important info together, you’re ready to go. There are many different formats for resumes to choose from but today we’ll look at what I think is a very practical example. Some people go for flair and past merits whereas others only write down what they want to do. I’d like to include a mixture of both. But ultimately, the choice is yours.

3. Start with your contact information at the top of the resume. Make sure it is all up to date and that you can be reached at that address/phone number/email address very easily. If you can’t be, don’t include it.

4. Next we’ll move on to what some call the “objective” portion of the resume. Depending on the job you’re applying for, this may not be necessary. But in the professional world, it’s a nice touch that can go a long way. It’s essentially a section that outlines what YOU want to get out of the job you’re applying for. Keep it short and sweet and make sure the point gets across. Underneath this section is where you want to address a few personal traits that make you stand out and qualified for the position you’re looking for. For example, if your “objective” was to be a head bank associate that makes the bank a more pleasant environment for customers, you’d want to include traits about past bank experience and social environments you’ve led the charge on.

5. After you’ve outlined what makes you suitable for what you want to do at the company, you move on to the next section. The next sections of a resume outline previous education and work experience. As said earlier, don’t include things like elementary or middle school here. Just list important academic accomplishments and diplomas as well as previous job experience relevant to the job you’re applying for.

6. Lastly, finish the whole thing off with a summary of the key points in the above sections and read over the whole thing. You can never read over it enough, I promise. When you’re all done, send it off and hope for the best!

Sample resumes and good resources to help you write can be found below

http://www.nhlink.net/employme/how.htm

http://www.bestsampleresume.com/ (My personal favorite)

http://jobsearch.about.com/od/sampleresumes/a/sampleresume2.htm

That big day comes around sooner than you’d like it to: the day that you have to go in for a job interview. It’s one of the most stressful things anyone can ever make you do but it’s a fact of life that at some point in time, you have to sit in front of someone and prove yourself. But, if you go into the interview prepared and well versed in why you want the job, you’ll do exponentially better than if you decided to just wing-it on the morning of. Let’s take a look at some interview tips that you can utilize whether you’re applying for a burger flipper position at the local fast food place or if you’re taking over the top spot at a Fortune 500 company.

• Clothes: Your clothes speak a lot about who you are as a person. Obviously no one walks around in a full suit and tie around their house, but that doesn’t mean you should walk in with flip flops and a ripped t-shirt to your interview. It’s a good rule of thumb to dress in clothes that would resemble those that you would go to work in. And in some cases, a step above that. So if the job you’re going in to do requires that you wear a shirt and tie every day, wearing a shirt and tie with a sports coat may be a good idea. Going in to interview for Burger King is a different story. They have uniforms there that you’re required to wear. So in cases like this, it may be hard to judge what you should go in wearing. A nice polo shirt and slacks should do fine. Don’t go overboard but make sure you’re looking nice and clean shaven.

• Time: One of the best things you can do is show up early for the interview. There’s an old adage in the workplace about being late. If you’re early, you’re on time. If you’re on time, you’re late. And if you’re late, you’re fired. Don’t ruin things with your potential boss by showing up right as the interview is supposed to start. A 20 minute window before the appropriate time should show eagerness and punctuality, both good traits.

• Information: Make sure to know as much about the company as possible before heading in there. It’s always a good idea to know your interviewer’s name and title (if possible) before heading in. Also, have valuable questions to ask during the interview. Even if you already know the answers, showing a desire to learn and absorb new information is a good trait. And under no circumstances should you ask questions about pay or health care benefits unless the issue is brought up. Asking about how much you’ll be making will almost surely guarantee you not getting the job.

These are just a few tips to help you nail that next interview. Good luck!

Here at EverydayCareer we try to give you insight into what different jobs entail and how you can better yourself at them. We also try to give you a step by step approach on how to pursue almost any career imaginable, but what if that still doesn’t help you? If you’re like many people in the working field, you probably dislike your current job and are looking for a way out. I wouldn’t recommend jumping ship in this current economic climate but if you just can’t take it anymore, there are still plenty of jobs available for those looking for something new. So, today we’re going to take a look at some of the resources available to go and get yourself a new job.

• Pick up Resumes: Depending on the type of job you’re coming from and what you’re willing to settle for, you may be able to drive around town and look for places that are hiring. I’m sure you’ve seen the marquees outside of various banks and grocery stores with things like “Now Hiring, Inquire Inside.” Take them up on the offer and head on in. Some people are hesitant to just pick up a job application sitting on the counter. Don’t be. Grab it and fill it out with your best information.

• Online Resume: Posting your resume online is a great way to get exposure. Sites like monster.com are still going strong and great paying employers look online for clients all the time. It may seem like an impersonal way to get a job, but if you’ve taken the time to put your information in as many places as possible, you’re going to get more in return.

  

• Tidy Up: I don’t mean that you should run around your house frantically and pick up all of the dirty laundry that’s strewn about. No, I mean for you to tidy up your online personality. These days potential employers are always checking up on their employees to make sure they’re in good working order. While that picture of you having a blast at your friend’s birthday party probably gets a few laughs every time you see it, it’s not professional and if it’s tied to your name somewhere online and you can find it, so can they. Take the time to build a respectable online personality.

• Negotiate: If you’re new to playing the field this may be kind of difficult for you to do. But, if you manage to pull a few interviews down into your schedule then you should be able to start asking them for things you want. Just because you’re desperate for a new job doesn’t mean that you should take the first thing that comes along. Employers can often low-ball their salary offers just to take a chance. See if you can ‘up the ante’ by asking for things instead of being told what you’re going to get. Don’t go overboard with it but if done right it will show confidence and even more potential.