Our Guide to Finding a Job

Maybe the school year is just winding down and you're thinking about teaching elsewhere in the fall.  Or perhaps you've just graduated from college and are thinking about finding a teaching job in September.  Well, it's never too early to start your search and we've got some great tips as well as resources to help you find the right teaching job.

If you're looking for a job, then somewhere along the line you're going to have to fill out a job application.  Some employers require applicants to fill out an application early in the process; others might ask you to fill one out while you're in for an interview.  Either way, filling out a job application is an important step in getting hired, here's why.

This particular article on job application forms will serve two purposes.  If you're an employer or job seeker that wants to see an example of a blank job application form, then just keep reading.  And if you're starting to look for a job and you're wondering what a job application actually looks like, we can help you too.

If you've already filled out a job application or you're thinking about applying for a job, then you might want to send a job application letter back to the hiring company along with the job application itself.  Just like a resume cover letter, a job application letter gives you a chance to introduce yourself to a potential employer.

There is a right way and a wrong way to do just about everything - including quitting a job.  In fact leaving a job behind can often invoke a lot of emotion which can sometimes lead to costly mistakes in the long run.

Whether you're a seasoned worker or right out of school, we're going to explain the right way to go about applying for a job.  In fact, we've outlined an eight step process that starts with figuring out what kind of job is right for you all the way through writing thank you letters after an interview.

If you're trying to find a job, then at some point in that process you're going to be asked to supply a list of job references.  The good news is that employers only ask for references when they're serious about hiring you.  That's why it's important to have a list of employment references ready to send to a recruiter, hiring manager, or the employer's human resources department.

Here's the scenario.  You're back at college and constantly calling up mom or dad to hit them up for money.  It's a humbling and sometimes humiliating experience, but college life can be expensive.  But one day it dawns on you that you don't really need their help and finding a college job is the respectable thing to do!

Like clockwork each year, graduating students are faced with the same challenge - finding a job after college.  We're not talking about summer work or temporary assignments.  We mean permanent positions that leverage the skills and learning that students have acquired while in school.

We'll start by saying that most of these job search tips for college students really only apply to those of you that are still in college or recent graduates.  We thought that the timing was right to put something together that was focused on helping students that are looking for a permanent job or college students looking for summer work.

Have you ever had an adult tell you that your teenage years are the best of times?  In some ways they might be right.  On the other hand, their memories might be fading and they can't really remember what it was like to be a teenager.  No doubt there are some pretty fun things that only teens can do, but a job search is not one of them.

If you're a teen looking for a job, we've already put together a couple of articles that can help you get started - more on that later.  In those articles, we've talked about how to go about finding a job, but we left out some examples of job listings for teens that you might find on the Internet.  Just to close the loop on this subject, we're going to address that topic in this article.

When you're a teenager, looking for a part time job can seem like a pretty big undertaking.  After all, even adults with a lot of working experience have a hard time finding a job.  Imagine how hard it can be for a teen that hasn't got any relevant experience to put on their resume.

Schools out soon and guess what?  The parental units say you're not going to lie around the house all summer long.  That's got you starting to think that finding a summer job wouldn't be such a bad thing after all.  You could use the extra money to help pay for college.  Even better, you could get some new clothes!

Perhaps the biggest mistake made by some interviewees is going to an interview unprepared.  If you're looking for a job, it is in your best interests to do everything possible to maximize your chances of being offered a job and that includes preparing for a job interview.

Some like it hot and some like it cold, and some like the details and others just want the highlights.  Well, this is one for those of you that just like the highlights.  It's our list of 21 interview tips that gives you just enough to understand what you need to do when trying to land that job.

For some of us, going on a job interview can be a frightening experience - including figuring out how to dress for an interview.  We're meeting new people, trying to make a good impression and wondering what kind of questions they might ask us.  Even more importantly, will they like our personality and our answers to their questions?  Or how about what we're wearing to the interview?

We're going to provide you with a two-for-one article here because questioning during an interview can happen in both directions, as it does in everyday conversation.  The interviewer will have lots of questions about your work and job background, but you might also be asked if you have any questions about the job or the company itself.

There are two ways to think about an interview.  The first is that the purpose of the interview team is to try to trip you up with their questioning.  The second way to think about a job interview is that the dialogue creates opportunity to for you to explain exactly how you can contribute in a meaningful way.  So, depending on your point of view, answering interview questions is a battle of wits or an opportunity.

The behavioral interviewing technique is nothing new.  In fact, I've been involved with conducting this type of interview for over ten years now.  The primary reason we switched to this approach was because the ability of behavioral interviewing to predict future behavior was much greater than traditional interviewing techniques.

We're going to provide you with might be called a data dump of job interview questions.  As structured, these questions are meant to provide you with a job interview question database that you can use for future reference.  The interviewing process is an important part of the hiring process, so being prepared for a variety of questions is essential to a successful job interview.

Behavioral interview questions are becoming more commonplace in the screening of applicants during job interviews.  That's because behavioral questions force the interviewee to answer the question in a structured manner - which is good for the interviewer evaluating applicants.

Maybe you've got a big interview coming up, or you're just trying to educate yourself on how to behave during an interview and this thought suddenly runs through your mind - What about interview power words?  You know what I mean, the buzz words you need to say during an interview to impress the interviewer and lock in the job.

You've just come back from a job interview and you're exhausted.  Answering all those interview questions took a lot out of you and you're glad it's all over.  The bad news is that it's really not over yet; if you want to really make a good impression you've got to sit down and start writing an interview thank you letter.

Let's face it, an Internet work from home business seems like a natural next step in this world we live in.  Why not?  Clearly we are living in the information age.  It's all around us everyday and at times it consumes our every though - so why not our work lives?  It's ironic how the Internet can make our lives both overwhelmingly complex yet it helps us to simplify some of the more mundane tasks.

Despite what all the advertisers would have you believe legitimate work at home jobs are pretty hard to find today.  That's because most of the opportunities out there are really just scams that help put money in the advertisers pocket and not yours.  But there are a couple of legitimate work home jobs.  You just have to know how to recognize them.

We research each topic before we put pen to paper - or is that fingers to keyboard?  Our research tells us that work at home moms is a very popular topic today.  And that makes sense to us because so many women are torn between raising a family and their work careers.

If you have an email address, there is not doubt that you've seen the headline - Earn Thousands as you Work at Home.  You can see this kind of advertisement everywhere you go, even in your own town stapled onto telephone poles.

It's all the rage; it's the latest fad - work from home!  It's a  phrase that you can see everywhere and that includes taped to street lights, stapled to utility poles.  How can it miss?  What's more appealing than working from home?

As college students, mothers and retirees look to earn some extra money part time jobs are becoming more popular.  That's good news for employers too, because many companies prefer to hire part-time works since these employees are usually are not entitled to benefits.  This gives companies access to a relatively inexpensive workforce and the part time job seeker a chance to earn some extra money without the commitment that a full time position requires.

Both experienced and inexperienced job seekers can add significantly to the marketability of their resume through volunteer work.  Don't misunderstand us here, volunteering is vitally important to many organizations and is an admirable deed that should make the volunteer feel good about themselves.  But there is also no harm in taking credit on a resume for any volunteer work you've done.

Working Abroad can be a rewarding and exciting approach to your career development plans.  That's because not only are your rewarded with a paycheck, but you also gain the opportunity to live in another country and experience their culture.  Before you decide if working abroad is for you, we have some information that will help you make a more informed decision.

To be a social worker is a truly admirable choice that many people make.  These workers play a very important role in the health of America's social system.  Unfortunately, these professionals are also notoriously underpaid and that hurts both the perception of this community and their clients.

Let's face it, if given the opportunity most of us would choose a high paying career.  We live in a world where money is exchanged for goods and services and that means a higher paying job allows us to buy more of the things we need or want.

In this article we're going to talk about some of the benefits that employees value most.  These are the on and off-the-job perks that seem to grab the attention of employees and make them want to stay a little bit longer.  Whether you're looking for a job and wondering what is offered in the marketplace or an employer trying to figure out what employees want this article can help.

So you've decided that you're ready for a career change.  Well the requisite warning needs to given - the grass is not always greener on the other side.  Now that you've, you've read our warning we're ready to give you some advice on how to go about changing careers.

Many times in our careers we will face challenges that later become some of our defining moments at work.  Our boss gives us a tough project, impossible deadlines and goals that stretch our abilities.  But career management is more than just what happens in the workplace.

There is simply a massive marketplace in the U.S. for career education.  There are literally tens of thousands of high schools, vocational and technical high schools, and community colleges that offer career education programs.

Perhaps you've been offered a "career opportunity" by your boss or you've heard of such an opportunity offered to a friend.  It's strange how the term career opportunity is used in practice; since it can sometimes be used to describe both a big break in a career or the last option you might have at a company before you get the boot.

There has been a lot of talk lately about things like diversity in the workforce, sexual harassment and hostile work environments, but many of us simply do not understand the differences between some of these terms.  In this article, we're going to focus on the concept of a "hostile work environment."

There's a fairly new concept in the talent management world and it's called onboarding employees.  This idea has been around for quite some time and it used to be known as new employee orientation.  But as we'll soon explain, onboarding is more about retaining talent than getting people settled in their new office.

In today's competitive workplace, it's becoming more commonplace for employers to offer their employees a helping hand.  The packaging of these support policies is referred to as employee assistance programs or employee assistance plans.

You're considering a new career, new place to live, new business, retirement, or any major life move.  You ask, "Will I be happy in my next career?"  If you remember the old, old song, "What will be" may not be the answer you're looking for.

Good news! You've been invited back for a second interview (or a third or fourth). But, you feel that you've already covered everything in the first interview? How will this interview be different from the first? How do you prepare for the second round?

Changing careers could be one of the best decisions you make in your life. It may also be one of the more difficult things you will do. Creating a self-inventory and doing some basic preparation can make a big difference in the way you view yourself and as a result how others see you. Here are five tips to help you weave your way through your transition.

A career is the sum total of all of your work-related contributions to society in a lifetime.  This includes time and effort spent to provide goods, services, or benefit to others.  A career includes paid, un-paid, volunteer, part-time, and full-time positions.  Your career includes many life roles you may not think of:  student, homemaker, babysitter, office worker, doctor, and lawyer.

These days, interviews don't come easily. When you get The Call, make the most of your time -- and go for it!

"We're moving to Finland," says my husband. "What? When? How?" say I. "We don't want to move out of the country," scream my children. "Wait, let me get on my breathing machine," says my mother. "Don't do it," says my father-in-law. But my husband can't help but get excited.

This question is more than an interview question; it is a question that you should be asking yourself before the interview. When have you been most satisfied in your work? When did you feel like you were making a difference or making a contribution? Basically, it's about knowing what you want.

Gwendolyn Parker, author of Trespassing, asked for seven months of severance when she voluntarily left a prestigious corporate job.

Many people dream of a career change, but job forecasts can be disheartening, especially if you are looking for a fun, flexible career that allows time for family obligations. But one industry is booming -- travel. Right now business is growing for travel professionals. And that includes tour directors.

The Question: After identifying a potential employer, I get contact information, do my research and send out my resume and cover letter, requesting an interview for a management or human resource position. I am listed with recruiters and staffing agencies and call them every week.

With thousands of workers nationwide actively seeking employment, there's no denying that today's job market is tough. So what does it take to get noticed by employers and land a job?