Setting up a new internet account, creating a user name or picking out your new email address can be a lot of fun. We debate on silly names like sunflower10, baseballboy or maybe even adhesivemonkies. We like to pick out something that says something about ourselves. It's a nice idea but when it comes to important letters even resumes it can be a big NO NO!

Your resume reflects everything about you. The recruiter sees you have a good job history and education. You are everything the recruiter has been looking for. They look at your contact information and there's your email or user name purplehaze93 or partygirl2000. They are turned off within seconds. These names can give recruiters the wrong impression or the right one. "Is this person a drug user?" or maybe "Does this person have a drinking problem or problems showing up late for work?"

Here are a few ways to avoid this situation.

1. If you already have an email with an unacceptable name, create a new one with a free email service like Gmail or Hotmail. This is also a good way to keep track of all your outgoing and incoming emails just for job searching.

2. When you create the email or user name use your name like bobsmith@blahblah.com.

3. If you don't want to use your full name you can use your first or last initial. bsmith@blahblah.com or bobs@blahblah.com.

4. If you don't want to use your name at all try to use something relating to your job search like jobseeker101@blahblah.com.

The point is using these types of user names or email addresses is the safer way to go. You don't want them to question if you are a vampire or if you dance with wild animals with names like truebloodlover or reggaemountaingoat.

1. Expand Your Search Area- Unfortunately, in some areas, the recession has really taken a toll on the job market. In these areas jobs are not only scarce, but also highly competitive. While relocation is always an option, your solution may be as simple as expanding your job search radius by 30 or so miles. This of course will make your commute longer, but you have to ask yourself if you?d rather spend an hour or two more traveling each day and get paid, or sit at home and not get paid.

2. Get more education- Going back to school can give you more opportunities than any other strategy on this list ? period. What if school isn?t for you? Have you thought about career education? Career education offers you the unique opportunity to learn practical skills in a specified profession. These schools often have employers that will hire graduates upon completion of an internship and/or apprenticeship. Try The Education Guide for career education schools in your area. 

3. Volunteer- Now I know what you?re thinking? volunteer work does not pay the bills. I realize this is true, however, this is a short-term mindset. Volunteer work affords you the opportunity to not only help out a cause you are passionate about, but also network with people in your community. Your goal should be to make as many connections as possible. Who knows, your hard work could even turn into a paid opportunity within the organization you volunteer for. 

4. Entrepreneurship- Everyone has some sort of talent. The problem is that most people, neglect to use their talent as a source of income. Now this may be due to time constraints or simply a lack of motivation; however, there?s no better time to use your talent than when you?re unemployed. Things like weaving, sewing, carpentry, freelance writing and creative design are all talents that can be used as a source of income. A great place to look for freelance work or advertise your own business is Craigslist. It?s the most widely accepted forum for free classified advertising on the Internet. 

5. Try a related career- Getting a job in your exact field may be tough these days, but there are certain fields that are still hiring. While these can be understandably frustrating, the best way to look at this is an opportunity to expand your area of expertise. Let?s use the marketing field as an example. During a recession, unfortunately companies usually look to the marketing department for ways to shave dollars off their budget. While marketing jobs have been hard to come by lately, there are jobs that are considered to be complimentary to marketing jobs. Such jobs may be in the form of sales, creative design or computer programming. Experience in any of these related fields will give you more leverage when trying to get a marketing job. 

How many times have you heard conflicting news about the job outlook in today's economy? My bet is that you've seen news articles ranging from statements that the recession is over to warnings that the unemployment rate will continue to increase over the next year. This is not to say that these stories are inaccurate, however, as a job seeker you could easily get frustrated about your future job prospects.

The fact is, there are plenty of companies still hiring, but few people have experience dealing with a major recession. Furthermore, there are also numerous job seekers that have been laid off from jobs they've had for 20 or more years. To say that those who have not searched for a job in decades are at a disadvantage is quite the understatement. Job seeking today is a much different than it was 20, even 10 years ago. Unfortunately, many job seekers have not adjusted their job search techniques and expectations with the recession. The key is catering your techniques to your particular skill set. Below are some things to consider in your job search whether you have 20 years of experience or are fresh out of school.

1.    Use the right type of resume

Using the wrong type of resume can not only be a disservice to your skills, but can also immediately label you as unqualified. For instance, a jobseeker with 15 years of experience should use a functional resume in order to highlight their skills. It also highlights the fact that an experienced worker most likely possesses the skills to immediately make an impact within the company.

Conversely, a jobseeker that is looking for his/her first job should use a chronological resume that includes any experience gained in side jobs such as babysitting or any extra-curricular activities they participated in during school.  While your resume may not be very extensive, it’s still important that you showcase your skills and experience to employers in a professional manner.

2.    Brand Yourself

This is a relatively new concept that that has emerged through the popularity of social media. The term “personal branding” comes out of a need for working professionals to establish themselves within their field of expertise as an expert. Personal branding requires a combination of strategies that and can (and should!) include using the following sites: Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and your own blog.  Simply having a profile on these sites, however, is not personal branding. Your profile on each of these sites should have a common theme. Your theme should reflect whatever interests you, which hopefully correlates to the industry in which you’re looking for a job. Once you have set up your profiles to your liking, start placing links within your social network profiles to your blog. Soon you will have a regular readership, and more importantly, a key advantage over other job seekers. There’s nothing more appealing to an employer than to have an employee who is regarded as a thought leader within their industry.

3.    Expand Your Career Options

Unfortunately, no matter how hard one may try, there are some professions that are simply not hiring during the recession. While this can be frustrating, it also provides an opportunity to gain experience in complimentary fields. For instance, say you are in the Marketing field. Marketing jobs are scarce right now, so why not try a job in sales, public relations or human resources? All three are fields that would provide valuable skills as a marketer, while also increasing one’s breadth of expertise.


Now with all that being said, job hunting during a recession is more of an art than a science. The bottom line is that if you’re not getting the results you desire, you (and you alone) can change things up and get the results you need.

If you have recently become a member within the unemployment sector you might be realizing how different the job search has become. Mailing out resumes and filling out applications at the local supermarket is a thing of the past. Email, corporate online applications, job boards and the such have become the "classifieds of tomorrow". Resumes are being replaced by the social network sites.

Websites such as LinkedIn, Facebook, MySpace and Twitter have become the "resumes of tomorrow". On these sites individual profile pages are setup listing all of the pertinent information about the job seeker. These sites initially have been created for personal use to locate family, friends and classmates. However recently these profile pages have been offering enough information for employers and recruiters to make a judgment call about perspective hires.

The findings of a recent survey conducted by Careerbuilder.com showed of those employers/recruiters who conducted online searches/background checks of job candidates:

• • 29% use Facebook, 26% use LinkedIn and 21% use MySpace. 

• • 11% search blogs while 7% follow candidates on Twitter.

Job seekers are warned to be conservative with the information they post online. They need to remember that employers and recruiters may be able to view their pages. CareerBuilder's survey findings also suggest that employers have not considered potential job seekers who post inappropriate material. Some examples would be inappropriate photos, foul language, any reference to illegal substances and bad-mouthing former employers.

This should not discourage anyone from creating these public profiles since there is a brighter side to the survey. People were hired for their listings of achievements and awards, showing a well rounded education and good references.

I think the digital resume is in it's infancy. Though due to our present economy it seems to be a fast growing part of the social networking market. If all of this information is accessible on digital devices, computers or phones, why the need for the paper trail? It will certainly help with the efforts for a greener planet!

Applying online has become quite the norm for the job seeker these days. It can be quite the exhausting task. Uploading resumes, filling out corporate applications and the hard part, remembering which company you applied to.

Whether you apply online or on paper you need a form of organization. You might want to start with a few tips:

1. Start a file for your resumes in your computer. You should have a few different resumes for qualified positions. This will give you some focus in your job search.

2. Start a document to list all the companies you are applying to. This list should have a place for the company name, address, phone, email, date and position you applied. This will give you instant access if you get an interview call from a company you applied to. You also may want a place for websites like Employment Guide to keep track on which website you applied through.

3. Pick a specific time of day to do your searching. Monday and Tuesday mornings are usually a good time. Many sites place new job postings in the beginning of the week.

4. Setup your social networking pages. Sites such as LinkedIn, Facebook or MySpace are great places to show employers who you really are. But keep these pages to the business point of view. You might not want them to know about the last party you attended.

Finally, allow yourself a certain amount of time on the computer. Stay focused and geared for the next application you need to fill out. Very easily you can be distracted and redirected somewhere else and next thing you know you are on a vacation website scheduling your week on the beach!

The NYEmployment Guide, in partnership with Madison Square Garden and the NY Liberty Women's Basketball team are hosting a Career Fair, September 1, 2009 from 2pm to 6pm. The first 500 job seekers to register will receive a FREE ticket to Tuesday nights New York Liberty Women's Basketball game!!


Career Fair Sponsored by:

1. Time Warner Cable

2. Brooklyn Job Corp.

3. Intergen Healthcare

Below are our employers in attendance:

1. Franklin First Financial

2. United States Marines

3. Ace Computers

4. Greater New York Home Care

5. Saint Joseph's College

6. New York Life Lake Success

7. Extra Care Homecare/Surfside Manor

8. MTA

9. Sanford Brown

10. DeVry University

11. Health First

12. AFLAC

13. Transcare

14. Health Plus

15. Americare

16. Quality Healthcare

17. Graham-Windham

18. Cablevision

19. Macy’s

20. Edison Home Health Care

21. New Age Training

22. ASA Institute of Business

23. Rite Aid

24. Sears

25. Accent Care

26. United States Navy

27. 1199 Employment Center

28. Staples

29. Ivy Real Estate Education

30. Evelyn Doughlin Center

31. Primerica

32. Upsize Today Magazine

33. New York Medical Career Training Center

34. US ARMY

35. AARP

A few things to remember before you go:
•    Dress Professionally. First impressions go a long way!
•    Bring 15-25 resumes. We have many businesses there waiting to meet you.
•    Plan to spend 45 minutes to 1 hour at the event.
•    Prepare a brief but effective "brag" to let the people you meet get to know you.
•    Keep an open mind. Meet with as many companies as you can.
•    And most important....bring a friend! All job seekers are welcome!
We hope you come and meet with all our visiting companies. And don't forget to check back here next week after the job fair. We will have video interviews and pictures from the day.

Remember when you found out you had an interview for that great job position? You were excited at first, told everyone you knew. You were elated! Then it all sunk in. All the questions run through your head. How do I handle this interview? Can I do this job? What do I say? The interviewer will have questions too. "So tell me a bit about yourself." They want to get to know you. They want to know if you can do the tasks required. But the question here is "Do you know you?"

Preparing "to know" yourself for a job you are considering or the next interview is a great asset to every interview. "Is this the job position that I really want?", "What is my salary requirement?" are some of the main questions you should be asking yourself. Take an inventory. Find some paper and write some down questions.
• "Where do you see yourself in five years?"
• "Can you advance to this position in this company?"
• "What asset can you bring to their company?"
• "What responsibility did you like the most in your last position?"
• "Why did you like this responsibility?"
• "Why should they hire you?"

Continue writing down other questions that may be helpful. Once you've answered these questions, compare the results with the jobs you are considering. Answering these questions and seeing them in black and white you are now one step ahead of the game.

The more you know about yourself the better your job search and or interview will be. And now when you're getting dressed for that interview or your sitting down to do a job search you have your best assets in hand and are ready to find that job that's just right for you.

With the unemployment rate in Las Vegas over 12% you need to work harder to find a job.  The good news is companies are hiring.  Hotel and Gaming are set to grow with new properties and expansions opening, housing is starting to recover, and recruiters are generally positive about upcoming hiring. 

Job fairs are a great opportunity to network with a wide variety of recruiters in a short amount of time and practice your interviewing skills.  It is important that you think of this as your first interview. You want to stand out to the recruiters you speak with.  It takes some preparation to be successful at a job fair.

Before the Job Fair:

•    Look up what companies are attending.  Research the companies to find out what positions are they hiring for, what they say about their work environment, benefits, and potential for growth within the company. 
o    Tip:  The Company’s website is a great place to find this information, but you can also use sites like GlassDoor.com to find out what current or previous employees think about the company.

•    Make a list of questions for each recruiter you want to speak with.  Be prepared to engage the recruiter in a discussion about the company, future growth, trends in the industry, and how your talents and experience can help the company.  Rehearse your questions in front of the mirror.  It builds confidence so you make a better impression.
o    Tip: Be sure the look the recruiter in the eye when you ask the questions and pause to listen to their answer.

•    Review your resume.  Be sure to emphasize what you have done better and faster than others or how you have saved money.  Tailor it to the companies you plan to see at the event.  Print additional copies.  You want to have a copy for each company you plan on visiting, and extra copies as you may find other recruiters who signed up at the last minute.  Make sure all contact information is correct.  Use an email address that is appropriate for a recruiter to judge you by.
o    Tip: Use the format first.last@email.com as the format for your e-mail address.  You can sign up with a free e-mail account with yahoo.com, gmail.com, hotmail.com and even aol.com.  Be sure you check this email account regularly.

•    Are there schools attending?  Do you need training for the job field you want to be in?  If so look at the schools attending and see if they offer programs to help you.  Be prepared to ask questions such as cost, financing, job placement assistance, how long before you can start work, and the schedule of the classes.
o    Tip:  Even if you don’t plan to talk to the schools, take a look at degree programs each one offers.  After talking to recruiters if you find a degree program will make you more marketable, you already have the information to know what schools you want to talk to at the Job Fair!
At the Job Fair:

•    Arrive early to allow enough time to easily talk to all the recruiters you plan to meet with.  Remember, you may have to wait for them to finish talking with someone else and there may be recruiters there you would like to meet who joined the job fair at the last minute. 

•    Dress for an interview.  This is the first time you will meet the recruiters and you want to make a positive first impression.  Be sure to dress appropriately for the industry you are applying for.  If the job you seek is formal, wear a suit.  In general “Business Casual” is most appropriate.  Slacks (not jeans) and a collared shirt for men, and slacks or a skirt and a blouse for women.  Keep jewelry to a minimum and do not wear clothing that is too revealing.

•    Take the time to talk to the recruiters.  This is what you prepared for.  Take a deep breath, relax, and smile.  Be respectful of their time but be sure to leave a strong, positive, professional impression.  Ask the questions you rehearsed and listen to the response.  You already know what they do.  This is your chance to show them you are familiar with the industry and can contribute to their business.  Be attentive and engaging.  You want to be the one they leave there wanting to hire.

•    Be prepared for a different approach.  Some recruiters refer all applicants to their websites.  They have their reasons and may not be in a position to answer questions about specific positions.  Do not just walk away.  Have a back up set of questions about the general hiring process such as how long does it typically take to receive a response, would they conduct the interview or will it be a departmental manager, can you check the status of your application, will you hear back either way?  Use this opportunity to learn more about the process you will be going through. 

•    Present a professional image.  Maintain a good posture, have a firm handshake, maintain eye contact, listen closely, and respond appropriately. 

•    Collect business cards.  If you are applying for a job this will give you contact information for those you are speaking with.  Follow up with a Thank You note a day or two after the event.  This will show that you are serious about working for them, that you paid attention, and reinforce the image you left them with. 

While there are many people who attend job fairs, you do not have to be part of the crowd.  This is your chance to shine.  With a little effort you can stand out from the rest and be on the road to success.  Good luck in your search!

Working in tandem with The “Putting America Back to Work” job fair series as well as Hire an Older Worker Week, The New York Employment Guide is hosting a Career Fair on September 1, 2009 from 2pm to 6pm at Madison Square Garden located in Manhattan, NY.  This Career Fair is sponsored in part by the New York Liberty Women’s Basketball Team and Madison Square Garden.

Admission is free to all job seekers and anyone joining us for the Career Fair will receive a FREE ticket to that evening’s New York Liberty Women’s Basketball Game at Madison Square Garden!
 
Currently the following companies have signed in attendance:

Featured Sponsor - Time Warner Cable
Franklin First Financial
United States Marines
Ace Computers
Greater New York Home Care
St. Joseph’s College
New York Life
Metro PCS
Extra Care Home Care
MTA
Sanford Brown
DeVry
Health First
AFLAC
Transcare
Health Plus
Americare
Quality Healthcare
Graham Windham
Cablevision
New Age Training
Macy’s
Edison Healthcare
ASA

Meet employers; Interview on the Spot!  Bring lots of resumes and dress for success.

Pre-Register and view the event details here.

1. Use a clear and concise objective statement. This is the first thing an employer sees, so it better be good! Make sure that it contains details including what you're looking for, why you're applying (is it to develop your skills, manage, create, etc.) and how you plan to succeed in the position (briefly showcasing what skills you can bring to the table.) This should be no more than two sentences, but preferably one. No, it's not easy to fit all this info into one sentence, but it can be done! 

2. List your education in reverse chronological order. You should also list any classes you may have taken that would be relevant to the job you're applying for. Don't put your GPA, unless it's above a 3.0.

3. Make a skills section. This section is another attention-grabber. Here you should use as many industry-related keywords, especially those that are mentioned in the job posting. You can also throw in a relevant technical proficiency if applicable (i.e. Microsoft Office 2007.) 

4. Your Experience section should be the most lengthy. This is the "bread-n-butter" of your entire resume. If an employer has made it to this section of your resume, you need to sell them on why they should call you for an interview. List, in bulleted form, as much relevant experience you can - focusing on topics specifically mentioned in the job description. Like your education, this should be listed in reverse chronological order. List the tasks you accomplished under each respective job. Keep in mind that each bullet point should point to a goal accomplished (i.e. drove sales, accomplished x,y, or z, and the like.) The employer reviewing your resume should know exactly why you listed each bullet point and be able to relate it to the job you're applying for.

5. Include only your most relevant Accolades and Activities near the bottom. Again, this section should be brief and serve only to reinforce your Experience section. Any awards you've received should be somewhat relevant to excellence within the realm of your job or any organization affiliations that showcase leadership. While these aren't going to be major selling points to employers, it can differentiate you from other applicants with similar experience. 

6. Make sure your resume is visually appealing. Once you've gotten your content down, now its time to look at its aesthetics. Things like bullet point alignments, margin widths and font are all important in making your resume stand out. To be on the safe side, use a template that already has the formatting done for you. Programs like Microsoft Word are a good starting point for such templates. Even further than that, don't sell yourself short with the paper you print it on. Faced with a stack of resumes, a resume printed on nice parchment will jump out at the hiring manager. Take the time and find a type of quality paper from your local print shop that looks professional and showcases your own personal style. 

7. Proofread, Proofread, Proofread. Typing this word three times isn't just for effect, it's a rule of thumb inferring that your resume should be read by three different people before it's submitted to an employer. Now, one of these proofreads can be done yourself and another should be done by a resume expert if possible. A great place to get advice on your resume is at an EmploymentGuide.com job fair!

Finally, remember that in today's economy, employers want to know that once hired you will be able to immediately succeed in your position. Managers are under immense pressure to drive revenue and can't afford to hire jobseekers that are under-qualified. That means that you should not only focus on convincing a hiring manager that you can perform the tasks at hand, but strive to excel once you've landed the job.  

Best of luck in your job search!