Resume Tips and Career Advice

Experts say there are some signs of economic recovery starting to peek through the clouds here and there -- a few hints that things are starting to get better finally instead of worse. But what does that mean for the nation's record high 10.2% unemployment rate? How long will that take to get better?

According to this article it could be well into 2015 or beyond before some states (Michigan, Ohio, and Connecticut) get back to their pre-recession employment statuses, and for most others predictions for total recovery land somewhere in the 2013 range. So although it's great news that things might finally be on an upswing don't expect things to change overnight -- there's a lot of struggling left to do.

How does your state stack up? Do you think the numbers make sense for your area? Check the map and let us know.

According to an article published recently in USA Today one of the latest economic surveys reports statistics that are actually good. For the first time since the recession began more companies say they're planning to hire people over the next 6 months versus cutting them. The difference is small, 24% predicting growth versus 20% still predicting cuts, but at this point I think we're all happy to take what we can get. The industries that are seeing the most positive growth are service related, while those still suffering are mostly in the manufacturing realm.

Recovery might be slow, but slow and moving is forward is a hell of a lot better than standing still or sliding backwards.

Via BloggingStocks

As this recession drags on and the months and (gulp) years go by the phrase "job loss" is becoming more of a plural reference than a one-time occurrence for many. It's getting to the point where more than a few people have had time to get laid off, spend a few months on unemployment hunting for a job, find something new and think they've survived, only to lose that new job as well and start the whole process again. And every time the cycle repeats it gets harder because of the risk that an employer might think it was you, not necessarily the economy, that was the problem.

So how to fight back?

• Provide a solid, thorough explanation. Like with many potentially damaging pieces of information on a resume being honest and clear about what happened can be your best defense. Don't let them assume the worst about you.
• Be positive, not bitter or defeatist. It's hard to lose a job, let alone two or three of them, but if you want a new employer to hire you you're going to have to get over it. They'll pick up on your negativity and hopelessness and why would they want that on their payroll?
• Consider getting a career coach who specializes in your field. They can help give you an edge to counteract your multiple-job-loss disadvantage.
• Utilize LinkedIn and Twitter. The online world is becoming a popular tool for recruiting, networking, and sharing expertise. Consider putting your LinkedIn and Twitter links below the email address on your resume (consider carefully, though, it might not be appropriate in all situations).
• Remember that all luck changes. Things will get better, perserverance is key!

The Federal minimum wage in this country is $7.25, but the only jobs that really pay that are fast food joints and other entry-level or 'no-brainer' type positions, right? Wrong. You might be surprised but some very low paying jobs come with shockingly high levels of responsibility.

• EMT (Emergeny Medical Technician) Despite having people's lives in their hands on a daily basis the U.S. median wage is less than $10/hr, and some earn as little as $8-something.
• Pharmacy Tech Gathering patient information, sorting pills, and assisting pharmacists doesn't pay as well as you'd think: try an average of $9.93 with a bottom of only $7.88/hr.
• CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) CNA's are responsible for the care and safety of people in need. It's a physically demanding, thankless job that pays less than $10/hr (average $9.81, low end $8.12).
• Preschool Teacher They're responsible for teaching your kids, keeping them safe, and having the unlimited patience it requires to deal with bunches of them running around all day. All that for as little as $8.19/hr and an average of $10.50.
  
• Lifeguard They have to both be ready and have the skills to swim out and save someone's life at a moment's notice -- resuscitation and all. Not to mention they often play referee keeping everybody safe around the pool or lake all day while doing it. The pay for that kind of pressure? As little as $7-8 per hour.

The thing about getting a job is that there is no simple and easy "follow these steps and you're guaranteed to get hired" formula. Here at Emurse we give all kinds of tips and strategies and here's another for inspiration: 4 of the steps most critical to getting hired.

• #1: Customize your resume and pitch to each interview.
• #2: Focus more on results and a little less on skills and responsibilities.
• #3: Get the inside track, meaning make a point to find out and understand the company's culture, focuses, and needs before you apply and interview (so you can better do #1!).
• #4: Make a great first impression by dressing the part and having a positive, powerful presence.

It's a problem many new graduates and those looking to switch careers face: you need experience to get a job, but you can't land a job without experience. Quite the dilemma.

From unpaid internships to exaggerated facts and padding resumes, people handle this quandary in a variety of ways and most of them do manage to end up plodding along happily in their chosen fields. I found one particularly creative approach to dealing with 'need experience to get experience' in this article over at Harvard Business -- the basic idea is to find a business or colleague in your area that needs something but doesn't have the resources to make it happen, check your pride at the door, and strike up a bargain where you offer your help in exchange for the experience.

Believe me, it makes more sense in the article so pop over and give it a read, then pop on back and tell us what you think: is it a realistic option for people?

For most people background checks are no big deal, but for those who aren't so lucky and find themselves sweating bullets over a misdemeanor in their past it can be a real source of stress -- and if handled incorrectly -- it could mean a lost job opportunity.

Although there's nothing that can be done to keep a misdemeanor from showing up on a background check there are steps you can take to minimize the damage when it does:

• Prepare in advance (before you even go to a first interview) to answer uncomfortable questions about your background -- know what you're going to say and how you're going to explain important points.
• Avoid becoming anxious or defensive if/when the subject comes up in the interview (especially if it comes up unexpectedly).
• Be upfront and honest (but don't necessarily bring it up until the interview gets to the background check stage) and don't try to cover it up, pretend it didn't happen, or hope the employer doesn't notice it. You'll only end up looking worse.
• Tailor your list of personal and professional references to show character and to counterbalance any concerns created by your less than perfect history.

There seems to be plenty of advice and information out there on how to transition from an office environment to working from home, but what if you're thinking about going in the other direction? Whether you've tried the home thing and hate it, or are a freelancer struggling in this economy and crave a steadier paycheck, there are a few key steps to making the change from home to office as seamless and painless as possible:

• Make a list of pros and cons associated with each option, i.e. home office = no commute and a flexible schedule while employment at a company makes for easier networking and separating of 'business' from 'family,' so you can minimize unpleasant surprises and know what you're in for.
  
• Talk it over with your spouse, family, and anyone else who will be affected and see what concerns, opinions, and thoughts they have -- try to troubleshoot potentially difficult adjustments ahead of time to reduce stress on everyone.
  
• Be sure to allow enough time for a smooth transition so not only can you make sure to take care of all the details from a business perspective (don't want to rush and leave clients frustrated) but also on a personal one -- changing your work environment is changing a big part of your life so give yourself as much time as is reasonable to transition slowly and smoothly.
  

When you're between jobs the obvious thing is to keep your resume fresh and updated, but what about your skills? That resume is pretty useless if you let yourself get rusty and can't back it up when the time comes. Keep yourself as sharp as ever with these strategies:

• Stay connected to the industry by not only holding onto any group or club memberships in your field (or joining new ones) but by being as active as possible in them.
• Attend conferences -- you've got all kinds of free time so why not use some of it to brush up your old skills, learn some new ones, and compile some trend-setting ideas for when you get hired again?
• Pursue additional degrees, certifications, and other educational opportunities that apply in your field.
• Connect with others in your industry online by starting a blog, joining social networking sites, and staying up to date on the latest news and trends.

What would you suggest?

Sadly, being grateful to have a job doesn't make the daily grind in a position you hate much easier to bear. If you're miserable and stuck because of a lack of options in this economy then first figure out why exactly you're so unhappy. Is it your boss? Do you feel overworked and under-appreciated? Or maybe you're just plain bored by what you do?

Once you've got the problem narrowed down you can take steps to make the most of a less-than-perfect situation.

If it's your boss:
Poor communication can be an issue so see if you can set up regular meetings to go over your progress and help you maintain an understanding of what your boss wants from you. If there's a personality clash between the two of you remember that managers often bear more stress than you know and so if they seem standoffish or rude it's probably nothing personal!

If it's the work:
Set goals for yourself or work to find solutions to challenges the company as a whole is facing (can you figure out way to save them money somehow?).

If you're constantly worried you'll the be next to go:
Resist the urge to let despair to take over and stay positive. Make yourself as valuable as possible by going the extra mile whenever you can, and by making sure all your work is top-notch. And of course it never hurts to build yourself a safety net by nurturing your network and updating your resume.

And if all else fails just grin and bear it -- the job market will get better!