By Renee Pullman

Chances are if you own a computer your next job will be located using the internet. Many web sites exits to serve as portals for job search. You may be familiar with sites like Monster.com, Indeed.com, jobsearch.com, and snagajob.com. These sites provide a great service and can help you find some great opportunities.

These sites have categorized the job listings to keep your search time low as you locate potential jobs. Most also give you the ability to send your resume to the employee and this service is usually free. Sending your resume electronically avoids your resume being held up in the mail while your competitor, your fellow job searchers gets his in first. This also saves you money in printing and mail costs.

These sites also allow you to post your resume and make it searchable on the web. Potential employers can now dial in the job requirements and single out the resumes of applicants that match the job to come up. Education, skills, special training, it is all there to easily discover by employees. If there are preferences that you have make sure they are covered in your resume in a way that the job sites can index for employers. This is like the same way that Google will find search words that you type in – in various documents on the web. People have written those search terms into their sites. You too should put words and phrases that potential employers will type in to find you.

Understand the kind of job that you want. If you are not sure, perhaps you should take a career assessment test. A career assessment test will show you the kinds of jobs that you are interested in, have aptitude for, and possibly skills suited to the job. This will also help you know yourself and give you questions that perhaps you can discuss with friends and colleagues. Asking the right other people about your job qualifications can give you even more insights and suggest other things to put into your resume. However you choose to do it be sure that you are a good fit both for the job and for the company you are seeking work with.

Job searches in the internet era are much easier than getting a newspaper, opening the classified and marking off the jobs you might be interested in. After that it’s calling and pounding the pavement in the quest for a job. The internet and other technologies may even land you a job without ever leaving the side of your computer as the search is done online and the interview might be done entirely by phone.

Even with the great progress in job search using online search sites you may still want to kick your online job search up to the next level. I invite you to visit http://www.blueprintforyourfuture.com/ and learn the latest ninja job search method.

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Mary Berman, from Farmington Hills, Michigan, had been looking for work since February 2009 before starting her Guerrilla Job Search, in mid-September.

Up to that point, 20 weeks of job hunting had produced zero job interviews.

Just 7 weeks later, she accepted a job on Thursday, November 12, as a marketing executive assistant.

How did she use Guerrilla job hunting tactics to find work 65% faster?

“I started with the Coffee Cup Caper. I sent a paper Starbucks coffee cup with my cover letter and Guerrilla Resume. I heard back from them a couple days later to get my first interview,” says Berman.

After her first interview, which went well, Berman followed up with panache.

“It was Halloween time, so I decided to send them a chocolate covered apple with my hand-written thank-you note attached. A friend of mine, who was off work that day, played delivery person and took it to [the employer]. That was a big hit — they were thrilled — and I got the second interview out of it.”

Berman’s second interview was with the executive vice president. Afterwards, she followed up diligently. “When I came home, I wrote a 30-60-90 day plan. I had taken copious notes during the interview and used that information given to create suggestions for what I would do in the first 30, 60, and 90 days. I sent that to them via FedEx with another thank-you note. And I got a job offer.”

Now. Let’s break this successful Guerrilla Job Search down …

1. Start smart

The Coffee Cup Caper — a paper Starbucks cup, full-color Guerrilla Resume, and a Guerrilla Cover Letter (asking to meet for coffee), shipped in a box — gets extraordinary results. By contrast, ordinary resumes and cover letters, sent by email, get ordinary results.

2. Follow up with style

Delivering a Halloween treat with her thank-you note was correct seasonally, if not politically. Use good judgment before sending items that might be perceived as bribes by employers sensitive to such things. In Berman’s case, however, it worked like a (chocolate-covered) charm.

And, leaving out the gift, could you arrange to have your thank-you note delivered by a courier, or a friend posing as one? Of course.

3. Give employers another reason to hire you

Mary did this in spades after her second interview, when she sent a written plan of action for her first 3 months on the job.

A 30-60-90 day plan is a way of proving you can do the work — before you’re even on the payroll — by describing how you would learn the job, build rapport with employees/customers, and contribute to the bottom line.

Mary’s plan was 8 pages long and took the better part of a Friday night to prepare. (Before you balk at spending an entire evening at home researching and writing a 30-60-90 day plan, ask yourself if you wouldn’t trade a night out for getting a steady paycheck again.)

4. Score style points with your delivery

Mary’s first follow-up, the chocolate-apple-thank-you note, was delivered by a courier, not by email. Her 30-60-90 day plan was delivered by FedEx, not by email.

Do you NOT see a pattern? Email should NOT be the sole delivery method for your career documents.

Bottom line: This smart Guerrilla had failed to get even one job interview in 20 weeks of conventional job hunting with conventional tactics.

After adopting unconventional Guerrilla tactics, she found work in only 7 weeks.

If Guerrilla job search methods can work in Michigan, where the unemployment rate tops 15%, they can work where you live. The only thing stopping you from thinking and acting like a Guerrilla is you.

Resource: The same Guerrilla Resumes and Cover Letters Mary used are here.

Try to narrow down your local job search with Google. Use a Google search with your city and job type to begin to hone in.

One of the troubles with this approach is getting both old and new results. For free videos that explain an alternate approach visit our home page at: http://www.BlueprintForYourFuture.com

Approach finding a job as if it were a full-time job, because it is. If you had a job, you would report to work at the same time each day (like 8 am), take an hour (or less) for lunch, and quit at the same time each day (like 5 pm). You would work five days every week. And you would work hard to accomplish as much as you could because your career depended upon it.

When you are searching for a job, you should follow the same type of schedule because your future depends upon it.

Treating your job search like a part-time hobby guarantees that it will take longer.

So, begin tomorrow by reporting to work and spending the day on tasks that lead to a job.

2) Approach finding a job as if it were a project. That means you should set goals for yourself, make plans, and monitor your progress. You should apply all of the tools and skills that you used in your last job to the project of finding your next job.

As you must expect, this is an important project. The sooner you complete it, the sooner you gain a promotion into a job.

3) Be your own boss. Set expectations for what you need to accomplish, provide direction, and monitor your work.

Meet with yourself once each week to evaluate your performance. I recommend doing this by writing two reports. The first is a candid evaluation of what you accomplished during the previous week. The second is a description of your plans for the coming week. Your plans should include your goals, actions, and priorities.

The first time that you write these reports, write an evaluation of what you have done so far. Describe the results that this effort has produced. And compare these results with what you wanted to have.

Next, map out a realistic plan for the next week based on achievable goals. For example, you could set goals for the number of people you will call, the number of networking meetings you will attend, and the research you will conduct.

In the coming weeks, compare the results that you obtained during the previous week with the goals that you set. For example, if you planned to attend twelve networking meetings and you attended only two, you should a) explain why this happened and b) plan actions that will correct such a difference. You should also analyze why you missed your goal because this provides insights on what you need to do differently. For example, Your goal (e.g., of attending twelve networking meetings) may have been set too high. Or maybe there are things you can do that will make it easier to achieve your job search goals, such as car pooling with a friend who is also looking for a job.

Finding a job is a full time job. Work through it with a plan and the support of a good boss (yourself).

I wish you the best of success.

• Local Job Search Resource » Network Your Way to a New Job – If you’re interested in a new career, Local Jobs shares their expertise on local jobs and search techniques, with an inside look at opportunities in all industries, what it’s like working at a particular job, the logistics, and the rewards of having a local job. Even if you’re not looking for a job right now, career networking should be a part of your daily, or at least weekly, routine. You never know when you might find yourself in need of a new job.
• Ebusinessstuff.com » Blog Archive » successful local job search – successful local job search. Tips for a Successful Local Job Search … Ebusinessstuff.com is proudly powered by WordPress …
• Internet PLR Articles » Blog Archive » JH2-successful-local-job-search – If you are seriously searching for a local job, but you have no idea where to look, you may be just one of the thousands of unemployed people in the country. However, finding a job is easy when you know where to search. Before anything else, you should determine your skills and abilities, update your resume and be ready to face the employment process.

Related job search articles

• Job Search Support Group (svmoms.com)
• Job-seekers in finance will take less pay (americablog.com)
• Using social media to land a job (collegemediainnovation.org)
• SmartCandidates.com – Looking For A Job Online (killerstartups.com)

Job search is complex today and there is a lot of competition for employment.  The process can be drawn out and resume’s are not just an added thought, they are absolutely needed if you want to land a job.

>> Find Job Leads Quickly

You need to develop good job search methods and the internet is at the center.  Online search sites are very useful.  Recruiters, company hiring managers and human resources professionals are all components in your job search, but it is the resume’s job to land interviews.

Remembering that resumes are actually marketing pieces designed to sell you to potential employers, aggressive resumes are NOT simply a listing of your work experience or your biography (life on paper).

What Makes A “Winning” Resume?

Your resume should go out with a cover letter and the two of them are your agents that present you to perspective employers.  They need to sell you to your perspective employer such that he will call you to arrange an interview.

Most resumes rate a scan and gets put aside or tossed in the trash.  Yours needs to stand out, both the resume and cover letter must each do their part.

So let’s examine some ways to write aggressive, up-to-the-minute resumes that really SELL you.

OBJECTIVES

There are lots of opinions about whether or not to use an objective, or just how to do so, if one IS used. The only “given” about the use of an objective, is definitely NOT to use one on senior level resumes. A CEO, CFO, COO or other executive’s resume actually looks/reads silly when an objective is used. But for the mid-level or entry-level candidate, an objective can be useful. Here are a few ways to incorporate the concept into a resume…for a very targeted client who knows exactly what she/he wants:

BUYER…PURCHASING MANAGER…PROCUREMENT AGENT

or, for someone seeking to remain in their career pattern: EXPERIENCED COST ACCOUNTANT seeks a position with a progressive organization that will utilize a successful career to meet/exceed company goals.

or, for a client who has several fields she/he want to pursue: Results-oriented manager seeks a position with advancement opportunities; areas of interest include retail, electronics and communications technology.

or, if someone wants to change careers: AGGRESSIVE individual seeks a career in sales utilizing strong interpersonal skills to penetrate untapped markets and build a loyal client base.

What you’ll notice in the above cases, is what’s stressed in the objective: the BENEFIT the COMPANY will receive if they hire the candidate. What is not stated is what YOU want. Companies don’t care what you want – they want to know what you can do for THEM.

A flaw in writing objectives, is that they sometimes just say the same thing that 78+ other resumes sitting on the hiring authority’s desk state: Seeking a challenging position that will utilize my skills in editing, proofreading and copy writing.

Oh, that’s exciting…makes you just want to jump to the phone and give that person a call, doesn’t it? Stating that the person is seeking a challenging position is ridiculous. Would you ever state that you were seeking a boring position? Of course not – so don’t state the obvious – it’s a cliché.

REFERENCES PROVIDED UPON REQUEST

Using this phrase at the end of the resume is archaic. It’s a given (talk about a cliché!), and contemporary resumes omit this. The better approach is to generate a prepared Professional Reference sheet which you can bring with you on interviews and leave with the interviewer when references are requested.

RESPONSIBLE

This word is often so over-used in a resume, that at GetInterviews.com, we never use it. Recruiters employed at retainer-only search firms have told me that the word “responsible” signifies mid-management and below, not executive-level candidates. Personally, I believe the word “responsible” is actually useless in a resume. Instead of writing, “Responsible for all departmental functions including accounts payable/receivable, payroll and invoicing…” I would suggest to use an action word that best depicts what that person actually does – for example, “Perform all departmental functions, including…” or “Oversee all departmental functions, including…” or “Review all departmental functions, including…” See what I mean? “Responsible” doesn’t really SAY anything, it doesn’t give a clear indication of what you actually do. Do you perform the functions or direct them? “Responsible” is too vague to say which.

MY, MINE, THIS, I

Using words like this in the resume indicates you are writing in a narrative voice, as if you are having an actual conversation, a dialogue with the reader. This is not the case: you are presenting your achievements, skills and credentials to a potential employer. My suggestion would be to keep the resume more business-like, more professional. In descriptions, the word “a” could be substituted for the word “this,” as in: “Promoted to a $30 million division of an international widget manufacturer to expand sales into untapped markets” as opposed to “Promoted to this $30 million division….”

ALSO

I have seen this word used when describing daily functions: “Control and administer annual budgets totaling $12 million. Also, interface with vendors to negotiate more favorable terms and gain higher profits.” Again, the “also” is a dialogue word, and quite unnecessary. In writing resumes, it is best to do what my Creative Writing professor called “tight writing.” That is, to eliminate as many “an’s, the’s, also’s, a’s,” etc., as possible. They typically aren’t necessary and can be cut from the resume without loss of meaning.

NUMBERS

Contrary to the rules of grammar, EXCEPT for academic resumes, it is best to use numerals in a resume rather than spell out the number, even when that number is 10 or under. I know that grammatically, we are taught to spell out numbers like three, five, seven, etc., and write 12, 14, 16, etc. The numerical version, however, jumps off a page, whereas the spelled out version often gets lost. Because resumes are often only scanned by the reader 15-20 seconds, the actual use of numbers helps to capture the readers’ attention – they are drawn to the numbers, which means they are spending more time looking at and reading your resume – and that’s a GOOD thing! I made the reference above to academic resumes, because teachers, principals and superintendents are very sensitive to grammatical rules, even in resumes. It’s best to spell out any number under 10 for these types of resumes. I would never recommend, however, that the words “percentage” or “dollar” be used (“30 percent” or “12 million dollars”) – instead, use the symbol, as in 30% or $12 million.

EDUCATION VS. EXPERIENCE

Knowing when to highlight someone’s education vs. experience is important. With certain fields (teaching, for example), the general preference is to lead off the resume with the client’s credentials and educational background, even if they have considerable experience. Recent college grads should also have their education first, as it is typically their greatest achievement. However, someone who returned to college (part time nights, for example), while concurrently employed full time for the past 9 years as a travel agent, should have their resume lead off with their experience, and NOT emphasize they just obtained their Bachelors degree. They are not entry-level candidates – their experience is more vital to a company than their education. Remember that all resumes do NOT have to lead off with the client’s education.

PAST / PRESENT TENSE

Writing in the present tense is always more aggressive than writing in the past tense. Verbs in past tense are in a passive voice, so whenever feasible, write in the present tense. Obviously, if you are still employed, your current job listing is written in the present tense (manage, direct, supervise, control, etc).

PICTURES

Unless you are an actor or model, do not include a picture of yourself under any circumstances. Companies these days are so concerned about EEO lawsuits, discriminatory cases and the like, that at best, they will immediately throw out the picture, or at worst, possibly throw away the entire resume, especially if the picture is printed into the resume. I can guarantee you recruiting firms are highly sensitive to this, as well.

GRAPHICS

Be careful not to make your resumes “too cute.” Remember, companies see you as an INVESTMENT – they are spending x amount of dollars to obtain you (salary), and want to see a return on their investment. It is a business negotiation. If the resume appears too “decorative” or distracting because of cute clip art images or overly decorative paper, you may be dismissed and the resume tossed.

PERSONAL INFO

Marital status, date of birth, health, hobbies, etc., are not relevant on a resume these days.

Remember, you aren’t writing your biography, you are marketing yourself on paper: why does the employer want to hire YOU above all others, especially when there are 91+ resumes from equally qualified candidates sitting on that decision-maker’s desk? Answer that question in the resume, and you will have written a tight, solid, results-oriented resume…in short, a winning, aggressive resume, and the sort of resume that is vital for today’s job search – and that of the next millennium.

We’ll deal more with the all important cover letter in another post here at BluePrintForYourFuture.

Other Job Search Resources From The Internet

Power Job Search Tips With Google

Tips for a Successful Local Job Search

As we all know, this subject is something that we could all use a little education on no matter who you are. If you are gravely sharp for a local job , but. Go here to see the original: Tips for a Successful Local Job Search …

Your Health Guide: Best job search advice

He guides on on the dos and don’ts of job search . His site is full of practical advice on what one has to do to find a job. Not just any job, but finding the right job. He tells you to be practical. He tells you to do what you want to …

4 Impressive Job Interview Techniques to Get the Offer!

There are 4 job interview techniques that I talk about all the time (and encourage my candidates to use in their medical … This video will show you how some of my candidates have taken this advice and run with it…these are real-world examples of how candidates used these techniques in their job interviews and got fantastic job offers as a result. …

Career Advice with Maggie: College students searching for jobs

For experienced job seekers the average job search takes 4.5 months. To best prepare for landing a job, put yourself in the hiring manager’s shoes. Their biggest problem is finding qualified candidates who can hit the ground running. … Approach non-profits or businesses and set up mentorships with local leaders. You’ll gain experience and connections that will differentiate you. Doing an internship is a great way to gain experience and demonstrate to a potential employer your skills and aptitude.