Blog Post: PRESENTING YOURSELF IN TOUGH TIMES

Times of wide spread unemployment present a unique challenge to the job seeker.  The game seems to be completely in favor or the potential employer.  There are a great many unemployed people seeking jobs.  There have always been a great many people seeking a new job. Standing out in the crowd is not difficult.  Standing above the crowd is.

Here are some things that you want to be sure you do.  They are simple. But and amazing number of people forget them:

1.        Have current, accurate and complete contact information on your resume.

2.        Have an honest explanation of any employment gap of over 3 months ready.

3.        Always be prepared for an interview.  Some firms do this right at the job fair.

4.        Have at least one business reference on the resume.

5.        Don’t knock your previous employer.  It does not make you look good.

6.        If you have been job hopping, leave off any stays shorter than 3 months.

7.        Don’t lie during an interview.  Interviewers will usually catch it and it’s good bye.

8.        Make your resume represent you well.  Make it neat, complete, and an advertisemen for you.

9.        Have a long term goal.  Make this a real goal, something you really want to accomplish.  Read it. Does it sound like baloney to you?  Yes?  Rewrite it.

10.    Dress so it makes you feel terrific.

11.    Use your resume as  a quick reference to fill out an application.  Be consistent.

12.    Don’t add incompletes in your appearance, resume, number of resumes, etc.  to the stress of the job fair.  Arrive ready to make a great impression and to be hired, or at least earn an interview.

Good luck to you!