October Job Hunt: Fall(ing) for Jobs

lonely planet - image by Ella Scudlero on Flickr.com

lonely planet – image by Ella Scudlero on Flickr.com | Creative Commons License

Labor Day has come and gone. You used up your two-week annual vacation. Here on the East Coast of the United States, many of us have reluctantly dragged ourselves home from Wildwood Crest, Avalon, Ocean City, Duck (North Carolina), or anywhere that escaped the ravages of a particularly bad hurricane season whose beaches we can afford. Back to the daily grind. Back to your office email. Do you look forward to this or dread it?

What surprises await! Maybe you’ve landed that big project you requested. Or maybe you forgot to send in that last status report before you ran out of the office and eagerly headed to the beach. Oops. Do you look forward to seeing any new requests in your inbox? Or are you among the countless office dwellers who dread returning to the office, with its lackluster routine, the endless reports that don’t seem to accomplish anything, and the strangling nature of office politics?

If you thought becoming a beach bum was a more exciting career move than stepping back into your office, maybe it’s time to reevaluate your job. Maybe it’s time to start looking for a NEW job.

Before diving into the job hunt, make sure your credentials are up to snuff, your resume is up to date, and your social media profiles are squeaky clean. Yes, employers CAN ask you to fork over your Facebook password. You have the right to get up and walk out.

People sometimes get upset, justifiably so, at the prospect of potential employers thumbing through your Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter feeds. After all, your social feeds are YOUR business alone, right? Not so much. The courts have ruled that even though you might have the skills for the job, employers ARE allowed to say, “I don’t want people who like these things, or who say this, or who vote this way working for me.”‘ Therefore, we have employment based on BOTH skills and values. No wonder getting a new job can be tough.

How to Find a Job in 72 Hours

This process seems a bit simplistic to me. Call me jaded, but seems like it took 72 months, instead of 72 hours, to land a new job when I needed one. Anyway, I read through Glassdoor’s three-day schedule, and it seems plausible. If I were on the job market, I’d give their process a shot.

What To Do If A Company Ghosts You After An Interview

I thought the whole “ghosting” phenomenon was just for dating in the 2000s. I was wrong. You can go on a date, believe things went smoothly, and expect a phone call back, perhaps to set up another date. But nothing happens. No phone calls, no emails, no texts. Nothing. Sadly, the same thing happens in the job search, too. Substitute the word “interview” for “date.” I can’t help you with dating, but I can with job hunting. So the earnest job seeker has a few options to get “un-ghosted.” For one thing, send a thank you note. Second, call the hiring manager directly to follow up. She may have gotten distracted by an important task tossed into her lap. For more suggestions, read the article.

Recruiters Explain What The Worst Resumes Have In Common

Resumes cause most people lots of heartburn, and for good reason. It’s about the only tool you can use to land an interview (unless the hiring manager happens to be your drinking buddy). How do you know what someone might want to see? You’re more than just a list of job titles, after all. How do you separate yourself from the other 20 million people also gunning for the job? Hint: Use numbers. Read the article for more information.

13 Irresistible Resume Templates to Download Now

I don’t know about you, but whenever I update my resume, it’s hard enough to come up with facts, let alone decide how to arrange all the items on a single sheet of page. Fortunately, there are any number of free resume templates out there. Check out 13 of the best.

This Is How You Get on a Headhunter’s Radar (and Find Awesome Jobs)

When you’re looking for a new job, it’s helpful to know people — or to know someone who does. By that I mean a recruiter. How can you attract a recruiter’s attention and their help? I have a solution for you.

Have some tips or tools to share with your fellow technical communicators, information developers, and content creators? Let’s network! Drop me a note: HelpFiles@TechWhirl.com. Follow me on Twitter, connect with me on LinkedIn, circle me on Google+, or email me at craig.cardimon@gmail.com. I enjoy connecting with others in the industry.

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