Who doesn’t know how to use this tool? From newly graduate students to professional ones, Job Seach Engine is a website that facilitates job hunting. These sites range from large scale generalist boards to niche markets such as engineering, legal, insurance, social work, teaching, and others. Users can typically deposit their résumés and submit them to potential employers, while employers can post job ads and search for potential employees. Job Search Engine aims to provide a “one-stop shop” for job-seekers who don’t need to search the underlying job boards. Other job search engines index pages only from employers’ websites, choosing to bypass traditional job boards entirely.

Not being sure of what to do, many resumes lose their focus. It is better to limit the focus of your resume or make more than one version if you’re aiming at different target jobs. Include a summary of your qualifications near the top of your resume, describing your experience and knowledge of the position you’re applying for. Your resume’s work experience part should give an overview of your career arranged chronologically and some highlights of key accomplishments of your latest work experience. Professionals who have worked for more than four years need not give exhaustive information on their educational qualification.

These 6 tips will help you get rid of unnecessary job search stress.

1. GET ORGANIZED
You should NEVER be stressed because you cannot find something. This goes beyond keeping track of resumes and cover letters. Other essentials like diplomas, certification certificates, and forms of identification should always be easily accessible. Most people agree that the creation of an employment portfolio is the best solution. One easy to access container of all your essentials will relieve pressure when searching for information or gathering materials prior to an interview.

2. STICK TO A SCHEDULE
The most successful job seekers admit that finding a job is a full time job. Just being busy creates a stressful atmosphere. Creating and maintaining a schedule lets you visualize what you need to get done and when you need to get it done. Often times we create stress in our minds. A schedule quantifies how busy you actually are not how busy you think you are. Moreover, you can monitor how well you follow your schedule to determine how efficiently you use your time.

3. TAKE A BREAK
All work and no play can make you a dull person, and make you go crazy. Under excessively tense conditions, recreation plays a vital role in maintaining composure. The beauty of the schedule is that it not only lets you see when you need to get work done, but also when you don�t need to get work done. Fill your free time with fun, relaxing activities that take your mind off worries. Finding a job is a full time job, but it should not consume 24 hours of the day 7 days a week.

4. KNOW WHERE YOU STAND
People also create stress by not evaluating where they stand with a prospective employer. They tend to assume that they are not in good standing with a company or interviewer, which only creates more tension and worries. Take time to stop and think about correspondences and other interactions. Pay attention to the tones people use as they write or speak. Reflect on the impressions you make from a phone interviewer. A second round of interviews probably means you made the cut and are in the running for the job. Serious contemplation of these types smaller things will remove uncertainty, thus remove worry.

5. AVOID REPETITIVE STRESS
You can improve efficiency and free up time, but recognizing opportunities to reuse work you have already done. This does NOT mean using generic cover letters and interview questions. However, having templates that can be modified to custom fit companies and situations is worthwhile. The key is to reduce the amount of work you have to do, without sacrificing the authenticity of the impression you leave. An employment portfolio can make this recycling even easier. Just remember that everything you say or write to a possible employer should reflect your personality and your thoughts on working for that particular employer.

6. PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
As it comes down to the wire, the most stressful part of a job search for many people is the most confrontational part of the process: the interview. An interview is, in some respect, an employer�s way of testing you. Just like you studied for tests in school, you can study for interviews. This is more than just doing background research on a company. Think about possible questions the interviewers might ask you and think about how you would respond. Many people find it helpful to actually go through mock interviews with friends or family. Find a preparation method that works for you. Whatever it may be, use it. If you can eliminate the anxiety of an upcoming interview, you will perform better and feel better.

CONCLUSION
If you ever find yourself stressing out over your situation, think back to these 6 pointers. Stress reduction is incredibly helpful, so let it work for you.

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6) Network, Network, Network!
Let the world know that you are available for work. Discuss with family, friends, teachers, neighbors, lovers, strangers,… everyone! Don’t ask people for jobs directly; ask for their help and advice. Build a network digitally as well as verbally and use email, fax, and Web sites to help connect you to your “helpers”.

7) Visit the Institutions!
Extend your network to the larger society. Visit your old school, meet with the president and deans if you can, talk with your teachers, and get advise from your counselors and advisors. Stop by City Hall, the Library, the Post Office, even the local Fire Department if you can. All these social institutions see it as their job to help society and to do all they can to network with you.

Hit the Books, Again!
Keep your professional skills sharp while job hunting. Attend professional conferences, seminars, lectures, and groups. Network with your peers! Take part in professional organizations and especially online discussion groups. Develop a portfolio of your best work for all the interviews you will receive from your job hunting efforts.

9) Be Flexible about What Job You Will Take!
Keep this in mind. Those people who are more flexible about the job they will take will increase their chances of getting a job. Often a job is not exactly what you are looking for, but it might still be a very good job for you for other reasons. Perhaps you may gain a great deal of valuable work experience from this job. Perhaps it will allow you to network with other professionals. Perhaps it will give you more opportunities to learn and grow within this company. Be flexible about what you will take, and you may find more opportunities within that job.

10) Don’t Put All Your Eggs in One Basket.
Be diverse. Be a “Jack-of-all-trades”. Education is a way of life. If you need to go back to school for a certificate or degree that will open the door to the career you really want, then you might want to consider that. Keep your career plans flexible so that you have a chance to grow in several directions and not in just one.

Source: npu.edu

1) Be patient!
According to Richard Bolles in “What Color is Your Parachute”, the average job search averages 2-6 months.•Get ready for 6 months of hard work, rejection, insecurity, and maybe even depression. Keep calm and remind yourself that if you keep trying hard, you will eventually get the job you want.

2) Discipline yourself!
Job hunting is a job in itself. The average job hunter in America only spends about 5 hours a week looking for a job. Treat job hunting like a serious job in itself and give it your full work discipline. Carefully plan out how you will use your time and stick to your schedule.

3) Don’t wait for the job to come to you — GO GET IT!
Research has shown that answering newspaper ads, using agencies, using school recruiting offices, sending resumes are some of the least effective ways to get a job. Going to a company and talking to people (especially the boss) is one of the most effective ways to get a job.

4) Pack your schedule!
The average job hunter only visits a few companies per week. The average job hunter may visit 10 – 70 companies before getting a job. It’s a numbers game: the more people you see, the sooner you will get the job you want.

5) Where’s the growth?
Knowing the job market means knowing who is hiring. Often large companies hire in huge bursts of expansion (and downsize the same way as well). Small companies hire smaller numbers, but over 95% of all companies in America are small.

Source: npu.edu

Meaningful Work
Explore your passion, identify a new direction, and take action to create a career that leaves you energized and excited. Curt Rosengren,Passion Catalyst

Say Thank You
Try to send your thank-you note within 24-48 hours of your interview or meeting. The note may be handwritten on a small, professional, thank-you note card (if you have extremely neat handwriting and only a brief message to convey), word-processed, or emailed.

Stay On Top of the News
Be aware of the latest business news in your community or the city where you want to work. Read local business journals to find out who’s on top in your industry. Review the Business section of your local newspaper, as well. These resources will give you a sense of which employers are “hot” as well as often contact information to send your resume.

Your Resume
Write it until it’s right. Think, write, think some more, rewrite, proofread, get feedback and rewrite. Joyce Lain Kennedy, Career Author

Don’t Give Up
Last, but not least, don’t give up. Job searching is never easy and it’s even harder when the job market is difficult. Keep plugging away at your job search and eventually, though it may take more time that you expected, the right position will come along.

Source: jobsearch.about.com

First Impressions
Looking, speaking and acting professionally help to make a terrific first impression. Tory Johnson, Women for Hire

Follow-Up
Don’t be afraid to follow-up. I hired a Customer Manager over a year after he first sent me his resume. I didn’t even need to advertise when the position became available. In addition to sending me his resume, John had called me every month or so to touch base, and even stopped in my office (through the back door not through the receptionist!) just to say hello. Needless to say I remembered him when a position opened up. And he was extremely qualified for the position, which is why I remembered him.

Interviewing
Be on time for the interview. On time means five to ten minutes early. If need be, take some time to drive to the office ahead of time so you know exactly where you are going and how long it will take to get there.

Job Fairs
Periodically attend these events even when you are not necessarily looking for a job to see what opportunities are out there, and to gain a perspective on where you fit in the job marketplace. Tracey Miner, The Mulitcultural Advantage

Keep Track
I have found that one of the most useful things I started doing was to keep track of everything I am doing. I use a simple spreadsheet, like Excel. And I do mean everything. I have one file where I enter all the information from any job sites that I join. Information such as the username and password I created, what type of job site is it -­ freelance or regular or specialty. Tracey Pederson, Jill of Trades

Source: jobsearch.about.com

Before you start your job hunting, make an assessment of what you want to do, where do you stand with job hunting, where you are in your job search, and are you ready to get started on a search. If you’re thinking of a change, ask yourself if it is the right time to get started, review your situation and make sure that you have all the resources covered. This does not mean that changing jobs would be easy but if you are prepared, it will run smoothly.Your resume and application letter will be your best chance to market your skills, knowledge and accomplishments.

First Impressions – Dress for success, and think and look confident. Be professional on the way you look and speak.
Follow-Up – Calling a prospective employer to follow-up creates the impression that you are serious with your application and really interested in the position. They would take time to assess your qualifications, giving you a better chance of getting hired.
Interviewing – Be on time for the interview, meaning, five to ten minutes early. If you’re not familiar with the location, try to find out how to get there before your schedule.
Job Fairs – Attend job fairs, discover opportunities and lookout for prospects in the job marketplace.

You should be able to stand out (in a positive way) during your interview. It is important then that you would be able to get your ideas across and commended for the way you speak. So be able to keep the interviewer interested on what you have to say. Be serious yet keep the conversation light. Be confident from head to toe. Not only should you speak calmly, but also your body language must demand respect. Answers are meant to be thought of, so do not just talk and talk to fill in lull moments. Make sure that you understood the question and then try your best to quickly think of an answer with a good explanation to match.

by: Evey