How are job seekers ruining their job search? - Employers cite the mistakes that damage job searches

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.cbdr.com/artieimages/kk/ar5l0rm78mz0wvf6fbkk.gif?time=12/10/2010%205:37:36%20pm" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://emj.cbdr.com/artieimages/kk/ar5l0rm78mz0wvf6fbkk.gif?time=12/10/2010%205:37:36%20pm" /></a></div>How are job seekers ruining their job search? - Employers cite the mistakes that damage job searches<br />Anthony Balderrama, CareerBuilder writer <br /><br />Because a job hunt can be an aggravating process, self-confidence is essential. Hopefully you won't receive rejections from employers, but you might. Or just as disheartening can be the silence from employers who don't update you on the status of your application. As much as we hope your search for a job is smooth, we can't guarantee it, and that's why strength is important. You can't let some disappointment derail your search.<br /><br />At the same time, you don't want confidence to sabotage your efforts. Walk into the interview room knowing that you're qualified and capable of doing the job. Don't be so confident that you can't step back and assess your job search tactics. You might unwittingly ruin your chances of being hired because you make the same mistake every time you interact with a company.<br /><br />In the course of a year, hiring managers see hundreds or even thousands of applicants. They have heard more answers to "Tell me a little about yourself" than you can imagine. This also means they see the same mistakes happening over and over again – sort of their own personal "Groundhog Day."<br /><br />We asked hiring managers and employers to share the most common job-seeker mistakes they see. We hope job seekers put the kibosh on these common errors for two reasons: the mental anguish of interviewers and the career prospects of the applicants. Hiring managers offered enough mistakes to fill 10 pages, but these are the most common and egregious we heard:<br /><br />Attachments are not enough<br /><br />It is critical that [online applications] are filled out completely [and] accurately, and address skills and experience specific to the job which is being applied for. Too many applicants think that attaching a résumé will address all of the questions being asked on the online application and they are kicked out of the system immediately." - Lauren M.G. Burt, director of media and marketing for economic development at the Greater Des Moines Partnership<br /><br />Talking about the wrong thing<br /><br />"Candidates will tell the employer: 'I want to keep my options open or that they are thinking about graduate school.' 'What are the hours?' 'Do you pay for graduate school?'" - Thomas J. Ward, director of the Center for Career Development at Adelphi University<br /><br />"Talking about the past not the future. What will you do for your new employer? While this is based in your past work, you must put your past experience into the context of your next employer. Be clear about what they need, where you have done it before, and tell stories to demonstrate you get it." - Steve Langerud, workplace consultant and director of professional opportunities at DePauw University<br /><br />Don't be sorry for being yourself<br /><br />"[Recent graduates] apologize for lack of relevant business experience, rather than talk about how internships, jobs, sports, clubs and extracurricular activities challenged them, helped them develop work ethic, taught them valuable lessons, etc." - Garrett Miller, author of "Hire on a WHIM: The Four Qualities that Make for Great Employees"<br /><br />Forgetting the details<br /><br />"Blasting out résumés and when you call and follow up, they don't know who you are or what company you're calling from." - Rodger Roeser, owner and president of The Eisen Agency<br /><br />Rudeness is inexcusable<br /><br />"Showing up just in time for the interview or, worse, showing up late. [And] demonstrating poor etiquette -- e.g., chewing gum, answering your cell, sitting down first at the interview, etc." - Miller<br /><br />"Misspelling my name." - Roeser<br /><br />"Having obnoxious messages on their answering machines/cell phone when you return the call." - Roeser<br /><br />Me, me, me, me, me<br /><br />"Complete failure of understanding how they can help my business be more successful -- which is why I'm hiring in the first place. You need to help me, it's not the other way around." - Roeser<br /><br />"Not understanding the context of the employer's market. Read the trades publications in the field of your next employer. Understand the market trends, pressures, and competition. Know the thought leaders in the field and be prepared to talk about ideas." - Langerud<br /><br />Greed is not good<br /><br />"One of the biggest mistake candidates make is talking about compensation too early in the process. If you are asking for too much you price yourself out of the job, if you ask for too little you either get what you ask for, which is often less than the employer is willing to pay or worse the employer believes you can't be a good candidate because you weren't earning enough ... One way to delay the discussion is to respond to questions about compensation by saying something like 'It's not about the money. Let's talk about the job. If I am the right person for the job and this is the right job for me, we'll work out something that makes sense for everyone.'" - Lee Miller, co-author (with Jessica Miller) of "A Woman's Guide to Successful Negotiating"<br /><br />Anthony Balderrama is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.

How are job seekers ruining their job search? - Employers cite the mistakes that damage job searches

How are job seekers ruining their job search? - Employers cite the mistakes that damage job searchesAnthony Balderrama, CareerBuilder writer Because a job hunt can be an aggravating process, self-confidence is essential. Hopefully you won't receive r…

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Job advice that was true 20 years ago, but not today - What words of wisdom are outdated

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.cbdr.com/artieimages/8n/ar5l13j6pyt9y9p1td8n.gif?time=12/10/2010%205:37:13%20pm" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://emj.cbdr.com/artieimages/8n/ar5l13j6pyt9y9p1td8n.gif?time=12/10/2010%205:37:13%20pm" /></a></div>Job advice that was true 20 years ago, but not today - What words of wisdom are outdated<br />Anthony Balderrama, CareerBuilder Writer <br /><br />Think back to 1991, if you were even alive at the time. Operation Desert Storm began. The Soviet Union dissolved. "Beauty and the Beast" was one of the year's top films. Some women were still wearing jackets with shoulder pads. Men wore moustaches without any irony. Super Nintendo made its United States debut.<br /><br />It was a different era.<br /><br />Today, the United States is engaged in a different Gulf War. Today's students wouldn't think to call Russia "the Former Soviet Union." Animated films are rarely hand drawn. 1990s went away and already came back again with the label of nostalgic. And video games can be played on your phone.<br /><br />Our world has evolved and now feels drastically different than it was in 1991. But when we start looking for a job or dealing with co-workers, we seem content to follow advice that was being dispensed two decades ago. That needs to stop. In today's economy you can't afford to be an outdated job seeker or employee. After all, you wouldn't walk into an interview wearing an outfit that looks like it came from the set of "The Cosby Show." Shouldn't your whole approach be just as current?<br /><br />1991: Hard copies are best<br /><br />2011: We live in a digital world.<br /><br />Résumés used to be printed on hearty card stock that stood out from standard bulk copy paper. Today, in most industries, an overly formal résumé presentation appears outdated. Be sure to have copies of your résumé on hand when you go for an interview, just in case the interviewer forgets his or hers. And make sure it does look good printed on paper. But most applications are online these days, so make sure the formatting looks good on your computer screen. Before hitting send, check hyperlinks, turn off spellcheck (so names and proper nouns don't have red squiggles underlining them), and pick a font that's easy to read.<br /><br />1991: Always wear a suit<br /><br />2011: Do your research<br /><br />Yes, you're better off wearing a suit to an interview than ripped jeans, so better safe than sorry. Business casual, however, is now the norm in many workplaces, and if your attire is so formal that you seem to have no idea what the workplace culture is like, you could look unprepared. Try to find out what the dress code is and choose attire that is a step up from it. You definitely want to show that you dressed up, but you want to also prove that you're not clueless about the company either.<br /><br />1991: "References available upon request"<br /><br />2011: Provide references when asked<br /><br />Some companies ask for references up front, others ask for them in the final stages. Some never mention them. Always be prepared to give the names and contact information for references, but don't list it on your résumé unless specifically instructed to do so. The reason is that hiring managers know these people aren't going to badmouth you; otherwise you wouldn't be using them. Let the employer tell you whom they want to talk to -- e.g., direct supervisor, people you've managed. They assume references are available upon request, so wait for them to ask.<br /><br />1991: Professional and personal lives are completely separate<br /><br />2011: They can be, but you need to be diligent<br /><br />Keeping your professional and personal lives separate isn't an outdated concept, and it wasn't exclusive to the 1990s, either. But today people don't merely exist at the office and at home. They're online. A quick search engine query can return plenty of information about you, and friending someone on a social network reveals even more. Remember that you're living in the 2.0 world, and if you don't want anyone to know that you were at a karaoke bar at 2 a.m. last night, then don't update your public Twitter account with that information. Use privacy settings to be as public or private as you want with your colleagues.<br /><br />1991: Keep your résumé to one page<br /><br />2011: Be reasonable<br /><br />If you're just out of college, then exceeding a single page is probably excessive. But if you've been in the industry for a decade, you probably have enough information to spill onto a second page. No employer wants to read a novella, so don't go overboard. As mentioned above, this digital world is more about the presentation online than on the page, and scrolling to a second page isn't the deal breaker than seeing a stapled two-page résumé was. Always get to the point and avoid fluff, but don't edit out essential information and play with the margins just to squeeze everything on a single page.<br /><br />Anthony Balderrama is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.

Job advice that was true 20 years ago, but not today - What words of wisdom are outdated

Job advice that was true 20 years ago, but not today - What words of wisdom are outdatedAnthony Balderrama, CareerBuilder Writer Think back to 1991, if you were even alive at the time. Operation Desert Storm began. The Soviet Union dissolved. "Beauty…

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America's 20 fastest growing salaries - Which jobs saw the best pay increases in the past year?

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.cbdr.com/artieimages/q8/ar5l5ty6zwjtb46rylq8.gif?time=12/10/2010%205:25:13%20pm" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://emj.cbdr.com/artieimages/q8/ar5l5ty6zwjtb46rylq8.gif?time=12/10/2010%205:25:13%20pm" /></a></div>America's 20 fastest growing salaries - Which jobs saw the best pay increases in the past year?<br />Anthony Balderrama, CareerBuilder Writer <br /><br />When you interview for a job, conventional wisdom says you shouldn't bring up salary. Let the employer broach the topic first. After all, the last thing you want is to give the impression that you're only taking the job for the money.<br /><br />If you think about it, the whole formality of salary discussion is strange. Understandably, an employer wants someone who is passionate about the job. But we all know that money is important, otherwise you'd be volunteering full time.<br /><br />While salary is probably not the only motivation you have for choosing a job, it is an important one. Websites like CBSalary.com and the Bureau of Labor Statistics contain salary information for thousands of jobs so that you can find out what your position typically pays and how it compares with other parts of the country. For example, the average hourly pay increased 1.7 percent over the last year. Did you fare as well?<br /><br />Here, at the comfort of your computer monitor, you don't have to pretend that money means nothing to you. If you're frustrated with the compensation trends for your job, you can vent and no one will know. Or you can see what other industries pay, just out of curiosity.<br /><br />To appease your curiosity or give you some direction for your next job hunt, we put together a list of some of America's fastest growing salaries. Their year-over-year pay increases outpaced the national average by several percentage points.<br /><br />Here are 20 of the jobs with the fastest growing salaries*:<br /><br />Endodontist<br />2009 salary: $141,373<br />2010 salary: $166,874<br />Increase: 18.03 percent<br /><br />Oral pathologist<br />2009 salary: $159,759<br />2010 salary: $188,577<br />Increase: 18.03 percent<br /><br />Periodontist<br />2009 salary: $150,023<br />2010 salary: $177,084<br />Increase: 18.03 percent<br /><br />Pharmacologist<br />2009 salary: $90,012<br />2010 salary: $99,370<br />Increase: 10.39 percent<br /><br />Toxicologist<br />2009 salary: $63,655<br />2010 salary: $70,273<br />Increase: 10.39 percent<br /><br />Academic dean<br />2009 salary: $93,126<br />2010 salary: $100,771<br />Increase: 8.2 percent<br /><br />Dean of student affairs<br />2009 salary: $86,201<br />2010 salary: $93,278<br />Increase: 8.2 percent<br /><br />Director of nursing school<br />2009 salary: $72,315<br />2010 salary: $78,252<br />Increase: 8.2 percent<br /><br />Experimental psychologist<br />2009 salary: $86,010<br />2010 salary: $93,057<br />Increase: 8.19 percent<br /><br />Social psychologist<br />2009 salary: $79,272<br />2010 salary: $85,766<br />Increase: 8.19 percent<br /><br />Numerical control programmer<br />2009 salary: $57,945<br />2010 salary: $62,620<br />Increase: 8.06 percent<br /><br />General surgeon<br />2009 salary: $317,494<br />2010 salary: $342,971<br />Increase: 8.02 percent<br /><br />Medical officer<br />2009 salary: $476,753<br />2010 salary: $515,010<br />Increase: 8.02 percent<br /><br />Neurosurgeon<br />2009 salary: $465,937<br />2010 salary: $503,326<br />Increase: 8.02 percent<br /><br />Orthopedic surgeon<br />2009 salary: $346,076<br />2010 salary: $373,847<br />Increase: 8.02 percent<br /><br />Plastic surgeon<br />2009 salary: $264,349<br />2010 salary: $285,561<br />Increase: 8.02 percent<br /><br />Orthopedic podiatrist<br />2009 salary: $179,889<br />2010 salary: $193,920<br />Increase: 7.79 percent<br /><br />Early childhood development teacher<br />2009 salary: $34,418<br />2010 salary: $37,072<br />Increase: 7.71 percent<br /><br />Insurance salesperson<br />2009 salary: $49,121<br />2010 salary: $52,743 <br />Increase: 7.37 percent<br /><br />Credit reference clerk<br />2009 salary: $28,549<br />2010 salary: $30,393<br />Increase: 6.45 percent<br /><br />*Based on data from the ERI Economic Research Institute, Inc.<br /><br />Anthony Balderrama is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.

America's 20 fastest growing salaries - Which jobs saw the best pay increases in the past year?

America's 20 fastest growing salaries - Which jobs saw the best pay increases in the past year?Anthony Balderrama, CareerBuilder Writer When you interview for a job, conventional wisdom says you shouldn't bring up salary. Let the employer broach the …

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20 avoidable job search mistakes

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/wd/ar5l62x75hr1jtpx78wd.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/wd/ar5l62x75hr1jtpx78wd.gif" /></a></div>20 avoidable job search mistakes by Rachel Farrell, Special to CareerBuilder <br /><br />The phrase "shoot yourself in the foot" didn't create itself. In fact, job seekers probably coined it.<br /><br />Every day, thousands of people look for a job -- and almost every single one of them makes at lease one mistake (or 10) in the process. The worst part is, many if not all, of these blunders are completely avoidable.<br /><br />"It never ceases to amaze me when people make mistakes, then slap themselves on the forehead and say, 'I can't believe I did that.' I feel the need to pop them on the head," says JaLynn Hudnall, of Ravenwood Forest Consulting.<br /><br />Here are 20 dumb job search mistakes that experts say you can avoid with a little thought:<br />1. Not using a professional e-mail address.<br /><br />"It is wonderful that you are proud of your heritage and cultural roots. However, please don't use 'juicygapeach' as your e-mail address," Hudnall says. "There are enough free e-mail hosts out there that you can set up a plain first.last account that is professional and non-descript."<br /><br />2. Jumping into the fire without your fireproof undies.<br /><br />"[Don't start] your search without a plan or much thought as to where you want to go and how you plan to get there," says Julie Bauke, author of "Stop Peeing On Your Shoes- Avoiding the 7 Mistakes that Screw up your Job Search." Also, make sure you can answer these three key questions: Why are you in the job market? Tell me about yourself. What are you looking to do next?<br /><br />3. Not checking yourself in the mirror before walking into an interview.<br /><br />"I once interviewed someone who had a giant piece of lettuce hanging off his mustache," says Mario Schulzke, founder of CareerSparx.com. "I should have said something to him, but it was just too awkward and instead I spent 30 minutes staring at the guy's upper lip."<br /><br />4. Falling into the 'black hole.' <br />Many job seekers misunderstand the role of the Internet in their job search, Bauke says. "It is good for research and connections," she says, but "you are not most likely to get a job that way."<br /><br />5. Being forgetful.<br /><br />"One mistake that I have seen a number of times over the years is people using a cover letter template and forgetting to change the company and name to who it is addressed,"<br />says Paul Peterson, MA, MBA, national talent resource manager, human resources. "Your cover letter should always be customized to the company and position to which you are applying."<br /><br />6. Going to networking events -- but not really networking.<br /><br />"Real networking is building mutually beneficial relationships," Bauke says. That can be hard to do in a group setting. "Make sure you are having at least three to five one-on-one meetings per week."<br /><br />7. Omitting a signature block in your e-mail.<br /><br />"A signature block is a perfect place to give a brief 20-word teaser and include a link to your online résumé," Hudnall says. For example, "Georgia Environmental Engineer with 7 years experience, seeking job in new locale, click here for full résumé."<br /><br />8. Casting your net too widely.<br /><br />"You are not a fit everywhere and you are not good at everything," Bauke reminds. "Your search will be much more effective if you focus on exactly what kind of work you want to do and where you want to do it." <br />9. Not paying attention.<br />"Job seekers aren't reading the job description carefully and following the specific directions provided by the employer, recruiter or hiring manager," says Eddy Salomon, founder of Workathomenoscams.com and Workathomecareers.com. "The job description may state 'please apply by visiting x site. Please do not send a résumé.' But many job seekers are guilty of scanning the information provided and will end up doing the opposite of what has been described and send a résumé. Employers can't help but disqualify these candidates because it shows a lack of attention to detail and the failure to follow directions."<br /><br />10. Overlooking the interviewing "gimme" questions. <br />Prepare to answer the basics questions: What are your strengths and weaknesses? Tell me about yourself. Why should we hire you? "You know they are coming. Be prepared!" Bauke says.<br /><br />11. Not joining your local Chamber of Commerce.<br /><br />"Every Chamber across the United States has a monthly get together usually called something like 'Business After Hours,' and many even have young professionals associations," Hudnall says. "Not using this an as opportunity to network and meet others in your field is a missed opportunity."<br /><br />12. Having grammar or spelling errors on your résumé or cover letter.<br /><br />"No matter how many résumés you send out, each customized to fit one job description, you must review each one closely for grammar and spelling errors," says Rick Saia, CPRW, content writer for Pongo Résumé . "Even the tiniest error will cast a bad impression on the hiring manager, especially if you write 'attentive to detail' as a strength. It's good practice to have a trusted friend or relative read through your documents before you send them."<br /><br />13. Not being mindful of social media presence.<br /><br />"Job seekers need to be mindful of social profiles and pictures they may have out on the Web that may deemed inappropriate. In some cases employers may secretly try to 'friend' you on a given social network so they can have access to your wall and photos," Salomon says. Before applying to any job, one should search for his or her own name to ensure there isn't anything out there that would be deemed inappropriate.<br /><br />14. Trying to turn an informational interview into a job interview.<br /><br />"This is probably the worst form of abusing your network contacts. An informational interview is to get information, not an offer," says Ron Katz, author of "Someone's Gonna Get Hired ... It Might As Well Be You!" "When people start peppering the contact to see if there are any openings or jobs available, the person with whom they are meeting feels duped, taken advantage of, and at worst, angry and resentful."<br /><br />15. Not having a LinkedIn profile.<br /><br />"Many employers and HR professionals use LinkedIn as their go-to resource for more information about a candidate," Schulzke says. "If you don't have a LinkedIn profile, you are missing out on a critical opportunity to showcase your skills and experience."<br /><br />16. Failing to research the company.<br /><br />"At least take some time to review the company's website and use some of that knowledge in your résumé and cover letter," Saia says. "When you get to the interview, you'll need to know much more, especially to show how your skills and experience match up with the demands of the job and how your skills and experience can benefit the company."<br /><br />17. Not following up after applying for a job.<br /><br />"Following up is critical to set you apart from other applicants. Job seekers often neglect this key step because, for example, they applied online and don't have a name to follow up with," says Amy Olmscheid, manager of the Career Center at Capella University. "But if you don't have a name of a person to follow up with, find one. Use the Internet or use your network. Get the name of a contact in human resources or a manager in the department you want to work in and then follow up with a call or e-mail."<br /><br />18. Neglecting to follow up after an interview. <br />"Always send a thank you note to the interviewer," Olmscheid says. "Sending your note by e-mail is perfectly acceptable, but a handwritten note is a nice extra touch."<br /><br />19. Failing to ask questions at the interview.<br /><br />"Remember that you want to find out about the company and hiring manager as much as you want to tell them about you," Saia says. "By passing on the opportunity to ask questions, you're sending a message that you're not that interested in the job. And employers want candidates who are interested."<br /><br />20. Relying on a single job-hunt strategy.<br /><br />"Some job seekers will declare that they are only using online job boards and those individuals may miss excellent opportunities," Olmscheid says. "Job seekers typically identify more jobs and make more connections that can lead to jobs when they use a multi-pronged approach. Amp up your job search with job boards, face-to-face meetings, networking at professional development meetings, phone networking and other search strategies."<br /><br /><br />Rachel Farrell researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues for CareerBuilder.com. Follow @CareerBuilder on Twitter.

20 avoidable job search mistakes

20 avoidable job search mistakes by Rachel Farrell, Special to CareerBuilder The phrase "shoot yourself in the foot" didn't create itself. In fact, job seekers probably coined it.Every day, thousands of people look for a job -- and almost every singl…

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11 job search tips for 2011

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/rf/ar5l76d6b0468fzdr9rf.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://emj.icbdr.com/artieimages/rf/ar5l76d6b0468fzdr9rf.gif" /></a></div>11 job search tips for 2011 by Kaitlin Madden, CareerBuilder Writer <br /><br />It's 2011 and it's time to take control of your job search. This year, it's no longer up to companies to hire you, it's up to you to get hired. Forget about how the economy is doing. Reflect on last year if you must, but then forget about that, too. This year, your focus will be on finding the right job for you and doing everything you can to be the best candidate for that job. The competition may still be tough, but you're going to be better than the competition. <br /><br />Here's how to turn the tables in your favor. <br /><br />1. Narrow your search. Stop applying to jobs that you're not qualified for or don't really want. It's a waste of time. Be honest with yourself when evaluating job postings. If you had to start the job tomorrow, do you have all the skills you'd need to succeed? Or are there areas of the job description that you don't have experience in? While it's always great to be willing to learn, most companies want to hire someone who can jump right in and get started without being trained from scratch. Focus your time on creating great applications for jobs you are well qualified for instead. <br /><br />2. Know exactly what you want. Narrowing down your job search may force you to ask yourself tough questions like: What kind of job am I really after? And, what skills can I offer an employer? If you're unsure of the answer, make one list of the job skills you excel at and one of the skills you like to use most. Use these skills as search terms in your job search. <br /><br />3. Reevaluate your skill set. If you feel like you've looked at every job posting on earth and you still can't find one your skills match up with, then it's time to get some new skills. The good news for those who are unemployed is that it's the perfect opportunity to go back to school. You won't have to divide your time with your job obligations, and there's also the possibility that the economy will have recovered a bit by the time you graduate school -- giving you a double leg up. There are even government funding and programs available for out-of-work job-seekers that want to enroll in training or continue their education. <br /><br />4. Set goals. Yes, your overall goal may be to get a job, but setting short-term, specific job search goals for the year will help you grow and force you to continuously evaluate your progress. Improve your networking skills, for example, by making January's goal to join a professional organization and February's to attend a college alumni event. Holding yourself accountable for achieving these goals will boost your self-esteem and motivate you to continue searching by providing you with new leads and information.<br /><br />5. Try something new. If you're stuck in a job search rut, add a new strategy to your repertoire. Instead of only job searching online, try working with a recruiter and setting up informational interviews with industry contacts, too. A multi-faceted approach will get the best results. <br /><br />6. Get a leg up on the competition. If you come across a job that seems perfect for you, do something that will subtly help you stand out from the crowd. When you find a job posting you want to apply to, find out the name of the hiring manager or someone who works in the same department, and send the person an e-mail directly. It's 2011, which means almost anything can be found online, including names and e-mail addresses. A LinkedIn search on the company should turn up a list of employees and their titles, from which you can select the most appropriate person. Then, search the company website or press releases for the company's e-mail format. <br /><br />7. Get a hold of your online reputation: When an HR manager searches your name online (and they will do it) you can either take control what they see, or you can leave it to the powers of the crawl search gods. Search results that are professional, consistent and that establish you as an expert in your field will be far more impressive than Facebook pictures from Thanksgiving. Things like a Facebook or LinkedIn profile and a Twitter feed will all show up on the first page, so signing up for these sites and populating the accounts with up-to-date, professional content will make a great impression. <br /><br />8. Start a website: If you want to take your Internet presence one step further, starting a website will showcase your skills and talents in a thorough and interesting way, and it'll add to your professionalism and give you credibility. Plus, it's not as costly or as time-consuming as you might think. Domain names (i.e. YourName.com), can be registered on sites like GoDaddy.com or Bluehost.com for around $10, and web hosting can cost as little as $3 per month. If you're not particularly tech savvy, premade blog templates give you a professional look with minimal hassle. Wordpress.com has tons of template options and also provides great technical support for novices. <br /><br />9. Stay current: You should always be in the loop, even if you're out of work. Read trade publications, comment on industry blogs, and stay on top of any emerging technologies or policies that may impact your career path. This will not only help you have a great conversation with an interviewer and keep your professional edge, but it may also give you new ideas about where and how to look for a job. <br /><br />10. Sell yourself: An interview is no time for modesty, especially in times like these. When you land an interview, go prepared with at least five examples that demonstrate your best qualities. That way, when an interviewer asks, "Why should I hire you," you can talk about how you're such a quick learner that you taught yourself Photoshop in a week and how your entrepreneurial spirit lead you to start your first lawn-mowing business at age 16. Be sure to leave the interviewer with the phone numbers of references who will back you up with glowing recommendations. <br /><br />11. Keep that glass half-full approach, all year: A job search will always have its frustrating moments, because things don't always happen when or how we want them to happen. But instead of letting setbacks ruin motivation, take them as lessons. Your lack of interviews may mean it's time to re-evaluate your career path or skill set, which could lead you to a more fulfilling career. This type of positive attitude will be much more productive in helping you find your next job. <br /><br />The bottom line is that job searching will be tough this year, but landing a job -- even your dream job -- can still be a reality. A proactive job search is your best bet, so take the necessary steps to ensure you get the job you want. <br /><br />Kaitlin Madden is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow @Careerbuilder on Twitter.

11 job search tips for 2011

11 job search tips for 2011 by Kaitlin Madden, CareerBuilder Writer It's 2011 and it's time to take control of your job search. This year, it's no longer up to companies to hire you, it's up to you to get hired. Forget about how the economy is doing.…

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