Job Search Tips

---

   
All of the general job search tips on this site can be found on this page. You'll find resume ideas, job interview tips, ideas for writing cover letters and strategies for finding job leads here.

Resume Ideas

General Resume Tips
Good Resume Writing
12 tips for good resume writing. These tips will help you create a resume that highlights your most marketable skills and creates a great first impression at a glance.

Resume Formats
An outline of the three commonly used resume formats.

Best Resume Format
There is no single best resume format for everyone. This article outlines the three types of resume formats that are used, describes the strengths and weaknesses of each style and notes who should use each type of resume.

Outline of a Resume
This outline of a resume will give you a good overview of the information to include in each section of your resume.

Sample Resume Format
Here is a sample resume formated to give you a sense of how a resume will typically look once it is set up correctly. Of course, your resume should be highly individualized, so there is plenty of room for individual variations in the format.

Resume Job Objectives
Resume job objectives are quite simple to write. In this article, you'll find tips on writing a great job objective for your resume.

Sample Resume Objectives
Here are several sample resume objectives to give you some inspiration when you are writing your own resume.

Resume Profiles
Resume profiles are a little harder to write than simple objectives, but a good resume profile is well worth the effort. These profile tips and sample profiles will to give you some inspiration for writing your own resume profile.

---

Technical Resumes
Technical Resume Writing - IT Resume Tips
A technical resume is written using almost the same strategies as any other kind of resume with one crucial exception. A technical resume must have a Technical Skills section included near the top of the first page. Find out more about how to write a technical resume.

Technical Resume Template
Here is a technical resume template to give you a sense of how an IT resume will typically look once it is correctly structured.

---

Scannable Resumes
Scannable Resume Keywords
Scannable resumes are resumes that are specially formatted to be read by a computer. You may also hear people call them ASCII resumes, text resumes or plain text resumes. Learn how employers use scannable resumes and how to use targeted keywords to ensure your scannable resume gets noticed.

Scannable Resume Formatting Tips
When writing a scannable resume, it is absolutely crucial to follow some simple formatting guidelines. Use these tips to ensure you your scannable resume gets read.

Scannable Resume Format
Here is an example of a scannable resume. It looks quite different from a traditional resume.

---

Career Change Resumes
Career Change Resumes
Usually, the best career change resumes are combination resumes. Here are several tips for writing a winning career change resume.

---

Reference Pages

Reference Page Template
Once you have several good references in mind, setting up a reference page is quite simple. Use this resume reference page template to get started.

Good Job References
These tips will help to ensure you have prepared good job references.

Job Reference Check Tips
More tips on preparing your job references.

---

Writing Cover Letters

Cover Letter Outline
Here is a simple cover letter outline to illustrate the information that is normally included in a cover letter.

3 Types of Cover Letters and How to Write Them
Cover letters are either referral letters, cold contact letters or responses to job ads. Learn about each type of cover letter.

Cold Call Cover Letter
A cold call cover letter is often the trickiest type of cover letter to write simply because you often have limited information about the company. Use these tips to write outstanding cold call cover letters.

Referral Cover Letter
You'll use a referral cover letter when someone you know has suggested that you apply to a job opening that they know about. It's wonderful to get the inside track on jobs through referrals, these are usually your absolute best job leads. You can make the most of those leads with these referral cover letter tips.

Cover Letters for Job Ads
When you are writing cover letters for job ads, it's important to use a few simple strategies to help you stand out from the crowd. When employers advertise job openings, they are often inundated with resumes, so you'll really want to do what it takes to get noticed.

Career Fair Success - Cover Letters for Career Fairs
Learn when it's appropriate to submit a career fair cover letter and how a great cover letter can set you apart from the competition.

Career Change Cover Letter
When you're working on a career change cover letter, keep these simple points in mind.

Rules for Writing Business Letters
When you are writing business letters, appearance matters. Learn how to set up and write a formal letter.

Cover Letter Samples
On this page, you'll find all of the cover letter samples on this site.

Cover Letter Sample
Here is a cover letter sample to give you some inspiration.

Sample Cover Letter - new graduate, limited work experience
This is a sample cover letter for a recent graduate with limited work experience.

Referral Sample Employment Cover Letter
This sample employment cover letter is a referral cover letter, but it could easily be modified to work for an advertised job or a cold contact cover letter. This example of a cover letter reflects the skills and experience of a job seeker with a background in education.

---

General Job Interview Tips

Before the Interview
Best Interview Strategies for Before the Interview
Here are tips for preparing before you actually get to the interview.

Job Interview Tips
Of all of the job interview tips I could provide, the most important is to be specific and give plenty of details and examples when you are interviewing for a job.

How to Dress for an Interview
Many people are not quite sure how to dress for an interview. Here are tips to help you decide how to dress for your next job interview.

Internal Interview Tips
Tips to help you make a great impression at an internal interview.

---

Job Interview Questions
Answering Difficult Interview Questions - 3 Types of Interview Questions
There are three basic types of questions that are often asked in a job interview. Find out what is behind each type of interview question.

Frequently Asked Interview Questions
Here are 10 frequently asked interview questions and tips to help you prepare winning answers to these questions.

Behavioral Interview Questions
Here are sample behavioral interview questions and common mistakes people make when answering these questions.

STAR Interview Technique for Behavioral Interview Questions
Behavioral interview questions are very common, and the STAR interview technique is the most effective way to these questions. Follow a few simple steps to use this interview technique effectively.

Situational Interview Questions
Sample situational interview questions and tips to prepare for situational interviews.

More Sample Situational Interview Questions
Situational interview questions are designed to help the employer determine how you would handle a specific, challenging situation. Here are more sample situational interview questions to help you prepare for your next job interview.

Crazy Interview Questions
Find out what's behind crazy interview questions like, "If you were a fruit, what kind of fruit would you be?" Learn how to answer these difficult interview questions with confidence.

Job Interview Questions to Ask an Employer
Most people know that they should prepare job interview questions to ask the employer after an interview; however, many people really worry about this part of the job interview process. Learn how to ask great questions at your next interview.

---

After the Job Interview
Follow Up Interview Tips
These follow up interview tips will help you to understand what the employer is looking for at the second interview.

Salary Negotiation Tips
Salary negotiations don't have to be daunting if you've prepared yourself well with a few facts. Learn when you have the most power to negotiate your salary and prepare yourself to negotiate more effectively.

Interview Thank You Letter
Sending an after interview thank you letter is an extremely easy way to stand out from the crowd. Interview thank notes make a great impression, and very few people actually send one. So, sending an interview thank you note is an incredibly easy way to make a great impression.

Interview Thank You Notes
More tips for getting the most benefit from your interview thank you notes.

How to Submit an Interview Thank You Note
An interview thank you note is only effective if it arrives in time to have an impact on the employer's hiring decision. For that reason, the employer must receive your interview thank you letter within 24 hours of your job interview.

Interview Thank You Note Outline
This interview thank you note template will show you how to write great interview thank you notes.

Thank You Letter Sample
An interview thank you letter sample to give you some inspiration for your own interview thank you notes.

---

Job Interview Techniques

Job Interview Techniques
Overview of a variety of job interview techniques commonly used by employers.

Job Interview Advice - 10 Types of Job Interviews
Here you'll find descriptions of ten different types of interviews you may encounter. Don't let yourself be caught off guard by unusual interview techniques.

Group Interviews
A group interview is a situation in which the employer interviews more than one job candidate at a time. Employers use this type of interview to see how you work as a part of a team, to be more efficient with their time or to cause a little bit of added stress and to see how you react to that type of stress.

Panel Interviews
Panel interviews are interviews that are conducted by more than one interviewer. Often employers use this type of interview to give others who will work closely with you an opportunity to meet the candidates for the job. Panel interviews can also be used to allow the team to share responsibility for hiring new staff.

Phone Interview
Tips for answering phone interview questions so you'll make a great impression at in your next telephone interview.

---

How to Find Great Job Leads

Online Resume Posting
Online or electronic resume posting can be an effective strategy to search for job leads. Keep these tips in mind when you post your resume online.">

Temp Employment Agency
Working with a temporary staffing agency can be a good way to find work fast. Examine the pros and cons of working with a temporary placement agency, learn how to sign on with a temp job agency and discover how to choose the best temp employment agency for your needs.

Cold Calling for Jobs
Cold calling for jobs is probably the most nerve wracking of all job search strategies. These tips will show you how to cold call with (a little more) confidence.

Find Unadvertised Jobs with Trade Journals
Trade journals can be a great resource to find unadvertised jobs as well as advertised jobs. Discover how to find unadvertised jobs with trade journals.

Use Business Directories to Find Hidden Jobs
Unadvertised, hidden jobs can provide the best career opportunities, and business and industry directories can be a great research tool to help you accesses the hidden job market.

Blank Employment Application
Tips on completing a blank employment application form to make a great first impression.

Sample Employment Application
This sample employment application form shows you the information that will be required on most employment application forms.

Help Wanted Signs
Is it worthwhile to search help wanted signs when you need to hunt for a job? It really depends on what type of work you are seeking. Find our more here.

Networking for a Job Through Volunteer Work
Volunteering can be a great strategy for networking for a job. This article describes how to get the most out of volunteer opportunities.

The Importance of Career Networking
The importance of career networking should never be underestimated. The best jobs are typically found through networking, so your business and personal network should be your number one job search weapon.

Informational Interview Tips
An informational interview can be a fantastic way to develop job leads. Learn how to use this job search technique to find hidden jobs.

Informational Interview Questions
12 great informational interview questions to ask, and one question you should never ask during an informational interview.

Career Networking with Professional Associations
Professional associations and clubs can provide great career networking opportunities. It's wise to explore the career networking opportunities provided by your professional association.

Job Search Networking at Your Local Employment Resource Center
You might be pleasantly surprised by the job networking opportunities, support and resources you can find at your local employment resource center.

How to Find Job Leads at Trade Shows
Here's a job search technique you might not have considered: career networking at trade shows. Trade shows can be an absolutely fantastic place to network, and seeking out job leads and business contacts at trade shows is a very effective job search technique.

Business Cards for Job Search Networking
When you're working, you use business cards as a quick and easy way to ensure others have your contact information. Your own personal business cards can be used in the same way when you're networking for a job.

Job Fair Info and Tips
Information and tips to make the most of your next job fair.

Job Search Secrets for Older Workers
These job search secrets for older workers will help you to minimize age as an issue in your next job search.

 
Return to Career Choice Guide from Job Search Tips