How to Keep your job search secret

How to Keep your job search secret by Michael Cheary Sometimes, the secret to success in your job search relies on… secrecyIf you’re stuck in the wrong job, wishing you were somewhere else instead, it can be tempting to spend much of your time searching for something new.Combine access to the internet with an uninspiring job, and many of us start our search for work exactly when we shouldn’t â€" when we’re actually at work.However, maintaining a sense of confidentiality is of paramount importance. And, if underestimated, could not only lose you the respect of your employer, but also potentially compromise your position.To help keep your aspirations under-the-radar, here are some dos and don’ts on how to keep your job search a secret:DoKeep it to yourself    Firstly, no-matter how much you trust your co-workers, always try and keep your plans as confidential as possible. Venting your frustrations to your best friend in a different department may seem like a good idea at the time, but all it takes is a few loose words to the wrong person and your future plans may not be as private as you thought.Use your cover letter to indicate discretion    Employers can be quite understanding, especially if they feel they’ve found the right candidate. Use your cover letter to mention your current employer, and mention your notice period. You could also go a step further by asking if the reader could resist contacting your current place of work for a reference until after you have given notice.  That way you should avoid any potentially awkward conversations with your HR department.Pay attention to your contact preferences  Many jobseekers have come unstuck by forgetting their job alerts are being sent to an email address they access every day or, even worse, using their work email address to search for jobs. Create a personal email account specifically for your job search. That way you’ll know exactly where to go when you have a few minutes away from prying eyes.Step away from the desk  -Looking for work at lunchtime? Don’t do it at your desk. Although their own office space is the number one destination for many jobseekers to search during the day, for obvious reasons (see: convenience, laziness etc), it comes with a number of risks. Let’s face it, it’s pretty much the equivalent of cheating on your employer, right under their nose. And that can only end badly.With free Wi-Fi readily available, and practically everyone owning a smartphone, it doesn’t take much to relocate for your eating/application needs.Use a different device    If you really can’t resist the temptation to start searching, try and make sure you do it on a different device. Not only will this overcome the potential problem of opening the wrong tab in front of the wrong person, it will also be much easier to keep confidential in the long run (see: smaller screen).What’s more, with many online job boards allowing you to set up job alerts to send the best-matching vacancies directly to your inbox, you can start your applications off before you even get into the office.Other secret jobseeking dos: Be honest at interviews, go outside to take phone calls, remember to lock your computer, you know… just do it at home.DontBe tempted to ‘pull a sickie’  If you’re offered an interview, try and fit it around your schedule. Take an afternoon off or a day’s holiday, and do your best to plan multiple interviews during your time off. The second you start to rely on sick days, coming in late and leaving early, you’re setting yourself up for a big fall.After all, how many people wear their best suit for the dentist?Overshare on your CV    If you work for a reasonably sized company, there’s a chance they may use job sites to carry out their recruitment. If that’s the case, a few simple tweaks to your CV could help keep you out of their search results.For example, changing your current employer’s name to something more generic, such as ‘Large Mulitnational Acco untancy Company’, could make all the difference.Leave your applications lying around  OK, so this one may sound obvious. But you’d be surprised how many people treat the office printer as their own personal resource. Do you know how many people jeopardised their job in the last year by leaving their CV unattended in the office?We don’t either, but we’re sure it would make a pretty nice stat…Tweet about it    When it comes to jobseeking, leave social media well alone. Even if you’re pretty confident your profile has been set to private, and you’re not friends with your boss (add other excuses here), your social profile may not be as impenetrable as you think.So next time you’re tempted to hit the send button after posting ‘Can’t wait to hand my notice in #hate #job #hashtag’, think before you tweet.Burn your bridges  Finally, never underestimate the importance of actually keeping your job search under wraps if you are currently in employment. No matter how wel l you think your application or interview went, taking a job offer for granted and letting your employer know what you really think of them is never recommended. Especially if your ‘sure thing’ falls through, leaving you with a rather embarrassing and expensive apology to deliver.Other secret jobseeking don’ts: Stop giving 100%, use your current boss as a reference, answer private phone calls at your desk, conduct a Skype interview in the office.Have any secrets of your own? Let us know now in the comments below…  Find a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmessage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the terms and conditions applicable to our service and acknowledge that your personal data will be used in accordance with our privacy policy and you will receive emails and communications about jobs and career related topics. Features Getting Started How to start looking for work

The Importance of Resume Writing Services Reviews

The Importance of Resume Writing Services ReviewsIf you've been searching for a resume writing service, then you are most likely aware of the importance of reading resume writing services reviews. Resume writing is an important aspect of your career search because it can make the difference between landing a job and being turned down for the same position. And with today's state of the economy, getting rejected by a job interview can lead to devastating consequences.Career development is essential in today's business environment. If you are not on the job market, it can be devastating to your life and future. Before applying for any job, you need to make sure that you meet all of the necessary requirements. If you don't have an idea of what it takes to land a job, you will never know if you have what it takes to go for it.Hiring managers are looking for qualified candidates that are as well prepared as possible for the job. It's very important that you put in as much effort as possib le to get a job interview. First impressions are a major factor in these interviews. In order to create a positive impression, you must show that you are prepared for the job interview and that you can provide quality services.Often, hiring managers will use resume writing services to help them formulate their professional opinions. They will read your resume, discuss it with their colleagues, and determine whether or not you are a good fit for the job. If you do not give them a positive first impression, they may not give you a second chance.Resume writing services are a great way to get a jump-start on the job search process. Not only do they offer excellent resume services, but they will also help you design your cover letter and provide insightful advice about how to craft the rest of your resume. You'll also be able to create a customized cover letter that will be sent out with your resume. The resume writing services reviews will give you a heads up about any companies that yo u should stay away from.When you find a company that has been recommended by a previous client, take a look at their resumes to see what other customers have to say about them. You can also get free samples of their work and see if they are meeting your expectations. You'll also be able to see how the companies offer customized services that may not have been offered previously.Speaking of customized services, another important service offered by these professionals is the custom formatting of your resume. You can get this done as soon as you receive your resume. It will be professionally formatted and ready for review before your interview.Today, using resume writing services is a much more cost effective solution to the problem of finding a job. For less than $100 per hour, you can easily obtain a copy of your new resume. In addition, there is a wide variety of services available, which means you can select the one that best meets your needs.

The ONE Thing You Must Do To Be a Better Negotiator

The ONE Thing You Must Do To Be a Better Negotiator A recently published research has generated a lot of discussions on the internet in the past weeks. Its a study that says that the conversation that makes people most uncomfortable is negotiation for a raise.  Fifty-eight percent of respondents feel discomfort in having this discussion.  Thats  more than in other not-so-pleasant situations like discussing your difficult personality (anyone else relates to that?) or apologizing for a mistake. But the most interesting part is that women reported much more discomfort around negotiating a raise than men did.    More than 66% of female respondents feeling very or somewhat uncomfortable while just over half of men shared that same feeling. So if this is true, what can we do to feel more comfortable in negotiations like this? Since Ive long identified myself with those 66% of women.   Ive read many articles about the topic. I even took a negotiation class in my MBA. However one of the most practical and easy-to-implement pieces of advice I ever got on the subject was an insight from a book called “Give and Take” by Adam Grant.   I wrote another article inspired by his work that you can read here. Negotiation Perspective It works like this: when you are in a negotiation, pretend you are in a different role. Instead of arguing as yourself, pretend you are your mentor or agent.   Imagine that you will be advocating for someone else,  in this case, you.  Another way of doing it is to think that you are representing your familys interests in the negotiation.  If you have a husband, kids or other family members that you support, imagine they are your client. This works because when you change the focus from yourself to someone you care about, you feel less guilty about pushing harder for what you want. Because    you are doing what is best for them, not for you. Ironically, most women tend to fight harder for those we care about than for ourselves, and this technique allows you to take advantage of that. In addition to this, putting yourself in someone elses shoes helps you better identify and “sell” your strengths and accomplishments, which is definitively crucial in any negotiation. Ask, Negotiate, Win! So next time you decide to ask for a raise, make sure you prepare the conversation in advance by thinking through your mentors lenses or about those who count on you. Hopefully by doing this you will be part of the inspiring group of 34% of women who can ask for a raise without feeling guilty about it. Images: Negotiating  Pulpolux !!! Main Negotiation  changeorder

5 Careers You Can Be Really Proud of Working In

5 Careers You Can Be Really Proud of Working In Every job should bring out a level of pride and sense of accomplishment. If it doesn’t, you’re in the wrong profession! Remember, a job isn’t just a way to make money. You spend at least eight hours a day working, it’s got to fulfil you and enrich your life. It must be a career that will fill you with pride. It’s not easy to find a career like this. There are thousands of jobs that will leave you feeling empty and soulless. It’s essential that you avoid them! There is no certain route to achieving that sense of pride. Remember, everyone is different and has varying goals in life. Each individual finds their pride in different tasks and achievements. Having said that, we’ve hunted out some of the most inspiring career choices. They are careers that will allow you to help others and push yourself further. They are career choices that will leave you feeling fulfilled and worthy. Each of these job ideas makes a real difference to people’s lives. And that’s something to be proud of. Fire and emergency services Nothing will fill you pride more than actively saving lives. Being on the front line when emergency strikes is scary. But, you’ll put those fears aside and put your training into practice. Being a member of the fire and emergency services is powerful way to help your community. You’ll be the first on the scene of an emergency and work tirelessly to save people from danger. The job certainly involves a lot of emotional stress, but the highs always outshine the lows. A career in fire and emergency services is lucrative too with lots of room to advance up the ranks. Most importantly, you’ll go home every day with a sense of pride and fulfillment. Military The armed forces have always been regarded as a noble and worthy profession. Putting your life on the line for the benefit of the country is the very definition of pride. If you believe firmly in the liberty and values of your country, you’ll love this career choice. Of course, it’s not without its downsides. It is one of the riskiest career options out there. You’ll often be away from your family for months at a time with little or no contact. However, most soldiers agree that it’s a price worth paying for the pride you feel representing your nation. There are lots of ways to serve in the military too, it’s not just ground forces in the army. There are thousands of jobs in research, logistics and development. Entrepreneur Most jobs involve working as part of a large corporate structure. It’s often difficult to find fulfilment when working as part of such a huge company. Your efforts are often diluted and it’s hard to see your individual impact. Exploring your own business ideas, however, will leave you filled with pride. It’s not easy, and there’s a long, hard road to success. However, the sense of achievement is unlike any other. Taking your concepts and ideas and turning them into a real business is something you can be truly proud of. And, who knows, you could create the next billion dollar company. Every giant corporation started as a small idea once-upon-a-time. Dream big and you’ll love going to work every single day. Teacher Passing on knowledge from generation to generation is a wonderful thing. Watching as your students turn into young adults and using the skills you taught them is incredible. You’ll form lifelong attachments to your students and help shape their future. You’ll help them discover new ideas and discover what they truly want from life. A career in education is something you can be truly proud of as your students start out on the road of life! Great teachers are always welcome and needed by schools. With that in mind, it’s a safe and secure career choice. You’ll earn good money and take pride in your work every day. Doctor or Nurse There are few things that instil pride like nursing people back to health. Changing lives for the better comes with the territory and nothing will give you more fulfilment. Naturally, the job also comes with an immense amount of pressure and emotional difficulty. However, the gratitude of worried families and the pride of saving a life is incomparable. Every day brings a new challenge. Become a doctor and you’ll leave work knowing you’ve made a difference. Life’s too short to spend it in a job that doesn’t fulfil you. If you need inspiration, try one of these careers and find something with a little more heart. Image Credit:  image credit

Resume Writing Forums - Where Can You Find the Best Resume Writers?

Resume Writing Forums - Where Can You Find the Best Resume Writers?Relying on the internet is a good way to go, but resume writing forums can help you to a great extent. These types of forums are a group of people who share their experiences in the field of job searching. They will have hundreds if not thousands of resume writing tips and information to offer you. So what should you be looking for?Resume writing forums should contain useful tips that can prove very helpful. Most of these tips should have been tried out and tested. You do not want to waste your time and money on making a fool of yourself or even worse, hiring a professional resume writer.There are many resume writers in the market, but the best writers are the ones who have made it big in the industry and have amassed a huge number of clients as well. You need to find out if the person is offering you any material that can help you out.Resume writing forums should have a section which can help you to find the best wri ters for your particular resume. The resumes written by some of the top professionals may be quite different from those written by beginners. You would like to have a copy of what a veteran of the field will do to improve your resume.The best part about these forums is that you will be able to find out about the top ten resume writers in the business. This would allow you to learn from the experience of other writers.You would find that these resume writers use all kinds of creative methods to compose their resumes. You would know exactly what they mean by those words. You would also be able to judge whether or not the writer has the right kind of experience to write your resume.The best resume writers will provide you with regular updates on how they are doing in their job. You will be able to stay updated with the latest techniques and tips. The forums have forums where you can ask questions regarding the job.You can find all this and much more at the resume writing forums where y ou can get in touch with free resume writers. You can have a copy of the written resume on your desk at all times. It will save you a lot of time and energy as well.

How To Cope When Youre Not Promoted To Vice President

How To Cope When Youre Not Promoted To Vice President It doesn’t feel very good to find out you didn’t get promoted, whatever the seniority level. It’s natural to wonder, “Is this a sign? Am I remedial? Do I have what it takes? Is it me or is it them?” If this happens to you at an early stage, such as going from Associate to Vice President, then the most important thing from a career management standpoint (aside from regaining your equilibrium) is to find out what the true message is and determine if you are in the right place for your brilliant career. It is a time when you are entitled to some honest feedback, so treat it as a well-timed ‘wake-up call’ and make the most of this opportunity to make an honest assessment and get accurate feedback. The good news is that it is easier to make mid-course corrections at the earlier stages of your career than leaving it until later on. The earlier on in your career that you get this ‘wake up call,’ the more likely that it’s an indicator that the current situation is not the best fit for you. Promotion hurdles get progressively higher as one becomes more senior, so not making VP in the regular promotion timescale should give you more pause than not making MD the first time around. However, none of this is written in stone, and you have to figure out what it means in your specific situation Before you jump to conclusions, here are some action steps to consider: Assess for yourself: Who else did/did not get promoted? How do you stack up as a candidate on a relative basis? Note that even if you can understand why you didn’t make the list, it is still important to express your disappointment, and to let them know that you are looking to redouble your efforts but need them to guide you as to how you need to improve. Are there successful senior people who did not make VP right away? Are you in the right place (i.e., industry, business unit, function, company)? Are you in a place where your best capabilities can be put to use and valued? Are you in a role where you can shine? Is this what you love to do? Talk to your boss: What is the reason for the decision? What does it mean for your career: Are you viewed as future promotion material? Is it a question of “when, not if”? Are you in a role from which you can be promoted? What do you need to do to position yourself for next year: Are there specific skills you need to develop or experiences you need to gain? Are there particular groups or people who need to become familiar with your abilities and made into supporters? Weaknesses to address? Get the advice of your mentors on the above. Position yourself for next year if the conclusion is that this is the right place for you. Stay positive: this is about your job, not your life or your value as a person. The key is to find the place where you can shine. If you are in it already and simply need to keep going, then go for it. Nonetheless, keep in mind that it is always good to create multiple options by maintaining your external network, even as you develop your internal support base. If you conclude that your current role is not a good long-term fit for you, then it is time to begin the process of finding one for which you are better suited. Be patient as you explore avenues and resist the temptation to make sudden moves. In the meantime, continue to do your best where you are and don’t burn any bridges, no matter how satisfying it may feel in the near-term. The world is highly connected these days and it is in your interest to make the reputation that precedes you a positive one.

5 Things Recruiters Hate About Job Seekers

5 Things Recruiters Hate About Job Seekers 57 Flares 57 Flares A little bit of tough love for your Monday.  While this may come across as harsh, please do remember that the key word is love.  I love you, I really love you. Lets jump into it, shall we? 5 Things Recruiters Hate About Job Seekers 1. The Run Around:  Its their job to call or email and its your job to pick up or get back to them quickly. Dont make them wait. There are no games in your job search.  Dont wait two days to get back to them.  Theyve moved on by then.  Your old news.  Youre like an expired coupon to them.  Dont make them wait.  Theres someone more urgent out there starting a fire in their pants, while youre busy making excuses. 2. Lack of Excitement: What do you really want to do?  If you dont sound convinced that you want the job we have open, then we arent convinced youre for us. Get excited.  Get mothaaaaafuhhhkin excited. 3. Missing Interviews:  I believe Marshall Mathers said it best, This opportunity comes once in a lifetime, yo.  If you miss the first interview, the recruiter looks like dog shit.  They may give you another interview out of kindness if you have a stellar excuse, but you wont be their favorite person in the world, yo. 4. Unreadable Resumes: Dont force everything on one page.  You can go to page two.  Computers are fantastic.  They help recruiters scroll down to page 2 of your resume within seconds.  Whoever told you that resumes should only be one page must be 95 years old and is afraid the carrier pigeon wont fit both pages in its bird mouth. 5. Sense of Entitlement: You deserve to be heardif you are qualified.  A ton of job seekers feel they are qualified when they arent.  Not everyone deserves a phone call.  It would be nice if all companies got back to everyone, but thats not the world we live in.  Its sad.  Move on to the next company if you dont hear back.  It happens more than anyone wants, but again, its just the way the world works these days.