Today’s Tip: Using Search Engines in Your Job Search

Do you speak Boolean? You need to! This is the language that search engines understand. To get the most efficient and accurate results from a query on a search engine website, you need to know how to use the advanced commands for that particular search engine. Note: Just because a command works on one search engine, that doesn't mean the same syntax will work on a different search engine. For example, to look for a particular filetype extension (an Excel spreadsheet) on Google, you would type "filetype:xls" in the search bar, whereas in Yahoo, you would type "originurlextension:xls". In order to learn the nuances of each search engine, click on the "Advanced Search" or "Help" area to learn more about them.

Also, I am sure that most of you have your "favorite" search engine and you use that one exclusively. This is is mistake. Your favorite search engine will (at best) have only a fraction of the Internet indexed with your search criteria. Thus, by using multiple search engines for your job search, you will open up more results that may, or may not, be indexed by your "favorite" search engine. To see a complete list of search engines, go to www.thesearchenginelist.com.

I just happen to know that Bing is also a good search engine to use! How do I know that? I Googled it!

Today’s Tip: “I Twat I Taw A Tweety Tat”

Yes, I am “twalking” Twitter today. If I was only allowed to have a few tools in my arsenal for my job search, this would definitely make the cut! Twitter has quickly grown into a “I love it” or “I can’t see why people do it” two headed coin in which people choose a side […]

Today’s Tip: So How Many Pages Should My Resume Be?

If you ask most resume writers how long your resume should be, most will give you a one-word answer of “one”, “two” or “three” pages. If they give a “standard” textbook answer without asking you additional probing questions, then you should run for the door and look for someone else to get advice from. If […]

Today’s Tip: Coach Your References

So you made it past the interview phase and it’s now time for the company to check your references. Surprisingly, you actually don’t want to give them your list of references as soon as they ask for it! Instead, you want to say something like this, “I am excited to hear that you would like […]

Today’s Tip: Applying for a Job Out of Town? Act Like You Live There!

Employers are very reluctant to consider candidates that may require relocation expenses. In addition, they won’t even consider people that are willing to relocate themselves (out-of-pocket) because they believe that the local candidate pool is swimming with fresh fish and they also don’t want to appear “cheap” by not offering a full relocation package. So […]

Today’s Tip: Highlights R Us – Make Your Resume Glow

When recruiters login to the job boards to look at resumes, they would be faced with an impossible task if they had to browse through all of the resumes in the database in order to find the perfect candidate with the right skill sets. So what is a recruiter to do? Enter their best friend, the keyword. On most […]

Today’s Tip: Don’t Click Apply!

Let’s talk about how 85% or more of job seekers spend 85% or more of their time. They are the expert Clickers, having mastered the process of finding openings on job boards like Monster and Career Builder and then clicking the APPLY button. This is the quickest way for you to enter the Resume Black Hole […]

Today’s Tip: Leave Your Comfort Zone

I  have noticed that typical job seekers spend way too much time doing the tasks that they are “comfortable” doing and not the tasks that are necessary to win in their job search. The “I’ll get to them later” tasks include: cold calling – picking up that 400 lb. phone is about the hardest task […]

Today’s Tip: Is Your Elevator Speech Taking You to the Penthouse or the Outhouse?

I’ve had the unfortunate opportunity to listen to far too many lackluster “elevator speeches” in which the speaker appeared to act just as happy that it was over as I was.  Their speech was not only boring, but I had no idea how I could help them because the only thing they accomplished was to confuse me. […]

Today’s Tip: Job Seekers Should be Cheaters!

Back in school, if you cheated (and got away with it), your chances of getting an “A” on the test probably increased significantly. Now, I am not a big proponent of cheating in school but I do think that you should take similar advantages in the business world to “cheat” your way to an interview […]