In today’s competitive job market, it can be somewhat difficult and challenging for candidates to get their foot in the door, especially when there are so many others trying to do the same. Now more than ever employers are receiving hundreds and hundreds of resumes from people looking to seize one of the few coveted positions available. So the question in every job seeker’s mind is how do I stand out from the rest?

One way to do this is by preparing a well-written resume, which in essence contains your career history and your marketable skills and strengths. It can be challenging for some to put all of your achievements into one page or two, but trust me writing a resume doesn’t have to be a dreadful task! Try answering these 10 simple questions and you will have a winning resume in no time:

1. Is your resume the right length?
You may have heard that your resume should fit on one page. This is nonsense. Recruiter or hiring managers don’t care if your resume is one or two pages long. But they do care whether it is easy to read and gives key information upfront. Your resume can be one, two, or (occasionally) even three pages. If in doubt follow the (very general) rule of thumb that less than 5 years experience probably only requires one page and more than that may need two.

2. Does your resume show you can meet the needs of the employer?
Think of a resume as an advertisement for a product, only this time the product is you. Positioning is everything. The person who receives your resume will scan it quickly – perhaps for no more than 20 seconds – to determine whether you can help the company. Your job is to say quickly, clearly and loudly that you can! Don’t just launch into a chronology of your career history. Instead spell out your message at the start of the resume in a ‘profile’ section which highlights your key strengths in an attractive, easy-to-read format.

3. Does your resume begin with an objective?
Recruiters and hiring managers don’t like resume objectives because they focus on the needs of the job seeker rather than the needs of the potential employer. Consider this objective statement:

“Senior Software Engineer with 10 years experience developing leading-edge technologies.”
Now the reader can immediately see your value. (For even greater impact, tailor this statement for each position to highlight the match between the company’s needs and your skills.)

4. Have you outlined achievements as well as responsibilities?
Most employers already know what the main responsibilities of your job were. They want to know what makes you different from all the other applicants. An effective resume summarizes job responsibilities in a few sentences and then focuses on providing information about quantifiable achievements.

5. Does your resume contain specifics?
Don’t make vague assertions, such as “contributed to product design” as this tells nothing about your actual contribution. Instead be specific: “Conducted market analysis for (name of product) to determine design and mechanics and led changes to original specification. Received critical acclaim and sold over 4 million units.” See the difference? This level of detail shows the reader the contributions you have made in the past (and therefore the contributions you can be expected to make in the future.)

6. Are there any typos?
Proofread your resume over and over. When you are sure it’s perfect, have other people proof it! If even one word is misspelled the reader will assume that you didn’t know how to spell the word (this is bad) or that you didn’t care (this is even worse!)

7. Is the resume easy to read?
Design is crucial. A strong resume design will pull the eye through the document, making it easy to keep reading and will highlight your key strengths clearly. But if your resume is badly laid out, disorganized or hard to read, it will be discarded before the reader knows how qualified you are.

8. Have you listed irrelevant information?
Don’t list your hobbies unless they directly support your qualifications for the position. Never mention marital status or the number of children you have. Leave out non-professional affiliations such as political or religious volunteer work. However proud you are of personal achievements, you should not run the risk of alienating someone before you even have your foot in the door.

9. Don’t be too modest.
Don’t be scared to blow your own trumpet. While you should never lie, you should definitely take credit for the things you’ve accomplished. Some people prefer to explain their achievements in an interview, but if your resume doesn’t spark interest, you may never get that opportunity.

10. Create an internet-ready version of resume.
If you are applying online, you will need a text-only resume since most online systems don’t support formatting such as bold, italics, bullet points or lines.

Your resume must speak articulately on your behalf. It must make your sales pitch in a clear and compelling manner within 20 seconds. Invest the time to make it exceptional and you will see an immediate increase in the response rate.

All of our tips were found at http://www.freeresumehelp.net/10_resume_tips.html

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Eating healthy at work can be a challenge for even the healthiest eaters out there. These tips will help you prevent giving into your cravings and help you differentiate between eating because you are stressed, and eating because you are hungry. Enjoy!

1. Just say NO! Out loud. You don’t have to shout, though that will work, too. Often times, people eat junk food mindlessly just because it’s there. It’s accessible. It’s easy. Saying “NO!” out loud will bring you back into the present, preventing mindless eating, and make you aware of your choice not to partake.

2. Bring healthy snacks to work in baggies. Munch on them when you need to. Sometimes, eating in the office has nothing to do with hunger. Stress is a major factor in unnecessary office snacking, as is oral fixation. Pre-pack baby carrots, fruits, and veggies to bring with you when you feel the need to nibble. Carrots and other veggies can satisfy the need for a crunchy food, while fruits, like grapes, will help curve the need for something sweet. Gum is great, too.

3. Keep a food diary. It may seem like a chore, but writing down everything you eat, even for only one week, along with your feelings at that time, may shed light on your work eating habits. Do you always grab a frappuccino around 2pm? Do you tend to hit up the snack room after meetings with your boss? Once you recognize certain patterns, you’ll be able to recognize why you’re reaching for Twinkies every time Edna in Accounting stops by your desk.

4. Make a meal plan. Write out everything you’re going to eat for the whole week, keeping in mind when and how long you will work out on certain days. Pre-pack your snack baggies on the weekend so it’s easy to grab-and-go throughout the week. If a coworker asks you out to lunch, that’s fine. Just make sure you order something healthful on the menu. Rigidity is not key here, but having a plan will make it easier to assess if that piece of birthday cake is a necessary part of your diet Wednesday afternoon. If you have to have it, fine. Just continue with your plan from there.

5. Mind your schedule. If you know you have a meeting ahead of time, plan your day accordingly. The meeting will most likely go longer than expected. Try not to be tempted to indulge in food provided for you at the meeting. Plan to bring a healthy snack and either eat it before the meeting or if you can, during the meeting. This will help you to maintain your hunger and prevent yourself from overindulging in unhealthy snacks.

6. Talk to your boss. If your workplace has a snack room, you should talk with your boss about introducing healthy foods like apples, pears, bananas and oranges. This will help you to avoid the over-processed, unhealthy foods that are usually found within the snack room. It is also a good idea to introduce energy drinks, this will help you feel revitalized and energetic for your work day.

7. Make a food buddy. Most likely, there are other people in your office dealing with the same issue of wanting to eat healthy. If you feel comfortable, find a close colleague to eat lunch with. You can share your food diaries and provide helpful hints to one another about nutritious meals and snacks.

8. Make an office-wide fitness challenge. Try to encourage fun ideas that would promote healthy living. For instance, try to see if your boss would be interested in giving a bonus to the employee with the fastest finishing time in a local race. This will encourage bonding outside of the work environment and excite people to lead a health-conscious lifestyle.

All of our tips were found at: http://www.peoplejam.com/blog/8430/8-tips-eating-healthy-work

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Looking for jobs in a recession requires job seekers to change their tactics. Follow these tips, and shift your approach to focus on the needs of the employer. Identify the skills that set you apart, and how you will bring value to their organization.

Consider Contract/Temporary work/Freelance
Think about contract or temporary work to pay the bills temporarily or to get your foot in the door with a company or industry that interests you. Often times these assignments can lead to full-time employment. Many companies will even offer benefits packages for temporary and contract employees.

Concentrate on Stable or Growing “Recession-Proof” Industries
• Education
• Energy: jobs related to oil and gas, alternative energy and nuclear power.
• Health care: nurses, physical therapists, physician and medical assistants, home health aides and medical records/information technicians.
• International business: professionals with strong knowledge of other cultures and an ability to work in another country.
• Technology
• Environmental sector: growing interest in energy conservation and green energy is driving demand for people with skills in sustainability issues.

Diversify your job skills through additional training.
Specialized skills make you more valuable to your employer. Explore classes, workshops, and other training opportunities in order to set yourself apart and gain a professional advantage. Many employers offer tuition-reimbursement programs or professional development initiatives. Broadening your skill set will also make you a more flexible and versatile employee.

Recognize the Bottom Line
The current economic conditions have made businesses more bottom-line-oriented than ever. Companies categorize applicants into two groups: those who have the potential to make them money, and those who have the potential to save them money. Which one are you? Either way, remain focused on ways to help the organization move forward.

Develop a marketing strategy for yourself
Identify current and future pain points for the organization and how your skills will address those and add value. Stop asking “What’s in it for me?” and start asking “What’s in it for them?” Stay focused on what you can accomplish for your next employer. Show them that you understand the “bigger picture” of the role you play in moving the company forward, and let them know what you are going to do to create value and help them move forward.

Networking, Networking, Networking
They say it’s all about networking, and they’re right. With sites like LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and blogs, you have the opportunity to expand your network even further online. Connect with new contacts and reconnect with those you may have fallen out of touch with. Follow blogs and become a part of online forums about job searching and the company or industry that interests you. There are industry-specific organizations that hold events open to the public. Get out there and meet industry professionals in person and make contacts. You never know where a job opportunity may come from. Some organizations in the Boston area:

• Boston Ad Club www.adclub.org
• NEDMA (New England Direct Marketing Association) www.nedma.com
• AMA (American Marketing Association) www.amaboston.org
• MITX (Massachusetts Innovation and Technology Exchange) www.mitx.org
• Boston Chamber of Commerce www.bostonchamber.com
• Mass High Tech www.masshightech.com
• Boston Young Professionals www.bostonypa.com
• NEHRA (New England Human Resources Association) www.nehra.com
• Boston Business Journal www.bizjournals.com/boston

Stay Positive
The most important thing when searching for a job in tough economic times is to retain a positive attitude. Even in a job market with 10% unemployment, 90% of people are still employed.

By combining these strategies with job seeker best practices like having a clear, clean resume and maintaining professionalism during an interview, you will be able to effectively navigate the challenging job market.

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Once you land your dream Job In Boston, negotiating your salary is the next task. This conversation can be difficult, but not if you come prepared. Below is a list of questions to consider when the time comes, and if you can answer these you’ll be ready to negotiate your salary like a pro.

1. My position doesn’t usually get raises, only promotions, however I am being paid the minimum on my job scale, How do I engage my boss in moving me up the scale?

Make an appointment to speak with your employer. It is very important that you keep track of your performance and know what others are making in comparable positions. Present the facts to your employer with your concerns in a reasonable fashion and listen to your employer’s reasoning.

2. What are comparative salaries in my area for the job that I am doing? Am I being offered less than the company’s range salary? How do I present my own awareness?

Do your research. Answer these questions by checking the range in salary from the national scale to the local scale and then within your company. This should tell you where you fall and whether or not you are being paid justly given your experience, company size, and length of time you have been at that position.

3. When is the best time to raise my concern?

Try to cover salary toward the end of your interview either when your potential employer brings it up or when she asks you what your questions are. Keep in mind that it is in your best interest to ask your employer what they usually offer before you answer what you would like to be paid. You want to know what they are thinking before you let your guard down. You should try to have this discussion before accepting the position. If you already have the job, do it as you see fit, preferably during the time of your annual review.

4. My company is downsizing, or at a hiring freeze, so the work I have exceeds the work in my job description but the pay has not increased! Will negotiating my salary affect my job? How do I go about it?

In this situation it is very important that you keep track of the additional work that you are doing, as well as the additional time put in and the results of your performance. This will help you build your case when you are ready to go to your boss with a proposal for negotiation. Keep track for a bout a month before you present your findings. If your work load changes enough you may not only want to negotiate a raise but also ask for a promotion that fits your new job description. Have good timing and avoid approaching your employer with threats about leaving.

5. I have two job offers, I love company X but they are offering less than company Y. How do I get X to match my offer from Y?

BE straight forward. You want to be happy and employers want to know that you want them. Go to the company that interests you the most and tell them you want to work with them however there is a higher offer coming from one of their competitors. This will bring X up to speed on their competitor and increase your potential value to them. Chances are they will match Ys offer or exceed it.

6. Should I negotiate my salary and compensation package during the Interview or after I am offered the job?

Do not wait until after you have to job to negotiate your compensation package. Be very familiar with your prior compensation package and ask this employer about the specifics of theirs. You may have had a $55,000 salary with an additional $20,000 in benefits vs. a potential employer who offers you a $60,000 salary with $5,000 in benefits. You have to know the ins and outs of your compensation packages in order to negotiate wisely.

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If you are one of the many people searching for a Job in Boston, or anywhere, right now, I’m sure you’ve heard advice on what you need to do in order to find a job, but you might not have heard what you should NOT do. Here are some things that you might want to keep in mind:

• If no one knows you’re looking for a new job, they aren’t able to help you. You need to make people aware of the fact that you are looking for a job. Talking with your family, friends and acquaintances is one of the best ways to identify new professional contacts and learn about job openings, even those that aren’t advertised. Making connections by networking is very important. Be proactive and put yourself out there.

• If you’re not doing your research, you’re doing yourself a disservice. Applicants who show they have a strong knowledge of the job and company are better able to communicate specific ways they can contribute to the organization’s success. Start with corporate Web sites, trade publications and local business journals.

• Do NOT forget your cover letter. Your cover letter is an opportunity to market yourself in greater detail and passing up on this opportunity is a mistake.

• Do NOT send out your send out your resume without targeting it to your desired job. Online job boards have made it easy for applicants to apply for a position with the simple click of the mouse. All too often people don’t tailor their resumes to specific jobs. Take the extra time and effort to customize your resume to each opportunity.

• Time and again, people will forget to proofread their resumes and cover letters. Make sure all of your written communications with a potential employer, are error free. To avoid this mistake, consider asking a friend to review your job search materials before submitting them.

• Do NOT forget to follow up with potential employers. If you’ve applied for a job and haven’t heard back, this does not indicate that the job has been filled. Often times, hiring managers get busy and may have misplaced your resume or they haven’t had a change to look at your resume.

Finding a Job in Boston is hard work, try not to get discouraged. The right job is out there for you!

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