Searching for Work

I agree that keywords are critical and you need to take time to update your resume for the specific job that you are looking for. I started using a professional portfolio at http://www.personavita.com to showcase my past work experience. They allow me to create as many versions of this portfolio as I want. And each version can have it's own URL from an employer. It might not get your the first call BUT it does help you stand out to give the URL at the interview.

all the offers i get are crap

I've been looking for a job for the past few months, and I feel I have a solid resume. I search for positions online and use a cover letter template which I use a "your requirements" / "my experience" table. I have had several interviews, unfortunately have not gotten any offers yet. In the past I have always gotten hits and relevant calls on my resume posted on Monster, Careerbuilder, etc. Maybe I'm just lucky - I have 2 interviews this week (my fingers are crossed).

In today's market, if you don't have a killer resume, you've taken yourself out of the race before you even know whether or not you were in the running. Keywords are critical, follow-up is essential and networking is vital. You also have to find online resources outside of the typical job boards - and submit your resume every few weeks. Sources like LinkedIN, Inovahire, industry specific sites, trade journal sites, professional associations, college alumni and placement offices can all be great resources.

With all my respect. Applying online is like putting your resume in a bottle and throwing into the ocean. Following all of the above guidelines, paid a fortune for my resume, applied for over 400 jobs that were almost a word for word with my experience, received less than 20 calls. After 14 months of looking for a job, I finally landed one when a friend gave my resume to a HR rep at a local company. I learned the hard way it???s who you know and not what you know. Sadly I have far too many friends who share my experience with applying for work on line. Looking for a job has become a lucrative money pit business for some (job sites, resume writers etc) and a huge heartache for the masses. My heart goes out to anyone looking for work. Keep your head up high and reach out to friends and family who maybe able to introduce your credentials to hiring companies.

Iam Looking for a Local Truck Driving Job. I have a Class A Commercial License, With air brake. Six Months OTR. I have Driven 25 Ft Straight Truck,20 yard Dump Trucks. In the33 years as a Roofer.. Trailer Tractor; 8 or 10 Speed. Map reading , Log managemant, Managing Time. Trying to make a Career Change. This Job Iam Looking for,Would Not keep Me away,For Know Then 7 Days Out, Or Lest. A Roll Off Truck driving Job Would be nice.

The number one thing you can do to get a new job is to: Avoid ALL news media. Do it and you will see... this guy explains it quite well at resumetrunk. com. he hits the nail on the head. it's in tips section or somewhere.

I second jazzmanjim that networking is the best way to find a job. That way, you're dealing with people instead of computers. And you're seen as a person, not a bunch of keywords. I post my resume on job boards anyway just for the heck of it (some employers do look at them), but I don't hedge my bets on it.

I have been submitting resume after resume to the online ads and have not been called in for an interview for one, even though I have over 15 years experience. Sometimes I wonder if the resume even reaches anyone or if they just fall through some hole in the atmosphere. It's all so impersonal now a days!

What good does it do to have a polished resume if there are no jobs, anyway? Day after day I look and the only jobs in my field are temporary positions and require extensive experience as a bare minimum requirement for the job. How do I get experience if no one will train me in all these software packages, rules, regulations and procedures I am supposed to be familiar with?

Character, motivation, personal appeal, broad spectrum experience... none of this counts anymore. We have been reduced to "key words", "credit scores", and digital expediency; cold, impersonal bits and bytes. No wonder we are in the mess we are in!!

Less the 10% of jobs are from online job boards. Instead, you need to network, network, network. Repeat - network. Blindly firing off resumes to job boards or even directly to companies does not work. Did I say you need to network.