What if there were a way to prove to almost any employer that you alone were the one to hire? Would learning how to do that interest you? I thought so. I call this the "start-working-before-you-get-hired" job-hunting method. You can learn to do it in the next two minutes. And start getting more job leads today. Begin by understanding that getting hired for a job -- any job -- all boils down to one thing: proof. It'...

Today, I'm going to share with you the awful truth about resumes and cover letters. Here it is: Most of them stink. That's not just my opinion, although I've read nearly 15,000 resumes and cover letters over the years and found glaring mistakes in about 85-90% of them. It's also the opinion of most of the hiring professionals I've spoken to over the years. Where do most resumes and cover letters go wrong? And ho...

You don't write a resume every day. Not even every month or year, most likely. So you can't be expected to do it flawlessly every time, right? After all, you're not a professional.Well, I am.My team and I have written or edited nearly 5,000 resumes over the past nine years. And there are a handful of secrets we use to get the job done, and get our clients hired.Now, for the first time, I'd like to share with you three of my...

The successful job search is really just a personal marketing campaign. And the same techniques used in infomercials and junk mail can help you get hired.I'll prove it to you.First, let's define marketing. I like this definition: marketing is finding and getting customers.That sounds like a job search, doesn't it? Finding and getting a job.So, why not break from the pack -- and find a job faster -- by adapting and adopting...

Good things seem to come in bunches, especially in a job search. Ever wonder why?Example: ever know someone (perhaps you?) who, after many weeks in a fruitless job hunt, suddenly hit a "hot streak" and landed two or three interviews in a matter of days?What happened? What changed? Did the job market suddenly improve? Perhaps.Or ... was that improvement all in their head?I'm a firm believer that belief determines outcome. An...

If you want a drink of water, do you hire a focus group or pick up the Yellow Pages? No. You go to the kitchen, fill a glass and drink. You take the shortest route to fill your need.The path is obvious, right?Your job search is the same way. The formula for success can be obvious, if you take the time to look at how others have found employment before you.Here are three ways to find work faster by "being obvious."Obvious Ti...

Writing a cover letter can be like cleaning your garage -- you don’t know where to start ... and you just want it done. Wouldn’t it be great if you could use a few "underground" techniques to write cover letters that get more job interviews? Faster and easier than you ever thought possible? Well, pay attention. I’m going to share 3 cover letter secrets that should get you more interviews, while a lot of the guesswork...

This week, I'll tackle three common job search problems sent in by readers, in hopes that the answers will help you find your ideal job faster.These tips come from my client files and will work in today's job market --or any other.Problem: "I'm not finding enough job listings in my field."Solution: There are two ways to fix this: look for job listings differently and look in niches.First, if you're having trouble finding s...

If your job search is dragging on and on, you might want to look in the mirror. Because the person looking back may be sabotaging your efforts.Do you make the following mistakes in your job search? If so, stop now. And start getting more calls for job interviews.Mistake #1) Not Following UpIf you fire off resumes without checking to see if employers get them, and fail to keep in touch until a hiring decision is made, your d...

It's a fact: the best jobs attract loads of competition. So it pays to do whatever you can to stand out as a persistent, creative candidate, one that any sane employer would love to hire. But how can you do that, in this impersonal age of email, chat rooms and mega job sites? Easy. Just do what has worked for others. Here are 3 mini case studies from job hunters who got hired by creatively persisting and going aft...