The Everything Get-A-Job Book: The Tools and Strategies You Need to Land the Job of Your Dreams

by Dawn Rosenberg McKay

Overview

Whether you're a first-time job hunter or an experienced job hopper, The Everything Get-a-Job Book, 2nd Edition is your indispensable guide to the ever-changing job market. This easy-to-use resource takes you through the necessary steps to find a job you'll love.

Look inside for information on:

• Writing powerful, effective resumes and cover letters
• Online job search strategies
• Returning to work after an extended absence
• Negotiating the best possible salary, bonus, and benefits package

With practical advice on networking, creating a polished resume, setting goals, and handling stressful interview questions, The Everything Get-a-Job Book, 2nd Edition will help you stand out from the crowd and land the perfect job!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781598691597
Publisher:	Adams Media
Publication date:	02/12/2007
Series:	Everything�
Edition description:	Second Edition
Pages:	320
Product dimensions:	8.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Dawn Rosenberg McKay has managed the Career Planning Site for About.com since 1997. As the About.com Career Planning Guide, Dawn has written hundreds of articles on career choice, job searching, and work life. She is the author of The Everything Practice Interview Book. Ms. McKay lives in Port Washington, NY.

Table of Contents

Top Ten Reasons to Get a New Job     x
Introduction     xiii
Before You Begin Your Job Search     1
What Kind of Job Do You Want?     2
How to Use What You've Learned about Yourself     5
What Can You Offer Employers?     6
Setting Goals     7
For Students and Recent Graduates     8
For Those Returning to Work     12
Perseverance Is Key     13
Basics of Job Winning     15
Getting Organized     16
Planning Your Job-Search Campaign     17
The Best and Worst Ways to Find Jobs     21
Getting Ahead of the Competition     26
How Long Should Your Job Search Take?     27
For Students and Recent Graduates     28
For Those Returning to Work     32
Networking     35
Why You Should Network     36
Building Your Network     36
How to Develop Contact Lists     37
Developing Your Network Online     40
Maintaining Your Network     42
For Students and Recent Graduates     42
For Those Returning to Work     47
Resumes     49
Types of Resumes     50
Structure of a Resume     52
Putting Together a Chronological Resume     54
Putting Together a Functional Resume     56
Putting Together a Combination Resume     57
Education, Training, and Credentials     58
Advice For Dealing with Special Situations     59
Lying on Your Resume: Don't Do It!     61
Resume Samples     63
Last-Minute Resume Tips     64
Sample Chronological Resume     65
Sample Functional Resume     66
Sample Combination Resume     67
Sample Resume for Someone Returning to Work     68
Sample Resume for First-Time Job Seeker (Some Experience)     69
Sample Resume for First-Time Job Seeker (No Related Experience)     70
Sample Resume for a Career Changer     71
Electronic Resumes     73
When Do You Need an Electronic Resume?     74
Formatting     74
Contents     76
Online Resume     78
Applicant-Tracking Systems     80
Resume Banks     81
Selecting Resume Banks to Use     83
Sending Your Resume via E-mail     85
Creating Your Own Web Site     88
Cover Letters     91
Always Send a Cover Letter     92
Formatting     93
Indented Paragraph Style     95
Block Paragraph Style     96
Avoiding Common Mistakes     98
Identified Employers Versus Unidentified Employers     99
Cold Contact Letters     100
Following Up on Your Cover Letters     101
Cover Letter Samples     103
Last-Minute Cover Letter Tips     104
Sample Letter to Identified Employer     105
Sample Letter to Unidentified Employer     106
Sample Cold Cover Letter     107
Sample Letter from a Student/New Job Seeker     108
Sample Letter from a Returnee to Work     109
Sample Letter to an Employment Agency     110
Sample Letter from Someone Seeking Part-Time Work     111
Other Letters     113
Thank-You Letters     114
Sample Letter aftera Job Interview     115
Sample Letter to a Reference     116
Sample Letter to Someone Who Helped You Get an Interview     117
Letter Accepting a Job Offer     118
Letter Rejecting a Job Offer     119
Resignation Letter     120
Follow-up Letter after Sending a Resume     121
Sending Letters via E-mail     122
Looking for a Job Online     123
Major Job-Search Sites     124
Job Search Engines     127
Niche Job-Search Sites     129
Using Resume Banks     130
Government Jobs     130
Online Tools to Assist You in Your Job Search     132
Employment Services     135
Types of Employment Services     136
Finding an Agency     138
Executive Search Firms     139
Outplacement Services     143
Community Agencies     143
Employment Services for Students and Recent Graduates     144
Researching Companies     145
Why You Need to Do Company Research     146
What Information Do You Need?     147
Getting Started     148
Find the Company's Web Site     148
Look in Company Directories     149
Obtain Annual Reports     150
Get the Latest News     151
Interviewing     157
Preparing for the Job Interview     158
Looks Matter     160
What to Bring     162
The Crucial First Moments      163
During the Interview     165
Coping with Difficult and Inappropriate Questions     168
Asking Your Own Questions     169
Following Up after the Interview     169
Strategies for Additional Interviews     172
Practice Interview Questions     175
Personal Questions     176
Questions about Your Skills and Abilities     177
Questions about Your Education     179
Questions about Your Accomplishments     181
Questions about Your Work History     182
Difficult Questions     184
Illegal or Inappropriate Questions     187
Questions to Ask the Interviewer     189
Special Interview Situations     191
Interviewing over a Meal     192
Interviewing in a Foreign Country     195
Telephone Interview and Videoconference     197
Panel Interview     198
Group Interview     199
Behavioral Interviews     200
Looking for a Job under Difficult Circumstances     203
Job Hunting while You're Still Employed     204
If You're Fired or Laid Off     206
Long-Distance Job Hunting     209
Returning to Work after an Absence from the Job Market     210
Lack of Work Experience     212
Long-Term Job Search     212
The Job Offer     215
Do You Want This Job?     216
Career Helper or Career Killer     218
The Money Questions     219
It's about Job Satisfaction     223
Accepting a Job Offer     224
Declining a Job Offer     226
How to Handle Roadblocks     227
What to Do When You Can't Find a Suitable Job     228
Make a Career Change     229
Working with a Career Development Professional     232
Working with a Resume-Writing Professional     234
Dealing with the Stress of a Lengthy Job Search     234
Coping with Shyness     236
New and Recent Graduates     239
Dealing with Your Lack of Experience     240
Your Resume     244
Networking     245
The Job Interview     245
Can I Find You on the Web?     247
Handling Rejection     248
The Mature Job Candidate     249
Who Are You Calling Mature?     250
Focus on Your Attributes     251
Don't Let Your Age Show      252
Age Discrimination     253
Returning to the Job Market     256
After Retirement: A New Career     258
Glossary     261
Additional Resources     265
Before-and-After Resumes     271
Index     282