Jobs and Works from home information

Recession leaves many in employment limbo

2009-04-06T02:03:00.000-07:00

Abridged: MSNBC

ONTARIO, CA -- Patty Powers, went to work for weeks expecting to be laid off at any time. The morning after she lost her job, she expected to wake up with that feeling of dread you get when you realize that something bad has happened, like a death in the family. Instead, she felt relief. "I almost felt like a new opportunity had opened up for me," she said. "I really felt worse when I was waiting."

The economic recession has pushed many Americans into an employment limbo. They're still holding on to a job but worried that they might lose it any day. It can often take months for companies to complete a massive layoff, leading to a nerve-racking period in which workers are left to wonder whether they will be targeted. Of course, no one relishes the thought of the unemployment line, and the nation's soaring jobless rate has left many laid-off workers unable to find a new job at all, let alone one that is comparable to their old one.

Still, for some the most stressful part is the ambiguity of not knowing. The condition of uncertainty is sometimes worse than actually knowing that you're going to get laid off. The widespread fear of layoffs, combined with an absence of concrete information, also can have a deep impact on both morale and productivity, as workers find it hard to keep their minds on their jobs amid rumors about who could be next to get the pink slip.

Junk Cover Letters Kill Good Resumes

2009-02-18T16:41:00.000-08:00

Teena Rose, Resume & Career Expert

Too many unprofessional, unfocused, and canned cover letters are floating around the job seeking population. So are you surprised when I tell you that a fair number of hiring managers don't bother reading them?Although I've seen no official survey on cover-letter readership, it's rumored that approximately 40% of cover letters aren't read. A number of reasons could be to blame; and frankly, who wants to spend valuable time reading a cover letter that sounds like it was written for the company next door too? Stock cover letters can kill your job-search efforts, making the task of finding a new position nothing but a treacherous expedition.Adding to the anxiety for job seekers comes the question: Who is reading them and who is not? You could take the chance of not sending one, but then you'll "diss" those who are expecting a cover letter. Writing a great cover letter takes time. Time that job seekers often don't want to allocate after spending hours re-tooling their resumes to perfection. Much like the resume, however, your cover letter must "sing" to the receiver. If it doesn't, you're soliciting employment on deaf ears. The best way to avoid sending a junk cover letter is to ask yourself a series of thought provoking questions:Does Your Cover Letter Use a Personable Approach?Since you were an infant, hearing your name encouraged some reaction from you. Everyone loves to hear their name from time to time, so don't be afraid of intertwining the contact's name into the content in one or two key areas.Does Your Cover Letter Include Specifics?Incorporate company-specific details, such as a problem the company's facing that you intend to resolve, or maybe to congratulate them on a newly received contract or recent merger. Keep an eye on target companies by reading daily, weekly, and monthly newspaper publications available in your area. In order to maintain the pulse of your industry, read everything about the industry that you can get your hands on. Does Your Cover Letter use layman's terms? Write your cover letter using conversational tone: a writing technique that utilizes sentences similar to those spoken. With a conversational tone, the content should attract readers because it's immediately different from the dozens, hundreds, or thousands that the company has previously received.Does Your Cover Letter Use Keywords & Phrases? Weave select keywords and key phrases pertinent to the position into your cover letter. The sole purpose of the cover letter is to reflect that you are a ringer for the position. Pull out key points from the resume and place them prominently in the cover letter to help introduce the broader skill set contained in the resume.Don't be intimidated by the depth of work involved in designing a great cover letter. Think about your job search in terms of quality not quantity. Job seekers sometimes become desperate when jobs seem scarce, and they resort to quick and ineffective techniques to securing a job. Writing cover letters that you would want to receive, if you were on the other end of the spectrum, is a good rule of thumb to follow. Outline all the core elements that are pertinent to each specific company, use language and specifics that speak directly to the reader and ensure they display you as a perfect match for the opening. With these select techniques, you're destined to secure more interviews and more job opportunities.Written by Teena Rose, a columnist, public speaker, and top resume professional who provides professional executive resume writing services through Resume to Referral. She's authored several books, including "20-Minute Cover Letter Fixer" and "Cracking the Code to Pharmaceutical Sales."

Critical Resume Tips for Job Seekers

2009-02-11T00:33:00.000-08:00

By Carol Y. Holman, M.S

Have you ever sent out a lot of resumes and received little or no response? A good resume should be a powerful marketing tool that will motivate the reader to contact you for an interview. And, although you have the choice of creating a masterpiece by choosing fancy fonts and printing on colored paper, these very things may actually be detrimental to your resume's effectiveness, hinder your chances of getting an interview or employed! What you don't know about the resume very often does hurt you.

First and foremost, the resume format is a critical feature that is determined by three factors:

1. The purpose: What kind of employment are you seeking?
a. Employment in the same field - highlight your accomplishments.
b. Looking to change fields (or career) - feature transferable skills, discuss your passion and how fields may relate.

2. The destination: To whom are you sending the resume?
a. Human Resources Department or Hiring Manager - send scannable resumes
b. Personal referral - provide more in depth information
c. Internet website - stress keywords (first 100 words of your resume)

3. Method of delivery:
a. Faxed or postal
b. Internet / Electronically: Emailed, attached
c. Cut & pasted

There are 2 resume formats: Electronic and Standard

1. Electronic - Focuses on the strength of "Key words" - for electronic selection. Key words are nouns and noun phases that are industry specific.

2. Standard - Utilizes action verbs: Chronological (standard) lists in date order most recent experience. Functional (standard - skills based) - Organizes experience by skills rather than by past.

All resumes must include:

Job Objective - what are you seeking?
Summary of Qualifications/Key Words/Skills Highlights; use depends on resume format
Specific Achievements / Accomplishments - indicates your value
Experience - work history
Education - and training

Although many suggest, as rule of thumb, that a resume should consist only of one page, this is not always the case; it depends on who's receiving the resume. Your experience in a particular field,or the amount of work history you have may determine the length of your resume.

In an attempt to develop a memorable and impressive resume, colored paper is often used; however, darker colors tend to have a sedative effect on the eyes. When the eyes are tired --- attention is lost. Therefore employers prefer resumes that are printed on the "brightest" of white paper.

Further, many employers utilize electronic applicant screening and tracking technology. These sophisticated scanners convert printed resumes into an electronic document. Artificial intelligence "reads" the text and extracts important information in the form of "key words and/or phases, then ranks or prioritize resumes.

Key words refer to those words and phrases that are used, by the electronic screener, to search documents for "hits". A "hit" is when one of your skills matches a computer search key word. The more skills and facts (key words and phrases) you provide within the first 100 words of your resume, thebetter your chances will be. The key word resume is a dynamite tool which is more effective than the standard resume when it comes to meeting the demands of electronic screening, selection and tracking.

How to choose "key words or phases"? Look at the job descriptions of several job listings for the type of position you want; be particularly aware of the duties, proficiencies and qualifications required for the position. Highlight the terms you find repeated most. Often these terms, often technical, are the qualifying criteria employers seek. If you have the qualifications, make sure that you use the terms as some of your key words (for they are often programmed for OCR to read as selection criteria).

Electronic (key word) resumes are considered the most powerful for adequately meeting the demands of applicant screening and tracking.

Target your resume to specific opportunities, then you can be more powerful with key words and phrases and do provide examples of specific achievements.

When typing the resume, "left justification" is necessary with no indentations; and save a copy of your resume as "plain text" too.

Tip of the Week applying for cruise jobs

2009-02-01T19:22:00.000-08:00

Having a good strategy for applying for cruise jobs is often a key factor in the successes we see.The people who get hired quickly are the people who:1) Have a CLEAR idea of the positions they're suitable for 2) TARGET their applications to these specific positions 3) FOLLOW UP on every job and with every company they apply to4) Keep TRACK of everything they doAnd they do this consistently and persistently until they land the job they've been desperately seeking. And in many cases, they do.On the other hand, the people who FAIL to get hired are those who apply haphazardly. In other words, they apply to a few positions here and there... when they feel like it :)Or, in a flurry of enthusiasm they fire-off a load of CV's / resumes to a few cruise lines for random jobs... and then expect the world to beat a path to their door!When they hear nothing back after a few weeks... they give up. Perhaps in a few months time they'll have another go...However, if you just take a few minutes out to follow a proper plan and then stick to that plan and keep a log of everything you do... then you'll get some great results.Here's a few things you should be keeping track of:* The job you applied for* The cruise line/agency/concessionaire you applied to* The address/email/website you applied to* The date you applied* The response (if any) you received* The date you followed up (you did follow up, right?)* Notes about each application you makeThis might seem like a lot of extra work, but it's not once you've set it up... and it's certainly worth doing if you're SERIOUS about getting a job that pays you to travel the world and enjoy some tremendous life experiences!To make this really easy for you, you can download our handy cruise job tracker spreadsheet from here which will enable you to keep on top of everything you do. Most of our successful members have found this tool very helpful in helping them get hired.It's also worth reading this article written by one of our members because he lays out the step-by-step strategy he is using to get cruise ship jobs... why not copy it?Finally, this week we've added two great new features to WorkOnCruiseShips.com - a new-look discussion forum and a new "member profile" area. Both of these tools give you much greater interactivity with the support team and your fellow members. Best of all, they're just a couple of many great benefits you have instant access to the moment you become a member. Don't get left behind - take advantage of our 7 day trial today.Happy cruise job hunting!

Neil Maxwell-Keys
http://www.WorkOnCruiseShips.com

Strategy To Jump Start Your Job Search!

2009-01-19T16:41:00.000-08:00

If you're currently in the job market, now is the time to make sure your resume is where hiring managers will find it. Career Websites or Resume BanksMost recruiters and hiring managers first turn to one of the hundreds of career websites or resume banks to find suitable job candidates to fill their positions. That's why posting your resume on ALL the top career websites will give you the competitive advantage and maximize your job opportunities.While there are currently millions of jobs listed amongst all the top career websites, more and more companies report they are searching the job boards for candidates without posting their upcoming jobs -- due to fear of an onslaught of unqualified applications.Put your resume on ALL major career websitesThat makes this the BEST time to put your resume on ALL major career websites which are collectively reported to be searched by 1.5 million employers, recruiters and hiring managers - daily! According to a poll by the Society for Human Resource Management, 88% of human resource professionals now rely on the Internet to fill open positions in their organizations. Researching which websites to post to and then filling out all of their forms will take a fair amount of time. If you don't want to spend 60 hours filling out forms and researching websites, you can turn to a great service from Resume Rabbit, which will instantly post your resume on up to 80 top career websites for you.The best part is it takes ONLY 5 MINUTES to complete, saving you tons of time by instantly posting your resume on all the best websites like Monster, Job.com, CareerBuilder, Net-Temps, Dice & more...Save at least 60 hours of research and data entryIt's really easy and you'll save at least 60 hours of research and data entry. We don't know of any other service like it.Be in ALL the right places at ALL the right times!Sure you only need one job. But to get it, you'll need to be in all the right places at all the right times. Whether you use a distribution service or do it by hand, increase your odds by posting yourself to as many career websites as possible!Try Resume Rabbit now by going to this link.

Why are you failing to get a new job?

2009-01-14T16:48:00.000-08:00

By The New Vision Online

WHILE searching for a job, you need to do a lot of things correctly and avoid missteps that can frustrate your efforts despite your strong qualifications and experience. Experts give these tips on what to avoid doing.

An unprofessional e-mail address.
You and your friends might think misscutie@gmail.com is funny or a clever address. However, a recruiting manager might not. That person might lack your sense of humor and his or her reaction might erase your chances. It is better to use your name plus, if necessary, a numerical suffix.

Poor phone etiquette.
The same logic applies to your voicemail greeting. All you need to say is that you are unavailable, not that you are out clubbing or playing Ludo. Why give a potential hiring manager a reason to pass you by? Just don't.

Misspellings in your cover letter.
While Microsoft Word has a spell-checker, it does not have a "what you meant to write-checker." If you wrote "they're chances" or "there chances" when you meant "their chances," Word will not flag your phrase, at least it didn't for me just when I was writing this article.

Failing to write a post-interview thank you letter.
Your note shows your appreciation of the opportunity to interview and gives you an additional chance to reinforce your strong points. The failure to write a note deprives you of that chance and may mark you as unprofessional.

Inappropriate dressing.
If you are sitting an interview for a bank, dress like a banker. Forget the T-shirts, shorts and sandals. If you are not sure, dress more conservatively.

Ignoring accomplishments.
Do not just list responsibilities on your resume. Emphasize your accomplishments as much as you can and quantify them. For example, do not just write, "Wrote programs in Lusamia." Instead, write "Developed or initiated a system that reduced operation costs or increased sales by x%."

Late coming.
If you are late for an interview, call the interviewer. This enables the interviewers to continue with other work, while waiting for you. The worst alternative is to simply show up late. It smacks of rudeness and unprofessionalism and may hurt your chances. Bad-mouthing. Much as you might be tempted, and even if the interviewer asks you, don't talk ill of your former company, co-workers or supervisor.

Bad-mouthing
may mark you as a troublemaker to your prospective employer.

Failure to explore contacts.
If you are looking for a job, don't do it alone. Think of other people who can help like former co-workers, vendors and alumni from high school or college. If you fail to do so, you make your search more difficult and frustrating.

Food and Beverage Manager - San Jose Giants (San Jose, CA)

2009-01-05T18:49:00.000-08:00

The San Jose Giants are seeking a Food and Beverage Manager to work directly with the Assistant General Manager on all aspects of daily food and beverage operations at Municipal Stadium. The Food and Beverage Manager will supervise the concession profit centers during each game, oversee product inventory including ordering and receiving all product deliveries, set-up, maintain, and close down concession operations for seasonal use, ensure all food and beverage operations are maintained in a clean and professional manner, train all food and beverage employees focusing on providing friendly and fast service, create staff schedules for food and beverage employees, ensure compliance with all local, state, and federal health code standards, actively create plans to help increase profit goals while limiting expenses, including menu planning, labor consolidation, and waste reduction, manage the San Jose Giants Job Fair including marketing, set up, interview assignments, etc, work with Sales Department to ensure group packages are being executed correctly, and maintain and develop reports to identify and solve operation problems, including purchasing reports, inventory reports, labor reports, etc.
Experience Required:Qualified candidate must hold a Bachelor’s Degree with experience in food service and must possess excellent customer service and people management skills. Individual must have a valid driver’s license and be able to lift at least 50 lbs. Up to 50% of work schedule can be physical work with routine exposure to extreme temperatures (hot and cold), dust and airborne particles. Applicant will be required to work flexible, event based schedule.
Note: When you apply for this job online, you will be required to answer the following questions:
1. Yes/No: I have previous food and beverage experience in sports.
2. Yes/No: I have previous management experience.
Apply for this position
Click here to see all of our employment opportunities.

Tips to help your job search this holiday season

2008-12-23T17:29:00.000-08:00

Courtney Pike, Jobbound.com
SALT LAKE CITY, UT -- It's holiday time, and you may have the urge to forget about your job search until the new year. Contrary to popular belief, not all companies put their hiring on hold during the holidays. You may be thinking that this is the perfect time to kick up your feet and feast on homemade pumpkin pie, but it's really an excellent time for something even sweeter: the job search! Here are some fun tips for improving your job prospects over the holidays:Schmooze with your family. You may think they're crazy, but they do have connections. Send holiday cards and include your business card. Hit up recruiting directors with whom you interviewed and also include any influential friends. Set at least one job search goal every day. Get a temporary job if you need experience or funds. Who knows, you might be the lucky temp who gets hired full-time.Attend holiday parties to meet new people and expand your network. Make some calls to Recruiting Directors. Sure, you've memorized their voicemail, but during the holidays, you have a better chance of catching recruiting directors at their desk. Fine tune your resume. You know it, your resume can use a little help. Volunteer and help out your community. You gain experience, you meet people, and you momentarily forget that you don't have a job yet.

Cruising Authority Talkshow Interview about Cruise Ship Jobs

2008-12-17T00:33:00.000-08:00

In this exclusive interview, former Cruise Director and Cruising Authority Talkshow Host, Barry Vaudrin interviews ex-Crew member and Hiring Specialist Neil Maxwell-Keys.

In this interview you'll hear Barry and Neil discuss:

Why they decided to work on cruise ships

Why the cruise line industry is so tough to get into... but how they managed to get hired against the odds!

What they enjoyed about working on cruise ships... and what they definitely didn't!

Lots of helpful tips and information throughout the call

Plus... You'll hear them reveal their NUMBER ONE essential secret for getting cruise ship jobs that 95% of cruise ship job seekers completely miss... which is why they never get hired!

This interview was recorded live on www.cruisetalkshow.com - the most listened-to talkshow about cruising, cruise ships, and ocean liners of the past.

5 Ways to Waste Your Time (and Money) Looking for Cruise Ship Jobs

2008-12-10T06:48:00.000-08:00

by Neil Maxwell-Keys

Here are 5 common ways that you can waste your time and money when trying to get jobs on cruise ships:

1. Being influenced by someone who 'guarantees' you a cruise ship job if you pay them $$$$. Unfortunately this a false promise and one of the biggest scams out there. And anyone who guarantees you a job on a cruise ship and then asks you for money upfront is conning you. Plain and simple. After all, they don't know who you are and they know nothing about your personality, skills, experience or qualifications, so how can they make this promise?

Remember, the only people who can assure you of a job are the cruise line companies themselves. That's after they've reviewed your application, interviewed you, checked out your references, etc, etc. And they won't charge you for the job at the end of it either!

2. Emailing your resume to cruise line companies, without them asking you to. If a cruise line company wants you to email them, then they willtell you to via a job advertisement or through the employment page of their website. They will also give you a specific address to email. But too many people make the mistake of simply firing-off a load of hopeful emails to cruise lines, in the hope that one gets through to the right person. Your chances of success are slim to none by following this method.

A much more effective approach is to prepare a great looking 'resume package' that is physically posted to the correct person at the cruise company.

3. Posting your resume to an online service where cruise lines supposedly browse this website for potential candidates. Guess what? Cruise lines don't need to do this because they already have thousands of people applying to them every week of the year. And they use a network of employment agencies in virtually every country that do a lot of their screening, interviewing and recruiting for them.

4. Purchasing an "official application form". There is no such thing as an "official" cruise ship job application form, no more than there is an official application form for the 'automobile industry' or the 'retail industry'. Each cruise line company will have its OWN standard application form. The application form for Carnival Cruise Lines is NOT the same as the application form for Holland America Line and so on. So an application received on any other form but their own, will go straight in the trash can. It's worthless to them.

Unfortunately there are several companies out there who will happily charge you $49 - $99 for their "official cruise line application form". So not only are you pinning your hopes on a useless form that won't even get looked at, but you're also paying for this privilege!

The only way to apply for cruise jobs is via the method that the cruise line has set in place. Be it an online application form which is on THEIR website or sending your resume to a postal or email address in which THEY have specified.

5. Relying on poor, outdated information. Yes, there is a lot of free information on the internet. But often these 'freebie' websites do more harm than good. After all, where's the incentive for the site owner to keep his stuff nice and fresh and continually updated? There isn't any.

We get emails from people all the time telling us how they mailed 10 fancy resume packages off 3 months ago, but have just had 7 back 'returned to sender'. This is false economy. So not only have you wasted money in postage fees, but you have just also wasted 3 valuable months in which you could have had the interview, got the job and maybe now working onboard in some far-off exotic location!

Look closely at any website offering cruise ship job info whether it's a freebie or a paid site. And ask yourself; does this site look professional? Or does it look like it was put together by a hack amateur sitting in his bedroom hoping to make a few easy dollars? And do you believe that the website owner has genuinely worked on a cruse ship and has helped others do the same? If not, do you really want to be using their information?

Also remember that investing in quality information is NOT the same as "paying for a job". If the product or service is good, then you are paying for the time, energy and money that goes into keeping everything updated and providing you with a good support service as and when you need it.

I hope you have found this information useful in your cruise ship job search.

Refresh Your Resume for the New Year

2008-12-09T17:27:00.000-08:00

by Kim Isaacs, Monster Resume Expert

The new year means a new list of resolutions. And let's face it: Some are tough to keep. If you want proof, compare the number of cars packed into the parking lot of any fitness center in early January to the lonely few there in mid-March.But a New Year's resume refresher isn't nearly as painful as four hours a week on the treadmill. And your efforts could pay off with big dividends. Arm yourself with an updated, high-octane resume, and 2009 could be the year that you land a better job.Now is a great time to reflect on your recent accomplishments and add them to your resume. Let these ideas guide you ...Make sure your resume instantly communicates your career target with a descriptive headline that adequately reflects your depth of experience. It should be a brief, hard-hitting opening statement highlighting your top selling points.If you're thinking about changing careers or industries, be sure you've clearly defined your goal. Your job search will be more successful if your resume targets a specific field instead of being a one-size-fits-all document. Research positions to gain a solid understanding of what you want to do as well as the qualifications employers are seeking. Once you identify your career target, assess your background and identify transferable skills and experience that will enable success. Add an opening objective that spells out your goals and shows the relevance of past experience. Refreshing your resume also means keeping it current. If you've changed jobs during the past year, earned a promotion or expanded responsibilities, your resume should reflect this. Even if you've remained in the same position, you've probably achieved noteworthy accomplishments in the last year. Don't forget about your new skills, including technical and computer ones. Add professional-development activities you completed last year, including certificates, degrees, courses and in-service training. Also include organizations joined and industry conferences attended. List training programs you've begun, even if you haven't completed them. This shows your commitment to ongoing professional development.Edit ruthlessly. Proofread your resume carefully to ensure it's error-free. Watch for information that needs to be updated from previous versions. Update regularly. You should refresh your resume throughout the year, not just at the beginning. You never know when opportunity may come knocking!

Cruise ship jobs - interview questions that cruise line companies will ask you.

2008-12-08T07:22:00.000-08:00

You need to be fully prepared before any job interview with a cruise line. And here is probably the best 'preparation' that any candidate could have at their disposal - the actual interview questions that cruise lines like to ask!

This resource will help you to effortlessly pass an interview for cruise ship jobs with flying colors! Please understand that this is inside and highly confidential information - we must ask you to respect this and keep this information to yourself.

Members of this site can download the Cruise ship Jobs - Interview Questions by clicking here.

If you are not a member yet, no problem. You can get full access to this site within one minute from now - just click the button below:

A Cruise Ship Job in Less than 6 days!

2008-12-03T17:21:00.000-08:00

By Neil Maxwell-Keys

Here's another classic example of how 'crazy' the cruise line industry can be.
This is a quick case-study of what happened to a member of WorkOnCruiseShips.com recently after applying for a job of Youth Staff onboard a cruise ship:
=> She emailed her application to the cruise line on Thursday evening.
=> On Sunday afternoon (3 days later) she received a call from the cruise line asking if they could interview her the following day...
[In-between this she posted an urgent message on our cruise job discussion forum requesting help because, as she put it, she was "in the process of a mild freak-out"!
You can read the original post here: http://www.workoncruiseships.com/snip/104.htm]
=> She was interviewed via telephone on Monday (the next day)
=> The cruise line called her back the day after (Tuesday) and offered her the job. Now here's the "crazy" bit - they asked her if she could be ready to join the ship the FOLLOWING day!
=> She said "YES!" and the cruise line flew her out to join her ship in Juneau, Alaska on Wednesday!
Less than 6 days from start to finish - now that's SERIOUSLY FAST - and a scary proposition for a newbie!
So what can YOU take from this?
Well, here's a few pointers to keep in mind:
She took ACTION. She went out and actually applied for jobs - she didn't wait for the job to come to her (you'd be surprised at how many people want to work on a cruise ship, but don't actually get around to applying for any jobs!)
NOTE: She DID NOT pay for a so-called "agency" to do this for her. She did it off her own back by applying directly to the cruise line companies. Remember, paying for a job is a scam (on the other hand, paying for quality information, training and support that leads to a genuine job offer is done all the time in most industries - ranging from the medical profession to the sports industry).
She was PREPARED. Although she only had ONE day to get ready for the interview, she managed to prepare herself and pass the interview successfully (although downloading our cruise ship job interview questions may have helped slightly too ;-))
She was EXCITED and ENTHUSIASTIC about the opportunity. Make sure that you're excited and let your enthusiasm for this opportunity shine through to the cruise line employer. I've interviewed hundreds of people for cruise ship jobs and I've been surprised many times at how UN-excited people can sound on the phone.
This is a life-changing opportunity - GET EXCITED!
She was READY for the opportunity. Make sure that you're ready too. Now only having 1 day to get ready is too soon for most people with jobs - but at least have your passport in place and have a good idea of how soon you could leave if needed. Also know exactly what steps you would need to take in order to get organized, if you were offered the job tomorrow...
(We actually advised her to ask the cruise line for an extra week to get organized - but this girl was excited and took the challenge!)
I hope this weeks tip/case-study inspires you and proves to you that getting a job on a ship really can be done sooner than you think.
Why don't you check out some of the latest cruise ship job vacancies.
There could be a job waiting for you right now!

Don't let a bad interview kill your job search

2008-12-01T17:14:00.000-08:00

Abridged: CBS News
NEW YORK, NY -- A bad job interview can kill your chances of landing a position. And with unemployment skyrocketing and the field loaded with others seeking work, you need to nail that interview to cement a great first impression. Susan Morem, author of "How to Get a Job and Keep It," offered advice that could help you land on your feet. She says there are tried-and-true do's and don'ts for that all-important session, to help set you apart.Preparation is key so do your homework. Know about the position you're interviewing for and know what's on your resume. Also, research the company with whom you are interviewing and be ready to ask intelligent. If you're going to interview in an area you're unfamiliar with, go to the location ahead of time so you don't get lost. First impressions are key and the interviewer sizes you up within moments. So, greet your interviewer with a firm handshake and maintain eye contact.Further, employers pay more attention to your physical appearance than you may think; they take notice of everything from the condition of your shoes to the length and style of your hair. You really want to appear professional and well-put-together. Do not dress casually even if the company has a casual dress policy. Morem also advises against asking about in/out times, salary, vacation, days off, dress code, etc. There will be plenty of time to work out those details once the job offer has been made.

Why Can’t I Ever Seem to Land the Job of My Dreams?

2008-11-30T17:24:00.000-08:00

Posted by Steve Van Vreede on November 29, 2008 at 9:29pm
I hear this cry from job seekers all the time: “Why, oh why, does my dream job always seem to be around the next corner? When will I ever find it?”I have to say that as a small business owner and self-employed individual, I find this discussion rather irritating.The reason is because, all too often, the attitude of job seekers is that this elusive job is just out there, in all its perfection, just waiting for them to come along. The boss will be perfect. The pay will be perfect. The job description will be perfect. The environment and hours will be perfect. Blah, blah, blah…The problem, of course, is that nothing is ever perfect, and that as long as there are people, there will be frustrations at work. So now that I think of it, I’m not really sure there even are dream jobs out there, but there are some that come pretty close. However, none of them are just waiting for you. They all require sacrifice, long hours, ups and downs, difficult clients and bosses, and endless hours of frustration and certain moments of failure.I can say this because I have a “dream job” that I love. I am a career services professional. I have my own business, in which I get to put to good use all those MBA skills I paid so dearly to obtain. And I get to work with my wife, which really is one of the great joys of my life (honestly!).But all of that has come at a great price. I have wasted countless hours and resources on marketing tactics that haven’t worked. I have given up evenings and weekend hours trying to work with an unreasonable client who just needed everything right that second. I have formed fruitless partnerships, and I have given away lots of free services only to walk away with nothing to show for it.Why am I saying all this? Because despite all that, somewhere in the midst of all my failed efforts and frustrating moments, a business somehow took shape, a business that now supports my family and has grown large enough to employ others and earn a solid reputation.Believe me, I could have given up many times along the way. I could have cried into my keyboard, “Oh why is my dream job eluding me?” I could have ran back to the corporate world, hid in my office, and blamed the economy for all my disappointments (and Pres. Bush), but I chose (and my wife chose) to stick with it.Is it perfect? No. Do I love every minute of it? Definitely not. Is it the job of my dreams? Some days. Is it worth it? Absolutely.Ever since I started on this quest to build the career of my dreams, I have been faced with the hardest obstacles, the absolute most unfair people I have ever worked with and for, and I have had to suffer defeat more times than I care to admit.So the next time you wonder why the job of your dreams always seems to be around the next corner, ask yourself whether you are willing to do what it takes to get it. Ask yourself whether you are really looking for that challenge, that purpose for your career. Or whether you just want something cushy, something smooth sailing.From what I can see, dream jobs are rarely smooth and certainly not meant for comfort.

Get 10 interview calls in 72 hours--guaranteed!

2008-11-27T20:14:00.000-08:00

Staff Writer, The Career News

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA -- What if you could make your phone ring with employers you chose asking to interview you? Wouldn't it be great to find jobs that never make it to the newspaper or online? Would you like to have nearly ZERO competition from other job hunters when you interview? Now you can!If you want a fantastic job in the next 30 days, we recommend using JobsByFax. This service is simple to use and an affordable way to ensure a more focused and satisfying job search. You'll have instant access to information on thousands of companies and their decision makers. JobsByFax combines quality and quantity by faxing your resume to potential hiring managers.Select and target your desired company types, industry and locality, and JobsByFax will fax your resume directly to 1000's of hiring managers matching your criteria. You won't get lost in email. In fact, it's proven that faxing 1000 resumes to the right hiring managers can yield from 10 to 50 quality responses! Target your best career opportunities and get more interviews by going to JobsByFax.

How To Write A Successful Business Plan

2008-11-24T04:45:00.000-08:00

Whether you are planning to start a brand-new business, expand an existing company, or get financing for a business venture, you will need to write a business plan. A business plan not only lends your business a sense of credibility, but also helps you to cover all your bases, increasing your chances of success.

Although writing a business plan can be a lengthy, intimidating project, it is not necessarily difficult. Here is an overview of how to write a successful business plan.

What to Include in Your Business Plan

Your business plan needs to demonstrate that you have thoroughly considered all aspects of running your business. To that end, the standard business plan has nine major sections, covering everything from your business’s mission statement to a detailed financial analysis.

Executive Summary

The first – and most important – section of your business plan is the executive summary. This section is so important that it should literally be the first thing the reader sees – even before the table of contents! However, it should also be written last, as you’ll have a better understanding of the overall message of your business plan after you’ve researched and written the other sections.

One of the most important parts of the executive summary is the mission statement. The mission statement is only three or four sentences long, but it should pack the most punch out of everything else in your business plan: Those four sentences are responsible for not only defining your business, but also capturing the interest of your reader.

The rest of your executive summary should fill in the important details that the mission statement glosses over. For instance, your executive summary should include a short history of the business, including founder profiles and start date; a current snapshot, listing locations, numbers of employees, and products or services offered; and a summary of future plans and goals.

This section is a candidate for a bulleted format, which allows you to list main points in a manner that is easy to scan. Avoid using too much detail – remember, this section is a summary. A page or two is usually sufficient for an executive summary.

Market Analysis

The next section of your business plan focuses on market analysis. In order to show that your business has a reasonable chance for success, you will need to thoroughly research the industry and the market you intend to sell to. No bank or investor is going to back a doomed venture, so this section is sure to fall under especially close scrutiny if you are looking for financing.

Your market analysis should describe your industry, including the size, growth rate, and trends that could affect the industry. This section should also describe your target market – that is, the type or group of customers that your company intends to serve. The description of your target market should include detail such as:

• Distinguishing characteristics
• The needs your company or product line will meet
• What media and/or marketing methods you’ll use to reach them
• What percentage of your target market you expect to be able to wrest away from your competitors

In addition, your market analysis should include the results of any market tests you have done, and an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of your competitors.

Company Description

After your market analysis, your business plan will need to include a description of your company. This section should describe:

• The nature of your business
• The needs of the market
• How your business will meet these needs
• Your target market, including specific individuals and/or organizations
• The factors that set you apart from your competition and make you likely to succeed

Although some of these things overlap with the previous section, they are still necessary parts of your company description. Each section of your business plan should have the ability to stand on its own if need be. In other words, the company description should thoroughly describe your company, even if certain aspects are covered in other sections.

Organization and Management

Once you have described the nature and purpose of your company, you will need to explain your staff setup. This section should include:

• The division of labor – how company processes are divided among the staff
• The management hierarchy
• Profiles of the company’s owner(s), management personnel, and the Board of Directors
• Employee incentives, such as salary, benefits packages, and bonuses

This goal of this section is to demonstrate not only good organization within the company, but also the ability to create loyalty in your employees. Long-term employees minimize human resource costs and increase a business’s chances for success, so banks and investors will want to see that you have an effective system in place for maintaining your staff.

Marketing and Sales Management

The purpose of the marketing and sales section of your business plan is to outline your strategies for marketing your products or services. This section also plans for company growth by describing how the growth could take place.

The section should describe your company’s:

• Marketing methods
• Distributions methods
• Type of sales force
• Sales activities
• Growth strategies

Product or Services

Following the marketing section of your business plan, you will need a section focusing on the product or services your business offers. This is more than a simple description of your product or services, though. You will also need to include:

• The specific benefits your product or service offers customers
• The specific needs of the market, and how your product will meet them
• The advantages your product has over your competitors
• Any copyright, trade secret, or patent information pertaining to your product
• Where any new products or services are in the research and development process
• Current industry research that you could use in the development of products and services

Funding Request

Only once you have described your business from head to toe are you ready to detail your funding needs. This section should include everything a bank or investor needs in order to understand what type of funding you want:

• How much money you need now
• How much money you think you will need over the next five years
• How the money you borrow will be used
• How long you will need funding
• What type of funding you want (i.e. loans, investors, etc.)
• Any other terms you want the funding arrangement to include

Financials

The financials section in your business plan supports your request for outside funding. This section provides an analysis of your company’s prospective financial success. The section also details your company’s financial track record for the past three to five years, unless you are seeking financing for a startup business.

The financials section should include:

• Company income statements for prior years
• Balance sheets for prior years
• Cash flow statements for prior years
• Forecasted company income statements
• Forecasted balance sheets
• Forecasted cash flow statements
• Projections for the next five years – every month or quarter for the first year, with longer intervals for the remaining years
• Collateral you can use to secure a loan

The financials section is a great place to include visuals such as graphs, particularly if you predict a positive trend in your projected financials. A graph allows the reader to quickly take in this information, and may do a better job of encouraging a bank or investor to finance your business. However, be sure that the amount of financing you are requesting is in keeping with your projected financials – no matter how impressive your projections are, if you are asking for more money than is warranted, no bank or investor will give it to you.

Appendices

The appendix is the final section in your business plan. Essentially, this is where you put all of the information that doesn’t fit in the other eight sections, but that someone – particularly a bank or investor – might need to see.

For instance, the market analysis section of your business plan may list the results of market studies you have done as part of your market research. Rather than listing the details of the studies in that section, where they will appear cumbersome and detract from the flow of your business plan, you can provide this information in an appendix.

Other information that should be relegated to an appendix includes:

• Credit histories for both you and your business
• Letters of reference
• References that have bearing on your company and your product or service, such as magazines or books on the topic
• Company licenses and patents
• Copies of contracts, leases, and other legal documents
• Resumes of your top managers
• Names of business consultants, such as your accountant and attorney

Writing a Successful Business Plan

Despite the quantity of information contained in your business plan, it should be laid out in a format that is easy to read. Just like with any piece of business writing, it is important to craft your business plan with your intended audience in mind – and the bankers, investors, and other busy professionals who will read your business plan almost certainly won’t have time to read a tedious document with long-winded paragraphs and large blocks of text.

Business plans for startup companies and company expansions are typically between twenty to forty pages long, but formatting actually accounts for a lot of this length. A strong business plan uses bullet points throughout to break up long sections and highlight its main points. Visuals such as tables and charts are also used to quickly relay specific information, such as trends in sales and other financial information. These techniques ensure that the reader can skim the business plan quickly and efficiently.

Think of your audience as only having fifteen minutes to spend on each business plan that comes across their desks. In that fifteen minutes, you not only have to relay your most important points, but also convince the reader that your business venture merits a financial investment. Your best bet is a well-researched business plan, with an organized, easy-to-read format and clear, confident prose.

About The Author
Jason Kay is a former professional business plan writer and provides business start up advice. He contributes to business magazines and websites such as http://BudgetBusinessPlans.com, which provides business plan writing services and business plan samples.

What Companies Want to Know About You

2008-11-23T17:20:00.000-08:00

By Alison Doyle

What do companies want to know before they hire you? You might be surprised at how much they want to know about your background. Employment background checks are being conducted by employers more frequently than in the past and some employers will confirm, very thoroughly, every detail of your resume or application. Employers may also require a pre-employment physical examination to determine the suitability of an individual for a job.
In addition, companies are concerned about negligent hiring lawsuits where employers can be held responsible for injuries caused by an employee, if they did not check the employee's background. Your credit history is important to employers because it an indication of how responsible you are.
What do you do if your employment history is shaky or your credit needs repairing? Zachary Hummel, Partner in the New York office of Bryan Cave LLP who represents employers in all aspects of labor and employment law, shares his perspective on the best strategies for job seekers when it comes to job applications and employment background checks.
More: Employment Background Checks

What Are The Significance of Cover Letters in Sales?

2008-11-18T21:59:00.000-08:00

Looking for a job can now take advantage of applying for certain jobs simultaneously through the Internet. The use of online submissions of application letters has made applying for a job as easy as 123. However some job applicants have committed and are still committing a mortal sin in job applications. Job applications should always come with a cover letter no matter if it is being sent the traditional way that is by snail mail, or by email. Some people believe that a cover letter is no longer important since they already sent their comprehensive resume you can visit www.sales-page-rapid-fire.com However, job applicants should be aware that a comprehensive resume or bio-data is different from a cover letter. A resume is called comprehensive because it can take on as many pages as your qualifications and job experiences may require. On the other hand, a cover letter should be a short letter which should not even exceed a page. A cover letter is actually the first part of the application of a person and this is the first thing that most human resources managers see and base their decisions on. Human resources managers and even their staff do not have all the time in the world to read very long resumes.
Thus a person who wants to get an interview with a company should write a very brief, concise and interesting cover letter that would get him an interview. Most human resources staff just takes a look at the cover letter and sees if the applicant has all the basic requirements for the job. An application without a cover letter would not help at all and in most cases it would just be thrown or misplaced. Writing a very good cover letter or introduction is thus a very important t part of every job application. Job applicants should learn how to write a very good cover letter because it is the only way they will be able to catch the attention of the hiring officer no matter if they have a very good resume. A cover letter is much like a sales letter which provides a one-page summary of how the applicant meets the requirement of the vacant position being sought by the company. A person who can write a very good cover letter is assured that he will be able to go to the next phase of every job application d that is a job interview or go to www.sale-trigger-generator.com Once the applicant has been chosen and scheduled for an interview then this will be the time when his comprehensive resume will be of use. It is a given that almost if not all people called for an interview already meets the basic or the minimum requirements of the company. However, their resumes will show who among them has an edge over the others. A cover letter actually gets a person through the door of the company while the comprehensive resume makes sure that he gets his foot permanently in the company concerned. Writing a winning cover letter could not be achieved in one sitting except of course if the applicant is a very talented and convincing salesman or writer. Like most things, a person has to practice writing his cover letter until he gets it right. It may be a strenuous pursuit but if the aim is to be called for an interview then a person has no choice but to do it http://www.killer-sales-letters.com http://www.web-sales-letter-supreme.com
Related Articles - Sales Letter, Sales, Resale, Letters, Secret.,

Cover Letter Samples: Generic-1

2008-11-17T19:14:00.000-08:00

John Doe
11 East Street
Chicago, IL 11111
(555) 555-1234

Mr. John Smith
XYZ Recruiting
11 North Street
Chicago, IL 11111

October 6, ______

Dear Mr. Smith:

Subject: Plant and Production Management and/or Operations Management Position

Your organization was referred to me as one that may have an interest in reviewing my credentials for one of your client assignments.

I am a manufacturing and production manager with 12 years experience in plant management and plant operations. I have proven expertise in manpower and materials planning, inventory and quality control, safety and sanitation, and production; and competence in managing, directing and developing people in union and non-union environments. I am seeking a position in plant and production management and/or operations management in the Mid-Atlantic area.

Your consideration is greatly appreciated. I would be pleased to discuss with you in further detail specific elements of my background, qualifications, and future interest with respect to your client requirements.

Sincerely,

John Doe

Enclosure: Resume
Continuing Education - Browse our collection of accredited resources for continuing your education online.

Cover Letter Samples: Clarifying Questions Raised During an Interview

2008-11-17T19:06:00.000-08:00

11 East Street
Chicago, IL 11111

October 11, ______

Ms. Jane Smith
Vice President of Management
ABC Industries
44 North Street
Chicago, IL 11111

Dear Ms. Smith:

Thanks again for the opportunity to interview for the Senior Executive Management position. I very much enjoyed meeting with you and your staff and learning more about ABC Industries, the Norfolk area, and your Latin American market.

I’m still very interested in the possibility of joining ABC Industries as one of your senior managers. You mentioned my responsibilities would include sales and marketing for your Latin American market. While I’m excited about developing this market, I have a few additional questions that would give me a better idea of how I can best approach this market:

-Which countries do you see as most important to ABC’s growth?
-How many days per year would I expect to travel to the region?
-What kind of local staff assistance would be available?
-To what extent have you achieved your sales goals in this region?
-What are some of the major problems facing ABC in this market?
-Who is your competition and what do you see as their major strengths?

I’ll call you on Tuesday morning to see if you have a few minutes to discuss these questions. I would appreciate your insights into what I consider to be one of the most exciting markets in the coming decade.

Sincerely,

John Doe

Continuing Education - Browse our collection of accredited resources for continuing your education online.

Top 5 Job Search Mistakes

2008-11-16T18:13:00.000-08:00

Whether we like it or not, a job search entails the selling of a product, which happens to be you. As with any product, there is a fine line between a successful negotiation and an ineffective pitch.So before we go any further, it is wise to take a look at some of the top mistakes that job seekers make:1. Overselling/Underselling. It is probably just as bad to oversell your qualities as it is to undersell them. The reason that either one occurs is because job seekers place all the emphasis on the product (themselves) and forget about the buyer (the potential employer) and the buyer’s needs. Big mistake!!2. Misplaced Blame. When things don’t happen quickly during the job search process, the first thing most job seekers do is start to place blame. It’s the résumé. It’s the recruiter. It’s the job market. It’s the government. And so on. As mentioned, the job search process is a frustrating one. And it is a mistake to get caught up in the blame game. As soon as that starts, you will lose focus, become demotivated, and carry that attitude into interviews.3. Undiversified Approach. Many job seekers think that they can just try one or two opportunities for finding a job and dismiss many other options. Forgetting to diversify your job search can be a big mistake, particularly when it is a statistical fact that many traditional job hunting tactics are not that effective. So if you’re expecting those online posting sites to do all the work for you, you will likely be disappointed or, at the very least, waiting around for a while for something to happen.4. Unrealistic Expectations. Time and time again, job seekers will start off a job search with such high hopes. They can’t wait to start that new career. They just know they are worth more. They’ve bought that fancy résumé. The calls should just start rolling in…Let's face it, even with all the right conditions (good skills, great résumé), no one is guaranteed a 30-day or less job search. So many factors are involved that you need to understand how long it can truly take.5. Lack of Preparation. It is amazing how job seekers will put so much emphasis on the résumé but forget to (a) have a strategy in place for how to use the résumé, (b) fail to prepare for both phone and face-to-face interviews (they are not the same thing and, therefore, require different preparation), and (c) have a complete misunderstanding of the industry they are targeting. Don’t be fooled. Just because you’ve spent the last 10 years in your field doesn’t mean that you have a broad perspective on it. Chances are your scope has been narrow, specific to your employer, or industry-specific. Honestly, there is no excuse for lack of preparation, and no matter how much you have to offer, it will hinder your job search.If you are not a natural sales person, don’t worry. Most people think they are poor at sales because they spend too much time obsessing over the end result and not enough time matching up their product with the prospect’s needs. If you think of your job search as a synergy between your experience and skills and the potential employer’s needs, it will help you stay focused on the “win-win” goal you are trying to achieve.So, basically, it is all about strategy!! That is why I have been working hard to promote my No-Nonsense Job Search Strategy approach. I know how much it is needed out there, especially for those who have spent the first 30 or so days of their job search convinced that some recruiter out there would be the answer to their prayers. If you haven't had a chance yet, check out my No-Nonsense Job Search site at http://www.nononsensejobsearch.com/no-nonsense-job-search.

2008-11-15T01:32:00.000-08:00

WRITING A CV RESUME


If you are a student, there is probably a career advice office in your place of study. They are there to help. They may have fact-sheets of advice on how to prepare a CV. Make full use of them. However, employers do not want to see CVs which are all written in exactly the same way. Therefore, do not just copy standard CV samples! Your CV should be your own, personal, and a little bit different.

You are probably now standing in the doorway of adult life. Choices you make now will affect your whole future. Here are some questions to consider:: How can I choose the best career for my life?; What are the best ways of making choices and decisions?; What is the real purpose of my life, and what do I want to achieve?; Do I have the inner resources to handle these things?
Our student help page is designed to suggest some new and revolutionary options for facing these questions. Take five minutes to check it out and maybe change your whole life! Or wonder what you missed!
Did this page help you? Could we make it better? How could we make it apply more to your particular country? Write to us.

Wow.....ternyata saya dapat duit & bisa bikin blog

2008-11-14T03:19:00.000-08:00

Terima kasih uangpanas.com, akhirnya saya bisa membuat blog dan mendapatkan transfer pertama saya dari internet setelah 1 minggu membaca, mempraktekkan panduan/tutorial e-book dari uangpanas.com.

Ya...memang tulisan ini saya persembahkan sebagai tribute atau rasa terima kasih saya kepada uangpanas.com, mengingat saya adalah orang yang tidak memiliki pengetahuan dalam internet marketing, namun berkat panduan yang simpel, mudah dimengerti dan mudah diikuti dapat memberikan hasil nyata berupa real money/real transfer ke rekening saya. Memang jumlahnya tidak fantastis karena waktu yang bisa saya luangkan juga terbatas, namun pengalaman ini benar-benar membangkitkan saya untuk terus memaksakan diri belajar mengejar perubahan yang mulai kita rasakan dalam pola pergaulan individu, terutama bisnis yang diakibatkan oleh kemajuan teknologi dunia maya/internet. Demi anak-anak dan istri, saya akan terus berubah kearah yang lebih baik. Amin..

Works and money from home’s Blog

2008-11-13T23:34:00.000-08:00

Works and money from home’s Blog

Jobs and Works from home information

Recession leaves many in employment limbo

Junk Cover Letters Kill Good Resumes

Critical Resume Tips for Job Seekers

Tip of the Week applying for cruise jobs

Strategy To Jump Start Your Job Search!

Why are you failing to get a new job?

Food and Beverage Manager - San Jose Giants (San Jose, CA)

Tips to help your job search this holiday season

Cruising Authority Talkshow Interview about Cruise Ship Jobs

5 Ways to Waste Your Time (and Money) Looking for Cruise Ship Jobs

Refresh Your Resume for the New Year

Cruise ship jobs - interview questions that cruise line companies will ask you.

A Cruise Ship Job in Less than 6 days!

Don't let a bad interview kill your job search

Why Can’t I Ever Seem to Land the Job of My Dreams?

Get 10 interview calls in 72 hours--guaranteed!

How To Write A Successful Business Plan

What Companies Want to Know About You

What Are The Significance of Cover Letters in Sales?

Cover Letter Samples: Generic-1

Cover Letter Samples: Clarifying Questions Raised During an Interview

Top 5 Job Search Mistakes

WRITING A CV RESUME

WHAT IS A CV RESUME FOR?

GENERAL ADVICE

Before you start

WHAT TO INCLUDE

Personal details

Education

Work experience

Interests

Skills

References

Length

Style

Chronological

Skills based

Optional extras

Presentation

Covering letter

Aplication forms

Other points

The interview

May you have good success!

Your future life

Wow.....ternyata saya dapat duit & bisa bikin blog

Works and money from home’s Blog