Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Monday, December 19, 2011
10 job search tips for 2012
10 job search tips for 2012
10 job search tips for 2012, It's 2012, and with the new year comes a revitalized spirit, gusto and determination to enact your plans and make your dreams happen. With the evolution of career search over the last few years, it's good to take stock of what will make the biggest impact in landing a job this year.
Some things haven't changed. It's still tough out there. There are still many people competing for few opportunities. But with the right tools, you can improve your search, broaden your networking opportunities and align yourself with a career that fits your skills.
Here are 10 tips for a successful job search in 2012:
1. Create a job search strategy. Employers hate receiving applications from candidates who are not qualified for positions. So it's time to stop using the shotgun approach to your job search. You're wasting your time, and you're wasting the recruiter's time. Carefully read job postings and determine whether you could do a majority of the tasks required if you started tomorrow. A recent CareerBuilder job forecast reported that employers are not finding qualified candidates for their open positions, so learn how to tailor your existing skills to a job's requirements and spend time preparing better résumés and cover letters instead of just blasting a generic one to every single posting.
2. Define your goals and your brand. It can be challenging to stop and ask yourself, "What do I really want out of a job?" Answers as simple as a paycheck or benefits may be a reality, but the fact is that you do want more out of your job than just cash. Your career needs to satisfy you in more ways than just your pocketbook. By defining what you want out of a job and what you offer up as a job seeker, you become better at applying for jobs that are aligned with your overall career goals. By taking the time to define your brand as a job seeker, you can figure out what your best selling points are and the most valuable skills you have to sell to an employer. Make sure your social media accounts are professional if used as part of your search. And if they aren't, keep them under lock and key, since more and more employers are screening applicants via social profiles.
3. Diversify your search. While employers still utilize sites like CareerBuilder, many are branching out in multiple ways to connect with job seekers. You should be readily available in each of those channels. Whether it's through social media or local networking events, utilize today's technology to further spread the message about your brand. Today's job search can be summed up in one word: hustle. The more you switch up your efforts, the more opportunities you'll come across and the more you place yourself ahead of the pack. Also, know your industry and what trends are happening. Manufacturing companies may still have you apply in-person, whereas digital advertising agencies may expect a much more elaborate electronic portfolio available via the Internet.
4. Evaluate your skills and add more. Perhaps your skills aren't up-to-date with most of the jobs you are seeing in the market, or perhaps they are a little rusty. Brush up on your underutilized skills with online courses or community classes. You could also consider going back to school. Government funding and other programs are available for out-of-work job seekers who want to enroll in training or continue their education to better position themselves in the current workforce.
5. Be unique. You already know that defining your brand can help set you apart from the competition. When an employer asks, "Why should I hire you?" you will already have a list of your best qualities. As you come across jobs that you feel confident about, do something that will help you stand out and be memorable to the recruiter or Human Resources manager. Dig around, and before applying, find out the name of the hiring manager or someone who heads up the department the position is in, and contact him directly. Utilize the information on LinkedIn to your benefit. Reach out with a brief introduction, and let him know you've applied for the position and you hope to be in touch. After applying, it never hurts to follow up with a company via social media to share your excitement about the position.
6. Proactively listen. Searching for a job can be tedious, and you can get so focused that sometimes it's easy to forget to listen, research or monitor conversations. Pay attention to how employers are communicating about jobs via social media and through their websites and how you can speak to them in their own language. Connect with other job seekers or career experts, and see what methods you can adopt from their job search strategies. Join Twitter chats and online career fairs to connect with more employers and broaden your network. Just be sure that while you're out selling your brand, you take the time to listen to how others are finding success in their search.
7. Set goals. The overall goal may be either get a job or get a new one, but when you break that big goal down into smaller goals, you set yourself up for more success and less frustration. When you only look toward that big goal, it can be disheartening when it takes a long time to achieve it. Choose monthly goals like joining professional organizations or volunteering at a nonprofit that will allow you to flex and utilize your skills. When you are able to create a to-do list and hold yourself accountable for achieving these goals, you'll feel better about yourself. That self-initiation can be shown off in your job search and interviews as a great example of your character. By forcing yourself to focus on small goals, you continue networking with new individuals that can assist you in your job search.
8. Prepare for anything. You can't always predict when you may get called for an in-person or phone interview, so you should always be ready. You should go into an interview with at least five examples that demonstrate your best qualities. When they want examples of real-life successes or things you'd do different, have them prepared. If you volunteered or taught yourself a new set of skills, be sure to mention this. Rehearse for interviews with mentors or friends so you won't 'wing it,' which can diminish your chances of portraying yourself in the best way. Leave the interviewer with phone numbers of references who will back you up with recommendations.
9. Positive thinking can lead to positive results. Use your career search as a time to see every situation as a learning opportunity. Of course every job hunt will have moments of frustration and hopelessness. But don't give up on yourself or on the belief that the right job is out there. Use the time to re-evaluate your career path, which could lead you to a more fulfilling career. A positive attitude is also contagious, and the more positive you are, the more likely others will be willing to go out of their way to help you.
10. Stay balanced. Job searching can take a lot out of you. Create a schedule or routine for yourself, so you don't burn out. Make sure you get plenty of rest, talk to friends and family, stay active and allow yourself those moments to do things you enjoy. Take the time to play a video game, go for a jog or play with your pets -- do whatever it takes to get you back to you.
Finding the perfect job is attainable, but you have to put in the work and effort and have faith that you'll reach your destination. By being proactive, connecting with others and having a can-do attitude, you'll be able to tackle some of the biggest job search hurdles in 2012.
Justin Thompson is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.
Copyright 2011 CareerBuilder. All rights reserved. The information contained in this article may not be published, broadcast or otherwise distributed without prior written authority
Golf cart runs wild after football game
Golf cart runs wild after football game
Golf cart runs wild after football game, Golf cart goes astray after football game. Patrons at the 5A Division II State High School Championship football game in Texas witnessed the unexpected Saturday night when a golf cart got loose and ran over a group of people near midfield. A worker stopped the cart before it did more damage.
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News
Reindeer meat sells out
Reindeer meat sells out
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News
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Monday, December 12, 2011
Movie Dads We Wish We Had
Movie Dads We Wish We Had
Movie Dads We Wish We Had, Many fathers we see on the silver screen are portrayed as clueless or downright icky. They could probably use a few parenting tips from these upstanding fell. All too often, movies portray fathers as either hapless bumblers or cold disciplinarians, but every now and then a film comes along that gets it right. Here's our list of 10 movie dads who portray the very best of fatherhood.
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lifestyle
Woman executed sorcery
Woman executed sorcery
Woman executed sorcery. 60-year-old executed for ‘sorcery’, Authorities in Saudi Arabia executed a 60-year-old woman convicted of practicing magic and sorcery , which are banned in the country. There are no details about her crime, but police say she tricked people into thinking she could treat their illnesses. Saudi authorities have executed a woman convicted of practising magic and sorcery.
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News
Naked robber police dog
Naked robber police dog
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News
al Qaeda prisoners escape
al Qaeda prisoners escape
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News
Brooke Mueller carrying gun in L.A.
Brooke Mueller carrying gun in L.A. She's probably the last person who should be handling a firearm -- but yesterday in L.A., a cowgirl-hat-wearing Brooke Mueller dropped by a local gun range ... and waved around a real-life handgun.
It's unclear if she actually shot the thing -- we hope not -- but her rep Steve Honig tells TMZ, "Brooke enjoys sport shooting, and has for some time. She knows how to handle herself at a range and is a very careful and skilled sport shooter."
No kidding ... just look at the focus in those eyes.
Soure: Tmz
It's unclear if she actually shot the thing -- we hope not -- but her rep Steve Honig tells TMZ, "Brooke enjoys sport shooting, and has for some time. She knows how to handle herself at a range and is a very careful and skilled sport shooter."
No kidding ... just look at the focus in those eyes.
Soure: Tmz
Miss India detained at airport
Miss India detained at airport
Miss India detained at airport. Mumbai: Miss India Earth 2011 Hasleen Kaur was detained at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport on Wednesday night for allegedly carrying branded purses and cosmetics worth Rs. 1.9 lakh without declaring them.
According to Custom officials, Superintendent of Customs Ashok Pandit intercepted Kaur, who had arrived at the airport from Thailand on Wednesday night.
The officials revealed that Hasleen Kaur was carrying branded purses and cosmetics, which she hadn't declared. When the officials approached her and stated that they intended to check the goods, she told them that the purses she was carrying were local products.
Undeterred by her reasoning, the officials detained Kaur, confiscated her belongings and only then allowed her to leave.
Earlier this year, actors Minissha Lamba and Bipasha Basu, producer Ekta Kapoor and TV actor Swapnil Joshi had been detained by the Customs for not declaring goods.
According to Custom officials, Superintendent of Customs Ashok Pandit intercepted Kaur, who had arrived at the airport from Thailand on Wednesday night.
The officials revealed that Hasleen Kaur was carrying branded purses and cosmetics, which she hadn't declared. When the officials approached her and stated that they intended to check the goods, she told them that the purses she was carrying were local products.
Undeterred by her reasoning, the officials detained Kaur, confiscated her belongings and only then allowed her to leave.
Earlier this year, actors Minissha Lamba and Bipasha Basu, producer Ekta Kapoor and TV actor Swapnil Joshi had been detained by the Customs for not declaring goods.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Musics not Over Rest in Peace LPS
When the Music's (Not) Over: R.I.P. LPs
Musics not Over Rest in Peace LPS, Anytime a celebrated musician passes away -- usually at much too young an age -- the dual motivations of posterity and profit kick into gear, resulting in at least one posthumous release. Sometimes they're of genuine merit, and sometimes they just exploit tragedy. With the imminent release of Amy Winehouse's "Lioness: Hidden Treasures," we present a survey of musical epilogues, from the truly essential to the totally unnecessary.
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Music
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Alec Baldwin kicked off plane
Alec Baldwin kicked off plane
Alec Baldwin gets kicked off plane, Alec Baldwin Kicked Off His Flight For Playing Words With Friends? "30 Rock" star Alec Baldwin, 53, tweeted that he was kicked off a flight because he refused to turn off his mobile device. In his post, Baldwin said the flight attendant "reamed" him for playing a game while the plane wasn't moving.
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entertainment
James blames Bullock
James blames Bullock
James blames Bullock, "American Chopper" star Jesse James Blames Ego for Hurting Sandra Bullock, Will Never Cheat on New Love Jesse James says he lost himself in his marriage to A-lister Sandra Bullock. James and Bullock split up after her Oscar win amid allegations of infidelity.
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TV
Ebola vaccine
Ebola vaccine
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health
Demi Moore AA sponsor funeral
Demi attends AA sponsor's funeral
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News
Famous Adoptions
Famous Adoptions
Famous adoptions, We're recognizing famous families that have welcomed children in need through adoption. Sure, you know about Angelina Jolie's brood, and you may have heard about a "Sex and the City" cast member and a star of "The Help" who just became new moms. But can you guess the celeb parents of these adoptees?
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News
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Zuckerberg private photos revealed
Zuckerberg private photos revealed
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News
FDA hangover pill
FDA hangover pill
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health
New dinosaur species found
New dinosaur species found
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News
Chewbacca Glee
Chewbacca Glee
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TV
Woman sues over smelly car
Woman sues over smelly car
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lifestyle
John Rich kicked off plane
John Rich kicked off plane. Words spread recently that John Rich got kicked off a Southwest flight from Las Vegas to Nashville on Sunday, December 4 for being too drunk to fly. In response to the report, a spokesman for the former Big & Rich member told E! News, "Did John Rich have a great time with fans in Las Vegas? Yes. Was there an altercation? Absolutely not."
In a previous report, TMZ dished that the winner of "The Celebrity Apprentice" appeared to be intoxicated and got into a verbal argument with other passengers prior to boarding the flight. He allegedly continued to exhibit drunken behavior inside the main cabin. Though so, the 37-year-old was said to be cooperative and calm when asked to get off the plane.
A representative for Southwest Airlines confirmed that such incident did occur, but refused to name the passenger. In a statement released to the press, the rep explained, "Our crew assessed the situation and determined that the passenger was not fit for travel. The decision was based on governing federal aviation (FAA) regulations that our crew must follow."
"The customer was immediately rebooked on a later Southwest flight out of Las Vegas, but chose to make alternative travel arrangements. We have processed a refund for the customer and his travel companion. Our Employees are responsible for the safety and comfort of everyone onboard a flight. If we can mitigate an uncomfortable situation prior to departure, it is our preference to do so and that is what happened in this scenario."
Source: Ace Showbiz
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News
Kepler planet confirmed
Kepler planet confirmed.The newly confirmed planet, Kepler-22b, is about 2.4 times the radius of Earth. Scientists don't yet know if Kepler-22b has a predominantly rocky, gaseous or liquid composition, but its discovery is a step closer to finding Earth-like planets1.
The "habitable zone" of a planetary system refers to the band of orbits where liquid water could exist on a planet’s surface. Kepler has recently discovered more than 1,000 new planet candidates. Ten of these candidates are near-Earth-size and orbit in the habitable zone of their host star. Candidates require follow-up observations to verify they are actual planets.
Source: Nasa
"This is a major milestone on the road to finding Earth's twin," said Douglas Hudgins, Kepler program scientist at NASA Headquarters in Washington.
Kepler-22b is located 600 light-years away. While the planet is larger than Earth, its orbit of 290 days around a sun-like star resembles that of our world. The planet's host star belongs to the same class as our sun, called G-type, although it is slightly smaller and cooler.
Kepler discovers planets and planet candidates by measuring dips in the brightness of more than 150,000 stars to search for planets that cross in front, or "transit," the stars. Kepler requires at least three transits to verify a signal as a planet.
"Fortune smiled upon us with the detection of this planet," said William Borucki, Kepler principal investigator at NASA Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, Calif., who led the team that discovered Kepler-22b. "The first transit was captured just three days after we declared the spacecraft operationally ready. We witnessed the defining third transit over the 2010 holiday season."
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News
Amanda Knox book agent
Amanda Knox book agent. Amanda Knox is ready to share her side of the Meredith Kercher murder scandal with the world, and she just signed one of the most high-powered book agents in the country to help her net a deal!
Amanda, 24, has teamed with high-powered literary agent Robert Barnett, TMZ reports. He’s a publishing bigwig who has facilitated book deals for huge names such as Barack Obama and Bill Clinton — she’s serious about getting her message out AND getting a big payday!
Raffaele Sollecito, who was also exonerated for the crime, is said to have signed with another well-known book agent as well.
Source: Hollywood life
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News
Mom sell baby $7,000
Mom sell baby $7,000
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News
How Many Baby Mamas?
Celebrities with children by different women
Celebrities with children by different women, How Many Baby Mamas? Famous men with several baby mamas. With the number of out-of-wedlock births on the rise, unwed parents aren’t unheard of these days. But some famous men have taken the situation to a whole new level. Read through to see who has multiple baby mamas.
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News
Monday, December 5, 2011
Real-life 'Breaking Bad' in Boston
Real-life 'Breaking Bad' in Boston
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News
Few teens sexting study
Few teens sexting study
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News
Larry King frozen interview
Larry King frozen interview
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News
Abdul Scherzinger death threats
Abdul Scherzinger death threats
Abdul Scherzinger death threats. 'X Factor' judges get death threats, After the latest elimination on the show "X Factor", judges Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger apparently received death threats. Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger for voting Drew Ryniewicz out of the competition have lashed out with death threats against the two judges.
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TV
Lindsay Lohan Celebrity Big Brother
Lindsay Lohan Celebrity Big Brother
Lindsay Lohan Celebrity Big Brother, Lindsay Lohan on 'Big Brother'? Actress Lindsay Lohan, 25, is rumored to be in talks to join the UK show "Celebrity Big Brother". It was initially rumoured that Lindsay Lohan would star in the last series of Celebrity Big Brother, but obviously that never happened.
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entertainment
NYPD eats Occupy's pizza
NYPD eats Occupy's pizza
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News
Soulja Boy faces eviction
Soulja Boy faces eviction
Soulja Boy faces eviction, Rapper Souja Boy, 21, is facing eviction from his Atlanta apartment after he failed to pay November's rent. Soulja Boy, this generation's poet laureate*, is allegedly facing eviction from an L.A. home he rents due to about $10,000 in unpaid rent and for having more than 10 guests fill up the guest parking lot at his place. TMZ has a letter from the landlords to Soulja:
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entertainment
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