CAN'T FIND WORK DURING THE HOLIDAYS? TAKE A NAP!

TO FIND A JOB AT THE END OF DECEMBER WOULD BE A 'MIRACLE'
By CHOMP

Let's get real about finding a job during December. Ain't gonna happen!

Most of the jobs that employers needed to fill were filled several weeks before Christmas. They will be laying off some of those employees as soon as the work slows up. That's just business during any kind of economy.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, December is the worst month for hiring. So don't waste your time. There are things you can do to prepare for January and the new hiring season, but sending resumes in December isn't one of them. Employers aren't looking!

If you were one of the lucky few who happened to be in the right place at the right time...and took any job you could get...you are working at least for a few weeks.

YOU DESERVE A COUPLE WEEKS OF GOOD FEELINGS

The rest of us need to take a break, do the best we can to pay bills, or delay paying bills, and just kick back for a couple weeks. Relax.

Take the last couple weeks of December to re-group, to make plans for next year, to clean the house, to take a vacation, to do something that makes you happy. You need some 'good feelings.'

Treat yourself to sleeping in. Treat yourself to something free or something within your meager budget. Visit friends and family...with a smile on your face. Leave the sad, discouraged face at home.

January will be here in no time, and you can 'hit the ground running.'

A THOUSAND THINGS TO DO...

Trust me...
When you start that new job, you'll wish you had this time to do your favorite things.

Do whatever you can to stay positive.
Meditate
Pray
Take walks.
Visit friends .
Do something you've always wanted to do, but never had the time
Read a book.
Write a book. Check the Internet on do-it-yourself publishing at 'Createspace' by Amazon.
Do a favorite craft.
Finish a favorite project.
Write letters, emails.
Work on your Facebook.
Take some photos and download to your computer.

PREPARE WHEN IT'S TIME

After your 'vacation from job-hunting,' start a basic preparation for January.
Get the job-hunting plan ready to go.
You'll feel better, and employers will be ready to talk with you.

MAKE AN 'AFTER HOLIDAY' PLAN

Get the clothes and shoes ready. Get a haircut or styled. Can you improve on the resume? Can you say something more useful in your cover letter? Make a list of places where you can apply.

THREE DIFFICULT "MUST-DO" THINGS   

• Don't be discouraged!
• Don't quit!
• Don't panic!

One last thought. You can find a job. Look around you. Can you create your own job? Hold the sign on a street corner to help your apartment find tenants. Put signs in front of house for a bust realtor. Help with the bookkeeping for a few hours a week. Design some flyers for the dry cleaner or deli down the street ...and pass them out. Re-design the menu at a favorite restaurant. Offer to pet sit or house clean or clean a small business.

That's it. I could keep writing, and you could keep reading. but I want you to go outside and enjoy the day.

GREAT JOBS! 100 COMPANIES HIRING NOW!

HotJobs 100: Updated for 2009Find great jobs from our top 100 companies, hiring now

What to look for in companies that are hiring now.

When you're considering taking a new job, it's important to find out how a potential employer treats employees. But getting the answer to that question, along with others that will help you determine if you'll be happy at the company, may take some sleuthing.

Here are five questions that will help you decide if the company is a fit -- and some unconventional ways to find the answers:

• What makes employees join this company and stay here?
• How are people treated here?
• What are the unspoken rules?
• What happens when people make mistakes?
• What is a typical week like?

Getting answers you need to these questions will help you make the best-informed decision about your next career move.
ANSWERS TO ALL THESE QUESTIONS ON YAHOO...AND MOREhttp://hotjobs.yahoo.com/HotJobs100/index.html;_ylt=AjJsmmQmf8eLWipd0klJbSPARaIX

WILL EMPLOYERS HIRE A LIAR?

The Truth About Lying During a Job Interviewby Robert DiGiacomo, for Yahoo! HotJobs

Telling the whole truth about yourself in a job interview may mean losing a position to a better-qualified candidate. But the alternative -- lying about your degree, qualifications, or experience for short-term gain -- inevitably will come back to haunt you.

Still, there are gray areas in which a small fib -- or embellishment -- could go a long way toward helping you land a job.

"I'm a pro-fibber," says blogger and consultant Nicole Williams, author of the forthcoming book "Girl on Top: Your Guide to Turning Dating Rules into Career Success." "At the same time, you have to be aware of the risks and do it very strategically."

Here are six areas in which you can enhance your credentials without having a Pinocchio moment during an interview -- or even worse, after you've gotten the job.
READ THE SIX AREAS FOR SMALL FIBS...http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/career-articles-the_truth_about_lying_during_a_job_interview-978

INTERVIEWS: HOW TO SURVIVE THE TERROR

The Interview That'll Bag a Job
By SARAH E. NEEDLEMAN
WALL STREET JOURNAL ONLINE

In recent weeks, recruiters for Consolidated Container Co. have seen job candidates arrive up to an hour early for interviews. Other candidates have alluded to financial hardships while in the hot seat, and one person even distributed bound copies of documents describing projects he completed for past employers.

These sorts of tactics aren't exactly winners.

In today's ultracompetitive job market, even getting an interview is a feat. Yet recruiters and hiring managers say many unemployed candidates blow the opportunity by appearing desperate or bitter about their situations -- often without realizing it.

"People are becoming a lot more aggressive," says Julie Loubaton, director of recruiting and talent management for Atlanta-based Consolidated Container. "They often wind up hurting themselves."

At an interview, you want to stand out for the right reasons. To do so, you'll need to leave your baggage and anxiety at the door.

(snip)

Also, be sure to show you're a strong fit for the particular position you're seeking, adds Kathy Marsico, senior vice president of human resources at PDI Inc., a Saddle River, N.J., provider of sales and marketing services for pharmaceutical companies. Offer examples of past accomplishments -- not just responsibilities you've held -- and describe how they're relevant to the opportunity. "You must differentiate yourself like never before," she says. "You need to customize yourself and make yourself memorable."

GREAT TIPS! READ BEFORE YOU GO TO YOUR INTERVIEW!
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123966126017514865.html

PART-TIME JOBS: GIMMEE ANOTHER PAYCHECK!

Part-time jobs

Time is money, they say. And if you have a little extra time, you can make a little (or a lot) of extra money with a part-time job. Whether you're a parent, a student, a retiree or just someone who needs a bump in your bank account, you can find a part-time job to fit your interests and your schedule.

Perks include employee discounts, flexible schedules and the opportunity to learn new skills. The downside? Many part-time jobs don't offer the same benefits (such as health insurance and paid time off) that full-time jobs do. But this varies from employer to employer, so ask.

Need a little help finding a great part-time job? Our articles will guide you in the right direction.

Employers now hiring full-time & part-time positions

AMC Entertainment
CarMax
Food Lion
The Cheesecake Factory
Find jobs with other employers


EXCELLENT WEB SITE FOR JOB SOURCE INFORMATION...
http://www.snagajob.com/job-resources/part-time-jobs.aspx

SECRET SKILLS YOU CAN OFFER A NEW JOB

Transferable Skills
Bringing Your Skills to a New Career
By Dawn Rosenberg McKay, About.com

You've had enough of your current job. As a matter of fact, you've had enough of your current career. It's time for a change. But what about all that valuable experience you've been stockpiling while toiling away at your job and the jobs that came before it? Do you really have to throw it all away and start from scratch? No you don't. That's where transferable skills come in.

What Are Transferable Skills?
Transferable skills are the skills you've gathered through various jobs, volunteer work, hobbies, sports, or other life experiences that can be used in your next job or new career. In addition to being useful to career changers, transferable skills are also important to those who are facing a layoff, new graduates who are looking for their first jobs, and to those re-entering the workforce after an extended absence.

How to Identify Your Transferable Skills
The job titles you've held may tell little about what your actual jobs entailed. In other words, formal job descriptions are often very different from reality. That is why it's important to dissect each job you've held in order to discover what skills you actually used to do that job.

MORE INFORMATION YOU CAN USE TO GET THAT JOB...
http://careerplanning.about.com/od/careerchoicechan/a/transferable.htm

WHO HAS THE MOST JOB OPENINGS?

DO THEY HAVE ANY JOBS FOR CUTE?

Top 10 Occupations With the Most Job Openings
By Dawn Rosenberg McKay, About.com

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts these occupations will have the greatest number of job openings through 2016. Most require little training but also pay very little. The median wage is not necessarily what you would earn if you worked in this field, but rather the mid-point of wages earned by all workers. Half of them earned below it and half earned above it. Earnings vary by employer and depend on factors including experience, training, and location.

Sources:
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupations With the Most Openings
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-2009

http://careerplanning.about.com/od/exploringoccupations/tp/most_openings.htm

FORGET THAT YOU ARE 50 OR MORE! GO FOR THE JOB YOU WANT!

If you go to the interview,

you can have a donut when you get home!

55-plus workers are helping business boom
Boomers bring experience and energy to hourly and part-time jobs
(Article from SNAGAJOB.COM)

You go by many names: seniors, boomers and even the 55-plus crowd. But no matter what name you prefer to go by, one thing is certain – today's savvy workplace vets are sticking around the water cooler a little longer, and if they've already retired, they're often jumping back into the job market and saddling up once again.

Thanks to modern medicine and inspiration from the likes of Jane Fonda and the "Godfather of Fitness," Jack LaLanne, today's 55+ population is healthier, hipper and making more money than ever before. In fact, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 20 percent of Americans 55 years and older will be working by 2015. In 2000, the figure was just 13 percent. And almost 70 percent of workers who have not yet retired recently told AARP that they plan to work well into the traditional retirement years – or they don't plan on ever retiring!

Some 55-plusers need to work to pay the bills. Many pick up work for a little extra cash to fuel their leisure pursuits, while others simply want a productive outlet for their spare time.

So if you're over 55 and looking to grab an hourly job, you've come to the right place. Here are a few tips for job seekers over 55 starting their job search.

READ THIS LINK FOR VALUABLE TIPS...
http://www.snagajob.com/job-resources/senior-job-search-tips.aspx

JOB HUNTING IS HARD WORK: SEVEN TIPS TO HELP YOU SUCCEED

HELP !

I need a job or I'll eat this ice cream.

7 tips for job hunting in a tougher market
Landing a new position in the months ahead will likely take some extra effort and flexibility. Fortune's Anne Fisher has advice to help you get the job you want.
By Anne Fisher, Fortune senior writer
Sign up for the Ask Annie e-mail newsletter

NEW YORK (Fortune) -- With the U.S. economy apparently getting ready to take one of its cyclical snoozes, employers are more hesitant to take on new hires than they were even just three or four months ago - and the recent uptick in unemployment means more competition for each opening. That doesn't mean you need to give up on the idea of looking for a new job. In fact, if your company is going through a merger or seems likely to announce layoffs, your best bet may be to start your job search right away.

What's different about job hunting during a slowdown? Sure, the fundamentals - a resume that highlights your achievements and is easy to read, customized cover letters that succinctly tell why you're the best candidate for a particular job, and diligent follow-up (including prompt and impeccable thank-you notes) - never change.

But when the market's tough, you have to work harder at job hunting and be more flexible, say Annie Stevens and Greg Gostanian, managing partners at Boston-based executive coaching firm ClearRock (www.clearrock.com). They've come up with seven tips to help you get the job you want.

READ THESE SEVEN VALUABLE TIPS FOR YOUR JOB SEARCH...
http://money.cnn.com/2008/02/12/news/economy/job.hunting.fortune/index.htm

LAID OFF? MAKE YOUR SKILLS PAY OFF!

Laid-off workers need to keep skills sharp
Experts offer three areas that are important for landing that next job
Wed., March. 11, 2009

NEW YORK - Losing a job can mean losing more than just a paycheck. Without some planning, an extended layoff can cause job skills to fade and make someone less attractive to potential employers.

And it's not just the unemployed 8.1 percent of the workforce that has to worry about a personal brain drain. Add in those working part time or who have given up looking for a job, and the Labor Department says 14.8 percent of the U.S. work force is "underutilized."

Whether they can speak a foreign language or analyze financial spreadsheets as easily as sports statistics, those people need to find ways to keep their skills up.

"Maintaining your skills and advancing your skills is critical to advancing if you're employed, and getting a new job if you're unemployed," said Dean Tracy, a recruiter and career coach in San Ramon, Calif.

But how do you stay on top of your field when you've been downsized? Tracy and other career counseling experts identified three potential avenues: continuing education, professional organizations and volunteering.

Continuing education
Even for those who are not out of work, learning new skills or brushing up old ones is always beneficial. Several experts said classes that offer certifications are particularly helpful.

"What it tells the employer is, you're not sitting around wondering what to do next, you're taking the initiative," said Tracy. Those who can't attend a class should look for online training.

WHAT ELSE YOU NEED TO KNOW...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29645057/

JOB FAIRS: REAL HELP OR WORTHLESS WASTE OF TIME?

How to succeed at a job fair
By TALI ARBEL – 7 hours ago

JOB FAIR STRATEGIES: Career fairs — geared to students, specialized industries and the general public — are drawing record crowds as job losses keep coming.

Even so, your odds of landing a job through a general fair aren't high, said CareerCast.com publisher Tony Lee. If you're mid-career, a specialized career fair will be a better bet. In the meantime, what's the best strategy for mining a general-interest job fair? Prepare beforehand and hone in on the position you want, experts say.

_ Perfect your "elevator pitch." This is a 45-second statement about how well you would mesh with the organization and what skills you'd bring to a position that needs to be filled. "The key is to be tailored to their specific opening," said Lee, who has been to hundreds of fairs over the past two decades. "If your elevator pitch is just about you, it is not as effective as how you can benefit them."

To make that sell, do research on the company so that you know what specific opening it is looking to fill. Even with a large fair with 60 companies, it would take you about a day to figure out which ones have openings that best suit you by checking out their Web sites, Lee said. Just by doing that and narrowing down the recruiters you approach, you'll probably be more prepared than most of the other job seekers at the fair, he said.

READ MORE JOB-FAIR TIPS...
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gFJFyp6GqwhLM07Ler4epjwAic-AD97DQST00