In your hunt for a job, you’ll see requests for many pieces of documentation. The most commonly requested document is the resume; but following closely alongside it is the c.v., or curriculum vitae. What is the difference between these two related items? Let’s take a closer look…

The Résumé

General Definition: A resume contains experience directly relevant to a particular position. Many résumés contain precise keywords that potential employers are looking for, make heavy use of active verbs, and display content in a flattering manner.
Used In: USA, Canada
How it Differs from a C.V.: Resumes are usually fit to be within a one page parameter. They are concise, to the point, and contain little to no personal information (i.e. identification number, photo, etc.).

The C.V.

General Definition: Loosely translated from Latin as a “course of life,” the curriculum vitae is essentially a short bio on the applicant. This is sometime replaced by a detailed questionnaire instead.
Used In: Europe, Asia
How it Differs from a Resume: A curriculum vitae lists personal information and achievements. Frequently included are military ranks, non-professional associations, and other personal interests.

Choosing the Best Format

Each having their own individual qualities, how does the job applicant choose between the resume and the c.v.?  The first deciding factor should be, of course, what is appropriate for the region of the job that you’re applying for. Secondly, how much information, and which information, is actually relevant to the company? Based upon what kind of person they are looking for (as you’ll notice in their job advertisements), it can be determine what they are looking to see from job seekers. Lastly, what type of job are you applying for? Those applying for a position in the academic career or the more artistic fields, whether visual or performing, may choose to submit a c.v.; whereas those seeking a job in a more business or technological related industry will find the resume best suits their needs.

Either way, we wish you luck on your job search. And if you want a second pair of eyes to look at your resume or curriculum vitae before sending it off, be sure to check in with the human resources professionals from your industry through 360jobinterview’s resume building service.

Being eco-friendly is important to only activists, right? Wrong. Can you make a difference without being caught up in the politics of it all? Absolutely. There are many careers that have created a new niche in the job market – Green Collar Jobs. These jobs have a strong hand in producing energy-efficient, ecologically sustainable, and overall environmentally friendly effects.

We’ve took the liberty of doing some research on your behalf. Below, you’ll find Green Jobs that have currently open positions, just waiting for you to apply. Positions are sorted by regional location.

If you’re not sure that the Green Collar will fit well, be sure to check out our Career Action Planning to find out what your true ‘color’ is and get you on the right path for the appropriate career.

To find more Green Jobs and related information on your own, check out Triple Pundit and TreeHugger.

Boston

• Greenhouse Scientist, Storrs
• Senior Scientist, Storrs
• Molecular Biologist, Medford
• Director of Energy Office, New Bedford

Denver

• Web Savvy Intern, Denver
• Senior Educator, Denver

New York City

• Market Research Assistant, NYC
• Project Officer, NYC
• Business Systems Developer, NYC

San Francisco Bay Area / Silicon Valley

• Sr. Software Engineer, San Francisco
• Sustainable Transportation Program Specialist, Santa Cruz
• Software Developer, San Francisco
• Green Living Expert, Mountain View
• Director of National Sales, Foster City
• Project Analyst, San Francisco

Washington, D.C.

• Program Manager, Arlington
• Field Organizer, D.C.
• Web Developer, D.C.
• Senior Programmer Analyst, Germantown
• Research Analyst, D.C.
• Field Organizing Director, D.C.

This is the second in our series of job postings for your sector. Check out the first on Internet Tech Jobs That are Actually Still Hiring.

This is the second in a two part series of finding a new job in relatively little time for victims of the job market. Please be sure to view the first part here.

Go to Networking Events

Networking is one of the most effective ways to get your foot in the door for a potential job position. Doing this will often help you bypass the step of going through the human resources department. The most important things to consider before going to a networking event is your appearance, demeanor, and behavior. Don’t solicit yourself hard without being expressly asked to do so. Check out our brief guide on how to use Meetup as a networking tool.

Consider Career Coaching

Whether you’re a seasoned professional, a new entry into the work force, or looking for a change in career path, it’s very important to consider getting some guidance. Take action with your career and try out a live, one-on-one career coaching service with 360jobinterview; our coaches can help you take a good look at your experience, your interests, and be there for you along the way of your growth.

Send in Your Resume / C.V.

You’ve found some great positions to apply to, and now it’s time to send in your spiffed-up resume along with your cover letter. This is actually one of the most difficult areas for many; Even as some who writes very frequently, I have a lot of trouble creating the perfect cover letter myself. There are a few specific qualities and guidelines to use when developing one. Definitely do not use a “fill in the blank” type from the Internet – these HR folks have seen it time and again and will pass you off as being unoriginal and not really interested in the job or the company.

Prepare for the Job Interview

This is the scariest part for many during the job hunt process. You need to look good, speak well, and, overall, be prepared. No matter what your level in your career is, irregardless of stellar qualifications, you must sit down at least once and practice what you’re going to say beforehand. It’s best to do it with another person, so why not with a hr expert from your field? Try out live one-on-one job interview coaching to position yourself above the rest of the candidates and get hired.

Get Hired

Post-interview, be sure to follow up with a thank you note to each person you interview with. Be sure that while you’re meeting with them, you ask for each of their business cards for their contact information. This will keep you fresh in their memories, and hopefully in a good way. Good luck, and now go out there and get yourself hired!

A (nearly) foolproof plan to finding another job fast.

You’re Fired! Whether it’s those words you hear or a pink slip that you see which notifies you of your tenure coming to an end, it’s time to think on your feet and start looking for a new job, pronto.

Problem is, the unemployment rate is above 10% in the majority of areas. It’s likely even higher than that when you include people that have, reluctantly, removed themselves from the job force. Even those who are continuing to look for something, anything, to do for income are having a difficult time of it… and the open positions are out there, you just need to be smart with how you go from fired to hired in no time.

This plan is not a guarantee that you will be hired for your dream job or company. In fact, you may even end up working somewhere you’d never pictured yourself – but it’s a pay check and potentially great learning experience.

Update Your LinkedIn

Why is LinkedIn so important? Well, just because an estimated 80% of hiring employers turn to the business / career – focused social network when looking to fill open positions. An updated profile on this website will allow for higher visibility and more potential with various human resources associates and recruiters. Additionally, there are a good number of companies and job search engines which will use (with your permission) your LinkedIn profile to fill in a good part of the application. If you’re concerned about privacy, LinkedIn does allow you to change your security settings, but it will affect your visibility. Read more on how to use this free tool to aide your job search.

Get on Twitter

Should you really be limiting your job search to 140 characters? Yes! Well, in a way… While Twitter may technically limit you to 140 letters, numbers, and punctuations, you’re actually expanding your world. On Twitter, you’ll be able to connect with a broad variety of people and keep up to date on the latest job openings in your field(s) of interest. Check out three easy steps to finding your next job via Twitter.

Refresh Your Resume / Curriculum Vitae

What is the average amount of time human resources spends looking at an individual resume? Around 20 seconds. So pose this question to yourself: What are you getting across in that fraction of a minute? Is it enough to be put in the “for interview” pile? Since the most harsh, and biased, critic of you is yourself, let an outside give you some help with your resume. Consider a low cost resume building service, where the professionals on the receiving end of a resume will be able to guide you and make your resume more marketable.

Search for Open Positions

The key aspect of a job search is the search itself. Using the right job search engines and keywords will optimize the open positions you can find. While newspaper classifieds and physical job boards still exist, they are used less and less in this digital age. Consider a few of these resources to find the best job search website online for you.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of “Fired to Hired in No Time” by subscribing to our RSS feed, or skip ahead of the pack by going straight to the experts at 360jobinterview (see side panel for services and contact information).

Job security is a major concern for many Americans.  Regardless of the educational degree you hold, you are not impervious to layoffs.  Today’s job market is tighter than ever and the large companies in the Silicon Valley certainly do not make it easier on the community.  Cisco Systems recently laid off nearly 700 people from their San Jose Headquarters.  As you can imagine, each time Cisco, Yahoo, Intel, or other major company has a layoff, it makes your job searching even more difficult.

Not just the Silicon Valley is impacted, although the jobless rate here is over 12 percent. While it is not the highest unemployment rate in the nation, it is nevertheless rather staggering. Over 47,000 people have been laid off in the Silicon Valley in the past year. (source: Mercury News)

If you received a pink slip from the company, don’t wait to move on.  The best thing to do is sit down at your desk or table and begin to review all the work performed at your most recent job.  With your draft, use bullet points to list your most recent job description, responsibilities, and accomplishments.  It’s important for when you need to tweak the resume to fit the jobs you’ll see available.  Prospective employers do not want to read your entire life story, but the highlights of  your career.  From your bullet points, take the ones that best match those which the employer is seeking.

Due to the extreme competition, you’ll want to compile the best, most attractive, packaging of yourself.  Sometimes it’s best to invest the small amount of money in these services than to be out of work for months. Employers are looking for the cream of the crop. And considering the current ratio of applicants to positions, they can be picky.

Networking in person or online can be the most effective way to land your next position.  Online job search engines such will provide a nice selection of positions available.  You will need to remember you are competing with at least 200 applicants for each job posted.  Because of this, it is critical you make yourself stand out from the others.  Your resume and cover letter will most likely be scanned for particular keywords.  If you meet the minimum, your credentials have a chance to been seen by a real person. Take a quick shot at 360jobinterview’s services in the sidebar. We have what you need to give you the advantage to get hired; Because whether you received a pink slip or are still getting a pay check, you need to prepare yourself.

Some companies are on a hiring freeze for certain departments. They’re “cutting the fat,” so to speak, and certain positions have been hit hard – well, the companies that have little foresight and aren’t interested in long-term investment and potential. Important to note is that almost all of these jobs can either be full-time positions, or can be taken  as a consulting position. Each position will have duties specific to the company’s needs and, as you will see below, there are different titles used for similar positions.

CollegeHumor.com Office & Staff

All average annual salaries are an estimate and represent the standard range of pay. The end pay will depend on your experience and other factors. Salary estimates found at Payscale.com and represent the pay range based upon the position listed and the city of Santa Clara, California.

Community Manager

What the position entails: This job is all about the consumer/reader/member. You will manage forums, deal with problems and questions presented on various social media outlets (i.e. Twitter). Think of it as a combination of customer support and public relations done online.
Average annual salary: $39,000 – $69,000
Open positions:

• Collabnet – Community Manager
• Bronx High School of Science Alumni Association – Social Media Online Community Manager
• Warner Bros. Records – Community Manager
• RarePlanet.org – Community and Social Media Manager

Content Manager

What the position entails: This position is more than an editor, and more than a writer, but definitely combines the two within. You will be expected to ensure perfection on all of the content being put out in public (and sometimes also internally) by the company. There will likely be a team of writers or editors of sorts underneath you, for which you will have to coordinate and streamline productivity.
Average annual salary: $43,000-$73,000
Open positions:

• Capitol News Connection  – Multimedia Content Coordinator
• Akraya – Senior Web Content Manager
• Hewlett Packard – Content Strategy Manager
• Netflix – Digital Content Specialist

Blogger

What the position entails: Simply, being a blogger means that you will be writing articles/posts for any given website/blog. Writing assignments will vary, and the blogging position can either be entirely freelance, partially contracted, or a full time position.
Average annual salary: $31,000-$71,000
Open positions:

• Company Confidential (Stamford) – WebPR/Social Media/Blogger/Writer
• FindLaw (Reuters) – Legal News Blogger
• WeirdAsiaNews.com – Web Content Writer
• Freelance Writing Gigs is a great resource for many more blogging/writing jobs.

Web UI Designer

What the position entails: Web Designers create the look and feel of the website itself. Aesthetics are an important part to a website’s success. User interface designers must ensure that the website is easily navigable and is, overall, an attractive and usable entity.
Average annual salary: $41,000-$61,000
Open positions:

• Ustream – Web UI Designer
• Youtube – Interaction Designer
• Digg – UI Designer
• First American – Senior Web 2.0 UI Designer

Social Media Marketing Manager

What the position entails: As a social media marketer, it will be your job to write out, enable, and enact a plan for the promotion of your company via the various social media/web 2.0 outlets. (Socia Media Marketing Director is a title that comes with the amount of experience behind you, and can expect a salary of $70,000 and up.)
Average annual salary: $31,000-$63,000
Open positions:

• Amtrak – Senior Marketing Officer
• TopDrawerSoccer.com – Social Media Marketing Manager
• MWW Group – Senior Digital Media Specialist
• SocialArc Innovation Lab – Director of (Social Media) Operations

Web Editor

What the position entails: This is not to be confused with the more technical side of editing (coding, etc). A web editor is responsible for editing for quality, fact checking, and general publishing. They are the person that, on a more daily/regular basis, the content goes through last before being published.
Average annual salary: $39,000-$66,000
Open positions:

• Yeshiva University – Web Content Editor
• Mashable -  Editorial Assistant
• Creative Solutions – Lead Editor
• Talbridge Ltd. – Web Associate Editor

There are also many other great options to work on the web. Jobs such as “P.R. 2.0″ (Public Relations on the web), web application/widget development, systems administrator, and more, exist. Take a look at some of the places we looked up the listed job opportunities, including: Techcrunch’s Crunchboard, Mashable, Dice, Craigslist, and Freelance Writing Gigs… or just go to your favorite company’s “about” section on their website and look for a section called “jobs” or “opportunities”. But, before applying, make sure you have the best resume to catch the your potential employer’s attention. Check out 360jobinterview’s Resume Building service.

In a time when the unemployment rate is coasting off into double-digits, job seekers become concerned that they may not have what it takes to beat-out their competition. Even worse off are the folks who just don’t get why they aren’t getting any call backs after their interviews or sending in their resumes.

There comes a point when you add up the sheer amount of time spent on your job search where it seems obvious that you should invest a small amount in career coaching and resume writing to provide a catalyst that could get you employed ?

Now we must begin to question – What price are you willing to pay to get the advantage you need to score a good job? There are thousands of people, just ready to sell you their pitch, promising you that they’ll get you hired for your dream job.

So how do find the right job coach? The best resume writing service? There’s a saying that “those who can’t do, teach.” Would you take tennis lessons from someone who’s barely made it out of the local circuit, or would you go for the Andre Agassi, Serena Williams type instructor … a professional that has loads of top-level experience?

This concept applies to choosing your personal career coach. Are you taking instruction from somebody who only knows about writing a resume, or do you want to hire the services of an expert? With 360JobInterview.com, you have a pool of over 300 coaches that have been the person sorting through applications, conducting the job interviews, and making the decision on which candidate is the right one for the company.

How much would you pay for a service like this? With 300+ experts from 55+ fields there to guide you from the application process to getting your foot in the door and securing your own desk, many places would charge obscene amounts. But not here, because at 360jobinterview.com, we are here for the people, the person, the job seeker. Services for our live, one-on-one interview coaching, career action planning, and resume building run as low as $69. We work with your needs and around your schedule to provide you with the advantage you need to ace the interview and get hired. What are you waiting for? Get started today!

What’s the right job for you? Should you change your career path? These are questions the average worker will contemplate as they are either on the job or in the process of looking and planning for one. Online exists many places that can help you get an idea of which direction you may want to consider. Please keep in mind that the following tests are not scientific in nature and should be used for entertainment value only.

For professional, personalized, career advising, please consider 360JobInterview.com’s Career Action Planning service.

Type Theory and Career Choices

Type theory suggests that human behavior is not random but predictable and classifiable. What type you are says quite a bit about you — your likes and dislikes, your likely career choices, your compatibility with others, and so on. While everyone has some introversion and some extroversion, or some thinking and some feeling characteristics, the test will help you identify which alternatives you prefer to use.

Sports Career Snapshot

There are 24 pairs of statements below. As you read each pair, click the one statement in each pair that has the most appeal for you. As you select, assume that each choice is equal in pay, prestige, and challenge. If you are uncertain of a job title, select the one that has the most appeal for you. The answers to your questions relate to your interests and behaviors, which will be matched to a color. These colors will provide you a snapshot of what sports careers fit you best.

What Career Will Suit Your Personality?

Discover your perfect career. More often than not, if you choose a career that doesn’t suit your personality you become confused, unhappy and burned out. No one wants a job they hate. So instead of choosing a career based on what you think you should do, we want to help you find a career that fits your personality. One that makes you want to get up in the morning.

Resume Readiness Quiz

Is your resume ready to do the work you need it to? Find out if you have what it takes to compete in today’s job market.

Work Interest Quiz

To make a good decision about a future career, it helps to know what type of work you enjoy doing.  Should I go to college or look for a job? If I try to find a job, what kind of job should it be? How do I find what jobs are best for me?

Looking for a job ain’t easy. Trust, though, that the hiring managers don’t have it much easier. They are sifting through tons of resumes/applications sent in to find a few potential candidates that will be the right fit for the job.

What kind of people are applying for which jobs? Well, if you have any headlines in your classified ad like the ones below, likely not ones worth hiring. Check out some of the bloopers in today’s classifieds headlines. We’ve also added some more reputable employers that are hiring… the kind that will up your “coolness factor” with the people around you.

Good luck with your job search… and be sure to pay careful attention and consideration to exactly which jobs you are applying for.

They Need to Hire an Editor:

• Looking for hard working sales people, not afraid to get dirty [Terminix]
• DeskTop Support Specialist (Windows) [Sunnyvale IT Firm]
• Delivery drivers needed Immediate Openings Available!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! [San Carlos Party Rental Company]
• Tele-Sales Representative for a positive person! [Swisher Hygiene]
• Procurement Assistent [Roswell, Ga. Company Unknown]
• Loan Officers We are hiring! [Company Not Listed]
• bueiness for you [Low-end Website]

#Failed Attempts @Creativity:

• Unlike Favre, lacking experience? Entry Level Sales & Marketing [Dzurenda & Associates, Inc.]
• Big $! Call now!! [Unlisted Company]
• Start a Career today! [Aflac]

Cool Companies That Are Hiring:

• Yelp is hiring for 18 different positions in 5 different locations.
• Twitter is hiring for 29 different positions, all located at their San Francisco office.
• Facebook is hiring in 15 different locations for countless jobs.
• Ustream is hiring for 9 different positions from their Mountain View office.
• BET is looking to fill 10 positions in either their New York or Washington, D.C. locations.
• StumbleUpon is hiring for 5 positions, 4 located in San Francisco and 1 in New York.
• Yammer is seeking candidates for 7 positions at their San Francisco office.
• Blurb is hiring for 5 positions in San Francisco.
• Crowd Science is looking for a Software Engineer to work from their Mountain View location.

You did the job search; Sent in the perfect resume and cover letter; Aced the job interview; Got the job. Then, you saw the calendar. One of the most important religious holidays is coming up and you must take it off if you are to follow your faith’s practices. Which shouldn’t be a problem, right? You’re in a country that defends the citizens’ rights to free practice of their religion… so it won’t affect you at work, or will it?

The truth is maybe not always the ideal, but it is reality. If your beliefs require that you have certain days which you are not allowed to work, days that are not official government holidays, this is something to mention to your boss. Be cautious when mentioning it while still new at the job, but don’t wait until the last minute, either.

There are some very tactful ways of dealing with religion-specific issues in the workplace, that will be agreeable to both the employer and employee:

1. Work on December 25th or January 1st

   If you’re living in a country that recognizes certain religious holidays as legal, national holidays, offer up yourself to be the ‘go-to-person’ for that day. Head to the office to do a full day’s work. This will likely help your company/team get an edge up in timing, since most people will have taken off for these holidays.

2. Spend a Few Extra Hours in the Office

   For a few religions, a weekday holds significance each week. If this is the case for you, let your boss know that you’re more than willing to come in early and leave late on other days, or to come in early enough on a Friday (if your Sabbath begins Friday evening) to be able to work a full shift and leave in time to make your spiritual deadline.

3. Exchange Sunday for Friday

   In many places around the world, work weeks consist of 6 days, or at least include Sunday. Are you in one where Sundays are part of the weekend? Tell the right people that you’d be happy to come in on that day, to get an early start on the local work week.

4. Work from Home

   Perhaps it’s not quite practical, with your day-to-day schedule, or the scheduling of your company, for you to be in office for extra hours/overtime work. Many jobs today require some amount of work done on the computer, and most via the Internet. Utilize the tools available to efficiently work from home.

5. Stay Healthy and Dependable

   Any civilized company will have given their full-time employees an allotted amount of sick and personal time to take off. Keep yourself in robust health throughout the year, and don’t take a ‘personal day’ to get spa treatments. This will allow you to save your time for the holidays.

6. Take a Cut

   While it’s not the most ideal situation, you could also ask to simply take a pay cut. Based upon the percentage of time you miss due to religious activities, inform your human resources department that you are willing to have your pay appropriately reduced, if any of the above options are not available.

It is definitely not easy for many in the workforce to balance their religious/spiritual lives with their work lives. However, it can be done. If your employer threatens to fire you for missing work due to strictly religious reasons, please seek legal counsel.