Half Off! That’s Right, 50% off!

Job Interview Coaching, Career Coaching and Resume Building services are all 50% off from March 13 – April 30, 2011.  We want to help job seekers get noticed and get hired.  What better time than now to get a job!  Sign up now and pay for any of the discounted services before the end of April to receive this FANTASTIC sale.

ACT NOW!

To take advantage of this offer, click Job Interview Coaching, Career Coaching or Resume Building and get going!

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.

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.

We at 360 Job Interview would like to wish everyone a Happy Fourth of July. In honor of the USA’s 233rd birthday, we’d like to announce a time extension for the Free Resume Giveaway contest.

The new deadline for entries is Friday, July 10th, 2009.

The 360 Resume Expert Plus service includes resume building and a one-on-one coaching session that’ll teach you how to sell it! Tell us about your current employment situation in 500 words or less for a chance to win one of ten free Resume Expert Plus sessions. E-mail your submissions to office@360jobinterview.com

Applicants must be of 18 years or older and able to provide proof of US citizenship.  By participating in the Contest, where allowed by law, participants agree that the Company may disclose personal information obtained from participants in the Contest to third parties and use such information for marketing and other purposes.