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Let’s face it - looking for work can be a full time job in and of itself. Between searching the classifieds, tailoring your resume to individual ads, and responding to interview questions, you probably feel like you’ve put in that forty hour week already!  Use our handy list of job search tips to ease the pain and make the process a little easier.

• Design a resume template:  Make a file on your computer with a partially completed resume. Add in the information that will remain the same for each job listing, but leave areas that will be customized blank, such as the resume objective. The next time  you need a company-specific resume, half your work is already complete!
•  Use Job Services : Sign up with online job search agencies such as Monster and CareerBuilder. These sites will help you to locate jobs quickly and easily. You can even upload your resume and have potential employers search for you! It doesn’t get much better than that.
• Seek Help : Check locally to see what job search agencies and services are available. If you have a college degree, see if the Career Services department at your school can help - many provide assistance for alumni

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Writing an objective statement can be challenging, but is key to creating a strong resume. Your objective statement informs the hiring manager about your goals - what you are trying to gain from submitting your resume to their company.

Objective statements serve several purposes. They help you to establish an identity for your potential employer, introducing you in a positive light.  They show that you are a goal oriented person, and they summarize your characteristics and strengths in a quick, take-away statement.

When writing your resume, tailor your objective statement to the individual company that you are applying to. Use your objective as an opportunity to demonstrate familiarity with the company, by calling a position by the same title used in the job description. Include the company name as well, if possible.

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When writing your resume, keep in mind that the hiring manager may be viewing tens to hundreds of resumes per posting. Therefore, it is absolutely essential that you make your resume stand out somehow. Otherwise, you risk being lost in a sea of paper, or worse, ending up in the circular file.

The best way to stand out is to have a strong title, as well as a strong objective statement for your resume. Each of these tools helps to show the manager why you’re submitting your resume, as well as why you’re right for the job.

Your Title should be short, succinct, and explain who you are. No clever or cutesy titles need apply - stick to the facts. “RN, Pediatrics and Labor/Delivery” is a good title. “Cute Young Nurse Needs a Job” is not.  If possible, use your title to sum up your skills and qualifications, so that the hiring manager knows what they’re getting before they even break into the meat of your resume.

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We’ve all been in this situation - multiple resume submissions, and needing to update our resume to make it personalized for each company. What’s the best way to go about doing so?

It’s actually easier than you might think. To update your resume quickly and easily, consider a simple reorganization.

Begin with your basic resume information - the details of your jobs held, skills acquired, and accomplishments. Type this out in a text document, and add strong power verbs. Make the individual bullet points stand alone, so that each can be cut and pasted at will. This technique assumes that you’re using a skills based or functional resume.

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When offered a job, it can be difficult to broach the subject of salary with your new employer. You don’t want to ask for too much and alienate them or look foolish, but you also don’t want to end up being underpaid. Negotiating a salary is easier than you think, when you follow a few simple guidelines.

•  Respond to the question in a positive manner, but avoid stating specific amounts. Make a statement such as “I earned a salary in the mid-30’s at my previous job”
• If a job application asks for a requested salary, you can fill it in with a requested range, or use a term such as “competitive” to indicate that you’re willing to accept the industry standard rate.
• Research salaries in your field
• Know how much you are willing to compromise.  Before you enter an interview, be mentally prepared with the lowest salary amount you will accept. Be open to negotiation, up to a point.

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