When looking for a job, understanding the recruitment cycle is very important to ensure success. There are seasonal variations in hiring which recruiters and employers agreed on. You can have an edge if you could align your job search plan with the recruitment cycle of industries which usually fall on the same periods.

Monster.com has an interesting article that deals with recruitment cycle. It provides a quarter by quarter summary of the hiring dynamics. It is a good resource for job seekers who are always on the go to get the job they want. Remember that when it comes to employment, timing plays a very important role. So make sure you are always hitting the road to employment on time.

I recommend you read the article to learn about how the recruitment cycle works.

Job interviews can sometimes be a game of luck. But it doesn’t mean that just because you’re smart you don’t have to prepare for it. Improving your interview IQ, or the measure of your ability to answer interview questions, is crucial for you to advance in the next stage of the hiring process.

Practicing good nonverbal communication is one way to boost your interview IQ. Take time to correct your posture, perfect your eye contact and make firm hand shake. This way, you get to increase your self-confidence when the time comes that you meet the naturally intimidating hiring manager

When we say cool jobs, we talk about those occupations wherein workers have fun and love what they do. They are somewhat like a hobby but you get paid for your time and service. Really, how cool is that?

David Rosen, author of What’s That Job and How the Hell Do I Get It?: The Inside Scoop on More Than 50 Cool Jobs from People Who Actually Have Them has an interesting compilation of cool jobs which he believes are subjective. Meaning, it’s a matter of preference if a person will look at a particular job as cool or not. Anyway, here are some of the cool jobs as shared by Rosen in his book (in no particular order):

1. Actor or singer
2. Cowboy
3. Brewmaster
4. Professional golfer
5. Personal trainer
6. Academy awards ballot counter
7. Cruise director
8. Firefighter
9. Flight attendant
10. Broadcast sports reporter

Writing your cover letter is an important task as it can make or break you. You need to plan and devote time on writing your cover letter to be able to leave a good impression on your prospective employer. Here are some tips you might find useful in writing your own cover letter.

• Proofread your letter numerous times (grammar, punctuation, spelling, etc.)
• Address it to an identified person
• Give emphasis to your skills or experiences which relates to the position you’re applying for
• Limit your letter to a page
• Request for an interview
• Never put any negative information about yourself

Source: www.quintcareers.com
Image source: www.sample-resumes-online.com

According to Chinese beliefs, rats are animals associated with aggression, wealth, charm and order on the positive side, and death, war, pestilence, and atrocities on the negative. 2008 is year of the rat. Let us dwell on the positive qualities and keep the negative ones at bay for now since I will be talking about job search.

For job seekers, especially those who have yet to find the right job until now, the most logical thing to do is to change your job search approach. Why not try to use your aggressiveness in reevaluating your situation and setting realistic goals? You can start with your resume by reviewing it and locating those areas that need improvement. This way, you get to have a fresh perspective as to what jobs match your skills.

If you are aspiring marketing professional the tools listed below might be very useful to you. These tools aim to prepare you as you hit the road for job hunting to become a marketing professional. The tools below can be easily found on the web.

• The Marketing / Advertising Virtual Interview – As the saying goes, “Practice Makes Perfect!” Be for going to your job interview, why not take this virtual interview first? This virtual interview aims to prepare you on your job interview.
• The Aquent / AMA Salary Calculator for Marketing Professionals
• The AIGA|Aquent Survey of Design Salaries 2007

Thank you to this website for these tools!

Image source: www.dartmarketing.com

Most of the time, a phone interview is unannounced. You just get a call one day and before you know it, you are already engaged in a phone interview. That is the main reason why you have to be always prepared.

Here are some expert tips to increase your chance of passing a phone interview:

1. Use a landline instead of a cellular phone. A landline is more reliable than cellular phones so make sure you use one to conduct the interview as smoothly as possible.
2. Avoid distractions. Find a quiet place for the interview so you don�t upset the hiring manager by unwanted noise.
3. Relax but remain focus. Though the person on the other line cannot see your facial expressions, it is important to keep your calm so you could concentrate on answering the questions intelligently.

One of the common types of job interviews is through the phone. It is a cost-effective way of performing initial screening as part of the recruitment process. Just like most job interviews, the employer uses phone interview to determine your suitability for the job and to decide if you could be given a chance for the traditional face-to-face style of interview.

Getting a phone interview is a proof that your resume and cover letter did a good job. You have to be well-prepared then to ensure that the opportunity will not pass up. Remember that a phone interview is a chance to prove yourself to your potential employer which could eventually serve as your gate to employment. (to be concluded)

The oil and gas industry is one of the most profitable ventures in the world today. It offers a good number of high-paying jobs that require proper education and training.

The Oil Offshore Marine website is a very good source of job listings in every field of the oil and gas industry. It is easy to navigate and jobs are classified according to categories and keywords, which simplify and make the search faster.

An oil firm usually has bases in more than one country. A plus factor to get an oil and gas job is a job seeker’s willingness to relocate when necessary to different points in the world where the oil firm operates. If you’re passionate about traveling, a job in the oil and gas industry may be your best choice.

When applying for a specific job, a person should prepare an impressive resume. Besides the resume, you need to prepare a cover letter. But you might ask about the importance of having a cover letter.

Cover letters are important for it is where you state what type of position or work you are seeking or applying for. Your resume only shows your work experience and educational background. If you look at your resume, there is a part there where you state your objective. A cover letter can serve as an avenue for you to state your objective, which of course is to apply for a job.

Image source: www.pathwayscareer.com