By MARVIN WALBERG, Scripps Howard News Service
Relocating without a job
Dear Mr. Walberg:I am living in the Boston area and my fiance lives in Chicago, so my goal is to relocate and get established in my career at least six months before the wedding. Any advice you have for relocating without any job prospects would be appreciated.-- L.G.Dear L.G.:Whew! I was afraid there for a moment you were going to ask for marriage advice.
Tips for the job hunt in a down market
If you are concerned with job searching in a tight economy, consider the thoughts of Lynne Sarikas, director of the MBA Career Center at Northeastern University's College of Business Administration:"Gaining an edge is critical in a tight economy. The challenge is standing out in a crowd in a positive way. Going too far can backfire."
A resume without a cover letter is a definite no-no
Dear Mr. Walberg:Are cover letters still important in this age of electronic job searching? It seems that most people are online, including employers, and brevity is key, so when responding to an on-line job opening, send cover letter with resume attachment or just resume? -- J. B., Memphis, Tenn.Dear J.B.:
Keep your battles separate during job searches
Dear Mr. Walberg:I lost my job in the last two months and I am running into difficulties when applying for on-line job postings. The following are some of the questions I am being asked by companies posting jobs on the Internet:- What is your age?- What is your Social Security number?- What is your driver's license number?
In a job interview, expect the unexpected
"Unusual questions are becoming more popular with interviewers", says Lynne Sarikas, director of the MBA Career Center at Northeastern University's business school. "While we've all heard stories of the Microsoft interview questions (why is a manhole cover round? etc.), more employers are using non-standard questions in their interviews."
Stay current to overcome age bias
You may recall the column I wrote a few weeks ago about a friend, still working full time, who was recruited by a competitor shortly after his 70th birthday. An update: He celebrated his 72nd birthday this week, and just last week he received a third recruiting call from another local competitor. In the meantime, three months ago, he was promoted in his current job.
First impressions are crucial in the job hunt
It has been said that people tend to respond more favorably to instruction when they're having fun. So, let's have fun learning about others' mistakes.
When job-hunting, don't apply everywhere
UCLA PhD Dr. Arlene Barro, author of "Win Without Competing: Career Success the Right Fit Way," urges job seekers not to be discouraged in the current tough economy.
