When it comes to the job search and landing a position, it seems as though most people are privy to the same advice - so how can you truly stand out? Ruth Shapiro, Director of Ruth Shapiro Associates Career Services and Vice President of the Career Counselors Consortium, gives job seekers some added tips that could create a slight edge, just enough to get the job. Every position and employer is looking for something that...

1. Cold-call your prospective boss’s boss for an interview.2. For the interview, bring portfolio of awards, articles by you or about you, examples of accomplishments and results, letters of commendation.3. Scan the newspapers and trade journals for clues to possible openings: firms signing new office space, receiving venture capital, personnel appointments and moves to new firms.4. Contact temporary agencies.5. For scannab...

An introverted client -- let us call him Frank -- refused to network even though he had just been laid off due to severe cost-cutting in a difficult economy. An Accounting Manager with an insurance company, Frank consulted me for help with his job search, but refused to network. When I asked about his community activities I learned he held an important position as the Treasurer of his church and his beach club. I suggested...

What if you think losing your job is the worst thing that can happen to you?But what if a career counselor shows you that a layoff due to a corporate takeover can lead to a better job? Here is my example of what career counseling can do to make a job search successful.Feeling panic over losing his job and anxious about the pressure of finding a new one quickly, George contacted me on the Career Counselors Consortium website...

(This article is an excerpt adapted from my workbook, HOW TO WRITE JOB SEARCH LETTERS THAT LEAD TO INTERVIEWS) The interview is over. You thought it went well, but the employer was noncommittal. You have more appointments set up with other companies. But if you really want the job you just interviewed for it’s time to launch a follow-up campaign of three different letters that will keep you under consideration. How do y...

Looking ahead to graduation to launch your job search means planning ahead. Much can be done by starting now. to put every experience under the proverbial microscope to test its relevance to your career goal. If you’ have not identified your goal, following these five steps will help you in planning your direction. You will begin to see patterns and common denominators of skills, interests, talents and contributions that...

Adapted from the workbook, “HOW TO WRITE JOB SEARCH LETTERS THAT LEAD TO INTERVIEWS” © SALESMANSHIP IN PRINT:The job search cover letter that lands the interview is a sales letter offering a product, and that product is you. You’re selling skills, talents, accomplishments and experience that can help the employer solve problems. The letter that gets the interview follows the steps in making a sale. The formula called A-I-D...