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Isn’t that what we all want to know? The truth is everyone is hiring. Now, wait…before you click to close this page let me explain.

From my experience, companies hire all the time. Even when it appears that they have zero positions listed on the company website and there appears to be no openings on the major job boards. Sometimes positions do not make it that far in the process. Other times HR is too busy to take take to list positions. What you need to remember is that just because there appears to be no open jobs does not mean that there is not. I have personally seen companies hire people in the middle of a recession without ever posting the job.

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Current economic conditions can be especially difficult for those seeking entry level accounting jobs. You may even feel that there are two major obstacles you are facing:

• No Job Openings
• No Job Experience

While these are challenging days, it is important to remember that everyone gets their start eventually. I firmly believe that your time is just around the corner. Time and chance happens to them all. It will happen for you as well.

For those wondering about career direction, there are basically four career directions you can take in accounting when starting off:

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The question that I receive on my blog more often then not is: “Where are all of the entry level accounting jobs?” There is no doubt that as I write the job market is tight and it is especially taking its toll on those coming out of college. To some it seems unfair to work hard for four years, pay for an education, and when you are ready to launch out there are no jobs in sight. Still others are tired of hearing “Sorry, but you have no experience” line as well.

So, what do you do?

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I want to introduce to you in a short video a brand new tool for organizing your job search. It is called becomed.com

It is 100% free and very easy to use. I have used many other online job search tools and found them to be very overly-complicated for the typical user. The interface for becomed.com is easy to learn and easy to add information that you collect in your job search.

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Today, I am going to release the first of several Job Search Secrets. If you have not heard of these strategies, then I encourage you to add them to your toolbox as you conduct your job search.

The first Job Search Secret is a little, unknown website called www.watchthatpage.com

I first came across this website about 4 years ago and it has paid off BIG time for me. I encourage you to watch the video so that you get a better feel for how it works.

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I have been working behind the scenes over the last few weeks. My goal is to give you as much useful information as possible when it comes to performing a job search. I have been an Executive Recruiter for the past 7 years and have learned some of the best tips & strategies when it comes to interviewing, networking, resume writing, negotiating salaries, etc.

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I’m writing today from a Starbucks in Florida. Our family is on vacation this week and I have been spending a few hours each morning working at the local Starbucks while the rest of the family sleeps in (favorite vacation activity). I decided to write another post to my “Hey Recession…” series. If you want to find my two other posts on this topic, you can find them here:

Hey Recession ~ This Too Shall Pass

Hey Recession ~ My New Definition of Success

Yesterday, my morning visit to Starbucks went from peace and calm to sudden panic and confusion. I got my typical White chocolate Mocha Grande, found a spot to connect to the wi-fi, and got to work. Everything was going according to plan and I was getting a lot done and then I realized that something was missing….

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Most people view resumes as a necessary evil and I can completely understand why. A good resume takes thought, some creativity, an ability to “sell yourself” and some basic marketing principles. Yet, the resume is so vitally important. As I have said before, the resume must evoke an emotion in the eyes of the reader and compel them to pick up the phone an give you a call. Your resume really is a marketing piece at a very basic level.

I want to share with you what I believe are the top 7 resume blunders. Trust me, I have seen them all over the last eight years as an Executive Recruiter. In fact, I have a “running” Word document that I add to on a weekly basis anytime I come across a funny, unusual, or bizarre item on a resume. One day I will share it with the world and you will not believe what I have seen on resumes.

Anyways, back to the purpose of the blog post. If I were to take all of the blunders I have seen I could place them into 7 basic categories. I would encourage you to take time to measure your resume up against these blunders and be sure that these are not true about your resume.

TOP 7 RESUME BLUNDERS

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Alright, the interview went well but it has been two weeks and you have heard nothing. Scratching your head right? How could everything be so positive and then just silence. Have you been there before? You are not really sure what to do but you are still definitely interested. So, you think: “What do I have to lose?”

Well, before bugging the heck out of them with daily phone calls, I want to offer you 4 different killer follow-up letters that you can use to gauge if there is still a pulse. Now, I highly recommend that you use these letters as an email. The reason why I suggest the email follow-up is because it makes it easier for the Hiring Manager to reply (either good or bad). In other words, if you are out of the mix, he can easily take you off the hook if he wanted to. No response could still mean there is a pulse and a positive response allows you to reply back and reinforce an interest. Also, it opens a dialog and as long as there is 2 way communication there is a pulse.

4 KILLER FOLLOW-UP EMAILS

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photo by JU

Yesterday, I gave you a step by step plan of what you should do after the interview in order to land the job. If you missed it you can find it here: Top 5 Things To Do After the Interview

Today, I am going to tackle the negative side. There are things that you should NOT do after an interview. In fact, some people think that they are helping their cause by doing these things and in actuality it is to their demise. You see many people feel like they have some leverage becuase after all things seem to go well and be so positive from the interview. What they forget is that a hiring manager is still evaluating you and you don’t want him questioning his good first impression of you. So, without further ado…here is the list:

TOP 5 THINGS THAT YOU MUST NOT DO AFTER AN INTERVIEW

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Probably the single biggest challenge that job seekers face is getting their foot in the door. I hear this time and time again from candidates of mine. They are convinced that if they can just talk to a human being (hiring manager) that they can win the job. This seems like a huge obstacle to overcome in the day and age we live in especially with so many companies utilizing online job postings.

Job searching has become de-humantized (just made up the word!). With automatic replies that your resume was received and pre-formatted rejection letters that just need your name inserted and the other removed, there is no doubt that job searching lacks a human touch.

Well, the good news is there are ways to get your foot in the door, but you have to have two things working for you. These two things can be summed up in answering one question. The question may seem simple but if you can answer this question than you have accomplished your goal.

Here is the question:

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I am going to share with you my last 4 reasons why you should grow an online network. If you missed reasons 1-6 you can either download the entire 30+ page Free ebook in the window to the right or you can find Reasons 1-6 here:

Reasons 1-3

Reasons 4-6

7. You can stay in touch with former colleagues.

This concept is very powerful. As you get further and further into

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I’ve been unemployed for 18 months. What’s one thing I can do to get back on track?

“People who are unemployed think the worse possible outcome is not finding another job,”says Richard Bolles, author of What Color is Your Parachute? (Ten Speed Press, 2003) “Actually, the worst part is losing your self-esteem. You start thinking, ‘What’s wrong with me?’”

Bolles says you must find ways to

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There is an old Chinese saying that goes something like this: “A man without a smiling face must not open a shop.”

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Think a pink slip could be headed in your direction? Most people who are let go know their time is up or (in retrospect) say they should have seen it coming. While there are no sure signs of professional apocalypse, here are 12 clues your job may be in peril:

1. You’re Out of the Loop.
You no longer get advanced notice of company news or reports; and you seem to be losing your

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What if you really don’t get along with your current boss? Is leaving out of the question since any new employer will have to talk with Mr. Idiot in checking your references?

Well, for starters, it is not that common for a new employer to talk with your past boss. Don’t list him as a reference. Are there others in the company you could ask for a reference? What about that project you worked on last year. Can you use the

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Winston Churchill said, “To every man there comes in his lifetime that special moment when he is figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered a chance to do a very special thing, unique to him and fitted to his talents. What a tragedy if that moment finds him unprepared or unqualified for the work which would be his finest hour.”

 Many people struggle with being ready for that moment.Here are some revealing statements from clients about where they see themselves:  

• 51-year-old businessman — “I feel like I’ve lived my whole life by accident.”
• 34-year-old CPA - “I feel like

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How do you really know when it is time? Deciding to leave a familiar place of employment can be more difficult then most people realize. Most don’t understand how involved emotions can play into leaving. This is especially the case after a two week notice is given.

Managers, co-workers, subordinates all weigh-in on how much they are going to miss you and how important you are to the organization (all those things you wished they had said before you decided to make the move). However, you need to think with your head as well. By identifying the major reasons why you want to make a move in the beginning can be very powerful for you and a reference point to your “true feelings” once the emotion of the move kicks in at the very end.

Here are the top ten ways to know when to leave a job:

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Studies have shown that 90% of communication is nonverbal. So how do you shine in the increasingly popular phone interview? You can’t take advantage of your good looks, great wardrobe, firm handshake, eye contact, and JLo perfume.

But there are unique elements of a phone interview that you can use to your advantage:

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