Programming Jobs: Job Search Tips

Despite a down economy, there are still a number of employment opportunities available in the field of information technology and programming. Though many areas of the business market seem to be failing and people are being downsized, the number of programming continues to increase. The good news is that it is expected that St. Louis programming jobs as well as programming jobs throughout the rest of the country will continue to increase for many years to come.

Not all programming jobs are the same, some are more exciting than others, some pay more than others, and some have a greater learning curve. Programming jobs can range from video game programming to financial software, and java architects. That means that there are quite a variety of programming jobs to choose from.

We know that there are programming jobs out there but just as not all programming jobs are the same, not all programmers are the same. Your interests and your technical skills may limit the types of jobs you can find.

Here are a few programming job search tips to help you find a job you will enjoy:

1. Get your resume in order. Be sure to include a list of programming languages that you are knowledgeable about, as well as specific technology projects that you have worked on which show off your skills. Proofread, proofread, proofread and then have someone else proofread too. There is no excuse for spelling or grammatical errors in a resume. If a company has 200 resumes sitting on the table to go through you can almost guarantee that any with mistakes will be thrown out first.


2. Stand out from the crowd. You can expect that most job openings will have several applicants. In order to stand out from the crowd you might consider creating a packet to go along with your resume, include a disk with a presentation of your work. Include screen shots of applications you have created, snippets of code etc. Highlight your best work in the presentation.


3. Start searching for job openings. Being in the field of technology, the internet is the best place to look. If there are specific companies you are interested in check their websites for job postings. You should also check job posting databases. Conventional media such as newspapers and trade magazines will publish job postings as well. Craigslist and freelance websites are good places to search for freelance programming jobs. Don't forget to use former colleagues, as well as former clients as potential resources.


4. Begin targeting jobs that you have the skill set to fill, that you are interested in and think might be a good challenge for you. Send these companies your resume and be sure to follow up with a phone call or email.


5. As interviews come up be prepared to explain the specifics of how you have used your skills. You need to prove to the interviewer that you have the skills and knowledge that it takes to fill the job opening. Be sure to show your eagerness to learn new skills and work on a number of different projects.


6. If you find that you have been working in a niche and aren't finding many job openings in that area you may need to take a course or two to brush up on some old skills or learn some new skills that will help you to fill a new position. The new skills that you gain can be added to your resume.


7. As you are contacting companies be sure to keep good records of when you sent the resume, if you received or done any follow up, names of people you have spoken with etc. When you speak with several companies it is easy to get confused about which company is which or which person was at which company. Take good notes to avoid confusion and possible embarrassments.

Searching for a Singapore job, you can always check out the latest jobs in Singapore WDA job bank where thousands of jobs are available.

Job Search For Lawyers

Job searching for lawyers can get frustrating in no time. It is impossible to keep a steady track of vacancies in law firms and companies. On top of that, most websites catering to on-line current work openings do not enlist each and every company. This makes it extremely hard to hit on the right track for lawyers seeking jobs, but not anymore with law specific job aggregation sites. They provide an easy access to legal jobs from every nook and corner of the globe.

Family law, attorney, employment law, intellectual property law, compliance law jobs, etc. fall under the category of job search for lawyers. Most of these require minimum experience of 2-3 years considering the vacancy available and the salary offered. Freshers can also try their luck depending on their resume and the kind of qualifications required.

Under attorney jobs, the lawyer employment categorizes litigation attorneys, corporate attorneys, environmental attorneys, patent attorneys, immigration attorneys, so on and so forth. A litigation attorney generally demands good communication and reasoning skills. It helps resolve disputes and enforce proceedings. Corporate attorneys are associated with business houses and private firms.

Counseling, negotiating, accompanying clients in court are the prominent features of this job. Search for attorney jobs and an endless list with details will be in your palm.

These websites are also a boon for legal students seeking internships and summer jobs. A special category in the website deals with the student issues. It constitutes legal internship jobs, law student clerkship jobs, law clerk jobs, legal file clerk jobs, legal summer associate jobs to name only a few. Not only does it provide for the on-line job openings, but also details out the need of courses one should pursue for a job. This makes the lawyer employment search handy and useful for job seekers. The website also provides article archives. Going through the articles and testimonials can give one a brief idea what to look for.

Once on these websites, undertake the following steps: go through the archives and features, create your profile to access all features by paying the minimum charge, read up the jobs you are interested in, and apply accordingly. While applying, be sure to highlight your credentials relevant to the job properly. The whole process is a little time consuming, but only to make sure you have the right job.

The sites undertake thorough research of the jobs for the job seekers, providing information under one umbrella. It is updated constantly and has an option of advanced search. When looking for job search for lawyers, provide the details of job type, employer type, preferences of location and hit the advanced search button. Your search will be filtered providing only the necessary information.

Highest paid legal professionals consult job aggregation sites, so does most law schools of America. So, why should you be the one left behind? Know your future with the fastest growing law job aggregation sites.

Go ahead today.

Search for a Singapore job, you can always check out the latest jobs in Singapore job bank WDA where thousands of jobs are available.

Job-Hunting While Pregnant

It's happening all over: A woman is laid off while she's pregnant and finds herself job-hunting as her due date approaches. Another woman's organization tanks, and she finds herself out of work just as she realizes that that she's expecting. A third finds her consulting business too slow to sustain her financially, so she starts a job search during her second trimester.

The important thing to know about pursuing a job search during pregnancy is that it can be done. While your pregnancy is a factor in your job search -- and more of a factor if your due date is coming up quickly or if, for instance, you're expecting more than one baby -- being pregnant is no reason to put off a job search. You will need to incorporate your post-baby plans into your interview conversation, so that you're ready to answer questions about your return to work, your ability to manage your job with a newborn, and so on. But the fact that you're expecting shouldn't be the primary, or even a major, focus of your discussions during interviews.

If you're not "out" with your pregnancy -- if you haven't reached the point where you're generally letting people know about your condition -- it's not necessary or appropriate to say anything about it during an interview or when you're considering a job offer. Would you tell a relative stranger something you haven't told your best friends yet? Some women worry that if they keep quiet about their pregnancy, later they'll get sideways looks from the boss, who will never trust them again. Don't put that pressure on yourself.

When the day comes to share your good news, after a month or two of productive employment at your new company, you'll say, "Sally, I wanted to let you know that Jack and I are expecting! The baby is due in February, and I feel great." That's the whole message; you don't need to get into who knew what when, and no one will be likely to be so tacky as to inquire. If anyone does ask, "Didn't you know this when you were interviewing here?" you can smile and say, "We're just official as of this week, and we're so excited."

If your pregnancy is well established, you should be prepared to discuss the logistics of your maternity leave and return to work during the job interview. Most of us in the business world are well trained (sometimes by unhappy experience) not to ask a woman if she's pregnant, so don't be self-conscious about your growing tummy. You should bring up the topic, well into the interview (don't even bother if you're completely uninterested in the job). You say to the interviewer, "Henry, may I ask you a few specific questions? Great. First, I'm curious about the relationship between the business development group and the sales organization here at XYZ Association. Oh, really? Terrific. Thanks.

 Secondly, I'm expecting a baby in September. I have some ideas about maternity leave and how I will manage things while away from the office, and I'd love to touch on that today. Excellent. The third is ...." This way, you get the information out and let the organization know that you're not planning to fake your way through this big life change, that you have a plan, and that you'll be extremely responsible when it comes to managing your job through the new-baby time.

Is there a danger that you'll be passed over as a candidate simply because of your condition? Frankly, yes. If the organization has two excellent candidates, and you are one, and the other one is not expecting, you could lose out. But if you are the right person for the job and seem well prepared for both the new job and your other life changes, many employers will take the correct long view -- what's three months of maternity leave out of a long and successful relationship?

In your confidence-inspiring remarks about your plans, you don't need to go into exhaustive detail. Your prospective employer doesn't need to know who will be watching the baby or whether or not you'll be nursing, for instance. But it might be helpful to throw in facts that will show you're not going to fall apart upon baby's arrival. For example, if this is your second child, you could mention that your past maternity leave went smoothly. One caution: Be sure to guard against the natural impulse to oversell your flexibility.

Don't say, "I'll only take two weeks maternity leave!" It's more important to focus on your skills, your experience, and your enthusiasm for the job and the organization than to feel you have to apologize for or explain away your wonderful expectant state.

It doesn't hurt to look for family-friendly organizations when you're a pregnant job seeker.

Do invest in a professional interviewing wardrobe. Remember what they say: Pregnancy makes you radiant. Let yourself shine with confidence and delight in your wonderful situation and remember that you're a terrific job candidate. The squirmer in your belly doesn't take anything away from that; if anything, he or she adds to it.

Seeking for a Singapore job, you can always check out the updated jobs in Singapore job bank WDA where thousands of jobs are available.

Let Apps Facilitate Your Job Search

Today's tsunami of mobile technology has enabled savvy job seekers to jump on the app wagon in search of a competitive edge.

Mobile apps allow job seekers to search discreetly for positions - anytime, anywhere - and respond to postings quickly. There are apps that help with career planning, organize the job search process, alert job seekers to compatible positions, and even upload and send resumes to recruiters.

The good news for job seekers is that you only have to look as far as your pocket to find new work, because there are several helpful apps for mobile devices that can facilitate your job search.

In fact, its tracking shows that as many as 40 percent of mobile candidates abandon the application process when they are notified they are about to encounter a nonmobile application.

While features vary, job-search apps generally send you alerts about new postings, giving you a head start on the competition. Some actually use your phone's GPS to alert you to jobs located near you. Some allow users to apply or at least signal interest in the job - all via your mobile device.

Just about all the major job-search sites offer a free app, including Indeed, CareerBuilder, Glassdoor, SimplyHired, LinkedIn and Dice (for the tech industry).

Understand that some apps may not allow you to store your resume and apply for jobs online.

However, they do keep you apprised of openings as they're posted, which provides you with a distinct advantage.

Here are a few free apps you might consider downloading:

Glassdoor
One of the simplest job-seeking apps, it allows you to sift through a constantly updating feed of jobs based on your search keywords (such as "electrical engineer" or "secretary") and the area where you wish to work. Tapping a specific job opening takes you to a page of detailed information. If you're targeting a job with your favorite company, or by salary, this app is ideal.

LinkedIn
The LinkedIn app can recommend jobs, based on the keywords and data you entered in your profile - generating a list of personalized job recommendations. Like Glassdoor, it will also search for jobs based on keywords. You will even find useful buttons such as "apply for this job on the company's website." Once you submit your application, LinkedIn will suggest similar jobs that may also interest you.

Career Builder
CareerBuilder has a unique design that simplifies the browsing of job listings. It also has some innovative features such as calculating commuting distances based on your phone's GPS data. You can upload your resume to Career Builder and even apply for some positions directly through the app.
Remember that in a competitive job market, positions are typically posted and filled very quickly. Mobile job search apps allow you to be much more responsive and to take advantage of dead time by bolstering your productivity.

Looking for a Singapore job, you can always check out the updated jobs in Singapore WDA jobs bank where thousands of jobs are available.

How Communication Can Help Your Job Search

It this ever changing world of job search, many people have ignore the importance of communication. There are crucial things that you need to say to the right people in order for you to find the job, make a first good impression, and convince them that you are the right one for the job. In addition to that, you will also need to negotiate with them your new salary package. In order to ensure that this is communicated effectively, it has to look natural and also in a persuasive manner. Not everyone is a born presenter or a has a confidence level of an expert in public speaking, therefore the best way to overcome any communication blunders is to rehearse your speech.

You most likely shrug of the idea and say that rehearsing for a speech or dialog is only for a room full of people. But think again, in a job search, there are topics which you need to cover during an interview. That is why you should plan and rehearse beforehand, even for telephone cold calls, interview questions, and introductions or even during the questions and answer section.

One of the most basic yet important ways to give a polish and professional verbal communication is to script it out fist. Write down the important facts that you would like to cover in the topic first. After that start filling in the words so that the communication seem more natural. Avoid being stiff when coming out with the script. The best policy is to keep it simple and natural. No one is going to punish you if you use simple terms. You will most likely sound like someone that is clueless if you were to use bombastic words that you have no idea what it meant in the first place.

After you have completed your script you will need to ensure that it sounds natural. One of the best ways is to actually read it out loud. Sometimes a sentence might look good on paper, but it does not sound too natural when read out loud. If it does not sound like something you would say, revise it again. Continue this process until your script is perfect. That way when you actually come face to face with the person that you need to communicate with, it will come naturally.

In order to make a better impression during the conversation, you will have to memorize your script. You do not have to memorize word by word, but just the important section of the script. If you have read it and rehearse it many times, it will normally come natural to you. Have you wondered why you can remember the lyrics to your favorite song effortlessly? That is because you listen to the song many times and sing along to the song as well. This brings us to out next important point.

It might sound weird at first, but you should consider recording yourself as you rehearse this conversation. That way you can play it back, listen and analyze what needs to be change. The more you listen to yourself, the more aware you are of your weakness and therefore you can improve upon it.

Practicing communication is an ongoing process. You will have to do it a couple of times before you get it right. Sometimes you can simply just strike up a conversation with someone while waiting for the train to work or someone at the grocery store. This is to boost your self confidence just in communication with a different individual. When you need this skill the most for example during a job interview, you are prepared.

Search for a Singapore Jobs, you can always check out the updated jobs in Singapore WDA jobs bank where thousands of jobs are available.

Job Search Rip Offs - How to Avoid Them!

How can you get help with your job search yet steer clear of services that over-promise, overcharge and under deliver?

The  major publications have reported on "recruiting" services that advertise nonexistent six-figure jobs in order to lure in unsuspecting job seekers. Then they pitch resume rewrites and promise "unpublished jobs" or propose blind mailing programs. Other scams are resume writing services, sometimes using offshore non-English speaking writers who do not have the background to write about you or use the subtle language cues necessary at all level and all occupations.

Each of these might take your money and leave you worse off than when you started.   Here's an overview to help you understand today's job search reality and the challenges:

·        You must use several methods not just contacts, career sites or blind mailings to companies. The effort must be guided by a plan and that means carefully structured from an understanding of you. ·  Avoid getting "Ripped Off," find and use a specialized job coach to get your next job. Out of 500 plus career or job board sites there are probably only 1 to 2 that you should use.

·        Many private companies often owned by private equity firms are not on many lists of companies and often are the best sources for jobs.

·        Every resume and cover letter must be highly targeted. It takes time to do them the right way, and they must be used to build your online presence

·        The harsh truth is in today's stressful job market you need to be ready to adjust your strategy and approach to changing opportunities.

To avoid these "rip-off" services you need to understand and do three things:

1. Get coached on best current job search methods, sources and positioning 
2. Target your presence CAREFULLY via linking means, marketing and research 
3. Tirelessly work to find and go after possible jobs. Probably 5-6 hours a day. 

This is the best way to avoid services that often promise to market you to lists of companies and do such things as helping to instantly rewrite your resume. They prey on anxious job seekers by offering fake or not available jobs on Internet sites, and then contacting people offering a complete service for thousands of dollars. There is no question that some of these services do add value. However, many do not care to gain enough insight into your own situation, or have only one limited course of action for a short duration.  

Once you understand today's job search world you will see what you do must be very carefully tailored. You must use a number of sources to find, isolate and close a possible job. You must also use various methods depending on your exact requirements.   You will also need to work extra hard to be successful. 

Highly Specialized Job Coach 
Job search coaching from professionals with integrity is the best form of help. Look for coaches highly specialized in job searches, willing to work with you weekly, completely aware of the current job environment and resources, and confident enough to have you pay as you make progress.  The right job search coach can make your effort more productive and help you avoid getting Ripped Off.

Seeking for a job in Singapore, you can always check out the latest jobs in Singapore WDA job bank where thousands of jobs are available.

Job Search Tip: Know Yourself!

Welcome to the job market revolution of the 21st Century!

The good old days of passively finding a job . . . writing a resume, posting it on some job sites, answering some ads, contacting a few agencies of recruiter . . . those days are gone forever. Unless you want to spend weeks or months looking for a job. And then settling for whatever comes along.
Understanding the dynamics of today's marketplace give you a real leg up. Armed with strategies and techniques that address the needs and expectations of today's sophisticated employers give you the assurance that you can select your next job rather than settle for it.

Without these insights, what looked like a bright future with a rewarding, good-paying job you begin to question your value in the workplace. Suddenly your career advancement becomes shaky or non-existent. You wonder how long it's going to take to get ahead.

Well, the good news is that there amazing growth opportunities out there just waiting for you . . .if you know where to look. This job market is one of the hottest in history.

But, the starting point of your job search requires that you discover two critical pieces of information about yourself. Without them you go into the market blind.

1. You must know what you have going for you. You have what are called "transferable skills." They represent all the talents, abilities, strengths and qualities you have accumulated over the years. If you target opportunities that are consistent with your transferable skills, you'll guarantee you will select a job opportunity that you'll enjoy and grow with.

2. You must know what your options are. There are many exciting and intriguing job opportunities. You can fall into the trap of latching onto something just because it sounds good. Look before you leap. Get serious only about those jobs that match up with your capabilities profile.

Remember, the most important ingredient in you job search is YOU! That means depending on the knowledge and capabilities you have acquired on the job. Or the skills and strengths you've accumulated through life experience.

Knowing who you are and what your options are must be your guide to the future.

Search for a Singapore Jobs, you can always check out the updated jobs in Singapore WDA job bank where thousands of jobs are available.