Average Job Length

Organizing For Top Results: The Foundation of a Fast, Successful Job Search by Michelle Dumas

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the average length of unemployment is about 18 weeks. But this statistic accounts for all industries, sectors, and professional levels. While you may be one of the lucky few, other statistics indicate that the average job search for a professional or mid-manager can take six months (25-26 weeks) or more. Of course, if you are changing careers, your job search may be even longer. And if you are currently employed, your search will often take longer simply because you have less time to devote to it.

Clearly, for most professionals, the days of just going through the Sunday paper and sending out a few resumes is over. Today, conducting a multi-pronged search is critical. While the individual techniques and tactics of job searching are relatively simple, there are multiple steps you have to take, often simultaneously, and you will be dealing with massive amounts of information. Unless you find a way to keep this information organized in an easily maintained and managed system, you can quickly become overwhelmed, bogged down, and confused. If you let yourself get caught up in the details, you can easily lose sight of the big picture and lose momentum. An organized plan and system will help keep you motivated, moving forward, and focused on achieving the ultimate goal.

In this excerpt from "Secrets of a Successful Job Search: 7 Simple Steps to Land the Job You Want in Half the Time," I will describe a simple, easy-to-maintain system that you can begin using today to immediately improve the efficiency and productivity of your job search.

The 4 Major Job Search Phases

In the overall job search process, there are essentially four key phases:

1) Option evaluation, goal setting & campaign planning

2) Job search & follow-up campaign

3) Job offers & negotiations

4) Accept and begin new job

At the start of your search, it is essential to create a system to schedule, track, and log all of your activities for the first three phases. At the very least, you need a calendaring system, a system of logging inter-related and follow-up activities, a contact management system, and a filing system. Create the Ultimate Job Search Filing System The foundation of your organizational system will be your filing system. It is possible to do this on your computer, to use a traditional filing method, or to use a large three-ring binder. Because it allows you to physically pick it up and carry it with you anywhere, I actually prefer the three-ring binder method, so that is what I will describe in this article. But if you prefer one of the other methods, just adapt these suggestions accordingly. Before you go any further, I suggest going out and buying a large three-ring binder right now. A large-capacity one like a 4 or 5 inch will be easiest. You will also need some tab sheets to label the sections. Some hole-punched pocket sheets that allow you to store loose sheets of paper and computer disks would also be really helpful. Now you will want to use the tabs to create 9 categories:

1) Career Vision & Job Target

Begin your filing system by including a very clear written statement of your current job target in a divided section named "Career Vision & Job Target." You should also include a written copy of your Personal Branding Statement. In this same binder, you can keep copies of any assessments you may have completed recently or in the past, to help you in setting your career goals. This is also the place where you will want to keep references, printouts, or copies of any industry or profession-related articles or research related to your job target.

2) Career Marketing Documents

In this section, store clean master copies of your resume, biography, all job search letters and correspondence, a list of references, a salary history, and any other documents that you might use in your search. This is also a good place to keep letters of reference written for you by others, copies of awards, educational transcripts, training certificates, and any other documents supporting and proving your qualifications.

3) Company & Industry Research

This section is a great place keep printouts or copies of any articles or other research that you have collected on companies that interest you and that you have targeted or plan to target during your search. This is also a good place to store research on industry trends and competitive data of relevance to these companies.

4) Job Advertisements

While you should keep more detailed activity logs elsewhere, in the Job Advertisements section of your filing binder, you should keep a copy of every ad you have answered along with some basic notes about the date you responded and the documents that you sent.

5) Internet Job Searching

The Internet Job Searching section is a perfect place to keep records of the websites you are using in your job search, places where you have posted your resume, and any passwords and user names associated with the sites.

6) Networking & Referrals

Again, you should keep more thorough records and logs elsewhere, but the Networking and Referrals section is a good place to keep a hard-copy printout of your networking address book along with any notes of information you want to remember in relation to particular individuals.

7) Recruiters & Agencies

In the recruiters and agencies section, you should keep detailed notes about every headhunter firm or job search agency you have worked with or contacted.

Interview Preparation

The interview preparation section can be used to keep all of the notes you will accumulate as you prepare for interviews. This is also a good place to keep notes on questions you want to ask during interviews and notes about interviews you have been on.

9) Salary Research

In the Salary Research section, you can keep data and research you have collected to help you define your own market value and to prepare for salary negotiations once you have been offered a job.

In short, this binder gives you the ability to store all of the documentation related to your job search in one central place. Keeping accurate, up-to-date records of your job search activities, logs of contacts you have made, and step-by-step, calendared plans of the activities you must complete in order to reach your job search goals will pay you back for your effort multiple times over through a faster and more successful job search. By creating a plan and system for your job search, you will always know where to focus your attention and what you should be doing next.

But remember, while this step of getting organized and creating your job search system is a critically important one, you must remember to NOT get bogged down. It is important to be organized but it is also critical that you get started on your search. Don't let not having a perfect system prevent you from moving forward. At the most, spend just a couple of days establishing your organizational system.

Nationally certified resume writer and career marketing expert, Michelle Dumas is the director of Distinctive Career Services LLC. Through Distinctive Documents http://www.distinctiveweb.com and her Executive VIP Services http://www.100kcareermarketing.com Michelle has empowered thousands of professionals all across the U.S. and worldwide. Michelle is also the author of Secrets of a Successful Job Search http://www.job-search-secrets.com

Article Source: http://www.earticlesonline.com/Article/Organizing-For-Top-Results--The-Foundation-of-a-Fast--Successful-Job-Search/321953

Interview Tips - The Right Answer Length for Your Interview Responses

Get Well With Natural Health

Maybe you just don't feel right. It is easy to write the little tickles and sniffles off as nothing major and by the time you accept them for what they are, the illness has become very real. There are lots of natural health cures in your kitchen; there's no need to start popping medications. Natural health solutions are a more than reasonable alternative to the chemicals you'll find at your pharmacy. If your doctor has given you specific instructions for curing your illness you will want to follow them, but why not try out a natural health method first? By the way, a super way to improve your health is by making healthy green smoothies with a Blendtec blender. Highly recommended, and an excellent way to strengthen your immune system.

Even scientists believe that using natural remedies like chicken soup can help a person treat symptoms of the common cold and flu. Many people find that eating some chicken soup when they first feel sick is all they need to feel better, which makes sense because chicken soup is full of ingredients that are beneficial for your system (the vegetables and nutrients and the chicken are really good for you), so it is only natural that you reach for the soup first and the over the counter medications last. One of the most tried, true and popular natural health remedies is ginger. Even when you aren't sick, ginger is something that you probably keep in your kitchen for cooking and for making tea. When you get sick it can't hurt to add a little bit of ginger to what you are eating and drinking. The healing elements and antiviral compounds of ginger can help keep your illness from getting worse. If you are a tea drinker, just add some ginger tea into your regular rotation and could will do wonders for your immune system.

One of the most powerful natural health remedies is ginseng. Infusing your diet with ginseng is easy because there are lots of foods that contain it and, if you want an added boost, there are ginseng supplements in the herbal section of your grocery store.

Don't wait until you feel the flu coming on to get some, stock up on ginseng teas and drinks the next time you go grocery shopping--that way you'll be prepared the next time you catch a bug. Brew some hot ginseng tea if you start to feel a cold coming on. Not only does the ginseng help you get better but the warmth of the tea can soothe a sore throat and the steam from the cup can help clear up your sinus passages a little.

There are other options available to those who do not want to take drugs when they catch a cold. To help yourself fight off illness and to get better when you do get sick, forego the chemicals and choose the natural health cures that are already in your kitchen. Don't spend a bunch of money and time on something that does not require it. You're better off with natural health methods! Last but not least, remember to check out our Blendtec reviews.

Getting Hired As A Physical Therapist

PT or the physical therapist is one of the professions in the medical industry that plays a big component in patient care. The physical therapists collaborate using the rest of the healthcare team such as with occupational therapists, physicians, and nurses. This profession can be a very rewarding occupation that enables the therapists to touch the lives of the patients by enhancing the high quality of their life. Physical therapist is an appealing career selection to a person who likes with working directly with individuals while helping them restore their physical functioning. They perform with patients for a lengthy duration that ranges from weeks to months or years. Since some patients remain below their therapy for longer periods, it is expected that they are given a high physical therapist salary.

The physical therapists (PT) are very much necessary in the various fields in the medical industry. They are able to help restore disabilities of various ages and various medical causes. The services supplied by the physical therapists intends to help the latter be capable of improve whatever motor functioning they have lost throughout the accident or before the disease. They would very first examine the degree of disability of the patient and then they would plan the therapy based on their assessment. The fundamental therapy procedures in physical therapy are more on those that can be capable of alleviate discomfort, improve strength, restore motor functions, and stop further complications. The physical therapist salary is more than enough compensation for the physical demands which are required in this profession.

Physical therapist must complete at least a master's diploma program from an institution accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education. Course perform in physical therapy usually contains heavy science courses like therapy procedures, human growth and development, rehabilitative procedures, pathology, and biomechanics. After completing the physical therapy program, a certification would make you eligible for a greater physical therapist salary.

In one year's time, the physical therapist salary that they could earn ranges from $65,000 to $75,000. The yearly pay supplied in home health care services is $77,630, it's also among the highest among all other facilities employing the physical therapists. A number of the high paying facilities are hospitals, doctor's offices, and clinics. The fluctuations in their pay relies on various elements like their education and coaching, employer, experience, and of course the location of their perform setting.

Within the 10-year period starting in 2006, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Studies expects that there is a 27% boost in the employment rate for the physical therapy profession. This growth rate is considered to become among the highest inside the related industries. With such promising future ahead those who are in this field, each the aspirants and the specialists could be rest assured that their physical therapist salary could be one of the very best in the industry too.

This lucrative career gives a whole lot rewards for the physical therapist. They're able to choose from among the various perform settings and meet various personalities. Physical therapists are also given the opportunity to help the sick and the disabled individuals. Needless to say you need to in no way forget that you simply will probably be given an excellent physical therapist salary.


Average Job Length

Average Job Length