Employment Outlook

WCIU TV 26 Chicago

For a lot of corporations whose financial year end is December 31, the fourth quarter is a time when these companies are assessing their failures for the first three quarters and looking to make personnel changes to fix things. Companies are trying to get in that last push. Whatever executives didn't work out for them, they're looking at replacing them to get that last sale goal or last project done before year-end. Companies at this time may also be adding staff due to shortages in plant, customer service, sales and technical positions.

• Dust off your resume and sharpen it up. Get an opinion from an HR or Search executive whether it needs improvement or not.
• On your resume include your significant accomplishments for each job.
• Your cover letter should be brief, describing how your background and education closely fit the advertised job requirements.
• Network as much as you can.
• Send out a lot of resumes. A few hundred in today's market is not going to do it. Use the library to review old newspapers and research companies. A blind ad can receive resumes for up to 30 days.
• Post your resume on Monster.com and Careerbuilder.com where employers can look at it at any time.
• After you've posted your resume on Monster etc., create a search agent that will seek out positions advertised on the Internet and e-mail you the jobs that fit your criterion.
• Brush up on your interviewing skills. Go to as many interviews as you can.
• Distribute your resume by state, industry and profession to 500 or more search firms with www.forwardyourresume.com.
• Use the Thomas Register at thomasregister.com to research companies in your industry.
• Use trade associations in your job search.
• Use your college alumni services.