Given the current economic situation there is no better time to start to organize your brand.  While in a perfect world you would not be reacting to the changes instead you would already have a strong brand, but in case you are getting a late start here are a few things that will help you recession proof your brand.

1. Graduate schooling: While this may not be the best time to spend large amounts of money and loans are scarce you are more appealing to employers with higher education.  At the end of your 4 years of schooling, more education is probably the last thing you will be thinking about but it is something you should consider.  Your starting salary on average will be higher and you will spend less time looking for a job and more time working.
2. Tap into your network. Start talking to more people within your niche.  Each niche has specific quirks to how it deals with economic tough times.  Some are more susceptible to changes than others.  You will have better luck in numbers.  If your partners are attending events and what not, so should you.
3. Polish the resume. Those companies who are hiring are getting a large amount of applicants.  You need a resume that will set yourself apart.
4. Be innovative. Keep in mind that trouble economic times is really synonymous with ample opportunity to stand out and be different.  There are more opportunities for you to show off what you are doing when everyone is struggling than when everyone is achieving at such a high level.
5. Pick up new talents. The days of doing just one thing are gone.  You need to diversify your skills.  Take a few extra classes, try to learn something new.  The more you know how to do the more attractive you are as a potential employee.  In the event that a company needs to downsize, a person that is a good worker and has skills that can be tweaked is more likely to be held on to.  Someone that can take on additional work, and can do many jobs is more flexible and easily shifted within a company rather than out of a company.

Author: RJ Sherman

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The all-hailed and all-dreaded resume is the traditionally omnipotent job hunting tool – a piece of paper where, in one page or less, you must prove that you are more qualified for a job than anyone else.

In recent years, some people have predicted that the resume as we know it will fade out of existence. As technology pervades more areas of more people’s lives and takes progressive steps every day, college students are wondering if the resume has become unnecessary and useless. Has it?

You might think, with the existence of YouTube, Google, Facebook, Linkedin and Myspace, that the resume would have died a quiet death in the corner. However, this is not the case – nor is it even close to the truth. Even though technology has changed drastically in the past 30 years, the resume still holds a key place in the world of hiring. Companies may be taking resumes in different mediums than before, such as electronic submission, but this does not mean the resume is gone.

Hiring pros need something they can quickly scan to help them determine if you are a good fit for the company. This is why you still need to make sure your resume is up to snuff. The truth of the matter is that the resume has actually grown in value despite what some people may think. With today’s increasingly competitive job market, you need a killer resume more than ever to speak for your skill, intelligence, and experience.

A resume is the quickest way to get an overall picture of an applicant, and that is what busy employers who are looking to make a good hire are looking for. Searching for you in Google, follow-up interviews and reference checking have their place, but you’ll never reach those steps if your original value is not proven through your resume.

Once you do craft a resume that makes you stand out from the competition, it’s time for the next step in the career search process: polishing your online presence. Why not sign up for a free account with our website builder to start proactively managing your web identity? You can get started right away with your own domain name (yourname.com) or subdomain (yourname.brand-yourself.com), and look forward to us rolling out some cool tools to manage and track your entire online presence. Potential employers will Google you after they look at your resume. So give us a try now and start making your web presence remarkable.

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Being interviewed is a critical aspect of the hiring process. You have already made it past the resume overview and now it is time for you to have what might be the only face-to-face interaction with your potential employer before they decide to hire you or not. It is essential that you put your best foot forward and allow the interviewer to get to know the person they’d be working with. They learned about your accomplishments from your resume; now show them your personality and how you handle yourself in a professional environment.

Here are 43 items to help you through the interviewing process.

18 things to do before an interview:

1. Get a good night sleep the night before. You’ll look better and feel better, allowing yourself to make the best first impression.
2. Do your research. Know the company that you are interviewing with so you can answer their questions well and in the right context. It will also show that you are truly interested in the company.
3. Eat a good breakfast. You’ll be more alert and focused.
4. Prepare questions beforehand. Know the answers to basic questions that they will most likely ask you. Also come up with a few questions about the company or position you are applying for to show that you’re interested.
5. Make a few copies of your resume and put them somewhere where you won’t forget to bring them.
6. Search the web. It is likely someone else has interviewed with the company, so search the web and see what others are saying about it.
7. Make sure your clothes are clean and wrinkle-free.
8. Know who will be interviewing you, and learn a bit about their background.
9. Know your strengths and put together a list of them.
10. Prepare a solid list of references that you can give your interviewer on the spot.
11. Brush your teeth.
12. Put on deodorant.
13. Pre-write your thank you notes so you can drop them off right afterwards.
14. Know how to answer the question, “What will you add to the company by joining it?”
15. Carry a tissue or handkerchief in your pocket to dry your hands in case you are nervous before you go in.
16. Turn off your cell phone.
17. Prepare for the different types of interviews: behavior, experiential, or combination.
18. Have a story from each place you’ve already worked at that exemplifies one of your strengths. For every strength or skill, you should have a story about how you successfully used it. You will make a far better impression if you can back up your dry list of previous employment with interesting stories that show what you gained from each experience.

11 items to do during an interview

1. Answer the question that was asked.
2. Shake the interviewers hand.
3. Let the interviewer show your chair – now is the time to be submissive, so as to not offend the interviewer.
4. Say “Yes,” not “Yeah.”
5. Take a second before answering a question to show you are putting some thought into your answer.
6. Take notes.
7. Let your achievements speak for you.
8. Ask questions, including asking for a full description of the type of work that you will be doing.
9. Keep eye contact.
10. Be yourself.
11. Start with conversation topics that you are comfortable with. This will allow you to direct the interview to a certain degree and present yourself in a positive light.

11 items not to do during an interview

1. Don’t talk too quickly.
2. Don’t digress from your points. Answer questions directly.
3. Don’t use slang.
4. Don’t use words you don’t know the meaning of.
5. Don’t be arrogant.
6. Don’t talk about your personal life.
7. Don’t give the employer any reason to think you will not perform well.
8. Don’t act nervous. You probably will be, but it is best if you take a few seconds and clear your mind; your answers will be less jumbled. If you find yourself getting really nervous, excuse yourself and go to the bathroom to get some air. Don’t take too long but it is better to collect your thoughts than to plow ahead when you can’t focus.
9. Don’t fidget. This might be something you have to practice but it is worth it.
10. Don’t get defensive. The interviewer will be asking technical questions. Everyone has their weak spots and that is okay – work with it and practice for it.
11. Don’t bring coffee. Sipping a drink is a sign of disrespect during an interview.

What to do after the interview

1. Drop off your thank you note. Always, always thank your interviewer after you’ve left. Email them after you drop off your note. The more contact you have, the more you remain in their minds over the other applicants. It shows you’re thoughtful, motivated, and that you care.
2. Create a list of items that you did well and that you would like to improve on.
3. Follow up appropriately. Sometimes the interviewer will tell you when they will notify you; other times it will be your responsibility to make the follow up.

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