If you're looking for a job in 2009, you don’t need to be reminded about how bad the economy and employment markets are.But you may need to be reminded of a simple fact: You will never get hired for any job, in any economy, by an employer.Instead, you will be hired by a person. A person with feelings, hopes, and fears, just like you.The more persons you can meet, talk to, and help, the faster you will get hired. In any city...

Last week, I told you about three habits of highly ineffective job seekers. This week, here’s the final installment: four more bad habits that can wreck your career.Have a look below to see if you’re practicing any. If so, drop these habits now, and you may start getting more calls from employers tomorrow … Habit 1) Say “But” instead of “How”When highly unsuccessful job seekers are presented with a new idea, the first word...

After speaking to and counseling nearly 10,000 job seekers since 1996, I've witnessed many successes. I've seen people sail smoothly from one position to the next, in good times and in bad.Unfortunately, I've seen many failures, too. Some folks spin their wheels and struggle for months to land a job, no matter what the economy is doing.That's just life - failure is more common than success. But it need not be common for you...

Question: If you've ever been offered a job without meeting first someone face to face, open your window and scream "Yes!" Hear anything? Neither do I.Until more scientific proof turns up, just agree with me here: You can't get hired by a computer or over the phone. Before you can work for people, you have to meet people.And the more people you meet, the faster you'll get hired.Here are three ways to do so, using technology...

Let’s say you’re looking for a job, as an administrative assistant, for example. But you're working part-time in an unrelated position. Or you have no job at all. How do you bridge that gap, the one between where you are and where you want to be? Try gap analysis. It's used by Fortune 500 companies to produce multi-million dollar results. Why not use it yourself to produce a new job? As defined by Wikiped...

If you've been looking for a job for any length of time, you’ve probably run into roadblocks. Weeks go by with no job interviews. Employers don't call. And you start to feel…stuck. Where can you turn for new ideas to get “unstuck” in your job search? I suggest you try "funnel vision." As explained to me years ago by marketing master Jay Abraham, funnel vision is the opposite of tunnel vision. It’s a way of looki...

I just returned from a two-day trip to Toronto. In the airports, in my hotel, and on the plane, I got a lot of work done.It happens every time I get out of the office and expose my brain to new stimuli, such as landscapes, people, food, accents, radio stations, etc. In fact, I find it impossible NOT to be productive when I'm on the road for a few days. What does travel have to do with your job search?This: If you’re stuck i...

In good times and bad, some people struggle to find jobs, while others seem to succeed almost effortlessly.What’s the difference?I submit that successful job seekers aren’t hamstrung by any of the following three myths.Are you?Myth 1) “Nobody will give me a job.”Would you walk into Wal-Mart and expect them to just give you a sack of potatoes, a new computer, or a set of luggage? No. First, you must give them something of va...

If knowledge is power, you can give your job search a huge boost by knowing more about the job and employer you seek.It all comes down to one word: research.“Research is a critical step in the job search that people often overlook. Without learning about the companies you want to apply to, you’re telling employers, in effect, that you don’t really want the job,” says Chris Russell, career professional and blogger (www.secre...

Here’s a brilliant quote from a brilliant scientist, Linus Pauling: “The best way to have a good idea is to have lots of ideas.”And here’s a rough corollary for your job search: The best way to find a good job is to have lots of networking conversations.In other words, the more people you talk to, the faster you’ll get hired.That’s not an opinion. It’s what I’ve observed after helping thousands of people find jobs since 199...