Wellness Journalism: Get to Work.

Job Acquisition in 2010

Need a job? With so many decisions and distractions, it can be difficult to settle down and apply yourself. Keep the following in focus to improve your position:

Cast a wide net. Look beyond your usual industry; many of your talents are transferrable. Browse through on-line job search engines such as Career Builder or Monster to familiarize yourself with available positions and the qualifications employers seek. There are also many jobs on campus where you can work conveniently between classes, and you can find lots of interesting full or part-time gigs on Craigslist . Be creative and keep and open mind!

Customize each resume. Tailor your resumes to the job description (which will also provide useful key words). It is essential to identify the specific value you will add to the organization. Take your time, check your spelling, and remember that this is the first impression you make on a hiring manager. "Not tailoring a resume is a huge mistake, because employers want their particular needs and problems addressed," says Lauren Milligan of ResumeMayDay.com. "Tailoring a resume shows that you have researched the company, or at the very least, read their job posting.” Click here for free step-by-step resume writing guidance.

Stay connected. Although there is no substitute for face-to-face networking, today's online technology is nothing to scoff at. Business networking sites such as LinkedIn allow you to view a person’s career history, education, community involvement, and hobbies. LinkedIn has over thirty-five million members in over 140 industries. Most of them are adults, employed, and not looking to post something on your wall or take you on a date. Use LinkedIn to ask questions and make connections. It is a virtual vehicle for real-work research, and completely free.

Give a clear interview. Even the best resume or referral can't get you the job if you do not represent yourself in an intelligent, confident fashion when interviewing. Prepare for job interviews with the Job Interview One-Sheeter. Created by "Life After College" expert Jenny Blake, this template will help you articulate your strengths, goals, work-style, ideas, challenges you've overcome, questions for the interviewer and an answer to that dreaded "weaknesses" question.

Keep producing. Commit to action every day. Looking for work is a full-time job in and of itself! Follow up with each resume or contact, and stay organized. Set goals for yourself such as sending out a certain number of resumes or meeting new people in your target field. JibberJobber provides an easy way to keep track of all of the information that you collect during a job search. Track where you have sent your resumes, the jobs you apply for, and log the status of each job as you proceed through the hiring process. In addition, you can track and organize your personal networking contacts and keep a log of how they have helped you.

Be Professional. Sanitize your MySpace and/or Facebook page. You don’t want hiring managers gazing upon beers or bikinis. While you're at it, fix your phone: no potential employer wants to sit through two minutes of rap music while waiting for you to answer, only to hear a voicemail greeting that says, “I’ll hit you back.” Finally, open a professional e-mail account (Sexylady619@yahoo.com is not going to make the cut).

Support Yourself. A lengthly job search can really wear you down, inside and out. To keep your spirits up, spend a reasonable amount of time with friends and family, laughing about your adventures. Maintain healthy eating habits, get enough sleep, and exercise…these three little jewels will keep you fit for hire. Your attitude is your best asset!