Job Search and Résumé Tips

Begin the job search by studying the job market and

• identifying your interests, goals, and qualifications.

• specifying your target job, ideal supervisor, and perfect working conditions.

• developing a short-range career plan to present at interviews.

• searching Web sites for job openings.

Your first step in finding a satisfying career should be

• researching salary, benefits, and job stability in a chosen field.

• developing an effective résumé to send to prospective employers.

• locating job openings at desirable companies.

• learning about yourself, the job market, and the employment process.

Which of the following is an effective question you should ask to determine your best career path?

• Do I speak, write, or understand another language?

• Do I want to retrain frequently, and will my employer pay for this retraining?

• How well will I stand out from other candidates applying for jobs in this career field, and how likely will I be to get an interview and land a job?

• Would I like to work for someone else or be my own boss?

Which of the following statements about the changing nature of jobs in today's workplace is most accurate?

• In many companies teams complete special projects and then disband.

• The primary employers in today's economy are large businesses.

• Employers prefer hiring people for jobs with narrow descriptions.

• Jobs are becoming less flexible and more permanent.

As you prepare for a successful job search, you must understand the role of the Web in the process. Which of the following is most accurate?

• The Web has made the process both easier and more challenging.

• The Web has made it easy for job candidates to get noticed; standing out among candidates is now simple.

• The Web should be the only research tool in the job-search arsenal for savvy hunters and recruiters.

• The Web now provides one-stop employment services for job seekers and for employers seeking employees.

Given the changing nature of the job market today, which of these is the best advice for job seekers?

• Seek a lifelong career with a single company.

• Upgrade your skills regularly and plan to retrain yourself frequently.

• Start with a career that relies on existing technology skills to remain secure over the long haul.

• Remember that you will still have pay raises, promotions, and, finally, a comfortable retirement over the course of your career, despite the changing job market.

The best advice for college students who need to learn about careers and establish a professional network is to

• enroll in classes in many programs to sample every career path.

• write your own blog to attract potential employers.

• volunteer with a nonprofit organization.

• purchase a good interview suit.

Which of the following statements is most accurate?

• You can expect to have two or three employers over the course of your career.

• Because you are likely to change jobs often, do not train now for a specific career.

• You make better career decisions if you match your interests to specific career requirements.

• The Web provides all the career data you need to gather.

Kendra is searching for a job and wants to use electronic sources. Which of the following will probably be her best source of online job listings?

• Big job boards such as Monster.com and Yahoo HotJobs

• Specific company Web sites

• Her college Web site job board

• Social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook

Experts report a new online information source for successful job seekers. What is this recently emerged online job source?

• Big online job boards

• Online newspapers

• Public service Web sites

• Social media sites