Career Resources and Advice for Experienced Workers

Scouting through job listings, you spot a position in your field. The prospective employer is looking for somebody with a bachelor’s degree and four years of relevant experience. Having a master’s degree and seven years under your belt, you hurry to apply, figuring that your higher credentials will at least score an interview.

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When it comes to employee/boss relationships, John Ewert — vice president at DRIVEN Public Relations in Temecula, Calif. — believes he has a fantastic one.

“For starters, I think the most important thing that makes the relationship between me and my boss so great is respect,” Ewert says. “We are accountable for our actions, good or bad, and own up to our mistakes while offering credit where credit is due. We take great pride in agreeing to disagree, but not without discussing subjects in an open manner and exploring options to find solutions. I know it sounds cheesy, but respect and trust are the keys to any successful relationship.”

As experts, supervisors and satisfied workers will attest, Ewert’s “cheesy” advice is spot on. Here are some tips on how anybody can forge a better relationship with his or her boss.

Communication counts

“In many office environments, employees and management are so involved in daily job requirements that communication may be pushed aside. In the long term, lack of communication can damage an employee/supervisor relationship,” states Marni Bobich, team manager from Administaff (a professional employer organization).

Daily e-mail exchanges are fast and oftentimes sufficient, yet Bobich suggests periodically requesting face-time. “While you don’t want to become a nuisance, in-person communication can go a long way in displaying your desire to develop and maintain a positive working relationship. Determine the type of information that is best communicated face-to-face and discuss it during your meeting.”

Building trust

Experts agree that one instance where you should always go to your boss is when there is a potential problem.

“If a project isn’t going well, don’t hide bad news from her for fear of looking bad,” says Melinda Stephenson, cofounder of The Leadership Room, a unique development program for rising executives. “Let her know if a problem is brewing or if you’re struggling with something. If your boss can trust you to give her a ‘heads up’ and to bring solutions to problems, you’ve built a solid relationship.”

“And save your boss time!” says Anja Schuetz, a people management coach from The Netherlands. “When going to him with a problem, tell him all the things you have already tried to solve it. Anticipate his questions, and bring documents and proof along so your boss can see things through your eyes and is able to rule things out quickly, rather than thinking the whole thing through from scratch.”

Other ways to develop trust include:

• Keeping confidential any sensitive information about your boss or the company.
• Refraining from talking about your boss behind his back.
• Pointing out his mistakes tactfully (and preferably in private).

Bosses are people too

It pays to remember that bosses like a pleasant atmosphere as much as any employee. While you needn’t set out to make him your new best friend, developing a cordial relationship can strengthen ties.

“We always begin each conversation, whether it be by phone or e-mail, with a friendly greeting, such as ‘Good Morning!’ or ‘How was your weekend?’” says Kaitlynn Carter, who works for a wedding-planning company in Portsmouth, N.H. “It goes a long way when you show that you are considering the other person and that you are committed to having a friendly exchange!”

Other ideas for building a personable, yet office-appropriate, relationship include:

• Giving a genuine compliment. (I like your new coat.)
• Talking about a common interest. (Did you see the baseball game last night?)
• Expressing interest in a major life event. (How did your son’s graduation go?)
• Showing gratitude. (Thanks for letting me leave early to attend my daughter’s recital.)
• Offering kudos. (Congratulations on landing that new account.)

An occasional lunch together also can help. If the two of you travel for business, use the time waiting for the plane or riding in a taxi to get to know one another as individuals.

Remember you’re on the same side

Chances are that you and your boss want many of the same things: a paycheck, recognition, a strong company, career fulfillment. Looking at situations as cohorts can help both parties.

“The bottom line: positive effort equals positive results,” Ewert says. “Sometimes there are projects that we don’t want to do, sometimes we have issues outside of work that are out of our control, sometimes our clients move up deadlines or change the focus for a project, but instead of harping on an issue and running away, we adapt and overcome. We view our clients and employees as partners, and we have a lot of fun helping businesses and employees be successful.”

Beth Braccio Hering, CareerBuilder Writer

Quantifying Your Achievements on Your Résumé

As a job seeker, you constantly hear that one of the biggest detriments to your job search is not quantifying your achievements on your résumé. Yet still, many don’t understand what that actually means.

Admittedly, some positions are easier to quantify, such as a sales agent or manager. But even less concrete jobs, like an editor or administrative assistant can be quantified — sometimes you just have to work a little harder.

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People are losing their jobs left and right these days, and it’s not because of the economy. It’s because of what they say.

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If these questions don’t lead to strong supporting evidence that can back up your request for a raise, the reality may be that now isn’t the right time to broach the topic.

Whether you’re a recent grad or a career changer, there’s a common catch-22 that comes with embarking on a new occupation: You can’t get a job without experience, but you can’t get experience without a job.

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Your job is no longer just about your résumé and cover letter — it’s about your résumé, cover letter and your digital footprint.

“Be sure to clean up your online presence before job hunting. Try to remove anything negative,” says Susan Kennedy, founder and president of Career Treking. “One of the first things a potential employer will do is a simple search for you online — you don’t want any surprises coming up. This is your chance to make a first impression, and you want to ensure that it’s the right one.”

When it comes to your job search, everything from your pictures and tweets to your eBay transactions counts, according to a 2010 study from Microsoft. Seventy-nine percent of prospective employers review online information about job applicants, according to the survey. The study of 1,200 hiring and recruitment managers in the U.S., the U.K., Germany and France what they use to research applicants found that 78 percent use search engines, 63 percent use networking sites, 59 percent use photo- and video-sharing sites, 57 percent use professional networking sites, 48 percent use personal websites, 46 percent use blogs and 41 percent use news-sharing sites.

While most employers search on their own for your digital dirt, nowadays some employers ask you outright to share your information. This confuses many job seekers, as the line between what to include and what not include is often blurred.

“The main reason you would need to be choosy is if you haven’t taken care with managing your online presence in the past,” says Cath Duncan, career coach. “If you’ve been happily uploading videos of your drunken escapades or commenting about how bored you are at work and how much you’ve been skiving off, or if your Facebook page shows that you’ve been playing Farmville all day during work hours then this will reflect very badly on you with potential employers.”

Even so, your online presence doesn’t have to work against you. If you play your cards right, you can use your social media existence to help your job search, rather than hinder it.

“Social networking is an extraordinarily useful collection of tools for personal branding, seeking to create serendipity through online collaboration, interacting with peers from your college, your industry, even your company’s competitors,” says Barry L. Davis, director of career services for LMA Consulting Group. “The intelligent individual will use these applications to show their aspirations as well as their accomplishments, seeking opportunities to stand out from the mass of job seekers out there.”

So, if an employer asks you to share your social networking profile, here are some things to keep in mind, according to Duncan.

1. “Facebook probably isn’t a good platform to share with your employers or potential employers. It’s designed to be more social and you can’t control what your friends post on your wall. Facebook also doesn’t have the best features for displaying yourself and the value you can add to potential employers,” she says.”

2. “LinkedIn has better features for displaying your value to employers. You should upload your CV, you should collect recommendations, and you should record your employment history,” she says. “You can also link to your Twitter account and blog and other relevant information about you. Your connections on LinkedIn tend to behave more professionally on the site than they do on Facebook, so you’re not going to have them commenting inappropriately on your page. LinkedIn is the more appropriate profile to share with your employer or potential employees.”

Jessica Silverstein, principal of Attorney’s Counsel, a résumé and cover letter review and interview skills assessment firm, says LinkedIn profiles are generally used for professional purposes and can work to bolster a candidate’s application when used correctly.

“LinkedIn, like a cover letter, should be used as an addition to your résumé. Use the summary section to highlight your achievements and relevant work experience. Always be careful of typos and language. LinkedIn is your opportunity to show others your interests and affiliations without adding unnecessary information to your résumé,” she says.

3. “If you’re using your Twitter account, blog or similar as a way of sharing your ideas — the stuff you’re enjoying reading and what’s getting you thinking — and you’re keeping these aligned with your personal and professional brand then its appropriate to share these,” Duncan says. “Remember that these are probably public anyway and will be found if they [search for] you. Consciously decide who you want to be and align your life and your online presence with that. When people [search for] you, they’ll find more information that reinforces what you’ve already shared with them.”

Rachel Farrell, CareerBuilder.com writer

Comparisons between job hunting and dating are common, and never are they more true than when it comes to the follow-up. After a date, you want to let the other party know you’re interested, but you don’t want to appear desperate. Plus, you don’t want to feel foolish if he or she had no intention of contacting you again. On the other hand, what if he or she is waiting for you to make the call and if you don’t you’ll miss out on a great romance?

So many questions and no definite answers to any of them. Ultimately you have to use your best judgment and hope for the best.

Following up after a job interview is similar. As if you weren’t nervous enough, you end up asking yourself a dozen questions and imagining hypothetical situations. “If I follow up now, do I seem desperate? If I wait too long will they think I’m lazy? What if I’m the frontrunner but I bug them and they cross my name off the list? What if I’m tied with someone else and my initiative gives me the edge?”

As with dating, job hunts don’t have rules set in stone. At best you can do what feels right and see what happens. We realize how aggravating that is, so we decided to give you some guidelines that you can use in your post-interview follow-up.

Here are three possible methods for following up with an employer and ways to know if you’ve crossed the line from eager to annoying.

1. The thank-you note is necessary after an interview and no job seeker can afford to forego it. Thank-you notes tell hiring managers that you respect their time. They have packed schedules and can only afford to spend time interviewing a select group of applicants, so your note acknowledges how grateful you are to get some face time.

Appropriate: An e-mailed note on the same day of the interview shows that you are courteous and don’t dawdle. For most employers, an e-mail is an acceptable form of thanks because e-mail is a part of everyday business life and arrives quickly. A handwritten letter can be sent as a supplement to the e-mail if you want to stress your gratitude or you know the interviewer is old-fashioned.

Overkill: If you’re going to follow up with a letter on your follow-up letter, think again. You already said thank you, so what else do you need to say? Both you and the hiring manager know that another letter is your way of asking, “Did I get the job?” Don’t clog the hiring manager’s inbox with more notes unless you want to be associated with being a pest.

2. The phone call is daunting and not the right move in every job situation. In fact, many job postings specifically state, “No phone calls.” Unless you’re feeling brave, you might want to skip it.

Appropriate: Unless you were specifically instructed not to call the hiring manager or another contact, you can make the call after an appropriate amount of time has passed. In this case, if you were given a deadline for when a decision would be made, let it pass and wait a few extra days and then make the call. Just once (unless instructed to call back).

Overkill: The phone call is one of — if not the — easiest ways to sabotage your image. Call once, when appropriate, and don’t call again unless you’ve been told to. Phone calls are a nuisance in a way that letters and e-mails aren’t. You can not open a message or just read it and ignore it. A phone call is harder to ignore if it requires the hiring manager to screen his or her calls once you become a repeat offender. If the company wants you, they probably won’t forget to call you, not vice versa.

3. The pop-in causes you anxiety when your in-laws do it. Your place is a mess and suddenly you’re forced to entertain people (who you might not like very much anyway). Please don’t do that to an employer if you want to be considered for a job.

Appropriate: Stopping by to visit the company is rarely acceptable. Unless you have an explicit indication that you’re welcome to show up uninvited, which would actually imply that you are invited, showing up in person is inappropriate. This follow-up is one case where once is almost certainly too much.

Overkill: When you show up and the hiring manager or receptionist gives you a look that says, “Why are you here?” you’ll know you’ve crossed a line. Employers are busy — they have schedules, meetings, clients and tasks. By showing up unannounced, you not only disrupt their routine but also imply that you are more important than their obligations and deserve their immediate attention.

Of course, you’re bound to meet someone who broke one of these rules and impressed the hiring manager by his or her audacity. Perhaps going against etiquette will work for you. Just be aware that you’re risking your professional reputation and could be removing yourself from the running for a job where you were a top candidate.

Anthony Balderrama is a writer and blogger for CareerBuilder.com and its job blog, The Work Buzz. He researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/abalderrama.

In recent years, many freshly laid-off workers have maintained optimistic attitudes, despite the ever-changing, uncertain conditions of the global economy, anticipating that they would eventually find new positions that would allow them to advance their skill sets and career goals.

Does this describe you? If so, it seems that you may finally be reaping the benefits of your long-term patience and perseverance. While full-time positions are not as readily available as they were before the beginning of the global economic recession, the availability of temporary, contract, and project assignments has steadily increased in the past few months.

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You might have heard how important networking is when you’re searching for a job. Many of today’s conversations about networking focus on social networking, and they are important discussions to have. Good, old-fashioned networking events still matter, though. You know, the ones with actual people whose hands you can shake and with whom you can have conversations? Yes, they still exist, and they can be boons to your job search.

Networking events are good places to make contacts and find job leads, experts say. Get your name out there and get as much face time as you can in order to publicize your job search. Logically, this leads to a problem: If everyone receives the same advice, then won’t everyone at the networking event be unemployed, too?

Possibly. While helpful conversations and friendships can occur between two job seekers at an event, most of the attendees probably prefer to meet someone who is already in the industry and not competing for the same job openings. It’s an understandable preference for a job seeker who doesn’t want to waste his or her time and it’s a situation many networkers can relate to.

Research before you go

Before you write a cover letter or go on an interview, you research the company so you show up prepared. Networking events deserve the same attention, if for no other reason than to avoid wasting your time. Ann Middleman, principal of ADM Marketing & Research Consulting, recalls facing the same situation during a past job search.

“What people have to do is to get some information about the group and the event to determine whether this is some kind of job far or a meeting where businesspeople and corporate types will be there,” Middleman says. “Sometimes the group has a lot of self-employed or freelance professionals. On the surface this may not seem to be a good venue for job seekers, but I think it is.”

In Middleman’s opinion, job seekers might end up talking to professionals who are looking to hire freelancers or temporary workers. This situation puts the job seeker in a position to earn a recommendation and paycheck.

Freelance writer Marian Schembari also thinks that digging deeper into a networking event can benefit the job seeker.

“Instead of attending a networking speed dating type of event or anything even remotely general, fine tune so you don’t waste your time,” Schembari says. “Check out organizations rather than specific events. If you’re a woman in finance, [perform an online search for] that. Of course, these organizations cost money to join, so if you can’t afford it, ask the president or events organizer when their next event is and ask to attend as a ‘trial period.’”

Networking takes place everywhere

Job seekers often flock to networking events and bypass everyday situations where personal connections can be made. Granted, if you’re a job seeker, the last thing you want to do is bore every person you meet with tales of your ongoing hunt for work. You can look outside of traditional events and still get your message out, says career coach Debra Heindel.

“I always suggest my clients attend events to network, rather than seeking out specific networking events,” Heindel recommends. “They can volunteer in the community, attend a professional organization’s luncheon, sit in on a lecture. Anything that will put them out into the community — preferably the business community, but even that isn’t imperative.”

For Heindel, job seekers need to focus on meeting people and the rest will fall into place.

“Get acquainted by asking questions focused on the other person and spend enough time with that person to allow them to remember you later,” she says. “In the course of that meeting, the job seeker should always get a business card, because part of the process will involve the job seeker following up in a few days. Spending enough time for a relationship to begin is the key to this process, and too many networking mixers or meetings involve lots of people sharing business cards but no real time or relationship.”

Think outside the box, with reason

Job seekers who take outlandish approaches to getting employers’ attention get a lot of press, but how often do these tactics work? Instead, Vicki Salemi, author of “Big Career in the Big City,” encourages job seekers to look for events that aren’t just categorized as networking events.

“Target the companies you want to work for and [search online for] them in terms of any events they’re sponsoring. Networking doesn’t always take place at an after-work cocktail party,” Salemi says. “Perhaps a company is sponsoring a 5k run this summer? Why not participate? You’ll be guaranteed to meet a ton of employed folks at this company in a somewhat social setting and it will be easier to make key connections. Plus, in a more professional setting you can see if perhaps they are co-sponsoring a talk or luncheon or having a fabulous keynote speaker. Be sure to introduce yourself to others at the event and keynote speaker.”

Ultimately job seekers need to know what they want, whether it’s a dream employer or a specific industry, and then work backwards. Once you know what you’re looking for, you can find ways to reach those professionals and work toward your goal.

 Anthony Balderrama, CareerBuilder.com writer

Résumés for Career Changers

Ready to launch a new career, but no one seems interested in interviewing you? Your résumé — and its lack of keywords — may be to blame.

Keywords are terms or phrases that are specific to a particular industry or profession, and they’re an essential element in the résumé-scanning process. Today, employers and recruiters are increasingly searching résumés electronically for keywords to help them weed out candidates whose résumés do not reflect the skills, qualifications or credentials they’re seeking.

This stage of the job search can be problematic if you’re trying to break into a new industry or profession.

“For career changers, keywords are particularly relevant and require a great deal of thought because you don’t necessarily want to include keywords that are descriptive of your past experiences. Instead, you want to include keywords that reflect your current career goals so that those words are the ones that will get your résumé noticed and not passed over,” explain Wendy Enelow and Louise Kursmark in their book “Expert Résumés for Career Changers.”

According to Enelow and Kursmark, the following keyword strategies are especially helpful for career changers: 

• In sections throughout your résumé, integrate keywords from your past experiences that directly relate to your current career goals. Even though a certain task or accomplishment may have been a minor part of your experience, they should be highlighted on your résumé if they relate to your current career goals.

• Include an “Objective” section on your résumé that states the type of position you are seeking and the associated responsibilities. For example, “Seeking a position in purchasing management where I can utilize my strong skills in research, analysis, negotiations and product management.” This is the recommended strategy if you do not have the appropriate experience (keywords) in your background to include in the career summary and experience sections of your résumé.

Not sure which keywords you should be using? Enelow and Kursmark offer some guidance:

“Just by describing your work experience, achievements, educational credentials, qualifications, objective and the like, you might naturally include most of the terms that are important in your new career field. To cross-check what you’ve written, review online or newspaper job postings for positions that interest you. Look at the precise terms used in the ads and be sure you have included them in your résumé.”

Selena Dehne is a career writer for JIST Publishing who shares the latest occupational, career and job search information available with job seekers and career changers. She is also the author of JIST’s Job Search and Career Blog (http://jistjobsearchandcareer.blogspot.com/). Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/SelenaDehne.

Starting a new position can be exciting, but it’s also stressful. The first few months are typically a probationary period, when managers and colleagues will be assessing your talents and ability to fit in at the organization. First impressions are critical, so you want to get off on the right foot from the beginning.

Following are some suggestions for thriving at a new job from the first day:

Make a clean exit

If you’re leaving another job for this one, you don’t want to burn any bridges with your former employer. Tie up loose ends with your work and thank everyone who assisted you during your time there. By parting on good terms, you’ll keep your reputation and professional network intact.

Brush up on your skills

If you’ve been on the job hunt for a while, some of your skills may have grown rusty since you last sat down at the keyboard. If you will be using Excel frequently in your new role, for instance, spend some time with the program, or even consider enrolling in an online course before your first day. Even though you are likely still familiar with the software, you may need to a refresher on how to use the application’s more advanced functions and features.

Forget what you know

You may have done things a particular way at your previous company, but it’s a safe bet that at least a few processes or procedures will be handled differently at your new employer. So, be flexible. For instance, face-to-face communication may have been preferred at your old firm, but now you may need to rely more on e-mail or instant messaging to contact people. Take note of common protocols and embrace them. Your ability to adapt quickly to the new environment will play a role in your success.

Start strong

Show your new employer that you can hit the ground running by giving it your all from day one. Try to soak up as much information as you can about the organization, the various roles within your group and where your position fits into the big picture. Also show your enthusiasm by jumping right into your assignments and volunteering for new projects. Just be careful you don’t take on more than you can handle. If you do, you may not only burn out and become less productive, but you also could damage your reputation if you miss deadlines because your plate is too full.

Learn the firm’s Internet policies

Every office has its own rules regarding Internet usage. You may think it’s safe to do a little online shopping or check sports scores during lunch, but your new company may prohibit non-business Internet use. Disclosing information about your new employer on social networking sites such as Facebook or Twitter also is against the rules in most situations. If you haven’t received a copy of the company’s web use guidelines, ask your manager so you’re informed.

Get to know your coworkers

According to a survey by our company, 32 percent of workers said the greatest difficulty of starting a new job is getting acclimated to the new workplace culture and colleagues. To ease the transition, make the effort to learn more about the people with whom you will work on a daily basis. Offer to take them to lunch, talk to them in the break room and participate in company social events. You may make new internal contacts who can support you during your initial weeks and beyond.

As you strive to adjust to your new surroundings, remind yourself that you were hired because you were the best person for the position. Your employer is just as invested as you are in guaranteeing your success. So don’t be afraid to ask questions and inquire about training and mentoring programs that might be beneficial. You’ll start on the right foot and build the knowledge needed to make an impact in the months and years to come.

Robert Half International is the world’s first and largest specialized staffing firm with a global network of more than 360 offices worldwide. For more information about our professional services, please visit http://www.roberthalf.com/. For additional career advice, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/roberthalf.

In a tough job market, landing an interview is a major accomplishment. When such opportunity knocks, be ready to show why you’re the candidate to hire. Here are five tips that can help job seekers make a great impression.

Do your homework

Erika Milonas, director of campus recruitment for The McTigue Financial Group (part of Northwestern Mutual) in Chicago reviews more than 1,000 résumés a year and interviews about 400 candidates to choose 40 for the company’s internship program. With such competition, it would seem that interviewees would be incredibly prepared, but that isn’t always the case.

Milonas finds some candidates unable to answer the simple question, “What do you know about The McTigue Financial Group and Northwestern Mutual?” She calls failure to be able to discuss the company at this basic level a “deal breaker,” regardless of how the rest of the interview went.

Since most businesses have websites, learning about a potential employer is relatively easy. Find out what the company does and its main products/services, and be familiar with recent developments in the industry.

Know yourself

Once you know something about the employer, it’s time to think about why you would be a good match. Since it is often difficult to formulate answers on the spot, practice responses at home.

“Before your interview, write out answers to potential questions you are likely to be asked,” states Robin Ryan, author of “60 Seconds & You’re Hired!” “Keep your answers concise, no more than 60 seconds.”

While question will differ by employer, Ryan recommends thinking out responses to these standards:

• Why did you leave your last job (or why do you want to leave)?
• What is your greatest weakness?
• What is the salary you are looking for?
• Describe the worst boss you’ve ever worked for.

Engage in, but don’t take over, the interview

Employers want workers who bring positive energy to the workplace. Two common pitfalls Milonas sees among candidates are that they lack interest in the opportunity and answer questions with a simple “yes” or “no” rather than engaging in meaningful conversation.

On the flip side, Linda Matias, president of CareerStrides and author of “201 Knockout Answers to Tough Interview Questions: The Ultimate Guide to Handling the New Competency-Based Interview Style,” cautions against overwhelming the interviewer.

“Though it is true that job seekers should be active participants in the interview process, they should not take over the interview,” Matias states. “Usually, job seekers take over when nerves get the best of them or when they feel they have to fill in the silence. It’s a delicate balance, but job seekers need to learn when to ask questions and when to allow the interviewer to take charge.”

Once again, practicing beforehand can make the difference.

Look the part

“In the first ten seconds of meeting a candidate, the interviewer makes a mental decision on whether you look right for the job,” Ryan states. “If your personal presentation is inappropriate, you’ve lost that position without saying a word.”

Some fields accept greater creativity in apparel, but experts generally agree to err on the conservative side.

“This is not the time to be a fashionista,” Milonas says. For men, this translates to a business suit or blazer, shirt and tie. Women should consider a suit (either a jacket and skirt or a matching pantsuit).

“Neatness counts, too,” Ryan says. “Shine your shoes. Clothes should be cleaned, pressed and fit well.”

Remember your manners

Finally, make sure your conduct fits the part. Punctuality shows respect for other people’s time. Use of polite terminology should be standard during an interview, but it also reflects well to be equally courteous when addressing receptionists and other office workers.

A big etiquette faux pas is not sending a thank-you letter immediately after an interview. “Too many job seekers have an ‘if the manager is interested, she or he will call’ mentality and wait by the phone,” Matias notes. “After a few weeks of the phone not ringing, that’s when they decide to follow up. By then it may be too late. Or, if it’s not too late, chances are that the job seeker is desperate. That anxiety may come through and turn off the interviewer. To avoid tripping up, job seekers should follow up quickly, not only because they want the job but because it’s the polite action to take after they’ve been invited for an interview.”

While e-mail makes sending a rapid thank-you note easy to do, consider going the extra mile by composing a handwritten message sent via snail mail. After all, you’re not out simply to be another candidate, you want to shine! 

Beth Braccio Hering, CareerBuilder Writer

Rejections are not unlike breakups,” states Marian Schembari of New York City. “I remember one time I was rejected from the perfect job and spent the day in bed like a love-struck teenager eating ice cream and watching movies. Maybe not the most productive way to spend my time, but it definitely made me feel better!”

Anyone who has ever suffered through long-term unemployment can identify with Schembari’s scenario, and such comforting may be just what is needed to right the world before sending out another application. But what happens when your desire to persevere needs an extra boost?

Before reaching for another scoop of Ben & Jerry’s, check out these motivational tips from experts and fellow job seekers.

Start your day with structure

“Get up every morning at your usual time and dress as if you’re going to work — because you are going to work, except now your work is finding a new job,” states Richard S. Deems, co-author of “Make Job Loss Work for You.”

While it may be tempting to sleep in or lounge around in pajamas, getting your day moving can provide a psychological boost. “I think that keeping a schedule has helped me,” says Cherie C. of Denver, Co., who has been unemployed for nearly a year. “I wake up with my partner as he prepares for work, shower, dress and tackle the job search.”

Use your computer … and then get away from it

Chances are you’ve used a computer to scout job postings, but have you explored the full potential of technology?

Erica Myers of London, England, spent seven months without a steady job. During this time, she learned new ways to connect to others and get an edge in the application process. Her tips to rev-up job search motivation by rethinking computer time include:

• Use social networking sites and Google searches to find a person to contact directly instead of sending a blind résumé.
• Build an online portfolio or a free website. (It not only looks great and tech-savvy, but it secretly gets you organized.)
• Read the websites of companies that interest you.
• Use connections and build on social media by looking through friends lists for useful contacts, searching through Twitter keywords and adding people on LinkedIn.

Designate certain periods of the day as computer time — then resist the urge to constantly check e-mail or see if one new position got posted. Too much screen time can zap energy. Instead, find other productive ways to pass the time.

“Do as much face-to-face networking as possible,” Deems says. “Even if you’ve talked with your network two weeks ago, contact them again.” He also is a fan of hand-delivering applications, noting that the return rate for mail-ins is about 3-5 percent.

While some job seekers may feel guilty about spending free time doing anything besides looking for employment, exploring interests can be rejuvenating — and potentially rewarding — during a trying time.

“If someone is job hunting without getting the response they want, volunteering at a local hospital or for a non-profit organization where they will meet new people who can extend their networking reach is a great game plan,” says Debra Yergen, author of “Creating Job Security Resource Guide.” “Not only will they keep their skills sharp, they’ll also have an opportunity to make a larger networking base aware of their availability.”

Give yourself a break

The familiar advice of persistence paying off holds true for finding a job. After all, you can’t land a position if you don’t even apply. Yet, while dedication will pay off in the long term, sometimes it helps to step away for a bit.

“On days when I lack motivation and don’t want to send a résumé, I really try to push myself to keep working, but sometimes I’ve found it’s best to wait a day,” Cherie C. notes. “Sending a résumé while in a sad or defeated mood could lead to typos or other errors that could cost me consideration for the job. I take a short break and try to refresh myself.”
It is easy to feel frustrated when your inbox is filled with rejections or (worse yet) you aren’t even acknowledged after pouring your heart into landing a seemingly perfect position. Job seekers are often hard on themselves when faced with such disappointments, but it pays to remember that setbacks are only a bump on a long career path that will have both its ups and downs. Take a look at your résumé to remind yourself of what you have accomplished, and when you’re feeling better about your capabilities, get back to sending it out. Someone out there is waiting to read it. 

Beth Braccio Hering, CareerBuilder Writer

Ideally, everyone would view the job search as an exciting and invigorating opportunity. In reality, the process can be stressful, exhausting and emotionally draining, particularly when coping with rejection, financial hardships or uncertainty about the future.

It’s important to realize that job searching doesn’t have to be a negative experience. Richard Deems and Terri Deems, co-authors of “Make Job Loss Work for You,” believe there are several small steps one can take to conduct a faster, more rewarding job search.   

“Candidates who are out on the streets talking and meeting with people are those who maintain their energy and confidence,” they explain. “On the other hand, those who sit back at home and merely mail out their résumés are often those who get discouraged. The feedback they get during the job search comes from receiving either no response or some form of a rejection letter. With each rejection letter, the body cringes and shrivels a little bit more.”

In their book, the Deems father-and-daughter duo offers some additional tips to help job seekers boost their drive during the job search:*

Set up some kind of “office” where you can direct your job search

Make this a place where you can take calls, handle correspondence, and keep track of your research and other information. A separate room (such as a spare bedroom) works best, but even a corner in the basement can help.

You will need a desk, chair, phone, computer, Internet access, space to file materials/information and space to work. It doesn’t have to be fancy, but it does need to comfortable and provide you with the privacy needed to direct your plan for action. When you are in this space, you are “at work.”

• Maintain your normal schedule. Don’t sleep late. Get dressed each morning just as if you were going to be out talking to people — because you probably will. One successful person with whom we worked sat down at his “office” every morning at 7:30, coffee in hand, and read the local and national newspapers, just as he had for 10 years prior. His reaction: “It really helped!”
• Participate in some kind of physical fitness program. Some people jog, walk, play golf, lift weights, dance or do other forms of exercise. The important thing is that you’re doing something. Remember, exercise helps relieve stress and anxiety and enables you to think more clearly. Exercise also releases body chemicals that help keep depression away. If you’re a bit overweight, the extra exercise can help reduce the pounds and simply help you feel better about yourself.
• Watch your diet and eat right. Eat balanced, reasonably sized meals. Excessive coffee can increase tension and appetite. Excessive alcohol can dull your thinking ability (plus add weight). Excessive sweets and sugars can increase tension and irritability.
• View your activity as fulfilling your “job requirements.” Except now your job is to find a new position in another company as quickly as possible.
• Set weekly and daily goals in terms of contacts to make and research to conduct. Keep a record of your activity. People who devote four to eight hours to their job search per day become “JobGetters” faster than those who devote only a few hours each week. Take time on Mondays to set up these goals, and time on Friday to review your progress.
• Maintain your physical appearance. First impressions are important and you will want to look good. For some this may mean investing in a new interviewing wardrobe. An investment in an interviewing wardrobe can often have a tremendous payback in terms of higher salary in the next position. If finances are a major concern, look for the recycled-clothing shops or job search “closets” that exist in many cities.

*Excerpted from Make Job Loss Work for You by Richard Deems, Ph.D., and Terri Deems, Ph.D.

Selena Dehne is a career writer for JIST Publishing who shares the latest occupational, career and job search information available with job seekers and career changers. She is also the author of JIST’s Job Search and Career Blog (http://jistjobsearchandcareer.blogspot.com/). Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/SelenaDehne.

If somebody asked why an older worker would take on an internship, chances are you’d say that the person was hoping it would lead to a permanent position. 

And you’d be right — sort of.

While a tough economy has forced workers of all ages to rethink the ways they might land a job, “seasoned” interns like the four profiled below often discover that the experience can offer more than simply a foot in the door.

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