Though we are well into the new millennium, we are still being surprised by innovative technologies that surface almost everyday. And many of them transfer very effectively into the work world, affording us opportunities to restructure the way we conduct job searches.

This means it is a good idea to learn some of the new ways to seek jobs. That way, you can keep up with, and even surpass your competition.

Web Portfolios and Video Resumes

Web portfolios are becoming popular vehicles for obtaining employment because they offer easy-to-read, attractive, electronic versions of your resume. They are especially useful for candidates working in web design, writing or artwork; however, anyone can take advantage of them. Typically, they showcase screenshots of designs, links to a working page, and a description of the work being displayed. There are websites dedicated to helping individuals create them in order to post the work and send links to employers.

Video resumes, while not as popular or highly-accepted by recruiters, are another way for job candidates to spice up what was once simply a dull piece of paper. Posted on sites like YouTube, candidates use these resumes to verbally list their skills, talents and capabilities. After creating the video, they send the link to potential employers. However, before you decide to take this route however, conduct research to make sure this type of resume is acceptable in your field.

Job Blogging and Social Networking

Along with creating video resumes and web portfolios come two more vehicles of online job seeking: job blogging and social networking. You are probably familiar with the concept of social networking by now if you have a Myspace of Facebook page. On both websites you can either communicate with your friends or set up a page that lends itself to your professional side. But social networks now do even more. They also allow you to get on message boards where recruiters often frequent, and network with other individuals in your field.

Since some recruiters take the extra steps to locate candidates via the Internet, it’s not a bad idea to also set up your own blog that tracks your job search and markets your skills. Just ensure that if you’re trying to have a professional online presence, you either don’t create or make “private” any profiles listed under your full name that may be inappropriate for business. For more information on how to blog responsibly, you can visit EFF.com

The Behavioral Interview

While not technology-based, the behavioral interview is becoming a popular format employers are using to gather more information about job candidates. The interview is handled in person like the traditional interview; however differences lie in the types of questions being asked. For instance, instead of being asked “What are your strengths and weaknesses as an employee?” you might be asked “What is a specific example of an occasion where you were called upon to solve a problem? And how did you solve it?” The latter questions explore exact behaviors in specific situations, and give more insight into your day-to-day abilities.

Staying on top of what’s going on in the world of job seeking is very important. So try to find out more. You’ll be surprised by the exposure and access to opportunities you’ll acquire.

Heather Eagar is a former professional resume writer and is passionate about providing working professionals with current, reliable and effective job search tools and information. If you need a resume writer, compare the top ones in the industry at http://www.resumelines.com.

The word “copy” simply means material that a client wants published. A client might hire you to write copy online or offline, for a website, magazine, book, restaurant menu, brochures, posters, user manuals… the list is virtually endless.

Anything that needs writing needs a writer. This makes the list of freelance copywriting jobs seemingly infinite. If you have superior writing skills (i.e. excellent grammar and a skill for stringing words together), then you can become a great copywriter.

How much can I earn as a freelance copywriter?

Freelance copywriters regularly earn more than enough money to support themselves and their families. It takes hard work to establish a name for yourself and market your abilities to the public, but you can achieve a decent pay rate between $35 and $50 an hour.

Beginner freelance copywriters usually earn around $20 per hour. Experienced freelancer copywriters earn $50-75 per hour and up.

Where do I find freelance copywriting jobs?

The Internet is the ultimate resource for freelancing jobs. Join sites like Elance, IFreelance, and Guru. All of these sites will let you create a profile that includes an online portfolio to showcase your work to potential clients.

On the sites listed above, people post projects to hire writers, and freelance writers bid on them. It’s a competitive business because many writers are willing to underbid just to get some quick cash. Usually, however, buyers are able to distinguish a poor writer from a good writer based on their bids, so you should still be able to earn reasonable wages.

If you have some experience under your belt, create a website of your own so clients can come to you. Copywriters with their own websites regularly earn more than those who bid on freelancing websites, simply because a website lends credibility to your abilities.

How do I showcase myself as a freelance copywriter?

Whether you’re writing copy for your own website or responding to an ad, make sure your writing style reflects the image you want to convey.

This means you should have perfect grammar, flawless spelling and syntax, and zero typos, no matter what. If you can’t get your own advertising materials right, why should clients trust you with their projects?

How do I pitch myself as a freelance copywriter?

Okay, so you have the grammar down. Now what?

Well, this is where you want to appeal to the market segment of the job you’re trying to land. Many freelance copywriters lose copywriting jobs because they generalize their bids. Resist the temptation to tell potential clients everything you’ve ever done and every type of writing you can handle.

For example, it’s much better to tell a restaurant owner who wants new menus this:

“I specialize in creating menus that tantalize customers and enhance your restaurant’s reputation. I can make even Mac and Cheese sound like a delicacy!”

instead of this:

“I’m an expert in writing web copy, e-books, promotional material, and reports. Whatever your writing need, I can handle it for you.”

The reason the second way won’t work is because clients want to pay a copywriter to share the passion they have for their projects, whether they realize it or not. You wouldn’t believe the number of copywriters who respond to an ad the second way, just because they don’t want to spend a lot of time bidding.

Sample ad for you to try:

Read the ad below and see if you can figure out how to make an enticing bid:

“I need someone to help me write an e-book about natural cures for depression. I have done all the research myself and it’s mostly organized into chapter headings. I just need a great writer to make it come to life. It’s an educational book but it should be easy to read, too. No technical mumbo-jumbo.”

All right, this person has put together a book outline that she obviously cares a lot about. To impress her, you’ll need to respond to her bid that shows you share her enthusiasm for the subject matter.

Try something like:

“I think it’s wonderful you’ve put together such a worthwhile book. Depression is an epidemic in our country and I would be honored to be part of a project that works toward a solution.”

That’s a great start. Remember, if you take the time to tailor your bid to suit the project, you’ll have no problem standing out from the crowd as a freelance copywriter.

Brian Scott is a full-time freelance writer with over a decade of experience. He finds many of his paid freelance copywriting jobs at Online Writing Jobs (http://www.online-writing-jobs.com), a free jobboard that lets you search thousands of freelance writing jobs.

Blogging is a fast-growing field that offers plenty of freelance opportunities. However, beware of what type of blogging you’re doing and how much the client is paying you. Many new freelance bloggers find themselves putting in full-time hours for part-time pay.

Even if you’re just starting out, don’t accept less than $7-$10 per post. Just because you haven’t blogged before doesn’t mean you lack valuable, sought-after skills.

If you do have experience, or if you’re blogging for a financially-stable company, feel free to charge more. Top bloggers can earn $30-$50 per post and sometimes a share in the company’s profits.

What exactly do bloggers do?

On the surface, it’s just article writing. The purposes behind blogging are much more elaborate. Companies use blogs with excellent headlines/keywords to drive traffic to their websites. More web traffic means:

1. More customers to buy their products or services.

2. More people to click on their advertising.

It may seem basic, but these two goals mean you need to create posts that aim and appeal to your clients’ target markets. The best bloggers are writers who can write newsworthy content that generates a loyal readership and seamlessly (and sneakily!) promotes the company in question.

Who offers freelance blogging jobs?

A few years ago it was difficult to find people to pay you to blog. These days you can find dozens of new ads for bloggers posted each day. Realtors, auto mechanics, health food stores, doctors, door-to-door salesmen… sometimes it can seem like everyone wants a blog of their own.

Freelance blogging jobs are plentiful, no matter the time of year. Check out WritingBids, Online-Writing-Jobs, Elance, Guru, and IFreelance (or just search for “freelance blogging jobs”) to find thousands of blogging jobs available to you.

The bad news is that you’ll have to sift through the blogging jobs to find quality jobs. Don’t accept jobs that pay $1 per post. Don’t accept jobs that expect you to write 10 blogs every day, either — somehow these people want to pay you next to nothing because of the volume of work (why would you get paid less to do more?). They also comment in their ad that they only want “serious, professional writers.” Bidding on blogging jobs like these only sends the message that you are neither serious nor professional because if you were, there’s no way you’d consider a job like that.

Do I need experience to be a blogger?

If you want clients to pay you as a legitimate blogger, then yes, you need experience. Luckily, it’s not hard to get. You can rack up a few of the lower-paying jobs quickly or consider starting your own blog.

If you do start your own blog, make it full of posts that would impress a prospective client (i.e. no posts for your friends about how killer that last party was). If you post boring content with grammar mistakes, no one will want to hire you. Do your best to create content that drives traffic to your site; this way, you can show clients how good you are at writing what people want to read.

What’s the best way to respond to an ad?

Let’s say you come across an ad that says this:

I am a successful travel agent looking for a blog writer. I need someone with experience to write interesting posts that pertain to my business — you can choose specific topics yourself. I need one post a day.

To craft the best response possible, follow these 4 steps:

1. Briefly introduce yourself as experienced and interested.

2. Explain how your posts will drive traffic to their site.

3. Suggest a couple of topics to show you’re in sync with the client.

4. Include links to your best blog posts.

Using the ad above as an example, you’d want to:

1. Introduce yourself and express interest in the project and the travel industry in general.

2. Say something like: “I will tailor my posts with specific keywords to make you more visible to potential customers.”

3. Suggest topics such as “What to pack for Alaska” or “3 Unique Things To Do In Barbados.”

4. Include links to your best existing posts, especially any posts related to travel.

You’ll have your first (well-paying) client before you know it. Happy blogging!

Brian Scott is a full-time freelance writer with over a decade of experience. He finds many of his paid freelance blogging jobs at Online Writing Jobs (http://www.online-writing-jobs.com), a free jobboard that lets you search thousands of freelance writing jobs.

Today’s volatile economic environment and expected layoffs means that many people will be searching for a new job. For many of you, a U.S. government job can offer security, excellent benefits, and interesting work. But be aware: competition for these jobs is intense and you have to stand out from all the other applicants to get a placement – that is where the KSA becomes a key opportunity you can use to get that government job.

What is a KSA?

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management maintains a searchable database, called USAJOBS that lists government job openings. Once you have signed up on line, you will find that specific position openings often require completion of a detailed description of your Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSA) in addition to your resume.

Each job that requires a KSA will have specific KSA questions for you to answer usually in about a page of written content. This is not an optional task. You must do it and you must do it well. Each KSA answer is scored by human resources personnel on a 0-20 scale that reflects how closely your knowledge, skills, and abilities match the complexity, impact, variety, circumstances, and interactions that characterize the job for which you are applying. KSAs are frequently the deciding factor in your evaluation for employment in the U.S. government. So, what are KSAs? According to the CDC’s Help Page on KSAs:

Knowledge statements refer to an organized body of information usually of a factual or procedural nature which, if applied, makes adequate performance on the job possible. A body of information applied directly to the performance of a function.

Skill statements refer to the proficient manual, verbal or mental manipulation of data or things. Skills can be readily measured by a performance test where quantity and quality of performance are tested, usually within an established time limit. Examples of proficient manipulation of things are skill in typing or skill in operating a vehicle. Examples of proficient manipulation of data are skill in computation using decimals; skill in editing for transposed numbers, etc.

Ability statements refer to the power to perform an observable activity at the present time. This means that abilities have been evidenced through activities or behaviors that are similar to those required on the job, e.g., ability to plan and organize work. Abilities are different from aptitudes. Aptitudes are only the potential for performing the activity.

How should you answer KSA questions to improve your chances of getting a government job?

The most effective answers to the KSA questions reflect your understanding of the job requirements based on detailed analysis of the job description and typical tasking. You should pay careful attention to the key words used in the job description and use those words in describing your knowledge, skills and abilities.

In general, knowledge is more abstract than skills and therefore can be generalized over many different tasks and responsibilities. Knowledge comes from academic and life experiences including, but not limited to, education and employment. Any knowledge that you possess that is pertinent to the job you are seeking is something you should include in your the KSA response.

It is a good idea to brainstorm by yourself and with others, what “knowledge” you should claim because you can demonstrate it via your written answers. For example let’s say the position requires “being able to organize a project”. Although your work experience did not provide the opportunity to manage a project, your experience running the PTA’s funding raising for a year, although an unpaid activity, could legitimately be claimed as “experience managing a project”. It is up to you to describe the knowledge you acquired in a way that translates to the job for which you are applying.

Think of skills as capabilities that can be tested i.e., understanding how a spreadsheet program can help manage a budget is knowledge; being able to create an Excel spreadsheet to track expenses is a skill. Extract skill requirements from the job posting and offer evidence that you possess those skills. For example, the position of Pharmacy Assistant requires knowledge demonstrated by certified training and skills acquired from previous experience handing drugs and working with customers.

How to write an effective KSA response

In responding to KSA questions, you are making assertions about your knowledge, skills, and abilities. You must then backup those assertions with believable evidence. You need to develop your KSA responses with an eye on two key variables: relevance of content and quality of presentation. The National Forest Service provides an excellent tutorial on do’s and don’ts of writing effective KSA responses.

Describe your knowledge, skills, and abilities in terms that tie directly to the job using keywords that you extract from the job posting. Then “prove” by specific examples what you can do because of what you did in the past and the context in which you did it. Put your compliance with key job requirements at the beginning of the appropriate KSA answer or the beginning of a paragraph. For example: If the job requires a degree in accounting, the first place you can say clearly, “I completed my accounting degree at XYZ University” do it; then continue to describe your experience in accounting tasks.

Numbers can be your friend when it comes to providing proof to your reviewers. Instead of saying, “I wrote reports” consider saying, “I prepared monthly reports on six field trials with a lead time of two days”.

Knowledge and skills can also be demonstrated by using an overview of your previous responsibilities with examples of specific tasks, by describing training or certifications you received, and by citing awards or recognition for accomplishments. Reviewers like to see action words in your KSA answers and that requires that you write in an active versus a passive voice. You should say: “I analyzed data …” not “Data was analyzed”. You can find a great list of action verbs at Job Skills - Power verbs.

In conclusion your KSA answers must:

• Be concise

• Be relevant

• Be specific

• Have quantitative examples

• Make it easy for reviewers to find your compliance with key job requirements

• Be action and accomplishment oriented

• Be well written with NO TYPOs and good sentence construction. It is a good idea to have someone else look over your answers before you send them because it is sometimes difficult to see your own mistakes.

Remember, KSA answers separate those who are qualified for a job from those who are most qualified.

Jason Kay recommends you consider having your KSA responses prepared by a professional writing service. KSA Doctor specializes in government job application assistance including KSA writing, federal resume writing, and KSA samples.

Posting your CV online is now a standard approach to applying for jobs. However, a controlled experiment showed just how many people are exposing themselves to the risk of identity theft when submitting their CVs online.

Job hunters are being warned to secure their CVs online after experts showed how freely people share their resumes with strangers, effectively handing over all the information criminals need to steal their identity.

In a recent controlled experiment, a job advert for a fictional company was placed in a national newspaper, inviting people to apply by emailing their CV online. Anyone carrying out a simple web search for the company – ‘Denis Atlas’, an anagram of ‘steal an id’ - would have found a website telling them the company was fake. In just one week, 107 CVs were received in response to the job advert. The vast majority of the CVs contained enough information for an identity theft to occur.

Reformed identity theft criminal, Bob Turney, said: ‘Whilst many people now routinely shred things like bank statements and utility bills, they still seem happy to send their CVs to complete strangers. They need to realise just how easy it is to use the information in a CV to set up a bank account or take out a credit card fraudulently.’

Typically, criminals need just three out of fifteen key pieces of information to commit identity fraud – the average CV received as part of the experiment contained eight pieces of information. 61 CVs (57%) included a date of birth, despite this no longer being a requirement due to age discrimination laws, and 98 (91.5%) included a full address. A further 20 (19%) put others at risk by providing full details of references. One even included the applicant’s passport number and national insurance details.

Hosting your CV securely on the Internet using a reputable online CV provider can be much safer than posting or emailing a traditional word document. Once you post or email a traditional CV, you have very little control over it. There’s nothing to stop someone photocopying it or sending it on to others.

Choosing a reputable provider is crucial when placing your CV online. There are many people who just place their CV online in an unsecured manner – for example by setting up their own simple webpage. This can expose them to identity fraud. Stick to the established providers who invest in security and processes to protect your information online.

Advice on protecting yourself against ID theft when job hunting:

• Be wary if the email address does not contain the name of the company but just the name of a service provider.

• Take extra care accessing personal information when using public computers, such as those in internet cafes, or when using a laptop in a WiFi hotspot.

• Shred or destroy old copies of your CV.

• If you are using an online CV service, be sure that it safeguards your personal details.

• Ideally, use a phone masking service to protect your personal number.

Think about who you share your career information with, make sure they are a real business and when posting your information to the web or on a job board database, remember to use an Internet Safe CV:

• Do not include your date of birth

• Do not include your marital status

• Do not include your place of birth

• Only give your first and last name

Think about the information a potential employer needs to find your details, you can share your full CV at a later stage when you are comfortable with the identity of the company or person you are sharing the information with.

Peter Whitehead is commissioned to write articles on behalf of iProfile, a more secure online CV template. iProfile conducted this experiment to raise awareness of the dangers of sending personal information online. A CV holds enough information to steal a person

When you are selecting legitimate work from home jobs career, money is important, but there are some other factors that should be considered before making the final decision.

Before beginning even legitimate work from home jobs career, you should think about some of the factors that will help to make your venture succeed or fail. Define your work likes and dislikes and think about how they can be incorporated into your career choices. Look at potential jobs that can be done from home to see if there is enough volume to make getting such work fairly easy. Some jurisdictions are fairly strict about the type of work that can be done in your homes, so you will need to check those regulations. You may also need to acquire special licenses or permits in order to do the work you want to do.

Review your credentials

Logically, one of the first things you should consider when reviewing legitimate work from home jobs career is that of whether or not you have the experience, education and aptitude for the specific job. An outside job that you enjoy doing provides you with all three prerequisites, so if your current work is transferable to a home setting it may be a fairly simple thing to change your work location from a corporate office location to your home office and begin telecommuting. You will need to provide a safe place for the children to play and activities that they will enjoy.

Available jobs

While there are more and more jobs that are becoming available to be performed from the home, not all types of work have enough interest or demand to guarantee that work opportunities will be available. Legitimate work from home jobs career has many benefits, but if there are not enough home business opportunities in a particular field to go around, it is pointless to join the ranks of those trying to work in the field. You can find out information by reviewing listing sites, talking to other home based workers or by checking forums that deal with the subject of home based work.

Equipment and Space

Legitimate work from home jobs career will require different types of equipment and space considerations in order to be done effectively. This will depend on the type of work that you choose to do. For example, online work of any type will require a dependable computer and internet connection. Proper seating arrangements include ergonomically efficient chairs, desks and working surfaces. Check the lighting arrangements in your work area to avoid eye strain and make certain that you have a way to keep sensitive or confidential information private.

Licenses and Zoning

Another factor that must be considered before selecting the type of legitimate work from home jobs that you would like to perform, is that of any special licenses that might be required in your city or county jurisdiction. Also, some areas do not allow home businesses due to zoning requirements in a particular area. If you need business licenses or permits to operate a business within the city or county where you live, those should be obtained prior to setting up your home based business. It can be a problem to have the inspector or the authorities pay a visit after the fact if your licenses are not complete and up to date.

Finding internet information, resources and tips about Legitimate Work from Home Jobs is as easy as clicking on the link to the web site at http://www.goodinternetmoney.com to get a free report to learn to Make Money from Home.

Many people are wondering how long it will take for the full effects of the global economic crisis to filter down completely from the imaginary world of stocks and shares to the real world of inflation, repossessions and job losses.

As the pain of the recession gradually infiltrates the real world, one recent casualty has been IT contractors in the embattled financial services sector. Pay has slumped for these workers to its lowest level in 5 years, falling by 12% in six months to £44 per hour, according to a survey of 4,500 IT contractors.

The fall in pay is primarily due to new contracts being signed at lower rates, rather than cuts in pay for contractors already under contract. It is likely to be a result of banks cutting costs by shelving projects not expected to deliver an immediate return on investment.

Time to update your online CV

Developments such as this prove how hard it is to tell precisely what effects the economic downturn will have on different job sectors, and any one of us could soon be in the position of applying for new jobs online. It is therefore important, whatever job you are in, to prepare yourself for the worst and update your online CV.

If trouble hits your employment sector, the jobs market is likely to be more competitive than ever. Under these circumstances, an updated, well organised online CV, using a clearly laid out CV template, will vastly improve your chances of finding new work.

Include achievements

Keeping an up-to-date record of your achievements on your online CV can help recruiters match you to appropriate roles and skills, ensuring you are more likely to receive a salary which reflects this.

It is also sensible to consider how to market your achievements within your CV template. Research carried out earlier this year showed that nearly a quarter (24%) of employers said that ‘were applicants to effectively sell their existing achievements on CVs, they could demand an increase of 15% in their starting salaries.

Be more flexible

If you work in one of the worst hit job sectors, such as house building, your approach to updating your online CV may have to be a little bit more radical. When it comes to applying for jobs in a recession, those who are most versatile are least likely to stay unemployed for long.

Take an objective look at your skills and experience and consider the transferable skills you already have which could stand you in good stead should you need to abandon your current position in a hurry. Be prepared to apply for jobs in a new area by tailoring your CV template towards a new job sector, or even several new possible areas.

Consider vocational training & careers advice

If you feel that you would not be well qualified in any other area than your current employment, consider enrolling in training courses to diversify your skills and aim for vocational, rather than academic, training. Talk to a careers advisor about what other kinds of employment might suit you, should your current job fall through.

Even if your job turns out to be perfectly safe, there is no harm in being prepared or in increasing your skills set. Computer skills, in particular, are always in demand and are likely to be just as valuable to your current employer as they would be to a future employer.

Peter Whitehead is commissioned to write articles on behalf of iProfile, the preferred online CV template. iProfile brings the online CV into the 21st Century. Tips & advice vary from CV writing to negotiating a pay rise.

Does the slow economy leave you worried about finding a new job? Don’t despair! Even in a slow economy there are plenty of good jobs available, and with the right preparation you will make yourself stand out from your competition. Below are 7 tips that will get you closer to your dream job.

1. Research

Research the industries that interest you. Find all the companies in your geographic location that currently have positions that you think you would qualify for. This doesn’t only mean open positions. The initial goal is to fill the “funnel” with as many companies that you could see yourself working for. Don’t be too picky. The more companies the better.

Organize those companies in a way that will make it easy for you to keep a good overview. An excel spreadsheet will do just fine. Find each companies’ contact information and simply call them up. Your goal is to find out who is in charge of hiring for the department that you are interested in. Finding out this information might take a few phone calls, but keep in mind that the harder it is, the more likely your competition won’t do this.

2. Making Contact

Once you completed your spreadsheet with the information you need, including the hiring manger’s phone number and e-mail address, it is time to start prospecting. The best way to do this is by working all communication channels. Send in a your resume by mail with a targeted cover letter. Then follow up with a phone call to ensure that the resume was received. The goal is to start the conversation with the hiring manager. Be polite and don’t be too pushy. Simply sell yourself!

3. It’s a numbers game.

The more times you do the steps above the better. It is simply a numbers game. Take your time to customize each cover letter and send in plenty of resumes. The more the better!

4. Ask for action

Be proactive in your job search. Follow up with your targeted companies and learn more about their possible hiring time frame. Once you know their sense of urgency, there is nothing wrong with asking for action. If you know that company XYZ is planning on filling your position within the next 4 weeks, then it is quite acceptable to ask for an interview falling in this time frame. Once again, don’t be too pushy. The following might be a good example how to ask for your face to face interview: “Mr. or Mrs. (hiring manager name here) from your previous e-mail you mentioned that you are planning on filling the (position’s title) position by the end of this month. Is this time frame still accurate” If the answer is yes, then simply ask for your interview by saying something like this: “Well, that is great. I have been narrowing down my job search, and I am most excited about your company. I would really enjoy the opportunity to learn more about your business. Do you think you might be available next week for a brief meeting?” Simply give this a try and you will be surprised about how well it is perceived. If you owned a business, wouldn’t you want employees that are passionate about your business and take initiative to get the job done?

5. Dress Right For Your Job Interview:

As a general rule, it is better to overdress than showing up too casual. Keep your attire on the professional, and slightly conservative side. Unless you are applying for a job that is related to the fashion industry keep your outfit to a classy 2-piece, charcoal gray business suit, plain white dress shirt, and classic business tie. The best necktie colors for this purpose are dark blue and burgundy red. Stay away from too trendy neckties such as pink, orange, and lime green. Although they are quite fashionable, they might be perceived as too flashy.

6. Body Language:

First impressions are usually made within the first 3 seconds of meeting someone. That’s why the right attire and body language is so crucial for your job interview. If you start the interview on a good note, you will have won half the battle.

Have a good handshake, make good eye contact, and smile when appropriate. Be confident but not arrogant!

7. The right Follow Up

Few people take the effort to write a Thank-You note these days. If you really want to stand out from the competition write a handwritten note to the manger you interviewed with. If you prefer to write e-mail, then address the e-mail to the person you interviewed with and copy all other decision makers onto this same e-mail. Thank him/her for taking some time out of his/her busy schedule to meet with you. It will guaranteed leave a good impression, and it will increase your chances to get called back for a second or final interview.

If you follow the tips above you are on the right track to get your dream job. The key is to practice this process. Don’t beat yourself up over rejections, but keep a positive attitude: Every NO will get you closer to the YES.

H Pohl is the owner and founder of United E-Commerce LLC. During the day he manages his online retailer specializing in neckties and cufflinks. In his free time he enjoys sharing his knowledge about running a business and his industry by distributing articles to online publications and megazines