Five resume writing strategies from a career coach's secret toolkit

Ever wonder how career coaches transform ordinary resumes into wow documents. Career coaches and resume writers, depending on their training and background, use a variety of techniques to add “punch” to their clients’ resumes. I am going to share a few commonly-used techniques in this article.

1. Speak the employer’s language Every profession has a unique set of buzzwords (keywords). Using the right keywords will not only add credibility to the resume, but it will also make your resume searchable. How? Most companies use electronic storage and retrieval systems to manage the large volume of resumes they receive every day. Whenever an opening arises, HR professionals use keywords to search through their database. Only resumes with matching keywords will show up during these searches.
   
   
2. Focus on your accomplishments Most resumes use statements like “Responsible for sales and marketing.” What does this tell the employer? Nothing. Hundreds of resumes on the employer’s desk would be saying the same thing.
   
   How about this: “Generate sales in excess of $500,000 every month by targeting client base of 1,900 accounts.”
   
   Even better: “Propelled market share 12% by driving over $500,000 in sales every month. Achieved results by delivering powerful presentations and influencing challenging decision makers. Ranked #1 from sales force of 2,000 employees nationwide. Won Top Salesman of the Year award for capturing 80% of competitor’s accounts.
   
   
3. Highlight benefits, not features If car manufacturer XYZ says, “Our car is red,” that is a feature. When the same car manufacturer says, “Our cutting-edge car will deliver record-breaking 80 mpg and save you at least $350 at the pump every month” -- that is a benefit. Your resume, too, must use similar language, especially to showcase your work at past employers. In the above example, “Responsible for sales and marketing” is a feature but “Propelled market share 12%” … and “Captured 80% of competitor’s accounts” would be benefits.
   
   
4. Format effectively An effectively-formatted, well-organized resume can reduce reading time dramatically. Imagine how pleased the hiring manager would be to review a resume that highlights key quickly.
   
   
5. Stay focused The modern workforce is multi-skilled and cross-functional in the truest sense of those terms. Flat organizational structures have necessitated cross-training and have created a new breed of workers who can adapt to newer roles very quickly. Even if you are qualified for multiple positions, don’t try to create one resume for every job on earth. Staying focused is the key.

By Nimish Thakkar is a sought-after certified career management coach. He has helped thousands of clie

5 Steps to Job Search Magic

The successful job search all boils down to one word -- synergy. 

Synergy is defined as the interaction of two or more agents so that their combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects. 

Synergy explains the difference between John, Paul, George and Ringo (individual musicians) and The Beatles (a magical combination). 

Most job seekers apply for positions haphazardly -- sending out an email resume for this opening, a printed resume for that one, sometimes following up and most often not. (Admit it -- you've done this!) 

But you'll get far better results -- and create synergy -- if you first write out a job search calendar, to schedule your efforts over the next 60-90 days. Then, follow your plan and systematically use as many tactics as possible for each job you apply for. Organizing your efforts this way will focus your job search, like sunlight through a magnifying glass. 

Here's how to create synergy and job search magic, in 5 easy steps. 

Step 1 -- Choose your target job

 

You can do so by picking a job title (example: Sales Manager) or skill set to shoot for (example: sales, marketing, management). No target job = no results in your job search. Because you can't score if you don't have a goal. 

Step 2 -- Choose your tactics

 

There are many. Among the most effective is networking with your personal and professional contacts. Let people know you're in the job market and tell them what you're looking for. Then ask this question: Who do you know that I should be talking to? This one question can double or triple the size of your network.

Other job hunting tactics include submitting your resume to online job postings, the newspaper classifieds, recruiters and temp agencies. But try to spend 80% of your time networking. 

Step 3 -- Plan your work

 

Create a job search calendar. This time of year, you can get free wall calendars from many stores and businesses. Any calendar will do, so long as there's room to write brief notes for each date.

Map out the next 30-90 days with specific goals for every day, such as visiting 5 Web sites, calling 10 networking contacts and mailing 7 resumes.

Post your job search calendar prominently. Then.. 

Step 4 -- Work your plan

Devote at least 3-5 hours a day to your job search if you're currently employed, and 5-8 hours a day if you're unemployed. 

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Recognize that your job search is a job in itself, the most important one you have right now. And that means you look for work EVERY day, Monday through Friday. Because just one day skipped per week equals a 20% loss in output. You can't afford that. 

Step 5 -- Fail your way to a new job

 

As you follow your job search plan and contact all those people every day, you're going to hear one word more than any other: 'No.' 

Learn to embrace failure like Thomas Edison, who failed 10,000 times before inventing the light bulb. He said: 'Every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward.' 

Every no you hear in your job search is another step closer to the one yes you need to get that position you really want. It's simply a numbers game -- take heart! 

By following this five-step formula, you can create synergy, magic and the job offer you're dreaming about this holiday season. 

By Kevin Donlin

10 Sales Competencies Of Steve Jobs

I read the Steve Jobs Biography and although he was a very talented designer, innovator and inventor, it was clear to everyone who worked with him, and even to Jobs himself at the end of his life, that he was an asshole.  A simply horrible human being. Despite his miserable people skills, he was on a mission to design products that would change the world.  But Steve was also a great salesperson and this article discusses ten of the things about Steve Jobs the salesperson that you might want your salespeople to emulate.

Preparation - It is well known that Steve obsessed over the most minute details of product design to assure a tremendous user experience.  But he prepared just as much for sales calls, like convincing Bill Gates of Microsoft to create Word and Excel for the first Mac.

Determination - Jobs probably didn't receive any formal sales training, but he was so determined to get his way,make the sale and seal the deal that he nearly always found a way.  He did not consider the possibility that he could fail.

Slide Decks - He didn't like people who hid behind their PowerPoint slides and he did not use more than a few himself.  He believed that if you knew your stuff you didn't need PowerPoint.  He preferred to have discussions rather than slide shows.  Amen to that!

Charm - Knowing that Jobs regularly treated people so badly makes it even more incredible that he could turn on the charm when he wanted something or someone to do business with him.  Although he seemed to have no empathy for the feelings of others, he was aware of the need to develop relationships in order to sell.

Negotiation - Steve usually cut very profitable deals because he was consistently successful at getting others to want what he had, and then was not only willing to walk, but did walk until he got his way.  There is a great story in the book about when he sold Pixar to Disney for something like 7 or 8 Billion dollars.

Building Value - Jobs was a master at building value.  He would talk about the individual components or features of a device, what they would sell for if available on their own, to demonstrate the tremendous value of the device itself.

Understanding - He always knew what was important - their compelling reason to buy - to his prospect and was able to leverage it, and get people excited about the opportunity to work with him.

Creating Trust - Jobs got people to believe in him and his vision.  Even when biased against Jobs, after they met him, talked with him and became caught in his trance, they wanted to do business with him.

Fearless - Steve would not hesitate to call anyone, anywhere, at any time to ask for what he wanted.  And he was persistent - he didn't give up and would get others to help him connect if he couldn't get connected on his own.

Showmanship - While he was a master of all the competencies listed above, he was perhaps best known for, and best at showmanship.  His Macworld appearances were sales showmanship at its best.  The book detailed some of those presentations along with the secrecy, preparation, practice, timing, theater and attention to detail that helped to enhance his mystique and allow him to sell millions of devices from the podium.

By Dave Kurlan / Omg Hub / Dave Kurlan

Prepare for a great job interview

Dear Joan: 

I recently went for an interview for a position as a Lab Technician and was asked "When have you been faced with a task which you thought you couldn't do?'' My reply was "When I thought I couldn't do gram staining" (Position was Microbiological testing). 

Was this the best way to approach the question and what do you think their "hidden agenda" was? 

Answer:

There is only one agenda when it comes to job interviewing. That is: Is this person a fit for the job I have to fill? 

To answer your question, put yourself in the other person's shoes and examine it from the interviewer's perspective. By asking this question they are no doubt trying to determine how you approach new or difficult tasks. For instance, did you reach out to others to learn it? Did you learn through trial and error? Did you have confidence—or were you cautious, or wait to be told how to do it? 

The only way interviewers can determine how you will perform on the current job is by asking how you handled former jobs. That's why they ask behavioral, situation-related questions like this. For instance, in this particular job, you may be required to work independently, or to jump in without much training. As a result, they want to know how you faced similar circumstances. 

So when you prepare for future interviews, be ready to tell some stories about each qualification they ask for in the posting. For instance, this position may have asked for "a self-starter." I recommend that you think of some CAR stories you can use in your resume and in interviews. CAR stories are mini-stories that contain the Challenge, the Approach, and the Results. Your answer may have sounded something like this: "When I was in my last job, I didn't think I could do gram staining, but it was important in my job (Challenge). There was no formal training for my job, so I had to get creative. So I asked my lab partner if he would show me, since he had been there for several years. He also directed me to some manuals and other self-study materials. I asked him to check my work and give me some pointers (Approach). He was happy to do it and I learned rather quickly. Within a few months, I was teaching another new employee how to do it (Results)."

 

An interview isn't a multiple-choice test, where you just answer the question with a short answer. It is an essay test, where you respond with examples, illustrate how you applied your skills to problems, and find ways to insert your story. That's why CAR stories are perfect. You can think about them in advance, rehearse them and be ready to drop them in whenever the question lends itself to the topic (and sometimes even when it doesn't!)

When developing your CAR stories, list each qualification at the top of a page. Then think back over all your positions, school experiences or volunteer work.

Pull out examples that prove you can do all, or part, of the qualification. Work your examples down to a manageable size—roughly a paragraph. The interviewer can always ask for more details. If you use it for a bullet point on your resume, you may want to get it down to a sentence or two. The trick is to shrink it but not to squeeze all the juice out of it. So taking the above example, it might look like this on your resume:

• With no formal training, was asked to take on several technical procedures which were new to me. By collaborating with my peers, and aggressively pursuing self-study materials, I was able to not only learn the skills but teach them to others, within a few months.

After you have finished preparing a few CAR stories for each major job requirement, do some CAR stories on interpersonal skills. Interviewers don't just want to know if you meet the specs of the job on paper. They want to know how you work with others, how you communicate and all the other "softer" skills that make up a good employee.

So next time you come to an interview, you'll be ready with your own agenda: to sell yourself through examples and mini-stories that show you are the best candidate for the job.

By Joan Lloyd

Make your Resume Ideas Count

An employer can receive hundreds of resumes in reply to an advertised position, but only a few of them catch the attention of the employer. Here are some useful resume tips and ideas to make your resume stand out in front of employers.

• Appropriate grammar, correct spellings, no typing error, and formatting matters a lot. Use simple font; big enough that the hiring manager could read it easily. Don't forget to mention contact information.  
• Include awards, and key achievements, but make sure that these are relevant to the job and will catch employer's attention.  
• Come up with effective job titles.  
• Keep the resume brief, exclude all the extra details. The ideal length for a resume is 1-2 pages.  
• Use bullet points, it saves the time of the hiring manager
• Put the the most important information first that highlights your work experience.

Do's and Dont's:

• Do not lie just be honest while writing a professional resume.
• Do not mention the salary unless the employer asks it.
• Try to avoid use personal pronouns (I, me, my).
• Do not write high school achievements.
• Do not go beyond two pages while writing a professional resume.
• Do not use justified text block; they put odd little spaces between words.
• Do not write hobbies in resumes, they are irrelevant.
• Do not mix noun and verb phases when describing jobs. First, use solid action verbs.
• Try to avoid words like "Duties included", "Responsibilities included", or "Responsible for" these are job description languages not resume writing language.
• Don't attach pictures except that the job demands it (modeling, acting so on)
• Do mention transferable skills, especially when one does not have much experience to seek out a job.
• Do consider a resume design that doesn't look like anyone else's. Many people use MS Word resume templates.
• Do list the previous jobs in reverse chronological order.
• Do avoid the verb "Work" because it's a weak verb (after all everybody works).

By Todd Goldstein,

A hospital story

On 13 April 1971 Shri Sadhan Chandra Mistry, aged 35 years a vegetable vendor (a total non-entity) in the obscure village of Hanspukur, District South 24-Parganas, West Bengal, died of a very common and minor ailment, only because he could not get access to any medical attention whatsoever. He left behind his illiterate wife Subhasini (23 years then) with two sons and two daughters four to eight years in age. Naturally the family plunged into utter poverty and Subhasini was forced out of her home within one month of her husbands death, to sell vegetables in that hamlet market. That day, while she sat under the scorching sun selling vegetables and worrying about her children, she took a vow that one day she will build a hospital in that very village so that no poor villager would die for want of medical attention.

Her fellow vendors and every person who heard of her vow just laughed and made fun of her. How can she build a hospital, they jeered, when
she cannot even mend her own thatched hut? Plus she has to feed a family of five and marry two daughters all humbug and pure day dreaming must have lost her mind; was the considered conclusion by the village elders.

However, day in and out, Subhasini went on selling vegetables silently and looking after her children never allowing the fire in her frail body to douse even for a moment. After persevering for twenty full years, ultimately she could start a clinic at her home for poor people. She managed to coax a doctor into coming to her village every week. And week after week, while tens of poor patients got medical attention from this lone clinic in the region, Subhasini became the most popular household name in her village. Now her fellow vendors and all others started respecting her. That was enough of a support for her.

In the meantime, her children grew up. The two daughters were married off. The eldest son chose to be a labourer, working in agricultural
fields. Her other son, the youngest of the lot, Ajoy Mistry was identified by Subhasini to carry on her mission. He successfully completed his secondary education and passed the All India Medical Entrance Test. Aided by the German Scholarship, he joined Calcutta Medical College where he completed his medical course. He worked hard as he studied, ran around from friends to well wishers to any person/organization he had access and managed to raise Rs.50,000 for his mothers mission.

In 1993, Ajoy Mistry authored the trust deed of Humanity Trust with his mother Subhasini Mistry as the co-founder trustee. On 5th February 1995, the foundation stone for the Hospital was laid and on 9th March 1996, the hospital was inaugurated and opened to public. Within one year, the trust could raise ten times the initial money to complete the first structure of the hospital. Soon, more donations followed and today, Subhasini Mistry can say with pride that she has fulfilled her pledge made to her husband two and half decades earlier.

The will and spirit of a woman who defied social norms and obstacles all along to establish the first hospital in that region The Humanity Hospital underscores a saga of dedication, commitment, vision, ambition and unflinching determination of a resource less illiterate village woman in acute penury and distress.

Humanity Hospital is certified and registered as a Hospital under the West Bengal Clinical Establishment Act. of 1950, managed by Humanity
Trust formed on 4th March 1993. In the year 2000, in appreciation of their service to humanity and poor people in particular, both Subhasini Mistry and Ajoy Mistry were honoured and named as the prestigious Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary International. Today, despite the financial crunch to meet recurring expenses, the Hospital provides best services to poor and underprivileged sections of the society.

Subhasini Mistry still sells vegetables in Kolkata market to sustain her family.
 
Please fwd to business icons of our great country may be they learn a few lessons from her. Nobody realises that all the wealth they have created cannot be taken by them beyond the hour of death    or taken to heaven....

Bring your arrogance down

By Vinod Bidwaik

We can not avoid many thinks in life. We need lot many certificates and documents in life to prove our existence in this country. It starts from birth, you need birth certificate, you need domicile certificate, ration card, election card, passport, Pan Card etc. etc.  There are other failed initiatives taken by the government like unique identification number. I remember 7 years back provident fund office tried to implement one card for all establishments for employees.

Anyways, common man has to struggle a lot to make these documents.

“Where is the birth certificate?” clerk asks me

“I don’t have the birth certificate; it was submitted to school by my parents.” I replied. “But I have domicile certificate where my birth date and place is mentioned.”

“Chalnar nahi. (Won’t do.)” He put aside my papers.

“I am here in front of you, isn’t enough proof of my birth?” I replied back.

“Rule is rule. We need birth certificate and you have to bring it.”

I had to take lot of efforts to prove that I am born and bought up in Maharashtra. They don’t understand logic.

I read somewhere Shaharukh Khan saying that he goes US when he thinks he become more arrogant. US security officials bring him on the ground.”

 

Shaharukh, why you need to go at US, go at any government office. They will bring you on the ground at single moment. (Security Guard at Wankhede stadium brought you on the ground for valid reasons.)

The problem, with whole Indian bureaucracy is lack of accountability. The hiring is not qualitative and nobody is responsible.

Why not they outsource jobs to good private companies? They did for PAN and passport. I am waiting it for all services. 

Top Three Mistakes That Could Keep You Unemployed

Technically, there are hundreds of ways to sabotage [literally] a job search campaign, but for the purpose of this discussion, I will restrict myself to three common mistakes most job seekers make. 

Over the past few months, I have observed a steady (and measurable) increase in the number of candidates finding “meaningful” employment opportunities. This is certainly a refreshing change from the horrendous unemployment stories we have heard since the 2008 Financial Debacle. Though positive, the outlook for the economy is still volatile and everything that goes into a job search campaign must be perfected to the nth degree.

As an experienced career coach and resume writer, I would rate the following four factors as being critical in determining the success of any job search campaign: Demand-supply dynamics, a candidate’s background, quality of resume, and job search strategies. 

With this introduction, I rate the following job search mistakes as being unequivocally disastrous: 

The “I-hunt-from-my-recliner” strategy

 

Don’t get me wrong. I love my recliner, but I liken any passive job search campaign to the “I-hunt-from-my-recliner” strategy. A job seeker who does not incorporate active networking into his portfolio of job search strategies is, most likely, a passive job seeker. 

Making “connections” is the key to securing valuable face time with hiring managers. From career fairs to networking tools offered by online job boards, there is absolutely no scarcity of networking avenues for a serious job seeker. 

My friend just found a job, his resume will work for me

As a part of my free resume evaluation service, I review thousands of resumes and often come across needless “resume fluff,” verbiage that does nothing more than fill, nay waste, resume space with hyperbolic adjectives. Copying portions of someone else’s resume or simply pasting content from online resume samples will not produce results. 

Viewed from a hiring manager’s perspective, that is simply “lazy writing”. You might as well put your resume in a bottle and hope that someone at the other end of the shore will pick it up and call you. 

Powerful accomplishments, career stories, branding statements, and other cutting-edge resume writing strategies could transform an ordinary resume into a masterpiece, one that positions you as the perfect solution for the employer’s needs. In fact, in today’s cut-throat environment, your resume must be so powerful and compelling that the hiring manager must start day-dreaming about having you as the next employee. 

If you don’t measure results, you are wasting your time

Analytics are not just for businesses. Every time you post your resume, make a determined effort to track and measure results. How many views did your resume generate? How many calls did you receive? Which strategy is producing the best result? Which version of your resume do employers find more appealing? How many hours did you spend on your job search? How many calls did you make? Get the point. Track your job search activities meticulously and make appropriate changes as you move forward. 

It is imperative that you assess, reassess, tweak, and perfect your job search campaign dynamically. While you may not be able to control market dynamics, there are several areas that are absolutely within your direct control. 

By Nimish Thakkar

I PROMISE MYSELF

I PROMISE MYSELF

TO BE SO STRONG THAT NOTHING CAN DISTURB MY PEACE OF MIND.


I PROMISE MYSELF

TO TALK HEALTH, HAPPINESS AND PROSPERITY TO EVERY PERSON I MEET.


I PROMISE MYSELF

TO MAKE ALL  MY FRIEND FEEL THAT IS SOMETHING WORTHWHILE IN THEM.


I PROMISE MYSELF

TO LOOK AT THE SUNNY SIDE OF EVERYTHING AND MAKE MY OPTIMISM COME TRUE.


I PROMISE MYSELF

TO THINK ONLY AT THE BEST, TO WORK ONLY FOR BEST AND TO EXPECT ONLY THE BEST.


I PROMISE MYSELF

TO BE JUST AS ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THE SUCCESS OF OTHERS AS I AM ABOUT MY OWN.


I PROMISE MYSELF

TO FORGET THE MISTAKES OF THE PAST AND PRESS ON TO THE GREATER ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE FUTURE.


I PROMISE MYSELF

TO WEAR A CHEERFUL EXPRESSION AT ALL TIMES AND GIVE A SMILE TO EVERY LIVING CREATURE I MEET.




I PROMISE MYSELF

TO GIVE SO MUCH TIME TO IMPROVING MYSELF THAT I HAVE NO TIME TO CRITICIZE OTHERS.


I PROMISE MYSELF

TO BE TOO LARGE FOR ANGER, TOO STRONG FOR FEAR AND TOO HAPPY TO PERMIT THE PRESENCE OF TROUBLE.


I PROMISE MYSELF

TO THINK WELL OF MYSELF AND TO PROCLAIM THIS FACT TO THE WORLD, NOT IN LOUD WORDS BUT IN GREAT DEEDS.


I PROMISE MYSELF

TO LIVE IN THE FAITH THAT THE WHOLE WORLD IS ON MY SIDE, SO LONG AS I AM TRUE TO THE BEST THAT IS IN ME.

By CHRISTIAN D. LARSON

Give Your Cover Letter a JOB!

By Jimmy Sweeney

When it comes to writing a cover letter, the experts advise you to make it short—using fewer rather than more words, succinct––clear and focused on your key points, and sincere––writing from your heart and mind.

Good advice! But how are you to accomplish this task? By giving your cover letter a job, that's how. Make it work for you. Your cover letter should:

• Greet the hiring manager. Dear Mr3:13 PM 5/18/2012. or Ms. . . .
  
  
• Give the location of the job ad where you learned about the position. I appreciate your posting the job description on CareerJimmy.com. I knew at once when I saw. . .
  
• Introduce youself to the hiring manager. I'm a Certified Public Accountant looking for a new position in your city . . .
  
  
• Present your skills. In addition to my accountancy skills I am known as an excellent communicator and a strong leader with business savvy and tech know-how—abilities that I recognize are important to you.
  
  
• Mention your prior work experience. I was employed at the Adams-McKinley Accountancy Firm as Vice President for the past five years . . .
  
  
• Display your ability to communicate clearly. Mastering creative problem-solving skills is one of my primary goals. My priority is to examine information, interpret it, and find creative solutions within a framework of responsibility, ethics and honesty.
  
  
• Demonstrate your knowledge of the company. I have wanted to work for Preston and Bates Brokerage House for the past five years and have groomed myself so that when an opportunity to interview for an opening came up, I'd be ready. I respect the vision of your firm—to serve the customer first, last, and always.
  
  
• Refer to your enclosed resume. For specific details about my work experience please see my enclosed resume.
  
  
• State your educational background. I earned my CPA degree from San Diego State University in San Diego, California in 2003.
  
  
• Request an interview. May I meet with you to talk over this important position and how I can contribute to your company and take care of your customers?
  
  
• Include your contact information and availability. I'd be happy to meet you at your convenience any afternoon from one o'clock on. Please phone or email me at my home using the contact information above.
  
  
• Express your gratitude for reading the letter. Thank you for taking time to read my cover letter and for considering me for an interview.

As soon as the cover letter is complete, review it once or twice to see if it did the job. If not, call for overtime. Go through it again step by step, making sure that every word, every sentence, every paragraph and every point is written in the clearest way possible so that when the letter reaches a hiring manager, he or she will know at a glance that you are the person most fit to fill the job opening.

A cover letter that does its job will help you do your job when the call comes in with the words you're eager to here. "You're hired!"

Salary Requirements Part 2

Part 2 of 2 

When your cover letter has your current salary, that’s generally sufficient. As long as your title and experience are in line with what they’re looking for, the numbers should be roughly comparable. If your salary is substantially less, chances are either that your employer frequently underpays, or there’s a problem with your abilities. 

While providing only your current salary doesn’t tell the company if your expectations are reasonable, it at least gives them a number to measure against their range, and that’s where your resume comes in. If there’s nothing off-putting about it visually, it will be looked at with your current salary in mind. The hiring authority or screener is going to be looking for justification of your number. Does your job description exceed your salary? That might indicate a problem. 

Even before the market turned, salary was used as a way to screen people out. Companies falsely believe that adhering to some formula or profile will ensure a good hire. But screening by salary doesn’t take into consideration a person willing to take a cut in pay, nor one who is underpaid. Since the company isn’t likely to stop and consider these possibilities or the reasons why they might exist, your best bet is to explain it in your cover letter. The alternative is that they’ll assume the worst, and withdraw your resume from consideration. 

On the other hand, should you be invited in for an interview, chances are good that you’ll be pressed for your expectations. Stick with your answer. Depending on with whom you’re speaking, you might have a little dance take place. They press, you demur. They press harder, you demur more. Smile to make sure you’re not coming across as argumentative, and paying attention to your tone of voice, explain that you don't intend to be difficult, but you're there to learn more about the company, the opportunity, and whether you’ll fit well together, and you’re not expecting some pie in the sky increase. 

If you're sticking within your industry and field, chances are you're in their range, so assuring them that your expectations are reasonable should suffice. So now a word to the wise. If you’re expecting anything more than 3%, you’re being unrealistic. Although most companies are laying people off, one look at any of the job boards will tell you many are still hiring. It’s an employers’ market, so be realistic lest you price yourself out of consideration.

Often I hear from job searchers who don't want to tell a prospective employer what they're making and steadfastly believe that that information is none of the company's business. Wrong.

Usually it's because people fear they'll be lowballed and keeping their salary confidential will prevent this. Actually, the only thing that keeping your salary confidential will prevent is your getting an interview. The company has a right to know what you’re making, and no, they don’t have to tell you the range. In any case, if you think the company will undercut you, why are you interviewing with them? 

Interviewing isn't supposed to be a game, but it probably always will be. While everyone else is playing it, you concentrate on being real and respectful to both yourself and the company with whom you're interviewing. Tell them what they ought to know - your current salary - and sidestep what's unnecessary. By the time you get far enough into the process where the salary requirements make a difference, it will have become more of a meeting of the minds rather than a tool to possibly boot you out of the picture.

- Judi Perkins