How to Perform a Job Search

by: Jimmy J. Davis

Going on a job search can often be a very harrowing experience for many people around the world. However, it doesn't have to be, especially if you are well organized and plan things out. If you know where and when to search, then finding work should come a little bit easier to you. But you need to realize that you will have to put some time and effort into the venture. It's not very often that jobs will just fall into your lap.

It's often been said to job seekers that "it's not what you know it's who you know." However, while this may certainly be the case for some people, it's definitely not the norm. So be prepared to show your skills and talents when being interviewed for a position. Make sure you can live up to your resume.

And speaking of resumes, it's essential that you have one and that it's up to date. It must also be well organized and error free. If you need help creating one, there are many types of agencies that can help you out. It's almost impossible to get a job these days without a good resume as well as an accompanying cover letter.

When going on a job search it certainly will help if you know exactly what type of employment it is you're looking for. There are some people who are desperate and will take anything, but if this isn't your case, then decide on the field of work that appeals to you. If you've just graduated from college or lost a previous job you probably have a good idea.

If you're one of those people who just can't seem to make up their mind about the type of job or career you'd like, then you may want to get some help. There are a lot of employment-related agencies around the world that will give you tests to see what field of work appeals to you and what you're qualified for. Most of these agencies charge a fee, but some countries offer government programs that are free.

Once you know the type of work you're looking for then it's a good time to start your job search. There are various places to look for work. You can start off with the classified ads of your local newspaper and the job board at the regional employment office. Job agencies are also a good place to look as are online classifieds.

In fact, there is usually a wealth of jobs available on the internet as there are many sites that are designed to help people in a job search. These websites usually have a listing of available employment opportunities in a variety of categories and fields. They're usually updated on a daily basis and some of them will even send you the job listings to your email address.

If your job search leads to an interview make sure you take it seriously and are well prepared for it. Be sure to dress appropriately and be on time for the interview. Having some knowledge of the company and their field of expertise will also go a long way in helping you land a job.

About The Author



Jimmy J. Davis is the article writer for three major Texas job sites. For more career advice visit http://www.thetexasjobsource.com, http://www.texasjobfaircalendar.com and http://www.houstonjobdepot.com.

So Much for the Bull Market

All week long this week, headlines bragging about the Bull Market.  So, I move stock around, buy-sell, pick the close for today....and bam.. the market falls!  Uh huh.  Bull Dookey is what it is!

Portfolio Revision Strategy and "Pick the Close"

Yeah, the market manipulators are messing with the stock market again.  I say bear, they say bull....no apparent reason for either.

I sold the DXD ETF and bought a range of about 12 stocks with growth prospects, still shorting the Asian market!  I'm down about $3000 in the last week.

With regards to the "Pick the Close"contest on CNBC, I started out in the low 300's, but my next 7 picks are in the mid 5,000 of number of contestants.....LOL.  Then I realized these guys have software that analyzes the market, etc to predict the close.  Uh huh.  I have yet to find one that works on my system or can work from my flash drive!   My "guessing" now has more of a mathematical bent!   Who says all that calculas and math I took in college was for nothing?

Double Dip Could Begin in This Sector: Distress Expert

Published: Monday, 1 Mar 2010 | 3:45 PM ET 

By: Reuters

U.S. manufacturers are still struggling with the economic downturn and there is substantial risk the U.S. economy could face a double-dip recession, a private equity investor who specializes in turning around struggling industrial companies said Monday.

"I think there is a very real possibility of a double dip out there," said Michael Psaros, co-founder and managing partner of KPS Capital Partners LP.

He cited the distress he continues to see among U.S. manufacturers.

"Washington cannot continue to spend money like it has. When that stimulus stops, I don't think there is sufficient private market consumer demand to run with," Psaros said at the Reuters Private Equity and Hedge Funds Summit in New York on Monday. 

Psaros oversees $2.6 billion in funds, specializing in turnaround, restructuring and bankruptcy situations. In the past year his firm has done deals that acquired the maker of Waterford and Wedgwood crystal, and owner of High Falls Brewing Company. It also owns HHI holdings, a U.S. auto parts maker that specializes in wheel bearings. 

He said that while the markets may be recovering, there is a "disconnect" between the market and what is happening on the ground at U.S. manufacturers, where the effects of a deep decline that started in 2008 are still being felt. 

"In June 2009 we hit bottom, and since that time the industrial manufacturing economy has continued to remain at the June 2009 levels," Psaros said.

"Until this country puts 25 million Americans back to work, we're in a recession."

Psaros said the risk of a double-dip recession was greater than 50 percent, partly because so many companies were only putting "Band-Aids" on their problems by extracting agreements from lenders and bondholders to cut or delay debt, without really fixing their companies.

"I think a lot of the professionals that are sitting in banks and financial institutions were prepared to kick the can down the road, once, maybe twice, but when you have a borrower who has essentially defaulted on its obligations on more than one occasion, it gets to a point where you are looking at a regulator in the eyes and you have to fess up and say you made a bad loan."

Psaros said he expects a "crescendo" of failures to appear over the next few years as lenders and companies struggle with these agreements.

But for companies that are focused on cost management and aligning their businesses to a new reality, Psaros said he sees a brighter future.

"If and when we have an economic recovery, for manufacturers like us that have cut costs so much to the bone, it's not going to take a lot of revenue growth for cash flow to turn into profits," Psaros said.