Utopia

1. Intern

Internships have never been more competitive than this year. If you can afford to, volunteer to work without pay, just to gain experience and network.

2. Apply for the Right Jobs

Learn as much as possible about any position before you apply for it, and only apply for ones you're qualified for. Ask yourself if a hiring manager is likely to say you don't have enough experience. If so, have an answer prepared. Prepare your resume and cover letter so that they address your relevant skills rather than how long you've worked.

3. Join Your Industry's Professional Association

Attend its monthly meetings and annual conference too. Introduce yourself to other members, and ask for their advice and if they know of anyone you should meet. Also, join committees and hold leadership positions in them. That way, you will meet the most active people in your profession.

4. Take Classes

If you repeatedly hear that you lack a particular skill, take a class or two in that area and put it on your resume. Employers will be impressed by your initiative. It should answer any questions they have about your skill level.

5. Volunteer

Find a nonprofit that will allow you to gain skills in your chosen field. For example, if you're looking for a job in marketing or public relations, volunteer at an organization that will allow you to help out in those areas. The Taproot Foundation matches up professionals with organizations that need their skills. It operates in seven U.S. cities in a variety of fields, including finance, marketing and information technology. Volunteers work in teams of five (they can do so remotely) for at least five hours a week, for periods of five months. If you accept a full-time job during your volunteer period, you're still expected to complete the free work.

By - Tara Weiss. Source - Forbes.Com

1. Check your résumé for correct grammar and spelling.

You cannot succeed if your résumé isn't 100% error-free. There's no room for sloppiness in this competitive market.

2. Emphasize results.

Don't just list your daily responsibilities on your résumé, detail results. If you saved the company money, brought in new clients or managed a team that didn't have any turnover, describe all that.

3. Write the right cover letter.

Don't let it be a regurgitation of your résumé. It should make the case for why you should be hired. The first paragraph should be an introduction saying, I'm applying for this position. The middle paragraphs should highlight the critical three elements of the job description and why you can do them exceptionally well. Use the language of the job ad itself. The last paragraph should thank the interviewer for his or her time and say when you'll follow up.

4. Practice interviewing.

Research each company you go to for a job interview, and practice answering the questions you'll most likely get. Interviewers usually ask what your greatest strengths and weakness are, so come prepared with answers to those. As for your weakness, spin it in a positive manner. For instance, if you're nervous about speaking in public, mention that as a weakness, but also say that you're working at it and getting more confident all the time.

5. Project confidence.

This helps a lot in landing a job. Look each person you interview with in the eye, offer a firm handshake and try to answer every question with assurance. You'll get more confident every time you practice answering interview questions.

6. Be positive.

Never say anything negative during an interview. Especially never say anything negative about co-workers, managers and companies you've been employed with.

7. Don't undersell yourself.

Boldly state your accomplishments. Don't boast, but do lay out all the reasons you're a good fit for the job.

By - Tara Weiss, Source Forbes.Com

1. Be Self-Aware

"The best leaders are those that are aware of their style," says Gayle Lantz, a corporate consultant. Take a moment to evaluate the way you lead, so you can define ways to improve or adapt to your organization's changing needs.

"It's important to take cues from your organization and understand its organizational culture," Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants' Chief Operating Officer Niki Leondakis says.

3. Pay Attention to How Your Company Identifies Success

"Whether you're in a meeting or at an awards ceremony, watch and observe," Leondakis says. "Take note of who is being rewarded and why, and try to incorporate a little bit of that into your own style."

4. Ask Questions

Women typically communicate ideas through examples and anecdotes, according to organizational development consultant Joni Daniels. If you're having trouble getting your point across this way, try to ask questions in order to initiate a dialogue with colleagues.

5. But Don't Ask About "Feelings"

If you've ever asked a boyfriend or husband about his feelings, you've probably experienced the same blank stare this question is likely to elicit from employees. Instead of asking your team how they feel about something, Daniels suggests you ask for their reactions, thoughts or observations.

6. Treat Employees Like Clients or Customers

Some women have adopted an aggressive leadership style most commonly seen in men, says J.T. O'Donnell, a workplace consultant and founder of the Web site Careeralism.com. But, if you're looking to soften your image, start by giving your staff the same respect you show to clients.

7. Take Care of Your Life and Relationships Outside of the Office

Rightly or wrongly, colleagues and bosses judge women on their personal lives as well as their career successes. "If you're getting it done at work because you're sending people crazy all-cap e-mails on a Saturday, you're not going to climb the ladder any further," O'Donnell says.

8. Find Balance

"The most successful team or organization combines the stereotypical male and female traits," Leondakis says. "You need that balance of the male energy and the female energy." Pay attention to your co-workers' styles; choose team members that will complement you and try to adapt to complement them.

9. Listen to Your Team, but Don't Be Afraid to Make a Decision

Women typically seek a consensual agreement from their teams, even if they know what decision they are going to make from the start, explains O'Donnell. Don't be afraid to go with your gut or stand up for your choices even if you can't get everyone on board.

10. Make Time for Your Own Work

After building strong working relationships women often find their time eaten up by colleagues seeking guidance and advice. Leondakis makes sure to schedule office time on her calendar, so she has some "free" time during the day to do her own work, think or plan.

By - Amanda Ernst, Source - Forbes.Com

You're one of the lucky ones if you've held onto your job in this recession and gotten an offer of another job too. But before you jump at that offer, do some serious research into both the job and the company. Weigh the opportunities and job security you have with your current employer against what likely awaits you at the new company.

"Don't get blindsided by the enthusiasm of the moment, of getting a job offer," says Laura Hill, founder of Careers in Motion, a Manhattan-based career-coaching firm.

First consider what your career goals are. Where do you want to be in five or 10 years? Will this new opportunity help you get there? Will you learn new skills that will help make you more marketable? Will you have more responsibility?

If the answer to all those questions is yes, do everything you can to find out how stable the new company is compared with the one you're at now. Of course you might learn only good things and still end up getting laid off, but there are definite red flags to look out for. Your goal is to avoid switching companies and then getting downsized out of a job three months later.

Do a Google ( GOOG - news - people ) news search to learn about what's gone on with the company and the industry over the past six months. And set up a Google news alert for future reports. That will help you stay current on what's occurring right now. Look out for acquisitions and mergers, product launches, executive and managerial reshufflings, lawsuits. Public companies are often the focus of message boards where current and former employees post. Some of what you read on them can be rumors, but they're worth looking at to see what people are saying. Also, if you're connected on LinkedIn to any current or recently departed employees at the company, try to get their insiders' views "One question to ask a hiring manager during the interview is, 'What are the challenges your company faces now?'" says Hill. "The truth is never as rosy as they represent. They're trying to recruit you, so they'll say it's better than it really is." Still, their response may suggest other things for you to explore in your research.

Once you've gotten the big picture, get more information on the department you'll be joining and the actual job. Find out why the job is open. That could reveal a lot about what it would be like to work there and how secure the position is. If the previous employee got promoted or left for a better opportunity at a different company, that's a positive sign, since it shows that the job can lead to career growth. But if there has been a lot of turnover in the position, that's something to investigate. Is there a boss who's difficult to deal with? Are the expectations unrealistic? Perhaps the position was just created, because a new product line is launching or additional clients are signing on.

Be cautious about being hired to solve a particular problem. "I'd be leery of that opportunity," says Rick Smith, author of The Leap: How 3 Simple Changes Can Propel Your Career from Good to Great. "That's a short term opportunity. You want them to want you to grow with them. You want to be hired for your potential."

Money is often the deciding factor. Try not to let it be, says Caroline Ceniza-Levine, a job coach at the career Web site Vault. If salary is the sole reason you'd switch jobs and you're happy in your current position, try negotiating with your manager. Just be sensitive about how you go about it.

Ceniza-Levine recommends saying something like this: "I've been approached by someone from another company who has been persistent and flattering about getting me to join their firm. I've talked to that person because I thought it would be good to know what's going on in the market. I actually learned some interesting things about what they're doing that could be helpful to us. [However, never share proprietary information you've been told in confidence during a job interview.] What stopped me in my tracks was the fact that the salary they were talking about was 10% more than I'm making now. Can we talk about that? I'm very happy here, but knowing that I'm leaving that money on the table is tough.

"That is a non-threatening way of raising the money issue. It's almost like you're looking to the boss just for advice," says Ceniza-Levine. You likely won't get the amount the other company is offering, but even a little bump will be helpful, particularly if you like where you are.

If you do decide to go with the new job, you don't necessarily want to be making the highest salary there. "Big salaries can attract attention in tough times," says Hill. "If you go in as a really highly paid new hire, they have huge expectations. That can set you up for failure."

Finally, how much do you like your boss and co-workers? Don't underestimate the importance of that, since congeniality in the workplace can be hard to find. "If you get along unusually well," says Hill, "that should set a high bar for making a change."

By - Tara Weiss, Source: Forbes.Com