This article from Dime Crunch states that the average job search is lasting 211 days and that there are 11.5 million receiving unemployment benefits right now, with more than 1.5 million expecting their benefits to run out in March.

Knowing that, ramp up your job search!

Revise your resume, get networking and improve your interviewing skills.

Need help? Let me know!

That being said, while you’re busy growing up and become a professional, your resume also needs to grow up. Here’s how you do it:

1. If you haven’t already, get rid of anything highschool related. No one cares what your GPA was junior year or that you were captain of the math team. If you went to a prestigious high school (like many people in St. Louis), think about getting active in the alumni association and putting that in a Community Involvement section.
2. Unless you had a very important leadership or employment role, you can probably remove most of your club or social involvement from college too. If you were a part of a Greek organization that may help for networking, get involved in the alumni association and put that in your Community Involvement section too.
3. Move your education information down underneath your work experience. Now that you have job experience, that’s a lot more important that your liberal arts degree that everyone else has, too.
4. Add an executive summary displaying your key skills and traits as well as your specific objectives for career development. Let’s face it, after graduation your objective literally translated to “please give me a job, any job.” Now that you’ve been out in the real world for a couple years, it’s important to know where you want to go next and what you’ll bring to your next employer.

To demonstrate the before and after of a resume makeover after a first job, check out Chris Mann’s new resume and his first resume out of school.

Still not sure how to make your resume mature with your career? E-mail me.

So many only look for jobs online – in yucky places like job boards (ala Careerbuilder, Yahoo! Jobs, or Monster). If you’re gonna be online – try networking. Or maybe even create your own content via Twitter or your own blog. Make friends with valuable contacts on LinkedIn and catch up with old friends, professors, colleagues and family members to let them know you’re looking for a job.

How about volunteering with some of your free time? Or studying up on the latest industry developments or seeking additional licenses or certifications relevant to your career development?

The worst thing you can do when you’re looking for a job is not look for a job AND not do anything productive with your time while you wait it out.

Have you started to buy-in to these 6 Myths About Job-Hunting in a Recession?

1. No one is hiring
2. The best place to find jobs is the Internet
3. Avoid companies that are currently experiencing “hiring freezes”
4. Expect a pay cut
5. People aren’t hiring if you’re 55+ years old
6. Advanced degrees guarantee you’ll get hired

I have a lot of friends that have been out of school for about 2 years now that are ready to make a move to a second job, but aren’t sure about what to do in an unstable market. Hoover’s article explains what to expect from the process, including moves that can help or hurt your career in the long term.

If I could offer you some advice, I’d tell you to do something that you love. Something that you don’t mind getting there early to do or staying late. Don’t know what you want to do? You need to get out there! Intern. Job shadow. Go on informational interviews. Volunteer. You’ll learn best by doing.

When at all possible, work with people that you respect and will make you a better person. I have been extremely fortunate to work with people like this.

Your personal brand is important. Who you know and what you’ve done… that’s who you are. Network. And never burn bridges.

If you’re interested in getting into interactive marketing, do it. Our generation is naturally more tech savvy because we’ve grown up doing it. Read blogs. Check out web sites. Talk to people in the business.

Keep idea books. Bookmark web sites you like or articles that have good ideas in them. Part of what makes people successful in marketing is knowing what’s already been done… and how you can apply similar principles to your clients and innovate by improving on what’s already out there.

Then, to my surprise, I came across an article today: 10 job hunting tips for this year’s college graduates. In his blog post, Edward Boches,  Chief Creative Officer of Mullen, offers some very similar tips for how to get hired in advertising right out of school.

I came across this article today: 6 ways to fit in when you’re the youngest person in the room.

Some other things that I think are important to remember when you’re the youngest person:

1. It’s like playing poker. So play your cards right. In some situations, your youth will be to your advantage. In others, it’s best to lay low.
2. Dress appropriately. That doesn’t mean dressing like you’re 80, but it does mean that you need to think of how your elders will perceive your wardrobe.
3. Remember that things that may be socially acceptable to younger employees will not fly with older colleagues. For example: Facebook at work. Instant messaging. Walking around with your iPod on. [insert technology related age gap item here]
4. Stay up-to-date (and do your research) since you’re young, you should know what’s going on now. But since they’re old, you need to be able to relate to ghosts of workplace past.

When I came across Michael Driehorst’s latest blog post on Talent Zoo today, I immediately knew I had to share his thoughts with you. Michael is a PR professional that’s currently out-of-work. He’s a blogger (check out his blog: Mike’s Points) with some great insights into how you can market yourself in a job search much like advertisers and public relations professionals market their clients’ brands.

Here are some excerpts from his post:

1. It’s what you know AND who you know

• People aren’t hired just by his or her resume.
• The hiring process is subjective – you’re judged by the way you look, present yourself, sound, answer questions
• You can’t know about every job opportunity – that’s where networking comes into play

2. Typing a poor substitute for real communication

• It’s easy for written/typed words to be misconstrued
• Take care to be clear and concise when you write cover letters and thank you notes
• Consider how social media can help your job search – blogging, Twitter, forums3. Look outward

3. Look outward

• Look for ways to add value to your prospective employer by sharing insights and information
• Reach out to your network of friends, family and acquaintances to help others find careers and business opportunities

4. Timing is everything

• Keep looking for a job, even when you’re discouraged
• Build relationships with prospective employers you’ve already spoken with and your network -  in case a new position opens up, you’ll already be on their mind

5. Have faith

• Be confident in your abilities
• Be honest and ethical in your approach
• Remain persistent in your search
• Continue to build connections
• Help others
• Your time will come

1. Brand yourself
2. Network, network, network
3. Be flexible and innovative
4. Keep it relevant
5. Have a fabulous resume

If you want to talk more about how I can help you do all of those things, and more… drop me a line and say hello!