Whether you’re gearing up to graduate or there’s a hiring fair in your area, the calendar year is front-loaded with job fairs. Most people think of job fairs as over crowded, competitive marketplaces with few opportunities compared to candidates. This may be why most people who attend job fairs do so casually, and come under dressed and under prepared, and so their negativity becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. The good news is, by taking extra time to prepare, you can turn stand out from the competition and make your mark with a standout company.

No matter how hard you work, how early you arrive and how late you stay at the office each day, no one gets more than twenty-four hours in their day. Everyone wants to be more organized, more efficient, more effective, and better at using their time. There are many ways of learning and honing those skills and everyone has their own challenges and priorities. Instead of telling you what to do to be “highly effective” professionally, whatever that means to you, here is a list of 7 habits that are guaranteed to keep dragging you down.

So you’ve been unemployed for a while now, and you’re tearing your hair out with boredom and frustration.
Read our tips on how to stay sane and motivated while looking for that dream job:

It’s scary starting a new job. For some, the first day is preceded by a pitiful night’s sleep leaving the apprehensive newbie groggy rather than laser-focused. And then there are those who leap in in a blaze of glory to prove themselves worthy … and step on toes along the way, which leads to the need for damagecontrol! Is there a better way to start a new job?

How do you handle rejection in the job search? Do you need some down-time so that you can recoup your energy in order to refocus your job hunt? Staying motivated to push past the WALL of rejection is hard, but as long distance runners know, a lot of the motivation is mind over matter.

Whether you are looking for seasonal employment or searching for your next career opportunity, it is important to adapt your job hunting techniques to gain a competitive edge this summer. A common myth exists that no hiring gets done once the thermostat rises; however this isn’t always the case. With important initiatives often commencing after Labour Day, many companies need to increase their headcount now to anticipate higher workloads.
So what are some tips to find a job as the temperature rises?

Q:?I am returning to work after taking time out to raise a family. The most recent contract positions I have held have all been obtained through word-of-mouth. What I struggle with is the anonymity of the Internet as a selection /recruitment tool and the level of service provided by recruitment agencies. What do you feel is the most successful way for mature age job seekers to approach finding employment?

The 3 “P”s = Planning + Preparation + Proactive Participation!
While these three steps may sound simplistic enough, unfortunately they are not always all carried out! I can give you some clear examples…

Professional training and development make the difference. Teams on top of their game are more engaged.
Developing your professional skills is an excellent idea in any economy but particularly important when the labour market is highly competitive. With more players on the scene, those who continually invest in their own skills and talents have significant advantages.

Maybe you’ve heard the “golden voice” of YouTube sensation, Ted Williams.
He’s the formerly homeless, formerly unemployed man who was hired — literally off the street — by the Cleveland Cavaliers for his dream job as an announcer. Other job offers are still pouring in from around the country.
If you’re unemployed, you can learn a lot from Ted Williams’ Guerrilla Job Search.