Companies are cutting back, laying off, restructuring, and even closing down. Are you prepared?

Last month, there were 235,681 employees laid off in Mass Layoffs (a Mass Layoff is when a single employer lays off at least 50 people.) Unemployment stayed at 6.1% from the previous month. However, last year in September the unemployment rate was 4.7%.

We know that October's financial reports of the economic downturn have caused even more unemployment and cutbacks (stay tuned to next month's blog for an update).

What are you doing to prepare yourself?

A loss of job can have devastating affects. Are you prepared? Certainly now is the time to take a deeper look at your employment situation. If you became unemployed today, would you be ready to send out your resume tomorrow?

1. Is your resume Job or Industry specific? Your resume needs to be written with specific target words and terminology from your industry. When the recruiter or hiring manager scans your resume, they are looking for these specific terms, i.e. Infrastructure, project management, 6 sigma, etc.

2. Do you have a section of accomplishments that have been quantified and qualified? The hiring manager will quickly read your resume searching for actual accomplishments – not a job description. Numerical representation of your accomplishments will get you noticed and peak the interest of the reader.

3. Is it POWERFUL? Can you get the attention of the hiring manager within seconds? Can you maintain that attention long enough for the reader to finish the first page? Can you compete with thousands of other applicants? Your resume needs to be formatted with the appropriate emphasis; it needs to be eye catching but professional at the same time. Most of all, it should be easy to read and structured logically.

4. Is your resume a true reflection of you? Does your resume bring out the best of who you are? The reader will need to determine whether you are a fit for the job within 30 seconds. If your resume does not reflect your abilities within that time, it will be discarded.

Does it seem like a daunting task to rewrite your resume? We can help. We have professional Human Resource consultants who will walk you though the process and rewrite your resume into a powerful reflection of you!

Don't delay – get prepared today. Your future may depend on it.

Visit http://www.momcorps.com/candidates/resource_guide/expert_resumes/ to learn more.

Whether you're going to a job fair or an interview, it is important to be prepared, polished and professional. Research tells us that landing a job is 70% presentation and 30% actual skills. Knowing that, I've put together the following nine tips:

1. Do your homework prior to the Interview. Did you know that job seekers spend thirty job-search hours to get each interview and only one hour preparing for the interview? Before your interview, research the company as thoroughly as possible. Annual reports, web pages, business and trade magazines are great resources. Be able to articulate what properties of the company appeal to you and why you want to work there. What is their culture? Where is the company going? Be able to demonstrate that you have some understanding the industry. Research the competition too. What are the industry hot buttons? Every industry has is "language". Make an effort to learn some of the industry-specific phrases and terms.

2. Review and be familiar with your resume. It's awkward for everyone when the interviewing managers ask a candidate about responsibilities in a prior position and the candidate has to wrack her brains trying to remember what she did in the job. It is easy to forget the details from prior positions that you've held, especially if it has been a long time since you were in that position. However, if it's on your resume it's fair game for discussion. Be familiar with everything on there and ensure you have a few success stories to go with each position you've held.

3. (Even if you don't feel it) conduct yourself with confidence. When meeting an interviewer make a great first impression. Stand up straight, smile, make eye contact, and shake hands firmly. When you do sit, keep your hands in your lap. Nervous people tend to make wild gestures. Also, remember to use your active listening skills. That means, take notes if appropriate, lean forward and nod to show you're listening. All of these give an air of confidence.

4. Don't ramble. Because of nervousness, candidates tend to talk too much. Sometime they're not sure how to answer a question so they just dive in anywhere; this is not a good tactic. Before answering a tough interview question take a few seconds to gather your thoughts so that you can give a clear, concise answer that highlights your skills. If the interviewer wants more information, they'll ask a follow up question. Whenever appropriate, use quantifiable data rather than vague generalizations.

5. Identify and reiterate your strengths especially as they align to the job description. Prior to the interview create on paper an inventory of your experiences, skills and talents. Then, carefully examine the job description or posting. Where do your skills align with it? Take a note of those and during the interview be sure to highlight how your skills and talents make you a good fit for the position.

6. Ask questions throughout the interview. Make every interview an interesting business conversation and not an uncomfortable interrogation. Asking thoughtful questions is a great way to demonstrate understanding of the company and industry. Show your interest in the position, and work to uncover important information to determine if there's a good culture fit between you and the company. At the end of the interview, don't be afraid to ask what the next steps are, the more specific, the better. Finally, collect business cards from each interviewer.

7. Be prepared to answer the question, "What is your greatest weakness?" This question is a recruiter's favorite question. It can reveal a lot about a candidate. So be prepared to answer it. Conventional advice recommends that you state your weakness as a strength. "I work too hard," "I'm too demanding of myself", "I'm a perfectionist," are pretty typical and transparent answers. Try a more thoughtful response that truly highlights your skills. For example, "Although I have strong Word and Power Point skills, I feel like my skills in Excel are not as strong as I'd like. I am currently enrolled in a night class at the community college." Then follow up with a statement that shows how you will use your new skills. "I know I will be able to use my new Excel skills in this position to help me with spread sheets and tables." Finally, follow up with a question such as, "Would you like me to elaborate on any of my other computer skills?"

8. Dress well. Polishing all aspects of your appearance is important. It demonstrates your level of professionalism and commitment. It either says "executive", or it doesn't. Invest in your appearance and you'll feel great! Buy a few interview suits that can be mixed and matched later for less formal use, and have them tailored so they fit you well. Always wear a suit to an interview – even if the culture where you're interviewing is casual. Remember to keep your jewelry and accessories toned down. You want them to hear what you're saying, not what you're wearing. Carry a briefcase or a purse, not both. Backpacks are never a good idea.

9. Follow up right away. Follow up with a thank you to each interviewer and clearly express your interest in the position. Try to use specifics. If you forgot to mention something in the interview, you can add it to the note. After a week if you haven't heard anything from the company, call to the hiring manager and reiterate your interest in the opening. Ask if you can provide any additional information to help them make their decision.

Linda Waters is a wife, mother, career coach, and the founder of Back to Business LLC. Back to Business, located in Franklin, Massachusetts, provides a full range of services for women preparing to return to work or seeking a better professional "fit" and more fulfilling career. For more information about Back to Business and/or career-coaching, please see www.backtobusiness.org.

For years, women were told that when it came to business they should try to be more like men in order to advance in their career. Thankfully, times have changed. Today women are succeeding as themselves and getting ahead. A Chic Businesswoman embraces her female strengths and uses them to her advantage. She is proud to be 'a skirt' and succeeds with smarts, sass and style. Work on yourself and increase your effectiveness with these Chic Tips:

1. Short Emails Save Everyone Time: We are all pressed for time. And even though we are living in an increasingly digital world, the White House's Office of Management & Budget estimates that paperwork handled by corporations, the government and the general public consumes more than 9 billion hours a year. Sheesh! Before you send out another long-winded email message, edit it down, add bullet points and be concise.

2. Ask for Recommendations: Whether you're social networking or building up recommendations for your website, you have to ask for what you want. Send an email through a social networking site like Naymz, ask for a recommendation and say that you would be glad to give one in return. Then, you can add the recommendations anywhere you want people to read about your amazing skills (i.e. website, blogs, business marketing materials, etc.).

3. Play Socrates: It's easy to talk about what you know, but growth is about exploring what you don't know, which means asking questions. Stimulating rational thinking through inquiry will allow you to gain insight into your clients' needs, networking associates' thoughts and potential partners' ideas. You will become more knowledgeable, and highly regarded in your field. Double the amount of questions that you normally ask to illuminate new ideas and debunk false assumptions.

4. Bring in the Sunshine: When you arrive at your office in the morning, let the first thing you say brighten everyone's day. Human beings tend to mirror each other, so if you put out positive, happy vibes, others will reflect them right back to you.

5. Make a Do-Not-Do List: Sometimes what you choose not-to-do is just as important as what you do choose to-do. For every necessary task that you put on the to-do list, put a corresponding low priority activity on the do-not-do list. This will balance your life and give you greater perspective.

6. Schedule Time to Just Think: Even highly effective people like Stephen Covey and David Allen don't just spend all their time 'do-ing'. You can be a more effective do-er by also building time into your schedule for thinking. Set an appointment-free day for yourself. Put it on your schedule in advance and let your employees know that this day must be kept clear. Use this time for big picture thinking and decision-making. Turn off your phone and your computer and just think.

Use these tips and you'll be on your way to becoming a successful Chic Businesswoman. It's a lifetime pursuit and oftentimes not easy, but take it from me, it's worth the hard work.

Elizabeth Gordon is the author of "The Chic Entrepreneur: Put Your Business in Higher Heels".

Unemployment is at its all time high.

According to the Department of Labor, August unemployment closed out at 6.1%. There were 9.4 million Americans unemployed by the end of August. Not to mention that 810,000 Americans lost their job between May 2008 and August 2008.

There were 7,928,000 Americans seeking full time employment or laid off in August with 1,543,000 seeking part time employment. We can only imagine how bad September was for unemployment as well. People are losing their jobs and companies are cutting budgets. There are fewer jobs available with considerably more people applying for those jobs.

How are YOU going to land a job? There may be thousands of people applying for the same job. What will make YOU get noticed and get the interview?

It may seem like a luxury to spend money on your resume; a luxury that you may not be able to afford. However, ask yourself this question: Can I afford to go one more month or two more months or half a year without a job? Which will cost you more money? Investing money upfront on your resume and interview skills will cost you less in the long run.

The economic situation could possibly get much worse than what we are seeing right now. Are you prepared?

Mom Corps Expert Resumes can help you GET NOTICED. We will pull out the best of who you are and organize it in a powerful resume. We have experience working with professionals changing careers, the unemployed, and moms who are returning back to the workforce after being home raising children – not to mention we work regularly with professionals from the CEO level to the Administrative Assistant level.

Are you ready to invest in securing a job? We can start now. We look forward to working with you and positioning you to be successful in landing that job!

Email expertresumes@momcorps.com or visit our site to learn more and sign up today!

Remember, the seemingly small things do count when it comes to your professional image. For example:

• Ensure your email address is professional. "4kidsthenuthouse@hotmail.com" does not conjure up a professional image in the eyes of HR and hiring managers!

• Keep an email box just for your job search and check it regularly (twice a day at a minimum).

• When designing an email address use your first initial then last name. Or, if this is taken, try first initial.last name. Simple addresses reduce the likelihood of typos.

• Make sure your voice mail greetings at home and on your mobile phones are professional. "This is Jane and I can't find the phone just now. It must be in the back seat because I threw it at my screaming kids," will not do!

• Conduct an online "vanity search" by "Googling" your name. Is there anything you're going to have to explain in an interview? Also check LinkedIn, Facebook, MySpace, Classmates, etc. and ensure your online "presence" is clean and professional.

• Have an "elevator speech" prepared. When you meet networking contacts be prepared to talk about what you're interested in, why you're a good fit and how you'll add value to the company.

• Dress up one notch so that you're professional and polished. Candidates who have been cleaning the house, driving carpools, and making lunches and dinners for years need to throw out their sweats and t-shirts and update their hair and wardrobe to reflect a new professional image!

• Name Drop. Even though your mother told you not to do it, do it anyway! If someone referred you, you should use his or her name. It's okay. HR representatives and hiring managers scan hundreds of resumes and interview many candidates. They will likely give you more consideration if they know someone from within the company put your name forward. (Plus, sometimes those people get cash rewards if their candidate gets hired!)

• Smile during your interview! It's a conversation not an interrogation. Ask questions and talk with your interviewers. Nervousness makes you more tense, but enthusiasm is contagious!

The bottom line: Your physical and cyber images are extremely important! They are a reflection of you! They either say "professional", or they don't. Invest a little time and thought in your appearance and you'll feel great!

Linda Waters is a wife, mother, career coach, and the founder of Back to Business LLC. Back to Business, located in Franklin, Massachusetts, provides a full range of services for women preparing to return to work or seeking a better professional "fit" and more fulfilling career. For more information about Back to Business, the conference and/or career-coaching, please see www.backtobusiness.org.

It may seem difficult to justify the cost of having your resume professionally written – especially if you are not working or seeking a job for financial reasons. However, a vast majority of the resumes received by recruiters and hiring managers miss the mark. This is because most people do not know how to write a resume that will land the job.

The goal of your resume is to GET NOTICED. In most cases you will be applying for a position along with hundreds if not thousands of other candidates. What will get you noticed? How will your resume show that you are the right person for the job? Your resume will need to impress the reader within less than one minute. Most people, (even recruiters and HR professionals), cannot effectively write their own resumes. It truly takes a professional to dig deep into your background and write the details of your capabilities in a way that is a one-to-one match to the job you are applying for.

Smart Software:

A professional will ensure that your resume will get successfully noticed by online recruitment engines (ie. Monster, Career Builder, etc.). Today, a digital resume is the main contact medium for 70% of the nation's employers. Most online recruitment engines have 'smart' software. This software will scan your resume and search for appropriate terms. Your resume will then be given a rating according to how well it matches the job description. When the hiring manager looks through the hundreds of resumes they've received on-line, it will be sorted by the rating (% of how well it matched). Even if you are the most qualified person for the position, if your resume is not written correctly, it may never show up on the recruiter's list.

Launch in Less Than One Minute:

Your resume may be launched into the delete folder in less than a minute. The recruiter will scan your resume quickly, looking for the following:

- Visually professional and well organized

- Trigger words that relate directly with the industry and, more specifically, the open job description

- Accomplishments that give a powerful reflection of your abilities

- Related work experience that is clearly and concisely defined

Resumes from a Book:

There are literally hundreds of books on the market to help you write your own resume. These resources still leave you with the most important work! Again, if you don't know what recruiters are truly looking for then you risk not getting noticed at all.

"Since I started using the services of a professional resume writer I have been called in for an interview for every job I have applied for." Thanks, You Are Your Resume! -Chad Watkins

Having a professional write your resume is an investment into your immediate future. Having a professional write your resume pays BIG dividends!

Before you launch your website or a new version of your old site, be sure to consider these 9 important factors:

1. Branding, Logo, Color, Palette, Design - You should have a compelling logo that looks appealing to the eye, alludes to what your company does and has colors and a shape that your niche market will be attracted to. For example, truckers probably won't look at a webpage that has kitties and flowers with pink and purple all over it.

2. Content - Don't add info your competition shouldn't see. And follow the KISS method and keep it simple, sister. Make sure that at least three sets of eyes look over your content and that between you there are at least five revisions. Your ultimate goal is to get people to call, order, contact you or visit your website.

3. Target an Audience - If you don't know who your target is, how do you expect to market to them? You should know your market inside and out so you can speak to them in their language.

4. Research Web Companies - Ask others about their experiences with web designers/developers to get some tips and hear common issues that they faced. Find samples of sites you like and make sure you know your goals.

5. Budget – Have a surplus amount of money for your website because just like building a house, it usually takes longer than estimated with added expenses.

6. Offerings and Products – On your offerings and product page you should succinctly state what you provide. This should almost be a tagline it is so short. Then there should be another more pages to click through that explain your products/services in more depth.

7. Server/Emails - Ensure that your system doesn't go down. Have a backup plan that you know how to implement in case of disaster or unexpected issue.

8. Capture Information - What kind of customer information do you hope to pull from your site for future marketing? How are you obtaining that information? Do you need a CRM (customer relationship management)? Ask your potential web developer and get specifics so you can capture and use the information your site gathers.

9. Reporting – Know your viewers' point of entry, point of exit and path on the site. This will allow you and/or your developer to see possible roadblocks or issues with navigation. You may need a sitemap to make a complicated website more manageable for viewers.

Elizabeth Gordon is the author of "The Chic Entrepreneur: Put Your Business in Higher Heels".

Have you decided to dust off that resume in hopes of landing that perfect job? Before you pick out a great suit to wear to potential interviews, it's a good idea to spend time upfront polishing your resume. It can be more than a little intimidating if it has been five years since your last full-time position. While you have diverse background in finance or information technology, it may be hard to put into words what you did at your last job and what made you excel at it.

Resumes are very important in our business because it helps us match qualified candidates with prospective employers. We ask you to upload your resume to our database when you first set up your profile. Because we know how overwhelming updating your resume after being out of the workforce can be, we've decided to offer "Expert Resume" services exclusively for our candidates. And when you sign up, we'll throw in a complimentary resume role-play session, an invaluable way to practice for your first interview.

You may think your work experience and skills don't look like much once you have them down on paper. But with the right format, a knock-out cover letter, you're sure to stand out and get noticed for your talents.

We offer a variety of resume service levels to fit your budget. Learn more about our four customized levels, including our "plus" packages that include:

-Cover and Follow Up Letter

-Format

-Reference Page

-Ready to print in PDF and Word Format

-Interview Coaching and One-on-One phone support

-30 days of phone support

-ASCII format for online submission

-Lifetime document storage

Visit http://www.momcorps.com/candidates/resource_guide/expert_resumes/ to learn more.

Well, it certainly did for me!

I had the pleasure of facilitating several management programs for one of our corporate clients in July. What a great experience! Working with people who want to learn and are willing to try new approaches so they can become more successful leaders and help others do the same is such a thrill.

Not surprisingly, a core component of each program - as most of our programs are - was communication. How to be more effective, how to adapt to meet the communication styles of other people, how to listen, how to coach and mentor employees in ways that lead to greater success.

We all know that great communication takes work and how many times have we bypassed the process when pressed for time? Moms know exactly what I mean. Work stresses and jammed personal and professional schedules can make it easy to overlook the impact of how "what we say" and how "we say it" can hinder our ability to achieve our goals more times than we might realize. At a minimum, we might find we are spending time repairing the damage done to relationships that with a few minutes of extra time on the front end would have made unnecessary.

Learning how to say it right from the beginning gives you an advantage personally and professionally. My friend and colleague, Joan Curtis wrote an excellent article called Straight Talk to Say It Just Right. If you read Joan's article you will benefit from her tips and learn how to more honestly express what you think and feel without stepping on the other person. If you'd like a copy of the article, please drop me a note at info@talentbuildersinc.com Include Joan Curtis in the subject line, I'll be happy to send it your way. Better yet – sign up on our website for the Talent Builders e-zine and receive this month's newsletter, which includes Joan's article.

Good communication skills rank near the top of the list of required skills for practically any professional position you might to consider, so doing it well is a must. When you begin with the other person in mind, listen, consider the impact of what and how you say things, and genuinely care enough consider feedback and to adjust your style to meet theirs, that's when real teamwork, coaching and mentoring begins.

©2008

Talent Builders CEO Barbara Giamanco capped a corporate sales career at Microsoft, where she led and trained sales teams and coached executives, before establishing Talent Builders, Inc. in 2002. She has worked with organizations to build high performing executive teams, develop leadership bench strength, improve communication, increase sales, hire the right people the first time, decrease turnover and improve employee retention. Barbara is also the co-founder of the Women's Mentor Network.

For more information on our products and services call 404-459-4030 or visit: www.talentbuildersinc.com.