Job Sites in UK

If you are looking for employment anywhere in Europe, these are the European job sites you need to visit to help you in your job search.

Abrade UK Job Search Engine & Recruitment Agency Directory -- a UK career and job portal, offering a comprehensive collection of UK career advice and job and work related sites. A good starting point for a job-search in the UK. Free to job-seekers.

Academic Career Service in Finland -- for both students and employers, this site represents 19 Finnish universities.

AccountancyAgeJobs.com -- a UK job board for finance and accountancy professionals, with job opportunities ranging from trainee to director. Job-seekers can search job listings (by keywords, location, salary, job type) as well as post your CV. Also includes a job-search agent and career resources. Free to job-seekers.

AdminJobs.ie -- where job-seekers can search for admin jobs, office jobs, HR staff jobs, temp jobs, and part-time jobs in Dublin, Cork, Galway, and across Ireland (by keyword, location, job type, industry), as well as post your CV and register for jobs by email. Includes a good career advice section. No cost to job-seekers.

AllAboutMedicalSales.co.uk -- A job site for locating UK pharmaceutical and medical sales jobs, where job-seekers can browse or search (by keyword, category, location, salary) job listings, as well as lots of career resources and articles. No cost to job-seekers.

AllExecutiveJobs.com -- an executive job site for UK and Europe, where job-seekers can browse or search job listings (by industry, job type, salary (£50,000+), location, keywords), post your CV, and register for a job-search agent. No cost to job-seekers.

alljobsuk.com -- a United Kingdom recruitment portal, with a searchable database of every recruitment firm and job site in the UK, along with major employers and publications. Its missions is to provide comprehensive employment information to job seekers. Free.

AllTheTopBananas -- a UK job search engine, where job-seekers can search for jobs (by keywords, location, salary) as well as post your CV. Clicking on a job listing takes you to the original job posting so you can apply directly. No cost to job-seekers.

Careerjet.ie -- a meta-mega job aggregating site for Ireland in which job listings originating from company sites, recruitment agency sites, and large specialist recruitment sites are compiled, and where job-seekers can search all these job postings (by keywords and location). No cost to job-seekers.

Career Magazine UK -- a UK job site, where job-seekers can search job listings (by keywords, location, industry, and posting date) as well as post your CV. No cost to job-seekers.

CareersInAudit (CIA) -- a job site for auditors in Europe, where job-seekers can search job listings (by job type, keyword, location, language, industry), as well as post your CV and profile, register for a job alert system, track your applications, and find a recruiter. No cost to job-seekers.

Catapulta.it -- An Italian job site that lists approximately 10,000 job vacancies throughout the country. Job-seekers can search job listings (by keyword, industry, job, and location), as well as post up to 5 CVs, and register for email-based job-search agent. Also includes a nice collection of career resources and links. No cost to job-seekers.

ClickAJob -- a UK-based meta-mega job board, where job-seekers can search job listings from more than 200 job sites (using keywords, location, job type, salary), browse jobs by sector/industry, post your CV, register for an email job altert, and find informative career information. No cost to job-seekers.

company, meet creative -- a UK job site for design and creative jobs -- including part-time, freelance, contract, and full-time positions. Job-seekers can search job listings (by keyword, location) or browse all listings. No cost to job-seekers.

ComputerJobs.ie -- a job site for job-seekers searching for Irish IT and computer (hardware and software) jobs, where you can search job listings (by experience/expertise, location, keywords), post your CV, and register for an email job-matching service. The site also includes an IT resource center with great links and resources. No cost to job-seekers.

CV-library.uk -- a job site for job-seekers searching for jobs in the UK, where you can search jobs (by keyword, industry, location,and posting date), post your CV, and register for a job-matching service. No cost to job-seekers.

DayJob.com -- an IT jobs and SAP jobs site for the UK and abroad, where job-seekers can search job postings (by keyword, position, job type, and location), as well as post your CV or register for a job-search agent. No cost to job-seekers.

Easy4More -- a job site for job-seekers seeking jobs in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, where job-seekers can search job listings as well as post your resume. No cost to job-seekers.

Educational Vacancies -- for job-seekers looking for educational employment in the UK. Search or browse job listings, upload your CV, and apply for positions.

Employers Jobs -- an online recruitment portal for the UK that connects employers and job-seekers directly; recruiters or other employment agencies cannot post job listings. Job-seekers can browse or search job postings. Registration required. Free to job-seekers.

EmployIreland -- a great job board for job-seekers searching for jobs in Ireland, where you can browse (by company, location, job) or search job listings (by keywords, location, job category, employment type), as well as post your CV. Free to job-seekers.

EOLAS recruitment -- an IT and computer jobs recruiter based in Dublin, Ireland, offering both permanent and contract job opportunities. Search job listings (by job type, job title) as well as post your CV. Free to job-seekers.

EuroHRjobs.com -- a Europe-wide job board, connecting HR professionals with employers, organizations and recruiters who are seeking qualified individuals for their challenging national and international human resources vacancies. Job-seekers can search listings (by country, specialty, job type, keywords). No cost to job-seekers.

Executives on the Web -- where rising middle managers and top managers can find executive and management jobs across the UK and Europe. Job-seekers can search open positions (by level, sector, location, keywords), as well as post your CV, register for an jobs by email service, and find career advice. Free to job-seekers.

Eurobrussels.com -- for job-seekers searching for jobs in Brussels with a variety of companies and EU institutions. You can browse listings that are updated daily. Also includes information on internships and traineeships in Brussels. No cost to job-seekers.

EuroJobs -- where job-seekers looking for employment in Europe can post your resumes/CVs, search for job listings by country, and subscribe to a job robot that emails new vacancies to your email account. Free to job-seekers.

exec-appointments.com -- a U.K.-based recruitment site for executives searching for career, interim, and contract positions in Europe across all industry sectors, including accounting, banking, IT, manufacturing, marketing and sales, and retail. Free to job-seekers.

Fish4Jobs -- where job-seekers looking for a job in the U.K. can search for jobs, get email notifications of matching jobs, find salary information, and other career information (for sales, marketing, IT, engineering, construction, accounting, and secretarial careers). Also includes a career resources section with help on writing CVs, interviewing, and more. Free to job-seekers.

Green Jobs Hub -- a UK-based online source for environmental jobs, where job-seekers can search (by job type, location, keyword) or browse job listings, upload your CV, register for email job posting alerts, and find news and salary information. No cost to job-seekers.

Hcareers.co.uk -- a UK job site for the worldwide hospitality industry, where job-seekers can search thousands of hotel, restaurant, casino, catering, and cruise ship job listings (by job type, location, keyword), post your CV, and register for a job-matching service. No cost to job-seekers.

icerecruit.com -- the official online recruitment site for the Institute of Civil Engineers, where job-seekers searching for jobs in the UK (as well as some internationally) can search job listings (by keywords, job sector, location, and job type) and post your professional profile. Also include company profiles. No cost to job-seekers.

hoteljobs.ie -- Ireland's leading hospitality, hotel and catering job site, offering job seekers the ability to make contact with employers offering full-time, part-time or casual jobs as well as summer jobs in all job categories, including chef, waiter/waitress, bar staff, manager, receptionist, porter. Search jobs, post your CV, and find tips and other resources. Free to job-seekers.

InAutomotive.com -- a job board for autoworkers in the UK, where job-seekers can search job listings (by trade, location, job title), upload your CV, and register for a job alert system. No cost to job-seekers.

Inspiring Interns -- an internship site for students throughout the UK and Europe who desire to intern in or near London. Students seeking internships submit a CV and, if approved, get an interview. The company then matches interns with employers. The company can also assist aspiring interns with things such as travel cards and accommodation. No cost to job-seekers.

International Pharmajobs.com -- for life sciences professionals in Europe and the U.S., where you can search job listings (by keywords, field of interest, and location), post your resume/CV, and register for a job-search agent. Also publishes free industry newsletter (PharmaTalk). Free to job-seekers.

I-resign.com -- a complete career site for job-seekers. While based in the UK, has great advice not only about resigning (which is comprehensive), but also resources for all aspects of job-hunting (including articles and tools)...and more. Free to job-seekers.

IrelandJobs.ie -- a great resource for job-seekers searching for jobs in Ireland, where you can browse or search (by location, job category, and keywords) the job listings database, post your CV, and register for a job-search agent. Free to job-seekers.

Irish Jobs Page -- as Ireland's longest established recruitment site, The Irish Jobs Page provides a meeting point for job-seekers and recruiters to get in touch with each other. An excellent resource.

IT Jobs Online -- a job site for IT professionals seeking employment in the U.K. and throughout Europe. Job-seekers can search by job listings (by skills, county, job type, and keywords), register, and then apply directly to each position. No cost to job-seekers.

JobConnect -- a job site for job-seekers searching for jobs in Italy and the rest of Europe, where job-seekers can browse or search job listings (by keyword, location, and skill area), post your CV, and register for an email job-matching service. No cost to job-seekers.

Jobrapido.co.uk -- a UK-based meta-mega job search engine that allows job-seekers to search (by keyword and location) or browse (by location) job listings on all UK job boards, recruiting agencies, and company Websites. No cost to job-seekers.

JobsCareers24.co.uk -- a UK meta job-search engine that pulls job listings from all the major job boards. Job-seekers can browse job categories, search job listings (by keyword and location), and register a job-search agent. Also offers job and career forums and lots of links. No cost to job-seekers.

Jobs Finder -- a job site for job-seekers searching for jobs in Ireland (and parts of the UK), where you can search job listings (by job category, location, employment type, and keywords), as well as post your CV, and receive new job listings by text to your mobile. Includes some career advice. No cost to job-seekers.

JobSearch -- where job-seekers can search for UK job openings or post your resumes. Jobs database has more than 10,000 vacancies. Free to job-seekers.

jobsearch.ie -- an Irish job site (with some job listings outside Ireland), where job-seekers can search job listings (by category, location, employmwent type, keyword) or browse job listings by category. Includes CV tips and other career-related advice. No cost to job-seekers.

Jobsearchlive.com -- a job portal (composed of a network of recruitment agencies and job boards) for UK job-seekers covering all industries and sectors. Job-seekers can browse or search job listings (by location or keywords), as well as post your CV. You can also register for an email job matching service. No cost to job-seekers.

Jobserve -- a UK-based job site that has job postings in IT, accounting, engineering, sales and marketing, finance and insurance, office administration, legal, and medical/healthcare. Job-seekers can browse job postings, submit a profile, and sign-up for a daily email of new job postings. Free to job-seekers.

Jobs in Amsterdam -- a job site for English-speaking professionals seeking job opportunities in Amsterdam and the rest of The Netherlands, where job-seekers can browse job listings by industry, with links directly to the employer sites. Includes helpful resources. Part of the JobsinHubs.com family of sites. No cost to job-seekers.

Jobs in Berlin (Germany) -- a job board for finding job listings in Germany for which the primary language is English. Job-seekers can browse all job postings or review jobs by category or employer. Part of the JobsinHubs.com family. No cost to job-seekers.

Jobs in Copenhagen (Denmark) -- a job site for English-speaking job-seekers searching for jobs in Denmark. Job-seekers can browse job listings by industry, subscribe to a weekly jobs newsletter, and find useful information and links. No cost to job-seekers.

Jobs in Rome -- a job site for English-speaking professionals seeking job opportunities in Rome and the rest of Italy, where job-seekers can browse job listings by industry, with links directly to the employer sites. Part of the JobsinHubs.com family of sites. No cost to job-seekers.

JobsInStockholm -- an employment site for English-speaking professionals seeking job opportunities in Stockholm (and other parts of Sweden), where job-seekers can browse job listings by industry, with links directly to the employer sites. Part of the JobsinHubs.com family of sites. No cost to job-seekers.

Jobs in Zurich -- a job site for English-speaking professionals seeking job opportunities in Zurich and parts of the rest of Switzerland, where job-seekers can browse job listings by industry, with links directly to the employer sites. Includes helpful resources. Part of the JobsinHubs.com family of sites. No cost to job-seekers.

Jobsite UK -- where job-seekers can search (by job title, location, industry, posting date, and keywords) through thousands of jobs in the UK and Europe. Job-seekers can also register to received targeted jobs by email, get industry and career advice, and send your CV to recruitment agencies. Free to job-seekers.

Jobs.ie -- where job-seekers searching for employment in Ireland can search job listings (by location, category, or job type), browse job listings, and post your CV. A great site for locating Irish job postings. Free to job-seekers.

Jobsin.co.uk -- a job site offering several job boards with a range of vacancies from junior positions through managing directors. Job-seekers can search for jobs (by industry, geographic location or specific organization), utilize a job search agent, and post your CV. Free to job-seekers.

jobsinhotels.co.uk -- where job-seekers who are seeking employment in the hotel and hospitality industry in the United Kingdom can find essential recruitment and training information about various careers and jobs. Links to the major hospitality employers. Free to job-seekers.

JobsinWales.com -- where you can find employment in Wales. Job-seekers can post your CV (curriculum vitae) or search for jobs. Free to job-seekers.

Jobsite UK -- a leading UK job search engine, where job-seekers can search for professional jobs in a number of fields, including: IT/Networking/Communications, Engineering, Banking/Finance, Accountancy, Sales and Marketing, and more.

Jobs in Ukraine -- a top job site for Ukraine, where job-seekers can search job listings (by industry, location, job title or salary) or upload your resume. Also includes a work-abroad section for Ukraine job-seekers who seek work outside the country. No cost to job-seekers.

Jobs Unlimited -- one of the top UK job sites, including a searchable database of jobs in the Manchester area. From MEN Media.

jobtosuityou.co.uk -- a UK job site, with job listings in a wide variety of fields from leading recruitment agencies. Job-seekers can browse job postings and apply after registering and posting your CV. Includes some career resources. Free to job-seekers.

jobs2ireland.ie -- a job board for Irish job-seekers, where you can search job postings (by keyword, job category, location), as well as upload your CV. Includes career resources to help fulfill site's mission to elevate the careers of Irish job-seekers. No cost to job-seekers.

Leisure Jobs -- where job-seekers searching for jobs in the leisure industry (including fitness, bars/pubs, entertainment, restaurants, and hotels) in the U.K. can search job listings (by location and job type), post your CV, register for jobs via email, subscribe to leisure industry newsletter, and find career resources. Free to job-seekers.

MyCateringJobs.com -- a UK job site providing job-seekers with vacancies in hotels, bars, restaurants, fast food and retail sectors throughout the catering, hospitality, food and beverage industries. Job-seekers can search listings (by keyword, location, job sector), register for email alerts, and post your CV. No cost to job-seekers.

MyJob.ie -- where job-seekers looking for employment in Ireland can search for job postings (by job type, location, citizenship). Registration is completed automatically after job-search. Job-seekers can also register for email job posting alerts. Free to job-seekers.

My Job Search -- a job-search engine for the UK that indexes thousands of job sites, including job boards and portals, agency sites, and employer sites. Job-seekers can search job listings (by keywords or location) as well as create job alerts. No cost to job-seekers.

New-Gen -- a European multinational job board, where job-seekers can search for job listings (by functional experience, industry experience, location, keyword), browse job listings by job category, and post your CV/profile. No cost to job-seekers.

nixers.com -- an Irish job site specializing in all types of jobs for 18-30 year-olds. Job-seekers can search for jobs (by location and type), post your CV, and register for an email job matching service. A nixer is Irish slang for a little job. Free to job-seekers.

One Job Group -- an umbrella site for an organization that runs more than 50 specialist sites (covering most major industry/professional groups) for UK job-seekers -- where you can search by keywords and location, as well as post your CV. No cost to job-seekers.

recruITALY -- a great site for job-seekers -- especially younger job-seekers -- looking for employment in Italy. Job-seekers can post your CV and search job postings. You can also find information on career fairs, preparing an Italian CV, and other Italian and international job links. Free to job-seekers.

Redgoldfish Jobs -- where job-seekers can search job listings across all industries throughout the UK. Job-seekers can search (by industry, location, keywords), as well as build and post your CV, find career resources, and register for a job-search agent. Free to job-seekers.

Sales Jobs in Ireland -- a job site for job-seekers searching for Irish sales jobs in all industries, where you can search jobs, post your CV, and register for an email job-matching service. The site also includes sales tips, sales training, and a monthly newsletter. No cost to job-seekers.

SalesVacancies.com -- a great site for looking for sales jobs in the UK. Job-seekers can search for jobs (by keywords, industry, job title, location, salary) as well as post your CV. Also includes company profiles and discussion forum. Currently more than 1,000 job listings. Free to job-seekers.

Show Me Jobs -- a UK job board, where job-seekers can search job listings (by keyword, location). Claims to have more than 30,000 unique job postings. No cost to job-seekers.

StepStone -- one of Europe's leading career and recruitment job sites, currently offering more than 80,000 job vacancies in 16 European countries. Job-seekers can browse jobs by country and industry, post your CV, and sign up for a job search agent. Free to job-seekers.

Simply Marketing Jobs -- a UK job site for marketing professionals -- in advertising, public relations, branding, direct marketing, market research, all areas of marketing -- where job-seekers can search job listings (by keyword, specialization, keyword) and post your CV. No cost to job-seekers.

SimplySalesJobs -- a UK job site for sales professionals, where job-seekers can search (by keywords, location, job type) thousands of job listings from UK employers and recruiters, post your CV, and register for a job-search agent. No cost to job-seekers.

Tax Jobs UK -- where job-seekers seeking vacancies in banking, mergers and acquisitions, compliance, stamp duty, and tax jobs can search job listings, post your CV, and register for email job alerts. Also includes career information, industry news and conferences. No cost to job-seekers.

Technojobs -- covering mostly the UK and Europe, where job-seekers can search for IT jobs, post your CVs, and subscribe to a "jobs by email" program that sends you new job postings that match your expertise. Free to job-seekers.

TheJob.ie -- an Irish job Website offering jobs in customer service, administration, retail shops, hotels, and restaurants, where job-seekers can browse the latest job listings or search by keyword, location, job type -- and apply directly to the prospective employers. No cost to job-seekers.

TipTopJob.com -- a UK job site where job-seekers can search for jobs worldwide (by job type, industry, location, keywords), post your CV, and register to receiving job matches by email. Also includes a helpful career center. No cost to job-seekers.

Top Jobs UK -- where job-seekers searching for employment in Europe can conduct a detailed search for jobs, subscribe to a email-based jobs alert, get company profiles, and read career tips. Free to job-seekers.

totaljobs.com -- a UK job board, where job-seekers can search job listings (by keyword, job type, industry, location), post your CV, register for a job-search agent, and obtain instant job matching. You'll also find career advice and industry information, as well as links to employers and recruitment agencies. No cost to job-seekers.

UK Jobs Network -- an excellent source for UK job-seekers because it's an umbrella site for a growing network of UK job web sites, where you can search (by job title and location) or browse job listings, as well as follow links to the best UK career web sites to post your CV. No-cost to job-seekers.

Wemploy Recruitment Specialists Spain -- a job site for job-seekers searching for jobs in Spain and Gibraltar, where you can search job listings (by industry and keyword), post your CV, and find useful resources and links for job-seekers. No cost to job-seekers.

WORKgateways -- a UK job site for travellers from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa who are searching for UK-based jobs in engineering, construction, and town planing. Includes some great resources and useful UK links. Registration required. Free to job-seekers.

WorksFM -- a leading European diversity and ethnic recruiting site, where job-seekers can search job listings (by keyword, location, job) as well as post your CV. You can also create a job-search agent and find some career advice. No cost to job-seekers.

Nine Secrets to Effective Business Problem Solving

Creating a start up, or managing any business, is all about problem solving. Some people are good at it and some are not – independent of their IQ or their academic credentials (there may even be an inverse relationship here). Yet I’m convinced that problem solving is a learn able trait, rather than just a birthright.

Entrepreneurs who are great problem solvers within any business are the best prepared to solve their customers’ needs effectively as well. In fact, every business is about solutions to customer problems – no problems, no business. Problems are an everyday part of every business and personal environment.

Thus it behooves all of us work on mastering the discipline of problem solving. Here is a formula from Brian Tracy, in his book “The Power of Self-Discipline” that I believe will help entrepreneurs move up a notch in this category:

1. Take the time to define the problem clearly. Many executives like to jump into solution mode immediately, even before they understand the issue. In some cases, a small problem can become a big one with inappropriate actions. In all cases, real clarity will expedite the path ahead.

2. Pursue alternate paths on “facts of life” and opportunities. Remember, there are some things that you can do nothing about. They’re not problems; they are merely facts of life. Often, what appears to be a problem is actually an opportunity in disguise.

3. Challenge the definition from all angles. Beware of any problem for which there is only one definition. The more ways you can define a problem, the more likely it is that you will find the best solution. For example, “sales are too low” may mean strong competitors, ineffective advertising, or a poor sales process.

4. Iteratively question the cause of the problem. This is all about finding the root cause, rather than treating a symptom. If you don’t get to the root, the problem will likely recur, perhaps with different symptoms. Don’t waste time re-solving the same problem.

5. Identify multiple possible solutions. The more possible solutions you develop, the more likely you will come up with the right one. The quality of the solution seems to be in direct proportion to the quantity of solutions considered in problem solving.

6. Prioritize potential solutions. An acceptable solution, doable now, is usually superior to an excellent solution with higher complexity, longer time frame, and higher cost. There is a rule that says that every large problem was once a small problem that could have been solved easily at that time.

7. Make a decision. Select a solution, any solution, and then decide on a course of action. The longer you put off deciding on what to do, the higher the cost, and the larger the impact. Your objective should be to deal with 80% of all problems immediately. At the very least, set a specific deadline for making a decision and stick to it.

8. Assign responsibility. Who exactly is going to carry out the solution or the different elements of the solution? Otherwise nothing will happen, and you have no recourse but to implement all solutions yourself.

9. Set a measure for the solution. Otherwise you will have no way of knowing when and whether the problem was solved. Problem solutions in a complex system often have unintended side effects which can be worse than the original problem.

People who are good at problem solving are some of the most valuable and respected people in every area. In fact, success if often defined as “the ability to solve problems.”

Establishing a Career Plan

This article describes that different steps that are involved in establishing a career plan. By establishing a plan, a student may be able to stay on track and stay motivated in school.

Evaluate Yourself

When you begin thinking about your career, you may want to establish a career plan. Before you start sketching out a plan, you may want to begin by evaluating yourself. Get to know your strengths, weaknesses, preferences, aptitude and personality traits. By being aware of these personal aspects, you may be inspired to look at other career options that you have not considered before. It may also give you a better sense of what careers are best suited for you. If sitting down and thinking about yourself doesn't help, you may want to take a career assessment test at your career center.

Interest and Qualification

Next, you may want to make a list of careers that best fits your interests. Put anything on the list that you may be interested in, and don't worry about meeting the qualifications yet. This exercise allows you to get an idea of what you're interested in before you begin researching the careers more thoroughly. It may also help you realize that your goals and interests have changed.

Research and Other Plans

After you have a list of possible careers, you may want to pick your favorites and begin researching. Research may involve talking to people who are in that field, speaking to a career counselor, reading career guide books or surfing different websites. Researching may help you get a better understanding of the careers your interested in. When you're researching what types of tasks are involved in your career choices, you may also want to find out what companies hire people in this field. If you're able to talk to somebody from a company, you may want to find out if the company offers any mobility in your field. You may also want to consider other plans that you had in mind. Do you want to get married before you are thirty? Do you want to have kids? Would the demands of this job conflict with any of these plans?

Take Decision

Now that you have done the research, you may want to decide on a specific career that you want to pursue. After you decide on a career, you may want to start researching what type of a major is associated with this field and if a minor in anything would be beneficial. You may want to see if a license is required. Some careers don't require a degree, but instead they require a license. Licenses may be attained through community colleges, vocational school or an accredited occupation program. Finding out your career's requirements may help you stay on track while you're in school. Having this goal during college may also help to keep you motivated especially when things begin getting difficult.

Choosing a Good Job Reference

In this article, we're going to thoroughly discuss the topic of job references. That discussion will include the steps involved when choosing a good reference, composing a reference list, and even writing a job reference letter. Finally, we're going to finish up with a brief discussion of job references that are difficult to control.

Choosing a Good Job Reference

Picking a good employment reference goes beyond developing the right selection criteria. You have to make sure your reference knows they are being used as a reference, and they are prepared to answer any questions they might be asked by a potential employer.

It's also a good idea to collect contact information, and prepare a summary list of references that you can share with an employer. Finally, in some instances it may be appropriate to ask a reference to prepare a written letter. With all that in mind, here are the exact steps we recommend:

Choosing References

Picking the right employment reference is a difficult decision. You're going to want to pick individuals that you can rely on to provide a strong recommendation. You shouldn't feel obligated to pick former supervisors or managers; especially if you don't think they are able to provide an accurate assessment of your strengths and accomplishments.

Many times the best references turn out to be former coworkers, or persons in other departments that are familiar with the quality of your work. Whomever you pick, you need to make sure they have every reason to answer any questions positively.

Select a Mix of References

Since you're going to need around five references, you should think about selecting a diverse mix of associates. For example, you may want to select former supervisors, coworkers, business partners, former professors, coaches, and even customers.

You should avoid selecting personal friends and family members. You should also make sure that the people you select are able to answer a simple range of questions such as:

• Can you explain to me why (the job candidate) left their last job?
• Can you tell me if (the job candidate) ever held this job title - (title listed on resume)?
• Was (the job candidate) ever promoted while working for your company?
• How would you characterize (the job candidate)'s relationship with coworkers?
• What do you think are (the job candidate)'s strengths and weaknesses?
• How well did (the job candidate) work when under pressure or tight deadlines?

Asking Permission

If you're going to list someone as a job reference, then make sure you have their permission before listing their name on a document. If you've picked the right people, they should be glad to help you find a job. In fact, many of them will be flattered by this opportunity.

You should also be prepared for rejection. Some people are just not comfortable acting as a reference. Don't be discouraged if someone turns down the offer - it happens.

Gather Up Contact Information

Once someone has a

greed to act as a job reference, you need to make sure the contact information you have is complete and accurate. This information includes names, job titles, company names, work address, as well as direct contact information. This last category includes email addresses, cell phones, day and evening telephone numbers.

Briefing References

Some of the people you pick as references may not be familiar with your current job duties, responsibilities, and accomplishments. Do them and yourself a favor and make sure they are aware of what you believe are your strengths and accomplishments.

Your references should also be familiar with your career plans, including the types of jobs or positions to which y

ou're applying. It's also a good idea to send your references a copy of your resume.

Maintaining References

Finally, you need to maintain contact with your references. Make sure they are up-to-date on your career, and you'll certainly want to give them a call if you think an employer is going to be contacting them with some questions.

Maintaining good job references can take some work. In some cases a simple telephone call is adequate, in other cases you might want to have a quick discussion over lunch or a cup of coffee.

Putting a List of References Together

After you've finalized your list of job references, you're going to want to put together a list of all your references. This way if an employer asks you for a copy at the end of a job interview, then you can quickly provide the interviewer with a current list.

All of our resume-writing tutorials recommend that you do not include references as part of your resume. We believe that references should be included in a separate document that is labeled as such. The general format you should follow is described below.

Example Job Reference Format

The format for each job reference is pretty simple. You'll want to include:

• Full Name
• Current Job Title
• Company Name
• Street Address
• City, State, Zip Code
• Telephone Number
• Email Address

We've included a template for creating your own job reference list. The following is a link to our Sample Job Reference List that you can download and customize to suit your individual needs.

Reference Letters / Letters of Recommendation

It's not a very common practice today, but you might be asked by an employer to have a reference write a letter of recommendation. If so, we'd suggest that you ask your reference to include the following elements in that letter:

• Professional Connection - this is a brief description indicating how your reference has come to know you, and why they are qualified to write a letter of recommendation.
• Job Qualifications - this part of the letter should explain your qualifications, skills, achievements, and how these attributes make you a valuable addition to any company.
• Conclusion / Summary Statement - this is a simple statement indicating that this reference would highly recommend you for their job opening as well as their contact information. This way if the reader has any follow-up questions they can quickly get in touch with your reference.
  

  Modern

Day References

One final mention we'd like to make on this topic has to do with job references that are difficult to control. In an effort to save some of the time involved with face-to-face job interviews, many companies are turning to the search engine powers found on the Internet, such as Google, to find information on job candidates. Websites such as Facebook, Twitter, or MySpace can also provide insights that a traditional job interview can't.

In fact, websites specializing in "connecting" professional such as LinkedIn and Jobster allow recruiters to quickly identify coworkers, past and present. Unfortunately, these references are not always the ones you'd like to have speaking about you to a potential employer.

Breaking Out of Long-Term Unemployment

Six Ways to Prevent Being Unemployed from Hurting Your Resume and Your Outlook

Long-term unemployment can wreak havoc on a person's sense of self-worth and well-being. Worse, big resume gaps or current unemployment may also mark a job seeker as "damaged goods" and make a long job search even longer.

"I wouldn't say the bias [against hiring the unemployed] is pervasive, but too many hiring managers don't realize that the world has changed and that people have had a hard time finding jobs through no fault of their own," says Cheryl Ferguson, president of Recruiter's Studio and recruiter for Decision Toolbox.

Throw in the towel? Don't even think about it, career experts say. They suggest these practical steps to help even the most discouraged unemployed job seeker get motivated and beat the odds.

Check Your Mental Attitudes

It's a vicious circle: The longer you're out of work, the more anxious, insecure or depressed you may be -- and this can hurt your chances of landing a job. "Attitude is a crucial part of the job search, and unfortunately it's easy to be caught up in negative mental self-talk, especially with the media telling us how terrible everything is," says Helaine Z. Harris, a Los Angeles-based psychotherapist.

If anxiety or depression is significant, don't be afraid to seek counseling. If that's not an option, simple calming breaths and even meditation can be effective, Harris says. "It's essential to relax and clear the mind, so you'll know the right actions to take and be able to magnetize the opportunities you want." Connecting with nurturing friends and sharing your feelings about being unemployed can also help if you're feeling isolated.

Move Your Body

There's documented evidence that physical exercise improves mental health and reduces anxiety. And a gym regimen or even daily walks around the neighborhood can help your job search by adding structure to your day. "Regular exercise creates more self-discipline and shows that you can do hard things, which makes it easier to handle tasks like making difficult phone calls," says Penelope Trunk, creator of the social network site Brazen Careerist.

Step Away from the Computer

Job boards and social networking sites such as Twitter can be helpful, but they are not the only ways to connect. And relying on them can perpetuate the unemployment "hermit" trap. "If you've been out of circulation for a while, you have to remind people you're still around," Ferguson says. "You're also likely to be a little rusty in networking, so it's important to get out once or twice a week at least for a face-to-face meeting, lunch or networking event."

Re-Examine Employment Strategies and Tactics

With a clearer mind, an energized body and a fuller social calendar, you can better gauge the effectiveness of your search. Career coach and author Dr. Marty Nemko urges unemployed job hunters not to assume they've been doing everything right.

"Are you really spending 30 hours a week job searching? Do you have a job search buddy, so you can be accountable to each other? Are you active in your professional association, in-person and online? After an interview, have you sent a proposal that explains what you'd do for the employer? Have you followed up relentlessly with warm leads? If you've done all of those things and still aren't getting a job, you probably need to change your job target to a more in-demand job title or a lower-level job," Nemko says.

Fill the Resume Gap

A resume should be a history of things you've accomplished, not necessarily a chronology of things you've been paid for, according to Trunk. With that philosophy, there's no reason to have a gap in your resume. "There are very few professions where you have to be on the payroll in order to do the work," Trunk says. "If you're a programmer, write a patch on your own time. If you're a shoe designer, design your own shoes. Just do it. You'll have something to show on the resume, and you'll be taking back your power."

Don't Be Defensive About Unemployment

You've been out of work for a while. So what? So have many of the other candidates. "Don't hide the fact you've been unemployed," says John M. McKee, job coach and founder of BussinessSuccessCoach.net. "People won't hire others who are prickly."

McKee adds that you might need to stop saying the word "unemployed" if the word is getting in your way. Trunk agrees. "When someone asks what you're doing now, don't say you're out of work, because you're not," she says. "You're just not getting paid. Talk about the projects you've done and what you're learning, and then mention, 'I'm looking for a paid position like this.'"