How do I market myself in a tough job market?

Do you present yourself in the best possible way? No body will represent you better than you. Selling yourself is showing others what you are capable of and promoting your skills, knowledge and experience. Every day you sell yourself. Getting a job is one of the most important sales you will ever make. First impressions are important. The first thing people see is your attitude whether it is on paper on a resume, through a telephone conversation or by meeting you.

Impressions are made through the means you used to get the interview as well as your appearance, hand shake, way you walk, eye contact and the way you speak. Take a good look at yourself. The way you look and dress makes a statement about you. Recognize your strengths and weaknesses. You need to believe in yourself.

Henry Ford, founder of Ford Motor Company said, "If you believe you can do something, or if you believe you can't, in either case you're probably right." It does not matter how much experience you have or where you went to school if a potential employer is unaware of this information.

Getting noticed by networking, joining a local networking group, volunteering to do things in the community and speaking up on matters you consider important are ways of marketing yourself and making connections. Confidence and communications are the key ingredients in marketing yourself in a tough job market.

Your cover letter and resume opens the door to getting an interview. Prepare for the interview by conducting research. Learn all you can about the organization and the job so that you can ask questions and respond to questions at the interview. Treat the interview as a sales pitch about why you would be an asset to the organization. At the interview, be enthusiastic, confident and energetic.

Be aware of your body language. Maintain eye contact with the interviewer. Good interviewers will put you at ease so that you feel comfortable during the process. Listen carefully to the questions. Don't talk yourself out of the job when answering questions. Think about what you want to say and when you're finished, listen for the next question. Always send a thank you note after the interview.

Job recruiters advise their clients, "If you want to be interesting then be interested…this is the most important thing you can do to be notable and stand out from others seeking the same job."

How do I go about changing careers in these economic times?

During tough economic times, many people often reevaluate their careers and look at new opportunities in different industries. Most people change their careers at least once in their life-time. Americans' dissatisfaction with their jobs is at its highest levels according to researchers. Changing a career involves personal and financial risks. One of the major mistakes made by individuals is trying to change a career without a plan.

Risks can be reduced by collecting information and talking with others who have expertise about the career before making a decision. Start by looking at the OCCUPATIONAL OUTLOOK HANDBOOK published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The HANDBOOK describes thousands of different job titles in a wide range of occupations in many industries. Also, read industry and trade publications to learn what it is like to have a job in a particular industry.

You need a strategy since changing careers takes time. Understand what you do well, what you enjoy doing and what you do not want to do. Do not change careers because you do not like your employer or you do not see promotion opportunities where you work.

There is a difference between dissatisfaction with your job and dissatisfaction with your career. There are psychological and vocational tests that are useful in evaluating personality, values, skills, abilities and interests, and recommend careers based on test results. The tests are only one indicator. What you are good at should guide you to your next career. Some careers required advanced degrees, certification or licenses.

With the necessary education and skills, an individual can succeed in any job if the motivation exists and the environment is right. Talk with a career counselor and experienced individuals in the new career you want to enter. The more information you have about alternative careers, the easier it will be in selecting a career.

In considering career alternatives, you need to consider the following questions: What are the things that you did not like about your current career? Do you have skills that are not being used in your current career? What are my transferable skills? What are the skills, education and experience you will need in a new career? What is the cost of changing careers? Some other questions you need to research include: What do job descriptions look like in this career? What is the salary range for these jobs? What is the career path? Do you have to relocate? How demanding is the new career?

You will need to prepare a resume that shows how the strengths you used in your past work can be switched to a new career. Your new resume should reflect your new interests and highlight the skills that would be beneficial to the new career. Even though you might not have actual experience in the new career, you have gained experience in your past positions relevant to the new career. Communicate with people in your new career to build a network.

Changing careers is a big decision. It is like starting all over again. A career change should lead to a job in which you are motivated to succeed.