Looking for work? Expert has some advice

YAKIMA, Wash. -- Debra Yergen, 38, is a freelance writer and author of "Creating Job Security Resource Guide" and "Creating Job Security: The 2009 All-in-One Workbook." She has spent the past seven years speaking and writing about the "Green Light Scoring Model," a process she developed to help people determine their ideal job and career based on several criteria including income, creativity, flexibility and longevity.

Before writing about job hunting, she worked in senior writer positions for several companies, including Washington Mutual and SunGard.

She writes about job market trends on her blog, creatingjobsecurity.blogspot.com.

Here, Yergen shares her tips about the job seeking process.

What things do you need when starting the job search?

First of all, you have to treat yourself like a "product" you would want to personally acquire. If you were buying a new television, you would look at size, screen, price, how it would fit with your other furnishings, and other things that were important to you. When hiring managers look to fill positions, they go through a similar process.

The reason I recommend a tool like the "Green Light Scoring Model" is because it provides an objective mathematical analysis of how your skills and experiences best translate to the ideal job for you right now. It breaks down your strengths into numbers so your "desire" is not overshadowing reality. It's very difficult for most people to realistically evaluate their worth as an employment commodity without under- or overvaluing what they bring to the table.

The second step is to make sure your presentation materials (resume, cover letter, work samples if relevant) accurately reflect your skills and capabilities.

Finally, make sure you seek (job hunting) resources from a qualified source. When I put together the "Creating Job Security Resource Guide," there were additional resources I would have added if I hadn't taken the time to review each one. I found one resource that was stellar on the outside, but when I signed up for their service they tried to scam me.

Which traditional job hunting method do you feel is ineffective?

What's ineffective is to send out a generalized message (and) blanket your resume across a plethora of jobs and fields without tailoring them to each position. And a lot of people do that. They have one resume that they post over and over. They don't tailor the cover letter. They don't tailor the resume. Basically, they're not really preparing themselves to apply for that position.

What should you do instead?

You want to narrow the list to jobs you are best at. What traits, what talents, what hobbies and what experiences can you bring (to those jobs)? Once you have that set of jobs to look at, you have to envision yourself in each one of those roles. When you send a resume, when you send a cover letter, you need to speak to that job individually and specifically.

What should you do if you apply for a bunch of positions with a tailored resume and cover letter and still haven't heard from anyone?

It could be that you are applying for positions for which you are either underqualified, or due to the economy, it could be that prospective employers have such a huge selection pool that you are being overlooked.

It could also be that you are sending in resumes and/or cover letters with spelling or grammar errors. Talk to a career counselor at a local college or technical school about your resume and cover letter, and ask for their advice. Don't seek advice from friends and family, because the truth might be really hard to hear and you don't want to put them in a position of saying something that might hurt your feelings. Plus, your friends and family may not have a good grasp of the economy and the job market.

What's the best way to prepare for a job interview?

Learn more about the company that's interested in you. Get your hands on its printed material and its Web site. If it's an open facility, such as a hospital or a restaurant, visit the location and sit back and observe the culture. Then prepare yourself, physically and mentally. Make sure to get a good night's sleep before your interview. Tidy grooming and good rest will give you a physical and mental edge. Listen to music that makes you feel confident before you walk in.

And smile. Walking in with great energy will make your interviewers more interested in really hearing what you have to say.

Do's and don'ts of the job hunt

DO:

... keep your resume updated, even if you're still employed. You can't predict the future, but you can prepare for it.

... think about taking temporary positions. A temp job will help you pay your bills, but it may also keep your skills sharp, enable you to meet new people or explore a new career.

... look to develop new skills. Take the time and find ways to make yourself a more desirable candidate by doing activities such as taking a class or volunteering for a charity.

... pick your target. Use the job hunt to meet people at a company you're interested in, even if it doesn't have any openings. The initial contact may lead to a job down the road.

... stay open to social networking sites such as LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook. Networking has always been an important part of the job hunting process. With these Web sites, networking is easier than ever. Follow your favorite job recruiters on Twitter or use a site like Facebook to notify family and friends about what jobs you're searching for.

DON'T:

... let your pride stand between you and your financial security. While it's important to keep a job search focused, don't spend all your time looking for that "perfect job." In doing so, you might miss a job that may meet most of your needs. If a job meets your financial and emotional requirements, you should be willing to overlook the not-so-perfect aspects.

... pigeonhole yourself. Don't limit yourself to what you've done in the past or automatically disregard an opportunity that doesn't seem like a perfect fit on the surface. Look more closely at a job and the skills it requires. For example, being a teacher may sound a lot different than being a funeral director on the surface, but a closer look shows that both jobs require good people skills.

... let negative thoughts take over. Being unemployed can be discouraging, but a bad attitude can carry over to the job interview. To stay positive, set up simple daily goals and reward yourself when you complete them.

... forget what you've learned. If you find a job, don't shelve all the networking and other skills you worked on during the job hunt. Chances are the job won't be your last.

SOURCE: Debra Yergen, Monster.com, Careerbuilder.com.

Yakima County unemployment rate

(April's figures are preliminary; the rest are revised.)

April 2009, 9.9% April 2008, 6.4%

March 2009, 10.1% March 2008, 6.9%

February 2009, 10.1% February 2008, 7.9%

January 2009, 10.7% January 2008, 8.6%

December 2008, 9.3% December 2007, 7.8%

November 2008, 7.3% November 2007, 6.7%

October 2008, 5.2% October 2007, 4.2%

September 2008, 5.1% September 2007, 4.4%

August 2008, 7.2% August 2009, 5.7%

July 2008, 6.2% July 2007, 5.4%

June 2008, 6.5% June 2007, 5.3%

May 2008, 6.6% May 2007, 5.7%

SOURCE: Employment Security Department

Looking for a job?

* WorkSource. WorkSource is a joint venture of several state organizations to address employment needs. Local WorkSource offices provide computers with Internet access, job hunting workshops and job listings. Log on to https://fortress.wa.gov/esd/worksource for online job resources and the location of the nearest WorkSource office.

* Yakima Valley Career Connection Center. The center provides job training and programs to help unemployed workers interested in returning to school to change careers. Call 509-574-4977 or visit www.yvcc.edu/programs/CareerConnection/customized.asp.