Although this is considered a “buyers” market and the employer is the ultimate shopper, the candidates employment situation is not necessarily the first thing employers look at when they consider a candidate for a job.  It’s true that the employer has their pick of the lot these days with the number of unemployed job seekers perhaps outnumbering the employed job seekers who apply for the same job. That does not mean that those who are unemployed stand a worse chance at being seriously considered. It does mean that you have more competition in your job search and employers can decide whom they want to consider from both the employed as well as unemployed pool of candidates.  Recruiters will consider anyone who is qualified for a job and meet all of the areas of experience required for the position regardless in most cases whether the job seeker is employed or not.  So don’t let the fact that you are among the unemployed stop you from applying for a position for fear you will be outnumbered by the employed who are applying for the same job.  Your chances are as good as the next person if you have the necessary skills and background they are looking for.

Employers use many criteria in determining an applicant’s eligibility for a job, one of which is a credit score.  In my experience however, a credit score is only one factor that is considered as part of the whole picture.  Having a low credit score appear on your background check may or may not have any bearing on your eligibility for a job, particularly if you are applying for a non-financial position.  Many employers will consider this important if you applying for a cash-handling, financial or accounting position but not if you are applying for a job in marketing necessarily. There are also companies that offer the job seeker the ability to check your own background check BEFORE the employer pulls a report which will help you know what will appear and be prepared to address this if the issue arises.  Many employers know it’s a bad time for many folks regarding credit ratings and unless you have a good reason for this, you should be okay in not having a low credit score weigh against you as a candidate.

Welcome to social networking and its potential!  Yes, it is true that what is out on the world-wide-web is fair game for prospective employers to use for or against you and you need to be VERY CAREFUL about what you post your FB page lest others have access to it.  What has changed in the past few years is the prospective employer’s ability to look up candidate profiles on LinkedIn, MySpace, FB and other sites so what is posted there is a way to corroborate not only appropriateness of content but also to verify personal and professional information on a potential candidate as well.  This also holds true if you are self-employed and gives your clients a way to check out what kind of person you are as well and whether they want to do business with you. Whether it is legal or fair is another matter and would depend on whether the information was used in a prejudicial manner to preclude employment-that might be harder to prove.  In any event, being very careful about the information you post, using profanity, nudity or anything that you would NOT want a prospective employer or client to see or know about you is something that should take into consideration the next time you decide to post photos of your trip to Vegas or venting about how angry you might be at your boss or client.  Someone should write a book on FB etiquette because it is true, what goes on your wall is something you should be concerned with.

Creating a personalized website that highlights your professional background is particularly appealing to recruiters if you are in a field which promotes either your creative, technical or consultative background.  Many times you can create a website that brands you as an expert in a given field-even if you are in an administrative role. It really depends on how much time and effort you believe a website will take to enhance your image and your ability to market yourself to prospective businesses or potential employers.  If you are in a creative or technical role, building a website that houses your work and showcases your portfolio is a necessary part of creating your interview package as it is to include your resume.  Many executives these days that are in transition create websites to market themselves as consultants and experts so it becomes a way to promote their clients, history and background in a more creative way than just a conventional resume or bio.  Having a website is a personal choice but it is becoming a more popular choice for applicants and employers when looking at potential candidates suitability for a position.

Having a well-written and well-prepared resume is always a good idea even if you are not actively looking for a new job. Online applications are a standard part of applying for any job posting these days.  This does not nor should not replace the benefits of having a resume.  A resume does what an online application cannot.  It is your calling card and is your promotional piece that helps you identify and promote yourself in ways an online application can’t.  Although it is standard practice to apply for positions online, including a well-written resume as part of that process will only help your chances of getting noticed.  Recruiters will use the online application as a way to track candidates or ensure that they are matching to the particular requirements of a job.  Often large public companies require that applicants go through the online process for legal reasons such as OFCCP, EEOC, and Affirmative Action requirements of tracking candidates.  This may or may not have anything to do with your qualifications for the job.  The recruiter in almost all cases will need to see a resume to make a better determination of your employment history in relation to the job they are looking to fill.  So next time you think no one is reading your resume, think again.  Your resume is your business card that will help you best promote yourself.