Job fairs are excellent ways to network face to face with employers who are looking to hire.  We have been sponsoring numerous job fairs across the country in order to offer H2H users added value beyond applying for jobs on our website.  (here is a list of upcoming job fairs)

Although these job fairs are great, we wanted to explore some other ways you can stay connected beyond applying for openings online and attending job fairs.

We reached out to some HR/Recruiter friends of ours to see what they would recommend for job seekers.

H2H: Other than job fairs, what are some other great ways to network with businesses to get a job?

Karen Siwak: Industry association conferences, association chapter meetings, trade shows, lunch and learn seminars and board of trade events.

Bridget Webb: Connect on Linkedin and follow on Facebook and Twitter.

These are two different styles of answers,  but both make a call to action for networking.

In order to make these suggestions work, we recommend that you also have a clear understanding of what you want.  If you’re confused about the industry you want to get into, it may cause you to spin and not get anywhere.  Define your skill sets, pick a focus and put  yourself out there.  There is no  better way to practice your networking skills than to just do it.  Introducing yourself and engaging in conversation within your industry may just be the thing that’s holding you back from landing your next opportunity!

Adding Keywords to your resume is crucial to getting it noticed by companies you’ve applied for “digitally”.

Most companies now use what’s called ATS (Applicant Tracking System), a software application that enables the electronic handling of recruitment needs.

For those of you wondering how to choose the right keywords for your resume, the easiest way is to look on the job description itself.

This information has been provided by Bridget Webb, Sr. Director of Marketing and Recruitment Technology at WilsonHCG

In today’s tough job market, it is important to stand out amongst the crowd during the job interview. To help differentiate you from the average applicant, we suggest you follow the STAR technique. This technique provides a simple way to present complete and detailed answers to interview questions.

Situation- Give a specific example of a situation related to the question
Task- Describe a task that needed to be accomplished
Action- Explain the actions you carried out related to the situation or task
Results- Explain the results of your actions

I feel like I don’t have the luxury of applying for only a couple jobs and that I need to apply for as many as possible.  However, the importance of tailoring a cover letter and resume to fit a specific job is incredibly overwhelming and my gut is telling me that no matter how much I tailor it, it’s just going to get lost in the hundreds of other resumes sitting in the pile.  

This frustration permeates with the addition of another problem:  No matter how many times I tweak my resume, there is always another expert telling me that I should re-do it their way.  

Is it just me or is the system broken?  I personally feel it’s more about who you know, than what you say in your resume.  I can’t help but feel that a resume should only come into play when you attend the interview, that way you tailor it accordingly.

Please help. 

Follow H2H.jobs on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin (Group) and Linkedin.

This well-known rule of thumb concerning resume writing is something we have all heard before. In our on-the-go society, shorter is commonly perceived as better. However, the rules are changing, and length flexibility is back in style.

There are very few unbreakable rules when it comes to resume writing. They include: No lying, no typos/misspellings, and no negative information. Other than those three, every other rule is breakable, including the ones pertaining to resume length.

Several common guidelines can assist you when determining how long your resume should be, starting with your experience level. Resumes for new college graduates and entry-level job seekers are often one page. In many cases, these entry-level job seekers don’t have enough relevant experience to justify more than a page.

A two-page resume is typically the best bet for the majority of seasoned job seekers. Someone with ten or more years of experience may find it difficult to compress that much information into one page.

Not sure where you stand? Aim for one page if you have less than five years of work experience, and if you have more, consider two.

Whether long or short, your resume must be concise and pique interest quickly. Given that employers typically scan a resume for less than twenty seconds, it is important to display attention-grabbing information in the top half of the first page.

Aesthetically speaking, page numbers, headers, and footers can add continuity in a resume that is more than one page. It is also important to make sure a third to half of the last page is filled with text. If the last page is made up of only several lines, summarize them to fit on the previous page. This creates a more organized and professional looking representation of your skills on paper.

Remember, the point of your resume is to highlight your talents and experience. It must communicate efficiently and effectively why you are the best candidate for the job. That may mean one page resumes for some, and two pages for others, but no matter how long your resume is, the most important part is the presentation.

A big thank you to our friends and followers on Twitter who helped contribute to this article: @WilsonHCG @RyanFrancis4 @Webb_Bridget @Cat_Pylant @LekethaKelly @DaniRae1221 @CatherineLawre1

Follow H2H on Twitter at www.twitter.com/h2hjobs or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/h2h.jobs

Where?
Detroit’s COBO Center
One Washington Boulevard, Detroit MI 48226

Join VA and your fellow Veterans at the free Veteran Hiring Fair in Detroit from June 26-28, 2012. Veterans and transitioning Military Service Members will have the opportunity to apply for jobs with VA, other federal agencies and the private sector. The event will serve Veterans with all levels of experience in all types of careers. Employers will conduct interviews and hire for selected positions on the spot.

Event activities:

• Workshops on interviewing skills
• Federal resume building
• Career Counseling

On the day of the event, please bring multiple copies of the following:

• Federal resume
• Proof of military service
• Statement of Service
• Separation/Retirement Orders
• Department of Defense Form 214 (DD214), Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty
• Unofficial/Official college transcripts*
• Licenses/Certificates*
• VA service-connected disability/Civil Service preference letter*
• Schedule A letter*

*If applicable

To prepare for the event, visit the VA for Vets Career Center

To register for the event, visit http://vaforvets.com/detroit/veteran
View the event flyer here for additional information.

Photo Caption: (From left to right) Veterans Reuben Butler, Devon Murraine and U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant Christine Cunningham take a hands-on approach to their job search at the Hero 2 Hired Mobile Job Store today at the DC Armory, part of the Department of Defense’s “Hero 2 Hired” employment program designed for members of the National Guard and Reserve.

WASHINGTON (May 17, 2012) – A one-of-a-kind vehicle brought career tools directly to National Guard and Reserve members today at the D.C. Armory. The innovative Hero 2 Hired (H2H) “Mobile Job Store” allows Guardsmen and Reservists– who often face higher unemployment rates than civilians and unique occupational challenges– to search for available jobs through an online job portal specifically designed to connect them with military-friendly civilian employers that have made a stated commitment to hire veterans. The mobile facility also provides service members assistance with resume building and translating their military skills to civilian job qualifications.

Over 125 veterans and service members visited the H2H Mobile Job Store parked at the D.C. Armory. The Armory was just one stop on the H2H Mobile Job Store’s tour across America. “Members of the Guard and Reserve are scattered throughout the nation in communities large and small,” explained Sgt. Maj. Wayne Bowser, Sr., Senior Enlisted Advisor for Family and Employer Programs and Policy in the Pentagon’s Office of Reserve Affairs. “The H2H Mobile Job Store allows us to roll-up in their hometowns with the resources and information they need to connect to military-friendly employers.”

The H2H Mobile Job Store is part of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs’ “Hero 2 Hired” program, a comprehensive, multi-faceted program which utilizes an electronic job and career web platform, mobile applications and Facebook integration, and virtual and physical career fairs to address the unique employment challenges facing members of the Guard and Reserve.

About Hero 2 Hired (H2H):
Launched in December 2011, Hero 2 Hired (H2H) is a comprehensive employment program designed to address the unique needs of Reserve Component members. The mission of H2H is to simplify the job search while reducing the number of unemployed Reserve Component Service members. H2H.jobs also allows military-friendly companies to access the talented men and women in the military, post job openings, search for candidates and invite them to apply, and participate in hiring events – all free of charge. H2H is managed by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs and works in partnership with the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program and Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR). More information for H2H can be found on their website at H2H.jobs.

About Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR):
Established as a DoD agency 40 years ago, ESGR develops and maintains employer support for Guard and Reserve service. ESGR advocates relevant initiatives, recognizes outstanding support, increases awareness of applicable laws, and resolves conflict between service members and employers. Paramount to ESGR’s mission is encouraging employment of Guardsmen and Reservists who bring integrity, global perspective and proven leadership to the civilian workforce. Learn more at ESGR.mil.

Applications for this program began on May 15, 2012.

VRAP offers 12 months of training assistance to 99,000 unemployed Veterans who are at least 35 years old, but no older than 60. Eligible participants will receive up to 12 months of training assistance at the full-time payment rate under the Montgomery GI Bill ­Active Duty program (Currently $1,473 per month). DOL will offer employment assistance to every Veteran who participates or applies to the VRAP program.

You can learn more about VRAP here http://benefits.va.gov/vow/education.htm.

Detailed information on VOW and VRAP is also available at www.benefits.va.gov/VOW.