Unemployment Number Highly Flawed

Currently, 11.2 million people are considered unemployed. "I think a more reasonable number is about 18 million people," Hall said, a former commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics.  It is too easy to be employed under the current definition, and too hard to be unemployed, Hall said Thursday on Fox News Channel's "Your World."

"If you do any work for money at all you are considered employed," Hall said. A laid-off engineer who helps his neighbor trim a tree and gets paid is considered "employed" even though his income is nowhere near his pay as a full-time engineer. 

To be considered "unemployed," a person has to have no work at all and be actively looking for work. But job hunters eventually run out of employers to send their resume to and run through all their friends who might have job leads. They then go into a "passive mode," checking want ads and seeing if anything pops up
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For more details about employment figures, click here.

Getting the Job When You're Underqualified

When you're changing careers, getting your foot in the door can often be the most difficult part. Even though you may have tons of experience in your industry, which could carry over to the new career, odds are good that you don't meet every requirement on the employer's list.

So, how can you get a job when you're underqualified?

First, it's important to know that when an employer advertises a job opening, most of their list of requirements is a wish list. They are qualifications that the employer would like to find, but they aren't set in stone. Even if you don't meet all of them, you can still apply for the job.

In order to land a job you aren't completely qualified for, you have to consider what your qualifications are. Do you meet at least 80 percent of their advertised requirements? If you were the hiring manager, why would you hire someone with your skills? The answer to these questions will help you determine how to market yourself.

Although the current job market makes it considerably more difficult to land a job when you are underqualified, here are the most important things you can do to stand out:  Click here to learn these invaluable tips.

Negotiating the Best Salary

"What are your salary expectations?"

This is commonly one of the first questions you're asked when interviewing for a new job. Employers want to get this question out in the open:

·       They need a sense if you're willing to work at or below the top of their pay scale for the job

·       They are asking you to negotiate when you have the least negotiating leverage

Job hunters are often at a loss (figuratively and literally) trying to both get the job and obtain the highest possible compensation. Here's how to do it:

1.       Be responsive, but don't commit early on

2.     Find objective data to justify your request

3.     Figure out your Zone of Possible Agreement

4.     Talk about creating fairness and finding common ground

For details on these approaches, see the complete article here.

Three Job-Interview Myths

Think you know all there is to know about interviewing for a job? According to career coach David Couper, many surprising myths surround job interviews. In his book Outsiders on the Inside, Couper lists several myths that, if you believe them, may prevent you from landing your dream job. So here's the truth about three of those myths -- as well as several tips on making the most of a job interview:

Myth 1: The Interviewer Is Prepared:  What You Can Do?;

Myth 2: The Interviewer Will Ask the Right Questions:  What You Can Do?

Myth 3:  The Most Qualified Person Gets the Job:  What You Can Do?

For the complete article written  by Charles Purdy, click here.