Filling Application Forms
Job applications are legal documents, so it is vital that information provided here is backed up with documentation at the interview. Companies do carry out background checks, so false details will disqualify your application immediately. CV-liar detectives are the rage in the US already!

• If you already have a few years working experience, listing “Objective” and “Education” at the top of your resume is no longer appropriate. For mid-career professionals, the effective format is to start with a brief overview (one or two sentences) of your professional strengths - for example, project management, leadership or communication skills. This allows the employer to have a good idea of how you can contribute in your new position professionally.

• You have job or position hopped more than a few times. So you decide to list the companies and positions but leave out the dates. Think again. It is likely that your resume is sorted chronologically. The conspicuous lack of dates will cause recruiters to be suspicious. A better solution is to reformat your resume to emphasize your strong points and de-emphasize your weaknesses by avoiding a chronological format.

• It is wise not to include the sordid details of why you left your last job. Even if you were fired unjustly, it's better to reflect the positive aspects of your prior positions than dwell on the negative. Employers tend to see how you feedback on your previous employers as a reflection of your potential relationship with your next one. If it is at all necessary, some situations can be best explained in person (if you are asked during an interview).

• You are in such a hurry to find a new job that you rush through your resume and send it out to the first batch of job ads found online. Even if you are trying to make today's deadline, don't let yourself get sloppy. Achieving the deadline won't make up for the fact that your application resume is unprofessional and full of errors. You'll be sure to make a BAD impression, and that’s what you are trying to avoid. So it pays to complete your resume carefully.

• You have listed your responsibilities under each job title, but what will separate you from the crowd? A great resume should include your achievements and your company's accomplishments in which you were actively involved. For instance, if you brought 20 new clients that increased the company's sales by $300,000, include that in your resume. Don't be afraid to toot your horn a little, but be honest.

• Only your mom would read through every job you have had since you still had braces. Prospective employers want to know only the relevant experience you've had in the past decade, and they want to know it fast. Highlight the most recent and appropriate jobs into a strong and brief resume. Not only will your resume appear more decisive, but it will be more memorable. KISS - Keep It Short & Sweet!

• At the end of an interview, it is important to summarize what has been covered to make sure there was nothing forgotten or misunderstood. When the interviewer asks if you have any other questions, don't forget to respond in kind and ask if he or she has any further questions for you. Now go out there and impress them!

• Business Cards Rule! Always thank the interviewer for his / her time and ask for a business card. It will ensure that your thank-you letter contains correctly spelled name(s) and proper title(s). It also gives you the necessary information for future correspondence, the person's direct number, and other useful information. If you have a business card handy, be sure to hand the interviewer yours. This way, he / she is more likely to remember you and can contact you right away without having to plow through a stack of resumes.

Focus Yourself!
Now that you're ready for that next big career move, don't just start applying to every job ad you see. In order to ensure that you have a better chance for interviews, focus yourself on the most suitable jobs. Check out your options. Do you have the level of experience, qualification or skills needed for the position? Sending 10 resumes to 10 targeted positions will better your chances of success than zapping out 50 resumes blindly. And remember, always keep track of whom you send your resumes to and the positions applied for so when you DO get a phone call for an interview, you won't fumble trying to remember who it is you're talking to! Now go on out there and hit your targets!

Negotiating Multiple Offers
Always be open and honest with potential employers. The company's recruitment drive is not a cheap process, so don't take their offers lightly. It is unwise to use one company's job offer (which you probably don't want anyway) to give you leverage against another's offer. It my seem like you're holding out for more money or that you're holding one company ransom against what the other is offering. Where you do have competing job offers and a potential employer asks, be honest about your intentions. Consider this the first step in creating a professional relationship with your future employer. Even if you do not accept the company's offer, you can initiate a good relationship with them that you might need for a rainy day!

Separate Email Addresses>
If you're searching for another job whilst still employed, it may not be wise to use your company’s email to contact potential employers. Get a separate email address from a web based server such as: www.lycos.com, www.hotmail.com, www.yahoo.com. Its free and accessible from any PC, anytime, anywhere. And it’s confidential!

• When to do it? Most of the time, this only comes up at the end of an interview or in the second or third interview. The reason being that it only becomes a discussion point when both parties are pretty sure they will be working together. So don't bring it up prematurely until you get a good feel that you have the employer very interested in you, or they bring it up first!

• Being prepared and having information is vital in negotiating your salary and other terms of your employment. You should note that employment negotiations are not like bartering or buying a car. You may end up working with your negotiator on a daily basis if things go well, so even though you'll want the best deal possible, you should proceed in a diplomatic manner.

• Figuring out where you stand relative to other candidates for that position is vital to your negotiation strategy. If you're at the final interview and feel you're top in the running for the position, you should be able to negotiate according to your terms. If, however, you know you're only one in a pool of potentials, salary terms could be the deciding factor in hiring you, so think carefully before you aim too high.

• Lie during your negotiations and you have a potential of getting caught and losing all your credibility. Even if you get hired, you will jeopardize your future career as the employer knows that you had lied. Always be prepared; determine which areas may be problematic before you get to the negotiating table. Practise on your negotiation arguments.

• During negotiations, consider the value of the whole package and not just your salary. Be creative about making tradeoffs to increase the value of the entire compensation and benefits package, for example, flexi-working hours, stock options, annual leave, medical coverage, etc. You may be able to trade something rigidly regulated (ie, pay level) in the company for something with which the company is more flexible (ie, working hours).

• Don't approach negotiations with the objective of winning a game. Take control of your competitive streak in case your drive to win clouds your ultimate goal, which is to get the job for the right compensation. Even if you win the negotiations, make sure you leave the interviewer with a sense of "win-win" - getting your talent and skills for a fair rate.

• Salary negotiations are essentially the prelude to your career in that company. How you manage your initial contact via the negotiations will be the start point of how you will be perceived in that company. If you negotiated effectively, you can start your new job confidently knowing you've achieved the best deal for both you and the company. Further, there will be increased opportunities for negotiations of your package in the future if you excel at your job.