DEAR JOYCE: I hope to become a "gone-backer," having been out of paid jobs for eight years raising kids. I don't know where to start. Help? -- M.J.H.
You can't count on the ways that worked eight years ago to find a job you want today. Rebuild your foundation knowledge about process, tools and finer points. To get your skates on faster, grab knowledge from books or seek competent online help. Concerning the latter, the best advice isn't free. My favorite: champion recruiter Tony Beshara's tutorial on TheJobSearchSolution.com, which offers six advice modules at $25 each, or $100 for all.
Once you've brushed up on essential search skills, tips from various job experts may save you time and stress. Like the following advice bites:
VALUE VALUE. "Communicate the value of your work. Think of yourself like a contractor who comes to a house to give an estimate for a job. Contractors don't spend time telling you how good they are. They inform you of the value of their work -- your basement will be bone dry, new windows will reduce your energy costs by hundreds of dollars. Similarly, communicate the value of your work, citing examples from your past." -- Annie Stevens, partner, ClearRock, an executive coaching and outplacement firm in Boston.
RECONNECT WITH PAST. "Don't be shy about reaching out to people you haven't spoken to in a long time. They haven't reached out to you either. And they'll be happy to hear from you -- and glad you made the first move." -- Martha I. Finney, author of "Rebound: A Proven Plan for Starting Over After Job Loss" (FT Press).
SWEAT THE DETAILS. "Don't even think about using a generic cover letter. Be certain that each cover letter addresses the specific needs and requirements a position requires." -- Debbie Ellis, president, Phoenix Career Group Inc. in Houston.
NETWORK CONSIDERATELY. "Networking Do's -- be professional and courteous; proofread all e-mails; ask insightful and thoughtful questions; ask for names of others who may be willing to help you; send thank-you notes to contacts whether or not they were helpful; stay in touch with contacts after you find a job.
"Networking Don'ts -- make a contact feel used and manipulated; ask a contact to find you a job; send generic e-mails to new or existing contacts; send a copy of your resume if it was not requested; miss or be late to a meeting; monopolize someone's time when the person has agreed to speak with you." -- Shawn Graham, author of "Courting Your Career" (JIST).