By Rachel Slajda | MainStreet.com

Call me a hippie, a new-age weirdo, a The Secret fan (actually, don’t call me that), but I believe that when you’re looking for a job, it pays to have a positive outlook. Yes, you will get a job! A good one! That pays you money and doesn’t tempt you to jump out of a 15th floor window!

Most stories about the job market are bleak. But there are golden nuggets of hope out there, which MainStreet is committed to finding. For example, there are jobs that employers are actually struggling to fill.

Last week, Manpower (Stock Quote: MAN), a rather large staffing firm that claims it made $22 billion in worldwide revenue last year, released its annual survey of the 10 hardest jobs to fill. After surveying 2,000 U.S. employers, they came up with this list:

1. Engineers
2. Nurses
3. Skilled/Manual Tradesmen
4. Teachers
5. Sales Representatives
6. Technicians
7. Drivers
8. IT Staff
9. Laborers
10. Machinist/Machine Operators

Now, most of these careers require specific skills and training. So if you’re, say, an out of work investment banker, you’re not going to walk in and get a nursing or engineering position. But all 10 of these jobs have appeared at least once before on Manpower’s survey, which it’s been conducting for four years.

And that, my friends, means these jobs are consistently in high demand. If going back to school or becoming an apprentice could guarantee job security, it’s worth it, no?

With unemployment numbers on the rise, it is becoming more and more important to make your resume work for you. You want to put down on paper what you want employers to remember about you. Making your resume interesting and different is not easy, but there are a few things you can do.

1. Include Everything Possible
A resume is meant to be to the point, but you still want to include everything you possibly can. Do not leave something out just because you think the experience is unrelated to a job you may be applying for. Employers might find you more interesting and rounded if you have worked all types of jobs. Do not leave off something such as working in the retail environment just because you might not find it to be relevant. Having a greater variety on your resume could really help show off all your abilities and skills. Some things you should include are your education (including academic honors, awards, etc.), work experience, and skills/interests. If there are other aspects of yourself you want to include, don’t hesitate as long as they are relevant.

2. Be Specific
Making sure you include as many details in your resume is also important. Don’t just say that you worked for xx company, make sure you say what you did there, projects you completed, how you made improved things, etc. Any time you are able to quantify aspects of your job on your resume will be beneficial to you. Something as simple as “counted cash balances in registers at the beginning and end of the day” gives your resume more detail and makes it look more impressive. The fact that your company entrusted you with company money is an important sign of trust.

3. Keep it to One Page
Some people have too many work experiences and other areas of interest to include on their resume which makes it difficult to keep to one page. However, it is best practice to keep your resume down to one page so that your interviewer does not need to flip pages while interviewing you. With all the resume’s that they collect, if they put it in a binder it will be much easier if they are able to see your entire resume and information in one glance.

4. Have Someone Else Look it Over
There are always spelling mistakes and other areas that you may have missed, having someone else take a look at it can be extremely beneficial. If you are in high school or college, your guidance or career counselor will gladly look over your resume and give you some advice on where it can be corrected. If you are able to, in college it is really great to take a resume and memo writing class to help you improve on your business writing.

Your resume is one of the first glances an employer may get of you and could possibly be one of only things they see about you before the offer you a job. Make sure that you are perfecting your resume to work for you in order to get that first round interview that you need to show your true colors. In such tough times with limited job opportunities, you really want to go through several rough drafts before submitting your resume. There are always things that can be changed and perfected. For further advice, be sure to check out What’s Your Resume Worth? and 6 Things to Remember When Applying for Jobs.

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Photo: Alvimann

Graduating classes last year found it difficult to find jobs and get interviews, but this year students are looking towards an even tougher situation. Here are some tough situations that students may find themselves in and what they (or you) can do.

Job Fairs but No Job Offers – This is going to be one of the hardest things for college students to grasp. Companies are still going to be attending job fairs, even if they are on a hiring freeze. Although this may be extremely frustrating to students, the important thing is to still get their resume, name, and face out there. Although a company might not be hiring at the current time, when they go to look at resumes in the future there is a possibility that they will remember you and give you a call.

No Openings in Your Concentration – It is important to remember that you don’t need to look for jobs just in areas of your concentration or major. It is always going to be the ideal situation to get a job in the area you studied, but when times are so tough it is also important to look elsewhere. Make sure to look into other areas that you are interested in or think that you might excel. Don’t assume that just because you didn’t study in that area that you won’t get the job over someone else.

Limited Loans or Government Aid – College graduates are not the only ones that are going to find themselves in a struggle once they graduate. High school graduates may also struggle to find loans that will help to pay for their college tuitions. One of the best things students can do is to apply for as many scholarships and other student aid that they can. Do not wait until the last minute to get started on these types of applications as they can be time consuming. Make sure you get ahead of yourself in order to not be left behind later on.

Put Your Best Face Forward – When times are tough, whether you are interviewing for a job opening or applying for a scholarship, it is most important to put your best face forward. Make sure you are putting everything you can into your resume, cover letter or scholarship application. You need to cover all your bases. There are many people including guidance counselors and career specialists that can help you improve upon your work. Seek help through your school, people will gladly help in any way they can. It is not easy to put yourself down on paper, but if you get it right it could be a great break for you.

It is easy to forget what you want when times are so tough. Although you may hear “no” more often that you would like, do not give up or stop trying to find that job you want or a scholarship you may need. Be sure to check out other Geezeo articles that can help you such as How to Make the Most of Career Fairs or 6 Things to Remember When Applying for Jobs.

Don’t forget! $6,000 could go a long way toward reducing your debt when you need it most. Win this or other great prizes in the Great Geezeo Bailout! Collect points every day.

Photo By: hmm360

Now is the time to start searching for that perfect summer job.

Many associate summer jobs with teenagers and college students on break. But, as the economy shifts temporary-seeming “summer jobs” are being sought after by all demographics. Whether for extra cash during a squeeze or as prime earnings, all summer employees ought to consider a strategic approach.

Here are five tips to get yourself a cool summer job:

1 – Think of this as a “real job” and pursue accordingly. Don’t assume that a temporary job will be any less competitive. Even if the job is seen as less desirable (e.g., like bagging groceries), you have more competition!

2 – Create multiple options. Some people slack off and only put in application or resumes in one or two places. Even if you have a killer interview on Monday do not assume you can slack off the rest of the week. Keep your info circulating and you’ll have more choices and options.

3 – Consider working for #1. Summer is a great time to start your own business. There are seasonal jobs available such as lawn care or babysitting. Some college students pooh-poo this option in lieu of getting “real credentials”. Consider, instead, the two advantages. One, you can learn all aspects of a business, from marketing and bookkeeping. And two, you can set your own hours.

4 – Relationships matter. Seasonal jobs are just like other jobs in terms of working your network. The best ones often require you reach out to every person in your social circle – and beyond. After all: if the job is so desirable you’ll have to make a case why you’re the best choice. A good word from a friend or relative can go a long way.

5 – Save for the winter. Your summer job will end. Make sure you have something to show for it. A good way to save is to set it up so it happens automatically so you aren’t tempted to spend. If that’s not possible, summer is a good time to establish a savings habit.

Have a great summer!