Ah, summer, what power you have to make us suffer and like it.”

–Russell Baker, American journalist and humorist

Monday marked the official start of the summer and while most of us may be concerned with losing a few extra pounds around our midsection or toning up our pecks before hitting the shores this season, this might not be the only shaping up that needs to happen.

This summer, treat your resume like you do your bathing suit bod and you will find much more ease with your job search! You may want to evaluate your current situation and determine the best strategy to boost your chances of getting a call back. Depending on where you stand, you may find yourself bulking up, slimming down or simply just toning up your resume a bit over the summer:

Need to bulk up: Is your resume looking a little bare? Need to beef it up? If you need to add to your resume, you may want to consider doing some volunteer work at local charities, alumni associations, community groups, professional interest groups, etc.

With the onset of the 2010 World Cup quickly approaching, many of us will find ourselves glued to the TV as we watch and cheer on our favorite soccer teams from around the globe. Players will bring fierce competition to the pitch as they strive to beat out international opponents for the coveted gold cup.

In many ways, the job seeking process can be compared to our favorite World Cup soccer teams. In the job hunt, the job seeker can take on the positions of various players as each represents a different stage of the process.  Let’s take a moment to go through the different team positions and how they represent the levels of your job search, and what you should be doing at each stage you follow through:

Step 1 of the job hunt: You are the Goalkeeper

As a goalkeeper, you’re somewhat safe in home territory. Being in this position can be helpful at the beginning of your job search, because you’re at a point where you can step back and assess the current situation right in front of your eyes. This is the best spot to be in when you’re doing research and working on your hiring materials, such as writing your cover letter, updating your resume or filling out an application. It is also a good time to consider devising a strategy or some tactics to make the most of your job search.

Age is nothing but another number in the job seeking game!

It seems older job seekers are in limbo during the current economic and hiring landscape. Recent reports from the U.S. Labor Department earlier this month show that unemployment rates are lower for older workers than other age groups. However, that being said, the same report shows that it actually takes these individuals longer to find a new job than any other age group. What does it all mean for the older job seeker in today’s employment landscape?

Older, mature professionals are now job seekers for a number of reasons. Some older job seekers may get discouraged and lose confidence because of their age. However, if you are an older job seeker, stay positive! In today’s evolving job market, not only have the types of jobs out there changed, but so have the individuals who make up the current workforce. Remember that as seasoned professionals, older job seekers are great resources for any company, filled with loads of information and experience!

There are several steps an older job seeker can take to make the most of their job search. First and foremost, take a career inventory. Make a list of all the positions previously held. What tasks were completed? What accomplishments were made? One of the biggest obstacles for older workers is that they may be overqualified for jobs they’re applying to, so try to narrow down experience to what’s really important. Completing this exercise will help get your job search in gear by identifying potential opportunities and serving as a reminder of accomplishments achieved over the years.

I’ll admit it: I’m probably somewhere in the running to becoming LinkedIn’s #1 Fan. I’ve even been known to call LinkedIn “my new best friend” from time to time. Why? In the professional world, LinkedIn can open up a wide range of opportunities. Whether you want to make new connections or just get your name out there, LinkedIn seems to be the best place to do it.

Let me start by saying that there are over 65 MILLION people on LinkedIn. That number includes job seekers, recruiters, hiring managers, executives and regular ol’ joe schmoe’s like me and you. There are tons, and tons, AND TONS of amazing professional opportunities and resources available on LinkedIn.

So, I’ve written this blog post and I dedicate it to all of you out there who may not know, or understand, the power behind a LinkedIn account in your job search. Whether you’re new to the site or a self-proclaimed LinkedIn aficionado, this post is for you.

The first half of 2010 has certainly presented a challenging market for job seekers. Recruiters and hiring managers continue to receive hundreds of resumes every day from a large number of qualified and talented individuals applying to a very limited number of openings.  At a time like this, you really need to make yourself stand out if you even want to get noticed. Companies may not be hiring in mass amounts, but they are certainly open to looking for the talent out there. So how can you differentiate yourself among the other candidates? Let your talent shine! Being able to showcase your skills can be extremely important to today’s job seeker. If you’re good at something and you really want the job – push that modesty to the wayside and let your talent be known!

According to a Q2 Job Forecast released by CareerBuilder, more than a quarter of companies surveyed reported they are considering the option of replacing lower-performing employees for top talent. According to the report, more than one quarter (28 percent) of companies said they plan to replace lower-performing employees with higher-performers in the second quarter. This means that candidates who can really show their worth will stick around, but those who can’t cut it may fall on the chopping block. If you think you can fill in those open gaps and spaces as they gradually open up, go for it and do it confidently. That means you need to describe those things about yourself that will showcase your talents, skills and determination. Tailor your application materials to highlight your relevant skills for each opportunity, based on the job description. Employers want to understand why you are the best fit for a particular position, so be ready to provide reasons.

Looking for a job can be tiresome and is pretty much a job within itself! Between applying to jobs, networking and getting on the radar of hiring managers – all while still trying to maintain your personal life – it can be overwhelming. What happens when you’re feeling low on energy? What can you do to boost it up? Here are some tips we’ve gathered to help you bring up your energy any time you’re feeling a little sluggish:

Change your diet. Eat snacks containing protein and a complex carbohydrate. You may look to candy bars or sodas for a sugar boost but those will only provide you with a temporary fix. Sugary foods will take you on a roller coast, making you feel good at the beginning, but sluggish later. Make sure to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.

Take breaks. If you take short breaks every now and then, it can actually help you overcome fatigue and get more done in the day. If you take one break of five to ten minutes (or even less), it’ll keep your energy up. Studies have shown that schedules allowing brief, frequent breaks are best in terms of fighting fatigue and increasing productivity.

Criticism can be tough to swallow, even for the most humble individuals out there. It’s never easy to receive any form of criticism, whether it’s constructive or not, but sometimes you just need to bite the bullet and try to make the most of it.

We spend hours upon hours with our coworkers, partners, bosses and customers each week. These individuals get to know us well and can learn quite a lot about us over time. Sometimes, they may offer their opinion on how you could improve your performance, also known as constructive criticism. What you do with these suggestions, and how you go about handling them, can have a massive impact on your career and relationships in the workplace.

The first step to handling criticism at work involves opening up your ears and really listening. You might have an inclination to consider this constructive criticism as complaining or whining, but just take a moment and really try to listen to what the other person is telling you. What is it about? Is there any truth to it? Many times, this criticism is coming from someone who wants to help you, so try not to get defensive or begin to justify your actions. Instead, consider the nature of the criticism. Is the person telling you how to do your job, or are they just genuinely making an attempt to help you improve? 

Second, try not to take this criticism to heart. It’s not something to be used personally against you and it’s not something meant to demean you or your job. Remember, you’re in a professional setting where the quality of your work is regularly supervised and criticism is a normal part of getting feedback. Therefore, try not to get your emotions tangled up in these kinds of comments. Instead, remember that this is about your career, so you need to remain objective.

Weekly jobless claims take second unexpected jump – USATODAY.com http://ow.ly/1zgPX

The median weekly wage for office and administrative support workers in the first quarter reached $619, up 1.3%… http://bit.ly/99T9TQ

Study say women rock as small business owners! http://ow.ly/1yYAW

Jobless claims shrunk last month Only to RISE again. http://ow.ly/1yUdh

Things to consider…Eat before or after the event: You’re there for connections, not sustenance. Do the math: if… http://bit.ly/d9bAz6

CruiterTalk: Managing and Recruiting with Facebook Lists – Managing the recruiting process is tough; especially whe… http://ow.ly/174xLD

How can you shine like an Olympian during your job search in 2010? Olympic athletes may have four years to prepare for the intense competitions they face during the Olympic Games, but you only need these four steps to go for the gold in your job search and beat out the competition!

© VANOC/COVAN

How can you prepare yourself to top the competition during your job search? In order to succeed, you need to create a strategy that works for you.

A recent article featured on Yahoo!hotjobs titled   “10 Ways to Be Liked in Your Job Interview” lists 10 ways to increase success for your next job interview. The list goes over various interviewing don’ts: from avoiding excessive smiling and off-target questions to keeping small-talk and jokes to a minimum. While the list can be comical, the advice is beneficial to all job seekers.

10 mistakes to avoid for interview success:

1. Don’t be a “smiley face” - excessive smiling can also be seen as nervousness
2. Don’t be a small-talker – be knowledgeable about the company you’re interviewing with and avoid random facts
3. Don’t sweat – it can be seen as a sign of weakness and nervousness and will not impress
4. Don’t be a road block – interviewers are seeking eager candidates
5. Don’t be petty - avoid asking questions about routine elements of a company
6. Don’t be a liar - even a slight exaggeration is lying
7. Don’t be a bad comedian – humor tends to be subjective, so be careful
8. Don’t be high-maintenance - interviewers will not be interested in someone who’s finicky about their workspace
9. Don’t be a time-waster – make questions intelligent and to the point, otherwise you’re wasting time
10. Don’t be a switchblade – avoid bashing former employers

You can read the entire article by clicking here.