Are you a certified resume writer who would like to provide your clients with gold star job search coaching that helps them successfully tap into the hidden job market?

Last week, I was honored to be interviewed by Laura DeCarlo, President of Career Directors International, on my brand new Job Search Success System and affiliate program for resume writers. The interview is about 15 minutes long and you can listen now here

I am so excited to announce the official launch of my brand-new affiliate program! If you are a resume writer what this can mean for you is:

You can provide your clients with a system that leads them through how to set up and manage a turnkey job search that focuses on the hidden job market and truly gets them great results.

You can be free from career and job search coaching you may not wish to do.

You can very easily create a significant additional passive stream of revenue for your business.

I have been helping all levels of job seekers tap into the hidden job market and secure more interviews and get bigger offers in both good and bad markets for 15 years.

If you would like to talk with me personally please feel free to call me at 830.331.9398 or email me at maryelizabeth@maryelizabethbradford.com.

***Listen to the interview here: http://www.audioacrobat.com/play/W3Q4BD64.

***Check out the Job Search Success System website here: http://job-searchsystem.com/.

***Register to be an affiliate here: https://www.mcssl.com/SYS/?m=130706&c=s.

*Please note, to protect the integrity of my affiliate partnerships and success of my clients I am ONLY accepting affiliate registrations from certified professional resume writers.

In searching for your ideal position are you taking what I call the “I’ll know it when I see it route?”

Well, if this is you, chances are you have been surfing around on the internet looking for that perfect position, submitting your resume to multiple jobs and you are still waiting for the phone to ring.

Although getting clear on the kind of jobs you are interested in can be a worthwhile activity, you don’t want to get stuck on the job surfing and job board treadmill.

Here are three steps you can take right now to take back control of your job search:

Step number one: Focus on what you want

Before you begin your job search you must know what your driving motivators are and what your ideal job looks like.

Think of these driving motivators as the top three things you must have in order for you to feel like your next move is one that meets your needs.

Sometimes your driving motivators will run counter to your dream job, and that is okay. Give yourself permission to define these because they will affect your job search and help you discern which way you need to go – both for your short and long term goals.

To identify your dream job start with a list of things you love to do best. Another way to look at it is to ask yourself – what you are doing when you are at your best.

Step Number Two: get your game plan down

You should know what your job search strategy is – namely the two or three strategies you are going to use in your job search.

Individual strategies include embarking on a direct mail campaign, working with recruiters, special networking techniques like informational interviews and social networking just to name a few.

Each job search demands its own special approach, and by fleshing out your game plan you’ll quickly see what you need to do and where you might need help figuring things out

Step Number Three: Make a commitment to begin

Now that you have a plan and you know where you need help you can start moving forward. A big mistake job seekers often make is to wait and wait and wait until they feel “ready” to move forward.

Rarely do we ever feel 100% ready. So break this cycle of procrastination by writing out one primary actively you can focus on each day. Writing it out in advance means not having to lie awake in bed at night worrying over what you are going to do tomorrow.

Make your goals doable and give yourself plenty of rest and relaxation time to recharge your batteries. Don’t forget to congratulate yourself for every effort and activity you take…because each step is a step forward…and one step closer to your goals!

With your driving motivators, ideal job description, pre planned activities and goals spelled out and crystal clear, you now have distinct areas of focus to build on. This is the first and most critical step to taking control of your job search, so you can land the job you really want.

Source: Excerpt from CareerProNews

It’s clear we need to change our power sources. But so far, the answers are expensive. Alternative energy researchers are trying to find new ways for natural resources to power our lives at lower costs. Natural renewable resources — like wind, solar and geothermal power — renew quickly and are cleaner alternatives.

But there aren’t enough qualified people to work in the field of alternative energy, says Craig Dunn. He is president of WellDunn Consulting, a geological consulting firm for the energy industry. He says the demand for alternative energy is going to increase. Companies involved in alternative energy are going to keep growing. However, at the same time, the workforce is getting older.

“I would suggest the engineers and scientists that are willing to venture into the youthful alternative energy industry will have skill sets that will put their services in demand in future,” says Dunn.

What needs to be done?

“There are a lot of areas that need to be improved, from developing better technologies, to figuring out how to get that energy to the places it’s needed,” says Bonnie Jonkman. She is a scientist at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. “In the U.S. right now, there is an effort to increase wind energy to 20 percent of our total energy mix. To meet that goal, we will need more people working in this field.”

Investors have caught on to alternative energy, and green is the new gold. Although renewable energy produces only a small percentage of the world’s total energy, it brings in 18 percent of the world’s investment in power generation. That’s according to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in 2007. Wind generation is bringing in the most investment, with solar and biofuel energy technologies growing quickly as well.

Energy blowing in the wind

Wind turbines take energy out of thin air. The wind turns the blades of a turbine to generate electricity. Compared to other sources of renewable energy, the wind sector is fairly mature. The UNEP says money is pouring in to develop new technology, and to manufacture and sell it.

“Wind turbines are getting larger all the time (with rotors bigger than a Boeing 747), and the number of wind turbines being installed is increasing every year,” says Jonkman. “It will require a large workforce with a variety of skills to address the technical challenges and to meet the demand for more turbines. We need construction workers to erect wind turbines, maintenance workers to keep the turbines running, engineers and scientists to solve the design challenges, and politicians to develop sound policies.”

Energy in plants

Biomass is plant matter grown for use as biofuel. Researchers in this area try to find out whether burning plant matter, such as corn and sugarcane, is better for the environment than burning traditional fossil fuels, such as oil, coal and natural gas.

Biofuel is second only to wind power in the amount of money being invested, says the UNEP. It says there was a huge growth of interest in 2006. Interest was due in part to the growing corn-based ethanol industry in the U.S.

Although energy can be harvested from corn, the method for doing so is inefficient. Alternative energy researchers must refine the method to make ethanol. It must become more efficient — and less expensive — before it can compete with gasoline as a fuel source.

Energy beaming down on us

Heat from the sun produces solar power. Photovoltaics is one device that can harness the sun’s energy. The energy travels through an electrical circuit to power anything electronic — from your calculator to your home.

Photovoltaics has been around since the 1970s. However, in the past decade prices on solar power have dropped. Scientists hope the next generation of photovoltaics will keep shrinking the price-tag on solar energy.

Experts predict that in the next 10 years, alternative energy researchers will be able to cut the cost of solar energy to make it competitive with petroleum. Solar energy has the potential to meet the entire planet’s electric and fuel needs. That’s according to chemist Harry Gray in an article entitled, “Expert foresees 10 more years of R and D to make solar energy competitive.”

Energy from the depths of the Earth

Geothermal energy is heat taken from far beneath our feet. Although the surface of the Earth is cool, the base of the Earth’s crust is about 1800 F. This heat can be converted into renewable energy.

That’s what Craig Dunn works towards. “We are offering opportunities to improve and solutions for the next generation,” he says. Research is the first step, he adds. He warns that newcomers to alternative energy need courage. Alternative energy is all about venturing into new research areas.

“There is a great deal of uncertainty in the energy industry in general and with emerging or alternative solutions. And there is no clear cut solution for North America’s energy needs. Continued education is fundamental to your work if you hope to stay ahead of the curve,” says Dunn.

Energy flowing in rivers and oceans

Water is key to a few types of alternative energy. Hydroelectric power comes from moving water — often a dammed river. The water drives a turbine and generator. This generates electricity. The flow of the river constantly renews the energy needed for hydroelectric power. That’s why it’s a “renewable” source.

Similarly, tidal power uses the natural energy from tides — the rising and falling of sea levels. Also, waves create energy on the surface of the ocean. This energy is being captured too.

In the U.S., there is a lot of potential to develop more hydropower plants, according to the National Hydropower Association. It estimates that 5,400 sites could be developed. This would boost hydroelectric generation by more than 50 percent in the U.S.

There are always new technologies being developed to capture energy more efficiently and cost-effectively. Opportunities will flow to alternative energy researchers in the hydroelectric field.

Imagination is important

“I think [the alternative energy research field] is just going to get bigger. It’s a growing job. The word ‘green’ is bigger than ever. You see it all over the news and in so many industries. It’s a huge market,” says Jay Gill. He is the national sales manager for Global Resource Corporation.

Global Resource is a petroleum research, engineering, development and manufacturing company. It discovered a way to use microwave technology to harness the energy in automobile tires to make oil and gas. Yep, that’s right — they zap old tires to create energy.

So the limits of alternative energy research are really only limited by researchers’ imaginations. Ever dream of being a superhero? Alternative energy researchers work every day to save the world — and they don’t have to wear tights.

Net Sites

Energy Kid’s Page
Find games and fun facts about energy
http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energyfacts/

Climate Change Kids Site
Read about climate change from the United States Environmental Protection Agency
http://epa.gov/climatechange/kids/index.html

TIME for Kids
Read a special report on global warming
http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/specials/articles/0
,6709,1113542,00.html

Bytesize Science
Watch or listen to educational podcasts for kids
http://feeds.feedburner.com/bytesizescience

Careers in Wind
Search the job board from the American Wind Energy Association
http://www.jobtarget.com/home/index.cfm?site_id=77
0

American Wind Energy Association
Learn more about the association for wind energy companies
http://www.awea.org

National Hydropower Association
Learn about “blue energy”
http://www.hydro.org/

Source: CareerProNews

“Children’s literature has always been popular, but in the United States we have the most prolific children’s book industry in the world,” says Charles Temple, author of four children’s books.

“Nearly 5,000 new titles are published every year, and 50,000 children’s books are in print,” he says.

“Six years ago, families surpassed schools and libraries as purchasers of children’s books — and that was before the Harry Potter phenomenon really caught hold.”

Why the Growth?

The success of Harry Potter “forces people to take children’s literature more seriously, now that they can see the potential in the concrete terms of sales figures,” says Cora Lee. She works with a children’s book center.

“I like to think of Harry Potter as a good starting point for ‘new’ readers. There’s no limit to what a reader can find, once hooked on finding a good story.”

Another reason children’s books have become increasingly popular is that parents — perhaps more than any generation before — understand the vital role reading plays in their child’s development, says Dave Cutler. He is a freelance illustrator and author who recently published his first children’s book.

“Educators rightly encourage parents to read to their children from very early childhood,” says Temple, who is also an education professor.

“Reading to children helps them learn language, and also gives them a leg up on learning to read later on. Reading aloud to children is consistently shown to give a significant boost to their language, their general knowledge and their predisposition to read themselves. You just can’t overemphasize its importance.”

Getting Into the Market

“There are still plenty of publishers who accept unsolicited manuscripts, but this number gets a little smaller all the time,” says Alice Pope. She is the editor of Children’s Writer’s and Illustrator’s Market. “And publishers get more and more manuscripts in their slush piles all the time.”

So what are publishers looking for?

“They are looking for quality writing — for stories with compelling characters, for stories full of humor and adventure as well,” says Stephen Mooser. He is president of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. He is also the author of more than 60 children’s books.

“Children’s books need to draw kids in right away,” says children’s writer Kathryn Lay. “For the younger children, it’s the excitement of illustration and text that rolls off the tongue, begging to be read again and again. For older kids, it’s a great story and characters and dialog, just as with adults.”

One children’s authors organization says only one or two first-time authors are published each year.

“I think publishing is a very difficult field and it’s hard to figure out what anyone is looking for at any given time,” says Tom Mason. He has co-written about 20 children’s books and more than 130 episodes for children’s television.

“If a publisher says they’re looking for books about ‘cheese,’ by the time you write one, they’ll be looking for books about ‘not cheese.’ By the time a book is written, edited and published, a period of least a year or two has passed and that makes it difficult to predict trends in popular cultures or audience tastes. Everything just changes rapidly.”

Mason suggests studying the types of books each publisher releases. But don’t forget why you got into the field.

“You should write what you want, what interests you — write the kind of book you’d like to read,” Mason says. “Worry about the market later.”

Insider Advice

Write. That’s the best advice successful writers consistently give to aspiring authors.

“Quit talking about it and start writing,” Mason says. “We run into lots of people who talk about how they want to write but then they don’t sit down in front of the computer and do the heavy lifting. We write every day.”

Read in the genre you hope to write in. “Become familiar with what’s out there and what particular publishing houses are doing,” says Noreen Violetta. She works with the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.

“Don’t forget the many kid’s magazines out there either. They are a good place to begin to submit manuscripts or illustration samples to.”

And learn to accept rejection – you’ll run into it a lot. “Sadly, rejection is part of the job,” says Dan Danko. He is Mason’s co-author.

“Whether you’re writing for books, TV or movies, you’ll encounter more people who say ‘no’ more often than ‘yes,’” he says.

“For this reason, it’s important to know why you want to be a writer. If it’s to get rich and have your name on the big screen, go to law school. You’ll be happier in the end. But if it’s to fulfill a desire to create and do what you love, then always hold on to that, no matter what anyone may tell you.”

Net Sites

Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators
A professional organization for children’s writers
http://www.scbwi.org

Writer’s Digest
Research the various markets
http://www.writersdigest.com

Children’s Literature Web Guide
Offers a wealth of resources
http://www.ucalgary.ca/~dkbrown/

The Institute of Children’s Literature
Read the latest writer’s news
http://www.institutechildrenslit.com

Did you make the call Wednesday titled: Recession-Busting Job Search Techniques That WORK?

Well, if you couldn’t make it, or you called in and the line was busy (sorry, we filled up fast!) here is a link to the audio recording of the call.

You can listen here now:
http://www.maryelizabethbradford.com/teleseminar050609.php

I really opened up about detailed strategies and resources that you can use in your job search right now.

Plus, I extended a VERY special invitation that will enable you to get job search coaching and support directly from me…I think you will be really pleased and excited to hear about it!

Here is that link:
http://www.maryelizabethbradford.com/teleseminar050609.php

*Many of you emailed me to ask for the resource links I mentioned on the call, so I had my team post them for you on the same page as the audio. Enjoy!

-Mary Elizabeth

Are you like so many people I have been talking with recently that are frustrated with their job search?

If so, I would like to invite you to join me for an absolutely fr^ee, no strings attached teleseminar titled:

How to Find a Job in Days, Not Weeks

I recently shared with you in my ezine that one of my goals for 2009 was to help as many job seekers as I could. I can’t think of a better way to kick off the New Year than with a program that can turn your “frustration” into “excitement!”

Date: Tuesday January 20th, 2009

Time: 5pm CST

Register here now:

http://maryelizabethbradford.com/findjobindays.php
*When you register, you will receive the call-in information.

Hosted by two of the country’s leading experts on job search techniques:

* Mary Elizabeth Bradford, a certified resume writer and job search coach with an executive recruiter background, creates custom, turnkey job search strategies and marketing materials for her clients, helping them to easily and quickly attract the attention they deserve. Her strategy leverages research, detail and focus.

* Mark Hovind of JobBait.com helps executives find jobs by going directly to the decision-makers most likely to hire them. His specialties include value proposition letters, targeting, mailing list (CEOs, Presidents, etc.), websites and video clips. His strategy leverages quality, volume, and speed.

Mark and Mary Elizabeth have combined forces to help job-seekers find a job as fast as possible, specifically in the hidden job market.

Please note: this teleseminar is for serious-minded job seekers who are willing to commit to do what it takes to land their next position. Come prepared to take notes and feel that mix of euphoria and relief when we show you the light at the end of the tunnel!

***Only 98 spots available – this call will fill quickly!***

Register here now:

http://maryelizabethbradford.com/findjobindays.php

Inspiring your success,

Mary Elizabeth

P.S. At the end of this teleseminar, you will KNOW which decision-makers to contact and have several options to reach them right now…today if you want to.

P.P.S. There is no catch except that once you find a job, we ask that you “pay it forward” and don’t forget to share your story with us!