Stepping Up Your Job Search

A friend of mine recently applied for a job. He uploaded his resume and cover letter online, but this company won't let job candidates hit the Submit button until they repeat the details of their most recent jobs, former supervisors, specify salary requirements, and more. From the redundant, intrusive application process to their insulting rejection letter, this company sends a clear message of disrespect.  More »

A lot of people use Twitter for fun, whether to spy on celebrities or keep tabs on friends and family on one simple site. Hopefully you're already following the Pongo Resume tweets, but you can also get a ton of great career advice from other sources on Twitter. If you're searching for a new job or trying to navigate the one you have, there are hundreds of career professionals tweeting every day with one purpose: To help you manage and advance your career! Here's a list of 20 of our favorite Tweeple.  More »

The apply online only world we live in makes it convenient to search and apply for jobs from the comfort of your home. But it's a huge adjustment to spend your days job searching in coffee-stained pajamas and call that meaningful. The remedy? Create a structured job search approach - and stick to it.  More »

Pongo continues to claim space in the social networking sphere. We are now active on two of the most popular social networking sites on the web! View the full post to find out more.  More »

Job ads have their own jargon, and it can be helpful when writing your resume and cover letter to understand what it means when an employer says you should be a self-starter or xxx skills would be a plus. The job ad pictured here is a real posting pulled from Monster.com (with identifying details removed). Using actual phrases from this ad, what follows are some translations to help job seekers understand what the employer is REALLY looking for.  More »

If you're considering collecting unemployment benefits from your state, it's important to note that it's not a free ride to get there. Your state may have different rules and regulations, but here in Massachusetts you have to provide proof of all your job search efforts in order to collect your checks. Here are some suggestions to help you keep track of your efforts.  More »

Being out of work can be stressful, frustrating, and worst of all, utterly boring. Once you've contacted all your contacts, applied to all the jobs on all the job boards, and exhausted every other avenue you can think of, what do you do with yourself? Go to the good ol' public library! It's an island of peace and tranquility that can soothe your embattled soul. And it might even open up some new ideas for the job hunt!  More »

Internships serve a dual purpose: They provide college students with practical experience and offer employers a way to find talent to hire in the future. If you're a college student and want to land an internship for the summer, start today by following these five steps.  More »

Change is not necessarily easy, especially when you start a new job or move into a different career. If you're thinking about changing careers, here's hoping you can draw a dose of inspiration from these famous career changers.  More »

If you're out of work and anticipate a long layoff (e.g., more than six months), you may have quite a bit to gain by taking on a temporary or contract job to generate cash to pay the bills while you hunt for full-time work. Here are some tips on how to find one.  More »