According to a recent survey conducted by Consumer Affairs, fifty-two percent of Americans are not saving enough money, with many saving no money at all. If you and your family are "just getting by," you are certainly not alone. Why not take matters into your own hands and make a change for the better? Even small changes, like switching to a company with better benefits or one with a great retirement plan can make a huge difference for you and your family in the long run. Think about it...you owe it to yourself, and to your future, to see what is out there and weigh your options.
A great way to uncover your options is to get out there and just start interviewing. Even with all the hype about layoffs and hiring slumps, you never know who might be on the lookout for your specific skill set and singular background experience. Is there a local company you have always been interested in? Have you heard that a friend's company is looking to hire? Update your resume ASAP, print it on a
high quality paper, and drop it in the mail along with a professional, personalized cover letter introducing yourself to the hiring manager. With any luck, they will call you soon to schedule an interview. At the very least, they will probably file your resume away for later, because a resume delivered via "snail mail" is much more memorable (and not as easy to "delete") than the hundreds of email applications they will likely receive. If you are lucky enough to get that interview, make sure to leave an immediate and lasting impression for all the right reasons.
As soon as you get home from the interview, ensure that you will stand out from the crowd by writing a professional, sincere, hand-written
thank you note directly to the person with whom you interviewed, thanking them for their time and re-expressing your interest and enthusiasm for the job. Make sure to proofread it, and send it without delay. Employers have to make tough decisions, and any extra steps you take can only help your chances to land the job of your dreams.
