Raise your hand if you want a job

Japanese college students shout and punched the air at a job-hunting ceremony in Tokyo. About 1500 mostly junior college students gathered in a park on Tuesday for the annual pep rally to offer each other moral support and encouragement and appeal for jobs. At 5 per cent, Japan's unemployment rate is high by historical standards.

YOUR SAY

Given the number of queries that come to MyCareer about how to write a CV, a surprising 65 per cent of voters in last week's online poll are moderately happy with theirs. But still the questions come in (see Jim Bright's column, right) and despite the amount of advice on CVs at mycareer.com.au/advice, it still clearly causes grief. On the subject of referees, most people haven't made contact in a while or have not briefed them fully. Last week's story was very specific: keep your referees up to date. This week's questions are on receiving criticism at work (page 3) and the gobbledegook that permeates so much management language (page 5).Tell us what you think at mycareer.com.au/vote. Also, email us your favourite management cliches at memo@fairfax

Watch your mouth at work

Honesty is valued in the office but sometimes you just need to shut up. Try Kath Lockett's tips.

Dr Work

Q MY SON has been out of a job for a long time. I want to encourage him to keep trying, even though it now seems harder to get a job. Any advice?

Turning Over A New Leaf, One And All

Monday Today we decided to take the bull by the horns, draw a line in the sand, turn over a new leaf and re-enter the job market.

Networking

JOB candidates have been comprehensively warned about how inappropriate material on social networking sites can come back to haunt them. But the websites can also play a positive role in job hunting and one company has cashed in on that by offering recruiters a service to create and maintain a Facebook presence, a move it claims will "take the 'refer a friend' concept to a new level".

The Final Hurdle

Angry, dogmatic, indiscreet ... if you bring any of these cards to a job interview youre headed for a fall. JUST making it to the interview stage is a signifi cant achievement in the job-hunting process.

Ever-increasing Circles

Effective job networking is easier than you might think, writes Kristie Kellahan.

Any Questions?

I'm job hunting but my resume-to-interview strike rate is low. How can I improve it?

Pension Rules Scare Disabled Out Of Job Hunt

DISABILITY pensioners are too scared to look for a job because they could lose their pensions and be put on the lower unemployment benefit - contrary to government assurances - a major disability agency says.

2 Jasmine Salis, 17, Oak Flats

Jasmine wrote:"I feel that I could achieve so much more in life with this opportunity." EVERY day, Jasmine Salis sticks to a strict routine of exercise, housework and job hunting.

Fruitless Search Frustrates Job Hunter

TWO years of fruitless job hunting has left Kemblawarra woman Monica Pillon frustrated and demoralised.

Accolade Not Enough To Keep Rochas Afloat

ONLY 1 1/2 months after Rochas designer Olivier Theyskens took out the International Award at the Council of Fashion Designers of America Fashion Awards, it looks as if he will be job hunting. The label's owner, Procter & Gamble, announced last week it would shut down the operation. Rochas, one of a group of historic French fashion houses that has placed young designers at the helm to reinvigorate their brands, has been prospering artistically under the direction of the Brussels-born Theyskens, ...

Taking Aim At The Job Market

Job hunting needs a clear strategy, not a scattergun approach. By Wendy Taylor.

Reynolds Moves On

WALLABIES lineout coach Ross Reynolds starts job hunting today, but he has not been put off the English game by a terrible run of luck.