However, whether the company you’re working for has notified you of your layoff or you’re simply ready to try something new, it’s important to be careful about how you’re conducting your new job search while still employed.  Here are some ideas to consider …

Never Conduct Your Job Search at Work

The cardinal rule for conducting a job search while still employed is to never conduct any type of search while at work. In the old days of job seeking, it would have been quite bold – and rather obvious – to sit at your desk and circle jobs in the newspaper while you’re supposed to be working. However, now that the Internet is easily accessible at the job and companies typically allow a little web browsing, some employees feel comfortable conducting job searches while at work.

This is not a good idea, however, because companies have ways of tracking the sites you’ve visited and you don’t want them to catch you visiting other company sites during work hours, especially of the company is your employer’s competition. So make sure this is a practice you steer clear of.

Be Careful What You Post Online

Another mistake that some job seekers make when apply for jobs while still employed is posting their job seeking business online. If you have friends who work with you who are also on your Facebook friends list, it’s a good idea to avoid posting status updates that say something like “Hey everyone … looking for work anywhere. Pls help! Need to get away from this horrible job ASAP!” While there’s no guarantee that this message could get back to your higher ups, you might expect that it could.

Also, it’s a good idea to avoid posting your resume on job boards because recruiters from your company could run into it accidentally. Instead, if you find a job you like, it’s better to submit a resume directly via the website or snail mail.

Make Your Current Company Anonymous on Your Resume

Another way to make sure that your employer doesn’t know that you’re looking for a new job is to make the company name is confidential on your resume. You can still list your title and duties, but leave the company name off and list your most current date of employment as present. When you head in for an interview, you can at that point let it be known that you’re still working for another company. The prospective employer can understand that you’re looking to avoid any conflict, especially if your employer is competition.

If you’re not sure of what steps to take during this job seeking process, you could always consult a professional for job seeking tips or to get resume writing help. Just remember that remaining discreet is very important if you want to ensure a drama-free job search while still employed.

If you’re not sure how to make changes and don’t want to get professional help for writing a resume then you might consider the below tips for helping you make improvements. You never know, a few changes could take your resume a long way.

Include Industry-Specific and Action Keywords

One thing that your resume may be lacking is the right keywords for the job you’re seeking. Many companies use scanning software to pinpoint industry-specific keywords before even having a person read through the resume. So it’s a good idea to look through your resume to make sure that it has keywords that define your industry (i.e. tradeshows, PR, C++).

Also, it’s a good idea to use action words to describe your skills and accomplishments. For instance, instead of writing that you were “responsible for answering phones” you could write that you “answered phones and routed calls accordingly to 38 departments company-wide.” The action words “answered” and “routed” let employers know that you actually did your job and also how exactly you got it done.

Make Sure Your Formatting is Simple

Word processing programs often make it fun to utilize different fonts and bullet points, but you want to avoid too much complexity in your resume. You should need no more than two styles of bullet points and they should be consistent through the document. Also, you should only need two font styles (if that) in your resume – and they should only be used to define sections.

But most important, you want to make sure that your resume isn’t too cluttered. If you don’t have enough white space, the reader will not even want to look through it. It should be easy to scan with the naked eye – on a computer screen and even on a small mobile device.

Don’t Forget the Usual Suspects

If you don’t know what the usual suspects are then you’re probably forgetting to check your spelling, grammar and other typos. These issues are easy to overlook when editing your resume but are undoubtedly glaring errors when a hiring manager is looking over your resume.

You may not believe it, but more than one typo could result in getting your resume tossed before the employer looks at your qualifications. So don’t just read over your resume yourself, also have your friends and family read it over for errors. This way, you won’t be sidelined before you get into the running.

Writing resumes is an art. You have to know what the company you’re applying with is looking for, as well as how you can help them. The last thing you want is to have subtle issues get in the way of a great job opportunity. So take time to review your resume for improvements that could be made. You never know, those improvements could make the difference between being hired and sitting at home making more resumes.

However, the job search process is much deeper than this. In fact, some recruiters have made a point to tell the world what they see as common mistakes job seekers make. So if you want to avoid annoying a recruiter, take time to look at the following mistakes others have made.

Embellishing Past Experience

On your resume – or even at an interview – it may be tempting to embellish the truth about your work experience a bit to make it appear that you’ve done more than you have. But this is not a good idea. Employers are great at performing background checks and talking with references, so it is likely that they will know if you lied.

If you want to beef up your past without telling little white lies, it’s good to get assistance with resume writing to help you out. But whatever you do, don’t embellish the past. It could absolutely backfire in the long run.

Being Unprepared or Too Comfortable in an Interview

Another problem that some job seekers have is being unprepared during an interview. It’s important that interviewers know that you understand the position you’re applying for, the company you’re applying with have and experience to back up that fact that you think you’re qualified for the position. If you don’t come prepared to answer questions, it will be obvious. So do your research and practice, practice, practice before the actual interview date.

And if you feel that you are prepared, don’t get too comfortable. Interviewers can be put off by the interviewee who is overly confident or feels comfortable getting too personal. The best balance is to come in well-researched and confident, while appropriate and professional.

Lacking Passion

Some recruiters believe that job seekers often make the mistake of seeking a job rather than their passion. It’s sometimes tough to find the right balance when you’re in need of money and want to secure a position. But if you can help it, it’s good to chance the jobs that you really want. Hiring managers are good at determining when you’re not really interested in the job, so try applying for jobs you really want and leaving the others to those who are passionate about them.

There’s nothing worse than spending time applying for jobs, only to find yourself rejected time after time. To avoid this from continuing, it’s good to avoid the above job seeker mistakes. If you do, you could find your luck improving rather rapidly.

But sometimes it happens, especially in this challenging economy, which is why it's good to take time to reevaluate what you're doing to make sure you're actually on the right track. Let's look at some ways you can get this done.

Rework Your Resume

This is a crucial step in the process and could be the single reason that you're not getting the callbacks you're looking for. Sometimes, your resume simply isn't speaking the language of the employer. What is that language? It's called "What Can You Do for Me?"

Basically, the hiring manager wants to know that you match the goals of the specific position they're hiring for and it's your job to prove that you're a good match. You can do this by aligning your accomplishments with the goals specifically laid out in the job posting.

Also, you can look through the company's website to look at organizational goals you can fulfill. But most important, you want to make sure that you use action words to describe everything.

These goals can all be accomplished if you hire a resume writer. However, if you choose to take this step on your own, it's good to make sure you're doing everything you can to show you can meet the company's needs.

Revamp Your Interviewing Skills

If you find that you're getting called in for interviews but not getting hired for the position time and time again, your problem may be found in your interviewing skills (or lack thereof). One way to make sure you get the job done with confidence and the right verbal and body language is by practicing with a friend first.

Try to be as serious as possible as you go through a list of questions that you might expect (these can be found all over the Internet). And make sure that your friend is able to give you a thorough critique so that you can make necessary changes.

Also, you might consider conducting your interview in front of a mirror so that you can see if you're slouching, relying on nervous ticks (chewing your nails, patting your feet, rubbing your leg). Any sign of a lack of confidence (not the same as nervousness) could result in losing your opportunity.

After making some adjustments to your resume and interviewing protocol, you will hopefully see some changes in your luck. But whatever you do, don't give up. With determination and hard work, you will eventually get the job you want.

Post Online

Probably the best place to post your resume nowadays is right over the Internet. Whether you're submitting to a company that requests to receive resumes via email or through their website, you're posting to an online job board, or you're adding your resume to your LinkedIn profile, the Internet offers a great space for marketing your skills and accomplishments to the broadest audience in one place. It's definitely an option you should take advantage of.

Go to Job Fairs

Another great way to get your resume out there is to visit job fairs when they come to your area. Job fairs usually bring anywhere from 50 to 100 employers that are recruiting to one location to help them find new job candidates. So why not take advantage of this great opportunity to get your resume in front of the right eyes.

Hand One Over to Your Cousin

Okay, maybe you don't want to give your resume to that cousin who's envious of your prior success and will use it for extra firewood, but you could consider using your network base of friends, family and former co-workers to help you find work. If you know someone who knows a company that's hiring, by passing on your resume, you increase your chances of getting hired without even searching for work.

If you're ready to find your next job, it's time to get your resume out there. So why not try one of these tactics to get the exposure you need?

If you know a professional who helps write resumes then you can get assistance. But if you're on your own, don't fret. There are some ways to make those situations appear a bit more appealing on the resume. So to help you out, let's look at some undesirable situations, as well as ways that you might overcome them.

1. So Many Jobs, So Little Time

If you're notorious for jumping from job to job within just a few months, this could look bad on your resume. Employers are typically uncomfortable with hiring workers that they think will skip out on them in a few months, so they tend to breeze past a resume that appears sketchy.

If you have this type of situation, it's good to not tell white lies like stretching out some employers and skipping over others. Instead, if you had a good reason for job hopping – like working temp jobs in the wake of the recession – then just explain it in your cover letter to make sure the employer has no unanswered questions to think about.

2. Sorry, I'm a One Firm Kind of Worker

Another undesirable resume situation is to have worked at only one job over a 25-year span. While on one hand this type of commitment shows loyalty, which is good to an employer, it also could represent a fear of getting out and trying something new.

A way to get around this is to highlight all of the different positions you held in the company. Be sure to note all of the title changes and, most importantly, note the major differences in your duties. Your resume needs to show growth and having been in the same company, this is probably the best way to show it.

3. Do Tons of College Classes Count as Experience?

Unfortunately, college students often have a difficult time writing their resumes because they have no work experience to list. While college classes don't count as work experience, you could list internships, part-time jobs and even volunteer opportunities that you've worked on. You could also list speeches and presentations you gave – anything to show that you were able to manage a responsibility.

4. I've Been Working Very Hard… Raising My Family

Another resume setback for many job seekers is the gap in employment. If you've taken a few years off to raise you family, this is incredibly commendable. However, the large gap in employment only leaves the employer to wonder why you didn't have a job during this time.

As with the job-hopper situation, the gap in employment requires explanation via your cover letter. If the employer needs more information, he can get it in the interview. At least you will have covered your bases by showing that your gap was indeed legitimate.

Now you see that there's no need to hide under a rock if you're writing a resume and must include undesirable situations. Instead, face the situations head on and show the employer that you're the full package, even if you have a few perceived flaws.

Of course, when you get resume help from a professional, the know-how is presented to you. However, doing it on your own isn't bad at all if you know the key questions your resume should answer.

1. Who Are You?

The first question you want to make sure to address is who you are. This does not mean simply offering your name and address; it means addressing who you are as a candidate, which is usually taken care of in the objective/summary. In this section, you want to tell the employer what you bring to the table as a strong candidate and why you should be hired above everyone else.

2. What Skills Do You Bring to the Table?

Another major question that should be addressed in your resume is what skills you bring to the table. If an employer hires you, they want to know exactly what skills you can hit the ground running with. This way, they will know which candidates will require the least training. If you have a lot of skills then it's important to list them all to rank yourself higher in the candidate pool.

3. Who Are Your Previous Employers?

The hiring manager is also going to want to know who you've worked for before. This is easily answered by providing a job history section that addresses where you've worked, your job titles and the length of time with each employer.

4. How Do I Know You're the Right Fit for the Position?

This question is extremely important. The employer has to know that you're not just a good employee, but the right employee for the job. This can be addressed by carefully reviewing the job posting and finding specific accomplishments show that you have already "been there, done that" when it comes to what they're looking for.

5. Are You an Overall Good Candidate?

The answer to this question can be addressed by you on the resume, but some of it will be addressed behind your back through contacting your references, performing background checks and even searching your name in Google. So on top of making sure that there are no red flags on your resume like job hopping, big gaps without explanation or even spending too much time at the same employer and in the same position, it's good to make sure your online presence is as clean as a whistle.

The good news is that if you successfully answer key questions in your resume, the employer should have no problem determining that you're the right person for the job. So give it a try and see how well it could work for you.

If this is your first time deciding to post your resume, it's good to know that there are a lot of places to do it. Let's take a look at some great places to post yours.

Career Builder

CareerBuilder.com is one of the most popular sites on the Internet. It not only offers great career advice, but it allows you to post your resume for recruiters and hiring managers to find. By signing up for a free account, you have the opportunity to upload or paste your resume into their system or build yours through the Resume Builder feature so that you can easily be found by those that search the system.

Monster

While the name sounds scary, Monster is another very popular site for posting resumes. Similar to Career Builder, you sign up for a free account, upload, paste or build your resume then allow the recruiters to find you. Also, after posting your resume, you can conduct job searches to see what employers have to offer.

LinkedIn

Another great place to post your resume is LinkedIn. While it's not a resume-posting service, it offers great features that help you post your resume, create a professional profile and even network. You can build a resume through the system that is posted for others. Also, you can network with individuals you know and don't know who also have LinkedIn accounts. And you can receive recommendations from previous and current coworkers and employers.

The more you put your resume online for the public to see, the better your chances could be of getting recruited for a position. So if you haven't already, now's the time to look into posting your resume online.

When you have someone writing resumes for you, it's easy to make sure that mistakes aren't made. But if you're going at the writing process on your own, it's good to do what you can to create the best resume possible. This could be accomplished by avoiding the following actions that annoy hiring managers…

1. Make Grammatical and Spelling Errors

Talk about annoying! It's truly a downer for a hiring manager to read a resume only to stumble across spelling and grammatical errors. They very often distract the reader from the purpose of the resume, which is to determine whether you're the right fit for the job.  So whatever you do, make sure to proofread your resume thoroughly – and have your kids, parents, friends, family, neighbors and strangers to the same.

2. Add Unimportant Details

Adding unrelated and important details such as hobbies to your resume can make a hiring manager want to pull out their hair. While it may be interesting to you, there's no need to add to your resume that you love to scrapbook in your spare time. Unless you're going for a party planning position, it's not something that the hiring manager needs to know.

3. Include Old Information

The general rule of thumb for keeping older information on your resume is if it is older than 10 years, you don't have to add it. On the other hand, when it comes to listing your education, if you have a college degree or higher, there's no need to list your high school information.

4. Provide False Information

There's never an excuse to provide false information on your resume. Not only is it a dishonest practice, but it sets you up for a messy confrontation. Employers verify information you've provided them to ensure you're telling the truth, so why risk having to confess later – or worse, get passed over for lying.

In addition to the above items, you want to avoid making spelling mistakes, bragging about your career and more when writing your resume. By keeping it simply and maintaining a focus, you could create a resume that would convince a hiring manager to call you back in no time.

In a tough job market like we're facing today, sometimes we're required to get out there and apply for positions that we know we're a bit overqualified for. However, in order to put food on the table, we do what we must.

The only problem is that some employers are reluctant to hire candidates that they know are overqualified because they think they'll pull a "hit and run" as soon as a better opportunity arrives. In order to prove otherwise, it's good to make some key adjustments to your resume.

Redefine Your Level of Experience

Don't get the notion that you're going to have to lie to downgrade your level of experience. However, you may need to redefine a few things on your resume. If you can find someone to write professional resumes then you may be able to receive assistance. However, this is also something you can do on your own.

For instance, your job when writing your resume is to match your skills to the requested qualifications of the job posting. By simply pinpointing the experience that you may have acquired when you first started your job, versus the latest experience, you could appear a bit more fresh-faced than you are – not a bad thing.

Tell Your Story in Your Cover Letter

Once you've made adjustments to your resume to reflect the skills and accomplishments best suited for the job you're applying for, you could explain further what your intentions in applying for the job are in your cover letter. Unless you use a function resume, it's hard to hide the number of years you had on a job; however, if you tell a compelling story about why you are truly interested (thrilled, actually) to have a shot at the position with your years of experience, you may actually impress the hiring manager more than you think.

If it seems that you're repeatedly getting turned down for job opportunities and you feel that being overqualified may be the culprit, it's important to not give up hope. There is an opportunity out there for you and if you persist, you're sure to find it.