There’s an app for just about everything. With over a billion apps downloaded from Apple’s App Store—and no end in sight for this growing market space—there are dozens of apps designed to help job seekers. Some are free; the rest only cost a few dollars.

 Here are just a few of the apps out there.

Real-Time Jobs

Recently released, this TwitterJobSearch app enables job seekers to attach an online/video CV or online profile to job offers that have been posted via Twitter.

Job Compass

This application uses iPhone’s geo-locator to find jobs within a chosen radius of the user’s location. Job seekers are able to read job descriptions, contact companies and apply directly from the iPhone.

BeamMe

IPhone users can send virtual business cards, “Vcards,” via SMS and e-mail. The great part is that the recipient only has to open the message and click one button to add the job seekers contact information with no special phone, software or registration.

LinkUp

This job search engine app lets users search for jobs on company Web sites by keyword, location, company and category. Searches can be saved and you can apply to jobs through your iPhone and/or e-mail job openings to yourself or a friend.

Resume Pro

Create a PDF resume on your iPhone by inputting professional and personal information. Preview your resume and e-mail it to yourself or someone else as a PDF. This app also includes a generic cover letter you can include when you send your resume.

Good Job

This application allows iPhone users to manage all aspects of the job search process; tasks, events, follow ups and interviews. It also allows you to save an unlimited number of jobs and contacts and save your login information on some job search and company sites.

Karma centers on the belief of “what goes around, comes around.” In short, the way you look at and react to the world around you directly affects your circumstances. The same thing can be said for the job search process. It can become a long and draining experience—an article from CareerBuilder.com suggests that you should “…expect it to take at least three months to find a job that pays $40,000. Add one month for every $10,000 more you want in salary.” Job seekers finding themselves facing another dead end can get frustrated, disappointed and understandably apprehensive. Many hunker down, staying at their computer for hours. But uninterrupted job hunting is a bad thing. The anxiety and stress wears you down mentally, physically and emotionally. Suddenly it feels like you are in too deep and it’s easy to lose sight of where you are.

Here are some ways to stay healthy—both in mind and body—while you continue your job search.

Mentally

Take the time to learn a new skill, especially one that is applicable to your career goals. Most everyone has a basic understanding of Microsoft Office, so learn a new computer program that boosts your value to a potential employer. Tools like Apple’s Keynote and Adobe Flash are slowly replacing traditional PowerPoint presentations because they can create more dynamic and captivating productions. It’s important to stay positive during the job hunt. Learning a new skill can make you feel that you’re during something productive with your time. Concentrate on how accomplished you’ll feel when you can add another line to your resume.

To maintain a sense of control, do something every day that offers concrete results. It can be as simple as cleaning out a closet, organizing the garage or washing your car. Reward yourself with something that denotes “job well done.” As far as job searching goes, pride yourself on the things you accomplished that day—sent out X number of resumes, made contact with HR manager Y—rather than waiting to celebrate what you’ve done. It’s critical to strive to maintain a glass half-full mentality.

Physically

It may sound trite, but exercising and eating right can keep you in a more positive mindset during the job search. Exercise gives your brain a much-needed reprieve from sending out resumes and cover letters. Exercising also releases endorphins, a natural pick-me-up and helps constructively release frustration and anger. However, many job seekers are cancelling their subscription to the local gym or yoga studio, trying to cut back on expenses. You don’t have to work with a personal trainer to make excerise worth it. Go for daily walks with a friend. Rent pilates videos from the library and turn your living room into a mini-fitness center. Find something that keeps you active and gives you a well deserved time-out from job hunting.

Emotionally

When people begin to feel demoralized, they often start turning down social invitations. Staying connected to the outside world is extremely important for your emotional and mental health. There’s no need to go it alone. Connect regularly with other people, both in your professional and personal circles. Reaching out to others during this time is one way to help you feel valuable — and valued. Identify those people who have confidence in you and build your own confidence in yourself.

Twitter is rapidly becoming a major player in social media. As the third most-used social media Web site with an average tweet speed of 20505 per minute, the amount of information can be overwhelming and difficult to sort through. In order to more effectively use Twitter as a job search tool, Boston job seekers need to find ways to more efficiently organize how they use the site.

Luckily, Twitter has hundreds of third party applications to do just that. Here are just a few:

Twitterfeed

Automatically updates blog posts or RSS feeds to Twitter in the appropriate format.

TweetBeep

Just like Google Alerts, this application will automatically send you an alert when ever a pre-set keyword is mentioned on Twitter.

Tweetshots

This service allows you to post your tweets to other sites like Tumblr, embed in your Web site or send over e-mail.

Twitter100

Just like in your personal start pages, this tool will allocate a box to each of the people you follow on a single page and display their latest tweets.

TwtBizCard

This simple service lets you set up an electronic business card that can be easily tweeted to your contacts. When you sign up, the service pulls from your Twitter profile as starter information for the e-business card, but allows you to add details for customization.

TweetMyJobs

With over 300,000 tweets in the last month, TweetMyJobs sends you job postings based on industry/field and location.

Summize

A Twitter search engine that allows you run RSS feeds in the query as well as filter tweets by language.

The advent of autumn brings the beginning of cold and flu season. And, with work deadlines constantly looming, few workers want to have to take time off to recover from a cold or the flu.

According to a national survey conducted earlier this year by Monster.com, 71% of American workers admit they go to work when they are ill because they fear losing their jobs or are too busy to take a break. Of those who go to work sick, “33% fear losing their job if they take a sick day, while 38% admit their workload is too busy to take a day off from work even when they are ill,” said Norma Gaffin, director of career content at Monster.com. http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS165997+20-May-2009+BW20090520

Only 19% of respondents say they stay home from work when sick in order to rest up and get well. The remaining 10% who avoid the workplace when sick actually work from home, despite being ill.

Given statistics like these, it is important to take precautions to avoid catching a virus while at the office this cold and flu season. Below are some tips to keep in mind.

• Wash hands often. This means after each restroom break, before eating, after you sneeze or cough or any time your hands feel dirty. Keep a bottle of hand sanitizer at your desk for when you can’t make it to the sink. And do not touch your nose, mouth or eyes.
• Eat balanced meals. Many people are tempted to skip breakfast, however it has been shown that those who eat breakfast are healthier than those who do not. Moreover, try to include a decent amount of vitamin C in your diet to give your immune system a boost. 
• Keep workspace clean. Clean your phone, computer keyboard and anything else that you use frequently. Even if you are the only user, germs can live on these objects and you can reinfect yourself.
• Drink 8 glasses of water daily. Keep a water bottle close by throughout the day. Coffee and soda may keep you awake, but they can also dehydrate you, lowering your immune defenses.
• Avoid sick coworkers. As indicated by the poll above, most of your sick coworkers will be working right along side you at the office. Try to, nicely, avoid direct contact with them.
• Use vacation days. Although it may feel like its never a good time to be away from the office, people who take vacations are less likely to get sick. Vacations often relieve stress, which has been proven to contribute to illness.

To learn more about workplace safety and health issues, please visit: www.cdc.gov/workplace.

Having trouble landing a job in one of the more traditional employment hot spots like New York City, Chicago, or Los Angeles? Well, you may want to look elsewhere for opportunities because New York City is predicted to lose 181,000 jobs this year alone and each of the two other major cities is predicted to lose a similar number of jobs.

If you are willing to relocate, you should look for jobs in cities where the unemployment situation is not so grim. Forbes has looked into its crystal ball and pulled together a list of the 10 Best Cities for Jobs in 2009. The top three cities for jobs (based on unemployment rate and the number of new jobs created in the previous six months) are: Madison, Wisconsin, Washington, D.C., and Boston, MA.

So, why does Madison have a positive outlook for job growth and a strikingly low unemployment rate? The University of Wisconsin is a huge employer, and the University’s research branch, the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, has made Madison a hub for the biotech, healthcare, and medical-device industries. Also, the city is home to the state’s government and diverse companies.

And how about Washington, D.C.? Washington D.C. benefits from an ample supply of government jobs. For Washington, the government is the city’s largest employer. Washington also benefits from its numerous nonprofits, professional associations, law firms, and defense contractors, as well as from education. In fact, schools are the third largest employer in the city, and 30,000 new education jobs are predicted for 2009. 

Finally, what makes Boston, MA a hot spot for jobs? The abundance of hospitals, research institutions, and universities in the area drives Boston’s economy and produces a highly-educated workforce, which in turn has been attracting an increasing number of biotech and software companies to the area, giving the city a leg up in the job market. Also, because Boston is home to mainly hedge funds, trust services, and deposit banks, it was able to avoid many of the problems that hit New York’s financial institutions during the subprime mortgage crisis.

And, if you just cannot imagine yourself living in Madison, D.C., or Boston, how about Pittsburg or Houston?

Forbes’ 10 best cities for jobs in 2009 list:

1. Madison, Wisconsin
2. Washington, D.C.
3. Boston, Massachusetts
4. Richmond, Virginia
5. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
6. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
7. Baltimore, Maryland
8. Seattle, Washington
9. Houston, Texas
10. Dallas, Texas

Sitting at a desk all day can take a toll on your health and activity level, but there are some easy ways to stay in shape that do not require a gym membership or huge time commitment. You can sneak in small bouts of exercise throughout the day as well as make healthy eating choices.

Take a Few Extra Steps

Park your car in a spot far away from the entrance to your office. While parking close to the front door is convenient, walking the few extra feet every day quickly adds up. When you need to ask a colleague a question, don’t call or email. Walk over to his or her office. Take the stairs instead of the elevator whenever you can; stair climbing is a great form of exercise. You can try using the restroom on a different floor.

Eat Smart

Beware the convenience of buying lunch. Quick sandwiches and meals-to-go are often high in calories and low in nutrition. Bringing a lunch is the healthier option. You’ll know the ingredients of what you’re eating, and be able to control the portion size and leave out unhealthy toppings.

Drink Up

Every diet encourages you to increase your water intake. Not only do the trips to the water cooler get you out of your seat, but drinking water also keeps you from snacking and actually makes you feel full. We are often unable to distinguish hunger from thirst, so if you find yourself staring at the clock waiting for your lunch hour, try drinking some water to see if your hunger pains abate.

It is a struggle to stay healthy and active while sitting at a desk all day, but there are small ways to make a positive impact.

When you go on a job interview for that Boston Job, it’s likely that right off the bat, your interviewer will ask you, “Tell me about yourself.” This question (which isn’t even framed as a question) is supposed to make you feel more at ease and open you up to speaking with your interviewer.

The question seems harmless, but how you answer can make or break you. The question leads you to share personal information—about your family, where you’re from, etc… But, personal information like this is irrelevant. Remember that you’re interviewing for a Boston Job and answer the question in relation to the position for which you are applying. In other words, keep your answer career focused.

If you’re a recent college graduate, you could say, “I just graduated from X university with a degree in X. The internships that I completed as an undergraduate exposed me to XYZ and sparked my interest in X, which is why I’ve decided I want to pursue a career in X and believe that the position I am interviewing for is a terrific match for my skills and career interests.”

If your interviewer seems disappointed that you did not reveal more about yourself, you could go on to say, “Outside of work, I enjoy reading, traveling, etc…”

No matter if you’re a recent college grad or in mid-career, you should follow the 3 steps outlined below to ensure your answer will make a positive impression on your interviewer.

1) Briefly introduce yourself and mention your qualities that relate to the position.

2) Summarize your work history: Mention the company for which you most recently worked and summarize what you did. Your summary is the “meat” of your response and should directly relate to the needs of the hiring company. Don’t expect your interviewer to connect any dots. Be very clear about how your skills are transferable to the available opportunity.

3) End your response with a good question that shows you have at least a basic understanding of what the company does and the role you would be playing if hired. Asking a question will engage the interviewer, turn the interview into a two-way conversation, and relieve you of some of the stress you may feel.

Now that we are deep into summer, many Boston college students and recent graduates are engrossed in fast-paced internships. Beyond internship duties, Boston interns have an entire city at their feet to enjoy and explore, but how do you juggle responsibilities and fun?

An Internship is a Job

Your internship is your foot in the door at a company. You should show up every day with enthusiasm and a willingness to contribute. You should accept whatever tasks you are given (no matter how mundane) and complete them to the best of your ability. By performing routine tasks like copying, filing, and mailing packages efficiently, you will prove your capabilities and earn more responsibilities. 

In general, you should use the time at your internship to make valuable and long-lasting connections. Introduce yourself to as many of your coworkers as you can. Ask them to sit down with you for a few minutes and ask them questions about what they do and their career path. Seth Vinocur, current Federal Reserve Bank of Boston employee and Boston College MBA student, stresses the importance of finding a mentor who is willing to meet or talk with you at least once a month to give you advice and help guide you along your career path.

No Homework, No Problem

Being a summer intern is great because when the work day is over, you don’t have to go home and do homework like you do during the school year. You should take advantage of your free time and explore Boston. It’s a fantastic city to live, work, and play in. After exploring the historic sites and famous Boston landmarks, such as Faneuil Hall, Fenway Park, and the Freedom Trail, delve deeper into they city’s offerings. Catch a free, outdoor summer concert or movie at the Hatch Shell, rent a sailboat at Jamaica Pond, visit www.farmfresh.org and find a farmer’s market near you. If you are staying in Boston for an extended period of time, research local social groups, such as ONEin3 Boston, which caters to Boston residents ages 20-34 and offers civic engagement and networking opportunities. Also, don’t limit your fun to the city. There are many great places nearby that you can travel to easily. Explore Cape Cod, Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard,  Salem, or Rockport.

 Life after your Internship

After your internship ends, keep in touch with the people with whom you worked. (The professional networking site LinkedIn is a great tool for staying in touch.) They’ll be great resources for you down the road.

Many recent grads choose to remain in or move to Boston to build a career, pursue higher education opportunities, and/or find love. (Boston is ranked the 2^nd best city in the country to find love).

INTERVIEW

We asked Ally McCabe, Director at Hollister, Inc. to share what local businesses are looking for in job applicants.

I. The Resume

Hollister: What do companies look for in a job applicant’s resume?

McCabe: Employers are looking for a candidate who has a specific focus and whose resume communicates how he or she will add value to their organization to fill their Boston Jobs. Review your resume and ask yourself, “Does my resume communicate what I can contribute to the company?”

McCabe: The most valuable advice I can give you is to avoid simply listing tasks you performed in your prior positions. Carefully read each bullet point on your resume and ask yourself “and…so what?” You want to be sure that your resume reflects the impact you had on the organization.  For example: How much did you increase sales? Did you create a new process that increased efficiencies? Highlight your accomplishments to demonstrate that you added concrete value to your past employers.

Hollister: Should job seekers tailor their resumes to specifically address the requirements of a job?

McCabe: Absolutely. Tailoring your resume will help set you apart from other qualified candidates and demonstrate to the prospective employer that you have a keen understanding of the position for which you are applying.  Another good option is to incorporate language and phrases similar to that used by the employer on their Web site or position description.  Lastly, be sure that your experience clearly highlights the key points in the position description.

II. The Interview

Hollister: What do companies look for in job candidates during an interview?

McCabe: Your interviewer will develop a visual impression of you within the first 10 seconds of your meeting. It is absolutely vital that your best self is present from the moment you shake the hiring manager’s hand and make direct eye contact.  Additionally, if you are serious about the job, make a night out of prepping for the interview.

Hollister: How do you prepare for the hard questions?

McCabe: During the assessment process of the interview, the interviewer will ask probing questions about your experience.  When responding, be sure to respond in a professional and concise manner and use specific examples of past experiences to underscore your ability to successfully perform in the company.  You may be asked about a past failure or how you handled a bad situation.  Your response should always include a brief overview of the situation, how you handled it and what you learned from it, even if it was that you would handle it differently in the future.  Be careful not to assign blame or speak negatively about a former employer or colleague and always remain professional!

The interviewer will also ask questions to see if you have done your research on the company. I recommend taking the time before the interview to research the company Web site, the industry and their competitors. Do both a general Internet search and then a Google news search to see if the company had any recent media coverage or received any awards.  Then I would suggest running a search on the company on LinkedIn and Facebook.  Many companies have built social media communities to promote their brands. By doing a full background check on the organization, you are arming yourself with talking points that will truly set you apart from other candidates and send a message to the hiring manager that you are serious about the role and about the opportunity to work for the company.

Hollister: What are some common mistakes job seekers make when they go on interviews?

McCabe: Some Boston Job seekers fail to do their research. As I mentioned earlier, prior to an interview, you should explore the company’s background on the web. Taking the time to do research will enable you to be able to speak intelligently about why you want to work for the company and why you are the best candidate.

Also, job seekers often fail to reflect on what value they would bring to the company.  You should honestly and objectively evaluate your strengths and weaknesses and be sure to highlight what, specifically, you would add to the company if you were hired. When the economy is down, many companies focus on hiring employees who are going to make them money or save them money. Figure out how you would do one or the other and, even better – BOTH!!

Moreover, some Boston Job seekers take themselves out of consideration the moment they walk in the front door because they greet the receptionist disdainfully. Be conscious that every employee at the company that you come in contact with is a valued member of the organization and deserves respect   Always be mindful when you are on company grounds as you never know who is nearby.  Believe it or not, I’ve heard of job candidates running into CEOs in the parking lot!

Hollister: Do companies expect candidates to follow up after an interview?

McCabe: Directly after an interview, you should ask your interviewer for their business card and within 24 hours send them a thank you note.  E-mail is acceptable in certain instances; however, a hand-written note provides another opportunity to differentiate yourself.  In the note, you should thank your interviewer for taking the time to speak with you about their Boston Job Opportunity, emphasize your interest in the position with reference to a specific point of discussion, and highlight how you would impact the company. Be sure to proofread your thank you note carefully. If you’re working with a recruiter, don’t hesitate to ask him or her to look it over for you.

III. Working with a Staffing Agency

Hollister: Do you have any advice specifically for job seekers who are working with a staffing agency?

McCabe: Always keep your recruiter updated with your availability, what other opportunities you have in the pipeline and the stages of those opportunities.  If your recruiter calls you and misses you, you should return the call as soon as possible. Some positions need to be filled very quickly and any delay may result in your missing out on a great opportunity.  Consistent and open communication is the key to a successful working relationship with a staffing agency.

Hollister: How often should job seekers check in with their recruiters?

McCabe: Different recruiters have different preferences. Ask your recruiter how often you should be in touch and each time you connect, establish a next time to check in. Be diligent in developing a strong working relationship with your recruiter, so he or she can find the very best opportunity for you.

Hollister: Do people stay in touch with their recruiters even after they land a job?

McCabe: I absolutely recommend that you remain connected with your recruiter throughout your career.  You have each invested a significant amount of time developing a strong working relationship and you never know when you may be interested in pursuing other opportunities   Your recruiter can also be a good resource to coach you through certain situations in your current role; for example, assisting you in reworking your resume if you are posting for an internal transfer or negotiating for an increase.

IV. In Demand Skills and Hot Jobs

Hollister: What skills are Hollister’s clients looking for in job candidates today? And what jobs are they looking to fill now?

McCabe: Clients continue to look for strong “technical” skills in a candidate and what have become equally, if not more significant are the “soft skills”.  Clients want their employees to have a team mentality, demonstrate a strong work ethic, creativity and flexibility to add value wherever needed, as well as someone who is a strong cultural fit.

Depending on the specific professional area, we are seeing the following demands from our clients:

Creative and Marketing: Right now, our clients are looking for Senior Web designers with front-end coding skills. Developers/Designers with interactive skills are in high demand.

Administrative: Clients with openings in administrative roles want candidates who are highly-organized and possess exceptional multitasking abilities. Candidates for mid-level administrative roles are in the greatest demand, and just recently we have seen a rise in demand for entry-level administrative professionals.

Accounting and Finance: We are seeing an increase in the demand for CPAs with strong public accounting experience. Right now, financial analysts and tax and general accountants are in the greatest demand.

Technology: Technology professionals who are proficient in SharePoint, VMWare, or Business Intelligence, and who are knowledgeable about software data security are in high demand.  At this time, coders and project managers are among those positions in greatest demand

Human Resources: Clients need candidates who are familiar with social media and know how to use social networking sites for recruiting. They also want candidates who are comfortable using HR management systems like PeopleSoft and Oracle. Right now, contract recruiters and VPs of HR are in demand.

Hollister: To close, what do you think is the most effective way to find a job in this economy?

McCabe: Begin your job search by identifying industries you are interested in and any particular companies you would like to work for. Then, ask yourself how you can turn your skills, experience and desire to be part of a specific company into a win for the hiring manager.  Ask yourself, “What’s in it for them if they hire me?”

In any economy, it’s important to utilize two main strategies in your job search.  Work with a recruiter who specializes in your area of expertise and/or the industry you are interested in.  Secondly, utilize your personal network and take the opportunity to expand that network through social networks like LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.  Join Groups within these social networks, attend events, meet people, shake hands, and ask a lot of questions.

Furthermore, if you’re out of work, use your time well. Go back to school to diversify your skills or finish your degree. Consider volunteering for an organization to keep your skills sharp, learn new ones, and meet new and interesting people—the people you meet may introduce you to people in their network who are hiring.

You never know where your next and best opportunity will come from and it’s up to you to be in charge of your professional destiny.  The most important thing to do when searching for a job, particularly during difficult economic times, is to remain focused and positive. Think about your job search as an opportunity to discover new and exciting opportunities.