JOKE: Mother in Laws

A man, his wife, and mother-in-law went on vacation to the Holy Land. While they were there his mother-in-law passed away.

The undertaker said, "You can have her body shipped home for $5,000, or you can bury her here in the Holy Land for $150.00."

The man thought about it and told him he would just have her shipped home.

The undertaker asked, "Why? Why would you spend $5,000 to ship your mother-in-law home, when she can be buried in the Holy Land for only $150.00?"

The man said, "A man died here 2000 years ago, he was buried here, and three days later he rose from the dead. I just can't take that chance."

Tipe rambut anda

Yang mana satu rambut anda sebenarnya .............

1) RAMBUT LURUS - bijak, seorang yang happy, bergaya,
cemburu,dan pandai dalam menguruskan sesuatu tanpa pertolongan

2) RAMBUT KERINTING TEBAL- kurang bijak, degil, cemburu kuat,
romantic, banyak pergaulan dan susah dalam menyelesaikan
masalah diri, tidak suka termenung

3) RAMBUT KERENTING NEGRO- bijak, ego, cemburu buta, romantic,
memilih dan mudah mengamuk bila susah hendak selesaikan
masalah

4) RAMBUT IKAL MAYANG- bijak, berfikir sebelum melakukan sesuatu,
berfikiran terbuka, banyak pergaulan, dan mudah memaaf kan seseorang
dengan kesilapan lalu.

5) RAMBUT HALUS/LEMBUT- bijak sangat, memilih, pemaaf, manja,
tegas dan cepat melakukan perkerjaan dengan bersungguh-sungguh.

6) RAMBUT SIKIT- bijak, sentiasa ber! fikiran negatif pada seseorang,
ego,dan pandai membuka perniagaan walaupun kecil.

7) RAMBUT PERANG- kurang bijak, berfikiran terbuka, pemaaf,
sosial dan bijak lari daripada masalah.

8) RAMBUT TEBAL- bijak, degil, cemburu, romantic, kasar,
banyak kawan, dan pandai mengambil hati seseorang.

9) RAMBUT KUSUT- sangat bijak, berfikiran terbuka, banyak
pergaulan, garang, susah nak memaafkan seseorang, dan pandai dalam
mengurusan sesuatu tanpa pertolongan.

10) RAMBUT BERUBAN- kurang bijak, suka termenung, sosial sikit,
berfikiran terbuka dan pandai selesai kan masalah diri

11) TIADA RAMBUT- macam mana nak kate ye....kesian

12) RAMBUT WARNA KEMERAH-MERAHAN ATAU KEHIJAU HIJAUAN
rambutan

TIPS: Hidup Sehat Ala Binatang

Reporter: Puteri Fatia


Detikhot - Jakarta, Beberapa binatang punya gaya hidup yang boleh ditiru. Kalo bikin kamu sehat nggak ada salahnya kan belajar dari unta, sapi, bahkan si anak anjin yang lucu.

1. Unta: Minumlah seperti Unta! Terus minum sepanjang hari. Jangan tunggu sampai haus. Bawa selalu botol minum. Usahaka botol minum selalu penuh agar kamu nggak dehidrasi dan kulit tetap sehat.

2. Sapi: Makan sedikit tapi sering. Usahakan makan besar 3 kali sehari. Disela-sela itu nggak salah kalau kamu ngemil 3-5 kali sehari. Tapi usahakan pilih makanan yang sehat. Buah adalah pilihan yang sangat baik.

3. Anak Anjing: Tidur Seperti anak anjing! Jika tidur kurang dari 8 jam, kejar di waktu lainnya. Akhir pekan mungkin waktu kejar ketinggalan waktu tidur kamu. Tidur 20 menit disela-sela berbagai kegiatan sangat baik untuk menambah energi kamu. (fta)

JOKE: Tukang ojek setan

Belum habis cerita tentang si Kolor Ijo sekarang sudah ada berita tentang Ojek setan.

Maka dari itu bagi temen2 yg suka naik ojek berhati-hatilah terutama wanita (wanita lagi-wanita lagi yg kena sasaran).

Pengalaman ini terjadi pada seorang ibu yang baru pulang malam hari (kira2 jam 8 malem) dari rumah sodaranya di daerah Tanah Kusir.

Ibu ini menunggu angkot di jalan raya tanah kusir. Karena angkot penuh terus, ibu ini memutuskan untuk naek ojek. Tiba2 tukang ojek udah ada di depan ibu, karena udah malem dan mau hujan, naeklah ibu ini minta di antarkan kerumahnya.

Di tengah perjalanan, ibu ini merasa merinding tubuhnya mungkin karena dingin.

Setelah di depan rumahnya, ibu ini mengeluarkan uang 100 ribuan, tapi tiba2 tukang ojek ini langsung mengambil uang tersebut dan kabur ...secepat kilat ibu tersebut berteriak ... :

"...........TUKANG OJEK SETAAAANNNNNNNNNNNN"

Four "Fear Factors" of Changing Jobs

Feeling trapped by your career choices? Stuck in a line of work you hate? Whether it's a general feeling of dullness or a clear revelation that you're a marketing exec in a computer programmer's body, changing careers can be scary - so scary that many opt to continue doing work they don't enjoy or find satisfying.

Here are the top four fears that keep people from seeking a more rewarding career along with strategies to minimize risk and make a successful transition:

Fear Factor #1 - "I Don't Have Experience in My Desired Field"
Just because a line of work is different from what you're doing now, doesn't mean you aren't - or couldn't soon be - qualified to do the job. Oftentimes, people find they can build on core functional skills they already have.

Talk to at least three people who are doing the job you envision. Find out what skills, training and experience are needed and assess your own career and life experience to see where you match these requirements and where there are gaps. Then, put together a plan to close the gaps. The plan may involve an internship, taking classes, or volunteering to do related tasks for your present employer or a non-profit organization.

Remember, it's not uncommon for high-level executives to have rotated through a variety of disciplines in an organization. The key is to show how your assets and transferable skills would make you successful in the new position.

Fear Factor #2 - "I Can't Afford a Pay Cut"
Many people are reluctant to change careers because of financial responsibilities. There are a number of ways to manage this. First, don't feel you have to take the plunge all at once. You could put together a three- to five-year strategy that would gradually move you into a new profession. The strategy may include a financial plan to cut expenses, put money aside or find alternate funding, so that when you begin your new career, you can ride out a lean year or two.

Or, you could start a parallel career, where you keep your full-time job while working weekends or one night a week in your desired profession. (Those who have done this advise against discussing this with your primary employer.) By keeping your main job, you'll have a steady income while you build your credentials and gain experience to work full-time in your desired career.

Fear Factor #3 - "I'm Too Old to Change Careers Now"
Researchers and anthropologists strongly disagree with this notion - as does author Gail Sheehy, who has written extensively on the subject. In Passages, named by the Library of Congress as one of the ten most influential books ever written, Sheehy shows through case studies how those in mid-life and beyond have profoundly changed their lives and careers. According to Sheehy, instead of declining, men and women who embrace a "Second Adulthood" (ages 45-75) and even a "Third Adulthood" (75 and beyond) are progressing into lives of deeper meaning and renewed creativity. Her research shows it isn't uncommon for people to have three to five different careers in a lifetime.

Fear Factor #4 - "I'm Struggling to Get Through the Day. Where Would I Find the Energy?"
Begin with a vision; having a sense of purpose is a great source of strength. Then build a plan and surround yourself with people who support your goals. Don't let anxiety or other negative emotions control your thinking and drain your energy. Nurture your mental and physical health and take time each week to assess your progress toward your goal.

And remember to keep your expectations realistic; change doesn't happen overnight. Even Arnold Schwarzenegger used a long-range plan of volunteer work, community service and self-study to go from movie action hero to governor at age 56.

Face the Fear and Do it Anyway
If that's not enough to convince you to take your first step toward a career change, consider this: A study by Duke University found that people who enjoyed their work live longer. That's right. The top predictor of longevity - even more important than diet, exercise or good genes - is work satisfaction. So don't let fear be a factor. Start planning a longer, more satisfying future today!

JOKE: Pelayan Toko Bangunan

Di sebuah toko bahan bangunan :

Pembeli : Tolong dong pakunya 1 Kg.
Pelayan : Dibungkus ya...?
Pembeli : enggak, makan di sini aja (dengan muka kesal)
Pelayan: $*%$

JOKE: Tukang Daging dan Ibu-ibu Sakit Gigi

Suatu pagi lewatlah seorang penjual daging."Dageeeng! Dageeeeennngg!!!" teriaknya.

Seorang ibu rumah tangga yang sedang sakit gigi sewot banget mendengar teriakan si tukang daging.

Ibu: "Hei tukang daging! Lu kagak punya otak ya....!!!???"
Tukang daging : "Wah kebetulan gak punya, Bu. Hari ini daging semua..."

JOKE: Absen Kelas

Di kelas 1 sebuah Sekolah Dasar sedang ada absen kelas...

Guru: "Nana Yuliani!"
Nana: "Saya, Bu!"
Guru: "David Hutagalung!"
David: "Saya, Bu!"
Guru: "Tono Surtono M!"
Tono: "Saya, Bu!"
Guru: "Tono, tolong sini sebentar..."
Tono: "Kenapa, Bu Guru?"
Guru: "Ibu agak nggak suka sama nama kamu. Kalo udah Tono, jangan pake
Surtono lagi. Jadinya aneh. Bilangin itu ke bapak kamu, ya!?"
Tono: "Iya, Bu!"
Guru: "Ngomong-ngomong, M-nya itu singkatan dari apa?"
Tono: "Martono, Bu!"

JOKE: Bunuh Diri dengan Sehat

Seorang nenek terlihat mau bunuh diri di Atas jembatan sambil membawa sabun.

Polisi: "Nenek mau bunuh diri ya?"
Nenek: "Memang nggak bisa liat apa?"
Polisi: "Tapi kok! bawa sabun segala, Nek?"
Nenek: "Cara sehat untuk mati!"
Polisi: ???????

JOKE: 225 M!

Dua orang murid sedang berjalan-jalan di sebuah museum. Lalu mereka melihat sebuah mumi. Di bawahnya bertuliskan 225 M.

Murid 1 : "225 M itu maksudnya apa ya?
Murid 2 : "Mungkin itu nomor mobil yang menabraknya dulu."

JOKE: Arogansi Amerika!

Cuplikan percakapan radio antara kapal perang Amerika dan otoritas Rusia.

Rusia: "Harap belokkan kapal Anda 15 derajat ke Selatan untuk menghindari tabrakan.
Amerika: "Lebih baik Anda yang membelok!"
Rusia: "Anda yang harus membelok untuk menghindari tabrakan!"
Amerika: "Saya kapten US Navy. Saya bilang belokkan kapal Anda!!!!"
Rusia: "Tidak. Saya katakan sekali lagi, belokkan kapal Anda!!!"
Amerika: "Ini adalah Aircraft Carrier US Lincoln, kapal kedua terbesar dari Armada Atlantik Amerika Serikat Kami dilengkapi tiga destroyer, tiga cruiser dan sejumlah kapal pendukung. Saya MINTA Anda belok 15 derajat ke Utara. Sekali lagi saya ulangi 15 derajat ke Utara, atau sebuah tindakan akan dilakukan untuk mengamankan kapal Anda!"
Rusia: "Amerika goblok!!!!! Ini mercusuar!!!

JOKE: Smary Saklitinov

Seorang guru baru tengah mengabsen murid-muridnya. Sang guru tertarik dengan sebuah nama, dan dengan penasaran si guru lalu memanggil muridnya.

Guru: "Smary Saklitinov, coba kemari!"
Murid: "Ya bu, saya."
Guru: "Sini kamu nak, kamu keturunan Yugoslavia yach?"
Murid: "Nggak bu!"
Guru: "Lalu kenapa nama kamu Smary Saklitinov?"
Murid: "Oo...itu, Smary itu singkatan dari nama bapak saya (S)urtono dan ibu saya (Mary)anti.
Guru: "Mmmm...lalu Saklitinov?"
Murid: "Sabtu Kliwon Tiga November."

BIARKAN CINTA YANG MEMILIH

Banyak hal dihadapan kita,
kadang kita sulit untuk memahaminya,
kita memang lagi diuji tentang cinta & kesetiaan,
tapi ketahuilah BIARKAN CINTA YANG MEMILIH,
karena pasti tau siapaaku.

have a true joy @ Christmas

A wonderful life is ours when we know the CHRIST of CHRISTMAS,
have a true joy @ Christmas & may GOD bless us abundantly in 2005.

DEFINITIONS AND MEANINGS

Love affairs : Something like cricket where one-day internationals are more popular than a five day test.

Marriage : It's an agreement in which a man loses his bachelor degree and a woman gains her master.

Divorce : Future tense of marriage.

Lecture : An art of transferring information from the notes of the lecturer to the notes of the students without passing throught"the minds of either".

Conference : The confusion of one man multiplied by the number present.

Compromise : The art of dividing a cake in such a way that everybody believes he got the biggest piece.

Tears : The hydraulic force by which masculine will-power is defeated by feminine water-power.

Dictionary : A place where divorce comes before marriage.

Conference Room : A place where everybody talks, nobody listens & everybody disagrees later on.

Ecstasy : A feeling when you feel you are going to feel a feeling you have never felt before.

Classic : A book which people praise, but do not read.

Smile : A curve that can set a lot of things straight.

Office : A place where you can relax after your strenuous home life.

Yawn : The only time some married men ever get to open their mouth.

Etc: A sign to make others believe that you know more than you actually do.

Committee: Individuals who can do nothing individually and sit to decide that nothing can be done together.

Experience : The name men give to their mistakes.

Atom Bomb: An invention to end all inventions.

Philosopher : A fool who torments himself during life, to be spoken of when dead.

Diplomat : A person who tells you to go to hell in such a way that you actually look forward to the trip.

Opportunist : A person who starts taking bath if he accidentally falls into a river.

Optimist : A person who while falling from Eiffel Tower says in midway, "See I am not injured yet."

Pessimist : A person who says that O is the last letter in ZERO, instead of the first letter in word OPPORTUNITY.

Miser : A person who lives poor so that he can die rich.

Father : A banker provided by nature.

Criminal : A guy no different from the rest..except that he got caught.

Boss : Someone who is early when you are late and late when you are early.

Politician : One who shakes your hand before elections and your confidence after.

Doctor : A person who kills your ills by pills, and kills you with his bills.

Selamat bertambah usia, ya !

Banyak hal tak kupahami,
Dalam masa menjelang,
Namun satu hal bagiku pasti,
Tanganku ku tau Tuhan yang pegang.

God Bless You.

Selamat bertambah usia, ya !
Sukses selalu.

Tuty Tobing & Family

Wish U a blessed 2005 !

How has 2004 been 4 U ?
Whatever it may be, remember that new year always brings new beginning & new hope !
Wish U a blessed 2005 !


Ajeng, end of 2004

Owe mo wilang epi nu yel

Haiya ...
Owe mo wilang epi nu yel ....
Sulamak taon walu aaa,
Tuhang welkati ni wunya klualga,
wunya kangtao lanca2,
wanyak luwik,
wadan seat haa ...
Bai bai

courtesy of Herman Silalahi - Kanisius 82

TRUE FRIEDNS never fail to pray & wish you MERRY XMAS !

..... even without seeing much,
..... even without talking often,
..... even without saying a word,
TRUE FRIEDNS never fail to pray & wish you MERRY XMAS !
All the best

courtesy of Benny BF - Kanisius 82

Wishing u HAPPY NEW YEAR 2005

If u had sex 365 times this year and kept all the condoms and melt them,
U can make a tire & actually call it a GOODYEAR

Wishing u HAPPY NEW YEAR 2005

Happy New Year 2005

Health makes all things possible,
Wealth makes all things work,
Happiness makes all things simple,
Love makes all things beautiful.

May you have all these this coming year ..............

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2005

courtesy of Harry Bako

Reasons why the English language is so hard to learn:

1) The bandage was wound around the wound.
2) The farm was used to produce produce.
3) The dump was so full that it had to refuse more refuse.
4) The polished salesman demonstrated how to polish the Polish furniture.
5) He could lead if he would get the lead out.
6) The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.
7) Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present.
8) A bass was painted on the head of the bass drum
9) When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.
10) I did not object to the object.
11) The insurance was invalid for the invalid.
12) There was a row among the oarsmen about how to row in alternate rows.
13) They were too close to the door to close it.
14) The buck does funny things when the does are present.
15) A seamstress and a sewer fell down into a sewer.
16) To help with planting, the farmer taught his sow to sow.
17) The wind was too strong to wind down the sail.
18) After a number of injections my jaw got number.
19) Upon seeing the tear in my new dress, I shed a tear.
20) I had to subject the subject to a series of tests
21) How can I intimate this to my most intimate friend?

There is no egg in eggplant nor ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple. English muffins weren't invented in England or French fries in France. Sweetmeats are candies while sweetbreads, which aren't sweet, are meat.

Quicksand works slowly, boxing rings are square and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig. And why is it that writers write but fingers don't fing, grocers don't groce and hammers don't ham?

If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn't the plural of booth beeth? One goose, 2 geese. So one moose, 2 meese? If you have a bunch of odds and ends and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it? Is it an odd, or an end? (This whole discussion is odd)

If teachers taught, why didn't preachers praught? If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat? In what language do people recite at a play and play at a recital? Ship by truck and send cargo by ship?

How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites?

You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language in which your house can burn up as it burns down, in which you fill in a form by filling it out, and in which, an alarm goes off by going on.

How come when the stars are out, they are visible, but when the lights are out, they are invisible.

Slow down (or slow up), and enjoy life.

Could You be the Boss?

by Kate Lorenz

Ready to take on a leadership role at work? In this interview with Marshall Goldsmith, corporate America's preeminent executive coach, he tells you how to show you've got the right stuff:

What are companies looking for when vetting potential leaders?
Basically, they want someone who can mobilize others to turn their organization's values into action and vision into realities. Most often this means they're looking for people who have a global perspective and cross-cultural understanding, are able to build partnerships and alliances and can process information and learn in a highly efficient manner.

How do you communicate your leadership abilities in an interview or a resume?
For a high-level position, show your ability to think broadly, strategically and for the long-term good of the organization. Discuss your past achievements in terms of how you evaluated situations, processed information and took action by looking at the big picture.

For mid-management jobs, make it clear you achieved great results, but focus on execution and how you helped lead a team to success. Don't make it all about you. Instead, discuss how you helped others develop and how people who worked for you accomplished objectives and achieved results.

What if you haven't held a leadership role before?
One way to demonstrate your interest and aptitude is to seek feedback from coworkers on what you can do to improve. Focus on making just a few changes, and check in on your progress. Not only will your performance and relationships improve, but the feedback can help you make the case for having 'leadership qualities.'

And remember, leaders don't always have to have direct reports. You can be a leader by driving change. As a change-leader, focus on what needs to be altered as judged by who is setting the measurement standard. Make sure the person keeping score - be it a boss, senior management or customer - will find value in the changes you make. And build in ongoing follow-up to ensure your improvements are recognized and working.

When sharing these experiences, describe how you helped lead change to meet expectations of those looking for change.

How would you answer the inevitable 'what are your greatest strengths and weaknesses' questions? Don't give a generic answer. Tailor your response to the needs of the job. Highlight a strength that is needed for the particular position. And by all means, don't mention a weakness in an area that is a major job requirement!

Avoid trite, overused answers like, 'I work too hard' or 'I'm a perfectionist.' Leaders are always learning and improving, so don't ever say you are a hopeless anything.

Position how you learned and improved over time. Show how you obtained feedback from your peers or employees and how you've gotten better and are still working on improvement.

What's the best way to sell yourself ... to make them want you and not the other guy?

Mass marketing doesn't work in a job search, so redo your resume and cover letter, so that it is tailored specifically to each opportunity.

Speak in terms of positives you can bring to the company or job and what you can do for them. Show your skills and knowledge and how you can add value. Adding value is important.

Stay away from messages that say 'I'm wonderful, you should hire me.' No one wants a prima donna.

How can one become a better leader?
By asking a variety of key stakeholders for ideas, opinions and suggestions and modeling continuous learning in your day-to-day behavior through effective listening and reflection.

A good leader is a good coach, so help others around you develop. When giving feedback, keep it positive, simple and focused. And always be forward-looking. You can't change the past, but you can influence the future.

Seven Days to a New Job

Seven Days to a New Job
By Marty Nemko


You want a new job, so you call a few friends and answer a few ads. Nothing comes of it, so you give up.

That's the typical job seeker. There's a better way to land a job: I call it the One-Week Job Search. It's the distillation of what has worked best for the over 2,000 clients I've worked with.

You'll be in for a tough week (four weeks if you're currently working full-time), but it will be worth it:
v You'll have completed most of a job search's yucky tasks in just a week.
v Unlike when doing a job search in drips and drabs, you'll build momentum, finding yourself getting on a roll.
v Most important, having made all your contacts in just a week, you've maximized your chances of getting more than one job offer at around the same time. Having that choice of job offers allows you to pick the one with the best combination of good boss, good work, good learning opportunities, and reasonable compensation. Because of that, most of my clients find that the one-week job search is more likely to lead to career contentment than even pursuing a so-called cool career.

My colleague, Libby Pannwitt, read a draft of this article and urged me to add this statement: "Before beginning, you must shut off all internal voices inclined to say, "I can't do that," "It's scary," "Eek," "Yes but," "I've tried this before," etc.

MONDAY: Write your resume. Use Microsoft Word's resume templates or Resume Maker software to create or revise your resume. The current version of Resume Maker is 11.0. You can get 10.0 at resumemaker.com for $7.99. Incorporate into your resume, two or three brief PAR stories. a Problem you faced, the intelligent way you Approached it, and its positive Resolution. Also see if you can incorporate praise quotes from bosses, peers, supervisees, or customers.
Get feedback on a draft, ideally from people you know in your target field.

Craft a 10-second, 30-second, and 60-second pitch. Each one must explain why you're looking for a job, what you're looking for, and proof you're good. For example, a ten-second pitch might be: "The company downsized, so I'm looking for another CPA position. I never thought I'd be looking for a job I have always gotten great evaluations, but that's the way it goes." The 30- and 60-second pitch adds information about the kind of job you're looking for and/or provides credible evidence that you bring a lot to the table. You may want to modify your pitch so it impresses the particular person you're talking to.

Have a ready answer for the question(s) you're most afraid you'll be asked, for example, "Why such a long gap in your employment history?"

TUESDAY: Identify 25 employers you'd like to work for, without regard to whether they're currently advertising any openings. Most job seekers should focus on small, growing companies and government agencies in their target industry within reasonable commuting distance. How to find them? One approach is look for want ads with multiple job openings at a company you've never heard of. Those are usually small companies in growth mode the ones most likely to be hiring for a wide range of positions. Find those ads by entering your locale on major employment websites. Government jobs are rarely advertised except on their own websites. To find federal agencies with openings, go to www.usajobs.opm.gov. That lists over half of the available federal openings. Most of the remaining ones are on individual federal agency websites. For a link to those, go to:
www.federaljobs.net. For links to state, county, and local government websites nationwide, go to http://statelocalgov.net.

Research the 25 employers. Take no more than 15 minutes on each. The time to put in more time per company is when you have an interview scheduled. For now, do your research simply by looking at the employer's website and by googling the employer's name. Have a file in which you store notes about each employer.

Note: In some fields, much hiring is done by agencies, for example, in accounting, the Robert Half Agency. If so, add those agencies to your list of potential employers.

If you are looking for a job for which you are unusually well-qualified, also add headhunters to your list of contacts. Find the right ones by calling a human resources department of a large company and ask which headhunter they use to fill the sort of position you're seeking.

Contact the 25 people in your network most likely to help you get a job, especially a job at one of your 25 target employers. Use email or phone, whichever you're more comfortable with. Give your 10- or 30-second pitch and then ask, "Might you know someone at any of these 25 employers, or elsewhere for that matter who you think I should talk with?" If appropriate, also ask if your contact would review your resume and cover letter or do a mock interview with you.

WEDNESDAY: Email or phone any leads given to you by your network that are not among the 25 employers you've targeted.

Try to contact the person who would be your boss, but an HR person is okay too. Pleasant persistence can help you get through.

Start with your 30-second pitch, enthusiastically delivered. (Smile when talking on the phone.) After that, listen more than talk. Ask questions about the employer's needs so you can better understand how you might be helpful. If you have an idea, propose it, but tactfully, for example, "In listening to you, it would seem I could help you by doing X. What do you think?" If you think it would impress that particular employer, tell one or two of your PAR stories:

Visit each of the 25 employers' websites and apply for any on-target jobs. Start your cover letter by mentioning your referrer, if any. Then explain, point-by-point, how you meet the requirements stated in the ad. Include a sentence or two that capitalizes on the knowledge you obtained yesterday about that employer.

Your goal is to, by the end of the week, have applied for 10 openly advertised on-target jobs. You probably won't find ten on those 25 employers' sites. Find the rest on employment websites.

THURSDAY AND FRIDAY (and Saturday, if needed): On those 25 employers' websites, if there is no listed job to apply for, write a brief email to the CEO or other senior employee.
Example: "I'm a good operations manager who's just been part of a downsizing at the BigWhup Widget Corp. I'm attracted to your company because I have experience in your industry, liked what I saw on your website (insert a specific), and, I must admit, because I live just ten minutes away. I'm attaching my resume. I'd welcome the opportunity to speak with you or a designee to see if and how I might be of help to you.
Sincerely,
Joe Jobseeker

Also, finish and send those 10 job applications you identified on Wednesday.

If, within a week, you haven't heard from people you've contacted, call to follow up. Don't hesitate to leave voice mail. If, for example, you had cold-contacted an employer, say something like, "I'm (insert your name), the operations manager at the BigWhup Widget Company who was just part of a downsizing and phoned you. I'm assuming that not having heard from you, you're too busy to respond. I can understand. But I know that sometimes, things can fall between the cracks, so I'm taking the liberty of calling to follow up. If you or one of your people are interested in talking with me or have any advice as to where I should turn, I'd appreciate a call. My phone number is (repeat the number twice.) And my name, again, is (insert name.) Thank you."

Of course, you'll not hear back from most of the people you contact even from the employers whose ads you're responding to--but you'll likely get at least one bite. Often it's from an employer who has been thinking about hiring but hasn't gotten to the laborious process yet. Sometimes, an employer finds it easier to just vet you and be done with it.

If the above method doesn't bear fruit, repeat the process with a different job or industry target and/or seek assistance from a private career counselor or government-sponsored One-Stop. (To find your local One-Stop, go to www.servicelocator.org.)

Mark, who had been a dot.com project manager, wanted another job like that. He came to me having tried for two years with no success. I said, "The world is telling you it has changed or that the world doesn't want you in that job. Let's change focus." He started looking for a job as a manager in the field of corporate security and, in a month, landed a job.