In job search, as in anything, the key to success
is preparation. You need a plan. Creating a plan before you begin
searching will keep you energized, focused, and will prevent you
making costly false steps. Creating a plan is a process that involves
several actions.
The Career Planning Process includes:
- A comprehensive assessment identifies career areas
matched to your interests and strengths. This process should be
a self-confidence booster. It is a good idea to get assistance,
as you tend to be your own harshest critic. It is good to have
a thorough and organized personal profile
- Assessments determine your current level for each
career and academic skill.
- See how these skills relate to jobs.
- Learn which of these skills are fundamental to
your potential career choice.
- Work one on one with a friend, mentor, or career
coach to explore options identified in the assessment.
- Acquire relevant labour market information.
- Make well informed decisions.
- Develop a work experience plan that will enable
you to confirm your career choices.
- Gain valuable relevant work experiences through
different means such as volunteer work. The work experiences will
open doors to future employment contacts and opportunities.
Your plan needs timelines; you need support through
the process. Pace yourself to prevent becoming exhausted and discouraged.
If you plan, you WILL find a best career that does not feel like
work, a career that excites you.
Research is the essential tool to successful job
search. Research is the key to knowing what job you want; so part
of your planning before you begin your job search, should be to
evaluate your goals, your aptitudes and the skills you have to offer.
Then research what jobs are available and see how you match up.
There are many ways to evaluate your skills and your goals. Decide
what is best for you from books, Internet, workshops, friends, a
mentor at work. A career coach can be a help to make sense of your
findings.
Internet-based jobs search services are one way to
research what jobs are available, but finding current job postings
is just one step in the process. It is important to know the culture
of the organization offering the position; so once you move to the
position description take time to explore the company’s web
site to see what you think of the organization philosophy, mission
statement and values. Do their core values match yours? Without
a good match you may be back in the job market looking for a position
that satisfies you, so take the time to find out the potential frustrations
of the position at that particular firm.
Finding a job is a matter of having contacts. Statistics
show that 80% of job searchers find a position through their network
and 20% land a job as a result of newspaper or Internet ads. To
maximize your chances of success, you must rely on networking. If
you agree with the principle that finding the right career is a
very important occupation, then you should spend the equivalent
of one day/week looking through the ads and four days/week maintaining
your contacts and making new ones.
Mailing resumes to random employers is said to have
a 7% success rate. The problem may be that you are sending the same
resume out for different job descriptions. If you are competing
with someone who exactly fits the profile wanted by the employer
you may lose out.
The total purpose of a resume is to secure a personal
contact with the employer. You want an interview! Your resume should
match the job description and qualifications required by the employer
as closely as possible; so use the words you see in the descriptors
of the advertisement. That means you "tweak" your resume to the
requirements of that particular job. Maybe the change is just in
the "objective" section of your resume. Maybe you want to re-order
your strengths to put the qualification that is being sought by
the employer first in your resume.
If the employer is using "on line" resumes, chances
are (as with many government positions) it is a computer that is
screening to pick up on key words. The more key words you employ
the better your chances are that your resume will surface in the
computerized screening process.
If an employer has advertised a position with a description
of the ideal candidate, the closer you can come to that description
(and still be truthful) the more likely the employer will think
it is worthwhile meeting with you.
You may have the best luck by concentrating on a few positions
you really want and spend the time working on being sure your resume
reflects company philosophy and needs.
Probably, my staff would put the word out that we
are looking for someone for a postion with specific skills, and
the hiring search process would begin by word of mouth.
When I do look at a resume, I am not looking at the
facts as much as I am looking at the story the work experiences
tell about the person. Why have they made the work choices they
have; what do the choices say about them as a person? For example,
hi tech today has very short term, immediate needs. These days four
years is a very long time in high tech employment. An employee who
is entreprenurial and comfortable with risk-taking will have the
most success in this business.
Networking means establishing contact with people
for different reasons: as sources of information, as job contacts,
or as referrals. To begin your networking first identify your target
occupation. People are always willing to help, but do it better
when you ask for specific help. When you have a good idea of your
career focus area, divide your contacts into four categories
Create a list of potential contacts
1. People you know well who have contacts in your
target occupation area.
2. People you know well (family, relatives, friends) who probably
don’t have contacts in your area of interest
3. People you don’t know very well who possibly have contacts
in your area
4. Organizations in your field, companies in which you might like
to work
Write down every name you can think of in the four
categories. Get someone to brainstorm contact possibilities with
you so that you don't miss anyone who might help you.
Contact the people on your list
§ You can begin by calling, but attempt to arrange
a visit whenever possible
§ Keep a record of your calls
§ Set a goal of “x” number of calls a day.
§ Group 1. Explain that you are exploring career options in
their field and would appreciate advice. You can ask them if they
could help you make contact with organizations in your desired career
area.
§ Group 2. Ask the people you are close to if they know anyone
in your area of interest, or if they know anyone in the companies
you have targeted. See if they have other ideas.
§ Group 3. Calling someone you do not know well takes courage.
Write a script, practice a call. People usually like to help. You
can ask for information or suggestions. Do not ask about a job;
this is an information interview.
§ Group 4. It is easier to have a name to ask for. Again, ask
for advice and information, not a position.
Follow up on the advice you have received
as soon as possible
§ Send a thank you note within 24 hours to each person who
has helped you, including the office administrator.
§ Stay in touch with people on your list. They like to know
how you are doing. Tell them what you have learned since you last
contacted them.
Join professional associations in your career
field
§ Attending meetings introduces you to new contacts
and often leads to other ways of networking.
Receptionists can be excellent sources of personnel
and company information and can help get you through to an employer
Many organizations give the receptionist the responsibility of pre-screening
callers and job applicants. When you speak to the receptionist,
be sure to extend the same courtesy as you would to anyone. Be respectful,
pleasant and professional. Some managers have an executive assistant
as well as a receptionist; so be prepared to speak to more than
one person. In other situations employers may answer the phones
themselves; so be prepared with a few questions written down for
both scenarios.
§ Introduce yourself on the phone by giving your
name.
§ Record and remember the receptionist’s name, and use
it in your conversation. If you haven’t been told the name
it is a good idea to ask before you are passed on.
§ Be prepared for success. Most receptionists are helpful and
kind.
§ Always thank the person who has assisted you by name. You
may well need his / her assistance in the near future. You will
certainly meet the receptionist when you succeed in visiting the
company.
Cold calling is an important part of your job search.
Your goal, in this situation, is to get through to the person who
has the power to hire you, or, who can recommend you to that manager,
Cold calling is uncomfortable for most of us, but it has to be done.
Write out a script, practice, and call standing up so your voice
has energy!
It is best to research the company until you have
the name of someone in the area in which you would like to work,
(or better, have a name to use from a contact). callers and job.
A typical conversta
If you are not sure of the right person to ask for:
I would like some help. What is the name and title of the person
in charge of the______________ department?
Could you please spell that for me?
The receptionist may ask: "What is this regarding?"
If you intend to send a resume, a response might be:
I am sending Mr. Jones some correspondence and it is important
that I have the name, title, and address correct.
You can say:
Yes, I am looking for some information, (not a job), that I think
Mr. Jones can help me with.
You may have to leave a message.
Hello Mr. Jones, I would like to speak to you for a few minutes.
Could you please call me back? I will be at this number after 3:30
pm. and tomorrow morning until 8:45 am.
Other suggestions:
I am calling to speak to Mr. Jones.
I need to speak with him directly; so I would rather not leave
a message. Could you tell me when would be a good time to call,
perhaps tomorrow early, or tonight after 400 pm.?
Calling early, before 9:00 am or at 5:00pm is a good time to get
people directly in their office, instead of having to leave a message.
If the person cannot help you, ask if they know someone who might.
Good luck.
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