Looking
for work?
Pull
yourself up by your boot straps and understand that finding work is also a job;
one that requires skill, daring, hard work, persistence and imagination. Finding a job is a highly rational process,
not one that relies on luck. The
challenge is to develop a specific plan of action to guide you as you progress
in the job search.
In order to beat the stiff competition, you need
to know that in order to be successful you need to be knowledgeable. Knowledge is power. It is a good idea to understand and accept
realities of the work world before you start the job. Here are some important tips you need to
know about career preparation:
- It is important to take
the time to identify your needs and values, and establish career
alternatives. You must be able to tell
employers specifically what it is you want for work.
- Do not rush out and
blindly attempt to track down just any old job.
You need to prepare by doing your research on job descriptions and
companies.
- You should take time to
reflect on past peak experiences. It is
very important to identify your accomplishments, how you did it, and pay
attention to the bottom line results.
- Temporary services may
offer opportunities in the field you are exploring; one third of all that are
employed in this way are reported to receive full-time job offers.
- Classified advertisements
are likely to leave you leadless or very disappointed.
- Most of your “trial
search” time and energy should go into direct contact with people you know and
other networking activities.
- Focusing on job titles
only is a big mistake. It’s your skills
that count. Know what motivates you and makes you thrive on the job, and sell
that.
- Your skills need constant
revision. New skills should be upgraded
to meet the needs of a changing economy and environment.
- Today’s employers are
interested in the fact that you can perform under any conditions, as well as
starting and finishing assignments on your own.
- You might consider taking
on a volunteer assignment that could expand your skills and make you more
visible.
- The best maxim to follow
in organizations is “find a need and fill it.”
Research what is needed. A good
idea is to ask employers in an interview, what they need and share that you can
give it to them based on your past accomplishments.
- Don’t send resumes to just
anyone. Make strategic, targeted,
quality mailings.
- Always consider how much
you will ‘learn’ as well as ‘earn’ before accepting a job offer.
- Join a job hunt support
group.
- Never give up. Persistence pays—along with a positive
attitude.
The
following are what successful job hunters have learned about mistakes through
trial and error, and eventually learned how to be successful in beating the
competition:
- Problem 1: Sending Out Generic Resumes. You probably will not be called for an interview. You need to be specific in what you’re looking for—Human Resources does not have time to match your resume to fit available positions. What you need to do: Read everything you can about the company and find out about potential openings there, you should then customize your resume to fit the hiring manager’s needs and/or the company requirements for the position.
- Problem 2: Using Ineffective Job Hunting Methods, such as want ads, search firms, and mass mailings. Why? The competition for a job placed in a want ad or with a search firm is intense. You will only be one of many applicants and will probably be weeded out. What you need to do: Realize that employers prefer to receive a resume (with a cover letter) and voice mail from a well-researched and reasonably qualified job hunter. This demonstrates initiative, a quality they always look for in trying to fill any job position.
- Problem 3: Having Mistaken Ideas about Networking: Asking the people you know if they know about possible job openings. What you need to do: Be humble, and call asking only for advice and information. Asking for a job will most probably scare them away.
- Problem 4: Doom and Gloom. The job hunter says something negative about, past employers, difficulty in finding a job, the terrible state of economy, companies having layoffs, current job or employer. What you need to do: Know that no one wants anything less than an enthusiastic, positive outlook from people who are going to be part of the new team.
- Problem 5: Making Excuses about your past employment experience is another way of coming across negatively. What you need to do: Make every effort to take credit for your own actions and decisions. This attitude suggests that you are a person who can accept responsibility and is willing to work to improve. Please always turn a negative into a positive.
- Problem 6: Leaping Before You Look and Talking Too Much about your background, qualifications and the things you do well at every opportunity. What you need to do: Ask about the employers’ needs first and what is important to them. Be well informed about the company. This demonstrates that you care and are not just shooting in the dark at anything that comes along.
- Problem 7: Failing To Focus. Not concentrating on a particular type of job industry or set of companies. What you need to do: Figure out what you want to do, know your skills and talents, then research what areas have the most growth. Pick just a few companies and find a way to penetrate the them. Find your focus and stick to it. Prepare a powerful ‘Branding Statement’ (if you’d like to see some samples, contact Magic and ask for a free sample).
- Problem 8: Calling Off the Search Early: Many job hunters make a minimal effort to contact people. They feel that if they leave two messages and their call isn’t returned, they are being a pest and they give up. Not true! What you need to do: Realize that in today’s marketplace, tenacity and the ability to be persistent are crucial to success. A weekly phone call several times along with a customized resume should be a standard plan. If you have trouble getting through to the manager, work with the secretary to get him or her on the line. In short, if you hit a roadblock, go over or around it. Don’t let it stop you!
Magic Morsel: As you climb the ladder of success, make sure it’s
leaning against the right wall.
Magic Morsel: Luck is a
crossroad where preparation and opportunity meet.
Announcement:
Sending out resumes and
not getting calls? Not sure if your
resume is professional enough? Need to
rethink your resume? Don’t know where to
start? Is it too long or too short? Let me review it and I’ll critique it at no
charge. Email your resume tome at marge@discoverwinningways.com and
tell me your job objective. It would
help if you could send me a copy of the job description. I’ll get back to you with good feedback. Help is on the way!
Should you be interested in a free consultation, contact ‘Magic” at marge@discoverwinning ways.com
or call her at 209.785.2042.
