Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Job hunting? Five things you need to do to find your next job


When we find ourselves without a job, we have a deep sense of uncertainty by not knowing when the next job opportunity will find us. As an active job seeker, you must differentiate yourself from countless others who are vying for the same opportunities. The key to getting your desired job is to create the perfect strategy from start to finish. Here are some tips on how to obtain the job you want.

1. Create a game plan-Finding a new career is a large undertaking. You must not take it lightly. By starting with a plan, you can determine which direction to take your job hunt. Are you starting in a new career? Do you want more money or are you looking for more stability? How will the experience gained from your last place of employment benefit your new employer? These are some of the critical questions which will help you make good decisions about your job search and save you much needed time in the process. By figuring out your main objectives ahead of time, you will better focus your search and increase the likelihood of getting the job you desire.

2. Work hard-Even though you are not actually working, you should think of your job search as a full time job. For each job opening there are countless resumes with similar qualifications and skills. You are hindering your chances of getting the right job if you are only submitting a only few resumes a week. You should also spend time researching the companies with available openings to make sure you chose an organization that offers what you value most in a workplace. If you are not investing quality time in your job search, you may find yourself being offered a position that is far below your potential.

3. Find out what the company wants-When a company has a job opening, they have a specific idea of what they need. If you do take the time to review the job description carefully, you may end up submitting a resume that does not fit their idea of a qualified candidate. Your resume should look very similar, in experience, to the the skills listed in the posting. But what if you have never done the job that you are applying for? Ask yourself this very important question "what have I done in my previous jobs that are similar to the skills they are looking for?" For example, suppose you are applying for a position in a call center. They are looking for experience but you have never actually worked in a call center. When you ask yourself the important question, you determine that you were constantly resolving customer complaints at your last job. This is a skill that is valuable to that company. Highlight the skill by elaborating the details of that job function on your resume and cover letter. Finding out what the company wants is not easy at first, but if you take the time to read the job description, you can better present yourself in a manner that fits the company's needs.

4. Follow up-The technology driven world we live in hinders job seekers from making the all important human contact that can influence their ability to get a job. For job positions that you especially want, do not be content with simply submitting a resume. Perhaps you can place a follow up phone call to the Human Resources department ensuring that they received your resume and inquiring about the interviewing process. Or you may even be able to visit a physical location to complete a paper application. When you are there, you can strike up casual conversation with someone there about the details of the company and learn more about the job. You can ask what specifically what type of candidate they are looking for. If you do these things, you are already gaining an edge over those who simply submitted a resume and took no further action.

5. Network-The best thing you can do when looking for a job is to let others know that you are on the market. Do not simply say that you are looking for work. Say that you are looking to broaden your knowledge and use your experience to take your new organization to the next level. Provide some specific examples of your potential, that you prepared when you created your game plan, and how you are eager to use your talent. Join one of the countless professional organizations that meet regularly. Call your friends and let them know that you are ready for the next step in your career. Talk about your career change in the most positive, confident way you can and do it often.

When you look for a job you can think of it as a dreadful experience or you can think of it as an exciting opportunity to challenge yourself and to meet new people. You should be just as professional in your job hunt as your will be in your new job. If you put in the necessary effort, you will be rewarded accordingly.



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