Today
there are more qualified candidates than there are job openings.
Employers can afford to be selective and they are less willing to
take a chance on an applicant that appears to be marginal. There
are considerable costs associated with the recruiting, selecting,
hiring and training of new employees. Therefore, employers are being
more careful about hiring decisions, taking longer to evaluate applicants
while looking for the maximum skills they can hire for the wage they
have to pay. This means that today's job seeker needs the best preparation
possible for the job search.
Job Seeking Skills Checklist
There are many ways to search for a new job or career. Below
are listed some tasks that will help you find a job. You may
not need to do all of them. Check off each task as you complete
it.
I will do the following to help myself look for a job:
_____ |
Define my objective - know what kind of work
I most enjoy and can perform the best. |
_____ |
Ask employers, colleagues and other persons who know about
my skills for letters of introduction and/or recommendations
and to serve as references for me. |
_____ |
Talk with contacts in business and industry, friends and family, and others to
discuss potential employment contacts (network) |
_____ |
Prepare or update a resume. |
_____ |
Consider the need for a Job Placement
Service. |
_____ |
Plan how to get to the employment interviews and job sites.
|
_____ |
Develop a telephone script for making
initial inquires. |
_____ |
Call or send letters and resumes to potential
employers. |
_____ |
Prepare for interviews by finding out
as much as possible about the employer. |
_____ |
Practice interviewing with friends, family
and other contacts. |
_____ |
Follow-up all employment contacts with
thank you letters, telephone contacts, and/or more information
about myself. |
_____ |
Maintain an active file on employment
inquiry contacts. |
Writing Resumes
A resume is one of the most important tools in your job search.
It's purpose is to entice the employer to know more about you
and call you for an interview. It is usually the first impression
you will make on that person. Make it a good one!
A Good Resume Presents
- who you are
- what kind of position you want
- skills you have, accomplishments you have made
- listing of education and training
- listing of previous work experience
Examples and Tips for writing an effective resume are available
here.
Cover Letters
Every resumé you send will need an accompanying cover
letter. Cover letters can be used to inquire about job openings
or apply for known vacancies. The purpose of a cover letter is
to capture the employers attention and interest so they will
read your resumé and give you an interview.
Cover letters should be brief (one page) and specifically respond
to a particular company or vacancy.
To personalize your letters, you will want to obtain some information
about the business, as well as the name of the individual to
whom you are writing. Cover letters should be neatly typed and
consist of three paragraphs, as outlined here.
Interviewing Tips
Some questions are asked in almost every typical interview.
They include:
-- "Tell me about yourself."
-- "Why do you want to work here?"
-- "What are your goals?"
Even when we prepare for these questions, sometime we wonder "Why
did they ask that question?" or "What were they really
looking for during the interview?" Also note many interviews
are now performed as a team. Two or more people will be asking
questions. This can be cause further difficulty in positioning,
eye contact and feeling overwhelmed by the questioning. It may
help to focus on the person who is asking the question and not
glancing at the other people. Trying to pick up on the reactions
of others in the room may distract you from answering the questions
with clarity and enthusiasm. More tips for Interviewing are available
here.
|