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Posts Tagged ‘Looking For A Job’

You’re looking for a new job, and you’re on Twitter. What should you say in 140 characters or less that would help you reach your goal?

First of all, you have to identify your target audience and surmise what your target audience would be interested in. As a job seeker you primarily have two audiences: recruiters/hiring managers and colleagues who can refer you to openings. Fortunately for you, recruiters/hiring managers and colleagues have one very important thing in common. They are both looking for the best and the brightest. Recruiters/hiring managers want to identify the cream of the crop when searching for the ideal candidate. Colleagues also want to refer those who will make them look good in the eyes of the company that they refer people to. So your task as a job seeker is to demonstrate that you are on top of your field.

Simply advertising the fact that you are looking for a job is not sufficient, and if overdone, can prove your undoing. Instead you need to devise a job search strategy that reaches your target audience effectively. One method that you can incorporate into your strategy is tweeting the URLs of articles that discuss new trends in your industry and/or profession. This subtly shows that you are savvy about what is going in your field. This is especially important for people who have been unemployed for awhile because it is easy for employers to assume that if you have been out of work for some time that you are not current with your field.

Another part of your overall job strategy can be to maintain a blog and comment on different aspects of your field. You can tweet the URLs of your different blog posts along with a very brief description to entice your followers to go to your blog. (Using a URL shortener such as bitly.com will give you a few more characters to share more information with your followers.) In addition, you can highlight information that you receive at professional association meetings or professional conferences on your blog, again directing your target audience to your blog posts.

Yet another tactic is to provide links to news videos that are related to your field. For example, if there is a news story about how the proposed financial reform of Wall Street will impact the financial services industry, you can share that video via Twitter. Your audience will appreciate the timely information and also view you positively as a professional because you are sharing useful information.

In order to increase the likelihood of your tweets being found by the right people, you should use hashtags that relate to your field. You may need to do a little research by using variations of different keywords related to your field to find hashtags that are commonly used, but it will be worth your while to do so if hiring managers and recruiters find you as a result.

Lastly, you can increase the visibility of your tweets by connecting your Twitter account to your LinkedIn account so that your tweets automatically show up in your LinkedIn status bar. LinkedIn and Twitter can be used together effectively in a social media job search since they are complementary in nature. Twitter’s brevity is its strength, but LinkedIn allows you as the job seeker to go into much more detail about your professional background.

(Feel free to follow me on Twitter @cherylepalmer and connect with me on LinkedIn at http://www.linkedin.com/in/cherylpalmer. You can also register for a free social media job search webinar at http://www.calltocareer.com)

When the economy is in bad shape, the job market is usually worse. Those with jobs are trying to stay employed and people without jobs are desperately trying to find a new job, both can be extremely stressful.

If you put in the time and effort into finding a new job you will be rewarded no matter how fierce the competition is. Stay motivated and persistent – finding a new job is your new job right now.

These are the top ten ways to find a new job:

1. Use the Internet Daily – It is so easy to get lost on the Internet wasting time on websites, job boards and social media sites with no real benefits. Make sure you are actively spending your time on the Internet looking for and applying to jobs and networking with those who may be able to help. There are a ton of useful job boards and career sites to help you focus your search. Check out JobBoardReviews.com to help find the most useful websites to your industry or profession. Do your best to stay focused on your job search for a few hours a day. Be sure to actively apply to jobs, don’t just upload your resume and wait for phone calls.

2. Perfect your resume – Your resume is often the first glimpse a potential employer gets of you and your skills, make sure it accurately details your skills and work history and how they can benefit your future employer. Make sure you have someone proof read it before sending it out and try to customize it for each job you are applying for.

3. Network – Let everyone you know that you are looking for a job. The more people you have out there on your team, with eyes open the more opportunities you will have. Tell everyone in your network what kind of a job you are looking for or any special skills you may have. You can forward your resume to people in your network and ask them if they know of anyone hiring or if they can check within their company for any open positions. Most people actually find and are hired through referrals from a friend or family member than any other source.

4. Go back to school – Now is the time to get the competitive edge over other job candidates. Many people are finding it hard to get to a traditional college or university and are opting for online schools and programs. Look into enrolling in an accredited online college for some online courses and upgrading your training. Increasing your education will improve your resume and get you one step closer to landing a job.

5. Target Local Companies – Get out and start knocking on some doors. If you are not having any luck online submitting your resume online, it’s time to get out and start meeting people face to face. Make a list of companies in your area that you would like to work for, call them directly to see if they have any openings that interest you. If that doesn’t work, put on some professional attire and stop by with your resume in hand.

6. Industry Mags and Social Niches – Sometimes the best positions that are the perfect fit are only being advertised in industry specific magazines and publications. Sign up for some Industry trade magazines, online groups, forums, and social networks. Reading up on the latest industry news is a great way to stay on top and find new open positions. It also will help with your industry specific networking.

7. Job Fairs – Can it get better than this. Job fairs are a giant room or convention center filled with companies who are looking to hire. Dress to impress, print out a bunch of copies on your resume and start talking to companies who are looking to hire. It’s such an easy way to meet people and get some help with your search

8. Get some Professional Help – Recruiters, headhunters, and temp agencies are always looking for qualified candidates. Find some recruiters that specialize in your industry or position and get them your resume.

9. State and public resources – There are so many free resources offered by your state to help job seekers find a new job. Most states and counties offer everything from resume writing services, career counseling, and lots of sessions on all the skills you will need to find you new job. State and local resources are also often given lists of openings that aren’t posted or found in other locations. Pop on over and see what they can offer.

10. Consider Freelancing – If you are not finding the right full time position, consider taking a contract position or freelancing your services out. Many companies are not able to hire for full time positions but would be willing to give you a try on an as need basis.

Get on out there! Remember to Network, keep your head up and Don’t give up! There is someone out there waiting to hire you.

It’s about who you know, NOT what you know! But, what if you don’t know anyone? Then what are you suppose to do? You suppose to go hunting and make contacts. When finding any job the first rule is to make looking for a job your JOB!

Finding a Job Is Your Job

If you are unemployed then you should put aside at least 6-8 hours of each business day for applying to jobs, making contacts, interviewing, and staying on top of your industry. This strategy will always award you a job in less time. Your goal should be to apply to a minimum of 3 jobs per day. You should manage a list of contacts of everyone you directly or indirectly make contact with.

If you already have a job, then you shouldn’t be looking for a job. But, if it is imperative that you find a new job, then it will be more difficult to find the adequate time to job hunt, therefore you should put aside the time for your job search as it becomes available.

Analyze Your Craft

You should know your craft. Know the skill you hold and the level at which you best perform. Rate yourself fairly, do not underrate your talent. Know your worth, but better know the least (salary) you are willing to accept.

It is important to know your skill set. Knowing this information will help you better asses the position which you are seeking. Getting a job isn’t only about the employer finding the perfect fit, it is also for you to find the perfect fit. Research the salary for your position, such as Salary.com, SalaryExpert.com, and PayScale.com. Once you are familiar with the salary you should stay at least £5,000 within that range (e.g. if the salary for the job is expected to be £45,000 then you should seek opportunity within the range of £40,000-£45,000 or £45,000-£50,000, depending on your level of skill for the position).

Prepare Your Resume

You should update your current resume or create a new resume. Your original resume should be generic, but keyword-rich. The generic version should NOT contain any formal greets to any particular party. Basically, you should be able to apply to any job with the generic version without any editing. It should be readily available for fast access and quick apply. The generic version will be used to post on job boards, for employers to view when searching the database. Editing your resume for formal greets should be done at the time of applying to a job.

You want your resume to be keyword-rich because when employersrecruiters search databases for resumes they usually use keywords to find employees. If your resume has the proper keyword density and strategy then your resume is more likely to be returned within the search results (e.g. if the job you are searching for is ‘customer service’ then your resume should focus on the keyword ‘customer service’).

Many argue that a one-page resume is the best resume, but in my experience a one-page resume doesn’t provide enough information for those with extensive backgrounds. In this case I suggest not exceeding 2 pages, unless the job you are applying for is information technology related or relies on extended details within the industry, then it is (sometimes) best to list or add every product, program, service, and technology which you have touched, worked with, or have knowledge of. Even still do not exceed 3 pages at this point, and that may be too much. Though, I must admit I have seen 5-page resumes which are highly detailed and keyword-rich that receive a very high response rate.

Never boast or brag on your resume. Be truthful and list your objective, skills, professional experience, education, and knowledge.

If you do not have the ability or time to create an award-winning resume then it may be worthwhile to invest in a professional resume writing service.

Build Your Contacts

The best way to make contacts is by calling the employer or recruiter directly. Usually this information is made available when applying for a job online. If you are at a job board site such as: Monster.com, CareerBuilder.com, or a niche-based job board such as: DataCenterLife.com then more than likely the contact information is found on the job post page. If you are applying through an employer site then more than likely the contact information can be found under the “Contact Us” page usually found on the sites’ navigational bar. Respect the wishes of employers and recruiters who state NOT to contact by phone.

You should create a contact for any job you apply for.

Manage Your Contact List

Every employer or recruiter you make contact with directly or indirectly should be added to your contact list. Your contact list should include the company name, contact name, email address, phone number, and position title. You should also have a field or method which denotes the last time you spoke with or contacted each contact. This is important so you do not make the mistake of contacting someone you spoke with days earlier as well this helps you manage your time between each contact. You should follow-up with your contacts at least once every week or every 7 business days.

Out of Work. Out of the Loop.

Just because you are unemployed doesn’t mean you need to fall behind in your industry. You should still stay familiar with your industry and spend your time wisely. Study your industry market and know the new technologies being used inside your job industry. Stay afloat, use your resources such as: the internet, newspapers, media, friends, and ex co-workers to know what is going on in your job industry. If you are out of work for months and have no idea of a new application that is being used by all professionals in your industry, then it will look bad in an interview when you have no clue what they are talking about and you are claiming to be a skilled professional in the industry. Keep your eye on the prize and know your stuff. Even if you are not an expert at it, at least have the basic knowledge.

Don’t Answer That Phone

You only have one chance at making a good impression, do not blow it! Do not answer the phone if you are too busy to talk, if you see a number that you do not recognize assume it is an employer or recruiter and you should not answer the call, if you are too busy. There is nothing worse than a crying baby in the background, a large bulldozer from a nearby construction site, the sound of a flushing toilet, a third-party conversation going on in the background, or being in a drop-call zone when an employer or recruiter calls. You should be focused, relaxed, calmed, and ready to answer all questions swiftly without any interruptions when the phone rings, otherwise allow your voice mail service to get the call and return the call later when the time is more convenient.

Give Yourself a Break

I also suggest taking off Friday, don’t do any job hunting or interviewing this day, enjoy yourself. Have yourself a 3-day weekend. The only reason you should schedule Friday for interviewing is if the employer or recruiter schedule it, never inconvenience your interviewer unless it is life-threatening or extremely important. Also, you should still answer your phone on Friday when you have the time, if you are too busy or unable to answer your phone then make sure you have a voice mail service set up.

Interviewing

Getting an interview is what you worked hard for. Having a successful interview is just as important as getting the job. This determines everything. Preparation for your interview should begin the minute you are scheduled for your interview. You should study the background of the company. You should be familiar with what the company does and their procedures. Most of this information is usually found on the company’s website (sometimes buried within the site so you may have to do some digging). You should prepare questions which you may have for the interviewer about the company andor position. You should familiarize or refresh yourself with the requirementsqualifications of the position. And most importantly you should have a good night sleep before the interview, at least 8-10 hours of rest.

You should have at least 2 business suitsattire for interviewing. If you have a second interview you should have the ability to switch to a different suit. Your suits should be only of the three colors: black, navy, or gray. Make sure you are well groomed for the interview.

You should arrive to the interview between 10-15 minutes early. You should never come to an interview empty handed. You should at least have a business folder with notepad paper, a writing pen, and a hardcopy of your resume.

When interviewing you should relax and be yourself. You should be focus, articulate well, and be keen. Make non-offensive eye contact with your interviewer. Ask questions about the company and the position. Ask the interviewer about their position and the length of time they been with the company. Ask the interviewer why the position is available and why did the last person leave the company? Ask the interviewer how soon do they hope to fill the available position? Ask the interviewer for a business card or way to contact them if you have any questions later.

Just remember to be yourself and remember that the interviewer is only human just like you. If you don’t get the job then try and try again, until you get a job. Many times an interview is a display of your personality and character. If you have truthfully and appropriately represented your skill set on your resume, then the interviewer already know you are capable of handling the job.

You’re Hired!

If you are still looking for a job, here are some tips on how to follow up on your contacts:

* Send a thank you note right after the interview, ideally after a
couple of days. This is a way of getting the prospective employer
to hear from you again. Should you not get hired for the current
position that they offer, someone from that company will likely
keep your information on file for future consideration.
* Make sure that you leave your mobile and landline number, email
address and home address so that prospective employers
will have no excuse of not getting in touch with you.
* Be accurate in getting the contact information of perspective
employers. In return, when you place their information on any
letter that you send out (i.e. resumes, thank you notes) avoid
typographical errors and make sure that you have their names
correct, to see to it that everything is in order.
* Some companies do take a look at your character references
so alert the people on your list that they might receive a call
from your prospective employers.
* Always be on the positive side. Should you not get hired for a
particular position, you may ask the people from that company
for referrals to other companies or at least keep you in mind for
future hiring.

If you are currently in business, whether you are just starting out or in
the midst of expanding, you also need to make sure to follow up on all
important contacts. For example, you go to a corporate event and you
have distributed a lot of business cards. Do not stop there. These
people might eventually bring big business to your company so it is
important to build up a strong business relationship with them.

You have been looking for a job and after being interviewed, you have more than one position to choose from. How do you decide which job offer to accept? The money being offered by one company looks tempting but there are things you like about all of them. Do not get hung up on money unless it is your only focus in life. Before making a decision, try comparing the companies against the points below.

First, you must know what your goals are and the things that are important to you. Once you have done your research and comparisons, you will have the tools you need to make the perfect decision. The job that most closely relates to the things most important to you will probably be your best choice.

Environment – Either prior to or following the interview, ask for a tour of the work place. While on the tour, consider things like noise levels and the general mood of the employees. Are the employees friendly and polite? What is the condition of the environment; clean or dirty? Are the employees allowed to add personal touches to their work space? Review the answers to these questions to decide if you could be productive in that work place.

Benefits – Does the company offer health care, when, and what is the cost and coverage? Do they offer a retirement plan? If so, do they match employee contributions? This is important when comparing overall earnings. If the position includes commission, what are the rates, incentives, and earning potential?

The Boss – In many instances, the person interviewing you will not be your boss. It is important to know who your boss will be and request to meet them. When you meet the person who will be your boss, take note of their attitude and use your instincts. What kind of vibes do you get from them? Do they seem respectful of others? Do they make eye contact and have a firm hand shake? Do they act too busy to be bothered? If you accept the position with the company, these are great questions to know the answers to. This boss could be your boss for a long time.

Is this job what you want? Is this job enabling you to do what you enjoy? Will this position cause any family conflicts? Weigh the pros and cons. If this job is not what you dream of doing, then consider the above factors before settling for less. Is taking this position going to be worth the money you will earn when you consider what you would be losing?

Searching for work can become an overwhelming chore. With all the competition doing lots commonly has to be coupled with value to reach a goal. Look at Target Employment for valuable suggestions as well as Target employment application. Having sound tips avoids wasting time searching for what may work in having to look at what does not. Getting reliable direction may enhance one’s odds in distancing yourself from the competition.

The job market is forever shifting and the people who are able to adapt the fastest often will be the ones that have the primary selection in the greatest opportunities. Through the accessibility of information and the advancements in technology, searching for work is not what it was.

The rules have changed in a huge way and now people must not only have the ability to provide a complete package of abilities and knowledge for the profession but have got to also learn added skills to even secure an job interview for the job you want.

Looking for a job in any field, especially for a beginner, has always been challenging – beginners have to overcome their own insecurities, at the same time that they learn to navigate the marketplace and follow promising leads. Here are some of the most important things that you can do to speed up your job search:

Prepare a good resume and cover letter

Most people do not understand the purpose of a resume – it is not to get you a job. It is the interview and subsequent meetings that will convince the prospective employer to hire you.

The resume’s main purpose is to open the door and get you that interview. But now you need to consider the employer – he or she is busy, has little time to review lots of resumes, is probably confronted with many many resumes, most of which are from people who lack the proper qualifications. So how will a resume convince the employer to call you for an interview.

The resume must stand out – there are just too many that look alike for any but the most interesting and powerful to stand out. You need to capture the employer’s attention and interest – your resume needs to make the employer feel that “this” one seems promising.

Make sure that the resume is very clear – you need to make it easy for the employer to pick out what he or she is looking for. List specific skills and experiences that you know the employer is looking for – don’t be vague!

Integrate into the resume any and all experience in the field that you are applying for that you have acquired- even if it was not. Experience in any kind of writing counts for something – and often it is the very “something” that motivates the employer to give you a call.

But simply waiting to hear from a company to which you have sent your resume is counterproductive. Here are some tips:

Use Social Contacts

It’s best to try to spread name out to as many people as possible and to let people know that you’re in the job market; this is the way many professionals find jobs, especially freelance jobs. Use your social contacts as much as possible – today, the internet also provides many ways to expand and reinforce social contacts: social networks such as LinkedIn and Facebook, twitter, etc. Make sure that you have a good LinkedIn profile and an impressive resume there – then make a habit of linking to people, correspond with your links, send lots of messages, join groups and make comments or send messages.

The key is to maintain a high profile. You can try to reinforce the internet links with real meetings wherever possible.

Social networking is one of the main ways that professionals get jobs today, especially in hi-tech fields such as programming, technical writing, etc.

Be Proactive

It’s important to realize that you need to actively contact people to get a job – you can’t just send out resumes and wait. Actively contact companies that you have strong reason to suspect have a job opening, or are contemplating one. Many companies do not advertise their open positions right away – if you can contact the company before they think about advertising, you can considerably increase your chances of getting a job.

Where do you get tips about which company has a potential opening? One source is from friends who work in the company – for example, friends may tip you off about an upcoming project. You then simply contact the company directly and introduce yourself as a friend of so and so, and suggest a meeting.

Other ways of finding clues as to which companies are hiring in your field is to follow advertisements for positions that are related to your own. For example, say you are a technical writer and you discover that a software company suddenly advertises for software engineers, programmers, and other hi-tech personnel. This indicates that the company may be starting the development of a new product or product version. Now you make a good guess that the company might be under pressure to finish a lot of documentation related to the project – so you contact them and ask if they are interested in hiring a good technical writer.

Be Persistent
You can’t just say, “OK, I’ve done enough, I’ve sent 50 resumes, that’s it. You need to be persistent. Of course, some people confuse persistence with misguided obstinacy – they send out their resume to one company and then just sit and wait for one company to come through – this is like waiting for the winning lottery ticket. That kind of persistence is just a waste of time and emotional energy.

Real persistence means to keep contacting new companies – you need to keep going and never give up. When you get a “no” from a company, just go to the next one. To put yourself in the right frame of mind to do this, just tell yourself that you have to collect lots of “no’s” before you get a “yes” – every time you get a “no” you get that much closer to getting a “yes”. That’s the reverse psychology that you need to keep going. Tell yourself that if you don’t get 10 “nos” you won’t get a job; force yourself to keep contacting new places. Have confidence when you contact a potential employer – don’t sit trembling in fear, hoping to hear a “yes”. And, avoid contacting an employer again after they have rejected you. I have seen some people contact the same company again and again, as if there were no other companies to apply to. This is a mistake – a completely warped idea of what it means to be persistent.

You can considerably increase your chances of finding a job if you apply the strategies and techniques outlined in this article – be creative, open, sociable, and persistent.

Educator and sociologist Dr. Mati Schwrarcz has been training English speakers as technical writers and marcom specialists for over 17 years. Since then his graduates have become leading writers in hi-tech companies throughout the world.

YEDA Center for Technical Communications

http://www.yedacenter.com

If you belong to a professional organization related to the field in which you are looking for a job, you can consult the organization for
current posting from the members. If you don’t belong to any, consider joining one since this will be beneficial to you career growth.
A professional organization can provide you unbiased information on current job openings from its members. The organization can also
give you details on the company profile and even on current market and career trends.

These are the most important people that you should include when creating a list of your warm contacts. It is better if you contact them
all so you can have as many options in your job search. When you talk to them, tell them that you are actively seeking a job.

Usually when you are looking for a job, you would ask for help from
family and friends. You would contact these people to ask for
information on current job openings, business opportunities and tips.
Your family, relatives and friends belong to your warm contact list.
The warm contact list is the list of people with whom you have or had
some personal association. A former classmate, officemate or
neighbor may belong to your warm contact list.

Who may be included in your warm contact list? Here are a number of selections.
* Relatives and Friends
These people are always willing to help you in your job search or
business venture. They will be able to provide you information if they
have some, or refer you to trustworthy people who will be able to help
you. If they will introduce you to some of their contacts, they can
surely provide honest information to you regarding the person you are
going to associate with.
* Members of the church, political party, social club or fraternity or
sorority

You probably did not expect it, but people who share the same faith,
beliefs or hobbies may also help you with finding a job. You may have
a different career from theirs, but they might know somebody who is
in the same field or will be able to help you in your career.

When you are looking for a specific type of job, it may be in your best interest to
seek the services of employment agencies and job banks that handle that specific
line of work. Sometimes they are defined more specific while others are more
general. For example, if you are a paralegal looking for employment, you may wish
to seek an employment agency that specializes in either legal employment or
professionals. Sometimes you may find something that is more refined while other
times you may have to look at something on a wider scale.

When the opportunity is available you should always work with employment
agencies and job banks that specialize in the type of work you seek. This will give
you a better scope of what is available in your field and help you find the job that is
perfect for you easier and quicker. If youre looking for a job as an engineer, you
dont want to have to sort through thousands of advertisements for chemists or
administrative assistants. The fact that the job banks allow you to filter your
searches is a great advantage but most employment agencies do not allow that and
are unable to tell you if they even have more jobs in one field than another.
Your local newspaper is one source that will allow you to see advertisements only
for the field in which you have an interest. On the other hand, it does not provide
enough information for you to know if a particular advertisement is worth your
time. Many newspaper advertisements do not list the employers name or the
salary, and it is not advisable to ask for the salary during the interviewjobinterviewing
protocol indicates you should wait until a job offer occurs if the
employer does not volunteer the information during the interview.
When you look at all of the possibilities, it indicates that your best sources are
those that specialize in specific fields. This may not always be possible but when
these specialty agencies and job boards are available you should certainly make
use of them. The less time you have to spend looking for a job the better your
chances will be of finding the job that is perfect for you in the least amount of time
possible. Look at it as your time being money and the longer it takes to find a job
the more of your time is spent and thus more money is lost.

Prior to looking for the specific job that would be the best fit for you,
learn how to effectively market your talents. This will help you gauge
the possibility of landing the job you want.

First, skills and interests should be evaluated personally. Jotting down
a list would definitely be the best way to define your capabilities;
second, to know your limitations. There are jobs that are too
demanding that might not work for you, or jobs that you may be
overly qualified for; and third, planning the time as soon as there is an
inner instinct that tells you that you are ready and qualified.
Once this has been done, go to companies and prospective employers
early in the morning for this will give them a good impression and for
the applicant, a time to complete the process the application if lucky.
Remember, the early bird catches the worm.

The very first thing that needs to be done when looking for a job is to
prepare an impressive resume as we discussed in a previous chapter.
The resume will depend on the type of job being applied for. There
are times when certain employers require curriculum vitae and even a
cover letter or letter of intent. Every professional job you apply for
expects to receive a well written resume.
After preparing the documents needed for application, the next thing
that should follow is finding vacancies for new hires. Searching using
the Internet will be very helpful for this activity. There are sites that
provide this assistance like HotJobs, America’s Job Bank, and Monster
that utilizes resources and convenience for people to look for jobs.