Cv for Interviews

Posts Tagged ‘New Job’

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!

Do you blame the economy for making you stay at a dead end job? You feel you are stuck at your current job because there are no good jobs available in today’s economy. Well you are not alone. Many people feel the same way.

But is this honest? Is it really the economy’s fault or is it your fault and you are using the economy as an excuse to not look for a different job? Once you have joined the club of reality, read on.

Even in today’s economy, good jobs can be found; it just takes a little more time and effort to find them. Stop making excuses and get out there and find the job you want. Read the next part very carefully, it could prevent you from making a fatal mistake.

Lesson One
Look for and find a job that you want to do. Do not base your job search on what others think you would be good at doing. You know you better than anyone else. You surely have a good idea of the types of jobs you would enjoy doing.

In today’s economic situation, it is vitally important to be passionate about what you want and equally passionate when it comes to finding the perfect job. If your heart is not in it then you are doomed before you ever start.

Lesson two
The best jobs are those that are filled via word of mouth. They never have to advertise because the best people for the job come highly recommended by others associated with the company. Someone who knows someone talks to someone, then that person talks to someone, and so on.

Network for the job you want. Tell everyone you know about the job you are after. Ask everyone you know if they know of someone you could talk to about the job. Talking to everyone you know and getting them to talk to everyone they know is called networking.

Lesson Three
Take action now, do not delay, time is of the essence. You can find an entirely new job market through networking. It is the best way to find your dream job. Do not make the mistake of thinking small. Be creative and talk to everyone. Talk to the cashier at the grocery store. Talk to the bank teller when you cash your unemployment check. Talk to the mail carrier and the paper boy. You never know who others might know. It could land you the job of a life time. Being highly recommended from a friend of a friend is much better than being one of hundreds turning in applications for dead end jobs.

Searching for employment can be an overwhelming undertaking. With all the competition doing lots generally has to be matched with value for success. Have a look at Target Jobs for constructive recommendations and also Target Employment application. Having sound suggestion saves time searching for what may work through having to look through what doesn’t. By receiving solid help probably will boost one’s chances of separating yourself from the opposition.

The employment marketplace is forever shifting and the individuals who are able to adapt the quickest often will be the ones that get first choice of the top opportunities. Through the accessibility of information and the upgrades in computer, searching for work is not what it once was.

The game has changed in a huge way and at the moment people have to not only manage to deliver a total package of abilities and knowledge for the profession but have got to also learn extra competencies to even be given an meeting for the occupation you want.

Heres a job-scout checklist to help you along your way:

1. Identify experience list
2. Identify prospective employers
3. Prepare documents
4. Plan schedules
5. Contact companies andor employers
6. Get ready for an interview
7. Evaluate how interview went along
8. Take the exams
9. Start with the new job!

When you accept a position you always wonder if you have made the right decision.
Is there any way to know if you have indeed made the right decision? Of course its
di9fficult to know until you get into the position and begin working but if you have
made your list of attributes for the perfect job and chosen the one that most closely
matches your list, you can be reasonably certain you have made the right choice.
You went to a great deal of trouble to obtain your perfect job, so you dont want to
be too quick to question your judgment. You want to give yourself time to think
about it and learn all there is to know about your new job before you make any
judgments. When you first start a job there will be time for you to work into the
position and learn it, so dont think because it isnt what you expected at the
beginning that will continue. You should have asked all the pertinent questions at
the interview, and if you did that, any doubts you have in the beginning will
dissipate as you learn more about your new job.

Keep in mind that all new positions have a breaking in period and even if you done
the same type of work in the past for another company, there will still be some
differences. You are not going to work right into your perfect job the first time you
sit down at your new deskyou and the job need to learn to know one another
before you will feel comfortable. Once you get past the getting to know you stage,
you will feel more comfortable about the decision you made.

There may be cases where you asked all of the right questions but the employer did
not give you complete answers and you find the new job is not what you thought it
was. Do you simply grin and bear it? That depends how close it is to being your
perfect job. If there is a possibility for improvement, you dont want to just walk
away. If, on the other hand, you do not think the new job is going to work out for
you in the end, you will have to decide if you want to stay for the time being and
look to move on before you become too involved with the company to seek
something else.

One of the best ways you can increase your chances of finding the perfect job is to
enhance your skills. The more you know how to do the better your chances are of
finding the job you really want. Since we have to work for a living, we may as well
do something we enjoy and that may mean developing new skills in order to do
something we really like. Learning is a lifetime process and with so many changes
in technology, it is unlikely we will ever reach a point that we no longer have to
enhance our skills in order to keep up with the growing market.
The choices you make will affect your ability to obtain employment in your field of
choice. Its important to understand the importance of maintaining a high skill level
in order to meet market demand. No matter how much experience you have or how
much education, there is always the opportunity to learn more especially in todays
technologically advanced world. The skills we learned yesterday may be obsolete
next week or even tomorrow, so we have to make certain we always have the most
up to date skills and knowledge. It may mean taking additional college courses on a
regular basis, but if it will help you to maintain or obtain your perfect job, is it not
worth the effort.

Anything that is worth doing is worth doing well, so you want to always stay on top
of your skills and enhance them as necessary to meet a growing demand. Whether
you are already working in your perfect job or hoping to reach that level you need
skill enhancement to help with your advancement. There is nothing worse than
finding out theres a job opening within your company but you lack the skills to be
promoted. Your willingness and ability to enhance your skills is pertinent not just to
obtaining a new job but to advancing in a current position as well. Do not make the
mistake of thinking that you will reach the point that you no longer need to learn
new skills because as long as there is a chance to improve technology there will be
the need for everyone to continue upgrading their skills in order to remain part of
the growing market. As we continue to move forward in the 21st century these
technological changes will become more profound and necessary.