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Job & Opportunity Search Tips
Posted Date: 29 Mar 2008 Resource Type: Articles/Knowledge Sharing Category: Entertainments
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Posted By: Olufemi Member Level: Gold
Rating:  Points: 5
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DO NOT A RUSH JOB. Your application or a cover letter can make the difference between obtaining a job/opportunity interview and having your CV or marketing materials thrown out. You should therefore put in quality effort and time into writing effective cover letters. It is not a rush job. Your cover letter is usually your first contact with the potential employer or client so it is important you make a good first impression.
1. Be focused in your opportunity search. Don't be so desperate that you come across as a jack-of-all-trades. Widen your opportunity net but not in the mould of "anything-goes-anything-will-do". Employers and clients have no regard for masters of nothing. Identify your strengths, interests and target markets. Be targeted in your efforts. Let your purpose and direction stand out.
2. Be organized and professional in your opportunity search. Ensure the right balance. It doesn't make sense to focus only on one key aspect of the hunt while neglecting other important areas. Your approach needs to be professional, focused and coordinated.
For example, attending meetings and interviews won't amount to much if your resume and other related materials are flooded with spelling and grammatical errors.
3. Your tech skills and training decisions are important, but if you can't MARKET YOURSELF, getting opportunity will be an uphill task. Do prospective clients and employers know the unique value proposition your offer? How effective is your marketing communication?
Marketing yourself entails developing and demonstrating your soft skills. Sharpen your communications skills. Sell your value by highlighting and using people skills and hands-on experience you have gained from training, full and part-time positions, temporary jobs, etc.
4. WHAT ARE YOU SELLING - QUALIFICATIONS OR CONTRIBUTION? You're talented, you are qualified but will you contribute? What clients and employers need isn't just qualifications. To create opportunity, package yourself as someone who will contribute and make a difference. Qualifications may confer advantage. But hard work, initiative as well as a willingness to contribute, must all be in the equation. Make your search for opportunity effective - come across as a contributor not a certificate collector.
5. Without Self-confidence, you are defeating yourself even before you start. Self-confidence comes from within. Nobody is perfect. Build your confidence by analyzing your skill sets and identifying your passion. Use the fire in you to focus on success and stand out. Search, find, and create opportunity because such opportunities are meant for you not because you think you can fail.
6. The pressures involved in searching for opportunity can be enormous. And many things are not in your control. But don't let the effort involved and self-doubt bully you into submission. Focus on taking care of things you can change. Do your homework, research on the opportunity, improve the quality of your preparation and develop genuine enthusiasm for the prospect.
7. What's your opportunity perspective? Reward? Perfect environment? Opportunity isn't always attractive or obvious, but it's always knocking. We go the extra mile to pass exams. But can you go the extra mile for opportunity? Are you ready to leave your comfort zone and accept the conditions that often come with opportunity?
8. Referrals are powerful endorsements for opening doors. As you grow as a professional use your network of teachers, colleagues, clients and managers. Build credibility through positive recommendations. But it isn't just about who knows you or who worked with you. Asking for and getting meaningful referrals is a lot easier if you don't leave bad blood on your trail.
9. Make sure you are qualified for the opportunities that you are pursuing. Interest is not enough. Do your research. If you don’t meet the criteria, don't waste your time chasing jobs you can't do. Instead gather information on what to do to get qualified and how to successfully deploy resources to achieve your objectives.
10. Be realistic in your job search and most importantly be positive. Believe in yourself. Believe you are unique and believe you have something to offer. You are great! You can do it! A self-defeatist attitude will not get you anywhere. Positive upbeat people radiate success and happiness. Being positive is rewarding - it creates opportunities and enthusiasm.
11. In your job search efforts, what message are you sending out? Are you always begging or do you have something to offer? Do you want handouts, pity or do you want a job? Drop the begging attitude and instead portray yourself as a solution provider and problem solver.
12. Losing your job is an opportunity to improvement - to get a better job or for reassessment of your career path. It isn't the time to panic or feel sorry for yourself. A "why me" attitude is wasteful and pointless. Turn the minus into a plus. Take back control. Get back to your high energy level and start doing something positive.
13. Work on being unique and creative in your job search efforts, especially during interviews. Being unique in a positive manner helps you stand out. Nobody tends to remember people who are stiff, boring or uninterested. But people will always remember those who make a strong impact.
Just make sure it's a strong positive impression that creates interest and enthusiasm.
14. Don't draw a blank when the interviewer asks, "Do you have any questions for us?" Having questions to ask shows your level of preparedness as well as your interest in the job. But don't ask trivial or irrelevant questions just for the sake of having something to ask.
15. Always do your research on the company and the job description before the interview. Most interviewers will want to know what you know about the company and why you want the job. Be prepared. Don't allow questions to take you by surprise.
16. Don't tell lies - small or big on your CV, during the interview or in any job search activity. Any form of deception leaves a negative impact now or in future. Embellishing achievements, misrepresenting your skills, exaggerated current salary, outright lying, hiding previous career information destroys trust during the interview and other job processes.
Sell what you have not what you don't have.
17. Don't focus on job descriptions in your resume. Position yourself above your competition by focusing on your achievements as benefits in your resume. Show that you're an achiever that has the required skills and experience.
18. Saying negative things about your current or previous employers can harm your job search effort. Even if your grievance appears reasonable, disrespecting your employers in a job search situation will not portray you in a positive light.
19, Changing jobs to advance your career is normal. But moving around or job hopping too often sends the wrong signals to prospective employers. In a competitive situation, having to explain your jumping around puts you at a disadvantage.
Employers look for people with signs of stability. Nobody wants experience without commitment.
20. The objective of the resume is to get you the interview. Don't clog your CV with excess details. Leave the details for the interview. Make your CV simple and clear with the right self-marketing focus to land you the interview.
21. During an interview, don't use "big adjectives" that you can't back up. You won't last 10 minutes in an interview. Simplicity and coherence makes it easier for you to present yourself as the best candidate for the position.
22. You are expected to display confidence (not overconfidence) in answering interview questions. Tailor your answers to your strengths and what the interviewer is looking for in a candidate. Most importantly it helps to practice before the actual interview.
23. Don't include excessive information in your cover letter. You should direct people to your resume, which has your complete information. Use your cover letter as an introduction, not a duplicate of your resume.
24. In Job search situations, Be a contender not a pretender. Pretenders come along for the ride for sightseeing. Contenders come as the best candidate for the job. Don't be intimidated by your competitors. Job hunt like a champion, Think like a winner and You will get the job you deserve.
25. While you are ultimately responsible for your own job search, it helps to have an active personal network. You can’t afford to be an island when you job search. Involve your family, friends, acquaintances, and ex-colleagues. Let them know what you’re looking for and contact them periodically to let them know how the job search is progressing.
26. How seriously do you take your job hunt? If you want results in good time, take your job search as your job. Get busy and get organized. Plan and make the effort to work on it regularly. Make it a priority by dedicating specific time on a daily basis to your job hunt. How seriously do you want that job?
27. Use job search tools, such as resumes and cover letters to send out powerful messages about yourself. Use standard or popular formats, but make sure the content and communication shows strength, confidence and a professional image. How are you presenting and packaging yourself? The essence is to: Stand out and make a positive impact.
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Responses
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| Author: Vidya 21 May 2008 | Member Level: Diamond Points : 2 | very useful information
| | Author: Shinu 31 May 2008 | Member Level: Gold Points : 2 | This is very nice information. Thank You
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