Where to Start?
Embarking upon a job search can be a daunting experience. A seemingly endless stream of resumes, researching companies, customizing for key-words, not to mention the stress of being unemployed all the while, is exhausting. Looking for a job becomes your job when you are between things, or just starting out.
There are a few basic things that you can do to make the search a bit easier. Most of them have to do with preparation. Having your ducks in a row can take a lot of stress out of finding a job. As with anything in life, "fortune favors the prepared" is an apt axiom.
How to Begin
One of the first actions that you can take is to define what you are looking for. Do you want to pursue a vocation in construction or investment banking? Maybe you just want something to pay the bills right now, and day labor is what you are looking for. It doesn't matter what you want, just know what you want. That will eliminate useless work pursuing job leads just because you need something, or anything quickly. A little focus will simplify your life greatly.
Get a specific email account for your job search responses. If you use your personal account, it could lead to some confusion. Make the email address professional and discreet. If it is provocative or even if it reflects your crazy, fun-loving personality it's probably not appropriate for a business setting. Once you have established a professional address, you can organize the responses and stay on top of your communication.
Have some standard cover letters that you can customize. If you already have a template, you don't have to spend a lot of time making something from scratch for every company that you apply to. There are many resources for cover letter formats. Do a little research and find one or two that you are comfortable with. Practice customizing them to your personal situation.
Your Personal Presentation
Put some thought into your personal presentation. Know what you want to convey about yourself. If you select a wardrobe and brush up on your interpersonal skills ahead of time, you will be much more comfortable and focused when you get to the interview. Personal presentation also includes being on time. It seems obvious and hardly worth mentioning, but it can be an issue. If you need to scout the location, either an online map service or live, do it. Allow for traffic and make sure that you don't need to stop for gas.
Get to know standard questions that interviewers ask. The majority of questions can be anticipated if you have done some digging. Again, there are lots of resources online that you can use to find standard interview questions. Some are generic and some are industry specific. If you know generally what to look for, you won't be caught off guard, grasping for an answer. Also, take some time and develop some stories about your accomplishments.
How did you resolve a conflict?
What have you done to increase sales or production?
Have a story about a particular challenge that you overcame or about an original idea that ended up being used by an employer or organization.
Conclusion
If you take a bit of time and effort to get things in order before you get into the stressful world of the job search, it will pay off. It may cut down the time it takes to find employment, and it will at least save you the unnecessary stress and frustration that you don't need.
Embarking upon a job search can be a daunting experience. A seemingly endless stream of resumes, researching companies, customizing for key-words, not to mention the stress of being unemployed all the while, is exhausting. Looking for a job becomes your job when you are between things, or just starting out.
There are a few basic things that you can do to make the search a bit easier. Most of them have to do with preparation. Having your ducks in a row can take a lot of stress out of finding a job. As with anything in life, "fortune favors the prepared" is an apt axiom.
How to Begin
One of the first actions that you can take is to define what you are looking for. Do you want to pursue a vocation in construction or investment banking? Maybe you just want something to pay the bills right now, and day labor is what you are looking for. It doesn't matter what you want, just know what you want. That will eliminate useless work pursuing job leads just because you need something, or anything quickly. A little focus will simplify your life greatly.
Get a specific email account for your job search responses. If you use your personal account, it could lead to some confusion. Make the email address professional and discreet. If it is provocative or even if it reflects your crazy, fun-loving personality it's probably not appropriate for a business setting. Once you have established a professional address, you can organize the responses and stay on top of your communication.
Have some standard cover letters that you can customize. If you already have a template, you don't have to spend a lot of time making something from scratch for every company that you apply to. There are many resources for cover letter formats. Do a little research and find one or two that you are comfortable with. Practice customizing them to your personal situation.
Your Personal Presentation
Put some thought into your personal presentation. Know what you want to convey about yourself. If you select a wardrobe and brush up on your interpersonal skills ahead of time, you will be much more comfortable and focused when you get to the interview. Personal presentation also includes being on time. It seems obvious and hardly worth mentioning, but it can be an issue. If you need to scout the location, either an online map service or live, do it. Allow for traffic and make sure that you don't need to stop for gas.
Get to know standard questions that interviewers ask. The majority of questions can be anticipated if you have done some digging. Again, there are lots of resources online that you can use to find standard interview questions. Some are generic and some are industry specific. If you know generally what to look for, you won't be caught off guard, grasping for an answer. Also, take some time and develop some stories about your accomplishments.
How did you resolve a conflict?
What have you done to increase sales or production?
Have a story about a particular challenge that you overcame or about an original idea that ended up being used by an employer or organization.
Conclusion
If you take a bit of time and effort to get things in order before you get into the stressful world of the job search, it will pay off. It may cut down the time it takes to find employment, and it will at least save you the unnecessary stress and frustration that you don't need.
Kyle Sutherland has been in the financial business for over
twenty years and has been on both sides of the interviewers desk. Being
prepared with answers to common, and not so common interview questions
is essential to success.
Get one of the best resources for job interview answers at http://www.answersforjobinterviews.info
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http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=K._J._Sutherland
Get one of the best resources for job interview answers at http://www.answersforjobinterviews.info
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