Posts Tagged ‘Finding A Job’
Job Finding Tips
Finding a job is hard. It takes persistence, confidence and preparation. That being said, there are things one can do to make the transition from unemployed to office superstar faster and less frustrating. The number one thing that alleviates job-finding anxiety is preparation. It cannot be stressed enough. Proper preparation includes researching the best job sites for one’s industry, having an updated resume always available, and even knowing what to wear.
JOB SITES
Whether we like it or not, job search sites are a major part of finding a job. Find the best job site for your industry. Below are some of the best job sites around, but there are a ton of job sites out there. Find one you like and visit it often. However, be sure not to limit yourself. It is a good idea to sign up for email alerts from multiple sites, that way you can be first to respond to jobs that are right for you.
MULTIPLE INDUSTRY JOB SITES
Free Agents Jobs
http://www.theFreeJobs.com
A great new site. It’s like a ‘visual’ craigslist—a simple, intuitive search solution. Free Agents Jobs offers free email job alerts to keep you in the loop if your perfect job pops up.
Indeed.com
http://www.indeed.com
Indeed is a very powerful job search engine. It’s like Google, for jobs. When you click on a job at Indeed.com you will be taken directly to the site where the job is posted.
Craigslist
http://www.craigslist.org
Find your city and start lookin’! Craigslist has tons of jobs in every industry and provides a nice local touch. However, conversion rates are pretty low, so don’t count on an interview.
SPECIALTY JOB SITES
Krop
http://www.krop.com
For creative and tech professionals. Krop is a fast growing site with great design and interface.
Joel on Software
http://jobs.joelonsoftware.com
Jobs from a specialty software and programming blog. If you’re on top of your game, this is the place to look!
37 Signals
http://jobs.37signals.com
Job board from 37 Signals, internet web application programmers. These guys produce great web apps! Another great job resource If you’re on top of your game!
Creative Hotlist
http://creativehotlist.com
Great resource for creative positions (designers and such)!
RESUME FORMAT: Don’t Get Cute!
Use a style similar to business letter formatting. Avoid using elaborate headers or multi-column layouts. These kinds of flare DO NOT make you look unique, they make you look unprofessional. If you want to show a bit of your personality, let it peek through in your cover letter. Your resume should serve to provide a structured outline of your qualifications, nothing more. Remember that consistency and simplicity are priorities with your resume. Treat each section the same. Make sure that you use reverse chronological order for all entries. DO NOT prioritize your employment history. Just because something was important to you, does not mean your potential employer will think so. Let them make the decision when reading with no surprises. For instance, you don’t want to go from 1997 to 2006, back to 2000. You want to go from 2007 to 2006 to 2005, and so on. No surprises, nothing to hide.
Font: Times, Times New Roman or Georgia
Font Size: 10pt
Margins: 1″ on all sides
Tabs: 0.5″
SAMPLE FORMAT
————————————
Jane Boogie
555 Some Street
Great City, US 20817
(212) 555-1212
jboogie@gmail.co
SUMMARY
Six years professional design studio experience. Four years freelance design experience. BA, Graphic Design from Rhode Island School of Design. Cum laude.
EDUCATION
2007 University of Southern California
BFA, Sculpture, Cum Laude
EXPERIENCE
2006 BCBG
Graphic Designer | May 2005 – Aug 2006
Responsible for xyz. Managed four employees.
AWARDS
2007 ABC Design Award
2006 XYZ Sweetness Award
————————————
HOW TO DRESS FOR A JOB INTERVIEW: ALWAYS OVER DRESS! (Just a little bit)
Rule #1: Dress Nicely!
Set aside an outfit that you know you’re comfortable in and makes you feel confident. If the employer does not specify what the dress code is, assume it’s BUSINESS CASUAL and plan to dress a little nicer than that!
Women: Wear dark dress pants and either a sweater, blouse or button down dress shirt. NO JEANS! NOTHING REVEALING! Don’t even risk it for a first impression. For shoes, knock yourself out. If you like heels, wear heels. If you like flats, wear flats. NO SNEAKERS, no matter how cool they are! Keep the makeup to a minimum, don’t overdo it lady!
Men: Wear dark dress pants and a button down dress shirt or stylish, lightweight sweater. NO JEANS! NO POLO SHIRTS! For shoes, wear dress shoes, NOT sneakers OR sandals. Remember, if you wear dark grey or black pants, wear a black belt and black shoes. If you wear dark brown or dark green pants wear a brown belt and brown shoes. Chances are you could care less about this sort of thing, but it DOES MATTER (at least for a first impression)! Please remember to shave at least 3 HOURS BEFORE your interview, just in case you knick yourself or you have sensitive skin and are prone to ‘raspberries.’
NOTE: If an employer specifies a very casual dress code, then certainly go with that. Remember to still dress a little bit nicer than you think you should. It always pays off!
Rule #2: Smell Nice!
Wear some deodorant for once! If you have a light cologne or perfume you like to wear, put on a little bit, but not too much. Having a nice smell is very underrated in social situations. Furthermore, if an employer turns up the heat, you don’t have to worry about getting all hot and bothered. You will, naturally, smell like roses
CONCLUSION
These tips will help you get started in the right direction. Now go put yourself out there! Set up some interviews and even accept a few interviews you know you don’t want. Practice makes perfect and the only way to practice is to be under the microscope in a small office with a peculiar HR person asking you questions and telling you the way it is. But, these situations will prepare you for the interview that goes perfectly, where you can’t say the wrong thing and feel respected and wanted. In order for that to happen, you have to be prepared and stay persistent.
By: Rick Derris
About the Author:
JOB SITES
Whether we like it or not, job search sites are a major part of finding a job. Find the best job site for your industry. Below are some of the best job sites around, but there are a ton of job sites out there. Find one you like and visit it often. However, be sure not to limit yourself. It is a good idea to sign up for email alerts from multiple sites, that way you can be first to respond to jobs that are right for you.
MULTIPLE INDUSTRY JOB SITES
Free Agents Jobs
http://www.theFreeJobs.com
A great new site. It’s like a ‘visual’ craigslist—a simple, intuitive search solution. Free Agents Jobs offers free email job alerts to keep you in the loop if your perfect job pops up.
Indeed.com
http://www.indeed.com
Indeed is a very powerful job search engine. It’s like Google, for jobs. When you click on a job at Indeed.com you will be taken directly to the site where the job is posted.
Craigslist
http://www.craigslist.org
Find your city and start lookin’! Craigslist has tons of jobs in every industry and provides a nice local touch. However, conversion rates are pretty low, so don’t count on an interview.
SPECIALTY JOB SITES
Krop
http://www.krop.com
For creative and tech professionals. Krop is a fast growing site with great design and interface.
Joel on Software
http://jobs.joelonsoftware.com
Jobs from a specialty software and programming blog. If you’re on top of your game, this is the place to look!
37 Signals
http://jobs.37signals.com
Job board from 37 Signals, internet web application programmers. These guys produce great web apps! Another great job resource If you’re on top of your game!
Creative Hotlist
http://creativehotlist.com
Great resource for creative positions (designers and such)!
RESUME FORMAT: Don’t Get Cute!
Use a style similar to business letter formatting. Avoid using elaborate headers or multi-column layouts. These kinds of flare DO NOT make you look unique, they make you look unprofessional. If you want to show a bit of your personality, let it peek through in your cover letter. Your resume should serve to provide a structured outline of your qualifications, nothing more. Remember that consistency and simplicity are priorities with your resume. Treat each section the same. Make sure that you use reverse chronological order for all entries. DO NOT prioritize your employment history. Just because something was important to you, does not mean your potential employer will think so. Let them make the decision when reading with no surprises. For instance, you don’t want to go from 1997 to 2006, back to 2000. You want to go from 2007 to 2006 to 2005, and so on. No surprises, nothing to hide.
Font: Times, Times New Roman or Georgia
Font Size: 10pt
Margins: 1″ on all sides
Tabs: 0.5″
SAMPLE FORMAT
————————————
Jane Boogie
555 Some Street
Great City, US 20817
(212) 555-1212
jboogie@gmail.co
SUMMARY
Six years professional design studio experience. Four years freelance design experience. BA, Graphic Design from Rhode Island School of Design. Cum laude.
EDUCATION
2007 University of Southern California
BFA, Sculpture, Cum Laude
EXPERIENCE
2006 BCBG
Graphic Designer | May 2005 – Aug 2006
Responsible for xyz. Managed four employees.
AWARDS
2007 ABC Design Award
2006 XYZ Sweetness Award
————————————
HOW TO DRESS FOR A JOB INTERVIEW: ALWAYS OVER DRESS! (Just a little bit)
Rule #1: Dress Nicely!
Set aside an outfit that you know you’re comfortable in and makes you feel confident. If the employer does not specify what the dress code is, assume it’s BUSINESS CASUAL and plan to dress a little nicer than that!
Women: Wear dark dress pants and either a sweater, blouse or button down dress shirt. NO JEANS! NOTHING REVEALING! Don’t even risk it for a first impression. For shoes, knock yourself out. If you like heels, wear heels. If you like flats, wear flats. NO SNEAKERS, no matter how cool they are! Keep the makeup to a minimum, don’t overdo it lady!
Men: Wear dark dress pants and a button down dress shirt or stylish, lightweight sweater. NO JEANS! NO POLO SHIRTS! For shoes, wear dress shoes, NOT sneakers OR sandals. Remember, if you wear dark grey or black pants, wear a black belt and black shoes. If you wear dark brown or dark green pants wear a brown belt and brown shoes. Chances are you could care less about this sort of thing, but it DOES MATTER (at least for a first impression)! Please remember to shave at least 3 HOURS BEFORE your interview, just in case you knick yourself or you have sensitive skin and are prone to ‘raspberries.’
NOTE: If an employer specifies a very casual dress code, then certainly go with that. Remember to still dress a little bit nicer than you think you should. It always pays off!
Rule #2: Smell Nice!
Wear some deodorant for once! If you have a light cologne or perfume you like to wear, put on a little bit, but not too much. Having a nice smell is very underrated in social situations. Furthermore, if an employer turns up the heat, you don’t have to worry about getting all hot and bothered. You will, naturally, smell like roses
CONCLUSION
These tips will help you get started in the right direction. Now go put yourself out there! Set up some interviews and even accept a few interviews you know you don’t want. Practice makes perfect and the only way to practice is to be under the microscope in a small office with a peculiar HR person asking you questions and telling you the way it is. But, these situations will prepare you for the interview that goes perfectly, where you can’t say the wrong thing and feel respected and wanted. In order for that to happen, you have to be prepared and stay persistent.
By: Rick Derris
About the Author:
Rick Derris is the senior staff writer for Free Agents Jobs, http://www.theFreeJobs.com.
I am a recent graduate and am currently seeking employment. I’m not doing very well in finding a job, tips?
ztns9 asked:
I just graduated from a university with a B.A. in Mass Communication/Public Relations degree and am having a hard time finding employment. I have been looking in many different locations. I am also finding it hard to get anyone who is far away to look at my resume. Why is it so hard to relocate/find a job after college? What should I do? How can I get experience if no one will give me a chance?!
Aswin
I just graduated from a university with a B.A. in Mass Communication/Public Relations degree and am having a hard time finding employment. I have been looking in many different locations. I am also finding it hard to get anyone who is far away to look at my resume. Why is it so hard to relocate/find a job after college? What should I do? How can I get experience if no one will give me a chance?!
Aswin
Job Hunting Tips — What Employers Look For
What Employers Want
Awareness of employer’s expectations is essential to finding a job. Older job-hunting techniques focused on “you”, the person. It laid emphasis on your work history, accomplishments, academic background and other credentials. It focused on your qualifications and objectives as well. But that has changed and today, employers expect you to know what their needs are and tell them how you can complement the organization.
Energy
Displaying the right energy and initiative is very important. Energetic people are credited with enthusiasm, vigor and drive and that is exactly what employers want. Most jobs require you to be proactive. Employers can easily evaluate this ability, almost as soon as the candidate enters the room. If you are not an energetic person, you should practice ways to look and act accordingly, in order to make a good first impression. It can make a huge difference; most of the time, job opportunities are won or lost on approach and preparation.
Specific Skills
Every job involves a set of specific skills and education or training, with the required background and experience. Most often, these skill sets are mentioned in the advertisement. If, however, they are not mentioned specifically, find out about the company and its hierarchical structure. This will help you to prepare to present specific abilities and initiative, creating a positive impact on the employer. Your primary concern, once you have the list of required skills, should be to present evidence that you have those skills.
This could involve your academic qualifications, projects and achievements. In addition, you need to project the capability to meet job responsibilities, work experience, voluntary activities and tasks in personnel management. The key is to try to match your skills and capability to the specific requirement of the employer. Highlight the relevant areas, since recruiters usually do not have a lot of time on hand and have to deal with a number of applications. They show interest only in particular skill sets that are required by the organizations that they represent. Make these skill sets noticeable. Precision and brevity are important too, but it is also important to highlight the skills you possess and how you can be an asset to the firm.
Transferable Skills
There are particular skills that most employers look for that have nothing to do with the competencies required for the particular job. These skills indicate the development potential and not the knowledge level. These so-called transferable skills include communication, teamwork, leadership, initiative, problem solving, adaptability, motivation and numerical skills. In addition to this, private sector companies prefer the candidate to have some idea of how the firm operates, current business news and trends and their impact on the organization. The courses completed, work experience and hobbies are of value as well. Be ready to answer clearly if asked at the interview as to how your education has prepared you for a specific job. You should be prepared with a good and precise answer. It is important to plan in advance.
By applying the steps above, you will be well on your way to giving employers what they want and conducting a highly successful job search.
By: Tony Jacowski
About the Author:
Awareness of employer’s expectations is essential to finding a job. Older job-hunting techniques focused on “you”, the person. It laid emphasis on your work history, accomplishments, academic background and other credentials. It focused on your qualifications and objectives as well. But that has changed and today, employers expect you to know what their needs are and tell them how you can complement the organization.
Energy
Displaying the right energy and initiative is very important. Energetic people are credited with enthusiasm, vigor and drive and that is exactly what employers want. Most jobs require you to be proactive. Employers can easily evaluate this ability, almost as soon as the candidate enters the room. If you are not an energetic person, you should practice ways to look and act accordingly, in order to make a good first impression. It can make a huge difference; most of the time, job opportunities are won or lost on approach and preparation.
Specific Skills
Every job involves a set of specific skills and education or training, with the required background and experience. Most often, these skill sets are mentioned in the advertisement. If, however, they are not mentioned specifically, find out about the company and its hierarchical structure. This will help you to prepare to present specific abilities and initiative, creating a positive impact on the employer. Your primary concern, once you have the list of required skills, should be to present evidence that you have those skills.
This could involve your academic qualifications, projects and achievements. In addition, you need to project the capability to meet job responsibilities, work experience, voluntary activities and tasks in personnel management. The key is to try to match your skills and capability to the specific requirement of the employer. Highlight the relevant areas, since recruiters usually do not have a lot of time on hand and have to deal with a number of applications. They show interest only in particular skill sets that are required by the organizations that they represent. Make these skill sets noticeable. Precision and brevity are important too, but it is also important to highlight the skills you possess and how you can be an asset to the firm.
Transferable Skills
There are particular skills that most employers look for that have nothing to do with the competencies required for the particular job. These skills indicate the development potential and not the knowledge level. These so-called transferable skills include communication, teamwork, leadership, initiative, problem solving, adaptability, motivation and numerical skills. In addition to this, private sector companies prefer the candidate to have some idea of how the firm operates, current business news and trends and their impact on the organization. The courses completed, work experience and hobbies are of value as well. Be ready to answer clearly if asked at the interview as to how your education has prepared you for a specific job. You should be prepared with a good and precise answer. It is important to plan in advance.
By applying the steps above, you will be well on your way to giving employers what they want and conducting a highly successful job search.
By: Tony Jacowski
About the Author:
Tony Jacowski is a quality analyst for The MBA Journal. Aveta Solution’s Six Sigma Online offers online six sigma training and certification classes for lean six sigma, black belts, green belts, and yellow belts.
