9. How To: Get a Job -- Education and Careers
Job Search
Steps -(13)-
Assess your skills, experience and goals, and look into appropriate employment fields that interest you.
Spread the word. Tell everyone you know and meet that you are looking for a job - you will be surprised at the number of opportunities you may discover this way.
Network, network, network. Attend professional-association meetings in your industry, scour the association's membership directories for contacts, and schedule informational interviews with people in the field. Always try to get more names of the of people to contact at the end of the informational interview. Volunteer for something.
For resources and leads, contact your local employment office or your school/university careers advisor.
Get out and about. The most direct way to learn about job openings is to contact employers themselves. Target an area, dress the part, and stop in at every appropriate business establishment, including employment agencies, to fill out an application.
Remember that not many job openings are not listed in the newspaper job section. However, internet job boards are often used by employers for their ease and immediacy.
Pick up the telephone. It may be scary -and you willl hear ''No'' a lot- but you may only need to hear ''Yes'' a few times to land a job.
Follow up on written contacts. Send out CVs and fill out applications, but understand that these alone won't land you a job. Follow up with a phone call within five to seven days of every written communication.
Ask for interviews. If you find yourself being interviewed for a position that's not right for you (or with an interviewer who doesn't think you're right for the opening), request interviews with other department heads for resources and loads, or even with other companies that the interviewer may know are recruiting.
Prepare. Do some research on the hiring company and its industry so that you'll have a stock of relevant questions to ask the person across the desk.
Give the impression that you're ready to be part of the team.
Send a thank-you note after the interview. E-mail is acceptable.
Call your interviewer three days later and ask if there is any further information you can provide.
*Tips:
When you're interviewing, make sure it is a dialogue. Asking questions will make you appear knowledgeable and eager, as well as help to calm your nerves.
Review the Sunday job section to get a feel for the hiring market-place.
Warning*
Avoid making the mistake of turning down additional interviews once you've had a good one. Keep your job search in high gear right up until your first day of the new job.
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