Our work involves close communication with human resources and personnel departments looking for the right calibre person, as well as candidates in search of the right job for them - seeing both sides of the employment perspective means we have an 'expert' eye on everyone's needs.
With this in mind, we have provided advice and handy hints to help you find that perfect job or start out on a new career path.
We hope you enjoy the read.......
| |
The job search - where do I start? |
| |
Setting yourself some goals |
|
The CV - your most important tool |
| |
Making the most of your job application |
| |
What does an employer expect from you |
| |
The day arrives |
| |
Take time to evaluate your job offer |
| |
Returning to the workplace |
| |
Temping - turning half chances into opportunities |
| |
Grass isn't always greener |
The job search - where do I start?
IF you are employed and thinking of a career change or are currently out of work, there is plenty to do in the search for a new job.
Instead of approaching it as a series of hurdles and obstacles, be positive, consider all the avenues and opportunities open to you and go for it.
As you are reading this, you will also be scanning the ET's recruitment section - newspaper and magazine job pages are a great place to start. They often give detailed information about a job and the company web site where you can do your own research to find out more about them.
On-line recruitment pages are a must. There are websites which will list specific jobs in specific areas of the country. Companies often post up their own vacancies on-line. Recruitment agencies also carry on-line comprehensive listings of their latest placements. Register with any of the above, you have nothing to lose.
But don't stop there - flicking through Thursday's ET and visiting a few websites is only the beginning. If you are serious about finding the right job for you, you need to draw up a plan of action. It is too easy to send off a few applications and sit back and wait for a response.
Think about the type of work you want - if it is a complete career change, talk to people in that field, research the industry, network with people who can provide this detail and perhaps provide the opening you need.
Don't forget job fairs - regional and national events provide a unique chance to speak to potential employers face-to-face.
The opportunities are endless - you can make them happen.
The CV - your most important tool
Before considering applying for a new job you need to check on your CV - read through it carefully, will it help you get the position you are applying for?
Your CV (Curriculum Vitae) will land on your prospective employer's desk and give them the very first impression of you. It is therefore your most important marketing tool and it is vital you make the most of it. If it doesn't impress, you probably won't get invited for an interview.
The primary reason most job seekers fail in their job search is they are too focused on themselves - those that achieve success concentrate on the needs of the organisation to which they are applying and your CV needs to reflect this.
While we wouldn't condone telling untruths, there is mileage in reworking your CV to suit specific jobs you apply for. Read the advert, research the company to find out what they are about, what their aims and aspirations are and keep this in mind when refreshing your details or writing a CV from scratch.
Remember, don't just list tasks and skills, highlight accomplishments and results.
Don't be afraid to modestly sell yourself if you have made a real difference
to your existing company and mention any hobbies and interests which show you
in a good light.
Keep the CV informative and factual but don't overwrite. It is important to
get all essential information in but the potential employer will lose patience
if he has to plough through reams of pages. And when it's complete, always remember
to spellcheck it - a typo or bad grammar will certainly not create the right
impression.
Making the most of your job application
LAST month we talked about sending a good CV - but there are other worthwhile actions you can take to really make the most of your application.
A covering letter is a must - whether this is as a hard copy letter posted with your CV or as an email message with your CV attachment.
If your job application is a direct response to an advertisement, read the ad again to see if there are any instructions such as 'apply in writing stating why you feel you should be considered for this role'. Give this some thought before putting down your reasons, including how your own experience matches with the requirements of the position.
Always include your name and address, the name and address of the company, the vacancy you are applying for and where you saw the advertisement. Whether you are sending a hard copy or electronic, ensure the letter is well presented, saved in the right format, on good quality paper and grammatically correct.
Remember to keep a copy of the advertisement for reference in case you are selected for interview and note the closing date for the advertisement.
Some employers will also ask you to complete an application form. When it arrives, don't rush it, it needs to be neat, accurate and carry as much concise information as possible. It might be an idea to photocopy the form and fill this in first.
Also, if your application results in an interview, don't forget afterwards to follow-up with a further letter or email to say thank you - as well as enabling you to stand out from the crowd of other applicants, this is the perfect opportunity to remind your interviewer why you are right for the job and include any key facts you may have forgotten to mention when you met.
What does an employer expect from you?
So, you've got an interview - the easiest thing to do now is focus on what you are looking for in a job. While this is important, it is also important to think what you're interviewer is looking for in you. Job seekers who fail to recognise this are not likely to get very far.
Part of your preparation for an interview should include considering all or some of the following:
Ability to do the job - sounds basic enough but candidates often apply for jobs they are not qualified for. Emphasise your accomplishments and results to show you are more than capable of doing the job.
Initiative - unless you are entry level, employers are likely to expect you to hit the ground running, show plenty of initiative and not need a long learning curve.
Job growth - proving you can go beyond the defined job description, you can adapt and are willing to take on additional responsibility will be a positive.
Self-confidence - decision makers need to be able to put their trust in you to perform. They develop this trust by seeing your confidence in your body language, they way you speak and your proven track record.
Compatibility - organisations seek people whose personality style and behaviour match the requirements and culture of the job. Avoid criticising past employers or placing blame. A positive attitude is imperative.
Social skills/interests/involvement - involvement in work activities, both social and professional, is good. Mention examples of teamwork and basic courtesies, such as saying please and thank you and giving credit and praise where due, will be well received.
Communication skills - we can't ever communicate too much. Demonstrate how you continually use written and oral skills to achieve your goals.
While it might be impossible to hit all these buttons, being aware of them might be to your advantage before going to an interview. Just remember, instead of focusing on what you want, focus on what the employer wants - it could help you on the way to landing a new job.
AT last - the day of the interview has arrived and it's time to sell yourself and make the very most of the opportunity ahead.
Make sure you arrive in plenty of time and sit and relax beforehand, running through the interview scenario in your head. Think positively and run briefly through some of the answers you will have prepared for the key questions you are likely to be asked about.
Although you may be nervous inside, don't show it - shake hands and smile as you are introduced to your interviewer.
When there may be many candidates vying for the same positions, much will boil down to attitude. The candidate with the best outlook, the most positive personality and the more passion for the position will shine through.
Your self promotion should be like a mini pitch about yourself. Don't include any negatives and keep all professional conversations positive and proactive. Be proud to talk about your accomplishments and sing your own praises, without appearing boastful.
Also, be alert - what do you see when you go for an interview? How is the interviewer responding? If it is a formal interview, keep it that way, if the interviewer relaxes with you and enjoys a laugh, you too adopt a lighter manner.
Be natural and express your authentic self. Charm and manners speak volumes. The interviewer is looking for someone who will be a good fit for their organisation, so try to be yourself.
Always remember, the interviewer isn't trying to catch you out - they want to find out if you are the right person for the job so listen carefully to what they say. It will probably tell you much about the organisation and its culture. Use this to get onto their wave length and way of thinking, so as you can respond accordingly. Listening is just as important as talking.
Take time to evaluate your job offer
AFTER searching for a new job, you finally have a job offer! Your work is done - well, not quite.
It is easy to get caught up in the excitement. Now is the time to evaluate your offer to truly make the right decision.
Go right back to beginning and ask yourself the reasons why you wanted to change jobs in the first place. Usually they fit one of the following categories:
Lack of money - a desire to make more money.
No job satisfaction or potential for advancement - including lack of recognition,
dead end jobs and boring jobs.
Too much stress - too many hours worked, too much travel involved, bad bosses
and work schedules that conflict with family needs.
Not fitting in with the company's culture - not a family-friendly company or
its values may not fit your own.
The company itself is lacking - you may feel the company is underperforming
or failing and your own interests in it may be at risk.
Consider all of the above and then make a comparison between your existing job and the one you have now been offered. Instead of jumping to the conclusion that the grass must be greener in the new opportunity being offered you, weigh up both positions carefully.
As easy as it is to be flattered about a job offer, you must consider it objectively, in the cold light of day - not through rose-tinted glasses. After all, if you decide to jump ship, there is usually no turning back.
After a proper evaluation, you will feel in a much better position to make a decision you will be happy about and confident to follow.
IF you don't have goals all the activities in your life make little difference. Without goals you may end up stuck in a career you don't enjoy. Unable to see a different future, you never pursue your desired career.
An established direction, outlined with some real purposeful thought, will ensure your life won't be governed by chance or whim. Successful people devote a great deal of thought and time to planning their life goals.
The toughest part of this process is translating the lofty long-term goals into actionable tasks you can work on today. Perhaps breaking down the process might be a starting point.
You start with a vision (your personal mission) which leads to some long-term goals (dreams with a deadline) which lead to short-term goals and objectives (projects) which lead to monthly plans (action steps) which lead to a daily task list (specific activities).
So where do you go from here? Here are some basic steps you might want to follow:
Develop a personal mission statement - like a corporate mission statement this helps define who you are, what you're all about, and helps you recognise if you're off course and steers you back in the right direction.
Develop a list of long-term goals - some of these may seem impossible dreams but if you set yourself a list you can start logically preparing instead of letting things 'take care of themselves'.
Define and set objectives - it's okay having a plan but only if it has some detailed objectives alongside it. You need to give these some clear thought and make them as realistic and achievable as possible.
Turn these objectives into steps to take - give yourself some sensible timescales with a number of steps to reach along the way - you won't achieve everything immediately.
Conduct a monthly and weekly review of your objectives - you need to do some forward and reverse thinking - forward to check where you are and if you are on schedule, and reverse to check on what you may have missed or overlooked and need to rethink.
We use a whole host of excuses to avoid goal setting and although this may seem pie in the sky and possibly a lot of hard work, it will be worth all the effort - you will have direction for your life and focus for your activities.
MUMS returning to work after having a family may find the whole prospect one of the most daunting experiences of their life.
But don't despair because there is plenty of help at hand. Whether you've had six months or 16 years away from the workplace, your experience and 'maturity' are likely to be in hot demand as employers are looking more and more to female 'returners' who they believe bring stability to the work environment.
Concerns about stepping into a high-tech workplace where typewriters have been replaced by PCs and letters and memos by emails, are unfounded.
One of the jobs of a recruitment agency is to build self confidence back and steer 'returners' onto courses to develop word processing and software skills. This training can largely take place within an agency itself.
The next stepping stone for many mums is temporary work. Getting a chance to dip into a working environment, get a taste of operations and systems, but without any long-term or permanent commitment, is a popular starting point for many.
We have a number of mums registered with us who have chosen the temping route - they like the flexibility and variety of temping which allows them to balance work and family life to suit them.
Others have gone on to pursue a career path which they never had an opportunity to take up before starting a family. Having had a gap from work, many assess what they want from life and come back to the workplace refreshed and invigorated to get on and make a difference.
Whatever your current position, returning to work is far from a daunting prospect, it represents the next exciting stage of your life.
Temping - turning half chances into opportunities
MENTION the word temping and people automatically picture a secretary standing in for someone who is off sick or on maternity leave. But temporary work has a number of clear advantages - it may even be the stepping stone to the perfect career.
Temps are a vital part of the employment world. As well as providing help at a moment's notice, they are often the extra pair of hands when things get busy. They have become an invaluable tool to the overstretched employer and can make a real difference in the workplace.
For these reasons, the role of a temp is becoming increasingly attractive. Many see it as a great way to find out more about a wide variety of companies and positions before making a decision on a permanent career choice.
Others regard it as the ideal way to get a job by the back door - if an employer likes the work of a temp they are more likely to offer them a permanent position, as and when one arises, rather than going through an expensive recruitment process.
For anyone thinking of returning to work after having children or following redundancy, or people looking for a stop gap between jobs, temping is a very favourable option.
If you haven't temped before or have concerns about your skills, agencies such as ACR will let you book time in their offices to train on computer packages, free of charge.
Once signed with a good agency, they will keep in constant contact to check your availability, they will check everything is going well at a placement and they are likely to have an endless supply of work to throw your way.
We wouldn't advise you to give up a permanent career, but for those not happy in their present position or not sure of which career route to take, temping could provide a very attractive proposition.
IN today's fast-moving high turnover lifestyle, changing jobs is as regular
as changing a favourite brand of toothpaste for some. It may seem fashionable
to switch careers at the flick of a hat but, at the risk of sounding boring,
it might be worth pulling on the brakes for one minute and remembering a good
old fashioned phrase - 'the grass isn't always greener on the other side' -
before jumping ship again.
If your current work has become slightly dull and repetitive, it's not challenging
enough, the pace has slowed down and you no longer feel you can work with your
boss, then before you start looking elsewhere think about whether you have are
making the most of your present job.
I have lost count of how many people I speak to who have left the relative comfort
and happiness of a secure job in pursuit of a fresh challenge only to discover
that the dream job was a poor second.
Ambition and aspirations to do better are qualities we should all own in our
working lives and I would not hesitate to applaud anyone with a vision and career
plan which means a number of employment changes during their life.
However, it is pretty obvious that changing careers is not the answer for everyone.
It doesn't look too good on a CV, for one, but it also means the risk of disappointment
because the grass certainly isn't always greener.
If you get itchy feet why not look at yourself first. You may have become set
in your ways in your current job, stopped being proactive, which means the work
is bound to become dull or unrewarding. If so, what can you do to remedy it?
Talk to work colleagues, address this or other niggling issues with your boss.
It is so easy to get stuck in a rut but there is so much you can do to avoid
this happening and unless you share your feelings with others, there is nothing
they can do to help.
Ultimately, you may decide it is the wrong job for you and time for a change.
But to be fair to yourself, make sure you have covered all these considerations
first because once you've moved onto pastures new there will be very little
opportunity to turn back.