Article of the Month
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Article of the Month |
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So, picking flowers for the Friday market has ceased to appeal to you and you quite fancy making a move to something more academically challenging, say rocket science. What to do? Where to begin? How to arrange the butt-ends of your wayward past into a cohesive CV that will win you the most coveted of prizes: the Interview? And how then to conduct yourself in those precious minutes to make it to the finishing line? But it's not over then. There's still the follow-up and the package negotiations to be pondered over before you can install yourself in coveted position and order the stationary. Below, we have identified some key tips to guide you through the job search process:-
1. FOCUS. FOCUS. FOCUS.
Your first task as a job-hunter is to identify your area(s) of interest from the universe of career possibilities out there. In this age of opportunity, it is quite common to be torn between multiple career directions. Today's fresh graduate may well start off his search indifferent between careers in cardiology and dolphin training and that's okay! Many of us are unclear about what road to take and what the opportunities are ahead of us, and it is entirely your prerogative to explore different career paths. The risk here however is that your search and CV will be too broad for either role and you end up with nothing!
So what to do? Approach each search INDEPENDENTLY and make sure your CV, cover letter and research activities are tailored for the particular search. Once you have one or two well-defined targets, you can hone in on a few select companies/ institutions that excel in the particular area and from there start a dialogue with the companies and search for actual positions.
2. RESEARCH
Do your homework. Research target companies thoroughly and make sure you understand the relevant industry, the competition, the challenges the company is facing and where it is likely to expand/ change direction in the near future. Refer to industry journals, research newspaper archives, ask for company annual reports and marketing materials and look them up on the Internet. Most companies are more than happy to send you information packages and annual reports so just pick up the phone and ask for information.
Leverage the media. Read trade magazines and business sections in local newspapers many of which are available on-line and can be a rich source of information on the latest industry trends. Also research the requirements of the actual position you are applying for. Do you really understand what responsibilities a Financial Analyst at an investment bank has or what an Account Executive at an Advertising Company does on a day-to-day basis? Sites such as Vault.Com, Wetfeet.Com and AsktheHeadhunter.Com are a great source of information on actual positions and career requirements. Asking questions relating to jobs and job descriptions in the chatrooms and forums of online jobboards is also a great way to get the inside scoop. University chatrooms are another rich source of career tips and potential leads.
3. NETWORK
Your best source of information is your circle of friends and family. Most jobs are filled by word-of-mouth referral before they are ever advertised or publicized. Talk to everyone you know including old teachers, family doctors, lawyers, reporters, clergy and neighbors. Make it known that you are in the market and don't be shy about asking for leads.
As part of your networking activities, start building professional relationships. Call up companies and ask to speak to people in the relevant departments. Ask pertinent questions that show you have done your homework and portray you in the best possible light. Try to get an 'informational' interview to learn more about the company and introduce yourself face-to-face. Failing that, always try to get a recommendation of someone else you can talk to in the particular industry. Industry insiders are usually well-connected and a false lead in one company may well generate 'But I have a friend at the Bridge Corp. who may be looking to hire'.
Remember, you are searching for 'hidden' positions - those that have not yet been advertised or are still in the human resources pipeline as well as currently advertised positions. Aggressive networking and research should assist you in finding these positions before your competition has even heard of them.
4. PERFECT YOUR MARKETING KIT
Think of your CV and cover letter as your marketing and introduction kit. They will either open doors to the next stage of the process or eliminate you from the search. Use them to reflect all you have learnt about the industry and position through your research and networking activities. Fine-tune them for the relevant target and make sure they portray you in the best possible light. Finally, make sure they are interesting and well-presented. A sound investment at this crucial stage in the job search process will definitely reap rewards. Make sure you have different CVs/ cover letters if you are exploring different career options eg. marketing and investment banking.
PROLINKS's CV Builder and Cover Letter Guide take you through the CV building process step-by-step. Refer to other articles such as PROLINKS's 'The Power CV' as well as CV-building books (some recommended in PROLINKS's Career Center) to perfect the final product. We highly recommend attaching a Cover Letter to every CV to introduce you in a more personal light and highlight your areas of strength and personal skills. A strong or interesting cover letter may well compensate for a less than relevant CV.
5. DON'T WING THE INTERVIEW
Interview skills are acquired. There is a fine art to presenting yourself in an attractive, interesting and professional light. Practice makes perfect is extremely applicable at this junction in the job search process. We highly recommend you take the time to prepare for the Interview in all the ways described below:
| a) | Research the company inside and out. Be aware of current events in the industry and any noteworthy news on the competition. |
| b) | Research the position you are targeting. |
| c) | Read a book on Interview Skills (see PROLINKS's recommendations) and make sure you have thought of and have answers for all the possible questions. |
| d) | If you have little Interview experience, practice with a friend. |
Once you are firmly ensconced in the interview chair, a few pointers to alleviate the stress:
| a) | The employer may be just as nervous and stressed as you, especially if he is not a HR person. Try to make their life easier by being pleasant, relaxed and proactive. Imagining yourself in their shoes trying to balance a day's work with the demands of numerous interviews should make you feel more confident and in control. |
| b) | Remember, you are interviewing them as well. This may well be the wrong position/ culture/ team for you. Ask lots of questions that reflect you know the company and know what you are looking for. |
| c) | Employers like to work with people they like! Compensate for a less than stellar track record by emphasizing your enthusiasm, willingness to learn, professionalism and personal qualities. Aim to appeal to the employer's human as well as professional side. |
6. PERSISTENCE PAYS
Employers want enthusiastic employees. Persistence with the follow-up indicates you mean business and are genuinely interested in the company/ position. Follow up at every stage of the process:
| a) | After you mail your CV and cover letter, call to confirm receipt. You may at this point ask for an interview |
| b) | Call again if you do not hear from the employer and use this opportunity to again ask for an Interview |
| c) | Follow up after the Interview with an immediate Thank You letter. |
| d) | Allow some time to pass and then follow up with phone calls until you secure the job. Ask questions at this stage like 'Is there any other information you would like to know about me' or 'I would like to send you some samples of my work' or 'I read in the news yesterday that your company was xyz etc.' Your goal is to keep the dialogue going until you secure the job! |
| e) | DON'T FORGET THE THANK YOU. Thank the employer sincerely and professionally whenever you can: for their time on the phone, for any written materials they send you, for the Interview and for every follow up from their side. Even if you do not secure the job, you will be remembered in a positive light and may well be called again the next time there is an opportunity. It helps to remember that everyone you meet in the job search process is a potential client or future employer. |
7. DON'T JUMP THE FINISHING LINE
Okay, so having followed PROLINKS's advice, you now have a job offer and are en route to Ferrari dealer to celebrate with a new set of wheels. Before you do, we recommend you make sure you have soundly crossed the finishing line.
| a) | Get the offer in writing. Many a verbal offer has gone up in smoke. | |
| b) | Negotiate the package. NOW is the time to ask for more. An employer expects you to negotiate so don't let him down. Ask for more pay and then maybe settle for additional perks such as club memberships, house allowance, car allowance insurance, educational assistance etc. | |
| c) | Enquire about career progression. This is a good time to ask for a guaranteed bonus or a raise after x months providing you meet a required set of criteria etc. Try to have pay milestones included in the contract. | |
| d) | If you are an Expat, you should be entitled to moving costs and airline tickets home once a year in addition to house, car and schooling allowances. Make sure you have them all in writing. |
8. IT IS NOT OVER YET !
Ready to rest on your laurels? Well, you could, but it isn't advisable. Your career is an ongoing learning and growth process. You will constantly be facing challenges, whether they be technical, financial, client-related, competitor driven or simply office politics. Your success depends on your flexibility and your willingness and ability to continue to grow and adapt to the challenges of a dynamic market place. Arm yourself with all the tools you need to learn and grow. Ongoing education through industry seminars and night courses, independent reading, networking activities, and special help in those areas where you are having difficulties (eg. technical, quantitative, interpersonal) will strengthen you and make you an ever-qualified candidate in today's marketplace.
Is your job search crawling at a snail's pace when it should be cruising at a high altitude? To get on the fast track, make sure your search approach is not suffering from any of the following fatal flaws:
1. Lack of structure and discipline
Treat the job search process as a job in itself and apply the same discipline and structure to your activities that you would apply to your job. Create a ledger of job search activities from researching a company on the internet or in publications to sending initial introduction letters to follow-up calls, follow-up notes, interviews and thank-you letters. Update this ledger systematically and make sure you follow a disciplined process. Keep accurate records of your research results and be ready to refer to this knowledge in your telephone soft sell and in the interview.
2. Poor research
A process of haphazard mailings and phone calls to companies you know very little about rarely yields positive results. Successful research will benefit you in three major ways.
Firstly, it will help you find the focus you need to target the right companies and positions. As you research investment management jobs for example, you may find that you would like to focus on those institutions that are strong in the emerging markets area as that will utilize your experience working in Asia and your Asian language skills. Your research effort will develop a momentum of its own as you identify areas and industries that appeal to you and research them further.
Secondly, it will reveal those skills and character traits that you need to highlight in your cv and other correspondence with the firm. You should be able to discern from your research activities whether you are in fact suited to jobs you are pursuing, in background, skills and temperament. Your research activities should be accompanied by thorough self-assessment in order to weed out unsuitable jobs such as those jobs that require hours longer than you would like, those that have demands too stringent for your taste, jobs with a workstyle or philosophy that doesn't suit you or companies where the general 'fit' is simply not right.
Thirdly, it will make you sound like an insider at the interview stage. Even if you have never worked in that particular field before, talking the industry lingo and being aware of company and industry developments will impress the person interviewing you.
3. Poor CV
Poor focus, major omissions, spelling and grammar mistakes and lack of emphasis on pertinent skills are common mistakes that immediately eliminate your CV from the search process. Perfect your CV. Make sure it represents you in the best possible light and that it is geared for the job you are targeting. Highlight those skills and attributes your research efforts have indicated would be in demand for the job.
4. No cover letter
Your cover letter is your chance to really sell yourself and highlight exactly those skills and personal attributes you think the employer is looking for. This is your opportunity to really shine so don't waste it or take it lightly. Write a glowing high impact reference letter for yourself that makes the employer eager to read your CV and meet with you. Too many CVs sent out without a cover letter get little more than a cursory glance from employers. Letters that are bland, boring, too long or lacking in enthusiasm rarely make the mark.
5. Poor networking
Many people make the mistake of networking just to "sell themselves" for an immediate opportunity or to be referred to a company hiring at the present time. Effective networking is a long term give-and-take process that puts you on the inside track in the area that interests you and establishes you in the running for any attractive position that comes up in the future. Your goal is to create a dialogue with a contact that goes beyond one phone call. You should aim to impress and develop a sufficiently good rapport with a contact for them to refer useful information to you over the long run, refer you to friends of theirs in the industry and perhaps even create a position for you. Networking should not only happen when you are actively looking for a job.
Effective networking has the following advantages: -
a) There is a vast 'hidden' market of vacancies that are filled by word-of-mouth referral before they are ever advertised. You need to be talking to people in the industry to learn about and be considered for these positions. By opening a dialogue with professionals in your chosen field and following up with them regularly, you will learn about people who are leaving their position or have been promoted to a different position, others who will be expanding and hiring in the near future, new units, new areas and developments that would support your application.
b) Talking to insiders reveals events and trends in the industry and specific companies that you may not otherwise have learnt.
c) Even if a contact has no vacancy for you, the communication you have with him may tell you a lot about what it takes to succeed in the industry, what skills you need to focus on and develop further, who the different players are, what to emphasize in your communication with other firms and how to approach your job search in general.
6. Careless follow-up
Sending a mass mailing of CVs and waiting for the companies to contact you is not an optimal job search strategy. The key is in the follow-up. Plan your follow-up strategy and execute it well. Follow up by phone to make sure the relevant manager has received your CV, follow up again to ask for a meeting and follow up with notes regularly until you have received some form of a response. Make sure you have a high-impact 2-3 minute phone pitch prepared that describes your background, interests and what you have to contribute to this particular company. Keep the dialogue open by sending relevant clippings from newspapers and magazines that you think the manager would find interesting as well as information on pertinent industry seminars and events. It doesn't matter if he already knows about them - the important thing is that you do!
7. Poor interview skills
If you have made it to the interview stage, you probably have all the credentials, experience and skills that an employer is looking for. Do not jeopardize your chances by shortselling yourself at this stage or otherwise misrepresenting yourself or blundering.
Some common interview mistakes include:
a). Lack of preparation. Research the company thoroughly before the interview and have your CV memorized inside out.
b). Not having answers to common interview questions. Read a good book on interviewing to know what to expect, get into the mood and perfect your answers.
c). Lack of enthusiasm. Try not to sound jaded or tired even if you have been in the industry for decades and the person interviewing you is younger than yourself. Try to sound excited about the company and the position. Enthusiasm is infectious and managers hope that a candidate's positive energy will communicate itself to the whole team. Moreover, employers are looking for someone who can be managed and given directions so you need to communicate that you are such a person not someone who has a problem with criticism and authority.
d). Negative answers. Always respond to questions about your weaknesses with a commentary on your strengths. The answer to "Have you done 'AB' before?" is not "No". It is "I have done 'YZ' in such and such a way". The answer to "What are your weaknesses" is "I am too ambitious, workaholic, too dedicated, always looking to take on new projects with increased responsibilities" etc. Everyone has weaknesses and the interview is not the time to showcase them.
Your CV is your gateway to the universe of career opportunities and investing in the right focus, structure, phrasing and syntax at this early stage of the job search process will reap tremendous rewards in opening doors to the next critical stage: the Interview. Below we have identified some of the key factors that differentiate a successful CV from those that never make it through the search.
FOCUSED
A good CV shows clarity of vision. The jobseeker knows what it is they are looking for and has clearly highlighted what attributes/ skills/ experience they have that will enable them to succeed in that direction. You will win the interview primarily on the strength of your skills/experience and their direct relevance to the job at hand. Vague/ fuzzy statements in the Title, Objectives or Experience sections will detract from the impact of your CV and raise questions rather than opening doors.
TRUTHFUL
Exaggerated claims on CVs are easily detected, if not immediately, then upon reference checks at a later date in the process. To avoid embarrassment, you should be as factual and accurate as possible. Ommit details that don't make you look good at the CV stage (eg. a less than attractive GPA or the fact that you were terminated from a job) but do not present facts that cannot be substantiated. Do highlight your areas of strength in the best possible light (hobbies/ interests/ skills can be embellished); however, do not provide glaring misrepresentations.
PROFESSIONAL
The structure of the CV is critical and a sound CV follows these simple guidelines
| a) | Clearly defined and catchy objective that makes an employer want to read more |
| b) | Work experience arranged in chronological order to clearly show career progression with strongest and most recent positions getting the most attention. Job descriptions should be concise and impressive using strong action verbs and data to support claims wherever possible. |
| c) | Education and Qualifications should be organized to maximise impact and relevance. Wherever possible, they should show a commitment to career development eg. ongoing courses, seminars, workshops related to job. |
| d) | Achievements and affiliations details will highlight professional roles above and beyond direct job responsibilities (eg. Active Member of European Entrepreneur's Association, Chairman of University Student Union etc.) This area is particularly important for fresh graduates who do not have a lot of direct job experience. |
ATTRACTIVE
The most impressive content will barely get gleaned over if the general layout is not user-friendly. Some simple rules:
| a) | Avoid clutter. |
| b) | Use short sentences and bullet points wherever appropriate. |
| c) | Headings and dates should be clearly differentiated from other text |
SIMPLE
Avoid the jargon and flowery anecdotes. Deliver the message in the most concise, impressive and relevant light. A successful CV will be well-researched and will be honed down to contain many of the exact skills and attributes an employer has utilized in his job search description.
INTERESTING
Keep in mind that an employer is hiring a human being not a robot. Do include skills, hobbies and qualifications that will make your CV stand apart from the crowd and may endear you to the employer. Most employers will sift through countless CVs while trying to weed out Interview candidates so make your CV interesting and memorable.
A cover lettter introduces you to a potential employer and lends your CV a more personal touch. A cover letter should communicate to the employer your objectives and interest in his company as well as your skills and experience. Use it to grab an employer s attention and highlight any special attributes that make you uniquely qualified for the job. A successful cover letter will leave the employer with a favourable impression of you and will make him interested in reading your CV. We recommend you include a cover letter every time you send out a CV.
Below we have provided a rough framework and some tips and examples for building your cover letter. Remember to use Action Verbs:- a list is provided.
1. INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH
This is the most significant part of the letter. Use it to grab the attention of the potential employer.
Examples:
Tips:
2. BODY
The body can be up to 3 paragraphs long. Use it to list your achievements and qualifications. Remember to keep it positive and sell yourself!
Examples:
Tips:
3. CONCLUDING PARAGRAPH
The concluding paragraph is usually brief and is mainly comprised of a thank-you message and a request for follow-up.
Examples:
Tips:
The interview seat looks tired and worn and you know you have a difficult task ahead of you, competing with all those candidates who occupied the chair before you. The next time you find yourself seated across the desk from a potential employer, bear in mind that there are 6 key areas you will be evaluated on and aim to outshine in every one of them!
1. Work Experience and Education
Your skills, credentials and training will be paramount in placing you above the fray. Have all your relevant work experience at the tip of your tongue and ready to recite. There is no substitute for the right experience and qualifications and you need to be able to recite a history and general aptitude for success in the given role and industry. The right credentials coupled with sound examples of how these credentials have been professionally applied in different positions to add to productivity will be the main determinants of your suitability for any role.
2. Business Sensibility
Employers look for candidates with a sound understanding of how businesses in general, and this business in particular, are run. They are looking for efficiency-minded people with an eye for productivity and the bottom line and a keen sense of business policies and procedures. In any position you apply for, the employers are looking for individuals with finely honed problem-solving skills who can identify and define a problem with clarity and find and implement the optimal business solution.
3. Enthusiasm and Willingness to Learn
Attitude alone will not get you the job but goes a long way in bridging the gap between you and a potential employer. Enthusiastic employees with a positive attitude typically show more initiative in their role and are more likely to go the extra mile. In any role, your initial learning curve will probably be steep and employers want to be sure that you are willing to make the effort and put in the time to learn the ropes, perfect the role and continue to take the initiative to make positive strides forward. Moreover, employers know that enthusiasm is contagious and they hope that adding an employee with a positive attitude and unbounded energy will rub off positively on the rest of the team and elevate the general morale and spirit of the unit.
4. Work Ethic
A professional attitude, work style and work ethic are critical in any business setting. You need to demonstrate dedication and commitment to the company and your career, honesty, integrity, sound business judgement, motivation and reliability. Make sure you always present yourself in a professional light and have a keen understanding of how your professional role impacts the company and the bottom line.
5. Interpersonal Skills
Your emotional intelligence and ability to get along well with peers, management and clients will play a key role in your success and will be under the spotlight during the interview. Be sure to demonstrate that you are a cooperative teamplayer and have no problems interacting with other people.
6. Manageability
Even star performers have to report to their boss and have to follow company rules and procedures. An employer's worst nightmare is an entrepreneurial type who cannot take directions and is focused on outperforming in his own little domain independent of the team and the manager. Make sure you emphasize your ability to work in a team, follow the chain of command and take instructions, advice and constructive criticism positively.
Go for a walk
A long walk. Preferably barefoot on a very long strip of beach. Imagine you're leaving the past job and past life behind you with every step you take. Throwing pebbles and large stones into the ocean optional. Avoid swimmers even if they resemble old colleagues.
Make a list of Everything you hated about your job
Keep referring to it when you feel like screaming.
Make a list of Everything you hate about yourself
Burn that list in a little bonfire in a midnight ritual - you are now ready to resume life as a new, improved YOU.
Go to your favourite restaurant
Order everything you've ever wanted to eat there and eat it all at once. Then order some more.
Go for a long swim in the ocean
Pretend you're never coming back - but make sure you can. Alert lifeguard on duty before you embark on this exercise.
Go for a cruise in your car blasting your favorite song at full volume
Then sing along at the top of your voice and don't mind the stares you get from scared or concerned motorists. If your boss sees you, all the better...
Take up kickboxing in the evenings
A great way to vent your anger and frustration and at the same time network with other angry overworked, underpaid or unemployed professionals.
Go somewhere you've always wanted to go
Whether it be that 5-bedroom motel in a neighbouring village, a riverside shack in Thailand or a 5* hotel in Switzerland now is the time to indulge. Make sure you stay long enough to unwind without depleting your hard-earned savings.
Get your finances in order
Make sure you are on a sustainable budget and that your savings are invested at the optimal risk/ reward ratio given your age, state of unemployment and expenditures.
Buy a trashy novel and read it all in one go
Comfy pillow and assorted junk food items need to be at hand.
Call your best childhood friend
Cry to her/him about the injustice and degradation of it all.
Go window-shopping in the most expensive part of town
Make a mental inventory of all those items you will buy when you land the next job.
Open a cook book and make a lavish dinner for 20
Invite everyone you can locate at short notice. Tell them all when they come that you're looking for a job.
Go for a manicure/pedicure
Whine to the manicurist about the perils and boredom of unemployment.
Go for a long massage
Then have them remove you supine, on a stretcher.
Go through your old photographs
Remember what it was like when you had your whole life ahead of you and the world seemed plush with opportunities. Stay in that mind-frame.
Buy all the flavours of your favorite ice-cream brand
Then invite one friend to a comedy movie night.
Organize all the cupboards in your house
Purchase fragranced tissue lining paper, line your clothes closets and put one fragranced tissue paper on top of each meticulously folded item of clothing. Colour code your closets and tissue paper for an added sense of achievement.
Put fresh flowers in every corner and crevice of your house
Nothing like that fresh scent and the sight of live blooms to lift your spirits.
Take up a new hobby
Now is the time to discover and nurture the nascent Botticcelli or Tchaikovsky in you. Make sure to offend. Practice musical overtures on anyone who will listen (or won't) and make sure your artistic endeavours grace everything from the milk bottles you hand back to the milkman every morning to the t-shirt your best friend lent you, the window that most overlooks the neighbours' living room and the dining room ceiling your husband took pains to plaster.
Go to "ENTERTAINTMENT CITY"
Regress to that time in your life when only the important things mattered. Local variation on ENTERTAINTMENT CITY will do if finances/ visa requirements/ state of nervous breakdown don't permit travel.
Learn a Language
Buy a beret and enroll in an intensive English course or pick up French to go with your newly found infatuation with your famous singer. Make sure the course is a daily one and that you take pains to immerse yourself in the language and the culture.
Buy a Goldfish
Name him after the manager who fired you. That way when the goldfish is deceased - and they have a horrible habit of doing that - your grief will be short-lived. In the meantime, admire the miraculous peace and serenity of this life form in your house. This is NOT a recipe for sushi.
Enrol in a Charity
Nothing like doing good things for other people to lift the spirit and give you a sense of achievement and fulfillment. You don't need to feel very strongly about the charity - just do something that unselfishly puts you out on a limb for someone else's sake.
Open a stock trading account and try to beat the indices
Move aside back issues of Cosmopolitan and Archie and start collecting finance and trade literature. You will also need spectacles (rectangular brown tortoise shell), a coffee maker and a computer in the bedroom. Can be done in your Tintin pajamas but make sure you only put your bowling money on the line at this stage.
Take up Photography
Then redecorate your hallway with a series of bleached wood framed black-and-white photographs of your favorite person or scene.
Find a Friend with a Baby
Nothing like spending time with a candy-wrapped bundle of innocence and laughs to recharge your batteries and remind you of what matters most.
Read Proust's Remembrances of Things Past
And console yourself with dreams of buying a French chateau, complete with bubbles, when you succeed in your next job.
Do a thorough self-analysis
Who are you really? What makes you tick? What do you really like and enjoy? What are your strengths and weaknesses? Where would you like to be? Put this self-analysis down on paper and use it to plan your next career move.
Take a Course
Hone your skills whether they be business, finance, marketing or other by enrolling in the best course available, in or out of town, and giving it your all.
Start polishing your Job Search Skills
Sift through job hunting articles on a major site's Career Center and read everything you can get a hold of on job hunting skills.
Learn to bake bread
An endangered skill and one that is a conversation-stopper in cocktail parties and a sure winner if you are inviting your other half to an intimate dinner for two at home.
Exercise your body back into shape
Who says you can't look like you did when you were twenty? Join a gym and attend daily for an hour; you should see results within 3 weeks.
Post your CV on the best regional internet job site
Then lie back while the site's Job Search Agent does all the work.
Practice your interviewing skills on anyone who will listen
Read Interview Tips and Interview Don'ts in PROLINKS.com's career center.
Don't waste time
No time like the present to network, research companies you want to work for and apply to all the positions you find attractive on a regional job site.
Spread the grief
Join a Workstyle Community Forum where you can share your experiences, ideas, hopes and aspirations with other professionals.
Plan for Success
Repeat 100 times:- You WILL succeed in your next job, you WILL succeed in your next job, you WILL succeed in your next job... envisioning yourself as a high flyer in your field. Then pick up a pen and paper and plan in intricate detail for that success.
Read industry literature
Now is the time to catch up on all those trade magazines and periodicals you haven't had time to read on your job. Bringing yourself up to speed on the latest developments in your industry is sure to impress in your next interview.
Remember, the sky's the limit
You will work hard, play fair and be good to those around you. In short, you will SUCCEED wildly, extravagantly and beyond your wildest dreams. You just need to get started...
Your CV has impressed, your research and networking activities have paid off and you have landed an Interview with your company of choice. Now to make sure you turn this Interview into a pot of gold and secure the job of your dreams. Below are some general tips and guidelines that should assist you through the Interview:
1. RESEARCH
Most of you will have researched your company of choice thoroughly in order to get to this point. For those who haven't, it is essential that you do some background research on the company and the job before you walk in that door. The Interviewer will expect you to know a little about the industry and the company and will be very impressed if you are familiar with specific events, news and concerns relating to the business. Newspapers, industry and trade magazines, local libraries and the Internet are all a good source of information. Feel free to pick up the phone and ask the company for their annual reports any marketing materials - most companies are more than happy to oblige. The very minimum information you will want to know is what the company does, what job you are applying for and any well-known news pertaining to the company eg. Merger, big scandal, new CEO.
2. BE PREPARED
For those of you who were cubscouts, we are not suggesting ropes and a tent. We would however recommend you take with you a notebook and extra copies of your CV (in many cases the employer will have misplaced it, have an unclear copy or simply expect you to provide it). In many types of jobs, you may want to take with you examples of your work eg. past creative work if you are in advertising, design or similar roles, architectural plans you are proud of if you are an architect, an example of something you have had published in a journal etc. Employers are usually very impressed to see examples of your work - it shows you have taken initiative and it makes their decision much easier.
One other thing we recommend you bring with you for Middle Eastern job interviews is your college graduation certificate(s) where available. Employers often specifically request to see this, so you should be prepared.
3. DRESS FOR SUCCESS
Your first Interview is the first impression an employer will have of you and it is essential to make a favorable first impact. You should always plan to dress conservatively for the first Interview even if the job involves casual wear. You can always dress down in later meetings. Generally, the image you want that first meeting is clean, well-groomed and conservative.
Men should wear dark suits, preferably in navy or charcoal grey. Pinstripes are fine. We recommend you wear a white shirt which should be crisply ironed with a conservative necktie. Socks and shoes should be dark, preferably black. Jewellery on men is usually not favourably looked upon at the Interview stage - you can always dig out the hairdye and that amethyst ring from your great granddad after you have secured the job.
Women are also advised to wear dark suits for that first Interview. In the Middle East it is advisable that skirts are below the knee and not exorbitantly figure hugging. Trouser suits are more casual but quite acceptable these days. Blouses can be any colour but again we recommend they are on the conservative side in cut and print. As a general rule of thumb shoes should be dark, with a low-to-moderate conservative heel and no stilletos. If the weather permits (often not the case in the Middle East) it is highly advisable to wear skin-colour tights with your shoes. Excessive jewelery looks unprofessional and we would advise you to keep it to the minimum: earrings, wedding ring(s) and maybe a pendant or a brooch or a simple bracelet. Long dangly busy earrings are generally unprofessional looking. Finally, wear your hair cleanly washed and well-groomed; if it is long and unruly, we recommend sweeping it off your face in a simple style that will allow the Interviewer to see your face and eyes. The first interview will give you a feel for the company culture and you can choose to tailor your look accordingly thereafter.
In the Middle East and other Asian countries, dress allowances are usually made for local attire in the domestic companies. A Kuwaiti man may be expected to show up for an interview at the National Bank of Kuwait in a Dishdash for example and the same may apply across the board in the Gulf. General Western dress code rules are often relaxed in Middle Eastern companies to allow for the diversity of our work cultures with Saris, Dishdashes and different types of headdress being very permissible and quite common in the local companies.
4. BE PUNCTUAL
Make sure you arrive for the Interview a good 15 minutes early. Allow yourself plenty of time for any potential mishaps eg traffic jams, unclear directions, public transportation difficulties etc.
5. ATTITUDE COUNTS
This is the time to show off your interpersonal skills. Employers are looking for certain key character traits and you need to demonstrate them at the Interview. Keep the following in mind:
6. HAVE THE ANSWERS
There is no telling what style an Interviewer will take and what questions he will come up with. Interviews range from the very structured and professional ones conducted by HR departments in multinationals and banks, to ad hoc conversations in small outfits where the employer may ask you to simply talk about yourself. In most large corporations however, certain questions are very standard and we recommend you take the time to really think about them, develop answers and find evidence to support your answers from past experiences and qualifications. Prolinks has prepared a list of Common Interview Questions that you can start practicing on.
Some interview pitfalls to avoid:
Common Interview Questions:
1. Tell me about yourself.
Keep your answer short and focused on your professional life. This is not the time to bring up relationships, childhood experiences, family etc. A brief history of education, career and special interests is what is called for here. End it with why you are interested in this particular job.
2. Why are you applying for this particular job?
Show interest and demonstrate that you have researched the job and know what you are getting into. Bring up evidence from past work/ studies that supports your interest in this role and any skills you have acquired in preparation for the role. You can say something like 'I would like to work for a leader in innovative network and telecommunications solutions and my college degree in computational mathematics has given me a solid background for this role. Mention the value-added you can bring to the job.
3. What do you know about our company?
Indicate what you have learnt from your research activities - from their annual reports, newspapers, word of mouth, other employees etc. Use this to flatter them and show that you have done your homework.
4. What makes you qualified for this particular job?
Again, explain that you are very interested in the job and demonstrate what it is about your past experiences, education and qualifications that makes you ideal for the job. Show enthusiasm and support your answers with evidence wherever you can (eg. my summer internship at Citibank gave me broad exposure to the area of equity analysis and I think I can apply many of the tools I learnt there in this job). Elaborate on all the past experiences and skill sets that make you suitable for the job.
In cases where your past experience is not directly relevant, you can still find elements of it that can be useful. Play up teamskills, computer skills, leadership roles, specific courses and independent research activities that can be useful to the job at hand to show your initiative even where you don't have directly relevant job experience.
5. What can you do for us that someone else can't?
Demonstrate key strengths, skills and personal characteristics.
6. Why should we hire you?
See 3. Because you have all the experience/ traits/ credentials demonstrated in 3 and in addition to being qualified, you are enthusiastic, intelligent, hardworking, flexible and willing to learn. Also mention any key relationships you may have that may assist you in the job.
7. What do you look for in a job?
Be honest. Also mention keywords such as challenging, steep learning curve, good work culture, demanding, rewarding, opportunities for advancement and growth, team environment, opportunity to build and maintain client relationships etc.
8. Why are you looking to make a career change?
Mention your interests and make sure you bring up all skills/ experience however insignificant that can support your move in this new direction. It is quite common in this day and age to make a career switch. You need however to show that you have very carefully thought about the change, have a strong interest in the new career and can use some of your previous skills/ education/ relationships to make that move.
9. Why did you leave your last job?
Do NOT use this as an opportunity to badmouth past employers or peers or talk about a failure of any sort. Any of these answers are acceptable: you were looking for a new challenge, your learning curve had flattened out in the previous job and you were looking for a new learning opportunity, the company or department were restructuring, you were ready to start something new after achieving your career goals at the previous company etc.
10. Why do you want to work for us (as opposed to the competitor companies)?
Demonstrate that you know something about the company, that you believe they are leaders/ innovators in what they do, or you think their work culture is exactly what you are looking for, or you like their product(s) or you have friends who work there and have always been attracted to the company etc. Flatter the company and show you know something about it.
11. How long will it take you to start making a meaningful contribution?
Show that you are enthusiastic and willing to learn and will put in all the hours and effort necessary to learn the ropes and start making an immediate contribution. Indicate that your past experiences/ skills/ credentials will enable you to make an immediate contribution at some level while you quickly learn all new aspects of the job. An Interviewer wants someone who is willing and able to learn and will make a return on his investment sooner rather than later.
12. What are your strengths?
See 14 below. In addition, keywords such as good teamplayer, work very well under pressure, very creative, very strong quantitative or computer skills, and very strong client relationship skills may be appropriate depending on your chosen field.
13. What are your weaknesses?
Do NOT mention key weaknesses here. This is not the place to say you are bad at meeting deadlines or you never mastered highschool mathematics etc. Turn this question around to your benefit. For example, you are 'overambitious' or 'extremely attentive to detail' or 'like to take on too many projects'. Make it sound positive.
14. What are your career goals?
Show you have thought forward and are committed to your career.
15. How would you describe yourself?
Any of these are good examples of attributes employers are looking for: intelligent, hardworking, quick to learn, enthusiastic, honest, efficient, productive, ambitious, successful, compassionate (in the medical fields).
16. How would your colleagues describe you?
Do not bring up anything negative here.
17. How would your boss describe you?
They will check references anyways so bring up the most positive attribute you can think of about yourself eg hardworking, honest etc. and leave it to your Boss to say anything to the contrary.
18. What did you most like/ dislike about your past job?
Do not use this to badmouth past jobs/ employers. Keep it light and in your favour eg I outgrew the job, there wasn't a clear career progression, I wasn't learning anything new etc. Ideally, you will have loved your last job and would like to achieve the same kind of success and job satisfaction in a more challenging area as you have now 'outgrown' that job and are ready for 'new challenges'.
19. Describe a situation in your past where you showed initiative?
You could describe any new methods you came up with to do your job or to save money for the company or to turn around a bad situation. It can be something as simple as changing a filing system, or establishing a relationship with a vendor that saved your department a lot of money. If you are in sales, you may want to talk about how you brought in that big account. Creatives may talk about how they came up with that cutthroat image or design that brought in the business.
20. What were your main responsibilities in your last job?
Have these ready and list them all. Dwell on the ones that are most relevant to the new job. This answer should be smooth and practiced.
21. What do you consider your greatest accomplishments?
Many of us have one or two milestones in our career that we are very proud of eg. that early promotion, that 'huge' deal we brought in, the design we came up with, the costs we saved, the revenues we increased, the people we trained, a new invention or process we came up with etc. Examples of accomplishments may be: 'Reduced costs by X%; or renamed and repositioned a product at the end of its lifecycle, or organized and led a team to do do XYZ, or achieved sales increase of X% etc. If you are a fresh college graduate, talk about extracurricular activities, leadership roles and grades.
22. Describe your management style (if relevant)
No answer
23. Do you work better in teams or independently?
Show that you are a proactive teamplayer and like to bounce ideas off others and get input; however you are very capable of working independently (give examples).
24. How do you work under pressure?
Well. Give evidence.
25. What other jobs have you applied for?
Don't mention jobs in different career directions (eg advertising and investment banking). Do however bring up any other offers or Interviews from competing firms.
26. How did you do in college?
Keep it positive. It's okay to say you were very busy making the most of college and were very involved in sports, activities, social life etc. Employers want human beings not robots. Mention the areas you did very well in even if it was just one or two courses you excelled in. They will check for themselves.
27. What kind of hours would you like to work?
Employers want to see flexibility. Indicate you are willing to put in whatever hours are necessary to finish the job. Do however mention any constraints you have eg. you would like to be home to pick your kids up from school at 3:30. Most employers are willing to work around your constraints if you show flexibility on your side as well.
28. Do you have any questions for me?
YES you do. Questions engage the Interviewer and show your interest. Ask questions that show you know something about the company or the job, that you are planning ahead, that you are anxious and willing to learn the ropes and that you are committed to the position. See Questions to Ask the Interviewer for examples.
Congratulations! You've landed the job. Now to take home the package that is most commensurate with your skills, ability, experience and the job responsibilities. Prolinks reveals some basic tools to use when you ask the employer to show you the money!
1. Negotiate
Yes, do negotiate. Employers actually EXPECT you to negotiate your package even when they pretend they don't so don't deprive them, or yourself, of that pleasure.
2. Negotiate After You Have An Offer
The time to negotiate your salary is after the employer has decided he wants you on board and has made you a concrete offer - not in the elevator on the way up to the Interview or after an interview question you think you've particularly aced. An offer indicates that the employer wants you on board and is convinced you have the skillset and potential to be a valuable addition to the team. You now have the upper hand and should use it to secure a compensation package commensurate with your worth. It is far easier to negotiate a satisfactory package at this stage when the employer really wants you and is focused on getting you on board, than after you are on board and firmly entrenched at a given salary level and job description. It is unlikely you will ever be in a better position to negotiate a good package than you are at this stage.
3. Establish Job Responsibilites
Clarify your job responsibilities before beginning to negotiate the compensation. Make sure you have all the facts pertaining to the new position and are very clear about your role, responsibilities and the job title. This detailed knowledge of the position will come in handy as you negotiate your package.
4. Determine Your Salary Range Beforehand
Before you can begin negotiating, you need to determine a salary range that you can base your discussions with the employer on.
Firstly, determine the minimum salary you could possibly accept, and make sure this is a salary that you can survive on. This minimum is not to be revealed to the employer in your negotiations.
Next, determine a reasonable mid-point salary based on what the job responsibilities are, what you have to offer the employer and what you are worth in the market. To get a realistic idea of what the position is worth, research the market. Look at published annual salary surveys and job ads for similar positions in newspapers, magazines and on internet job sites and talk to friends in the industry and recruitment agents. If you are applying to a position at the right level, there should not be a large discrepancy between what the position is worth based on your research and what you are worth based on your experience, education, compensation history and what you have to offer the position.
Finally, determine an extremely generous salary level that is not too unrealistic for the position and that you would be extremely ecstatically happy to receive.
5. Get the Employer to Reveal his Hand First
Always get your employer to reveal his hand first to avoid pricing yourself out of the game or limiting the discussions prematurely. If you are first to put a number on the table, you run the risk of being perceived as 'overqualified' if your range is too high or casting doubts on your professional abilities and track record if you shortsell yourself. Revealing your expectations or salary history will limit your negotiating range and remove a lot of the leverage you otherwise have.
Often, the employer will make you a verbal offer and throw the salary ball into your field by asking you what salary you expect, or what salary you made in your previous position. Try to throw the ball right back in the employer's field by countering with another question, such as "What do you think someone with my track record, experience and skills could make in this position?" or "You now have a good idea of my skills and track record and potential. What do you think is a fair salary given the job's requirements and responsibilities?"
Do not reveal your previous salary if you can possibly help it. Focus the discussion instead on what your background, responsibilities and potential contributions are worth in this position. Your goal should be to maximize your worth and potential value to this employer through effective negotiation - the value your previous employer placed on you should be irrelevant. Remember, what you are worth to this employer is a function of the value-added you can bring to this particular job and your potential contributions in the new role, not a function of how your skills were utilized (or misutilized) in the last job.
If absolutely pressed for a number and the employer will not give you an idea of his target range despite all your best efforts to gain the upper hand, you can present the employer with the range you have determined beforehand. The 'expected' salary range you reveal will have what is really your midpoint as the minimum, with the upper bound representing your 'dream' salary. Make sure you always start your negotiations with a range, not a specific salary level.
6. Let the Games Begin
You are now officially at the starting line, equipped with a verbal offer, your own well-studied salary range and a solid understanding of your job responsibilities in this new role. The negotiations will be fired either with the employer revealing his salary range for the position or, despite all your best efforts to reverse the roles, you revealing your predetermined 'expected' salary range first.
Best case scenario: You have played your cards right and the employer extends you an offer that is at the upper bound or significantly above your expectations. Your downside risk has been eliminated and you can now focus your discussions on making a good situation even better. If your predetermined salary range was $75,000-$90,000 and the employer has offered you $90,000 - $95,000, you can counter with something akin to "That is close to the range I had in mind. My expectations given my background and the job responsibilities were closer to $95,000 - $105,000 with $95,000 really having been my very minimum. How much flexibility do you have on the upside?"
Worst case scenario: You have prematurely limited your negotiating range by revealing your hand too soon and the employer counters with a lower range, or the employer starts the negotiations with an offer below your expectations. This is where your negotiating savvy really comes into play.
Before you begin to negotiate, make sure you and the employer are roughly in the same ballpark. If your well researched and well thought out range of $75-90,000 was met with an offer of $50-55,000 from the employer, you have either misconstrued the job responsibilities or the employer is paying significantly below the market. This is where your minimum salary comes in. Does the range meet your minimum threshold? If not and your negotiations don't bring you upto that minimum requirement, this may well be the wrong position and/or company for you!
7. Justify Your Counter-Offer
Your $75-90,000 range was met with a $70-75,000 offer from the employer. All is not lost. You will keep the discussion alive by coming back with a sell proposition along the lines of "Well let me see, the job's responsibilities as I understand them are ABC" at which time you carefully recite in detail all the various aspects of the job. "I really feel that someone with my track record and qualifications could be making a minimum of $75,000 on the job. I was actually looking for a salary much closer to the $80,000 mark." You then proceed to justify your range. Confirm to the employer that you are very interested in working with the company and that you feel you would really fit into the team and could make a significant contribution there. Recap on your most relevant work experience and mention again the skills you will immediately put to productive use on the job. Mention that you feel your ideal salary is actually very realistic given your experience and the job requirements.
8. Gain Leverage by Negotiating the Job Responsibilities
If the employer's range is carved in stone despite all your well-rehearsed negotiation tactics, move to another stone. You do this by altering the role, albeit modestly to justify a higher salary. This is where your detailed knowledge of the position comes in.
You can do this in three ways. Firstly, you can add to the list of job requirements a task or responsibility you have thought of beforehand; one that you have either read about, thought of yourself or heard about from a friend in the industry. Secondly, you can seize on one of the problems the employer mentioned during the Interview and offer a solution that you would personally be responsible for. Thirdly, you can ask the employer outright, what added responsibilities he would ideally like to have the person holding this job ultimately assume if they were brought upto speed quickly enough. Another way to pose the latter question is what added responsibilities or areas does the employer wish your predecessor had taken charge of. Asking the question "What are some of the areas you would like improved on" or "What are some of the problems that my predecessor faced" during the Interview comes in useful at this stage of the negotiations as you try to establish additional value-added ground.
The 'business solution' or added responsibility you come up with need not be monumental; in fact you should refrain from making any big promises. It can be something as simple as a Marketing Executive offering to arrange a brief monthly newsletter for the firm's clients, or a database that would speed client reporting up, or a slightly revised format for the monthly reports that would be more visually appealing. The important thing is that once you have elevated the position to a slightly higher plateau, you can then proceed to justify your 'ideal' salary as commensurate with the increased responsibilities. You can go back to the employer with "From what I understand, my role in this position would be XYZ. However, I am also bringing to the job the following function(s) and responsibilities . . . " at which point you recant the additional responsibilities.
Justifying your desired salary as being commensurate with a higher level of responsibility is an excellent way to jumpstart stalled negotiations.
9. Negotiate the Package not just the Salary
You should be ready to negotiate the entire package, not just the salary. Remember that you can enhance a less than stellar salary by negotiating the perks. If your most ardent, well-rehearsed salary negotiation tactics were ineffective at boosting the starting salary, you can try to gain the lost ground at this stage of the game. Your discussions can include medical insurance, car and housing allowance, children's education, plane tickets home for expats, club memberships and further education and professional training for yourself. Try to get any courses, seminars or further education you intend to take included in your package. In many industries you can negotiate a guaranteed bonus at a given date or a sign-up bonus. You can try to secure a commitment to a minimum salary increase and/or title promotion at a prespecified date in the future providing you meet certain performance criteria. At the very minimum, you can ask for a performance (and salary) review a few months after joining. Make sure you ask at this point what the opportunities for advancement are in this position and try to obtain at least a verbal commitment to future raises.
The Best Way to Organize Your Job Search
Question:
How do I organize my job search?
Answer:
Label 17 file folders with the headings below. Using them is easy. Review all the folders every day for a few weeks until you get the hang of it. This system will make your job hunting life much easier:
Follow-Up
Get a 9 x 12" expanding file numbered 1 to 31 (for the days of the month. Every time you send a letter, decide when you should follow up and put your letter into that slot. Example: a breakfast meeting on the 18th should go into the section marked 18, and so forth. Check the file daily to see what to do. This is the easy way to keep important details from falling through the cracks.
Voice Mail
Telephone answering is essential. Don't leave your telephone unanswered, even occasionally. And please, use a business-like message. No cute children's messages on the voice mail.
Tinker with your tracking system. Add new file folders. When files become too thick, when it takes more than a few seconds to find a document, subdivide files into separate categories. You could color code your system too, using yellow folders for letters, and red for resumes, for example. It's fun to be organized, and being organized will shorten your job search. The organized person gets more done in less time, thus gets re-employed quickly. The disorganized campaigner can never seem to find his or her
notes
The Secrets Of Effective Networking
28 Common Mistakes
Your next job will probably come either from your friends or from their friends, so networking--building personal relationships--is vitally important.
Where to start
List all your personal friends and business associates. By letter first, then by telephone later, explain your situation, describe your career direction, and ask for advice and ideas.
Reestablish old friendships in follow-up phone calls. Ask about your friend's work and family; get caught up on recent events. Wait until your listener asks about you, then explain your situation in positive terms, even if it's hard to find positives. Ask for suggestions, and specifically ask, "Who else should I be talking to?"
If you find networking hard because you don't want to use your friends, or because you dislike asking for help, overcome this by genuinely caring about those you call. Your interest will delight them, and they'll gladly share information. Remember, you'd willingly help them if they came to you needing similar support.
Force yourself to use the telephone; it gets easier as you call. Look for information about industry trends or trends in your functional area or specialty. Watch for plans for new products or services. Seek out emerging markets, hidden jobs, and companies that are hiring. Listen for upcoming retirements and insider tips about corporate culture or political infighting. Pay attention to news of reorganizations, expansions, mergers or acquisitions. Ask about business associations, publications, or resources. Focus on anything change-related, because change means opportunity.
How to structure a meeting
Your telephone calls will soon produce face-to-face meetings. In the beginning, be friendly and establish rapport. Set the stage by asking how much time you'll have. State your purpose clearly and directly. Share your excitement and enthusiasm, and ask for advice and ideas. In general, listen more than you talk. Watch for opportunities, and take brief notes. Ask for referrals to other experts. Before you leave, ask for a business card, discuss a next step, and offer heartfelt thanks.
How to recognize opportunities
Don't look only for specific openings where someone else held the job before. Watch closely for: Problems you would enjoy solving. Weaknesses in a company where you could help. Example: becoming an in-house attorney where there was none before. Work groups where you like them and they like you. In employment this is called "good chemistry" or "good fit." Companies where people are complaining, troubled, or under pressure. This often indicates too few people to do the work at hand: a need for hiring. Anywhere you see something missing that you could add, a logical extension or improvement. Example: pizza delivery for a pizza restaurant.
Listen 80% and talk 20%. Personal meetings should be interactive, like tennis; but in general, others would rather talk than listen. Therefore, give them your full attention. Listening builds trust and says, "I care about you." If you're having trouble getting hired, try listening 50% more.
Yet there is a time to talk about yourself. Sooner or later, your host will say, "Tell me about yourself," "Why are you here?" or "How can I help you?" When that happens, take twenty seconds--not twenty minutes--to answer.
Walk in prepared
Know what you want. Never enter a meeting without knowing why you're there. You'll waste your time, waste your contact's time, and look unprofessional. Show up unprepared too often and word will get around that you lack focus. No one will want to talk to you.
Key questions to ask
One goal of networking is to get referrals, but how do you ask for names? You can be too direct and put others off. You can be too vague, and come away empty handed. So what do you say?
In general, it's better to be subtle and indirect rather than blunt. "Can you give me the names of your friends?" might put your host on the defensive; the answer may be no. "Who else should I be talking to?" is far less threatening and will elicit the names of friends and key contacts anyway.
If you're wondering what else to ask in a networking session, try these on for size: How does my resume look? What would you change or modify? Are my letters crystal clear? Do you have any advice or ideas for me? Who else should I be talking to? Are there any groups or organizations I should attend? Are there any books or publications I should read? What would you do if you were me? Who would you be talking to?
How to end
When appropriate, establish a next step: a phone call, follow-up meeting, something to be mailed. If you end with no next step, you miss the chance to involve this person in your campaign--possibly a big mistake.
Tell people you value their suggestions and plan to take action on them. Say, for example, "I'll call the people you recommended and read the articles you suggested. Then I'll check back in a week or so to let you know what happened."
This approach lets the person know you take them seriously. It cements the relationship. In addition, it makes this person a more permanent part of your network, not just a passing face. If you handle it right, you can call later for further help.
Don't make the mistake of contacting people only once. Your search will never build momentum. As you meet technical experts and business leaders, become a friend to them, and they'll likely return the friendship.
Your contact network should always be growing, not shrinking. The best way to expand it is to seek out new people and build relationships. It doesn't really matter who you choose, so long as you like them, they like you, and you can help each other.
As you launch your job campaign, remember these basics:
I once met a highly successful job hunter with a secret. He said, "I create relationships. The relationships create the jobs." He was absolutely right; that's exactly how it works.
How to Create Your Career Blueprint or Vision
These are the three written exercises I use to help my clients gain focus and create a vision or blueprint for their careers. The exercises work for everyone, from the laborer on the dock to the CEO. They work for General Counsel, Physicians, Medical Directors, and senior executives in every function and industry. They work in the non-profit sector and for college-age students. I have never met a person yet who didn't benefit immensely from these simply self-discovery exercises.
Yet they take time and effort to complete. And that's where we get ourselves into a bind. We feel that career planning should be quick, so we can get on with real life. And we tend to career-plan in a crisis, just after we've lost a job.
Bookstores today carry hundreds of books to help one focus and choose a career path. But, many of the exercises result in more confusion, rather than less. They help you learn little pieces about what you like, want, and value--they just have trouble assembling the individual pieces into a clear picture: a blueprint or vision.
The exercises, which do create a clear blueprint or vision, are designed to build on each other, so complete them in exactly this order. Resist the urge to jump to the final exercise too soon. Doing so can only frustrate and annoy you, like teaching a pig to whistle.
To use an analogy: If we were making dinner, exercises one and two help us get the hamburger, green peppers, onions and bread crumbs out on the table. In exercise three we get our hands dirty and mix the ingredients together into a meatloaf. There's no use trying to make the meatloaf without having the best ingredients in place.
Although these articles belong together, and build on one another, they were written for publication separately, and out of order. So you will no doubt find some repetition. Certain phrases may seem out of sync. I'll fix that in the future, but in the meantime, I want you to have access to the articles. They're fantastic. They're great. They work!
The world economy is uncertain, and for many people job-hunting has become a lifestyle. With mergers, takeovers, bankruptcies, and new government legislation, you could be unemployed overnight--even if you own the company!
Make it a priority to let your network of recruiters, personal friends, and business acquaintances know where you are and what you're doing, at all times, especially when you change jobs or addresses. Announce changes even if it's an inter company move.
Once they land a job, ex-job-hunters tend to forget those who've helped them. They get busy packing, moving, tying up loose ends, and taking on the duties of the new assignment; but that's a mistake. Remember, your first duty is to your career. This doesn't mean your new assignment isn't important. It means your friendships and your personal future are equally important.
The quickest way to handle the thank-you task is to give your letter and mailing list to a secretarial service. Let them type and address the letters; you sign them. This requires very little time and energy, probably less than two hours. Believe me, it's time well spent.
The "Announce New Job (Human Resources)" letter is a good model. It's a combination newsletter, change of address, and thank-you, all in one--and it's limited to one page.
The best time to find a new job is when you don't need one, and the best time to cultivate business relationships is when everything is going smoothly.