How To Find Your Perfect Job Or Career
Where To Look For A Job Or Career
Are you trying to find a job or a career? The difference? A job is just something you are looking at as a way to make some money. A career is what you identify with and becomes your life's work. The distinction is important. Why?
If you are merely looking for a job, you are not really serious about what you can do for the company, but what the company can do for you. Jobs are not secure because whenever there is a need to let someone go, it is always the pool of job workers who are made redundant first.
If you are looking for a career, you are establishing yourself as a part of that field. It becomes your identity. You are willing to offer your services for the benefit of the company not just for the money, but for a sense of fulfilment.
The career workers are often more succesful, make more money, and go further in their work than the job worker.
There are many ways to hunt for a job. Browse through newspapers, sign up with an employment agency, online sites such as Monster, Reed, andFish4Jobs all offer ways for you to see what is out there in the job market.
Of course, if you are just looking for a paycheck, the traditional method of pounding the pavement works if you don't mind going from business to business and seeking out signs looking for workers.
If you have a better idea of what type of field you wish to work, consult a phone book and look through the related businesses and write down the addresses to send your CV and cover letter. They may not be hiring at the time, but at least they will have your information should they be looking.
If you are a professional, there are many professional headhunters who specifically look for qualified {mostly degreed} career seekers for executive and professional positions. Often they require a fee for the service, but if they connect you with a good position it will be worth the effort. These headhunters are often more aware of the bigger opportunities that are not known by the general population of job seekers. Before you seek these services, make sure you are actually a well qualified career seeker because they may not be able to help you otherwise.
Setting Up A Curriculum Vitae [CV] And A Cover Letter
The word Curriculum Vitae literally translated means the story of your life. The words Curriculum Vitae are usually abbreviated to CV or C.V. In the states, we call it a resume.
Once you have an idea in mind of the type of job you want, you will need to type up a CV. Before you do this, make sure you have accurate contact information on hand since most employers will check them. If the contact information you list is invalid it will make you seem untrustworthy and almost immediately disqualify you from a position.
Also, be realistic. If you have no experience or education, you will have to start at the bottom and work your way up. Don't make up phony references to your so-called abilities. If you get hired on bogus qualifications for which you have no training, your inexperience will show up and you will quickly lose that job. It is better to be on the ball and a hard worker to work your way up in the field of your choice than to lie and flounder from job to job.
Leave off any mention of what you made in your last jobs and what you want to make if hired. You can mention this in an interview if they are seriously considering employing you. Only then you can negotiate a fair payment for your work. If they are curious as to what you made in your last job, they will ask your former employer and may even confirm it with you during an interview.
Know before you set up the CV what your goal is for employment. What position are you seeking? What do you want to do on the job? What would you like to contribute to the company? Remember, a CV is nothing but a sales letter to sell yourself to the company. They want to know what you can do for them. This is why it is crucial that you exclude what you want out of it when selling yourself to a company. They are in business to make a profit for themselves. They are only willing to pay the money to those who will be an asset to the company and help them make more money. So your goal should be to push the good of the company.
This is where you must make sure your contacts are valid. Contact former employers and schools. Make sure they are still at the same address and phone number. Make sure you have a name that can verify you were actually at that place in the times you specify. If possible, try to get a written reference as to your character and past performance.
Try to make your CV confined to one page, but no more than two pages. If you have a two page CV, make sure they are not on the same sheet front and back.
To put it simply, your CV should be formatted like this:
- Name
- Address
- Phone Number
- Position You Are Seeking
- What Are Your Goals For The Company
- Expected Salary You Are Seeking
List Your Qualifications
Previous Employment History
School History
When creating a cover letter, make it short, but to the point. In the first paragraph, do be sure to briefly state your name and the purpose of this letter. One or two sentences should suffice.
The next paragraph should be dedicated to what you are planning to do for the company, should you be taken in. Then follow up in the next paragraph why you are qualified for the position.
It is quite optional, but you may also want to include letters of reference from former employers and other professionals in your field who can confirm that you are a good person to consider for the position.
Be sure when you do create a CV for print that the color is not loud or brash and the text is in black. A white or cream color are appropriate. Do not use day glo colors, astrobrights, heavy patterns or anything that will distract from your sales pitch. Don't go wild with the fonts. Try to keep it between 8-12 in font size and a Times New Roman, Arial, Franklin Gothic or any plain looking fonts are perfect. Extreme fonts such as Elephant makes it harder to read. Make clean copies. Use good quality A4 paper, preferably 100gram for both your CV and cover letter.
Be sure you take your time when writing your CV. If your CV conveys your full worth you are likely to get a higher salary offer than you might have done with a poorly done CV. If your CV does not attract the employer's attention in the first 20-30 seconds then your chances of obtaining an interview are greatly reduced.
It is best to bring a CV with you on an interview. You can mail it to a potential employer, but you risk the chance of it being ignored without a follow up. It is better to approach an employer in person with a CV with the intention of setting up an interview at a later time. Even if you do this, bring a fresh CV to the interview.
The Interview And Follow Up
After you have filled out any application the company requires and/or turned in a CV and cover letter with references, you may have to play the waiting game. When a job is advertised, the employer may have hundreds of applications on hand. If you had one that stood out above the crowd and you have the qualifications, you will be called in for an interview, or perhaps several meetings.
If you are lucky enough to get that call, be sure to do the following:
- Be sure of the address where the interview will take place and get directions if you need it and figure out how you will get there
- Get plenty of rest the night before the interview
- Take care of personal hygene matters before you leave for the interview
- Dress in an appropriate manner for the job you seek
- Bring with you a copy of your CV and cover letter as well as a pen and identification
- Show up at least 5 minutes early
- Try not to be nervous or appear bored or irritated
- Look your potential employer in the eye as you answer all questions from your heart, if your answers sound rehearsed or phony the interviewer will discount you
- Give the interviewer a firm handshake and thank them for their time
Sometimes you will be hired on the spot, but often they will have other candidates they must screen first. They may even call you back for a second or third or even a fourth interview with other business associates. If that is the case, then at least you know they think you are qualified, but you need to prove even harder you should get the job. After each interview process, be sure to thank them for their time.
What's Next
If you get the call saying they want you in, congratulations, you made it. Ask them when you start working and if the mention of pay has not been brought up, it is time to ask.
They may give you a list of things to bring on your first day. Be sure you gather any required documents on your first day. Show up at least 15 minutes early in case there is some paperwork to fill out. Be prepared to learn as much as you can, take notes, ask questions. People are more forgiving when you are new, but if you fail to ask questions and learn then you will look foolish weeks into the job when a situation comes up you don't know how to handle.
If you did not get the job, just keep trying. If the job market is lean, employers can be very picky. Whilst unemployed, try to brush up on your skills to make yourself more marketable. Try to take business classes on the side, learn computer, accounting, and typing skills. If looking for something more specific, try going to school part time to earn a degree while you are looking for a job.
If all else fails, you could go on the dole until you find something suitable for your situation. Don't be discourage when looking for a job. Your attitude is usually what makes the difference between finding a job or being unemployed.
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