plus 1, Top 10 tips for job seekers - Statesman Journal |
| Top 10 tips for job seekers - Statesman Journal Posted: There are more than 200,000 unemployed workers in Oregon. Employees at the WorkSource Oregon offices help many of those job seekers every day, searching to match the worker with the work. As such, they've seen the successful and frustrated job hunters. Here are their top 10 tips on what to do and what not to do: Tips for a successful job search1. Make your job search a full-time job Treating your job search like a full-time job will pay off when it comes to finding a good position. Create a job search schedule and stick to it. Good time management is important to stay focused and on-task. Start by deciding what hours of the day you're going to devote to your job search - then start and stop on time each day. 2. Choose an occupation Knowing what occupation(s) you are looking for makes it easier to find a job. It also makes it easier for others to help you find it. Choose an occupation that suits your skills and satisfies your career objectives. 3. Develop a job search plan Create a plan that outlines your goals and the steps to reach them. Having a plan helps you stay focused, plan your time well, and stay organized. 4. Collect important information Collect information you need for completing job applications and developing a resume, such as your Social Security number and graduation dates. 5. Stay organized Use a daily calendar, or another tool, to keep track of people you contact and suggestions they make. In addition, keep track of the jobs you apply for and the job interviews you have. Finally, write down when you send follow-up notes and make phone calls. This recordkeeping will help organize your many contacts and let you concentrate on those which you think have the best prospects. 6. Locate job leads Stay in contact with agencies, employed workers, and everyone who can help you find the job or jobs you want. Many jobs are not advertised - networking is the only way to find out about them. 7. Check out potential employers If you hear of a job opening, find out what the firm makes or what services it provides before you apply. That way, you will have enough information to ask intelligent questions and make a positive impression. Be careful about your appearance, even when you go to pick up an application or get information. Dress as you would the first day on the job. (Page 2 of 3) 8. Develop an effective resume Develop a resume that highlights your strengths and will land you an interview. Use both the information you collected about the employer and your own work experience, education, and skills. This information, and its presentation, is critical to an employer's perception of you as an employee. 9. Prepare for a job interview Prepare how to successfully present yourself to contacts and during interviews. You may have one informal contact with the person who hires, or you may have several interviews with groups of people who screen applicants. 10. Stay positive Review important information about yourself or your portfolio. Remind yourself that you are a valuable member of society. Make sure you exercise regularly, eat a balanced diet, and stay in contact with your immediate support group of family and friends. Most job search mistakes1. Inappropriate dress and an un-kept appearance. Whether a job seeker is visiting a potential employer to gather information, drop off a resume, or for a formal interview, they need to be dressed appropriately as if reporting for their first day on the job. 2. Job seekers who bad mouth former employers. This raises a huge red-flag with a potential employer. It could signal that the job seeker is not a team player and a potential problem employee. 3. An incomplete or weak resume. Cookie-cutter resumes are no longer accepted. The job seeker should tailor their resume to specific position applying for, highlighting the skills they would bring to the position. 4. Not arming yourself with the tools necessary to perform a strong work search Learning how to effectively network, becoming comfortable with using the computer, pulling together an effective resume, performing well in an interview, all require specific skills. A job seeker can find free assistance in all of these areas at their local WorkSource Oregon center. 5. Lack of follow-up with potential employers After a job seeker has applied or interviewed for a position, they should not wait to hear from the employer. Follow-up is appropriate and demonstrates the desire of the job seeker to the potential employer. (Page 3 of 3) 6. Not treating support staff of the potential employer professionally From the time a job seeker steps through the door of the potential employer, they should consider the interview started. Often, the person making the hiring decision will ask the opinion of other staff who interacted with the job seeker. 7. Failing to ask questions at an interview You want to learn as much as you can about a potential employer as they do about you. By not asking questions during the interview process, it can show a lack of interest. A job seeker should write down a series of questions to ask a potential employer, prior to going to an interview. Well thought out questions can send a positive message to the employer. 8. Relying on just one job search strategy. Don't just rely on a single source of job information such as the internet or classified ads. Job seekers typically identity more jobs and make more connections that can lead to jobs when they use a multi-pronged approach. A job seeker can amp up their job search with job boards, face-to-face meetings, networking at professional development meetings, take advantage of services at your WorkSource Oregon centers, and other search strategies. 9 Taking a Break Making a job search your full-time job is a long and arduous task. There may be a temptation to take some time off, to take a break. The problem with that line of thinking is you lose momentum in your job search. A good job search is strategic and builds on itself. When you walk away from your search, you miss events and do not follow up in a timely manner. 10. Not being aware of your social media presence Job seekers need to be mindful of social profiles and pictures they may have out on the Internet. Job seekers should review their social network profiles to make sure there is nothing that might be deemed inappropriate associated with them. Compiled from several business and employment specialist professionals from the Oregon Employment Department and from Careers magazine, December 2010. Published by the Oregon Employment Department. This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php |
| Summer job outlook good - Argus Leader Posted:
Written bySarah Reinecke |
| You are subscribed to email updates from Add Images to any RSS Feed To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
No comments:
Post a Comment