Throughout your job search, you should seriously consider several questions about your financial value and future income. What, for example, are you worth? How much should you be paid for your work? How can you best demonstrate your value to an employer? Salary negotiation is something that hiring managers are usually more experienced in than the people they hire. In the interest of leveling the playing field, here is a list of tips for salary negotiation.
1. Maximize your past experience.
Understand what you have achieved. Bring your past experiences to the table as a tool when negotiating for your salary.
2. Make a list of what you have to offer.
Know what you have to offer an employer. Make a list of your skills, abilities, talents, and knowledge. Be prepared to show your employer what value you bring to the company.
3. Make the employer's time schedule work to your advantage.
Find out how quickly they need to fill this position and how many candidates they are considering. If this position is a crucial function that needs to be filled quickly, and you are the only candidate with the necessary qualifications, this will give you additional negotiating power.
4. Wait for an offer.
Delay discussing salary until you've been offered the position.
5. Demonstrate excitement for the job.
First, make sure you want the job and are excited about the job, then let the employer know that you are very interested, but that you are hesitating because the compensation package is below what you deserve.
6. Do not bring personal needs into the discussion.
Don't discuss the monetary needs for your family or the cost of living. This will not get you very far in most cases.
7. Know your absolute bottom line.
Know what your minimum salary range must be to support the life you want to live. Although it is not advisable to bring this up in the interview, you will need to know what your absolute bottom figure is. Any figure you propose to a hiring manager should be slightly higher than your absolute bottom figure.
8. Be prepared with salary options.
Come up with three salary figures for yourself: the lowest amount that you would accept, an offer that would make you smile, and one that would be all that you could ask for. Provide a salary range to employers that is between your middle and high figures.
9. Remember that the employer has a budget.
Understand that most employers have a range in mind (a budget for the position) and will actually start at the low end of that budget to give themselves some negotiating room. This does not mean they will try to pay you less than you deserve, but they are leaving it up to you to demonstrate your value.
10. Let the employer bring up salary first.
When asked directly what your salary requirements are, consider a response such as "I would consider any reasonable offer." If the salary question comes up too early, try side-stepping the issue with a statement such as, "I'm open to discussion about salary and compensation, but would like to wait and discuss salary after I understand more about the position and have demonstrated how my experience will be of great benefit to the company."
11. Employers prefer candidates that negotiate.
Remember that potential employers often look upon negotiating for salary favorably. It reinforces the idea that they've made the right decision in offering you the position. It lets them feel confident that, because you can keep your best interests in mind, you can probably look after the best interests of the company as well.
12. Do your comparative salary research.
Know the going rate or fair market value for your position in your geographical area. Be prepared to discuss these figures based on your research once salary negotiation begins. Have a salary range in mind.
13. Understand the appropriate salary for your geographical area.
Salary ranges vary dramatically across the nation and even from rural to urban areas. Identify the salary range for similar positions in the geographical area you have targeted.
14. Be prepared to market yourself.
Emphasize the reasons why you are the best candidate for the position, and then anticipate potential weaknesses in your experience and be prepared to answer questions about those weaknesses that put you in the best possible light.
15. Be prepared to explain your salary history.
If your previous salary has been high, consider letting the employer know what you have been earning using a written salary history. If your previous salary was low, be prepared to explain how the additional benefits you enjoyed in that position compensated for a lower salary.
16. Anticipate the employer's objections.
Anticipate that the employer will have objections to the salary range you want, because they can't afford that figure, or they don't think you're worth that amount. Know in advance how you will overcome those challenges.
17. Make your salary discussion a friendly experience.
Assume amiability when discussing salary, not conflict or controversy. You should make the employer feel that you are on the same side and working together to find a compensation package that would satisfy everyone's needs. Anticipate a win-win situation.
18. Dispute any doubts about your suitability for the position.
You will have the most influence if salary is the only source for hesitation. Make sure that there are absolutely no other concerns or doubts from your future employer that you are the best candidate for the position.
19. Justify your cost-effectiveness.
Try pointing out to the company how your abilities and experience will help reduce costs or increase revenue as a means to justify higher pay.
20. Remain calm and poised.
Once the offer has been made, and appears too low, remain quiet as though you were pondering the offer. This will imply your dissatisfaction with the offer and the uncomfortable silence may prompt the interviewer to improve his or her offer.
21. Get Creative.
If the company just can't afford a higher salary, try asking for other benefits, a company car or allowances, bonuses, 3-6 month performance raises, stock options, profit sharing, vacation days, or temporary housing.
22. Be flexible.
Consider working fewer hours or on a consulting basis, maybe four days a week.
23. Consider other options and perks.
Sometimes companies offer one-time cash bonuses, or "hiring bonuses," to help entice indecisive candidates. Propose this option as an alternative based on your qualifications.
24. Count on the future.
Remember that if your negotiation does not get you a higher salary (because of a fixed company budget), your employer may feel as if they are getting a good deal in hiring you, and be more willing to consider a higher salary during your next performance review.
25. Be prepared to walk away if necessary.
You can always walk away from the negotiating table if you just aren't satisfied with the salary range and total compensation package.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
25 Tips-Career Planning
Before you begin your career search, ask yourself a few questions. What do you want to do? What are you trying to do? What kind of job do you want? By answering these questions at the outset, you create a career plan that focuses your search. Review the following 25 tips organized to help you in your career planning process.
1. Know what skills you enjoy using.
Job-hunting requires going back to "square one." Make an inventory of your abilities and acquired knowledge; this will assist in making career decisions. You should develop an understanding of yourself including values, interests, aptitudes, abilities, personal traits, and desired lifestyle, and become aware of the interrelationship between you and your occupational choice.
2. Match your interests to career-related skills.
To make a successful career choice, you must match your interests with the skills you want to offer a prospective employer. Try using a self-assessment test to help identify your aptitudes, personality, and interests. These tests allow you to determine your strengths and match them to career-building skills.
3. Identify a career direction.
Career planning is a lifelong process, requiring continuous effort to meet changing employment conditions. To achieve and manage a satisfying career, it is crucial to identify a preferred career direction and to implement effective career-enhancing strategies.
4. Maximize your resources.
There are many resources available to help in planning a career. Use these resources for career assessment, exploration, and planning to help you identify potential careers, gather information about those careers, and match the career to your own assessment of skills. Resources include career-planning software, career workshops, school career service centers, Internet resources, library resource centers, employment service departments, career fairs, and career days.
5. Research occupations.
Find out more about the nature of the jobs that interest you, such as educational requirements, salary, working conditions, future outlook, and anything else that can help you determine the best career for you.
6. Gain practical experience.
Evaluate your occupational choices and gain practical experience through internships, cooperative education, relevant summer employment, volunteer work, and campus activities.
7. Interview people whose occupations interest you.
You can always find someone who has done something that at least approximates what you want to do. If possible, set up personal meetings or phone calls with these people to discuss the nature of their work. You will learn a great deal about your new career and will be better informed when choosing a career direction.
8. Prepare a career portfolio.
Prepare a collection of work samples, a resume, recommendations, a list of references, transcripts, copies of applications, and other pertinent job search tools.
9. Plan your personal job search campaign.
Once you are aware of your career values, interests, and skills and are ready to launch yourself into a new career, you need to plan your personal job campaign. This entails establishing your career goals, planning and organizing your job search campaign, preparing materials, and achieving your job search campaign objectives within the time frame you have set.
10. Begin preparation for a job search.
Before embarking on a new career search, it is crucial to learn how to prepare resumes and cover letters specifically designed for a career change. Additionally, since you will need to practice identifying and communicating your transferable skills, you will need more time to prepare for interviews.
11. Anticipate and prepare for problems.
Planning for potential problems will help ensure your career change goes smoothly. You may not be able to predict exactly what problems might arise, but make a list of potential concerns that may be likely in your case. If you take the time to plan for potentially difficult situations beforehand, you may be able to turn an obstacle into a solvable problem when the need arises.
12. Determine the best way to market yourself.
Think of your job search as a campaign; you are promoting your skills, training, and experience to potential employers. Your career change strategy includes repositioning your resume to highlight your relevant accomplishments, using your network of friends, relatives, and professional contacts to generate job leads, and developing effective interview skills.
13. Determine what skills employers want.
Employers are demanding more skills and accomplishments from their candidates, not just job titles. Find out what skills today's employers are looking for in your career field by reading the requirements of job advertisements for your occupation.
14. Expand your horizons.
Do not limit yourself to looking for new careers in growing industries. What is hot today is not always hot tomorrow, and there is usually strong competition in these areas. Let your research carry you into unexpected and unanticipated areas. You may be surprised at what you discover.
15. Learn new skills.
From your research, you will know which skills employers value most in your target career field. If you do not possess these skills, you will need training. There is a variety of training options that will help you prepare for a new job: self-learning, workshops, conferences, Internet, e-learning, on-the-job training, and internships. Explore your options and make a choice based on the needs of your career path.
16. Decide which employers to contact.
Once you have completely researched the companies you are interested in working for, determine which companies offer the best potential for career advancement and which companies have positions open in your field. These are the best employers to contact during your initial search and offer the best chance for success.
17. Probe the marketing trends of the workforce.
The better understanding you have about how global events affect the workplace, the more prepared you'll be to meet the challenges. To learn where the job market is going, it is necessary for you to probe the current trends. Which industries are spurring new jobs and opportunities? What skills will be needed to compete in the future?
18. Develop a daily plan.
Once you have narrowed your career choices, create a workable plan with a schedule for each of the strategies and steps you will take. Map out which activities you will do each day, e.g., Monday and Wednesday will be devoted to networking, Tuesday and Saturday for online job search strategies, etc. and stick with your plan. Your job search needs to be treated as a new job and it is far easier to manage when you give it a structure and have a routine.
19. Start planning now.
If you are unhappy with your present career, and do not start planning a career change now, your attitude may continue to deteriorate and begin affecting your job performance. Begin your job search before your attitude affects your performance and you put your job in jeopardy. This will give you control over the time you can spend on your search and your ability to find the right job to transition to. Additionally, you will maintain your reputation as a quality employee.
20. Assess your career choices.
Compare the facts you have collected about yourself and facts you have collected about jobs and decide questions such as: Can you see yourself carrying out all the different duties of the job? Would you be happy doing those tasks? Can you use your abilities in that job? Does this career satisfy your needs? Based on these and other questions, decide which job is best for you.
21. Discuss career choices with people you know.
Talk to friends, parents, teachers and career counselors. Brainstorm with them; let them know what your interests and skills are and they may be able to think of possible career choices that you were not able to identify.
22. Maximize your online resources.
There are many sites on the Internet, which discuss the thousands of career options available. Discover a variety of these sites by typing "career planning" or "career" into your favorite Internet search engine.
23. Narrow your focus.
After all of the researching, interviewing, exploring, and assessing you have completed, you should have a general idea of your likes and dislikes and a general idea of what you are good at. Now it is time to focus on the specific careers that maximize all of these areas.
24. Look for new career ideas in all areas of your life.
New careers can be built on ideas from anywhere. Look for, or create, environments in which they can flourish. Foster creativity in all areas of your life: at work, in traffic, or while shopping. Make brainstorming a part of your career search. Encourage others to help you generate new ideas. Use outside sources for new thoughts. Break your routines. Go to a library, museum, or city hall. Read a different newspaper or magazine. See a different kind of movie. You want new ideas and they can come from anywhere.
25. Be Patient.
Be patient and be realistic. Do not expect a glamorous career to appear immediately. Use your common sense, listen to other people's advice, be yourself in interviews, and do the necessary work it will take to find the right job in a new career.
1. Know what skills you enjoy using.
Job-hunting requires going back to "square one." Make an inventory of your abilities and acquired knowledge; this will assist in making career decisions. You should develop an understanding of yourself including values, interests, aptitudes, abilities, personal traits, and desired lifestyle, and become aware of the interrelationship between you and your occupational choice.
2. Match your interests to career-related skills.
To make a successful career choice, you must match your interests with the skills you want to offer a prospective employer. Try using a self-assessment test to help identify your aptitudes, personality, and interests. These tests allow you to determine your strengths and match them to career-building skills.
3. Identify a career direction.
Career planning is a lifelong process, requiring continuous effort to meet changing employment conditions. To achieve and manage a satisfying career, it is crucial to identify a preferred career direction and to implement effective career-enhancing strategies.
4. Maximize your resources.
There are many resources available to help in planning a career. Use these resources for career assessment, exploration, and planning to help you identify potential careers, gather information about those careers, and match the career to your own assessment of skills. Resources include career-planning software, career workshops, school career service centers, Internet resources, library resource centers, employment service departments, career fairs, and career days.
5. Research occupations.
Find out more about the nature of the jobs that interest you, such as educational requirements, salary, working conditions, future outlook, and anything else that can help you determine the best career for you.
6. Gain practical experience.
Evaluate your occupational choices and gain practical experience through internships, cooperative education, relevant summer employment, volunteer work, and campus activities.
7. Interview people whose occupations interest you.
You can always find someone who has done something that at least approximates what you want to do. If possible, set up personal meetings or phone calls with these people to discuss the nature of their work. You will learn a great deal about your new career and will be better informed when choosing a career direction.
8. Prepare a career portfolio.
Prepare a collection of work samples, a resume, recommendations, a list of references, transcripts, copies of applications, and other pertinent job search tools.
9. Plan your personal job search campaign.
Once you are aware of your career values, interests, and skills and are ready to launch yourself into a new career, you need to plan your personal job campaign. This entails establishing your career goals, planning and organizing your job search campaign, preparing materials, and achieving your job search campaign objectives within the time frame you have set.
10. Begin preparation for a job search.
Before embarking on a new career search, it is crucial to learn how to prepare resumes and cover letters specifically designed for a career change. Additionally, since you will need to practice identifying and communicating your transferable skills, you will need more time to prepare for interviews.
11. Anticipate and prepare for problems.
Planning for potential problems will help ensure your career change goes smoothly. You may not be able to predict exactly what problems might arise, but make a list of potential concerns that may be likely in your case. If you take the time to plan for potentially difficult situations beforehand, you may be able to turn an obstacle into a solvable problem when the need arises.
12. Determine the best way to market yourself.
Think of your job search as a campaign; you are promoting your skills, training, and experience to potential employers. Your career change strategy includes repositioning your resume to highlight your relevant accomplishments, using your network of friends, relatives, and professional contacts to generate job leads, and developing effective interview skills.
13. Determine what skills employers want.
Employers are demanding more skills and accomplishments from their candidates, not just job titles. Find out what skills today's employers are looking for in your career field by reading the requirements of job advertisements for your occupation.
14. Expand your horizons.
Do not limit yourself to looking for new careers in growing industries. What is hot today is not always hot tomorrow, and there is usually strong competition in these areas. Let your research carry you into unexpected and unanticipated areas. You may be surprised at what you discover.
15. Learn new skills.
From your research, you will know which skills employers value most in your target career field. If you do not possess these skills, you will need training. There is a variety of training options that will help you prepare for a new job: self-learning, workshops, conferences, Internet, e-learning, on-the-job training, and internships. Explore your options and make a choice based on the needs of your career path.
16. Decide which employers to contact.
Once you have completely researched the companies you are interested in working for, determine which companies offer the best potential for career advancement and which companies have positions open in your field. These are the best employers to contact during your initial search and offer the best chance for success.
17. Probe the marketing trends of the workforce.
The better understanding you have about how global events affect the workplace, the more prepared you'll be to meet the challenges. To learn where the job market is going, it is necessary for you to probe the current trends. Which industries are spurring new jobs and opportunities? What skills will be needed to compete in the future?
18. Develop a daily plan.
Once you have narrowed your career choices, create a workable plan with a schedule for each of the strategies and steps you will take. Map out which activities you will do each day, e.g., Monday and Wednesday will be devoted to networking, Tuesday and Saturday for online job search strategies, etc. and stick with your plan. Your job search needs to be treated as a new job and it is far easier to manage when you give it a structure and have a routine.
19. Start planning now.
If you are unhappy with your present career, and do not start planning a career change now, your attitude may continue to deteriorate and begin affecting your job performance. Begin your job search before your attitude affects your performance and you put your job in jeopardy. This will give you control over the time you can spend on your search and your ability to find the right job to transition to. Additionally, you will maintain your reputation as a quality employee.
20. Assess your career choices.
Compare the facts you have collected about yourself and facts you have collected about jobs and decide questions such as: Can you see yourself carrying out all the different duties of the job? Would you be happy doing those tasks? Can you use your abilities in that job? Does this career satisfy your needs? Based on these and other questions, decide which job is best for you.
21. Discuss career choices with people you know.
Talk to friends, parents, teachers and career counselors. Brainstorm with them; let them know what your interests and skills are and they may be able to think of possible career choices that you were not able to identify.
22. Maximize your online resources.
There are many sites on the Internet, which discuss the thousands of career options available. Discover a variety of these sites by typing "career planning" or "career" into your favorite Internet search engine.
23. Narrow your focus.
After all of the researching, interviewing, exploring, and assessing you have completed, you should have a general idea of your likes and dislikes and a general idea of what you are good at. Now it is time to focus on the specific careers that maximize all of these areas.
24. Look for new career ideas in all areas of your life.
New careers can be built on ideas from anywhere. Look for, or create, environments in which they can flourish. Foster creativity in all areas of your life: at work, in traffic, or while shopping. Make brainstorming a part of your career search. Encourage others to help you generate new ideas. Use outside sources for new thoughts. Break your routines. Go to a library, museum, or city hall. Read a different newspaper or magazine. See a different kind of movie. You want new ideas and they can come from anywhere.
25. Be Patient.
Be patient and be realistic. Do not expect a glamorous career to appear immediately. Use your common sense, listen to other people's advice, be yourself in interviews, and do the necessary work it will take to find the right job in a new career.
25 Tips-Job Searching
Is a job change in order? If it's time for new beginnings, and if you're searching for a job, it's a good time to make sure your priorities are in check. Begin with some basic soul-searching and career planning, move to creative networking, and conclude with the foremost ways to investigate prospective companies. Here are 25 tips to learn how to maximize your time, effectiveness, and chances of success in your career search!
1. Take a personal inventory.
Job hunting gives you the opportunity to go back to "square one" and decide all over again who you are. Identify what skills and knowledge you possess and define what you want to do. What do you want out of life? A job? A career? Where do you want to be in several years? Are you happy in your job or career? What would you like to change? This type of analysis helps clarify your skills and talents as well as your goals for the future.
2. Apply directly to an employer.
Identify 30-50 employers and begin to make direct contact. Determine what positions are available, learn the names of hiring managers, send your resume, and communicate your desire to be a part of their team.
3. Ask relatives and friends about jobs where they work.
Ask relatives and friends about vacancies. They may know about available positions where they work or through other friends. If you tell everyone you know or meet that you are job hunting and that you would appreciate their help, you dramatically increase your chances of success.
4. Search hidden job markets.
Networking is the "Hidden Job Market." Every time you make contact with a person who is in direct line with your career interest, there is the possibility that he or she will network with other possible leads. Most of the available jobs are filled through networking. Believe it or not, this is your most valuable resource!
5. Ask a former employer or professor for job leads.
No one knows your capabilities, dedication, and discipline better than a former employer or professor who had the opportunity to work with you directly. Since more people find their work through direct referrals than any other way, this is a target audience you don't want to miss.
6. Spend more hours each week on your job hunt.
Finding a job is a job! Treat your job hunting just as you would a regular job and dedicate a set number of hours per week to the process. This will cut down dramatically on the length of time it takes you to find work. Did you know that the average person in the job market only spends about 5 hours per week looking for work? With that statistic, it isn't surprising that job searching can be a long, tedious process. Improve your chances by demonstrating your discipline and determination. Devote weekends to answering ads and planning your strategy for the next week. Don't spend precious weekday hours behind a computer. You need to be out there researching leads, networking, and interviewing.
7. Concentrate your job hunt on smaller companies.
Most new jobs will come from smaller, growing companies, typically with fewer than 500 employees. Although larger employers are more visible, well-known and aggressive in their search for employees, it is with the smaller companies that you may have the best chance of success in finding work. Pay particular attention to those companies that are expanding. They are easier to approach, it's usually easier to contact important decision-makers, and they are less likely to screen you out.
8. See more employers each week.
If you only visit six or seven employers a month in your job search, you will prolong your search and delay your successful outcome. This is one reason why job hunting takes so long. If you need to see 30-50 employers in your job search, it makes sense to see as many employers a week as possible. Make a plan to see 3 to 5 employers per week at a minimum! Do this for as many months as your job hunt lasts. Looking for a job is a numbers game. The more contacts you make, the more interviews you'll get, and the more offers you'll get.
9. Be prepared for phone interviews.
Would you believe that over 50% of prospective candidates are disqualified after the first phone contact is made with them by an employer? In today's world, employers don't have time to interview every possible applicant and are using phone calls as a less expensive, less time consuming way to weed out potentially unqualified candidates. The phone interview catches many people off guard. You might receive more than just one phone interview, so be prepared at all times. Have a 60-second summary of your experience, skills, and unique talents ready and do not answer the phone if you are not in a quiet atmosphere and ready to talk.
10. Create a support group.
It is easy to get discouraged, depressed, and despondent in the job search process. This can be one of the toughest and loneliest experiences in the world and the rejection you face can be brutal, but it doesn't have to be. The key is understanding that you are not alone. There are literally hundreds of thousands of people looking for work. Many job-hunting groups exist. Contact your local Chambers of Commerce or research online support groups.
11. Contact potential employers directly through professional associations.
Professional associations provide excellent networks for your job search. Many professionals are members of at least one or two professional associations. Additionally, most professional associations hold regularly scheduled meetings, which provide further opportunities to mingle with your professional peers on an informal basis. Finally, professional associations all have newsletters that can connect you with job openings in your field or connect you to other publications or associations.
12. Post your resume online.
Career Web sites allow you to submit your resume to a resume database where hiring companies search for qualified candidates. Use ResumeMaker's Resume Caster feature to assist in transmitting your resume to the top job sites.
13. Promote yourself in unique ways.
There are many ways to promote yourself over and above sending your resume. For example, try getting creative with your cover letter or print a set of business cards that contain your name, profession, and contact information on the front; and your key skills, abilities, and accomplishments on the back. Giving these cards to potential contacts is a powerful way to generate job leads.
14. Accept a temporary position or perform volunteer work.
Accept a temporary position. This provides you with valuable experience, contacts, and references. Volunteer for organizations and activities with business sponsors that increase your visibility and personal contacts. Explore your possibilities and leave all options open. You never know which method may ultimately help you land your ideal job.
15. Make cold-calls.
Next to face-to-face meetings, the telephone is the most effective method available to find a job. Every call you make is an opportunity to sell yourself to a prospective employer, to pursue a new job opening, or network to other available jobs. Complete at least 15 calls per day. You will be astonished at the results. Always be agreeable, professional, and positive. Prepare a brief outline for each call and rehearse it. Create brief statements that outline how you can help prospective employers accomplish their goals. Always, always, always ask for referrals to other companies or potential job leads.
16. Re-define your job hunt in terms of alternative possibilities.
Successful job hunters should have a back-up plan available if their initial job searching efforts produce limited results. Prepare alternative ways of describing what you do, alternative avenues of job hunting, alternative leads and contact lists, alternative target organizations and employers to contact, and alternative ways to approach prospective companies. There are many ways to get your message out. Be prepared to use a variety of methods for finding your ideal job.
17. Seek career counseling or job hunting help.
Many service providers, through the Internet, are offering career counseling services, job hunting advice, and reference tools that will help you in your search. Many of these services are free, and the number of resources on the Internet is growing each year.
18. Consider federal and local government sources.
The federal government is a huge resource of potential job openings and job search information, all available to you at little or no cost. Visit the Department of Labor Web site, or call your local employment office and take advantage of the services they offer.
19. Make sure you can survive financially between jobs.
Budget your financial resources so that you can afford a prolonged job search. It is always helpful if you can get an overall view of how your money will carry you through any job search or training you may need to take on. If finances are tight, consider seeking temporary work as a temporary source of income.
20. Set and prioritize goals while job-hunting.
There are many types of jobs that are available. Determine what it is that you want, set your goals for achieving this, and prioritize the steps that you will ultimately need to take. The more specific you are about your goal, the better your chances of getting the job you want.
21. Focus in and research your career field and industry.
Before you start meeting people, you need to know something about the industry or field you want to work in. The more you know, the better your conversations with prospective employers will be, and the more impressed they will be with you.
22. Interview others in your career field.
Interview people whose occupations interest you. You can always find someone who is currently working or has experience in your career field and is willing to talk to you. Find people in your career field by networking or calling local companies, and then contact them by phone or in person. You will learn a great deal about the career you're interested in and might even find yourself a job.
23. Organize a job search campaign.
Organize your job search campaign. Failing to plan is a common flaw in most job searches. Make a plan that includes: organizing your job strategy, setting up a base of operations center for your job hunt, preparing materials, setting goals, and measuring your progress.
24. Update your resume and be prepared.
Nearly everyone you approach in your job search is going to ask for your resume at some point. Always have your updated resume available for distribution. Additionally, by publishing your resume at ResumeMaker.com, your resume can be instantly accessible to hiring managers at any time. You can also use ResumeMaker.com to e-mail your resume to prospective employers.
25. Remain positive, dedicated, and focused.
Keeping a positive attitude, staying focused on your plan, and dedicating yourself to the job search process will improve your chances of landing your next job.
1. Take a personal inventory.
Job hunting gives you the opportunity to go back to "square one" and decide all over again who you are. Identify what skills and knowledge you possess and define what you want to do. What do you want out of life? A job? A career? Where do you want to be in several years? Are you happy in your job or career? What would you like to change? This type of analysis helps clarify your skills and talents as well as your goals for the future.
2. Apply directly to an employer.
Identify 30-50 employers and begin to make direct contact. Determine what positions are available, learn the names of hiring managers, send your resume, and communicate your desire to be a part of their team.
3. Ask relatives and friends about jobs where they work.
Ask relatives and friends about vacancies. They may know about available positions where they work or through other friends. If you tell everyone you know or meet that you are job hunting and that you would appreciate their help, you dramatically increase your chances of success.
4. Search hidden job markets.
Networking is the "Hidden Job Market." Every time you make contact with a person who is in direct line with your career interest, there is the possibility that he or she will network with other possible leads. Most of the available jobs are filled through networking. Believe it or not, this is your most valuable resource!
5. Ask a former employer or professor for job leads.
No one knows your capabilities, dedication, and discipline better than a former employer or professor who had the opportunity to work with you directly. Since more people find their work through direct referrals than any other way, this is a target audience you don't want to miss.
6. Spend more hours each week on your job hunt.
Finding a job is a job! Treat your job hunting just as you would a regular job and dedicate a set number of hours per week to the process. This will cut down dramatically on the length of time it takes you to find work. Did you know that the average person in the job market only spends about 5 hours per week looking for work? With that statistic, it isn't surprising that job searching can be a long, tedious process. Improve your chances by demonstrating your discipline and determination. Devote weekends to answering ads and planning your strategy for the next week. Don't spend precious weekday hours behind a computer. You need to be out there researching leads, networking, and interviewing.
7. Concentrate your job hunt on smaller companies.
Most new jobs will come from smaller, growing companies, typically with fewer than 500 employees. Although larger employers are more visible, well-known and aggressive in their search for employees, it is with the smaller companies that you may have the best chance of success in finding work. Pay particular attention to those companies that are expanding. They are easier to approach, it's usually easier to contact important decision-makers, and they are less likely to screen you out.
8. See more employers each week.
If you only visit six or seven employers a month in your job search, you will prolong your search and delay your successful outcome. This is one reason why job hunting takes so long. If you need to see 30-50 employers in your job search, it makes sense to see as many employers a week as possible. Make a plan to see 3 to 5 employers per week at a minimum! Do this for as many months as your job hunt lasts. Looking for a job is a numbers game. The more contacts you make, the more interviews you'll get, and the more offers you'll get.
9. Be prepared for phone interviews.
Would you believe that over 50% of prospective candidates are disqualified after the first phone contact is made with them by an employer? In today's world, employers don't have time to interview every possible applicant and are using phone calls as a less expensive, less time consuming way to weed out potentially unqualified candidates. The phone interview catches many people off guard. You might receive more than just one phone interview, so be prepared at all times. Have a 60-second summary of your experience, skills, and unique talents ready and do not answer the phone if you are not in a quiet atmosphere and ready to talk.
10. Create a support group.
It is easy to get discouraged, depressed, and despondent in the job search process. This can be one of the toughest and loneliest experiences in the world and the rejection you face can be brutal, but it doesn't have to be. The key is understanding that you are not alone. There are literally hundreds of thousands of people looking for work. Many job-hunting groups exist. Contact your local Chambers of Commerce or research online support groups.
11. Contact potential employers directly through professional associations.
Professional associations provide excellent networks for your job search. Many professionals are members of at least one or two professional associations. Additionally, most professional associations hold regularly scheduled meetings, which provide further opportunities to mingle with your professional peers on an informal basis. Finally, professional associations all have newsletters that can connect you with job openings in your field or connect you to other publications or associations.
12. Post your resume online.
Career Web sites allow you to submit your resume to a resume database where hiring companies search for qualified candidates. Use ResumeMaker's Resume Caster feature to assist in transmitting your resume to the top job sites.
13. Promote yourself in unique ways.
There are many ways to promote yourself over and above sending your resume. For example, try getting creative with your cover letter or print a set of business cards that contain your name, profession, and contact information on the front; and your key skills, abilities, and accomplishments on the back. Giving these cards to potential contacts is a powerful way to generate job leads.
14. Accept a temporary position or perform volunteer work.
Accept a temporary position. This provides you with valuable experience, contacts, and references. Volunteer for organizations and activities with business sponsors that increase your visibility and personal contacts. Explore your possibilities and leave all options open. You never know which method may ultimately help you land your ideal job.
15. Make cold-calls.
Next to face-to-face meetings, the telephone is the most effective method available to find a job. Every call you make is an opportunity to sell yourself to a prospective employer, to pursue a new job opening, or network to other available jobs. Complete at least 15 calls per day. You will be astonished at the results. Always be agreeable, professional, and positive. Prepare a brief outline for each call and rehearse it. Create brief statements that outline how you can help prospective employers accomplish their goals. Always, always, always ask for referrals to other companies or potential job leads.
16. Re-define your job hunt in terms of alternative possibilities.
Successful job hunters should have a back-up plan available if their initial job searching efforts produce limited results. Prepare alternative ways of describing what you do, alternative avenues of job hunting, alternative leads and contact lists, alternative target organizations and employers to contact, and alternative ways to approach prospective companies. There are many ways to get your message out. Be prepared to use a variety of methods for finding your ideal job.
17. Seek career counseling or job hunting help.
Many service providers, through the Internet, are offering career counseling services, job hunting advice, and reference tools that will help you in your search. Many of these services are free, and the number of resources on the Internet is growing each year.
18. Consider federal and local government sources.
The federal government is a huge resource of potential job openings and job search information, all available to you at little or no cost. Visit the Department of Labor Web site, or call your local employment office and take advantage of the services they offer.
19. Make sure you can survive financially between jobs.
Budget your financial resources so that you can afford a prolonged job search. It is always helpful if you can get an overall view of how your money will carry you through any job search or training you may need to take on. If finances are tight, consider seeking temporary work as a temporary source of income.
20. Set and prioritize goals while job-hunting.
There are many types of jobs that are available. Determine what it is that you want, set your goals for achieving this, and prioritize the steps that you will ultimately need to take. The more specific you are about your goal, the better your chances of getting the job you want.
21. Focus in and research your career field and industry.
Before you start meeting people, you need to know something about the industry or field you want to work in. The more you know, the better your conversations with prospective employers will be, and the more impressed they will be with you.
22. Interview others in your career field.
Interview people whose occupations interest you. You can always find someone who is currently working or has experience in your career field and is willing to talk to you. Find people in your career field by networking or calling local companies, and then contact them by phone or in person. You will learn a great deal about the career you're interested in and might even find yourself a job.
23. Organize a job search campaign.
Organize your job search campaign. Failing to plan is a common flaw in most job searches. Make a plan that includes: organizing your job strategy, setting up a base of operations center for your job hunt, preparing materials, setting goals, and measuring your progress.
24. Update your resume and be prepared.
Nearly everyone you approach in your job search is going to ask for your resume at some point. Always have your updated resume available for distribution. Additionally, by publishing your resume at ResumeMaker.com, your resume can be instantly accessible to hiring managers at any time. You can also use ResumeMaker.com to e-mail your resume to prospective employers.
25. Remain positive, dedicated, and focused.
Keeping a positive attitude, staying focused on your plan, and dedicating yourself to the job search process will improve your chances of landing your next job.
25 tips-Resumes
Are you suffering from resume-writer's block? Does everyone else's resume seem more professional and better worded than yours? The following are some guidelines to help you create a better resume:
1. Be neat and error free.
Catch all typo's and grammar errors. Make sure someone proofreads your resume, preferably someone attentive to details. Even the smallest error could land your resume in the reject pile.
2. Write a powerful opening statement.
Form a solid, clear opening statement that will help you carry a focused message throughout the resume. The best opening statements summarize your skills and emphasize your strengths.
3. Focus on your benefit to employers.
Focus on highlighting accomplishments that will arouse the interest of employers who read your resume. Answer the question: "How can this candidate fulfill the role and make a positive impact?" Remember that the goal is to get the interview.
4. Make a good first impression.
On average, employers spend less than 30 seconds scanning each resume. Most employers are more concerned about career achievements than education. Place the most interesting and compelling facts about yourself at the beginning, such as a list of accomplishments in order of relevance.
5. Emphasize your skills.
Use a skills or capabilities section in your resume that is organized around the main talents you have to offer. Prioritize everything.
6. Use keywords.
Include specific keywords and phrases that describe your skills and experience, such as Product Launch, Income Statement, Balance Sheet, Sales, Account Management, C++, Visual Basic, Word Processing, MS Excel, Adobe Illustrator, Graphic Design, and Advertising.
7. Use industry jargon.
Use industry jargon and acronyms to reflect your familiarity with the employer's business, but not to the point where it makes your resume hard to read or understand. Spell out acronyms in parentheses if they are not obvious, such as TQM (Total Quality Management).
8. Use action verbs.
Portray yourself as active, accomplished, intelligent, and capable of contributing. Examples: Managed, Launched, Created, Directed, Established, Organized, and Supervised.
9. Avoid personal pronouns.
Never use personal pronouns such as I or me in your resume. Instead of complete sentences, use short Action-Benefit statements, like: Coordinated and published a weekly newsletter that raised awareness for local community events.
10. Highlight key points.
Use bold, italics, and underlining to highlight the most relevant information on your resume. For ASCII text-only resumes, you may use capital letters, quotation marks, even asterisks, to emphasize important words or section titles.
11. Summarize information.
In your resume, use only the amount of space required to demonstrate your qualifications for the position clearly and succinctly.
12. List only recent information.
The general rule of thumb is to show your work experience only for the last 10 to 15 years, unless there is specific prior experience that is especially relevant to the position you are seeking.
13. Quantify or qualify experience.
Numbers are a powerful tool, and should be included in your Action-Benefit statements. Instead of writing "Responsible for increasing sales in my territory," use "Increased sales in my territory 150% over 6 months. Managed 30 accounts increasing revenues from $1.5M to $2M annually."
14. Be organized, logical, and concise.
In addition to reviewing your experience, employers also use the resume to sense whether you are organized, logical, and concise. Make sure your resume is balanced, neat, visually appealing, and flows consistently. Clearly separate sections and emphasize section titles. Leave sufficient blank space between sections for easy reading.
15. Just communicate.
Abandon the use of exorbitant, exquisite vocabulary. In other words, don't try to impress employers with the depth of your vocabulary. Use words everyone can understand.
16. Omit salary information.
Never refer to salary in your resume. Save this information for the interview.
17. Avoid questionable subjects.
Never refer to personal information such as race, religion, marital status, age, political party, or even personal views. In all but a few instances, it would be illegal for the employer to consider such issues. Also, avoid the use of humor and clichés in most resumes.
18. Be honest.
Lying or exaggerating your abilities will always come back to haunt you. Since employers usually check into serious candidates, you will want every detail to check out.
19. Sell your strengths.
Do not under-emphasize your strengths and experience. Portray yourself in the best possible light. Skills that seem natural to you, others may never grasp.
20. Write your own resume.
Be personal, yet professional. Create a resume that reflects your best personal characteristics and positive traits.
21. Personal traits.
If you want to include personal traits in your resume, such as "Dependable, Highly-Organized, Self-Motivated, and Responsible," rather than just listing these traits, try demonstrating these characteristics using examples from your experience. For example, instead of writing "Dependable," write "Never missed an important deadline in five years as a project manager."
22. Position yourself in the best possible light.
To de-emphasize glaring gaps in your work history, consider using a Functional resume, which focuses on your skills and accomplishments rather than a Chronological format, which emphasizes the progression of your experience.
23. Combine sections when possible.
Try to combine any short sections together to make your resume more compact. For example, if you only have one entry under training, consider placing it under your education instead and change the section title to "Education and Training."
24. Use common section headings.
Use common section headings. Examples: Objective, Experience, Employment, Work History, Skills, Summary, Summary of Qualifications, Accomplishments, Achievements, Capabilities, Education, Professional Affiliations, Publications, Licenses and Certifications, and Honors.
25. Be positive.
Remove any negative comments or feelings conveyed in your resume, especially when it comes to previous employment experiences. Emphasize a positive, can-do attitude.
1. Be neat and error free.
Catch all typo's and grammar errors. Make sure someone proofreads your resume, preferably someone attentive to details. Even the smallest error could land your resume in the reject pile.
2. Write a powerful opening statement.
Form a solid, clear opening statement that will help you carry a focused message throughout the resume. The best opening statements summarize your skills and emphasize your strengths.
3. Focus on your benefit to employers.
Focus on highlighting accomplishments that will arouse the interest of employers who read your resume. Answer the question: "How can this candidate fulfill the role and make a positive impact?" Remember that the goal is to get the interview.
4. Make a good first impression.
On average, employers spend less than 30 seconds scanning each resume. Most employers are more concerned about career achievements than education. Place the most interesting and compelling facts about yourself at the beginning, such as a list of accomplishments in order of relevance.
5. Emphasize your skills.
Use a skills or capabilities section in your resume that is organized around the main talents you have to offer. Prioritize everything.
6. Use keywords.
Include specific keywords and phrases that describe your skills and experience, such as Product Launch, Income Statement, Balance Sheet, Sales, Account Management, C++, Visual Basic, Word Processing, MS Excel, Adobe Illustrator, Graphic Design, and Advertising.
7. Use industry jargon.
Use industry jargon and acronyms to reflect your familiarity with the employer's business, but not to the point where it makes your resume hard to read or understand. Spell out acronyms in parentheses if they are not obvious, such as TQM (Total Quality Management).
8. Use action verbs.
Portray yourself as active, accomplished, intelligent, and capable of contributing. Examples: Managed, Launched, Created, Directed, Established, Organized, and Supervised.
9. Avoid personal pronouns.
Never use personal pronouns such as I or me in your resume. Instead of complete sentences, use short Action-Benefit statements, like: Coordinated and published a weekly newsletter that raised awareness for local community events.
10. Highlight key points.
Use bold, italics, and underlining to highlight the most relevant information on your resume. For ASCII text-only resumes, you may use capital letters, quotation marks, even asterisks, to emphasize important words or section titles.
11. Summarize information.
In your resume, use only the amount of space required to demonstrate your qualifications for the position clearly and succinctly.
12. List only recent information.
The general rule of thumb is to show your work experience only for the last 10 to 15 years, unless there is specific prior experience that is especially relevant to the position you are seeking.
13. Quantify or qualify experience.
Numbers are a powerful tool, and should be included in your Action-Benefit statements. Instead of writing "Responsible for increasing sales in my territory," use "Increased sales in my territory 150% over 6 months. Managed 30 accounts increasing revenues from $1.5M to $2M annually."
14. Be organized, logical, and concise.
In addition to reviewing your experience, employers also use the resume to sense whether you are organized, logical, and concise. Make sure your resume is balanced, neat, visually appealing, and flows consistently. Clearly separate sections and emphasize section titles. Leave sufficient blank space between sections for easy reading.
15. Just communicate.
Abandon the use of exorbitant, exquisite vocabulary. In other words, don't try to impress employers with the depth of your vocabulary. Use words everyone can understand.
16. Omit salary information.
Never refer to salary in your resume. Save this information for the interview.
17. Avoid questionable subjects.
Never refer to personal information such as race, religion, marital status, age, political party, or even personal views. In all but a few instances, it would be illegal for the employer to consider such issues. Also, avoid the use of humor and clichés in most resumes.
18. Be honest.
Lying or exaggerating your abilities will always come back to haunt you. Since employers usually check into serious candidates, you will want every detail to check out.
19. Sell your strengths.
Do not under-emphasize your strengths and experience. Portray yourself in the best possible light. Skills that seem natural to you, others may never grasp.
20. Write your own resume.
Be personal, yet professional. Create a resume that reflects your best personal characteristics and positive traits.
21. Personal traits.
If you want to include personal traits in your resume, such as "Dependable, Highly-Organized, Self-Motivated, and Responsible," rather than just listing these traits, try demonstrating these characteristics using examples from your experience. For example, instead of writing "Dependable," write "Never missed an important deadline in five years as a project manager."
22. Position yourself in the best possible light.
To de-emphasize glaring gaps in your work history, consider using a Functional resume, which focuses on your skills and accomplishments rather than a Chronological format, which emphasizes the progression of your experience.
23. Combine sections when possible.
Try to combine any short sections together to make your resume more compact. For example, if you only have one entry under training, consider placing it under your education instead and change the section title to "Education and Training."
24. Use common section headings.
Use common section headings. Examples: Objective, Experience, Employment, Work History, Skills, Summary, Summary of Qualifications, Accomplishments, Achievements, Capabilities, Education, Professional Affiliations, Publications, Licenses and Certifications, and Honors.
25. Be positive.
Remove any negative comments or feelings conveyed in your resume, especially when it comes to previous employment experiences. Emphasize a positive, can-do attitude.
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Jobs For FreshersMillions of Jobs for Freshers` Free Registration. Apply Now!JobStreet.com
Placement PapersRegister Your CV In 2 Easy Steps. We Get You Your Dream Job For Free!www.TimesJobs.com
IT Career4 Month Accelerated IT Course Specially Designed for Fresh GradsEdgeineers.in/NIIT
Top Job Openings in India35000+ Recruiters, 200000+ Jobs Apply Free & Fast!Naukri.com
20 lakh IT jobsGet a global career through Aptech Work in the IT field of your choicewww.Aptech-Education.com
Walkin JobsMultiple job openings top companies Apply now or refer your friend.YelloJobs.com/Walkin_Jobs
Lucrative Jobs OnlineLet your Experience fetch you Top Job Options with High Pay on Shine!c2.shine.com
Guaranteed Bank JobIFBI is offering 2000 Appointment Letters at the time of Enrolment…IFBI.co.in/NIIT_Venture
Jeevan IT AcademyCareer, Technical Training,Job Job oriented Realtime Trainingwww.jeevanitacademy.com
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