Tips In Job Hunting

It doesn’t matter what type of industry in which you are trying to find employment, you cannot succeed unless you have the right attributes for the job and then the means to display your talents and achievements when job hunting.

Sadly, there is no dream formula to help you land your dream job. By following a few job hunting tips you can take a giant step in the pursuit of that dream job and therefore enhance your prospects of success.

The first thing in looking for a job is to know yourself well. Know your skills and attributes, and search yourself. What jobs have you had in the past that you excelled in? Not only excelled in but did you enjoy the job. What jobs should you steer clear of, you may think that you would like to do a particular job but would you be suited to that job. Something that is absolute basic job hunting.

You will never see an advertisement in the newspaper that says “ Wanted 1 (your name) no experience necessary”, offering a huge pay packet to boot. If you are single minded enough to do what ever it takes to secure your dream job, research it, will you need to further your education.

You should research the differing types of opportunities available in your location, perhaps the position for which you are eminently suited is not available in your area. If this is the case, and you are determined to gain that dream job, perhaps a relocation is in order.

Some times you can’t see the forest for the trees, other people may see qualities and skills in you that you can’t see yourself, this is the reason some job seekers go to a professional. An employment consultant may be able to help you formulate a truthful but professional view of your capabilities.

If a particular job attracts you but you don’t have any experience, offer your services for free, just to gain the experience. Once you have some experience in that position, and if you excel in it, the employer may offer you a paying position. If not, at least you have gathered some experience which will assist in applying for other positions.

In this current economic climate, job hunting is not an easy task. It is a competitive market. Your skills and experience will be put to the blow torch. Your resume must be truthful but impressive. Before you submit an application be sure that it is the best application possible, a shabby application will elicit a shabby response.

Once you have applied for the position you have one more hurdle to overcome, the Interview. Prepare for the interview, research the company. Practice or role play the interview, become comfortable with the process. When you are comfortable with the interview process you will come across as a professional who is suited to the position which you are applying for.

Top Ten Job Hunting Tips

School time is finally over. You are now an inch closer to living the life you have planned for yourself. But first, you must land that graduate job that you have been eyeing to have for a very long time now. So, you gather all the resources available for any possible job listings to get you your first ever graduate job. If you live in Europe, lucky for you, there is an abundance of UK graduate jobs that you can apply for. The even better news is that there are plenty of these job opportunities that are available for the fresh graduates.

Graduate accounting jobs, graduate finance jobs, graduate jobs in sales, whatever you are looking for, you will most likely find it in the UK. The key is to cover all the bases when you are in the midst of a job search. While you focus on the aspect of seeking employment by sending out your resumes, you must remain appropriate and professional. The list below are tips that can help keep you on the right track during your job hunting days.

Find out the job you want. – The first thing you should do is to ask yourself what it is that you really want to do. Take the time to review your career plans or get advice from family and friends. Lay down all your options on the table. It is important to think the types of job or career that you are seeking through as that will help you identify your prospective employers and target your applications or compose your resumes that will clearly showcase what it is that you have to offer.

Know where to look. – You can stick to the old traditional way of getting yourself a copy of the city’s Sunday paper where plenty of UK graduate job listings are posted. Or, you can make use of information technology and browse through the pages of the many job search websites available today. Another option is to directly visit the website of the companies you wish to apply for and click on their employment opportunities section for any openings that you qualify for.

Writing your resume and cover letter. – It is your prerogative whether or not you want a cover letter with your resume. However, taking the time to compose them sends a very good impression to your prospective employers. The resume is a very dynamic piece of paper. It is where you print out what you have to offer – qualifications, talents and skills. A good resume is critical to landing the job, but at the same time, resumes only serve as a request to be met and interviewed. Be sure to keep it short and concise, but do not forget to let yourself shine on that paper.

Interview. – Being in time is not enough. As a matter of fact, being at the company’s office for your interview between five and ten minutes earlier than your schedule will do you good. This is a gesture that will show the company a preview of your attitude towards work and punctuality.

Follow up. – Many people think that making a phone call to the office that interviewed them days, weeks or even months ago is inappropriate. Some even assume that the company has already hired another applicant. Do not be afraid to make a follow up on your application, but, as mentioned above, be sure to keep it professional. This is a great way to be remembered.

Attend job fairs. – Job fairs held at colleges and universities offer a lot of UK graduate jobs even for those who have zero work experience. Submit your resume to every company’s booths that you wish to be a part of.

Tracking. – Fresh graduates naturally send out multiple job applications. It is then important to keep track of the companies that have conducted interviews with you. That will serve as a log for the name, type of company and the position you applied for.

Send thank you notes. – It is always proper to show appreciation and gratitude. It should not be seen in a way as brown-nosing. A simple note that you can deliver directly to the office or even an email to the human resources personnel that met you for your interview would suffice.

Stay updated. – Being updated on the latest business news is important and will later on prove beneficial to you. Reading through newspapers and other business journals will definitely keep you informed on the companies that are currently doing well.

Do not give up. – Rejection may be painful, but it happens. That is life. You win some, you lose some. The important thing is that you learn to accept the so-called defeat with grace and give yourself the time to re-strategize. Do not lose hope. Giving up does not get you anywhere.

Take risks when job hunting. It is where you discover more about your strengths and weaknesses, and find out what career path you should take that would truly make you happy.

Job Interview Mistakes – Part Two

Many people feel that the interview is the single most stressful part of the job search process. Any number of things can go wrong, and a big part of being successful is avoiding simple mistakes. The things you should avoid doing are as below:

1. Trying to wing the interview: Practice! Get a list of general interview questions, a friend, a tape recorder, and a mirror and conduct an interview rehearsal. Practice until your delivery feels comfortable but not canned.

2. Not being yourself: Be yourself and be honest! Don’t pretend to understand a question or train of thought if you don’t. The interviewer will pick up on this. If you don’t know an answer, say so. Relax and be yourself. Remember you’re interviewing the company as well as vice versa.

3. Not listening: Focus on the question that is being asked and don’t try to anticipate the next one. It’s OK to pause and collect your thoughts before answering a question. Pay special attention to technical or work process related subjects that are unique to a given firm or organization. The interviewer may have provided information you will need to answer the question earlier in the conversation. Employers will be looking for your ability to assimilate new information, retain it, and, most importantly, recognize that information as useful to you later in the interview.

4. Not providing enough details: When answering case questions, technical questions or solving technical problems, take the time to “talk through” your thought process. Recruiters are much more interested in seeing how your mind works and how it attacks a given type of problem, than the answer itself. Articulate your problem solving process and verbalize your thinking.

5. Lack of enthusiasm: Maintain eye contact, greet the interviewer with a smile and a firm handshake (not too weak, not too strong), and show common courtesy. Don’t be afraid to display your passion for the job/industry and to show confidence.