Over the past several weeks I have been coaching a recent college graduate on how to find a job. It is amazing and frustrating to me at how unprepared most college graduates are when it comes to finding a job after graduation. But, when I think back I was totally unprepared for the realities of looking for a job when I graduated from school.
With the constant change in the way we exchange information and conduct business today it is hard to keep up with all the new tricks to finding jobs. From massive job sites such as Monster and other electronic job bulletin boards, to social media, the landscape of finding a job is constantly changing. Even with this, the simple basic rules still apply and must be adhered to.
Over the next several articles I will be discussing some of the basics to conducting a job search and landing that perfect job. Some of the information that will be covered will be:
How to conduct a job search.
How to write a resume.
How to write a cover letter.
How to handle the interview.
How to follow-up
Today we will start by discussing the basics of the job search.
I recently had an unemployed friend say to me, "I am tired of being unemployed, I need a job." I replied, "You may be unemployed but, you have a job now. Finding a job is your job."
If you are out of work and looking for employment you need to treat your job search as a full time job. It is important that you commit yourself to putting in the time and effort to mount a full scale job search. If we are honest with ourselves this is where most job searches fail. What else have you got to do, sit around and feel sorry for yourself? I have tried that and it does not work.
So let's start with the basics, where do you look for jobs? Do I look for jobs on the computer at job sites or on corporate web sites? Do I contact old acquaintances or do I network with various professional groups? Do I send out blind resumes or do I do a targeted search? Do I use the government employment centers or do I use the newspapers? There are a lot of options and choices and the answer to all of these is yes. You need to use all your resources when looking for a job.
Remember, not all jobs are posted on corporate web sites or on the sites like Monster. Different companies use different sites and even the same company will advertise for different positions using different venues. One of the best management jobs I got was from a small half inch by two inch ad buried in the local newspaper want-ads on a Tuesday. Don't limit yourself and your job search.
Set goals for yourself to accomplish each day such as how many resumes you will mail out. Be realistic because even with shot-gunning resumes you need to be company or job specific for each cover letter. We will discuss this later in the article on writing resumes and cover letters.
You will need to schedule a time not only to search for jobs but to do research on the companies you are interested in. This will help you focus on jobs you are truly interested in and give you the knowledge you need to help prepare for that initial interview. Remember, a phone interview can happen at any time so be prepared.
Set time aside to read articles on how to find jobs, how to write resumes, how to prepare for interviews and how to negotiate salary. With the internet there are hundreds of great resources to help you with your job search. Use them.
Look for local groups of professionals that meet to share job search data and tips. Networking can help you locate job openings. Also, it is a way to learn from the experiences of others who are going through a job search.
Having been unemployed before and having conducted a "long" job search I can attest to how frustrating it can become. Because of this it is also necessary to schedule time to enjoy life. Face it; this may be the only time you get to have an extended time off until you retire. Just don't get too relaxed.
These are just a few tips on conducting a job search and there are many more. The important thing is to use all your resources.
What are some of your experiences conducting a job search?
Article Source: EzineArticles.com/6234375