Tips for Career Job Hunting

DEFINE WHAT YOU WANT SO THAT YOU CAN HELP OTHERS HELP YOU

It may seem counterintuitive, but the best way to find a job is be able to tell people exactly what kind of job you want when networking. Sometimes people think it is best to keep all options open for any type of job that may come along. But with that strategy there is a higher likelihood that they will not like the position they accept and will be looking for a job again real soon because they quit or got fired. A person who handles the job search that way risks quickly becoming a job hopper. And guess what, it all started because they didn’t define what they were looking for in the first place.

The process does not have to be difficult or long and drawn out. It can be quite enriching if a person takes the time, but it can be done quickly with a few educated guesses when food just needs to get to the table too.

Minimally, you need to know:

* What kind of work fits your lifestyle right now such as part time, full time or contract?

* What industry are you interested in?

* What are example job titles?

* What skills you have to offer and what kind of problems you can solve with those skills?

With this kind of information in mind you can start the job search by asking people you know and people you meet a very powerful question, “Who do you know in the retail clothing industry that may be looking for part-time employees?” As simple as that you can begin accessing the hidden job market and the power of networking. Moral of the story: knowing what you want sure helps other people help you.

FIND A MENTOR

First, outline or journal what your career will look like when you arrive at the “next level.” What will you be doing in your work? What experience & education will you have achieved? How are you impacting your industry? Continue to make better distinctions about yourself and where you want to go then follow your nose to the virtual and real world gathering places for people whose interests match yours. Look for them in writing and speaking that is going on in your industry and in professional associations associated with your industry, or attend a conference or training, and search for them on LinkedIn. Locate and engage the experts in those places. Share your enthusiasm and demonstrate that you are there to learn and that you are very interested in contributing to the conversation. Ask the question, “what advice do you have for someone who is interested in doing what you are doing?” Ask also how they stay up-to-date in the field. Be sure to thank them for their time by writing them a thank you note or email or a quick follow up phone call or message later. Consider them a part of your professional network and send info their way when you see or hear about something they might like to know. If you notice a potential mentor but suspect they are too busy to be a mentor? Or maybe you just don’t know how to break the ice with them. Try informational interviewing. Its not just for students or those choosing a career for the first time! Informational interviewing can help you transition to a new career field, further your network, or find a mentor.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS NOT GOALS

Spend more time tracking and talking about your accomplishments rather than your goals. Think about it: accomplishments are actions you have already taken, goals are actions you intend to take…which is more powerful? Begin by making it a habit to log your accomplishments weekly while they are fresh in your mind. Collect them and turn them into bullet points for your resumes and power stories for your networking and interviews.

START A BLOG

Career blogging is a networking and electronic portfolio all in one! Your blog can be an outstanding networking tool. This is just the kind of thing the blogosphere was meant for…sharing information, having a discussion, building relationships. Plus, a blog can become a showcase for your unique personality, knowledge, and skills. With small regular posts you can quickly build an impressive portfolio demonstrating more about your personality and quality of work while building your reputation at the same time.

10 Tips on Career Advancement

Nowadays, it’s up to you to take control of your professional future and make sure that you are progressing wisely down the right career path. 

Here are 10 proven strategies to help you get started:

1. Talk to your boss. Sit down and have a very direct and pointed conversation with your boss about your future in the company. Stress that you want your job performance to meet the company’s goals. Share your own career goals with him or her. Your boss will respect this display of confidence and maturity.

2. Ask for more. Volunteering to help out other departments or teams — or simply asking for more responsibilities — increases your value within the organization. Asking for additional work shows an interest and desire to help your department and company to succeed. It also puts a spotlight on your value to the business.

3. Volunteer for boards. If you have your career set on something beyond what you are doing in your present position, seek out opportunities to volunteer or serve on advisory boards, where you can build a reputation as someone who is passionate and dedicated to your particular industry.

4. Sharpen your people skills. Strong interpersonal skills play a crucial role in gaining the respect of your boss and coworkers; they will also attract the notice of outside influencers who might open new doors of opportunity for you. Be friendly, outgoing, and personable. Listen carefully to people, and practice being a clear and effective communicator.

5. Be innovative. Never be afraid to think outside of the box and put your business acumen to work. Stay on the lookout for creative solutions to problems that will make you — and your boss — look good.

6. Find a mentor. Develop mentoring relationships, either inside or outside the company. Recent studies have shown that four out of five promotions are influenced by a mentor higher up in the company. Mentors are also great sources of information and career guidance.

7. Sell yourself. Learn the fine art of self-promotion. If you have had major accomplishments or created successful programs, make sure people know about it — especially those in influential positions who could help you advance professionally. Let it be known that you are seeking a promotion or the next step up in your career.

8. Keep learning. A proven way to advance in your career is to be continually acquiring new knowledge. Stay on top of trends or developments in your field and make sure that your current résumé reflects those needed skills.

9. Network. Strengthen your personal network and join professional organizations, attend industry conferences, or even volunteer. The more people who are aware of your strengths and abilities, the better your chances of hearing about any new opportunities that might arise.

10. Build your reputation. In business, your reputation is the most valuable thing you own. Be known for being dependable, professional, and cooperative. Act and look the part by dressing professionally. Make a name for yourself by attending conferences, delivering speeches, or writing articles.

How to launch a career?

TV and Advertisement

TV is the best source to launch your career. You can broadcast your career launching in form of an advertisement but not in documentary style that will be tedious. Also stroll down important notes of your career on TV sports and news channel for at least 60 second during sports and news time. You can show it in form of clips especially during special programs. Give your launch ad in first break. To promote your career take these steps.

Proper Network

Use proper network phenomenon for the launching of your career. To obtain strong feed back from society and organization perform in such as way that previous generation did never act. Thanks to internet phenomenon, like Facebook and other social networks. Try to show your skills via launching program that are required by the organization. These skills can be in form of computer fluency and flair of teamwork. Your social networking skills and consumer intellects are necessary for valuable career launch. Generation demand can also reveal obliging to your career.

Keep in touch

For the successful career launch contact with your concerned persons. Try to keep in touch with your previous colleagues and friends. When you are going to launch your career invite them, too. In this way you can connect with different developing organizations, social networks and media.

If you are working in an organization then this place can also be a best source for your career. Try to gain new opening opportunity if it suites you. You can launch career at that place with the coordination of your friends and ex-colleagues. You can play fabulous and useful role in that place. If you have been working in market then you can utilize your relationships for your career launch.

Newspaper

If you are looking for a best place for your career launching then newspaper is also a great source for this purpose. Especially evening time newspaper is really good for this. You can get place in vacancies and edition via a newspaper. Through this place you can get a biggest and pushiest section. In UK, Sunday is the best time to proceed. Your image selection should be appealing, it can convey your theme properly.

How To Dress for a Job Interview (For Men)

It is important that no matter how good you are, you still have to wear the best dress to give the best impression. Unfair as it may seem but the world judges everyone, even men, by his clothing. So why not use this to your advantage? Wear a dress that will make you look like the best man for the job.

Follow the tips below when choosing the best job interview dress:

* Wear the common formal dress for men. This is a coat over a long-sleeve polo shirt with a simple tie. It’s safer to go with simpler prints or better yet, a polo shirt with plain color. Tuck this into your pair of slacks. Coat and slacks should be of the same fabric, too. Your tie can be of the same color as the coat but it’s okay if not. It can be a more intense color than your shirt or it can be a contrasting color to your shirt.

* An open collar is okay. This gives a more casual look. Do not wear a tie if you’ll open the collar. Also, unbutton only the top button. Don’t open more buttons if you wish to wear an open collar. Wear a coat over this shirt to make it look less casual.

* Wear a color-coordinated sweater during cold weather. You don’t have to suffer the chill of winter just because you want to dress ideally for the job interview. You can wear a sweater but it should be of solid color and should be color-coordinated with your shirt, coat, and tie.

* Remove earrings or any body piercings before the interview. It is inappropriate to wear body piercings during a formal interview like this.

* Hide tattoos, as much as possible. For some people, wearing a tattoo gives a bad impression. Hide those tattoos, especially if you’re eyeing a conservative job.

* Cut your hair before the interview. Well-groomed hair is the best for a job interview. If you can’t cut your long hair, at least comb it back so your facial features will be seen. Tie the hair with a ponytail holder that is the same color as your hair.

* Shave off your beard and mustache. If you can’t, at least make sure that these are well-groomed.

* Choose a silk tie. If this is too expensive for you, then go with a silk blend. It’s best to wear a simple tie clip also to keep your tie in place.

* Wear black leather shoes. Other colors are okay as long as they are coordinated with your clothing. Laced or loafer shoes are okay, too, as long as your shoes are leather or a man-made alternative.

* Socks should be color-coordinated with your dress trousers. Cover your legs with your socks so that they won’t show when your trouser legs pull up when sitting.

* Your belt should be the same color as your shoes. If not, it should at least match your clothing.

Other accessories can be worn for the job interview, but keep everything as simple and as plain as possible. It’s the safest way to go for most type of jobs. Also, don’t forget that dressing up well is only a part of it. You should speak well during your interview, too. How you answer the interview questions, and not how well you dressed, can make or break your chance of landing a job.

Source : http://www.howtodothings.com/careers/how-to-dress-for-a-job-interview-men

Winning Job Interview

Truth be told, a job interview can be quite brutal, especially if you aren’t fully prepared to handle yourself and be in total control. However, if you overdo it there is also a chance for you to sound too tense and perhaps even trip all over your words, effectively lowering your chances of catching that job. In a way, it is a lot like applying for your driver’s license—your instructor will either pass or fail you depending on how you handle yourself during the test. It is the same way in a job interview, and the step by step process provided by this article hopes to help you improve your chances by offering different tips and advice to having a winning job interview—ultimately coming out of it feeling like a million dollars, instead of feeling like you had lost a million dollars.

So, put on your most natural and confident smile and follow these steps:

* Whether or not you have a sharp wit and a natural ability to answer difficult questions on the spot, you still need to do your homework. Choking in a job interview is not something that should ever happen, so you should do some research on what kind of questions will be asked, as well as practice a little a bit yourself. In front of a mirror, you could answer an imaginary question and see what you can do to make yourself sound and look more amiable and capable. Even changing the slightest of details can be useful.

* Remember, that you are looking to exude confidence, not brash cockiness. The latter will simply annoy the interviewer, and push them to asking you more difficult questions, question that may hit outside of your comfort zone too soon in your job interview. Just remember to look eager, and look confident, but do not overdo it. If you impress your interviewer, then they will be more inclined to easing you into your questions, making your job interview easier to handle overall.

* Finally, always keep in mind that first impressions last in a job interview. How you go about introducing yourself and answering the first questions is the most important part of a job interview, and it will dictate the pace and what will happen all throughout. This is not something you can prepare for necessarily, but it does all depend on how calm you can be. Just try to shake off your anxiety (or even a little bit of it), take deep breaths, and make sure you are mentally prepared, having followed the first step.

Having learned what you should do to prepare yourself for your job interview with the steps above, all you can do now is follow through, and try your best. Knowing is half the battle—effort is the other half. You can do it, and if you are aware of that fact, you will be successful.

Source : http://www.howtodothings.com/careers/how-to-have-a-winning-job-interview

Career Quotes

These quotes equally fit for people of all career types.

1. The best career advice to give to a young is ‘Find what you like doing best and get someone to pay you for doing it’.
2. If you want a big career, a big man and a big life, you have to think big – that’s the only way to get it… you just cannot stand being anonymous.
3. For many people a job is more than an income – it’s an important part of who we are. So a career transition of any sort is one of the most unsettling experiences you can face in your life.
4. He knows nothing and thinks he knows everything. That points clearly to a political career.
5. Think not of yourself as the architect of your career but as the sculptor. Expect to have to do a lot of hard hammering and chiseling and scraping and polishing.
6. No man can succeed in a line of endeavor which he does not like.
7. Work to become, not to acquire.
8. A career is born in public – talent in privacy.
9. The biggest mistake that you can make is to believe that you are working for somebody else. Job security is gone. The driving force of a career must come from the individual.
10. Jobs are owned by the company, you own your career!
11. The true measure of a career is to be able to be content, even proud, that you succeeded through your own endeavors without leaving a trail of casualties in your wake.
12. I’ve arrived at the place if I’m not taking a career risk, I’m not happy. If I’m scared, then I know I’m being challenged.
13. Criticism of others is futile and if you indulge in it, often you should be warned that it can be fatal to your career.
14. Analyzing what you haven’t got as well as what you can have is necessary ingredient of a career.
15. A good manager is a man who isn’t worried about his own career but rather the careers of those who work for him.
16. I think everyone should experience defeat at least once during their career. You learn a lot from it.
17. Your work is to discover your work and then with all your heart to give yourself to it.
18. It’s not what you achieve, it’s what you overcome. That’s what defines your career.
19. I absolutely want to have a career where you make’em laugh and make’em cry. It’s all theater.