Search For A Job

The more effort you put into job searching, the more likely you are to get something out of it. You should spend as many hours each day preparing for and looking for work as you expect to spend working. This way, you will improve your skills in writing job applications and handling job interviews. The more you explore, the more likely you are to discover new techniques and find out which methods are best suited to different situations and which ones work the best for you. This will benefit you when you approach employers and in job interviews.

Do not be put off by hearing that there are limited job opportunities. Become focused, active and well prepared so that you are competitive in any job climate. Job-hunting is hard work but it can also be a journey of discovery and your motivation will affect your chances of finding employment.

Looking for a job requires a positive attitude and careful planning. This means:

• deciding on the kind of work you want before you start
• planning your job search systematically
• collecting and organising all the relevant information about yourself and making sure that it is seen by prospective employers
• being prepared to consider changing your lifestyle and where you live when searching for a job
• learning from each interview.

It can be quite difficult to enter the work force especially when employers want somebody with experience and you can’t get any if nobody will offer you a job. However, there are companies out there who are prepared to hire people with limited experience with the intention to mold the individual to fit in with the company; you just need to know how to present yourself and show a willingness to learn.
You need to know where your interests and ambitions lay, which industry it is you are keen on pursuing, the skills required for the industry and the skills you currently possess. Research the field, talk to career counselors or speak to people in the industry, making sure to identity exactly what is required, how they started their career and any advice they may be able to offer you.

Once you are clear about the skills and aptitude that are required, think about where you have picked up the skills throughout your life. You will be able to include this in your resume.

Skills gained through your education can be used in your resume. Think about projects and presentations you completed, speeches, group activities and computer software you are familiar with. All of these are valuable skills to an employer.

Include all of your work experience including part time roles as this will show that you were able to manage your time and are able to cope with responsibilities. Retail experience is looked highly upon by employers as it gives people time management, problem solving and customer service skills.

Also include skills you have gained through unpaid activities such as sporting activities, community organizations or volunteer work. Being part of a sports team means you have developed time management skills, can work within a team and captaining the team shows leadership qualities.

You should also consider taking on a temporary position, even a voluntary one, so that you can gain some experience. This will demonstrate that you are willing to go to any length to get exactly what you want. Obtaining a lower level position is better than settling for a job in an industry that you don’t want to be involved in. The advantage to obtaining these types of jobs is that it gives you a chance to get your foot in the door. Many companies advertise vacant positions internally before they start looking at the outside world for new employees, that way you’ll be the first to hear about these vacancies which makes you a better candidate for the position you’ve been looking forward to (provided you have a good track record).

The next step is to incorporate all of these skills into a resume. Rather than using a chronological resume you should use a functional resume to highlight your skills and strengths. For example if you were going for a position in sales your first headline would be “Sales Experience”, you would list any accomplishments in this area and any experience from previous jobs.

Once you have completed your resume you may be surprised by all of the qualities, skills and experience you already have. This will give you the confidence to approach potential employers knowing that you are able to offer them what they require.