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Times change. Years ago, a
person would get a job straight out of school and plan
on retiring from that company years later. The loyalty
went both ways. The company would keep its workers on
the payroll, through boom times and bust. Not anymore.
Large companies continually trim
their payroll as they see fit. Jobs are moved wherever
the wages are lower. Full-time positions are cut and
replaced by part-time workers who receive lower wages
and fewer benefits. The employer is driven by the bottom
line.
Does that mean that employees
today are discovering it's much harder to find a
rewarding career? No! The employee simply needs to be
more creative. Finding your dream job doesn't have to be
an uphill struggle!
As an owner of a resume writing
service, I have seen many different types of jobseekers,
from college students hoping to land a summer job to
executives who command a six-figure salary. Yet most of
them have one thing in common - they feel intimidated
when it comes to finding a new job or career.
They have the wrong attitude. If
you think of the job search as a life and death struggle
between David and Goliath, with you being David and
having just run out of rocks, no wonder you feel
intimidated. You need to change your mindset. The job
search is not a struggle, it's a game. When you play a
game you need a plan, one that will enable you to win
the game. Let's cover some of the basics.
First and foremost, you need an
income because sometimes the job search game can last
longer than you want. To stay in the game you need to
have money to meet your basic needs. That means you may
have to go out and find a job, any job that will bring
in some money. Taking the inferior job now allows you
the opportunity to continue playing.
Next you need to decide if you
are willing to relocate. Some people will and some
people won't. If you choose not to relocate it doesn't
mean that you are a bad person, it simply means that you
have different priorities than others. But, if you
aren't willing to relocate, your employment
opportunities are much fewer.
Now that you have decided where
you want to live, what do you want to do with your life?
Spending 1/3 to 1/2 of your life at a career you hate is
not fun. Sit down and analyze where you want to be in
10, 20 or 30 years. How can you reach those goals? Do
you need more training or education?
What companies can help you
reach those goals? Make a list of companies you want to
work for and then research those companies. Find out
everything you can about them and the industry they are
in. If you have to, spend your free time at the library
doing research on them. Knowledge Is Power.
Who is responsible for hiring at
these companies? Find out. A personnel manager hates to
see a cover letter addressed to "Dear Sir or Madam".
Call and talk to this person directly, usually early
morning before their day becomes hectic. Let them know
who you are and why you are calling and tell them you
would like to send in a resume. They will not
automatically say, "Sure, send it in and we'll call you
for an interview", but you would be surprised at how
many people get the job they want without the job ever
being advertised. If you have the skills to fit their
needs, they won't bother spending money to advertise a
position.
Once you're this far into the
game, don't lose it by sending in an inferior resume. If
you are confident in your resume writing abilities,
spend the time and create a resume you will be proud of.
If not, have your resume professionally prepared. It
will be one of the best investments you will ever make.
Interview fun? Sounds like an
oxymoron doesn't it? But remember, as nervous as you are
during the interview, just imagine the nerves of the
interviewer. Whether he/she is the owner or just the
head of the personnel department, they have a lot riding
on who they hire. If they hire the wrong person, they
might find themselves unemployed, or worse yet, end up
losing their own business. He/she is very fearful when
it comes time to interview for a new employee.
You want the job? You alleviate their
fears. Convince them that you have the qualifications to
do the job better then anyone else they will interview.
Be confident. Be prepared. This is where your research
will pay dividends.
Remember, when going through the
job search process, it really is nothing more than a
game. And with every game, the player who is most
prepared will win.
Author of Relish the Job Hunt
and many other job and resume related articles - James
Aure would be honored to assist you with your career
resume, CV, cover letter and other job search needs.
Please contact James at
webmaster@aandaresume.com,
1-800-947-2410 or visit A and A Resume at
http://www.aandaresume.com.
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