Taking the Plunge: Are You Ready for the Career You Have Always Wanted?
Many people dream of different kinds of lives, different kinds of jobs. Think about it. A full-time job takes up at least 40 hours of every week of your job. Many people who work full-time jobs actually find them selves pulling 60 and 70 hour work weeks. If you are in a job that you feel no passion for - or worse, that you actually dislike - then it is time to make a change. Depending on what you really want to do with your life, you may be able to completely change your professional life within a matter of months.
Before you get ready for a big professional change, however, it is important to decide if you are really ready for the change. Are you ready to pay for additional education or training to take the next step in your career? Or, are you comfortable with taking out a loan? Can you take the necessary time to prepare for your new position? These are all factors that are very important to take into consideration.
If you feel that you have most of the training and experience that you need, then you need to plan a good exit plan to get out of your new job and begin a thorough and aggressive job search. It is best, of course, to secure a new position before handing in your resignation. It can take a while to land the perfect job and you don't want to go too long between paychecks.
Searching for a great new job takes both persistence and patience. Make sure that you are using all applicable job search engines and making the most of all of your professional contacts in order to find out about what jobs are on the market. One great way to expand your job search is to look at positions that are open in other cities. If you can relocate, then this is a great way find great opportunities .
Once you have identified a job that you are interested in, be sure to follow the application procedures exactly as your prospective employer outlines them. Make sure that you are fully prepared for your interview and send a note of thanks afterwards. Don't be disheartened if you do not land the job of your dreams on the first try. Preparing for a professional life that you love and feel satisfied with takes patience and a strong belief in yourself.
Tips For A Safe Job Search Online
The Internet has been a boon to people looking for jobs. It also has its drawbacks. Because it is increasingly easier to set up a website and look like a legitimate business, there are also frauds and scams rampant online. It’s hard enough looking for a job without having to face scam artists as well.
The first way to avoid a scam is an easy one: don’t apply for a job that requires a hefty sum upfront. This is often the case with work at home opportunities. These jobs promise “$500 a day! Guaranteed!” when in fact they guarantee nothing of the sort. What normally happens is that the employee must purchase instructional materials upfront which tell you nothing that isn’t already readily available online. This is pretty simple scam but it’s a common.
A more elusive scam is one where you complete a fair amount of work for a business and then never get paid. This is a much more difficult scam to spot because you won’t know it’s in effect until payday. To avoid this scam, you need to make absolutely certain of the business’s legitimacy. If your employer does not have a long-term business model, this should be a clear signal.
This scam is not always the case with telecommuting work, but with brick and mortar jobs as well. For telecommuting work, it is important to sign a contract ahead of time in which there is a clear demarcation of a pay schedule. Always read the fine print on a contract—something that says employees will not be paid until the business turns a profit is another signal. This can mean months or even years.
Never give your bank account number or Paypal information for direct deposit unless you are absolutely sure that the company is legitimate. If you are unsure about a company’s legitimacy, ask to be paid by check. You can check the Better Business Bureau to see if a particular business, or employer, is on a watch list.
Using job search engines poses a particular risk. Scammers post fake job listings for the purpose of identity theft. In a false job application, it will ask for your social security number, bank information, credit card information, and other sensitive information, such as number of children or marital status. None of these are necessary for applying for a job so be wary of a job that asks for this type of information.
Because of the anonymity of the Internet, it can be difficult to weed out these scams. A business can look perfectly legitimate online when in fact it is a front for fraudulent purposes. Basically, what it comes down to is this: if it looks too good to be true, it usually is. A job that promises a lot of money for little work is probably not on the up and up. These job listings are trying to catch people at their most vulnerable: desperate for work and willing to try anything. By and large, the Internet is a safe place for job hunting, but you should exercise caution.
Tips to Help Your Job Hunt
A successful job hunt takes preparation, persistence and time. Regardless whether you've been in sales before, you are now. And the product you're selling is you.
Selling yourself is knowing your story, concisely and clearly packaging your skills and experiences to meet a company's need.
There are three major sections to job hunting: the quest, the presentation and the interview.
THE QUEST
The actual search for a job might be the most difficult part because it's the aspect of the job hunt most out of your control. Typical places to learn about openings and opportunities include major newspaper want ads, but even more these days computer searches. Ultimately, most job openings go unadvertised and are learned about through networking. Let people know you are looking for work. If you hear about an opening at a particular company use your network to see if anyone can help you either learn more about the company, or the kind of work they do, or to actually refer you. You might not know about your colleague's old frat brother who's now a VP, so it pays to keep your network informed of your job search.
If you are having difficulty learning of the right opportunities, you should consider using a recruiter. In fact, many people think you should try to use two recruiters to help your job hunt. (If you do use more than one recruiter, be above board and make clear to each of them what you're doing).
PRESENTATION
Your initial communication, your chance to make a first impression, is almost always communicated through writing. Unless you're doing some kind of video resume for a new media company, you're writing a resume and cover letter. So now the impression you're making is not just based on what you've accomplished but how you write and even more, how you present yourself.
Typos, misspelling and grammar errors will kill you. And you never get that chance again to make that first impression.
Expect your resume to be looked at for about ten seconds, just long enough to find a reason to dismiss it. Don't give them one. Make your resume no longer than two pages and use bullet points. Remember, the function is to entice the company into interviewing you.
In your cover letter, don't lie about accomplishments, especially education which tends to be looked at more harshly. Also be careful using a generic letter for every job you apply. Instead, tailor your letter for the particular company by mentioning something you've learned about them.
THE INTERVIEW
When the interview is being scheduled, you have the right to ask who will be in that meeting, and what the focus of the questions will be. This information gives you a chance to visualize yourself successfully answering the questions.
You want to dress as the employees do, but just a little nicer. For example, if jeans are acceptable, wear them, but with a jacket. If you have any doubt how to dress, error on the side of formality.
Double check your appearance, your breath, and make sure your cell phone is off. Also, you're going to shake hands, so if you're nervous and get clammy hands, be sure to dry them off before your interview.
As you engage in a discussion at your interview, keep your eyes open for body language, yours and theirs. Be aware of the way you're sitting. is it too far forward, too far back? Maintain eye contact and try to be aware how the interviewer is physically reacting to your answers.
The most important thing you can do in the interview is to emphasize what you alone can offer this company. The essence of all sales is the perception of good value. Let the interviewer know how you can see yourself in a specific way contributing to the company.
Good luck.
On The Road: Finding a Job in Another City
On The Road: Finding a Job in Another City
If you are willing to relocate, then you can greatly broaden your job search. By broadening your job search, you have a greater chance of finding employment that you really love. Looking for jobs all over the country (or all over the world, depending on how far you are willing to go and how many languages you speak) can seem like quite a daunting research project. Using the following guide, however, you should be able to find a great job in another city (or country) without experiencing a nervous break down.
STEP 1: Define Your Parameters
The first thing that you must do is to decide how far afield you are willing to go. Then, you must decide what kind of place you want to relocate to. If you hate city life, then steer clear of jobs in Manhattan, Tokyo, Los Angeles, and any other major metropolis. Once you have figured out these parameters, you can start searching jobs by specific locations. If you decide, for example, that you want to work in a medium-sized city in the specific Northwest, then begin looking for jobs in that specific area.
STEP 2: Start Sending Applications
Once you have begun your job search and have identified a few great positions that you would love to have, start sending out the best applications that you can put together.
STEP 3: Travels
Many of the companies who will consider hiring you will ask for an in-person interview, so you must be prepared to make a preliminary trip in order to secure a job. Remember that you can claim a large portion of job-search costs on hour taxes. Be sure to save receipts for air fare, gas, food, and lodging while you are on the road for interviews.
STEP 4: Landing the Job and Landing in a New Town
Ok, now that you have landed the job, you have a lot of work ahead of you before ever set foot in your new office. You have to get a new place to live, set up housekeeping, figure out where to grocery shop, and complete a myriad of other tasks. One of the best ways to get acclimate in a new town is the enlist the help of a few friendly folks. Ask if anyone in your new office can recommend a good neighborhood close to work where you might find a good house or apartment. Then start looking through classifieds to find a great place. If you have the luxury of time, try to move a few weeks before your first day. Be sure to get involved in your new community in order to make connections outside of work.
STEP 5: Enjoy!
Congratulations! You have a great new job in a great new city.
Top Job Hunting Tips
Job hunting doesn’t have to be a pain. Be prepared, look in the right places, and maximize your search. Here are a few tips for your job hunt.
Check your local newspaper for jobs. This can be a tedious task especially when you can search for jobs online. The only reason to search for jobs in your local newspaper is when you don’t have access to a computer. You can read a newspaper anywhere like in line at the grocery store, while you’re having lunch or riding the bus. Sometimes you can find a job in the paper that you didn’t see online. It can’t hurt to give it a peek.
The best way to job hunt is online. Hunting for jobs online is the easiest way to look through job ads. These websites have time-saving features you can utilize in your search. One great feature is the keyword search. You can type in a certain phrase or job title and you’ll receive a list of results that match your search.
Within this search you can sort the job ads by date so that you see the recently posted job ads instead ads that have been out for two weeks or more. You can forget about those jobs. Employers have either hired someone by that time or at least received dozens and dozens of resumes that will take weeks to weed through. If they still can’t find someone the employer will repost the job anyway. Don’t waste your time with old posts. The trick is to apply to a new posting as early as possible, preferably the same day.
Anther way to search job web sites is by location or zip code. This allows you to really set the area that you wish to work. No point in looking at a position that’s two hours away unless you’re heart is set on that particular company.
Once you’ve located the jobs you want, the next step is to send out your resume. You should already have your resume done before you search for jobs. You can’t be the first to email or fax your resume if you still have to take a day to polish it. Your resume should be ready to go so that you can make minor changes quickly in order to tailor your resume to a particular position.
Most companies will ask you to email your resume. Be sure to have your resume in a file that can be opened by most programs. A Word file is a good option. Pay attention to the job ad. Does it ask you not to send your resume as an attachment? Many companies don’t like to open attachments because of computer viruses. If you see this warning, copy and paste your resume into the body of your email. Email it to yourself first so you can see what it looks like. Change any fonts or bullet points if it doesn’t show well in email format.
Whether you use the newspaper or the Internet, job searching doesn’t have to be a pain. The trick is to be prepared to send out your resume at a moment’s notice. Soon you’ll have the job you’re looking for.
