Finding a Job

Whether the employment rate is high or low, the same skills are needed to get the attention of the employer where you want to work. You cannot skimp on the steps even if you think that you may not want to this job very long. Sometimes your dream job is hidden in a promotion or a key relationship that you form in a "temporary position".

It is not uncommon for people to be promoted to a higher level completely on the merits of their work within that company. This means that you may not have to have the credentials to be hired right in to that position, but because they know of your work ethic in another department for the past year, you are selected for the position. So you always want to put your best foot forward and see where it will take you!

Getting started on your search requires some organization skills. First of all, select a few employment lists that you like and are appropriate for the type of work that you are looking for. There are many to choose from, but you want to find ones geared for your search. The local newspaper might be the first place to start, whether you buy the hard copy or look online. This will give you an idea of what is in the market in your area. If you have Internet available (and I highly suggest using this method) there are hundreds, if not thousands, of agencies that can help you. Some like Monster, cater more towards a national corporate position, (but they do include others) while Career Builders, also national, but one where you can get local employment from high corporate to minimum wage. There are many different companies, so Google, and take a little time now to find a few that you can get familiar with. Next, store your resume in each one for easy accessibility and then be faithful to check the listings every day or every other day.

Second, if your resume is not up to date, now is the time to get that done. If you do not have a resume, I suggest that you go online or to your neighborhood employment agency, and find a successful resume, and then simply copy it with your information. Resumes are not creative pieces, so to copy a good one is the best way. There are agencies available that are able to do this for you also. Be sure to gather all the information that you need beforehand, such as, schools that you attended and the dates, military dates, past employment, and any specific talents or trades that would make you a more valuable employee in the job market. A good resume should put all that information into a clean, crisp tool for any employer to review your qualifications.

Third, make contact with your neighborhood employment agency at least once a week. Their job is to make employment available to the public and oftentimes they get positions that never go online or in the paper. They also get listings when they are first posted by the company, so let yourself be known to the people who work there. They can be a big help with local positions or temp jobs that come up, and for answering other questions that will give you tips in finding the job that you want. Stay in touch with them.

This next point is important! Look at your "job-searching time", as if it were actually your job. What I mean by this is to set aside certain hours every day, just as if you were going to your job for those hours. Make it the same time everyday that you devote only to your search. By doing this, you can focus on employment and you will take it seriously; not just filling out an application and then calling it quits for the day. Getting a job is a full-time job, and when you begin interviewing, the hours may grow, but that's OK! You're making progress.

Now, let's make sure your interviewing apparel is up-to-date and ready to wear. You will need one good suit, if you're a man, and a simple dress, or pantsuit or business suit for a woman. A woman can wear a jacket with either long or short sleeves, depending on the season. Stay in the neutral tones, like blue, black, brown or beige with basic shoes, nothing fancy. You want to be comfortable and not overboard in the way of prints and patterns for your first interview. Let the potential employer be 'WOWed' by your personality and credentials instead of your outfit. You will want a simple black folder or attache for some basic items - extra copy of your resume, pen, ID card, any certificates or diplomas that need verification. Women keep your make-up simple but tasteful - nothing extravagant. No outrageous piercings aloud! You can inquire at the interview about their policies or you can wait until you are hired and then ask. Now you're prepared for any interview.

Back to your search; if you have certain companies that you would like to work for, by all means send them your resume with a cover letter that stating the position you would like to be considered for along with a sentence or two on why you would like to work for their company. You never know what might have come available that day, or that will be coming open in the near future. So send your resume in.

Follow-up calls to a resume or an application are necessary. You want the potential employer to know that you really are interested (as opposed to merely sending in applications). Wait about one week after sending in the resume and then make a call to inquire if they have received it. They should give you an answer and some direction right then. Then wait one more week, unless they instructed you otherwise, and make a second call to inquire about the status of your application. Don't call more than this, or you might be labeled a nuisance instead of eager. You want to call just enough to let them know that you would really appreciate an interview.

The above steps might need to be repeated depending on the type of position you're looking for and the employment rates in the area where you live, but hang in there!

If you are diligent that phone call or email will come in for an interview.

The interview is where you get a chance, could be 1/2 hour to 1 1/2 hours, to come off of that black and white paper that they are looking at that holds everything they know about you so far, and to express your integrity and talent for that position. You can do this in different ways, but constantly keep in the back of your mind - "This is the first time we have met." And offer information about yourself from that perspective. By doing so you will give the interviewer pertinent information and you will not allow yourself to get too friendly with the interviewer. You want to present yourself as amiable and able to have a good conversation, yet the entire conversation should be centered on your virtual position, the company and its progress, and anything else related to the industry of that job. When asked specific questions, just answer them confidently and comfortably and stay with that subject. Try not to go out on a tangent and getting to far from the mainstream. Once you've thrown something out there, whether on purpose or by mistake, try to tie it back in to your abilities at this position, or something within the company. Always come back to center, which is to answer this question, "How will I make this a better company if I'm hired?"

When the interview is completed, ALWAYS shake the interviewers hand and say something like, "Thank you, Mr. Smith, It was pleasure talking to you today!" People like to hear their own name, so leave them thinking of you pleasantly.

Alright. Now the ball is in their court. You have shown the perspective employer some very good points about why you should be hired, you've made a good first impression with a clean, crisp appearance and hopefully you given some good reasons to be interested in you. This is the hard part - the waiting. Don't sit idly though. Even if this is THE position for you, you've got to get back into the search mode until the deal is finalized - you are walking in for your first day of work. Unfortunately there are too many things that could go wrong - things that could be way out of your control, so you want to keep up the process if you have to secure another position. So right back at it.

You may have a second and a third interview scheduled, with different parts of the management team, just always remember to answer the all important question for them.

If you wait a week or two, or however long they tell you at the interview, and you haven't heard anything, give them one or two calls to inquire.