How to Find a Job
In these hard-knock times, finding a job in the soonest time possible is a necessary skill to survive. Finding a satisfying job that suits us well is also an ideal for many of us. Learn how to find the best job for you using these tips.
Make a Resume
Your resume is not just the list of your credentials and previous work experience-it also represents you. Choose a template that’s easy on the eyes, in a standard format, without using more than two fonts and two columns. Update your work experience, addresses and telephone numbers. Make sure that your grammar and spelling are correct. Do not include information prior to high school and do not try to make your resume longer than it is; those reviewing the resume will see right through it. Keep your resume concise, stressing your past accomplishments, and your potential employer will remember your name.
Upload your resume on job search websites, so that it may be useful even when you are not actively looking for a job, where companies may view your information for their openings.
Evaluate Your Career Path
Potential employers prefer those who have a distinct career path over those who seem to have a chain of seemingly unrelated jobs. Sit down and have yourself evaluate your career path so far. What did you finish in school? What were your extra-curricular activities? What are the things you used to do on the side but never professionally? If you do have a seemingly erratic job history, you can try to find the common denominator in all the jobs you’ve had, and explain it during the interview. Knowing what you can do and what interests you will save you a lot of time in your job search.
Look at Job Listings
Look up job listings from your local newspapers, and on job listing websites online. Be more specific and try out different key words when narrowing down your job search. Social networking sites like Facebook and LinkedIn also provide opportunities for you to find jobs within your own social network.
When looking at job listings, learn how to read between the lines. Even if you do not fit a minor requirement, pass a resume. If you only fit the minimum requirements, pass the resume anyway. What is there to lose, right?
However, do be careful when applying for jobs online as many scams are conducted this way. Anything that solicits money from your or gets you into a pyramid scheme or similar should be avoided.
Update Your Skills
In this day and age of fast technology, it’s almost unacceptable for an applicant not to have the skills to even turn a computer on. Applicants with more experience in a field may find themselves passed over in favor of more tech-savvy individuals.
Whether it be a computer application or new methods of brain surgery, keeping yourself updated with the new technology and needed skills in your field is a big plus. Enroll yourself in classes to learn these new technologies and keep yourself competitive.
Choose Where to Follow Through
Sometimes, it happens that we don’t know much more about the opening we applied for until we are called for an interview. Take this as an opportunity to inquire about the job, at least the salary and the benefits, if they haven’t been mentioned in the job opening yet. Choosing the job interviews and the acceptable salary rates will work for you in the long run. It will also save you the trouble of having to go to an interview for a job that you’re not really interested in.
Give a Good Interview
Do some research on your potential employer prior to your interview. Read up on the latest news, developments and what issues may be affecting them. Knowing the company better will give you a chance to tailor your strengths and experience to their current and future needs. This will also enable you to answer their questions more intelligently, such as questions asking you why you would want to work in their company, or what you can offer them as an employee.
Practice being interviewed in front of a mirror or have a friend help you role-play as the interviewer. Self-confidence and assurance in yourself will also assure your interviewer that you are a capable employee.
After an interview, it is usually polite to give a thank-you note within 24 hours of the interview. You may follow up after a week from the interview day.