You may be astonished to discover that some of the most common job search tactics are unsuccessful for most of the individuals who use them. Ideally, you want to use various methods to contact employers. 6 of the most popular resources and methods are:
*Contacting Employers Directly*
One of the most compelling ways to acquire a job is to contact employers directly, whether you know of an opening or not. First, create a check list for classifying the types of companies for which you’d like to work for. You might classify them by product line, size, growth outlook, or geographical locale.
The next step is to begin working on your resume. Send out your resume with a personalized letter. The letter should be addressed to a specific person, not just to the Personnel Office. After sending your resume and letter wait 2 or 3 days, then call the person you sent it to and let them know why you’re calling. Speak with confidence, why you would be a good candidate for hiring, and what kind of position you’re interested in.
*Networking*
Networking is the way of exchanging data, contacts, and services among individuals, groups, or corporations. Networking is a great method for finding a new or better job. Some of the groups and organizations you can contact or attend for carrying out your net working plans are…Industry and Trade Shows…Business Seminars…Conferences…Professional Organizations…
Career fairs is another important job-searching resource. With representatives and hiring personnel from various companies there, provides the opportunity to introduce yourself and have the chance to exhibit your skills and experience.
On-line newsgroups are an excellent place for networking, with discussion groups to suit practically every interest. These group participants generally include human resources agents and hiring supervisor, who lend their know-how by discussing the qualities they look for in employees.Taking part in on-line discussion groups brings a much larger exposure than, say, going to a meeting.
*Internet Job Search*
The Web is fast becoming the place to look for jobs on the Internet. There are many career resources on the Web that are devoted to job listings, with additional lists spring up every day. The Web has listings for job searchers of all backgrounds. Four of the major and most popular job-search sites on the Web are Career City, Career Mosaic, Job Options, and the Monster Board. Another way to find job listings on the Web is to perform a keyword search in search engine’s like Google, or Yahoo. Use keywords like “employment opportunities”, “job listings”, or “positions available”.
*CD-ROM Job Search*
Business directories on CD-ROM contain a vast amount of data for anyone searching for a job. Most furnish the same basic information; company name, description, address, phone and fax numbers, e-mail or Web site address, product and financial information. All directories list one or more contacts, so you know exactly whom to call for information or where to send your resume. The following is a list of 11 Databases on CD-ROM.
1. American Big Businesses Directory CD-ROM: This CD-ROM includes company descriptions that list business type, merchandise, and sales data. Available only through libraries.
2. American Business Disc: This CD-ROM contains general data on over 10 million US firms. Available only through libraries.
3. American Manufactures Directory: Lists over 1/2 million manufacturing companies with 20 or more employees.
4. Corp Tech Explore Database on CD-ROM: Lists and describes over 50,000 mostly private firms. It also gives the names and titles of Executives-Administrators, Sales Managers, and Supervisors. Available in many public, college, and university libraries.
5. D & B Million Dollar Database: Furnishes data on over 1 million businesses of numerous firms, listing the number of employees, sales volume, name of the parent company, and corporate headquarters. Also includes the names and titles of top executives. Available in colleges, universities, and some public libraries.
6. Hoover’s Company Capsules on CD-ROM: Provides information and profiles of more than 11,000 firms and 30,000 executives. This CD-Rom includes detailed data on the company history and products. Available at public and universities.
By: Lamar Deane
Archive for October, 2009
6 Key Steps to Job Searching
October 28th, 2009Top 10 Cv Tips to Help you Secure your Next Accountancy Job
October 28th, 2009Here are just 10 top CV writing tips to help you find a new Accountancy Job…
Keep it Simple
A CV is your first and possibly only chance of securing an interview in an new accountancy role. It is therefore vitally important that it works for you and not against you. Use it to draw attention to your strengths, achievements and accountancy skills.
Lead with Achievements
Make frequent use of active verbs, such as, achieved, set up, managed, responsible for, led. Don’t use bullet points to describe jobs, prose is easier to read and you can be more descriptive. Show what accounting tasks you have been involved in and where you have achieved the most.
Work Reverse Chronologically
Start with your current employment, and work back, remembering to include the name of your employer, start and end dates, your job title and a brief description, plus your accomplishments. If you are looking for your first job, list any relevant accountancy work experience first, paid or unpaid.
Be Honest
Lying on your CV is a waste of your time as well as for your prospective employer. Adding six months to your time in a job can seem like a good idea, but if you are caught out you will have lost the job for sure. But don’t sell yourself short. If you think the three summers you spent working for a local accountant learning about their practices and procedures is important, you should say so.
Specific Skills
It could be a good idea to list all IT software packages that you can use to perform your accountancy job and show how familiar you are with these. It could be impressive that you are knowledgeable about online programmes. Ensure you mention other very specific accounting skills that are important to the job.
Education
Give equal attention to achievements while at University – but not if you have been in the job market for more than two years. Captain of the debating team, student union rep, set designer for the university play all show you to be enthusiastic, a self-starter and full of initiative.
Don’t Overcrowd Your CV
Don’t feel you need to keep your CV to one page. If it’s three pages then that is better than it all being on top of each other, as long as the content and layout is appropriate. If your potential employer has to work hard to read your CV, they will quickly lose interest.
Spelling
No employer will want to hire someone who can’t be bothered to check their own work and typos and grammatical errors mean your CV goes straight in the bin. Don’t rely on the spell check to pick up any mistakes, read it over thoroughly.
Two Pairs of Eyes
Ask someone else to proof read your CV for you, as a fresh eye is useful to spot mistakes or offer suggestions. Once you’ve read your CV three or four times, it’s difficult to stand back and look at it objectively. Never try and finish your CV in one sitting, always go back to it after a couple of days.
References
Check with referees before you use their names. There’s nothing worse than using someone who has either moved on or holds a grudge against you. The best people to use for references are your current employer or a professor or teacher at your college/university.
By: Corinne Dauncey
