We are known for what we do rather than what we are. This is an unfortunate reality but one has to accept it. Getting a job is not that simple, but before that the most important thing is knowing what sort of job you are capable of doing and want to do.
First up, consider and revise the goals you have set for yourself. If you don’t have any then make some. Be sure about what you want to achieve and only then can you pursue it. When considering what type of job you want, think about your weaknesses and strengths and then look for a job that suits you best.
The next step is to make a list of all the companies/organizations that you want to apply to. Having done that, it is time to write and send them your resume. Writing an impressive and honest resume is important. Leave out any information you feel would give them a wrong impression if that is possible and focus on highlighting your achievements and positive aspects of your academic and extra curricular activities.
Do some research on these companies and find out on what basis they tend to hire their employees. Find someone recently employed if possible and inquire about the type of questions they can possibly ask. Prepare yourself for the interview and be confident. If your academic results are not good enough, show them that they do not reflect what you are capable of. Companies usually tend to employ people who are confident, show good management skills and are acute learners, rather than based on their academic records.
When you appear for your interview, keep in mind you are about to become a professional, so start acting like one. Dress properly in a business suit and stay upright. Show them you are confident and that you were made for this job. While expressing your point of view on some question they might ask, hold back your biases for a while and make them hear what they want to hear. If you are asked about your future plans and goals, be realistic when you answer.
The amount of competition in this world keeps growing and getting a job becomes more and more challenging. You might fail in your first few interviews but eventually you will find a good job that suits you. Keep trying, because giving up or accepting defeat will be the beginning of a troublesome and worthless life.
By: Jonathon Hardcastle
Posts Tagged ‘Getting A Job’
Job Hunting Survival Tips
January 27th, 2010Getting A Job Without A College Degree
January 24th, 2010The ultimate target of good education is to ensure a good job. This is instilled into us from the early stages of our lives. We know that without a good education it will be difficult, if not impossible, to move forward in life. Those responsible to guide and mentor us in all our formative years teach us to study hard and succeed in academics so that when we grow up we are able to land prestigious and well-paying jobs.
When Does The Job Hunt Begin?
What is the level of education that one needs to acquire before seeking a job? Should it be after graduating from high school or is a college degree essential before seeking employment?
Looking at some of the statistics that are pertinent to the issue, we find that less than 43 percent of students complete high school – out of which only about half enroll in college. This data pertains to the year 2003 and 2004 as reported by the National Center for Education.
Many Jobseekers Do Not Possess a College Degree
Considering the data above, it becomes apparent that a big portion of job hunters do not have a college degree. Therefore, the fact is that a good job can be had without a college degree.
When a candidate has the knowledge, skills and the right attitude and drive to excel, there is no dearth of opportunities to land good jobs.
What Is A Good Job?
Usually, the answer most people would give is that a good job is one that carries a fat salary and moves you high into the social bracket. However, this is not the right answer for describing a “good job”. In reality, a good job is one that you find pleasure and delight in going to each working day of your life.
Applying these standards, numerous jobseekers may be holding “good jobs”. The inevitable result is dissatisfied individuals who harbor a deep sense of disillusionment, even if they are able to get good salaries.
In reality, job satisfaction comes from doing a job that is in line with your passion in life, something you seriously believe in – and not the salary that it gets you. Therefore, the main criteria in selecting a job should be looking at what you enjoy doing and what you make in terms of money, rather than going for something that pays well and trying to force yourself into liking it.
The Advantage of College Education
The decision to go through college is a personal one – and honestly speaking, college education does open up avenues of high-end, knowledge-based employment, and is certainly desirable for anyone seeking to be intellectually empowered.
The real point here is that even without a college degree, there are plenty of jobs available that can allow a person to pursue a very fulfilling and satisfying career.
Deciding What You Want To Do
With so much competition and a plethora of jobs on the scene, it becomes very difficult to decide which way to go if you have not devoted time from your early years towards selecting the career you would like to pursue.
If you find this difficult, then you should complete a career assessment to determine what careers would fit with your personal characteristics and motivations. An employment counselor can also be of great help.
By: Tony Jacowski
How To Easily Get A Job.The Common Mistakes Made By A Job Seeker
November 8th, 2009Would you like to learn how you can easily get a job?
Imagine finishing your university studies completely confident and prepared for the job market—
Knowing all that will be required of you as a job seeker.
Now I want you to imagine being completely in control of the outcome of your job search activities and landing the job of your dreams, which will make you happy and comfortable…Sound too good to be true?
After you read this short article, you will feel like your fears of never getting a job are almost completely solved, all you will have to do is to go out and get one.
Right off the butt, I want to tell you that getting a job is as easy as mastering the English alphabet. However, it makes me sad whenever I see a bright individual blundering his chances of getting a job by committing mistakes that can be easily avoided.
MYTH: Most job seekers think they can get the job just because they’re good at what they do.
FACT: Wrong! The jobseeker that knows how to present his CV, use the CV to effectively search for that job and how to act during an interview and answer questions well will get the job!
So what does this imply, it implies that the process of getting a job boils down to three things namely, Writing a good CV, using the most effective job search methods and mastering the art of interviews. What are the common mistakes you are bound to commit as a job seeker?
1. Writing a poor CV.
These days employers often receive a lot of CVs for advertised and not advertised jobs. Jobs advertised in national papers can often attract hundreds of applicants. So your CV has to be just that little bit special to stand out if you want to obtain interviews.
Your CV is a very important document; with it rest your hopes and dreams for the future -that next step up the career ladder, a better position, more money, new challenges, etc. Your CV therefore has to represent the best you have to offer if you do not want to miss out on that job you saw advertised or heard of which was ‘perfect’ for you.
However, most job seekers spend a lot of time, effort and some times money, to write a very good CV. When they are through with the writing bit, they then make several copies, which they will attach to each and every Job application they send out. This is a very grave mistake. You should never do this. Each Job you apply for, you should send a customized CV. A CV that is tailored to the requirements of that particular position. In the book titled How To Easily Get Jobs-Interview Questions And Their Right Answers Exposed, The four different types of CVs are shown with guidelines on how to write each particular CV and when to submit which CV. Plus the 15 thing that you should never include in your CV.
If you have customized your CV but doesn’t seem to have the impact you wanted and you’re not getting many interviews, then you should consider the following mistakes you might be committing: Are you aiming for jobs that you aren’t qualified for? Does your CV meet the requirements of an advertisement? Are you older/younger than the stated age range on the advertisement? If you can see no reason why you have been rejected then you should look again carefully at your CV, as this must be the culprit.
2. Using Poor Job Search strategies.
Once you have prepared your CV you are ready to start looking for a job .In Uganda today, there are essentially four ways to find a job. The mistake that most graduate Job seekers do is to use only one method of job hunting. There preferred method is that of submitting application for jobs advertise in newspapers, radio and other print media. However, Over 67% of opportunities in any country are not advertised in the above media. So you should be able to use a method that will help you to uncover the 67% of unadvertised jobs. This method is called Networking and is extensively written about in many books including that written by me. In other words, To easily get a job, you will need to use more than two method of job searching. Faster results will be achieved when you use the four method of job searching.
3. Not Being Specific:
Most job seekers prolong their unemployment period because they lack vision. They do not know what they want. Though a few people have succeeded in getting a job when they just requested for any job, the majority of applications that request for any job will end up in the dustbin, never to be seen again.
You should not just apply for any job, ask for a particular Job. What Job Do I want? You should ask your self the question before you start hunting for the job. If you need help in reviewing your career plans you can get advice from ‘Careers Service. These can be found at most departments at the various schools, institutions and Universities. It is important to have thought through the types of job/career you are seeking. This will help you identify potential employers and target your applications by presenting clearly what you have to offer.
4. Minimal interview skills by the candidate:
Many job seekers I have worked on have confided in me that even though they eagerly wait for the interview appointment to come in, they also hate the night proceeding to it. This is because they are not sure of what their performance at the interviews will be. Answering job interviews is an art that is perfected with preparation, practice and repetition. However, job seekers make a mistake of coming for the interview unprepared and not knowing what to expect.
Before you go for an interview, find out everything you can about the company by reading their annual report if they have one. Re-read your application, thinking through your own career and the questions they might ask you. You should try to anticipate the general questions which they will ask and also prepare some questions to ask them.
To do well at the interview, you will need to convince the interviewer you are technically qualified to do the job. You will also need to show that you are sufficiently motivated to get the job done well and that you will fit in with the company’s organizational structure and the team in which you will work.
You should dress smartly for the interview and should leave home earlier than you need to on the day of the interview – you may be delayed by traffic or for other reasons. Be courteous to all employees of the company. At the interview itself you must be positive about yourself and your abilities – but do not make a mistake to waffle.
In the book How To easily Get Jobs-Interview Questions And Their Right Answers Exposed, You are shown secret techniques, tactics and strategies that you should use to out perform your completion and ACE any job interview. It has over 150 common questions asked at job interview, with the most excellent answer in response to the questions. These questions are a good resource for any one preparing for any job interview.
Well, those are some of the mistakes that are committed during job seeking and I have shown you how you can avoid them so as to easily get a job.
By: Janet Mary Namuli
