Thanks to the current economic downturn, employment is a hot-button issue on the cover of all the nation’s newspapers. To beat the odds and find employment in these difficult times takes a lot of work and effort. You must arm yourself with as many employment tips as you can find.
Dress well when you go on an interview. The best advice is to ‘dress as a boss’. Go in dressed as if you are the boss of the person in the position you want. This can be a great way to stand apart from the pack in any interview setting, and shows you are serious about the job.
Being at the bottom level of any job is not easy. The goal of course is to always move up. To ensure that you are not stuck on the bottom always be on time, if not early. This will tell your employer that you are reliable, and he will then place more responsibility in your hands.
During your first week on the job, stay as late as you possibly can. This will show that you have a great work ethic and mean business. Furthermore, it serves to form a quality first impression with your co-workers and upper management that will be responsible for promoting you in the future.
Keep in touch with your former employers if you left in good standing. You never know if a job opening will come up in which you are qualified for. Keeping your established business network healthy will prevent you from being forgotten. In addition, it is easier for a former employer to give you a glowing recommendation if they remember you.
When it comes to communicating with potential employers, focus on keeping your words bright, light and polite. ‘Bright’ refers to the quality and freshness of your ideas compared to those of other candidates. Do you offer interesting perspectives and insight into innovation? ‘Light’ sentiments avoid overly cynical or negative statements. ‘Polite’ is self-explanatory, but is commonly overlooked in interpersonal communications. This includes proper grammar, respectful title and a nod to professional etiquette.
Showcase your writing skills and creative abilities with a comprehensive, interesting portfolio. Even if you are not pursuing a career in writing or marketing, communication skills are critical in any profession. Your portfolio should include a variety of written documents, such as press releases, business reports, research findings and executive summaries. These demonstrate that you can communicate with others in a professional environment and formal context.
Learn how to translate your job skills. There have been several industries that have taken substantial hits, and they will not be recovering anytime soon, so you may have to look outside of your field for some opportunities. Furthermore, keep track of which fields have grown recently. Using this knowledge can help you see how your skills can be translated for these growing opportunities. You can also use apprenticeships, internships, and some part-time transition roles.
When you are applying for jobs, make sure that you have a list of three reliable references prepared for potential employers. Do not add friends or relatives to the list since they may not be aware of your work ethic. Good references include former supervisors, co-workers and your college classmates.
Your resume will often be the first thing that a prospective employer will see, and without a good resume, you can rest assured that you won’t be called in for an interview! Show your resume to your friends and family members whose opinions you value to get their feedback and advice.
As stated in the beginning of this article, the current jobs environment is not good at all. This does not, however, mean that you are doomed. By educating yourself, carefully studying the information in this article and applying all that you have learned you can find great success. Stay positive, and never give up!
