Job Seekers Guide

Finding the Right Job Match

The surest way to obtain employment is to build an informed, realistic job search strategy, and put it to work.  Finding a job is your job. 

Work on it every day, all day.  It will change your role from job seeker to job holder.  This is the bridge to employment.

Prepare Yourself

• Build your qualifications
  1)  Evaluate Your skills
  2)  Revise and update your résume'
  3)  Develop a personal elevator pitch
• Tweak your thinking
  1)  Change your attitude
  2)  Settle down to the task
  3)  Fit the job to your skills
• Do your homework
  1) Prepare for a behavorial interview
  2) Research the company
  3) Research the job skill requirements
  4)  Tailor-fit your resume'
• Start the job search
  1) Use your network, build a new network
  2) Volunteer your time
  3)  Cold call
  4)  Dress for success for all job interviews, and on the job thereafter.  Be engaged, eager, positive, and be an asset; you owe it to yourself, and your employer.
  5)  Prepare for open-ended questions.  Thoughtful answers give employers insight into your personal thoughts.
• Follow up with the interviewer
  1)  Review the interview with yourself.
  2)  Send a follow-up letter or email
  4)  Prepare for a follow up interview
  5)  Keep searching, until you have an offer

Put It all To Work

• Your search is a full-time job.  You are employed by yourself as the sales/marketing person to sell yourself.
• What does your social media profile say about you? Employer's use social media to evaluate who you are.  Your friends can hurt you. Keep it clean.
• You may have to work your way up from apprentice before you can be the manager.

Workplace Savvy - Keep Your Job

Put this workplace savvy to work for you now. 

You have an obligation to yourself and your employer to be engaged and accountable on the job.  Only you can determine where you are going, and how you are going to get there. Getting there is a process.  Get busy!

On the Job Success Strategies

• Be positive - Your attitude is a choice you make.  A positive and optimistic attitude is good for you, and for everyone around you.
• Be realistic - Not your favorite job? It is, however a paycheck and if you need the income, it makes sense to stay where you are, and leave in good standing when you are prepared.
• Be engaged -  Put the job first.  Focus on the job. Your employer is paying for your time and skills. The most productive employees will keep the job.
• Be on time -  Workers who are late, take extended lunch hours, use sick time as a crutch for bad personal choices, and those that leave their post early will be unpopular.  Be punctual, be engaged, be responsible, and accountable.
• Be a team player - Employees who don't get along well with others, who gossip, or aren't willing to engage, aren't going to be at the top of the retention list.
• Be flexible - Flexibility is central to keeping the job you have. Shift changes, week-end work, overtime to meet objectives, scheduling flexibility, and even volunteering time all demonstrate willingness as an engaged and eager employee.
• Be a volunteer - This is one of the best job security strategies. Volunteer for new initiatives, volunteer help meet objectives and finish projects; take on more responsibility.
• Don't be a complainer - Complainers drag everyone down.  No matter the legitimacy, keep it to yourself.  Keep your thoughts to yourself.  Be assured, someone is going to repeat or report what you say or post.
• Change your thinking - What could be different to make you stay?  Is a transfer or a shift change possible - What can you do differently?
• If everything fails - It isn't always feasible to stay where you are.  Prepare a good faith departure.  Abrupt ends aren't appealing to prospective employers.