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NETWORKING --Talk. Talk.
Talk.
Networking
accounts for over 60% of all positions filled. While other media sources such as
the newspaper and online job databases are good sources for finding a job,
your competition is likely to be greater, therefore, media sources account
for only 20-25% of all positions filled.
Networking can be done both formally and
informally among friends, family, and acquaintances, and friends of
friends, family, and acquaintances. When you're seeking a job, everyone you
speak with can be a potential networking contact. It is essential to know and communicate
exactly the positions you are looking for. For example:
"I'm looking for a management position in Human Resources, preferably
within the technical industry." Opposed to, "I'm looking for a
management position - anything will do." Also, have a little 30 second
to 2 minute verbal resume in mind so that you can quickly and easily give
the person you are talking to a little background information about you and
what you're qualified to do.
INTERVIEWING -- Ask Questions
During
the interviewing process, you are likely to be asked, "Do you have any
questions?" A common mistake is to say "No." perhaps out of
nervousness or perhaps because you feel the interviewer has answered all of
your questions. Whatever the case, you should always be ready with an appropriate
question or two.
Learn about the company ahead of time; it
will help you come up with intelligent questions that the interviewer can
respect. One helpful way to remember your questions when you are nervous is
to take a small notebook with you and jot down some
questions. Lastly, learn all you can about the company and study the most often asked questions. Being prepaired will relax you and enhance your interview experience.
RESUME WRITING -- Short &
Sweet
Resume
writing is a very critical part of the job-hunting process. If your resume
doesn't say what you want it to say about you, you're not likely to find
the job you'll love. On the other hand, you can say too much. Most HR
professionals recommend that you keep your resume to one page if possible,
certainly no more than two.
Tips on shortening a resume:
- Make sure that your resume
reflects only the most vital parts of your past job experience,
especially if you'd like to perform those duties again. If you did it,
but hated it, do you really want to highlight it?
- Take out any personal
information such as hobbies, marital status, lifelong ambitions, etc.
that you might be tempted to put on a resume. Save it for water cooler
talk after you've been hired.
- Have a concise "objective" with a specific positon noted - This makes it easier to grasp at a glance.
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