People are usually most satisfied and successful in careers that match their skills, interests and abilities. When you understand your skills and abilities, it will become easier to begin looking for a job that you will enjoy.
Here are four tips to help you as you begin looking for a job:
- Clearly Identify Your Job Goal
- Learn About the Job Market
- Set a Schedule
- Use Several Methods to Look for a Job
Clearly Identify Your Job Goal
When you begin looking for a job, having a clear job goal is very important. A clear job goal helps you be realistic about the job you are searching for. Be honest about what you want to do and what you can do. People who have a clear job goal are usually more satisfied in their job. This is because they have taken the time to understand themselves. They know what they are good at and what they would enjoy. Often, people are unhappy in their job because they are unaware of, or have not given thought to their career goals.
Your job goal should be short. A job goal is usually just one or two sentences. Write about the kind of job you want and what you expect from that job. It is not all that helpful to have a job goal that is too general or is not clear. Your goal should focus on something specific. For example, describe the job you want or the area you want to work in. Write about your abilities and how you wish to use them. Or write about the type of company you want to work for.
Learn About the Job Market
To find out how to begin looking for jobs that match your abilities, think about being a detective! Do a search and find the companies that you might want to work for. Find out who would be interested in your background and experience. Read the business section of your local newspapers to learn about growing community organizations, new start-up companies, and businesses moving into your area. Use the Internet to search for companies that interest you and that may have work that matches your skills and interests. Here are some of the places to find employment information:
- City libraries. Ask for the information on job hunting and employment opportunities. This will include books on job hunting, different kinds of directories, and information about local businesses. Librarians who know how to locate the information you need are usually willing to help.
- Chambers of Commerce. The Chamber of Commerce in your city will have information on local businesses, including the size of each business, their addresses, the names of the officers and owners and often, they may even know about specific hiring needs and opportunities.
- Trade and Industry Associations. You can start with associations you belong to and others specific to your industry. Get copies of their publications. Open positions are usually announced in the back of the publications or on their websites.
- Internet. Use the internet to search for companies that interest you and may have work that matches your skills and interests.
Set a Schedule
Job hunting takes time. The best way to make sure you have enough time to spend on your search is to come up with a schedule. Creating a schedule improves your job search. It helps to divide your tasks and makes sure you spend the time you need to find a job. To do this, write which days and times you can focus specifically on your job search.
For example, you could schedule 2 hours on Mondays and Tuesdays to complete online applications. You could plan Wednesdays to be the day you follow-up on job leads or on applications you submitted the week before. Schedule the same block of time on Thursdays to research companies that you can send letters and resumes. On Fridays, spend time reviewing new job postings and finding new ones you want to apply to.
Use Several Methods to Look for a Job
There are many ways to find a job. Networking is one of the most effective ways to find a job. Networking involves building relationships and talking with family, friends, former co-workers and others to find job information. Signing up with social media sites is a good way to build your network online, get your name out there, and make job contacts. Use job ads and job boards to look for jobs that match your skills and interests.
Even volunteering to do work that is related to your career can help you find a job. Volunteering can give you additional experience, references and new networking contacts. These are just some of the ways to find a job. Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics suggests that people who use a variety of job search methods are likely to find jobs more easily than those who rely on only one or two job search methods.
We hope you found these tips useful for getting your job search started. If you would like to see how our program can help your students with workplace readiness, click the free trial link below.
