Job Seekers

Are you a Job Seeker Looking for a Better Opportunity?
With the Right Approach You Can Reach the Stars!
Here are Some Tips that will Get You in the Door & Increase Your Odds of Finding the Job You Want!

ATTITUDE!
Your attitude can dramatically hinder or help you in your job search, not to mention your life! It dictates how you approach life and its challenges. If you don't believe there are many good jobs out there, guess what? There won't be. If you don't believe you have what it takes to get that dream job you have always wanted, you will never get it. In other words, if you don't believe in yourself, a potential employer won't believe in you either. Whatever you perceive to be so.....becomes reality.

Your dreams will never come true unless you find a way to change your attitude. A good way to move toward having a positive attitude is to set goals and keep your attention on them. Keep busy and focus on the task at hand; securing not just a job, but a great job! If you keep your calendar full, you will be less likely to find yourself making excuses, blaming others or the economy or getting angry and frustrated. If your attitude falters, confide in someone who cares about you, a family member or a friend, so you can get back on track.

If you are serious about getting what you want, you need to understand that finding a job is a job.........a fulltime job. If you follow through and do all you could be doing, you will be too busy to think about failure. Many psychologists agree that 'you move in the direction of what you think about the most'. So, if your thoughts are negative more often than positive, you will (subconsciously) be driven primarily by your negative thoughts. Pretty scary, isn't it?

ETIQUETTE
Business etiquette is a critical part of understanding how to behave and conduct yourself during an interview and throughout your job search. For example, how you answer the telephone can often make or break your chances for a face-to-face interview. Many employers use the telephone to 'screen' applicants, so make it a habit to answer the phone in a pleasant professional manner. A simple 'hello' is best. Treat a phone conversation just like you would a face-to-face interview. Also, keep a copy of your resume, a pad of paper and pen next to each phone in the house, so when the phone rings you will be prepared. If you don't have an answering machine – get one! You can't conduct a job search without one. An employer is not going to keep trying to reach you. They will just move on to the next applicant. When you are in a face-to-face interview, your business etiquette or 'code of conduct' will be scrutinized very closely. The better your communication and people skills are, the better your chances for success. Here are a few pointers on business etiquette and improving your communication skills:
• Always be polite and courteous to everyone you meet. Everyone!
• Never speak negatively or put down a past employer or colleague.
• When meeting someone for the first time, stand up (if you are sitting down), use a firm handshake, smile and make eye contact.
• Always attempt to address everyone by name, including the Receptionist.
• Speak in a professional manner. In other words, always use good grammar. It is not appropriate to use slang of any kind. For example, answer with a proper 'Yes' or 'No', not 'Yeah' or 'Nope'.
• Never interrupt. Instead of thinking about what you are going to say next, listen carefully to what the interviewer is asking or saying to you.
• Listen! The secret to truly understanding an interviewer's needs and desires is to pay attention not only to what they say, but how they are saying it.
• Keep your appointments! And, never be late. In fact, it is best to show up about ½ hour before your scheduled interview, because most employers will require you to fill out a job application. Also, showing up late for anything, be it professional or personal, is just plain rude! It communicates to those who are waiting for you that you have little or no concern or respect for them.
• After your interview, always follow-up with a thank you letter. A little tip: You can use a thank you letter to re-sell your qualifications and reiterate you interest in the position. In addition, only about 20% of job seekers remember to send a thank you letter at all, so be a part of the minority and remember to do so. It will make a positive impression on the interviewer.
• Always do what you say you are going to do! This is just good advice for how to live your life in general. If you tell someone you are going to do something, do it! No excuses!

FACE TO FACE
Think of your first face to face interview as a blind date. You are put in a situation where you must create rapport with a perfect stranger. Easier said than done! You are dealing with so many variables that even if you've done everything possible to prepare yourself, it's still a crap shoot. Understanding this should make it easier to be philosophical about those interviews that didn't go so well. Some people just don't connect and are probably not meant to. I like to think that we chose people to be in our lives, personally or professionally, because of compatibility or a connection. Unfortunately, in the real world we are sometimes forced to work with people we don't like or have no connection to. This is another one of the motivations a job seeker has for seeking employment elsewhere.
When I teach workshops on Interviewing Strategies, another comparison I make is that a job interview is similar to a sales call. Your job is to sell yourself and your qualifications to the interviewer. One of life's little truisms is that confidence is attractive. It's a magnet that attracts people. The more confident you are about your value as a strong candidate, the more likely your chances of making the short list. Again, it all comes down to attitude.
Don't confuse ego with confidence. Displaying a strong ego is not attractive and is a very bad strategy if you are serious about getting (and keeping) a job. The reason for this is projecting a strong ego often lies in the exact opposite, insecurity. Someone who is self confident does not need to boast, act self important, or behave in a cocky manner. Confidence is self assurance, a positive attitude and a conviction in one's own self worth.