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What is the best time to look for a job? And 4 more Q&A from a career coach

What is the best time to look for a job? And 4 more Q&A from a career coach

What is the best time to look for a job? And 4 more Q&A from a career coach

What is the best time to look for a job? And 4 more Q&A from a career coach

Marlene Chism

www.marlenechism.com

by Marlene Chism 04/03/2019

You’ve asked – we’ve answered! Talentese team of HR experts & partner coaches is at your serve to help you solve career puzzles and to answer to all kinds of questions you have about career development and job search. Do you want your question to appear here? Ask it in Twitter @talentesejobs!

 

Jan H., Germany

Hi! When it is the best time/season to look for a job?

Jan,

the best time to look for a job is when you don’t really need the job. The point being, that when you are in a state of “need” or you are nervous because you are struggling to find employment you aren’t able to present your most valuable self to the employer. So, the best time to look for a job is when you already feel successful. However, whether you need the job or not, it’s all about mindset and preparation. The mindset is this: I have something valuable to offer this company. The preparation part is to know about the company. Study their culture and know their core values. Determine what you bring to the table. Come to the interview wanting to be of service.

 

Felipe F., Colombia

My friend is really upset because he’s sent tons of CVs and got no job offers he would like to accept. How can I keep him motivated and make him try further because he’s seeing no results of his efforts and is really frustrated. Thank you for the answer!

Felipe,

You have to let your friend experience his own journey. You can encourage him, but chances are he might need some expert help with a career counselor who can give him honest feedback about why he is experiencing struggles. Try to remember that even though you feel his pain, it’s not really your job to keep your friend motivated. Just lend an ear, be supportive and encourage him to find the expert help he needs to move forward.

 

Markus S., Germany

I’ve been working in my company for 1,5 years now. I don’t see a lot of opportunities here, because I’m basically doing the same things I’ve been doing when I just started, but I don’t know if I should look for a new job now or wait longer to create some “consistency” in the CV – in the Uni and after graduation I’ve had only short internships (3, 4,6 months). Would it mean in my future job search how long have I stayed on your first job?

Markus,

I’d like to challenge you to ask a different question. Instead of worrying about whether you should stay until you find another opportunity, ask yourself how you can create opportunity right where you are. Put together a plan and then go ask your boss for new opportunities. Get crystal clear on what kind of experience you desire. It’s easier to get opportunity if you know exactly what you are wanting. Once you can truly articulate what you want, then you can make a game out of it and start designing your own opportunities. You may ask for mentoring. You may ask to cross train. You may even have to do some volunteer work that doesn’t pay much. In other words don’t ask what your company can do for you, ask what you can do for your company. See the bigger picture. Make yourself valuable right where you are, then you won’t have to worry about whether or not to leave. You will either attract the right opportunities there, or you will be recruited.

 

Rafael H., Brazil

What are the best tools to keep my skills updated?

Rafael,

If you were a dentist, I would say attend dental conferences. If you were a carpenter I would say apprentice with a master carpenter. Whatever industry you are in, there are associations you can belong to that will keep you updated and there are always mentors with more experience who are willing to share their knowledge. With that said, the one skill set that will elevate you in every single area of your life is what I call critical skills. Critical skills are often referred to as “soft skills.” The reason I call them critical skills is because the one skill everyone needs is to learn how to communicate effectively. Nothing happens without communication. You need communication to sell, to negotiate, to manage conflict, and to manage others. A great affordable resource is Linked In Learning Global Platform. You can learn both hard and soft skills for a monthly fee.

 

Marlene Chism is a consultant, executive educator, and international speaker. She is the author of three books: Stop Workplace Drama (Wiley 2011); No-Drama Leadership (Bibliomotion 2015); and 7 Ways to Stop Drama in Your Healthcare Practice (Greenbranch 2018). Marlene is an expert offering two courses on the Linked In Learning Global Platform.

Marlene works with corporate executives and leaders of high-growth organizations that want to stop workplace drama, elevate leadership, and significantly improve strategic relationships. From corporate retreats, to association meetings Marlene’s message of empowerment and personal responsibility is making its way around the globe. For more information visit www.marlenechism.com

Marlene Chism

www.marlenechism.com

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This is what’s killing workplace productivity

This is what’s killing workplace productivity

This is what’s killing workplace productivity 

This is what’s killing workplace productivity

by Ankita Poddar 24/02/2019

In 2015 & 2016, creating a more humane workplace emerged as one of the top HR trends. In 2017, conversations around workplace stress and connected factors garnered lower interest and in 2018, the only conversation that remained was if machines were going to replace human beings. One would imagine that the lack of conversation around workplace stress might mean that we have made progress in this space. However, a quick look at the statistics show that stress continues to be a silent killer of productivity at the workplace.

 

In 2018, more than a third of working Americans (35 percent) reported experiencing chronic work stress, and less than half said their employer provides sufficient resources to help employees manage their stress. In a similar survey conducted in the UK, over a third (37%) of British residents feel stressed for at least one full day per week. That equates to four days in a month at minimum. As per innumerable news reports from around the world, the state of workplace stress isn’t any better in Canada, Germany, India and a number of other countries. Clearly, stress at workplace hasn’t improved significantly over the years. When one dives deeper into the issue, a more disturbing finding emerges. Employees around the world acknowledge that organizations now provide some or ample support to combat workplace stress, yet it has had minimal impact on stress levels. Why is it that unlimited vacation time, meditation and yoga classes at work, flexible working hours and more do little to ease workplace stress for the majority?

 

Enough has been written about unlimited vacation time, the bludgeoning population of employees who worry they’ll miss important information or opportunities when they take vacation time, and those who avoid taking time off because they feel guilty when they do and might be seen as less committed to their job. There is also sufficient evidence of the low participation in employer-provided wellness programs. There is no doubt that the steps organizations have taken to encourage work-life balance is valued. Flexible hours, working from home, wellness programs at work and encouraging time-off is important. Yet it is not enough. The top cause for workplace stress is workload. This is closely followed by the stress generated due to office politics, unclear expectations from managers and harassment at the workplace. The initiatives that most organizations have undertaken do little to address these. Businesses have to realize that not safeguarding the psychological health and safety of employees will put them at a competitive disadvantage. What is worse is that a small study conducted at the University of Calgary has found that stress can be contagious. While this is yet to be backed by conclusive science, it is devastating if true. If there is an old trend that we need to bring back in 2019, it is the drive to battle workplace stress.

 

So what can organizations do? Begin by adopting the two models recommended by this whitepaper – 1) a continual improvement or plan-do-check-act model, such as Morneau Shepell’s total health framework, which focuses on continual improvement, adjustment and evaluation to positively change work environments, and 2) a joint responsibility model, which puts onus on both the employee and employer to foster a healthy work environment through awareness, accountability and action. If you are looking for more, I’d recommend a focused approach on balancing workplace load. Start by analyzing the current organization structure. An organizational network analysis helps identify overleveraged and underleveraged talent apart from many other key variables. Use that information for load balancing and creating more effective structures and practices. Focus on setting clear expectations with all employees and helping them manage ambiguity. Double down on how harassment is managed in your organization. Remove as many roadblocks to reporting inappropriate behavior, take timely action and operate with transparency. Also, focus on creating meaning for the employees. Work burnout does not necessarily come from working too many hours; instead, it comes from lack of passion.

 

No matter how many wheels you set in motion to tackle workplace stress, remember this – feeling valued, fairness and trust are the biggest levers you can pull to ensure your employee’s psychological well-being. Everyone is responsible to do their bit in combating the causes of workplace stress. Don’t let this be the biggest danger looming in your organization.

Ankita Poddar is HR professional based out of India. Identified as one of the emerging HR leaders in India in 2016,  Ankita's experience as an HR Business Partner gives her the opportunity to work closely with business leaders, innovate and execute on the behalf of customers especially in areas of people analytics, employee engagement, rewards and recognition and performance management. Ankita blogs about all things HR at https://thehrbpstory.com/. Follow her on Twitter @ankitapoddar

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Open office – closed culture?

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Open plan – closed culture? 

Open plan – closed culture? 

by Chris Harrison 24/01/2019

Does having an open plan office help in creating a happy workplace?

The BBC recently highlighted research revealing that employees in open plan offices spend 73% less time in face to face interactions. Whilst email use increased by over 67%.

That’s no surprise to me. Three decades ago, when I joined the company that later became Diageo, I sat in a large, modern open plan. This state-of-the-art space was occupied by five different departments. Everyone had a desk and cupboard that gave them visual privacy. But the whole office was very quiet. So, while I could concentrate on written work, I found myself very inhibited when it came to making telephone calls. I felt that everyone was listening to every word.

In both previous and subsequent workplaces, I was much happier working in smaller team rooms without partitions. My calls were still overheard, but the teams were homogenous. So, there was togetherness. ‘Banter’ kept us all amused while we worked. Better still, when an outsider came into our space, he made sure he came with purpose. We didn’t welcome idle passers-by.

Fast forward to the present and most of my working week is spent in client company offices. (You cannot hope to change a culture unless you can see, hear and feel it.) Most of them are open plan: a fashion prompted by the legitimate desire to increase interaction and collaboration among workers. Senior managers tend to retain closed offices, generally justified by the need to conduct confidential meetings.

We have been delighted to embrace open plan. The bosses don’t suffer, the place looks aspirational to visitors, and there’s a feeling that dark deeds cannot be committed in plain sight – a perfect illusion of creating a happy workplace. A fallacy, by the way.

In fairness, we really did have to get away from all that ghastly dark wooden panelling and heavy plush furniture that Governments love. For decades even private sector bosses were only truly happy when sitting in a huge swivel chair behind an expansive desk, flanked by the ultimate status icon: the varnished coat stand.

While international research has shown that the time employees spend on “collaborative activities’’ has “ballooned by 50 percent or more” in the past two decades, I’m not sure it’s working so well here. We face two significant challenges.

Firstly, open workspaces are very threatening if your company culture isn’t ‘safe’. If your management style is aggressive, your employees sit in a constant state of alertness. Like lizards on rocks, waiting for impending predators. Secondly, in a space with no privacy, everything becomes everyone’s business. From marital strife to performance failure; having everything on view is distracting and fuels office politics.

So, open plan can, in fact, produced a closed down culture.

What office plan helps in creating a happy workplace? Share your opinion with us!

 

 

Chris is the Africa Partner of The Brand Inside (www.thebrandinside.com), a consultancy which works inside major organisations to align staff behaviour to deliver the brand promise. For nearly a decade, Chris has written weekly columns on branding and culture in Africa’s national newspapers. His observations may be found on www.companycultures.guru. His first business book, entitled Marketing Medicine, will be published early in 2019.

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6 things from sports that you should be applying to work

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6 Things from sports that you should be applying to work

6 Things from sports that you should be applying to work

by Talentese Team 20/01/2019

Games have always been an indispensable part of our childhood. Whether in school as extracurricular activities or with friends, we all have played some form of sports. Most people believe that to succeed in the workplace, you only need to be smart and know how to do your work. While this is somewhat true, it is not the entire truth. Success in the workplace or office is hugely dependent upon education, experience, willingness to learn, adaptability, and the ability to network.

Sports, however, play an equally crucial role in preparing you to succeed in the workplace. Most of us have worked hard to achieve our goals at sports or hobbies. Hobbies can range from games to playing a musical instrument. No matter which sport or extracurricular activity you choose, there is some measure of hard work that goes into it. Sports are no different. Most hobby sportspersons and athletes will have grueling and shocking tales to narrate about hard work, failure, winning, leadership, competitiveness, and team spirit. Career guidance counselors have observed that most sportspersons make excellent employees. We have always wondered why this is the case. Several things can be learned through sports. These basic examples and teachings can then be applied to succeed in the workplace daily.

Let us look at six things from sports that you should be applying to work to succeed and climb your career ladder faster.

1. Team Spirit:

Team spirit is the most important aspect of sports training. When sports are played in teams, sportspersons and athletes learn to trust, rely, and depend on teammates and team members to achieve a winning result. While the end goal is not necessary, it is the learning that team spirit imparts that is more important. When you visit a career guidance counselor and seek career counseling, the importance of team spirit and teamwork will be stressed. Cheering your teammates, helping them with challenging work, giving advice, and acknowledging individual success is as important as winning the end goal or bottom line.

2. Leadership:

Sports teach us the importance of listening to a team captain. The same is the case with bosses in the workplace. The boss at the workplace is a team captain, and the game is like completing the projects on time, efficiently, and without loss of quality. As a leader, you understand and work with the strengths and weaknesses of your teammates to ensure that you can make the best contribution to the project or task.

Understanding these aspects not only helps in building trust, goodwill, and reputation but also helps with your employee branding. Leaders are extremely sought after and are known to make adjustments to teams so that each teammate contributes their best to the task given.

3. Fierce competition:

Sportspersons and athletes have an inherent understanding of what sport is really about. Business is just like being in a sport or race. Only winners succeed with the best strategies, ideas, perseverance, hard work, and consistent execution of tasks. Any good career guidance counselor will stress the importance of fighting till the end.

For leaders and sportspersons, failure is not an option, only reaching the goal is. They can understand failures and adapt according to the need of the day to ensure that business goals are met the next time successfully. For leaders, failure is not debilitating. Instead, it is a learning curve to help improve themselves and their team members. Insight like this only comes through understanding competition and how to enhance personal strengths. Career counseling suggests that competition should be healthy and great managers find win-win situations for everyone involved.

4. Great sportsmanship:

Managers and leaders, like athletes and sportspersons, respect work given and understand the importance of hard work. Efficiency, quality, timely delivery, and quality are as important as achieving the task or goal. Leaders understand that in business, there is always competition and people playing or pitching against you and your team are as skilled at their work as you are.

Great sportsmanship in business means having a healthy respect for competitors. Managers are unbiased towards the strengths of their competitors and groom their teams accordingly. Challenges are accepted and treated like milestones to cross in business. This not only helps in furthering business and opportunities but also improving company reputation and employee branding.

5. Practice:

Athletes do not believe in luck. Similarly, in business, teams, and managers should not believe in luck either. Practice in tasks, constant hard work, and occasional failure is treated like learning curves that help in strengthening employee branding and quality of work. Managers endlessly push for consistency in action. The similarity between sports and business is that of a coach and a manager respectively. Managers drive for improvement, hard work, results, consistency, and a positive attitude.

People involved in customer service roles will appreciate the beauty of consistency and patience. Tasks, like answering phone calls, calming irate customers, and completing data entry operations, are successful only with constant practice. While these may not be fun, they are necessary to get better at your work.

6. Focus and concentration:

Constant exercise and practice help in improving focus and concentration at tasks. Sports like tennis, football, athletics, gymnastics, hockey, and so on help immensely in increasing controlled movement and focus. Things like distractions, wandering of the mind and forgetting tasks decrease over time.

Tasks are better performed through multitasking, manipulating information, thinking analytically, making better strategies, coordination, and teamwork. The same principles can also be applied to business and daily operational tasks. Focus and concentration are improved over time to get better at work.

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When being successful isn’t enough 

When being successful isn’t enough

by Ankita Poddar 14/12/2018

You might be doing great at work; however, from my many years in the industry I have come to learn that there lies a big difference between being a successful professional and establishing yourself as a successful professional. The Venn diagram on these does not necessarily intersect. Hence, while you may be successful, I am going to share a few tips on how to get good at establishing it. Also, because while there are a million articles available on how to have a successful career and be a successful professional, very few emphasize on what it takes to let the world know that you are successful. Believe me, I’ve looked.

 

Why?

You have worked hard over the years and already spent considerable effort on becoming a successful professional. Why must you invest the extra effort that comes with pursuing the ‘establishing’? Shouldn’t that be an automatic side effect of becoming a successful professional? Well, in another day and age – absolutely. In a world ruled by the internet and social media, it is far from enough. In fact, it is a disservice to your profession to not tell everyone that you know the profession well. How else would people know whom to reach out to? Also, wouldn’t it be great to get to a stage where jobs seek you out and not the other way round? To be in a position where everyone who matters knows your name? If your answer to those questions is NO, you can stop reading now. If you want to continue to survive in today’s rat race, I recommend you continue reading.

 

How?

Like most good things in life, establishing yourself takes time and effort. While there isn’t a shortcut, what I can do is share steps and actions from the little I’ve learnt.

1. Find your voice: Everyone’s talking. You need to figure what makes you worth listening to. It doesn’t have to be something unique, something that no one else has but it needs to be something that one can associate with you. It is important to identify what’s going to make you different and build your brand (your name) around it. You can decide to brand yourself as a self-assured, humorous, divergent thinker. You can decide to be the professional who is an ace at research. Find the qualities or the niche that makes you different. If you have both, even better. Do not dilute the brand. It might be tempting to focus on multiple things but for strong brand recall, it is necessary that you have a laser focus on a set number of attributes. Do not skimp on this step. Every other step that follows makes no sense if you do not get this right. Find something that you can stick. Something that defines you.

2. Tweet: Now that you’ve zeroed in on your unique voice, it’s time to start talking. The best platform to begin with is Twitter. Create an account, use the brief description to re-emphasize your attributes and start tweeting. It doesn’t have to be original content. You can start by following all other thought leaders in the space, replying to them and retweeting what resonates with your brand. You can share articles that you love, videos and quotes that inspire you. Participate in tweet chats. If you are terrible at tweeting, set reminders. Tweet a minimum of twice a day and when you begin to connect with people on Twitter, tag them on posts that you think they may enjoy reading. You will soon find yourself gaining strong followers. Do not go by numbers but the quality of the connections you build. Don’t get impatient. It takes years to build up a strong Twitter network but this is as good a time to start as any.

3. Write: I’d like to say this is optional but almost everyone is writing these days. It has become the new essential skill in town so even if you aren’t absolutely great at it, it’s always good to practice. The aim is to start creating original content and have a space where you can host it all. You don’t have to go on to WordPress or Medium. You can start by posting on LinkedIn. Their new algorithm makes it easier for you to share your message. Start connecting with websites who share content and explore opportunities to collaborate. Write for them. Keep writing until you find your style and then make it better. Over time, you may even decide to have your own blog. If you do, invest a little and buy the domain. It makes for a stronger brand.

4. Turn up: Scan your locality for conferences, interest groups, events associated with your profession. If necessary, travel to attend these. They are great avenues to meet those you have previously interacted with over social media, reinforce those connections and make new ones. Stay for the after parties. Talk, sing and laugh with people. I can already see the introverts shudder at this thought. I am a classic introvert but I know this is important and always collect my energy reserves to be present. If you keep at it, soon you will find yourself invited to these gatherings and who knows, over time you’ll be the one up on stage everyone is travelling to listen to.

5. Tell a good story: This is the other hot new skill in town. The best people tell the best stories. All leading brands have their own story. Fill your basket with conversation starters and practice storytelling. There is no quicker way to create brand recall than to narrate a story worth repeating. Not all stories need to be original nor does the narration. The skill lies in narrating the right story at the right time and narrating it in style. As you practice creating original content, you will learn to string together original stories that will make you a star. Like with all the above and wine, it gets better with time.

6. Always have an updated resume & LinkedIn profile: I learnt this the hard way. Life has a tendency of getting in your way at the most inopportune moments. There are countless occasions where I’ve updated my resume in less than an hour and sent it across only to kick myself for having missed something important. Resumes need to be worked on for days. When you’ve done all of the above right, it makes little sense to miss an opportunity because you didn’t have a ready resume when a lucrative offer knocked at your door. Always keep your LinkedIn profile and resume updated even if you aren’t looking for change. You never know when the opportunity of a lifetime knocks you over your feet. Learn from my mistakes.

 

There are a few other things that help stay at the top. These include certifications, winning awards and taking great professional looking pictures. The common thread that runs through all of them is the importance of networking and connect. Like every successful brand, you need to find reasons to connect with the audience on a regular basis. These six tips when followed religiously will not only make you a successful professional but also open doors that you would never have imagined. So go ahead. I can’t wait to hear people shout out your name. And when they do, give me a shout out. ☺

Ankita Poddar is HR professional based out of India. Identified as one of the emerging HR leaders in India in 2016,  Ankita's experience as an HR Business Partner gives her the opportunity to work closely with business leaders, innovate and execute on the behalf of customers especially in areas of people analytics, employee engagement, rewards and recognition and performance management. Ankita blogs about all things HR at https://thehrbpstory.com/. Follow her on Twitter @ankitapoddar

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https://thehrbpstory.com/

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12 Hacks to Get Noticed by Potential Employers and Land Interviews

12 Hacks to Get Noticed by Potential Employers and Land Interviews

12 Hacks to Get Noticed by Potential Employers and Land Interviews 

12 Hacks to Get Noticed by Potential Employers and Land Interviews

by Alice Berg 31/10/2018

Applying process is such a maze! Every applicant passes through approximately 15 stages before landing a job. At first, you waste plenty of time searching for a vacancy, then have to deal with monotonous paperwork, make it through the interview and then finally… somebody takes your place. The recruiters say they had already noticed someone. “We made a decision to employ the other person. Try next time.”- they explain bitterly and shrug shoulders.

Even if you never had such an unpleasant experience, you still will surely find 12 effective job search strategies helpful. Become that “someone” and learn how to get noticed by recruiters! Let new offers pour down on you!

 

1. Polish Your Social Media Presence

It’s not a secret that recruiters check your social media accounts. Social networking has becoming a new type of the CV – it’s your online resume that may influence an employer’s decision in both a positive and a negative way. According to CareerBuilder survey, 70% of companies use social networking sites to hire new employees. Another research says a regular update of the LinkedIn profile makes you 18 times more likely to be found by recruiters.

So, what do employers want to find on your page? They love checking out the content you repost and create, the pages and personalities you follow, how open-minded and sociable you are with your followers. Thus, you can assure your potential employer you are the professional who is interested in the recent turnovers within the industry, shares the opinion regarding the relavant news. Popular blogs related to your occupation might give you an idea of what to post and how. Avoid placing meaningless and inappropriate information; keep things fresh by doing regular updates.

 

2. Become a Regular Visitor of Meetups

Successful people communicate effectively. It’s the networking on various events that improve your social skills and expends the list of valuable contacts. Search for the upcoming meetups on Facebook or specialized professional sites, pay attention to billboards, check out the company’s social networks and website. It’s a great chance to be noticed by potential employers and other authoritative people. Think about the kinds of places where your potential employer routinely looks for business, so you would you are on the same page.

 

3. Join Workshops

Boost your knowledge and get to know the best pieces of advice for job seekers attending seminars. It’s an excellent opportunity to master new skills, to share your ideas, to extend the network relationships. For example, visit the lecture on how to get an interview. Such on-the-job training will teach you useful things about the chosen field and show new ways to get a job. Moreover, there’s even a chance the speaker you’re listening to is your future boss. Thus, be as active as possible. Take part in any activity, answer questions and put your own. Dare reach the speaker once the seminar is over – discuss various issues in detail, demonstrate your professionalism on the topic. However, avoid dragging in useless information and asking too primitive questions.

 

4. Go for Online Portfolio

LinkedIn and social networks have been proven as highly important, but you can go further setting up a mini-website. It doesn’t require high tech skills. Start with a landing page — make it interesting and eye-catching, put your main information there. You may place your best works on that page or create a couple of additional pages. Anyway, don’t make it too complex. Employers don’t have time to study it for hours. Don’t forget to put your website on resume, social networking pages, business cards. Use the professional keywords to make it easy-to-find.

 

5. Be Active in Industry Groups

It looks like “be active” has become a motto of the article. The point is that passive people rarely attract good offers from employers. Miracles do happen, but usually, you have to be proactive to get noticed. Turn on your laptop once again, find all the industry networks and forums. Be everywhere. Conferences, online, offline – lthe more visible you are, the better. Participate in discussions, leave comments, ask about a job opening. Let your potential coworkers and employers know you both in real life and virtually.

 

6. Sort out Recommendations

Launching a new job search, think of adding value to your application with professional recommendations. Who can put in a good word for you? Contact your ex-employers, professors at the university, coordinators of volunteering projects you previously participated, your internship managers, etc. If nothing works out, use LinkedIn to find people who may agree to help.

 

7. Collaborate with Friends

Reach your relatives and friends to figure out if they or their contacts might help you. It doubles your chances to find a new job. Your cousin’s university friend may well be the principal of the department where you crave to work. Let everyone know that you’re looking for job. Your mother may accidentally buy the newspaper with your dream job announcement. To inform more people, make a Facebook post. In a friendly way tell others that you would appreciate any suggestions.

 

8. Send Emails and Private Messages

Find the reason to send a message. Congratulate the company with the anniversary or successful project, commend them for the useful and high-quality content or products they create. That is to say, you intervene with the company getting noticed at the same time. Be sincere and honest.

 

9. Volunteering Can Help a Lot!

People choose to volunteer for a variety of reasons. In fact, the more we give, the happier we feel. New experience and additional lines in “Volunteering” for your resume is just a tip of the iceberg. The real reasons to sacrifice your time are much deeper. You meet new people, get to know their lives and stories of ups and downs, improve your skills and gain new knowledge. It’s a common practice to keep working with people you met when volunteering. In addition, employers look favorably on candidates who volunteer and show their honest willing to get experience in a field.

 

10. Put Your Best Foot Forward

One of the most creative ways to get an employer’s attention is proposing interesting ideas and prospective of the business that the company’s team hadn’t thought before. They will gladly agree to devote you an hour if your ideas worth it. Especially, startup leaders. Provide creative suggestions, give valuable and timely feedback, and bring new strategies that the company may implement on the table. There is a chance of landing a dream job not getting job interviews- the company will invite you as an expert.

 

11. Be Ready to Get an Interview

Once you’re finally getting a job interview, impress the employer in person. First, be honest. Share your strength and passions, but also be candid about any shortcuts. Be positive since a cheerful and cooperative human is an asset in any role. Come to the interview prepared. Draw up the list of possible question the managers ask and come up with possible answers. Gather all the documents required.

 

12. Prove That You Are an Expert in Your Niche

None of job hunting tips will work out if you lack knowledge, desire, and qualification. Chase a goal to become an expert at what you do, never stop learning. Prove that you’re a valuable candidate ascribing your success to hard work. Call upon your willingness to grow to succeed.

Most importantly, don’t get down not getting a job this time. Take the sting out of it. It’s a chance to try something else, something new and exciting. Variety is a spice of life.

Alice Berg is a blogger and a career advisor at Skillroads, who received a degree in Social Work and Applied Social Studies. Now she helps people to find their own way in life, gives career advice and guidance, helps young people to prepare for their careers. You can find Alice on Twitter @AliceBerg234.

Alice Berg

https://skillroads.com/

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