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TIPS TO HELP JOB-SEEKERS PREPARE FOR THE JOB SEARCH |
- Preparing
for Search
- Network, compose resumes and letters, hold
telephone conversations, and complete forms. Always be prepared. Carry a pen
at all times, and know names, addresses and telephone numbers of references.
Do your research, ask questions, and get directions.
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- Learn How to Read the
Newspaper for Job Leads
- Read the whole
newspaper every day, and borrow one if necessary. Not all job openings
go to the newspaper (only about 10%), but read it anyway. Pick up a big city
newspaper once in a while.
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Maintain a Positive Attitude
- Your attitude is reflected in all actions. A
negative attitude can prevent you from succeeding. Smile, shake hands, and
use names. Lean forward when interviewing.
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- Be
Prepared for Rejection
- You will hear "NO" many times in many ways.
Don't be discouraged. You are competing with many other well-qualified
applicants. If you do not get a job offer after an interview, try to find
out why tactfully.
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- Be Persistent
- Contact an employer at least three times
before giving up. Follow up letters and resumes with telephone calls; follow
up interviews with thank-you letters. Employers don't know you are
interested unless you contact them a few times. Use judgement and vary your
method of contact.
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Pre-employment Tests
- These are often given with no notice and can
take 10 minutes or three hours in length. May be taken using pencil and
paper or a computer or verbally with questions and answers. There are many
types of tests and many names for them.
- Personality or Psychological: These
tests help employers find out how you feel about yourself.
- Proficiency: These tests help employers
test your skills, such as at keyboarding, mechanical tasks, and those
requiring manual dexterity.
- Competency: These tests are designed to
measure a particular subject area, such as math.
- Drug Test: These can require that you
give hair, blood, or urine samples.
- Intelligence: These tests measure your
ability to adapt, solve problems, and understand instructions.
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- Know Yourself
- Be able to identify and give examples of
your personality traits and skills. Be aware of what motivates you and what
working conditions you work best in.
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- Network
- Make a list of the people you know. Initiate
contacts, ask good questions, get and follow up on referrals. Network
whenever you socialize, every chance you get. About 80% of all jobs are
found through networking.
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- Go to Your
Library
- You will find good reading and resource
materials, such as research books, directories, trade magazines, videos, and
telephone books in a library. You can use typewriters, computers, and even
access the Internet.
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- Log Your
Progress
- Keep a log of your job-search progress.
Write down dates, names, etc. Keep copies of ads, resumes, cover letters and
applications. Use a computer program, calendar, date book, pad, binder, etc.
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Completing Applications
- Fill these out using a black pen, and read
over them thoroughly, completing every space legibly and following
directions. Always attach a resume to applications, and find out how long
employers keep them.
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- Telephone
Techniques
- Know who can hire you. When calling,
identify yourself, refer to your resume, and take notes. Call from a quiet,
private place, and concentrate on slowing your rate of speech. Listen
carefully and respond using your best manners and politest tone, being sure
to call the other person by name. When possible, invest in an answering
machine, voice mail, caller ID, cell phone, pager and E-mail address to
increase your chances of being contacted. See if the business has a
toll-free number before calling long distance.
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- Expect to
Interview
- Stress your qualifications, be honest, use
respectful dignity, and think before you speak. Don't stress your need for a
job. Be prepared for a group interview and dress carefully. Pay attention to
grooming, such as how your body and breath smell, and be sure not to wear
too much cologne or perfume. Wear small, tasteful amounts of makeup, jewelry
and accessories. Go early, and use firm handshakes and good eye contact.
Display an interest in the job, and ask and answer questions.
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- Resumes and
Letters
- A good resume should be considered your brag
sheet. Make it honest, perfect in appearance, and positive. It should be one
to two pages in length printed on white or light-colored paper. Most
employers are looking for reverse chronological style (most recent job
listed first) with names and dates.
Send a cover letter whenever you mail a
resume. It should be typed in most cases. Make it short and sweet and try to
eliminate the word "I". A thank you letter should be sent after an interview
and can be hand written. A thank you letter is a courtesy that often sets
you apart from other candidates and helps you be remembered. It also
demonstrates persistence.
http://www.rileyguide.com/letters.html
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- Know Your
References
- Use a good cross-section of people you have
known over a year. Get their permission and stay in touch with them. Use
males and females who are intelligent, responsible, credible persons. Make
sure they can read and write and speak positively about you. Don't use
relatives.
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