Golden Job

It's all about Job and Career!

As you begin your quest for a career, you may not have an idea about what kind you should be pursuing. An easy way to determine what direction to take, and the first bit of advice to edge you forward, is to think about what you have always loved to do with your time. There are activities that you take part in because you enjoy them as hobbies, and activities that you take part in because you could see yourself doing them to make money seriously. Those activities that you could see yourself turning into a career should be your first stepping stone to paving the road to success for yourself.

The second point of advice for is to consider going back to school or taking some kind of training to help enhance your skills. You may not be equipped with the necessary skills and education to begin your future plans right away, and finding a job without the right skills will be nearly impossible. It is best to research what colleges and institutions you can attend that will allow you to get a degree, certification or license in the field that you are interested in. Choose a college or program that you will enjoy going to in a location that makes you excited to be there. This will help to motivate you to continue on with your studies.

The final point of career advice is to learn how to negotiate your salary so that you can live a lifestyle that is enjoyable. Research the high, average and low incomes for your career so that you know what kind of base salary to expect with your experience and skill set. The skills you have obtained my be high end skills that allow you to select a salary that compliments what you have learned. Be confident when you negotiate your salary, but not cocky. It is always better to be humble than to come off as obnoxious or snobby, so keep your attitude in check and enjoy making the money that reflects what you are worth.

With an increased number of applicants’ chasing fewer jobs, the situation far from being ideal, is not entirely hopeless. Not only is there is a way to find vacancies but to massively increase the odds of selection success when you do. For many, the first step to finding work has them sifting through the ‘vacancies’ pages of newspapers or visiting recruitment bureaux. In fact there are twelve other ways to locate vacancies in what is know as the ‘hidden’ job market.

Once a vacancy has been found the next challenge is to beat the other candidates to the finishing post. The selection process for graduate and executive positions seems to becoming increasingly complex. The days when a candidate simply completed an application form followed by a one-on-one interview appear to be over. In the contemporary recruitment process it is not uncommon to be faced with psychological assessments, on-line tests, group assessments and a barrage of one-on-one and panel interviews. With such sophisticated selection procedures it’s hardly surprising that the whole process can be daunting, stressful and downright demoralising for the unsuccessful candidate but it doesn’t have to be this way.

In a recent interview a top recruiter revealed that many candidates for graduate and executive positions fall at the first hurdle, the application process. And of those that do get invited to an interview 90% don’t give themselves a chance, the reason is two-fold:

Lack of preparation; many candidates openly admit that they fail to undertake adequate preparation, hoping that they will be able to handle the situation effectively by responding with the correct answers. Lack of understanding of the assessment process and what the recruiter is really looking for.

Whilst there’s plenty of advice available for organisations on how to select recruits, there’s precious little for the candidate, so where to begin?

Recruiters are busy people with budgets, understandably they are unwilling to waste time and resources on candidates whose initial application or CV failed to catch their attention. A candidate who is prepared to submit a lack lustre application speaks volumes about their work ethic and values. Employers want to hire the kind of person who takes the trouble to plan, prepare and deliver their best… someone who will utilise their skills for the benefit of the company and ensure its future success.

The starting point is therefore to make a great first impression. When completing an application form it is imperative that any guidance notes are followed to the letter. An example of an instruction that is frequently ignored is where candidates are asked to complete the form in black ink. The fundamental reason for this is because forms are photocopied and black ink produces the best reproduction results. However there is also a hidden tests here and very often recruitment officers will immediately discard applications completed in blue ink, not because they can’t be copied, but as it indicates that the candidate either:

Cannot be bothered to read instructions Is too lazy to find a pen with the correct ink Is incapable of doing what they have been asked.

Clearly none of these bode well with a prospective employer.

Having followed the instructions the next step is to demonstrate how the candidate meets the assessment criteria. Here it is important to give examples drawn from personal experience, this is no time for modesty; it’s vital that the opportunity to sell oneself is embraced with open arms.

The entire application must be completed in rough before being copied onto the form proper. Alterations and mistakes demonstrate a lack of care and attention to detail, which leads the employer to conclude that if an applicant can’t be bothered at this early stage they certainly won’t be bothered once they get the job!

The next task is to prepare for the actual interview/assessment process. Preparation should fall into two categories: 1) research into the company or organisation 2) how the candidate can demonstrate that they meet the requirements of the position/needs of the company.

The Company or Organisation

A successful candidate is one who has taken time to research the target company, easily done via the Internet. Reading their mission statement, obtaining an insight into aims and objectives, operations and strategies, corporate plan, projections etc is all information that can be utilised during the assessment process. Even if not directly asked about certain aspects, the knowledge can be brought into answers or used by the candidate to demonstrate corporate awareness and to show that detailed preparation has been undertaken.

The Candidate

It is vital that the candidate becomes familiar with the assessment criteria and prepares a range of examples that demonstrate knowledge, skills and experience and talk in terms of the benefit that these would be to the employer. If something didn’t go to plan be honest, but talk about what was learnt from the experience and what changes would be made in future for an improved outcome.

Never forget that the successful applicant is rarely the best qualified. More often it is the person who has shown the greater attitude and has put the time and effort into effective preparation and who is able to read the interviewer and has the ability to take control of the situation, convincing them to choose them over rivals.

Things have changed. The economy is booming, Younger job seekers are much more ambitious and almost instinctively understand that if they want to get ahead,. . . if they’re heading for the top, they have to job hop.

It’s really all part of the 21st Century job market and the dramatic changes that have occurred especially since 9/11 and Katrina. The old-fashioned job search approaches simply don’t work anymore. If you’ve been busy writing a traditional resume and then mass distributing it to job sites, job listings, a bunch of companies, some agencies and recruiters . . . well, you already know what I mean.

You’re probably sitting around nervously waiting for the phone to ring. Or hoping today’s mail will bring that priceless invitation to an interview instead of the more usual TNT (thanks-but-no-thanks) letter.

Non-traditional career advice is the solution to your job search dilemma. It makes you get in tune with today’s sophisticated job marketplace. You need to understand the employers aren’t interested in what you used to do for someone else (as outlined in your resume). They expect you to come forward with some understanding of the corporate goals are.

And they are impressed when you’ve done your research and come up with an ability to address your next boss’ personal requirements. This evidence of your commitment to excellence goes much further than a resume. It’s just another piece of non-traditional career advice.

So does a commitment to job-hopping. Curtis Crawford, author of “Corporate Rise: The X Principles of Extreme Personal Leadership,” advises that the more versatile you are, the more likely you are to move up. What’s more, he recommends:

1. Don’t be afraid to be visibly ambitious. In the past, ambition was confused with arrogance and ruthlessness–getting to the top at any cost. Ambition is achieving your goal the right way–honestly, ethically, all the while gaining the respect of your subordinates, peers and management.

2. Avoid getting stuck in one job. Avoid becoming a specialist which means you’re pigeonholed as being able to do only one thing well. That specialist thinking flew years ago–but not anymore.

3. Make significant contributions. Just moving through different jobs is not enough. Take jobs that provide platforms for you to make significant contributions. It means getting involved in critical areas such as product development, financial management, technological improvements, or improving production or distribution.

This departure from old-fashioned thinking is just one of the many exciting pieces of non-traditional career advice. It’s part of the amazing new alternative thinking that is consistent with expectations in today’s job marketplace!

Love What You do and You Will Succeed

In Barbara Sher’s, Wishcraft: How to get what you Really Want, she states one of the foundations of success is enjoying what you do. If you are not quite sure where your interests or passions are, think about the games that you played as a child. Did you play teacher, doctor, or cops and robbers? Did you enjoy directing and coordinating the activities of the group, or did you enjoy playing alone? Think back to what you enjoyed to start your career search for your future.

Career Assessment is a Valuable Tool for Career Success

If you have difficulty finding your talents and interests, career assessment tests are valuable tools to help you discover your hidden abilities. Most colleges and universities have guidance counselors that can administer and evaluate the testing for you. You can also do career assessments online. There are numerous Web sites that offer free testing. You can take several tests to see if a pattern emerges across the different evaluations on what career best suits you.

Evaluate Your Lifestyle

You should consider what your lifestyle needs are. Do you need full-time or part-time work? Do you like an 8 to 5 or prefer flexibility in your schedule? Are you most productive at an office or at home? Success in your new career can be determined by how compatible your work is with your lifestyle.

Talk to Others

Professionals doing the job are the best source of knowledge and insight into the new career you are contemplating. Ask those in the profession about their jobs and get their feedback. Setting up informational interviews is a great way to get a feel for an industry.

Walk the Talk

After twenty years as an accountant, I wanted to do something more. As a “people” person, I didn’t like the alienation of crunching numbers all day. I was also bored. However, I was nervous about giving up proficiency in a field and starting over. When I became Controller at a mortgage company, I watched the loan officers, and I liked what I saw. Loan officers helped people, controlled their own schedules, and were constantly challenged by new scenarios. So, I decided to become a loan officer and have enjoyed it ever-since.

You can make the change too. Take stock of your skills, your interests, and your dreams and move toward a more promising future. A promising career is only a “wish” and some “assessing” away.

A job search is tough. Few candidates are prepared for what happens in a job search. Few have had any formal training. Some will get help with their resume. Some will reach out to friends and family for guidance, but there is a whole lot more to a job search than the tactics and mechanics of the resume, networking and interviewing.

There are two enemies in most job searches that rarely get discussed. One candidates have to deal with, and few are prepared to handle is, “TIME.” Many enter unemployment totally unprepared for the length of time a job search takes and how slow and long the hiring process is. They have one time frame and the company has a completely different set of priorities and time frame.

The other biggest enemy is, “themselves.” As time passes and frustration sets in they start questioning themselves and their abilities. The have also gone through all the contacts in their network, have been doing the same thing over and over again for months with little results, and they are burned out. Now what?

The best thing you can do for yourself at this point is get what we refer to as an accountability partner. Accountability is something as adults we ****. That is why most can’t wait to become adults. We all want to get away from this word. We want to do what we want, when we want, how we want and without anyone holding us accountable. Fine for life, but not a good thing in a job search.

An accountability partner needs to be selected very carefully. They need to be someone you respect and trust. Someone blunt and direct, who will tell it like it is, especially when you don’t want to hear it. They should not be a friend or family member.

This is where the tough love enters the picture.

A good accountability partner will help you. They are not here to become your friend or buddy. Get a dog if that is what you are seeking. Their job is to encourage you when you’re down and motivate you when you just don’t want to go to another networking meeting or send another resume. Their job is to kick you (figuratively not literally) in the appropriate place when encouragement and motivation don’t work as well as hoped. A good accountability partner knows the right buttons to push and when to push them.

They must be a person you can open up with about your job search and what is happening to you on the inside and even in your personal life. They are someone who will empathize with you, console you, feel your pain, be understanding, compassionate, never hit you when you’re down, but instead picks you up, dusts you off and when all of this is completed, kicks you in the appropriate place and gets you going again.

A good accountability partner will listen to you. They will know the differences between an excuse and a real obstacle. They may be able to provide some resources to help you out when you are stalled. They won’t accept excuses. They will listen to them and then kick you in the appropriate place and get you back on track.

A good accountability partner is somewhat like a good drill sergeant in the military. You **** them while you are in boot camp, but you also know that they have your best interests in mind for the upcoming battle. They are successful if, at the end of the battle, you look back and say, “Thanks, you really helped me get through this.” Oh, you may still **** them, but you surely respect them.

They may or may not end up being your friend. That isn’t important. What is important is that you want to refer them to every person you meet in-transition.

Finding an accountability partner (even if you have to pay one) willing to give you “TOUGH LOVE” during your search may be the best thing you do for your job search, yourself and your family.

There is no doubt that there is a high demand for technical staff within the aerospace and defence industries. As such, candidates such as engineering and construction professionals will find that there are no shortage of job opportunities. In any case, without professional recruitment assistance, many candidates will be unable to exploit these numerous defence job opportunities. Over the years, with the aid of a recruiting agency, many candidates have gone on to have successful and fulfilling careers within the defence sector. The comprehensive recruitment services which defence recruiters provide not only guarantee positive results, but it also ensures these results are obtained in an expedited manner. Unlike many other specialist recruitment firms, defence recruiters provide support and guidance to their candidates through out the recruitment process. Even after a job placement has been secured, the best recruiters continue to build and maintain productive relationships with their clients. The success of these companies is directly linked to their dedication to providing fully customized recruitment services.

It is worth mentioning that most defence recruiters are fully dedicated to adhering to all REC guideline and regulations. Furthermore, the experienced team of recruitment consultants at most successful defence recruiters are REC trained. This means that they are capable of providing expert recruitment advice and guidance to all their clients. In fact, most account managers at these agencies obtained many years of experience within the defence/aerospace industries prior to joining up with their company. In the light of this, it is safe to say that regardless of whether a client is seeking recruitment solutions for a permanent or contract defence role, a specialized defence recruiter has both the human resources and experience to provide the necessary support.

Houston job search is one of the popular online job web sites in the area of Houston and adjacent surrounding areas. Houston job search is an online employment agency, which provides resources about career and technical developments. This web site extends assistance and guidance for the applicant to find a suitable employment in Houston.

The job postings and online research about the companies is extremely helpful for the applicant.  The applicant should posses’ adequate knowledge about employer skills that are involved in communication and also the importance of interviews. The offer must be negotiated properly with the experts of Houston Job search.

This web site extends better online services as compared to the other online web sites in Houston. Top class candidates are selected by the companies and organizations throughout Houston city. All necessary tools required for the process of hiring is provided online by the Houston Employment Agency.

Online recruitment services are also available in Houston Job Search, which enables the employer to find a suitable employee required for that particular job. The resume of the applicant should be posted to Houston job search.com. The applicant can obtain all the necessary details and information regarding job openings that are available in Houston city.

The nature of the job required by the applicant should be pointed out by him or her on the web site. A glance by the applicant regarding the posted positions will be beneficial. The resume must be refined accordingly or a fresh one can be created at Houston job search.

The interview skills should be practiced well in advance through the online web site. The employers can be contacted directly by the applicant for further clarifications. Since the resume is a selling tool, it should be highlighted briefly with the skills and experiences by the applicant.

The experts of Houston job search can be consulted for the purpose of updating and editing of resume. At times, the resume may be an ineffective one although the candidate might have the ability and requirements that are needed for the job. It might be difficult for the employer to arrive at a conclusion if the resume does not look attractive.

All necessary information must be checked and gathered by the applicant. Information under relative sub headings should be impressive. The skills of the applicant should be matched with the needs of the employer. Personal information must be followed by the summary of key points. Recruiters will be of great help for the applicant in this regard.