How to Find The Job You Are Looking For

As a job seeker, finding the job you are looking for is not easy and often most job seekers need some help with the process. The most important factor in securing your next job is to be sure of your capabilities, what you can offer and what you want from a potential employer.

By Catherine Adenle

Finding employment is often a turning point in anyone’s life. Most times, this may require making some hard decisions about ourselves and what we want to do. This is not easy and often most job seekers need some help with the process. The most important factor in securing your next job is to be sure of your capabilities and what you want.

To help you find the job you are looking for; it’s best to follow these three steps listed below:

Step 1: Choose a Career Path

One of the best ways to get a job is to know exactly what you are interested in doing. You need to ask yourself the following questions:

• What is my ideal job?
• What skills do I have?
• What would I like to be doing in 5 years from now?

The Catherine’s Career Corner and some of these 100 Best Blogs for Your Job Search can help you to know more about job search, work out a career direction through a series of articles, tips, advice and activities. They all will guide you through career exploration and the planning processes.

The sites below will also let you search through databases of available jobs:

Totaljobs.com – Covers a number of job sectors. Searches can be bookmarked (results.asp) and they offer a jobs-by-email service.
Monster.co.uk – The UK arm of the large US jobsite.
Topjobs.co.uk – Medium sized job listings, URLs bookmarkable, but I don’t have a current example of featured jobs by email service that unfortunately ignores keywords in the saved search.
Fish4jobs.co.uk – Features a large number of jobs and a jobs by email service. Their search engine seems to become less specific (rather than more specific) when searching for multiple keywords, which isn’t very useful. The search page does not include posting dates or salary. In the past I managed to bookmark their search by decoding their search form.
Silicon.com – IT news and job listings. Includes a listing of IT recruitment companies (in the search section) and a jobs by email service.
Jobsearch.co.uk – Smallish number of jobs and a CV posting service.
Gumtree.com – Now owned by eBay.

Via these entire major career websites are tips, tools and information interview tutorial. There is also a list of the various questions you can ask when researching a career you are interested in.

CV posting sites

Some friends had recent success with calls from agencies that found their CV on a CV posting website. All the sites below allow you to upload your CV in Word format (possibly RTF). Although, you may need to refresh your CV regularly to attract a recruiter’s interest.
Planetrecruit.com – Popular CV posting site.
Jobserve.com – includes a CV distribution feature.
Reed.co.uk – Includes a configurable CV posting service.
Totaljobs.com – Largish jobs site, (same database as Gojobsite).
Workthing.com – Part of the Guardian media group.
Jobs.guardian.co.uk – The Guardian newspaper’s jobs section, powered by Workthing.com.
CVposter.com – Posts your CV to a number of job agencies (I have not tried this site).

Advice on company targeting
Asktheheadhunter.com features advice on applying direct, making the most of your CV and interview techniques. Ideal for those a bit shy in coming forward. The best section by far is the Articles section, which includes insights from both the job-seekers and the employee’s sides.

Step 2: Securing Employment of your choice
Finding the right job may take some time; however, while you are looking for work why not make full use of the Internet and Social Media?

Register on LinkedIn, the social network site where you can connect your targeted companies. In addition, showcase your achievements and job skills story in a streamlined way and let potential employers and connections know that you are available for work.

You can also set up a Facebook account to fan, like, friend and connect with people in your field or companies that you want to work for. Talk nicely about their products, follow their news and get on their good side. If you don’t have anything nice to share, then, don’t share anything.

Don’t forget that recruiters are all over the Internet these days looking for the best workers with the right skills and that special x-factor. So, it is important that you as a job seeker have a presence there too.

You can utilise Twitter and all that it has to offer. Know the people to follow. Below is a list of people to follow because they have their fingers on the pulse of career,  job search and job vacancy tweets:
@AlisonDoyle, @CatherineAdenle, @GayleHoward, @myFootpath, @AMAnet , @TalentCulture, @phyllismufson, @OnlineResume, @PongoResume, @CareerBuilderca, and @Careertip.
Also make these hashtags your daily tags to search through on Twitter:  #Jobs, #Jobseekers, #Jobsearch, #Career, #Resume, #CV, #Interview.

You can also subscribe to pertinent Google alerts. See how

Click on the links below for tips on how to create a great resume, cover letter and lasting impression at a job interview.

Write a cover letter

Write a resume/CV

Free Resume and job CV templates

Cover letter samples and information

Interviews

Job interview questions and tips

Job interview best answers

Know your skills

Step 3: Keeping the Job

First see the Top Ten Tips: How To Keep Your Job In Today’s Economy and How To Keep Your Job

Once you’ve made the big transition through job searching and landed the job, the next goal is job success. There are specific skills you need to know and use in order to be successful at your job. It’s important to practice these skills prior to starting the job. This isn’t a complete list but will point you in the directions:

First impressions show from day one. You only get one first impression.

From day one, it’s a good idea to check with your manager about what’s most important. Employers say many people lose their job because they don’t use good work habits and not because they are unable to do the job.

The following list of suggestions is based on feedback from a majority of surveyed employers.
See the slides below on how to be a Superstar Job Seeker

Employer Expectations

• A positive attitude is one of the most important factors in achieving job success. Don’t carry negative feelings into your new workplace. Resolve them elsewhere.
• How long will it take to get to work? Allow a few extra minutes for traffic problems and let your manager know beforehand if you are responsible for your children’s school run in the mornings. Set an alarm clock to help you get up. Being reliable and dependable gains the trust and respect of your new employer.
• Good attendance is always important. If you’re going to be unavoidably late or out sick, ask your manager the proper method of informing them.
• Know and follow all office rules, policies and procedures. Read the employee manuals. Ask your manager if there is one in place for newly recruited staff.
• Listen and learn. Be open to new ways of doing things, even if you were taught differently in school or on a different job. Don’t be quick to find fault, criticise or complain until you can prove you can do something a better way.
• Meet and exceed your employer’s expectations.

Communication

• When you need to talk with your manager, ask when would be a good time to meet.
• Take advantage of your performance reviews.
• Stay calm.
• Learn from them. Ask how you can improve.
• Show results or job-related classes you’ve taken. Most managers appreciate employees who are concerned about performance and in finding ways to improve. Your job success is also their success.
• Be a team player. Be willing to help.
• Know the goals of your job and how your job fits into the overall organization. Avoid a “know-it-all attitude.” Try to fit in with the team. Keep your sense of humour.
• Follow the proper chain of command. Discuss items with your manager first.

Personal
• Be willing to learn new skills. Review things with your manager at an appropriate time.
• Take time in making new friends. Find positive and upbeat co-workers. Avoid negative, highly critical and over gossiping people.
• Be professional. Wear clean and job-appropriate clothes. Pay attention to how your co-workers are dressed.
• Keep your personal life and problems at home, don’t moan about your home problems at work.
• Do not use the employer’s equipment and time to do personal things like making personal phone calls, using the copy machine or resolving your personal problems on the job. If you’re having trouble resolving personal problems, counselling, support groups or employee assistance programs may be useful.
• Create a responsible image and dress for the job you want next.
• Volunteer for projects and committees if your work is completed and your manager approves.

Getting Along With Others

• Don’t express your opinions, biases or prejudices about others while you’re at work. Diversity is a priority in the workplace.
• Accept criticism as constructive. Don’t become defensive or take criticism personally. Thank the person for their input. Consider changing if it’s warranted.
• If you’re unsure how to handle the situation, check with your supervisor.
• Always be friendly to everyone. Be willing to go the extra mile. This creates goodwill with employers, co-workers, and customers.
• Notice who your boss relies on and model yourself after them.
• Find a mentor, someone who knows the employer and the job well enough to coach you or show you the ropes.
• Realise that gossiping and playing politics or power games could be dangerous and backfire on you.
• Keep your emotions under control. The job isn’t the place to express or show your opinions or feelings.
• Show appreciation. Let your manager know you appreciate their training, support, input, feedback, etc.
• Strive to be positively recognised.

Do you have further tips on how to find the job you are looking for? Please feel free to share them with us, add your comments below.