subject: Finding A Job In Today's Job Market Requires Hard Work And Patience [print this page] Finding A Job In Today's Job Market Requires Hard Work And Patience
If you're currently unemployed, or otherwise looking for a new job, you probably already know how tough it is in the current job market. Good paying, secure jobs are very hard to come buy these days, and you'll have to work extra hard to find one and get hired. So roll up your sleeves, decide that you're going to find that new job no matter what, and get out and hit the pavement.
Your goal should be to apply to a minimum of 3 jobs per day. Always keep a list of everyone you make direct or indirect contact with. Be truthful and let them know skills, professional experience, education, and overall knowledge.
In your daily job hunting plan don't forget how important the telephone is for finding job leads and meeting the right people. Work hard at developing a 20-30 second "elevator speech" highlighting your unique selling proposition. If there are no jobs currently available, make sure you ask for a referral anyway. Using the phone in this way can be a very productive technique for tracking down new job opportunities.
A well-planned career change usually beings with self-assessment. Evaluate your likes and dislikes, your goals, values, interests, and skills. You might find that you can move into an entirely new career field with just the knowledge and skills you already possess.
Be sure to set daily and weekly goals that you can achieve. For example, how many phone calls are you going to make every day to potential employers? How many resume packages are you going to send out every day? And how many hours to you plan to spend job hunting every day?
Planning should play a vital role as you embark on a new career path. Many people begin the career planning process by identifying the prospects of the new career, both professionally and personally. It also includes forgetting the skills or experience that you have acquired from your old job.
Time spent going over your career plans will help prepare you for the challenges and opportunities that will come your way. Instead of doing all of your serious career planning while in college or trade school, you should make it an ongoing part of your working life. That way if you suddenly find yourself out of work or downsized out of your current job, you'll already have a solid plan in place.
So what exactly are your skills, strengths and talents? What are your natural abilities? Try writing them down, then reflect on your answers. Then ask your friends and family members to answer these questions for you.
Recognize your strengths and weaknesses: It may also mean that you need to know your likes and dislikes. The reason why you're starting out a new career may be because of something that you didn't like in your previous job. So you'll want to avoid making that mistake a second time. See what you're good at and try to improve the areas where you lack potential.
