Careers coach Penny Strutton is writing a weekly column for This Is Nottingham with advice for job seekers. This week she looks at planning and preparing for a successful job search, and introduces her online job seeker training programme
Where has this year gone!? I keep having conversations with people as surprised as I am at how fast this year has flown by. Take a look back at the last 11 months and think about what you have to show for your efforts. Are you satisfied? So many people start feeling dissatisfied when they start to reflect and so often it is their job which is bringing them the most unhappiness!
Too many people stick to a job because they don't believe they could do anything else or find something more stimulating. With a little bit of know-how and some well-directed effort I believe everyone has the ability to find a job which can bring them satisfaction.
But where do you start? The first step is to get prepared. Don't just launch yourself onto the job market. Take a step back and identify what it is you're good at, what you enjoy and what you don't. Make an itinerary of your skills and job requirements and get on the net to start researching job roles and requirements which meet your personal set of attributes.
Applying for jobs isn't something which happens at the push of a button. Writing an application should take time, research and careful planning. You'll need to match make your attributes against the requirements of the job and cherry pick experience and achievements to demonstrate you've got what the company is looking for. Use the right language to convey your passion and personality and adapt your CV to demonstrate a professional and proactive image.
If you think there just aren't the jobs out there, start looking to the hidden job market. Making speculative approaches to interesting employers with ideas on how you could benefit them can often get you the foot in the door. Look to your network and think about how they could help you meet the right people and take advantage of opportunities.
It's all about making the choice to be proactive and have a determination to find a job which is right for you. We spend so much of our time at work it makes sense to be doing something we love! If you need some help getting started my online job seeker training programme can help. Take a look and please get involved in my online discussion forum – I'll be more than happy to answer your questions.
2013 is round the corner – start your preparation now and be ready for a new job in the New Year.
Where has this year gone!? I keep having conversations with people as surprised as I am at how fast this year has flown by. Take a look back at the last 11 months and think about what you have to show for your efforts. Are you satisfied? So many people start feeling dissatisfied when they start to reflect and so often it is their job which is bringing them the most unhappiness!
Too many people stick to a job because they don't believe they could do anything else or find something more stimulating. With a little bit of know-how and some well-directed effort I believe everyone has the ability to find a job which can bring them satisfaction.
But where do you start? The first step is to get prepared. Don't just launch yourself onto the job market. Take a step back and identify what it is you're good at, what you enjoy and what you don't. Make an itinerary of your skills and job requirements and get on the net to start researching job roles and requirements which meet your personal set of attributes.
Applying for jobs isn't something which happens at the push of a button. Writing an application should take time, research and careful planning. You'll need to match make your attributes against the requirements of the job and cherry pick experience and achievements to demonstrate you've got what the company is looking for. Use the right language to convey your passion and personality and adapt your CV to demonstrate a professional and proactive image.
If you think there just aren't the jobs out there, start looking to the hidden job market. Making speculative approaches to interesting employers with ideas on how you could benefit them can often get you the foot in the door. Look to your network and think about how they could help you meet the right people and take advantage of opportunities.
It's all about making the choice to be proactive and have a determination to find a job which is right for you. We spend so much of our time at work it makes sense to be doing something we love! If you need some help getting started my online job seeker training programme can help. Take a look and please get involved in my online discussion forum – I'll be more than happy to answer your questions.
2013 is round the corner – start your preparation now and be ready for a new job in the New Year.
