Introduction to Job search

There is one thing in our lives that remains constant . . . change! Some changes are good and some bring sadness. Sometimes we are filled with excitement, sometimes dread.
Where are you right now in your career? Employed That’s Cool and gotta to say Lucky you: Unemployed or made redundant well Its very difficult to get a job right now (2009) Unemployed? Employed but looking for a new job? Entering the workforce for the first time or after a long absence? Whatever your situation, you may be in a state of change.

Change causes transition, and transition starts with an ending. For example, a relationship ends, a job ends, or you move from the neighbourhood where you have lived for years.
Finding yourself in a change situation with your career/job, you may be experiencing transition in several different areas.

Social Life
Your job situation may affect your social life. Co-workers often become friends. If you have worked at a particular place for a long time, you may have been through many stressful, difficult situations with these friends. Fellow employees are often close friends. After a job loss, that daily contact may be broken. And if they are still working, they may be feeling "guilty" about being employed while you struggle to find a new job. It is not a comfortable situation for anyone. So if you do contact them by phone or meet with them for lunch, you may sense some tension or a feeling that the relationship has changed; the reality is, it has.

Income
A job change may affect your ability to sustain a living. Your income determines your ability to pay bills, buy groceries, and pursue your hobbies or leisure time. Not having enough money to pay bills adds stress. If you don't deal with this stress, the pressure builds and builds until something just has to give!
Identity

What we do for a living often defines who we are. When meeting a person for the first time, the question usually asked is, "What do you do?" It is as if by knowing what job a person has, we then know who the person is! What a conversation stopper when you answer, "I'm between jobs right now" or "I'm unemployed!"

It is important that we consider some of these things when we are looking for work. Getting the right job that will enable us to have positive balance within our lives is essential.

Job seekers must locate employers who need their services and are willing to:

· Pay more competitive wages
· Make use of your skills and abilities
· Provide the benefits you require
· Provide opportunity for further training and advancement

CHARACTERISITICS OF SUCCESSFUL JOB SEEKERS

· Remaining positive about the challenge.

· Applicants that stay with a system that uses recognised job-finding techniques.

· Plan their work and work their plan.

· Using ‘networking’ as the primary job searching strategy.

· Study and understand how the modern job market works.

CHARACTERISTICS OF UNSUCCESSFUL JOB SEEKERS

· Becoming discouraged easily and look for excuses.

· Do not research firms ahead of interview.

· Not making professional use of the telephone.

· Refusing to devote 50% of your time to searching for work.

· Underestimating the personal contribution that can be made using personal skills and experience.

· Downgrading the importance of keeping a positive attitude.

INTO WHICH CATEGORY DO YOU FALL?

MAKE A LIST OF ALL THE DIFFERENT METHODS OF JOB SEARCH

· NEWSPAPERS

· ..........................

· .............................

 

YOUR ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE JOB FINDING PROCESS

If you don’t expect to find the best job available, you probably won’t.

To earn a position equal to your potential it is vital to maintain a positive attitude over an extended period of time. To measure your current attitude toward the job finding process, complete the exercise. . ......at your own time

For example if you circle 5 you are saying no improvement is possible.

I like searching for prospective employers and setting up interviews.

I love the challenge of employment interviews.

The prospect of professional job search motivates me.

An interview can be a positive experience.

Going through many interviews to get the best job possible does not bother me.

Selling my skills and abilities to perspective employers is fun.

I want to learn everything I can about the job finding process.

Interview mistakes can be a positive learning experience.

Finding a job is like playing a game and I am going to win!

I plan to complete three job applications next week.

I hate finding prospective employers.

I am not confident at interviews.

I feel worried before I get started.

An interview can be a negative experience.

I hope that my first interview is my last.

I find having to sell myself to perspective employers embarrassing.

I would rather someone just offer me a job, or pay an agency.

Interview mistakes leave me totally discouraged.

Finding a job is like going to the dentist.

I’m taking next week off job search is tiring.