Archive for April, 2011

Tips to do when job research takes more time than expected

Friday, April 29th, 2011

Job seekers may get frustrated and hopeless when it takes too long to find a job as they spend weeks and months and years to it. This delay may cause wreak havoc on a job seeker’s motivation, sense of pride and confidence but in today’s economy even most intelligent, talented, well educated and experienced job seekers also have to face this hard time finding a job so first you should learn to be patient and calm.

In this mean time one of the best things which you can do when you feel stuck in search is to evaluate what methods are not productive and what methods are working then adjust their strategy. You also need to take good care of yourselves which you can through physical exercise, therapy, and even volunteering somewhere. A new hobby or project can be another way to go as job searching is a hard work, so it should be sustained with good self-care. It would be good for job seekers if they realize that balancing the demands of looking for a job with smart ways of caring for themselves can make them more successful.

Read below to learn additional do’s and don’ts in the mean time.

Do:

  • Create contingency plans, if your search takes time than expected so you know what you will have to do.
  • Begin to take very good care of yourself during this demanding procedure. Search on the things that reinstate you so that this doesn’t become hard work.
  • Start working hard on your search but do not let it eclipse your complete life. Always remain positive.
  • Begin research on training opportunities, whether in something new and interesting or your existing region of capability. Learning new skills will help you widen your market and give you a platform where you can see immediate results.
  • Start volunteering as a way to enlarge your network. This effort will keep you connected to others and ensures you that you are also doing something productive besides looking for work.

Don’t:

  • Do not become a job search machine.
  • Never assume you know how and when you would discover your next chance or opportunity.
  • Do not get yourself stuck. If one method did not work out, try another, a better one with more motivation and courage.
  • Do not let your network know that there are no jobs or something like that. This seems a depressing message.
  • Do not be reluctant to compromise because sometimes you may have to take small steps back to move forward.

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Facebook can actually help you find a perfect job of your dreams?

Wednesday, April 27th, 2011

Facebook may sometimes look like a way to simply post some pictures, chit chat with loved ones or tell your friends about your birthday, but on the other hand it can be useful in your professional career. Facebook allows job seekers tap an informal network of friends or friends of friends who can play a vital role in creating success. The collections of friends you have on Facebook are more likely to have your back.

How to take benefit from it?

Modify your avatar In an online search, your avatar is usually the first thing that a potential employer sees on Facebook. So if you are in search of employment, it is significant to have a professional avatar, which can help you get hired. You should get a custom avatar which should include your contact information and it should let people know that you are looking for a job. In addition, your profile must be kept secret; it just should contain the information of your email address and the history and experience of jobs so that recruiters can reach you directly.

Make use of your status
Using you status is a good way to tell your Facebook friends that you are looking for a job. For instance, refer to your own website, which features samples of your work and curriculum resume, or ask them to write you an e-mail if they are be acquainted with any of a good lead. Be specific when you tell your friends about what type of job or company you’re after. It will make it easier for them to help you out. We suggest that during your job search use your status to update your friends on how it goes. Do not flood friends with all the little details; try to make every status conversational and optimistic.
“Keep it real” but never get yourself appear like a saddest and most hopeless person alive.

Take out an ad of Facebook
When you complete you degree and graduated from university, you wish to get hired for a job, so at that time you can take out an advertisement on Facebook to target the desired companies. The advertisement is seen to the Facebook users. Once you click on the advertisement, users can refer your personal website that contains your curriculum resume/CV. After that each company will be able to inform that your resume is passed on to their Human Resources department and or wish to meet you. Facebook is the fastest and easily useable platform which contains a number of job opportunities for everyone like you.

Companies where you desire to work:
Since most companies have a presence on Facebook these days, by clicking on the “like” button on the fan page of any company will be the signal that you are interested in doing a job there. In addition, it is a simple way to learn about the latest news and happenings in the company, It can be helpful with interview. Also remember some companies also place their available jobs on their page.

Always Keep it genuine
As we all know that Facebook is a less formal network, people expect to see a more relaxed part of your personality so there is no need to bestow a professional tone. Try to present a casual as well as professional and responsible personality. It will give a great effect.

Posted in Job Search, Job Sites in Pakistan | No Comments »

6 important Steps for First Time Job Hunters

Tuesday, April 26th, 2011

Congratulations, you did it! You are done with collage and now degree holder so you are finally ready to make your mark. You are now in the real world and it is time to start your professional career.  If you’re in the middle of this crossroad, it can be exciting, scary, overwhelming, confusing or all of the above mentioned. Here are some steps to make a successful transition from college life to real World.

Step 1: Identify your way:
After achieving 4, 5 or 6 years bachelors or masters degree, you are quite sure what you want to do, right? If not, now is the time to determine what your strengths are and identify what sort of careers that is best for you. Are you someone who enjoys being around people? Or are you happier numbers of calculations or computer programs to create? Think of all your weaknesses, strengths, interests, and dislikes when thinking about your career plans. Read about fields that seems interesting to you and talk to others who do work in that field that you find interesting. Focus more on fields that match your interests and talents.

Step 2: Do research on the companies that interest you:
It is essential to learn as much as possible about the companies that interest you and consider all options. You must have an open mind on opportunities in businesses and industries that you would not have thought of before. Once you’ve identified the companies you want to target, look at their Web sites, read news articles and talk to current employees to learn as much as you can. Remember you must also consider the stability of a company, this the company will be there for the long term or not.

Step 3: Create your toolbox:
It is important to have the right tools for any task. The tools needed for job search are a resume/CV, portfolio of your work and a cover letter. Take the time to develop a resume and cover letter to clearly communicate your strengths and experience. Here are some tips to remember:

Think about the type of resume/CV you need. A functional resume/CV that highlights your abilities and capabilities rather than your work history is a good choice for those seeking employment for the first time.

Highlight your results and accomplishments you have achieved, rather than plain descriptions of experiences.  Use action verbs in your resume and cover letter describing your experiences, such as “managed”, “insider” and “product”.  If you are low on practical work experience, look at your part-time work, school activities or volunteer positions. Assess your entire experience and interpret how it applies to any position you wish to apply.

Step 4: Social Network:
One of the most important errands of any job search is networking. Enjoy all the resources you have, including the office of your school career placement, friends who have finished ahead of you and are already working, and friends of your parents, neighbors and former teachers. Send an e-mail to ask if your contacts know somebody who can help. Spend your resume/CV and ask others to do likewise. Call your contacts to see if they know somebody who works for a company you are interested to join in.

Step 5: Your appearance plays a vital part:
If you want to step in the professional world, you have to look and must act like a professional. Buy a business suit and wear it to all of your job interviews. Make sure your email address and greeting are appropriate. This means that if your user name e-mail is “koolbuddy”, you might have to make a new account. You should also think about being professional at home. Be prepared for a call or a telephone interview any time. The more you play the part of a well mannered and trained professional, the more people see you as a professional.

Step 6: Never Give Up:
The real world can be a challenge. Set realistic expectations and recognize that you are likely to start at the bottom and work your way. You will probably face rejection as you start looking for your full-time job at first, but everyone goes through. Just remember to be persistent, proactive, and we remain convinced that there is a great work out there for you.

Posted in Finding a Job, Job Search | No Comments »

A few clicks away to a new job!

Monday, April 25th, 2011

With all the online job search tools available today the dream of finding a job with one click can become a reality. New opportunities are just a click away on the internet. The only problem is that the competition can be difficult with so many internet users taking advantage of the Internet to present themselves to potential employers. If you want success in your online job hunt, you need to use the right strategies in your job search.
Most of the companies use technology to help analyze CVs and store data in databases searchable by keywords for future use. So how does a computer decide which resumes to pickup and which not to? Simply “keywords”. These software systems are designed for searching resumes that contain specific keywords chosen by the recruiter.
What are the appropriate keywords for the job you’re looking for? You’ll need to spend time researching jobs and ads for jobs that are closely associated with or near a perfect fit for your experience. Read as many job descriptions and job postings as you possibly can find and begin to write words that you see again and again. Then incorporate these words in your cover letter (S) and CV (S).

For instance, a recruiter is looking to hire someone for software development. He needs employees to use the company computer system to monitor and perform quality assurance testing as well. So He will probably select the following words in the search for candidates: “quality assurance” and “software development”.

The insertion of these keywords is important, but be careful not to overdo it. Today’s scanning technology is advanced and programmed to identify resume/ CV seem to overlap with the use of an advertising company.  It is better to incorporate a few keywords that recount to your experience.

After initial review by the computer, recruiters take over and begin again the examination for qualified candidates. Primarily, they will seek relevant experience and qualifications. Therefore it is important to highlight your achievements in front.

One should mention all the qualities one has very clearly and should not feel that it is some kind of boasting. Begin your letter with a clear statement describing your skills and abilities and try to give a different tone in your communications to stand out from other candidates.
We know that this technique works because it is being used successfully to land a number of jobs to employees. Giving your key selling points at the outset maximize the chances of your resume/CV to be placed for interview call file instead of the circular file.

Appearance and professionalism of your communication is essential. Pretty often, recruiters and hiring managers report the presence of grammar and typos in the curriculum resume/CV and cover letters they receive. Before responding to a single online job posting over, take time to amend your resume/CV, read it for 5 to 6 times minimum. It is also a good idea to ask someone to review it for you as well.

Once you are certain that your resume/CV and cover letter have the right keywords that aggressively advertise your qualifications and skills, start pushing the buttons and let the possible opportunities come to you.

Posted in Career in Pakistan, Finding a Job | No Comments »