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One of the best ways to get through to a successful job interview is by knowing one’s strengths.
Make a self assessment and find out what your strengths are. Go look at your work experience and assess how you have performed in various duties and functions. Be objective and try to determine how each decision or accomplishment you made defines a particular strength. By having carefully determined your strengths you can be more confident in explaining them when you are interviewed for a job.
You can do the same thing when it comes to determining your weaknesses. But in this case, use the information to further improve them.
I’d like to dedicate this post to people who speak English as a second language. We all know for a fact that English is widely spoken and taught all over the world.
As a global language, English is widely used in business and at the workplace, particularly in developed countries. It follows then that improving your English can increase your chances of employment.
You can improve your command of the language by reading English literary materials, magazines and journals as much as possible. I suggest you use the Internet in exploring the English language because there are lots of available resources on the web that could provide help. You may also opt to enroll in an English school to hasten your progress.
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Cold calling or contacting the employers directly to look for job openings is a difficult yet powerful approach to find employment. Below are some tips to help you succeed in cold calling your way to a job:
1. Make a list of your prospective employers. Compile a list of companies that interest you. Arrange them according to your priorities.
2. Use a cold calling checklist. This should contain the things you needed in cold calling such as your script, company research notes, a copy of your most recent resume, pen and paper.
3. Practice. Do a mock up of your cold calling endeavor by asking a friend to serve as the hiring manager you want to talk to. This way, you can elicit a response and get constructive criticisms.
4. Be optimistic. Keep in mind that success comes to those who have a positive attitude.
Good luck!
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When looking for a job, understanding the recruitment cycle is very important to ensure success. There are seasonal variations in hiring which recruiters and employers agreed on. You can have an edge if you could align your job search plan with the recruitment cycle of industries which usually fall on the same periods.
Monster.com has an interesting article that deals with recruitment cycle. It provides a quarter by quarter summary of the hiring dynamics. It is a good resource for job seekers who are always on the go to get the job they want. Remember that when it comes to employment, timing plays a very important role. So make sure you are always hitting the road to employment on time.
I recommend you read the article to learn about how the recruitment cycle works.
Writing your cover letter is an important task as it can make or break you. You need to plan and devote time on writing your cover letter to be able to leave a good impression on your prospective employer. Here are some tips you might find useful in writing your own cover letter.
• Proofread your letter numerous times (grammar, punctuation, spelling, etc.)
• Address it to an identified person
• Give emphasis to your skills or experiences which relates to the position you’re applying for
• Limit your letter to a page
• Request for an interview
• Never put any negative information about yourself
Source: www.quintcareers.com
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According to Chinese beliefs, rats are animals associated with aggression, wealth, charm and order on the positive side, and death, war, pestilence, and atrocities on the negative. 2008 is year of the rat. Let us dwell on the positive qualities and keep the negative ones at bay for now since I will be talking about job search.
For job seekers, especially those who have yet to find the right job until now, the most logical thing to do is to change your job search approach. Why not try to use your aggressiveness in reevaluating your situation and setting realistic goals? You can start with your resume by reviewing it and locating those areas that need improvement. This way, you get to have a fresh perspective as to what jobs match your skills.
When applying for a specific job, a person should prepare an impressive resume. Besides the resume, you need to prepare a cover letter. But you might ask about the importance of having a cover letter.
Cover letters are important for it is where you state what type of position or work you are seeking or applying for. Your resume only shows your work experience and educational background. If you look at your resume, there is a part there where you state your objective. A cover letter can serve as an avenue for you to state your objective, which of course is to apply for a job.
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One of the most effective strategies when hunting jobs is to do a direct search. Generally, company sites have a career section where job offerings and job openings are regularly posted and updated.
While this is a not a very popular approach for job seekers, this can serve as a good alternative from searching for jobs through networking and job banks. All you have to do is visit the company site frequently. In the process, wait for job updates to get posted and send your resume when an opportunity presents itself.
While waiting for career updates, you can also read the company profile so you get to have an idea of what they do and how they conduct business.
As you start working, you get to find new acquaintances and build friendships. These people can help you find a job when you don�t have one, when you want a new job or when you would eventually plan a career change.
For job seekers, connections can be very useful. When submitting your resume for instance to a certain company, think of your friends who may be working there. They could give your resume a better treatment and help you get scheduled for an interview through small talks with the human resource department. Or when you have a friend working in the company you wish to work for, ask him to give you some valuable information about the jobs openings and the company itself.
What are job specifications? How does it affect a job seeker? Why does a better understanding of job specifications can increase your chances of getting hired?
When companies open new job positions or when an old position becomes available, the human resources department review and create the criteria for selecting the right persons for the jobs.
Job specifications identify the requirements needed for the job. It revolves around education, work experiences, industry background, skill sets and technical proficiencies. Job specifications are a firm basis for the selection process, from resume screenings up to the hiring of new employees.
Job specifications are an integral part of job listings, particularly those found in job sites. The challenge lies in the job seeker�s ability to effectively address the job specifications at each phase of the selection process, from job application up to the final interview.
