Right now in today's economic state we are seeing businesses closing, homes in foreclosure, unemployment rising, And even destruction caused by natural disasters. Faced with these challenges some have figured out that LIFE, has caught us by surprise and It's time to regroup and get prepared.
Definition of the word "Prepare"(http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prepare) - 1 a: to make ready beforehand for some purpose, use, or activity
2: to work out the details of : plan in advance
In relations to looking for a job, we must get in the proper state of mind to listen to what companies and employers need, work out the details and make ready beforehand our ability to sell ourselves, package our experience and show how we can be an asset. Here are some helpful ways to stay prepared:
1. Research the OOH(occupational outlook handbook) - http://www.bls.gov/oco/home.htm
This will display for you hundreds of jobs with the basic requirements to do the work.
2. Change your resume - there are many sites, but I will give you Tangil's Simple Resume Advice:
a. state what you did in chronological order
b. show what you used to do your job,
c. list technologies that were used in the environment (even if you are not a tech)
d. if you haven't worked in over six months to a year, take a contract in a related field and get it on your resume
e. always show dates if multiple jobs in a year, list the year only
3. Networking- today there are many forms of networking,and lead generation, by using social networking sites like linkedin.com, ning.com, plaxo, jigsaw, facebook, but also infinity groups within your own companies, forums, chat rooms, blogs etc. There is even a new shift of networking in virtual worlds like secondlife.com. I'm sure you know by now the most effective sourcing is through referrals. These referrals can be found by any of the medians just mentioned above.
4. Consider fulfilling a different role in the same industry. If you can't find a position in your field of interest, consider something different. Experience is key in being selected for a position, but industry and technology is changing so rapidly, understanding the methodologies, lingo, and it's future; it is equally important.
5. Know the Job Description aka "JD"! on average, there are at least 100 applicants that have applied to any given job posting within 24-48 hours of being posted. This includes both internal candidates and external candidates. Experienced recruiters know this will require a quick prescreening and elimination process. The first resumes to go are the ones that do not speak to the JD. READ the job description and make sure your resume truthfully speaks to what the employer is requesting. Many times candidates rest upon their experience and or knowledge by stating, "I've got that experience but, do I have to know Mandarin? If the JD is requesting a foreign language there is a good reason for it. If you don't have a skill listed on the JD don't let this stop you from applying, just be prepared to give example both in your CV, resume or interview on how you can meet the need. If once your resume has been identified as a candidate that the employer may consider, be prepared in your interview to give examples of how your experience correlates with the JD.
6. Research the company - Once you have made it to the interview you are probably in the top 10-20%. However there is still yet another elimination period. The ideal status to be in of the hiring process is in the top 1-3%. If you want to be considered for the job, research the company, know the company's mission, vision, latest news releases, products and services. Who is the CEO and what are some of his top initiatives.
Hopefully these Six points will shed some light to some and remind others of the need to put "preparaton" back into our lives. We all are on the go and rushing and running most places. However if we want to be successful, plan for it.
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