LEGAL NOTICE:
The Publisher has strived to be as accurate and complete as possible in the creation of this report, notwithstanding the fact that he does not warrant or represent at any time that the contents within are accurate due to the rapidly changing nature of the Internet.
While all attempts have been made to verify information provided in this publication, the Publisher assumes no responsibility for errors, omissions, or contrary interpretation of the subject matter herein. Any perceived slights of specific persons, peoples, or organizations are unintentional.
In practical advice books, like anything else in life, there are no guarantees of income made. Readers are cautioned to reply on their own judgment about their individual circumstances to act accordingly.
This book is not intended for use as a source of legal, business, accounting or financial advice. All readers are advised to seek services of competent professionals in legal, business, accounting, and finance field.
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Disclaimer
Please note the information contained within this document are for educational purposes only.
Every attempt has been made to provide accurate, up to date and reliable complete information no warranties of any kind are expressed or implied. Readers acknowledge that the author is not engaging in rendering legal, financial or professional advice.
By reading any document, the reader agrees that under no circumstances is this guide responsible for any losses, direct or indirect, that are incurred as a result of use of the information contained within this document, including - but not limited to errors, omissions, or inaccuracies.
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Table of Contents
Page: 5
Introduction
Page: 7
Know What You Want
Page: 9
Help in Choosing a Career
Page: 11
Set Goals
Page: 13
Reevaluate Your Job Skills
Page: 18
“My Elevator Pitch”
Page: 21
Weekly Job Search Model
Page: 24
Online Presence & Staying Current
Page: 27
Network Network Network
Page: 30
Job Seeking Websites
Page: 34
Think Outside the Box
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Introduction
In today’s job market, more and more we are required to utilize cutting-edge resources and tools to get the job we desire. Competition is stiff and you never know where and when your next job opportunity will show up. You must be able to put your best foot forward at all times and wow employers with WHO YOU ARE and WHY THEY SHOULD
HIRE YOU.
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This guide was created to help you do exactly that. We will begin with evaluating what you want your next career opportunity to be, setting your short and long term career goals, developing your elevator speech, customizing your weekly job search model, polishing up your online presence and, of course, networking.
In each section you will receive a brief introduction, and easy steps for you to start today on getting to where you want to be tomorrow. Go through the entire guide twice. Once to understand the structure and content. For the second time, start implementing and taking action.
As you can see, we are big believers that taking action is key.
More of these guides will be available over the next year that will be specializing in the categories listed in the table of contents and many many more. We wish you the best of luck in your career path, and never give up on your hopes and dreams.
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Know What You Want
Knowing what you want is one of
the most important aspects in
your job search. It will help guide you to find the best type of job
and career that suits your
personality and desires. Truly
knowing what kind of personality
you have and your interests gives
you an idea how you would like to
spend the majority of your work
day.
What do you do now?
1. Make a list of what really interests you.
2. Make a list of what really excites you.
3. Ask yourself “What kind of job am I really after”?
4. Make a list of what really moves you?
5. Would you be more interested in status or a six-figure salary?
6. Do you want to make a difference in your community and the world or just on your company’s net worth?
7. Make a list of the kinds of people you would like to work with; Do you prefer working with loud people or quiet types; would you like a place where people love socializing or not?
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8. Are you after a small, medium, or large organization? What about an overseas, local, or regional company?
9. Ask others what they think of you. Email 10 of your closest family and friends and ask them what about your traits and skills. You might be most surprised to hear the answers, and learn a few things about yourself.
10. Take a Career Assessment / Aptitude Test.
Ask others what they Go online and do a Google search for
“assessment test”. You will find many websites that will offer these tests for free. For a small fee, they often will also give some career planning advice and more in-depth information on how to achieve your career goals.
REMEMBER
Assessment tests are great tools in the career planning process and should be used especially if you are confused as to which career path you should take. Use them to formulate some goals and then make a plan toward achieving those goals. There’s no reason why you have to stay in a career you’re not satisfied with.
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HELP IN CHOOSING A CAREER
There are career planning resources that will help guide you along the path to a new career by offering information about different areas you can work in and what it takes to get there. They will give job descriptions along with the qualifications that you have to have to work in that specific field.
What do you do now?
1. Check your local community college or university departments that specialize in choosing a career for career and job searching resources.
2. One great free online career counseling website is
3. Set up two informational interviews per month with industry experts to learn about your area-of-interest.
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REMEMBER
www.careerplanner.com offers you a free career test that can show you which careers are best suited for you. Tests such as these are great if you aren’t really sure which career you want to get into or see if you are missing a career that you never considered getting into in the first place.
Take a look at job descriptions that are available for various careers.
This will allow you to know exactly what work is expected of you in specific jobs. These descriptions include tasks, work activities, required knowledge, skills, and abilities. When making a career change, you will want to be sure and do your research on your intended career so that you don’t get involved in a job that you either can’t do, or won’t enjoy doing.
REMEMBER
Try something new!!! If you are stuck in a job search rut, add a new strategy to your repertoire. Diversity is key. Instead of only job searching online, try working with a recruiter, or set up informational interviews with industry contacts to help you learn more about the area of interest and the hands-on daily job duties.
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SET GOALS
Goal setting – just like with all the things you are after in life, goal setting can help keep you focused and realize what you need to accomplish for your career goals. Setting SMART goals will facilitate you achieving your dream job sooner rather then later.
What do you do now?
1. Set your short-term 3, 6, 9 month career goals.
2. Your short-term, specific job goals for the year will help you grow and force you to continuously evaluate your progress. A short term goal might be to improve your networking skills, and communication skills. For example this can be achieved by making January's goal to join a professional organization and February's to attend a college alumni event.
3. Set your long-term 1, 3, 5, 10, 20, 30 year career goals.
4. Holding yourself accountable for achieving these goals will boost your self-esteem and motivate you to continue searching by providing you with new leads, information, and feedback.
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REMEMBER
There are many available resources on the internet. Google SMART
GOALS, and start setting your career short and long term goals today.
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REEVALUATE YOUR JOB SKILLS
If you feel like you've looked at every job posting on earth and you still can't find one that match your skills, then it's time to get some new skills. The good news for those who are unemployed is that it's the perfect opportunity to go back to school. You won't have to divide your time with your job obligations, and there's also the possibility that the economy will have recovered a bit by the time you graduate school
- giving you a double leg up. There are even government funding and programs available for out-of-work job-seekers that want to enroll in training or continue their education.
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Skills refer to the things you do well. The key to finding the most appropriate jobs in the industry is recognizing your own skills and communicating the significance written and verbally to a probable employer.
The majority of skills are those that are used in a variety of work settings. What are these skills?
Would matching your skills to find the right job be successful?
What do you do now?
1. What skills can I offer an employer? If you're unsure of the answer, make one list of the job skills you excel at and one of the skills you like to use most. Print out these lists and have them in front of you during your daily job search. Use these skills as search terms in your job search.
2. Make a list of things you are interested in. Then you can make a note of all the job openings in that field. Assess each job you find and see what works for you.
3. Make a list of your previous jobs and experience acquired in each job. There will be a lot of things to list and you should be careful not to forget even the smallest things or activities that you were part of.
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4. Include any volunteer, part-time, freelance, summer and full time jobs in your lists. Once you have listed all your past employment, examine the skills you were required to perform for each work duty.
5. Make a list of your hobbies. These include all of your hobbies, activities you have been involved in the past, and all the things that interest you. By listing all of these down, you could examine the skills it takes to achieve each item.
REMEMBER
There are two main types of skills, hard skills and soft skills. Hard Skills are tangible in the sense that these are things that you physically do. For example, knowing how to operate different kinds of machinery, knowledge of a specialized computer program, ability to type fast, skills on using many types of tools, credentials regarding special crafts, etc. Soft Skills are skills that are rather abstract in nature like personal qualities. This may include the following: being a good team player, having the ability to work on your own, being enthusiastic or organized and decisive.
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REMEMBER
Stand by what you write - You should be realistic about your skills and the level of expertise that you have with it. For example, if you indicate that you are a very organized person, then you should be able to show this to the interviewer by being able to organize your thoughts and effectively use the time that was given for your interview.
It is important to know your skills every time you are job hunting.
Always put your best foot forward.
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REMEMBER
Always take time to consider if your skills are relevant to the job that you are aspiring for. Don't be bothered if you have to cut out some of the skills from your list. It is also important to include in the list your skills that the prospective employer will probably value.
REMEMBER
Hobbies can include: homemaking, playing basketball, fixing cars and many more. All of these items could determine if you are capable of working with a team, able to handle multiple tasks, have viable knowledge of human development, knowledge of electronics and ability to diagnose mechanical and numerical problems. The list goes on, but make sure to consider the skills that would be beneficial for a working environment.
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“My Elevator Pitch”
A “My Elevator Pitch” is a short description of yourself presenting to someone else a balanced understanding of who you are. It showcases you at your very best in under a minute, when prompted by the question “Tell me a little about yourself”. It provides a brief and compelling answer to the question “Why should I hire you?”
Craft your “Elevator
Pitch” Now
1.
On a piece of paper,
write down your career
objective or the type of
position you want.
2.
List three or four
specific accomplishments that
prove you meet or exceed the
requirements for the position
you want.
3.
List a few character
traits or adaptive skills that
set you apart from typical
applicants.
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REMEMBER
When networking, finish your “Elevator Pitch” in under a minute with probing questions that cannot be answered with a “yes” or “no” in order to initiate a conversation that may lead to referrals or job opportunities. For example:
WHO do you know who works in _______________?
WHAT businesses are in the area that _______________?
WHO do you know who knows a lot of people?
OTHER POINTS TO CONSIDER
Keep your “Elevator Pitch” statement brief. People generally listen effectively only 30 to 60 seconds, and they appreciate concise responses to questions. This indicates that you are clearly focused and waste no time getting to the point.
•
Remember to maintain eye contact and speak slowly and clearly.
Speak in the present tense to show that your skills are current and applicable in today’s market.
•
Remember your audience. Adjust the level of detail and industry jargon you use according to the interest and experience of the person you are addressing.
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•
Avoid common claims such as: “I’m trustworthy, loyal, helpful, courteous, kind,” and so on. Not only are these claims made by most job seekers, but without detailed examples, they don’t convey your value to a potential employer.
•
Make your “Elevator Pitch” statement natural. It is a genuine form of communication that will help you organize everything you are into brief, coherent thoughts
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WEEKLY JOB SEARCH MODEL
To achieve job-searching results as quickly as possible, plan your daily and weekly job search.
Below you will find some actions and tips to get started. Customize this plan and keep yourself accountable.
What do you do now?
1. Write down the websites
you need to visit every day
and the people you need to
speak to, then check them
off as you get them done.
2. Contact at least 5 people or
resources per day. Try to
get an additional 2 new
referrals from each contact.
3. Set up at least 2 face-to-face meetings or interviews each week.
4. After contacting companies and employers, be sure to follow up within a few days to maintain momentum.
5. Word-of-Mouth Referrals - Make at least 8 networking contacts per week.
6. Contacting Companies Directly - Make at least 5 direct contacts with companies per week.
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7. Keep a record of contact names, addresses and phone numbers can save time and will help you project a professional manner when contacting potential employers. Write down for each contact points that came up in conversation, so you can reference them in future conversations.
8. Record your daily activities. Over time, you will see how well your search is progressing and how long the search might take. Evaluate your experiences with a job coach to determine what works well and what you might do to improve.
REMEMBER
Employers suggest you also include the following in your job search: Maintain a neat appearance, including good hygiene. Body piercing and shorts can give employers a negative impression. Be complete, honest, and accurate on applications and résumés or curricula vitae.
Exhibit a good attitude (be polite and eager, maintain good eye contact, smile, and so on). Prepare for meetings by researching companies, practicing interviewing, and bringing your personal information.
Remember to be confident without being arrogant, you bring value to the table an it is important you realize that!
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REMEMBER
Finding a new job is a full-time job. Plan to work at it with the same discipline you would if you were working full-time. For example, keep regular working hours. It is important that family members and others support your efforts. Help them understand that if you work half-time on your job search, you will be unemployed twice as long.
Your job search is expensive. Just to make the math easy, assume you will be making $50,000 yearly at your next job. Since most people work 50 weeks per year, your job search is costing you approximately $1,000 per week, so try to make it as quick and efficient as possible.
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ONLINE PRESENCE & STAYING CURRENT
When a Human Resource manager searches your name online (and they will do it using Facebook and Linkedin) you can either take control of what they see, or you can leave it to the powers of the crawl search gods. Search results that are professional, consistent and that establish you as an expert in your field will be far more impressive than Facebook pictures from your last vacation.
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Things like a Facebook or LinkedIn profiles, and a Twitter feed will all show up on the first searched page, so signing up for these sites and populating the accounts with up-to-date, professional content will make a great impression.
What do you do now?
1. Update your Facebook, Linkedin profiles by populating up-to-date, professional content. This will help make a good
online impression.
2. You should always be in the loop, even if you're out of work.
3. Read trade publications
4. Comment on industry blogs.
5. Stay on top of any emerging technologies or policies that may impact your career path. This will not only help you have a great conversation with an interviewer and keep your professional edge, but it may also give you new ideas about where and how to look for a job.
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6. Understand Job Descriptions. Employers, in general, delight in employees that ask about their job description. This shows that the employee has an interest in knowing the specifics of his or her job and would like to know what his or her specific responsibilities are.
REMEMBER
A job description will furnish you with a list of your responsibilities and duties. This will ensure that you know what jobs you are supposed to do and which jobs you are not supposed to do. Just
“guessing” is not an option. However,
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