Admin Chronicles

Unexpectedly Out of Work?

Job loss can happen to the best of us. The following are a few tips to consider if you find yourself suddenly without a job.

 

1.    Delay getting angry for now and perhaps for good. Your first reaction is likely to be anger, and it's normal. But acting on those feelings is not wise. Hold back from reacting to the unfortunate news with hostility. You don't want to damage your current workplace relationships. They could help you in the future.

2.    Don’t take it to heart. Sometimes things happen that we cannot control. Don't take it personally. Remember, this is business. Business is not supposed to be personal.

3.    Get a reference or recommendation. Getting a recommendation from your current boss is the easiest way to show a potential employer how valuable you are as an employee. Make sure your employer is okay with prospective employers contacting him on your behalf.

4.    Promote yourself. Doing this effectively requires the right balance between conceit and being devoted to others. It's up to you to make sure you shine.

5.    Grief is normal. You will grieve losing your job the same as you would losing anything of value in your life. However, you have to prepare to move forward

6.  Maintain a positive outlook. Choose to see the glass as half full. It's possible that losing your job could lead to a greater opportunity.

The 5 P's Of Your Job Search

Launching a job search is much like launching your own marketing campaign.

 

When it comes to your and your career – and landing the job of your dreams -- remember the 5 Ps of landing the right job:  

 

• Positioning. Know what makes you an ideal candidate for the job you're interested in. Don’t try to blend in with the rest of the pack.
  
  
• Process. Learn how to anticipate an employer's need so that you can meet their requirements and expectations.
  
  
• Persistence. Keep your job network active by staying connected to your contacts by email, snail mail, phone calls, lunch invitations and so forth. Be organized and disciplined about regularly keeping in touch with your business contacts and colleagues.
   
• Performance and Presentation. All a potential employer has to go on is what you give them – your resume, your interview and anything else related to your overall presentation. Take time to make sure that your initiative, creativity and abilities come through everything you do, say or write.
  
  
• Personality. Use your unique personality to engage a prospective employer and establish a connection. People like doing business with people they like and trust.

Interviewing Don'ts

I've written a list of some tips you should try for interview success. Today, I want to write about some areas to avoid, or don’ts, for interview situations:

• Don't rely on your resume or your application to do the selling for you. Regardless of how qualified you are, you need to convince the interviewer that you're the right person for the job.
• Don't speak softly. Project your voice. A forceful voice says that you are confident in yourself and in your abilities.
• Don't lie. Answer any questions that the interviewer asks truthfully and succinctly.
• Don't over-answer questions. Keep your answers succinct.
• Don't answer "yes" or "no." Give at least a little bit of explanation for every answer.
• Don't answer a question with an extended pause. If you need a little bit of time to formulate an answer to a specific question, get that extra time by repeating the question back to the interviewer.
• Don't answer a cell phone during your interview.
• Don't ask about benefits, such as salary, bonuses, retirement, or vacations until you've received an offer.
• Don't engage in salary talk until you have an offer, if at all possible.

Avoiding these pitfalls can help you land the job you want and put you in a position of strength when it comes time to negotiate salary and benefits.

Interviewing Dos

The interview is perhaps the most important part of the job search process. You can hire someone to write you a resume, but you're the only person who can go to the interview. That's why I want to list some very important interview dos:

• Do take a practice drive to the interview location. Know exactly where it is and how long it takes to get there.
• Do your research about the company and the job.
• Do prepare and practice for the interview.
• Do dress professionally. Always err on the conservative side.
• Do greet the receptionist or assistant with courtesy and respect. This is where you make your first impression. It’s also possible that you’ll be working as a colleague with this person.
• Do bring extra resumes and your portfolio to the interview.
• Do shake hands firmly.
• Do wait until being offered a chair before sitting.
• Do remember body language and posture. Sit straight and look alert and interested at all times.
• Do make good eye contact with the interviewer(s).
• Do project an enthusiastic attitude about the position and the company.
• Do have a high confidence and energy level, but don't be aggressive.
• Do avoid controversial topics if at all possible.
• Do stress your achievements. Demonstrate concrete examples of how you’ve saved a company money or increased its efficiency.
• Do write thank-you letters within 24 hours to each person at the interview.

Each of these tips helps increase chances that you’ll be offered the job position.

Smart, Efficient and Subtle Online Job Searches

In today’s job market, you have to use every available resource to find the right job for you.

While traditional “want-ads” are certainly one potential area to look for your next job, more people are going online for their job hunt.

Here are some things to keep in mind when you are looking for your next job online:

·         Be careful about looking for jobs online while you’re at work. It’s unprofessional to spend your work time looking for a new job. In addition, subtlety is key. You don’t want to tip the hat to your current employer and let him know you might be leaving until the time is right.

·         Be smart about how you look for your next job online. Spend some time reading about the online job hunt process. Know what the most useful websites are and which sites aren’t as useful as well as how to maximize your search to find the best jobs.

·         Be efficient. Various job sites ask you to fill out a questionnaire or upload a resume, and you don’t want to duplicate your own efforts. Have one template resume already prepared, and be ready to customize it for the particular site.

·         Don’t be afraid to search for a company instead of a job position. If there’s a particular company you’d like to work for or you know the companies within the industry you prefer best, check out the company websites and see if they have an employment page.