Job Searching? What do you know about the industry you are looking into?

What do I know already?

Have you ever had a part–time job, volunteered to help an organization or been a member of a club or society inside or outside of university? If so then you will have a useful starting point from which you can reflect on your experience(s) so far.

Think of an organization/company/club/society you have been involved with in a paid or voluntary capacity and ask yourself the following questions.

·         What products or services does this organization provide?

·         Who are these products/services targeted at?

·         How does this range of products, or level of service, compare with that provided by other similar organisations?

·         How is this organization structured?

·         How does this organisation see itself? What is its ethos/culture? (eg industry leader; work hard/ play hard approach; democratic style, family friendly policies.)

·         What are they key issues facing this organisation and other organizations in this sector?

·         How is this organisation affected by external factors (eg the state of the economy and the current political context?)

·         What have you discovered about the career opportunities offered by this organisation?

If you can answer these questions, you already have some business awareness. Finding answers to questions like these helps you to develop your business awareness.

 Assessing your general level of business awareness

Below are some questions to think about which will help you to decide if you need to develop your general business awareness:

·    What is a business?

·    What is the difference between a sole trader, partnership, private limited company, franchise & public limited company?

·    What factors impact on business cash flow? And how can you define profit?

·    What are the main differences between public and private sector organisations?

·    How does a business attract and keep customers?

·    How can a business differentiate itself from its competitors and gain a competitive advantage?

·    How can a business build and maintain its reputation?

·    How can good relationships be maintained with customers, employees and suppliers?

·    How has business responded to globalisation?

·    Why are businesses concerned about their social responsibility image?

·    What impact is the state of the economy likely to have on business decisions?

·    What impact might the political environment have on businesses?

 

These are just some of the questions to consider when developing a fuller awareness of business. For some there are no definitive answers, but an awareness of the concepts and ideas highlighted by them will be useful to think about.

Consider checking out various company websites to see what the similarities and differences are.

To your job search success.

Fran Watson

P.S.  If you would like help with your resume, cover letter or interview tips, contact me.

P.P.S.  Check out this article from Careerrealism

How Well Do You Communicate?

According to Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D., and Katharine Hansen, Ph.D., Every employer is looking for a specific set of skills from job-seekers that match the skills necessary to perform a particular job.

But beyond these job-specific technical skills, certain skills are nearly universally sought by employers. The good news is that most job-seekers possess these skills to some extent. The better news is that job-seekers with weaknesses in these areas can improve their skills through training, professional development, or obtaining coaching/mentoring from someone who understands these skills.

 So, what are some of these critical employability skills that employers demand of job-seekers?

Communications Skills (listening, verbal, written). By far, the one skill mentioned most often by employers is the ability to listen, write, and speak effectively. Successful communication is critical in business.

Analytical/Research Skills. Deals with your ability to assess a situation, seek multiple perspectives, gather more information if necessary, and identify key issues that need to be addressed.

Interpersonal Abilities. The ability to relate to your co-workers, inspire others to participate, and mitigate conflict with co-workers is essential given the amount of time spent at work each day.

Leadership/Management Skills. While there is some debate about whether leadership is something people are born with, these skills deal with your ability to take charge and manage your co-workers.

Teamwork. Because so many jobs involve working in one or more work-groups, you must have the ability to work with others in a professional manner while attempting to achieve a common goal.

Many of these skills can be developed through participation in a group or club such as Toastmasters.  Find out more by going to www.toastmasters.org to find a club near you, then drop in for a visit.  You may be surprised by what you find. 

 

Many people have an unrealistic idea of what Toastmasters is all about.  It is not about giving speeches, it is about developing your communication skills - listening, sharing, evaluating and more.  Check it out.  You may find it very helpful in your working life.

To your success in communicating your ideas and strengths to others.

 

Fran Watson

 

Above excerpted from https://www.quintcareers.com/job-skills-values/

Building a Brand

Just like large corporations, it is important for individuals to develop their brand.

In the last three years, the term “personal branding” has gone from buzzword to must-have career requirement. We’re now expected to be able to convey our uniqueness in a powerful way that validates how we save and/or make companies money. Personal branding is about being memorable for the value we can bring to an organization. Easier said than done, right?

Here are some articles from Careerealism that can help you develop your brand.

Step by Step Guide

3 Steps to An Outstanding Branding

The Perfect Recipe for a Great Personal Brand


To your powerful branding

Fran Watson


P.S.  You can also find out who is looking at your Linked-In profile here

Job Search and The Older Worker

"You need to believe that you're going to get the job," Kanchier says of older people on the job hunt. "If you think you're too old and you won't get it, then you won't get it."
"You have to be excited about what you're doing and really want to do it," she says. "And then you have to communicate that excitement. ... If you don't have a plan, you fake it until you make it. You don't go out there looking like a victim."

It is important that you believe that you have the skills for the job you area applying for and that you believe you would be a valuable asset.  Don't think of your age, think of your ability!    A mature worker can be an employer's greatest asset.

Click here for resume help

 

TOP REASONS

TO HIRE A MATURE WORKER

 

MATURE WORKERS HAVE:      MATURE WORKERS ARE:

 

§  The ability to problem solve                          ▪  A resource

§  A seasoned point of view                              ▪  Mature

§  Good judgment                                             ▪  Well rounded

§  A wealth of skills and transferable skills       ▪  Patient, wise and dedicated

§  Experienced change                                       ▪  Consistent and practical

§  Raised their families                                      ▪  Understanding of other age groups

§  Life long learning experiences                       ▪  Aware of their strengths and weaknesses

§  Perspective, the ability to see the big            ▪  Loyal, dedicated and focused   

§  picture                                                            ▪  Secure and self-directed

§  A work history and a work ethic                   ▪  Open to suggestions

§  The ability to train and mentor others           ▪  Street wise in the working world

§  Been exposed to a wide knowledge base      ▪  Survivors

§  Leadership skills                                            ▪  Self-sufficient and self-confident

§  An understanding of what is expected         ▪  Resilient, versatile and flexible

§  A sense of humour (easy going)                    ▪  Willing to learn new things

§  The ability to navigate work politics             ▪  Empathetic

§  More references and networking contacts     ▪  Realistic

To your job search success

Fran Watson

                                                                       

Is Cooking Your Passion?

Cooking Is An Art

There’s more to cooking than putting food in a pot and
then eating it.

Cooking can be an art. For those who really love to
cook it becomes a real pastime for them.

They are able to come up with new variations of old
recipes and put their own special touches on them.

Preparing for a gathering can be something of a joy
for them. While some find cooking a time to be
stressed out, other engulf themselves with the task of
creating something truly special for their guests.

When preparing a meal for your loved ones it becomes
an extra special motivation to ensure their family
gets the best of what you have.

It may not be a daily occurrence when you prepare a
special gourmet dinner for your friends and family,
but, you do go to the extra effort of making sure your
family eats better than microwave quick fix dinners.

If you love to cook you will be making efforts often
to make, create, and improve the tastes that feed your
loved ones. Your gift of love is shown in the food you
prepare and that in itself is an art.

If this is you, why not consider a career as a chef?
Training is available at a local college and you can work
your way up the ladder from prep cook, to line cook,
and eventually to chef. 

In time you might even want to operate your own
catering business.

So, if cooking is your passion, why not follow your dream.

To your job search success

Fran Watson

Resumes

Common Resume Blunders
by Kim Isaacs, MA, CPRW, NCRW

Make sure your resume is top-notch by avoiding the top resume blunders:

1. Too Focused on Job Duties

Your resume should not be a boring listing of job duties and responsibilities. Go beyond showing what was required and demonstrate how you made a difference at each company, providing specific examples. When developing your achievements, ask yourself:

• How did you perform the job better than others?
• What were the problems or challenges faced? How did you overcome them? What were the results? How did the company benefit from your performance?
• Did you receive any awards, special recognition or promotions as a result?

2. Flowery or General Objective Statement

Many candidates lose their readers in the beginning. Statements like "A challenging position enabling me to contribute to organizational goals while offering an opportunity for growth and advancement" are overused, too general and waste valuable space. If you’re on a career track, replace the objective with a tagline stating what you do or your expertise.

3. Too Short or Too Long

Many people try to squeeze their experiences onto one page, because they've heard resumes shouldn’t be longer. By doing this, job seekers may delete impressive achievements. There are also candidates who ramble on about irrelevant or redundant experiences. There is no rule about appropriate resume length. When writing your resume, ask yourself, "Will this statement help me land an interview?" Every word should sell you, so only include information that elicits a "yes."

4. Using Personal Pronouns and Articles

A resume is a form of business communication, so it should be concise and written in a telegraphic style. There should be no mentions of "I" or "me," and only minimal use of articles. For example:

I developed a new product that added $2 million in sales and increased the market segment’s gross margin by 12 percent.

should be changed to:

Developed new product that added $2 million in sales and increased market segment’s gross margin by 12 percent.

5. Listing Irrelevant Information

Many people include their interests, but they should only include those relating to the job. For example, if a candidate is applying for a position as a ski instructor, he should list cross-country skiing as a hobby.

Personal information, such as date of birth, marital status, height and weight, normally should not be on the resume unless you’re an entertainment professional or a job seeker outside the US.

6. Using a Functional Resume When You Have a Good Career History

It is irksome for hiring managers not to see the career progression and the impact made at each position. Unless you have an emergency situation, such as virtually no work history or excessive job-hopping, avoid the functional format.

The modified chronological format is often the most effective. Here’s the basic layout:

• Header (name, address, email address, phone number)
• Lead with a strong profile section detailing the scope of your experience and areas of proficiency
• Reverse chronological employment history emphasizing achievements in the past 10 to 15 years
• Education (New grads may put this at the top.)

7. Not Including a Summary Section that Makes an Initial Hard Sell

This is one of the job seeker’s greatest tools. Candidates who have done their homework will know the skills and competencies important to the position. The summary should demonstrate the skill level and experiences directly related to the position being sought.

To create a high-impact summary statement, peruse job openings to determine what’s important to employers. Next, write a list of your matching skills, experience and education. Incorporate these points into your summary.

8. Typos

One typo can land your resume in the garbage. Proofread and show your resume to several friends to have them proofread it as well. This document is a reflection of you and should be perfect. 

To your job search success!!

Fran