Overcoming An Ambivalent Job Search

One of the most frustrating aspect of job hunting is completing a job search and getting results back that are uncertain or mixed in their information. Job searches using different media or sources can contribute to this confusion and uncertainty. Ambivalent job searches may also occur when the job seeker is not clear on exactly what type of employment they are seeking. Conflicting job searches are frustrating and can lead to missed opportunities and poor decisions being made on employment options and opportunities. If you complete a job search and get an ambivalent result, try refining your search using the following factors.

Be specific

The more specific that the job search is the more accurate the results will be. Broad categories or descriptors will lead to wider ranging results. This, in turn, will provide more conflicting or ambivalent data being obtained. If, for example, you were to use the Internet and search for employment opportunities for teachers, you would receive literally millions of websites to go to. Wages, benefits, working hours, job expectations, credentialing, and experience would all be different. When repeating the search if the criteria was narrowed down to a specific type of teaching job in a specific area, for a specific credentialing or training level the results would be much less ambivalent and more exact.

Know what job you are looking for

As a job seeker sometimes you are unsure of exactly what job you are looking for. You may find that if you are not sure what you are seeking, you are unlikely to find anything that strikes a chord as a job you would wish to pursue.

Researching job qualifications and training required, as well as knowing where your own interests are will help you narrow down the scope of your search. It is important to have a job that you enjoy, not just for the salary or the benefits. Liking what you do is important if you are staying in the same career area and wish to feel good about going to work every day.

Try doing some volunteer work or job shadowing to narrow down your range of possibilities. Both of these strategies are good opportunities to experience a job or workplace before committing to work there.

Get additional training if needed

If you have mixed feelings about a job or are getting ambivalent information on job searches examine your own training and qualifications and determine if you need to complete any additional training or just brush up on already completed trainings. Often job seekers have uncertainty about jobs because they feel they are lacking in training or just have the minimum requirements. Talk to the professional organization or trade group that supports that group of workers to find out the trainings available and the standards required.

Consider your options

Since ambivalent job searches may indicate that you have mixed feelings about the job or career, take time to examine what you really want. Spending some time reflecting what you would like to do for a career will help clarify what type of job you are looking for and would most enjoy doing. The more clarity you have, the more likely you will be able to find the job that you are seeking.

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Make Your Experience Work For You

Every job requires people that are trained with unique and individualized skills. Training is a large cost to employers, so capitalizing on your own personal experience on a resume and in an interview will allow interviewers to see your potential as an already experienced and trained employee. The more training you have coming in the job the less cost it will be to the new employer. In addition to the cost saving factor it will also save time as you will not need to be away from your new position to complete training prior to getting started.

Experience vs. education

It seems like experience and education are similar to a teeter-totter, the more education a job candidate has the less experience they have and vice versa. This can be a barrier to some people applying for jobs, whether they have more education or more experience. The positive news is that often employers who require a lot of experience will wave the education components if you have proven yourself as an outstanding employee throughout your experience. In other words a candidate meeting the minimal education requirements, with a good company record and work experience, may have an advantage over a more educated employee with limited work experience.

Again, this consideration depends on the job and the company policy. The more advanced the position being applied for is, the more likely that experience will factor equally with education.

Highlight your experience

People tend to minimize their experiences in job interviews. They may feel that they are being boastful or lack the self-confidence to discuss their strengths and skills. Try to be assertive in talking about your accomplishments and your experience. Use real examples when answering questions. For example, if you were a manager and implemented a new policy or protocol for employees that was beneficial to the company, note that in your interview. Stay results oriented in the interview, as the employer wants to know what you can bring to the table. Stay honest and accurate in your description of your experience both on your resume and during the interview.

A portfolio or folder of awards, certificates, trainings, accomplishments or additional skills that you have obtained can be beneficial in helping the prospective employer survey your experience. It is a nice way to present your experience without having to simply list your skills.

Understand what the employer seeking

Try to do some research on the company that the interview is with. Know what they produce or provide services for and try to determine how your current experience will support or enhance their marketplace. Planning in advance for questions about your experience will help you to be better prepared in the interview and to ensure that you include the full answer.

Focus on the positives

It is important at the interview to stay focussed on the positive aspects of yourself and your experience. Highlight the benefits of the experience that you can bring to the job in positive and concrete terms. Statements that reflect the self-confidence that experience brings will build confidence in the employer. Remember that experience does not mean that you are not open to new ideas and suggestions, rather that you bring a wealth of knowledge to the workplace that a candidate without a hands-on background could.

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Disheartened By Your Current Role: Plan A New Career

We have all know the saying "Honesty is the best policy" and understand what it means. Try using that saying on your current role or career and look candidly at your emotions and opinions as they relate to your job. Can you say that you like your job, feel positively about it and would like to continue with this career or do you think that this is not the right job for you? If your predominant emotions are negativity, hesitancy or feeling unappreciated, unfulfilled or unhappy in your current job you may want to consider planning a new career.

This is a scary thought for many people. They have training and worked in a career for a number of years and have resigned themselves to the fate of staying in that career, despite the negative feelings and thoughts about the job. There are many reasons given for not moving to a new career and they include:

• Pressure from family to stay in the job
• Concerns about financial security
• Concerns about the economy and job market
• Fear of failure
• Fear of uncertainty

While these are all legitimate fears and concerns they can be minimized or even eliminated with some advance planning and research. Most of the concerns that individuals have with changing careers have to do with financial security for themselves and their families and fears about the uncertainty of trying something new. Use the following guidelines to gain the knowledge needed to overcome these concerns and try a new career.

• Know what you want to do. Complete a job inventory or aptitude test or do some volunteer or job-shadowing activities in your new field of interest to see if this is really the career that you want to pursue. Try to focus on a career that you have a natural aptitude or interest in rather than something that just pays well. Issues such as job satisfaction and security are just as important as salaries in may cases.
• Research the job market for this new career. Contact employers or associations to determine if there is a good opportunity to enter another career. There is little point in training for a new career if there are few employment opportunities. Determine if you would be willing to relocate or if you wish to stay in the same areas you currently live in.
• Understand the training you need and plan to complete it. Set goals and timelines to keep on target. If you do not wish to give up your current job you may have to complete training that works with your current work schedule. Is the training flexible in its scheduling or could it be completed online or by mail-out classes?
• Understand the risks involved in a career change. There may be some risk involved in changing careers, and there may be time between jobs. Plan in advance for this financially so that you do not have to take temporary employment that may affect your training goals. Often in two income families this is easier than in a one-income family or for a single person.

By completing the research, job analysis and training aspects of planning a new career you can best prepare yourself for the change. The key is in planning to minimize the stress and uncertainty that goes along with a career change. The new career will provide a more positive and enjoyable work environment, which will more than make up for any slight concerns that occurred in the planning of your career change.

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Developing Inner Confidence For A Successful Job Hunt

Starting a job search can be a daunting experience, especially if it represents your first time in the job market. You may be wondering how to go about finding suitable positions.how to conduct yourself during an interview.and how to write a successful thank you letter to an interviewer. You may realize that you have a great deal to learn about the entire job-hunting process.

As a novice job hunter, you may lack a certain degree of confidence. After all, you realize that you are just an apprentice at this craft. It might take you years to master effective job hunting skills. Given this fact, how can you possibly develop the inner confidence you need for a successful job hunt?

Recognize your strengths

The first thing you should do is to conduct a personal inventory of yourself. What are your principal strengths as a job seeker? Are you enthusiastic? Dedicated? A good listener? An effective speaker? Do you write well? Once you've identified your strengths, rely on them to make your candidacy as attractive as possible.

In other words, use your enthusiasm to conduct an exhaustive job search. Use your dedication to help you through the difficult times. Rely on your listening skills and your speaking abilities during your interviews. Use your writing skills to craft an effective cover letter and resume. By focusing on your strengths, you will gain the confidence you need to search for jobs effectively and efficiently.

Consider hiring a coach

If you work out on a regular basis, you probably understand the importance of a personal trainer. The trainer can help to motivate you, pushing you beyond your pre-conceived limits. With the help of a trainer, you might be able to attempt exercises you never dreamed possible. Research shows that people who employ personal trainers are more likely to meet and even surpass their fitness goals.

Given this fact, you might consider hiring a career coach. This coach can help you to see all your options. He or she may recognize strengths you didn't realize you had. Your career coach can also provide you with the motivation necessary to continue your job search even when you seem to be running into dead ends. A coach is likely to enhance your self-confidence, helping you to strengthen your resolve.

Think of yourself as a winner

It is critically important that you think of yourself as a winner during your job interviews. For, if you don't believe in yourself, how can you expect other people to believe in your talent? While you should guard against over-confidence, you should realize that you can be successful in your career pursuits.

Remember past victories

Another way to increase your inner confidence is to recall past victories. Think about obstacles you've overcome in your life, whether it was trying to make the high school basketball team or trying to get your driver's license. Remembering past accomplishments will put you in the appropriate frame of mind for achieving new milestones.

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Build A Strong Professional Relationship With Your Employer

Relationships with employers can be tricky. You want to be friendly and establish a rapport with your employer, but you want to steer clear of a highly personal relationship. You want to feel comfortable enough with your employer to share your ideas-but you don't want to run the risk of offending him or her.

Your relationship with your employer is also highly important-not only for the short-term, but for the long-term as well. You want the kind of relationship that makes it a pleasure to come to work everyday. Yet, you realize that no job lasts forever and that, at some point, you might want to move on. In such a case, you want to do everything you can to ensure that your current employer will serve as a favorable reference later on. But how can you go about building a strong professional relationship with your employer?

Act professional

It is important that you act professional at all times and in all situations. In this way, you will gain the respect of your employer. Be sure to be polite in all your dealings with fellow employees and clients. Dress well; speak well; and keep up to date on all the latest information in your particular field.

It is critical that you develop a bond of trust with your employer. If your employer sees you putting forth your best effort day in and day out.if he or she sees you going above and beyond the call of duty.if he or she recognizes that you are a highly capable individual and a valuable employee.chances are greater that your employer will have full faith in you and your abilities.

Be honest and open

You need to be honest and open with your employer-especially when problems arise. If you are candid-without being cruel-it is likely that your employer will respect you even more. However, if you gloss over problems or fail to discuss what's bothering you, a certain degree of distrust may develop between you and your employer.

Most employers respect honest feedback. They are striving to constantly improve their companies; therefore, they need to know about not only what's going right-but also what's going wrong. Chances are you will be rewarded for your willingness to tell the truth in all situations.

Respect deadlines

Believe it or not, a number of employees have a blasé attitude about deadlines. They figure that they will be granted more time to complete a project if they need it. However, if you abide by deadlines, your status is likely to rise in the eyes of your employer. In other words, it pays to do your work on time.

Compliment your employer when appropriate

Be sure to tell your employer when a policy is working particularly well or a recent hire appears to be outstanding. This will help to promote good feelings between you and your employer. Unfortunately, too many employees are quick to criticize and slow to praise. You are more likely to build a strong professional relationship with your employer if you don't fall into that trap.

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A Good Job Is Worth More Than A Salary

While a salary is an important component of any job search it is not necessarily the deciding factor in determining what position is best for you. Many people stay in lower paying jobs for a wide variety of reasons rather than advancing to another job or changing employers. The reasons or factors to help you determine which job is best for you are outlined below. Decide what is important to you and your family before making a decision based on salary alone.

Benefits

Many large companies and small businesses offer a slightly lower salary but a wider package of benefits. These may include:

• Healthcare programs
• Dental or vision coverage
• Retirement programs
• Saving plans
• Profit sharing incentives

When looking at the salary, attempt to include the value of these programs into your hourly or monthly salary to determine what the true wage is.

Scheduling Flexibility

More and more companies are offering a flexible workweek to allow parents or caregivers to spend time with families and to participate in school and other activities.

If you do not have a family a flexible schedule can also help you to work a second job or do some freelance work for another company.

Daycare

Some employers are now providing daycare services for employees either on the worksite or off. This can be a great stress and cost saving benefit for employees with young children. It is definitely an increase in disposable income if the cost of daycare is removed.

Location

The location of your employment site may also be an additional factor to consider when choosing a job. A higher paying job that requires a long drive to and from work may quickly eat up the additional salary in fuel prices or transit fares. Even if the cost is not a large factor there is still the time consideration. If you have to commute an hour both ways it adds up quickly. One week would involve 10 hours of commuter time, and a year it would be roughly 450 hours of you life spent driving or riding back and forth to work.

Co-Workers and Employers

Having a professional group of colleagues that help you out and that you enjoy working with on a daily basis really makes a difference in your attitude and enjoyment at work. Even a high salary cannot offset an unhappy work environment or a workplace that you do not feel comfortable in.

It is important to consider all these factors before deciding if it is in your best interests to take a higher paying job or take a slightly lower paying job with other benefits.

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The Best Job Boards On The Internet

As a job-seeker, you want to make sure that you use all the resources that are available to you. It does no good to be motivated and dedicated to the task, unless you are also willing to employ the latest job-hunting tools. Certainly, foremost among these tools is the Internet.

The Internet represents a treasure trove of job opportunities. There are literally thousands of ways you can find jobs on the World Wide Web. But how do you know which job boards to turn to, especially if you are an Internet novice?

Specialty sites

You'll find a number of specialty sites that offer tremendous job boards. These boards advertise positions you might not have been able to have found otherwise. Therefore, you should seriously consider investigating these job boards at the very start of your employment search.

One especially informative job board can be found at SeniorJobBank, a site specifically designed for individuals over the age of 50. It can be quite difficult for older workers to find positions that suit their needs. As a result, this job board should be especially welcomed by middle-aged professionals.

A board for the college set

If you are a college student or a recent graduate, you face a particular challenge in finding work. You now have impressive educational credentials but you lack concrete experience. And experience is often the key factor in determining whether you land a certain position.

CollegeJournal, sponsored by the esteemed Wall Street Journal newspaper, is specifically designed with college students in mind. Consequently, you might be more likely to find a job on this message board than on traditional message boards. If nothing else, the job board could give you the confidence you need to apply for additional positions.

Executive option

Executives often have a tough time finding new positions. They may find it difficult to locate jobs suitable for their experience level and pay scale. Therefore, they may be re- entering the workforce at a competitive disadvantage.

RiteSite is a job board catering to executives. It is fee-based, but it is certainly worth checking out. You may find that your initial investment will pay off handsomely in the end. Remember, you need to find only one good job to make the site worthwhile.

Alumni job boards

Another good source for job leads is alumni job boards. These message boards are operated by the alumni associations of various universities. If your alma-mater is tied into the local business community, you might want to check your alumni job board often for available positions.

Another advantage to alumni job boards is that a number of the jobs are posted by other alumni. Thus, you might share a common bond with the employer who eventually interviews you. This can improve your comfort level as you pursue your job search.

Your own favorites

It's also a good idea for you to simply surf the Internet for job boards. You might find that there are some that come up in your search that are particularly appealing. Most job- seekers develop their own favorite job boards-chances are you will, too.

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The Advantages Of An Online Executive Job Search

As a busy executive, you might find it difficult to find the time to conduct an exhaustive job search. You may be currently working more than 40 hours a week then there's the time you want to devote to your family and leisure pursuits, such as exercise.

Therefore, you might be searching for innovative ways to look for work. Fortunately, thanks to the dawn of the high-tech age, you have the entire World Wide Web at your disposal. You'll quickly find that the Web offers a fascinating array of possibilities for the job-seeker. In fact, there are numerous advantages to conducting an online executive job search.

You can cover a lot of territory

Perhaps the chief advantage to searching for work online is that you can cover a tremendous amount of ground without even leaving your computer terminal. You can literally search the world for jobs. In addition to browsing through job postings on company websites, you can also search for jobs via electronic job banks.

It's quick

Searching for positions online is incredibly quick especially if you have high-speed Internet service. Once you're on the Internet, you can easily zip through home pages with a click of your mouse. This truly makes job-hunting a breeze.

In addition, you can apply for positions quite quickly, thanks to e-mail. It only takes a few seconds to copy and paste a cover letter onto an e-mail, then attach a resume from your file. And thinking of all the mailing costs you'll save!

It's convenient

An online job search is also highly convenient. For instance, you can post your resume on a job-oriented website and you might find corporate head-hunters will flock to your e-mail inbox. Or you can set up your own personal website to showcase your talents and skills. The possibilities are indeed endless.

You can easily research a company

In the old days, before the advent of the Internet, you actually had to go to a library in order to conduct research about a given company. This could be exhausting and quite time-consuming. In fact, it was the type of task that many executives just did not have time to devote to.

But, with the World Wide Web, a world of research possibilities is as close as your computer keyboard. You can find company annual reports on line, stock quotations, business profiles of key industry leaders, and other helpful information. With these facts at your disposal, you can craft a more customized cover letter and better sell yourself to the company that you're interested in working for.

It puts you in the driver's seat

An online job search can also put you in the driver's seat of your career. Rather than depending on someone else to do the searching, you are doing it yourself. As a result, you are more likely to present yourself to a prospective employer in the best possible way, since you know exactly what the company is looking for.

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Part Time Work Is A Necessary Fact Of Life For Many College Students

While high school and the years before were fairly smooth for many young teenagers, the college life can be quite the transition. Many college students attend private and public institutions and have to foot the bill. While financial aide and student loans help cover some of the costs, a vast majority of college students are taking on part-time jobs to help offset the costs of university life. With the cost of education on the rise, more students are feeling the need to try to achieve some sort of financial independence. Although a part-time job can be discouraging at times, the experience of work can more than make up for it.

Every year the cost of education is on the rise. Unless the universities work to lower their tuition rates, students and their families are finding themselves in a bind. In most cases, financial aide and scholarships are offered on a need and/ or merit basis. Unfortunately, a vast majority of college students do not necessarily fall into those categories. Although the idea of acquiring a part-time job may be discouraging to some students, it does have its advantages.

For many students, college is their first experience living away from home. In most cases, students have had the protective watch of their parents or have taken minor jobs at their parents' insistence. Once in college, the student is more independent. Allowed to fulfill almost every desire, the student must work to stay on track and be successful. For many students, this is the first taste of financial independence. Granted, some students receive a steady flow of money from their parents, a majority of the others have to budget their expenses and take on a part-time job to supplement their income. It is a fact of college life. Even if the job is strictly for shopping purposes, it is a dose of independence.

For the most part, acquiring a job is not something most people look forward to. Unfortunately, it is a necessary fact for many college students. However, with independence come stipulations and responsibilities.

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Aptitude Tests And Their Role In The Job Search

Aptitude tests are types of psychometric testing that measure a person's strengths and weaknesses. They also measure talents and characteristics, as well as the ability to acquire new and additional skills. These tests also have the ability to assess and evaluate the capacity to perform specific skills and tasks. The results of aptitude testing can be quite valuable to a person in the sense that it helps a person discover where their strengths and weaknesses lay. This can be extremely accommodating to someone who is on the job hunt and is unsure of their professional aspirations.

More than likely, a person will find a job most enjoyable if they have the skills necessary to succeed in that profession. The goal of an aptitude test is to tell the person being tested where they are most skilled. This is particularly useful for narrowing down the scope of prospective job opportunities. It can be expected that when entering a career field which does not highlight a person's strengths, the professional choice will seem unrewarding and unsatisfying. Thus, with the influence and foresight of an aptitude test, one can have a general idea of what professional area they are most likely to succeed in.

Aptitude tests can also be as valuable as a career counselor. While these tests cannot guarantee satisfaction with a particular career, their objective measures make them more reliable than a person's opinion and more definitive. The same way that many employers find the value of the results of aptitude tests for applicants, persons looking for a job should be able to see the same type of results. There is either compatibility or there is not. Taking these tests can help save a lot of time and a lot of valuable resources on a dead-end job in which a person is not destined to thrive.

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Journalist

A journalist's career can be varied and exciting. Journalists can be called upon to write about all different subjects for a variety of publications.

Journalists typically work for newspapers, magazines or new stations, reporting on news events. They may present their stories in written form, or, in the case of broadcast journalists, on radio or television. They can be called upon to write about a wide variety of subjects including world events, entertainment, financial news, and special interest pieces.

Journalists do research on possible stories as well as research on the topics they have chosen to write about. They will often "go after" a story of interest, vowing to get the true scoop and expose information previously not known to the public. Journalists research through a variety of vehicles, including past news stories, public records, tips and interviews. Interviews are one of the most important vehicles for journalistic pursuits, as they can piece together a story based on the accounts of several insiders.

Journalists need a nose for news. They must be persistent and tenacious, investigating every lead to uncover a story. Journalists must also have excellent writing skills and the ability to tell a story in a way that is interesting and compelling to those who read or hear it.

Journalists must also have a high level of integrity. They must present stories as they truly happened without uncovering the facts. They must protect the privacy of their sources. They must be looked to by the public as a trusted source for news.

Journalists are typically required to have a four-year degree either in English or in Journalism. They will complete coursework in writing, broadcasting, journalistic ethics and English. College graduates will be expected to have a portfolio of articles or news pieces that they have completed to show prospective employers. Much of this early experience is usually obtained writing for college newspapers or broadcasting campus news on a college radio or TV station. Entry-level journalists typically work for newspapers or local news stations on small and less important stories until they have gained some experience. More experienced journalists are called upon to investigate and write about more compelling stories. Many journalists spend years waiting for their big "break" meaning the story that puts them on the map as a recognized and respected journalist.

Some journalists also work for magazines, researching and writing articles geared to the target reader of the magazine. These journalist jobs tend to be narrower in terms of the scope of articles you write, but if a journalist can land a job at a magazine that covers a field of his interest, it can be the perfect combination.

Journalism is a highly competitive career; there are far more prospective journalists than there are good journalism jobs, though our society's renewed interest in news has caused the job market in this field to grow somewhat over the last few years. Tenacity, talent and persistence are required to land a prime journalist job, but the field can be extremely rewarding when it pays off. If you're interested in jobs in the field of journalism

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