Successful Career Search - 5 Simple Tips

You soon realise that a committed career search is an extremely time-consuming exercise. You shall need an updated resume to start with, and the exercise of preparing cover letters, researching for open positions and preparing for an interview is by itself already a daunting task.

Most of the job hunters rely on newspaper advertisement to search for their career. The main disadvantage of searching for a job using this manner is the stiff competition. We are not suggesting that you do not use this method, but there are many other ways that you should use concurrently.

Career Search Tip No. 1: Career Search Engine

Consider using a career search engine such as Monster or CareerBuilders.com Many of these career search engines automates the submission of a resume in a standard format and submitting to these search engines is a brisk, thanks to the technology that they employ.

Be sure to include your career achievement and objectives, where possible. Use assertive word when you write your achievement. Use words such as “achieved”, “successfully implemented”, and etc.

Many of these career search engines also allow you to input your preferred job location, expected salary and other information.

Career Search Tip No. 2: Career Search Agency

Register with a career search firm. Many of these career search firm maintain an updated database of potential employer. Prepare a list of job characteristic of what you prepare before you approach these agencies.

The more detailed is you list, the better chance it has for the job agency to be able to find a match to your desired career. Bring along an updated resume. Prepare extra copies of your photographs and other information such as tax payer reference no., etc.

Most of these career search firm charges the potential employee, and it is not likely that they will charge you. However, be sure to find this out for yourself.

Career Search Tip No. 3: Local government employment department

Register with your local government employment department. Many potential employer who would not want to spend too much money and time on job advertisement would likely just register with the local government employment department.

One of the advantage of registering is that this job search method is for most of the time not a popular one for the executive-level job seeker. For all you know, you may actually find an excellent job that is missed out by most of the other candidates.

Career Search Tip No. 4: Write to a Head-hunter Agency

This is a method that many job hunters had missed out. Many top employers in the industry is always hunting for a better job candidate, especially from their competitor. Not wanting to be too obvious in this exercise, they go to a head-hunter agency instead.

The main advantage of using a head-hunter agency is that you may be able to find a well-paid salary job. However, please also bear in mind that a potential employer is looking for those who could really out-perform their competitor from a head-hunter. Otherwise, they could have just gone to a career search agency.

If you do get a job offer, be sure that you receive your offer letter before resigning from you present job. There has been reported cases where a candidate having promised a job, resigned to find out that the potential employer had employed someone else instead. Remember, you are usually dealing with an aggressive employer.

Career Search Tip No. 5: Write Cold-Call Letters

Write directly to a potential employer, regardless of whether he is employing or not. Do your research from a career search engine, from the website or company annual report of your potential employer. Call them up to find out who is in-charge of human resource.

Address your letter directly to the person in-charge of the human resource. If you are not sure, you may just address it to the Managing Director. Include a standard reply letter with a stamped self-address envelope.

You will be surprised of the success rate of getting a job interview using this method.

Take every successful and non-successful exercise to further improve on your career search. Get your engine started and good luck in your career search!

Career Search Engine – How to Create a Career Blueprint

Career Search Tips

Before you start with your next career search, why not sit down and develop a career blueprint first? A career blueprint is a plan where you intend to be in 5, 10, 15 or 20 years from now. It should also be a roadmap to assist you to make career search decisions at different stage of your life.

Our aspirations and view towards life change at different stage of our career lives. When we first graduated from college, we may search for a job that allows us to learn new things. As we proceed in our career and in life, the remuneration and the exposure would probably be the main search priority. This priority may change when we reach mid-life and it will also be different as we enter into our retirement stage. We also search for different goals out of our career when we face crisis in our lives.

A career blueprint is especially useful when we start with our career search. It is also extremely useful to help us make career change decisions later on in our lives as we develop our career. In a nutshell, a career blueprint should be the road map to help us to proceed with our career lives.

What does a career blueprint consist of?

Identifying your career goals

The first step in creating a career blueprint is to identify what are your likes, dislikes and what would be fun for you. Think of your previous job. What do you like and what do you dislike about your previous job? Make a list for several segments. These segments can include:

- Employer
- Industry
- Nature of Work
- Office political environment
- Size of company
- Salary
- Culture
- Client
- Office Facilities
- Stress Levels
- Location of work place from home
- Job functions

This is not supposed to be a 15-minute exercise. Think about each of the segment carefully. We suggest that you work on what you dislike first. This way, you are able to identify better what you really like. This is called clarity through contrast method.

Your contrast list – what your dislike about your job

Your contrast list may look like this:

Disliked about boss:
- Always micro-manage details
- Over-critical
- Do not motivate staff
- Treat staff as slaves instead of colleagues

Disliked about the industry:
- Too contractual
- Over-focus on production rather than on quality
- Low level of ethics
- Hazardous

Disliked about the Job Nature
- Too competitive
- Have to constantly generate fresh ideas
- Too monotonous
- Not able to see the bigger picture
- Not enough exposure to international business environment

Clarity List - What You Like About Your Job

Based on your contrast list, build your clarity list – what you would like to have about your job. Note that your clarity list is “must-have” list. Your clarity list may look like this:

What I like to have about my future boss:
- Allow me to manage my own work
- Encouraging
- Always motivate staff
- Treat staff as colleagues

What I like to have about my work industry:
- Non-contractual
- Focus on quality of works
- Ethical
- Non-hazardous

What I like to have about job nature
- Challenging but not over-competitive
- Well-defined job functions
- Variety of different job functions
- Able to participate in the larger picture of the whole industry
- More exposure to international business environment

There is another list which you need to generate. It is called the “Career Fun List”. While this list is not a definite must-have, it will be great to have it. Your career fun list may look something like this:

Boss
- Like to hang out with us
- Occasionally treat us to sumptuous dinner
- Like to be called by his first name

Industry
- Provide on the job training to visit other factories
- Respected by the public

Job Nature
- Flexible working hours
- Opportunities to travel overseas

After you have created the above three lists, study each of segments carefully. Study the patterns of your previous jobs that make you happy or unhappy. This is a soul-searching exercise and adequate time should be given to ponder over each item on list carefully.

Next, you should write your job statement based on the clarity and fun list that you have created. For eg., the statement related to your boss may look something like this: I like to have a boss who is understanding, encouraging and allows me to manage my own work. It is great to have a boss who always motivates the staff to work for the benefit of the company and for the staff themselves. I like to have a boss who treats us like his colleagues instead of as a subordinate. It will be fun if he always likes to hang out with us and treat us to sumptuous dinner occasionally.

You should build this statement for each of the segment mentioned above. Remember that the results for this exercise are different at different stage of your career life. Hence you should do these exercises each time you intend to pursue a career change.

There is one more final exercise that you should do. Write an essay about your ideal first day at the job. You do not need to be realistic in this essay. Write whatever that you think would make you feel happy. You can write that on arrival at your office, you are shown into a 500 square feet room which shall be your work space. You are then introduced to your personal assistant who is gorgeous. Put in a lot of fun elements into your essay.

As what we have said during the first part of this article, all of us look for different things during different part of our career lives. The main thing that we want out of our career lives may look something like this:

Age: 24 – 35 Opportunity to learn and be exposed to different work environment. Good salary is not the most important factor but it would be fun to start getting high pay.

Age 35 – 45 Managerial role that require leadership skills. No longer looking forward to “donkey-works”. Potential for salary increment is important as there are now more commitments due to family life. It would be fun to have occasional overseas travel for business.

Age 45 – 55 Senior managerial role is preferred. Job stability is important. Freedom to have own working time without being bound to strict working hour is important.

Age 55 and beyond Advisory role with constant income without even reporting to work!

If you are able to develop a wonderful job statement and the ideal first day at work for every different stage of your career, then you would have develop the perfect career blueprint for your life.

We suggest that you review and make adjustment to this career blueprint every 5 years of your working life. Things may change and the work industry may change. The work industry that you would like to get involved in may not even exist anymore!

Good luck in your career search exercise!

"Cold Call" Letter for Job Interview

These are samples of letter quoted in previous post Career Search - How to Get Your Job Interview Without Looking at the Newspaper Ad.

Sample “Cold Call” Letter for Job Interview

[Date]

[Company Name & Address]

Attn: Mr ….

Dear Sir,

I am writing to you because you may find my career experience useful to you. I am a Senior Sales Manager with 15 years of related working experience, and I am looking for a better prospect with a company with international business.

During my current and past career, I have demonstrated my tenacity, leadership and ability to complete tasks which were handed to me. Among some of my specific achievements included:

- Generated 75% of the company annual sales

- Handled a staff size of 30 sales executives

- Successfully implemented quality management system to ISO 9000 standards without engaging external consultants which led to the firm’s certification in June 1999.

I appreciate your taking time out of your busy schedule to review my resume, and kindly advise me on the possibility of contributing to your firm’s growth and development.

Thank you.

Very truly yours,

[Sign & Name]


*******************************************

Sample Pre-formatted Reply Letter to Application for Job Interview Letter

From: [insert your potential company here]

Dear Mr [your name here],

REPLY LETTER

My reply to your letter dated ….. are as follows:

[ ] Please call me for an appointment. My contact number is: . Please ask to speak to .

[ ] We do not have any openings right now, but expect to have opening on (date).

[ ] This letter reached the wrong person. You should contact:

Name: ...........................................

Title: .............................................

Address: ........................................

Contact No.: ..................................

[ ] We do not have openings for application of your nature and qualifications. However, you may wish to contact:

Name: .............................................

Title: ...............................................

Address: .........................................

Contact No.: ...................................

Comments
...........................................................


To increase your job search success, we also recommend that you submit your resume to some resume posting services such as to this Free Resume Posting services. You do not need to pay anything and there are testimonials from some readers who had reported getting their job very fast by using the service. You may also post your resumes to several job search sites at the same time.

Career Search Engines - How to Get a Job Interview Without Looking at the Newspaper Ad

There are many ways to do an effective career search . Many people search for their next career through newspaper ad. We do not advise that you do that as the only way to search for your next career.

The reason for that is simple. Doing a career search through newspaper ad is the thing that most people do. The next more popular method is to register with a career search agency. You may even need to pay a sum for such a service, but most career search agency charge the potential employer. Either method, you are competing with hundreds of potential candidate for the post.

There are more ways to get a job interview.

Career Networking

Survey shown that more than 70% of the most wanted career in the United States of America was not advertised in the daily newspaper. They were offered to the candidates through networking. That is how another great career opening was taken up, without the employer having to pay for advertisement and the hassle of interviewing hundreds of potential candidate.

So, what if you do not have a network that is able to get you to the career that you want? In fact, all of us have our networking. What about your friends, relatives or family members? Are they able to help you?

Let people in your contact list know that you wanted to make a career move. Ask them for references. Tell them what type of career or industry that you will be interested to get involved in. You will be surprised at the results that come in. Most people are willing to help, only if you allow them and provide them with the right information.

However, even though people are willing to help, not all opportunity appears at the same time. Leave them a copy of your resume. When you meet new friends, tell them of your intention of making a career move. Through consistent effort, you will soon realise that more and more people will act as your agent for your career search. And it’s for free too!

Making Cold Calls

Making cold calls are likely not to get you much respond, as not many people are willing to receive cold calls. However there is another method which is similar but is less intrusive in your career search exercise.

Write letters directly to a potential employer to express your interest to make a career with them, whether he is employing or not. Many potential employer would likely just scan through your letter, and you should make your letter as concise as possible.

In your letter you should give a brief introduction of yourself and mention how you are able to contribute to the company’s growth. Summarise the achievements that you’ve made so far in your previous career. Use key words, such as “achieved”, “successfully implemented,” etc. Write assertively.

Finally end the letter with a suggestion to meet up at a time convenient to your potential employer, to further discuss how you can start career with them. Your potential employer is not obligated to meet you, but since he has nothing to lose, he will be interested to meet you to see what you have to offer.

You can find a sample of the "Cold Call" Letter for Job Interview" here.

Attach a copy of your most-updated resume.

To make it even easier for your potential employer to respond to you, you should prepare a self-addressed envelop with a pre-formatted reply. This reply should be brief and include checkboxes for quick reply. Your pre-formatted reply should consists of options of either to ask that you call to arrange for an interview, or referencing you to other career opening, or just a flat refusal.

As it takes no more than 5 minutes for your potential employer to reply, there is a high likelihood that they will reply. Even though the company you are writing to do not have any career opening, your potential employer may recommend you to other company that may have an opening.

If you were asked to call to arrange for an interview, do it promptly. This shows that you are genuine and honest to start a career with them. If the company referenced you to another company or flatly refused to meet up, you should at least appreciate that they have taken the trouble to respond. Tell them so. Write a letter to them to thank them for taking the trouble to reply to you.

If you have dealt with the entire process in a professional manner, chances are that your potential employer are impressed. If there are no openings at the moment, they will likely keep your resume for reference. If you are indeed called up for an interview, you have already made a head start in your career search, compared to other potential candidates who are searching for a career opening.

Career Search Engines - Learning from Migrating Cranes

What has the migrating cranes got to do with our career development , you may ask.

There is a lot to be learnt, actually. Due to seasonal change, cranes often migrate from the colder climate place to a warmer climate location. Some of these migration stretch thousands of kilometres. Migratory cranes spend several days of weeks at pre-migration stage building up their fat reserves and integrating into life as flock. Then they commence migration. After feeding for several hours in the morning, they rise into the sky. They climb as high as 2000 meters. They stop flagging their wings when they reach this height, extend their wings and assume a ‘V’ formation.

You may ask, what has that got to do with my career development?

'V' Formation And Efficiency

When cranes fly in a ‘V’ formation, they actually improve their flight efficiency by 71% compared to when they are flying alone. Teamwork and unity increases our works efficiency. Let’s say that you have a career in the building industry and you have been contracted to build a building similar to the Empire States Building. You certainly can’t do the job alone. Even if you were to employ one thousand workers, they will not be able to perform their job efficiently if they were to act as individuals. The moment they were organised to work as a team, through your leadership, their efficiency improves tremendously. Lesson no. 1 is, we work more efficiently as a team.

Reaching Our Career Goals Faster

When one of the crane were to leave the formation and to fly alone, immediately, it shall feel the resistance of the wind. It quickly gets back to the formation. Lesson no. 2 that we can make out from these cranes related to our career, money and personal development is, it becomes easier for us to reach our goals when the actions we take is in tandem with our team’s. The journey suddenly becomes more enjoyable. Stick with the organisation.

Leadership

When the leader of formation tires, it shall move to the back of the formation. Lesson no. 3 related our career, money and personal development is, share your leadership. You will be amazed by the amount of fresh ideas generated by someone new.

Motivation

As they fly, cranes quack each other. In some cases, people hear their quacking voice even before seeing them. Why do they quack each other? When they quack each other, they were encouraged to move on, no matter how difficult the condition is. We need to encourage each other in reaching our career, money or personal development goals.

Mutual Concern

The final lesson that can be learnt from the migrating crane is, caring for our team members. When a sick or injured crane leaves the formation, immediately few other cranes will also leave the formation and fly with it. They will form a smaller ‘V’ formation. They will stay with this injured crane until all of them reach their destination or when it dies.

There is a lot to be learnt from the migrating cranes related to our career, isn’t there?

Career Search Engines - Introduction

Career Search Engines

Welcome to the site of Career Search Engines.

This site provides you with all the information you will ever need to know about career search, career guide and career development.

Happy reading and please return soon for more article related to career search.