Article
How to Change Jobs and Find the Perfect Career
If job hunting were less riddled with uncertainties, less time-consuming, and less emotionally challenging, then changing career would be a lot easier! But it is not! There is no easy, instantaneous solution to finding a job in today´s increasingly complex employment market.
The truth is, job hunting requires serious effort!
Changing career can conjure up a whole host of challenges to deter even the most enthusiastic job seeker. And, as fewer than a third of us are in our dream careers, and a high percentage of us is actually miserable every moment at work, a degree of personal commitment and perseverance is crucial to changing jobs!
So if you are determined to join those with dream jobs, what can you do to make the process simpler? You may find these six career tips helpful:
1. Identify your ideal career!
If, like many others, you are not sure what you want, then finding the perfect job will necessitate some detailed research.
Finding a new career starts with understanding yourself and what drives you. If you need help to identify what it is about your dream job that appeals to, you would benefit by takiing advantage of A Perfect Career´s personalisd Career Consultancy.
The career consultancy includes a skills audit to help identify any extra training you might need. If there is a gap between your skills and your ideal job, then consider a training course or gaining experience either through a part-time job or voluntary work. The contacts you make may be influential and your determination cannot fail to impress.
A careers consultation will find out what you like or dislike in a career, your strengths and preferred work environment. The consultation will take into consideration your personaol practical requirements such as flexible hours, salary and geographical location. With the help of your personal careers consultant, you can then use this picture of yourself to work out which career ticks the most boxes.
2. Strategic marketing - targeting the right career
With a clearer picture of your career aim, the next step in your job search is to find a great new career opportunity - great from both the employers and your own viewpoint. A strategic marketing plan is the perfect tool to propel you forward, structure your search and secure the interest of employers.
While the more traditional ways of finding a job – job ads in newspapers, networking etc - are still valid, there are new, much quicker ways to find a new career. The Internet has brought about an information revolution? With a click of a mouse you can accelerate your job search and gain access to every type of organization and job role imaginable. Cyber-space enables you to:
∙ Research companies online
∙ Browse job sites and social media sites, e.g. LinkedIn
∙ Review employers' job vacancies
∙ Email recruiters and employers
∙ Find out about and visit career fairs
∙ Network at ooff- and online business events
∙ Submit your résumé electronically
∙ Chat directly with others in your field
∙ Attend an interview and deliver a presentation
∙ Get hired!
The nitty-gritty task of formulating and implementing a well thought out, strategically targeted and delivered job search campaign rests with you – but modern technology has many benefits and is often a means of accessing the hidden job market.
3. What is the Hidden Job Market?
It is estimated that 80% of jobs are filled by companies who never advertise. Instead these positions are filled by referral, the `who do you know´ method of recruitment.
The Internet, with its unparalleled growth, is encouraging employers to advertise previously `unadvertised´ positions, because it's cheaper and faster than traditional methods. For very little cost, employers may advertise jobs globally on their own web pages, and in a short space of time attract hundreds of résumés. Therefore, if you are interested in joining a particular organisation, it makes sense to check their website, read their profile and review their job vacancies.
Look for information on who hires people in your line of work, what industry makes/does what you want to be involved with? Which employers are in your geographic area of interest?
Be selective, and target your search on those employers, recruiters and key-decision makers who are most likely to appreciate your value and be in a position to offer you a role. Then, figure out ways to integrate these organizations to present yourself as a prospective `added value´ contributor. Invest your time and energy to learn and understand the organisation´s needs and cultural values, and you will present as an unparalleled match and someone that they would want on their team.
To be effective you have to get out there, and strategically promote yourself to those most likely to match your career aim. This is where your Resume has to work for you!
4. Marketing . . your Resume is your marketing tool
Job searching is primarily a combination of strategic marketing and your own personal initiatives.
To be successful you need to be proactive, take initiative and package yourself not just to attract but to sustain the attention of recruiters and employers. This means choosing the correct focus and developing the right approach.
Position yourself in the market and differentiate yourself from the competition by making clear your unique value proposition. To accelerate the process, rewrite your Resume or, better still, consider having your Resume produced by a professional Resume Writer – you will be amazed just what a difference this can make.
While you may think your skill-sets, qualifications and experience are very evident in the Resume that you compiled, if you have not presented a compelling case of the benefits you have to offer, a competitor candidate with better communication skills might just pip you at the post!
Once your Resume has captured an employer's attention, you have created a chance to demonstrate your abilities during the interview. You are now well on the way towards the goal of your job search campaign.
5. Interviews – putting your best foot forward
Pre-interview preparation is central to a successful outcome. An important aspect of this is to become au fait with the company’s culture, business strategy, problems, market dynamics - threats and opportunities.
As well as helping you to determine whether it is the right organization and the right career move for you, the knowledge you gain will enable you to demonstrate your unique candidacy. Consider what all companies are aiming to achieve and cite ways you can help them achieve their goals, whether it is to do with customer retention, cost reduction, winning new business, managing change or implementing technology to increase efficiency.
One winning strategy is to approach the interview as a consultant. It is not uncommon for employers and candidates to collaborate to reach mutually beneficial objectives. You might be asked to consider and deliver a presentation on how to tackle a particular business problem. This tests your competencies, and provides an opportunity for you to distinguish yourself by demonstrating initiative, creativity and knowledge. An added benefit for the organization is that your presentation may provide fresh insight into resolving an issue!
6. Interpersonal skill
Tuning into and understanding the dynamics between meeting employers' needs first and then promoting your skills against these requirements, will enhance your chances of making the right connection, and building a rapport with the decision-makers.
Of most importance is that indefinable, yet job winning element - chemistry – that essential feeling of trust and credibility that can be built between people and can play such a pivotal role in receiving a job offer.
The right mix at the interview stage – demonstrated by an engaging, positive, confident and results-driven approach – combined with an ability to listen will give you a huge competitive advantage over others, and set you on the right path to joining the company of your choice and securing the job of your dreams.
If you would like help in changing jobs and finding the perfect career,
please send an email and a consultant will respond shortly
An article by Helga A Edge MBA
Principal Consultant
www.aperfectcareer.co.uk
