Hi guys! Last time we decided to take a peep at the 2017 jobs survey, today we wanna help you further to provide the information you need to make your job hunting experience a rewarding one. Whether you are a university/college student or currently out of school and actively looking for employment, this article is definitely for you.. Friends, now that you've read the first article [go here to read] we want to further proceed to give you practical steps as to what to do next...
A. Research your Career options
1. Do a review of the skills/educational opportunities you wish to pursue or currently pursuing and its relevance to the job market -
Visit your college/university to meet with your career and placement officer or guidance counselor and ask for advice about your interests. Reflect on your career and job interests and what area of study would best help you fulfill your career goals and potential. Yes, when persons enter university they already have in mind what they wish to study, but there is nothing wrong, especially at the early stages, in making adjustments and really taking a second look at your area of study and what you want to pursue. Ask questions of the counselor, get their feedback and do further research to ensure that you have as much information as possible. It is sad to hear of graduates who after studying hard for their degree face set backs in finding employment in their specialisation. We do not want this to happen to you.
2. Be thoroughly knowledgeable about the content of your area of specialisation. Obtain relevant curriculum materials and become conversant with their requirements. There may be opportunities available to study certain courses or combination of courses that can give an edge in the industry or career you want to pursue.
B. Be Prepared
1. Vet application documents - Have your current résumé reviewed. This can be done also at the school's careers and placement centre. Seek honest criticism, advice and take whatever steps necessary to re-structure your cover letter and résumé.
2. Job Interview Skills - Sharpen them up! Watch and listen to as many videos as possible, practice answering the questions and ask a friend to help you prepare. Read articles that address issues such as presentation, deportment, body language and communication during the interview. That way you will be properly prepared.
3. Speaking of communication, take the time to work on improving this skill both written and verbal as it is an essential tool to gaining career success. While working on it don't forget these other employability skills: critical thinking, interpersonal/human relations, team work, career management*, initiative, and computer and information technology skills.
4. Work Experience - While in college seek opportunities to work in the area of your interest or as close to it as possible. For example, an Accountant should seek to gain as much experience working in an accounting/auditing firm or seek opportunity to work in the accounts department of a company. Aim as much as possible to gain practical experience in your interest.
C. On the Job Hunt
1. Develop your own job search action plan by doing the following:
a. Think about then write down your job or career goal
b. Make a list of your top job-related skills and abilities
c. List specific job-search actions and timelines for completion
2. Identify job leads through newspaper adverts, job/career websites, employment agencies, job fairs, Ministry of Education (the office and the official website) and the HEART Trust/NTA's Regional Career Office.
3. Networking — Utilise your social and professional contacts. In communicating with your network linkages do not let your message be “help me get a job or I need a job”. Instead, express that you are prepared and available to assist an organisation to meet specific goals based on your skills.
4. Volunteer — Volunteer even for two days per week at a school to assist with marking exams or school-based assessment projects or you ask to help at your community's youth centre. Other organisations are often willing to engage volunteers, especially in areas of clerical task (data entry, filing, etc.) and customer service.
5. Be Confident about your abilities — Be aware of what you can offer your prospective employer and use it as your marketing tool. Be confident going into a job interview, that way the employer will see that you know what you're capable of and you're ready to use your skills to build the company.
6. Explore entrepreneurship — Explore opportunities through which you can apply your training. For example, you could start a homework centre in your community. Through this initiative you could build your reputation and credibility as an excellent teacher and exam-preparation coach.
6. Be diligent — Treat your job search like a job. Persevere until you achieve success.
____________________________
References:
*Career management - "Career management is the combination of structured planning and the active management choice of one's own professional career..."
(Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Career_management)
Job Search Classified pic courtesy of Shutterstock
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this article, we are confident that information presented here will be useful to you and we hope that you will be generous in sharing this information with your friends and family!
If you are not already a member of this blog, we invite you to click 'Follow' and become a member, look for Members Sign In, and tell your friends about us. They can find us here: http://jamcareerfocus.blogspot.com. Tune in next time for another informative and educational article!
A. Research your Career options
1. Do a review of the skills/educational opportunities you wish to pursue or currently pursuing and its relevance to the job market -
Visit your college/university to meet with your career and placement officer or guidance counselor and ask for advice about your interests. Reflect on your career and job interests and what area of study would best help you fulfill your career goals and potential. Yes, when persons enter university they already have in mind what they wish to study, but there is nothing wrong, especially at the early stages, in making adjustments and really taking a second look at your area of study and what you want to pursue. Ask questions of the counselor, get their feedback and do further research to ensure that you have as much information as possible. It is sad to hear of graduates who after studying hard for their degree face set backs in finding employment in their specialisation. We do not want this to happen to you.
2. Be thoroughly knowledgeable about the content of your area of specialisation. Obtain relevant curriculum materials and become conversant with their requirements. There may be opportunities available to study certain courses or combination of courses that can give an edge in the industry or career you want to pursue.
B. Be Prepared
1. Vet application documents - Have your current résumé reviewed. This can be done also at the school's careers and placement centre. Seek honest criticism, advice and take whatever steps necessary to re-structure your cover letter and résumé.
3. Speaking of communication, take the time to work on improving this skill both written and verbal as it is an essential tool to gaining career success. While working on it don't forget these other employability skills: critical thinking, interpersonal/human relations, team work, career management*, initiative, and computer and information technology skills.
4. Work Experience - While in college seek opportunities to work in the area of your interest or as close to it as possible. For example, an Accountant should seek to gain as much experience working in an accounting/auditing firm or seek opportunity to work in the accounts department of a company. Aim as much as possible to gain practical experience in your interest.
C. On the Job Hunt
1. Develop your own job search action plan by doing the following:
a. Think about then write down your job or career goal
b. Make a list of your top job-related skills and abilities
c. List specific job-search actions and timelines for completion
2. Identify job leads through newspaper adverts, job/career websites, employment agencies, job fairs, Ministry of Education (the office and the official website) and the HEART Trust/NTA's Regional Career Office.
3. Networking — Utilise your social and professional contacts. In communicating with your network linkages do not let your message be “help me get a job or I need a job”. Instead, express that you are prepared and available to assist an organisation to meet specific goals based on your skills.
4. Volunteer — Volunteer even for two days per week at a school to assist with marking exams or school-based assessment projects or you ask to help at your community's youth centre. Other organisations are often willing to engage volunteers, especially in areas of clerical task (data entry, filing, etc.) and customer service.
5. Be Confident about your abilities — Be aware of what you can offer your prospective employer and use it as your marketing tool. Be confident going into a job interview, that way the employer will see that you know what you're capable of and you're ready to use your skills to build the company.
6. Explore entrepreneurship — Explore opportunities through which you can apply your training. For example, you could start a homework centre in your community. Through this initiative you could build your reputation and credibility as an excellent teacher and exam-preparation coach.
6. Be diligent — Treat your job search like a job. Persevere until you achieve success.
____________________________
References:
*Career management - "Career management is the combination of structured planning and the active management choice of one's own professional career..."
(Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Career_management)
Job Search Classified pic courtesy of Shutterstock
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this article, we are confident that information presented here will be useful to you and we hope that you will be generous in sharing this information with your friends and family!
If you are not already a member of this blog, we invite you to click 'Follow' and become a member, look for Members Sign In, and tell your friends about us. They can find us here: http://jamcareerfocus.blogspot.com. Tune in next time for another informative and educational article!
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