July 03, 2006

How To Get A New Job ...

Considering a career change? If so, you might want to take a test or two to determine what career is the best fit for your personality. The top-rated career tests, like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, the Keirsey Temperament Sorter and the Strong Interest Inventory are available online. There are fees for some of these tests, but, there are also a variety of quick, simple and free-tests like Color Quiz from http://www.colorquiz.com that offer instant results.

MAPP, from Assessment.com, is also a complimentary one and is easy to use. There is a series of questions that ask you to select what you like the most and least amongst 3 things. When you're done you'll instantly be provided with insight on yourself and the environments you thrive in, as well as the kind of jobs, careers and activities you're suited for. You might be surprised. It's fun, incredibly accurate and complimentary to you. Give MAPP a try now!

Strategy of a successful job seeker

With the job market on the upswing, wouldn't it be nice to ensure your resume could be seen by the employers and recruiters that are currently hiring? One way to do that is to post your resume on all the top career websites where hiring managers search for resumes of candidates to fill their open positions. That's where a service like Resume Rabbit can help.

You enter your resume and job requirements just once - and in the time it takes to post your resume to one job website, Resume Rabbit will instantly post your information on up to 75 top career websites. So, if you want to use the strategy of a successful job seeker, go to Resume Rabbit.

Article:	How To Get A Good Job...

Natasha Watson, President and Founder of WriteResumeServices.bravehost.com

Most of us are taught at an early age to get a good education so that we can get a good job when we grow up. Our teachers, our counselors, our parents have all instilled into our brains to "finish school, and then get a good job." As a parent, I couldn't think of any other lesson more valuable to teach a child.

'Knowledge is power', 'a good education will open doors', or my personal favorite "don't be a fool--stay in school".

The National Center for Education reported for the years 2003 and 2004 that the number of high school completers totaled 42.2%. College enrollment rates of recent high school completers were 45.2%.

The reality is that more than half of all high school students do not graduate from high school and less than half of high school graduates will enroll in college. This says there is a strong likelihood that the majority of people looking for a good job do not hold a college degree. You can still get a good job if you are willing to have a good job and you can do so without a college degree.

So, what makes a good job, "good"?

Is it salary? Distance from home? Company benefits? Advancement opportunities? Believe it or not, we think about these things when we apply for positions and seek opportunities. Actually, none of these things make a "good" job.

Simply put, a good job is good when you love doing what you do so much that nothing else matters. There has to be some delight in going to your job everyday. Not all people take pleasure in their work. As a result, we are only selling ourselves short of this fulfillment.

Remember when you were asked 'What do you want to be when you grow up?' Think about the reasons 'why' you wanted to be those things. Those are the same reasons that should lead you into your job today. A passion. A belief. Not the amount of money you are going to make. Instead of finding a job that makes good money and learning to like it... find out what it is you love to do and make money doing it.

So, how do you know whether going to college would have been more beneficial than just obtaining a job right after high school? That depends on the hirer.

Depending on the size of the company and the salary range for the position, the employer can hire a non-degreed applicant with experience or a degreed applicant without experience for the same money.

So why go to college in the first place, you may wonder. Well, attending college is a personal decision that is only the best option for those who choose it. In other words, not all successful people have a college degree; so by far, it is common to choose alternative paths to become the person you want to be.

Being non-degreed in a work force so competitive can be intimidating, but it is possible to overcome.

1. The first thing you must do is figure out what it is you want to do. There are so many occupations, jobs, and careers that match so many different objectives so start this process early. If you are unsure of your career goals, consider completing a career assessment to help determine your personal motivations and characteristics and see which careers are most suitable for you. You can also speak with an employment counselor.

2. Research a typical work environment for that profession and the most popular companies that are hiring. Contact the managers at those companies and request informational interviews with them. Ask them questions about how they became successful in their field and how they got where they are. Networking with people in your industry is the best way to get into a job. Network with as many people as possible.

3. Gather any and all on the job training certificates, seminars, workshops, volunteer activities, or other training that you have participated in that showcase your talent. This training will transfer into beneficial job skills and will need to be transformed into valuable experience and knowledge.

4. Be yourself. A phrase you have undoubtedly heard before. Sometimes you may need to practice being yourself by playing up your most desirable traits in social situations. If you are 'positive' then bring something positive to a situation, event, or conversation. If you are 'dependable' then always keep your word with others.

5. You must have a sound understanding of communication and how to communicate with others effectively. You must develop impeccable interviewing skills and clearly, you need to make a lasting first impression with the interviewer.

Here are 5 tips to help you accomplish this:

1. Use strong eye contact. Be confident.


2. Smile. Show some teeth.


3. Shake hands firmly. Even I have shaken some wimpy hands on occasional interviews. Don't be afraid to touch the interviewer's hand, some might take offense to this. If you're that finicky, just remember, you can wash your hands later.


4. Speak clearly. You want to be understood and you want to make powerful statements that have meaning.


5. "Monkey see, Monkey do." Take note of the receiver's body language, tone of voice, posture, hand gestures, etc. People want to be around other people who are like them.