People normally change careers and there could be many reasons behind it. The most important thing is that you find the right career for you. How do you know? Your job seeking skills will determine this. By learning how to research for options, realize strength, and acquire new skills, you will be able to determine the best career for you.
The job market at present has become more turbulent, which could mean that job seekers may need to be more strategic in approaching employers. Listed below are some tips that you can follow on finding a new career.
Do not depend on job boards – Although job boards connect to a hundreds of potential employers around the globe, it has its own limitations. According to Debra Feldman, most companies prescreen submitted resumes by using software that hunts for specific keywords related to the company’s qualifications. Even if you are a perfect match for the company, there is a high tendency that your resume will never really reach the company or it may take too long for the company to realize your potential value. Hence, make a balance between your electronic application and actual application by personally going to companies (if applicable).
Connect with old colleagues – It is important to connect with people who know your potential, such as your former colleagues. Although you may have resigned from your previous employers, these people can refer you whenever there are good job offers or you may contact them to ask for potential employers and better opportunities. If you are looking for a specific company, the best way to get in is to connect with its current employees through networking sites like LinkedIn. By then, you may also get relevant information and techniques on how to get hired.
Offer help to colleagues – Seeking for a job is a two-way process. You cannot simply wait or force people to contact you whenever there are good opportunities, otherwise you will be seen as a couch potato. At some point, a person may not give out information without something in return. Hence, offer help to your colleagues and build a give-and-take relationship. Knowing that you will be there in times of needs, your colleagues will be more motivated to also help you out.
Utilize your current position – Use your current position to look for on-the-job training opportunities. See if your employer will pay for the tuition cost. If not, you can serve as a part time volunteer on some organizations and gain experience and recognition. Your experience can potentially lead you to a promotion or a new job offer, which can be of higher level than your current job.
Promote your brand – At some point you have to take off from being too humble. Establish yourself as an expert of your industry or field of interest. Are you working in the field of communication, education, engineering, or medicine? Show up and take part in community projects to expose yourself and make employers realize your further potentials. You can take advantage of the blogosphere by creating your own blog or website and build credibility online where a variety of people can view you. You can also participate in forums and seminars, and other workshop activities which you can volunteer as the speaker. Your good rapport can start from there until you finally get great job offers.
