6 Essential Steps Before You Start Job Hunting

February 28, 2024

Looking for a new job can be a daunting experience. The job market is constantly changing, and the list of requirements for applicants seems to grow longer and longer. Your resume is probably out of date, and how are you supposed to know how many golf balls can fit in a school bus (a question asked in too many interviews!)? No need to panic; just follow our step-by-step guide, and you’ll be sitting in an interview room in no time.


Before you start looking at career sites in searching for your next employer, get a few things in order. The last thing you want is to appear disorganized and out of touch. Here are some steps you can take to prepare yourself:

1. Decide what you want out of a new job 

Take the time to decide what you want to do. What are you good at and what do you enjoy? Do you want to stay in the industry you know, or do you want to branch out into a new field? What kind of company culture do you want? Figuring this out will help you narrow down your job search.

2. Give your resume a makeover

Although there are alternatives, most people opt for a CV or resume to illustrate their personal brand. There are a variety of resume structures out there to choose from. Find the one that you feel best represents you. 

Be honest. Whether the last company you worked for has a bad reputation or you have a criminal record, the truth will come out. There are open-minded recruiters who will take circumstances into account when considering you. And don’t be afraid to include your hobbies as some recruiters find this information revealing.

If you already have a specific job posting in mind, include keywords from the ad in your resume. Many companies use applicant tracking systems to filter out resumes that don’t match the criteria. Don’t let a bot be the reason you’re not shortlisted for an interview!

3. Clean up your social media

The company you apply to will inevitably search for you online. Will they be satisfied or scandalized? While it’s not about censoring you, make sure your privacy settings are such that questionable posts are only visible to certain people. However, since many recruiters require a LinkedIn profile as part of your application, it may be best to keep it clean and open here.

4. Hit up your contacts

Let it be known that you’re ready for a new job. A good place to start is reaching out to your friends, family, colleagues, and former college connections. Referrals from existing employees or contractors will save the hiring company time and money so they’ll be eager to follow the lead. Another way to get your job-seeking status out there is to attend networking events and workshops where you’ll be able to talk your way into a job. (insert link for “Speaking tricks that’ll help you talk your way to a new job”)

5. Monitor potential employers

Keep an eye on companies you’d like to work for when you look for a new job. The best way to do that is by following them on their social platforms. That way, you’ll always know the latest news and be alerted when a job opportunity arises. Sign up for their newsletters and even purchase their products or services if possible. This will put you in a good light when you can give them positive feedback in your interview.

6. Prepare an elevator pitch

An elevator pitch is a 40-second speech that explains who you are, what you’re currently working on, and what your future plans are. Not only will it help you narrow down exactly what you want, but it’s also handy to use at job fairs, networking events, and even in your online profile. It’s a succinct, informative way to introduce yourself and answer the dreaded “Tell me about yourself” question in an interview.

How your job status affects your job hunt 

Depending on your current employment status, your approach to the job hunt may differ from an unemployed job seeker. Here are a few examples of situations that can affect the way you approach your employment search, and what to do to get it right:

  • You’re currently employed and looking for a new job

When you start actively looking for a job, do so on your own devices and time. Depending on the nature of your relationship with your supervisor, you’ll probably need to be discreet and only use former employers as references. Be sure to maintain a positive attitude at your current workplace and continue to work hard.

  • You’re returning to work after a career break

Whether you stopped working to be a stay-at-home parent or you went on sabbatical, re-entering the workforce can be challenging. According to the Wall Street Journal, the rising cost of living is compelling retirees to rejoin the labor force. 

Make sure your resume reflects any courses or volunteer work you did during your time away. Get up to date with the latest trends in your industry and hold pretend interviews using common interview questions. Don’t shy away from explaining your job gap (insert link for “How to explain job gaps in an interview”) – be honest and upfront about it while explaining how you made the most of your time away.

  • You’re in your final year of college 

Don’t wait until graduation to start looking for a job. Whether it’s an internship or a part-time job while you’re studying, work experience will help you build a strong resume and provide insight into whether this is the industry for you. Get references from your professors to further strengthen your CV and take advantage of career guidance centers on your campus that can put you on the right path for your chosen field. After you graduate, keep yourself busy with workshops and short courses while you’re looking for work.

Final thoughts

These tips to prepare you for your job hunt will leave you feeling better prepared for the challenge. If you organize yourself this way, you’ll have a better handle on the job hunting process. Once you’re ready for interviews, be sure to check out our sample questions and answers in preparation for your big day.


Source:  https://resources.workable.com/career-center/6-essential-steps-before-you-start-job-hunting/

10 self-reflection questions for career growth

June 13, 2024
As the year draws to a close, it is vital to pause and reflect on your journey and relationships in your personal lives and careers. Self-reflection is a powerful tool for introspection, helping us understand our core nature and facilitating personal growth as we work towards a better version of ourselves. Whether you’re evaluating your work-life balance , personal development , or career progression , self-reflection can be incredibly empowering and beneficial for your overall well-being. The value of reflection and introspection Harnessing the power of reflection As we approach the end of the year, taking the time to reflect on the past twelve months is not just a ritual but a powerful tool for personal and professional growth. Reflection allows us to pause in our fast-paced lives and examine our experiences, decisions, and actions. It allows us to celebrate our successes, learn from our mistakes, and acknowledge our growth areas. By looking back, we gain valuable insights that empower us to approach the future with a more informed and intentional mindset. Understanding ourselves better Introspection is a vital component of self-reflection. It involves diving deep into our thoughts, feelings, and motivations. This process helps us understand why we do what we do, what drives our decisions, and how our actions align with our core values and goals. Understanding ourselves better is crucial for personal development and helps us make more authentic and aligned choices in the future. Setting the stage for future success Reflecting on the past year sets the foundation for setting realistic and meaningful goals for the new year. It helps us identify what we truly want, what areas need more attention, and what strategies worked or didn’t work. This clarity is essential for setting goals that are both ambitious and achievable and aligned with our personal and professional aspirations. Promoting well-being and reducing stress The act of reflection can be therapeutic. It allows us to process our experiences, both positive and negative, and can lead to a greater sense of peace and closure. This is especially important in today’s world, where we often rush from one task to another without taking the time to process our experiences. Reflecting on the year helps us close chapters, reduce stress, and approach the new year with renewed energy and optimism. Fostering continuous learning and adaptability The world is constantly changing, and adaptability has become a crucial skill. Reflecting on how we’ve navigated changes in the past year, both expected and unexpected, prepares us for future uncertainties. It reinforces continuous learning and adapting, essential in personal and professional contexts. Year-end review: 10 questions for self-reflection Here are 10 thought-provoking questions to guide your year-end reflection. These questions cover various aspects of your life, including work experiences, personal growth, work-life balance, and future aspirations. As you answer them, be honest and consider writing down your responses for a more tangible record of your thoughts and goals. Sample answers help guide and inspire you as you reflect upon your year. These example answers provide a glimpse into the kind of introspection and planning that can result from such reflective questions, helping you assess your current state and set meaningful goals for the future. 1. Best and worst work experiences What were your best and worst work experiences in the last 12 months? Be specific about projects, teams, roles, and activities. Sample answers Best: Leading a successful project launch, mentoring a new team member, and receiving positive client feedback. Worst: Facing a project delay due to miscommunication, struggling with a software tool, and experiencing a stressful team conflict. 2. Job success and satisfaction elements Can you identify three elements of your job that contributed to your success and satisfaction? Conversely, what three elements hindered your success and fulfilment? Sample answers Positive: Collaborative team environment, challenging tasks that foster learning, and recognition from management. Negative: Limited resources, unclear company direction, and infrequent feedback. 3. Skills development What five skills, talents, or pursuits would you like to develop or attain in the next 12 months? Sample answers Improve public speaking, learn advanced data analysis, enhance leadership skills, develop a new programming language, and cultivate creative problem-solving techniques. 4. Passion in work What topics in your work can you talk about non-stop? Does this energise you consistently? Is this your passion or something else? Sample answers I am passionate about designing user interfaces. Discussing design trends and user experience energises me and is a significant part of my job satisfaction. 5. Unachieved goals What’s one significant goal you didn’t achieve in the last 12 months, and why? How would you change the outcome? Sample answers I aimed to get a professional certification but couldn’t due to time constraints. I plan to manage my time better and enrol in a course next year. 6. Fearless ambitions What would you aim to achieve in the coming year if you knew you couldn’t fail? Sample answers If I knew I couldn’t fail, I would aim to start my own tech startup focusing on innovative educational tools. 7. Role evaluation How would you rate your current role out of 100%? What factors prevent you from reaching 100%, and how can you overcome them? Sample answers I’d rate my role at 75%. To reach 100%, I need more creative freedom and opportunities for professional development. With these, I could be fully satisfied. 8. Future aspirations Without any limitations, what experiences, skills, activities, and responsibilities would you like to have in the future? List up to 12. Sample answers Lead larger projects, develop expertise in AI, participate in international conferences, mentor others, work abroad, achieve work-life balance, publish industry articles, learn a new language, adopt sustainable work practices, engage in CSR initiatives, explore different company roles, and start a professional blog. 9. Personal growth and development How have you grown personally over the past year? What personal qualities or habits have you developed, and what would you like to work on? Sample answers I’ve become more resilient and patient over the years. I want to work on my time management and stress management skills. 10. Challenges and overcoming obstacles Reflect on the biggest challenge you faced this year. How did you overcome it, and what did you learn? Sample answers My biggest challenge was adapting to remote work. I overcame it by creating a structured daily routine, investing in a better home office setup, and improving my digital communication skills. Reflect to grow Remember, the purpose of these questions is not just to reflect on what has been but also to pave a path for what lies ahead. By understanding where you currently stand and identifying your goals and aspirations, you can approach the new year with clarity, purpose, and a renewed sense of direction. Source: https://www.pagepersonnel.com.au/advice/career-and-management/success/self-reflection-questions-for-career-growth

Difference Between Job Enlargement And Job Enrichment

June 13, 2024
Both job enlargement and job enrichment are human resource strategies used to improve employees engagement and increase efficiency that helps to achieve organizational more effectively. Job enlargement refers to increase tasks and responsibilities to the existing role of the employees. On the other hand, job enrichment is a technique of motivating employees by adding extra responsibilities to make job more challenging and meaningful. Difference Between Job Enlargement And Job Enrichment The main dissimilarities between job enrichment and job enlargement are as follows: 1. Introduction Job Enlargement: It involves increasing the number of tasks and duties to be performed by workers to an existing role. Job Enrichment: It involves increasing responsibilities and content in the job to increase challenges and scope that provides opportunity for growth. 2. Nature Job Enlargement: It is purely quantitative in nature because number of tasks are increased for employees. Job Enrichment: It is qualitative in nature. It means this technique is used to increase the content and quality of the job. 3. Objective Job Enlargement: The main objective of job enlargement is to increase employee motivation and engagement by decreasing monotony and boredom. Job Enrichment: The main objective of job enrichment is to promote growth and development by making jobs more challenging and exciting. 4. Additional Skill Job Enlargement: It does not require additional skill because tasks are increased as per the qualification and ability of employees. Job Enrichment: It requires some additional skills because it involves new responsibilities that require creativity, decision making and problem solving. 5. Authority Job Enlargement: It does not increase the level of authority as it only increases the number of tasks. Job Enrichment: It increases the level of authority as per the creativity and ability of employees. 6. Supervision And Control Job Enlargement: It requires more supervision, direction and control because it increases the workload of employees that increases the chance of errors and mistakes. Job Enrichment: It requires less supervision and control than job enlargement because workers exercise self-control. 7. Training Need Job Enlargement: It does not require additional training because employees are familiar with the jobs and responsibilities. Job Enrichment: It may require additional training to empower workers to increase creativity, decision making and control over the job. 8. Result/Outcome Job Enlargement: Results may be positive or negative depending on the motivation level and workload of the employees. Job Enrichment: Generally, it gives positive result because of increased morale and self actualization. Basis Job Enlargement Job Enrichment Nature It is quantitative by nature It is qualitative by nature Objective To reduce boredom and monotony To promote growth and development Additional Skills Not Required Required Increase In Authority No Yes Outcome Positive Or Negative Positive Supervision And Control Requires more supervision Requires less supervision Distinction Between Job Enlargement And Job Enrichment In Brief * Job enlargement refers to quantitative expanding of jobs. But job enrichment is qualitative improvement of the job. * Job enlargement does not require special training, but job enrichment requires training and development program to improve the performance. * Job enlargement requires more supervision than job enrichment * Job enrichment increases the level of authority but job enlargement increases the number of tasks only. * Job enlargement is horizontal expansion of job and job enrichment is vertical expansion. * Job enlargement does not promote growth and development but job enrichment helps in personal growth and career development Source: https://marketinglord.blogspot.com/2024/05/difference-job-enlargement-job-enrichment.html
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