Competing Against Top Flight Professionals
	Coping With Job Hunting Stresses
	Enhancing Your Transferable Skills In A Competitive Market
	How Transferable Skills Benefit Your Job Search
	How You Alone Can Influence Your Career
	Job Hunting - A disheartening experience?
	Long Distance Job Searching - The How-tos
	Recognizing Your Worth
	Understand Your Value As A Potential Candidate
	Your Career Documents Are A Vital Part Of Your Job Search

Competing Against Top Flight Professionals

The world of employment searching can be very competitive. Enough so that you may feel like you are bottom rung when competing against people that seem superior in every way. However, in simple truth, no one is perfect. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. You simply have to find what you have to offer that is unique to you and understand that even those that appear to be untouchable have flaws.

Accentuate the positive

You first must identify your skills and realize that you, also, have great things to offer. In your resume and during the interview process, you should focus on your superior traits as opposed to being intimidated by attributes you think others have. The truth of the matter is that everyone has their flaws, even those that appear shiny on the surface. People with MBA's from MIT may be perpetually late and college dropouts may have exceptional work ethics. When it really comes down to it, our personal attributes are what will make us successful, not only our credentials.

Highlight your unique characteristics

Instead of comparing yourself to everyone else, place yourself in a light all your own and highlight your qualities. While competition does play a role, it is your uniqueness that will set you apart from the crowd. There are droves of "top" professionals; however, unless they bring distinct characteristics to the table, they are just like everyone else. If you walk in saying all the things that everyone else says, you will be walking out with them when someone else is hired.

Be honest

One of the most important things to remember in searching for a job is to be honest. Do not allow yourself to embellish your skills or attributes because you think it is necessary to compete against other candidates. Your integrity is worth more than any job and will be appreciated more by potential employers. Getting caught in a lie or inaccurate statement will absolutely cost you the job. It is not worth it; be honest. Either they will hire you for the person you are or they will not, but it is better than being hired for someone you are not.

Understand every job is not for you

When you are looking for a job, do not become so enthralled that you begin to see yourself in every position available. Sometimes, it will be better for another person to be hired when you would not really be happy in the position. Often, competition is a good thing to remove us from circumstances that are just not for us. Everything happens for a reason; be enlightened enough to wait for it to come to light, instead of being so consumed in "winning" that you end up with a prize you do not want.

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Coping With Job Hunting Stresses

Searching for a job can be one of the most stressful times in your life. You feel constantly scrutinized. You face rejection on a daily basis, and you are always trying to prove yourself. This kind of stress is less talked about than that of a new job situation, but it is just as real. It can affect all areas of your life and needs to be dealt with on a regular basis. If you ignore this stress in the hopes that it will simply fade away, you may actually decrease your chances of getting a job. Your attitude of anxiety and frustration, or your feeling of defeat will make its way into the things you say and how you behave at interviews. So let's look at some of the common stress areas you experience when job hunting.

Physical Stress

As you carry out your job search, you may sit for hours at a computer or drive around all day to interviews, conferences, and job fairs. Job-hunting has a very real effect on your physical health in more than just these ways. You may experience changes in appetite or sleep patterns, back pain, or headaches. These symptoms of stress can be alleviated with additional exercise, a careful diet, and rest. If you are having trouble sleeping, try getting some rest in other ways. Read a relaxing book, lie down and listen to some soothing music, or have a loved-one give you a nice massage. You may find these things ease your way into sleep, but even if they don't they will have a rejuvenating effect.

Financial Stress

Financial stress is one of the hardest for people to deal with. The pressure of losing your credit standing or having services cut off can be overwhelming. Moreover, while you may have some savings or a severance package to use, this is still a finite resource. For most people, unemployment occurs when they have nothing to fall back on, leaving them with financial demands they can't meet and stress that threatens their ability to function.

No matter what your financial situation is, remember that you are not alone. Turn to your friends and family for help. Look to social service organizations that offer relief in these situations. Above all, try not to be hard on yourself. We all hit times of financial instability and eventually, you will find yourself back on top.

Emotional Stress

Both financial and physical stress contribute to your lack of emotional well-being. Job-hunting tests your self- confidence and your peace of mind. Try to avoid making any other big changes in your life until you are well settled in a new career. Talk to friends or a professional counsellor about your feelings. Visit chat groups online that are places of support for other people in your industry or other job seekers. It is very important for your emotional health that you give yourself a break now and then, so don't forget to be hopeful.

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Enhancing Your Transferable Skills In A Competitive Market

In a competitive job market, the more you bring to the table, the better your chances of obtaining employment. For this reason, you should enhance your transferable skills as much as possible to improve your qualifications and credentials. The better you look to your potential employer, the less likely they are to let you get away.

The primary purpose should be to improve upon the skills that may apply to a wide range of positions. While ProDoc, a software program used in law offices, may be useful in the legal field, it would be of little use in a CPA firm. Therefore, it would be much more beneficial to train in a program that is more widely used, such as Microsoft Word or Excel. You should evaluate what skills are in high demand and consider enhancing your abilities in these areas. One such skill may be typing or word processing. Another is the ability to speak a second language, such as Spanish. In parts of the country where being bilingual is in high demand, you can almost walk into any position if you have this ability. These are the types of "transferable" skills you should strive to improve upon.

There are various ways you can enhance your skills. You may choose to enroll in a university or junior college and seek a degree in a particular area; you may simply take continuing education to improve these skills without receiving any type of college credit; you may attend seminars; or you may utilize your current position to better these skills that may be useful in another field.

Enrolling in a university or college may be a beneficial avenue to better yourself. This can be expensive and time consuming though. However, for more in-depth skills, it may be necessary to take such drastic measures.

Continuing education is a valuable resource for less comprehensive subjects, such as learning a particular computer program, like QuickBooks, or learning other marketable skills. This is a less expensive alternative and is usually completed in a short period of time.

Seminars are another potential source of training that is relatively inexpensive and short term. However, applicable seminars may be difficult to find depending on the field you are in.

Your current position is also potentially a wealth of training. While you should not allow your current employer to pay for training you plan to use to obtain other employment, many of the skills you improve upon in your profession may be transferable to other jobs.

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How Transferable Skills Benefit Your Job Search

You have a wealth of experience in specific areas. But what if you want to change fields? Or what if you don't have a lot of experience in the job market, but you have a lot of skill in one area? Transferable skills are those that you can take with you to different fields and settings. Emphasizing your transferable skills on your resume and in interviews can give you a real boost in your employment appeal.

Transferable Skills

Employers are looking for people who have a certain set of skills, accompanied by a certain amount of experience. Sometimes, you look at a job listing and think to yourself, "I have the skills this person requires, but I've never worked in this type of setting before." This limitation does not have to stand between you and the job you want. If you are qualified for a position, the important thing is to emphasize this qualification. This is where transferable skills come in.

We all have experience that lies outside of our work experience. You may have learned how to handle taxes in your husband or wife's home based business. You may have learned about food service prep from volunteer work that you do. You could have any number of skills that you acquired outside of a paying job. These skills are transferable to a paid environment, so it's important that you let potential employers know you have them.

Highlighting Skills on Your Resume

If you are looking for a job in the same field as you have worked for many years, you won't need to highlight your transferable skills as much as someone just starting out in the job market or changing fields. For these candidates, arranging your resume according to different fields of expertise is a great way to get employers to pay attention to what you do have, not what you don't.

Functional resumes are arranged according to functional areas. You might have experience or accomplishments in the area of accounting. You would list "Accounting" on your resume and then include the skills you possess written as action verbs. Include the skills or accomplishments that best meet the needs of the job for which you are applying. Be sure to show the impact of your actions.

Highlighting Skills in an Interview

Sitting down to talk to a potential employer can be nerve-wracking, especially if you feel you are under-experienced in this particular field. That's why it is important for you to go over your transferable skills beforehand. Review the items on your resume and have someone do a practice interview with you so that you can see what it's like to list your talents. Don't be afraid to say that you got your experience outside of the workplace. The important thing here is to highlight your accomplishments and give proof to your interviewer that you have what it takes to do the job.

Your transferable skills may seem cursory, but in fact, they could mean the difference between "No thanks" and "When can you start?"

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How You Alone Can Influence Your Career

Only you can determine your success and failure in the job market. When it comes down it you have the power to create opportunities and the ability to follow through on them. There are many things you can do to enhance your career search and increase your chances of landing your dream job.

Networking is a great way to influence the path of your career. Networking is powerful because it is how the majority of jobs are filled. A very small amount of available jobs are listed in the papers and online. Most jobs are filled by word of mouth. You can network in a number of ways via friends, family and colleagues. Let people know your looking for a job and what you are interested in. Social settings are also a great place to meet potential network contacts. Make use of job fairs, online communities and even further educations courses.

Development is another way you can stay ahead of the pack. You want to be able to offer something unique to your prospective employer. If that means taking a class or learning new things then you should do it. Make use of the resources available to you and develop your profile as a viable candidate. Developing your career strategy is a good way to further enhance your job search. Learn about cover letter and resume writing. Get to know the processes and protocols when it comes to interviews and job correspondence.

Seeking professional help is a great way to set you up for success in the job market. This could mean hiring a professional resume writer to help you craft a high impact resume. You could work with a mentor to help you with development and career strategy. Mentors are ideal for helping you find direction and set goals as well as plan the path to achieving them. A mentor is a good network contact also. Mentors can be anyone from a friend or colleague or business associate.

Make use of all the avenues available to you in your job search. Apply for jobs online and set up an online profile so that employers can find you anytime. Use traditional methods of finding a job. Write networking letters and contact companies you are interested in working for. Sign up with a recruitment agency that will help match you with suitable jobs.

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Job Listing - Job Hunting - A disheartening experience?

In all honesty no one enjoys the trials and tribulations of a job search. It can be stressful, frustrating, intimidating, and can bring with it feelings of depression or demoralisation.

However, you must be positive, no one is going to hire a negative or desperate candidate who appears to have a giant chip on his or her shoulder.

To be successful you must deal with the negative emotions you feel when you receive a knock back. You must lift yourself out of any of the downs you feel and demonstrate positive energy, motivation and a determination to achieve your goal.

A job search and indeed actually changing jobs can be a difficult, often traumatic experience. No matter how old we get we can all empathise with the first day syndrome. It is as though all sense of time disappears and we let go of our mother’s hand once more for that first day at school. Insecurities and fears come to the fore as we prepare to face unknown colleagues and attempt to build relationships with peers we barely know.

In addition to this is fear of the unknown; the usual questions are what if I don’t like it? Can I leave again within a short space of time? What financial implications does this move have? How will it look on my resume if I leave almost immediately?

The answers to these arguments are made all the more pertinent by the fact that in the current climate, jobs are not as plentiful as 12/24 months ago.

Again, this drives you back to your research and urges you to perform a comprehensive analysis of each position you are considering. Treat the entire process as you would a project you have undertaken, consider all options before you submit an application. It is far easier to choose not to continue rather than accept a position, realise it is not for you and begin again.

Focus on the positive aspects, define your ideal role, format your resume to detail your skills and strengths, be optimistic and accept nothing less than the best for you

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Long Distance Job Searching - The How-tos

Finding a job in another city can take up to a year, so as you begin your long distance job search, there are some important things for you to consider. First of all, can you afford to wait that long? If you need employment now, you might look in your area for temporary employment that will help you pay the bills in the meantime. You could even look into consulting work that would pay you a freelance salary until you move. Also consider the time frame you have until you need to move. If you need to be in your new city in six months time, keep in mind that you may need another source of income when you get there if you haven't found your new career yet.

Here are the basics of successful long distance job searching:

1. Research the city.

Find out as much as you can about the place you are going. Look online for sites dedicated to this purpose. Check out all the resources in the new location, including industry, entertainment, cultural, and practical needs. You should feel very confident that the new city will be someplace you can be happy and have a thriving lifestyle.

2. Make at least two trips.

Go to the new location first to check out the surroundings, make some contacts, and investigate housing. On your second trip, you will have completed job interviews and perhaps be finalizing a housing search.

3. Find job opportunities.

Look online for geographic specific job search sites. You should be able to find sites dedicated to the state you wish to move to. You can also research the new area at the library by pulling out a phone book and checking out the listings in your field. Another way to find job opportunities is through the career planning offices of local colleges, which offer guidance to individuals on a daily basis and are up to date on industry trends.

4. Create a contact list.

This list should include several firms you are interested in, plus headhunters and employment offices. Try networking with the list of contacts in your current city to find information on potential openings in the new city. Contact each company on the list and even send your resume and a cover letter, stating your relocation plans and interest in a position should one become available.

5. Ask about relocation packages.

Once you have some interviews lined up, be sure you ask about potential relocation packages. Not all companies will offer this, but some do.

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Recognizing Your Worth

For people in the midst of a job search, discouragement and frustration can often take hold and destroy your confidence. There seem to be countless people out there who are more qualified than you, have more experience than you do, and are just generally better for the job. This kind of thinking will not do you any good. An employer is not just looking for someone who is impressive on paper. People get hired for all kinds of reasons, and many of them don't have anything to do with a resume. Here are some things to keep in mind as you search for a job:

1. You have a lot to offer.

Really, you do. Most of us are the last to see how much we can contribute to a company. So many of the qualities that others value in us are the ones that we take for granted or don't see. Being an honest, responsible, fun, humorous, compassionate, punctual, quick, friendly, studious, or detail-oriented person could make the difference between you and that other candidate with the great resume. Don't get discouraged by comparing yourself to others. Look at your good points, not just the ones on the application. Remember that companies want to hire a person, not a piece of paper.

2. People are in your life for a reason.

Ask you friends and family about what they see in you. This may seem awkward at first, but these people know you best. Your friends have actually chosen to include you in their lives. Ask them what it is about you that they rely on, that they respect. If you feel strange or embarrassed doing this, start by telling them what you see in them that is so special. Most people will reciprocate.

3. Keep an accomplishments file.

You have had some really good fortune in the past, haven't you? You have accomplishments and maybe some awards or recognition. Perhaps you have gotten raises or promotions or jobs that turned out to be beyond your dreams. Maybe you made great grades in school or you did something that really impressed your family and friends. This stuff is important. It is a part of who you are just as much as any lessons you have learned from failure. To keep from judging yourself on your shortcomings, keep a file or a scrapbook of your accomplishments. Include emails that you get from people encouraging you in your new challenges. When you feel discouraged or doubtful about your worth, pull out these treasures. You deserve to feel confident. And in the end, that confidence will go further to getting you a great job than any resume entry ever could.

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Understand Your Value As A Potential Candidate

Understanding your own unique selling points and skills is the part of the process of understanding your value as a potential candidate. The job market is competitive and in order to compete you need to identity your selling points and learn how to market them. Identifying your selling points is about understanding the roles you have filled in the past, your career progression, your progressive responsibility, your qualifications and the transferable skills you have picked up along the way.

The more you know about yourself the more you will be able to promote your attributes. This is essential in your resume and other job correspondence. Spend some time going over the things that make up your career profile before you begin writing. It might be helpful to have a mentor to help you identify your strengths and weaknesses. Your mentor can go through the information with you and help you to portray it in a way that will get you noticed.

The main areas you need to focus on in terms of understanding value include:

Past roles - In every job and every role you have filled you will have developed valuable experience and skills. When you think about the jobs you have had in the past and the tasks you have performed you will have a basic understanding of your professional experience.

Career progression - You may have started out with a paper run or as a sales assistant but over the course of your career you have progressed through a number of jobs. All of these jobs have qualified you for future opportunities. Think about the different office cultures you have experienced. Think about the time you've spent working with different people and on different projects. All this is invaluable to your professional profile. No matter what kind of jobs you have done in the past they have all contributed to teaching you about the working environment.

Progressive responsibility - This is something that employers look for when selecting candidates. If you have gone from a sales assistant to a manager or been given more responsibility then this is valuable experience. Demonstrate your progression when applying for new jobs. This kind of progression shows that you are the kind of person that takes on new responsibility and intends to move forward in your career.

Qualifications - What kind of qualifications do you have? Do you have a university degree, diploma or certificate? What about courses you may have done in past employment? Even if it is just training you completed in other jobs or your high school education. Your qualifications do not reflect what you are capable of, they merely reflect what you have achieved education wise.

Transferable skills - If you are moving into a new role it is good to show how past roles have provided you with relevant experience. In your cover letter and resume highlight these transferable skills. Transferable skills are you attributes that would be valuable to any position. These are things such as professionalism, commitment, communications skills, reliability and attention to detail, working as part of a team, innovation and many more.

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Your Career Documents Are A Vital Part Of Your Job Search

When you find yourself in search of a job, the only thing as important as your resume is the documentation that backs up what your resume says. This may include diplomas, certificates, letters of recommendation, or any other documentation that may reinforce your abilities or verify your accomplishments.

While it is important to have all of these documents during your job search, you should not submit them with your resume initially. Office managers and human resource agents have potentially hundreds of resumes to sort through; during this time they scan documents at best. Your additional documentation will not be paid any attention at this point. If anything, it may have a negative effect on your chances of getting an interview. At this stage in the recruitment process, people just want to establish your capabilities, not read your life story; this is why it is suggested to keep your resume under 2 pages.

However, once you get called for an interview, you should bring clean copies of your documents to the first meeting. These should be very neat and organized in a file or presentation folder. Be sure to stick with something professional - nothing bright orange or covered with flowers or stars; solid colors, preferably black or navy.

Submitting your documentation at this point will show initiative and confidence. Be sure to hand them to your potential employer at an appropriate time in the conversation and mention that they are "their copies".

In addition to verification documentation, you should also include your references' contact information in this data. It is not suggested to include this information on your resume; however, if you are already providing documentation, this is the perfect opportunity to give your potential employer everything they will need in an organized folder. This will hire both your organization skills and your enthusiasm for the position, putting you in a positive light with your interviewer.

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