5 Job Tips - How to Find a GREAT New Job Part 1

Laying the groundwork

Job hunting can be tough. Whether you just started looking for a job or you've been searching for jobs for months No matter where you are in your job search chances are you've felt like you ran smack dab into a brick wall at least once. These five job tips are designed not only to help you break through that brick wall but to help you land a job you'll really like. Ready? Great! Here we go...

1. Get Serious

But you ARE serious... right? This may seem like a strange tip to land a job. Of course you are. By "get serious", I'm talking about making a personal decision. Up until now, chances are, you've been looking for "a" job. "A" as in "any job" or maybe "any job you qualify for". Well forget that.

From now on burn this idea into your head: you are going to land an incredible job, a great job, an amazing job. From this point on you refuse to settle for anything less than the best the world has to offer you. Got that? Good. NOW you're serious!

2. Take Stock

Right now is the perfect time to take a good look at your past. Make a list of your dreams, desires and wishes. Go all out. Don't pull any punches.

List all your past jobs - big, small, good and bad. Don't leave anything out here. For each one write down all the details you can remember about each. What you liked, what you didn't like and so forth. Write down what you accomplished in each position. Try to include as much detail as possible. If there are any facts you can document then do it.

What you should end up with is the most complete job history you've ever had. Don't worry if it's a book. No employer will ever see all of it.

In the end you should have everything you've ever done or wanted to do at your fingertips. Take as much time as you need for this.

After you've finished with paying jobs, do the same for your school career, any volunteer work, and your hobbies.

Include everything. Sweep out those corners. Become your own best detective. Remember this is serious stuff.

3. Get Organized

Maybe you're a natural organizational freak. If so then you've probably already done everything in this section. But I'm guessing you'll check just to be sure. Right? And if you're NOT "super organized" - now's the time to get your ducks in a row.

Now you want to organize all of this. I won't tell you how. Just arrange it all so it makes sense for you. Looking ahead you're going to make a list of the tasks you like to do so it may help to keep this in mind.

4. Do Some Weeding

You need to make four lists.

* Things you like doing

* Things you do NOT like doing

* Things you are good at

* Things you stink at

Feel free to modify the titles of the list to suit you. Notice everything will end up on two lists. If you need to make some "in-between" lists of things that don't fit these categories - go for it.

Now make a list of things you are good at and you like doing. Go ahead and make another list of things you like doing and would like to learn to be good at it if you wish.

Okay, you need to make one more list - an important one - your list of marketable skills. The goal here is to make this list as long as possible. The more marketable skills you list the more options you'll have available. Reality may may present some trade-offs. If you want to be a police detective, you're going to have to do paperwork.

5. Get Focused

Now you have a list of marketable skills to offer potential employers. Now you have some real choices to make. If your number one marketable skill is something you love doing, you'll spend most of your time using this skill in a job and it's in great demand - you're set. This kind of "fit" simply won't happen for most of us. From here we will take this list and start matching it jobs where you can spend as much time as possible doing what you love while minimizing the time spent on more unpleasant tasks.

If you want a great job - take action. These job tips won't help you a bit if you never take out a pen and paper. In the next installment, I'll show you how to turn this list into the kind of job you've always dreamed of having.

careers, Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy

 

Cleanse Your Career

by Caroline Levchuck, Yahoo! HotJobs


People use "cleanses" as a way to detoxify their bodies. Advocates believe cleanses remove toxins, restore energy, and increase mental acuity. Wouldn't it be wonderful if you could do just that to your career?

Try it with the simple steps below, and make a fresh start.

Cut out Toxic Coworkers and Conversations

Start your career cleanse by tuning out colleagues who complain incessantly. If someone comes in to your office and starts griping about work or another coworker, do not engage or indulge them.

Certified holistic health counselor Trish Balbert says, "Negativity like this flavors your whole day and the environment. Who wants bad energy floating around the office?"

End such one-sided conversations by telling your associate that you need to get on a call or attend a meeting. He will eventually figure out that you aren't interested in his grousing.

Take Small Bites

Are you weighed down by incomplete projects that are lingering from the long winter?

Balbert, the founder of Awaken Wellness, a Manhattan-based holistic health private practice, advises breaking down large, intimidating projects into smaller pieces. She counsels, "It's important to take small 'bites' when sinking your teeth into a big assignment. It makes it less overwhelming -- and more digestible."

Being honest about what your priorities are is also helpful in completing past-due projects and tasks, she says. "People often put things in order of how important they think tasks should be rather than how important they actually are." To accomplish more, she adds, "It's best to prioritize in accordance with your true nature, rather than fighting yourself."

Make It Your Nature to Nurture Yourself

You can't always control how stressful your work day will be, but you can create periods of calm. Balbert, who is also a Reiki practitioner, encourages clients to include elements of self-care in their workdays. "Make sure you're not eating at your desk. Strip away work for an hour. Talk a walk. Go to a park. Create a routine that allows you to take care of yourself," she says.

If you have a demanding job, it may be unrealistic to say that you're never going to work late, but, Balbert recommends, "Set a limit as to how many nights you're willing to stay late, and then stick to it."

Jobs Info , Career Sources , Employment

At the Company Picnic, Etiquette Matters

by JoAnn Greco, for Yahoo! HotJobs


Memorial Day is gone, and Labor Day beckons ahead. Sometime in between, many of us are likely to find ourselves at an oft-dreaded workplace event: the company summer outing.

It's a tossup as to which comes fraught with more peril, frolicking in the sand with the pasty-legged guys from IT or shimmying with "secret Santas" at the office Christmas party. Both events are ripe with potential faux pas, says Sue Fox, owner of the Etiquette Survival Group.

"Most people seem to naturally behave better when they are dressed for a business or formal event," she says, "and the fact that a picnic or daytime event is more casual creates an atmosphere that might justify more casual behavior."

That determinedly casual atmosphere is the largest snake hiding under the office picnic table. "The goal is to be noticed -- in a positive light," says Fox. "You don't want to be the subject of gossip at the water cooler on Monday morning."

Here's how to keep the panic out of the picnic:

* Show up. Even if such events make you uncomfortable, or you can't stand the thought of spending extra time with your coworkers, skipping the party is not a good idea. "The very reason the company has these events is to thank the employees and allow them to enjoy some relaxed fun," Fox observes. "While such opportunities are not strictly part of the workday, they are an important part of your career. This is the time to introduce yourself to the CEO and senior managers. Network and mingle!"

* Be on your best behavior. "Your manners are always under examination . . . awarding or denying you very high prizes when you least expect it," Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote. The relevant insight: Your boss might be weighing a promotion.

* Indulge with caution. "As always, drink moderately and use proper table manners," says Fox. Corn on the cob and barbecued chicken on the menu do not give you leeway to turn into a slob.

* Don't be over-baring. Yes, it's casual -- and yes, it's hot. But thong bikinis, short-shorts, and too-tight T-shirts send the wrong message. "This is not the time or place to come across as sexy," says Fox, "and that goes for family members, as well." Men, too, should abide by common sense and decency: no stained T-shirts and definitely no bare chests.

* Be a good sport. Resist the temptation to play hard at the volleyball net or to venture far, farther, farthest into the lake or ocean. "The company picnic is not the time for showing off or trying to be a big shot," recommends Fox. "Play your best, but play fair."

* Mind the kids. Don't forfeit your babysitting duties if you're a parent, and watch your language -- sexual overtones, off-color jokes, etc. -- around the kids if you're child-free.

* Don't talk shop. "These events should be the time to meet other employees and their families," says Fox. Too much business chat can leave spouses and others feeling left out.

Job Info , Career Sources , Employment

Hold on Tight: Gen Y Is Driving

by Roberta Chinsky Matuson, for Yahoo! HotJobs


Say the words "Gen Y" in the workplace, and you may hear lots of grumbling from boomers and Gen Xers. This young generation is not interested in paying their dues, say their elders, many of whom had to fight their way to the top.

Gen Y is receiving a lot of negative attention, but is it all well-deserved? Here are some of the many positive attributes this group of young employees is bringing to the workplace.

Work-Life Balance

Of course, the balance depends on your definition. But how balanced is your life if you bring your Blackberry to bed? Do you take business calls while watching your son's soccer game?

When Gen Y employees leave the office, most are done for the day. And like generations before them, they are committed to doing things differently than their parents. This means leaving the office in time to pursue passions that don't involve work. We could all learn a thing or two from their approach to living a more balanced life.

Tech Savvy

We thought Gen Xers were tech-savvy. Wait until you can see what this generation can do with technology. This group is fearless. Before you pick up the phone to call for technical support, give one of these employees a chance to fix the problem. They'll have the situation resolved before you're done listening to Beethoven's Fifth Symphony while holding for assistance on the help line.

Tipping the Status Quo

If you have worked with Gen Y, you may already be accustomed to hearing, "Why are things done this way?" Is that necessarily a bad thing? Not if you are interested in improving your organization. This generation is constantly challenging the status quo. Encourage them to continue to challenge how things get done, and change the way you do things when a good idea is presented.

Two Heads Are Better Than One

If you are into the team approach, you are going to love working with this generation. This group has grown up playing on teams. They seek opportunities to collaborate. You'll get the most productivity out of them when they are working with others for a common cause.

Like it or not, the latest generation to hit the workplace is going to be here for a while. You might as well embrace this new approach to work.

It might even lead to increased profitability and more time to devote to other things besides work. Now that's a healthy balance we can all live with.

Copyright 2007 Human Resource Solutions. All rights reserved.

Roberta Matuson is president of Human Resource Solutions, a firm that provides consulting and training to resolve intergenerational conflicts and help companies capitalize on the unique generational perspectives of their workforce. For more information, please visit www.YourHRExperts.com.

Job Info , Jobs Sources , Employment

Get Serious About Your Career in Four Steps

by Caroline Levchuck, Yahoo! HotJobs


Summer and all its trappings -- reduced hours, vacations, lazy days -- are terrific. But did you know you can still get serious about your career while you're having fun in the sun?

Follow these four steps to be prepared to reach new heights this fall.

1. Draw the line online.

Social networking sites can be fun, but if you're serious about getting serious about your career, it's time to move your online networking to a more purposeful level. Delete any profiles that exist on sites catering primarily to adolescents, and migrate to a structured professional networking site. You may lose a thousand "friends" or so, but you'll likely gain much more viable business contacts.

2. Take a trip with purpose.

Unplugging from work can make you a more productive professional, but you may consider combining business and pleasure on your next getaway. Instead of just sitting on a beach for a week, why not visit a city or site that is critical to your vocation? You may even arrange a tour of an industry leader's facilities. Newspapers, television studios, and manufacturers are just a few of the types of businesses that offer an inside look at their workings.

Or use your vacation as an opportunity to fill out the "Volunteer Activities" portion of your resume by volunteering with Habitat for Humanity or another worthy cause.

3. Do a little academic planning.

You can take it easy this summer, but if you want to get ahead come September, get a catalog from your local university and enroll in a class for the fall. Choose a course that will help you do your current job better or one that helps you move into management. Involve your supervisor so that she knows you're serious about advancing your knowledge -- and so that she may help you get reimbursed for the course.

4. Put a little business in your beach reading.

Society has become more than a little obsessed with pop culture. While it's fun to be in the know about Paris Hilton's jail stint when you're standing around the water cooler, it's better to be in the know about the most recent business and management trends when you're trying to be taken seriously.

So instead of taking a celebrity tabloid to the beach, start tackling the latest and the greatest business books or magazines. If you're not sure where to start, ask your boss what his management must-reads are. Also, consult the New York Times Book Hardcover Nonfiction Best Seller list, which is updated every week. Or get in the habit of reading the business section of your local newspaper as a way to stay more informed.

Job Info , Jobs Sources , Career Opportunity

Part Time Office Jobs - 3 Tips to Your Success

There are many part time office jobs available these days but to locate one that fits just right for you can be a tedious task. I'll share with you 3 tips to your success in finding the perfect office job.

1) Some excellent part time office jobs can be a Receptionist or office clerk, filing clerk or Administrative Assistant. This could be great for either a temp job or permanent part time venture. This is a great start for someone who wants to work part time and then be available to take care of their children after school or the retiree who wants to just get out and work for awhile each day then do other activities the rest of the day.

2) As you do your online research for offline jobs, take care to study the salary range of your specific job in your area. Make sure you have your resume set up properly with your most recent jobs listings at the top. Have a good idea of your specific salary you want for the office job you want. If it is a temp job or contract job, you may ask for a little bit more than the going rate because it may be a short term office job.

3) You could easily do a global search for your chosen field and search through online forums or online classified ad sites. To search for a local office job, all you would need to do is place your city in the search field. For example: "Part time office jobs in Calwa." You'll be able to locate some exceptional jobs that way.

Krystine Lewis 

careers, Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy

 

Tips for Submitting Nursing Resumes and Applications Online

As you progress in your nursing job search, you will realize that online applications have become the norm for most employers. Some online applications link from postings on job boards. But even if you go directly to the employer's site, expect to complete your application and submit your resume online. This can even be true if you are applying in person. Many human resource departments have kiosks with terminals where you complete your application.

Why has the nursing hiring process become so high tech? Technology saves time and money for employers. Rather than having a person screen applications, the computer can be used to screen out unsuitable applications. Sometimes applicants are dumped into the reject pile not because of their job qualifications, but because of mistakes they made in completing the application.

So while it saves employers time and money, online applications present some new hurdles for nursing job applicants. To get through these, you need to understand the process so you can avoid the hurdles. This, in simple terms, is how the process works.

Applications and/or resumes are collected in a database. Someone in the human resource department decides on key words to use to screen applicants. This makes the computer look for certain phrases or words in your application. No matches and you go to the reject file. You will also get kicked out if the computer can't read your application because of a formatting mistake.

As you can see, it takes more than job qualifications to make it out of the database with your application intact. Here are some tips to help.

• Read the directions before filling out the application! While this seems like an obvious step everyone would take, many people just skip right over directions. It is not safe to assume that if you've completed one application, you can complete any application. The process varies from employer to employer.

• Don't cut and paste from your resume to answer questions. The wording from your resume might not use the same words that the computer is searching for.

• Match the words and phrases used in the job description. Model your language after that used in the job posting.

• Make good use of the comment section. Use it to highlight your skills or to add quotes from your references.

• Complete all fields. This includes the ones that are optional.

• When asked, attach your resume. For online applications, make sure you have created a resume in a simple form, with no extra graphic elements or font styles.

careers, Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy

 

5 Tips to Writing an Excellent Cover Letter

In the recent years, finding a job has become more of a challenge. There are many ways in finding out about a possible job opening. Nowadays, employers are already using the internet to advertise job opportunities. There are many job boards where the employers place an online advertisement instead of an ad in the local newspaper. Job seekers can search online among many options and these boards can allow the job seeker to narrow down his choices and know more about the company through the company's website. This is a great advantage to a job seeker because he doesn't need to spend more time and money but sending resumes to the post office, emailing his resume saves both time and money. The employers would then receive it the next day and the process of applying and hiring gets easier.

Now how do you make sure that a prospective employer will give a second glace or even get interested your resume? The answer is by providing an excellent cover letter.

Job seekers rush through making the letter without taking time to analyze their message, or proof what they write. They think that it's the resume which is far more important than the cover letter. An excellent letter is the window of your resume. It will give the employer a glance of what you are offering and he likes what sees then he will be interested in opening your resume. Some hiring managers say that an impressive, compelling and letter made them open a resume of a job seeker. An excellent cover letter should make a prospective employer want to talk to you.

So what comprises an excellent cover letter? Here are some tips.

Highlight yourself to fit the job criteria. Focus on your unique and exceptional qualities. Make sure that it is concise, strategic and persuasive. Read the qualifications needed by the prospective employer and make yourself stand out by showing that you have that unique ability for that job.

KISS. Keep it straight and simple. Be careful that you don't use acronyms, jargon, buzzwords or anything over the top. A suggested length is not more than a page. It's the best way for your cover letter to shine and make a good visual impression. Avoid using too long sentences.

Proofread. Make sure that you check your cover letter for spelling, grammar, and overall readability.

Avoid colorful fonts. This is not an art assignment. Use black on white and keep it professional.

And finally, use a professional looking paper. It would really affect the overall effect of your cover letter.

careers, Jobs Indonesia, Indonesia Vacancy