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Snippets: Bringing a Pen and Notebook

This is part of a series of articles to make your jobseeking experience more meaningful with JobStreet.com

This might seem to be a trivial matter to some, but it’s always good to bring along a pen and notebook to the interview. There are two very valid reasons for doing this: you might be provided with useful information about the position and the company that will prove valuable, and also, you might want to make notes after the interview as a reminder of what you have said, in preparation for a second interview. A seemingly simple step like this can make all the difference in the world as whether you get that job you have always wanted!

Snippets: The Functional Resume

This is part of a series of articles to make your jobseeking experience more meaningful with JobStreet.com.

If you’ve been out of working life for a while, and would like to rejoin the workforce, you might want to consider reformatting your resume from a traditional chronological overview to what is known as a functional resume. A functional resume comprises several key sections, including a Summary of Qualifications (a summary of your skills and experiences), an Areas of Strength section (a list of things that you are good at), a Professional Experience section (a list of jobs and duties), and an Additional Experience section (a list of skills you gained during your time off from the workforce). For this last section, think of useful tasks you might have done, including community work, freelance assignments, continuing education, and others, which will help to bolster your overall resume.

Snippets: Using Online and Offline Approaches

This is part of a series of articles to make your jobseeking experience more meaningful with JobStreet.com.

To be a successful jobseeker, it’s always advisable to adopt both online and offline approaches. Seek out what are known as “published” opportunities by going online and visiting renowned job recruitment sites, as the Internet has proven to be a much faster and cheaper alternative to classified ads in the newspapers. An obvious offline approach would be to do some networking with known associates like former employers and colleagues, friends, relatives, and any other professionals that might spring to mind. Successful networking does require that you have as many contacts as possible, in order to ensure that you are made known to as many people as possible. Using both online and offline approaches will maximise your chances of finding that dream job.

Snippets: Age-Related Career Change Myths

This is part of a series of articles to make your jobseeking experience more meaningful with JobStreet.com.

If you’re above 35 years old, and seriously considering a career change, there might be a number of popular but ultimately fallacious myths you might need to dispel. The main myth that you should definitely disregard is that you are too old, and it’s too late for any sort of career change. Here’s the reality of it: you can change careers at any age, and the only person that can stop you from doing so is yourself. Society usually regards career change as the exclusive preserve of the younger set, but if you think you can handle the change fairly well, then, by all means, go for it. Another myth that should be ignored is the assumption that you will start at the bottom if you change careers. Far from it: with the experience that you have gathered, you hold an edge over the younger competition, and you should certainly sell yourself and emphasise these assets during the interview.

Snippets: Researching Companies

This is part of a series of articles to make your jobseeking experience more meaningful with JobStreet.com.

It really is worth your while to do some investigation into the industry you intend to work for. From the research, you should be able to determine which companies are the prominent ones, which ones are hiring, and what kinds of job openings are available. Start by talking to people who work in the industry, and ascertain if your particular set of skills will really be appreciated. It will also be helpful to find out the company history, financial circumstances, and some bits about the company culture, and how well you can fit in. With all this information, you will be a well-prepared candidate should an interview opportunity arise.

Snippets: Making Use of Transferable Skills

This is part of a series of articles to make your jobseeking experience more meaningful with JobStreet.com.

The idea of transferable skills is playing an increasingly important role in jobseeking quests. But what are they, actually? Simply put, transferable skills are skills that you have acquired doing any one of a host of otherwise commonplace activities in your life, including projects, classes, sports and hobbies, that can be applicable to what you will do in your next job. Specify what sort of transferable skills you have in your resumes, cover letters, and also during interviews, and try to portray these skills as pertinent to the job in question. Presenting transferable skills in a relevant manner to the prospective employer can make all the difference between acquiring a job or not.

Snippets: The Power of References

This is part of a series of articles to make your jobseeking experience more meaningful with JobStreet.com.

Employment references are often underestimated in the jobseeking realm, and what many jobseekers fail to realise is that a very favourable reference from the right source can make all the difference in you obtaining that job or otherwise. It’s imperative to have a list of relevant references prepared before the interview: most potential employers will ask for references who can attest to your skills and abilities. Ask appropriate people like former superiors, colleagues and lecturers to be used as references, and if you can, get them to write you beneficial reference letters that can put you in a positive light, and help you get that desired position.

Snippets: Using Twitter in Jobseeking

This is part of a series of articles to make your jobseeking experience more meaningful with JobStreet.com.

Ever thought of using Twitter in your job-seeking quest? Look for a Twitter account maintained by a major company, or any other firm you want to work for, and be a follower. The primary advantage of using a micro-blogging site like Twitter is that you can view updates in real time. And instead of the hassle of having to open various websites to look for jobs, you can simply create a Twitter account and follow the right companies, who will post jobs on a continuous basis. You can also follow the Twitter accounts of well-known industry personalities and get to know the latest occupational trends, thus gauging your chances in your industry of choice.

Snippets: After the Layoff

This is part of a series of articles to make your jobseeking experience more meaningful with JobStreet.com.

Lost your job? Don’t get overly upset, you’re not alone. Companies will always be reassessing priorities and shedding jobs, and it’s all part of the normal economic process. The trick is how you can turn your layoff into something that works for you. Before your last day at the company, ask for a reference testimonial to facilitate your post-layoff job-hunting, and always make sure you get a beneficial severance package. Use your post-layoff time to reassess your career goals and reconsider what you want out of working life. Take this opportunity to beat a new path to a new and more satisfying position that you might not have considered under normal circumstances. Sign up with job-search sites, update your resumes and cover letters and start networking in earnest.

Snippets: Starting a Blog

This is part of a series of articles to make your jobseeking experience more meaningful with JobStreet.com.

Let’s say you want to do some heavy-duty networking, but you don’t want to appear too desperate by calling up everyone you know. Blogging could be the way to go if you want a classier way to network, and considering the fact that it reaches out to a larger proportion of people as well, it’s definitely a more sensible way to get access to the right people. Blog about key issues that affect the industry you’re in, and who knows, your blog might just give you the chance to be noticeable enough to get that elusive dream job.  A blog is also a highly effective means to let people know about what you’re really thinking of your field of interest. Some employers do Google prospective employees to learn more about them, and your blog will invariably end up at the top of such searches, so do blog wisely!