THE JOB SEARCH PROCESS
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Coaching Career Planning
The job search process 1. Develop self-understanding of strengths, interests and values Take an hour to reflect and write down answers to the following questions: • • • • • •
Who am I? What have I done? What did I learn from these experiences? What are my qualifications based on this? What is important to me in a future job in order to thrive and perform? As a second step, you may ask for feedback from people who know you – your strengths and weaknesses as they perceive them? Ask friends, relatives and possible co-workers or people you study with.
Suggestion: Do the exercises in Career Services’ Life and Career planning materials, which can be collected outside our office, B4
2:
Explore your options
To make informed decisions about your career you also need to asses different options. Therefore, research the labour market to get information about different industries, occupations and employers. Use your network, attend career fairs and perform information interviews to discover more about different fields of work.
Suggestion: Use Career Service material on Information Interviews. Also to be found outside our office at B4.
Suggestion: Access WetFeet career resource site from the career portal to download guides about different industries, careers and employers. 3:
Source job leads and opportunities
Job opportunities can be divided in to two main categories, advertised, and non-advertised. You can find advertised jobs through recruitment sites, newspapers and company websites. Non-advertised jobs can be found through networking, spontaneous applications, direct contact with employers and through contacts from thesis work, part time jobs, volunteer work and internships. The main point here is to be organized and well-aware of what you are looking.
Suggestion: If you are not registered yet, register on Career Service career portal on our homepage to get access to vacancies.
4:
Examine requirements of the job
Try to break down the job ad, what do the words in the ad mean? Which requirements are crucial for the job? When analyzing the job, you can categorize the requirements into main areas such as: • job performance (key result areas) • specific job requirements (education, experience, skills) • company requirements (cultural fit, values) • behaviours
5:
Match your strengths, experience and qualifications to the requirements
When you compare your experience, skills, values, knowledge etc to the job requirements what matches do you find? Which are the most important ones? I.e. find your focus!
Suggestion: Be creative in how you value your skills. Think broadly of what you are good at, perhaps also by focusing on hobbies or other leisure experiences. 6:
Research the workplace you are interested in thoroughly
Key areas to research are: • • • • •
organizations’ or company’s industry products or services mission and goal organizational structure company values and culture
You can also look in to who some of the major clients are and the names of the CEO, President, etc. Companies research their competitors and customers in order to sell and be successful. In the same sense, knowing your potential employer will help you to target your application to them and prepare for an interview.
7:
Compile a Curriculum Vitae (CV)
A CV should provide the reader with information about your education, professional history and job qualifications with a strong emphasis on skills relating to the position you are applying for. A CV has to be well arranged with all information clearly categorized under different headings. The language should be formal, with short statements, avoiding lengthy descriptions in full sentences.
Suggestion: Read through Career Service CV tips material. Get it outside our office at B4.
8:
Write a letter of application
There are two main questions you need to motivate in your cover letter. Why are you applying for the job and why should they hire you? What is it that interests you with the company and position? How can you contribute to the company? The letter should be around ¾ of a page.
9:
Wise up for the interview
Preparing for the interview is crucial. Go back to your research about the company/organization and your break down of specific job requirements. You need to be able to motivate why you want the specific job and how your work style, abilities and experiences match the job and the organization. Think through your experience and find examples of your behavior in areas related to the job. Typical areas could be teamwork, problem solving and communication skills. It is quite common that employers use some kind of case, where you will be given a question/situation/ problem /challenge to resolve. The key to a case interview is to practice a lot.
Suggestion: Use Career Service interview questions to prepare. Get them outside our office at B4. Suggestion: Use WetFeets Ace Your Case guides to practice case interviews 10:
Attend formal interview and reflect on interview performance
A few tips for the actual interview:: • • • • • •
Be on time, dress appropriate (rather overdressed than underdressed) Be professional, friendly and smile. Remember peoples name and use them. Make sure your handshake is firm. Remember to breathe; it is ok to be nervous. You might help yourself by stating that you are nervous and then just leave it there. Listen carefully and don’t interrupt. Bring your CV, cover letter and other documents such as transcripts and references. Also bring a list of questions you have about the position and the company. Thank the interviewers for their time and confirm again that you are interested.
After the interview, take some time to reflect upon your performance. Is there anything you feel that you can improve? If you don’t get the job, ask the employer for feedback if possible. Good Luck!