Job Choices 2012 - Business - (Page 10)
Starting a Successful Job Search by Katharine Brooks It doesn’t matter how or where you start—just start from where you are. The job search: You’ve probably been thinking about it off and on for a while now. And whether you’re just starting college or graduating in a few months, you can take steps now that will boost your chances of finding a job even in this challenging economy. Sometimes the hardest part of a job search is just getting started. If you don’t have a pressing deadline related to the search, it’s easy to put it off for one more day while you focus on more immediate issues. Job-Search Traps Let’s start by examining some reasons why people put off their job search and how you can avoid those traps. 2. “My major isn’t related to any career—or I don’t want the career that my major has prepared me for.” Your major doesn’t have to relate directly to your career. Focus on what you have learned, what skills you have developed, and what knowledge you have gained that might be transferable to the job you’d like to do. Learn to articulate the value of your major to an employer. 1. “I don’t have a goal—I don’t know what I want to do.” Most job-finding strategies start with “set a goal.” That can be a challenge when you don’t have a specific career goal. Or, maybe you have several goals and don’t know where to start. Don’t let your lack of a goal hold you back. Just think about what you might like to do and move one step closer to that—if you change your mind, you can always change your search. What sounds interesting to you right now? What experiment could you craft to learn more about it? 10/www.jobweb.com 10/www.jobchoicesonline.com 3. “I went online to look for a job and there’s just too much out there—I’m totally overwhelmed.” You don’t have to read every web site, every blog, and every list of “20 typical interview questions” that you find on the Internet. Focus on key resources and keep it simple. This magazine is a great start. If you read the articles in here, you will learn most of what you need to know in the job search. Job Choices for Business & Liberal Arts Students: 2011 2012
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