Finding the Right Work
Finding employment takes hard work in itself; so does finding a better position once employed. Competition for good jobs – those that are challenging, interesting, and well paid – is here to stay. Landing the right job is a major step in launching a successful career. But career planning only starts there.
Career development involves long-term planning. The search continues over the years as a person moves from one position to the next, developing skills which include the use of language.
A wide variety of skills is required for almost any job, anything from taking instructions to giving them, from being supervised to supervising. In order to signal what you can do and what you have done, it is useful to think of your skills and experience in terms of action verbs.
Job Search
How can you make basic decisions about the choice of jobs and career? Most people go to the openings. If you read the want ads in the newspaper, for example, you learn who is offering employment. This is only one way to go about finding work.
Another strategy is to do some long-range planning. This involves determining your abilities, interests, and needs. What have you already learned by education and experience to do well? There are your ski/Is, or abilities. What is it that you most enjoy doing? There are your interests. What kind of income will you need to support yourself and your family? These are your needs.
In addition to the development of language and vocational skills, a successful career depends on learning how to look for work. Success is not guaranteed by seeing experts at an employment agency. While professionals may give valuable assistance, success in the long run depends on doing some thinking on your own – for instance, naming personal interests and abilities on a resume.
Developing a resume begins with listing the skills a person has already gained. In addition, a resume specifically how and where those skills were acquired. All told, the resume states the qualifications and work history of an applicant. A well-written resume sent with a letter of application can win the interview of a lifetime.
Often what makes a prospective applicant stand out is the attitude that comes through in the cover letter. Qualities such as initiative, self-control, and a sense of responsibility are highly regarded by employers today.