Helpful Strategies for Job Seekers

1. Know what to expect
   A typical interview will focus on your education, experience, background, attitudes and career goals. Be prepared to address each of these areas during your meeting.
   
2. Ask questions
   Don't miss your opportunity to interrogate the employer. You owe it to yourself to prepare a list of respectful questions ahead of time.
   
3. Be prepared for tough questions A tough interview question is any question you might find difficult or impossible to answer. Some of them you can anticipate ahead of time - prepare for them ahead of time.
   
4. Look good
   Choose what to wear carefully. It's no secret that most often judge job seekers based upon their appearance and behavior.
   
5. Be professional
   Approach every job interview as if it were an important meeting.
   
6. Conclude the interview
   Conclude every interview with a clear plan of action in mind. State what that plan is and then follow through with it.
   
7. Deal with money issues
   Compensation is important to both you and the potential employer. Talk about issues of pay and/or other compensation in a professional, matter-of-fact way.
   
8. Follow-up
   A post-interview letter is invaluable. Thank the potential employer for the interview and outline the follow-up plan of action you're taking.
   
9. Evaluate job offers
   Evaluating job offers can be tricky. It's a very personal process. List all the positives you can think of and weigh them against any negatives you can think of. Be fair to yourself and your potential employer.
   
10. Wrap things up
    Don't neglect this final stage. Not a lot of people do it, but it's truly the mark of a professional. Write to all the people you interviewed with. Thank them for their consideration and let them know what you decided.

Managing a Career

The nature of the workplace is changing, concerns about the future have been expressed by many individuals, both those preparing to start a career and those having to adjust to job changes and job losses. Stable and secure positions seem to have disappeared. You have been put in charge of your own career. Managing it will be a lifelong process. Discover the place in the world where you'll be able to enjoy a high level of wellness. Choose work that will be compatible with your own unique skills, knowledge, personality and interests. Define the balance that you would like to have with your work, finances, health, and relationships with family, friends and colleagues.

Be proactive about your career. Take charge. Don't just react to whatever chance or luck brings your way.

Your success depends upon understanding the changing nature of jobs, careers and the workplace in general. Be aware of local, national and even global trends. Big companies are getting smaller-they are downsizing and delayering. Internal promotions are becoming more scarce. Companies are outsourcing, entering into joint ventures, opening up opportunities for entrepreneurs.

In addition to whatever academic background or discipline that a potential employer may specify, employers say they are looking for people who are independent decision-makers and self-managed learners with a positive work attitude, well-rounded education with math and computer literacy, communication skills including good use of language, interpersonal and time management skills, flexibility and dependability. Employers seem to be much more interested in what you've actually done with your talents, than in what talents you posses. Your resume is testimony to what you've accomplished. Whether you're self-employed or an employee, potential employers are looking for people who've demonstrated a more enterprising competitive edge.

Minimize rejections and get better results by entering the job market with marketable skills. Follow a "customer-driven" approach. You'll need to make sales presentations about yourself to potential buyers from all over the world. It's hard to sell a product or service if you're not confident about it and cannot see the value to the purchaser. So, believe in yourself and show the benefits you offer. Practice. Polish your presentation skills every chance you get. Deliver your presentations enthusiastically to the right market, the right people.

Watch your attitude. It will be judged by how you respond to situations in life. Keep a good sense of humor. Prepare for the future. Visualize work that is satisfying and spend your energy locating potential employers whose needs you can fulfill. Take charge of your career by developing goals and strategies to make your dreams come true.