A New Year...and a New Career!

2011 has officially arrived, and at the top of your New Year’s resolution list is to go after that “dream job” that you’ve always wanted. The easy part is finished, now it’s time to get serious and get working. The dreaded job search can seem like an overwhelming process. Well, we’re here to tell you that it doesn’t have to be, not if you have the right tools to help get you there.

First and foremost, before you can even think about beginning your search or updating your resume, you need to take a step back and truly think about what your dream job entails. So often we jump on a job trend bandwagon for careers that we think we want but when it comes down to it, it encompasses nothing we had imagined it to. Do your homework and research the different functionalities of the position, research salary trends for the role and look at predicted industry forecasts to ensure that your dream job will still exist 3 years from now. Not only is it important to research the job, but it’s also just as important to target a range of prospected employers that peak your interest and research them to see if they offer the culture, environment and longevity that you seek for long term success. Researching the organizations will also assist you down the road in your interview process.

Now time for the fun part: putting together your cover letter and resume! When doing this, it is always important to cater your resume to the position and company that you are applying for. You can do this by highlighting specific aspirations, skills and experience that correlates directly to the values and culture of the organization and functionality of the position. Stay tuned for our resume tips and tricks article for more assistance on getting your cover letter and resume just right!

The job market is an extremely competitive place right now. Managers see hundreds of resumes passing through their inboxes on a daily basis. So how do you make sure that your resume doesn’t get lost in the shuffle? Easy, stand out! In this day and age it is imperative for job seekers to get creative in their approach and think outside of the box. You can achieve this by making sure you don’t have a generic resume, by utilizing social media to create online profiles and resumes, networking to get in front of the right people, and getting creative with your delivery approach. You need to be aggressive in your job search and attempt to reach out to as many connections as possible via online or in person, as they will be the ones who will help you land that first interview. 

There are plenty of resources that can help assist you with your job hunt, especially with the advancement of online capabilities. Today’s technology makes it easy; all you have to do is dig! Check out some of the top job searching outlets:

• Online Job Boards
  • CareerBuilder
  • Monster
  • Indeed
  • Craigslist
  • Dice
  • And many, many more!
• Social Media
  • Twitter Job Search
  • Facebook Marketplace
  • LinkedIn Jobs
  • Blogging
• Organizational Websites – Go right to the source!
• Staffing Firms – Staffing Firms have connections to hundreds of available jobs and are a great employment resource for assistance with your resume and can even help you improve your resume skills.
• Networking /Professional Groups
• Job Fairs
• Utilizing search engines for additional outlets

Searching for jobs can be tedious and frustrating so it is important to never give up, stay motivated and constantly think outside of the box with your searching techniques. With the right amount of determination and hard work, you will find that “dream job” that you’ve always aspired to have.