It’s a common mistake most job seekers do when they rush to submit their resume before even assessing their current situation and setting up an effective plan of action.
Planning and Assessment
Only after you have gone through your situation assessing and building your marketing plan, then you can plan the next steps. The latter include resume, motivation letter, biography and Internet visibility programme.
Take every detail in focus, scrutinise it. Every professional, manager or top executive considers , first of all, how he or she communicates, before conducting a job search. You should take a careful look at your own revamp and only then proceed to building the key components. Keep in mind that YOU and only you are the one essential component! Very often this aspect of a job search assessment is forgotten. You need to consider every detail of your personality, especially the way you communicate:
-Words. You’ve got to clarify your responses and sharpen your thoughts. Try to alter the words you use in your speech as well as in the written resume and letters. You may find it a good idea to record yourself talking and then, perhaps, change your pace and modify the language if needed.
-Presence. In this case the video tape will be an invaluable thing for you. Practice some tough questions and check your posture since it is usually too rigid or too relaxed. You will leave negative impression if you appear unnatural. Ask your job coach to go through this exercise together.
-Appearance. Remember that the way you look makes the first impression. It is advised to dress one level above the position you are seeking. Make an accent on your good physical shape, wear contact lenses instead of glasses. This small details have quite a powerful impact on your overall image.
-Technology. The 21st century has a remarkably fast-paced lifestyle and new devices help us to stay updated wherever we are. Start using iPod and PDA, so that you can easily check your mail and the latest news of your industry.
-Interests & Activities. This advice is always topical. To keep your mind sound and body fit you can start working out, attending different seminars, discussions and talks. Of course, don’t forget to read. The other great alternative is audio books and podcasts of business speakers, which are very often free or quite inexpensive.
And now, after all the steps of upgrading your professional image are made, your new model has become lucrative in the current market. All of the mentioned components, i.e. words, presence, appearance, technology and activities will help you to brave new opportunities and stay confident. With all this knowledge you are ready to knock down all the doors that seemed to be closed to you before and get yourself a a great job offer.