THE ROAD MAP TO EMPLOYMENT

There is a system to finding employment and job seekers must learn to use it. The following are the techniques and skills which I believe are needed to find a job.

RESUME - Learn to write a resume that you can adjust/adapt to job openings.

INVISIBLE RESUME - Develop one and use it at interviews. We find it works.

REFERENCE LIST - Make sure you have a current list of people who can be contacted and who will vouch for your work skills and character.

JOB LEADS - The techniques you can use to find job leads are listed below:

Career fairs

Classified ads

Cold calling

Colorado Workforce Centers

Contacting relatives, friends, and former co-workers

Headhunters

Job boards on company websites and career websites

Linkedin website

Networking groups

Super network

Targeting a company

Temp agencies

Visiting coffee shops

RELATED SKILLS YOU NEED TO DEVELOP INCLUDE - A 30-second elevator speech, ice breaker lines, building and maintaining a network, how to handle rejection, and a weekly employment plan.

COVER LETTERS - Consider using the two-column cover letter showing how your skills match the employer’s needs.

TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS AND PERSONAL INTERVIEWS - Develop interview skills so you can learn to set them up for follow-up questions and find out what your status is.

NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS - The first 10-15 minutes of any interview are critical, and you need to connect with the interviewer(s).

FOLLOW-UP LETTERS - Write a letter thanking the employer for the interview, reminding them that you feel you possess the skills needed for the job, and that you would welcome the opportunity to work for their firm. You can also suggest further communication for any additional questions you may want to ask.

FOLLOW-UP PHONE CALLS AND E-MAILS - Again, these are opportunities to request further contact and to possibly find out when a decision will be made.

Bob Raikes, National Certified Career Counselor