CHAPTER 17 JOB SEARCH AND CAREER MANAGEMENT SKILLS

CHAPTER 17

JOB SEARCH AND CAREER MANAGEMENT SKILLS

Human Relations: Interpersonal Job-Oriented Skills, 11/eAndrew J. DuBrin

© 2012, 2009, 2007, 2004 Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458.All Rights Reserved.2

CONDUCTING A JOB SEARCH (Outline)

(When jobs are in short supply, job-search skills are especially important. When jobs are plentiful, job-search skills are useful in landing a good position.)

Job-Hunting Tactics The Job Résumé and Cover Letter Performing Well in a Job Interview



JOB-HUNTING TACTICS Identify your job objectives (clear

perception useful even if several positions are sought).

Be aware of qualifications sought by employers (such as relevant work experience and teamwork skills).

Identify your skills and potential contribution (job market is skill-based).



Job-Hunting Tactics, continued

Develop a comprehensive marketing strategy (can also include extreme job-hunting—an offbeat approach).

Use networking to reach company insiders (regarded as best way to find job).

Use multiple online approaches (including job boards, company Websites, and social networking sites).

Smile at network members and interviewers, and be enthusiastic.



NETWORKING TO REACH COMPANY INSIDERS

Personal contacts often key to job search because many employers rely heavily on referrals from employees to fill positions.

Need to expand network to develop contacts that lead to referrals.

In networking, be tactful and low key. Contacting employers directly might

help you reach company insider.



TEN QUALIFICATIONS EMPLOYERS SEEK

1. Appropriate education/grades

2. Relevant work experience

3. Interpersonal skills

4. Motivation and energy

5. Adaptability

6. Emotional maturity

7. Emotional intelligence

8. Customer service orientation

9. Information technology skills

10. Likableness and sense of humor



THE JOB RÉSUMÉ Résumé is marketing tool for selling

your skills and potential to handle new responsibilities.

Length depends on experience, and should include skills and accomplishments. One page for career beginners; two pages for more advanced workers.

Check résumé guides carefully.



The Job Résumé, continued

Use key words that attract the attention of human or computer scanners (e.g., “WiFi,” “global outsourcing,” “results-driven”).

Use past tense of verbs connoting accomplishment, such as “transformed.”

Make résumé easy to access. Some employers don’t want links to Websites.

Make résumé as error-free as possible.



VIDEO RÉSUMÉS AND CREATIVE FORMATS

Videos good for capturing appearance, personality, oral communication skills.

Professional help needed unless job searcher is highly skilled at constructing video résumés.

Video résumé focuses more attention on soft skills than hard skills.

Can make video résumé available on social networking site or personal Website.

Unusual format can suggest creativity.



Job-Hunting Tactics, continued

Smooth out rough spots in your background

Background investigations are routine.

Attempt to correct inaccuracies and unfair statements.

Run an Internet search on yourself, including social networking sites. Be prepared to defend misinformation.



THE COVER LETTER Must accompany résumé. Explains who you are and why you are

applying for position in question. Attention-getting type can get results. Should take about one minute to read. Bulleted list of accomplishments

useful. Outline your qualifications versus the

position requirements. If possible, mention company insider.



GENERAL IDEAS ABOUT JOB INTERVIEW

Phone-screening interview often used to check candidate oral communication skills.

Do not conduct phone interview like casual social conversation.

Be prepared for team interview, or speed interviewing (brief interviews with many people).

Present positive, accurate picture of self.



PERFORMING WELL IN JOB INTERVIEW

1. Be prepared, look relaxed, and make interviewer feel comfortable.

2. Avoid talking too much during interview (compulsive talking is bad).

3. Establish link between you and employer (e.g., “I drink Snapple regularly.”)

4. Ask perceptive questions (e.g., “What would be outstanding performance in this job?”)



Performing Well in Job Interview, continued

5. Be prepared to discuss your strengths and weaknesses (developmental opportunities).

6. Be prepared to respond to behavioral interview questions (relating to actual job behaviors such as saving money).

7. Show how you can help the employers (what value you bring to employer and why you should be hired).



Performing Well in Job Interview, continued

8. Use nonverbal communication that projects confidence and decisiveness (e.g., good posture, careful grooming).

9. Practice good etiquette during the interview, including during a meal (poor manners can lead to being rejected).

10. Send a follow-up letter (Even smart people can forget the obvious.)



Performing Well in Job Interview, concluded

11. Be low key about salary (wait for interviewer to introduce the topic; show that the excitement of the job is more important than the compensation).

12. Minimize the use of utterances that annoy many interviewers (study found the four most annoying to be “Whatever,” “You know,” “It is what it is,” and “Anyway”).



THE VERTICAL CAREER PATH

A career path is a sequence of positions necessary to achieve a goal.

A vertical, or traditional, career path is synonymous with ”climbing the ladder.”

Career path should relate to present and future demands of firm or industry.

Personal goals should mesh with career goals to reduce conflict.



THE HORIZONTAL CAREER PATH

Instead of climbing the ladder, person makes a series of horizontal moves.

Major reward is opportunity to gain more experience and increase job skills.

With leaner staffs, many young employees learn from doing tasks of senior people.

Fits quest for work-life balance. Might include lateral move to new firm.



CAREER ADVANCEMENT STRATEGIES AND TACTICS

Capitalize on your strengths and build your personal brand (has bigger impact than patching weaknesses).

Be passionate about and proud of your work (better than focusing on external rewards to sustain effort).

Develop a code of professional ethics (personal ethical code helps develop your career).



Career Advancement, continued

Develop a proactive personality. (An active agent can capitalize on opportunities.)

Keep growing through continuous learning and self-development. (That’s why you are here today or tonight).

Document your accomplishments (could be in form of interesting story).

Project a professional image. (You are judged partially by your clothes, style, and grooming.)




Perceive yourself as a provider of services. (You are a business, offering the company a valuable service.)

Develop depth and breadth. (Breadth can be within one industry or across industries, or across departments.)

Rely on a network of successful people. (Helps in many ways such as problem solving and receiving emotional support.)




Work with a mentor. (Have small network of mentors for different problems.)

Find a good person-organization fit. (Your personality, values, and style fit the organization culture.)

Take sensible risks. (Move outside your comfort zone.)

Pursue fields and industries many others overlook. (Basic industries worth a try.)



Career Advancement, concluded

Emphasize relationships to combat being outsourced.

a) To stay competitive, more and more companies outsource jobs.

b) Positions requiring physical presence are the least likely to be outsourced.

c) Being outsourced also less likely when relationships building is part of your job.



BUILDING YOURPERSONAL BRAND

Personal brand based on your basket of strengths.

Your personal brand makes you unique, distinguishing you from competition.

Consistency is important part of brand. Brand should accurately reflect you. Begin brand development by identifying

characteristics different from coworkers.



FIVE SYMPTOMS OF A PROACTIVE PERSONALITY

1. Constantly looks for new ways to improve life.

2. Gets excited about turning ideas into reality.

3. Fixes things he or she does not like.4. Excels at identifying opportunities.5. Always looking for better ways to do

things.



PROJECTING PROFESSIONAL IMAGE

To advance, project image of a professional, responsible person through clothing, work area, speech, and general knowledge. Good grammar helps.

Positive attitude helps project image. Challenge is to figure out what

constitutes a professional image in your particular environment, such as acceptable dress.

Dress like successful people in firm.

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CHAPTER 17 JOB SEARCH AND CAREER MANAGEMENT SKILLS