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WORK HARD TO FIND WORK

WORK HARD TO FIND WORK

Sina Adelaja-Olowoake. SAO The Employment Coach

The high rate of unemployment around the world is no longer news.   Everyday millions of CV’s are sent to companies around the world with a view of landing that much needed job. More than at any other time, statistics reveal joblessness to be at its’ highest  especially amongst young people.

 But despite the gloomy picture many people are still able to secure employment. How are they able to do this despite the huge odds against them?

1.      PLAN.  It is sad to note that most jobseekers do not have any plan towards securing employment. Some are even at a loss as to where to start or how to start their search.  It is advisable to have a plan.  The first thing this connotes is that you are serious about looking for a job. Your individual plan must be tailored to your needs.  It might include how many times a week you want to devote to job search, which locations you intend to search and what kind of jobs you want to look for.

2.      EVALUATE YOUR PLAN.  It is good to have a plan but even better if you evaluate your plan periodically. Make changes where necessary. For example regularly update your CV including new changes. If something in the original plan is no longer applicable edit appropriately.

3.      NETWORK.  Job recruitment companies and other known establishments are good for helping to secure employment but these are not the only avenues open to jobseekers. Lately there has been a rise in the use of social media for the sole purpose of finding employment. Popular sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Linkedin are now being used by jobseekers.

4.      GO THE EXTRA MILE. How much are you willing to sacrifice to land the job of your dreams? Are you willing to go the extra mile? Remember competition is stiff and only those with the required “extras” will make it. You may have to forego luxuries such as watching football on Saturday afternoons to attend Interview coaching classes. Only you will determine how much you need the job by what you are able to sacrifice. 

How To Keep your Job

Keeping your new job

Which one is harder getting a job or keeping your job? I usually get asked this question wherever I go throughout the world. And I always give the same answer. They are both EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. Though I must confess many job seekers fail to appreciate just how important keeping a job can be so much so that they give very little thought to this prior to taking up the position.

Let’s look at things you need to do that can help you keep your job

1. Be sure you know what you are doing

Arm yourself with every resource you need to excel in your job. Like a soldier going to war you must make sure you are very prepared for the task at hand. But in order to do this, you must have a thorough understanding of the role. Try and get feedback from your colleagues and your boss on how you are getting on.  You may feel as though you are doing a fantastic job, but if your expectations differ from those of your manager or boss, there is going to be conflict. Have a good understanding of what is expected of you.

2.  Keep On Learning

Do not assume for once that now that you have secured a position you have arrived. Yes you have might have graduated but you have not quit learning. Be a team player and look to get involved in more areas of the business.  If your company offers training courses, put your hand up to get involved. If your company doesn’t offer training courses, you can still take the initiative and invest in your own growth and knowledge by paying for these courses yourself.

3. Develop Great Relationships

Research has shown that we spend over a third of our lives at work. If we spend this great amount time at work, then it is only wise that we develop healthy and wholesome relationships in the work place. Be someone that can be trusted. Good relationships are based on trust.  Keep commitments. If you promise something, make sure you deliver on time. However, if you find yourself in a situation where something has changed and you cannot keep that commitment, be honest and communicate.  Honest communication is the key to building a long-lasting relationship.

We spend so many hours at work that we need to enjoy what we are doing. Maintaining a professional image will help you not only build a reputation of someone who is a great team player and can be counted on to add value to the business, but will also make your work life a far greater experience. When the time comes for a promotion or a pay rise, you are far more likely to be considered because of your professional attitude and image.

 4. Be Available

Be visible. Put yourself out there without stepping on toes or being over bearing. Let your department / the company know you can be counted upon. Offer your services even when before you are called upon. This does not mean you have to be best friends with every person you work with, but there is no need to isolate yourself either.

5. Don’t resent help / correction

Do not be afraid to ask questions with a view to learn. This is crucial in order to grow and improve yourselves. Don’t be put down by negative feedback and certainly do not hold grudges. Learn from your mistakes and strive to do better going forward.

By Sina Adelaja-Olowoake SAO The Employment Coach. Twitter; @SAOEmployCoach

Staying Motivated While Seeking Work.

Staying motivated while seeking work.

There is no denying that we are currently living in very challenging times. Wherever you turn in the world, the stories are the same - economic downturn characterized by lack of employment opportunities especially amongst graduates /school leavers.  

As a job seeker, it must be harrowing going for interview after interview without landing the position. What this often leads to is despondency on the part of the applicant. After a while the applicant becomes dejected, forlorn, and hopeless. Therefore it is key that job seekers find ways to stay motivated. Motivation will keep you going even when you don’t feel like it. It is the driving force that propels you towards your goal.

Below are some ways to help you stay motivated as you continue your search for employment.

Stay Positive.

Don’t allow your past experience to affect your future prospects. Because you have not landed the jobs in the past does not mean your next interview is doomed. Always think and stay positive. Surround yourself with stories of people who triumphed in the face of adversity. If you need to listen to motivational speeches, read books, do it.

Stay Balanced.

Remember that saying “all work and no play…..”? Keep things in perspective. Don’t sit down all day and just mull over your lack of a job. If you do this long enough it will start to eat away at your confidence and you don’t want that. Socialize in moderation and also continue your job search in equal measure.

Keep it Real.

Do not overreact or exaggerate your situation. Understand that the current situation is part of a worldwide problem and you are not being singled out. Try and find out what could be responsible for some of the rejections you have encountered. For example if potential employers think you need to improve in a certain area, do all you can to improve yourself in that area.

Keep working at it until you succeed.

All the best. 

What Employers Look for in Candidates

Is this what is missing in your quest to land a job?

You have probably been to a few interviews and received the same outcome.  I believe it’s time you sat down to really find out what is wrong. What are employers really looking for in candidates ? Do you have these qualities or are you willing to develop them?  SAO. 

Every employer has had a certain amount of experience with both good and bad employees. For this reason every employer has a pretty good idea of what he or she wants more of. Here are the big seven:

1. The first quality that employers look for is intelligence.

In every study, it has been found that fully 76 percent of the productivity and contribution of an employee will be determined by his or her level of intelligence. Intelligence in this sense means the ability to plan, to organize, to set priorities, to solve problems, and to get the job done. Intelligence refers to your level of common sense and your practical ability to deal with the day-to-day challenges of the job. The key to demonstrating your intelligence is for you to ask intelligent questions. One of the hallmarks of intelligence that is immediately evident is curiosity. The more you ask good questions and listen to the answers, the smarter you appear.

2. The second quality sought by employers is leadership ability.

Leadership is the willingness and the desire to accept responsibility for results. It’s the ability to take charge, to volunteer for assignments, and to accept accountability for achieving the required results of those assignments.

The mark of the leader is that he or she does not make excuses. You demonstrate your willingness to be a leader in the organization by offering to take charge of achieving company goals and then committing yourself to performing at high levels.

3. Integrity is the third quality sought by employers.

It’s probably the most important single quality for long-term success in life and at work. Integrity begins by being true to yourself. This means that you are perfectly honest with yourself and in your relationships with others. You are willing to admit your strengths and weaknesses. You are willing to admit where you have made mistakes in the past. Especially, you demonstrate loyalty. You never say anything negative about a previous employer or a person whom you have worked with or for. Even if you were fired from a previous job, never say anything negative or critical.

4. The fourth quality that employers look for is likability.

Employers like people who are warm, friendly, easygoing, and cooperative with others. Employers are looking for people who can join the team and be part of the work family.

Men and women with good personalities are invariably more popular and more effective at whatever they do. Teamwork is the key to business success. Your experience in working as part of a team in the past and your willingness to work as part of a team in the future can be among the most attractive things about you in applying for a job.

5. Competence is the fifth quality sought by employers.

We spoke about this earlier. Competence is terribly important to your success. It is really the foundation of everything that happens to you in your career.

In its simplest terms, competence is the ability to get the job done. It is the ability to set priorities, to separate the relevant from the irrelevant tasks, and then to concentrate single-mindedly until the job is complete.

6. Courage is the sixth quality that employers look for.

This is the willingness to take risks. Courage also means the willingness to accept challenges, the willingness to take on big jobs or even new jobs where there is a high degree of uncertainty and the possibility of failure.

Courage also means the willingness to speak up and say exactly what you think and feel in a difficult situation. Employers admire men and women who are not afraid to speak their minds. And you demonstrate this in a job interview when you ask frank and direct questions about the company, the position, and the future that you might have with the organization

7. The final quality employers look for is inner strength.

Inner strength means that you have the determination and the ability to persevere in the face of adversity. Inner strength means that you have the quality of persistence when the going gets rough. You demonstrate inner strength when you remain calm, cool, and relaxed during the job interview. If you are calm and cool during the interview, it is a good indication that you will be calm and cool in the inevitable crises that occur during the day-to- day operations of the company.

Above all, it is your character, which is the sum total of all your positive qualities, that will have the greatest impact on whether you get the job you want. Your job now is to continue working on your character by practicing the behaviors of top people at every opportunity.

Culled from http://theundercoverrecruiter.com/ 

You need confidence to succeed at interviews.

• Fidgeting
• Excessive sweat
• Long periods of silence. 

These are some of the signs of nervousness often displayed during interview sessions. In my years of conducting interviews, I have noticed this as a major problem sometimes acting as the defining factor between offering or denying a candidate the position. 

Yes we all know how intimidating some interview can be.  However no matter how qualified you may be, the employers want to see how confident and convincing you are. Because let's face it, you will need some level of confidence in carrying whatever role you are assigned. So you need to project your self confidence during the interview to show the interviewer(s) you are the right candidate for the job. 

Often, people under estimate how important it is to exhume confidence during interviews. But I can tell you it is extremely important. 

So just how then do you do this?

Here are a few tips to help you deal with the anxious moments and boost your confidence during interviews. 

RELAX. Find what helps you relax before big moments. Some people turn to music. Others to motivational speeches. Identify what works for you and apply it.

LEARN TO LISTEN. Cultivate the habit of listening through before attempting to answer. What this does is it gives you time to compose yourself and also think through your answers.

BE ENTHUSIASTIC. Employers only want to hire people who are enthusiastic about working for them. Your chance to show that is at least to speak enthusiastically. Even if you have the right answers to the interview questions speaking in low tones devoid of any passion does not help in projecting you as confident. 

USE RIGHT BODY LANGUAGE. If you have ever done any background work on interviews you would have found out that employers take a close look at the candidate's body language as much as all other aspects of the interview. 

Wear appropriate clothes. If there is something wrong with your clothes, you will soon find out as all eyes will be on you albeit for the wrong reason. And this is bound to affect your confidence. 

Sit appropriately. Not slouched.

Make eye contact when you speak. 

Do not fidget.

LIVE FOR THE MOMENT. No matter what happened before the interview, leave it outside the door. Do not bring any baggage with you. Even if you sat in the most horrible traffic en route the interview, act like nothing happened. However if you suffered an unfortunate incident before the interview, try and contact the employer beforehand to intimate them of the situation. 

DO YOUR HOMEWORK.  One thing that is bound to knock your confidence is being embarrassed openly and nothing can be more embarrassing than not having done your homework prior to the interview ( i.e making sure you know your CV) because employers can ask questions based on what is on your CV and if you can't answer this it can be very embarrassing. Infact I can tell you that from that moment, the interview just goes downhill. 

Also spend time researching the company. It is very embarrassing not to know anything about the company you want to work for. 

Lastly practice interview techniques. If need be ask your friends to help in a mock interview session. 

Leave no stone unturned to achieve success. 

Your CV is meant to do one thing : GET YOU INTERVIEWS

Is your CV speaking correctly? 

One of the most important documents you would ever need inn your quest for a job is your curriculum vitae otherwise known as CV. It goes where you can't go and carries a definite message. It helps employers make  major decisions regarding candidates eligibility or otherwise.
But is your CV the best it can be? Does it market you and show your skills and talents? Does it contain the right keywords?
If your CV is not doing any of these, then it is clear your CV is sick and in need of a CV Doctor.
There are many sites and even professionals that are engaged in giving your CV a revamp and a make over. Some even offer a money back guarantee. But before you going running off to pay someone,  lets take a look at what a CV should contain.
- Sina Adelaja-Olowoake. SAO The Employment Coach. 

10 things you should have in your CV

1. 
   Contact details
   It’s important to provide a range of contact options including your home address, your main phone number and your email address to make it easy for employers to get in touch with you.
2. Employment history
   Make sure to include the jobs that are relevant to the position you are applying for. If you haven't had much relevant experience, however, you may want to include your whole work history.
3. Education and qualifications
   Your education and qualifications may not be directly related to the job you are applying for, but they’re still important achievements that any employer will want to see.
4. Skills and strengths
   Emphasising your skills and strengths is vital when building a CV. A strength is something you’re naturally good at. A skill is something you acquire with education and experience. Make sure to demonstrate how your skills and strengths will help you to do well in the job.
5. Your personality
   Your CV should follow a fairly standard format and the interview is where your personality is really important, but you can still stand out from the crowd with the language you use. Check out Clever Word Play for more ideas.
6. A prioritised layout
   The way you layout your CV will depend on your age and work experience level. The My CV tool allows you to choose between a work-focused or education-focused template. If you have don’t have much work experience or you’re looking for a career change, you should place your skills and strengths section before employment and education.
7. A good simple format
   Unless you’re going for a highly creative job, getting too fancy with fonts and borders will only take the focus from the important information in your CV.
8. Good spelling and punctuation
   There’s no room for poor spelling and punctuation in either your cover letter or your CV. Keep sentences short to avoid confused punctuation and, if you can, give it to a friend to check it over. Spell check should be the very last thing you do before sending it off.
9. References available on request
   You don’t have to include references in your CV and leaving them out will save you space, but make sure to state at the end of your CV that they are available on request.
10. A cover letter
    Most employers will expect a cover letter with your CV. It gives you a chance to get across your personality, ambition and to explain any gaps in your CV. Check out our Cover letter guide following shortly
    10 things you should have in your cv courtesy of myworldofwork.co.uk.