Looking for a job

You’ve completed your training and you are ready to go to work. So, what do you do now, and where do you start? Those are natural and common questions to be asking. Here are some guidelines to help you land that job.

Even if you are just starting out, you can build an impressive resume. Be sure to list all of the accomplishments you achieved during training, and any volunteer work that you did. If you do not have access to a career counselor from school, there are many online resume services available. Just remember to keep it honest, but pump your credibility up. List everything that may be a deciding factor to a future employer. Be realistic, but enthusiastic about your accomplishments. Remember that things you did outside of the classroom may help too!

In this digital age, so many places now accept emailed or faxed resumes. If this is the case, get your resume out there, and keep looking. The more opportunities you apply for, the better the chances of you getting the type of job you desire. Check in the newspapers for current job opportunities. Sunday papers are excellent sources of job information. Be sure to have an abundance of copies of your resume and carry some with you at all times. Don’t be caught unprepared. Speak to as many potential employers in person as you can. This gives you an advantage over the “faceless, nameless resume” that goes through the internet and fax machines.

Grab your resume and go! These are wonderful opportunities to find jobs and careers and are held often in all major cities. Even some smaller cities have begun hosting job fairs. Find out what is available. Career fairs are excellent opportunities to shop around and see what positions are available in your field. Hand out resumes freely. You can always turn down as job, but the opportunity to be considered for one may be rare.

Do not dismiss opportunities simply because they don’t match your “ideal job” criteria. Everyone has to start somewhere. Of course, depending on your field of study, you may be in a position to find just such an ideal job. More often than not, however, you should be willing to at least consider any reasonable offer. Experience counts a lot in job seeking. Just as the Student fresh out of medical school will not be offered the position of chief surgeon, neither should you anticipate starting at the top.

Follow up on all leads. It may be your persistence and interest that land you that job. Employers like to see enthusiasm. Call the places you have applied and check the status of your application. This shows them you are interested in working for them, and not just working. Be polite, and courteous, even when the news isn’t good. You never know when another opportunity will open up, and one rejection does not mean a forever rejection. Keep at it, and you will be successful.