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Email to a FriendBeginning Your Job Search
The First Step... Self Esteem & Confidence
The first step toward career success is being in the right frame of mind. You must believe it in order to achieve it. Since the power of positive thinking can propel your career forward in any direction you dream, you must begin your journey by promising to be optimistic and believing in your own ability to reach beyond your current situation.
Close your eyes and picture the next step. Whether you define success as an entry-level professional in a new field or the first female CEO of your corporation, it won't happen until you imagine it. Think of the most successful people you've ever heard of. From local business owners to corporate executives, more than likely they spent years dreaming and plotting and planting the right seeds to make their ideas a reality. So start dreaming about your own professional destination. What does success mean to you? What do you want to do and where do you want to be?
Questions Every Jobseeker Should Ask Herself Today
In today's economy you need to aggressively market yourself to decision-makers and the people who influence those decision-makers. Start by doing an honest assessment of your efforts to determine if you're doing everything you possibly can.
Think Positively
Positive thinking takes practice. We all have negative thoughts from time to time, but it's possible to turn your negative thoughts into positive ones by following these simple guidelines.
Banish Negativity
Make it a priority to banish negativity from your mind because it can hold you back from success. Review these positive statements for inspiration on how to spin things to your advantage.
Getting Positive & Energized
We know that looking for a job is hard—most of all on your self-esteem. But don't let yourself get depressed: there is light at the end of the tunnel. Here's how to keep your spirits up if the job hunt starts to get you down.
Self Promotion
No matter what your industry or level of experience, job searching is about sales and the product you are selling is you. During your job search you will be selling yourself 'til you are blue in the face. You may as well learn to embrace it.
Developing Your Pitch
Your sales pitch is the preparation you need to make the most of any networking opportunity. This little pitch says a whole lot about you. You're giving someone a nutshell version of who you are and what you offer.
Defining Your Focused Path
Knowing what your skills are and determining exactly what you want to do will make all the difference in your job search because you won't be wasting precious time going after jobs that just aren't for you.
Establish a Realistic Timeframe
It's best to set goals and deadlines for yourself—you know your budget, your career goals, and your tolerance for uncertainty better than anyone else.
Keep a Handy Dandy Notebook
Make a habit of carrying a notebook with you at all times. Whip it out any time something in your surroundings triggers a great idea to help fuel your progress.
Reinvent Yourself
Sometimes reinvention is a fork in your road: you stay in the same field, but in a new capacity, or you stay with your company but in a completely different role. Sometimes, however, you take a detour onto a brand new highway by entering a totally new line of work.
Creating Your Digital Identity
Search engines enabled all of us to become Private Eyes with the simple click of a mouse. In terms of your career advancement this can be a deal maker or breaker. Learn how to clean up your digital dirt and several smart things you can do to enhance your digital identity.
Getting Great References
It is inevitable that at some point in your job search you will be asked for references, and when you are, you want to be sure you have a great group of advocates who are prepared with answers that will help rather than hinder your chances at landing the position.
Small Businesses, Non-profits & Government Agencies
America's 25 million small businesses employ more than 50 percent of the private work force and are the principal source of new jobs in the U.S.The trick is finding the opportunities; small businesses often don't advertise their openings but prefer to hire through referrals and personal connections.