Chicken Soup for Job Seekers

Do you want to change your job but don't know the right way to go about it? Are you vacillating between waiting for your dream job or accepting the first one that comes your way? Or are you a fresher falling in line with what your parents wish you to be rather than what you wish to be? If this is the kind of situation you find yourself in, then the next few minutes will help you get a clearer picture. Here is our bowl of chicken soup for the job seeker's soul. Read on?

Searching for a job today is almost a job in itself because you are spending so much of your time and effort on it. Enthusiasm, excitement, anxiety, frustration and depression-all these are phases one encounters during a job search. The key point is to take this phase positively and persevere till you get that pot of gold at the end of your job search rainbow- your dream job. In today's cut-throat working environment, looking for a job is not just about working hard but about working Smart.

So to stay ahead of the herd, here are a few tips from the team of Naukri.com, India's No.1 Job portal-

1) Set your priorities right ?Don't take a decision by simply imitating your friends, batch mates or depending on word of mouth. Be aware of what is really important to you and what is not, because once your priorities are set, things will automatically start falling into their place.

2) Resume writing ? Employers are busy people and they hardly spend more than 30-45 seconds on a resume when they have 500 more to scan through. They are not interested in your entire history as they just want to know what you are best at. So, make your resume to the point and clearly showcase your key skills. In fact some recruiters prefer only single page resumes.

Try out the Resume Services provided by our counselors at Naukri.com.

3) Self-marketing is the key ? When you are applying for jobs you are actually selling yourself. So, sound confident, positive and persuasive during an interview, but DO NOT exaggerate about your accomplishments.

4) Knowledge of your field ? It is very important to know your field thoroughly. Brush up your knowledge on the who's who of the field, current trends, the competition, the dos and the don'ts and so on. Keep yourself abreast with the latest developments by keeping your eyes and ears open.

5) Tools of Job search ? you could begin your job search by scanning newspaper classifieds, talking to job consultants and logging on to premier job websites. Be regular in your search, spend ample time on it and follow-up with the companies where you have applied.

For an internet job search and for Jobs in India you can log on to http://www.naukri.com and check out the vacancies available in your field of specialization.

6) Networking ? It pays to know people in high places. Or in a job seeker's world "people in the right place". Networking is an important tool that can help you immensely during the job search. Track friends or contacts in the organization you want to be in, talk to them, and they might be able to open new doors for your dream job.

7) Have patience ? 'Patience is a virtue'. Being desperate and anxious does not help much, rather it may spoil your job search. If it's your first step towards your career then think before taking each step. Don't feel inferior just because you are a fresher, after all you will be spending time, energy and intelligence on the firm that will hire you. Don't forget the fact that other employees cannot match the energy level of a fresher.

If you are already working somewhere then don't leave the job just because you are not happy. You're marketable because you are already working with a firm and have added work experience and value to your resume. So, wait for a while.

About Naukri.com

Naukri.com is an Indian career website that serves as an employment exchange forum for employers, placement agencies and job seekers. Started by Info Edge (India) Pvt. Ltd., Naukri.com went commercial in October 1997 and since then it has served more than 25000 companies for recruitments through its database.

The traffic growth on this website is 20-25 percent every quarter and it is today, the Number 1 Job Portal on traffic rank as per Alexa. So far it has a database of 4.5 million resumes and gets 8500-10000 registrations daily.

For more information log on to www.naukri.com.

Madhurima Sil
Executive Marketing (Content)
Naukri.com

RELATED ARTICLES

Auto-Disqualification - When Your Resume Never Reaches the Decision Maker
How would you know if your resume did or didn't reach the appropriate decision maker? You can truly never know for certain. However, there are steps you can take to ensure that your resume does not get "auto-disqualified", or provide obvious reasons not to be hired.

Using Journal to Support Your Job Search
Are you searching for a job? Here are some tips on how you can use journaling in that pursuit.

Making Sure You Get a Good Reference
You've had 3 interviews with a potential employer and they've asked you for references from your prior job. The problem is that you didn't leave on the best of terms and now you're a bit worried about the kind of reference they'll give. Follow these simple rules and you will be able to handle this without any problem.

Get Off Your Butt and Out of the Rut
It's amazing to see so many people who are prepared to sacrifice their lives for the sake of their careers.

Does Retirement Fit Into Your Busy Schedule?
Why do you work?

The Top 10 Reasons to have a Career Coach
Many people in the last decade have experienced for themselves either a layoff or termination. Some of these people affected have experienced outplacement-consulting services. This is a fancy word for "help" in finding a new job. Many have also heard the adage that it is better to get a new job while you are still employed.

Is Your Resume Doing ITS Job?
Is it opening doors to new opportunities? Does it compel the reader to think, "Hey! This applicant can ?put that one on top of the 'call in for an interview' pile!" Does it showcase what you have accomplished for past employers as well as what you can accomplish for the potential employer?

Job Interviews & the Magic of Music
Can music help you with your next job interview? It just might! Here's how. First, it can help you during your research, preparation and practice. While it doesn't appear to work for everyone, some studies suggest that having classical music playing softly in the background as you study can boost your recall. Try it as you're reading over your prepared answers for probable interview questions. Second, music can help you relax, put you in an positive mood, and help dispel nervousness. Think of a song you really enjoy, one that makes you feel great, and listen to it as you're driving to your interview. A possible song you might consider is "All Star" by Smash Mouth. It's got a great, upbeat tempo, and some of the lyrics could be interpreted as advice for getting ahead: "You'll never know if you don't go, you'll never shine if you don't glow... Hey now, you're an All Star, get your game on, go play; Hey now, you're a Rock Star, get the show on, get paid.... All that glitters is gold, Only shooting stars break the mold." Crank that up, listen to those words, and say to yourself, "I AM a shooting star, I'm going to SHINE, break the mold, and GET PAID!" I guarantee you'll be in a confident, upbeat mood as you arrive for your interview, and that will give you a MAJOR edge over the competiton!

Tales from the Corporate Frontlines: Try, Try, Again
This article relates to the Career Opportunities competency and explores issues such as internal growth opportunities, potential for advancement, career development importance, and the relationship between job performance and career advancement. Evaluating the Career Opportunities competency in your organization will determine whether your employees believe they have a chance to grow within the organization. Studies show that lack of career opportunity is one of the top reasons why employees leave an organization. Also, continually hiring open positions from outside the organization can be detrimental to morale when a qualified candidate is available internally. Topics covered in this competency are: perceived opportunity for advancement, existence of a career development plan, and organizational commitment to staff development.

An Unexpected Career Direction
My starting point was how to draw on 25 years of experience in which I have helped thousands of people to their own career success, and make this knowledge freely available to anyone and everyone who could use it. I believe that if people are given the right information and helped to reach their own conclusions; they can make an outstanding success of their careers. I wasn't planning on writing much about business start-up or self-employment yet as I got busy with this project something happened.

When Bad Interviews Happen to Good Candidates
Going through the motions of a bad interview is like peeling back the layers of an onion. Sally learned this lesson the hard way, hands-on during an interview that should have been a piece of cake. Sally applied for a position that fit her qualifications perfectly. When she received an invitation to interview, Sally believed she was a shoo-in for the job. Feeling confident, she approached the interview in a lax manner. She didn't prepare and prematurely celebrated an offer she was convinced would be extended.

Why Employers Want an Employee with a Degree
You wake up in the morning, head to work, and find out your company is downsizing and you are being laid off. No big deal you think, you have experience, you've worked at the same company for years. You think companies will WANT to hire you. Guess what, your wrong. It's a new day and age, while you may potentially find work. It's a lot more difficult than you may think to get a job these days. Most reputable companies are looking for qualified people who also have an education.

Opportunities in Automotive Services Industries - How To Cash In
I believe it would be safe to say that the transportation industry is one of the highest revenue producers in today's modern economies.

After Your Interview - What Must You Do Next?
Other than actually landing the interview itself and living through it, waiting after the interview and wondering whether you will get a phone call or a rejection letter can be one of the most difficult aspects of searching for a job. What you do after the interview should actually start while you are still 'working' the interview.

One Cover Letter Secret You Cant Afford To Miss
Suppose you were the hiring manager, your desk piled high with cover letters and resumes to sort through. Which of the following cover letter greetings would grab your attention?

About Your Work
I like Simon, one of three judges on American Idol. I find his feedback refreshingly honest. And while his words startle me with their ego wounding potential, the traditional feel-good, let-you-down-easy, sugar-coated feedback is not much of a gift. It's hard to tell someone they're not good enough and their dreams are not going to happen, at least in this venue. But not telling them is no gift either. Some contestants rise to the challenges he throws at them. Some don't. And, some can't. Which one are you?

Why Are 95% of Job Applicants Not Called Back?
Have you been desperately looking for a job and keep coming up short? Despite all that you do, does every attempt you make seem to fail? Are you at that point of quitting? Ever wonder why you have not been called back? Not long ago, I was right where you are. I was all over the place, running here and there looking for the magic pill to help me. Then it hit me. Have you ever noticed that some people always seem to have employers chasing them? If you are like me, you probably wondered, what's their secret?

Why You Only Really Need Four Sample Resumes
Any job seeker looking for sample resumes usually doesn't have to look very far.

Effective Resume and Cover Letter Writing - Part One
To begin, make a decision to discard any former knowledge learned about the "rules" of resume and cover letter writing. People commonly become stuck in "bad" writing habits from a time gone by.

Your First Job
"Your first job is an extension of your education"