Think Positively<\/h3>\r\n
To be successful in life and in a career, you need to be positive. Positive thinking<\/em> is making a conscious effort to think with an optimistic attitude and to anticipate positive outcomes. Positive behavior<\/em> means purposely acting with energy and enthusiasm. When you think and behave positively, you guide your mind toward your goals and generate matching mental and physical energy.<\/p>\r\n Positive thinking and behavior are often deciding factors in landing top jobs: your first job, a promotion, a change of jobs\u2014whatever career step you are targeting. That\u2019s because the subconscious is literal; it accepts what you regard as fact. Follow these steps to form the habit of positive thinking and to boost your success:<\/p>\r\n\r\n Once you\u2019ve developed a positive, \u201ccan do\u201d attitude, the next step is to better understand yourself. Ask yourself two basic questions: \u201cWho am I?\u201d and \u201cWhat can I do?\u201d<\/p>\r\n Who Am I?<\/strong> This question is the start of self-assessment<\/em>, examining your likes and dislikes and basic values. You may want to ask yourself the following questions:<\/p>\r\n\r\n Are you assertive? Assess your assertiveness by taking the quiz in (Figure)<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n What Can I Do?<\/strong> After determining what your values are, take the second step in career planning by asking, \u201cWhat can I do?\u201d This question is the start of skill assessment<\/em>, evaluating your key abilities and characteristics for dealing successfully with problems, tasks, and interactions with other people. Many skills\u2014for instance, the ability to speak clearly and strongly\u2014are valuable in many occupations.<\/p>\r\nBe sure to consider the work experience you already have, including part-time jobs while going to school, summer jobs, volunteer jobs, and internships. These jobs teach you skills and make you more attractive to potential employers. It\u2019s never too early or too late to take a part-time job in your chosen field. For instance, someone with an interest in accounting would do well to try a part-time job with a CPA (certified public accountant) firm.\r\n In addition to examining your job-related skills, you should also look at your leisure activities. Some possible questions: Am I good at golf? Do I enjoy sailing? Tennis? Racquetball? In some businesses, transactions are made during leisure hours. In that case, being able to play a skillful, or at least adequate, game of golf or tennis may be an asset.<\/p>\r\n It\u2019s hard to like your job if you don\u2019t like the field that you\u2019re in. Most career counselors agree that finding work you\u2019re passionate about is one of the critical factors behind career success. That\u2019s why so many career counselors love all those diagnostic tools that measure your personality traits, skill levels, professional interests, and job potential.<\/p>\r\nThe internet is virtually exploding with tests and assessments that you can take. Try, for example, http:\/\/www.self-directed-search.com<\/strong>. This test is based on the theory that people and work environments can be classified into six basic types: realistic, investigative, artistic, social, enterprising, and conventional. The test determines which three types best describe you, and it suggests occupations that could be a good match. The Keirsey Character Sorter (http:\/\/www.keirsey.com)<\/strong> is a first cousin of Myers-Briggs. It sorts people into four temperaments: idealists, rationals, artisans, and guardians. Like Myers-Briggs, it not only places you in an overall category, but it also offers a more detailed evaluation of your personality traits. To find a bunch of tests in one place, use a search engine and search \u201conline personality tests.\u201d\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n Employers want to hire people who will make their businesses more successful. The most desirable employees have the specific skills, transferable career competencies, work values, and personal qualities necessary to be successful in the employers\u2019 organizations. The more clearly you convey your skills as they relate to your job target, the greater your chance of landing your ideal job.\u00a0[footnote]Brian Tracy, \u201cTop 7 Qualities Employers Are Looking For in Candidates,\u201d Undercover Recruiter,<\/em> https:\/\/theundercoverrecruiter.com, accessed November 19, 2017; Liz Ryan, \u201c12 Qualities Employers Look for When They\u2019re Hiring,\u201d Forbes,<\/em> https:\/\/www.forbes.com, March 2, 2016.[\/footnote]<\/p>\r\n Job-Specific Skills.<\/strong> Employers seek job-specific skills (skills and technical abilities that relate specifically to a particular job). Two examples of job-specific skills are using specialized tools and equipment and using a custom-designed software program.<\/p>\r\n Transferable Skills and Attitudes.<\/strong> Change is a constant in today\u2019s business world. Strong transferable career skills are the keys to success in managing your career through change. The most influential skills and attitudes are the abilities to:<\/p>\r\n\r\n Employers need workers who have transferable career competencies\u2014basic skills and attitudes that are important for all types of work. These skills make you highly marketable because they\u2019re needed for a wide variety of jobs and can be transferred from one task, job, or workplace to another. Examples include these:<\/p>\r\n\r\n Take, for example, a construction supervisor and an accountant. Both must work well with others, manage time and specific tasks, solve problems, read, and communicate effectively\u2014all transferable competencies. They both must be competent in these areas even though framing a house and balancing a set of financial information (the job-specific skill for each field, respectively) are not related. In every occupation, transferable competencies are as important as technical expertise and job-specific skills.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n The next step is landing the job that fits your skills and desires. You need to consider not only a general type of work but also your lifestyle and leisure goals. If you like to be outdoors most of the time, you might be very unhappy spending eight hours a day in an office. Someone who likes living in small towns may dislike working at the headquarters of a big corporation in Los Angeles, New York City, or Chicago. But make sure that your geographic preferences are realistic. Some parts of the country will experience much greater growth in jobs than others in the coming years.<\/p>\r\n According to recent research by Glassdoor, the online job listings and career site, the top 10 best cities for jobs in 2017 are:<\/p>\r\n\r\n You might start answering the question \u201cWhat will I do?\u201d by studying the Occupational Outlook Handbook<\/em>, published every two years by the U.S. Department of Labor<\/span> (https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/ooh)<\/strong>. The most recent Handbook<\/em> edition projects job opportunities by industry through the year 2026. The Handbook<\/em> is divided into 25 occupational clusters describing 325 job profiles (with a section on military careers). Among the clusters are education, sales and marketing, transportation, health, and social services. Each job description tells about the nature of the work, working conditions, required training, other qualifications, chances for advancement, employment outlook, earnings, related occupations, and sources of more information. Another good source of job information is the website for the National Association of Colleges and Employers (http:\/\/www.naceweb.org)<\/strong>. If you are a member of a minority group, you might want to check out https:\/\/www.blackcareernetwork.com<\/strong> or http:\/\/www.saludos.com<\/strong>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n Today, most job searches are done online. Rarely do job seekers use \u201csnail mail\u201d to send a r\u00e9sum\u00e9 to a potential employer. Therefore, you need to do your homework when it comes to creating a r\u00e9sum\u00e9 and posting it to various websites, as well as sending it electronically to a specific company\u2019s careers web page.<\/p>\r\n Let\u2019s start with the r\u00e9sum\u00e9. There are thousands of job-related sites and millions of r\u00e9sum\u00e9s on the internet. To break through the clutter, you must start with a great r\u00e9sum\u00e9\u2014a written description of your education, work experience, personal data, and interests. There are plenty of online resources that can provide you with tips and actual templates to use when creating your r\u00e9sum\u00e9. For example, CollegeGrad (https:\/\/collegegrad.com<\/strong>) provides more than 100 preformatted templates for over 30 college majors on its website that you can use to tailor your r\u00e9sum\u00e9 and highlight your specific skills and talents.\u00a0[footnote]\u201cEntry Level Resume Information,\u201d https:\/\/collegegrad.com, accessed November 19, 2017.[\/footnote]\u00a0Of course, there are many other sources for creating a r\u00e9sum\u00e9, including the actual websites of most online job-listing services.<\/p>\r\n Once you have created an electronic r\u00e9sum\u00e9, you have several options when it comes to your job search. First, you can target specific companies where you would like to work. Then go to their corporate websites and look for a careers page on the website. For example, Google has an extensive careers section on its website that provides detailed information on how to apply to become a \u201cGoogler,\u201d along with a section on what the company\u2019s interview process entails and how Google makes hiring decisions.\u00a0[footnote]\u201cHow We Hire,\u201d https:\/\/careers.google.com, accessed November 19, 2017.[\/footnote]<\/p>\r\n You can also try posting your r\u00e9sum\u00e9 on the top 10 most popular job websites. They are so large that they are worth checking out first. They tend to have more jobs listed, represent more companies, and have larger r\u00e9sum\u00e9 databases, which attract even more companies.\u00a0[footnote]\u201cTop 15 Most Popular Job Websites: July 2017,\u201d eBiz\/MBA Guide,<\/em> http:\/\/www.ebizmba.com, accessed November 19, 2017.[\/footnote]<\/p>\r\n\r\n If you are going to become a computer programmer, web developer, graphics designer, artist, sculptor, singer, dancer, actor, model, animator, cartoonist, or anyone who would benefit by the photographs, graphics, animation, sound, color, or movement inherent in a multimedia r\u00e9sum\u00e9, then this r\u00e9sum\u00e9 is for you. For most people, however, a multimedia r\u00e9sum\u00e9 and personal home page on the internet aren\u2019t necessary. Most internet service providers and commercial online services provide some space on their sites for subscriber home pages.[footnote]Mary Brandel, \u201cTech Resume Makeover: How to Add Multimedia,\u201d CIO,<\/em> https:\/\/www.cio.com, accessed November 19, 2017.[\/footnote]<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n Applicant tracking systems (ATSs) screen for keywords, which either reject your r\u00e9sum\u00e9 or move it on to the short list. Your task is to use keywords that will produce as many \u201chits\u201d as possible. Keywords tend to be more of the noun or noun phrase type (Total Quality Management, Walmart, Sales Manager) as opposed to power action verbs often found in traditional r\u00e9sum\u00e9s (developed, coordinated, organized). Every occupation and career field has its own jargon, acronyms, and buzzwords. There are also general keywords that apply to transferable skills important in many jobs, such as teamwork, writing, and planning.<\/p>\r\n Use these tips for adding effective keywords to your r\u00e9sum\u00e9:<\/p>\r\n\r\n There are several ways to determine what keywords are appropriate for your industry and job.<\/p>\r\n\r\n If you are still in college<\/em>, try to get at least one internship in the career field you\u2019re targeting. Even if your internship lasts only a few weeks, you will significantly increase your keyword count to build a resume, not to mention gain valuable experience that will get the attention of hiring professionals.[footnote]<\/span>Katharine Hansen, \u201cCollege Students: You Simply Must Do an Internship (Better yet: Multiple Internships)!\u201d <\/span>Live Career,<\/em> https:\/\/www.livecareer.com, accessed November 19, 2017.[\/footnote]<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n If some of the companies you contacted want to speak with you, your r\u00e9sum\u00e9 achieved its goal of getting you a job interview. Look at the interview as a chance to describe your knowledge and skills and interpret them in terms of the employer\u2019s specific needs. To make this kind of presentation, you need to do some research on the company. A great place to start is the company\u2019s own corporate website.<\/p>\r\n As you do your information search, you should build your knowledge in these three areas:<\/p>\r\n\r\n An interview tends to have three parts: icebreaking (about five minutes), in which the interviewer tries to put the applicant at ease; questioning (directly or indirectly) by the interviewer; and questioning by the applicant. Almost every recruiter you meet will be trying to rate you in 5 to 10 areas. The questions will be designed to assess your skills and personality.<\/p>\r\n Many firms start with a screening interview<\/em>, a rather short interview (about 30 minutes) to decide whether to invite you back for a second interview. Sometimes screening interviews can take place online via Skype, FaceTime, or some other form of videoconferencing. Only about 20 percent of job applicants are invited back. The second interview is usually a half day or a day of meetings set up by the human resource department with managers in different departments. After the meetings, someone from the human resource department will discuss other application materials with you and tell you when a letter of acceptance or rejection is likely to be sent. (The wait may be weeks or even months.) Many applicants send follow-up letters in the meantime to show they are still interested in the firm.<\/p>\r\n For the interview, you should dress conservatively. Plan to arrive about 10 to 15 minutes ahead of time. Try to relax. Smile and make eye contact with (but do not stare at) the interviewer. Body language is an important communicator. The placement of your hands and feet and your overall posture say a good deal about you. Here are some other tips for interviewing like a pro:<\/p>\r\n\r\n Also, you should avoid the following \u201cdisqualifiers\u201d at all costs. Any one of these blunders could cost you your dream job:<\/p>\r\n\r\n Hard work and a little luck may pay off with multiple job offers. Your happy dilemma is deciding which one is best for you. Start by considering the \u201cFACTS\u201d:<\/p>\r\n\r\n A great way to evaluate a new location is through Homefair (http:\/\/www.homefair.com)<\/strong>. This site offers tools to help you calculate the cost of moving, the cost of living, and the quality of life in various places. The Moving Calculator helps you figure out how much it will cost to ship your worldly possessions to a particular city. The Relocation Crime Lab compares crime rates in various locations. The City Snapshots feature compares demographic, economic, and climate information for two cities of your choosing. The Salary Calculator computes cost-of-living differences between hundreds of U.S. and international cities and tells you how much you\u2019d need to make in your new city to maintain your current standard of living.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n No time is more crucial, and possibly nerve-racking, than the first few months at a new job. During this breaking-in period, the employer decides whether a new employee is valuable enough to keep and, if so, in what capacity. Sometimes the employee\u2019s whole future with the company rides on the efforts of the first few weeks or months. Most firms offer some sort of formal orientation. But generally speaking, they expect employees to learn quickly\u2014and often on their own. You will be expected to become familiar with the firm\u2019s goals; its organization, including your place in the company; and basic personnel policies, such as coffee breaks, overtime, and parking.<\/p>\r\n Here are a few tips on making your first job rewarding and productive:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n \t
![\"A](\"https:\/\/s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com\/courses-images\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3654\/2018\/09\/24152343\/Photo_17.4.jpg\")
Aligning one\u2019s lifestyle interests with one\u2019s career trajectory is essential to long-term career satisfaction. If the idea of working in a big city captivates the imagination, it can become a guide to the types of jobs to pursue. If one is motivated to work with people or animals, then charity organizations or zoos might be a good place to look. What jobs do you visualize yourself doing, and how can that vision guide your career search? (Credit: Rich Bowen\/ Flickr\/ Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0))[\/caption]\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\nTake a Good Look at Yourself<\/h3>\r\n
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\r\n Fun Self-Test\u2014How Assertive Are You?<\/th>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n \r\n Rate your level of agreement with the following statements using the scale below:<\/th>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n \r\n \r\nStrongly Agree<\/th>\r\n Agree<\/th>\r\n Neither Agree nor Disagree<\/th>\r\n Disagree<\/th>\r\n Strongly Disagree<\/th>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/thead>\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \t
\r\n See the scoring guidelines at the end of this chapter to obtain your score.<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n Understand What Employers Want<\/h3>\r\n
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Find Your First Professional Job<\/h3>\r\n
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Use the Internet to Find a Job<\/h3>\r\n
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The Multimedia R\u00e9sum\u00e9<\/h3>\r\n
Getting Your Electronic R\u00e9sum\u00e9 into the Short Pile<\/h3>\r\n
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I\u2019ve Landed a Job Interview<\/h3>\r\n
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Interview Like a Pro<\/h3>\r\n
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Select the Right Job for You<\/h3>\r\n
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Start Your New Job<\/h3>\r\n
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