Archive for the ‘Networking’ Category

1. What makes you tick?

Understand what motivates you and use this to identify your dream job.

2. Action plan

Have a clear objective, and some stepping stones.  Make your career change come alive but committing the steps to paper and giving yourself some SMART goals.

3. Check your financial position

 If you are changing direction you might need funds for retraining, or you may want to take a reduced salary to get your dream job.  Being financially secure and having enough money to make the transition ensures a strong starting point.

4. Keep positive

Self confidence and self-belief are most important at this time.  Focus on what you want and how you achieve this, tackling obstacles as they appear.

In every successful job search and career change there are five critical areas:

A focused and realistic job and career objective

A clear objective based firmly on your strengths and supported by your experience.

A dynamic presentation

This objective must be communicated energetically, both in writing and in person, Your CV and your verbal presentation must be clearly focused and show you at your highest level of effectiveness.

A well-planned job search

A campaign based on your clear and growing understanding of how the job market functions which enables you to use your time most efficiently and is the key to the successful outcome of your job search

Building a contact network

Your job search should encompass building a contact network that is both supportive and challenging. Regardless of where you start, the people you meet and build relationships with are the most important factors in a job search.

Thoroughness and persistence

It takes a determined effort to write good letters, conduct productive meetings/ interviews and follow up opportunities. Your commitment to a planned campaign will pay off.

Good luck

Yes, officially we are in a recession, there’s a credit crunch and employers are feeling the pinch.

This news follows a gloomy report by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) earlier this month which predicted that up to 300,000 jobs would be axed by 2011 as the economy goes into reverse.

Employment lawyers and legal helplines are reporting a sharp rise in businesses seeking advice on how to sack staff, suggesting a further surge in redundancies may be on the way.

Allianz, the insurance group, says its legal helpline Lawphone last month received a record number of calls seeking advice on redundancy issues.

More than a third of calls received by the helpline were about employment issues, compared with just 2.4 per cent in the same month last year, it said. Employment lawyers are also reporting a rise in businesses seeking advice on redundancies as trading conditions have deteriorated over the summer.

So if you are in the unfortunate position of being redundant, and you’re looking for a new job, how are you going to go about it?

Getting your CV right first time is of prime importance, and understanding your personal strengths will be a necessity.

You can upload your CV to numerous websites, and with keywords, search for roles that are suitable.

At the end of the day, you mustn’t forget the ‘hidden job market’ [yes, that's still there] – and networking. Networking is the best way to meet new contacts who have contacts who may know of opportunities or of people who could open doors for you.

Look out for networking events wherever you live. Use our new widget on the right to find events near you!

There are many networking groups around including BNI, BRE, Breakfast for Business, First Friday, Success in Sussex, 1230, WNC and websites that encourage networking, eg: ecademy, Business Scene, Linked In. And if used discerningly, even Facebook can help.

Online networking can be fun, a useful way to share experiences and ask for support. It can make the job search a little easier and less of a lonely affair. Good luck!