Career Strategies

If you are interested in getting more exposure to a specific occupation or field through a temporary position or internship, a temp agency can provide such opportunities. You can find listings for these offices in the yellow pages. Simply call and make an appointment, the employees of the agency will talk with you and have you take computerized tests to assess skills like typing speed and knowledge of computer programs, as well as determine your professional interests. Depending on how you do, you will be offered short-term jobs of varying lengths for varying periods of time. Often, you will be filling in for someone who is sick or on vacation, but sometimes companies extend full employment to temp workers. These can be huge, influential corporations, so always do your best job, even if it is just for a few days. An employment opportunity can emerge where you least expect it.

If you really care about entering a specific field or getting a certain job, you shouldn’t have many qualms about compensation or introductory training periods. Apply for the job even if it isn’t ideal, giving yourself as many employment possibilities as you can.

Now that the internet is widely available in business and homes, it is an excellent resource for those on the job market. Use a search engine to find job listings in any location. From there you can probably search by field, department, desired salary and other variables to focus your results. Often, you can even apply online, so be sure to save your resume to a disk or have it on the computer you are using for your search, making it easy to quickly email your resume. Official city websites are good places to find jobs in schools, hospitals, law offices and more.

If you have any professional friends or know people involved in your field, ask them if they know about any job openings at their company or in the industry. While it may seem unfair, networking and “who you know” are essential elements to the successful job search. If a friend can give the boss a good word about you and your abilities, take advantage. There are too many qualified candidates out there. Asking this favor of someone can get you the name recognition and the competitive edge that gets you hired.

While many people change occupations several times during their lives, you may want to stay in a certain field, but earn more money and responsibility in another position, maybe even at a different company. A higher level of education often results in a bigger paycheck and greater recognition. Taking night or weekend classes from one of the schools listed on OnlineCareers.com is a good way to increase your earning potential and move up the professional ladder. You could discuss with your boss the opportunities that might open up for you if you went back to school. The company may even pay for you to receive the additional education.

Or, if you feel confident, try approaching your supervisor and asking for the raise or promotion without the promise of additional schooling. Keep a flexible, understanding attitude while broaching this often sensitive subject. If he or she says no, accept their decision gracefully to diffuse any lingering tension. Even if you want a better job with greater rewards, you want to keep your current employment secure, so be sure to stay amiable and try to understand your supervisor’s situation. He or she probably wants you to succeed as much as you do, but may be financially limited due to circumstances outside his or her control.

If you don’t want to advance at your current company (or if you proposal for promotion gets rejected) but want to try to use your skills somewhere else, start looking for that new job, even if you are still employed. Companies often interview candidates with previous professional commitments on the weekend, so you won’t have to take days off and lose money while interviewing. Just because you have a job, doesn’t mean the job search is over. Some of the most successful people view their search as lifelong, enabling them to isolate the best opportunities no matter what their current situation.

Employers post new positions online and in print daily, yet this ease of applying to jobs has created a massive influx of resumes to Human Resources people, making the competition intense. You can stand out by composing an eye-catching cover letter. Highlight your experience, objectives, and skills and be sure to personalize each one you send. Cover letters should not be instantly interchangeable from company to company, but should reflect your desire to join a specific company. Include the details behind what attracted you to them and why you would be ideal for that particular position. Every company has nuances and its own unique culture. Be aware of the details and you will get noticed.