Employment: six steps in job search

Employment: Six Steps in Job Search

The top salespeople are the ones who know the product they are selling inside and out. They know the strong and weak points of the product and can tell others about it. Looking for a job means selling yourself. You are the product. The more facts you know about yourself, the better job you will be able to get. Your prosperous employers would be interested to know about your education, qualifications, skills, interests, and previous job experience. If you don’t have accurate information or if you are uncertain about it, you’ll produce a poor impression. Your personal information is needed each time you look for a job during your lifetime. If you organize your facts now, you can simply update them as you get more experience. The following steps will help you to gather all necessary information and make the process of job searching much more easy.

1. Self-evaluation

2. Application letter

3. Resume

4. Letter of recommendation

5. Application form

6. Job interview

Step 1. Self-Evaluation

The employment process begins with self-analysis, so start with:

A) identifying your interests;

B) evaluating your qualifications.

It will help you to realize what you like and dislike, and what kind of work you really want to do.

Task 1. While answering the questions identify for yourself:

1. What are you looking for: money, power, prestige, growth potential, other motivators?

2. How important are salary, environment, benefits, and job stability?

3. Do you enjoy working with people, information or things?

4. Is it important to be your own boss?

5. What is your idea of a perfect job, a perfect boss, a perfect colleague?

Task 2. Answer the questionnaire for a qualified employee in a western company. Put items in А, В, С in order of importance. Discuss your answers with your group mates.

A. Academic Strengths

and Qualifications1:

_academic degree

_higher education

_qualification

_foreign languages

_computer literacy

B. Abilities and Skills:

_creativity

_management

_analytical

_composition

_ communicative

Employment: Step 2. Application Letter

The application letter (sometimes called “a cover letter” because it is sent with a C. V. in the same envelope) is aimed at getting a job interview.

There are two types of application letters. A solicited application letter is sent to a definite, or announced, job opening. An unsolicited or “prospecting” letter is one sent to a company that has not announced an opening. The objectives of an application letter are:

– to get attention;

– to introduce qualifications;

– to present evidence;

– to encourage action.

Remember, your application letter will represent you to the employer. If several applicants have the same qualifications, only those writing impressive letters will be interviewed.

Task 3. Read the passage, summarize the main points, use them as guidelines in your job search.

Advice for Job Seekers (By Robert M. Hochheiser.)

The only reason for sending your application letter is to motivate an employer to meet with you. And it means that you shouldn’t say anything in a letter that has even the slightest chance of keeping you off his already overcrowded interview schedule.

In the first paragraph of your letter, identify the job you are writing about. Mention how you found out about the job. Was it through a newspaper ad or did an employee with the business tell you about the job? The next paragraph should talk about your abilities.