Daily Job Hunt Journal

Location is always a factor when looking for employment. We all want a job that is accessible like one that is near where we live. Most people don’t want to travel long or live in another city just so they can pursue their ideal career.

Cost of living in another city is often higher than where you live that it becomes impractical to alter your lifestyle or change your daily routine. So most of the times, people choose a job that’s near their place of residence.

In a search for a good online site that provides job offers by state, I came across Yahoo! Hot Jobs and found their system user friendly and the job selections comprehensive. Try it now and you might find this online resource helpful in your job hunting efforts.

While most people are used to do work within the cubicle, there are those that feel more productive when there are no desks around. Or if there is, they are not solely bound by them.

There are a lot of no-desk jobs in the employment market these days. If you love the outdoors and have a fear of desk, then why not start a career that is mobile and does not chain you to the cubicle.

I know of three no-desk jobs that are not only lucrative but also allow you to move as much as you want:

1. Nursing. Nurses patrol hospital rooms to look after the welfare of their patients. They are also on-call every time there is an emergency or surgical operation that needs their assistance.
2. Teaching. Contrary to popular belief, the work of a teacher is not confined in the four corners of the classroom. Teachers use the office, the outdoors and many other places as venues for interaction and learning among students.
3. Flight Attendant. Needless to say, flight attendants get to see different places each time the airplane lands. Their pay is not only good but they also get to enjoy airline perks and privileges.

It all boils down to that interview. It’s where the employer got the best look of the possible employee to be hired. And therefore, it becomes the most vital part of your job application process.

In this sense, it’s best that one must prepare well for that tomorrow’s interview. Not too much but not too little either. Don’t get shaky and nervous that would be the most mistake of most applicant, to be lacking in confidence. First of all, BE CONFIDENT and then be knowledgeable.

Learn about the company through the Internet or any materials you can get. Try to consult anyone who is already within the company.

And anticipate the questions and inquiries by knowing what the company is all about.

( image from topicsite.com )

The efforts don�t end after you have submitted the resume to prospective employers. Now goes the waiting as to when you will be called for a possible interview. The right thing to do is to make a follow up on the status of your job application through phone calls or emails. Ask the HR officer politely to get clear answers.

Another follow up on a job application is done after you have been interviewed. Make a follow up through phone calls or emails about a week after the first interview to check on the progress of your job application.

Always remember that making a follow up is important as it shows your enthusiasm and sincerity for the job.

Once your resume gets the attention of the hiring managers, the next step of the employment process is the interview. The number of interviews varies among employers, but no matter what, you have to be prepared for it.

Preparation for an interview often includes reading interview books or anticipating the interview questions, wearing the proper dress, understanding the salary negotiation process, and most importantly, developing good interviewing skills. Remember, it�s the final interview that matters above anything else as it is your gate to employment. A good interviewing skills, therefore, is critical in your quest to get your dream job.

There are lots of resources on the web that help improve interviewing skills. Here are some of them:

Job Interview Tutorial
Job Interview Guide
Interviewing Skills

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A cover letter always goes hand-in-hand with a professional resume. It should contain your intentions for applying, your interest in the organization you want to work with, the position you are applying for, your skills and education and your related working experiences.

Cover letters need not be too long. So long as it clearly explains your qualifications and your reasons for applying for the job, it is strong and effective. Always remember that your cover letter is the first thing that the hiring manager sees, therefore, your chance of employment largely depends on it. So make sure it is properly and intelligently written.

Please feel free to access this cover letter tutorial
and cover letter samples for your own benefit.

After you have made all the preparation, dressing so smartly, preparing for the examinations, researching about the company, and honing that speech skills — it’s now time for you to relax and be confident.

CONFIDENCE spells so much in your chances in getting hired by the best employers there is out there. Look them in the eyes and do not look away. Smile and show a calmness of emotion. They do not like panicky people and those who could not sit still. They might just be a problem to the company in the future.

Emotional maturity is one trait most employers holds dear. So be calm and express yourself in the most concise of manner, and whatever happens, BE CONFIDENT, and everything will follow in the right track for you. BE CONFIDENT like you are not anxious about anything, even if you are in reality. CONFIDENCE is like gold. It is a saleable commodity.

So BE CONFIDENT most of all.

( image stokebrokermagazine.com )

While job hunting can take several weeks, months or even years, it is not a reason for you to surrender easily or not to take it seriously. Job seekers are always encouraged to work hard when looking for a job. After all, being unemployed for a long time is a never a good thing.

When switching to a different job or hunting for a new job after a job loss, it is very important that you keep in mind the things that should avoid doing. For instance, it is undesirable that you do job hopping without good reasons. Also, it is unacceptable to badmouth about your previous company or the people you worked with in the past. Another thing is, remember not to judge a job offer by the salary alone.

Job hunting is a very challenging endeavor. Make sure to remind yourself always of the things that you need to avoid and those that you need to follow.

Image Source:http://www.sxc.hu

Each of us has a unique personality. But when it comes to job search, we tend to use the same methods and tools. A columnist from EmploymentGuide.com has identified three types of personalities and how they approach the job search process:

1. People lovers. They socialize and communicate with other people effortlessly which make them good networkers. Networking is one of the most powerful methods of finding employment and this is where the strength of this type of personality is utilized.

2. Patient and true individuals. They are quiet, unassuming and excellent team players. They approach the job search process based on proper timing. They are not fond of networking because they don’t like to bother other people for job leads.

3. Planners. They make plans that serve as their guide in finding employment. They are very organized and tend to follow the plan until the goals are achieved.

To learn more about the above personalities, click here.

Image Source: http://www.fashionjobsearch.com

Here’s something for you to much on while you’re unemployed, “Only three to five percent of job seekers find employment through online job sites.” Whoa, now that’s a depressing statistic for those unemployed right now. How do you make sure you’re on that three percent?

Companies receive a lot of applications through job sites; and the bigger your company, the more resumes you get. So instead of hiring people to look at each resume, they do keyword searches o the whole database of applicants.

What does this mean for you? If you don’t place enough of the keywords they’re looking for in your resume, then you might as well not submit it at all because there would be no way they can filter that many applications. What you do then is to know the keywords associated with the job opening and ensure that the resume you send would have enough of them.