10 THINGS YOU CAN DO TO IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF GETTING A JOB
By Carol Stanton, CGS Career Counselor
If you've ever watched Emeril LaGasse, the intrepid television celebrity chef of the Food Network, you've probably been charmed by his passion for cooking and his signature phrase: "Kick It Up A Notch" Good advice.
When tmes are tough in the job market, as they are now, and you're having a hard time, maybe it's time to "Kick it up a notch" with your job search - do a little more, improve your skills, go to the next level, give yourself the "competitive edge". Here are some suggestions for how you can do that:
Review your job search plan. Is there something that you're not doing? For instance, many people send resumes to jobs listed on the internet, but have you tried other job search techniques such as networking or joining professional organizations? You might want to talk to a career counselor or mentor to make sure that you're covering all of your bases. There are many avenues to finding a job, not just one.
Rework your resume. Better yet, ask for feedback about it from someone else such as a professional in your field, a professor, or a career counselor. Perhaps you have not shown yourself in the best light. Does your resume show your skills and accomplishments in an organized, concise way? There are also excellent books and websites on resumes, where you can get good ideas on how to improve yours. The reference library at the University's Career Services office or the Career Center at the Carnegie Library are both good resources for books of sample resumes.
Develop a professional skills portfolio. This is a type of expanded resume in the form of a three-ring binder that you can bring to interviews to show employers examples of your previous work, certificates of accomplishments, and other kinds of written proof of your skills. A portfolio can be very impressive to employers and make you stand out among your competitors. To find out more information about developing a portfolio see The Career Portfolio Workbook by Satterthwaite and D'Orsi.
Improve your interviewing skills. Sign up for a mock interview in Career Services, practice with a friend, or go to a career library and read more about interviewing. Doing research on companies and being prepared to answer standard interview questions are two important skills. There are alsoWeb sites with good information such as the CyBer Counselor portion of the University's Career Services Web site (www.careers.pitt.edu ).
Explore the "hidden job market." A very good book on this subject is Richard Bolles' What Color Is Your Parachute . The hidden job market can also be found through networking with professionals in your field. This can mean joining a professional organization or making phone calls until you find someone who works for the organization you are interested in. A good way to keep up with what's going on in Pittsburgh is to read the weekly, Pittsburgh Business Times.
Think outside the box. Are you being too narrow in your search? If you have business skills, have you thought of looking into jobs with nonprofits or government agencies? If you're a social sciences major, have you thought of looking into the more people skills oriented side of business, such as human resources or sales?
Find a mentor. A mentor is a professional in your field who can guide you and give you advice in developing your career. You can look for a mentor through a professional organization or through Alumnet, the alumni mentoring system, in the PantherTRACS section of the Career Services Web site (www.career.pitt.edu )
Join a networking group. PAPEN at www.papen.us has monthly meetings in various parts of Pittsburgh. There are guest speakers to inspire you and a chance to talk about what you are looking for. Who knows? Perhaps someone in the group will have a good networking contact for you. The Alumni On-Line Community at www.alumni.pitt.edu is also a valuable networking resource.
Add a new skill or experience to your resume. You can earn an Accounting certificate in the College of General Studies or a Communications certificate through Learning Solutions (www.solutions.pitt.edu ). Or check other departments for their certificate programs. Perhaps join Toastmasters and improve your public speaking skills. Doing volunteer work is another way to learn skills, get more experience, and make more contacts in your field. The Student Volunteer Outreach office (www.svo.pitt.edu ) or Pittsburgh Cares (www.pittsburghcares.org ) are two good resources for volunteer work.
Check your attitude. Is it slipping downward? If you're feeling discouraged about your job search, is this coming across in your interviews or phone calls? This one can be difficult but it's important to communicate your optimism and enthusiasm when talking to your contacts, no matter how discouraged you have been feeling. Any kind of negativity can sour an interview. Listening to motivational tapes, reading inspiring books or getting support from friends can help you to stay positive through the challenging times of a job search.
Another way to get fired up, is to tune in to Emeril some night and enjoy his spunk and enthusiasm. Maybe his confidence will carry over to you and by kicking it up a notch "Bam!" you'll land that job!
