Part I. Preparation

Applying for a Job

You've decided to change careers. Or you are between jobs. Whatever the reason, you're looking for a new position. If you're job-hunting you can use the help of employment agencies. There are state employment agencies that don't receive fees for finding jobs for people. And there are also some private employment agencies, which receive a fee. Some state employment agencies see applicants without an appointment and they can spend just a few minutes with each applicant because as a rule they deal with non-skilled positions. But in private agencies dealing with high-salaried jobs a counselor spends much more time with each applicant and he (or she) may be able to see only a few applicants a day.

You can also study the ads of job opportunities being published. Announcements of job opportunities can be read in different printed and online publications. But don't put much trust in ads in the yellow press. Solid companies place ads in prestigious expensive publications with a firm reputation or on their own websites. The structure of job opportunities ads is usually the same: the name of the company and the position they need, the list of candidate's professional duties, the demands made of the candidate, and the system of compensation and benefits. Carefully read the demands made of the given position. The demand to know a foreign language is very important. In most cases there is a need for free command of the language — 'Fluent English.' Free command implies an ability freely to deal with a foreign manager, competently compile documents and speak on the phone. This demand may prove to be the most important.

When you've finally found an appropriate position, you'll have to go through the stressful experience of a job interview either in the agency or in the company. But if you prepare yourself properly, you can minimize the stress and at the same time greatly increase your chances of getting the position you want.

The preparation must be threefold; you’ll have to do some research on the company you're going to be interviewed with; you must write an effective resume; and you have to rehearse. Yes, rehearse. Don't laugh: this is much more important than you may think. Remember that a job interview is stressful, and under stress a person automatically reverts to what he is used to doing. So you need to create a precedent for yourself, one you’ll be able to fall back on if the need arises.

Think about some questions an interviewer is likely to ask: "What do you know about our company? What can you contribute to our company? How does your educational and professional background fit in with our needs? Why do you think you're the right person we need? What are your good and bad qualities?" and so on.

You should answer each of these questions straightforwardly, truthfully, positively with assurance but without bragging. Try to avoid strong negations such as '1 don't know," "I don't want" etc, in other words try to be more flexible. If you don't have a ready answer now, formulate it and rehearse. If you have a tape recorder, tape yourself, listen to yourself, and critique yourself. But don't criticize — a very important distinction, don't say "What am I doing wrong?", ask rather, "What can I improve?"

The research on the company need not be in depth. Practically all the information is available on the Internet. Find out how long your target company has worked; what fields its activities cover, what countries its operations are in, who the competitors are.

And now read some pieces of advice for job-hunters.

• Let as many people as possible know that you're a job-hunter.

• Learn ahead of time about the company and its activities.

• Send your applications to as many companies as possible.

• Stress your qualification for the vacancy.

• Describe the experience you've gained which makes you the right person for the position.

• Talk and think more about the future than the past.

• Stress where possible your stability, responsible attitude and ability to mix with any people.

• Show your self-possession and self-control. Try to overcome nervousness.

• Stress your flexibility and readiness to learn.

• Don't discuss your previous experience which has no connection to the present situation.

• Don't hedge in answering questions.

• Don't avoid contacts which might be useful in finding a job.

Дата добавления: 2015-10-29