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Building a resume is only part of the job hunting process
Howard Dowding has written an excellent guide covering all aspects of finding a new job. Some of this great advice appears here with his kind permission.
Preparing for Work
Positive thinking
Start your preparation for work now, by developing a positive attitude to life. Be willing to try out new ideas, maintain high standards and pay attention to detail. Do more than expected, treat other people fairly and be optimistic about the future. Progress throughout your career will depend largely on how you develop these personal qualities.
Vacation and part-time work
Get work experience during your vacations, or by working on a part-time basis. The experience will stand you in good stead, as employers prefer someone who has positive work experience already. Don't wait for these jobs to be advertized; write to employers and tell them why you want to work for them. E.g. 'That you want to make a career in design and would find a vacation job working in their fabric printing works both interesting and a valuable experience'.
At the end of each job ask the person, for whom you were working, to write you a short reference - you may be embarrassed to ask, but will rarely be refused. File your references for future use. In your letter of application for your full-time job, mention your vacation and part-time work experience.
Leisure interests
Interests outside your studies are an important element in presenting yourself in a positive way. Since you have no previous full-time work experience, this is one of the measures, which an employer has of judging your initiative and your ability to get along with people.
Particularly valuable are those activities in which you have some organizing function, or where you have to get along with and work with others. Activities connected with the following are particularly useful - sports teams, debating societies, drama societies, language clubs, youth groups, voluntary services, publishing a magazine, playing in an orchestra, etc.
Starting now
Don't think that because you are happy in your work you don't need to prepare your resume. Many resume's are used to gain promotion within an organization. It is also much easier to keep adding to an existing resume, rather than trying to create a new one each time, in a hurry and making simple errors.
Obtain literature, read books giving career advice and find out who your local employers are. If you are thinking of joining an organization like the police, the armed services, government departments, etc., find out now the minimum requirements, when new people are taken on and whom you should contact locally.
Your filing system
Get a file for your job-hunting material. This file will enable you to make use of previous experience and learn from your mistakes. Include the following:
- References
- Personal history file
- Advertizements
- Strong/weak points
- Copies of letters
- Career objectives
- Your five key points
- Resume
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