Job Search, Job Hunting, Career Development, Job Networking, CV and Cover Letter SWOT and much more...

1. Paradigm Shifts
SHIFTING YOUR CAREER
PARADIGMS
CONCEPTS AND PRINCIPLES TO ACCELERATE
CAREER SUCCESS
Coaching Programme By
Mohammed Talukdar

2. CHANGE Your PARADIGM!
If you want to
FIND a Job
Do it!
Do it Now!
If you cannot FIND the job, CHANGE the
way you are looking for it!
If you don´t like something, CHANGE it!
If you cannot CHANGE it, CHANGE the way
you think about it! Change your
Paradigm!
2

3. Introduction
10 Basic Concepts to Build
Winning Habits for Your
Career Success

4. Clarity

5. Clarity
– Be Focused on Career Goals
• We all ways want to do what is „fun and easy‟ – the „Expediency Principal‟
• Focus on „Hard and Necessary‟ not „Short term gain for long term pain‟
– Write out your career goals – Every morning rewrite your goals in first person
singular future tense as if you have already achieved them. Every time you write
your goals you are programming your subconscious mind. Your subconscious
mind then goes to action looking for ways to achieve your goals even when you
are asleep. You will begin to see things and notice things you would otherwise
have missed – opportunities and ways to achieve what you might have thought
impossible or difficult.
– Every evening review your goals
– Ask yourself what you did right that day towards your goals
– Ask yourself what you would do differently if you could have this day again
– Be Decisive and Disciplined
– Vision and Dream – “The best way to predict the future is to
create it.”
• Have big visions and dreams
• Be „Result oriented not activity oriented‟
• „Don‟t work very efficiently on what need not be done at all‟

6. Competenc
e

7. Competence
– Become Excellent at what you do
• Excellence is a journey
• Excellence opens up opportunities
– Being the best – gives self-esteem and leads to high levels of excellence
• Being Excellent is possible by setting it as a crear goal
• Excellence is achieved by being passionate and willing to put in the extra effort and
hours above the others
• Read, learn and talk to others who are already excellent in your field.
– No one is born better than you
• People have only learnt to do things before you
• If any one person can do it so can you – you just have to learn
– Be Passionate about what you want
• Desire is the fuel of success – Channel your desires to focus on being the best at
what you do!

8. Concentration

9. Concentration
– Use 80/20 rule
• Prioritise activities and focus on highest career priorities.
– Develop ability to prioritise tasks by importance and relevance to objectives and
goals.
• Focus on activities with highest payback and results not – easiest or fun tasks.
– Ask yourself throughout the day: What is the most valuable use of my
time right now?
• Repeat this question constantly and it will eventually become a command to your
subconscious mind – and whenever you start to do something which takes you away
from your goals your mind will automatically sound alarm bells to get back on track!
• Whenever you work on the things which are the most useful use of your time you will
feel great! You will automatically get a boost of confidence, motivation and feeling of
success and accomplishment!
• This will give you the energy and enthusiasm to continue and complete the task at
hand.
– Develop a sense of urgency
• Always get tasks done now!
• Become the person who always gets things done quickly and efficiently.
• Build a reputation for getting things done and not for being slow to respond
• Always complete every task fully to your best ability. Do not leave tasks half done

10. Common
Sense

11. Common Sense
– Most people have loads of common sense because they have not
bothered to use any of it yet!
• Gather as much information as possible in any situation
– Think - Analyse
– Understand – Consider all options and possibilities
– Apply – Act on best course of action
– Action without thinking is the biggest cause of failure.
• Think all things through
• Do not be afraid to ask someone for advise
– Use your intuition
– Learn from your setbacks
• Look for the lessons and opportunities
• Life is problems – Living is solving problems

12. Creativity

13. Creativity
– Every human being has creative potential
– Always ask questions and be flexible
• When you have learned some new information – Do things differently and be willing to
change.
• If you keep doing what you have always done - you will keep getting what you have
always got!
– Innovate – A new idea can make you rich
• Look for new ways to do things
• Come up with one new idea
• Implement it and do not wait for someone else to do it!

14. Consideration

15. Consideration
– The quality of your relationships with others will impact your ability to
succeed
– The quality of the interactions will determine your ability to get things
done
– Develop your communications skills and learn:
• Public speaking
• Understanding body language
• Developing your vocabulary
– Learn just one new word a day and you will learn over 5000 words in five years
as each new word opens the door to 10 or more other words.
– A child learns 5000 words a year at the age of 3-5, an average adult learns
about 3 words a year
• Develop writing and presenting skills
• Learn to listen
– The Golden rule of consideration is the rule of: Sowing and reaping –
What so ever you would have others do unto you - Do unto them!

16. Consistency

17. Consistency
– Dependable and consistent work is always far superior to bursts of
genius and effort
– Successful people are not better than you! They just do things in a
dependable and consistent way which is predictable and reliable
• Build a reputation for consistency and dependability
– Law of Accumulation – the Law of the Farm
• Every great success is built upon a series of small accomplishments over a period of
time
• Great successes are made of many failures and mistakes
• The way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time
• You can achieve any goal or destination if you take things just one oil barrel at a time!
– Never compromise your integrity
– Be consistent in your personal development
• Commit to a regular amount of learning everyday – even if it is only 20 minutes of
reading before you go to sleep

18. Commitment

19. Commitment
– To your beliefs and values
• Believe in yourself and be true to your values
• Commitment requires: Faith, Passion, Desire and Enthusiasm – All of which can only come from
within you.
– To yourself, career and success goals
• Commit to your goals and be focused –
• Dare to dream big no matter what the “Nay Sayers” think or say!
– To your company, boss, job
• Commit to excellence in your work place and to your boss
• Commit to the best you can do and remain loyal and above all professional
– To your family and friends

20. Courage

21. Courage
– There is no security in life only opportunity
– Fear is: FEAR – False Evidence Appearing Real
– Brave people are not people who do not have any fears, but are willing to
face and overcome them.
• How you handle your fears is a habit. If you develop the habit of confronting your
fears they will eventually disappear.
• Feel the fear and do it anyway!
– Move out from your comfort zone
• Do not be like a spider in the bath tub
– Fear can paralyse you if you let it remain a habit
• Fear of failure begets failure
– Persist in the face of adversity
• Do not back away
• Always move forward like in Karate
– Develop momentum and develop the habit of becoming unstoppable

22. Confidence

23. Confidence
– Confidence comes from practising the above concepts
– Achieving your goals builds confidence and programmes your mind for
continued self-confidence and success
– Self-doubt and fear can paralyse so focus on success and learn from
failures to increase your confidence.
– Go confidently in the direction of your dreams – act as if it was
impossible to fail
– Your actions determine your feelings and so always act the part as if you
have already succeeded and it will generate the feelings which will boost
confidence to allow you to realise your success!

24. Four Actions Required for
Successful Job Search
• Preparation – Plan to Succeed – Plan your work
1 and Work your plan
• Perspiration – Put in the effort – No one can do
2 your press ups
• Persistence – Pursue relentlessly against all
3 obstacles
4 • Patience – Practice patience

25. Preparation
• Identify the specific career/job you are
interested in pursuing.
• Define skills and accomplishments in your
CV that will set you apart.
• Address how you can meet the specific
functions of the job.
• Tailor every CV to match the specific job
description whenever possible

26. Cover Letters
The Cover Letter is your Sales Flyer! It should accompany
every job application you send. It is your opportunity to get
your CV noticed and read. It Needs to be Attention
Grabbing!
• The Cover Letter should be tailored specifically for each job.
• It should be passionate but relevant to the role
• Highlight accomplishments, experience and skills that will set
you apart from the competition.
– Why You?
• Unique Selling Points
• Major Achievements
– How will you benefit the organisation?
• Address how you can meet the specific requirements of the job
description – without regurgitating it directly!
• A cover letter should not be a mini-autobiography.
• It needs to be: Crisp, clear, and easy to read.

27. CV
• Ensure your contact information is correct.
• Market your relevant knowledge, skills, and accomplishments
as they relate to the position.
• Crisp, clear, and easy to read.
• Not More than 2 Pages in length (Up to 10 years experience)
– Add if required extra page for every 10 years of work experience
• Don‟t repeat skills that are common to several positions.
• Don‟t write a generic objective statement, consider writing a
summary of qualifications.
• Use CV power verbs when describing achievements:
– http://www.sentient-recruitment.com/resume-power-words.html

28. CV Heading and Categories
• Name and Contact information
• Personal Statement
• Experience and Qualification summary
– List Major Achievements
– Industry/Job Specific Accreditation/Training
• Employment experience – In Reverse Order
– Achievements, Skills and Responsibilities (Quantify where possible
e.g Saved 150k through process improvements)
• Professional Qualifications and Academic Education
• Security clearance
• Professional Associations
• Languages

29. Perspiration
• You have to put in the effort!
• You will get what you put in!
• It is not about working hard and long but
about working smart – Prioritise and
remain focused!
• Small but regular effort every
day is better than irregular effort

30. Interviews
• Do your homework – Company, Industry, Products, Services
and also interviewer (LinkedIn)
• Much more than just a conversation about your
experience, skills and ability to do the job.
• Don‟t be afraid to let your personality shine.
• Look the part and feel the part – Dress to impress
• Firm handshake and smile
• Establish Rapport – Body Language and Eye Contact
• Listen carefully
• Respond to questions – but say if you do not know!
• Ask questions – Be interested and current
• Follow up with a thank you letter
• Never pass up an opportunity to interview

31. Persistence
• Don‟t settle!
• Don‟t Give up your Dreams
• Keep looking until you find what you want!
• Every small goal achieved will motivate
and build self-esteem
• Do not miss an interview opportunity

32. Search Out Opportunities
• Keep growing and building your network of contacts and
joining as many industry specific recruitment databases
as possible
• Mine for names of recruitment consultants on job ads
and add them to your network - LinkedIn
– Give them a call or send them a personal introduction e-mail and
ask them for advise on the industry sector and skills that are in
demand
– Arrange a face to face meeting over coffee
– Ask for referrals and contacts
• Cold call businesses you are interested in
– Use gorilla marketing techniques

33. Patience
• Searching for a job is not easy, it will
take time and a lot of patience.
• All good things come to those who wait
• Sow the seeds of action and eventually you
will reap the harvests of your efforts
• Sometimes an action or network contact
made months ago will develop in to the
perfect opportunity at the most unexpected
time

34. Don´t Forget That
• A job search requires mental and emotional
clarity and energy.
• Don´t give up after the first unsuccessful attempt!
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35. Career Planning
• You must engage in career planning, both short and long term, to help guide you
along the desired career path of your choice.
• If you do not plan to succeed you are planning to fail – not just failing to plan
• You will be introduced to a formal SWOT analysis to evaluate your own strengths,
weaknesses, opportunities and threats to your career. You will learn about
marketable job skills and the importance of networking.
• Once a career path is chosen, you will need to learn effective CV writing and
interviewing skills.
• The next section covers how to write a quality CV, the importance of cover letters,
helpful tips on what to include and exclude from these documents and important
interviewing techniques that are crucial to landing the job.
• After successful completion of this section, you will know what important skills you
should include in your CV and how to prepare for a successful interview.

36. Short Term Planning
Short term career planning focuses on a timeframe ranging from the coming year
to the next few years.
Here are the steps to creating a short term career plan:
1. Identify your next career move. Narrow down the choices and focus on
one or two careers.
2. Conduct detailed career research and gather information on the careers
that most interest you.
3. Pinpoint the qualifications you need to move to the next step in your
career or to make the move to a new career path.
4. Compare your current profile with the qualifications developed in step 3.
How far apart are the two profiles? If fairly well-matched, it may be time to
switch to a job search. If fairly apart, can you realistically achieve the
qualifications in the short term?
5. Develop a plan to get skilled and qualified. Make a list of the types of
skills and qualifications you need to enhance your standing for your next
career move.
6. Develop a timeline and action pan for achieving each type, being sure o
set specific goals and priorities.

37. Long Term Planning
Long term career planning:
– Involves planning of five years or longer and a broader set of guidelines and
preparation.
– Should be more about identifying and developing core skills that employers will
always value while developing your personal and career goals in broad strokes.
– Core workplace skills: Communication (verbal and written), critical and creative
thinking, teamwork and team-building, listening, social, problem-
solving, decision-making, interpersonal, project management, planning and
organizing, computer/technology and commitment to continuous/lifelong
learning.
– Identifying career Trends: How you prepare for future career changes and
developments. Conducting research on careers.

38. Marketable Job Skills Overview
Research and
Planning
There are a five main
marketable job skills that
you should not only be Human
Communication
aware of, but possess and Relations
include in your career
planning development.
Organization,
Work Management
Survival and
Leadership

39. Marketable Job Skills - Communication
Communication: The skillful expression, transmission and
interpretation of knowledge and ideas.
Speaking effectively Writing concisely
Listening attentively Expressing ideas
Facilitating group discussion Providing appropriate feedback
Negotiating Perceiving nonverbal messages
Persuading Reporting information
Describing feelings Interviewing
Editing Effective body language

40. Marketable Job Skills – Research and
Planning
Research and Planning: The search for specific knowledge and
the ability to conceptualize future needs and solutions for meeting
those needs.
Forecasting, predicting Creating ideas
Identifying problems Imagining alternatives
Identifying resources Gathering information
Solving problems Setting goals
Extracting important information Defining needs
Analyzing Developing evaluation strategies

41. Marketable Job Skills – Human Relations
Human Relations: The set of interpersonal skills for resolving
conflict, relating to and helping people.
Developing rapport Being sensitive
Listening Conveying feelings
Providing support for others Motivating
Sharing credit Counseling
Cooperating Delegating with respect
Representing others Perceiving feelings, situations
Asserting Escalating to managers and stakeholders

42. Marketable Job Skills – Organization,
Management and Leadership
Organization, Management and Leadership: The ability to
supervise, direct and guide individuals and groups in the
completion of tasks and fulfillment of goals.
Initiating new ideas Handling details
Coordinating tasks Managing groups
Delegating responsibility Teaching
Coaching Counseling
Promoting change Selling ideas or products
Decision making with others Managing conflict

43. Marketable Job Skills – Work Survival
Work Survival: The daily skills that assist in promoting effective
production.
Implementing decisions Cooperating
Enforcing policies Being punctual
Managing time Attention to detail
Meeting goals Enlisting help
Accepting responsibility Setting and meeting deadlines
Organizing Making decisions

44. SWOT Analysis
In order to accurately evaluate and understand your career
planning, you should conduct a personal SWOT analysis
(Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats).
When you look at your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and
threats, it can help develop a career direction by matching your
capabilities and experiences with the correct career path you are
looking into.
This should align with your Values.
You can learn more about SWOT analysis at:
http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTMC_05.htm

45. Career Strengths
Your strengths are the positive aspects of your life that make your
knowledge and work experience different from everyone else.
Examples:
• Work experience
• Education
• Strong technical knowledge within your field
• Specific transferable skills such as communication, teamwork and
leadership
• Personal characteristics such as strong work ethic, self
discipline, ability to work under pressure, creativity and high level
of energy
• Good contacts or successful networking
• Interaction with professional organizations

46. Career Strengths (Articles)
Here are some good online articles that describe how looking at your
strengths is beneficial to your career planning:
– Article on Focusing on your Strengths:
http://www.jobseekersadvice.com/career_advice/articles/focus_on_your_strengths.htm
– Article on Assessing Strengths and Weaknesses:
http://interview.monster.com/articles/biggest/

47. Career Weaknesses
Your weaknesses are the negative aspects of your life that you need
to improve on.
Examples:
• Lack of work experience
• Lack of goals, self knowledge or lack of job knowledge
• Weak technical skills
• Weak business skills, such as
leadership, interpersonal, communication or teamwork
• Weak job-hunting skills or negative personal characteristics such
as poor work ethic, lack of discipline, lack of
motivation, indecisiveness, shyness or too emotional

48. Career Weaknesses (Articles)
Although you will feel uncomfortable discussing your possible
weaknesses, it may be necessary to do so in an interview. You should
always try to turn your weaknesses into a positive, showing that you
have changed or are trying to apply a change to lessen these
weaknesses.
Here is a good article on how to address interview questions about
your weaknesses:
http://www.careerjournal.com/jobhunting/interviewing/20041006-hirsch.html

49. Career Opportunities
Your opportunities are the positive conditions that you do not
control, but you plan to take advantage of.
Examples:
• Positive trends in your field that create more jobs
• Opportunities you could have in the field by enhancing your
education
• A need for your specific knowledge or skills
• Opportunities for advancement in your field
• Geography
• Strong network of contacts

50. Career Threats
Your threats are negative conditions that you do not control and you
may not be able to lessen.
Examples:
• Negative trends in your field
• High competition from others in your field with more knowledge or
education
• Limited advancement in your field
• Companies not hiring people with your education or skills

51. Career Threats (Articles)
Have you ever thought about what could happen to the industry you
are looking into or are currently working in? What would happen if
your type of job was no longer in demand? This is not a pleasant
thought, but proactively thinking about the threats and potential
obstacles in your career planning can help you to direct your career
planning efforts in the right direction.
Here is a good article with a list of potential career obstacles:
http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:z6AHQgyx2ksJ:www.ecu.edu/e
3careers/pdf/jobsearch/IdentifyingObstacles.pdf+career+obstacles&hl
=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=5

52. Where Am I Now? – Review SWOT Analysis
INTERNAL
STRENGTH
OPPORTUNITIES
WEAKNESS
WHAT
INTERNAL
DO I
EXTERNAL
WANT TO
DO?
THREAT
EXTERNAL
52

53. Where Do I Want To Be?
Company type Contract type Position Salary level
The level of salary •Public Sector
expectation defined •Large Enterprise
in local currency, •Start Up
yearly or monthly, •NGO
understand •Non-profit
differences in organisation
Gross/nett •Self Employed
•Industry Sector
•Administrative •Full time/part time
position •Working contract
•Management •Other type of contract
position •Freelancer
•Consulting •Interim/Projects
•Team or •Volunteer
Independent 53

54. How Do I Get There?
• Put your CV on job websites
• Register yourself in recruitment
databases of companies
• Answer advertisments REACT
• Get directly in touch with companies
• Build and use your network
• Ask for references
• Participate on job/career days
• Web networking
(Facebook, Xing, LinkedIn)
CREATE
54

55. Getting There!
1. Prepare your CV
2. Prepare your Cover letter
3. Prepare yourself for personal
interviews
4. Prepare your “elevator pitch“
55

56. Believe In Yourself
1. Write a short summary of “what can I offer to my
potential employer” at the beginning of the CV
2. Make your CV simple and transparent
3. Avoid chronological employment gaps in CV
4. There is no universal CV or motivation letter
5. Read the job description carefully
6. Learn more about the company which invited you for
an interview
7. Be creative
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57. Common Requirements Of Employers
Recent UK Survey – What European Employer Survey: Top skills
Business Wants from graduates required
• Analytical Thinking • Learning
• Ethics and Integrity
• Problem Solving
• Listening
• Subject Specific Skills
• Team Work
• Research & Technical Skills
• Written Communication
• New Ideas & Innovation
• Oral Communication
Concerns -
• Personal Strengths
• Lack of commercial awareness
• Technical Skills
• Limited work experience • Responsibility
• Difficulty in adapting to a non • Interpersonal
academic environment
• Commitment and persistence
• Overspecialised

58. Self-Assessment
• Reflect on all your previous experience
(jobs, projects, activities) and identify themes:
– What strengths emerged?
– What energized you?
– What was achieved – measurable benefits
• Know your skills and how they can transfer
• Know your values - what matters most in the workplace
• Know your priorities - what matters most in your life

59. Researching Different Industries
• When considering changing industries, begin with self-assessment to determine
your transferable skills, skills in demand across industries (reliability, analytical
skills, communication skills, teamwork, leadership, etc.)
• Research new fields by investigating specialized press and professional
organizations. See our Web site and the Reference Guide for this presentation
for suggestions.
• Learn about funding streams at universities, research/cultural institutions, non-
profits, and NGOs.
• Inform yourself about larger trends:
– Economic: Which areas are growing or maintaining their present
levels?
Consider ancillary industries that serve those that are growing as
well as how technological changes will open opportunities.
Take regional growth or stagnation into consideration
– Social: Learn about population trends like aging and immigration that
affect jobs.
Remember that larger (10 year +) trends may be reversed by the
severity of the downturn.
– Political: Pay attention to what the “Stimulus Package” funds.

60. Your Job-Hunting starts here…
Effective job-hunting involves 3 main elements:
• knowledge of yourself - what type of job would match
your interests, motivations and values
• Knowledge of the job market - where the jobs are
• Knowledge of the best job search methods.

61. Passive V‟s Creative Job-Hunting
• Passive and Reactive job-hunting will only produce
results for a small number of people during a recession.
• It involves applying for advertised jobs and being in
competition with a large number of people.
• It also involves searching recruitment websites which a
lot of people also do.
• Remember that 80% of jobs are unadvertised and will
never appear on Job Boards, Recruitment sites or on
Company Career web sites!

62. Main elements to a creative job search:
• Research on yourself and the jobs market.
• Networking – developing a network of people
who can give you career advice/ tips, industry
contacts & heads-up information on potential job
opportunities.
• Making speculative applications – this involves
sending a CV/cover letter to firms who have not
advertised jobs.
Note: During a recession competition for jobs is
higher and your CV could be on file before a job is
advertised.

63. Job Hunting Strategies – Job Matching
• Focus on the “responsibilities” and/or “duties” section of
a job description.
• You can apply for a position even if you don‟t meet
100% of the qualifications
• Don‟t presume that because an organization isn‟t
posting any jobs, there are absolutely no positions
• Contact people or organizations that interest you
whether or not they are posting job vacancies

64. Developing a Plan B
• Have an idea of something else you could do and would
like to do.
• What else did your self-assessment tell you?
• Should you draw out your time in graduate school?
• Develop additional skills and practice talking about all
your skills in different work contexts.
• Consider an internship or short-term consulting job.
• Consider a certification course.
• Consider taking a job that isn‟t perfect but lets you move
closer to your Plan A job.
• If you‟ve had a previous career, would that be something
you could do as an interim job?

65. Develop your Self-marketing
Strategy?
What is Your
Brand?
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66. Definition Of Marketing
“Marketing is the management process that identifies, anticipates and
satisfies customer requirements profitably”
The Chartered Institute of Marketing
“Marketing is about finding your unique abilities and being able to
communicate these to others effectively. ”
“Marketing is a social and managerial process by which individuals and
groups obtain what they want and need through creating, offering and
exchanging products of value with others”
Kotler 1991
“The right product, in the right place, at the right time, and at the right
price”
66

67. How To Change Your Approach
„The right product, in the right place, at the
right time, and at the right price‟
PRODUCT YOU
PLACE YOUR DREAM JOB, COMPANY
TIME RIGHT NOW
WHAT ARE YOUR SALARY EXPECTATIONS – HOW
PRICE
MUCH EFFORT ARE PREPARED TO PUT IN
67

68. Implications Of Marketing
Who are our existing/potential = Employer, Project,
customers? Schools,
Agencies
What are their current / future needs? = Open
position/Advertisement
How can we satisfy these needs? = My experience, potential,
motivation, loyalty,
• Can we offer a product/
flexibility, responsibility,
service that the customer
interest, etc
would value?
• Can we deliver a competitive
product or service?
Why should customers buy (from) us? = My uniqueness for the
employer
68

69. Marketing Management Process
Analysis/Audit Where am I now?
Objectives Where do I want to be?
Strategies Which way is the best for me?
Tactics How do I get there?
Implementation Getting there!
69

70. Possible Fears
What can I say about my CV Just describe it!
gaps?
What can I offer to the „Nothing“: is the
potential employer? WRONG answer!
Am I good enough for this Some positions are not
job? suitable for everyone
How long do people stay in 2 years on average
one job? XXV. EUFASA Conference in Prague 70

71. Networking
Have you ever heard the phrase “It‟s all in who you know?” or “It‟s not
what you know but who you know!” It‟s stated because it‟s true. Many
people land jobs because they form a relationship with another person
who can help them along their career planning path. For this reason,
network contacts often turn out to be the best source of information.
• They provide you with information about careers.
• They counsel you in interests, skills, experiences and goals.
• They generate job leads.

72. Networking-gaining access to the hidden job
market
• Use your contacts (professors, friends, relatives, former
employers, coworkers, professional organizations, etc…)
to help you in your search.
• Recruiters are inundated with on-line applicants, so
having a friend put in a good word for you will get you
noticed.
– Better still build a good network of recruitment contacts using
LinkedIn – Get to be on first name terms with key recruiters in
your industry
• According to the Harvard Business Review, nearly 80%
of the openings available at any one time are never
advertised.

73. Where to Network
Networking can happen anywhere, if
you keep your eyes open to the
opportunities that exist around you
in your everyday activities.
Here are a few great places to
network:
 One to one meetings
 Conferences and Conventions
 Career or Job Fairs
 Academic/Training Settings
 Networking meetings
 The Internet
 Social/Community settings

74. Networking Strategies
Networking with others to further your career path is not as hard as it
may sound. It can be as easy as starting up a conversation with a
person in a training session to calling an executive and building a
relationship.
No matter how you network, you should have a strategy for what you
can get out of the networking session.
A networking strategy consists of:
 Establishing well-defined goals
 Setting objectives to reach those goals
 Creating a plan to meet those objectives

75. Networking - Information Interviewing
• These questions can be put to some of your network
professionals – the purpose of these questions is to learn
more about the particular sector and entry route
information.
• How did the person get into the sector? Duties involved
in their job?
• What is the competition for jobs like? How can I improve
my chances of getting a job, e.g. extra training?
• What important skills are needed?
• What are the entry – level jobs?
• Opportunities for work–shadowing?
• Feedback on my CV?
• Professional advise on industry/role/career path

76. Networking Sources
• Any relevant employers to date or work placement
employers may give you contacts in other firms
within the sector.
• Former colleagues are also a good source of
network leads
• Join www.linkedin.com – professional networking
website.
– Create your professional profile using info from your CV &
state your aim regarding seeking work.
– There is an option to join relevant professional
groups/networks – ideal way to get industry contacts &
potential jobs.
– See „groups‟ in drop down menu on homepage. Jobs are
also listed for different sectors on the site.

77. Speculative Applications
NB: Key point of Creative Job-hunting is that
many jobs are not advertised:
• Advertising jobs is expensive and time consuming
and may elicit an unwanted large volume of CVs -
especially during a recession.
• Employers may already have received speculative
CVs and will usually review these first for
potentially suitable candidates to interview. They
may ask internally if their own employees know of
any suitable candidates for the job (networking).
• If none of these options brings any
suitable/potential candidates they may then
advertise.

78. Speculative Applications
• Speculative applications are especially important to
small-medium sized firms (up to 250
employees), who may have little budgetary
resources for recruitment.
• The majority of firms in UK are SME‟s,
(Small & medium-sized enterprises).

79. Speculative Applications
• See information on the „networking sources‟ slide
(previously) for targeting firms in your sector with
speculative applications.

80. Work-shadowing & unpaid work
• If on graduating, relevant paid work is hard to
come by for a while, consider offering yourself
voluntarily to a firm for a day/few hours.
• Or ask about work-shadowing – you ‟shadow‟ an
employee to observe and learn about their
job/duties involved.
• Both options could be obtained using networking
and/or speculative applications.

81. How to find Jobs Online
• Internet has become a great resource for job seekers to
find a job. Finding a job online can either be a
devastating task or it can be an exceptionally easy one.
• The level of difficulty of online job search depends upon
the internet resource and the way it is being utilized.
The online world is as complex as the actual world is.
• By learning the right techniques you can get the best
job and that too with the least effort

82. Here are some useful ways that can help
you to find a job online:
Recruitment Agencies:
• These are the agencies that match employers with the
job applicants who fit their criteria.
• You are just required to register with these job agencies
and leave your succinct profile and contact details.
• Employers subscribe to these sites to find appropriate
candidates to fill their vacancies.
• And if you are appropriate for a particular vacancy then
you will be contacted by the job agency.
• But before registering with any of the job agency check
the security of the site and confirm that their primary
client is the employer, not you.

83. Online Forums:
• Participate in online forums where the topic is all about
job hunt.
• There are online forums available for every plausible
profession.
• What you need to do is to become a member of the
different online forums and take part enthusiastically in
the activities.
• In order to generate a plenty of references to job
openings it is essential to mention and describe your
skills, knowledge, achievements, experience and
expertise in the forums.

84. Corporate Websites:
• Corporate websites appear like a good place to find a
job.
• Search the websites of the companies that you would
like to work for. Locate the “careers” page of the
website and see if there is any opening that matches
your skills and expertise.
• In case if you don‟t find any opening matching your
profile then send an email to the HR and make a case
for why they should employ you or even think about
you.

85. Check Job Sites:
• By searching job sites you can also find a job with no
experience.
• Browse the jobs that are listed and apply according to
your profession and desire.
• But before applying it is essential to know the site and
the team behind it.
• Confirm that the information provided on the “about us”
or “contact us” pages of the website is real.
• It is advisable to check the authenticity of job sites
which only have fill-in-the-blank forms on their pages or
which are introduced through e-mail.

86. Continuous
Career
Improvement

87. Working Toward Excellence
Achieve
Excellence
Projects Worked On
Get
Experienced
Get Familiar
Time Spent

88. The Continuous Improvement Formula
Put Your Career on the Fast Track
There are many things you can do to put your career onto the fast
track. You can set clear, specific goals for each area of your life and
then make plans to accomplish them. You can plan your work and
work your plan.
Ask For Greater Responsibility
You can accept 100% responsibility for everything you are and
everything you become. You can refuse to make excuses or to blame
others. You can tell your boss that you want greater responsibilities
and then when you get them, put your whole heart into doing an
excellent job.

89. The Continuous Improvement Formula
Utilize Your Inborn Talents
In the parable of the talents in the New Testament, Jesus says, "Oh
good and faithful servant, you have been faithful over small things. I
will make you master over large things."
If you too will carry out every assignment to the very best of your
ability, you will be given larger and more important things to do and
you'll be paid more as a result.
Dedicate Yourself to Continuous Improvement
The key to long term success is for you to dedicate yourself to
continuous improvement. If you become one tenth of one percent
more productive each day, that amounts to 1/1000th improvement per
working day. Is that possible? Of course it is!

90. The Continuous Improvement Formula
Improve A Little At A Time
If you become one tenth of one percent more productive each day,
that amounts to one half of one percent more productive each week.
One half of one percent more productive each week amounts to two
percent more productive each month and 26% more productive each
year.
The cumulative effect of becoming a tiny bit better at your field and
more productive amounts to a tremendous increase in your value and
your output over time.

91. The Continuous Improvement Formula
How to Double Your Productivity
Twenty-six percent more productive each year, with
compounding, amounts to doubling your overall productivity and
performance every 2.7 years. If you become 26% more productive
each year, with compounding, times 10 years, you will be 1004%
more productive over the next decade. That is an increase of ten
times over ten years.
The Reason For All Great Successes
This is called the Law of Accumulation, or the Principle of Incremental
Improvement. It is the primary reason for all great success stories. By
the yard, it's hard. But inch by inch, anything's a cinch!

92. The Continuous Improvement Formula
Become A 1000% Person
Make a decision, right now, to be a 1000% person. Commit yourself to
continuous personal and professional development. Read, listen to
audio programs and take additional courses. This process will
completely transform your life.
Action Exercises
Here are two things you can do to put these ideas into action
immediately.
1. First, make a plan to become a little bit better every single day.
Learn and apply one new idea each day to help you to become
more productive and effective at your work. The incremental effect
will amaze you.
2. Second, be patient. Don't expect overnight changes or instant
results. Remember the story of the tortoise and the hare. Become
a little bit better each day and your future will take care of itself.

93. Plan to
Succeed

94. Plan and Prepare in Advance
Use A Time Planner
A time planner, broken down by day, hour and minute, organized in
advance, can be one of the most powerful, personal productivity tools
of all. It enables you to see where you can consolidate and create
blocks of time for concentrated work.
Eliminate All Distractions
During this working time, you turn off the telephone, eliminate all
distractions and work non-stop. One of the best work habits of all is for
you to get up early and work at home in the morning for several hours.
You can get three times as much work done at home without
interruptions as you ever could in a busy office where you are
surrounded by people and bombarded by phone calls.

95. Plan and Prepare in Advance
Create an Office in the Air
When you fly on business, you can create your office in the air by
planning your work thoroughly before you depart. When the plane
takes off, you can work non-stop for the entire flight. You will be
amazed at how much work you can go through when you work
steadily in an airplane, without interruptions.

96. Plan and Prepare in Advance
Make Every Minute Count
One of the keys to high levels of performance and productivity is for
you to make every minute count. Use travel and transition time, what
is often called "gifts of time" to complete small chunks of larger tasks.
Remember, the pyramids were built one block at a time. A great life
and a great career is built one task, and often, one part of a task, at a
time. Your job in time management is to deliberately and creatively
organize the concentrated time periods you need to get your key jobs
done well, and on schedule.

97. Plan and Prepare in Advance
Action Exercises
Here are two steps you can take immediately to put these ideas into
action.
1. First, think continually of different ways that you can
save, schedule and consolidate large chunks of time. Use this
time to work on important tasks with the most significant long-term
consequences.
2. Second, make every minute count. Work steadily and
continuously without diversion or distraction by planning and
preparing your work in advance. Most of all, keep focused on the
most important results for which you are responsible.

98. APPENDIX

99. USEFUL LINKS
• http://humanresources.about.com
• http://jobsearchtech.about.com/
• www.cvtips.com/
• www.xing.com
• www.linkedin.com
99