That means you have to look employable. If you're in a teen job search and this is your first job, all this can really work to your advantage.
Since you don't have a work history or at best a thin resume, much more credibility will be placed on how you come across when you meet with a decision-maker. There, it's up to you to represent yourself assertively and with enthusiasm.
Here are 6 tips that can move you toward employment success:
1. Get your ducks in a row. Write down the specific talents and capabilities your bring to the table. For example any work experience including volunteer work, school and church activities, family projects, athletic or team prowess . . . anything that demonstrates that you have contributed to helping an organization or individual. Be sure to include any work for neighbors including raking leaves, baby-sitting, shoveling snow, etc.
2. Write a script that details how you'll present yourself to a prospective employer. Remember, first impressions count BIG! If you stumble around and can't look an interviewer in the eye, you just lost. You must be prepared to speak with authority.
3. Practice what you want to say with some friends. Let them ask you tough questions so you can learn to respond intelligently without getting rattled.
4. When you've done all your prep work, then you can write a resume recapping what you've done in the first three steps. It has to be brief and to the point (maximum one page.) Remember--your resume won't get you a job. Only a face-to-face meeting results in serious consideration.
5. Dress appropriate to the position and according to company standards. Be polite. Have an opening comment to make so you can be the first to speak. Prepare in advance some intelligent questions to ask.
6. Be open to employment options. For example, an internship, starting out part-time, offering to work free for a week, a probation period, etc. Incidentally, the holiday season is a great time to get your foot in the door with retail businesses. Very often part-time holiday employment turns into full-time after the holidays.
Teen job search can be an enriching experience. It can seriously prepare you for a lifetime of satisfying and lucrative work.
You can seriously ramp up job search speed and get significantly better results by avoiding the old-fashioned methods and learning the exciting strategy of "targeting." Outdated methods include writing a lifeless work history resume and then mass distributing it through job websites, emails and regular mailings.
The reason this doesn't work is because you're putting yourself right in the middle of lots and lots of competition. In fact, studies have shown that less than 8% of job offers originate from mass distribution techniques.
Instead, taking a proactive approach that starts with targeting companies that match your needs and requirements and then identifying the decision-makers who could be your next boss. This is done through careful research.
The targeting strategy is done in two phases:
1. Identify organizations that match up with your personal employment interests and preference parameters: geographical location preferences--company size--product or service preferences--business style or corporate culture--community and lifestyle considerations.
2. Single out the appropriate hiring decision-maker within each organization of interest. You do this by researching corporate literature--online information through Google--business journals and directories--Who's Who listings--company's website--community, non-profit and specialized websites.
The purpose of this important research is to identify the names of specific decision-makers that you could be reporting to. The reason for this is that these are the folks who will be making a hiring decision about you . . . not Human Resources or Personnel managers. And, you have NO competition!
Then you want to find the best way to approach that person directly. You may do that by making a personal phone call, or writing a letter or email directly to that person. And you can visit your next boss in person. Whatever you do, you can significantly increase your job search speed by having and following a proven plan of action.
In your communication do not ask for a job, but indicate your interest in the company because of some very specific contributions you can make based on your research. Indicate that a resume will follow and that you would like to follow up to see if a face-to-face meeting (not an interview) would be appropriate.
Perhaps the most powerful way to access the target is through people who might know him/her. For example, there are people in the community who are available to introduce you, e.g. religious leaders, neighbors, service and social club members, bankers, merchants, charitable and non-profit organizations, trade associations, Chamber of Commerce, etc. Getting a personal introduction from someone who knows your target is golden.
The best news of all is that you don't have to look far to find a proven career plan and job search system which can walk you through the process step-by-step and turn you into a winner is as little as 14 days!
Both Paul Megan & Paul Bowley are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Paul Megan has sinced written about articles on various topics from Employment, Careers and Job Hunting and Employment. Paul Megan writes for EEI, the world-class pioneer in alternative job search techniques and non-traditional career advancement strategies . . . since 1985. Grab our stunning FREE REPORT: ?How To Lock Up A High-Paying Job In 14 Days (Or Less)!? Click on R. Paul Megan's top article generates over 60500 views. to your Favourites.
Paul Bowley has sinced written about articles on various topics from Marketing and Communications, Interview Questions and Debts Loans. Paul Bowley manages EEI, the world-class pioneer in alternative job search techniques and innovative e-business strategies . . . since 1985. Check out THE WORLD'S FASTEST JOB SEARCH PLAN! And grab our stunning FREE REPORT!. Paul Bowley's top article generates over 74000 views. to your Favourites.