OFFER POST JOB TIPS !

OFFER POST JOB TIPS 

Create a good impression in your new job!

Congratulations! You've just been appointed to your new job.Now 

the real work begins.

It is important from the beginning to convince your new employers 

that,in selecting you, they have made the right choice.

Demonstrate that you are highly-motivated and eager to get started.

Discuss your duties and responsibilities; and establish your priorities.

Set challenging, but achievable, short-term and long-term goals.

To enable you to fit in quickly, find out as much you can about your company and its organizational structure.

Identify the most successful and highly valued people in the firm and analyze the reasons for their success.

Use them as your role models. Associate with colleagues who are perceived as ideal employees.

Prepare carefully for meetings with your boss. Try to anticipate questions and be ready with positive 

and considered responses. Make sure you are always well-informed. Keep up to date on current issues.

Learn all you can about problem-solving techniques. When you are given a problem to solve,

tackle it enthusiastically and systematically.

Establish a reputation as a good team player by developing good working relationships and cultivating

friendships with as wide a range of people in the company as possible.

Participate fully in your company's training program; and avail of all opportunities to extend your knowledge

and develop work-related skills.

Learn from your own mistakes and the mistakes of others.

Do more than is specified in your contract. Volunteer for assignments that will help raise your profile 

within the company.Complete all work on time. Don't make promises unless you are sure you can deliver.

Develop a reputation for honesty, loyalty and integrity.Since your job description will form the basis of your performance appraisal, it is important to review it regularly.

SALARY NEGOTIATION 

Is that your best offer? 

Dealing with the salary question is often the most difficult interview question facing job seekers.Most job seekers feel understandably anxious, embarrassed and uncomfortable when the time comes to discuss salaries. Advice such as "never bring up the issue of salary, let the interviewer say it first,"is rarely helpful if you don't have any ideaof how to respond when the topic does come up.

THE TOP TWELVE TIPS TO NEGOTIATING SALARY IN AN INTERVIEW

Be prepared. Before going to the interview, it’s crucial to research the company and salary range for the

position you are applying for persons with your background and experience. Have a salary range in 

mind and be prepared to discuss these figures once salary negotiation has come up.

Know your absolute bottom line. Know what your minimum salary range must be to support the life you

want to live. So decide, before you go into an interview, what salary you want to earn, what you need

to live on, and what you will be willing to settle for.

Market yourself. Emphasize the reasons you should get the offer. Document your skills and accomplishments,and be prepared to talk about them.

Never discuss salary until you have a job offer. If you do, you could price yourself out of a job before

the employer is convinced they need you. If pressed by the interviewers, tell them you’re flexible 

and would be happy to discuss salary when you learn more about the job. 

Get the employer to disclose salary before you do. Don't be the first to mention salary during the interview.

Let the employer bring it up as many times as necessary until you feel ready.

When questioned about desired salary, the best response is one that returns the employer's ball back into

his court: You can say, “what kind of salary range are you working with?” or “Well, I’d like to make as much

as other employees with my qualifications.” or “What is a typical salary for this position?” Another strategy is

to avoid a specific salary and name a pay range instead. Say: “I was thinking of a salary in the 15,000 to 25,000 range.” Make your salary discussion a friendly experience. Be amicable when discussing salary. You should make the employer feel that you are on the same side and working together to find a package that would satisfy everyone's needs. 

Declining an offer: If you decide not to accept the offer, make sure you leave on the best of terms. 

Treat every offer seriously and graciously. You can never tell who you may be doing business with in

the future so don’t burn any bridges.

Are you considering lying on your resume? 

If you are prepared to lie or embellish experiences on your resume, be prepared to get caught. Competition

for jobs is becoming fiercer and executive recruiters and many employers realize they have more options to choose from. Most executive search firms won't risk their reputation presenting fraudulent resume embellishing candidates. For them placing a successful candidate is also a means of securing new business in the future. Professionals never forget key alliances made throughout their careers. Namely persons or organizations responsible for alerting them of better career opportunities and of course those who perhaps through no fault of their own, have taken them away. Therefore, it is becoming more and more common for recruiters and their client companies and many other employers, to do extensive background checks on your resume prior to an offer of employment. Sometimes these verifications can commence immediately after you apply. 

There are many surprisingly obvious tip-offs the well trained recruiter seeks to spot untruths on resumes that unfortunately all won't be shared here, however recruiters and hiring managers stated the most common misleading information being put on resumes are:

Inflated titles

Inaccurate dates to cover up job hopping or gaps of employment, applicant list calendar years instead of months and years 1/2 finished degrees, inflated education or "purchased" degrees that do not mean anything. Advanced degrees never earned 

Inflated salaries

Inflated accomplishments, embellished accountabilities.

Out and out lies in regards to specific roles, duties and responsibilities. Supervisory skills and number of persons supervised

Unlisted terminations

Education and pervious compensation are the most common areas of the resume where we usually see misleading or false information.

It may be tempting to add an extra job responsibility or the amount of experience you have had in a particular area to grab your reader's attention. However, now you are faced with adequately discussing responsibilities that you never really had. If you do end up getting the job, now you are stuck with more lying, not only to the hiring manager, but also to your coworkers, clients, customers or even fans. You would have to show up to work everyday knowing that you lied to get there and wondering when you might get caught. If you do get caught, the result is typically getting fired right on the spot. Now, you have a real reason to lie when you have to look for another job. Also you can face litigation because an application for employment is deemed a legal document and falsification has penalties. Most employers may not sue, feeling that the loss of the position, salary, perks and reputation is penalty enough. 

Even if you initially convince your employer you are more experienced than you really are, you will be expected to demonstrate the necessary skills when you need to. So before you lie on your resume, think twice and know the potential consequences; not only financially but it could also prove to be a huge source of embarrassment. 

Post selection 

CAREER PLANNING 

What comes to your mind when you think about career planning? Many people aren’t sure what career planning means. For our purposes we will define career planning as “A goal that you desire to achieve in a selected field or occupation with a well thought out plan to get you there.”

WHY DECIDE ON A CAREER GOAL?

A career goal helps you focus and make decisions on what you want to do for a living. It directs you, motivates you and helps you to accomplish what you want. A career goal helps you focus and make decisions on what you want to do for a living. A career goal can be a specific job—such as a clerk or teacher—or a career goal can be a particular field you want to work in, such as transportation or education.

A career goal may help you discover your talent, skills and abilities and possibilities that you wouldn't have thought of. Many possibilities exist with any career you choose. Having a career goal can guide you to doing what you want to do in your life—rather than just aimlessly drifting from job to job.

Once you choose a career, it would be to your advantage to think strategically about the steps you need to take to accomplish your goal.The future is unpredictable; however, you should still make career goals and plan the necessary steps to your goal.

EXPECTATIONS/DISAPPOINTMENTS

With every goal there is an anticipated desired outcome. We call this an expectation. Our expectations help keep us motivated. When we realize our goal, we often feel joy and satisfaction. 

All of us have expectations and disappointments. In the process in thinking about our goals, we have to be prepared to have disappointments. Career planning is simply goal planning with the intention of setting goals for jobs and career.However, the only career planning you need is the one that is for you and your particular needs. Career planning is getting information, and with that information, you make a goal, and then plan the steps needed to obtain that goal.

The world we live in works in certain ways. The more one knows how it works, the better one can achieve those goals by utilizing the processes that will give you the advantage. Career planning is simply goal planning with the intention of setting goals for jobs and career.

In order to remain competitive you need to be as flexible as you can and continually increase your skills. Some things you can do are: go to school, take workshops or seminars, keep up with trade journals and talk to people who are knowledgeable in the field. Today, it’s almost mandatory for us to take some form of training all through our career to keep up with the times.

When we talk about training or skill, it’s not just talking about things like organization and time management, although these are important. However, stress management, problem solving, risk taking, and overcoming procrastination, to name a few, are equally, if not more important, to getting to your goal.

WHY IS CAREER PLANNING IMPORTANT?

Let’s suppose you choose a field. Career planning is not planning for that field on a one-time only basis, but it’s a continuing process; in fact, you can call it a lifetime process. We are always learning and growing, and as we do, our interests and needs also change. Career planning is not just making plans to obtain your “perfect” job or career, but to help you make the many adjustments there will be along the way as you learn about you and your world or work.

Career planning is estimating, predicting and calculating all the steps necessary to achieving your goals. In the process, you are always making choices. When you choose one alternative over another, this is called an opportunity cost. An opportunity cost is the cost of passing up your next best choice when making a decision. In career planning, we need to always be mindful of our opportunity costs and take into consideration all that will come our way. Those who have successful careers understand how the game of work is played. As you can see career planning is more than just looking at jobs and positions and working hard.

In planning your career, try to find the people who can be mentors for you and assist you along the way. Career planning is no different than any goal setting and planning. The difference is that you are specifically separating your career and job goals from all other goals you may have. 

The reason most people do not turn their wishes and dreams into reality is because they don’t take these wishes and dreams and make them goals. A goal is a dream with a deadline.

There are many reasons why people don’t make goals for themselves. The biggest reason is they don’t understand that the process of goal setting is a skill. All of us have made some goals in our life and achieved them. But most of these were not large or life changing goals like going into business, changing careers, becoming wealthy, writing a novel, going from office clerk to a top executive or becoming an expert in your field.

The successful people set goals; they plan and follow the plan. Goal setting is a process and a learned skill with many parts to it. Simple, short-term goals may be done in your head, but more complex, long-term goals, should be written, evaluated and monitored frequently. The longer it takes to achieve your goal, the more you will encounter problems, changes and frustration.

Goal setting is as much art as it is science. The more you understand the process and the more skills you acquire, the better are the chances in reaching your goal. By seeking your goal you will help build your self-esteem and self-confidence.

Goal seeking is growth building. Goal planning is life planning. As you define your goal, it will define you.

Life presents us with unexpected events all the time. So when we set out a goal we must understand that there may be many roadblocks to reaching a goal.Barriers that come up often cause a person to abandon a goal. Many people think that by writing down their goals, they fear they will lose their spontaneity or flexibility. Goals aren’t rigid and once it’s written it’s cast in stone and one can’t change it. No one knows the future. What you plan today can change dramatically in an instant. 

However, a well thought out goal can anticipate many otherwise barriers that would stop you. Barriers that come up often cause a person to abandon a goal. It’s like running into a wall, and then you run away from it.

Suppose you want to go from a clerical worker to a manager. Before you do anything further, ask yourself “Why do I want to achieve this goal?” You may say, “I want to achieve this goal because I want to have more status” or “I want to increase my salary” or “I believe I can be a good leader and this can help me achieve my long term goal of becoming a top executive in my present company or another company.”

Now ask yourself “Why is this important to me?” You may say, “It’s important to me because I want to go as high up the corporate ladder as my talents and abilities will carry me.” Then ask yourself, “Why is this important to me?” You might say, “Because I want to prove to myself and to others I’m an achiever and I want to have the prestige and status of a corporate executive.”

Ask yourself again, “Why is this important to me?” Try doing this for as long as you can. What you are attempting to do is get to the core reason of why you want to do something. This exercise will help you to clarify your intentions and goals. It will help you determine your motives and it may actually cause you to say, “Now I know what I truly want, which is status and prestige.” By doing this you may see that there are other ways of achieving your goal besides being a corporate executive.

It’s sometimes easy to say, “I want this” when it might actually be something else you want. This can help you save wasted effort by making sure you truly want to pursue this goal. It will also help you with your motivation and determination when you can positively say to yourself, “Yes, this is truly what I want,” and you will be more committed to this pursuit

In summary, many people are dissatisfied in their jobs and career. Career planning will help maximize your potential and satisfaction in your work. 

Having a career plan keeps you focused and motivated. It helps you to anticipate problems and barriers that may come and what you can do to avoid the problem or barrier, solve it and continue on, or it may point out your deficiency or weakness so you can get the skills or resource needed to deal with the potential barrier.

Career planning will give you confidence that you are in charge of your career and life and you have the power to decide, act, and do what you want to accomplish your goals.

Career Advice for New Graduates and Entry-level Job Seekers:

One of the biggest mistakes that individuals make in their careers is to go aimlessly through school or work in an entry-level position with no clear direction (goals). They wait until the homestretch — graduation, layoff, or departure — before taking a stab at other opportunities.

Finding a well-paying job or locating opportunities for advancement shouldn’t be treated as an afterthought, rather one that has been planned and prepared for months or years.

Preparation, preparation, and more preparation! Imagine signing up for a marathon and waiting until the day prior to begin preparing for the race. Obviously, you’re not ready because of lack of training, you didn’t seek the assistance of a coach or mentor, and you didn’t assess the resources you would need on the day of the race.

Without proper preparation, what are your chances of completing the race?

Like any serious step you’ll take in life, you must first determine the number of baby steps needed to get from one spot to the next. In other words, where are you headed and how will you get there?

Outline every obstacle or challenge that will hinder your progress of taking these steps. Each small step (short-term goal) will take you closer to satisfying the big steps, known as long-term career goals. First, take a good look at the types of positions you’ve held to date along with your college major. Ask yourself, do I like where I’m at and where do I see myself in 5 years? Don’t be ashamed if you’re not sure. Visit your favorite job bank, type in keywords for your intended career field, and examine those positions to determine if any meet your satisfaction. Second, write down job and career goals (preferably 6 months before graduating or the start of your intended job search). Job goals pertain to the position you currently hold now, whereas, career goals are the “big picture” (e.g. career change in less than two years or targeting a six-figure salary). Research 2 or 3 positions that you would love to obtain TODAY along with those you’re striving for in a couple of years. Third, prepare yourself, your credentials, and your résumé based on your predetermined career opportunities and goals. Prepare to go back to college, join business groups, serve on committees, or alter your résumé to encompass all (or any) of these. In a career journal, make notations of the positions that interest you along with the skills required for each. Add other entries pertaining to outstanding credentials, and miscellaneous obstacles in the order that’ll need to be completed, with resolutions and proposed dates of completion. The object is to not stand still. Navigate your future by performing a self-assessment that will get you from a to z in your career. Defining your career aspirations is an essential step in the process of transforming abstract thoughts into tangible realities.

Everything ever accomplished by man or woman first started as a thought. 

If you continue to produce letters and resumes that highlight the skills you have developed in your present position, you will continue to sell yourself to the same market. When you know your key strengths and skills you increase the number of opportunities that are available for you in a variety of sectors. Whether you are changing careers, re-entering the workforce, or looking for your first job, highlighting relevant transferable skills in you resume helps employers determine at a glance that you have qualifications for the position or positions they have available.

Your unique transferable skills are key selling points that you should market to employers. Skills are things you are good at such as organizing people or events, computer skills, the ability to sell ideas and public speaking. Accomplishments are your successes such as winning an award, completing a course or certification, or achieving top sales results. Most interests and activities involve developing key transferable skills. For example, team sports or group activities often provide an opportunity to develop career related strengths, including scheduling, group leadership, management, and event planning.

You can find lists of transferable skills that highlight people skills, communication skills, analytical skills and a few other categories. The problem with highlighting a group of general statements such as "Reliable. Willing and able to show up on time." is that they do not answer the key question every employer will ask: What does this mean to me? It is important that you always select the transferable skills that bring you closest to a company's requirements. For example, if your present position only includes limited computer responsibilities and you are interested in a position that requires extensive computer skills, highlight the skills that you have developed during leisure activities, including html even if all you have ever produced was a personal web page.

You have hundreds of skills that could be highlighted in your resume to attract the attention of a number of employers from a variety of sectors. The key to success is selecting and supporting the skills that directly respond to the specific requirements outlined by potential employers in their advertisements or position descriptions. Take time now to list five activities that give you a feeling of satisfaction. Then, list five things you are good at. Do not limit your answers to previous work experience.

Understanding your interests, skills, and attitudes will increase your confidence and help you sell your strengths to a target employer. Increased self-confidence sends a positive message to employers. Do not spend too much time trying to discover your weaknesses. If you cannot think of weaknesses that affect your ability to secure your target position - move on! Career plans built on strengths decrease the time it takes to find the right job.

HOW TO MANAGE YOUR CAREER?

To succeed in today's demanding and ever-changing work environment, you must take charge of managing your own career.

Look upon yourself as a company with a product or service to sell. Understand your market and devise a marketing campaign, remembering that companies hire employees who offer them the best results and the best value for money.

Begin by identifying your skills, qualifications, and accomplishments. Adopt a customer-focused approach. What benefits and results can you offer employers? Are your skills marketable and up-to-date?

Employers are in the market for team-players and problem-solvers. They want to see evidence in your CV or resume of specific, quantifiable accomplishments.Determine what additional skills you need to develop to make yourself more marketable. Take advantage of all opportunities for continuous learning and professional development.Successful businesses win customers by developing a unique selling proposition. To give yourself a competitive advantage, analyze what other employees in your field are offering.

It is not enough to emulate them; you must strive to differentiate yourself by offering something extra, something unique.

Try to assess yourself as objectively as possible in order to identify your marketable features. Analyze your performance appraisals and, if possible, enlist the help of a trusted friend or colleague to help you evaluate yourself.

Define and prioritize your short-term and long-term career goals.

Study recruitment websites and the appointments pages of newspapers to familiarize yourself with the current requirements of employers.

Your CV/resume should be fine-tuned regularly and kept up-to-date to enable you to make a swift and targeted response to any suitable job opportunity that arises.

Learn all you can about job search strategies, job-specific resumes, and professional interview techniques.

By adopting a planned and proactive approach, you will maximize your chances of landing the job that best fits your skills and personality, and increase the likelihood of achieving your long-term career goals.