Career Doctor Articles

With the kind permission of the Career Doctor, jfo is able to bring you a series of articles to help you in your work situation and longer term career management

The job-seeker’s kitbag

What should a job-seeker have in order to be successful in a quest for a new job? Most people would reply “a CV”, which, of course, is essential. But what else?

As MD of a career consultancy, with over 13 years experience in helping people find new jobs, I would say much more is needed than a CV. It is often said that finding a new job is a job in itself, and that is certainly so. When a person is made redundant, or is simply fed-up with the present job and wants a total change, then assembling a “job-seeker’s kitbag” is an absolute must. The starting point for all that is to follow. But what should this kitbag contain?

AN ACTION PLAN

Most people begin their job-search by getting the old CV out and updating it. A very unwise move, in my opinion. Before doing this, the first item in the kitbag should be an Action Plan.

First of all, ask yourself whether or not you want to stay in your old / present job. A fundamental question. Why not use the moment to reconsider your future career path. Just because you are, or were, a teacher, secretary, engineer, or whatever, it does not mean that you are typecast in this role and doomed to stay in it for the rest of your working life.

Reconsider your career and involve other people in that decision. It might just be that now is the right time to choose another career path. There is one thing that is absolutely certain, in my experience, and that postponing this decision and staying in your present role will merely make you that much older when you do eventually bite the bullet and decide to change jobs. Delaying this decision is not a very good idea and you will eventually pay dearly for your procrastination, in terms of your health, wealth, relationship with your partner, and your career prospects.

In your kitbag should be an up-to-date psychometric test. This will concentrate your mind on possible alternative careers, and give you a scientifically-based starting point for your Action Plan.

Add some professional career advice to your kitbag. Finding your own way through the career path jungle has a touch of the “wood for the trees” and an independent and experienced mind could give you that inspiration you cannot find yourself.

Next in your kitbag should be a Self-Marketing Plan. Now you know in which direction you want your career to go, how will you achieve your objective? Easier said than done, believe me!

Most people automatically think about getting extra training. Turning that Bachelor degree into a Masters, or studying for a professional qualification. But how long can you stay unemployed or in the wrong job? Another two years? Supposing you study for, say, an HR qualification, but no one offers you a job in HR, or if you do get lucky, you are not psychometrically suited to HR? What a waste of two years, never mind the cost of the course, etc

So a Self-Marketing Plan is an essential addition to your kitbag. But what should that plan contain? There are ten different ways of getting a new job, and your plan should cover those ten ways. Such a plan requires a lot of deep thought and effort.

THE TECHNICAL BITS

Next you should consider what technology you will need for your kitbag

Number one on the list must be a computer with enough grunt to be able to handle the modern software and internet access. As the Microsoft Office suite is almost an industry standard, you would be well advised to stick to that. I prefer “WordPerfect” but am obliged to use “Word” for all my clients, as that is what everyone else uses.

In your kitbag must be a broadband connection. You will be spending a lot of time on the internet and broadband is essential if you want to avoid spending till midnight on your computer every night!

A printer is obviously essential, and whilst one might be tempted to purchase an inkjet, their results can often leave a lot to be desired. I prefer the results provided by a laser printer, and they are not that much more expensive than an inkjet. Such superior results say something positive about you to the reader of your CV or letter, so I think a laser printer is preferable. Before the makers of inkjets write in to me, let me add that I am sure their products are first-class, and, as a former printer, I am only being ultra-picky. But first impressions count.

Naturally an email address and a mobile phone are essential components of the kitbag, but most people have these already.

Next, add a ream of 100 gsm white paper and matching envelopes to your kitbag. You should have white A4 envelopes (for sending out CVs) as well as smaller ones for other letters. And, of course, lots of stamps - for the majority of job-seeking is still done via the postman.

If books could be seen as technical, then some books would be a useful addition to the kitbag. “What color is your parachute” by Richard Nelson Bolles is a good read, as is “Jobs for the over-50s” by Linda Greenbury; and for motivation, try “Feel the fear and do it anyway” by Susan Jeffers. I am sure there are many other books worth adding to the kitbag. Why not include a library ticket in your kitbag? If you are serious about job-hunting, then you will inevitably be spending quite some time in your local library

Finally, in this section, consider whether you have any training needs. For example, do you need to improve your computing skills? If so, there are any number of training organisations advertised in the Yellow Pages that would be pleased to help you improve your skills. That would be money well spent.

IMPROVE YOUR DOCUMENTATION

It is well known that a good CV will open doors, so how good is yours? A professionally written CV is an absolute must for your kitbag. I see hundreds of CVs, and about 1% of them have captured the essence of what the person is trying to market to prospective employers. The other 99% are poorly written, miss the point of what a CV is all about, and are often badly wordprocessed, or visually unattractive, with spelling or grammatical errors. Yet still people think they can produce an amateurish CV and hope it will be sufficient.

If 200 people apply for an advertised job, only six will be interviewed, and the remaining 194 rejected. That is reality. How can you ensure you get selected for interview?

So documentation that punches above its weight is essential for your kitbag. The letter replying to advertisements has to scream out “read me now” yet most people have absolutely no idea how to go about drafting this essential tool in a way that makes their letter stand out from the other 199 applicants. Get help if you cannot do it yourself.

Who will receive your self-marketing approaches? How do you do this? Much thought and preparation should go into this and these added to your kitbag.

IMPROVE YOUR APPEARANCE

It is well known that first impressions count for a lot in recruitment interviews. In HR theory this should not be so, but in my experience - over many years of interviewing thousands of applicants for hundreds of jobs, and helping well over 100 managers to make selection decisions - first impressions do influence the decision-making process.

So the next items in your kitbag could be hair dye (if you are greying), a razor (shave that beard off if you want to stand any chance at all), a membership card of a local gym (get into shape), and the business card of a good hairdresser. Good grooming is essential if you want to be successful in interviews.

Think about your business wardrobe. For the men I suggest that you buy a new suit if your old one is unfashionable and shiny. Also buy a sensible tie to accompany a nice shirt and put these into your kitbag. For the ladies I can offer no advice, save to think about what you have in your wardrobe and buy something new that is business-like, if you have nothing suitable to wear to an interview. Take it from me that tight jeans and a low-necked blouse may look good in a club, but will definitely be seen as unsuitable at a job interview. I could write another article on some of the clothes people have worn to interviews, then doubtless wondered why they never got the job!

WINNING THE INTERVIEW

The one essential addition to your kitbag is advice on how to win interviews. Get some books from the library and put these in your kitbag. Well-meaning friends can help you, but at interview most people will forget all they’ve read or been told.

So into your kitbag must go a video of you being rehearsed for the forthcoming job interview. Do you know someone with a videocamera who could help you rehearse? Only by watching your performance on video will you learn any enduring lessons that you will remember when sat in the hot-seat in a real interview!

THE FINAL ADDITION TO THE KITBAG

No job-seeker’s kitbag would be complete without the last, and most important, addition to it. Either a credit card or a well-filled wallet. For in my experience changing jobs or careers is never easy, often takes longer than you thought, and invariably costs quite a bit of money.

We have all learned that there is no such thing as a free lunch and so if you are really serious about changing your job or career, then set aside some finance to fund this major project. An investment in your future you might say.

Good luck!

The Career Doctor is Eric Hearn, Chartered MCIPD and Managing Director of Milverton Career Solutions Ltd, Ascot, Berkshire, UK.

Contact details:
Tel: 01344 624383
Email: milvertoncareers@btconnect.com
Website: www.careerdevelopment.co.uk