Career & Life Coaching

There’s a lot of great job interview advice that’s available when you’re looking to get hired, but for those who are looking for a new job, sometimes the best advice isn’t conventional. One example of the less common advice involves looking into less common job interview techniques and options like the informational interview.

Unlike a traditional job interview, an informational interview doesn’t involve a follow up to your resume; an informational interview is far more proactive. Rather than waiting to hear back after you’ve applied for a position and then meeting with members of the Human Resources department, this job interview technique involves identifying the types of companies that you think you would like to work for and the positions that you want to explore and setting up appointments to talk with someone who can give you “the inside scoop.”

Why is looking into this type of interview so beneficial when you are looking for a new position? Here are just a few of the reasons:

* When you are able to sit down with someone who works in a position similar to the one you are looking for, you will be able to learn more about what the job is like – what happens during a typical day, what responsibilities fall on someone with that position, and how busy an average day is.

* By taking advantage of an informational interview, you’ll be able to learn more about how the individual got his or her job – what education, work experience, and interests helped to open the door.

* When you’re able to communicate with someone in a position that interests you, you’re able to learn more about them, about the team they work with, and about why they chose the company that they are working with rather than others in the area.

In other words, when you’re looking for job interview advice and your goal involves learning more about local businesses and the types of positions that interest you, you’ll find that taking the initiative and talking with someone in those roles is a great option. Not only will you be able to learn more about a given job and company, but also you’ll discover additional benefits. You’ll find that:

* If you’re comfortable, you can ask the interviewee to look over your resume or otherwise compare your qualifications to those needed for the position; if you’re looking to break into a new field, this will help you to determine which skills you need to further develop.

* You’re able to make a new contact – someone who may be able to help you later in your job search.

* You have the opportunity to show your interest in the company and the position and to let those on staff learn more about what you have to offer.

While all of those benefits can have a dramatic – and positive – impact on your job search, there’s one more reason to explore this job interview advice. When you look into informational interviews, you also have the opportunity to prepare for future interviews, to learn more about the vocabulary of a given position, and to make sure that you’re exploring options that will ensure that you’re on the right career path.

Copyright 2009, Cecile Peterkin. All rights reserved.

Whether you have built your career working on the line in a factory or you’ve held a position of power in a Fortune 500 company, the current economy makes it likely that you could end up looking at finding a new job. The key to ending up in a position you’ll love is – quite simply – focusing on conducting an effective job search.

In order to best identify effective job search techniques, it’s a good idea to take a closer look at the dos and don’t of finding a new job. Rather than ending on a negative, let’s first take a look at what not to do.

The Dont’s of an Effective Job Search

When you are looking for a job, there are some things that you’ll want to avoid doing. Here are just a few of them:

1. You’ll want to be sure that you aren’t just waiting for the perfect position to come to you.

2. You’ll need to be sure that you aren’t applying for positions that are too far above or below your skill and experience level.

3. It’s important to make sure that you aren’t simply looking for jobs in one place.

In other words, when it comes to finding a job and conducting an effective job search, it’s important to make sure that you are being pro-active. This is especially true if you are not working when you start to look for a new position.

The Dos of an Effective Job Search

By looking at and taking advantage of effective job search techniques, you’re going to find that the process of finding a job is a lot easier. Therefore, you are going to want to make sure that you are considering the following:

1. The best job opportunities are not going to be found simply by taking a look at the classifieds section of the newspaper or by scanning through listings on popular, web-based job search sites. You’re going to want to be sure that you’re talking with people you know and taking the time to contact companies that you would like to work for – even if you aren’t aware that they are hiring.

2. If you’ve wanted to make a career switch for a while, this may be the perfect time to explore something new. While you’ll want to be sure that you apply for positions in your current field, be sure to consider other options as well.

3. Tailor your resume to the company and position that you are applying for; be sure too that your cover letter addresses both your skill set and the needs of the business at which you are applying.

The more that you focus on your strengths, take advantage of the network that you’ve built and are able to communicate effectively with those who make hiring decisions, the more you will be conducing an effective job search. Stay positive, stay focused and take advantage of the resources available to you and you will be able to avoid the mistakes others make when it comes to finding a new job.

Copyright 2009, Cecile Peterkin. All rights reserved