Job Search - Success is Not a Secret, it is a System

Job Vacancy Indonesia, Employee

Once you have identified a job that you are interested in there are a dozen questions that you must be able to answer before you consider writing your Resume/CV, job application and cover letter. They all revolve around the principle of knowledge.

You must start with the right Attitude. You must have the Skills needed to do the job. You must have the Knowledge to approach getting the job in a systematic and results focused way. These three "must haves" form the acronym ASK.

Being offered a job that interests you is all about knowledge, from knowing yourself to knowing how to land the job. Using a system is at the heart of success. If you want a successful outcome then follow this simple step by step process.

KNOW YOURSELF. Many people go to the market not knowing the product being sold. The product is you. Who are you? What do you do? What have you done in the past? How did you do it? What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? There are many tools for identifying these such as Strengths Finder from Gallup or simply visit your local book store to choose one that works for you. The simplest approach is to look back on your career to identify the roles you were really good at; the roles you enjoyed; and ask yourself if the job you are about to apply for successfully marries these two essential ingredients.

KNOW THE JOB. To know the job you are going for is of paramount importance. It never ceases to amaze me that people frequently turn up for interviews and do not know the requirements of the job for which they are being interviewed. You cannot expect to be successful if you have not gone to the trouble of finding out the specific requirements of the job. Make a phone call to the company and ask for a detailed job description before you commence your application.

KNOW THE COMPANY. It may seem obvious but many people do not check out the company before applying for the job. Detailed information can usually be obtained on the internet or from annual reports. You can also try to talk to someone that currently works for the company or to former employees. Is the company a fair employer? Does it reward innovation and hard work? Does it treat all employees equally? Is there scope for career growth within the company? Is the company successful?

KNOW HOW TO ANALYSE THE JOB ADVERTISEMENT. To analyse the advertisement or job specification you should ask 6 fundamental questions:
* What is being specifically stated?
* What is implied by stating it?
* What is not stated?
* What is implied by not stating it?
* What skills do you have?
* Which of those match those being asked for?

KNOW HOW TO WRITE WINNING LETTERS. What is the object of the letter of application? It is to get the company to read your Resume/CV. The letter of application should contain confirmation that you have all of the necessary skills and character traits what are contained in the advertisement and or the job description.

KNOW HOW TO FILL OUT APPLICATION FORMS. What is the objective of an Application form? It is to get the company to call you for an interview. Fill out all boxes and do not leave any blanks. If the question is not applicable, then simply put N/A in the box.

KNOW HOW TO WRITE YOUR RESUME/CV. What is the objective of the Resume or CV? It is to get the company to call you for interview. Thus your Resume/CV must feature an exact match with what was advertised and/or what is contained in the job description. This means at you must write a specific Resume/CV for every job that you apply for. Past performance is an indication of likely future performance. Therefore, your Resume/CV must be in the past tense, and contain a series of achievement action statements. e.g. Developed a unique system which increased sales by 10%.