Career Opportunity
A great career opportunity doesn't happen everyday, but will you be ready when it does? New companies or ones that are undergoing a lot of change often have exciting career opportunities just waiting for the right candidates. Polish up your interview skills and that dusty resume and get ready to take charge!
There is an old adage that says the early bird gets the worm. The same can be said of a career opportunity that has been recently posted in the newspaper or your company's job listings. Did you know that many decisions regarding filling a new position are made within a few days of a job posting? The listing may say that applications are being accepted for several weeks, but the people accepting them may make an early determination if they desperately need to fill a position. Applications that trickle in at the end of a posting may not get the attention they deserve; rather, they may end up in the circular file under someone's desk.
Hit 'em hard and hit 'em fast. The minute you hear about a great potential career opportunity, pounce on it. Get home, revamp the resume, carefully fill out the application or write your cover letter and submit it the next day. Individuals who apply for jobs within the first week of the posting have a better chance of getting an interview than someone who applies the last week of the posting. Administrators often times are interested in individuals who are on the ball and are prompt.
Of course, many companies have human resource departments that handle all of the applications and resumes, and they may not hit the desk of the hiring staff until the very end of the application deadline. How to you make a good impression when you are lumped in with the rest of the candidates?
1.
Fill out your application carefully and thoroughly. Nothing says "competent" more than someone who can write legibly and fill out an application correctly. Your writing says a lot about you and it can make an impression, good or bad, on the person leafing through a pile of resumes. Take your time when filling out that application, and get a few extra applications, or make copies of them yourself, so that you can pitch an application form that you made a mistake on. It is also important to fill out that application in black or blue ink- skip the colored ink and pencil.
Fill out your application carefully and thoroughly. Nothing says "competent" more than someone who can write legibly and fill out an application correctly. Your writing says a lot about you and it can make an impression, good or bad, on the person leafing through a pile of resumes. Take your time when filling out that application, and get a few extra applications, or make copies of them yourself, so that you can pitch an application form that you made a mistake on. It is also important to fill out that application in black or blue ink- skip the colored ink and pencil.2.Submit an up-to-date resume. Your resume should be complete and include your current job, especially if you are applying for an internal position at your company. Don't forget to include your job objective on your resume, and detail your position's responsibilities carefully, especially as to how they can translate into a new position you are seeking.
Submit an up-to-date resume. Your resume should be complete and include your current job, especially if you are applying for an internal position at your company. Don't forget to include your job objective on your resume, and detail your position's responsibilities carefully, especially as to how they can translate into a new position you are seeking.3.Write a compelling cover letter. Even if you have worked at a particular company for years, you should still submit a cover letter with your application. This may even set you apart from your competition, especially if they have only submitted an application and a resume. A cover letter makes you look professional and it gives the potential interviewer a sense of how you feel you are a perfect fit for a job.
Write a compelling cover letter. Even if you have worked at a particular company for years, you should still submit a cover letter with your application. This may even set you apart from your competition, especially if they have only submitted an application and a resume. A cover letter makes you look professional and it gives the potential interviewer a sense of how you feel you are a perfect fit for a job.4.Get ready for a job interview. If it has been a while since you've had a job interview, practice your answers to typical questions that are asked in a job interview situation. If you come across as confident in your interview, you will have a greater chance of landing that career opportunity of your dreams.
Get ready for a job interview. If it has been a while since you've had a job interview, practice your answers to typical questions that are asked in a job interview situation. If you come across as confident in your interview, you will have a greater chance of landing that career opportunity of your dreams. 5. Send a thank-you letter. Another often forgotten part of the job application process! Send a thank-you letter to the individuals that gave you the interview, thanking them for their time as well as restating your interest in the position you applied for. Most individuals that do this step get a favorable response!
Finally, a career opportunity that lands in your lap doesn't have to be ignored just because you don't have a cover letter or resume handy. There are many companies both locally and on the Internet that can do this for you. Seek out a certified resume writing service and give them your job information- many of these companies have a turn around time of 3 days or less- just in time for you to get your application in by the deadline!
Article Written by Gregg Gerber, 2007. Article may not be reprinted without permission of the author.
