Job Search IES SAN CLEMENTE

1. Know your professional profile
2. Assess the job market
3. Basic tools for the job search

1. Know your professional profile

• 1.1. Self evaluation
• 1.2. Characteristics companies value
• 1.3. The personal brand.
• 1.4. Networking

1.1. Self evaluation

• What can I offer to this company?
• What skills do I have? 
• What knowledge do I have?
• Where do I have room for improvement? 
• What professional experience do I have?
• What are my interests?
• What are my goals?
• What kind of work environment am I looking for?

1.2. Characteristics companies value

• Job motivation
• Flexibility to adapt
• Ability to take initiative and propose improvements and solutions on your own
• Ability to work on a team
• Honesty and morality
• Good presence
• Responsibility
• Efficacy and efficiency
• Open schedule for travel

1.3. The personal brand.

• This includes your personal brand and the perception that you appear professional.
• This is not what we think we can contribute as professionals, but rather what others believe you can contribute.

1.4. Networking.

Networking consists of establishing professional relationships with people who can help you in the job search process. You can speak more informally (like with family, friends, companions, etc.) or more like how you speak in reality, such as on social networks. What you say is also part of your professional image. Don’t sell your social networks to other professionals, “buy” them based on the image or professional brand you design and on social tests: with what other people say about you, for example, with a public recommendation on your Linkedin profile.

You can use two types of online networks:

      -Professional networks: Linkedin, Xing, and Viadeo (and within these, the vertical networks that focus on a specific topic)

      -General networks: Facebook, Twitter. They have a more social focus, but also offer the possibility to search for and receive job offers.

2. Assess the job market

      Search for information about the company (where it’s based, street or sector, number of employees, sales figures, etc.)

3. Basic tools for the job search

• 3.1. Cover Letter
• 3.2. The Resume
• 3.3. The job interview.

3.1. Cover Letter

The cover letter is used to present the applicant and “hook” the person who reads it. They have to motivate the employer to continue reading the attached resume.

SHOULD INCLUDE:

• Name
• Date
• Details of the company you’re applying with
• Header
• A note about how you heard about the job
• Specify your motivation for the job and that you’d like an interview with them to learn more information.
• Signature

3.2. The Resume

The resume reflects your job history and work scope. You should adapt it for each job you apply for, thinking about which job requirements you have that you want to highlight, and include the innovations that have arisen in your work life.

Highlight positive aspects and minimize the negatives, in an attempt to convey the information you consider most relevant to your job history. Keep your writing brief.

CONTENTS OF THE RESUME

1. Personal information: First and last names, date and place of birth, home address and number of people residing there, postal code, phone number(s), DNI, email address. Keep in mind that to fill job positions, employers are more inclined to hire applicants without dependents. So if you’re married or have kids, it’s better not to specify that on the resume.
2. Information about your job training or education: Studies you’ve completed, degrees you’ve earned, centers where you studied, start and end dates, information about the highest certification/title/level you’ve received, etc. If you have little work experience, highlight your experience in the areas you’ve studied that relate to the job you’re applying for, which could indicate that you’d perform well in a similar job.
3.  Information about additional education: Courses, degrees, seminars you’ve attended, conferences, etc. Specify the number of hours, the dates, and where the courses took place.
4.  Language: Specify your level (reading, writing, and speaking) and certifications you’ve obtained, for jobs abroad. If your level is lower, consider not including this part on your resume, but don’t lie about your level because you could have to take a proficiency test.
5. Technology experience: Specify the programs you know and your level of competence with them. Record the programs you’ve worked with in your courses.
6.  Professional experience: Include your current job, the companies you’ve worked for, your positions, the tasks and duties you are/were involved in, and information about your experience as it relates to the position you’re applying for.
7.  Information and references: Names, phone numbers, company and job position of people superior to you whom you trust who can speak well about your work capabilities.
8. If the company specifically requests it, document any qualifications obtained or other information you consider relevant.
9. Other information of interest: Hobbies, volunteer work, or other activities that could relate to the position you’re applying for. It is also a good idea to indicate your availability, where you live, and whether you’re available to travel if you have a driver’s license and your own car.
10. Professional goals: This should only be included when you send a general resume (not for a specific job). The objective with this type of resume is to indicate your desire for a permanent position. Clearly state your professional goals with that company, so they know which jobs they can contact you for.

TYPES OF RESUMES:

Chronological: This type includes information about your job history starting with the oldest and ending with the most recent (this is best if you have little professional experience).

Reverse chronological order: This type begins with your most recent professional experiences, and finishes with the oldest (recommended when the last professional experiences you’ve had relate to the position you’re applying for).

Functional or thematic: This resume format groups information according to the areas or sectors you’ve worked in (it’s recommended that you should clearly distinguish each area clearly in order to facilitate the employer’s understanding of your resume).

3.3. The job interview.

STAGES OF THE INTERVIEW:

1. Greeting: The inverviewer and the applicant see each other for the first time, so you should act relaxed so you don’t seem nervous.
2. Introduction to break the ice: There should be comments about general topics to relax the applicant.
3. Personal information: You’ll find that any job interview, in addition to basic personal information, with ask about your family, marriage status, etc.
4. Training/education: This will consist of a series of questions about your studies (start and end dates, duration, subjects you enjoyed most, qualifications, level of satisfaction with the training you received, etc.). Try to convey the idea that you keep up with developments in the job sector, and that you take it upon yourself to learn more about the news emerging in the sector.
5. Professional experience: Questions about your work experience (companies you’ve worked for, dates, people you were in charge of, job duties, type of contract you had, reasons for switching jobs at the end of your contract, number of people you were in charge of, etc.).
6. Questions that intend to see if you’re truly interested in the job and therefore whether your performance and accomplishments with be suitable. The questions could be about your reasons for wanting the job, about the sector and company, job stability, salary, schedule, work conditions, work climate, success, personal growth, promotion, etc. They could ask about your hobbies, professional goals, available schedule, and family responsibilities.
7. Questions about your personal characteristics: They could ask you for a self-assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of your personality, such as your self esteem. Highlight the aspects that could relate to point 1.2 of this document. In regard to weaknesses, you should reference something that can be easily overcome.
8. Regarding payment: You should inform yourself before the interview about the average salary for the job you’re applying for.
9. Leisure and personal life: They could ask you something you consider personal, but answering this won’t influence your eligibility for the job.
10. Question time: Now you can ask questions about anything you need clarified. You should take time to think of some questions.
11. Farewell: In addition to saying goodbye, there will be a space of time before the company has news about your interview. As with the rest of the interview, the interviewer is the one who will take initiative and reach out to you about the status of your application. Don’t ask the interviewer in this moment if you seem like a qualified candidate, because it may make you appear nervous or desperate.

COMMON INTERVIEW QUESTIONS:

• Why are you here today?
• Why did you decide to pursue these studies?
• What did you like most and least about your studies?
• How did you do during your studies?
• I saw on your resume that there was a period of time where you weren’t working or studying. What were you doing during that time?
• Why did you leave that job?
• Where you in charge of anyone at your office? How many?
• Which of your professional experiences do you consider the most positive?
• What was the most disagreeable situation you encountered during work? How did you solve it?
• What was your best work achievement?
• How would you define the relationship with your colleagues and your boss?
• Why do you think you’re the best person for this job?
• How did you hear about this job?
• What do you know about this company?
• Why do you want to work for this company?
• What do you hope to accomplish with this job?
• What motivates you most about having this job?
• Describe yourself.
• What are your strengths and weaknesses?
• What do you think you can bring to this company?
• What is the minimum and maximum salary range you would be willing to accept?
• Do you prefer to work alone or with a team?
• Do you have the flexibility to travel?
•  Are you available to start work immediately?
• Are you currently interviewing for other jobs?