| In order to do this, I recommend the following. | | | | or someone they know. Furthermore, a very large |
| 1) Join Professional Organizations Most major | | | | percentage of jobs are landed by networking-as you |
| industries have representative professional | | | | should know well by now. |
| organizations. These professional organizations are an | | | | 5) Volunteer People who volunteer are perceived as |
| invaluable source of information for the job seeker as | | | | dedicated and sometimes idealistic or altruistic. These |
| well as those who are employed. They often provide | | | | are all great qualities employers often look for, so |
| insight into the latest trends in the industry via | | | | include volunteer activities on your resume. |
| newsletters or professional magazines. This can keep | | | | Volunteering is also a great way to network. Pick an |
| you ahead of the experiential learning curve and help | | | | organization that you would enjoy helping. The |
| guide you in making decisions related to your Career | | | | options are limitless. Contact local service clubs, |
| Work Plan. The news about the future of a particular | | | | hospitals, nursing homes, YMCAs, boys' and girls' |
| industry may be good and lead you to continuing | | | | clubs, and the like to find out what they may need. |
| education in your current career area, or it may be | | | | In doing this, you may just find yourself a job offer. I |
| bad and lead you to cross-training and/or education | | | | know several people who began by volunteering for |
| outside your current career area. To find professional | | | | an organization, only to be offered a paying position |
| associations online simply attach the words | | | | later. |
| "professional organizations" to your field in a search | | | | 6) Develop a Recruiter Relationship There are |
| engine and scan the results. Another option is to use | | | | numerous local and nationwide employment recruiting |
| the Yellow Pages to contact people who are in the | | | | agencies. One only needs to go to an Internet search |
| field and ask them what organizations they would | | | | engine and type in the words "employment recruiter" |
| recommend. | | | | to find a plethora of responses. Some charge for |
| 2) Enroll in Continuing Education Courses Continuing | | | | their services. Others bill the employer when an |
| education classes are often subsidized by employers. | | | | employment offer is made. It is generally more |
| There are very good reasons for this. First, | | | | effective to develop a relationship with one particular |
| employers want their employees to be | | | | recruiter within an agency. Calling this person and |
| knowledgeable and competent. Second, continuing | | | | sending him or her updated resumes every few |
| education often revives employees' interest in their | | | | weeks will keep you in the mind of a recruiter who is |
| work and directly improves their job satisfaction and | | | | actively trolling for employment opportunities. |
| productivity. Thirdly, by enrolling in a continuing | | | | 7) Maintain an Updated Resume and JIST Card |
| education course every year or two, you continue to | | | | It may be obvious to say that everything changes, |
| make yourself more employable should you find | | | | but it does. Your resume and JIST Card should |
| yourself looking for a new job. | | | | always reflect any expansion of your education, skills, |
| 3) Subscribe to Industry Publications Keep abreast of | | | | experience, and related activities. This will also give |
| the latest trends and technologies in your industry by | | | | you peace of mind and a jump on the competition if |
| reading professional publications. Anticipate what is | | | | something unexpected happens to your Career Work |
| coming and be ready to jump on board should your | | | | Plan. I would advise you to review and update these |
| current job become outdated. Most publications also | | | | materials at least every 6 months. It is also important |
| have a classified section in the back of magazines | | | | to remember to update any resume materials you |
| and newsletters informing you of job opportunities in | | | | may have online. Personal Web sites, nationwide |
| your field. It is easy to find industry publications online | | | | employment sites, and the like need updating, too. |
| utilizing a simple word search. You can also go | | | | 8) Routinely Peruse Classifieds Routinely reviewing |
| through your local library. Again, it's a good idea to | | | | classifieds in the local newspaper, as well as exploring |
| ask those in the field which publications they | | | | online sources, is always a good idea. Looking at |
| recommend. | | | | what is available gives a person the sense of his or |
| 4) Network Networking is just as important in getting | | | | her own employability should something unexpectedly |
| a job as it is in flourishing in the job once you have it. | | | | happen to a job. Furthermore, it may provide you |
| I don't believe you can ever have too many network | | | | with ideas for jobs and careers you might not |
| contacts. It is important to periodically let them know | | | | otherwise have considered. Regular searches on |
| your employment status, continuing education | | | | major employment Web sites -such as Monster.com, |
| efforts, and other pertinent information. More often | | | | Hotjobs.com, CareerOINK.com, and |
| than not, you will not be perceived as a bother to | | | | Careerbuilder.com-often yield expanded employment |
| your network contacts. Rather, they are usually quite | | | | opportunities in other locations, as you can typically |
| flattered that you are interested in working for them | | | | search by city, state, and country. |