Formulating your professional plan
There are thousands of jobs out there. However, finding the position that suits you and that you have a good chance of obtaining, requires some serious research.
Finding an area of work that you are passionate about
It is well known that we can only be good at something we enjoy doing. Thus, when looking for work, you should not put your aspirations aside. “Imagine that you will have to get up every morning to go to this work, so it better be something that will motivate you,” states Sandra Miles, director of the firm Miles Employment. Looking for work in a field that interests you is not of secondary importance. “Your passion will motivate you in your job search and will enable you to convince an employer,” confirms Hilary Predy from Adecco. However, finding an area of work that you are interested in is only the beginning.
Creating a network
It is necessary to have a good understanding of the sector in which you will be hunting for a position. “You can begin by getting information on the Internet, but that is not enough,” says Sandra Miles. “Connecting with someone who already works in the sector is like finding a gold mine. This person can explain to you how things are done in this particular sector and what functions you would be expected to carry out. This resource person would be the basis of your network.” And this network will enable you to stay informed about positions that become available or are created.
Putting things into perspective
At this stage, you should be able to recognize those positions to which you can apply. “Comparing your skills with the available positions will narrow down the possibilities, but it will also increase your chances for success because it forces you to be realistic,” says Hilary Predy. For Sandra Miles, it is about staying “reasonably ambitious”. “It’s simple; if you stay lost in your dreams, you will never find anything, but you must also not give up on what motivates you. Your network can help you put things into proper perspective.”
Do you need to know in advance what you will be doing in ten years?
According to Hilary Predy, “You need to have an idea of where you are going. If the employer feels that you do not know where you are headed, it will be difficult for him or her to trust you. It’s not about dreaming, but about being able to explain, step by step, how you see your career moving forward. This helps to avoid disillusions.” Sandra Miles takes a more moderate approach to this question: “I don’t think it’s wise to build castles in the air, so I won’t talk too much about this subject; it could make you seem pretentious. On the other hand, you must be ready for such a question with an acceptable answer.” As always, being well prepared is your best strategy.