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INTRODUCTION

This book will prepare you for the difficult task of job hunting.Not only will it show you how to get a job but it will show youhow to keep your job and get the most out of it. You will be ableto use the most modern psychological measures in dealing withother people so that you are always ahead. Follow the instructionin this book and see yourself go to the top.

HOW TO PREPARE FOR JOB HUNTING

Know What You Want

You should be perfectly clear of what you want. Don’t giveyourself vague objectives such as “any job that pays.” Make yourobjectives and goals very definite and specific. Your first stepto getting a successful job is knowing precisely what you want.Ask yourself this question and write down the answer on a sheetof paper.

Expect The Best But Prepare For Adversity

Always expect success, but prepare for the bad things in life.Adversity happens to the best of us. Our challenge is to conqueradversity. Adversity is a great teacher; learn its lessons well.Remember, if you haven’t been through bad times, you are far fromsuccess.

Be Positive

When you create a “win,win, win” attitude, you will start to win.When you start to think positively, everything around you will bepositive. Whatever you expect to take place will take place. Ifyou want things to be good, they will be good. You are the masterof your destiny. Destiny DOES NOT rule you.

Be Confident

You must have confidence in yourself. If you are not confident inyourself, people will not be confident in you. People admire andrespect confident people. You will even admire and respectyourself more. If you have doubts about yourself, other peoplewill have doubts about you, also.

Action Is The Key

Do whatever you have to do to get where you want to. Commityourself to action. Don’t put off your plans, start today. Theonly way you will achieve success is if you act now. You must actnow with full force if you want to achieve your dreams. Plan toact out your ideas today.

Visualize Your New Job

Look ahead and visualize the job you want. Tell yourself how muchyou want the job and what you are willing to do for it. Yourdreams will become your reality if you let them. Know what yourdreams are. Visualize success in your mind so well that it isalmost real.

Be Persistent

Be persistent to do better. Anything worth doing is worth doingagain and again and again. Don’t let rejection stop you fromreaching your goals. Keep trying and you will succeed. Nobodymakes it the first time. Try over and over again and don’t stopuntil you get what you want. There is no going back.

It’s Going To Cost You

Nobody gets a free ride. If you want something, you must pay forit. It is going to be hard to get what you want, but it will bewell worth it when you are successful. The best things in lifeare the hard things.

Other People Can help You

People will help you to get where you want to go. You will nevermake it alone easily. People can teach you and help you become abetter person. Listen to other people–you will learn from them.If someone helps you, don’t forget to reward him.

Demand A Lot

When you demand a lot, you get a lot. Your expectations of othersand yourself will become a reality if you expect them to be real.What you expect to happen, will happen. If you push yourselfhard, you will start to see results. demand and you will receive.

WHERE TO LOOK FOR A JOB

Look through the help and want ads of newspapers and professionaland trade journals. Find out where government jobs are listed andthen try out for a state, local or federal job. Check with yourstate employment center–it may be able to get you a lead. Mostschools have job placement centers, check with them. Thesecretaries of civic organizations and the Chamber of Commercemay have some leads for you You may be able to get a job by goingto a job fair. If you are a minority or need special assistance,you may be able to get help finding a job from special interestgroups. Check at your public library for further information.

Where You Can get Job Leads

Trade conventions and organizations that relate to your field maybe able to get you job leads. Ask relatives and friends if theycan furnish you with any leads in your field. Place a job ad innewspapers or professional journals.

YOUR RESUME

A resume is helpful for any type of professional job you aretrying out for. A good and effective resume will lead you topersonal interviews.

Preparing Your Resume

You must write down a collection of all the information aboutyourself on a sheet of paper. After all of this information isorganized, transfer it to a resume. Only use the training andexperience that are relevant to the job which you are applying.Write down all the information that relates to your goal on yourdata sheet. When you are mentioning jobs that are unrelated tothe job you are applying for, be brief. Tell your prospectiveemployer anything and everything that’s in your favor and willinterest him. Arrange the information so it catches yourprospective employer’s attention.

To determine what you should put in the beginning of your resume,think of what your potential employer will feel is important. Youcan organize your experience by job or by function. Your resumeshould be detailed enough to give an employer all the importantfacts on you, but it should not be too long or an employer maynot read it. Employers are busy people and they want the facts ina few words as possible. When writing out your resume, don’tmention anything negative about yourself. If you have never hadany work experience and the job calls for work experience,shouldyou put “none” in that section of your resume? No. If you havenever had nay previous work experience, don’t even include workexperience.

Make Your Resume Impressive

Your resume must be typed on a good typewriter. Remember, when aprospective employer looks at a resume he subconsciously relatesthe quality of your resume with the quality of your work. It isthe only thing he sees of you. The most impressive resumes arenot five-color jobs on 20-cent paper. If your resume is tooflashy, your prospective employer may not be too impressed. Don’tpass out carbon copies of your resume because they look cheap andthey tell an employer that you gave the original to someone else.Research has shown that resumes printed on yellow paper withbrown ink are the most effective. If you don’t want to print yourresumes, just photocopy them on fancy yellow paper to give themthat quality touch.

THE INTERVIEW

What You Should Bring To The Job Interview

Organize and prepare all the papers you will need with you atyour job interview. Your main document is your resume. If youdon’t have a resume, take instead your school records, SocialSecurity card, work records, licenses, military records, dates ofemployment and names of your employers.

Your References

It is also important to create a list of references. Be preparedto give an employer the names and addresses of three people whoare familiar with you and/or your work. You should ask yourreferences for the use of their names in advance. If you think itappropriate, ask a professional friend or former employer towrite you a letter of reference, and include it with your resume.If your work is the type of work you can show, take samples ofwhat you have done in the past.

Know The Company And The Employer

Learn all you can about the company that is interviewing you. Goto the library or your Chamber of Commerce to find out all youcan about it. Try to find out exactly what they do and what theyhave in store for you as far as jobs are concerned. Find out whoyou will be working for. The person you will be working for willbe very influential in your life. Make sure you really want towork for this person. If your future boss doesn’t tell you abouthimself at the interview, don’t ask.

Know How Much You Should Earn

Know how much you should earn with your talents and skills. Makeyour estimate a little higher so the company benefits when theybid you down. Don’t go too high or you won’t get the job. Knowapproximately what the salary scale is for the job and be readyto negotiate the salary.

Know Yourself

It is important that you know yourself. Evaluate what you canoffer this company, whether it is education, training or specialskills. Always tell them what you can do, not what you can’t do.Know exactly what type of job you are applying for and what typeof job you want.

Know Your Interviewer

Prepare yourself for the questions for the questions theinterviewer is going to ask you. You should rehearse answers tothe most commonly asked questions. Have some one ask you thesequestions to practice your answers:

Why do you want to work here?how long do you want to stay with this company?Why did you leave your last job?Tell me about yourself.Why aren’t you working now?How long do you think you would stay in this present job withouta promotion?Why should we hire you?What is your greatest strength/weakness?What did you like/dislike about your last job?How much did you earn?How much do you want to earn?Why do you think you can do this job without experience?

Your Time

Make sure you are at least 10 minutes early for the scheduledappointment. Don’t come too early or too late. Give yourselfenough time to spend with the interviewer–don’t arrange anotherappointment 15 minutes after the first appointment. Your timewith the interviewer should be uninterrupted.

Your Appearance And Dress

Don’t wear too casual or too formal clothing to the interview.Dress conservatively without flashy colors. Be well groomed andshave for your interview. Women should make sure thy look veryneat. Hair should not be in the face, it should be up or tiedback. Makeup should be subtle. The way you look is very importantto your interviewer. If your appearance is bad for the interview,that is the impression an employer will have of your jobperformance. Neat appearance is always a must.

What To Do At The Interview

When you shake an employer’s hand, shake it firm, solid grip.Don’t shake his hand passively. Be businesslike but pleasant andfriendly. Smile throughout the whole interview. Make sure yoursmile does not look fake. Good eye contact is very important. Ifyou can’t look into his eyes, look at the bridge of his nose.This will seem as if you are looking into his eyes. Sit straightup but toward the interviewer. This will make it seem as if youare very interested in what the interviewer has to say. Don’tsmoke or have poor posture during the interview. If you are understress, try to act calm.

What To Say At The Interview

Let the employer take charge of the interview. Answer hisquestions briefly but completely. Don’t ramble on aboutunimportant things and waste his time. Dogmatic statements shouldbe avoided. Tell the employer exactly what you expect from yourjob and from him. Also tell him exactly what he can expect fromyou. Stress your qualifications in a positive, affirmative tone.When the employer tells you what type of person is wanted, usethis information when telling the employer about yourqualifications. It is very important to tell him what he wants tohear. When you tell people what they want to hear, they start toagree with you. Don’t over do it and exaggerate with lies. Useyour resume or records to support any claim you make aboutyourself. If you don’t understand a question the interviewer asksyou, repeat it back to him to see if you understand it. Try tosee what the interviewer wants to find out about you. If you knowwhat he wants to find out, make you answers fit his needs.

What Not To Say And Do At The Interview

Talk about previous jobs if they are in your favor. Don’t sayanything bad or criticize previous employers or fellow workers.If you say anything bad about anyone, your future employer canexpect trouble from you. Don’t say anything negative aboutyourself. Try not to discuss anything personal, financial ordomestic unless you are specifically asked. If the interviewerquestions you at a quick pace with confusing questions,he isdoing this to put you under stress. Stay in control and answercalmly. Don’t be overly impatient when an employer asks you aquestion. Wait for him to finish the question and then answer itcompletely and in a relaxed manner. You don’t want an employer tothink you are desperate for the job. Don’t take anyone with youto the interview–this makes you seem insecure.

At The End Of The Interview

If the employer does not offer you the job at the end of theinterview, ask him when you will hear from him or when you cancall to find out his decision. If you are asked to come back,write down the time and place you are to attend. After theinterview thank the employer for spending his time with you. Askhim if he knows of any other company that may need a person withyour qualifications. A good practice is to also thank theemployer by mail with a “thank you” letter. Many applicants don’tdo this, so this may give you an edge on the job.

If You Are Hired At The Interview

Make sure that you understand what your duties will be. A goodunderstanding of what your employer expects from you and what youexpect from your job will prevent conflicts in the future. Makesure that you are very clear on both of them. You should alsofind out what advancement opportunities are open for you. Tellthe employer what salary you want, but only bring up money whenthe employer brings up your salary.

If, at the end of the interview, you are not offered the job,tell the interviewer that you really want the job. Follow up witha thank you letter to the interviewer. Tell the interviewer againin the note that you really want the job.  If you forgot tomention something in the interview that you thought wasimportant, don’t hesitate to mention it in the letter. If thecompany hasn’t contacted you in a week or two,call. If somebodyelse is hired for the job ask the interviewer if he has any otheropenings in his company or if he can give you any leads.

WHAT YOU NEED TO GET THAT RAISE

Make The First Move

Don’t wait for someone else to tell you what to do. Uppermanagement admires an individual who takes initiative. Developyour individual talents. Educate yourself with new skills andknowledge. Show them that you are a real “go getter.”

Make Quick Decisions

Teach yourself to make quick, intelligent decisions. Beingindecisive will hurt you. Anyone can make good, quickdecisions–it is just a matter of training yourself. Intuitiveinstincts must be developed.

Seek More Responsibility

Take on the tougher assignments. Actively seek more difficultwork with added responsibility. Take on all the responsibilityyou can handle. Try to take the added responsibilities inaddition to your assigned work, The greater yourresponsibilities, the more you are an asset to management.

Increase Your Interests

The more you know, the more valuable you are to the company youwork for. Go to night classes or just read books that will giveyou that added education. Increase your interest in things thatwill help your company. Specializing in as many things as you canwill help you move up in a company.

Take The Risk

Nothing comes easily. Moving up in a company is going to be hardbut rewarding. If you expect to move up, you must take chances.It is the little risks in life that give us the most advancement.If you don’t stick your neck out, your chances of moving up areslim.

Know Your Company

Find out everything you can about the company you work for.Understand and know your company. Study and learn the jobs ofyour fellow workers. Understand what they do and why they do it.Always try to increase your knowledge.

Know Your Boss

Find out what type of qualities your boss and upper managementare looking for in employees. Try to develop those qualities.

Be Good At Your Job

Management always admires people who are efficient at their jobs.Keep the highest possible level of production and quality everyday. Be so good at your job that you can do it without closesupervision. Don’t fool around on the job, regardless of whatother employees do.

Know Your Goal

You Should know exactly what position you want. Be the personthey want if you want that position. Make sure you can do allthat is required.

Devote Yourself To Your Company

You should have a strong sense of loyalty and devotion towardyour company. Show the company that you care about its wellbeing. Don’t disagree with company policies. Even if you disagreewith them, obey them. The best that you can do is to agree withthe policies and tell management diplomatically how you feelabout them.

Be Reliable

Being reliable is very important. A company wants to fell securewith your contribution to the company. Don’t be late or absentfrom work without a very good reason.

Make Sure Your Accomplishments Are Seen

There is nothing wrong with letting others know what you haveaccomplished, as long as long as you don’t brag. If theopportunity arises for recognition, take it. Make sure othersknow what you have done. A good suggestion is to jot down youraccomplishments in a dairy. When you asks for raise, refer toyour dairy. Keep all your recommendations and awards in a file.

Be A Problem-Solver

Look for problems in your company. Devise practical andintelligent solutions to these problems. Bring the problem to theattention of your boss only after you have solved it and have allthe details of the solution.

After-Work Activities

If overtime work is needed, don’t ever decline or avoid it.Volunteer for committees, and then work hard for them so theymeet their objectives.

Voice Your Opinion

When you speak up, make sure that your opinion is well thoughtout. Don’t whine to your boss. Talk things out with him. Tell himwhat you have to say and then listen to him. Speak to your bossloudly, clearly and specifically. Don’t voice a vagueopinion–tell him in specific terms exactly what is botheringyou.

Ask For A Raise

When you feel you are ready for a raise and you have fulfilledall the requirements I have pointed out, ask for one.

HOW TO GET A RAISE

Know Company Policies

Understand your company’s policy on salaries and raises. You mayhave to be with the company a specified length of time to get araise. Find out how long and act at the right time. If you aregetting the maximum salary for your position, you may ask for apromotion or a re-classification. Do everything you can afterstudying the company policy book.

Know The Decision-Maker

You have to convince the person who has the authority to giveraises that you deserve one. If that person is above your boss,prepare to convince your boss and his superiors that you deservea raise.

Do You Deserve A Raise?

You must find out if you deserve a raise. Only after you are sureyou deserve one will others be sure you do. Rate yourself. Try tolook at yourself through your boss’s and your fellow workers’eyes. Do they think you deserve a raise?

How To Justify A Raise

Tell them about your accomplishments that helped the company.Show them how much you saved the company through your actions.Get to know what your skills are worth for another company in thesame area. Present your company with that information. Present itto them in a very non-agressive manner. tell the company what youwill be able to do for them in the future. Tell them how you willbenefit the company with your new raise. tell them how your valuehas increased since you have been with the company. Don’t mentionanything about your personal needs for the money.

Be Able To Handle Rejection

If you are rejected for a raise, be able to cope with it. Dealwith the rejection before you ask your boss for a raise so youwill know how to handle the situation. Remember, expect the bestprepare for the worst.

Know What You Want

Before you speak to your boss know exactly how much more moneyyou expect, both in terms of dollars and percentage. If you knowyour boss will negotiate with you, ask for more than you actuallywant. In this way you will get what you want or more.

When Should You Ask For A Raise?

Make an appointment with your boss. Don’t ask him for a raise ashe is passing in the hallway. Don’t ask to see your boss on busyMondays or Fridays.

Be Prepared For Criticism

You may be criticized for not performing “up to par” now. Don’tlet this criticism upset you, let it help you. You can learn fromthis criticism by asking for more feedback from your boss. Askyour boss how you can improve yourself. Ask him for suggestions.Always be willing to negotiate with your boss. He may only giveyou a bonus instead of a raise. Take it and ask for a raiselater.

Handling Your Boss’s feedback

Get an immediate answer from your boss if he has the power togive you the raise. If he can’t give the answer to you now, askhim when he can. If he tells you he can’t give you a raise askhim why. Ask him what he would require from you before you got araise, his suggestions, what needs improvement, etc. Do what hetells you to do for a raise and, when you have satisfied hisneeds, ask him again. If you plan to quit if you don’t get araise, don’t threaten your boss. You want your boss’s goodreference later if and when you do quit.

HOW TO MASTER THE ART OF COMPROMISE

In many cases all you will be able to get by being persistent isa compromise. Compromises are good. They get you one step[further that you were in the first place. If for some reason,such as self-respect, you can’t accept a compromise, then don’t.Give whatever you can offer. If you do this you may not get anytype of settlement in your favor. Here are steps that will showyou how to compromise so that you get the best of the bargain:

Tell The Person Exactly What You Want

Tell the person exactly what you want in terms he willunderstand: “I want more…”

Persist

You must get past the other’s person’s excuses and alibis. Youmust be persistent until you fell you have hit the other person’sbottom line. You may find that the other person is trying tomanipulate you. Be persistent until that person has stopped allhis manipulation.

If You Are Unsure

If you don’t know what they want, then don’t make a decision. Youmust think the situation over before you make a compromise. Ifyou need more time, tell the other person that you need moretime. Make sure that you can live with the compromise you havemade before you make it.

HOW TO DEAL WITH USELESS CRITICISM

Some criticism you get is in poor taste. We must know how to dealwith criticism such as: “You look terrible today” or, “You leftthis in my way, you idiot.” Make sure this kind of criticismuseless, follow these steps.

Agree With The Facts

Agree with the facts the other person presents. For example, inresponse to “You look terrible today,” say, “I haven’t beenfeeling too well lately”; in response to “You left this in my wayyou idiot,” say, “Yes, I did leave it in your way.” Answer onlywhat was actually said, not what was implied.

How To Answer

Stay calm and collected during the whole conservation. Don’t loseyour temper. The only way a person will make you feel degraded isif you degrade yourself. You don’t want to waste your time whichthis type of person, so don’t defend yourself or attack him.

If You Made A Mistake

If you made a mistake, accept that fact. Don’t accept the quiltfor the mistake. If you were in error, then apologize. If youapologize, don’t make a big thing out of it. Don’t tell them howdreadfully sorry you are, etc. Just give them a plain “I’msorry.”

HOW TO DEAL WITH IMPORTANT CRITICISM

When you get important criticism, you want to know how to get thebest out of it. Useful criticism is one of the best ways to makeyourself into a better person. Follow these steps to get the mostout of useful criticism.

Ask For Feedback

Find out exactly what others object to about you. If someonetells you “You are bad,” that’s not good enough. Find out exactlywhy that person thinks that way. Be very persisent–find out whythe other person feels the way he does. Vague criticism isworthless to you.

Guess At Reason

If a person refuses to give you reasons for criticizing you, keepguessing at your faults until you get the right one. This may bethe only way to find out what displeases the other person.

Don’t Be Defensive

If you act defensively, you may not be able to benefit fromuseful criticism. Don’t be sarcastic or intimidate the otherperson. You want to learn how to become a better person from thecriticism.

Ask the person how you can change your objectionable behavior; beopen to reasonable suggestions.

HOW TO GET YOUR CO-WORKERS AND YOUR SUPERIORS TO LIKE YOU

Good relations with your co-workers and your superiors will notonly help you but will make work more enjoyable. Every employeewants to be liked by other employees. If you treat people the waythey want to be treated, they will like you. Some of us don’tknow if what we do is objectionable to others. I am going to giveyou a list of things that attract other people to you and thingsthey find objectionable. When you move up in the company, youwill need all the support you can get.

Praise People

Everybody enjoys being praised. People look for approval ofthemselves in others. But you should praise people only when theydeserve it. If you praise people when they don’t deserve it, orif you praise too much, you lose your credibility. Don’texaggerate your praise. Make the praise as warm and sincere asyou can.

Don’t Put People Down

Putting down a person can be very damaging to you and the otherperson’s relationship wit you. People don’t want to feel degradedby being called stupid, crazy, weird, etc. Don’t put down anyoneeven if they are not present. If you do, the word will get backto them and you will look bad. Always talk positively aboutpeople. Even if you don’t like them, still speak highly  ofthem–you will be amazed at what this does. If you must saysomething bad, don’t say anything at all.

Don’t Be Concerned With Your Interests ONly

There is nothing wrong with caring and looking out for yourself.Just don’t make it noticeable to other people. You will beresented by other people if you seem selfish. Make sure othersknow you look out for them as well yourself.

Share The Credit

When others have helped you accomplish something, share thecredit with them. Even if their contribution was not as great asyours, still share the credit with them. You will be surprised

Don’t Ask Others To Do For You What You Won’t Do For Them

If you are unwilling to go out of your way for people, don’texpect them to go out of their way for you. Set the firstexample–if you help them, they will help you.

Always Show Appreciation

Everyone wants approval and recognition for what they have done.If someone helps you in any way, tell him how much you appreciatehis actions. If you don’t, he may not help you again. This iswhat you should tell people when you show your appreciation: “Ireally appreciate the way you…”; “Thank you very much for…”;”You are very good at…”: “I really want to tell you how much Iappreciated…”; “You were very nice to…” Don’t show too muchapproval and recognition or it will lose its credibility.

Don’t “Show Up” Others

When you “show up” others you do it at their expense. “Showingup” people in front of others takes away their self-respect. Ifyou are better than others, they will know it–you don’t have todegrade them.

Treat Small Things With Importance

Some things that seem small to you mean a great deal to others.Don’t ignore small problems; help people solve them. Treatingsmall problems with importance shows other people you care.

Care About People

Everybody is concerned about themselves and it is important forthem to have someone to care for them. They are touched when youcare about them. Helping people cope with life makes people feelthat you care about them.

Don’t Criticize A Person In Front Of Others

If you criticise someone in front of others, he will alwaysresent you. It is one of the most degrading things you can do. Ifyou criticize someone, criticize him constructively andprivately.

Give People Your Undivided Attention

All people want to fell important. To make a person feelimportant you must give him your undivided attention whencommunicating with him. Get rid of all interruptions. Make sureyou have good eye contact and that you are not playing withobjects.

Be Courteous, Tactful, Polite and Diplomatic

Everyone appreciates people who are courteous,tactful, polite anddiplomatic. The best way to learn these qualities is from others.Study someone you would like to be like and learn how he conductshimself.

Be Confident

If you don’t have confidence in yourself, others will not haveconfidence in you, either. People admire and respect confidentpeople. If you show others doubt, they will treat you with doubt.Be sure of yourself and play down your insecurities.

Conclusion

Getting a job can be very easy if you look for it the right way.Knowing exactly what you want and then going after it will alwaysget you what you want. Be positive, determined and persistent sothat you will benefit, be rewarded and prosper.