On a wintry December afternoon, in the year when the World Trade Centre in the US was bombed, I was seated smug in my residence atop the Gladstone Hotel, in the USA. As a result of that bombing, many companies suffered damage to their life and property. My company had also borne the brunt of the bombing. I was looking for a new job in my field of work.
Today, I had a meeting with my consultant who was helping me find a good job. When I reached his office, he had just come and was checking his mails from the previous day. On seeing me, he left his desk and came to the cabin door. He seated me on a sofa in his cabin and started discussing with me about my job search. He said that he would share with me secrets that consultants normally avoid discussing with their candidates. He shared his trade secrets with me on that day.
He told me not to depend on any consultant to look for a job. On the contrary, he told me to just follow the ten tenets that he would give me so that employers would come chasing me instead of me chasing them for jobs. What he told me next was very innocuous to me, but when I applied those principles to my job search, the results were amazing. Through this article, it is my endeavour to share the secrets that he divulged on that day, with everyone.
1. Don't Become Prey on the Job Hunt
Today, I had a meeting with my consultant who was helping me find a good job. When I reached his office, he had just come and was checking his mails from the previous day. On seeing me, he left his desk and came to the cabin door. He seated me on a sofa in his cabin and started discussing with me about my job search. He said that he would share with me secrets that consultants normally avoid discussing with their candidates. He shared his trade secrets with me on that day.
He told me not to depend on any consultant to look for a job. On the contrary, he told me to just follow the ten tenets that he would give me so that employers would come chasing me instead of me chasing them for jobs. What he told me next was very innocuous to me, but when I applied those principles to my job search, the results were amazing. Through this article, it is my endeavour to share the secrets that he divulged on that day, with everyone.
1. Don't Become Prey on the Job Hunt
Consultants today offer a list of allied services apart from helping you look for jobs. These can range from Building A Resume to Sending Resume to 1000 Companies. Whatever they ask for these services, whether it is Rs1000/- or Rs3,000/- it is overpriced.
2. Just Relax...Seriously
Be yourself during interviews. Stay calm and avoid hyperventilating during interviews. It pays to keep quite when required and speak only when asked. The interview is not the venue for a frank discussion about your career, but it is an opportunity to hard sell the product that is you.
3. Rise in the Wee Hours
Rise early in the morning to start your day at the crack of dawn. Every successful person worth his salt has started his day early so as to accomplish more during the day. Our body is at its most productive best in the early morning hours and fatigue sets in as the day wears on.
4. Make Your Resume, Include Just the Facts
Your resume is the story of your career. Narrate it as directly as possible, making it simple to read and understand. Present it in government style, gray flannel prose.
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| Top Ten Tenets For Successful Job Hunting |
5. Keep Cover Letters Short
The whole world has Attention Deficit Disorder. There is a general tendency for attention spans to peter out at about 3 seconds. Please keep your cover letters short, just mentioning the basic essentials, concluding with an indication that your resume is attached and bid goodbye.
6. Get A Recruiters Attention The Old Fashioned Way
Try to do memorable work in your industry and create a reputation for yourself. Let your employers come looking for you and not the other way round. Your brilliance can't be hidden by your employer. Always note that someone is looking at you all along. It may also be possible that while you are working, you may be poached by your company's competitor.
7. Don't Editorialize
When writing your resume or during an interview avoid mentioning clichéd adjectives for yourself like "highly motivated, results oriented, visionary, world class entrepreneur" Let the prospective employer decide for himself after he has had time to consider your many accomplishments.
8. Think Before Posting Your Photo on LinkedIn
One should abstain from posting his photograph on LinkedIn or for that matter any other networking site unless it is an asset to be shown off to people. If you feel that your face is one of your strengths, and you wish to display it to people, by all means post it.
9. Be Yourself In Interviews
Throw away all the notes you have made from the net on attending interviews. Avoid following a fixed script during such a case. Try to be yourself during an interview. Try to give an extempore interview without any rehearsals. Just keep your wit and common sense with you when attending an interview.
10. Come Clean Constructively
Don't be freaked out by the question: 'What wrong turns or unfortunate choices have you made during your career?' The ability to answer this question with confidence and conviction will demonstrate your capacity for honest self analysis.
These are the 10 golden rules which are required to be followed when looking for a job for yourself. While following these you will not feel the need of any external agency for finding a job.











