STUDENT SUMMER HOLIDAY IN
WESTERN CIVILIZATION:
A SUMMER OF LIFE EXPERIENCE & MONEY TO SPEND....
Universities in most of the north America will break for summer holiday of
4-months starting May....and the schools up to matriculation will break for a
2-month summer holiday starting July.....Students of employable age have a
choice:
GET A JOB AND HAVE LIFE EXPERIENCE OF
APPLYING IN LIFE WHAT YOU LEARN IN SCHOOL
& EARN SOME MONEY....
OR
GET LIFE EXPERIENCES DOING NOTHING...
TO VOLUNTEERING...
TO TRAVELING...
TO WHATEVER CATCHES YOUR FANCY....
If you are thinking to go into job market then you need some mentoring from
Barbara Moses of Canadian
Globe and Mail ....please click on the
following red hilite to read her article on the Canadian
Globe and Mail....or you can read the
article on this PVAF web site by clicking on the next line......
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Tips to help the job hunt
By BARBARA MOSES
Special to The Globe and Mail
Canadian
Globe and Mail: Wednesday, May 5, 2004 -
Page C3
For students on the job hunt, here are some tips to help find work:
Shape your presentation to what employers are looking for today.
Talk to human resource professionals in many types of organizations and sectors.
Regardless of the job, there is a generic list of desired skills and
competencies, ranging from emotional intelligence to self-reliance, the ability
to hit the ground running to being able to work effectively with others,
independent problem solving to resourcefulness.
Show you have them in your marketing materials and interviews.
Understand the specific role and industry you are targeting.
Think about the nature of the work you would be doing, the pace of the job and
the particular sector. For example, if you are looking for a customer-service
job, the role would include solving customer problems, being poised and
unflappable in a high-paced environment and knowing when and how much initiative
will be important. Similarly, as a lifeguard, being alert and decisive are just
as critical as life-saving skills.
Learn more by talking to people in these roles and by reading trade magazines
and on-line resources. Shape your résumé accordingly.
Show enthusiasm for the job and industry.
Employers, even when hiring for summer or contract jobs, prefer to take on
someone who has a longer-term interest in the field as they know such jobs often
lead to a career. Enthusiasm is one of your most powerful marketing tools.
Network broadly.
It's surprising how little most young people avail themselves of their parents'
wide-ranging networks. Most older workers enjoy giving a helping hand to a new
job entrant. Still, if these contacts do result in a job offer, don't feel
pressure to accept work that doesn't appeal just because the potential employer
is an important client or close friend of your parents.
Obviously your network also includes fellow students, co-workers, teachers and
friends.
Be open to jobs outside your field of interest.
Every job provides opportunities for gathering résumé-building skills and
experiences, whether they be learning how things get done in a large corporate
environment, how to participate in a meeting, how to work with a boss or how to
disagree with someone without annoying them.
Be persistent but realistic.
The job that you secure now may not be the amazing job you really want. Be
prepared to make tradeoffs. Don't discount a job that pays off your student loan
while you look for something better, or helps you save money to fund a trip to
Japan.
Also, remember that no job is perfect but each one provides its own
opportunities.
Think in terms of life chapters: a not-so-great transition job is simply the
first chapter of your work life. It's up to you to make it a stepping stone to a
more satisfying second chapter.
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