本文发表在 rolia.net 枫下论坛You want to get ahead in your career. You want a career that matches your capabilities. You want a career that challenges you. How do you find that special position? This is an overview of some steps to take to get you on the road to success.
——Self Assessment
☆ What are your interests, skills and abilities?
☆ What motivates you?
☆ What work environment suits you best?
☆ What management style do you prefer?
Increasingly, professionals go through a careful examination of their needs and the various work environments that exist before embarking on a career change. You can do it yourself with the aid of self-help books or you may gain from professional assistance in a group or individually. Many job seekers benefit from a combination of reading and professional assessment.
Fortunately, there are many resources available - some very economical. With a little digging, you will find the approach and the resources that are best for you.
Following is a list of some groups and resources. Once you get started, you will likely come across many more.
＃Groups available to assist
The boards of education, community colleges and universities offer career assessment or planning courses. In addition, testing, resource material and individual counselling are available through:
☆ Centre for Education and Training, (905) 949-0049
☆ Human Resources Development Canada including Employment Resource Centres and Training Information Centres (check the blue pages of your telephone book for local telephone numbers).
☆ Jewish Vocational Service, (416) 787-1151
☆ North York Board of Education Career Information Centre, (416) 395-4881
☆ Seneca College Counselling and Special Needs Services: North York (416) 491-5050; York Region (905) 833-3333
☆ Times Change Women's Employment Service, (416) 927-1900
☆ YMCA Career Planning and Development Centre, (416) 324-4121
☆ YWCA Career Assessment Centre, (416) 964-6202
☆ York University Career Services, (416) 736-5351
＃Reference Materials
Check out these recommended titles available through the Metropolitan Toronto Reference Library, Human Resources Development Canada Employment Centres, your local libraries or book stores.
☆ Beat the Odds: Career Buoyancy Tactics for Today's Turbulent Job Market. John Martin Yate, Ballantine Books, 1995.
☆ Discover What You're Best At: The National Career Aptitude System and Career Directory. Barry Gale, Simon & Schuster, 1990.
☆ Getting Back to Work: The Ultimate Job Seeker's Guide for Canadians Over 45. Dianne Twombly, MacMillan Canada, 1997.
☆ Lifetypes: Understand Yourself and Make the Most of Who You Are (based on Myers Brigg Personality Indicator). Sandra Hirsh, Jean Kummerow, Warner Books, 1989.
☆ Landing on your Feet: The Canadian Guide to Surviving, Coping and Prospering from Job Loss. Mara Brown, McGraw-Hill Ryerson, 1995.
☆ Seven Habits of Extremely Successful People, Steven Covey, Simon & Schuster, 1990.
☆ Shifting Gears: How to Master Career Change and Find the Work That's Right for You. Carole Hyatt, Simon and Schuster, 1992.
☆ Shifting Gears: Thriving in the New Economy. Nuala Beck, Harper Collins, 1992.
☆ So What if I'm 50: Straight Talk and Proven Strategies for Getting Hired in the Toughest Job Market Ever. Bob Weinstein, McGraw-Hill, 1996.
☆ Surviving the Upheaval in your Workplace. Janis Foord Kirk, Kirkfoord Communications, 1992.
☆ Time for a Change: How to Change Your Career - The Re-entry and Recareer Workbook. Kent Banning and Ardelle Friday, VGM Career Horizons, 1995.
☆ What Color is your Parachute? Richard Nelson Bolles, Ten Speed Press, 1997.
——Where are the Jobs?
Once you have decided your career focus and the market(s) and organisation(s) that interest you, it is time for research and networking.
＃Researching ... trends
Understanding demographics and how the statistics impact on trends can help you to choose a growing market.
＃Researching ... organisations
Whether you do your research via the Internet, the Reference Library or by reviewing annual reports and business publications, it is important to know as much as possible about your target market(s) and organisation(s). An understanding of the challenges and opportunities, the environment and the objectives of these organisations will help you to select the best one(s) to pursue.
＃Agencies
As some employers rely on management consultants and recruiters to handle their human resource needs, there is merit in sending your résumé to those agencies that focus on your specialty and market interest.
＃Internet
Increasingly, jobs are posted on the Internet. Search under "jobs" or "careers" to identify other sites with job postings.
＃Reference Materials
☆ Boom, Bust, Echo: How to Profit from the Coming Demographic Shift. David Foote, Macfarlane Walter & Ross, 1996.
☆ Career Directory, The: a valuable source for job hunters providing unique insights into companies across Canada. Encore Publishing Corporation, 1997.
☆ Clicking. Faith Popcorn, Harper Collins, 1996.
☆ Popcorn Report. Faith Popcorn, Doubleday, 1991.
☆ Where the Jobs Are: Career Survival for Canadians in the New Global Economy. Macfarlane Walter & Ross, Colin Campbell, 1994
☆ Canadian Directory of Search Firms, 1997
——Networking and Contacts
While you will want to monitor the newspapers and other related agencies, your network of contacts is especially important now. Also important is the ability to describe succinctly - in one or two minutes - what type of job you are looking for and what benefits you offer.
Everyone in your life is part of your network and it is probably bigger than you think. Your network includes family members, friends, neighbours, professionals in your field, suppliers, clients, co-workers, club or association members, volunteer groups and acquaintances.
The skills of good networking include research, organisation, and good communication skills. It includes sending thank you notes to those who have helped you. It also includes being willing and able to lend a hand to others when you have the chance. When you attend a networking function, be prepared with business cards - personal cards if you are not currently working - and be ready with your one to two minute introduction.
& Networks
☆ Board of Trade: Metropolitan Toronto, (416) 367-1845; Markham (905) 474-0730.
☆ Provincial CGA Chapters
☆ Chamber of Commerce (check the telephone book for local listings).
☆ E.A.R.N., Executive Advancement Resource Network, Office (416) 466-6891.
☆ H.A.P.P.E.N., Halton & Peel Professional Executive Network, (416) 201-3957.
☆ Job Finding Club: Richmond Hill (905) 737-8089, Newmarket (905) 898-2911, North York (416) 733-4556
☆ Service Clubs - Lions, Kiwanis, Rotary
＃Reference materials
& Networking
☆ Networking: How to Creatively Tap Your People Resources. Colleen Clark. (available through E.A.R.N.)
——Writing Résumés and Cover Letters
＃Résumés
Your résumé is an important tool in your job search. Depending on your objective, you may want to have several versions in both the chronological and functional formats. There are a number of resources available to make the job easier; however, creating résumés that sell takes time and careful study of both yourself and your target(s). Develop your résumé so that the employer is convinced that your skills and abilities meet their specific needs.
＃Cover Letters
Your cover letter reiterates points that you want to emphasize, again relative to the employer's needs. If you are responding to an advertisement, it is important to refer to the skills and attributes the employer is seeking. Some people prefer to prepare a point form letter listing the employer's needs on the left and the candidate's skills on the right. The more traditional approach is to provide this information in sentence form.
＃Reference materials
☆ Cover Letters They Don't Forget. VGM Career Horizons, 1993.
☆ Damn Good Résumé Guide. Yana Parker, 1997. (available through E.A.R.N.)
☆ Dynamite Cover Letters. Ronald L. Krannich, Impact Publications, 1992.
175 High Impact Cover Letters. Richard H. Beatty, Wiley, 1996.
☆ Résumé Kit. Richard H. Beatty, Wiley, 1991.
☆ Knock em Dead. Martin John Yate, 1997.
☆ Résumés for Dummies. Joyce Lain Kennedy, IDG Books, 1996.
☆ Résumé Writing for CGAs. Fred Pritchard, CGA, CGA Canada, 1997.
——Courses
Some of the organisations listed under Assessment and Where are the Jobs provide résumé and cover letter guidance.
＃Getting Ready for the Interview
&Interview Skills
You now know all about the organisation(s) and the market(s) through your research. You have come to know yourself better through assessment and résumé development. Now you are ready for the interview process.
Successful candidates have a series of stories at top of mind to illustrate the abilities and work styles they want to convey. So getting ready for the interview involves identifying each skill the employer wants and identifying actual situations you have handled in the past that reflect your ability to deal with it effectively. Each story should be one to three minutes long; describe the situation or task involved, how you handled it and the result. Give your stories titles for easy recall. Again, there are resources available to help you prepare.
＃Workshops
☆ E.A.R.N. holds interview skills workshops by Bassett & White about every six weeks. Call (416) 466-6891.
☆ In addition Bassett & White provide individual consultations for a fee. Call (416) 690-1988.
＃Reference materials
☆ Conquer Interview Objections. Robert F. Wilson, Erik Rambusch. J. Wiley, 1994.
☆ Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In, Roger Fisher and William Ury
☆ Job Interviews for Dummies. Joyce Lain Kennedy, IDG Books, 1996.
☆ Job Interviews Made Easy, Patty Marler, VGM Career Horizons, 1995.
☆ Knock'em Dead. Martin John Yate, 1997.
＃Image and Presentation
Much of the impression we make depends on factors such as grooming, clothing, posture, the ability to make eye contact, and the confidence and enthusiasm we convey.
＃Reference materials
☆ Dress Code: Understanding the Hidden Meanings of Women's Clothes. Toby Fischer-Mirkin, Clarkson Potter, 1995.
☆ Dress for Excellence. Fenton & Olcott, Rawson & Associates, 1986.
How to Win Friends and Influence People. Dale Carnegie, Simon & Schuster, 1981.
☆ Power of Positive Thinking. Norman Vincent Peale, Prentice Hall, 1956.
☆ Secrets of Power Presentations. Peter Urs Bender, The Achievement Group, 1993.
——Next Steps
It is up to you now. With these resources and others you will find in your search, you will enjoy the career planning and job search process.
Good luck.更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net
——Self Assessment
☆ What are your interests, skills and abilities?
☆ What motivates you?
☆ What work environment suits you best?
☆ What management style do you prefer?
Increasingly, professionals go through a careful examination of their needs and the various work environments that exist before embarking on a career change. You can do it yourself with the aid of self-help books or you may gain from professional assistance in a group or individually. Many job seekers benefit from a combination of reading and professional assessment.
Fortunately, there are many resources available - some very economical. With a little digging, you will find the approach and the resources that are best for you.
Following is a list of some groups and resources. Once you get started, you will likely come across many more.
＃Groups available to assist
The boards of education, community colleges and universities offer career assessment or planning courses. In addition, testing, resource material and individual counselling are available through:
☆ Centre for Education and Training, (905) 949-0049
☆ Human Resources Development Canada including Employment Resource Centres and Training Information Centres (check the blue pages of your telephone book for local telephone numbers).
☆ Jewish Vocational Service, (416) 787-1151
☆ North York Board of Education Career Information Centre, (416) 395-4881
☆ Seneca College Counselling and Special Needs Services: North York (416) 491-5050; York Region (905) 833-3333
☆ Times Change Women's Employment Service, (416) 927-1900
☆ YMCA Career Planning and Development Centre, (416) 324-4121
☆ YWCA Career Assessment Centre, (416) 964-6202
☆ York University Career Services, (416) 736-5351
＃Reference Materials
Check out these recommended titles available through the Metropolitan Toronto Reference Library, Human Resources Development Canada Employment Centres, your local libraries or book stores.
☆ Beat the Odds: Career Buoyancy Tactics for Today's Turbulent Job Market. John Martin Yate, Ballantine Books, 1995.
☆ Discover What You're Best At: The National Career Aptitude System and Career Directory. Barry Gale, Simon & Schuster, 1990.
☆ Getting Back to Work: The Ultimate Job Seeker's Guide for Canadians Over 45. Dianne Twombly, MacMillan Canada, 1997.
☆ Lifetypes: Understand Yourself and Make the Most of Who You Are (based on Myers Brigg Personality Indicator). Sandra Hirsh, Jean Kummerow, Warner Books, 1989.
☆ Landing on your Feet: The Canadian Guide to Surviving, Coping and Prospering from Job Loss. Mara Brown, McGraw-Hill Ryerson, 1995.
☆ Seven Habits of Extremely Successful People, Steven Covey, Simon & Schuster, 1990.
☆ Shifting Gears: How to Master Career Change and Find the Work That's Right for You. Carole Hyatt, Simon and Schuster, 1992.
☆ Shifting Gears: Thriving in the New Economy. Nuala Beck, Harper Collins, 1992.
☆ So What if I'm 50: Straight Talk and Proven Strategies for Getting Hired in the Toughest Job Market Ever. Bob Weinstein, McGraw-Hill, 1996.
☆ Surviving the Upheaval in your Workplace. Janis Foord Kirk, Kirkfoord Communications, 1992.
☆ Time for a Change: How to Change Your Career - The Re-entry and Recareer Workbook. Kent Banning and Ardelle Friday, VGM Career Horizons, 1995.
☆ What Color is your Parachute? Richard Nelson Bolles, Ten Speed Press, 1997.
——Where are the Jobs?
Once you have decided your career focus and the market(s) and organisation(s) that interest you, it is time for research and networking.
＃Researching ... trends
Understanding demographics and how the statistics impact on trends can help you to choose a growing market.
＃Researching ... organisations
Whether you do your research via the Internet, the Reference Library or by reviewing annual reports and business publications, it is important to know as much as possible about your target market(s) and organisation(s). An understanding of the challenges and opportunities, the environment and the objectives of these organisations will help you to select the best one(s) to pursue.
＃Agencies
As some employers rely on management consultants and recruiters to handle their human resource needs, there is merit in sending your résumé to those agencies that focus on your specialty and market interest.
＃Internet
Increasingly, jobs are posted on the Internet. Search under "jobs" or "careers" to identify other sites with job postings.
＃Reference Materials
☆ Boom, Bust, Echo: How to Profit from the Coming Demographic Shift. David Foote, Macfarlane Walter & Ross, 1996.
☆ Career Directory, The: a valuable source for job hunters providing unique insights into companies across Canada. Encore Publishing Corporation, 1997.
☆ Clicking. Faith Popcorn, Harper Collins, 1996.
☆ Popcorn Report. Faith Popcorn, Doubleday, 1991.
☆ Where the Jobs Are: Career Survival for Canadians in the New Global Economy. Macfarlane Walter & Ross, Colin Campbell, 1994
☆ Canadian Directory of Search Firms, 1997
——Networking and Contacts
While you will want to monitor the newspapers and other related agencies, your network of contacts is especially important now. Also important is the ability to describe succinctly - in one or two minutes - what type of job you are looking for and what benefits you offer.
Everyone in your life is part of your network and it is probably bigger than you think. Your network includes family members, friends, neighbours, professionals in your field, suppliers, clients, co-workers, club or association members, volunteer groups and acquaintances.
The skills of good networking include research, organisation, and good communication skills. It includes sending thank you notes to those who have helped you. It also includes being willing and able to lend a hand to others when you have the chance. When you attend a networking function, be prepared with business cards - personal cards if you are not currently working - and be ready with your one to two minute introduction.
& Networks
☆ Board of Trade: Metropolitan Toronto, (416) 367-1845; Markham (905) 474-0730.
☆ Provincial CGA Chapters
☆ Chamber of Commerce (check the telephone book for local listings).
☆ E.A.R.N., Executive Advancement Resource Network, Office (416) 466-6891.
☆ H.A.P.P.E.N., Halton & Peel Professional Executive Network, (416) 201-3957.
☆ Job Finding Club: Richmond Hill (905) 737-8089, Newmarket (905) 898-2911, North York (416) 733-4556
☆ Service Clubs - Lions, Kiwanis, Rotary
＃Reference materials
& Networking
☆ Networking: How to Creatively Tap Your People Resources. Colleen Clark. (available through E.A.R.N.)
——Writing Résumés and Cover Letters
＃Résumés
Your résumé is an important tool in your job search. Depending on your objective, you may want to have several versions in both the chronological and functional formats. There are a number of resources available to make the job easier; however, creating résumés that sell takes time and careful study of both yourself and your target(s). Develop your résumé so that the employer is convinced that your skills and abilities meet their specific needs.
＃Cover Letters
Your cover letter reiterates points that you want to emphasize, again relative to the employer's needs. If you are responding to an advertisement, it is important to refer to the skills and attributes the employer is seeking. Some people prefer to prepare a point form letter listing the employer's needs on the left and the candidate's skills on the right. The more traditional approach is to provide this information in sentence form.
＃Reference materials
☆ Cover Letters They Don't Forget. VGM Career Horizons, 1993.
☆ Damn Good Résumé Guide. Yana Parker, 1997. (available through E.A.R.N.)
☆ Dynamite Cover Letters. Ronald L. Krannich, Impact Publications, 1992.
175 High Impact Cover Letters. Richard H. Beatty, Wiley, 1996.
☆ Résumé Kit. Richard H. Beatty, Wiley, 1991.
☆ Knock em Dead. Martin John Yate, 1997.
☆ Résumés for Dummies. Joyce Lain Kennedy, IDG Books, 1996.
☆ Résumé Writing for CGAs. Fred Pritchard, CGA, CGA Canada, 1997.
——Courses
Some of the organisations listed under Assessment and Where are the Jobs provide résumé and cover letter guidance.
＃Getting Ready for the Interview
&Interview Skills
You now know all about the organisation(s) and the market(s) through your research. You have come to know yourself better through assessment and résumé development. Now you are ready for the interview process.
Successful candidates have a series of stories at top of mind to illustrate the abilities and work styles they want to convey. So getting ready for the interview involves identifying each skill the employer wants and identifying actual situations you have handled in the past that reflect your ability to deal with it effectively. Each story should be one to three minutes long; describe the situation or task involved, how you handled it and the result. Give your stories titles for easy recall. Again, there are resources available to help you prepare.
＃Workshops
☆ E.A.R.N. holds interview skills workshops by Bassett & White about every six weeks. Call (416) 466-6891.
☆ In addition Bassett & White provide individual consultations for a fee. Call (416) 690-1988.
＃Reference materials
☆ Conquer Interview Objections. Robert F. Wilson, Erik Rambusch. J. Wiley, 1994.
☆ Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In, Roger Fisher and William Ury
☆ Job Interviews for Dummies. Joyce Lain Kennedy, IDG Books, 1996.
☆ Job Interviews Made Easy, Patty Marler, VGM Career Horizons, 1995.
☆ Knock'em Dead. Martin John Yate, 1997.
＃Image and Presentation
Much of the impression we make depends on factors such as grooming, clothing, posture, the ability to make eye contact, and the confidence and enthusiasm we convey.
＃Reference materials
☆ Dress Code: Understanding the Hidden Meanings of Women's Clothes. Toby Fischer-Mirkin, Clarkson Potter, 1995.
☆ Dress for Excellence. Fenton & Olcott, Rawson & Associates, 1986.
How to Win Friends and Influence People. Dale Carnegie, Simon & Schuster, 1981.
☆ Power of Positive Thinking. Norman Vincent Peale, Prentice Hall, 1956.
☆ Secrets of Power Presentations. Peter Urs Bender, The Achievement Group, 1993.
——Next Steps
It is up to you now. With these resources and others you will find in your search, you will enjoy the career planning and job search process.
Good luck.更多精彩文章及讨论，请光临枫下论坛 rolia.net