JOB SEARCH

TECHNIQUES

BACO1212

CHAPTER I
Self Assessment

It is the first step in the job search process. Self assessment means knowing
yourself assessing your interest, skill achievements and values .Self assessment helps
.you to identify your career objective

Interest

List out the school activities, work activities and leisure/family activities and then
identify the activities which you like and the activities which you dislike. The
.activities which you like are your interest
Skill

Skills include hard skills and soft skill. Hard skills are those learned in school/college
and include technical expertise, laboratory techniques, computer skill and languages.
Soft skills are required in various areas of ones life. Soft skills include communication
skills, creativity, initiative, interpersonal skills, leadership skills, organizational skills
and problem solving skills, soft skills are transferable. You can list your skills and
identify the most prominent ones. The specific skills under each heading are given in
.Appendix

Achievements
Achievements are your work accomplishment which illustrate your abilities and
skills and are indicative of your potential to solve problems. You can identify your
achievements and these can be used to impress your employer. They prove that you
.were successful in what you undertook

Values
Values are our belief. Values are shaped by our family, culture, education, religion
and different socialization processes. Values make up our beliefs about what is right
and wrong, good and bad. We should seek jobs which are compatible with our values

Personality type

Different occupation attracts different personality types. So it is important to identify

your personality. J. L. Holland has classified people into six personality types:
Realistic, Conventional, Enterprising, Investigative, Artistic and Social. Detailed
.features of each personality type re given in appendix 2

Working conditions

It is important to identify type of working condition which motivate and satisfy you.
Working conditions include the size and type of organization in which you want to
work, the position you like , the location ,type of supervision, hours of work ,salary
.and benefits, travel and work environment
The points discussed above help you to determine your ideal job profile and identify
.your career objective. Examples of Career objectives are given in Appendix 3

Appendix-1

Skill inventory
There are two types of skills , hard skills, and soft skills. Hard skills are easily
measured and are factual knowledge that is usually learned during formal training at
school. These skills can be transferred to various work situations .soft skills that all
:employers regardless of industry or discipline look for in potential employee include
Communication skills
Creativity
Initiative skill
Interpersonal skills
Leadership skills
Organizational skills
Problem solving skills

.In the following exercise you will rate and your skills

Rate your skills

Rate your current competency in each skill listed below on a scale from 1 to 5 ( 5
being the highest skill level. Also identify those skills you would need to develop to
.reach your career goal

INITIATIVE
(SELF RATING(1 TO 5 (Want to develop (yes ,no, may be
Initiating new ideas
Making the first move in
relationship
Finding new solutions

TECHNICAL SKILLS
(SELF RATING(1 TO 5 (Want to develop (yes ,no, may be
Computer skill
Conducting experiments
Managing budgets, money
Maintain/operating
equipment
Controlling inventory

PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS
(SELF RATING(1 TO 5 (Want to develop (yes ,no, may be
Evaluating alternatives
Clarifying problems
Generating solution
Testing ideas
Determining outcomes,
consequences
Tracing problems to source

ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS
(SELF RATING(1 TO 5 (Want to develop (yes ,no,may be
Organizing people, events,
things
Classifying information
Coordinating resources
Streamlining procedures
Researching gathering
information
Separating important from
un important
Determining sequences of
tasks
Setting priorities
 LEADERSHIP SKILLS
(SELF RATING(1 TO 5 (Want to develop (yes ,no,may be
Promoting change
Taking risk
Engendering trust
Leading groups
Building a team
Delegating authority
Overseeing work project
Getting things done
through other people

COMMUNICATION SKILLS
(SELF RATING(1 TO 5 (Want to develop (yes ,no, may be
VERBAL
Conversing with
individuals
Exchanging ideas with
groups
Making presentation
Listening
Debating
WRITEN
Writing correspondence
Writing business material
Research papers
Teaching
Demonstrating ideas
through examples
Instructing
Creating effective learning

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS
(SELF RATING(1 TO 5 (Want to develop (yes ,no,may be
Managing
Negotiating
Collaborating
Selling
Treating others
Giving constructive feed
back
Coaching
Giving practical advice
Demonstrating empathy
Understanding people
 motivation
Developing rapport

CREATIVE SKILLS
(SELF RATING(1 TO 5 (Want to develop (yes ,no,may be
Creating new ideas
Inventing new product
Designing projects
Designing learning
materials
Finding new solution
Composing music
Drawing
Acting ,dancing
Finishing ,restoring

APPENDIX-2
HOLLAND'S PERSONALITY TYPES
Type R TYPE I
People with athletic or mechanical ability who People who like to observe, learn,
prefer to work with object, machine ,tools, investigate, analyze, evaluate or solve
plants, animals or to be outdoors problems
Type C Type A
People who like to work with data have clerical or People who have artistic, innovating or
numerical ability and who enjoy carrying things intuitional abilities and like to work in
out in detail or following through on others unstructured situations, using their
.instructions .imagination or creativity
Type E Type S
People who like to work with people –influencing People who like to work with people –to
persuading performing or leading managing for inform, help, train, develop or cure them or
.organizational goals for economic gain .are skilled with words

HOLLAND'S PERSONALITY TYPES AND OCUPATION

Type R-REALISTIC TYPE I-INVESTIGATIVE
live in the present Analytical
Thing oriented Abstract
Materialistic Rational
Conforming Critical
Stable Curious
Persistent Intellectual
Practical Introverted
Shy Independent
Genuine Cautious
Sample occupation : mechanical engineer, Sample occupation: laboratory technician,
agricultural manager, surveyor, animal caretaker, marketing research, food scientist,
chef, electrician .anthropologist, actuary
 Type C-CONVENTIONAL Type A-ARTISTIC
Conforming Expressive
Obedient Emotional
Efficient Rely on feelings
Calm Imaginative
Conscientious Impulsive
Orderly Non conforming
Set in ways Idealistic
Sample occupation: accountant, bookkeeper, Disorderly
.financial analysis, proofreader Sample occupation: journalist , dram teacher,
.musician, architect advertising manager
Type E -ENTERPRISING Type S-SOCIAL
• Aggressive Sensitive to need others
• Self confident Cooperative
• Domineering Generous
• Energetic Helpful
• Adventurous Sociable
Understanding
• Ambitious
Friendly
• Sociable. Outgoing
• Persuasive Persuasive
Sample occupation: purchasing agent ,real estate, Tactful
sales person, market analyst, attorney ,manager Sample occupation: Interviewer, teacher,
.counselor, social worker, speech therapist

APPENDIX-3

MY CAREER OBJECTIVE
When you are ready to write your cv, you will have to decide if you should write your
.career objective on your cv or not

Here is an example of a specific career objectives

.A management trainee position in the international banking industry .1

.An assistant editor position in the children's book publishing industry .2
.A biotechnology research position in a university laboratory .3

If you are open to different possibilities, it may be better to have a general career
.objective
:Here are few examples of general career objective
A junior level position in the financial services industry
An editing position in the publishing industry
A research position in a laboratory
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 .Chapter 2
RESEARCH ING EMPLOYERS

The second step in job search techniques is researching employers. You need to find
out occupations, industries and employers which match your interest and career
.objective

Traditional job search methods

Traditional methods include the following
Wanted ads
Private employment agencies
Temporary agencies
Sending resumes- unsolicited
Filling out application
.Personal departments

(Non traditional methods ( Modern methods

It includes
Networking
Making direct contact with employers

Where to find information

Written information is available from
Directories, professional/trade associations
Career centers of school/colleges
Company websites
Chamber of commerce
Recruitment agency websites

Information interview

An excellent way to find information is to interview people who know about the
occupation or career in which you have interest. For example interview employees of
.companies
Job shadowing
.This involves spending time observing some one who works in your field of interest
Summer job, part time jobs and Internship (OJT) are valuable ways of exploring
.career, organizations and industries
Volunteer work
.It is in some organizational help to develop new skills and contact
Extra curricular activities
.It is help to know more about your interest and develop new skills and meet people

Networking(contacting people) career fairs and company presentations are good ways
.to gather information
 :CHAPTER 3
Preparing your career tools
Writing an effective CV
CV (Curriculum vitae) or resume is your personal advertisement or promotional
brochure. Its main purpose is to illustrate your skills, qualifications and
accomplishments to impress your potential employer so that he/she invites you for a
.personal interview

Components of a CV
CV should include the following
Personal data
Career objective
Summary of qualification and experience
Languages
Computer skills
Technical skills
Education
Experience
Extra-curricular activities, interest and hobbies
References
Cv should be brief and its layout should be attractive

Writing a cover letter

A cover letter should accompany a CV. The purpose of a cover letter is to
introduce you and to demonstrate match between the job requirement and your
qualification and skills. The cover letter should not exceed one pages.

Making Business card

A business card list the accomplishment and strength the job seeker can offer an
employer in just a few words. You can keep a card with you all the times so that
you can use it when ever you need it. Your card should contain the following.
Name
Address
Phone number
Email address
Qualification
Skills
 Cover letter
Model I
1)LETTER TO GO WITH A POSTED
APPLICATION FORM
Your address
Date

Employer address

Dear Sir or Madam,

Please find enclosed my application form for the post of trainee logistics manager with
your organisation as advertised in the University of Kent Careers Advisory Service Vacancy
List. (Reference No. 12345).

I look forward to hearing from you shortly.

Yours faithfully

Debbie Smith

DEBBIE SMITH (Mrs.

Model II
Name

Address

Date

Employer address

Dear Sir or Madam

This is in response to your advertisement in Times of Oman dated 15 December 2008 for
the post of a manager in your company. I am a Diploma holder in Mechanical Engineering.
I am sending my cv with this letter.

Sincerely

Name

MODEL CV

Name

E-mail ID

College Address Permanent Address

Mechanical Engineering Department P.B.No 5422 , P C 211

Salalah college of Technology Salalah

Salalah Sultanate of Oman

Sultanate of Oman Tel:

Tel GSm

GSM

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

CAREER OBJECTIVE

A SUPERVISORY POSITION IN AN ENGINEERING COMPANY

EDUCATION

MARKS COLLEG NAME YEAR

MACHANICAL GPA 3.56 SALALAH COLLEG 2006-2008
ENGINEERING OF TECHNOLOGY
ENGLISH GPA 3.23,TOEFL SALALAH COLLEG 2005-2006
FOUNDATION 4.25 OF TECHNOLOGY
HIGH SCHOOL 75% SAADA HIGHER 2003-2005
SECONDARY
SCHOOL

WORK EXPERIENCE

Part time supervision in Al Hasher Engineering Company(3 Years)

Languages

Arabic Fluent

English Fluent

SKILLS

Computer skills : MS Ofice

Auto CAD

Other Skills communication skill

Team work skill

ACHIEVEMENTS

Secretary of Engineering Society in the college ( one year)

INTEREST

Foot ball

Travel

REFERENCES

Available on request

CV Model
Model Business Card
A BUS
accom
 seeker
 M
 M


 SALAL
SALA