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Finding a job.

There is no shortcut, magic spell or cheat to finding a job. It's just a case of diligence, hard work and a lot of luck.

There are however some little tricks that will aid you in that search for a job.

Firstly picking the right jobs to apply for.
So what does that mean? Well, there is very little point applying for a job as a bus driver when you can't drive, just because you love buses. There are very few jobs that will train you “on the job” and if they are willing to do that, they will spell it out in the job spec. So don't lie or embellish your skills, as you will be found out, if not by your CV, then at your interview.
Equally though it is not much point in applying for a job that you are obviously too experienced for. To a prospective employer that means it's a stop gap until the right job comes along. Most agencies charge the employer’s money to place a candidate, the employer needs to recoup that money so will be very weary of employing someone who they believe will not stay in the job.

So how do you pick the right job to apply for?
The first thing is to be honest with yourself. OK you might, by adjusting your skills down on your CV be able to get a job beneath your skill level, but would you be happy.

It’s very stressful and arduous seeking employment. Maybe you have already been looking for a year, is it worth taking just any job, but still unable to relax as you need to continue looking for the right job? Your financial circumstances may dictate they you do have to do, just that. If they don't, then ask yourself some obvious questions.

'What can I do?
What do I want to do?
How far am I prepared to travel to get this job?
What qualifications am I lacking for my dream job?
Am I being realistic in my aims?

So let's answer each point.


What can I do?
Be honest with yourself. There is little point in going for a job that states 'good knowledge of spreadsheets necessary’ if you have only glanced at a spreadsheet once on your home computer. You could find yourself spending many hours a day doing something that does not come naturally to you, or worse still bores you for hours on end.

List your skills in the order of ability and enjoyment. By doing that you set out your preferences for the ideal job, and speed up your job searching. Having a passion for your skill will always come across in an interview, so you must believe in your abilities.

What do I want to do?
This is to do with making life choices. Think about your skills, do they combine together. For example you may well have a lifesaving certificate and a diploma in cooking, but there are very few (if any) jobs for a lifeguard who cooks. So make a decision. Do you want to cook, or be a lifeguard?
By making these choices you can then concentrate on one avenue of employment.

How far am I prepared to travel to get this job?
Once again you must be honest. If it's two buses away, do the journey, make sure that it's not so tiring that after two months you love the job, but can't stand the journey so have to quit.
Would you be prepared to work in a different town, country? If you have a family, ask them, don't assume that they will not be prepared to move for the right job. Being able to relocate will widen your job opportunities, but your heart must be truly in it. There is no point getting a job then realising that it means leaving your mum, friends behind and you would miss them too much.

What qualifications am I lacking?
Once you have decided what you really want to do you need to look at what skills you may need to improve.  You may well have all the skills needed for that perfect job, but they also require a second language. If they do, they will not be looking for someone who learnt this language at school 15 years ago. They will want someone who is able to communicate fluently on a day to day basis. Apply for the job, but also start classes to improve that language skill. That will show the prospective employer that you are willing to improve a skill in preparation for the job.
Look at the job specs of jobs you feel you could do. Are you missing an obtainable skill that is common in each job spec? Could you do this at night school?
Getting the right combination of skills for a job is a skill in its self, so if unsure get some professional help.

Am I being realistic in my aims?
This is the biggest question you have to ask yourself.
Aiming too high and you will more than likely be disappointed. But having drive, dreams, ambitions, aims, are good, just be realistic.
In all probability none of us really appreciate just how much we can achieve if we put our minds to it, so always push yourself that little bit more in your chosen field.
Just remember that to achieve anything you have to have knowledge in that field and as long as you don't apply for that job driving a bus before you have learnt to drive, you should be able to achieve your aims.

So having answered all the above you should now have a better idea to help you find a job. Look every day at jobs in your field, following the criteria you have set yourself. Get more information on a listed job if you are not too sure of the skills needed, as all jobs have only the key points listed, due to space available.
Most importantly do not get downhearted if it takes some time. Finding the right job can be a pain, but once you have found it, the rewards will be in abundance.