| I am in my mid-thirties, and, as you can imagine, I have | | | | not exactly know what type of job I wanted to do. |
| changed and looked for jobs many times in my life. No | | | | Was it script writing, producing, PR, acting or what? |
| matter how successful was in my job hunting | | | | Then I started to take classes on film writing. It was |
| research, I realized that there are certain ground "rules" | | | | when I finished the third class of script writing that I |
| that need to be respected; otherwise, we will not get | | | | understood that going to the movies was a fun hobby, |
| what we want from our careers.First of all, forget | | | | but that this was not my industry. After that, I gave up |
| about your resume.A resume can't get you a job. A | | | | sending resumes and I concentrated on my real needs |
| resume won't get you a job. Research proved that for | | | | and desires. I finally found a job for a different industry |
| 1,400 resumes sent out, there is only ONE job offer! | | | | that I enjoyed.Have a real project.For two weeks, buy |
| The percentage is very low so instead of worrying | | | | all the newspapers and magazines you can find in |
| too much about the structure, the layout and the type | | | | your local area and/or nationally. Then clip job ads you |
| of fonts you will use to create a fantastic resume, do | | | | feel attracted to. Keep them in a folder on a daily |
| the following:Find what you really want to do in life.By | | | | basis. Each morning, find out the main elements of the |
| saying that, I don't only imply a job title. Yes, you would | | | | job ad. Was it an intellectual job, a creative role, an |
| like to be a marketing executive, an editor, an IT | | | | analytical position or something that involved adventure |
| consultant or a flying attendant; however, it's the nature | | | | and taking risks? Do you prefer management roles or |
| of the job you will have to think of, in the first place. Do | | | | travel, editing or calculating, speaking or thinking? If you |
| you like nine-to-five roles, well structured and in an | | | | do that consistently for two weeks, you will have a |
| office? Do you prefer to work in the outdoors? Do | | | | very clear idea of the roles/jobs you like. I |
| you mind getting up at dawn to work and taking | | | | experimented myself, and I found out that when |
| afternoons off? Would you mind being on a plane or | | | | looking for nine-to-five roles, I liked all management |
| ship, or do you think that is a fun way to get a pay | | | | positions because they offered flexibility, travel, high |
| check? If you feel that you do not have the answer to | | | | profile contacts and decision making. My client, Helen, |
| these questions, think twice.Make lists with things you | | | | who is an editor in a publishing house loves her job |
| enjoy in life: your interests, your hobbies, your passions. | | | | although she admits that it can be repetitive |
| Then ask your friends or family. What do they think | | | | sometimes. I could not imagine Helen managing, as she |
| about you? Very often, we do not have a very clear | | | | is the type of person who thrives on independent, |
| idea of what we like in life, as we are very much "into | | | | analytical and writing jobs. On the other hand, my friend |
| it". Our closest people, though, can help us by identifying | | | | John, who is a lecturer at the local college, enjoys |
| areas, hang-ups or paths we ignore or are unable to | | | | research and teaching.Last but not least: the most |
| see. Just give it a go, play around, ask people and | | | | important element for successful job hunting is to find |
| move on. By the end of your research, you will know, | | | | out who you are, not just what you want to do. Are |
| for example, that you are the person who enjoys | | | | you a leader, a writer, a speaker, a motivator? An |
| working on his own, prefers the unstructured life style, | | | | explorer, a risk-taker, an analyst, an artist or a priest? |
| and works well at night. Then, a career in writing or | | | | As an identity, you are unique. Just recognize your |
| painting might not sound like a bad idea.Identify the | | | | uniqueness and authenticity, and move on. Finding the |
| industries you are attracted to.This is a funny task. | | | | job you want is the first step. Then you have to do |
| Very often, we think we like everything. We like the | | | | this job for forty hours a week for a whole life. It is |
| movies, books, planes, hotels, schools and restaurants. | | | | important that you deserve to express "your being" |
| Yes, we do. This does not imply that we would like to | | | | while doing it?There are many other tips and strategies |
| work for these industries. Enjoying a nice meal at your | | | | that will help us all to find what we want to do for a |
| local restaurant, does not necessarily make you a | | | | living. These four strategies form, in my opinion, the |
| successful cook. Your love for children does not make | | | | foundation to success for a first, second or fifth job. |
| you a happy and wise teacher, either.Finding the | | | | Maybe you will find a new job that will fit your |
| industry of your choice is a long term process, and it | | | | personality better, because you found out who you |
| will require constant research and clarity on your part. I | | | | are. Happy Hunting!Thei Zervaki is a career coach and |
| remember I had a huge "crush" on the film industry five | | | | founder of She coaches individuals who don't like to |
| years ago. I worked for a film festival that didn't last | | | | edit resumes, delivers fun workshops and helps her |
| more than two months. I kept applying for jobs in the | | | | clients to get results. |
| film industry, unsuccessfully. The problem was that I did | | | | |