If you're among those thousands of men who want to change jobs in the new
year, however, hiring professionals will tell you that Jan. 1 isn't the time to
kick off (開始，著手) your preparations-it's now. Starting to gather resources,
credentials and goals in advance puts workers in the best position when
opportunities come around.
Here are some tips help you to get well prepared when chances come.
Furthermore, for workers who are not planning to embark on a job hunt at
present, these tips could help to lay out the welcome mat (有利的鋪墊) for that dream
job in the future.
1. Grab your compass, get your map 確定工作方向
You can't drive somewhere without a map, and you can't get your dream job
without first planning an ideal route to arrive there. Begin with the end in
mind. Know where you want to be when you retire and build a plan backwards from
there.
Ask yourself: how am I going to get there? What paths can I take? You
identify the types of jobs you will need to have and the amount of time you need
to be in each. You'll probably want to be at the director level at 35. This type
of plan enables job-seekers to be flexible when they need to be
When the interviewer asks where you want to be in five years and you walk
them through that plan, they're going to be impressed. It's the best answer to
the question.
2. Make sure you're jumping ship for the right reason 想清楚為什么要換工作
Understanding the reasons you want to leave a job can have a great deal to do
with where you go next.
Often, people will say they are looking for a new job because they want to
make more money, but David Foote, CEO and chief research officer of Foote
Partners, an IT work force research company based in New Canaan, Conn., argues
that when workers complain about money, there are a lot of other issues
involved.
"Maybe you say it's a money issue, but you're really looking for more
management opportunities. Take a look at where you want to be and when you know
where that is, you have a much stronger, concentrated path to where you want to
be."
3. Build your personal brand 建立你自己的優(yōu)勢
Recruiters noted many things workers can do to become the job candidate. No
employers worth their salt would pass up (他們是不會拒絕能勝任的員工的). The first was to
figure out what sets you apart from anyone else that applies for the same job.
What do you want to be known for in your field? Do you want to be an
innovator? If so, continually point back to places where you have innovated, and
what your managers thought of it. Competency in change management helps here.
4. Make yourself known 要懂得推薦你自己
Give yourself the opportunity to become known, through a number of different
channels. You could speak at industry events, you could hook up with your own
internal media or PR (public relations) folks and let them know you want to get
your knowledge out there, and a third thing is if you have the ability to write,
become a letter-to-the-editor or writer in trade magazines, letting people know
what you think.
5. Refresh your personal connections 有效利用人際關系，找個合適的推薦人
If you know someone at a company where you would like to work, this is the
time to give them a call.
The holidays are a great time to position yourself for the next opportunity.
Go out there and make sure that you're extending your network through systematic
and periodic communication. Talk to the people that have been important in your
career and when you connect with them, find out what the market is like and
where the opportunities are.
The right references can carry a lot of weight when a worker is lined up
against equally worthy candidates.
6. Focus your search 集中精力找一個工作，避免漫無目的的撒網(wǎng)
Most recruiters and hiring agents agree that sending resumes in blindly to
companies gets applicants the least amount of attention, if any. Using a
personal connection to get introduced to the right people, on the other hand,
makes a lasting impression.
7. Your resume should always be ready 隨時準備好遞上簡歷
When that call comes in about an opening for a perfect job, the worst
response is, "Sure … er, can I get you my resume, er, tomorrow?" If the job
hunter's resume had been frequently updated, the response would have sounded
like this: "I'll have it in your inbox in 5 minutes." Which candidate sounds
ready for the next big thing?
Don't just dust it off. Resumes should be updated once a year, whether you
are looking or not. You should look back and say, 'What have I accomplished this
year that's out of the ordinary?' 'What sets me apart?' 'When did I go above and
beyond?' and incorporate it into the resume or cover letter.
Put together a skills inventory, everything you know how to do and every
program you have a proficiency in. In the end, resumes are just pieces of paper,
but if you're proactive, you'll know just what to say when called into
interviews.
（改編自：eWeek 原作者Deborah Rothberg 英語點津 Annabel 編輯）
