Shannon Lambe- Marketing Assistant

It seems as though now a days getting a job can be almost as difficult as finding a needle in the proverbial haystack. With all the employment services out there, one may think it would be an effortless undertaking, which is just not the case. Landing a job and what’s more, the right job, can be a long and strenuous process. Nevertheless, remembering a few main ideas will help you keep your composure in the sometimes frenzied process of finding a job.

So, you have had your resume on Career Builder for over two months, sent out countless cover letters, and placed multiple phone calls only to be unanswered. That’s OK! First and foremost, prepare yourself for the almost inevitable fact that the job search is going to take time and in some cases a very long time.

Let’s say you do score an interview. You’re so overwhelmed, you get there and you freeze. You can barley remember where you parked your car much less what makes you the perfect fit for the company. As cliché as it may be, practice really does make perfect. Utilize all the tools that are accessible to you. Most colleges and universities will schedule “mock interviews,” review them together with you, and make suggestions on how you can improve. If that doesn’t sound appealing there’s always a mirror. Converse with yourself and go over common interview questions to ensure the cat doesn’t stand a chance at getting a hold of your tongue during your interview.

What if you happen to completely flop the interview and are not offered the position. Don’t let that discourage you. View it as nothing more than a learning experience, additional practice that will make your next interview even stronger and more likely you will be hired.

Make sure you are applying for jobs that interest you and you are passionate about. It is so easy to just find yourself jumping into a career for the mere fact of being ready to be part of the work force and start earning money. One of the keys to solving that problem is through networking. Networking is one of the most effective ways to find employment. Talk with everyone, your parents, your friends, their parents, neighbors, guy at the drycleaners, everyone! Generally, you associate with people who share the same interests as yourself and someone is bound to know of a job opening that will appeal to you.

You finally get a job offer, but before you hastily accept, make sure it is a company you would take pride in working for. Look back on everyone you met; if you are not confident that you could see those people being your co-workers it is probably not the right place for you. Remember what H. Browneyour said, “find a job you like and you add five days to every week.” Your new company is going to be like a second home to you and you want to be as comfortable there as possible.