Secure rewarding opportunities with companies that are actually hiring.

Use career management techniques and labor market information to gain advantage in the hiring process.

Have you been contacting companies in growth sectors? Do you know how many companies hire people with your skills? Are you getting the response you expect when you submit your resume? Knowing where to look for rewarding opportunities is the first step in an effective job search strategy. Develop a career plan based on an understanding of the current job market.

Knowing how to locate opportunities in emerging or growth sectors will help you find and secure rewarding positions - often before they are posted. The amount of preparation you do before sending your resume to potential employers will also impact the number of interviews secure. You will be surprised at how quickly you can get the job you really want.

Understand the opportunities that exist in your current industry, but also recognize the limitations. Don't chance missing key opportunities by limiting your job search to your existing industry. Advance your career by paying attention to trends and events - even outside your specialty.

Every industry hires workers from a wide variety of disciplines. To understand the scope of opportunities available for people with your skills, you must review information from many sectors and gather the most current information from a variety of sources. This does not need to be a daunting task. You will find that you can gather most of the information you require online. For example, banks and other financial institutions provide economic information and reports for their customers, and government or company press releases answer many questions.

Look for answers to some, or all, of the following questions. Have they developed, or will they be developing any new products in the near future? Have they received a government contract recently? Does the contract include funds to hire new workers? What results do they expect in the next few quarters?

The right information will increase the effectiveness of your job search and change your resume into an attention grabber. Use the industry keywords that you gather as you explore various industries to create resumes and letters that establish at a glance that you understand their needs! Know what they expect and impress them when you speak their language during your interview. Your chances for moving beyond the original pile increase every time you make a connection with a reader.

Globalization, new technology, corporate restructuring, and other unforeseen factors are changing our lives daily. Our approach to our careers must also change. There was a time when workers followed career paths determined by their company. Today, most companies do not plan the future of their workers. Successful workers in the 21st century manage their own career through one or multiple organizations.

Managing your career benefits you. Be proactive. Don't wait for others to decide when you deserve to advance. Expedite your career by communicating to employers that you have the skills they require and you will make a difference - today. You can get the response you expect when you contact employers.

-------------------------------------------
Brenda Koritko is the author of I Manage Me Guide to Hot Jobs a timely ebook providing techniques to help you achieve your immediate career goals with benefits throughout your career. http://www.imanageme.com
July 2003