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Mastering Job Market Trends Ngee Key Career Coach & Strategist 1 Mastering Job Market Trends By Ngee Key Career Coach & Strategist

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M a s t e r i n g J o b M a r k e t T r e n d s

N g e e K e y C a r e e r C o a c h & S t r a t e g i s t

1MasteringJob Market Trends

By Ngee KeyCareer Coach & Strategist

M a s t e r i n g J o b M a r k e t T r e n d s

N g e e K e y C a r e e r C o a c h & S t r a t e g i s t

2MasteringJob Market Trends

By Ngee KeyCareer Coach & Strategist

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Mastering Job Market TrendsBy Ngee Key

Copyrighted Material © 2012 by Ngee Key YourOwn360 All Rights Reserved

This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative informationin regard to the subject matter covered. If legal, accounting, medical,psychological or any other expert assistance is required; the services of acompetent professional person should be required. Author specifically disclaimsany liability for the reader’s use of any forms or advice provided in this book. It isnot warranted as fit for any specific use or purpose, but is intended to givegeneral information that is as current as possible as of the date of publication.

Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of thispublication may be re-produced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system,or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical,photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission ofthe author and copyright owner.

The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this e-book via Internet or any othermeans without permission of the author is illegal and punishable by law. Pleasepurchase only authorized electronic editions and do not participate in orencouraging electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of theauthor’s rights is appreciated.

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Ngee Key believes that everyone should enjoy andlove what they do in their job. His passion is to helpevery person learn to discover their true talent, skills,knowledge and purpose. He is a Career Coachand Strategist of YourOwn360. With more than 15years of corporate professional experience rangingfrom start-up to multinational companies, he deeplyunderstands the questions and concerns faced byworking professionals. His expertise in personal andbusiness change was developed through manyyears of professional experiences. Prior beforefounding YourOwn360, he was the Business

Development Leader for Hewitt Associates HumanResource Outsourcing Practice for South East Asia.

You are spending almost 30 or more years of your life working. He believe theyshould be rewarding and fulfilling. “Having a career that aligns with your talent,values and passion at its heart is aligning your purpose for being on earth withan idea so convincing that you simply must do it, despite the challenges orfears that hold you back,” says Ngee Key.

Certified by Career Coach Academy under the mentorship of SusanWhitcomb, he has worked with many clients who have faced challenging

About the Author

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career decisions you face now and moved them to better, meaningful andfulfilling situations.

Ngee Key has been interviewed and featured in print, online media and radio,including Straits Times, Business Times, AsiaOne, Today, NS Magazine, Her Worldand 938 Live Radio.

If you find this guide useful, feel free to inform your friends, colleagues andfamily so that they can purchase a copy and begin to discover meaningfulcareers. Visit http://yourown360.com/ for more books, articles, webinars, blogsand free resources. Look forward to see you there.

Yours truly,

Ngee Key

Career Coach & Strategist

Founder, YourOwn360

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Mastering Job Market Trends .....................................................................................................

In This Guide ................................................................................................................8Why You Are Here .......................................................................................................9The Industry and You ..................................................................................................10Something to Ponder - Coaching Questions to Ask Myself ...................................11Recommended Actions ............................................................................................13

Resources Toolkit Overview ........................................................................................................

Defining Your Career Vision ........................................................................................................

Your Profession and the Environment .......................................................................17Something to Ponder - Coaching Questions to Ask about my profession............18Recommended Actions.............................................................................................20Advisory Column .........................................................................................................21

Creating A SMART Goal ....................................................................................................................

10 Factors That Affect Attainability............................................................................26 How Attainable Are Your Goals?..............................................................................31 My SMART Goals ........................................................................................................35 Motivations and Fears ...............................................................................................37 Get Yourself Organized..............................................................................................26

In summary ...........................................................................................................................................

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Let's face it: a lot of people hate job search. A lot of us dread doing this, evenbefore we begin. It's one of the most frustrating obstacles that we just have toface in our lives, not only because of the difficulties it presents, but the necessityof it - how there's nowhere else to go but through it. You need a job, and youwon't get any unless you begin looking for one.

One of the things that will help conquer your anxiety with your job search is tounderstand the current industry trends and the changing job market. Bysurveying your desired profession and its environment, you will be able to planand execute a more intelligent and efficient job search. The objective is for youto be aware of developments having an impact on your chosen field, so youcan avoid dangers, identify opportunities and make the right decisions aboutwhere you will best fit in the ever changing world of work.

Nobody is born golden; everybody has to start somewhere. This is the space foryou to be totally familiar with the overall picture of your profession and theindustry. Here there are no mistakes, only stepping stones towards achievingyour career goals.

Mastering Job Market Trends

“The qualityof anindividual isreflected in thestandards theyset forthemselves.”

RAY KROCFounder and former Chairmanof McDonald’s Corporation

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In This Guide

Throughout this Guide, we will use the word professional quite liberally. We wantyou to get comfortable with it. In the past, only doctors, lawyers, certified publicaccountants and other people with a specialized or advanced formaleducation were seen as (and called) professionals. But aren't we all good atwhat we do?

These days, everyone working with a defined body of expertise belongs to aprofession. We invest in our education, we display productive skills related toour career, and we certainly have knowledge that can be of value to a lot ofcompanies. So yes, we believe a little dash of daring is in order: we areprofessionals. You are a professional.

In fact, try it now. Say, I am a professional. Now doesn't that make you feelgood, even just a little? Whether you are in information services, purchasing,customer service, human resource, operations management, sales, marketing,financial services, or general management, you need to believe you are just asgood as any doctor, lawyer, or accountant. You are a professional, and youshould never be embarrassed at viewing yourself so.

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So what's a professional doing, being part of a career strategy program? Theanswer is simple: you care enough to educate yourself on your professionalenvironment. You want to be updated on the latest and potential future trendsand developments in your field. You want to be a more appealing candidatewhen you speak with hiring managers, and you aim to better discuss what ishappening or could happen in your particular profession. Let's get that out inthe open now, once and for all, and be done away with it.

What makes a professional the best at what they do is their desire to learn. Thisis the opportunity for you not only to find a job that fits, but also to find a passionand a purpose that you can sustain for years, if not the rest of your life. At theend of the day, we want you to find that which will make you happy andfulfilled. The potential is already inside you; the tools we will provide are justextra help.

Losing a job or thinking about leaving your current one may make you feelpowerless and vulnerable. This is why we are here. This is why you are here. Wewant you to abandon any preconceived notions about asking for help orgetting additional training at your age as signs of weakness. It's not. It's calledlearning to be the best you can be.

Why You Are Here

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In this guide you are encouraged to do a lot of research. This creates a contextfor your job search, as you are now free to go beyond the limitations set by yourprevious occupation. With your research, you'll be able to come up withinformed decisions in regards to which job are best for you and where youstand in relationship to your profession as a whole.

You are not restricted to follow just one industry. Feel free to survey as many asyou like. Just keep in mind that these should be industries, which you are keento pursue and have a job in the future. It is possible that the kind of professionyou are eyeing is involved in many trades; for example, a photographer canwork in fashion, food, journalism, weddings, etc. If this applies to you then youneed to be aware of and study the different environments, as well as yourappeal as a candidate, because it can be useful when you are discussing withhiring managers how your professional expertise fits into their particularindustries.

Since research would be quite an exhaustive task, you don't have to finisheverything before you begin other elements of your job search. We think itwould be even better if you can integrate this with other activities outlined inthe other modules. You can, for example, research industries and specificcompanies within them at the same time. Later on, when you are talking tocontacts about certain organizations, you may also find the opportunity todiscuss industries, your profession and the larger issues affecting both.

The Industry and You

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Something to Ponder

Coaching Questions to Ask Yourself

What are the latest trends in my industry and environment? Will they have animpact on my career goals? What would the future looks like for my chosenindustry?

What about the trends that will have an impact on my profession? What hasbeen changed over the years? What about the future prospects of myprofession?

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Will all these changes be affecting my current talent, skills and competenciesnow and in the future? If yes, what would the impact be life?

What are the hottest trends I need to be aware in order to stay relevant andcompetitive in my respective industry and profession?

What are the latest trends that capture my attention?

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Recommended Actions

Newspapers andmagazines are a good place to start, but you can also tap theInternet to read about the latest, provided that these are crediblesources. You can read blogs of experts on the field, as well.

Pastissues, particularly major events are key to understanding thebehavior of your industry today. You can also collect ideas on futuretrends by observing its history.

Most companiesand organizations have corporate blogs now, in an effort to be moretransparent. Read up on their latest activities and involvement withother partners. If they provide a forum where you can interact withthem, take advantage of that and ask relevant questions that willhelp you with your research.

Gain an understanding ofthe larger business trends that are affecting your type of work. Discuss

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your views with family and friends after reading. Ask them about theiropinion as well to gain insight on how other people perceive yourindustry and profession.

They are good and reliable sourcesbecause they have already been/are currently there. Ask about theirexperience, what they have learned, what made them leave orwhat makes them stay.

Include the important trends, likely obstacles and possibleopportunities.

You are clear about your profession, industry and environment in the currentjob market, consisting of important trends that are influential of the future, andhow these changes can have an impact on your career path.

After completion of this Guide:

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Resources Toolkit Overview

The following are tools that we have prepared to assist you with this guide.Coaching Questions, recommended actions, tips and advices are alsoprovided to aid your research.

What is it that you really want to do in your career? You need tohave clarity of your profession before you can begin tounderstand your surroundings and situation. You need to identifyactual responsibilities and activities involved and compare it withyour perception of what you should do/what you want to do inyour career.

Goals are important. Having something to aim for will keep youfrom being unproductive. The intent is for you to avoid thinkingabout being unemployed and self-pitying, and instead find waysto get back out there. Goals that are truly attractive andmeaningful can also give you a new perspective about havingall that free time to yourself: it only means that you now havemore opportunities to pursue these aspirations.

There is a need to examine your desired profession and itsenvironment, as well as the industry where it belongs. To be ableto execute a job search that will produce favorable results, youneed to be aware of the current issues, trends, strengths andweaknesses, opportunities and threats of the job you are keen topursue.

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What is it that you do? Does your current/past job title actually describe yourprofession?

A lot of people think that their job title is their work, but sometimes there is anactual disconnect between the position you hold and the tasks being given toyou. In a real work setting, a job title is only useful on paper, but may not carryenough weight outside your work place.

For example, what does a senior engineer even mean? Does the job entailmore complexity of engineering work from that which is handled by someonewith a slightly lower pay grade? Hardly; but notable-sounding job titles aresomething a lot of people desire, even if they can't be hard-pressed to admit it.

You are led to believe that a job title is everything, and to have an impressivelabel after your name symbolizes skills and status. Except this isn't true, and thelonger you stay in the job, the more you realize that this isn't what you wanted,this isn't what you expected, and the tasks you actually perform has nothing todo with the job title at all!

“If it is to be,it is up to me.”

WALLY AMOSFounder of Famous AmosChocolate Chip Cookies

Defining Your Career Vision

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Your Profession and the Environment

A clear definition of your desired profession is a must. We want you to spendsome time describing what you want to do in your future career path. Youneed to identify expected responsibilities and research on activities you want tobe involved. List out your ideal office scenario or a typical day at theworkplace. What are you doing? What kind of people are you interacting with?What is it that will fulfill your passion and purpose while you are here?

The job market is dynamic and the changes might be huge since your lastcareer transition.The ideas or concepts you have may have change drastically. In order tocompete more successfully in the global market, organizations may havebecome shrunk their workforce and putting more focus on productivity. Withthat, top management is insisting on a workforce that is lively and flexible.Technology also plays a big part as it continues to affect us in different ways.New skills are hot in demand and old skills are dying off. You need to knowexactly how these developments are affecting your profession.

Based on your profession, you are required to understand what it takes to be inthe desired marketplace. This is even more important if you are thinking ofswitching industries. Your decision will be based on what you are looking for inyour future career path that meets your passion and that it requires of your skills,talent and knowledge.

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Something to Ponder

Coaching Questions to ask about my profession

As you think about your future career path, you need to know your currentstrengths and what are the gaps you need to fill in to stay relevant and on topof your career. Defining your profession begins with an examination of yourwork experience and expertise.

What would my ideal work be? What type of training I need to advance in thisprofession?

What is my passion? What profession do they suggest?

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What comes naturally to me? What profession do they suggest?

How feasible is my profession? What are the threats to it in becoming obsolete?

What is the average salary level of the profession I am interested in?

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Recommended Actions

Identify the profession(s) that you have hadin the past and make a list of the activities and responsibilities thatcame with it. Write the good and bad experiences, the advantagesand disadvantages of having that job, and the factors that madeyou leave. Given new opportunities, would you still be interested inpursuing the same job? Would you consider looking into a differentkind of profession but still within the same industry? Or are youdecided on trying something new altogether?

Go through the classifieds in newspapers and online job boards. Lookat the industry and profession profiles. Read about the requirements(education, work experience, skills) as well as tasks (duties that will beassigned once the position is accepted). See if this is something thatyou would be attracted to.

Use the Internet to find more information about yourprofession. Read blogs; join mailing lists and forums, etc. You can alsoread occupational handbooks, as they describe working conditions,training and education requirements, earnings and expected jobprospects.

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Ask friends, colleagues, and family aboutwhat other profession they see you working at in the future.

Speaking to people is an important factor of your work. You need tobe confident and prepared initiating such conversations. How youbegin the discussion and how you phrase your questions are particularlyimportant. It is a good idea to make an outline and write notes so youcan get the best possible answers.

Remember these three key points: the dynamic changes of job market,the impact of technology on your profession, and how it is currentlyperceived in the marketplace

Advisory Column

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A holistic plan is to have a goal, one that will not only get you excited toachieve results but also push your boundaries and challenge you to do yourbest. Planning on how you will execute your job search is essential, but goalsthat will enable you to be successful once you get the job are equallyimportant. To say that a goal needs to be smart is pretty much obvious, but youcan turn this word into a nifty acronym that you can use.

Simply put, stands for: pecific, easurable, ttainable, elevant

and ime -Bound. When you list your goals, whether short-term or long-term, wewant you to keep this in mind. Having these parameters will make it easier foryou to have more sensible targets.

Your goal needs to be well defined. Write it in present tense, as if it were truetoday. This will help you internalize what you want to happen. Believe you

“Set your goalshigh and don’tlet anybody tellyou no.”

MURIEL SIEBERTFounder and President ofMuriel Siebert & Co., Inc.

Creating A SMART Goal

specific

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deserve the new position and act as if you are already enjoying it! For instance,a Gaming Programmer might state his goal this way:

I have a great job as a game programmer working for one of the biggestonline gaming company in the industry today. I am creating amazing 3DAnimation and earning a salary that is worth the amount of work I amputting in.

If you are still not sure on your next move, consider writing it this way:

I am very passionate about creating 3D Games and online music. In myprevious job in a software firm, I didn't get to combine the two although Ihad fun. Now I am considering doing the same job but changingindustries, like creating 3D Games with self composed music.

A specific goal is one that is direct to the point, easy to understand, and clearto anyone even if they have no prior knowledge about your industry orprofession.

A goal is measurable if there's a target that you can reach or work towards it. Itneeds to be a tangible result so that you can determine if you have been

Measureable

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successful. For example, a network engineer wants to make his network ofhiring managers from IT companies bigger. This is ambiguous and confusing:

I want to meet new hiring managers of IT companies.

This is clearer and much more concrete:

To increase my number of contacts, I will call up two IT companieseach week and get in touch with the hiring manager. I will do this forthree months.

If the desired result (increased number of contacts) has been achieved, thenthe goal can be evaluated as a success. If not, then it is a failure. Another wayof evaluating a goal is to use a graduated level of attainment, fromexceptional to unsatisfactory:

: I will accept a position as a network engineer with a salarywithin my dream range. Yay!

: I will accept a position as a network programmer with asalary within in my comfort zone.

: I will accept a network programmer or developerposition with a company not on my target list; or, I will accept adifferent position that will be a stepping-stone to my desired position.

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: I will accept a position with a salary way below myexpectations. Argh!

An attainable goal is one that is realistic and reachable given thecircumstances. It should be practical and not impossible to achieve. Of course,there is nothing wrong with giving yourself a challenge, but you need to beable to carry this out given the resources and timeframe you have. It doesn'tmean, however, that it has to be too simplistic or easy, because then you willonly be fooling yourself. Don't sell yourself short just because you have anxietiesabout failing - an attainable goal means you are able to accomplish this instages, supported by perseverance and hard work.

Attainable

10 Factors That Affect Attainability

"I have 90% of the skills, knowledge andexperience needed for my target position. Ihave a solid knowledge of projectmanagement and planning skills. I needmore hands on time with operation skillswhich I could get up to speed quickly."

When choosing a profession, you need to knowwhat you can and can't. By browsing job ads,focus on requirements the company is lookingfor and assess yourself if you fit the bill. Decide ifyou can include learning a new skill as anattainable goal, given your present situation(financial resources, time available, etc.)

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"I have ten years of experience managingkey projects. I am currently working infinance, but I want to transfer to amanufacturing company. I don't have aBachelors Degree, but I have a PMIcertification. I am also looking intoOperational Management certification."

Similar with your skill set, you need to assess ifgetting more certification is a priority versuslooking for another profession that will becontent with your experience and history.

"I want to get this position and willing to workextra hard to get what I want. My parentsimpart a really strong professional work ethicin me, and I don't expect things to behanded to me on a silver platter."

The more motivated you are, the more likelyyou'll be able to find solutions to your problems. Ifyou view everything as a challenge rather thana setback, then you are more likely to take onmore demanding and tough goals compared toother people.

"I have been informed I am a bit of aconservative who might affect my socialnetworking and interviewing."

The way you connect to other people and yourreadiness to reach out to strangers can affecthow you create your goal. Do not use yourbeing a wallflower as an excuse to do somethingundemanding.

10 Factors That Affect Attainability (continued)

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"I just want to have a fair compensation ofwhat I do and worth paying for."

Part of job search is a look into the industrywhere your profession belongs. Enquire salaryaverage that your colleagues receive.

"My life partner supports me completely inmaking this move. I have a great friend whowill be my accountability partner. I know afew people who have useful connections.

Engaging a support team sounds good, but youneed to be careful not to be too relying onthem. What happens if they are not free forconsultation? Are you able to pursue your jobsearch on your own?

"I have identify eight companies that I wantto focus and may add more later. Since I amin the finance field, I will use mainly onlinemethods for my search (e-profile, blog, socialnetworking)."

Strategies are stepping stones towardattainability. Have a plan that works and suits theresources and skills that you already have.

"I have average computer skills and allequipment I need to work at home.

A big portion of the job search is using thecomputer. Consider this and your ability to use itwhen choosing your methods.

10 Factors That Affect Attainability (continued)

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"I am putting in 50-hour work weeks at mycurrent job and I have a 2 year old son, so Ican only dedicate a few hours a week forface-to-face networking. I'll do more onlinenetworking in the evenings.

Think about your schedule and otherresponsibilities during your job search. Observethe time of day you can be most productiveand how you can maximize it.

"I have long hair and big beard, might putsome people off if I have to interview withtraditional corporate types.

Extra things to note are corporate culture,expectations regarding employee behavior, andmore. Evaluate whether these are priorities foryou or not.

10 Factors That Affect Attainability (continued)

Remember: The stronger you are in each factor, the faster your search will be. Likewise, ifyou come short in some areas, it will take longer to get where you want to go.

relevant

Relevant goals must be aligned with your purpose and the big picture in yourlife. These are something that directly helps you move one step closer towardsyour dream. Whether long-term or short-term, their role is to take you forward.

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Relevant goals are one of the most difficult to achieve, if only because wehave a tendency to get sidetracked by other goals that we feel are important,too. For example, a web developer looking to land a job in the IT industry canhave this goal that is significant but not relevant to his job search:

I just recently learned planning skills. I want to demonstrate my skills soI've agreed to teach my friend to plan for a project.

How to turn this into a relevant goal:

I just recently learned planning skills. Based from my research, a lot ofcompanies now are looking for project managers with such skill. I havedecided to create a planning tool so I have something to show thehiring managers during my interview.

It is important to note that a relevant goal is something that can create animpact to your already existing plan, as well as the industry or profession you areinterested in.

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Your goal needs to have a realistic timeline. Here's an example for somethingshort-term:

I will accept an offer within 60 or 90 days, or,

I will give myself two days to decide if I really want to work there.

As for long-term goals that involve years, you need to be vigilant and examinethese regularly. Situations change; what may be achievable now might not beso in the future. If a lot of other factors are dependent on these goals, youmight face difficulties. Be sure that you habitually review your objectives toavoid being in this scenario.

It's now time for some self-examination. The table below will help you assesseach of the factors that affect goal attainment. Using a scale of 1 to 10 (1 islow/false, 10 is high/true), circle a rating for each factor and then total yourscores. You can also ask a trusted colleague to rate you, then compare yourscores and assess any differences.

Time-Bound

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FACTORS RATINGS (1 = LOW/FALSE;10 = HIGH/TRUE)

1

Current Skill Set - Do you have the majority of the skillsemployers want for your target position? Can you getup to speed quickly? Are your skills above average?(This is especially important if the number of totalopenings for your target positions is limited).

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

2

Industry Experience and Education. Do you haverecent, hands-on experience in your target position?Do you have the number of years of experience mostemployers are looking for? Is your target industrycurrently hiring? Have you researched your targetcompany against its competitors? Do you have thedegree or certifications required for the position?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

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Motivation: Do you really want this career change? Areyou willing to make sacrifices to get what you want?Are you prone to seizing the day ("I have to make thefirst move if I want something great to happen") versusan entitlement mentality. (World owes me because Ihave been through so much)?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

4Social Skills: Are you personable and well groomed? Doyou have good communication and relational skills?Are you reasonably self-confident?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

5

Support Systems and Network: Do you have a goal-oriented accountability partner? Can you tap into areasonably strong professional and personal network?Do you know people within the industry?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

How attainable are your goals?

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FACTORS RATINGS (1 = LOW/FALSE;10 = HIGH/TRUE)

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Search Strategy: Do you have a clearly definedposition and company target, giving considerationgeography, company size, organizational culture, andso on?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

7IComputer Skills: Are you proficient with the technologyneeded for the target job? Do you have a computerand Internet connection time?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

8Salary: Is your salary goal in line with market realitiesand current salary surveys?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

9Time Availability: Can you devote 30-40 hours or moreeach week to your search if you are unemployed and10-15 hours if you are employed?

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Potential Obstacles: Are you free of any of thesepotential obstacles; a long distance search, pooremployment record, disability, appearance, silent,discrimination for reasons of race, sex, religion, or agelanguage barriers, criminal record, health problems,heavy smoker, emotional problems, anything else.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

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What Your Scores Mean

Although there may be some gray areas in scoring, this quick assessment willgive you an idea of whether your goal is attainable:

If your total score is within 80-100: You should be set up for arelatively straightforward job search. You have a big chance ofgetting the job you want faster, because of your dedication, ability toengage, and a network that will get you the right connections.

If your total score is within 50-80: You could do with more time toconcentrate on the factors that need shoring up. It may be that yourskills are not enough to get you the job you are eyeing, or that youhave to develop more your relationships with other people. Eitherway, a bit more effort would be better.

If your total score is below 50: You might need to review your goalsand research more about the profession and industry you areinterested in. Remember that a successful job search involvesdedication and time. You might also want to consider changing yourtarget to a bridge job if you want to be in a new position quickly.(Bridge jobs tide you over if you've been laid off and can't findanother job in your profession.)

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Recommended Actions

Write down your goals. It sounds so simple yet it proves to be veryeffective. It is so easy to talk about what you want to do, but when itcomes to putting them down on paper, you are compelled to reallythink about it. We have provided a form on the next page. Print thisout and write down your thoughts.

Do not over think it. The wording does not need to be perfect at thispoint. It is more important that you put what's on your mind to paper.Seeing your thoughts written down helps you commit more andmakes your goals seem more concrete. Remember to write Specificgoals in present tense, as if it were already true. If you need ideas,refer back to the examples for each of the SMART elements.

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Exceptional

Expected

Could be better

Unsatisfactory

Skill Set

Industry Experience & Education

Motivation

Social Skills

My SMART Goals

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‣‣‣ Support Systems and Network

Search Strategy

Computer Skills

Target Salary

Potential Obstacles

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Motivation and Fears

When is my deadline (date) of sketching out my SMART goals? Whom will I beaccountable?

What motivates me? How will I build this motivation in my daily routine?

Which SMART goal can I take today to boost my job search momentum?

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What fears and apprehensions are preventing me from doing well?

What aspects of job search do I feel threatened by? Out of the 10 factors thataffect attainability, which am I concerned with the most?

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Once you have truly defined your profession in terms of what you want to doand where you want to do it, you need to educate yourself on the latestdevelopments in your profession and your professional environment. Again,research will play a big role here. We cannot put enough emphasis on this. It isnot sufficient to familiarize yourself with current trends - you need to get details,look into into histories, and brush up on companies' vision-mission objectives. Inas much as you devote time to examine your own values and skills, the samedetermination is needed in understanding the industry of your choice.

If you are really interested to be part of an organization, a desire to know abouttheir track record is very important. You will want to know what makes them agood employer - and what other qualities they have that makes them apotentially bad one, too. The Internet is a valuable tool, both for investigatinginformation and networking with experts in your field. Make sure that you aremaximizing your resources.

“Thinkdiversity. Theidea of tryingeverything isimportant.”

JILL ELIKANN BARADPresident and CEO of Mattel,Inc.

Putting Things in Perspective

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Knowing Your Professional Environment

Here are some more concrete ways on how you can understand yourprofessional environment better:

Study the classifieds in newspapers and online job postings. Noteall the companies and industries that need your professional services.Can you meet all of their requirements? Note that the prerequisites donot only pertain to skills and experience, but also age, gender,location, etc. For example, you may find that a lot of open positionsrelated to finance are located in the city, which is a bit far from yourhome. Further research can reveal that this is because the financialcapital is there. This and other kind of information might be a factor inyour job search.

Aside from relevant websites, read industry newsletters andprofessional journals. Take notes. Share these with your supportteam and ask related questions. If you have difficulty getting answers,approach experts via forums or their blogs.

When you are further along in your preparation and are gatheringmarketplace information, develop and constantly meet with yoursources. These are the people with whom you can discuss yourfindings about your professional environment.

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Get Yourself Organized

An efficient job search will be more possible if you are organized fromthe get-go. Build electronic or hard copy files of articles on yourprofession and industries that attract you, and continue to compilethis information throughout your search.

Start to bookmark all the relevant web sites so that you can refer tothem easily. Get a new journal solely for your job search so you won'thave to lose notes written on random pieces of paper. Keep anaddress book of all your contacts.

Put all your files in a dedicated box or container and place it on yourdesk where it is within easy reach. Constantly review all theinformation that you have. This will train you to be the best-informedand most up-to-date candidate, which makes for a great firstimpression.

C

C

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There is great joy in accomplishing a lot from a to-do list, and this guide is,admittedly, quite a big one. As you slowly discover, there's a lot that goesbehind getting the job of your dreams: hard work, determination, self-belief,and most importantly, preparation.

In this stage of your job search, doing your homework is fundamental.

We have talked a lot about being a professional, and owning it. This is crucialbecause we need you to believe in yourself first, before you can move ontoother stages of the job search process. The tools that we provide you with areonly extra helping hands - the most important thing you can rely on is yourselfand putting the plans into action.

Always keep this in mind: true professionals stand out from the crowd. Theirenthusiasm and commitment enable them to develop rewarding careers in thefuture. They see opportunities and work hard, and they expect nothing less butsuccess.

“Keep an openattitude and bewilling to trynew things.”

ARTHUR C. MARTINEZFormer President and CEO ofSears, Roebuck and Co.

In Summary

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YourOwn360 Career Strategy Guide Series provides focused and practicalstrategies to help working professionals to discover themselves better and movethem into meaningful and fulfilling careers.

To learn more about other series, please visit www.yourown360.com

To enquire Coaching & Strategy Session or book Ngee Key for Keynote Speech,please contact him at [email protected]

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