How to Be Successful Finding Good Jobs

Ask for resume advice and editing assistance at an employment office.

Knowing what to do as you hunt for a good job that pays well is the secret to finding the right place for employment. There not many places where you can readily find all the tools and information you need. Having the right attitude towards looking for a job is a large piece of the good-job puzzle. The rest of puzzle pieces involve being prepared when an opportunity arises and starting off with a good resume and cover letter.

Things You'll Need

• Professionally written resume
• Professionally written cover letter

Instructions

1. Have a professional writer create your resume and cover letter if you can afford that. Then again, if you can create a professionally written resume and cover letters, do so yourself. Seek advice or editing help from someone at a state employment or professional association.

   Make more than one resume to target different employment sectors. Keep the resumes up to date. Cover letters show potential employers that you are willing to do the extra work to land a good job.

2. Be persistent. This goes a long way towards finding a good job that pays well. It starts with having confidence in yourself and your abilities. If you're not confident in yourself or at least displaying confidence other people will take note of this. Persistence in your job hunt will add to your confidence.

3. Be positive, especially in your outward appearance. You may have noticed how some people seem chipper even when the weather is bad. This is the attitude you need when hunting for a good job. Feeling frustrated has a way of showing on your face and in your body demeanor. When you start worrying about situations you can't handle you might even act irritable and grumpy. Don't let a potential employer or employment agency staffer see that.

4. Know what you want to do for a job. Have a clear understanding of what you want to do in life. Just because there's a position open at a fast food restaurant doesn't mean you should grab it. Take time out to write down your goals and objectives and review them every day as you begin your search. But have a few options and alternatives to your very best job possibilities. In times like these you may not get your top-choice job, but you might find something enjoyable and well-paying that uses many of your skills.

5. Know where to look for employment. Your local newspaper might still post jobs on a daily basis. Look in the help wanted section, but don't stop there. If you're looking to work for the government, look for state, local and federal listings on the Internet. Most cities also have employment centers that have job listings and programs to help you land a job. Enlist the help of someone there to see if there's a job that's suited for you. Attend job fairs to speak with company officials about the job offerings they have. Bring those well-written resumes and cover letters. If you have an adequate mode of transportation, you can travel to different cities for these job fairs.

6. Network at professional associations relevant to your work history and interests. Apply for an internship to hone your skills. This may be tough for people who cannot go long without paying work or have been out of college for several years, but it may give you an edge if you can do it. Some internships offer stipends.

7. Research the place of employment where you're applying, when that happy moment arrives. Learn all you can about a potential job. This will help you refine your search for what job is good for you and will give you useful information if you're asked to come for an interview. Check to see if the job will be right for you in terms of your skills and qualifications. Get to know the names of the important people at the company.

Tips & Warnings

• Gaining employment goes much further than simply submitting resumes and cover letters.

• Don't give up hope.

References

• BLS: Job Search Methods