It's hard to know where to start when you want to change your vocation. In the current economic climate, the competition for jobs is tough. Employers are looking for up to the minute skills, experience and training.
You need to have an outstanding application just to set you apart from the bunch. A boring application might get glossed over, lost in the sea of other applications. A CV and application letter can tell you a lot about a person and in order to get shortlisted, both need to be well formatted, concise, easy to read, logically ordered and error free. It also has to match the role you are applying for. For example a Designer would take a different approach to an Accountant.
Then comes the interview process. You must present well look professional as well as present as someone who will fit the potential employer's culture. This does not mean suits and heels or ties and jackets. No, these days many companies have a more casual approach. Formal 'business attire' is now out dated and candidates are encouraged to show more of their personal style without being too casual or 'out there'.
You need to do your research on the company and it's key people, understand their mission and values, know their core business, products or services and customers.
It is a real process. One I recently went through, unfortunately without success. Now I am setting out to plan my next move and prepare for new opportunities.
A highly respected business person recently gave me this piece of advice:
"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity"
If you are not prepared, you will not be ready to take an opportunity when it presents. Likewise, the opportunity may never present if you have not prepared. In essence we make our own luck. So that's what I'm doing. Who knows? I might even get lucky :-)
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