September approaches, so it must be time to go back to school, right? For job seekers and changers, not unless you have a specific goal in mind.
Take a very close look at the outcomes of a plan of study; do they correlate to the demands of the job market? Are there currently jobs in a particular field and is that demand stable for your chosen geographic area? These are the very real questions that need to be answered before committing to a program of study that may not be a good fit in the turbulent economic times that we all face. Talk to individuals who have completed a program of study such as the one you have chosen and ask hard questions about landing a job in the field. What was the one asset that they had that actually got them the job?
What are some very real job skills that can translate into various environments?
Certainly, language skills are needed-Spanish and Arabic are important. Understanding the basics of social media, navigating software packages, and troubleshooting problems are all crucial skills. Knowledge and experience in marketing products is a plus as is supervisory experience of tiered workers. Perseverance is crucial in pursuing positions; dogged determination has become a way to show employers that you are truly interested in their company. Looking as if you are low risk hire makes the person who hired you look good, and that is very important.
You may look at companies that like to promote from within, making your acquisition of a lower level job more appealing. Checking in with temp agencies will give you some insight into various companies without a commitment, a way to network and get paid. Ask questions about the kind of skills needed for these environments; can you acquire these skills quickly? This may be easier than you think, for example if basic computing skills are not in your skill base now, ask a young person in your family to teach you. If your language skills are rusty, find a group of storytellers and listen that will help your skills as well.
Developing an action plan works for job seekers and job changers, what do I want to concentrate on right now, one month from now and then two months from now. This organizational plan keeps the momentum going and focuses in on a path, instead of too many. Often too many divergent paths can lead to a stalemate position, leading to frustration and lack of forward movement.
Try to work with a career counselor who can help you sort out the action plan priorities and help you see what needs to be done in good order. A good career counselor has the training to see past the jumble of thoughts and ideas and can assemble a path for you to develop.
