None of us ever feel that we are going to be out of work for very long. We jump into looking for work in as many directions as we can think of, confident that we will find a suitable position quickly, and move on with our lives.

A few weeks pass and we see that we have been pursuing leads willy-nilly and often can’t quite remember where we applied and the details of each position.

Creating a central organizer for our activities can help assure that we have a clear understanding of where we’ve been and what we’ve done, and provides a private resource chart for on-going contacts and re-contacts.

Start with a thick, 2 or 3 inch, 3 ring binder available at any drugstore. Get a stack of pre-punched paper and several thick paper pockets to put in each section. Here are some suggestions on how to set it up – if something a little different works for you, make whatever changes you’d like.

1. The first section will contain your resume, your personal snapshot cheat sheet (personal qualities demanded by employers which you possess, the general and specific job skills in your repertoire) and your weekly job search schedule. If you have more than one resume, number each one so you can keep track of which version you use with each potential employer.

2. This part consists of job leads from classifieds, postings, website job applications completed, job fair brochures and related information. Hole-punch complete page size documents. For small ads, tape the cut out slips onto a blank sheet and leave plenty of room around each ad to make notes – when you applied, how you applied, and when follow up is needed. If you obtain business cards from in-person applications or job fairs (where you should be able to collect a lot of them), slip them into the pocket pages and write any pertinent information on the back of each card -where you obtained it, any special details about the person, if follow up might be worthwhile and when.

3. This section is for resumes submitted. File a copy of all cover letters submitted and, if applicable, note the number of the resume you attached. Make notes of any responses received or follow up telephone numbers. You may also include here the names and details of any agencies where you registered or head hunters you may have called.

4. This is a record of all interviews completed. Include notes of where and when and any pertinent details regarding how well it went, company characteristics and when follow up would be appropriate. Keep the business cards of interviewers in your pocket page with notes on the back specific to that interviewer (very important if you are called back for a second meeting).

5. 6. 7. and 8. Networking — the core of your Job Search. We need four sections for our sizzling contacts (direct connections with family members, friends, acquaintances, and business associates), warm contacts (personal referrals made by our sizzling list), tepid contacts (referrals through others but one or two steps removed from people we personally know) and cold contacts (employers we have contacted from out the blue to see if any unadvertised openings exist). Use these sections to record who you contact and when, the responses received, and telephone numbers for follow up.

9. Keep a separate section for lessons learned. Whenever you identify a technique that worked well for you, make note of the details. When you debrief yourself after an interview, make notations regarding what went well and any weaknesses or problem areas you need to work on. If you believe that you made mistakes, write out the details and figure out how to avoid repeating them.

10. Jobs that didn’t fit. You may tend to think of this as your “rejections” pile but always remember that not getting a job you want is not a personal rejection of you but merely reflects the fact that someone else was a better fit. Keep all “Thanks, but no thanks” letters here with any notes you may have regarding the details. Store those ubiquitous postcards noting that your resume was received and will be considered, in your pocket page. File a copy of e-mails received acknowledging receipt of online applications.

If you find such an organizer helpful, you can continue the same technique when you start a new job and materials are coming fast and furiously. Then use one for your on-going networking to keep your contact list warm and secure by continuing to acknowledge their help and to schedule an occasional hello and update.

Virginia Bola
http://www.articlesbase.com/careers-articles/job-search-secrets-make-an-organizer-33249.html

It is said that if you engage yourself in the job you love then you will never work a single day of your life. If you find your dream jobs then it will not only provide bread on your table but it will also give you emotional stability. It is important that you design the proper job category for you to get your dream job. Although there are employment agencies to help you get work opportunities, it still lies on you to obtain the career that suits you and that you will love.

Without a category you are lost in the sea of employment. When you register with a popular employment agency, they will be just as lost. They will just send you out any available job there is. On your part, you will be choosing the job just on a capricious whim. If this job you choose failed your expectations, you will only consider ending the job again and you will be once again in square one. You will find this vicious cycle of seeking and finding jobs frustrating especially if your aim is to find a stable permanent career. The employment agency is not at fault when you fail in your career decision because you also failed to give them a proper job category.

You may also look for a job online. However, without proper job category, you will truly have a hard time. Some large-scale employment agencies accept resumes through the Internet. Then, they match the resumes with the right employer. The applicant will then receive an invitation for an interview. However, before it comes to that, you will need to fill out the important category fields in the Internet application such as salary requirement and location before your resume can be accepted. If you do not fill out a single category, then employment agencies will not be able to help you. They will fail to keep you posted on the jobs best for you because they do not know what kind of career you really want.

Some people do not like going online to search for a profession. Instead they head towards the employment agency near their area. This is also good as long as you know what job you want. Knowing what you want will help you plan a category and will aid you in choosing an agency that specialize in the job that you want. One good example is when you look for a temporary employment. There are temporary employment agencies that you could go to. Since they specialize in temporary employment, they will not venture towards giving you a referral to an employer wanting a permanent employee. It all depends on you if you wish to jump to another category. Remember that employment agencies are there to aid you in finding the job of your dreams.

Abhishek Agarwal
http://www.articlesbase.com/careers-articles/proper-career-planning-job-categories-and-employment-agencies-702992.html

Often youngsters opt to work as soon as they finish school regardless of whether they have undergone any specialty training or not. Though this may be the right choice for some for others it may not be so. Often people have fixed personality traits by the time they are in their mid teens and also have a general idea of the kind of job they would want to do. If this is so they can start planning their future career much earlier and qualifying themselves with suitable training.

How does career planning development help
Most people spend the major part of their adult lives working for a living and because of this it is important that you are doing something that you enjoy and not something that you are forced to do. This is where career planning development comes in useful and can help you in finding the right choice of profession for you. The choice of career starts when you are in high school and have to select the subjects that will help you in your future profession. This is also a period when you can see whether you really like the subjects and would like to continue with them. Counselors can help you to decide on your career and what subjects you should take accordingly.

Many students will be doing some kind of part time job during this period but it may not be the kind of job that they would like to carry on with later. Anyway this will give them an insight into what kind of profession they would like to take up in the future. It is your first job that teaches you discipline and the norms of office work. It is also an opportunity to learn new skills and office procedures. Your employer will give you the first letter of recommendation and mention all your strong points. You will also learn how to relate to others in the office and to have a proper schedule and be punctual.

What does career planning mean
Career planning means learning about the job market and also where you will fit into it. Career planning helps you to gauge your strengths and skills and what kind of a job would be suitable for you. An employment manager would decide on whether you conduct yourself in a positive and professional manner and whether you should be hired for the job or not. Your employment also depends on your resume and how you present yourself during the interview.

By knowing about the job market you will get to know what sort of work is popular and easy to get in the present day. Career planning will help you to search for a job and assist you in your search. You could even try to get a good position in the beginning based on your qualifications and skills.

Abhishek Agarwal
http://www.articlesbase.com/careers-articles/career-planning-development-tips-to-prepare-well-for-your-future-703269.html