Expert Career Advice from VietnamWorks Career Center VietnamWorks.com is committed to helping users in their career search. We will be expanding this section of the site over time and plan to publish articles by industry experts, including HR professionals and career coaches, about career development and getting the job you've always wanted. Browse the following topics: 1. Focus 2. Research and Networking 3. Cover Letters 4. Resumes 5. Interviewing Focus One of the critical first steps in any job search is deciding where to focus. It is okay if you are not sure what you want to do next – the average person will change jobs 8 times over the course of their career. What is important is to figure out what you like, what you are good at and what you care about and then research what careers are related. Sometimes a job is as good for helping you figure out what you do not want to do as it is for helping you figure out what you do want to do. Back to Top Research and Networking Research and networking are key to getting an interview: • Gather information on jobs from as many sources as possible o Internet o Newspaper o Company Websites • Leverage your network o Networking is critical – Talk to your friends that are working, and your friend's friends. Ask them about what they do and whether their company is hiring. o Unless your job search is confidential, don’t be embarrassed to let people know you are looking for a job. The more people that know and the more diverse your research and networking strategy, the more likely you are to find out about the perfect job. Back to Top Cover Letters A good cover letter should be well-written and personalized. It should include: • What position you are applying for and where you learned about the opportunity (example: “I am writing to apply for the Marketing Assistant position at Unilever that I saw advertised on VietnamWorks.com”). • A brief summary of your experience (example: “I will be completing my bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Business in May 2003 and hope to secure a job in marking. I have had experience in marketing analysis and research while working part-time at The Coca-Cola Company as a Marketing Intern for the past year”). • Why you are interested in working for that company (example: "I am particularly interested in working at Unilever because or your innovative approach to marketing and commitment to building a world-class consumer brand."). • A courteous offer to provide more information (example: "Please let me know if I can provide you with any additional information. I sincerely hope to have the opportunity to speak with you further about joining the Unilever team."). Don't forget, ask a friend to proofread it before you send it. Also, be persistent, professional and always follow up. Don’t just send a letter and a resume and wait for your phone to ring. Keep an organized list of everyone you have contacted and continue to follow up with them until they agree to meet with you or tell you they are not interested. Back to Top Resumes A properly written resume should: • Have a simple layout - no fancy formatting or fonts. • Summarize your experience in reverse chronological order, and include dates. • Emphasize your ACCOMPLISHMENTS, not just your responsibilities in your past jobs - make sure you show what you have done by outlining the processes, outcomes and results specific to you. • Only include personal information if it is relevant or interesting. For example: mentioning you enjoy karaoke will not make you a more attractive candidate; mentioning you are on Vietnam’s Olympic taekwondo team demonstrates determination and may give you and the person interviewing you more to talk about. • And last but not least, contain no grammar or spelling mistakes. The smartest thing to do is to ask a friend to proofread it before you send it. Back to Top Interviewing Once you get the interview… • Prepare for the meeting. Do research on both the company and the industry. This will enable you to have an intelligent conversation and demonstrate to the person interviewing you that you are genuinely interested. • Make sure you ask questions. One of the biggest mistakes ever made in an interview is to not ask questions. o From your research and conversation you should be able to ask several intelligent questions. o Asking questions is a great opportunity to show how you think and demonstrate to the person interviewing you that you have researched their company and their industry and that you have intelligent things to say about it. Even if you haven’t done your research, asking a question like "What are the biggest challenges facing your company in the next few years?" and then asking "How does your company plan to address those challenges?" will impress the person interviewing you. • Remember, the little things count o Body language – lean forward, don’t slouch, and be confident and make eye contact when shaking hands. o Presentation – dress professionally. If you are a man, wear a tie. If you are a woman, dress formally and don't wear too much makeup. o Focus – Make sure you listen carefully, speak thoughtfully, and DON’T answer your hand phone during the meeting. • Don't forget to follow up o After your interviews, write a personalized thank you note to everyone you met. . Expert Career Advice from VietnamWorks Career Center VietnamWorks. com is committed to helping users in their career search. We will. time and plan to publish articles by industry experts, including HR professionals and career coaches, about career development and getting the job you've