Corporate Affairs

Job hunting is no easy - nor fun task. In fact, it can be grueling. Annoying. And just flat out disappointing. After thinking about these unattractive attributes of the task that I had before me - to find a job that I absolutely love

Now - I must admit, that upon introducing this idea to other women, that I have already met with some skeptics. And those that plain tell me that it can't be done. But I just tell them that I have done it before - and I am always up for a challenge. They just smile - they are used to me by now.

I think that the biggest mistake women make when job searching is thinking that they have to change themselves to get the perfect job. Wrong. It's about finding the job that is perfect for YOU, not the other way around. That being said, I thought that I would share some ideas that you might consider while conducting your job search, while I go through mine.

Be The Interviewer
You have to be the one doing the interviewing, too. It's very important that the prospective company asks you questions - but it is equally important for you to ask them questions. Think of an interview as a two-way street: they are looking to hire the perfect person, and you are looking to be hired to do the perfect job. And nothing less. Think of it this way - I'm sure that the company interviewing you wouldn't settle, so why would you?

Important questions to ask during an interview are:

•Can you break down the tasks that I would be responsible for according to the job description by percentage, in terms of time spent on each task during a typical day?
•Can you be more specific about the "other duties as required" that is quoted on the job description?
•Who would I be reporting to, and who would my team consist of?
•What are their personalities like?
•Is this an independent role, or a team-based role?
•What is the culture of the firm like? What is the dress code?
•Would I be expected to work overtime?
•Will I be travelling often?
•Will I be rewarded and recognized by my individual performance, or against an existing political structure?
•How much training will I receive in this role? What challenges would I face within this role?
•Why did the last person in this position leave?
•Is there ample opportunity for progression within the role, and within the company as a whole?
•If so, in what way?
•Where does the company hope to be five years from now?

You will notice that many of these questions are questions that the prospective company would ask you, just in reverse. You have got to make sure that you know exactly what you are getting into, just as they want to make sure that they know that they are hiring the right person for the job. Be honest with yourself - if their answers clash with your ideals, take the time to truly consider whether this job is right for you or not.

Market Yourself
It's all in the marketing. Marketing yourself as a brand, and marketing your work as creatively as you can. All of us have unique talents, skills, experiences and accolades that we can show off. So show them off! Or as I would say, burn brightly. Part of marketing yourself is being confident in yourself and what you have already achieved. The next step is to be able to display all of the wonderful things about you in an organized, cohesive and unique way. So - instead of sending your plain old resume to your dream employer, send a portfolio of work with a nice portrait of yourself. Conduct a research study and create a unique presentation to show them. Ask a resume-writing service to jazz up your resume - it is well worth the money. I have seen some messy resumes - make sure that your resume is in tip top shape at all times! You never know when the perfect job will hit you, so be prepared. You also have to gear your resume towards your potential employer - so you might have three resumes - for example, one for information technology consulting, one for sales and one for business development.

Before any of this fun stuff though, you have to think about what you really want out of a prospective employer and thus, the perfect job. And you have to know yourself. What are my strengths? Weaknesses? What do I really want to do? What would my dream employer/company look like? Once you have completed these steps, start networking! Tell your friends what you are looking for. Get in touch with recruiters and consultants in your area of interest, for example advertising. They will search for jobs for you (for free), if they like you. That is their job. Join professional groups and attend events in your area of interest, for example finance. Sign up for LinkedIn, a networking site for professionals. Create a website and start a side-business. Write a blog and flaunt your skills. Keep in touch with past work contacts. The key is to get yourself out there! Then the opportunities will come knocking automatically.

Personality And Culture
This is so important. Unfortunately, many companies have a specific culture that you have to fit into and a set of rules that you have to follow when you work there. As a very independent person, I am hoping that in the future, more companies will be geared towards embracing creativity and individuality in their employees. That being said, there are already such companies out there, it's just a matter of finding one that is a fit for you. Remember that it's not just about how much you like the work, it's also about how much you like the people that you are working with, and the culture, vision and goals of the company itself, especially if you are going to be tied to a desk in that office, with those same people, all day long, five days a week.

Some important attributes to consider are: is it a laidback culture, or a stringent culture? Is it fast-paced, or go-with-the-flow, or both? Can I be myself here? Are the people that I am working with competitive, positive, negative, upbeat? Will I be listened to and understood here? Is there room for innovation and creativity here, or are the ways, processes and guidelines set in stone? What is the political structure like? Are rewards and recognition based on my work, or how well I fit in? Am I expected to arrive earlier and stay later than my boss? Do I have my own office, or share a workspace with others? Am I expected to take part in many extracurricular work activities with the company? What am I expected to wear to work every day? Are the hours of work very strict, or somewhat flexible?

To me, it is crucial that you are happy where you work, and being happy entails a sense of freedom and the ability to be yourself. So be sure to choose a company that has the culture and the people that allow you to feel that way.

Enhance Your Skills
It all starts with you. Be sure to choose a position that will both utilize, and enhance your skills. But first, you have to ask yourself - what am I hoping to achieve in my career, or in this particular position? Always have the end goal in sight before you do anything. It doesn't mean that you have to get really specific with your end goal, it just means that you have to have a vision of yourself in the future, so that you know what is the right direction to take to get there when it comes to you. That way, when offered a position, you will already know if it is right for you ahead of time. Will this position enhance my people skills? Will it increase my computer skills? Project management skills? It is crucial that you choose a job that is not only going to make you happy in the short run, but in the long run as well. You want to choose something that is going to make you better at your chosen craft, and get you to where you want to go. Everything else is a waste of your precious time!

Be Patient And Hold Out
There is a psychological component to job searching, too. We all need to make money. But don't give up if your perfect job doesn't plop on your doorstep right when you need it. There is a reason why, so be patient, relax and hold out for the best. Learn to take what comes - but only if it is right for you. Don't just take anything. Life is all about choices - you have a choice to judge your situation, freak out, and rush into something and settle because you are afraid that you won't find what you want. Or, you can look beyond your situation, have faith and wait until the perfect next step for you comes along just in the knick of time. It always does. Successful people know that there are good times and bad times. It's how you act under pressure - and in any situation - that matters, and that will, ultimately, determine how successful your future will be. Learn to train your mind to expect only the best, and you will get only the best.

Recent research conducted by the Australian National University found that those people in "jobs offering little control, poor recognition and low pay were at greater risk to mental health than no job at all." More than ever, people are feeling the need to sacrifice their well-being for their jobs. I think it's about time to reverse this strategy.

So make the choice to face the challenge and go where you are guided. As described above, there are certain steps you can take, but in the end, the perfect job will find you when the time is right. I dare you to try it.