To promote your brand, boost your credibility, demonstrate your talents and differentiate yourself from other job seekers, you need a career toolbox.
To kick-start your career, you'll need:
- A personal career statement. Think about your career aspirations, the role work plays in your life and the future.
- A professional e-mail address. For career-related correspondence, use an e-mail address such as: yourname@gmail.com. Google provides a free e-mail account at www.gmail.com.
- A blog. A blog is an online journal that gives you unlimited opportunity to broadcast your talents in cyberspace. There are hundreds of free blog offerings available. Popular examples include: www.blogger.com and www.wordpress.org.
- An online profile. Promote your personal brand through online professional networking sites such as www.linkedin.com, which is free and has a large SA membership base.
- Relationship management software. This will help you keep track of prospective employers and recruitment agencies. A free offering is available at www.jibberjobber.com.
- Power profile/abridged CV. A one-page power profile, in hard copy and online formats, can open doors to recruitment agents, human resources professionals and executives.
- A professional CV in hard copy and online formats. The ultimate objective of a CV is to secure a job interview. If your do-it-yourself CV is not working after half a dozen applications, look for professional assistance - the fee of a few hundred rand is a fraction of the investment in your degree.
- Customised covering letters. These should be targeted to the requirements of the organisation, the specific position and should explain why you must be interviewed.
- Watertight references. These should provide authentic, impressive telephonic recommendations about your character and your work.
- Workplace attire. Notwithstanding the gradual shift in SA towards casual attire in the workplace, your wardrobe should have formal, professional clothing for interviews and business engagements.
- Professional memberships. If you are studying to become a doctor, chartered accountant, engineer or a similar profession, apply for membership with the relevant qualifying body, even if it is a student membership.
- Life-long learning. Don't throw away your textbooks and course material! You should have a life-long learning regime that keeps you up to date with developments in business, your field of work, technology, trends and careers.
- Career research library. You can include career-related books, media articles, industry journal features, career newsletters and career websites.
Note: Terms and conditions of websites should be checked prior to use.
Yusuf Mahomedy, (CA (SA) AdvTax), is a reward consultant, business coach and founder of career website Worksucks Make Work, Work
