Week 4/5

She did various different job, but is going back teaching.

She mentions the need to develop your skills, trying new things and getting experience. This could include going on training courses, using online articles and books, conferences, meetings and talks (something that i often have access to through my business and using sparkhouse).

She showed us a nice colourful chart called a career map which gives you details and requirements for a multitude of different jobs.

3 reasons to join Proffesional group:
Shows you take being a professional seriously.
Gives access to members and lecturers
1 more which i have forgotten, oh well.

Employers look for:
Well-rounded person
Communication skills
Adaptable
Interpersonal skills
Business awareness - find out how businesses operate, relate to business people, don’t talk techy jargon.
Presentation skills - good for getting across your message.
Teamwork 
Project skills - will train you in their ways and methodologies.
Pc skills - word, excess, PowerPoint. - don’t like flashy apparently.

Programming skills:

Dont need to know a specific programming language, know the basics.
Want you to have a disciplined approach and be capable of writing maintainable code.
(This is interesting, however I can’t imagine myself going for a job unless they wanted someone with the skills i have in flash and asp.net 3.5)

Current hot skills:
Technical software testing,
Remote networking
Social networking tools
----
Project management
Leadership
People communications
Financial management

Interviews:
Practice them
Put yourself in employers shoes (i have actually done a few interviews before for xsbroadcasting)
Why would they employ me. - Experience.
Hobbies
Show interest in the company and what they do.
Technical interview - Can ask questions you dont know to see how you handle it and the unknown.
Mention something you would like to expand your experience for.

Finding jobs, where to look:
Careers office
Recruitment agencies
Internet
Careers fairs
Local paper
Industry conferences
Placements i have been on.
Word of mouth. 

Actions: 
Do research before you apply. Find out about their competitors.
Develope generic cv to use as a template then tailor it on a job by job basis.
Address to a person... Not dear sir.