Issue link: http://cp.revolio.com/i/142672
on the job hunt as well as libraries and state or county-sponsored job service organizations. Scan your local newspapers for opportunities; not only the help wanted classifieds, but also the business pages where start-up businesses are featured and entrepreneurs profiled. Understand that you are selling yourself and your services, and treat your job search as you would any other marketing task. Send your resume to advertised positions and to employers who may not yet know they need you. Peruse your local Yellow Pages directory and send your resume, with individual cover letters, to all those who might have an interest or opportunity. Interviewing—A Two-Way Street You've landed an interview, you've thought about the salary you would require, the hours you want to work, the benefits you desire. Thinking ahead as to what questions an employer might ask is a good way to be prepared. Don't feel ambushed, however, if employers hit you with a difficult question you haven't foreseen. It's part of their strategy to see you think on your feet. Simply think before you speak, and communicate honestly. Remember that an interview is a two-way street. Do you want to work for this person? In this environment? For these kinds of clients? What are the company's goals? What does the employer foresee in the future of alternative care? Asking questions other than salary, vacation, and benefits shows you've invested time in the process. Afterward, it's often a nice gesture to send a thankyou note for the opportunity. Don't burn bridges, regardless. You never know when you might want, or need, to revisit this process again. Now comes the wait. There may be a job offer, there may not. If there is, you might even decide it's not exactly what you want. Don't be afraid to say, "Thank you, but I've decided to look at another opportunity." Our working lives take up the majority of our daily lives. While necessity often predicates where, when, and how often we work, if at all possible, work in an environment that will allow you to grow professionally, where you enjoy the relationships with your coworkers, and, most of all, where you can be happy. If it is a job offer you're interested in accepting, make sure you're agreeable to all the terms. Don't be bashful about negotiating terms of employment, but know when to compromise, especially if it is a job you really want. The job search is often an intimidating process filled with unknowns. With a plan of action, a set of goals, and the fortitude to put your best foot forward, you'll do just fine. Exude the confidence and passion that brought you into this profession in the first place. It will show through and knowledgeable and savvy employers will reward you for it. SPH