We have created a number of exercises that you can use to assist you succeed and often remind yourself how you succeeded in being employed into your various roles.  Often the things you did well previously are forgotten, so here are the prompts.

Exercise 1: This is designed to allow you to reflect and perhaps understand how things have changed so dramatically in a short space of time. In the past you may have been one of the fortunate few who were invited to apply for a job. In today’s very competitive environment this is becoming less and less of an occurrence.  List the last two jobs you held and remind yourself how you got these jobs.

Exercise 2: Write a sentence selling yourself to a potential employer and then ask your partner or close friend to critique your performance.

Exercise 3: Give an example of a potential opportunity you presented to a former employer that worked. Present this also to your partner or close friend and see if they are impressed with your performance.

Exercise 4: Describe how you will focus on getting into your preferred industry, company or organisation and the job you wish to gain.

Exercise 5: Use the following exercise to start the strategic approach to the job hunt. This is your preparation for the plan that you must create to save yourself from making an ad hoc approach to the most important project of your life. Getting the right career path in the right sort of organisation is a top priority. Put the effort in now as in future when you apply yourself to making a worthwhile change, it will be a lot easier for you.  List the 6 industries you would most like to be involved with. Also, state why you would like to work in these industries. Describe what attributes you have that make you a candidate for those chosen.

Exercise 6: List the 3 companies or organisations you would most like to be involved with, in their order of importance. Write a statement on why you would like to work for these companies. Now write a sentence describing why have you chosen those three? Now prioritise them if you have not done so already. List the roles or jobs that are of greatest interest to you. Now write a sentence that clearly articulates your career objective.

SAMPLE: I wish to use my experience in project management, advance computer technology, the knowledge gained from my degrees (Master of Science and MBA), together with my major sales success to gain a CIO role in a global service oriental organisation.

Exercise 7: List the city/country in which you want to work. Do you have the necessary documentation for your targets? Do you have the necessary documentation for your main target? Have you considered the impact of moving away from your home country? What do you want to do when the job is done? Where is your next role going to be? Prepare a sentence so it is clear to you and any one you talk to. These are some of the questions you should ask yourself.

Now the work begins in earnest, can you think of any more important task now than commencing the job search?