Tips for employment seekers

Useful resources for seeking employment:

Online
http://www.careerjunction.co.za/ – Has a facility to upload your CV online
http://www.ioljobs.co.za/ – Register to subscribe to job alerts, which will be e-mailed or sms’d to you
http://www.careers24.com/

Published
Career Times – A supplement to the Cape Times, available on Mondays
Job Finder – A Supplement to the Cape Argus, available on Wednesdays

Word of Mouth
Let friends and relatives know that you are seeking employment. Make sure that they have your contact number or e-mail address, should they wish to contact you with a prospective job lead

Companies
Many companies advertise available positions on their websites.
Keep and eye out for relevant positions at prospective companies

Some Tips

• Make your CV as full of info yet as concise as possible; employees do not like to wade through pages of irrelevant information
• Include your e-mail address and contact telephone number
• Try not to include your physical address or other very personal information on your CV when uploading it to a site – you have no control over who has access to your CV
• Make sure that your CV is absolutely perfect; ask someone you know to proof read it for you
• Ensure that the font type, size and colour used is consistent throughout your CV
• Do not use too many fancy graphics on your CV (except if you are applying for a position like a graphic artist or designer)
• Do not include the address for your social networking - such as your facebook or myspace - profiles on your CV - remember that you are looking for employment, not online friends

Tools of the trade

How do you keep your workspace neat and tidy?
I find that these tips work wonders for me:

Tools of the Trade

In and out / ‘To Do’ Trays
These help with keeping in order paperwork that has not yet been filed or sorted, or for work that still needs to be completed.

A Bin
For papers and other items that need to be discarded of.

A Stationery Organiser
There are many types of Stationery Organisers; it does not have to be fancy; it simply has to suit it’s purpose. I have a Stationery Organiser that fits into my desk drawer. I find that this works best for me, as I prefer to not display too much on my desk.
Make sure that your Stationery Organiser is big enough to comfortably fit all your stationery, and that it keeps your stationery neat and organised. If you choose to display your Stationery Organiser on your desk, make sure that it’s attractive enough for you to proudly display on your desk.

A Memo Cube
Memo notes are very useful for jotting down notes, reminders and ideas. You may even use memo notes in place of Post-It notes, by stapling or paperclip’ing the memo notes to your documents. As these little bits of paper have a tendency to find their way all over one’s work area, it is useful to keep it neat in a memo cube holder.

Labels
Labelling your files and folders is extremely useful when organising your workspace. You will be able to find what you are looking for much easier if your files are labeled. By labeling files and folders correctly, you will save yourself time and effort.

A Diary
Commonly referred to as “A Secretary’s best friend”. Whether you choose to make use of an electronic diary or a paper diary, you will find that keeping and maintaining a diary is essential when maintaining good organisation. Some assistant prefer to keep an electronic diary, while others prefer traditional paper diaries, and other prefer to have both. Whatever your preference, ensure that it is up to date, and that you check it regularly. If you are using a paper diary, buy one that is small enough to fit into your handbag. A ‘page a day’ view is much more useful that a ‘week to view’, as it means that you will be able to jot down more, each day.

I feel that by being neat and organised, I am able to perform at your optimum, as I know where to find things when I need it.

Fabulous in a Fortnight by Monica Grenfell

Book cover picture courtesy of Kalahari.net

We all want to look fabulous in the office. Being well groomed is a vital part of one's professional image.

Monica Grenfell's "Fabulous in a Fortnight" is the perfect book to assist the working woman with achieving that beauty glow.

I found this book extremely useful and very interesting. Monica Grenfell outlines a list of beauty routines for every day of the week for a period of two weeks.

After reading the first chapter, I immediately got to work on the routine. It's a great book for busy women who need to keep themselves well groomed yet sometimes lack the time to do so. By following the routines outlined, you will be able to pace your beauty routines. There are also healthy recipes and colour photos showing exercise routines and the book is filled with handy hints and wonderful tips.

Perfect for the busy assistant who likes to look good.

Fabulous in a Fortnight by Monica Grenfell is published by Pan Publishers (2005)

ISBN: 9780330438605

Available from www.kalahari.net

Visit Monica Grenfell's website at http://www.monicagrenfell.co.uk/

Desk Must Haves

Click on the image to enlarge

With thanks to the talented photographers for the use of their photos in this layout
Photo Credits
Coffee cup: Steve Woods
Notebook: Sanja Gjenero
Tissue Box: Sophie
Sanitizer: Jari Lehtikangas
Handcream: thebodyshop.com website