Retail Jobs Set for Recovery?
Recent reports from the US have suggested that retail is finally on the up again in October, after a long period of recession and decline. It has been noted that the economy in the US might finally be stabilizing, with indications stemming from the fact that retail companies hired a larger percentage of candidates in August, following the same pattern for the better part of this year.
This is a sign that the possibility of economic growth dies exist in the US for next year, as well as an indicator that the same is sure to follow for other world economies.
This news came about as a part of a retail jobs study, which led researchers to the conclusion by virtue of the fact that 3 in every 100 retail job applicants in the US were hired throughout August 2009.
Although these numbers are definitely on the increase and the likelihood of being hired in a retail position has drastically improved, the journey towards a fully recovered recovery will still be fairly slow. This said however- the retail world must definitely be taking a huge sigh of much deserved relief.
Over in the UK, retailers have not yet seen quite the same result over the past few months, with analysts still having a fairly negative view on the capacity of retailers to last between now and February 2010.
Although it is not all doom and gloom, with massive retailers such as M&S, Sainsbury's and ASDA all being reported as planning on taking on an additional 20,000 staff each, over the Christmas season. So although the economy is not necessarily ready to make a full recovery, at least there is some good news on the horizon in the retail jobs sector for the coming months.
Tips on finding a Job!
Below are tips to help you with any job search.
Network:
Most people find jobs through word-of-mouth. Talk to the people you know,
including relatives, friends, professors, and former co-workers. Let them
know that you are looking for work; ask their advice; seek out introductions to
people in the field that interests you.
Customize: Create
a custom version of your resume for each job or industry that interests you.
Your resume is usually an employers first contact with you. Make sure it
highlights your skills that relate to the job that employer is seeking to fill.
Know yourself: Identify
your skills. Work on communicating them effectively. You need to be able to lay
out your skills, and explain how they relate to the job you're seeking.
Organize and prioritize:
Make a list to help keep track of your job search efforts. Preparing
a list also helps you to organize your priorities and keeps you focused on your
goal -- finding your perfect job.
Do your homework: Read
the newspaper and trade journals to remain current on developments in your field
of interest. Knowing the latest trends and mergers will help set you apart from
other candidates in an interview.
Practice, practice,
practice: Preparation is the key to a successful interview. Know your
skills and be ready to illustrate how they relate to the job in question.
Practice with a friend to get comfortable with your responses and to formulate
strong answers to questions you might not anticipate. Remember you are selling yourself
so practice being a great salesperson.
Follow up:
Follow up on all leads as soon as possible. If you don't, your competition may.
Try and fallow up at least once to twice a week. You want to stay fresh in their
mind and at the same time show how much you want the job. And, following an
interview, always send a thank-you note the same day.
Keep your head up:
Looking for a job can feel like a job in itself. Don't let it
get you down. With patience and hard work, you will find the right job.
Last but not least:
Dress the part! Always dress professional. Now, you
may not want to wear a 3 piece suit when applying for a position as a forklift operator
but at the same time never apply or ask for an application wearing shorts,
T-shirts, flip-flops...and so on. Be well groomed, wear nice clean cloths
and always remember that you only have one opportunity to make a first
impression.
