Becoming a Better Domestic Employment Candidate
There are many approaches to finding employment as a domestic professional. You can respond to classifieds, network through friends and former employers, or use a placement agency, to name just a few. No matter which path you follow to find a new job, there are some standard items that can help you rise above the other applicants in your field. Whether you are a chef, estate manager, chauffeur, nanny, or any other type of employee, being prepared is the name of the game!
Often in the domestic service industry, top candidates are not the ones with the most experience or the most skills, but those who understand basic business protocol in the job search process. For example, a chef may be extremely talented in his or her trade, but offer a very poorly written application package. He or she will stand less of a chance of getting an interview when competing against applicants with an up-to-date, well constructed portfolio. Likewise, should an agency or employer request background information or documents from a candidate, any delays could result in the hire of another applicant. Lastly, if the information such as references, dates of employment, and contact information are hard to follow or incomplete, the application could seem "fishy" or the candidate could be thought of as incompetent.
For all of the above reasons, one should apply basic business "common sense" to the job hunt process. Spend some time educating yourself about conducting employment searches, interviewing, and writing a resume. Also, if you are planning to go through an agency for representation, read the article "Working with Domestic Employment Agencies". It offers a behind-the-scenes perspective on the hiring procedure! Any inside knowledge and careful preparation will pay off tremendously as you go through the process of finding your next position.
In the domestic service industry, there are a few specific items that will make you ready for any potential job opening. The list below is a great starting point for your job search process. By preparing all of the items, you will also become more clear in your own goals for the employment you are seeking. For further tips on job hunting, visit sites online like monster.com and jobs.com. Most of their advice and articles apply to all occupations and can be a great help.
APPLICATION PACKAGE CHECKLIST
| 1. Current Resume | I cannot stress the importance of the resume enough. In many cases, it is the only item an employer will see when deciding who to interview. Some agencies only send the resume to a client. Some employers only look at resumes. Make sure yours is up to date and has a professional look with no mistakes!. You can hire a service if you are not good on the computer. Also, having a copy on disk is great for sending documents through email. |
| 2. Letters of recommendation | Any time you leave a job you should get a letter of recommendation. Try to have them written on company letterhead or personal stationery of your employer. The more letters you have, the better. Be prepared to distribute copies that are as clear as possible. Even better, have color copies made of the most recent or most important letters. |
| 3. Reference List | You will have to supply this information on any job application so have it ready on a separate page, laid out as follows: Employer name; who to contact for the reference; the contact's title; a current telephone number; and any notes about reaching the person. You may also request to be contacted directly for telephone numbers so you can tell your reference in advance who will be calling. |
| 4. Current Photograph | Have a recent photograph of yourself ready to give out (color photocopies are a good idea) with an application. It should show your overall physical appearance and a nice touch is to be in the uniform of your profession. The extra step you can take here is to have the photo scanned and put on a disk to email to agents or employers. |
| 5. ID Copies | Usually agencies will ask for your identifying documents upfront to verify you are who you say. This includes driver's license, social security card, passport, green card, work visa, etc. Be prepared by having a high quality black and white copy made for faxing and color copies for distribution. |
| 6. List of Previous Addresses | To conduct background checks, employers or agencies will require a list of the county, city, state, and address of where you have lived over the past 10 years. Have this information available and typed out. Make copies. |
| 7. Background Explanation | If there is anything derogatory at all that you know will show up on your: driving record; credit history; criminal background; or any civil litigation cases, have a detailed explanation ready. When these checks are done on you, the reports come back with codes and sketchy details about the events that are difficult to interpret. Your willing discussion of the incident can make certain situations less incriminating as a candidate for employment. |
| As with any endeavor worth pursuing, the job search can be tedious and frustrating. Approach the task with a positive attitude and commit yourself to being ready for any obstacles along the way. Also "put your money where your mouth is" when creating your application materials. You may have to spend a few dollars to have a great looking resume package with clean, legible copies of all your documents (both black & white and color), but the payoff is far greater than the costs you will incur. Also remember, there is no such thing as "luck". The word "luck" is just a description of what happens when preparation meets opportunity. So by preparing carefully and placing yourself in front of all the opportunities out there, you can be the "lucky" one who lands the perfect job.
Last, but certainly not least, any lying or fabrication of information is unacceptable. Falsifying references or any other credentials in your file is an indication that you can not be trusted and is grounds for immediate termination within many organizations. If you do not have valid references from a position the proper thing to do is give a full explanation of how and why the job ended. Truth goes a long way if there was one bad situation, especially if it is overshadowed by a slew of other strong references and positive situations. Any good agency will thoroughly look into your background, so upfront honesty and disclosure will avoid any conflict later in the hiring process.
This article may be reprinted and excerpts may be used only with this exact footnote immediately following: "Becoming a Better Domestic Employment Candidate , found at www.dpnonline.com".
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