Employment Spot

How to Secure the Best Employment Opportunities

Many people assume their careers will follow a kind of natural progression. For example, many recent college graduates find and accept entry-level employment opportunities. They expect that within one or two years, with a lot of hard work, they will receive promotions to the next level within the company. To achieve the maximum number of employment opportunities, however, you may want to take extra steps.

Managers and supervisors often look for specific criteria when selecting people in entry-level or lower-level positions to fill open employment opportunities. In order to put yourself in line for soon-to-be available employment opportunities within your company, follow some of these simple suggestions which may be the key to getting the boost you need.

• Time, place and manner – You never want to ask for more projects, a raise or a promotion too soon.  Make sure you have proven your ability to do the job you have before you seek better employment opportunities.  Ideally, your supervisor will approach you about expanded employment opportunities after you have shown that you can get the job done well and in a timely manner.  If you do ask for more responsibility and are rebuffed, wait at least several months before you make another request.
• Express your ability to relocate – Sometimes companies look for candidates to staff new offices.  If you are willing and able to find employment opportunities in other areas of the country or world, express this desire to your supervisor.  Pay attention to employment opportunities in different locations that the company may advertise internally.  Remind your supervisor of any language skills or previous experience that would make you an ideal candidate for relocation and advanced employment opportunities.  Remember to make yourself valuable.
• Offer to take on more responsibility – This is the easiest way to secure employment opportunities.  You can make this offer formal or informal, depending on your workplace situation, supervisor and current position.  It is best to offer to take on more projects or responsibilities after you have completed a project well and submitted it to your supervisor.  If you are congratulated or rewarded in some way, take that time to express an interest in increased responsibility.  This will signal that you want more employment opportunities.
• Pick a specialty – Your company likely has many different areas or branches within it.  A great way to prime yourself for employment opportunities is to excel at one thing that the company does.  To determine which area you have interest in, take a career assessment test.  You can find free tests online at sites like CareerPath.com.  These tests will tell you which types of employment opportunities are ideal for you.  If possible, get additional training in a specialty that interests you.  Contact the human resources department to express an interest in upcoming programs or training sessions.
• There is no “I” in team – If you cannot work well on the team you currently work with, there are few employment opportunities that will open up for you.  Show your supervisor and coworkers that you can always be counted on to step up and support others.  Volunteer to help with the workload of a coworker who is out sick or on vacation, for example.  Attend all meetings and do so cheerfully.  Never gossip about coworkers or your supervisor.  Try to participate in all team activities, even outside of work.  Show that you tailor your work and projects to overall team goals.  These practices will help open other employment opportunities.
• Meet the upper management – Networking is a great way to create new employment opportunities.  If you have access to upper managers or supervisors, take full advantage.  Offer to take a senior manager out to lunch.  Tell your boss that you want to meet some of the company leadership and get a better understanding of how the company functions as a whole.  Few people take advantage of these opportunities when presented.  When the upper management knows who you are, you have a much better chance of being added to the pile of people to get extra employment opportunities.
• Consult with a mentor – When you initially begin a new job, always look around for someone who has worked there for some time.  Mentors can be people who perform duties similar to yours but have worked for the company longer than you, or they can be supervisors and managers of other departments.  It may be a good idea to find a mentor who is not your supervisor.  Remember, you want to open up employment opportunities for yourself, and meeting many different types of people within a company is a good way to do that.  Ask your mentor for advice on how to find employment opportunities within the company. 
• Take a pay cut – Sometimes the best move is a lateral move.  For example, if you work in an entry-level sales position but would like to find employment opportunities in marketing or finance, make contact with the heads of those departments or with human resources to express interest.  Make it known without being overly blunt that you would like to explore employment opportunities in other departments, no matter what the cost.  This will encourage the company leadership to give you employment opportunities that they may not have offered otherwise.  Many supervisors assume that employees are driven by the dollar and nothing else.  Show that you have natural passion for new projects or areas.
• Ask for advice – If you have attempted some of these ideas and have not been given the employment opportunities you had hoped for or desired, think about how to approach your manager or supervisor.  The next time you have a performance evaluation would be an excellent time.  Mention that you would love advice from someone who has advanced in the company.  Make sure that you do not make it sound to your supervisor that you want his or her job.  Express that you are open to a wide variety of employment opportunities.  Ask how you can become an attractive candidate to company leadership.
• Try something new – You may find yourself in a situation in which excellent employment opportunities are not likely to present themselves.  For example, the management positions in your company may all be filled with young and successful people.  If you see little chance of getting the employment opportunities you desire, consider making a change.  Look for employment opportunities outside the company or try to transfer your skills to a different industry.  Sometimes change is good, and it could be the key to finding the employment opportunities your career needs.