| By :
Alison Withers
Copyright (c) 2010 Alison Withers The competition for jobs is fierce and likely to get more so, especially in London, and it is therefore important that from the moment anyone starts searching for a top secretarial or PA role that they are innovative and focused. It applies equally to how a person identifies possible opportunities and how they then present themselves to stand out in the right way from the inevitable crowd. There are basic competencies that are taken for granted as requirements for secretarial and admin roles and they are excellent communication skills, Planning and Organising, Time Management, Ability to achieve results, Problem Solving and Computer Literacy. These are all skills that you can apply to the way you go about sourcing suitable vacancies - and if you do them well will be a practical demonstration of your abilities and ex[erience. Obvious sources of information on secretarial vacancies include the local papers, the job centre and various specialist job agencies online and on the high street. Because the information is so publicly available, however, it is going to attract large numbers of applicatants. While of course a job seeker should apply to all those jobs from these sources that are relevant many jobs are never advertised it is possible to widen the search and perhaps create opportunities by being innovative and this in itself can work in the job seeker's favour. The first step is to put together a clear, informative CV of no more than two pages with your name and contact details at the top. Recruiters frequently say that when faced with several dozen applications from which to select just six possible candidates for interview their pet hate is the CV that lists these skills - they have become a cliché. Therefore, instead of listing them, you should try to find short examples of tasks you have carried out previously, whether in paid or voluntary roles, that illustrate each one and that you can summarise in no more than a two-line bullet point at the start of your CV. Then list previous jobs with the most recent first and any relevant educational qualifications. At all times, lay everything out clearly in a word document in a standard, easy read typeface like Arial, in a font size that is readable and not too small, with no spelling or grammatical mistakes, all of which in itself also demonstrates that you have the basic skills needed. Your CV then becomes a checklist to ensure any advertised jobs you are considering are appropriate but it will also help you if you make "cold call" type approaches directly to companies that interest you as well as when you enlist the help of family, friends and acquaintances who can spread the word on your behalf. What else can you do to source possible vacancies? You can use social networking sites like Facebook and Linked In (a business oriented site) but you could also try some actual networking. There are countless local business networking organisations in most towns and cities and you could try to visit a few, where you have to do a 60 second presentation, but also take your CV. Most of them have visitor days and though it means getting up early, dressing smartly and paying for a breakfast you may find opportunities that you wouldn't know about otherwise as well as impressing some of the members with your ability to innovate. Internships or offering a month or two of unpaid work experience are two other possibilities that you can approach companies with. You would need to find out the name of a person with authority to approach and prepare a very brief and positive reason for why you have selected them - that makes it clear that you have done some research on what they do and that you are keen to work in their sector. Keep records of every approach and application made and above all be positive and try not to sound desperate, even if you are, and above all don't give up.
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