As the calendar year changes, many feel compelled to make changes on a personal level. A frequent area for personal change often involves careers or jobs. Once the decision is made to do this, it is often baffling as to how to get started. The following information and tips excerpted and adapted from prior MCN Articles by J. Johnson provide helpful guidelines for getting through this process.

Begin the process with yourself. Perform a SWOT self-analysis by determining your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities to grow or advance, and threats to personal growth and advancement. Answer the following five questions as you go through your analysis:

1. What are my employment needs?
2. What is my career objective?
3. How can my skill set be of value to a company?
4. Which companies can benefit from my skills?
5. Who within a company can effectively evaluate my potential value to the company?

Every job seeker or career changer must be aware of their skills, abilities and priorities before they set career objectives and target potential employers. Access your skills based on the following three categories:

1. Technical - Expertise in product usage, equipment and/or the ability to perform specific job related tasks.
2. Communication - Proficiency in disseminating information.
3. Organization - Effective management of time, tasks and/or people.

After you have done this, develop your resume and an interesting cover letter.

Turn your attention to career fairs next. Follow the tips below as you prepare for your visit:

1. Research the companies that will be at the career fair. Prepare custom resumes to fit the positions they have that you have an interest in.
2. Bring several copies of your customized resumes as well as several copies of your general resume. Remember copies of your cover letter as well. Keep them neat and organized in a small portfolio.
3. Dress professionally, but comfortably. Wear business attire with comfortable, shined shoes. You will spend a lot of time on your feet so do keep that in mind when you select the shoes to wear.
4. Become familiar with parking lots and bus routes prior to the career fair. This will help you maximize the time spent inside the fair rather than outside the fair looking for a parking space or walking several blocks because you got off the bus too soon.
5. If you have to walk a distance, visit the restrooms to tidy up before you enter the career fair.
6. Leave small children in the care of a friend or a professional service.
7. Be prepared for on the spot interviews, and bring several copies of your reference list.
8. Read newspapers, newsletters, magazines and books offering tips on this subject.

Finally, if you have been walking around for a while and you have not been asked to submit your resume or to interview with a company that really interests you, ask the person staffing the booth if they have a few minutes to visit with you. If you get a yes, seize the moment, and make the most of it. This could be your defining moment!