Job Searching Guide

Important to get employed soonest

Getting employed soon after a person's graduation from school will help maintain uninterrupted contact with society, as well as his or her drive and self-confidence. The longer the period of unemployment after graduation, the more doubt there will be on the part of the employer about the interviewee, which does not help secure employment.

 

How to choose a job that suits oneself

Actually, different talents are needed by different trades and industries. To find a suitable job, the rule of thumb is to know oneself. As the Chinese saying goes, one ought to “know oneself just as one knows others”. Only this way can we avoid frequent job changes resulting from the failure to realize what jobs are suitable to us. Examples of what we need to clarify first include: our personality, interest, expertise, qualification, goal & expectation, etc, while not forgetting to keep upgrading ourselves. Besides analyzing our abilities and conditions all by ourselves, we may also consult the employment counselling centres of the Labour Department or some non-government organizations, where various tests and charting methods can help us recognize our potentials, interest areas and character traits, as a more objective and scientific way of knowing ourselves.

 

After understanding ourselves, we must also be alert about the prevailing market conditions and other circumstantial factors. Furthermore, if we find ourselves under-qualified, it makes sense to upgrade our skills by taking up training courses organized by the Labour Department or some non-government organizations. We are then in a better position to find the right jobs according to our existing and new qualifications.

 

Knowing oneself

Personality

It is a common belief that a person's personality is either inborn or developed in the course of his or her upbringing. Some people are more outspoken, while others more shy and reserved. For this reason, if we can find a job that is more in line with our personality, then the more readily we can get satisfaction and the sense of achievement from that job.

Interest

This is about how a person likes or dislikes certain things, quite independent of material rewards from such things. To be able to work in a trade or industry which we are interested in will naturally make us happier at work, and thus more devoted to the job and more enthusiastic towards it.

Expertise

We are all skilled differently, some good at accounting and analyzing, others at operating instruments, and still others at creative assignments. In the same way, different jobs require different skills. That is why a job that requires our expertise is also a job where we can fully utilize such expertise.

Qualification

This refers to the abilities or accreditations obtained through training and experience, including formal education, training, professional qualification, on-the-job experience, etc. Good qualification is a key factor for successful employment. So continuing study and lifelong learning are a plus to us in our job hunt.

Expectation

Different persons go after different things from their jobs, some more after money and reputation, others more after job satisfaction and contribution to society, etc. Therefore, we should think carefully about our expectation as such before deciding to take up any new job.

 

Analyzing the objective circumstances

1. Circumstantial factors may either enhance our career development or restrict our choice of employment. So these factors can have positive or negative effects on us.

2. It is essential to see whether there is any conflict between the family's expectation on one hand and its financial capability on the other hand. It is a good idea to discuss with family members before any decision.

3. Furthermore, we should take into consideration the market situation, such as the kind of training required by the relevant trade or industry, as well as its long-term developmental potential and direction, etc.

 

Understanding the job market

Job types are numerous, but we can group them into six major categories, as follows, based on the common features within each category:

1. Practical jobs, e.g. machine operation or jobs requiring techniques.

2. Academic jobs, e.g. those relating to research or science.

3. Artistic jobs, e.g. music, painting, design, etc.

4. Social jobs, e.g. healthcare, education, mass media, social welfare, etc.

5. Enterprising jobs, e.g. planning, management, administration, commerce, etc.

6. Routine jobs, e.g. provision of general services, clerical work, etc.

In a nutshell, if we can first pick a category that suits us best before choosing a specific job to apply for within that category, then it will be much easier to find a truly satisfactory career path.

 

Specific jobs suitable to visually impaired persons

There is a wide range of jobs that visually impaired persons may pursue, including social worker, teacher, translator, masseur/masseuse, beautician, secretary, lawyer, market researcher, phone-based salesperson, customer service supervisor, musician, project supervisor, programmer, courier, receptionist, nurse, etc.