For
Applicants
Becoming a Better Domestic
Employment candidate
(By: David Gonzalez, President, DPN)
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. Letter 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 Photographs |
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 for 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 |
lf 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
br 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 it. 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 Beter Domestic Employment Candidate, found at www.dononline.com.
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