Suitability for a job is typically assessed by looking for skills, e.g. communication skills, typing skills, computer skills. Evidence for skills required for a job may be provided in the form of qualifications (educational or professional), experience in a job requiring the relevant skills or the testimony of references. Employment agencies may also give computerized tests to assess an individual's off hand knowledge of software packages or typing skills.

Along with developing your skills, other proactive approaches will help you find exactly what you're looking for. Read the following articles about finding employment:

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As new technological advancements stream across the globe, a dizzying array of new career options are opening up in their wake. The stodgy careers of bygone-years are rapidly becoming obsolete and being replaced by a new breed of career. These new careers require specialized training, continuing education and tremendous flexibility in the face of constant change.

Just in the past decade or so, hundreds of thousands of new jobs have been created in the fast-paced fields of Healthcare, Fiber Optics, Network Administration, Web Design and Development, Computer Programming, and Web-based Marketing. As companies have scrambled to "retool" their work forces, individuals with the right skills and training have found themselves in high demand. As a consequence, the concepts of corporate loyalty, job stability and company tenure are quickly being replaced with a new culture based on reward-for-performance. Those individuals who prove themselves capable of adding value in this new fast-paced environment are rewarded in ways that previous generations could only dream about. Those individuals who cannot or will not adapt are relegated to a dwindling assortment of low-tech jobs with few opportunities for advancement.

Getting on the Gravy Train

Companies in today's competitive environment have proven themselves more willing than ever to share the wealth. Unfortunately, it has become quickly apparent that not everyone will get an equal share of the pie. In order to get a piece of the action today, employees must be willing to do more than just put in their time with a company. They must be willing to take some risk and assume more of the burden for their own career development. The strategy of waiting for an employer to train you and tell you what to do is no longer viable. Getting ahead today requires that individuals stay up on the latest trends and then proactively position themselves through a combination of experience and training to take full advantage of the most lucrative opportunities.

As you seek to maximize your own career potential, consider the following points:

Set Aggressive Goals

In today's fast-paced and ever-changing world it is more important than ever to set lofty goals. The presence of high personal expectations will help motivate you to accomplish something greater than human nature will allow on its own. The important thing to remember is that if you put forth a little extra effort you will outshine 90% of your peers - most of whom will be content to maintain the status quo.

Pursue Targeted Training

Once you have a set of lofty career goals it is time to get busy going after them. Take a few hours and research the skills and training that will be required to compete in your desired field. Take a trip to the library, visit with a peer who is already successful in this field, search the internet. Once you identify the education and training requirements of the career begin to map out a strategy to complete the training in a reasonable amount of time. Don't go overboard. You want to avoid burning yourself out right out of the chute. On the other hand, don't drag it out. Fairly rapid progress will be a continuing motivator. A too-slow pace may result in stagnation and abandonment of your career ambitions.

Seek Challenging Assignments

In order to move your career ahead you must look for ways to stand out in the eyes of your employer. One of the most effective ways of doing this is to seek out challenging and meaningful assignments. This may require a discussion with your boss. Let her know of your interest in advancing your career. Set stretch goals together that will enable you to add more value in your present position. Identify ways to get the necessary supervisory or project management experience and exposure to senior management that will lead to advancement opportunities in the future.

Seek out Developmental Relationships

Mentoring and networking are two of the most important tools in your career development arsenal. You should never underestimate the power of positive relationships with key individuals. Learn all you can from successful people. There is generally a good reason for their success. Finding ways to involve yourself in projects with these individuals, inviting them to lunch and generally looking for ways to nurture relationships will pay tremendous dividends over time.

Solicit Honest Feedback

Soliciting critical feedback is not something that comes easy for most people. However, if you are sincere in your solicitations, you will generally receive honest feedback that will help you to make positive changes. Some companies have established formal feedback tools and mechanisms to assist their employees in improving their job performance. If you are lucky enough to work for one of these companies you would be well advised to take the process seriously and learn all you can from the feedback that you receive.

Be Flexible

Open-mindedness and flexibility will be two of the keys to your long term career success. Sometimes flexibility means being willing to relocate. Some of the most compelling career opportunities you will encounter will require a relocation - to a new city or perhaps to a new state. Of course you must be prudent in making a career decision of this magnitude. Unfortunately, most of us are programmed to feel uncomfortable with extreme levels of change. This often creates exceptional for those individuals who are willing to take a chance on a new job in a new environment.

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Once you come to understand your career orientation you should begin to develop a career action plan. Developing a career action plan is really a six step process:

* Establish your career priorities

* Articulate your vision

* Inventory your current skills and resources

* Identify your deficiencies

* Set goals

* Evaluate opportunities

1. Establish your career priorities

The first step in developing a career action plan is to determine the aspects of your career that are most important to you at this point in your life. Remember the tradeoffs that were discussed earlier? This is where you will begin to evaluate your interests, values, priorities and circumstances to produce a generic job profile that is most likely to satisfy your needs.

What aspects of your career are most important to you?

* Flexibility

* Autonomy

* Upward mobility

* Prestige

* Security

* Recognition

* Income

* Healthcare benefits

* Power & control

* Education & training benefits

* Comfortable working environment

* Social interaction

* Home based work opportunities

* Reasonable workload

* Predictable schedule

2. Articulate your vision

Articulating a vision implies looking out at least five years and determining where you want to be and what you want to accomplish. One of the fundamental criteria for developing a compelling vision is the ability to recognize your own potential. It is the recognition of this potential that will bring a bold vision statement to life.

Your vision should be consistent with your career priorities and personality orientation. An effective vision will require that you elevate yourself to a new career plateau. Your vision should be realistic and attainable but it should also call for a significant amount of planning and effort.

Where would you like to be in five years?

What position would you like to hold?

What type of organization would you like to be a part of?

What type of work would you like to be doing?

What income do you hope to be earning?

3. Inventory your current skills and resources

Inventorying your current skills, education and experience will allow you to establish a resource baseline. This baseline will serve as the starting point for future career development activities.

Ask yourself the following questions.

What are my existing personality strengths?

What are my relevant skills?

What professional contacts do I have?

What qualifying experience do I have?

Do I have a positive attitude? If not, why not?

What education and training have I completed?

What certifications do I have?

Do I interact well with people?

What management, supervisory, or oversight experience have I had?

How is my work ethic?

How willing am I to invest time and resources in updating my skills and education?

How willing am I to acquire new and requisite experience?

How willing am I to invest time and resources in the job search process?

4. Identify your deficiencies

Evaluate the skills inventory list that you created in Step 3 against the backdrop of your five-year vision. Do you possess the skills, experience and attributes necessary to fulfill that vision? If your vision is lofty you will almost certainly be lacking in a number of important areas. In this step you will identify the skill and education gaps that will need to be filled in order to achieve your objectives.

What skills, training, education and experience will be required to achieve your five-year vision?

What education and training will you need to possess?

What specific experience will you need to have?

What personality traits do you need to work on?

What skills do you need to develop?

What certifications should you have, if any?

The answers to these questions will be the basis for the goals that you will set in Step 5.

5. Set goals

As you become aware of the aspects of your career preparation that require attention, you should begin to prioritize them according to their level of importance to your career. Then develop a set of concrete goals that will allow you to eliminate your deficiencies.

As you set these goals be realistic about expectations and timelines. Don't try to take on more than you can reasonably manage at one time. Be specific and do your homework. Understand exactly what steps will be required to achieve each goal.

6. Evaluate opportunities

The final step in developing a career action plan is to translate your hard work and preparation into new career opportunities. This means identifying and evaluating a variety of alternatives that fit your desired career profile.

Sources of employment opportunities

There are numerous sources of employment information. Be creative and consider the following options:

* Help wanted ads

* Industry publications

* Professional organizations

* Industry associations

* Headhunters

* Employment agencies

* Job fairs

* Trade shows

* Conferences

* Career counselors

* Career web sites

* Hospitals and hospital web sites

* Medical Transcription Companies and web sites

Networking

Networking has proven to be one of the most effective career advancement tools. Learn to capitalize on the broad network of friends, associates and acquaintances that you already have and then add to that network over time. Consider the following sources as you build your own network database:

* Previous Supervisors

* Previous Co-workers

* Fellow Employees

* Industry Acquaintances

* Customers

* Competitors

* Alumni

* Professors

* Advisors

* Family

* Extended Family

* Friends

* Neighbors

* Members of Clubs, Organizations, and Religious Groups

A hot lead or proper introduction from a member of your network will create a significant competitive advantage and improve your odds of success dramatically. Some of the best opportunities you are likely to encounter will come as you develop and manage your career network.

Opportunity vs. Risk

As you evaluate your career opportunities, ask yourself if you are willing to take an appropriate amount of risk. In order to achieve a lofty vision, it is generally necessary to assume a certain amount of risk. This does not imply that you should be making reckless decisions, but a reasonable amount of calculated risk will often pay enormous long-term dividends. If you are stuck on a dead-end street because you lack the resolve to exit your comfort zone, perhaps you should consider taking a chance on a new opportunity.

Oh, and don't forget to enhance your typing skills!

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