by M Taylor
If you are on the lookout for a new job, are anew graduate just entering the job market for the first time or are out of work and hoping to improve your situation, the tips in this article can help you to get that job you really want.
Check your resume for mistakes
Before handing over your resume to prospective employers, look it over at least three times to ensure no corrections are needed. After considering the position you are trying to secure, you should tailor your resume to meet the needs of the company. For instance, if you are trying to get an accounting position, then your accounting experience should be highlighted on your resume. Remember that grammar mistakes, spelling errors and typos should all be fixe and that your resume should be no longer than one and a half pages.
Tackling the interview challenge
A study by a California staffing and consulting firm found that 1,400 CFOs were for the most part in agreement about the top mistakes made by interviewees. Among these were showing up late, knowing little about the company or the position for which they were applying and arrogance during the interview. In an interview, body language is very important – applicants must show confidence (but not be overbearing), maintain eye contact, have a firm handshake and avoid crossing the arms (which looks like a defensive posture). Clothes are also important; it is far better to be overdressed than underdressed for an interview.
Answer questions smartly
Being nervous can make you perform poorly in an interview; even to the extent of forgetting the questions you have been asked in the interview. You can prevent this by being well prepared for the interview. Do your research on the company and the position you are trying to get. It’s OK to admit that you don’t know the answer to a question when asked – you can tell the interviewer that you will get back to them with an answer. You should always make sure to emphasize the skills you have which the company asked for in their advertisements.
Getting the necessary referrals
A referral from a current employee is one of the best ways to ensure that you are asked in for an interview. Companies receive hundreds of resumes when they advertise a position; but as many as 60% of these vacancies are filled through referrals by employees. If you don’t know anyone who works at the company ask around – someone you know may. If you are referred by a current employee, it greatly increases your odds of being hired.
Online application
An increasing number of companies have begun to ask prospective employees to submit their applications or resumes via the web. This means that you must make a good first impression not in person but with an email. Your email is thus very important and should be treated with the seriousness you would apply to any piece of business writing. When applying online, remember the following:
Complete your sentences and do not use abbreviations.
If your email is too casual, this will more likely than not cause your resume to be passed by. Keep the tone professional, even if your communication with the prospective employer is by email.
Get directly to the point
Be clear and concise in your email – don’t use stories or other literary devices to try to capture their interest; most employers don’t have time for this and it will as likely as not just annoy them. Instead, use a direct, yet professional approach.
Getting that dream job can be a bit of a struggle, but keep your eyes on your goal and don’t give up. It is better to wait for a while and end up with the job you really want rather than to take a job right away which will leave you unsatisfied. Make the right decision about your future and then act decisively.
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