Get The Job
Sep 12th, 2008 by M Taylor
Are you looking to transition into a new career? Perhaps you’re a new graduate just entering the job market. Or maybe you’re unemployed and looking for a job; any job. Whatever the particulars of your situation, the following tips can help you.
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 recent survey of 1,400 CFOs performed by a California consulting and staffing company found that there were several common mistakes made by job seekers in interviews. These included coming in late for the interview, being ill informed about the company or the position sought and behaving arrogantly during the interview. Body language is also very important during an interview. Applicants should display some (but not too much) confidence, have a firm handshake, avoid defensive postures such as crossing the arms and of course, make eye contact. Clothes also matter – it is better to be overdressed for an interview rather than underdressed.
Answer questions smartly
If you are nervous, it can make you perform badly in an interview. Some even forget the questions they are asked due to this nervousness. You can stop this from being a problem by being well prepared for the interview. Be sure to research the company and the position you are applying for thoroughly and remember that it’s better to admit that you don’t know the answer to a question than to give a poor answer. Tell the interviewer that you will get back to them with an answer. Make a point of playing up the skills which the advertisement mentions as being needed for the position.
Getting the necessary referrals
Having a referral from a company employee is perhaps the best way to get an interview. Remember that companies get literally hundreds of resumes when they advertise a position; however, 35-60% of these positions are filled through referrals by employees. If you don’t have any contacts inside the company, ask around with the people you know to see if any of them know someone there. An employee referral can greatly improve your chances of being hired.
Online application
More and more companies are now asking job seekers to submit resumes electronically. You now have to make a good first impression with an email rather than with your personal appearance. This makes your email very important; treat this email as you would any important piece of business correspondence. When you are asked to apply online, remember these tips:
Complete your sentences and do not abbreviate.
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
Get to the point. Don’t write a story to try to get the employer’s interest; they will probably just be annoyed by this and keep looking for candidates who have a more direct approach. Tell the employer what you want and do it in a clear, concise, professional manner.
It can take some time and some work to land that job you really want; but don’t give up. It’s far better to have to wait a while and get that job you’ve always wanted than to take the first one which comes along and be miserable and unfulfilled as a result. Make the right career decision and then act.
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