Seven Winning Tips for Getting a Job

Google your name now!

Recruitment consultants and business HR specialists are responsible for screening job applicants to not only establish their ability to do the job but also to ensure that shortlisted candidates will fit the culture and style of the business.

You can believe that, after interviewing you and before including you in the shortlist being presented to the hiring manager, experienced consultants and HR practitioners will do a Google search of your name. They have enough information from your CV to quickly identify you in the search engine.

What will they uncover?

Will the information in your LinkedIn profile reasonably match your CV?

Will your Facebook album and other social media sites be filled with drunken moments, embarrassing situations or risqué posts?

Whatever you find they will find.

If you have an ‘interesting on-line profile’ you run a serious risk of not making the shortlist and you will never be told why.

Manage your personal brand

1.

Recruitment consultants are not your friends!

Recruitment consultants and HR specialists are not there to help you find a job. They are there to look for flaws and weaknesses in your background and experience in order to eliminate you from the process.

Think about it. They are paid by their client to provide a shortlist of usually 3 exemplary applicants to interview. Each applicant must be capable of demonstrating their suitability for the job. Consultants will not help you in your efforts to get a job they will eliminate you if you don’t have the presentation skills to promote yourself.

Usually more than one recruitment consultant is engaged to find candidates creating a very competitive, time urgent search process.

The faster a consultant can present a shortlist to the client the better chance there is that they will be the successful consultant.

Don’t expect a recruitment consultant to help you find a job. Apply for every job you are interested in even if the job is with a consultant you have already submitted an application to. Each job is different and you should be modifying your CV to highlight your matching skills and experience.

2.

Make your CV easy to read!

Your CV It is not an artistic canvass it’s a critical communication document.

•Your CV should be no more than 2-3 pages in length

•Use 12 point font size (or at least not less than 11)

•Do not cram information into the document. Use normal margins and paragraphs

•Use strong descriptive words

•Avoid colour but if you must use it, use it sparingly

•Use bold and slightly larger font size for headings only

•Avoid using bold print in the middle of paragraphs

•Avoid using italics and underlining

•Do not use shading in the body of the document

•Never use jargon or text language. U is spelt you

•Always spell check

3.

Be really prepared for the interview

Do you want the job?

There are a few basic but essential things you should do if you want to be the stand out job candidate.

Research the company. At a minimum go to their website and gain an understanding of the size and nature of the company. •What is their core business•Is it a local, national or international organisation •Are they a large or small employer •How long have they been in business•Are they a listed or private company•What is the market value of their shares

Do a Google search of the hiring manager. You might be surprised to find that she or he is just normal!

Give factual, hopefully prepared, answers to questions based on your experience. Don’t be over confident as this can be seen as arrogant.

If the job, for any reason of substance, is not the right fit for you walk away. Ring the interviewer and withdraw from the process.

4.

Use a personal pre Interview checklist

You’ve been invited to attend a consultant’s interview following are some pre interview basics:

•Dress up for the occasion. No casual clothing. Irrespective of the level or nature of the job dress to impress!

•Give yourself plenty of time to get to the meeting so you’re not hot and flustered at first contact with the Interviewer. Don’t be late!

•Don’t organise meetings back-back make sure you have plenty of time if your meeting starts late or goes over time

•Try and control your nerves. Relax, do some deep breathing. Also, if you are well prepared for the interview and fully understand the process and how to perform well your nervousness will evaporate within moments of starting.

•At first contact a dry firm handshake, good eye contact and a confident friendly smile will work for you. First impressions are critical. (Invest in an old fashioned hanky if you get sweaty palms)

•If you wear glasses make sure the lenses are clean. It’s distracting to talk to someone with dirty lenses

•If you’re a smoker don’t have a cigarette just before the meeting. Lingering tobacco smells are not pleasant and will not work in your favour

•Turn off your mobile phone and do not chew gum

That’s as basic as it gets but you’d be surprised how many people don’t get these basics right and start the interview badly.

5.

Learn how to job search network

Do you know that more than 30% of all available jobs are filled through networking?

There are two sides to job search networking:

•An ever growing number of organisations are engaging their staff to assisting them in finding replacement or new employees. Many are offering a financial incentive for successful introductions.

•Individuals who are on the job market or considering a job change are learning how to leverage their business and personal contacts to gain access to jobs being filled through networking.

•There are significant benefits to an individual who learns how to effectively job search network including:

•No responding to an advertising campaign

•Chronological CV can be replaced by a Biography

•No recruitment consultant and limited HR involvement

•Go straight to the hiring manager

•Cut weeks from the selection process

•If you are re-joining the workforce after a break this is the most effective way of securing an appropriate job.

6.

Minimise discrimination in your job search

It’s comforting to know that there are laws dealing with most forms of discrimination. Unfortunately they are extremely difficult to police in the recruitment arena.

Human nature is what it is and recruiters may make split second decisions, without malice, about your suitability based on your information and their personal bias.

When preparing your CV, unless there is good reason, do not provide:•Your home address. Only provide your telephone number and email address•Your date of birth or age•Any comment on your religious beliefs •Your nationality unless you are seeking visa sponsorship•Your marital status or family•A covering letter unless specifically asked for in the advertisement

These exclusions are now common practice. The more unnecessary information provided in a CV increases the risk of being excluded from attending a first interview.

Discrimination is far less likely to happen in a face to face interview as there is a high component of personal chemistry and warming to someone rather than their colour, religion or other factors.

7.

Work at getting the interview….. Develop an excellent CV!

If you want to learn more go to www.thejobcourse.com

Our professionals have distilled years of inside information and knowledge to give you an advantage over the competition – on average over 130 people apply for job postings. The Job Course will arm you with the skills, tools and tricks of the trade to make you stand out and secure that role.

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