Tips for Career Hunters on the GO!

Section 1

Motivation & Goals

Mobile tips for job searching

Job search is a process that requires time, patience, and self-reflection. It forces you to stretch, take risks, be gracious, and often think about others more than you think about yourself. It is an emotional experience, but one that can help you grow, gain confidence, and build a better future for yourself. This section focuses on general tips to consider when embarking on a job search.

Job Searching Takes Time

If you spend halfyour time on your jobsearch, it will probablytake you twice as longto find a job.

It Is A Full Time Job

When you dont have a job, make job searching your full-time job.Wear the T-Shirtin your head.

Zero Hour Contract

In fact, looking for work is a lot more work than working a full time regular job.There is no overtime!

Looking for Yes

In job searching, you need to hear a lot of nos in order to get to yes.People often say no four times before they say Yes

The Roller Coaster

Job search is like a roller coaster. Plan for the up and down days.Better yet, bring another job seeker along for the ride, who is seeking a different role than you.Avoid Conflict!

Surf's Up

Surfing job boards forhours makes you feelbusy, but the return onyour time investmentis questionable. Set upjob alerts to save time.

Keep a Journal.....Seriously!

Writing a journal during a job search can be a great way to relieve stress and track your progress. It is a reflective tool and at Affinity, we promote reflection a lot!

Blog It!

You could Blog your Journal. It is an interersting topic to bring to interview as long as you do not blog anything you may regret at a later stage.

Find A Boss

Find an accountability partner during a job search to keep you motivated and moving forward. This is your job search boss. Use a professional service if you can. Yes, this is shameless self promotion by us.

Thank You

After you land a newjob, thank everyonewho supported you inyour search and givethem your updatedcontact information.

Getting Advice

Frequently during a job search the people who know you best help you the least, and the people who barely know you help you the most.People who are invested in you, do not like to either hurt you or take risks with the relationship.

Job Loss

Job loss can be as stressful as anything in life. But job searching , unlike the other things is a temporary situation. Believe it.Stressed is desserts spelled in reverse.

Section 2

Managing your CV

CVs

Frequently, your CV is your first chance to make an impression on a recruiter or hiring manager. And you never get a second chance to make a first impression. So the importance of the CV cannot be underestimated. This section offers tips that will help you craft a top-notch CV that gets noticed by hiring managers and gets your inbox hopping and mobile ringing.

Your Email is your Brand

Include a professional email address; even your email is part of your brand.(fancypants@partytown.ie is not suitable for most jobs ).

Voicemail

Include a phone number that is attached to a professional voicemail message. A wrong voicemail will encourage recruiters & employers to just hang up. Better still, answer the phone!

Key CVAdvice

A lacklustre CV often describes what you want and employers dont care what you want. They care about problems you can solve for them. Period!

CV Values

If placing a profile at the top of your CV, prove your value as a proposition to a hiring authority instead of an objective.Stating you are dependable and honest is taken for granted.Committed to lifelong learning is a sustainable personal value.

Subjective Nonsense

Refrain from usingsubjective words likeloyal or trustworthy toexplain your candidacy;you are a job seeker, notmans best friend.

Action!

Omit phrases such asresponsible for orduties included fromyour CV; opt forstronger language suchas managedor oversaw.Be animated!

Viewpoints

Your CV profile is the Satelite view of what you can do.Your experience section is the microscope proof of this based on past action & success.

Keyword Search

List core competencies,keywords or buzzwordsfor your job function orindustry on the resumeto please recruiters andCV parsing software.You can even include a section on keyword search. Make it easy for the recruiter to find you.

Get the Dates Correct!

Include months and years on your CV for any positions you were at for less than two years.Omitting the months in short-tenured positions is some what deceptive and noticeable.

So many Jobs, So little Time!

If you were let go fromseveral positions withshort contracts due to adownsizing, explainthat briefly on the CV.Transparencyis always betterthan obscurity.

Career Breaks!

If you left the workforce to take care of a child or aging parent, explain that employment right on the CV.Dont make the reader guess.It is natural that in the course of your life , you may be away from work, but you are never really away from your career.

Sell the Solution!

Minimise descriptions of job tasks and maximise descriptions of accomplishments.Sell it, dont tell it.

Show me the Money!

Quantify your Accomplishments.Show numbers, Euros, andpercentages to proveimpact in a job.Use metrics, wherever possible!

Pastimes to leave out!

List hobbies andvolunteer experiencewhen relevant to yourjob target. Leaveyour passion forPhilatelyoff the CV.

Graduation Dates

If you are a recent enough graduate then include graduation dates.Omitting them raises suspicion and calls more attention to the very thing you are trying to hide.If you took time out in college, say it and briefly explain.Turn it into an advantage, that you completed the course!

No References?

Think clearly about referencesavailable upon request. WithLinked In, referencesare available whether you wantthem to be or not.

The CV with Bling!

Use charts and graphs on your CV to demonstrate impact. A picture is worth a thousand words, and there is a slow acceptance of the infographic CV forming. Check them out on Pinterest.

CV Personal Information

Omit references toage, marital status, orreligion. Employerscannot request it.Bigotry is a thing of the past,but bigots are not!

Text Only CV

Create a text-only version of your resume to preserve the formatting when uploading into a company text box. Office documents will quickly turn into total gibberish when placed in a text box. Remember, have several versions of your CV at hand.

Make every word Count

Treat every wordon your CVlike gold leaf.Every square centimetre is ata premium, so makeevery word count.

Section 3

Post Interview

Who is the Hiring Manager?

Half of hiring managers read cover letters; the other half do not; but you never know which half you are dealing with, so always send one.Remember, the hiring manager may not be the HR manager.

Count your skills

Use the cover letter tomatch your skills tothe job spec. If the jobrequires eight skillsand you only have two,dont apply.You are wasting your time and other peoples as well.

Thank You is Priceless

A thank you letter is so simple, yet it can be quite powerful. Unfortunately, many job seekers fail to send one and possibly damage their candidacy because they dont. The thank you letter is much more than a gesture of gratitude for the interview.It is a way to remind the hiring manager of your interest in their open position and keep you top of mind. This section focuses on thank you letter strategy.Apart from helping your candidacy, it is also plain good old fashioned business etiquette.

Customise it!

Send a thank you mail within twenty-four hours of the interview whenever possible. Yes, many hiring managers still expect a thank you.Always send a customised thank you mail.Address the interviewers by person, and send individual mails.

The Little Things

A letter is another chance to show your value as a proposition and connect with the hiring manager.The little things add up to seperate you from the other candidates.Create your Advantage.

Salvage the Day

A letter is a great way to do some damage control to salvage a less than satisfactory interview.It will not undue a disaster, but it can help to create a re-evaluation of you.

Check you speelling!

The grammar and spelling in the thank you letter needs to be as perfect as in the CV.Have it proof read by someone else.Do not just rely on spell checker.

Section 4

The Reference Strategy

The Reference

The only thing better than being able to prove your ability to do a job is having an advocate who validates the fact that you are great at what you do. Strong references can help tip the scales in your favor when you are competing for an open position.

Prove it!

Proving your ability is more important than a good reference.In the New Age Economy, Prove it Contracts are becoming popular. Essentially, you are hired to conduct a proving contract, before other sequential contracts are offered.The use of referees will possibly diminish over time. Evidence now suggests that proving contracts are more popular and reliable.

Gather Everyone

Source at least fivepeople to be referencesfor you: bosses,colleagues, customers,vendors, or anyone whocan vouch foryour candidacy.

Talk to Referees

After the interviewprocess is underway,call references toexplain the job youare applying for and send theman up to date CV.Point out your main sellingpoints to them, that you feel willbe referenced.

Section 5

The Recruitment Agency

Recruitment Agency Dilemma

The role of a recruiter may be one of the most misunderstood aspects of job search, especially for younger professionals.This section contains tips to help you better manage your relationships with recruiters during a job search.

The Recruitment Obligation

Recruiters dont strictly work for you, their client is the company asking them to fill the job. Recruiters will give you every professional assistance within the parameters of their role.Their task is to fill the position as quickly as possible with the best candidate. They have no contract with you, to help you achieve employment.A positive relationship with the recruitment agency is nevertheless a very important assest for you.

Helping Recruiters

If you are not the right fit for a recruiters open position, try to help them find someone who is and you will be remembered favourably.

Section 6

Real World

Networking

The Network Question

Networking is the exchange of information and the cultivation of productive and authentic relationships. Many avoid it altogether throughout their careers and find themselves in a bind when they are in a job search and arent connected to anyone who can help. Do not panic if this is You!

Networking

Networking on a regular basis is a proactive career management strategy that keeps you connected to people who can potentially influence and accelerate your job search.

Asking for Information

Networking is about asking for information, not asking for favours.What you achieve will always be based on your merits.

Keep it brief...be prepared!

When requesting a networking meeting, always stress that you understand how busy the person is and that you just want to meet briefly.As in any interview, be prepared.

On their terms

When requesting anetworking meeting,arrange everything onthe other persons terms;time and location mustbe convenient for them.

Use all media available!

While face-to-facenetworking is alwaysbest, graciously acceptan opportunity to chatby phone if that iswhats offered to you.

Intangible Investment

When networking, expect to give more than you get, and soon you will be getting a lot.Networking is an investment, often it appears intangible.

Touch Points

Find natural touch points like holidays and birthdays to reconnect with your network.Also mange your Brand.

Networking is hard!

Networking is a lotof work and if yournetworking is notworking you may notbe doing enough.

Reach Out

Reach out to groups such as professional organisations, corporate or school alumni groups, and community groups to build a network.

Be Different!

Network with people who are different than you: older, younger, different ethnicities, different geographies, different industries, etc.Remember we all come together so that we can be seperate.

Signing Off!

Add a signature linewith your name andcontact informationto all of youremails to make youmore memorable.

Network Now!

You cant build a networkovernight; try to build yournetwork before you need it.Try to bury that now they tell me feeling

Start with a shopping list.

Create a list ofcompanies you areinterested in to sharewith your network,and ask if they canrefer you to anyoneat these companies.

Leads to Seeds

Have a few meaningful conversations during networking events instead of trying to meet everyone to collect hundreds of business cards.Look for seeds, not a harvest.

Crowd Shy

If you are shy, arrive at networking events early, when the setting is more intimate and the crowds arent as overwhelming.Go Early- Not Late.

Ask Questions

Ask people a lot of questions about themselves. People think you are a great conversationalist when you let them do most of the talking.Think of them as question parties!

Section 6

Virtual World Networking

Social Internet Networking

Online networking has revolutionised the way people build and maintain relationships and search for jobs. . That is the power of online networking.Worked to your advantage it is a value added activity. Again, it is time consuming and needs to focus on your aims going forward.

Before you start!

Put your name in quotes into a search engine and see what comes back. Do you exist online and is your online presence distinctive!

Networking Sites Work

Networking sites are not just for socializing; they are robust searchable databases full of critical information on people and companies.

Net Culture

Every online community has its own culture. Spend some time observing the culture before you jump in.Learn the local language!

Network Branding

Drop the Im looking for work status updates when chatting in online communities. They make you sound desperate and dont show your value.Be professional at all times.This is branding.

Working it!

Online networking does not have a build it and they will come mentality; work your online network daily.Go for it!

Employers checking network sites

Hiring managers conduct online searches on candidates before the interview and may reject candidates based on what they do or do not find.Ignore research to the contrary.

It matters to someone!

People who dontthink onlinenetworking isrelevant to their jobsearch will becomeirrelevant to thehiring managerswho think it is.

Headshots!

Add a professionalheadshot to youronline profiles. Whenthe photo is missing,people wonder why?

Proper Invitation

When inviting someoneto your online network,be authentic and writea personal message.Nothing screams lazylike a canned invitation.

Reconnecting

Reconnecting with someone you havent spoken to in years by calling them is awkward. Reconnecting through social media platforms is not.

Section 7

The Interview

The Interview

Many think that some people are naturalinterviewees and that those with outgoingpersonalities will surely do better in an interview.But with practice everyone can learn how to interview effectively.Nerves are natural and to be expected.If you are not nervous, you are misinformed, over confident, or do not want the job.

The Interview Start

Your interview startsthe moment you walkinto the place of interview.Anyone you meet maybe connected with thehiring manager or thehiring team.

Elevator Pitch

Your elevator pitch is a quick overview of who you are and the value you can bring to an organization. Have it ready. It is also good to have as an ice breaker.Practice it on friends and on your voice mail.

Stay Positive

When asked why youare in job search, saysomething positiveabout the current orpast employer first,then explain yourreason for looking.

Downsized

If you were let go because of redundancy, explain the business reason why you were let go. Dont personalise the situationit wasnt about you.Also, nobody can make you redundant!The job is no more, you are not. Fact.

Decision Maker

If interviewing with several peopleat the same time, give everyoneequal attention; you never knowwho the real decision maker is.

Communicate Success

Answer interviewquestions bycommunicating strongstories of success.Prove, what makes youunique rather than explaining what you did.

Follow up

Be sure to ask whatthe next steps in theinterview process areso you can preparean appropriatefollow-up strategy.

Mistakes

When asked questionsabout mistakesyou have made, beauthentic, explain whatyou learned from theexperience, and dontget defensive.

Weaknesses

If asked about your weaknesses, dont spin weaknesses into strengths.Its not credible, and who wants to hire someone they dont trust?Remember, If you know your weakness, you are in a position to do something about it.

Be Specific

People think they should talk in general terms about career successes, but you build trust with interviewers by talking about specifics.

Time Machine Questions

If recruiters ask you to go through your background, focus on your core message of value, not the five positions you had in the last century.You have to use judgement and this displays your ability to determine relevancy to the question.

Rapport

Interviewees are a risk to hiring managers because they dont know you. Concentrate on building rapport with the interviewer to gain their trust and confidence in you.

Listen to the Question

A good interviewee is also a good listener. The questions asked provide clues to what the hiring manager needs and expects.These are little clues that you need to use your emotional intelligence skills to answer.

The Silver Medallist

If you are the second choice candidate for a job, stay in contact with the company; many follow their silver medalists and recruit them later on.

Wear it well

Be memorable forwhat you say duringan interview, not forwhat you wear.Over dressed is better than under dressed.

Section 8

Dealing with the Offer

Salary

Ask for what you want in terms of what is reasonable and fair; never give ultimatums.Always consider the economic climate, and consider the whole package, not just the financial benefits.This is a career path decision.

The Offer

Dont feel compelled to take an offer on the spot.It is reasonable to ask for a couple of days to make your decision.

Negotiating

When negotiating,dont be the first oneto name a salary; ifyou request less thanthey were planningto offer, they wontoffer you more.

Different Role, Different Salary

Past salary is irrelevant to future salary; it only relates to what someone was willing to pay you at another time for a different job.Actors, work for various salaries at different times depending on the role!

Value = Earnings

Most hiring managers do not make their best offer first. The negotiation process begins the moment you submit your resume and continues until the offer is finalised.Value = Earning power.Always will.

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