Many people, whether new or old job seekers always jump start their search for a job by looking at classified ads and online job portals. In my humblest estimation, classified ads and online job portals should not be number one on a job seekers list. Don’t get me wrong, they do have their use and I will leave behind some of my top favorites as well as other job boards. There are other avenues and things you should get done first as a job seeker before finally working around these job boards.
Before beginning your job search, the first thing to do is to take a second look at your CV. Your CV talks for you more than you can ever imagine. Getting it right on the CV is at least 30% of the job done for you. Take a look at your CV and fine tune any blemishes you find on it. It is always advisable to have two types of CV’s. One for a general job search and another tailored to suit the specific job you are searching for or applying to.
Submit a general CV when applying for a position you do not know. Let’s say you do not know the type of vacancy in an organization but you want to apply there, simply design a CV that is open with your qualifications highlighted. On the other hand when applying for a specific position, design your CV to suit that specific job. Doing this always gives you a push upfront as it captures attention immediately. Below are some good ways of revising your CV; as mentioned earlier,
your CV or resume is an important distillation of who you are, where you come from, and what you can offer. Here are a few tips to consider:
• Never make up information on a CV; it can come back to haunt you later. That is never put anything that is not true into your CV since you might be asked to elaborate on it during an interview.
• Look at a variety of recent, relevant job descriptions. Use similar language to describe your skills and accomplishments on your own CV.
• Use active verbs. When describing what you did at your last job, make the sentence as tight and active as possible.
• Proofread. Review your CV several times for grammatical or spelling errors. Even something as simple as a typo could negatively impact your ability to land an interview, so pay close attention to what you've left on the page. Have one or two other people look at it as well.
• Keep the formatting classic and to the point. How your CV looks is almost as important as how it reads. Use a simple font (such as Times New Roman, Arial or Bevan), black ink on white or ivory colored paper, and wide margins (about 1" on each side). Avoid bold or italic lettering. Ensure your name and contact information is clearly and prominently displayed.
The CV is a very good tool in your job search but there are other ways you can harness your job search such as:
Tap into your network. Everybody knows somebody. Within your existing network there are probably three jobs that would be appropriate for you, but the people who could help open doors to those jobs just haven’t thought of you. Make a list of everyone you know. Set a goal to contact three people you have not talked to for a year or more. Meet one of them and identify the 25 most influential people in your network and brainstorm ways to strengthen your relationships with each. They can well link you to your big job.
Connect with alumni. We generally like people, who have something in common with us; who share the same values or hobbies; or have gone to the same school. Call the alumni in your region, go to meetings and grow your network. Connecting with alumni is a solid approach as you don’t know the positions some of them might be to assist you or find you a job, it is even better if they happen to be in your industry.
Attend events. These include ones hosted by charities and professional organizations. Examples are; World Vision, the United Nations, etc. try and talk to at least one person at every meeting who you haven’t met yet. If you can get the list of attendees beforehand, identify at least one person who you would like to meet and make arrangements to connect there in person. Without imposing, look for an excuse to follow up—by meeting again, or getting a referral to someone else.
Use LinkedIn to maximum effect. LinkedIn is a powerful tool to easily connect with the right people. Man professionals converge on this platform and it provides a lot of opportunities for you to land a job. Search your target market based on your industry, qualifications, university and interests, and connect with the people who interest you. For example, if you work in the insurance sector, you could aim to connect with all potential bosses and human resource departments in this industry and in your market. You can even set goals for yourself, such as, “Connect to all general managers and human resource managers in the insurance industry in my city or country by the end of April.” This really helps as more and more industries are picking up on the social media craze.
Check job boards. Many companies and recruiters use them to find the right candidate. Define the top job boards for your skill set and put your resume there. Choose a catchy, succinct headline that encourages the reader to open the attachment. Many show when your resume was last updated. To avoid getting shifted deeper into the pile of applicants, update it weekly.
Contact headhunters. Senior-level professionals are recruited almost exclusively though recommendation or by headhunters. We know about jobs that will never be advertised and we have experience finding openings. If you work with a headhunter, choose carefully. Identify several (but no more than five) whom you trust and be prepared to follow-up.
Volunteer. If you are you aren't already, start volunteering for an organization that focuses on something passionate about. You may start out doing boring or easy work, but as you stick around and demonstrate your commitment, you'll be given more responsibilities. Not only will you be helping others, but you'll also be gaining references. Emphasize your volunteer experience on your resume, as companies that treat their employees well tend to favor candidates who help the community somehow.
Internships may fall into this category, or they may be paid. An internship is a great way to get your foot in the door, as many companies prefer to hire from within. Even if you're far removed from your twenties or your college days, the willingness to work for little or no money shows companies that you're serious about putting in the work, learning the skills, and getting ahead.
Believe it or not, volunteer positions and internships can lead to jobs. In today's economy, many companies are turning to internships as a cost-effective way to vet potential future employees. This is because many companies simply don't have the money or resources to take a stab in the dark and offer a job to someone who isn't tested. If you put in hard work, demonstrate your ability to solve problems, and keep your chin up, your value to the company might be too big for them to pass up on.
CALL WITHOUT INVITE. Locate a specific person who can help you (usually the human resources or hiring manager at a company or organization you're interested in). Call that person and ask if they are hiring, but do not become discouraged if they are not. Ask what kind of qualifications they look for or if they have apprentice or government-sponsored work programs. Ask if you can send your resume indicating what field you want to go into. Indicate whether you would accept a lesser job and work up.
Reflect after each phone call on what went well and what did not. Consider writing out some standard answers on your list of skills so you can speak fluently. You may need to get some additional training to break into your chosen field. None of this means you cannot get a good job, only that you need to become further prepared to do so.
Visit the company or business in person. There's a saying among employers: "People don't hire resumes; people hire people." Don't underestimate the value of personal relationships. Go to the company or business where you think you might want to work, bring your resume, and ask to speak to the Human Resources manager about job opportunities. If you make an excellent personal impression on the HR manager, you've done your job: she/he will have connected your face to a resume, and will have a much better idea of your natural intelligence, your persistence, and your likability. People don't always hire the person best suited for the job; people often hire the person they like the best.
PREPARING FOR THE INTERVIEW
Preparing for a job interview is very important as you have to give out your best amidst the competition. The first step to take when preparing for an interview is to Research the company. Don't just do an Internet search, memorize their mission, and be done with it. Remember that you're competing with lots of other candidates for a few or single position. You may not be able to change your natural intelligence, or the skills that you bring to the job, but you can always change your work ethic. Work harder than everyone else by researching the company or companies you wish to work for as if your life depended on it.
If it's a company with several branches, visit a few of their branches, observe the customers, and even strike up a few conversations. Talk to existing employees — ask them what it's like working there, how long the position has been open, and what you can do to increase your chances of getting it. Become familiar with the history of the company. Who started it? Where? Who runs it now? Be creative!
Develop your personal "elevator pitch". Many structured interviews, particularly those at large companies, start with a question like "Tell me about your-self." The interviewer doesn't want to hear about grade school or growing up. This is a work and experience related question with a right answer: in two minutes or so, the interviewer wants to understand your background, your accomplishments, why you want to work at this company and what your future goals are.
Keep it brief — between 30 seconds and two minutes — and have the basics of it memorized so that you don't stammer when you're asked to describe yourself. You don't want to sound like a recorder or a robot, either, so only get the structure of it down, and learn to improvise the rest depending on who you're talking to. Practice your elevator pitch out loud on someone who can give you feedback.
An elevator pitch is also useful when you're networking, at a party or anywhere with a group of strangers who want to get to know you a little bit more. In a networking situation, as opposed to a job interview, keep the elevator pitch to 30 seconds or less.
Prepare for a behavioral interview. You might be asked to describe problems you've encountered in the past and how you handled them or you'll be given a hypothetical situation and asked what you would do. You might also be asked questions looking for negative information. They'll basically want to know how you'll perform when faced with obstacles in the position you're interviewing for. Be able to give honest, detailed examples from your past, even if the question is hypothetical (e.g. "I would contact the customer directly, based on my past experience in a different situation in which the customer was very pleased to receive a phone call from the supervisor"). You might find yourself listing facts — if so, remember that in this kind of interview, you need to tell a story. Some questions you might be asked are:
• "Describe a time you had to work with someone you didn't like."
• "Tell me about a time when you had to stick by a decision you had made, even though it made you unpopular."
• "Give us an example of something particularly innovative that you have done that made a difference in the workplace."
• "How would you handle an employee who's consistently late?"
DON’T SELL YOURSELF CHEAP: this might sound funny but many people in their desperation to land a job end up selling themselves cheap. Every interview would always end with the dreaded question, HOW MUCH ARE YOU LOOKING TO TAKE HOME AT THE END OF EVERY MONTH? Many have shied away by asking the company to give them anything they can, some too have quoted meager amount. All this would go against you. Yes! Never sell yourself cheap, quote an amount that would not be too outrageous and also not too meager. This is one of the reasons why researching the company is very important, it gives you an idea as to how much other employees are earning and thus helping you estimate your value.
Quoting a small amount tells the company you are desperate for anything whiles quoting a reasonable amount tells them you mean business and also that you know yourself worth. Take assurance that when the amount you quote is too big, they would bargain with you so don’t panic. In some cases, the employer will expect you to negotiate, so don't let nerves or a fear of seeming overbearing get in the way. If the proposed salary is lower than what you deserve, say thank you for the offer and then counter with what you believe is appropriate for your skills and experience.
OTHER GOOD TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL INTERVIEW
Make a list of work-related skills you'd like to learn. Your employer will be interested in hearing about how you intend to become a better employee. Think about which skills will make you more competent in the position you're applying for. Find some books and upcoming conferences that would significantly improve your abilities. In an interview, tell the employer what you're reading and learning and that you'd like to continue doing so. Here is a list of some of the most important job skills, wanted by employers, that a job-seeker must have to be sure of landing a good job and just as importantly, keeping it.
• Logical thinking and information handling: Most businesses regard the ability to handle and organize information to produce effective solutions as one of the top skills they want. They value the ability to make sensible solutions regarding a spending proposal or an internal activity.
• Technological ability: Most job openings will require people who are IT or computer literate or know how to operate different machines and office equipment, whether it's a PC or multi-function copier and scanner. This doesn't mean that employers need people who are technology graduates — knowing the basic principles of using current technology is sufficient.
• Communicating effectively: Employers tend to value and hire people who are able to express their thoughts efficiently through verbal and written communication. People who land a good job easily are usually those who are adept in speaking and writing.
• Strong interpersonal skills: Because the working environment consists of various kinds of personalities and people with different backgrounds, it is essential to possess the skill of communicating and working with people from different walks of life.
Change your attitude. There's a difference between making phone calls and going to interviews thinking "I'm looking for a job" versus "I'm here to do the work you need to have done". When you're looking to get a job, you're expecting someone to give something to you, so you focus on impressing them. Yes, it's important to make a good impression, but it's even more important to demonstrate your desire and ability to help. Everything that you write and say should be preceded silently by the statement "This is how I can help your business succeed."
Find jobs to apply for that fit your skill-set and interests, rather than trying to fit skills and yourself to the wrong kind of job for you. If you don't have an idea of what jobs your skills and aptitude fit, prepare your mind to learn what you are more qualified to do. Instead of searching for job openings, and then trying to see how you can tweak the way you present their own skills and experiences to fit the job description, try something that fits you Instead of the usual top-down approach, start from the bottom up. Build your base of skills and abilities, and narrow them to the jobs that work better for you.
• Make a list of all of your skills, determine which kinds of businesses and industries need them most (ask around for advice if you need to) and find businesses that will benefit from having you and your skills around. You might find that you get more satisfaction and enjoyment out of a career that wasn't even on your radar to begin with.
• Explore the nature of jobs to fit your personality and salary requirements, otherwise you'll have spent a significant amount of time to find a day job -- but then you dread getting up for every morning. So be realistic about what you expect, but be open to what you find about yourself.
Sell the qualifications you have, and say you look forward to the honing your skills and getting trained, and growing into the rest. Don't panic, and don't count yourself out, if you don't have 100% of the things in a job description. The job description may describe an idealized candidate, which may be a different set of qualifications than they really require.
• Appear well mannered, sitting upright, yet relaxed, not frowning or grimacing, but being positive, proactive and leaning slightly forward, showing interest, and do all you may to make a good impression based on optimism and confidence.
• Don't settle back in your chair or get too comfortable, but be alert, while not acting too nervous or desperate.
CONCLUSION
the points above does not overly state all the facts on how to gain employment because I believe individual ingenuity also counts a lot in getting employed. So after putting into practice all these steps, you should be in a position to use your creativity to make them work for you. Remember never give up on your dreams and when things get really difficult; don’t allow negativity to invade your mind. Your time is now.