If you know what you are looking for and where to look for it, it’s just a matter of letting them know what you’ve got to offer and making yourself look as attractive as possible!
An unsuccessful search is usually because you are not offering the right bait, looking in the right places or never meant to be. Sometimes there simply is no chemistry!
Alternatively, a successful search prove fruitless if you blow it by not doing your homework thoroughly enough, so it always pays to put as much, if not more time, into your job search preparations as the actual event.
My sure fire tips for finding a job that has your name on it, gleaned from my experience as an Employment Consultant working with long term unemployed where I was ranked in the top 4 out of 40 consultants, are:
1. Know yourself
Take the time to sit down and evaluate your skills, abilities, experience, knowledge and ambitions. The more you know about the product, the easier it will be to sell it to someone else. Make some plans – they can always be changed as more information becomes known – it is good to know where you want to be in 2, 5 and 10 years from now. The problem is that if you don't have a plan, you are likely to be like a rudderless ship. You may be successful in interview, but will you be a stayer and if you are not a stayer, are you just wasting your employer's time and your time? Isn't it better and more effective to know where you are headed and hit all the bases in the journey to your destination? The more you know about what you want to achieve, the less time you will waste finding out what you don't like.
2. Prepare a great resume
A great resume is honest, accurate and demonstrates to a prospective employer the benefits of employing you. Qualify what you say by describing how you learned the skills you say you have. For example, “Highly experienced in waiting tables”, should be accompanied by a descriptor of how and when you learned these skills. For example, “with 5 years hands-on experience delivering silver service to customers in an up market restaurant.” Quantify your claims by describing the level of experience or the manner in which you complete tasks. For example, “Highly experienced in waiting tables, with 5 years hands-on experience delivering silver service to customers in an up market restaurant where I was awarded the staff member of the month award six months in a row.”
3. Resist the urge to machine gun apply for jobs
You have a great resume and you are just itching to get it out there. Now it’s important to hold back until you know where you want your resume to go. Your resume, in the hands of the right person, can mean a job straight away. Whereas the time, effort and cost of machine gun style applying for jobs not only is ineffective for you, it is also a waste of the employer’s time. Take the time to select a handful of jobs that have everything you are looking for in a job. Critically evaluate yourself against their selection criteria and job description. Try to get as close a fit as possible, with a little bit of room for a stretch to allow you to grow. However, never let a selection criteria item that you don't have stop you from applying for a job, as many times employers will accept someone who is the right fit for the company over someone who has everything they are looking for.
It may help to make a list of criterion by which you will judge positions The criterion you use for judging should include a list of things like Access to Child Care (if you are a parent), Distance from Home, Level of Income, Benefits, Job Satisfaction, and
4. Market yourself over the phone, in person, in writing
Marketing yourself over the phone involves calling those companies that you are interested in working for and once you are speaking to the right person, the person that makes the decisions about who they employ, sell them on your three top quality selling points. A quality selling point is how you can add value to their business. For example, if it is a sales business, your quality selling point may be that you already have an established relationship with a range of clients that would be interested in the business you are applying for a position with. At the very least, from every phone call you make, you should get the correct details for the person you need to connect with. You may not get an interview on your first phone call, but at least you will know whom to approach.
Marketing yourself in person is a little bit more frightening, but remembering how selective you are being in your promotions, it affords you the opportunity to go into the workplace and observe what the business is really like. By making an appointment to see the appropriate person or dropping by on the off chance they may be available, you are demonstrating to the employer that you are keen to work for them. If you visit the site and the appropriate person is unavailable, ask when would be a good time to catch up with them. Resist the urge to leave your resume with the receptionist, as she will not do as good a sales job as you would if you presented it in person.
Marketing yourself in writing is where you prepare a covering letter that clearly outlines your skills, knowledge and experience relevant to the type of work you are seeking. The letter should be concise, using appropriate language and present a clear case of the benefits you would bring to the employer. Always finish the letter with a call to action, eg “Please phone me as soon as possible to discuss an interview.” Once you have a letter that emphasises your quality selling points, you can send it, accompanied by your great resume, to the employers that you have selected. This is what I call a “primer”. It may not get you the job, but it will give you a reason to call and to ask to speak to the right person. Once you have them on the phone, you have another opportunity to make a positive impression. Always follow up your application with a phone call approximately 2-3 days after they would have received the letter. You may also want to send a Thank You card after the interview to firmly secure your name in their mind.
5. Put your best foot forward at interview
Interviews are that awful place where you feel like a bug under a microscope. Make sure you turn up early, 15 minutes is a good amount of time to allow yourself to calmly arrive and mentally prepare yourself. Make sure your breath is fresh, your clothes are clean and neat and that your hair is in place before going in for the interview (don't pull a face, some people don't do this and first impressions are so important!).
Be prepared, with a list of potential questions you could ask the employer, including some intelligent comments that demonstrate you have researched the business and know what they are looking for.
Shake their hand firmly but not too tightly. Give good eye contact and mirror the employer’s body language during the interview, as this will set them at ease. Use a clear voice and minimise distracting habits like playing with your face, hair or other body parts. Listen attentively and provide feedback in your responses. For example, if the employer asks, “How many words can you type a minute?” Repeat the question in your answer and add a positive attitude statement to your response, for example, “ I type 80wpm and I really enjoy typing, especially when I get the job done correctly the first time.”
Finally, try to use the employer’s name during the interview as it shows attention to detail and ask intelligent questions if given the opportunity. No employer is going to be upset if you quickly scribble down their name or ask them to repeat it. It shows interest in them.
Finally, you can achieve a successful job search through thorough preparation and attention to detail as you prepare job applications and ultimately attend an interview. Include appropriate follow up in your job search strategy – a phone call to see how a resume is tracking will make you more than just a name on paper. If you can strike up a rapport quickly, it will endear you to the employer and bring your resume to the top of the pile.
I guess the proof is always in the pudding – if you land the job, then you have been successful in your job search. The final key is to never, ever give up! A closed door just means that there is always another standing wide open that is more suited to you.
