Job hunting is a daily exercise.
Whether you get a good job, you will be hunting another bigger job after a
while. That is why I get shocked when people email us to unsubscribe from
getting the latest jobs on their emails. Like I said above, job hunting does
not stop because you got a job, it makes it easier. Now you have resources and
access to information (internet) and even interview experience.
If you are coming straight from
college or university starting to look for a job is tricky but it can be very
easy if you know what you are doing. If you have a job, I know by now you know
various things you need to adhere to before starting to start looking for a
job. But if you have forgotten, then here is a refresher.
1.
Tailor your resume to
the position for
which you are applying – include specific elements of the job description in
your resume (make it easy for them to see that you are a good fit).
2.
Do not rely on a cover
letter to
explain why you are a fit. You may want to use it to explain reasons for
relocation, but your skills and experience need to be evident within your
customized resume. If anything, the cover letter may be used to weed you out.
3.
Do not apply for more
than one position within one company: It
creates the perception that you are not sure which position is best for you. We
recommend applying to one but including a variety of skill sets on your resume
so that you indicate you are qualified for more than one position.
4.
Keep everything positive in your resume and in your communication with the
company. Don’t dwell on bad experiences, frustrations, or ineffective bosses.
Talk about what you learned, why you are better for it and how you will
leverage those experiences to make your new company successful.
5.
Honesty rules: Hiring managers and HR professionals will do informal
reference checks with people they know at other firms and you do not want them
to be surprised.
6.
Answer salary questions
definitively and transparently: Do not try to circumvent these questions. Tell them
specifically what you were making and what you are looking to make.
7.
Don’t be shy: let your personality come
through in your answers. During an interview, you might be thrown some
questions that are asked to assess how your brain works or to find out more
about your personality.
8.
When accepting an offer,
be enthusiastic: They
want to hear the smile and excitement in your voice. This will lay the
foundation of a very positive transition into your new company.
9.
Don’t engage in a
counteroffer negotiations: You
risk alienating yourself from the new hiring manager and your old company.
Consider the offer and decide.
10.
Being overqualified is a
serious concern for
companies, but the solution is not to remove things from your resume as it may
create the perception of dishonesty.
11.
End interviews with
assertiveness and pro-activity: It is very appropriate to end interviews by asking “When would it be appropriate for me to
follow-up?”
12.
Be prepared for
behavioral interview questions: Come to the interview prepared with several anecdotes
about challenges you have faced before and how you dealt with them. Demonstrate
a positive and measurable result whenever possible.
13.
Do your best to
incorporate the firm’s core values into your interview responses.
14.
Keep up your knowledge: Companies understand that people may have been out of work
for extended periods of time in this economy. However, you must demonstrate
your ability to stay current (seminars, certifications, etc.) and to get up to
speed quickly.
15.
LinkedIn is a
recognized tool, but they disregard most of what they see, including
recommendations. Be prepared to provide a supplemental reference sheet during
interviews.
16.
Identify and ease their
pain. Ask
hiring managers about “gaps in their department” to find out where their pain
is and suggest how you can help ease that pain. They need to be sure they are
hiring someone who can help with their issues. Ask good questions. Like, “What
does success look like 6 months into this position?” and “What obstacles might
I run into?”
17.
Be careful with Facebook: they review these pages and screen people out as a result!
If you look at all the above, they
seem like warnings but in real sense they are just ways in which you can help
yourself find the exercise of job hunting very easy. You do not want to
experience a hard time finding a job. Some of you might already be doing this
but if you are not, then have these like 17 commandments.
All the best.
