Tips for job seekers
Today’s jobs market is competitive and it’s fair to say that there’s been an increase in candidates per vacancy over the last twelve to eighteen months. So if you’re out of work or desperate for a change, you’ll need to go all out when putting together a CV or completing an application form if you want to stand out from the crowd.
Here are some tips for the sincere job seeker who wants to succeed in today’s tight climate.
Don’t demoralise yourself by applying for each and every vacancy you come across. It’s no good applying for jobs that are either too basic or beyond your reach. Most people don’t just want any job — be honest with yourself about what you are skilled and qualified to do, what you want to achieve and how much you can reasonably expect to be paid.
Ensure that you meet the level of qualification and experience required by the roles you apply for and be certain that if you were offered the job, you’d consider taking it if you’ve still got a positive feeling after the interview.
If you are registering with employment agencies be sure to develop a good rapport with your consultant. The aim is that you’re the first candidate they think of when that great job comes onto the books. Make sure that you offer an in-depth picture of your skills and experience at your initial interview, illustrating any claims about yourself with real examples based on past experience and stress your reliability and commitment.
Keep in touch with your consultant by making regular calls to the agency to ask whether new positions have come in, and update them on any progress you’ve made with your job search.
Keep your CV clear and concise, starting with a punchy paragraph or personal profile outlining your skills, experience and aspirations. Account for any gaps in employment with positive explanations and state your salary expectations without over or underselling yourself. Ensure your CV is competently written in clear English, without spelling or grammar errors that will stick out like a sore thumb.
If you’re asked to complete an application form rather than submit a CV, then do so in neat handwriting, having prepared a first draft on scrap paper rather than risk spoiling the original. Make sure you provide all the information required and study the job and person specification carefully, ensuring that you provide valid evidence from your previous roles that you meet all the essential, and as many of the desired criteria, as possible to maximise your chance of being selected for interview.
Finally, looking for work can be a hard slog. However, if you take a patient, balanced approach and dedicate a reasonable amount of time to job seeking on a regular basis, your efforts will pay off and the perfect position will fall right into your lap.