Top Tips for Today’s Jobseeker…

As a jobseeker in today’s job market and current economic conditions it is very easy to get carried away with the here and now. Often we rush decisions and jump at every opportunity we see. We become "desperate" to find a job, in fact "any job will do so long as it pays well enough". Stop for a minute, read the following and rethink your approach…

Step 1 – "Fit"…

If you know your core passions, strengths and skill set you will be far better placed to find the "right fit". Look at each opportunity and ask yourself questions – "am I really interested in this"; "do I have the transferrable skills to do this"; "does this fit with my values, beliefs and aspirations". If you come up with a yes or a maybe then start focusing in on the opportunity. If it is a definite no then continue looking at other opportunities. A quick word of caution when looking at any opportunity – don’t actively compromise your beliefs and personal values – this generally won’t build a long rewarding career.

Step 2 – Focus…

For jobseekers the "shotgun" approach can be appealing. "If I apply for as many jobs as possible as this will increase my chance of success, right?" Wrong – if you set goals in life, you have a far greater chance of ongoing success. The same applies when job hunting – if you narrow your focus down to opportunities that really appeal and spend time researching the company/industry and role, writing a quality cover letter and following up after your application you will have a far greater chance of success.

Step 3 – Find out More…

When you apply for an opportunity, and you know the company and industry make sure you do your background checking. The more you know the better. Use the company website as a start point, & search engines such as Google to find more out about the industry. Ask family & friends what they know about the company and ask for a position description or more details on the role – in general glean as much as you can from wherever you can.

Step 4 – First Impressions…

We have all heard "first impressions count" time and time again, yet we often forget how important this is. Your very first contact with an employer or an agency is crucial – the cover letter, your CV, an email, the first phone call, the first face-to-face interview – all of these make up vital lasting impressions in your hunt for your next career step. Some fundamental tips:

Write relevant and meaningful cover letters – don’t copy & paste a template as people will generally pick up on a lack of thought and relevance to the opportunity.
Spell check everything you send!
Where possible pick up the phone and start talking to someone about the opportunity – this starts rapport building and both parties will get an early sense of "fit".
Ask meaningful questions – find out as much detail about the role and company as possible.

Step 5 – Follow up…

Too often jobseekers have a "victim" mentality to application follow-up – "why haven’t I heard back" or "no one ever responds to my applications". Take control of this, and pick up the phone. If you are proactive and display a strong sense of eagerness around your application and the opportunity this goes a long way towards lifting your profile above other applicants, and getting you that vital face-to-face interview.

Good luck with your job hunting!