Landing that Job: Techniques that Work
Martina SanchezFor many people, the thought of job-hunting can be stressful. It can a take a lot of time and effort and on top of your current job, getting rejection after rejection can take its toll on your confidence. Sometimes, even if you do get a job, you find out pretty quickly why the role was vacant in the first place and you’re right back to where you started. So before you start sending off a million of the same resume, take a moment to read some of these techniques.
Make a list of jobs that you want
Making a list about what you are looking for in a job will help you gain some perspective on your goals. You should consider what makes you happy both in your professional and personal life (you never know where that hobby may take you). You should also think about what kind of company culture suits you best.
Get to know your resume
A lot of the time we tend to forget what the resume actually is: it’s our own story. If you look at the resume as a chance to tell your story to a prospective employer, you’re going to find a lot easier when it comes to the interview stage. Figure out what makes your story compelling and what the employer will want to ask about.
Let everyone know
It can feel daunting when we first start out on a job search, especially if we’ve been one particular job for a good length of time. But when we’ve decided it’s time to move on, it’s best to let the people close to you know. Not only will they give you the support you’ll need to drive forward, but you may actually find there are job opportunities that aren’t widely advertised.
Read the job description
Once you have found something that you like the look of, go through the job description with a keen and careful eye. Check it against the list you made earlier and be honest - does it match your skill set? “It’s important to maintain your confidence at this stage, but if there are clear well-defined job specifics that you just can’t fulfill then you will be wasting both the employers and your time,” says Mary Hernandez, career development specialist at Last Minute Writing and Researchpapaersuk.
Prepare to apply
As soon as you start job hunting you should be updating and refining your resume. Continuously updating your resume will not only provide you with the means to apply for jobs but will keep you in mind of what experience you have. For each job you can tailor your resume, editing out irrelevant parts and keeping it effective. Also for each job, write an enticing and professional cover letter, not simply restating your CV, but one that shows your enthusiasm for your prospective employer.
Prepare for your interview
“It always feels good to be offered an interview, but very quickly that elation can turn to nervousness. The only way you can offset this nervousness is by preparing thoroughly. If you don’t know your resume inside out by now then it’s time to start revising,” explains Yvette Theus, managing editor at Draftbeyond and Writinity.During the interview, try to remember that it is a conversation. Therefore, to show interest and enthusiasm, remember to ask questions. Make a mental list before you go in of things you would like to know. You are interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you.Finally, don’t feel like you need to accept the job on the spot if you are offered it. If it’s not a good fit for you, you’ll soon be back looking for the right fit and may have missed other opportunities in the meantime.
About the Author: Martina Sanchez is an entrepreneur and content marketing specialist at Lucky Assignments and Gum Essays. She is absorbed with article writing and is a constant contributor to her blog where she touches such topics as digital marketing, SEO tips and tricks etc.
