How To Find A New Job

An interview can be an intimidating experience. Partly because often you want the job very badly and thus you feel like you are going to walk away just a little bit of a failure if you don’t get it, and partly because you are putting yourself on display and will have to answer questions that you will have fired at you.

Let’s look at the ways in which we can get a handle on those interview nerves and stop them in their tracks.

Preparation is a key element. Do as much research on the company as you can before you arrive. Look them up on the internet and understand what they do, their position in the market and who their competitors are. This works at whatever level you are seeking a position and for whatever role. If you are looking at working behind a counter, understand that shop’s place in the market or if you want to be a top legal assistant, again look at the firm and what its ethos is.

Although you cannot prepare for every question that will be asked of you at interview, you can do some groundwork and at least have some likely answers ready. Key areas will be what you feel you can bring to the role, how you think your previous experience relates to what they are looking for, your strengths and of course those darned weaknesses. When you are preparing your answers try to think particularly of the role for which you are being interviewed. You know what was outlined in the job vacancy, have a think about what skills and experience you have that could demonstrate how well you could do this new role. When asked about your weaknesses, try and suggest something that maybe at one time was a weakness, but which have now overcome and how you did it. Alternatively put something forward that could have both a negative and a positive spin. For example, ‘one of my weaknesses is that I tend to take on too much however, I have learned to handle this through prioritization and where applicable delegation.

On a practical level always find out the location of the interview in advance and make sure you have your route well mapped out, and that you know where the nearest parking or public transport is located. If possible visit the location a couple of days beforehand so that you know the route. On the day itself, leave in plenty of time and make sure you are not late. Even if it means getting there an hour before and sitting in a cafe round the corner for 50 minutes, do that. Not only is lateness a huge negative mark against you at interview but you don’t want to be all stressed and hot and bothered when you arrive. You want to walk in calm and collected, you may have butterflies, but the world would not know it, as far as they are concerned you are in control.

Dress and body language: Make sure that you are dressed smartly and appropriately for any interview. The company itself may have a dress-down policy but at interview stage you want to err on the side of caution and show yourself at your best. That said, make sure that the clothes you are wearing fit well and that you are comfortable in them. There is nothing worse that a too tight collar or a skirt that twists around constantly, to make you feel uncomfortable. When you first shake hands with the interviewer, do so with a firm grasp and throughout the interview keep eye contact and try not to fiddle with your hair, jewelry or clothing. Also nerves can get the better of our speech and we can either start muttering very quietly or talking at breakneck speed at the top of our voices. If you know that this is sometimes an issue for you, keep taking deep breaths and focus on the speed and volume at which you are talking. All of this seems a lot to be thinking about but after a couple of interviews it will seem like second nature.

Lastly, the key thing to remember is that whilst you are being interviewed for a role, you are also interviewing the company to see if it is right for you. Now I know this might seem an impossible dream when you are really desperate for a job, but coming from this standpoint does give you a mindset of greater confidence. Thus, you also need to ask pertinent questions of the interviewer about the company. For example, ask about its direction, its levels of success, why the role became vacant and about other members of your prospective team. If you approach the interview in this way you take back just a little feeling of control for yourself and can approach the interview as a two way dialogue.

With these points in mind you should be a lot calmer as you approach the interview process. Even if you are not successful the first few times, you are gaining experience and confidence at every step, and remember you are not just looking for a job where you are right for the company, but where the company is also right for you.

Alison Wood has been the HR Manager for a large international company for over 12 years. To get further insights into career planning and job hunting success, check out the Career Planning Guide Toolbox

When you are going about your search for a new job it sometimes pays to think a little bit differently, in order to get ahead of the competition. Here I want to examine five ways to find vacancies, from the well known to what I would call the more hidden vacancies.

1. Local: The standard way to look for a job is to check out your local newspapers. This is a good start and you should definitely not exclude this option. Not only will the vacancies be within commuting distance but you may well know of the companies concerned.
 
2. Online: We can then take the search a little wider and your next port of call should be online. Here you of course have the big job boards such as Monster.com, but you can also look at specific company’s websites that you are interested in working with. Say for example you are a Legal Executive, you could do a search for all the local law firms and then check out their careers pages and apply direct. With job boards you can usually register and upload your resume and then it becomes simplicity itself to make applications. Remember this is often a numbers game and the more relevant applications you have out there the better. The key part there though is relevancy, don’t just apply for things randomly, you have to be able to demonstrate a good fit with the role by your skills and experience.
 
3. Networking: You will be surprised what can be achieved by networking and speaking to friends, relatives and acquaintances about any vacancies they may have heard of. Sometimes it might not be companies they actually work for but friends of friends and it is often easier to get your foot in the door if someone you know is taking your resume in for review personally.
 
4. On Spec: This is a largely underused method but if there are companies that you are particularly interested in working for, either because they are close to you or because they are in a field of particular interest, then you should send in an application and resume on spec. If you can call ahead and get the name and /or email address of the HR or Recruitment Manager then even better. Candidates are often lucky this way because you can find that your resume lands on the person’s desk just as a vacancy arises. A company will always prefer a direct application as this is a key way of saving on advertising and agency costs.

Fast Tube by Casper

One of the key parts of finding a new job is having a resume that is going to get you an interview. Yes that’s correct I did say interview, not offer. No resume is going to get you straight into a new job, but the resume is your first opportunity to sell your skills and experience, and to move you forward to that precious interview, where you may well clinch the deal and get offered the job.

These tips are relevant whether you are applying for a job as a waitress or as a CEO. Yes the details will of course change, but the way you apply the process remains the same. In my role as an HR Manager I am amazed at the simple lack of care people take in putting together their resume, from spelling mistakes to factual inaccuracies and sometimes just strange pieces of information which really do not need to be included. One day I may just write an article on some of the humorous ones that have come my way, but that’s for another day. For today let’s list the top tips to get your resume in interview attracting order:

Length: Firstly think about the length of your resume. I would always recommend that this be no longer than 2 pieces of foolscap paper, printed on one side. When you are in the position of sifting through these resumes in order to shortlist for interview, you really appreciate those people that put across succinctly what they have to offer

Content: Think about the key areas that you need to include in your resume and sort these out into clearly defined sections. You should at the minimum include a section on your name and your contact details, your objective, i.e. the type of role you are seeking, your educational background and your work experience

Relevancy: Make sure that the skills and experience are tailored to fit very well with the skills sought for the position for which you are applying. Now by this I don’t mean twist what you have to exactly fit, but try and demonstrate that your background could be very well suited to what the company needs

Accuracy: Always ensure that your resume is true and accurate and accounts for any gaps. If you do have any gaps in your resume, due perhaps to childcare issues or illness, state this truthfully but always ensure that you reassure the potential reader that these issues have now been resolved. You can sell yourself in the best possible light on a resume, but never enhance the truth or lie. In this day and age it is all too easy to get caught out and besides, when you get the job you do want to be able to do it, and if you have invented a skill or qualification that you don’t actually have you are storing up a lot of problems for the very near future

Proofreading: One of the biggest turnoffs to any future employer is a lack of care and attention to detail taken over your resume. If you can’t be bothered to check that, they wonder, how are you going to perform in the job. In this world of text speak and e-mail, always ensure that spelling and grammar is accurate. Capitals are important, both at the beginning of sentences and on the word, I. Read your resume over and over again to ensure it is error free and then ask a couple of other people to review it, as it is easy to miss something in your own work, as I myself am only too well aware.

If you follow these tips you will be well on your way to putting together an excellent resume. If you need further advice on successfully securing your next role then check out:

The Career Planning Guide Toolbox

Fast Tube by Casper

It is important for your career going forward to become comfortable in an interview setting. If you are not comfortable at interview, it will be difficult to obtain a quality position within a company.  The employers will assume that if you cannot handle an interview, then how will you handle the full responsibilities of the position they are offering.

Now, let’s take a look at what employers are looking for.  One of the most important traits in an employee that the employer is looking for is a positive attitude.  Come in to the room with a smile and an eager handshake.  Give the interviewer the impression that you are very excited about this interview and the position with their company.

Be sure to express interest in the position, as well as interest in the company.  Make sure to do some research about the company and the position you are applying for.  This will be especially helpful when you are asked the question, “why do you want to work for us?”   and this is a question you can almost always expect to be asked.

If possible, try to find out about the interviewer beforehand.  If you are referred to this job by a friend that already has a position with the company, make sure to ask him or her questions about the interviewer.  Get some tips about what the interviewer likes to hear.  Obviously, do not go in and say exactly what you were told but use this blueprint of a successful interview, and enhance it.  It is not possible for everyone to find out about the interviewer, but if you are able to do so, by all means, take advantage of it.

Be prepared to ask questions at the interview.  This shows the interviewer that you are not just there because it is necessary in order to get a job.  You are there because you have genuine interest in the company and also in becoming an employee for this company.

One obvious thing that employees are looking for is how you dress.  To be on the safe side, be sure to never underdress.  It is much better to be overdressed.  This way the employer knows you take the opportunity with their company very seriously.

When the interviewer is asking you questions, do not give them one word answers, even if you have no experience in what they are questioning you about.  Giving a response that is short, such as, “No, I haven’t” is not acceptable.  Say something like, “I have very similar experience to that and I feel those experiences would be very beneficial for me at this position.”

When the interview is finishing up, it is important to close out strong, because this is often how the interviewer will remember you.  Let them know how excited you are about potentially working with the company.  Find out what the next step is in the hiring process.  Let them know that you are able to excel at their company, and that you are very eager to receive an offer.  Remember, your number one goal is to get a job offer.  As you are leaving, thank them for their time, and let them know how much you would enjoy working with them personally.
 
For more ways to make interview a breeze head over to The Complete Career Planning Guide Toolbox.

Are you in the process of finding and applying for jobs? If you are, you may be ready to mail out your resume. Before you send out your resume or resumes, you will want to take a close look at the cover letter of your resume. For starters, are you even using a cover letter?

If you are currently not using a cover letter, you will want to refrain from mailing out your resume, at least right away. Many businesses expect to receive cover letters attached to all resumes. In fact, many now require them, especially with mailed in applications or resumes. If you are unsure as to how you can go about creating the perfect cover letter or at least one that can benefit you, you will want to continue reading on.

When it comes to creating the perfect cover letter, there are a number of important factors to take into consideration. One of those factors is the job that you are applying for and the wishes of that company. It is common for some employers to list exactly what they want cover letters to include. If you are given a sample or directions, you are advised to follow them. Not following instructions can result in your resume, as well as your cover letter ending up in the “don’t call,” pile.

As previously stated, a company may have their own preferences as to what they would like cover letters to include. This is because no two companies are truly the same. That is why it is advised that you do not use the same cover letter for each resume that you send out. Instead, you will want to create and distribute different cover letters for each employer that you have. You can have a sample cover letter or a template to use, but it is advised that you take the time to personalize each cover letter in one way or another.

Speaking of personalizing your cover letter, you will want to personalize each cover letter that you send out to the jobs that you are applying for and the companies in which you are sending your resume to. For instance, if you are applying for the position of a legal secretary, you will want to plainly state that position. This will automatically set you apart from a good percentage of your competition. Customizing each of your cover letters to the particular job that you are applying for is a great way to get yourself noticed, as you took a few extra steps not necessarily required.

Another one of the many ways that you can create the perfect cover letter for yourself is by being short and to the point. With that in mind, you will not want to be too short either. A cover letter should be at least three paragraphs and you should try and keep all cover letters under one page long. It is advised that you do not use any colored fonts, as black ink should do. It is also advised that you do not use any colored paper for your resume cover letter. Some job seekers mistakenly believe that this catches the eye of those in charge of scheduling job interviews. Yes, it may, but not always in the ways that you had hoped for.

As for what you should include in your cover letter, it is advised that you list a few of your skills and qualifications. It is also important to keep this portion of your cover letter short and to the point. Your resume will go into further detail, but it is still advised that you quickly outline the qualifications and skills that you have. Be sure to focus on those that apply directly to the job that you are applying for. For example, if you are applying for the position of a legal secretary, you will want to summarize your computer software knowledge, typing skills, transcription skills, and so forth.

The above mentioned points are all points that you will want to take into consideration, when making a cover letter for yourself. In all honesty, any cover letter is better than no cover letter at all, but with cover letters being relatively easy to create, why take the chance.