Yes, I’ve mastered job hunting! If you need a change of job, or if you’re new or going back to the workforce, you’ll find some useful tips here. Finding a job is not easy. You will have plenty of competition out there and you need to make sure your application stands out. Everything I share with you here is based on my own experience. Here are the basic tips that you need to know and follow when job hunting.
Jobs are everywhere. There are plenty of jobs out there. Most people tend to search for these jobs via advertisements in the newspapers or online. Most people don’t realise that many small businesses don’t advertise job vacancies through these outlets and instead rely on referrals from family, friends and existing employees.
When you are looking for a job it will be worthwhile going from door to door amongst your local businesses or asking people you know if someone may need your services. You’ll be surprised what you get when you ask. I got three jobs through referral and they were good jobs. However be realistic about what you’re capable of.
Simplify Your Name. If you are applying for a job in countries such as New Zealand or Australia where people are not familiar with your home country’s alphabet or phonetics, keep your name simple. In some countries “J” sounds like “Y” or “C” sounds like “CH”. Only write the name you would like to be called. There’s nothing wrong if you put a shortened nickname instead of your long full name.
If you have a very complicated name such as some Asian or other European names, these can be difficult for people reading your job application. You can shorten or write a preferred name that is easier for others to pronounce (give your full name later when you’ve been offered the job). Some of my past employers have been reluctant to phone applicants whose names they can’t pronounce easily – and remember you’ll have plenty competition from people that have ‘normal’ English names. You may think this is discrimination but it’s not really. It’s just what happens.
Right Font to Use on your CV. Avoid using complicated fonts that are difficult to read, or even italics. Those CVs generally go straight into the bin without even being looked at. You should use fonts such as Arial, Times New Roman, Calibri or Verdana which are easy to read and look professional.
Using colour can look good when you create your CV on the computer, however you need to think about whether or not your application is likely to be printed in black and white by your prospective employer. With this in mind avoid using light colours and stick with dark colours that will print out clearly even in black and white. The size of font you choose matters too. Use a minimum font size of 10 – 11 throughout your document so it can be read easily.
Letter of Application. I’ve always made a habit of asking people who’ve employed me why they considered my application, and the common reply has been that my covering letter stood out. Every cover letter is unique to the particular job application. Always put the company name and address on your heading if you know what it is and never use Sir/Madam if the name of the contact person is provided. Learn to sell yourself and summarise the key information they want to know about you onto one page. Employers won’t waste their time browsing your CV unless they like your letter. For a sample cover letter click here.
No Generic CV or Resume. You can create a master CV listing all your work experiences and skills but only use this as a template to then trim down to information relevant to the job you’re seeking. It’s a fatal mistake to try and use a generic CV for each job application. Like your cover letter, you need to make it unique to each employer.
I am an engineer by profession but when I applied for a different career direction (for instance as an Office Administrator), I deleted all references to engineering from my CV. You don’t want to scare your future employer into thinking that you’re over qualified. Make the CV relevant to what you’re applying for and limit it to four pages maximum – unless you’re applying for a really major role such as Director/CEO of the company in which case you’ll need to prepare a proper portfolio of documentation and most likely you’ll need an agency to help you with that. To see my personal sample CV click here.
Work Experience. Like students, some of you might be new to the work force and companies will totally understand that. So what can you include in your CV? There are a number of things such as your achievements at school, any volunteering roles you’ve had, looking after your siblings (live-in nanny) or anything else that showcases your qualities and capabilities.
Company Research. Always do your homework and research material about the company (if you know the name of the company). Understanding as much as possible about the products and services of the company and the values important to it will help you to prepare a more relevant and focused CV, and if you get a job interview, will be essential background information.
Be Confident. Once you’ve passed the “CV” stage, it’s very likely the first contact will be a phone call from the company. It’s important that you always feel confident about yourself. One of my tips for if I get called by surprise and I’m feeling a bit panicked is to buy myself enough time to compose myself. What I normally do is excuse myself for a couple of minutes by pretending I was in the middle of something.
I’ll use the time to grab a pen and notebook, jump up and down a couple of times to get my blood flowing and keep warm and then grab a glass of water in case it’s a long phone interview. If I’m near a mirror I’ll face it and make sure I’m always smiling (as this conveys a better impression to the person on the other end of the phone). Then it’s a matter of being yourself and enjoy the experience. You’ll only get better.
Great Attitude. If you don’t get the job, don’t sulk! It’s not the end of the world and it’s not going to change the outcome. Move on, realise it’s not meant to be and hopefully another job opportunity will come soon.
Its’ all about the Numbers. The more jobs you apply for, the more chances you’ll have of getting a job – it’s a statistical fact. Don’t apply for just one or two and think that you’ll get offered a job the next day – well, unless of course you’ve mastered the process like I have. But while you’re mastering it — keep applying!
Job Interview. When you’re called to a job interview there are a couple of things you need to prepare before you go. As I mentioned earlier, do your research so that you can answer questions with a reasonable understanding of what the company does. Practice wearing your attire and make sure it’s appropriate for the job you’re applying for. For instance if you are applying for a receptionist role or a frontline staff role – wear your best outfit and shoes, and ladies wear make-up and tidy your hair. But if you’re just going to be working in an office environment, any smart casual attire is recommended.
Make sure you are comfortable and warm. I always put on loud fast music that I enjoy on the way to the job interview. And when I’m at the site I rub my hands so my blood is flowing. Sometimes a couple of jumps works for me too which I can do in the powder room. The last thing you want to feel is being cold and shaky because you’re so nervous. I find the music and exercise lift my spirits and makes me feel much more confident.
Be yourself. Being yourself is easy because you don’t have to pretend to be someone else. Listen carefully to all questions and answer and clearly and confidently. If you are not sure, tell them something like “I haven’t heard of that, but I can find out later” — or “if you show it to me I’m confident I can learn it quickly”. Most employers hire people for more than their latent talent – they’re also gauging if you’re capable of doing a given task, are trainable and willing to learn.
Have Fun. Again, it’s all about ‘attitude’ and it is very important that you have fun while finding the right job. There’s always something to learn if you don’t get offered the job and with more experience you’ll get better. Always charge it to experience!
