Finding a job in today’s market can be difficult, but there are some things you can do to help you get what you want. Having a resume and sending it out through online job postings isn’t enough. Everyone is doing that. You need to stand out and be noticed. Try some of these ideas.
The biggest and best thing you can do to help yourself is this: make it easy for job offers to find you. Social networking is big. We all know it. We all use it. The trick though is to use it effectively. LinkedIn can most definitely help you with this, as can Facebook, T and Google+. Keep in mind though that many hiring managers look to these places to help them weed out their applicant pool. If you are going to use these social networks to help yourself, it’s important to keep it professional. Go through your pictures and posts and make sure you would make a good impression. Even if you aren’t going to be looking through these avenues, you still need to make sure you are not undermining yourself with the types of things you put up for the world to see.
Your resume should be updated and ready, even if they aren’t asking for one. Your cover letter should be specific about why you are a good fit for the job you are applying for. There is a difference between the cover letter and the resume. Your resume is what you are qualified to do and where you have done it. It shows you are qualified for the position you applied for. Your cover letter should be why you are a good fit for the position. Talk about yourself a bit here. Don’t make an essay out of it, but let your personality come through. You will be in a better position to get the interview if you do.
As a hiring manager, I had questions that we asked all candidates. You should do a search on common interview questions and be prepared to answer them. You don’t want to have a canned or expected answer to questions. The research you do here could mean the difference between getting that job and not. I’m certain you have heard them before, and perhaps you didn’t realize how important they are to you.
What are you looking for in a job?
Why did you apply here?
Where do you see yourself in X amount of years?
The interviewer wants to hear your answers. They set up the interview, and they are looking forward to hiring someone for the position you applied for. Why not let it be you? Those three questions above look simple but really aren’t. One of the better answers I have gotten to the first question was “Home, I want to feel at home and have a sense of camaraderie with my peers.” That’s a good answer. I feel the same way when I look for a job, and because of that, I understood their motivation. It may not be the answer for you, and that’s my point. Take some time and think about what it is you are looking for in a job. The second question is really just asking for more information. “I applied here because…,” and then tell them why you picked them. They want to know why you think you are a good fit for “their” company before they invite you in, and it becomes “your” company. The last question is also related to the others. What they are really asking is: “will you be here in one year?” They want to know you are serious about your application. Have answers to the questions you might be asked, do your research.
Part of every interview I have been involved in I always asked? “Do you have any questions for me?” More than 90 percent of the time they didn’t. This is a chance for you to shine. You should know about the company you are applying for. If you ask open-ended questions that are smart, your interview will turn into more of a conversation about the job that you will soon have. I remember one interview where the prospect asked me what our mission statement meant to me personally. He was one of the few candidates who ever made it seem like he was interviewing my company rather than us interviewing him. That’s the type of thing that will make you stand out.
Following up with the people who interviewed you is important. Sending a brief note of thanks helps keep you in the front of that hiring manager’s mind. Let that person know you are serious, mention something you discussed and thank them. I hope this has helped you. Happy hunting!