Job hunting is a daily
exercise. Whether you get a good job, you will be hunting for another bigger
job after a while. That is why I get shocked when people email us to
unsubscribe from getting the latest jobs on their emails. Like I said above,
job hunting does not stop because you got a job, it makes it easier. Now you
have resources and access to information (internet) and even interview
experience.
1. Tailor your resume to the position for which you are applying – include
specific elements of the job description in your resume (make it easy for them
to see that you are a good fit).
2. Do not rely on a cover letter to explain why
you are a fit. You may want to use it to explain reasons for relocation, but
your skills and experience need to be evident within your customized resume. If
anything, the cover letter may be used to weed you out.
3. Do not apply for more than one position within
one company: It
creates the perception that you are not sure which position is best for you. We
recommend applying to one but including a variety of skill sets on your resume
so that you indicate you are qualified for more than one position.
4. Keep everything positive in your resume and in your communication
with the company. Don’t dwell on bad experiences, frustrations, or ineffective
bosses. Talk about what you learned, why you are better for it and how you will
leverage those experiences to make your new company successful.
5. Honesty rules: Hiring managers and HR professionals will do informal
reference checks with people they know at other firms and you do not want them
to be surprised.
6. Answer salary questions definitively and
transparently: Do not try to circumvent these questions.
Tell them specifically what you were making and what you are looking to make.
7. Don’t be shy: let your
personality come through in your answers. During an interview, you might be
thrown some questions that are asked to assess how your brain works or to find
out more about your personality.
8. When accepting an offer, be enthusiastic: They want to hear the smile and excitement
in your voice. This will lay the foundation of a very positive transition into
your new company.
9. Don’t engage in a counteroffer negotiations: You risk alienating yourself from the new
hiring manager and your old company. Consider the offer and decide.
10. Being overqualified is a serious concern for companies, but the solution is not to
remove things from your resume as it may create the perception of dishonesty.
11. End interviews with assertiveness and
pro-activity: It is
very appropriate to end interviews by asking “When
would it be appropriate for me to follow-up?”
12. Be prepared for behavioral interview questions: Come to the interview prepared with several
anecdotes
about challenges you have faced before and how you dealt with them. Demonstrate
a positive and measurable result whenever possible.
13. Do your best to incorporate the firm’s core
values into your interview
responses.
14. Keep up your knowledge: Companies
understand that people may have been out of work for extended periods of time
in this economy. However, you must demonstrate your ability to stay current
(seminars, certifications, etc.) and to get up to speed quickly.
15. LinkedIn is a recognized tool, but they
disregard most of what they see, including recommendations. Be prepared to
provide a supplemental reference sheet during interviews.
16. Identify and ease their pain. Ask hiring
managers about “gaps in their department” to find out where their pain is and
suggest how you can help ease that pain. They need to be sure they are hiring
someone who can help with their issues. Ask good questions. Like, “What does
success look like 6 months into this position?” and “What obstacles might I run
into?”
17. Be careful with Facebook: they review these pages and screen people
out as a result!
If you look at all the above,
they seem like warnings but in real sense they are just ways in which you can
help yourself find the exercise of job hunting very easy. You do not want to
experience a hard time finding a job. Some of you might already be doing this
but if you are not, then have these like 17 commandments.
All the best.
