by M Taylor
If you are on the lookout for a new job, are anew graduate just entering the job market for the first time or are out of work and hoping to improve your situation, the tips in this article can help you to get that job you really want.
Check your resume for mistakes
Before you hand in a resume to a prospective employer, check it carefully at least three times to look for grammar and spelling errors as well as typos. Make sure that you have tailored your resume to meet the needs of the position you are trying to get. If you are going for an accounting position, be sure to emphasize your accounting experience in previous positions. Your resume should be no longer than one and a half pages, preferably one page.
Tackling the interview challenge
A study by a California staffing and consulting firm found that 1,400 CFOs were for the most part in agreement about the top mistakes made by interviewees. Among these were showing up late, knowing little about the company or the position for which they were applying and arrogance during the interview. In an interview, body language is very important - applicants must show confidence (but not be overbearing), maintain eye contact, have a firm handshake and avoid crossing the arms (which looks like a defensive posture). Clothes are also important; it is far better to be overdressed than underdressed for an interview.
Answer questions smartly
Being tense and forgetting the questions which have been asked is a common problem. To prepare, thoroughly research both the company and the position applied for. If you don’t know the answer to a question during the interview, admit that you do not; add that you can get back to the interviewer with an answer later. Remember to play up the strengths and skills that the company is looking for.
Getting the necessary referrals
Having a referral from a company employee is perhaps the best way to get an interview. Remember that companies get literally hundreds of resumes when they advertise a position; however, 35-60% of these positions are filled through referrals by employees. If you don’t have any contacts inside the company, ask around with the people you know to see if any of them know someone there. An employee referral can greatly improve your chances of being hired.
Online application
An increasing number of companies have begun to ask prospective employees to submit their applications or resumes via the web. This means that you must make a good first impression not in person but with an email. Your email is thus very important and should be treated with the seriousness you would apply to any piece of business writing. When applying online, remember the following:
Complete your sentences and do not abbreviate.
Employers will likely pass over resumes from those who send overly casual cover letters. Even though this is via email, keep things professional to create a good impression.
Get directly to the point
Be straightforward and get to the point. Don’t add literary flourishes to get the employer’s attention; instead just say exactly what you want.
Landing that dream job can be tough but don’t give up. It’s better to wait a while and get a job you really want rather than to grab the first job which comes along and end up unhappy. Make the right decision about your career - then act.