Job Hunting Checklist: Are you prepared to get a job?
There is no denying that your job search can be hard work. It’s often just when you think you won’t find a new job that things start to pick up. So make sure you’re prepared to get the most out of every opportunity.
1) Identify your career goals
A good starting point is to identify your career goals - are you motivated by money, progression, culture or a particular industry? Rank them in order of priority to help you plan for your next role.
2) Let the jobs come to you
Make sure you don’t miss out on the latest jobs by setting up job alerts on Fish4jobs. Simply select the keywords, location and salary requirements and get the latest jobs direct to your inbox.
3)
Get your CVs
prepared
Savvy job seekers tailor their CV to each role or type of role/industry. So be one step ahead by producing industry/role specific CVs that you fine tune for each opportunity. Also have a ‘skills and example bank’ prepared so you can copy and paste according to the job specification.
4) Research your industry
Demonstrating you know what’s going on in a particular industry is great for interviews - ask questions about industry trends, how the company plans to respond and link your experiences to them. Keep up to date with industry news and bookmark articles so that you can find them in case of interviews.
5) Plan your wardrobe
It sounds so simple but you don’t want to waste vital preparation time choosing your outfit or going to the dry cleaners, so plan your outfit in advance.
6) Have lots of examples prepared
Recruiters always want concrete examples to demonstrate your skills and experiences. Have at least two prepared for each skill area in case there’s cross-over or they ask an unexpected question. Make sure you keep your answers focused on their question.
7) Practice your interview technique
Often opportunities need to be filled quickly so you might not get much time to prepare for interviews. Make sure your interview technique is well honed by asking friends to do mock interviews with you to identify areas to work on.
8) Imagine you’re selling a product
We often find it hard to sell ourselves, so imagine you’re selling a product or service and then apply the same rules to yourself.
9)
Constantly monitor
your online reputation
With 80% of employers checking people online before interview, make sure your online profile positions you as an ideal candidate. The online world moves very quickly, so set up a Google alert in your name and do regular searches on yourself.
10) And finally, remember to value yourself
When things start moving fast, people can feel flustered or under pressure. Allow yourself time to relax and try not to get too nervous before interviews – remember they want the right candidate as much as you want the right job.
To get practical tips and advice on every step of your job search, go to Fish4jobs.
