18 Feb
Job Seekers: Go for the Gold!
Posted in employment, job hunt, job search, tips & tricks on 18.02.10
How can you shine like an Olympian during your job search in 2010? Olympic athletes may have four years to prepare for the intense competitions they face during the Olympic Games, but you only need these four steps to go for the gold in your job search and beat out the competition!
© VANOC/COVAN
How can you prepare yourself to top the competition during your job search? In order to succeed, you need to create a strategy that works for you.
Do your research. Research encompasses all aspects of the job hunt. Know the industry you are trying to enter. Are companies in that industry hiring? Do you have experience and the skills necessary? If you don’t know much about the industry you are attempting to enter, now is the time to educate yourself as much as possible.
What jobs are you applying for? What do you know about the companies or organizations you want to join? Do you know what they’re looking for in a hire? How will you convince them you’re the best fit for the job you’ve applied for?
After you research the industry or company, don’t forget to research yourself, too! Here’s a question for you: have you ever Googled your name? If not, you may want to take a moment to type it into the search bar and see what comes up! Many hiring managers and recruiters do this, so you’ll want to make sure positive and professional content appears under your name before a hiring manager may find something you won’t want to be seen.
Expand your Job Search Resources. Job boards and networks can be extremely helpful with your job search. Many companies have their own job boards that are easy to search (for ex., we have a job board on our page). You can try contacting your alumni office or career resource center at your college/university and use industry associations and professional organizations which can all be great resources for your job search. You can also use your social networking pages like LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook to reach contacts and connections that can provide potential leads for your job search.
Use Your Cover Letter and Resume to Your Advantage. A well-written cover letter is extremely important to your job search. Use it to your advantage by writing to show the potential employer that your skills and experience match the position you desire. An effective, targeted, customized resume is equally important. Consider these documents as the tools in your “job search kit.” These will be essential to help the hiring manager assess your fit for the job and the culture of the company.
Make a good presentation during and after your interview. Once you’re on track and an interview is scheduled, make sure you are ready. Since your physical appearance is the first thing an employer sees, it really matters. Remember that your clothing, hair, makeup and jewelry make an immediate impression. For presentation tips, check out our previous blog post on how to present yourself at your interview.
Have other tips for a Gold Medal Job Hunt? Follow us on Twitter at @StormStaff and tell us what you think!
What advice do you have that can help job seekers out there? Send us your responses and we’ll post them!
