Looking for Jobs? Ready to Explore 5 Key Points to Get Noticed?
If you have decided to “move to pastures new”, you will probably start searching online right away (unless you know about a great recruitment agency just round the corner).
It seems that finding the right opportunities is not a problem. Most job platforms are full of postings. Getting any response from recruiters or companies might be another matter though.
When I started helping people to get ready for job interviews, I was shocked to hear that most companies do not bother to send their candidates a decent rejection letter. Many recruiters do not send anything at all when people apply for their jobs. Messages like “If you do not hear from us within two weeks, your application was not successful” are quite common. “Are you for real?!” you might ask. I guess it is understandable that candidates rarely receive personalised letters since the recruiters have, more often than not, hundreds of applications for one role but you may look at this process from another perspective - from your perspective. You may take it as an opportunity to learn a lot about your potential employer. The way they treat you as one of hundreds of candidates will demonstrate who they are. I believe that there is no excuse for not responding to every single candidate as it actually is very easy to send an automated response. That would be more respectful of your efforts of writing your application and sending it to them.
Enough talking about recruiters, let’s talk about you. Did you make sure that you stand out? “How?” you probably ask. These 5 points may point you in the right direction:
Make sure that you are applying for the right job. Of course, you can apply for any job (assuming here that you are qualified for it) but if you are not passionate about that particular role, it will show— in your application and definitely during the interview, should you get the opportunity to talk to someone. You would not believe how many people apply for jobs without thinking at all about what they actually would love to be doing.
Fine-tune your application and your CV. Research the job and the company. If you implement what you have learnt during your research and use the right “keywords”, you are multiplying your chances to be selected for the interviewing process. I cannot stress the importance of the keywords enough. Many recruiters use automated screening software and if you do not use the right keywords in your application it will probably be rejected although you may be the best candidate in the world.
Ask someone else to proof read your application. Most people overlook typos or other errors in their own text. Recruiters probably forgive you if you misspell a word or two but it may also be seen as lack of attention to detail on your side.
Go the extra mile by preparing a presentation or recording a short video showcasing why you are the perfect candidate. Be creative.
Do your homework. Don’t leave anything to chance. Before you talk to your potential employer or recruiter, do your research:
Learn everything about the job - what would you be doing; how do you meet the requirements; what examples can you give to demonstrate that you can do the job?
Learn about the company - what is their story, their culture; what do they talk about on their website and/or social media; what big projects are they working on?
Think about your presence - what to wear and what to bring with you? You may have a portfolio with you, extra copies of your CV and/or a presentation about your past achievements etc.
Get ready for negotiations - be clear about your expectations. What package do you expect; what are the salary ranges and benefits for similar jobs in similar companies; what company culture do you want to work in? Have your minimum expectations in mind and don’t sell yourself too cheap. It is usually much harder to receive a pay rise than negotiating the right package in the beginning.
Practise, practise, practise and have faith that you will get the job - think about the questions you will be asked about your experience, skills, achievements and your expectations and vision of the future. You may ask somebody to mock interview you and provide you with feedback or you may talk about yourself in front of the mirror. If you believe in yourself and act respectfully, your energy will be completely different than if you have doubts or are overconfident (that may be perceived as arrogance).
Last but not least - be prepared to walk away if you are not treated professionally.
Trust your intuition. You may really, really want the job but if it doesn’t feel right during the interviewing process, it probably is not the right opportunity for you. I am not talking about things like tea served in plastic cups. I am talking about the behaviour, presence and performance of the company’s representatives. After all, the powers are indeed equal: the company is selecting the right candidate for themselves and you are selecting the right company for you.
We all make our choices and as a great candidate, you will have lots of choices.
Good luck and if you need any help, you may check our online course “Interview Coming? Don’t Wait, Get Ready!” or ask me about our “Let Me Interview You” coaching.
