Start your job search and prepare yourself for a job interview on the right foot. Of course, job hunting is never fun, but a well-prepared job seeker tends to find the process less stressful.
Job hunting isn't a science and there are many factors involved, but when conducting a job hunt in today's market there are a number of tips for getting your first job. Here's what you need to know.
1. Use Your Network
You would be struggling right now to complete a job search without hearing about networking and how important it is, and that's especially true in the current market.
A referral is more likely to get the job just because HR is busy, so why not hire someone who already has an advocate at the company? Don't just focus on the old ways of finding a job - get out there, meet people and see every interaction as a potential opportunity!
2. Clean Up Your Social Media Presence
Companies often search Google for a candidate before hiring them, and social media can be an instant red flag. Before you start looking for a job, clean up your social media and prepare yourself for a job interview in a company.
Many people are defensive about this advice, as they feel it's Orwellian to have one's actions monitored even on social media, but the truth is that once it's out there, it's difficult to remove. Check your privacy settings and if in doubt, maybe leave them off the web.
3. You Need a Strong Resume
Since the vast majority of positions that make it to job boards use online applications, the look of your resume is far less important than the content. It certainly should still be attractive and easy to read, but the color and artistic flair will only confuse computer screens.
In fact, some of the ATS programs don't read serif fonts at all, so your amazing career story won't even reach a person just because your font isn't recognized by the computer or a person. Keep your resume simple! Content is crucial in the digital age, not the visual frills.
4. Remember The ATS
Another element that includes in the tips for getting your first job affects how likely your resume is to bypass applicant tracking software is the use of keywords. If advice columns ask you to use keywords or read the post, they mean business! If the ad says you need x,y,z experience, make sure x,y,z is on your resume if you have that experience! It might be more work, yes, but sending a resume that gets rejected isn't an effective use of your time either.
5. Focus On Your Accomplishments
Another resume tip to prepare yourself for a job interview: If you're applying for a nursing or sales manager position, we all have a basic understanding of your job description.
Submitting a resume with a general list of nursing or sales responsibilities will not make you stand out. Why are you the perfect nurse? What sets you apart from the other 200 sales leaders applying for the job? The answer is simple: success.
Have you created a new training module for new caregivers on HIPAA compliance? Was your sales team the first to enter this challenging market? These are the main points to focus on in your resume. While the details of the job description can hit the keywords, they shouldn't be the meat of your resume.
6. Get a Feel For the Company During the Interview
Team interviews are more common because it's not just about the job. It's also not about how you do with a person, but how you fit into the team. Work is collaborative, why shouldn't interviews be? This might take some getting used to, but think about it, no matter how much you want or need this job, if you don't feel comfortable with the interview team, do you really want to work there long-term?
7. Be Patient After the Interview
The interview process will also take longer than it used to. If you go into the interview thinking that's it, you might be surprised when they tell you that the next step is another interview - and then there are three or four more steps. In fact, companies now often let candidates and finalists come for probationary periods. Sometimes it's an hour and sometimes it's a full day of shading. It may feel time consuming, but in the end the goal is that you have something to do for a while and the company has found someone who wants to stay.
8. Keep an Open Mind
Maybe you like selling but have always wanted advice. With the market as it is, you can work harder, but you will also be open to new things. And new things bring new skills and connections. The lower salary is an adjustment, but fewer hours mean volunteering or pursuing your entrepreneurial idea. In the end, that can be a blessing.
9. Keep an Eye on Everything
Another difficult reality is that this means it's even more competitive. It's not uncommon for you to show up for an interview and meet up with other candidates for the same job.
You might think you're one of five people called for an interview, only to find that you're interviewing 100 out of 500 applicants. Keep an eye on everything, but if you don't get the job, chances are another job just opened up when the candidate you selected left that job.
10. It's Not Personal
The last thing that's helpful to know, and probably the most important thing, is that it's not personal. It's very hard not to get discouraged. You can conduct hundreds of interviews, send thousands of resumes and still be waiting for that call.
With every rejection, remember that it's just not the right thing to do. It's not you. It will feel like it's inevitable, but the job is out there. Somewhere, a hiring manager is looking for someone like you.
It's always a good idea to prepare yourself for a job interview, and this is especially true when planning your career. By taking smart tips for getting your first job, you'll invest in yourself (and your career) for years to come.
When it comes time to jump into a new career or job, IBM certification in Chandigarh always helps. After that you have flexible application possibilities in different technologies. With a handful of skills it's easier to get a job.
