To get hired in today’s job market, you need to meet all the criteria listed for the position. Your skills and experiences must corroborate this.
Put simply: to be hired, you need to stand out as the best candidate for the job.
· Research:
Looking for a full-time job after college involves developing a search strategy. Actually, information plays a key to open you a door of success. Gathering information on types of jobs, job openings, and prospective employers not only provides vital information for tracking down a good job, but helps you in shaping your resume and preparing for the job interview. Use online career research tools to find accurate, up-to-date information on potential employers.
· Get connected:
Developing a strong network is a key strategy for securing a job. There are many ways of expanding who you know; using any of these increases your chances of getting hired:
· Private networking
· Professional networking
· Career events
· Socializing
· Online networking
Getting exposed is the best idea to build good relationships with the people whom you’d like to work with. Sharing your admiration for their work and asking for their advice can help you to plan further on the way to your goal. Meet with the professionals for a counselling over good job opportunities.
· Social media:
Social media is widely used for job searching, advertising jobs, giving and receiving industry-specific advice, etc. It is also used by employers to vet a potential employee. Promoting your online presence adds to your brand. Your social media presence is a critical part of securing a job. Think before you post text, images or videos. Always consider what you are saying and how it could be perceived. The language you use says much about your attention to detail, grammar, communication skills, etc. Use career platforms like LinkedIn to showcase your skills and knowledge.
Consider the screen names you use and your email address. Keep everything professional and straightforward.
· Enhance your skills:
Soft skills are a combination of interpersonal people skills; social skills and communication skills that may help you stand out from the rest. Qualities like friendliness, professionalism, responsiveness, can’t really be taught but can be practiced throughout the life. Strong soft skills can help you go a long way and Emerge out as a strong leader. Another distinct advantage of having strong soft skills is that you become an Effective Communicator.
· Know about the company
Research the company before your interview: it is a critical part of your preparation. You should also thoroughly understand the job role itself. Visit the organization’s website to understand who they are and what they do. Failing to understand the organization or job role is cited as one of the biggest reasons why employers reject candidates.
· Resume preparation for an interview:
A resume being a summary of your background, skills and qualifications, works as the most critical tool for a job-search. It is used to make a favorable impression on a prospective employer. So always keep your resume up to date that well reflects your key accomplishments, education, skills and experience. Once you have a top-notch resume, the next step is tailoring it to each job, each employer using keywords and phrases specific to the opportunity you seek.
Many job-seekers think that the more CVs you send out, the better your chance of getting hired. But if you’re sending the exact same CV to multiple jobs, that reduces the quality of each application and may not get you an interview. No two positions are the same, so your CV, cover letter and your interview answers should be tailored. You can use master copies and then edit each as required.
· Preparing for interview:
Though your resume and job application give the interviewer an overview of your background and skills, the interview gives you an ultimate chance to make a favorable impression. So you need to be well prepared for succeeding this face to face session with the recruiter. Many structured interviews, start with a question like “Tell me about yourself.” Asking this question the interviewer is not intended to know about your school grade or growing up rather he is interested to hear about your background, your accomplishments, work experience and your future goals. Some of the key points to prepare for an interview are:
• Dress yourself in formals.
• Bring extra copies of resume.
• Use Confident Posture.
• Maintain Eye Contact.
· Ask relevant questions:
Asking questions at the end of the interview shows your enthusiasm, job interest and whether you paid attention. Prepare ahead of time and tailor your questions to the job.
Don’t ask about the salary and benefits, or about getting time off. Ask questions that show who you are as a colleague and team player, or how passionate you are about succeeding at the job. Increase your rapport with the interviewer and ask about their experiences.
· Reference:
The two or three references you provide matter; a prospective employer might contact each one. If they are uncertain which candidate should get the job, a useful reference may be the tipping point in your favor. Your referee’s opinions are the final steps of the recruitment process and are often a determining factor for your success.
