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Don’t Apply For That Job Just Yet

March 7th, 2017 Posted in Jobs and Careers
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Don't apply for that job just yet - job application image

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Hunting for a job is one of the testing and trying times of any person’s professional career. It takes persistence, concentration, and steadfast optimism, and that is because you are going to trawl through pages and pages on job sites and receive rejection and rejection. It takes serious courage and determination to keep your chin up.

But eventually you’ll find a job pop-up, and you’ll wonder how you didn’t find it before now. It is a company you’d absolutely love to work for. You seem to tick all the requirements they are looking for in a candidate. It is within the right salary range. Everything seems to be a great fit and you suddenly feel the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.

However, before you jump the gun and send an application off without being ready, here are a few things you need to do first:

Don't apply for that job just yet - interview image

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Improve Your Online Profile

It is common knowledge that, when you apply for a job, the first thing the hiring manager and HR department is going to Google your name. They are going to look at your LinkedIn page, your Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and why wouldn’t they? You would do the same thing. This isn’t to assess whether you drink occasionally, it is more to see if there is anything they should be wary of. It means looking at how up to date your profiles are and about how seriously you’ll take the role. It is about whether your personality will be a good fit.

Do Your Own Googling

Do not apply for a job without swatting up on everything there is to know about the company you are applying to. You’ve spend ages searching for a job, so you may as well spend ages making sure you know all you can about the job. It may be that you don’t need to exercise your newly gathered knowledge. However, it might be that you do, and you don’t want to seem unprepared. Pay special attention to the company’s career page so that you can see what they are looking for and what their ethos is. Look at their blog. Read any news articles you can find. Look at who is on the board. Check out the company’s journey. The more you can arm yourself with – the more you seem like you care – the better your chances of succeeding.

Do A Background Check On You

Any respectable and thorough employer will do a background check on you, so make sure there is nothing out there that could come back and sting you unexpectedly. A DBS check would be required which ensures unsuitable people are not employed, CRB direct make this process a lot smoother. If there is any niggling feeling at the back of your skull or a quiet whisper in your head that keeps asking do I really have a warrant out on me, then make sure you get it checked out so that you know for sure. You don’t want to find out during the interview process that there is a problem with your history, especially one you can’t explain.

Bespoke Your Application

A generic application is so obvious to anyone that has looked at more than 5 CVs. So make sure you tailor your entire application to the job role at hand. You don’t want to find your dream job, but miss out because of laziness. Yes, it is hard work tailoring each and every cover letter, and each and every CV, but it will be worth it in the end.

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7 Tips for Job Searching

September 20th, 2011 Posted in Uncategorized
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If you are hunting for a new job at the moment you may be forgiven for feeling a little downhearted at the process. With many more applicants than vacancies it can be a tough and challenging process. Here are a few tips to help you in your job search.

Job search tip 1. Look at the upside – a new job can be the gateway into a whole new life. You may be changing location, improving your income and making a whole new bunch of friends. It may be the catalyst to exercise more, change your lifestyle and renew your outlook on life. So don’t think of applications as a chore, instead see them as a ticket to something new and exciting, with much better odds of success than any lottery.

Job search tip 2. Don’t take it personally – if you are unsuccessful, recruiters are not rejecting you as an individual. Most likely they have never met you or never will. It’s more constructive to think that someone else was better suited and move on. It can be a numbers game, the more applications you make, the more likely you are to be successful.

Job search tip 3. Treat each application as brand new. The recruiter doesn’t need to know that this is the thirty fifth application you have made this month. Approach each one as a new opportunity with enthusiasm and positive energy. Someone will be successful and it’s most likely that they will be enthusiastic as well as qualified for the position.

Job search tip 4. Get in state. Are you trying to write at the kitchen table surrounded by noise and distractions? Find a place where you won’t be disturbed, and perhaps play some quite background music. Then get excited about the opportunity, imagine yourself in the role and say to yourself or out loud – I can do this, I can get this job! Then complete your application in one sitting if you can. Leave it a while then return to edit and polish it up.

Job search tip 5. Give yourself the best chance. I recently heard of a part time book keeper’s job which attracted over 2000 applicants. The employer was a small firm and did not have the manpower to deal with that level of applicants. The first cut was made with anyone who made a spelling or basic grammar error. These may have been typos or mistakes resulting from a lack of care yet disqualified over 50% of applicants at the first stage. Make sure you give yourself the best chance by checking and double checking your application for errors.

Job search tip 6. Don’t sell yourself short. Typically the better paid the job, the fewer the applicants. People discount themselves by sticking to what they think they are worth or just below. As time passes there is a tendency to apply for less well-paid jobs until you are competing at minimum wage. Then ironically, you may be unsuccessful for being over qualified.

Job search tip 7. Never give up, never give up. At times finding a new job can seem like a long and hopeless task. Don’t fall into this trap, instead stay positive and optimistic. There are new ways of using your social media networks as well as other groups to tap into opportunities. Have you put the word out that you are available for something new? Each day brings a fresh start and with optimism and perseverance good times are just around the corner.

Good luck and please share your successes with others in our community by leaving a comment below:

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