Posts Tagged ‘seeker’

Alternative Job Seeking Methods

November 15th, 2011

Unemployment is at a record level in most countries with many people out of work and looking for a new career. If you want to find work, you need to show some initiative and think outside the box to find companies who are looking to hire additional staff. Newspapers are a great source for good jobs and it’s always worth applying to them, but also worth considering some alternative options that attract fewer applicants and will increase your chances of getting an interview. This article will look at a few alternative ways to find job vacancies.

The internet is still an invaluable tool for any job hunter. Sites like Monster and Craigslist are great places to begin your search. An alternative method is to actually use Google search itself to find work in your area. Type into Google the job you want with the location. This method can be useful to help you find work on websites that you may not of otherwise stumbled across. Google will also search companies that only advertise job vacancies on their own website. Try varying the search terms to see what difference it makes.

Another good tip for any job seeker is to look in the business section of your local newspapers. You are looking for any local firms that have won new contracts or lucrative deals that could mean they need additional staff. Phone up their HR department and mention you’ve seen they are doing well and you wanted to know about any new recruitment drive. Sell yourself; explain why you would be useful to help with their expansion. The aim is to show you have initiative and you can present yourself well – this will be viewed favourably by any potential employer.

Before you send your CV out to any potential employers why not visit your local job centre to see if they have a careers councillor available for you to talk to. They can give you honest advice and tips on how to best present your CV and often it’s free. Your CV has to make an instant good impression as most recruiters will receive a large number of resumes and decisions are often made in the first thirty seconds.

Before you attend any interview, research the company well. Make sure you understand their industry and the problems they face. You want to appear as a well rounded individual who takes an interest in your work.

Posted in Career Search

How to Prepare for a Job Interview

October 19th, 2011

With the economy the way it is today many people who have been in the same job for years or even decades may have lost that job recently. Those who have been suddenly dropped back to the rank of job seeker can be traumatized and confused. But have heart because there are some specific things that you can do to position yourself above the competition for a job interview if you’re new to the job search ranks.

First, create a professional and up to date resume. Competition for jobs is fierce in almost every field and many people vying for the job you want have college degrees. If you have a college degree already, make sure that you emphasize that on your resume. If you do not have a college degree, it doesn’t mean you are out of the game, but you will need to present yourself as the better candidate. For those lacking a college degree, your resume should prominently display and highlight your work experience. Get your resume together and seek help if you need it to make sure that all of your transferable skills and experience are listed. Make sure the resume is completely error free and includes your accurate contact information.

The second thing you need to do is to research the company where you want to be working. Sometimes by the end of the interview day, candidates for a position can start to run together. Stand out in the minds of your interviewers by doing your homework about the company. Get online, research the company and take a look at their annual report to see whether things are going well for the company right now or not. Take note of any special projects that the company has been involved in during recent months and if there have been any leadership changes or anything else worthy of attention. Armed with this knowledge during the interview, you will avoid asking trivial questions and you put yourself one step ahead of the competition by showing you did your research.

The final thing you need to do to prepare for your interview is to make sure that your appearance is top-notch. The importance of first impressions should not be disregarded. The interview is your first and sometimes final opportunity to make a great impression. Know the dress code for the company and plan to dress at least two levels higher than the daily company attire. If you’ve been meaning to get a haircut, do it at least one week prior to the interview and not the day before or the day of the interview. One thing that is sometimes overlooked when preparing for a job interview is oral hygiene. Make sure that your teeth are clean and bright and your breath is fresh. Instead of spending a lot of money for the dentist, search out a good method for teeth whitening at home but be sure to complete the process a couple of weeks before the interview. Making a decision about teeth whitening at home can be an overwhelming process so take the time to research the different products available as well as the many home remedies.

Posted in Career Interview