That dream job can become a reality. It is not that hard to acquire if you have a target and a way to get there. Similar to dating, some excel at it whilst most find it challenging.
1.Know what you want
The similarities are not limited there; you have to know what you are interested in, research and go for it. If you do not have a particular role you are interested in or no idea whatsoever, it is best to start by creating a list of your passions and your skills. According to Donald Trump, “without passion you don’t have energy, without energy you have nothing”. If you are not sure where your strengths lie there are a few online tests to evaluate what they are. A good test to do is the Myers Briggs test, http://www.humanmetrics.com. It takes about 30 minutes to complete, a looks at your strengths and then matches them to possible career choices. If you are someone who prefers to read then books such as Now Discover Your Strengths add clarity to your list. Other ways to find out your strengths or skills is to ask those who are close to you such as your partner, family, friends, colleagues, and sports team mates - preferably people who can be brutally honest. Another list which is worth creating but is not necessary is of the people who you admire in what they do. If they have a job that you have an interest in, research them or email them and ask how they got to where they are today. Many will be flattered.
2.More research
Clarity in what you want makes the second step a lot easier. The best part of finding the job you want with today’s technology is that you can be both active and passive about it.
Online job boards and recruiters are examples where once you register as a user you can be passive about using them. You can create many alerts and when appropriate jobs are listed with the site you can get them in your inbox – rather than having to search the site numerous times a day.
“Looking for jobs online has moved away from simply looking for a job ad and responding to it” says Andrew Mcleod, CEO of JOBX New Zealand, a new online career network and job website. “The nature of internet has changed to being a place of more interaction especially with multimedia tools and it is the same for job hunting online”.
With a recruiter it is a matter of going in for an interview, providing them with as much information about yourself and the work which interests you and wait to hear from them. It is usually recommended that you register with several recruiters to increase your chances.
Then there is the newspaper, which is a little old school, and takes a bit of effort but there are employers who still advertise here so at least once a week scanning the newspapers maybe worthwhile.
However, if you really want to stand out from the crowd you could make yourself known to companies for which you would like to work for – Google them, look at their website, meet their employees at various industry events, or find them online and network. This way you are one of the first candidates a company would think of when a position opens up.
The more people who know about what you are after the better. The old adage of the world being a small one is probably true as you cannot predict who knows who and, the six degrees of separation is often plausible.
3.Presenting yourself well in your resume
One key step that many people forget to do is to tailor their resume to suit the job they are applying for. The purpose of this is to highlight your strengths, experience and skills, and how they match up with the job that you are after. It is imperative to be brief in your resume as no one wants to read the next instalment of War and Peace. The text itself is important in it conciseness but also the layout of the resume as a whole is important, the information which you want to highlight the most being at the very start of the document. This document should be lean and streamlined so that there is no information like how Facebook is a skill or hobby of yours.
4.Tidy up your online reputation
Once you have your resume all ready to go, a necessary step which is increasingly important with the internet is Googling yourself. Some do it for vanity, but in this case it is to be prepared. Employers may Google candidates to see what kind of information is out there, and anything they have left off their resume. It may not be done often but it is worth the extra effort to ensure success in the search for your dream job. Paul Jacobs from the Wellington-based recruitment strategy firm Engage highlights that a battery of sophisticated tools are becoming available that allow recruiters to run deep searches across social networking platforms (including YouTube) using a candidate’s name and/or email address. Jacobs suggests that as a pre-emptive strike ensure that anything unsavoury about you online is removed or amended or, be prepared to answer any questions to do with it that the employer may bring up. While you are online, another step to take is to ensure that your social network memberships are private or that people who are not directly connection to you have limited access. The reason being is that employers may have access to this also and have a look to get a better understanding of what kind of person you are.
5.Preparation for an interview
If you have made it this far, firstly congratulate yourself. Getting an interview is no mean feat. There are a few things to note about mental and physical preparation for an interview. Let’s start with the presentation, the basics really – it is better to be over dressed than under dressed. If in doubt wear a suit and nicely polished shoes. However if it is a technology or more creative company the work place dress code will more likely be smart casual. When you dress the part you feel the part and this may add to the necessary confidence boost you need in your interview. Make sure that you are clean shaven, showered with no body odour, bad breath or smell of tobacco. Mcleod points out that this kind of preparation seems elementary but is often overlooked and can mar the good connection in an interview. There is a saying that you never get a second chance to make a first impression.
Again, research the company to get an idea of their beliefs and any key words or phrases used often by the company, and research the interviewers if you know in advance who they are going to be. With your company research, write down or simply think of your experience which could aid the company’s goals. With your interviewer’s research ensure that you are able to highlight any commonalities you have with them. However, honesty is really important. Also review your resume and cover letter to be able to reinforce in person any strengths or qualities you have highlighted on paper. Good practice for all interviews is stock answers for generic and yet common questions such as “what are your strengths”, “what are your weaknesses” and “do you have any questions for us”. Also, check the venue for the interview and be sure to know how to get there in advance.
6.How to conduct yourself during an interview
With your planned travel route to the interview venue, leave early allowing for traffic problems or any other delays. If you arrive early or on time it demonstrates that as an employee you would be organised and punctual.
When meeting your interviewer for the first time make sure you shake their hand - be firm and confident. Have the correct posture and smile. If you are feeling uncomfortable and nervous, this can give the interviewer the wrong impression. So remember to breathe deeply to relax and be positive, courteous and friendly. More often than not a light sense of humour helps and small talk can go a long way.
It is important also to show passion for the company and enthusiasm for the job. As an interviewer key attributes looked for in candidates include seeing how much a candidate wants a job.
Jacobs highlights that some interviewees are uncomfortable talking about their past achievements and successes. He recommends that though one shouldn’t come across as boasting, it is important to mention specific situations where you have made a positive difference. This could be at work, on the sports field as a captain or coach, and in a team at school, university, or a club. For example, the interviewer may ask about your ability to work within a team. In this specific example you should mention a real situation where you were part of a team (maybe one that was struggling initially), and what your role was, or where you added value to the team, to achieve a positive result.
Jacobs also suggests asking the interviewer questions about the role and organisation. You may learn more about the role by asking what a typical day, week, or month may look. Or you may want to ask about the career prospects and development opportunities if you are hired. It is of course important to find out if the role is really a right fit for you. The interviewer will also enjoy talking through their perceptions and you will come across as intently interested.
7.Follow up email or hand written note after the interview
Few people do it, but a follow up email or hand written note can be a very effective way to make yourself distinguishable. An example was a woman who struggled to answer a question in an interview but redeemed herself by broaching the question again in a follow up note.
8.Handling rejection if you do not get the job
If you are not successful in your endeavours this time around it is still a good idea to maintain a good rapport with the interviewer and company. Few candidates actually contact the interviewer and ask in what areas they were lacking or how they could improve themselves. This is also a chance for you to remind them that if any future opportunities arise or they know of a position at another company that they should be in touch.
9.Resigning from your current job (if you have one)
The best thing to do when resigning from your job is to speak to your superior directly before you tell your colleagues. The worst thing you can do is tell your colleagues first and let the news filter through to the boss.
Pick the best time to speak to your boss. Work out a sound explanation for your departure and be brief.
Stay positive, mention the opportunities you were given and review the good experiences you have had with the company.
Prepare for unexpected reactions from your boss. It is important to remain cool and communicate in an even toned manner.
Avoid getting into any personal details about anybody in the organisation, to reiterate it is a small world and you may be relying on your boss or former colleagues to give you a good reference.
End on an optimistic note, perhaps wishing them well for the future or reminding them of your willingness to ensure a smooth transition. This way you make your last impression a good one. Always confirm your verbal resignation in writing.
10. Starting at your new job – etiquette and how to behave
Congratulations on securing your new position! Since you have successfully wowed your interviewer make sure you get on brilliantly with your colleagues also. Make sure you are not too weird at work like Dwight Schrute from the Office. People who behave too far from the norm tend to be given tasks to complete as opposed to be involved in larger team or department projects.
To find out more about JOBX.CO.NZ visit:
http://www.jobx.co.nz/26/519/the-jobx-story
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http://www.jobx.co.nz/34/31/for-members
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http://www.jobx.co.nz/35/31/for-job-advertisers
To register as a job seeker with us visit:
http://www.jobx.co.nz/MemberAccount.aspx
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http://www.jobx.co.nz/advertiser/register.aspx
To talk to us email:
sales@jobx.co.nz
In the midst of diesel fumed clouds and decked out in the finest camouflage one pieces, was the JOBX crew! We came -We saw- We crushed stuff!
