Looking for a job is ranked as one of the most stressful events in anyone’s life. But it doesn’t have to be. There’s a science to getting a job. You have to be thoughtful, disciplined and confident. Not sure what I mean? Read my tips below for helping you land your next gig.
There’s nothing worse than going to an interview unprepared. If you’ve gotten to the interview stage, you’ve surpassed other applicants. By not researching the company before your interview, you’re guaranteeing failure.
Take a look at their website, read what’s written about them in the media and look at their social media accounts. You’ll get a sense of their voice, company culture and how they operate. Make sure to read the job description carefully and find out what you would handle.
Most hiring managers ask you if you have any questions about the company. Prepare a list of questions beforehand. You can ask about how people work together, if you can suggest new projects and what he or she enjoys about working there. Make sure you make it clear that you want that job, not just any job.
It’s easy to get lazy when you’re applying to jobs. I used to send out the same cover letter to every place I applied to, no matter the position. I would focus on applying to a certain number of jobs per day. I wanted to hit send and go on to the next, without thinking about the company or the position.
The summer after graduation I applied for almost 200 jobs and only got three interviews. It’s not that I was unqualified for most of those positions. But when you focus on finishing the application instead of turning in your best effort, people can tell.
Be picky. Choose jobs you want. Put your best effort on applying for those. Your passion will shine through and will make it more likely you’ll get the gig.
Don’t be a recluse when you’re looking for new work. Ask people to proofread your resume, send you tips about new jobs and introduce you to people they know. Most people need connections and help to get a job, and they’re happy to pay it forward if you ask.
Always offer to buy coffee or lunch or send a gift card and thank-you note afterward. Be grateful so that they’ll be inclined to help the next person who asks. And when someone asks you for help finding, put as much effort in as you’d want someone to do for you.
The last job I applied for, I sent the CEO a handwritten thank-you note the same day of my interview. He told me a few years later that getting that note made the difference between me getting the job and someone else getting it.
It’s important to be extra diligent about thanking everyone who helps you throughout your job search. Emails are fine, but a personal card shows much more effort. It demonstrates that you appreciate someone else’s time and energy.
Keep it brief, make sure to thank them and reaffirm your interest in the position. If you interviewed with more than one person, sending multiple cards is a good way to show you care about impressing more than the CEO.
When I applied for the job I have now (I’m an assistant at a hedge fund) they mentioned that one of my responsibilities would be getting the office snacks every Monday including fruit and that they were really missing the fresh fruit since it had been some time since their last assistant left. So I sent them a fruit basket when I got home along with a handwritten note. 3 years later and they still mention that fruit basket.
That was such a good (and thoughtful) idea!
Before the internet, preparing for interviews was, well, different. These days, your suggestion to check out the company website is well known. Less known is the idea to prepare a list of questions, based on what you saw on the company website. I never did that, but can think of a few times when it would have helped “warm up” the conversation and perhaps ultimately win the job.
For the past few years I have run a blog for job-seekers and people who believe in career governance. This month, for the first time, I’m producing a newsletter, “The Work Life Journal”. As a first edition, it has my own blog posts… but the intent is to have no more than one of my own.
That leaves me looking for quality, relevant content… posts which would be valuable to those job-seekers and career developers. One of the six sections is “Job-Seeking”, and this post on Job Hunting Tips would work well, with your permission.
If you have any interest in that, you can download the September edition (all my posts) from the Newsletter menu at WageScope. I would be pleased to include your photo, profile, and links to the URL of your choice. You can reach me via the email just provided, or through the contact widget (on WageScope’s home page).
Anyway, thanks for considering this, and thank you for sharing the job-hunting tips!
Thanks for the comment, George. Feel free to link back to the post in your newsletter!
Thanks for Sharing such a valuable insight and I think it will definitely help me cracking most interviews. Keep bringing more!!