Finding a job

Whether you’re just entering the job hunt, or a seasoned professional, it pays to plan.

Have a strategy – you simply can’t fly blind when it comes to your career. Decide the job you want by researching industries, trades and professions that best suit your interests, talents and personality.

Look good on paper (or online)

It’s the person (ie the recruiter or hiring manager) who gets you the job, but it’s your application that gets you the interview. Prepare a professional looking resume and cover letter that can be emailed or printed then faxed or mailed.

Practice makes perfect

Great actors don’t appear nervous on stage or film because they rehearse. Practice for the interview with a friend or family member to help you get comfortable answering questions about yourself. Don’t memorise answers as it can sound pre-planned in the interview.

Build up your professional network

Collect business cards as you meet people and thank each person you meet individually or even send thank you letters. Remember to proof read each and every communication you send, as typos even at this stage can cost you a job.

Why hire me?

Recruiters and hiring managers get hundreds of e-mails from job seekers every day. When you’re looking for a job, no matter what form of communication you use, you only have 30 to 60 seconds to really grab someone’s attention. You need to get to the point: why should they hire you?

Old ‘new’ fashioned approach

So much time is spent sending countless resumes via email. The old-fashioned personal call is the new way to go these days. Be sure to follow up each resume you have sent with a phone call to the hiring contact.

Be confident

You need to feel confident that what you have to offer someone is important. Attitude is the key: everything you say, and how you say it, should convey self-confidence. Make a list of things you’ve done that set you apart from others and then be prepared to talk about them.

Be persistent

Are you going to sit around and wait for a company to call you back? Never give up too soon. The best time to call a potential contact is before 9 am and after 5 pm – when assistants have gone home and hiring managers answer their own phones.