As the economy stagnates and companies increasingly struggle, it is becoming harder and harder for the average South African to find work. In times like this its even more important for job seekers to maximise their every advantage to ensure they stand out of the crowd when it comes to finding jobs and securing that position. Here are six tips for helping you to do just that.
Do you know people who work somewhere you would like to secure a job? Don’t be afraid to approach them and find out how they got it. Opening yourself up and accepting that you need help is a great way to not only learn how it’s done, but potentially make a good connection too. Don’t be afraid to tell those people how much you admire them or their company, and make it clear you hope to work there one day. This is particularly valuable if you are able to speak to the HR people themselves who make the decision as to who to hire. In their minds, you will already be a step ahead of the competition.
What many people don’t know is that quite often online applications are first seen by AI algorithms that sift the applications based on most relevant. From there the next step can be to a junior HR staff member or a jobs agency that may not actually understand exactly what the job entails, and therefore struggles to sort the applications into relevant and irrelevant piles.
Your cover letter is a chance to assure those juniors that you are fit for the job. If the job calls for a writer, use the word writer in your cover letter, don’t assume that because you said “journalist” they will fill in the gaps. If you can echo the language in the job application you are significantly more likely to get your CV into the hands of the people who matter.
Your CV is not going to net you every job. Don’t be afraid to adjust it truthfully to emphasise the skills you have that may benefit the job you are applying for. Tweaking your CV will raise your chances of turning rejection into a first interview.
Other CV tips include keeping it very clear, and simple. Don’t over embellish your CV with unnecessary details. Get your friends to read through your CV to ensure it is clear and easy to read. They may also notice spelling or grammar errors that you have missed and be able to help you when it comes to deleting the unnecessary info.
Before you turn up for the interview do a little research into the company you are trying to find employment with. What kind of culture do they have and how are they dressed? Try to match what you wear with what someone who would be your boss would be wearing to ensure they can picture you as someone who could grow in the company. It’s always better to be overdressed than underdressed. Looking smart never cost someone a job, looking too casual definitely has.
When you get to the job interview you need to be yourself. Studying up on the company and potential interview questions will make you feel more comfortable, but delivering the same boring answers as the previous applicant won’t make you stand out of the crowd. Just relax, be honest, and don’t be afraid to make a joke, or show the interviewer you are human. They want real people they can relate to, who can do the job, not automatons who know how to answer pre-prepared statements.
Having people who are prepared to vouch for you, and put their thoughts into writing is a valuable asset. Don’t be afraid to ask people for whom you know you have done a good job to write you a reference that you can take forward into your new interviews. Just having one or two bosses who care about you that much, sends out a strong message to interviewers and hiring staff about your value to companies in the past.
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