Looking for a job can be a frustrating experience. However, there are ways to make things run more smoothly and increase your chances of getting the job you really want. We asked you for your top tips, and here are some of the best
Even if you don’t get the job, an interview is always great experience, and the more you do, the more confident you’ll get and increase your chances of success. Fahad Hafeez Siddiqui from the United Arab Emirates says: ‘What I find useful is to try and get as many interviews as possible. This way, even if you are not successful in getting the job, you get to know about how to attend such interviews, the kind of questions asked, and the dos and don’ts. Every interview is great practice.’
‘The best way to find a job is to fill yourself with a positive attitude,’ says Prince Matambo, a student from Zambia. ‘I say to myself: “the job is mine and I am getting it.” Even if I am competing with 50 or 100 other applicants, at some stage I tell the interviewer that this is my job, and I am the best person they could employ. It works for me.’ Being as confident as possible and positive visualisation – imagining yourself in your new role – can be quite powerful in helping you achieve this.
Getting to know the market you want to be in is a great way of gaining an insight into how to gain the employment you’re after. Beth Lucas from the UK offers this advice: ‘I have been a secretary for 25 years and decided last year to study to be an accountant. My plan this summer is to write to a number of chartered accountants’ practices in my area. I am not just going to ask for a job but I am going to ask for advice. I am hopeful that even if there is no training post available, I may get some helpful hints about where to look, what to stress in job applications, and what other advice they may have for me to succeed. With no experience at all, it is difficult to get someone to give you a chance but it is my hope that someone out there will “read between the lines” and pick up my enthusiasm and eagerness to become a fully-qualified accountant.’
It’s not always the case that jobs are advertised. Sometimes a vacancy has just come up, or the company has been thinking about expanding. It’s always good to let these people know you’re interested in working for them and if they have your CV, they may call on you in the future. Ayodele Fanoiki from the UK says: ‘I identify the type of job I’m after, the kind of niche I want. Then I browse the internet for related job vacancies. I also register with agencies that handle my required job. ‘Personal one-to-one visits to the various companies to check if there are vacancies can also help, as can asking for help from friends and family members through networking. I also check with managers to see if there will be any such vacancies that I am looking for within my present workplace.’
The more skills you can acquire, the better your chances are of finding a job. Gabriela Bobol from the Czech Republic says: ‘Try to acquire extra skills in the field that you want to work. Go on training courses, e-learning courses, and expand on your personal skills. A good understanding of the area you want to work in can also help you to create and design new ideas to be used by management. Try to be informed about any significant changes in the field you work in, and think of ways you can demonstrate that you are an ideal candidate for the job.’
The internet is a vital part of job-hunting and is the ideal place for research. ‘When you access the Internet you can find a lot of websites full of ideas and advice on interview skills and technique,’ says Ismail Jbour from the United Arab Emirates. ‘It provides you with all the common questions which job seekers might face on any interview. I believe that improving interview skills is very important for job hunters.’
There may be lots of businesses in your area that could potentially become your new employer. Beverlyne Kaluli from Kenya, says: ‘I would spend a day looking up employers and trying to find out the names of managers. The next day I write my CV according to each company’s vision and mission statement and address it specifically to the appropriate manager. This way I know it should land on their desk. You may not be lucky enough to get a job, but quite often you will be invited to go and chat with them. The more they get to know you, the more they will think of you when a vacancy comes up.’