How to Tips for Job Hunters to Get Hired Now
How to Increase Your Chances of Getting a Job
Sep 4, 2009
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the current unemployment rate in the U.S. is close to 10% as reported in the Sept 4, 2009 MSNBC article, US Unemployment Hits 9.7% in August. Job seekers need to be prepared to impress potential employers with every contact, and the following tips can greatly increase their chances for success:
Google Yourself
They won't ask for permission, and they probably won't admit to doing it, but more and more prospective employers are checking up on potential new hires by sizing up their presence on the internet.
Job hunters should do a thorough internet search on themselves and remove any inappropriate photos (from a drunken party during Spring Break) or posts (a blogging tirade about their current boss). They can also go to the blogging and social networking sites and change their access setting to “private” status, keeping unflattering information way from potential employers.
Job Seekers Be Vigilant
Here's a secret right from the Human Resources office: job seekers are being judged by every contact they make. Did the applicant use plain copy paper and cheap envelopes to send his resume? Not good. Worse, did he run the envelope through his current employer's postage machine? If so, HR will make some instant judgments about him; namely that he didn't care enough to make his first impression count.
Resume and Cover Letter Tips
The first impression really counts. Job seekers should use high quality stationery and matching envelope and show some style by selecting an interesting stamp. It's crucial to spell everything correctly, especially the potential employer's name, and include complete contact information. It's best to set up an e-mail account with a professional sounding address (no nicknames or clever puns) for job hunting purposes. Even in e-mail, spelling and grammar are important. Always be professional.
Emphasize Skills and Strengths, Not Hopes and Dreams
Potential employers don't want to hear what an applicant aspires to do, but rather what he will do for the company if he's hired. Recruiters don't want to hear a mission statement (i.e. “experienced worker seeks new challenges and aspires to change the world”) but rather a positioning statement: “if you hire me this is what I can and will do to make your business even better.”
Respect the Recruiter
The Human Resources recruiter has much to say about whether an applicant makes it past the initial screening process. His job is to “read” personalities and find applicants who are a good fit within the company, so job hunters who unwittingly dismiss or talk down to recruiters won't stand a chance. Remember the first communications test is with the HR representative, so be respectful and professional in every contact made with him.
Take “The Lunch” Seriously
More competitive times call for more rigorous screening of applicants. When the hiring executive invites a potential employee to lunch he may try to act like it's just a casual friendly gesture. It isn't. Lunch is the part of the interviewing process where the hiring managers test an applicant's casual communication skills, to see if he fits into the corporate culture, and if he can represent the company to outsiders confidently.
Job seekers should scope out the restaurant in advance (so they feel comfortable at the lunch interview), arrive on time, (yes, this is part of the test, too) and turn off the cell phone; the lunch interview should not be interrupted by phone calls or text messages.
Don't Get Personal
Focus on professional issues during the interview and politely avoid personal issues. It's OK to answer general questions about family and personal interests, but when an applicant goes on about his personal life the interviewer will assume personal issues will intrude on work performance.
One last tip – until the U.S. Congress passes the Equal Employment for All Act, employers are allowed to base hiring decisions on factors including an applicant's credit score. For tips on how to boost your credit rating, check out this article on How to Increase Your Credit Score.
Job hunters, don't despair. Finding a job in a "down" economy is hard, but job seekers with a positive outlook, a professional attitude, and focused determination are able to find employment in any market.
BNC101
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