Are you looking for a job? Are you looking for tips that will help make your search for employment more effective? If so, you have come to the right place. The tips that follow can help you use your time and resources wisely when you are looking to be employed someplace new.
Make sure that you eat a healthy breakfast the morning of your interview. This is very important as you may get nervous during your interview, and you will want to feel as comfortable as possible. A well-balanced meal will also provide you with the energy that you will need to succeed.
At any new job you should learn as much as possible about everything. This also means to learn about other departments that are not your responsibility. This will make you an in-disposable asset in the company which will protect your job during periods of lay offs and/or reduced hours.
One of the most important variables when you are trying to land a job is the contacts that you have on the inside. Think about all of the friends and acquaintances that you have made in the past and try to find out if any of them work at the company. This can give you a tremendous edge for hiring purposes.
If you are looking for a new job, you can skip to the front of the line if you have recently taken some classes. Sign up for enrichment courses every once in a while since this will show employers that you plan to stay at the top of your game.
Be prepared to fight for the raise that you deserve. Keep track of what you bring to the company through out the year so that you can make your case when the time comes. Your boss will respect you for it and it could easily lead to a much larger raise than what you would have received otherwise.
Learn how to translate your job skills. There have been several industries that have taken substantial hits, and they will not be recovering anytime soon, so you may have to look outside of your field for some opportunities. Furthermore, keep track of which fields have grown recently. Using this knowledge can help you see how your skills can be translated for these growing opportunities. You can also use apprenticeships, internships, and some part-time transition roles.
If your work can be done either day or night offer flexible schedules. This will expand the pool of employees that you are choosing from, and whenever their are more candidates available, chances are better that you get better employees. This also will make your employee feel that they are more free to set their schedule and live their life as needed.
If you want to move up in your company, network with employees outside of your immediate department. Volunteer to be on committees if the opportunity is available. This is good way get exposure to other departments. You never know if a position will open up in another department. If that hiring manager knows you, you have an advantage.
Sarcasm and cynicism have no place in a job interview. While many people use these tones as a means of breaking the ice or establishing rapport, neither sentiment is particularly effective in a professional context. Potential employers are more interested in the ability to communicate with others in a positive, encouraging and supportive manner. A negative tone may also come across as indicative of someone who holds grudges and is prone to conflict.
If you’re nervous about an interview, think about it differently. Think of it as a “test” interview. Imagine that you’ve already got the job, or that you’re not interested in the job at all. This instantly relaxes you, and you can stop being nervous and just have a conversation. A lot of the time, that will get you hired.
As an older job seeker, remember that it is perfectly alright to be vague about years. You do not have to say that you have had thirty years of experience doing the job for which you are applying. Simply say that you are very experienced or that you have thorough experience from the ground floor up. It’s alright to be creative. Your exact age is your own business.
You must give off the right vibe and first impression during an interview. You have to be positive and have a smile on your face, but don’t force it. This will give your interviewer a great impression and can be a deciding factor in the hiring process.
Before an interview, practice interviewing with another person. This person can be a trusted friend or relative. When you role play, you can practice how to answer those interview questions on the spot. They’ll let you know how you come off and which answers would work best.
Take your reference letters with you to the interview. Lots of folks talk about having references, but it is better to have actual letters on hand. This way, your future employer does not need to search to get in contact with your references.
Review what your skills are. If you think you need to brush up on skills, take some classes. You don’t need to take a bunch of classes to get a type of advanced degree if you’re unable to pay for it. Any additional classes you can take to improve your skills will help you land a new, better job. So take some classes to increase your skills and pump up your resume.
If you have managerial or supervisory experience, you may be tempted to include testimonials solely from higher-ups. This is excellent information, but you can take it further by including feedback from your subordinates. Hiring managers look for candidates who can connect and build rapport with employees at all levels of an organization.
Hopefully you can take what you have learned here and find a job you will love. Try out these tips and use them when you are looking for new employment. Don’t get discouraged, it takes some time to find a new job and before you know it, you’ll be working your new dream job.
Story credit to editor@urbanmediatoday.com.
Photo credit to Marten Bjork/Unsplash.