There are more steps than you may think that are necessary to land a job. If you think that simply sending out your resume to every job posting you see will land you a position, you could be right. You will probably get the chance to interview somewhere and might even be offered a position. But is that where you really want to work? Or are you just settling for whatever you can get? Sending out your resumes to every relevant job posting you see is comparable to trying to shoot a target after being spun around in a dark room. You’ll have to use a lot of ammunition before you make contact with the target; and chances are you will never hit the bull’s-eye.
If you take a methodical, time-tested approach toward obtaining the job of your dreams you are much more likely to be successful. The following is a list of 4 steps that might just help you land that job you’ve always wanted.
1) Prepare your resume- Building a strong resume, for the most part, is necessary to be considered for an interview. It is the employer’s first impression of you and we all know that first impressions mean a lot to the human psyche. When submitting your resume to a certain job posting or company, take the time to customize it. Bait the hook to suit the fish. If you are applying for a marketing position at a firm, make sure that your most valuable skills and experience are highlighted. Carefully read the job description and necessary qualifications. Put yourself in the employer’s shoes. Based upon the job posting, would you hire yourself when reading this resume? It is also a great idea to get the advice of a graphic designer when creating your resume. Your resume should stand out and reflect your personality. Be cautious though, if you go overboard some employers will not take you seriously.
2) Find job openings- In our society, and pretty much all throughout history, nepotism has reigned supreme. The best way to find viable job opportunities is through people that you have some sort of personal connection with. Don’t be afraid to tell EVERYONE you know that you are looking for a job within a particular industry. Of course for many of us there will be no personal connection within an industry. Career fairs, the Internet (social media networks), private employment agencies are your next bet. Social media networks in particular are revolutionizing the hiring process. You are able to target, engage and learn much about potential employers through social media. Twitter in particular will allow you to converse with professionals within your industry. Many job postings can be found on twitter as well. There are many stories of people landing jobs through networking via social media. Don’t be a fish swimming against the current. The trend is moving toward social media, embrace it.
3) Writing a cover letter- Once you found a job that catches your interest and fits your skills set its time to apply. ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS write a cover letter when submitting your resume to an employer. Writing a cover letter allows you to show an employer that you have excellent communication skills and lets you explain to them why you would be the ideal candidate for their position. Keep your cover letter short, no more than three relatively small paragraphs. In the first paragraph tell them why you would benefit their organization by explaining your skills and traits. Then tell them about an experience you have had that demonstrate these skills. Finally close by saying you have an vast interest in their industry and in their organization in particular.
4) Interviewing- If you have followed the aforementioned steps you have likely landed an interview (if not be patient and persistent). When they e-mail or call you to set up an interview, ask who it is that will be interviewing you. Try to get as much information as possible about your interviewer beforehand. Try to obtain their contact information if possible (to send your interview thank you letter). Once you find out who they are, try googling them. Soak up as much information as you can learn about them to give yourself an idea of what their interests are. If you discover what they are interested in, you have the key to their heart. When entering the interview it is usually customary to have a minute or so of polite conversation. If you ask them a question about their interest, they will immediately open up to you and break down their barriers. (Still keep in mind that this is an interview and still approach it as such). Before going into the interview you should review the job description again and come up with questions they could ask you about the required skills or responsibilities for the job. Preparation is key to confidence. A day after your interview, write them a small one-paragraph thank you letter and tell them you enjoyed interviewing with them.
Follow these steps and let me know if they work for you!
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