Job Hunting Strategies

 

Job hunting – applying for job opening one after another yet did not get any responses. What could have happen back-end? Job openings are being snagged by internal referred candidates? Are you not going for the right jobs with your skills?

It is never about hoping to get calls for interviews anymore. It doesn’t just work by waiting… Job hunters got to make sure that you use various methods to stand out from the crowd.

Fret not, make sure you stand tall above the job-seeking crowd, and below are some ways that can help you in achieving a quicker success rate during your job hunting process.

Aim for the Right Jobs

Your current position and experiences should better somewhere relevant in the job market. Do your own researches before you start applying for jobs - Match your skills, interests and job exposures to the right career choice and the companies’ requirements. There are many factors that you can look at, for example, your experiences have equipped you with the right skills to move up the next level in your career path. You have intended to look for a higher job title or salary, you should not send out your resume aimlessly, even when you see that the salary does not match you.

Create a searchable social media profile

In our era of technology, recruiters rely a lot on social media and technology platforms to source and look out for potential candidates. Of course, this does not deter recruiters from forgetting about human touch. LinkedIn is one of the platforms that recruiters are engaging with candidates these days. Unless you are not expecting any contacts to get in touch with you, please always keep your job portal profiles visible for all. You will never know what good deals or great opportunities might come your way.

Expand your network

Just by applying on job portals is not sufficient in the market nowadays. Expand your network and get your words around your trusted friends and colleagues that you are on a lookout. They can be the ones who might even recommend greater jobs to you.

Be proactive

It is no longer in the era that the longer you wait; the better ones will come your way. You have to fight for what you want. You have to send reminder emails or even a second email so that the employers will be able to take notice of your email. While you are assertive and proactive in getting in contact with the recruiters or employers, this increases your chance and also says something about you, and your eagerness in getting into the job.

Job applicants for fresh graduates

You have just graduated, thinking that opportunities are limitless. You walk up the stage, shook hands with the school representative, collected the scroll thinking this is the start of something for you. However, when you are home applying for jobs, you see most of the jobs are requiring experience since we are in the knowledge based economy.

How are you going to get any job exposure if you are not able to attain the entry level positions? Who is going to give you the chance?

Here are some tips to get you started

JUST APPLY

Of course, this is not to apply for every job listed on the job portal. If you have seen any roles and responsibilities on job portals that you would be keen to explore the roles and responsibilities with, you should just apply. Do not be taken aback by the years of experience because you might just need the one chance of interview to impress the interviewers.

While reading the job description, tune the perspective towards instead of thinking of it as a requirement, but as a wish list of the hiring manager. The general rule of thumb is that if it is an 70% fit of requirement, you may proceed to go ahead and apply for the job.

INDICATE YOUR SKILL SET

You will need to upsell your resume by indicating your skill sets – especially if you are aware that the position would lead to many job applications with experience. This is fundamental for your employer to see your skill set and abilities, to understand how it will be able to complement the job requirements.

It is important to include your internships, or projects where you have worked with Companies as all these are included in your skills set. If you have a referral based on your past internship, do include in your resume as well.

SHOW YOUR SINCERITY

Throw in a cover letter, and not just uploading a resume. After submitting the application via the job portal, it would also be good to send a personalized email to the hiring manager to explain how you are keen on the job and how you are able to convince him that you are the best person for the job although you might not have experience. If you do, you might even stand a higher chance in comparison to someone who might have the experience.

How do you convert your internship into a full-time job?

Internships are there for a reason – It is for you to have a glimpse into the work force, so you would be able to apply your theory to practise. However, it is also a good chance for you to prove to your future employer you can value add into this Company.

Being in the competitive market at the very moment, you would want to ensure you get a job as soon as you graduate but how do you compete with the number of people who have more experience compared to you?  You open your doors by allowing a conversion from your title into an intern to a full-time role.

Here are tips on how to do it:

BE PUNCTUAL

To put in simply, no one would want to hire late comers. It just shows that you take no pride in your work, and you are taking this opportunity for granted. It ultimately shows your lack of discipline as well.

Being punctual shows, you are responsible, and you care ENOUGH to be on time.

TAKE INITIATIVE

Do not just do what is expected or what is defined by your responsibilities at work. It works both ways because as an intern, you get to learn from the role as well. Objective of internships is to ensure interns get a glimpse into the workforce, but it can also be because it is based on a short-term project assignment the company have. For an employer to want to convert you into a full-time role, you must show you have what it takes.

This means that you should do something, no matter how insignificant the tasks. If you have completed your assignments on hand, see how you are able to help the others.

BE COMPETENT

Check your work to ensure you have completed the tasks well and understand how your work is able to value add your colleagues. It will be good to understand how your work process is like, so you do not just think your role is a standalone role as well.  Ensure you complete your work on time as well and do not submit when it is way past the deadline.

BE LESS DISTRACTED

It is optimal if you fidget less on your phone during work hours for personal reasons. This shows your work focus as well as commitment, as well as it shows you are grateful for this employment. Imagine using the office phone for your own personal reasons or always being constantly on WhatsApp entire day. You have

Things to take note before sending your Resume

When looking for a position, sending of resume is usually the first thing to let an agency or company notice you. There are some points that candidates often overlooked when sending their resumes which leads them to not being selected in the first round of any interview.

Email Address

Having an informal email address gives the HR an impression of how casual you are, and that you might not be taking the position seriously. So, before you send a formal email of your resume to any HR, do take note of the email address that you would be sending your resume from.

Subject Title

HR personnel is usually overwhelmed with candidates sending them emails of their resumes and do not have time to go through each and every one. Naming your subject title with an appropriate name would help have time for the HR understand the purpose of your email.

Forward Emails

Forwarding emails will make the HR personnel wonder if you are busy that you don't have the time to erase 3 letters from the subject "Fwd:". It also shows the HR that you are applying for various companies at the same time.

Send the Updated Resumes

There are many candidates that send their resume over without updating it to the latest version. Indicating that the resume is up-to-date will help HR understand better about your past experiences and help you look for a suitable position more effectively.

Do a brief introduction of yourself in the email body, a 3-4-line brief description will do. Let the HR personnel know that you are sincere by texting the HR after sending the resume and do a follow up after a few days.

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Job Search Can be Difficult

Job search is never an easy task and I have encountered it personally. There are many factors how you want your next role to be and what you are looking for. It can be difficult if the market is facing recession. You will see lesser job opportunities and yet somehow or the other, the number of applicant vying for the same role seems to increase.

One of the challenges that you might have to go through is that especially if you are moving up the corporate ladder or even changing different industries. You will lose out to the industry experts and this is not all. Being turned up during interviews can be disappointing, but always stay positive. There are factors to why – losing out to candidate who has more relevant experiences could be one of them.

In Singapore, more fresh graduates are facing the difficulties, but keep your expectations in check. Find out the reasons why you are not shortlisted. Financial crisis and economy downfall are just part of the market movements, but what is more important is how we react to the situations and face it. Never demand for what you think you deserve but what you want to pick up and learn from the companies and industries. You might even bloom and fly higher when the economy picks up.

Job requirement varies

It might be a hassle changing industries during your career switch but if you are all for it, press on! It might not seem easy but there will sure be companies who are out there looking for incumbents from different industries, so as to inject different mindsets for the growth of the processes and operations.

Different industries and cultures can be really different but if the companies are interested to bring you on board, that is because they’d want to ‘think out of the box’ in terms of processes. For instance, one in a manufacturing could be working on work processes and chasing numbers to support operational requirements, but one in the advertising industry will have to deliver creatives and introduce fun.

Don’t get upset by the process

It’s always the case that you have submitted your resume and all necessary details, yet companies still require you to go through the process to fill in the application form. I have seen one which is nearly 10-page long. It took me more than 30 minutes to fill them up.

There are also times when you don’t get feedback after the interviews. I think it is basic courtesy and respect for the applicants. Recruiters should inform the applicants so that you do not keep them waiting.

In any case, part of the time you will have to manage your expectations to accept such silence and search process. You can always follow-up with the respective recruiters. Stay positive – you never know if these interview processes will help you in future.