A job search is not as easy as sending your CV out into the world and hoping for the best, even if you are the perfect person for the position
Whether you are in search of a new career opportunity, something more challenging, or just a different office culture, job hunting is no easy feat. There are plenty of factors that have nothing to do with your CV or your qualifications and experience that can affect your search. Talent Manager at Key Recruitment Rouxlé Marais gives us some insight and advice on job-search factors you may not be aware of, and how to get ahead of them.
KNOW HOW THE PROCESS WORKS
If you decide to use a recruitment agency to lend a helping hand, it is important to send them your CV via their website, or properly follow any steps they may have laid out on their website. ‘I do receive a lot of calls during the day from people asking me to find them a job. And as much as I want to help everyone, I simply can’t help every applicant individually in this way,’ says Rouxlé. Recruiters can also only help applicants if there is a job available that is suited to their skill set, chosen industry and experience, and this can often mean waiting until something becomes available. If you follow the instructions on the website and submit your CV digitally, you can rest assured that it will be reviewed when a suitable position is available, without worrying about getting lost in a sea of other phone calls.
MAKE SURE YOUR CV IS IN THE CORRECT FORMAT
Whether you are submitting your CV to a recruiter or applying for a job directly, always make sure it’s saved as a Microsoft Word document. This way, everyone will be able to open it, unlike a PDF document, and will save them the time of running through your CV website. With recruiters especially, different clients of theirs want CVs in different formats. If yours is a Word doc, it makes it so much easier for the recruiter to save it as a PDF or any other format a prospective employer might need. Don’t forget to make sure all necessary information is included, as managers won’t always have time to follow up. Be careful of including your expected salary ‘Unfortunately, you can’t always expect to earn the same as your current career,’ says Rouxlé. This is especially true if you are changing your career path or have less experience in new methods and technologies as others. Always be sure to keep this in mind when you’re applying for a new job, and if you do make it to the salary negotiation stage, try to keep an open mind.
ALWAYS PREPARE WELL FOR YOUR INTERVIEW
Just because you have been invited for an interview, doesn’t mean you are in the clear. ‘Being prepared does not only mean knowing yourself and what you do, but also knowing about the company where you are going for the interview,’ Rouxlé warns. Do your research and show that you have done so by asking questions about the business. ‘This will show that you are really interested in working at the company and not just taking a job to earn a salary, but that you want to be a part of the team,’ says Rouxlé. This is something you may not have thought makes a big impact, but it does. It will also give you some insight into the company culture, which will give you a better idea of what to expect in your interview, and even how to dress for it, which can also play a big role.
MAKING THE RIGHT IMPRESSION IS IMPORTANT
Your CV is what qualifies you for an interview, and how you present yourself on your CV is just as important as how you come across in person in the interview. Aside from the actual information on your CV, Rouxlé advises that it needs to attract attention and keep it. ‘The overall look of your résumé creates the first impression, and this can be positive or negative,’ she says. ‘Make sure it is neat, accurate, up to date, easy to follow and contains no spelling errors.’ Rouxlé says you should also consider adding a professional photo to your cover page. ‘It’s nice to be able to put a face to the résumé you are reading. But be sure to avoid extra elements in your photo such as fruit bowls, a wedding venue or you surrounded by empty alcohol bottles. Trust me, I’ve seen it all.’ When you get to your interview, here are a few extra important impression formation tactics to keep in mind: ‘Keep eye contact, smile and just be you. In the interview, it is the small things that count, like how firm your handshake is, how you are dressed and how you communicate. And if you don’t understand a question being asked, rather ask the interviewer to repeat and elaborate on what they’d like to know to avoid bubbling off topic.’ Rouxlé also advises against smoking right before the interview and chewing gum while in there.
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