Better You Blog

Are you a fresh graduate and planning to look for a job? Did you just recently quit your job and are looking for greener pastures? Are you unemployed and have little experience regarding ways to secure a job? Whatever your situation may be, it would be to your advantage to study the following tips:

• Check your resume for mistakes

Before submitting your resume to a prospective employer, check your resume for corrections at least three times before handing it over. After researching about the job position, it is critical that you format your resume to match the needs of the company. For example, if you are applying for an accounting job, you should put in detail your accounting experience on your resume. Typographical and grammatical errors are serious no-no’s. It is also ideal to keep the length of the resume’ to at least a page and a half long.   

• Taking the interview challenge

A survey conducted by a staffing and consulting firm based in California which corresponded with 1,400 chief financial officers concluded that candidates for employment made most of their mistakes on their interviews. Some of the mistakes they made include: arriving late, having little knowledge about the company and the position applied for, and having a superiority complex and behaving arrogantly. The body language of the applicant must also denote that he is confident yet not overpowering. He must maintain eye contact, have a strong handshake, and avoid looking defensive by the act of crossing the arms. Wearing the right clothes is crucial for projecting a confident stance. As they say, it is better to go to an interview over-dressed than being under-dressed.

• Answer questions smartly

A common mistake of interviewees is that they tend to get tense and forget the questions that are given to them, which has the effect that they are not prepared for the interview. It is important to research about the company and the position applied for to prevent being side-tracked during the interview. If you do not know the answer to the questions being asked, it is better to admit you don’t know the answer to the question and add that you can research about it. Look for the skills or expertise that the company is looking for so that when interview day comes and the interviewer asks about your strengths and core competencies, you will be able to match it to what they need.        

• Getting the necessary referrals 

Having a referral from one of the company employees can go a long way toward landing an interview.  A typical company may receive job applications in the hundreds and usually 35% to 60% of all job vacancies are filled by referrals. The odds of getting hired when you have a referral are very high if you have another 200 to 500 applicants vying for the same position. If you do not know anyone from the company that may give you a referral, it is a good idea to the alumni network of your college, trade groups, social networks, and professional associations. Remember, having a referral greatly increases your chances of getting the position.

• Online application

With the current trend of technology and its merging with business processes, more and more companies are now requiring prospective applicants to submit their application online.  Thus, first impressions are relayed not by your first appearance but by the quality and content of your e-mail. E-mails regarding job application should be polished and well-articulated. When applying on-line, use the following tips:

• Complete your sentences and do not abbreviate

Employers do not like when you send them application letters that seem to be too casual. It is important to make a letter that is both formal and well written. This gives a good impression regarding your capabilities and skills.

• Get directly to the point

When writing an application letter, you must be concise and straightforward. Do not put a story on the letter just to get the attention of the employer, chances are he or she will just get irritated with you and this only reduces your chances of getting hired. 

• Consider potential issues that may hinder you from getting the job

Although there are instances wherein there is a lot of need for a job but the requirements for the position may entail training programs that may bar you from getting the position due to its highly competitive nature. Some require a lot of experian even at least 3 years of work experience. Some may have no barriers to entry but the job itself may entail a very routine work flow.

Getting the job you want may be a challenge but never lose hope. It is better to wait a while and get the job that you will enjoy rather than get a job as soon as possible but ending up dissatisfied and unhappy. Make the right decision then act on it.  

• Your Job Search:Dressing up for the Interview Prepare and practice for an interview.  After the date and venue has been set, allow time for enough preparation for the big day.  Remember that first impressions do last, so the way an applicant look really does matter.  Employers could easily give the verdict based on the manner of dressing......
• Your Job Interview:Posting Your Resume Online These days more and more employers want their prospective candidates to find job openings on company web sites or Internet job boards like career builder and monster.com. They require online applications and they prefer to communicate with potential hires through e-mail.  Hiring with the aid of technology is a time......
• Should You Apply To All The Jobs That You Come Across? When a person becomes unemployed, the search begins for a job they can find related to their field of experience. As desperation ensues many people start to look at fast food and factory work as an option. They will apply to as many as possible, hoping for a job. This......
• Your Job Search:Identify your skills When applying for a job, it is ideal that you identify your strengths and weaknesses and get prepared to address them. By knowing your advantage, the chances of getting the job that you want will surely get easier. But you should not get too confident since this is one of......
• Your Job Interview:Getting Help With Your Resume Resume writing is an area of deep expertise for those people that choose to do it. Many different services will specifically hire people and professionals to assist you in the creation of a stellar resume for you. These services are often writers and editors who have studied the art of......

• A couple of neat eBay tricks for buyers It looks like eBay has added a feature that I've been interested in having for a while. When dealing with a new seller it makes sense to check the feedback of the seller, especially if it's not almost perfect. But I hadn't found a way to check the negative and......
• Filling Forms Online Is A Legitimate Way To Earn Extra Money There are a lot of internet surfers who can not understand why the sites are ready to pay so good money for filling questionnaires. At the same time they are not aware whether it is really legitimate to fill all of these forms online for money. The following article is......
• Best of Orlando Jobs: Finding Jobs in Orlando As I’m sure you’re aware jobs in Orlando are hard to find today. You may have already lost your job and are looking for a new one, or you are finding a job in a new field for the very first time. Some people are even looking for second......
• Tax Benefits Of Passive Income Since this is tax season and this site is dedicated to earning passive income, I thought I should post something about the taxation of passive income. From the IRS's point of view passive income is any income that you get without having to to materially participate in. Examples of passive......
• Ways Not Having a Job Impacts Our Personal Finances I read a post that made me think quite a bit this week. Madison from My Dollar Plan has a list of 15 tips for saving money while you still have a job. I looked down the list and saw things like 401k Matches, Tuition Reimbursements, Insurance - a pile......