| Are you a fresh graduate and planning to look | | | | Having a referral from one of the company |
| for a job? Did you just recently quit your | | | | employees can go a long way toward landing an |
| job and are looking for greener pastures? Are | | | | interview. A typical company may receive job |
| you unemployed and have little experience | | | | applications in the hundreds and usually 35% |
| regarding ways to secure a job? Whatever your | | | | to 60% of all job vacancies are filled by |
| situation may be, it would be to your | | | | referrals. The odds of getting hired when you |
| advantage to study the following tips: | | | | have a referral are very high if you have |
| | | | another 200 to 500 applicants vying for the |
| Check your resume for mistakes | | | | same position. If you do not know anyone from |
| | | | the company that may give you a referral, it |
| Before submitting your resume to a | | | | is a good idea to the alumni network of your |
| prospective employer, check your resume for | | | | college, trade groups, social networks, and |
| corrections at least three times before | | | | professional associations. Remember, having a |
| handing it over. After researching about the | | | | referral greatly increases your chances of |
| job position, it is critical that you format | | | | getting the position. |
| your resume to match the needs of the | | | | |
| company. For example, if you are applying for | | | | On online application |
| an accounting job, you should put in detail | | | | |
| your accounting experience on your resume. | | | | With the current trend of technology and its |
| Typographical and grammatical errors are | | | | merging with business processes, more and |
| serious no-no's. It is also ideal to keep the | | | | more companies are now requiring prospective |
| length of the resume' to at least a page and | | | | applicants to submit their application |
| a half long. | | | | online. Thus, first impressions are relayed |
| | | | not by your first appearance but by the |
| Taking the interview challenge | | | | quality and content of your e-mail. E-mails |
| | | | regarding job application should be polished |
| A survey conducted by a staffing and | | | | and well-articulated. When applying on-line, |
| consulting firm based in California which | | | | use the following tips: |
| corresponded with 1,400 chief financial | | | | |
| officers concluded that candidates for | | | | Complete your sentences and do not |
| employment made most of their mistakes on | | | | abbreviate. |
| their interviews. Some of the mistakes they | | | | |
| made include: arriving late, having little | | | | Employers do not like when you send them |
| knowledge about the company and the position | | | | application letters that seem to be too |
| applied for, and having a superiority complex | | | | casual. It is important to make a letter that |
| and behaving arrogantly. The body language of | | | | is both formal and well written. This gives a |
| the applicant must also denote that he is | | | | good impression regarding your capabilities |
| confident yet not overpowering. He must | | | | and skills. |
| maintain eye contact, have a strong | | | | |
| handshake, and avoid looking defensive by the | | | | Get directly to the point |
| act of crossing the arms. Wearing the right | | | | |
| clothes is crucial for projecting a confident | | | | When writing an application letter, you must |
| stance. As they say, it is better to go to an | | | | be concise and straightforward. Do not put a |
| interview over-dressed than being | | | | story on the letter just to get the attention |
| under-dressed. | | | | of the employer, chances are he or she will |
| | | | just get irritated with you and this only |
| Answer questions smartly | | | | reduces your chances of getting hired. |
| | | | |
| A common mistake of interviewees is that they | | | | Consider potential issues that may hinder you |
| tend to get tense and forget the questions | | | | from getting the job |
| that are given to them, which has the effect | | | | |
| that they are not prepared for the interview. | | | | Although there are instances wherein there is |
| It is important to research about the company | | | | a lot of need for a job but the requirements |
| and the position applied for to prevent being | | | | for the position may entail training programs |
| side-tracked during the interview. If you do | | | | that may bar you from getting the position |
| not know the answer to the questions being | | | | due to its highly competitive nature. Some |
| asked, it is better to admit you don't know | | | | require a lot of experian even at least 3 |
| the answer to the question and add that you | | | | years of work experience. Some may have no |
| can research about it. Look for the skills or | | | | barriers to entry but the job itself may |
| expertise that the company is looking for so | | | | entail a very routine work flow. |
| that when interview day comes and the | | | | |
| interviewer asks about your strengths and | | | | Getting the job you want may be a challenge |
| core competencies, you will be able to match | | | | but never lose hope. It is better to wait a |
| it to what they need. | | | | while and get the job that you will enjoy |
| | | | rather than get a job as soon as possible but |
| Getting the necessary referrals | | | | ending up dissatisfied and unhappy. Make the |
| | | | right decision then act on it. |