W: Weigh your options. You did a great job making the best resume ever and went ahead to nail the job interview. And you did it again. Congratulations! You now have two or more job offers, which one should you pick?
Almost everyone you come across will give you an advice on how to survive the challenging and frustrating job search process. Some of it might work and some won’t because everyone’s job hunting process is as unique and creative as the individual. The following are unconventional and effective job search tips that will help make it a bit easier for you.
A: Adjust and adapt: If you have been job searching for a while and nothing is forthcoming, it’s about time you stop knocking on the same doors with the same strategies. Look back at what has worked before to identify your success barriers. It might as simple as revising your resume.
B: Benefits and bonuses. Apart from salaries, there are other several forms of compensation offered by companies. When given a job offer, you should be keen to find out what other benefits are offered.
C: Career coach. Have you been job searching the right way all this time? Maybe not. You might be facing some career challenges and hoping to figure everything out by yourself. A career coach will not only help you position yourself better but also help you reach your career goals.
D: Diversify. Have you thought of other employment options that you could try out? Starting out as a part-time employer can earn you full time employment. If you have enough capital at your disposal, self-employment should be an option too.
E: Eye contact. After giving a warm smile and firm handshake, remember to maintain appropriate eye contact. Eye contact not only exhibits confidence and reflects honesty but also shows that you are actively engaged and paying attention to the conversation.
F: Facts, Focus & Fuzu: It is important to tell the truth on your resume and during interviews. It might only take one phone call by a potential employer to find out the truth. Focus on opportunities that match your interests and qualifications. The best way to Fuzu at job searching is by being on Fuzu.
G: Goals. You need to prove to a prospective employer that you are goal-oriented and how the role that you are applying for is in line with your career goals. This can either be long-term or short-term goals. Where do you want to be in terms of responsibilities or position?
H: Highlight accomplishments. What have you accomplished so far in your career? What talents do you have that helped you attain those accomplishments? How do you intend to use your strengths in the role that you are seeking? These are some of the questions that rush through recruiters’ mind when they are looking at your resume.
I: Interview etiquette. There are some do’s and don’t that you should be aware of to optimize your chances of success at a job interview. It’s all about creating a good first impression.
J: Join networking groups. The job searching process can turn out to be a discouraging process and a lonely journey. You’d be better off surrounding yourself with successful people in a similar field. This can be through attending seminars where you’ll get advice on career strategies.
K: Keep track of your applications. You’ll most likely end up finding yourself applying for multiple opportunities at once when job hunting. There’s a possibility of getting confused due to the sending of multiple versions of resumes and cover letters. It is advisable to keep track of all applications to avoid missing deadlines and making embarrassing mistakes.
L: Location. Is the job you are applying for located where you come from or will you be required to relocate? You should note that not all employers pay for relocation.
M: Motivate yourself. We never have an idea how long the job search process might take. As time goes by, the more aggressive you get with sending applications and the more rejections you get. It is easy to get demotivated whenever you check your inbox hoping to get an invite for an interview. However, this is not the time to give up. Take a different approach on your job search by trying different avenues to getting employment. You owe it to yourself to succeed.
N: Network: I know you’ve heard about this a thousand times over. But are you doing it the right way? Networking is about building mutually beneficial relationships with others. The best way to leverage on the relationships you’ve built overtime is by asking for advice or suggestions about your job search and not for a job directly.
O: Organize: it is critical for you to always have all the relevant documents with you whenever you go for interviews.
P: Persistence and proactiveness. Rejection is inevitable during the job search process. It is understandable that you might take it personally. But aren’t you doing the same? Evaluating, choosing and rejecting potential employers? You’ll be a good fit for one of them, just hang in there. The job search process is action-oriented and requires one to be proactive. You’ll need to step out of your comfort zone and give it your all.
Q: Questions. ‘Do you have any questions for us?’ Always be sure to be asked this question during an interview. Run a background check on the company and go prepared with a number of questions about the role you are applying for and the company in general.
R: Research. Do you want to be that candidate who stands out? It is as easy as doing your research on the company to find out as you can about your prospective employer. Here are a few tips on what to research on: - any recent news or events, company’s vision, culture and values.
S: Save up. It is advisable to play safe and have a paycheque or two worth of savings stashed somewhere before throwing yourself back into the job market.
T: Take risks and Thank. We know you’ve got bills to pay and it might not be a good idea to make career moves without a plan in the name of taking risks. However, you can take calculated risks to avoid staying in your role indefinitely. Taking risks in your career exposes you to new experiences and empowers you to grow. Always remember to show gratitude after the interview.
U: Upgrade. Learning is a continuous process (it is not only limited to academic qualifications). You should ensure that you acquire new skills. This can be by taking online courses or learning on the job. You will be able to keep up with current job market trends and demands.
V: Volunteering and Internships act as a stepping stone into full-time employment since most companies take in their volunteers and interns. Volunteering and internship programs will provide you with networking opportunities. You’ll be lucky to come across organizations that give stipends to volunteers and interns.
W: Weigh your options. You did a great job making the best resume ever and went ahead to nail the job interview. And you did it again. Congratulations! You now have two or more job offers, which one should you pick? It’s very okay to ask for a little more time to make your decision. You can sleep on it and dig deeper for insider information about the company. This will help you in making the right decision. Remember to be nice when turning down an offer.
X: ‘XOXO’. If you happen to have left your previous employer on bad terms, you’ll need to be careful about how you bring up during an interview. It is unprofessional to bad-mouth your former boss. Be sure to keep your emotions in check and steer the conversation back to something positive.
Y: Yawning. Body language says a lot about you. Yawning is a sign of disinterest. When having that serious conversation about why you need that job, you wouldn’t want the interviewer to think you are losing interest in that conversation. Be sure to get enough rest before going an interview.
Z: Zeal. Are you enthusiastic about your career? When searching for a job, apply for jobs that you are only passionate about.
