Job hunting is a full-time job. You have to prepare individualized resumes for every job that you want to apply for, know the questions that they could ask you in your job interview, and be conscious of how you would benefit the company. Not to mention to hours that you have to find to find a job in the first place. There is so much competition for jobs that job searching can be incredibly stressful. Luckily, there are ways that you can make the process faster and easier. To help you find a job easier and to increase your chances of getting hired, here’s what you need to know before applying.
1. Have a Competitive Resume
What is a competitive resume and how do you create one? To start, you should never assume that your resume will fit any job that you apply to. You should make sure that each resume is custom-made for the job that you’re applying to. Of course, if you’re only looking for jobs as a Marketing Manager, then you can use the same resume for each type of position. However, if the job varies at all, you need to take a second look at the content of your resume to make sure that it’s showcasing the right skills.
The style of the resume should be competitive. Find a professional resume template that fits the position that you’re applying to. Your name, address, and contact information should be listed clearly on the top of the resume. For most positions, the resume should be no longer than one page, and every detail should be related to the position.
2. Prepare Weeks Before a Job Interview
Another vital thing that you need to do is prepare for the interview. If you’re new to the job market, you might wonder how you can prepare when you don’t know what questions they will be asking. Here’s the trick: all interviewers ask the same questions. Of course, there are variances to the questions themselves, but the topics and answers to the questions are all the same.
The most common question that they will ask to start the job interview is, “Tell me about yourself.” Since it’s not a direct question, it commonly throws people off. What the interviewer is really asking is, “How have your past experiences made you qualified for this position?” They want to hear about your life in reverse-chronological order and what things you have done that have given you experience for the job that you’re applying to now. They don’t want to know your favorite color or animal. Instead, tell them about the highlights of your professional experience.
Another common question that you need to be prepared for is, “What is your biggest weakness?” This question is tricky for a lot of people to answer, so practice it beforehand. The trick is that you’ll be tempted to say strength in a way that sounds like a weakness like, “Oh, I don’t know, I just work too hard sometimes,” or “I’m too dedicated.” Those are the wrong answers. The right answer is to take a minor weakness that either has or had and show them how you’re proactively working to get over it.
3. Know Where You’re Applying to
Another thing that you should be aware of is that you should research the company that you’re applying to before you apply. You should know the competitors in the area, the managers, the CEO, and the services and products that the company offers. You need to be an expert on the position before you ever apply to it. This will make you seem incredibly knowable about the industry when you go in for the job interview and increases the chances that you’ll be hired.
Conclusion
Applying to jobs doesn't have to be hard. You can make it look easy if you take the right approach to it. Make sure that you’re a good candidate for the job and create a resume that showcases all of your best qualities. If you do, you’ll be hired in no time.
