Getting to the interview stage means that your CV stood out. Congrats, you are now one step closer to securing a potential role. We will outline some tips to get you over the line and impress the interviewer.
Familiarise yourself with your CV, every detail, every role and every date. In cases where you may have employment gaps, be ready to explain your reasoning as to why you were out of work during that period.
Keep a hard copy nearby if you get a call out of the blue. This way, you can always refer to it, and it can also serve as a reminder to ensure you do not forget anything important.
Preparation is key. Set up at least 30 minutes before your interview in front of a white or plain-coloured background. Test your equipment—make sure your camera and microphone are working and that you are well-lit. Most importantly, check you have a reliable internet connection and an uninterrupted power supply.
If you have a face-to-face interview, it is always best to be punctual and early. Take into account factors that are out of your control, such as traffic and weather, and set off early in anticipation.
The way you present yourself for an interview plays a large part when it comes to professionalism. Remember that you are a future ambassador for the hiring company. If you look the part it will also get you in the right frame of mind.
Research the company, its achievements, core values, and morals. Express how you could be a great addition to the team and add to their success, especially with goals and objectives they may have for the future, and refer back to the job description.
LinkedIn can be used as an online version of your CV. It provides numerous other benefits, such as connecting you to industry peers, increased exposure to hiring managers and recruiters, a great job board, and other advantages.
Make sure your LinkedIn profile is frequently updated. Let’s look at a few methods for transforming your LinkedIn profile into an effective CV.
Think of LinkedIn as your new CV.
LinkedIn reports that 97% of recruiters and hiring managers utilise LinkedIn to recruit employees. This makes it all the more important to make your profile stand out.
Hiring managers, for the most part, want to make the hiring process a speedy one, but they also need to ensure they get the right person for the job.
Make your CV captivating by catching the hiring manager’s attention at first glance. Most recruiters receive dozens of CVs a day and will likely only give the CV a quick scan to see if you are qualified to be shortlisted.
We will go over how to keep your CV concise whilst communicating your skills.
Optimise your CV to fit the job in question. Articulate the responsibilities you took on in each of your previous jobs. This will give the hiring manager an idea of your skillset and how you can benefit their company.
Be to the point in your wording. Try not to use excessive jargon or overly complicated language. Although you should remain direct, use appropriate terms from the job description where possible.
You may have the best CV for the job, but without the correct formatting, you could miss out on the role. For this reason, ensure that you have saved two copies. One as a PDF and another as a Word document. If you are unsure of which format to send, double-check and ask.
Make sure your document is saved with a suitable title, for instance, your name.
When listing your qualifications, skills, experience, job roles and responsibilities, put them into bullet points. Make life easier for your reader as they’ll have a lot of CVs to read through.
Always apply examples of when you have used your skills and qualifications in practice. By showcasing your skills, you are demonstrating how you could transfer your experience to help the hiring company.
Whenever a job is advertised, a list of the desirable skills, deliverables and qualifications will be mentioned. If you are qualified for the role, use the listed skills mentioned in the job description within your CV. Referring back to the job description shows that you have attention to detail. It also demonstrates that you can tick their list of requirements and what they are after.
There is no better time than November through Christmas to search for and apply for a new job. You now have more time to research various companies and job openings. It will also mean you have spare time to interact with and connect with decision-makers on LinkedIn about potential opportunities.
It is time to get ahead of your competition while everyone else goes into holiday mode. Many people will have put their job search on hold during the Christmas break, but positions still need to be filled. By getting ahead of the rest you will appear highly motivated and ready for business.
Typically, most people will either continue or start to job hunt over the new year with the mindset of a fresh start. This can lead to the job market becoming over-saturated in January. However, if you apply for a role in November or December, you will have that fresh start by the time January the 1st comes around.
In December, you will be able to integrate with co-workers during the quieter month and have the chance to go to Christmas parties and socialize. By the time it gets to January, relationships with co-workers will already have been built, meaning you will be ready to hit the ground running in the new year!
Many people will be in the same mindset of putting off applying for a new job until January. It usually means the positions people have left are now free, and employers will want these positions filled as soon as possible. This is so that the company will be prepared for the new year.
Companies will usually need to use up the rest of their budget by the end of December, or they will run the risk of it becoming wasted. So, if a position needs filling, now is the time to do so and negotiate your best price.
So now that you have gotten your reasons to kickstart that job search earlier than anticipated, why not make sure you are prepared?
Tips for job hunting and ensuring you get ahead of your competition during the festive season:
Ensure that your CV is up-to-date with your most recent achievements and skills. Whenever you apply for a job, you should tweak your professional profile to ensure that it covers the requirements of the job description.
Proofread your CV to ensure it is free of typos and grammatical errors.
Always include your contact details to allow the hiring manager to get back in contact with you.
Keep your professional social networking sites, such as LinkedIn, up to date. Recruiters may also browse through your profiles to ensure that you are who you say you are on your CV. So, ensure that your profile represents the true you. It is probably best to keep your other personal social media accounts private.
Recruiters are by far one of the greatest resources to have when looking for jobs. It is important to find a recruiter that specialises in your niche. Through them, you will receive opportunities that may not necessarily be available or advertised to the public.
Recruiters also provide the best interview tips as well as advice on how to edit your CV.
Often, candidates do not prepare for interviews until they get an invitation. You should prepare ahead of time, as sometimes hiring managers will want to act quickly, resulting in not having enough time to prepare for the interview.
If you are nervous and would like some help on how to prepare for an interview and what to expect, reach out to a recruitment consultant, they will assist you and help you prepare accordingly.
Since the pandemic and with technology advancing, the opportunities provided remotely are constantly increasing. Cloud computing and the internet encourage a collaborative workforce from any location. Employees can easily access applications, work emails, and so on. Remote work promotes a more flexible setup that can accommodate staff from all backgrounds and locations.
Having said that, you should ensure that you can productively work without having to be supervised. In addition to this, you should make sure you have a designated workspace that is clear and away from distractions.
Sifting through a never-ending list of job ads, repeatedly applying for roles, constantly posting your CV (which may not have been polished by a professional), or not having a recruiter to help guide you. All of the mentioned can negatively impact your job prospects.
The ideal recruitment consultant will be well-versed in your desired industry. They will get to know you and try to understand your strengths and interests, as well as what you are looking for, before placing you in roles that match those interests.
Recruiters can help you tailor your CV to the job and present yourself effectively. I.e., what to wear, tips to help you better face an interview, and how to portray yourself to the hiring manager. Recruiters communicate with hiring companies. Because of this, they will have inside knowledge to relay information to you.
In cases where candidates are currently employed but also actively searching for a new position, they may not want their current employer to know that they are actively looking for a new job. In situations such as this, it is beneficial to have a recruiter, so you do not have to post your CV publicly on job boards or forums.
Your recruiter will keep an eye out for any roles that match your interests and if they become available.
The common misconception surrounding contract work is that it is often viewed as less valuable when compared to permanent roles. However, those who prefer contract work over permanent positions may be doing so because they want to supplement their income while furthering their education, supporting their families, starting a new business, and so on. Contractual work also comes with a host of benefits. For example, more often than not, it comes with a higher salary.
Working in temporary positions can help you build your skills and experience. As technology advances, the need to adapt and progress your skills becomes increasingly important for long-term employability.
As opposed to permanent roles, contract work has far more flexibility over work hours. Additionally, you can take on work that will enable you to focus on your day-to-day life.
In most cases, people believe that contract work pays less. Although this may be the case for entry-level roles, it is not the same for the more skilled employees. Contract pay rates are often higher to compensate for the lack of long-term job security. Effectively, a contractor could earn as much as, if not more, in six months as opposed to the same role in a long-term position over the course of a year’s income.
Contract roles are in high demand, and this model is expected to continue to grow and evolve. In a lot of cases, companies have short-term projects that do not require full-time staff to be employed. Due to this, hiring companies are looking to find temporary specialists to come in and complete their projects, creating plenty of roles and opportunities in the process. As a result, temporary jobs will become available to go hand in hand with what you are looking for, your interests, skills, and experience.
Taking time off can be difficult in a permanent role, especially when compared to a contracting job. With contract roles, you can take breaks in-between jobs. However, with permanent positions, it can be awkward to schedule time off of work. Unlike in a permanent role, contractors will have an agreed end date for the projects they are working on to plan their private lives around.
Job hunting whilst already being employed can be a bit of a challenge. Looking for a job can be time-consuming at the best of times, but doing so while at your current setup is an added pressure. A pressure that requires you to be discreet as you do not want to lose your current job.
Do not discuss your intention to switch jobs with your co-workers because there is always the risk that this information will reach your superiors. Once management finds out, it could result in a toxic atmosphere and even being let go.
Do not use company devices to carry out non-work-related affairs. Work devices always leave a digital footprint. Instead, use a personal contact number, email address, and a non-work-issued device with your own data plan instead of company Wi-Fi.
List down your previous employers as your referees and let them know in advance that you are doing so.
Be sure to update your LinkedIn account with your most recent accomplishments and achievements. Make sure that you use an updated and professional photo.
Although you might feel dejected and like your current position is not the right fit for you. Try and continue to be a team player and maintain a positive attitude. Complete your tasks on time and remain professional—it is only a matter of time before you get an opportunity to land an interview and secure a new role. So be patient and bide your time.
Maintain a positive attitude and focus on moving forward. You’re probably dissatisfied with your current job, but focus on what you’ve gained and learned from your previous experiences. You might have even figured out what doesn’t work for you and what you want to avoid in your next role. Regardless of your situation with your current employer, you do not want to come across as unprofessional or immature when talking about your experience in your next interview. You could end up portraying yourself as being untrustworthy.
Make it clear that you would appreciate it if only the necessary people were involved in your job searching process.
Ensure that your interviews are scheduled during non-work hours. Continue to be productive at work and suggest a time when you are free to attend interviews. Additionally, don’t ask to be interviewed right after a meeting; this could throw you off as you could dwell on what just happened. Attempt to book an interview on a day off, or if you have to, do it over a lunch break, create as much time as possible to be mentally prepared.
Cover Letters and Their Purpose
A cover letter should consist of a page that is addressed to the interviewer and encloses your interest in the role you are applying for. Along with your contact information, it should include details that could be found on your CV.
The purpose of a cover letter is to market yourself by expressing your skills, qualifications, and experience (in relation to the job description). This is to set you apart from other candidates, proving you are the best fit for the role.
Writing a Cover Letter
Express your current employment status and why you are looking to work elsewhere
Every candidate has different reasons for choosing to apply for new roles. If you are currently employed, it is best to express the reason behind your decision to look elsewhere. Reasons could include wanting more experience, a change in work environment, or a personal interest.
Addressing your cover letter
Ensure that your letter is addressed to the appropriate hiring manager. If you find yourself in a situation where you do not know the name of your hiring manager, it is best to simply begin your letter with ‘To whom it may concern’.
Why should they choose you?
Use your cover letter as an opportunity to express why you are the best candidate for this role. Highlight your strengths, be it through your accomplishments, experience, skills, qualifications, or personality traits.
This is also a good chance to showcase the research you have done into studying the company, its culture, how it aligns with your interests and skills, and what you can bring to the table to enhance the company’s image and performance.
Grammar and spelling mistakes
Make sure that your letter is brief and free of grammatical errors and spelling mistakes. Think of a cover letter as a direct reflection of you as an employee and your attention to detail.
Closing Statements
Express your willingness to join the team and be a great addition to the company. Let them know that you are available to be contacted at any point and invite them to get back in touch with you.
A sample cover letter
Dear <<Name of Hiring Manager>> / To whom this may concern,
I am writing to you with regard to the advertisement for the role of Senior Project Manager on https://www.spinwellglobal.com/vacancies/vacancy-search-results.aspx Attached below is a copy of my CV.
Listed below are my qualifications and experiences that match the job description:
In my current/most recent role, my responsibilities included:
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at your convenience. My details are available on my CV and I look forward to hearing from you
Kind Regards,
<<Name>>
Telephone interviews are increasingly becoming the norm for a number of reasons; some might include those relating to location differences, costs, time, and more.
We’ll go over a few fairly common mistakes to avoid to help you with your next phone interview.
Although this may seem like an easy way to take down notes while speaking to the interviewer/hiring manager, it can also become difficult for the person on the other end to hear you. The risk of being misunderstood by the interviewer is not worth the risk.
Preparation is always key. Do your research into the company and find out about their morals and values.
Practise answering a few sample interview questions that may be available online. “Where do you see yourself in X years?” and “Tell me about yourself” are examples of such questions. Try not to read your answers off of your notes; you can start to sound unnatural and mechanical. By all means, have your bullet points and your CV in front of you as subtle reminders.
Have you ever been in a situation where you didn’t know where you stood after a phone call? If the interview went well, what the next step will be? It is always beneficial to let the interviewer know how keen and interested you are in the role and ask what to do next.
When asked a question, answer directly to what they’ve asked, because they’ll be asking it for a reason. Try not to talk around the question or give information that is irrelevant to what is being put forward to you. Rambling can cause the interviewer to lose interest and zone out. Therefore, keep your replies to under a minute, short, crisp, and to the point.
The lack of confidence you project to the interviewer will likely reflect on yourself as an inadequate candidate. Portray yourself with the utmost confidence and in a way that can assure success for the company. Be assertive with the ideas you put forward and let them know you are the right person for the job.