Every job seeker secretly hopes his or her job search will take the
least amount of time and effort. But in reality, the process hardly
ever runs smoothly. It can take a few weeks or even months, and you
probably won't get every single perk you want. Along the way, you don't
hear back from the companies you think are perfect matches for you, and
it takes weeks to get an interview after sending in your application.
You
probably spend a few days (at least) wringing your hands over whether
or not you'll ever find a job. No matter who you are and what industry
you're in, anxiety is just part of the process. But everyone has a
different breaking point, and after sending in so many CVs, you're bound to start asking, "I've sent out hundreds of applications -- why isn't anyone hiring me?"
Here's
a checklist for you to review so you can either put your mind at ease
("It's not me; it's them") or revamp your searching technique ("Well,
it might be me"). Maybe the factors slowing down your job hunt are not
under your control. But it doesn't hurt to double-check.
1. Location
Before you start blaming yourself for not getting any leads, take a
look at your surrounding area. Not all cities have the same job market.
There are some places that offer more of what you like and offer better
career prospects than others. Whether or not you want to or can
relocate for your job is a personal matter, but you should consider the
unemployment rate of your region when assessing how your hunt is going.
2. Which jobs
When you look at how many applications you've sent out and how many
you've heard back from, you might want to divide the list into two
columns: jobs you expected to get and jobs you applied for on a whim.
Many job seekers decide to send out applications for jobs they know
they're not qualified for, whether they just want a paycheque or they
think it would be fun to try a completely unrelated field -- even
though they know the odds of getting a call are slim. These passes are
perfectly acceptable, but don't consider their failures to be, well,
failures. The jobs that align with your experience, education and
skills are the ones that should be the gauge of your success.
3. The CV
Here's where a lot of things go wrong. That one piece of paper, digital
or hard copy, causes a lot of problems. Here's a quick rundown of what
you should check:
- Is your contact information (including your name) listed so the employer can call or e-mail you?
- Did you target the content to the job posting? Use the same phrasing,
list experience that correlates to the requirements and give specific
examples of achievements that will intrigue the employer.
- Did you attach your CV as a document in an e-mail? For security
reasons, many employers won't open attachments, so your CV might go
unread. In addition to the attachment, paste it in the body of the
e-mail to be safe.
- Was there a cover letter attached to it? If there is no cover letter,
this can mean some hiring managers won't take it into consideration.
4. The interview
If you've been called in for interviews already, then you're doing
something right. Not getting a job after interviewing doesn't mean you
blew it -- it means you made the shortlist, but someone else might have
been a better fit. But it never hurts to review your performance.
An
interview is often a chance for the employer to see if you fit into the
company culture. Are you too rigid for a casual environment? Are your
verbal communication skills good enough for your position? Hiring
managers also use this opportunity to learn about you in a way they
can't through a CV. They want you to elaborate on your experience and
answer any questions they still have.
To make a good impression,
preparation is key. You don't want to sound rehearsed, but practicing
your answers to questions, your handshake, how you'll sit in the chair
and anything else you're likely to encounter will help you. If you can
avoid being the deer in the headlights, you'll be able to focus on the
quality of your answers.
5. Appearance
Not to be superficial, but presentation means a lot. From the layout of
your CV to the wrinkles in your interview attire, your professionalism
is being judged. How are you presenting yourself to employers?
Don't
start your cover letter with something like "Hey!" and don't end it
with a smiley-face emoticon. Your CV shouldn't be full of ClipArt
butterflies and smiley faces. And you should leave some white space
between sections so that the entire page isn't a single paragraph of
text. The hiring manager needs to see a job candidate who takes the job
seriously, even before you're called in for an interview.
During
an interview, you should dress appropriately. That doesn't mean trying
too hard -- say, a tuxedo for an administrative assistant's job -- but
it does mean dress for the environment and look like you spent time
preparing. If you're told the environment is business casual, then you
don't need a suit, but you still need to iron your trousers.