Landing the proper job is one of the most essential steps in your career, but it can be pretty challenging when you have many other equally qualified candidates to compete with. In addition to developing a solid resume and cover letter, you also need to make sure that your attitude demonstrates any strengths or assets that might not come across on paper. With that understanding, we will now examine the ways you can build distinctions between you and your competition.
Building the Perfect Cover Letter
A cover letter acts as an opening to your resume that lets you make a strong first impression. A cover letter generally consists of a few paragraphs that talk about your skills, work history, and past achievements. It is necessary not to make it overly creative in an attempt to stand out, so keep it concise and professional.
Creating the Right Resume
When putting together a resume, there are some critical tips that should be observed. Help with your resume should always be welcome, so don’t hesitate to seek second and third opinions to make sure you’re communicating the best possible version of yourself.
Writing a resume can be challenging, but it becomes much more difficult if you’re writing for the wrong type of audience. It is necessary to recognize who you are drafting this resume for. Does your resume go straight to a hiring manager, or will it be submitted through a job search website? Is there any other person that may see this document before someone makes the final decision? It’s a wise move to tailor your resume for the audience who will be reading it so that you can ensure that your qualifications meet the requirements they are seeking.
What Should Appear on Your Resume?
When applying for a job, remember that your resume is an overview of why you are suitable for the position. Write and design it in such a way that it is both clean and inviting to read while communicating all of your greatest attributes.
In regards to formatting, recruiters and HR managers agree: SIMPLE IS BEST. Avoid colorful fonts or other elements that get in the way of reading your resume.
To ensure that your recent college graduate resume is noticed, place your education first. Make sure to include a GPA and any achievements on the resume. Or, if you have three years of professional work experience, restructure it from being listed at the bottom to prioritized as number one. When preparing or writing an employer’s resume, make sure that there are specific verbs that may catch the eye of your employer.
Whether a resume should be one page or more in length is dependent on the job you are applying for. In general, it should be one page, but if an applicant is unsure of their length, they may want to seek help from a career coach or resume builder.
Mastering the Interview
Preparing for your big interview can be overwhelming, but if you pay attention, are confident in yourself, and come across as knowledgeable, you will be well on your way to nailing the job.
Attire
One of the first steps in an interview is to dress appropriately. Males should wear a buttoned-up shirt and tie, with appropriate shoes as well. Females may choose a mix between blouses, slacks, skirts, or dress pants for their attire.
Additionally, you should always wear a suit jacket to the interview. Many people believe that “business casual” means an employee or candidate does not need to be dressed formally for an interview. This is not true. Stick to wearing professional-looking colors, including shades of gray and black, navy blue, brown, or solid white. Make sure your suit jacket matches the rest of your clothing – either pants or skirt.
The Preparation
After deciding on the right outfit, it’s time to develop an interview strategy to help you come across well. Knowing the company and what they’ll be looking for is one of the best ways to make a good impression.
Crafting a professional approach to an interview starts by brainstorming questions you might be asked. Additionally, preparation is vital before the big day, so take time for research—plan for the interview by coming up with questions you anticipate and also want to ask. Prepare by studying online ( available company information) and practicing your answers aloud before the day arrives.
Accepting Nervousness
Naturally, everyone feels some level of nervousness during a job interview. But if you obsessively think about all your nerves or fear that they are too obvious, don’t expect to impress the recruiter this way.
Before an interview, it is helpful to remember that whoever is interviewing you likely feels some anxiety too. These feelings aren’t all negative, as they help keep you alert and engaged during the process.
If you are feeling nervous or unprepared, consulting with an interview coach may be the best decision. Interview coaches can help identify any trouble areas and will give you advice on how to prepare for your first interview. Overall, keep your expectations realistic and have a positive attitude even if you are anxious about it.
Extra Job Help
If you cannot find a job selling yourself as an individual, there are still more avenues to help place you within the ranks of a high-paying professional company. Temp agencies offer temporary positions when your prospects seem too competitive or if you want to explore employment without committing long term.
Rather than working under a single company, you’ll be an employee through the temp agency and therefore subject to the contract that you sign once they agree to take you on. Temp agencies are often a great way to gain experience within a competitive industry or make professional contacts that can benefit you long into the future. Try to pick one that specializes in the field you’re pursuing so you can utilize any relations made during this time.
