With the way the job market has looked over the past several years, many people have had a hard time getting positions. When you apply for a job, you want your resume to be at the top of the pile. This guide will show you hoe to write a resume that will not end up in the trash pile.
Dress well when you go on an interview. The best advice is to ‘dress as a boss’. Go in dressed as if you are the boss of the person in the position you want. This can be a great way to stand apart from the pack in any interview setting, and shows you are serious about the job.
Instead of accepting that you do not have what it takes to land a specific job, ask yourself what you can do to become a better candidate. For example, if you lack experience with a certain software program commonly used in your chosen field, look for online tutorials and how-to books. MIT and other prestigious universities offer a variety of free, non-credit online courses. Topics range from marketing research to XHTML, and completing the programs demonstrates your willingness to go the extra mile.
After you are done with your interview, be sure to send a thank you letter to the person who interviewed you. This not only is an act of graciousness, but also shows that you are following up in a professional manner. This will make a great first impression if you did not make one already.
It’s crucial that you make an effort to condinually upgrade your job skills. Technology and practices in business are always changing. You have to stay on top of the changes. You could for instance go to seminars, conventions or even take classes. When prospective employers see that you care, they will be more interested in you.
If you plan to use current or former coworkers and supervisors as a business or personal reference, stay in touch. Maintaining contact with these people is important because it ensures that you have accurate, current information. Periodically verify your contacts’ telephone numbers, mailing address, current place of employment and email address. Providing incorrect contact information to a potential employer may hurt your chances for success.
If you are currently unemployed, making finding a job your new “job.” Essentially, that means you should spend the same number of hours in a day looking for a new position as you did at your previous job. This is often hard to do, but if you establish a routine for yourself early on, you will be able to succeed.
Sign up for LinkedIn. This is something everyone should already have in place, whether they have a job or not. LinkedIn allows you to network with people you know and those you don’t, giving you access to job opportunities, information about companies and the ability to learn from your peers in the field.
As tempting as it may be to create an ornate resume, keep it as professional as you can. Do not use colored paper or a different type of font thinking that it may stand out. This will come across as too flashy, as companies will simply toss these to the side.
Have a mock interview. Enlist a friend to help ask you questions an interviewer would ask. That way, you can get a critique on your answers and your body language. This is a great way to make you feel comfortable during the real interview, because you can fix any flaws you have.
You should try networking with other people who are in the field you’re interested in. Networking uses techniques that can assist you to garner professional relationships that can be beneficial to you. Get involved with the industry you choose by attending different seminars, conferences and webinars, as well as any industry networking events. As such, you can become a go to guy in your industry.
If money is really short, be willing to work any job you can find while you search for the perfect opportunity to ensure you don’t run out of funds. You can be a bartender or a server to get by, for example.
If you are asked about your weaknesses during a job interview, try to be as positive as possible in your answer. For example, don’t say, “I’m very disorganized.” Say something about how you are more focused on being flexible than on organization but that you use tools to keep yourself organized anyway.
It is difficult to create a resume that sets you apart from all of the other candidates. That is why it is important that you take all of the advice here into consideration. There is no reason that you should not be the first one in line when it is time for interviews.
