Set yourself on the right path with these quick 26 tips.
These need to littered throughout your application documents and referenced in your interviews, using statistical evidence as much as possible. For example: “During my tenure as restaurant manager, I increased profit by 35 per cent.”
Personal branding is an important part of modern job hunting. Make sure your messaging is consistent, visible and any untoward online information about you has been removed. (Refer to Social Media below.)
Follow up your interviews around a week later with a call. Politely ask for an update on the hiring process and check if they would like any additional information from you.
Empower yourself and wear something you love to interviews, such as your favourite jacket, new shoes or those lucky socks you reserve for special occasions.
Attend industry events – such as talks, panel discussions and seminars ¬– then stick around after and network. Here are some great tips on how to do it appropriately.
Get in touch with ones who have strong networks in your industry and let them know that you are looking for opportunities. Interestingly, acquaintances will often be more helpful than close friends.
Joblessness can bring on laziness; so set daily goals and don’t put your feet up until they’re achieved. For example, three applications a day.
While it’s okay to polish your personal brand a little to your advantage, don’t go overboard. If you lie in your application, you’ll get found out pretty quickly, which could actually harm your brand.
Spend heaps of time researching the business you are gong to. This should go without saying, but our feedback from employers is that failure do so is common.
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Include these near the top of your resume and make them job specific. For a retail role, this may include inventory management, end-of-day processing and, if it’s before Christmas, wrapping skills.
When writing cover letters, replicate the language in the applicable job advertisements, including tone and keywords.
Leading up to each interview, write down five reasons why you are perfect for the job and read them aloud. Then repeat them multiple times on the way to the interview. It’ll put you in a positive frame of mind.
Don’t be afraid to make notes during interviews. It’ll show that you’re heavily engaged and keen on detail. Use a small, clean notebook, not your phone.
To make your CV easy to read, your sections should be in the following order: contact details, personal summary, core industry skills, professional history, education and references.
If close to securing a role, write a personal summary and send it to your references. This will prime them on what you want them to say.
Remember, you’ll need to ask these during your interview. Be sure to prepare the right ones and don’t just wait untill the end of the interview to ask them.
Practice makes perfect, so spend time rehearsing interview answers in front of your housemate, family member or even your bathroom mirror.
Employers will look at your social media accounts, so make sure it's free of anything that could jeopardise your chances. Update your privacy settings if you have to.
To save time, create templates of your resume and cover letter for the different types of roles you are going for. Make sure you tailer each one for each application though.
Catch one of these to your next interview. It will make you relaxed and allow you time to read over your notes so they are fresh in your mind.
Work pro bono for a charity. It’ll help build your experiences and skill sets (not to mention doing a social good!).
Write a detailed list of everything you want in a job: title, ideal salary, preferred location and the types of employer benefits you’re looking for. This will guide your job search and help you compare opportunities.
Avoid copying generic slabs from other people’s applications. Always look at your strengths and how you’re different from everyone else.
Structure to your days and keep regular sleeping hours. This will help with productivity and prevent you getting “work lag” when start work again.
Photography: Liana Hardy
