How to be Job Ready
Various things needed for getting hired
1. Do your research
Before applying for a job, do a deep dive into the company’s history, mission, and current successes and challenges. Your potential employer wants to see how you’ll help the company, and the specific team you’re applying to, meet its objectives. But you can’t do that without a thorough understanding of where the company is now and where it wants to go.
2. Have someone refer you
Networking is a must. Employers love to see candidates engaging in the industry and interacting with professional organizations. Also, when you network, you can build strong connections and develop long lasting relationships that can lead to referrals. If someone praises you as a professional, employers take notice. In fact, 60% of employers say they give referred candidates more attention and consideration than other candidates.
3. Make sure your resume matches the job description
Your resume must adhere to the role you are pursuing. You can’t use an accounting resume for a financial analyst role. Sure, accounting and finance are very similar, but when you are applying for positions, your resume needs to speak to the specific job post you are applying to. You should look at the qualifications and the duties in the job description, and tailor a specific resume to that.
4. Update your social media profiles
Is your LinkedIn profile organized and up to date? Do you use it as a place to demonstrate your intellectual curiosity and passion in your field? Have you scrubbed your entire social media? Have you Googled yourself? Are you following the companies you’re applying to on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram to see what public conversations they’re having to engage them appropriately?
5. Prepare for your interview-before and after
This part of the interview tends to get overlooked by the candidate, but if you ask the right questions you’ll be sure to stand out for the right reasons. One good thing to ask about is how the department collaborates with other relevant teams. If you’re applying for a job in the engineering department, for example, you’ll want to ask how that team collaborates with the product and design team and if they recognize any gaps between these teams. Make yourself shine by explaining the skills and experiences you can bring to bridge these gaps.
6. Own your strengths but also your weaknesses
Lots of candidates provide the same answer when asked about their greatest weakness: They’re too much of a perfectionist. While it might be true, it won’t help you stand out. Instead, identify a weakness that actually works for the job. For example, if you have a short attention span or have trouble sitting still, that wouldn’t be too much of a problem if you’re applying for a position that requires you to work in a fast-paced environment.
7. Avoid only focusing on yourself
Show up during the interview. Do your best to keep the focus on what you can do for the company rather than what you can gain by working for the company. For example, tell them that you are aware of a critical need and are now feeling challenged about finding the best way to fix it.
8. Have an elevator pitch ready
“Tell us about yourself” is a routine question. Prepare and rehearse a good 60- to 90-second response. Research shows a well-developed, well-articulated, personal narrative that refers to previous learning and experience and what you can bring to the team will ultimately set you apart. Don’t let this question surprise you.
9. Follow-up and remind them why they should hire you
Follow up, but don’t just send a standard issue “thank you” note. That is the equivalent of a limp handshake. It conveys a lack of real interest and even less passion for the job. It is a turnoff. Thank you notes must always demonstrate that you listened, you understand the company’s key issues, concerns and challenges, and you have the ability to help address them. You must always share your key take-away from the interview and how you will make a difference. Hiring managers are overworked and need to know that you can hit the ground running.
10. Remember Your Interview Etiquette
It’s essential to follow-up after a job interview. It’s a way to show your appreciation for being considered for the job. It’s also a way to reiterate your interest and share anything you neglected during the interview.
How to create nice Resume, What to include and what not to include?
A resume is a summary of your career, whether yours is just getting started or has been going on for years. Coming in at around one page in length (two only under specific circumstances), it showcases the jobs you’ve held and currently hold, the responsibilities you’ve taken on, the skills you’ve developed, and the qualities you bring to the table as an employee. Together, those things make it super easy for any hiring manager to see your qualifications and fit for a role.
Your resume won’t ever look exactly like someone else’s, nor should it. How you choose to format it, organize your information, and talk about specific experiences depends not just on your career path, but on your field, the job you’re applying for, the company that job is at, and more.
Here are the key items to create good Resume:
· Contact Information
· Opening Statement: Summary or Objective
· Work History
· Education
· Soft Skills and Technical Skills
· Certifications and Professional Memberships
· Achievements and Awards
· Additional Sections (Community Involvement, Volunteering, etc.)
Five things you must include in your Resume:
Every job hunter knows that a resume should show employment history, but to be truly successful in your job search, make sure you also include these five things on your resume. Competition for good employment is always fierce, and ignoring a few simple rules will get you passed over without a second look.
1. Contact information
Right underneath your name on the resume should be your mailing address, email address, and phone number.
2. Job objective
It’s important to tailor the Job Objective section of your resume to closely match the position being applied for and not be generic. The more your job objective seems to fill a company’s need, the better chance you have of getting an interview. The job they have should seem to be your life’s ambition. Use keywords. Customize the job objective to align with the position you’re applying for.
3. Career summary
We are all the sum of our experiences (and then some), and many believe that our past actions define who we are today. A career summary section should be a descriptive selling point distilled from your past accomplishments that emphasizes your future value to the potential employer. In it, you list key achievements, skills, and experience relevant to the job you’re applying for.
4. Awards, recognitions, and industry training
This section of your resume can say a lot about you. In it, list any awards received, industry seminars attended, and any other achievements that you consider relevant and that aren’t listed elsewhere.
5. Keywords in key places
There are many ways to say the same thing. Take keywords from the job description and insert them in your resume objective or goal section. Research the prospective employer’s mission statement and history to rephrase your experience.
Things not to put on your Resume:
Make sure your resume doesn’t include any of these unnecessary or controversial elements to give yourself the best chance of being invited for an interview:
· Too much information
· A solid wall of text
· Spelling mistakes and grammatical errors
· Inaccuracies about your qualifications or experience
· Unnecessary personal information
· Your age
· Negative comments about a former employer
· Details about your hobbies and interests
· Passive language
· Tiny text
· Miscellaneous extra content
