Five Ways to Help You Land Your Next Job

It’s a very competitive job market out there lately. Companies often won’t post a closing date for a job application, instead they’re saying they’ll only accept the first 100 applications. So if you’re looking for your next job you want to make sure you’re prepared in advance and that you’re doing everything you can to make sure you have an edge.

One cannot overemphasize the importance of having an impeccable and impressive resume that catches someone’s attention. You have about 5 – 10 seconds to grab a reader’s attention so you want to make sure they see something that makes them want to read more.

You always want to update your resume for each position you apply for, and make sure that your skills and responsibilities match what they’re looking for. State an objective that will work well for the particular position that you’re seeking. Use bullet points and action words to help grab someone’s attention.

Make sure to include your most successful accomplishments and use quantifiable measurements whenever possible. For example, you never want to say you improved sales. Instead you want to say that you improved sales by 10 percent in the first quarter of the year. Obviously you’ll want to make sure you spell check for any errors.

One of the worst mistakes you can make is having a typo on a resume. You should also make sure you have at least one other person proofread your resume before submitting it.

If you get an offer to interview you absolutely have to do your research on the company. You cannot go into an interview without knowing about the company, its mission, the annual operating budget, number of staff and the department you’ll be working in. Google the business and make sure you read any current press releases.

Find out if there are any current problems or challenges. If you read that they have low employee engagement, make sure to point out your experience in employee onboarding and any internal committees you’ve served on.

Even if you have the best resume out of every single applicant, you won’t get a job offer unless you have a good interview. If you haven’t interviewed in a while, you should practice. You can ask a friend to do a mock interview with you or just practice in the mirror, but you should always practice.

Create questions based on the research you conducted and be prepared to state your qualifications and strengths in a concise, professional and engaging manner.

This should go without saying, but you want to wear your best outfit for your interview. If it’s a managerial position you will definitely need to wear a suit. Even if it’s an entry level job you should consider dressing up. They say to dress for the job you want, not the job you have – or, in this case, interviewing for.

Although some people claim this tradition is no longer necessary, it is still highly recommended. Although you may send an electronic thank you through email as opposed to a handwritten card these days, the sentiment is the same. Following up with a thank you will show your interviewers that you’re serious about the position and you’re still interested.

Yes, it’s a competitive market out there, but people rarely interview for just one job. Job seekers and employers both need to act fast and be diligent about following up. Sending a quick note to let your potential employer know you’re serious about wanting to work there can make a big difference.

In summary, make sure you stand out, look professional and are well prepared for your interview. Dress for success, send a follow up thank you card to your interviewers and get ready to start your new job in no time.