One of the most critical moments in life is searching for a job , whether you are a fresh graduate , a hired employee looking to change careers, or a jobless employee who left the company due to workforce reduction , it is very important to follow different steps and techniques to maximize your chances of getting a new job that matches your profile and expectations .
In this article , we are going to explore the different techniques of effective job search some of them
apply for all kinds of profiles while others are specific according to each profile .
Expectations can be set according to your level of experience and field , for instance, if you are a fresh
graduate looking for a job you need to start with entry-level jobs and probably enrich your CV with
internships which might add a little more experience . Also, it is an excellent idea to assess your soft and hard skills such as languages , key computer software, and communication skills , it is never a bad idea to go for more training and to sit for interesting International exams such as language exams which might represent a true asset to your curriculum vitae.
For more experienced employees , it is good to auto-evaluate experience and skills , read about key
trends in the market and perform some refresh training which might bring real added value : For
example , you might be working as a presales consultant and you would need to change your career to become a direct sales account manager, in this case, it is an excellent idea to perform a training on
customer relationship management key software .
Your CV represents your first contact with your potential employer so make it impressive and attractive .
Some job seekers prepare up to a 10-page CV with the belief it would make an excellent impact while this is not always the case , the key here is respecting the required information in the CV and adding any extra information that might bring added value such as achievements like winning big deals , working with big customers , participating in big projects and so on.
Do not forget to mention in your CV the key skills you have acquired such as languages , computer skills , soft skills, and any other specific skills .
Also, pay attention to your CV template in case you are applying for a job abroad , always check the
requirements of the country you are applying for : For example , you cannot add a photo in an American or a Canadian CV when it is accepted for the European CV.
This tip does not apply to all the kinds of jobs but it is very well-appreciated , it simply consists of
documenting some examples of your work and choosing the best ones , this mainly applies to jobs related to marketing , copywriting , translation and design and any other field in which it is possible to
document your job. This tip works very well , as most of the employers in these fields tend to request
samples of work to evaluate them so this step cannot be neglected .
It is not a surprise to see the number of jobs posted on the Internet daily, there is a big
number of sites dedicated to job search and career development. All that is needed is to sign up to
these websites add your CV and key information and dedicate a daily slot for job applications , do not
hesitate to use filters while performing your search to apply for jobs that are aligned with your
experience and expectations .
There is no doubt that human networking is one of the most powerful weapons in business , not only
does it help to exchange ideas and connect with more people but it is the backbone of success in any
business , a bigger network is translated into more information , more communication, and more
opportunities . That's why it is very important for any professional to develop his network : Developing
your network can be done through connecting with colleagues at work or at university , attending clubs that are specialized in social activities, or student clubs such as clubs dedicated to technology ,
marketing and project management and through connecting and communicating with your colleagues in these clubs , developing professional networks on professional social media websites is also an excellent idea as it offers you the opportunity to keep up-to-date with the latest job offers , as well as market trends and trainings and we should not forget the basic form of networking which is with family, relatives and friends .
You might be an excellent professional with a great set of technical skills but if you don't improve your
networking skills , you would struggle to succeed professionally .
A great network makes you noticed which can offer you more job opportunities and for entrepreneurs, it can increase the chances of success of their projects and it would increase their number of customers.
It is highly important to prepare for your job interview , the secret recipe for a successful job interview is trying to cover all potential job interview questions with potential answers showing the best version of yourself along with respecting the job requirements and specifications . There is no miracle here , by practice you can reach amazing results and the recommendation here is to dedicate a daily slot of 30 to 60 minutes for interview preparation . First start by preparing your content and memorizing it , then work on practicing interviews applying the content that you learned with public speaking and
communication skills both verbal and non-verbal communication and last try reinforcing your self-
confidence , actually the quality of your answers during an interview process matters but your
confidence when answering matters more .
One of the most common questions asked when preparing for an interview is : How to answer when we are asked a question for which we haven't prepared or for which we do not know the answer ?
There are different techniques to address such an embarrassing situation , the most efficient one is
answering to this question by asking another question such as : Would you please explain further ?
Would you please give more details ? Would you kindly repeat the question ? This technique offers you more time to think of the answer . Also, you can speak slowly to gain more time as well.
If you still cannot answer , you can tell the interviewer that you are not familiar with the concept. The
The most important point is to keep a calm and confident attitude . The interviewer might forget your
answers but he would never forget your reactions.
You can always ask for feedback from trusted people around you and from Human resources employees with whom you had interviews or even your old teachers . Constructive feedback helps us boost further our skills and identify improvement areas and potential opportunities to upgrade professionally.
To conclude , the job search journey is one of the backbones of career development while moving
towards the direction of getting the job of our dreams we might use effective job search techniques
to help us develop and gain new skills , expand our network, and improve our communication . So , one of the key lessons of this journey is turning challenges into opportunities.