Get Hired With These Simple Steps

In a sea of applicants, it can be hard to get yourself seen, heard, and recognized as the brilliant asset that you could be to a possible employer.  While there may not be a magic bullet, there are many ways to help make sure you stand out in a crowd so you can get hired for the job you want most.  As an experienced professional that spends my days placing applicants just like you with the right employers for them, I’ve got a few tips that can help you.  So let’s dive right in!

STEP 1: A WELL-POLISHED RESUME GETS THE INTERVIEW

First of all, keep in mind that a resume won’t get you hired.  The purpose of an effective and well-polished resume is to get you an interview.  Once you get in the door, you’ll need your winning personality and skills to get you the job.  So while you’re crafting the pages that sum up your skills and qualifications, always be mindful that you aren’t getting hired by those pages, just getting enough attention to get in the door.

Now that we have that out of the way… what does it take to make up a good resume?

Tony Beshara, author of Unbeatable Résumé says that you need to keep it simple.  Most of the time, your resume will be read within 10-30 seconds, so it’s important to keep it brief, but powerful.  Some key ways that you can do this include:

• As tempting as fancy fonts can be, stick to traditional fonts that are easy to read and are at a legible size.  The main font should be around 12 pts while the headings shouldn’t be more than 20pts.
  
• Prepare it in a Microsoft Word or PDF format, they can easily be emailed and viewed on a computer as well as printed and read in person.
• List your previous jobs with the most recent being at the top. Make sure you include the full name of the company, as well as the timeframe you worked there, your job title, and your accomplishments.
• Keep it to 2 pages or shorter.

Some other tips to keep in mind:

• If you include an objective or profile, make sure you tailor it to the job and company that you’re applying for.
• Make sure you include all of your current contact information.
• Try to avoid using family members as references.  It’s assumed their opinions would be biased.
• Design it in a way that makes it easy to skim over
• Get professional help putting your resume together from companies like ours: https://sceniccitystaffing.com/services_list/resume-service

STEP 2: PERFECT YOUR INTERVIEW TACTICS TO GET HIRED

Nailing the interview is probably the hardest and most intimidating part of job-seeking.  You never quite know what to expect, or what they are looking for from you, or even who will be conducting the interview when you arrive.  Will it just be an HR gatekeeper, or your future boss, or maybe even both?

And if you don’t bring your best game with you, then you can bet you won’t be getting the job.  So what does it take to pull it off?  Let’s look:

• Research the company before you go.  Make sure you know what they do, and if possible, what their company values are.
• If you know who will be interviewing you then take the time to research them too.  Knowing what matters to them and their background in the industry and with the company can help you get hired.
• Prepare your own questions that you would like to ask.  Making sure you’re going to be a candidate for the position is a two-way responsibility, so you need to know that they meet your criteria for a good job as well.
• Be mindful of your non-verbal communication.  Don’t get distracted during the interview and make sure you nod, gesture, and stay engaged through the whole conversation.  Maintain good posture by sitting up straight.  Take the time to perfect your handshake so that it’s firm, but not overly hard.
• One important question to ask is when you can expect a follow-up, or when the company plans to make a decision.  This not only indicates that you are desirable and have other opportunities but also helps you figure out when it is appropriate to reach back out to them and check on when they plan to make a decision.

STEP 3: DON’T SKIP THE FOLLOW-UP

Many job-seekers will do the interview, and then that’s where they’ll stop.  This can be a big mistake when you want to get hired for the job.  Follow up with a thank-you email, letter, or note that you send to each person that took the time to interview you and consider you as a viable candidate for the position.  Use this opportunity to also indicate that you paid attention to the interview and the company by communicating a highlight that you thought went well or something about the company that you found particularly attractive.

However, there is no need to reach out every day or week.  If you got the job or are wanted back for a follow-up interview, they will be sure to let you know.  The most important that is that you don’t burn bridges even if you lost this opportunity.  You never know when another position will open up, and you want to be a viable candidate so you get another oppportunity to get hired.

NOW IT’S TIME TO FIND A JOB!