By There so many factors to consider as one prepares to find a suitable job in a highly diverse market.
Job titles and descriptions
To increase your chances of being hired in a specific company, have a good understanding of what different employers require. Always remember that job titles are not consistent and vary with different companies.
In this case, companies tend to refer to similar job functions different names, and it can be frustrating when you are looking up for new jobs. Do thorough research of the organizations that you wish to work for online and get to understand more about the job roles and the terms stipulated. After identifying your target employers, frequently check out the company’s job posting and get to know the titles used for the job you desire.
Decide if you want to work for a particular organization and apply for the job if your experience and skills match the advertised post. Remember that many employers use job titles to categorize positions in their organizations.
In this way, it is essential to use relevant job titles in your resume to give your prospective employer a quick review of your previous employment. Importantly, getting to know more about the job titles and descriptions will show you various positions that you can aspire for and the jobs you qualify for whenever you feel like changing your post in the future.
Reviewing salary trends
It is important to evaluate essential expenses and know what you have to earn to cater for all your costs. Thoroughly research the salary range in your target company and understand the amount of money you can honestly ask for during the interview.
Before you attend the job interview, set a salary range that you would be comfortable and happy with. To achieve this, ensure that you stalk various job vacancy websites that would help to give you a rough idea and estimate of what you are to earn based on your work experience years.
During the interview, make sure that you can live with the bottom end of the salary range given and make it clear to your employer if you cannot afford to live on the salary range offered. When asked about your salary expectations in the interview room, give a wide range. Give the hiring manager the reasons on why you should be higher on that salary range given by the company.
Support your reasons with previous accomplishments and show the manager that you can bring significant value to the company than other candidates, and for these reasons, you should receive higher pay. Always be confident in your skills and experience politely without being rude or arrogant.
Moreover, during the interview, always be psychologically prepared to walk away if the salary range is not realistic for you. Keep going with the job-seeking until something better comes up since accepting a lower number means that you will be unhappy, and it will have a negative impact on the way you feel about the job. Beware of the financial and non-monetary benefits available to you before signing any contractual agreement.
Must-haves for every job seeker
There are several things that every job seeker ought to have before applying for any other job.
Job interview questions
You should be able to answer the most common job interview questions appropriately. Most interviewers never miss to ask questions such as, “Tell me about yourself,” “How much do you know about this company?” and “Why should we hire you?” Be adequately prepared to answer such questions well without taking much time.
Confidence
If you are invited to an interview, confidence is one of the critical factors that will convince the hiring manager to hire you.
Show up to an interview when you are composed enough to answer the questions with composure. To achieve this, before leaving for the interview, eat right, do not take too much caffeine, and as you wait to get to the interview room, take a deep breath, and compose yourself.
Listening skills
Learn how to listen during the interview and wait for your turn to talk. During the interview, your body language says a lot to the hiring manager, and it is advisable to engage in active listening. This entails nodding and occasionally leaning forward when an interviewer is speaking. As a result, this will indicate to the interviewer that you are actively engaged in the interview.
To boost your attentiveness during the interview, make sure that you have enough sleep the night before the interview. Remember, in an interview with two candidates who have similar skills, capabilities, and experience, one who has perfect active listening skills has a higher advantage of being hired than the one who doesn’t have excellent listening skills.
Read More: Preparation for Finding a Job
Make eye contact
Maintaining good eye contact during the interview is an integral part of making a good impression. If you don’t make good eye contact, the interviewer might think that you are dishonest with whatever you are saying. To the hiring manager, making eye contact makes you look confident, friendly, and warm.
However, avoid staring too long at the interviewer and let the eye contact come naturally since staring might make the other person feel uncomfortable.
Professional picture
Your LinkedIn profile picture ought to be professional as it will serve to portray the kind of person you are before your prospective employers. Potential employers who want to know more about you based on the first impression you make online will look at your social media profile.
Always remember that your profile picture in social media platforms has the power to make or even break the first impression.
Well-tailored resume
Your resume should not contain clichés and should instead have action words. Tailor your resume to contain a specific position with accomplishments.
An attractive cover letter
Your cover letter ought to introduce you, express your interest in the mentioned position, and serves to impress your reader enough to land you an interview.
Proper grammar and punctuation
Note that most hiring managers and employers are unforgiving when it comes to even the slightest grammatical mistakes they find in cover letters and resumes. Write correctly using the apostrophe well and learn to differentiate simple words such as there, they’re, and they’re.
