The employment marketplace is a crowded sector with strong competition for every job that becomes available. Being best-equipped in both the application process and interview process will give you an added advantage over competitors so take these 7 job hunting tips to heart when looking for work.

1.  Use business-related publications to your advantage.

Most business-sectors have a magazine or publication that provides the current news related to that business-sector. Keep a keen eye on the one for your industry, if you read of companies expanding then send your resume into them. This can be particularly advantageous if there is a new HR Manager quoted, you can then send him/her a letter of congratulations on his/her appointment along with your resume.

2.  Be open to change.

Finding the perfect job can be a rarity, so welcome new challenges and don’t make yourself immune to new ideas.

3.  Don’t just email your resume and hope to get a call.

To give yourself the best shot at getting interviews and finding vacancies you need to be proactive and not just rely on finding a job via the internet. You can find roles at job fairs or through word of mouth via your network of friends and ex-colleagues.

4.  Be sure to register with a recruitment firm.

Recruitment firms will be eager to find you a job, after all they earn their money by getting you a job, so register with one. Do research in advance to see if there is a recruitment agency that specializes in your area of expertise.

5.  Evaluate your resume and cover-letter.

If you are not getting called for interviews that you think you are a good match for, check your cover-letter and resume to make sure there are no errors on the cover letter or spelling mistakes on the resume. The slightest inaccurate detail could impact your success-rate so ensure grammar is correct. Make sure to read How To Write Cover-Letters That Will Grab The Recruiters Attention along with How To Write A Resume.

6.  Don’t let stress follow you into your interview.

Stress affects us all in one way or another and job searching can be a particularly stressful time in your life, however it is vital that you come across calm and composed in your interview. Recruiters and Hiring Managers would be wary of hiring someone that they may perceive to be unable to handle pressure.

7.  Look the part.

Make sure to treat each job interview with professionalism, know the appropriate dress-code for the company and dress accordingly.

Stay determined and try to remain positive, stay calm in the face of any disappointment, it will make the sweet taste of success taste all the better when you eventually do find a job.

Coping With Rejection After A Job Interview

From a recruiters view the hardest part of the interview process is contacting applicants to tell them they have been unsuccessful in their quest for a job. Similarly it can be a distressing time to realize that you were not the best applicant for a job and that someone was chosen over you, particularly if you had your heart set on that particular job. Unfortunately for every one person hired there will be many more passed over for the job so at least you can be assured that it is nothing personal, just that the company found someone who is a closer match for their needs than you, and the many more who applied.

Requesting feedback is a way to enhance your employment chances at your next interview so try to find out whether your rejection was due to a lack of experience, through poor interviewing skills or for any other factor. Take constructive criticism professionally and use the criticism as a way to improve your candidacy for other job opportunities. It is important not to get too despondent and to refocus on the task in hand, that being, getting a new job.

If the job interview was for a promotion in your current company be careful not to harbor a grudge against the interviewer, aside from sowing a lack of professionalism it may impact your future chance should other jobs become available with the company that you might tempt you to apply.

You can console yourself with the fact that you at least got interviewed for the position, meaning there was sufficient skills and experience on your resume to warrant being interviewed, you can bet hundreds more will have applied and not quirked enough interest to be brought forward to interview stage.

If you had an interview with another company you should still send a thank-you letter despite being unsuccessful. Maintaining a good relationship is vital as other jobs could arise that may be more suited to your strengths and you don’t want to burn any bridges thus harming your chances of getting future roles with them.

There are many factors that come into play when hiring someone, these include (but are not limited to);

Salary

Education

Experience

Availability

Future career-path

Interview skills

Finding the person who ticks the right boxes in each and every one of those categories is not easy so take solace in the fact that there will be many more people getting rejection calls and rejection letters than just you and stay focused with a positive attitude to your next interview.

5 Tips For Recruiters

Successful recruiters not only have the ability to charm clients they must also have a flair for winning over job applicants to help ensure they are seen as their recruitment partner of choice. More often than not, career-hunters usually register with more than one recruitment agency which makes the ability to win over candidates extremely important.

1. Meet applicants on time.

If a job applicant has taken time off work to come to your office to meet then the least you can do is to meet them promptly. Leaving applicants sitting in a reception area when they may be under pressure to get back to their own jobs will

2. Offer applicants tea/coffee/water on arrival.

Common courtesy goes a long way in the recruitment business so try to ensure that each applicant is offered a cup of coffee, tea or glass of water upon arrival.

3. Be flexible in your interview availability.

For some applicants, interviewing during normal office hours will be difficult, ease their burden by making yourself available to meet outside of these hours.

4. Provide advice on the applicant’s interviewing skills.

Be prepared to give constructive feedback that will enhance the applicants interviewing skills, this will benefit both the applicant and you, so take time to assist in this area.

5. Be thorough in discussing job specs.

All too often recruiters simply print off a job spec and give to the candidate without outlining the important factors within the spec. As the recruiter you should know exactly what the hiring manager is looking for so spend time passing this information over to the applicant as you examine the critical areas within the spec.

With minimal cost you can reap maximum benefit to your career as a recruiter, professionalism may dictate that the points I have outlined are already in place but in case they are not then they are certainly worth implementing.

8 Questions To Consider Before Accepting A Job Offer.

When you receive a job offer you should be delighted with yourself for being chosen above all other applicants as the best candidate following the interview process. Even if the salary you are offered matches or exceeds your expectations there are other important criteria to consider before officially accepting the offer letter. This post looks at 8 questions definitely worth pondering over before making your mind up on the job offer.

1.  Will the role stimulate you and allow you to look forward to going to work?
2. Is there a future career-path associated with the position?
3.  Will you be thrown in at the deep-end or will training be provided?
4.  Does the benefits package match your expectations?
5.  Is the location of the company in a reasonable distance from your home?
6.  Have you met your new boss yet, if so did you get on well with him /her ?
7.  Are you happy with the hours of work?
8.  Can you picture yourself staying with the company for a significant period?

If you answer all these questions in a favorable manner then you can be confident that the job is ideal for you, even if you can only answer 5 or 6 of the 8 questions favorably then the job is still worth considering. If unsure about whether to accept a job then get a blank piece of paper and write the advantages and disadvantages of the job down, once written weigh up the importance of each issue before coming to a final decision on whether to accept it or not.

Successful job interviews can hinge on the slightest aspect of your interview, having all the right answers is one thing but they alone may not be enough to guarantee you get the job, today we look at some of the other critical factors that interviewers take into consideration before deciding on who to select for the job.

Punctuality.

You may have heard 100 times already about how important it is to arrive to your interview on time, well in that case, here is the 101st time. It is vital not just from the prospective employers viewpoint but also to allow you to relax and collect your thoughts before going in to meet the interviewer. You do not want to be rushing in to an interview as this will display a lack of professionalism and may harm your chances of getting the job.

Precision.

Being precise in your answers will be of great benefit to you, being able to zone in on facts and figures will show in real terms the value you might add to the company. An example might be “Your resume states that sales is one of your strengths, can you expand on that?”, “Certainly, last year I led the sales team to a 50% increase in sales over the previous year and won one account alone which brought in revenue exceeding $50,000.”

Positivity.

Any negative comments you make, no matter how honest, will reflect poorly on you so stay positive even in your comments on former employers. It is also important to stay positive when discussing the role you are being interviewed for, a positive demeanor will show a relaxed, confident job applicant and this confidence will reflect favorably on your employment chances.

Professionalism.

Professionalism is defined as “the conduct, aims or qualities that mark a profession or professional person”, in a job interview the interviewer will be analyzing your professionalism from the minute you walk through his/her door. He/She will be considering your professionalism in terms of your appearance, conduct and attitude so the importance maintaining your professionalism at all times is critical.

Politeness.

Sometimes overlooked, a polite friendly manner will allow you to build a bond with the interviewer, you want to leave a favorable impression on the interviewer, being courteous will allow you to do so. If the interviewer has a decision to make between two equally-suited candidates he/she will choose the polite candidate over an impersonal one 9 times out of 10.

Preparation.

Preparing for an interview means finding out what type of interview it is, being aware of the job titles of those you are meeting and having a solid understanding of the company’s history along with a having a thorough understanding of the job specification. The more preparation you put in will be worth it in the end as it will help you provide a composed confident job interview giving you an edge over rivals.

Focusing on these factors along with being prepared for difficult interview questions coupled with salary negotiation tips will provide you with the perfect platform to ensure your success in the recruitment process.