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.

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.