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When it comes to job interviews, the most important
thing you can do is reach a conclusion about what counts and how you present
yourself. The beginning of any interview process should not be marked mainly by
fear and stage fright. Due to the fact that a person actually gets called for
an interview, and the feeling of being so close to getting the job, usually
tends to overwhelms us. That feeling of uncertainty sure isn’t helpful, but it
helps to know that it does go away, somewhere around the fourth time you sit in
front of a potential employer whose job is to ask you some seemingly
meaningless questions. Although some of those questions might not be related to
the job, each of them had a point, meaningful enough to the person who is
hiring. In addition, some other things that can get you to a job that you have
always dreamt about or you merely need, must also be noted and mentioned.
1. Connections and
networking. When I first started looking
for a job, basic destinations for first time job seekers, such as myself, were
primarily internet ads and websites - places where employers search for
potential employees and vice versa. This seemed like a perpetual struggle of
sending CVs and receiving no answers, which eventually lead to me physically
visiting local companies and possible employers. I do have to mention something
important here, however, and that is the art of networking which can get you to your first job interview, sometimes with less
effort.
Mingling, meeting, chatting, networking and
connecting, can be proven to work much better than simply applying for a job
add. Seeing as it can be easier and more successful, it is sometimes considered
to be a short cut to the interview.
The secret lies within the human nature and it consists
of the hirers needing to see and hear the candidate, face to face.
Simultaneously, they will ask around in need of references or recommendations.
Even if your CV is flawless, the person who had better and more trustworthy
references, even if he had less experience, is most likely to get the job.
2. Be in your best
light. The ideal appearance for an interview - everything
contrary to pessimism and fright. You want to show that you can lighten up the
room without making the business meeting seem ridiculous and unprofessional.
The key is to be confident and unique, while staying confident and responsible
for your words and actions.
Your social skills and body language should speak on
your behalf, just as much as the words that come out of your mouth. Neat looks,
politeness and the correct choice of words that go around, along with pushiness
and even discussion-hogging, can mean the difference between success and
failure.
3. Volunteering. My
current position requires me to go through the delivered CVs in order to
hand-pick and recommend the best candidates who will be called for an
interview. Majority of CVs and cover letters that I have read, consist of the
same materials; although this is to be expected, do to the template form that
was required to be filled out, the experience that the candidates possessed
also seemed to be more alike than I imagined them to be. One, highly useful
piece of advice that I can give you, is
for you to present yourself differently, uniquely, by pointing out what you
enjoyed while conducting the work you’ve done in the past. It may sound
difficult, but it will allow the employer to know what kind of an employee they
are hiring; it will be the proof that you are resourceful, willing and able to
work for them.
Do not forget, employers like volunteers and people
devoted to non-profit causes (like this one), not because they
want free labour, but because they want people who are considerate, reliable,
committed and willing to help.
4. Building
relationships is equally important to
getting a job, keeping it and making the job into a success story. If you think that you do not have
worthy relationships, you’re probably wrong. You’ve started building your
relationships since before elementary school. This process continues through
secondary school, college/universities, and it will maintain its course for the
rest of your life. The types of people that you hold in your trusted circle
impact the way you think and the way you conduct your professional endeavours,
as well.
Strangely or not, this is where we all start in
building our careers-never from a scratch, but with who you have around you.
Current relationships, that you are a part of, will get you to the doorstep of
new connections which, if used wisely, can be a huge resource for proper
networking.
Both relationships and networking can be either
virtual, or face-to-face. General preference, with most people that I have met, is that they
prefer face-to-face, physical networking over virtual connections. The reason
behind this is that physical relationships tend to allow for more trust between
different parties.
5. Maintaining
relationships. As social beings, it is
highly important for people to maintain their relationships and their status
within them; to cherish them and treat them as if you’re looking for guidance
and advice, not a job.
Learn to be appropriately humoristic, tentative to
others, interested in their piece of mind and experiences. This will provide
you with useful knowledge and experience, and it will immediately place you on
a higher level when you end up going to your first job interview.
Image credit: Pixabay
Mary Ann Keeling is a freelance writer and business
consultant who loves sharing her insights on the latest business opportunities.
I also enjoy discovering leading social media campaigns and helping my local community
through charities. Follow me on Twitter - @MaryAnnKeeling
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