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Job Searching Tips
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Five Interview Killers
- Lack of preparation - pretty obvious but you'd be amazed at the amount of people who think they can 'wing it'. Don't even think about turning up for an interview if you haven't first done your homework on the organisation. Know your resume intimately and at the very least give some thought on how you plan to respond to common interview questions.
- Poor Personal Appearance - This is not about trying to be a contestant in Australia's next supermodel - it's about basic personal grooming. Interviewers have been known to reject people because they've had dirty or inappropriate shoes/nails/clothes etc. If you think you'll be attending a few interviews in the near future, decide well in advance what you're going to wear so that you can be dressed for success.
- Late - although accidents happen and pubic transport fails - it's hard to recover in an interview situation if you turn up late. Plan your route well in advance - take an earlier train, ask the company where you can park. If after all of that circumstances well and truly beyond your control mean you are going to run late - phone and let the interviewer know so that they can reschedule if necessary. These days it's assumed everyone has a mobile phone so there's an expectation that you'll phone if you think you'll be late (but it better be a good excuse!!).
- Bad breath or body odour - this includes wearing too much perfume or aftershave. Nothing will get you out the door quicker than suffering from one of these problems. If you're a smoker - don't have one until after the interview, watch what you eat the night before - stinking of garlic (healthy and all as it is) is not a good thing. Same goes for smelling of alcohol - there's just no excuses here!
- Poor body language - pretty straightforward but again many stuff it up. Maintaining a balance between having good eye contact and staring can be difficult, so practice before hand or ask for feedback from the interviewer. Similarly folded arms send a negative message, looking at the ground sends the message that you're not very confident in your abilities. Being aware of your body language and the messages you're transmitting is a good first step. Practice in front of the mirror or a friend and again after the interview ask for feedback. Remember your body language is as important as what you say!
Resume Preparation
- Your resume should be a professional sales document
- Ensure the information is complete
- Check layout as well as content
Writing a resume can be a daunting prospect. This is a document that a potential employer uses to make their first judgement about you - be careful to provide information that ensures those judgements will be positive ones!
For instance, your interests can say a lot about you. One candidate who recently applied for an IT support role stated that "suffering the net" was an interest! Now that could have been a humorous reflection on the speed of their modem but as you can imagine not everyone saw it that way! In another case, an application letter talked about " working on a farm where I was bitten by a horse and had to have my head super-glued together". Mmmm!
Whilst we encourage candidates to state very clearly what their career aspirations are, putting this "I'd rather have no money and sleep on the street than do xxx job" is probably going a tad far. So is including your goals as "play first grade rugby, have a high paid job, surf around the world and own a really good big ute or V8". Whilst most of us have similar personal goals (maybe a sporty WRX as opposed to a V8) it probably isn't a good idea to include them on your resume - it might make potential employers think you are not committed!
Now you may think the above are made up, but they are real applications received by Hays Personnel Services. Of course we advise that changes be made to improve things - as any reputable recruitment firm would - but often resumes get sent directly to employers and if they include comments like these they probably won't get far… So, here are some great resume writing tips to ensure you present a competent and professional resume.
Tips for Writing Great Resumes
- Most companies prefer resumes submitted electronically, so create your resume in a common program such as MS Word so it can be open and read by recipients easily.
- First, include such basic information as your name, address, telephone numbers and email address. Make sure the e-mail address you use appears professional. hotstuff@hotmail.com is not appropriate!
- Next list your education (secondary and tertiary) and qualifications.
- After a lively career objective that gives an indication of what you want (avoid beginning this with ‘all I’ve ever wanted to be is a…’) list your work experience in chronological order, beginning with the most recent. Include employer names, positions held and primary responsibilities. Also, where appropriate, include an indication of salary level achieved and reasons for leaving each position.
- Do not leave gaps in your CV. If you took a year out, carried out an interim assignment, or travelled for six months, say so. If you do include gaps, potential employers can suspect the worst. Stating the years, rather than the months you started or finished a role can also send off alarm bells. Writing “2002 – 2004” could be interpreted as employment from December 2002 to December 2004 unless you say otherwise
- If you have your own website profiling your work, include the URL on your resume, however do not simply submit the URL address instead of a resume.
- When formatting your resume, ensure there is plenty of white space. Don't place too much information on one page or use graphics and flowery or small fonts that are difficult to read as they distract from the content.
- It is also important to include details of two references, such as former employees. If you are a graduate with no work history, include details of a former lecturer.
- Finally, don’t forget to spell check your CV! Remember, it is the first impression your potential employer will have of you, so take the time to get it right. If possible, even get someone to proof read your resume to check for any spelling, layout or typing errors.
- Attach your resume to an email, rather than pasting the text into your email program. Pasting text into an email program sometimes causes text to appear on the recipient’s screen in a distorted or muddled mess, making it very difficult to read.
- If the company you are applying to prefers hard-copy resumes, select quality A4 paper, ensure your resume is produced on a PC using a good quality printer, and only type on one side of the paper.
- Unless otherwise stated, you do not need to attach copies of certificates relating to educational and/or professional qualifications (including recent academic transcripts) or any references from previous employers to your resume. You should instead bring these to a job interview.
How to write a cover letter
A cover letter should demonstrate to the reader that you have read the job ad carefully and that you are truly interested in that particular job. Many hiring managers will not even look at a resume that does not come with a cover letter.
The cover letter should:
- Be to the point. Should clearly link your experience to the role being advertised.
- Be no more than three to four paragraphs long.
- Be positive and upbeat. Make the hiring manager interested in reading your resume.
The cover letter should NOT:
- Be a summary or repeat of your resume.
- Be a uniform letter you send with all job applications.
How to prepare for an interview
Click Here to download our powerpoint presentation outlining our key tips and techniques to help make your next interview a complete success.
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