As a recruiter I meet a lot of people who want to find a new job and they always ask me – “What do I need to do?” I could talk on the subject for hours – there is so much to say! But really it comes to down 5 key areas and once you have these sorted you will have the confidence to go ahead and apply for any job – although as we will see below that is not necessarily the best idea…..
1) 2 x 4 = Success
First you need to identify your 4 key qualities – these are the 4 things that make you stand out from the crowd – your unique selling points. You may be able to think of 5 or 6 or even 7 but by sticking to 4 you give yourself the best chance of remembering them in a potentially stressful interview or discussion with a recruiter or an employer. These are you anchors so be honest with yourself, take some time to decide what they and use them to get yourself across positively.
Your second group of 4 is made up of the things you want to find about your prospective employers. These might be 4 questions you want to ask in an interview or 4 things that you need to research online. It will act as a reminder that not all jobs are great and not all employers will suit you. Don’t rush into anything – ask questions and do your research.
2) No more interviews!
We all have a pre-conceived idea of what an interview is – whether that’s a cosy chat or a traumatic grilling, either way it is not useful, so forget it and move on. I think it is far more productive to think of these as business meetings. We all have business meetings every day and to maximise their effectiveness we prepare, open with a warm, sincere welcome, come to the table with clear objectives, listen to what the other people have to say and then bring the encounter to a positive close. You would never leave a meeting without mentally ticking off your objectives, so don’t leave a job interview without telling them the things you need to get across…which leads us to our next point;
3) Don’t be afraid to take charge.
At the very least you have to think of an interview as a 2-way conversation but even better if you remember that occasionally it is ok to take the lead. If the person sitting opposite you outlines the way the meeting is going to go and then says “Is that ok?” it is far better to say something than sit there nodding like a donkey. Here is your opportunity to say; “Yes, that’s perfect and I hope we will also be able to talk about my suitability for this role (your 4 points above), and make reference during the interview to your achievements.
4) Stop being so British!
We Brits have a terrible struggle with self promotion – somehow we feel it is not quite right, but if you have mastered points 1, 2, and 3 and are ready to speak up and promote your best bits then you are also ready for number 4. Get others to be honest with you. Ask a good friend to look at everything from your interview technique to your personal statement and your clothes, then really take on board the honest feedback they give you. This is one occasion where being polite and terribly British does not help!
5) Have a plan
Heading out there to search for a new job can be daunting – it feels like a mammoth task – but as anyone who has run a marathon can tell you, it starts with having a plan. If you then break it down into small actions and tick them off as you go, before you know it you have got a long way down the road to your goal.
Job offers aren’t going to be pouring in on day one but if you know what you want and have a good idea of how you are going to get it then they soon will be. Make talking to a recruiter one of things on your list – with valuable advice and access to many jobs which you might not see online, we understand what employers are looking for and we are here to help.
Good luck! Phil Hutchinson May – Director FMCG Central
The Central Line 