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Applying for a job whether
overseas or locally can be daunting.
I have had the privilege
of sitting on both sides of the table, as a job applicant and as part of the
hiring team of an employer.
Below are 8 job
application tips that I would like to share with you:
1. Have an effective CV
You need to present your
experience, strengths, skills and achievements in a short and easy to read
package: No more than 3 pages long.
Do not put a picture of
yourself.
There are a lot of good
books nowadays that can help you create a winning CV and you can also find good
examples online.
Also, make sure that you
have it reviewed by someone who can help you improve it.
2. Build a relationship with agencies
Pick an agent that
specialises in your field. There are loads of them out there that would be
happy to represent you. Choose well.
They should be able to
coach you for the interviews, give you sample questions, give you advice on
careers… all for free.
You can help then get you
a better match by telling them which companies you want and don’t want.
3. Job sites
For auditors, I like www.careersinaudit.com
In Australia, the most
popular jobsite is www.seek.com.au
4. Build your network
Send your CV to friends, former colleagues or supervisors who are working on companies that you like so they can hand it in when there are
opportunities in their company.
Most companies offer their
employees a referral fee to encourage them to refer friends or acquaintances
when there are vacancies. By doing this, companies can save on recruitment or
agency fees, which can be up 20% of the employee’s annual salary.
5. Prepare for the interview
I know this is common
sense but, from experience, not common practice.
Research about the company
you are trying to work for and about the city or country they are in, if new to
you. Your knowledge about the company (and the location) would demonstrate to
the prospective employer how keen you are about the job.
If you know who your
interviewer is, research about him/her as well.
Prepare answers for
commonly asked questions (e.g. Why do you want to leave your current employer?
What are your strengths? Why should we choose you?)
Practice answering
questions with your agent or with a friend.
6. Ask questions
During the interview, aim
to ask as many questions as they ask you.
Remember you also need to
know if this job or company is right for you.
7. Clean up your social media accounts
Bring in your LinkedIn
profile up to date and check that it matches your CV. Some agents also use
LinkedIn to search for job hunters.
If you have Facebook, make
sure you don’t have incriminating stuff there.
8. Impress. Make an impact
Ways that you could make
an impact include:
- Asking quality questions
- Bringing a sample of your work
- Impressing by the amount of research that you’ve done
- Be engaging – e.g. talk about their clients
- Showing passion about your profession
- Doing something different – offer to work for free for a month, maybe?
If you have more tips to
share, please add them in the comments below.
Now be the best that you
can be,
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