Job Hunting Tips
A job search can feel like a job in and of itself, a very stressful and anxiety-ridden one. From writing the cover letter to organizing your resume, a job search is one of the most difficult things to navigate when the pressure of income begins sinking in. For job seekers, it can feel like being lost in a sea of over competitiveness, but there are many tips and a lot of advice to landing the job you want while avoiding the pitfalls and hiccups so common in a job hunt.
We at Provisional Recruiting have one goal, to help job seekers get the job they want and be stellar at it. We don’t think that you need to fluff your resume or pad your cover letter to get a position that you don’t feel invested in, that you’re plenty skilled for the job you want and deserve. Like testing anxiety, many job people freeze up in job hunting, which is why we’ve put together a list of tips and advice to help your job searching be full of confidence and prepare you with the best information we have.
Read below and discover the job search tips, resume advice, and how to answer the most common questions you’ll get during a job interview.
Resume Tips for the Job Search
The first thing to do when looking for a job is to make sure your resume is geared towards the position you want and communicate that you know how to do what to do. Your resume isn’t begging for a position or meant to show that you can fill a position, it’s showing your ability to do it better than others competing for the job and that you have a lot to offer. A lot of people hunting for a job forget that the company needs your skills and to be proud of what they’ve learned over the course of their career. Read below and write your resume with confidence!
- Use an easy to read Font Style – typically 12 point works well, Universal or Times New Roman.
- Avoid excessive graphics use, boxes or distracting lines and designs.
- Make sure your name is larger than anything else on the page.
- Be sure your name and address and phone number are on each page you use for job hunting.
- Check your tabs. Check your space between sections. Is everything lined up?
- Check your vocabulary. Your entire resume should be consistent in vocabulary and verb tense.
- Always include your computer skills.
- It is highly effective to use bullet points for each job duty you are describing. If someone is scanning your resume it helps to decipher one point from another.
- Do not include your previous supervisors name or your salary history.
- Drop off work experience that is more than 10 or 15 years back; it isn’t current.
- Don’t put anything personal on your resume. (i.e. birth date, marital status, height, hobbies, etc.) These items are inappropriate.
- A one page resume is best, but do not crowd your resume – shorten the margins if you need more space or if you find it necessary to do a two page resume, make sure you balance the information on each page. Don’t put just one section on the second page. Be careful about where the page break occurs.
- It is very important to keep your resume updated. Don’t have “9/92 to Present,” if you ended your job two months ago. People perceive that as misrepresentation. Do not cross out and handwrite on your resume. People perceive that as unprofessional.
- Never lie on your resume.
- Understand and remember everything written on your resume. Be able to back up all statements with specific examples.
Interviewing Tips to Fill in the Resume
This is the opportunity you have been waiting for! Interviewing for a job you want can be somewhat
intimidating – following these guidelines can help you alleviate some of your stress.
Preparation
- Do research on the company. What do they do? How large are they? What is their growth development?
- Practice answers to commonly asked questions. This will help you to answer questions without stumbling over your words.
- Get a good night’s sleep and try to relax.
Waiting
- Sit professionally. Don’t slouch.
- If you are asked to fill out an application, fill it out completely, even if you have a resume.
- Be courteous to the receptionist.
Responding To Questions
- When answering a question, don’t wander off to another subject. Answer the specific question as completely as you can without going into unnecessary detail.
- Don’t interrupt.
- Don’t just start giving out information or telling stories.
First Impression
- Be on time. Do not show up early or late. If you’re running late, call. Don’t walk in more than ten minutes early.
- Always dress professionally.
- Have a firm handshake. Practice it in advance. Your handshake gives people an indication of your personality.
- Know the name of the person you are interviewing with. Make sure you pronounce it correctly.
Body Language
- Don’t slump back in your chair, put your foot on your knee, or dangle one arm over the back of the chair. That makes you look apathetic or arrogant.
- Don’t put anything or move anything on the interviewer’s desk.
- Be careful to use hand motions in moderation. If you use your hands excessively, the interviewer will remember your hands, not your skills.
- Be careful to match your facial expressions with your words. If you say “That’s exciting,” and look like you just woke up, you’ll be sending a mixed message.
Five Questions You Should Ask to Those Hiring
Write out a list of at least five questions to ask at the end of an interview. If you have only thought of one or two, this becomes a problem if your questions are already answered during the interview. It is much more difficult to think of a well-worded question when you are under pressure.
- Please explain what my day to day responsibilities would be.
- Can you please describe the organization of the company?
- What are the short term / long term goals for this department and how does that relate to the company as a whole?
- What are some of the abilities and skills needed to be successful in this position?
- Tell me about the company’s management style.
10 Commonly Asked Questions
You should practice answers to these commonly asked questions in a job interview. This will help you to answer questions without stumbling over your words.
- Why did you leave your last job?
- What are your best accomplishments?
- Which areas do you need to develop?
- Describe your ideal position?
- Describe your ideal supervisor?
- Site some examples of your ability to be a team player?
- What did you like best / least about your previous position?
- Describe how you work under stress / pressure?
- What motivates you?
- Why should I hire you?
References for the Resume
The majority of employers WILL check your references to make sure you’re a reliable fit for the job. For many companies, this is a standard procedure and often an offer is contingent upon references checking out.
Other Resources
Features virtual interviews, quizzes on interviewing strategies, and tips on how to prepare for different types of interviews. The site also links to Monster.com’s other career-planning sections.
A great database of potential interview questions and sample answers. Other article topics include interview do’s and don’ts, on-site interview tips, and phone-interviewing strategies.