A year ago today, “A Job Seeker’s Guide” was conceived. With over 500 page visitors, 80 enrollments and a 4.8 course rating, the fruits of my labour are paying off.
To celebrate this glorious one year, click here to access my course for free.
Practice Online Interviewing
8. Practice your online interviewing
“For the perfect job interview, stop believing in LUCK! And start believing in YOURSELF!”
So, you have applied to every possible job opening that you are a match for - but your work just doesn’t stop there.
While you wait for a response from the employer or hiring agency, you need to prep yourself on your interviewing skills.
You could sit in front of a mirror and record yourself. Practice the generic questions that are usually asked at an interview. Build your confidence.
Keep watching your recordings and see where best you could adjust and refine your answers, your posture, your gestures, etc.
This exercise will definitely help you at a real-time interview because you will find yourself less nervous and more prepared.
Work on Your Elevator Pitch
7. Work on your elevator pitch
“If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.” - Albert Einstein
What you need is some good attention-grabbing sentences to be able to sell yourself, irrespective of where you are - could be at a job fair, a networking event or even in an elevator!
Put in that extra effort and time into compiling a 1-2 minutes speech that includes your specific skills set and why you would be the perfect fit for that company. Make sure that this speech creates an impactful impression as well.
An elevator pitch always comes in handy when you are networking. Or you just happen to hear of a job opening through word of mouth and you approach these people in person.
Put Yourself Out There
6. Network and put yourself out there
“The richest people in the world look for and build networks, everyone else looks for work” - Robert Kiyosaki
Networking can take you places. Meeting the right people can help tremendously when it comes to acquiring a job. All you need to do is tap the right window.
Job hunting through websites or job portals is just not enough anymore. You need to connect with people, network, engage, socialize - this definitely helps!
You need to spread the word out there, that you are available for employment opportunities. Pass the word around onto friends, relatives, your connections, ex-colleagues, your network, etc.
Luck might just happen to knock on your door, as there could be a friend or a connection out there who could be looking for a new employee.
Any Job Can Be Good Experience
5. Choose to temp or even part-time, if you have to.
“You have a part-time job. And that’s better than no job at all”. - Dan Quayle
Yes!
We are a whole lot of desperate right now and it is just human to be so.
Keeping your options open to working either in a temporary role or a part-time position, just broadens your perspectives even more. Sometimes these temp positions could be your ticket to finding your dream job.
You could be missing out on a lot of opportunities if you keep targeting only full-time employment. It could be difficult for some, but just see what best suits your circumstances.
This is definitely a great opportunity to build your work experience in different industries.
Keep Your Opportunities Open
4. Keep your job hunting opportunities open
“If you’re offered a seat on a rocket ship, don’t ask what seat! Just get on.” - Sheryl Sandberg
Job hunting has become a daunting task in itself especially when you never find the job that you are looking for.
Before the pandemic, job seekers could pick and choose their dream job. But now, we need to keep an open mind and be ready to apply for whatever is out there. Just take what you get! It might not work all the time, but there is always HOPE!
You need to apply for jobs even if you don’t meet all of the requirements, but be careful to read the job descriptions well. There are some employers that might consider the applicant, given the current situation.
Adjusting Your Resume/Application
3. Adjusting your resume/application
“If you call failures experiments, you can put them in your #resume and claim them as achievements". - Mason Cooley
You need to adjust your resume, your cover letter and your application every time you apply for a job.
It should be tailored to meet the job description and the company that you are applying for. This could mean minor adjustments like your skills and experiences. Just make sure that these relate to the job you are applying for.
Your resume should always reflect the keywords and phrases that are used in the job description.
You should be able to tweak or adjust your resume at any time so that it becomes easier for you to keep it updated.
Just Carry On
2. Don’t let frustration get the better of you
“Perseverance is failing 19 times and succeeding the 20th” - Julie Andrews
Job seekers apply and apply and keep applying but never seem to get a positive response to their job application. Frustrating, isn’t it? Now, that’s one side of the coin.
The other side is companies tend to get overwhelmed with so many job applications, that they find it difficult to revert with a response on most occasions.
So this could mean it could take longer than usual for a response, even if you have been unsuccessful. But don’t stop there! You could follow up on your application, but just give it some time.
And continue to apply for the job opportunities that meet your skills and experiences.
LinkedIn is Your Best Friend
Job Searching During Difficult Times
While we still recover from the pandemic and these difficult times, let's see what we can do to make job search easier.
1. Make LinkedIn your best friend
“Networking is an essential part of building wealth” - Armstrong Williams
LinkedIn is a great platform to build your image, sell yourself and connect with the best people within your industry.
Most people also use LinkedIn to search for jobs as well. Search for the LinkedIn page of the company you wish to work for, click on the Jobs tab and navigate your way to finding your desired job role.
Remember to keep your LinkedIn profile up to date and active with your job experiences, skills and contact details.
Some might even say that LinkedIn is basically a live version of your resume.
Trying Times
“One word of #encouragement can be enough to spark someone’s #motivation to continue with a difficult #challenge” - Roy T Bennett
🤗 Haven’t we all been there?
🤗 Haven’t we all faced the darkest days of our lives?
🤗 Haven’t we all faced the darkest days of our lives?
🤗 Haven’t we all lost our courage to stand up again after a fall?
😳 YES! We have!
The year 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣0️⃣ has been a #challenge for each one of us.
⚡ There are those who have lost their #jobs overnight. ⚡ There are those who have lost their loved ones. ⚡ There are those that have been separated from their families. ⚡ There are those who have succumbed to terminal illnesses.
😑 And yet it continues!
👍 But we need to be there for one another.
🥰 Just ONE word of #encouragement can light up 💡 another one’s life.
😇 Believe me! It works wonders …. 🎆🎇
You Are Your Own Brand: Review
🎗️ REVIEW
💫 Your personal brand is how you want the world to see you.Once people begin to identify 👉🏻 you, your skills 🛠️, your strengths 💪🏻, your expertise ✍🏻, believe me - you would have created your mark 👣 in the industry.
🤔 So how do you become more recognized?
🎯 Review my tips from over the last two weeks.
📌 Building your personal brand
📌 Creating an online presence
📌 Networking
📌 Your Elevator Pitch
📌 Research the company and the product
📌 Act with confidence and dress for success
So...
Who Are You❓
Act With Confidence. Dress For Success
6️⃣ Step 6
🌟 Act with confidence and dress for success
To market yourself strongly 💹, your overall appearance counts!
If you present yourself professionally 🙋🏻♀️ and act with confidence 🙋🏻♂️, employers are bound to notice you 🧐. Be well prepared with the information that you have researched 🔎. Deviate any signs of fear 😨 and nervousness. YOU GOT THIS! 👊🏻
💡 Always make sure to wear professional attire when attending networking events and interviews.
📌 Remember to be Authentic!
📌 Just remember to be YOU!
Research The Company
5️⃣ Step 5
🔍 Research the company and the product
Before an interview ⁉️ or a networking 👥👥 event or even a job fair, make sure you do thorough research 🧐 on the company, their products and services 🖥️, their market-ability 💹, their network 🌐, etc.
View their websites, social media pages, reviews 📝, articles and news coverage 📰 if any.
This gives you an added advantage 👍🏻 of the dynamics of the company and its overall objectives and goals 🥅. And if you share similar goals, you could express these 🗣️ during your interview or even include it in your elevator pitch. 🙋🏻♀️
👉🏻 Most companies often ask why you are interested in their company 🤔, with this research in mind - you are all set to provide them with a perfect answer. 👌🏻
Your Elevator Pitch
4️⃣ Step 4
🗣️ Your Elevator Pitch
As you begin to build your personal brand 👩🏻💼👨🏼💼 , you need to come up with a 30 to 60 second story about yourself. It's called the elevator pitch. 🎤
All you need is a short and concise speech 💬 with all the main attributes that would grab the attention 🔍 of potential employers.
Whether you are attending a networking event 👥👥, a job fair, a career event or even an informal party 👩🏿🤝👩🏻, having an elevator pitch prepared makes it easy to describe who you are, what you do and where you want to go in your career. 📈
📌 A few elements that may be relevant to include in your elevator pitch:
👉🏼 Introduce yourself briefly
👉🏼 Identify your strengths and skills
👉🏼 Your aim/or the type of job you are seeking
👉🏼 End the pitch with an action plan
🍀 Good luck!
Your Brand. Your Network.
3️⃣ Step 3
🤝🏼 Networking
As you build your brand 📈, it is very important to network effectively and allow your professional circle to grow. ✅
Connect with influencers, motivational speakers 🗣️, like-minded individuals, attend networking events 👥, reach out via email, LinkedIn, spark a conversation - just put yourself out there! 👊🏻
Remember the more connections you make ▶️, the more your personal branding gets recognized. This could also help in career advancement too. 💯
Your Online Presence
2️⃣ Step 2:
💻Online Presence
Today's online world has changed. With so many social media tools available, your online presence should definitely be rocking!
🔑 Maintaining an online presence is very fundamental as your content and engagement can attract employers. And that's a good thing when employers find you. It just goes to show how invaluable your online presence should be.
An excellent professional platform where you can define your image. 🙎♀️🙎♂️ Network and engage in discussions. 👉🏻 Connect with people. 🔗Share articles.
🌐 Personal website
Build your own website. Showcase your projects. Describe yourself in detail. 📣 This will surely draw attention from employers to discover your personality.
✅ Hiring managers are bound to gain first impressions from social media platforms, so just make sure you maintain professionalism 👔 and a positive attitude 👍🏻.
Building Your Personal Brand
1️⃣ Step One:
🚸 Building Your Personal Brand
👌🏻 This should be your USP - what YOU do best, who YOU serve, and how YOU do it uniquely. It should be distinctive to 👉🏻 YOU and 👉🏻 YOU alone!
🤷🏻♀️ You need to figure out who you are and what you want to be known for. 🤔 Reflect on your personal and professional identity.
⏳ Take time to understand your skills and competencies. Create a list of your 💪🏻 strengths and 🙃 weaknesses. Get help from family, friends and co-workers too and ask them how they would describe you.
Be focussed 🤓. Be genuine 😇. Be consistent 👊🏻. Make a positive impression 🤝🏻.
✍🏻 Your personal brand statement should be your key to what employers will use to gain a first impression of you.
🗣️ Your personal brand statement is the start of your journey focusing on where you would like to see yourself in five years - leaving behind a reputation to be remembered by.
Why Create Your Image?
⭐ Creating your image
❓ Why, do you ask?🤔 What impresses you the most when you buy a product? It’s marketing. It’s advertising.
👉🏻 Similarly, this is what you need to do to stay ahead of the game - market and advertise your skills and abilities.
👍🏻 This will definitely help the hiring team to understand why their company will benefit if you were their selected one.
📌 Remember it is not just about a list of your skills and experience, the company demands more from a job seeker. They want to see candidates who will give passion and dedication to the company.
👣 Follow me over the next few weeks to find out how you can market yourself.
Creating Your Image
⭐ Creating Your Image: How and Why?
🤔 How do you market yourself?
❓ Do you want to stand out?
❓ Do you want that Dream Job?
❓ Do you have what it takes to win the hiring team’s heart?
Wherever you are -
at an interview,
a social event,
online meetings,
networking events,
job fairs,
you need to sell your capabilities.
Hiring Managers 👩🏻💼👨🏼💼 are determined to find the right pick for their organization.
So, to stand out from the competition 🏆, you need to bring value to the table by communicating 🗣️ what your outstanding capabilities are 🎯.
