We called in the experts for this one! There’s nothing more stressful than job hunting (unless you’re also looking for somewhere to rent in Dublin!) so we decided to ask the experts for the top tips to bag that dream role. Malwina King, director at Sigmar Recruitment gave us these handy hints to get you on to that career ladder. _____________________________________________________ Finding the right job There are a number of websites to look at but the number one thing you should remember is that you need to make the decision that you are actively going to allocate time to look for a role. Realistically, this means you’ll be reviewing multiple job boards, applying for roles, taking calls and using social media on a daily basis. It needs commitment and time. Time management skills I would go on every website that contains jobs that you’re interested in and check them daily. I would also encourage people to set themselves reminders and make a conscious decision to say: “I’m going to set some time aside to look for a job”. If you’re not on top of things then you won’t get the results that you’re looking for. Cover letters – are they a necessity? Cover letters are becoming a little bit of a relic from the past to be honest. That’s due to the volume of applicants for each individual role. If you feel like including one, then keep it short. The average recruitment agency might be sent 500 CVs a day and people will usually just delve into the applicant’s experience and skills. Just use a couple of sentences as opposed to an essay. What about the CV? Quick and accessible information is key. In relation to the CV, the most important word here is ‘specific’. It’s important that you know every detail of the job that you’re applying for. You need to put as much information down that’s relevant to the job. For example, if you’re applying for a position that’s non-managerial then there’s little point in stressing just how much of a leader you are if it’s not relevant to the position. Be clear, to the point and provide factual information. How should a CV look? The cleaner and easier it is to read, the better. Bullet points, one font, line spacing and margins can make a huge difference because employers want something that’s easy to read. The person looking at your CV should know within about 10-15 seconds if you’re the type of person that they are going to employ. If you’re a graduate, then you shouldn’t have a five-page CV. The situation might be different if you’re the head of a division with 20 years’ experience. Preparing for an interview It might sound harsh, but any lack of preparation is pure laziness. In this day and age, every piece of relevant information is available at your fingertips. If you go into an interview and know nothing about your employer, then that’s a very loud and clear message to them. Know the role inside-out and learn about the team and the company. You need to know exactly what the company does and you need to be very clear about why you want to work there. Avoid the traps Many people give the answer; “I want to work for this company because it’s a large, multi-national company that offers good career progression.” This answer is as far away from being specific as you can be – it’s extremely vague. You need to give the employer a very detailed reason as to why you want to work there. What do they do best? What does this company have that other’s done? Explain why you choose to work for them as opposed to any other business. You also have to know why someone would want to hire you – be able to sell yourself. Know what your values are and specifically, the three things that make you perfect for this role. It has to be relevant and tailored to the job that you’re looking for. What makes a successful candidate? Many candidates are successful based on the fact that they have a skill that no one else has. That’s very clear-cut. But in the majority of cases, the reason why people haven’t been offered a job is that they weren’t able to represent their skills better than the successful candidate. Always refer to examples of your previous work because if you can make your experience seem real to the employer then it’s easier for them to hire you. There’s no such thing as preparing too much. If you’re being put forward for the job through a recruitment agency then ask for background information. For example: is the interview formal or more conversational? Is it a new role? Did someone leave the role? The most common reason that people don’t get hired is due to a lack of preparation. Mediocre doesn’t get a job. Thanks to Malwina King of Sigmar Recruitment for these top tips.