Top Tips for 2012 Graduates To Find Jobs

Clean up your online presence.
The first thing employers will do is to see what they can find out about you on the Internet. Are you ready for that? They may look at your Facebook page during the interview. Are you ready for that?

Look for WORK, not a JOB.

Don’t scare off employers by communicating that you’re looking for a job and all the traditional benefits that go with it. Make it easy for them to hire you by making it clear that you are happy to accept part-time, temporary, or contract work. If you are equipped to work from home, tell them that too. It may appeal to them.

Ditch the resume.

EVERYBODY is using a resume. In your initial contact with employers, make yourself stand out in a positive way with more creative tools that are marketing oriented and focused on the employer’s needs. It’s OK to have a resume to take to the interview. But first you have to get there.

Think.

Put yourself in the shoes of any employer you plan to contact. Why would they be interested in you? What exactly do you have to offer them? Show them in your first contact with them that you know about them, the type of work they do and the industry they’re in. NEVER send out lots of resumes in a shotgun fashion.

Why should we hire you?

Assume you’ll be asked this question during the interview and be ready to answer it. Focus on the key points you made in the material you sent to them. Those are what got you the interview.

Bite your tongue.

Talking too much in the interview is among the biggest mistakes graduates make according to employers and recruiters. The more prepared you are for the interview, the less inclined you’ll be to ramble on.

Do your homework.

There’s a wealth of information available on the employer’s web site. Amazingly, many graduates never take the time to thoroughly analyze this information and be ready to answer questions about it in the interview. It will also help if you can talk about some of the key issues going on in their industry.

Create your own job.

Instead of waiting for someone to offer you a job, consider what millions of graduates around the world have been doing for years; i.e. operate as a freelancer. The following will give you an overview of the world of freelancing:

• http://www.elance.com 
• http://www.odesk.com 
• http://www.vworker.com

Finally, you may get some business ideas at: http://www.springwise.com

Ron McGowan is the author of the international bestseller “How to Find WORK in the 21st Century”, currently in use at over 400 colleges and universities worldwide.
http://www.howtofindwork.ca

5 Top Tips To Help You Prepare For Interview

Well Done!

You have managed to secure an interview which a great achievement in the current market.

So What Is Next?

Well, it really is the key to success at any interview .........

PREPARATION!

Don't let yourself down at this stage,take the time and prepare.

1) Make Sure You Have The Job Specification.

The Job Specification is a vital piece of information. It will provide you with a summary of the organisation & the duties involved in the role. Most importantly the Person Specification section will outline the skills or competencies the employer requires from a successful applicant. Once you have read the role profile in detail, identified the skills or competencies the employer is looking for, you can then prepare your answers accordingly.

2) Research.

Research the company, their mission, goals, values, products & services. Begin with their website for this basic information. If you want to really stand out research the company in more detail:

• What's happening in their industry

• Their competitors

• New product or services they may have announced lately

• Be aware of any recent up-dates in the media about the organisation

• Look for any recent articles about the company.

3) Know Your C.V Inside Out

It sounds so simple but you would be amazed at the number of people who don't really know what's in their own C.V. Make sure you know your C.V inside out. For example exact dates of employment/education, if there are any significant gaps in your C.V then be prepared to answer questions around these.

4) Prepare Your Answers

Prepare your answers in relation to possible questions that may arise. Look at the role profile and requirements for the job to help you identify which area's the interviewer may focus on. For example, if 'Customer Focus' is a skill or competency mentioned in the person specification then be prepared to answer a question in relation to this.

A sample question: the interviewer may ask you: 'What has been the most challenging customer service issue you’ve had to address?'

You will be surprised how you can tailor the general answers you had prepared, to the specific questions you are being asked, based on the information the interviewer provides you with at the time. When you are in the interview, listen carefully to the information the interviewer is giving you about the role and the company, this will help you with you answers.

5) Prepare The Questions You Want To Ask

Remember the interview is a two way process. It is also your opportunity to find out if the company is right for you. So don't be afraid to ask questions. A candidate will always receive a positive reaction from an interviewer when they have some well thought out questions to ask about the role and the organisation. It show you are genuinely interested in the role and also that you have thought carefully about the opportunity on offer.

Some sample questions

• Can you tell me more about the structure of the organisation/team?

• What are the skills that you consider important for this job?

• Do you have any questions or concerns about my ability to perform this job?

Remember - Unless the interviewer brings it up, avoid asking questions about salary or holidays as these can be seen as a negative.

Copyright © Rebecca Kearney 2009. All rights reserved.

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