FIRST TIME LOOKING FOR A JOB?

Looking for your first job can be a daunting process. Here are a few things that new job seekers should consider when looking for a job and they are applying for the position:

First of all, you need to perfect your CV and Cover Letter.  Your CV needs to be up to date and include your most recent work and education history. Your CV should include all of your work history, but seeing as this is your first job, you won’t have any. Instead, you should include any volunteering or travel experience that you may have. You can adapt life experiences, and the skills, qualities and lessons you have learnt as a result of these experiences, to workplace situations. Your CV should be tailored to the nature of the jobs that you are applying for. As for your Cover Letter, this should include the highlights of your CV, and then a statement on why you want to work for this particular company, and why you would be the best candidate for this position.

When looking for a job you should really be applying for jobs that match your skill set, and that you are qualified for. It will be disappointing, especially if you are a new job seeker, to continuously be rejected for jobs that you have applied for, because you just aren’t qualified for them. This will be knocking you down before you’ve even got anywhere.

As the actor Will Rogers once said, “You’ll never get a second chance to make a great first impression.” People can make assumptions in the blink of an eye, and dressing appropriately and professionally for your interview is going to make a great first impression to the interviewer.

One of the first questions an interviewer will ask you is, “What do you know about our company?” To put it simply, if you don’t know the answer to that question, you really have set yourself up for failure. It shows a lack of respect towards the interviewer and company, but also a lack of interest towards the job. So, do your research on the company beforehand and make sure you know the company that you are applying to inside, and out.

This research should also be extended into researching the typical interview questions you may get asked. It’s good to have prepared answers for these, as it is more than likely that you will get asked a few of them. During the interview, you should ask the interviewer a few of your own questions regarding the job and company. This shows the interviewer that you really are interested, and that you are confident enough to ask more in depth questions. Confidence and eye contact are some other great signals for the interviewer, they would rather hire a confident person than a shy one.

Finally, don’t forget to thank the interviewer for their time. Maybe even send them an email after the interview, or the following day, thanking them for taking the time to speak to you. This will leave a positive impression on the interviewer and will make you a more memorable candidate.

These are just a few of the things that you should implement into your job seeking, making a great impression from the get go is going to increase your chances of securing your first job!

Looking for a job? What advice would you give to a first-time job seeker? Comment below!