Getting a new job?

The year will soon be over, we just few days left till 2020, If you’re going to get that great job you want before the year runs out, there are a number of things you need to know how to do. Sometimes people have trouble even beginning that hunt because they don’t know where to start Or get stymied by something along the way.

Let’s try avoiding employment pitfalls,

Here is a list of everything a job seeker needs to know how to do,

1. Stop procrastinating. If you’re going to get a job you have to reduce your attention on  movies, series and games, focus more on your employability status and applications.
2. Use your network. More and more positions are being filled without being advertised. You would have a hard time conducting a job search now without hearing about networking and how important it is, and that’s especially true in the market as it stands. A referral is more likely to get the position, simply because HR staff are busy and why not hire someone who already has an advocate within the company? Since informal hiring is happening on a greater scale, if you’re currently looking for work, remember that you are always looking for work. If you’re just out of college or high school, your connections from school are fresh. Start with professors, mentors, and school staff to see if they can guide you to a company or job. Ask for recommendations from these people as well, and if any of them have a direct contact or connection to a job or company, ask for a referral. This will set you well ahead of those who apply without a personal contact or referral. Don’t focus only on the old ways of looking for a job – get out, get to know people, and treat every interaction as a potential opportunity!

3. Write a resume and proper keywords. As a first-time job seeker, you’ll want to understand Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). In short, they are automated systems that screen submitted applications and resumes for keywords that match the company’s job description. These systems serve as time-savers for companies that receive large amounts of resumes, or that want to quickly weed out unqualified applicants. Anytime you submit a resume online through a company’s website, you’re likely encountering an ATS. Standards for resumes change all the time and just because it worked three or ten years ago doesn’t mean your resume will work now. Since a vast majority of positions that do make it out to job boards will be using online applications, the look of your resume matters far less than the content. It certainly should still be attractive and easy to read, but color and artistic flair are just going to confuse the computer screens. Keep your resume simple! Content is key in the digital age, not the visual bells and whistles. Don’t use clichés, do use action words, focus on your accomplishments, and never use a generic resume. Tailor yours to every specific position.
4. Clean up your act on social media. Companies often Google search a candidate before hiring, and social media can be an immediate red flag. Before starting your job hunt, clean up your Facebook! Many people respond to this advice defensively, feeling that it’s Orwellian to have your actions monitored even on social media, but the truth is, once it’s out there, it’s hard to remove it. Look at your profiles and review them from an HR perspective. Are there any photos, posts, or likes you might feel embarrassed by a potential employer seeing? Use privacy settings to make your profiles private, and delete anything questionable. Ensure you have some professional accounts as well. LinkedIn and Twitter are great platforms to use professionally — you can connect with others and show off your industry expertise.
5. Write a cover letter. It’s a painful part of the process but one you can’t skip. The cover letter has three purposes: to introduce you, express your interest in the position, and impress someone enough to land an interview.
6. Focus on your accomplishments. Why are you the perfect nurse? What makes you different from the other 200 sales managers applying for the position? The answer is simple: accomplishments. These are the key points to focus on in your resume. While the job description details can hit the keywords, they should not be the meat of your resume.
7. Look for related experience. So many new grads struggle with how to relate viable experience on their resume when they don’t have any. The truth is, you likely do have experience. Think beyond traditional job experience — did you participate in any internships or perform any volunteer work during your schooling? Did you use your skills to help a friend with anything that can serve as a work sample (perhaps some website design, writing, data entry, etc.)? Add them to your resume.
8. Practice your interviewing skills. If this is your first professional interview, you’re probably going to need some preparation. Nerves and a lack of confidence can be common for first-time job seekers. You may feel you won’t have much to talk about when it comes to your skills or experience. The best way to break through these jitters is to practice. Get comfortable with hearing yourself speak out loud. Write out your answers to common interview questions and then say them out loud, whether to yourself or to a friend. When it comes time for the real thing, your practice can help you feel confident and know just what to say.
9. Research and Research the company. Never, ever apply for a position or show up to an interview without having researched the company with which you’re applying and the role you want to land. Use all the resources that are available to you. Most first-time job seekers know to craft their cover letter, make a killer resume, and brush up on their answers to interview questions, but not all know to thoroughly research the company they’re applying with. Yes, employers are looking for someone who has the skills to do the job, but they’re also looking for candidates who are knowledgeable and excited about the company itself. Use your cover letter to express this knowledge, and the interview stage is the place where you can really shine with your company enthusiasm. Pour over the job description and ensure you use the same keywords and terminology that the company uses in your resume and cover letter. You may be a great candidate, but your information could be tossed out simply for not having the right keywords.

10. Get a feel for the company during the interview. So you’ve gotten your resume updated and its working. You started getting interview calls! The first interview you go on if you’ve been out of the job hunt for a while may feel very different. First of all, you may be expecting to go in and meet with one person, only to be greeted by an entire department. Team interviews are more common because it’s not just about the job. It’s also not about how you do with one person, but how you fit with the team. Work is collaborative, so why would interviews not be? This can take some getting used to, but remember, no matter how badly you want or need this job, if you don’t feel comfortable with the interview team, do you really want to work there long-term?
11. Answer the most common job interview questions. There are certain questions you’re bound to be asked in every interview, including “Tell me about yourself,” “What do you know about our company?” “Tell me what’s not on your CV” and “Why should we hire you?” Be prepared to answer them all the right way.
12. Confidence is one of the key factors that will sway a hiring manager towards hiring you.
13. Nine out of ten job postings ask for listening skills. You have to learn how to listen. Shut up and stop just waiting for your turn to talk.
14. Stand out. One survey found the top reason people don’t get hire is because they don’t distinguish themselves from everyone else. You have to stand out.
15. Be patient post-interview. The interview is done. They’ll call in a week, right? Very likely, they will not. Not only will it take a while to hear back – if you do – but the interview process takes longer than it used to take. If you go into the interview thinking that will be it, you may be surprised when they tell you the next step is another interview – and then there are three or four more steps. In fact, companies are often now having candidates and finalists come in for trial periods. Sometimes it’s an hour and sometimes it’s a full day of shadowing. It may feel time-consuming, but in the end, the goal is that you have found something you will be able to do for a while, and the company has found someone who will want to stick around.
16. Keep an open mind. The hard truth is that this is a terrible job market for job seekers. The salaries are lower in general and more positions are being reduced to freelance or part-time. The work you have always loved may not have the same title and may be shared by a team now. Instead of viewing this as a negative, though, consider the opportunities. Maybe you like sales, but always wanted to do some consulting. With the market as it is, you may be working harder, but you will also be able to open yourself up to new things. And new things bring new skills and connections. The lower salary is an adjustment, but less hours means volunteer work or pursuing that entrepreneurial idea you’ve had. In the end, that may be a blessing.
17. It’s not personal. The final thing it’s helpful to know, and probably the most important, is that it’s not personal. It’s very hard not to get discouraged. You may go on hundreds of interviews, send out thousands of resumes, and still be waiting for that call. Friends and family will offer advice and say things like, “The right job will come along,” but it is hard to believe it sometimes. You’re not alone – and the truth is that it only takes one. For every rejection, remember it’s just not the right fit. It’s not you. Someone suggested keeping a tally – every application or every interview that’s a no, mark it down. When you reach 100, start over, but chances are, as much as it may seem endless, it’s unlikely you will reach 100 without an offer. It will feel like it is inevitable, but the job is out there. Somewhere a hiring manager is looking for someone just like you. Jobs aren’t that different from dating, though, and all those frogs you have to kiss? They’re the interviews that don’t pan out for whatever reason. This is the hardest piece of advice to believe, but it’s imperative because some days, it does seem like there’s no end. If it gets really hopeless, allow yourself a day off from the search to do something that makes you happy. Then dust yourself off and get back out there.
18. Freelance or remote work are viable options. Your first job doesn’t have to be a 9-to-5 office job. Today’s workforce is ripe with flexible work options. Consider a part-time job, two part-time jobs, freelance gigs, or a remote job. Expanding your search beyond a traditional full-time job will open you up to many more opportunities you wouldn’t find otherwise. Flex Jobs is full of flexible work for entry-level candidates in over 50 different career categories. Your perfect job could be right around the corner — happy searching!