1. Establish where you are
Assess your current situation – list your reasons for wanting to change jobs and what you expect of a potential new job. This process will help you have a better idea of where you want to be and will ensure you get the most out of your job search.
“Identify what you’re looking for – is it more money, greater challenges, better personal development or less commute?” says Natalie. “You will need to be able to articulate this clearly if you plan to engage with a recruiter as they need to fully understand your motivations to successfully match your expectations with those offered by a potential employer. A lack of clarity in respect to those aspects that are non-negotiable and those that are nice-to-have could result in a waste of time for you, the employer and the recruiter.”
2. Identify your key strengths and knowledge/skills gaps
Before coming face to face with a potential employer, determine your core strengths and areas of development – and make sure you are able to support your claims.
“It is simply not enough to rattle off the standard ‘strengths and weaknesses’ answer,” warns Natalie. “Think about real-life examples that illustrate your strengths. If you believe you have strong financial acumen, then find an example, from your current or previous job, that demonstrates where you have saved the company money, or improved processes or used resources more efficiently.” As for areas of development, what is important is to identify opportunities to work on these. According to Natalie, interviewers will be interested to see how you are tackling them to improve yourself.
3. Polish your CV
Selling yourself on paper might seem challenging but with employers sifting through hundreds of applications for a single vacancy, it is crucial for your CV to stand out immediately if you want to make the cut.
“Include all relevant information, and tailor each CV to ensure you are highlighting the areas of your experience/skill that match the potential employer’s requirements". Natalie also recommends spending time on the layout, spelling and grammar. “A poorly formatted CV with mistakes indicates a lack of attention to detail and might get you discounted".
4. Brush up on your interview skills
Interviews can be stressful but there are ways to keep your nerves under control, and according to Natalie, preparation is key to success.
“Remove any unnecessary worries by knowing where you’re going, who you’re meeting, what the dress code is. Do some research on the company – if you’re working with a recruiter, they should be able to assist you with this information,” she says.
According to Natalie, feeling confident will help you come across well but this does not mean you should rush your interview. “Don’t be afraid of silence. It is best to take some time to fully understand a question before answering,” she explains. “Equally, don’t be afraid to ask for a question to be repeated or re-phrased". Finally, think about your personal appearance. “You want to dress well as this will help your confidence. And don’t forget to smile.”
5. Promote yourself through social networking
With features such as employment history and professional recommendations, LinkedIn is a potentially powerful tool for job seekers. But failing to use networking platforms appropriately can be damaging, therefore it is important to cultivate your ‘online brand’ in the right way.
“Remember that your online presence is accessible by all and potential employers are likely to ‘reference’ you, by doing a Google search for instance.” Natalie advises refraining from posting anything that might make potential employers dismiss your application prematurely. “As a rule of thumb, ensure you keep your professional profiles strictly professional and your personal profiles hidden to all but your friends.”
6. Know your rights
There are many companies and individuals offering “recruitment services” without having suitable expertise so it is important you know your rights to protect yourself.
“There is currently little regulation for the recruitment industry and the low barriers to entry mean that individuals without real experience or expertise are able to open up shop. Equally, unscrupulous individuals can also pose as employment agents to take advantage of uneducated or uninformed job seekers,” Natalie explains. “A true recruitment company must be registered with the Department of Labour and in possession of a Private Employment Agency (PEA) certificate. They will not charge fees to their candidates, as the norm in South Africa is to charge the client (employer) on successful placement.”
“When assessing which agency to work with, we recommend you consider working with an APSO-accredited recruitment company. All APSO members are required to undergo a vetting process to ensure compliance and are held accountable to the APSO Code of Ethical & Professional Practice. This provides you with security in the event of poor service when you’d be able to lodge a complaint – at no cost – with APSO’s full-time Ethics & Legal Advisor, Advocate Janet Early.”
For more information and a directory of APSO members, go to www.apso.co.za