Whether you’re new to the job market or you’ve been taking a break and are now ready to re-enter the work-force, it can be challenging. Being a graduate or even someone who has never studied before, the same rules apply to everyone. Here is Bellview’s guide to entering the job market successfully.
Remodel your CV and Cover Letter
Give your CV and cover letter somewhat of a face lift. In doing this, remember to be yourself and be as creative and specific as possible. Soft and transferable skills, such as communication and teamwork are good to have. But more so, hard skills are what employers are really looking for. Try highlighting your skills-set at the top of your CV and include it in your cover letter, to let hiring managers know you get straight down to business.
For more on what should be included in a CV read “How to write a Comprehensive CV”. This is a full guide on layout, structure and all you need to know to make your CV great.
Upgrade and Upskill
Studying any qualification could boost your chances of finding the right job. Realistically, employers do not solely look at the candidates education level when making their decision, but it definitely helps! Try one of Bellviews’s accredited short courses and that could be the determining factor between you and another candidate.
A qualification does not need to be job specific, you should not limit yourself, but you do need to have studied something that naturally aligns with the job you are applying for.
Check out our full course offering here.
Try an Internship
The moment close to every job vacancy asks for 3-6 years of experience, will be discouraging, but internships are a great way to start your career. Now bare in mind you might get paid next to nothing, however the experience and skills you’ll pick up is invaluable to any future employer. Try searching for internship roles on CareersJunction or Indeed.com, this will set you apart in the long run.
Be Specific and Pick your Lane
There really is no use in applying for jobs that will end up making you miserable down the road. So take time to sit down and think about what it is that really excites you and where your true passion lies. A large percent of the world’s work-force is unhappy in their jobs, and this is for no other reason than they are not doing what they love (easier said than done).
Breaking out in your dream role is an extreme sport to put it mildly. Your job is to really define what industry you enjoy being in, and then fiercely pursue a career. If you’re struggling to decide what industry you’d like to be in read our article on “How to choose the right career”. This will help you navigate the decision and questions you need to answer before settling.
It should be noted that in 2020, people no longer spend 30 years working in the same role or even industry. Nobody expects you to, but when launching your career, being specific about your career goals can exponentially accelerate your chances of finding a job that you enjoy.
Prepare for an Interview
This is a crucial step for anyone entering or re-entering the job market. Prepare well for upcoming interviews by following these simple rules:
- Dress for Success
- Be on Time
- Be Courteous to everyone throughout the process
- Prepare a Q&A before the big day
- Be as Professional as possible
To learn more on the above steps and how to prep for an interview read “Easy Ways to Ace an Interview”.
Remember not to Quit
Job hunting can become quite discouraging at times, and new job seekers often bear the brunt of endless rejection causing them to throw in the towel. Job searches are never easy and can be a tiring process, but you need to remember that your perfect match will happen. For some, this day comes sooner than for others, but it has nothing to do with you as a person, but more about the timing.
Take the time while searching for a job, to educate yourself and make yourself more employable. Education comes in all forms, it’s not necessarily a formal qualification, but can however be simple tools used to gain skills from. Read below for easy skills that will boost your chances of getting hired and can be self taught.
- Improve your typing speed
- Design graphics
- Start a blog to improve your writing
- Brush up on your Excel skills
- Learn how to file documents
- Practice Interview questions
Goodluck and Happy Job Hunting!
Author: Cindy N Pieters
Date Published: September 9, 2020