Getting Work is Hard Work, there are no Shortcuts

Are you ready to go to work to get work? If so read on, if not please move on and stop wasting my time and yours. Why handicap your self by being lazy. If you are serious about getting work you need to put in the "grunt" effort. Sure a lot of it is boring but it needs to be done. Don't expect others to do it for you. It's your life.

• Make sure you have all your personal information in one place that is up to date and easily accessible at a moments notice. The world moves very quickly these days and being prompt and focused in communications is key. Regard your personal information centre as the hub of the wheel and what follows as the spokes in the wheel. it all needs to come together to give you a smooth ride into recruitment. 
• Make sure you have a professional-looking email address. Your e-mail needs to be something like IvorJob@googlemail.com’, rather than something jokey like scrunchyknickers@hotmail.com’. After all you need potential employers to take you seriously.(And employers should follow this guidance as well)
• Get help with your CV. this is your calling card. There are many websites that offer help with writing a knock out CV. There are even sites with CV templates, CV samples and examples of bad CV formats. Some of these are good others are awful spend time looking at the choices and remember your audience. You may need different CV's for different skills. A CV is not a static document it is living and breathing and you need to refresh it frequently.
• Put yourself onto good job sites. We would avoid the low level, mass market ones and look for those with specialisms that suit the target market  you are seeking.
• Network with purpose. We can’t stress enough just how important it is to network. Far, far more jobs are picked up through personal contacts and recommendations than through job ads. Social and business networking sites are increasingly the way to get yourself out there now, so make sure you sign up to them but avoid spamming at all costs. Undoubtedly LinkedIn is the number one site for International Recruiters, link up with lots of people and check out the jobs section every day. Go on to Twitter if that is your bag and follow useful people in your target area but Twitter is very transitory and we don't get much traction from it ourselves but that could be us!. Let it be known that you’re on the market and post tweets that are fun and useful so that you get followed and retweeted a lot. (But remember employers can access this information so profanity is to be avoided.
  Facebook tends to work for lower level positions – build up your network and ask about opportunities. 
  Of course networking in person is still valuable – get out to business networking evenings (try your local business associations and chambers of commerce if you don’t know where to start) and look on all social occasions as possible networking opportunities.
• If you are unemployed use your time wisely but adding extra skills. Recruiters and Employers will want to know not only why there is a time gap in your CV but want you have been doing
• Value yourselfl realistically. With the internet virtually all information is available so do your research. It is a delicate balance,-too greedy and you don't make the short list - too little and you employers might well wonder whether you have the skills they need. The objective is that you should have an idea of what to expect, so you will know if an offer is a good one or not.
• For the internet savvy consider your own website or blog. On the blog write about your area of expertise. It might seem like a big project, but it’s free to blog. (try www.blogger.com), It’s all part of gaining exposure
  It can also be a great thing to show off to potential employers, as it demonstrates your enthusiasm for working in that particular industry. Your own mini website can be a great way to showcase your talent as a photographer as an example.
• Job hunting is no time for modesty but you must be honest. You’re selling yourself to someone else, so make sure they know about all the things you’ve done and achieved or they’ll never realise just how perfect you are for the job! You don’t need to brag or boast, but there’s nothing wrong with painting yourself in the best possible light you can. You need to stand out from the crowd.
• Watch your spelling and grammar. You would think this goes without saying but you’d be amazed by the number of people who don’t spellcheck their job applications. Always, always check! Don’t just trust technology either – get a friend to read over your application too.You never get a second chance to make a first impression. Also get rid of all the technobabble and acronyms - no intellectual snobbery or assumptions. 
• If applying directly get the name of the individual you should contact directly. It really helps to go direct to the person hiring. It’s more personal and generally more successful. But, make sure you spell their name correctly. If you don’t, you’re dead. Also personalise your CV and the cover letter to the position. It isn't a case of one CV suits all positions. If you do then you'll end up in the rejection pile 
• Keep your referees in the loop. Tell them you are applying for jobs and courteously ask their permission to be used. You want them to think even more favourably of you, and to respond to companies quickly. Sometimes verbal references are taken, don't embarrass a referee but not keeping them informed.
• Make sure your qualifications are up-to-date. Add in website links for verification purposes. if in a foreign language get them translated and certified. We have been in international recruitment for more years than we care to remember but still see new fraudulent documents. Make it easy for others to check that you are genuine.
• Never  wait for the perfect match. Apply for jobs around your skill levels. Keep your ego in check. For a start, you could get the job which would be a way in to other jobs later on. It may also turn out that the person receiving your CV needs to fill another slot that is not advertised yet. This could be the one with your name on it! For sure you've got to be in it to win it and be prepared for hard knocks along the way.
• If applying through an agency follow the processes laid down. If they ask for information give it to them. Over provide rather than take shortcuts. Incomplete applications (and you'd be amazed how may we get) will be ignored. You are wafting not only your time but other peoples - don't do it.
• Follow up on job applications in the time frames laid down and using the method requested. persistent phone calls are a no,no. If you possibly can, try to speak to the person you are applying to. Don’t be a nuisance but just ask politely if they’ve received your application (they might not have – it could be caught in their spam filter). If they haven’t, you could offer to send it again by snail mail. This is great way to show that you’re keen, and have a professional telephone manner.Treat others as you would wish to be treated yourself and avoid irritating people. if they say all contact is by email - it means just that - respect it. As an international recruitment agency we refuse to call candidates back in the recruitment phase there are simply not enough hours in the day.
• Don't get caught out. A potential employer (or headhunter) could call you. If you’ve put your mobile number on your CV (and we suggest you do) then you could get a call from a potential employer at any time. Any calls you’re unsure of, assume it’s important and answer brightly and positively. The same applies for your answer phone message: make sure it’s sensible and mature – the voice of an ideal employee! It remains one of the curses of the technological age that many business phone numbers come up as Private number withheld. You can use this as an excuse to call the company switchboard/direct dial number as it shows initiative but be prepared for unexpected questions.
• Keep a spreadsheet of job applications. Every employer sees themselves as precious. Engage with them as if they are. Avoid like the plague comments like "I've applied for so many jobs i can't remember who you are" (Actually said to me, not too long ago. 
• Get help with your interview skills. Get a friend, ideally one who hires people, to give you a mock interview or two. Get them to be very honest about how you come across and what you could do better. If you improve your interview technique you can definitely increase your chances of getting a job. Performing well in an interview is 80% in the preparation and 20% in the presentation
• In international recruitment we now ask for a video from the candidate You’ll be surprised at how much and how quickly you improves you self-presentation in pressurised situations. Think how this would help say an Australian employer to assess the skills of an Indian engineer as an example.
• Dress appropriately. Do make sure you look smart and clean when you go to an interview. Don’t look like you’re trying too hard but do look like you care about your appearance and about the company.Remember you are not going clubbing!
• Have 6 good good questions prepared. Asking occasional questions at a job interview is a good idea. This takes the pressure off you for a bit because people will often take up on the opportunity to talk about themselves and their work. Ask insightful questions that show you’ve thought carefully about the job you’re applying for and the company. Don’t be judgmental, but if you show you’re assessing them and their suitability as much as they are you, you will seem a more desirable candidate.Your questions should evidence that you have researched the company a factor that weighs heavily with employers.
• Follow up on interviews. Send a thank you letter immediately after an interview. Don’t grovel but it will do no harm to thank your interviewer for his or her time, to reiterate your interest in the job and to say that you will be available for a follow-up interview if they want to know any more. This shows courtesy and professionalism and it will keep you in their minds! in the international arena where Skype is often used then an email of thanks is well received as many people simply don't bother.
• Think outside of the box.  List all the things you do at work and possibly elsewhere, such as your activities as a parent or a fund-raiser for your favourite charity, you will realise just how many skills you use on a daily basis. This will help you fill your CV with all your relevant skills, and increase your range of job choices. Consider creating your own job. Maybe you could be a consultant or freelance worker for various outlets. Why not create your own job: work out what companies need in your area of expertise and then tout yourself about. You will have more freedom and variety and it might be something you can do from home too.
• Be willing to move country. OK, it’s a big move (literally), but given the economic there are going to be lots of people looking to do the same thing over the next few years – especially new graduates who can’t find positions.
  Teaching English is always a popular option (have a look at TEFL) but if you’ve got skills and ambition there are so many other options. Check out the plethora of ‘jobs abroad’ sites on Google. It’s amazing what’s out there. If you’d just like to get away for a short time, check out Gap Year for Adults which has ideas for jobs, travel and general fun on a year off abroad.The world is a very small place these days we place ESL teachers in the Middle East and host of different skills in Australia just as examples.
• Be positive… It’s easy to feel down when you’ve sent out numerous applications and got nowhere. Remember, persistence wins the prize and we tend to get out of life what you put into it.Expect the best and you’re likely to get it, your glass should always be half full! If you’re getting rejected all the time it could be that your CV, your application letter or your interview approach need work. Go through these with friends and/or professionals and get their feedback.
• Learn not to take rejection personally. Hey, it’s life. Not everyone can get that job. Pretty much everyone’s been rejected for a job at some time. The more you can brush off rejection (of any kind), the quicker you will get on in life and the happier you will be generally.
• Don’t give up. It’s far too easy to give up, particularly if you live in an area where there’s lots of unemployment or you are friends with other people who have given up hope. You must refuse to accept defeat. Keep going – it’s the ones who persist, persist and persist who win in the end.

Remember in job hunting it is all about you, but equally remember that a quality presentation will help you stand out from the crowd who think a quick phone call and maybe an out of date CV is all that is necessary to gain employment. They are wrong so why not start on the creation of your personal information centre today in preparation for the challenges ahead.

No pain, no gain