Whether you are a young graduate, an experienced worker or a professional looking for a career change, finding a job can be a daunting task. Let’s face it, even in a country like the UK with plenty of job opportunities, your application will face a lot of competition. On average, for each corporate job opening, 250 resumes are received, of which only four to six people will be invited for a job interview. So what can you do to stand out in a competitive market?
Time and tide wait for no man
Discovering a job vacancy late or applying at the last minute will massively reduce your chances of being selected. This is no surprise, if you consider that on average recruiters receive the first applications within 200 seconds of a job opening being posted. Social media platforms such as LinkedIn and online recruitment sites such as reed.co.uk have made the hiring process faster, so don’t delay sending your application if you find a job that suits you.
The devil is in the detail
Usually, the first point of contact with a hiring manager will be the cover letter, so getting it right from the very first paragraph is really important. You don’t need to include all your experience in the cover letter. Instead, summarise what you can do for the company in the first few lines to help grab the reader’s attention. It is also important to show that you have done your research and have understood what the job requires. Sending out random cover letters and standard CVs is simply a waste of time.
Keep your cover letter to one page, providing examples of how your qualifications and experience match the job description. Editing and tweaking your resume to fit the job you are applying for will also increase your chances of being selected by the recruiter.
And last but not least, proofread your application as many times as need be for spelling or grammar mistakes because good attention to detail is one of the positive signs for recruiters.
expert advice
Once you are invited for a job interview, you’ll want to do your best to make a great impression. To find out more, Speak Up travelled to London to meet Romney Whitehead, founder of the digital consultancy Borrowed Insight Limited. An expert in the field, Whitehead has been recruiting teams in the creative and IT space for over 30 years. She began by stressing that preparation is key.
Romney Whitehead (English accent): When it comes to preparing for your interview, the first thing to do is to research the company that you’re going to [have] the interview with. If possible, research the department. Preparation is the key. The more that you know about the department and about the business, the more confident you’ll be within the interview itself. Secondly, if you go through the job description in detail, this will benefit you in a couple of ways. Firstly, you’ll get a better understanding of what the day to day job will entail, so what will be your daily tasks? What will be the regular things that you have to do? What will be the biggest challenges that you’ll possibly have? And secondly, going through the job description will also allow you to make detailed questions that you may have within the interview about particular parts. So, don’t be afraid to ask questions when you’re in the interview itself, if there are certain parts of the job description that are not clear to you.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Another useful technique is to visualise the actual interview and anticipate the questions you will be asked, as Whitehead explained.
Romney Whitehead: Another good preparation method is to think about common questions that interviewers will ask. So they do generally ask why you want the role and what you think you can bring to it. So if you go through your CV in detail, think about the challenges that you’ve overcome and the achievements that you’ve had within your past positions.This is very useful in terms of what you can actually bring to a role. It shows the interviewer that you have confidence and that you’re able to overcome challenges which are put in front of you. At the end of the day, when you go to an interview, you’re going to be nervous, so take your time. Think about what you want to say. So, there is an old adage, which is: Think, breathe, speak. So, when you’re asked a question, think about the answer, take a breath, then give your answer to the interviewer.
NOT A ROBOT
A final piece of advice – though easier said than done – is to try not to get too nervous. But nor is it good to be too cold, said Whitehead.
Romney Whitehead: So, what about the interview itself? Try and relax. Make eye contact with your interviewer. Smile, take your time and try and make your answers as natural as possible. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes or taking your time to answer. That’s all fine. You’re not expected to be a robot in these interviews. What the interviewer will want to see is somebody who has confidence, who is relaxed and also who can perform under pressure. At the end of the day, an interview is actually one of the most challenging things that you will have to do within your working world.
Top 5 tips
1. Research the company and the job position you are applying for.
2. Tailor your cover letter and CV to match the job description
3. Practice your answers to the most common interview questions.
4. Dress: smart but comfortable
5. Think, breathe, speak and be yourself