Job hunting explained

Attitude is key
When looking for employment you have to keep a positive attitude. It has been proven that self fulfilling prophecies exist, in other words if you have it in your head that you are unemployable the chances are you wont find a job. However with a positive attitude where you embrace challenge finding a job becomes easier.

Your CV
A CV (curriculum vitae) is perhaps the most important sales brochure you will ever hold, this is because it is selling something really unique and that is you! There are many common mistakes people make with CV's the main one is using a font that cannot be easily read, you can have an armful of qualifications and be the ideal candidate for a job but if the employer can't read your CV they will simply place it into the bin. This is why fonts should be simplistic like "Times New Roman" or "Arial" the size of font is important too because if it's too small again it cannot be read and too large just wastes paper so keep it safe at a size 12.

When writing a CV you should gear it towards the job you are applying for highlighting points that are relevant to the role. Avoid using the word "I" too much because it can aggravate some employers; for example instead of writing "I am good at sales" try "effective sales is one of my strengths". Do not use slang terminology as this can cause both confusion and more aggravation.

When listing places of past employment and responsibilities you should always write something you achieved in that place of employment. This may seem hard to do with certain jobs however it's not impossible things you achieved could include;

-- Achieved all sales targets set with excellent customer feedback
-- Implemented a new invoicing system
-- Never had a sick day

Do not speak negatively of past employers as this does not look good and could cost you the opportunity of a job.

When listing hobbies and interests make sure they look positive for example "I enjoy going to the pub" does not look so good however if you were to write "Socializing with friends and meeting new people" this looks more positive. Most people mention in their CV they enjoy reading, if you write this be sure to be able to answer when asked "what is the last book you read?"

Another mistake people often make is rather than list their references at the bottom of their CV, they write "references available upon request" this goes against you because it means extra effort on the employers side to get these referees so again your CV would be put aside.


Finding opportunities
Different companies advertise positions in a number of different places through a plethora of mediums. Whenever you go to a supermarket or even a small local shop take a look at the notice board because opportunities may be listed there be sure to take down all the details on the ad.

Newspapers can also be a great place to look, try not to go to much with national papers but instead stick to local or countywide ones.

Recruitment agencies can prove to be great when hunting for a job, the key is finding a recruitment agency that deals with the sector you wish to seek employment in. Recruitment agencies are not legally allowed to charge you for their services so if one does request payment walk away. Once you sign up to an agency you will often be interviewed to see what roles would be suitable for you and for the agency to learn more about you. You must treat this interview as if it is for the actual job because an agency will not put you forward for any roles if they think that you are scruffy, lazy, or ill mannered. Once you have signed up with an agency give them a call once a week so you are fresh in their minds when job opportunities arise.

Distributing your CV
Most people when they go into an establishment to hand in a CV just go to the nearest sales attendant hand them the CV and walk away, this is not the way to do it for the simple reason; your CV will probably end up in the bin without being seen by management. Instead find out the Human Resource managers name and put your CV in an envelope with FAO: (MANAGERS NAME) on the front, this way it is more likely that the appropriate person will read it. When handing out CV's make sure they are clean and not all crumpled because this gives the employer the impression that you really don't care. Your personal presentation is also important because a person decides whether they like you or not within the first 15 seconds of seeing you.

Quite often companies will request a cover letter to go with your CV. This should be laid out like a formal letter a common mistake people make is just writing they would like to apply for the role xyz without mentioning any relevant skills or experience. Your covering letter is another chance to showcase what a suitable candidate you are; mention all the skills and experience you have and make it relevant to that company.

Once you have delivered your CV and calls for interviews start to come in ****Read my other article "How to win at a job interview" for the next step****