An uncommon guide to securing your dream job

In a rapidly evolving society where the rate of shared information doubles almost every day there is an increasing need to develop a new model or approach to making an outstanding impression. The old idea that all that’s necessary to make it into the shortlist of any prospective employer is updating and submitting your resume is surely becoming redundant. With unemployment on the rise, job applicants need to distinguish themselves from the pack and make an outstanding impression long before the interview process. Using some of the strategies I’m about to share, you’ll increase your chances of securing the job you want and beat any other applicant by at least ten points, regardless of your experience or skills.

Crafting your perfect résumé

A common mistake that most people make when putting together their résumé is that they follow the old tired system of just listing their name, birthdates, what school they went to and what jobs they have worked. While these details count, they only make up 30 percent of what an employer is looking for. The underlining factor all employers are looking for when considering an applicant, is competence; meaning your capacity to get things done. If your résumé doesn’t, a) reflect your professionalism, b) your planning and organizing skill and c) your ability to effectively communicate, chances are your résumé will fall among the rest of the applicants who aren’t even considered for the job. So, how do you create a résumé that communicates your competence? Well, you first get clear on what your potential employer is looking for. As an applicant, it’s your responsibility to align your skills, experiences and attributes with what the job demands, not theirs. One way to do this is through writing an application letter. Now, not even ten percent of applicants will even bother to do this unless the employer demands it. What an application letter does is, it allows you to build a relationship with the reader, by creating a narrative of your reasons for applying, your skills, experiences and attributes and how they align or meet the job requirement will instantly create an outstanding impression with your employer. This method beats the old and mechanical method of just listing your facts and leaving it at that. Another thing to do is, list your best job experiences and references somewhere in the application letter. When proceeding to the “fact listing” section of your résumé, give as much detail as you possibly can on what your job description was at all your previous jobs, and always list the most relevant work experiences, descriptions and tasks highest. Don’t make the mistake of just stating the job title then leaving it to their imagination to figure out what tasks that description entailed. If you, for instance, worked as I.T hardware technician, list you tasks as a technician in order of importance. Then another thing to consider during this preparation period is preparing recommendation letters from your previous employers, it helps reflect your professionalism, value, communication and interrelation skills and capacities which are essential attributes in every job. These are just a few ways you can improve your résumé and presentation skill to help you stand out from all the other applicants.

Meeting with your perspective employers

Considering you applied the above information, you have elevated you chances of moving to the next step of the process, the interview. This is where the real application is, since your chances of securing the job are have been narrowed down and all it takes is a sales pitch that beats all the other applicants’. Your capacity to present yourself as highly effective and competent will determine whether you are appointed or not. This part of the process entails a fair amount of preparation. At this point you have made it onto their shortlist on the basis that you have met their technical skill requirements. All that’s left is that you sell them on yourself. Most people make the mistake of going in and answering question then hold their breath in anticipation. Here are a few things you’ll have to keep in mind during this process. The first; are you someone they want to have around the office? Most employers have already made a decision on whether they want to appoint you within 15-30 seconds of meeting you. Believe it or not, but their impression of you within that first minute of meeting you will be carried out the entire interview. Presentation is everything; from your tone of voice, posture, dress code, facial expressions and hand gestures, so be conscious of these and other positive associations and triggers. So consider how you can present yourself as best you can during the meeting with your interviewer.

Secondly, re-sell your résumé. Although your it may have gotten you this far, you still need to emphasis your strengths, and make up for any weaknesses in your résumé. The objective here is to exceed their expectation in terms of the value they would gain through appointing you. You could exceed their expectations when mentioning any skill you may possess that could add value to, your job, the office, or your colleagues, even if it this has no direct relation to the post you’re applying for. Obviously your b-boy skills won’t be considered as valuable in a corporate environment so, make sure highlight intelligent and congruent skill sets.

Third, perform what I call a dual interview. This is where you show as much interest in the company, as the show in you. Don’t just sit there and answer questions all the time. Actually participate and express your interest in the company, office culture, policies etc. This is a high competence trigger, and this demonstrates professionalism and smarts to your interviewer. Only a very few people actually do this, and putting the dual interview tactic into effect, goes a long way. Obviously, allow them to carry out their initial interview process, then when they are done kindly ask if you could ask a few questions about the company and office culture. Backed with proper researched knowledge you’ll have an arsenal of intelligent questions to round up your interview. Fourth, express appreciation. Finally once the interview is concluded, kindly thank them for the opportunity and ask how soon you could expect feedback regarding your application. No one should have to endure the anxiety and mental anguish of waiting for a reply. It’s best you know how soon they would have reached their decision, allowing you the freedom to consider other options if their selection period has passed. Then finally, send a final thank you note or email to your interviewer just to wrap things up.

These tactics may be a bit challenging to follow right down to the detail, however if you do apply them, you’ll improve your chances of being appointed. It’s not a guarantee but is a more meticulous approach and will force you to rethink the entire job application process. The crux of the matter is that regardless of your experience, skills or qualifications, if you can master the art of presentation you’ll ease your way through interviews, meetings, negotiation and debates. Increasing your chances at success with everything you do.