Getting The Job You Want - Putting Your Best Foot Forward
It’s no secret that in a struggling economy, getting the job you want can be very challenging. Add to that rapidly changing technology and a constantly growing competition pool, and it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the whole process. As you navigate through the recruiting cycle, you will no doubt encounter many situations where your actions and reputation will be deciding factors in getting the job you want. What can you do to make sure that you are always portraying yourself in a positive, professional way? The following article will give you some insight into how to put your best foot forward when attempting to secure your dream job.
The public domain
As our society relies increasingly on innovative, Internet-based modes of communication, a potential employer can now learn about you in many more ways than just through your résumé and cover letter. Social networking sites like Facebook, MySpace and Twitter are great ways to connect with your family and friends, but can also be used by potential employers to determine your suitability for their organization. With the growing number of recruiting avenues currently being explored, especially online, students need to be conscious of the information about them available in the public domain. Taking precautions such as limiting questionable content on your various profiles, strategically choosing the type of social networks you use, or making your profiles private are highly recommended.
Honestly speaking
Hiring managers and human resource professionals have an obligation to abide by the ethical standards put forth by the labour board, their organization, and the schools in which they are recruiting. When speaking about their organization, recruiters should not overstate the benefits the organization offers, or embellish the tasks of an entry-level position in an effort to sway candidates to join the organization. Conversely, candidates should have their own code of ethics when it comes to applying for positions. From the first handshake to the first day of work, candidates should be honest with themselves, the organizations to which they apply, and the career contacts they make.
Your résumé is an organization’s first look at your skills and abilities. While there are many different formats you can choose from for your résumé layout, the one consistent requirement is that you be honest. Do not embellish any of your past job responsibilities or exaggerate your abilities (e.g., saying you can speak Japanese if you only know how to say “hello” and “goodbye”). There are many high-profile cases of individuals who did not portray themselves honestly on their résumé, and suffered significant consequences. Radio Shack CEO David Edmonson was forced to resign when it was discovered that he lied about his academic credentials. Similarly, Notre Dame football coach George O’Leary was removed when it was discovered that he grossly overstated his past accomplishments.
As cliché as it sounds, honesty is the best policy when it comes to writing your résumé. If you have never written a résumé, or would like yours critiqued by a professional, visit your university or college career services office. They partner with employers to learn the specific skills and abilities candidates need to have, and prepare programming such as résumé workshops and one-on-one coaching sessions to help students understand how to acquire these skills and abilities, and market them in an effective way.
Network like a professional
Taking advantage of networking opportunities, attending employer information sessions, taking office tours and meeting contacts through career services or professors are equally as important as your résumé. How you portray yourself at these events will either assist or hinder you in your job search. Awkward conversations, inappropriate alcohol consumption and poor food etiquette are just a few of the gaffes that can prevent you from networking successfully. How can you make sure that the impression you leave is a good one?
The best advice that we have heard about preparing for networking events is to create your personal “elevator speech.” If you were in an elevator and the CEO of the organization you wanted to work for stepped in, what would you say? You only have about 30 seconds to hold that person’s attention before he or she either leaves or loses interest. Your elevator speech should include your name, your major/year of study and the type of opportunity you are looking for. From there, you should have multiple topics to discuss.
Interviews
The interview stage, for some of you, will be the first time you meet a representative from the organization; for others, it could be the third or fourth time. Whether it’s the first or fourth time, your approach should be consistent with the steps you have taken to get here. If you have any gaps in your résumé, address them with your interviewer right away so they don’t leave the interview with more questions than answers about you. Be honest with your interviewer about why you left a previous job, even if you were fired, because you can use it as an opportunity to talk about what the experience taught you. Under no circumstances should you ever speak negatively about a former employer. The working world is surprisingly small—and you never know how the person interviewing you may be connected to others.
Sealing the deal with an offer
Organizations select candidates whom they believe are a good fit for the role, the team and the organization; when you get a job offer, it’s up to you to decide if the role, the team and the organization are a good fit for you. Most organizations will give you at least a week to indicate your response to the offer. If this is your first offer and your first choice, accepting right away may be a good option for you. If this offer is your second or third choice (and you haven’t yet heard back from the organizations that you are truly interested in), it is acceptable to ask to take some time to review the offer before making your decision.
If you receive an offer from an organization and it is not your first choice, it is not in your best interest to accept immediately, because you may be tempted to back out of your offer if a more desirable one comes along. Backing out of an offer can negatively affect your reputation as well as the reputation of the school from which you were recruited. Be honest with the hiring manager or recruiter by letting him or her know that you are waiting to receive another offer, or that you need some time to evaluate the offer they have presented. It is much better to be remembered as the candidate who made a conscientious decision, rather than the student who accepted and then backed out of an offer.
Although this article covers many typical scenarios within the recruitment cycle, you will no doubt encounter new and unexpected circumstances in your job search. Maintaining your integrity and professionalism along the way will help to make your recruitment experience a successful beginning to your career journey.
by Gina John & Carol Evenson
Great to read some stuff on Networking. I keep hearing about how important it is. Since I’ve had more than my fair share of awkward conversations, the elevator idea sounds great. Are there any other tips for networking?
Something I’ve heard about food consumption at official functions is that you should always take really small bites. This way, if someone asks you a question, they won’t have to wait three minutes for a response while you chew.