This is a contributor’s blogpost …

 

If you are looking for a new job, the whole process can be a bit overwhelming. After all, there is so much to take into account, from ensuring your CV is on point to actually looking for the right job opportunities to begin with. It can be difficult to know where to start and, of course, you will want to secure a job as quickly as possible, yet you will also want to make sure it is the perfect job for you. With that in mind, read on to discover some of the different ways you can improve your chances of getting hired when looking for a job.

 

Be a good researcher

 

The first thing you must do to give yourself a greater chance of being hired is to be good at researching. Once you find a vacancy that interests you, find out everything about it, as well as the business that is offering it. Showing you understand the company and that you are passionate about the role being offered will make a massive difference.

 

Invest in yourself

 

Now is a good time to invest in yourself and what you can bring to the table. One of the best ways you can increase your chances of getting hired is by improving what you have to offer a potential employer. Nowadays, thanks to the Internet, it is easier to boost your knowledge and skill set than ever before. You can easily sign up to one of the online courses that are available and attain a qualification over the Internet. This means that you can study in your spare time so it does not interfere with your job hunt or any other commitments you have.

 

Make the most of the connections that you have

 

By this stage in your career, hopefully, you have had the opportunity to make some personal connections that you can really use to take your career to another level. A personal recommendation is definitely one of the best ways to put yourself to the front of the queue for a particular job. Get in touch with everyone in your contact book to see if they know about any opportunities. You can also reach out to your contacts to get them to provide you with personal recommendations.

 

Photo courtesy of Lukas via Pixabay

 

Make sure you tailor your cover letter and CV  

 

One of the biggest mistakes people make is sending the same generic CV and cover letter to all job applications. If you do this, it will show, and it tells the employer that you are not serious about the job vacancy they have available. Instead, you need to research the company in question and tailor your CV and cover letter accordingly so that you can show why you are the perfect person for that position specifically. Moreover, showing you know about the company and that you have done your research will put you at an advantage.

 

Join a specialist recruitment firm

 

One of the best ways for you to improve your chances of getting hired is to join a specialist recruitment firm. For example, if you are looking for a job in Human Resources, make sure you join a HR job recruitment agency. This is important because such recruitment firms will be able to give you access to the best pool of jobs relating to your skills. They will also be able to match you to the best job opportunities and companies for you. Not only this but as they have vast experience in your sector, they can also help you with everything from nailing your interview to improving your CV.

 

Prepare thoroughly for any interview

 

The importance of this cannot be underestimated. If you are not prepared, it will show. The key is to practice all of the different questions you are likely to get asked. However, make sure your responses are delivered in a natural manner. The last thing you want is for it to appear like you are reading from a script. One of the questions candidates get unstuck with is the ‘tell me about yourself’ question. Keep your answer short and simple. Give some background information, outline why you want to work for the company, give a brief overview of your achievements and a nod to your future goals. You also need to prepare for behavioral questions and make sure you are armed with real-life examples for the interview.

 

Get active on LinkedIn

 

Last but by no means least, we have LinkedIn. If you are not active on this social media platform and your profile is not updated, you are going to miss out on opportunities and, even worse, your potential employer may even develop a negative impression of you. Once someone receives your CV, you can bet your bottom dollar that they are going to look for you on social media in an attempt to find out more.

 

So there you have it: a number of different things that you can do to improve your chances of getting hired while you are job hunting. If you follow the advice that has been presented above, you can give yourself the best chance of finding the perfect job for you and of impressing above all other candidates. If you do not get accepted for the first job you apply for, don’t start to panic or get disheartened. Most people need to apply for several jobs before they find their dream job.