Whether you are looking for a new job, a promise or a new client, I have some tips to help you be the best candidate that you can be. How exactly do you maximise your chances of getting a job that you love and make recruiters believe that you are the perfect candidate? Read on to find out…
A Holistic Approach
While striving to be the 100 percent perfect candidate for the job may seem utterly impossible, it is undoubtedly a good ideal to aim for. The key here is to eliminate the reasons a recruiter could have for not giving you the job. To do this, you will need to look at factors that are specific to each role you apply for. You will also need to take a holistic approach to develop your qualifications and general skillset to make you more attractive to employers. This two-pronged approach to your career progression should enable you to cover all areas and help you become successful in your job search.
Change Your Mindset To Be The Perfect Candidate
When applying for jobs, sometimes it can be helpful to look at the job you are applying for from a different perspective. Read the job description from the recruiter’s point of view to gain a more in-depth feel for the position. What sort of person are they looking for? How can your skills answer their need?
Changing your mindset from merely a personal perspective to considering what the recruiter is looking for is an excellent way of deciding if it sounds like the right job for you. It will also provide insight into how you can apply your knowledge and skills to the position.
Boost Your Qualifications
Gaining extra qualifications is always going to be a bonus. If you don’t want to take time out of the workplace to study, why not take an online study course? Courses such as those run by Northeastern University enable you to study in your spare time.
Extra qualifications not only show that you are committed to your chosen career, but also help you to stand out from other job applicants. A postgraduate qualification could make you the most qualified of all candidates applying for the job. I have undertaken multiple online courses and qualifications on top of my existing qualifications since going freelance in 2006 and expanding my knowledge base and confidence has really helped with my business.
Get as Much Experience as You Can
A lack of experience is a common reason given by recruiters when rejecting candidates. Unfortunately, a lack of experience is often a vicious cycle, as you need someone to provide you with that experience in the first place.
If you find yourself in a situation where a lack of experience is causing you problems, there are ways around it. You could put yourself forward for extra projects in your workplace to gain the experience that you need. If you decide to do this, make sure that you are not taken advantage of and expected to take on an unrealistic amount of work. State from the beginning what you are happy to do, and then stick with it.
Another way to gain the experience that you need is to take on some volunteering work, carrying out a similar kind of role. This offers the double benefit of you getting the experience that you need, while at the same time helping a great cause. Don’t confuse legitimate volunteer work with doing client work for free. There is a difference,
First Impressions Count
Don’t forget that the first impression you make is an important one. First impressions apply to both your application form or CV, as well as the first time you meet the recruiters at the job interview.
To make a great first impression, you will need to ensure that your CV is up to date and relevant to the job role. Crucially, ensure it is free from typos, spelling and grammar errors.
Do your research before applying for the job, and again if you are successful in getting an interview. Look at the company’s website to gain an insight into what they do, the ‘About Us’ section is a useful place to get some background knowledge of the company. Some advance research will help you to make your answers to interview questions more relevant to the company and will demonstrate your level of seriousness about the position. All of this applies to finding new clients and making yourself the perfect candidate so that choose to work with you instead of another company or freelancer.
