Looking for a job in this current climate is one of the difficult things you will have to do. This is not peculiar to Ghana. Even in advanced countries searching for a job is a very difficult exercise. That said, do not despair; it is difficult but not impossible. These tips below will guide you in your job search process. Remember getting a job starts with you whether jobs are available or not.
1. Work on yourself
The job search exercise starts with you. You need to put yourself in the right frame to get inspired to find a job soon. You need to make a decision what job you need. Note that its not ‘what job you want but the job you need’. Reference that to your core skills, qualifications and available jobs. Being able to make such a realistic assessment of your needs shows your ability to self-reflect and critical thinking skills. There is always the temptation to take a job because it is available and you have bills to pay; consider this carefully before you go in for it. Job satisfaction is as important even more than the salary you will receive. In some other cases, getting into an organisation is important to be able to access job opportunities. Most organisations look within for skills before they explore external opportunities. Bottomline, whatever opportunity you are going for, make sure it aligns with your personal and professional goals.
2. Be confident and personable
No one likes a dull boy or girl. Always dress the part and look the part. For example, someone who takes initiative by emailing a senior member of staff to ask for a coffee will give off a much more positive, go-getter impression than someone who just sends in a flat CV and copy/pasted cover letter. Someone who asks for a meeting with a senior manager gets the chance compared to the one who just dropped a CV at the reception.
We are not in any way suggesting that you should stalk people. All we are saying is be assertive and proactive. Nothing comes to those who wait. Get out there, and make an impression. Always be ready to introduce yourself and direct the conversations to your core skills. If you can, have business cards printed. Give these out at networking events and always collect business cards. Remember to write to acknowledge the meeting when you get the card. Don’t start with your job search, always take the opportunity to talk about the industry they work in and ask for a follow up meeting.
Remember to smile. It won’t kill you.
3. Scan the horizon
Unfortunately, jobs are all not advertised on one platform. The Job Centre is here to make that process easier by pulling job openings from different sources on one platform. Even then, you will need to know what is out there. Scan all job site, read the Dailys, classifieds etc to find jobs. Talk to your network to share openings with you and find opportunities that fit your career plan. In recent years, social media has been a useful tool for many job seekers. See what listings are available. Whilst doing this, be careful of fraudsters who will be looking to exploit you. Be proactive; don’t wait for a job opening. Identity weaknesses in institutions and approach them with a solution aligned to your core skills. Sell your skills and get your self employed and valued. Employers like proactive people. There is a job out there for you. You just need to look.
4. Personalize Your Application Materials to Perfection
Sending a tailored covering letter is a well-known job hunting tip, but are you doing this with your CV? Relevance is crucial when applying for any job. Your CV is most likely targeted towards one profession or industry, but no two jobs will be exactly the same.
Whenever you apply for a role, take a few minutes to check your CV against the job advert and look for any potential improvements you can make. For example, if you are hiding a crucial qualification at the bottom of your CV, move it to the top and make it prominent. Tailoring your CV for every application may take a little more effort, but it’s better use of time than making 10 generic applications that may not attract the attention you need.
The majority of recruiters won’t even look at your resume if your cover letter is vague and generalized, so be as specific as possible with your job application.
If you’re applying for different types of positions, create targeted resumes to match, highlighting the employment history that is most relevant to the job that you’re after.
And, it’s just as important to make sure your cover letter and resume are free of grammatical errors or typos. When employers are reading dozens of resumes a day, a typo or mistake can quickly get your application thrown in the reject pile.
5. Practice makes perfect: The mock interview
You are lucky, your CV has got you through a short list. That is a first of many steps you have to take. You have to prepare for the interview. There is a detailed ‘tips’ on interview skills. Read that for details. Preparing for an interview is critical whether you have been shortlisted or not. It puts you in the right frame and readiness for work. Get some interview questions for your friend or relative; even your mirror will do the trick. Practice responses to the questions and let them critic these honestly. You can film yourself with your phone and watch the playback. If you don’t like what you see and hear, chances are that the interviewers will not like it either. Make changes until you are able to meet the accepted standard. If possible let others watch and give you feedback. You will be amazed how confident you will feel when it is time for the real deal. Remember, you don’t have to wait for a seminar to sharpen your skills. You have available the tools to help you improve.
6. Let your phone earn you a job
In the digital age, it can sometimes seem a little old fashioned to approach a recruiter by telephone, but it’s still an effective method. The YEA Job Centre works through the online portal and your phone. If you’ve made an application online and haven’t had a reply in a few days, pick up the phone and call. These days lot of employers have online presence, thus you can find their contact online. Phone them and follow up. You can also call to explore job opportunities. Ask to speak to the HR Coordinator or Officer; they are more open to speaking to you than the HR Director or Manager. Find out as much as you can on available and/or upcoming opportunities. You can request to share your CV for him/her to advice if you meet what they expect from their employees. Not any specific job but generally. This puts you in their list of proactive people and at worst you get free advice and/or feedback on your CV. Let your phone count in your job search. Not just eat your data.
7. Join support groups
You are not alone. There are many others out there and within your network also looking for work. It can get lonely out there. These groups will help motivate you, share opportunities that match your skills and be your buddies in mock interviews. The YEA Job Centre is one useful platform to identify others looking for jobs just as you. Speak to a careers advisor who will be able to put you in touch with others looking for work. What do you lose; at worst you will make new friends to share your ‘hustle’ stories with. Don’t be alone in this space. It’s a tough world out there. Also start following companies you are keen on working for on social media. When they post articles, work events etc, look for smart things to say and leave your comment. Do not stalk them. Don’t look desperate either. When they organise seminars, your friends in the job search can attend these together. Make an impression through your interventions, talk to their staff to find out among other things what it is like working with them.
8. Get recommended. Why not?
Perhaps a former colleague works at a company that you’re interested in, an old boss has retired but still has valuable connections in your field, a friend has recently gotten a job in an area of work you’d like to take on, you attend the same church or mosque with a manager of a company you are interested in why not get a recommendation. The time when “whom you know” was a crime is long gone. These are just a few examples of when it’d be appropriate to reach out to your professional network to increase your chances of getting a job.
Recommendations work. When you bank on a recommendation, it is no more your credibility but that of the one recommending you which comes to play. That’s why it is important to never bend bridges. Be nice to people and they will be happy to put in a good word.
9. One out of a thousand
When you put 100 applications out there, you increase your chances of being called for an interview. Always have your customized CV ready to share with potential employers. Send out as many job applications as possible. Ensure that they are of good quality, follow up and get recommendations. Remember to keep track of the applications. There is nothing shameful about putting out applications. Be prepared for majority to be turned down or not responded to. That is perfectly OK. You are not a failure. You will get to that job you are looking for. The YEA Job Centre has many applications in the database; skim and apply for as many as possible. After all people will only see when you have a job not when you are searching.
10. Try an internship
We know what you want is a job not to be an intern but remember what we said earlier, employers look within before they look outside. You stand a better chance of getting shortlisted.
If you think you’d benefit from getting a bit of work experience before deciding if a certain career is the right path for you, maybe offering to do a month unpaid at a nice company would work well. Employers get your time, you build experience. It’s a win-win situation. Be careful however not to get exploited by the employer. You are not there to run petty errands. Paid internships are really common these days. Although they don’t pay much, you’ll pick up invaluable skills, experience, and contacts relating directly to your preferred business and industry that will be extremely useful later
Try that it works.