The world of hiring and recruitment is one that is ever-changing and continues to evolve, what seems like every day for both employers and job seekers alike. It can be a challenge to navigate the ever-changing recruitment process and its requirements as a job seeker – cover letters, key selection criteria, application forms, video applications etc.
As a jobseeker it is important for you also to ensure you are putting your best foot forward and showcasing your skills, qualifications and experience and there are a number of ways to do this. Firstly, by making sure that your resume is in an easy to read format, it has all your relevant information and experience (in this section it is helpful to provide context around the roles you have worked in and the companies you have worked with), and perhaps most importantly, that it is representative of you. Hiring Managers and Recruiters are often looking at a number of resumes at one time, screening for the right candidate, so make sure that your resume shows your personality and gives them all the information they need to pick up the phone and explore your application further.
Secondly, you can stand out to employers by joining and being active on platforms such as LinkedIn. LinkedIn is a fantastic tool in the jobseeker’s toolbox – the platform allows you to stay informed about industry trends, news and insights, it can provide you with opportunities for personal and professional development, and is a fantastic way to establish and grow your networks. It may even help recruiters and hiring managers to find you! By adding the ‘Open to Work’ banner to your profile, uploading the details of your experience and skills to your profile and interacting with your network you might just find that the work finds you.
Finally, working with an agency can provide you with many more opportunities than an online job board ever could. Agencies don’t always advertise every position they are working on and often look to their networks to find the right candidates before going to market. By connecting with an agency, you can register your interest in finding a new position and be contacted with opportunities that match your skills, experience, goals and values. Recruiters can help you to look outside the box when looking for your next opportunity – they can help you discover and showcase your transferable skills to a prospective employer and give context and insight to your application that will help an employer understand how you could best be of value to their business.
The next hurdle in the recruitment process for job seekers is the interview stage – now that you have your foot in the door, this is your time to really articulate the value you could bring to the company and position. Use your pre-interview time wisely and prepare! At this stage you should be furiously researching the company – who they are, what they do, what their values are and what their culture is like, then use this information to formulate 3 or 4 key questions that you can ask the interviewer. After all the interview is also for you to be able to evaluate the suitability of the workplace for you, just as much as it for the employer to evaluate your suitability for the position. In this day and age it is more important and easier than ever to research a workplace, a quick google can tell you a lot – yet we see less and less people putting in the effort to prepare for their interviews in this way.
Since COVID, we have seen an increase in the amount of interviews that are taking place online rather than in person which can be an added element of difficulty to the process for the jobseeker. Just as it is in an in-person interview, it is important to really put your best foot forward. I recommend logging on early to the platform to make sure you are not going to encounter any technical difficulties – interviews are, at times, stressful enough so make the process as easy on yourself as you can. Ensure you have carved out dedicated, uninterrupted time for your interview – you might like to lock yourself in the spare room, book a room in your local library or coworking space. So you can give the interview your complete attention and focus, I recommend you close everything on your desktop so you are not tempted or distracted by an app or a notification popping up. Similarly, in an in-person interview I recommend you turn your phone to silent (I know this seems like a given, but you would be surprised!) and silence the notifications on your smart watch. Your presentation is important in both instances, both online and in-person – ensure you are neatly groomed, hair is brushed and done, makeup is appropriate, and you are dressed well (some interview confirmations included a ‘dress code’ such as business, smart casual etc which is a great guide).
Right now, we are in what we call a ‘Candidate Short Market’ which means that the market is leaning towards the candidate – this is giving jobseekers options in their job search, meaning that you don’t necessarily have to tick ALL of the boxes on an application. Cover letters and Key Selection Criteria are being requested less and we are finding employers are looking more so for culture fit or transferable skills over hard skills and qualifications. If you don’t meet all the key selection criteria or don’t have a formal qualification but do have the experience you should focus on showing how your values are aligned, showcasing your experience, your transferable skills, and demonstrate how you would add value to the team and position. Remember you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take!
For jobseekers the process of finding a new role can be daunting and sometimes quite lengthy so you must adjust your approach and employ innovative strategies to navigate the evolving world of recruitment successfully. If you are looking for meaningful work, now is the best time for you to set some of these strategies in motion!
