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When you have been unemployed for some time, or when you have just lost your job, it is easy to get down heartened. You are not alone in feeling this way. You might start wondering if there is something wrong with you or might feel that fate is not on your side. However to be able to get a job, you must stand out from the rest. You do not need to be a thousand times better than others, just 10 percent is enough to land you a job. This article will give you the much needed 10 percent to better yourself than the rest by detailing what you need to do when searching for a job and what to do on your interview.

1.Be Organized

When looking for a job, you must establish your own working day schedule so that you start your day knowing what is to done and at what time to do it. You must also set daily goals for yourself and must record what you have done. Your day must start with you getting dressed for work. Why must you do this? Because being dressed properly for work will give you added confidence even when talking on the phone. You must make it your job to find yourself a job.

Man on call
Man on call

Make a spreadsheet to keep track of company names, position title, a link to the job posting itself, application materials, due dates, plus the date you applied, follow-up dates, and notes.

Budget your time to your job hunting. You can not possibly spent all day every day looking for a job but just a few hours per day are enough.

2.Access The Hidden Job Market

Its common knowledge that the fisherman with the biggest net catches more fish than those with smaller ones. It is also like that in job hunting. Increasing the size of your net will help you improve the chances of you landing a job. A variety of jobs will be slipping past your net if you only are looking and replying jobs advertised on the internet or those in newspapers. You must access the hidden market.

How can you do so? Each day or week, set aside time to call on companies that you think may have jobs you want. Do not wait for them to start advertising for a post. When the manager of that company says there is no work, ask where he or she thinks there is work and ask for a specific person you must speak to. If he does offer such a suggestion, make an appointment with that company and be sure to mention the name of the person who referred you there.

At times you may be told that there are no vacancies yet but to try again in so many weeks or months. Try again at that time and you are likely to get a job. At times you might even have to start as a volunteer. Do your work so well and do whatever tasks they ask you to do. That way you are more likely to be offered a permanent job.

Also to help you access the hidden market are family and friends. They will spread the word to their friends and help broaden your job hunting net. Let  them know your qualifications and the kind of work you want. That way when they hear of a vacancy in their own work places you will know.

3.Be Adaptable

To increase your chances of finding a job, it is crucial for you to be adaptable. It is most unlikely that you will find a job that has everything you hope for. You must therefore learn to be content with employment that is less than ideal. Being adaptable might mean over-coming prejudice against certain types of work. Remind yourself why you need a job. That should push you to take any job that comes our way. I’m not saying you will keep that job forever. You will work from there, and find the right job that qualifies your qualifications but at the mean time get some income to help care for yourself and gain more work experience from that job.

4.Make An Effective Resume

Resume list
Resume list

No matter what job you seek, a well prepared resume can be the greatest asset to help you find a job. A resume tells your potential employer not only who you are but also what you have accomplished and why the company needs you.

If you were at some point employed, provide details of your previous job and work experience. Include not only what you did but also examples of the goals you reached and the benefits you brought to your previous employer.

If this is to be your first job, your resume can also state your hobbies that might may qualify as work experience. For instance hobbies like fixing old cars or wood working. You can also list if you have done a volunteer work and put the details about the work and the goals you have achieved.

Another important factor to help potential employers to pick your resume is to use their keywords. Keep the job posting close by as you tweak your resume to fit each specific job. Use wording throughout your resume that mirrors the wording found within the job posting. Some companies use computer software to sift through the stacks of resumes they receive, and using the company’s language can help your resume make it through this process.

5.Prepare Well For Your Interview

When you are selected for an interview, do some homework on the company. Do a research about the company you want to work for.Be informed—very informed—about the industry you’re applying into. Research every company and every position. Research the people who might be interviewing you and supervising you. Research the top people and the company’s mission. The more you know about the company, the better the impression you will make during the interview. Your research will also help you to determine whether the company really has the kind of work you want or if you would like to work for such a company.

What To Wear

Men's casual wear
Men’s casual wear

The next step will be to decide on what you will wear to the interview. Wear something that is appropriate for the type of job. If the job is for manual labor, wear neat clean clothing. Your neat clothing and grooming will show your potential employer that you take pride in yourself and that you are likely to take more pride in your work.

 

Men formal wear
Men formal wear

If you will be working in an office, you must wear a modest business attire. The clothes must not be too flashy that it will make your prospective employer feel challenged or inferior because those kind of feelings will make him less likely to take you in. The clothes must not look junky or scruffy as it will make a bad impression on your interviewer. Clothes must be chosen long before you are due to attend the interview so that you don’t feel rushed and unnecessarily increase your levels of stress prior to the interview.

What Time To Arrive

Watch
Watch

You must decide on the time to arrive to your interview. Experts recommend to arrive at an interview some fifteen to twenty minutes earlier. Of course arriving too early is not wise. Any more than that, and you may be sending the wrong message. Plus if you arrive too early, the staff may feel like they need to entertain you or continue offering you coffee, etc. They’re trying to make a good impression too. If the company tells you to come, say, 10 minutes earlier to fill in some paperwork, arrive some 10 minutes earlier to make it a total of 20. But arriving late could be disastrous because you will not have enough time to calm yourself down. The first 3 seconds of your interview are crucial as it is in that moment that the interviewer makes assessments  about your appearance and your bearing. What they see will deeply influence their opinion of you. Remember, there is no second chance to rectify the first impressions.

What To Do During An Interview

Men shaking hands
Men shaking hands

To start off well your interview, smile and give the interviewer a firm handshake ( if that is the customary greeting in the area). During the interview, you must concentrate on what the employer needs from you and what you have to offer. Maintain eye contact with the interviewer, use natural gestures when you speak and speak clearly. Be concise and honest when answering questions. You must also ask relevant questions about the company when given the opportunity. At the end of the interview and you have decided that you want the job, ask for it. It will show your enthusiasm.

What To Not Do During An Interview

You must avoid fidgeting and or slouching. Good composure conveys confidence. You must not be too informal or overly talkative and you must never use profanity. Avoid saying negative things about your former employer or workmates as it might make the prospective employer think that you will be negative about this job too.

Talkative woman
Talkative woman during interview

Do these 5 steps and get yourself a job.