6 Golden Rules For A Job Search!

Tonight I was giving advice to one of my friends as to how should he go about looking for a new job and the following six rules sum it all up for anyone who is looking for a job for the first time or is planning to shift to a new one from his/her existing job.

1. Mission Reconnoiter

Make a list of the companies you would like to join and look for your friends or friends’ friends or mere acquaintances, who are already working in those companies. Once this is done, try to find out what exactly they are doing there i.e. what is their work profiles. This will give you an idea of what exactly you are looking for and what is in store for you if you finally get to join any of the companies in the list.

2. Hoax Call

It’s time now to float your CV (Curriculum Vitae) or Resume around but only in those companies, which are there in the same business and still where you would not want to join. It has two advantages. This is an exercise towards self-assessment and also gives you the much-needed real-time interview practice. This is the time when you would actually come to know about your shortcomings, if any. The point to take care of is wherever you appear for an interview, be very sure to get the feedback regarding your performance in the interview because only then would you be able to review your strengths and weaknesses. There is a probability that you might get selected also but since you never wanted to join this company in the first place, this should only boost your self-confidence.

3. Grinding and Polishing

Now when you know your strengths and weaknesses, it’s time to hone your existing skills and start working towards removing your weaknesses. At this juncture, you also have the extra information as to what is that special skill or trait that the companies in your list are looking for. So, if you do not have that skill you can start building it. By the time you would be through with this you would have built a profile, which is exactly what the companies in your list would be looking for.

4. Time to Act

Now, and now only float your CV around in those companies, which you would really want to join i.e. which are in your list.

5. Mind Reading

The part of the game is to know beforehand as to what are the interviewers going to expect from you and then beating them in their own game by answering them in the same way they would like to hear those answers from you. This is easier said than done. It’s time now to dig out your old contacts, which you already did when you executed rule number one. More than that, you also have to ask them as to what were the questions that they were asked when they sat for their interviews in the same companies from your list. This way, at least you will have a fair idea about the benchmarks you would be pitted against. And, believe me more often than not, interview questions do get repeated.

6. Patience

And now comes the most important point, which is to be patient. You don’t get your dream job in a matter of a few days. These things take time. Either you have to go through these five procedures or be damn lucky.

Au revoir

P.S. I have overlooked the presentation skills, which of course is one of the most important ingredients in cracking any interview. Another important aspect concerning only those who are looking forward to change their jobs is that no matter how unappealing and uninspiring their current job profiles might be they have to present it in a way, which connotes the opposite. More importantly, they should be able to explain as to where exactly they fit in their current organizations. Even if you answer these two posers only very convincingly, it goes a long way in increasing your desirability.