This is the first in a series of short articles on what to do to get yourself the job you want.We make no apologies for re-visiting this subject - see our blog articles index, especially the postings in January and February 2010.
To get a job is much easier than to get the best job and if we at Skye Recruitment can help you to get the best job for you, then you are more likely to want to stay with your employer and to progress to higher levels, with all the benefits that can bring.
Of course, before you can get a job an employer has to know that you are out there, and recruitment agencies can be an excellent way to achieve this. So which agency do you choose?
You need to do some research. Have a look on line, go to blog sites for comments on particular firms, look at agency web sites and get a feel for their operation, find out how long they have been in operation, what testimonials or awards they have received, and so on. And don't be tempted by any that want an up-front fee from you. Or, save yourself a lot of time and trouble and come to us!
In particular, do beware of false recruiters, especially those that claim to guarantee work in return for an upfront fee. A Queensland gentleman was recently arrested and charged with obtaining, or trying to obtain, money by deception, and there are no doubt many more fraudsters out there.
So, you want a job – but do you know what, exactly, you want to do? Although there are currently estimated to be about 30,000 mining jobs to fill in WAand QLD over the next 5 years, you need to work out what your particular areas of interest (and ability) are, and how flexible you can be in matching these to what's available in the market.
And you should think about what you want out of your job. Is it money, or promotion prospects, or the ability to have career breaks for lifestyle reasons? You need to decide what your career is to be. By 'career' we mean how you see yourself progressing from the start of your first job to the end of your last, including any job changes, lifestyle breaks, work/life choices and so on. There is help available on the internet, or you can come to us for help regarding this – point scoring each of the various factors can often help you to reach a decision.
Now you can start to create your brand image. Just as companies create a corporate brand image for themselves, so should you. Your brand image will be the 'asset' that you will be trying to sell to a prospective employer.
You need to decide:
who you are as a person (e.g., a leader, a follower, aggressive, thoughtful, impulsive, kind – those sorts of things);
what you can do that will enhance the company that you join;
how you deal with your own work-life balance, so that you are 110% committed to your job, but also maintain a healthy and fulfilling out-of-the-workplace life;
what your target employer wants. Do some research, find out what prospective job areas involve, and what niche gaps or weaknesses there are which your skill-set can fill;
If you are looking for your first job, you must research the field into which you wish to go. If, for example, your interest is in mining then, taking account of your existing skill set, look into what types of mining there are, where mining takes place (there may be some places where you do not want to work), what different processes there are, and so on. An employer won't expect you to know anything too specific, but he or she will expect you to be generally well-informed;
Now you can define your personal brand and this is what you have to market. Note – you also have to deliver, should you get the job!
The next stage is to prepare your CV. Firstly, have a look at our blog 'Writing a great résumé (28.1.2010). This will give you a great starting point for the document, the sole aim of which is to sell your personal brand. The better your advertising, the more likely the target audience will respond favourably.
Secondly, if you already have an old CV – THROW IT AWAY! This is not a time to be lazy. You must take a fresh look at yourself, much like an interviewer will do at an interview, and set about showing companies why they would be stupid not to employ you.
This is also a good opportunity for you to highlight your own achievements and successes. For instance, you may have suggested ways of improving efficiency, or reducing waste or costs, and if these can be brought out in the CV (preferably with testimonials or other evidence), and if the skills you used can be used in a new job, then they may give you the 'edge' that you need over other applicants.
Don't forget, also, that employers will want you to be technically adept, and technologically aware, so if you have proficiency in the use of particular equipment, or industry-standard software, then say so in the CV.
Your recruitment consultant will be able to help you 'fine tune' the document and it is then over to him or her to sound out the market and see what might be suitable for you.
The next conversation you want with your recruiter will be to arrange interviews with various companies. You need to prepare carefully for the first interview with each company – and that's the subject we will be looking at in our next blog.
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