Currently I am holding some job interviews for one of my companies. We’ve held job interviews for other positions in the past as well, and there are some things that strike me when I interview these people. Some positive, some negative. Most people do the same thing that all the others do too. So in order to make sure you don’t make those mistakes; I have put together a list of the my best tips.
These tips may well be worth tens, maybe hundreds of thousands of dollars to you. Maybe they will even defy monetary value for you, by giving you something that makes you truly happy: the job of your dreams!
Your action plan
The first thing you have to do is get your action plan straight. Here are 7 steps that will help you get the position of your dreams:
- Decide exactly what kind of job position you’re after. It doesn’t matter if it already exists, just make sure you have a description of your dream job.
- Choose the company, organization or individual you want to work for.
- Study your prospective employer extremely thoroughly, as to policies, personnel and chances of advancement.
- Analyse yourself to determine what you have to offer and plan ways and means of giving advantages, services, developments and ideas that you truly believe you can successfully deliver.
- Forget about just a ‘job’. Forget about whether there is an opening or not. Forget asking people if they have a job for you. Concentrate on what you can give.
- Once you have your plan in mind, put it to paper in neat form and in full detail. You can choose to have this done by an experienced (copy)writer, which is preferable. Make sure you present the full details of your plan to the copywriter, so they can truly understand it and write your brief.
- Present your brief to the proper person with authority and he or she will do the rest. Every company and organization is looking for someone who can give something of value, whether it concerns connections, ideas or services. Every company and organization has room for the person who has a definite plan of action which is to the advantage of that company.
What your brief should contain
The brief should at least contain the following information, in full detail and neatly organized so it can easily be read quickly:
- Education; state briefly, but definite, what schooling you have had. State which subjects you specialized in at school and make sure to give the reasons for your specialization.
- Experience; if you have experience in connection with positions similar to the one you are after, describe them fully. State names and addresses of former employers. Also be sure to bring out clearly any special experience you may have had which would equip you to fill the position you’re after.
- References; practically every business firm wants to know all about the previous records, antecedents, etc. of prospective employees who are after positions of responsibility. Attach copies of letters to your brief from:
- Former employers
- Teachers under whom you studied
- Prominent people whose judgement may be relied upon
- Photograph of yourself; make sure there’s a good photograph of yourself in the brief. Preferably shot by a professional, in a studio, while wearing the attire suitable for the position you’re after.
- Apply for a specific position; avoid application for a position without describing exactly what particular position you seek. Make sure your brief doesn’t apply for ‘just a position’. That indicates you lack specialized qualifications.
- State your qualifications; make sure the brief states your qualifications for the position you are applying for. Give full details as to the reason you believe you are qualified for the particular position you seek. This is one of the most important details of your application brief. It will determine, more than anything else, what consideration you will receive.
- Offer to work on probation; I can’t tell you how much prospective employees will love this one. If you offer to work for free for a week, or a month, or a sufficient length of time to enable your prospective employer to judge your value to the organization without pay, you will open doors you thought would never open.It seems radical, but it hardly ever fails to at least get you a trial. If you are sure of your qualifications, a trial is all that you need! Make sure you indicate the fact that your offer for the trial is based upon:
- Your confidence in your ability to fill the position.
- Your confidence in your prospective employer’s decision to employ you after the trial period
- Your determination to have the position you seek.
- Knowledge of your prospective employer’s business; before applying for any position, do extensive research in connection to the business to familiarize yourself with that business thoroughly. Indicate in your brief the knowledge you have acquired in this field. This will be most impressive, as it indicates that you have imagination and a real interest in the position you are after.
Remember that it is not the lawyer you knows the most law, but the one who best prepares his case, who wins…
Size doesn’t matter
Do not worry about your brief being too long. Even in today’s fast-paced world, employers are still as much interested in purchasing the services of well-qualified applicants as you are in getting the position of your dreams!
The finishing touch
This little tip, which I call the finishing touch will actually make you stand out whether your resume is the worst in the history of mankind or you’re the best qualified person for the job in the universe. It simple guarantees your resume gets the attention it deserves!
When your brief is completed, have it professionally bound and lettered similar to the following:
Brief of the Qualifications of
Jesse Meijers
Applying for the Position of
Private Secretary to
The President of
My Dream Company, Inc.
This will certainly attract attention. Make sure that your brief is printed on high-quality paper, not the laser-printer stuff you buy for 1 buck per 500. A last touch is to hand-sign the brief, preferably on the same page as your photograph is. Make sure your name is stated near your autograph.
Ways to find positions and companies
There are many ways to find companies and/or positions to apply for. Here is a list of ways that I prefer when I look for applicants:
- Employment agencies; take great care in only selecting agencies with a good track record and reputation. These agencies will cost money for the prospective employer when they hire you, but if you’re after a position of responsibility; that will be the least of their worries. This strategy will ensure you end up with serious interviews for great positions.
- Advertising in newspapers, trade journals and (online) magazines; this is a great way to get yourself known. Place your ad in between job offers. Many prospective employers who place ads in magazines will look them through to see their own ad and also to make a decision whether to place their ad in the first place. That is exactly the audience you need. Make sure you get an experienced copy-writer to write your ad. This will make all the difference!
- Personal letters of application; directed to individuals at particular organizations that are in need of the services you offer. This is my personal favorite, if done well. Make sure the letter is hand signed and always address it to a person of authority if you can. Again, have a copy-writer create the letter for you, as this makes a huge difference in results!
- Application through personal acquaintances; if possible, this will yield the highest success ratio. Especially when seeking executive positions, this is the way to go.
- Application in person; in some instances this may be the most effective solution. Especially when you have a connection with the person you are applying with.
Tue, Sep 7, 2010
Becoming Successful