Sharpen Your Job Hunting Skills

Looking for a new job and transferring jobs is always a daunting and challenging task. It’s not as simple as turning in a paper and getting a passing grade. It’s about turning in a high-quality application and showing that you are better than the others in the waiting area.

It has already been two months since graduation month, and surely the new graduates are starting to feel or have been feeling the heat of the competition when it comes to applying for a job. Some might have even lost confidence after a few rejections. That should not be the case. For those of you who are having a hard time landing that dream job, try to evaluate every step in the application, and take note of the following tips:

Know the hiring officer and his/ her title. I have encountered quite a lot of applicants using “To whom it may concern” in their cover letter. Don’t do that. Your cover letter must have a definite addressee. Don’t know the name? Ask. Email. Call. It just takes a bit of effort to know to whom the letter can be properly addressed. Indicate the position of the addressee as well. If they are the Human Resource Manager, then indicate it under their name. If they are the HR assistant, then indicate his/her name. This not only shows your dedication and formality, but also your level of respect for authority.

Proofread. Treat every document that you will be submitting for your application with the utmost care. Take your time in checking and rechecking every information you have indicated, from the spelling of your name, date, to the contact numbers, and email address. Your golden opportunity might go down the drain if you don’t receive the confirmation all because of a wrong number in your resume.

Be on time. If you are going to use traffic as an excuse for being late for your interview, you might as well not come to your interview. Your punctuality is already observed during your interview. Allow at least 15 to 20 minutes grace period for your arrival at the office. Observe the place, learn their culture (you might see things that would make you rethink your application or things that would motivate you more) and get to know a few people to break the ice.

Observe proper etiquette. There are certain things that you would want to remember when it comes to being interviewed: do not sit when not asked to sit, sit properly when asked to sit, and answer properly and courteously when asked. Avoid badmouthing your past employer, even if you have had a very bad experience with your past company.

Avoid applying for jobs you are not qualified for. Not only will you be wasting the interviewer’s time in interviewing you—an applicant who does not even qualify for the job—but also your own time. Know that a wasted interview is also a loss on your part because you could have used that time to apply in another company or position where your credentials fit.

Broaden your job search. The Internet has a lot of job posting websites where you can search and even apply in different companies easily, but you might also consider broadening your search. Newspapers and job fairs are just some of the places you can find want ads.

Use professional email addresses only. We understand that some of you might have been using the same email address that you have created in grade school until now, but using something like prettygirl@email.com may give the impression of immaturity to many employers. Take some time to create a professional looking email address to present maturity and professionalism.

*Originally published by the Manila Bulletin. C-6, Sunday, May 10, 2015. Written by Ruben Anlacan, Jr. (President, BusinessCoach, Inc.) All rights reserved. May not be reproduced or copied without express written permission of the copyright holders.